A science experiment to gauge animals’ reactions to a month in space was recently completed by Russia. Among the creatures sent up were mice, lizards, crayfish and fish. (TwoShortPlanks photo via Flickr.com)

A Russian capsule carrying mice, lizards and other small animals returned to Earth on Sunday after spending a month in space for what scientists said was the longest experiment of its kind.

Fewer than half of the 53 mice and other rodents who blasted off on April 19 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome survived the flight, Russian news agencies reported, quoting Vladimir Sychov, deputy director of the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems and the lead researcher.

Sychov said this was to be expected and the surviving mice were sufficient to complete the study, which was designed to show the effects of weightlessness and other factors of space flight on cell structure. All 15 of the lizards survived, he said. The capsule also carried small crayfish and fish.

The capsule’s orbit reached 575 kilometers (345 miles) above Earth, according to the news agencies, which said this was far higher than the orbit of the International Space Station.

Russian state television showed the round Bion-M capsule and some of the surviving mice after it landed slightly off course but safely in a planted field near Orenburg, about 750 miles southeast of Moscow.

“This is the first time that animals have flown in space for so long on their own,” Sychov said in the television broadcast from the landing site. The last research craft to carry animals into space spent 12 days in orbit in 2007.

The mice and other animals were to be flown back to Moscow to undergo a series of tests at Sychov’s institute, which is part of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Reported by The Associated Press from MOSCOW, Russia.
Image by TwoShortPlanks via Flickr.com.

York Haven Elementary School’s teachers, staff and principal will work behind the counter and in the lobby of the Manchester McDonald’s from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, to raise funds for the school’s educational programs.

Students, parents, grandparents and community members are invited to dine at McDonald’s in support of the school. Diners will need a coupon, available at all of the Northeastern School District schools, in order for a portion of the sales to benefit the elementary school. Coupons will be sent home with students on May 20.

The camp will offer youth musicians in grades 3 through 12 the opportunity to learn the steps of creating a song, preparing it on music manuscript, and filling out the necessary forms to copyright the created material. The camp emphasizes a hands-on creative approach with group instruction on individual keyboards and computer software as well as personalized coaching through the songwriting process.

Highly qualified instructors will offer level specific instruction (new this year) and will creatively guide elementary to high school students through the process of composing a masterwork all their own. The camp includes dynamic individual coaching using computer software and keyboards.

Camp will conclude with a performance of each students composition and pizza party. Each student will also receive two vouchers to a York Symphony Concert for the 2013/2014 Season. Students of all levels of ability are encouraged to attend however, it is suggested that they have some private lesson experience with the instrument of their choice.

Camp hours are 9 a.m. to noon and the cost is $95 per student. A downloadable application can be found at www.yorksymphony.org or by calling (717) 812-0717.

Chad Cherok, Kathleen Colgan, Juliana Coover,

Rachel Eby, Mikayla Eyster,

Daniel Fiscus, Emma Fisler,

Hannah Grant, Ryan Heisey, Jonathan Heller,

Mikayla Ickes, Nicole Jaquette,

Scott Leitholf, Lauren Lindoerfer,

Makenna McGill, Sarah Middendorf, Abby Monko,

Amanda Noll, Louis Peifer,

Leah Reday, Blake Rondon,

Alyssa Sheaffer, Ethan Spencer, Lindsay Stefanon,

Carissa Weaver, Joshua Welker and Quade Wilbur.
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Grade 7: 
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Alison Abrashoff, Margaret Anderson, Mitchell Andrews, Kathryn Armstrong, Michele Arnold,

Rachel Beam, Evan Boone, Samuel Brandt, Allison Brosius, Ryann Burd,

Hannah Cornett, Clare Daggs, Abigail Dietsche,

Grant Franko, Devin Freed,

Catalina Gowdy, Hannah Gricks, Kristyn Gwozdecki,

Brady Hentz, Aliana Hondorf, Sydney Horvath, Alyson Huth,

Timothy Jakubiec, Arianna Johnson,

Kamie Landolfi, Jason Langland,

Kathleen McCracken, Owen McKeever,

Nicholas Nase, Jill Naylor,

Medaiah Palmer, Jessica Paulus, Jenna Plotica,

Lauren Redcay, Abigail Reeder, Lauryn Rementer,

Acacia Sachs, Blake Sanchez, Kolby Saurs, Austin Schreffler, Morgan Shanahan, Nathaniel Sprigg,

Dylan VanKirk, Madeline Wareham and Sara Williams.
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Grade 6: 
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Yiorgo Alexopoulos, Sawyer Alves, Lexi Augustine,

Jacqueline Bell, Katelyn Boyce, Benjamin Brandt, Brynlee Brenneman, Brooke Breon,

Taylor Carlson, Molly Chapman, Madyson Clark, Abigail Clendaniel, Daniel Cummings, Katy Cummings,

John Daggs, Gillian Davis, Zachary Dunlap,

Olivia Falck, Jenna Ferguson, Matthew Freyermuth, Elizabeth Friends,

Mackenzie Hammel, Peter Heasley, Taylor Heckman, Charles Humpert,

Marcus Jacobs, Kimberly Johnson,

Cameron Kearns, Matthew Kennedy, Hannah Kowalski, Nikolas Kozain, Dylan Kraus,

Morgan Landis, Emma Lazar, Daniel Leitholf, William Lindoerfer, Katherine Luft,

Tanner Maritn, Ryan McGill, Jessica McKay, Emily McLean, Andrew Meckley, Courtney Middaugh,

Connor Neidlinger, Sarah Nye,

Joseph Richwine, Aunna Rubacha,

Rachel Scheib, Leah Schreffler, Olivia Shaffer, Olivia Shea, Emma Simpson, William Siverling, Gracen Smacher, Isaac Staats, Brandon Stauffer, Natalie Stine, Amber Swaisgood, Kayla Swope,

Audra White, Tyler Whitesel, Aidan Young and Bennett Young. 

HONOR ROLL

Grade 8: 

Ashley Barber, Dylan Baxter, Amanda Bender, Sammi Geann Rae Broadwell, Grace Busch,

Tyler Cashman, James Chopka, Jordan Clark,

Grace Davis, Chase DeShong, Chelsea Engel,

Matthew Geiger, Austin Gerber, Jacob Goretski, Mitchell Gross,

Alana Hagerty, Seth Hawkins, Katelyn Hersh, Dillon Hippensteel, Brooke Hoffler, Jaret Holford, Shawn Hrinda,

Brian Ishler, Abigail Kennedy, Abigail Krouse, Samantha Lerew,

Larissa MacDougall, Abigail McAleer, Matthew McAneny, Madison McCarty, Alexander McLean, Megan Michaels,

Christian Nase, Lily Ott,

Ian Parzyszek, Tyler Preun,

Alison Reed, Curtis Robison, McKenna Rosensteel,

Vincent Salomone, Lydia Saurman, Joshua Schratz, Abigail Searfoss, Cole Shumaker, Emily Slothower, Andrew Smith, Kiersten Staley, Josiah Stetler, Emma Strouse,

Bianca Tern, Ashley Toomey,

Amber Wagner, Nathaniel Watkins, Rachel Wedemeyer, Ausitn K. Wenger,

Ryan Yeager and Sean Zinn.
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Grade 7: 

Ashlyn Aumiller, Kennedy Barber, Brynn Bergstresser, Harsh Bhojani, Jenna Bittinger, Jared Brown, Joshua Burrus,

Evin Cassar, Jacob Coover, Nicholas Corish, Michaela Cotton, Kendall Dowling,

Taylor Ebersole, Alexandra Fishel, Sarah Fleming, Natasha Foller,

Kyra Gerber, Shelby Gibb, Alayna Gibbons, Jewel Gilbert, Jaidyn Gillespie, Miranda Gladwin,

Bethany Hack, Sarah Haley, Boies Hall, Sterling Hansen, Megan Hubbard, Dustin Hyde,

Hannah Jackson, Shannon Jenkins, Zarrick Jordan,

Maxwell Keller, Kyle Kerstetter, Brittany King,

Alex Lilja, Veronica Lockard, Antonio Lodovici, Rachel Loyer,

Savannah Madsen, Dylan Markel, Logan Martin, Joshua Micsky, Bret Miller, Kayla Miller, Katelynn Mose, Gage Mummert, Alisea Munshower,

Derek Nelson, Micah Nye,

Allison Pajda, Glenn Perrego, Levi Pomeroy, Kaitlyn Portko,

Logan Racer, Cameron Rafuse, Anthony Reale, Aidan Richardson,

Jacob Sacoman, Jeremy Sampson, Elizabeth Seifert, Grace-Anne Sider, Hannah Slothower, Brandon Speese, Elizabeth Steele, Melissa Stough, Levi Stover,

Caitlin Tern, Stephanie Violette,

Marshall Wardrope, Emily Weaver, Jonathan Whitcomb, Wyatt Wirfel and Steven Yurchison.
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Grade 6: 

Mackenzie Albert, Tanner Albert, Jordan Allen, Elsie Anderson, Nicole Andrews,

Christopher Barrett, Chloe Bartram, Evan Beddia, Garrett Benson, Gabrielle Biggi, Alexis Bream, Dannielle Brightbill, Cora Bubb, Ian Budzinski,

Jackson Caito, Parker Chance, Sean Colgan, Devan Copenhaver, Mackenzie Crawford, Daniel Curry,

Micailyn Derr, Cameron Dick,

Lauren Eby, Hayley Fennimore, Amber Fogelsanger, Megan Folk,

Michael Ginder, Katelyn Goodling, Daniel Gray, Eden Gross, Brianna Guarnieri,

Ashley Hannon, Kari Henry, Brianna Hertz, Laila Hosni, Taylor Hoverter, Marc Hudson, Alexis Hunter,

Remington Ice, Jeremiah Knight, Carlee Kubistek,

Bailey Latzer, Dustin Lerew, Taylor Long,

Taylor Mattias, Connor McCombs, Bryce McPeters, Breanna Miller, Georgianna Mladenoff,

Kentucky Nelson, Seth Ondrejicka,

Gregory Patti, Jackson Petery, Noah Pfaunmiller, John Potteiger,

Jessica Rahn, Nathaniel Reed, Gillian Renninger, Tyler Rodgers, Brooke Romito, Chase Rondon, Joshua Roy,

Joseph Samsel, Azariah Schaefer, Zachary Schmick, Angelica Sharp, Graham Shumaker, Jordan Sipe, Robert Skinnell, Dylan Smith, Mackenzie Smith, Makaela Smith, Wesley Speck, Jackalyn Speicher, Skyler Stauffer, Ethan Still, Cheyenne Storm, Devin Strine,

Andrew VanSickler, Keenon Weber, Gabriel Wells-Lilly, Alyssa Wittkopp,

Bilal Zia and Lexi Zullinger.
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Each week, beginning June 10, is for a different age group and skill level. Camp highlights include two full camp days at Sovereign Bank Stadium and a twilight game for participants to play a real game on the field.

For more information, call Doug Markel at (717) 843-7884, ext. 248, or email dmarkel@yorkcoymca.org.

Mike the Knight, the star of the popular children’s TV series, is coming to Harrisburg on Saturday, May 18. To celebrate Mike’s visit to our area, Junior Dispatch is giving away some great “Mike the Knight” merchandise.

To enter the giveaway, kids must write a knight-themed poem, and we will publish all the entries here.  Your poem can be any style the young author desires — such as a haiku, a riddle, a limerick, an acrostic or a rhyme. Once the little bards have their prose perfected, email it to juniordispatch@yorkdispatch.com by 8 p.m.  Monday, May 20.  Junior Dispatch will then select first- and second-place winners out of all the qualifying entries. Teachers are encouraged to get their students to enter. Please see the official rules below for the details.

First place is the “Mike the Knight” DVD and a “Mike the Knight” book. Second place is the DVD only.

We will publish entries as they arrive.

HARRISBURG EVENT: Mike the Knight and his friends are charging into the Harrisburg Mall for two free performances of “Mike the Knight and the Mission for Hidden Treasure.” The 20-minute performance will also feature Squirt the dragon.  The event also includes photo opportunities, giveaways, and a glimpse of the “Mike the Knight” toys that are coming soon to stores. Performances are set for Saturday, May 18 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

ABOUT “MIKE THE KNIGHT”: “Mike the Knight” is a CG-animated series that transports kids to a realm of castles, dragons, and trolls.  With his rallying cry “Be a Knight, Do it Right!”, Mike brings the excitement and enchantment of medieval times to his young viewers.  Currently the broadcast series airs on Nick Jr.  For more information about Mike the Knight and his missions, visit www.miketheknight.com and follow on Facebook (www.facebook.com/miketheknightofficial) and Twitter @MiketheKnight_US.

OFFICIAL RULES: To enter this giveaway, contestants must write a poem of 10 or more words about subject of “knights.” Entrants who are just learning to write can compose their poem verbally, and then have the caregiver write it down. Decisions by Junior Dispatch are final. One entry per person. Entries must include a name, age, address and telephone number.  All entries will be posted on JuniorDispatch.com. Entries must be sent to juniordispatch@yorkdispatch.com by 8 p.m.  Monday, May 20.

ANOTHER CREATIVE WRITING CONTEST: Junior Dispatch is also hosting another writing contest for kids ages 0 to 18. The top prize in three age categories is $100 in gift certificates. Get all the details here: http://ydtalk.com/jdispatch/2013/04/22/tell-us-a-story-and-win-big/