The JuntoFebruary 2020

I had form’d most of my ingenious acquaintances into a club of mutual improvement, which we called The Junto. -Benjamin Franklin

1

Our cover story features an interview with the new owner of the Easton Baking Co., which reopened its doors this month. The line was out the door to buy Fasnachts on Shrove Tuesday, but luckily the Junto got ahold of a few before they were all gone!

2

The Easton Baking Company reopened this past Monday, February

24th. It had been closed since October 2018 after 100 years of busi-

ness. It is an Easton staple that has been well-loved by many genera-

tions. It is known for its delicious old-fashioned baked goods-

doughnuts, tomato pie, cakes, cookies, and more. Eric Butrym and

Christine DeFrancesco-Butrym announced that they bought the bak-

ery this past November from previous owner George Mosellie.

George and his wife Bessie bought the bakery in 1973 from the Til-

wick family. The Mosellie family made the decision to close the bak-

ery when Bessie grew ill and the family wanted to spend more time

with her. The Junto is very excited about the reopening of the bak-

ery. We decided to ask co-owner Christine DeFrancesco-Butrym a

few questions about the renovated bakery.

Junto: Will customers be able to make purchases with credit/debit or

just cash?

Christine: Yes! We will accept credit/debit.

Junto: Will you be using the original equipment and recipes?

Christine: Yes, we are using all of the original recipes and equipment

Junto: Will you still be having Fasnacht Day?

Christine: We are hoping to be open by then

Junto: What baked goods will you start selling?

Christine: We are starting with pizza, doughnuts, I think cinnamon

buns or sticky buns. We will be adding other items as we go.

Junto: Do you know what your store hours will look like?

Christine: Opening early Tuesday through Sunday. Closed on Mon-

days. We may be open until 5 or 6pm to start (except on Sundays,

closing around 1:00pm or so) and will re-evaluate the hours after a

month or so, possibly making some changes if needed

Junto: What type of improvements have you made?

Christine: Electrical upgrades, new ceiling, new hood system, plumb-

ing upgrades, fresh coat of paint, to name a few.

Junto: What made you want to buy the bakery?

Christine: We love Easton. I am originally from Phillipsburg and

have grown up in the area. We moved away from the area for our

careers and moved into Eric's childhood home in Hopewell Town-

ship, NJ. He decided to look for opportunities in the Easton area

since we have been wanting to get back to the area. Moving to Eas-

ton just made a lot of sense. It feels like home. I have always loved

Easton Baking and knew it was an iconic bakery. In fact, I would of-

ten travel from Hopewell to Easton to buy pizza and doughnuts. The

Mosellies built a profitable business by providing baked goods at af-

fordable prices. They had an excellent product. And they helped to

anchor the West Ward. I don't think you can minimize the impact

that the bakery has had on the neighborhood. We are so excited to

be a part of Easton's continued growth and in particular, the West

Ward! The positive response from the city has been overwhelming.

We have big shoes to fill but with the help of George Mosellie, we

expect the transition to be smooth and the products to have the same

Quality. 

Junto: Are you planning anything new for the bakery?

Christine: We will add some new items after we are opened for a

while. To start, we don't want to change a thing. What the Mosellies

were doing, worked just fine!

Junto: Is there anything you want customers to know?

Christine: I want them to know how humbled we are with regard to

the many supportive and encouraging comments on the social media

sites. We are investing  not only in the bakery but we are investing in

the West Ward. We plan to be active members of the community.

Last Tuesday was Fasnacht Day at the bakery- where they make a

donut called fasnachts to celebrate Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent.

The Junto decided to try some-and they were fresh, soft, sweet, and

absolutely delicious. 

The Easton Bakery is open from 5 A.M. to 3 P.M. Wednesday

through Saturday, and from 5 A.M. to 1 P.M. Sunday through Tues-

day. Visit the bakery at 34 N. 7th Street.

The Junto

Back to Make the Donuts

Places February 2020

Rachel Arzoumanian ~ Copy EditorColette Potter ~ Contributing Writer

3

J: What is your favorite part about teaching at Easton?

B: Its a microcosm for the entire country.You have people from all walks of life here and it is not just one group.

J: What is your favorite movie?

B: Training Day

J: If you could teach another subject what would it be?

B: Probably Chemistry

J: Where did you go to college?

B: Saint Vincent College

J: Did you go into college planning on being a teacher?

B: No, I planned on majoring in Biochemistry, which was their pre-med track.

J: What made you change your mind?

B: When they started talking about what med-school would look like, I wasn’t ready to embrace paying for another four years of school. Because I had such a great time being a student at Easton, I figured teaching would be perfect for me.

J: What is your favorite book that you teach in your class?

B: The Great Gatsby

J: What book do you wish you could teach?

B: This is a hard question. Maybe Anthem by Ayn Rand because of the dystopian society and the concept of everyone fitting in.

J: Do you have a favorite football team?

B: I am married to the Philadelphia Eagles.

J: What is your pet peeve?

B: It is a student pet peeve. I don’t see how it can be so entertaining to look at photos of your friends sitting in class doing nothing.

J: How do you feel about the reopening of the Easton Bakery?

B: Very excited. I grew up three blocks from there so I am anxious to have their food again, specifically their cinnamon donuts with choco-late icing.

J: Pineapple on pizza?

B: Yes, with bacon.

J: Are you excited for the new lacrosse season to start?

B: Yes. February you are always foaming at the mouth because you just want to go out there and get it done.

J: What is your favorite Easton tradition?

B: As a student, then a college student, then a teacher, I always loved the Thanksgiving day game. It is such a nice opportunity to see peo-ple and students you have not stayed in contact with.

J: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

B: The bottom half of Italy.

J: What was your favorite place that you have traveled to?

B: I loved walking through quiet Assisi with my wife. One of our fa-vorite experiences was turning off the GPS and getting lost in the region.

J: What is your favorite old school Easton restaurant?

B: Fat Jacks because it has some of the best chicken wings around. I also love Pizza D’Oro because of their eggplant parmesan. I need a student to work there to steal how they prepare it.

J: If you could resurrect any Easton business or restaurant that is now closed, which one would you bring back?

B: I always heard about the Fleas Club and I never got the chance to go there.

J: Favorite cookie?

B: White chocolate chip macadamia nut perfectly under cooked.

J: What is something that many students may not know about you?

B: I was drum major of the marching band in 1996.

J: Out of all the things that have happened at Easton, what is one event you would want to go back to?

B: We used to do senior servants which is where underclassmen would purchase seniors to terrorize them for a day. When I was a stu-dent, I wore a monkey suit and I carried a kid on my back all day. It was fun, but it got out of control.

J: What are your secret talents?

B: I can whistle and hum at the same time.

J: Favorite family activity?

B: We have a pool so we love to host pool parties.

People The Junto February 2020

Alania Mariano - Photography Editor

5 Minutes With...Mr. Bachman

4

The JuntoPlaces February 2020

Pandemic Panic!For goodness sake, people, wash your hands!

Colette Potter ~ Contributing Writer

The new coronavirus is now called the COVID-19 virus. The World

Health Organization named it COVID-19, a neutral name, to avoid

sigma. The name has nothing to do with an animal, location, or

group of people. 

COVID-19 is a type of coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a type

of virus that also in-

clude flus and the com-

mon cold. Coronavi-

ruses are named for

the spiked shape of

their surface. It is be-

lieved to be from a live

animal market in the

city of Wuhan, located

in the Hubei province

of China. The vast

majority of the cases

have been in China.

Several news cases

have developed in Italy, Iran, France, Japan and South Korea recently.

Over 47 countries have reported cases of the illness. South Korea has

the second most cases, after China. Japan has closed all of its schools

to contain the virus, and Europe is trying to keep the spread of infec-

tion at bay.  Doctors and epidemiologists are working hard to try to

prevent the spread of the disease. There are concerns of the virus

spreading to developing countries in the case of a pandemic, which is

an illness that has spread to many continents and worldwide. The de-

veloping countries would likely not have the necessary healthcare sys-

tems to properly fight the disease and contain it. 

Symptoms include a cough, fever, shortness of breath, and in

some rare cases, severe respiratory problems and death. Most cases

are not ones of serious illness. The risk gets higher with age and will

those who have compromised immune systems. It is a hard virus to

track because of similar symptoms to the common cold as well as

other minor illnesses. 

There is a scramble by

scientists to make a vaccine. It

will likely be ready in around

a year. The virus may die

down as well. Viruses, such as

the flu, do best in cold, dry

air. This is why the winter and

fall are flu season for us. So,

with the temperate weather

lately and spring and summer

bringing their humid, warm

air, the virus may die down.

In China, the outbreak of

new cases has slowed down. New cases per day have slowed from

2,000 at the peak of the outbreak to 508 new confirmed cases as of

recently. It has hardly affected children in China, the place of the out-

break and where the vast majority of the cases are. The virus will be-

come widespread in the United States, though. The Centers for Dis-

ease Control and Prevention are warning that it is just a matter of

time. The virus will likely become a pandemic. Quarantine does not

work. The disease is much more contagious than the flu. The virus

will likely not affect most of us any more than a cold though, and the

rate for serious infections increases with age.  

There are lots of rumors floating around regarding the Coronavirus outbreak. With so many updates constantly being published, it’s easy to get lost trying to understand the situation. That’s why the Junto is bringing you the most up-to-date information possible to help clear the air.

Continued on Next Page...

5

President’s Day occurs on the third Mon-

day of February every year. This holiday

used to be geared more towards George

Washington’s birthday and Abraham Lin-

coln’s birthday. Washington's birthday is

on February 22nd and Lincoln’s birthday 

is on February 12th. As of now the holi-

day leans more towards celebrating past

and present presidents. The holiday be-

came more apparent during the Great De-

pression because the people needed something to feel patriotic about.

In 1932, Presidents Day was used to restore the purple heart  military

decoration worn by wounded or killed while serving. Presidents Day has

had different meanings throughout the years.

Presidents Day is a part of the Uniform

Monday Act. This is an act that is used to

preserve certain Mondays to be holidays

to give people a three day weekend. The

act took effect on January 1, 1968. One

main reason the congress did this was be-

cause a lot of people would not come to

work on these few holidays therefore they

decided to move the holidays to a Mon-

day and give them a long weekend. Presidents Day, Memorial Day, La-

bor Day, and Columbus Day, are all holidays that were moved to Mon-

day from their original dates. Overall, Presidents day is a great holiday

because who doesn’t love a three day weekend.

The JuntoPlaces February 2020

Pandemic Panic (continued)The implications of the coronavirus on the economy are unknown. The Chinese and Asian economy makes up a significant amount of the global

economy. Wall Street stocks have dropped their worst in two years due to the coronavirus. The Chinese government is struggling to maintain their

workforce and continue to get people back to work. The effect on the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan is also unknown. The death toll is over 2,600.

Currently, the first community virus spread has possibly occurred in California. Once a virus reaches the community level, the virus cannot be con-

tained. The community level is when there is no visible link between a patient who has just gotten the virus and a known infected patient, or a con-

taminated place or object. In short, the source of one’s illness is unknown. The best way to combat the incoming virus is to keep yourself healthy by

eating right and getting enough sleep, and by washing your hands and avoiding contact with your face. The best thing to do is to remain calm. 

Kellie Painter ~ Places Editor

What’s The Big Deal with Presidents’ Day?

6

Once a year, we have that special TV holiday called “The Oscars.” Around the world, people watch this award show in celebration of some of the finest cinematic pieces of film that came out in the past year. Some people watch the Oscars for their favorite movies and actors/actresses, controversies following the Oscars, or even the comical celebrities hosting each year. I, however, pay attention to the Oscars for one rea-son and one reason only: the red carpet. Celebrities from all different backgrounds, ages, races, etc, show up to the Oscars wearing designer clothing that can either be a phenomenal hit, or a miserable failure. For a solid two hours, I will sit at my computer, either during or after they’re televised, judging each outfit with absolutely no-shame in saying how bad a dress on a certain celebrity may be. Here are some of my own hits and misses:

The Junto February 2020Points of View

Branden’s Theory on anything:THE OSCAR’S FASHION 2020

Spike Lee: Hit Regina King: Hit Janelle Monáe: Hit/favorite!

Charlize Theron: Hit Billie Eilish: Hit

Kristen Wiig: Boot/Worst dressed Saoirse Ronan: Boot Timothée Chalamet: Boot

Branden Cunard ~ POV Editor

7

The JuntoPoints of View February 2020

The Ally AngleRescuing Myself from

the Music Slump

A few weeks ago, I found myself in a music slump. You know that feeling you get when you desperately want to listen to something but abso-lutely nothing seems appealing on your playlist? 

Well that’s what I was going through. And as someone who listens to music in the car, in the shower, when I’m doing homework, anywhere, it was a difficult problem to figure out. I couldn’t be sick of music, could I? The thought horrified me, yet as I scrolled through my playlists of overplayed broadway and mundane pop music, I sat there, stumped. Eventually I became tired of the sound of silence and dug up an old al-bum from a band I had almost forgotten about and you’ve probably never heard of— Jukebox the Ghost.

I discovered them on a nine-hour road trip to the Outer Banks one summer, and I fell in love, but I listened to them so frequently on that trip that I overplayed the songs before it was time to drive back home. Digging them up in my hour of need turned out to be a real game changer because it opened up a new sub-genre of alternative music that I had never considered looking into.

I let my Spotify account run through the album and continue onto a radio, based on my music selection. I started to hear songs I recognized, and ones that I didn’t but fell absolutely in love with. This new genre of music, I soon discovered, is called Indie Pop, and has revolutionized my standards for music. Gone are the days of repetitive chord progressions and phrases that are so characteristic of music on the radio today.

This new music was different; it meant something. It wasn’t created with the idea of pleasing the vast majority of listeners. Instead, it came from a genuine place of expression with lyrics that were poetic, and melodies and instrumentals that resonated deep within me. Listening to this genre opened up a new way for me to listen to music and raised my standards for the content I listen to. I will no longer settle for synthe-sized beats and tunes that repeat the same three phrases over and over. If that’s your style, then by no means will I stand in your way, but if you’re getting bored of the same old thing and you want to see what else is out there, then go explore! I can say from personal experience that you’ll be glad you did.

Ally Fuller ~ Editor-in-Chief

8

The JuntoPoints of View February 2019

Staff of The Junto Editor in Chief - Ally Fuller

Advisor- Jeannine N Capecci

Places- kellie painter

Points of View- branden cunard

Photography- Alania mariano

Copy Editor- Rachel Arzoumanian

Issue Contributors

Colette Potter

Mallika Pal

Hits and MissesVanessa Bryant gave a heartfelt speech

during a ceremony to commemorate Kobe and Gianna Bryant.

Mardi Gras officially begins!

The Easton Baking Co. re-opened their doors and is back-up-and-running!

Harvey Weinstein convicted of two accounts of sexual assault and rape.

There was a massive forest-fire along the Delaware Water Gap

Due to the rising fear of the co-ronavirus, the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo may be put on hold in fear of the disease.

9