2015 January Issue

The gears of the mental process inside us

TOC

24

SOCCER

02

Illness | Cr l a

21

CARMESÍ

4 | Men t

20

BLIND DATE

C

Junior’s father keeps a promise because of Super Bowl win

e su

11

MENTAL ILLNESS

on News s im

zin e | I aga s

08

THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME

Discussion of the events and claims against Darren Wilson

m

04

TALK ON FERGUSON

Mental illnesses and their effects on students

Seniors go ice skating and eat out at Sylvester’s

Los nuevos meimbros del consejos instalada

Boys’ varsity soccer has a promising season ahead

TOC 01.15.15

ON THE COVER: Special section on mental dimensions—the gears of the mental process fall out in the shape of depression and other mentall illnesses.

Photos and Graphics by Carly Cargill and Sam Mabry

Congratulations to the varsity Bearcat Football Team for winning the Southern Section Northern Division III CIF Championship.

Photo by Carly Cargill

Need grows for a fourth counselor

NEWS

News Brief

Next year is the soonest possibility for funding the position

by Mae App, InDepth Co-Editor

Despite the growing want, PRHS will not be getting an additional fourth counselor this year, but there are high possibilities for the coming school year.

The counselors have wide caseloads due to the fact that having three counselors triples the recommended student to counselor ratio. Meanwhile, each counselor Jennifer Clayton Michael Moore has 650 students to aid with, seniors discussing college plans and the remainder of other students are stopping in to chat about grades and classes. When a student signs up to see their counselor, it takes up to a week or more to get in to see them, which is understandable when each of the three counselors, Mike Moore, Xelina Rojas and Jennifer Clayton, see approximately 20-30 kids per day, varying on those Xelina Rojas who aren’t available or don’t show up.

Clayton believes that with a group of around 650 PRHS would benefit tremendously from an additional students per counselor, it would be beneficial to counselor. the students to have one, or even two, additional “I think the school would benefit greatly from another counselors, especially if they have a goal of aiding counselor... I brought up another credential I hold to each of their students successfully.

Mr. Nelson in the spring, which led to me enrolling “We are not able to provide the level of service for in school again to add on this counseling credential. each and every one of our students that is deserved. I asked if I could do my internship in the counseling If we had a fourth or even fifth counselor, students department and the school agreed.” Boster said. wouldn’t have to wait so long to see us and we would be “The recommended ratio of students to counselors able to make sure things didn’t fall through the cracks. is 250:1; were at over 650:1. The counselors have too We want to meet with every student, we want to help large of caseloads to be able to be as effective as you all identify your goals and they could be if the numbers help you reach them. With the were smaller, and the students caseloads at the size they are, need all sorts of help from it makes it impossible for us to their counselors!” Boster said. meet with each and everyone Senior Shelby Havel, of you on an on going basis.” who has had both Rojas for her sophomore and junior Clayton said.

Geometry teacher Alexandra Boster, who year and Moore for freshman and senior year, knows has been teaching at PRHS for two years, is in the well that they are busy and it can often take them a process of adding a counseling credential, and could long time to get back to each student. She believes possibly apply for the position if it opens up in the that a fourth counselor could be a beneficial addition to the staff and students of PRHS. following school year.

“I think considering our large class sizes (which “No new counselor this year, maybe next. As I understand it, the money they said last year that would seem to just continue expanding as the years continue) be available for another counselor ended up not being a new counselor could be a very welcome addition available, once the new superintendent examined the to the PRHS staff. It could certainly alleviate some of the load the other counselors are tackling by adding budget and current spending,” Boster said.

Boster has been training in school since May, so she another counselor!” Havel said. can add a counseling credential and is interning for Counselors(center four) : PRHS counselors. The fourth the school to finish the process. She also thinks that unknown possibly nonexistent one.

?

Each sees roughly 20-30 kids a day

650:1 student to counselor ratio

Rojas 9th grade and seniors P-Z and ELL Moore 10th grade and seniors A-Gom Clayton 11th and seniors Gon-O

Each counselor works roughly 9 hours each day They get 15-20 call slips a day

New board members inducted

Hall and Gearhart join the School Board; Gibson voted board president

by Eden Peterson, Feature Co-Editor and Emily Ayer, Managing Editor

Board members Kathleen Hall, Timothy Gearhart, and Field Gibson were installed on the seven member School Board at the monthly Dec. 9 meeting which also announced the first positive school district budget in three years. Hall was a new member to the board following Nov. elections while Gearhart was returning to the board after a two year hiatus, and Gibson was reelected and took the spot of President on the board.

Hall and Gearhart are taking the place of former members Jay Packer and Pastor Katy Griffin. Packer stepped off the school board after serving for eight years in order to spend more time with family, while four year member Griffin ran for reelection, but was beat out for a spot by Gearhart, who lead the polls with 25.53 percent, Gibson, with 19.06 percent, and Hall with 18.89 percent.

“It’s been a rewarding challenge...the School Board is heading in the right direction. There have already been some positive changes,” said Packer during his resignation speech at the Dec. board meeting.

Griffin also left the board on a positive note, declaring,“I’m able to leave with great peace knowing the future will be bright.”

Hall, Gearhart, and Gibson were sworn to serve the needs of the children in the district, upholding the constitution, and practicing the PRHS Mission Statement: “To deliver exemplary education, in a safe environment which empowers students with skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary for success.”

Officially seated, Hall and Gearhart addressed the attendees about their feelings on being elected.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am to be elected to represent the families [in this district]...I’ll work extremely, extremely hard to make a difference in the lives of our children” Hall said.

Gearhart shared a similar sentiment. “...I’m pleased to be back and I am looking forward to working with this fine group,”said Gearhart in response to Hall’s speech.

Gibson was nominated for the President position and elected unanimously by the board seven to zero. Board member Joel Peterson was nominated for Clerk and elected unanimously for the position. Superintendent Chris Williams volunteered and was unanimously elected as Secretary.

Interim CFO Sandra Lepley, with over 40 years of district experience, presented the first positive interim budget in three years. Board and community members attending the meeting were visibly pleased to see a “transparent” and clear budget projection.

“I had worked with [Lepley] in a prior district and I knew her expertise...

I had a great connection with her and a high level of trust...She’s very articulate, but she also understands the information that’s there. It was a very transparent budget which our community has not really seen in quite some time,” Williams said.

Photos by Emily Ayer, and Nathan Rowely

01.15.15 News

03

EDITORIAL

Police brutality or probable cause?

The shooting of black teen Michael Brown sparks racial controversy

by Jessica Cole, InDepth Co-Editor It was a shot fired inside a police car. That was the spark: the Aug. 19, 2014 shooting of Michael Brown, an African American teenager, by police officer Darren Wilson, and Brown’s death soon after. The events before the shooting are hazy at best and controversial at worst. But what followed is a fire that has spread across the United States. The police officer who shot Brown was acquitted Nov. 26, 2014. Protests have emerged in over 150 cities, according to CNN.com, claiming that the officer shot Brown because he was an African American. Thousands are outraged that Brown was unarmed when he was shot, and Wilson was acquitted for it.

But the truth is that this shooting would not have taken with the same resonance if Michael Brown hadn't been African American. If he had been a poor, disenfranchised, unarmed, white teenager, the trial would have been about if the police officer did the right thing, and what he was trained to do. Did he follow protocol? And that is the problem with this case.

The protesters pushing for Brown’s case are not treating him as if he was equal to a white teenager. They are treating him like he deserves a different treatment because he was born with more melanin in his skin.

And that’s racism.

And that is precisely why this event matters beyond the scope of a shooting, why this death has reached the hearts of millions across the United States. Racism is still alive and well. It is the weed that thrives on the basic human need to love those like ourselves. And it is alive in every state, every city, and every school, regardless of race, class, or gender. Ironically, the racist ability to hate others may be the one thing that everyone shares. And the colored filters that we set before ourselves are clouding our vision. We refuse to acknowledge the facts. Even at PRHS. It is a fact that police officer Darren Wilson did what he was trained to do; when a suspect went for his gun. He shot him six times.

“An officer's survival instinct may exert an overpowering influence

C

newsmagazine

“It is alive in every state, every city, and every neighborhood, regardless of race, class, or gender.”

on target selection. I don't care how good a shot you are, if your life is threatened you're going to go for the surer thing first and worry about your assailant's life being saved second. If a guy is running at me with a blade, the last thing I'm going to be thinking is 'I'm going to shoot him in the arm," said Ron Avery of The Police Firearms Officers Association.

Now to those who cite racism as a reason for the shooting, these are the stats: racism is not running as rampant as it once was, at least not in homicide victims. A mere 193 out of the 2648, or 7 percent of African American homicide victims were shot by white people at all, let alone white police officers. Also, statistically speaking, African American men are 1.25 times as likely to kill other men as white men are, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2012 homicide statistics.

Now it is true that there will always be racists in the world, but Darren Wilson wasn’t a racist. He was a police officer, and he did what any good police officer would have done no matter the color of the man-- black, white, blue, green or purple. We have let the fear of racism in our society turn us into racists toward non-minority groups, because we are afraid of the oppression that they might cause. Let us at PRHS fight all types of racism, big and small, against blacks, whites, and all of the colors in between.

Jessica Cole, 11

| Student Journalism | Paso Robles High School | 2014-2015

Co-Editors-in-Chief

Editors

Photographers

Adviser

Carly Cargill Center Rachel Cole Center Brandon Kearns Sci Tech

Mae App InDepth Jessica Cole InDepth Tegan Curren Health Marlee Drake Food Matt Durian Web Brandt Goodman A&E Sadie Mae Mace Environment Michelle McPherson Feature Eden Peterson Feature Mayer Pohlod World Stephen Preston Opinion Mila Robb-Hiteshew Fun & Games Matt Tyra Sports Lauren Wassam Fun & Games

Dominique Rodriguez Nathan Rowley Grant Scheiffele

Jeff Mount

Managing Editor Emily Ayer News/Web Copy Editor Amy Cantrell Photography Director Maureen Pushea Sports Web Team Nathan Rowley Sam Mabry

04

Editorial 01.15.15

Social Media Manager Alysia Kilcrease

Business Team Mariela Villa Carmesí Mae App Jessica Cole Sadie Mae Mace Circulation Managers Carly Cargill Rachel Cole Graphic Designers Nichole Landon Sam Mabry

Facebook www.facebook.com/ crimsonnewsmagazine Website www.crimsonweb.net Email prhsjournalism@ pasoschools.org Instagram @crimsonnewsmag

Crimson, an open forum for the exchange of student ideas, is an independently funded newsmagazine of the journalism class at Paso Robles High School. Crimson reflects the majority opinion of the staff and does not necessarily reflect the views of Paso Robles High School, its faculty, administration, or students. All stories, graphics, typesetting, and layouts are completed

by Paso Robles High School students. We are happy to talk with you further about our content, subscriptions in U.S. Mail, and advertising on our pages.

OPINION

I will not be a stereotype The gray in black & white Fighting racism one day at a time

by Michelle McPherson, Feature Co-Editor Picture this: you just moved from a school with 500 students to a school with 3,000 students. You look calm and collected on the outside; you don’t want new peers to see that inside you’re shaking with fright. As you walk to your seat you can tell that everyone is staring at you, and you can hear the whispers and the snickers around you. But as you sit down you hear someone say, “I wonder if she packed fried chicken and watermelon for lunch?” and “I bet she lives in the ghetto part of town.” You can feel your throat get tight and the tears forming, but won’t dare to let them see you cry because you know it will show weakness.

You’re better than that.

This is the life of a minority student. We live and breathe it everyday. We hope the next day will be better than the last, but the little voice in the back of your head knows what to expect.

This is not a “pity me story,” no sir. This is a story about strength and the struggles of everyday life that some students may not see. Learning how to deal with racial slurs, racial comments, and irritating stereotypes is not an easy task. It is guaranteed that your feelings will be hurt and you’re going to get angry. But to me, there are four different types of people: those who fight, those who accept, those who pretend it didn’t happen, and the ones who take it all in and try their best to see the good in the world regardless of the hurt in their words and actions.

The person who fights everyday is going to be emotionally drained by the end because no one has the power to constantly fight for what they think is right every time they hear an ignorant comment. The person who accepts being called nasty racial names or any other racist gestures is accepting the negative connotations about themselves which can ultimately leave someone feeling empty inside. If you don’t accept who you are, no one else ever will. The people who pretend that such injustice didn’t happen are practically being ran over by tractor trailer everyday because when you hear words that hurt to that extent, it hits hard. But the people who try to see the light in dark situations are able to understand that no matter how hard it may be, people are going to say rude things and you just have to pick your battles.

COVERING UP: Junior Kristin Thompson is tired of being stereotyped. She stands, holding up her words, and her belief in a more equal world.

Photo by Michelle McPherson

When I was younger, a student came up to me and told me that I didn’t live in a fairytale and that because I was black, my dreams weren’t going to come true, I wasn’t going to find someone who loves me and that I was better off dead. In short, any racial comments, including stereotyping, is a form of bullying. Some people who are victimized by it may just laugh it off, but no one can really see the hurt that they may feel inside. Laughing it off isn’t the best way to go about situations similar to this one, but sometimes it’s just easier that way, especially if it’s coming from someone who you care about, but they don’t know any better. That comment has stayed with me forever, but instead of making me feel inferior, I take these types of negativity and try to prove it wrong everyday.

I am proud of who I am, proud of my personality, proud of my heritage, and especially proud of the color of my skin.

Because I had to grow up with impaling stereotypes and heart wrenching racial slurs, I’ve learned so much. One thing that I’ve learned over the years is that you can never change the heart or mindset of anyone, they have to make that change on their own. But a way to help them with that process is by educating them that everyone has feelings and if you took a walk in my shoes you know it’s not easy.

Regardless of what race you are, African American, Hispanic, Asian, Vietnamese, Italian, Puerto Rican, Caucasian, etc... the only thing that should really matter is the size of your heart, not the pigment of your skin. Racism and negative stereotyping is still alive and thriving today, but I don’t see why we can’t put an end to it. So here’s some words of wisdom Michelle style: instead of joking and making fun of people for their differences, embrace it because who wants to be the same as everyone else?

“If you don’t accept who you are, no one else will.”

Michelle McPherson, 11

Death without hope Death With Dignity isn’t peaceful; it’s murder

by Jessica Cole, Indepth Co-Editor

151,600 people die every day. Their eyes freeze, and their breathing stops.

Their heart slows, and then they die. That averages to 6,316 people an hour, 105 people a minute and nearly two a second, according to the Ecology Global Network. And now people can choose to join the flocks of those passing away.

It isn’t fiction, this story. It’s the true story of 752 people who have taken their own lives in the past 16 years, averaging to about 47 a year according to Oregon Public Health. The Death with Dignity Act is a law enabling a dying patient to take a lethal dose of medication so that they may die at their own specified time, in their own way. It is supposed to let the patient have a moment of peace and let them be happy.

But the stories of these people, and most recently, Brittany Maynard, a cancer patient whose public announcement of her decision to go with Death with Dignity, sprung the nation into controversy, are not peaceful, and they aren’t happy.

Is Death with Dignity a tool to put people at rest, or is it a form of suicide?

Many argue that it is kinder to kill people now, rather than let them die when they are supposed to. “We’ll keep working to make sure everyone, regardless of where they live, have the right to control the manner and timing of their own deaths.” According to Death with Dignity National Care center. But the problem with that type of thinking is simply that when a person, a doctor or a drug lord takes another person’s life, it is murder. And if a person takes their own life it is suicide no matter where it happens.

“We people have to realize that if someone is really hurt, even they can take the pain and move on and continue growing… and I don’t think they realize how much [Death with Dignity] affects their friends and family, I mean yeah I know that it hurts, but if you keep carrying on than you might be able to make it through eventually and not have to deal with the pain anymore,” freshman, Jessica Ridgeway said.

However, those in favor of Death with Dignity argue for the right to die feeling like a human, to die in a comfortable environment and to choose when you die.

“To have control of my own mind...To go with dignity is less terrifying. When I look at both options I have to die, I feel this is much more humane,” Brittany Maynard said. And not everyone who is given the Death with Dignity medication takes it. In fact only 63 out of the 122 given the medication even took medication during 2013 took it and died from it, which amounts to about 51.66 percent according to Oregon Public Health.

So what stops people from taking the medication, even people that believe in Death with Dignity, is that they still have hope; hope in a miracle; hope in a better life.

Death with Dignity is the ultimate absence of hope, and nothing could be worse than that.

BRITTANY MAYNARD

29

years old

9 mil.

Graphics by Carly Cargill

Stage 4 Gliobastoma multiforme

views on Death with Dignity video 01.15.15 Opinion

05

FEATURE

FACING IT TOGETHER

Cheer sisters Danae Ontiveros (right) and Cassi Gough (left) looked to each other for hope while battling different diseases.

Nov. 26, 2013

Danae was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma

Jan. 13, 2014 Shave-A-Thon for Danae

June 26, 2014

06

Feature 01.15.15

Cassi was diagnosed with Arnold Chiari Malformation

FEATURE

Conquering cancer Senior Danae Ontiveros returns to PRHS cancer-free

by Marlee Drake, Food Editor

S

enior Danae Ontiveros received lifealtering news; she had Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. When they heard the news on Nov. 26, 2013, Ontiveros could see in her parents’ faces that they were afraid of what was to come and worried they could lose her. However, her outlook was one of acceptance and determination.

“I took the news really well. My attitude was like ‘let’s hurry up and get this done because I have things do,” Ontiveros said.

She went in for her last round of chemo almost a year later on Sept 30.

“Going into my last round of chemo felt surreal to me. I didn’t feel like it was going to be over that easily.

I was so used to constantly going to the hospital and to doctor appointments that it was very weird to think I would ever be done with it,” Ontiveros said.

After a year of five surgeries and 80 rounds of chemotherapy, she is on track to graduate with her class, and returns to PRHS a survivor.

Ontiveros has beaten the cancer, but there are still battles she must face. Chemotherapy has vicious side effects along with its benefits. Nerves in her hands and feet have been damaged as a result of one of the types of chemo she received.

“I have a long recovery process ahead of me... My hands were able to recover but I have been working on my feet. It feels like my feet are slightly paralyzed.

It makes simple things such as running impossible for me,” Ontiveros said.

As Ontiveros was fighting her cancer, PRHS rallied behind her to let her know she was not alone. Students organized “DOin’ it for Danae”. Cheer sold t-shirts, raising over $1000, and Crimson donated several hundred dollars of bracelet sales to Danae’s family.

Juniors Ryan O’Mahoney and Jeff Neuman put together a Shave-A-Thon, where 11 students and seven faculty members shaved their heads and raised $2,655.

Physics teacher Mark Fairbank became her home

hospital teacher and helped her with all her subjects.

“I had a passion to see Danae finish school on time.

I knew she was a very bright student,” said Fairbank, who worked hard to prepare himself to teach Danae, despite some of the subjects being difficult for him.

His support, both with her education and emotionally, helped Ontiveros immensely.

“I’m really grateful because if it wasn’t for him, I would be really far behind and I probably wouldn’t get to graduate with my class,” Ontiveros said.

PRHS students would contact her to let her know they were supporting her “It was amazing to see the support from everyone and it was something I never would have expected. It was definitely v e r y uplifting and [it] m e a n t the world to[me]” Ontiveros said.

A lot has changed f o r Ontiveros in the last year, but she looks forward to returning to the normalcy of high school.

“I missed seeing all of my friends and classmates at PRHS. In a lot of ways my high school experience was taken from me and I hope to make up for what I missed out on,” Ontiveros said.

Her friends are excited to see her back and well at PRHS. “It feels more normal with her at school now. It’s like that missing piece is back now,” Claire Farrell said. Maddi Moore agrees that Ontiveros’s return has meant a return to normality for their group.

“We were able to pick up where we left off,” she said.

Danae Ontiveros has triumphed over the trial she faced this year, and now she looks forward to graduating with her class and moving on to college, where she will study to become a pediatric oncology nurse, and one day help kids in situations similar to her own.

“Going into my last round of chemo felt surreal to me...”

Danae Ontiveros, 12

Chanting for the comeback

Senior Cassi Gough has high spirits for recovery

by Sadie Mae Mace, Environment Editor Walking into the hallway at the UC Davis hospital, senior Cassi Gough didn’t feel anxious, scared, or fearful; instead, she felt relief. She was walking into surgery that would correct her from Arnold Chiari Malformation, a painful diagnosis that tried to hold her back from living life to the fullest. As Gough waited with two IVs in her left hand and one in her right, she knew that recovery would be long, but her battle with ACM would leave her victorious.

Arnold Chiari Malformation occurs in one out of every 1,000 births, and women are more likely to be affected than men, according to the National Institution of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The malformation is when the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance, has a structural defect.

Thus, the cerebrospinal fluid is restricted to going to the brain, causing swelling.

Gough stepped into the hospital at Davis for a surgery called Posterior fossa decompression. This surgery relieved the compression on her spinal cord, giving more safety and comfort to Gough. During the surgery, the bone at the back of spine and neck is removed to decompress and provide the natural flow of cerebrospinal fluid and support the brainstem.

The surgery and recovery period was longer for Gough because of an abnormal bone structure near the cerebellum. Only 50 percent of people diagnosed with the malformation have surgery to fix this problem. There are 500,000 people in the United States that have malformation, according to conquerchiari.org. During the recovery process, Gough created a tear in her stitches while watching the football game at Arroyo Grande, causing a spinal fluid leak. Gough is being treated with pain management at Sierra Vista, but says the pain was worth it for going to cheer on her school.

“Having ACM was always just something in the back of my mind...I just learned to relax and not worry,” Gough said. ACM was dormant in Gough her entire life until symptoms appeared on June 2014 , but on Nov. 21, 2014, this worrisome setback was stopped in its tracks, allowing Gough to resume living life to its fullest.

“I was upset at first when my doctor said I wasn’t

allowed to jump or stunt until after my surgery, but I came to realize that none of that mattered as long as I could still be on the sidelines with my team,” said Gough who was elected 2014 Cheer Captain.

Sophomore Taylor Pafumi was diagnosed with ACM on Nov 21 but was re-diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia, which is described as sharp pains in the neck and back of head, according to the Web Medical Doctors. Pafumi still looks up to Gough as an inspiration.

“She’s honestly amazing. She’ll forever be someone I look up to and admire.” Pafumi said.

Seniors Amy Cantrell, Aly Kilcrease, and Riley Benado are close friends with Gough.

Cantrell has known Gough since freshman year, Kilcrease has known her since kindergarten, and Benado is also a captain with her this year. All three friends encourage Gough throughout her diagnosis, surgery and recovery.

“She’s really optimistic; she’s one of the strongest people I know. There is nobody else in the world like her...this was going to be tough but if anyone could get through it it would be her,” Cantrell and Benado said.

“The cheerleaders are cheering for her and hoping that she does well,” Kilcrease added.

Gough looks forward to an exciting senior year.

After graduation, she plans to major in criminology.

“It’s kind of bittersweet. I’m ready to begin my life, but at the same time I’m going to miss cheering, leadership, and all of the wonderful friends I’ve made in high school,” Gough said.

With a spirit like Gough’s, not even Arnold Chiari Malformation can hold her back.

Photos by Maureen Pushea

Sept. 30, 2014

Dec. 1, 2014

Danae’s last round of chemo

Danae returned to school

Nov. 21, 2014

Cassie Gough had her surgery at UC Davis

01.15.15 Feature

07

FEATURE

A ONCE IN A LIFETIME TRIP

A “WICKED” TIME: Junior Alex Bigelow (middle left) poses behind the scenes of the Broadway show “Wicked” with her dad (far right), Elphaba (far left) and Glinda (middle right).

Photo used with permission by Alex Bigelow

Junior Alex Bigelow’s hopes of going to New York City with her father fulfilled

by Maureen Pushea, Photography Director/ Sports Co-Editor

I

t all started with a bet. In the summer of 2013, junior Alex Bigelow asked her dad to take her to Broadway to see a show after becoming a theater connoisseur.

Her father, DJ Bigelow, is also the girls varsity volleyball coach, decided to strike up a deal. He said that if Alex were to become a true Seahawks fan, and they won the Super Bowl, he would take her to New York City to see a Broadway show. The only condition was that Alex had to be able to name four players and their positions. After purchasing a Seahawks jersey and watching all the games, she could do so. Russell Wilson, Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice, and Golden Tate were the lucky four.

“Knowing that it was her 16th birthday soon and knowing how much she wanted it, I decided to make the bet thinking I would’ve taken her regardless and then they won so we really had to do it. Making her become a fan was fun because it got her more connected to something I like”, DJ said.

On Feb. 2, 2014, the Seahawks won the Super Bowl 43-8 against the Denver Broncos.

However, DJ, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2010 that metastasized to his right lung which called for lung removal in May 2013, had his cancer reappear on ribs in the summer of 2014. DJ’s sixth and seventh ribs were removed on July 18. After experiencing post-surgery pain, doctors noticed that he had a hypermetabolic mass on his 8th rib and a mass 2.6 cm in size near his esophagus. On Oct. 12, DJ and wife Holly Bigelow embarked on a trip to the cancer center in Chicago, Illinois and met with multiple specialists to talk about the plan for DJ’s health.

Would DJ’s health threaten the trip to Broadway? Absolutely not.

08

Feature 01.15.15

“I said, ‘You MUST take your daughter to New York, and enjoy precious moments with her, sooner rather than later,’ ” Holly said.

Jon Flynn, a member of the NYPD, shared DJ and Alex’s story with Broadway theater owner Jim Neederlander who thought that they deserved a little special treatment. On Nov. 5, the first night of their trip, Alex and DJ saw “Wicked.” Since Neederlander owned the theatre, he gave Alex and DJ a tour of backstage where they

“I couldn’t really believe it happened ... it was always possible that it might happen, but it actually did. I think surreal is the best word to describe it.”

Alex Bigelow, 11 saw dressing rooms, props, sets, and met the main characters, Elphaba and Galinda. The bonus of the tour was getting to stand on a broadway stage, one of Alex’s biggest dreams.

Next was the show that Alex enjoyed the most; “Once”.

“I had heard a lot of good praise about it so I was really excited to see it...There was a lot of talent and it was beautiful, they presented the story incredibly well. There was so much emotion brought out on that stage. Every bit of it was fantastic” Alex said.

Once is a musical set in Dublin, Ireland in which two musically gifted people meet and create music. The girl, who’s name is never mentioned in the show or program, helps the nameless

guy create music so that he can win back his ex-girlfriend, however he falls in love with the girl and is left to make the decision between the two. With no orchestra, all music is played by the actors on stage throughout the entire show and is known to be one of the best musical soundtracks.

After the show, Alex and DJ “stage doored”, waiting for the cast to emerge. They were lucky enough to meet all the actors and take pictures with the leads, including Paul Alexander Nolan, who played the “Guy”. Talking to Nolan was deemed Alex’s favorite moment of the trip.

Day four in the Big Apple started with a visit from two Bearcat volleyball alumni who go to school in New York, Amanda Burgh and Kellie Reynolds. After navigating the subway, the four were able to ride in a police boat around New York and saw the Statue of Liberty before heading back to the theatre to see “The Lion King”. After the show, Alex and DJ were taken to meet the actors who played Young Simba and Young Nala and had another photo opportunity.

The trip concluded on day five with a performance of the off Broadway show “Stomp”, DJ’s personal request. After the show, the actors emerged from backstage to meet fans, which included DJ and Alex.

As the trip came to a close DJ and Alex both value the experience they had.

“My favorite part was watching Alex have fun. She doesn’t show her excitement a lot and seeing her backstage talking to the actors of Once and seeing how nice they were to her was really fun,” DJ said.

HOPE

INDEPTH

JUNIOR CHLOE HOLSTINE PERSEVERES AFTER LOSING HER FATHER

by Marlee Drake, Food Editor

S

he played with her jacket strings, rolling and unrolling them, as her eyes shifted from the desk to around the room and focused back in front of her. Junior Chloe Holstine spoke softly but without a crack in her voice about the tragedy she faced. Rocking gently back and forth in her seat, she smiled as she talked about the support she received from her family and thought back to the days before she lost her father.

Chloe’s world was suddenly changed for the worst on the night of Oct. 31. Her father, Ronnie Holstine, was coming down the Cuesta Grade.

In the downpour of rain he lost control and hydroplaned, rolling the car. Rescuers couldn’t get to him in time, and he died hours later. Chloe now had to face life without her father.

He used to take her to the lake every day after school, where they would use a friend’s dock and spend the day on jet skis and inner tubes darting around the lake. She laughed when remembering how they would love to go to Magic Mountain, and while everyone else fearfully waited on the ground, the pair would courageously conquer every screaminducing, looping ride in the park.

The pain comes in waves for Chloe as she struggles to accept that her father is gone. She will no longer wake up to her father’s face

on Christmas day or bring in the New Year with him. The tragedy feels like a surreal dream, like she will wake to have her father walk through the door, alive and well. For

“The tragedy feels like a surreal dream, like she will wake to have her father walk through the door, alive and well.”

Matt Drake, History three years, Chloe has lived only with her dad and brother. Now, she has moved in with her aunt and cousins.

But her story isn’t one of hopelessness. Her hope comes in the form of what those who love her are giving her. In her heartbreak, her friends and family have come alongside her to provide whatever she needs. Whether they simply offer a willing listening ear or a house to stay in, they have helped her keep hopeful.

At Trinity Lutheran Church on Nov. 15, people were spilling out the doors to celebrate Ronnie’s life. Chloe’s friends came both to stand by her side and lift her up, as well as to remember

a man who was like a second father to many of them. To Chloe, the service exemplified the love so many people had for her dad. The celebration of life was similarly crowded, and both showed just how strong the support backing Chloe up was.

Chloe has remained strong in her time of heartache, and says she feels she must remain solid to help her brother. Even in the most tragic of times, she will not let herself be defeated, nor would her dad want that for her.

She knows her father wouldn’t want her to live her life stuck in his death. He would want her to keep up with school and sports, and to live as if he were still there.

That is exactly what she intends to do. Despite the hardship she faces, she carries on for her father, for her brother, and for herself.

76

days since Ronnie Hostine passed DANCING WITH DAD (bottom) : Chloe dances with her father at a wedding. The picture was taken a year, four months, and 30 days before Ronnie’s death.

Ronnie Holstine was

REST IN PEACE RONNIE(top) : Chloe holds up her commemorative sweatshirt. The sweatshirt is based on Ronnie’s motocross experience.

44

Photos by Maureen Pushea and used with permission by Chloe Holstine

October 31

years old

Ronnie Holstine hydroplaned and rolled his vehicle, eventually leading to his death.

November 15

the memorial service at Trinity Lutheran Church

14 Ronnie’s racing number

01.15.15 InDepth

09

INDEPTH

“Hope will always be there...”

A Q&A with Junior Victoria Pfeiffer

H

ope: The theme of novels, the moral of fables, the triumph over evil. Hope can illuminate a dark situation, and can help people accomplish great feats or overcome great obstacles. Hope is a powerful emotion, but is it stronger than fear?

Junior Victoria Pfeiffer experienced first-hand the importance of hope during her troubled childhood where she endured both emotional and physical abuse in a former home. Below Pfeiffer provides insight into what this four letter word means to her, and what role it has played in her life.

Q: Is hope stronger than fear?

A: I believe that hope is definitely stronger than fear, based on personal experience. Fear is strong and can be dangerous. There are situations that are beyond scary and hope will always be there and will almost always outshine the horror of this world, as long as you hold onto it.

Q: Is there a difference between being hopeful and being naive? Is there a line where it makes Q: Has having hope ever gotten you you lose sight of reality?

A: There is a passing point within hopefulness where through a struggle? you reach being naive. If you are overly hopeful and

A: A few years of my childhood were the scariest times of my life, I was faced with things I didn’t understand... During those years I felt no hope whatsoever. I was an elementary school student and things changed so suddenly for me; everything became so negative. But as I grew older I found my way out and now I’ve found happiness in life and happiness in myself despite my past. I’ve learned to love the world and learned to love myself. I look back on my past and feel beyond proud of myself.

I found hope and I worked hard and fought for my personal happiness. Being hopeful has led me to where I am today and I love where I’m at today. There definitely was a time in my life where I’ve hit rock bottom and the interesting thing about being at rock bottom is the only place you can go from there is upwards.

Q: What is hope?

expect only the best to come at you and you don’t work towards the good whatsoever, reality is going to end up hitting you hard and catching you off guard.

Q: Is it possible to fix a problem without hope?

A: I don’t believe it’s possible to fix a problem without hope. Hope is what motivates us and drives us forward, without hopefulness we wouldn’t be able to work towards fixing any problems, no matter how small.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add or address that wasn’t mentioned in the questions above?

A: Anyone who feels a lack of hope, anyone who is struggling with anything, you’re all beautiful and unique human beings who deserve the best. This too shall pass and things will look up again.

A: Hope is expecting the positive. Some individuals have much more hope in their heart than others but it’s there for everyone, even if you feel completely hopeless.

Bearcat Chat w What are you hopeful for?

“I’m hopeful for tools to make more of my projects. I make necklaces and charms.”

Anthony Cushing, 9

10

InDepth 01.15.15

“Hopefully I make state rodeo competition and go to nationals.”

Kathryn Varian, 9 “Hope for me is putting all of your effort into one thing and accomplising it. If you don’t have hope you can’t reach your goals.”

Jessica Gage, 12 Photos by Grant Scheiffele and Maureen Pushea

CENTER

the battle of the mind contents

12

Photos by Carly Cargill

freshman struggles with depression and anxiety

13

mental illness overview

13

student mental illness survey results

14

quiz: what is your mental battle?

01.15.15 Center 11

“ CENTER

CENTER

COMMON

THE WORST PART ABOUT HAVING

DEPRESSION

“

& ANXIETY

IS THAT IT LITERALLY TAKES OVER

YOUR LIFE. —Anonymous, 9

Disclaimer: All names in this story have been changed for the safety and the dignity of the students involved.

Her normal smile slowly flattens while the sounds of her heart flutters in her ears. She can feel her hands shaking, and the thought runs through her mind: will she be okay? The crowd seems to close in on her, so her breaths become quicker and shorter. This is the daily struggle of Lucy—suffering from depression and anxiety on the inside where others cannot see her crying for help.

“For so many years, I didn’t tell anyone. I just faked a smile, and if someone asked if something was wrong, I wouldn’t tell them the truth,” said Lucy, who has been meeting with a counselor for around three months.

Her worst fear: large, stuffy crowds. From school days to football games, her struggle is much more than the smile on her face.

“I have had to conquer some of my fears… At the Paso vs.

Atascadero game, I had to go by myself into a huge crowd of people, and just stand there… tell myself, ‘Nothing is going to happen,’ ” Lucy said about her progress.

12

Center 01.15.15

But it hasn’t all been so easily successful.

“The worst part about having anxiety is it literally takes over your life. I’ve let anxiety and depression rule my life for so many years...it makes you not want to do stuff that you [normally] want to do,” Lucy said.

However, her one true passion has not been affected by her depression. She has been able to benefit from dancing for 12 years, letting her emotions show on even the worst days of sadness and anxiousness.

“Dancing is my only escape from anxiety and depression. Dancing is so powerful,” said Lucy, who has tried several studios in town but more recently only dances at PRHS. Lucy said that childhood friend Karen has helped her through the worst and continues to stick by her side. Slowly but surely, Lucy is conquering her depression.

—Carly Cargill, Co-Editor-in-Chief

WAR INSIDE THE MIND COPING MECHANISMS

DENIAL

This is thought to be one of the most common forms of coping in people with illnesses like depression or anxiety.

“It is a characteristic of early childhood development,” meaning it is formed as a habit in adolescence, according to psychcentral.com. “Many people use denial in their everyday lives to avoid dealing with painful feelings or areas of their life they don’t wish to admit.”

REGRESSION

Due to too much stress and anxiety, some people resort to past habits from earlier in their childhoods, like refusing to get out of bed to do regular activities or wetting the bed.

They believe their overwhelming impulses in their social, work, and family lives are far from acceptable, so they go back to the habits they held as a child.

SPLITTING

Often, people with mental illnesses will characterize people into categories like, “all good” or “all bad,” and nothing in between, according to mentalhelp.net. For example, they will say they hate their teacher for making them take an exam before a break, when really the teacher has no other choice but have the test that day.

PROJECTION

Projection is the inability to admit bad feelings towards another person or object, therefore the hate is “originated” by that person or thing, according to mentalhelp.net. Externalization, or blaming others instead of confessing to wrongdoings, is a form of projection.

ACTING OUT When a person is suffering from a mental illness, he or she has the tendency to act on impulses without considering the consequences of those actions, much like a child would do.

—Carly Cargill, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Everyday life can cause depression

by Mariela Villa, Business Manager

D

epression isn’t just a feeling of sadness, but of restlessness, emptiness, lifeless and aggressiveness. Every person is different. Depression is something that interferes with everyday life, and leaves a person feeling worthless, helpless, and hopeless.

Everyone experiences some sort of sadness at one point in life. Each sort of sadnesses is different, because the light at the end of the tunnel may seem impossible to reach.

Depression can occur to anyone in any point in life and is most likely to occur around the ages of 25 to 44. Within an entire lifetime, major depression will affect 10 percent to 25 percent of women and five to 12 percent of men. According to Healthline, one in 10 people in America will have depression at one point in time. No one truly knows what causes depression but experts say many things factor in to cause it. In some cases, a series of events may trigger depression or one event may trigger this illness. Family matters happen whether the home is broken or not; they come from an abusive household, or being passed down genetically. Someone’s personality may also be a factor in causing depression, because of self esteem issues, such as a perfectionist who can’t take criticism. A person could make it seem that they are happy or always positive when really its just a facade that they pull on a daily norm. Drug or alcohol abuse can lead to or be a result of depression because of one’s need to resort to such behaviors and become a drug addict or alcoholic, according to all

about depression.

Whether someone seems collected or in pieces they could get depression. One may come from what seems like a stable home but in reality it’s not. It may seem like they have their entire life together but in reality they are just broken inside. No matter the background, race, gender, or age, you can get depression.

Common cases of depression come from a lost of a beloved family member, trauma as a child and divorce or parting from partner, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Women are twice as likely to get this illness than men, but men may have a different way of showing their depression. Every individual has a different way of dealing with the illness but generally, according to helpguide, women tend to feel sadness, hopelessness, and avoid conflict. Meanwhile men tend to feel angry, restlessness, and cause ruckus and conflict, according to helpguide.org on depression.

About 11 percent of adolescents have a depressive disorder by age 18 according to the National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement.

“One in ten people in America will have depression at one point in time.”

Healthline

10%

OF STUDENTS ARE CLINICALLY

DEPRESSED

44% 27%

relate depression to family

14%

relate depression to bullying

relate depression to family

66%

relate depression to stress

206 PRHS students surveyed

Graphics and Photos by Carly Cargill

01.15.15 Center

13

CENTER

HELP SURROUNDS US

Schools supports students with victims of mental illness

by Stephen Preston, Opinion Editor

T

here is an elephant in the room when it comes to why many students struggle in school; it is a topic often avoided and swept under a rug. These students face a diverse portfolio of problems that prohibit academic and social progress and success. More often, however, schools provide necessary services to pair afflicted students with the resources they need.

Mental illnesses are the leading cause of dropouts, and schools have a vested interest in insuring graduation. In fact, more than one in five adolescents experience a mental illness that can cause struggles at home, school, or with peers.

Of those, half drop out because of their illness and only 20 percent are properly diagnosed and receive proper treatment, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

PRHS has many programs,that often go unadvertised but never unavailable, designed to assist students facing risks to their mental health. “...[We] have a program that all schools have called the Student Steady Team; ...if a teacher notices a student is... having issues…they fill out a form and get it to [the Student Steady Team]...and [they] have a meeting with the student... [and] any organizations or groups that are relevant to the meeting to see what we can do to help that student...”said Principal Randy Nelson. The school also offers a Severely Handicapped program as well as a Therapeutic Learning Class. “We have a comprehensible high school probably in more sense of the term than most people realize…”

Assistant Principal Thomas Harrington uses peers as a more insightful approach to dealing with students. “...Peers are a lot more insightful to the pressures of what’s going on in that teenager’s life...The counselors are the central point of communication and they are the ones who will reach out in the community and find the services, and connect the services with the...student... not necessarily a therapist...we deal with more critical, emergency [situations],” Harrington said.

It must be noted that schools are not legally

bound or obligated to provide any mental healthbased counseling or therapy related services to students. However, change may come one day, as a bill demanding revision of the education code to include this was introduced to Congress in early 2013. Schools can provide these services if they are deemed necessary and relevant, and actions can be taken to protect students from themselves or external pressures.

“Section 504 of the American Disabilities Act is a federal law, that when a medical condition affects your academic performance...we can make modifications and accommodations to give them support,” Harrington said.

On campus, all faculty are aware of students’ behavior, and if something appears to be hindering a student’s academic progress, it is reported to the counselors.

“If there’s any kind of issue… [faculty] get that kind of information to the counselors, who then... connect that student with the resources they need,” Harrington said.

SLO County’s Mobile Crisis Response team also serves a large role in students’ mental health.

Harrington says, “...the County Mental Health Team are professionals... counselors can call the team, and they’ll come out and assess the situation... they do a great job and we rely very heavily on them.”

“When we are made knowledgeable... of [a student] we don’t have the resources to address… that’s when we look outside to try and find other avenues for help for that individual…,” said Nelson. If a student is to go to a counselor with their problem, all information exchanged is kept confidential.

The school cannot help everyone alone, however; friends must take on their role.

“That’s the big thing...if you see one of your friends, or even if you don’t know them, and you know they might be in need of some help...by all means let someone know...so we can reach out to them, we want them to be safe and secure and successful,” Nelson said.

“[If] you know they might be in need of some help...Let someone know so we can reach out to them.”

Randy Nelson, Principal

14

Center 01.15.15

What’s your mental battle?

Quiz to test signs of depression, paranoia, and other mental illnesses

by Rachel Cole, Co-Editor-in-Chief

This is a tool to help you understand your mind and state of well-being. This is not a tool to diagnose mental health problems or illnesses, or prescribe any sort of help. If you feel that you are a danger to yourself or others, or if you believe that you may need help, it is best if you go to see a professional who can properly advise you.

Do you feel the need to be alone more often at some times and less at others?

A. Yes B. No When alone or with others, do you feel that others control what you think, say, or do?

A. Yes B. No How much do you sleep each night?

A. 0-2 hrs B. 2-4 hrs

C. 4-6 hrs D. 6-8 hrs

E. 8 hrs +

What is your typical morning feeling when you wake up?

A. Distraught and disturbed about the day B. Lethargic but ready for the day C. Energetic Do you ever have thoughts about self-harming or suicide?

A. Yes B. No Do you have periods of time when you simultaneously feel elated and dragged down?

A. Yes B. No

How often do you feel that others are plotting against you?

A. Always B. Most of the time

C. Sometimes D. Occasionally E. Never

What are you most likely to be doing in class?

A. Extrememly agitated, perhaps talking to yourself B. Upset and trying to ignore everything around you C. Not understanding what the teacher is saying D. Calmly listening to the teacher and taking notes How often do you feel that you can trust yourself and your thoughts?

A. Never B. Occasionally C. Sometimes

D. Most of the time E. Always

What do you see yourself doing as an adult?

A.Being constantly distressed and stressed out over a lack of work, or a job that you hate B. Being unhappy with your situation in work C.Working a good job that you aren’t in love with D.Having a job that you enjoy and hoped for How often do you feel that you are energetic and ready to face the day?

A. Never B. Occasionally C. Sometimes

D. Most of the time E. Always

How often do you trust others in your life, or feel that you can talk to them about problems in your life?

A. Never B. Occasionally C. Sometimes

D. Most of the time E. Always

If you answered mostly A then it is possible that you are struggling with bipolar disorder, depression, or schizophrenia, and you could seek help.

If you answered mostly B or C then it is a slight possibility that you are struggling with bipolar disorder, depression, or schizophrenia, and you could seek help.

If you answered mostly D or E then it is unlikely that you are struggling with bipolar disorder, depression, or schizophrenia.

ADS

FAHRENHEIT

on Ebay online

Check out our store. We have collectibles old and new, dolls, games, toys, action figures, memorabilia, a little bit of everything. Purchase $20 or more and we will deliver it and refund the shipping charge in Paso Robles, Templeton, and San Miguel. No waiting for the postman.

To find, go to Ebay > advanced search > stores > find stores > and enter FAHRENHEIT or Scan QR code with your smartphone to link you directly to the store.

Find it. Pay for it. We deliver it.

01.15.15 Ads 15

FOOD

AMAZING EATERIES Guide to downtown restaurants for every occasion

by Amy Cantrell, Copy Editor

14th Street

Riverside Avenue

Railroad Street

12th Street

Pine Street

Park Street

Legend:

13th Street Spring Street

In a small town such as Paso Robles, it can be hard to branch out and discover new places to eat. This guide focuses on restaurants that are perfect for all occasions.

We had four of our staff review three of the great resturants that downtown has to offer.

These reviews can be found on the next page.

Date night ($$$) These restaurants are perfect for a fancy night out. While they can be more expensive, special occasions can be cause to stretch the pocketbook out.

11th Street Park Street

#1 Odyssey World Cafe- world cuisine #2 Robert’s- upscale American dishes #11 Cool Hand Luke’s- steak house #3 Estrella- modern Latin eatery #4 Yanagi- Japanese/ Teppanyaki

Downtown Park

Night out with friends ($$)

When you’re out with friends and have a couple extra dollars to spend, these places offer a fun atmosphere while still being price-conscious. #9 Basil- Thai food #5 Marv’s- pizza #13 Thai Classic- Thai Food #10 Downtown Brew- American comfort food #12 La Cosecha- Spanish and South American Cuisine

16

Food 01.15.15

Graphic by Nichole Landon

10th Street

Cheap eats ($)

“Student” is almost synonymous with “penniless,” so here are some easy meal restaurant ideas to get a bite to eat and not break the bank. #14 Red Scooter Deli- sandwiches #6 La Mexicana- authentic Mexican dishes #7 Cowgirl Cafe- comfort food #8 Jaffa Cafe- Mediterranean cuisine

FOOD

Rolling with the sushi

The verdict:

Yanagi impresses with authentic dining and quality service

by Eden Peterson and Michelle McPherson, Feature Co-Editors

Type of Food: Japanese style Sushi and Grill Price: $$$ Menu prices range from $11 to $22

Yanagi is a small, welcoming restaurant with a fish tank, teppan table, unique lamps, and direct view of the Acorn Tower to liven the setting. The food was tasty and arrived fairly quickly. The cabbage and wasabi was a nice complementary addition to the meal as it gave us something to try while we were waiting. The Deep Fried California Roll was crisp and delicious, and went perfectly with the sweet eel sauce. The Yaki Soba, which they allowed us to order without chicken or shrimp since I’m a vegetarian, was a noodle dish that was very flavorful and was cooked in a

sauce that tasted similar to teriyaki or soy sauce. The assorted vegetables were also quite tasty and cooked just right so that they weren’t mushy, limp, and bland as can happen far too often with cooked veggies. The service was quick, knowledgeable, and helpful. Although the food did arrive at different times, we forgave them due to their exceptional friendliness as they greeted us with a smile and sent us off with a cheerful goodbye and a mint. While it is a little on the pricier side, if you’re feeling adventurous and are tired of burger joints, I’d definitely give Yanagi a try on your next date night or outing with friends.

Yanagi- Deep fried california roll

La Cosecha spices things up

The verdict:

An affordable segway to South American culture

by Stephen Preston, Opinion Editor

Type of Food: South American with Spanish and Mexican fusion Price: $$ Midday menu prices range from $7 to $15

La Cosecha- Pastelitos

To try something I’ve wanted to for a long time, I took a trip to La Cosecha. The interior featured dim lighting, dark colors, and rhythmic Brazilian music. The menu included pastelitos, which are a Honduran twist on the empanada. My girlfriend ordered the fried calamari, which came with an accompaniment of chile sauce and horseradish. My order of pastelitos came in a pair; they were smothered in a sort of red sauce and topped with something like cole slaw and a large slice of a large, fresh tomato. They contained everything expected, sans dried fruit, and had a different cast of spices, evident of the Honduran nature of these pastelitos. I sampled my girlfriend’s calamari, which was lightly battered, and an attractive shade of golden brown. I found the dish to be savory and

A Golden Experience

crispy, but better enjoyed with the chile sauce. Not yet feeling satisfied, we decided to order chilaquiles. Chilaquiles are traditionally a Mexican breakfast dish but the La Cosecha twist included salted, homemade corn chips with shredded pork in a chile verde sauce, avocado, sour cream, pico de gallo, and a poached egg. This dish was as appealing to the eye as it was to the pallette. Resting in a authentic ceramic bowl, a rainbow of all the different ingredients was presented to me, a mountain of flavor topped with a freshly poached egg, still steaming. I was delighted by the plentiful and savory-spicy flavors of this dish. It was only lacking in that it could’ve used more sour cream, avocado, and pico de gallo, as towards the end of the dish we were left with a fair amount of shredded pork lacking in anything to go with it save chile verde sauce. Overall, La Cosecha was an incredibly enjoyable and surprisingly affordable experience, perfect for a date or inexpensive, light lunch!

The verdict:

A delectable review of Basil

By Mila Robb-Hiteshew, Fun & Games Co-Editor

Type of food: Thai Price: $$ Menu prices range from $7 to $13 As soon as the door opens, the smell of curry and noodles is prevalent. At Basil, there is the option to make reservations, so it would be a good place to host larger groups. I noticed several families with young children, couples, and small groups of friends. The restaurant has a window to view into the kitchen and also a wall of tall windows that look out to the Downtown park. Although the lighting is rather dark, the bright, authentic artwork and sculptures shine through the room. The service was quick even though it was pretty busy.

My waitress was quick to take drink orders. I ordered the

classic Thai Iced Tea: a beverage where spicy Thai tea, sweet cream, and ice cubes mix to make one dulcet drink.

After the drinks arrived, the appetizer of Golden Bags wasn’t far behind. The petite fried pouches made from rice paper were holding creamy, gooey, sautéed sweet potatoes. The combination of the crunch and sweet potato made them truly golden. Next to the Golden Bags was a refreshing cucumber salad with sesame sauce that was a tasty savory sweet addition. Basil is a fun place to go to celebrate a school accomplishment with family or to have a nice meal with friends.

Photos by Stephen Preston, Michelle McPherson, Eden Peterson, Mila Robb-Hiteshew

Basil- Golden bags 01.15.15 Food 17

SPACE

SCI TECH

18

Sci Tech 01.15.15

is humanity reviving exploration?

by Mayer Pohlod, World Editor

Dream jobs always catch the curious eye of children.

Everybody is fascinated with a career as a police officer, firefighter, or pro athlete. Or an astronaut.

The present and future job of astronaut holds something a bit different these days.

Complex exploration, residence on other planets and even commercial space tours have replaced the old scenarios of moon landings.

A new age of a revived interest in space is embodied in many different revolutions and companies in the world, still led worldwide by NASA—the National Aeronautics and Space Administration— the most well known organization that has to do with space. Virgin Air, SpaceX, and the country of China itself have all contributed to advancements in space exploration.

SpaceX, a private company founded in 2002, has already impacted space exploration, manufacturing main components of what is needed to create a space expedition, including their spacecraft. They were originally founded by Elon Musk “to revolutionize space technology,” enabling people to live on other planets, according to the SpaceX website.

Some projects that SpaceX has completed thus far are Dragon, the first privately developed spacecraft in history to re-enter from low-earth orbit, and the Grasshopper, a reusable rocket , with the most notable being the Falcon 9, a two-stage rocket that has delivered multiple satellites into space.

They will also be fulfilling a $1.6 billion contract with NASA to fly 12 cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station.

Virgin America has also been making its own strides into a more educational and available space future.

More accurately Virgin Galactic, the company aims for commercial space flight much like it’s original airline company. It says it wants a realistic opportunity for the average person to travel into the unknown of space,

of planning their own space station, planned to launch in 2020.

Space isn’t all about the discovery approach; analytical and practical aspects of observing space make it mysterious and interesting. This week scientists announced they had found eight new planets compatible with liquid water.

Black holes have puzzled scientists since they were first theorized in the 1790s by John Mitchell and Pierre-Simon Laplace, and perpetuated again after Einstein’s theory of relativity predicted and gave a basis for black holes. The actual term was coined in 1967 by physicist John Wheeler.

A DRAGON IN ORBIT: The Dragon is SpaceX’s cargo and personnel ship.

In 2012 the Dragon made history by being the first commercial aircraft to deliver cargo to the International Space Station.

SPACe LEADerS

launching the SpaceShipTwo and LauncherOne projects, a ship and satellite respectively. They’re hoping these two spacecraft to create that realistic environment and gather information that would allow a greater amount of people to venture off of Earth.

Virgin takes an educational position on space, claiming their projects can create educational opportunities in which students back on Earth could learn by flying “suborbital experiments while still in school [giving them] an enormous head start on their careers.”

Other countries join the U.S. push. Gone are the days of Russia, the Space Race, and the Sputnik; China is diving into the gigantic expanse of space: they’ve launched satellites, probes, moon missions, humans, and almost anything into space. They even are currently in the middle

EVERYDAY ASTRONAUTS: Virgin’s Space Ship 2 is designed to carry everyday passengers into space-- for $250,000. Despite the high costs Virgin Galactic is reporting a high number of interested consumers.

Black holes occur when a massive or super massive star collapses, causing a gravitational pull so intense not even light can escape its grip. Although we cannot physically see them, measurements of gas cloud speeds--and disappearances of their data--support the existence.

Dark matter, thought to be what’s occupying the vacuum of space, is getting much attention. Physics teach that something must occupy the areas between cosmic bodies such as suns and planets and moons rather than a vague emptiness. Hard evidence that dark matter exists will best be aided from spacecraft data.

Overall, it’s an exciting time to be interested in space.

With all the new innovations being made by SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, the continued push for exploration by NASA and China among other countries, and the ongoing discovery of evidence of black holes and possibly dark matter, there’s a wealth of constant information being made available. Now that it’s known what the plans are for space, it’ll just be a wait too see how companies and countries deliver, and who has the smartest physicists and engineers.

SpaceX Virgin Galactic European Space Agency NASA China Photo illustrations by Brandon Kearns

guide to building your own PC

SCI TECH

by Brandon Kearns, Sci Tech Editor

Find your budget: You have to know how much you are willing to spend.

It’s also a good idea to plan ahead because you might be able to pick up parts as money becomes available. Saving up $1500 is more difficult than saving $300.

1

Figure out what you need: This goes along with step 1. Once you know what type of PC you want to build you’ll be able to decide how much you can spend. If you’re going to be using your PC only for school work you probably shouldn’t spend $1000 on your build.

2

Do your research: Not all parts are the same, yet some parts can cover a wide variety of needs. If you don’t plan on playing the newest video games or editing video then you probably don’t need that $500 graphics card.

Instead spend a little more on your processor, then you’ll benefit from the built in graphics and be able to play some older games.

3

Pre-build: Either find a proven parts list or go to a site like PCPartPicker. com to find your chosen parts. Many computer parts simply aren’t compatible with each other, so it’s better that you find out online instead of after you buy.

4

7a The motherboard is the biggest part. There

Prioritize: If you plan on building a PC gaming behemoth don’t buy that $750 graphics card first. Again, a good processor can cover your basic graphical needs until you have the money. First you should buy the essentials: your case, motherboard, CPU (processor), power supply, hard drive, RAM, operating system, and peripherals (mouse, keyboard, monitor) if you don’t have any. With these you’ll be able to at least use your computer while saving up for those final big purchases.

5

Purchasing: It may seem straight forward but this is one of the trickiest parts. Computer components are a pretty volatile market, so you need to pay attention to the prices. 8GB of RAM for $80 is fairly cheap while $100 is on the high end. PCPartPicker.com has charts that will show you the price history for parts on sites like Amazon, Newegg and Tigerdirect, so use that to your advantage.

6

Building: Finally! The time has come to put all those parts together. The basics of building a PC are pretty simple. Step one is going to be opening up your case and figuring out the layout. Not every case is the same, and some have pretty interesting layouts.

7

Next step is installing the hard drive. On

7d most cases there will be a bay near the

will probably be some plate you replace the faux back of your case with, as the old one was a place holder and the new one is specific to your board. Besides that, make sure your board is positioned correctly in the case, and then you can screw the board to the case.

front of the case that can house a number of hard drives. Slot the drive into the bay and connect the corresponding cable to the motherboard.

7b After that what you’ll need to do is mount

7e Once you’ve powered on your PC, and

your power supply. The power supply generally resides at the back of the PC in its own designated slot. Make sure all the screws are nice and tight, but don’t over do it. Who knows when you’ll need to replace it.

nothing blows up, hook up your peripherals to the motherboard via the ports on the back. If everything is working correctly you should see some lines of text on your monitor. At this point we will need to install your OS of choice.

7c Once you’ve attached the motherboard

7f choice of hardware. Many people still have

and power supply, you’re going to begin slotting in your RAM, CPU and power cables.

Although there isn’t a specified order, some combinations of parts require that you attach the cables running from your power supply first, as you won’t be able to once you’ve put the other parts on the board.

You’re finished! Now you’re PC should run your programs, internet browser, etc. If you have any more parts to add then simply research online how to install their hardware and software, unplug your computer, and incorporate them into your PC.

Now this next step depends on your

optical drives in their desktop PCs, yet not everyone chooses to use them. If you have one then simply place the OS disc in the disc tray and follow the onscreen instructions. Some people choose to use smaller operating systems that can be loaded from a flashdrive. If so then plug the flashdrive into your PC and follow the onscreen instructions.

8

Photos by Brandon Kearns 01.15.15 Sci Tech 19

W

{{

{

ith the prospect of love to warm their hearts on a cold December day, seniors Lauren Reed and Jonathan Baldwin met on Dec. 19 at 11 a.m. to have an enchanting afternoon on the ice.

Although apprehensive at first—and sharing horror stories of bad ice skating history— the daters were filled with excitement to give it another try. On Jonathan Baldwin, 12 the way down Hwy 101 to Atascadero, conversation was quickly struck up on the topics of their families’ holiday traditions “When she and plans for slipped and fell break. Between the on the railing.” conversations, playful jests were exchanged about each other's sports. The varsity football captain and girls varsity water polo captain didn’t hold the jokes back.

After arriving early for the skating session, the two leisurely walked through Atascadero’s City Park and downtown area while talking about their college plans. Baldwin has committed to Northern Arizona University and Reed has applied to Pepperdine, Biola, and UC San Diego, among other schools.

A date on skates Seniors glide to romance on the ice

by Alysia Kilcrease, Social Media Manager and Amy Cantrell, Copy Editor

Before entering the rink, Reed warned Baldwin about her lack of skating skills, which proved to be true the moment her blades touched the ice. “I think I am going to Alaska next year to Olympic ice skate,” Reed said jokingly. She struggled to keep her balance, allowing Baldwin to gallantly help her up many times. Baldwin finally took a tumble, which gave Reed a chance to celebrate that she was no longer the only one to fall.

Lauren Reed, 12 After working up an appetite, the two took off their skates and walked across the street to Sylvester’s for “Going really a late lunch. fast on the [ice] Reed ordered a tasty skates.” mushroom dish and Baldwin ordered a Hawaiian style burger.

Unfortunately, the date had to be cut short due to Baldwin’s basketball practice, but this didn’t stop the daters from sharing quite a few falls and memories-- great ways to glide into winter break and end a warm, hilarious blind date.

{

BLIND DATE

Rate the date

Rate: 9.5

Favorite part:

Second date?

Yes

20

Blind Date 01.15.15

Rate: 10

Favorite part:

Second date?

Yes

SLIPPERY (above) : Reed looks for aid from Baldwin as she first steps foot on the ice. Baldwin laughed and helped her up.

Photos by Alysia Kilcrease and Amy Cantrell

BLADES ON ICE Phone: (805) 748-1520 Address: 6420 El Camino Real Atascadero, CA

atascaderoblades.com

CARMESI

Los nuevos miembros del consejo instalados y presupuestos rebota Kathleen Hall y Tim Gearhart se unen oficialmente a la Junta Escolar de Paso escrito por Eden Peterson, Feature Co-Editor y Emily Ayer, Managing Editor Miembros de la Junta escolar, Kathleen Pasillo, Timothy Gearhart, y Field Gibson se instalaron en el Consejo Escolar, de siete miembros, en la reunión mensual del noveno de diciembre que también anunció el primer presupuesto positivo distrito escolar en tres años. Hall era un nuevo miembro a la junta después de las elecciones de noviembre mientras Gearhart regresaba a la junta después de un paréntesis de dos años y Gibson fue reelegido y tomó el lugar del presidente del junta escolar.

Hall y Gearhart están tomando el lugar de los antiguos miembros Jay Packer y Pastor Katy Griffin. Packer bajó de la junta escolar, después de servir durante ocho años con el fin de pasar más tiempo con la familia, mientras que el miembro de cuatro años Griffin corrió a la reelección, pero se ganó a un lugar por Gearhart, que lideran las encuestas con 25.53 por ciento de los votos, Gibson, con 19.06 por ciento de los votos, y Hall con 18.89 por ciento de los votos.

"Ha sido un reto gratificante ... el Consejo Escolar se dirige en la dirección correcta. Ya ha habido algunos cambios positivos ", dijo Packer durante su discurso de renuncia en la reunión del consejo en diciembre.

Griffin también dejó la junta con una nota positiva.

"Soy capaz de salir con una gran paz sabiendo que el futuro será brillante", dijo Griffin.

Durante los últimos tres años el presupuesto ha estado en crisis incluso obtener una certificación negativa por su gestión financiera y que conduce a medidas drásticas para ayudar a reanimar el presupuesto incluyendo días de descanso y cortar remuneración de los maestros. Muchas personas se sentían como el Distrito Escolar no iba en la dirección correcta y había perdido su confianza en Superintendente anterior Kathleen McNamara y anterior Negocios Superintendente Elizabeth Wilson.

Poco después de discurso de dimisión de Packer y de Griffin,

SENTANDO ENFRENTE: Miembros del consejo sienten enfrente del cuarto. Este el el consejo viejo sin Gearheart y Hall.

Foto por Emily Ayer

Hall, Gearhart, y Gibson fueron juramentados bajo la promesa de servir a las necesidades de los niños en el distrito, la defensa de la Constitución y la práctica de la Misión de la Escuela Pública de Paso Robles: "Nuestra misión es ofrecer una educación ejemplar, en un ambiente seguro que permite a los estudiantes con las habilidades, conocimientos y actitudes necesarias para el éxito en un mundo en constante cambio ".

Cuando esté sentado oficialmente en el tablero, Hall y Gearhart abordaron la junta y los asistentes acerca de sus sentimientos sobre ser elegido.

"Yo no te puedo decir que estoy muy orgulloso de ser elegido para representar a las familias [en este distrito ...] Voy a trabajar

“Ya ha habido algunos cambios positivos” Jay Packer muy, muy duro para hacer una diferencia en las vidas de nuestros hijos", dijo Hall.

Gearhart compartió un sentimiento similar.

"Ditto", dijo Gearhart en un discurso de Hall, "... Estoy contento de estar de vuelta" Gearhart continuó hacia comentario ambiguamente en el hecho de que los maestros y profesores del distrito amplia han estado haciendo sacrificios y trabajar duro y algún tipo de compensación está en orden.

Con la nueva tarjeta asentado oficialmente, se reasignaron las posiciones abiertas de la oficina del presidente, secretario, y el secretario. Gibson fue nombrado para el cargo el presidente y elegido por unanimidad por el consejo de siete a cero. Gearhart

fue nominado para secretario de Chris Bausch para que el secretario, pero respetuosamente declino la nominación, y luego miembro del consejo Joel Peterson fue nominado para secretario y elegido por unanimidad para el cargo también por unanimidad. Superintendente Chris Williams se ofreció voluntariamente para el cargo de Secretario y fue elegido por unanimidad para esa posición.

CFO interino Sandra Lepley, que llegó a la junta escolar con más de 40 años de experiencia, ha presentado el primer presupuesto provisional en tres años en el lado positivo de la balanza, dando inicio a la nueva legislatura los miembros del consejo con una nota positiva. Los miembros del Consejo y miembros de la comunidad que asistieron a la reunión fueron muy contentos de ver la proyección del presupuesto primero "transparente" y claro en un largo tiempo.

"Gracias por traer un presupuesto transparente precisa tal ... y no sólo tirando de números en el aire", dijo el miembro del consejo.

Williams y los miembros de la junta son satisfechos con un trabajo preciso y minucioso de Lepley.

"Yo había trabajado con [Lepley] el districto anterior y yo sabía que tenia experiencia ... Yo tenía una gran relación con ella y un alto nivel de confianza ... Ella es muy elocuente pero ella también entiende la información que está ahí. Fue un presupuesto muy transparente que nuestra comunidad no ha visto realmente en bastante tiempo. El presupuesto había especificado artículos de línea y nos quedamos muy transparente porque una parte de la construcción de la confianza en la cultura ", dijo Williams.

Con un presupuesto positivo, los nuevos miembros de la junta, nuevo director financiero, y un Williams recientemente nombrado, el Distrito Escolar Paso tiene un aire de cambio, uno que está poniendo el foco en los estudiantes.

01.15.15 Carmesí 21

ADS

22

Ads 01.15.15

SPORTS

Bailey Gaither

MVP

The future San Jose State Spartan takes home more honors after stellar season

by Matt Tyra, Sports Co-Editor

T

hough he will be roaming a bigger stadium next year, the football legacy senior receiver Bailey Gaither will leave behind is unforgettable— and has grown since the Dec. 13 close of his team’s historic season.

Gaither was named the PAC-5 Player of the Year, North County Player of the Year, County Player of the Year, and the KSBY Player of the Year. This unequaled awards list cements his status as one of the greatest Bearcat football players of all time. “[This season was] great! Couldn’t have done it without my teammates and coaches though, ” Gaither said.

While Gaither’s hardware is nothing short of impressive, none of it comes as a surprise after a look at his season stats.

Gaither accounted for 30 total touchdowns this season, racking up 1453 receiving yards on a 21.1 yard per reception average. He also averaged 6.2 yards per rush, taking over as starting running back near the end of the ‘Cats CIF run. Gaither even started at safety, pulling in an interception. He played both ways all year long.

Gaither was often there when Paso needed him most, coming up with a clutch fumble return for a touchdown against Arroyo Grande in—followed by a game-winning two point conversion. He also came up huge in the ‘Cats CIF Championship against Newbury Park, scoring the game winning touchdown in a tightly contested 13-10 match.

As this season has ended, Gaither now has his sights set on the college stage, where he will be playing for the San Jose State Spartans. Regardless of his success in this next endeavor, Gaither will forever be remembered in the annals of Bearcat lore.

PAC 5 Player of the Year North Country Player of the Year County Player of the Year KSBY Player of the Year

Photos by Carly Cargill, Lauren Wassam and graphics by Maureen Pushea

Bryce Pasky IT’S GOOD

THE REAL

IT’S UP &

Senior Bryce Pasky earns praise for kicking performance

by Brandon Kearns, Co Editor

I

n football many times the most respected positions on the fields are those that throw, catch, and run the ball, yet you don’t usually hear about the other positions on the team. The kicker is often the least mentioned due to the perceived lack of athleticism needed at the position, yet for Paso Robles their kicker may be the most decorated player from the 2014 season. Senior Bryce Pasky earned spots on the All North County football team, the All State football team, and the Los Angeles All-Star football team.

Pasky commented saying his favorite part of the season was the moment the mud settled and the clock ran out at the end of regulation during the CIF championship game against Newbury Park.

“Many of us put so much heart and effort into the off season, and it finally paid off in the end. Just being able to have such an incredible ending to an incredible journey made it very special,” said Pasky, who kicked eight field goals for the Bearcats during their eventual CIF championship run.

During the regional game the next week, Pasky made a diving tackle on the opening kickoff to save the Bearcats from a kickoff return for a touchdown. In the process he injured his knee, an injury that would hold Pasky out for the rest of the game.

“Personally I couldn’t get over how I got hurt on the opening kickoff, so I was pretty mad and upset. Then after watching the game it felt like we just broke down. Bailey [Gaither] didn’t play, I was hurt, and then Ty [Jones] was knocked out from the game. All of this just broke our spirits out on the field, and it was nearly impossible to boost them after all that. It was a game where nothing went our way,” Pasky said.

For Pasky the future is now uncertain. He is scheduled to undergo surgery for his knee on Jan. 28th, and his chance to kick in college is now in jeopardy.

“After [the surgery] I can start the recovery process, and eventually get back into kicking again. But for now Dr. Mooney said to pick a college where I want to go to school, not where I want to play football. Once my leg is healthy I can try out for a team and hopefully walk on,” Pasky said.

Although he is no longer part of Paso’s varsity team, and his own future remains uncertain, Pasky hopes that the younger players from the 2014 team will unite for the 2015 season because for him no award can surmount winning with his team.

All North County team All State team Los Angeles All-Star team

01.15.15 Sports

23

SPORTS

ya villa

Boys varsity soccer aiming for another strong season

by Mariela Villa, Business Manager

S

24

Sports 01.15.15

s om ore Sop h Freshmen

Photo and Graphic by Mariela Villa and Maureen Pushea

sh

SOARING HIGH (above) : Senior Rafael Mincitar jumps to head the ball in the game against Templeton on Tuesday, Dec 9.

au

ric

Sa

Le

sC

an

Lui

M

ul

oM

Pa

io

M

inc

ch

ec

arq o po uina ver de Victo r Rod riguez Nico De lgado Ben Premenko am

been in. Legacy has been winning at tournaments and were the runner-up at the State cup in 2013.

“Most of us grew up playing together and we know more about each other and how we play than last year,” said team captain senior Luis Reyes.

Varsity veteran Jc Ruiz agrees with Reyes.

“I feel like a lot of us have [grown] both mentally and physically, some playing different positions and a different tactic than we did with club,” said Ruiz.

Even if the team seems to be dominated by the upperclassmen, the underclassmen still have a chance. No one has a secure spot on the starting squad.

“It’s a little nerve-wracking because you are one of the younger ones, but also really good because you know you made a really good accomplishment. I’m very grateful for that. As a freshman it's really hard to earn a position,” said freshman Victor Rodriguez.

But even with the veterans and the newcomers, they are still a team and have created a bond over FIFA tournaments, which is a soccer video game, going to each other’s houses for bonfires and just joking around with each other. One of their many jokes that seems to have sticked, creating hashtags and other things, is Ya Villa: “[It] was created because Juan Carlos Villa would always say ‘Ya___’ when we would be talking a lot or sort of boasting about ourselves. So then the whole team started saying it towards Villa and saying Ya Villa,” said Bustamante laughing.

With the jokes on and off the field and bonding, becoming closer and learning each other’s style, the boys’ chemistry on the field is unstoppable because they are always there for each other.

Jesus Pantaleon Jonathan Torres Go Sugiyama Ruiz Juan Carlos Ben Mecham arker Carson B z utierre Nick G r a t i Minc Rafa a d e Oje n Josu a Rom s Rafa s Reye Lui o Pin a r an Ju Cua lla e Vi e Jos los ant r Ca tam s Bu

J

Ju

WIN Loss TIE

s r o i un

Jo

4-1-3

tarting off the season with their first league win against the Atascadero Greyhounds with a 5-2 win, the Bearcats are off to a great start of the season.

Falling while on the cusp of glory but coming home with memories that they will never forget, they were given the opportunity to continue playing in CIF because of a wildcard placement in their favor, and the boys soccer varsity team couldn’t be any happier.

Now with the new year, they hope to achieve even greater glory than last year, as evidenced by them winning their pre-season games and getting second in the December Cats and Hounds Tournament at PRHS. “This year’s team is more well rounded as a whole. Our whole squad consists of an equal amount of players to fill certain positions which results in our players striving and metaphorically fighting for their positions. We push each other at practice and continue to grow as a team,” said varsity right midfielder junior Josh Bustamante.

The boys look forward to improving from last year’s record of 13-12 and hope to go farther in CIF. With 11 seniors, four juniors, four sophomores, and three freshman, this team has more experience than their predecessors, with 14 returning from last year’s team. They also hold a record of 4-1-3, 1-1 in league.

“This year we're going to be stronger because we have played together outside of high school grown closer and know each others style because of it... If we continue working hard and play like it’s our last game anything is possible,” said senior Josue Ojeda, who has been on the varsity team since his freshman year.

These guys have been playing together for years; some have been playing together since they first started playing the sport. They have been able to see each other grow since grade school and early club days. Seven of the boys are on Legacy, a club team that many of the boys have

ita

r

seniors