Community&Events
WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND MERCED
Calling All the Mothers
Mother's Day
By: Christina Rhaburn
Sunday, May 13
“All women are mothers because all women bring life to the world in some way” ~ Holley Gerth
Mother’s day is a day honoring mothers by their children and loved ones. Mother’s day is celebrated all over the world. Did you know different countries celebrate mother’s day differently than they do here in the United States? In Mexico, Mother’s Day is celebrated on May 10th as a public holiday but certain jobs close early to spend time with their moms. In the UK, Mother’s Day is celebrated on March 31st. Uk celebrates by going to church which is considered an important tradition. Australia celebrates Mother’s Day on May 13. In Australia, to celebrate Mother’s Day, people have family reunions to honor their moms and to celebrate motherhood as well.
A staff at El Capitan, Mr. Abraca explains what he does for his mom annually, “Each year I make it a point to give her all the positive praise she deserves. Mothers are special. We only get one. Keeping that relationship and bond as strong as possible is one of my top priorities in life. I am a "Mama's Boy" and never ashamed to claim that. We typically gather as a family and spend the day together. One year, I even made her a song titled "Honor You" that I recently posted on my Twitter page @ImMrAbarca. It's a song that I will always be proud of. I LOVE MY MOM!!!” Altenberg Ross, a Junior also admits by saying, “[I treat her like the queen of England on mother’s day.”
As we approach Mother's Day, It is natural to look back one of the most wonderful things that your mother had given you: life and that's a powerful thing. Moms come in different forms and personalities. Some are affectionate, crazy, but we still love them! How is your relationship with your mom? A student Rachel Livinal, sophomore, explains her relationship with her mom,“ my mom and I are literally best friends. She's been there through all my ups and downs and I tell her EVERYTHING.” Another student here at El Cap Emma Medina, sophomore explains her relationship with her mom,“ We have an odd relationship; we aren't gushy but we both know we love each other and that we always will. We love to shop together!”. George Bachour, a freshman also said,“I like to chat with my mom because it is always fun to talk to her about things. It doesn't even matter what we talk about it's just fun to talk to her.”
Mother’s day isn't just a day, to honor your mother but to celebrate her guiding you and her strong words of wisdom to be able to help you move forward and to prepare for the real world. A student at El Capitan, Adam Richards, freshman says his mother advises, “Go to college so I can have a life better than what iI was given.” Omar Mendez, senior also says “One very important thing my mom has taught me is to chose wisely who I hang out with.” Another student responds with,“The most important thing my mom has taught me is to never give up no matter what happens because if [you’re] still standing then you'll be able to keep going farther and to never ever give up.” We all know moms have those quotes and sayings that they always say to you; it can be straight embarrassing ones or encouraging ones. Mai Thao, sophomore describes “My mom always says ‘School is more important than boys.’” Yaritiza Lua, senior as well had says “My mom always says ‘I am your biggest fan, I am your protector, I will always defend you, I will get frustrated, I will be proud of you, I will be your confidant, and I will love you unconditionally because forever and always I am your mom and you are my baby.’”
You only have one mother, treat them with loving care. Tell her you love her.
How we influence other people
Social Impact
By:Aliyah Moreno
4/16/18
Social Media Influencers impact many people in this day and age because so many people tend to feel like they can relate with them in the various ways they expand themselves on all the various platforms varies from Instagram,Snapchat,Youtube,Twitter, and for the gamers its Twitch.
In the most recent years influencers tend to have a way of meeting their fans either by meet and greets or by going to store openings or even by going to Vidcon, or even music festivals as Coachella. Here locally in the central valley we got the chance to welcome Makeup Artist most known from his makeup tutorials on his Youtube Channel Jeffree Star. Jeffree Star came to the Fresno opening of a makeup company Morphe also for the release of his makeup collection with the store.
Other influencers that have recently came to the central Valley were the Murillo Twins at the recent opening of BeLuxe Makeup in Atwater CA, (their biggest platform is Instagram).They are known for being beautiful twins that dress very nicely and attracting attention from teens who wish they would be able to look or act like them.
Kids in the most recent years especially ages from 5-18 are on electronics for most of their day, either for school on chromebooks are at home, either watching tv, on social media or on Youtube. ¨the average person has five social media accounts and spends at least 1 hour and 40 minutes daily on Social Media.¨ -Digital Me Up. A lot of influencers tend to get a big fanbase over celebrities right now because they can engage with their fans on a more personal level on Twitter just saying a simple high to make fans feel special that they would take time out of their day just to talk to them.
Influencers have even had people buy certain a products for example Makeup, people will watch someone who they believe has a good opinion and based on what they say, they will decide if they should purchase the product or not. Now celebrities just doesn't include people from tv shows or movies, it now includes youtubers,viners,etc.
“I’d be over the rainbow if you'd go to prom with me.”
Pride Prom
By: Christin Rhaburn
March 27, 2018
Prom is supposed to be a magical night dancing and having fun with your friends like nobody's watching. But for students in the LGBTQ community, it can be anything but. This is because sadly, some teens can be cruel and unaccepting of others who are different. So, this is why they created Pride Prom. Pride Prom is an annual prom for high school students who identify as gay, bisexual, transgender, or otherwise don't feel included in traditional gender roles, as well as their friends and allies.
March was LGBT Pride Month which celebrates and honors the LGBTQ Community and takes a stand against discrimination and violence toward members of the LGBT Community. This was El Captain’s first Pride Prom. Peter Gillis, president of El Cap's GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) Club shares that, “ It was amazing and so much fun, we all united, such as students and staff came together to make sure our first Pride Prom was a success”.
The event was held on March 23, 2018, at El Capitan High School from 7 to 10 pm. El Cap also welcomed students from Merced High and Golden Valley.
The theme of the Pride Prom was a blackout. Peter Gillis played a major role in organizing the Pride Prom, “We held a club meeting and bounced some ideas off of each other, once we had a few, we took a vote for what the theme should be.”
Martin Barrientos, a junior member of GSA, explains, "I loved the theme of the dance, and how it was put together. Also I had a lot of fun there, the music was popping and everything else was, too."
El Capitan wasn’t the only school to have a Pride Prom. from coast to coast, schools and organizations come together and organize these inclusive events for youth.
Luckily for us Gauchos and fellow youth of Merced, our Pride Prom was generally embraced and proved a successful new tradition of diversity and inclusivity.
Black History Month/ Parade
By : Christina Rhaburn
Published: January 29, 2018
Black history month is a celebration of black achievements of African Americans and their roles in history; such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Frederick Douglass and more.It recognizes the heritage, accomplishments, and culture of African Americans in the United States and thanking our African American heroes for giving us hope It teaches us a life lesson that would be used. Martin Luther King was the most important voice of American civil rights movement which, worked for equal rights. Rosa Parks became known as the mother of the civil rights movement because she refused to leave her seat on the bus in 1955 which help the civil rights also. Frederick Douglass escaped at the age of 20, he fought for justice for everyone. It was created in 1926 in the US When a historian knew as Carter G, and association for the study of black life announced that second week of February to be”Negro history week” because it was the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. But Since 1976, every president of US has officially made the month of February as black history month. Another country, around the world, devoted a month to celebrate black history.
Merced had their 16th annual MLK Celebration. It was held on January 15th, 2018 and at the Merced County Fairgrounds. In celebration of the life of Martin Luther King, they had community youth groups, choirs, speakers and schools were there also. Hundreds of people walk in the pride of Martin Luther King for bringing us together as people and nationally they celebrate and spread the message of unity to continue” the dream”. They had 2 MLK celebrations in Merced County. One parade started at the Amtrak Station on 24th Street and ended at the Merced County Fairgrounds. Then another parade was at The Merced Theater. Every year, hundreds gather in the morning and people march from 24th street to the Merced County fairgrounds. Some people had banners, signs, flags, speakers,bands were playing instruments, national guards were there, our police force was there to celebrate, and more. The year’s theme was about “working with each other instead of against each other”. The speakers for the celebration of MLK spoke about what the influence of Martin Luther King Jr had in their lives and what he did completely changed the world and made it better.
Brightening a Child's Christmas
By: Geanna Marcelino
December 8, 2017
Are you interested in brightening a child's christmas? It's holiday season, and around this time of the year is when most drives are held for children in need as well as families in need. There are many ways to brighten a child's christmas, and donating toys to a toy drive is the way to go.
The Merced Cancer Society Foundation and staff have been holding a toy drive, which ends on December 15th. The toys will be given to children at the Madera Hospital, The Cancer Unit, and Valley Crisis Center in Merced.
The Merced Cancer Society Foundation and staff have been holding this toy drive to distribute toys to as many children they can. The Merced Cancer Society Foundation and staff have been advertising this drive all around to get as many people as possible to donate. Comcast has produced a free commercial for this drive, Bright-Dart in Merced has printed free posters, and the Merced County Events website posted about this event.
This is the first year they have held this event. Usually they hold the “Make a Wish” project. “ I am sure they will be excited when they receive a toy.” says The Merced Cancer Society Foundation and staff. “Our goal is to collect as many toys as possible to give to as many children in need as we can.” also says The Merced Cancer Society Foundation and staff.
There are many drop off locations for this event, El Portal Comprehensive Cancer Center, Grocery Outlet, BBVA Compass, Paul's Place Restaurant and Bakery, La Hacienda 2, and Merced Orthopedic Med Group. You know you want to make a child smile! So Go, Go, Go! December 15th is when this drive ends, so go! Go donate to brighten a child's christmas. It's not over yet!
Spooky Fest
By: Geanna Marcelino
On Sunday the 29th, on
Alexander Avenue the
Calvary Baptist Church held
a Fall Festival at five
o’clock! At the Fall
Festival there were
multiple activities you could
participate in.
The games were free, the food was free, and the entrance was free as well.
During the Fall Festival there were so many friendly people who greeted you as you walked in and throughout the event as well. After you walked in the gates people gave you tickets for however many people were in your party and also gave a candy bag to all the kids in your party.
The tickets were for food. With each ticket you had you could get a hotdog as well as nachos . They had snow cones at a booth and they provided warm apple cider on a table that was by the window of where you got your food. Everything was free. The people who were working the booths were super friendly and jokeative. Not only did they talk to you while you were playing the game, they also talked to you while waiting in line. Lines for the most part were short, and if they were a little lengthy they went by quick.
There were so many games you could play and each game had a unique name. There was “ You’re Hooked “ which was a ring toss game. There was also “ Knock It Down “ which was a bowling game. After each game whether you won or not, they gave you candy. Some booths gave you bags of candy and others gave you a piece or a few pieces of candy.
Attending the event was super fun, they have one every year. If you couldn’t make it out this year, next year is always an opportunity! Take your family to the Calvary Baptist Church and attend their 2018 Fall Festival!
Movies in the Park
By Geanna Marcelino
During summer do you feel like you run out of things to do? Like there is nothing you can do locally? Well that’s going to change.
For a few years the Merced County has been hosting Movies in the Park. This event plays movies in parks throughout Merced. They play a variety of movies. As well as brings the community closer together.
Movies in the park has gone on for a few years. People love it, the community loves it! “ It is great. It's fun, relaxing, and a great way to spend time with my family and friends. The best part about it is that it's free and the movies are good” says Naidy Nova. “My girlfriend and I have gone multiple times this year. We love it!” says Brandon. As you can tell people love it! So come and join!
Movies in the park has been a successful event since it has started a few years ago. The community brings there families and friends to enjoy a movie in the park. Families bring snacks to snack on, as well as blankets to wrap up in. Not only blankets, and snacks, but drinks as well!
What is a better way to start your weekend than spending a Friday night with family and friends watching a movie? Your right, there isn’t! Come and join the Merced Community for a fun night in the park!
On June 1st a movie will be playing. All movies will start at sunset, and each time is a different movie playing. Movies vary from comedy to animation. June 1st Pitch Perfect 3 will be playing. Take your family out for a relaxing friday in a park watching a funny movie.
For more information about Movies in the park visit the City of Merced Parks and Recreation Website, Call (209) 385-6235 or visit their Facebook.
You Don´t Have To Be A Doctor To Save A Life
Blood Drive
By: Candace Avila
Friday, April 13, 2018
On Monday, April 9th, El Capitan High School held a blood drive. Giving us students a huge opportunity to donate blood and help someone in need. You needed to be sixteen with a signed permission slip. I thought it was that easy to donate blood, but there is so much more to than just being old enough and having a signed permission slip. You have to weigh enough for your height and be healthy, which means you eat right, drink water, and are feeling well enough to give blood. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to donate blood because I didn't weigh enough for my height, so hopefully next year I will be able to. I definitely recommend donating blood if you can. It is such a great opportunity to help people in need.
Giving blood saves lives. The blood you give is a lifeline in an emergency and for people who need long-term treatments. Blood is the most precious gift that anyone can give to another person, the gift of life. A decision to donate your blood can save a life, or even several of your blood is separated into its components red cells, platelets, and plasma, which can be used individually for patients with specific conditions. Every two seconds someone in the U.S needs blood. Apprioxmtly 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S. The number of blood donors in the U.S. in a year is 6.8 million. The number one reason donors say they give blood is that they "want to help others."
If you would like any more information about the process of donating blood for us minors please click here .
Immersed in Boredom or Telling Stories to Generations?
What the elderly have to offer and how to help them
By Rachel Livinal
13, December 2017
Dull beige walls surround the place. A tiny TV murmurs random news in a corner of the room. All of the elderly sit in wheelchairs, slowly wheeling around, heads darting immediately at anyone new and talking excitedly to whoever gives even a little attention. From just watching, it could never be known just how interesting these people are, what accomplishments they’ve mastered, the hardships they've endured, or just how much knowledge they hold within them. The hard thing to understand is, according to AARP, “nearly 90 percent of seniors want to stay in their own homes as they age.” America has different values; your grandparents may not seem as important to you as East Asian cultures or other countries where, as stated by UCLA newsroom and Jared Diamond, it is considered “utterly despicable” to not care for the elderly as they age. The elderly are important, and they may have a lot more to tell for those who choose to listen.
At Franciscan Healthcare, Ronald Bud sits in his own metal wheelchair. He has a tall stature, long grey beard, gentle eyes, and a wide smile that tells the story of his own decisions and what lead him to every path in his life. From a very young age, Ron had an interest in fixing things and did so very much at his grandfather’s farm. When in high school, he found a job at a television repair company, where he says he eventually fixed almost all of the televisions in Livingston. He later began a job at a new plant, one he says, “you intended to work for your whole life.” But Ron didn’t want to work there for his whole life, and he continued on to work for various places, loving all his jobs for the most part. According to Jared Diamond, America’s society revolves around work, and once that is taken away during retirement, many senior citizens may lose their sense of importance or individualism. But there’s an easy fix to this problem; retirement may mean social isolation for some, but if you intend to involve your loved ones in activities available for them, they will continue to enjoy their lives.
There is a feature about the elderly which allows them to offer more to the world than we think they do. Google or Wikipedia can’t give you real-life hardships or lessons learned that someone with much experience can. In a survey done at El Capitan, 75% of students and staff said that they believe elderly people are the wisdom of the world, while the other 25% didn’t believe they were really any different from other people and they really aren’t! But what they do have to share with the world is something only time can give, and younger people can never have that ability. Ron faced the problem of having a family he called “different”; a family that was known for getting into a lot of trouble, but his persistence to achieve dug him out of that pattern. Ann De Aroya, an 89-year-old star faced a lot as well. Growing up Jewish in the wrong place at the wrong time, Ann moved to Morocco from Budapest at the age of nine to escape the Nazis during World War II. She explains in her written story about her life, “it was a terrible feeling as a child to realize that if you were Jewish, you were not liked by people; you were different and not good.” Ann converted to Catholicism, but remained Jewish at heart. From there, her family continued to immigrate to various different places including Argentina, Queens, Brazil, New York, and eventually Merced. While in Casablanca, she tells, “ In the fall when school started I had to go to public school in third grade with children much younger than myself, as my French knowledge wasn’t good enough to be with children my own age.” She observed and listened to various friends and family being deported to camps, dying, and even being forced to walk on their town’s main street with a sign around their neck saying “I am a Jew.” Ann has never lost her lust for life, and continues to involve herself in her community to this day, consistently volunteering and even recently starting a book club all on her own! The stories the elderly can tell and the wisdom they can give is quite frankly, priceless and should not be wasted.
So, how can we make the struggles of aging easier for these wise souls that are ⅙ of us and will be ¼ of us in 2030? A lot of our elderly find joy in their children. Ron has two sons and a daughter, all of whom have become very successful. As he describes their achievements such as having a start-up company and traveling around the country, he makes remarks like “I feel very proud” and “That’s my fame because my kids have done well with things.” Ann feels the same, “ Many years [have] went by since I started to tell my story, but when I look back I am very proud of my family.” She has two sons with PhDs, six grandchildren with college diplomas, and a Stanford lawyer in her family. It’s a known fact that most parents want to see their kids succeed and spend time with them, so that should be the main solution to helping them! Hangout with your grandparents or parents because they want to hear about your latest dramas and play a game of monopoly with you every once and awhile.
There are many ways to make senior citizens feel great, even if you don’t know them personally. Go to that dusty old retirement home and give those people’s faces a reason to smile and laugh, because when life begins to drag on in those wheelchairs, a person interested in their lives will only make it seem a little less slow. Just as Ann believes, “ It is my history, the history of my family, and the memories are the legacy we are all left with.” The elderly may have been around for awhile, but that gives them all the more reason to be treated with respect and interest, for they are the encyclopedias to life and no computer or magazine can replace that.
A World of Art
By Angelique Zaragoza
Have you ever been to the Art Hop? Do you know what the Art Hop is? The Merced Art Hop is a quarterly event where there are displays of art throughout Main Street and downtown Merced. The art displayed here is amazing. Full of color ranging from face portraits to many other spectacular art pieces. There will be food and drinks sold as well as games for young children. Come out and explore “The World of Art.”
The Art Hop is nothing new, it’s been around for awhile now. The Art Hop first started eight years ago thanks to Kevin Hammon and Kimberly Zamora. Kimberly is an artist herself. Kevin and Kimberly both had the intention of helping artists with no recognition to “show off” their work They had trouble with the Art Hop idea at first due to the fact that they needed an art gallery, they had stores stay open and promote one of the artists. Today, the Art Hop is expanding fast; they get more and more participants each year. The Art Hop is a way to "free the mind," let your creativity out, express your culture, and express your thoughts or feelings.
In a recent interview with Kevin, who directs the Art Hop, he described the Art Hop and its hopes for the future. Kevin said that his hope for the future is to have the Art Hop “Grow for the community.” Kevin also shared that he doesn’t plan on doing this forever, but he “hopes it helps the community evolve more participants.” He described the Art Hop as an “open house for the downtown.” This gives people a reason to go downtown. Kevin also mentioned that it will help shops downtown grow as well. The Art Hop is beneficial for participants as well as local small business.
zocalopublicsquare.org
The next Art Hop will be this Friday, October 14, 2017 from 5-9 P.M. Participants will be able to set up 4 P.M., and will need to take down their displays by 9 P.M. All volunteers need to check in at the information booth before setting up. Tables are allowed; however, they need to be three feet by six feet max. No tents or canopies will be allowed; if an area has one up, they will be asked to take it down. Items can be sold, but can’t be manufactured on site.
Interested in participating? Not only can you volunteer as an artist and display your art, you can also volunteer as a performer with band or a dance group. Although there are some rules, this is a great chance for upcoming artists to display their talents and sell their work. To participate contact Kimberly at (209 )349-8682 (minimum three days in advance).
Bands and performers are welcome; however, fifteen minutes is the maximum amount of time given to perform. There will be a designated area for performers, and they need to stay in that area while performing. No public address or amp systems will be allowed. Performers will give the DJ the music to play for their performance. So, come out and perform with your dance group. People will see and possibly want to join. Take a risk!
If you’re an artist and want to display your art, you can! It’s suggested for artists to bring a variety of artwork. You first have to send four images of your art to Kimberly@mercedarthop.org. At your designated area, you should have information about yourself printed out for people to see. Artists are allowed to sell their artwork with a fee of twenty dollars. Any art displayed or sold needs to be your own original work.
Go on out, everyone is welcome. Get your artwork noticed by hundreds of people. All that time you spent on your art, but you’re not showing it to people? Get it out there! There’s someone out there that wants to buy your work. For people that are debating on attending as spectators, go and recognize the art. It’s a nice way to see how people express themselves in their art...and support local small business.
For More Information:
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MAH Registration Rules
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MAH General Info/About
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Email Kimberly Zamora
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Call Kimberly @ (209)349-8682