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| The Instigator (First Edition) |
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| Written by The Insti-Gator Crew / By Teen for Teens / | |
| Wednesday, 16 April 2008 | |
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Life According to Nikolas, Mayor Campo: Drinking and Driving Don't Mix, Something 'Pretty. Odd.' Among Us (A Music Review) and Coming Events Editor’s note: The Insti-Gator is a monthly section in the Patterson Irrigator created by teens, for teens. Sarah Bosch’s journalism class at Patterson High School wrote for this first edition. The next Insti-Gator will be printed May 21. Teens who are interested in writing for the section or who have story ideas should call Colton Dennis at 892-6187 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
In the Spotlight Life according to Nikolas ... By Chris Martinez and Stephanie Fregoso For the Patterson Irrigator Sixteen-year-old Nikolas “Niko” Hernandiz, a junior at Patterson High School, is known for his unique personality and random sayings. He has a genuine style and is a smart guy.  Nikolas 'Niko' Hernandiz Niko Hernandiz: Well, when I’m not busy at school, I usually hang out with friends. We usually play board games like Risk or just plain video games. I also like to play computer games and occasionally go swimming or play pool. Another thing that I like to do is to edit Web sites on www.changeyourpage.com. IG: Out of all your classes this year, which do you prefer? Niko: I would have to say that … my favorite class would either be AVID or computer media art. I like AVID because I know everyone in the class and they’re like my second family. Well, computer media art class is just a more fun class to be in than most of my other classes. IG: Who do you most admire and why? Niko: I would have to say that I adore many people, but I don’t really have someone who I admire. I just don’t, or it’s never really occurred to me who I admire. IG: What is your favorite film and your favorite film genre? Niko: My favorite film is “28 Weeks Later,” because it’s really a suspenseful movie. It’s also my favorite because it involves zombies and whatnot, while my favorite film genre would have to be suspense, because it just makes the movie more interesting and keeps you on the edge of your seat. IG: What do you believe is your biggest accomplishment? Niko: I would probably have to say that my greatest accomplishment is my very bad, 11-minute film, “28 Hours Later,” which took me about five months to do and is the longest project that I have ever done. IG: Why do you think you were chosen for this spotlight? Niko: Because I’ve been known as a random person who usually doesn’t do what everyone else does. IG: What are your aspirations? Niko: One of my hopes is to go college. Well, one of my aspirations is to film a movie that people will premiere at theaters. IG: What type of music are you into, and what artist do you prefer? Niko: I don’t really have a favorite artist. I just listen to whatever is on the radio. But if I were to pick a type of music as my favorite, I would say that I favor rock more than others. An artist that I like to listen to is Avenge Sevenfold, but as I said, I like different types of music. IG: If you could add anything to Patterson, what would it be? Niko: If I could add anything to Patterson, it would be a movie theater, because a theater is ideal to everyone in a family. IG: What is the most random situation that has happened to you at school? Niko: The most random situation at school for me had to be in a lockdown for hours, all because of those fights at school. I never saw it coming; it just happened. IG: Quirky question: If you relate yourself to one animal, which would it be and why? Niko: I would be a coyote, because I’m pretty sneaky. When I was younger, I would sneak around the house like a spy, and one day my uncle caught me and told me that I was like a sneaky coyote. It has been with me ever since. Mayor Campo: Drinking and driving don’t mix By Gabriela Farias For the Patterson Irrigator Teen drinking in the city of Patterson has been a growing problem for the past couple of years. This city has seen its share of incidents, from police breaking up parties to arrests to the tragic death of a beloved young Patterson woman. Patterson Mayor Becky Campo has much to say when it comes down to the topic of teen drinking and alcohol-related problems. “One thing is that this is at an alarming rate; we knew the problem was high, but we didn’t realize how high it was,” she said. “We need to get a handle on that and raise awareness. There is no reason for teens to drink — probably, perhaps, peer pressure. “But how do I feel about it? We need to do something about it.” Many people, especially youths, blame teen drinking on a lack of local attractions, such as a mall or a movie theater where teens can hang out after school. However, Campo said she thinks other factors are involved. “The problem is caused in the home, no offense to the families,” she said. “It is easy to blame someone else for family issues, and we need to look at each and every family, do an analysis and find out why teens begin to drink in the first place. “If you have parents that are not drinkers and yet their son or daughter ends up drinking, then you have to find out what is happening. No. 1, is it peer pressure? No. 2, where are they getting the booze from? And No. 3, are they experiencing problems outside of the home? “Teens have a lot of pressure, and they think drinking will help them resolve their issues. When we were growing up, we did not have any movie theater. We found our own fun to do and never resulted to drinking.” Patterson City Council recently addressed the teen drinking phenomenon by passing the Social Host Ordinance, a law that fines the host of a party where underage drinking is taking place. Fines are $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the next, and so on. With this law, the people of this city might start to think, “Hey, this can actually make a big impact on the teen drinking problem.” But Campo saw it differently, though she voted in favor of the ordinance. “I don’t think it will make a big difference,” she said. “I think kids will find a way to drink. This is mainly to make adults responsible for their actions. It will not stop anybody. “I said yes to it, but it just means we have one more law in the books that’s going to take away some of our rights and liberties, and in my opinion it should be the responsibility of the adults to police ourselves and to be better parents and knowing where your kids are and who they hang out with.” She indicated that the ordinance stemmed from incidents in 2006 and 2007 at the home of Grayson resident Anna Walker, who served jail time following activities at two parties in her home. Walker served alcohol at both parties, and an automobile crash involving a dozen teens occurred after the 2007 gathering. Even after that traumatic incident, Campo said, teen drinking will continue. “Kids will still drink, no matter who gets hurt or ends up dying,” she said. “The best thing to do is get to the root of the problem. It’s sort of like drugs. The best source of fighting it is through parents and awareness.” Something ‘Pretty. Odd.’ among us By Ashley Alldredge and Isabel Vazquez For the Patterson Irrigator  now available: Panic at the Disco’s new album, “Pretty. Odd.,” is on sale, and the alternative band is back stronger than ever. Courtesy Photo This alternative band’s new album has been said to be much brighter than its previous melancholy, youthful sound. Could the group’s recent dropping of the exclamation mark from its name have influenced the change? According to Rolling Stone, “Even when it’s over the top, which is basically always, ‘Pretty. Odd.’ sounds cheerful, with a broad sense of humor that does honor to the noble legacy of ELO mastermind Jeff Lynne.” This new CD is definitely a hit, and many Panic fans will enjoy the new album. It can be found at any music store or bookstore. Coming Events Patterson Teen Center The Center for Human Services’ Patterson Teen Center is a free, drop-in place where girls and boys in seventh through 12th grades can find safe and fun after-school alternatives. Opportunities include tutoring, leadership training, Friday Night Live events, planned special events, advocacy training and projects, employment training, community service projects, computer lab access, food, recreational/social/cultural events and sports. The Teen Center is at 118 N. Second St., Ste. E, and is open from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. second and fourth Saturdays. May 18 Teen movie night, dance troupes When: 4:30 p.m. Dance Troupes: Initial Step, Upsilon Kappa Delta Movie: “Stomp the Yard” begins about 7 p.m. Info Erica Ayala or Eddie Nuno, 892-6688 May 19 ‘Madden’ tournament When: 1 to 4 p.m. For information: Erica Ayala or Eddie Nuno, 892-6688 May 25 Skate at Teen Center, ping pong tournament When: 3 to 7 p.m. Info: Erica Ayala or Eddie Nuno, 892-6688 Movie night Once a month, the city parks and recreation department will show movies for teens 13 to 18 at the Patterson Teen Center, 118 N. Second St. Movies are free, but students must show a student ID card to get in. Snacks are sold. Teens are invited to share their ideas or suggestions about what movies should be shown. For information: Jason Hayward, 895-8083; or http://ci.patterson.ca.us Open gym Creekside Gym, 535 Peregrine Drive, will be open for basketball and other drop-in recreation programs from 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Students in sixth through 12th grades get in free with a student ID. Cost is $2 without a student ID. For information: Jason Hayward, 895-8083; or http://ci.patterson.ca.us Open stadium The community is welcomed to Patterson Community Stadium at Ward and Salado avenues, where people can play soccer, flag football or volleyball, walk the track or the run the bleachers free of charge. Join friends and family in this supervised, safe environment. The stadium is open from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For information: Jason Hayward, 895-8083; or http://ci.patterson.ca.us Creekside Middle School after-school programs April 26 Helping Hands to Help Others Bazaar What: Carnival and other fun activities When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: Basketball court, Creekside Middle School, 535 Peregrine Drive Info: 892-6688 or 495-2425 May 3 Start Cleaning and Help Others What: Car wash and a tri-tip barbecue. Proceeds to benefit Relay For Life. When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: TBA Info: 892-6688 or 495-2425 May 14 Dinner fundraiser What: Spaghetti dinner with proceeds to benefit Relay For Life When: 5 to 8 p.m. Where: Patterson Teen Center, 118 N. Second St. Cost: $5 Info: 892-6688 or 495-2425 New Home Foursquare Church youth group New Home Foursquare Church’s U-turn youth group, for students in sixth through 12th grades, meets from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Kids can take part in the Christian hip-hop dance team, play video games or take their skateboards and skates and try out the Fun Box, launch ramps and grind rails in the parking lot. Worship begins at 7:30 p.m. with a post hardcore/rock worship band. Call the church for small group information, game nights and other scheduled activities such as the mattress relay and frozen turkey bowl. Kids Church is offered for boys and girls 4 to 12 years old each Sunday morning after the worship band plays at the 10 a.m. service. This is the place to learn Bible stories. Nursery care is provided for newborns to 3-year-olds. New Home Foursquare Church is at 551 N. First St., Ste. F. For information: 892-7001 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Patterson Christian Fellowship Patterson Christian Fellowship, which meets at Creekside Middle School, 535 Peregrine Drive, offers a range of child care and teaching on Sunday mornings during the 10 a.m. worship time: nursery, preschool and Kid’s Zone for kindergartners through fifth-graders. Sixth-graders and older kids join the adults during the 10 a.m. worship. The active youth group for sixth- through 12th-graders meets Tuesday evenings, starting at 6:45 p.m. for video games, pool and hanging out. Bible study and prayer start at 7:15 p.m. and conclude by 8:45. For information: Pastor Ken Hasekamp, 892-7911 or www.pcf-online.org Sacred Heart Catholic Church youth activities Sacred Heart Catholic Church is at 529 I St. For information: Parish office, 892-9321; or sacredheartpatterson.org Kidz in the Spirit When: 2 to 3 p.m. the first Sunday of each month Where: Father Connors Hall, on Salado Avenue next to Sacred Heart Church. Details: The group is an informal group built on three pillars: outreach to the poor, spirituality that includes devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and fun. Info: Tammy Ulibarri, 892-5709; or Helen Hoxie, 892-2916 Sacred Heart Youth Outreach When: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays Where: Bonaventure Hall at Sacred Heart School, Sixth and M streets Details: For middle and high school students. This group meets to share the Catholic faith, deal with teenage issues and build friendships. The focus is on Jesus Christ and making his love real in the lives of young people. The group celebrates a youth Mass at 4:30 p.m. the second Sunday of each month in Bonaventure Hall. Info: Bob Plaugher, 613-8285 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Nueva Alianza Juvenil When: 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays Where: Father Connors Hall, Salado Avenue next to Sacred Heart Church. Details: For middle and high school students and young adults. The group gets together to praise God in Spanish, to grow together with Christ and to serve the community. Info: Rafita Rangel, 581-8993; or Estela Garcia, 620-3765 Nueva Luz When: 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays Where: Centro Guadalupe in Westley, on Howard Road west of Livingston Circle homes Details: This is a Spanish-speaking youth group. Info: Juan Carlos Nuñez, 814-8533; or Liseth Moreno, 342-8869
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