Wednesday October 20, 2021
Serving The Rio Hondo Community
Vol.63 Issue 5
Photo by Jasmine Soria for El Paisano Media (From left to right) Christopher Felton, Scott Olmsted, Bob Knuth, Katie Sloan, Christopher Allen,Linda Chou, Dan Timmons, Carl Everett,Pete Giulioni, Megan Foker, Kathyrn Winslow, Lanie Lindenfeid, Geoff Johansing,Nitin Chawla, Mara Leong-Maguinez.
A Home Away from Home
Ronald McDonald House Of Pasadena's SHINE Gala raises funds to continue providing for families Jasmine Soria
Editor-In-Chief
jasmine.soria5406@my.riohondo.edu
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his past Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, board members, donors, and members of the Pasadena community gathered at the Annandale golf course to celebrate the annual Ronald McDonald House of Pasadena SHINE GALA, a night of outdoor dining and full of bidding. Most importantly, to celebrate the work of the House and raise more money, along with honoring Carl Evertt, Former Ronald McDonald House Pasadena Board Chair and community advocate. The charity’s mission is the provide children find a home away from home through their services and during times of need. Everett was recognized for his dedication and leadership towards the House of Pasadena and charity as a whole. “I’d say it is very real, when people have critical children it is a very difficult time for them, and
when people don’t have to worry about housing like hotels, it is a tremendous burden off of them so they can focus on their children well being. It’s real you go there and see the kids and the families.” says, Everett. It is a charity that has shown positive results within the community, with volunteers that have provided more than 7,000 hours of service each year in support of the house’s mission. The night began with a cocktail hour on the lawn of the golf course. There were over 50 baskets and different bidding items to raise money to fund the house. Board members including Pete Giulioni, Board Chair, Geoff Johansing, Board Co-Chair, Scott Olmstead, Treasurer, Bob Knuth, Secretary, Megan Foker, Immediate Past Board Chair, Christopher Allen, Raymond Chacon, Linda Chou, Nitin Chawla, Christopher Dougherty, Shriners for Medical Center, Commander Art Chute, Pasadena Police Depart-
ment, Christopher Felton, Paul Pernecky, Lanie Lindenfield, Will Smith, Katie Sloan, Kathryn Winslow, and Dan Timmons all made an appearance of support and recognition to the foundation. Along with a few other honorable guests, including Ryan and Britney Anderson, a couple who had their premature babies born at the Shrine hospital across the street from the House and stayed at the House. When asking Britney her experience with the house, she states, “It was amazing, everything about it, they picked us right up in our darkest times, they said here you go.” The Andersons were able to share their experience of how the house has helped entire families and share their stories with the rest of the world. Although the House hasn’t just helped the public, Board Members and their families have had a personal experience staying at the House as well.
Kati Sloan has been a board member for about a year and knew about the foundation even before joining the board. “My daughter was born in Huntington hospital, which is right by the house. I always think about people who take their children there, and being able to help them out in a time of need is really heartwarming,” says Sloan. The name, reputation, and acts of positive service have driven people to be part of the Ronald McDonald community. Another member of the Board of Trustees, Nitin Chawla, was asked about his story in joining the House and said, “...I know exactly what he means because that is how my story is, I was a parent of a sick child who moved from India to the US, and stayed at a house in Pittsburgh for six weeks while my daughter was getting brain surgery, so that how I got involved when we moved out LA that was the first course my
daughter wanted to get associated with. Now I’ve gone the full circle where I am serving the community.” This isn’t like any other charity; the House has a Board full of people that all have developed a personal experience and know someone that can relate to it in one way or another. There is gratitude and acknowledgment to what the House does, and everyone does their part to give back to the community. The Ronald McDonald House is different from the other charities because it has a “local touch.” The CEO, Vince Bryson, says, “I think it the best charity on earth, but what makes me feel that way is we are in an international organization with a local touch, so we have 380 Ronald McDonald houses all over the world.” There are 1000’s of volunteers that get involved along with local partnerships. This Continued on pg.2 ▶
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www.elpaisanoonline.com ◀ Continues from pg.1 is what makes patients feel they are at home rather than at a large lonely hospital. The House of Pasadena has 17 rooms, the staff and volunteers develop a personal relationship with each family that arrives. The families themselves are also able to relate to each other and go through these hardships together. In the House, no one is alone; but rather surrounded by supportive staff, members, doctors, volunteers, and people willing to raise money to support the cause. These past two years, the House has had to set protocols because of COVID-19. This includes sanitation, checking temperature before entering the building, and COVID testing for staff and volunteers, along with proof of vaccination. No one is excluded from these protocols, not even Board Members. Chawla states, “as a board member, I don’t get the privilege of just walking in, I go through the same protocol that anybody else does, which
is exactly what we want, it been handled amazingly I would say.” The House has continued helping children throughout COVID-19 in an astonishing way. One of the reasons is because people seek help from the house during the most vulnerable times, Bryan says, “so we have to be sure to dot every eye because they are trusting us and we want them to trust us so they can focus 100 percent of their attention on the well-being of their sick child.” Bryan has been CEO of the Southern California Houses for 22 years and is planning on retiring January 2022. This year, SHINE gala sponsors included LA Financial Credit Union, Shriners for Children Medical Hospital, Bank of America, Sharp Seating Company, Roboli Family Wine Estates, and many others. The Ronald McDonald House Pasadena is a homeaway-from-home for families with critically ill children, keeping them close to one another, their doctors, and needed medical care. The House is built
on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child—not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal, or where they will lay their head at night to rest. Since opening on Valentine’s Day in 2004, the House has served more than 24,000 children and their families. Ronald McDonald House Pasadena occupies three historic homes in Pasadena, just steps away from Huntington Memorial Hospital and Shriners for Children Medical Center, and offers 17 guest bedrooms. Families staying at the House have access to a fully stocked pantry, meals prepared by volunteer groups, a large yard with outdoor seating, and therapeutic family support services. Ronald McDonald House Pasadena is a program of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California. For more information, please visit our website at www.rmhcsc.org/Pasadena.
Photo by Jasmine Soria for El Paisano Media Carl Everett,Former Board Chair of the Ronald McDonald House Pasadena and community advocate was recognized for his work and leadership skills with a trophy, on Saturday, Oct. 16.
"It is an international organization that feels local."
Photo by Jasmine Soria for El Paisano Media Ryan and Britney Anderson, the parents of two premature children, while in residency at the Ronald McDonald House of Pasadena.
Photos by Molly McCormick for El Paisano Media
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Wednesday October 20, 2021
Missionaries Kidnapped by Haitian Gang Lorenzo Arce Digital EIC
lorenzoarce1393@my.riohondo.edu
Lorenzo Arce For El Paisano Media Nuns and other missionaries are easy targets for kidnapping in Haiti
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uthorities from Haiti and the United States are scrambling to save a group of missionaries and their families. This is just the latest
tragedy that has rocked the island nation in recent times. The 17 American and Canadian priests, nuns, and children were kidnapped from an orphanage by the 400 Mawozo gang members. The gang is among the worst perpetrators of mass kidnappings that have plagued Haiti this year. According to The Washington Post, “they ask for as much as a million dollars per hostage and usually target foreigners and children.” 400 Mawozo, Creole for the 400 Simpletons, was behind the kidnapping of French missionaries in April. That same month, an orphanage was piled in the middle of a suburb in Port-auPrince. The gang members spent two hours robbing and raping their way through the fenced-in compound. Fortunately, they were released safely and physically unharmed. The spike in kidnappings results from multiple natural di-
sasters and chaos following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Moïse’s death left a massive power vacuum filled with gangs, corrupt politicians, and militias. The Haitian army is demoralized and outgunned by the warring criminals that have taken control of many neighborhoods. Many refugees are being turned back from the United States and Latin America. Haitians that fled the island for the Americas are being deported back amid the ongoing border crisis. Many have always been from the island for over ten years and have nowhere to go. The Haitian government has been reluctant to take action against the kidnappings and other turmoil engulfing its half of Hispaniola. They have pleaded to the United States to send assistance for months; however, military intervention is unlikely.
988 National Suicide Prevention John T. Rodriguez News/Photo Editor
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john.rodriguez5769@my.riohondo.edu
ongress has passed a bipartisan legislation creating only a three-digit national suicide hotline (988) back in Sept. 2020. It is similar to 911, to help with health emergencies. During a medical crisis, the hotline is intended to make it easier to seek help. Citizens would be able to use this three-digit number instead of dialing 911 or a 10-digit hotline number. By July 2022, States are required to have some version of the 988 system up and running. Charging a surge on monthly bills for phone services, the
federal law allows states to raise funds in some effort. The money would then go to support dedicated call centers, pay trained response teams, and stabilization services for people in crisis. The California State Department of Health care services had announced back in Sept. that it would spend $20 million to help launch the 988 system. About 80 cents a month on phone lines would be tacked up for AB-988. It is for both wireless and landline services to provide ongoing funding for the system and associated services. From the telecommunications industry, the bill has opposition which argues the fee should be 10 cents. The fund is only the cost of routing 988 calls to an
appropriate crisis center. Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, an assembly member and an Orinda Democrat is the principal author of AB 988. She calls it the “Miles Hall Lifetime Act” in honor of a 23-year old man during a mental health crisis who was fatally shot by the police in Walnut Creek. He was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder his family stated. Bauer-Kahan is hopeful that California would be ready to have a 988 phone system placed by July. “We appropriated 20 million dollars in September to ensure that we have the start-up costs to build up our call centers” Bauer-Kahan had stated according to News Medical Life Sciences. She would go on and
say that she expects to have a 30% increase for California’s 13 suicide prevention call centers. With that being said, call centers should have the ability to increase staffing and train people so that we’re prepared. Even Gov. Gavin Newsom had issued a statement saying that money would help ensure Californians have resources to be helped with difficult times. Mental health advocates had struggled in the waning days of the legislative session back in mid-September this year. It is estimated that 50 million dollars are needed to support the call centers and the crisis response center. A handful of states such as Washington, Colorado, and
Nevada to name a few have also passed legislation similar to AB 988. However other states have failed to face strong opposition from the telecommunications industry. A similar bill for Washington State received a lot of pushbacks from Rep. Tina Orwall who authorized the bill. The bill was eventually passed with a per-line fee which would start at 24 cents in Oct. and increase to 40 cents in 2023. “We’re in a pandemic . . . There couldn’t be a more important time to implement this. People need it more than ever.” Tina Orwall had started sharing her thoughts.
Graphic by John T. Rodriguez For El Paisano Media
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www.elpaisanoonline.com
Guided Pathways for Success at Rio Hondo Jonathan Carmona Sci & Tech Editor
jonathan.carmona9046@my.riohondo.edu
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oad Runners, past, present, and future alike, there are support groups out at Rio Hondo you might want to hear about. Finish your Path. The Guided Pathways program at Rio Hondo is a new and improved way of giving Road Runners that extra hand. Whether you have a specific career choice in mind, are undecided, or just want to earn certificates, there is a pathway for you. With 12 Areas of Interest to choose from, each indi-
vidual program has specific counselors, former students, and administration ready to be of service. These support members make up the Student Success Teams. Guided Pathways sets students up for success by putting success teams around them. Each success team has been carefully crafted and hand-picked individuals to lead students to the finish line. These individuals include Deans, post-graduates, counselors, and even some professors. The connections one student could make are endless and opportunities are growing by the
second. Each person in these success teams has one goal in mind, to get you where you need to be. The goals of the Guided Pathways programs include four main pillars. With the focus always being on students, the four pillars Guided Pathways have laid out include; Clarity, Intake, Support, and Learning. Guided Pathways believes there is an issue with students missing opportunities on top of not even knowing what is being offered. The Student Success Teams hope to change that. After speaking to a Guided Pathways faculty liaison, Lydia
Gonzalez, also a Professor of Mathematics at Rio Hondo, she said the Guided Pathways program really came to flourish during the pandemic. Meeting once a month even to this day, Professor Gonzalez and company built the Guided Pathways program within 2 years. The Student Success Teams were formed about a year ago as well. Her and the staff looked to improve not only the counseling programs, but Rio Hondo’s website as well. Giving a special thank you to Albert Bretado, Web Designer, and Manuel Halim, CTE Web Designer, who did a lot of the work
Courtesy of Guided Pathways at Rio Hondo
The Guided Pathways program focuses on student success and using these four pillars to do so. Any student can have a full team of support around them now and not one opportunity will go missed.
The Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine annual issue has ranked Rio Hondo College nationally as one of the “Top 100 Colleges and Universities for Hispanics.”
on the website, they hoped to make the website easier to navigate. You may have noticed some of the website’s updates if you’ve visited it within the last 2 years, but support buttons have been placed where they can be seen immediately and links have been reorganized to give you a straighter path. Another addition was also made to every students’ Canvas dashboard. You may have noticed a module that says, “Finish your Path!” These have been placed in every Road Runner’s Canvas according to your major or pathway. Clicking on the module will lead you to most of the information you’ll need for your major. The module also connects you closer to the Student Success Teams giving you easy access to meet a counselor or receive information. Student Success Teams can also send notifications or announcements when new opportunities arise. Guided Pathways have been specifically designed to help students feel supported through their education journey. Having a team around and always having someone to guide you is what student success is all about. The staff at Rio Hondo have been behind the scenes caring about their Road Runners and constantly looking to improve. From fixing the website, to creating clear cut pathways, Rio Hondo is aiming to give students the best possible experience of higher education.
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Wednesday October 20, 2021
Popular Halloween Costumes on a Budget! M adeline Torres A&E Co-Editor
madeline.torres3722@my.riohondo.edu
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alloween is slowly approaching and everyone is brewing up ideas for this year’s holiday. Those that dress up on Halloween, put all their time and effort into their costumes coming up with iconic looks. From kids to adults, anyone that celebrates Halloween loves to dress up and show off their costumes. Let's be honest though, Halloween costumes are anything but cheap! A costume bought from Party City ranges from about thirty to fifty dollars only to be worn for one night. Have no fear though, there are many ways to find the perfect costume for the cheapest price! Local thrift stores welcome any shoppers looking for Halloween costumes with open arms! Thrift stores like Goodwill and Savers offer a vast selection of Halloween costumes or pieces of clothing to help someone get creative
Madeline Torres for El Paisano Media Fast Fashion has increased over the last couple of years because of popular stores like Forever 21 and Shein making millions on clothing.
Madeline Torres for El Paisano Media
Every year, thrift stores like Goodwil and Savers have made a section of their stores specifically for all halloween costumes or accesories. It is convinent for any customers looking to buy any affordavle costumes.
with their costumes. Not only does thrifting Halloween costumes help people’s wallets, but choosing to thrift a costume helps the environment and prevents fast fashion. “It’s a good way to recycle, to reuse. I mean, these costumes are worn once and still have a lot of life left in them and so, you know, just to throw them into the landfill is wasteful,” said Marion Sullivan, the original owner of Your Turn Resale Shoppe. Thrifting as well as buying from second-hand sellers has always been a great way to prevent fast fashion from harming
the environment. The environmental issue has been increasingly recognized by people all across the country and even the world. Younger generations have started to take action by choosing to buy the majority of their clothes from local thrift stores. Many have also opened their online stores selling second-hand clothes. What is Fast Fashion? Fast fashion has been an ongoing issue for the past decades. Fast fashion is clothes that have been produced by underpaid workers in countries located in China, Bangladesh, or India. These workers go
through harsh working conditions to produce clothes that we see in Forever 21, H&M, Pacsun, etc. the list goes on and on. A lot of fast fashion clothing has been shredded up and put together into brand new pieces and the discarded fabrics are left in landfills. “Americans only recycle 15 percent of their clothing, and that results in 10.5 million tons of textiles needlessly going to landfills. According to a 2018 study in Vermont, 4.2% of our landfill-bound waste was cloth or leather,” says Anne Bijur, an environmental analyst with the Vermont Department of Envi-
ronmental Conservation. Clothes left in landfills or have been burnt have harmful chemicals from the dyes which have impacted the air pollution. It’s beneficial to the environment that people start to donate their clothes more rather than throwing them away. Thrifting Ethics “When you donate instead of throwing it in the trash, you give it a new life here. The benefit of donating is the good feeling, helping the environment, and not adding to the landfills, and the nice thing is, you get a tax deduction for your donation,” says Christina Rentz, Goodwill store manager in Pooler. Luckily, thrifting is very affordable for anyone. Especially if someone is looking for a costume they might be able to find the perfect items for the cheapest prices. “With standard Goodwill pricing for most items, someone can put together their Halloween look for around $20 or under, which makes for a lot of possible creative fun when you are literally discovering hidden treasures.” Hillary Bradbury, Director of Marketing for Goodwill Southeast Georgia says. Even better, the majority of costumes that have been donated have most likely only been worn once. People might be able to score on some cool brand new costumes if they decide to stop by their local thrift stores instead of buying overpriced costumes.
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EDITORIAL
Controversy in the NFL Noah Segovia
Sports Co-Editor
noah.segovia5186@my.riohondo.edu
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ast week in the NFL, some major news involving the Jon Gruden email controversy caused a nationwide uproar. This email controversy involved ex-Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden, ex-Washington Football Team President Bruce Allen. It was an eye-popping homophobic and misogynistic email thread that lasted for seven years, from when Mr. Gruden was an NFL analyst for ESPN in 2011 to 2018 to his first year as Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach. The emails were exchanged on a private email server leaked by the New York Times last Sunday. The 650,000 emails were accounted for in the NFL Workplace Investigation of the Washington Football Team. Most of the emails were exchanged between Gruden and Allen that discussed a wide range of topics and issues that transpired within those seven years in the NFL. These topics included racial comments about the NFL Executive Director of the NFL Players Association,DeMaurice Smith, disapproval of NFL Women referees, gay players in the NFL, denouncing all NFL associates including Commissioner Rodger Goodell, NFL Owners, NFL Journalists with homophobic language, sexual exposure of topless Washington Football Team Cheerleaders, etc. Furthermore, when the emails were leaked and surfaced by the New York Times last week, Coach Gruden coached his previous and final NFL game with the Las Vegas Raiders. This took place after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell got a copy of the emails after the NFL ended their Workplace Investigation with the Washington Football team. Consequently, Mr. wwGoodell sent a copy of the email exchanged to the Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis at the beginning of last week. After, last Monday Coach Jon Gruden resigned as Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden saying in a statement, “I have resigned as Head Coach of Las Vegas Raiders, and I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.” A couple of hours later, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which Coach Gruden led the franchise to its first Super Bowl Championship in 2002, was removed from their hall of fame at Raymond James Stadium after the conclusion of the email controversy. Jon Gruden’s NFL coaching career has come to an immediate end. This email controversy has cost so many people their jobs and has the NFL on the check because I think this is a positive wake up call for everybody to be on their toes, ethically speaking by not putting your personal comments out there in the world, but rather keeping them to yourself, or have a private conversation with someone on how you feel about certain work topics. Also, I believe the NFL and the Raiders had to put an end to this because in the last two years, the NFL emphasized “racial and sexual equality” in the wake of the George Floyd Protests. But I don’t get that you fire a white man for homophobic and misogynistic emails. However, then you have a former NFL Quarterback Colin Kapernick who is still trying to come back after standing up against police brutality and is getting the cold shoulder for equality; see how the NFL picks and chooses its battles? In the end, this email controversy should hold everyone accountable, even if you work for a major company like the NFL or not. This is why I agree with Raiders Quarterback Derek Carr; when asked last Tuesday Morning by the press after Jon Gruden resigned Monday afternoon, he stated, “ No one’s perfect if we just started opening up everyone’s private emails and texts, people would start sweating,... Hopefully not too many, but maybe that’s what they should do for all coaches and GMs and owners from now on and see what happens.”
www.elpaisanoonline.com
Halloween Kills Review Ryan Leon
Opinion Co-Editor
ryan.leon7365@my.riohondo.edu
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orror film "Halloween Kills," the sequel to the 2018 revival film "Halloween," is the latest installment in the long running "Halloween" franchise. It premiered on Oct. 15, 2021, is currently playing in a theater near you, and streaming on Peacock. Directed once again by David Gordon Green, "Halloween Kills" picks up right where the previous entry left off; with the events of this new film taking place on the same night as the last. The film stars Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, and Dylan Arnold, returning actors who portrayed survivors of the 2018 film. Additionally, the film makes use of a couple of surprise character returns. Also, it wouldn’t be a true Halloween movie without Jamie Lee Curtis, who reprises her iconic role as Laurie Strode. I found "Halloween Kills" to be better than the 2018 reboot. While that film was good, it didn’t quite meet my standards as a long-time fan of the franchise. However, this newest addition surpassed my expectations in more ways than one. Firstly, and frankly, the killing. Fans of the Michael Myers character know he isn't one to be messed with, and rightly so. A killer who seems to be more than human, Myers is deadlier than ever this time around. That much is made very clear from beginning to end. Myers does not hold anything back in this film, which easily makes this the bloodiest and goriest entry yet. People who enjoy graphic violence and mayhem in films
Photo by Ryan Leon for El Paisano Media
“Halloween Kills” is the newest chapter in the popular “Halloween” franchise. During its opening weekend, “Halloween Kills” slayed the box office, generating $50.4 million, despite also streaming on Peacock.
will not be disappointed. Those who are squeamish though, might want to stay away from this one as it may cause extreme levels of discomfort. On top of the killing, the film does a great job in presenting a dark and creepy atmosphere in most scenes. That’s honestly something I feel is one of the most important details that needs to be in these kinds of movies. Without that feature, I just don’t think the horror would work as well as it does with it. Myers is definitely creepy enough on his own, but the world around him being just as creepy makes it much more of a genuinely tense experience.
The film’s music is absolutely fantastic. To this day, John Carpenter’s chilling theme song is perfect, and the modern twist that he and the other composers have implemented works very well. The eerie tones that can be heard when you know something is going to pop out add to the feeling of nervousness. Whereas the more intense tracks with deep piano notes put you directly in the grittier scenes. Visual effects and sound design have been taken full advantage of. Myers’ mask looks more menacing than ever thanks to the burn marks that were made to it during 2018’s finale. Horrifically, sounds
of knives piercing flesh, and scenes with little to no sound add unsettling feelings of dread and despair. Blood and gore are extremely realistic throughout and will make even the seasoned horror movie buff uncomfortable. Most impressive however, are the scenes that were filmed to look like a 1970’s movie. This feature added a level of detail that I was not expecting at all. As for the acting, I think most of the cast does a fine job at portraying their respective characters. None of them are going to win any big awards, but that’s okay because that isn’t what the film is going for. I think the actors succeeded in delivering realistic performances. I was able to relate to their fear knowing I would be just as scared as them in face-to-face encounters with Myers. Curtis takes a backseat for most of the film this time around, which makes sense given what happened to Strode in her previous encounter with Myers. She is still present for a fair amount of time, but some fans may be disappointed with her character’s role in this one. This film’s main purpose is to shine the spotlight not only on the boogeyman, but on new characters and his many, many, many victims. It is by no means a masterpiece, but this sequel delivers some of the best atrocities committed by Myers in years (or worst depending on how you look at it). A hardcore slasher film that will make you wince, cringe, and question why you enjoy films of this nature, "Halloween Kills" is a terrific, bloody mess that every fan of the franchise should experience.
Battle of the Pumpkin Spice Latte Starbucks vs. Dunkin' Donuts
M arina Gutierrez Reporter
marina.gutierrez9543@my.riohondo.edu
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hen fall favorite, pumpkin spice, returned, all coffee lovers rejoiced. Local coffee shops all have their own unique recipes to make the perfect pumpkin spice latte. With Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts being extremely popular for their coffee, I had to find out who would take the ultimate latte crown. My personal preference is iced coffee; thus, I headed to both Starbucks and Dunkin' and purchased a medium iced pumpkin spiced latte. Both shops allow customizations to be added to the drink. However, I ordered the iced lattes exactly how they came without adding or changing anything to remain unbiased. I, myself, tend to joke that I like some coffee with my
creamer. With that being said, I decided to judge the coffee based on two essential factors. One factor being a very strong pumpkin spice taste, and the other factor is that the coffee has the right amount of sweetness and is not too bitter. Dunkin' Donuts pumpkin spice iced latte did not disappoint. The actual size of the coffee was perfect and, in fact, slightly bigger than Starbucks’ cup. The drink itself was deliciously creamy and sweet. The pumpkin spice taste was there but not too potent. It was not bitter at all; I almost forgot I was drinking a coffee and not a dessert. Although sweet, the taste was not overpowering. Starbucks’ pumpkin spice iced latte had an excellent presentation. The drink came with whipped cream and pumpkin spice topping. The pumpkin spice taste was very strong.
Photo by Marina Gutierrez for El Paisano Media
The popular Pumpkin Spice Latte is a favorite amongst many customers who frequent Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts during the fall season.
Although it tasted good, the pumpkin spice was almost too intense. It was also much more bitter than Dunkin' Donuts. As an avid coffee drinker and an iced coffee lover, choosing a winner was not easy. Based on my personal preference, the ultimate pumpkin spiced iced latte goes
to, Dunkin' Donuts! Although Starbucks had a more robust pumpkin spice flavor, the overall taste of Dunkin’s coffee won me over. As someone who usually turns to Starbucks for a refreshing iced coffee, I might be making the switch to Dunkin' Donuts instead.
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Wednesday October 20, 2021
Practice Makes Perfect
“more like a family, it’s like our second home.” The bond these girls have is so amazing and they haven’t even had their first game yet. I had also asked her what the team goal for this season was and she told me that “to improve as a team not necessarily winning in general, but honestly that is just a bonus.” Winning is definitely a great thing but from talking to Max-
Photos By Molly McCormick for El Paisano Media
The first Rio Hondo Women's Basketball game will take place on Friday, November 5th.
Molly McCormick Sports Co-Editor
molly.mccormick3682@my.riohondo.edu
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his week I had the amazing opportunity to get an insight into what is in store for Rio Hondo Women’s Basketball by attending one of their practices. Just from entering the gym, I could already hear the communications these girls have. They are constantly talking to one another and like they say in sports “communication is key.” These are a great group of girls who are not only working hard for their upcoming season but are putting in the time. They practice every weekday either before or after school. This just shows how much they want to be prepared for their season and to succeed. This year's team is full of new freshmen except for two experienced sophomores that I had the pleasure of speaking to. The first sophomore is Jennifer Morales. She has been playing basketball for eight years and
her postion is guard. Just from watching her practice, you can see that Morales leads by example and isn’t afraid to lead her team. I think she is an amazing asset to the team when it comes to leadership and communication. I asked her if she could tell me one thing about women's basketball here at Rio Hondo and she told me that “ it is very competitive and you have to put in the hard work to play the game.” This just shows that these girls are really trying to prepare the best they can. Especially with such a young and inexperienced team. They are working almost twice as hard. I also spoke with the other sophomore on the team Donteylor Maxwell. Maxwell has been playing basketball for about nine years and her position is forward. She is the kind of player that is not only a leader for the younger team but also someone who is the heart of the team. She connects with the girls on and off the court. She even told me that they are
“were more like a family, it’s like our second home.”
well I could see that they just want to go out there and give it their all no matter the outcome but most of all have some fun. Coach Rene Herrera has been coaching for Rio Hondo for five years now. He even attended Rio Hondo himself. From watching him coach the girls, I could see that he really cares for these girls and just wants to suc-
Photos By Molly McCormick for El Paisano Media covid. Luckily they were able to ceed. He even told me that “As start practicing in the summer a former player from Rio Hondo College, I felt I can connect with which gave them even more time to get better and grow as a student-athletes, here and help team. As an athlete himself, he them reach their goal of playing used basketball as a great outlet college ball and help them and learned the importance transfer to a 4-year to continue of teamwork, work ethic, and their athletics and academics.” learning how to face adversity. Herrera has these girls working These are traits that he passes very hard because they compete in a very tough conference. down to the girls to have when Also, this is a fresh start for all of they face the real world. I only attended one practice them because they weren’t able to have a season last year due to this week and I can already see the potential these girls have. If they are putting in this much work and dedication into their practices. I can only imagine what their season will look like. You can just see the love and passion each girl has on the court as they work hard to get better every day. Unfortunately, they are still not allowing anyone in the stands but we can all still cheer them on and support them from afar. I wish them good luck and a fantastic season.
Photos By Molly McCormick for El Paisano Media
Rio Hondo Women's Volleyball RHC defeats CC 3-2
Photos By Molly McCormick for El Paisano Media
Rio Hondo's Women's Volleyball team has won 4 games at home and 3 away. Their only two neurtal games were lost.
Fernando R amos
Sports Executive Editor
fernando.ramos9660@my.riohondo.edu
T
his year Rio Hondo has an outstanding group of ladies bossing it up on the volleyball court, as shown with their win against Cerritos Community College. Our lady Roadrunners defeated Cerritos with a 3-2 scoreline. The women's volleyball team will face Long Beach City College on October 20th, 2021 as they look to extend their streak to 3 wins on the bounce. The women’s volleyball team has now improved their record as they are now with a record of 7 wins and 10 losses. After a rough start, it seems like the ladies are now getting into a promising run of form. Alina Velo wracked up the most points in the game against Cerritos as she put up 13 points, as well as 2 two digs, and 10 kills. Desteny Hernandez and Ariel Garcia also played their part in the scoreline as they
both put up 10 points for their side. Nadiene Oronoz was right behind them as she put up 9 points. 42 out of 64 points that were scored in that game were scored by these 4 ladies. The game against Cerritos was very much a hard fought match. Rio Hondo were down in the first 2 sets of the game. The first set was won by Cerritos 25 to 22. The second set was also won by Cerritos 25 to 23. After the first two sets, Rio came back to completely turn the tie around. The third set was won by Rio 22 to 25, the fourth was also won by Rio 21 to 25. It was all down to the last set of the game where Rio Hondo managed to come out victorious with a 9 to 15 score. Once again this is a very huge victory for Rio Hondo as they now have the momentum for the game against Long Beach City College. Great result for the ladies however, it is now time to focus on the next game.
El Paisano Newspaper Staff Jasmine Soria Editor-In-Chief
John Rodriguez News Editor/Photo Editor
Jonathon Carmona Sci & Tech Editor
Fernando Ramos Executive Sports Editor
Molly McCormick Noah Segovia Sports Co-Editor
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Gabi Ortiz Lifestyles Editor/A & E Co-Editor
Madeline Torres A & E Co-Editor Lorenzo Arce Digital EIC
Cassidy Anderson Digital Photo Editor
Carlos Jimenez Digital Sports Editor
Madeline Ekstrand Broadcast Director
Raymond Luna Social Media
Christopher Elias Marina Gutierrez Jeffrey Barragan Justin Gomez Valeria Yanez Yasmine Poot Gilbert Lazo Bryan Chavez Reporters
Poem of the Week Second
By: Jonathon Carmona
Roses are red Violets are blue I learned to write poems But only in two
3600 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601
Roses are still red Violets are still blue I hope you enjoyed This is a poem too
Like Poetry? Send in your poems to be printed in El Paisano by Friday at noon to our EIC, Jasmine Soria at : jasmine.soria5406 @my.riohondo.edu. Submit Today! *all poems are subject to be reviewed there is no guarentee you will be printed, make sure your name and contact information is in the email