December 2016 • Volume XXII • Issue 3

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Current Events Y e a r i n R e v i e w Season’s Greetings

Learn about Trump’s cabinet picks and other current events on page 5.

The new year is approaching, so make sure to recap on the highlights from 2016 on page 14.

Dive into the holiday season by checking out the special holiday stories on page 13 & 15.

La Quinta High School and the Hawkview do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender or disability.

December 2016 Volume XXII Issue 3

Hawkview La Quinta High School

LQ Theatre Successfully Tackles LQ Bids Farewell to Beloved Receptionist, Ms. Blondell Ms. Blondell Football Romeo Production Guest Columnist

Omar Hassan Reporter

Football Romeo, a play by Lindsay Price, was performed

by LQHS’ B.E.S.T Productions from December 1-3. The comedy depicted the rocky lives of two polar opposite groups who, after a long span of bickering and fighting, discovered that they are not so different after all. The two casts, who performed on two separate dates, showed that a drama geek is just as worthy as a football star.

The production sold 236 tickets from four shows over the span of three days. As the students performed a matinee and an evening show on Saturday, it was the most successful day, financially, at the box office.

“This was the first time I double cast a show,” said Ms. Weiss, director of the theatre program. “Instead of working with ten actors, I was working with twenty actors; so, it was a little more difficult.”

Nicola Calabretta, played

by Zoe Hammons (11) and Celeste Cruz (10), tries to get her boyfriend Rick Sittler, played

by Anthony Silva (12) and Paul Savarino (9), cast as Romeo in their school play. Laurel, played by Brianna Reyes (12), tries to encourage her friend Danny Dinning, played by Tai Garcia (9), to try out for the part of Romeo, causing clashes and squabbles between the two cliques.

The story was especially powerful when two characters of opposing sides of the high school social spectrum shared emotional parallels. Nicola, the

Photo Credit: Mariana Escatell

head of the popular group, perpetually expressed her desire to control everything and get her way no matter what -- a character flaw that acted as the root of her fears and angst.

Danny, a drama geek, revealed how similar opposites can be when he, just as Nicola, expressed his crippling self-confidence and fear of bullies.

“The message was that it doesn’t matter who you are or who you hang out with,” shared Reyes. “What you bring to the table talent-wise is most important, along with friendship.”

This is my farewell message to all my friends and fellow staff, or as King Ussery would say, staph!

I have loved working here for almost 18 years. You know it’s time to go when the kids look at the old yearbook photos and ask, “Mrs. Blondell, exactly how long have you had that haircut?” Parents at the beginning of each school year say, “OMG, you are still here!!!”

What will I miss most about working here at LQHS? That would have to be calling out 50 names at lunch and knowing I am mispronouncing at least half of them, which reminds me of a story when I first started working here. I was asked to page a student by the name of Joaquin Rodriguez to come to the office. Keep in mind I had just started working here and had never seen the name Joaquin spelled out, so guess how I pronounced it?

“Joe – a – quin.” The entire office erupted in laughter.

Well, that was the day I decided to make sure I practice the names ahead of time, just in case. I have to say after the humiliation wore off (maybe a year later), I found that story to

be one of my favorites. Oh, but let’s not forget more recently: “Rigor, Relevance, Rubric.”

That page just came out, “Teachers, please remember to bring your Rigor…rrr..rrr… whatever just bring it to your meeting.”

I have learned one thing, you need to have a sense of humor to work at a high school and know how to laugh at yourself.

Stories and memories from LQHS I have plenty, I have also made many good friends and will miss them all.

To sum it up, I would like to share one of my favorite quotes from Maya Angelou, “At the end of the day, people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” I hope in some small way I made you all feel good.

I wish you all the best, LQHS staff and students.

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2 School News PSA’s Trip to Calipatria The Big Cookie Showdown S Sahara Garcia Art Editor/Illustrator

Culinary Arts held its second annual Holiday Cookie Showdown emceed by Sahara Garcia (12) and Bianca Rae from KESQ News Channel 3.

The competitors for the showdown were Alexandra Pierce, the weekend morning anchor from KESQ, and Zak Dahlheimer, the weekend evening newscaster from KESQ. The night included a salad, two entrées (recipes provided by Pierce and Dahlheimer), and the cookie dessert.

The salad was an arugula tossed in a persian lemon dressing with pears, cranberries, candied pecans, and bleu cheese. Pierce’s entrée was an oven-roasted short rib with root vegetable sauce, garlic and cream mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts with pomegranate seeds and walnuts.

Dahlheimer’s entrée was a roasted turkey with dressing, gravy, and creamed spinach.

Pierce’s cookie rendition was a peanut cookie ice cream sandwich with peanut brittle ice cream topped with a peanut butter and dark chocolate sauce. Dahlheimer’s cookie was a pecan cookie log trifle on top of layers of vanilla cream mousse and a crumbled pecan cookie topped with whipped cream.

At the end of the night, Zak won the competition.

“I love getting to co-emcee with students at La Quinta

John Doyle High School,” commented Rae. Reporter “I also always end up learning a fun thing or two from them!

They constantly impress me and I am honored to work with them. It's another example of how the Coachella Valley comes together to better the community.”

On December 5, LQHS’ Public Service Academy went on a field trip to Calipatria State Prison, about 60 miles away.

“It was very scary at first.

They [security] bombard you with information and you see these men who are head-to-toe in full-on gear with different type of weapons and pepper spray,” shared biology teacher and chaperone, Ms. Alcantar.

“It was a very intimidating experience walking in.”

The PSA students met prisoners from the Straight Life Program, a program that helps improve certain prisoners’ lives for the better. The prisoners who are in this program talked to students and openly answered their questions.

More importantly, they talked to students about the mistakes they made and how to avoid them.

“The prisoners we talked to were blaming themselves for what they did, most of them were [convicted of] first or second-degree murder,” said sophomore Jessica Barron. “I felt happy for [their progress], but I also felt bad because they have to spend the rest of their lives in prison.”

Freshmen Compete in Annual Meet of Champs

Juan Puga Reporter

Just before students left for Thanksgiving break, some of La Quinta High School's fastest freshmen competed against each other in the Meet of Champions to see who was the best athlete. It was a day in which the student-athletes pushed themselves to their limits in the spirit of a healthy challenge.

To have qualified for the event, the 60 freshmen had to have placed first in their respective physical education class period. PE coach, Ms. Gordon stated, “This is where the best of the best compete with one another.”

The freshmen spent a little over three weeks in their PE

classes, dabbling in the fifteen track and field events as part of their track unit. The Meet of Champions was intended as a final test of that unit.

The winners of the male events were David Mireles in the 200 meters and 400 meters, Jahnig Flores in the 800 meters, Luke Kleine in the 100 meters. The female winners were Karina Ojeda in the 200 meters, Breanna Torres in the

Photo Credit: Coach Ansley

800 meters, Alessandra Gibbs in the 100 meters, and Isabella Fakehany in the 400 meters.

The winning class period for the 4x100 for males was period 3, which consisted of Aldo Amaro, Isaac Cano, Cade Volkers, and Ryan Claiborne. The winning period for the 4x100 for females was period 4, which included Karina Ojeda, Shayne Manion, Isabella Fakehany, and Jada Reese.

STAFF BOX: Editors-in-Chief Evelyn Sarabia Kayleen Sullivan

Assistant Editor: Mariana Escatell Photo Editor: Mariana Escatell Advertisement Editor:

Genaya Hollis

Copy Editors: Genaya Hollis Madison Ivy Karis Johnson Sports Editor: Christian Mesa Art Editor: Sahara Garcia Reporters: Vanessa Barboza Stephanie Do Viviana Dominguez John Doyle Bailey Franklin Antonio Gambino Omar Hassan Sean Layman Emily Martinez Gracie Montaño Thao Nguyen Madison O’Barr Keeli Place Jessica Porrelli Juan Puga Christian Rodriguez Marcos Torres Sam Zook Advisor: Ms. Cortez

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SCHOOL NEWS 3 LQ Students Participate in Annual When I Was 17: Bowman Edition Academic World Quest Competition

Viviana Dominguez Reporter

Robert Bowman, English teacher, came to California from Denver, Colorado in 2015. He went to high school during the mid-1990s and lived in the suburbs of Arvada, Colorado.

As a child, Bowman wrote a considerable amount of poetry. As a high school student, he continued his hobby and performed spoken poetry at coffee shops. To keep up with the pace of performances, Bowman gave himself a constant deadline to write new material each week. He worked at a record store and a coffee shop, where he started his own poetry night.

Bowman also recalled his brief involvement with the cross country team and the ski team but admitted, “I wasn’t a terrific athlete.”

Instead, Bowman expressed, “I’ve always kind of played the comic relief chump.” He was bullied during his teenage years, as he had a tiny frame and held a unique sense of style that was not popular with the other students. It was not until his senior year when people around him stopped picking on him and realized that he was nice.

With ambitions of becoming a successful actor, Bowman participated in other extracurricular activities, such as school musicals, plays, and singing with the choir. A memorable moment of his life was when his drama teacher re-

marked, “Rob, you know, you’re an OK actor. You’re not great, but you’re a good writer.” This was a key factor that catapulted him into his new career as an author.

After high school, he attended Metropolitan State University of Denver, majoring in literature with a minor in history. This is where he got serious about his career as a writer, later publishing a novel.

During college, Bowman wrote short stories, reviews, and speeches for major companies.

Bowman would advise his 17-year-old self to “stay true to who you know you are deep down and it’ll all come together.”

Sam Zook Reporter

World Quest is a competition where Coachella Valley high schools select four team members to compete in rounds, answering in-depth questions about current events and global issues. This year’s topics included the European Union, women and technology, countering violent extremism, and a multi-category textbook of random topics. The competition holds five rounds of 10 questions and the team members only receive five seconds to answer each document sourced question from their self-created guides.

“This is my third year coaching World Quest. My first two years had the same six

Teachers Take Back The Turkey Bowl Title!!

Sahara Garcia Art Editor/Illustrator

On November 14, the annual Turkey Bowl took place between LQ’s seniors and teachers. Last year, the teachers were finally defeated by the seniors, ending their ten-game winning streak. Daniel Leon, Counseling Office Specialist, remarked, “We felt bad that the seniors lost the flag last year, so we decided to let them win. Although, this year was different, seniors got the flag

back, so we had to dominate – and dominate we did!”

The heat of the sun and lack of shade had the spectators and the players sweating through the game. In the first quarter, the teachers scored two touchdowns and made a field goal, making the score 140. Teachers later made a second touchdown, which put the score at 20-0.

After the five minute halftime, the seniors finally added themselves to the scoreboard with a touchdown. Still, the

Photo Credit: Mariana Escatell

teachers were victorious and the game ended with a final score of 26-6.

“All of us are bummed that we couldn’t put more points on the board. In the end, we created some memorable senior moments and had fun doing it,” commented Milo Camaddo (12).

Photo Credit: Mr. Klockenteger

team members, until they all graduated last year; so, this is a brand new team,” shared Mr. Klockenteger, I.B. History teacher. “All the new members are students of mine. They include [juniors] Kaela Alagos, Jessica Porrelli, Melissa Sandoval, and Andrew Sitko.”

The four students would meet with him to summarize their readings every week and prepare for possible questions that would be asked in the competition, with each meeting typically lasting over an hour.

The team competed at the local competition in the Indian Wells Chamber Hall on December 8. Unfortunately, they lost the competition to Palm Desert and other high schools.

As this was the team’s first time competing, with more practice, they will be well prepared for next year’s World Quest.

S 4 Local News

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Yee-Haw Country Music Lovers!!

“Bury the Beetle” Hosted in Palm Desert

Sean Layman Reporter

On December 3, Palm Springs Cruisin’ Association hosted “Bury The Beetle,” a toy drive and car show at the Westfield Mall in Palm Desert.

This event was held to collect gifts and foods this holiday season for kids and families. The show hosted car models as early as the 1930s and owners evidently took pride in their maintaining their cars as if they were new.

The cruisin’ began with a variety

of cars – Mustangs, street rods, trucks and everything in between – through the entrance. As cars pulled up, donations of toys and canned food for the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission began to bury the Beetle, donated by Volkswagen of Palm Springs.

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Photo Credit: Palm Springs Cruisin’ Assoc.

Skating into the Holiday Spirit

Bailey Franklin Reporter

Here in the valley, winters are relatively cold to desert rats. Winters may not be filled with snowflakes and snowmen, but there is a new activity close to home: thrill-seekers can now ice skate at the River in Rancho Mirage. This is the same place that houses Forever 21 and the Century Theatre.

This will not only occupy an af-

ternoon, but whole days can be spent skating, watching movies, or sipping hot holiday drinks from the nearby Starbucks.

The Renova Ice Rink, which opened on November 22, is an outdoor ice rink located right next to the Cheesecake Factory.

For a day pass at the rink, it costs $15 and

offers skating every day with varying times. On Mondays through Wednesdays, they are open from 12:00 p.m. to

10:00 p.m.

On Tuesdays, they offer a seniors only time at 10:00 a.m. through 12:00 p.m., and on Thursdays and Sundays, they are open from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., while Fridays and Saturdays are open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The rink will close on January 8.

Illustration by Antonio Gambino

Cool Tunes on Public Transportation

Mariana Escatell Asst./Photo Editor

On December 3, the Sunline 111 and CV Art Scene hosted its second annual 111 Music Festival. It is a local and mobile m u s i c fest that t a k e s place on the Sunbus on Highway 111. It’s a cool way to connect local musicians and give them an opportunity to show off their talents. The artists take their place at the back of the bus to perform as

the locals commute to their destination or just to support them.

The lineup this year included Brightener, The Brosquitos, P o r s i a Camille, a n d LQHS’ v e r y own, Edith Aldaz (11). The e v e n t took place for seven consecutive hours and the ride was only a dollar to get in, or a regular bus ride fee price.

Photo Credit: 111 Music Festival

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Newsy News 5

Trump’s Cabinet Picks

Jessica Porrelli Reporter

Since Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton in the presidential race, he and his transition team have been working hard filling in positions for Trump's new administration, including those for the presidential cabinet.

Some of Trump’s appointments have already raised eyebrows due to lack of experience, among other things. Critics like Nancy Pelosi responded to his nomination of Ben Carson for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by saying, “Dr. Ben Carson is a disconcerting and disturbingly unqualified choice to lead a department as complex and consequential as Housing and Urban Development.”

Trump has also appointed Betsy DeVos, philanthropist and education advocate, as Secretary of Education, whom he claims will reform the public school system. Many opponents are concerned about her lack of experience with public education, in addition to the fact that she will dedicate more tax dollars to charter and private schools, thus worsening public schools.

Trump announced on Tuesday that he will nominate

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Rex Tillerson, the CEO of ExxonMobil, as his secretary of state. This choice, like several of his other cabinet picks, may prove difficult in receiving a Senate confirmation since many are concerned that Tillerson has too many economic ties to Russia via his company, which, according to the New York Times, has “billions of dollars in oil contracts that can go forward only if the United States lifts sanctions against Russia.”

Donald Trump’s promises to “drain the swamp,” meaning that when appointing officials to his administration, he would aim to select people who are not part of the Washington establishment. He may not be able to keep his word to his supporters who helped him earn the White House if he begins to appoint mainstream Republicans. However, this may help in his attempt to appeal to more of the general public.

News Bytes

Kayleen Sullivan Co-Editor-in-Chief

Jill Stein, the Green Party’s presidential nominee, spearheaded the call for a recount of the results of the 2016 presidential election. Recounts have began in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — where President-elect Trump narrowly won the electoral votes. On November 28, the Clinton campaign participated in the recount effort that raised millions of dollars, causing Trump to call it a scam as he claimed Stein will use the money for personal use.

On Nov. 29, a plane carrying Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense crashed near Rionegro, Colombia, killing 75 players, journalists, and crew members. There were 82 passengers on board and three of the players were among the survivors.

The controversial “Heartbeat Bill” was passed by the Ohio state legislature on December 7 and will become law if Republican Governor John Kasich signs the bill within ten days. If there is a heartbeat detected, which usually happens within six weeks of pregnancy, this law would ban abortions for anyone, even in cases of rape or incest. This would make Ohio one of the strictest states on abortion in the country. The

American Civil Liberties Union shared their plan to press a legal challenge if the bill is signed into law.

Trump was named Time's Person of the Year on Dec. 7, entitling the feature story, “President of the Divided States of America.” The editorial board stated that they chose an individual with the most influence over that year’s world events, for better or worse.

There were several earthquakes around the world in the last few weeks. On Nov. 22, Japan suffered a 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the Honshu Islands that triggered tsunami waves, injuring a few.

On Dec. 9, Indonesia was hit by a 6.5-magnitude earthquake, killing 102 people and leaving many homeless. On Dec. 8, the Bay Area felt a 6.5magnitude earthquake that struck the coast off of Humboldt County, approximately 100 miles from San Francisco.

As expected, Trump is being controversial with his choices for his administration.

One of the biggest uproars has been over the appointment of Michael Flynn for National Security Advisor. Now retired, Flynn was the former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency that was pushed out of the position for the mishandling of classified information and suspicious ties with foreign countries. The presidentelect has also nominated Scott Pruitt, the attorney general of the oil and gas-intensive state of Oklahoma, as the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, an organization he has sued and has spent most of his career fighting.

On Dec. 2, a warehouse

known as the Ghost Ship burned down and killed 36 people in Oakland, California.

Officials have reported that the building had not been inspected in over 30 years and that there were several complaints filed before the fire about trash, old cars, and oil containers littered around the warehouse.

On Dec. 8, John Glenn, hero and symbol of the space age, died at the age of 95. He was the first American to orbit Earth and later served in the Senate.

Alan Thicke, the beloved father from the ‘80s sitcom Growing Pains, died on Dec. 14 at 69 years old. His career in the industry spanned five decades but he will always be remembered as the epitome of the TV dad.

After four-and-a-half years of conflict in Aleppo, Syria, the Assad government is poised to take back the rebel controlled parts of the city.

Russia and Turkey have teamed up and are planning on rescuing tens of thousands civilians in the midst of the fighting. U.S. officials are unsure of whether the two countries will follow through with their plan, especially since the Iraqi government is against their evacuation.

GIRAFFES ARE GOING EXTINCT; SAVE THEM!!!

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6 Opinions

What’s Up With?!?!?! Fantastic Beasts and Where to

Mariana Escatell Asst./Photo Editor

What’s up with Donald Trump winning Time's Person of the Year?!?!?

Did anyone else notice that the M from Time is placed on his head to look like devil horns??!?!

What’s up with the Vine app not actually being shut down?!?!? I told y’all it was only for publicity!!

What’s up with Russian President Vladimir Putin denying

the gift of a dog from the Japanese government???

How are you gonna deny a dog?!?!?!

What’s up with 168 cases of monkey bread mix being recalled due to cases of salmonella?!?! Can you imagine just trying to enjoy your nice slice of monkey bread and getting salmonella…?

What’s up with the Palm Springs Tramway being so gosh darn expensive?!? Some of us are just trying to go on cute dates – not break the bank!!

What’s up with someone working on the roof during class above the journalism room?? He’s literally stomping up there, I am concerned for my safety and his… That roof is about to cave in.

What’s up with Palm

Springs filing a civil court action against RoboLights claiming that some of their fixtures are unsafe?!

Okay, yeah, maybe they aren’t the safest, but they're pretty, so we don't care about our safety!!

What’s up with a Christmas tree shortage in the desert this year?!?! This means the most wonderful time of the year just became the most expensive time of the year!!

Find Them Hits the Box Office

Marcos Torres Reporter

On November 18, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them was released in theaters. Wellknown actors Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waters t o n , D a n Fogler and Alison Sudol starred in the film. The movie revolves around magizoologist Newt Scamander (Redmayne) who arrives in New York for a

Word on the Street:

“What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever received for Christmas?”

Logan Ibarra (9): I’m a Chargers fan, yet they got me a Raiders keychain!”

Hadar Gamliel (11): “Nothing because I’m Jewish.”

Interviews and photos by Madison Ivy

Trinity Johnson (10): “I got a bunch of raw oranges.”

Brandon Peterson (12): “I got shoes wrapped in duct tape and spent ten minutes looking for them inside the tree!

quick stop, but ends up delayed after misplacing his magical suitcase. A No-Maj or non-wizard, named Jacob Kowalski accidently lets the creatures escape from the case and it is up to the t w o men, with t h e help of two sist e r s named Porpentina (Waterston) and Queenie Goldstein (Sudol), to recapture them.

This spinoff Harry Potter prequel film is enjoyable as it tells a supposedly simple tale, but becomes more complex as the movie progresses by weaving in subplots. That does not mean that the movie smoothly transitions from one narrative to another, as it seems that it tries to do too much for a movie that is starting an entire spinoff series. The main characters are written charmingly and each have their own memorable moments. The relationships between the four main characters also recaptures the friendship developed in the Harry Potter franchise. Overall, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is a great film to see if you enjoy the world of Harry Potter, but if you do not, then you wouldn’t be at a major loss.

Photo Credit: collider.com

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8 Through the

Marleen Lopez (12) Jaime Pajarito (12)

Ana Yan (12)

Taylor Doyle (12)

Love

Jeremy Baker (11)

Virginia Lowell (9)

What is love?

Do you get lost Do you ignite Is it day or night into the moment Inspiring someone great Giving you thanks Written by Riely Renolds (10)

Abel Hernandez (11)

Jackie Navarro (12)

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blackhawk eye 9 Look

Look to inspire today Inspire women across the world Look for courage in your heart The movement has to start We women will fight for what we believe Stop the hate and restore love Our power is as bright as the bold sun Rise up tp create possiblity Transform humanity Join the movement

Cooper Mello (11)

By Francine Ansley (10)

Marco Mendoza (12) In My Dreams

By Liam Manzano (10) In my dreams I am the one.

In my dreams the smile on my face is endless.

In my dreams I’m on the stairway to heaven.

Jourdan Flynn (11)

A special thank you to Deputy Contreras for your supporting the Hawkview.

Evelyn Sarabia (12)

In my dreams her laugh and voice are melodies to my ear.

In my dreams her smile is the best thing I see everyday.

In my dreams she smells like the earth and beaitiful gardenias, a little bit more human than the rest of us.

In my dreams her eyes shine like mali garnet in the sun.

In my dreams I’m on cloud nine. In my dreams I’m sharing all my great adventures with the girl I call mine.

In my dreams I realize what all seemed true was just a dream. in my dreams I hope to be that person I once dreamt of.

In my dreams I am the one.

Skyla Curtis (12)

Art collected by Mariana Escatell and Stephanie Do

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10 Sports wrap-ups LQ’s Akemi Von Scherr is the Second Fastest Freshman in the State Evelyn Sarabia Co-Editor-in-Chief

On November 11, the LQ girls’ cross country team traveled to Riverside to compete in the Division I CIF-SS Prelims.

Although the girls did not advance as a team, freshman Akemi Von Scherr managed to keep up with the lead pack of the race in order to secure her spot as an individual and move on to compete in CIF Finals.

CIF Finals were held the following week on Nov. 19 at the same Riverside course.

Nerves began to rack up for Von Scherr as her race came closer. She ran without her teammates by her side and also had the pressure looming over her to make the cut for the State Championships. She maintained a steady pace throughout the three-mile race

Photo Credit: Salvador Lopez

and ran through the finish line at 17:18, earning 10th place overall in a heat of 176 competitors. This landed her within the top five individual racers who qualified to move

Blackhawk Football Falls at Round One of CIF

Christian Mesa Sports Editor

The Blackhawks varsity football team had a tremendous season once again by winning the Mike Gates trophy, taking back the Victory Flag,

and becoming DVL champions. Their success came to an end in the postseason, due to a heartbreaking loss of 10-24 to Redlands on November 11, as they were unable to get past the opening round of CIF.

Photo Credit: Desert Sun

on and compete at the State Championships.

The State Championships took place at Woodward Park in Fresno on Nov. 26. Here, Von Scherr was able to compete with the best of the best from the entire state of California.

She expressed how the change in climates from dry, hot weather to dry, cold weather took a toll on her, but not enough to hold her back from competing at her usual potential.

As she approached the end of the race, Von Scherr managed to pass numerous competitors, placing 12th overall with a time of 17:54 – 26 seconds behind the first place runner. Although she did not move on to Nationals, her performance at the State Championship landed her the title of second fastest freshman in the state of California.

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Boys’ Water Polo Ends Season at CIF Semifinals !

Maddie O’Barr Reporter

After a long fight through the fall season, beginning with a loss in the games before CIF season, the boys’ water polo team swam away victoriously undefeated in the league as DVL champions. As they advanced into CIF, the polo team reminded everyone why La Quinta is known for their fierce athleticism.

In the quarterfinals against Walnut, the Blackhawks took victory in their last home game with a score of 8-4.

The boys lost their semifinal game against Northwood with

a score of 6-10. However, by making it to the semifinals, they made it further than they did last season at quarterfinals.

“Since this was my first season playing on the team, it went a lot better than I ever hoped for,” said first year player, Jacob Spurgin (9). “In

Photo Credit:Mariana Escatell

every game, we all came together and overcame the challenges we faced and were very successful. We definitely had the skill as a team to win CIF; but when we played the last game, I feel like we didn't play at our full potential. Next year we will definitely win CIF.”

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sports 11

Girls’ Water Polo Starts Season in Confidence

Maddie O’Barr Reporter

The girls’ varsity water polo team are in the pool yet again and are working harder than ever this pre-season. With five returning varsity players, the team is off to a fresh start.

“We are a very young team this year and we have a lot of growing to do,” shared Jordan Nadler (11). “I think that we work very well together and have the ability to take this team far by the end of the season.”

With Shadow Hills High School now joining the Desert Valley League, LQ will play their first game against them early this season. It should be a tough match since the

Knights are working to make a statement as the newbies in the league.

On December 15, the players faced off against Xavier Prep, who are undefeated so far this season. However, due

to printing deadlines, it could not be included in this issue.

La Quinta will be traveling to Redondo Beach and Chino Hills to compete in the prestigious Ayala Tournament on Dec. 17-18.

Boys’ Soccer Strive for the DVL Title

Genaya Hollis Advertisement Editor

LQ’s varsity boys’ soccer team started their pre-season playing their first home game against Rancho Mirage on November 22, winning 2-0. They followed up with a tie of 1-1 against Coachella Valley on Nov. 29.

On December 6, the team played Twentynine Palms and won by a staggering score of 9-0. LQ earned another win lthe following day as they scored 6-1 against 2015 Regional Champions Desert Mirage.

Team captains, Nick Stange (12) and Andy Teran (12), are looking forward to a successful season. Teran stated, “Never have I played

Nick Stange (12) Photo Credit: Jacy Esteves

alongside a team with such hunger and passion. The sky's the limit this year.”

With pre-season going well, the team has high expectations for themselves this

year. Teran added, “First, we focus on DVL. My left hand is feeling light, so we’re definitely striving for a second [CIF] ring.”

On Dec. 12, the boys played Desert Hot Springs and won by an amazing score of 40, leaving them with an overall standing of 4-0-2.

Their next home game will be January 3, 2017 against Oak Hills. Be sure to go support your fellow Blackhawks on their journey to win the CIF title!

Boys’ Soccer

11/22 Rancho Mirage 11/29 Coachella Valley 29 Palms 12/6 12/7 Desert Mirage 12/8 Temecula Valley 12/12 Desert Hot Springs 12/16 Palm Desert

2-0 1-1 9-0 6-1 2-2 4-0 3-2

Win Tie Win Win Tie Win Win

Girls’ Soccer Kick off the Season in a Positive Direction

Kayleen Sullivan Co-Editor-in-Chief

Pre-season began for the girls’ soccer team on November 29 with a friendly match against Coachella Valley High School, who no longer competes in DVL as they were demoted a division. This gave LQ a huge boost into the season with a hefty 6-0 win.

The Blackhawks competed in their first tournament, the San Dimas Winter Classic, on December 2. The girls won their first match against Montclair High School, 3-1, but lost the next game that day against Glendora, 1-0. Glendora scored early and despite LQ dominating the rest of the game, they could not get the ball into the back of the net. This was merely a warm-up as the girls continue to get familiar with each other on the field.

La Quinta continued the tournament with a win of 3-0 against Monrovia High School.

The girls qualified for the consolation game to compete for third place against West Covina. It ended with a tie but LQ won in penalty kicks with two saves from keeper Rosalinda Escobar (11). The following Monday, LQ traveled to Chino High School to play in a

Taylor Doyle (12) Photo Credit: Mariana Escatell

friendly non-conference game that ended in a 0-0 tie.

The Blackhawks began the Best of the West two-week tournament on Dec. 10. They playes two games against Saint Joseph and Mayfair with two wins of 5-2 and 2-1, respectively. Leading forward Tatiana Woodworth (11) scored both goals against Mayfair and senior keeper Belen Jimenez saved a penalty kick to secure LQ’s win.

“As an experienced team with 12 seniors who have played together for a couple of years now, we are continuing to work to improve each day by one percent,” shared Lyndsey Knowles (12). “We are working towards our fifth consecutive DVL title and strive to compete for the CIF championship this season.”

The first DVL match was on Dec. 14 against Palm Desert. Due to printing deadlines, the game could not be included in this issue.

Girls’ Soccer 11/29 Coachella Valley Montclair 12/2 Glendora 12/2 Monrovia 12/3 12/3 West Covina 12/5 Chino 12/10 Saint Joseph Mayfair 12/10

6-0 3-1 0-1 3-0 0-0 0-0 5-2 2-1

Win Win Loss Win Tie Tie Win Win

Issue 3 2016_Layout 1 12/14/16 11:44 PM Page 12

12 sports

Wrestling Prevails Early on in Season

Christian Mesa Sports Editor

The boys’ and girls’ wrestling teams shot into the new season on December 3 in a tournament to remember late head coach, Tom Jenkins.

Both teams made their former coach proud that day as they came in third overall out of ten teams.

Michael Jahnig (9), Jesse Rodriguez (9), Luis Sanchez (10), Joe Garcia (11), Benjamin Velasco (9), Noel Magallanes (11), Richard Rico (12), and Joseph Ferrara (12) all won four of their five matches.

Following their success at the Jenkins Memorial Tournament, the Blackhawks traveled to Rancho Mirage on Dec. 7. In a close match, they were able to defeat the Rattlers (46-32), with major contributions from Rico, Velasco, Magallanes, Garcia, Rodriguez, Ferrara, Dominick Jahnig (10), and Marcus McAvoy (10) – who all defeated their opponents via pinfall.

After their win at Rancho Mirage, the boys traveled to compete in the Carter Duals on December 9-10. La Quinta was able to come away from the tournament with a second place finish, thanks to Jahning

Boys’ Basketball Begins with the Tip Off

Vanessa Barboza Reporter

and Ferrara as they won all of their matches. The boys will face Cathedral City on Dec. 15 for their first DVL match.

The Lady Blackhawks began their wrestling season on Dec. 10 at the West Covina

Photo Courtesy: Coach Flores

Tournament. Julia Ferrara (12) was able to pin three of her four opponents, enabling her to win third place in her weight class. On Dec. 15, the girls will join the boys to take on Cathedral City at home.

The LQ varsity boys’ basketball team started off preseason with the Design Pro Tip Off Classic Tournament, which started on November 26. The first game was against Twentynine Palms, where they suffered a loss with a score of 73-83. The next two games also resulted with defeats against Brawley, 64-74, on Nov. 29 and Adelanto, 65-91, on December 1. The boys had a comeback in the last two games against Desert Christian

Girls’ Basketball Starts off Strong in Preseason with Hopes of a DVL Title

Emily Martinez Reporter

On November 22, the LQ varsity girls’ basketball team kicked off the winter pre-season with an important win against Desert Mirage High School (48-21), demonstrating their potential for the 2016-17 season.

The Blackhawks later attained victories against DHS, 56-27, on Nov. 28 and Nordoff, 51-30, on December 2. Their

winning streak was disrupted at the Rancho Verde Tournament on Dec. 6, where they lost against Heritage with a score of 20-64 on Dec. 7.

The ladies hope their strong bond and confidence will get them far this season.

“My goal for this season is to win DVL,” stated Captain Jessie Rios (11). “On and off the court, we sometimes end up getting angry at each other;

Brandie Lopez (12) Photo Credit: Erica Lopez

but after, we just shake it off.”

Their next away game is against Palm Desert on Dec. 14 and their next home game will be against Shadow Hills on Dec. 16.

Girls’ Basketball 11/22 Desert Mirage 11/28 Desert Hot Springs 12/2 Nordhoff 12/7 Heritage 12/12 Coachella Valley

48-21 56-27 51-30 20-64 50-56

Win Win Win Loss Loss

Photo Courtesy: Desert Sun

Academy (68-45) on Dec. 2 and West Valley (57-53) on Dec. 3, with victories against both teams.

The basketball team retained starters from last year who now hold captain positions: Pierce Sterling (10), Jordan Shetrone (12), and Marcelo Zepeda (12). The boys are currently participating in the Kiwanis Tournament, which started on Dec. 5. They were victorious the first two games against San Jacinto with a score of 69-49 and Bloomington with 52-33.

Unfortunately, the boys underwent defeats against Poly on Dec. 8, 53-83, Rialto on Dec. 9 (60-64), and Hillcrest on Dec. 10 (23-59). On Dec. 12, they played against Twentynine Palms and continued their losing streak with a score of 86-92. On Dec. 14, the boys will play against Palm Desert.

“We all talk and hang out on- and-off the court,” stated Zepeda. “We have all gotten smarter and have begun playing more as a team after these first games.”

Boys’ Basketball 1126- Design Pro Tip 12/3 Off Tourn.

12/5-10

12/12

2-3

Kiwanis Tourn. 2-3 29 Palms 92-86 Loss

Issue 3 2016_Layout 1 12/14/16 11:44 PM Page 13

christmas in the desert 13 City of Windmills Transforms into the City of Lights

Antonio Gambino Reporter

The holiday season is here and that means the streets are filled with holiday shoppers, huge Christmas trees, and lights strung across the desert, illuminating the roads with a mixture of festive colors.

No matter where you live in the Coachella Valley, many drive to Cathedral City to experience the spectacle that is Candy Cane Lane, an annual tradition for locals who want to see homes creatively blanketed with Christmas lights and decorations.

Although the recent dispute between the city over safety issues, another must-see is the electric Robolights display.

Kenny Irwin Jr. has created his well-known installation from recycled items for 30 years on his father’s four-acre home in Palm Springs. Another man’s trash is Irwin’s treasure.

Last but not least, WildLights at the Living Desert is representing the desert’s animals with a new herd of lifesize, luminescent animal lanterns. With guided pathways, Whoville’s snow to play in, live entertainment, a r t s and craft a c tivities, and carousel rides, the Living Desert provides a purely fun family tradition.

Indio’s International Tamale Festival

Gracie Montaño Reporter

The 24th annual International Tamale Festival took place from December 3-4 in Indio. A parade kicked off the Tamale Festival and included appearances from the little league cheer teams, high school football teams, marching bands, color guards, drumlines, church carol floats, and At an elevation of 8,516 feet, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway has added a new star to the heavens. With a 45-foot Christmas tree entirely composed of 4,000 LED lights, the tramway had its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 4. This year’s

honorary tree lighters were award-winning actors, writers and producers Lucie Arnaz and Laurence Luckinbill. Palm Springs High School choir accompanied the tree lighters, performing several holiday songs for the whole valley to enjoy.

Old Town gets LIT with Annual Tree Lighting

Mariana Escatell Asst./Photo Editor

This year’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony was held on December 2 in Old Town La Quinta. As the sun went down, the tree lit up at 6 p.m. The celebration included performances by the City of La Quinta’s dance, play and pretend, beginning ballet, ballet/jazz, and guitar classes as well as songs by Benjamin Franklin Elementary’s choir.

There was an arts and crafts table for the the children to decorate plates and other activities. Hot chocolate

and coffee was sold by Old Town Coffee Company to keep the attendees warm and an opportunity to take pictures with the big man, Santa Claus. The night was a fun way to kick off the holiday season!

Photo Credit: playinlaquinta.com

more. Approximately 125,000 people attended this wellknown event.

Eva, vendor manager of TJ’s Gourmet Tamales shared, “I have been selling my tamales here for four years and sell about 2,000 each year.”

Throughout the festival, vendors offered a variety of tamales, such as beef, pork, chicken, cheese, spicy, barbacoa, strawb e r r y , pineapple, and vegan.

There were two community s t a g e s where live music and entertainPhoto Credit: Desert Sunment of traditional folklorico dance groups and mariachi bands performed for their audiences.

There was also other attractions like the tamale eating contest, Kiddie Land, a carnival, a car show, Soul Train contest, and Pachuco contest.

Michael Moya (12) shared, “I like coming here because of the tamales, the fun, the diversity and culture of the community and the festival.”

Issue 3 2016_Layout 1 12/14/16 11:44 PM Page 14

14 Year in review January

School: The annual winter pep rally took place to recognize all its sports teams and student-athletes.

Local: Old Town La Quinta held its annual Art Under The Umbrellas, a collection of art exhibits for eight Saturdays in a row.

National: NCAA College Football Playoff Championship resulted in a victory for Alabama against the number one ranked team, Clemson.

International: Tsai Ing-wen became the first woman to serve as president in Taiwan.

May

School: Seniors from the Class of 2016 had one last shabang before they flew from the Blackhawk nest. Prom, Lit Live, the Disneyland Senior Trip, and final exams were all crammed into one of the last months of the school year.

Local: Lynyrd Skynyrd returned to the Coachella Valley, who last performed in the desert two years ago, to perform at Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa on May 20.

National: Microsoft announced its retreat from the smartphone business by confirming a write-down of $950 million and 1,850 job-cuts.

International: A protest movement that spanned from New Zealand to South Africa broke out May 14-15 to publicize the global campaign to lower the world’s dependence on fossil fuels.

September

School: Blackhawks dressed in gold at multiple sporting events to honor Riley Rose Sherman, the five-year-old girl who was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma.

Local: On Sept. 20, nearly 170 teachers from CVUSD schools protested by not showing up to work, as they continued contract negotiations. Soon after, more than 500 students walked out of their schools to support their teachers.

National: On Sept. 9, the Obama administration ordered a halt to the $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline construction after months of resistance from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and hundreds of other tribes from across the U.S. and Canada.

International: On Sept.19, the United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants planned to help resettle one in ten refugees.

February

School: Girls’ soccer wins first in DVL after a tight run, almost losing the title against PD. This was their fourth year in a row earning the DVL title.

Local: Jason Dufner wins the Humana Challenge, in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, taking the title from three-time champion David Lingmerth.

National: President Obama delivers the State of the Union address. He touched on his plans after his departure from the White House, as well as threats of terrorism, the uncertain economy, and climate change.

International: A case of the Zika virus spreads all over the Americas and in Africa, continuing to affect pregnant women and their babies.

June

School: The ceremony for LQHS’ graduating Class of 2016 celebrated their achievements on June 1.

Local: On June 8, Gerald Sharoh, the pastor at Southwest Church, submitted his resignation letter after he was voted off by the elders due to his views on the LGBT community.

National: On June 12, Omar Mateen, a pledged ISIS allegiant, was responsible for the 49 deaths at the Pulse nightclub, the deadliest mass shooting by a single shooter and the deadliest incident of violence against LGBT people.

International: The number of Syrian refugees who have arrived to the U.S. nearly doubled with approximately 5,200 new immigrants.

October

School: During the week of October 17-21, Health and Wellness activities took place during lunch to promote healthy lifestyles.

Local: Palm Springs officers, Jose Vega and Lesley Zerebny, were shot and killed on Oct. 9 while responding to a family disturbance call. A memorial service was held for the officers in Palm Springs.

National: Trump claimed the election was rigged against him by Clinton and the media. Ironically, it was revealed this month in a CIA assessment that Russia tried to sway the election in Trump’s favor.

International: The 2016 Nobel Prizes were awarded throughout the first two weeks of Oct. Some of the most notable recipients were musician Bob Dylan and president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos.

March

April

School: On Mar. 18, the Blackhawks got ready for the last quarter of the school year with the spring pep rally, which had a theme influenced by the Rio Olympics.

Local: On Mar. 8-11, Martha’s Village and Kitchen held a charity on the streets of Old Town La Quinta to raise money for homeless individuals.

National: The National Weather Service enacted a $45 million dollar forecasting project that created “supercomputers” to help anticipate gnarly storms.

International: Campaigns in Pakistan and Afghanistan advocated the eradication of poliomyelitis (Polio) in a vaccination movement, forming an alliance between the two countries.

School: On April 21, the LQ World Quest Team traveled to Washington, D.C. to compete against 60 other teams in the nation.

Local: Locals and visitors from all over the world gathered at the Empire Polo Club in celebration of Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals.

National: On April 25, President Obama announced the deployment of up to 250 special forces to fight ISIS in support of Syria.

International: Pope Francis visited the Moria refugee camp in Greece on April 16 as the European Union formulated a plan to deport them back to Turkey.

School: Summer school began for DSUSD students at PDHS and lasted for six weeks.

Local: On July 10, the 8th annual Jazz It Up event was held at the Indian Wells Golf Resort to fundraise for ACT for Multiple Sclerosis.

National: On July 5, an Afghan war veteran shot five Dallas police officers and injured nine civilians during a peaceful protest that was being held to honor the lives of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.

International: On July 1, the Human Rights Council of the United Nations adopted a Decl. of Peace between the majority of the members establishing the principles of respecting human rights in the fight against terrorism.

School: ASB welcomed students on the first day of school with a pep rally that included performances from the dance team, the cheerleaders, and fun games.

Local: The Splash House Party Music Festival was held at the Saguaro Hotel on Aug. 13. Attendees, 21 or older, were able to sit by the poolside and listen to their favorite acts.

National: Actor and funnyman Gene Wilder died at age 83 of Alzheimer’s disease on August 15.

International: On Aug. 1, Presidentelect Donald Trump criticized Ghazala Khan, mother of a Muslim U.S. soldier who died in combat, for standing quietly next to her husband, Khizr Khan, when he gave a speech at the DNC.

School: The annual Turkey Bowl took place on November 14, where students battled against staff in a competitive, but friendly game of flag football.

Local: The Palm Springs Pride Parade took place from Nov. 5-6, along with other LGBTQ+ festivals, parties, and celebrations.

National: Donald Trump was elected president of the United States on Nov. 8, which sparked protests and minority-targeted attacks across the nation.

International: Fidel Castro, former prime minister of Cuba, passed away on Nov. 25, igniting protests, vigils, and celebrations across the world.

School: On Dec.6, the Culinary Arts Academy held a Cookie Showdown, in which students helped to prepare and serve cookies for Kiddie Land.

Local: The 24th annual Tamale Festival was held in Indio over the weekend of Dec. 3-4. Over 100,000 people attended to enjoy a variety of tamales, live music, and dancing.

National: On Dec. 4, the Army Corps of Engineers said it’ll look for alternative routes for the Dakota Access Pipeline, a victory for the Sioux tribe and other supporters protesting at the Standing Rock reservation.

International: On Dec. 5, a train controller injured 89 people and killed 12 people in a head-on train collision near Bad Aibling, Germany.

July

November

August

December

Issue 3 2016_Layout 1 12/14/16 11:44 PM Page 15

Christmas 15

A Very Hispanic Christmas

Omar Hassan Reporter

Every Christmas, my mother curates a traditional posada where the invited gather to reenact the Holy Pilgrimage, share food, and spend time together. For as long as I can remember, my family would jump in the car with our layered sweaters, drive to a family friend’s abode to stand outside in December’s cold streets and sing carols, eat tamales and sip on piping hot champurrado. My mother enjoyed doing it so much she decided to throw her own annual posada at our own home.

The week leading up to the posada in our home was total chaos. My mother’s comadres, or girlfriends, perpetually filled the kitchen as they peeled the

husks off cobs of corn, placing them neatly in giant pots, while gossipi n g

chatting about novelas. The day of the posada was always the most hectic. My mother would wake up extra early, turn up some Vicente Fernández, call down her same ride-or-die comadres and begin the preparation of the pozole, champurrado, atole, and ponche all while still finding time to fill the piñata and decorate the house with papel picado and streamers.

During the posada, guests go out onto the street, ponche

in hand, and follow two children dressed as Mary and Joseph reenacting the Holy Pilgrimage. After the reenactment, food is served and the party begins. Pozole and tamales are usually the main course and the first to disappear due to everyone’s excitement and winter overeating.

Then, my mother usually announces that it’s time for dessert and that is when all hell breaks loose and every man, woman, child and baby is for themselves.

Guests then lounge around and talk until children fall asleep on the sofas and floor, signaling it’s time to leave. Guests then stuff as much food as they can into foilblanketed disposable plates and bid their farewells until next year.

on your festive red shirt, but you will be too lightheaded and dizzy to tell them that you put on a white shirt this morning.

Aquarius (January 20 February 18): You spend hours drawing a picture on a card for your mother, but you end up buying her one on your next trip to the grocery store after you decide that your art is too good to give away for free.

Pisces (February 20 March 20): You will wake up to the sound of reindeer hooves on your roof, and will barely have time to assess the situation before your

roof collapses and your room is filled with angry reindeers.

Aries (March 21 - April 19): Your idea to sing Christmas carols at the retirement home is a sweet one. So sweet, in fact, that no one will have the heart to tell you that the group you’ve been singing to for the last hour is completely deaf.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20): As you finish your holiday dinner, you can’t help but wish you had a friend. It’s probably better that you don’t, however, as cannibalism is highly frowned upon in most modern cultures.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20): Your world record set for

and

How to React to Bad Gifts for this Season of Giving

Stephanie Do Reporter

Christmas is just around the corner. This holiday season means dealing with frantic shoppers and ending up broke after buying everyone presents and lying to your grandma about how much you love the scarf she knitted for you.

Have you experienced receiving a bad gift on more than one occasion?

Well, here are the perfect responses to make sure you play it off like you love it, as well as some practical uses for those gifts.

Appalling clothing: “Oh yeah, I love it. Thanks so much.” Give it to your dog to lay on and whenever they ask about it, claim how attached

your dog is to the piece.

A big bottle of hand sanitizer: “Wow, what a fantastic way to avoid having to wash my hands.” Use it to wash EVERYTHING. Your room most likely needs a good cleaning anyway.

Re-gifts: “Thanks.

Can I get the receipt for this because it looks like this was a re-gift? I might as well return it to its original owner, the store.”

A picture of themselves: “Oh thanks, it looks like you take the ‘I’ll always be with you’ thing seriously.” Sell it. Ebay is your best option or you could give it to their mom.

Pet apparel...when you don’t have (or plan to have) a pet: “Perfect! Thank you, my dog/cat, Casper will love this!” Maybe it can fit your niece or nephew.

Holiday Horoscopes

Christian Rodriguez Reporter

Invented by the Mesopotamians, the 12 Zodiac signs are said to offer a look into your future. Find your birthdate below to see what exciting holiday merrymaking lies ahead!

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21): You know that new car you’ve been wanting, with the heated seats and the advanced collision detection? As a surprise holiday gift from your parents, you will receive a dictionary that is remarkably similar in color.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19): People on the street will compliment you

“Biggest Snowman” will be your second greatest achievement, just behind “First Person to be Crushed to Death by the World’s Biggest Snowman.”

Cancer (June 21- July 22): You will be reunited with a long lost family member this holiday season, making you the first to discover Patient Zero in the zombie apocalypse.

Leo (July 23 - August 22): Your love of pumpkin spice lattes is unconditional.

Doctors will be horrified as you drink your second latte of the day while being treated for third-degree burns from your first latte of the day.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22): You always live by the phrase “new year, new me,” and a successful run of your cloning machine can attest to that.

Libra (September 23 October 22): Your midnight kiss under the mistletoe will be from the person you love the most. You won’t even be upset when that person is actually your dog.

Scorpio (October 23 November 21): Being a fan of large mammals, you might be disappointed to find that a white elephant party isn’t nearly as cool as it sounds.

Illustrations by Sahara Garcia

Issue 3 2016_Layout 1 12/14/16 11:44 PM Page 16

A Gift Guide to Christmas

16 Christmas Jolly Gen Advertisement Editor

As the years go on, it gets more and more difficult to figure out what to buy family and close friends for Christmas.

Since many teens go on money splurges for most of the year, by the time Christmas rolls around, we usually only have enough money to buy cheap antiques or store-bought cards.

Not this holiday season! Here is a gift guide to help you spend your money

wisely on well-thought out gifts for your loved ones!

Gifts for grandparents to know they are still young: -Picture frame that says “Favorite Grandchild” on the border: Amazon ($20+) -Soap: Lush ($20+) Gifts for parents to remind them how great they are: -#1 Dad mug: Amazon ($9) -DIY spa day-bath bomb: Lush ($5-$12) -House Cleaning: $0 (Stop being lazy!)

Gifts for annoying siblings that you still love: -Video Games: GameStop ($5-$60) -Stuffed Animals: Walmart ($5+) Gifts for your best friends:

-Friendship jewelry: Etsy ($5+) -Memory Jar: Walmart ($4+) (Fill it with favorite memories together.)

-Make-up: Target ($2)

with a higher number trades it with them. The game goes on until the final person receives the gift they want.

One year, my uncle decided to go all out with his gift and bought plane tickets to Hawaii, so that a lucky family member would be able to visit our cousin in O’ahu.

The gift with the tickets wasn’t opened until the final few people.

My grandma was the one to open the gift, and she was very confused with what the piece of paper was until my mom read it to her and she was ecstatic.

Unfortunately, there

were three people after her,

Ohana Means Family and Family Means a Trip to O’ahu

Emily Martinez Reporter

Every Christmas Eve, my family gets together and participates in the white elephant gift exchange at midnight. First, we set a minimum price for the gifts and then everyone wraps it and puts it on the center t a b l e .

Everyone selects a r a n dom number, the higher the better. After picking a number, the person who got number one goes to pick up a gift of their choice, opens it, and is stuck with it unless someone

and all three d e cided to take

away her tickets. My mom was the last one to go, and since my grandma had never been to Hawaii, she gave the tickets back to her. My grandma soon took her trip to Hawaii and visited her nephew, who is stationed in O’ahu.

Illustrations by Sahara Garcia

How to Treat Your Boo Over the Holidays

Karis Johnson Copy Editor

As I have lived in La Quinta my whole life, I have come to the conclusion that the Coachella Valley is a big lot of dirt and trees with no activities whatsoever. It wasn't until this year that I found out what fun events the valley actually has for young teenagers, especially in the month of December. If you're looking for a cute new place to take your significant other on a date, here is a holiday guide for some fun Christmas dates in this (not so boring) boring desert.

The Living Desert WildLights: Although it is quite a drive, this zoo has plenty of fun to keep lovebirds entertained, such as taking pictures with Santa Claus (and of course, ask for gifts), a tunnel of lights that flash to the beat of Christmas tunes, a train ride, and Christmas carolers.

Festival of Light Parade: This lit parade is held every year in Palm Springs.

Whether you walk i n t h e parade or pull up a lawn chair or blanket, it's the perfect date spot for watching all the cars,

trucks, marching bands, and illuminated parade floats go by.

Candy Cane

Lane:

C a n d y Cane Lane on Minerva Road is one of the most traditional Christmas events held in the desert, and one of the most romantic too. In this Cathedral City neighborhood, houses all throughout the street go crazy with Christmas lights and decorations, from little trees to full-blown Santa Claus statues.