St. Patrick Day Brings Out the Characters

Every holiday in Chico is usually filled with characters roaming the streets. Chico loves to have fun and it is most seen in the people that come out to the downtown and south campus area. In past years, the out-of-towners have added a problematic environment to the festivities.

With Chico State placing their Spring Break week off along the same timeframe as St. Patrick Day, it has alleviated the issues with large crowds. This year's "green" day was a "clean" day. Not much activity occurred during the afternoon which is normally filled with issues. While the night brought its fair share of situations, overall the holiday was tame.

But it didn't mean there wasn't plenty of characters roaming the street. I saw the usual pedicabs, questionable clothing options, Irish dancers, and green costumes. What was really great was the range of ages of everyone out. There were older people partying to the younger crowd and even some smart entrepreneurs out selling girl scout cookies.

Butte College student Kristonda Pryor, 27, waits in line at the Madison Bear Garden as people celebrate St. Patrick's Day festivities in the south CSUC campus area and Downtown Chico Thursday , March 17, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

B-Line bus driver Paul Dodd wears a green hat to work as people celebrate St. Patrick's Day festivities in the south CSUC campus area and Downtown Chico Thursday , March 17, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Deryl Northcote (left) buys girls scout cookies from Daisy Girls Scout - Hooke Oak troop Mia Pedersen, 5 (center) alongside her mom Marlo Pedersen (right) as they decided to sell cookies to people that celebrate St. Patrick's Day festivities in the south CSUC campus area and Downtown Chico Thursday , March 17, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

The Oliver Academy of Irish Dance group entertain Jaime Ramon, 24 (far right) and the public along Broadway at W 2nd St. as people celebrate St. Patrick's Day festivities in the south CSUC campus area and Downtown Chico Thursday , March 17, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

The Oliver Academy of Irish Dance group, Lindsay Chamberlain, Maddie Mikles, Cara Cannon, Nile Reed, Abby Zuppan, Rose Trulin and Shannon Sullivan, (left to right) the public along Broadway at W 2nd St. as people celebrate St. Patrick's Day festivities in the south CSUC campus area and Downtown Chico Thursday , March 17, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

People celebrate St. Patrick's Day festivities outside of Riley's bar in the south CSUC campus area and Downtown Chico Thursday , March 17, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Mike Griffith waits with his pedicab to give people rides who celebrate St. Patrick's Day festivities outside of Riley's bar in the south CSUC campus area and Downtown Chico Thursday , March 17, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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8FPS: What a Wild Night

With Chico State students heading back into town, the south campus area is becoming much more wild. The student population creates much more party activity than in the summer months. With students, new, old, and from out of town, Chico Police are kept busy. I try to make an effort to head out in the late evening, early morning to capture the type of activity that is becoming more and more prevalent.

What made this night more wild than others was the close proximity to all the activity. It all centered around 5th and Ivy, a hot spot for crazy parties. Chico Police, Fire and Paramedics were all keep busy tending to fights, stabbings, and drug young people. There was even a commercial structure fire that night. The most unusual story happened at the end of the night when police were called out to the train track after a report of three men who jumped from a moving train injuring themselves... Maybe "wild" night is the wrong description; what a stupid night.

Chico Police arrest a man who was in a fight and had a stab wound, at 5th St and Ivy St. as Chico State students and youth take to the south CSUC campus streets patrolled by Chico Police keeping an eye on people as they party for the weekend before school gets under way Friday, August 20, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Young people party at a home at 6th St. and Ivy St. as Chico State students and youth take to the south CSUC campus streets patrolled by Chico Police keeping an eye on them as they party for the weekend before school gets under way Friday, August 20, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Fire tend to a victim of an assault and robbery, who was knocked in the head and bleeding along Ivy St. as Chico State students and youth take to the south CSUC campus streets patrolled by Chico Police keeping an eye on people as they party for the weekend before school gets under way Friday, August 20, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Fire and Police attempt to locate a man who was reported to have jumped with two other friedns from a moving train along the train tracks and W. Sacramento Ave, after hopping on the train as it pasted through town. His buddies had injuries and were taken to Enloe. Chico State students and youth take to the south CSUC campus streets patrolled by Chico Police keeping an eye on people as they party for the weekend before school gets under way Friday, August 20, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Tacos de Acapulco stays open late for midnight cravings for the Chico State students and youth take to the south CSUC campus streets patrolled by Chico Police keeping an eye on people as they party for the weekend before school gets under way Friday, August 20, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Police arrest a man who at 5th St and Ivy St. who was harassing women as Chico State students and youth take to the south CSUC campus streets patrolled by Chico Police keeping an eye on people as they party for the weekend before school gets under way Friday, August 20, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Fire respond to a commercial structure fire at Playtime-4-You lingerie shop at Esplanade and 12th Ave Friday, August 20, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Police officer James Dimmitt (left) and Sgt. Greg Keeney (right) question a man as they make a stop at a party along 6th St. near Cherry St. as Chico State students and youth take to the south CSUC campus streets patrolled by Chico Police keeping an eye on people as they party for the weekend before school gets under way Friday, August 20, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

New Dorm Makes Me Want to Back to School

Chico State students were welcomed back to town with the addition to a new dorm on the campus. It was Sutter Hall and I was treated to a look inside to the new facility.

It was nice. Real nice. The dorm offers spacious hallways and a huge dining facility that is close to being open. The dorms sure didn't look anything like the new Sutter Hall. What really made the new living facility nice is the open common area between the new and old dorm. There was a large open area that offered a common ground for students in Whitney Hall to meet with students from the Sutter Hall. It was quite a sight. I wish they had the new dorm when I went to school. It makes me want to go back.

The new CSUC Sutter Hall student dorm facility provides a very modern architecture on campus Wednesday, August 18, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico State University Housing and Food Services Dr. David Stephen talks about the new dining facility that is soon to be open in CSUC Sutter Hall student dorm facility on campus Wednesday, August 18, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico State students walk out from the main entrance to Sutter Hall Wednesday, August 18, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A rock column structure sits on the center of the dorm buildings allowing for more seating area between the new Sutter Hall and the old Whitney Hall.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Davin Buszek, 19, of Danville, (left) and Taylor Carrington, 19, of Granite Bay (right) play Xbox in Buszek's room in the new CSUC Sutter Hall student dorm facility on campus Wednesday, August 18, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Residential Advisor Shannon Smith works on projects for new students in her room in the new CSUC Sutter Hall student dorm facility on campus Wednesday, August 18, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

The rebuilt Rec Center is seen adjacent to Sutter Hall as Chico State students walk up the stair to their new dorm facility on campus Wednesday, August 18, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

CSUC Building a New Home

Chico State's new dorm facility, Sutter Hall, is coming along. I walked over to the north end of campus after shooting another assignment. I wanted to get a peak at how the project has progressed. Being that I graduated from Chico State, I wanted to see what changes were going on in the campus. I was very impressed with the facility. While I could have probably asked for a tour inside the construction area, I didn't have much time. I walked around the perimeter and just took a couple shots that we need on file. It will be great to see the building when it is complete. It almost makes me want to go back to college.

A construction worker walks pat the southwest entrance on Chico State's new Sutter Hall dorm facility on CSUC campus on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A runner runs along the Chico High track as the north side of Chico State's new Sutter Hall dorm facility (left) is undergoing construction next to Whitney Hall (right) on CSUC campus on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

César Chávez Festivities

Chico's south campus neighborhood which generally comprises of CSUC students and out-of-towners, raised up their sombreros and drew on their mustaches to celebrate César Chávez Day. While the actual holiday bears no resemblance to the drunken mess of youth wandering the streets of downtown Chico, the day still had its moments of excitement. Chico State gave the students the Wednesday off, combined with a furlough for Thursday after and most students not having classes for Friday (or teachers letting them off), with the added Monday being a holiday for Easter, all created an extra Spring Break for some. The activity was higher than St. Patrick's Day. A lot more house parties than crowds at the bars. Activity picked up early in the evening but quickly dispersed as nightfall came. 

Morgan Allen, 19, stands at W. 5th St and Ivy st. waiting for her friends as she celebrates Cesar Chavez Day on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Police check the area of a reported gunshot along Ivy St. near W. 5th St. as people celebrate Cesar Chavez Day on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Alexis Fernandez, 20, wore a big sombrero as she walks near W. 5th St and Ivy st. during Cesar Chavez Day on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A party had many people dancing with a dj in the backyard at a residence along W. 5th St near Cherry St. on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Police mounted patrol Jim Parrott (right) moves partiers along at party in the backyard at a residence along W. 5th St near Cherry St. on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record) 

I did have one encounter that just comes with the crowds. A young man was so intoxicated he had to be transported to Enloe. I was going to take some images of him being transported with the party he was attending behind him to tell the story of young people endangering themselves with alcohol from parties. While waiting for the paramedics to load him into van, his friends decided to hop the railing at the party and tell me not to take pictures of the scene. When I say hop the railing, I mean stumble and fall over the railing. They were concerned that I would take his pictures.

 Well, they should be. I would take his picture. I am in all legal right to do so. He was drunk on a public sidewalk and I was standing in the public road. There were 3 women who approached me raising their hands to my camera. They were in my face, but not hostile. I wasn't afraid of them getting physical with the incident, but it was really nice that a VIPS officer Terry Smith quickly approached and told them to back off. I don't know what it couldn't have ended up as, but I am glad nothing came of it. I did manage to take a picture of what I was wanting... and I got a bonus of his friend trying to block the camera.

Ah Chico, just another day.

College Summed Up In One Image

Most of the time I will describe what is going on in a photograph. This one doesn't need much for me to explain. I would actually like to see what you think about the things going on in this image. There are so many elements to it. It would be fun to see what you think is going on. Let me know.

Partiers hang outside a home along Ivy St. near W. 3rd St. as St. Patrick Day celebrations spill into the streets as partiers, CSUC/Butte students and non-students, enjoy the week off on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 in Downtown Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)