Easter Angel

This angel watches over a mausoleum in Union Cemetery on Easter day.

Cutest Pet in the Southwest Entry: Pepper on a cold winter day

Pepper, our 7-year-old mini-doxy mix, enjoys the fireplace on a cold winter day.

The new federal courthouse belongs downtown

One of my neighbors told me that he was talking to his 12-year-old son about the fact that the federal government was thinking about putting a courthouse near their home.

His son looked a little puzzled and said, “But Dad, shouldn’t a courthouse be downtown?”

Now, if a 12-year-old boy can reach this obvious conclusion, you would think that our mighty federal government could do the same.

There are already several courthouses located in the downtown area because the downtown has access to infrastructure that a courthouse needs, such as the Hall of Records, library, attorney offices, etc.

Instead of being logical, the feds insist on locating in the Southwest, several miles from the facilities that the court needs.

Please help stop this madness. Make your voice heard. Go to: www.nocourthouse.com and sign a petition. Also write your representatives.

Senator Barbara Boxer says that she would appreciate it if we send her handwritten notes. One handwritten note is more impressive than a disk full of e-mails. Your note can be very simple. Just say: "I support locating the new Bakersfield federal courthouse downtown.” Her address is:
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
2500 Tulare Street, Suite 250
Fresno, CA 93721

Thanks for your help,

Carl Danner

A Day In The Life: Finding Seymour

A Day in The Life:

Finding Seymour

The world is divided into cat people and dog people. Ask any of our friends and they will tell you that we are definitely dog people. It’s not that we have anything against cats, at one time we had both, but for the past thirty years we have had dogs; dachshunds, to be specific. Dachshunds have their own personalities and even though we have occasionally considered trying another breed, we always come back to the wiener dudes.

Last May we had to put down Bodie, our pet of 16 years. It was a traumatic event, made worse by the fact that Rachel, our younger dog, took it so badly. At one point we took her to the vet because she was losing weight. We knew the only solution was to get another dog, but where? We didn’t want a puppy, because puppies and hardwood floors aren’t a good mix, and we definitely wanted a dachshund, preferably a well-behaved older dog. Sound impossible? We thought so, that is, until I had a conversation with a worker at the S.P.C.A. After telling me that dachshunds go quickly, her next comment was, “Why don’t you go to a dachshund rescue website?” Sounded simple and I wondered why I hadn’t thought of it myself.

Going online looking for dogs made us aware of just how many dogs and cats need homes. There were several dachshund rescue societies and each had a unique screening process for prospective owners. After filling out online forms, we waited and waited. Finally, one Friday afternoon, I saw a new posting for a dachshund named Seymour . His owners were moving and sadly had to part with their two year old pet. The next day we drove to Visalia and met Seymour , a miniature black and tan dachshund. We absolutely loved the feisty little dog the minute we saw him. After a tearful goodbye, we drove home to introduce Seymour to Rachel.

Putting this story on ‘fast forward’ brings us to the present. It has been three months, and Seymour is now an integral part of our family. He and Rachel are inseparable and spend their days waiting for the mail carrier so that they can threaten her through the front window. Seymour came to us housebroken and well-trained, except for his compulsion to steal socks and hide them in the garden. It doesn’t matter, we still love the little varmint, and as my mother-in-law said, “When I die, I’m coming back as one of your dogs!”

By Design: Inviting interiors

If your front entry provides just a sliver of space, treat it as a decorative glimpse of things to come in your home.

You, too, can create an artful foyer with a minimum of your favorite things.

Try a space enhancer, such as a mirror, to expand and reflect light. A small chair or bench can add softness and function to this otherwise unused space. A console table provides a resting place for a beautiful lamp for ambiance, floral arrangement for color and an arrangement of your favorite things to create your very own still life.

Make your entry one that welcomes guests with warmth and style.

Nothing makes a room more alive than color. It can soothe, charm and sizzle –– and it is the most cost efficient way to decorate a room.

Color, is, however, a test of your comfort level, and with many years of the "white-wall" syndrome behind us, it may be best to start your colorful approach in an out-of-the-way room.

As your confidence builds and you become more comfortable with living in "living color," progress to your home's public areas.

When decorating your home and selecting fabrics, don't be afraid to combine textures –– from soft, supple chenilles and leathers to silk dupioni and linen, the marriage of these and many fabrics contributes to the richness and originality which gives them your signature.

Of course, colors must be blended, as always, but imagine what fun you can have with the textural diversity.

When arranging your furnishings, make comfort and convenience your top priorities. Opposing sofas and chairs invite conversation, while furniture placed at right angles tends to open the room up to entertainment (Is there a big screen in your future?).

Furniture placement definitely affects the way a room looks and acts. First, make it comfortable and functional, then focus on composition-color, balance and scale to add interest and your personal style.

Express yourself in your prized possessions. Pare down your accessories (if necessary) and don't stray too far when combining different periods and design styles. Group only a few favorites to ensure that your artful displays will contribute to the setting.

Now –– all of you HGTV armchair decorators –– go to work and imbue your home with your passion!

Join the designing women of Beladagio and our guest speaker from Premier Lighting for a free seminar on lighting Thursday, April 20, at 6:30 p.m. Beladagio is located at 5015 Stockdale Highway in the Stockdale Fashion Plaza behind Outback Steakhouse.

Melissa Hutton will write a regular interior design column for The Southwest Voice. She is an interior design with Beladagio in the Stockdale Fashion Plaza.

Local Expert: Care for the skin you're in

Without question, the most important product in one's skin care regime should be a quality sunscreen.

Sunscreen should be used every day all year long to be effective against the damaging rays of the sun, which can cause skin aging and skin cancer.

Overexposure to the sun creates free radicals, which cause cell damage. Cell damage eventually results in the destruction of collagen and elastin, and possibly alters the DNA, eventually resulting in skin cancers.

UVA rays (aging rays) go to all layers of the skin; UVB rays (burning rays) go no deeper than the outer layers of the skin.Therefore, look for a "broad spectrum" sunscreen that will protect you from both of these harmful rays.

Helpful guidelines:
l. People receive more sun damage going to work and walking outside than just basking in the sun. Wear sunscreen daily.
2. Do not go into the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
3. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure.
4. SPF stands for "sun protection factor." It represents how long a person can stay out in the sun without burning. For example, SPF 4 allows the skin to be exposed four times as long – or four hours.
5. Most dermatologists and estheticians recommend at least an SPF 15.
6. Use self-tanning products instead of sunbathing.
7. Tanning booths are not a safe alternative. These machines use rays that promote long-term damage.

Remember, your skin has to last you a very long time, so protect it!

Cutest Pet in the Southwest Photo Contest Entry: Skittles

We would like to enter our cat, Skittles, in the Cutest Pet in the Soutwest Contest. He is a mixed breed alley cat with a hint of Siamese, and has the prettiest blue eyes. He likes sinks and faucets –– anywhere where there is water.

Kern River 12 Gold Shines!

The Kern River 12 Gold team, coached by Greg and Stella Harris, took second place at the Junior National Qualifiers on 3-31 to 4-2.

They played some of their best volleyball, and had a lot of fun during that weekend.

The team members are: Alyssa Carroll (setter), Stevie Stier (outside hitter), Courtney Grayson (middle blocker), Alyssa Mathews (rightside hitter), Erika Sanchez (outside hitter), Taylor Harris (libero), Maddie Hubbell (setter). Whitney Hubble (middle blocker), Delaney Wolf (rightside hitter), and Kiki Sandrini (rightside hitter). We are very proud of our team and their great accomplishment!

How do you feel about the two proposed developments that would bring 70,000 more people to the Southwest?

Dear Daphne: A few of my favorite things

I am in the fortunate position of occasionally having the opportunity to try out some of the specialty pet products in the marketplace. Over the last several months I’ve found a few items that I think are so terrific I’d like to make sure you know about them, too.

Yummy Chummies – Made with real Alaskan Salmon (and not that farm-raised stuff), Yummy Chummies are an incredible dog treat. I’ve always wondered why the dog treat companies didn’t do more with fish-flavored treats, since salmon night is the one time you can count on the cats and me running for the dinner table. Coming in both soft and crunchy versions, and flavored as well as “natural,” they are bite-sized bits of goodness. Your dog will wonder why he had to go so long without them! Primarily available online.

Chrome Bones Collars – There are a lot of frou-frou collars out there, but most of them are made for the itty-bitty dog set. Chrome Bones has collars that are fashionable and fit both the itty-bittys and the big dogs of the world. Made of high-quality leather, they come in a variety of styles, from subtle to WOW! Sure, they’re a little pricey, but it’s not like you have to send us to college. And the big-screen TV is always right where you left it when you come home at night, isn’t it? Splurge a little. Available online (and at a couple of select boutiques in town).

Kahuna Dog Toy – If you’re one of those dogs who have a penchant for destroying every toy you’ve ever met, then you need to meet Kahuna. Made of heavy-duty materials and available in two sizes, these are the toughest soft toys I’ve found in the marketplace. They’re shaped like gingerbread men and come in red or blue tropical designs. What’s not to love? Bamboo, the manufacturer of the Kahuna, even offers a “Battle-Tested” guarantee that these guys will outlast other soft-toys currently in the marketplace, or they’ll replace it for free. On a side note, they are aerodynamically designed for great indoor throwing (not that Kahuna endorses this, but let’s just say I have a little experience in this area). The Kahuna is one of the few toys I own that still has a squeaker and all of its original stuffing more than four weeks after its original purchase. Available online and in select pet stores.

For those of you looking to spoil you cat, look no further than Grandma Lucy’s freeze-dried tuna treats. These delectable treats are made of USDA Yellow Fin and Ahi tuna filets, and nothing more. The freeze-drying process might make it seem like you’re not getting much for your money, but you’d be wrong on that count. Cats go crazy for these bits of goodness, and you can easily re-hydrate them with a bit of warm water for older cats. These are one of the few treats that all of the cats in the house seemed to agree on. And much like salmon night, there frequently seemed to be a little dog conveniently in the area whenever the jar was open. Available online.

Kitty Hooch is a relatively new player in the catnip toy market, but if taking their time is what produced this superior catnip, I’m glad they waited. You know you’re dealing with high-quality catnip when the cats are on the table, chewing on the unopened package that was holding the Kitty Hooch toys. My biggest recommendation for this product line? If you have multiple cats, buy multiple toys. The cats in my house actually had a couple of scuffles trying to claim ownership of the single mouse that arrived in the mail…although one of them did make peace with snorting the padded envelope until it was her turn to play. Available online.

So, if you’re in the mood to get a little something for one of your four-footed kids, take a peek at a few of these items and see if something catches your fancy.

Bow-wow for now,

Daphne

Happy 12th Birthday Chris Thomas!

On your special day, we will celebrate how lucky we are to have you in our lives. You are a great person with an amazing heart. Happy Birthday!

We love you (all the way to the moon),

Mom, Dad, Nana, Papa, Aunt Kari and your number one fan, your little brother JoJo.

La Cucina de Betty: The appetizer party

Spring is in the air and it's party time! Seize the moment and gather together with friends and family after winter hibernation.

When entertaining, whether it's formally or informally, large or small, a party is not a party without appetizers.

Appetizers can be any type of food. They can be prepared it bite sizes to precede a meal. If they're hearty and substantial, they can even be the meal.

For the last few years, I have hosted a winter break appetizer party during the Christmas holiday.

This party was the brilliant idea of my 25-year-old son, Antone. Antone had many wonderful friends while in high school, and both the classmates and the parents became bonded for life. When the kids went away to college the families missed seeing each other, so when everyone was home in December we started to get together at our home in the Southwest.

An appetizer party is an easy one to throw because it requires little prep work. For those of you who don't have time to throw a party, or don't have the desire to cook, or are on a budget –– this is the party for you!

You can host an appetizer party for any occasion, whether it's the Super Bowl, a birthday, a christening, a going-away party, a house warming party, or just because you've got that "I feel like partying!" bug. Go for it!

Make it very informal. Start out with some phone call invitations. Ask your guests to bring an appetizer and a beverage of choice.

As the hostess, your job is very simple: simply provide a table large enough to accommodate all the incoming appetizers. I like to set out a tablecloth over my dining room table while scattering the chairs around the room. Sometimes I will set some appetizers in other rooms. This depends on your home's layout and where your guest like to gather most.

A simple centerpiece is always nice, as are a few votive candles here and there. Supply plenty of cocktail napkins and paper plates. Set out a couple of small trash cans that can be emptied throughout the duration of the party – small ones look nice and less obvious than a large, overflowing garbage can.

Remember, as the hostess it is your job to constantly walk around and make sure there are no used paper plates and beverage glasses left behind. You always need to be tidying up.

You would be surprised where people like to deposit their used paper goods. I once found a chicken drumette bone wrapped in a napkin stuffed in a sofa cushion. Kids are funny, aren't they?

Last year's party was especially nice. The party has grown over the years, and our boys have become fine young men. Girls have been added to what was once a "guys-only" event.

The appetizers guests brought were incredible. We had food of every imaginable ethnic origin, including homemade Chinese egg rolls, artichoke cups, sausage wontons, meatballs, a liver pate (this became my cat Rocky's favorite), fresh shrimp and smoked salmon rolls. Two of my friends didn't have time to cook and brought an Italian cold cuts and cheese platter from Luigi's –– that was the most popular item.

The list goes on, but my all-time favorite was a simple blast from the past: Ruffles with ridges and onion dip. Does that take you back to the '70s, or what?

I'm sharing with you two of my favorite appetizers. You will need a 1 5/8-inch, 24-cup mini muffin pan. I found mine at Olcott's in The Marketplace. You can also find them at Target. The sausage wonton recipe came from my friend and neighbor Cathi Stiers. Years ago we hosted a cocktail party and she made a tray of these. By the end of the evening they were totally devoured. I thought to myself, "I need that recipe!" Sure enough, they are a hit at every party.

When it's all said and done, it's not really about the food. It's about being willing to open your home so those you love can come together. The appetizers might be gone in a few hours, but the memories will live on forever.

Ciao!

Artichoke Cups

2 6-ounce jars marinated artichoke hearts
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
4 eggs
¼ cup bread crumbs
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
½ pound cheddar cheese, grated
1 2-ounce can chopped black olives

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Drain ONE jar of the artichoke hearts marinade into a small skillet, drain other jar and discard the marinade. Chop artichokes and set aside. Add the onion and garlic to the artichoke marinade in skillet, sauté for 5 minutes. In a bowl, beat the eggs, add the bread crumbs, salt, pepper, oregano and Tabasco sauce. Add the cheese, olives and the artichokes. Stir in onion mixture and mix together well. Spoon into the buttered mini muffin tins. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool before arranging on serving platter. NOTE: (May also be prepared in a 8x8-inch buttered baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes). Let cool before cutting into squares. May be served warm or cold.

Sausage Wontons

2 wonton packages
3 12-ounce package ground sausage (Jimmy Dean)
3 cups cheddar cheese, grated
3 cup Monterey Jack cheese, grated
3 cups Hidden Ranch salad dressing
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
4-ounce can chopped olives, drained

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mini muffin tin, arrange the wonton sheets, press the wontons down into the mini tins and fold back and tuck in the corners of the wonton squares. Bake for eight minutes, until barely golden brown. (Make the day before and store in zip lock bag.) Brown the sausage and drain well. Break up the sausage as you cook it. If it is too chunky, run it gently through the food processor. Mix together well, the sausage with the cheeses, dressing, pepper flakes and olives. (The filling can be made the day before). Assembling: On a cookie sheet, set the wontons in rows. Add about 1 tablespoon mixture to each wonton. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Makes 100.

Things ‘Heat’-ing up for baseball camp

The 2005 12-U California State and National Champion Bakersfield Heat Baseball club will be hosting a baseball camp from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday, April 30, at historic Sam Lynn Ball Park.
Several of the area’s top instructors will be at the event, including former Dodger pitcher and assistant coach, George Culver; Bakersfield Baseball Academy owner and former player, Bobby Maitia; and former double A player and current instructor, Danny Ruiz.
At the conclusion of the event, special guest and Super Bowl champ Joey Porter will be available for autographs.
Lunch will be provided. All proceeds will go towards the Cooperstown fund to help get the Heat to Cooperstown, NY for quite possibly the biggest baseball tournament in the country.
For more info, visit: www.eteamz.com/bakersfieldheat or, call 549-8462.

Unfair comparison

On March 22, The Bakersfield Californian listed the “top five” and “bottom five” county schools, making an unfair comparison.

At the “top five” schools, 18.2 percent, 22.8 percent, 14.6 percent, 13 percent, and 18.2 percent of the students qualified for free and reduced-price meals.
At the “bottom five” schools, 98.6 percent, 89.7 percent, 86 percent, 62.5 percent and 99.6 percent of the students qualified for free and reduced-price meals.

Clearly these schools are working with children from quite different economic
backgrounds.

For high schools in Kern County, the correlation between the percentage of students qualifying for free and reduced meals and the 2005 API Base is -.769. For middle schools, the correlation is -.879. For elementary schools in the Bakersfield City School District, the correlation is -.894.

All of these correlations are highly significant, and suggest a very close relationship between the degree of poverty and these test scores.

While correlation does not prove causation, the evidencecertainly suggests that the difference between these schools is largely due to a difference in privilege. The students from wealthier families have had advantages which most students from economically poorer families have not had.

When a child in a middle-class family gets an ear ache, the parents take the child to a physician. Impoverished families can’t afford such care. Neither can they afford appropriate dental care, pre-school education or a whole host of other experiences.

Rather than embarrass the teachers and administrators who work in schools with a high percentage of impoverished children, we should thank these professionals for their dedication and encourage them to do what they can to break the cycle of poverty, recognizing that it is a great challenge to teach or administer in a school where virtually every student is coming from a home below the poverty line.

From the chalkboard: No downside to downtime

Several times each week, I look out of my front window to see tiny figures running back and forth under a bright light powered by a nosy generator.

Coaches yell encouragement to the participants, all of whom appear to be 5 years old or younger.

They are playing soccer.

While there are certainly many health benefits related to athletic activities, they can be very time-consuming. When you add music, dance, homework, scouting, church, activities and birthday parties, it becomes increasingly difficult unless you are a time-management expert –– difficult for parents as well as children.

Any parent who has ever had to shuttle his or her child back and forth to such activities knows it is not so easy to keep schedules on track.

As a longtime educator, I have become increasingly concerned with over-scheduling our children. Many times, education is taking a back seat while extra-curricular activities consume greater amounts of time.

The issue of over-scheduling is something that all parents need to be concerned about.

There is pressure to be sure we provide our kids with every opportunity to perform.
However, we do need to be sure we are not pushing so hard that they have little downtime to relax, unwind, spend time with the family and just be a kid.

My daughter related to me the other day a comment my grandson had made when she asked the family on a Friday night, "Well, what should we do tonight?"

He responded, "Can we just stay home and be a family?"

A very telling question.

Even an 8-year-old can crave "downtime." Just being with the family, no special agenda. Just whatever.

Of course, the secret is balance. All children are different and all have differing personalities and needs. The wise parent will recognize this and plan accordingly.

After all, this is childhood. Kids need a certain amount of unstructured time within or outside of other family members.

And let's be real –– most kids are not going to be major league baseball players or Olympic gymnasts. Activities, especially for the younger set, should be fun, enjoyable and not too time-consuming or competitive.

Be careful to watch for stress. Planning, preparing and juggling transportation, while coping with other issues of life, can create problems for everyone.

Every so often it is good to reevaluate things to make sure there is a proper balance between activities and downtime. And don't forget kids need at least eight to 10 hours of sleep each night, as well as regular, nutritious meals. If either of these two things is missing, it might be time to review your family priorities.

And remember, it's never too late to be the best parent possible.

Dick Ferris will write a regular education column for The Southwest Voice. He is a superintendent at Stockdale Christian School.

Recent Posts : The Southwest Voice