News: The Southwest Voice

Southwest's St. John Lutheran named Blue Ribbon School

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings named Bakersfield’s St. John’s Lutheran School as a 2008 No Child Left Behind -- Blue Ribbon School. “These Blue Ribbon Schools are an example of what teachers and students can achieve," Spellings said. "Now our challenge is to help other schools follow their lead by continuing to measure progress through No Child Left Behind, and by using the knowledge we've gained to replicate effective strategies and help every student improve."

The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels. St. John’s was selected because its test scores placed it in the top ten percent of schools in the nation.

“Receiving this award is an acknowledgement of how richly God has blessed our school.” said Mr. Stephen Dinger, St. John’s Superintendent. “Those blessings come in the form of students striving to do their best; families who realize the importance of providing a solid educational foundation on which all future learning is based; and teachers who are dedicated to encouraging children and bringing out their gifts. It is an award that the school receives but is more accurately given to all those who make it possible for quality education to happen: hard working students, committed parents and dedicated, competent teachers.”

The USDE Blue Ribbon program -- started in 1982 and currently part of President George W. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" initiative -- has honored more than 5,800 of America’s most successful schools. This year 320 schools nationwide were named as Blue Ribbon Schools, thirty-two of which are in California. Stockdale Elementary School was the last Bakersfield school to receive the award in 2000. St. John’s is the first private school in Bakersfield to receive this designation.

The winners will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on October 20-21 where each school will receive a plaque and a flag signifying its status.

St. John’s is located at 4500 Buena Vista Road, just south of Stockdale High School. It was founded 47 years ago. Its current enrollment is 500 children from infant through Eighth Grade. www.sjlschool.org

Olympic sport of fencing in the southwest

There is a venue here in Southwest Bakersfield where those with ideas of swashbuckling and sword-play can make them a reality. Interested sportsman acquire swordsmanship skills that allow them to compeat in the high-tech Olympic sport of fencing competition.

Fencing athletes from Stockdale High, East High, Garces and Cal State Bakersfield, together with members of the general community, meet every Tuesday at 7 pm at the North Bakersfield Parks and Recreation Multi-purpose Center, on Fruitvale Ave and Norris Rd. There, as the Guerra Fencing Club, the group participates inlessons and competition for 2 hours each week.

Ethan Chidress, former CSUB fencing club instructor and Lucas Dobrzanski, nationally ranked local fencer formed the club. Their efforts engaged fencing master Jose Guerra, who has had international competition and coaching experience. He travels weekly from Antelope Valley to coach the class and give private lessons.

Guerra started a distinguished career in fencing on the Guatemalan national team and received first place divisionally in international competition. Currently, Guerra operates the Guerra Fencing Studio in several locations in theAntelope Valley and in Bakersfield.

Several club members participate in USFA sanctioned tournaments, including the yearly Summer National Championships. Lucas Dobrzanski obtained 7th place in Saber during the 2008 National competition.

If you are interested in participating or learning more about this Olympic sport, please call Jose at 992-7327 or Lucas at 319-2235

American Kids Presesnts Parent Night Out Halloween Style!

LOCATION: American Kids SW 4401 Ride St. (behind 24hr Fitness on White Ln. & Gosford)

PHONE: AKSC SW 833-3986 & AKSC NW 589-2100

E-MAIL: INFO@AmericanKidsSports.com

WWW.AmericanKidsSports.com

American Kids Sports is hosting a Parent Night Out!

Fri October 31st (Halloween) & Sat November 1st

Time: 6:00-11:00

Price: 1st child $20 - $13 for additional kids

This is a great opportunity for Parents to provide their Children with a Halloween like no other! Parents can go and enjoy a night out without the kids or any worries. American Kids Sports SW is the place for a fun and safe environment this Halloween! Kids will enjoy:

-Costume Contest

-Haunted Maze

-Spooky and Fun Game Booths with Prizes

-Halloween Games

-Halloween Movie & Snacks

Let His Word Run at Bakersfield College

Bakersfield College Students,we had such a wonderful time distributing the NT Recovery Version "Study Bible" to BC students and staff. We distributed over 140 New Testament Recovery Version "Study Bibles" in 5 hours and gave away many FREE New Testament "Bible Study" brochures to give to their friends or family members. If you missed us, you can go to www.biblesforamerica.org to request your FREE "Study Bible". Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. If you would like your "Study Bible" sooner, please visit Let His Word Run in Bakersfield or send us an email and one of our local volunteers can deliver it.

Today's Topic (Using the Recovery Version Study Bible):

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of Him, both His eternal power and 1divine characteristics, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, 2being perceived by the things made, so that they would be without excuse

(Footnote 202) Man can perceive the invisible things of God by observing the visible things created by Him. Both the eternal power of God and the divine characteristics that express God's intrinsic nature and manifested in God's creation. For example, the abundace of light in the universe shows that light is a divine characteristic, a diving attribute of the diving natue (James 1:17). The same is true of beauty and life.

PUBLIC INVITED TO GET A “TASTE OF SCOUTING”

These days Scouting is about a whole lot more than just tying knots. The Southern Sierra Council, Boy Scouts of America invites families to Sport Chalet at 5200 Stockdale Highway in Bakersfield on Saturday, October 18, 2008 anytime from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to get a “Taste of Scouting” and see just how far the program has come since it started in 1910 in the United States.

During the day, there will be continuous activities for the entire family to enjoy and take part in including the U.S. Army Climbing Wall, U.S. Army Simulator, Salvation Army Emergency Communications Van, Monkey Bridge and more. Since the day of this event coincides with the annual BSA shortwave radio event entitled “Jamboree On The Air” or J.O.T.A., local Ham Radio operators will be on site with their equipment and will allow the public to talk with Scouts and Scouters throughout the United States and around the world. There will also be an internet version of this event called Jamboree On The Internet (J.O.T.I.) for those wishing to “blog” with Scouts throughout the country.

There will also be Fly Fishing demonstrations where scouts will demonstrate how to tie fish knots, talk about fish/wildlife management and equipment demonstrations by the Kern Flyfishers.

Any Cub Scout age boy whose parents sign him up in Cub Scouts on October 18^th will receive his own FREE Pinewood Derby Car Kit. These new Cub Scouts are encouraged to bring their finished cars back to the Council Pinewood Derby Race on March 14^th and race them in the heat associated with their age group. Pinewood Derby kits will be picked up by local pack leaders and issued to each new Cub Scout at a later pack or den meeting.

The entire day is free to the public. The Southern Sierra Council will have a recruiting table where families can sign up their Cub Scout (1^st through 5^th grade boys), Boy Scout (completed 5^th grade and is at least 10 years old or is age 11 but not yet 18 years old) or Venture Scout age boy or girl (at least 14 and completed the 8^th grade or 15 years of age but not yet 21). The pro-rated registration fee for all programs is $3.00 per member good through December of 2008. There will be a list of available units, contact names, phone numbers and times of meetings to assist parents with finding the right unit for their child. For additional information, contact the Southern Sierra Council, Boy Scouts of America at 661-325-9036 or the event chairman Ray Bays at 661-599-9030.

Come see why Scouting is a whole lot more than tying knots. It’s about building character, developing valuable skills, and having fun!

Controversial adult drama to open at BCT Playhouse

PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND RACISIM AT THE CORE OF CONTROVERSIAL ADULT DRAMA AT BCT PLAYHOUSE
Playwright David Rabe’s surreal drama, In the Boom Boom Room, focuses on the affects of sexual abuse and family violence on the psyche, relationships and fate of a go-go dancer struggling for self survival in the mid 1960’s.
The Tony Award nominated play is set in the mean streets Philadelphia. It is here, in a go-go dance bar, where dancer Chrissy becomes involved with an assortment of dysfunctional and sordid characters that negatively impact the life of this naïve and confused young woman who dreams of becoming a professional dancer.
The play received its first commercial production at Lincoln Center in New York City where it was nominated for a Tony Award. Newsweek Magazine, described the play as a portrayal of “Compassion for anguished people leavened by a black wit and a powerful sense of the surreal nature of modern life.” The theatre critic for WINS News Radio in New York hailed the drama as “A superior play. Perhaps a masterpiece.” “It’s full of dramatic fury,” said the N.Y. Times.
Boom Boom Room’s director, Ron Bastone, is directing this piece for the second time, having previously produced and directed the play at Hollywood Actors Theatre in Los Angeles, where it was selected one of the top ten Equity-waiver productions of 1982.
Director Bastone, who later went on to spend 11 years in the field of Social Work says, “the themes and issues addressed in the play are timeless. As a former Social Worker, I have personally witnessed the painful effects of child abuse, domestic violence and learned racism on the human spirit and how they guide and impact social and intimate relationships and behavior.” The plays central character is a casualty of all the above.
The ensemble cast of eleven players features, Brittany Turner, Richard Newman III, Alex Mayes, Michael Pawloski, Diana Harvey and Julie Jordan-Scott in key and pivotal roles. Music and go-go dancing of the mid sixties is also featured throughout the production. Due to adult language and situations the play is recommended for adult audiences.
“In the Boom Boom Room” opens November 7th and will Run through November 23rd at BCT Playhouse, 2400 S. Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, CA. Performances are Friday and Saturday Evenings at 8 PM with two Sunday Matinees at 2 PM, November 16th and 23rd. For Tickets and Reservations call BCT Playhouse at 831-8114 or ValliTix at 322-5200.

Photos: Go-Go Girls (L. to R.) Sarah Garrett, Marlene Hall, Crystal Mann

Brittany Turner as Chrissy and Richard Newman III as her abusive father.

Show flier

October Events

Oct. 16 — McTeacher’s Night
Actis Junior High School teachers and administration will be at your service when you go to the McDonald’s on the corner of Stockdale Highway and California Avenue from 5 to 8 p.m. The school will receive 20 percent of sales, so be sure to super size!

Oct. 17 — Fall Fiesta & Tequila Tasting
Come out to M.A.R.E. Riding Center, 18200 Johnson Road, to enjoy this fiesta complete with food, entertainment and tasty tequila! Admission is $50 and proceeds will help fund therapeutic equine assisted activities for special needs individuals in Kern County. For more information, call Deborah Durkan at 589-1877.

Oct. 17 — “Obscene in the Extreme” book discussion
Author Rick Wartzman will speak about his new book “Obscene in the Extreme: The story of the Burning and Banning of ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ in Kern County” at the Southwest Branch Library, 8301 Ming Ave. Presentation will be from 7 to 9:30 p.m. and admission is free.

Oct. 18 — Xtreme Elite Cheer grand opening
Come celebrate the grand opening of Xtreme Elite Cheer, 5207 Young St. There will be games, a cartwheel-a-thon, raffle tickets, entertainment, performances and more! Food and drinks will be served. Event begins at 1 p.m. and admission is free. For more information, call Lisa at 663-8500.

Oct. 21 — Tim Sterling presents: “Bhutan, Cloud Kingdom”
As part of the Bakersfield Adult School’s Open Forum Travel Series, producer Tim Sterling presents his film on Bhutan, the last independent Buddhist kingdom. See the show at the Harvey Auditorium, 1316 G St. Show will be at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 871-0146.

Oct. 24 — “Son of Rambow”
Fox FLICS presents “Son of Rambow” at 7:30 p.m. at the Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Tickets are $5. For more information, call 325-4815.

Oct. 25 — Kilt and Celt Golf Tournament
Open to everyone — men and women, novice and experienced, starting at 7:30 a.m. Scramble format with four-person teams. Entry fee is $65 per person and includes green fees, cart, small bucket of range balls, tri-tip lunch and drawing ticket. For more information, call 323-8662.

Oct. 25 — East Bakersfield High School dinner & dance
The community is invited to attend the second Annual EBHS AAA Dinner/Dance at the East Bakersfield Veteran's Hall, 2101 Ridge Road just off Mt. Vernon. Doors open at 6 with a no-host bar and a buffet dinner at 7, and dancing from 8 to 11:30 p.m. Costumes are optional, but there will be a costume contest along with a raffle and door prizes. Tickets are $20 per person in advance and $25 at the door. For more information, call Linda at 477-6076, Chrissy at 872-5731 or Karen at 565-6037.

Editor’s note

Summer is long gone, but in this issue we want to take a brief moment and reflect back on the fond memories that many of you made while taking The Voice on vacation.

As promised, we are also announcing the winner of The Voice on Vacation photo contest, but I can’t tell you who it is!

And now that fall is in full swing, it’s time for the next photo contest! Whoever shows off the most creatively carved Halloween pumpkin will get dinner at a favorite Southwest haunt, on us! To submit photos of your creations, register at: www.swvoice.com and add a spotlight gallery featuring your family and the prized pumpkin by Nov. 3.

Also on the horizon: U.S. Army Field Band, The Volunteers, is coming to Bakersfield for a special community concert on Oct. 25 at the Harvey Auditorium. As sponsors of the event, The Southwest Voice wants you to come out and enjoy one of the top military bands around.

Tickets are FREE — all you have to do is fill out the coupon on page 9 of our print edition and we’ll get them out to you on the double! Or to request tickets by phone, call our offices at 716-8640.

Can’t wait to see you all there!

Girl Scout Program Teaches Valuable Business Skills

Get ready to clean out your cupboards and make a gift list! Girl Scouts will be in the community once again with delightful treats to tantalize your taste buds. No, it is not Girl Scout Cookie time; this time of year, Girl Scouts participate in the Fall Product Program. While Thin Mints and other cookie favorites are not available, there are plenty of goodies sure to tickle your fancy.

Peanut Brittle in a decorative Girl Scout tin, as well as, Whole Cashews, Chocolate Covered Almonds, Chocolate Covered Raisins, Fruit Slices, Spicy Cajun Mix, Pecan Caramel Supremes, and Butter Toffee Peanuts may be ordered. All of the products come in Girl Scout themed packaging, feature the same renowned Girl Scout product quality that is in every box of Girl Scout Cookies, and are available to order from October 4 through October 22, 2008.

The Fall Product Program also encourages and celebrates reading by offering a wide variety of magazine subscriptions for your enjoyment. Over 1,000 subscriptions are available with savings up to 85% off newsstand prices. With every subscription order, a percentage of the total earnings go directly to the Girl Scout who sold the subscription. This is a great way to renew current subscriptions or discover a new magazine related to your interests.

The Girl Scout product sales programs are the premier youth entrepreneurial programs in the nation. Girls learn teamwork, communication, marketing, goal setting, accountability, and financial management along with other vital life skills to help shape their future. Before the sale begins, each troopand Girl Scout sets a sales goals and a long-term plan for their earnings.

At the conclusion of the sale, troops and girls use their profits for a variety of events based on age level and interests. In the past troops and girls have used their earnings to visit museums, organize community service projects, and take trips locally, nationally and internationally. A few have even attended Space Camp and other educational opportunities with their earnings. Your participation in the Girl Scout Product Sales Programs inspires the young girls of today to become the confident business executives of tomorrow.

To order your Fall Product Program Merchandise, contact a local Girl Scout, or you may call the Girl Scouts office at (661) 327-1409 or (800) 225-4475 and we will schedule a delivery to you.

About Girl Scouts of Central California South

Girl Scouting offers a safe, supportive environment where, in partnership with caring adults, girls can participate in fun and challenging experiences that empower them to discover, connect and take action. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts of Central California South serves over 13,000 girls and 3,500 adult volunteers in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera and Tulare Counties. To volunteer your time, make a donation, or join Girl Scouts of Central California South call in Fresno (559) 291 5078 or 1-(800) 490 8653 in Bakersfield call (661) 327-1409 or (800) 225-4475.

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An evening with Firoozeh Dumas

Firoozeh Dumas, bestselling author of Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America, will be speaking at 7 p.m., November 10th, 2008 at CSUB’s Icardo Center.

Funny in Farsi was chosen as the 2008-2009 Runner Reader selection, in support of CSUB’s Roadrunner Resources for Undergraduate Success and High-Achievement (RUSH-A) First-Year Experience Program. The goal of the program is to “build, nurture, and sustain a vibrant educational community at CSUB committed to academic and personal success of undergraduate students ‘in transition’,” including first-time freshmen, transfer students, and re-entry students. All students in CSUB 101/301 (introduction to the university courses) and English composition courses will read and discuss the book in an effort to create a shared learning experience, promote a sense of community, and help ease the transition into college.

This fall, the Runner Reader program is also expanding to local high schools, in an effort to foster a stronger connection between high school and college. High school students will read Funny in Farsi and will complete the same assignments as their collegiate counterparts. Roughly 500 students at Arvin High School read last year’s selection, When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otuska. This year, approximately 2000 students from six additional high schools, including Frontier, Liberty, North, Shafter, Stockdale, and West High Schools, have been invited to participate in the program.

Funny in Farsi was a finalist for the PEN/USA award in 2004 and a finalist in 2005 for an Audie Award for best audio book. Dumas was also a finalist for the prestigious Thurber Prize for American Humor, the first Middle Eastern woman ever to be so honored. Dumas’ second book, Laughing Without an Accent, was published by Random House in May.

“An Evening with Firoozeh Dumas” will feature a talk by the author, a Question-and-Answer session, and book signing. Writing awards, for both CSUB students and high school students, will also be presented. The event is free and open to the public and everyone is highly encouraged to attend. Copies of both of Dumas’ books will also be available for sale.

If you would like to help purchase copies of Funny in Farsi for local high school students or if you would like to know more about the Runner Reader Program, the RUSH-A Program, or “An Evening with Firoozeh Dumas,” please contact Dr. Emerson Case at 661-654-6281 or at ecase@csub.edu.

Tales from Paw Print City: The canvassing has begun

I noticed in a recent news story that the city of Bakersfield has begun its canvassing program to check for unlicensed dogs living in Bakersfield. The six-week program has a team of officers going to various neighborhoods throughout Bakersfield to educate people about license laws, leave information beneficial to local dog owners and, in some cases, give owners of unlicensed dogs notices to comply with licensing laws.

Not that this should surprise anyone, but I love the fact that this program is taking place. Finally something is actually being done to help create a positive change in the lives of homeless animals in Bakersfield (alas, not the county, as this is a city program). Plus, there’s nothing like a visit from the friendly folks at Bakersfield Animal Control to give people a gentle reminder that along with all the perks of pet ownership, there are some responsibilities.

Maybe as people realize that animal control officers may actually come to their door and look at their pets, they will finally get serious about making sure their dogs are licensed. Licensing fees can be used to assist in paying for many of the programs pet owners have said are desperately needed in Bakersfield: low-cost spay/neuter, better staffing at the Mt. Vernon facility and longer operating hours for adoption and surrender.

Will a simple license fee be the cure-all for what ails Bakersfield in the pet-overpopulation department? Hardly. But if we can manage to get 10,000 more dogs a year licensed, even at the “cheapie” altered rate of $15, it will add $150,000 per year to the budget of a department that gets less love than a wool sweater on an August afternoon.

Want to get ahead of the curve and show those officers that you’re someone who doesn’t have to wait to be told what to do? Get your dog licensed before the officers come to your door.

Dog licensing requires that your pet be vaccinated against rabies. If your dog is current on their rabies vaccination, call your veterinarian and ask for a copy of your dog’s rabies certificate. Enclose that certificate with your license application form (visit: www.co.kern.ca.us/ac and search “animal license application form”) and the appropriate payment and mail it to Animal Control. It’s that easy. Should you find your pup in need of a rabies booster, Kern County Animal Control holds monthly low-cost rabies vaccination clinics. Visit: www.co.kern.ca.us/acd/rabies.asp for a complete schedule of rabies vaccination clinics.

Let’s hear it for jingling tags on licensed dogs!

— E-mail Vicky at: pawprintcitytimes@sbcglobal.net or visit www.pawprintcitytimes.com.

Striking a patriotic chord

The Volunteers, an ensemble of the U.S. Army Field Band, is coming to play the Harvey Auditorium on Saturday, Oct. 25, but don’t expect your typical army band. When you see them play you won’t hear brass horns, but bluesy bass lines. Orchestrated overtures will be replaced with electric guitar rifts and even traditional compositions by the likes of John Philip Sousa will just plain rock!

Formed in 1981, the Volunteers is a six-piece musical show band that seamlessly blends jazz, rock, country, pop and patriotism into a foot-stomping, hand clapping show for all ages. Home to the band is Fort Mead, Md., but come tour season the group travels across the country, usually performing over 30 shows in a stretch of 30 days.

The Southwest Voice spoke over the phone with Volunteers keyboardist Master Sergeant Kirk Kadish just as he was packing his bags to head out with the band to begin their western states tour. Sgt. Kadish entered the Army in 1990, after years of studying music and working as a freelance composer and arranger. He served as part of the Armed Forces School of Music faculty and later, in 1994, joined the Field Band. We asked Sgt. Kadish to share a bit about the Volunteers and their upcoming performance in Bakersfield, and here is what he had to say:

Q. Do U.S. Army Field Band members have to go through the same type of training as everyone else?
A. Every soldier no matter what their job — computer programmer, musician, what have you — has to meet the same requirements. We still have to pass the PT [physical training] test.

Q. What’s life like on tour?
A. This is the smallest of our components. There’s six of us, if you think about it we’re performing 100 or more days a year. We travel together, stay in the same hotels, eat together, rehearse together. And most of the guys stay in the band for a number of years, so we’re pretty much like family.

Q. Why does the Army have bands like the Volunteers?
A. It’s about instilling patriotism. We want people to continue to support the soldiers regardless of what their politics are. We want people to honor the soldiers who are giving their lives day in and day out.

Q. What can the audience expect when they go to see the Volunteers on Oct. 25?
A. They can expect an amazingly wide variety of popular music. There’ll be country, rock, jazz, swing — a little bit of everything. This is the most versatile group of musicians I have ever played with ... The final part of the show is patriotic number which includes an armed forces medley that will include theme songs from each of the services. If anyone has served we like to ask them to stand and be honored during the number. We even want family members of those who are serving or have served to stand, because they give a lot, too.

Q. If someone is not familiar with the armed forces, should they still come out and see the band?
A. That’s all the more reason to go. Even my perspective of what the Army was like was very limited before I joined ... We love to hang to hang out after the show and meet everyone, so come and learn about the broad range of jobs we do. The picture of the soldier running on the ground through Baghdad is only one type of soldier.

See the Volunteers!
When: Saturday, Oct. 25
Where: The Harvey Auditorium, 1316 G St.
Time: 7 p.m.
Cost: FREE!

To request your free tickets, call The Southwest Voice at 716-8640. Give us your name, address and the number of tickets you want and we’ll mail them out to you directly!

Breast Cancer Awareness

Cancers are a group of diseases that cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control. Most types of cancer cells eventually form a lump or mass called a tumor and are named after the part of the body where the tumor originates.
Breast cancer begins in breast tissue, which is made up of glands for milk production, called lobules, and the ducts that connect lobules to the nipple. The remainder of the breast is made up of fatty, connective, and lymphatic tissue.
Although breast cancer in men is a rare disease (accounting for approximately 1% of breast cancer cases
in the US).
Breast Cancer death rates were virtually unchanged between 1930 and 1990, but decreased about 27% between 1990 to 2004. 1 in 8 women are expected to get Breast Cancer in their lifetime.
Recommendations:
•    Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40.
•    A clinical breast exam should be part of a periodic health exam, about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s, and every year for women 40 and older.
•    Women should know how their breasts normally feel and report any breast changes promptly to their health care providers. Breast self-exam is an option for women starting in their 20s.
•    Screening MRI is recommended for women with an approximately 20%-25% or greater lifetime risk of breast cancer, including women with a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer and women who were treated for Hodgkin disease.
Locally, in Kern County 345 people are expected to be diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2008.

For more information about Breast Cancer nationwide go to www.cancer.org for the American Cancer Society. For Kern County residents, Links for Life is a local non-profit organization that helps people affected by Breast Cancer (www.linksforlife.org).

WRITERS OF KERN MEETING

The Writers of Kern are delighted that The Northwest Voice Editor, Dana Martin, will be the featured speaker at our October 18th meeting. As all connected to The Northwest Voice and The Southwest Voice know, she is a dynamo of energy and has the ability to convey enthusiasum, confidence, and pride in all she does. Dana is also a published author of short stories in several magazines. She will talk to the club and attendees about how to submit, what magazines are looking for, and where the best markets are for short stories. Of course we hope she will give us some insight into her success with The Northwest Voice, a marvelous community newspaper and how to submit stories. Don't miss this meeting. You will learn, be entertained and certainly go away motivated. Be at the Wyndham Hotel on Saturday, October 18, at 10am to meet Dana in person. Fee for attendance is $10.00. If you have any questions, call Peg Connelly at 399-0423 or e-mail her at mispegg@aol.com.

CSUB awarded $5.2 million in grants for increasing science enrollment, ecological research project

California State University, Bakersfield has been awarded a total of $5.2 million in grants from the United States Department of Education and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. These grants follow the announcement last week of a $10.4 million grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

The federal $4.9 million grant, to be funded over the next two years, will be used to develop the priorities of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act – Hispanic Serving Institutions – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics grant program.

Julio Blanco, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, will be working closely with Bakersfield College to design a seamless pathway for Hispanic student success in these disciplines. Blanco reports both institutions serve a region that is on the frontlines of the national crisis in Hispanic under-preparedness for and underrepresentation in STEM degree completion. The goal is to gain a 20 percent increase in the number of Hispanic students who enroll and successfully transfer from BC to CSUB to complete STEM degree programs.

The second grant, totaling $300,000 over the next three years, was awarded to biology professor Brandon Pratt from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The grant will support Pratt’s research efforts aimed at understanding post-fire vegetation recovery in southern California and South African shrublands. Pratt’s work will increase understanding of how native vegetation responds to fire, which will be critical for predicting how wildland ecosystems will change in response to altered fire regimes, and how best to manage wildlands disturbed by fire. The focus on southern California and South Africa is particularly important because these areas are classified as “hot spots” of biodiversity and are ranked as global conservation priorities.

The funds from the grant support the hiring of a post-doctoral research scholar who, together with Pratt, will spearhead the research efforts in North America and Africa. In addition, two master’s students will be funded (one at CSUB and one in South Africa at the University of Stellenbosch) and at least six CSUB undergraduate students will be involved in the study.

For additional information about these grants, contact Bob Horton in the office of grants, research and sponsored programs, at (661) 654-2231.