News: The Southwest Voice

Making a difference in this world

My son, Zachery Castillo, is a 15 year old Sophmore at Stockdale High School. Zachery is such an awesome guy and volunteers in so many ways that I just thought it would be nice to recognize him!

He volunteers in the Children's Department at Bakersfield First Church and every other Sunday morning he is a part of a program where adults and teens act out skits for children. Also, he is the sound guy for the annual Children's Christmas Musical and volunteers on Sunday mornings, Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings at church doing the sound for a total of 4 hours a week. He is so faithful and has not missed a musical practice since it started in September. Even though there are days when he would rather be home relaxing, he will say "Well, it's gotta get done, so I will do it". He also volunteers at Vacation Bible School, as a counselor at summer camp and really anywhere that there is a need. In addition to volunteering at church, Zachery also volunteers for three hours per week at San Joaquin Hospital.

He is truly making a mark in this world by giving back to his community and I am so proud to call him my son!

November Events

From softball tryouts and video game tournaments, to coffee- or wine-themed festivities, Southwest Voice readers can mark their calendars with these events:

Nov. 15-16 — All I Want For Christmas
That’s right, Christmas is creeping around the corner and you know what that means: shopping! The All I Want For Christmas event, brought to you by Baby Fest, will be held at the Golden State Mall, 3201 F St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit: www.baby-fest.com for details.

Nov. 15 — Bobby Sox registration
Bakersfield Bobby Sox, a girls softball league, will be accepting registrations for ages 4-18. Sign ups will be on Nov. 15 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Cataldo’s Pizzeria, 3611 Stockdale Highway. Players new to Bobby Sox need to bring a copy of their birth certificate. For girls born 2002-2004 cost is $80, and for girls born 1990-2001 cost is $100. Details, visit: www.bakersfieldbobbysox.com or call Kathy at 832-1271.

Nov. 15 — ‘United We Brawl’
DeVry University Bakersfield, 3000 Ming Ave., will host “United We Brawl,” a fundraising opportunity for United Way of Kern County and a video game tournament for high school students, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Contestants must be at least 16 years of age and enrolled at a Kern County High School. Registration deadline is Nov. 13. Participants are encouraged to make a minimum donation of $25. All donations will benefit United Way of Kern County. To register, call Laurie Arichea at 833-7120.

Nov. 22 — Olive Knolls Church Craft Fair
Visit Olive Knolls Church, 6201 Fruitvale Ave., from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for its annual craft fair, pancake breakfast, and soup and salad lunch. There will be more than 50 vendors and thousands of unique, handcrafted items. Admission is free, meals are $5 per person. Details, call Jaime Johnson at 399-3303.

Nov. 22 — Coffee roasting 101
Let the captivating aroma amuse your senses and allure you and a friend as you learn about coffee roasting all the way from bean selection to roasting. Event begins at 10 a.m. and cost is $40. Proceeds benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates. Details, call Nicole Stanford at 321-4876.

Nov. 22 — Wine Fest
Presented by Junior League of Bakersfield, “Starry Night” is the artistic-inspired theme of the this year’s Wine Fest. Enjoy food from Bakersfield’s finest restaurants, wines from California’s most notable wineries, as well as live and silent auctions. Event begins at 7 p.m. and cost is $60. Details, call the Junior League at 322-1671.

Pages of our past

In his book “Obscene in the Extreme,” Rick Wartzman takes a brave look into the world of 1930s politics through a single event in Kern County history. While some may see the banning and burning of John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” as a single moment in our past, Wartzman takes us behind the scenes into a world where fear and hatred abound. It was more than a novel to those who lived here. It was edging into their lives, and residents thought democracy was at stake, social order was on the brink of chaos, and power would shift into oblivion.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting with Rick before he spoke at the Southwest Branch Library. A very pleasant man, Rick eagerly answered my questions.

NM: What prompted the book “Obscene in the Extreme”?
RW: I saw a photograph of Bill Camp presiding over book burning of grapes of wrath while writing my first book, “The King of California.” It’s the kind of image that stays with you. At a book reading here at Russo’s, a friend and I were talking and the photo came up. She asked if I saw it and I said yes. She asked if I knew about the librarian, Gretchen Kneif, who fought the censorship. I didn’t so I started poking around with it. The moment it became a book for me was in the drama itself, even though it happens in a week. A first I didn’t think there was enough drama for a book. But it became a great window into the class politics of 1930s America.

NM: How long did it take to write?
RW: It took four years.

NM: Did you come to Kern County to research?
RW: I did a lot of research at Beale Library, the Local History room in particular. I also did a fair bit of interviewing here too. I was able to talk to Clell Pruett, who was the only surviving character when I wrote the book. I talked to Bill Camp’s sons. I also talked to then-young librarians who worked with Gretchen Kneif and others who made the trek from Oklahoma and Missouri.

NM: Has there been any controversy about your book?
RW: No. I’ve actually had very nice responses. When writing the book, I tried to be more than fair minded. I tried to understand the perspective of those who censored the novel, to understand what would compel someone to be so scared of a book. I tried to step into their boots and examine their fear. That is what became really interesting to me. The 1930s in America, particularly in California, was a strange and nervous time. What they were afraid of wasn’t just the novel, but what it represented. It threatened their way of life; it threatened the social fabric of America as they wanted it to be.

NM: Do you see similarities between 1939 and today?
RW: Yes, there are three parallels that I see. One is that censorship remains a real issue in this country. Some 2,000 books are challenged each year in this country. The second thing that struck me was the fields around here haven’t changed much. The only thing that has changed is the faces of those working. A lot of the fear, really, the xenophobia or fear of the outsiders those south of the boarder feel, is not too dissimilar than what the migrants who came in the 1930s felt. Lastly, we’re at a time where the economic parallels are striking. We’re going through the worst financial crisis that we’ve had since the ’30s. In my mind, he (Steinbeck) raised the question of capitalism and it isn’t much different than it was in the ’30s. How can we have so much want in a country with so much plenty?

NM: Did you look at the censorship of “The Grapes of Wrath” in other parts of the country?
RW: I looked at it and mentioned it in the book, but it wasn’t that interesting to me. Some readers wanted more of the censorship side of it and I was more interested in the politics side of it. In Kansas City, Buffalo, and East St. Louis it was banned on obscenity grounds. It was banned here by the board of supervisors on profanity, lewdness, among other things. It was the other things that interested me. I felt it was way more interesting here because it was more than obscenity. They (the board of supervisors) went on to say, “We don’t like how you depict our community.” It’s the class struggle of the ’30s that I think really is the root of the fear about the novel, at least here and in California. That’s what intrigued me. And that’s what I think is the story.

To the point

Fencing — to many this word means separating your property from that of another with a barrier or wall. It actually is the name of an Olympic sport with origins deep in the past. It is a sport that is fast and athletic — a far cry from the choreographed bouts seen on film or on stage. Instead of swinging from a chandelier or leaping from balconies, you will see two fencers performing an intense dance on a 6-by-44-foot strip. Movement is so fast that touches are scored electrically — much more like “Star Wars” than Errol Flynn in action.

Fencing for gold
Fencing is one of only four sports to be included in every modern Olympic Games since the first Olympics in 1896. Fencing was also a sport in the original Olympic Games in Ancient Greece. The tip of the fencing weapon is the second fastest moving object in sport; the first is the marksman’s bullet.

In April 2003, Keeth Smart was the first American fencer to achieve a No. 1 world ranking, winning the World Cup in Athens, Greece in men’s saber (also referred to as sabre) fencing. In 2004, Sada Jacobson was the first American woman to place No. 1 saber fencer in the world. Since that time, U.S. fencers have had great performances on the world stage, culminating this summer in Beijing, where the U.S. women’s team swept the competition by taking first, second and third place in saber. The men’s saber team took second place defeating the much stronger and higher rated European teams.

About the bout
Foil, épée, and saber are the three weapons used in the sport of fencing. While some fencers compete in all three events, elite competitors generally focus their energies on mastering one weapon. Competitors win a fencing bout, an individual “game,” by being the first to score 15 points (in direct elimination play) or five points (in preliminary pool play) against an opponent, or by having a higher score than an opponent when the time limit expires. Each time a fencer lands a valid hit (a touch) on an opponent, a point is scored. The time limit for direct elimination matches is nine minutes, three three-minute periods with a one-minute break between each.

Local sword play
There is a venue here in Bakersfield where those with ideas of swashbuckling and sword play can make them a reality. You can acquire swordsmanship skills that will allow you to compete in this high-tech sport. The local club has members from ages 10 to over 65 years old. It is a sport that has no age limits. Fencing athletes from Stockdale, East, and Garces high schools and Cal State Bakersfield, together with members of the general community, meet every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Fruitvale Norris Building, 6221 Norris Road. There, as the Guerra Fencing Club, the group participates in lessons and competition for two hours each week.

Ethan Childress, former CSUB Fencing Club instructor and East High School teacher, and myself, a chemical engineer and nationally ranked local fencer, formed the club with the assistance of many participants from the CSUB Fencing Club and the Stockdale High School Fencing Club. Their efforts engaged fencing master Jose Guerra, who has had international competition and coaching experience. Guerra travels weekly from Antelope Valley to coach the class and give private lessons.

Several club members participate in USFA sanctioned tournaments, including the yearly Summer National Championships. I obtained seventh place in saber during the 2008 National Competition and rank ninth in the nation in saber in the veterans over 60 group.

Fencing is an NCAA sport. Several former club members have continued fencing in college. Guy Rodgers, a former club member and visitor when in town, is on the UCLA fencing team. Kim Silken, formerly from Stockdale High School, is on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo fencing team.

Fencing is a great sport for families. Our club has a father and son who participate. This allows parents and children to develop a deeper understanding of each other and spend quality time together. As many martial arts do, fencing develops discipline, coordination, and stamina. Many call it “physical chess.”

Group lessons and private lessons are available. Fees are $65 per month and equipment is available for rental. If you are interested in participating or learning more about this Olympic sport, call Jose at 992-7327, or me at 319-2235.

LOCAL DOG PULLS OFF " BIG WIN "

Eddy Aldridge and Deerwoods Sheila, pull off winning first place Saturday & Sunday Nov 8th & 9th,, 2008

Winning High In Trial both days, with scores of 137 & 139.5 out of a score of 150..

at the AHBA, Parcours "A La Francaise, French Ranch Large Flock trial.. "Advanced Level" Competting againest dogs From Nevada, Ca, Washington, & Oregon...

In Wilton Ca..

I would like to thank Laurie Batson for Sheila,

my dad for going to all the trials with me to make sure I get up every morning,

and trainer Karen Wessinger of Leona Valley, for all her help,...

But most of all I would like to thank Sheila for pushing my limits, even though she can a hard to handle dog, she always gets the job done...

For more info on French Trials here in Ca,, please check out this web site...

http://www.herdingontheweb.com/french-ca.htm

Hope to see you at PetCo on Rosedale every first Saturday of the month for the Kern County Shelter dog adoption day...

Eddy

Fight the flu, get vaccinated!

The flu season is in full swing and runs through February, so now is the best time to prepare for flu awareness and prevention within your organization.

Each year 1 in 5 people become sick with influenza. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications and about 36,000 people die from the flu each year.

Common myths and misconceptions about the flu often times discourage many people from receiving a flu vaccination and protecting themselves from the virus. The top 5 most common flu myths include:

You can catch the flu from the flu vaccine. Fact: This is probably the biggest myth surrounding the flu shot. The truth is you cannot get the flu from the vaccine. The injectable vaccine is made of inactivated viruses, so it is impossible to get the flu from the vaccine.
Getting an influenza shot every year weakens your immune system. Fact: The vaccine prepares and boosts your immune system to help you fight the virus if you contract it. People who get the influenza shot each year are better protected against influenza than those who do not get vaccinated.
The flu can be avoided through simple, general health practices. Fact: Frequent hand washing, eating healthy, and getting plenty of rest do help to protect your immune system, but nothing provides better coverage from the flu virus like a flu shot.
The flu is spread through direct contact from an infected person to another. Fact: The flu is mostly spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching his/her mouth or nose may also infect a person.
The side effects of the flu shot are worse than the flu. Fact: Most people experience little or no side effects. If an individual does experience flu-like side effects, the duration is short (usually no longer than 24-48 hours) whereas influenza can hang on for 10 days or more. Moreover, a true case of influenza always leaves open the possibility of complications (such as pneumonia) and even death.

It is recommended that you receive the flu vaccine from your primary care physician as soon as possible so as to protect your immune system from the virus. Maintaining a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water and getting a good nights rest will also ensure that you are not only fighting the flu virus but you’re also improving your overall health and wellness.

Flu clinics held at businesses is a smart way to encourage flu shots among your employees.

Concentra Urgent Care Medical Center in Bakersfield is currently offering flu shots to the public. Convenient walk-in appointments are welcome. Concentra hosts clinics off-site at places of employment upon request. For more information, please visit www.concentra.com.

CSUB to host Academic Decathlon preparation day for high school students

Over 200 area high school students will attend the 19th annual Academic Decathlon preparation day scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at California State University, Bakersfield’s Doré Theatre.

Introductions and welcomes will be made by Soraya Coley, provost and vice president for academic affairs; Mustafah Dhada, associate vice president for academic programs; Michael Flachmann, director of the Helen Louise Hawk honors program and English professor; and Cathie Barraza, coordinator of Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools.

The United States Academic Decathlon is one of the premier academic competitions for high school students in the United States. USAD contests are held in 39 states, as well as in British Columbia, Canada. It consists of 10 events, which include seven tests, two performance events and an essay.

“This year’s Academic Decathlon preparation day at CSUB will feature five of CSUB’s outstanding faculty discussing Latin America with a particular focus on Mexico,” said John Dirkse, associate dean of academic programs.

Sessions on key topics are scheduled during the event. CSUB biology professors Ken Gobalet and Paul Smith will discuss evolutionary biology. Dianne Turner, teacher education professor, will give a presentation on Mexican art. Brett Schmoll, history professor, will lead a discussion about the novel “Bless Me, Ultima.” Dhada will conclude the day with a discussion of the history of Mexico.

The next Academic Decathlon competition will be held in February at Bakersfield High School.

For more information, please contact Dirkse at CSUB at (661) 654-3420 or [ mailto:jdirkse@csub.edu ]jdirkse@csub.edu.

WRITERS OF KERN MEETING

The Writers of Kern are fortunate to have Linda O Johnston as their speaker for the November 15 meeing. Linda is the author of 14 romance novels, including romantic suspense as well as the Pet-Sitter mystery series, with 6 in print so far and more to come. Join us at the Wyndham Hotel at 10am on Saturday morning and bring your questions for Linda. For more information call Peg Connelly at 399-0423. Cost per person $10.00

CSUB’s Hottest Pepper competition names fiery winner

The results are in and Richard McCoy of Bakersfield is Kern County’s Hottest Pepper grower. McCoy, along with nine others, participated in California State University, Bakersfield’s inaugural Hottest Pepper in Kern County competition last month.

CSUB chemistry students tested the submissions. “We were able to put the analytical skills of our students to work in a fun way that involved the community,” said Roy LaFever, chemistry professor.

The students involved found the competition to be dually rewarding. “It was nice to be able to combine what we’ve learned in our research and share it with the public,” said Summer Gibbons, chemistry student.

Peppers were analyzed using the Scoville index of peppers and a system for determining capsaicin levels. LaFever said the peppers they received were “impressive” and the Scoville ratings ranged from 65,000 to 450,000.

The hottest pepper in this year’s competition was a red Caribbean variety of capsicum annum and had a Scoville rating of 450,000. The second place entry was also a red Caribbean that narrowly lost out to McCoy’s entry by 20,000 Scoville units.

The Scoville scale is based on a taste test that uses dilutions of pepper extracts to determine the taste threshold. The dilution amount then corresponds with a Scoville rating. Some peppers are sweet and have a Scoville rating of nearly zero, where as the hottest peppers known have a rating of nearly one million.

Prizes included gift cards to Chili’s restaurant and Lengthwise Brewery.

For additional information, contact LaFever at (661) 654-2336 or [ mailto:rlafever@csub.edu ]rlafever@csub.edu.

CSUB and Delano Joint Union High School District partnership aiding students

A California State University, Bakersfield and Delano Joint Union High School District collaborative project to improve student performance has earned top-marks.

Researchers for the grant project titled Content Academic Language Literacy Instruction, or CALLI, noted a remarkable increase stating students are now passing the California High School Exit Exam at about a 70 percent rate. This shows a 25 percent increase over the last three years with the implementation of the grant program.

These results and other findings will be discussed during a workshop slated for Saturday, Nov. 8 in the Dezember Leadership Center, room 401 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the university campus. High school teachers from Delano will be in attendance to talk about the project. The public is welcome to attend.

CALLI provided 60 Delano teachers with intensive training and site-based coaching so they can strengthen the reading, writing, and speaking skills needed by their students to increase achievement. This program has impacted about 4,000 students.

CSUB was awarded the competitive four-year grant of $986,078 by the California Postsecondary Education Commission in November 2005, one of eight given statewide.

Emilio Garza and Debra Cook-Hirai are co-directors of CSUB’s CALLI project and state the high percentage of English learners in the Delano Joint High School District pose a unique challenge for teachers in this area. “With over 31 percent of the families in this district identified as low poverty and 48 percent of students identified as English learners there is a definite need to increase student achievement through extensive staff development for all math and science secondary teachers in the area,” Cook-Hirai explained.

Cook-Hirai said academic language is defined as English used in professional books and characterized by the specific linguistic features associated with academic disciplines. “It is the language used by teachers and students for the purpose of acquiring new knowledge and skills. Literacy is learning to read, academic language is reading to learn.”

The CALLI researchers have been accepted to present their findings at the National Bilingual Education conference in Austin, Texas this year and the American Education Research Association conference in San Diego in 2009. There will also be several articles and publications produced detailing their results and providing educational resources for this field.

This final year of the grant will include further research and additional workshops.

The grant is part of the federal Improving Teacher Quality Program funded under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and a long-standing federal program aimed at improving student achievement through professional development for teachers. These grants require rigorous evaluation research to demonstrate how the professional development affects student achievement.

For additional information, contact Cook-Hirai at (661) 654-3129 or log on to [ http://www.csub.edu/calli/ ]www.csub.edu/calli/.

“The Uncertainty of Our Financial System” public forum

Who:            California State University, Bakersfield’s Financial Management Association in partnership with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

What:   “The Uncertainty of Our Financial System” public forum

When:   Thursday, Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m.

Where: Albertson Room of the Doré Theatre
                A map of the campus is available here: [ http://www.csub.edu/campusmap/ ]http://www.csub.edu/campusmap/

Why:       A panel of financial professionals comprised of bank CEOs and financial market experts take on the topic of the economy. Panelists include: Beau Woodward, vice president of Wells Fargo investment; Neal Marshal, CFO of Kern Federal Credit Union; Stephan Annis, vice president/CFO for San Joaquin Bank; and representatives from Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.

For additional information about the forum, call Mahdy Elhusseiny at (661) 654-3480.

The Mystery of the Two Caroline Reids

There are two of us. There used to be three (albeit her name was Carolyn Reed).

We want to clarify our differences because we are beginning to get more and more comments like this:

“Caroline, I just loved your letter in the Californian.”

“Oh thank you. That wasn’t me though. That was the other one,” says Caroline.

“Caroline, I see you are speaking at the Christian Women’s Conference next week.”

“No, that’s not me. That’s the other one,” says the other Caroline.

“Caroline, you’re back from Africa. That must have been a great trip.”

“Africa?” says the other one. “I haven’t been to Africa.”

“Well, an article in my mother’s church paper said you were.”

“Oh, I guess that was the other one. She’s the Director of Missions at First Presbyterian Church on 17^th Street.”

By some strange coincidence, Caroline Reid, Director of Missions at First Presbyterian Church, and I share exactly the same name. Our middle names are even the same. I am a retired Executive Assistant. We’ve known of each other for years. Several years ago we two Carolines and Carolyn Reed went to lunch together. That was our first meeting. Since then we know when to forward mail, when to tell a caller they have the wrong Reid and so forth. And we are very thankful that we share our Christian faith and try to live as upstanding citizens. Imagine if we were exact opposites!

This Caroline Reid, the writer, is older than the “other one.” Let’s call me “Caroline the Elder.” The “other one” has an English accent as that is her birthplace. “Caroline the Elder” has a good old West Coast twang. My Minnesota relatives tease me for saying “warsh” instead of “wash.” I see absolutely no difference! The “other one” says “waahhsh.” She also says “tomahto” and I say “tomayto.”

I am writing this as “Caroline the Elder” and I have the approval of “the other one” to put this out there so people will think twice before they thank me for speaking or the “other one” for writing a letter. We are thinking of forming a comedy team but we just don’t have time.

Are you totally confused by this? We know who we are. We want you to know too!

These Special Olympians have a Goal

The Aces are one of three Kern County Special Olympics floor hockey teams and one of 75 teams in Sothern California. These athletes come from all over Kern County and some have been playing floor hockey for over 20 years. The athletes range in all levels and ages from 8-80 years old. The individual challenges are as diverse as the environments from where these athletes come from. From Downs Syndrome, Autism, and brain injury, these athletes come from special education school programs, supportive employment, group homes, and traditional family settings.

For those not familiar with floor hockey. It is played in a rink, but the surface is made of wood, concrete, or tile. The teams are composed of six players, including a goalie. The athletes use wooden poles called “slick sticks” which are an adaptation of industrial broom sticks with a felt tip, and the pucks are large felt discs about 10 “ in diameter with an open center. Basic ice hockey rules and penalties apply, with the exception of offsides, and icing. However, hooking, slashing, and roughing will draw you a penalty and some time in the “sin bin”.

As I arrived to practice at the newly constructed hockey rink at Saunders Park, I did not know what to expect. Nonetheless, the familiar sights and sounds of hockey immediately greeted me. This was serious business. Currently the Aces are preparing for an upcoming tournament on November 15th at the Kern County Fairgrounds. This tournament is hosted by Kern County Special Olympics every year, and generally draws the participation of 300 athletes and coaches from all over Southern California. Like all Special Olympics events, athletes are never charged for participation. However, there is always the cost of facility rental. Grants, fundraising and donations from individuals, companies like Wal-Mart and service groups such as the Kiwanis support and offset these costs.

The Aces upcoming schedule also takes them on the road to compete in tournaments in Santa Maria on December 6th, and January 16th in San Diego, Ca. Unlike some sports teams, these athletes enjoy playing on the road as much as in front of their hometown fans. However, like all sports travel is expensive. The Aces as well as other Kern County teams are provided transportation free of charge for day trips from BARC (Bakersfield Association of Retarded Citizens), but longer distances and overnight stays are at an additional expense.

I spent much of my time with Aces Head Coach, Silva Treanor. Coach Treanor first became involved in coaching floor hockey during her time as a Special Education Teacher for the Kern High School District, and has been involved in floor hockey for over 30 years. “Our goal is to provide sports competition and training, for those who want to be Special Olympians.” Treanor stated. She also went on to say that they would like to see more junior athlete participation. Junior athletes are 8-15 years of age. Currently there is a junior basketball team, and opportunity for junior athletes in individual sports, such as tennis and swimming. The lack of junior athletes can be attributed to the lack of education of parents with younger intellectually challenged children. “We are providing a sports mechanism to provide opportunity to these athletes”, said Treanor,” Getting the word out and educating the parents is key to growing our program”.

As our nations economy faces its challenges, so too does the Special Olympics. Fundraisers become harder to operate and donations are harder to come by as companies and individuals tighten their belts. The Kern County Special Olympics has been prudent with their funding, and most if not all the programs will continue to operate even through tough economic times.

The biggest challenge facing the Kern County Special Olympics is not monetary but voluntary. There is a constant need for volunteers as coaches. About one half of Kern Counties Special Olympic coaches are comprised of parents or relatives that have family members involved as athletes. The remaining half is made up of special education teachers, and interested individuals.

In closing, I asked Coach Treanor to describe to me one of the most memorable moments she has experienced in her involvement with Special Olympics over the last 30 years. She took a moment, and then proceeded to tell me a story about an athlete that was killed in a senseless accident a few years back. Although this may seem a tragedy more than what is usually characteristic about a memorable moment that one might have. She expressed with a smile that through their bereavement, the players displayed a strong bond and support. This is the bond and social structures that Special Olympics creates for all that are involved. Lastly she stated, “I get a lot out of it, I feel like I am doing something good. Everyone should try it at least once and experience this feeling”.

For more details or information, contact Special Olympics Southern California Kern County at 322-7598.

Pumpkin carving contest

Armand will dress up as Despereaux Tilling from Kate DiCamillo's "The Tale of Despereaux." We finished reading it last week and were able to convert an old costume I made for him into this year's duds.

¡HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Soon to be:

“Be a Santa to a Senior” Brightens the Holidays for Isolated and Forgotten Seniors in Kern County

– Local seniors who might otherwise be forgotten this holiday season will again receive gifts and companionship through the annual “Be a Santa to a Senior” program. Non-profit and senior agencies, and many area retailers in Bakersfield, are partnering with event sponsor Home Instead Senior Care of Bakersfield to brighten the lives of area seniors.

“While we focus on children during this time of year, we also must remember our older generation that too often is overlooked,” said Debora Savoy, co-owner of the local Home Instead Senior Care office in Bakersfield, providing companionship and non-medical home care for seniors in Kern County. “But it’s not just about the gifts. The program is also designed to provide social interaction for seniors who are unlikely to have guests during the holidays.”

Beginning Thursday, Nov. 6, shoppers can select ornaments from “Be a Santa to a Senior” giving trees at all Walgreens stores in Bakersfield. Beginning Saturday, Nov. 29, additional giving trees will be located at El Tejon Pharmacy, Bank of America, Curves, Cookies by Design, Sweet Surrender, and Glenwood Gardens. For a complete list of tree locations, businesses, non-profit and senior agency partners, log on to www.santatoasenior.com.

Each ornament lists the first name of a senior in need, along with gift requests. Seniors were selected by participating non-profit organizations. Holiday shoppers can purchase gifts and return them unwrapped, along with the ornament, to the tree location.

Home Instead Senior Care then enlists the help of community volunteers and its staff to collect, wrap, and distribute the gifts.

A wrapping party is scheduled Thursday, Dec. 11, from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Glenwood Gardens, 350 Calloway Dr., Bakersfield, and deliveries will take place Thursday, Dec. 16, through Saturday, Dec. 18, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Volunteers are encouraged to contact Home Instead Senior Care at (661) 321-3235. Businesses are encouraged to contact the local Home Instead Senior Care office about adopting groups of seniors.

Since “Be a Santa to a Senior” was launched nationally five years ago, Home Instead Senior Care franchises across the country have helped provide more than 930,000 gifts to nearly 570,000 seniors.

* * *

COMMUNITY AND NON-PROFIT PARTNERS:

Protégé Salon A New Beginning Placement Services
Aging and Adult Services Bakersfield Family Medical Center

Adult Protective Services Standard School District

Bakersfield Family Medical Center Tropical Pools

Country Christian School Bank of America

Senator Roy Ashburn All Walgreens locations

Assemblywoman Jean Fuller All Curves locations

New Vision for Independence San Dimas Pharmacy

ElderLife Adult Day Health Care El Tejon Pharmacy

Cookies By Design Glenwood Gardens

Department of Human Services