News: The Southwest Voice

Keep It Positive

I think it is safe to say that most people believe they learn from their mistakes. I know I have had more than a few lessons from mistakes. I think it is also safe to say that positive feedback feels pretty empowering.

According to a recent article in The Journal of Neuroscience, adults and children strongly respond in the brain—specifically in the basal ganglia, just outside the cerebral cortex-- when we get positive remarks like, “Great job!,” and “You got it!”

As it turns out, however, not everyone learns from their mistakes. Developmental psychologist Dr. Eveline Crone and her colleagues from the Leiden Brain and Cognition Lab suggest that children under 12 are not processing negative input to the degree they process positive input. So when parents or teachers tell youngsters about the deficiencies in a project or paper the brain does not respond. Comments like, “Got that wrong,” and “You’re not doing this right,” fall on deaf ears essentially. Tell them what they did right, however, and the brain lights up!

According to a ScienceDaily.com article on the study, the brains’ 'control centres' of children of 12 and 13 (and also adults’) are more strongly activated by negative feedback and much less by positive feedback.

What that means to me as a junior high English teacher is that I will continue to closely edit my students’ papers and continue to require them to rewrite with corrections while also giving them plenty of comments about what they do right daily in class. It also means my colleagues in the younger grades and loads of parents are doing a great job focusing on the positive with their little ones.

Peggy Dewane-Pope is an eighth grade teacher at Stonecreek Junior High School in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District.

Nominate for Teacher of the Month

I would like to nominate Mr. Andre Casillas for teacher of the month. Mr. Casillas teaches 4th grade at Old River Elementary School and is my daughter's teacher. He is so fun, energetic & encouraging. Mr. Casillas is the kind of teacher that stays in his classroom during lunch to help students and is the teacher that every kid loves. He makes learning fun. He definitely deserves the Teacher of the Month award.

CSUB partners with UC Irvine and UC Berkeley for national study, receives $10.4 million grant

At a national news conference this morning, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development announced that California State University, Bakersfield has been selected to partner with University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Irvine, and University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center to participate in a nationwide study designed to improve the health and well-being of children. The universities will receive $14.5 million over five years for the research, with CSUB receiving $10.4 million.

The National Children’s Study is the largest study to be conducted on the effects of environmental and genetic factors on child and human health in the United States. The study will follow a representative sample of 100,000 children from before birth to age 21, seeking information to prevent and treat some of the nation’s most pressing health problems, including autism, birth defects, diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

Kern is one of 105 counties nationwide to be included in the study, with nine of these in California.

“This study represents a golden opportunity for CSU Bakersfield to participate in high-level health research and strengthen our engagement with the community as well as with top-rated scientists at the University of California,” said CSUB President Horace Mitchell. “We believe this project will bring resources to identify health challenges in Kern County and improve the well-being of residents here and throughout the nation.”

Participation by CSUB and Kern County in the project stems from long-standing relationships Mitchell has with both UC campuses.

“I was contacted by Jim Swanson, who is principal investigator for the study and a former colleague. He inquired about CSUB’s interest in participating in this landmark research and including Kern County in the study,” Mitchell said. “There was no question that we wanted to contribute to the effort. Research of this magnitude with these premiere research institutions reflects the increasing recognition of the excellence of our faculty and academic programs. This will have a direct benefit on our community.”

Swanson expressed his excitement about the long-term collaborations that will develop between the UC campuses and CSUB. “I have enjoyed working over the last two years with Bob Horton, Peggy Leapley and Julio Blanco at CSUB and Asa Bradman at UC Berkeley on the study proposal. Without them, this grant wouldn’t have happened for Kern County. Their interest and work has been tremendous and they have been willing to do whatever is necessary to make this project a reality,” he added.

University officials submitted an extensive proposal that detailed project objectives and collaborative relationships with partners such as Kern County Department of Public Health, Kern Medical Center, First 5 Kern, and the Kern County Network for Children. CSUB also received broad support from myriad regional medical care providers and the Kern County Board of Supervisors.

“Planning for this project has involved developing extensive support among many organizations and individuals. I am privileged to work with people so committed to the well being of their community,” said Asa Bradman, who will help lead the Kern County portion of the study from the Center for Children’s Environmental Health Research at UC Berkeley.

Locally, the principal investigator for the study will be Peggy Leapley, who recently retired from CSUB as chair of the nursing department but will continue working on this project. She will work closely with Bradman.

“This was a highly competitive process and this study has the potential to influence health care decisions for generations. This is a 25-year longitudinal study. It’s size and scope are unprecedented,” Leapley said. “On campus, the research will be tremendous for our nursing students who will have a hands-on opportunity to learn about public health and how it impacts nursing.”

Medical and technical staff from the Kern County Department of Public Health and Kern Medical Center will be actively involved in the study. Eugene Kercher, chief medical officer at KMC, was acknowledged as instrumental in the success of the proposal.

“We are grateful for the hard work and support of CSUB, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine and Kern County community groups who have worked together to make this important project possible,” said Portia Choi, director of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health for the Kern County Department of Public Health. “The Board of Supervisors and virtually every large hospital and medical provider supported this study. This was a true community partnership effort. Public Health is grateful for this opportunity and we look forward to the impact it will have on our community.”

Study researchers hope to gain insight into the genesis of important health issues by examining environmental factors such as air, water, and house dust; what children eat; how they are cared for; the safety of their neighborhoods; and how often they see a doctor. Findings from the study will provide the basis for new disease prevention strategies, health and safety guidelines, and potential new treatments and cures for diseases. Planning for the local portion of the study will begin immediately and approximately 1,000 Kern County participants will be enrolled by early 2011.

The National Children’s Study is led by a consortium of federal agencies: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—including the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—and the Environmental Protection Agency.

For more information about the National Children’s Study, see the official website at [ http://www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov ]www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov.

For information about the study locally, contact Leapley at (661) 654-2650; Choi at (661) 868-0461; or Bradman at (510) 643-3023 or [ mailto:abradman@berkeley.edu ]abradman@berkeley.edu.

BOOK LAUNCH

Barnes and Nobles will be hosting Peg Connelly as she launches her latest children's book, A Madman Hunts for Bigfoot, on Saturday, October 11, from noon to 4pm. This is a sequel to If The Forest is Silent, Beware! and both books were written for middle grade readers. Drop by and pick up your autographed copy.

And The Temptations tickets go to.....

Doug Kess!!!

Read how the Temptations sang the soundtrack to Doug's love life in the sixties by clicking here.

And look out for your next chance to win with The Southwest Voice!!!!

ATTENTION: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

ATTENTION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

As a local author of five children’s books I would like to offer my services to visit your classroom and read to your students from one of my books. I do have some disabilities and need to be able to get to the classroom without having to walk too far. If you wish to put two or more classes together, that would be fine. I usually stay 40 minutes or so and will be happy to answer any questions your students might have. If I can spark an interest in reading, writing or help children use their imaginations I will have accomplished my goal. I do have flyers that can be sent home to parents before my visit so they might purchase books in advance and I can then autograph them for the students after I read. I have two books of short stories for children from two to twelve and three novels for middle grade readers. You can view them on my web site, www.grannywrites4kids.com For every 5 books I sell, I will donate one of my books to your classroom. If you have any questions, or wish to set up a date for me to read to your class you may contact me by e-mail, mispegg@aol.com or phone me at 399-0423.

Kern County Animal Shelter Adoption Day Saturday Oct 4th

The Kern County Animal Shelter a long with the Friends Foundation, will be holding an adoption day. Saturday Oct 4th at PetCo on Rosedale hwy..

From 10am to 3pm.. They will be holding these adoption day there, every first Saturday of the month..

If you are looking for your next dog or puppy,, Please come and have a look around...

Remember when looking for your next pet, Please try your local shelters and rescue groups...

Please help find these loving pets forever homes...

Eddy

600 Books Collected & Delivered to At-Risk Children in Eastern Kern

Covenant Community Services CEO, Randy Martin, recently spoke to teachers and staff at the South Fork Union School District about the population of children they are teaching. The audience was surprised and appalled to hear the child abuse rates in their area. According to the Kern County Network for Children's Report Card 2008, the South Fork region (Weldon, South Lake, Onyx) has the 2^nd highest rate per capita for child abuse and neglect. This means there is an extreme at-risk population that needs to be reached. Statistics show that children with grade-level reading capabilities stand a better chance of overcoming their "at-risk" status.

Covenant organized a small book drive that would enable each child in the elementary school to receive one book. However, because of the generosity of Covenant supporters, 601 books were collected and delivered to the children in grades K-4^th. A special assembly was organized by Principal Robin Shive, and each child had the opportunity to sort through the books and pick out 4 that they would like to take home. Two members of the Covenant staff attended the assembly, and shared with the children the purpose of Covenant—to provide hope and love to children in need. The children were extremely excited to receive books. With smiles on their faces, and anticipation in the air, children explored the many books and chose stories they were excited to read. And, in addition to a huge “thank you!” yelled out by all the students, several students individually offered heart-felt thanks.

Principal Robin Shive expressed her immense gratitude and shared how these books will make a huge difference in not only in academics, but in home-life as well. Covenant continues to provide hope and love to children who are abused or at-risk; book drives, summer camps and birthday parties are the expression of that hope and love. For more information on how you can get involved contact Covenant at 661.326.8304.

Covenant Community Services is a faith-based, nonprofit organization serving the public through various social services including: foster care placement, transitional housing, mentoring, mental health and family preservation services. Contact information: http://www.covenantcs.net/ or 661/326-8304.

Making REEL Change

If you have ever been disheartened or concerned that the youth of today do not have the character to take over as leaders of tomorrow, keep reading. I promise to change your mind.

This is a short story that includes many heroes, but I’d like to highlight one young lady, Sarah Springer.

After graduating from USC, where Sarah discovered the power of journalism, she couldn’t help but reflect on her own life experiences, family and privileged life. Her thoughts always drifted back to the rich Ethiopian heritage that is her one true love. She felt privileged to have so much when her own family had so little. Sarah had been Miss Kern County and has always felt a part of our Bakersfield community. But was that truly enough?

The fact is she always knew she would reach out, go to Africa and help people who truly need it. But like so many of us, she continued to think she didn’t have the time, energy or desire to fight for something so many think is a lost cause — until recently.

On June 3, with her close friends Kacie Allen, Vanna Cable, and Shakib Ali, Sarah left for Ethiopia to film a documentary about close family friends, Dr. Abdul Barre and his wife Nejah. The Barres sacrificed everything in order to return to the country that had caused them to flee for their lives more than 20 years ago. They have built a hospital and helped thousands of sick and dying people everyday.

Dr. Barre and Nejah are the owners of Bilal Hospital in Dire Dawa. Bilal is a modern general hospital built on the premise of providing high quality medical care services at an affordable price. The Barres have also undertaken the monumental task of building an orphanage in Dire Dawa. There is one other (government-run) hospital and one small Catholic orphanage that are always over-capacity in the city.

Sarah and her friends spent the summer volunteering in the local mission and clinic while documenting the struggle, persistence and determination of this family, and many others, who give their all to the people of Dire Dawa. Sarah was surprised when she realized the staggering number of doctors who leave Ethiopia to pursue careers in other countries. While a few return, most do not, leaving a huge deficit of quality medical care. Sarah lengthened her trip because she felt there was so much more she had to do before she could leave.

Sarah was fortunate enough to meet with officials from the Ministry of Education, Health, the medical director of the only specialized hospital in Ethiopia, and Dr. Hamlin from the famous Fistula Hospital. This was a very special honor, as these officials seldom grant an audience to “foreigners.”

Through this experience and with God’s guidance, Sarah plans to share their story. She wants to show people that they too can reach out and make a real change in a suffering place like Ethiopia. She believes we are all essentially here to help one another. And although we live in an individualistic society, the love for humanity has not died. Anyone has the ability to save a life; it’s just a matter of when and where.

This writer feels humbled and privileged to be able to share the story of this amazing young woman and her friends who have chosen to act, rather than complain, and have offered the gift of themselves when nothing less would make a difference.

Visit: www.NewHopeOrphans.org to learn how you can help Dr. Barre and Nejah with their work in Dire Dawa. And look for updates in The Southwest Voice on when and where you can see Sarah’s documentary.

Let's Laugh About Cleaning the Bathroom

A friend whined to me the other day that she is sure that society in general does not want people over 50 to clean their bathrooms! Intrigued, I dug a little deeper in her latest tirade. Could that be possible? Is it good or bad?

Possible? Yes. She said this sad fact slapped her in the face the other day when she bought a new brand of toilet bowl cleaner. She was drawn to it because in bold red letters on the outside of the plastic container it said, “POWERToilet BowlCleaner.”In big white letters on a green background it blared, “WITH BLEACH.” In red and white it said, “Kills Germs, Brightens as it Cleans.”

She said in little bitty letters there were the usual warnings about not drinking it, don’t put it on your pancakes, forget about using it for a coffee creamer, don’t inhale it and don’t mix with other cleaners. We agreed that after 40 years of cleaning house, we were pretty much up on those warnings but laughed and conceded that in today’s world there might be those who would try to make toilet bowl cleaner an item that can multi-task.

She said the fun really started when she decided to clean the master bath. She described holding it over the toilet bowl and squeezing it. Nothing happened. She realized she should probably read the directions on how to open it.

She whined some more and said, “In letters the size of flea feet were the following instructions: Do not squeeze bottle. To open child resistant cap, hold bottle firmly with one hand on a flat surface. With other hand squeeze sides of cap where symbols indicate and turn counter-clockwise. To close, turn clockwise.” She said she got lost at “with other hand.”

Also in very small letters, the user was advised, “this product is harmful to humans and domestic animals.”

In other words, don’t feed it to your dog and keep your children away from it. She wondered aloud who would feed toilet bowl cleaner to a dog. Both of us agreed that people with small children should know to keep all cleaners locked in a cabinet where a child cannot get them.

She complained bitterly, “Most of us over 50 wear reading glasses but there is a limit to how much good they can do when reading the flea feet font.”

So come on, retailers, give us some instructions cleaning supply bottles that we can read without a magnifying glass. It seems to me that if instructions can be printed in as many as six languages, they might as well up the font size a notch. Give those flea feet a rest!

Thanks bunches.

Family Fun Night - "the mr.oscat band" presented by Mom eConnect.

the mr.oscat band presented by Mom eConnect

Win a mr.oscat CD, a full color mr.oscat poster, and an official kazoo. Also, the mr.oscat band is performing at dagneys coffee as part of the first friday downtown arts fair. Everyone will be rocking out to songs like as "What's That Smell" and "The Neighborhood". This family friendly event will be great fun for everyone. mr.oscat will sure to be on your favorite playlist. You won't want to miss it.

WHERE: Dagney's Coffee - 20th and Eye Street
WHEN: Friday, October 3rd, 2008
TIME: 6:15pm
COST: Free

Check out the "Ducks In A Row" video on their website. Check out mr.oscat's great website You'll be hooked and singing just like us! Make sure you bring your kazoo!

Giveaway Details:

To win a mr.oscat CD, a full color mr.oscat poster, and an official kazoo giveaway, leave a comment on the mr.oscat band thread by Friday, October 3rd at 12:00pm. See the thread for details.

See you at the show!

Is it "Just my Imagination" or is this the best Temptations Song

Formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1960, The Temptations have one of the longest tenures on Motown. Inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999, the group, known for its recognizable choreography, distinct harmonies, and onstage suits, were as influential to soul as the Beatles were to rock and pop. With over 22 million albums sold, they first appeared on Billboard’s R&B charts in 1962 with “Dream Come True.”

There are so many classics from the Temptations including, “My Girl”, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”. All of which were included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll - a list of the most influential songs that helped shape Rock and Roll, as we know it today.

However my choice is, “"Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)"”. The opening guitar riff sounds unsure, like it's trying to find its footing. As some tropical-flavored percussion trills gently, Eddie Kendrick’s shares his romantic trance. His voice is very fragile, but it's still startling when it splinters into multiple pitches like white light through a prism. The violins illustrate the lead's mind game, chromatically running up and "away" only to scramble back down, up, down. It gives me a rueful giggle--oh, that thwarted daydreamer! When he slows on the line, "But in reality, she doesn't even know me," he reminds me that what he feels is more important than what is real.

Dedication ceremony officially opens CSUB’s newest science building

California State University, Bakersfield entered the next phase of its growth with the official dedication and donor recognition ceremony for the Science III building today (Sept. 25). This is the first new science facility on campus in more than 30 years.

Donors, local employers, alumni as well as staff, faculty and students were in attendance. Donors made gifts totaling close to $2 million to ensure quality equipment and programming were available in the building.

“This long awaited new addition to the campus has allowed us to expand our science, mathematics and other programs to prepare our students for the 21st century economy,” said President Horace Mitchell. “Thanks to our generous donors, our students and faculty have a state-of-the-art facility in which to learn and conduct research which furthers our vision of academic excellence.”

The three-story structure houses several new labs including a computer hardware lab, a network lab and digital electronics lab classrooms. Additionally, it provides faculty offices and research facilities for computer science, mathematics, nursing and physics faculty.

“The new science building will accommodate an average of over 2,000 students per quarter,” added Julio Blanco, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. “We are excited that the ‘smart’ classrooms, modern computer laboratories and open space will provide our students more opportunities for multidisciplinary interaction and learning.”

Over 100 classes, serving about 2,500 students from all four schools, are scheduled in the building for just this fall quarter. Classes include crime scene investigation chemistry, robotics, genetics, human biology and child psychology.

During today’s ceremonies, students and faculty presented robotics and chemistry demonstrations along with various research projects. Donors recognized for the contributions that added technology and innovative programs for students and faculty included: Chevron, State Farm, Wells Fargo, Oxy of Elk Hills, Aera Energy, Work Force Staffing, Ben H. and Gladys Arkelian Foundation, Ben and Gayle Batey, Plains Exploration & Production Company, and Harry and Ethel West Foundation.

The 54,651 square-foot building, which broke ground July 11, 2006, was funded by Proposition 55 bond money, the statewide bond issue passed by California voters in March 2004. Bakersfield contractor S.C. Anderson Inc., was awarded the $19.5 million contract. The designers of the project, STUDIOS Architecture of San Francisco, and the contractor worked jointly on the plans for the structure.

Construction was complete in January and the facility was open for some classes in the spring quarter.

CSUB’s first science building opened in fall 1972; Science II opened in fall 1975.

CSUB welcomes local authors to campus for California Writer Series

California State University, Bakersfield will welcome two local authors to kickoff the fourth annual California Writers Series on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Dezember Reading Room of the Walter Stiern Library.

James Sepsey, who earned his bachelor’s degree in English from CSUB and is now enrolled as a graduate student, teaches at Delano High School. He writes fiction and has published short stories, including one in the literary journal, Glimmer Train, which won second place in the magazine’s Short-Story Award for New Writers competition.

Charles Hood, the second author, dropped out of college nine times and then went on to earn degrees from CSU Northridge and UC Irvine. He has published six books of poetry and prose, including “Bombing Ploesti,” “Río de Dios,” “Under the African Air” and “The Half-life of Salt.” Hood teaches at Antelope Valley College and is a contributing editor to the Los Angeles Review.

Books will be available for sale and signing.

The California Writers Series brings established and upcoming writers living and working in California to the CSUB campus every year to read from their works. “We had an auspicious beginning as the first writer to read in our series, poet Kay Ryan, was recently named Poet Laureate of the United States,” said Marit MacArthur, English professor.

“All of us read many writers who can feel, at first, remote from our time and place,” she continued. “The California Writers Series hopes to offer students, faculty and staff, and members of the community the transformative and inspiring experience of encountering the work of living writers who live in the same, strange and wonderful state of California that we do, and discussing the creative process with them.”

The event is sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honors Society and CSUB’s Associated Students, Inc.

For more information, contact Emerson Case at (661) 654-6281.

CSUB to host seminar on fire hazard reduction

California State University, Bakersfield’s School of Natural Science and Mathematics presents its first seminar of the academic year titled “Balancing Fire Hazard Reduction and Resource Protection in an Era of Megafires” on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 4 p.m. in Science Building III, room number 108.

Jon Keeley, world renowned expert in fire ecology and a research ecologist with the United States Geological Service Sequoia and Kings Canyon Field Station, will discuss the important issue of fire and its effects on landscape.

“Southern California is home to millions of people and has long been an attractive destination because of the pleasant climate and stunning natural beauty,” Keeley said. “However, southern California’s beauty is deceptive and the region is prone to violent natural disasters. One of the most devastating of these disasters is fire. Fire is a natural and recurrent disturbance in southern California’s wildlands that was shaping the evolution of the region long before humans colonized the new world. But as humans have arrived in California in ever increasing numbers they have altered the natural fire cycle and this alteration is accelerating.”

The seminar is being funded through a $400,000 National Science Foundation grant awarded to CSUB. The grant provides scholarships for CSUB science, math, and engineering majors and allows CSUB’s School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics to offer a lecture series of interest to science students, faculty and the general public.

NSF is an independent federal agency created to promote the progress of science. The agency funds specific research proposals that have been judged the most promising by a rigorous and objective merit-review system.

The seminar is free and open to the public.

For additional information, contact Tom Meyer at (661) 654-2104.