|
Royalty in Bakersfield? Who wudda thunk? No on Prop. 98, Yes on 99 Re-elect Mayor Harvey Hall Errea, Mitchell, Brehmer for bench HOW DO WE JUDGE A JUDGE? MATHEW "MATT" BRADY - Westra Seat CHARLES ROBERT "CHIP" BREHMER - Westra Seat FRANK BUTKIEWICZ - Westra Seat MICHAEL RALPH GARDINA - Westra Seat TONY KARL HEIDER - Westra Seat June 06 July 06 August 06 September 06 October 06 November 06 December 06 January 07 February 07 March 07 April 07 May 07 June 07 July 07 August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 June 06 May 06 April 06 March 06 February 06 December 05 November 05 October 05 September 05 August 05 July 05 June 05 May 05 April 05 March 05 February 05 Blog RollAsk The Californian Editorials Entertainment Eye of Bakersfield Faith Forum Fired Up! Inside Sports Neighbors Right Thinking Sound Off Talk of the Town 
RSS 2.0    |
|
|
By Martha Martinez
Artery-clogging fat trans fat, or trans fatty acid, is going to kill us. Eating food with too many trans fats can cause heart attacks and strokes.
Trans fat is used in many restaurants, fried foods and in prepackaged baked goods.
Lawmakers are trying to control obesity and reduce health problems by forcing restaurants to stop using trans fats.
Fried foods, baked goods and other junk foods will never be good for you. But at least lawmakers are taking a step in...
In this conservative community, many Democrats and Liberals are left out of conversations. Often, left-leaning voters are forced to keep quiet because of the discomfort they may feel when expressing their different opinions.
Drinking Liberally offers an alternative to that feeling. Their Web site describes themselves as “an informal, inclusive progressive social group.”
The group provides a place for individuals to talk politics.
Drinking Liberally groups have no meeting...
In a March 11 Opinion Section Viewpoint article, Kern County Supervisor Michael Rubio lays out a plan to join forces to fight gang violence in Kern County. The plan will be discussed on March 19 during a joint meeting of the Bakersfield City Council and Kern County Board of Supervisors. Check out the attached pdf file to read a draft of the gang-fighting strategy. Tells us what you think -- about the strategy and about fighting gang violence.
Where there’s smoke, there may not be a lot of fire – at least not in Bakersfield.
Although state law prohibits smoking within 25 feet of a playground or tot lot, and tobacco waste, like cigarette butts, are not allowed to be dumped within the same area, it appears no one has ever been charged with such crimes in Bakersfield.
When a parent of a young child saw someone smoking close to a Bakersfield playground, he asked city staff to post signs warning that the behavior was...
Kelly Tomlinson's November letter calling for tolerance on the Kern County Bike Path was selected The Californian's 2006 letter of the year. The winner was selected by the editorial board from the 12 letter of the months that were featured in the Opinion section during 2006. The Sunday, March 4, Opinion section features excerpts from Tomlinson's letter, as well as from the monthly winners. Following are the complete letters for you to read and respond to.
What does "It takes a village to raise a child" mean? In the 1950s it meant
that everyone in the neighborhood helped raise and discipline your child.
This ideology came from genuine love and respect for your neighborhood --
not the artificial feeling we have today. If a child misbehaved anywhere in
the community, the parent would know about it before that child got home.
The community informing the parent about that child's behavior would help
parents correct and...
Cold chills went down my back when I heard the news that the Bakersfield
City Planning Commission voted to rename 500 feet of S Street Merle Haggard
Way. The Californian reported Merle was "thrilled" with the honor. It
brought back my own dark memories of how "thrilled" I was when I got that
rock-hard fruitcake every Christmas from my Aunt Agnes.
Haggard is Oildale's native son -- born and raised a true-blue hell raisin'
son of a gun. For those of us who grew up in...
New Year's Eve was celebrated at home with our best friends. This long
tradition always includes a prayer for health, happiness and protection from
harm in the months to come.
My husband and friends are retired from security and law enforcement
careers, and we have many family members and close friends currently in law
enforcement and public safety.
We talked about violent incidents and crime in Bakersfield. This is not the
same Bakersfield we grew up in!
There was the shooting...
I started smoking when I was 11 and quit, cold turkey, 19 years later. That
was more than 35 years ago and I haven't picked up a cigarette since.
At the time, I didn't believe I was addicted, but I was. What else would you
call it when you're so hard up for a cigarette that you go hunting in your
back yard hoping someone stamped one out there. Then there are the ones I
dug out of my garbage.
How about the old bobby pin trick? You find a butt, but it is only about an
...
Hanging in my classroom at Compton Junior High School is my high school
letterman jacket with the words "Swim Your Race."
Being the geek that I was, these words were a metaphor. Literally, I was a
swimmer; metaphorically, I believed that no matter the obstacle, we must
stay focused on our goal and work hard to achieve it.
I have explained this to my students, emphasizing that we must practice hard
to graduate from high school and to succeed in life. And I have no doubt
...
I have lived through several episodes of immigration reform. The current
debate stirred old memories. I do not presume to offer a resolution to the
current debate, but I will share a bit of my family history that may provide
food for thought.
My family and I were once deported as undesirable aliens.
Ironically, my father came to this country at government request in 1943,
one of quite a number of scientists brought to America to supply European
technologies for the war effort. Once...
The late September sun beat down on the oil-soaked dirt playground at
McKinley Elementary School. It was afternoon and I was dutifully leading my
sixth-grade class out for physical education a vigorous game of volleyball.
It was hot, but my students were enthusiastic and threw themselves into the
competition as I stood at the net and kept score.
I noticed that one of the girls was wearing a knee-length coat (I'll call
her Theresa). I was just getting to know my students and, of...
My husband and I recently viewed the movie "The Devil Wears Prada." I like
Meryl Streep and she was quite convincing in her role as a strong,
demanding, impossible to please, boss.
A long, long time ago, when I was a teenager, I worked at the cosmetic
counter at Brock's Department Store and my boss was almost as demanding.
I was advised that I must wear a black dress and stockings.
In a timid voice, I told her that I didn't own silk stockings, so she
suggested that I...
I recently read on article about Pope Benedict XVI's treatise on Islam and
the West. As a long-time educator and Protestant Christian, I have always
been interested in religious and political views, especially as they impact
the U.S. At this point, attention to Islam, Christianity and world affairs
is critical.
Benedict suggested "reason" as a common ground for a real dialogue of
cultures and religions today. Benedict has long been concerned about the
faith issues between...
I remember the actual day I learned to read. I had been in first grade for a
few weeks. One morning I left the house to walk to school and I wasn't a
reader. But when I came home that afternoon, I COULD READ! I felt I was the
lucky recipient of a personal miracle. It was as quick as that!
Reading has remained a constant thread of all the pleasures in my life.
Before I could read on my own, I remember my mother's willingness to stop
what she was doing and read the "book du...
After reading a recent letter to the editor regarding fundraising walkers
and bicyclists sharing the Kern River Bike Path, it occurred to me to
communicate my personal insight to this gentleman and others who may not
understand the full impact these fundraising walks have on all participants.
The Kern River Bike Path is one of the crown jewels the city of Bakersfield
has to offer its citizens. I believe the nonprofit organizations that put on
a 5K fundraising walk prefer the scenic...
It was with great sadness and a heavy heart to hear of another life lost at
the railroad crossing at Kratzmeyer Road and Santa Fe Way.
The deadly accident that took place on Nov. 29 is one more reason our local,
state and federal governments need to come together to fix this crossing.
Unfortunately, my family lost someone near and dear to our hearts in early
2005 at the same deadly crossing. Since 2005 I personally know someone who
was nearly killed, and I lost a family member at...
|
