Fuller Tours West Kern Water District

32^nd District Assemblymember Jean Fuller toured the facilities at the West Kern Water District Wednesday. The trip was part of Fuller’s continued work toward finding a solution to what some are calling a water crisis in California, one of the foremost issues facing the legislature at this time. Assemblymember Fuller was recently appointed to the Assembly Republican Special Session Working Group on Water.

Fuller said the possibility of reaching compromise in the legislature regarding water looked bleak as of Wednesday, with the $9.1 billion Republican supported bond getting rejected by Senate Democrats in the Senate Natural Recourses Committee on Monday, and the $6.8 billion Democrat-supported bond failing to receive even one of the four Senate Republican votes needed to pass on Tuesday.

According to Fuller, “There’s still some discussion happening behind the scenes but the hope for a compromise is fading quickly.”

Fuller said the $9.1 billion bond that both the Governor and she support is a bit higher than she would have liked. “Our biggest need would be conveyance,” said Fuller, referring to the South San Joaquin Valley’s need for water to be able to be moved around the Sacramento-San Joaquin river delta into the aqueduct for transport south. “And that means making sure that we have proper levees, saltwater intrusion prevention, storage in the areas that need it, and the water rights protected at the point of origin … personally I would have liked [the bond] to be lower but we couldn’t go lower and still get all the needs met.”

Fuller said her trip out to the West Kern Water District in Taft was part of her continued effort to see how the water districts in the 32^nd district will be affected if efforts at a bond compromise fail.

According to West Kern Water District Manager Jerry Pearson, "If we continue to receive distributions of water from the state water project like we are now, we won't even get close to the amount of water that we have to deliver to the district each year. We'll end up using all of our reserves and be left with very little water at all."

Fuller says the state will be left with two options if no bond compromise is reached. Option one would be for the legislature to reconvene in a special session in an effort to reach a bond agreement in time for the November '08 election. But according to Fuller a November '08 bond doesn't seem likely because "none of the major players will have changed."

Option two would be an initiative version of one of the bonds, in which a private group would present a plan to the Attorney General's office and gather signatures to see it placed on the ballot. Senate President Don Perata, D-Oakland, already said he intends to submit the Democrat version of the bond to get a title and summary this week. Fuller says while that route is more expensive it might be the only way to solve the issue. "They would have to try and write it in a way that doesn't have a heavily funded opposition," said Fuller.

Assemblymember Fuller said she will continue to meet with major water providers in the state and Kern County until a solution is reached.

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BHS vs. Golden Valley 10/12/07

Stockdale vs. West 10/12/07

My sister ended her life last week in Bakersfield

My only sister, Dina Schmidt, made a decision to end her life last week. I have been reeling from her death every since the call came at 4:00am Monday morning. Somehow the police found my father in Iowa and told him, I was surprised to get a call from my father because it has been at least 15 years since he has called me. I was told to find my mother and had no way to track her down, I hadn't talked to her in at least 17 years. It was difficult to find and notify her. She didn't even seem upset. I gave her the Bakersfield Coroner's number and tried to figure out what to do next.

I called the Coroner and was shocked to hear that both my parents had abandoned Dina. Neither would come out to California or pay for anything. They didn't want any of her property and neither of them wanted her to have a funeral or memorial service, and they did not want her ashes. I assumed then that I would be in charge and I would handle everything. My only cousin lives in Iowa and we both agreed to pay and bury her in Iowa. My mother has refused to allow us to handle this situation. She will not allow me to pay for her burial or have any of her belonging.

I called the apartment manager where my sister lived and found out that someone had notified them that no one in Dinas family cared for her. I love my sister very much. She always wanted her parents love and approval and never got it. She will be cremated and buried in a coffin with 99 other cremains in an unknown location.

There are so many levels to this that I just have to write them out- I don't know how to get closure. Dina was a beautiful, smart and very caring young woman. Anyone who came in contact with her would have never known her immense pain. Both physical and mental. She was born critically ill and had immediate surgery to save her life. She had terrible pain and took many medications. She had so many surgeries and would be hospitalized for months at times.

Our father was an alcoholic and we really never saw him. Our mother was very unstable and abusive. I knew when I was very young that I had to take care of Dina. Many times I would wake her up and get her dressed for school because no one was home to do it for us. I was nine and Dina was 5. We raised ourselves. I moved to Ca to live with my best friends family when I was 16. My mother and Dina moved to Ca shortly after that and then my mother left Dina here to live with her boyfriend's family, they were very good to her and she graduated with honors and found a good job.

My sister strived so hard to gain their approval. She attended school and was very close to acheiving her masters in pychology. She also worked full time while dealing with her pain. She became to ill to continue and had to take disability, she could no longer drive because of heavy pain medications. Her life became her precious little dog, Gizzy. He always loved her no matter what.

Anyone who saw Dina would have never known how much pain she endured in her lifetime. She always smiled and had something positive to say. I found out she had tried to end her life in July but failed. I wish I had called to say I loved her. I wish I would have told her I was really proud to be her sister.

I can't understand how she felt that day, she put bowls of dog food all over for her dog, and had to resolve within herself that her pain was unbearable. I want my sister's memory to be how beautiful her spirit was. She blessed this earth for 39 years. If one person tells a loved one how important they are to them, then good has come. If someone gets a will so that they can be buried by a loved one instead of the State, then good has come of this. If even one person can see that even when you don't think anyone cares- someone does very much, then Dina's death isn't in vain.

My Special Doctor

I have a special doctor who has taken excellent care of me for over thirty years.

Her name is Dr. Susan Helper. She has the patience of Job.

Whenever I come in with a ‘list of questions’, she thoughtfully listens and answers them, explaining medical situations thoroughly. She is not only a superb clinician, but a superb diagnostician as well. She makes sure that any medications are correct for me, working properly, and carefully monitors side effects. If a medication is not working, she’ll find one that will. She will never let me give up.

Throughout all of these years, she has kept me in the best of health.

Here’s a big ‘thank you’ to Dr. Susan Helper for being my wonderful, caring doctor.

Rosetta McBride

qmbride@sbcglobal.net

Best Doctor

October 9, 2007

When it comes to the best Pediatrician in town it is without question that it is Dr Hitesh Shah, Dr Stantiago and the entire staff at Southwest Pediatrics. Dr. Shah and staff have cared for our three children for nearly eleven years. We have experienced everything from laughter to tears. Dr Shah and his staff have always showed kindness and compassion towards our entire family.

In February of 2005 our son, Nicholas, received his scheduled sixth month immunizations, and within twenty four hours Nicholas had an adverse reaction of seizures and his seizures have been an ongoing, for over two years now.

The first time Nicholas had a seizure in February of 2005 we had Dr Shah paged and he immediately called us back. He then instructed us to call 911, and then met us at Memorial Hospital. Dr. Shah spent the next three hours at our son’s bedside with our family. When business hours approached he left the hospital to go to his office and continued to call us throughout the day to check on Nick.

Nick has been hospitalized countless times, transported by ambulance from Bakersfield to Valley Children’s and UCLA. It was not uncommon for us to have to page Dr Shah at 3:00 AM and have him call us back to let us know he had already made arrangements with a hospital and he would meet us there. Typically Dr Shah would beat us to the hospital.

You know your pediatrician is special when he provides you with his personal cell phone and asks....well tells....you to stop paging him and begin calling him on his cell phone. Dr Shah would answer my phone calls with, “Hello Stan” from that point on. Throughout the many times we had to call him he always answered the cell phone himself. Regardless of what time we had an emergency he would answer the phone with excellent support, encouragement and a plan of action. He, or Dr Santiago, would meet us at the hospital to begin the efforts to stop Nicholas from seizing.

There have been numerous visits to his office in which his staff has been compassionate, caring and very supportive. It was not uncommon for anyone of the Southwest Pediatric staff members to sit in the patient room with our family offering support and encouragement during an episode of seizures with Nicholas. The type of care and compassion that we always receive from Dr. Shah and the entire staff at Southwest Pediatrics cannot be replicated; it is sincere and genuine.

We are convinced Dr Shah, Dr Santiago and the staff of Southwest Pediatrics are not only the best in Bakersfield; they might even be the best in the State of California!

Nicholas and our family at Southwest Pediatrics have now gone 11 months without a seizure. There is not a doubt in our mind that our family could not have made it through this difficult time without Dr Shah, Dr Santiago and their truly amazing staff. Thank you Southwest Pediatrics!

Sincerely,

Stan and Amy Greene and Family

Best doctor ever!

Dr. Elaine Drazin of the Coffee/Hageman Kaiser-Permanente office is by far the best pediatrician I have ever encountered and is the main reason we have been happy Kaiser members for over 19 years. I am the very over-protective mom of two boys (12 and 28 - don't ask!) and Dr. Drazin was my older boy's doctor through his teenage years and has been our son Joe's doctor since he was born. She is a compassionate, talented and gifted physician who is also an amazing diagnostician. When I see something on Good Morning America or read something in the health section of the Californian I make an appointment to discuss it with Dr. Drazin and she has never, ever been impatient with me or made me feel like I was wasting her time. Nothing is more important to us than our son and we completely trust Dr. Drazin with his health and well-being. God bless Dr. Drazin - we love her!

My doctor

My doctor, Dr. Jacquelyn Paul of Clinica Sierra Vista on Dr. MLK Jr. Hwy. is a knowledgeable physician, which I would expect from any doctor in town. But beyond this, Dr. Paul is caring, compassionate and able to be "in the moment" with her patient.. This attitude has allowed me to trust her diagnosis and subsequent medications prescribed. Reaching an age where there are many symptoms, she has searched, suggested tests, and followed through to get to the correct diagnosis. When unsure of what my symptoms are indicating, she is quick to admit it and then to find the answers needed. My low income level does not enter into her treatment; I am treated as if I were her richest patient, and giving me time to talk, as if I am her only patient.

The Clinic itself deals with the paperwork and headaches that go along with medical care in a very professional way, which is a by-product of the same professional care given by Dr. Paul. She has been a Godsend, when I had no insurance, and her treatment after receiving insurance has never deviated. She is outstanding in a field that has, over the years, made people concerned over their medical care. Not in Bakersfield, with physicians such as Dr. Paul at the top of the list of caring individuals.

Great Doc

I agree with the other writers today! Jacquelyn Kotatac is the greatest... Why, you might ask? Because she always listens, I mean really listens and will spend all the time you need. Very unusual with the doctors of today !!! She is the greatest.

Raju Patel, the Best Doc Ever

In the past, I've had my share of doctor appointments, waiting hours in the waiting room and then as much as another 40 minutes after being placed in the patient room before I get to see the doctor. WOW, then I got to see the doctor for a whole 5 minutes. As he is mumbling that his nurse will be back, the door closes behind him.

The doctor I have now is nice, compassionate, caring, and treats you like a human being, and not just a number. This doctor's name is Raju Patel. When he enters the room, he shakes your hand and asks how things have been since the last time he saw you. He then asks about your problem and he talks to you in layman terms telling you what and how needs to be done. Whether it be a simple test, xray, specialist or just a prescription, he takes as long as is needed to answer all of your questions and make sure you understand the whole procedure.

Also, his office staff must have been selected from the "We Care About You and We Treat You Like Family" school because they are fantastic. After a warm personal greeting, I've never waited more than 10 minutes in the waiting room or 5 minutes in the treatment room.

Thanks to Dr. Raju Patel and thanks to the Californian for this opportunity to tell others about this wonderful healthcare professional.

Frontier vs. Elliot Christian 10/6/07

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