News: Bakersfield.com

AT&T Announces Campaign to Support PADRES Contra el Cancer

AT&T Joins With PADRES, National Spokeswoman Eva Longoria Parker and Designer Louis Verdad for Fourth Annual Fundraiser to Support Young Cancer Patients in the Greater Los Angeles Area

AT&T Announces Goal to Reach $1 Million Total Donation Since 2007

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18, 2009 — AT&T* today announced that it will launch the fourth annual campaign to raise awareness of childhood cancer and collect donations to support PADRES Contra El Cáncer (PADRES), a nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of life for Latino children who are battling the disease, beginning November 22. AT&T set a goal of raising $300,000 this year, which would mean a total donation of $1 million to PADRES since the campaign’s inception in 2007.

Throughout the six-week program, donations will be collected at more than 130 AT&T retail locations throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. AT&T is also offering a promotion throughout the duration of the campaign. When customers purchase an LG phone, AT&T will donate $20 to PADRES and the customer will receive a free LOUVER by Louis Verdad designer cap.

“AT&T has been a faithful partner in its commitment to PADRES, the Latino community and in its support of families coping with the devastating effects of childhood cancer,” said Eva Longoria Parker, actress and PADRES national spokeswoman. “We’re thrilled to launch this year’s campaign and eager to reach the $1 million mark. We hope that the community will come together to help us reach that goal.”

Cancer strikes approximately 1,500 children annually in California; nearly 50 percent of those affected are Latino. Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among children under 15 years old and is second only to accidents in most age groups.[1]

“In times like this it’s more important than ever to support organizations such as PADRES that address vital community needs,” said Andy Shibley, vice president and general manager of AT&T’s Greater Los Angeles Area. “AT&T is pleased to hold the campaign again this year and applaud PADRES and its supporters for championing this cause, which has given hope to so many families."

During the 2008 campaign, AT&T donated $200,000 to PADRES to aid in the organization’s mission. To date, AT&T has donated approximately $700,000 to PADRES.

For more information about PADRES, visit www.IAmHOPE.org.

Note: This AT&T release and other news announcements are available as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss.

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AT&T Receives Top Honors for Commitment to Hispanics

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*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

ABOUT PADRES

PADRES Contra El Cáncer (PADRES) is a non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life for Latino children with cancer and their families. PADRES programs, activities and services, while primarily oriented to the Latino community, serve childhood cancer patients from all races and ethnic origins. No family is turned away. Celebrating more than 20 years of service, PADRES brings together children, families, healthcare professionals and community leaders to promote a comprehensive understanding of childhood cancer and other blood disorders, as well as effective methods for treatment. Since March 2005, actress Eva Longoria Parker has served as the organization’s national spokesperson, along with Fernando Del Rincon, PADRES’ spokesperson. To learn more about PADRES, visit http://IAamHope.org.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^SM and AT&T │DIRECTV^SM brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T’s Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATTNews. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at www.facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.

[1] California Cancer Registry (CCR) and American Cancer Society, California Facts and Figures, 2008

The Magic Began at Russo's Books with The Nutcracker!

Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra previews The Nutcracker Ballet at Russo’s Books!

Mice, toy soldiers and ballerinas. A piano, a flute and a clarinet. Dancers dancing, music playing… This is a book store? No, not just any bookstore… This is Russo’s Books in The Marketplace.

Russo’s Books hosted The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra for their preview of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Ballet with children in full costume, parents in full video mode and shoppers watching with smiles on their faces.

Kids Discover Music is a much anticipated event where classically trained musicians make their way to the bookstore stage to play beautiful music, read a story and let the kids learn up close and personally about the music, the instrument they play and the history behind the instrument.

On November 21^st, some members of the orchestra came out to perform a preview of their yearly holiday presentation of The Nutcracker, complete with children dressed as mice, toy soldiers, ballerinas and Russian dancers! Children waited on the sidelines to twirl, leap and pirouette for the masses. The Mouse King battled with the Nutcracker, Russians danced and snowflakes waltzed… Oh, and that's not all! Two families won two family four-packs to The Nutcracker performance at Rabobank Arena! The whole thing was very lovely. It meant, to me, that Christmas is just around the corner.

Russo’s Books along with Valley Public Television and The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra will present Kids Discover Music on the third Saturday of every month at 11:00 AM (except December), and will return with Tom Meyer on strings January 16, 2010.

The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Ballet on December 11^th, 12^th and 13^th at Rabobank Arena. Tickets are available at the box-office and through Ticketmaster.

From the children dancing and Tchaikovsky’s music filling the air, it doesn’t get any better than this. I urge all of you to mark this date in your calendar to attend this lovely (and free) monthly event exclusively at Russo’s Books!

Call Thomas G. Robinson at 665.1643 for more information.

San Miguel Commemorative Grove Gets A Facelift

Melissa Iger, director of the Tree Foundation of Kern, hopes that someday the San Miguel Commemorative Grove will be a destination place to study indigenous plant science for students of all ages. “Our goal is to create a botanical garden that features native plant life,” says Iger. Once completed the Grove will be a local field trip opportunity for kindergarten through twelfth grade students and a place where students from Bakersfield College have the opportunity to study plant science in a natural setting. “The hope is to raise money and depend on volunteerism to make the botanical garden a reality,” says Iger.

On Saturday, November 21, volunteers from across Kern County came out to rake, pile and haul away trash, sticks and other debris from the San Miguel Commemorative Grove. Daniel Hipsher, Liberty High School student and future Marine, feels that it is important to volunteer. “ Community service helps the community grow and look better,” says Hipsher. Volunteer Chris Jabonillo claims that, “you need to give your time to help others and not just focus on your self.” Julia Cruz found out about the project through her church. She insists that getting out and working hard for the community is good for her spirit. She was vigorously cleaning up piles of leaves and sticks from the center of the park. “It makes me feel good to do some hard work,” says Cruz.

The City of Bakersfield has partnered with the Tree Foundation of Kern in order to maintain the Grove during this time of budget cuts and diminishing revenues. The city is counting on volunteers to keep the indigenous tree grove located on The Kern River Parkway looking beautiful. Hope 4 Kern volunteers found two large shopping carts and mounds of trash in the canal that parallels the grove. Liberty High School student, Henry Palacios believes that more people should volunteer. Palacious plans to study criminal justice next year at one of the CSU campuses.

More information about the San Miguel Commemorative Grove and the botanical garden project can be found at www.urbanforest.org.

Chess Returns to Foothill

Twelve elementary schools, four middle schools, and 2 high schools gathered at Foothill High School for the November Scholastic Chess Tournament. Over 75 students participated in the event. The competition was fierce in every section of this five round, thirty minutes per round chess tournament.

In the K-3 section, American Elementary School took first place team trophy with Oak Hills Elementary (2nd), and Thorner Elementary placing third. The top individuals in that section were Ben Hartley and Justin Carver, both had a perfect score of five wins.

The 4-6 section was the most competitive with over 35 students. The top team was Morningside Elementary School from Delano. American Elementary came in second and Thorner came in third. Not only did Morningside Elementary win the first place team trophy, they also had the top player, Mark Aguinaldo, a new unrated player with no loses for the tournament.

With over twenty students in the 7-12 section, winning more than three games was a real challenge for some of the players. But in the end, a new player emerged with a perfect score, Rigoberto Garcia. His team mate, Sinitia Andrade also won five games but Rigoberto beat her in the tie breaks. Foothill High School also took the first place team trophy. Rosedale Middle School was second with LeConte Middle School coming in third.

It was a good day to play chess and everyone from Delano to Santa Clarita enjoyed coming to Foothill again to play chess. The next tournament will be in December.

CALM welcomes Nettie

CALM has become home to Nettie the beaver at the zoo’s northeast Bakersfield location, 10500 Alfred Harrell Highway between Lake Ming and Hart Park. Nettie is a two-year-old, North American beaver (Castor Canadensis). She shares an enclosure, outside the Reptile House, with CALM’s American white pelican, herring gull and Canadian goose.

“Nettie has a sweet disposition, as she was hand raised by another facility,” said Zoo Manager Lana Fain. “She may have a slight brain injury affecting her vision and movement a bit. She enjoys the company of humans and loves yams!”

Beavers are nature’s "engineers," building large water habitat for wide varieties of animal life. They often come in conflict with humans in agricultural areas where water flow may be inhibited or trees damaged. Beavers are well known for their tails, which they use as a rudder, to build dams and slap the water surface to warn family of danger.

Beavers are the largest rodent in California and second largest in the world. They once numbered about 60 million but now about 8 million exist.

Don Richardson, curator of animals, said, “Beavers directly from the wild, such as the “Riverlakes Beavers,” are often more difficult to acclimate, but Nettie is appropriate for our enclosure because she was hand raised.”

Non-profit CALM has for 26 years provided residence for injured and abandoned animals that are no longer able to live on their own in the wild. For information, call (661) 872-2256 or visit the Web site, http://www.calmzoo.org.

Southwest Baseball Aids Homeless and Needy Family Food Programs

Bakersfield Southwest Baseball league (BSWB) is holding a baseball tournament ("First Annual Turkey Tourney"), this coming weekend, November 21 and 22.

In addition to our entry fees, for the traveling youth baseball teams, we are requiring each team to provide 6 frozen turkeys or a grocery gift card. In turn, BSWB, is going to present the turkeys/gift cards to 1) the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter, for their Annual Turkey Dinner to feed the homeless, and 2). East High School, who provides boxes of food for identified "needy" families in their area.

We feel that, as an organization that serves the youth of Bakersfield, it would be nice for us to help out with these very honorable and important programs. We will make our presentations during our Tournament on Sunday morning, at 10 am, at the Aera Park, 100 Jewetta St. For more information visit the BSWB website: www.bswb.org and click on the "Tournaments" info link.

Veterans share love of serving, education as they prepare to graduate from CSUB

When Garrion Orr was discharged from active duty after five years of service in the Army, including a one-year deployment to Iraq, he was ready to get a job. He had good skills and experiences, but quickly realized that wasn't going to be enough.

“In the job market you need both skills and an education,” Garrion said. “My wife talked me into going to college and it really expanded my career options.”

Anita Orr, who met her husband on Independence Day at Fort Lewis in Washington state, is also an Army veteran. She served three years in Korea. Together, the Orrs researched possible universities and selected California State University, Bakersfield.

“We had never visited the area before, and actually didn't even know that Bakersfield existed,” Anita said. “We have family in Lancaster and we wanted to be close to them, but didn't want to live in Los Angeles. We took a leap of faith, and we don't regret a single moment.”

Now, after two years, the Orrs are ready for their next big step as they cross the stage and turn their tassels during commencement ceremonies on Monday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. in the CSUB Icardo Center. Garrion will walk away with his bachelor's degree in criminal justice and Anita has earned her bachelor's in sociology.

The Orrs both credit along list of professors who have contributed to their education.

“Classes were very hard, but fun,” said Garrion, who ultimately wants to be a parole officer. “All my instructors were great. And, I really appreciate that the university brought in instructors like Bakersfield Police Chief Rector and Judge Oberholzer who had law enforcement experiences that made classes very real.”

The demands of full class schedules weren't enough for this dynamic pair. Garrion works part-time,volunteers for Careers Services Center and plays community softball. Anita works part-time and volunteers at least weekly for the homeless shelter. Together, they have founded the university's first Student Veterans Organization and encourage other veterans to take advantage of a higher education. And, between it all, balance a happy marriage.

“Some days it is really rough,” admits Anita, who plans to enter the CSUB master's of social work program in the fall and one day open her own counseling practice. “At one point I didn't think I'd make it, and my parents reminded me of what I learned in basic training. It's up to me to succeed and keep trying until every task is complete. There's no doubt my military background has helped me stay on track. God. Determination. Motivation. Drive. And, I'm lucky to have a husband who is supportive. We help each other.”

Staying focused on the long-term, the Orrs hope to remain in Bakersfield and eventually start a family. But, they know the economy and job availability will be a factor in making that possible.

“It was an adjustment, but Bakersfield is a good fit for us,” said Anita. “It's a caring community and I was always taught to care for others, to give with your heart. Garrion and I both believe that if you give, good things will come back to you. It's a ripple effect over time and truly the way we live our lives.”

Grad bucks cultural stereotype to lead by example

Growing up in a single parent household and working in the fields alongside her mom, Jasmine Banuelos learned the importance of hard work early in life. But in opposition to cultural beliefs that a woman should remain at home cooking and cleaning, Banuelos’ mother instilled in her a desire to go to college and pushed her in that direction at every opportunity.

“My dad left when I was five years old so I think my mother knew it was important for me, as a woman, to shape my own future and be more independent,” Banuelos said. “It was never a question that I would go to college and get an education. It was always a given.”

Despite those desires for her daughter, as sometimes happens in the teen years, conflict between Banuelos and her mother forced Banuelos to move out at age 17 while she was still attending Ridgeview High School. She moved in with her boyfriend, finished high school and enrolled in California State University, Bakersfield’s College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP).

“CAMP helped me get over my fear of going to college. College was such a huge jump from high school,” Banuelos explained. “In high school you have a routine every day - go to school, do your homework, and go to bed. But in college, you are totally responsible for your own destiny. It can be overwhelming, but CAMP helped me overcome that feeling.”

After she came to campus, Banuelos immersed herself in student life to get the most out of her college experience. She became involved in MEChA and student government, working hard to increase her responsibilities and build a network of support for herself along the way. It is that network she credits for her own personal success.

“Marina Avalos-Kegley, student activities director, and Maria Escobedo, CAMP program director, have mentored me all along and are huge influences on my life,” Banuelos said. “While at CSUB, they have helped me to become a leader. I have developed skills, built networks and my shaped own identity thanks to their leadership and guidance.”

For the future, Banuelos’ immediate goal is simple. “First, I need a car. I am saving and should have enough by February. I have never had my own vehicle so I cannot wait,” Banuelos said. “I will enroll in the master’s program fall quarter and continue working toward my goal of impacting others and leading by example. My ultimate goal is to one day be a university president, and my experiences at CSUB have given me the skills to do all that and more.”

Banuelos will receive a bachelor’s degree in business administration during commencement ceremonies on Monday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. in the CSUB Icardo Center.

christmas help

In porterville they do something I would like to see here. the 1st day of dec they put a list on the front page It is a place for people to send a list of things they would like to have 4 christmas. other people see that list and call the paper to get the addresss and they give what the people want. will u do this for bakersfield? the only thing u have to do becides running the list is to have some one keep track of the needs, phone # and address. then when people call in with items to donate u can tell them and they can call and make arragements to deliver the items. shirley mckiney kingskid642005@yahoo.com phone # 333.8394

Habitat for Humanity Unveils Kern County’s 42nd Home This Weekend in East Bakersfield

This Sunday, November 15 at 2 p.m. a local East Bakersfield Family will be ready to move into their band new home, thanks to Habitat for Humanity Golden Empire. This will mark the 42^nd home the local nonprofit agency has provided to families in need. However, there’s something different about this house.

Most Habitat homes are built from the ground up with work from volunteers and the family receiving the home, this home was purchased at a discount from Wells Fargo bank after it had been foreclosed upon and vandalized.

Habitat volunteers worked on repairing the damage caused by vandals and to replace the electrical, HVAC and plumbing systems along with the roof.

"We anticipate that the acquisition and rehabilitation of foreclosed homes will be our primary way to provide homes for low income working families for the next few years", said Dennis Wallace, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Golden Empire, "As long as existing homes are so plentiful and inexpensive in Kern County, it makes sense for us to use this existing resource rather than construct new homes.”

This new “green” building method will allow Habitat to provide more families who reach the qualifications with safe and comfortable homes. This home will go to Paul and Paula Munoz and their four children.

Habitat for Humanity Golden Empire used funds earned at its ReStore to purchase the home, as well as donations from first United Methodist Church and the Francis Alford Living Trust.

The event will be held on Sunday November 15, 2009 at 2 p.m. The location of the home is 812 Wallace Street. To learn more about Habitat for Humanity Golden Empire or to become involved as a volunteer or a house sponsor call 661-861-8449.

Volvo Rents supports the troops

Volvo Rents Construction Equipment has gone red, white, and blue to support the troops. Their 120 ft. boom has been painted red, white, and blue for Operation Thank You. 10% of the revenues generated from the rental of the "Operation Thank You" boom will be donated to the local Wounded Heroes Fund.

In honor of Veteran's Day, Volvo Rents is flying a flag high from the "Operation Thank You" boom in front of their store located at 3440 Allen Rd. near the corner of Allen and Meacham.

Volvo Rents

3440 Allen Road Bakersfield, CA 93314

(661) 588-2021

Contact Katie David for more information

katie.david@volvorents.com

Veterans share love of serving, education as they prepare to graduate from CSUB

“In the job market you need both skills and an education,” Garrion said. “My wife talked me into going to college and it really expanded my career options.”

The Orrs both credit a long list of professors who have contributed to their education.

Staying focused on the long-term, the Orrs hope to remain in Bakersfield and eventually start a family. But, they know the economy and job availability will be a factor in making that possible.

CSUB’s fall commencement honors 563 graduates

California State University, Bakersfield will celebrate its fifth fall commencement on Monday, Nov. 30, at 1 p.m. in the Icardo Center where 563 students will culminate their educational experience and receive their master’s or bachelor’s degrees. Doors will open for guests at 11:45 a.m. and the processional for all graduates will begin at 12:50 p.m.

Degree recipients are from the School of Business and Public Administration (97 bachelor’s, 19 master’s), School of Education (29 bachelor’s, 55 master’s), School of Humanities and Social Sciences (308 bachelor’s, 19 master’s), and School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (27 bachelor’s). The speaker for fall commencement will be CSUB President Horace Mitchell.

Mitchell became the fourth president of CSUB in July 2004 after 36 years of experience in higher education. Under Mitchell’s leadership, the university has continued a period of rapid development, with a vision to extend the excellence and diversity of the faculty and academic programs, enhance the quality of the student experience, and strengthen community engagement.

Mitchell came to his current position from the University of California, Berkeley, where he served as vice chancellor, business and administrative services and affiliated professor of African American studies.

Mitchell holds a bachelor's degree in psychology, a master of arts in education, and doctorate in counseling psychology, all from Washington University in St. Louis. He began his professional career at his alma mater in 1968, serving as assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, assistant professor of education and black studies and chair of the black studies program.

Mitchell then spent 17 years at University of California, Irvine, serving in several faculty and management positions. He was associate dean for student and curricular affairs in the UCI College of Medicine from 1980-1984. During his last 11 years at UCI, he was vice chancellor-student affairs and campus life, and associate clinical professor of psychiatry and human behavior.

He is a member of the board of directors of the American Council on Education and a commissioner of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. He has been recognized widely for his many years of community service by civic, non-profit, governmental, educational and professional organizations.Currently he serves on the board of directors of the Kern Economic Development Corporation.

Those planning to attend fall commencement should enter the university on Roadrunner Drive from Camino Media. Parking for guests is in lot I, south of the Icardo Center and lot E, south of the Student Health Center. Roadrunner Drive will be closed to through traffic for short periods of time between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Parking for disabled visitors is available at the northern edge of lot I, marked by signs. A disabled drop-off point is also located at lot I’s northern edge. There will be no designated area for limousine pick-up or drop-off and there will be no parking in front of the Icardo Center at any time.

For more information, log on to www.csub.edu/commencement/.

Gaming With WOW Account

"Video games have been rising in popularity since the days of the Atari 2600, and the current age of video gaming began with the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES for short)."World of Warcraft account or WOW accounts is a must to access all the interesting and highly advanced fantasy WOW games, brought to you by Blizzard Entertainment. Two decades after the Nintendo started flying off of store shelves, there are three big consoles on the market: Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Sony’s Playstation 3, and Nintendo’s Wii.As a player, you can have your own WOW account. The first two will appeal to the same demographic of gamers, and they compare relatively closely in terms of graphics and other features.There are many service providers and traders who sell World of Warcraft account online. Therefore, the deciding factor should be their respective libraries of games.These traders are fully equipped to provide completely developed WOW accounts to the interested players. Gamers looking for a strong game library can turn to the hundreds of Xbox 360 video games on the market to fulfill their wishes.Thus you don’t have to spend your valuable time to develop and customize the games as the World of Warcraft account delivered to you by the trader is completely developed. Only a Few Exclusives The biggest problem for many gamers about the xbox 360 is that it only has a few exclusive Xbox 360 video game titles. WOW accounts – Traders, Resellers and Customers There are many resellers of WOW accounts available online who offer their own price quote. Big titles like Grand Theft Auto IV and Bioshock have all come out on different platforms.Thus, you can buy a World of Warcraft account on a cheaper rate from these resellers and get a better price proposition through proper search over internet. Exclusive titles like the Playstation 3’s Metal Gear Solid 4 are big reasons why gamers might choose one platform over another.Now, if you want further customization of the WOW games in accordance with your liking then also you can find many traders who are ready to develop the game further. A recent example of the effects of exclusive titles came with Square Enix’s announcement that their upcoming game Final Fantasy XIII will no longer be a Playstation 3 exclusive.This is another way through which these traders of World of Warcraft accounts make more money. As Final Fantasy XIII will now be coming out also as an Xbox 360 video game, many gamers who might have purchased a Playstation 3 may decide to go with the Xbox 360 instead.Let me mention here that there are a huge amount of customers of WOW games online. Shooter fans are bound to love Halo 3 and Gears of War, while RPG gamers are not left out in the cold with Xbox 360 video games.Some estimates say that it is over 2800. eve isk The RPG enthusiast will find Fable 2 and Age of Conan to their liking. How can you have your own WOW account from the online traders. Other big titles like Call of Duty 4, Mass Effect, and Bioshock will appeal to a large variety of players. Online traders who sell World of Warcraft accounts ask their customers to fill up certain information. HDRO gold To be able to play these games though, gamers will need an Xbox 360 game system.After the customers give the required information, the trader will go through them and check whether the account is good enough. The current 20 Gb model is being sold at $300, while the new 60 Gb vesion will once again cost $350 (what the 20 Gb model cost until recently).If they are satisfied then they will transfer the required funds to the requisite WOW account. level wow With the system, gamers will be able to experience Xbox 360 video games in full HD 1080i (with support for 1080p).Can I make money by Selling my World of Warcraft account. That’s the absolute best that gamers can ask for with the current generation of televisions, although computer monitors are capable of displaying slightly higher resolutions. Yes, you can make money by selling your World of Warcraft Account. lotro gold With so many Xbox 360 games already available and more coming out each year, gamers will find their experience with the Xbox 360 to always be exciting.If you have a World of Warcraft account with a high level then you can make good money out of it as the demand for such accounts are huge. All of the big genres are covered, even strategy games which have traditionally been a bastion of PC gaming.There are many wholesalers out there who buy these high level WOW accounts and sell them to those who crave for such accounts. lotro gold However, Microsoft develops both the Xbox platform and Windows, so gamers can expect a lot of crossover titles between the two platforms.These wholesalers also sell new World of Warcraft accounts. For example, Xbox 360 games such as Bioshock, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and Gears of War all appear on the PC as well.Is it possible to buy a new WOW account in exchange of my old account from the same wholesaler or dealer. wow level This allows gamers with incredibly fast PCs to experience even more amazing graphics, which all gamers can have affordable gameplay with the Xbox 360 pro system. Yes. " .In fact, your World of Warcraft account will not lose all related information until and unless they are transferred to your new WOW account. wow leveling The trader through which you are doing the exchange would help you in every possible way to provide utmost security to both of your World of Warcraft accounts. How can I buy cheap WOW accounts. wow powerlevel discounts are often available for World of Warcraft accounts. To avail discount and also have a cheap deal on these WOW accounts you have to do a lot of research over internet and find one. Many types of WOW accounts are available online. Some of them are very costly. Normally, people get tempted to buy these costly accounts considering them to be high valued ones. Article Source:http://www.accountmmo.com supply cheap wow accounts,sell wow account,WoW account,buy WoW account,more World of Warcraft account on our website! "

Club Penguin Mission – Guide for G’s Secret Mission

"Believe or not, you are going to need to redo your entire wardrobe with the ability to upgrade to Plate Mail."Club Penguin is a popular game for kids. It is not to fear because it is for better to some extent.One of the most appealing part of the game are the missions, which are essentially games within the game. And also Trinkets start becoming available now.These games follow simple plots where you help Gary the Gadget Guy solve a problem. To participate in the missions, players need to be part of the P.S.A., which you need to join to do the missions. For the most part, level 40 means that you should have filled out one of the trees you were specializing in at present.Once players are part of the P.S.A. Having the 31 point talent means that your damage should now be significantly increased, and you should see a dramatic improvement in your effectiveness.they can begin playing the missions by visiting the secret penguin Headquarters using their spy phone. Here, there are lots of good crafted items that become available in spite of they can be a little more expensive.From there, they can start the missions. Truesilver Plate and Gauntlets are two good pieces produced "Herbalism is one of professions in World of Warcraft which is great even for the smarty pants Mage or the stout, sturdy and rude Warrior.Some of the missions need to be done in order but not all of them. Here is the step-by-step guide to how to do Club Penguin Mission 2. Speak with G. In matter of fact, Herbalism is very easy to learn and players can benefits from it even if you don’t take a secondary profession.and get the mission. Like other professions, players can get WoW currency (copper, silver and WoW gold), exclusive items and equipments from it. The answer to the riddle is “mogul”. Therefore, Herbalism goes great with every class and is a primary source of income for many of the denizens of Azerorth. Put G’s new sled in your inventory. Getting Started First of all, if you hope to learn herbalism, you will want to find an Herbalist Trainer. Go to the Mountain. wrathofthelichking/wow-wotlk-powerleveling-de.aspx">lich And like real world, you should prepare some World of Warcraft gold before you decide to find him. You will see a sign that says “Test run”. If you are not newbie in WoW, you should know where to find herbalism trainers who are available in every major city and can be located by simply asking a guard.Click the sled from your inventory and go down the test run. lich king The trainer will teach you herbalism for a small fee and then every 50 – 75 skill points you’ll return to increase your rank from Apprentice all the way up to Grand Master. You have to crash. You can unlearn herbalism at anytime on your skills tab. Pick up the string behind the snow clump then move to the right. lich king Though if you drop it now and pick up later you will lose all of your skill points you’ve gained. Pick up the survival guide. See the chart below for more information on levels.(You don’t really need to read it.) Go towards the bush and there will be berries on it. world of warcraft card Herbalism is a simple gathering profession. Pick up three berries. However, it doesn’t mean that you are going to good at gather WoW gold if you have learned herbalism.To save room put all the berries in the same inventory spot. wow card This means that you roam out into the wilds, find herbs, and then return to sell them on the Auction House. Now, shake the tree to the right about 3 times. It is a little different meaning but players actually are able to get WoW money from Herbalism.WALA!! A pot will fall out of the tree. wow cards Herbs are gathered by right clicking the herb on the ground and waiting until the gather skill finishes. Next, head towards the cut down tree’s stump. Afterwards you’ll be given a random number of herbs (between 1-3 on average) and the herb will then disappear. Click on one of the puffles, once you have done that the black puffle should be the only one left. wrath Every time you gather an orange herb you’ll gain a skill point. Feed the black puffle a O’Berry. You can tell an herb’s color by hovering over it with your mouse and it’ll display “Requires Herbalism,” which will be color coded based on your skill level and the skill level of the herb.It will turn into a ball of flying fire (it only lasts a few seconds). wrath Like other skills and abilities, different color is to stand for different skill level.Now he will follow you around for the rest of the mission. Your level is higher, you are possible easy to get more World of Warcraft gold and other exclusive items from the Auction House etc. Go to the left, then go towards the log and the brush. Yellow herbs will almost always give you a skill point and green herbs are very flakey. Pick up the ski. They will often not give you any! Grey herbs will give you no skill points but you’ll still loot up the herbs.Put it on the same place as the string. You can use the ability “Find Herbs” to display nearby herbs on your minimap.It will make a fishing rod. It’s somewhat inaccurate giving you only a rough location. Put a berry with the fishing rod for bait. Look around on the ground, behind trees, and even under the ground itself if the dot is grayed out to find your herb. Go the right and go back to the tree stump. No matter what class you are, you are able to learn herbalism as you have prepared everything which you need! Making Cash with Herbalism Sometimes, kinds of skills and professions have different function in World of Warcraft. Now go to the right and go towards the cave. However, it is becoming useful and no profitable in according different classes. After that, go to the left towards the river. General speaking, you can make herbalism to be a skill of gathering gold, so you can’t buy WoW gold from other places. Use the pot and fill it up with water. You don’t need a fancy wow gold guide to know this: herbs sell. Use the baited fishing rod to catch a fish in the river. They sell fast too. Walk to the right and pick up the wood piece. You can expect an almost instant turnaround of any level of herb if they’re put up at the right times. Go Back to the cave. All herbs sell.Now you need to click on the bushes so they’ll move out the way of the cave’s entrance. From Peacebloom to the herbs growing on Arthas’s doormat move fast. Go inside the cave and click on one of the boulders. Well, alright, they won’t always sell immediately but there is a very high demand for them. Go to the new fireplace that you have then put the piece of wood on it from your inventory. There is a simple way to gain WoW money with herbalism. Now, get your survival guid out and click it with the piece of wood and it will automatically rip up. If you have learned how to make gold with herbalism in the AH, you must to be a real wealth in World of Warcraft. Now feed the puffle a O’Berry again. You can play price wars trying to undercut everyone else (and get undercut yourself) or you can go the long steady approach and price your herbs at a set level hoping the cheaper herbs sell out leaving you gaining more of a profit.You should see that now it has lit up the shreads and piece of wood to make a fire. Remember, it is a skill to learn how to decide your goods price. Cook the fish that you have caught and eat it. Generally, higher level production can sell higher price, just like real world. Boil the pot of water (that helps get rid of germs and other harmful things). However, inscription uses herbs from all levels for various Glyphs.Drink the water. Lower level herbs are also less camped.Your penguin will now all of a sudden fall asleep. Another factor is flying mounts. You will be awoken from a loud noise outside. The faster you can gather then the faster you can get the herbs up on the market turning back into gold for you. Go outside of the cave and talk to the agent on a jet pack. It’s a big upfront investment though.He will now take you to the Sports Shop. So take that into mind when thinking about your flying mount options. Talk to Gary. " . Collect the medal and everything else after the mission is complete. "

Ex-California Prison Guard releases New Book

Just released last week. Story now tells all what goes behind the walls of a California State prison.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/imageviewer.asp?ean=9781440140594

CSUB announces 2010 Alumni Hall of Fame recipients

The California State University, Bakersfield Alumni Association will induct its 2010 class of accomplished alumni into the Alumni Hall of Fame at a black-tie ceremony on Saturday, February 27, at the Petroleum Club, 5060 California Avenue, 12th Floor. The fourth annual event will honor four outstanding alumni.

“The Hall of Fame is the Alumni Association’s opportunity to publicly recognize those alumni who have made significant contributions during their careers,” said Nancy Chaffin, CSUB alumna and chair of the Hall of Fame committee. “The 2010 Hall of Fame class members serve as examples of graduates who have not only made significant and lasting impact in their professions, but more importantly, they have substantially improved the quality of life in our community. This is an opportunity for the community to celebrate these distinguished individuals.”

This year’s four inductees into the CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame are:

Jim Bock - Bock is the managing partner for Daniells Phillips Vaughan & Bock, CPAs. In 1973, he earned a bachelor’s degree from CSUB in business administration, with an emphasis in accounting. As a senior, he was named the School of Business’ outstanding business student and was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. Bock was named 2001-02 outstanding alumnus by the CSUB School of Business. Bock has served on numerous boards including the American Heart Association, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Valley Achievement Center, Garces High School, and the Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce. He is also an alumnus of the Leadership Bakersfield program.

Irma Carson - Carson graduated from CSUB in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She was the first female African-American police officer to have a leadership role in the Bakersfield Police Department. Carson was selected as a 2007 Woman with a Heart for Bakersfield by Garden Pathways and is currently the executive director of Ebony Counseling Center. In 1994, she was elected councilmember for Ward 1, where she continues to serve until her term expires December 2010. Carson previously served as the Bakersfield City Council vice mayor from 1998 through 2000 and was active on numerous council committees. Carson has also served as a trustee for the Bakersfield City School District.

Sheryl Chalupa - Chalupa graduated from CSUB in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and in 2005 earned a master’s degree in public administration. Since 2001, Chalupa has served as president and chief executive officer of Goodwill Industries of South Central California. Under her leadership, the local Goodwill has seen significant growth in the number of clients served and revenue generated. Before joining Goodwill, she served as executive director of Girl Scouts - Joshua Tree Council. In 2007, she was appointed to the State Compensation Insurance Fund board of directors by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. She is a member of the Bakersfield Rotary Club, and serves on the boards of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, Kern County Economic Development Foundation, and Westside Energy Services and Education Center. Chalupa is a past president of CSUB’s Alumni Board, and is a current member of CSUB’s Council of 100 and the Public Policy and Administration advisory board.

Jeff Green - A former adjunct professor at CSUB, Green earned his master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance from CSUB in 1992. He received an undergraduate degree from San Diego State University in 1981 and was awarded a law degree from the University of San Diego in 1984. Since 1990, he has worked as general counsel for Grimmway Farms, one of the nation’s largest carrot producers. Green currently serves on the boards of the Bakersfield Homeless Center, Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault, and Imagine Ballet Company. Green is a former commissioner of First 5 Kern, member of The Bakersfield Californian editorial board, City Financial Oversight Committee and numerous county advisory boards. In 2006, he was selected as CSUB’s School of Business Alumnus of the Year.

“The committee had a large pool of nominees from which to choose this year’s Hall of Fame inductees,” said Chaffin. “Jim, Irma, Sheryl and Jeff have all made significant contributions to the community and the university through their contributions and commitments of time and resources. We are honored to have them as part of CSUB’s alumni history.”

Hall of Fame ceremony sponsorship levels range from $500 to $10,000. Seating is limited. Social hour starts at 6 p.m., with dinner and the program beginning at 7 p.m. Proceeds from the event benefit the CSUB Alumni Scholarship Fund.

For more information, please contact CSUB’s Alumni Relations office at (661) 654-3211 or alumni@csub.edu.

CSUB students hold holiday food drive to benefit local veterans

Student veterans at California State University, Bakersfield are asking the community to give back to those who have given so much. Individuals and organizations can show thanks to local veterans in need this holiday season by contributing to a food drive.

“This is a very caring community and we hope everyone will open their hearts and pantries to contribute food for veterans who need some extra support,” said Anita Orr, a student veteran and president of the CSUB Student Veterans Organization. “We will be making food baskets and delivering them to local veterans and their families during Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

Donations of canned and dry food will be accepted now through November 30. Donation boxes can be found at the following locations and times:

•    CSUB, 9001 Stockdale Highway, in Dorothy Donahoe Hall and the Student Union; Monday - Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

•    Bakersfield VA Community Clinic, 1801 Westwind Drive; Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All food items should be nonperishable and in unopened packages.

Suggested canned donations include fruit, vegetables, gravy, cranberry sauce, stew, soup, chili, tuna/salmon, spaghetti/pasta, corned beef, beans, and evaporated milk. Suggested dried food items include rice, beans, stuffing, pasta, powdered milk and cheese, flour, and sugar.

“If you can bring just one item or a shopping bag full, every item will help to brighten the holidays for local veterans in need,” Orr said. “It’s the very least we can do.”

For more information, contact Orr at (661) 549-3108.

Symposium to address fiscal impact of policy reform in the U.S.

The United States currently has a year-to-date deficit of over $2 trillion. The impact of this enormous debt will be felt for generations to come. The Financial Management Association of California State University, Bakersfield will host a symposium to discuss issues associated with America’s growing fiscal debt on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the Dore Theatre.

Attendees will hear from experts in the fields of health care, finance, and energy as well as Kern County community leaders as they discuss issues facing their respective areas. The panel will also address the impact those issues have on America’s growing fiscal debt.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Mahdy Elhusseiny at (661) 699-2669 or melhusseiny@csub.edu.

CSUB partners with community group to offer workshop for casualty underwriters exam

California State University, Bakersfield’s School of Business and Public Administration has partnered with the Chartered Professional Casualty Underwriters (CPCU), Golden Empire Chapter, to offer a test preparation workshop for the CPCU 510 national exam. The workshop will be offered on Tuesday evenings from Nov. 10 to February 17, 2010.

The workshop, to be taught by Gordon Loo, will prepare individuals for the CPCU 510 national exam offered January-March 2010. Those passing the national exam will have an opportunity to earn credit toward their master’s degree in business administration at CSUB.

The first class of the series will be held at the State Farm Operations Center, 900 Old River Road, beginning at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

For more information, log on to www.cagoldenempire.cpcusociety.org or contact Diane Williams at diane.williams.cht5@statefarm.com.Participants may enroll in the workshop on the first day of the class or log on to www.csub.edu/bpa/cpcu. Cost for the workshop is $150.

Children’s art to be displayed Nov. 10-19

The California State University, Bakersfield Children’s Art Institute (CAI) will showcase student artwork featured in its 2010 Children’s Art Institute Calendar Nov. 10-19 at the Alta One Federal Credit Union, 11211 River Run Blvd. The art display features the work of kindergarten through sixth grade students from schools throughout Kern County.

“These calendars are a compilation of student work done during the 2008-09 school year,” said Dianne Turner, professor of art education at CSUB. “We wanted to not only show the art featured in the calendars, but also to display it in a location where everyone could enjoy the students’ creativity. AltaOne Federal Credit Union has been a great partner for this effort.”

CAI’s mission strives to educate and support the enhancement of children’s art in schools. Prospective classroom teachers from CSUB help students explore various media, art history and art themes. Student artwork pieces selected to appear in the calendar are obtained through participation in CAI summer programs, school programs and direct solicitation of previous student participants. Students selected for inclusion in the calendar were awarded art supplies, gift cards and restaurant gift certificates donated from area merchants.

Calendars may be purchased for $6 from Russo’s Bookstore at the Marketplace shopping center, 9000 Ming Avenue, #I-4. Sales from the calendars benefit CAI. For additional information, contact Turner at (661) 654-2138.

Local Girl Working Hard

FACT to host fall open house

The Facility for Animal Care and Treatment will host an open house on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 1-4 p.m. at its facility in the Environmental Studies Area at California State University, Bakersfield.

Visitors can
•   see a variety of local birds of prey, including red-tailed hawk, Swainson’s hawk, great horned owl, barn owl, and golden eagle as well as songbirds, dragonflies, butterflies, squirrels, gophers lizards and more.

•   study owl pellets to learn what wild owls have eaten.

•   learn about FACT’s animal rescue and bird foster parent program.

•   purchase T-shirts, including two new designs,zoo books, coloring books, cards and other educational materials to support FACT’s education programs.

CSUB students and faculty will give tours and demonstrations of birds of prey. Educational gifts and souvenirs will be available for purchase to support the non-profit wildlife rescue and education program.

The event is free and open to the public.

FACT’s mission is to serve as a wildlife rescue,conservation and education project for CSUB. FACT hosts an open house on the first Saturday of each month October through May.

For more information about FACT, please call (661) 654-3167 or log on to

www.csub.edu/fact

CSUB barbecue and carnival to benefit those in need

California State University, Bakersfield's Theta Chi fraternity will hold a barbecue and carnival on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 1 to 7 p.m. in Runner Park, located on the northeast part of campus. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Bakersfield Homeless Center. Admission to the carnival is $5.00 per person and free for children under the age of 10. The fraternity hopes to raise $5,000 for the homeless center.

The carnival will feature many family-friendly activities, including an inflatable boxing ring, hen house golf, bounce houses and pony rides. The barbecue will be provided by El Adobe Restaurant.

Tickets are available for purchase in advance or can be purchased the day of the event. For more information, please contact Marcos Nuño at (661) 808-6315.

CSUB theatre presents “Scepter in the Sand”

Egypt comes to California State University, Bakersfield during its production of “Scepter in the Sand,” Nov. 5-8 at the Doré Theatre. The original play by CSUB student Michael Mejia was written to accompany the “Art of Death in Ancient Egypt” exhibit, currently on display in the university’s Todd Madigan Gallery.

“Scepter in the Sand” comes to life as present-day archeology students stumble upon an ancient scepter that contains the evil spirit of Set who wants the power of Egypt all to himself. Set plans to overthrow his bother Osiris, the new benevolent ruler of Egypt. Meanwhile, Isis, Set’s wife, also has great plans for how she can contribute to Egypt’s prosperity. The play explores the struggle for power and the clash between good and evil.

Twenty-eight actors are part of this production, which features a revolving set by Chris Eicher, colorful Egyptian costumes by Roger Upton, and lighting design by Max Jacobs.

Performances are set for 8 p.m. on Nov. 5-7, and 2 p.m. on Nov. 8. General admission is $10, $8 for seniors, and $5 for students with identification. The Todd Madigan Gallery, located adjacent to the Doré, will open one hour prior to performances, allowing theater goers the opportunity to see the collection of Egyptian funerary art on display from the Phoebe A.Hearst Museum through Nov. 8. Gallery admission is free.

For more information or to reserve your seat call (661) 654-3150.

Pit Bull Attack

This is another vicious attack by not one but 3 Pit Bulls!

http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x1738019367/Dog-attack-caught-on-film

The dogs may have been in their yard behind a fence but with the strength and knowing the way that the bread attacks it seems that you shouldn't be able to have 2 or more in a single yard. Such as one in the front and one in the back. That way if attacked you might be able to defend your self to where you could get out of the area.

I hope that Steven Herrera recovers quickly and fully.

Partnership Provides Free Flu Shots October 30

Like the coming of fog and rain, Bakersfield citizens know and expect another winter recurrence – flu. That means it’s also time to get your flu shot, and a unique community partnership is working together to provide free flu shots to help prepare the community for the virus.

At a news conference, the Kern County Department of Public Health, Bakersfield College and California State University, Bakersfield, announced a partnership to provide free seasonal flu vaccinations to the community in a drive through clinic on Friday, October 30 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Officials emphasize this is a seasonal vaccine and not the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine.

The purpose of the clinic is to provide a free flu vaccine to residents and also to practice mass vaccination plans, which are designed to ensure that health professionals and volunteers are prepared to vaccinate or dispense medication to a large population in a very short period of time. If Bakersfield was ever to experience pandemic influenza or another such disaster, it might be necessary to distribute medications to many citizens quickly.

Dr. Claudia Jonah, Kern County Health Officer, explained, “The time to practice dispensing large amounts of medication is now, before we have a disaster. It’s also important for all people in Bakersfield to receive a flu shot. Roughly 36,000 Americans die each year from complications of flu. Getting a shot is the best protection.”

Mass vaccination exercises help the Public Health Department and partnering agencies prepare for emergencies by testing their ability to vaccinate thousands of people within a few hours. During the October 30 exercise, visitors will be able to obtain flu shots at two locations in Bakersfield:

Bakersfield College’s southeast parking lot adjacent to Memorial Stadium off Mt. Vernon
CSUB’s parking lot E, off Camino Media, near the Icardo Center

Student nurses from both institutions will administer the shots to individuals in vehicles, which mimics the actual vaccination process during an emergency. The entire process will be closely monitored to help public agencies better work together. More than 3,400 vaccines will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis and are free to the community.

Children 17 or younger must be accompanied by an adult. Minimum age to receive a vaccination is two years old.

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness and results in 25-50 million infections and 36,000 deaths in the United States each year.

Influenza symptoms include fever (usually high), headache, extreme fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches, dry cough, runny or stuffy nose, and occasionally stomach symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

The influenza virus is spread through coughing or sneezing and by touching a hard surface with the virus on it and then touching your nose or mouth. The best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each year.

You cannot catch the flu from the vaccination. The vaccination uses a dead virus and cannot cause you to get the flu. The vaccine usually becomes effective two weeks after being administered; therefore, the best time to be vaccinated is October to November. However, it can still be beneficial to get the vaccine even later as typical flu season runs from mid-December through March.

Though all persons over 6 months of age should get a flu shot each year, those most at risk for influenza disease complications are: those in nursing home; individuals over 50 years of age; persons with chronic diseases of the heart, lung, and kidneys, or who have diabetes, asthma, immunosuppression, or severe forms of anemia; women who may be pregnant during flu season; children and teens on long-term aspirin therapy. Children six months through five years of age should receive the flu vaccine due to the increased probability of severe illness in this age group. Daycare situations make these children especially vulnerable. Health care workers are also at greater risk for passing influenza infection on to high-risk individuals and should be vaccinated.

An influenza vaccination offers 70 percent to 90 percent protection against infection and can decrease the severity and side effects if you do get sick.

Collaborating agencies are Bakersfield College, CSUB, Kern County Department of Public Health, Kern Medical Reserve Corps, Salvation Army, Bakersfield Fire Department, Kern Medical Center, local Community Emergency Response Teams, Hall Ambulance and the Bakersfield Police Department.

“Attacking the Cure” with BC Volleyball

In an effort to raise awareness and money for the world’s most common cause of cancer death in women, Bakersfield College’s volleyball team presents their second annual “Attacking the Cure” campaign Friday night as the Renegades prepare to host College of the Canyons.

The campaign will help to raise money for breast cancer awareness through the Kern County branch of the American Cancer Society. Donations will be accepted throughout the month of October, which has been designated Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with the proceeds of the campaign going directly to the American Cancer Society.

Players from both Bakersfield College and College of the Canyons will recognize the event by wearing pink. Bakersfield College will warm up for the game in pink shirts, and then wear pink socks and ribbons during play. Representatives from the American Cancer Society will be on hand to accept donations, distribute information and communicate about the disease.

The “Attacking the Cure” campaign was started by Bakersfield College head coach Carl Ferreira, who recognized that one in eight of the players on his team would be affected by the disease in their lifetime.

“Collegiate women’s volleyball has adopted breast cancer research as their charity of choice this year,” explained Ferreira. “While there are a couple of national programs in place, our student athletes felt it was important to support local women in their fight and we are working directly with the local American Cancer Society.”

The team is accepting flat donations or pledges “per kill” – which the team averages 40 of per night.

The Bakersfield College versus College of the Canyons volleyball game is Friday, October 30 at 7 p.m. in the Gil Bishop Athletics Center at Bakersfield College. Entry to the game is free and no donation is necessary.

According to the American Cancer Society:

1 in 8 women, or 12.6 percent, will get breast cancer in her lifetime.
Breast cancer risk increases with age and every woman is at risk.
Every 13 minutes a woman dies of breast cancer.
Seventy-seven percent of women with breast cancer are over 50.
More than 1.7 million women who have had breast cancer are still alive in the United States.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 15 and 54, and the second cause of cancer death in women 55 to 74.
Seventy-one percent of black women diagnosed with breast cancer experience a five-year survival rate, while 86 percent of white women experience five-year survival.
The first sign of breast cancer usually shows up on a woman's mammogram before it can be felt or any other symptoms are present.
Risks for breast cancer include a family history, atypical hyperplasia, delaying pregnancy until after age 30 or never becoming pregnant, early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55), current use or use in the last 10 years of oral contraceptives and daily consumption of alcohol.
Early detection of breast cancer, through monthly breast self-exam and particularly yearly mammography after age 40, offers the best chance for survival.
Ninety-six percent of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years.
More than 80 percent of breast lumps are not cancerous, but benign such as fibrocystic breast disease.
Oral contraceptives may cause a slight increase in breast cancer risk; however 10 years after discontinuing use of oral contraceptives the risk is the same as for women who never used the pill.
Estrogen replacement therapy for more than five years slightly increases breast cancer risk; however the increased risk appears to disappear five to 10 years after discontinuing the use of estrogen replacement therapy.
Breast self-exams should begin by age 20.

Plenty of Time to Celebrate Adopt-A-Dog Month!

Plenty of Time to Celebrate Adopt-A-Dog Month!

Kern County Animal Control Still Has Many Wonderful Dogs Waiting for New Homes!

Kern County Animal Control is celebrating the American Humane Association’s National Adopt-A-Dog Month this October. There is still plenty of time to visit any of the three shelters and adopt a furry friend this month.

“We want people to know that we still have many wonderful dogs waiting for a new home. Anyone who adopts a dog from Kern County Animal Control through the end of this month will receive a $20 discount on the adoption fee,” stated Maggie Kalar, Marketing & Promotions Associate for the Department. “In honor of this special month, all dog adoptions have been reduced to encourage people to open their heart and home to adopt a special friend.”

Dogs under four months of age will be just $40 to adopt, while dogs four months or over will be just $55 to adopt. Adoption fees include the spay/neuter fee, first series of canine vaccinations; starter bag of Science Diet food; a pet related DVD*; free pet exam voucher,* and a leash*. (*While supplies last.) Dogs four months or older will also receive their Rabies vaccination and one year Kern County license.

Companionship, improved physical and emotional health, social interaction and devoted love are just a few of the super-size benefits of having a dog. Dogs also encourage people to exercise, enhance family and social relationships, promote laughter and act as a non-judgmental audience and sounding board.

“During these tough economic times, we hope that our special adoption promotion will continue to encourage people to make adoption their first option,” said Kalar.

Kern County Animal Control Shelters invite people to visit with the available dogs and find the one that is right for them. Every shelter dog deserves a loving, permanent home. For more information on adopting an animal, log onto www.co.kern.ca.us/acd, or call the Kern County Animal Control’s Adoption Center at 661-868-7144 in Bakersfield, 661-824-1030 in Mojave, or 760-378-1131 in Lake Isabella.

Halloween Pet Safety Tips

Keep Pets Safe from Halloween Tricks & Treats

Kern County Animal Control and the ASPCA Want to Help You Keep Your Pets Safe.

The arrival of Halloween brings fun parties, trick-or-treaters, and lots of candy. However, some of the goodies and decorations that are used can be potentially hazardous to companion animals. Kern County Animal Control and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) are providing pet owners with some crucial tips to ensure their pets stay healthy and safe this Halloween.

· Don’t bring the family dog along for trick-or-treating. Dogs may become difficult to handle during the noise and confusion of the night. A lost dog or dog bite will quickly end holiday fun.

· Keep pets safely inside, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities. Pets can become frightened or feel threatened at the sight of noisy, costumed children, and run off into the night.

· Keep pets safe in an enclosed area with a toy and some soothing music.

· Always make sure your pet has proper identification. If for any reason they escape and become lost, a collar and tags and/or microchip increases the chances that they will be found and returned to you.

· Keep candy out of a pet’s reach. Candy can be harmful to pets, and chocolate can be deadly to cats and dogs.

· Keep aluminum foil and cellophane candy wrappers away from pets as they can cause vomiting and could even produce intestinal blockage.

· Don’t put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it. For pets that are dressed up, make sure the costume isn’t annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal’s movement or hearing, or impede the ability to breathe or bark. Look out for small, dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces on the costume that a pet can choke on. Make sure the costume does not obstruct vision in any way.

· Never offer or allow your pets to consume alcoholic beverages. Place unattended drinks where pets cannot reach them. If ingested, the animal could become very ill and weak and may go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.

· Keep pets away from decorations such as pumpkins and decorative corn. Although considered relatively non-toxic, these items can cause gastrointestinal upset and may even result in intestinal blockage as well if large pieces are ingested.

· Jack-o-lanterns and candles can quickly singe, burn or set fire to a pet’s fur. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire.

· Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of pets. If chewed, pets can experience damage to their mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

“Dogs and cats rely on a daily routine, when that routine is disrupted by lots of noise and commotion they can become frightened or agitated. By following these simple tips, parents, children and pets can enjoy a safe and happy Halloween,” stated Maggie Kalar, Marketing & Promotions Associate for Kern County Animal Control.

For more information, contact Kern County Animal Control at 661-868-7104, or you can log onto www.co.kern.ca.us/acd to download a flyer with Halloween Pet Safety Tips.

Lecture on Nazi medical practices scheduled at CSUB

California State University, Bakersfield’s Kegley Institute of Ethics will host Vejas Liulevicius, professor of history at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, who will speak about “Medicine in Nazi Ideology and Practice.” The lecture will be held in the Student Union multipurpose room on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.

Liulevicius’ discussion at CSUB will focus on a range of questions regarding Nazi medical practices, including the infamous experiments in concentration camps and the worldview behind Nazi medical policy and redefinition of the role of doctors in society. He will also point to the impacts of this history on contemporary U.S. medical practice, including experimentation and informed consent.

Specializing in modern German history, Liulevicius’ work focuses on German relations with Eastern Europe. He is best known for his lectures through The Teaching Company,a firm that encourages lifelong learning by offering audio courses from professors at leading colleges and universities. Liulevicius has three taped lectures that are part of the company’s “Great Courses Series.”

The lecture is co-sponsored by Kern Medical Center and Bakersfield College’s Norman Levan Institute for Lifelong Learning. The event is free and open to the public, with free parking in lot K after 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.csub.edu/kie or call the Kegley Institute at (661) 654-2555.

Merle Haggard and Gerald Haslam help celebrate Oildale’s centennial

Slide on your boots and put on your best cowboy hat - Oildale is 100 years old! And, on Nov. 6 and 7, Trout’s nightclub and the Public History Institute at California State University, Bakersfield will host a kick-off concert and conference in conjunction with the centennial celebration of metropolitan Bakersfield’s closest unincorporated neighbor.

The celebration starts Friday, Nov. 6 at Trout’s historic honky-tonk with a live performance by Rockwell’s Blackboard Playboys and a special appearance by local singer-songwriting legend Red Simpson. The evening includes free dance lessons, historic displays and a $10 barbecue dinner. Doors open at 5 p.m. and admission is free until 8 p.m. After 8 p.m. a $5 cover charge applies. You must be at least 21 years old to attend the kick-off event.

The centennial observance continues on Saturday, Nov. 7 with CSUB hosting a conference, “Oildale and Beyond: Interpreting the Region Through Words, Images and Music,” from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the university campus. The event features photos, books, and document exhibits, along with presentations exploring numerous aspects of the history of Oildale. The conference will be highlighted by a live interview and special performance by Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Merle Haggard, along with a keynote address by author Gerald Haslam - both native sons of Oildale.

To learn more about the conference or to register, visit www.csub.edu/history and download the registration form. Registration is $30, $25 for senior citizens (65 and over) and $20 for students. Conference fees include a continental breakfast, deli sandwich lunch and snacks. For more information contact the CSUB history department at (661) 654-3079.

Dispute to article regarding unsafe H1N1 practices at Mercy Hospitals

RN at Mercy Southwest hospital giving false information: I do not know how long ago interview was with PJ Robinson, but she gives false information. My husband and I work at Mercy on Truxton Ave, and both of our units have the most recent guidelines for H1N1 flu. Negative pressure room, and heptafilters are not required. Private rooms are, and the N95 mask is required. It is droplet precautions. The policy states the N95 mask is to be disposed of after one use. There have been no shortages of masks. No one should feel unsafe either being a patient at any CHW hospital, nor should any employee feel unsafe. I believe Ms. Robinson should get herself educated in the policy. No one has told us to reuse the masks. If indeed this happened to Ms. Robinson, then we hope she followed the proper chain of command, and reported the incident to her supervisors manager. She herself is a house supervisor, and she must set the example. Patients who are admitted with diagnosis of rule out N1H1 are properly isolated, and the correct mask used.

Of couse my husband and I wonder what causes her to make false statements. We feel because the CNA union knows in these economic times, the demands of the union for more money and benefits would fall on unsympathetic ears. Many people do not have the job stability of a registered nurse. Neither do they have our benefits. However, one can possibly gain sympathy with the scare technique of unsafe work practices. Such stated unsafe practices are not true. Come on CNA stop hiding behind lies, and state what you really want.

2009 Edwards AFB Airshow Report

Oct 17th saw the return of the Edwards AFB Open House and Air Show. This was the first one since 2006, which meant a huge crowd was expected. Going by the name "Flight Test Nation", highlights included the very first airshow appearance of a REAL F-35 JSF / Lightning II Strike Fighter (up until now, the display has been only a mockup); both of Scaled Composite's White Knight motherships were there - one of which flew during the show); Air Combat Command's official F-22 Raptor Demo Team; the Commemorative Air Force's "Tora Tora Tora Squadron", who puts on a fantastic reenactment of the attack on Pearl Harbor, complete with pyrotechnic explosions, and replica Japanese Zeroes/Kates/Vals. Also featured was the US Army skydiving team, the Golden Knights; warbird flybys including a B-17 ("Sentimental Journey" owned by the CAF in Mesa, Az), B-25 ("Pacific Prowler" a privately owned a/c), P-51 ("Gunfighter" - another CAF-owned bird), and a very rare P-38 flown in from Chino, Calif by Steve Hinton. Steve is the man you want to see flying a demo in the original "Lightning" fighter plane. He is the President of the Planes of Fame Air Musuem in Chino and can fly the heck out of most warbirds flying today.

Originally planned as a two-day event, this was later cut down to only a one day show. However it also ended up being one of Edwards AFB's best airshows, with the varied types of aircraft flying in the show. Civilian aerobatics were provided by Julie Clark, in her T-34 Mentor trainer aircraft. A three-ship bomber formation had been planned for the 2009 air show, however the plan was apparently scratched at the last minute and the crowd saw one flyby from each type in succession: B-1, B-2, and B-52, with the latter topped off with some serious pyro out in the desert. Another Air Combat Command display, the Heritage Flight, was featured at the base, and it showcased the P-38 in formation with the F-22, A-10 and F-16. The Heritage Flight program was started unofficially in 1997 at Nellis AFB, and has since become one of the most popular additions to the North American air show circuit. Viper West, aka the F-16 Viper West demo team, from Hill AFB, put on a fantastic aerial display. Northrop-Grumman had their B-2 'stealth bike' on display, which was built by the crew at Orange County Choppers.

Friday's practice air show allowed members of the media to view some of the activity from South Base. Aircraft participating in the practice included a KC-135, C-130, C-17, B-52, B-2, F-16, T-38, T-6, T-34, P-51, B-17, and F-22.

Joe Engle and Chuck Yeager were both present, and after each of them opened the air show flying in the backseat of two F-16s and creating a double sonic boom, later in the day they took part in a public talk about their careers, hosted by former tv show host David Hartmann.

Only one thing was missing from the show this year: the F-117A Nighthawk.

Thanks go out to John Haire and the entire Edwards AFB public affairs team, and to Cindy and GP for the special access at show center.

Grand Opening of Affordable Pet Hospital offers "Quality Pet Care at an Affordable Price"

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Mark Corum, Corum Communications

mark@corum-communications.com

Grand Opening of AffordablePetHospital offers
“Quality Pet Care at an Affordable Price”

Affordable Pet Hospital located in Northwest Bakersfield will host a grand

opening celebration on Saturday, October 17^th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The

full service veterinary is located at the corner of Hageman at Coffee Roads.

Scheduled activities include tours of the pet hospital, refreshments and meet and greet opportunities with Dr. Ann Hamilton, DVM and her friendly, knowledgeable staff. Several pet and veterinary vendors will be on-hand showcasing their products aimed to improve the health and well-being of your pets. The event will also serve as the official debut of Affordable Pet Hospital’s mascot, Freeby. This larger than life, adorable K-9 is sure to delight children of all ages.

Pets and their owners will particularly enjoy browsing through the pet hospital’s one-of-a-kind boutique, aptly named PawMart. Located adjacent to the waiting room, the store offers a wide selection of unique dog and cat toys. Dr. Hamilton personally selects and evaluates each item to ensure its safety for your beloved animal. While pets will love the unique variety, owners will appreciate the reasonable prices.

The pet hospital’s namesake goes much deeper than simply serving as a creative marketing slogan. Dr. Hamilton and her qualified, compassionate staff opened their pet hospital with the philosophy that the highest standard of veterinary care can be provided without charging over-inflated prices. This is especially important given the current economic climate. Over the last two years Dr. Hamilton has sadly watched clients decline necessary medical treatments for their pets as they are forced to make tough family budget decisions. Not unlike healthcare for people, neglecting routine check ups now can end up costing much more in the long run. To that end, Affordable Pet Hospital was born.

Affordable Pet Hospital offers the Bakersfield animal community emergency veterinary services as well as medical, surgical, and dental veterinary care. The facility offers:

Four exam rooms
Comfort room
Dental room
Surgery suite
X-ray
Pharmacy
In-house lab

Another service created for the benefit of Affordable Pet Hospital’s clientele is the ability to shop for pet supplies and medications from their own home. Pet owners can log on to: www.affordablepethospital.com, find the items they need and have them delivered direct to their door.

Dr. Hamilton has over 30 years experience with 23 years as a Registered Veterinary Technician and 9 years as a licensed Veterinarian. Affordable Pet Hospital is open 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.

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Disability Month

As an Advocate for the Disabled population of Kern County/Global, I would like to express the importance of rights for the disabled. The ADA has assisted with issues for quite sometime. Although, work is still required and needed and legislatures and bills proposed and won. Our disabled people are still neglected, discriminated and treated unfair.

Employment is low for this population and cuts to benefits increasing. It just doesn't make sense. If you think their benefits should be cut, it should be more reason to hire. This is a loyal population for employment. Business's realizing the incentives given for hiring a disabled person, are hiring. One must realize, a disability may limit certain areas, but other abilities are greatly enhanced.

Even if a disabled person must work from home, this can produce monies drastically. Hire a disabled person. Look into the incentives for hiring this population. Create opportunities instead of taking their independence. Consult disabled agencies in your area for information. Our economy is hurting. Let's pull together and stand up and fight with all of our might. Our world is changing.

Together, we can face and fight the challenges one at a time. October is Disability month, if you know someone who is disabled, encourage them, don't discriminate. Make a stand, fight for employment, independence, accommodations, public access, let's make a difference

CSUB lecture to focus on California’s water future

California State University, Bakersfield will host alumnus Rob Swartz, principal project manager of the Regional Water Authority in Sacramento, who will present “California’s Water Future: At the Crossroads of Science and Policy” on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. in Science III, room 108.

California’s recent drought has once again shown the vulnerability of our water supply system. Unlike the previous 1987-1992 drought, this most recent dry period includes factors that have made its impacts significantly worse. Despite this bleak outlook, today’s water supply planners are taking an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to resolving these issues, giving hope for a brighter water supply future. The greatest challenge to success may be the ability to better integrate good science with good policy in making decisions for today and tomorrow.

Swartz’s talk is part of CSUB’s School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics public seminar series. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the series is part of the Pipeline to High Tech Professions project whose main purpose is to provide scholarships to science majors.

For more information about the lecture, contact Tom Meyer at (661) 654-2104.

Technology Conference Aims to Inspire Kern County Educators

It is about using technology in the classroom, says Tim Goree, President of the Kern Chapter of the statewide Computer Using Educators group. After years of being dormant, the Kern chapter of CUE has reestablished their organization. “Our goal is to bring ‘best practices’ in teaching with technology into Kern County classrooms,” said Goree. The Kern CUE group’s goal is to inspire teachers across Kern County to prepare their students to compete in the 21^st Century workplace.

The newly established Kern CUE board of directors meets once a month and includes district administers and teachers who share a passion for using technology in the classroom. Kelly Bergen, CTAP Program Specialists for Kern County is excited that the group is back together and actively working to inspire educators in Kern County to integrate technology into their core curriculum. “Our students need exposure to the information resources available on the web and how to integrate those resources into their educational needs,” says Bergen.

Kern CUE is hosting the first major teaching conference in Kern County in over a decade on Saturday, October 17th. The Kern CUE 2009 Conference will be held at Norris Middle School and features keynote speaker Matt Monjan from Discovery Education. The conference will include informative sessions on subjects ranging from using digital video with students to how to set up a computer lab with little money. A Vendor’s Fair will highlight cutting-edge technology products and prizes and a Student Showcase will allow Kern County students to share their technological knowledge. The conference runs from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, includes breakfast, lunch, and a chance to win a fabulous door prize. For more information and to register for the conference, go to www.kerncue.org. The cost of the conference is $20.00 for members, $25.00 for non-members and free for college and university students in Kern County.

Wall Street Will Be Killing Many Condors

Saving the Condor was one of the great collaborative environmental efforts over the last 25 years. It gave hope to a generation that witnessed the world environment rapidly eroding before their eyes. Teams of wildlife biologists, resource groups and government agencies that once were united in saving the condor from extinction are now turning their backs as Corporate America marches into Condor habitat. In Southern California Condor habitat is being invaded by thousands of lethal prop wind turbines and everyone seems to be giving the wind industry a free pass.

The Condor will never fly free in Southern California because of a gauntlet of prop wind turbine farms that is planned for the north and northwestern western slopes of the Antelope Valley. Prop Wind turbines are hell on birds of prey. Over the years tens of thousands of birds of prey have been killed at wind farms in California including several thousand Turkey Vultures. Several dozen captive bred Condors that were released to the Southern California region are missing and unaccounted for. The most likely reason for the missing condors is the Tehachapi pass Wind farm where 5000 prop wind turbines have been spinning in condor habitat.

What lies ahead for the Condor in Kern County is mainly bad news. A new Condor Killing wind farm is now being constructed just 1 ½ miles from critical condor habitat. It is called the PDV Wind Project. A few miles away another new wind farm, the Alta Oak wind project is in front of the same planning department in Kern County that approved the PDV Wind farm. It too will kill free flying Condors. Several more undisclosed prop wind farms are also being planned for the southern slopes Tehachapi Mountains on land owned by Tejon Ranch Company. It couldn’t get any worse for the Condor because nothing is more detrimental to birds of prey than the 200 mph blades of a spinning prop turbine. The devastation caused by Prop wind turbines to birds of prey has been covered up for decades by the wind industry.

The latest invasion of Prop turbines have come from the southern slopes of the mountainous terrain surrounding Tejon Ranch. Tejon Ranch is sitting right in the middle of the California condor’s primary habitat. The winds and updrafts there also provide a flyway for condors that travel between the Coastal and Sierra Nevada Mountain ranges. Unfortunately for the Condor, Tejon Ranch is also sitting on one of the very best wind resource areas in California. The area has 2-3 times the wind speed and is more than 20 times the size of Altamont Pass. Wall Street is going to cash in and nothing will stop them. Not even the Condor

The Tejon Ranch Company, on the New York Stock Exchange as “TRC” own 270,000 acres of prime condor habitat. Some of their major stockholders are heavily invested in wind energy and they have big plans. First they want to build a resort community called Tejon Mountain Village in the heart of Condor Critical Habitat. They also hope to secure a blanket “incidental take” permit from the USFWS. The Tejon Ranch Corporation (TRC) is requesting a permit for the “incidental take” (killing) of the California condor on all the lands included within the boundaries of the Tejon Ranch owned by TRC. This would release the TRC from any liability for killing the California condor. The incidental take permit is their ticket for the further development of Tejon Ranch. TRC is looking ahead so they can build new prop turbine wind farms on the slopes leading into the Antelope Valley. The have asked for the federal take permit because TRC is very aware that Condors will be killed on Tejon ranch and they will not be able to conceal it.

If an incidental take permit is given to Tejon Ranch it will represent a new era of corruption for America, an era where nothing detrimental to the environment will stand in the way of big business. It will also continue the mockery of our legal system where laws are continually changed for the benefit of the wealthy.

The first condors that will die on Tejon Ranch from prop turbines will probably be from the new PDV Wind Farm. Tejon Ranch owns some of the land in this project and Prop turbines will be soon spinning on the ranch. Tejon Ranch has entered into the Prop wind turbine wind business and few are aware of it. The PDV wind farm was approved with a fraudulent Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and virtually no opposition from the resource groups and agencies entrusted to look out for the condor. In the Draft EIR I found the following statement ““the habitat assessment of the project site revealed a lack of suitable habitat for the California condor. Therefore the project would not lead to significant impacts on the California condor.” The PDV Wind project sits next to federally designated Condor Critical Habitat. There is a resident population of game animals living in the the upper elevations of the PDV wind project and is just a short glide down the slopes of the Tehachapi Mountains. The fact is mule deer live on this land and are a source of food for the Condor. Mule deer, which are a food source for condors were not even mentioned as living on the habitat. Tejon Ranch even owns some of the land in the approved PDV Wind Project and they sell big game trophy hunts (deer, elk, pigs and turkeys) every year to hunters looking for an easy kill. They also sell big game trophy hunts (deer, elk, pigs and turkeys) every year to hunters looking for an easy kill on Tejon Ranch.

In the Final PDV EIR I found this statement in reference to the Condor “no foraging habitat exists on the PdV project site”. A look at the Google image provided will show the same habitat type as in the federally designated Condor Critical Habitat which sits nearby on Tejon Ranch. It will also show the placement of wind turbines in Condor’s habitat and habitat very suitable for mule deer.

In the Final EIR for the PDV WIND Project I found these statements in reference to Turkey Vultures and condors in association with the dangers of prop turbines, “Scientific literature also suggests that diurnal vultures, such as the California condor, are not at substantial risk for collisions with wind turbines”. In addition, data on comparable species, such as turkey vultures, indicate that they skillfully avoid turbines. As turbines are in an area with high visibility, condors could be expected to be able to avoid collisions with wind turbines at the project site. These statements are not only false but are fraudulent as well. The scientific community is very aware that each year thousands of vultures of every type are slaughtered by prop wind turbines. The numbers of dead vultures worldwide indicates that these slow flying gliders are not at all able to “skillfully” avoid the 200 mph tip speed of the prop wind turbine. (See the image provided).

In the Pdv wind project EIR there was no mention of the federally designated Condor Critical Habitat is located right next to the project. Instead it is stated that the “Closest occurrences (Condor) to the proposed project site are: 9.48 miles away at Tejon Ranch.” This is a very deceptive statement because the free flying Condors historically used the PDV Wind Project site to forage. Another deceptive from the PDV EIR stated “based upon the last 20 years of radio-telemetry observations of California Condors, movements into the Antelope Valley would be a rare event”.

The recent USFWS GPS tracking data illustrates the location of the condors in association with feeding stations or carcass dump sites. The data merely represents the concentration of captive bred condors staying near the feeding stations on Tejon ranch. This does not represent the range of free flying condors. It represents the movements of captive bred released individuals that have not learned to forage on their own. Without the feeding stations the Condor would be regularly soaring all over the Tehachapi Mountains and slopes of the Antelope Valley hunting for carcasses.

Now that Prop wind farms have invaded their habitat, any free flying Condor has a very good chance of dying at a wind farm in the Tehachapi Mountains. In Spain, the number one cause death for the Griffon Vulture is the prop wind turbine where 1000-2000 Griffon Vultures perish each year.

There has been a wind industry cover-up of bird mortality that has been going on for over 20 years. Some do not believe it. I do, and everyone else should also, especially when they become aware of the deception and false statements used in the permitting process. A corporation that would produce a fraudulent EIR to conceal the extreme danger to the California condor from the construction of prop turbines in their habitat would never be honest about the number of dead eagles, falcons, owls, vultures and condors.

Bob Stine, president and CEO of Tejon Ranch Company recently made the following statement “We have no intention of carving up the ranch and selling it in pieces.” Mr Stein is talking out of both sides of his mouth. Of course he would never want to sell off prime wind resource land that will potentially bring the TRC billions in future revenues. On the other hand building Tejon Mountain Village in federally designated Condor critical habitat and developing the 70,000 centennial project on TRC property will obviously carve up this huge block of land into pieces.

Kern County could easily secure the fate of the condor with a well informed look ahead at the impacts of wind development. Kern County should also demand a comparative study that looks into alternative wind turbine designs. More efficient wind turbine designs that do not kill birds and bats do exist. One of them is a vertical shaft turbine that is about to come on line in Sullivan County New York.

For the Kern County Supervisors it is time to forget the sleazy good old boy network of Wall Street and do this for the California condor, the White tailed kite, the endangered Swainson’s hawk, and all the other birds of prey that are destined to perish in your wind farms.

Boys and Girls Club's ArtFest Celebration

A brush stroke; a click of a camera; the imagination of a child, ArtFest isn’t your typical art auction. It’s an event celebrating young talent and has become the building block of childhood dreams come true. This isn’t just a fundraiser; it is the heart and soul of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kern County.

Every year a signature piece of artwork is chose as the “face” of ArtFest. This year it is a “Fruity Snack,” that will catch the public’s eye courtesy of the talents of Emily Delgado, 14.

I was inspired to paint this piece because I know ArtFest is a good cause and I knew that it would help out the other kids that come here,” she says. “I like ArtFest. It’s a lot of fun. I like seeing the art sold. I didn’t have anything for sale last year, but I do this year and I’m excited.”

Emily has only lived in Bakersfield for seven years. A seemingly shy and timid child at first, Emily says the Boys and Girls Club has helped her open up and discover new things about herself and has allowed her to make new friends.

“When I was younger, my mom thought it would be a good idea for me to come to the club and make new friends,” she says. “I was really scared coming here at first. The second day wasn’t so bad because I started talking to people. Now, coming here is fun every day.”

Over the years, Art Fest has grown from a simple, yet entertaining community event to a much-desired and highly attended community affair. It started with a simple idea of holding a silent and live auction of artworks, to raise money for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kern County.

Now ArtFest has become a showcase of children’s art, making childhood dreams a reality, just ask 13-year-old, Estephanie Garcia.

“This will be my first year at ArtFest,” she says. “I’m excited because I think it’s cool for young people to be able to show their work and have people buy it.”

This year Estephanie will be auctioning off a painted flower and a piece of photography. She’s been attending the Boys and Girls Club for two years and says she’s never had more fun especially when it comes to art. “I like being to show expression through my art. It’s cool to mix paint and make pretty colors.”

Eleven-year-old Olivia Charles has also found joy in self-expression through art at the club.

“I think coming to the Boys and Girls Club is a lot of fun,” she says. “I like that in the art program we don’t just have to paint pictures but we can express ourselves. I like to paint abstracts. I like changing simple things into more complicated things.”

This summer was only the second season Olivia has attended the club, but she says it’s the best thing she’s ever done because it has opened her eyes to art. “No one else in my family paints or does artwork so this is something different for me. I want to keep on doing it because I think it’s fun,” she says.

Olivia says she didn’t always se art as being a part of her life, however, now that it is she wouldn’t have it any other way and she hopes other kids give art a chance. “A lot of kid come in here and they think they are just going to mess around and not take art serious, but once they see what other kids are doing, they want to get involved,” she says.

ArtFest tickets are still available. Call The Boys and Girls Clubs of KernCounty at 325-3730.

Credit Card Rate Hike

Recently in the news I heard about the government stepping in to stop the credit card rate hikes. Well I am all for it. I had a recent deal with Chase where I have been making my monthly payment every month on time. They had me sign up on their website for auto pay so I didnt have to have my bill pay set up at my local financial institution. Upon setting up the auto pay I still continued to make my payment from my bank. I waited for theirs to com through and when it did it was bounced back. Come to find out Chase system had added an extra zero to my account which in turn made it look like there was no account to withdraw from thus rejecting the payment. As I stated before I was not late nor missed any payments. Upon Chase receiving the rejected withdrawal they had charged me a 39.00 fee which in turn made me upset as this was the first time it was being used and I was NOT late on my payments. I called and complained, the reversed the fee and stated it was all back to normal. So I continued to use my Bank to send the payments ACH. Mind you I was making my payment about 33.00 over the amount they requested. About 5 months later, I recieved a call from Chase stated that my account was passed due. After looking it over, from the auto pay set up on their end that added an extra zero caused my rate to go up to 29.9 percent from 0% for 3 years that I only had for 1 year. To me I think they do this on purpose to get the rate higher. I have contacted the FTC and reported them but they dont respond to one consumer only if it gets to be a large amount over complaints. I think Chase is wrong and I also beleive what they are doing is fraudulent. Is there any one else I can talk to as I dont want to continue paying them at all because of this. My credit score is above 700 at the moment but could go down because of their mess up.

CSUB receives $12.6 million grant to improve teacher quality

United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has announced that California State University, Bakersfield will receive a $12,595,813 grant to improve teacher quality and reform teacher education at high-need schools in central California. The federal grant is one of only 28 in the nation, and the largest award in California, to be given as part of the Teacher Quality Partnership aimed at improving instruction in struggling schools.

The grant will be dispersed over five years to fund creation of the Central California Partnership for Teacher Quality Programs (CCP-TQP), with $2.4 million in first-year funding to be shared among partnering agencies. CSUB will serve as the lead agency for the program in partnership with CSU Monterey Bay, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Tulare County Office of Education, and the Kern County Superintendent of Schools.

“Part of our educational mission is to raise the education level in our community and throughout central California, and we can only be successful through strong partnerships with other educators. This grant provides a tremendous boost to that effort,” said President Horace Mitchell. “The grant will help in preparing effective teachers and improving student achievement, which in turn strengthens the economic future and viability of the region.”

CCP-TQP is an innovative collaboration involving partnerships between three institutions of higher education and two county offices of education. Together they will address the diverse needs of schools, teachers and students at 16 high-need schools in primarily rural areas. With a focus on science, math and special education, the partnership looks to reform teacher education that includes unique approaches for the preparation and induction of new teachers.

The new program will provide a two-year introductory experience and mentoring for new teachers in partner schools. CCP-TQP will also provide support for new teachers and educational leaders through the continuous improvement of important reforms including:

- universal design for learning;
- positive behavior intervention;
- use of scientifically valid instructional practices;
- differentiated instruction;
- effective strategies for reading instruction;
- professional learning communities; and
- facilitation skill development.

“Research shows that teacher quality is the most important factor in improving student achievement,” said Curt Guaglianone, CSUB special assistant to the provost and the principal investigator who developed the grant. “From a university perspective, we need to improve the way we prepare teachers by focusing on successful methods of teaching in local schools. Faculty members from CSUB, CSU Monterey Bay and Cal Poly SLO will be in K-12 classrooms working to ensure that the university teacher preparation programs are realistic and effective. Part of our goal is to strengthen teachers’ skills before they even reach the classroom.”

To obtain the competitive grant, university officials submitted an extensive proposal that detailed project objectives and collaborative relationships with partners. Letters of support for the grant were submitted by Congressman Kevin McCarthy; Congresswoman Lois Capps; Kern County Superintendent of Schools Christine Lizardi Frazier; Tulare County Office of Education Superintendent Jim Vidak; California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo President Warren Baker; California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Dean, College of Science and Mathematics Philip Bailey; CSU Monterey Bay Dean, College of Professional Studies Brian Simmons; as well as business partners Apple, California Business for Education Excellence, Parsons Corporation, and Raytheon.

In addition, superintendents from 26 high-need school districts in Kern, Tulare and Monterey counties submitted letters advocating support of the grant.

Guaglianone estimates the partners will begin their work to create the CCP-TQP by January 2010. For additional details, contact Guaglianone at (661) 654-2478.

Lecture to focus on Christian mummification in Egypt

Mummification in ancient Egypt will be the focus of a community program featuring Robert Yohe, California State University, Bakersfield professor and director of the university’s Laboratory of Archaeological Science. His presentation, titled “Early Christianity and Treatment of the Dead in Late Roman Egypt,” will take place on Friday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. in the Doré Theatre. Yohe’s research on this topic has been featured on Discovery Channel’s “The Bone Detective.”

Yohe has recently returned from an excavation at the Tell El-Hibeh project in Egypt, where he serves as the associate director. He will share information about his research, and the discoveries he and CSUB students have made while working on the project.

“The practice of mummification persisted longer than previous thought,” Yohe explained. “In fact, the project I’ve been working on shows that mummification was actually practiced by early Christians in Egypt.”

The 60-minute talk is free and open to the public. Parking is $2.

Following the presentation, Yohe will be available in the Todd Madigan Gallery to discuss artifacts included in The Art of Death in Ancient Egypt exhibit. The exhibit runs through Nov. 8 and is open Wednesday through Saturday, noon - 7 p.m., and Fridays noon - 8 p.m.

Citizen Hero

Over the weekend Bakersfield citizen and CSUB college professor Dr. Tony Van Reusen thwarted a car burglar when he stepped forward to help a couple who had just been victimized at a popular Bakersfield restaurant. The car burglar smashed the car window glass and was rifling through the victim's purse in the back seat of a nearby car when Tony spotted him and twarted his attempts to exit the car and make a run for it. Tony was assisted by the victim's husband and the two men stood outside the car doors preventing the burglar from fleeing the scene. The burglar , caught red-handed with the victim's purse, made repeated pleas of "let me out, let me out" to no avail while being detained until the police arrived. Dr. Van Reusen is a true Bakersfield Hero.

Contact me at 868-0238 if you request any further information or photos

Tejon Ranch controversy illustrates importance of library funding

The controversy over the Tejon Mountain Village development by Tejon Ranch Corporation shows how funding for libraries and collections of primary research documents is critical to the accurate study of United States history.

Six images have been attached to this story from primary Library of Congress documents. These research materials give another side to the Tejon Ranch controversy, the one recorded by Congress.

One document is from the October 19, 1857 Appendix to the Congressional Globe showing that on that date California had five Indian Reservations and the first one is called Sebastion or Tejon. This is the Indian Reservation on what is now called Tejon Ranch.

The other research materials are from the Smithsonian Ethnology that was transmitted to Congress in 1905. In that book the Kawaiisu Tribe, their names given in Spanish records and their territory around Tehachapi and Bakersfield, California are described. Some of the Kawaiisu names attributed to Father Francisco Garces and others are Cobaji, Cobajais, Nochi and Newooah. The diaries and maps of Father Francisco Garces' travels are the next avenue a historian would explore.

These are the kind of documents that make the study of history a rich experience. More documents of this kind can be found on the Library of Congress American Memory website for all who yearn to learn about the United States of America and it's early beginnings.

FACT open house and barbecue set for Oct. 3

The 27th annual Facility for Animal Care and Treatment (FACT) Barbecue for the Birds and Open House will be held at California State University, Bakersfield’s Environmental Studies Area on Saturday, Oct. 3 beginning at 2 p.m.; dinner will be served at 5 p.m.

Tours of FACT feature talks and demonstrations with live birds of prey. Biology students will give visitors an opportunity to dissect owl pellets and study bones of animals eaten by the owls.

Members of CSUB’s 60+ Club will sell nature gifts, such as FACT t-shirts, note cards, coloring books, Zoobooks, and other items.

Dinner includes live folk music, and a menu of deep pit beef and turkey, a variety of side dishes catered by Jake's Tex Mex, homemade desserts, coffee and tea. Beer, wine and soda will also be available for purchase.

Silent auctions will be held before dinner and a live auction will begin after dinner along with an opportunity drawing. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the evening.

Dinner tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors (60+), and $6 for kids 5-12. Reservations should be made in advance. For details and reservations call (661) 654-3167 or log on to www.csub.edu/fact/Annual_BBQ.htm.

FACT is a wildlife rescue/conservation education project founded in 1975 by Ted Murphy, CSUB emeritus professor of biology. FACT students and volunteers care for hundreds of injured or orphaned birds of prey and conduct tours of the facility and classroom programs for thousands of Kern County school children each year.

FACT is supported by the annual barbecue, members of Friends of FACT, and the sale of gift items.

CSUB awarded two National Science Foundation grants

California State University, Bakersfield has been awarded $353,674 in grants by the National Science Foundation for two projects that will expand geosciences knowledge in local schools and support ongoing research.

Geology professors Robert Negrini and Robert Horton were awarded $183,440 for a research project entitled “The Laschamp and Mono Lake Excursions in High Deposition Rate Sediments from Summer Lake, Oregon, USA.” The grant will support ongoing scientific research and help scientists gain abetter understanding of the earth’s magnetic field between 20,000 and 60,000 years ago.

“Better understanding of the earth’s magnetic field is along standing problem in science,” said Negrini. “This grant will acquire a record of the ancient magnetic field which will be used to help understand how and why the earth’s magnetic north switches to magnetic south and how that affects a wide range of seemingly unrelated phenomena. The funding will provide full support for a geology student in the master’s program and more than 1,000 hours of part-time work for geology majors here at CSUB.”

In addition to the research grant, geology professor Staci Loewy was recently awarded a $170,234 NSF grant to enhance geosciences curriculum and boost teachers’ earth science knowledge in local schools. The goal of the project is to increase the geosciences educational pipeline from public schools and colleges to professional geosciences careers.

Fall History Forum scheduled at CSUB

James Meriwether, professor of history at CSU Channel Islands and former faculty member at California State University, Bakersfield, will deliver the first history forum talk of the 2009-10 academic year on Friday, Oct. 2 at 3:30 p.m. in the Albertson Room on the CSUB campus.

The presentation, titled “It’s Not a War: Three Elections,Two Obamas, One Fulbright,” will discuss Meriwether’s recent article in the Journal of American History on the African Airlifts, the 1960 presidential election between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon and his other research projects in Kenya. Meriwether will also discuss his own experiences with the 2007 Kenyan presidential elections while he was lecturing and researching as a Fulbright scholar at the University of Nairobi.

The forum is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Jean Stenehjem at (661) 654-3079 or visit www.csub.edu/history.

Free market economy explored in book by CSUB professor

The state of the economy remains a red-hot topic. Agreeing on reasons for the 2008 market collapse and effects of the subsequent bailout will keep economists and politicians busy for years.

Mark A. Martinez, California State University, Bakersfield political science professor and radio talk show host, tackles the topic in his new book “The Myth of the Free Market.”

“By looking at history, it is possible to see that political processes and the state are not only instrumental in making capitalist markets work, but that there would be no capitalist markets or wealth creation without state intervention,” Martinez said. “The book is a good introduction to comparative economic systems in a way that is very accessible to those who may be new to studying economies.”

The book refutes standard mantras of free market economic theory by showing how capitalist economies developed and why the state matters in their functioning. The book, released in March by Kumarian Press, has received high praise and is consistently ranked in the top 100 in three different sales categories on Amazon.com

Ha-Joon Chang from the University of Cambridge noted,“Mark Martinez forces us to re-examine the myth of the ‘natural’ free market order. Using very intelligently a wide range of fascinating historical and contemporary examples, he takes us through many important economic, political, and philosophical reflections about the true nature of the market system and its important but limited role in the construction of a civilized society.”

“The Myth of the Free Market” is available locally at Russo’s Books in the Marketplace, Borders, Barnes and Noble, and through Amazon.com.

Darwin’s Legacy in the Modern World Explored at Levan Center Discussions

Charles Darwin may be best known for his theories on natural selection.

Born in 1809, Darwin was an English naturalist who realized and researched on the idea that all species of life have evolved from common ancestors. While his idea of natural selection may have become accepted by the scientific community during his lifetime, it took until the 1930s for the concept to truly take root.

Darwin’s legacy in the modern world will be the focus of two panel discussions sponsored by The Norman Levan Center for the Humanities at Bakersfield College.

On Tuesday, October 13, Bakersfield College faculty members will discuss Darwinism, Faith and Morality at 7 p.m. in the College’s Fireside Room. The discussion will center on how all three concepts intertwine, and the panel includes:
• John Carpenter, Bakersfield College Sociology faculty
• Daymon Johnson, Bakersfield College History faculty
• Nick Strobel, Bakersfield College Astronomy faculty

On Wednesday, November 4, Bakersfield College faculty members will discuss Darwinism and Social Thought at 7 p.m. in the College’s Fireside Room. The discussion will center on how all three concepts intertwine, and the panel includes:
• Edward Borgens, Bakersfield College Political Science faculty
• Michael Horvath, Bakersfield College Economics faculty
• Karen Kettner, Bakersfield College Behavioral Science faculty

Tickets are not necessary for the events. Call 395-4339 for more information on Darwin’s Legacy in the Modern World.

The mission of the Norman Levan Center for the Humanities is to provide programs that focus on and foster a greater appreciation of the humanities, explore the relevance of the humanities to the practice of medicine, examine and support ethical behavior in business and the professions, recognize and encourage scholarship and intellectual exchange among faculty and students, and involve the Bakersfield community in examining the importance of the humanities in the lives of people. The Levan Center for the Humanities is made possible by a Foundation contribution from Dr. Norman Levan, a practicing physician in Bakersfield for over 50 years and a strong advocate of examining societal issues.