FREE
February 8-14, 2009
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A stroll to the Central Coast Bakersfield couple ranks beach town faves, pg. 5
Extra! Extra! Buy a book, benefit BHS Pg. 2 Creative Corner: Love rules! Pg. 4 Gardens bloom in bad economy Pg. 6
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EXTRA!EXTRA!
Book fair to benefit BHS Friends of Fine Arts With our thanks ...
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here will be a book fair at Barnes & Noble Booksellers this weekend, Feb. 1315, to support The BHS Friends of Fine Arts. Any purchase made this weekend will help support the fine arts programs at Bakersfield High School. You need to mention BHS FOFA or Friends of Fine Arts at the time of your purchase. This booster club assists with league memberships, supplies and trips for students in Art, Ceramics, Forensics, Drama, and Photography, among other programs. Thank you for participating!
MEETTHE CONTRIBUTOR
Allow us to introduce ...
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inda T. French may have grown up in a small Pennsylvania town and lived in Colorado and Iowa, where she attended law school, but Bakersfield is the place that gives her that “Home Sweet Home” feeling. “We love Bakersfield because it is so family-oriented,” Linda said. “When a kid yells, ‘Grandma!’ anywhere in Bakersfield, chances are 10 women will turn around!” True, but how many grandmothers of triplets are there in our fair city? Turns out, Linda is one of them! She and her husband are the proud grandparents of triplet granddaughters in the fourth grade at Buena Vista Elementary School and a grandson at Warren Junior High. The couple considers themselves very fortunate to be very active in all four grandchildren’s lives. When the triplets were just babies, Linda worked the “night shift.” Her daughYour finances
LINDA T. FRENCH
ter-in-law created a schedule where Linda was to wake the infants every three hours for changings and feedings. “It was like a baby assembly line!” Linda recalled. Linda is a Bakersfield attorney, yet she encourages her clients to stay out of the courtroom, if at all possible. “Avoid court! Litigation is expensive, timeconsuming and emotionally draining,” she said. Instead, Linda suggests people explore low cost legal solutions such as mediation, collaborative law or limited scope representation. Linda has been practicing law since 1981. And in 1990, she received the State Bar of California President’s Pro Bono Service Award. In this week’s Bakersfield Voice, Linda contributed an article about how to handle finances before and during marriage. Read her informative piece on page 10 in the “Your Finances” section. — Would you like to become a community contributor? It’s easy to share your voice in The Bakersfield Voice! Just visit our Web site at: www.bakersfieldvoice.com, set up a FREE profile and start posting your articles, photos and blogs as a citizen journalist! Still need help or have a specific question? E-mail Teresa Adamo at: tadamo@bakersfield.com
To our Bakersfield Voice community: We hear you loud & clear! Well, it’s been about a month since we introduced The Bakersfield Voice (TBV) to a wonderful, growing local audience. We asked you all to “share your voices” and that’s exactly what you’ve done! For that and more, we sincerely thank you. Because of your enthusiasm for TBV, our Web site visits are up 30 percent! More people continue to visit us online each and every week — and over the last 30 days, there have been: • 134 new registered users. (Total registered users are now up to more than 5,500!) • 164 posts • 45 new blog posts • 73 blog comments Wow. Amazing! You are sending us a clear message, and we will continue to work hard for you. Keep posting those articles, photos, blogs on our Web site at: www.bakersfieldvoice.com You may even see your contribution in the printed TBV! TBV is published weekly and reaches 70,000 homes, including large parts of northwest and north Bakersfield. Our rack locations span citywide and include locations inside some of your top, literary hangout spots, including Barnes & Noble, Borders and the Southwest Library branch. We thank those of you who are new to our publication, for embracing the concept that YOU are the voice of your community, your family, your school, your team, your celebrations, your health, your creativity — your everything! We thank those of you who
knew us from back in the day and were part of our previous Voice publications, for laying the foundation of this literary vehicle that resonates with so many people. We took down the fences and although that meant some changes, you found the opportunities in those differences that shares your articles, blogs and photos with an even larger audience of friends and family, new and old. With TBV came some requests, and what better time to find ways to fulfill wishes than at the exciting start of a publication! You asked for a place to express your creative writing and your poetry. We answered you with the “Creative Corner,” where we can now happily publish your original works. You asked us to introduce your clubs to potential members. We answered you with the “Meet the Club,” where we let people know about local groups, what they are doing and how they can join. You asked for people who could pass along advice in their fields of expertise. We answered you with some of our old favorites — Sports Shorts, Your Garden, Your Schools — and have added some other regular contributions that are becoming new favorites — Handiest Fellow, Paw Print City and Your Style fashion tips. All in all, it’s because of YOU that TBV continues to receive a warm welcome, so again, thank you for making us feel right at home. And keep up the great work! With your support and constant participation, we will make this publication sing with success!
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FEBRUARY 8-14, 2009
Share your
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Love is in the air!
voice
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Your Garden
today!
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Get out & have fun!
■ Submitting your stories for The Bakersfield Voice is simple and FREE! Just go to: www.bakersfieldvoice.com and create a profile. ■ Choose what you’d like to contribute (an article, letter, picture or community event listing) and post it yourself for our online readership to see. You can even add video to the site!
■ We also include as many community contributions as possible in the print edition of The Bakersfield Voice, published Sundays. ■ Still need help getting your contributions onto our Web site?We’re happy to help get you started! E-mail Teresa Adamo at: tadamo@bakersfield.com
Our “Creative Corner” gets a dose of the love bug, just in time for those Valentine’s Day celebrations!
Just because the economy is in a ditch doesn’t mean you can’t dig in your garden to your heart’s content!
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Amazing teen
Young local leader travels to Washington D.C. for inauguration.
Love, marriage & money
Bakersfield attorney points out need for financial harmony when couples decide to tie the knot.
Our events calendar is chockfull of local happenings!
About the cover This beautiful sunset shot at Pismo Beach, a favorite destination for many Bakersfield residents, was taken by Bakersfield Voice contributor/photographer Doug Kessler. You can see more of Doug’s photos and read “Bakersfield Breakaway,” written by Laurie Kessler, on page 5. The husband-wife duo love to travel and offer top tips to prospective visitors. This time it’s Pismo’s Splash Cafe and the Avila Hot Springs. Where will the Kesslers “breakaway” to next? Find out in a future issue of TBV! Your photo could be on our cover! Photos and stories for the Feb. 22 issue must be posted at: www.bakersfieldvoice.com by 5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11.
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FEBRUARY 8-14, 2009
CREATIVECORNER
On the ‘Love Bus,’ next stop is Valentine’s Day The bus is not a mode of transportation, but a state of mind ... BY CATHERINE OGAS Community contributor
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his month’s tale is from the “Love Bus,” which is purely fiction, but I hope other girls — as well as guys — can relate: As I walked to the bus stop today, love was in the air, sunlight bounced and reflected off the little windows of the houses that I passed. Love birds played in the trees around me, lightly chattering and hopping from branch to branch. As I turn the corner and cross the street, I catch the first glimpse of my bright yellow bus, still wet from the morning dew. Like little sparkles, the bus seemed to glow. Perhaps this was only my imagination — for after all, today was Valentine’s Day. Everything always has an air of uncertainty, a mixture of nervousness and excitement — who will receive Valentines and who will not? Who will be dating whom at the end of day, and who will still be lonely? When I arrived at the first stop, and boarded the bus with my friends, I watched them pick their seats. All the girls seemed to be thinking incredibly hard about where they wanted to sit. What were they doing? And that girl standing in the aisle, why isn’t she sit-
ting down? It’s taking forever for them to sit, and here I am, still waiting in line! And then it hit me, they were all vying for a seat, trying to predict where HE, was going to sit! Now, you may be wondering, who is HE? A devastatingly handsome guy, a wonderful artist, 6-feet-1, light brown wispy hair that falls mysteriously below his right eye, olive skin and eyes like the sunny skies above. They will tell you, HE is a high school Johnny Depp, or a young Brad Pitt, even my favorite actor Edward, from the blockbuster hit movie, “Twilight.” All the girls swoon when HE enters the bus, and I will admit, I have had my moments. Finally, I was able to actually get on the bus, and I noticed how girls had strategically placed bags and books, next to them and even on the seats
behind them! This really is ridiculous, can’t they just act normal? But then, I began to feel like maybe, just maybe, I could have a chance, maybe HE might sit by me. Love is a game of luck, not strategic planning. If I am really going to take part in this foolishness, it is going to based only on luck. The guys seemed to be sitting in the back huddled up with a look of jealousy on their faces. They knew as well as I did what this was all about. So, three seats left, all the other girls sat one to a seat, it could happen to any of them. So I picked the one that, at the time, had the prettiest view of the honeysuckle blossoms that had just recently bloomed, the window was down and the bus was perfumed with the lovely scent of the pretty flowers. This seems to be the best choice, I thought, as the bus rolled down the street to the second stop. The sweet scent of flowers was replaced by a deadly nervousness in the air. They were all on edge; they wanted to sit by HIM, just as much as I had only dreamt to. I made the decision to close my eyes; I would not open them until we had reached the third stop, where HE would be. Second stop comes and goes, and to my amazement, no one sits by me. Sighs of disappointment from the other girls whose seats had been taken fall around me. But not all the seats had been taken, there are
still some left, including mine. The bus rolls on, and on, and on, until finally we have arrived and I stay calm, because I know there will always be tomorrow, for after all, it is only Valentine’s Day. I hear the shuffling of feet along the aisle, a hush of excitement, girls chattering and giggling. Until I feel a presence next to me, an arm brush against mine, a backpack placed on the floor touches my foot. Is it HIM?! I dare not open my eyes, but only HE would be so quiet, only HE would fill the air around him with the soft smell of an art studio, fresh and light. The bus drives on and then we arrive. I can feel the bump of the curb leading to the parking lot. And then I open my eyes, turn to my right and there HE is! A quiet smile plays on his face, with a charming hello. I can’t speak, I am dumfounded, dazzled, intoxicated by the warmth of his smile and the sincerity in his eyes. As the bus stops, they start to exit the bus, and with another smile and a goodbye, HE gets up and leaves. I hang my head in disgust with myself, why couldn’t you just say something? “Good morning,” “Hello,” “I’ve been in love with you since seventh grade,” anything! Then, as I begin to leave as well, something catches my eye. A small red, heart-shaped envelope, addressed to me from HIM ...
Lamenting the lost art of letter writing BY SAMUEL R. “SAMURAI” WRIGHT III Community contributor
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hen was the last time you wrote a letter? No … not an e-mail. Not typing a letter in a word processor and printing it out. I mean really WRITE a letter. I think that it is a dying art, these days. Something that many of us see as some anachronistic part of a past that we do not look to these days. There once was a time when writing was an art in and of itself. You went to school and one of your classes was a penmanship class. When you wrote an essay, you were not only graded on the paper itself, but on the legibility and the clarity of the writing. Today when you see people write, it is usually short, terse notes to each other — and rarely anything of substance. You
even see people writing in “TXT” format as well … a practice that I abhor. It is a sign of laziness and borders on illiteracy. People just do not write that much any more — they do not seem to understand that putting pen or pencil to paper is something that lets them express while also creating. You are not just pounding out the letters onto the screen or a piece of paper, you are physically creating each letter and forming them into words. You are doing something that not only requires thought, but also requires a physical act to carry out the process. Think back aways … it was not even 25 years ago that more people were writing,
than there are today, in the US at least. Now think back to a time when that was the only way people had to communicate. They had to write letters to convey their thoughts or to share a message with others. If you look at those old documents, you will see that because they had to use that media to create their message, they did so with style, and most documents were almost works of art in themselves. Next time you are getting ready to write a letter to your Aunt Bob or Uncle Jeanne, think of doing it longhand. Get out the lined paper and a pen (I would prefer it be a pencil or quill), and write the letter longhand. You will do two things … you will put more feeling into what you are writing and the people who get your letter will think more of it. Anyone can pound out a letter in a few minutes, but when you take the time to really write, you are creating more than a letter, you are truly creating.
To my Valentine BY EVELYN ANDERSON Community contributor
Love is kind and caring. Love is ever thoughtful and sharing. Every day fresh and new, And glowing as stars above. Love sparkles like the morning dew. It will fill the day with song, And make life worth living as years move along. Love’s eternal, Forever, Always. Love. — Read more “love poems” at: www.bakersfieldvoice.com
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YOURTRAVELS
‘Bakersfield Breakaway’ goes to Pismo Beach & Avila Hot Springs BY LAURIE KESSLER Community contributor
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elcome to The Splash Café ... again! We’ve been here a dozen or so times, and have long since memorized the rules. Rules? Yep, there are rules, and here they are: 1. Place your order at the register; 2. Take a seat at any table; 3. Listen for your name to be called; 4. Respond by raising your hand or by calling out; 5. We’ll bring your food to the table. So begins yet another trip to Pismo Beach. My husband, Doug, takes a place in line and waits to order lunch while I fight my way through the packed café in search of an empty table. As anyone who’s been there
knows, this is no easy task because the Splash Café frequently has a line that goes out the front door, around the corner and all the way to the back. Why? It’s the clam chowder, of course. At the back of the restaurant, I spot one available table and dive for a nearby chair as if my life depended on it. The young couple next to me pretends they didn’t notice my public act of desperation, and so I return the favor by pretending they didn’t ruin the best clam chowder in town by adding gobs of tabasco sauce. Eventually, Doug finds me perched on a stool, back flattened against the wall, and hiding behind an abandoned newspaper. He slaps a couple of ice cold beers on the table and we wait, as the rules say, for our names to be called. When our soup arrives, the cafe — packed and noisy — transforms into perfect
The Splash Café has rules for diners and clam chowder that is out of this world!
ambiance while we savor our steaming bowls of award-winning chowder. Our trip was spur-of-the-moment, but with the economy in its current lousy shape, just about any hotel was cheaper than usual. So we got a room with a view at the Shore Cliff Lodge — balcony with rail-perching seagulls included — and spent most of our weekend relaxing. Seated all day and much of the evening on the balcony, we soaked up the California rays when it was sunny and wrapped ourselves in hotel blankets when it wasn’t. I searched for that rare sighting of an otter with my binoculars, trailed gliding pelicans into the sunset, and mellowed to cool jazz floating out of our room from Doug’s laptop. We forgot about the lousy economy as well as the woeful state of the nation and allowed ourselves to get lost in simple pleasures.
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FEBRUARY 8-14, 2009
YOURGARDEN
Dig saving dollars? Gardening on a budget blooms, even in this economy economy is leaving growers with extra nyway you look at it, plants stock. In the plant world that means are still a great deal. Not bigger plants for the same or less mononly do they bring instant ey. Also, I’m thinking that our selecvalue and beauty to your tion might greatly improve. Plants that surroundings, but they are have been sold out in the last couple of good for our souls. Planting can make years should now become more readius just feel so much better ly available. This will mean about life. With spring just great deals for all of us who buy plants, so “the grass around the corner, the looks greener!” chances for that feeling of renewal and beauty will be Another good point when dealing with a plant budget multiplied instantly. I see — you can always start with a even more value, than usual, smaller size. Guess what — in planting this year. they will grow! Sometimes in As I look over my 2009 nursery price lists for the our impatient, instant gratification world, we forget this upcoming year, I am seeing a obvious fact. There are a lot trend! Most of our top quality of really nice-sized, 5-gallon growers have not raised their trees waiting for buyers at prices at all. Many are even the nursery. The last few offering specials early in the years the trend has been to season. Bottom line, this slow Gardening columnist
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KATHY ROBINSON
plant 15-gallon or even 24-inch boxes. On more than one occasion, I have seen a nice-sized, 5-gallon tree, with proper feeding, pass up the bigger sizes. And don’t rule out seeds — they’ll grow, too. Remember, going down in size can save quite a bit of money and be just as rewarding, not to mention easier to plant. I think people forget what a great deal a shade tree can be in regards to a shade structure. Building a new patio can be a pretty pricey undertaking. On the other hand, planting a tree is a pretty cost effective way to create structure in the garden. Spreading gravel in that area, under the tree, for instance, creating a charming seating area. You can also save the labor cost because this is a good DIY project. Instead of a cross fence or low wall, how about adding a hedge? Make sure you check with your nursery professional — spacing is one of the biggest mistakes people make when planting a hedge. Don’t plant too close, you’re just wasting money! In fact, that is a big problem in all phases of planting. Be patient and plant according to maximum size of what you’re planting. If you hate having space between plants, a six-pack of flowers is much less expensive to fill the space until your shrubs can take over. Plant veggies, herbs and fruit trees as another way to help out the budget. It’s a great family project and home grown always tastes better! So in conclusion, we can garden on a budget and still have a great time doing it. It may be even more fun to think outside the box and use our imagination to create unique spaces and solutions to the budget crises. In my book, plants are a great deal any way you look at them — and so pretty! Here’s to a great gardening year! — Gardening columnist Kathy Robinson is the owner of Robby’s Nursery in northwest Bakersfield. — UPCOMING SEMINARS “Love your Lawn,” 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 14, at Robby’s Nursery Turf Seminar by The Sultan of Sod & Robby “Bakersfield Basics” by Kathy, 3:30, Feb. 21, Home Show at Kern County Fairgrounds “Bonsai Made Easy” by Robby, 3:30, Feb. 22, also at the Home Show
Staff EDITORIAL Olivia Garcia Publisher ogarcia@bakersfield.com 395-7487 Teresa Adamo Associate Editor tadamo@bakersfield.com
ART Timothy Heinrichs Designer theinrichs@bakersfield.com
ADVERTISING Jaime De Los Santos Sales Manager jdelossantos@bakersfield.com 7168632 David Alanis Sales Executive Gustavo Carrillo Sales Executive Samantha Vilchis Sales Executive Mark Wells Sales Executive
OFFICE Marisol Sorto Office Administrator msorto@bakersfield.com 716-8640
The Bakersfield Voice 1522 18th St. Suite 310 Bakersfield, CA 93301 The Bakersfield Voice is published by Mercado Nuevo, an independent subsidiary of The Bakersfield Californian To learn more or to contribute news and pictures, visit us online at: www.bakersfieldvoice.com
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FEBRUARY 8-14, 2009
THE VOICE CALENDAR Sunday 2/8 Kern River Band will serve up a helping of classic country music dipped in the Bakersfield Sound.1 to 4 p.m., Rocket Shop Cafe, 2000 South Union Ave. Free. www.myspace.com/kernriverband. Guest Speaker Brad Dacus, of The Pacific Justice Institute, 10 a.m., Christ Cathedral, 2301 White Lane. 834-3311.
Monday 2/9 Big Read Discussion, with KHSD teachers Shelly Fair, John Rose and Darlene Stotler, 2 p.m.; Big Read Dramatic Reading of “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by actors from The Empty Space, 7 p.m., Barnes&Noble, 4001 California Ave. 6312575. Skate Day, 1 to 4 p.m., Rollerama West, 7850 Brimhall Road. $6 admission; $3 skate rental. 5897555.
Tuesday 2/10 African Rhythm Story Time, 3:30 p.m., Beale Memorial Library, 701 Truxtun Ave. 868-0700. Open Forum Travel Series, Clint Denn, “Cruising Russia,” 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Bakersfield High School, Harvey Auditorium, 1241 G St. Free. 8710146. Sierra Club Conditioning Hikes, 3 to 5 miles, 7 p.m., meet at corner of Highways 178 and 184. 872-2432 or 873-8107. Thomas & Friends: A Circus Comes to Town, 7
p.m., Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $10-$35. ticketmaster.com or 322-2525. Solar Energy Conference for interested school districts, 8 a.m., Cal State Bakersfield, Multipurpose Room of the CSUB Student Union, 9001 Stockdale Hwy. 654-3047.
Wednesday 2/11 Bike Ride, hosted by David Miller, leave Action Sports at 12:15 p.m., ride to Enos Lane and back, done at a moderate pace, takes no longer than a hour-and-half, Action Sports, 9500 Brimhall Road, Ste. 400. 833-4000. Ladies Night, learn about stretching, bike fit, bike repair, nutrition and more, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. every second Wednesday, Action Sports, 9500 Brimhall Road, Ste. 400. 833-4000.
Thursday 2/12 Art show featuring the work of NANO, reception at 6:30 p.m., Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 4001 California Ave., Show runs through Feb. 28, 205-1649. Harlem Globetrotters, 7 p.m., Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $20-$95. ticketmaster.com or 322-2525. “Heroes,” doors open at 6:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Stars Dinner Theater, 1931 Chester Ave. $50-$54; show only tickets $25. 325-6100. 54th annual Whiskey Flat Days, Thursday through Monday, Kernville. For full schedule of
Educator of the Month
Friday 2/13 Winter History Forum, with Oliver Rink on “Wampum, Furs and Builders: Dutch Commercial Capitalism Comes to America,” 3:30 p.m., CSUB, Albertson Room, 9001 Stockdale Highway. Free. 654-3079. First annual Luau and Silent Auction, presented by WarmLine, dinner, entertainment and silent auction, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Coconut Joe’s Private Beach Club, 4000 Easton Drive. $30 per person; $300 per table of 10. 203-4817. “A Woman Called Truth,” 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Bakersfield Community Theatre, 2400 S. Chester Ave. $10-$12. 831-8114.
Saturday 2/14 Mr. Rhodes Democratic Women of Kern Meeting will honNominated by Guadalupe Hernández or three African-American women for Valentine’s
I’d like to nominate my twin daughters’ kindergarten teacher Mr. Rhodes who teaches at Discovery Elementary School. At the beginning of the year, I was so skeptical after having learned that they were going to have a male teacher for kindergarten. He has superseded all of my expectations as to what a great kindergarten teacher should be. My girls love Mr. Rhodes. He teaches them lots of cute and Cosmetic & General Dentistry silly songs. He builds up their self-esteem. He is just so Yong Eon Park, DDS marvelous with my girls!
Educator of the month Mrs. Kate Plotner
events, visit: kernvalley.com/news/whiskey.htm or 760-376-2629.
Day. All day, breakfast starts at 7 a.m. Camino Real Restaurant, 3500 Truxtun Ave., $7 members, $7.50 non-members. 17th annual Kern County Regional Science Bowl, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., CSUB, 9001 Stockdale Hwy. Frontier High School Jr. Cheer Clinic, 9 a.m. to noon, Frontier High School, 6401 Allen Road, $25, ages 4-14. For more info, e-mail: lisa_bolton@khsd.k12.ca.us. Book signing, with author BJ Binning of “Love me already,” noon to 2 p.m., Russo’s, 9000 Ming Ave. 665-4686. Kern Audubon Society, Valentine’s Day bird walk with Dr. Ted Murphy, 8 to 11 a.m., Kern River Parkway, Truxtun Extension at Mohawk. Bring water, snacks, binoculars, walking shoes and sunscreen. kernaudubonsociety.org or 3250307. Pirates: Behind the Scenes, presented by Theatre Adventures for Young People and Spotlight School of Arts; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Spotlight School of Arts, 1622 19th St. $10 adults; $5 students/children; children under 3 are free. 634-0692. Sweetheart Dance & Dinner, with music by The Token Okies, 7 to 10 p.m., VFW, 5310 S. Union Ave. 834-3656. Valentine’s Day Belly Dance Workshop, 10 a.m., East Hills Mall, Bahiyya Studio, 3000 Mall View Road. $5 advance; $10 at the door. 634-0322. Valentine’s Run for Your Heart, CSUB Peak Club 10k and 5k run/walk, registration 7 to 8:30 a.m.; 9 a.m. start time, CSUB, Icardo Center, 9001 Stockdale Hwy. $23; all proceeds benefit the CSUB Peak Club. 654-6084.
Nominated by Drew Spicer Mrs. Plotner is my second-grade teacher at Rosedale North Elementary School. I want to nominate her because she is one of the best teachers in the world. She is always helpful and never forgets anything. One day, Mrs. Plotner submit your nominee for Educator Month, broughtToreal apples to school forofathe fun activity. go to: www.northwest then gave click oneach “Post Something!” and contribute a She cut themvoice.com open and of us a slice to paragraph about why you appreciate and would like to recognize your nominee. Be sure study how they changed. My apple looked so is open to to include the educator’s name, school, department and picture. The contest gross afterinathe week, butarea. it was educators Southwest Entriesfun! can also be e-mailed to:
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dmartin@northwestvoice.com. Each month the winning entry $50 gift certificate, compliments of GW School Supply and The Northwest Voice. Sponsored by
Medi-cal/ Denti-cal and Healthy Families Plan accepted. Language spoken in the office:
■ If you have a teacher you think is great, nominate them for Educator of the Month by going to: www.bakersfield.com and posting an article. Nominations should tell us in 50 words or less why your teacher is the best and should also include their name, school, department and a picture. All nominees will be featured in the print edition of The Bakersfield Voice and each month the winning entry will receive a $50 gift card for school supplies, compliments of GW School Supply and The Bakersfield Voice.
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FEBRUARY 8-14, 2009
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YOURSCHOOLS
Young leader returns Science Bowl needs from Washington D.C community volunteers Monday was the kickoff of festivities and VIPs were everywhere. The concert and speeches at the Lincoln reana Oliver, the daughter Memorial seemed to pass too quickly. of Edrico & Yvonne Oliver, For Breana, just being there was so has just returned from her surreal that the cool weather didn’t trip to Washington, D.C. for faze her. The scholars were given the the historical inauguration opportunity for discussions and eduof our 44th President, Barack H. Oba- cational activities that enhanced their ma. After attending the inauguration, knowledge of the presidential elecshe feels that there isn’t anything she tion. can’t accomplish. Tuesday began with Breana went through a admiration and joy. Breana five-day educational prostates, “Peaceful transition gram. The Presidential of power in our country is Youth Inaugural Conferadmirable and inspiring. It ence (PYIC) provides doesn’t just affect the lives scholars with a greater of this generation, but also understanding of the elecof those to come.” The toral process and all the Inaugural Ball capped off grandeur of the presidenthe evening and the long tial inauguration. trip back to California. Breana and other young Breana became involved scholars were given the with PYIC by invitation opportunity to meet and after attending the National associate with congresYouth Leadership Forum sional staff members, on Law in the fall of ‘07 in White House officials, Breana Oliver Washington, D.C. She political experts and other would like to thank her VIPs. family, local organizations Saturday began with a five-hour and friends for all their hard work flight from LAX to Dulles Interna- that allowed her a return trip to be tional Airport in Washington, D.C. part of this historical inauguration. After a meet and greet, the scholars The Congressional Youth Leaderwere treated to a question-and- ship Council sponsors PYIC. They are answer session with national news a non-partisan, independent educacorrespondent Lisa Ling. tional organization. Sunday brought guest speakers, For additional information, visit: General Colin Powell and Archbishop www.cylc.org/pyic. Desmond Tutu. BY YVONNE OLIVER Community contributor
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alifornia State University, Bakersfield is seeking volunteers for the 17th annual Kern County Regional Science Bowl. The competition is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 14, at CSUB from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event features 32, five-member teams from 15 Kern County high schools competing in a question-answer quiz format that covers physics, math, computer science and astronomy. The top two teams advance to the finals and compete in a double-elimination round, with the winner advancing to the National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., April 30 - May 4. Thomas Meyer, professor of physics/computer science and coordinator of the event, is looking for volunteers to help run the event and local businesses that are interested in donat-
ing prizes for the students. All officials must attend a training session before the competition where they will be trained for the various positions and given the competition rules. Volunteers will receive a T-shirt, morning snack and lunch, courtesy of event sponsors. “The previous events were a great success because we had incredible support from campus and community volunteers,” Meyer said. “In return for their efforts, volunteers will get to watch Kern County’s top science students compete.” Meyer added that all volunteers are welcome, regardless of educational background. For details or to become a volunteer, contact Penny Lampkins, 654-3082 or plampkins@csub.edu. Or visit: http://www.cs.csubak.edu/Sc... to download the volunteer form. — Courtesy of Cal State Bakersfield Office of Public Affairs
Star Athlete: Grant Whitson Nominated by Leigh Whitson I would like to nominate my brother, Grant, for Star Athlete. He is a hockey player and has been since about the age of 4. Grant is only 14, yet he plays on an 18-and-under league at Ice Sports Center. He still gets superb grades and focuses hard on school work. Grant also plays the trumpet and the drums. He’s a busy guy, but he still makes time to be a great brother! I love you, Grant!
■ Do you have a son, daughter, grandkid or buddy who is your pick for MVP? Nominate them for Star Athlete of the Month by going to: www.bakersfield.com and posting an article. Nominations should tell us in 50 words or less what makes this kid a star athlete and should include a photo. All nominees will be featured weekly in the print edition of The Bakersfield Voice and each month one nominee’s name will be drawn to receive a $50 gift card for sporting equipment, compliments of Sports Authority and The Bakersfield Voice.
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FEBRUARY 8-14, 2009
YOURFINANCES
Saying ‘I do’ to merged money BY LINDA T. FRENCH, ATTORNEY AT LAW Community contributor
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or the bride, groom and parents of the engaged couple, a wedding is the event of a lifetime. With all the attention focused on the details of the wedding, it’s easy to forget the effect marriage could have on your finances. For example, if one of you currently has a lot of debt, it could be a mistake to open a joint bank account after marriage. California law provides that debts incurred before marriage are the responsibility of the person who incurred the debt. It also provides that the earnings of the non-debtor spouse are not liable for the pre-marital debts of the other spouse. However, there is a trap you must avoid to get these protections. Let’s take the case of Ed and Caroline. While Ed was still single, he went crazy with credit cards and ended up with a great deal of debt. After marriage, he and his new wife, Caroline, open a joint account where they both deposit their paychecks. The result is that Caroline’s earnings are not protected. She needs to put her earnings into a separate account to protect them. Another potential problem can develop if one or both of you have substantial separate property. Is it your intention to keep that property separate or is it all right if the community acquires an interest in it? Remember, California is a community property state. This means that all property acquired during the marriage while the parties are living in California (that is not a gift or an inheritance)
belongs to both spouses. In case of a divorce, it is divided equally. Let’s look at Sue and Bill. Sue has a successful business. She intends to keep working in her business after the marriage. She may not realize that if the business increases in value because of her efforts, at divorce or death, the community will have acquired an interest in the business. If Sue doesn’t want this result, she needs to protect herself with a premarital agreement. Here’s another example: Jim buys a boat with his separate funds, but his wife Jane pays for part of it out of their joint checking account. Jane also devotes a lot of time to the upkeep of the boat. The end result is that the boat
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could be found to be community property. If you want to keep separate property separate, you need to keep detailed records establishing what separate property you have and demonstrating that you did not co-mingle separate property with community property. It used to be that premarital agreements were only for the wealthy. This is no longer the case, especially with people entering into second and third marriages and others waiting to marry until they are well off financially. Premarital agreements offer many benefits, including: 1. Keeping income separate. (Some couples decide they will never have community income.)
2. Keeping assets separate. (Some couples decide they will never have community property.) 3. Protecting each of you from the other’s debts. 4. Providing for children of former relationships. 5. Limiting spousal support (alimony). There is a myth that tells us that a premarital agreement indicates a lack of trust. In fact, the opposite may be true. For many couples, the process of negotiating the agreement strengthens the relationship. An honest discussion about money and long-term financial goals can promote closeness. These talks will also help couples identify and resolve potential problems before they arise, so there are no hidden financial land mines. Every couple has a choice. If you don’t negotiate your own rules by creating a premarital agreement, you will automatically be bound by the California community property system. If you are already married, it’s never too late for a postmarital agreement. It offers the same protections as a premarital agreement. If you would like a free copy of “Is a Premarital Agreement Right for You?,” please e-mail me at: lindatfrench@holmeseng.com. — Please note that the information presented here is made available for educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide specific legal advice. This article was written in December 2008. The law is subject to change. This article cannot substitute for competent legal advice about your specific situation from a licensed California attorney.
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FEBRUARY 8-14, 2009
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FEBRUARY 8-14, 2009