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The Bakersfield Voice Sunday, December 5, 2010
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YOUR SCHOOLS
Bakersfield is what you make it — there’s plenty to enjoy here!
“I
hate Bakersfield; there’s nothing to do,” Joseph complained in school recently. Madi chimed in, “I want to move to the beach.” Sure, we all experience the negatives on occasion including the dirty diaper left by some thoughtless soul but if people are bored here, frankly, they’ll be bored everywhere (and one can find littered diapers in any city!). Shannon, my 21-year-old unexpectedly needed a parent weekend so I got to spend the day with her bumming around Bakersfield. We had a blast with some planned activities, including Beaux’s first birthday and shopping at the American Association of University Women’s holiday bazaar —but we had an unexpectedly wonderful time while cruising the Valley Plaza. Education columnist Impact Streetwear hosted a fundraising event for the Jamison Children’s Center, a place that provides “children who need emergency shelter and protection a
PEGGY DEWANE-POPE
safe, warm and nurturing environment." Artists from all over town sat down to make masterpieces of TOMS shoes purchased from the store. We watched as shoes evolved from the down-home TOMS casual shoes to treasures — all for free! We bought a pair for my niece Claire while Belisario Dena, a self-proclaimed graffiti artist, drew the most amazing four-leaf clover on our Irish-dance lover’s pair of flats. With every purchase of a pair, TOMS will give a pair to a child in need throughout the world. A dozen designed pairs were auctioned off to benefit Jamison, the facility where many of my students have found themselves when their lives temporarily unraveled. Hours of entertainment and goodwill were had by all who attended.
Need more ideas for fun in Bakersfield? Go no further than your closest high school. Recently, mine hosted a stunning football game, and the following day, West High School hosted a band competition featuring more than 1000 local musicians. If you haven’t been to a band competition, get out there and see one. They frequently start with junior high schools and end the afternoon or evening with local and out-of-town bands doing incredibly complex field shows by amazingly skilled musicians. Missed marching season? Catch a drum line competition in the winter. It doesn’t get better than the choreography and skills of our local kids. No money? Watch local kids compete in basketball, soccer, or wrestling. Fabulous small — and large — parks are spattered all over the map that feature playground equipment, green grass, and a guaranteed good time. Bakersfield (and anywhere else) is what you make of it. There’s plenty to enjoy here. Peggy Dewane-Pope is a teacher in the PanamaBuena Vista Union School District.
PHOTO BY PEGGY DEWANE-POPE
Belisario Dena recently helped Impact Streetwear raise $1,200 for charity.
YOUR SPORTS
YOUR CELEBRATIONS
Year-round swim club appeals to many ages and skill levels
Bakersfield Inferno take Turkey shootout!
FROM WWW.MYBAKERSFIELDSPORTS.COM rom swim lessons to competitive swimming, the Bakersfield Swim Club provides a natural progression for kids from 6 months to 18 years of age. “We’re in our fourth year, and we’ve gone from 30 kids in a private outdoor pool that first year to more than 400 taking swim lessons this past summer in a private indoor pool,” said William Burrows, Swim School Director and Age Group Coach. “We have about 150 kids who swim competitively for us in the winter months, and another 250 to 300 in the summer months. “We’re already seeing the results from kids who started taking swim lessons here four years ago and are now swimming competitively for us. You can really tell the difference between those who started with lessons here and those who didn’t.” All of the Bakersfield Swim Club instructors are CPR, first aid and life guard trained, and in addition they each undergo a 30-day inhouse training program. There is an EMT on the premises consistently. “Safety is the number one issue when it comes to lessons, and then we graduate to stroke technique for the competitive side of it,” Burrows said. “We keep a very small class base, with only three kids per class, so that each can receive individual instruction.”
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FROM WWW.MYBAKERSFIELDSPORTS.COM
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he Bakersfield Inferno went undefeated (5-0) in the 14U division over the Thanksgiving weekend to take the 1st annual Turkey shootout hosted this year by the Bakersfield Rebels at the Northwest Bakersfield Complex at Sam Lynn Ballpark.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Young club swimmers having fun showing their medals they won in swim competitions.
Competitively, the teams are based on skill level for kids six to 18. Once a kid can swim the four competitive strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breast stroke and butterfly), they can try out for a competitive team. We compete here in the Central Valley against similar clubs under the USA Swimming umbrella.” The short-course winter season goes from the beginning of school to March, followed by a championship meet in March, while the long-course summer season runs from late March until August, fol-
lowed by another championship meet. Burrows said that many of the club’s older swimmers have college scholarships in their sights. “That’s a huge factor in everything we do,” Burrow said. “Several of our swimmers are now swimming competitively in colleges across the nation and some have advanced to the Olympic Trials. Gabe Woodward was a 2004 Olympics bronze medalist, while Larson Jensen won the silver medal in both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.”
YOUR CELEBRATIONS!
National MS Society is looking for volunteers to spread holiday cheer! BY CHRISTINE GRONTKOWSKI
Stockdale High Frosh/Soph Volleyball completes a perfect season! FROM WWW.MYBAKERSFIELDSPORTS.COM
he Stockdale High School Frosh/Soph volleyball team completed a perfect season by winning every match in all four tournaments — and also going undefeated in league. The girls worked very hard through out the season, and represented Stockdale High with pride, a “Never Give Up” attitude, and great sportsmanship. Great job girls!
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PROVIDED PHOTO
Pictured front row left to right are: Valerie Din #7, Gabby Reynolds #3, Hannah Cooper #9, Macie Folger #10, Alexxus Johnson #12. Top Row left to right are: Head Coach Corrine Gann, Priscilla Mariscal #4, Brooke Dillingham # 8, Toria Siemens # 5, Kailyn Mahoney #13, Amanda Dixon #2, Julia Sawaya #11, Lynnette Pola #14, and Asst. Coach Andria Carlson
FROM THE BLOGS
Blogger loses ‘Faith,’ discovers the power of a mustard seed
Community contributor
re you looking for a rewarding way to give back to the community this holiday season? The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Southern California & Nevada Chapter is looking for volunteers and/or donations to make gift baskets for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) involved in the Caring Connection program. Every week, through the Caring Connection program, volunteers visit people with MS who are living in a licensed care facility, or are homebound and unable to go out into the community. This friendly visitor program helps provide a connection to the outside world, emotional support, companionship and social interaction. During the holiday season, the National MS Society tries to do even more — by delivering gift baskets to this group. Some items on their wish list: DVDs, books, holiday decorations and personal hygiene products. “I think the baskets are very important because so many people living with MS are isolated,” explains Board of Trustee Lisa Karpe. “Many do not have any Christmas at all. No gift is too small.” If you or someone you know would like to sponsor a person with MS by creating a gift basket for him or her,
PROVIDED PHOTO
The current lineup includes (from L to R): Back row coaches Jerry Ramos,Ted Bischoff and Mike Gray. Middle row: Chris Rodriquez,Nate Clark, Tyson Hays, Tino Nunez,Drew Bischoff,Chris Villegas, Matt Tiede. Front row kneeling: Josh Hernandez, Tyson Hooks, Isaac Ramos, A.J.Gray and Brycin Hernandez.
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FROM USERNAME: SONFLOWERANDGRACE lost my Faith this morning. I looked everywhere, praying all the while: “Lord, help me find it.” After doubling back, fretting and looking once again, I tried the one place I hadn’t. I was sure it could not be there. However, there behind the washing machine, looking up at me, sat Faith. Faith is my chicken. That aside, I could easily see the lesson God had planned for me today. Faith sometimes seems to elude us. Whether we are consumed by depression or anxiety — or whether
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or if you would like to donate any products, please contact the Kern County office of the National MS Society at 321-9512, or email: christine.grontkowski@nmss.org.
we allow financial hardship to get us down. Maybe someone we love has disappointed us Or maybe someone we care about is sick or dying. Maybe we are sick or dying. Jesus told us that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. Imagine what faith the size of a mountain can accomplish! In the thick of torment from boils upon his body, Job did not lose faith. He was heartbroken over the losing his loved ones — and his financial empire was in ruins, but still, he did not lose faith. We know this, because he cried out to God. Faith, the size of a mustard seed allowed him to see God to cry out
to. Thankfully, that in our darkest hours, God remains faithful. Matthew 17:20 — He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Do YOU have something you’d like to blog about? Submitting your stories, blogs, events or photos for The Bakersfield Voice is simple and FREE! Just go to: www.bakersfieldvoice.com, create a free profile, and get started today!
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The Bakersfield Voice Sunday, December 5, 2010
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The BakersďŹ eld Voice Sunday, December 5, 2010