www.bakersfieldvoice.com
Dec. 27, 2009-Jan. 2, 2010
F R E E
Santa brings smiles of wonder & delight! Pg. 2 A win for local club Pg. 3 BCHS grad signs with Oregon Ducks Pg. 6
Future poets!
Teacher finds hope for the New Year in student poetry, pg. 4
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
DEC. 27, 2009-JAN. 2, 2010
YOURVOICE
Community bands together to put a smile on disabled children’s faces!
S T A F F EDITORIAL
BY PATRICIA HENSON
Olivia Garcia Vice President /Content ogarcia@bakersfield.com Teresa Adamo Associate Editor tadamo@bakersfield.com Sandi Molen Contributions Coordinator smolen@bakersfield.com
Community contributor
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miles of wonder and delight were in abundance at the Society for Disabled Children’s annual Christmas party. The more than 200 guests attending the party included children who receive services from the Society, their siblings and parents, grandparents or guardians, volunteers and staff. Golden West Casino was the major sponsor for the evening’s festivities. The Casino’s own master chef prepared a truly wonderful holiday feast. To the delight of everyone — turkey, tri-tip and all the fixings filled their plates. Pumpkin and pecan pie, as well as a decadent chocolate cake, put the finishing touch on the meal. The highlight of the evening was Santa’s arrival. Each child attending the party had the opportunity to take a picture with, and share their Christmas wish with Santa. After visiting with Santa children were invited to select a teddy bear and a toy generously donated through the Condor’s annual Teddy Toss and Golden West Casino’s toy drive. Every family present received a board game to take home for hours of family fun donated by the Bakersfield Breakfast Lions, AT&T Pioneers, Target and individual donors. Children attending the party also received hamburger gift certificates to McDonald's and Jack in the Box. In addition to the toys, games, certificates and meal, each family
ART Glenn Hammett and Kent Kuehl Designers ghammett@bakersfield.com kkuehl@bakersfield.com
ADVERTISING Jaime De Los Santos Sales Manager jdelossantos@bakersfield.com 716-8632
OFFICE COURTESY PHOTO
A visit from Santa brings joy and delight to the faces of two children who participated in the Society for Disabled Children annual Christmas party. had the opportunity to have their name drawn to receive live Christmas trees, bowling coupons and pizza certificates donated by Home Depot, Lowes, Alpine Christmas Trees, Santa’s Forest, Simply Holidays, Bolles Nursery, Westchester Lanes and Rusty’s Pizza. The Society for Disabled Children is a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit organization. Services include: speech and language therapy, resident camp, and financial assistance to attend medical appointments, social activities and medical equipment/supplies on a case-by-case basis. Services are supported by individual donations, fundraisers, grants and rental of the Society’s social hall.
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COURTESY PHOTO
Guests of the Society for Disabled Children and their families received dinner and gifts during the society’s annual Christmas celebration.
EXTRA!EXTRA!
Workshop to address Lanterman disabilities act BY CAROL BAKER-WILLEY Community contributor
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n Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010, Autism Society ChapterKern Autism Network will present “Lanterman Fair Hearing,” a workshop for parents, teachers and anyone working with autistic individuals. The workshop will be held at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools office, 1300 17th St., Room 1B, from 8:30 a.m. until noon. “Through regional centers and other agencies, the State of California provides valuable services to people with developmental disabilities. These services are coordinated by the state Department of Developmental Services and authorized by the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Act). To qualify for state
funding, a regional center or developmental center (also called a service agency) must ensure that its decisions are fair and in the recipient’s best interest. When a recipient is dissatisfied with a center’s decision, the Act permits the recipient to file a request for a fair hearing.” (The Lanterman Act Fair Hearing Process by the State of California Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH): http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/oah/forms/Fair% 20Hearing%20Brochure%20200311-19.pdf). This workshop will address what is Lanterman Fair Hearing, define the Lanterman Act, then review this process. Jeff Popkin, Associate Director of Kern Regional Center, will be our presenter. Join other parents and professionals in learning why this law is
Marisol Sorto Office Administrator msorto@bakersfield.com 716-8640
important to families of those with disabilities. There will be opportunities to discuss this topic in order to empower you with information to assist you in helping your child reach his highest level of self-sufficiency. Parent knowledge is paramount to meeting the needs of your children. Reservations are on a first come, first served basis. This workshop is free. Seating is limited to 60 and reservations are required. To register to attend, contact Ramona Puget at 588-4235 or email: kernautism@gmail.com. Autism Society Chapter-Kern Autism Network provides support, awareness, information and education to families, professionals and the public throughout Kern County. For more information, visit our Web site at: www.kernautism.org.
Voice
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
DEC. 27, 2009-JAN. 2, 2010
YOUR CELEBRATIONS!
Contents
6 7 8
Local football players rush to the top
Two local athletes show they have what it takes to stand out in the football field.
Cheering for the best year yet!
Players (from left to right) first row: Joel, Daniel, Kenneth, Andres, Jazmin, and Caesar.
Pet columnist, Vicky Thrasher, shares her New Year’s wish list for pets.
Second row: Romero, Tyler, Kyle, Eduardo, De, Amond, and Carlos.
Girl Scouts “scout” the northwest during scavenger hunt to benefit the Ronald McDonald House.
Third row: Head Coach Frank Aguayo, Assistant Coach Larry Cobb, and Assistant Coach Cody Cobb.
Going door-to-door for a good cause
About the cover
Not listed: Nathaniel, Robert, Cole, Gabriel, Emilio, and Marco.
Hort Elementary football team wins title! BY MAGGIE CUSHINE Community contributor
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ongratulations go to Hort Elementary on their Boys & Girls Club Flag Football League 2009 championship season! Hort, lead by Head Coach Frank Aguayo and assistants, Larry Cobb and Cody Cobb, did the impossible by defeating the only
two undefeated teams as they battled through the play-offs. Hort defeated College Heights, 24-16, in the championship game on December 12. The Boys & Girls Club’s mission is to “Inspire and enable young people, especially those who need us the most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.” The Club’s goal is to offer recre-
ational, vocational, educational, outreach and supportive services to the young people attending our programs. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County offer after-school programs at 32 sites in Bakersfield, Lamont and Frazier Park. For more information please contact the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County at 325-3730 or www.bgclubsofkerncounty.org.
Peggy Dewane-Pope, Voice education columnist and an eighth-grade teacher in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District, took this photo of seven of her students. Standing left to right are: Elaine Guadian, Eryk Avila, Vanessa Ibarra, Judith Martinez, Nia Hightower. Kneeling left to right are: Mabel Morales and Jared Sharp. Peggy was so inspired by the talent and insight she discovered in her students’ poetry, she felt compelled to share their work with you, our Voice readers. Turn to page 4 to read Peggy’s column and fined out why she sees hope for the future in this next generation of young poets. Your photo could be on our next cover! Photos and stories for the Jan. 10 issue must be posted by Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 5 p.m.
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
DEC. 27, 2009-JAN. 2, 2010
CREATIVECORNER
Educator celebrates New Year with student poetry!
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am constantly amazed at the depth of emotion in my eighth-grade students, and there is nothing like poetry to pull it out. To think Jared could write such a touching poem about a horror that occurred when he was a tot boggles my mind. I’m touched by the joy Elaine finds in music and am so thankful she has the opportunity to experience it at school every day in band; while Vanessa finds exhilaration in running in our physical education classes. It is so obvious that Mabel has loved deeply and suffered such tremendous loss — I don’t see that when she burrows into her work with a cheerful look on her face. Judith already knows what it is to lose touch, while Eryk knows the sensation of a free spirit. The next generation is filled with insightful, hopeful, sensitive people — I feel so fortunate to be a part of their lives. They have so Education columnist many adventures ahead of them, yet I sometimes lose touch with how many joys, tragedies, and challenges they have faced already. I’m looking forward to another year of revelations. To think that this is just a small sampling of the many poems that cross my desk. I’m rich. Peggy Dewane-Pope is an eighth-grade teacher in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District.
PEGGY DEWANE-POPE
Tragic day remembered
Thinking About a New Career?
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Near the street of Wall, In a very crowded city, Two sisters stood tall, Inside them, people were busy. At the top of the world Were the two towers. To the North Tower, a plane was hurled; People cried for hours. A tower! A tower was hit by a plane! The two sisters stood, one of them wounded, On the top of the tower was a huge stain, And all were astounded. “Up there!” said one, Out windows people were jumping! And when we thought the damage was done, Another plane was quickly coming. People were crying, debris was falling, Then came a loud sound: The South Tower was falling, No one inside was safe or found. People ran and cried, They wondered where to go. So many people died, Their ashes chased people to and fro. Then the dust settled, Ashes covered the streets. Then the North Tower crumbled, And all was complete. A pile of dust Lay where the two towers once stood. With terrorists, their lust, They killed all that they could. Some three thousand Were killed in that way. Remember the three thousand, And remember the day.
DEC. 27, 2009-JAN. 2, 2010
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
CREATIVECORNER
Two ‘peas in a pod’ separated by change
Time to say goodbye to loved one
FRIENDSHIP
GRANDMOTHER
BY JUDITH MARTINEZ
BY MABEL MORALES
There once were two best friends, They did everything together, They thought their friendship would never end, That they would be best friends forever. But people change in some ways, They soon grew further apart, They stopped talking through the passing days. Soon no more friendship remained in their hearts. These two friends who were two peas in a pod, Through all their hardship, They would still ask God, “What happened to our friendship?”
Her time is coming But she will not run. She can hear an angel humming, An escape there was none. Everyone wanted to help her But all she said was no. It was her time she was sure, She was ready to go. At last there was the door, Shining so very bright. The ground and sky she saw no more As she stepped into the light.
Winning mile puts smile on runner’s face!
Music fills head with beautiful things
I LOVE IT! I RUN IT!
MUSIC
BY VANESSA IBARRA
BY ELAINE GUADIAN
It is Monday afternoon. I feel confident for the mile. Others say it is too soon, I feel like going across the Nile. I hear the sound to start, My feet move without a doubt. Everyone shoots like a dart, But after a while some give out. A smile goes upon my face As I pass the tired ones. It is almost the end of my race, I am done; I feel like I won!
In the morning it is cold, I soon walk into the music door. When I step inside, I hear a noise so bold. This is the music that I came for. I take a seat to join in, The large group was a great sight. Our music lesson will finally begin. The music sounded warm and light. The bell soon rings, So the lesson is done. My head is filled with beautiful things. I hope the next day will be as fun!
Freedom found in skateboarding SKATEBOARDING BY ERYK AVILA Nothing else compares to it, The feeling that it gives me. Maybe the reason I don’t want to quit, Is because when I’m skating I feel that I’m free. I just can’t explain how it feels, It just somehow clears my mind. I could be rolling down the street on my urethane wheels, Or doing a fifty-fifty grind, I’ve got wounds from the pain Of falling onto the rough street. But in the end one thing remains in my brain, Skateboarding makes me complete.
Love shines bright FINALLY OPEN
Educator of the month Mrs. Jeannette Kopp Nominated by: Anden Spicer
I would like to nominate my teacher, Mrs. Kopp, for educator of the month. She teaches first grade at Rosedale North Elementary School. She is a very nice teacher. Sometimes, when we are good, she lets us have an extra-long recess. We learn lots of new things in really fun ways — like when we play vocabulary games. Mrs. Kopp is always patient and kind and I love coming to my class every day.
Sponsored by
BY NIA HIGHTOWER The sun is shining, The birds are singing, My heart is not whining, And bells are ringing. For the woman who had him Has set him free And I am not so grim But full of glee. I’ll run to him in quite a cinch, “I love you!” is what I’ll shout. But then again, I’m in quite a pinch, Because 30 other girls want to ask him out.
■ If you have a teacher you think is great, nominate them for Educator of the Month by going to: www.bakersfieldvoice.com and posting an article and photo. Nominations should tell us in 50 words or less why your teacher is the best and MUST include his/her first and last name, and school where they teach — and remember, your nomination MUST also include a photo in jpeg format. Winners will be featured in the print edition of The Bakersfield Voice for the month and will receive a $50 gift card for school supplies, compliments of GW School Supply and TBV.
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
DEC. 27, 2009-JAN. 2, 2010
YOURSPORTS
Local standout picked for ‘Football University Youth All-American Bowl’ BY KRISTIAN R. DYER Community contributor
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portsLink and Football University are proud to announce that Anthony Mariscal, an eighth-grader from Bakersfield, has been selected to play in the 2010 Second annual “Football University Youth All-American Bowl,” taking place in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday, Jan. 10, and will be broadcast live on the web. The “Football University Youth All-American Bowl” honors the top seventh- and eighth- graders in the nation, bringing them together to play in an allstar format on a national stage. The “Football University Youth All-American Bowl” is modeled after the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and will be held in the same city during the same week. Both games are produced by SportsLink. The Youth All-American Bowl Week will showcase the top 44 seventh-graders and the top 44 eighth-graders. Additionally, the week will consist of practices, a skills competition, and break-out sessions with Hall of Famers, current and former NFL stars and celebrities, such as legendary high school football coach Herman Boone and others. The Youth All-Americans will have VIP access to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and will also be honored during the game on Saturday, January 9, 2010. Several thousand youth all-stars were
nominated for this elite honor. Athletes had to fill out a nomination form and submit a highlight tape. The selection team — which consisted of scouts and youth coaches from around the country — narrowed down the field and interviewed all finalists. Once selected, players can be profiled in SI for Kids as All-Americans, as well as featured in other media outlets both local and national. Other national sponsors of the Junior All-American Bowl are Russell Athletics, Schutt Sports, Athletic Republic, World Sporting Goods and SI for Kids. SportsLink, which started in 2000, is a sports-marketing and management company that produces and oversees many sporting events and properties, including the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Football University and the Football University Youth All-American Bowl. The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is the nation’s premier high school football game, featuring the best 90 players in a classic East vs. West match-up. Reggie Bush, Adrian Peterson and Tim Tebow all made their national debuts as U.S. Army All-Americans. Football University is an invitation-only camp for elite-level youth and prep players focusing on teaching technical skills in a small-group setting under the professional tutelage of former NFL players and coaches.
Anthony Mariscal, an eighthgrader from Bakersfield, has been selected to play in the “Football University Youth All-American Bowl” COURTESY PHOTO
BCHS graduate signs with Oregon Ducks! BY RAY AND KELLY CLANTON Community contributors
B COURTESY PHOTO
Ryan Clanton, a 2008 graduate of Bakersfield Christian High, signed with the Oregon Ducks to play football starting Jan. 4. Pictured with him is Coach George Rush of City College of San Francisco where Ryan attended.
akersfield Christian High ‘08 product, Ryan Clanton, 6’5,” 305 pounds, signed with the Oregon Ducks at City College of San Francisco were he was finishing an AA degree. Clanton, an O line guard, is a junior college first-team AllAmerican and co-captain of the Coast Conference Champion CCSF Rams, who went 10-1 this year. Clanton, a true sophomore, starts classes and conditioning at U of O Jan. 4. Clanton will receive his AA degree at CCSF just one-in-a-half years after graduating from BCHS. We are proud of Ryan as he overcame a lot to get to this point. Ryan missed NCAA D1 qualification by one unit of elective (not one class, one unit) out of high school as the NCAA did not count the Con-
temporary Philosophical Issues or Contemporary Social Issues classes he took at BCHS as electives because they were Bible classes. Fresno State was looking at him at the time, but because he did not qualify, he could not play there out of high school. He found out he could qualify at the D1 level if he got his AA degree. He enrolled in City College of San Francisco along with his best friend, Jamestate Peterson, also of BCHS who is from the bay area originally and has family there. Our family really wanted Ryan to go to BC but Jamestate convinced us that CCSF had an excellent football program and a lot of players go on to D1 from there. Ryan started as an O line guard there as a true freshman last year, became a Jr. College first-team AllAmerican this year as well as cocaptain of his team. He took up to 21 units a quarter while practicing
football ;up to five hours a day. He took his last final tomorrow and will receive his AA degree in Liberal Arts and Science later this month — a two year degree in one-in-a-half years. He has maintained approximately a B average but we don’t know his final average until grades are out. He signed his National Letter of Intent to play with the Oregon Ducks on Dec. 16. Our family will watch the Ducks play Ohio at home on TV rather than at the Rose Bowl as Ryan wants to spend his last day home with friends and family. We leave the next day for Oregon, where he starts school and conditioning on Monday, January 4. We couldn’t be prouder of our son, and just had to tell you a little about him.
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
DEC. 27, 2009-JAN. 2, 2010
YOURPETS
Let’s make 2010 the best year for pets!
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ith the new year rushing up to greet us like a litter of lab puppies, I’d like to share my wishes for the pets of Kern as we head
into 2010. First and foremost, I wish everyone would get their pets licensed. Licensing your pets helps to address so many of the issues people have with Animal Control that it’s difficult for me to see why people don’t embrace taking this action. The funds generated through licensing allow for programs like low-cost spay and neuter vouchers, additional staff to respond to nuisance animal calls, upgrades to the shelter to make the animals more comfortable and an increase in the number of people who are reunited with their lost pets. Cat owners, you’re not exempt on this one either. Animal Control also offers a cat identification tag for only $5 per year. Let’s make 2010 the year people get serious about licensing their pets. Next on my wish list is increased activity on behalf of pets in Kern County. If you’ve ever been frustrated about the current pet ownership rules, wondered how you could do more to support spay/neuter programs, been curious about what shelter volunteers do or want to know more about the factors that our
county Animal Control department deals with on a regular basis, it’s time for you to attend the Animal Control Commission meetings. The meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at the Kern County Public Services Building, 2700 M St. at 6 p.m. Concerned pet owners may develop a whole new perspective on the issues in play surrounding pets in Kern County and how vital a role residents have in creating change. Now, there are those who make an active Pet columnist effort to avoid anything to do with Animal Control simply because the idea of being a part of a group where so many animals are euthanized is too emotionally traumatic for them, and I can certainly respect that viewpoint. For you folks, my wish is that you will step up to the plate and do more for those local organizations who do not euthanize healthy, adoptable animals. The Cat People, Alpha Canine, Kern
VICKY THRASHER
Humane Society, and the Bakersfield SPCA are all local organizations who can use all the support they can get, especially during these difficult economic times when the number of surrendered pets increases while the number of donations decreases. The Bakersfield Pet Food Pantry is another recent addition to the list, as a nonprofit organization that collects pet food to distribute to the needy and to disabled or homebound seniors. Any of these organizations will happily accept financial donations or membership requests, but you can also help by becoming a foster parent to a pet in need or by donating office supplies, cleaning supplies, blankets or food to these groups. On another level, you can encourage the company you work for to become a corporate sponsor of one or more of these groups, knowing that more homes have pets than ever before and pet owners love doing business with businesses who value pets and the human-pet connection. So, there you have it. Let’s see if we can make 2010 the best year yet for pets in Kern County. Have a pet-related question or comment? E-mail Vicky at: Vicky@pawprintcity.com or go to: www.pawprintcitytimes.com
Darby, Vicky’s beloved pooch!
Athlete of the month Gabriella “Gaby” Garcia Nominated by: Beth Garcia
Get in the ZONE!
Neurofeedback allows the athlete or corporate executive to gain the edge needed for peak performance.
Neurofeedback
Gabriella “Gaby” Garcia helped her soccer team place 4th in the AYSO U10 Girls Tournament on Nov 15. She had a great season playing on the TURF SMURFS. During the 1st quarter of the 2nd game, she broke her right big toe and continued to play the game and even went on to play in three more games. She had a great heart and now she can rest her toe and let it heal.This is what makes her my little TURF SMURF Champion. Gaby not only plays soccer but also plays volleyball and cheerleading. She also does ERE and Girl Scouts, and still finds time to stay on the Principal’s List and never missed a day of school for the last four years.
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■ 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.bakersfieldvoice.com and posting an article and photo. Nominations should tell us in 50 words or less what makes this youth a star athlete — and remember, your nomination MUST include a photo in jpeg format. Winners will be featured in the print edition of The Bakersfield Voice for the month and will receive a $50 gift card, compliments of Sports Authority and TBV.
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
DEC. 27, 2009-JAN. 2, 2010
YOURVOICE
Girl Scouts ‘scavenge’ northwest neighborhood for good cause! BY CLAIRE LAHORGUE Community contributor
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Left: Girl Scouts collected more than 1,500 items during their annual scavenger hunt through a northwest neighborhood. Items, such as canned foods and toiletries, were donated to the Ronald McDonald House. Lower left: Troops 437, 2043, and 537 participated in the Girl Scouts Countryside Service Unit of Girl Scouts of Central California South’s annual scavenger hunt. Below: Girl Scouts deliver items collected in an annual scavenger hunt to the Ronald McDonald House.
n Thursday, Nov. 12, 16 Girl Scout Troops — 147 girls — from the Countryside Service Unit of Girl Scouts of Central California South gathered for their annual scavenger hunt. This year the girls, leaders and parents canvassed the neighborhood surrounding Bimat School “scavenging” items for the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House. The girl scouts would like to extend a special thank you to the homeowners around Bimat Elementary. Without their generosity, this project would not have been as successful. Each team was given a list of items provided by the Ronald McDonald House and two blocks of homes to visit. They hit the pavement at 6:45 with a mission and directions to return to the school no later than 7:30 with their goodies. As teams returned items ranging from tuna to canned peaches, from Band-Aids to laundry soap and from cereal to granola bars were sorted and counted. The end results were amazing! The girls collected over 1500 items for the Ronald McDonald House. The Countryside Service Unit encompasses three school districts – Fruitvale, Rosedale, and Norris – and serves girls age 5 to 18 years old. This group of Girl Scouts has adopted the Ronald McDonald House as their service project for the year. This is their first endeavor to show their support to such a worthwhile service provided by the Ronald McDonald House. If you would like to join the girls in their support of the Ronald McDonald House, call Scarlett Sabin, House Director, at 327-4647 ext. 4290. Happy New Year to the Bimat area homeowners, Ronald McDonald House, and Girl Scouts!
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