w w w. b a ke r s f i e l d vo i c e .c o m
Sunday, February 15, 2015 The Bakersfield Voice
Inside: More money-saving coupons, news and advertisements
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YOUR HEALTH
Purple Heart recipient honored volunteer BY RHONDA FRANKHOUSER Community contributor
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ick Pressley became one of the first military veterans to volunteer for the NHPCO Veteran to Veteran Volunteer Program with Optimal Hospice Care. Pressley said he wanted a way to give back to those who have served our country — and Optimal’s new program was a perfect fit. Since starting with the program in July 2013, Pressley has offered several hours of support and camaraderie to veteran patients as well as to patient spouses who have served in our nation’s armed forces in the past. Pressley, an Army Vietnam veteran who earned a Purple Heart, has been able to offer a special kinship and understanding, which allows other veterans to share in ways they might not
otherwise have done. Pressley has also represented Optimal Hospice in the veteran community through his participation in the Veterans Collaborative and the Veterans Day Parade. Optimal was honored to “pin” Pressley along with others of our staff at last year’s “We Honor Veterans” pinning ceremony held at Optimal Hospice Care. We would like to thank Rick Pressley for helping us create a better quality of life for the veterans in our care! If you are interested in becoming a hospice volunteer, Optimal Hospice will be conducting a full training on March 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1675 Chester Ave., Suite 401. Training is free of charge. For more information call Rhonda Frankhouser at 716-4000.
YOUR GARDEN
Rick Pressley, an Army Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient, was honored at a “We Honor Veterans” pinning ceremony held at Optimal Hospice Care. PHOTO PROVIDED
DID YOU KNOW?
Winter gardening tips for hardy gardeners
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ost of us, upon feeling the chill in the air, will retreat quickly back into the warm house. There are, however, a few hardy souls who will brave this wintery weather — and their yards will benefit greatly. Here are some gardening tips for those of you who do venture out: • In winter, fertilize any of your plants that are green. Don’t feed frost tender plants or those that are dormant (leafless). When it’s cold, I like to use an organic fertilizer that is low in nitrogen so it doesn’t push the plant out of dormancy but still feed. • Prune dormant fruit and shade trees; shape and prune shrubs and hedges. Stay away from early spring bloomers, like lilac, spirea, forsythia, azalea or camellia. If you prune these now you might end up flowerless this spring, as their buds form at the end of summer. Wait to prune these until after Garden columnist they bloom! • Don’t skip your winter application of pre-emergent in the flower beds and on the lawn. Cool season weeds have already started to show their ugly little heads. Anything that comes up can be sprayed with Roundup, which works slower this time of year but does still work. Roundup is a non-selective weed killer and cannot be used on anything you want to keep. Don’t use Roundup or Remuda on your lawn. Bring in samples of your weeds to Robby’s Nursery and we can help you with the best control for your yard situation. Surfactant or oil can help the weed killers to penetrate better, giving you a better kill. • Rake up all debris and keep the yard clean — this will mean fewer diseases and insects during the damp, moist weather. Also, there is still time to get in a couple of dormant sprayings before spring. A mixture of oil and fungicide will help clean up any disease and insects that do harbor over through the winter. For the hardiest gardeners, these tips should keep you busy. And for the sun lovers, you could squeeze in some of these jobs when that sun peeks out from behind a cloud. You’ll have to move fast to take advantage of that warmth! Don't worry though, the sun will be back soon enough — of this I am sure! Kathy Robinson is the owner of Robby’s Nursery located at 4002 Terracotta Court. Robby's Nursery is a family-owned business that's been in Bakersfield for more than 50 years.
KATHY ROBINSON
ISTOCK PHOTO
Turn your bills into trees with paperless billing
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acific Gas and Electric Comprocess,” said Senior Vice President pany (PG&E) announced a Laurie Giammona, PG&E’s chief cuspartnership recently with tomer officer. “Paperless billing is the National Fish and the most convenient way for Wildlife Foundation PG&E customers to receive (NFWF) to plant a new their monthly statements. NEW tree in the wildfireIt’s fast, secure and FEATURE: stricken Los Padres easy. Customers receive “Did You Know?” National Forest on email alerts to let them is a feature that behalf of every customer know their statement is shares useful who enrolls in paperless ready to view and they ideas billing through Feb. 26. can make payments any Customers can enroll at time they want through our www.pge.com/ebills. secure website. We’re making “PG&E customers can choose to this easy and an environmental say goodbye to their paper bills forwin for everyone.” ever and help the environment in the Jonathan Birdsong, director of the
Western Partnership Office for NFWF said: “The trees we plant through this effort will reforest approximately 2,800 acres of the 19,000 acres that were burned in recent forest fires. Restoring these lands will help replace the loss of this habitat for many important and threatened species, provide natural filters for clean water and provide benefits for nearby California communities.” To learn more about paperless billing, go to: www.pge.com/ebills. This week’s “Did you know?” story is courtesy of Kern Green.
EXTRA EXTRA
‘Stars’ align for Starlight 5K BY BRIANA SCHECHTER Community contributor
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ake your mark, get set, GLOW! That’s right, Kern County, Starlight 5K has returned for another exciting evening of fun, fitness and charity on March 7 at The Park at River Walk. Wear your brightest colors and glow accessories as you make your way through the creatively lit night course. The funds raised from this event will benefit Second Star to the Right, Kern County’s resource for local childhood cancer families in need. Please visit our website at: www.starlight5k.com for more information on how to register, volunteer or sponsor this sensational event! For more information about Second Star to the Right, a local 501©3 nonprofit organization, go to: www.secondstartotheright.org We’ll see you there!
Last year’s Starlight 5K 2014 participants raised more than $6,000 for local childhood cancer families supported by Second Star to the Right, a local 501©3 non-profit organization. PHOTOS PROVIDED