taft thanksgiving prayer

Independent The Taft

November 23 - 29, 2012

TAFT INDEPENDENT

www.Taftindependent.com

FREEWeekly

Publisher@Taftindependent.com

November 23 - 29, 2012 • Volume 7 Issue 20

“Serving the West Kern County Communities of Taft, South Taft, Ford City, Maricopa, Fellows, McKittrick, Derby Acres, Dustin Acres, and the Cuyama Valley”

Shop Taft This Holiday Season HAYDENS HOPE THRIFT STORE

“We can keep our Teens off the streets!”

New School Hours Mon. & Tues.

9am - 2pm Closed Wednesday Thur. & Fri. 9am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 2pm Closed Every 2nd Sat. of the Month

T-Shirts .25 cents Pants .50 cents

God Bless!

428 Center Street • TAFT

745-4963

Used to be Paul’s Bike Shop

The New 2013 bikes are here! Start your Christmas shopping now with our lawaway plan.

745-4919 610 Center Street • 661-745-4954 Prepaid Phones, Accessories & Cards

Items of the Week

Samsung Galaxy ACE Unlock sale $219.95 or Pantech P8000

$119.00

AT&T or H20

A Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer

By Dr. Harold Pease

Ten Percent Taft Woodworks Firearms 1277 Kern Street (661)765-6899

Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Custom Cabinetry and Counter Tops

Over 25 Years Experience in Taft.

Under New Management.

605 6th Street, Taft, CA. 93268 (661) 765-5000 (661) 343-0507

T W

Ta f t

WOODWORKS

2 TAFT INDEPENDENT

November 23 - 29, 2012

Shop Taft

Ten Percent Firearms

Passion For Nails Nail Services:

HOLIDAY SPECIAL 10% OFF $20 SERVICE OR MORE. OFFER GOOD UNITL 12- 31-12.

Geiger Construction & Plumbing Residential • Commercial

Cement & Asphalt Cutting

F i n e

Small town, family owned, low overhead.

We can save youFine money on •quality Jewelry Candles jewelry!

• Gifts Black Hills Gold • Jewelry Repair

Men & Seniors & Diabetics Welcome

If You Don’t Have The Time WatchClocks, Batteries We Do - Clocks, & More Clocks 426 CENTER STREET • 661.763.5451 Coffee Mugs $8.00 Candles $4.99

Store Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9:30am - 5:00pm Saturday 10:00am - 2:00pm Closed Sunday and Monday

1014 6th Street • Taft In the Save A Lot Shopping Center Monday to Friday

(661)745-4913

10am-7pm and Saturday 9am-6pm

J e w e l r y

Fine Jewelry • Gifts 14K Gold • Sterling Silver 14K • Sterling Silver Black Hills GoldGold • Jewelry Repair • Watch Batteries Candles • And More!

CHECK-IN TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND GET $1 OFF

1277 Kern Street (661)765-6899

acme jewelry co.

426 Center Street

(661)763-5451

Personal Style Boutique Used to be Paul’s Women’s and Woman’s Plus Sizes - Junior - Infant Wear

New Arrivals In

Bike Shop

The New 2013 bikes are here! Start your Christmas shopping now with our lawaway plan.

Purses - Joggers - Sweaters Boots - Jewelry and More

and See Our New Infant Lic # B-721903

661-765-4377 Fast • Friendly • Affordable Se Habla Espanol 661-301-4660 24 Hours/ 7 Days a Week

Wear and Bows

Shop Taft

421 & 423 Center (661)763-3527

A Hint of Class

610 Center Street • 661-745-4954 Prepaid Phones, Accessories & Cards

Items of the Week

Samsung Galaxy ACE Unlock sale $219.95 or Pantech P8000

$119.00

AT&T or H20

Inside The Historic Fort • 623-1783 • 763-1700 915 N. 10th Street Suite 34

Christmas Designs In Stock Gifts!

Come and See Us

Blue Jeans & Bling FREE

Tire Rotation & Brake Check Plus We will check all fluids & tire pressure

Women’s Sizes 0-21 Women’s Plus Sizes Children’s Jeans & Shirts Monday - Friday 11am to 6pm Saturday 10am to 5pm Host a party 415 Center Street Visit us on Facebook sales@bluejeansandbling.com

763-9100

745-4919

Ten Percent Firearms 1277 Kern Street (661)765-6899 Advertise Here

Hats, Jewelry, Purses & More

Miss Me • LA Idol Nicole Lee • Grace In LA

608 Center St.

*Most Cars & Light Trucks Up to 5 Qts.

Tire & Automotive Service Center

Oil & Filter Special 95* $

39

Plus Tax

$3.50 Oil Disposal Fee Exp. October 30, 2012

Must Present Coupon at Time of Purchase

523 Finley Drive • 765-7147 • Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Sat 8am-1pm

It’s FULL COLOR, Affordable and Highly Visible Call 765-6550

November 23 - 29, 2012

Inside Community Events.........3 News Briefs......................3 Recreation Report..........4 Westside News.................5 Westside News.................6 Westside News.................7 Movie Review...................8 Classified Ads.................10 Shop Taft........................11

The Taft Independent 508 Center Street P.O. Box 268 Taft, California 93268 (661) 765-6550 Fax (661) 765-6556

Email: Publisher@taftindependent.com Website: www.TaftIndependent.com

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Community Events News Briefs Taft California “Home of the Taft Oilworkers Monument” “Gateway to the Carrizo Plain National Monument” Have a community event that you would like to include?

Email it to us at Publisher@Taftindependent.com

Monday, Dec. 3--Christmas Parade Thursday, Dec. 6--Historic Fort Craft Fair Friday, Dec. 7--Tour of Trees Shopping Night and Cruisin’ Center Again Car Cruise Sat., Dec. 8--Soroptimist Home Tour and Luncheon

Christmas at the Fort Holiday Gift Show Thursday, December 6th 5p.m.

The Historic Fort Christmas Holiday Gift Show and Dinner will be held on Thursday, December 6th at 5 p.m.

The event wil be held from 5 p.m. to 9p.m. Dinner will be served at 7p.m.

For tickets and to RSVP, and more information please call 765-7371.

Soroptimist International of Taft Presents Homes for the Holidays Home Tour, Luncheon & Fashion Show

Locally and Independently owned since 2006 The Taft Independent is a locally owned community newspaper published weekly on Fridays for your enjoyment and reading pleasure. We publish 3,500 issues and distribute to over 225 locations in the city of Taft and the neighboring communities of Cuyama Valley, McKittrick, Maricopa, Fellows and Western Kern County, California.

The Independent is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies are $1 each. The contents of the Taft Independent are copyrighted by the Taft Independent, and may not reproduced without specific written permission from the publisher.

We welcome contributions and suggestions.

Our purpose is to present news and issues of importance to our readers.

SUBSCRIPTIONS. Subscription home or businessdelivery of the Taft Independent is available for $6.50 per month or $78.00 per year. To subscribe to please call 765-6550.

LETTERS-TO-THE-EDITOR. Send us your letter to Taft Independent at the above address. Limit it to 300 words and include your name, address, and phone number. Fax: (661) 765-6556. Email your letter to: Publisher@taftindependent.com.

ADVERTISING. Display Ads: Rates and special discounts are available. Contact our advertising representative at (661) 765-6550, or email to Publisher@taftindependent.com.

Classifieds: Call 765-6550 or fax us at (661) 765-6556. Phone orders are taken. Visa and Master Card accepted.

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Michael J. Long taftindypublisher@bak.rr.com Advertising Contributing Writers June Woods, Kent Miller, Wesley Morris, Nicole Frost Columnists Randy Miller Jane McCabe, Dr. Harold Pease Subscriptions\Delivery Tim Webb, Patrick Harget

Member California Newspaper Publishers Association Printed in California

Saturday, December 8 Home Tour: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Luncheon & Fashion Show 12 p.m.

At the Westside Believers Church Tickets on sale at $25.00 each and can be purchased from: Hint of Class, Old’s Kool, The Fort, Personal Style, or any Soroptimist member Taft College Soroptimists include: Patti Bench, LaNell Howell, Dena Maloney, Carolyn Roberts, & Becky Roth It is a great way to get in the holiday mood, see some beautiful homes and a fabulous new business, have a chance to win beautiful raffle prizes, eat a great lunch, and help raise funds to meet local needs!

Barron Resigns from Taft City Planning Commission Taft City Planning Commissioner Jesse Barron has resigned from the commission.

Barron, who was a candidate for the Taft City in the November 6th election, resigned in an email sent to the city clerk today.

“It is with the greatest reluctance that I must inform you of my decision to resign from the Planning Commission for the City of Taft effective immediately, due to personal reasons,” Barron wrote in the email.

The vacancy will be filled by appointment by the city council.

Gas Prices Average $3.75 Over Holiday Motorists driving for holiday may be giving thanks for the recent downtrend in gasoline prices, but history will be broken as the national average will be the highest its ever been on Thanksgiving. GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan is estimating that the national average will sit at $3.43 per gallon on Thanksgiving, some 10 cents higher than it was in 2011. In California, gasoline prices currently stand at an average of $3.75/g, compared to last Thanksgiving, when prices stood at an average of $3.71/g.

"Gasoline prices have continued their slow decline in the last week across a solid majority of the United States, with the national average sagging to its lowest level since this early summer," according to GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. “Even though consumers are seeing gasoline prices decline in most parts of the country, and we’re certainly thankful for that, the national average will remain higher than where it was a year ago,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com.

As pump prices have fallen, GasBuddy has asked surveyed motorists about their travel plans. Results from the poll of over 15,000 GasBuddy households showed some surprises. 16% of respondents in this year's poll indicated they would not me driving at all for holiday gatherings, up from 15% last year. 53% indicated they would be driving a similar amount compared to last year, up from 50% the year before. More notably, 18% of respondents said they would be driving less than last year, a drop of 4% from the previous poll, which showed 22% of motorists would be driving less. Overall, 8% of those surveyed said they would be driving slightly or significantly more than last year, down from 9% a year ago. The results of the poll indicate that drivers drove more last year, and are planning similar travels this year, as gasoline prices have trended lower.

“Overall, we believe more Americans will be hitting the road for this Thanksgiving Day compared to last year. Gasoline prices have come down over the last month, dramatically in some states, leading motorists to feel better about things- including driving the car to get to their destinations, ” added Gregg Laskoski, also an analyst with GasBuddy.com.

Taft Midway Sunset Lions

Adopt a Senior for Christmas Want To Be Part of the Magic?

Program for Low Income, Homebound and/or Isolated Seniors “Elves” Needed to Provide Gifts!

Maricopa Tea Room Specials Due to school activities, the Maricopa Tea Room will be closed the week of November 12th.

Thank you for all your support! and enjoy!!!

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com

Go to Participants Listed Below, select an ornament to adopt a senior.

Albertson’s 1044 Kern St., Chevron Valley Credit Union 1092 W. Kern St., Coopers True Value Hardware 407 9th Street, Fastrip 903 Kern Street, Personal Style 403 Center St., Seventh Day Adventist Church 401 Harrison St. Packages delivered on 12/15

by Midway Sunset Lions and Taft Longhorns It is a Joy you will never forget!

Contact Carol Jackson at cjintaft@gmail.com or (661) 765-5541 for more information

4

TAFT INDEPENDENT Editorial

The Taft

Independent

Westside Watcher

Restaurant and Entertainment Guide

Your Guide To The Best Restaurants and Entertainment on the Westside Tumbleweed Café Asian Experience and Steakhouse Asian Food and Pizza

Steak, Seafood, Wild Game, Full Bar Monday – Friday 6 am to 2 pm Saturday – Sunday 7 am – 2 pm Dinner Hours Friday and Saturday 6 pm to 9 pm 24870 Highway 33, Derby Acres 768-4655

Paik’s Ranch House Where Everybody Meets Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Open 7 Days Mon. Tues. Thur. 6 am-8:30 pm Sun. Wed. Fri. & Sat. 6 am - 9 pm 765-6915 200 Kern St. Taft Sagebrush Annie’s Restaurant and Wine Tasting Wine Tasting and Lunch Sat. & Sun. 11:30-5 pm 4211 Highway 33, Ventucopa (661) 766-2319

Lunch and Dinner Tuesday - Friday 11 am - 2 pm 4 pm - 9 pm Saturday 4 pm - 9 pm 215 Center Street, Taft 763- 1815

Black Gold Cafe & Deli Pastas - Sandwiches Espresso - Beer - Wine Craft Beers Open Monday to Friday 6:30am to 8pm Saturday 7:30am to 8pm Sunday 10am to 2pm 508 Center Street 765-6556

514 Center Street • (661)765-7469 LIKE us on Facebook: Fox Theatre Taft TAFTFOX.COM Week of Friday, November 23, 2012 through Thursday, November 29, 2012 Rise of the Guardians (PG) No Passes Allowed Fri: 5:00, 7:10, 9:15 Sat: (2:45), (5:00), 7:10, 9:15 Sun: (2:45), (5:00), 7:10 Mon - Thu: (5:00), 7:10 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (PG-13) No Passes Allowed Fri: (5:15), 7:30, 9:45 Sat: (2:50), (5:15), 7:30, 9:45 Sun: (2:50), (5:15), 7:30 Mon - Thu: 5:15, 7:30 Skyfall (PG-13) Fri: (5:15), 8:00 Sat & Sun: (2:30), (5:15), 8:00 Mon - Thu: 6:30 PM

TAFT PETROLEUM CLUB 450 Petroleum Club Road – 763-3268

Come out for the Club’s Monthly Steak/Chicken Dinner On

Friday, November 30, 2012

with Good Food & lots of Drink Specials from 6:00p.m. until Close The club is available for Weddings, Birthdays, and Anniversaries.

We do bar and food catering to fit your event!

Monday – Thursday the Club has hourly rates in bar area for Business Meetings, Baby Showers, Scentsy Parties etc.

Hall holds up to 200 people and the bar can hold 70.

Call Deanne to book your special event 661-431-9707

Conservative Shock After November Elections

By Rob Schwarzwalder and Cathy Ruse, J.D. Among the reactions to the November 6 elections, the most common among conservatives might be shock. That very fact might indicate that too many of us have been living in an echo chamber, reassuring each other about our mutually-held convictions without listening to those who are, at best, ambivalent about conservativism.

For example, Mitt Romney’s message of economic freedom, utterly persuasive to the conservative ear, was unconvincing to members of a powerful new demographic who cast their votes overwhelming for Barack Obama: single women. For the first time in our nation’s history there are more unmarried than married women, a demographic change with potentially profound political consequences.

Whether never married, divorced or widowed, whether childless or single moms, what the new majority of American women face is the prospect of an uncertain future, alone. Do they long for the security Big Government promises?

Recall “The Life of Julia,” the politi-cartoon created by the Obama campaign depicting a woman dependent on government programs at every stage of her life, from womb to tomb. How offensive to women, conservatives thought; what a turn-off !

We could not have been more wrong. It did not offend the millions of single women who voted for Obama. In fact, it may have been actually appealing. A 71-year-old single woman interviewed on NPR said she voted for Obama because his policies made her feel more secure.

In exit polls, Obama won the “cares about us” contest hands down.

It is time to face the possibility that we are surrounded by Julias who regard a life of federal intervention as a pretty good deal.

Government programs and institutions are inefficient at best, dangerously intrusive and soul-killing at worst (with some exceptions, of course). This is the perspective of the conservative. Yet those who have relied extensively on these programs will naturally be more sympathetic. If your family received food stamps, if you went to college on a Pell Grant or ROTC scholarship, obtained career training while serving in the military, went to work in any kind of government office (local, state or federal), saw your parents getting Medicare and Social Security, it will be difficult to make you a Big Government skeptic.

Tens of millions of Americans have this perspective, as do more every day. Conservatives know this is part of the strategy of the political Left: get people dependent on government and you will get their votes. But did we know how well it was working? Mitt Romney vowed to “reduce the size of government” and our conservative hearts were cheered, but were even those anodyne words heard as an attack on the government programs embraced by many?

Conservatives can’t become bitter toward those Americans who don’t agree with us. In this time of growing economic and international peril, people gravitated toward that which made them feel safer.

President Obama made the stronger case (with the free and energetic help of the Fourth Estate) for a large, embracing, “compassionate” government. He persuaded enough people and won the office, but no one should think he has united America around his troubling vision.

In his provocative pre-election column, Michael Barone spoke of “Two Americas” who no longer share a culture. One America is appreciative of entrepreneurs and skeptical of government; the other, skeptical of business and supportive of government. Through the television and radio we consume (Rush Limbaugh vs. NPR), the cities in which we choose to live (Dallas vs. San Francisco), “we seal ourselves off in the America of our choosing while trying to ignore the other America.”

Ronald Reagan could appeal to both Americas by “speaking the language of the old universal popular culture,” Barone wrote. “Barack Obama ... has failed to do so.”

And that is the glass-half-full perspective on the election. Barack Obama did not appeal to our, conservative America. He has done no better than we have to convince a majority of his fellow citizens of a broad agenda resting on shared beliefs and hopes.

One thing is certain: the conservative movement cannot afford to be surprised by exit polls again. We must fight every impulse to be insular. We must learn the hearts and minds and language of the other America, so that we can make the case for conservatism in every corner, winsomely, winningly. The future of our beloved nation depends on it.

Rob Schwarzwalder, Senior Vice-President of the Family Research Council, served in the G.W. Bush Administration and has been chief of staff to two Members of Congress. Cathy Ruse, a graduate of Georgetown Law Center, is Senior Fellow for Legal Studies at FRC and previously was Chief Counsel to the Constitution Subcommittee in the House of Representatives.

November 23 - 29, 2012

Opinion

Assemblywoman Shannon Grove calls Cap-and-Trade Auction a “Job Killer” for Kern County Businesses SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Shannon Grove called the state’s first cap-and-trade auction which took place yesterday a punitive action against job creators that will drive out local industries.

“The California Air Resources Board and the democrats in the legislature call businesses the ‘polluter class,’” said Assemblywoman Shannon Grove. “These businesses are going to take their jobs across state lines, adding to the ever growing ‘unemployed class’ in California.”

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) launched the state’s cap-and-trade market yesterday by holding its first auction of greenhouse gas pollution credits. California business owners must purchase these credits or pursue measures to cut their greenhouse gas emissions in order to comply with AB 32, the state’s 2006 “anti-global warming” law that placed an emissions limit on individual companies. Businesses are required to buy credits from other companies for each ton over the limit that they discharge annually. The monies raised by this auction will be allocated by the state legislature to fund programs purportedly intended to reduce “global warming.” These requirements will particularly burden the energy, agriculture and manufacturing industries prominent in Kern County.

“I’d hoped saner minds would rule, but instead they’re moving forward with this scheme,” said Grove. “That’s what this is – under the guise of cleaner air, the state legislature is bleeding California businesses of even more money, because the government knows industry can’t meet the impossible standards set by AB 32. The ‘choice’ given to business is either satisfy the severe AB 32 standards by reducing production, or pay up to the government, which is the politicians’ real goal here.”

California is the only jurisdiction in the country with policies as stringent as those associated with AB 32. The non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office reported this summer that cap and trade isn’t even needed to lower greenhouse gas emissions in the state, and that it will greatly increase production costs for businesses forced to comply with the regulations.

The California Chamber of Commerce filed an eleventh-hour lawsuit this week to invalidate the auction, arguing that the California Air Resources Board exceeded its authority in establishing the revenue raising program. While yesterday’s auction still took place, future auctions will be halted if the Chamber is granted an injunction.

Assemblywoman Grove, R-Bakersfield, proudly serves the 32nd Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes Bakersfield, Ridgecrest, Tehachapi, Taft, Frazier Park/Lebec, and the Kern River Valley.

Paik’s

Ranch House Restaurant “Where Everybody Meets” Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Open 7 Days

Mon, Tues, Thurs - 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Wed, Fri. Sat. and Sun. 6 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

765-6915

200 Kern Street, Taft, Ca.

November 23 - 29, 2012

TAFT INDEPENDENT

West Side Recreation Report Check us out online!

Need more information on programs, classes or facilities?

Visit us on the web: www.wsrpd.com www.facebook.com/wsrpd www.quickscores.com/wsrpd www.twitter.com/wreckerwsrpd steph@wsrpd.com

by Stephanie House

LETTERS TO SANTA Children ages 8 and younger can write letters to Santa Claus in care of his helpers at the Recreation District. We will make sure that he gets your letters and writes back. Please write to Santa between November 15 and December 14. (Groups and schools – please be sure that Santa gets your letters no later than December 4.) Don’t forget to include your address! Send letters to: Santa Claus c/o WSRPD P.O. Box 1406 Taft, CA 93268 GAMES GALORE Wednesday, November 28 3:00-4:00 p.m.

Community Center Assembly Room, 500 Cascade Place, Taft Grades 1-8 FREE! Join us for some fun and games! We will have classic board games plus lots of fun games on the Nintendo Wii. HOLIDAY ORNAMENT & CRAFT WORKSHOP Wednesday, December 5 3:00-4:00 p.m.

Community Center Assembly Room, 500 Cascade Place, Taft Ages 4+ $3 per person Don’t miss the chance to make some special ornaments for your Christmas tree, cards and other fun items. Younger kids will need an older helper.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Saturday, December 8 8:00-10:00 a.m.

Community Center Auditorium, 500 Cascade Place, Taft All Ages $5 per person (ages 3 and older) ** to guarantee the event, buy your ticket in advance!

Santa Claus will be at the Community Center for breakfast, visiting and photos. Join us for a pastry and juice (coffee and milk, too!) breakfast and some time with Santa. We will also have some crafts and a chance for you to write a letter and leave it for Santa – he’ll even write back! Santa is a busy guy, so a minimum of 30 tickets must be sold by December 4 or we will have to cancel. Tickets will be available after December 4 as space allows. Purchase your tickets in the District Office. For more info, give us a call at 763-4246.

THE BATTLE AT WRECKER FIELD Saturday, November 24 Wrecker Field (next to Recreation Center), 500 Cascade Place, Taft Open Play: Ages 6+, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Fees: $2/game, $5/3 games or $10/unlimited games – no pre-registration required Tournament Play: Ages 8+, check-in 2:00 p.m., games 3:00-7:00 p.m.

Fee: $100 per team (6 people per roster) Registration deadline: Wednesday, November 21 Gather your friends and put down that game controller, hunting rifle, paintball or airsoft gun and experience the thrill of battle in an alternative atmosphere! Join us, in conjunction with Battlefield Live, for some combat laser tag tournament and open play. Battlefield Live provides an authentic combat entertainment experience using sophisticated gaming guns. All tournament participants will receive a t-shirt with paid entry and trophies will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams. Register now at the Recreation Center! For more info, call 765-6677.

WEST SIDE RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT 500 Cascade Place, Taft, CA 93268 (661) 763-4246 info@wsrpd.com www.wsrpd.com

CENTRAL VALLEY SERIES WINTER CHALLENGE DISC GOLF TOURNAMENT Saturday, December 1 Check-in: 8:00 a.m.

Players Meeting: 9:00 a.m.

Franklin Field Recreation Complex Ages 8 and older Fees: $40 – pro divisions, $35 – amateur divisions Registration deadline: Thursday, November 29 This tournament will consist of 2 rounds of 18-holes each. All skill levels are encouraged to participate!

FRIENDS OF TAFT HOCKEY NIGHT Bakersfield Condors vs. Idaho Steelheads Friday, December 14 Puck Drops at 7:00 p.m.

Rabobank Arena, Bakerersfield Terrace (upper) Level: $10 each Executive (lower) Level: $15 each Tickets are available in the District Office, 500 Cascade Place in Taft or at the Taft District Chamber of Commerce. A portion of ticket sales will benefit the District’s STOP Scholarship Program.

YOUTH BASKETBALL Division 1: Ages 7-9 Division 2: Ages 10-12 Division 3: Ages 13-15 Practices: Weeknights Games: Weeknights or Saturdays (varies by team) Session: December 17, 2012 – March 2, 2013 Place: Aera Gymnasium, Recreation Center Registration deadline: Thursday, December 6 Fee: $50 per person INSTRUCTIONAL BASKETBALL Who: Ages 4-6 Practices: 1 day during the week Games: Weeknights or Saturdays (varies by team) Session: January 22 – March 2, 2013 Place: Aera Gymnasium, Recreation Center Registration deadline: Thursday, January 10 Fee: $35 per person TINY TOT BASKETBALL Who: Ages 2-4 When: Thursday Evenings Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Session: January 24 – February 14, 2013 Place: Aera Gymnasium, Recreation Center Registration deadline: Thursday, January 10 Fee: $25 per person This program is designed to introduce boys and girls to the basics of basketball through physical play, balancing, coordination and movement based activities. No games are played in Tiny Tot sports.

S.T.O.P. PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS (Strive To Optimize Participation) Did you know that the District has a youth scholarship program? Children in low income, single parent or multiple participant households are eligible! For more information, or to find out how your child can take advantage of reduced program fees, give us a call in the District Office at 763-4246.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! BINGO Thursday Afternoons Games start at 1:30 p.m.

Community Center Assembly Room Ages 21 and older Buy-in varies, $10-15 average Cash pots! Pull-tabs also sold.

JR. HIGH DANCE Friday, December 28, 2012 7:30-10:00 p.m.

Community Center Auditorium Grades 6-8 $5 per person Music & lights by DJ Brandon/Amazing Sound

6 TAFT INDEPENDENT

Westside News & Business Briefs A Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer

By Dr. Harold Pease Some may not know how Thanksgiving Day became our first national holiday, nor its importance as a day of “public thanksgiving and prayer.” One of the very first acts of the new Congress was to pass a law requesting President George Washington “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” He complied and boldly wrote: “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor,” establishing forever our national foundation as a God-loving and God-fearing people.

He then proceeded to list the national favors, to which he gave credit to God, especially with respect to His help in the Revolutionary War. George Washington further wrote, “Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of

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Black Hills Gold • Jewelry Repair

Emerald and Ruby Watch Batteries sets with diamonds set CENTERWhite STREET • 661.763.5451 in beautiful42614K Gold Diamond rings, pendants and earrings set in both white and yellow gold.

Store Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9:30am - 5:00pm Saturday 10:00am - 2:00pm Closed Sunday and Monday

426 Center Street

(661)763-5451

November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the original and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in

November 23 - 29, 2012

of nations, and beseech Him to pardon or national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our national Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discretely and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.” Then he simply signed it.

Those who refer to this day as simply “turkey day” undermine the very foundation of our national Christian heritage upon which every other foundation principle rests. Let us take this moment to thank God for the liberties we still have, and to ask forgiveness for our departures from the core values expressed in this proclamation, and in the Constitutionresolving to restore them to prominence before they are all lost—not by an enemy from without, but by our own ignorance and neglect from within. After all, it’s about liberty.

Dr. Harold Pease is an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He has taught history and political science from this perspective for over 25 years at Taft College.

To read more of his weekly articles, please visit www.LibertyUnderFire.org.

which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safely and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.”

Holiday portrait time, family reunions, After listing God’s blessings to Christmas cards, gift items, events this people he asked that He pardon * s t o p b y fo r d e t a i l s a n d a p p o i n t m e n t s our transgressions and accept our Now offering “inspired” portraits, as unique as you are. prayers. He wrote, “And also that Professional retouching. Smoothing skin to bring out the “perfect” you. we may then unite in most humbly CALL NOW 763-5429 offering our prayers and supplica427 Center Street • Since June 1986 tion to the great Lord and Ruler

Family Portrait Time!

www.kcphotographyandframing.com

November 23 - 29, 2012

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Westside News & Business Briefs

Taft Camera Club Demonstrates Photo Mounting Skills

SoCal Gas offers Tips on Gas Leaks

by Mimi Collins

Nov. 16, 2012 —With the winter weather upon us, people tend to use their natural gas appliances more often. Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) urges customers to be safe and know the signs of a natural gas leak and what to do if a leak is suspected.

SoCalGas offers these safety tips to help customers and the general public recognize and respond to natural gas leaks: • Use your sense of sight, hearing or smell to alert you to the presence of a gas leak. Signs of a possible leak include: o A damaged connection to a gas appliance, dirt or water being blown in the air, dead or dying vegetation (in an otherwise moist area) over or near pipeline areas, a fire or explosion near a pipeline or exposed pipeline after an earthquake, fire, flood or other disaster. o An unusual sound, such as a hissing, whistling or roaring sound near a gas line or appliance. o The distinctive odor of natural gas. Even though an odor is added to natural gas to assist in the detection of leaks, do not rely on sense of smell alone to alert you to a gas leak since there may be occasions when you might not be able to smell the odor additive.

Visit SoCalGas’ website at www.socalgas.com/safety for more information.

Katherine Mize demonstrates placing a photo to Mimi Collins as Abbe Gore observes

Arthur Tamayo and Mimi Collins with their mounted photographs

If a leak is suspected: • REMAIN calm.

• DON’T light a match, candle or cigarette, and don’t turn any electrical devices on or off, including light switches, or use any device or equipment that could cause a spark.

• IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE the area where the leak is suspected and from a safe location call SoCalGas at (800) 427-2200, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or call 911.

• DON’T attempt to control the leak or repair the damaged pipe or meter.

We all love taking pictures, but sometimes mounting our photos for display can be a challenge. The members of Taft Camera Club can help! At our November meeting, we enjoyed a hands-on workshop courtesy of members Katherine Mize, Esther Livingston, and Tyrone Maddox.

Esther and Tyrone provided the materials, and Katherine directed the practice, much to the appreciation of the members.

Tyrone Maddox and Abbe Gore check their mounted work Club members practice spray mounting

November was also a “Show-and-Tell” meeting. Members had previously selected “monochrome” as the evening’s theme, and each brought a selection of photos to share and discuss. Show-and-tell is always a good opportunity to learn more about photography from one another’s experiences.

HAYDENS HOPE THRIFT STORE

“We can keep our Teens off the streets!”

New School Hours Mon. & Tues.

9am - 2pm Closed Wednesday Thur. & Fri. 9am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 2pm Closed Every 2nd Sat. of the Month

T-Shirts .25 cents Pants .50 cents

God Bless!

428 Center Street • TAFT

745-4963

If you love taking pictures and sharing them with like-minded folks, please email TCC at taftcameraclub@ yahoo.com, visit our website at www.taftcameraclub.org, find us on Facebook, or join us on a “second Tuesday” for one of our monthly meetings, held 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the CVCU Conference Room. Annual membership is $20 for adults, $10 for full-time high school or college students, or $5 for children in grade 8 or lower who attend with an adult member.

Classified Ad Deadline.

Wednesday 2 p.m.

765-6550.

SoCalGas operates more than 100,000 miles of pipeline to safely transport gas to homes and businesses throughout its service area. Although SoCalGas routinely performs pipeline safety tasks, including patrolling, testing, repairing, and replacing pipelines, leaks in natural gas pipelines do occur and can be caused by thirdparty contractors, hidden corrosion or natural disasters, and can be flammable.

• Call Underground Service Alert (USA) at 811 at least two business days before digging to have utility-owned lines marked.

This is a free service and it can help prevent injury, costly property damage and loss of utility service.

• Most natural gas pipelines are buried underground, but only major pipeline routes are marked above ground with high visibility markers. These markers purposely indicate only the general – not exact – location of major pipelines usually found where a pipeline would intersect a street, highway or rail line.

• Pipeline markers also do not indicate the depth or the number of pipelines in the area. Most lower-pressure lines used to serve residential neighborhoods and businesses are not marked, and could be just inches below ground, which is why it is important to know where they are buried before digging for any reason.

• Immediately report any pipe damage by calling SoCalGas at (800) 427-2200. No damage is too small to report.

Ben’s Books The Largest, Cheapest and Only Used Book Store in Taft

Fiction • Non Fiction • Paperback Hard Covers • SciFi • Biography • Religion Childrens • Cookbooks and More!

New Shipment of Childrens Books Just Arrived for Christmas!

810 Center Street • (661)805-9813

8

Opinion

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Affordable Care Act Not So Affordable

By Janet Trautwein The Congressional Budget Office just announced that President Obama’s healthcare law will reduce the deficit by $84 billion more than previously thought, thanks to the Supreme Court’s decision to allow states to opt out of the law’s Medicaid expansion.

November 23 - 29, 2012

Seniors won’t be the only ones who suffer. Doctors who swallow lower Medicare reimbursements may have to take on additional patients, slash visit times, or raise prices for those with private insurance. And with America’s population aging quickly, doctors’ patterns of practice in Medicare are likely to spill over to their larger patient pool.

It doesn’t have to be this way. There are several easy ways to alleviate the cost problems plaguing our healthcare system.

Those savings may sound nice. But the law doesn’t do much to address our country’s chief healthcare challenge -- spiraling costs. Health insurance is expensive because health care is expensive.

Insurance brokers have a critical money-saving role to play as the healthcare law is implemented. Many individuals and small businesses struggle to find affordable coverage on their own. The market is only growing more complicated.

The cost of insurance continues to rise faster than inflation. Average individual premiums rose by 8 percent in 2011, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Family premiums rose by 9 percent.

A broker’s expert counsel can therefore be invaluable. No less an authority than the Congressional Budget Office reports that brokers generate substantial savings for small businesses by finding plans and negotiating premiums.

The Affordable Care Act will make insurance more expensive. The law levies new taxes on insurers, medical-device firms, and drug-makers that will inevitably be passed along to consumers as higher prices.

And brokers provide ongoing assistance to make sure consumers benefit from the plans they buy. In fact, agents often get claims amounting to thousands of dollars paid on their clients’ behalf.

New federal mandates are also driving up the cost of coverage. Policies must cover all sorts of medical procedures -- whether patients want them or not. The law also limits out-of-pocket spending and annual deductibles.

Demonstration projects that change the way Medicare reimburses providers should also be quickly advanced into actual use.

The law contains several attempts to rein in costs. But most are unlikely to work as intended.

Take bundled payments, which link payments for the multiple services patients receive during a single episode of care. This coordinated payment structure provides incentives to deliver healthcare services more efficiently.

A prime example is the individual mandate, which requires every American to obtain insurance. The mandate has no teeth. The penalty for going without coverage is a lot smaller than the cost of an average insurance policy.

Value-based purchasing represents another way to reduce costs. This approach rewards efficiency -- and punishes inefficiency and waste -- by holding providers accountable for the quality and the cost of care that they deliver.

According to the government’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, annual individual premiums averaged $4,940 in 2010. Assuming premiums increase at the historical rate of 6 percent per year, the maximum $695 mandate fee will account for just 10 percent of an average premium.

The healthcare law’s efforts to improve access to insurance are admirable. But they’ll be wasted if coverage remains unaffordable. Addressing the system’s cost drivers is crucial to preventing that unfortunate outcome.

So instead of spreading costs across a wider pool, people may pay the fine and wait to buy coverage when they need it. Consequently, those with insurance will gradually become sicker and more costly to insure. As prices for coverage go up, the fine will look more and more attractive. Through this repeating process of adverse selection, health insurance premiums will rise significantly.

Janet Trautwein is CEO of the National Association of Health Underwriters.

Medicare’s reimbursement rates for healthcare providers are also driving health costs up.

Spending in the program is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2022. It will be insolvent by 2024.

As more Americans enroll and Medicare’s expenses grow, the primary tool for controlling costs will be reductions in payments to medical providers. The Affordable Care Act will likely slash them by about $575 billion.

Providers are concerned about these reductions.

Today, physicians treating Medicare beneficiaries receive just 81 percent of the rate that private insurers pay. According to one survey, physicians’ top concern is whether they’d be adequately reimbursed by Medicare in the future.

These worries have caused some doctors to stop seeing Medicare patients. This year, the Texas Medical Association found that 12 percent fewer physicians were accepting new Medicare patients.

OPEN THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING MON-FRI 10AM - 6PM SAT-SUN 9AM - 7PM

November 23 - 29, 2012

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Black Gold

Cafe & Deli The Only Mortuary On The West Side Where All Arrangements And Funerals Are Personally Directed By

Double Gold Medal Winner and Best Cabernet Sauvignon of Show at the San Francisco International Wine Competition

Wine Tasting and Lunch Sat. & Sun. 11:30 to 5:00 pm. www.sagebrushannies.com

Licensed Funeral Directors

501 Lucard St., Taft • 765-4111

Now Celebrating Our 23rd Year

8 miles south of HWY 166 on HWY 33 in Ventucopa, Cuyama Valley, 4211 HWY 33. (661) 766-2319

MARICOPA QUILT COMPANY

Ice Blended Mocha Fat Free and Sugar Free Available in Most Flavors

FABRIC • NOTIONS • GIFTS

Open 7 Days - 765-6556 508 Center Street • Taft

Check Out Our Website Maricopaquiltcompany.com And Facebook Page

TAFT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

WED.-FRI. 10:00-5:30 SAT. 10:00-2:00

370 CALIFORNIA • 769-8580

ROGER MILLER INSURANCE a division of DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Group

Rich Miller • Jordan Miller Kathy Devine • Shelly Hamilton

License # 0707137 • (661) 765-7131 531 Kern Street - P.O. Box 985 (661) 765-4798 FAX Taft, CA 93268 • (661) 203-6694 Cell E-Mail: Richrmia@bak.rr.com

630 North St. 765-5557

“Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors”

Pastor Cindy Brettschneider Sunday Morning Worship 10:00 AM Adult Bible Study and Sunday School 11 AM Adult Bible Study Monday 6:00 PM Wednesday Night Service 6:00 PM Praise Team meets on Thursday at 6:00 PM

St. Mary’s Church 110 E Woodrow Street • Taft 661 765-4292

Your Hometown Insurance Store

Yates’ Detailing 600 Center Street Taft, California

Mass Schedule

Wash, Wax, Shampoo, Buffing and Window Tinting.

Call for Appointment Today!

Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday 8:30A.M. English 11:00A.M. Spanish

Community Christian Fellowship

604 Main Street • P.O. Box 578 Maricopa, CA 93252 • (661)769-9599

Sunday Morning Worship 9:45 Sunday Evening Worship 5:00 Monday Evening Mens Prayer 7:00 Wednesday Evening Worship 6:30 For a ride: Call Dorine Horn 427-9722 Pastors Charle (Tommy) and Mary A. McWhorter

New Hope Temple “Connecting Lives” 308 Harrison Street 765-4572 Sunday Morning Worship Service 10 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship Service 6 p.m Bible Classes All Ages Wednesday 7 p.m.

631 North Street Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Sunday Service - 10 a.m.

Rev. Linda Huggard

703 5th Street - Taft (661) 765-2378

NEW LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH Sunday Services 10am 1000 6th St. Weekly Classes Mon - Thurs Please call 765-7472 for info For a ride to church call 765-7472 before 9am on Sunday

Pastors Shannon N. and Shannon L. Kelley

Trinity Southern Baptist Church 400 Finley Drive We invite you to join us each week as we worship

Sunday Bible Study 9:45 am Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 am Sunday Evening Worship 6:00 pm Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study 6:00 pm

www.nlctaft.org or nlctaft@bak.rr.com

Peace Lutheran Church- LCMS Taft- A caring community under Christ We welcome you to worship with us at peace lutheran church, 26 Emmons Park Drive (across from the College). Worship service begins at 10:00 a.m.

Communion will be offered 1st and 3rd Sundays Sunday School for all ages at 9:00 a.m.

Advertise In The Taft Independent

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com

Gateway Temple

Tuesday-Friday 8:00 A.M.

(661) 623-0827 (661) 765-1171

All your detailing needs!

FD756 FDR50 FDR595 FDR618

Call Today!

765-6550

The Pregnancy crisis center is now open and available for support and assistance.

For information, call 763-4791 If you have a prayer request please call (661)765-2488.

Leave a message if the pastor or secretary is not available

WANTED: BULKY WASTE PICKUP

Ford City Tuesday

South Taft & Taft Heights Friday

City of Taft Wednesday

• REFRIGERATORS • MATTRESSES • WATER HEATERS • STOVES • WASHERS & DRYERS • SOFAS If Missed… Call Office at 7635135

All green waste must be bagged.

Tree Limbs cut in 6’ length, and bundled.

ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED Construction/Demolition Waste/Used Oil/ Hazardous Waste/Tires Westside Waste Management Co., Inc.

10 TAFT INDEPENDENT

Classifieds

Classified Adsare are$3.00 $2.00per perissue line. for Phone, fax, maillines, or drop off Classified Ads up to three $5 per issue ad for to upthe to Taft 5 lines, and $7 per issue for up to 10 lines. Yard your Independent.

Sale ads are free. Phone, fax, mail or drop off your ad to the Taft your Independent.

Ad photograph for $5. Ad your company logo for $5.

Boxed ads are $5 additional. E-mail us (or bring to our Boxed\outlined\bolded classified ads start at $12.00 for 8 office) a for photo of your home, car, truck motorcycle and lines, $16 12 lines, $20 for 15 lines, $25 for 20orlines. we’ll do the rest.

Photo Ads. Car, truck or house for sale ads are $5 per week, Yard Sale ads are $2 for 3 lines, lines $2 each. or $10 with a photo.

Email us (oradditional bring to our office) a photo of your home, car, truck or motorcycle and we’ll do the rest.

Classified ad deadline is Wednesday at 12 p.m. (noon) Classified ads deadline is now Wednesdays at 2 p.m.

Phone: 765-6550 Phone: 765-6550

For Rent

November 23 - 29, 2012

Business Services

426 Shattuck

2 bed 1 bath Cottage $550 Paul Joyce 805-218-1686 Joyce Properties 661-765-6300

Rite Away Carpet Cleaning Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning\General Cleaning Owner Operated Visa\Master Card 765-4191

Get It Rented!

Preserving for the Future

Fax:765-6556 765-6556 Fax: E-mail: Taftindypublisher@bak.rr.com Email: Taftindypublisher@bak.rr.com

661 765-2889. 11-16

Payment can made by cash, check, or card. credit card.

Payment can bebe made by cash, check, or credit Taft Independent 6thCenter St., Taft,St., CA Taft, 93268.

Taft Independent210 508 CA 93268

Community YARD SALES Advertise your yard sale ad. 3 lines for $2, additional lines after that $2 each. Fax your ad to 765-6556 or call and leave message at 765-6550 by 12 p.m.

Wednesday.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Free Ice Packs. Taft Veterinary Hospital. 627 Harrision St. 661 7631581.

New AA meeting just started in Taft at the Chevron Valley Credit Union Community Room. 7:30 am every Saturday morning. We read a topic from As Bill Sees It. 9-19.

Grief Support Group, offered as a community service by Optimal Hospice Care. Meetings held Thursdays 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. At Chevron Valley Credit Union, Community Room, 1092 W. Kern St., Taft. Enter by outside entrance – Albertson’s Shopping Center. Free and open to the public. Info call 716-4000.

Alzheimer’s Disease Association Of Kern County is offering Respite Care here in Taft. Call-Cathy Perkins at 760-3790848 for RESPITE CARE info. Respite Care is available every Thursday At the First Baptist Church located at 220 North St. from 9:00am—3:00pm.

YARD SERVICES COOLER SERVICES

HELP WANTED LVN,RN,MA P/T or Per Diem For West Side Urgent Care.

Qualifications: experience required IV/phlebotomy/ injections CPR & bilingual a plus.

Must be able to work days, nights & weekends.

Please send resume PO Box 81673, Bksfld, Ca 93380 New, local, vibrant restaurant seeking high-quality staff.

Fiorina’s Italian is finally opening!

We are looking to hire experienced kitchen and dining room staff to fill all positions.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate positive customer service skills, common sense, and a desire to be part of a team.

Qualified candidates are encouraged to pick up and complete applications in person at 101 B St in Taft on Thursday Nov 29 or Fri Nov 30 between 9am and 1pm.

Be punctual. Be prepared. Be professional. 11-30

NOW HIRING MACHINIST.

Candidates will be required to successfully complete a preemployment physical and drug screen.

Southern Sierra offers a competitive salary and benefit package.

Applications may be picked up at our business office or resumes may be faxed or emailed to: Southern Sierra General Engineering, Inc. P O Box 1113 857 Oleander Road Taft, CA 93268 661-765-6182 Office 661-765-6155 Fax www.southernsierrainc. com hr@southernsierrainc. com HELP WANTED

TAFT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ACCEPTIING APPLICATIONS FOR SUBSTITUTE EMPLOYEES to work in Custodial, Food Service, Clerical, Instr. Asst., and other classifications as needed.

Substitute Pay range is $13.50 p/hr. Substitute positions are paid hourly. NO hours are guranteed. E.O.E. Employment process includes: Application and Resume, Written Exam, Interview, Background Clearance, DOJ Clearance, Physical, and Drug Screen.

Applications, Job Descriptions and Salary Schedule are available at the TUHS Business Office, 1 Wildcat Way, between 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. M-F. Please note that the District Office will be closed November 22 and 23.

Applications must be received in the Business Office no later than 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 27. Test will be given in the TUHS IRC Lecture Hall on Wednesday, November 28 at 7:00 p.m.

FOUND PETS LOST PETS

Must sacrafice. 1 house 2bd. 1 ba. $41,950 cash or owner will carry with $25,000 down. House and property included. Front porch, fenced yards, 420 Montview, Taft. . 661-9727807. Bill or Laurie. 11-23

LOST DOG. BLACK LAB. BUDDY. Reward.

Missing since 10-15.

333-1740 or 763-4937.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Taft Property Management 1,2,3 and 4 Bedrooms now available in good areas.

CRIME FREE HOUSING Brokers Licence 01417057 661-577-7136

COMMERCIAL FOR RENT

CHILD CARE SERVICES

3 Spaces avail. 500sq. ft, 750sq.ft & 1,000 sq.ft.

Corner of 10th St. and B Street. Rents staring at $400 per month, plus dep. Avail. Now. (661) 864-9254.

WANTED

HOMES FOR SALE

Wanted old Toyota Land Cruisers, or land cruiser parts. Any condition.

Andy 661-665-9603.

Real Estate eBroker Inc.

By Appointment Karri Christensen LIC# 01522411 & #01333971 661-332-6597 www.BuyTaft.com Real Estate Sales & Purchase Can’t make payments call me!! I can help direct you to a loan modification or assist you in your short sale!

Wondering how buying a house works? Set an appointment with Karri to watch a FREE video on the process.

Junk Cars Wanted.

Cash Paid. 805-0552.

FOR SALE AUTOMOBILES 1979 Chev. flatbed pickup. $700.00. 661-9727807. 11-23 1956 Dodge moving van w/lift gate. $500. 661-9727807. 11-23

PETS Schnausers, Mini - AKC, Vet checked, declawed & taileds docked, $600 female, $500 males.

Must sacrafice. 1 house $15,000 cash. 2 bd 1 ba. nice yard. Land rent only $285 per month. 417 Montview. Taft. 661-9727807. Bill or Laurie. 11-23

Call 661-332-6597 for a current list.

28155 McClaren in Dustin Acres. 2 Plus Bedrooms, 2bath on one acre. $1,300 mo. $1000 dep. 661-589-2448.

Estate Realty. 11-30.

APART. FOR RENT 1bd. 1ba. Upstairs. $475 Mo. plus $475 dep. 155 1/2 North Street. (661) 477-9636. 11-30

MOBILE HOMES

Creekside Apartments.

1 BD and 2 BD. Pool, AC & Appl. 661.765-7674.

420 Finley Dr.

HOMES FOR RENT West Valley Real Estate (661) 763-1500.

Air Conditioning & Heating

Plumbing • Septic • Rooter Framing • Electrical • Concrete We Do All Phases of Construction Kitchen and Bathroom Specialists Ken Shugarts (661) 343-0507 30 Plus Years in Construction License No. 927634

600 D St 4/1.75 $1,200

2 Five acre parcels for sale in Maricopa. 1 lot has trees and animal pens, with water hook-up $100,000. 1 lot has water hook up. $75,000. 11-23

Mobile home for sale.

3bd 2 ba. Very nice. $27,000. 123 N. 10th St. Sp. 56. 204-8307.

Ken Shugarts

Center Street Apartments. 1 bed room 1 bath. $99 move in special. 765-7678.

Real Estate Services and Property Management Listings – Sales - Property Management Local Service You Can Depend On

322 Kern Street Taft, CA 93268 (661) 765-5000

Real Estate eBroker Inc.

By Appointment

Karri Christensen

LIC# 01522411 & #01333971

661-332-6597

www.BuyTaft.com Real Estate Sales & Purchase

3,500

Lic # 01525550 FOR RENT West Valley Real Estate (661) 763-1500 Lic # 01525550

Taft Independents Published

224 B St #A 2/1 $500 205 W Ash #C 2/1.5 $600 400 Woodrow #7 1/1 $625 501 ½ Jackson 2/1 $700 307 Philippine 1/1 $700 605 4th St 2/1.75 $750 116 Franklin 3/1 $900 306 Taylor 4/1.75 $900

Each Friday, The Largest Weekly Circulation Newspaper in Taft!

Visit Us Online at www.taftindependent.com

Jackson’s Automotive Smog Test and General Repairs Front End Repairs Transmission Service Brake Service Tune Ups and Fuel Injection Service and Repairs Call Today for an Appointment 763-1055 Corner of 3rd and Center Street 110 3rd Street - Taft, CA. (661) 763-1055

Westside Energy News and Features Global warming hysteria will kill jobs

development, enhanced oil recovery operations, or disposal of petroleum, municipal or industrial wastewater have caused detectable seismic activity. Yet of more than 800,000 injection wells nationwide, only about 40 were felt at the surface.

By Paul Driessen

Fracking is subject to multiple regulations. State and local regulation and cooperation with industry, constant refinements and improvements in rules and practices, and accommodation to public concerns about water, fracking fluids, road congestion, community impacts and other issues have been ongoing for decades. That is part of the reason why 2.5 million instances of fracking worldwide (over 1 million in the U.S.) since 1949 have not caused any serious harm.

Hydraulic fracturing myths threaten U.S. economy Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have boosted shale gas production from zero a few years ago to 10 percent of all U.S. energy supplies in 2012, observes energy analyst Daniel Yergin. It has increased U.S. oil production 25 percent since 2008, in the face of more federal land and resource withdrawals, permitting delays and declining public land production.

In the process, the fracking revolution created 1.7 million jobs in oil fields, equipment manufacturing, legal and information technology services, and other sectors. It will generate over $60 billion this year in state and federal tax and royalty revenues, reduce America’s oil import bill by $75 billion, and save us $100 billion in imported liquefied natural gas, concludes a new IMF Global Insight analysis.

A resurgent American petroleum industry could add “as many as 3.6 million jobs by 2020, and increase the US gross domestic product by as much as 3 percent,” says Citigroup’s “Energy 2020” report.

Fracking could make North America energy independent and turn the United States into the world’s number one oil producer in a few more years.

For people still concerned about “catastrophic manmade global warming” (despite 16 years of stable global temperatures), hydraulic fracturing helps cut carbon dioxide emissions, using clean-burning natural gas that costs a third less than oil per BTU. Common sense says hydraulic fracturing should garner widespread public, political and even environmentalist support. Several states have banned it, however, and the Environmental Protection Agency and Bureau of Land Management are poised to unleash new rules that could usurp state control and restrict or hyper-regulate fracking on federal, state and private lands.

They justify the bans and regulations by citing public anxiety over fracking - but fail to mention that this anxiety has been nurtured and orchestrated by environmental pressure groups whose fractured fairy tales about this technology would be as funny as the Rocky and Bullwinkle tales if the economic, employment, national security and environmental consequences weren’t so serious.

Some of these “fairy tales” include: Burning tap water. You could ignite methane at your kitchen faucet if your water well was drilled through gas-bearing rock formations and not properly sealed to keep gas out. Fracking zones are thousands of feet below groundwater supplies, though. Production wells use cement and steel casing that extends hundreds of feet below the surface, and sensitive instruments monitor downhole activity to ensure that valuable gas does not escape into near-surface formations or the atmosphere.

Unfortunately, environmentalist fairy tales about fracking cost us energy, jobs, revenue and prosperity for no ecological benefit. The ultimate irony is Europe, where opposition to fracking (and nuclear power) is causing Germany and other central EU countries to build 10,600 megawatts of new coalfired electrical power plants during the next four years.

Meanwhile, green power mandates have pushed Germany’s electricity prices to the second highest in Europe (32 cents per kWh, compared to an average of 10 cents in the U.S.) - putting countless jobs at risk and leaving German households staring at another big rate hike next year.

America needs access to its oil and gas deposits under rational regulations that reflect reality, instead of eco fairy tales. The White House, Congress and government bureaucracies need to distinguish between fact and fiction, understand how to produce real energy, jobs and revenues, and stop trying to “fundamentally transform” our nation.

Paul Driessen is senior policy adviser for the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow and author of “EcoImperialism: Green Power, Black Death” (Merril Press, 2012).

Ten Percent Firearms

Groundwater contamination. Fracking fluids are 99.5 percent water and sand. The other 0.5 percent are chemicals that fight bacterial growth, keep sand particles suspended and improve production.

The vast majority of these chemicals can be found in household items that Americans use safely every day - including cheese, beer, canned fish, dairy desserts, shampoo and cosmetic products. In addition, heavy plastic liners are now common under drilling rigs, storage tanks and containment pits. Along with modern drilling and well casing methods, these liners help make chemical or salt contamination of groundwater far less likely than from winter salting of icy roads.

Wastewater and water depletion. In addition to changing the composition of fracking fluids to address concerns about water use and wastewater disposal, drilling companies increasingly recycle the water they use. Today, far less water is used in fracking than to grow corn and process it into ethanol.

Earthquakes. Fracturing rocks does cause cracking that can be measured with ultra-sensitive equipment. But these micro-seismic events measure around 0.8 on the Richter Scale, about what is caused by a passing car. Even loaded dump trucks register only 3 (the minimum that can be felt by humans), and property damage does not begin until level 5. Deep injection of water for geothermal energy

1277 Kern Street (661)765-6899

12 TAFT INDEPENDENT

Andy’s Septic Tank & Sewer

UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

HARRISON STREET AUTOMOTIVE

209 Harrison Street • Taft (661)765-2505 or (661)763-1887 fax

November 23 - 29, 2012

Used to be Paul’s Bike Shop

BMX

Bikes Are Here!

Diagnostic Specialists Service & Repairs • Smog Repairs Air Conditioning • Tune Up • Front End Brakes • Fuel Injection

(661)765-5000 or (661)343-0507

$15.00 OFF with mention of this ad* *1996 Vehicle or newer

Qik Smog & Tune

Black Gold Cafe and Deli

745-4919

608 Center St.

Devon’s Body Shop

(661)763-4445

508 Center Street 765-6556

No Appointment Needed for Smog Check!

General Automotive Repairs

• 661-763-4445 • 500 S. 10th Street

408 Main Street • (661)765-4337

Randy’s Trucking Cart-Away Concrete Mix Trailer • Hydraulic Rotation and Tilt for Mixing and Dumping • Mixes Concrete While Traveling • • Large Internal Blades • • Rear Operator Control Panel •

western shop & PET Wash New Styles Women’s Jeans, Tops & Roper Boots

Full Grooming Salon Sale 25 to 50% Off

Warm and Cozy Dog Beds

(661) 763-4773 1050 Wood Street

New Shipment Men’s Short & Long Sleeve Shirts

Up To 5 Ft. Round www.shawswesternshop.com

Monday-Friday 9-5:30, Saturday 9-3

419 Harrison St. Taft, CA 93268 (661) 765-2987

The Tumbleweed Bar and Restaurant

Located in the Heart of Oil Country On the Petroleum Highway We Cater Your Place or Ours Full Bar Available For Your Special Event

Open 7 Days a Week

FULL BAR

Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner - Full Bar - Catering - RV Parking Available 24870 Highway 33 in Derby Acres • (661) 768-4655

Owner Orchel Krier Welcomes You and Your Family - Dinner Reservations