Taft Police Officers, Like Father, Like Son

Independent The Taft

December 14 - 20, 2012

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TAFT INDEPENDENT

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December 14 - 20, 2012 • Volume 7 Issue 23

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

Happy Holidays From Jacks Flower Shop

Like Father, Like Son All in the Family at Taft PD

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2 TAFT INDEPENDENT

December 14 - 20, 2012

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

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December 14 - 20, 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 Opinion and Feature....11 Shop Taft........................12

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

Christmas Toy Run Saturdy at Chilled n Grilled 2 Wheel Productions is putting on a ride to collect toys for our local children who otherwise would not get to have a Christmas.

Rgistration starts at 8am at Chilled n Grilled. Kick stands up at 9:30am.

The cost is $20 plus one unwrapped toy per bike and $5 per passenger, which includes dinner.

Walk-ins for dinner are welcome for $5 per person plus one unwrapped toy.

Dinner will be served at 4:00pm at Chilled n Grilled. Thwere will be a shoebox auction and raffle during dinner.

Art in Touch,A Kern County Traveling Exhibition of Tactile and Interactive Art The Taft College Art Gallery is pleased to host a unique exhibit organized by the Arts Council of Kern and partially funded by a grant from the Black Rock Arts Foundation.

The exhibit will open to the public on Monday, January 14th, 2013 and will run through Friday, February 8, 2013.

The works will appeal to all ages, but blind and visually impaired community members might enjoy this more because this exhibit is designed to be touched.

Visually impaired individuals will also be able to listen to an audio recording of artists statements to enhance their enjoyment of the exhibit.

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 exhibition consists of thirteen (13) works of art in different media. A exhibition committee consisting of members of the art community, including Margaret Nowling, curator of the BC Jones Gallery and Vikki Cruz, curator at the Bakersfield Museum of Art selected the works earlier this year from the submitted artist proposals.

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.

The exhibition includes tactile and interactive art works by Eileen Ettinger, Iva Fendrick, Enemerio Galvan, Justin Jennings, David Leitch, Marcy Holbrook, Bill Malis, Brian Stanton, Dan Slayton, Marlene Tatsuno, and Hank Washington.

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

Future hosting venues in Kern County will include: Maturango Museum, Ridgecrest – September 2013 Independent Living Center of Kern County – October 2013 “It always had been my wish to create traveling exhibitions for Kern County so that our communities can share positive cultural experiences. I am very glad that the Black Rock Arts Foundation shared my vision for this show and selected us a grantee. I hope this will be the first of many Kern County traveling exhibitions!”

Nicole Saint-John

Kids Grief Connection Offered by Optimal Hospice Care. 6pm-7pm, First Baptist Church, 220 North Church. Please call 661 371-2102 for more information.

Victim Witness Auxiliary Board and Kern County Probation Department Host the 24th Annual Fog Run The Victim Witness Auxiliary Board along with the Kern County Probation Department proudly sponsor this year’s 24th Annual 5K and 10K “Fog Run” event, to be held on January 12, 2013, at Lake Ming beginning at 9:00 a.m.

The event is open to the public with all proceeds benefitting Crime Victims in Kern County. The Kern County Probation Department’s Victim Witness Assistance Program provides direct services to Crime Victims including Victim Relocation, Court Accompaniment and Resource and Referral assistance.

The deadline for early registration is December 28, 2012, and race day registration will begin at 7:00 a.m. the day of the event. Participants will receive a T-shirt, raffle ticket and food will be provided. Come and join us for this very worthwhile event.

Taft College Foundation receives STEM Funding From Wells Fargo Bank On Thursday, December 6, 2012, a luncheon was held at Taft College for representatives from Wells Fargo Bank who presented the Taft College Foundation with a check for $10,000 for the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) Program. President of Community Banking Ernie Pineda, along with his associate Del Garcia, were feted at a small luncheon hosted by the Taft College Foundation.

Wells Fargo has been a strong corporate sponsor for STEM since 2010. This grant will allow the program, which serves K-12 students, to continue their programs and program outreach throughout Taft and western Kern County.

Students in the area are developing a new understanding and appreciation for these disciplines. The Taft College staff, along with teachers from the local schools, are excited that students are developing interest in STEM-related fields.

This will have a positive future economic impact in the region, particularly for the energy and agricultural sectors.

“Taft College is very appreciative of the generosity of Wells Fargo Bank in supporting the STEM program,” says Dr. Dena Maloney, Superintendent/ President of the West Kern Community College District. “We know that the economic prosperity of the region depends upon having a skilled workforce, particularly in science, math, engineering and technology. The students we are working with today will have a bright future if they pursue their interest in these subjects. Wells Fargo’s support will help us continue to introduce students to these exciting fields.”

Gas Prices Drop Further California, December 10- Average retail gasoline prices in California have fallen 6.2 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.61/g yesterday. This compares with the national average that has fallen 4.8 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.34/g, according to gasoline price website CaliforniaGasPrices. com.

Including the change in gas prices in California during the past week, prices yesterday were 3.5 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 22.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 12.2 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 5.5 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

“The national average has continued to see a steady decline over the last week, and that trend will likely continue through this week at the very least,” said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. “Last week, the Energy Information Administration reported one of the largest single week increases in gasoline inventories in my recent memory, which will likely contribute downward pressure to wholesale gasoline prices in the days and perhaps weeks ahead,” DeHaan said.

CITY OF TAFT COUNCIL MEETINGS

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December 14 - 20, 2012

Editorial

Westside Watcher

The Taft

Independent

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, December 14, 2012 through Thursday, December 20, 2012 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (PG-13) No Passes Allowed Fri: (3:30), 6:45, 10:00 Sat: (12:15), (3:30), 6:45, 10:00 Sun: (12:15), (3:30), 6:45 Mon - Thu: 6:30 PM Red Dawn (PG-13) Fri: (4:00), 6:00, 8:00 Sat & Sun: (2:00), (4:00), 6:00, 8:00 Mon - Thu: (6:00), 8:00 Rise of the Guardians (PG) Fri: (3:45), 6:00 Sat & Sun: (1:30), (3:45), 6:00 Mon - Thu: 6:15 PM Flight (R) Fri - Sun: 8:15 PM

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

By Francis P. Church, first published in The New York Sun in 1897.

Reprinted for those in doubt by the Taft Independent.

Dear Editor, I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun (newspaper), it’s so.”

Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O’Hanlon Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real?

Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Saturday, December 8th Taft’s Toys for Tots drive Thank you to all the volunteers: Jeff Fariss and his EMT class Vicky Waugh Dave Reynolds Chris Chung-Wee Thanks to all those who donated gifts!

A special Thank You to the United States Marine Corps Sergeant Vittorio Garcia Sergeant Allen Lively You made local families very happy this Christmas!!

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December 14 - 20, 2012

TUHS Hall of Fame 2013 Inductees Announced, Banquet Saturday, April 27th

The TUHS Hall of Fame recognizes persons who have achieved excellence in any one of three categories: Achievement (local, national or international level); Athletics (outstanding achievement in a particular sport); Life Time Recognition (lives that have reflected character and distinction in the 40 years since their graduation). These new members will be formally inducted at the Hall of Fame Banquet, Saturday, April 27, 2013.

DR. BEN DYKES, CLASS OF 1940 During his near half century of professional work in Taft, Dr. Ben Dykes was deeply involved in professional and community education, serving as President of both the Taft High and Taft College Board of Trustees. He provided special need families and individuals with complimentary dental care throughout his years of practice, and invested his expertise and considerable persuasive skills to write curriculum for and to create two-year schools of dental hygiene in seven different community colleges (Taft College, 1993). These schools now support dentistry practice throughout California. He encouraged many young men and women in Taft to pursue careers in dentistry and dental hygiene; he and his wife, Evelyne, spent a year in Cambodia pursuing a missionary calling; he concluded his professional years serving the Miwuk Indians in Jackson, California.

Dr. Ben Dykes was a man of great integrity and character who embraced science and faith, public leadership and service. He was held in highest esteem by family, friends, and community.

TRACY ROGERS, CLASS OF 1985 Tracy Rogers thrived at every level of high school and college football. In 1988, while playing for Fresno State, he set a new team record for defensive scoring, led the team in solo and total tackles, was named by Sporting News Magazine as National Defensive Player of the Week and selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game.

From his coaches, beginning with his father, Ronnie Rogers and continuing through his career with Al Baldock, Jim Sweeney, Marty Schottenheimer, and Bill Cowher, Tracy’s intensive and aggressive commitment to his sport brought culminated in his career with the Kansas City Chiefs where he played for seven years before injuries and surgeries led to his football retirement in 1996.

He returned to Taft and with his father, founded TRC, an independent oil-producing company. Tracy has become deeply involved in Taft’s community activities and is a member of the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame.

BILL BLACK, CLASS OF 1943 After graduation, Bill Black joined the Navy and served on the aircraft carrier USS Lexington. At war’s end, Bill married Dorothy McPherson, began his family and with his brother purchased Taft Plumbing Company. Over many decades it came to hold an essential role in giving Taft many of its landmark locations, transferring

TAFT INDEPENDENT

empty space into sites for business and havens of personal living.

The Caprice Motel, West Kern Shopping Center, a mobile home park and hundreds of homes throughout Taft are part of the legacy of Bill Black.

Having served on the City Planning Commission, Bill continues to “patrol” Taft on his daily morning walks. It’s not uncommon for him to carry a trash bag and a “trash grabber” and pick up refuse while getting his morning exercise. Bill has maintained his commitment to the community, in his professional life and in his personal activities. He has been doing it for many years, and Taft is a better place for it.

DICK WALSH, CLASS OF 1956 Dick Walsh, born and raised in Taft, flourished in the school’s athletic programs, becoming a member of the Wildcats 1956 Valley Basketball Championship team and earning All-Conference honors while playing for Taft College. After graduating from University of Pacific in 1961, he coached high school basketball for several years, and then took the position of head coach for Ohlone Community College where, working without a gymnasium, he established and nurtured a completely new program.

With commitment, persistence and skill, Walsh enjoyed success at Ohlone, so much so that in 1981 he was hired by New Zealand to prepare its men and women’s basketball teams for the World Games. He then returned to coaching at Ohlone where he was recognized by his peers as Coast Conference Coach of the Year in 1993.

Dick and his wife of 34 years, Josie, now live in Palm Springs where they enjoy visits from their four children and five grandchildren. In 2012, Dick was inducted into the California Community Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.

LEE ROY KELLEY, CLASS OF 1960 Lee Roy Kelley turned his love affair with fast cars into an extraordinary career in the publishing world. In 1967, with a nudge from his wife, Judy, he sought and gained a position as associate editor with Popular Hot Rodding magazine. His writing talent led to advanced editorial positions and later, the responsibility for developing new acquisitions for Peterson Publishing, a billiondollar publishing conglomerate.

During his career, Lee Roy was editor of Hot Rod magazine, and later vice-president of Motor Trend and Sport magazines.

Throughout his career, names familiar to racing fans…Don Garlits, Andy Granatelli, Richard Petty, Jackie Stewart…were part of Lee Roy’s personal and working circle of relationships. He traveled around the world covering and sometimes participating in automotive races and new car introduction. “It was quite a heady experience…driving the tires off almost every high performance car in the world-from Cobras to Corvettes, Porsches to Vipers, Mini Coopers to Ferraris” he wrote in the mini-yearbook for his 50th high school reunion.

JOHN T. HOWE, CLASS OF 1953 John Howe has spent much of his life investing his time and considerable energy into two community careers which have benefitted literally thousands of adults (Kiwanian) and children (Skylake Yosemite Camp). A graduate of Menlo College, John became involved in Kiwanian community service in Palo Alto in 1967 and for 43 years he has attended and invested his time and efforts into its various community activities. He has never missed a meeting.

Professionally, John created, owned and directed Skylake Yosemite Camp, a summer hiatus location for children (ages 7-16) set on Bass Lake. For 38 years, this was the summer beacon that set young people into motion, motivating them to return again and again as they grew up. The return rate for Skylake was 70%, a figure that is nearly one third higher than the national average for summer camps and one that endorses the skills and acumen, both personal and business, that John brought to this venture. He served as President of the American Camping Association, 1977-1980.

MILT STARK, CLASS OF 1950 Milt Stark served a stint in the Air Force after graduation, and upon his return, he graduated from Taft College and then Whittier College. Through these years, in various venues of scholastic competition, summer sport and military competition, Milt began compiling one of the most powerful resumes in the history of American fast-pitch softball. He caught Les Haney; he played for ten years with the Long Beach, California Nighthawks as the team won Three World Championships and Milt was named twice to the International Softball Congress All-World Team. In 1981, he was inducted into the (ISC) Hall of Fame.

As Executive Director of the ISC, he revived fast pitch softball throughout the United States, reached out to organized leagues in Canada, Guatemala, and New Zealand and brought them into the annual World Tournament Championships.

Milt was an excellent defensive catcher, quick, with a rifle arm.

He knew his pitcher’s strengths and capitalized on the hitter’s weaknesses. Milt is a member of the Long Beach Softball Hall of Fame.

LARRY PEAHL, CLASS OF 1953 After graduation, Larry Peahl enrolled at Taft Junior College where he served as Student Body President. He then graced the Berkeley campus with his thoughtful maturation as a mathematics major.

His life is a succession of quietly contributed assistances to a huge number of community needs. If one needed an administrative business manager (Taft College), one found Larry; if the need was to coach track, Larry filled the position; would the community like a museum to testify to its history, then Larry surveyed the land, served as president and transcribed more than 500 of Edith Dane’s, Kernland Tales, creating digital memories that will serve many generations.

Larry was a founding member and the first president of the TUHS Hall of Fame Committee; he has produced two books, A History of Early Taft California (with Pete Gianopulos, 2000) and recently, Taft and the West Side: A Collection of Historical Photographs. He fills his work with the quiet grace and expertise that has come to characterize his life and to flavor ours with the exceptional experience of coming to know him.

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6 TAFT INDEPENDENT

Westside News & Business Briefs

The Hallmarks: Father and Son are Both Taft Police Officers

December 14 - 20, 2012

A “Miracle on Center Street” Themed Holiday Downtown

By Jane McCabe Doug Hallmark and his son Erik share an interesting distinction—they are both police officers for the city of Taft. Doug served as a Sheriff ’s Officer for Kern County for twenty years and retired, but, in order to pay for his twin daughters’ (born on the same day as he) college education, he returned to work first as reserve deputy and since January 2011 as a full-time officer with the Taft Police Department. Now he works as “a school resource officer.” He helps

There was lots to do and see on Center Street this week.

Hundreds of families (top left) turned out at Westside Furniture on Tuesday night to meet Santa (above) during the Taft Chambers “A Miracle on Center Street” Christmas celebration.

Greg Hill of Old’s Cool shows off his electric train display in the antique store’s man cave. The public is invited to come down and see the 3 train display that features a holiday village and many detailed scaled buildings that are featured in the display.

Jordan Romero, Whitney Graham, Taylor Owen, Emily Davis and Cameron London (below) of the Taft High School Choir entertained Center Street Shoppers with traditional holiday Christmas Carols. Local elementary school children’s art was also on display in several businesses on Center Street (bottom).

keep the peace at Taft High School and Buena Vista High School and deals mostly with truant students.

OT

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Erik says that he didn’t plan on being a police officer, but after college, after talking at length with his dad, he went to the Kern County Sheriff ’s Department Police Academy, worked as a community volunteer and then for a year as a bailiff in Shafter. When Kern County wasn’t hiring, Doug suggested that he apply at the Taft Police Department—he was hired and has been a full-fledge police officer in Taft since August.

Though father and son have different schedules—Doug works eight hours days five days a week at the schools and Erik works the night-time, swing-shift ten hours a day four days a week, they occasionally work together—like the time a suspect used a flashlight to bash in the back window of Doug’s patrol car and Erik, once he got the report, was able to follow the man in his car and arrest him.

Meanwhile his father came running on foot after the suspect.

When asked how he likes working for the same police department as his father, Erik says, “It’s an honor, an honor to work with him and an honor to work for the police department.” Erik is 22 years old, married and has one child. Whereas being a police officer is hard on his family, he and his wife like the financial security the work affords them.

Doug is clearly a man who likes his work. He often goes to the homes of kids who are being truant, talks to them, and warns them of the consequences of continual absences. If they continue in their wayward ways, their parents may be cited for contributing to the delinquency of minors and fined $600. Knowledge of what might happen is usually sufficient deterrent to further truancy.

In 1997 Doug won the Senator Jim Acosta Award for being one of the ten best police officers in the state of California, and in 2005 he won it again. He established the Hallmark House of Corrections in Bakersfield and designed what he calls the “scared straight” program to help delinquent kids prepare for their lives as adults.

“You have use the language they use when you talk to them,” he says, “like, ‘get your ass over here right now.’”

Family Portrait Time!

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December 14 - 20, 2012

Exciting Things Are Happening at Maricopa High School

by Jane McCabe If you drive through Maricopa you might be tempted to think that nothing much is going on in this sleepy little town—but, nothing could be further from the truth! For Maricopa High School is bustling with activity. The students are happily engaged in various activities which will give them the skills they need to compete in today’s job market.

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Maricopa High offers four programs from which students can elect any combination of study. They call it a “linked learning mode that supports career and college advancement.” The four “business pathways” are as follows: 1. STEMCity (standing for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) teaches electronics, computer programming, applied chemistry, robotic research and design, forensic science, biotechnology research and development, aerospace engineering, mathematics, and business management.

2. CITYSCAPES CONSTRUCTION gives instruction in construction and design, manufacturing, auto maintenance and repair, architecture, and maintenance operations.

3. GLOBAL CITY GRAPHICS teaches computer graphics, printing technology, broadcasting telecommunications, journalism, music, set design, and acting.

4. In CITY WALK CAFÉ & HEALTH CLUB students learn proper food preparation, safety and sanitation, restaurant and business operations, menus and nutrition, agribusiness, hospitality and tourism, and marketing communication and promotion Students prepare the food and operate the Maricopa Tea Room, where the public is invited to have lunch and other refreshments at a reason cost. According to Dr. Meier, this is to give student experience in running a business. Furniture made in the shop - outdoor chairs and tables - is for sale on Craig’s List. T-shirts with silkscreened graphics will be sold by the Global City Graphics T-Shirt Company in a shop currently under construction. (The school is also building an Olympic sized swimming pool and gymnasium.)

Culinary teacher Patty Farmer be glad to show what they are doing. Every one of the ten teachers at MHS is a coach, responsible for eight or nine students—they are their advocates, their go-betweens, who counsel and encourage them.

Science teacher Kimberly Van Winkle Things have certainly changed since I was in high school when the model was to study from textbooks and the teacher lectured in front of a class room using the chalk board. Hardly a text book is to be found in the career rooms at Maricopa High School—that’s because the relevant information is on-line on their computers. In one of the science rooms there’s a cabinet that’s wired electrically and holds lap-top computers. At the beginning of each school day students remove their laptops and carry them from room to room.

At the end of the day they are returned and plugged in so that they can be recharged, ready for the next day.

Dr. Scott Meier, Superintendent of the Maricopa Unified School District is enthusiastic about the programs offered to its 75 students under his guidance. If complimented on the tone he has set for the school or the fact that fewer absences have resulted since the program’s inception, he says, “This is what we’ve done.”

An atmosphere of camaraderie and cooperation prevails throughout the school.

Math teacher OJ Kwan (left) Dr. Meier and students The school uses the model of a Travel Agency. Dr. Meier and his secretary, Stacy, are as the travel agents who help give them a vision for the future—their destination, if you will. Students are asked, “What is that you want? How are you going to get there?” When they graduate they will have their “passport,” that is say, their high school diploma. They will also receive certificates of achievement for the disciplines they have participated in. This puts them in the driver’s seat. They have a leg-up because they already have experience in their field of endeavor.

The high-tech programs Maricopa High School offers might serve as model for high schools world-wide.

acme jewelry co.

Technology teacher Albert Allen

Constructor teacher Rich House and students

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Dr. Meier wants students to learn how to apply for a small business loan, how to deal with staff, and keep business records.

Science students learn to solder computer circuitry according to instructions. They are even engaged in building robots! Near the end of the school year various schools in California compete in “robot wars” in San Mateo. Last year Maricopa High won fifth place; this year they hope to do even better.

The theme of these programs is “The world is my city.” The teachers at Maricopa High want to imbue confidence in students so that they will feel they can go wherever they wish and succeed.

It seems to be working—students readily answer questions and are

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8 TAFT INDEPENDENT

Liberty Under Fire

Given the Impending Fiscal Cliff, are we Finally Ready for the Tea Party Solution?

By Dr. Harold Pease What most do not realize is that December 31 is but the first fiscal cliff—the little one. Given the inability of both parties to deal with this little one, although they have known about it for almost two years, how can we have any faith in their ability to prevent the ultimate collapse of the economy if immediate and drastic changes are not made soon? Why not solve both now before options are more drastic latter?

Neither party really represents limited constitutional government and both are addicted to debt. It is like an addict prescribing his own detox program. Consequently Freedom Works, a Tea Party affiliate, selected 12 of their own members and through the Internet invited 150,000 members to make suggestions on what should be done. The Tea Party Debt Commission was formed to provide the federal government a solution. Its final report summarized the problem, “Our government is doing too many things it can’t do well, or shouldn’t do at all, with money it doesn’t have.

We are borrowing 43 cents of every dollar we spend….”

The Tea Party Plan cuts, caps, and balances federal spending.

The budget is balanced in four years, without tax hikes, and remains balanced. Federal spending is reduced by $9.7 trillion over the next ten years. The plan shrinks the federal government from 24 % of GDP to about 16 %. Finally it stops the growth of the debt and begins paying it down. Within a generation there would be no national debt. Bold indeed!

How do they do this? First, stop duplication of services. They note that the “Government Accountability Office counted no fewer than 47 job training programs, 56 financial literacy programs, 80 economic development programs, 18 food assistance programs, 20 programs for the homeless, 82 teacher-quality programs spread across 10 agencies, and more than 2,100 data centers. All told, we have nearly 2,200 federal programs.” Government is bloated, inefficient, and wasteful.

Second, repeal services that we can no longer afford and/or that are not authorized within the Constitution. These goals include repealing ObamaCare, eliminating four unconstitutional, costly, inefficient Cabinet agencies—Energy, Education, Commerce, and HUD—and reducing or privatizing many others, including EPA, TSA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. Their report calls for ending farm subsidies, government student loans, and foreign aid to countries that don’t support us—luxuries we can no longer afford.

Third entitlement programs must be incentivized to give donors more for their money. Boldly they opened the unfunded liabilities door, the door neither party dares to open as potentially it could destroy career politicians and political parties. They concluded that they could make Social Security “sustainable and actually improve benefits by harnessing the power of compound interest.”

They noted, “Three decades ago, Chile embarked on a bold transformation of its retirement security system.

Today, that system [SMART Accounts] is the envy of the world, giving seniors far better benefits than the old, government-run system ever did.”

Shortly thereafter three counties in Texas adopted the SMART

New TUHS Teachers Settling In Abel Pedro and Adam Bullard are thankful this holiday season that they ended up teaching at Taft Union High School.

Pedro is a teacher for the severely handicapped. He replaced long-time teacher Paulette Maxwell, who retired in June. Pedro also is coaching the girls’ varsity soccer team.

Bullard is the welding teacher and he replaced Patrick Casey who started the program five years ago and also retired last June.

“I love it here. It’s small. It’s like home. It’s comfortable,” Bullard praised.

Adam Bullard

Accounts program in favor of personal accounts and thus those retiring today do so “with much more money and have significantly more generous death and disability supplemental benefits than do Social Security participants.” Moreover, they “face no long term unfunded pension liabilities.” The Commission recommends that “all state and local governments should have the option of opting into the ‘Galveston model.’”

The Tea Party Debt Commission saw the Medicare program as outdated, inefficient, and corrupt and recommended six major changes that if followed would save, they predicted, $676,000,000 the first year and $2,030,843,000,000 in 10 years. These changes are first “let individuals opt out of Medicare under Senator Jim DeMint’s ‘Retirement Freedom Act.”’ Second, let all new Medicare beneficiaries enroll in the Federal Employees’ Health Benefit Program (FEHBP) introduced by Senator Rand Paul as the “Congressional Health Care for Seniors Act.” Third, Reduce Medicare subsidies to actual cost of hospitals’ graduate medical education.

Fourth, Maintain Medicare’s physician payment rates at the 2011 level. Fifth, convert the open-ended Medicaid program into a capped block grant to the states. And six call on all states to reform their medical malpractice and product liability systems— tort reform.

Opting into the same Medicare program the members of Congress use, the second Tea Party change recommended, is much better for participants because it “relies on competing private insurers to provide benefits, and as a result has very little of the fraud and waste problems that plague today’s outdated and poorly designed Medicare system.” One wonders why Congress can make for themselves such a good system and leave us one with “between 10 and 20 percent of Medicare’s $450 billion annual budget being attributable to waste, fraud, and abuse….” Moreover, it suspends pension contributions and COLAs for Members of Congress, whenever the budget is in deficit.

The new plan offers a rational transition to ownership of our own retirement and more control and choice over our health care.

Why did the government fail to accomplish the same thing—even behind closed doors? Their first concern is to protect their jobs and party. Outsiders, without a personal stake in the outcome, can see much more and do much more without the inevitable political wrangling. Learn more and review the details of the Tea Party Debt Commission’s recommendations by visiting FreedomWorks. org/the-tea-party-budget. Will Congress explore these changes with intent to make them?

Not unless you demand that they do so.

December 14 - 20, 2012 He didn’t have to move far.

Bullard, 30, was born in King City and graduated from King City Joint Union High School, where his father was an agriculture teacher for 30 years.

In high school, Bullard was involved in the Future Farmers of America and was on a team that finished third in the state finals FFA judging competition.

He attended Hartnell College in Salinas, Cuesta College and Feather River College Abel Pedro in Quincy. At Feather River Community College, he earned an associate of science degree in pack station management. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

He worked in agriculture in the Salinas Valley and in Yuma, Ariz., before going back to school at Cal Poly to earn his teaching credential. He is completing his masters in agricultural education there. He taught agricultural mechanics and agricultural science at Woodlake Union High School before coming to Taft.

Bullard is single and lives in Taft. He enjoys target shooting, trap shooting, hunting, backpacking and riding dirt bikes.

Pedro, 38, was born in Manila, Philippines, and moved to California when he was 12. He graduated from Clovis High School where he was captain on his Valley championship soccer team his senior year. He coached varsity girls’ soccer at Arvin High School the past six years.

He taught at Haven Drive Middle School in Arvin for eight years before accepting the position in Taft, his first teaching special education. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in art and his teaching credential from California Sate University, Bakersfield.

He is working on his clear credential in special education and his masters of special education.

Pedro and his wife, Judy, live in Bakersfield with their four-yearold daughter Julianna.

Photos by Jim Carnal

3,500

Taft Independents Published Every Friday - Free To Our Readers.

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December 14 - 20, 2012

TAFT INDEPENDENT

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“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 Mass Schedule Tuesday-Friday 8:00 A.M. Sunday 8:30A.M. English 11:00A.M. Spanish

501 Lucard St., Taft • 765-4111 FD756 FDR50 FDR595 FDR618

Gateway Temple

First Baptist Church Pastor Scott Pearson

Sunday School 9 a.m.

Worship Celebration 10:30 a.m.

Evening Service 6 p.m.

Awana Childrens Program Wednesday 6 p.m.

220 North Street - Taft 661 763-3138

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765-6550

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

The Taft

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Licensed Funeral Directors

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.

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

426 Shattuck

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

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December 14 - 20, 2012

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

Saturday. Yard Sale at 325 D Street in Taft.

Lots of Christmas stuff and Antiques and plus size Men and Women clothing and tools.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 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 HELP WANTED Help Wanted (Part time) Taft City School District is accepting applications for

Substitute Custodians, Food Service and Bus Drivers. Employment process includes written exam, application screening, interview, DOJ fingerprint clearance, and physical exam with drug screen.

A written exam for these positions will be given on Monday, December 17th. Application and Job Descriptions may be picked up at the District Office, 820 Sixth Street, and must be returned

by Friday, December 14th at 4:00 p.m. EOE 12-14.

Midway Elementary School is hiring a Special Education Resource Aide. Must have an A.A. and experience although not required is a plus.

Job will be part time approximately 22-25 hours per week. You may get an application at: Midway Elementary School, 259 F Street, Fellows, CA. rson 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

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.

CHILD CARE SERVICES WANTED Reloading equipment and supplies. Also lathe and milling machine.

661- 205-8706.

Junk Cars Wanted.

Cash Paid. 805-0552.

FOR SALE AUTOMOBILES

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HOMES FOR SALE

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Remodeled house. 110 Wood St. 4 bd. 2 ba. with central a/c. large house. fenced yard. 2 car garage. $1,000 mo. plus $1000. dep. (909) 239-8337 or (661) 717-9056. 12-14.

MOBILE HOMES

PETS

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661-289-0678. 12-28.

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

HELP WANTED TAFT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ACCEPTIING APPLICATIONS FOR SUBSTITUTE

Rexxie. REWARD. 661765-5862.

Lost Mini Aussie. Black\ grey\white w/tan spot on face. Blue eyes, female.

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

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605 4th St 2/1.75 $750 116 Franklin 3/1 $900 306 Taylor 4/1.75 $900 600 D St 4/1.75 $1,200

House for rent. 2bd. 1 ba. 661-747-6968.

28155 McClaren in 1bd.

1ba. Upstairs. $475 Mo. plus $475 dep. 155 1/2 North Street. (661) 4779636. 12-14.

3bd. 1 ba. 310 Kern St. $800 plus dep. 661-7655000. on.

House for rent. 2bd, 1 ba. Very nice. $800 mo. plus dep. 203 Lucard.

765-4644 or 363-3005.

APART. FOR RENT

3,500 Taft Independents Published Each Friday, The Largest Weekly Circulation in Taft!

By Appointment

Happy Holidays

Creekside Apartments.

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Classified Ads in the Taft Independent $2 per line Box your ad for $5 more call

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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

After Fiscal Cliff Comes Fiscal Avalanche

Rejection of U.S. debt leads to interest rate spike While Washington is preoccupied with the so-called fiscal cliff, little attention has been given to the fiscal avalanche that will occur if we continue down an unsustainable, long-term path, causing markets to turn sour on U.S. debt and leading to a spike in interest rates.

Such a eurolike crisis would make the fiscal cliff look like a dip in the road. Unlike driving off a cliff, which you can see coming and make last-minute adjustments to avert, we cannot predict with any reasonable certainty when the avalanche will break. If it does, there will be little anyone can do to prevent its devastating effects.

No one knows just how long the United States can continue to accrue massive debts before lenders lose confidence. Delaying significant fiscal restraint for yet another year will send the wrong signal to financial markets and may serve as a tipping point that could lead to disastrous consequences for our economy.

If U.S. creditors decide that our debt is no longer the safest form of investment available, demand for Treasurys will drop, interest rates will rise and the cost of servicing our debt will begin to explode.

Paying interest on our national debt will quickly crowd out spending on almost all other federal priorities. At that point, any deficit reduction undertaken by Washington — including the sorts of spending cuts or tax increases being discussed today — will be too little, too late.

The Congressional Budget Office projects that under the most likely policy scenario, in 30 years, net interest payments on the debt could total $3.8 trillion in today’s dollars. That is more than total government spending for 2011.

In reality, we are unlikely to maintain the same level of borrowing and spending for the next three decades without a significant change in interest rates for our debt. Even a modest 1 percentage point increase next year, for example, in effect would wipe out all the deficit reduction included in last year’s Budget Control Act. In other words, we would have to shoulder the burden of fiscal restraint without any actual deficit reduction — all pain and no gain.

It could get much worse.

If our failure to make significant structural changes in government spending leads to borrowing conditions like those of Greece, we could experience a meltdown of the financial markets and broad economic upheaval from which we may never recover. Such circumstances would require massive and immediate cuts to Social Security, Medicare, national defense and virtually every discretionary program to avoid a credit default.

Most Americans will find this scenario difficult to believe, but make no mistake — if we do nothing, the avalanche will break suddenly and without warning. As Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff recently explained, “By the time [markets] lose confidence, it’s too late: The option to tighten from a position of strength has evaporated.”

President Obama says his solution to our deficit and debt is to raise taxes on the very wealthy. His approach does almost nothing to address the structural spending challenges we face. Over 10 years, the president’s most recent budget, which includes his tax hike, still adds almost another $11 trillion to the national debt.

Equally unserious is the suggestion by some senior Senate Democrats that we increase spending with another stimulus program.

Failure to achieve robust recovery is not the result of too little government spending. Rather, excessive government spending, intervention and regulation have stifled growth and incited fear over what will be required to bring the budget into balance.

What our country needs most is fiscal restraint, structural spending reform and sound economic policy to promote investment and jobs. Simply continuing to kick the budget can farther down the road will make these required reforms increasingly more difficult and ultimately more painful. Such continued delay risks arriving at a point when we no longer can borrow and we have no choice but to painfully slash government spending overnight.

Super Stealth Replacing ‘Shock and Awe’

More Will Be Asked of Special Forces & Their Families A memorable quote from the presidential debates came from President Obama regarding the military: “… we have fewer ships than we had in 1916. Well Governor, we also have also fewer horses and bayonets. Because the nature of the military has changed ... The question is not a game of Battleship or counting ships, it’s, ‘What are our capabilities?’ ” For the next four years, Obama is expected to continue to reshape the military by allocating more resources to the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

Military expert J.L. Narmi, author of “SEAL Team 6, bin Laden and Beyond,” (www.narminovels.com), says the military’s evolution will inevitably add stress to the already difficult lives of Special Forces members.

“Instead of relying on huge shows of American might – the ‘shock and awe’ bombings -- SEALs and Delta Force operatives will be the ones primarily defending our country and U.S. interests abroad,” Narmi says. “The American public does not have the appetite for another massive war campaign; drone strikes and targeted operations with specialists is the future of combat.

“Special Forces members are some of the most impressive people on Earth, but they’re not robots. They have the most intellectually and physically demanding jobs, and everything’s top secret. That’s an incredibly stressful way to live.”

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. Special Operations Command’s budget has quadrupled. Whereas there was once an estimated 40,000 Special Forces members in the military, there are now about 66,000. The goal through the next four years is to increase that number to 100,000.

“The specialized units of the U.S. military have very, very broad shoulders, but my concern is that too few Americans have skin in the game when it comes to war,” Narmi says. “As it is now, about 1 percent of the country is directly affected by our wars, and I’m reminded of Churchill’s quote regarding the Royal Air Force in World War II: ‘Never was so much owed by so many to so few.’ ” He cites a few potential hot spots that could spread Special Forces thin: • Iran/Israel: Iranian officials recently claimed to have successfully tested a new air defense system called Mersad, or ambush, which is modeled after a U.S. system. It’s just the latest news to up the ante of anxiety in the region.

• Asia: For most Americans, Asia has fallen off the radar of potential threats necessitating military action. But Islamic extremist groups, which have been problematic for U.S. interests in the past, remain a very real threat. North Korea, too, could turn aggressive at any time.

• Pakistan: Pakistanis’ animosity toward the U.S. has been simmering for years, especially since SEALs flew into the nation’s sovereign airspace to kill Osama bin Laden. The U.S. military is, to say the least, fed up with the leadership of Pakistan, which cooperates with Al Qaeda militias.

• Afghanistan and Iraq: While America managed to pull out of Iraq without looking like a complete failure, the state continues to struggle, and extremist elements could take over at any time.

Afghanistan continues to be America’s longest war -- 11 years running. If there’s any progress, it’s very slow, with Afghan soldiers and police in training perpetrating deadly attacks on U.S. troops.

Good News for Taxpayers California taxpayers are fighting the good fight, holding their own, and have achieved victories that are not reflected in the negative press the state has been getting recently according to the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

The Golden State’s taxpayers are represented by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA), which was formed initially to protect Proposition 13, passed on June 6, 1978. Prop 13 cut the property taxes of every California property owner by 60% and requires a 2/3 supermajority to raise taxes.

Thanks to Prop 13, the assessment rate is now only one percent for all California property and annual tax increases are limited to no more than two percent. When property is sold it is then reassessed at market value, but the rate remains at one percent and the new owner is then protected by the two percent cap on annual increases.

According to the HJTA website, by working through the Legislature, courts, and ballot initiatives, the Association has saved Californians billions of dollars. Estimates are that Prop 13 has saved California taxpayers over $528 billion dollars. And when you add in all of the other HJTA victories, the average California family of four has saved more than $57,000 as a direct result of the activities of Howard Jarvis and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Some recent victories include: Successfully campaigned against Proposition 180, which would have cost taxpayers $3.5 billion to purchase land for special interests.

Is Washington up to the challenge? So far, the answer has been no. That must change soon. If the fiscal avalanche breaks before we change course, the result will be disastrous.

Mike Lee is a Republican senator from Utah and a member of the Joint Economic Committee.

Sponsored and passed Proposition 218 — the Right to Vote On Taxes Act — to restore and expand taxpayer protections provided

by Proposition 13.

Went to court and successfully blocked an illegal $1.9 billion bond that the state was attempting to issue to cover its expenses.

The taxpayers would have been obligated to repay principal and interest.

Led the fight that defeated the powerful public employee union campaign behind Prop. 56 — a direct attack on Proposition 13, which would have made it way too easy to increase taxes.

Led the successful campaign that defeated Prop. 88, which would have imposed a new state tax on all California property owners.

Recent lawsuits by HJTA have saved taxpayers nearly $4 billion.

HJTA maintains a full-time presence in Sacramento to lobby against bills that are bad for taxpayers and to promote those that improve taxpayer protections.

Further information may be obtained from the HJTA website: http://www.hjta.org/

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