The Salvation Army Wants YOU!

Independent The Taft

December 2 - 8, 2011

www.Taftindependent.com

TAFT INDEPENDENT

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Publisher@Taftindependent.com

December 2 - 8, 2011 • Volume 6 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”

Taft Christmas Parade Monday Night At 7pm On Center Street

Tis The Season The Salvation Army Wants YOU!

Aera Energy Awards TCSD With Minigrants

All the funds raised On the Westside Stay On the Westside

Also Inside: Have You Had Your Flu Shot?

Don’t Occupy Center Street.

Christmas Parade Line Up & Details Tour Of Trees Passport

Val Crabb, Taft Midway Sunset Lions Club Member El Jacalito Restaurant

Mexican Food & Seafood

101 B. Street • Taft

(661)763-9890

Lunch Specials

$8.95 11am-3pm includes drink

Lunch specials served daily from 11am to 3pm and includes drink

Geiger Construction & Plumbing

Residential • Commercial 24 Hours/ 7 Days a Week

Room Additions Bathroom & Kitchen Remodels Electrical Skilled Carpentry Cutom Tile Work

Re-Plumbing Rooter Service Re-Piping Slab Leaks Repaired Garbage Disposal

Cement & Asphalt Cutting

661-765-4377

Fast • Friendly • Affordable Lic # B-721903

Se Habla Espanol 661-301-4660

2

Shop Taft

ANNOUNCEMENTS

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Passion For Nails Receive 10% Off

SERVICES

Like Us on Facebook Men & Seniors & Diabetics Welcome

Geiger Construction & Plumbing Residential • Commercial

Cement & Asphalt Cutting

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

(661)745-4913

Personal Style

Women • Contemporary • Junior • Toddler • Infant • Men

Carter’s Infant & Toddler Wear December 5th - 10th

Lic # B-721903

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

Gift Certificates Available Now MP3 Players and IPOD Speakers

Layaway available on phones

Childrens Christmas Toys!

Pay your bills here for prepaid phones

Hats & Purses 20% OFF

Watch for our weekly specials 421 & 423 Center (661)763-3527

Tire Rotation & Brake Check Plus We will check all fluids & tire pressure *Most Cars & Light Trucks Up to 5 Qts.

Get Your Car Ready EVERYDAY OIL CHANGES GAS ENGINE $35.99 OR LESS

Tire & Automotive Service Center

Oil & Filter Special 95* $

29

Plus Tax

$3.50 Oil Disposal Fee Exp. Dec. 31, 2011

Must Present Coupon at Time of Purchase

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

FALL SPECIALS !

$199.99

Cooling System Flush

(includes up to 2 gal coolant, flush kit, conditioner)

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

426 Center Street

(661)763-5451

J & D Recycling 1277 Kern Street

A/C Service

We Can Haul Away Most Large Items Roll Off & Small Bins Available Call Us Today • (661)765-6752 Recycling is OUR Business

Ten Percent Firearms

(includes up to 3oz of Freon, 2oz dye)

Overall Vehicle Inspection (visual inspection of all external components) (tax, haz waste fee included)

Billy Messenger Voted Best Mechanic for 2009 and 2010

531 Center Street • 763-1123

1277 Kern Street (661)765-6899

Brand Clothing Shoes • Jewelry A Hint of Class Name Accessories & More

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(up to 3.75 gal oil, filter, tax, haz waste fee)

Hablamos Espanol 661-745-4954 610 Center Street

FREE

Automotive Center

DIESEL ENGINE $71.99 OR LESS

Black Hills Gold • Jewelry Repair Acme Jewelry be closed on Watchwill Batteries Tuesdays when Ray is in LA. Please call first 763-5451 426 CENTER STREET • 661.763.5451 Thank You

OFF!

Big gs!

Savin

(up tp 7 qts oil, filter, tax, haz waste fee)

Now authorized dealers Boost Mobile Pre Paid Cards

J e w e l r y

30%-50%

SAN JOAQUIN Prepaid Phones, Accessories & Cards

F i n e

Small town, family owned, low overhead.

We can save you money on quality jewelry!

Fine Jewelry • Candles • Gifts

November 21 - December 31

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

acme jewelry co.

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

Any $20 or more service

Taft Independent www.taftindependent.com Publisher@taftindependent.com

December 2 - 8, 2011

Inside The Historic Fort • 623-1783 Miss Me Jeans 915 N. 10th Street Suite 34

Ugg Boots Ed Hardy Boots Juicy Couture Special Orders Available!

SERVICES

Layaway Available for Christmas!

Taft Independent www.taftindependent.com Publisher@taftindependent.com

December 2 - 8, 2011

Inside Community Events.........3

News Briefs.......................3 Westside Watcher............4 Westside News..................5 Westside News.................6 Westside News.................7 Community Voices.........8 Obituary............................9 Classified Ads.................10 Westside News...............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 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: Editor@taftindependent.com.

ADVERTISING. Display Ads: Rates and special discounts are available. Contact our advertising representative at (661) 765-6550, or email to Advertising@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 Managing Editor Advertising Jessica Skidgel Layout & Design Jessica Skidgel

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Community Events News Briefs Taft California “Home of the Taft Oilworkers Monument” “Gateway to the Carrizo Plain National Monument” VFW Bingo Every Tuesday Night at 5:30pm The VFW will hold Bingo Night every Tuesday at 6:30pm at 600 Hazelton Street in Maricopa. Doors open at 5:30pm, buy in is $5 a pack, food will be served. Come on out, bring a friend and support our vets!

End of Times Gallery Fall Art Classes The End of Times Gallery, 428 Center Street, is offering the following Fall classes: Tuesdays - Adult drawing class, 1-2:30pm Wednesdays - Adult Painting Class (acrylics) 1-2:30pm Thursdays - Adult Water Color Class, 1-2:30pm Saturdays - Children’s Art Class, 10-11:30am. Supplies provided for a $3 fee per class.

All classes are $12 per session, $40 per month.

Please call for supply lists. For more information, please call Jane at 661-765-4790 or 661-623-0494.

Taft Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade Monday, December 5th This year’s Christmas Parade will travel down Center Street on Monday evening, December 5, starting at 7:00PM. A street lighting ceremony begins before the parade at 6:45PM. The chosen theme is Christmas in Red, White, and Blue, and the Chamber plans to give recognition to all veterans who pass by the Judges’ stand. All are invited to participate in the Parade. Entry forms are available at the Chamber, 400 Kern Street, in Taft, and from this newspaper. There is no fee to enter the parade, but proper paperwork must be completed and turned in to the Chamber by Tuesday, November 22.

West Hills Church of the Nazarene Drive Through Nativity Scene Friday and Saturday, December 9th & 10th The West Hills Church of the Nazarene will be putting on their annual drive through nativity scene on December 9th and 10th from 6pm to 8pm at the church, located at 300 Lassen Ave. This event is free and open to the public.

Soroptimist Home Tour, Luncheon & Fashion Show Saturday, December 10th

Soroptimist Home Tour Luncheon and Fashion Show Saturday, December 10th. Home Tour 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. 103 E. San Emedio Street, 202 Irene Street, 4 Grey Way. Luncheon at the Westside Believers Churc. Doors open at 11:00 with lunch being served at 12:00. Tickets: $25.00 per person. Tickets are on sale for $25 and are available from any Soroptimist member. Tickets are also available at Jacks Flower Shop and Personal Style. Homes on the tour are located at 103 E. San Emidio St., 202 Irene St. & 4 Grey Way. Proceeds benefit the Critical Care and other local projects.

Mobile Office Hours forCongressman Kevin McCarthy Wednesday, December 14th On Wednesday, December 14, a Field Representative for Congressman Kevin McCarthy will hold office hours in Taft. “Mobile office hours offer a great opportunity for people with questions, concerns or troubles with federal agencies to speak directly to my staff,” said Congressman McCarthy. “I encourage everyone to come out and take advantage of these office hours and wish everyone a very happy holiday season.” Mobile office hours will be held Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at the Taft College Library, 29 Emmons Park Drive from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Vince Fong, District Director for Congressman McCarthy (661) 327-3611 Congressman McCarthy’s Website: http://www.kevinmccarthy.house. gov/

Museum Plans Holiday Tea Volunteers of the West Kern Oil Museum are inviting the public to their annual open house and Christmas Tea scheduled for Saturday from 1:30-4 p.m.

The tea will be held in the Buena Vista Room with volunteers providing a variety of homemade refreshments.

All of the museum exhibits and features will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., including the main exhibit building with its saber-toothed cat and McKittrick tar pit fossils, the Yokuts Indian room, and a display featuring the world famous Lakeview Gusher.

The shotgun house, tent house, firehouse and transportation building with its variety of antique cars and trucks will be open as will the museum grounds.

Uniquely decorated Christmas trees will be featured throughout the buildings.

Holiday organ music will be provided.

There is no admission charge.

The museum is the community’s most popular tourist attraction.

It is operated entirely by volunteers. There is not paid staff.

WSRPD’s Community Theatre Presents “The Music Man” One of the most popular musicals to come out of the American theater scene in the last half century, Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man” will march into the Taft Union High School Auditorium this weekend, December 2-4, 2011. The musical is being presented by the West Side Recreation & Park District’s Community Theatre under the direction of Krista Long.

The curtain will open for the Friday and Saturday performances at 7:00 p.m., while the Sunday performance is a 3:00 p.m. matinee. Tickets, which are $7 for adults and $5 for children (3-12) and senior citizens (60+), may be purchased in advance from cast members or at the door prior to each show.

“The Music Man” is the story of con man Harold Hill, played by Billy Long, who travels to the small town of River City, Iowa, to earn his fortune. But “there’s trouble in River City” as Hill, who even claims to be a professor of music, decides to convince the townspeople they need a boys’ band and then plans to run away once the boys have paid for instruments and uniforms.

His scheme is moving along perfectly until he falls in love with the town piano teacher, Marian Paroo, played by Kelly Morris. Even though she knows he’s a con man, she still loves him for the hope he has brought to the town.

Hill runs into an old friend, Marcellus Washburn, played by Matt Maxcy, who tries to persuade Hill these “stubborn Iowans” won’t be fooled by the “Professor.”

This, of course, piques Hill’s interest and he takes up the challenge with gusto, explaining to the citizens of River City that they have, “Trouble with a capital T that rhymes with P and that stands for Pool.”

River City’s Mayor Shinn, played by Greg Mudge, is not convinced and he asks the local school board members (Lisa Brown, Kristin Blanco, Krista Long and Jana Allen) to “get this man’s credentials.” But the smooth-talking Hill wins over the school board and many of the other locals.

Also featured in the production are Sawyer Maier as Winthrop Paroo, Debbie Potaczala as Mrs. Paroo, Kathy Orrin as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, and Bill Durkan as Charlie Cowell.

Rounding out the cast are PeeJay Petersen, Noel Longoria, Twila Hosford, Rene Adamo, Abbi Kindred, Matthew Smith, Whitney Graham, Isabella Long, Jordan Romero, John Ryan, Curtis Walchock, Jessica Rofkahr, Shelby Shaffer, Katelyn Berns, Perri Evans, Emily Salazar, Roxy McClanahan, Ckira Wikoff, Hannah Taylor, Madelynne Blanco and Evan Sinclair.

The production of “The Music Man” is produced through special arrangement with Music Theatre International, Inc. of New York, New York.

CITY OF TAFT COUNCIL MEETINGS Tuesday December 6th, 2011 – 6:00 p.m.

Community Christmas Carolers Sunday December 18th Let’s join our voices. Community Christmas Carolers Sunday, December 18th at 4pm. Meet at Peace Lutheran Church, 26 Emmons Park Drive. Return later for soup, sandwiches, hot chocolate and coffee. For more information call 765-6248.

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER 209 EAST KERN STREET, TAFT, CA (661) 763-1222

Contributing Writers Jessica Miller, Kent Miller, Wesley Morris, Nicole Frost Columnists Randy Miller, Wendy Soto, Mimi Collins, Jane McCabe, Dr. Harold Pease Subscriptions\Delivery Tim Webb, Patrick Harget

Member California Newspaper Publishers Association Printed in California

AGENDA POSTED ON BULLETIN BOARD OUTSIDE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND POSTED AT THE CITY OF TAFT WEB SITE www.cityoftaft.org TELEVISED ON BRIGHT HOUSE CABLE CHANNEL 11: Wednesday 8 p.m.

Thursday 10 a.m. 8 p.m.

Friday 10 a.m.

www.taftindependent.com

4

TAFT INDEPENDENT

December 2 - 8, 2011 avoid refund problems; it’s easy, fast and safe.

The public should be aware that the IRS does not contact taxpayers by e-mail to alert them of pending refunds and does not ask for personal or financial information through email. Such messages are common phishing scams. The agency urges taxpayers receiving such messages not to release any personal information, reply, open any attachments or click on any links to avoid malicious code that can infect their computers. The best way for an individual to verify if she or he has a pending refund is going directly to IRS.gov and using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool.

The Taft

Independent

Restaurant and Entertainment Guide Your Guide To The Best Restaurants and Entertainment on the Westside Tumbleweed Café and Steakhouse

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

Asian Experience

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

Sagebrush Annie’s Restaurant and Wine Tasting Paik’s Ranch House Tasting Sat. & Sun. 11:30-5 pm Where Everybody Meets Dinner by Reservation Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 4211 Highway 33, Ventucopa Open 7 Days (661) 766-2319 Mon. Tues. Thur. 6 am-8:30 pm Sun. Wed. Fri. & Sat. 6 am - 9 pm Taft Crude Coffee House 765-6915 200 Kern St. Taft Coffee House and Deli Monday – Friday Sagebrush Annie’s 7 am to 4pm.

Restaurant and Wine Tasting Saturday 7 am to 2 pm Tasting Sat. & Sun. 11:30-5 pm Sundays 7:30 am to 10 am Dinner by Reservation 1010 6th Street, Taft 4211 Highway 33, Ventucopa 763-5156 (661) 766-2319 Black Gold Cafe & Deli Pastas - Sandwiches Espresso - Beer - Wine Your Restaurant Listed Open Monday to Saturday HERE Lunch served 9am-1pm Call 765-6550 Dinner served 5pm - 8pm 508 Center Street 765-6550

Westside Entertainment

Get Your Events in the Westside Entertainment Guide.

Call 765-6550 or fax 765-6556

Your Restaurant Sagebrush Annie’s Listed Here!

Wine Tasting Food and Pizza Asian ExperienceAsian Lunch and Dinner Call Dinner by Reservation Tuesday - Friday 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.

765-6550!

Award Winning Saturday 4 p.m.Wines - 9 p.m.

Live Music Saturday Nights Starting as low 766-2319 as $12 per 4211 Highway 33, Ventucopa week!

215 Center Street 763-1815

Your Restaurant Listed Here!

Call 765-6550!

Starting as low as $12 per week!

Taft Petroleum Club Ribeye Steak or Chicken Dinner from 6pm - 8pm

Industry Night Randy’s Trucking is our sponsor for the month of December. We will have a special Basque style Top Sirloin with some great dishes. Bar opens at 4:30 Dinner served at 7:30 Book Your Christmas Party at the Club!

450 Petroleum Club Road - 763-3268 Open Monday- Friday 4:30pm to Close

Editorial

Westside Watcher IRS Seeks to Return $18.1 Million in Undelivered Checks to Calif. Taxpayers, Recommends E-File, Direct Deposit to Avoid Future Delivery Problems

Ken Shugarts

Air Conditioning & Heating

Over $388,000 in Refunds Were Returned From Kern County LOS ANGELES— The Internal Revenue Service announced today that it is looking to return $153.3 million in undelivered tax refund checks as quickly as possible. In all, 99,123 taxpayers are due refund checks this year that could not be delivered because of mailing address errors.

The agency wants to return $18.1 million in refunds to 13,235 taxpayers in California. Locally, 247 Kern County taxpayers are due $388,182 in undelivered refunds. The average undelivered refund check in Kern County is $1,572.

Taxpayers who believe their refund check may have been returned to the IRS as undeliverable should use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on IRS.gov. The tool will provide the status of their refund and, in some cases, instructions on how to resolve delivery problems.

Refund status can also be checked by using the telephone version of “Where’s My Refund?” by calling 1-800-829-1954. Taxpayers checking on a refund by phone will receive instructions on how to update their addresses.

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

While only a small percentage of checks mailed out by the IRS are returned as undelivered, taxpayers can put an end to lost, stolen or undelivered checks by choosing direct deposit when they file either paper or electronic returns. Last year, more than 78.4 million taxpayers chose to receive their refund through direct deposit.

Taxpayers can receive refunds directly into their bank account, split a tax refund into two or three financial accounts or even buy a savings bond.

West Side Senior Care

The IRS also recommends that taxpayers file their tax returns electronically, because e-file eliminates the risk of lost paper returns. E-file also reduces errors on tax returns and speeds up refunds. Nearly 8 out of 10 taxpayers chose e-file last year. E-file combined with direct deposit is the best option for taxpayers to

Residential Care Facility for the Elderly Full Time Live-In Care

Now Open

3 Openings Available • Women & Men Welcome 115 Adkisson Way - (661) 745-4220

Paik’s

State License No. 157202510

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

Subscribe for home delivery of the Taft Independent today!

Delivered weekly to your home or business only $6.50 per month!

Open 7 Days

Name_________________________________

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

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

Address________________________________ Start Date____________End Date__________

765-6915

200 Kern Street, Taft, Ca.

Please complete and mail with your check to: The Taft Independent, P.O. Box 268, Taft, CA 93268 Please make checks out to Taft Independent

December 2 - 8, 2011

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Westside News & Business Briefs

Aera Energy Awards Minigrants To Taft City Schools District

West Hills Church Drive Through Nativity Scene

Aera Energy LLC recently awarded more than $3,800 in minigrants to teachers in the district. The money will be used to purchase everything from a kindergarten sand table to a field trip to Wind Wolves preserve. Aera Vice President, Jeff Dittman along with the members of the West Side Public Affairs Committee were on hand for the presentation.

Taft Audience Mesmerized By “The Christmas Carol” With each holiday season Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” bears retelling, if only to remind us how important it is that we love one another. On Thursday night, December 2nd, in the Cougar Room at Taft College, Duffy Hudson recited the entire play from memory to a rapt audience, taking the parts of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Marley, Bob Crachett, Tiny Tim, and the Ghosts of Past, Present and Future.

Mr. Duffy has an impressive resume. He is an actor, director, writer, teacher and filmmaker. He attended the Circle in the Square Theater School on Broadway and spent over 14 years on the New York Stage. He has performed on Broadway in The Misanthrope and off Broadway in dozens of productions including, Whores of Heaven, Riddley Walker, Nana, Twelfth Night, Winters Tale, Macbeth and A Report To The Academy, at The Actors Studio.

Duffy has directed over 300 theatrical pieces, including, workshop productions with Brooke Sheilds, The Three Sisters with Jessica Lange, Don Johnson and Tatum O’Neal, Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf with Marlo Thomas.

Duffy is the author of several scripts including his much-applauded stage adaptation of Frankenstein, The Elevator Man and Tattered Angel, a feature film with Lynda Carter. He is also the author of his two one-man shows. In The Shadow of the Raven, (the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe) and The Relativity of Albert Einstein, (The life and work of Albert Einstein) as well as the children’s book, The Boy Who Came From Heaven.

Currently he is co-owner of Cincinnatus Motion Picture, a film company that to date has produced commercials, industrial long forms and Its first feature film Tattered Angel.

Recent acting film credits include The Greater Good, Finders Keepers and Hell-O-Ween.

The Salvation Army Wants YOU! If you would like to be a Holiday Bell Ringer Please contact Pam at The Westside Community Resource Center (661)765-7281 (661)809-8923 pabrown@taft.org K-Mart 2 Hour Time Slots Monday-Sunday 10am-8pm

Albertsons 2 Hour Time Slots Monday-Sunday 10am-8pm

Give a part of your time and be a part of this Holiday Tradition.

The West Hills Church of the Nazarene will be putting on their annual drive through nativity scene for the community on December 9th and 10th from 6pm to 8pm both nights at the church, located at 300 Lassen Aveneue across from the West Side Recreation and Parks District. The West Hills Church has been providing this nativity scene to the community for the past 12 years. The cast members, all young and old alike, are members of the Nazarene church. There will be live animals in the cast as well. The tour will be narrated and as you drive along the path you can hear the story about the birth of Jesus through a sound system. This event is free of charge.

Soroptimist Annual “Homes For The Holidays” Soroptimist International of Taft presents their annual “Homes for the Holidays” Home Tour, Luncheon & Fashion Show on Saturday, December 10. The Home Tour is from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Again this year the Luncheon and Fashion Show will be held at Westside Believers Church and will begin at 12:00 noon with the doors opening at 11am. Fashions will be presented by: A Hint of Class and Personal Style. A raffle will be held for Christmas baskets. Tickets to the event are $25 and can be purchased at Jacks Flower Shop, Personal Style and from any Soroptimist member. Proceeds benefit the Critical Care and other local projects.

Soroptimist International of Taft Presents

“Homes for the Holidays” Home Tour - Fashion Show & Luncheon $25.00 per person Tickets available from any Soroptimist member or at Personal Style & Jacks Flower Shop

Luncheon at the Westside Believers Church Doors open 11:00 a.m.

Luncheon Served at 12:00 noon

Proceeds benefit critical care & other local projects

6

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Westside News & Business Briefs

The Salvation Army Wants YOU!

has each year.

“The kettles are vital to this community,” said Sandy Koenig, Westside Community Resource Center Director.

The Westside Community Resource Center provides emergency services and emergency housing to families in need. The funds collected will also help with their food bank, providing Thanksgiving baskets, their anual back pack drive, work clothing, and to help assist people that are between finding a place to live, homeless, or need help paying bills.

“This time of year people really want to give back to their community and I can’t think of a better way than by donating two hours of your time to be a bell ringer,” said Koenig.

“The need for the Resource Center is only growing, more families than ever need assistance, especially families that aren’t used to this, it’s really hitting them the hardest,” said Koenig.

If you would like to donate your time to be a bell ringer please call Pam at the Westside Community Resource Center at 7657281. You can sign up to ring in two hour slots between 10am and 8pm in front of Albertsons or K-Mart.

“This is our safety net that truly catches the families that need these services,” said Koenig.

Christmas In Red, White & Blue Debby Woodson, Soroptimist International of Taft member, rings the bell for the Salvation Army in front of Albertsons.

The Salvation Army is looking for your help this holiday season with their annual red kettle campaign. The Westside Community Resource Center and The Salvation Army team up every year to fundraise for the Resource Center. All the proceeds that are collected in the red kettles in Taft ALL stay in Taft and go to the Resource Center to provide them with the funds they need to support members of the community in times of emergency. The red kettle campaign is the only fundraiser that the Resource Center

OT

Cookhouse & Saloon 205 N. 10th St. (661)763-1819

Specializing in Steak & Seafood

Lunch

Dinner

Tuesday - Friday Tuesday - Thursday 4p.m. - 9p.m.

11a.m. - 2p.m. Friday & Saturday 4p.m. - 10p.m.

CLOSED SUNDAY/MONDAY

OT Cookhouse Daily Specials (For the week of 12-6-11 thru 12-10-11)

Tues.

12-6-11 Lunch Tues.

12-6-11 Dinner Wed. 12-7-11 Lunch Wed. 12-7-11 Dinner

Tri Tip Sandwich

$9.95

BBQ Beef Ribs

$11.95

OTC Hollywood $9.95 Cheeseburger Pasta with Meat $11.95 Ragu & Charbroiled

Thurs.

12-8-11 Lunch

Chicken Kabobs

$9.95

Thurs.

12-8-11 Dinner

BBQ Pork Ribs

$14.95/ $16.95

$14.95 Half/ $16.95 Full

Fri. 12-9-11 Lunch

Smoked Salmon Club

$9.95

Fri. 12-9-11 Dinner

$16.95 Small/ $19.95 Large

Prime Rib

$16.95/ $19.95

Braised Beef

$11.95

Sat. 12-10-11 Dinner

CLOSED SUNDAY AND MONDAY

205 N. 10th Street . (661)763-1819

Santa on the Taft Lions Club float in 2009.

Taft’s annual Christmas Parade is being held on Monday, December 5th at 7pm. The parade will travel down Center Street from 8th Street to 2nd Street. Both Center Street and Main Street will be shut down at 4:30pm that day to prepare for this event. A street lighting ceremony will begin at 6:45pm prior to the start of the parade. Our parade theme is “Christmas in Red, White, and Blue.”

We encourage businesses to decorate their store fronts and attend the Parade. Line up for parade participants will begin at 5:30PM at the BLM Fire Station on the Corner of Main Street and 8th Street. Following the parade, an award ceremony will take place at the Historic Fort. The Salvation Army will provide free hot coffee and cocoa and kids can meet Santa and take pictures. We hope to see everyone on Center Street for the Christmas Parade Monday, December 5! Make sure to get your tour of trees passport card at the parade!

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

Christmas is Coming

Ben’s Books will be staying open til 7pm Thursday & Friday Nights During December Come in and look through our large selection of used books!

Gift certificates are available They make great stocking stuffers!

810 Center Street • (661)805-9813

December 2 - 8, 2011

2011 Taft Christmas Parade Line Up Monday, December 5, 2011 at 7:00PM Street Lighting at 6:45PM “Christmas in Red, White, and Blue” Vanguard V1 – Bakersfield Army Recruiting V2 – Grand Marshall Vic Killingsworth V3 – Cindy Reed Representing Honorary Grand Marshall Don Gillaspie V4 – Mayor Randy Miller V5 – Mayor Pro Tem Paul Linder V6 – Councilman Orchel Krier V7 – City Manager, Bob Gorson V8 – City Clerk, Louise Hudgens V9 – City Treasurer, Bill LeBarron V10 – Chief of Police, Ken McMinn V11 – Lieutenant Ed Whiting V12 – Assemblywoman Shannon Grove A Division A1 – Lincoln & Roosevelt Beginning Bands A2 – The Salvation Army A3 – David Couch, Candidate for 4th District Supervisor A4 – Westside Waste Management A5 – Community Action Partnership A6 – Taft City School District A7 – Miss Rodeo Glennville 2011 Royalty A8 – NTS Inc. A9 – Kern County Sheriff Department A10 – Calvary Baptist Church A11 – Taft District Chamber of Commerce A12 - Taft Sportmen’s Club B Division B1 – Taft Union High School Marching Band B2 – Taft Union High School ASB B3 – Stan Barrett B4 – Taft Union High School Key Club B5 – Kiwanis Club of Taft B6 – Leon Letterman B7 – Adrian I. Maxwell B8 – Used to be Paul’s Bike Shop B9 – West Side Recreation Cheer B10 – H & R Block B11 – West Side Hot Rods & Classic Cars B12 – 2 Wheel Productions C Division C1 – Conley After School Band C2 – Harley Pinson, Candidate for County Supervisor C3 – Allied Cash Advance C4 – The Pet Parlor C5 – Soroptimist International of Taft and S Club C6 – West Side ROP C7 – California Highway Patrol C8 – M & S Security Services Inc C9 – Taft SDA Church C10 – Mitchell Emberson C11 – Don Soles C12 – BLM Fire C13 - Rotary Interact TUHS C14 - Rotary Club of Taft D Division D1 – Lincoln Lion Pride Band & Colorguard D2 – Lincoln Jr High Cheerleaders D3 – Taft College Dental Hygiene D4 – Taft Area Transit D5 – American Cancer Society Relay for Life D6 – Kern Trail Riders D7 – Midway 4H D8 – Cooper/Skidmore D9 – First Southern Baptist Taft D10 – Hellfighters Motorcycle Ministry D11 – Hall Ambulance D12 – Kern County First Station 21 Taft Lion Club – SANTA!

December 2 - 8, 2011

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Westside News & Business Briefs

Visit Local Businesses, Win Prizes!

The Taft District Chamber of Commerce has created a Taft Tour of Trees Passport for 2011. Several businesses are setting up Christmas Trees in their stores and are included on our Tour of Trees Passport.

Visit any and/or all of the businesses on the card this holiday season, take care of your Christmas shopping needs, admire their decorated trees, and vote for your favorite tree. Each business will stamp your passport card in order for you to receive credit for visiting their store. For each stamp, you will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win several prizes from local businesses!

Participating businesses in the Taft Tour of Trees Passport include Acme Jewelry, Ben’s Books, Black Gold Café, City of Taft, End of Times Gallery, Hayden’s Hope, H & R Block, Jacks Flower Shop, KC Photography, Miller’s Beauty Supply, Next Step Cardio & Fitness Club, Personal Style, Pizza Factory, Taft Chamber, Taft Manna 4 U, True Value, Tumbleweed Café, West Kern Oil Museum, Westside Furniture, and Westside Recreation. Pick up your passport card at any of these businesses or at the Taft Christmas Parade, December 5. This is a great opportunity to get some holiday shopping done locally and enjoy the Christmas trees in Taft.

No purchase necessary. Only one stamp per business per card, limit 2 cards per person. Turn your passport cards into the Taft Chamber (400 Kern Street) by December 20 to win!! Prizes to win include a $30 Gift Certificate to Ben’s Books, 12 Joy Archibald paintings from End of Times, a Pizza Factory XL Pizza Certificate, a ladies watch from Personal Style, a gift from Jacks Flower Shop, and a grand prize of a Westside Furniture La-Z-Boy Recliner.

Winners announced on Wednesday, December 21. Merry Christmas and Happy Shopping!

Lincoln Junior High Colorguard Tri -Tip Fundraiser

Elk Hills Students Visit Fresno Zoo On Field Trip

The Lincoln Junior High School colorguard team will be hosting a tri-tip barbeque fundraiser at OT’s Cookhouse and Saloon on Tuesday, December 6 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. to raise money for competition fees and equipment. In order to compete this year, they need your help and support. Colorguard members are selling dinner tickets for $10 and they are $2 tax-deductible. Donations of any amount are also greatly appreciated. Please call OT’s at 661-763-1819 or Coach Jenna Wright at 734-731-2352 for more information.

Students from Elk Hills School in grades kindergarten through 4th grade enjoed a fun day at the Fresno Zoo last month.

It’s Not Too Early...

To get everything on your list

Live Drive Through Nativity

14K • Black Hills • Tungsten Sterling Silver • Jewelry Wax Melters • Candles Reed Diffuser & More

December 9th & 10th 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Large selection of gear moving clocks, spyderco knives & kershaw knives.

Free Parking No Fog, Free Gift Wrap

acme jewelry co.

F i n e

J e w e l r y

426 Center Street 763-5451

El Jacalito Restaurant Black Hills Gold • Jewelry Repair Fine Jewelry • Candles • Gifts 14K Gold • Sterling Silver

Mexican Food & Seafood

Watch Batteries 101 B. Street • Taft

West Hills Church of the Nazarene

(661)763-9890

426 CENTER STREET • 661.763.5451

300 Lassen Ave, Taft Free of charge ~ our gift to the community

Lunch Specials

$8.95 11am-3pm includes drink

Lunch specials served daily from 11am to 3pm and includes drink

Send Holiday Cheer with Personalized PORTRAITS THIS CHRISTMAS

Book NOW!

Make your sitting Two Weeks before your inteded mail out date.

Spice up your home...

Great Seasonal & Holiday Candles

CALL NOW 763-5429

427 Center Street • Since June 1986

www.kcphotographyandframing.com

Proof #

1

Date

4/6

8

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Have You Had Your Flu Shot?

By Jane M McCabe If you haven’t gotten a flu shot yet this season, you should really do so! A vaccination will not only prevent your getting the flu it will boost your immune system so that you are less likely to get colds and other viral diseases.

Flu shots are easy to obtain—you can get one at Taft’s Urgent Care facility at 100 E. North Street for $15 or at Rite Aid on Kern Street. Your health care provider can also instruct you where to get a shot. It takes two weeks following the shot to get your immune system fortified, but once it is, you will be protected throughout the season.

Donna Warlock, director of the Urgent Care facility, visited the Taft Chamber of Commerce members on November 30th to give information concerning the flu and offer vaccinations.

According to Mrs. Warlock, the flu often originates in children and spreads quickly. A cold virus is not the flu. Urgent Care can give a rapid test to determine whether someone has the flu.

It is especially important that the elderly and people with chronic conditions such as asthma, emphysema, and diabetes, those whose immune systems are already compromised, to be vaccinated.

Parents with children in school and people who work in public places are especially susceptible to the flu because they often touch areas that might have been contaminated. Therefore, Mrs. Warlock recommends frequent hand washing, carrying and using the anti-bacterial wipes, and in high-risk areas, wearing plastic gloves. She says that the only wipes that completely kill the virus are the Clorox wipes.

The flu vaccination helps prevent colds but does not provide full protection against them. Viruses do not respond to antibiotics so should not be taken for viral colds or the flu. Overuse of antibiotics lessen their effectiveness when needed and deplete the immune system.

The flu season is from September through May, and February and March are its biggest months. A flu shot is only good for the current season.

Here are some more flu facts: Pregnant women should get vaccinated.

It is recommended that children younger than 10 years of age receive two doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine, but they may need only one does if they have been vaccinated in past seasons.

(H1N1) was the virulent flu virus that was active last year. Every year a new flu vaccination is developed. Scientists estimate what each year’s vaccination should contain to provide maximum projection.)

People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or have had a severe reaction to flu vaccines in the past, children younger than six months of age, and people who developed Gullain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) within six months of getting a flu vaccine should not be vaccinated.

People who have a moderate to severe illness with a fever should wait until they recover to get vaccinated.

If you haven’t been vaccinated and get the flu, there are medicines to treat it. Prescription antiviral drugs can reduce the symptoms and shorten the length of time you are sick by one or two days. It’s better to get vaccinated.

People with the following symptoms should get care right away: In children • Fast breathing or trouble breathing • Bluish skin color • Not drinking enough fluids • Not waking up or not interacting with others • Being so irritable that he or she does not want to be held • Flu-like symptoms improve but then a fever and a worse cough occurs In adults: • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen • Confusion • Severe of persistent vomiting When taking care of someone who is sick you should make sure the sick person gets plenty of rest and fluids. Keep the person away from others to prevent further contamination. Sick people should not go to school or work. They should stay home until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

Protect yourself by avoiding face-toface contact. Wash your hands after contact, including items the sick person has recently touched, such as pens, paper, clothes, towels, sheets, blankets, dishes All New Merchandise and eating utensils.

Clothing • Electronics • Housewares Wash your hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Use We Have Moved! individual towels for every person in the Now at 420 1/2 Center St. home. Keep surfaces clean, especially bedside tables, bathroom surfaces, doorknobs and toys. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Throw away tissues used by 420 1/2 Center Street the person who is ill. Wear disposable gloves when in contact with or cleaning Find us on Facebook God Bless! up body fluids.

HAYDENS HOPE Thrift Store

Merry Christmas

Together we can help keep our Teens in Taft off the streets.

Black Gold Cafe and Deli

508 Center Street • 765-6550

The Best Beer Selection on Tap in Taft!

Open Monday-Saturday • 9am-2pm 5pm-8pm

Your Holiday Favorites Are All Here!

Peppermint Mocha & White Mocha

Try Them Hot, Iced or Blended

A View From Center Street

December 2 - 8, 2011

Don’t Occupy Center Street A commentary by Jane M McCabe Two grass-roots movements have arisen in the United States in recent years. The first is the Tea Party movement, a can-do movement of libertarian-minded people advising fiscal and governmental restraint. They succeeded in getting a number of people elected to Congress in the 2010 elections and thus have shaped the political landscape.

The second is the Occupy Wall Street movement. It might be its mirror image—groups of rag-tag, inarticulate, mostly young people who have pitched tents and are camping out in parks in every major town in the country. This has been going for several months and has created unsanitary and unhealthy conditions. The demonstrators have been shooed out by police intent on cleaning up the parks. Since they are exercising their constitutional right to assemble they are allowed back once the parks are cleaned. The only legal violation for which they can be cited is for camping in public parks not so designated.

The Occupy Wall Street Movement is probably the most pathetic movement we’ve ever seen, lacking in focus and leadership, unable to articulate its goals. It has elicited two diametrically opposing responses from the public.

On the one hand politically conservatives are horrified and revolted by their presence. On the evening news every night there is footage of chaos, people milling about or being dragged off by the police. When interviewed a homeless, young woman with pink hair said that she felt a sense of community with the demonstrators and was safer with them than when she was alone…

On the other hand, more liberal people are sympathetic to their cause.

We ask why these people so offend us? We might find the answer in that they sense they have been robbed of opportunities that should have been theirs and that they have no future. The phenomenon is world-wide. College graduates saddled with debt, money borrowed to obtain their education, are jobless and forced to live with their parents. They delay marriage and having children because they cannot afford these additional responsibilities. For middle-age people, often highly skilled but rendered unemployed for a year or more, the future seems bleak.

The movement reminds us of the 1960’s, fifty years ago, when hippies changed the fabric of American life. It reminds me of the French Revolution of 1789, when city dwellers, lacking bread, marched from Paris to Versailles and defaced the playground of the aristocracy.

It’s about the same kind of economic injustice. These people first gathered near Wall Street, because if there’s anyone they can blame for the situation it’s multinational corporations and Wall Street executives. Protestors blame the 1%, the people who control 99% of the wealth.

It’s not hard to answer the why of it. Answering what can be done to improve things is much more difficult. How can jobs now be created, when for the past forty years manufacturing jobs have been shipped overseas where the cost of labor is significantly lower? People then turned a blind eye or said things, like, “Let the market place decide.”

For a long time we Americans enjoyed a payoff: inexpensively-priced goods that had been made overseas. This induced a buy mentality in us. Happily, we filled up our closets with more clothes than we could ever wear and our garages with so much Stuff that we no longer had room to park our cars in them. People with large homes had to rent storage space to hold the overflow of their abundance.

It’s a different story now. No one seems to have the answer as to how to create jobs. Perhaps the best answer would be to follow Roosevelt’s model and create another WPA (Works Projects Administration) to repair our decaying infrastructure.

My father used to say, “The world doesn’t owe you a living.” It confused me when he said that. I knew he meant that one has to work in order to support oneself. I used to think, well, if the world doesn’t owe me a living, it owes me the means to make one. Now even that no longer seems to be true.

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. We invite your response. Please e-mail them to publisher@taftindependent.com or send to The Taft Independent, 508 Center Street, Taft, CA 93268

December 2 - 8, 2011

Obituary

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Taft Crude

Coffee House The Only Mortuary On The West Side Where All Arrangements And Funerals Are Personally Directed By

GARY REED Graveside funeral services were held in the West Side District Cemetery on Friday, December 2, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. for Maricopa resident, Gary Reed, 65.

Mr. Reed was born to Carl and Lettie (Young) Reed in Phoenix, Arizona on July 3, 1946 and passed away in a Los Angeles hospital on November 25, 2011. He was raised and educated in the Bakersfield area. He proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Conflict. Mr. Reed had been employed as a truck driver for over 35 years. He was preceded in death by his parents and by two brothers, Donald and Joe Reed. Mr. Reed is survived by his wife of 39 years, Billie Reed of Maricopa; his two daughters and their husbands, Heather and Chris Oxford of Maricopa and Stacy and Mark Doty of Taft; his four grandchildren, Brock and Chantrelle Oxford and Mariah and Ashlan Doty; his sister and her husband, Gail and Floyd Adams; his three brothers and their wives, Dennis and Carol Reed, Tommy and Linda Reed all of Taft and Larry and Donna Reed of Oklahoma and by several nieces and nephews. Mr. Reed will be remembered as a grandpa that was very close to his grandchildren. The services were under the direction of the Erickson & Brown Funeral Home. www.EricksonAndBrown.com

MARICOPA QUILT COMPANY FABRIC • NOTIONS • GIFTS WED.-FRI. 10:00-5:30 SAT. 10:00-2:00

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370 CALIFORNIA • 769-8580

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

Tasting Sat. & Sun. 11:30 to 4:30 pm. www.sagebrushannies.com

Now Celebrating Our 22nd Year

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

ROGER MILLER INSURANCE

Licensed Funeral Directors

501 Lucard St., Taft • 765-4111 Fat Free and Sugar Free Available in Most Flavors Open 7 Days - 763-5156 1010 6th Street • Taft

TAFT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 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

YOUR CHURCH AD HERE! CALL TODAY! 765-6550

a division of DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Group

Rich Miller

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 Your Hometown Insurance Store

Visit Our New Website! taftindependent.com

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765-6550

Gateway Temple

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 487-2416 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 UTURN Youth Service Sunday 6pm 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.

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 Angel Food Program Tues. 9am - 12pm Thurs. 3pm - 6pm

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 763-5135

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 For Rent

Classifieds

220 Montview 3 bed 1 bath.

Fenced yard. Granite counter tops $795.

Paul Joyce 805-218-1686 Joyce Properties 661-765-6300

Classified Ads areare $3.00 per issue for upPhone, to threefax, lines, $5 per Classified Ads $2.00 per line. mail or issue off for up to 5 andTaft $7 per issue for up to 10 lines. Yard drop your adlines, to the 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 $3 additional. E-mail us (or bring to Boxed\outlined\bolded classified ads start at $12.00 for 8 our office) a photo of$20 your car,$25 truck lines, $16 for 12 lines, forhome, 15 lines, for or 20 motorcycle lines. and we’ll do the rest.

Photo Ads. Car, truck or house for sale ads are $5 per week, Yard are $2Email for 3us lines, additional or $10Sale withads a photo. (or bring to our lines office)$2a each. photo of your home, car, truck or motorcycle and we’ll do the rest.

Classified ads deadline is now Wednesdays at 2 p.m.

Phone: 765-6550

Preserving for the Future

Fax: 765-6556 765-6556 Fax:

Livestock

E-mail:Taftindypublisher@bak.rr.com Taftindypublisher@bak.rr.com Email: Payment can byby cash, check, or credit card. card.

Payment canbebemade made cash, check, or credit Taft Independent 6thCenter St., Taft, CATaft, 93268.

Taft Independent210 508 St., 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.

St. Mary’s Church Yard Sale and Bake Sale 110 East Woodrow Street.

Saturday, Dec. 3 7am3pm. Come early for best selections!

Yard Sale 306 Eastern in house Saturday 8am -? Furniture & Misc.

28126 Cosworth Ave. Dustin Acres. Sat. 7am to Noon. Little bit of Everything.

Moving Sale Sat. 7am -noon 27188 Escudo Rd. Valley Acres. 1 block North Valley West Rd. off Gibbs. Blk gas stove, lk new $400, welder, lathe, teddy bears, depression glass ruby red, old books, misc tools, baby & household items.

Yard Sale 612 N. Lincoln Saturday 8am4pm tools, dishes, misc.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Taft House Sober Living. Beds available. $450 per month. 661 623-5188.

Are you a widow? Do you wonder what on earth am I here for?

Widows meet twice a month on Tuesday 10 a.m. at the Buena Vista Mobile Home Club House. If interested, call June Selby 763-4845.

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.

For problems with Alcohol, Alcoholics Anonymous. 765-4016 or 763-3856.

Business Services COMPUTER SERVICES

Taft PC Services

individual to join our team who has the ability to work independently and read water meters with a high degree of accuracy. Apply immediately at 800 Kern Street, P.O. Box 1105, Taft, CA 93268.

Deadline for submitting application is Wednesday, December 21, 2011. Resume will not be accepted in lieu of District application.

The successful applicant will be subject to a pre-employment drug screen, physical and thorough background check. E.O.E. The Taft Indepenent is looking for a part-time individual to solicit subscriptions and make weekly home and business deliveries.

CDL and Insurance Required. Experience Preferred.

Incentive Based Compensation.

Call 765-6550

FOUND PETS PETS LIVESTOCK LOST PETS Lost in Taft Heights 14 yr old female teacup poodle, red/brown, deaf, blind with cancer.

Please call 623-2218 Large brown dog, Black face, very friendly. Call 765-6749. Reward.

Real Estate 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

BUSINESS FOR SALE

TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Computer Repair Graphic Arts Web Design Virus Removal 661-623-5188 YARD SERVICES

Employment HELP WANTED

Wanted WANTED Junk Cars! Cash Paid (661) 805-0552 Old Appliances, In ANY Condition. Car Batteries & Motorparts. Cash Paid $1 - $20 Call David 661293-0359 or 661-7656497. We will pick up!

For Sale FOR SALE

Meter Reader ($2,943 - $4,623 per month) If you are looking for a career, come and check out what we have in store for you! West Kern Water District is seeking an energetic

ESP Electric Gtr., All Gold pt. + chrome. Lots of extras. Mint. $500 firm. 238-9723.

Pickers Buy & Sell 428 Center Street Hours 1-5pm Tues-Fri

AUTOMOBILES

Pets &

Business Services Rite Away Carpet Cleaning Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning\General Cleaning Owner Operated Visa\Master Card 765-4191 Taft Property Mgt. 661 745-4892. Brokers Licence 01417057

Classified ad deadline is Wednesday at 12 p.m. (noon) Phone: 765-6550

December 2 - 8, 2011

FOR SALE Established local Taft business. Taft Crude Coffee House and Deli.

Excellent location, near Taft College. In business for 6 years. $25,000. Room to expand product offerings.

Good family business.

Call 661-623-4296.

HOMES FOR SALE Real Estate eBroker Inc. 325 Kern Street Karri Christensen LIC# 01522411 & #01333971 661-332-6597 www.BuyTaft.com Real Estate Sales & Purchase Commercial: 330 California (old post office) Maricopa 616 Poso,(restaurant & dry good w/ beer & wine

license)Maricopa Residential 417 Tyler $60K 3bed/ 2 bath 415 Buchanan St $35,500 cash only Can’t make payments call me!!

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

Call 661-332-6597 for a current list or drop by the office.

MOBILE HOMES 90’s mobile home. 3 bd.

2 ba. full appliances, fully carpeted, Central heatt and a/c. 123 N. 10th St. Sp. 36. 623-1281.

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

Lic # 01525550 FOR RENT 406 Philippine 2/1 $650 601 4th 2/1 $650 605 4th 2/1.75 $750 205 W Ash A,C & D 2/1.5 $700 602 Elkhorn 3/1.75 $850 617 Buchanan 3/1 $850 FOR SALE Why rent when you can buy for almost half the cost?!

Complete list of homes for Sale and Rent available!

523 Naylor St. 3 bd/2ba $1,100 mo + dep.

408 Jackson St. 3bd/1ba $950 mo + dep.

1bd 1 ba. house. 116 Pierce St. $600 mo.+ dep. (661)343-0507.

3bd/2ba newer home lrg lot, emaculent cond. 2 car garage, AC $1,200 mo + dep 661-577-2158 1bd/1ba garage, alley entrance $550 mo + dep. 661-477-9636 1/1 cottage incl ref, new bthrm sink vanity, private fenced yard, lots of ktchn cabinets, $410 mo. 1st & last month rent free. Sec. dep. depends on credit. Mark King 805-689-4122

MCKITTRICK. 3/2 Apt. Newly furn.$650 mo.

Air Conditioning & Heating

Plumbing • Septic • Rooter Framing • Electrical • Concrete We Do All Phases of Construction Kitchen and Bathroom Specialists

Imperial Gardens 424 Woodrow Street 2bd $625 mo. 1bd $550 mo. Stove fridge, dishwasher, pool, private car port. 661293-0830 or 661-7654299.

Real Estate eBroker Inc.

Creekside Apartments.

1 BD and 2 BD. Pool, AC & Appl. 661.7657674. 420 Finley Dr.

LIC# 01522411 & #01333971

Courtyard Terrace Apts. 1 and 2 bdrm’s Pool,lndry rm.,1210 4th St. Apt. 1. Sec. 8 OK. (661) 763-1333.

Ken Shugarts (661) 343-0507 30 Plus Years in Construction License No. 927634

325 Kern Street

Karri Christensen 661-332-6597

www.BuyTaft.com Real Estate Sales & Purchase

2bd/1ba $750 mo + dep.

Recently remodeled.

Fenced front and back yards. 661-589-2720.

Michael Long, Publisher That Taft Independent 508 Center Street Taft, CA 93268

$350 Move In Special.

108 Center Street.

1bd/1ba (661)765-7678.

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STET OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF KERN

1 bd. 1 ba. apt. 709 North St. No. B. $475 plus dep. Credit Chk. Leora 661-302-1333.

PUBLIC NOTICE Michael Long, Publisher The Taft Independent 508 Center Street Taft, CA 93268 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STET OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF KERN IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF MICHAEL LONG TO HAVE THE STANDING OF THE TAFT INDEPENDENT AS A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION ASCERTAINED AND ESTABLISHED. CASE NO: S-1500CV-274771 NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR ORDER DECLARING STATUS OF NEWSPAPER AS ONE OF GENERAL CIRCULATION (GOV. CODE 6021) Notice is hereby given that, on January 18, 2012, at 8:30am, or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in Department 14 of this court, located at 1415 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, California, petitioner intends to apply for an order declaring the newspaper known as The Taft Independent to be a newspaper of general circulation for Taft, California.

DATED: SEPTEMBER 23-2011 Petitioner

APART. FOR RENT

Ken Shugarts

Michael Long, Publisher The Taft Independent 508 Center Street Taft, CA 93268 _________________

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF MICHAEL LONG TO HAVE THE STANDING OF THE TAFT INDEPENDENT AS A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION ASCERTAINED AND ESTABLISHED. CASE NO: S-1500CV-274771 PETITION TO ASCERTAIN AND ESTABLISH STANDING AS NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION (GOV. CODE 6008, 6020) Petitioner, Michael Long, alleges: 1. Petitioner is the publisher of the newspaper known as The Taft Independent, hereafter referred to as “the newspaper.”

2. The newspaper is a newspaper of general circulation published for the dissemination of local news and intelligence of a general character in Taft, California. The business address of the newspaper is 508 Center Street, Taft, California.

3. The newspaper has a bona fide subscription list of paying subscribers, numbering 536, and a substantial distribution to paying subscribers, numbering 346, within the City of Taft, California.

4. For more than three years preceding the filing of this petition, the newspaper has been established under the name of The Taft Independent, and has been so established and published, that is, issued and sold or distributed regularly every Friday in Taft, Californai.

5. During each year of the three-year period preceding the filing of this petition, the newspaper has maintained a minimum

coverage of local news and intelligence of a general character of not less than twentyfive percent of its total inches; it has had only one principal office of publication, located in Taft, California.

WHEREFORE, petitioner prays for judgment ascertaining and establishing the Taft Independent as a newspaper of general circulation, as defined in Section 6008 of the Government Code, for the City of Taft, County of Kern, California.

Dated this September 23, 2011 Petitioner Michael Long, Publisher The Taft Independent 508 Center Street Taft, CA 93268 I, Michael Long, am the petitioner in the aboveentitled proceeding. I have read the foregoing petition and know the contents thereof. The same is true of my own knowledge, except as to those matters which are therein alleged on information and belief, and as to those matters, I believe it to be true.

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.

September 23, 2011, Taft, California.

Signed Michael Long

The Cell Fone Store Móviles y Accesorios y alimentos y más 510 Finley Drive 661-765-2500

G and F Footwear

Athletic and Tennis Shoes Vans - Nike - Levis Adio and More!

T-Shirts and Pants 405 Finley Street In the Pilot Plaza Phone 340-8609

December 2 - 8, 2011

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Westside News & Business Briefs

West Side Senior Care Center Now Open On Adtkisson Way

The West Side Senior Care Center of Taft has moved from E Street to a larger facility on 115 Adtkisson Way. “We moved buildings because the state only allowed four people in the old facility,” says the Care Center’s director Marily Croh. “After talking to the Health Care district, we found out that this building was available and, after it was brought up to code, we moved in. The new place is larger and we can offer more activities. We try to keep them happy here. We help people who can’t help themselves and we give 24-hour care.”

The West Side Senior Care Center accepts both men and women. The main criteria for admittance states that residents can’t be qualified to be in a nursing home and they can’t have severe sickness, such as Parkinson’s Disease. Also, they can’t be bedridden or on hospice. If an individual has been living in the Care Center for a considerable amount of time, a hospice may be allowed if necessary.

“At the moment, there is one room available,” said Croh. “Once we’re full, a list will be kept and then people interested in moving in will be checked out on an individual basis. Of course, a physician’s report will be needed as well as Tuberculosis vaccination.”

The new facility officially opened on September 16, 2011 and an open house is scheduled to take place in January.

TUHS Girls Soccer Program Fundraiser A Success

The TUHS Girls Soccer program held the first annual 30 Goal Game Wednesday evening at Martin Memorial Stadium. The 30 Goal Game was a fundraising event where sponsors pledged their support for the Ladycats Soccer Program for playing a varsity vs. junior varsity game.

The game started at 4 PM and went non-stop until about 6 PM. Although the varsity team had 22 goals to the JV’s 2 goals, the game was called when pizza, courtesy of Domino’s Pizza, arrived.

Combined with pot luck items from parents and players, the girls enjoyed a wonderful meal and fellowship.

The fundraiser netted over $3000. The funds raised will help sponsor summer leagues, additional equipment, and future overnight tournaments. Katie Burrows was the top fundraiser and won $100 in Mastercard gift cards courtesy of Ten Percent Firearms. Whisper Null and LeeAnn Shinn were the next best fundraisers and received t-shirts courtesy of Eurosport.com.

The coaches would like to thank the community, parents, and sponsors for their support of the Taft High Ladycat Soccer Program. If you would like to help sponsor or donate prizes to next year’s 30 Goal Game, please contact Coach Morris at wmorris@taft.k12.ca.us.

Weekly California Gas Price Update

Yates’ Detailing 600 Center Street Taft, California

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

All your detailing needs!

Wash, Wax, Shampoo, Buffing and Window Tinting.

Call for Appointment Today!

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

Average retail gasoline prices in California have fallen 4.7 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.69/g Monday, November 28th.

This compares with the national average that has fallen 4.1 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.32/g, according to gasoline price website CaliforniaGasPrices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in California during the past week, prices Monday, November 28th were 56.6 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 12.9 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 14.4 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 46.3 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

“The national average in the U.S. is at its lowest since February 25, but remains at record highs for this time of year,” according to GasBuddy. com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan.

“While the downtrend in gasoline prices has certainly been welcome news for motorists, I see the trend short lived, and believe we may see continued volatility in the days ahead, but even with said volatility I do expect many Americans will see average prices between $3.25-$3.50 for the rest of 2011,” he added.

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Call Today!

765-6550

J. Edgar

Movie Review

By Jane McCabe For 48 years, throughout the reigns of eight American presidents, J. Edgar Hoover was director of the FBI. In 1924 he became director of the Bureau of Investigation, which became the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 1935. He remained in charge until his death in 1972. No other person in American history has wielded such power. The FBI was Hoover’s private fiefdom. He was answerable to no one.

The few presidents who sought to remove him from power feared severe repercussions if they did so…

Hoover is credited with building the FBI into a large and efficient crimefighting agency, and with instituting a number of modernizations to police technology, such as a centralized fingerprint file and forensic laboratories, thus he paved the way for modern technology in these areas. He was a quixotic, mercurial, paranoid man who kept private files on prominent Americans, information which he used to blackmail those whom he feared or despised.

Hoover never married. He was a man of few emotional ties—three in all.

He was closest friend was Clyde Tolson, who worked with him. Hoover described Tolson as his alter ego: The men not only worked closely together during the day but also took meals, went to night clubs and vacationed together. The only other person to whom he was close was his personal secretary, Helen Gandy.

He was in charge of the FBI throughout the Depression, World War II, the McCarthy era, the Cold War, the Korean and Viet Nam Wars, the Civil Rights Movement, the disruptions wrought in American culture by the hippie movement. He held power when President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. He saw the values of American culture erode and his own become anachronistic.

Clint Eastwood has done a finely-nuanced job of bringing J. Edgar to the screen. Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance will probably earn him next year’s Oscar for best actor. Judy Dench plays J. Edgar’s mother, Armie Hammer plays Clyde Tolson, and Naomi Watts, Helen Gandy.

The film flits back and forth among different times. One has to pay attention. I found myself checking out Leonardo’s hair color and stoutness of build to clue me as to whether the scene being played was early or later in his life. The more one knows about American history of the times the better. Momentum is building without our being aware of it and moving towards some powerful scenes at the movie’s end.

Eastwood exercises restraint in his portrayal of J. Edgar’s affair with Clyde. Hammer, an elegant tall man with a gentle smile, gives a charming performance. When Hoover says that he is contemplating marriage, he explodes into a jealous rage. He tells Hoover if he goes ahead he will never see him again. Hoover is quickly brought to his knees and begs Tolson not to leave him.

Tolson suffered a debilitating stroke when he and Edgar were at the horse races. He makes a partial recovery. The culmination of the movie is when he confronts Edgar about how he has continually misconstrued the truth. He does so in a loving but firm manner.

Hoover’s private file held recriminating information on a number of prominent politicians. In an early scene he asks Ms. Gandy in the event of his death to please destroy the file. When she learns of his death, Ms. Gandy does as she has been instructed. While Richard Nixon, then president, goes before the American public to tell of the passing of a worthy American, agents are scouring the FBI files, and Ms. Gandy is quietly shredding documents.

Tolson outlived Hoover. He inherited Hoover’s estate and moved into his home, having accepted the American flag that draped Hoover’s casket. Tolson is buried a few yards away from Hoover in the Congressional Cemetery.

This is movie that anyone interested in American history and the men who have made this country what is today will want to see.

12

HARRISON STREET AUTOMOTIVE

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Used to be Paul’s

SERVICES

Devon’s Body Shop

Bike Shop

2012 Bikes are Arriving NOW!

745-4919 Qik Smog & Tune

608 Center St.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

December 2 - 8, 2011

408 Main Street • (661)765-4337

Precision Bodyworks & Towing

We take the DENTS out of ACCIDENTS

(661)763-4445

Taft Independent www.taftindependent.com Publisher@taftindependent.com

Phone (661)763-4420

No Appointment Needed for Smog Check!

FAX (661)763-1389

Certified C.A.P. Station General Automotive Repairs

Cell (661)577-6785

• 661-763-4445 • 500 S. 10th Street

317 Main Street • Taft

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 SUPPLY

Great Pets!

Just In Time For Christmas!

Mountain Horned Lizzard Bearded Dragon • Water Dragon Lavender Corn Snaked Pueblan Milksnake • Baby Red Tail Boas

With everything to keep your pets Warm and Healthy

(661) 763-4773 1050 Wood Street

Shaw’s Pet Wash

www.shawswesternshop.com

Christmas Special With Dog or Cat Full Groom

Receive 20% Off

Any new collar, sweater or jacket for your pet!

Thru December we will do a flea dip or shampoo Only $11.00 small dog $15.00 med dog $20.00 large dog $30.00 giant dog

This does not include shampoos, drying, brushing, or nails. It is always best to follow up with a flea spot on to prevent reinfestation.

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

Open 7 Days a Week

Owner Orchel Krier Welcomes You and Your Family - Dinner Reservations