Taft New Year

Independent The Taft

December 30 - 5, 2011

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December 30 - 5, 2011 • Volume 6 Issue 27

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

In Honor Of Sgt. Christopher Muniz

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!

New Recreation Center

Chamber Car Show

Road Construction At Sixth Street And Emmons Park Drive

Farmers Market

Oktoberfest 2011 Krier Sworn In

Oil Worker Monument Dedication

Taftindependent.com

The Place 4014 Highway 33

Beautiful Downtown Ventucopa (661)766-2660

New Years Eve Party! $12.00 ALL YOU CAN EAT

Prime Rib, Salad, and Red Potatoes Champagne Toast 9 p.m. for those who have to get to bed early

NO TO GO’s $1.50 Domestic Drafts 5pm Until Close

Bike Fest

Black Gold Cafe and Deli

508 Center Street 765-6550

TIL Groundbreaking

The Best Beer Selection on Tap in Taft!

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

Join Us!

New Years Eve Dinner!

Complimentary glass of champagne with dinner

Champagne Toast at 9 pm

2

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Watchwill Batteries Acme Jewelry be closed on Tuesdays when Ray is in LA. Please call first• 661.763.5451 763-5451 426 CENTER STREET Thank You Store Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9:30am - 5:00pm Saturday 10:00am - 2:00pm Closed Sunday and Monday

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

December 30 - 5, 2011

Inside Out With The Old, In With The New..................3

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Out With The Old, In With The New 2011, An Extraordinary Year, A Year of Calamity, A Year of Outrage!

2011 Has Wound Down To The End. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Westside Watcher............4 In Honor of Sgt. Christopher Muniz.........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.

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Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Michael J. Long taftindypublisher@bak.rr.com Managing Editor Advertising Jessica Skidgel Layout & Design Jessica Skidgel 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

By Jane McCabe By all measures 2011 was probably the most extraordinary year in recent times. It was a year of calamity, of natural disasters. On March 11th Japan suffered the biggest earthquake in its history—the subsequent tsunami that engulfed the coast was in places 133 feet high. The tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri, on Sunday, Sunday, May 22nd, nearly destroyed the town. Record snowfalls last winter resulted in floods from North Dakota to Mississippi. Hurricanes ravaged the eastern seacoast last autumn, and the drought in Texas was the worst in decades and provided dry timber for the resulting forest fires…

It was a year of outrage, the year in which oppressed people the world over arose and said we won’t take this any more. I think that TIME magazine got it right when they named THE PROTESTER as Person of the Year.

The spark that ignited these worldwide protests, the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, the trumpet blast that brought down the walls of Jericho, happened with an unlikely incident in an unlikely place, in the charmless Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid, 125 miles south of Tunis. On December 17th, 2010, when a cop again started harassing a produce vendor by the name of Mohamed Bouazizi, confiscated his scale and slapped him in the face, Bouazizi had had enough. He drenched himself in paint thinner and lit a match.

Such an action, pathetic as it was, more likely might have been met with indifference. Tsk, tsk, how sad—now what do I have to buy for tonight’s dinner? That would have been the more likely response. Instead, someone thought to video Bouazizi self immolation and post it to Utube where it was seen throughout Tunisia. Outraged Tunisians marched on the President’s Palace. His act became a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring, inciting demonstrations and riots throughout Tunisia in protest of social and political issues in the country. The public’s anger and violence intensified following Bouazizi’s death, leading then-President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to step down on January 14th, 2011, after 23 years in power.

If protestors are the people of the year, internet applications, like e-mail, Facebook and Twitter, and cell phones equipped with cameras, are technologies of the year. Without them, these worldwide protests could not have taken place.

Repressive regimes are finding it now impossible to control the flow of information among people.

The 2011 Egyptian revolution began on Tuesday, 25 January 2011 and is still continuing. The uprising was mainly a campaign of non-violent civil resistance, which featured demonstrations, marches, acts of civil disobedience, and labor strikes. Millions of protesters from a variety of socio-economic and religious backgrounds demanded and got the overthrow of the regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

The Arab Spring, otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began following Bouazizi’s death. To date, there have been revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt; the civil war in Libya resulted in the fall of its government and the death of its dictator, Omar Qaffadi on October 20th; civil uprisings in Bahrain, Syria, and Yemen, the latter resulting in the resignation of the Yemeni prime minister; major protests in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, and Oman; and minor protests in Lebanon, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Western Sahara.

Occupy Wall Street (OWS) is a protest movement which began September 17, 2011 in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City’s Wall Street financial district, initiated by the Canadian activist group Adbusters. The protests are against Continued On Page 7

Well, 2011 has wound down to the end, finally, with some good things happening and with a few not so good things. How did your year wind up ?? The City of Taft came through the year intact and with a budget that is still evolving but we are not in near the trouble that many cities are going through especially to our neighbor to the south of us. I attribute this good news to the City Council who has returned to civility, decorum, and professionalism that you expect from your elected representatives. We can agree to disagree. It is your tax dollars that we are spending and we try to spend it as wisely as we can. We have a very good City staff that only needs to remember from time to time that the important thing is to not worry about your job but to do your job as best you know how because it is not the Council that you serve but the citizens that pay your salary. Their expectations are high as they should be. Our expectations as public servants are to find ways to increase revenues and decrease expenses without raising taxes. In this economic climate that is unprecedented in our lifetime, all public servants need to find ways to think outside the box; in doing so, it may save their jobs and the entity that they work for. As we are now seeing, there is no guaranteed lifetime job for anyone, anywhere. Those public employees and representatives that make their entities survive will be the ones that think not of themselves but what is best for all.

This past year was a time to celebrate our Veterans. The Kern County Veterans Memorial Foundation asked the City of Taft to donate $10,000 towards helping to complete the Kern Veterans Memorial Park near the railroad station on Truxtun Avenue that salutes all veterans from all wars from all of Kern County. There are 110 names on the wall from the Westside. The Council and city staff came up with the idea of a fundraiser that would include all of the Westside not just the City of Taft. We held that fundraiser on 10th and Kern Street in May of this past year. What a success it was. About $25,000 was donated from nickels and dimes to thousand dollar donations. We staffed the buckets and the Westside responded. We were able to donate the $10,000 requested and we used about $14,000 to revamp our own Veterans Park memorial by replacing and updating the names on the plaques and adding a new flagpole, landscaping, decking, and seating. City maintenance crews out did themselves by giving this community a lasting tribute to those that gave all in the name of God, Country, Family, and Community.

The City has been very active on seeking out grants to help fund some of the infrastructure projects such as Sixth Street resurfacing, the future 10th and San Emidio stop and crossing, the extension of the Rails to Trails, the Waste Water Treatment Plant upgrade and other projects. While the housing development plans have ground to a halt due to the economy, we do have a new industrial park on Gas Company Road developed by Charlie Beard. The park is filling up fast and should be a real hub of activity and jobs. The City’s own industrial park to be developed on Airport Road is in the final stages of the application process for a 2 million dollar grant. All indications look really positive that we’ll be awarded the grant soon. We are still working on relocating the airport so it can be developed as a regional hub with a longer flatter runway. A regional park on BLM land on Gardner Field road could also become a reality if our plans are approved. A new motel is in the works.

Taft College is changing the landscape not only of the campus but adding to the whole community. There was a recent dedication and shovel turning ceremony of the new TIL program complex that has attracted state, national, and world Continued On Page 7

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TAFT INDEPENDENT Editorial

The Taft

Independent

Westside Watcher

December 30 - 5, 2011

Engagement

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

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!

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Starting as low as $12 per week!

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

NEW YEARS EVE PARTY Saturday December 31st Special guest DJ Chuy is returning for another great party at the club. Drink specials, Jello shots and some of the best party music in California. Party starts at 7pm and DJ Chuys bust out the music at 8pm. NO COVER CHARGE INDUSTRY NIGHT Wednesday January 4th is Industry night at the club Sponsored by General Production Services New York steak dinner. Open at 430pm dinner is at 730pm The club is available for Weddings, Birthdays, and Anniversary’s Hall holds up to 200 people and the bar can hold 70.

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

Sergeant Christopher Muniz RIP Honoring A True American Hero On Wednesday, December 28th, nearly a thousand people turned out for a memorial at the Cuyama Valley High School Gym to honor Sgt. Christopher Muniz, who bravely gave his life in service to the country.

Sgt. Muniz died December 11, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device.

California Governor Jerry Brown ordered the flags at the State Capitol be flown at half-staff Thursday in honor of Sgt. Muniz.

A statement from the Governors office read, “On behalf of all Californians, Governor Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown honor Sgt. Christopher L. Muniz, who bravely gave his life in service to our state and nation. The Governor and First Lady extend their deepest condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.”

Sgt. Muniz was born in Taft on June 24, 1987. He grew up in the Cuyama Valley where he attended Cuyama Valley High School and played football.

A Chris Muniz Memorial Fund has been opened at Chevron Valley Credit Union. Donations can be made in person or mailed to Chevron Valley Credit Union, 1092 W. Kern St., Taft, 93268.

Taft K-Mart closing or not? According to an initial list published by the Sears company which owns the Taft K-Mart, the Taft store is not scheduled to close. But, the companies website said that the first list of 79 of the approximatly 100 to 120 stores that are scheduled to close is only a partial list. No word yet on weather that Taft K-Mart will close, but a second list will soon be published of up to 40 more stores scheduled to close.

This list also includes Sears stores that will be closed, but the future of the Taft Sears store is secure since it was recently purchased by businesman Vanesh Nand.

The initial list of stores that will close can be seen at: http://searsholdings.com/about/122711_close.pdf.

Taft Redevelopment Agency’s future in doubt. According to Taft City Manager Bob Gorson, a California Supreme Court decision that ruled in favor of Governor Brown’s decsion to close down nearly 400 local redevelopment agencies was the worst possible news for Taft.

The court ruled Thursady that the state could shut down redevelopment agencies because they were established by the legislature, thus allowing the state to redirect local RDA funding to other state agencies. The court also ruled that a program that would have allowed local RDA’s to stay in business by paying a fee to the state was unconstitutional, killing a program that would have allowed Taft to keep it’s agency by paying an initial $185,000 to the state and a portion of the annual tax revenues generated by the agency.

Cities like Taft viewed redeveloment agencies as a way to promote economic development, eliminate blight and attract jobs.

Paik’s

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

Debra Manuz and George Sullivan On Christmas Day at 4 p.m. while the sun dipped behind the Temblor Range on the steps of the Taft Oilworker Monument, George Sullivan dropped to his left knee and proposed to Debra Manuz with a ring to be formally engaged, and she happily accepted.

Gorson told the Independent that one possible way to save RDA’s would to have the statewide California Redevelopment Agency Association, which represents local RDA’s, to negotiate with the legislature and find a way to retain them.

The CRA said in a statement that the court decision was “a devastating ruling that could forever change the face of California communities and hamper job creation and economic advancement.”

Jim Kennedy, the CRA’s interim Executive Director said that the “CRA is ready and willing to engage in immediate dialogue with Legislators and the Governor on a meaningful ‘fix’ to this problem. Time is of the essence, and the future of California’s economy is at stake. We hope legislators will do the right thing, for the sake of our future.”

Taft has invested over $3 million in several redevelopment projects including the Rails to Trails development. While the local projects have been already approved and are not in danger of elimination, anticipated tax revenue for the City of Taft of up to $30 millions dollars over 20 years afre now in doubt.

In the meantime, the City of Taft and Kern County has agreed to resurrect a Joint Powers Authority created in 1998 to promote economic development and cleanup blight on the Westside.

Farewell to Taft Police Chief Ken McMinn. This week was Ken McMinn’s last week as chief of the Taft Police Department.

McMinn, who is retiring is being replaced by Lt. Ed Whiting who has been appointed interim Police Chief until a permanent chief has been selected. The city is considering retaining McMinn as a consultant to try and secure a contract to reopen the city’s correctional facility.

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December 30 - 5, 2011

TAFT INDEPENDENT

In Honor of Sergeant Christopher Lee Muniz An American Hero Sergeant Christopher Lee Muniz June 24, 1987 - December 11, 2011.

3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division New Cuyama, California December 28, 2011 Sgt. Muniz was memorialized on Wednesday, December 28th at Cuyama Valley High School.

I Am Not Gone

by Nicholas Evans

If I am the first of us to die, Let grief not blacken long your sky.

Be bold yet modest in your grieving.

For just as death is part of life, The dead live on forever in the living.

And all the gathered riches of our journey, The moments shared, the mysteries explored, The steady layering of intimacy stored, The things that made us laugh or weep or sing, The joy of sunlit snow or first unfurling of the spring, The wordless language of look and touch, The knowing, Each giving and each taking, These are not flowers that fade, Nor trees that fall and crumble, Nor are they stone, For even stone cannot the wind and rain withstand And mighty mountain peaks in time reduce to sand.

What we were, we are.

What we had, we have.

A conjoined past imperishably present.

So when you walk the wood where once we walked together And scan in vain the dappled bank beside you for my shadow, Or pause where we always did upon the hill to graze across the land, And spotting something, reach by habit for my hand, And finding none, feel sorrow start to steal upon you, Be still.

Close your eyes.

Breathe.

Listen for my footfall in your heart.

I am not gone but merely walk within you.

6

TAFT INDEPENDENT

December 30 - 5, 2011

Police Chief Retires, Hampton Honored, Gorson Apolgizes to Council

No. 1, which would run from June 30, 2012 through June 30, 2017. The city’s initial five-year agreement with Kern County Fire Department started in May 2007. The city had been expending more than $1 million a year for the Taft Fire Department prior to the agreement with the county.

The cost for KCFD to provide services in fiscal year 2012-13 will be $390,515. The cost will increase 5.5 percent each fiscal year to $481,844 for 2016-17.

Westside News & Business Briefs Black Gold Celebrates New Years Eve With Champagne Toast

By Kent Miller

Join us at Black Gold Cafe and Deli on New Years Eve to ring in the new year.

Complimentary champagne with meal. Everyone welcome.

Please RSVP to 623-4296.

Limited seating available. Open at 5 p.m. at 508 Center Street in Taft.

Have a great new year!!

OT

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Friday & Saturday 4p.m. - 10p.m. SUNDAY/MONDAY

OT Cookhouse Daily Specials (For the week of 1-3-12 thru 1-7-12)

Taft City Council took a cake-and-coffee-time-out during its Tuesday evening meeting to honor local resident Bob Hampton, then sped through a light pre-Christmas agenda.

Hampton, the owner of Westside Waste Management, is a businessman and educator who has made numerous contributions to the community.

He has led many efforts to clean up the Westside over the years, including providing Dumpsters, company trucks and his employees to help in cleanups in Taft and surrounding areas.

Hampton is one of two local men to be honored by Kern Council of Governments with its highest award, the Regional Award of Merit.

Retiring Taft Police Chief Ken McMinn is the second local person to be honored by KernCOG. The City of Taft will also receive a Regional Award of Merit, in the category of Local Government, “to recognize their bold and assertive approach in preparing a new, comprehensive General Plan,” Ronald E. Brummett, KernCOG executive director, wrote in a letter to City Manager Bob Gorson.

Hampton, McMinn and the city will be presented awards at KernCOG’s annual Regional Awards Ceremony, to be held March 1 at the Petroleum Club in Bakersfield.

Chief McMinn McMinn is retiring effective Dec. 30 after serving with the Taft Police Department since the late 1980s. He served with the Kern County Sheriff ’s Department and the California Highway Patrol before coming to Taft.

McMinn helped in establishing the Community Correctional Facility and creating the soon-to-be completed Police Activities League as he rose through the ranks with the department.

Councilmembers praised him for his service to the community but an agenda item to retain McMinn as a retired annuitant for up to six months was pulled.

The item will be returned to the council with staff recommendations in January. Since the council won’t meet the first Tuesday of January, the item won’t be decided until the Jan. 17 meeting.

The proposal included a maximum of 960 hours to be worked by McMinn between Jan. 1 and June 30, or an average of 40 hours a week for 24 weeks during the 25-week and six-day period.

Lt. Ed Whiting, second in command in the department, will serve as interim police chief until an agreement with McMinn and/or a permanent chief is named.

Tues.

1-3-12 Lunch

Tri-Tip Sandwich

$8.95

Tues.

1-3-12 Dinner

BBQ Beef Ribs

$11.95

Wed. 1-4-12 Lunch

Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

$9.95

Apology City Manager Gorson apologized to the council for a city staff response to a Kern County Grand Jury concerning Taft.

“The council will respond to the Grand Jury report in January,” said Mayor Randy Miller. “The staff was wrong to respond to the report. “”It is not their job (to respond to the report).”

Wed. 1-4-12 Dinner

BBQ Combo

$14.95

Fire agreement The council reviewed the Kern County Fire services Agreement

Thurs.

1-5-12 Lunch

Hot Beef Sandwich

$8.95

BBQ Pork Ribs

$14.95/

Ben’s Books

Fri. 1-6-12 Lunch

Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich

$8.95

Fri. 1-6-12 Dinner

Prime Rib

$16.95 Small/ $19.95 Large

$16.95/ $19.95

The Largest, Cheapest and Only Used Book Store in Taft

Chicken Pot Pie

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Thurs.

1-5-12 Dinner

Sat. 1-7-12 Dinner

$14.95 1/2 Rack/$16.95 Full $16.95

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

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At-will employees The council voted 5-to-0 to change the status of the police chief, finance director, redevelopment manager and city clerk/records administrator.

All four positions will be moved from contract department heads to at-will employees when their individual contracts expire.

In addition, the redevelopment manager will become the planning and development services director.

In addition: * New job specifications are adopted for each of the positions as their contracts expire; * The public works manager becomes director of public works; * The director of human resources becomes director of human resources/assistant city manager; * Salary and benefit packages are adopted for each department head.

Other items In other reports and items: * Four hotel companies have expressed interest in building a facility in Rails to Trails, Gorson said; * Other Rails to Trails interest has been expressed by two sit-down restaurant companies, a fast-food restaurant company, and a developer proposing a 60-unit condominium project, the city manager said; * The city was presented with a plaque by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. for its participation in the Climate Smart Program; * The installation of solar panels at city hall, the municipal wastewater treatment facility, the federal waste-water treatment facility and Taft Police Department is wrapping up, said Craig Jones, city public works director. Power generation is expected to start by Jan. 1, Jones said; * Jan. 7 will be the first day for a three-way stop at Sixth Street and Emmons Park Drive.

Street construction at Emmons Park Drive (above) and workers (below) prepare new stop sign polls for placement at the intersetion of 6th Street and Emmons Partk Drive. The new 3-way stop signs go into effect on January 7th.

December 30 - 5, 2011

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Westside News & Business Briefs

Tickets Now Available For U.S. Postal Service Offers Annual State of the County Event Stress-Free Ways to Return Gifts Challenges and opportunities facing Kern County will be the focus of the fourteenth annual State of the County event, sponsored by the Kern County Board of Trade.

The event, highlighted by the annual State of the County Address, is scheduled for Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at the Bakersfield Marriott Hotel at the Convention Center. The evening’s keynote speaker will be the incoming chairman of the Kern County Board of Supervisors, who is scheduled to be named in early January.

“The State of the County event provides our community with the opportunity to hear directly from our leaders,” said Board of Trade Interim Executive Director Dave Hook. “This ongoing interaction between leadership and the public is unique to Kern County, and something we believe is invaluable.”

Doors will open at 5 pm for a no-host networking reception.

Dinner follows at 6:15 pm with the program – highlighted by the State of the County Address – starting at 7:30 pm.

Tickets are priced at $50, with a limited number of 10-seat reserved tables available for $500. Tickets must be purchased in advance, with none sold after January 18.

The State of the County event has grown steadily since its inaugural edition in 1999, routinely drawing in excess of 400 guests.

Organizers once again anticipate a capacity crowd for the 2012 edition.

To purchase tickets, visit the Board of Trade office (2101 Oak Street in Bakersfield) Monday through Friday between 8 am and 5 pm. Tickets may also be purchased by phone or e-mail using Visa or MasterCard.

To purchase tickets via e-mail, send requests to kerninfo@ co.kern.ca.us, entering “Dinner Tickets” on the subject line and including contact information. To purchase tickets by telephone, call the Board of Trade at (661) 868-KERN or (800) 500-KERN.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly Continued From Page 3 attention for its innovation and exceptional work with persons with developmental disabilities. It is a program that is putting Taft on many people’s radar. While TC has always been a hidden jewel in our community, it is now shining brightly for all to see, admire, and for all of us to be proud.

The Taft Chamber of Commerce has new staff members, new ideas and innovations, and a much closer working relationship with the City and the County. The Farmers Market has been a huge success; the car and motorcycle shows, the October Fest, golf tournament, and fishing derby were all successful endeavors this past year. Not only does it strengthen the chamber coffers it brings in many people to enhance our economy. The Honolulu Hills Raceway is bringing in more events each year and that is good for Taft. Skydive Taft and the Carrizo Plains are two other attractions that bring a lot of people to the Westside. And who wouldn’t want to travel down the Petroleum Highway to see the tallest, biggest, baddest bronze monument work of art this side of the Mississippi ??

The City of Taft is going green and we have proven that by working with an investment group to install solar panels at City Hall, the CCF, and the Waste Water Treatment plant. It should save the City 2 million dollars over the next twenty years in electricity costs.

The one negative issue this year is that your State Department of Corrections has seen fit to close the least costly option to house state inmates by shuttering our CCF this past November.

Unfortunately, the City had to lay off over 60 employees while we are scrambling to find a county willing to house inmates here, or we look at privatizing or other options to this closed facility. It was one of those rare revenue generators the City had that didn’t require tax dollar support. I hope that we’ll have good news to report the first quarter of this year.

It has been fun, a pleasure, and a privilege to serve as your Mayor this past year. You won’t see me on anymore commercials or billboards for the Air Pollution District anymore as my term is over. Hopefully, they can find a prettier face to replace me. Have a wonderful, healthy, safe New Year everyone.

Randy Miller Your Humble but Proud Mayor

Order Flat Rate Boxes, Print Postage and Schedule Package Pickup on usps.com

The Place 4014 Highway 33

Beautiful Downtown Ventucopa (661)766-2660

What to do with the unwanted holiday gifts that have found their way under your tree? The Postal Service has a range of products and services that make it quick, easy and hassle-free to send back the boots that don’t fit, the duplicate copy of your favorite author’s latest book, or the sweater you’ll never wear.

By combining free Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes and the userfriendly tools on usps.com to print postage and schedule a free package pick-up, it’s more convenient than ever for consumers to manage post-holiday returns.

“Returning holiday gifts has never been easier,” said Gary Reblin, vice president Domestic Products. “Before the holidays, Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes and usps.com offered the best shipping solution to deliver packages for the holidays. Now the same products and services offer the easiest, most stress-free solution for returning gifts. By going online to print postage and request a free package pick up, there’s no need to visit the Post Office — everything can be done from your home or office.”

Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes take the added hassle out of trying to determine the cost of shipping, with “if it fits, it ships”, low flatrate prices. Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are available free at the Post Office, at usps.com or by calling 800-Stamp-24. The Postal Service will deliver them free of charge right to your door. Choose from the Small Flat Rate Box which ships for $5.20, the Medium Flat Rate Box which ships for just $10.95 or the Large Flat Rate Box which ships for the low flat rate of $14.95. One of them should be perfect for returning those unwanted gifts.

Customers also save money on Priority Mail up to 15 percent and 5 percent on Express Mail shipping prices when using ClickN-Ship visit click-n-ship to print postage. And when the package is ready for shipping, they can go to usps.com/pickup to schedule free package pickups from the home or office. Unlike other shipping companies, there’s never a fee for this service.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Happy New Year!!

2011, An Extraordinary Year, Continued From Page 3

420 1/2 Center Street God Bless!

Find us on Facebook Together we can help keep our Teens in Taft off the streets.

social and economic inequality, high unemployment, greed, as well as corruption, and the undue influence of corporations—particularly from the financial services sector—on government. The protesters’ slogan We are the 99% refers to the growing income and wealth inequality in the U.S. between the wealthiest 1% and the rest of the population. The protests in New York City have sparked similar Occupy protests and movements around the world.

Of needs be there are things which I have neglected to mention in this editorial, like the assassination of Osama Bin Laden. On May 2, Barack Obama announced to the world that the al-Qaeda leader was dead—he had been shot by a group of Navy Seals who had entered his compound in Pakistan.

Events on a lighter note occurred, like performances by Lady Gaga, televised voice and dance competitions, and much more, but the protests still take center stage and probably have set the stage for more to come in 2012.

New Years Eve Party! $12.00 ALL YOU CAN EAT

Prime Rib, Salad, and Red Potatoes Champagne Toast 9 p.m. for those who have to get to bed early

NO TO GO’s $1.50 Domestic Drafts 5pm Until Close

HAYDENS HOPE

Thrift Store

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

www.taftindependent.com

8

Community Voices

TAFT INDEPENDENT

In the United States One Largely Chooses His Level of Poverty

By Dr. Harold Pease College enrollment is now in progress and a new semester or quarter begins in January somewhere near you. Dare I say to a generation whose work ethic has greatly diminished, what I was told prior to my many years of college? If you get a college degree you likely will have a higher level of income and more favorable working conditions. Certainly there are notable exceptions like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, who have no degrees, and those who major in medieval art, or some such discipline were there exists no real employment demand. But by in large in this country, barring an accident or unusual health concern, if you are poor by the age of forty you chose to be so.

Your choices, made between ages twenty and thirty, largely place you where you will be the rest of your life. The road to security and prosperity is education and is available to everyone willing to work. I tell my students that they may not be able to run out of the ghetto, even walk, but all can crawl.

There was no silver spoon in my mouth, being second oldest of 14 children, this option applied to me as well. Few were poorer than we. All night factory work and all day classes meant sleeping when you could. This was so for many years.

Others may find work and satisfaction outside formal education, but most will struggle in its absence. I have yet to meet a re-entry student; one who dropped out then returned years later, who did not wish they had stayed in school. The choice seems to be clear for most young people, work your butt off in school for at least four years in expectation of an easier life, or without school for forty without such.

Many, all with excuses, do not choose the education highway, dropping out of high school or college and thus choose poverty. They allow themselves to accept a lower place in society. Some pick up the visual signs of poverty such as degrading language, coarseness in their behaviors, and the appearance of one who is poor. Sometimes homes are not painted and lawns uncut, back yards dirt and weeds. In time they are easily recognizable as poor. Many come to believe that they are owed the basics, even some of the privileges of life. These become wards of the state and accepting of the philosophy that “it’s not my fault” and politicians have no problem confiscating the rewards of those who do labor to give to them. Food stamps, subsidized school lunches, housing, and healthcare and hundreds of other charity programs, instead of incentivizing this class to believe in themselves and work to be self reliant, seemingly teach, even enable, dependence.

Unscrupulous politicians learn quickly that these can be managed by subsidized gift- giving from those who do produce, which ensures that they remain in office. The “freebie class” becomes their base. Last year 47.5% of the adult population paid no federal income tax. Those who paid for all the programs of the poor were the other 52.5%. As a class, the poor want more, lose their sense of gratitude for those who are forced to subsidize them, and grow ever larger without education.

The tax paying class diminishes as confiscatory taxes rob them of the benefits of their labor. They become the working poor. In time they too may be, without additional education, enticed to work less and join the poor class.

So back to the choices we make which select our future dependence or independence. Those choices remain available.

Some few reenter the education highway. Now with a companion and children they sacrifice evenings to elevate themselves. Perhaps it takes twice or thrice the time but there is an end to poverty if one chooses wisely.

Stay in school my young friends and return my older friends. You will never be sorry that you made this choice. Your choices today will place you where you will be ten years from now. This law applies to all. You do not have to rob, or have the government rob for you, the fruits of others. You do not have to be the fodder for politicians who wish to give you the benefits of those who produce so that they can remain in power and addict you to the philosophy that it is owed you.

Dr. Harold Pease is an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He has taught history and political science from this perspective for over 25 years at Taft College. To read more of his weekly articles, please visit www.LibertyUnderFire.org.

December 30 - 5, 2011

ROGER MILLER INSURANCE 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

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

Check Out Our Website Maricopaquiltcompany.com And Facebook Page 370 CALIFORNIA • 769-8580

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.

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

Subscription Form Subscribe for home delivery of the Taft Independent today!

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

Name_________________________________ Address________________________________ Start Date____________End Date__________

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

Now Celebrating Our 22nd Year

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

December 30 - 5, 2011

Obituary

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Taft Crude

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

VIOLET LOTT ROUNDTREE

Licensed Funeral Directors

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

Funeral services for Violet (Lott) Roundtree will be held in New Hope Temple on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 1:00 P.M. Rev. Joey Pittman will officiate and burial will be in West Side District Cemetery. Mrs. Roundtree was born in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma on April 14, 1920 and went home to be with her Lord and Savior on December 27, 2011. Violet and her husband, Leonard and their children, Doris, Sherry and Glenn moved to Taft in 1950. Working in her yard, going out to eat, baking for the holidays and antiquing provided much enjoyment for her. She also enjoyed the time she spent with her grandchildren. Mrs. Roundtree owned and operated her secondhand store for about 25 years. She was preceded in death by her first husband of 57 years, Leonard G. Lott; her son, Glenn Edward Lott; her second husband, Woodrow Roundtree; her parents, James R. and Mary J. Swarb; her two sisters and three brothers. Mrs. Roundtree is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Doris and Gene Decker and Sherry and Ronnie Smith all of Taft; her sister, Elsie Hogan of Taft; her niece, and her husband, Jackie and Lloyd Karnes of Taft; her grandchildren, Cindy Abrams of Taft, Terri Masterson of Folsom, David Snyder of Bakersfield, Shelly Marrit of Bakersfield, Rhonda and Lee Henning of Taft, Nini and John Hatzopoulos of Levos, Greece; her great-grandchildren, Kayla, Courtney and Kelsie Masterson, Valarie Bergeron, Chad and Deanna Mincher, David, Michael and Kasie Snyder, Elizabeth Crum, Miranda Plaugher, Ty Marrit, Julie and LeAnn Shinn, Jonathan and Katlynn McDonald, Mac Henning, Nasiska, Nico and Dessy Hatzopoulos; her great-great-grandchildren, Hailey, Brayden and Madison Bergeron and Kellie Masterson; her many nephews and nieces in Oklahoma, California, Nevada and Colorado. She is also survived by her special friends, Gordon and Patti Gomez, Curtis Gomez and Eileen Westendoff and baby Adria of Bakersfield. Friends are invited to pay their respects on Monday from 3:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. at the Erickson & Brown Funeral Home. To convey condolences or sign an online register, please visit www.EricksonAndBrown.com

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com

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 Subscription Form

Subscribe for home delivery of the Taft Independent today!

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

Name_________________________________ Address________________________________ Start Date____________End Date__________

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

FD756 FDR50 FDR595 FDR618

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 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 $3 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.

Cozy Cottage $550.

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

Preserving for the Future Real Estate Sales & Purchase

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

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

Taft Independent210 508 CA 93268

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

Wednesday.

Vista Mobile Home Club House. If interested, call June Selby 763-4845.

Business Services COMPUTER SERVICES

Taft PC Services

Moving Sale. 715 Buena Vista. Fri. Sat. Sun. Until gone. Everything goes.

Furn. Tools, Hunting, fishing, etc. Come by anytime.

Heritage Park Book Sale Wednesday, January 4th 12 noon - 6pm 201 8th St. In Rec Room Books from $.25 to $1.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 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.

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

6497. We will pick up!

For Sale FOR SALE Pickers Buy & Sell 428 Center Street Hours 1-5pm Tues-Fri

AUTOMOBILES

Pets & Livestock FOUND PETS LOST PETS

Computer Repair Graphic Arts Web Design Virus Removal 661-623-5188 YARD SERVICES CLEANING SERVICES Office cleaning, years of experience. Call Kathi 661-703-8186

Employment HELP WANTED

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

INSTRUCTION Learn English/Spanish the easy way, WITH A PRIVATE TUTOR. Reasonable rates, Call Luz at 800-8681.

Wanted

WANTED

Work Wanted. Need light to med. housework done? Am ready to and willing and able. Call 765-6610. Ask for Kathy Walters.

Junk Cars! Cash Paid (661) 805-0552 Old Appliances, In ANY Condition. Car Batteries & Motorparts. Cash Paid $1 - $20 Call David 661293-0359 or 661-765-

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

Excellent location, near Taft College. In business for 6 years. $20,000 OBO. 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

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

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

December 30 - 5, 2011

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

Lic # 01525550 FOR RENT 205 W Ash C 2/1.5 $600 601 4th 2/1 $650 435 B St 2/1 $700 302 Calvin 1/1 $850 528 D St 2/1 $850 602 Elkhorn 3/1.75 $850 404 Fillmore 3/1.75 $1,000 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 $1,050 mo + dep.

408 Jackson St. 3bd/1ba $880 mo + dep.

1bd 1 ba. house. 707 Fillmore 3 bd/1ba $780 mo. + dep. (661)3430507.

2 bd 1ba, indoor laundry, fenced frt/back yards $600 mo + $600 dep. Maricopa 805-3250256 Huge 3bd 2ba, perimeter fence, lots of storage & fruit trees. $900 mo + $900 dep.

Maricopa 805-325-0256

APART. FOR RENT Studio Apt. $550. mo.

Dep. $400. all util. includ. Avail. 1-1-12 623-4792.

2bd Apt. $550 mo. (805) 415-5293.

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

Taft Property Mgt. 661 745-4892. Brokers Licence 01417057 Imperial Gardens 424 Woodrow Street 2bd $625 mo. 1bd $550 mo. Stove fridge, dishwasher, pool, private car port. 661623-3699 or 661-7654299.

Creekside Apartments.

1 BD and 2 BD. Pool, AC & Appl. 661.7657674. 420 Finley Dr. 2bd/1ba $750 mo + dep.

Recently remodeled.

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

PUBLIC NOTICE Michael Long, Publisher The Taft Independent 508 Center Street Taft, CA 93268 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE 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 Michael Long, Publisher The Taft Independent 508 Center Street Taft, CA 93268

Michael Long, Publisher That 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.

Ken Shugarts

Air Conditioning & Heating

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

Real Estate eBroker Inc. 325 Kern Street

Karri Christensen

LIC# 01522411 & #01333971

661-332-6597

www.BuyTaft.com Real Estate Sales & Purchase

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

Advertise With The Taft Independent Call Today!

765-6550

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

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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 30 - 5, 2011

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Westside News & Business Briefs

State Health Director Recommends Top Health New Year’s Resolutions Six Simple Changes can Save Lives, Reduce Health Care Costs As the busy holiday season comes to a close, most Californians take a timeout to draft their New Year’s resolutions. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer, Dr. Ron Chapman, urges Californians to put health at the top of their list.

“New Year’s resolutions can be overly ambitious, despite your best intentions,” said Chapman. “But I’m recommending six simple steps that will make for a healthier 2012, and just might save your life.”

1. Ditch the butts (and save major bucks!)

“Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do to improve your health, and your pocketbook. A $5 pack-a-day habit costs a smoker nearly $2,000 a year. As a family doctor, I have taken care of people who have suffered the horrible health effects of smoking which harms nearly every organ in the body.

Not only that, but secondhand smoke is deadly to those around you, especially children who can develop asthma from being exposed to cigarette smoke. You can get free help to quit by calling 1-800NO BUTTS or visiting NoButts.org. This service is also available to people who would like a friend or loved one to quit smoking.”

2. Know your numbers “This includes your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and healthy weight. Being overweight, having high blood pressure or cholesterol can cause heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. When you get these numbers to a normal range, you lower your risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, diabetes, blindness, nerve damage, and other health problems. If you are overweight, by losing five-toseven percent of your weight (10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person), you can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes, and reduce the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis by as much as 50 percent.”

3. Eat like a champion “In addition to making half your plate fruits and vegetables, vow to incorporate more whole grains and to reduce sodium by eating fewer processed foods and drinking fewer sugary drinks like sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened teas and coffees. Get involved with your children’s school wellness committee to create healthier school environments, support healthier foods and quality physical education for all young people.”

4. Get physical!

“Moderate physical activity, even in 10-minute increments three times a day, helps keep muscles, bones and joints healthy, improve your heart health, helps reduce stress and makes you feel more positive. Be active with your kids – physical activity is good for their health and brain function!”

5. Respect your health “Prevention really is the best medicine. Getting vaccinated – for both adults and children – is the most effective way of stopping whooping cough, flu and other dangerous diseases. It’s not too late to get a flu vaccination, since flu activity can continue as late as May. · It is crucial that everyone 50 and older be screened for colon cancer – this is a form of cancer that can be prevented, if it’s caught before it becomes cancerous. · Women, get screened for cervical cancer starting at age 21. Starting at age 50 be sure to get screened for breast cancer – younger if you have a family history of breast cancer. · Protect your skin from skin cancer at all times of the year by reducing sun exposure and using sunscreen.”

6. Be prepared, California “We live in a large, populated state that has a very diverse climate and geography, which is why it is critical to make sure that you and your family are prepared for a disaster before it strikes. You can ensure the safety of your family by developing supply kits and disaster plans, knowing how you will communicate with each other during a crisis, and talking with your children about crisis events.

By doing these simple steps, you will be helping yourself physically, mentally and financially. For example, diabetes costs in California exceed $24 billion each year. The direct health care costs associated with smoking in our state is estimated to be $9.6 billion or $365 per Californian.”

“My personal resolution is to incorporate the CDC’s Physical Activity for Everyone’s guidelines into my routine,” added Chapman. “This includes 2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) of moderateintensity aerobic activity every week and muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days a week that work on all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms). You can follow my activity each week on Twitter and Facebook.”

War Horse—movie review

By Jane McCabe I thought when I saw it that War Horse had the stagey presence of a children’s story. When I researched it I found that first it was a children’s fiction novel by Michael Morpurgo, published in Great Britain in 1982.

At the outbreak of World War I, young Albert’s beloved horse Joey is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. His rider Captain Nicholls is killed while riding him. The horse is soon caught up in the war; death, disease and fate take him on an extraordinary odyssey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in No Man’s Land. Albert cannot forget Joey. Still not old enough to enlist in the British Army, he embarks on a dangerous mission to find his horse and bring him home to Devon.

After meeting a World War I veteran who drank in his local pub at Iddesleigh and who had been in the Devon Yeomanry working with horses, Morpurgo began to think of telling the story of the universal suffering of the Great War through a horse’s viewpoint, but he was unsure that he could do it.

He also met another villager, Captain Budgett, who had been in the Cavalry in the Great War, and a third villager who remembered the army coming to the village to buy horses. Morpurgo thanks the three men in the dedication of the book, naming them as Albert Weeks, Wilfred Ellis and Captain Budgett.

With his wife, Morpurgo had founded Farms for City Children, a charity where inner city children live and work on rural farms for a week. Interviewed on Saturday Live on BBC Radio 4 by Fi Glover in December 2010, Morpurgo recounted the event that convinced him he could write the book: “One of the kids who came to the farm from Birmingham, a boy called Billy, years and years and years ago now, the teachers warned me that he had a stammer ... and told me not to ask him direct questions because it would terrify him if he had to be made to speak because he doesn’t speak. They said ‘He’s been two years in school and he hasn’t said a word, so please don’t confront him or he’ll run back to Birmingham’, which is a long way from Devon and they didn’t want that.

“So I did as I was told and I stood back and I watched him, and I could see that he related wonderfully to the animals, totally silently, never spoke to the other kids at all, and then I came in the last evening, which I always used to do, to read them a story. It was a dark November evening and I came into the yard behind this big Victorian house where they all live, and there he was, Billy, standing in his slippers by the stable door and the lantern above his head, talking. Talking, talking, talking, to the horse.

And the horse, Hebe, had her head out of, just over the top of the stable, and she was listening, that’s what I noticed, that the ears were going, and she knew - I knew she knew - that she had to stay there whilst this went on, because this kid wanted to talk, and the horse wanted to listen, and I knew this was a two way thing, and I wasn’t being sentimental, and I stood there and I listened, then I went and got the teachers, and brought them up through the vegetable garden, and we stood there in the shadows, and we listened to Billy talking, and they were completely amazed how this child who couldn’t get a word out, the words were simply flowing. All the fear had gone, and there was something about the intimacy of this relationship, the trust was building up between boy and horse, that I found enormously moving, and I thought, Well yes, you could write a story about the First World War through the eyes of a horse, let the horse tell the story, and let the story of the war come through the soldiers: British soldiers first of all, then German soldiers, then a French family with whom the horse spends winters, and that maybe you’ll then get a universal idea of the suffering of the First World War. So in a way I just took a gamble and went for it, and then wrote like a horse for about six months.”

In another article, Morpurgo stated that Billy was not the child’s real name. Morpurgo later recalled, “As I listened to this boy telling the horse everything he’d done on the farm that day, I suddenly had the idea that of course the horse didn’t understand every word, but that she knew it was important for her to stand there and be there for this child.”

The third inspiration for the book, after meeting the veterans and seeing Billy with Hebe the horse, was an old oil painting that Morpurgo’s wife Clare had been left: “It was a very frightening and alarming painting, not the sort you’d want to hang on a wall. It showed horses during the First World War charging into barbed wire fences. It haunted me.” The painting was by F. W. Reed and was dated 1917, and showed a British cavalry charge on German lines, with horses entangled in barbed wire. Morpurgo wrote a fictionalized version of this painting in his ‘Author’s Note’ at the start of the book. In his version, the painting shows a red bay with a white cross on his forehead, and the painting bears the legend: “Joey. Painted by Captain James Nicholls, autumn 1914.”

The book was made into a play adapted by Nick Stafford. The play, also called War Horse, was staged at the Olivier Theatre, National Theatre in London. The production opened on October 17th, 2007, and was met with critical acclaim — its use of life-size puppets of horses from the Handspring Puppet Company won an Olivier Award, Evening Standard Theatre Award and London Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for design. In February 2010 it was revealed that the play would transfer to Broadway in New York City.

In May 2010 it was announced Steven Spielberg would direct the movie adaptation with Richard Curtis and Lee Hall writing the screenplay. Jeremy Irvine was cast in the lead role. The official release date is 25 December 2011.

A radio adaption of the book was broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Saturday, November 8th, 2008. It featured Timothy Spall starring as the voice of Joey, Brenda Blethyn as Mother and Bob Hoskins as Sergeant Thunder. The radio play was rebroadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra on November 11th, 2011 as part of a special Remembrance sequence.

My sister, her husband, and I saw the movie the day after Christmas. The above information wipes out my criticism of the movie—that it made use of traditional movie making devices and was thus a bit trite. The best thing in the movie echoes the story of Billy talking to Hebe—in the movie the horse Joey just seems to understand what the humans who talk to him are saying. He seems human too.

He is a courageous and valiant horse, who substitutes for his friend, the black horse, in hauling heavy artillery uphill.

It helps to know the history of how something got made to understand the thing itself.

12

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

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