Census time and Vision 2020 update

CENSUS time: By now, many of you may have received your Census 2010 form in the mail. Make sure you complete the information and return it. Collecting your information will help give the government process the most accurate population data and other figures for Kern County. Those numbers will help determine what kind of funding our county will receive for services, such as roads, schools and hospitals.

Many civic, faith and educational groups are joining in the get-the-word-out drive by planning Census activities. Ruscel Reader, principal at Cesar Chavez School, recently told me of Census campus plans. Chavez is a science magnet school and receives students from a lot of the elementary schools in the Bakersfield City School District. Today at 1:30 p.m., Chavez School will sponsor a Census 2010 Assembly.

"The purpose of the activity is to teach students about the importance of the nation's Census and to underscore how a complete count benefits their families, neighbors and community," she said, adding that the school is a 2010 Census Partner. As a partner, the school has organized Census 2010 T-shirt art design and essay contest.

"Chavez School mirrors the community and state as far as student demographics are concerned," Reader told me. "What better place to spread the word about the importance of the Census, especially as it relates to educational services for all?"

Vision 2020 update: I had the opportunity to catch up with Brooke Antonioni. She is a member of the Greater Bakersfield Vision 2020, and she and few other members are currently working on a halfway update of the community improvement plan.

Vision 2020 volunteers are conducting the second "quarterly" -- or mid-course -- review of what's transpired since the Vision was adopted (more than 10 years ago). The review is to identify and inventory what's been accomplished, what's left to do, and what's changed.

The summary of findings will be released to the community. Antonioni expects that will happen in a few months.

"The volunteers contributing to this process have spent a great deal of time reaching out to the community to gain feedback and attending other community meetings & events," Antonioni said. "This has been a chance to capture achievements that fall in line with the Vision 2020 minds."

To learn more about Vision 2020, visit www.bakersfieldvision2020.com.

Texas Hold'em: Any good card players out there? You might want to check out this event. The Kern County Law Enforcement Foundation will be holding a "Texas Hold'em Night" 5 p.m., April 17th, at the 420 Club, 3910 Alfred Harrell Highway. A steak dinner will be provided prior to the tournament, which starts at 6 p.m. For those just interested in the dinner, the cost is $20 per ticket. Those participating in the tournament are asked to make a donation of $100.

Money raised from the event will be used to send the Bakersfield Police Department and Kern County Sheriff's Department Honor Guard Team to the national police memorial planned in a few months in Washington, D.C., said Sofie Zimmermann, a foundation member. For more information, contact Zimmermann at 342-1532.

SAL awards highlight youth, volunteers

If you want to learn a thing or two about dedication, talk to Bryan Lopez. He may be 12 years old, but he’s already got a lot of heart. So much that he’d walk two or three miles to and from home just so he could be a part of activities run by the East Bakersfield Sheriff’s Activities League. Never once did he complain or ask for help, so it took awhile for staff and volunteers to discover his long journey. Of course, they began giving him rides, but such was an example of Bryan’s commitment to SAL and defiance of the street life that never seems to rest. His dedication is what earned him Outstanding Boy of the Year Award. 

Bryan joined a group of honorees — youth, volunteers and businesses — recently recognized for their involvement in the SAL programs of East Bakersfield, Kern Valley, Lamont and Wasco.

Other East Bakersfield SAL honorees were: Frances Alvarez, Outstanding Girl of the Year; Aera Energy, Sponsor of the Year; and Sgt. Dan Edgerle, who earned the Volunteer of the Year, for coaching the co-ed football team and leading it to an undefeated victory for the third year in a row.
Derek Brannan, a senior deputy and SAL coordinator, said SAL programs are one of the best tools to fighting crime.

Pointing to the youth, Sheriff Donny Youngblood added, “We need to work more with people this tall,” before thanking the volunteers who’ve made a difference.

Several residents from Kern Valley drove to Bakersfield for the event to praise their SAL program, which began two years ago. Their honorees were: Ronnie Lail, Outstanding Boy of the Year; Nicole Sutton, Outstanding Girl of the Year; Kern River Motors, Sponsor of the Year; and Bill and Sandra Adkins, Volunteer of the Year.

Meanwhile, Lamont SAL shared that their Outstanding Boy of the Year, Erik Perez, was recently selected to serve on the California Police Activities League Youth Directors Council. He is the youngest of the appointed six youths who will participate on the statewide council, representing the 400,000 children who are a part of these programs, said Senior Deputy John Money. 
Other Lamont winners were: Maria Negrette, Outstanding Girl of the Year; Gotta Go Bail Bonds, Sponsor of the Year; and Raul Rocha, Volunteer of the Year.

Deputy Martin Barron said the boxing program at the Wasco SAL sparked an interest in many youth. One boy in particular, Ricky Samarripas, asked Barron if the boxing program would really become a reality. That’s the hope, Barron told him, but he needed his help. Sixteen-year-old Ricky “took it to heart,” giving time and serving as an inspiration for other Wasco SAL youth. He was the Outstanding Boy of the Year.
Other Wasco SAL awards went to: Gabby Medina, Outstanding Girl of the Year; JMAS Custom Welding, Sponsor of the Year; and Robbie Villanueva, Volunteer of the Year.

Olympic lessons
About a dozen local figure skaters, ages four to 18, hit the Bakersfield Ice Sports Center rink at 5 a.m. Sunday for special lessons provided by two guest coaches, Olympian Ivan Dinev and Angela Nikodinov, 2000 Four Continents champion.

“They thought the kids worked hard, but they also picked out some points on practice skills,” said Lisa Jimenez, a Bakersfield parent who helped introduce the professional figure skaters to the Bakersfield youth talent pool.

“These kids are figure skaters who compete statewide, but their training ground is Bakersfield.”

Jimenez has three children: Noelle, 10, Cristian, 9, and Justine, 8, who figure skate. She and her husband, Jose, who owns Jose Jimenez & Associates, take turns traveling three or four times a week to L.A. for coaching lessons from Dinev and Nikodinov.
On Sunday, Nikodinov specialized in spin and footwork on the ice while Dinev gave lessons on jumps and transitions.

“The kids were in awe,” Jimenez said. “Some have been taking lessons for years, but they were taken aback by the style. The coaches — they’re Olympian — so naturally it was going to be very different from the training the children are used to.”

The hope is to bring the coaches to the Bakersfield rink twice a month.

Running for his class

Some people run for health and fitness.
Others to set a personal record.

Caleb Schroeder runs for his AP calculus students.
The Rosamond High School teacher was in town this past weekend to run the Bakersfield Track Club half marathon as a part of a fund-raising effort for his students who want to take the AP Calculus AB Exam May 5 but can't afford to cover the $86 cost.
He ran 13.1 miles in one hour and 42 minutes even though he was recovering from a respiratory infection. He couldn't skip out, he says, because his class was depending on it. And it paid off to a tune of $477. The goal is to raise $1,704.

“I have 26 students in my AP calculus class and 14 of them are below the poverty line that qualifies them for aid so their test fee is only $48,” the Lancaster resident told me. “The other 12 have to pay the full test fee of $86.”

The exam covers only calculus. But if students pass, they get the equivalent of one semester of college credit.

“For many of my students, passing the AP Calculus Exam really motivates them to complete their college education,” he said. “This is going to be my eighth year teaching this class and so far, my students have averaged a 3 for their score, which is the minimum needed to get credit at most California State Universities and private colleges.”

Some of his former students have followed careers in math and science fields after college. “As a math educator, I recognize that this is a major need in our society, and I want to do everything I can to fill in those career fields where numbers are dwindling,” he said.
Here’s wishing the best for Schroeder and his class. If you would like to help, email him at cschroeder@skusd.k12.ca.us or contact Rosamond High School.

Real estate expertise
Are you in the market of buying, selling or fixing up a home for re-sale? Then, I'd encourage you to attend the Home Buyer and Seller Expo 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Feb. 27 at the Bakersfield Marriott.

Organized by The Bakersfield Californian, the expo is free and will draw many real estate experts who want to help consumers on a variety of issues. Get tips on issues, such as short sales, foreclosures, tax incentives, fixing up a home for a quick sale and more. The expo will feature more than 40 booths, and the likes of agents, brokers, new homebuilders, insurance agents, and home improvement companies will be on hand, said Rob Meszaros, The Californian's Marketing Manager.

“You won't be able to find all of the top real estate players in town in another convenient and casual spot,” Meszaros tells me.

For more information, people can log onto Bakersfield.com/expo. Look in Saturday's paper for a special section on the Expo.