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.