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.

Mardi Gras Gala planned this Friday; Lamont recognizes its honorees, leaders

Wendy Armijo caught up with me recently to share news of an upcoming Mardi Gras Gala fundraiser for the Bakersfield Art Association. The nonprofit group, dedicated to the enrichment of local artists, will be celebrating 65 years. It sponsors a variety of activities, including workshops, exhibits and art shows.
The Mardi Gras Gala will be held Friday, Feb. 19, at the Bell Tower Club, 1200 Truxtun Ave.

“The association helps to ensure that our local youth and adults have the opportunity to recognize their artistic potential and that they are given the opportunities and the skills necessary to evolve self expression through art,” Wendy tells me.

Also, a portion of the funds raised by the association is distributed as scholarships to elementary, high school and college art students on an annual basis.
And that’s a good reason to support the association’s Mardi Gras Gala, which will showcase an art show of original artwork and hand-painted masks that will be offered for sale. Other highlights include a silent auction, music by Southside Chicago Seven and Cajun hors d’oeuvres.
Attire is dressy/cocktail or costume. A prize will be offered for the best costume. Masks will be available at the door, or buy one at the gala.   
Tickets are $75 per person and available online at www.mardigrasgala.com or at the Bakersfield Art Association Gallery in the East Hills Mall and at Kathy Schilling Art Studio, 5630 District Blvd., Bakersfield.
Lamont leaders
Joe Serrano, a board member of the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, recently invited me to attend the Lamont Chamber of Commerce installation and awards dinner. Joe is a director on the Lamont board. I accepted and glad I had the opportunity to hear some great stories behind the honorees that night. Among them was Earl Shelton, who received the Deryl Stine Award, aka the Hell Raiser Award.
I met Earl several years ago when I wrote stories on the Dust Bowl generation, particularly those who, as children, lived at the well-known federal migrant camp, Weedpatch. Earl once took me through the camp, detailing many of his childhood stories. He continues to give tours of the camp, and last Friday, he was honored with an award, named after a well-respected businessman in Lamont.

Other honorees that night included: Lamont resident Raul Rocha, who received the Special Recognition Award, for his anti-graffiti efforts and Sheriff’s Senior Deputy John Money who earned the President’s Award for running a successful SAL (Sheriff’s Activities League) youth program there. Father John Schmoll and Labetta Glenn were honored as the Man and Woman of the Year while two Lamont businesses, Subway and Short Stop Liquor Store, tied for the Cres Stine Award, aka the Most Improved Business recognition.
The 2010 Lamont Chamber of Commerce officers were installed and noted as the following: Miguel Sanchez, president; Cheryl McConaughey, vice president; Eva Rodriguez, secretary; and the ever-polite Frank Sloan, treasurer. Its board of directors are: Louis Simpson, Jose Gonzalez, John Von Flue, Alberta Dougherty, Joe Serrano and Jerome Kresha.

Churches, nonprofits rally to back Census

More than 100 people, particularly those representing local faith organizations and nonprofits, gathered Mt. Zion's Baptist Church in central Bakersfield to rally its members and urged the media to raise awareness about Census 2010 efforts.
The event drew community leaders, such as the Rev. Hiawatha T. Calhoun of Mt. Zion; Devender Singh Bains of the Sikh Community Radio; Andrae Gonzales of Faith in Action, Kern County; and David Villarino of the nonprofit Farmworker Institute for Education and Leadership Development.

"Some people are afraid of the Census," Bains said. "It's fear of the unknown. It's all about education.

"We need to educate at least 100 people and ask these people to educate another 100 people."

Census takers will be out in neighborhoods soon, asking for household information, but not private data, such as Social Security, driver's license or credit card information.
Attendees included Dolores Huerta; Ruscel Reader, Cesar Chavez School principal; and Kristie Coons of the Kern County Library special projects.
Demographic information from the 1990 Census data helped set aside federal funds, with a local match, for new libraries, Coons said.

"We got wonderful resources that we wouldn't have had," Coons said.

Meanwhile, the Census data can also help others connect with their past family history.
Earlena Morris, whose husband is Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce president Ali Morris, told the crowd that she used Census records to help trace information about her great-grandparents.
Morris, who is Choctaw and African American, said she was able to uncover that her great-grandmother was a freed woman.

"The mere fact that Alex Haley was able to go as far back as he did, that's not common," Morris said. "But for our family, the Census count has been invaluable."

New commander
My congrats to Lt. Kevin Zimmermann, who will be promoted to commander with the Kern County Sheriff's Department Friday. His new rank will take effect Saturday, and he will be assigned to the Lerdo Detentions Bureau.

Zimmermann grew up in Arvin and has been with the department for nearly 20 years. He's worked varied assignments, including SWAT, internal affairs, the Wasco substation and jail. In the past, he's served as a recruit training officer for the sheriff's academy, field training officer for new deputies, a detective in Tehachapi and personnel sergeant. Currently, he is managing the eastern and northeastern county sections of the substation division.
He and his wife, Sofie, are proud parents to eight daughters and one son, and are my youngest son's godparents. He is also a grandparent of three and an active member of St. Francis Church in Bakersfield.
We're very proud of you, Kevin.

Taft College College grows and County Bar Association prepares for new year

Taft College Foundation: Taft Cougars, there’s a new face in town, and she is looking out for you. Her name is Sheri Horn-Bunk, and she is director of the Taft College Foundation, which has been around for a couple of years but up until recently didn’t have someone dedicated to its mission of fundraising full time.

Not anymore and for good reason.

Probably more than ever, college foundations play such a vital role in generating additional dollars from private donors to support the college’s current operations, scholarships and student aid, and special programs and projects.

Taft College may be a bit of a drive from Bakersfield, but these days, Sheri tells me that it is witnessing an increase
in enrollment. Part of that growth is the result of students who are either taking online courses or driving in from nearby communities, such as southwest Bakersfield.

“Education is education, no matter where you get it from,” Sheri, a Fresno City College and Cal State Bakersfield grad, told me Friday. “It leads to better jobs and more opportunities.”

For that, she is driven to raise money and her eye is on the Bernard Osher Scholarship Endowment, a matching program that would result in new scholarship money for Taft students. As part of the endowment, Taft College must raise $110,000 by June 2011. If she is successful, the Bernard Osher Scholarships would establish about 15 awards in the amount of $1,000. The biggest deal is that it would establish Bernard Osher Scholarships at Taft College in perpetuity through the endowment.
This scholarship is designed for second-year students.

“A thousand dollars can go a long way to help a community college student finish their second year,” Sheri said.

To get the ball rolling, Sheri is busy planning for the first Femme Fatales’ of Philanthropy Tea to be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4 at Taft College.
The featured speaker will be Melanie Lundquist, a South Bay philanthropist whose main concentrations are education and health care.

Aside from that, she is searching for successful Taft alumni — she found one, Dante Scarnecchia, a New England Patriots assistant head coach for the offensive line — that can help grow the foundation and college in new ways. Best wishes, Sheri. Your determination and contagious energy will go far.
For more information about the foundation, call Sheri at 763-7936 or e-mail: shornbunk@taft.org

Bar Association 2010: I had the opportunity to attend the Kern County Bar Association installation dinner Thursday. Held at the Bakersfield Country Club, the place was so packed that you practically had to squeeze by each other. I heard that this one was one of their largest turnouts. There was plenty of good company to go around, that’s for sure. My husband, Julio, and I joined the table occupied by our good friend, attorney Larry Fields. It was a good choice as I had the pleasure to catch up with one of the county’s most respected legal eagles, Bernie Barmann, who retired last year. Bernie was the county’s chief attorney for more than two decades. These days, he tells me he stays busy, doing pro bono work for local nonprofits, including Houchin Blood Bank, and participating in Valley Public Radio. Barmann was also a former president of the bar association.

Kern County Superior Court Judge John Brownlee introduced this year’s president, H.A. “Beto” Sala, who was accompanied by his wife, Sylvia, and two sons. Sala joins other 2010 officers: David Dixon, vice president; Chad Louie, treasurer, Lisa Holder, secretary; and Paul Welchans, immediate past president. I also ran into other familiar faces, including Kern County Superior Court Judge Steven Katz; Kern County Supervisor Michael Rubio; Dr. Rebecca Rivera; Kern County Deputy District Attorney Wendy Avila; and attorney Emilio Huerta, accompanied by his nationally well-known mother, Dolores Huerta.

The night was even more special when they recognized two people, Susan M. Gill, who was recently appointed to a Kern County judgeship by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the late Stan Simrin. Speakers, including Beto and Paul, told Gill that her father would be so proud of her accomplishments. Susan is the daughter of S.B. “Barney” Gill. He was a much admired attorney and stand-up gentleman who died in 1990. Susan followed in her dad’s footsteps with her love for law. She worked with him as an associate and partner from 1983 to 1989. Stan was another good attorney. He once kept me on a case as a juror despite my media connection. But what a well-respected, sharp attorney he was.

Hispanic chamber and Read for Life look to 2010

Celebrating 25 years of success: The first part of the year always brings excitement for the 500-member Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. It marks a time when the chamber recognizes its new leadership tasked with growing membership, helping small business owners and preparing for annual events, including the very successful Latino Food Festival and Menudo Cook-Off.

Now in its 25th year, the Hispanic chamber has plenty of reasons to celebrate when it gathers for its annual Installation Banquet and Business Awards at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6, at the DoubleTree Hotel. Tickets are $60 per person or $500 per table.

More than 300 people are expected to attend. Kern County Superior Court Judge Robert Tafoya is scheduled to conduct the installation of the new board members, including treasurer Jan Bans, secretary David Alanis, chair-elect Jesse Bonales and past chair Joe Jimenez. Ramona Herrera will lead as the new chairwoman.
The Hispanic chamber has benefited from Latino businesses’ growth locally and non-Latino businesses that cater to Hispanics, she said.

“I’m excited about this year’s board and their commitment to help our membership grow and prosper,” Herrera said. “I’m looking forward to 2010 being a strong year for us.”

A highlight of the night will be the 2009 Hispanic Chamber awards, Herrera said.
The honorees are: Bakersfield attorney David A. Torres, Business Man of the Year, and for full disclosure, I’ve been fortunate to be selected as the Business Woman of the Year. I am sincerely grateful.
Other winners are: La Mina Restaurant, Large Business of the Year; Kern Valley Printing, Small Business of the Year; and Chevron, Corporation of the Year. Risto Rubio of Mission Family Mortuary will receive the Community Service Award.
The Chairperson’s Recognition Award will go to Jay Tamsi, 2010’s vice chairman. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with Jay on joint projects with MAS Magazine and the Hispanic Chamber, and I’ve always been impressed with his volunteerism, hard work and dedication. Jay is a senior formulations specialist for Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream and is involved in the Hispanic chamber, the Kern County Youth Mariachi Foundation and the Filipino Community of Delano group. Well-deserved award, Jay, well-deserved.
For those wanting information about the installation dinner, please call 633-5495.

Read for Life Gala planning kicks off: Speaking of well-deserving people, the ever-so energetic Donna Hylton, executive director of the Kern Adult Literacy Council, is busy working away at plans for this year’s Read for Life Gala Reception and Auction planned for April 22 at the Bell Tower Club in downtown Bakersfield. Its 2010 Literacy for Life Award recipient is Sandra Serrano, chancellor of the Kern Community College District.

 For those who are not familiar with Donna, she is one amazing lady, very passionate about the council, and will share countless stories of how it has changed many people’s lives. The Read for Life Gala is its main fundraiser of the year and it helps the organization, which relies heavily on volunteers, to continue their mission of educating our community and building strong readers, no matter the age.

I even got wrapped up in her energy and now, you guessed it, I am on the planning committee for the gala event. The committee list is impressive: Kristie Coons, who handles special projects for the Kern County Library; business owner Ann McCright; Tony Russo of Russo’s Books; and local community activist Sheryl Barbich. So expect some neat things to come of this year’s event.

If you are interested in learning more about the council or helping with the gala, please call Donna at 324-3213. She tells me they are currently looking for donated gift certificates or other items that can be auctioned off at the gala. Stay tuned.

Help shape Kern's political landscape, support Census 2010 efforts

Redistricting Forum: Imagine you being asked to determine the political footprint of Kern County and beyond. The opportunity has arrived.

Applications are now being accepted for the new 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission in charge of redrawing the boundaries of political districts throughout the state. This is huge.

Previously, the task was handled by the state Legislature — a process that led to partisan “safe” seats held for each party.

Huh? Just imagine allowing your 10-year-old to create his three-course meals, chore list and sleep schedule for the weekend. I mean, you’d hope he’d make the right, healthy decision but….

Thanks to passage of Prop. 11, the Voters FIRST Act, in 2008, this responsibility now rests in the hands of a citizens commission — 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans, and 4 independents — and, together, they will redefine the district boundaries for the state Senate, Assembly, and Board of Equalization.

The deadline to apply is looming — Feb. 12 — and right now, there’s a callout for more women and people of color to apply. Most who have applied are older white men and counties, such as Los Angeles and Sacramento, lead in the number of applicants. Can’t blame them for wanting to participate but we need to be represented.

As a result, advocacy groups like the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund are holding community forums across California to spread the word and encourage minorities to apply, Nancy Ramirez, MALDEF’s western regional counsel, tells me.

She noted that commission guidelines call for a group that is representative of the state’s diversity, but the most underrepresented groups in applicant pool are Latinos, blacks, Asians and Pacific Islanders.

And as of mid-January, only one Latino from Kern County has passed the first phase of the application process, Ramirez tells me.

Still thinking about how you can make difference?

MALDEF, in partnership with MAS Magazine, will hold free redistricting forum on Monday, Feb. 1, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the University of California, Merced — Bakersfield Center, 2000 K St., Lakes Room.  Panelists include Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF president & general counsel, and a representative of the California State Auditor’s office — the agency administering the application process.

Qualified applicants must have voted in at least two of the past three general elections, registered with the same party (or none) for the last five years, and not have donated $2,000 or more to a campaign. Elected officials, lobbyists and legislative staff are ineligible, sorry.

2010 Census: When California Highway Patrol Capt. Brian Smith of Bakersfield submits his department’s staffing budget to the state, he always makes sure he attaches Census data. He knows he will have to compete with the needs of other law enforcement agencies across the state so having the latest population data can justify the local CHP patrol staffing level needs.

“In Kern County, we want what is ours,” Smith said recently at the opening of the Bakersfield Census office.  

Over the next few months, Census 2010 questionnaires will be sent to your homes, asking for private but critical, information. Census takers will follow-up on homes that did not return a questionnaire. Most of us will be diligent about returning those forms, but one of the biggest challenges for census takers will be reaching poor families distrustful of unfamiliar faces, undocumented immigrants, migrant workers, and the elderly.

Kern County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Shelly Castaneda encouraged census takers to carry their identification cards at all times and be gentle and patient with elderly residents, who have been preyed upon by scam artists.

“I have worked patrol in several areas of Kern County, and I have seen with my own eyes the plight of the underserved,” Castaneda said.

Every person, documented or not, must be counted in Kern. Federal dollars are at stake. Every year, the federal government allocates more than $400 billion to states and communities based, in part, on the census data, said Reyna Olaguez, Bakersfield Census office partnership specialist. The new data will be used to figure out locations for schools, hospitals, housing developments… the list goes on.

And just as significant, the 2010 census data is used to outline the congressional, state and local legislative boundaries for our communities.

Do what you can to support this effort.

New president: My congrats to H. A. Sala who will be installed as the new 2010 president of the Kern County Bar Association. The installation will take place 6 p.m. Thursday at the Bakersfield Country Club. Sala is a well-respected attorney and one of the most humble, genuine persons I know. Best of luck, Beto.

A family of Young Marines

At 16 years old, Elizabeth Schull is already in command.

She is a Young Marine and carries the rank of sergeant major, which puts her in charge of the Bakersfield unit — about 80 youth strong. They look to her for weekly training, educational activities, and community service commitments.

That’s a tall order for the approximate 5’5”, sweet-voiced teen who, by the way, is also Young Miss Kern County.

“I love to help, I love to give, and I love to be that role model for them,” said the Stockdale High 3.5 GPA junior. “The Young Marines changed me. I would not be the person that I am today.”

Not too bad for a teen who once hated the idea of joining the program when she was eight years old.

Just go through boot camp, her parents suggested, and if you still want to leave, then the choice is yours.

She never left.

Today, she is up for Young Marine of the Year for the division, which represents nine western states.

The Bakersfield Young Marines is a nonprofit group that relies on volunteers to help teach youngsters the values of honor, courage, and commitment.

They are introduced to leadership, character-building skills and expected to live health, drug-free lifestyles, said Pamela Schull, adjutant of the Bakersfield Young Marines and Elizabeth’s mother. Pamela Schull who works with foster youth in group homes began as a volunteer 10 years ago and saw firsthand how the program influenced youth in the positive way.

“We have kids of all socioeconomic levels — kids raised by grandparents, in foster care, from normal households,” Pamela Schull said. “But together, they’re not a certain class. Together, they’re one. This is their family.”

This family comes in the form of boys and girls, anywhere between the ages of 8 to 18. It’s the U.S. Marine Corps’ official youth program, but you don’t have to be military destined to join.

They must go through boot camp for a couple of weeks and are known as “recruits” before graduating and promoting through ranks over time.

Some Young Marines travel as far as Frazier Park, Maricopa and Delano to be a part of the program.

A huge part of the program’s focus is community service. Last year, they logged in more than 20,000 hours, supporting events such as the Great American Cleanup, Red Ribbon Week, Toys for Tots, and Veterans Appreciation Week.

And while the program appears to making a difference, it is need of help this holiday seasons.

Topping the list is more adult volunteers, said Young Marine First Sergeant Haylee Martin.

“We’re always looking for staff members,” said the West High junior and a six-year Young Marine. “It’s kinda hard with five members.”

Current staff members come from a variety of backgrounds, mainly military and law enforcement.

Martin said it’d be nice to have guest speakers in leadership or career roles to discuss their profession.

“All of us motivate each other,” she said. “We’re like a family.”

Young Marine Corporal James Terrazas it would be nice if someone could donate a computer to the program because right now, they only have one and it’s probably the “slowest computer ever.” As a result, staff volunteers conduct a lot of the classwork using their personal computers from home and running copies from home.

Other needs include a projector for class instruction. Additional computers for the Young Marines would also be nice. 

Terrazas joined the program, following his footsteps of his brother, Joe, who is now USMC lance corporal stationed at Camp Pendleton.

“If I didn’t have the Young Marines teaching me integrity, then I’d probably doing stupid stuff,” said the 14-year-old Ridgeview High student who grew up on the “south side” of town. “I really want to thank the staff for helping me.”

There’s value in supporting a program like this, said Young Marine Staff Sergeant Adrian Cabral who join the Marine Corps after graduating from East High. It’s a long-term investment that can change the direction of any youth.

Cabral who grew up on the “east side” said he remembers being that troubled kid in need of direction when his family signed him up at age 10. Respect for no one — that was his motto.

“I used to be a bad kid before I joined the Young Marines,” said Cabral, now 16  and one of the politest teenage boys I have ever met. He credits the staff and fellow Young Marines.

“It changed the way I see things in life. I learned about leadership, integrity, how to say no to friends. You become a better person.”

Sylvia Mendez hopes to inspire, creates group to help court-dependent children

There were innocent moments but enough to tremble the world of Sylvia Mendez.
The local businesswoman had put on an ice-skating benefit last December to raise money for abused and neglected children who were part of the CASA program and Jamison's Children Center. About 300 children, separated from their families during the holiday season, were able to spend time with each other and ice skate for a day.
But the turning moment came when Mendez saw an 8-year-old who spotted her brother in the crowd. She hadn't seen him in four months as they had been placed in different foster homes with no way to contact each other. Overwhelmed, the little girl rushed over to hug her brother tight, unsure when she would see him again.
Then in a follow-up moment, another child tried returning a jacket to Judge John Brownlee after he finished ice-skating. The boy thanked the judge for letting him borrow the coat.
No, it’s yours to keep, donated through the fund-raiser, Brownlee explained.

“Really? I’ve been praying for a jacket,” said the humble boy.

He hadn't had a jacket to call his own. Now he did.
And in a way, Mendez had something to call her own: It was a mission to expand this little ice-skating benefit into something bigger and grander this year, and come Dec. 12 at the Rabobank Arena, it’s Mendez’s hope that she will be able to reach about 2,800 court-dependent children and let them ice skate for a day, learn from mentors who have been through similar experiences, watch a Condors hockey game and mainly, forget about their troubles and appreciate the innocence, love and laughter of being child.

“When you look at it in the larger scheme of things, we only touched 300 kids last year. That’s not enough when there's almost 3,000 kids in the system,” Mendez said. “I had to raise the bar. (Me and my husband) believe in mentoring, in making a difference.

“You have to inspire.”

 
As part of her inspiration, she has formed the new nonprofit group, Children Joining Children for Success, which is organizing the Dec. 12 event, in partnership with the Condors.
She’s even “recruited” her husband, well-known criminal defense attorney H.A. (Beto) Sala (well, his free time, if he has any) and she has enlisted volunteer board members, Dr. Rebecca Rivera, Dr. Dennis Martinez, attorney Silva Lopez, Kern County Deputy District Attorney Wendy Avila and Dee Slade of the African-American Network.
The project has meant rising up at 2 a.m. to start her day:  planning the benefit, running her court-reporting business, and making time for her husband and daughters — but she knows the next three weeks are critical to make the event successful.
There are three things she needs to accomplish right away, she says, and she needs the community's help.
First, she is looking for 28 mentors who found ways to persevere past troubled childhood experiences and serve as role models.

“We want the children to meet successful professionals who went through similar hardships as a child and made it,” her husband said. “We are trying to instill in the children that they need to rely less on the government and more on hard work, creativity and helping others.”

The second item off Mendez’s checklist is tracking down the owners of the Rabobank Arena suites. Mendez said she’d like to ask if some or all of them could donate their space on Dec. 12 so the mentors can meet with the children in 20-minute sessions.
Mendez said her own childhood past — she grew up in a violent home with an alcoholic father who knew the penal system too well — has motivated her to hold this event.

“When I was 10, I used to drive my brothers and sister to the bus stop to get school, which was out in the country in Delano,” Mendez said. “My mother would leave early to go pick grapes at 5 a.m. and we would have to fend for ourselves.

“Our lives were nothing like the privileged life our children have today,” said Mendez, referring to her daughters. “My husband and I have made a pledge that our children will learn to have compassion, tolerance, and be there for children who need help.”

The third item is, of course, finding sponsors and selling tickets to the hockey game. Ticket prices are $10 and $16.
She is currently working with some schools, such as the Downtown Elementary School, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and high school forensic teams, including Bakersfield Christian, Centennial, Bakersfield, East, Ridgeview, Garces Memorial, and South, that are participating in fund-raiser.

“Although the CASA program and Jamison Center stand to benefit, the participating schools and children’s organizations will receive a percentage of the proceeds they raise in ticket sales to help them support their own school programs, where widespread budget cuts in the school system have impacted their ability to operate,” Mendez said.

A junior board of the Children Joining Children for Success consisting of youth from the high school forensic teams, CASA and Jamison Center will be formed. The goal is to get the youth to mentor court-dependent children.

I’m hoping we can create “leadership among our academically successful youth,” Mendez said. “Our children will learn to have compassion, tolerance, and be leaders for children who need help.”

Meanwhile, Sala says he’s never seen his wife so determined and focused on helping children caught in our system.

“You just don't know when you impact a child,” Sala said.

But you do know when a child impacts you.
For Mendez, there’s no turning back.

For more information about the benefit, email Sylvia Mendez at sylviamendez@cjcfs.org or call 661-631-2904. The web site is www.cjcfs.org.

Crossing arms at railroad intersections become reality

It started with a tragic death, a motorist killed after her car collided with an oncoming train at a railroad intersection that had flashers, yes, but no crossing arms to temporarily block drivers. Since 2001, at least 10 people have died at railroad intersections with no crossing arms in parts of Kern County, in cities such as Bakersfield and Shafter.

The crashes prompted State Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, and a railroad safety committee to propose the installation of crossing guards at the following locations along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line: Kratzmeyer Road; Merced Avenue; Poplar Avenue; Peterson Road; and Blankenship Avenue. About $1.2 million was spent on this project, mainly from federal funds.

“There’s no excuse in today’s age to not have gates,” Florez said. “This is a big issue for rural communities.”

The last of the five intersections received gates this summer, and on Monday, Florez plans to recognize the groups — Caltrans’ rail division, the county roads department, the California Public Utilities Commission and Burlington Northern Santa Fe — that made the project possible. The event will be held at 2 p.m. at the Merced Avenue and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad crossing.

“It was a team effort between (these groups) that we were able to ensure that the railroad safety improvements at each of these intersections came before another accident and prior to the foggy season,” said Rudy Salas, Florez’s district director.

The group effort was needed because the responsibility varies by agency.
The state Public Utilities Commission, for instance, determines what kind of improvements should be made at railroad crossings. In this case, the commission recommended that crossing arms be installed.
That shifted the responsibility to Caltrans, which sought funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation and searched for a contractor to take on the project. Meanwhile, the county roads department finished road work, such as widening, leading up to the railroad crossing.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s duty is to maintain the gates once installed. Caltrans officials, however, say improvements to railroads are the responsibility of the city or county that has jurisdiction over each roadway.
Regardless, the efforts to address the problem were in hopes of stemming any future accidents.
The deaths drive home just how important the crossing arms are for the community.
David Richard Woodruff, 65, died June 24, 2008, when a train hit his truck as he crossed the railroad intersection on Merced Avenue, near Shafter. Crossing lights were flashing, but there were no railroad guards. California Highway Patrol officials have said it appears Woodruff, a Bakersfield resident and school board member for more than 35 years, was trying to beat the train. His family, however, has said Woodruff was not a risk-taker.
In late November 2006, Rafael Marin Carrillo, 41, was killed when his Chevrolet sedan crashed with an oncoming Amtrak train at a railroad crossing at Kratzmeyer Road, Rudd Avenue and the Santa Fe Railroad tracks, northwest of Bakersfield. The railroad intersection did not have crossing arms, but CHP officials say Carrillo failed to yield to the oncoming train.
At the same Kratzmeyer location, Mary Young Williams, a 79-year-old Buttonwillow resident, died Feb. 17, 2005 when a train hit her 2003 Mercury after her car became stuck on the tracks as she crossed.
In December 2001, a van carrying seven men believed to be farmworkers crashed into an oncoming double-decker train while trying to cross a railroad intersection on Poplar Avenue in Shafter. The driver, Mario Andres Aguilar, did not have a license, but the issue of the crossing not having guards was raised. The crossing did have lights and bells.

“Crossing arms are one additional visual warning device. However, ultimately it is still up the crossing user to pay attention to their surroundings,” said Lena Kent, spokeswoman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

At times, driver distractions, intoxication or unfamiliarity with the area can play a role in train accidents, Caltrans officials said.
Railroad crossing improvements, however, are a priority for the U.S. Department of Transportation, which sets aside $15 million for California annually, said Ken Galt, chief of the railroad crossing safety branch, which is part of Caltrans rail division.

The tragic tale of Highway 46

Two recent crashes on Highway 46 that killed six adults and one infant within days of each other revived attention to the two-lane stretch famously dubbed “Blood Alley” for its horrendous accidents of the past.
Last Wednesday, three 19-year-olds, Steven Dub, Kayla Shepard and Hilary-Kendall Fix, who were from the Bay Area and Southern California, were killed on Highway 46 near Wasco when their Toyota Corolla collided head-on with a truck, according to county Deputy Coroner Annette Pinales. Days earlier, on Oct. 23, Shirlene Ann Soto, 62, and Walter Earl Elliott, 84, both of Los Osos, died when their Prius smashed head-on into a Chevy Cavalier that was passing two trucks in the opposite direction on 46 near Highway 33. In the Cavalier were Avenal residents Jose Alberto Sanchez, 25, and one-year-old Nathaniel Sanchez, who died at the scene while a woman passenger, was taken to Kern Medical Center.
The accidents arrive on the heels of a groundbreaking ceremony planned for Nov. 10, marking the beginning of expanding 46 from two to four lanes. The improvements will likely be done in segments and the first section calls for work to begin on an eighth-mile section.

“It's been a 10-year journey,” said State Sen. Dean Florez, referring to the planned expansion that became one of his first major projects as an assemblyman in the late 90s.

The journey was sparked by a high-profile crash in 1999 on Highway 46 that left a young woman dead and a Bakersfield family badly injured. The crash would set the stage for a public campaign to repair a road.
At the time, the Waski family - parents Michael and Eileen and sons, A.J. and Michael Jr. - were traveling on Highway 46 to the Central Coast to celebrate Independence Day with friends when they were struck by a car driven by 22-year-old Michelle Phillips, also of Bakersfield. She died at the scene, but the Waskis were hit hard. They were hospitalized and some members would later undergo weekly physical, speech and occupational therapy sessions to start over. The family would ultimately sue the state, alleging the road was in dangerous conditions. The state settled for $4 million in 2001.

“The one thing we like is that (Highway 46) is going to be turned into a four-lane highway,” Eileen Waski told The Californian after the settlement in 2001. “This family went through pure devastation, hell, hell … and I hope nobody has to go through that again.”

Soon after the Waski-Phillips crash, Florez and The Californian Editorial Board launched a highly-publicized “Fix 46” campaign, calling for public action to make 46 a state priority and bring needed dollars to repair the road.
Florez said his involvement did raise criticism from other officials who said he was just looking for media attention. But he said the plan was to fulfill his promise to the Waski family to fix the road that has long connected Bakersfield travelers to the Central Coast.

“This was our big campaign,” Florez said. “It caused a lot of ruckus.”

Securing the funding, completing a years-long Caltrans environmental study, and acquiring the additional land is what gobbled up the time before the road work, which is a planned expressway, could begin, Florez said. 

“We've been keeping track,” he said.

Tracking the list of fatal accidents that have occurred along the Kern County section of Highway 46, sparking the debate into how deadly the road really is.
In the past, law enforcement officials have said motorists are causing these crashes, not the road itself. Some travelers are risk taking unsafe passes that can result in injuries or death.

“We've had good years (no deaths) and bad years,” said Lt. Doyle Green, the CHP area commander for the Buttonwillow office. “There's really has nothing to do with the road. Some people are making unsafe passes when they shouldn't.”

As to the danger, Highway 46 is no different than any other two-land road, such as Highway 65, 119 or 166, Doyle said. The bigger issue is that motorists need to have patience and put safety first.

“It's basically people who are in a hurry,” Doyle said. “They are trying to get to the coast or home. They can't wait so they have to pass.”

The speed limit is 55 mph and there's been many times when the CHP has cited drivers for going 70.
Florez, however, says that the road is what makes people impatient, thus the need for four lanes.

“People's impatience is a function of the road, and it's not that people are impatient,” Florez said. “Accidents are going to continue to happen unless it's fixed, and this is the only way to get to the coast unless you go” way around.

The planned four-lane expressway will help, Doyle agrees, because it will allow trucks and other slower-moving vehicles to the right.
Of course, careful drivers can also make a difference.
A CHP tasks force in 2008 that focused on highways 46 and 41 allowed officers to devote additional time to those areas, Doyle said, and it resulted in 1,000 additional tickets being issued from the Buttonwillow office. That task force was made possible through federal grant monies that are not available for 2009.

But “we have funding for Highway 119 this year,” he added.

SWAT teams sharpen their skills

Survival of the fittest: Hats off to the Bakersfield Police Department SWAT Team for recently hosting a law enforcement event that involved their counterparts within the county Sheriff’s Department.

The first SWAT Challenge, a competition that pitted BPD’s SWAT unit against the Kern County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team, was held at the 5 Dogs Range Thursday.
Of course, it was a friendly competition, but it did hold both departments’ elite members to the fire.
“These are top-notch deputies and officers who train extensively to deploy to the most dangerous situations law enforcement responds to,” said Sgt. Bobby Woolard of the Bakersfield Police Department. “The citizens of Bakersfield and Kern County should be proud of these men and what they go through to stay on the top of their game.”
The teams competed in a few scenarios: citizen/officer down drill; active shooter; deliberate entry; sniper-initiated entry; hostage rescue; and breaching.
 “The idea for the ‘Annual SWAT Challenge’ was brought to me by several BPD SWAT team members back in June,” Woolard tells me. “The team members wanted to stage an event that would test their skills by having several ‘scenario-based’ shooting courses that SWAT members would encounter during actual operations.”

Of course, another thought behind the competition was to offer a different kind of training that didn’t require a major expense (out-of-town private training, for example). These days, many departments’ training budgets are a bit tighter.
The team with the best time overall took top honors.
In this case, BPD SWAT landed No. 1, beating the county SWAT unit by 1 minute and 14 seconds, Woolard says.
The BPD SWAT team was presented with a perpetual “sword” award.
That award, however, will be passed between the two departments; whichever is the winner that year.
The scenarios went pretty smoothly, except for a minor mishap on the sheriff’s side, in which Deputy Randall Meyer broke his pinkie finger in one of the last sets. (You can imagine the nickname he earned afterwards, but good thing, he was fine, thanks to a visit with the doctor).
After the event, BPD took the time to honor a few of their SWAT team members who recently left the unit. They were Sgt. Jorge Gomez, 16 years on SWAT; Sgt. Matt Pflugh, 11 years on SWAT; Detective Mike Hale, six years with SWAT; and Detective Mark Herman, five years with the special unit.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Kern County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team also recognized two of their guys who were leaving their unit. They were: Senior Deputy Juan Trevino and Deputy Christopher Martin.
Woolard tells me that he hopes the SWAT Challenge will be the first of hopefully many years for this event. The Kern County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team will host next year’s event in October.
Congrats to BPD. I’m sure the county SWAT team is anxious for next year.

Take me out to the ballgame: Speaking of competitions, I had the opportunity to see the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series Friday. (No, not the unfortunate Game 3).
Of course, I was pretty close to canceling out — even told my husband to find a buddy of his to replace me.
The night before, I felt pretty ill and, given all the heightened attention to swine flu, I assumed my number had been called. I was coming down with the swine flu all right. That morning, things seemed to be looking worse, I thought to myself, lying in bed, moving around like I had approached the end of my time.
Meanwhile, my husband, Julio, who had taken Friday off from his busy work schedule with the Sheriff’s Department so we could attend the game, woke up bright and early ready for our planned escapade.
“C’mon, Olivia, I know how much this means to you. It’s gonna be great. You’ll feel better. Trust me.”
But I just couldn’t move.
Just think back to the 1986 John Hughes’ hit “Ferris Bueller's Day Off.”
I was Cameron Frye — Ferris’ hapless best friend who was sick in bed, feeling sorry for himself.
Of course, Ferris somehow convinces Cameron to snap out of it and go with him on an unforgettable day’s adventure.
In this case, Ferris, my husband, somehow figured out a way to get me out of bed to go to Dodgertown.
Sometimes, it’s good to listen to our spouses or best friends even when we think there’s no hope in sight for us.
It turned out that I was just sick from something I ate the day before. I felt fine by the third inning. I even found myself dancing, chanting and clapping away when the eighth inning began showing some action on the Dodgers’ side.

And by the time, the game ended, the sellout crowd was overwhelmed with happiness. Strangers gave high-fives, patted each other on the back. People smiled and look at each other with pride. Friends I had never known before surrounded me. You were right, Ferris.
Thank you for making my Friday a memorable one.

It takes a community to raise kids

It all starts in the home. That’s what I often hear when people talk about the best place to prepare our children for success.
Yes, they are right to a certain degree.
But I also believe it takes a bigger circle to guide our children, including extended relatives, our kids’ teachers, and community groups.

One great local example is the Hispanic Excellence Scholarship Fund, or HESF. A Cal State Bakersfield initiative, HESF began 25 years ago as a way to increase enrollment of Latino students at the campus and provide financial support to high-performing talent.
Their board membership is impressive: Ed Herrera, owner of Herrera Insurance Agency; Cal State President Dr. Horace Mitchell; and Arvin High School Principal Blanca Cavazos, to name a few.

I attended the recent 2009 HESF scholarship award dinner at the DoubleTree Hotel. Kern County Superintendent of Schools Christine Lizardi Frazier was the keynote speaker and shared a sincere personal story of success and handy advice for the succeeding in college.
Nearly 70 CSUB students were recognized as HESF recipients. In all, HESF awarded approximately $130,000 in scholarships this year. That deserves a special thanks to local businesses that, even in this tough economic year, found ways to support this worthy cause.
Cal State’s HESF has given more than $2 million during its span.
Wow.

People help youth in different ways. Businesses donate needed dollars. People volunteer to mentor and kids, well, help each other.

When I think about that, I think of people like Kern County Sheriff’s Department Senior Deputy Derek Brannan.
Brannan helps run the East Bakersfield Sheriff’s Activities League, which reaches children living in the surrounding neighborhoods. He gets strong volunteer support from his wife, April, and their four children, Baylee, Breaker, Beau and Birdy.

Right now, they are spreading the word about a car-wash fundraiser to be held this weekend that would benefit the East Bakersfield SAL Stars football program.
The football program is made up of three teams and reaches about 60 children, third- through seventh-graders. About eight of the players are girls.

There’s Frances, one of the sweetest girls I’ve ever met, and then there’s chatty, always happy twin girls Zulma and Cynthia. The three girls can be fierce on the playing field.
There’s also the funny and friendly Josh who, with his quiet and hard-working brother, Jaelyne, are powerful forces with the ball. And did I mention Daisjahn and Adam? Talk about talent, both on offensive and defensive lines.

I could go on since I’ve had the opportunity to meet these amazing kids. My husband, Julio, and other deputies, including Sgt. Danny Edgerly, are part of the team of coaches. My oldest two boys, Diego and Mateo, play with these youngsters, some whom they consider their good friends.
Brannan tells me the car wash money will go toward football gear (mouth pieces, socks and such), snacks, transportation (he usually transports the players to and from practice and games), laundry (washing the kids’ uniforms), and more.

The car wash will be held 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at two locations: the East Bakersfield Sheriff’s Substation, 1700 Flower St., just west of Kern Medical Center, and the Kern County Sheriff’s Department’s headquarters, 1350 Norris Road, just west of Airport Drive.
Tickets are being sold in advance. The cost is $3, cars and $5, trucks. If you want to purchase one, call Brannan at 978-6388.

Right now, two of the teams are undefeated while the oldest group has lost one game. Talk about drive, passion and inspiration.
Brannan teaches them about DRT (discipline, respect, and teamwork) and the kids respond.

I often wonder, if it were not for the football program (that requires hours of practice and game time), what would these kids be doing?
Growing up on the east side, I know it’s not the perfect place.
The sounds of drive-by shootings, the presence of gangs, and the access to drugs are part of the harsh realities. That’s not even counting living on little income and facing challenges that may exist in the homes.

So if you are looking to making a difference, here’s one program that could use some help.
Get your car washed. Volunteer for a day. Or sponsor a player.

The difference we can make in young people’s lives, well, it’s priceless.

Kern SWAT honors, new Chavez School playground

What began at 6 a.m. with a sniper briefing and ended somewhere around 6 p.m. with a precision handgun shoot had finally paid off for one group of local SWAT guys.

Among the group was my husband, Julio Garcia, a deputy with the Kern County Sheriff's Department who had been a bit worn and challenged to a new level, thanks to the recent Ventura Police Department’s 15th annual SWAT competition.
At the Ventura competition, he and our good friend, Deputy Jay Heisey, landed first place in the “Sniper Team challenge.” It was a two-man SWAT team event where both had to shoot different targets at a distance of 100 yards. The targets were about an inch in size, and each team was timed.
But they weren’t the only local winners.
The Kern County Sheriff’s SWAT team received second place in the overall team competition — the main category of the event. First place went to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. Other competing agencies were: Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo county sheriff’s departments; as well as Oxnard, Redondo Beach, Simi Valley, and Pasadena police departments.
Kern’s SWAT competition team featured my husband, and his comrades, Sgt. Drake Massey; senior deputies Dustin Downey and Larry McCurtain; and deputies Jay Heisey, Pat McIrvin and Jesse Alvarez. Alvarez was the team’s alternate.

 “I was so proud of our guys and the effort they put forth,” said Massey, who also serves as the department’s SWAT Team Leader. “The team was ecstatic with the second place finish because all the teams were extremely competitive, and it was so hard to place in the top three.”

To place in the overall team honors, SWAT teams had their scores tallied from the different categories they entered. The categories were Team/Sniper Shoot; Precision Handgun; Entry Weapon Shoot; Team Physical Fitness Course; Team Obstacle Course; and Team-building Exercise.

“It’s nice to know that KCSO SWAT can hold their own against some quality law enforcement agencies from Southern California,” added Massey. 

All eight categories required intense running and some other physically demanding event, like dragging a 165-body dummy, climbing a mountain, climbing numerous fights of stairs, shooting with gas mask, and shooting from awkward positions.

“The team had to tactically plan, strategize and stay focused for 12 hours,” Massey said. “We were beat up and totally exhausted at the end of the day.”

I guess I can forgive my husband for devoting higher-than-usual hours for SWAT training exercises in preparation for this competition.
And it was no easy feat.
Talk about being surrounded by rows of SWAT teams, all who were focused, physically fit, and shot well under extreme conditions.
But gotta give credit to Ventura Police Department for putting on a fine event.

“They put on a quality competition that was very challenging and fair,” Massey tells me. “We have developed a good relationship with Ventura and many of the proctors told us they were pulling for us to do well.”

The SWAT team is now thinking about participating in the Police Olympics next summer.

“We will be selective on entering numerous competitions during the year,” he said. “One, maybe two a year is plenty due to the fact that we do not want competitions to interfere with our numerous SWAT missions and  regular training with the remainder of our team.”

He added, “As I mentioned before, it did not matter where we finished, as long as we were professional, humble and gave 100 percent in the field of competition. Our SWAT troops did exactly that, and as their team leader, I was very proud of them.”

We all should be.

On other matters, I wanted to give special recognition to a local woman who has generously given to Cesar E. Chavez School in northeast Bakersfield.

On Monday, Chavez School is going to dedicate the new kindergarten playground equipment to Nema Traynor, and her husband, Joe.
School Principal Ruscel Reader (talk about another amazing woman) tells me that Traynor has been a major contributor since her granddaughter, Cosette, was a student of the Chavez Challengers. Cosette is now a 7th grader and on to another school.

“The current playground equipment was old,” Reader said. “Nema was out there one day, looked at the playground and says, ‘Our kids deserve more. They're good kids. They need more.’ ”

Traynor recently donated $16,000 for a new kinder playground. It features several slides, decks, climbing latter, and benches. The Chavez Booster Club also helped with installation costs.

“She’s a very humble person,” said Reader of Nema Traynor, who worked as a teacher at Mt Vernon School for many years. “She’s a good kind, generous woman. Unassuming.”

Traynor was also involved in the active Chavez Booster Club and the former Chess Club. In the past, the Traynors have given money in the past for chess scholarships, science materials and other programs.

“They’re just so giving,” Reader says. “They love kids. Just good people.”

Kern Sheriff's SWAT readies for competition

It’s 7 a.m. on a Sunday, and do you know where your Kern County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team members are?

More specifically, do I know where my husband, Deputy Garcia, is.

Actually, I do.

He and his fellow SWAT comrades — Sgt. Drake Massey; senior deputies Dustin Downey and Larry McCurtain; and deputies Jay Heisey and Pat McIrvin — have been spending their Sunday mornings, as well as many other morning and evenings, preparing for the Ventura Police Department’s 14th annual SWAT Competition to be held Monday.

They’ll be testing their skills against fellow SWAT competitors from through Southern California.
Among the participating SWAT teams: Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo county sheriff’s departments; as well as Oxnard, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Santa Monica, and Pasadena police departments.

So what’s the big deal behind this event? I decided to ask Massey, SWAT team leader for the county sheriff’s department, to fill us in:

Q: Tell us about this event.
A: This competition is an “invitation-only” situation, and it is a very popular event among SWAT teams in California. Interested SWAT teams submit an application, and Ventura PD will randomly select which teams can participate. A small amount of teams are asked back by the host agency. This was the case with our department.
Part of the “ask back” process is based on good sportsmanship in previous competitions.

Q: So it must be nice to return and show what your team can do.
A: SWAT competitions are a good thing to enter because, as with any competition, there is a level of stress, tactical planning, physical and emotional challenges.
All of these categories translate to what we have to deal with during an actual SWAT operation. Essentially, competitions are another way to practice for real life SWAT events.
In addition, there is a level of bragging rights that go along with winning.

Q: Winning is always great. Have you guys placed before?

A: I believe our best finish was second place in a 20-team event the Bakersfield Police Department hosted about five years ago. We are hoping for gold in this one.

Q:  Gold would be nice.
A: I think we are very prepared, as most of the teams will be. I have found that the team that makes the fewest mistakes is usually the winner. Unfortunately,  these events are designed for you make a lot of mistakes. I know our guys will give 100 percent effort and be totally professional. That’s all that really counts.

Q: What events are lined up for Kern’s SWAT team?
A: Team/Sniper Shoot; Precision Handgun; Entry Weapon Shoot; Team Physical Fitness Course; Team Obstacle Course; and Team-building Exercise.

Q: Sounds like a lot of tough categories. What are some scenarios?
A: It’s not standing before a target and shooting.
Every event will require of some type of physical exertion, such as running, push ups, pull ups, or going over some walls, before you can shoot.
And when you take on physical exertions, and you are rushing to beat the clock, there’s a good chance that your blood pressure will rise, your heart rate will increase, and your  adrenaline will be going. You can make a mistake if you are rushing and not focused.
For instance, one scenario may require you to shoot a (fake) hostage who has his arms around a (fake) hostage, and you’re given a small portion of the suspect’s area to shoot. If you miss, you can hit the hostage.
Another example they can put you through is, first, the physical exertion portion, followed by “shoot-and-don’t-shoot” targets. You have to think critical or you risk shooting a target that you weren’t supposed to hit.
In addition, some events will require you to use multiple guns, such as a handgun, entry rifle, and sniper rifle.

Q: So how do you train for that?
A: In our training sessions, we set up different scenarios, some where we’ve used multiple guns and shields. We’ve implemented physical exertion activities into our training, and we’ve always been in full gear, which can weigh up to 50 pounds alone.

Q: That’s dedication! You must be looking forward to the big day.
A: We are looking forward to the satisfaction of good clean competition and sportsmanship. We are hoping this competition can further sharpen some of our skill sets and make us a better team for the citizens of Kern County.
Wish us luck!