www.masbakersfield.com

Community Noticias

Keep California Beautiful Conference

Keep Bakersfield Beautiful will host the Keep California Beautiful Conference at the Kern County Museum Friday, Jan. 12.

The topic of the conference is “Addressing and Overcoming Graffiti in our Communities.”

Proud communities from all over the state will attend. 

Speakers include Rob Boyles of Keep San Jose Clean and Beautiful on San Jose’s nationally recognized anti-graffiti program; Sue Smith of Keep America Beautiful on the Graffiti Hurts curriculum; Richard Holmer from the City of Riverbank on Riverbank’s award winning anti-graffiti program; and Jesse Ayala from the city of Bakersfield on Bakersfield’s 32-ERASE program.

The president of the prestigious national organization Keep America Beautiful, Ray Empson, will attend and make a presentation.

Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall and city council members Jacquie Sullivan and Zack Scrivner will also attend.

Local sponsors for the conference are Golden Empire Managed Care Medical Group, Lee’s Printing Center, Amandi Services and Bakersfield City Employees Federal Credit Union. 

Public hearing for Lamont water rate increase

On Tuesday, Jan. 16, the Lamont Public Utilities District will hold a second public hearing to consider another rate increase for water service.

On Oct. 23, the Board of Directors rescinded an earlier rate increase due to protests from community members.

The Lamont Comités de Vecinos, Neighborhood Organizing Committees of the Dolores Huerta Foundation and concerned residents gathered on Jan. 6 to collect letters from Lamont property owners protesting the proposed increase.

In compliance with Proposition 218, “If written protests are presented by a majority of the affected property owners prior to the close of the public hearing, the proposed rate increase will be rejected.”

Vecinos members planned to walk door to door, asking neighbors to sign the letter rejecting a water rate increase.

Lamont property owners who are interested can call the Dolores Huerta Foundation at 322-3045.

‘Do the Math’ is back

After a holiday hiatus, “Do the Math” is back live on television, from 4-5 p.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Arvin, Bakersfield, Delano, Lamont, McFarland, Taft and Tehachapi on Bright House Cable Channel 15; Suddenlink Communications Channel 20 in Bakersfield; Charter Cable Channel 19 in Boron, California City, Mojave and North Edwards; Channel 46 in Rosamond; and Mediacom Cable Channel 8 in Ridgecrest.

Student callers can have math problems solved live on TV from 4 to 5 p.m., or privately over the phone by certificated mathematics instructors from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. by calling 636-4357 and toll free (866) 636-6284. The Internet is another option. By clicking the Do the Math link at: http://www.kern.org., the program can be seen live or archived past programs can be viewed.

 Developed by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office, “Do the Math” features mathematics instruction and tutoring taught to California Department of Education curriculum standards. Students watching at home or in after school programs have the opportunity to see how certificated mathematics instructors solve problems called in by viewers. The program also includes fun features and contests.

 Major support for “Do the Math” comes from the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, Panama-Buena Vista Union School District, Bakersfield City School District, Chevron, Castle and Cooke and San Joaquin Bank. Additional support is provided by Golden Empire McDonald’s Owners and Operators, Kern High School District and Russo’s Books.

 For more information, please contact Laurie Maclin, coordinator of instructional media, at 636-4763.

PG&E offers services to blind, visually-impaired customers

Blind and visually-impaired PG&E customers can now request their monthly energy bills in Braille.

PG&E’s Braille bill provides information about energy usage, billing date and payment amount. There’s also information comparing the current month’s usage to the previous month.

The Braille bill is designed as a supplement to the actual print bill and will arrive about a week later.

However, late notices as well as other legally-mandated announcements will not be part of the Braille package.

Also available to blind and visually-impaired customers are “Braille points.” These special reference marks may be attached to dials on appliances such as ovens, thermostats and other household controls.

To sign up for the Braille Bill program or to have Braille points added to items in your home, call PG&E’s customer service line at 1 (800) 743-5000. For additional information, visit PG&E’s Web site at: www.pge.com

Grant to target Hispanic enrollment at CSUB

CSUB’s Antelope Valley campus is teaming up with Antelope Valley College and CSU Fresno in a multimillion-dollar effort to increase the numbers of Hispanic engineers, teachers and business professionals in the Antelope Valley area.

The project, “Opening Pathways to College Degrees for Hispanic Students: A Comprehensive and Collaborative Approach,” is funded by a $3.5 million five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

According to a report in CSUB Today, the project will develop the infrastructure necessary to provide seamless, supportive pathways to university degrees in engineering, education and business.

These three majors were selected as the focus not only because of the critical shortages of qualified professionals in these fields, but also because Hispanics — a large  proportion of the Antelope Valley population — are underrepresented in teaching, engineering and professional business positions, the report stated.

One component of the program is that students will be mentored and monitored throughout their undergraduate educational careers to make sure they are on the right path. An outreach position will be created to work with high school counselors for recruitment. Any new and existing students may participate.

Funding will also provide the institutions with supplies, computer labs and faculty training and workshops.


“Give and Go” blood drive at CSUB

Give blood at any Houchin Blood Bank between Jan. 15–20 and receive a voucher good for 2 tickets to a Runner basketball game at the Rabobank Arena.
The two games will be  Jan. 18, CSUB vs. Sonoma State; and Jan. 20, CSUB vs. Humboldt State.

Sponsors for the blood drive include Lebeau Thelen; 1410 KERN News Talk Radi;, Houchin Blood Bank; and Mercy and Memorial Hospitals.

— Community News items compiled by MÁS staffer Isaac Rocha