the bakersfield voice

Shannon, my 21-year-oldunexpectedly needed a parentweekend so I got to spend theday with her bumming aroundBakersfield. We had a blast withsome planned activities,including Beaux’s first birthdayand shopping at the AmericanAssociation of UniversityWomen’s holiday bazaar —butwe had an unexpectedly won-derful time while cruising theValley Plaza.

Impact Streetwear hosted afundraising event for the Jami-son Children’s Center, a place that provides “chil-dren who need emergency shelter and protection a

safe, warm and nurturing environment."Artists from all over town sat down to make mas-

terpieces of TOMS shoes purchased from the store.We watched as shoes evolved from the down-homeTOMS casual shoes to treasures — all for free!

We bought a pair for my niece Claire while Belis-ario Dena, a self-proclaimed graffiti artist, drew themost amazing four-leaf clover on our Irish-dancelover’s pair of flats.

With every purchase of a pair, TOMS will give apair to a child in need throughout the world. Adozen designed pairs were auctioned off to benefitJamison, the facility where many of my studentshave found themselves when their lives temporarilyunraveled.

Hours of entertainment and goodwill were had byall who attended.

Need more ideas for fun in Bakersfield?Go no further than your closest high school.

Recently, mine hosted a stunning football game, andthe following day, West High School hosted a bandcompetition featuring more than 1000 local musi-cians.

If you haven’t been to a band competition, get outthere and see one. They frequently start with juniorhigh schools and end the afternoon or evening withlocal and out-of-town bands doing incredibly com-plex field shows by amazingly skilled musicians.

Missed marching season? Catch a drum line com-petition in the winter. It doesn’t get better than thechoreography and skills of our local kids.

No money? Watch local kids compete in basket-ball, soccer, or wrestling. Fabulous small — andlarge — parks are spattered all over the map that fea-ture playground equipment, green grass, and a guar-anteed good time.

Bakersfield (and anywhere else) is what you makeof it. There’s plenty to enjoy here.

Peggy Dewane-Pope is a teacher in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District.

2 The Bakersfield Voice Sunday, December 5, 2010

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Y O U R S P O R T S Y O U R C E L E B R A T I O N S

F R O M T H E B L O G S

hate Bakersfield; there’s nothing to do,” Joseph complained in school recently.Madi chimed in, “I want to move to the beach.” Sure, we all experience the negatives on occasion including the dirty diaper left bysome thoughtless soul but if people are bored here, frankly, they’ll be bored every-

where (and one can find littered diapers in any city!).

Y O U R S C H O O L S

“IBakersfield is what you make it — there’s plenty to enjoy here!

FROM WWW.MYBAKERSFIELDSPORTS.COMrom swim lessons to com-petitive swimming, the Bak-ersfield Swim Club providesa natural progression forkids from 6 months to 18

years of age.“We’re in our fourth year, and

we’ve gone from 30 kids in a pri-vate outdoor pool that first year tomore than 400 taking swim lessonsthis past summer in a privateindoor pool,” said William Bur-rows, Swim School Director andAge Group Coach. “We have about150 kids who swim competitivelyfor us in the winter months, andanother 250 to 300 in the summermonths.

“We’re already seeing the resultsfrom kids who started taking swimlessons here four years ago and arenow swimming competitively forus. You can really tell the differencebetween those who started withlessons here and those who didn’t.”

All of the Bakersfield Swim Clubinstructors are CPR, first aid andlife guard trained, and in additionthey each undergo a 30-day in-house training program. There isan EMT on the premises consis-tently.

“Safety is the number one issuewhen it comes to lessons, and thenwe graduate to stroke techniquefor the competitive side of it,” Bur-rows said. “We keep a very smallclass base, with only three kids perclass, so that each can receive indi-vidual instruction.”

Competitively, the teams arebased on skill level for kids six to18. Once a kid can swim the fourcompetitive strokes (freestyle,backstroke, breast stroke and but-terfly), they can try out for a com-petitive team. We compete here inthe Central Valley against similarclubs under the USA Swimmingumbrella.”

The short-course winter seasongoes from the beginning of schoolto March, followed by a champi-onship meet in March, while thelong-course summer season runsfrom late March until August, fol-

lowed by another championshipmeet.

Burrows said that many of theclub’s older swimmers have collegescholarships in their sights.

“That’s a huge factor in every-thing we do,” Burrow said. “Severalof our swimmers are now swim-ming competitively in collegesacross the nation and some haveadvanced to the Olympic Trials.Gabe Woodward was a 2004Olympics bronze medalist, whileLarson Jensen won the silvermedal in both the 2004 and 2008Olympics.”

F FROM WWW.MYBAKERSFIELDSPORTS.COM

he Bakersfield Infernowent undefeated (5-0)in the 14U division overthe Thanksgiving week-

end to take the 1st annualTurkey shootout hosted thisyear by the Bakersfield Rebelsat the Northwest BakersfieldComplex at Sam Lynn Ball-park.

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Blogger loses ‘Faith,’ discoversthe power of a mustard seedFROM USERNAME: SONFLOWERANDGRACE

lost my Faith this morning. Ilooked everywhere, praying allthe while: “Lord, help me findit.”After doubling back, fretting

and looking once again, I tried theone place I hadn’t.

I was sure it could not be there.However, there behind the washingmachine, looking up at me, satFaith.

Faith is my chicken.That aside, I could easily see the

lesson God had planned for metoday.

Faith sometimes seems to eludeus. Whether we are consumed bydepression or anxiety — or whether

we allow financial hardship to getus down. Maybe someone we lovehas disappointed us

Or maybe someone we careabout is sick or dying. Maybe we aresick or dying.

Jesus told us that faith the size ofa mustard seed can move moun-tains. Imagine what faith the size ofa mountain can accomplish!

In the thick of torment from boilsupon his body, Job did not losefaith. He was heartbroken over thelosing his loved ones — and hisfinancial empire was in ruins, butstill, he did not lose faith. We knowthis, because he cried out to God.

Faith, the size of a mustard seedallowed him to see God to cry out

to.Thankfully, that in our darkest

hours, God remains faithful.Matthew 17:20 — He replied,

“Because you have so little faith. Itell you the truth, if you have faithas small as a mustard seed, you cansay to this mountain, ‘Move fromhere to there’ and it will move.Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Do YOU have something you’dlike to blog about? Submitting yourstories,blogs,events or photos forThe Bakersfield Voice is simple andFREE! Just go to: www.bakersfield-voice.com,create a free profile,andget started today!

I

BY CHRISTINE GRONTKOWSKICommunity contributor

re you looking for a rewarding way to giveback to the community this holiday season?The National Multiple Sclerosis Society,Southern California & Nevada Chapter islooking for volunteers and/or donations to

make gift baskets for people with multiple sclerosis(MS) involved in the Caring Connection program.

Every week, through the Caring Connection pro-gram, volunteers visit people with MS who are livingin a licensed care facility, or are homebound andunable to go out into the community.

This friendly visitor program helps provide a con-nection to the outside world, emotional support,companionship and social interaction.

During the holiday season, the National MS Societytries to do even more — by delivering gift baskets tothis group. Some items on their wish list: DVDs, books,holiday decorations and personal hygiene products.

“I think the baskets are very important because somany people living with MS are isolated,” explainsBoard of Trustee Lisa Karpe. “Many do not have anyChristmas at all. No gift is too small.”

If you or someone you know would like to sponsor aperson with MS by creating a gift basket for him or her,

or if you would like to donate any products, pleasecontact the Kern County office of the National MSSociety at 321-9512, or email: christine.grontkows-ki@nmss.org.

A

Y O U R C E L E B R A T I O N S !

PROVIDED PHOTO

Young club swimmers having fun showing their medals they won in swimcompetitions.

BakersfieldInferno takeTurkeyshootout!

Year-round swim club appealsto many ages and skill levels

PEGGYDEWANE-POPEEducation columnist

PHOTO BY PEGGY DEWANE-POPE

Belisario Dena recently helped Impact Streetwear raise$1,200 for charity.

National MS Society is looking forvolunteers to spread holiday cheer!

PROVIDED PHOTO

The current lineup includes (from L to R): Back row coaches JerryRamos,Ted Bischoff and Mike Gray. Middle row: Chris Rodriquez,NateClark, Tyson Hays, Tino Nunez,Drew Bischoff,Chris Villegas, Matt Tiede.Front row kneeling: Josh Hernandez, Tyson Hooks, Isaac Ramos, A.J.Grayand Brycin Hernandez.

FROM WWW.MYBAKERSFIELDSPORTS.COM

he Stockdale High SchoolFrosh/Soph volleyballteam completed a per-fect season by winningevery match in all four

tournaments — and alsogoing undefeated in league.

The girls worked very hardthrough out the season, andrepresented Stockdale Highwith pride, a “Never Give Up”attitude, and great sports-manship.

Great job girls!

Stockdale HighFrosh/Soph Volleyballcompletes a perfectseason!

PROVIDED PHOTO

Pictured front row left to right are: Valerie Din #7, Gabby Reynolds #3,Hannah Cooper #9, Macie Folger #10, Alexxus Johnson #12. Top Row leftto right are: Head Coach Corrine Gann, Priscilla Mariscal #4, BrookeDillingham # 8, Toria Siemens # 5, Kailyn Mahoney #13, Amanda Dixon #2,Julia Sawaya #11, Lynnette Pola #14, and Asst. Coach Andria Carlson

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4 The Bakersfield Voice Sunday, December 5, 2010