Uncategorized

One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern

By Etelvina Castillo

One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern is a project for the community and it encourages people to read and share their thoughts on a single book. This year the chosen book for the community was The International Bank of Bob written by Bob Harris. The book focuses on microloans that are given to people in developing countries and is based off of Kiva loans. As one of the students who participated in the event said, “This book is eye opening, it shows you what the media doesn’t.”

Kiva loans are micro financing loans. Anyone can go to kiva.com and donate money, for example, $25 which will be loaned to someone in a developing country. Blanca who is 52-year-old women with four children moved from Argentina to Fiji with the help of Kiva loans. That is a big cultural shock. The person who receives the Kiva loans will eventually pay the money back and at any moment can get another loan.

Taft College showcased an event for students in English 1000 that read The International Bank of Bob. Kamala Carlson’s, Danielle Kerr’s, and Mark Olsen’s students worked in teams to present the research they did on two developing countries. The students were judged by local educators such as Dr. Dena Maloney who is the Superintendent/President of Taft College.

Meagan Arnold and Debbie Garcia

All the students had a board that they created based on their research. One group of students I got to speak to compared Fiji and India. The two girls, Meagan Arnold and Debbie Garcia, had a beautiful board that compared Fiji and India with one another, and it explained how Kiva Loans can help people in developing countries such as in Fiji or India. An example of a person the girls researched who received Kiva loans would be of Durlabh who is a 48-year-old women from India. She wants to a toilet because she has never had a toilet of her own. Kiva loans made it possible for Durblabh to buy a toilet for her and her family.

Deacon Norton and Jose Ramirez

Jose Ramirez and Deacon Norton were also a group of students who did research on two different developing countries. They explained how the book was eye opening to them and that most people have the ability to make something out of their lives but they don’t have the resources. For Jose and Deacon this is a book that they would definitely recommend because as Norton said, “This book shows you stuff the media doesn’t project.”

All the participants including the judges seem to have had a great time. The event was informative and very educational.

Students and Faculty for Bob Harris

The International Bank of Bob

By Alberto Muro

Every year the schools in Kern County come together thanks to the One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern program, a project designed to encourage the community to experience the same book.

The Icardo Center

Currently, students all over Kern County are engaged in the story The International Bank of Bob by Bob Harris which tells the story of a former television writer who had an epiphany to help people in under developed countries with microloans.

On October 28^th, Cal State University of Bakersfield hosted an event welcoming Bob Harris to the Icardo Center.

Dr. Emerson Case

First, Dr. Emerson Case of the Department of English gave an informative speech about the book program that contributes to CSUB readers by stating, “The Runner Reader Program is part of the CSUB curriculum.”

After Emerson spoke, he then introduced CSUB President Horace Mitchell to the podium, and he was given a warm welcome as students from CSUB applauded.

Horace Mitchell was brief with his speech and mentioned, “This is our 9^th year hosting an event in which an author visits the campus.”

Next, Bob Harris was introduced to the podium, and students greeted him with flash photography from their devices and a round of applause.

Bob Harris wasted no time talking to students about his journeys to other countries and experiencing the hardships that people endure. Harris also mentioned that despite his success as a television writer and notable guest on the game show Jeopardy, he had an epiphany to use his fortune and loan it out.

Harris’ spoke of a single mother in Rwanda by the name of Jackie. Harris said, “She lived in a rundown home, lacked education, but that didn’t prevent her from helping her family.”

Bob

Another notable encounter was when Ben Harris visited a store owner in Beirut by the name of Hassan. Now Hassan lost his shop in a bombing by Israeli forces, and he was able to maintain a calm stance when he said, “You love more, you win”.

As Bob Harris was reaching the end of his segment, he gave students advice for a successful life. His advice was, “Challenge yourself, challenge your beliefs, practice creativity, and practice critical thinking”.

Bob signing books

After Harris concluded his speech, he then announced that there would be a book signing and encouraged students to take “selfies” which was then followed by a stampede of students rushing to get his signature.

Holiday Poinsettias

One thing I forgot to mention, you can email, call me or drop by my office  and I will take your order.

Paula Patterson

Transition Specialist Assistant

Taft College, Transition to Independent Living Program

29 Cougar Court

Taft, CA 93268

661-763-7848

ppatterson@taftcollege.edu

Dreams Becoming Reality: World Records

Wild Ride

World Records has a large selection of CDs and vinyl.

Pat Evans and wife Bonnie

On Saturday, Oct. 31, Pat Evans, owner of World Records, celebrated the groundbreaking on The Dream Theater.

This project has been in the works for a few years with the actual work to convert his current record store in music venue located at 2815 “F” Street in Bakersfield.

Evans stated, “We were just going to move the record store and not make a big deal of it, but a band contacted us and wanted to play at our store. I had to go with it.” Wild Ride, a band from Los Angeles and the Winner Album of the Year Ventura County Music Awards 2015 played in front of the store Saturday morning.

Inside the soon to be moved store to make room for the theater, Bruce Jones helps a patron.

When asked what he was going to do with the music store while the construction is going on, Evans explained the store is moving down two doors in the shopping center and will conduct business there during the renovations for the theater.

World Records has been in existence since the 1980s founded by Evans and his friend Scott Schwebel with the motto of “Where Music Matters Most.” The No Stinkin’ Service Charge Blues Series and the Bakersfield Blues Fest have been sponsored by the business over the years.

Wanting to have more control and create a proper venue for concerts, Evans came up with the idea to have his own theater instead of having to use local spots to hold the concerts. That dream is now on its way to fruition. the construction is expected to be completed in the next 6 to 9 months.

With help from his patrons, music fans, and Bruce Jones, who manages the store and plays the drums, the dream is coming a reality. Music fans can’t wait for the music to start up again this time in a venue they helped create.

Bruce Jones mans the counter.

Pat Evans in the new World Records Loft located two doors down from the existing store.

The Blues Series featured over 80 shows with performers such as Ray Mansarek of the Doors with Roy Rogers, Little Charlie and Night Cats now Rick Estrin and the Night Cats, Elvin Bishop, Guitar Shorty, Tab Benoit, Robin Ford, and many other major league blues musicians from around the country.

Chancellor Brice Harris

By Ashley Renteria

Chancellor Brice Harris has been an advocate for the success of students and California community colleges for years.  Harris was elected to state chancellorship in 2012 and plans to retire in April of 2106.

This year at Taft’s West Kern Petroleum Summit, Chancellor Harris was a key speaker. He spoke about California’s community college system and what it really means to go to a community college.

At the summit Chancellor Harris offered many interesting statistics about community colleges. One in fourteen adults are enrolled in community college, but if students are unprepared their success rate drops 40%.

Harris and the Board of Governors established a goal to increase the total number of community college completions by nearly a quarter million students over the next 10 years. This new program is designed to help students succeed. The estimated rates of students who succeed in a junior college to transfer to a university are 5,000 within the first 2 years, 12,000 in 3 years and 21,000 in 4 years.

“Under Harris’ leadership, the California Community Colleges implemented the Student Success Initiative, which is helping students have an easier time registering for the classes they need, developing education plans, accessing support services, completing college orientation programs, earning degrees and transferring to four-year institutions. Nearly 2,000 new Associate Degrees for Transfer, which guarantee entry to California State University, are now available, and community colleges are working with University of California on streamlined transfer,” according to Geoffrey L. Baum, president of the Board of Governors for the California Community Colleges.

Chancellor Brice Harris is determined to help students succeed in attending a California community college. Harris explained that the number of students enrolled in a California community college dropped from 2.6 million to 2.4 million from the 2008-2009 school year to the 2012-2013 school year.

The goal is to increase California’s competitiveness in school and the work force and help students get a job in the field they studied and love.

Third Annual Halloween Baseball Scrimmage

Student players in costume

By Michael Clites

Thursday, October 29^th was a day dedicated to Taft College’s third annual Halloween Costume Baseball Scrimmage. The scrimmage was between current TC baseball players and their coaches and alumni. This may have been one of the more entertaining baseball games that TC baseball fans have ever witnessed.

The costumes ranged from humorous to scary to quite questionable. There were clowns, greasers, classic horror film killers, and even a swollen up Violet Blueberry from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

But players in the game didn’t seem phased at all by their attire. As a matter of fact, they seemed to have cared less about their costumes.

Players were stealing bases and sliding for safety, dirtying up their once clean and fresh costumes. Even when it came to hitting, all players seemed to connect with the ball even with there was wig hair in their eyes or fake zombie blood mixed with sweat dripping into their eyes.

Baby tagged out by sandwich

This event proves once again that it isn’t about what you wear or how good you look during a game, but about the will to win behind the mask. The costume game is much more than just another TC sporting event. It gives coaches and players the chance to kick their cleats up and have some good fun with their fellow teammates.

Mustard meets the sandwich

Overall, it is safe to say that the costume game is a way to take a break from the competitive part of the sport and just worry about having fun.

Wild Ride to Perform in Bakersfield

Chance to Get Published

Taft College Community,

If you or someone you know is a writer, please consider submitting your original work for consideration in Issue 6 of A Sharp Piece of Awesome, the annual publication of the Taft College Literary Magazine Club. Although this publication is edited by students, they endeavor to put out the best issue out they can each year, and they will consider for publication submissions by anyone.

The submission deadline is November 15. A call for submissions, designed by students in the club, is attached. Please forward to others.

Geoffrey Dyer
Taft College Literary Magazine Club Faculty Advisor

 Call For Submissions 2015 (1)

Important Announcement from Board President

Please see Board President Billy White’s important announcement.

Shelley Klein

Assistant to the President

West Kern Community College District/Taft College

29 Cougar Court

Taft CA 93268

661-763-7711

Announcement from Board President Billy White

Greasers and Ghosts and Comics, Oh My!

By Ashley Renteria

On Wednesday October 28th, Taft College’s ASB held a costume contest in the quad at noon. Students and faculty were encouraged to dress up and join in the festivities. Several members of the faculty dressed up with some friends for a themed group while some flew solo and entered the contest themselves.

Three costume groups showed up in impressive costumes and makeup of Batman and friends, Ghostbusters and the Pink Ladies and T- Birds from Grease.

The Pink Ladies and Greasers

Ghostbusters with Joe’ll Chaidez as Slimmer

Solo entrees were Batman, Pumpkin Head, Sandy from Grease, Beetlejuice and Cleopatra who is soccer coach Myisha Cutrona’s daughter.

Pumpkin Head

Batman

Beetlejuice

Cleopatra

Each member and group had the opportunity to do a runway walk, dance or showcase a talent for the judges.

Music was playing and contestants were laughing and interacting while the judges made their tough decision of who the group and individual winners would be.

Beetlejuice was the individual winner of the costume contest and won a goodie bag with a gift card while the greasers from Grease won the group portion of the contest. They won a gift basket filled with goodies.

Beetlejuice wins for individual

The Pink Ladies and the Greasers