10-year-old needs match for marrow transplant

Submitted by Lisa Krch on Wed, 2010-03-17 15:39

Houchin Blood Bank is inviting the community out to support a family whose son needs a marrow transplant.

Rhome Simpkins is 10 years old and was born with Wiskott-Aldrich Disease. It's a very rare blood disease that affects the immune system and platelets.

Rhome suffers from infections that have attacked his eyes and the only cure is a marrow/blood stem cell transplant. He's been on the transplant list for four years with no match.

Could you be a match? Find out on Saturday, March 20th at Houchin Blood Bank, 5901 Truxtun Avenue. The event will be held from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

You can join the marrow registry in three steps: watch a short video, complete a health history questionnaire and swab your cheeks. There are no needles involved.

 

Filed Under:
0

Wal-Mart Supercenter opens off Gosford Road

Submitted by Cory Smith on Wed, 2010-03-17 09:24

The Wal-Mart Supercenter at Gosford and Pacheco roads opened Wednesday morning.

This is the second Supercenter to open within the last year. The city's first Supercenter opened in October off Panama Lane and Highway 99.

Both Supercenters were approved for construction by the Bakersfield City Council in 2002, but lawsuits from environmental groups halted construction.

Like the Panama Lane Supercenter, this one offers a full-line grocery section.

Officials announced last month that the store would have about 500 employees.

Filed Under:
0

Shoplifter accused of punching Kohl's employee

Submitted by Cory Smith on Tue, 2010-03-16 17:04

Bakersfield police are looking for a woman suspected of hitting a Kohl's employee during a shoplifting episode.

The woman allegedly shoved stolen merchandise in her purse Feb. 15 at the Kohl's on Gosford Road. When an employee confronted her in the parking lot, the woman allegedly punched the employee several times and sped away with two other women.

Police released surveillance photos of the suspect and her alleged accomplices Wednesday in an effort to identify them and capture the suspect. They were seen driving a silver 2007 Toyota Camry.

Anyone with information regarding the identity of any of these women is asked to call police at (661) 326-3873.

Filed Under:
1

Roller derby invitational rolls into town

Submitted by Lisa Krch on Mon, 2010-03-15 18:05

The Derby Revolution of Bakersfield announces the Dustbowl Invitational. There will be 10 teams here in town for two days of hard hitting, action packed roller derby.

Teams from all over California and Arizona will be participating. The event is March 27th and 28th at the Saunders Rec Facility, 3300 Palm Street.

There will be vendors and food and a portion of the proceeds are benefiting Children's Miracle Network. Tickets range from $15 to $30 dollars. Kids five and under are free.

For more information, check out their website: www.dustbowl.derbyrevolution.com.

Filed Under:
0

Featured Businesses

The Baby Brigade
A Place For New Beginnings

St. Paddy's Day Bash features female Celtic trio

Submitted by Carol Ferguson on Mon, 2010-03-15 18:01

Get in the St. Patrick's Day spirit, with a concert featuring Bakersfield's female Celtic trio -- Banshee in the Kitchen.

The "St. Paddy's Day Bash" will be Wednesday, March 17 at River Valley Community Church at 5131 Office Park Drive.  The event even includes free refreshments.

Banshee will be joined by the Irish session players from Dagney's Coffee Company for the special music fest.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.

Tickets cost $10 for adults, and kids under 12 are free.

Organizers say the concert will be family-friendly, and be part jam, part lesson in traditional Irish music.

Tickets are available at the Arts Council of Kern at 2000 K Street, or at the door.

For more information, call the Arts Council at 324-9000.

 

 

Filed Under:
0

CSUB gets big donation from Chevron

Submitted by John Dabkovich on Mon, 2010-03-15 11:26

Cal State Bakersfield has accepted a $500, 000 donation from Chevron.

The money will be used to help support the STEM program.  The goal of the program is to recruit and train students for jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The program also gives students hands-on research experience.

“The way you learn science is not by reading about science but by doing science,” says Dr. Julio Blanco, CSUB Dean of Natural Science and Mathematics. 

“It’s absolutely critical for companies like Chevron to have a steady pipeline of young engineers and scientists in all the places we do business so we are always looking for effective ways to stimulate that interest,” says Bruce Johnson, Vice President of San Joaquin Valley Chevron North America Exploration and Production Company.

Filed Under:
0

Teen dies in weekend rollover crash

Submitted by Cory Smith on Mon, 2010-03-15 10:13

A 16-year-old boy died Sunday when he crashed on Highway 99.

Antonio Ceja, of Bakersfield, was driving by himself in a 2002 Volkswagen Beetle when, for an unknown reason, about 3:45 a.m. he allowed the car to veer off the roadway and overturn several times.

His car slammed into the support pillars for the Wible Road overcross, and he was declared dead at the scene, according to the California Highway Patrol and the Kern County coroner's office.

No other details of the crash were provided.

Filed Under:
1

Postal inspectors offering consumer protection help

Submitted by Cory Smith on Thu, 2010-03-11 18:54

Postal inspectors will be at the Stockdale Post Office, 5501 Stockdale Highway, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday to provide the public with consumer protection information.

The United States Postal Service and other agencies are participating in the 12th Annual National Consumer Protection Week. This year's theme -- Dollars & Sense: Rated "A" for All Ages -- highlights the importance of using good consumer sense at every stage of life, from grade school to retirement, according to a United States Postal Inspection Service news release.

In recognition of NCPW 2010, the Postal Inspection Service and its partners are promoting free resources to help people protect their privacy, manage money and debt, avoid identity theft, understand credit and mortgages, and steer clear of frauds and scams.

Filed Under:
0

Congressman accepting internship applications

Submitted by Cory Smith on Tue, 2010-03-09 11:46

Congressman Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, announced Tuesday that his office is accepting summer internship applications.

Applicants must possess good writing and computer skills, be at least a junior in college by the fall term and have a minimum 3.0 grade point average, according to a news release. Preference will be given to residents of California's 22nd Congressional District, which includes most of Kern and San Luis Obispo counties and part of Los Angeles County, but all applications will be considered.

Summer interns are responsible for their expenses, including transportation and lodging costs, but will receive a $1,500 stipend, before taxes. The summer Congressional Internship program is generally a six-week session.

Filed Under:
0

Bakersfield Relay For Life

Submitted by Missy Pirtle on Tue, 2010-03-09 10:59

Relay For Life team captain's meeting is coming up Saturday, March 13. It's set for 10am to 12pm at The Chevron Building, located at 9525 Camino Media.

This event is open anyone wanting to start a team. For More information you can call (661) 862-5433 or e-mail bakersfieldrelay@gmail.com.

Filed Under:
0