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February 21, 2008 • Volume 2 Issue 34www.taftindependent.com

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IndependentThe TaftIndependent“Serving the West Kern County Community”

Also Inside: • Westside Watcher, News Briefs, Calendar, Faith and Family, Horoscopes, and Check Out Our Website At www.taftindependent.com

Opal Smith ...The Jewel of Taft

98 year-old Opal Smith has lived in Taft since 1920.Join her and The Taft Independent on a trip down memory lane, page 8

By John LaConte

Opal Smith receives a kiss on the cheek from Jacob Bryant, a young man she describes as one of her best friends in Taft

2 TAFT INDEPENDENT February 21, 2008

Paid for by Taxpayers for Thompson, 521 Alpine St., Taft, CA. 93268

February 21, 2008 TAFT INDEPENDENT 3

From The Publisher.........3

Calendar.......................... 3 Westside Watcher............ 4

Community Voices.......... 4

News Briefs.....................5 King’s Corner..................7

Taft College Goes ToWashington D.C...............8

Charlie’s Neighborhood..7

Faith & Family.............. 11

Horoscopes ....................12

Classified Ads ...............13

Inside Calendar

The Taft Independent

The Taft Independent is a locally owned and published community newspaper. It is a free weekly publi-cation available at business and street distribution newspaper stands on the Westside of Kern County. Mail deliv-ery of the Taft Independent is avail-able for $6.00 per month or $66.00 per year. To receive mail delivery, please call 765-6550 to subscribe.

PublisherMichael J. Long

[email protected]

Editor John LaConte

[email protected]

Associate EditorDan Peterson

Layout & DesignIndependent Graphics

Printing Castle Print and Publication

Contributing Writers Melissa Gonzales

Steve Wright, Karri Christensen,Jennifer Bowling

Wesley Morris, Fred Gruber, Andrew Baker, Charlie

Circulation ManagersTom and Lois Mayo

Member California Newspaper Publishers Association Printed in California

Locally & Independently owned since 2006

www.Taftindependent.com

Taft Chamber Sit and Sip Wednesday, February 27

The Taft Chamber of Com-merce will hold its weekly Sit and Sip meeting on Wednesday, February 27 at 9 a.m. at Joe’s Restaurant on Kern Street. Cost is $10 for breakfast.

Westside Friends of the Library To Hold Used Book Sale March 5th and 6th

The Westside Friends of the Li-brary will hold a Used Book Sale at the Taft Branch Library, 27 Emmons Park Drive on Thurs-day, March 6, 5 to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, March 7 and 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Assemblywoman Jean Fuller Office Hours in Taft March 5th

Staff from Assemblywoman Fuller’s office will be on hand at the Taft Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, March 5th from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. To sched-ule an appointment, please call 395-2995.

West Side Recreation and Park District Offers Several Community Sport Activities

The West Side Recreation Dis-trict are offering several youth and adult activities this Spring.Babe Ruth BaseballAges 13-15Registration Jan. 7 - March 13,call 763-4246Practice Starts in April

Doubles Horseshoe Tourn.Saturday, February 23, 9 a.m.Registration Jan. 7 - Feb. 21$25 per team, 763-4246

Instructional T-BallBoys and Girls Ages 3-5Practice begins April 14, 5 p.m.Registration Feb. 19 - Apr. 3$25 per player - T-shirt Included763-4246

For more information on these and other West Side Rec. activi-ties call Les Clark at 763-4246 or email [email protected].

Taft Soroptimist’s Hold Raffle for Critical Care Transportation Project on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th

The Taft Soroptimist Club is sponsoring a raffle for a $500 Shamrock Wreath on Monday, March 17th at the Historic Fort St. Patrick’s Day Dinner. Tickets are now available at All-In-The-Sandwich, Jack’s Flowers Shop, K.C. Photography and from any Soroptimist member. Win-ner need not be present to win. Proceeds benefit the Soroptimist Critical Care Transportation and other service projects.

Taft Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament Set for Saturday, May 17

The Taft Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, May 17 at Bue-na Vista Golf Course. For more information call the Chamber at 765-2165.

Please e-mail your calendar items to [email protected] or fax to 765-6556.

Dave Gill, Owner763-4420 or 763-1389317 Main Street. Taft,

CA 93268

PRECiSiOn BODywORkS

AnD TOwinGtues.-fri. 10:00-5:30 sAt. 10:00-4:00

370 CALIFORNIA 769-8580

fABriC • NotioNs • Gifts

MARICOpA QuILt COMpANy

Beginning Sewing And Quilting classes starting on March 6th. Call or come in and register now.

Paik’sRanch House Restaurant

“Where Everybody Meets”

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Open 7 Days

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat. 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.Sun, Wed, Fri. 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

765-6915

200 Kern Street, Taft, Ca.

What Are You Reading?The enigmatic architect Frank Lloyd Wright was born in Wisconsin two

years after the Civil War ended, while Emerson, Longfellow, Meville, and Whitman were still living, yet Wright’s early organic designs may put his style more in our own time than in that of his birth.

Two new books address an important but frequently overlooked event in Wright’s

life which may well have affected his later architectural style. On August 15, 1914, Wright’s paramour of 10 years, her two young children, and four aspiring architects and workmen were savagely murdered at Taliesin, the home and studio Wright was building for himself, Mamah Borthwick Cheney, and students of his organic architecture.

William R. Drennan’s Death in a Prairie House: Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Murders is an intriguing, well researched chronicle of the Wright-Cheney affair, the horrific murders, and their effect on Wright even after his death in 1959. An exciting text is supported by photographs, newspaper clippings, detailed notes, and a comprehensive bibliography supporting Drennan’s observations. From Wright’s meddlesome mother who took credit for his genius to the surviving daughter who had his body disinterred from its resting place with Borthwick, the extensive family involvement in Wright’s life and death is succinctly reviewed in meticulously researched detail. Sometimes truth is, indeed, stranger than fiction.

Nancy Horan’s Loving Frank: A Novel is a fictional biography of the little-known woman for whom Wright had left his wife and six children and jeopardized his career, the woman beside whom he had asked to be buried even though he had long since remarried. Remarkably little is known about Mamah Borthwick Cheney, the educated suffragist and translator who, with her children, was one of the unfortunate victims of the Taliesin massacre. In the style of an anthropologist, Horan has taken the few known bits and pieces of Borthwick’s life and created a credible character who, like Wright, made enormous sacrifices for love.

Wright is an artist remembered for his works rather than for his life, yet his was a life that spanned two centuries and huge national and global changes. Wright’s was a life of incredible personal and professional achievements, setbacks, and triumphs. Read Death in a Prairie House for an intimate account of the architect and the effects of a horrendous crime on his work. Read Loving Frank for an equally intimate, though imagined, biography of the paramour whose remarkable life and death illustrate global cultural changes for women. Read both books for different perspectives on events that hardly seem to have occurred 100 years ago.

Check it out: Taft College Library is open to the public. Email [email protected] for information about our developing Friends group.

Dr. Mimi Collins


Westside Watcher

Westside Restaurant

GuideMexican Food

La Salsa Fresh GrillThe Best Mexican Food

Open 7 Days 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

101 E. Kern Street. Taft765-7321

American Food

Paik’s Ranch HouseWhere Everybody Meets

Breakfast, Lunch and DinnerOpen 7 Days

Mon. Tues. Thur. Sat. 6 a.m. - 9p.mSun. Wed. Fri. 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.765-6915 200 Kern St. Taft

Tumbleweed Café and SteakhouseSteak, Seafood, Wild Game, Full Bar

Monday – Friday 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.Saturday – Sunday 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Dinner Hours Friday and Saturday 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Bar Open 7 a.m. to Close24870 Highway 33, Derby Acres

768-4655

Deli and Coffee House

All In The SandwichFull Service Deli – Always Fresh

Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.Friday 10 a.m. 3 p.m.700 Kern Street Taft

765-4143

Taft Crude Coffee HouseCoffee House and Deli

Monday – Friday 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.Saturday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sundays 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.1010 6th Street, Taft

763-5156

Have Your Restaurant Advertised Here!Call 765-6550

“Your Official Guide to the Best Restaurants on the Westside”

The Wildlands Conservancy hosted a celebration of 100,000

children served at the Wind Wolves Preserve October 11. The

conservancy has now provided free outdoor education programs to

over 100,000 children.

Located just outside of Maricopa off highway 166, the Wind Wolves

preserve is the largest nonprofit wildlife preserve on the west coast

and is home to elk, deer, bear, antelope, mountain lions, bobcats,

golden eagles, and other birds of prey.

The event was attended by Fourth District Supervisor Ray Watson

along with representatives from the Wildlands Conservancy.

Abandoned Vehicle of the Week

Three’s a charm at the old railroad property in downtown Taft. Redevelopment, restore or recycle, you pick. These guys won’t attract any new car dealers to town anytime soon.

News Briefs

Luxury Lexus in South Taft. It really hurts to see this beauty sitting unwanted and unloved. Any takers?

Community Voices is a public affairs forum offered by the Taft Independent. We will accept up to 750 words, a photograph and a brief bio of the author. All submissions are subject to editing and become the property of the Independent. Submissions must contain the author’s name, address and phone number for confirmation purposes. Submissions can made by US Mail or e-mailed to [email protected].

If there is any book that should be enjoyed by the chil-dren of the Taft College Child Care Center, it’s Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends. Unveiled in 2006, the Taft College Child Care Center is one of the gems of the Westside community. It allows working parents to take their children to a place that’s safe and inviting, while providing a excellent train-

ing center for students interested in pursuing a career working with children. The new facility, a remarkable upgrade from the single room modular that for-merly housed the child care cen-ter, has classrooms, several offic-es, a kitchen with stainless steel stoves and coolers, supply closets, a janitorial room, two large bath-rooms, modernized observation

rooms with two way glass to ensure parents or observers’ presence is not revealed, a comfortable staff lounge . . . but no sidewalk in front of the building. Taft Public Works Director Marty Jones is still quite new to the job (he took over for Gary Dabbs following Dabbs’ December 31 retirement), but says the earliest the community will see concrete in front of the landmark building is mid-April. “All of our concrete work will start to take place about mid-

April, when we get a break in the weather,” said Mr. Jones. That doesn’t necessarily mean con-crete will begin being poured on that particular site at that time, however, said Jones. “We’ll have to look at our plan and make sure that it qualifies with everything we’re doing here . . . I was told there was some kind of plan to mitigate the lack of concrete

Where the Sidewalk Ends...

there and that the college was somehow involved with it, I’m not sure exactly what that was,” he added. Taft College President Willie Duncan explains the arrange-ment. “The city told us they have a program where if you purchase the materials, they provide the labor and pour the cement,” said Mr. Duncan. “Six to eight months ago we requested that be done, we’ve already bought all the materials and we’ve got them sitting here waiting. But every time we call (public works) they say ‘we’re coming, we’re coming’ . . . If I had my way it’d already be done” Obviously Mr. Duncan isn’t finding as much beauty in the

area as Shel Silverstein might have discovered.

There is a place where the sidewalk ends

And before the street begins,

And there the grass grows soft and white,

And there the sun burns crimson bright,

And there the moon-bird rests from his flight

To cool in the peppermint wind.

--Shel Silverstein, Where the Sidewalk Ends

Not as poetic in real life. The absence of a sidewalk is painfully conspicuous outside the Taft College Child Care Center


News Briefs

Over 800 served in a single day. Domino’s Pizza in Taft celebrated customer appreciation day last Saturday by offering large pizzas for only $3.99. The store was swamped with hundreds of hungry pizza lovers throughout the entire day. Owner Bob Leikam (center) said that they made more than twice as many pizzas than he expected, keeping his entire staff busy.

Don’t Be Shocked, the Taft City PD Will Soon Carry Tasers The Taft Police Department will soon receive 15 taser guns, and the training to use them, at no cost to the city. The department, along with the council, indicated they are excited to get the tasers in the hands of the officers. Taft City Police Chief Ken McMinn said he expects the guns will save the city money in workman’s compensation costs, as the department currently has at least one officer collecting workman’s compensation on an injury he received while attempting to restrain a suspect. “Most officers would rather enter into a physical confrontation than resort to potentially deadly force,” said McMinn, “but unfortunately they’re often injured as a result.” “Every officer should come home from work in the same condition as he got there that day,” said Councilman Dave Noerr. “And this will help to ensure that that happens.” The council expressed unanimous support for the advent of tasers within the department, and indicated they would have been willing to appropriate the funds to provide the tasers had they not have found the program to receive them at no charge. The tasers are expected to be in the hands of the officers in the coming months.

Thompson Attends 119 Safety Meeting, Presents Encouraging Numbers

Taft Councilman Cliff Thompson presented the enforcement numbers from the CHP’s increased patrol on highway 119 to both the Taft City Council and the Kern Council of Governments (COG) this week, following the February 13 meeting of the 119 Highway Safety Committee. The 119 Highway Safety Committee is an ad-hoc committee comprised of various representatives from CalTrans, CHP, Kern COG, the city of Taft, and the offices of representatives McCarthy, Asburn, and Fuller, assembled with the intent to make highway 119 safer following the record number of fatalities that occurred on the road in 2007. And the numbers say the committee has made the road safer. According to the CHP, between November 19 of 2007 and January 31 of 2008, 365 tickets were issued, of which 316 (86%) were for speeding. “But even more impressive, or dramatic,” said Thompson, during his report to the Taft City Council, “is the total collisions.” According to the CHP only three collisions occurred between November 19 and February 4, down from 16 total collisions during that period last year and 15 the year before that. “I think we may have saved a life out there,” said Thompson. At the February 13 meeting the 119 Highway Safety Committee took a bus tour of the eight sites in which fatalities occurred on highway 119 last year. Thompson said the bus tour proved to be very fruitful, with the potential for future fatalities from similar circumstances reduced. “One of the fatalities happen when a car ran off the side of the road into a drainage ditch that doesn’t even need to be there . . . we talked to CalTrans about that on the bus tour, and CalTrans is going to eliminate that drainage ditch.” Thompson said CalTrans is also going to look into putting a guard rail along the curve just east of Midway road after seeing the fatality site there. “But the biggest thing that came out of the bus ride,” said Thompson, “is CalTrans is now on board with moving a significant amount of those dangerous telephone poles.” CalTrans recently initiated a safety program to widen the shoulder on a section of highway 119 from a point roughly one thousand feet west of airport road to the middle of Dustin Acres, about four miles. “And what they’re going to do in that four miles,” said Thompson, “after seeing the death tunnel of telephone poles I’ve been talking about, is they’re going to move all the telephone poles to one side of the road.” Thompson first mentioned the danger presented by the telephone poles at the November meeting of the 119 Highway Safety Committee. Also at the February 13 meeting, the committee adopted a slogan to be used in various signage and correspondence on 119: “Arrive Alive on 119.” The slogan will begin adorning the highway following a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), which is scheduled to be appropriated this fall.

Domino’s Serves Over 800 on Customer Appreciation Day, February 16An all time high for the Taft Pizza Makers

Fuller Targets Driving Privileges of Dropouts as New Numbers Estimate Non-Grad Rate At 35% On February 21 Assemblymember Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) introduced Assembly Bill 2414, which will authorize school districts and County Offices of Education to suspend driving privileges of those who have dropped out of school. Twelve other states have similar laws, and the proposal comes at a time when the estimates of California’s high school dropout rate are as high as 35%. “Most students who drop out of school do not understand the consequences of their decision until much later,” said Fuller. “This is a way to make students feel an immediate impact from their decision so hopefully they go back to school. It will also deter those who are considering dropping out of school.” Discretion to suspend driving privileges would reside with the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) of the district or county. Notification would need to be sent to the Department of Motor Vehicles, which would be required to suspend the individual’s driving privileges. Students facing extenuating circumstances such as financial hardship will have the opportunity to convey this to the SARB, and the bill also allows for an appeal to the district school board or County Superintendent. Current law in California allows for a juvenile court to suspend driver’s licenses of those deemed as habitual truants, but the process for referring a habitual truant to a juvenile court is lengthy and schools rarely have the capacity to take the process to that stage. From the 2002-03 school year through 2005-06, it is estimated there were over 280,000 dropouts, but less than 5,500 of them had their licenses suspended through this process. This amounts to less than 2%. “This bill will make it much easier for schools to take some substantive action when someone drops out,” Fuller added. “Many dropouts simply do not have anybody looking out for them. We need to get them to understand that being in school is a responsibility and that they will lose a privilege if they are not upholding that responsibility.” Assemblymember Fuller represents the 32nd Assembly District, which includes Taft and the Westside communities.

Stories by John LaConte, Taft Independent Editor


News Briefs

A HINT OF CLASS

Taft Father Leads Central California AYUSA Team; 2009 Could See Record Number of Exchange Students Each school year Academic Year USA International (AYUSA), a non-profit, Department of State regulated student exchange program, welcomes nearly 2000 foreign exchange students to the US from over 60 countries worldwide. AYUSA students live with volunteer American host families and attend high schools throughout the United States. It is a life-impacting experience for the students, host families and communities where they live. This upcoming school year, the Central California AYUSA team, led by longtime host dad and AYUSA Regional Director John Jackson, intends to focus on bringing more exchange students to the area. Mr. Jackson, the Manager and Funeral Director of West Side Memorial Services in Taft, started hosting exchange students with his family back when he was in high school. “My family hosted a student from Germany,” he recalls. “We still keep in close contact.” Later, Mr. Jackson and his wife started hosting exchange students so their children could “get the experience of other cultures,” he said. He and his wife Rayleen have welcomed eight exchange students into their home over the years and supervised many more. John currently oversees 15 students from five different nationalities. “It’s a lot of work,” says John, “but full of rewards. When students first arrive, they can be apprehensive and nervous about what their time in the U.S. will be like. They need support and patience. Host families can be nervous as well!” According to AYUSA a great local Representative or Director offers guidance to families and ongoing support and mentoring to students. Many host families describe it as a lot of fun, and continue to do it year after year. “It’s really great to have a family come to you and inform you that they had a great year hosting,” John says. “Seeing those families return year after year, and receiving letters from students thanking us for their time and experience while on the program is the best part of the job.” John is happy to talk to anyone who thinks they have the heart and enthusiasm to host a student, or join in the fun by working as a representative. For further information about the AYUSA program, please visit www.ayusa.org or call 888-552-9872.

City Sends Senior Living Study Back for RevisionBy John LaConte, Taft Independent Editor

The Taft City Council hosted Issac George for another study session regarding the Taft Senior Living Facility Feasibility Study last Tuesday. Mr. George is a former Taft City Employee and the current Planning and Development Director of the Planning Institute, Inc.. Taft hired the Planning Institute to conduct the study and prepare a document to submit for grant funding in order to provide senior housing in Taft. While a resolution entitled “Approval of Submission of the Community Development Block Grant Funded Senior Assisted Living Facility Feasibility Study to CDBG” was on the city council’s agenda for Tuesday, during the study session it quickly became apparent the city would not be approving the document that night. Councilmen Noble and Thompson expressed hesitation regarding the property the study identified to be used for the senior housing. “All the data is correct,” said Thompson. “But there are better locations that are more conducive to what we’re trying to do.” Councilman Noerr also pointed out that entire new homes could be built for the cost of the rehabs of the smaller dwellings identified in the study. Cost received a 74% share as being the most important factor to seniors desiring senior housing the Westside, followed by comfort/convenience at 62%, and location and hospital both receiving 50%. Mr. George and the Planning Institute plan to revise the housing options in the document and re-submit it to the council at a later date. Upon approval, the council will present the document to the state in an effort to receive funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Authorized in 1974 by an act of Congress, the CDBG program grants states and local communities funds to provide housing and create jobs primarily for low and moderate income people.

Thompson Makes it Official in Race for Supervisor Cliff Thompson became the first candidate in the race for 4th District Supervisor to complete all the necessary filing on Thursday. “I need verification of twenty-five valid signatures and I turned in one thousand and twenty-four on Thursday,” said Thompson. “I think that should cover it . . . I said I’d be first in and first done and that’s exactly what I am.” Incumbent Supervisor Ray Watson has until May 7 to complete the filing process.

Taft Crude Coffee House and Deli

Taft’s Favorite Place for the Best Hot Mocha, Latte, Cappuccino, Espresso and

Gourmet Coffee

Our Rechargeable Gift Cards Make Great Birthday Presents


Real Estate View

Becky AshcraftREALTOR®/Head CEO434 Kern St.Taft, CA 93268Office: (661) 763-3344Fax: (661) 763-4497

Website: www.beckyarealestate.comE-mail: [email protected].

TO FIND OUT ABOUT ANY PROPERTIES ON THE WESTSIDE PLEASE CONTACT:BECKY ASHCRAFT – RE/MAX REALTOR 661-763-3344 OR 661-342-3054 OR 661-342-3058

203 FILLMORE STREET - GREAT BANK OWNED PROPERTY! Looking for a great deal? Then take a look at this one. 3 bedroom 1.75 bath 1161 sq ft updated home on a large county lot. Updated kitchen, new 3/4 bath, large open living room and a cute front porch. Large covered carport, covered patio and a storage building in rear. This property won't last long!! Call Becky for more info. on this property or any other property in Kern County @ 342-3054 or 342-3058.

OPEN HOUSESunday, February 24th, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Very nice 3 bd.2 ba. home on the out skirts of Maricopa. On large lot with RV parking detached garage, Beautiful view. $279,900.00

Open House in Maricopa - Sunday Feb. 24th 1-4 p.m.

Automatic and Programmable Thermostats

In our modern, high tech society, we don't think much about some of the electronic gadgets in our homes. Take, for example, the ever present thermostat--a staple of North American households for decades. It usually takes the shape of an unassuming box on the wall, but that modest device controls the comfort of your family on the coldest day in January and the hottest day in July. A thermostat is a temperature sensitive switch that controls a space conditioning unit or system, such as a furnace, air conditioner, or both. When the indoor temperature drops below or rises above the thermostat setting, the switch moves to the "on" position, and your furnace or air conditioner runs to warm or cool the house air to the setting you selected for your family's comfort. A thermostat, in its simplest form, must be manually adjusted to change the indoor air temperature. You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to 68°F (20°C) when you're at home and awake, and lowering it when you're asleep or away. This strategy is effective and inexpensive if you are willing to adjust the thermostat by hand and wake up in a chilly house. In the summer, you can follow the same strategy with central air conditioning, too, by keeping your house warmer than normal when you are away, and lowering the thermostat setting to 78°F (26°C) only when you are at home and need cooling. A common misconception associated with thermostats is that a furnace works harder than normal to warm the space back to a comfortable temperature after the thermostat has been set back, resulting in little or no savings. This misconception has been dispelled by years of research and numerous studies. The fuel required to reheat a building to a comfortable temperature is roughly equal to the fuel saved as the building drops to the lower temperature. You save fuel between the time

that the temperature stabilizes at the lower level and the next time heat is needed. So, the longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy you save. Another misconception is that the higher you raise a thermostat, the more heat the furnace will put out, or that the house will warm up faster if the thermostat is raised higher. Furnaces put out the same amount of heat no matter how high the thermostat is set--the variable is how long it must stay on to reach the set temperature. In the winter, significant savings can be obtained by manually or automatically reducing your thermostat's temperature setting for as little as four hours per day. These savings can be attributed to a building's heat loss in the winter, which depends greatly on the difference between the inside and outside temperatures. For example, if you set the temperature back on your thermostat for an entire night, your energy savings will be substantial. By turning your thermostat back 10° to 15° for 8 hours, you can save about 5% to 15% a year on your heating bill--a savings of as much as 1% for each degree if the setback period is eight hours long. The percentage of savings from setback is greater for buildings in milder climates than for those in more severe climates. In the summer, you can achieve similar savings by keeping the indoor temperature a bit higher when you're away than you do when you're at home. But there is a certain amount of inconvenience that results from manually controlling the temperature on your thermostat. This includes waking up in a cooler than normal house in the winter and possibly forgetting to adjust the thermostat (during any season) when you leave the house or go to bed. To maximize your energy savings without sacrificing comfort, you can install an automatic setback or programmable thermostat. They adjust the temperature setting for you. While you might forget to turn down the heat before you leave for work in the morning, a programmable thermostat won't! By maintaining the highest or

lowest required temperatures for four or five hours a day instead of 24 hours, a programmable thermostat can pay for itself in energy saved within four years. Programmable thermostats have features with which you may be unfamiliar. The newest generation of residential thermostat technologies is based on microprocessors and thermostat sensors. Most of these programmable thermostats perform one or more of the following energy control functions: * They store and repeat multiple daily settings, which you can manually override without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program. * They store six or more temperature settings a day. * They adjust heating or air conditioning turn on times as the outside temperature changes. When a heat pump is in its heating mode, setting back a conventional heat pump thermostat can cause the unit to operate inefficiently, thereby cancelling out any savings achieved by lowering the temperature setting. Maintaining a moderate setting is the most cost effective practice. Recently, however, some companies have begun selling specially designed setback thermostats for heat pumps, which make setting back the thermostat cost effective. In its cooling mode, the heat pump operates like an air conditioner; therefore, manually turning up the thermostat will save you money. There are five basic types of automatic and programmable thermostats: * electromechanical * digital * hybrid * occupancy * light sensing Most range in price from $30 to $100, except for occupancy and light sensing thermostats, which cost around $200. Electromechanical (EM) thermostats, usually the easiest devices to operate, typically have manual controls such as movable tabs to set a rotary timer and sliding levers for night and day temperature settings. These thermostats work with most conventional heating and cooling systems, except heat pumps. EM controls have limited flexibility and can store only the same settings for each day, although at least one manufacturer has a model with separate settings for each day of the week. EM thermostats are best suited for

people with regular schedules. Digital thermostats are identified by their LED or LCD digital readout and data entry pads or buttons. They offer the widest range of features and flexibility, and digital thermostats can be used with most heating and cooling systems. They provide precise temperature control, and they permit custom scheduling. Programming some models can be fairly complicated; make sure you are comfortable with

the functions and operation of the thermostat you choose. Remember-- you won't save energy if you don't set the controls or you set them incorrectly. Hybrid systems combine the technology of digital controls with manual slides and knobs to simplify use and maintain flexibility. Hybrid models are available for most systems, including heat pumps. Occupancy thermostats maintain the setback

by Stephen Wright and Karri Christensen

Continued on Page 10


Opal Smith can remember being in San Francisco during the 1915 World’s Fair. Today, that’s something few can say. Today, few can say what a World’s Fair even is. Apparently there was a World’s Fair in Germany in 2000, but it’s hard to find someone who remembers hearing much about it. To find someone who remembers being at the 1915 World’s Fair, however, in nearly impossible. To remember the 1915 World’s Fair is to remember something much larger and more symbolic than the fair itself. To remember the 1915 world’s fair is to remember the opening of the Panama Canal, an engineering achievement that took half a century, dubbed “The 13th Labor of Hercules.” The fair was a celebration of its opening, with a reproduction of the canal spanning five acres across the city. To remember the 1915 World’s Fair was to remember a time before the cold war, before the depression, and before United States involvement in both of the devastating World Wars. To remember the 1915 world’s fair was to remember the first transcontinental phone call, which was placed to the fairgrounds just before its opening. It was to remember men like Alexander Gram Bell, who placed that first phone call, and Thomas Edison, who exhibited one of history’s first batteries at the fair. Henry Ford set up an actual Ford assembly line and churned out 4,400 cars from the grounds, one car every 10 minutes for three hours every afternoon except Sunday. A young Ansel Adams visited the fair. And, at one point, so did Opal Smith.

Of course, only Opal is still living. The 1915 World’s Fair was held between February 20 and December 4 of 1915. It was during that time young Opal and her family were making their way back to Missouri, Opal’s birthplace, from Washington, where they had spent the last five years. In 1920 she moved yet again, this time to Taft. She was 11. For more than 85 years Opal would continue to travel, visiting and Hawaii, Europe and Asia, but she never moved her home from Taft. “We got here in 1920 and Taft was booming,” says Opal. “Oh was it booming.” Opal’s father found work in the oil fields, eventually running a little lease in Maricopa. Opal attended Maricopa High School and married her sweetheart, William Earl Smith, in 1927. She was 17. William, like her father, worked in the oil patch, providing a nice life for Opal and himself. Opal ran into complications during a pregnancy and became unable to bear children. She recalls the town being crowded on Saturday nights, especially during period when the Gardner Field air force base was operational in the 1940s. “There were pool halls and several theatres and they’d have those shows when all the prominent stars would come out and entertain.” Opal says it was a lot more “citified” as well. “All the ladies wore gloves and hats to the stores,” she recalls. “And you’d never see the men out in town with their work clothes on.” In 1942, when the United States became involved in World War II, times got tough and Opal decided she needed to get a job. She went back school at Central California Commercial College in Fresno to refresh her typing and office skills. William went with her and also attended business school. Upon returning to Taft a year later Opal found

At 98 years old Opal Smith still enjoys a good crossword puzzle

Opal Smith ...The Jewel of Taft

The 1915 World’s Fair

By John LaConte, Taft Independent Editor


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At 98 years old Opal Smith still enjoys a good crossword puzzle

Tabernacle on Asher Street, since 1931. And she’s a neat freak. She maintains an immaculate household, dusts her blinds every day, vacuums, and then wipes down the vacuum when she’s done with it. But how? How is she so strong and healthy? How is she still able to conversate with the best of them, keep a pristine home and operate a heavy vacuum cleaner at 98 years old? Much research has shown that those who consume a low amount of calories find increased longevity. Recently the University of California conducted a study in which lab mice on a reduced calorie, yet extremely nutritious diet lived up to 40% longer than those on a normal calorie diet. According to scientists, at the molecular level cell damage is what’s causing aging, and those scientists think a low calorie diet stimulates the body to re-synthesise and repair those damaged cells at an increased capacity. In other words the body says “Hey, I don’t have a lot of cells to work with here, so I need to take care of the ones I have.” “I don’t eat a lot,” says Opal Smith. “I never did as a kid. I was always this little scrawny kid. I was the littlest kid in my eighth grade graduation. I’ve never been an overeater.” Opal’s friend Marvine Tashjin attests to that. “We go out to lunch and she eats half a little sandwich and says that’s her meal for the whole day,” says Marvine. So Opal Smith, a master of longevity, says to live long we must eat right, but what about getting plenty of exercise? It may be a myth, she says. “I’m fidgety, I jumped rope a lot as a kid, but I didn’t exercise a lot per say.” Of course, having longevity in your blood helps too. “My father lived to be 89,” says Opal. “And his father lived to be 93.” Since of humor always in tact, Opal insists, “You shouldn’t think about tomorrow . . . But I always do.” Opal Smith turns 99 October 29.

The 1915 World’s Fair

herself more employable, landing a job with an insurance salesman and eventually moving into a career in the office at Standard Oil. Bill and her moved into a smaller place in 1961 and began traveling the United States, revisiting Opal’s place of birth in the lumber town of Wynonna, Missouri. Bill eventually retired in 1966 while Opal kept working for Standard Oil. “You never used to see dirty, nasty people,” Opal volunteers. “In the early seventies, they gave us permission to wear pants on the job . . . and that’s when it all started.” Aside from the laughs, sitting down with Opal is a truly special experience. She is an absolutely amazing woman. At 98 years old you assume she would have trouble hearing and speaking but it’s quite the contrary. She has plenty to say, and listens intently to every word you say. At 98 years old, she is a better communicator than many of us in our finest years. She has amazing projection, concentration, a sense of humor, and she’s opinionated. She’s an all around conversationalist and a very social person. She has been attending the same church, Four Fold Gospel


Uncivil Liberties

by Wes Morris

One election down; two to go.

Before we can move on to the next election, I really want to talk about propositions some more. I am fairly convinced that the ballot initiative process is a foolish way to legislate, especially in California. I base this opinion on a long history of foolish ballot propositions. For example in 1990 Californian’s banned the hunting of mountain lions. The California Department of Fish and Game had the authority and the means to properly regulate the mountain lion population through a responsible game program. However, the voters of California tied the Fish and Game’s hands by banning the harvest of mountain lions. Why? They did it because the mountain lion is cute and needs protecting. Now as mountain lion numbers are increasing rapidly at the expense of more frequent attacks on pets and even humans, the CA DFG and California’s hunters can only helplessly watch this alarming trend. 1998 was an especially bad year for sensationalized and emotional ballot initiatives. The voter’s of California banned the slaughter and consumption of horse meat. Personally, I have never eaten horse and I don’t plan on it. However, why do I care if someone else wants to eat horse? Why wouldn’t I want California businesses to raise and sell horse meat providing more jobs and income to the Stage of California? Obviously the legislature wasn’t interested in the emotional argument behind the ban on horsemeat, so the animal rights crowd took their message to the gullible people of California. Instead of verifying a person’s right to eat what they want, the people of California banned the consumption

of horsemeat. Never mind that we continue to eat cows, pigs, chickens, and just about everything else; Mr. Ed is now safe. Also in 1998 the animal rights crowd banned the trapping of fur bearing animals. California already had some of the toughest trapping regulations in the country. Trappers had to use rubber jawed steel leg hold traps and the sharp teeth traps most commonly seen in Bugs Bunny cartoons of our youth had been outlawed some time before. Trapping was a very humane way to harvest fur bearing animals and varmints because the animal was caught and could then be humanly dispatched at much closer distances than hunters often shoot today. That didn’t stop the animal rights crowd from showing people pictures of old rusty, sharp teethed traps from the turn of the century and claiming their ballot initiative would ban these traps. Right on cue, the voters of California voted yes and banned trapping, again taking away the Department of Fish and Game’s ability to properly regulate animal populations. The voters of California have already demonstrated that they have no problem restricting citizens’ rights based off of emotional pandering. The problem is that special interest groups have noticed this trend as well and use this as an opportunity to bypass a well educated legislature and appeal to a less sophisticated general electorate. Every election voters are faced with a litany of ballot initiatives and referendums that were designed to confuse the common citizen. Special interest groups have placed before the voters issues like minimum wage increases, campaign contribution limits, term limits, insurance rate protection, bilingual education, Indian gaming compacts, and numerous bond and tax initiatives. Even a savvy and well educated voter can often have a hard time trying to figure out which way to vote. Is it possible for your average voter to be able to become educated enough about an issue through simply reading the Secretary of State’s Voter

Guide? On February 5, 2008, Proposition 91 proved that far too many voters are not capable of fully understanding what they are voting for. Proposition 91 would have protected gasoline sales tax revenue from being dumped into the general fund and would have mandated those funds be used to improve roads and be spent on other transportation issues. If taken at face value, this proposition actually made some sense. The problem with Proposition 91 is that it mirrored the same exact provisions that were passed through Proposition 1A in November 2006. Even though it appeared many people read and seemed to understand Proposition 91, they must not have read the arguments for and against Proposition 91. The proponents clearly stated they wanted us to vote no on Proposition 91 because it already took effect through Proposition 1A and that it was too late to remove it from the ballot. In fact, no one submitted any statement against Proposition 91. I would have expected Proposition 91 to die in a landslide loss. Instead, Proposition 91 confirmed what I already knew: people don’t know what they are voting on. 41.6%, or just over three million California voters, actually voted yes on Proposition 91. Three million people must not have read the “for and against” for Proposition 91 or if they did read it, they didn’t understand it. What can we do about this proposition madness? They have clearly become a favorite vehicle for some rather ludicrous special interest schemes and they don’t seem to be going away. I believe there are two things we can do to protect ourselves from the proposition nightmare. First, stop signing the petitions at the supermarket or wherever else these professional signature gathers might stalk you. If a proposition does not gather the required number of signatures, it cannot be placed on the ballot. I have found that it is quite effective to tell the supermarket gatherers that you elect legislators to do this work for you and you will pass. The second thing we can do is simply vote no. If a ballot initiative seems confusing or complex, vote no. Again, we are paying legislators to study these issues and make these decisions for us. Elect legislators that represents your interests and

have them make these decisions. If they have voted no on these issues, then we don’t need to vote on them directly ourselves. The Founding Fathers established an indirect way to elect senators and the president for a reason. The masses simply don’t pay enough attention to politics to make well informed decisions. People are too easily influenced by charismatic leaders and emotional arguments. When people vote, they are not voting based off of careful study, but a host of other emotional factors. If you don’t believe me, just remember that here in California we like to vote for the candidate with the most million dollar block buster movies, not with executive experience.

temperature until someone presses a button to call for heating or cooling. They do not rely on the time of day. The ensuing preset "comfort period" lasts from 30 minutes to 12 hours, depending on how you've set the thermostat. Then, the temperature returns to the setback level. These units offer the ultimate in simplicity, but lack flexibility. Occupancy thermostats are best suited for spaces that remain unoccupied for long periods of time. Light sensing heat thermostats rely on the lighting level preset by the owner to activate heating systems. When lighting is reduced, a photocell inside the thermostat senses unoccupied conditions and allows space temperatures to fall 10° below the occupied temperature setting. When lighting levels increase to normal, temperatures automatically adjust to comfort conditions. These units do not require batteries or programming and reset themselves after power failures. Light sensing thermostats are designed primarily for stores and offices where occupancy determines lighting requirements, and therefore heating requirements. Because programmable thermostats are a relatively new technology, you should learn as much as you can before selecting a unit. When shopping for a thermostat, bring information with you about your current unit, including the brand and model number. Also, ask these questions before buying a thermostat: 1. Does the unit's clock draw its power from the heating

system's low voltage electrical control circuit instead of a battery? If so, is the clock disrupted when the furnace cycles on and off ? Battery operated backup thermostats are preferred by many homeowners. Is the thermostat compatible with the electrical wiring found in your current unit? 2. Are you able to install it yourself, or should you hire an electrician or a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor? 3. How precise is the thermostat? 4. Are the programming instructions easy to understand and remember? Some thermostats have the instructions printed on the cover or inside the housing box. Otherwise, will you have to consult the instruction booklet every time you want to change the setback times? Most automatic and programmable thermostats completely replace existing units. These are preferred by many homeowners. However, some devices can be placed over existing thermostats and are mechanically controlled to permit automatic setbacks. These units are usually powered by batteries, which eliminates the need for electrical wiring. They tend to be easy to program, and because they run on batteries, the clocks do not lose time during power outages. Before you buy a programmable thermostat, chart your weekly habits including wake up and departure times, return home times, and bedtimes, and the temperatures that are comfortable during those times. This will help you decide what type of thermostat will best serve your needs.

Real Estate View Continued from Page 7

Joyce Properties

Making a Difference


Faith & Familyby Jennifer Bowling

TAFT UNITED

METHODIST CHURCH630 North St.

765-5557

OPEN DOORS Sunday Services 10 am

Sunday Schooland Adult Group after services

Pastor Steve Hanusa

trinity Southern Baptist Church

400 Finley Drive We invite you to join us each week as we worship.

Sunday Bible Study 9:45 amSunday Morning Worship 11:00 amSunday Evening Worship 6:00 pmWednesday Prayer and Bible Study 6:00 pm

Any questions call pastor paul Wilson 747-8105

First Congregational Church of Maricopa

New HoursSunday 10 a.m.

Bible StudyThursday Nights 7 p.m.

395 California Street, Pastor Maricopa, CA 93252Bill LeBarron (661) 619-5372

Lighthouse Foursquare Church210 Harrison Street 763-1518

Home Of The Good News BearsHugs On WheelsFood In The ParkCode Blue Youth

Sunday Service 10 AMPastors Mark and Kathy Fitzsimmons

For More Information on Service Times Go ToWWW.TAFTLIGHTHOUSE.ORG

Place Your Church Ad Here!Place your church’s bible study and church worship service schedule in the Faith & Family section of the Taft Independent.

Call 765-6550 today to place your display ad.

Everyone Reads the taft Independent!

HOT MEALS & FREE CLOTHINGTuesdays & Thursdays 11:30 a.m. 1 p.m.

at The Spot - 201 Harrison Street

New Life CommuNity ChurCh

Pastor Floyd and Carol Jordan 1000 6th Street Service times

10:00 a.m. Sundays

Building Stones MinistryTraining Center401 Finley Drive

School of Ministry Wednesday @ 6:30 p.m.

Sunday Family Meeting@ 6 P.M.

Pastors Dale and Kay Sullivan

SATURDAY MASS 5:30 P.M.

Lighthouse Foursquare Church210 Harrison Street 763-1518

Home Of The Good News BearsHugs On WheelsFood In The ParkCode Blue Youth

Sunday Service 10 AMPastors Mark and Kathy Fitzsimmons

For More Information on Service Times Go ToWWW.TAFTLIGHTHOUSE.ORG

201 Harrison Street (next to Laborers of the Harvest)

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Free Friendship and Conversation. Please call

765-9472 for more information.

Free Hot Lunch and Free Clothing for those in need.

Where Do We get That Hope From?

Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3 What a handful it is when life deals us a great amount of situations that seem hard to overcome. We feel like things just seem to not be right no matter what. Bills are coming in left and right. Your children just don’t seem to mind you. You feel alone and discouraged; in other words life just seems to be hopeless. We then begin to say to ourselves “what do I do in these situations?”

Take Hold

There is a hope out there. A hope that promises that he will guide us through these rough times, it does not mean life will be perfect. It does mean though that he will be with us until the end through thick and thin. What hope is that? That hope is God. Being familiar in these areas of life I know that God is here to offer us a hope and to let us know that we can do all things through Christ Jesus. Realizing and knowing that God has a plan for one’s life says “that there is a purpose to live.” God has a plan to help us in every situation, but we have to be willing to obey him to get the best outcome from the trials. Choosing to be positive about a trial and looking at it as an opportunity to grow spiritually is a way of saying we trust God.

Trusting that Hope

Trusting God leads to freedom, because we ourselves are not all worried, under pressure, feeling like we are about to explode. Freedom is a great place to be if we are willing to trust God with everything that comes our way. We as human beings have a tendency to like to be in control. We feel if we

are in control then everything is alright, but if you really think about it, being in control of everything says that we don’t know how to trust. The opposite of control is trust. God is here to direct our everyday lives if we allow him to. He will show us things that we thought would never happen.

Being a Part of that Hope

Making the choice to allow God to be in every aspect of our life is what will make a difference. You say “how do we do this”? It is very simple. We just have to change our mindsets. Our mind is what got us into the trouble that we are in the first place. Our thoughts are out of control, going here and there. Pretty soon we have hundreds of thoughts going through the mind. Then things become out of control. This is where we apply that hope that God offers us, by trusting him. It is God that is that hope. It is not a matter of wishful thinking. Wishful thinking is out of the picture, because that is not trust. That only means we are thinking that breaking the wish bone is going to work. You say then “what does work?”

God is that Hope.

Bringing your focus upon God I believe that God is that hope. He is Hope. It is what he came for. He came to bring salvation to all and to fulfill that desire inside us that we so need to have filled. People have tried for centuries to fill it with people, food, shopping, drugs or etc, but it is God that we are craving that will help us in every aspect of our lives. Not self help books, not ourselves, not other people, but God. This does not mean that life will be all perfect, but it does mean that we will be living in that hope that drives our lives(God), by knowing that everything is going to be alright no matter what the case may be.

I want to encourage you to become a part of this life changing Hope, being God. He will give you hope, Godly desires, freedom, peace and lots of other things, but out of all we need to make the choice to be obedient and to trust God with our whole heart and everyday life not just here and there. After reading this article if you are really being drawn to this hope I want you to be encouraged to a great extent to say this pray in the next couple of sentences aloud with you heart. Truly mean what you are saying with your whole and I believe God will do a miracle right there where you are at. I believe at this moment you will feel his awesome presences my friend. Say “Dear Heavenly Father I come to you at this very moment with a pure heart and I believe that you are the one and only true Messiah. I believe that you are the Son of God. I ask you to come into my heart and to be the Lord of my life. I make a true commitment today to live the rest of my life out for you as a son or daughter in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Sister or Brother in Christ we as the body want to welcome you to your new family. What you just did is an awesome thing. Know that there is others that are rejoicing for you because you have came home to your family that has waited on you for a wow now. Know that what’s ahead for you is an awesome thing in Christ Jesus. May You Be Blessed Abundantly and Richly In Christ Jesus! Be encouraged to read next week’s article it will be our one year anniversary since the Lord has opened the door and allowed me to have the privilege of being the writer of this Faith and Family area.


Dine In or We Deliver • 661.765.4143

Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lois’HOUSE CLEAninG SERviCE

765-5847

Call for appointment

Licensed and Insured

Ken Shugarts Contracting 30 years Contracting & Building

Air Conditioning & Heating

License 808738

(661) 343-0507

Westside Horoscopes

WANTED: BULKY WASTE PICKUPFord CityTuesday

South TaftFriday

City of Taft – Taft HeightsWednesday

• REFRIGERATORS • MATTRESES • WATER HEATERS • STOVES • WASHERS & DRYERS • SOFAS

All green waste must be bagged. Tree Limbs cut in 6’ length, and bundled.

ITEMS NOT ACCEPTEDConstruction/Demolition Waste/Used Oil/

Hazardous Waste/Tires

If Missed… Call Office at

763-5135

Westside Waste Management Co., Inc.

Starting at $40 per monthFor Details Call Bill Lynn at (661) 765-5434

Store Your • RV • Trailer • Truck • Boat

South Street Storage100 South Street, Taft, CA 93268

6 Months Free Rent

by Jessy Bauer

BILL LYNN PROPERTIES

Brokers DRE License #01183956765-5434 - 216 4th Street, Taft, CA

630 E Street No. C2 bd. 1 ba. Rent $700 Deposit $700

218 4th Street No. 5 and No. 61 bd. 1 ba. Fully Furnished Rent $600 Deposit $600

519 Warren1 bd. 1 ba. $250 off first month rent Rent $550 Deposit $550

414 Shattuck2 bd. 1 ba. Rent $600 Deposit $600

520 Garfield3 bd. 1 ba. Rent $1,300 Deposit $1,300

Joyce Properties

Making a Difference

HARRiSOn STREET AUTOMOTivE 209 Harrison Street, Taft, CA 765-2505

Service and Repair Tune-Up Diagnostics

Muffler Front End Brakes Air Conditioning

Fuel Injection GM Certified ASE Certified

Mike and Pedro Over 20 Years

Experience with GM Same Great Service!

New Owners Ken and Laura Shugarts

nOw PERFORMinG SMOG CHECk

G&S CARPET COService & Selection

Knowledgeable SalesExperienced Installation•Carpet

•vinyl •Hardwood•Laminants •Ceramic Tile

398-30447000 District Blvd BakersfieldContractor’s Lic. #352844

Hours:9-5 M-F10-4 Sat

Eve By Appt.

ROGER MILLER INSURANCEa division of DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Group

Rich MillerLicense # 0707137 • (661) 765-7131

531 Kern Street - P.O. Box 985 • (661) 765-4798 FAXTaft, CA 93268 • (661) 203-6694 Cell

E-Mail: [email protected] Hometown Insurance Store

Ken Shugarts Contracting 30 years Contracting & Building

Air Conditioning & Heating

License 808738

(661) 343-0507

Starting at $40 per monthFor Details Call Bill Lynn at (661) 765-5434

Store Your • RV • Trailer • Truck • Boat

South Street Storage100 South Street, Taft, CA 93268

6 Months Free Rent DEVELOPER SEEKING LAND

TO BUILD IN TAFT AREA.

RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL.

JOINT VENTURES WELCOME.

NEW VISION GREEN BUILDERS GROUP LLC

CALL STEVE (805) 217-8285

Aries (March 21-April 19): You have an abundance of patience right now, and that’s very fortunate because you’re going to need it.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Listen to that inner voice of yours this week if you want to be successful on your current plans.

Gemini (May 21-June 20): Your tendency to be overdramatic is clouding the issue right now. You need to be rational instead of emotional right now to see things clearly.

Cancer ( June 21-July 22): You haven’t forgiven and you haven’t forgotten, and you shouldn’t feel guilty for keeping an ex-friend out of the mix.

Leo ( July 23-August 22): The domestic responsibilities have been neglected for long enough. Grit your teeth, get in there, and get it all taken care of.

Virgo (August 23-September 22): Enjoy your current feeling of well-being and contentment, because it’s not going to last much longer.

Libra (September 23-October 23): Problems around you are being exaggerated. Don’t let yourself be dragged into unnecessary drama that doesn’t affect you.

Scorpio (October 24-November 22): Bad moods happen to the best of us, but yours have been contagious lately. People will only be understanding for so long, so be careful.

Sagittarius (November 23-December 21): This is a great time to get some of your personal issues sorted out once and for all.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19): Your current confusion is understandable, but answers will be forthcoming this week and everything will start to make sense.

Aquarius ( January 20-February 19): You have big plans but right now the timing is all wrong. Give it a bit longer before taking any action.

Pisces (February 20-March 20): You’re teetering on the edge of a fine line right now. Be careful or you could cause irreparable damage.

If your birthday is this week: You’ve been working exceptionally hard lately, so if anyone deserves a bit of reckless spending, it’s you. Just keep track of it all or you’ll end up back in the red quicker than you can say, “Receipt in the bag please.”


ClassifiedsClassified Ads are $3.00 per issue for up to three lines, $5 per issue for up to 5 lines, and $7 per issue for up to 10 lines. Yard Sale ads are free. Phone, fax, mail or drop off your ad to the Taft Independent.

Boxed\outlined\bolded classified ads start at $12.00 for 8 lines, $16 for 12 lines, $20 for 15 lines, $25 for 20 lines.

Photo Ads. Car, truck or house for sale ads are $5 per week, or $10 with a photo. Email us (or bring to our office) a photo of your home, car, truck or motorcycle and we’ll do the rest.

Classified ads deadline is Tuesdays at Noon.

Phone: 765-6550

Fax: 765-6556

Email: [email protected]

Payment can be made by cash, check, or credit card. Taft Independent 210 6th St., Taft, CA 93268.

TAFT COLLEGE

INFORMATION SYSTEMS PROGRAMMER

$4,361.00 -$5,566.00 per month in six steps, including health benefits. 40 hrs. per week, 12 months per year. Minimum qualifications are an equivalent of three years of college with 15 units in computer science and/or management information systems. Experience developing applications using a minimum of two different platforms including relational databases, programming languages, and interactive web applications. A complete job description and application forms are available in the TC Human Resources Department, 29 Emmons Park Drive, or by visiting www.taftcollege.edu. DEADLINE FOR FILING: Monday, February 25, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. EOE

TAFT COLLEGE

TEMPORARY SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER

$15.35 - $19.60 per hour. The hours for this position are flexible and will be based upon the needs of the student(s). Please note: Due to the temporary status of this position there are no guarantee of a set amount of hours and length of service, nor are health benefits provided. For information on how to apply you can access the college’s website at HYPERLINK "http://www.taftcollege.edu" www.taftcollege.edu or you can contact the Taft College Human Resources Department at 29 Emmons Pk Dr. Taft, CA between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday and 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Friday or by calling 763-7805. DEADLINE FOR FILING: This position will remain open until filled. EOE

YARD SALES

Advertise your FREE yard sale ad. Fax your ad to 765-6556 or call and leave message at 765-6550 by noon Tuesday before publication.

Estate Sale. Final weekeend 23rd and 24th of Feb. 27558 HWY 119. Valley Acres - Taft. 55 years of old and new treasuere, clowns, bottles, dishes, jewelry, some furniture, COLLECTABLES, and lots more. All Must GO. 765-5050.

EVENTS

Taft Camera Club Meetings 7:30 p.m. 2nd Tuesday of every month from September to June at the Chevron Valley Credit Union Community Room, 1092 W. Kern St. Call 765-5858 for more info.

Veteran’s Office will be open in Taft on the forth Tuesday of each month. Come to Supervisor Watson’s office at 315 Lincoln – Room #141, and visit Veteran’s officer Mike Penny if you’re a veteran who needs help. Hours are 9 a.m. until noon.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Grief Support Group, offered as a community service by Optimal Hospice Care. Meetings held 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. 10:00 –

11:30 a.m. At Chevron Valley Credit Union, Community Room, 1092 W. Kern St., Taft. Enter by outside entrance – Albertson’s Shopping Center. Free and open to the public.

For problems with Alcohol, Alcoholics Anonymous. 765-4016 – 763-3856.

PERSONAL SERVICES

Tutoring. Local Tutor w/AA degree. Tutor for junior high thru college level courses in several subjects. $15/hour 2 hour minimum. cell (775)-343-2844

BUSINESS SERVICES

Glamorous SalonNew local upscale salon needs professional stylists. Station rental $50 per week. Glamorous working environment. 763- GLAM or 623-1083.

Steel Buildings.20 x 20 ft. to 100 x 100 ft. Qualify for advertising discount up to 50% off. Can erect. (805) 646-6468.

COMPUTER SERVICE

TaftPCServices.com. Offering PC repair, networking, webdesign and virus removal. Mobile and in-shop service available. Local and reliable. 623-5188.

HOME SERVICES

Seeger Maintenance Heating and Cooling. Need your heater serviced and your cooler winter serviced. Appliance installaton; electrical, plumbing and carpentry repairs aso available. Call Certified Maintenance Technician John Seeger at 765-1710 or 204-2571.

HEALTH

Shed those extra pounds. THE ENZYME DIET - designed to help you lose 25 lbs in 12 weeks. Call (661) 747-0638. Dealers wanted.

MISCELLANEOUS

FREE to s good home, 8x8 Cal Spas spa. New padded cover. Good condition but needs work on controls. You haul. 765-7211.

LOST\ FOUND

Lost female Yorkshire. Over 10 years old, but still fast and quick. Frightens easily, gentle, love bug. 765-6061.

Lost German Sherpherd puppy. Wearing a blue collar and answers to the name of Charlie.

Childrens pet, they are worried about him, Please call 623-1059.

Lost female rat terrier. Lost on Friday Jan. 3rd near Woodrow in Taft. Red collar. Please call 623-5216.

Lost. 2 small black shaggy dogs. One male and one female. Female has a limp. Lost near 314 S. 7th Street. 661-293-0495.

WORK WANTED

I am seeking part-time employment as a cook or baby sitter. I was employed as a live in domestic with a wealthy family for over 20 years. Please call 763-9146.

HELP WANTED

Cusomer Service Representative

For regional Agricultural Pistachio Company. Sales and marketing skills a must. Computer skills a must. This is not a telemaketing job. You will be working with a great team of people in an office and wherehouse environment. Must have a car and valid CDL. 5 days a week full time work. Compensation based on skills and experience. Please fax resume to (805) 962-6200.

BUSINESS FOR SALE

Established full line pet supply store. Great opportunity. 70k OBO, plus lease. (661) 204-8292

FOR SALE

Yamaha portable electronic keyboard with stand, $125.00. 765-5858.

Girls bedroom furn. Dresser/mirror, desk/hutch, chair and 1 nightstand. $100. 763-3730 or 293-0582.

Graco duoglider double stroller, used twice $65. Kolcraft side by side double umbrella stroller, great condition $35. Crib, toddler mattress $15. 765-6450 or 336-1768.

Pomegranate Jelly. Your choice of regular sugar or Spenda sugar i 1/2 pints $6.00. Also have pomegranate syrup in pint jars $10. Great on pancakes, waffles or whatever you desire. 612 N. Lincoln.

Couch $30, chair $20, enter. center $15., gas stove $50, air mattress $20. 765-2713.

Behringer vampire amplifier $125. 623-3432 or 765-6875.

3 Cubic ft. cement mixer. $100. 763-4775.

Complete Sell Out Until Sold. All Christmas toys and ornaments, and decorations, 2 Christmas trees, many antique Christmas items. 27565 Taft Highway. Valley Acres. Call for info (661) 765-6064.

Mitsubishi Rear projection HDTV 55 inch Screen. $600. (661) 303-5278.

Entertainment Center, $1,100 obo. Sony Big Screen TV, $995 obo. Almost 2 yrs. old. Call 293-0337 or 293-0213.

Bowflex gym. Home gym with leg station 310 lbs. of power rod resistance. $200 obo. 765-4140.

Entertainment Center, $1,100 obo. Sony Big Screen TV, $995 obo. Almost 2 yrs. old. Call 293-0337 or 293-0213.

Color TV Black, $50. 763-1397.

Replica chrome kitrchen table with 4 chairs, ‘50 style. $200 obo. 763-3207.

PETS

Beautiful Doberman Penscher puppies. Ready now! 345-6679.

2 Yorkie Poo female pups. Ready to go.. $650, 2 shots and wormed. Tails and dewclaws. 763-4411 or 619-7984.

Chihuahua mix, 3 females $50 each. 763-3567.

Cute Pom. puppies. 1 female $450, 1 male $400. 1st shots/dewormed. Ready on Valentines Day. 472-2505.

Shih Tzu puppy, 14 weeks old, male, tri-color, registered, first shots, wormed, $300. (661) 747-0638 or 763-3222.

LIVESTOCK

Pigs and Goats for Sale. Puerco y chivas para carne. 769-8176.

FARM EQUIPMENT\RANCH

Keystone Western Saddle. 15” seat. Excel. Cond. $400 firm. 763-3293.

AUTOMOBILES

HARRISON STREET AUTOMOTIVE 765-2505 209 HARRISON STREET.

Smog check. Free tire rotation with brake inspection. Most cars front or rear disc brakes. $85.95 (labor only). A\C service $125.00 (incl. 2 lb. Freon). Cooling system power flush $120.00.

1986 Suzuski Samuri. Top end rebuilt. 5-spped, 4 wheel drive. $900 obo. Reg. non-operational. 661-745-3211.

94 Cadillac 4 dr. SLS Northstar and a 1980 Buick Regal Limited. Package deal $2,300 or best offer. Contact 770-7037 for more info.

1995 Saturn. Needs transmission. $750. 623-5036 or 763-4102.

TRUCKS

1955 Dodge pick-up, needs TLC, 623-2978. Ask for Pat.

MOTORCYCLES

2001 DRZ 400 Suzuki. Runs Great. $2,500 obo. (661) 332-6125.

2000 Harley Davidson Dura Glide. 3,000 original miles, garage kept. $13,500 or best offer. 763-9323.

RV’S

1981 Itasca Motorhome 30 ft. Needs TLC, $2,500 623-2978.

TRAILERS

2001 Wilderness 24 ft. 5th wheel trailer. Very good condition. $9000 with generator or $8500 without. 203-5469

AUTO – TRUCK PARTS

Complete set of rims and tires from 2007 Toyota Tundra, 5 lug. $1,000 or best offer. Swimming pool 16’ by 48” almost new with all accessories. $200 oe best offer. 765-4012.

COMMERCIAL FOR RENT

ROOMS FOR RENT

Looking for a room to Rent. New employee with city of Taft needs room to rent. 760-792-8980.

2 Bedrooms for rent. Taft. House privileges included. All utilities included. $400 each. 745-3295.

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

Trade Winds Apartments. 400 Woodrow. Large 1 bedroom in quiet, very clean complex. Cable TV paid, laundry room on site, covered off-street parking. $575

mo. 763-1168 or (805) 237-0741.

$700.00 2bd/ 1 1/2ba Apt Central Heat & Air 201 W. Ash St. Stephany 661-343-7119

HOUSES FOR RENT

1bd. 1 bath. $475 mo. Renter pays all utilities. 207 Naylor. Will have fenced yard. (661) 745-3211.

Very small furnished houe with all utilities pd. $450 per month plus deposit. (661) 765-5838.

Large 1 bd. Indoor laundry. $500 mo. 343-0507.

HOUSES FOR SALE

301 E Street corner lot. 2 bedrm. 95% new from foundation to roof. Inside out. Master cooler, fence, etc. $139,000 sale by owner. (661) 765-6510.

COMMERCIAL FOR SALE

3 Commerical properties, 2 lots and one store bldg. in downtown Taft. $200k for all (661) 765-2603.


G&S CARPET COService & Selection

Knowledgeable SalesExperienced Installation•Carpet

•vinyl •Hardwood•Laminants •Ceramic Tile

398-30447000 District Blvd BakersfieldContractor’s Lic. #352844

Hours:9-5 M-F10-4 Sat

Eve By Appt.

ROGER MILLER INSURANCEa division of DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Group

Kathy DevineLicense # 0707137 • (661) 765-7131

531 Kern Street - P.O. Box 985 • (661) 765-4798 FAXTaft, CA 93268 • (661) 203-6694 Cell

E-Mail: [email protected] Hometown Insurance Store

DEVELOPER SEEKING LAND

TO BUILD IN TAFT AREA. RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL. JOINT VENTURES WELCOME. NEW VISION GREEN BUILDERS GROUP LLC CALL STEVE (805) 217-8285

Home Services DirectoryAutomotive

Harrison Street AutomotiveComplete Auto, Smog.209 Harrison St. Taft765-2505

Backhoe Service

Dirt WorkBackhoe, Box Scraper, Disking. Welding - Shop or Rig. Forklift, rough terrain. Mike 201-7979.

Taft Crude Coffee House & Sandwich Deli. Fresh made to order sandwiches, cold drinks, coffee service, full service espresso bar, mocha, cappuccino, latte, etc. Delivery available on large orders.763-5156

Contractors

Hernandez Construction Co.General Building ContractorHome ImprovementLic. No. 696915(661) 765-4228(661) 857-0309

Ken Shugarts ContractingLic. No. 808738343-0507

Graphic Design

Independent Graphic Design210 6th Street, Taft765-6550

House Cleaning

The White TornadoHouse Cleaning Services(661) 213-5373

Handyman\Home Repairs

Innovate 4 UBack by Popular DemandNew Lower Rates(661) 477-5644

Infinity West Inc.Remodeling\New Garages508 Center Street(661) 770-5700

Heating\Air Conditioning

Insurance Services

Lawn & Garden

Eddie’ Lawn Service and Painting(661) 213-5373

Printing

S & S Printing606 Center St., Taft765-5678

Driller Printers220 4th St. Taft763-3522

Pool and Spa Service

Taft Pool and Spa Service610 Center Street(661) 763-4302

Property Management

Bill Lynn Properties216 4th Street, Taft765-543

Infinity West Inc.Honest Property Management508 Center Street(661) 770-5700

Pest Control

Roof Repair

Top Quality RoofingLic. No. 771597101 6th Ave. Taft765-7785

Storage

Towing Service

Precision Towing317 Main St., Taft763-4420

Waste Management andTrash Hauling

Westside Waste Management274 Cedar St.763-5135

PRODUCTION WORKERS

Volt has immediate openings in Taft.

You will load bags onto machines, stackproduct, label bags, etc. Must be able to lift up to 60 lbs consistently, have steel toe work boots and be able to pass a drug screen. Ability to work nights and early mornings required. Please call today to schedule an interview appointment.

Volt Services Group 4560 California Ave Ste 100 ***661-395-0135***

EOE/M/F/D/V

“Never a Fee”

We Welcome Diversity

WEST KERN WATER DISTRICT

Backhoe Operator

If you are looking for a career, come and check out what West Kern Water District has in store for you! WKWD is seeking a motivated individual with backhoe experience who would like to join our team in the construction and maintenance of water lines. Salary is competitive ($2,489-$4,950 per month) and the benefits are unbelievable. Apply immediately at 800 Kern Street, P.O. Box 1105, Taft, CA 93268.

Deadline for submitting application is Friday, February 29, 2008. Resume will not be accepted in lieu of District application. The successful applicant will be subject to a pre-employment drug screen, physical and thorough background check. E.O.E.

Advertisein The Taft Independent

7 6 5 - 6 5 5 0

Tasting Sat. & Sun. 11:30 to 5 pm.

8 miles south of HWY 166 on HWY 33 in Ventucopa, Cuyama Valley, 4211 HWY 33. (661) 766-2319

www.sagebrushannies.com

Double Gold Medal Winner and Best Cabernet Sauvignon of Show at the San Francisco International Wine Competition


Rite AwAyCARpet CleAning

765-4191 or333-7929

Residential and Commercial

Edwards Tree Trimming ServiceGreat Prices and Great Service“we won’t leave you out on a limb”

763-3730 or 293-0582.

-IN- TAFTOildaleTIRE

Tires for your Car, Truck and RV • Fleet Specialists 24 Hours Roadside Service

1355 Kern Street, Taft, CA On Highway 33 on the North side of town.(661) 763-1800

NOW SHOWINGat the

Fox Theater- Jumper- Fool’s Gold- Spider Chronicles

SHOWTIMES:Mon-Fri. 7 p.m.

Sat & Sun. 1 p.m.,4 p.m., 7 p.m.

FOXtHEAtER

All shows before 6 p.m.- $6.50 -

Late ShowChild and Senior $6.50

Adults $8.50www.taftfoxtheaters.com

765-4802514 Center St.

David BUYS HousesI can Make OFFER TODAYand CLOSE NEXT WEEK!

I Love Fixer Houses and Non fi xers!

I deal HONESTLY,with INTEGRITYand RESPECT!

David818-381-3013

Classified ads Cheap in the

Taft IndependentStarting at

$3 per week - 3 linesReach more than 3,000

of our Readers every week

TAFT COLLEGETHREE POSITIONS AVAILABLE

P/T SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTP/T LIBRARY & LEARNING RESOURCES TECHNICIANF/T LIBRARY & LEARNING RESOURCES TECHNICIAN

For complete job descriptions and application forms you can access the college’s website at www.taftcollege.edu or you can contact the TC Human Resources Office, 29 Emmons Park Dr. Taft, CA 93268, Monday – Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. or by calling 661-763-7805. DEADLINE FOR FILING: Monday, February 19, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. EOE

Monterey Gardens

$250 de descuento el primer mes. 2 recamaras, 2 banos, Patio privado, nueva pintura y carpeta.

Llame 661-765-5434.


COLDWELL BANKER AMERICA WEST661-472-8060 or (661) 334-4119

email: [email protected]

Beverly MitchellRealtor

Wonderful manufactured home in lovely, well kept mobile home community! Home has 3 bed-room, 2 bath, living room and din-ing area. Utility room. Kitchen with dishwasher, disposal, range/oven, central air/heat. Also includes re-frigerator, washer/dryer. $3000 allowance towards carpet & shed. $59,950 Call to see!

A Wonderful Manufactured Home

Place Your Yard Sale Ad Free in the Taft Independent. Call

765-6550.

REDUCED

404 Center Street

F u l l S e r v I c e S a l o nSalon - Supply - Accessories - Hand Bags - Purses

Cut - Color - NailsMELISSA THORNSBERRY, MASTER COLORIST

763-GLAMRare find in Taft—Like new 3 bdrm + office, 2 baths, great room, formal dining + kitchen nook, covered patio, surround sound, alarm system, cen-tral vac, granite counters, remote fans throughout + RV parking. This home has it all! $379,500

Carolyn AndersonRealtor/Loan Officer

Windsor Capital Mortgage Corp.Pacific Real Estate Network Phone: 661.747.8595

www.CarolynsHomePage.com

CINDY’S HAIR AFFAIR

411 North Street (661) 763-1117

PLUS SIZE FASHIONS SIZE 14 TO 30From Trendy Everyday to Professional & Special Occasions

Rockin Round Girl Boutique

Why Look Ordinary When You Can Look Extrordinary

WE MAKE GRANITE AFFORDABLE

A ROCK SOLID INVESTMENTGRANITE:

Kern CountyCabinet & Stone

WE MAKE GRANITE AFFORDABLE

661-387-0217www.kerncountycabinetandstone.com3980 Saco Road Suite A

Pre-Cut Bullnose Granite Countertops, Backsplashes, Islands & Penninsulas, Cabinets, Sinks, Faucets

$89.00

8’ Granite Countertops Starting at

Gift Shop - Floral Design Interior Decoration AtThe Historic Fort

Monday - Friday 10 - 5 pm915 N. 10th St. Ste. 28

A HINT OF CLASS

Pamela Dudley 763-3831 / 444-5420

Your Ad Here.

Call 765-6550.

Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

New York Strips and Ribeye Steaks

The Tumbleweed Bar and Cafe

The Best Steaks on the Westside

“Where Good Food and Good People Meet”

Discount Kids Menu

Cafe HoursMonday - Wednesday 6 am to 2

p.m.Thursdays - Saturdays 6 am to p pm

Bar HoursMonday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Sunday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Happy Hour3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

RV and Trailer Parking Available (661) 768-4655

Portable Bar

Catering

Document

Documents

taft college

taft2 taft independent

taft chamber of commerce

taft branch library

westside watcher

westside of kern county

ththe westside friends

kern street