Canvassers to stress importance of COVID vaccine
A coalition of community organizations and leaders is uniting today to kick off a canvassing project in southeast Bakersfield to encourage African Americans to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Data indicates that less than 3 percent of African Americans in Kern County have received the vaccine.
It begins at 3:30 p.m. at the People’s Missionary Baptist Church. The MLK CommUnity Initiative, Supervisor Leticia Perez, Councilman Eric Arias, Dr. V.K. Jones and the United Against Covid Coalition will walk door-todoor to spread awareness of the importance of receiving the vaccination, according to a news release from Kern County.
“It is no secret that the African American community has been disproportionally affected by this deadly virus,” Arleana Waller, with the MLK CommUnity Initiative, said in a statement. “It is our responsibility to uplift those most at risk and ensure adequate resources are given to this already struggling community. We will continue to work hard until every resident of this community is vaccinated.”
The vaccine is becoming increasingly available to Kern residents, and canvassers want to make sure that the southeast Bakersfield community knows about this and is able to access the vaccine. They will also let residents know about an upcoming event on Sunday at People’s Missionary Baptist Church, where 1,000 southeast Bakersfield residents will be able to receive the vaccine.
The Kern County Network for Child’s Dream Center, a hub for current and former foster youth and unaccompanied youth, will be reopening at full capacity beginning Monday at 8 a.m.
The Dream Center is located at 1801 19th St. It provides everything from basic needs to social and educational services. It’s also a respite for those who do not have a safe and stable living environment.
The Dream Center offers counseling, substance abuse treatment, employment services, assistance with education and enrollment, CalFresh and MediCal, extended foster care and independent living skills training, housing assistance, support, information and referrals and advocacy. There is a computer lab with internet access, showers, laundry, phone, a copier, fax and mailing address.
The center offers food, clothing, hygiene items, bus passes and household items that are donated. The community can donate gently used adult-sized clothing or shoes, household items, baby items sizes infant to 4T, hygiene or emergency food items. Drop items off at 1807 19th St.
Its hours will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more informa
tion, contact Jayme Stuart at 636-4488.
Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, announced that he’s giving the donations that he’s received from Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., over the last two campaign cycles to a Fresno shelter for victims of domestic violence.
Gaetz is being investigated by the Justice Department allegedly for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paying her to travel with him, in violation of federal sex trafficking laws, according to a report from The New York Times. Gaetz has called the allegations false.
Friends of Matt Gaetz, the fundraising committee to elect the congressman, donated $2,000 to Valadao in 2020 and $2,000 in 2018.
“The Valadao for Congress Campaign has donated the contributions to the Marjaree Mason Center in Fresno to support victims of domestic abuse,” said Andrew Renteria, spokesman for Valadao’s campaign, in a statement.
Free clinical breast exam screenings will be available next week at the Adventist Health Breast Center in Bakersfield.
The event is happening on Friday, April 16. Regular screenings are recommended as a part of proactive health routines. This event is designed for those who are uninsured or otherwise may be unable to afford a routine breast exam. Registration is required, because space is limited for this event.
The Adventist Health Breast Center is located at 2700 Chester Ave. Suite 103. For more information or to register, call 637-8108 or visit AISCancerCenter.com.
Garces Memorial High School announced that it plans to offer in-person summer school this year for grades fifth through 12th.
Garces Memorial Summer School will offer 10-unit courses approved by the Kern High School District in math, English, social studies and Spanish, as well as fiveunit courses in computer applications and health. There will also be non-credit courses in art, summer reading and athletics for high school students.
For students in grades fifth through eighth there are two two-week sessions available. There are core academic classes like math and English but also CSI: Forensic Science, robotics, art or athletic camps.
COVID-19 protocols will be followed including mandatory mask-wearing, temperature checks, social distancing and classroom sanitizing after every period.
Registration for summer
school begins April 5, and classes begin June 21. Contact Steve Garcia for more information at sgarcia@ garces.org.
To register, visit the Garces Memorial Summer School page at https:// garces.org/academics/ summeratgarces/.
The Kern High School District announced that it’s changing its meal distribution schedule ahead of the district’s switch to in-person learning next week.
Meals will be distributed twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. Meal bags will include multiple days of servings, including weekend meals. The switch began on Tuesday, so no meals will be distributed today but there will be meals on Thursday.
All families with children ages 2 to 18 are welcome to pick up meals between 1 and 2:30 p.m. at Bakersfield, Centennial, East Bakersfield, Foothill, Frontier, Golden Valley, Highland, Independence, Kern Valley, Liberty, Mira Monte, North, Nueva, Ridgeview, Shafter, South, Stockdale and West high schools.
Arvin High School serves its meals between 4:30 and 6 p.m.
A locally focused webinar starting at noon today will include a local accountant’s advice on how Kern County businesses can claim the Employee Retention Tax Credit.
Certified Public Accountant Michael Stevenson, with the accounting firm Barbich, Hooper, King, Dill & Hoffman, will be the guest of Kelly Bearden, director of Cal State Bakersfield’s Small Business Development Center and host of the free hourlong webinar. They will discuss the ERTC and other pandemic relief programs.
Also on the agenda is the $16 billion Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, along with the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, the Paycheck Protection Program, the Bakersfield ReStart Loanto-Grant Program and other pandemic recovery initiatives.
Participants can sign up to attend online at www.tinyurl.com/BusinessRelief56 to attend. The session will include a question-and-answer portion.