‘Business News’ Articles
Written by tgrJams on 06 December 2011
C.A.S.A. Is Here for the Children
Please be there for C.A.S.A.
Russo’s Books 3rd Annual Christmas Book Drive for C.A.S.A.
Needs Your Help to Succeed!
By Thomas G. Robinson, Fake Reporter
Mi casa es tú casa. Probably one of the easiest translations of a Spanish saying to English. You see this saying all over, but usually at the entrance to someone’s home, or out on the patio by the bar-b-que pit, near the table. We know what it means, ‘my house is your house’, but we never really look at the words, or genuinely mean them right? I mean, I prefer the other well known quote, “Friends and fish both smell after three days!” Right?
But take a little closer look at the true meaning of that phrase and you’ll end up in some kind of setting like the CASA headquarters over on 24th Street. The office is always busy and they are constantly trying to get these children the help they need while they are dealing with the most “unchildish” of situations. In this case, it truly is the about “mi casa”.
You see, when kids are in an unfortunate situation where they have been listed by the courts as abused, neglected or abandoned, they become separated from their families and begin their journey through the juvenile court system. The Juvenile Court then notifies CASA , and an Advocate is assigned to their case. The Advocate evaluates the child and discusses with the judge his or her report prior to the judge making a decision. This is a great help for the judge who will now use this very important insight to decide the course of action the courts will take for the betterment of the child.
Now, going through this horrible mess at any given time of the year is not a good thing for a child. But add to that, that it’s Christmas Season, and there’s a whole new set of loneliness and a stronger sense of abandonment that they feel now, that they don’t at other times of the year.
Russo’s Books wants to help take some of the grief out of these children’s lives, if not but for a minute or two, or ten, or a couple of hours! And you can help too! How? By buying a brand new book and giving it to us to give to CASA, you will ensure that these children will not feel like they’ve been forgotten this holiday season! For some of these kids, it may even be the very first book that they can truly call their own! Something happens when you own a book. You get a sense of self worth and self esteem. You cherish it more. You may even want to read it over and over again.
We think that when children own their very own brand new book, it will not only take their minds off of the very big and awful situation they are going through, but it just may increase their wanting to embrace reading just a little more!
Our goal this year is to raise 400 books for CASA. Each child will receive one, maybe even two books from this effort. Won’t you help us?
So help CASA help these kids! Stop by Russo’s Books at The Marketplace and donate a book to a CASA Kid. Give the gift of literacy! Porque, mi casa es en realidad su casa, y me allegro de que lo es!
Tags: abuse, advocates, casa, children, christmas, donate, family, giving, help, russo's books
Posted in Activities For Kids, Arts & Entertainment, Book Reviews, Business News, Community Submitted News, Local News, Out and About | Comments Off
Written by Laura on 19 October 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:Gary McDonald
October 13, 2011 916-481-6233 gary.mcdonald@madd.org
MADD CaliforniaAnnounces Organization’s National Partnership with White House Drug Policy Office to Combat Drugged Driving
–New Analysis Shows One in Four Fatally Injured Drivers Who Tested Positive for Drugs
Were Under the Age of 25–
–MADD ProvidingSupport Services for Victims of Drugged Driving and Recognition for Law Enforcement’s Anti-Drugged Driving Efforts–
Sacramento, CA – Today, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) announced a new national partnership to raise public awareness regarding the consequences of drugged driving. MADDCaliforniais participating in a nationwide effort to provide support to the victims of poly-abuse (both alcohol and drugs) and drugged driving, and to recognize law enforcement officers for their achievements in drugged driving enforcement.
According to a new ONDCP analysis of 2009 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) census, roughly one in four (23 percent) of fatally injured drivers who tested positive for drugs were under the age of 25. Additionally, based on data from 2005 to 2009, almost half (42 percent) of fatally injured drivers who tested positive for marijuana were under the age of 25.
The results of this analysis provide a deeper look at previously released information from NHTSA’s FARS census of fatal motor vehicle crashes, which showed that one in three motor vehicle driver fatalities (33 percent) with known drug test results tested positive for drugs in 2009. FARS data also showed the involvement of drugs in fatal crashes has increased by five percent over the past five years, even as the overall number of drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States has declined.
“In recognition of the growing problems of poly-abuse and drugged driving on America’s roads, MADD California is proud to honor MADD and ONDCP’s national partnership by providing support to drugged driving victims and recognizing law enforcement’s anti-drugged driving efforts in California said Gary McDonald, State Executive Director, MADDCalifornia. “Just as MADD has done — and continues to do — with drunk driving, we are hoping to put a face on the issues of poly-abuse and drugged driving in order to raise public awareness about the dangers.”
Today, Pennsylvania State Police Corporal David Andrascik received the first-ever national MADD Hero Award for Drugged Driving Enforcement for his ongoing efforts in implementation of effective strategies for detecting drugged driving and keeping our roads safe.
Recognizing the need to arm parents, young people, and community leaders with information to prevent drugged driving, ONDCP is also releasing a Drugged Driving Toolkit. The toolkit provides tips for parents of teen drivers, sample community activities to raise public awareness regarding drugged driving, and tips to help teens reject negative influences to ensure they remain “Above the Influence.” The toolkit is available for download at www.TheAntiDrug.com.
President Obama has made combating drugged driving a drug control priority and has set a goal of reducing drugged driving prevalence by 10 percent by 2015. To achieve this goal, the Obama Administration is working to increase public awareness and encouraging states to explore legal responses, such as per se laws that make it illegal for individuals to drive with illicit drugs in their system. Already, 17 states in the United States have adopted these statutes. Additionally, ONDCP is providing increased training to law enforcement to identify drugged drivers and working with the National Institutes of Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to develop standard screening methodologies for drug-testing labs to use in detecting the presence of drugs among drivers.
For more information about MADD, visit www.madd.org, and for more information about ONDCP, visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/ONDCP.
About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. With the help of those who want a safer future, MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® will end this danger on America’s roads. PowerTalk 21™ is the national day for parents to talk with their kids about alcohol, using the proven strategies of Power of Parents, It’s Your Influence™ to reduce the risk of underage drinking. And as one of the largest victim services organizations in the U.S., MADD also supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge, serving one person every nine minutes through local MADD victim advocates and at 1-877-MADD-HELP. Learn more at www.madd.org or by calling 1-877-ASK-MADD.
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Written by Laura on 07 September 2011
Get Up, Stand Up (feat. Craig Holiday)Ever think you’d be firing up more than brats, burgers, and triple-wrapped bacon fries on Labor Day? Well, here’s your chance to shatter the mold and take a stand on one of our most celebrated holidays.
And who better to get us off our lawn chairs than the master himself, Mr. Craig Holiday? That’s right. Craig is stoppin’ by the Coach Call tomorrow to show us what it means to fall forward. You might even pass some Shakeology® ’round the BBQ pit.
Craig’s BIG FOUR for Q4:
- How to change old habits to get different results
- Why you need to stand up and stand for something
- What productivity vs. activity means to your business
- How to lead your Team into the “season of change”
As Bob Marley reminds us, “Get up, stand up. Don’t give up the fight.” We’ve got work to do—but, together, we will End the Trend® of obesity. Happy holiday and we’ll see you tomorrow!
Only on the National Coach Call—where leaders become legends.
Posted in Business News, Health and Nutrition, Local News | Comments Off
Written by One Bakersfield on 09 June 2011
BAKERSFIELD, June 9, 2011 – The Bakersfield Jam Education Foundation has been awarded the Golden Apple Award presented by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) to recognize the Jam’s involvement with the Standard School District. The award will be presented at ACSA’s End of the Year Awards Banquet held at the Rio Bravo Country Club this evening.
“The Bakersfield Jam is extremely honored to receive this outstanding award. Kevin Silberberg and the Standard School District are incredible partners and we look forward to continuing this relationship,” said Bakersfield Jam Managing Partner, David Higdon.
In the community of Oildale, many students do not have the resources to participate in organized sports programs. Outside of home and school, many students do not have another safe place to play with adult supervision. With funding from the Bakersfield Jam Education Foundation, the Standard School District partnered with a faith based community organization from Fresno, CA, Every Neighborhood Partnership, to put on weekly Saturday programs that included organized sports, such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, jump rope, crafts, and health/nutrition. The vision of the program is to see churches holistically engage every neighborhood so that schools are supported, students excel, families are healthy and whole and communities thrive.
“Because of the Bakersfield Jam Foundation, our students are enjoying a unique sports and crafts event in a safe, well structured program. This idea has been so successful, other school districts are now looking to duplicate the program,” added Standard School District Superintendent, Kevin Silberberg.
The Association of California School Administrators was established in 1971 and is the largest umbrella organization for school leaders in the nation, serving more than 16,000 school leaders nationwide.
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Written by One Bakersfield on 01 June 2011
Assemblymember Jean Fuller
Let the Economy Work – New Taxes Aren’t Necessary
By Senator Jean Fuller
The current state of California’s budget crisis and the potential solutions can be easily summarized. After all of the budget actions that were taken by the legislature in March, the state budget gap now stands at around $10 billion. There are those who believe the remaining gap should be closed with taxes and there are those like me who believe taxes will only stall our fledgling economic recovery.
The good news is this economic recovery has led to an increase in state revenues that could go a long ways towards resolving this year’s remaining budget deficit. Due to the strong economic growth, we currently have $6.6 billion more than was forecast. With this additional revenue, we can avoid any further cuts to schools and restore critical funding to law enforcement that was cut in recent years.
Additionally, revenue projections remain strong for the foreseeable future. Solid revenue growth will take us from roughly $88 billion in projected tax revenues in 2010-11 to $108 billion in projected revenues in 2015-16. The worst thing we could do is get in the way of this recovery by imposing additional taxes.
But even in light of this new revenue, there are many who believe the tax increases imposed in 2009 need to remain in place, without enacting any reforms that change the way the state conducts its business. Further, many of these same individuals believe that not only do the 2009 tax increases need to remain in place, but other taxes, such as a tax on oil extraction should also be imposed.
Fortunately, AB 1326, a proposal in the legislature to impose a 12.5% oil extraction tax, has died for now. But in Sacramento, no proposal is ever completely dead, and certainly not the idea of an oil extraction tax, which has been around since 1955 and is something I have fought against each and every year I have been in the legislature.
While any new tax right now would be harmful to our economic recovery and could hurt our forecasted growth in revenues, for the Kern County region and the state, an extraction tax would be devastating to the jobs in the oil industry and those of supporting businesses.
The new revenues that have come into the state as a result of the economy can help solve our budget problem this year and show that our economy is primed to take off. When it does, the projections show us that the growth in the economy can provide us with the revenue necessary to fund the critical services such as education and law enforcement without new taxes. Let’s not abort the economic takeoff this far down the runway by imposing new taxes or extending old ones. We need to put more money in the pockets of the taxpayers and give the economy a chance to pull us out of this recession.
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Written by One Bakersfield on 27 May 2011
The BBB is warning consumers to beware of offers for work-at-home jobs for mystery shoppers.
“We have received reports of three different work-at-home mystery shopper offers in the last 10 days, two of which involved fake checks,” said Blair Looney, president and CEO of the BBB. “One recipient actually became a victim of a scam when she cashed and forwarded money from the check she received.”
The work-at-home proposals offer lucrative per hour salaries and feature detailed information on what the check is for, how the amount of the check was calculated and what the mystery shopper is supposed to do to “earn” the excess money. Two of the offers, including the one that caught a victim, involved “evaluating” the employees of Western Union while wiring money through the Money In Minutes service.
The woman who fell victim to the scam told the BBB that she took the check to her credit union and was told there would be a two day hold placed on the funds. When she returned two days later, she says she was told the check had cleared and she withdrew more than $1,900 to wire though Western Union so she could complete her job assignment.
Unfortunately, the rest of the story is an old and sad tale. The check actually was returned to the bank as fraudulent; the consumer was informed she had to repay the funds to the bank and there was no work-at-home job as a mystery shopper.
If you or anyone you know receives the same or similar offer, the BBB suggests using extreme caution when responding to such an offer.
While ads claim high earnings and short hours with little or no experience, BBB files nationwide indicate no evidence of anyone making the promised money.
Complaints to the BBB generally allege non-delivery of instructions, materials, or whatever you paid for, or failure to issue refunds as promised.
In most cases, the company refuses to respond to complaints presented to it. Often the business shuts down without leaving a forwarding address. They may use more than one location, they may move from one location to another under the same name, or they may change both name and location. Thus, they are almost impossible to track down when a problem develops.
The U.S. postal inspection service regularly investigates fraudulent work at home schemes, and you risk investigation and possible prosecution by postal or other law enforcement agencies if you become involved in one of these schemes. You might also want to check out the company with your local consumer protection agency and the state attorney general.
In considering whether to go ahead with it or not, keep these suggestions in mind:
-Consider it a warning if you have to buy something to start the program.
-Beware of “no experience necessary” ads that promise attractive profits and part-time earnings, guaranteed markets and a demand for your handiwork.
-Realize that you may be perpetrating a fraud and risk investigation by postal authorities by selling the same program you bought to others.
Remember if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
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Written by One Bakersfield on 25 May 2011
The BBB serving Central California has been informed that a work-at-home check scam has resurfaced in the Central Valley.
North American Research Co. recently mailed a check along with an offer for a mystery shopper job to a woman in Fresno who had posted her resume on CareerBuilder.com. The letter said she would be paid a “trainee salary” of $200/hour and would be evaluating the services of Western Union by wiring money through them. A detailed evaluation form was attached.
The enclosed check appears to be written on a corporate check for a legitimate credit union in New Jersey. The address on the company’s letterhead is similar to the address for the credit union but is not legitimate. The documents were sent in an envelope bearing a non-existent return address in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
North American Research Corporation is actually a company that produces chemical cleaners and is located in Lewisville, TX.
According to BBB records, there is a North American Research Institute specializing in the work-at-home industry, located in Las Vegas, NV. The company has an F grade. The address for the company, 3000 Paradise Road, is located on the Avenue of the Hiltons and the company is not on the published list of businesses at that location.
If you or anyone you know receives the same or similar offer, the BBB suggests using extreme caution when responding to such an offer.
While ads claim high earnings and short hours with little or no experience, BBB files nationwide indicate no evidence of anyone making the promised money. Complaints to the BBB generally allege non-delivery of instructions, materials, or whatever you paid for, or failure to issue refunds as promised.
In most cases, the company refuses to respond to complaints presented to it. Often the business shuts down without leaving a forwarding address. They may use more than one location, they may move from one location to another under the same name, or they may change both name and location. Thus, they are almost impossible to track down when a problem develops.
The U.S. postal inspection service regularly investigates fraudulent work at home schemes, and you risk investigation and possible prosecution by postal or other law enforcement agencies if you become involved in one of these schemes. You might also want to check out the company with your local consumer protection agency and the state attorney general.
In considering whether to go ahead with it or not, keep these suggestions in mind:
-Consider it a warning if you have to buy something to start the program.
-Beware of “no experience necessary” ads that promise attractive profits and part-time earnings, guaranteed markets and a demand for your handiwork.
-Realize that you may be perpetrating a fraud and risk investigation by postal authorities by selling the same program you bought to others.
Remember if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
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Written by One Bakersfield on 19 May 2011
Bakersfield, CA – CSU Bakersfield and Nelligan Sports Marketing (NSM) announced today that they have entered into a long-term agreement which gives NSM the exclusive rights to manage the university’s athletics corporate sponsorship program.
“Nelligan Sports Marketing has a proven track record of driving revenue to their collegiate partners on a local, regional and national level and are fully committed to working with the University to ensure we meet our goals and objectives” said CSU Bakersfield Athletic Director Jeff Konya. “In addition, their presence and past success at other California institutions made them an ideal fit.”
“CSU Bakersfield is poised for tremendous growth and success in the very near future,” said NSM Executive Vice President Mike Palisi. “Behind the tremendous leadership of Athletic Director Jeff Konya and his staff, the University’s stature within burgeoning Bakersfield, Calif., now the ninth largest city in the state and still growing, the impressive plan that the University has for athletics, and the University as a whole makes CSU Bakersfield an attractive option for Corporate America. This relationship is strengthened by the vision that the University has for its athletics program and the potential for growth across the University footprint.”
California State University Bakersfield opened in September 1970 as the 19th member of the 23-campus California State University system. Its vision is to become the leading campus in the CSU system in terms of faculty and academic excellence and diversity, quality of the student experience and community engagement. CSUB is located on a 375-acre site in metropolitan Bakersfield. Some 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students attend CSUB at either the main campus in Bakersfield or the off-campus center in Antelope Valley. More than 90% of CSUB’s tenured/tenure-track faculty has doctoral degrees in their fields of study and the student to faculty ratio is an exceptional rate of 17 to 1.
CSUB Athletics has been a source of continuing pride for the university and community. CSUB’s 19 sports programs have won 30 national championships. In 1998, CSUB won the Sears Cup as the best NCAA Division II program in the nation, and is the only institution in the CSU system to achieve that recognition across all NCAA Divisions. In June, 2006, CSUB President Dr. Horace Mitchell announced the university’s intention to move its athletics program to NCAA Division I and CSUB is now a full-fledged NCAA Division I institution.
Nelligan Sports Marketing, Inc. provides sales and marketing expertise for sports properties worldwide. NSM is dedicated to building long-term relationships with clients through exceptional management of the properties represented and by maximizing revenue growth through their corporate relationships.
In addition to CSU Bakersfield, NSM represents some of the elite college properties in the country, including the Patriot League, Brown University, Bucknell University, Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara, Cleveland State University, Colorado State University, Fairfield University, Florida Atlantic University, Indiana State University, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, University of Louisville, Marquette University, Middle Tennessee State University, Missouri State University, Monmouth University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, Providence College, Rutgers University, University of Texas at San Antonio, West Virginia University, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the Champs Sports Bowl, the Capital One Bowl and the Penn Relays.
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Written by One Bakersfield on 18 May 2011
In an important contribution to National Small Business Week, Better Business Bureau and Capital One Financial Corp. have partnered to create a unique set of free resources to help small businesses learn how to effectively use and manage their credit. Recognizing that not every credit cardholder is the same, BBB and Capital One are pleased to announce the addition of a new free online Guide with tips and useful advice to help meet the unique credit and money management needs of small businesses.
“Faced with the realities of the economic downturn, millions of small businesses have been forced to take a second look at their finances, including examining their spending habits and how they use credit,” said Blair Looney, president and CEO of the BBB. “Regularly examining your business’s finances, including how and why you use credit, is important. BBB’s Managing Credit – Made Simpler provides easy-to-follow tips, checklists, and advice compiled to help small businesses better handle and successfully build their business’s credit record.”
Most small business owners understand the need to manage credit effectively, however there is no “one size fits all” model of how to do it. Managing Credit – Made Simpler provides a clear set of guidelines that will help them make wise decisions on their small business credit and identify strategies to help small business owners take charge of their business’s financial condition.
“Used wisely, credit can be an invaluable tool. Small-business credit cards can provide much-needed cash flow, and many business cards offer special record-keeping resources and valuable rewards programs that really make a difference,” said Rajsaday Dutt, Sr. Director, Capital One’s Small Business Card division. “Armed with basic information about credit, including understanding of card agreements and knowing what’s expected of business cardholders, small business owners can make better choices about how they’re using their cards. Our goal is to empower small business owners to take control of their finances and benefit from card features that can really work for their business.”
The new guide, Managing Credit – Made Simpler: Small Businesses, is available at www.bbb.org/credit-management and includes practical advice and checklists to help small business owners choose the right type of card to meet their business needs. The guide outlines some of the most common features, benefits, and issues to consider before choosing a card, including:
- Expense tracking. Most business cards provide expense reports that are divided into categories and make it easy to track your spending and report expenses for your taxes. You may be able to import the information into your accounting and tax software.
- Higher limits. A business credit card may offer higher spending limits than a personal card, which can help with monthly cash flow. It is also important to separate your business from your personal expenses to simplify reporting.
- Cards for employees. Many business cards allow multiple employee cards on your account with pre-set spending limits, which helps build business credibility and simplifies expense tracking and travel reimbursement.
- Helps build your business credit record. A good history managing a business credit card can help you build your business credit record and improve your profile when applying for a business loan and line of credit.
- Added protection. A business credit card may also provide travel insurance and auto rental insurance for you and your employees.
- Special perks. The business card may offer airport lounge memberships, concierge services, and other special benefits.
- Extra benefits. Most business cards offer rewards programs or cash rebates.
BBB and Capital One created Managing Credit – Made Simpler to give customized credit management guidance to different types of credit users, based on their specific needs and perspectives. Small business owners will now have a variety of topics to choose from that will all cater to the needs of running a successful small business. Topics include strategies to pay off balances faster, choosing the right kind of card for your business, how to improve a business’s credit score, strategies to leverage cash and credit, and fraud prevention guidelines.
All of the resources and guidance made available through Managing Credit – Made Simpler can be found online for free at www.bbb.org/credit-management/.
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Written by One Bakersfield on 17 May 2011
Rental tents come in all sizes and styles. Although rental customers can set up and tear down some small canopies, most tent setups require installation by trained rental professionals. The following details some of the tent options you can rent for your wedding event.
Instructions
- Make sure your budget will accommodate an outdoor tent rental. Tents for special events can cost several thousand dollars, depending on the size, style and added accessory rentals such as lights, heaters or air-conditioning units.
- Write down a list of questions to ask the party rental supplier. Don’t forget to include questions about installation and tear down, tent color options and flooring selections for the dance and buffet areas.
- Measure your wedding or reception area, draw a diagram of the space, and write down the dimensions in detail before calling or visiting a rental company.
- Begin contacting rental companies 3 to 6 months before your wedding date in order to determine what size tent you will need for the guest numbers you are expecting, along with gauging the cost of the tent and accessories you’ll need.
- Decide what type of wedding tent you prefer to rent. Pole tents are the most traditional style, offering a sweeping roof design supported by poles or columns throughout. If you’re having a daytime wedding, you may decide on a canopy. A more inexpensive option than an enclosed tent, canopies are typically supported by a collapsible metal frame. The most expensive option is a clear-span frame tent, designed to provide a sturdy, weather-proof environment without the obstruction of supporting poles.
- Find out whether the tent you’re interested in comes with tie-back or removable walls or skylights. While it is nice to have the option to seal up the tent during inclement weather, you may want to give guests the option of stargazing if weather permits.
- Find out how well your rental company maintains their tents. Outdoor equipment can mildew if it isn’t properly cleaned and deodorized, and you don’t want your caterer to have to compete with the smell of a moldy, musty tent.
- Call 2 to 3 weeks prior to your wedding to confirm your rental and price quote. Make sure you understand return times and dates so you don’t end up paying late fees.
Read more online at the San Louis Obispo Bridal Association Tent Rental Information
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