March 2013

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A Unifying Factor In The Valley’s Community MARCH 2013 Central Valley Voice A Minority Publication The People In The Central Valley Want To Know "what's really going on"? NAACP Merced Chapter Installation of Officers The 29th Annual Hispanic Education Conference will take place on Saturday, March 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Performing and Media Arts Center on the East Campus, located at 435 College Avenue in Modesto. The theme for this year’s con- ference is “Inspired by Knowl- edge” and the keynote will be a special presentation of the production of Tomás and the Library Lady. Also present- ing will be the playwright of the show, José Cruz González. Registration for the conference is free and open on a first come basis with limited seating. The Hispanic Education Con- ference check-ins begin at 8:00 a.m. and the morning program will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Auditorium. Community role- models will facilitate work- shops on Law Enforcement, Nursing, Business, Computer Science/Graphics, Social Work, Engineering and a variety of other special topics. The main goals of the con- ference are to encourage local high school and college stu- Hispanic Education Conference at MJC SEE PAGE>23 The National Association for the Advancement of Colored people was founded by a mul- tiracial group of activists. They initially called themselves the National Negro Committee. This Committee was com- prised of Ida Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. Dubois, Henry Moscow- itz, Mary White Ovington, Os- wald Garrison Villard, and Wil- liam English Walling who led “The Call” to renew the struggle for civil and political liberty. Since 1909, the NAACP has grown on the collective cour- age of thousands of individuals. People of all nationalities, and faith united on one promise- -that all men and women are created equal. Men and Women of the Mer- ced County NAACP Branch #1047, have also answered “The Call” to renew and continue the struggle. Thus, the branch Loretta Spence-Newly Elected President www.centralvalleyvoice.com Leanna Rhodes NAACP Executive/ Board Member LEGACY OF CÉSAR CHÁVEZ... SEE PAGE 4 installed their incoming slate of officers for the period 2013 - 2014, at the City of Merced Council Chambers February 27, 2013. The Merced County NAACP Branch 1047 was chartered in the 1937 to present. Pastor Ceasar Johnson, Youth Pastor of Christian Life Center installed the officers. Pastor Johnson in- stalled the following Officers listed below: President Loretta Spence Vice President Kelly Phillips Treasurer James Bethune Secretary Melina Hunter Executive Board Members are: Ronald Phillips Sammie Carter Leanna Rhodes Kenneth Roberts Immediate Past President Dr. Napoleon Washington, Jr. “At the end of the 20th centu- ry, the NAACP focused on eco- nomic development and edu- cational programs for youth, while also continuing its role as legal advocate for civil rights issues. Kweisi Mfume, former congressman and head of the executive officer until 2006. Julian Bond is the chairman of the board, and the current President is Benjamin Jealous. The organization currently has more than 500,000 Adult and Youth members. - Naacp Profile Of Courage

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NAACP MERCED CHAPTER INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS

Transcript of March 2013

Page 1: March 2013

A Unifying Factor In The Valley’s Community

MARCH 2013

Central Valley VoiceA Minority Publication

The People In The Central Valley Want To Know "what's really going on"?

NAACP Merced ChapterInstallation of Officers

The 29th Annual Hispanic Education Conference will take place on Saturday, March 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Performing and Media Arts Center on the East Campus, located at 435 College Avenue in Modesto. The theme for this year’s con-ference is “Inspired by Knowl-edge” and the keynote will be a special presentation of the production of Tomás and the Library Lady. Also present-ing will be the playwright of the show, José Cruz González. Registration for the conference is free and open on a first come basis with limited seating.

The Hispanic Education Con-ference check-ins begin at 8:00 a.m. and the morning program will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Auditorium. Community role-models will facilitate work-shops on Law Enforcement, Nursing, Business, Computer Science/Graphics, Social Work, Engineering and a variety of other special topics.

The main goals of the con-ference are to encourage local high school and college stu-

HispanicEducation Conference at MJC

SEE PAGE>23

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored people was founded by a mul-tiracial group of activists. They initially called themselves the National Negro Committee.

This Committee was com-prised of Ida Wells-Barnett,

W.E.B. Dubois, Henry Moscow-itz, Mary White Ovington, Os-wald Garrison Villard, and Wil-liam English Walling who led “The Call” to renew the struggle for civil and political liberty.

Since 1909, the NAACP has grown on the collective cour-age of thousands of individuals. People of all nationalities, and faith united on one promise--that all men and women are created equal.

Men and Women of the Mer-ced County NAACP Branch #1047, have also answered “The Call” to renew and continue the struggle. Thus, the branch

Loretta Spence-Newly Elected President

www.centralvalleyvoice.com

Leanna RhodesNAACP Executive/ Board Member

LEGACY OFCÉSAR CHÁVEZ...

SEE PAGE 4

installed their incoming slate of officers for the period 2013 - 2014, at the City of Merced Council Chambers February 27, 2013.

The Merced County NAACP Branch 1047 was chartered in the 1937 to present. Pastor Ceasar Johnson, Youth Pastor of Christian Life Center installed the officers. Pastor Johnson in-stalled the following Officers listed below:President Loretta SpenceVice President Kelly PhillipsTreasurer James BethuneSecretary Melina HunterExecutive Board Members are:Ronald PhillipsSammie CarterLeanna Rhodes

Kenneth RobertsImmediate Past President Dr. Napoleon Washington, Jr.

“At the end of the 20th centu-ry, the NAACP focused on eco-nomic development and edu-cational programs for youth, while also continuing its role as legal advocate for civil rights issues. Kweisi Mfume, former congressman and head of the executive officer until 2006. Julian Bond is the chairman of the board, and the current President is Benjamin Jealous. The organization currently has more than 500,000 Adult and Youth members. - Naacp Profile Of Courage

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2 MARCH 2013

Issues & Views

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in the transformative power of school integration. He would be dismayed by Amer-ica’s present day paradox: the rapidly expanding racial diver-sity of our society accompanied by the increasing segregation of our urban schools.

Dr. King’s commitment to school integration was ulti-mately animated by the desire to transform this nation into a “beloved community.” His vi-sion of the beloved community is often associated with the el-ements of inclusivity, interre-latedness, love, justice, com-passion, responsibility, shared power, and a respect for all peo-ple. The concept of the beloved community was originally artic-ulated by 19th century theolo-gian-philosopher Josiah Royce. As opposed to “natural com-

munities” which are ruled by selfishness and the destruction of others, Royce proposed that the ideal “beloved community” is ruled by loyalty and truth. Royce’s theory was prominent in the curriculum of Dr. King’s Alma Mater, the Boston Univer-sity Theological Seminary.

In order to develop such a so-ciety, King argued that various elements within America need-ed to be deconstructed and altered. He once stated, “Our goal is to create a beloved com-munity and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.”

In Dr. King’s view, segrega-tion was diametrically opposed to his ultimate goal of creat-ing this beloved community. He once asserted, “With every ounce of our energy, we must continue to rid this nation of the incubus of segregation…This is the only way to create the beloved community.” Seg-regation is inconsistent with a beloved community because it short-circuits any form of true interrelatedness, fragmenting Dr. King’s vision of a “single gar-ment of destiny.”

Dr. King constantly talked about the evils of segregation, both in the broader social arena and in the context of K-12 edu-cation. The civil rights leader summarized his analysis of the harms of segregation in his writing, The Ethical Demands for Integration.

In this essay, Dr. King first distinguishes between deseg-regation and integration. While desegregation, he says, is the elimination of a negative, inte-gration is the affirmative accep-tance and implementation of a positive. In a desegregated so-ciety, people of different races could be physically near one another, yet spiritually oceans apart. He goes on to argue that segregation hinders human connectivity, curbs liberty, in-fringes upon the innate sacred-ness of humanity, and injures

the spirit of both the segregat-ed and segregator. He states, “It scars the soul and distorts the personality. It inflicts the segregator with a false sense of superiority while instilling the segregated with a false sense of inferiority.”

Moreover, Dr. King also spoke of the evils of “de facto” school segregation because he saw the detrimental affect it had on the next generation’s social interconnectedness and edu-cational and attainment. Con-cerning the issue of social in-terconnectedness, when asked about the controversial issue of busing in a 1963 interview, King answered:

I lean towards the view that it is a very tragic thing for young people, children to grow up in association, communication with only people of their own race. Prejudices develop from the very beginning because of this. Narrow provincial views emerge because of this. I think the only way to break this kind of provincialism is to bring peo-ple together on a level of genu-ine intergroup and interperson-al living. I do not think we can afford to wait until all the prob-lems of residential segregation are solved before we grapple

with the problem of segrega-tion in educational institutions. Therefore, I lean towards the idea that segregation must be removed from schools all over the country. For I do not think that the residential segregation must be used as an excuse for the perpetuation of segrega-tion in educational institutions.

Dr. King also saw the aca-demic benefits provided by integrated schools. In a speech he gave in 1968 entitled “The Other America,” he stated:

In this other America, thou-sands of young people are deprived of an opportunity to get an adequate education. Ev-ery year, thousands finish high school reading at a 7th, 8th, and sometimes 9th grade read-ing level. Not because they’re dumb. Not because they do not have native intelligence. But, because the schools are so in-adequate, so over-crowded, so devoid of quality, so segregated – if you will – that the best of these minds never come out.

Clearly, Dr. King saw segrega-tion as one of the root causes of the unfulfilled intellectual/academic potential of so many black children. Now that over half a century has passed since Brown v Board, numerous stud-

ies have confirmed that one of the best ways to improve the academic outcomes of poor minority students is to provide them with a racially and socio-economically diverse school setting.

As we reflect on Dr. King’s vi-sion of the beloved community and the current state of edu-cation in America, one cannot help but be filled with a spirit of dissatisfaction. Schools are almost as segregated now as they were back in Dr. King’s day. While accolades rightly go towards educational programs like the Harlem’s Children’s Zone and other reforms that im-prove educational outcomes for low income children in segre-gated schools, we imagine that Dr. King would have wanted to go further.

As groups like the National Coalition on School Diversity have demonstrated, school in-tegration is still an achievable

Dr. King’s Unfulfilled Dream of School Integration

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Due to the failure of policymakers to reach an agreement on how to avoid the sequester, automatic budget cuts will start today, gutting critical programs for Latinos in areas such as educa-tion, housing, health care and job training. NCLR (National Council of La Raza) is outraged that these arbitrary and harm-ful cuts will be allowed to go into effect, at the risk of the nation’s economic security as well as the health and safety of children and vulnerable com-munities.

“Hardworking families have already paid their fair share of deficit reduction. It is uncon-scionable to once again ask them to disproportionately shoulder the weight of more spending cuts by defunding vital programs such as foreclo-sure prevention and mental health assistance, which they need to get by,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “There is no reason that 70,000 kids should get kicked out of Head Start preschools or 600,000 poor pregnant women and their babies should have to go without nutrition assistance. We are shooting ourselves in the foot every day that we al-

low these cuts to continue.”In addition to Head Start

and nutrition assistance, some of the other critical programs scheduled to be cut by 5.1% include job training, rental as-sistance, child care and educa-tion support for low-income public school children.

“Massive spending cuts will do nothing but slow down our still-too-fragile economy and bring job creation to a screech-ing halt,” said Murguía. “The Congressional Budget Office has already put out estimates that these cuts are going to cost us 750,000 jobs this year. If policymakers are concerned about our economy and future prosperity, they should be investing in quality education, health care and job training, not cutting off access to these programs.”

Automatic Budget Cuts Will Have Devastating Effect on Communities and Families In celebration of Women's

History Month, the National Ur-ban League would like to pay tribute to its co-founder Ruth Standish Baldwin and the phe-nomenal women leaders of the Urban League movement. The following are the last four CEOs to be honored during our An-nual Conference with Women of Power Awards for their lead-ership, vision and commitment.

We would also like to cel-ebrate Alexis Herman, who was recently named Senior Vice Chair of the National Urban League Board of Trustees. She is making history today as the first woman to serve in this role, and made history in 1997 when she became the first African Ameri-can appointed U.S. Secretary of Labor.

The National Urban League is honored to have such out-standing leadership spearhead-ing the movement.

Ruth Standish Baldwin, Alexis Herman, Maudine R. Cooper, Beverly Mitchell-Brooks,

Edith G. White, and Brenda W. McDuffie.

Ruth standish baldwin is Co-founder, NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE

“Let us work not as colored people nor as white people for the narrow benefit of any group alone, but together, as American citizens, for the com-mon good of our common city,

our common country.” –- Ruth Standish Baldwin

Ruth Standish Baldwin came from a family of early New Eng-land colonists with a history of social activism. Her husband William Baldwin was an active participant in civic commissions and social agencies, and had many ties to the Negro commu-nity. She shared his dedication and social awareness, and was active in the National League for the Protection of Colored Women (NLPCW) – an organi-zation formed to help protect Negro women new to North-ern cities. The Baldwins were deeply concerned about the poor and disadvantaged, with particular interest in the health and welfare of Negro migrants.

When William Baldwin died in 1905, Ruth Standish Baldwin committed herself to continu-ing their work. Together, Ruth Standish Baldwin and George Haynes, the first African Ameri-can to earn a Ph.D. from Co-lumbia University, founded the Committee on Urban Condi-tions Among Negroes (CUCAN), which was later named the Na-tional Urban League.

The National Urban League Wire

Ruth Standish BaldwinCo-Founder, National Urban League

Alexis HermanSenior Vice Chair, National Urban League Board Of Trustees

SEE PAGE >23

“Massive spending cuts will do nothing but slow down our still-too-fragile economy and bring job creation to a screeching halt,” said Murguía.

National Urban LeagueCelebrates Women of Power

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The City of Modesto, Parks Recreation and Neighborhoods Department's Maddux Youth Center, in collaboration with Stanislaus Grassroots Coalition, El Concilio, Latino Commu-nity Roundtable and the local community will host the 17th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Family Day Celebration on Saturday, April 6, 2013 from 12-3 p.m. at 615 Sierra Drive, Modesto.

Come join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of Cesar E Chavez through art displays, speeches, poetry, community resources and celebration of culture. Refreshments will be provided.

This is a FREE community event.

For more information con-tact, Melanie Berru at (209) 341-2950.

17th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Celebration CSU Stanislaus Celebrate the Life and Legacy of César Chávez

What: 17th Annual César E. Chávez Celebration

When: 12 noon to 3 p.m. Wed., March 28 and 6 to 8 p.m., Thurs. Mar. 29, 2013.

Where: Mar. 28: CSU Stanislaus Quad; Mar. 29: Main Dining Hall

Wed., Mar. 28 Day Celebra-tion activities include informa-tion booths, UFW flag making, César E. Chávez display, refresh-ments, Balet Folklorico and commemorative march. Thurs., Mar. 29 Evening Celebration ac-tivities include keynote speak-er, Armando Elenes, National V.P., United Farm Workers at 6:30 p.m.; Balet Folklorico, an-nouncement of poster contest* winners and music D.J.

The celebrations are being planned by the CSU Stanislaus César E. Chávez Committee. All

events are free of charge and open to the public.

For more information call (209) 667-3982. Free parking is available in Lot 11 (http://www.csustan.edu/Directories/Maps_n_Plans/Campus_Plans/

CSU Stanislaus students are invited to create a poster reflecting Chávez’s work, ac-complishments, philosophies and at least one of his values. Entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 15 at CSU Stanislaus. For more informa-tion, contact (209) 667-3982 or [email protected]. Winners of the contest, co-sponsored by the Stanislaus County Office of Education, will be announced during the evening celebration on Mar. 29, 2013.

Cesar was in Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s words, "one of the heroic figures of our time." He led the historic non-violent movement for farm worker rights and dedicated himself to building a movement of poor working people that ex-tended beyond the fields and into cities and towns across the nation.

He inspired farm workers and millions of people who never worked on a farm to commit themselves to social, economic and civil rights activism. Cesar’s legacy, like the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., continues to educate, inspire and empower people from all walks of life. He is a role model for all Americans and for generations to come.

Legacy ofCésar Chávez

César E. Chávez National Monument

On October 8th, 2012, Presi-dent Obama will traveled to Keene, California to announced the establishment of the César E. Chávez National Monu-ment. Years in the making, the monument – which was des-ignated under the Antiquities Act – was established on the property known as Nuestra Se-ñora Reina de la Paz (Our Lady Queen of Peace), or La Paz. The La Paz property is recognized

worldwide for its historic link to civil rights icon César Estrada Chávez and the farm worker movement. The site served as the national headquarters of the United Farm Workers (UFW) as well as the home and work-place of César Chávez and his family from the early 1970’s un-til Chávez’ death in 1993, and includes his grave site which is also part of the monument.

“César Chávez gave a voice to poor and disenfranchised workers everywhere,” said Presi-dent Obama. “La Paz was at the center of some of the most sig-nificant civil rights moments in our nation’s history, and by designating it a national monu-ment, Chávez’ legacy will be preserved and shared to inspire generations to come.”

From this rural headquarters in the Tehachapi Mountains of Kern County, California, Chávez played a central role in achiev-ing basic worker protections for hundreds of thousands of farmworkers across the coun-

try, from provisions ensuring drinking water was provided to workers in the fields, to steps that helped limit workers’ expo-sure to dangerous pesticides, to helping to establish basic mini-mum wages and health care ac-cess for farm workers.

The National Chávez Center, in consultation with the United Farm Workers of America, the César Chávez Foundation and members of César Chávez’s family, offered to donate cer-tain properties at La Paz to the federal government for the purpose of establishing a na-tional monument commemo-rating César E. Chávez and the farmworker movement. This designation will represent the culmination of a process that has been underway for several years.

The César E. Chávez National Monument will encompass property that includes a Visi-tors’ Center containing César Chávez’s office as well as the

The National Chavez Center at La Paz, where labor leader Cesar Chavez lived and orga-nized the first successful farm workers union, is now recog-nized by the federal govern-ment as a national monument.

SEE PAGE >23

César E. Chávez

The story of Cesar Estrada Chavez begins near Yuma, Arizona. Cesar was born on March 31, 1927. He was named after his grandfather, Cesario. Regrettably, the story of Cesar Estrada Chavez also ends near Yuma, Arizona. He passed away on April 23, 1993, in San Luis, a small village near Yuma, Arizona.

He learned about justice or rather injustice early in his life. Cesar grew up in Arizona; the small adobe home, where Cesar was born was swindled from them by dishonest Anglos. Cesar’s father agreed to clear eighty acres of land and in exchange he would receive the deed to forty acres of land that adjoined the home. The agreement was broken and the land sold to a man named Justus Jackson. Cesar’s dad went to a lawyer who advised him to borrow money and buy the land. Later when Cesar’s father could not pay the interest on the loan the lawyer bought back the land and sold it to the original owner. Cesar learned a lesson about

injustice that he would never forget. Later, he would say, The love for justice that is in us is not only the best part of our being but it is also the most true to our nature.

In 1938 he and his family moved to California. He lived in La Colonia Barrio in Oxnard for a short period, returning to Arizona several months later. They returned to California in June 1939 and this time settled in San Jose. They lived in the barrio called Sal Si Puedes ”Get Out If You Can.” Cesar thought the only way to get out of the circle of poverty was to work his way up and send the kids to college. He and his family worked in the fields of California from Brawley to Oxnard, Atascadero, Gonzales, King City, Salinas, McFarland, Delano, Wasco, Selma, Kingsburg, and Mendota.

He did not like school as a child, probably because he spoke only Spanish at home. The teachers were mostly Anglo and only spoke English. Spanish

The story of Cesar ChavezMarch 31 - Chavez’s birthday is celebrated

SEE PAGE >23

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CENTRAL VALLEY VOICE.COM 5

A wide selection of education and leisure op-portunities is offered in April through Merced College’s popular Community Services program.

Notary Public in One Day – Start your own business, provide customer service, and earn ad-ditional income. This one-day intensive seminar will teach you the new legislation, how to pass the “new” test, identify document signers, keep a journal, fill out certificates and avoid lawsuits. The class includes a practice Notary Public Exam as well as the official exam. You must be present for the entire course of instruction and be at least 18 years of age. Bring to class a proper ID (license or state issued ID), two #2 pencils, passport size color photo, and a check or money order payable to the Secretary of State for $40. Date: Saturday, April 13 from 8 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuition: $99, plus $30 material fee.

Notary Public Renewal – The three-hour re-newing Notary class takes place during the sec-ond half of the regular seminar. You must arrive at 12:30 p.m. to register. Class will begin at 12:45 p.m. Important: Renewing Notaries must be cur-rently commissioned to be eligible for the three-hour renewing class. Bring to class a proper ID (li-cense or state issued ID), two #2 pencils, passport size color photo, and a check or money order payable to the Secretary of State for $40. Date: Saturday, April 13 from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tu-ition: $50, plus $30 material fee.

Baby Hair Accessories – Tired of wasting too much money on baby accessories, but still want as many bows and headbands as you can get your hands on? Learn to make your own! This five-week baby creations course will teach students how to make baby girl hair accessories such as baby alligator bows, soft and hard head-bands. This course will also show you how to make bow and headband holders. Students will complete a minimum of five projects in this class. Dates: Tuesdays, April 16-May 14 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuition: $65, plus $30 supply fee.

Golf for all Ages – Bogie, par, fore! Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player, your game will improve. This four week (8 hours total) golf lesson course will cover full swing, short game, basic rules, and general golf course etiquette. Gary Olson played on the PGA tour for 10 years, participated in 11 national champion-ships as well as two major championships, and has been teaching golf for 46 years. Bring your own clubs or borrow one of ours. Dates (Week-ends): Saturdays, April 27–May 18 from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuition: $55 plus range fees Dates (Week-days): Mondays & Wednesdays, May 6–May 22 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuition: $55, plus range fees.

Jr. Blue Devil Water Polo I – SplashballTM is the newest program under the umbrella of USA Water Polo, and exists to introduce water polo to the younger generation in the community. This fun, healthy activity promotes fitness, self-es-

teem, and water safety while teaching the basic components of water polo.

Dates: Mondays & Wednesdays, April 8–May 29 from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuition: $75 plus $5 program fee.

Jr. Blue Devil Water Polo II (Ages 12 & under) – This class is for students who are ready to move to the next level beyond Splashball. Students will no longer use a noodle, the course increases to 25 yards, and the ball is bigger. The class will cov-er basic fundamentals and prepare students for the Water Polo III class.

Dates: Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays, April 8-May 29 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Tuition: $75 plus $5 program fee. Jr. Blue Devil Water Polo III (Ages 14 & under)

– This class is designed to work on intermedi-ate and advanced waterpolo fundamentals: ball handling, shooting, offensive set-up, defensive set-up, and game strategies. Participants must be able to swim over 25 yards unassisted. This course will also share time with Water Polo II. Dates: Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays, April 8–May 29 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuition: $75 plus $5 program fee.

Becoming a Social Media Strategist – There are core principles, skills and methodologies in the application of social media across industries that are essential for success. This course pro-vides social media strategist training in strategic planning, compliance and governance, research and analysis, social media marketing, and proj-ect and community management. This training is top notch, and will prepare eligible candidates for the National Institute of Social Media’s Social Media Strategist Certification. Dates: Fridays, April 19–May 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (no class 5/3/13) Tuition: $495.

For more information please contact Merced College Community Services office at 209-384-6224 or register at www.mercedcommunityser-vices.com

Merced College Community Services Schedules April 2013 Classes

SCHOOL NEWS AND NOTES

(NAPSI)—H ere’s a school statistic many families may be happy to learn: More than 245,000 children are in publicly funded private school choice

programs. That’s according to a leading

national organization promot-ing educational choice, the Alliance for School Choice. The group’s School Choice Yearbook is the annual award-winning publication offering the most comprehensive data on the nation’s private school choice programs. It found:

• Private school choice pro-grams saw an increase of more than 35,000 students from last year.

• The state with the most stu-dents benefiting from private school choice is Florida, with more than 76,000 students in two programs.

You can download the Yearbook at www.Alliance-forSchoolChoice.org/Yearbook.

School Choice Yearbook

The latest single-year en-rollment growth in private school choice programs is the largest in Americanhistory.

(Modesto, CA) The M.E.Ch.A Club of Modesto Junior College will be holding a Cesar Chavez Celebration on Thursday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the East Campus Quad, located at 435 College Avenue in Modesto. M.E.Ch.A in-vites the campus and community to join in this free celebration honoring the legacy of Chavez, activist and founder of the United Farm Workers Union (UFW).

The Cesar Chavez Celebration will include influential speakers, music, and entertainment; vendors will offer authentic arts, crafts, jew-elry and other items for sale. Carne asada and chicken will also be served with rice, beans and

Cesar Chavez Celebration planned by MEChA Club

SEE PAGE>9

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6 MARCH 2013

Merced College is once again partnering with the Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce to offer professional develop-ment training through the College’s award-winning Cus-tomer Service Academy. The workshops will be held at the College’s Business Resource Center, located at 630 West 19th Street in downtown Merced.

The Center features comfort-able training rooms with state-of-the-art technology. Morning and afternoon workshops will be offered the last two Thurs-days of each month from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. Topics include “Communi-cation in the Workplace,” “Cus-tomer Service,” “Team Building,” “Attitude in the Workplace,” “Values and Ethics,” “Stress Man-agement,” “Time Management,” “Conflict Resolution,” “Decision Making and Problem Solving,” and “Managing Organizational Change.”

Merced College has offered its Customer Service Academy for 13 years with thousands of employees from throughout the county participating.

According to Business and Management professor Jonae Pistoresi, “The feedback we continue to receive from par-ticipants is extremely positive. They feel that the workshops equip them with skills to better

interact with their co-workers and to be able to deliver better internal and external customer service.”

The program has won mul-tiple awards, including a na-tional award as an economic development best practice. Over 70 California Community Colleges offer the Customer Service Academy to businesses and organizations throughout the state, training thousands of employees each year. Some statewide participants include the San Diego Chargers, San Di-ego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, Beringer Wine Group, Wyn-Riv-er Casino, Frances Ford Coppola Presents, Hilton Hotels, and Westfield Malls.

The first workshop in the se-ries is “Communication in the Workplace.” Topics will include how to be a better communi-cator and better listener on a team. Non-verbal communi-cation will be covered as well as barriers to good communi-cation in the workplace. The two-day workshop will be held January 24 and 31. The cost is just $23, and participants earn a half-unit of college credit.

To sign up or for more infor-mation, call the Merced College Workplace Learning Resource Center at 209.386.6733 or visit www.customerserviceacad-emy.org

Merced College Customer Service Academy Offers Professional

Development Training

As the adviser to the Military Veterans of Merced College Club, I am in a unique position to report that both Merced Col-lege and the Merced communi-ty actively support our military veteran students in a myriad of ways. It is in this light that I would like to express a col-lective gratitude on behalf of our veteran students to all the community organizations that support veteran-specific schol-arships through the Merced College Foundation.

The veteran scholars de-scribed below have prudently spent these scholarship awards to advance their education goals. Last year our local Ameri-can Legion Post #83 generously sponsored two scholarships which directly benefitted two of our students. I and several members of our Veterans Club belong to the American Legion and have benefitted from this organization and the camara-derie shared among the local Legionnaires.

One American Legion schol-arship went to Antonio Tala-mantes, a former Marine, who has since transferred to Fresno State in pursuit of a civil engi-neering degree and is doing very well there. The second scholarship went to David Go-mez who will be continuing his education at Merced College in the fall. Mr. Gomez, an Army veteran, also benefitted from a $500 scholarship sponsored by the American Legion Riders, a group of motorcycle enthusi-asts within the American Le-gion who support local veteran causes.

In addition to scholarships sponsored by the American Le-gion, the Castle Air Force Base Officers’ Wives’ Club supported a scholarship awarded to Rus-sell Foster, who currently serves in the Marine Corps reserves. Sgt. Foster currently serves as the president of the Veterans Club and soon plans on trans-ferring to a four-year institution to major in Kinesiology. An-other veteran scholar at Mer-ced College is Terina Baiera, an Air Force retiree who received a generous scholarship provided by the Castle Air Museum en-dowment. Terina is employed

in the College’s Veterans Re-source Center and has been as-sisting her fellow veterans there for several years. Terina will be graduating with her associate’s degree in management this May after which she plans on transferring to San Jose State in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administra-tion. In addition to the students mentioned above, the veterans club has recently added new members that will be compet-ing for these and additional scholarships this year. On behalf of the faculty, staff and administration at Merced College, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Merced community and patri-otic organizations such as the American Legion, the American Legion Riders, and the Merced College Foundation. If your group or organization would likewise like to support our local veteran scholars at Merced College, please contact Robin Shepard, director of the Office of Institutional Advance-ment, who can assist you with the establishment of a Merced College Foundation scholar-ship.

Veteran Scholars at Merced Community College Thank Local Scholarship ProvidersCary Coburn, Ph.D. Professor of Biology &Environmental ScienceFaculty Advisor, MilitaryVeterans of Merced College

TURLOCK, Calif. — California State University (CSU), Stan-islaus, has been named to the 2013 President's Higher Educa-tion Community Service Honor Roll, the highest honor a col-lege or university can receive for its commitment to volun-teering, service learning and civic engagement.

It's the seventh consecu-tive year CSU Stanislaus has received the designation. The university's Office of Service Learning works with faculty members and more than 2,400

students every year on com-munity service projects and community-based research ini-tiatives

In 2012 alone, CSU Stanislaus students and faculty provided nearly 54,000 volunteer hours to the region, with an estimated economic impact of more than $1.14 million in services to the local community.

"CSU Stanislaus has a long history of service learning and believes strongly in preparing our graduates to be active lead-ers and participants in an ever-

changing world," said Julie Fox, the university's director of ser-vice learning. "We’re honored to receive this prestigious award, and we owe much of it to the faculty members involved and especially the students. They're the energy driving our commit-ment, and they're the ones who make it all happen."

Fox recently received indi-vidual praise for her work in ser-vice learning as well, when the Turlock Chamber of Commerce named her the Higher Educa-

University Named to President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the Seventh Consecutive Year; Service Learning Programs Provided Nearly 54,000 Volunteer Hours by Students and Faculty Members in 2012.

CSU Stanislaus Lauded Again forCommunity Service Efforts

SEE PAGE>23

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Page 7: March 2013

CENTRAL VALLEY VOICE.COM 7

On February 26, 2013 DRAIL (Disability Resource Agency for Independent Living) held their 3rd Annual Black History Month celebration at the King Kenne-dy Memorial Center.

The program featured vari-ous speakers from the commu-nity and hosted by Barry Smith, Executive Director of DRAIL. Cleopathia Moore, Executive Director of the West Modesto King Kennedy Neighborhood

Collaborative talked about the importance of education and how people sacrificed so much so Blacks could have an equal education. Cleopathia grew up in segregated Mississippi. She experienced the Jim Crow south first hand and under-stands the fight for civil rights. Frank Johnson, president of the Stanislaus/Modesto Branch of the NAACP gave an historical account of how Black History Month was started by Dr. Carter

G. Woodson, which began as Negro History Week in 1926. But Six years before in 1920, Dr. Carter G. Woodson presented the idea to his fraternity, Ome-ga Psi Phi. The idea of taking the time to study Black history and culture began as National Ne-gro Achievement and Literature Week with Omega Psi Phi. There were 3 youth speakers who shared their insight through personal and historical knowl-edge as well. Selena Thomas, president of the Johansen High BSU and Kurnesia Benion, Vice President of the Johansen High BSU spoke about the history of

the BSU and its humble begin-nings at San Francisco State University and what types of activities the Johansen BSU is involved in. Selena also talked about her involvement in the Project UPLIFT Mentoring Pro-gram and how she started as a mentee in middle school and has become mentor herself as a senior in high school. Enoch Walker a 2012 Modesto High graduate and Navy recruit talk-ed about the importance learn-ing about Black History and why it is important for young people to know their history.

The program also included a performance of several scenes

from the Sankofa Theatre Com-pany’s production of August Wilson’s Pulitzer prize winning play The Piano Lesson with cast members John Ervin III, Adam Torrian and Sam Mellor. The Pi-ano Lesson was staged in part-nership with the Gallo Center for the Arts. The Piano Lesson was a huge success selling out two out of three performances at the Gallo Center. Sankofa Theatre Company is the first Black Theatre Company found-ed in Modesto by John Ervin III, Elizabeth Garmon, Cheryl Knox and Greg Savage.

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Merced SPCA Easter Bunny Photos

Date of Event: March 30, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. The is lo-cated at the Walmart in Merced.

For more information call: 947-2527 or 723-8953 or visit: mer-cedspca.com

Come smile with the Easter bunny!

Enoch Walker

Submitted John Ervin III

Page 8: March 2013

8 MARCH 2013

The City of Modesto Planning Commission will host a series of three (3) public workshops in order to solicit public input regarding the General Plan Amendment (GPA) project. The General Plan establishes policy direction regarding Modesto’s future growth and develop-ment, and the City is currently working on a GPA project to update and modernize the General Plan, which was last updated comprehensively in 1995. The GPA project, which is not a comprehensive update, is focused on the land use and transportation elements of the General Plan. The GPA propos-es changes to both the land use and street network diagrams. The schedule for the workshop series is as follows:

• Monday- March 18, 2013 at 6:00 pm at the Petersen Event

Center (720 12th Street) • Monday- April 15, 2013

at 6:00 pm at the Davis High School “Little Theater” (1200 W. Rumble Road- Park near the tennis courts at Davis Park)

• Monday- June 3, 2013 at 6:00 pm at the King-Kennedy Memorial Center (601 Martin Luther King Drive – Mellis Park)

Broad public participa-tion will help ensure that the amended plan reflects the community’s preferences and values to the maximum extent possible. If you should have questions, please contact Brad Wall, AICP, Principal Planner at (209) 577-5273 or by email at [email protected]. You may also contact Patrick Kelly, AICP, Planning Manager at (209) 577-5267 or by email at [email protected].

Help Shape Modesto’s Future!Public Workshop- General Plan Amendment

Read And Succeed adult lit-eracy program needs volun-teer tutors! Please read this message and the attached flyer and consider volunteering at the Library.

More than half of Merced County’s adults have difficulty reading. Many never learned to read. The Merced County Library’s Read And Succeed-Merced adult literacy program is working to change that, one person at a time. And you can help.

“Instead of going to school, I’d skip classes and hang out with my friends,” says an adult learner who eventually dropped out of school. “I fig-ured didn’t need school!” Now, after working with a volun-teer tutor, this learner is fully prepared for the GED and has made an appointment to take the test.

“I knew in third grade that reading was going to be hard for me,” said another Merced adult learner. “By fourth grade, I knew I wasn’t going to get it.” This adult began in the pro-gram learning the sounds of the letters and has advanced to preparing for the GED.

These are only two of the many stories our tutors share. And its stories like these that inspire us.

If you are 18 or older, have a high school diploma or GED, and love reading, you can be-come a volunteer tutor. Share your love of reading. Join us @ the Library for one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Call us at 209-385-7391 to reserve space at one of our Volunteer Tutor Orientations in April.

Volunteer TutorsNeeded At The Library

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Ola Winzer Turns 83

Ola Winzer turned 83 on February 11, 2013. Ola is the proud mother of 8 children, 29 grandchildren, 70 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

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CENTRAL VALLEY VOICE.COM 9

Please join the Board of Di-rectors of Sacred Rok – Brian Cooley, Nancy Goodban, Kenji Hakuta, Lamar Henderson, Ron Kauk, Steve Shackelton, and Lucy Snyder –for a wine and cheese reception to share our new book. Saturday, March 23, 2013. 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Multicultural Arts Center

645 W Main St, MercedLegendary Yosemite rock

climber and author Ron Kauk will share his new book, Letters from Sacred Rok: Education Na-ture’s Way, which has a forward by Kenji Hakuta.

Ron has lived and climbed in Yosemite for 40 years. In 2009, Ron and the other Board mem-bers established the nonprofit organization Sacred Rok

(www.SacredRok.org) to help share nature with young people from Merced and elsewhere.

We are grateful for the sup-port of Clif Bar Family Foun-dation, United Way of Merced County, North Face Explore Fund, Yosemite Conservancy, other funders, and individual donors. Sacred Rok leads day trips and camping trips in Yo-semite National Park.

Trips have included Mer-

ced foster youth, incarcerated youth from Iris Garrett

Juvenile Facility, Merced Boys & Girls Club members, and teens from Planada, as well as Native American and Mariposa middle school youth.

Letters from Sacred Rok is an account of opening the door to bringing these young people and ourselves to experience the healing of Yosemite. The book is about building commu-nity, learning to work together, and building relationships through getting back to the basics. Through this book, Ron intertwines an account of his experiences in bringing youth to Yosemite with the symbolic lessons learned as a climber.

For information contact Nan-cy Goodban [email protected] or 650-787-9859.

Letters from Sacred Rok: Education Nature's Way

BEAUTY CORNER

Treasurer James Bethune was the Master of Ceremonies at the NAACP Annual Installation of Officers held on February 27, 2013 inMerced.

salsa for the price of $4.Although the event is free and open to the public, park-ing passes are $1 and can be obtained at various ticket dis-pensers located in the student parking lots.

NAACP INSTALLATION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

CESAR CHAVEZ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

The nation’s oldest civil rights organi-zation has changed America’s history. Despite violence, intimidation and hostile government policies, the NAACP and its grass-roots member-ship persevered.

Ethraim Alexander Evans , at the NAACP Instal-lation Ceremony. Ethraim participated with his mother Leanna Rhodes, in reading about the history of the NAACP. He is the grandson of Leonard and Dorothy Rhodes. Ethraim turned 9 on March 17.

Page 10: March 2013

10 MARCH 2013

Church NewsIN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKSBy Barry M. Grider

On November 22, 2012, Ameri-cans again celebrated a national day of thanksgiving. It is a day set aside to give thanks unto God for our great heritage and the many blessings He bestows upon us. For many, Thanksgiv-ing is simply a day off from work. It is a time to overeat, en-joy parades and ball games, and visit friends and relatives.

However, for the child of God, every day is truly Thanksgiving Day. Paul admonished, "In ev-erything give thanks" (1 Thess. 5:18). For what does the child of God give thanks?

Give thanks for God's good-ness and mercy (1 Chron. 16:34).

Give thanks for God's holiness (Ps. 30:4).

Give thanks for God's cre-ations (Ps. 75:1).

Give thanks for God's deeds (Ps 105.1

Give thanks for God's righ-teous judgement (Ps. 119:62).

Give thanks for our food (Mt. 15:36)

Give thanks for the body and blood of Jesus (Mt. 26:26-28).

Give thanks for the victory found in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57).

Give thanks for the care and compassion of others (2 Cor. 8:16).

Give thanks for God's un-speakable gift—Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 9:15).

Give thanks for our brethren (Eph. 1:16).

Give thanks for all things (Eph. 5:20).

Give thanks for the church (Col. 1:12-13).

Give thanks for all men (1 Tim. 2:1).

Give thanks for civil authori-ties (Tim. 2:2).

Give thanks for the hope of heaven (Rev. 11-17).

Surely we can think of count-less other blessings for which we can give thanks. These are just a few of those mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. As His chil-dren, let us begin today thank-ing God for His many favors.

Antioch Celebrates Pastor and Wife

Scripture & Science For Kids

A BEACON OF HOPE IN THE STORMS OF LIFE!

(Open Your Bible to Matthew 14:22-33) If you've ever taken a vacation near an ocean, you might have seen a lighthouse hovering over the shore. Lighthouses have always fascinated me because of the mystery and beauty that sur-round them. It's truly fascinating to behold such an enormous beacon of light showering its ra-diant beams over a deep, dark sea. Lighthouses were built for the purpose of helping ships navi-gate and remain on course when weather condi-tions made it difficult. America's first lighthouse was built in 1716 in Boston, Massachusetts---and today's lighthouses can project light as far as 21 miles out to sea! Lighthouses would have been useful in Bible times, as boats were a common way to travel.

On one occasion, Jesus commanded His dis-ciples to enter into a boat and cross the Sea of Galilee without Him. After reaching the middle of the sea, the wind became so strong that it be-

gan tossing the disciples' boat among the waves. The darkness of the sky and raging sea must have caused the disciples to lose hope. Suddenly, their eyes caught sight of something---something they thought was a spirit or ghost. As the figure drew closer, Jesus called to them in order to calm their fears and let them know it was Him. Imag-ine how the disciples must have felt to see Jesus not sinking into the water! Peter (one of the dis-ciples) asked the Lord for permission to come to Him onto the water. Jesus told Peter to come, and Peter began to walk on the water! However, the Bible tells us that Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink. Jesus immediately stretched out His hand to save Peter.

Jesus performed this miracle (and many oth-ers) as recorded in the Bible to prove that He was the Son of God. Miracles are not needed today because we have the Bible to confirm Jesus' iden-tity and purpose. No one today has the ability to walk on water.

However, what a valuable lesson we can learn from Peter in this miraculous story. Undoubtedly, storms of life will cause us to feel hopeless and afraid on occasion. As Christians, we have a bea-con of light that always shines to help us stay on course. All we must do is keep our minds focused on that light. Jesus is our beacon of hope in the storms of life!

By Melinda Harrub

The Antioch Missionary Baptist Church will cel-ebrate the 35th Anniversary of Pastor Eddie P. & Joyce Goodin, on Friday, April 19 at 7:00 p.m. , Sunday, April 21 at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. service.

Address: 404 W 6th Street, Merced, CA. For more in-formation, please call (209) 722-9806

Appreciation

Page 11: March 2013

CENTRAL VALLEY VOICE.COM 11

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Central Valley CelebratesBlack History Month

Phil Sanders will be the guest speaker on Sunday, April 14 thru Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at the Yosemite Parkway church of Christ in Merced.

Sanders is speaker for “In Search of the Lord’s Way,” a na-tionally broadcasted television ministry of Edmond Church of Christ, Instructor, Amridge Uni-versity) and Theological Uni-versity of America, involved in active ministry for more than 40 years, former assistant di-rector and instructor, Nashville School of Preaching and Bibli-cal Studies since 1998, and au-thor of several books and fre-quent speaker at lectureships, gospel meetings, seminars and articles in Gospel Advocate and Spiritual Sword.

Times and topics: Sunday (14th) Morning Bible

Class 9:30 a.m.-Postmodern-ism, Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. and evening Worship 6:00 p.m.-Truth and Postmodern-ism.

Monday (15th) Evening 7:00 p.m.- How Jesus Triumphed

Tuesday (16th) Evening 7:00 p.m.-Obedience and Postmo-dermism.

Please come and join us.For more information, please call (209) 722-2852.

Gospel Meetingin Merced

Phil Sanders

Mt OliveHonors Black History Month

Pictured above is a t-shirt dis-playing the Tuskegee Airmen.The Tuskegee Airman were an elite group of African-Ameri-can pilots in the 1940s. They were pioneers in equality and integration of the Armed Forces.

Pictured above are photos of President Barack Obama.

Progressive MBC 39th Anniversary Celebration

Progressive MBC celebrated their 39th Church Anniversary on February 24th, 2013 . The (Theme was: "Put the Lord First" Matthew 6:33)

The Guest Church was Rev.

Dr. Richard L. Daniels, Fellow-ship Baptist Church, Fresno, CA , his choir and several of his members were in attendance.

They had a glorious time in the Lord..

Dr. Pastor Rodger Tyler (left) and Rev. Dr. Richard L. Daniel (right).

Above is Karina Dean, daugh-ter of Rev. Kerry Dean our In-terim Minister. She was Mis-tress of Ceremonies of Mt. Olive Black History Program on February 24, 2013.

Allen Huddleston (left) head coach of the Merced College Lady Blue Devil Basketball team, Kenny James (center) and Dr.Samuel Huddleston. On February 24, 2013, at Liberty Fellowship”s fourth annual black history program. Dr Samuel Huddleston was the keynote speaker. The Merced college Lady Blue Devil Bas-ketball team attended the event.

Page 12: March 2013

12 MARCH 2013

Mount Olive Baptist Church Honors Black

History Month

Sonja Moon Correa formally of Atwater, was the keynote speaker for the Black History Program at Mt Olive Mission-ary Baptist Church February 24, 2013. Sonja spoke about the importance of getting a College education and about women who have been influential in her life. She also stressed that the struggle for civil rights and

equality is still going on and en-couraged the young people to do their part and to not be dis-couraged.

Mr. Rick Carty, also of Elk Grove, a friend and former col-lege class mate of Sonja was a guest speaker for the program. Sonja is the daughter of Lewis and Odessa Moon of Atwater. Mt Olive celebrated Black

History by displaying photos and books of African Ameri-cans.

Sonja Moon Correa Keynote Speaker

Bethesda Singles’ Ministry Holds Seminar

Dr. Bernadetta Carter of Fresno, CA was the Seminar Speaker at the Bethesda Singles’ Ministry. The seminar was held at the Bethesda Apostolic Faith Church on February 23, 2013 in Merced. The theme was “Keeping It Holy”. The workshop was designed to provide information that will enlighten and echance individuals to maintain a life of holiness.

Pastor Richard Johnson is the Senior Pastor and Minister Artis Ghoston, is the Singles’ Ministry President.

Dr. Bernadetta CarterGuest Speaker

For HIS Glory Praise Dance Ministry is hosting "GLORIOUS PRAISE" a praise dance explo-sion Saturday March 23, 2013 at New Faith Tabernacle Chris-tian Church 208 E 10th Street, Merced CA 95340 at 3:00 p.m.

Please come and help us make his praise Glorious. For more information contact: El-der Phyllis Patterson at 209-648-0495. We are praying to see you there.

For HIS Glory Praise Dance Ministry

Junelle Morris of Bethesda ApostolicFaith Church singing at Bethesda.

“KEEPING IT HOLY”The Journey of a Lifetime!

Charlotte Marcelli (right) cel-ebrated her 50th Birthday on February 16, 2013 with sister Carolyn Williams at her home in Merced.

Page 13: March 2013

CENTRAL VALLEY VOICE.COM 13

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14 MARCH 2013

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“Celebrate Women History Month”

Independent Exhibitor Deadline Soon MERCED – There’s an impor-

tant deadline coming up for independent junior exhibitors planning to enter their goats, sheep or swine at the 2013 Merced County Fair. The date to remember is April 15.

That deadline date is 60 days before the fair, which is June 12-16. Independent junior ex-hibitors are those who are not 4-H or FFA members, according to a state rule. Independent ju-nior exhibitors entering market animals in the fair must give fair management a copy of their birth certificate or driver's

license as proof of age. This is a local requirement.

According to state require-ments, all independent junior exhibitors entering market animals must provide fair man-agement with a photo of their animal, appropriate proof of ownership, permanent tag, tat-too and/or hog ear notch infor-mation. The fair’s deadline for independent junior exhibitors entering market beef has al-ready passed.

Rules for California fairs re-quire independent juniors who want to exhibit market sheep, goats or swine at the fair must be at least nine years old or in the fourth grade by January 1, 2013. Exhibitors are eligible to compete through December 31 of the year when they turn 19 years old.

All required information must be submitted to the fair office at 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way , Merced . For informa-tion call (209) 722-1507, fax at (209) 722-3773, email

[email protected] or go to www.MercedCounty-Fair.com and connect with us – find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Save the date for the 10th an-nual Children’s Summit 2013. “I’m a rainbow in somebody’s cloud,” will be held April 25 at Yosemite Church, located at 2230 E. Yosemite Ave, Merced CA. Starting 8:30 a.m. network-ing, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. will be the program, lunch provided. Pre-registration required, con-tact Jennifer Brooks, (209) 385-7337 or email at [email protected]. This event is sponsored in part by First 5 Merced County, The California Endowment, and in coordina-tion with the Merced County Mobilization Team. This event is free.

Children’sSummit 2013

Page 15: March 2013

CENTRAL VALLEY VOICE.COM 15

(NAPSI)—A little knowledge can be a lifesaving thing. Too often, people use “sudden cardiac arrest” and “heart at-tack” interchangeably, but they shouldn’t.

A heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is blocked and sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart malfunctions and suddenly stops beating unex-pectedly. A heart attack is a “cir-culation” problem and sudden cardiac arrest is an “electrical” problem. Here are a few more facts it may be healthy to know:

What Is a Heart Attack?A heart attack occurs when a

blocked artery keeps oxygen-rich blood from reaching a sec-tion of the heart. If the blocked artery is not reopened quickly, the part of the heart normally nourished by that artery be-gins to die. The longer a person goes without treatment, the greater the damage. Symp-toms of a heart attack may be immediate and intense. More often, though, symptoms start slowly and persist for hours, days or even weeks before the heart attack. The heart usually does not stop beating during

a heart attack. Symptoms can differ in men and women.

What Is Cardiac Arrest?Sudden cardiac arrest of-

ten occurs without warning. It’s triggered by an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). With its pump-ing action disrupted, the heart cannot send blood to the brain, lungs and other organs. Sec-onds later, a person loses con-sciousness and has no pulse. Death occurs within minutes if the victim does not receive treatment.

What Is the link?These two distinct heart

conditions are linked. Sudden cardiac arrest can occur after a heart attack or during recov-ery. Heart attacks increase the risk for sudden cardiac arrest. Most heart attacks do not lead to sudden cardiac arrest but when sudden cardiac arrest oc-curs, heart attack is a common cause. Other heart conditions may also disrupt the heart’s rhythm and lead to sudden cardiac arrest. These include a thickened heart muscle (car-diomyopathy), heart failure, and arrhythmias, particularly ventricular fibrillation and long QT syndrome.

What To Do: Heart AttackEven if you’re not sure it’s a

heart attack, don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1 or other emergency response number. Every minute matters. It’s best to call EMS to get to the emergency room right away. Emergency medical services staff can begin treatment when they arrive—up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. EMS staff are also trained to revive some-one whose heart has stopped.

Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance may get faster treatment at the hospi-tal, too.

What To Do: Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest is reversible in most victims if it’s treated within a few minutes. First, call 9-1-1 for emergency medical services. Then use an automat-ed external defibrillator (AED) if one is available. Begin CPR im-mediately and continue until professional emergency medi-cal services arrive. If two peo-ple are available to help, one should begin CPR immediately while the other calls 9-1-1 and finds an AED.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death—nearly 360,000 out-of-hospital car-diac arrests occur annually in the United States. By perform-ing immediate CPR, you can double or even triple a victim’s chance of survival.

Learn MoreYou can find further informa-

tion about how to help save a life with CPR at www.heart.org/CPR.

Fast action can save lives: It’s a good idea to know what to do if someone experiences a heart attack or cardiac arrest.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Or HeartAttack: Know The Difference

“When It All Falls Through the Cracks”

Part Five in the SeriesNavigating the Mental Health

Care SystemFamily members of a loved

one living with a mental illness have often been frustrated and discouraged by lack of services because they have private in-surance and therefore can't get the kind of managed and/or wrap around care that people on Medi-Cal get. These families have been invited to share their stories at this fifth in the series, “Navigating the Mental Health Care System.”

MHSA Ongoing Planning Council members have offered to come to the meeting so they can hear firsthand some of the difficulties these families have faced. Please join us for an interesting and provocative discussion. Wednesday, March 27 at 6:30 p.m. Location: The CUBE480 13th Street, Merced, CA(Center building in Mental Health Complex)

For information Call: (209) 381-6844

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebel-ius announced that more states are moving forward to imple-ment the health care law and establishing Health Insurance Marketplaces. HHS condition-ally approved Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, and West Vir-ginia to operate State Partner-ship Marketplaces, which will be ready for open enrollment in October 2013.

“HHS will continue to work collaboratively with all states to build the Marketplace,” Sec-retary Sebelius said. “Working together, we will be ready in seven months when consum-ers will be able to use the new marketplace to easily purchase quality, affordable health insur-

ance plans.”Today’s conditional approv-

als bring the total number of states that have been condi-tionally approved to partially or fully run their Marketplace to 24 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, several other states have suggested their own approaches to con-tributing toward plan manage-ment in their Marketplace in 2014. HHS will continue to pro-vide all states with the flexibil-ity, resources, and time needed to support the establishment of the new health insurance mar-ketplace.

Consumers in every state will soon be able to buy insurance from qualified health plans di-

HHS And States Move Forward To Offer Quality, AffordableHealth Coverage

SEE PAGE >16

SubscribeToday!(209)

357-3718

Page 16: March 2013

16 MARCH 2013

(NAPSI)—Protecting your health is important to every-one. That’s why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants you to know that there are many dangerous products unlawfully marketed as “dietary supplements” that contain hid-den drugs and chemicals. These products are sold for all sorts of conditions including weight loss, sexual enhancement, bodybuilding, arthritis and diabetes. They can contain hid-den prescription ingredients at levels much higher than those found in approved drugs.

Using these bogus products may place you at risk of injury or death especially if you have oth-er health problems. They may interact in dangerous ways with other medicines you are taking. FDA has received many reports of harm including stroke, liver injury, kidney failure, heart pal-pitations and death.

The experts at FDA offer these clues that a product may be tainted. Beware of products that:

• Promise rapid or long-lasting effects for sexual enhancement

• Are labeled in foreign lan-guages

• Claim to be a legal alterna-tive to anabolic steroids

• Warn you may test positive for performance-enhancing drugs

• Promise quick and easy weight loss

• Are marketed using e-mail spam or unsolicited faxes

• Include directions and warn-

ings that resemble those of FDA-approved drug products.

Be proactive—do your re-search before buying these types of products, especially if you find them on the Internet. If you use or are considering us-ing any product marketed as a dietary supplement, check with your health care provider.

Ask yourself if the claims sound too good to be true or seem to be unrealistic or ex-treme. Be on the lookout for these “red flag” claims, includ-ing “quick cure,” “secret ingredi-ent,” “new discovery,” “cure-all” or “instant pain relief.”

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

What To DoIf you or someone you care

about has been hurt by a taint-ed dietary supplement, call (800) FDA-1088 or visit FDA online at www.fda.gov/safety/MedWatch.

To report a product you sus-pect may be tainted, e-mail [email protected], or to anonymously report “Suspected Criminal Activity,” complete the form available at www.fda.gov/oci. For more information on how to spot health fraud scams, visit www.fda.gov/healthfraud.

If the health claims of a dietary supplement seem too good to be true-they probably are.

Save Your-self FromSuspicious Supple-ments

Most Fire Deaths Result in Homeswith No Smoke Alarms

CAL FIRE Reminds Californians to Check Their Smoke AlarmsSacramento – While a 2010

study by the National Fire Pro-tection Association found that 96 percent of all homes have at least one smoke alarm, nearly two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. To help reduce the number of home fire fatalities, CAL FIRE is remind-ing all Californians to make sure they have working smoke alarms in their homes.

“Smoke alarms give you and your family an early warning when there is a fire so you can quickly get outside,” said State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover, CAL FIRE-Office of the State Fire

Marshal. “Smoke alarms save lives, but they must be in good working order and must be tested.”

Smoke alarms should be in-stalled inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. While most smoke alarms come with 10-year batteries, CAL FIRE recommends that you test your smoke alarm monthly to ensure it’s in good working order. Re-place all smoke alarms after 10 years.

Families should also prac-tice with their children what to do when there is a fire. Every family should set down and create an escape plan with an

outside meeting place. If the alarm goes off crawl low to the ground under the smoke and exit the home quickly. A neigh-bor’s yard or a sidewalk mailbox are common meeting places to ensure that everyone gets out safely. Families should practice home fire drills regularly.

Working smoke alarms in-crease the chance of surviving a home fire by 50 percent. A smoke alarm is a small price to help keep you and your family safe.

For more information on smoke alarms, please visit the CAL FIRE’s website at www.fire.ca.gov.

(NAPSI)--To make staying healthy easier, the experts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) offer free, easy-to-read information about health conditions that can affect racial and ethnic populations. These tips can help you and your family stay healthy:

Keep Your Muscles and Bones Healthy

The muscles in your body help you walk, move, lift things, pump blood through your body and breathe. They also support your bones and let you do the things you love to do. To keep bones and muscles healthy, it helps to:

• Try four types of exercise: endurance, strength, balance and flexibility. These are im-

portant for overall health and can help you make the most of your personal and family activi-ties. However, don’t try to fit all your activity into one evening or weekend.

• Eat a balanced diet. Con-sume less fat and sugar and more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Get enough cal-cium and vitamin D every day. This helps manage your weight and provides the different nu-trients that your bones and muscles need.

Manage Joint PainA joint is where two or more

bones are joined together. If you have frequent joint pain, visit your doctor to determine the cause. If your joint pain is due to a condition like arthri-

tis, there are ways to feel better and stay active even if you have pain:

• When you exercise, try to move all your joints. Walking or climbing stairs helps cir-culation, supports the joints and strengthens the muscles. Strengthened muscles help take stress off the joints, and re-ducing joint stress helps reduce joint pain.

• Use an ice pack on the sore area.

• See a doctor regularly. Tell the doctor if your pain is im-proving or worsening.

Get InformationThe NIH has developed a se-

ries of free health planners that offer different tips on bones, joints, muscles and skin for each month of the year. They were created for four multicul-tural communities:

• African Americans• American Indians/Alaska Na-

tives/Native Hawaiians• Asian Americans/Pacific Is-

landers• Hispanics/Latinos (bilingual

planner).A Year of Health planners

can be ordered by calling the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Informa-tion Clearinghouse toll-free at (877) 226−4267 [TTY: (301) 565−2966] or at www.niams.nih.gov/multicultural.

A Year Of Living Healthfully

Every day, you can find good ways to help your health.

HEALTH AWARENESS

rectly through a Marketplace and may be eligible for premi-um tax credits and cost sharing assistance to help lower their costs. These health plans will ensure consumers have the same kinds of valuable insur-ance choices as members of

Congress, and cannot be de-nied coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

For more information on the new Health Insurance Market-place, visit:

www.healthcare.gov/market-place/

HEALTH COVERAGE..CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

Page 17: March 2013

CENTRAL VALLEY VOICE.COM 17

New Web Site Highlights ThePositive In Hip Hop And Pop Culture -- ProfessU.com features exclusive interviews with hip-hop artists who attended college, and are sharing their perspectives on career and world events. --

Nationwide (BlackNews.com) -- ProfessU.com is where hip hop and pop culture meet education. The web site was created by educators Dr. John P. Hamilton and Dr. John Spruill III, and their goal is to capture the positive essences of hip hop and pop culture in trend-ing news, and create original content in the same vein.

ProfessU "flips the script" to give the world a glimpse of conversations with your favorite high profile individuals which allows them to dis-cuss their lives, dreams, and perspectives on the industry or world events. More impor-tantly, ProfessU wants you to experience these individuals’ humble beginnings, and be-come a witness to how many have tapped into the academy as an option for opportunity, or used their newfound wealth to assist others.

Imagine watching Dom Ken-nedy, Alicia Keys, or Common discuss how education played a role in their life. Envision Grammy-nominated rapper No Malice of The Clipse discussing his major life transition and giving back to the community, while also being able to hear NFL quarterback Cam Newton explain his return to college to complete his degree. Visual-ize a chat with David Banner or Jennifer Hudson about the relevancy of their lyrics. More importantly, listen to Dee-1, Ice Cube, Queen Latifah, or Will Smith talk about having a Plan B.

In reality, everything we see and hear regarding the enter-tainment and sports industries cannot all be rooted in nega-

tivity. ProfessU takes on the responsibility of sifting through the negative with a strong desire to provide a venue for the stories that are never told, seen or heard. Simultaneously, ProfessU also serves as a plat-form for dialogue that does not exist on the plethora of gossip-based sites.

This website is fully interac-tive, as its multimedia, social network-based foundation will allow visitors to leave com-ments and provide discussion on the trending news and original content available. Clearly, ProfessU has found a niche that grabs the positive to motivate and educate others from diverse backgrounds.

For more details, visit www.professu.com

Dr. John P. Hamilton and Dr. John Spruill III, creators ofProfessU.com

Arts & Entertainment

Día de los Niños/Día de los Li-bros!: Games Around the World

Celebrate our multicultural community with Día!: Games Around the World at the Modesto Library on Saturday, March 30 at 10 a.m. Children can participate in a special bi-lingual Story Time, play games, create crafts, and enter into a book drawing! Special cultural presentations will also occur throughout the day, including a performance by the Ballet Folklórico y Los Falcones danc-ers!

For more information, please call the Modesto Library Chil-dren’s Department at 558-7810.

Día de los Ni-ños/Día de los Libros!: Games Around the World

The Gallo Center is delighted to present Lula Washington Dance Theatre Company. This award-winning Los Angeles-based repertoire dance ensem-ble performs innovative and provocative choreography by Lula Washington. The company tours internationally and has been received with acclaim and admiration by steadfastly focus-ing on using dance to explore social and humanitarian issues,

including aspects of African-American history and culture.

The company will present "The Little Rock Nine," a hard-hitting work that tells the story of nine African American stu-dents who risked their lives by enrolling in a all-white, segre-gated school, and whose cour-age changed America. (Lula herself was born near Little Rock, Arkansas in 1950.)

Tuesday, April 9, 2013 7:00 p.m.Mary Stuart Rogers Theater

LULA WASHINGTON

To Advertise inThe Voice Call! (209)357-3718

Page 18: March 2013

18 MARCH 2013

HEALTHFUL EATINGStir-fry Cooking Takes FlavorTo The Next Level

(NAPSI)—Here’s delicious news: You can enjoy great meals that are high in flavor yet low in calories when you turn to the stirring tastes of stir-fry cooking.

This kind of cuisine origi-nated in China many years ago with the wok and has become a major part of many American lifestyles. The trend is growing as more and more people re-alize that this type of cooking can be a healthy part of the family diet—whether you use a skillet, wok or pan. The key is in the preparation.

As with any method of cook-ing, it is still possible to make a dish that is high in fat and calories with stir-fry cooking if you’re not careful. By working with a small amount of cook-ing oil and sticking to lean meats and lots of vegetables, however, you can do stir-fry cooking that’s a quick and easy way to prepare healthy and fla-vorful meals.

“Asian-inspired cuisine is one of the major food trends today because of the fresh ingredi-ents and exciting flavor com-binations available,” explained one expert on food, Jason Abelkop of Buffets, Inc.

Popular restaurants that are owned by Buffets, such as Ryan’s® as well as HomeTown® Buffet and Old Country Buffet®, are helping to lead the trend with made-to-order Mongo-lian Stir Fry, now available for lunch and dinner at most lo-cations. Guests choose from chicken, beef or shrimp to cre-ate the combination that’s just right for them.

To kick-start stir-fry cooking in your kitchen, check out this recipe from the restaurants’ chefs:

Garlic Ginger Mongolian

Chicken Yield: 2 servings2 4-oz. chicken breasts

1 tsp. vegetable oil

1 tsp. chopped ginger

1 tsp. chopped garlic

1 cup peapods

1 cup cabbage, shredded

½ cup ¼” julienned onions

½ cup matchstick carrots

1 cup broccoli florets

1 Tbsp vegetable oil

¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce

¼ cup teriyaki sauce

2 sprigs cilantro

2 servings unconverted rice (cooked according to recipe)

Cut chicken into ½” strips.

Mix vegetable oil, ginger and garlic together. Rub mixture on the chicken breast strips, place in refrigerator for a minimum of two hours. Mix vegetables together in bowl. Place oil in sauté pan over medium heat. Add chicken strips and sauté for five minutes. Toss frequently to evenly brown. Turn up heat to “high” and add fresh vegeta-bles. Toss frequently. Cook for one minute. Vegetables should be crisp in texture. Add soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and the cilantro sprigs to taste. Quickly toss to coat, then remove from heat. Top rice with hot fresh stir-fry and enjoy.

Learn MoreFor locations and other infor-

mation on Buffets restaurants, visit www.Ryans.com as well as www.HomeTownBuffet.com and www.OldCountryBuffet.com.

Garlic Ginger Mongolian Chicken is an easy-to-create stir-fry dish that’s light yet filling.

(NAPSI)—When you want a delicious, healthy meal, and timing is tight—go fish! Garden Fish Fillet balances the deli-cate flavors of fish, fresh herbs, carrots and grapes. A gener-ous grating of nutty Jarlsberg cheese adds a tasty touch to this simple supper. Cleanup is quick and easy, too.

Garden Fish Fillet (Serves 4)

4 4-ounce pieces boneless white fish fillets

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (dill, tarragon, chives, parsley)

2 cups shredded carrots

1 cup halved seedless green grapes

1 cup (4 ounces) grated Jarls-berg cheese

4 lemon slices

Preheat oven to 425°. Coat fil-let pieces with olive oil; arrange in a foil-lined, oven-proof bak-ing dish. Mix together herbs, carrots, grapes and cheese. Divide mixture into equal por-tions to cover each fillet, then top each with a lemon slice. Cover dish tightly with foil and bake 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes, covered, before serv-

Lighten Up Your Supper

SEE PAGE>19

Garden Fish Fillet is fast and easy to make and great to eat.

Page 19: March 2013

CENTRAL VALLEY VOICE.COM 19

Merced College Basketball

Calling all Lifeguards and Swim Instructors! Looking for a summer job? The City of Modesto Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department is hiring lifeguards and swim instructors. A variety of work hours are available this sum-mer and also year round!

Lifeguards must posses American Red Cross Lifeguard Training, First Aid, CPR for the Professional Rescuer and Title 22 certificates.

Applicants must apply on-line at www.modestogov.com/employment.

For more information, call (209) 577-5428 or visit http://agency.governmentjobs.com/

Stockton, Calif. – The Pacific men's basketball team will face No. 2 seed Miami in the Second Round of the NCAA Tourna-ment in Austin, Texas on Friday, March 22 at the Frank Erwin Center. The tipoff time will be announced later in the week.

Pacific finished the regular season with a record of 22-12, 13-5 in Big West Conference play. The Tigers won three games in three nights at Ana-heim, Calif. to win the Big West Tournament over last week-end. Pacific defeated UC Santa Barbara (71-68), Cal Poly (55-53) and UC Irvine (64-55) from Thursday through Saturday.

Miami is the regular season and tournament champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They will enter Friday's game with a record of 27-6 overall,

15-3 in ACC play. The Hurricanes defeated North Carolina 87-77 on March 17 to win the ACC Tournament. Pacific and Miami will meet for the first time this Friday.

This is the ninth NCAA Tourna-ment appearance for the Tigers, returning to the "Big Dance" for the first time since 2006. It will be the first time that Pacific has faced Miami. Head Coach Bob Thomason is leading the Tigers to the NCAA's for the fifth time in his 25th and final year as the head coach at Pacific.

A limited number of tickets will be made available to the general public by calling the Pa-cific Athletic Foundation (PAF) Office at 209-946-2387 at 12:00 p.m. Tickets will be available at a cost of $75 with an additional service fee.

Pacific Faces Miami In NCAA Tournament

This entry-level soccer program is designed ofr boys and gir’s ages 4 to 6 that show an interest inlearning about and playing the gam of indoor soccer. The program will take place at the Atwater Com-munity Center is Monday and Wednesdays. Games will be played at 6:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Practices are scheduled to begin in June.

Registration will negin on Monday, April 22, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and will continue until Thursday, May 2. 2013 or until the program is filled.

ing. If desired, drizzle with a simple lemon vinaigrette and a few grindings of fresh black pepper. Serve with steamed, lightly buttered asparagus and baby red potatoes. Garden Fish Fillet is fast and easy to make and great to eat.

Beginning IndoorSoccer

Calling all Lifeguards and SwimInstructors!!!

LIGHT SUPPERCONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

Merced College Basketball Coach Bill Russell, February 6, 2013.

(Modesto, CA) – Beer, wine lovers, food connoisseurs and sports enthusiasts alike will find something to please their palate at this year’s Celebrate Modesto Junior College Wine, Beer and Gourmet Food Tasting on Saturday, April 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the MJC Gymnasium on East Campus. Proceeds from the event will benefit the 21 in-

tercollegiate sports in the MJC Athletics Program. The event will feature not only beer but a selection of regional vintners showcasing premium varietal wines for the tasting. Participating wineries that have signed on to date include Bare-foot Winery,E. & J. Gallo Winery, Naked Grape, Classic Wines,

Local Restaurants, Beer And Premium Wines Featured At MJC Athletics Fundraiser

SEE PAGE >20

Coach Allen Huddleston (left) and cousin Dr. Samuel Huddleston at a Merced College Basketball game on February 6, 2013.

Page 20: March 2013

20 MARCH 2013

The time is alwaysright to do what isright. ~Martin Luther King, Jr

Business News

(NAPSI)—Many Americans are helping each other, others in need and themselves by as-sisting with tax preparation.

Free, individualized tax prep-aration is available to low- and moderate-income taxpayers—especially those 60 and older—from the volunteer-based AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program.

A cadre of 36,000 trained volunteers assists with tax services and ensures taxpay-ers get applicable tax credits and deductions, which helps them have more discretionary income for everyday essentials such as food and housing.

This is offered in cooperation with the IRS. It’s the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service, giving special attention to the older population. You do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this service. The Foundation is working to win back opportunity for strug-gling Americans 50 and over by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation.

Taxpayers who file a federal tax return with a refund due to them can also get help invest-ing the money in America’s fu-ture. They can purchase savings bonds in multiples of $50, up to $5,000, using all or a portion

of their refund.Three more things to con-

sider:1. Make sure you have all

your paperwork: government-issued ID; receipts for health

care; mortgage interest; charitable gifts; and all W-2 and 1099 forms.

2. To get your refund faster, bring a checkbook if you want to direct deposit funds.

3. Please review your

return(s) to make sure they are complete and accurate.

Learn MoreYou can find further informa-

tion, including nearby Founda-tion Tax-Aide locations—sites generally include senior cen-ters, libraries and the like—at www.aarp.org/findtaxhelp and (888) 227-7669.

TAX FACTSFree TaxPrep Help

Free tax preparation assistance is available to many of those who need it.

"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by theobstacles which he has overcome while tryingto succeed." - Booker T. Washington

To Advertise

In Central

Valley Voice

Call:

(209) 357-3718

Page 21: March 2013

HELP WANTED

2222 M StreetMerced, CA 95340(209) 385-7682

For a complete job listing and to apply visit:www.co.merced.ca.us

Jobline (209) 385-7516Hearing Impaired (800) 725-2929

County AdministrationBldg

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERMINORITIES, WOMEN AND DISABLED ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

CENTRAL VALLEY VOICE.COM 21

BUSINESS NEWS AND NOTES The 4th Annual Business Expo, presented by the Mer-ced County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (MCHCC), will be held on Thursday, April 4, 2013. This event will be held from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Merced Col-lege’s Business Resource Center at 630 W. 19th Street in Merced. Attendance is free and open to the public.

The Business Expo was cre-ated to provide small business owners with the connections and tools they need to succeed in today’s difficult economy. Free workshops will be pro-vided during the Expo that will

touch on the various areas of business such as social media, CA labor laws, tax information for small businesses, and more.

Many exhibitors, such as Wells Fargo and the Small Business Development Center, will be available to discuss their prod-ucts and services. The MCHCC invites all local businesses, en-trepreneurs, and non-profits to attend as an exhibitor or at-tendee. Exhibitor booth space is still available, but limited. Please fill out an Expo Registra-tion form to participate in this exciting event.

4th Annual Business Expo

PG&E Celebrates Women's History Month and International Women's Day

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — In honor of Women's History Month, Pacific Gas and Elec-tric Company (PG&E) and its Women's Network Employee Resource Group (ERG) will join several events throughout March to recognize and cel-ebrate the history and achieve-ment of women within PG&E and in the communities the utility proudly serves.

"Women's History Month and International Women's Day cel-ebrate women of all ages, races, cultures and ethnic traditions, and their contributions to his-tory," said Helen Burt, senior vice president of Customer Care, chief customer officer at

PG&E and sponsoring officer of the Women's Network ERG. "As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we are proud to recognize the invalu-able women who help us deliv-er safe, reliable, and affordable gas and electric service to our customers."

PG&E has served and en-gaged with California's diverse communities for more than 100 years. To better reflect the communities it serves, PG&E is committed to advancing di-versity in its workforce. PG&E employs more than 5,800 fe-male employees, accounting for more than 28 percent of its total workforce. The percentage of women at PG&E continues to trend above the average (25.1 percent) for electric and gas utilities in the country. PG&E also continues to train and build future female leaders by partnering with workforce de-velopment organizations.

Since 2004, women and men in PG&E's Women's Net-work ERG have contributed significantly to enhancing an inclusive culture within PG&E, and have taken an active role in the community. The group

has awarded over $200,000 in scholarships to college-bound high school seniors who display equal strength in leadership and community services, and students who pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees.

In addition, PG&E is com-mitted to integrating more women-owned businesses into its supply chain. PG&E recently announced that it achieved an all-time high of $2 billion in spending with diverse suppli-ers in 2012, accounting for 38.8 percent of its total procurement budget. PG&E's total spending with women-owned business enterprises also reached an all-time high of $659 million, an increase of $145 million over 2011. The utility's total spend-ing with minority-women-owned businesses reached $398 million, an increase of $115 million over 2011.

For information on PG&E's diversity and inclusion efforts and the company's supplier di-versity program, visit www.pge.com/about/company/diversity-inclusion/.

Delicato, Silkwood, Bernstein, Hatcher, and Trinchero Winery. For those who prefer beer, sev-eral area distributors will be pouring their products includ-ing CenCal Distributors, Delta Sierra Distributors, Dust Bowl Brewery and St. Stan’s Brewery.

The evening also includes a complimentary array of gour-met dishes provided by local eateries and caterers including Bacchus Food & Spirits, Baker’s Place, Cheesecake Kitchen, DeVinci’s Delicatessen and Ca-tering, El Marisquero, Hilmar Cheese Company, New Hong Kong, O’Brien’s Market, Sips Bis-tro, Hero’s, Charlie Browns, Con-cetta’s, P Wexfords.

While sampling beer, fine wine and hors d’oeuvres, at-tendees can shop at the silent auction for gift baskets, gift certificates, fine wines, sports

memorabilia, sports shirts and much more. Art Thoms from Art's Sports Artifacts will be on hand to sell sports collectibles and memorabilia.

Tickets for the Celebrate MJC Pirates evening are $35 per per-son and you must be 21 years of age or older to attend. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 575-6270 or 575-6269. Tickets may also be purchased online at http://mjc.tix.com and will be for sale at the door the night of the event.

“Whether you’re a sports fan, an alumnus of MJC, or a person who enjoys tasting wine or beer, this event will provide you with an entertaining Saturday night in support of a great program,” said Bill Kaiser, PhD., dean of the Physical, Recreation and Health Education Division and director of athletics at MJC.

MJC ATHLETICS...CONTINUES FROM PAGE 19

Page 22: March 2013

22 MARCH 2012

Harris Electric Service

487 S. HWY 59 • Merced, CA 95340

(209) 722-7051

Automotive Services Corner

•Starters •Alternators•Other Electric Work

CALL US

Advertise

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Page 23: March 2013

CENTRAL VALLEY VOICE.COM 23

dream. Many school districts and inter-district programs around the country are suc-cessfully implementing school integration programs, in spite of lukewarm federal support. On this anniversary of Dr. King’s birth, we should rededicate ourselves to this policy goal that was at the heart of his vi-sion for an inclusive and just society.

(Gregory Groves is a senior at Princeton University. Philip Tegeler is Executive Director of the Poverty & Race Research Action Council, a civil rights policy organization in Wash-ington, DC.

DR. MLK JRCONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

tion Person of the Year as part of its Best of Turlock awards in January.

Among the many programs Fox and her office facilitate are:

• the Criminal Justice Mentor Program, in which CSU Stan-islaus students help more than 300 Turlock students per year — from kindergarten through high school — who are strug-gling with grades, delinquency, truancy and other issues;

• Science Saturdays and the annual Science Day, which of-fer free, fun and educational opportunities on campus for the general public — especial-ly children and families — on campus;

• Chemistry in the Classroom, in which CSU Stanislaus faculty and students design science ex-

periments for area classes; and • The Volunteer Income Tax

Assistance program, in which business administration stu-dents and service learning staff provide no-cost income tax service and financial literacy education for low-income resi-dents.

The President's Higher Edu-cation Community Service Honor Roll honors the nation’s leading higher education in-stitutions and their students, faculty and staff for their com-mitment to bettering their communities through service. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has administered the award since 2006 and manages the program in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Educa-

tion and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Develop-ment, as well as the American Council on Education and Cam-pus Compact.

"Congratulations to CSU Stanislaus, its faculty and its stu-dents for their commitment to service, both in and out of the classroom," said Wendy Spen-cer, CEO of CNCS. "Institutions of higher education are helping to improve their local commu-nities and create a new genera-tion of leaders by challenging students to go beyond the tra-ditional college experience and solve local challenges."

More information on eligibil-ity and the full list of honor roll awardees can be found at na-tionalservice.gov.

CSU STANISLAUS......CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

HISPANIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE...CONTINUE FROM PAGE 1dents to choose a career path, focus on a goal and enlighten them about the multitude of ca-reer choices available. The con-ference also offers participants an opportunity to see various role models from diverse occu-pational areas. The hope is that students leave the conference feeling inspired and motivated to pursue their educational or career goals.

Tomás and the Library Lady tells the true story of a son of a migrant farm worker during the 1940s. Feeling a little out of place since his family’s move to Iowa from Texas and wanting to know more than just his grand-

father’s stories, Tomás develops a love for books and knowledge that he always wanted to have, inspiring a life-long love of learning that culminated in his becoming a chancellor at a uni-versity. This play is produced in collaboration with Modesto Junior College Theatre Depart-ment in partnership with the Gallo Center for the Arts.

Besides Tomás and the Library Lady, González’s plays include Los Valientes, The Sun Serpent, Super Cowgirl and Mighty Mir-acle, Invierno, Sunsets and Mar-garitas, The Heart’s Desire, The Blue House, The Cloud Gather-er, Earth Songs, and September

Shoes. González has written for PAZ, the Emmy Award nominat-ed television series produced by Discovery Kids for The Learn-ing Channel. He teaches the-atre at California State Univer-sity at Los Angeles. González is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America and TYA/USA.

Complimentary morning re-freshments and lunch will be provided for all participants. The conference is FREE. A reg-istration form is available on-line at www.mjc.edu/hec or by emailing [email protected]. For additional informa-tion call Claudia Ramirez at 209.575.6698.

CESAR CHAVEZ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

UFW legal aid offices, the home of César and Helen Chávez, the Chávez Memorial Garden con-taining Chavez’s grave site, and additional buildings and struc-tures at the La Paz campus.

The monument, which will be managed by the National Park Service in consultation with the National Chávez Center and the César Chávez Foundation, is the fourth National Monument des-ignated by President Obama us-ing the Antiquities Act. He pre-viously designated Fort Monroe National Monument in Virginia, a former Army post integral to the history of slavery, the Civil War, and the U.S. military; Fort Ord National Monument in Cali-fornia, a former military base

that is a world-class destina-tion for outdoor recreation; and Chimney Rock, which is located in the San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado, and offers a spectacular landscape rich in history and Native Amer-ican culture. First exercised by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 to designate Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, the authority of the Antiquities Act has been used by 16 presidents since 1906 to protect unique natural and his-toric features in America, such as the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and Colorado's Can-yons of the Ancients.

NATIONAL MONUMENT....CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

ALEXIS HERMAN Senior Vice Chair, NATIONAL

URBAN LEAGUE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Former U.S. Secretary of La-bor Alexis Herman was recently named Senior Vice Chair of the National Urban League Board of Trustees. She is the first woman to serve in this role.

Ms. Herman attended college at Xavier University, and after graduating worked for Catholic Charities and other agencies, advocating for minority wom-en employment. At the age of 29, she was asked to be Direc-tor of the Labor Department’s Women’s Bureau, and was the youngest person to serve in that position.

In 1989, Ms. Herman joined the Democratic National Com-mittee as chief of staff, and later vice chair, and was responsible

for organizing the 1992 Demo-cratic National Convention. Af-ter President Clinton’s election in 1992, Herman was appointed assistant to the president and director of the White House Public Liaison Office. It was dur-ing Clinton’s second term that she was named U.S. Secretary of Labor, the first African American to be nominated for that posi-tion and the fifth woman to be appointed.

Herman now serves on the boards of several major compa-nies, including The Coca-Cola Company’s Human Resources Task Force, and Toyota’s Diver-sity Advisory Board. She is a recipient of more than 20 hon-orary doctorate degrees from major colleges and Universities, and is an active member of the Gamma Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

WOMEN OF POWER.....CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

was forbidden in school. He remembers being punished with a ruler to his knuckles for violating the rule. He also remembers that some schools were segregated and he felt that in the integrated schools he was like a monkey in a cage. He remembers having to listen to a lot of racist remarks. He remembers seeing signs that read whites only. He and his

brother, Richard, attended thirty seven schools. He felt that education had nothing to do with his farm worker/migrant way of life. In 1942 he graduated from the eighth grade. Because his father, Librado, had been in an accident and because he did not want his mother, Juana, to work in the fields, he could not to go to high school, and instead became a migrant farm worker.

While his childhood school education was not the best, later in life, education was his passion. The walls of his office in La Paz (United Farm Worker Headquarters ) are lined with hundreds of books ranging from philosophy, economics, cooperatives, and unions, to biographies on Gandhi and the Kennedys’. He believed that, “The

end of all education should surely be service to others,” a belief that he practiced until his untimely death.

In 1944 he joined the Navy at the age of seventeen. He served two years and in addition to discrimination, he experienced strict regimentation.

In 1948 Cesar married Helen Fabela. They honeymooned in California by visiting all the California Missions from Sonoma to San Diego (again the influence of education). They settled in Delano and started their family. First Fernando, then Sylvia, then Linda, and five more children were to follow.

Cesar returned to San Jose where he met and was influenced by Father Donald McDonnell. They talked about farm workers and strikes. Cesar began reading about St. Francis and Gandhi and nonviolence. After Father McDonnell came another very influential person, Fred Ross.

Cesar became an organizer for Ross’ organization, the Community Service Organization CSO. His first task was voter registration.

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