West Rotary spins off another successful Cioppino Feed at Monsignor Leddy Hall, Jersey Mike's Subs shows some good form and more memories from the old Hart Park archery club

 * ... CIOPPINO: I don't know how the folks over at West Rotary prepare clams and cioppino for 500 people, and serve it hot and steaming without missing a beat, but I hope they keep doing it. I am

talking about the annual Cioppino Feed at Monsignor Leddy Hall that benefits so many worthy causes, a three hour feast and social  that rivals just about any other fund raiser in town. The Saturday event was yet another sell out, more good news for its beneficiaries this year: the West Rotary Breast Cancer Fund, the West Rotary Stroope Family Foundation, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kern County and the Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault.

 * ... NETWORKING: In addition to raising money for good causes, events like the Cioppino Feed serve an important role in our community in terms of networking and bringing people together. Among those I spotted there were Mayor Karen Goh, Assemblyman Vince Fong, District Attorney candidates Cynthia Zimmer and Scott Spielman, Supervisor Zack Scrivner and wife Christina, Rabobank's Kym Moore, Mission Bank's Lisa Boydston, Mike and Dona Chertok, Pat and Terri Collins, Gina Pearl, Ron Eaves, Al Sandrini, Jack Gotcher, Realtors John and Katy Glentzer, Adventist Health's Kevin Burton and all those West Rotarians who made it happen, starting with President Angela Paquette to Rick Kreiser, Ricki Peace, Howdy Miller, and so many more.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "I had a great time. Not tonight, but I've had a great time before."

* ... KEYSTONE: Former oil executive Lynn Blystone dropped me this note: "Jobs aside, it makes total sense for the nation's security to be directly tied into North America's biggest petroleum reserve with the Keystone LM Pipeline."

 * ... GOOD FORM: Hats off to Carrie Asbury and the other owners of the three Jersey Mike's Subs deli and sandwich shops for stepping forward to support the Alzheimer's Disease Association of Kern County (ADAKC). This Wednesday only, 100 percent of all Jersey Mike's sales will be donated to the ADAKC to support its new facility off Buena Vista Road.

* ... FOUNDATION: If you are involved with a non-profit focused on summer based literacy programs or animal welfare, make sure you check out the The Bakersfield Californian (family) Foundation that has put out calls for its Spring grant cycle. Proposals for grants are now being submitted. Only 501(c)3 organizations need apply, and for details go to www.bakersfieldcalifornianfoundation.org.

 * ... GARCES MEMORIAL: Congratulations to four local folks who are being inducted into the Hall of Honor by the Garces Memorial High School Alumni Board. They include Tom Anchordoquy, class of 1965; Arnold Cattani, class of 1964; Yolanda (Papasergia) Griffiths, class of 1951; and Frank Maitia Jr., class of 1960. In addition the Mac and Stella McMurtrey family will be recognized with the legacy family award. The 10th annual Hall of Honors Banquet is set for Saturday, April 29, at Monsignor Leddy Hall.

 * ... HART PARK ARCHERY: My post recalling the days in the 1950s when an archery club held tournaments at Hart Park triggered this memory from Lyn Switzer Kalar: "I too remember spending lots of weekends with my folks, Darwyn and Bette Switzer, at Hart Park babysitting the archers' kids or participating as a teenager in the youth group. We went to the state tournament one year and camped at Griffith Park in the middle of the horse track. During the tournament the dads took the kids to the zoo and not until the moms came back to camp after the tournament did anyone realize that one of the kids had been left at the zoo! Good job dads!"

House Majority Leader McCarthy: the House passes a bill to approve the Keystone pipeline and now it is time for the president to support it

 Rep. Kevin McCarthy, House Majority Leader and a Bakersfield Repbulican, gives us his weekly view from Capitol Hill. In his words:

 "This week marked the return to Congress following the November elections. On November 4th, the American people sent a message to Washington, DC.  It was a message of frustration and discontent

with the direction of our great nation. The American people want Washington to function again and get our country moving in the right direction.


 "The House has fought against this Administration’s government-first agenda that continues to put the direction of the economy more in the hands of Washington and federal agencies, and not with local communities or the private sector.  One of the policy areas that can immediately have a positive impact on creating jobs and jumpstarting our economy is to focus on enhancing our nation’s energy production.  We should encourage more domestic energy production as well as focus on updating our energy infrastructure.

 "Few things in this country have more bipartisan and nationwide support as approving the Keystone XL pipeline. The states it would run through support it. Our northern ally, Canada, supports it. Most importantly, the American people support it because the project will create jobs and lead America one step closer to North American energy independence.  If this decision were based on merits alone, Keystone would have been approved and built years ago. The President said himself that a critical decision point would rest on levels of increased emissions—something his own State Department said will not be a problem.

 "After over six years of waiting and with no reason to wait further, it’s time to act.  Today the House passed H.R. 5682, which would immediately approve the Keystone pipeline.  I am hopeful that the Senate will finally follow the House’s lead to get this project off the ground, and send the bill to the President for his signature."