Bakersfield College appeals the punishment for its football program, and local folks wonder if someone will have to pay the price for it

 * ... ALARM SYSTEMS: Here is an important tip about home alarm systems in the city of Bakersfield, compliments of reader Gary Crabtree. "Saturday evening we returned from dinner about 6:30 to find our alarm activated and a message from our alarm company on our answering machine that our front door had been breached." he wrote. "We found nothing missing. A call to the alarm company indicated that they
had called the police. At 9:30 p.m. an officer arrived at our front door. He indicated that he just got the call from dispatch. We were told that if we didn’t renew our alarm permit with the city every year for $30 they may or may not respond.  So a warning, if you expect BPD to respond to your alarm system, better cough up $30 a year to the city."

 * ... THE BUZZ: It's good to see Bakersfield College appealing the punishing sanctions against its football program, but folks are wondering if someone will be sacrificed because of the harsh penalties. If BC Athletic Director Ryan Beckwith is fired over all this, it won't be because he has lost the support of the BC Helmet Club. Paul Pavletich, president of the booster club, made it clear on First Look with Scott Cox that the club supports Beckwith and would not agree with his dismissal. Stay tuned as this story unfolds.

* ... ACHIEVER: Another local Bakersfield product has gone on to make quite a name for himself in the healthcare industry. Dr. Jason Dinger has been identified as one of the top 300 most influential people in U.S. health care, according to a recent survey by ModernHealthcare.com. Dinger graduated from Bakersfield Christian High School and went on to Vanderbilt University in Nashville. He is currently CEO of Mission Point Health Partners in Nashville. His father, Steven Dinger, is president of BCHS and his mother Nancy is a social worker at Koinonia Family Services.

 * ... GIVING: Yet another example of the generosity of our local Rotary clubs. The Waterman Foundation of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield (the downtown club) has awarded nearly $40,000 in capital improvement grants to nine local non profits. Among the recipients were the Alliance Against Family Violence, the Bakersfield Music Theater, the Buena Vista Museum, the Boys and Girls Club, CASA, the Golden Empire Gleaners, the Kern County Museum, MARE and San Joaquin Community Hospital.

 * ... HOSPICE: If you are looking for a way to support a good cause and enjoy a nice glass of wine, mark this Thursday, May 23, on your calendar. That's the date of the "Optimal Cares Wine Tasting and Concert" set for the Bakersfield Museum of Art at 5:30 p.m. It is a fund raiser for the Optimal Hospice Foundation. Tickets are $75 each and can be purchased by calling Cherie Shoemake at (661) 716-8000.

  * ... MEMORIES: Brian Landis said his 85-year old grandmother, Elizabeth "Bette" Crume, wanted to share this memory about when everyone would leave their back doors open so Wayne's Dairy could deliver fresh milk to your refrigerator while you were either sleeping or away from home. She is, thank you, a faithful reader of The Bakersfield Californian and said she enjoys reading Herb Benham's column but worries for his kids. "She wanted to be sure to let you know that she thinks John Arthur is a smart-ass!" Brian said. I will make sure both Herb and John get the message, Brian.

Does the government really need to know if we have trouble bathing? The Census Bureau believes it does, and if you don't answer the question, prepare for a $5,000 fine.

* ... CENSUS SURVEY: I just recently learned of something called the American Community Survey, a controversial statistical survey of 250,000 Americans funded by the U.S. Census Bureau. The survey asks a series of extremely personal questions ranging from your precise income to how you spend each day at the office, even down to what time you leave your home. "It also asks whether, 'because of a physical, mental or emotional condition,' you have difficulty 'concentrating, remembering or making decisions ... walking or climbing stairs.. doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor's office or shopping... or dressing or bathing," according to the New York Post. Really? And, if you refuse to complete it, you may be subject to a $5,000 fine. It is little wonder that so many people find the 21-page questionnaire a tad intrusive.

 * ... CRIME: I took a week off to attend a wedding on the east coast, and twice while I was gone I learned of homes in the downtown area and La Cresta being burglarized. In the case downtown, the intruders busted in the door (a common form of entry) and made off with jewelry, a TV, computers, cameras and cash. Molly Busacca, one of the owners of Secure (alarm) Systems, told me that wireless key fob panic buttons have become very popular and can be added to most systems. "We have seen a large number of break-ins through master bedroom windows," she said."If the system does not have a glass break detector the alarm will not send a signal." And of course, she recommends an active neighborhood watch program where everyone looks out for each other. Sound advice.

* ... KIA COMMERCIAL: Do you remember the "Where do babies come from?" Super Bowl commercial featuring a pair of adorable toddlers in a forest? It turns out one of them has a Bakersfield connection. According to reader Christine Nichols, the curly headed toddler in the diaper is her great grandson, 1-year-old Blake Moore. His father, Brandon Moore, is a 1997 graduate of West High School and later Cal State Northridge. He and his wife Ginger now live in Long Beach. The commercial was promoting KIA cars.

  * ... HOMELESS: Susan Castro wrote about a homeless man who lives our near Snow Road. "He parks in different locations, and it is not easy for him to take charity.  But by definition charity is benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity; generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy; public provision for the relief of the needy; and lenient judgement of others... It is a privilege to be in a position to help those in need."

 * ... PANHELLENIC: There is a big meeting coming up for the Kern County Panhellenic group, an organization devoted to bringing women who belonged to sororities together. It is set for Monday, March 4, at 11:30 a.m. at The Petroleum Club. Carolyn Pandol and Marianne Keathley are organizing the event to celebrate "International Badge Day," an annual event "during which sorority women everywhere honor their Greek affiliations." The cost is $30 a ticket. Make checks payable to Kern County Panhellenic, in care of Estrella Sistual, 9904 Kearney Hills Drive, Bakersfield, Ca. 93312.

 * ... DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that Wilma Jeanne Cooper, better known as Jeanne Cooper of the long running soap opera Young and the Restless, is a 1946 graduate of East High School? She is the winner of 10 daytime Emmys and also has a star on the walk of fame in Hollywood. Her son is Corbin Bernsen, a movie star in his own right. Jeanne was born in Taft in 1928. Thanks to Rick Van Horne for this tidbit.