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Recent Stories

1. Higher Ground preschool to close in January

   By The Bakersfield Californian

   Friday, Dec 09 2011 05:40 PM

   A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about the growing number of preschool students struggling with expulsion. The Bakersfield family I featured--the Slays--had found refuge at Higher Ground preschool. The school, formerly called Morning Glory, prides itself on giving special care and attention to students who struggle with behavior issues.

   Come January, though, the school will close its doors for good, said director Heather Garcia. Garcia said she was shocked to learn this week that the church associated with the school--also called Higher Ground--plans to shutter the preschool for financial reasons.

   "They pretty much told me on Tuesday that the school will never be able to make enough money to support the church," she said. "And so they're closing it." A representative from the church confirmed the move was indeed financial.

   That closure will be tough for its young students, many of whom have been unsuccessful at other preschools but find help at Higher Ground, Garcia said.

   One child started off last year unable to talk, and with a tendency to throw his shows.

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2. First Valley-wide burn prohibition in effect

   The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has issued a burning prohibition throughout the San Joaquin Valley, the first time this year the ban has stretched across the entire valley.

3. Health care: a right or a privilege

   Well, of course Kern County was right to latch on to federal health care dollars to help pay for indigent medical care.

4. Tevis Junior High dishes out healthy offerings

   Eighth grader Ditika Khullar said she's excited about today's new salad bar option at southwest Bakersfield's Tevis Junior High School.

5. HEALTH BEAT: Who benefits from probiotics?

    

6. Preliminary reading: Arvin's air equally bad

   Last week, I wrote that the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District officials were heading out to Arvin to monitor the downtown's air. (http://tinyurl.com/3dyvcgf) They were responding to residents' complaints that the area's new monitor--located at Di Giorgio Elementary School --didn't accurately represent the air most people there breathe.

7. HEALTH BEAT: Medical news from experts instead of Internet

   Retired local physician Tom Larwood has revived the medical lecture series at the Leven Institute for Lifelong Learning. Larwood says he hopes the series, which begins in early October, will give the public a chance to hear health news directly from Bakersfield's own experts -- instead of relying on sometimes untrustworthy Internet sources.

9. HEALTH BEAT: Is it ok to snack after 7 p.m.?

   Today, I met with two dieticians who recently joined Bakersfield's TERRIO Therapy Fitness, Inc. to launch a nutrition component. Emily Wortiska, a Bakersfield native, returned after working at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. Her colleague Kathleen Janzen joined Terrio from CSU Fresno.