TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

The University of Phoenix will host an event to celebrate the expansion of its Bakersfield Learning Center, 4900 California Ave., from 5 to 7 p.m Thursday.

Students, alumni, local business representatives and community members are invited to tour the center.

The expansion increased the number of classrooms from 21 to 25 and created a super resource center consisting of 29 computers, three interview rooms, a tutor bar where students can receive additional instruction, a student lounge with four flat screen televisions and a coffee bar.

New majors are added frequently, including a bachelor of science in nursing, said Jovian Dobrzenski, in community and corporate relations for the university.

A deadline is coming Monday for vendors wishing to sell holiday items and food along the Bakersfield Christmas Parade route.

This year's Dec. 3 parade is to feature three places along the route -- Santa Lane, North Pole Central and Elf Town -- set up for vendors.

Applications are being accepted through 5 p.m. Monday at 2000 K St., Room 120. Forms can be downloaded over the Internet at bcparade.com. For details, call Pam Carlock at: 321-3110, or 304-2333.

The Shafter Youth Center, in collaboration with the Partnership Food Bank, will hold an emergency food distribution Nov. 19 at 455 E. Euclid Ave.

Residents must meet low-income eligibility requirements to receive the food, said Lois Hannible, program manager of the Shafter Youth Center. Hannible said forms outlining eligibility will be at the distribution.

The line will begin at 9 a.m. and distribution will start at 11 a.m. Food will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. Items include beans, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, and other non-perishable items.

ServiceMASTER in Bakersfield will celebrate more than 30 years in business and the one-year anniversary of its new owners with an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at 217 Daniels Lane.

A ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. is to be followed by food, drinks, tours and demonstrations of the ServiceMASTER Clean Machine and Hospitality Trailer.

The Bakersfield franchise was opened in 1967 by Roger Neitzke and Tom Powers. Current owners are Jonathan Mueller and Tony Benevento.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Kern County will host its annual Thanksgiving celebration with a hot turkey dinner and all the fixings from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Armstrong Youth Center, 801 Niles St. The event will be sponsored by the Bakersfield East Rotary Club.

At least 500 children and adults are expected. Entertainment will be provided by local children. Anyone can attend, said Kacey Tatsuno, event planner at Boys and Girls Clubs of Kern County.

Student veterans at Cal State Bakersfield are holding a food drive now until Nov. 30.

The donated food will be used to make food baskets for veterans and will be distributed on Thanksgiving and Christmas, said Anita Orr, a student veteran and president of the CSUB Student Veterans Organization.

Suggestions for canned food donations include: fruit, vegetables, gravy, cranberry sauce, stew, soup, chili, tuna/salmon, spaghetti/pasta, corned beef, beans and evaporated milk.

Suggested dried food items include rice, beans, stuffing, pasta, powdered milk and cheese, flour and sugar.

Donation boxes can be found at CSUB, 9001 Stockdale Highway, in Dorothy Donahoe Hall and the Student Union, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or at the Bakersfield VA Community Clinic, 1801 Westwind Drive, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.