Community roundup: Animal Control needs blankets to keep pets warm
By The Bakersfield Californian
Kern County Animal Control is asking for donated blankets and bedding to keep pets in its shelters warm and comfortable during the cold winter months.
"The recent cold temperatures have drastically reduced our supply of warm blankets and linens for the dogs and cats entrusted in our care," said Matt Constantine, director of Kern County Public Health Services, which oversees the animal control division. "We provide our animals with a soft, warm bed to help ease their stress while in the shelter awaiting new homes, and to also keep them comfortable during the days when temperatures drop."
The shelter will accept donations of new and gently used blankets, towels and other bed linens that do not contain stuffing, batting or zippers. All items need to be washed and/or bleached prior to bringing them to the shelter. Unfortunately, the shelter cannot accept such items as pillows, sleeping bags and electric blankets.
Items can be brought to any of the three shelters in Bakersfield, Lake Isabella and Mojave Monday through Saturday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information, call 321-3000.
-- Kern County Animal Control
The United Way of Kern County is encouraging people to obtain from it a free FamilyWize Prescription Drug Discount Card that it says has saved Kern County residents more than $3 million on prescription drugs since last month.
People have saved an average of $19, or 40 percent, per prescription using the card since it has been distributed by the local United Way and its partners, according to a news release. About 100 pharmacies throughout Kern County are participating in the program, in which the card is used like a coupon.
The card comes with no usage or age limits, income requirements or registration forms, the United Way release says. The card covers all prescription drugs including pet medicines requiring a prescription bought at a pharmacy. And it can be used in combination with insurance coverage.
You can obtain the free cards from the United Way of Kern County at 5405 Stockdale Highway, Suite 200, and from schools and certain nonprofit agencies. For a list of participating pharmacies or to obtain a card, call the United Way at 834-1489 or go to http://uwkern.org/FamilyWize_Prescription_Discount_Card.php, where you can print out a card.
-- The Californian
The Kern Council of Governments, a transportation planning agency, is seeking three public representatives to serve on its Regional Planning Advisory Committee.
The committee reviews and makes recommendations on key activities associated with regional transportation plans and other planning issues within the Kern region. Its members are planning directors or community development directors from each of the 11 incorporated cities within Kern County, including the county itself, along with three at-large members of the public appointed by Kern COG's Board of Directors.
Public, at-large members should represent varied economic, social and geographic sectors and may include representatives from business groups, nonprofit organizations, the military and Native American tribes. Applications are available online at www.kerncog.org or at Kern COG's offices, 1401 19th St., Bakersfield, CA 93301, and shall be accepted through Dec. 2. For more information, call Rebecca Napier at 861-2191.
-- Kern Council of Governments
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Kern County has agreed to pay a Kern River Valley family $1 million for wrongfully taking their son in 2008 when the family was in a dispute with the South Fork Union School District over how school officials were dealing with the boy's food allergies.