Covenant Community Services reaches out to help foster youth

 * ... COVENANT: Would you write a check for $83 to help save a life? That's what the folks over at Covenant Community Services are asking as they try to get 1,000 people to write a check for $83 to cover the costs of renovating its offices in an old bank building in Oildale. Covenant, if you don't know, works with foster children to put them on the path to productive lives. I visited their office at 1700 Chester Avenue and chatted with Randy Martin, the energetic founder who is devoting his life to helping those in need. Covenant also imports top qualify coffee from around the world and when construction is complete, the Chester Avenue office will feature a coffee bar staffed by former foster children. I'm writing them a check, and I hope you will do so as well. Stop by and meet Randy or send your check to 1700 North Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, 93308.

 * ... SQUATTERS: A family of squatters has been evicted from a house they took over on Elm Street downtown recently, yet another sign of the difficult times we are all in. When I mentioned this to a local Realtor, he shrugged and said "it's happening all over town."


 * ... SHOP LOCAL: Local attorney Matt Clark submitted this as another reason why we all should shop locally. "I went into a prominent department store in Los Angeles yesterday to buy a sport coat.  Ultimately, I pick one out, buy it and leave - no problem.  When I get home, Molly notices that the ink-filled security tag is still on the coat.  Of course, I made it out of the store without the tag going off, and the store is in Los Angeles, not here.  After calling the store to figure out how to remove the tag, and remaining on hold for 20 minutes, we were told to just bring the garment back.  What
a pain.

* ... SPOTTED: The following gas miser cars and trucks were spotted in the parking lot of Action Sports: two Toyota Priuses, two Honda Elements, one Toyota Rav4, a small Nissan pickup, a Honda CR-V and one Subaru Outback. Has America finally embraced the small car?

 * ... FEEDBACK: Local Realtor Patsy Sadler came to my defense following an anonymous reader who called this blog a waste of ink and newsprint. "I would like to say to you, like I say to the people who praying or saying Merry Christmas offends you, go somewhere else or don't read the column.  You didn't print your name because you knew your opinion is not that of the majority who read and enjoy this column. I love this column and it brings back lots of memories that I have forgotten especially being born & raised her for 62 years. If I am in a hurry & don't have time to read the paper in full, I read the obits and Bakersfield Observed, thank you Richard and keep up the good memories.  Speaking of memories (anonymous it's time for you to turn the page) you know you're from Bakersfield if you remember riding a horse for 50 cents an hour at Ragsdale stables on Edison Hwy and Quantico.  I used to ride every Saturday and Sunday for years, leaving there on my bicycle riding to Thrifty's on Niles and having a double scoop for 10 cents and my very protective mother didn't have to worry about me being abducted or involved in a drive by shooting. Now those were the days, 1961. "