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BAKERSFIELD, CALIF. (KERO) — A local mother, grieving the loss of her daughter, is determined to ensure her name is remembered at Ollivier Middle School's graduation despite the obstacles she faces along the way. Video shows

Friends and community members urge the school to acknowledge Jasid's contributions and memory.BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

Daniela Garcia, a mother of five, lost her 13-year-old daughter, Jasid Garcia, to suicide. She says her daughter was a bright soul who could light up any room.

"She was goofy, as everybody says, she was spontaneous, very friendly. She would stop her doings for anybody else," says Daniela Garcia.

Her daughter loved collect cars, a straight A student, and decorated as she designed Ollivier Middle School's yearbook. This time of year, she was anticipating May 29th, the one thing most parents want to hear.

"I don't want a speech, I don't want an extra chair, I don't even want to say anything, I just want to hear my daughters name at graduation."

She claims Greenfield School District refuses to say her name at graduation due to her daughter's cause of death, as she's reached out several times.

"They reluctantly told me that they wouldn't honor her at graduation to protect the 380 students," Daniela Garcia states.

Reaching out to the school district, they stated, "In accordance with district policies and mental health professionals, the district has determined the student will be recognized at an appropriate time prior to the graduation ceremony."

Daniela Garcia isn't alone; she created a petition with over 1,000 signatures signed. Two of those names signed are her child friends, Arianny Padila and Nicholas Holcomb, who want Jasid Garcia's name to be heard and her memory to shine.

"They're going to do this to somebody that important, pretend that she wasn't here, imagine what they would do to someone else," they express.

They tell me this shows the school isn't listening as the students want to be heard.

"I know they said they were going to respect each and every one of us, well respecting us is hearing our voices, respect is honoring every single student," they add.

According to the California Department of Public Health, suicide rates in Kern County are 13.6 per 100,000, which is higher than California's average of 10.5, showing a growing need for teen mental health programs in Bakersfield and parental support.

Nicholas has words of advice for parents to strengthen that bond, "Love your child as much as you can because the only thing a person can search for is love; that's the only thing you can give, even when you feel alone."

According to Kern Public Health, the best way to be proactive is to create a safe environment and talk to children about their emotions and mental health.

I asked,"So what does justice look like for you and your daughter?"

Daniela Garcia responds, "Justice I feel would be to know that I helped other kids not be in the same predicament, honestly in the long run, to be able to want to talk to someone."

Daniela Garcia tells me the fight for her daughter's name to be heard at graduation isn't over.

If you want to sign the petition to get her named called at graduation you canclick this link.

If you or someone you know is dealing with a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 Or chat 988lifeline.org

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Copyright 2025 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

By: Eric J. Dockery

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — DOGE is planning on closing the FSA office in Bakersfield and not renewing the lease. Without the office, local farmers will have to travel to other counties for the services they use for their crops.

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

California is one of the largest agricultural producing states in the country. Recently, DOGE announced that they are discontinuing the lease of the FSA building in Kern County. I'm Eric J. Dockery, your Bakersfield neighborhood reporter. This closure will affect over 3000 residents who produce quality ingredients for every industry nationwide.

According to the United States Trade Representative, in 2023 California produced and exported $24 billion in domestic agricultural products. And according to Valley Ag Voice Kern County alone produced close to 9 billion in domestic agriculture exports. Kern farmers produced 37% of the produce in the U-S in 2023. Half of the farmers in the county use the Farm Service Agency for services to help their crops grow, without those funds, some farmers aren't able to attend to their crops.

Rachel Nettleton Executive Director with the Kern County Farm Bureau said ""They help provide farm loans and emergency relief funds as well. To put it into perspective of the impact that this can have on the producers. In 2022 one of the applications that was available to producers was for relief funds. 70% of those applicants came in person to be serviced and helped with their application. "

With over 50% of the producers using their local FSA Building, if closed they would have to go out of the county to either Visalia or Lancaster which are both at least a hour and a half away to two hours away from their crops or farmland.

Matt Cauzza Kern County Grower said "It's a tough time right now, and I think the FSA develops a lot of these programs that are beneficial and help a lot of the farmers out in times of need. There is a relationship that we have developed with the people that work here. They know are farms and sometimes even better than we do."

Members of the farm service agency are worried because the ending of the lease means they have to start to look for another job or even uprooting their families and having to move to another county. 23ABC reached out to Congressman Vince Fong and David Valadao they responded with the following statements that read in part.

“As we review the operations of federal agencies, I continue to work to maintain critical support for Central Valley families, especially our farmers” said Fong

“I’ve been in regular contact with the administration on the importance of maintaining a local FSA office for our farmers, and will continue to reaffirm how vital this agency is to Bakersfield and the entire Central Valley.” said Valadao

"Our Agriculture community needs as many resources as they can get. There are a lot of issues that are agriculture faces day to day. We need companies that can help provide those resources in order for our farmers to keep their doors open. Its extremely important for the farm services agency to stay open so they are getting the services and resources that they need." said Nettleton

The Kern County Farm Bureau plans to be the voice for those farmers and reach out to legislators directly for their assistance. DOGE plans to terminate the lease by August 2025, unless they find a way to keep the facility open. For 23ABC, I'm Eric J. Dockery, your Bakersfield neighborhood reporter.

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Copyright 2025 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Premier Assisted Stretching Franchise Welcomes Newest Location Under Local Leadership

BAKERSFIELD, Calif., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Stretch Zone, the nation's premier assisted-stretching brand featuring a patented strapping system on proprietary tables, is proud to announce the opening of its newest location in Bakersfield, CA. This marks Stretch Zone's 389th location in the United States and is operated by first-time studio owners Nehal Samtani and Mina Rama.

Interested in tapping into the emerging wellness industry, the business duo decided Stretch Zone would be a great next business venture. Leveraging their past franchise and entrepreneurial experience, Stretch Zone was an easy choice given the simple business model and easy build out. "Introducing this one-of-a-kind concept and service to our community exposes a new side of wellness, and with a growing fitness culture in the Bakersfield area, we know the studio will have significant impact on resident's lives," said Rama. "We have experience in various business ventures together, but what most excites me about Stretch Zone is the aspect of community. Feeling good about the work that we're doing is what drives me every day," says Samtani.

Stretch Zone provides a unique approach to improving mobility, offering customized stretching plans designed to meet the specific needs and goals of each of our members. The opening of this Bakersfield location represents the continued growth of Stretch Zone's presence, bringing this premium wellness service to a vibrant area with a largely active community. "It's great to promote something beneficial to those looking to be more active or move through life with a little more ease. Mina and I love the concept and think it will be popular among the fitness culture here in Bakersfield," shares Nehal.

Stretch Zone is the only nationally accredited stretch franchise, thanks to its patented equipment and proprietary training methodology. The brand uses a science-backed approach to stretching, helping your muscles relax and move more freely for better flexibility and mobility. With a welcoming environment and an open studio layout, Stretch Zone emphasizes a gradual, personalized approach that helps members safely increase their mobility and range of motion over time. With several membership options, there's a plan that suits every lifestyle and price point.

Stretch Zone Bakersfield is located at 12716 Stockdale Highway, Suite 600, Bakersfield, CA, 93314. Operating hours are M-F 8am-8pm, Saturday 8am-1pm, and closed on Sunday. The studio phone number is (661) 205-3992. The first visit is free for any new Stretch Zone member. For more information, visit www.stretchzone.com.

Barrington’s Jamaican Kitchen, a popular Jamaican restaurant in Bakersfield, California, was forced to close its doors due to financial difficulties. The owner is asking for assistance from the community to reopen this cherished local eatery.

Barrington Lewis opened the Jamaican restaurant in 2017. Known for its authentic cuisine and welcoming atmosphere, the restaurant quickly gained popularity among locals. Lewis mentioned that he began facing financial challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought capacity constraints and rising inflation. The Jamaica-born native noted that his restaurant did not receive the financial assistance related to COVID that other businesses received during that time.

“I fell short of getting the financial support that the nation was getting, and I didn’t get it because they exhausted the money that they had allotted for small businesses like mine. I was kind of counting on that,” Lewis told the Jamaica Observer.

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Despite a significant rise in supply and operating costs, with some expenses even doubling, Lewis said his priority was to provide affordable food for his customers. Therefore, he was reluctant to raise his prices. The financial strain led him to fall behind on his rent. Although he attempted to establish a repayment plan, his landlord terminated his lease, forcing him to relocate.

He acquired a new building about five minutes from his old location. Lewis planned to reopen there on April 1 but could not due to financial constraints. The business owner says he is facing difficulties obtaining the financial resources required to purchase restaurant equipment, supplies, and a rental deposit. He has launched a GoFundMe to help raise $20,000 to help cover the costs.

The business owner, who provided free food to unhoused people, hopes to reconnect with his customers with whom he has built solid relationships over the years. Lewis has yet to announce a date for the restaurant’s reopening.

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