On October 15, a special candlelighting will take place at Delhi’s Perfect Blend. The event will begin at 7 p.m. and last until about 8 p.m.

This has been set up as a special event to mark Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day as mentioned in Rebekah McCurdy’s September edition of Train of Thought. A coffee can will be put in place to receive donations that will be sent to First Candle. Other details are still in the preparation stages. Bring a candle or just show up. Candles will be available to everyone. If you have a picture or other means of remembering a baby, please feel free to bring that as well.

Delhi’s Perfect Blend is located at 9761 Stephens Street in Delhi. The coffee can for donations will remain there until the closing of the Delhi Fall Art Show on Saturday, November 21. It opens with a reception on Saturday, October 24 at 6:30 p.m.

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Tags: awareness, miscarriage, October 15, remembrance, stillbirth

A former Delhi resident, Kimberly Armstrong, was hit by a car on her way to Hillcrest High School in Springfield, Missouri last Tuesday, September 22. According to her aunt, Armstrong remains in a medically-induced coma, but is considered stable after suffering major head injuries. She remains listed in critical condition. A car struck her as she walked to school early last Tuesday morning to meet with a study group. Armstrong still has family in the Delhi area.

Armstrong attended El Capitan Elementary School from 1998 to 2003. She left El Capitan when her family moved to Missouri. Her grandparents, Leonard and Dorthy Benziger have lived in Delhi since 1941. Her aunt, also a Delhi resident, sent information and a request for prayers in a recent Myspace message. Her cousin is a part of the after school journalism program offered through Delhi High School and Shattuck. Armstrong is a Junior at Hillcrest HS in Springfield.

A website was set up by Armstrong’s family to offer updates on her condition as well as a means of making donations to assist with expenses. The website includes a way to contact her parents, as well.

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The Delhi Unified School District has very little to offer its students these days. Times are lean and we all must tighten our belts if we are going to get through this recession. That said, with all of the cuts that must be made we should be wondering why the DUSD, with a non-existent GATE Program; very few, if any extra-curricular activities, and very low SARC scores should be cutting the one beneficial and exemplary program it has left. The Dual Language Academy offers proven long term benefits of complete bilingualism to all students upon completion. Completing the Dual Language Program has the added benefit of counting toward the foreign language requirement for college entrance. Students participating in Dual Language programs score higher on standardize tests, and often do better in High School than their non-dual language counterparts. Now, the district is again faced with unprecedented budget cuts, the Delhi Unified School Board wants to pluck the only remaining feather in our proverbial cap. They are favoring money over our children’s well being. The children who typically fair the worst in the California School system are the English Learners; these are children who enter our schools with no English knowledge. In this program, English Learners, as well as functionally bilingual children, and the English Only children prove to score higher on test scores than they would have in traditional classrooms. Why are they cutting this beneficial program, instead of expanding it, which could help remove our schools from Program Improvement standing, or at least improve our SARC scores? Every year our schools don’t improve the sanctions increase, only making matters worse. Cutting this valuable program is not in students’ interest, and its not in school employees interest, but what does the school board care if there are mandatory staff replacements of possible complete federal takeovers? Why have they given the parents who can most favorably advocate for the benefits of this program no opportunity for input? Why haven’t we been given the opportunity to fund raise, or increase interest or enrollment? The school board is failing students, now is the time for action; School Board members: Please Save the DLA. Any interested parties should come to the Delhi Unified School Board Meeting on October 13, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the district office.

Amy Rodrigues

Editor’s Note: The DUSD School Board meets in the Sarah Jane Clegg Conference Center next to the District office on Locust Street in Delhi.

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Tags: bilingual, DLA, DUSD, elimination, English, SARC scores, school board, Spanish

It’s going on now: a car wash at New Life International Ministries at the corner of Schendel and Hinton. It started at 11 a.m. today and volunteers are out in force to wash cars as they raise money for fixing up a mobile home on the church property.

The cost is just $5, but additional donations are gladly accepted. Now, let me tell you what you get for that $5. My car looks better than it has a in long time. The volunteers did an outstanding job and I drove away so pleased. My car needed washing as it often does after a couple of weeks driving throughout the Valley, especially after being on some of the dry, dusty roads. I have tried a couple of automatic car washes and I’ve never been terribly disappointed, but have at times wished the car looked a little better. I have also had volunteers wash my car at fundraising car washes in the past. I never expect perfection. I just hope it looks better than it did when I drove up and that is always the case.

The system today’s volunteers had in place was wonderful. They did an incredible job and my car is sparkling better than it has in months. Now I just have to clean the inside and I will be done and happy. To top it off, Connor and I got to stay in the air conditioned car while the volunteers washed it, so we kept cooler, I didn’t have to chase a tired two-year-old around and he enjoyed the “entertainment.” We decided to go ahead and offer a “tip” so before we left, Connor handed an extra $1 through the window.

Thank you New Life for the excellent car wash!

If you need your car washed, head out there now. You can’t beat the $5 price and you will likely be pleased with how your car looks as you drive away. They may be out there fairly regularly as they have been pleased with this form of fundraiser thus far. But, why wait? Go now and get your donation’s worth!

Have a happy weekend all! And, be sure to pick up the latest printed edition of The Delhi Express. It is available in stores and restaurants now.

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Tags: car wash, Delhi, New Life

Delhi Unified School District will host a Community Informational Night on Thursday, October 1 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
In the past, such events have had a broad focus and included Merced County services as well as numerous local groups and organizations. The primary focus for this upcoming informational night is education. All of the schools are expected to have booths offering information to local residents. A presentation will begin around 6 p.m.
School Board member Robert Rodarte will speak on board governance, strategic goals and the budget. Board member Jesus Rodriguez will speak on Parental involvement. Board member Brenda Saavedra will speak on District Programs including athletics and after school programs.
The idea is that the presentations will be offered in English and Spanish and that each will take about one hour. The event is expected to last from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. It will take place at the Delhi High School Multipurpose Room located on the Delhi Educational Park campus.

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