Kaiser Permanente Fresno is joining a national effort to support breast-feeding as a strategy for reducing childhood obesity.

Hospital officials said last week that Fresno will be among Kaiser Permanente's 29 hospitals with newborn deliveries that the health system vows will become a designated "Baby- Friendly" hospital by Jan. 1, 2013.

Baby-Friendly hospitals focus on 10 policies or "steps" designed to reduce barriers to mothers exclusively breast-feeding while in the hospital.

Kaiser-Fresno is close to being designated as Baby-Friendly – 75.8% of new mothers exclusively breast-feed their newborns, according to officials.

The hospital has an emphasis on breast-feeding following delivery, said Felicia Esqueda, a board-certified lactation consultant. One of those steps is to discourage formula supplementation for infants whose mothers intend to breast-feed exclusively.

Education

Valley foundation up for $50,000 grant

The Education Foundation of the Central California Builders Exchange is being considered for a $50,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project.

Pepsi will award several grants based on online voting through Dec. 31. To vote, visit refresheverything.com/workforcedevelopment.

The CCBE is a nonprofit created to promote educational programs specific to the local construction community.

CSU reports record number of applicants

For the third year in a row, California State University received a record number of undergraduate applications: 665,860 prospective freshmen and transfer students applied to the system's 23 campuses.

The applicant pool is especially diverse, with no majority ethnic or racial group, according to the CSU system. This year was also the first time Latino applicants outnumbered whites – 33.3% to 31.2%.

The Bakersfield, Channel Islands, Dominguez Hills, East Bay, Stanislaus and Humboldt campuses, as well as the California Maritime Academy, will continue to accept new undergraduate applications. All CSU campuses continue to take graduate applications, although campuses have different deadlines.

Fresno Pacific sets graduation events

More than 350 graduates will receive degrees during Fresno Pacific University's fall commencement Dec. 17.

The graduate and traditional undergraduate ceremony begins at 10 a.m., and bachelor's degree completion students receive their diplomas at 2 p.m. Both commencements will be in the special events center on the main campus, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave. Fresno County Superior Court Judge Robert H. Oliver is the speaker.

In all, 273 bachelor's degree completion graduates will receive diplomas, along with 44 master's students and 35 traditional undergraduates.

Also ...

Tioga Road through Yosemite reopens

Tioga Road, closed last week because of powerful winds that downed trees, reopened at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Yosemite National Park officials said.

Winds up to 75 mph covered the road with debris and forced the closure of the popular east-west route in the northern part of the park.

Updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for the park are available at (209) 372-0200.

Agri-Center's Santa brunch is Sunday

The International Agri-Center's annual Brunch with Santa is Sunday in Tulare.

The free event will be held at the International Agri-Center, 4500 S. Laspina St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

After brunch, attendees can take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and learn how to make candy canes and tour the AgVentures! Learning Center.

Seating is limited and tickets are required. Tickets are available this week at the International Agri-Center or R-N Market in Tulare. Tickets will not be available at the door the day of the event.

Details: (559) 688-1030.