Bakersfield Magazine • 30-2 • Medical Specialties/Man Issue

Unbridled Spirit: Kern’s Local Nurse Leaders The Last R 'n' R DJ in Town It’s a Cork Off! KRAB’s Danny Spanks New Wine Trends Kentucky Derby Winner Gatekeepers For Health VOL. 30 NO. 2

YOUR CITY. YOUR LIFE. YOUR MAGAZINE.

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VOL. 30 NO. 2 • SUMMER 2013

67 Happy Hour 11am-7pm Daily Hand-crafted Signature Cocktails

Departments EDITOR’S LETTER

If Only It Would Rain ........17 KERN FACTS

People •Places •Events.........19 CITIZEN KERN

Meet Cindy Pollard ........... 33 HUMAN RESOURCES

Keep Those Records?........ 36 RISKTAKER

LIFE IS CABERNET

GREAT GETAWAYS

ENTERTAINING THE BAKERSFIELD WAY

HOME & GARDEN

IN & AROUND B•TOWN

GARDENING WITH MRS. P

BAKERSFIELD’S SOUND

Giving It All..................... 39 Off the Beaten Path ............67 What’s That Fork For?.........69 TEA: It’s a Leaf Affair ......71 QUICK BITES

The Royal Treatment........75

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It’s Not JUST a Cork .........76 Backyard Gourmet .............79 Party Time ........................... 94 Drive-in Theatre ................ 98

33

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VOL. 30 NO. 2 • SUMMER 2013

45 Kimberly Huston Loan Officer NMLS #236864

Features KERN COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME

We offer FHA, FHA Streamlines, Conventional, HARP, JUMBO and VA loans for Purchases and Refinances.

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Honor & Glory.....................41 A CAREER THAT SPANS SEVEN DECADES

Little Big Man.....................45 VANISHING BREED

86

The Last R‘n’R DJ...............49 FAMILY DISCUSSIONS TO HAVE NOW

Help in Tough Times............53 NURSES: PROVIDERS OF

Tender Loving Care.............55 EYES, EARS, & TEETH

HELP FOR FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN

FARMER’S WIFE RECIPE

IN THE HEART OF THE CITY

Connections........................59 Flavors of Kern...................84

Urgent Assist.......................85 Rooting For Downtown....86

55

MEDICAL SPECIALTIES 12 Bakersfield Magazine

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONS

ONE MINUTE BUSINESS BRIEF

Curriculum Vitae.....................37

MEDICAL SPECIALTIES P

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Medical Specialties Profiles.....61

MEDICAL PROFILES Medical Profiles........................65

HOME & GARDEN RESOURCES

Home & Garden .......................69

The Dining Guide The Dining Guide....................81

COMMUNITY PARTNERS Community Partners...............85

Shoppers Bazaar.......................90

everafters...

Weddings.............................92

Meet the 2013

Sizzlin’ Singles 14 Bakersfield Magazine

g in st m u Co ug 13 A 20

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REMEMBERING

DONNA LOUISE CORUM FOUNDER . VISIONARY . FRIEND

Vol. 30 No. 2

Summer 2013

Publisher Les Corum Executive Editor Mike Corum Assistant Editor Anika Henrikson Garden Editor Lynn Pitts Wine & Food Editor Mike Stepanovich Creative Director Chuck Barnes Graphic Artist Laura Turner Systems/Production Ryan Turner Sales & Marketing Lisa Corum Lisa Villegas Wilson Photography/Editorial Assistant Isabel Alvarez Photography/Parties Tara Ralston Staff Writer Maryann Kopp Contributing Writers Tracie Grimes, David Nigel Lloyd Francis Mayer, Robin Paggi, Jessica Shillings Eman Shurbaji, Yana Todorova Accounting/Human Resources Melissa Galvan Distribution/Circulation Brigit Ayers Cover Photo Yana Todorova Bakersfield Magazine, Inc. 1601 New Stine Road, Suite 200 Bakersfield, CA 93309 Office (661) 834-4126 Fax (661) 834-5495 marketing@bakersfieldmagazine.net www.bakersfieldmagazine.net Bakersfield Magazine is published bi-monthly by Bakersfield Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. ŠCopyright 2013 by Bakersfield Magazine, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher of Bakersfield Magazine is strictly prohibited.

Bakersfield Magazine, Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork or photographs, even if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. The opinions expressed in Bakersfield Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of Bakersfield Magazine management or owner. Bakersfield Magazine, Inc. assumes no responsibility or liability for claims made by advertisers.

Subscription rate is $14.95 for 1 year, $21.95 for 2 years.

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Letter from the Editor

If Only It Would Rain...

Skilled Hands Chef/Instructor Suzanne Davis has led the BC Culinary team to a first place finish at the Mammoth Food & Wine Expo two years running.

Page 31

Little Big Man That Kern is home to a Kentucky Derby winner as well as the only jockey to ride in a record seven consecutive decades.

Page 45

Bakersfield's Sound How much I miss the drive-in theaters in this town that were a big part of my youth.

Page 98

I'm not sure what possessed me, but during high school I had the bright idea of trying out for the BHS Drillers football team.

Now, as most of you know, BHS has enjoyed a long reputation as a powerhouse in football for several generations—and to me it sounded pretty cool to be a part of that legacy. Little did I know what I was getting into…

Looking back, it's obvious I was on a suicide mission.

Having never been into sports, I should have stopped when I first found out about “conditioning.” Conditioning was during the summer months—twice a day, several hours at a time. The “conditioner” was none other than the infamous Coach Paul Briggs and conditioning consisted of the usual things like exercise and running drills…lots and lots of drills. But those weren't so bad, even for a football newb like me; the part that reduced this almost-grown man to tears was the “stadiums.”

Stadiums, for the uninitiated, consisted of starting at the bottom of the cement bleachers at Griffith Field and running up them by each seat…all the way to the top, as fast as possible. Repeat.

Show up late, you ran stadiums; blow a drill in practice, you ran stadiums; just because, you ran stadiums. Stadiums became a way of life and I’d find myself thinking, “If only it would rain so they'd cancel practice.” But it never did.

After a summer of torture we finally played our first game and I got the chance to take the field. The ball snapped and I…froze. Nothing like six, 250-pound guys coming at you, intent on causing pain, to make you decide that you'd rather play music. At least in rockn-roll, all they do is throw bottles. So my sports days were over, after I recuperated from my injuries.

And so it is with great pleasure that we present our Annual Man Issue offerings including a story on the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame (pg. 42).

It's truly amazing to look over the talent (both men and women) that's come out of Kern County and gone on to excel in their respective sport of choice. It's something all of us should take pride in.

June is also our Medical Specialties section (pg. 53), featuring several stories, and our Medical Specialty profiles (pg. 61). Plus all of our regular features.

While putting this issue to bed, our creative director, Chuck, pointed out, “I didn't see your name in the sports Hall of Fame.” All I can say is bottles don't hurt nearly as much. Enjoy!

Mike Corum comments@BakersfieldMagazine.net

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Davia Starkey, PA-C Since 1991, Davia has worked in family practice, after having graduated from U.C. Davis. “I’ve always known that I would be in the field of medicine,” said Davia. “I have such a great respect for medicine, and have a true calling for helping people. Being a physician’s assistant seemed to be the perfect occupation.” This career has allowed Davia to play an integral role in patients’ healthcare while being able to maintain a full and active part in her children’s upbringing. She is still amazed when she sees patients that were newborns when she first started caring for them walk into her office with children of their own today.

Today, Davia is incredibly proud of her son, Connor, who is attending Cal State Fresno, and her daughter, Baylee, who will be attending Cal State East Bay in the Fall. She is extremely excited to begin sharing her joy for healthcare with the patients at The Practice. With true passion for Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, Davia is continuing to expand her practice, working with both men and women, providing a much more natural option than traditional treatment with often better outcomes. She truly stands by The Practice’s motto, “We will serve you as we would want to be served.”

Dr. Mensink is true to his word, and the staff here is wonderful and caring.

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THE MISSION AT THE PRACTICE is one that is close to Davia’s heart: to provide low-cost, effective, and optimal healthcare to our local community. “There are no co-pays, the procedures done in the office are billed at cost, and we network with a number of other physicians and laboratories in the area to bring the patient the most affordable options available at just $69 a month.“

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Kern Facts

People • Places • Events

HIS

& Hers

She’s a Commercial Insurance Broker at Kern Insurance Associates and he’s an Account Representative with Halliburton and together they own and operate The Foundry gallery. They might be busy, but they always have time for each other and for family.

IN STEP WITH:

Christina & Ty Sweet

What was the first thing you thought when you met your future spouse for the first time?

Christina: The first time I remember seeing Ty I thought, “Who is that long-haired guy? He must be mine!”

Ty: How do I get to know this girl better?

What is the funniest thing that happened while you two were dating?

Christina: Gosh, that’s a hard one. We met at age 15 and were married by 17. I don’t think we ever had a “real” date. Our first date alone was probably our honeymoon to Magic Mountain wearing matching t-shirts.

Ty: First date was a Taco Bell drive-thru. Romantic I know, but I had just gotten my driver’s license!

What is the craziest thing your spouse has ever done for you?

Christina: Singing to me from a stage at the fair when he was in his garage band in high school.

Ty: I’m not sure that’s something I want to document in writing...

What is your spouse’s biggest phobia?

Christina: A messy car.

Ty: The ocean. Deathly afraid! She cried during take-off on our flight to Hawaii.

Who’s the first one to admit when they’re wrong?

Christina: I am the first to admit when I’m wrong because I can’t handle silence. He will probably say me because he’s never wrong.

Ty: Things can get pretty heated during an argument, but I think we’re pretty good at admitting when we’re wrong (which is usually me, probably 85 percent of the time).

What is your spouse most passionate about?

Christina: Ty is most passionate about involving humor in life every day. I’m not sure why but it has been a constant staple.

Ty: Her art, it’s what she lives for. Besides family, if she didn’t have an outlet for her artistic talents she would have jumped off a bridge a long time ago.

What’s your favorite thing to do in Bakersfield?

Christina: Painting with friends because it frees my mind and serves as a stress relief. I also like to just hang out with Ty over a beverage and Stinky Fries at Lengthwise to regroup after a long work week.

Ty: Enjoying time with family and friends, whether that is in the Arts District on First Friday or at one of the dozens of fantastic restaurants here in town. There is definitely a lot to do in Bakersfield these days!

What is your least favorite thing about your spouse and most favorite thing?

Christina: My favorite thing about Ty is that he is an awesome dad to our three girls. My least favorite thing about Ty is that he leaves the ironing board out.

Ty: She is the most disorganized person I have ever met. Ever. I used to think she was pretty together, but if she doesn’t have it written down in her planner, it’s getting overlooked (don’t get me started on her car!). But it leads to my favorite thing about her, which is her drive. If she wasn’t going 25 hours a day 8 days a week, we definitely wouldn’t be where we are now personally and professionally. It can be difficult to keep up, but it is also very inspiring and motivating. www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 19

Kern Facts WLW CLUB (we love winning!)

T

here’s no getting around it: our readers are winners in more ways than one! Aside from their wonderful and discerning taste in fine literature, a great deal of them are also recipients of exciting prizes. Whether it is a certificate for a day at the salon, a delectable dining experience, or tickets to fun and exclusive events, the opportunities for winning are plentiful.

Ashley Thompson Frenchy Valenzuela

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Did You Know?

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We’ve had quite an identity crisis here in Kern. Back in 1850, the land that would become Kern County was initially part of Mariposa County.

Two years later, in 1852, the land in question became lumped in with Tulare County. Then, in 1855, the first attempt to organize what would become Kern County occurred… only it was under the name Buena Vista County. It wasn’t until 1866 that Kern County became, well, Kern County!

Source: Historic Chronology of Kern County

photo by Ryan Houchin

takeover time T

hey flip, jump, twist, turn, twirl, and make any average workout look like child’s play. Freerunning is a sport where acrobatics meet gymnastics, and those engaging in it use no equipment or special gadgets to send themselves flying through the air: their own physical prowess and their surroundings enable them to execute some highly impressive moves. This global sport has been gaining popularity over the years, and the biggest freerunning event to date took place in Kern County.

Professional freerunners at the top of their game from 13 different countries gathered together with Tempest Freerunning (based out of Los Angeles) at the Mojave Plane Graveyard. Aptly named The Takeover, these men and women were flipping out of planes, tumbling out of luggage compartments, somersaulting off of wings, and propelling off of engines.

Cory DeMeyers, a member of Tempest who helped organize the event, detailed that one of his teammates had scouted out the location for a video he wanted to do on his own, but then brought it to the group to help make it into something phenomenal. “A year prior to The Takeover, we Freerunning is a sport met one of the athletes [in Swewhere acrobatics meet den] who said it was his dream to gymnastics. They use no come to America, so we flew him equipment or gadgets to out to come and train with us for send themselves flying! a week.” When other freerunning athletes from other countries heard about this, they decided they wanted in on the action, too, and what started out as a kind gesture to a fellow freerunner turned into something huge.

“There were people who had never ventured out of their country, got to see Hollywood and then go to the Mojave Plane Graveyard and play with the airplanes. They flew through the air like those machines did at one time,” DeMeyers said.

the PLUNGE

any may fancy themselves wildlife photographers, but only one person can say that their photo of the wet and wild outdoors is the official picture on the Interagency Pass for the U.S. Forest Service! For 2013, that one person is from Kern County.

Glen Maki, a Kern County Fire Department chief and Woffard Heights resident, snapped the perfect picture of a kayaker braving the twists and turns of the Seven Teacups at Sequoia National Forest. He then entered the image into the National Park Foundation’s 2011 Share the Experience photo contest and nabbed first prize!

Competition was rough, with beautiful shots from Alaska, Wyoming, and Michigan’s national forests, to name a few, at the head. Maki’s entry left his competitors upstream without a paddle.

PHOTO COURTESY U.S. FOREST SERVICE

M

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 21

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People • Places • Events

Where is this

H

oly smokes!

We can’t believe it ourselves, but we’re ready to give away more free stuff. This time, we’ll dole out a $30 gift card to Russo’s Books to the person who can identify where we took this awesome photo. Email your guesses to comments@ bakersfieldmagazine.net and your name will be entered into a random drawing. So, just how well do you know the landscape of your city? Test your knowledge and email us today!

Last issue’s answer: Sculpture in front of The Kern County Farm Bureau

Foreclosure worries?

Valentien

A

List extra

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alling all A-List Members! It’s time for your favorite Kern Fact.

You know, the one where we give away a $100 gift card to a great local restaurant (this time it’s Valentien!) to one lucky A-Lister. All you have to do is take a peek at the randomly compiled list of names below and see if you spot yours. If so, email us at alist@bakersfieldmagazine.net* and tell us that you deserve to win! We’ll enter your name into a random drawing from all emails received

by June 28. It’s that easy. If you’re not a part of our A-List, visit bakersfieldmagazine.net today and join—for free!

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Serving the

Bakersfield Community

Photo courtesy of Kern Assistive Technology Center

Kern Facts David & Zach’s sacramento

quest

for over 33 years

Not Your Ordinary

ROAD TRIP It’s been just over a year since David Mensch and his then 15-year-old son, Zach, made the journey from Bakersfield to Sacramento to bring attention to the effects of budget cuts on nonprofit organizations and real people. This was quite the feat… mainly because the Mensches didn’t just hop in a car. No, father and son traveled via motorized wheelchair and bicycle, respectively. For David,

“Since the journey and the film, David has become more sure of himself—who he is and what he’s able to do.”

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24 Bakersfield Magazine

who has Cerebral Palsy, the trip was a powerful one and over the past year, he’s had a chance to really digest what happened on those 278 miles.

“It was a bonding experience for me and my son,” David said. “At the time, I was thinking how much it would mean for other people to see that those with disabilities can do anything people without disabilities can do.”

Their mission was named “David and Zach’s Quest to Sac,” and it included a number

of milestones for David, one of which being breaking the world record for most miles traveled in a motorized wheelchair in a 24-hour period! Of course, there were rough patches, like dealing with 40 mph winds.

But everything was caught on camera for a documentary film made of the trip that premiered at the Fox Theater.

“It will make us laugh and it will make us cry,” explained Aaron Markovits. Markovits is the director of Kern Assistive Technology Center, where David works, and all the proceeds from the screening will benefit the Center. “It’s an inspirational story that anyone can relate to.”

“The support that we received from the community… it was amazing,” David continued. “It was such a wonderful experience. We accomplished what we set out to do.”

But the story is far from over for David.

“He’s so much more confident in his own abilities,” Markovits said. “Since the journey and the film, David has become more sure of himself—who he is and what he’s able to do.”

For more details, visit davidandzachsquest.com.

In & Around B•Town

LongNecks

I

Realtor®

on the tube

f you’re a Kern County ostrich, it’s time to get your head out of the sand and into the camera lens, where it rightfully belongs. Well, at least that’s how the folks at Cooper’s Tires felt when they scouted out some local birds to help plug the eclectic group of people who make use of their products. And when it came time for them to procure the best in fine fowl talent, they had their sights locked on Kern County. The pairing turned out to be quite the boon for our community.

David Brust, owner of Indian Point Ostrich Ranch in Tehachapi, discovered that his exquisite birds provided more than just eggs and feathers. “Cooper’s Tires actually had their advertising firm contact me in regards to doing a commer-

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The finished product was a commercial titled “Just Another Day at the Ranch,” in which Brust details his life as an ostrich farmer and how the tires have made a difference in the daily operations. Beautiful shots of the area can be seen throughout the entire production, and the Ranch— which sells everything from ostrich burgers to jewelry made of ostrich eggs—can be said to be a glimpse into the heart of our wonderful county.

So is acting for the birds? Maybe, but just to be sure, you can check out the finished product at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=5JOjFfAAMLg.

Did You Know? cial for them, and after several Skype interviews, they decided that they wanted to work with us on making a commercial.”

After equipping Brust with tires for all of the vehicles at the Ranch—and making sure that he loved them, which he did— Coopers Tires sent out a film crew to record life on the Ranch for two days.

d the date that uly 31, 1954, marke nium ore was the first carload of ura du ia ring the U.S. shipped out of Californ of the ‘50s. The uranium mining boom from the Miracle uranium itself came ver Valley, a place mine in the Kern Ri mining booms! that is no stranger to

J

lsociety.org

Source: krvhistorica

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Kern Facts

expressions

Local

People • Places • Events

By David Nigel Lloyd

Joel Arvallo is that rare artist who knows himself through his art—an ordinary man, he would insist.

H

is work, however, is anything but ordinary. Much of it presents a seemingly microscopic world of unseen cellular structures hung on slender webs of connecting tissue. Utilizing colored inks and pencils, textured papers and deliberately blobbed paint, his work is often alight with an astonishing palette that does not shy from emerald and gold, say, or bronze and blue.

“They’re not fantasies,” he said recently over a beer at Dagny’s. “I’m not making up something that’s not there. This is as real to me as realism.”

A well-known regular at the downtown coffee house and rendezvous spot, Arvallo pauses frequently to chat and clown with its other fixtures and denizens as they enter and exit.

“People thirst for song,” he mused, returning to the conversation, “for movement and dance, beautiful buildings and spaces.” His own thirst or quest came about, “sometime in the mid-nineties,” when he realized he was an artist. “How to connect this web of existence that I perceive as complete, far-reaching, and important,” he said.

Turning to the macroscopic as opposed to the microscopic, his first serious body of work was called Seeds of Life. “Laura Alexander was very supportive,” he said.

“Her gallery was next door. It was called MOMAS, My Own Modern Art Studio. I had a show there in 1998.”

In 2004, two of his macro-

26 Bakersfield Magazine

scopic seed pieces were included in an Arts Council of Kern exhibit of Latino artists curated by Alberto Herrera. He took his mother Adela, then in a wheelchair, to the opening. “She was always fascinated with what came out of my head,” he laughed.

Arvallo, who turned 50 last Halloween, had his portfolio with him. Its contents, however, aren’t for everyone. “I get tired of dealing with ‘helpful’ criticism like, ‘you should

be more painterly,’ ” he related. “It wears you down.”

There are other painters, musicians, and writers whose opinions he does value. “It’s very important to have a salon of artists,” he explained, “to see how others work. How they deal with their own quests.”

Occasionally, his father, Francisco Arvallo, comes along for a coffee. In his youth, Frank sang and played guitar in Penny’s Boys, a trio romantico

that cut a few discs with Vocalion, a famous Southwestern record label of the early and mid-20th century. Frank knows only too well the urge to create and how it became imperative in his son’s life.

Joel’s older brother, also named Frank, was a classical singer of great promise. He died of AIDS in 1989, aged 29. His older sister Carmen died 14 years later. She was a painter and art teacher. But it is of his mother Adela whom Joel speaks most often and with deepest respect and affection.

“She barely had a sixth grade education, but she read voraciously and navigated through a series of artistic circles in Mexico City. That’s how she got to know Frida Khalo,” Arvallo recalled. “No, there wasn’t any problem with my brother and me pursuing the artistic life.”

His current work, which he terms organic abstracts, “came out in drawings and stream-ofconsciousness sketches shortly after her death in 2005.” He began to see, “timeless abstract connections through patterns everywhere. They come up again and again.”

Last March he exhibited 14 pieces at the nXcaffe. “I sold three,” he said. He sold several more at an exhibit at the Foundry in October.

Joel Arvallo is currently in negotiation with an agent to represent him statewide. He sees this as an opportunity and as a required offering to posterity. “We don’t know what the future will see in or need from our work,” he concluded.

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 27

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Y

oda may have claimed that Jedis have no need for adventure or excitement, but the same just can’t be said for Kern County residents.

“A lot of people that come in to raft are from the Los Angeles basin area,” started Joe Chesney, owner of Kernville’s Eagle Rafting, an organization that safely squires people down the river. But L.A. visitors make up just a small portion of rafters.

Chesney explained that our waters draw swarms of people from Europe seeking wild and wet thrills! “I book a lot of tours with people from the UK, London, the Ukraine, Sweden, and Germany who are making their way through the California Loop and decide to stop to raft in between Death Valley and Yosemite.”

Kern County is the place for worldclass adventure! Now’s the time to book your white water excursion! And because hanging out on the Kern is so popular, there is no shortage of professional guides (and you should only rely on a trained guide). Kern River Outfitters, Sierra South Mountain Sports, White Water Voyages, River’s End Rafting & Adventure Company, and others can help get you and your friends out on the Kern County waters!

By the Numbers12345 3 Minor league sports

teams in Bakersfield

17 CSUB men’s and women’s intercollegiate sports

25 Soccer fields at the Kern 500 1941 20,000

28 Bakersfield Magazine

County Soccer Park Bakersfield Speedway is a 1/3 mile (or 500 meters) banked clay oval track Year Sam Lynn Ballpark was built Seats in BC Memorial Stadium

Sources: VisitBakersfield.com; CSUB. edu; MILB.com; BakersfieldSpeedway.com; BakersfieldCollege.edu; BakersfieldCondors.com

©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MOUNTAINBERRY PHOTO (RAFTING), MIKKELWILLIAM (SOCCER)

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Minimally Invasive Maximally Effective Approach for Optimal Cardiovascular Health

Dr. Peter C. Nalos

Dr. Brij Bhambi

Dr. William Nyitray

Pioneer of electrophysiology in Kern County.

Tradition of world-class care and convenience of proximity.

Raising the bar in interventional cardiology since 1988.

Dr. Kirit Desai

Dr. Tetsuo Ishimori

Dr. Sanjiv Sharma

Dr. Joel Lardizabal

Pillar of cardiovascular care for nearly three decades.

Blending wisdom and excellence for 40 years!

Combining research and clinical excellence in a wide spectrum of interventional care.

Championing cutting-edge innovations in cardiovascular interventions.

Dr. Rasham Sandhu Expanding horizons of vascular care with state-of-the-art techniques.

Dr. Denis Maddox

Dr. Sarabjeet “Chhabra” Singh

Practicing cardiology/interventional Introducing a minimally invasive cardiology for 35 years. Previously involved approach to structural heart disease. in research at Brigham Hospital and Harvard.

A new paradigm!

“Heart is a Central Matter”

1-800-HEART24 Heart24.com

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 29

Kern Facts Your Daily Treat

museum tweet

S

photo courtesy twitter.com/kcmuseum

ocial networking may be a new technology, but the Kern County Museum is capitalizing on this trend to promote something very old: Kern County, itself! With over 150 years of exciting history in our neck of the woods, the folks at the Museum have decided that it’s time to chronicle that history in a dynamic way. So, a Twitter account, aptly titled “This Day in Kern County History” was born.

“We decided to work on [the idea] after I started at the museum in November of 2012,” Executive Director Roger Perez explained. “We had been looking for a way to share the tremendous

archives of historical photos and artifacts that we have here at the museum. They all have such interesting back stories to them and they seldom get to be displayed at the museum because of the sheer size of the collection and, in some cases, due to the delicate nature of the artifact.” So, a daily Twitter feed seemed like an excellent way to share that history with anyone who wanted to learn more.

The goal is to launch sometime in midJune. “We’re hoping for it to be true to the ‘This Day in Kern County History’ theme and make it a daily post. That’s why it’s taking us some time to get it off the ground,” Perez added. “This will be a great way to keep the Museum connected to our community and visitors, not to mention potential visitors. And there happens to be some really fascinating facts, so we hope it adds a bit of education to everyone’s day!”

So be sure to follow the Museum’s Twitter account the second it’s unveiled!

For more information about the Museum, visit kcmuseum.org.

30 Bakersfield Magazine

Skilled Hands

ith ever-growing trends in food— from countless chef-based reality television shows to the pop culture phenomenon of the “foodie”—it can be easy to overlook just how much work and artful skill that a chef must possess to excel in their profession. (Let’s face it: everything looks easier on television!) But one local woman has been in the business for nearly two decades and watching her work makes it evident that it isn’t just slicing and dicing that makes the chef.

Chef Suzanne Davis wasn’t always the master of the kitchen that she is today. “I took it up as a second career,” she revealed.

“I was an aerospace contract administrator.” But when the industry started to take a turn for the worse, and layoffs were rampant, her friends encouraged her to open up a restaurant.

“I went to the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts and got my degree and went right to work at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.” She then opened a catering business with her sister in Lake Havasu for five years, where they experienced a number of highlights, including being the sole caterers for MTV’s Spring Break one year.

Davis soon heeded the call to teach, starting in Southern California and eventually making her way up north to Bakersfield College, where she currently teaches local students on how to filet their way to greatness. (Considering they have won the Great Outdoor Cooking competition at the Mammoth Food & Wine Experience—where they go head-to-head with students from institutes like Cordon Bleu—for two years

straight, this isn’t a stretch!)

There are countless ways that a chef is skilled, but one thing is for certain: preparing and presenting delicious food is not for the clumsy.

One set of skills a chef must master are those of the knife cuts. This may elicit images of a robust man with a jolly mustache chopping through celery at lightening speed, but when you stop to consider that each of the different cuts have specific dimensions that must be attained—lest the flavor of the dish be compromised—the cartoonish aspect goes right out the window. Cutting food into strips and cubes isn’t taken lightly, as they all have to be the exact same size, some being as tiny as a matchstick. “It takes a lot of hand-eye coordination, whether the cut is julienne or brunoise, and you have to be able to do it fast and efficiently

©istockphoto.com/mattjeacock

Making the Cut W

as soon as it is needed. It all has to do with how cleanly the food is cooked.” Beyond fruits and vegetables, being able to successfully debone a chicken, filet a fish, and cut a large number of steaks into the perfect proportions is another task any culinary whiz may face.

Baking takes dexterity to a whole new level. “Proper use of your hands is vital in baking,” Davis disclosed. “It isn’t

“ It takes a lot of hand-eye coordination, whether the cut is julienne or brunoise, and you have to be able to do it fast and efficiently as soon as it is needed.”

—Chef Suzanne Davis

just cupcakes, but breads must have a certain feel to them, even if they come off of a commercial mixer. Pastries like danishes have to have a certain feel and shape to the dough, and there’s a careful construction involved. Even icing a cake must be done carefully so it’s smooth, and each slice must look perfect.”

When it comes to cooking up amazing meals, even after everything is said and done in the kitchen, there is still the task of plating and presenting the food to the guest. The different cuts must optimize the flavor, just as the presentation will surely optimize the experience. The upkeep of the kitchen is also important. “You must keep a clean kitchen at the end of the day. That shows who is really in it and who is not.”

From cleaning grills to storing food, all parts are vital. “It’s all hands in the kitchen. If you can’t utilize your hands, you’re at a loss.”

Regardless of how specific and challenging her job may be, Davis absolutely loves what she does. “The beauty of being a chef is that you are able to transform a quality raw ingredient into a delicious meal that nourishes another human being,” she said. Luckily for local culinary students, Davis adores the Bakersfield community and looks forward to providing worldclass training to all that step inside her kitchen.

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 31

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CITIZEN KERN

How she got started: Pollard began her career out of the USC at Disneyland, where she worked as a training and development representative at the Disney university. “[It was] the absolute best place to cut your teeth in corporate America,” she said, noting that she learned the “value and importance of teamwork,” as well as optimal customer service.

Exceeding expectations was a part of her daily routine. “Working for Disney helped establish the guiding principles by which I live and work and where I learned what’s possible.”

Her heroes: Her mother, Judy Keyes, had a huge impact on her life, but Pollard also noted that her junior high guidance counselor, Betty Valentich, and Dr. Juanita Mantovani (her academic advisor at USC) were very important people in her life.

Pollard

‘‘

Working for Disney helped establish the guiding principles by which I live and work and where I learned what’s possible.

Career highlights: She earned the Sam Walton Business Award for service to the customer, respect for the individual, and pursuit of excellence. Her creative work on behalf of her clients won her the Summit Award on an international level. She also worked with a team that developed and proposed the Enhanced Economic Development rate for PG&E, which, if approved, has the potential to boost job growth and economic development in Kern County.

‘‘

Her favorite part of the industry: Though she may have experience with one of the biggest corporations imaginable, Pollard truly loves the work it prepared her for on a local level. “I enjoy helping local businesses grow and working with staff and others to strengthen our community,” she revealed. At the Chamber, she gets to work alongside people who are working hard to make our community a better place, and she is there with them to make it a reality.

This may be why she managed media for the Bakersfield Business Conference for almost 20 years!

meet

Cindy

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DISNEY (LOGO); BORTON PETRINI (LOGO); USC (LOGO); SIA (LOGO)

Name: Cynthia (Cindy) Pollard Age: 54 Birthplace: Bakersfield, CA Occupation: President/CEO, Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce

What she’d still like to accomplish: Even though she’s worked on high-profile projects that drew international media attention, like the natural gas blowout in Lost Hills, Pollard still has much she would like to conquer. With no slowing down in sight, she wants to learn to fly and teach English in foreign countries so that she can move to a different country every year or two.

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 33

34 Bakersfield Magazine

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 35

❖

HUMAN RESOURCES ❖

The Life and Death of Employment Records

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36 Bakersfield Magazine

“It is not deeds or acts that • Medical records such as injulast; it is the written record ries on the job and drug/alcohol of those deeds and acts,” test results for five years (chemsaid writer Elbert Hubbard. ical safety and toxic exposure If you are an employer, state records must be kept for duraand federal laws require tion of employment, plus 30 you to keep records of your years). Medical records must deeds and acts concerning also be kept in a separate file so employment issues, such that medical information “will as how much you pay your remain confidential and will be employees and accidents that protected from unauthorized happen to them. use and disclosure.”

• Benefits information for While recordkeeping and

By Robin Paggi retention is not a fun topic, six years, but not less than it is an important one. Just ask the folks one year following a plan termination. at Morgan Stanley who, according to • Unlawful employment practices, claims, numerous news sources, were required investigations, and legal proceedings to pay $15 million to the Securities records—until the end of the case (this is Exchange Commission because they failed why Morgan Stanley got into trouble). to properly retain and produce e-mail Employment records should be under records that were related to investigations lock and key with access limited to one of the company.

So, what kind of employment records person or department. Because employers are employers required to keep and how may store these records electronically, long do they have to keep them? Like most they must ensure that technological things in employment law, the answer is safeguards are in place to properly protect “it depends.” According to Edward R. the information.

With all of the different retention reMcNicholas, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney who specializes in information quirements, employers might be tempted law, “For a Fortune 50 company with to just keep all employment records fortwenty lines of business, you may have ever. Not a good idea, according to Mcfifty or sixty different laws that apply to Nicholas. “If you retain [a record] for document retention.” What about for a too long, it’s very expensive, you expose business owner in Bakersfield? In general, yourself to litigation risks, and you might the California Chamber of Commerce be violating privacy rights,” he says. How says that employers are required to keep: does one properly dispose of records? According to the Fair and Accurate Credit • Recruitment, hiring, and job placement Transactions Act of 2003, employers must records such as employment applications shred or burn them, or have someone else and employment testing results for two do it. Employers wanting to hire someone years (or the duration of any claim or to do the shredding or burning must conlitigation involving hiring practices). duct due diligence to ensure the document Note: employers are not required to use destruction contractor knows what it’s applications or testing in their hiring doing. Records stored electronically can process; however, if they do, they must simply be deleted; however, if the hard retain them. drive that stored the information is retired • Payroll records that identify wages or sold, the drive needs to be demagnepaid each pay period for four years. Wage tized first. And, obviously, don’t destroy records such as time cards for three years. records when you are about to be audited • I-9s for the later of three years from or investigated. hire date or one year after termination.

So, record your deeds and acts and • Performance evaluations, disciplinary destroy them properly. Because, while notices, and other items in a personnel file records retention and destruction is not a for the duration of employment plus two lot of fun, staying in business is. years. Note: employers are not required to provide performance evaluations or Robin Paggi is the Training Coordinator at disciplinary notices; however, if they do, Worklogic HR Legal Solutions and can be reached at rpaggi@worklogiclegal.com or (661) 695-5168. they must retain them.

ONE MINUTE BUSINESS BRIEF

Beth & Tom Hoffmann

Hoffmann Hospice

I

n 1990, Tom and Beth Hoffmann were owners of a successful home-health agency. This was also the year that they met a young AIDS-stricken mother who came to them for help. After referring her to the only hospice agency in Bakersfield at the time and discovering she had been denied coverage, the Hoffmanns cared for her until she passed away in 1994.

The experience of caring for not only this woman but also her two HIV-positive children deeply impacted the Hoffmanns and they founded a nonprofit hospice with a pledge that no hospice-eligible patients would ever be turned away, regardless of their illness or ability to pay.

Highly respected in the industry, with branches in Kern Valley and Palmdale, Hoffmann Hospice is the oldest hospice agency in Kern County.

For Tom and Beth, the organization is a labor of love. It’s their mission to ensure that those seeking help during the end of life are given compassionate, quality care. They also want to make sure that everyone un-

The oldest hospice agency in Kern, Hoffmann Hospice’s motto is, “Hoffmann’s there because we care.”

Hoffmann has two locations in Kern County and one in Antelope Valley to ensure everyone, regardless of location, has access to quality end-of-life care.

8501 Brimhall Road, Bldg. 100 Bakersfield, CA 93312 661-410-1010 www.hoffmannhospice.org CURRICULUM VITAE

derstands the truth about hospice, despite some of the more prevalent misconceptions.

“While the number of Americans cared for by hospice continues to climb each year, it is still a challenge helping people understand that truth about hospice care,” Beth explained. “Hospice is not about ‘giving up,’ nor is it a form of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide. The focus is on caring, not curing.”

In Beth’s words, hospice helps people with a life-limiting illness focus on living life to the fullest extent…for as long as possible. Hospice care focuses on comfort and quality of life; hospice serves anyone with a life-limited illness, regardless of age or type of illness.

Perhaps most important, hospice provides expert medical care as well as spiritual and emotional support to patients and their families.

“The best time to learn about hospice is before you or someone in your family is faced with a medical crisis,” Beth added.

“And Hoffmann is here to answer all your questions about end-of-life care.” www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 37

3 0 - s e c o n d B U S I NESS B R I E F

Cassie Duncan, Douglas Andersen, Ellen Andersen

Andersen Hearing Services

A

fter Doug Andersen spent time helping children at a speech and hearing clinic on his college campus, he knew it was time to switch majors. Instead of history, Andersen focused on audiology, graduating from California State University, Los Angeles. Andersen, who was the Director of Audiology at Mercy Hospital before opening his own clinic in 1993, explained, “Not only was the field more hands-on, which I loved, but I was actually helping people.”

His passion now focused on helping people, especially children, hear better. Andersen became state licensed in Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing, became a Member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association, and became a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology.

Today, Anderson, his wife, Ellen, and all-around assistant Cassie provide compassionate, complete care to patients by performing diagnostic hearing evaluations and providing hearing aids and hearing rehabilitation for all ages. “My youngest was eight days old and my oldest so far was one hundred and one,” Andersen said.

“Our goal at Andersen Hearing Services is to make each patient feel as comfortable as possible throughout their visit,” he added. “I try to educate people so they have a choice when it comes to hearing aids, hearing healthcare, and any treatments.”

1801 21st Street, Suite 4 Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-324-2113 www.andersenhearingservices.com 38 Bakersfield Magazine

CURRICULUM VITAE

Being successful feels amazing.

There’s no feeling quite like the one you get when you come up with an idea, run with it, and find that not only does it work, it hits the target in a big way.

R I S K T A K E R S

giving it all

By Tracie Grimes es, success is a wonderful thing, but failing is okay, too, says Scott Harrison, founder of Terra Novo, a leading manufacturer of erosion and sediment control products based here in Bakersfield.

“Something that my mom and dad started teaching me very early in life is to never be afraid of failure,” Harrison says, recalling his childhood years. “It didn’t matter what I was doing, if it was in sports or in school, I was taught to give it my all and really put myself out there. And when you put yourself out there it means there’s a chance you’re going to fail. When you fail, and you will if you’re truly putting yourself out there, it’s important to look at your mistakes and resolve not to repeat them. That’s when you really start to learn about yourself, when you’re able to take a good look at a failure and learn from your mistakes.

You can’t grow as a person without failing once in a while, and you can’t succeed if you don’t risk the chance of failing.”

And boy did he put himself out there.

It was all or nothing for Harrison when his entrepreneurial spirit kicked in after working in a large company for five or six years. “I always knew I would eventually be my own boss, and while I was working in agriculture, helping farmers with soil conditioning and stability, I began thinking about other industries that may have a soil pollution problem. Construction was a natural fit, so I researched the issues associated with erosion and sediment control, and from there developed EarthGuard. And while I was investigating erosion and sediment control issues associated with construction, I uncovered the opportunity to begin providing better products.”

It was a big chance and failure was a real

Scott Harrison Terra Novo founder

“You can’t grow as a person without failing once in a while, and you can’t succeed if you don’t risk the chance of failing.” —Scott Harrison possibility. But he believed in this idea he had to solve soil problems in an environmentally friendly way. He believed in his vision so much that he not only took a financial risk by using his personal capital to start the business, he started working on patenting his ideas and products.

“I knew I was on to something and I wanted to take it a step further. That was risky too because, as anyone who’s taken out a patent knows, patenting products is not only time-consuming, it takes a fair amount of money.”

Harrison’s risks paid off. What started off being a small garage-based business serving mainly clients in the San Joaquin

Valley now offers a full line of soil erosion and sediment control products in all 50 states and internationally.

“My goal when I started the company back in 1998 was to come up with solutions for erosion control, reclamation, re-vegetation, agricultural efficiencies, dust suppression, and water clarification. What we’ve developed is a highly effective, affordable product line that fills a unique niche,” he explains, ticking off Terra Novo’s product line which includes EarthGuard, SoilMAX, Agriflo, DustCap, DustGuard, and AquaGuard. “Our engineers and chemists are particularly proud of their hands-on approach to solving site-specific problems.” >> www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 39

Risktakers­

It’s this hands-on approach that makes the company a stand-out in the industry.

“Meeting our customers’ needs is what our business is all about, and that doesn’t mean just offering a variety of soil-solving products. It’s important that we are able to meet the client’s needs at the site. We have set up sales offices and warehouses all over the country so we can service even the remotest areas. One example of this is in North Dakota. We have clients in the area who’ve been drilling wells and need to re-vegetate and clean the areas they’ve worked. We have offices close enough so we can get the product out to them efficiently and cost-effectively. We’ve also developed our product in a way that makes it easy for the client to use themselves, which really brings down the cost because the client doesn’t have to pay for one of our technicians to come out and apply the product. We’ve really gone the extra mile when it comes to making

“I work hard to make sure there is a relaxed, comfortable environment in the workplace and I place a lot of importance on rewarding my employees for a job well done.” sure our products are user-friendly, affordable, effective, and efficient.”

And Terra Novo’s commitment to this kind of affordable efficiency has drawn in some pretty big clients. The Federal Highway Administration, Chevron, Shell, Exxon Mobil, First Solar, the U.S. Forest Service, and many well-known home builders turn to Terra Novo to help them with agricultural and water issues. “Our clients use our unique product formulations to accomplish their goals affordably and without harming the environment. One of the key features is the fact that our products don’t act like a shield on the soil, they actually integrate with the soil. Our EarthGuard EDGE, for instance, covers more area in a shorter window of time and spreads naturally to untreated areas, so you spend significantly less on both the product and the labor to apply it.”

But Terra Novo’s customer service doesn’t end with getting the product to the customer; they work with clients to make sure they’re meeting strict state and federal regulations. “Compliance can be a hard realm to navigate, so our experts do their best to keep up with regulatory agencies so our clients don’t have to worry about it.”

The experts behind the scenes are what 40 Bakersfield Magazine

makes Terra Novo successful, Harrison says. Most Terra Novo employees are what Harrison refers to as “technical/educational” people who spend a good majority of their time educating their clients on how Terra Novo products work and what affordable options are open to them.

“When I launched Terra Novo, I did all of the product development and research on my own. As the business grew, I hired a team to support sales and new business to increase exposure and cover more territory.

“I’m a big believer in people,” he adds, emphasizing that Terra Novo’s “people” are some of the best around. “I work hard to make sure there is a relaxed, comfortable environment in the workplace and I place a lot of importance on rewarding my employees for a job well done. I find it very rewarding to me personally to be able to reward my employees, and reward them well.”

Setting goals and achieving them is another thing that brings Harrison a lot of satisfaction. “I’ve always had a self-driven personality type. There’s nothing like the feeling you get when you set a goal and achieve it.”

As rewarding as his business has been, there are still challenges Harrison and his team will have to meet head on. Although he isn’t afraid of failure, Harrison certainly doesn’t want to fail. “I feel like I always have to work because the continued success of the company depends on me. I don’t know that a lot of people realize the mental angst of running a business like this. You want to grow the company, but growing the company means you have to give up some control because one person can’t do everything that needs to be done. And the more control you give up, the more you expose the company and yourself to more liability. I realize I’m going to have to relinquish some control to grow the company, but that’s a huge risk for me. I will have to divulge intellectual property in order to grow the product line, and our product line needs to grow so we can keep up with the unique needs of our customers.”

That’s what it comes down to for Harrison and his team at Terra Novo: growing the product line so they can keep up with the needs of their customers. And so far, their risks have paid off.

“We’ve already been successful in expanding the EarthGuard product line, with EarthGuard EDGE, a pellet form of the EarthGuard product for erosion control.

Terra Novo offers a full line of soil erosion and sediment control products in all 50 states and internationally.

The new EDGE formula allows users to apply the product without water by hand, mechanically, or air-drop and is ideal for use in remote areas with limited water and for smaller jobs where hydro mulching is costprohibitive. It is chemically engineered to absorb the impact of raindrops and provides immediate erosion control and soil stabilization until permanent vegetation is established or until construction has resumed.”

But as they expand one part of the product line they have to maintain services in the other parts of the product line, which can be challenging at times, Harrison points out. “We’ve learned how to grow and maintain balance at the same time ‘on the fly’ because we have to follow the growth where it takes us. And we never know where the next job is going to take us. We might be working on a job in an arid climate one day, and the next day get a call for a job where there’s snow on the ground. Our product line has to change quickly and accordingly.”

But changing something that’s worked in the past can be a little scary to most businessmen. While Harrison knows it’s a fine line between success and failure, he doesn’t let a fear of failure paralyze him or his visions for success. “If you haven’t failed at anything you haven’t really learned about yourself. It’s all about looking at your mistakes and moving forward, not taking a step back.”

And succeeding by facing your fear of failing feels pretty darn good. v

photo courtesy the bob elias Kern County sports hall of fame

&

Many of the greatest things in life start

contributions he made to local sports.

just this idea, and everything was on a

out with a simple vision. For Bob Elias—

Decades have since passed, and the Hall

much smaller scale. A man by the name

longtime local sportscaster—it was that

continues to be a strong supporter of all

of Herman Riese got a group of about

Kern County may one day have a special

Kern County’s top contenders, as well as

a dozen or so people together, and we

place where all of the great athletes of the

those who have given years of their life to

started to assemble the constitution.”

area could be forever honored for their

the bettering thereof.

Press, who was the secretary for 10

accomplishments. Though he may not

Larry Press, an inductee who

years, remembered the first dinner that

have been able to see his dream realized

was a sportswriter for The Bakersfield

they hosted to award the recipients—an

before he passed away in 1965, his vision

Californian for 42 years—the first sports

event that is still put on to this very day.

was not forgotten by his friends and col-

journalist to receive this honor—was

“We had it at the old Elks Lodge, which

leagues. Through their efforts, the Bob

there when everything came to fruition in

was downtown. The food line was outside

Elias Kern County Sports Hall of

1967. The beginnings were a bit humble,

and it was a very cold evening. We had

Fame was established, named in honor

to say the least. “The whole thing started

metal Army food trays that we ate off of.”

of his beloved dream and the countless

out of thin air,” Press recalled. “It was

To say that the awards banquet has >>

Though Bob Elias may not have been able to see his dream realized before he passed away in 1965, his vision for a special place where all accomplished atheletes could be forever honored was not forgotten by his friends and colleagues. www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 41

&

come a long way may be a bit of an understatement. With emcee and local sportscaster Greg Kerr hosting, and with the event being held at places like the Marriott Hotel, it attracts about 300-400 people each year. “It is quite the affair,” Press said.

“But I still remember that cold dinner the first year very well!”

The people who are currently involved in running the Hall of Fame (which includes old photos and memorabilia, and is located within the Rabobank Arena at the south end of the foyer) are committed to the community in many different ways— another tradition that has been carried on since the start. Just as Riese and Press were both inductees as well as those who served as president or board member, so has Charlie Craig, former president.

Craig was inducted in 1991, being credited for starting the track and field program at CSUB as well as serving on national and international teams. Fueled by his love of sports and the mission of the Hall, Craig decided he wanted to be on the board. He has been heavily involved ever since, and started his presidency in 2009.

Howdy Miller has served on the board for 20 years, was president from 2005 to 2009, and was also vice president.

Being a lifelong sports fan didn’t hurt in assisting him with the process. “I have lived in Bakersfield for forty years,” he said.

“Serving on this board has given me the most satisfaction and has been the most fun.” Regardless of what brought the men to be integral parts of the Hall, one of the factors that has kept them there is the inspiring support from the community, and how that is represented by the actions of Kern County’s athletes all over the world.

Indeed, from Kevin Harvick and Stephen Neal to Joey Hansen and Gabe Woodward, nearly all of those inducted into the Hall not only have a local connection, but a global one, as their ac42 Bakersfield Magazine

The Hall of Fame is an impressive representation of local sports professionals.

complishments have gone on to help shape the sports in which they participate. “These athletes aren’t just the best of the best in sports,” Miller stated, alluding to a commonly used phrase within the organization, “but they are also the best of the best in life, in general.” Craig reiterated the notion that we do, in fact, have an impressive representation of sports pros by stating, “They’re pillars of the community, and they are wellrespected and very active in giving back to

Charlie Craig

Kern County and beyond. This Hall is comparable to any other Hall of Fame out there.”

Every year, a new group of local athletes who helped shape the world of sports is inducted to forever serve as reminders of what greatness truly is, and that it can be found all around us in our own friends and neighbors. As Press di-

vulged, “We had nine inductees the first year, but there isn’t a cap on how many people can be included. About two hundred have been inducted so far.”

To celebrate the induction, there is a luncheon and inductees are awarded with medallions and plaques bearing their pictures that are displayed in the Hall alongside memorabilia, but one event which stands out the most is the much-anticipated awards banquet, which is open to the pub-

Mike Keese, President

lic. As Press, Craig, and Miller all relayed, emcee Kerr truly goes above and beyond to not only be entertaining, but to also bring his sports journalism skills to the forefront.

“He shows videos that he makes of him interviewing people who know all of the inductees,” Press said.

Laughing, Craig detailed the general re-

From Kevin Harvick and Stephen Neal to Joey Hansen and Gabe Woodward, nearly all of those inducted into the Hall not only have a local connection, but a global one. action from the sports giants. “It seems like most of them come into it thinking that it’s not a big deal— they’re just getting another award.

But after those videos are played and the speeches have been made, it really turns into an emotional event. People start to get choked up.” Miller agreed, “You get these hardened guys who start to tear up and are simply touched. They have done so much for the sports world, as a whole, and what better venue to receive recognition for that than their own hometown community?” (As all inductees must be a Kern County native or have lived in Kern County for at least five years while achieving the heights that makes them suitable for nomination, it only makes sense that emotions would run high.)

“All of the board members see the Hall

of Fame as a serious endeavor. We are trying to showcase what is amazing in Kern County and put us in the most positive light for the rest of the world to see. We have no other agenda than to bring out the best of the best in our community,” Miller said. Craig concurred, saying, “Bob

Howdy Miller

Elias said, ‘You don’t have to take part in a sport to be a good one.’ This Sports Hall of Fame is the jewel of Kern County that no one knows about.” Regardless, the board strives to live by Elias’ words, continuously demonstrating pride in their community—which, due to donations, supports their cause, in turn—and a respect for the greatness that has stemmed from it.

Every year there is another chance to let Kern County’s athletes know just how much they are valued. From roller skaters to Olympic medalist swimmers, there is a home for the top performers at the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame.

Anyone can nominate an athlete from Kern County to possibly be added to this unique Hall. Applications and additional information can be found on the website, www.kcsportshalloffame.org.

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 43

44 Bakersfield Magazine

RayYork:

By Francis Mayer “Don’t gain the world and lose your soul,” Bob Marley sang in 1980’s “Zion Train”; “Wisdom is better than silver and gold.” It’s an old theme, and Bob wasn’t the first person to bring it up by a long shot.

The 20th Century landscape is punctuated by entertainers aging poorly like Charlie Sheen, or not at all like Kurt Cobain and recently Mindy McCready.

Whether it’s sex, drugs, money, or one of the other seven deadly sins, the most talented performers of our lifetime seem prone to losing everything in the end.

In Taft, you’ll find a rare exception to that trend.

Eighty-year-old Raymond York is having breakfast at Spencer’s. He orders scrambled eggs and bacon off the senior menu, partially because it makes sense to take advantage of the discount, and partially because it doesn’t take a lot of food to feed a

photo by francis mayer

man who weighs less than 110 pounds. >>

“Don’t gain the world and lose your soul. Wisdom is better than silver and gold.”

– Bob Marley

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 45

York even won a “little horse race” called the Kentucky Derby. photo courtesy of Ray York

46 Bakersfield Magazine

York was still a boy when his father succumbed to injuries he suffered years earlier while saving another man’s life in the Coast Guard.

“I’d go in the front door of the school house, past the truancy officer, and then I’d go out the back window and back to the horses,” York said.

There was a teacher that liked quarter horses, and knew what York was up to.

“I got the best grades of my life in her class,” York said, “but I can’t read.”

Michael disagrees, and said her man can read just fine. But when York shares a scrapbook that includes a promotional card with his image and racing accomplishments, he is stunned when his career winnings

of $14 million dollars are pointed out to him.

“Wow, where’d you see that?” he asked.

The dollar figure is shown to him and he doesn’t seem surprised or disappointed.

“Early on, I had some terrible management. In the old days, I’d get paid by the horse trainer or owner, and one fellow in

“That fella was a hell of a rider, just a natural jockey,” York said as he strides to a luxury box at Santa Anita Racetrack just off the 210 outside of Monrovia.

He’s talking about a man in a red vest and ball cap who is working at the track.

When asked why the man is working at what appears to be a low-level position at the track when he’s well into retirement age,York is diplomatic. photo courtesy of Ray York

photo courtesy of Ray York

But York isn’t emaciated because of old age, drugs, or poor health. He is a retired professional horse jockey. His masculine but miniature five-foot frame rode horses for money in seven different decades, which is currently a world record.

His fellow patrons in the restaurant have no idea that this little man once dated a pretty gal named Natalie Wood, dabbled in the boxing business with a guy named Muhammad Ali, owned a bowling alley with a cowboy called Roy Rogers, or won a horse race called the Kentucky Derby.

“He doesn’t ever tell folks,” York’s longtime girlfriend Michael McKay said. “But I’m very proud of him, so I’ll usually bring it up.”

Indeed, Raymond York once had the world in the palm of his hand.

“My father really liked horses, and he’d bought one for my mother and one for me,” York explained. “But my siblings weren’t really into it, so they ended up being my horses.”

particular took advantage of my lack of schooling,” York said without a trace of bitterness. “And my ex-wife and I weren’t very good with money.”

York even dated a pretty gal named Natalie Wood.

“Well, you know...he drank a bit,” he said softly while quickly adding. “But then so did I.” He didn’t want to say anything critical without confessing his own flaws and sins.

“He was really a happy drunk,” Michael said, “but I told him it was either me or the booze, and he made a quick decision.”

York’s size was a tremendous benefit on the racing track where a light jockey means a lighter load for the horse to carry, and every ounce counts. But his light weight made him a literal lightweight in the company of bigger men.

“He’d get hired to give speeches about his career and that’s where he’d meet other professional athletes, but he was the only jockey,” McKay said. York made friends with members of the Los Angeles Dodgers who were literally twice his size, and he’d

photo courtesy of Ray York

Ray York and “Alibhai Lynn” win at Hollywood Park.

Ray dabbled in the boxing business with Muhammed Ali.

What really turned York’s crank more than anything else was the horses. And winning.

The day at Santa Anita racetrack begins with exercising the horses.

Henry Moreno has trained horses for about as long as Ray York has raced them.

York counts Moreno amongst his closest friends, and it was he who put York on a horse named Culibra to make him the only jockey to race a horse in seven different decades.

A young jockey must show up to the track in the predawn hours and curry favor

from trainers and owners by exercising their horses. This is one way the jockey can win “mounts,” or jobs riding horses in races for money.

“This is the part I like best,” York said as he watched the horses begin their exercise. “I don’t usually stay for the races.”

The pace of the exercise picks up as the sun rises and becomes “work,” which is when the horse runs around the track at essentially the same speed it runs during the actual race.

“That’s it, that’s what I miss,” York said. “I miss opening the horse up and seeing what it’ll do.”

Moreno said York was a purist; the horses came first, and the money was an interesting benefit from winning. That’s what made retirement a difficult proposition, and ultimately led to his seven-decade record.

“He would show up and ride a dozen horses before dawn, and that’s not easy,” Moreno said. “And after all that work, he just wasn’t getting the mounts. So he knew it was over and it was time to retire.”

After over 3,000 wins, several big-money stakes wins, including the prestigious Hollywood Stakes, Ray York retired from horse racing.

He made a tidy sum of money riding a horse in a commercial for Tab soda.

“All I had to do was ride a horse right at this cameraman. Easy. And the com-

mercial ended up being a big hit in Japan, so I got money from it for a while, but I wasn’t real good at reading cue cards, so I didn’t pursue the acting thing like some other guys have.”

Aside from that, his days of big paydays on the backs of horses were behind him.

Taft may seem like a funny place to reinvent oneself, but York never meant to move into the Hotel California on a permanent basis. He didn’t want to hang around the track if there was no chance >> photo by francis mayer

photo courtesy of Ray York

get drunk much quicker than they would.

“I never cared that much for it,” York said, “and I never messed with drugs. I didn’t understand it. I had someone close to me who got caught up in that, and it was a terrible thing.”

Famous jockey and actor Gary Stevens shares a laugh with Ray in the jockey’s locker room.

The patrons in the restaurant have no idea that this little man once dated a pretty gal named Natalie Wood, dabbled in the boxing business with a guy named Muhammad Ali, owned a bowling alley with a cowboy called Roy Rogers, or won a horse race called the Kentucky Derby. www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 47

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for him to win. He didn’t need the sport as much as he needed the horses.

So he moved on, without looking back, and got a job doing mosquito abatement in Taft.

“Mosquito abatement is important work…those things carry terrible diseases,” McKay explained.

But it always comes back to the horses for Ray York.

He was riding a squirrely horse for a friend in order to make it more comfortable with people.

McKay was there as a horse enthusiast when she saw York riding from a distance and heard him let out a terrific shout.

“We ran over to see what happened,” McKay said, and York explained the horse photos by francis mayer

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wanted to buck him so he hollered to force all the air out of his body because that takes the sting out of being tossed.

She was smitten with him.

“I didn’t need the track after I found Michael; that was really it. I don’t need anything else,” York said.

He and McKay have traveled extensively, and they have a trip to China planned soon.

They also hit the gym together, and are involved with a food bank project in Taft.

On Wednesday mornings, he meets with a regular group of friends for break-

Ray York standing next to longtime horse trainer and friend Henry Moreno.

fast and stories but it doesn’t include coulda-woulda-shoulda tales about lost fortunes and famous old friends. That has to be dug out of him because Ray York seems just as happy discussing his breakfast, his adventures with McKay, his plans for the future, or whatever is on your mind.

York is 80 and looks like he could live another 40 years even though his torso and legs bear the telling bow of a man who has spent his life on the backs of horses.

But his spirit seems unbowed.

Culibra, the horse he set the record on, is munching grass contentedly in the backyard. Moreno gifted the animal to York after the race.

A thoroughbred’s life is spent in a gilded cage of medicines, exercises, and races. But Culibra, like York, is free of that now.

The two of them are doing just fine in Taft, far away from the roars of the race crowds and the bright lights of fame.

They both seem to realize it’s better to age well than not at all; and that you’ve got to savor each station in life for all it’s worth. Ray York did that, and he’s okay with moving on.

He and McKay should be leaving for China any day now.

By Francis Mayer Danny Spanks is sitting in his office at 1100 Mohawk Avenue, and he’s picking songs that will end up on the playlists at 106.1 KRAB Radio.

He isn’t using the latest charts out of Los Angeles, he’s using an old tool that many in the radio business have abandoned. He’s using his ears.

“Simon Cowell put it best,” Nancy Klugman of Windup Records said. “Radio is a business full of cowards and copycats.”

Klugman is talking about the tendency radio gatekeepers have to copy the popular kids of media; the big markets. “Spanks is different. He’s got courage. He’s a guy who will meet with you, sit down, and [he] gives songs a listen. And he knows what works for his listeners. He actually cares about what his listeners want.”

Klugman is a record representative. >>

“Radio is a business full of cowards and copycats.”

–Simon Cowell

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 49

Part of her job is to sell music directors and disc jockeys on new songs they haven’t heard yet.

“Sometimes it’s hard to break a new band out on the national scene when the program directors in big markets are afraid to make an original decision, but Danny will give them spins. And not just in the middle of the night.

He plays them when people can actually hear them and form their own opinion, and then the people decide,” she said.

So Spanks and Bakersfield music buyers are making a difference on the national music scene? It’s not even a stretch, said Epitaph Records’ Brett Greenberg.

photos by francis mayer

“A good example is the band A Day To Remember,” Greenberg said. “This is a band that worked their butts off, but because of the musical climate at the time, nobody would take a chance on them and let listeners decide.”

But Spanks did, and it culminated in the band appearing at the annual KRAB Free For All, a free show at Riverwalk Park that draws thousands of attendees in the middle of the summer. Spanks handpicks the bands, often tak-

50 Bakersfield Magazine

ing gambles on new acts that are popular with Bakersfield listeners, but aren’t nationally famous yet.

“That was kind of a turning point for the band,” Greenberg said. “Our lead singer walked out on the stage to almost ten thousand people and we knew we could do it after that.”

Spanks says it isn’t rocket science, but the label reps unanimously disagreed.

“More and more often, especially in the time of radio conglomeration, one guy in a major market makes all the music decisions for every station in the format,” Greenberg said. “But [Spanks] has been in that market for years, he cares about what his listeners like, and he still listens to the music.”

Which is exactly why Spanks says he got

into the radio business.

“I didn’t get into radio to be on the radio. I wanted to be the guy with the most records.

I remember listening to the disc jockeys when I was a kid, and I was amazed that they could listen to any song they wanted to,” Spanks said. “And that’s why, to this day, I’m something of a music hoarder.” He still collects 45s and CDs. Radio was one constant in Spanks’ childhood. His father’s Coast Guard career took the family to almost a dozen different cities from coast to coast before he even reached high school.

His radio dream was born in the third grade in Novato, California, but it grew

legs when he spent his high school years in New Orleans, where he started hanging around the local rock station and befriending the disc jockeys.

After high school, he moved to Bakersfield to be closer to family and he ended up putting roots down in the Golden Empire in more ways than one. He had a son and a daughter, and he began building a radio career that would span more than two decades, despite what many in the record industry call “national level talent.”

“The job is the same whether you are in Bakersfield or New York City; it’s music and a microphone, and the only difference is the number of people listening to you,” Spanks explained. “And I’m completely happy being on the air in Bakersfield. I wouldn’t put my kids through the turmoil and chaos of moving to another city or state just so my ego can have the satisfaction of talking to more people. No thanks. I went through that as a kid, and I don’t want to put them through that.”

And so he hasn’t called in favors from his friends in Los Angeles, or lost his ideals in favor of an ivory tower radio studio on Sunset Strip.

No, he’s monitoring his teenage son’s Facebook posts as closely as he’s monitoring the mail for new albums.

His son has three more years of high school in Bakersfield, and that’s three more guaranteed years we can count on Spanks to pick songs specifically for the Kern County audience.

After that?

We’d better hope his son decides to go to CSUB.

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 51

52 Bakersfield Magazine

Help

By Jessica Shillings

something to CONSIDER

Talking about these things now can save heartache and stress in the event of a medical emergency.

©istockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages

medical Specialties

in Tough Times

(L-R) Debbie Hankins, Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer, and Donna Haberkern, director of Risk Management at San Joaquin Community Hospital.

I

n your final hours, how far will you allow doctors to go to preserve your life? Who would you choose to speak for you if you are unable to do so?

While end-of-life wishes, advanced healthcare directives, and do not resuscitate orders (DNRs) are topics of conversations that no family wants to have with a loved one, these decisions are important to make before a medical crisis unfolds—they relieve stress for loved ones as well as help direct medical professionals to work in ways that will honor a person’s wishes. Yet too few individuals plan for these situations, which forces patients and their families to make critical decisions during times of crises.

It’s vital for everyone to be making these end-oflife decisions well before the end of the life is near.

Donna Haberkern, director of Risk Management at San Joaquin Community Hospital, and Debbie Hankins, the hospital’s Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer, say that having an order in place that clearly communicates the patient’s wishes can ease an already emotionally intense situation for family members as well as honor the patient’s dignity.

Haberkern and Hankins, both veteran San Joaquin Community Hospital staff members, see the impacts of having, or not having, advanced directives and DNRs on a day-to-day basis.

When patients have a DNR order, or advanced healthcare directive, in place there is no question about what that individual wants, according to Haberkern. This can provide critical guidance

to healthcare providers in a number of situations.

“It is important,” Hankins agreed, “because it will come up in a hospital situation. If they [patients and their families] haven’t communicated, loved ones will be making decisions essentially without the patient.” And this can place a lot of stress on those making the decisions.

This is especially true of situations in which family members may not agree about what the patient would have wanted, or who they would have chosen to speak for them.

Getting the conversation started To both Haberkern and Hankins, the problem continues to be that too few patients have these orders in place at all. In fact the pair estimates that only 30 percent of patients have advanced directives in place when they arrive at the hospital for treatment.

“People aren’t having these conversations,” Hankins said, “and are forced to make decisions under duress as a result.”

While the topic can be difficult for many families to broach, self-directed online resources can help get the conversation started.

Both Haberkern and Hankins recommend the Aging With Dignity Five Wishes program, a simple form easily found on the internet that helps the patient work through five important end-of-life questions: Who you want to make healthcare decisions for you when you can’t make them; the kind of medical treatment you want or don’t want; >>

When patients have a DNR order, or advanced health care directive, in place there is no question about what that individual wants. This can provide critical guidance to health care providers in a number of situations. —Donna Haberkern www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 53

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how comfortable you want to be; how you want people to treat you; and what you want your loved ones to know.

In the absence of a formal directive or order, at least have an informal conversation about these issues, the pair added.

Otherwise, legal issues can arise.

Joseph Pearl, a Bakersfield attorney who practices estate planning, pro-bate, and bankruptcy law, agrees that putting documents in place that outline specific wishes is a critical part of estate planning.

Pearl agrees that advanced directives and DNRs are both a “sensitive” and “important” conversation to have with loved ones.

“I’ve had knowledge of cases where it [having an order in place] would have benefitted the family,” Pearl said.

“Executing an advanced healthcare directive as part of an estate plan is a prudent thing to do,” he added.

Typical directives are very broad, Pearl said, most giving power to the individual’s agent to make medical decisions on their behalf. Of course, these directives can be revoked by the patient at any time as well.

According to Pearl, specific questions to consider when putting these documents in place include: When can your agent act? Do you have to be incompetent for the agent to act?

For Pearl, the advanced medical directive piece of planning for his clients usually

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comes at the end of a comprehensive conversation about estate planning, power of attorney, and the like, because that’s when people want to make sure their affairs are in order and they are not leaving important decisions to overwhelmed family members.

Rosetta Reed

Bakersfield attorney Rosetta Reed agrees that advanced directives are, “extremely important.”

According to Reed, “When I do an estate planning package, an advance healthcare directive is always included.”

Despite the fact that the patient can designate a loved one to make decisions on their behalf, “an advance healthcare directive is much better, because the person who executes it designates his or her wishes concerning all aspects of healthcare desired or not desired.”

Advanced directives provide critical direction to families at a time when they need it most, Reed said.

For example, “…if the situation ever arises where their children must sign the papers to disconnect them from life support, it is not the decision of the children. They are merely carrying out their parents’ wishes.”

In the absence of an advanced directive, a patient entering the hospital can designate a surrogate, Reed said. Typically the surrogate designate is only effective for a short period of time—during the course of treatment for a medical condition or 60 days, whichever is shorter. These documents can also prevent the necessity of court intervention.

The Teri Schiavo case is an example of this, Reed said, adding, “If she would have had a directive in place, her husband would not have been able to override her parents and cause the life support to be removed, unless of course, that is what she would have outlined in her directive.”

It’s a complicated and highly emotional topic. And there’s a lot to think about when you’re making important healthcare decisions for yourself, but after hearing from these local professionals, one thing is overwhelmingly clear: having a talk with your family about your wishes can be tough, but it’s the right thing to do.

TLC

When You Need it Most (L-R) Toni Smith, Chief Nurse Officer and Shirley Strickler, Registered Nurse at Kern Medical Center

they make it all better

“To do what nobody else will do, in a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through; that is to be a nurse.” ­­ —Rawsi Williams

©istockphoto.com/webphotographeer

medical Specialties

L

ooking at the medical technology available to us today, it’s easy to see that we’ve come a long way from the days of Florence Nightingale. The interesting thing to consider is that while the medical field has evolved by leaps and bounds, one aspect has been constant: nurses.

Here in Bakersfield, that is certainly the case.

But as society changed, there have also been changes to the field of nursing that required our dutiful caregivers be more involved in their community and the medical field as a whole.

“Nursing, itself, has changed over the years,” explained Shirley Strickler, a registered nurse at Kern Medical Center. “Especially when it comes to duties, uniforms, and the like. I found an old list of nursing duties and requirements and it included items such as, ‘make sure the lamps have oil in them.’ ” Obviously, that’s not a necessary part of the job for nurses today, but what they provide to the medical community is just as valuable today as it was a hundred years ago.

Thankfully, Bakersfield has two nursing programs and a number of vocational courses for nurses. And in addition, there are also a

number of nursing organizations that help further the cause of nursing in Bakersfield and Kern County.

One such organization, the Association of California Nurse Leaders Kern County Chapter, is at the forefront of ensuring that more people look to nursing as a career, and that nurses get the credit and respect they are due.

Toni Smith, Chief Nurse Officer at KMC and President of our ACNL chapter says the goal is to develop local nurse leaders, advance professional practice, influence health policy on a local and state level, and promote high quality of care and patient safety.

Not only that, but the ACNL has a great track record in our community of fundraising for scholarships.

“Scholarships have always been given. Kern County is part of several nursing associations, like the Association of Operating Room Nurses, Kern RN Society [which transitioned to the ACNL], and the Emergency Nurses Association, and all of them have some form of scholarship,” Strickler added.

“CSUB and BC graduate about a hundred and twenty new nurses a year, which is >>

“The nurse really is one of the few people in the patient care team that has a holistic vision of the patient. They are in the position to really see the patient’s needs in a different perspective.” —Toni Smith www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 55

TLC

excellent,” Smith explained, but explains why the demand for funding and scholarships is high. “All these nurses were employed right out of school, which is a great benefit to our local community.”

These programs are an asset, for sure, and will hopefully continue to grow so that other programs can be introduced, or, as the case may be, reintroduced.

“Nurse practitioners are one of the professions that will be in short supply as healthcare is expanded, so they will be in great demand. CSUB [which once had a practitioner program] may reopen that program, and it would serve the community well.”

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This program would be beneficial for the community since NPs can take on responsibilities normally thought of to be physician duties, like writing prescriptions, conducting exams, diagnosing illnesses, and treating injuries. So NPs can take some of the workload in a typical doctor’s office, meaning doctors aren’t spread so thin and more patients can be seen.

But in financially difficult times like this, sometimes a career in nursing is the last thing on people’s minds.

“There’s a huge measure of security in nursing,” Strickler said, attempting to dispel some long-held assumptions of the profession. “Young women have so many more choices now [that nursing is often not on the list as it used to be for decades] and young people need to know that there is great diversity within nursing. Some nurses are case managers or work in pharmacies and never even have to touch another person.”

Yvonne Chambers, Clinical Director of Maternal Child Services at KMC,

duce approximately sixty high school students each year to health care and, through our fundraising, we are able to offer scholarships for travel to the National Convention,” Smith explained.

“Some of our members spend many hours with the RN Explorers by providing educational opportunities and visits to various healthcare settings.”

Strickler elaborated, “This program was the first RN Post in the world and may still be the only one in the nation. It began with the Sigma Theta Tau and the then Kern RN Society donating seed money and lots of volunteer work. It was so popular that they had to put a cap on it because they had so many students interested.”

“The advisers from CSUB and BC

Michelle Kinder, a faculty nurse at CSUB in the Department of Nursing, said that twenty percent of her sophomore class is male. “And prospective students should realize that there are a lot of jobs in Kern County. We have no placement issues here. Nursing programs here are making very well-rounded nurses.”

Educating talented nurses is one thing, but the ACNL and local nursing leaders want to ensure that all nurses can and will be a voice for the profession.

“After all, you can’t turn off being a nurse,” Smith said with a smile. “I have been called to help on an airplane three different times. You’re always a nurse and you’re always available and looking for ways to participate in the community.”

“Friends and family will call you all the time and ask for medical advice,” Chambers agreed with a laugh.

were the only two overseeing the program,” Kinder added. “So it became very hard to manage. So they made it available to high school seniors only.

There aren’t many schools around that

“You don’t retire easily from nursing—it’s always a part of your identity,” Strickler said.

That’s why the RN Explorer Program has been so successful in our area.

“Through the Boy Scouts of America Explorer Program, we are able to intro-

have nursing academies, so it wasn’t just Bakersfield students who were involved. The Explorer Program also covers Arvin, Shafter, Golden Valley, etc.

A lot of nurses who are now in the field locally were part of the Explorer program when they were in high school.”

©istockphoto.com/thelinke

added, “And it isn’t just a woman’s profession anymore, either. Even in environments that are atypical to see men in, like maternity wards. These men are wonderful at what they do.”

So, naturally, a lot of fundraising is necessary. Thankfully, most people in the community understand the need for quality nurses. Maybe they all remember the quote: “Always thank your nurse.

Sometimes they’re the only thing between you and a hearse.” The last two years alone, the ACNL was able to

Thankfully, most people in the community understand the need for quality nurses. Maybe they all remember the quote: “Always thank your nurse.

Sometimes they’re the only thing between you and a hearse.” award $35,000 in nursing scholarships to students in Bakersfield.

One of biggest ways they are able to accomplish this is thanks to the annual Night to Honor Nurses dinner and other local educational events.

“The ACNL is very big on promoting nurse education, so we constantly partner to host conferences and bring speakers to Kern County,” Strickler explained.

“But the dinner is the major fundraiser for the scholarships.”

Scholarships aside, the ACNL also keeps a close eye on legislative activities that involve changes to healthcare such as staffing requirements and safety regulations. Because these are the things that will truly affect the future of nursing in Kern County.

“From federal government to nursing unions in Bakersfield, a lot of things affecting nurses are sent to legislatures,” Strickler said. “The biggest issue seems to be staffing; California was the first state to mandate staffing ratios. It is important to pay attention to the laws because they can all affect nurses everywhere, from private to public sectors.”

Smith elaborated, “The local branch of the ACNL has people that work with senators and legislatures to help influence the entire healthcare picture. Our representatives like to hear from >> www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 57

TLC

local nurses regarding scope of practice issues and the like.”

And nurses are crucial to the whole scope of healthcare in this country and, specifically, in our county. More and more nurses are needed in specialized areas of medicine, like anesthesiology and pharmacology. It’s not only beneficial for the facility in which the nurses work, but also for patients.

“Nurses have to be sure everything is coordinated properly with the patient’s care,” Chambers explained of an often overlooked duty. “The patients have to have resources and the nurse is usually the last person a patient will see, so we have to be sure nothing is missing from their care.” The more the nurse knows about that particular specialized area of medicine, the better for everyone.

Jared Salvo

DO, MS, FACC

Cardiac Electrophysiology & Cardiology Fellow American College of Cardiology Board Certified in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Board Certified in Cardiovascular Diseases Board Certified in Nuclear Cardiology Board Certified in Internal Medicine UCLA, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Trained

Specializing in: Heart Failure Management • Atrial Fibrillation Pacemakers/Defibrillators • Black-out Spells Diagnosis of Palpitations • Abnormal Rhythms Individualized Care by the Physician Accepting Most Insurances

Dr. Salvo is opening his practice at: 5343 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA

Does your foot or ankle hurt from physical or sports injuries?

Foot and ankle pain shouldn’t get in the way of living your life to the fullest. We can help you with that.

Offering the following services:

Foot & Ankle Surgeries Bunion Surgeries Foot & Ankle Fractures Custom Molded Orthotics Diabetic Foot Care Pediatric Care Offices also located in Glendale, N. Hollywood, & Beverly Hills

Dr. Massihi is a graduate of California College of Podiatric Medicine. He is also board certified in ABMPS Diabetic Foot and related treatments.

Dr. Allen Massihi, DPM ~ (661) 334-0025 9710 Brimhall Rd. ~ Bakersfield www.drallenmassihi.com 58 Bakersfield Magazine

661

861-7938

But the reality is: there needs to be more young nurses that are willing to be leaders in the industry. And the ACNL wants to make sure that people understand the importance of nursing in a community.

“The nurse really is one of the few people in the patient care team that has a holistic vision of the patient,” Smith continued. “They are in the position to really see the patient’s needs in a different perspective.”

Kinder agreed. “Nurses are the gatekeepers, the glue between the patient, pharmacy, dietician, physical therapist, etc.”

But the reality is: there needs to be more young nurses that are willing to be leaders in the industry. And the ACNL wants to make sure that people understand the importance of nursing in a community.

“We’ve talked a lot about additional community involvement from local nurses, and using our knowledge to help, like educating organizations, flu education, discussing the new AEDs in high schools,” Smith said. “There is a lot of knowledge we possess regarding healthcare issues, and we are very compassionate, so community involvement that would highlight both skills is ideal. We want people to know that we are out here in the community.”

You might be one of those people that thinks your worsening eyesight is just from age.

Connections

T

Or maybe you’re one of those people that gets a toothache and thinks, “Ah, well, it’s just a tooth, what’s the big deal?”

So you get it taken care of without a fuss. It certainly can’t be indicative of other health concerns, right?

Wrong!

©istockphoto.com/lisafx

medical Specialties

ake a deeper look at the human body and you’ll find out that not only are all our systems connected, but that seemingly minor body parts can have a profound effect on our overall health.

Take, for example…

Windows to the Soul “Your overall health and function in life will be greatly improved with two healthy eyes,” said Dr. Keith Miller, an optometrist with Southwest Eye Care. The reverse is also true that your eyes will stay healthy if your body stays healthy.

There are other health conditions one might not think of that can affect the eyes. Diabetes is known to cause vision problems, the most common being diabetic retinopathy, which occurs after blood vessels in the retina are damaged. Thankfully, diabetic retinopathy can be treated and slowed if caught early. Diabetes also worsens other eye conditions like cataracts and glaucoma.

“It’s very important to keep the eyes in good health because there are many eye conditions, like macular degeneration and cataracts, that are treatable, but a number of them can cause permanent damage if left untreated,” Dr. Miller explained. And seemingly simple health conditions, like allergies, can also have an effect on the eyes. Dry, itchy eyes caused by allergies can lead to blurred vision and allergic conjunctivitis.

And as Dr. Miller pointed out, it’s harder to go about daily life with vision problems—work and livelihood can suffer.

“With the eyes, preventative care can address a number of future problems. There are a lot of silent eye conditions that people won’t be aware they have until it’s too late. But simple yearly checkups can detect and prevent these,” Dr. Miller added. But in addition to yearly visits to the eye doctor, Miller stresses it’s important to protect your eyes from the

Dr. Keith Miller Optometrist

elements by wearing hats and sunglasses to minimize the amount of UV rays that can do damage. “We want your eyes to last longer than you do,” he said.

Listen Up When an ear infection strikes, it’s a hard thing to ignore.

“Any type of ear infection, especially in children, can cause problems with hearing, and, obviously, irritability,” said Dr. Gary Zerlin, a local otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor).

“Pressure in the middle ear, caused by infection, is a major source of discomfort.” And it can lead to more serious problems if left untreated.

“If the focus of infection is in the middle ear it can spread or go into bone,” Dr. Zerlin explained.

“Of course, this was much more common before antibiotics and would lead to death. So we don’t see that much anymore, but sometimes the infection will travel to the mastoid bone [a part of the skull behind the ear] and the person could wind up needing surgery if the infection is bad enough and can’t be cleared up with antibiotics.”

There are a number of medical conditions that can start in the ear, either from an infection or an isolated injury, like damage from a loud explosion or gunfire.

“Conditions like Meniere’s Disease, which causes episodic dizziness and hearing problems, can incapacitate people to the point where they can’t drive or work because the nausea and vomiting is so severe,” he explained. The condition is thought to originate in the inner ear, which is responsible for balance and sound detection.

Then there are cases in which ear problems are caused by a slap to the ear or diving into a pool at the wrong angle, causing the ear drum to rupture.

These types of traumas can lean to chronic ear infections and also hearing loss. >> www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 59

Connections Hello, my name is Dr. Bradley A. Dodenhoff At East Hills Chiropractic, our soul-driven purpose is to provide our patients with the finest personal and caring experience that we can provide.

Since 1985, we have treated over 20,000 area residents with state-of-the-art, cutting edge Chiropractic care.

My philosophy has always been: No Matter What the Life You Lead, You Can Do Without the Pain!!!!

To learn more, or to make an appointment with Dr. Dodenhoff, call:

661- 633- 23 86 2001 19t h St reet w w w.east hillschiro.c om

Atul Aggarwal MD Cardiology Clinic

“If you don’t Open your heart with love, We will do it for you” We as a staff strive to provide state-of-the-art, cardiovascular care with humility, dignity & compassion Our clinic is located in Southwest Bakersfield, in the Riverwalk Medical Plaza

9330 Stockdale Highway, Suite 600 Bakersfield, CA 93311

Tel: 661-664-0100 • Fax: 661-664-0111

www.aggarwalclinic.com 60 Bakersfield Magazine

Your ear health can also be affected by daily cleaning, if you’re not careful. Using cotton swabs to remove excess wax is fine, but the swab shouldn’t Dr. Gary Zerlin be inserted into the ear canal.

Otolaryngologist Dr. Zerlin explained that swabs can cause wax to become impacted, and that can not only affect hearing but also cause pain.

“If you have an issue with dizziness or slight hearing loss, don’t assume it is something you have to deal with or something that will go away on its own,” he added, because your ears affect your entire body’s health.

Brush For Your Health “The health of your teeth and mouth impact your entire body,” said Dr. Richard Parrott, DDS, who practices with Adept Dental Group.

“Any infection of the mouth could impact the person’s overall health because the infection can easily spread to the rest of the body.”

Dr. Parrott continued, “Lack of oral hygiene and care can increase the risks of any other systemic diseases. There’s always a concern about patients who have diabetes or heart problems or artificial replacements. These conditions impact various organs and any infections that enter the mouth can cause serious problems for that person.

Diabetics, in particular, have a harder time fighting off infections so they are much more susceptible to periodontal disease.”

Think about what sits in your mouth. Dental plaque, what your dentist scrapes off your teeth at each cleaning, is a substance that is mostly comprised of bacteria, acid, and food particles. This plaque can irritate your gums and eat away at tooth enamel, which causes unnecessary pain.

Without daily dental care, like brushing and flossing, infections of the teeth and gums and decay are common.

Recent research indicates that those complex issues could include heart disease. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people diagnosed with periodontal disease are nearly twice as likely to have or develop coronary artery disease. Additionally, another study found that the mere presence of common oral conditions, including gum disease, Dr. Richard Parrott cavities, and missing teeth, were as Dentist reliable at predicating heart disease as a patient’s cholesterol levels.

What’s important to remember is that most oral hygiene problems are entirely preventative. “Obviously the recommendation is to visit a dentist at regular intervals,” Dr. Parrott said. “The ability to chew can be compromised by poor dental hygiene and that reason, alone, makes it vital to keep teeth maintained.”

Clearly, each system in the body plays an important role in our overall health, even the small ones. The lesson here is to pay attention to your body and visit your healthcare provider not only when you suspect something might be wrong, but for regular checkups to ensure the health of your whole body.

Optimal Hospice Care

Caring support when it matters the most!

When it comes to patients living under hospice care, there are countless ways for people in our community to help make their lives better. Some of Bakersfield’s residents who know that best aren’t just the nurses or seasoned volunteers. Rather, they haven’t even graduated from high school yet. These young pillars of the community are a part of the Dreamcatchers and, alongside Optimal Hospice Care, they are in the business of making local hospice patients’ wishes come true.

Whether it is planting a special garden or decorating rooms at nursing homes, local Dreamcatchers are striving to make the lives of Optimal Hospice’s patients better. Volunteer Coordinator Assistant Karen Budnick revealed that this new partnership began when the club approached Optimal with the intention to help make end-of-life care that much easier for everyone involved. “It is so nice to see kids who are going full force to help others in the community. They’re just amazing.”

Todd Jeffries, director of community relations, added, “Volunteers are a huge part of hospice care—they provide that human touch that our patients need. For these kids to be so mature to help out those who need it most is just extraordinary. They truly contribute to patients’ quality of life.”

This passion to enhance the lives of hospice patients by making their dreams come true is shared by all chapters of the Dreamcatchers, which is a high school club that was started by Caitlin Crommett from Southern California. Triplets Isabella, Anthony, and Sophia Busacca and some of their classmates at Liberty High School decided to start the very first chapter in Bakersfield in 2012, as they know Crommett and shared her vision of community service.

It didn’t take long for other like-minded high school students to catch on to what the Busaccas had started, prompting them to start their own Dreamcatchers Clubs at their respective high schools. After assisting the students at Liberty, Sarah and Sophie Constantine of Frontier High School were inspired to bring the noble mission to their fellow students. As the enthusiasm to help grew amongst the high school community, so did the clubs, and now Karan Sandhu and Daxton Castellanos are heading the chapter at Centennial High School. Their reasons for joining may vary—some have lost loved ones and want to support those in similar situations while others are just heeding the call to help—but one thing remains consistent: they want to give back to the community.

Since the Dreamcatchers have come to town, they have fulfilled eight dreams through Optimal Hospice: something in which they take tremendous pride. “The first dream we did was for a man out in Taft,” Sophia recalled. “He loved poetry and had a ton of poems that he wanted bound into a book.” Not only were the students able to bind the book for him, but they also arranged for him to have a poetry reading with family members that flew in from as far as

(l-r) Isabella Busacca, Anthony Busacca, Daxton Castellanos, Sophia Busacca, Sophie Constantine, Karan Sandhu, Sarah Constantine

Oregon and Texas, which was funded by the Hesburgh Program via Notre Dame, which Crommett arranged.

“We had an eyeglasses dream we fulfilled for a beautiful lady who said her only happiness was reading,” Isabella said. They were able to get an optometrist to go out to the patient, fit her for the glasses, and provide the frames, all for free. “It was really neat to hear her story,” Anthony stated, relaying that, with every wish fulfilled, a bond is formed with the patient. Sophia agreed, saying, “It seems like you’re helping these people out, but they really are the ones helping you. You learn so much from what they have to say and from the entire experience.”

The Dreamcatchers have collected donations from restaurants and businesses in town to help make dreams come true, from providing food for a large memorial service to a specialty steak dinner for one patient who wanted that more than anything. Their dedication is bringing unique experiences to hospice patients, and they have goals to try to fulfill two dreams per month. The more support they get, the more dreams they can catch. If you wish to donate to this wonderful cause, contact Optimal Hospice Care for information.

1675 Chester Avenue, Suite 401 • (661) 716-4000

www.optimalcares.com

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 61

Southern California Cardiac Electrophysiology Jared M. Salvo, DO, MS, FACC

When it comes to heart health and wellness, there are few specialists in town who can beat the expertise at Southern California Cardiac Electrophysiology. Dr. Jared M. Salvo completed his cardiology training at UCLA and his electrophysiology training at Cedars-Sinai, so world-class heart care is undoubtedly present in Bakersfield.

“I have been practicing for five years as a heart rhythm specialist, dealing mostly with the electrical conductive system of the heart and the disturbances thereof,” Dr. Salvo said. Whether you have issues with an irregular heartbeat or have had fainting episodes, Dr. Salvo, who is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology, nuclear cardiology, and cardiac electrophysiology, and his staff can help. Comprehensive cardiology evaluations, stress tests, echocardiograms, and telemetry monitoring can all be done in-office.

One of the most important procedures that is performed, however, is the ablation of atrial fibrillation. “This used to be treated with medication,” Dr. Salvo continued, “but the program that we have here is very successful.” This is extremely

Jared M. Salvo, DO, MS, FACC important, because it means that a service that many people used to have to travel out of town to have performed is available here.

When he isn’t doing important work like making sure automated external defibrillators are present at all local high schools, Dr. Salvo is busy tending to the hearts of Kern residents.

When you want the best of care for your heart, think Southern California Cardiac Electrophysiology.

5343 Truxtun Avenue • (661) 861-7938

www.socalcardiac.com

Thurman Orthodontics Smiles Made!

For a beautiful, confident smile look no further than Thurman Orthodontics. They specialize in braces and Invisalign for children, adolescents, and adults and have patients ranging from 4 years old to 80. This state-of-the-art office uses the latest advancement in orthodontic technology which makes getting that perfect smile faster and more comfortable than ever before.

Initial consultations with Dr. Thurman, or Dr. T as his patients call him, are always complimentary, and with interestfree financing and little to no down payment options available, they truly strive to make orthodontic treatment affordable for every family.

When this busy team isn’t working hard perfecting local smiles, they are deeply involved in local philanthropy. Dr. Thurman and his staff dedicate two days out of every month giving back to our community. Whether it is giving blood, serving food at the Bakersfield Rescue Mission or donating time to the Ronald McDonald House and the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter, the entire staff is very passionate about supporting our community and helping those in need. “Giving back to our great community

Dr. Michael Thurman is not just something we enjoy doing, it’s a keystone of who we are as a team,” said Dr. Thurman.

“The best part of our job is knowing that by giving our patients that perfect smile, they leave our office with improved self-esteem, increased confidence, and a chance for a brighter future and a better life,” he said.

Call Thurman Orthodontics today and start your journey to a beautiful smile!

1851 Oak Street, Suite B • (661) 395-0698 62 Bakersfield Magazine

www.thurmanorthodontics.com

Achilles Prosthetics & Orthotics Daniel J. Newton, CP - Prosthetist/Orthotist

In the 35 years since Achilles Prosthetics and Orthotics, Inc. opened its doors, our community has moved a little easier.

The entire team at Achilles, led by owner Daniel Newton, CP FAAOP, and Logan Newton, BOCO, is guided by a commitment to excellence in quality workmanship and patient care.

With offices in Bakersfield, Santa Maria, and San Luis Obispo and five highly-trained and caring Board Certified practitioners to serve the local communities, Achilles continues to deliver on its commitment to excellence.

Achilles is a tremendous resource for Kern County in that its staff specializes in customizing and fitting a wide array of prosthetic and orthotic equipment, including state-of-the -art artificial limbs, custom orthopedic braces, knee bracing, spinal bracing, diabetic footwear, pediatric cranial remolding helmets, and mastectomy products.

For the entire team at Achilles, the greatest reward in what they do is experiencing the profound difference made in the lives of the people they help.

By providing exemplary physical, emotional, and spiritual

Logan Newton, Daniel J. Newton care for each of their patients, while fitting them with the most advanced prosthetics and orthotics, everyone at Achilles strives to build a healthcare environment in which each person is given the opportunity for physical, personal, and professional rehabilitation.

This philosophy has been a part of the company since day one, and it will continue to guide Achilles Prosthetics and Orthotics, Inc. for many years to come.

2624 F Street • (661) 323-5944

www.achillespo.com

Kern Faculty Medical Group Compassion, Passion, & Excellence

When it comes to healthcare, worldly experience makes all the difference.

At Kern Faculty Medical Group, their Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) are a diverse team of medical experts that provide initial and continuing care of common medical conditions, with a focus on wellness and prevention.

Located in east Bakersfield, this dedicated practice has been serving the community for over 30 years. For internal medicine, Dr. Scott Ragland, Dr. Alelah Bazmi, and Dr. Greti Peterson bring a wealth of experience to their patients. Dr. Suresh Kumari handles the pediatric side of the practice, and Dr. Mansukh Ghadiya specializes in family practice.

Regardless of their role, the PCPs can refer to any other specialists within the group, including ENT, urology, infectious disease, and pulmonary diseases. With almost all of the physicians having clinical faculty appointments with UCLA, you can be certain that you will receive top-notch care with every visit.

Appointments are available Monday through Friday, from

(l-r) Alelah Bazmi, MD; Alan Scott Ragland, DO; Mansukh Ghadiya, MD; Greti Peterson, MD; Suresh Kumari, MD

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. An Immediate Care Clinic is also an option, where no appointment is needed. The hours are 5 to 7 p.m.

Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday.

Preventative measures can make for the best health and life.

At Kern Faculty Medical Group, you can be sure that your best interest is always at the forefront of their care.

Call today to schedule an appointment with some of the best practitioners around.

2201 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Suite 211 • (661) 872-7000 • Pediatrics (661) 322-7337

www.KFMG.net

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 63

Dr. Allen Massihi Foot & Ankle Specialist

Caring for your feet is an important part of maintaining your overall health. Whether you are concerned about a bunion or have a broken ankle, Dr. Allen Massihi has the expertise and passion for patient care to help tend to any podiatry issues you may have.

With locations in Glendale, North Hollywood, and Beverly Hills, as well as Bakersfield, you can be certain that Dr. Massihi brings a wealth of knowledge to every client he sees.

Board certified in diabetic foot and ankle care, he has been practicing podiatry since 2001. Diabetic complications, pediatric foot and ankle care, biomechanical problems, and even cosmetic issues are all within his scope of practice. In addition, you can rest assured that you’re never just another patient while under his care.

“I practice medicine because I love it,” Dr. Massihi said. “My favorite part is the clinical aspect. I love patient interaction. I’m very social so it’s a lot of fun.” The office staff he works with are multilingual, and they make sure that all patients are treated with the utmost respect. He works closely with his assistant,

Allen Massihi, DPM reviewing the anatomy and physiology of each patient so that they can cover all of the available treatment options. This empowers his patients to make the decision they feel is best for their situation.

When it comes to the best in foot care, Dr. Massihi is a step above the rest. You can find him at Accelerated Urgent Care in Bakersfield, where he and his team are ready to assist you with all of your podiatry concerns.

9701 Brimhall Road • (661) 334-0025

www.drallenmassihi.com

Atul Aggarwal, MD Cardiology Clinic

Interim Healthcare

At Atul Aggarwal MD Cardiology Clinic, patients receive quality medical care from a skilled, caring professional.

The clinic offers many services, with stress tests, echocardiograms, Doppler of neck and lower extremity arteries/veins, and laser treatment for varicose veins.

Dr. Aggarwal is available for patients in local area hospitals needing coronary angioplasty, stents, and vascular procedures, and he was the first cardiologist in Kern County to provide catheter closure on “holes in the heart.”

Dr. Aggarwal, a native of India, completed his cardiology/ interventional fellowship at the University of Vermont. He is a fellow of American College of Cardiology, AHA, and Society of Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions.

Dr. Aggarwal and his staff feel privileged to serve this community by providing state-of-the-art, evidence-based cardiovascular care.

Interim Healthcare prides itself as being a unique service to our community. What started as a traditional home care business 19 years ago became an organization specializing in a variety of health-related services.

Darlyn Baker, RN, along with her husband, Chuck, and son, Bryon, are visionaries for those in need. Expansion, since 1994, includes programs on wellness, specialized medication administration, paraprofessional vocational health, and immunizations. Realizing a need for nursing services for the medically fragile, the Baker family founded a special needs daycare, Darlyn’s Darlings, in 2003, then merged it when they acquired Caring Corner in 2008, the same year their service expanded to Fresno with the opening of Loretta’s Little Miracles. And in 2007, the Bakers created Bakersfield Senior Placement. If you need help caring for a loved one, this is the family to call.

Cardiovascular Disease and Internal Medicine

9330 Stockdale Highway, Suite 600 • (661) 664-0100

www.aggarwalclinic.com

64 Bakersfield Magazine

Making a Difference in Our Community

4801 Truxtun Avenue • (661) 395-1700

www.mybakersfieldhealthcare.com

The Womens Care Center

Wall’s Hearing Aid Center

Armi Lynn Walker, M.D. Cary Shakespeare, M.D.

The Original...Hearing Aid Center of Bakersfield Serving the Community Since 1946

• • • •

• • •

Kenneth V. Wall

Obstetrics, Gynecology & Infertility Pregnancy Testing Personalized Prenatal Care and Delivery Complete Gynecological Care, Contraception, Menopausal Issues Minimally Invasive Surgery Urinary Incontinence Testing Comfortable, Relaxing Atmosphere

“It’s Never too early to hear better” • It’s not only the quality of your hearing. We provide hearing products to improve your quality of life.

• Beyond the best products on the market, our staff gives you the personal attention, support and care you deserve.

Don’t go another day wondering if you could be hearing better.

(661) 633-BABY (2229)

4800 Easton Drive, Suite #108, Bakersfield, CA 93309 www.whaci.com

2021 22nd St., Bakersfield, CA 93301

(661) 368-9859

At Central Valley Physical Therapy our mission is simple: to provide the best care to our community. We are an award winning private practice physical therapy clinic. We boast doctoral educated & specialty certified practitioners.

We love what we do. We love helping people.

We love providing Movement for Life ®.

5600 California Ave., Suite 101 • Bakersfield, CA 93309

8200 Stockdale Highway # B1, Bakersfield, CA 93311

(661) 322-2700

Central Valley Physical Therapy

(661) 827-8959

Advanced Spinal Health, LLC Specializing in Instrument Adjustive Techniques Gregory Heyart, D.C. Nicholas Braaten, D.C. Steven Salyers, D.C.

Stand out from the crowd.

Medical Profiles 661-834-4126

Serving Bakersfield and the surrounding communities. Our chiropractors and the rest of the friendly team at Advanced Spinal Health, LLC, are dedicated to chiropractic solutions to target your unique needs, whether you are suffering from back pain, neck pain, headaches, or even just plain old muscular tightness and tension. Even if you just want to improve your overall health, our chiropractors can help you achieve your wellness goals!

(661) 327-2622

1001 Tower Way, Suite 130 Bakersfield, CA 93309 www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 65

MEDICAL PROFILES

Voted “Best Dermatologist” by Los Angeles Magazine Voted A.V.’s “Best Dermatologist” Skin Cancer specialist Laser Specialist • MOHS–Micrographic surgery • Laser hair removal • Tattoo removal • Pre-cancerous growths • Coolsculpt–Laser • Mole checks & removals • Acne/Acne Scarring/Rosacea fat removal • Ultra skin rejuvenation and tightening

66 Bakersfield Magazine

G R EAT

G ETA W A Y S

off the beaten path Vacation, daycation, staycation, whatever trendy word you want to call it, a trip to someplace new and exciting, where you can unwind and breathe in some fresh air, is never out of style. And here in Kern County, we have your pick of perfect places. For adventurers whose idea of a getaway involves a sleeping bag and weenies to roast over a campfire: this installment of Great Getaways is for you. We have scouted out a very cool place loaded with spots to hike, climb, walk, run, or crawl through. Where is this outdoor haven? None other than Sequoia National Park! Word to the brave: this is your guide to a vacation slightly off the beaten path!

> Hiking Adventures

photo by Tara Ralston

photo courtesy of national park service

All throughout Sequoia National Park, trails perfect for hiking line the terrain. Though they vary in difficulty, most of these are user-friendly enough for people of all ages and levels of experience to enjoy.

Take your pioneering spirit to tread the trails and you will not be disappointed.

The High Sierra Trail (to Bearpaw Meadow) promises a moderate hike where spectacular views can be taken in along the way. Travel 10 miles south of Wuksachi Lodge to get to the trailhead at Crescent Meadow. Songbirds are there to play a soundtrack to the blossoming meadows that you will pass while traversing the ridgeline. If you're looking for something a little different to enhance your experience or don't want to walk the full 11.5 miles one way, then consider renting a donkey to carry you to your destination.

The High Sierra Trail rewards hikers with spectacular views as they head to Bearpaw Meadow.

Nearby Crystal Cave features impossible marble spires that will defy belief.

Speaking of different, the famous Crystal Cave can also be found here.

During the summer, the Park offers 45-minute guided tours through the cave, where marble that has been polished smooth by subterranean streams can be ogled.

>

Sequoia National Park’s majestic trees and natural grandeur will leave you breathless. www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 67

STANDING tall

Moro Rock is the undeniable Crown Jewel at Sequoia National Park.

Moro Rock is yet another treasure to delight in at the Sequoia National Park. (Almost dead center in the forest, off of Generals Highway near Giant Forest, to be exact.) Described by climbers as feeling like you've scaled a mountain without the numerous dangers, this trek offers breathtaking views of the forest below when you reach its summit. Taking about 20-30 minutes to scale, it shouldn't be too arduous for the seasoned climber. For those who might want to climb but would rather take it easy, there is also a staircase that is built into the rock, itself, and ascends over 300 feet to the summit. Regardless, when you have made it to the top, you will be rewarded with views of the Great Western Divide and the sawtooth sentinels. (And if you happen to howl out in celebration, you might startle one of the peregrine falcons that call this area their home.)

68 Bakersfield Magazine

> Where & When to Stay

It may come as a surprise to some, but you really have your lodging options at the Sequoia National Park. The Wuksachi Lodge is the Park's signature motel. Open year-round, guests can enjoy a number of amenities, ranging from a full-service restaurant to retail and ski shopping. For those who may want a bit of the pampering but still desire the thrill of the outdoors, then Bearpaw High Sierra Camp is for you! Boasting six tent cabins with canvas siding and wooden floors, this seasonal lodging facility (available June through September) is the perfect go-between spot, situated 11.5 miles into the backcountry. Beds with appropriate bedding are included, along with a family-style breakfast and dinner.

If good, old-fashioned camping is what you're looking for, then there are over a dozen campsites, total, in the Cedar Grove, Kings Canyon, Mineral King, Foothills, and Lodgepole areas. Some are year-round while others are seasonal. To make a reservation or to find out more about the locations of the campgrounds, go to www.visitsequoia.com for that and information about the entire Park, including the in-park transit, which will take you directly to Moro Rock, Wuksachi Lodge, several of the campgrounds, Crescent Meadow, the Giant Forest Museum, and other destinations.

So, what are you waiting for? You've got the spirit and now you know where to go to live it up for your next exciting excursion into the wilderness...just be sure to prepare for a day outdoors and for the environment you're entering! And don't forget the sunscreen. v

get away from it all

Bearpaw High Sierra Camp offers rustic camping that’s perfect for unwinding.

Photo courtesy Delaware North Parks & Resorts at Sequoia

photo by Paul G. Johnson

photo by R. Cain

> This Rock Was Meant for Climbin’

Wuksachi Lodge is a stone-and-cedar mountain retreat surrounded by Sequoia’s tall pines.

Photo courtesy Delaware North Parks & Resorts at Sequoia

Stalactites hang down like giant icicles while stalagmites are situated in clumps on the ground. If you aren't impressed with a regular guided tour, then take the riskier routes and try either their Candlelight Tour or belly-crawling Wild Cave Tour, which lives up to its name. Though, the only way to know that for certain would be to brave the tour and crawl your way through narrow cave passages, yourself!

Looking for something a little more casual? Perhaps you have children or just don't quite feel like spending hours on a hike.

Never to worry, because at Sequoia, there are plenty of trails that are only a few miles long, if that. Near the Giant Forest Village (on the south side of Generals Highway), you can find the pleasant Hazelwood Nature Trail: a self-guided loop that spans one mile. The Big Trees Trail starts at the Giant Forest Museum parking lot, is a little over a mile long, circles the Round Meadow, and even has exhibits that detail the ecology you'll be experiencing firsthand along the side of the trail.

However, if hiking isn't quite enough to sate the weekend warrior inside—if you are wanting to take your vacation to the next level, literally—then have no fear! Pack up your best climbing equipment and give this stellar dome a try.

Photo courtesy Delaware North Parks & Resorts at Sequoia

Great Getaways

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home & Garden

what’s that little fork for?

Oscar Wilde was known to wax poetic about the joys of food and dining in his writing. In Act II of Wilde’s

A Woman of No Importance, he writes, “After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relatives.”

Then, in Lady Windermere’s

Fan, a character explains, “Now I know that all men are monsters […] The only

GET IT RIGHT

thing to do is to feed the wretches well. A good cook does wonders.”

kay, so a good cook might be able to

First and foremost, know that there is no one way to set a table,

feed the wretches, but a proper table

so the important question to as is what kind of event do you want

setting can ensure that even monsters behave like they’re dining at Downton Abbey.

But why are proper table settings seen as

~

When it’s Formal~

something only utilized by the snooty and the elite when even back

When throwing a classy, elegant affair, it’s important to keep

in the Middle Ages people were dressing up their tables with plates

it that way. But elegant doesn’t have to be ostentatious. Sim-

and glasses? It could be because as the culture of dining evolved,

ple and clean is a good rule of thumb. Why? Because the more

it became the norm for more elaborate settings to

formal the dinner, the more food courses and the more silver-

be on the tables of the wealthy. France, England, Russia—every country had its norms for why and how to set a table for dining.

ware and stemware you will need on the table—making less room for anything else. You don’t want to overwhelm your guests. And that’s a possibility.

That tradition continues today, but it

A very formal eight-course dinner could include any

doesn’t have to be something reserved

and all of these items: a name card, soup bowl, salad

only for the rich and famous. You can

plate, salad fork, dinner fork, service plate, dinner

class up any dinner party with a nice

plate, bread and butter knife and fork, salad knife,

table setting (if you have all the plates and silverware, that is). ©istockphoto.com/robynmac/drbimages

to host?

Of course, unlike Julia Roberts

napkin, soup spoon, dessert spoon/fork, water glass, wine glasses, and even a shrimp fork.

That’s quite a lot to consider.

in Pretty Woman, not all of us

Still, no matter the type of soi-

have someone telling us which

rée, utensils are placed starting

fork is which. So, just how do you

from the outer left and right

figure all this stuff out so your

edge of the table setting,

guests aren’t grabbing the wrong

in the order that the

water glass?

dishes are served. >> www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 69

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Basically, your guests will “eat their way in.” The reason for this is ease when serving. Salads and soups are typically served before the entrée, so you’ll want those utensils to be easy to grab without disrupting the look of the setting. The stemware, including a water glass, is always to the right of the setting and the bread plate and bread knife are to the left. And with a formal dinner, there will be a charger or service plate at each setting, upon which all plates (save for the bread plate) will rest, being cleared after each course. ©istockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages

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and plates. Everything should be at the place setting before the guest sits down so that everyone, including you, is free to enjoy the evening.

~ Casual~

If your hutch is lacking a formal set of dishes, you’ll probably be more interested in finding a more relaxed way to host your dinner because it will require less dishes on the table. Again, there’s no rule as to how your setting has to appear, but the more thought you put into the setting, the less you have to do during the course of your dinner. So, for example, a casual event might include a dinner plate, salad plate, bread and butter plate, bread and butter knife, dinner fork, salad fork, dinner knife, salad knife, water glass, and a wine glass. And don’t forget the napkin—it might be an informal party, but we’re not heathens. There’s more room on the table, obviously, so you can have more fun with centerpieces or, as some people choose to do, place a few menu items on the table so people can serve themselves.

When it comes down to it, the art of table setting is something everyone wanting to host a dinner should study up on. Not because

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www.ICOSGardeningLandscape.com 70 Bakersfield Magazine

their plate, but because it’s a subtle, understated way of making an ordinary dinner party an extraordinary dinner party...even if the dowager isn’t invited. n Sources: HGTV.com, howto-simplify.com, e-how.com

G A R D ENIN G W ITH M R S . P

After water, what is the most popular beverage in the world?

A Leaf Affair

By Lynn Pitts

hat would be TEA! Whether you like it hot with honey or iced with lemon and sugar, it’s pretty simple to brew some herbal tea blends that you actually harvest from your Bakersfield garden.

While many herbs can be used to make delicious herbal tea and herbal blends, there are some that Mrs. P considers essential. However, before discussing the whats and hows of growing herbal teas, it’s probably a good idea to differentiate between the Lipton bags in your kitchen cupboard and the herbal brews sprouting outside your door.

From Buddhist monks to American revolutionaries tossing it into Boston Harbor, tea has become more than a beverage. For 5,000 years this drink has been a source of medicine, meditation, piracy, political upheaval, social order, gatherings, and superstition.

Botanically, the teas that originated in Central Asia are from the leaves of Camellia sinensis. Simply © is tockp hoto.co m/csheezio put, these leaves are not the evergreen flowering shrubs we are familiar with, but a Camellia species that is very temperamental, not suited to our Central Valley climate. Only the leaves from the Camellia sinesis are used for making tea because it is the only Camellia species that contains caffeine. Who knew? The only tea plantation in America is on Wadamalaw Island, just outside Charleston, South Carolina.

Owned by the Bigelow Tea family, 127 acres of tea are farmed

for the product line called American Classic Tea. The rest of Bigelow teas are grown in Asia.

Virtually all the early teas were named for mountains which were also the sites of large monasteries. What’s truly interesting is the role of Buddhism in tea exactly parallels the role of Catholicism in the history of wine in Europe. Catholic monasteries became the centers of grape-growing and winemaking the same way Buddhist monks took up tea-growing. Innovations like champagne, invented by the monk Dom Perignon, had their equal in China when Buddhist monks developed white, green, and oolong teas. But I digress.

The history of herbal tea drinking only goes back 3,000 years.

The Egyptians and Babylonians used herbs in cooking and treating illnesses as did the Greeks and Romans.

The monasteries in Europe always included herbal gardens within their stone walls.

Here, at last, are Mrs. P’s favorite plants to grow herbal blends. Some of these herbs are invasive, such as the mints, so confining them to containers is a smart way to grow them. A tea garden is suited to a large container, such as a half wine barrel or several smaller containers grouped together. All of the plants are best in full sun, though some will tolerate some shade. All except the chamomile and lavender are grown for their leaves, which are best harvested before the >>

From Buddhist monks to American revolutionaries tossing it into Boston Harbor, tea has become more than a beverage.

For 5,000 years it’s been a source of medicine, meditation, piracy, political upheaval, social order, gatherings, and superstition. www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 71

Gardening with Mrs. P

Mrs. P’s Herb Garden Fab Fives 1. Bee Balm

Besides splashing a summer garden with shades of red, pink, violet, or white flowers, bee balm (Monarda didyma) leaves lend a citrus-mint flavor to tea. Also called bergamot or Oswego tea, bee balm grows two to three feet tall, might need staking, and is a speedy growing perennial. Bee balm can be added to black tea to make Earl Grey tea, which will give a light refreshing taste to iced tea plus a kick from caffeine.

Earl Grey tea was named after Charles Grey who was Prime Minister to King William IV. The legend is that the Earl was given the recipe for this tea by a Chinese mandarin in the early 19th century with whom he was friends and whose life he had saved.

2. Mints

There’s a mint (Mentha) to satisfy any taste. While spearmint and peppermint are always welcomed at the tea party, don’t overlook pineapple mint, orange mint, or apple mint.

I can’t tell you enough times to only grow mint in a container. Its aggressive behavior is a nightmare in the ground.

Harvest mint leaves often and use in lemonade and iced teas.

72 Bakersfield Magazine

3. Chamomile

Make sure to read the label when purchasing plants or seeds. You will want German or Roman Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) because the “other” chamomiles are noxious weeds.

4. Lemon Balm

Also known as sweet balm (Melissa officinalis), lemon balm is called “heart’s delight” in southern Europe. It’s another spreader like mint, so plant in a container. I’m told a lemon balm tea helps to calm the nerves and uplift the spirit; like eating chocolate without the calories.

5. Lavender

An herb with a beautiful and fresh scent, lavender has a number of uses beyond herbal tea, but you know that already. What you might not know is how to harvest lavender for making tea.

Gather or strip flowering stems just as the flowers begin to open, no later, for maximum strength. Dried or fresh lavender can be added to Indian tea leaves and it becomes a Versailles Lavender Earl Grey. Who else would tell you these things?

Mrs. P’s

MOON TEA Pour cold water over a mix of six to eight herbal and black tea bags in a gallon jug. Let sit overnight at room temperature. Remove tea bags the next morning and sweeten with Stevia in the raw to taste.

Serve over ice with springs of mint. Enjoy!

The following herbal tea recipes are guaranteed, as the saying goes, to make your tongue lick your brain:

Chamomile-Pomegranate Tea

Pour three cups of boiling water over two bags of chamomile flowers and steep for one hour, or until cooled to room temperature. Remove and discard the chamomile. Add one cup of pomegranate juice and either 1/3 cup of sugar or ¼ cup of honey, stirring until it dissolves. Serve over ice.

Lavender-Lemon Balm Iced Tea

Pour two cups of boiling water over one tablespoon each of lavender flowers and lemon balm leaves. Steep for five minutes, then strain. Sweeten with honey and chill. Serve over ice with fresh lemon and a sprig of lavender. v

Lynn Pitts, better known as Mrs. P., is a native Californian, master gardener in four counties including Kern, a garden writer, and professional botanical artist.

She has been featured on The Art of Gardening, on PBS, and has conducted flower workshops throughout California for botanical gardens and arboretums.

Photos by smartbyte (Bee Balm), Aleksa Lukic Mint), kallerna (chamomile), georges Jansoone (Lemon Balm). ©istockphoto.com/domindomin(teabag/h3ct02(teapot)/blueenayim(lavender

plant blooms. Begin picking leaves for tea as soon as the plant starts to get bushy. Most of these plants will grow back rapidly after the stems are cut. Chamomile flowers are used for tea, and those are best harvested just before they are fully open. What you can’t use fresh, you can dry by picking stems and hanging in bunches (I use rubber bands twisted around the stems and hung with cotton string tied onto a folding laundry rack). Remove the leaves (or chamomile flowers) when dry and store in sealed jars away from sunlight.

To make tea from fresh leaves or flowers, use about two tablespoons of leaves or flowers per cup. For tea from dried leaves and flowers, use one to two teaspoons per cup. If loose tea leaves seem too messy, why not fill empty tea filter bags with your herbal tea blends. You can order a pack of 100 for $2.99 from the English Tea Store (www.englishteastore.com). Wouldn’t a tin of your own herbal tea bags make a great Christmas gift?

food

Switch on the burner, grease up the skillet, or spark up the coals, it’s time to get eating. It’s not hard to eat a meal fit for a king—we’ve done the research for you. Whether you’re searching for juicy new recipes to thrill dinner guests with or looking for a new, exciting place to dine out with family, our Food Section has all the spice and flavor you’ll need.

©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MARTINH70

©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/SHYMAN

We’ve got reviews, recipes, entertaining tips, and more! This is the place to explore local eateries that have good food and good service, find out which ones cater to your budget and your taste buds, and get culinary inspiration to bring back to your own kitchen. Sumptuous, mouth-watering meals await you whatever your mood— grab your apron and peruse these pages for your favorite recipe.

Bon Appétit.

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 73

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QUICK BITES WITH LOCAL FLAVOR

royal treatment Summer has arrived! It’s the perfect time to nosh on something light and flavorful with some fresh local produce sprinkled in for good measure. But what to eat?

Salads can be boring, pastas can sometimes be too heavy. So we sought the advice from Anthony Belluomini, owner of Caesar’s Italian Delicatessen. And Anthony came up with a recipe for a delightful summer sandwich that’s truly enlightening.

Grilled chicken breast slic es Asiago cheese slices x Fre sh lettuce x Tomato Sliced avocado x Pesto-m ayo 2 slices Pyrenees sourdoug h Putting this sandwich together is as simple as…well, putting a san dwich together. First an d foremost, if you don’t alr eady have pesto -mayo at your disposal, whip up a bowl. Use your favori te pesto recipe and add in mayonnaise to taste. Th en, start assembling. Sprea d pesto -mayo on one sli ce of bread, then top with as much sliced chicken as you like. If you have a sandwich press, now is a good time to get those grill marks on your bread .

Top with the other slice of bread and toast. You can also just toast the bre ad under a broiler befor e assembling. After your bread is toasted, remov e one side and add your cheese, lettuce, tomato , and avocado. Add more pesto -mayo to the secon d half of bread if you wa nt before you place it on top. Slice and enjoy!

The Tuscan is packed with savory flavors and is the perfect meal for lunch or a light dinner. Not only has Anthony provided us with the recipe to share with you, our wonderful readers, he’s also made the decision to put it on the Caesar’s menu! So you can dine at home or enjoy the sandwich on the go. n

Cuisine: savory enough for a king!

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 75

LIFE IS A CABERNET

it’s not just a cork

By Mike Stepanovich

Robb Talbott has had it. The owner of Talbott Vineyards in Monterey County blew his cork recently

photos courtesy of Talbott Vineyards

when the topic of screw caps came up at the Yosemite Vintners’ Holidays where I was moderating his seminar.

ROBB TALBOTT TALBOTT VINEYARDS

“I am converting to screw caps one hundred percent,” he said fiercely. “No more will I have my wines ruined by a bad cork.”

It was a bold statement from a man who is passionate about his wines and expends great effort to make them the best they can be. Corks are one of those details, and he had become increasingly annoyed at the failure rate of corks as a closure for his wines.

wine that are bad, or $50,000 that you’ve lost due to faulty corks. And that’s just the direct cost. A consumer turned off by the musty aroma and taste of a corky wine will likely conclude that the winery produces inferior wine, and won’t buy it again. Further, he/she is likely to tell his/her friends.

Just what is a bad cork? It’s one that imparts a chemical, trichloroanisole, or TCA as it is commonly known, to the wine. Chlorine is used in processing

The day before his session we got together, and the subject of screw caps came

bark from the cork oak tree, from whence corks are produced. If the process is

up. He asked me—clearly with some trepidation—how I felt about screw caps.

hasty, the chlorine can interact with the cork to form TCA. Corks are not the only

As his seminar moderator it obviously was important that we both be on the

source of TCA, however. TCA can also form in oak barrels that are cleaned with

same page. He was greatly relieved when I told him I was fine with them.

chlorine. Cork producers, working with the wine industry, have done much to

I agree with Talbott. The failure rate of corks varies from year to year, ranging

mitigate the TCA problem, but it continues to persist, even if at a reduced rate.

anywhere from two percent to five percent at wine competitions where I judge.

While TCA doesn’t pose health hazards, it’s an unpleasant experience. It’s

It’s been some years since it was as high as five percent, but the average from

one that Talbott doesn’t want ever again. And who can blame him? After all,

those wine competitions seems to be about two percent. That’s costly for vintners.

when you put as much effort into your product as he does, you don’t want it

To bring that into better perspective, let’s say you’re a midsized winery pro-

being ruined, by, as Talbott says, “a piece of wood.” Corks, he reminded, were

ducing 10,000 cases of wine a year. And let’s say that on average your wine is

an upgrade from oil-soaked cloth. With all our technological advances, why

selling for $250 a case. At a two percent cork failure rate, that’s 200 cases of

can’t we come up with a more efficient closure, he reasons.

76 Bakersfield Magazine

He has a few Diamond T trucks in various phases of restoration, but his pride and joy is a restored 1946 model painted fire-engine red that he uses as his working ranch truck. “I feel like I’ve been entrusted to take care of these old trucks,” he said.

And like his trucks, he chose an heirloom pinot noir clone for the Diamond T Vineyard, a clone of pinot noir brought over from France and planted in the Louis Martini vineyard at the end of Prohibition. About half of the pinot noir at the Diamond T Vineyard is the Martini clone, a clone reputedly lighter and more elegant than other clones. The other four clones planted there are Dijon clones.

In 1994 he bought the 565-acre Sleepy Hollow Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands in the Salinas Valley. He had been sourcing fruit from that vineyard for a few years but felt it was important to have control of the

it’s all in the details: Talbott’s hilltop vineyard is the right site for pinot noir

vineyard if he was going to make world-class wines. Since then, he said,

and chardonnay on two counts: its sparse soils make for concentrated fruit, and the proximity to the ocean makes for a cool climate, ideal for these cool-climate varietals.

“We’re an all estate operation. We have total control over every aspect of

Certainly one is at hand. The screw cap has been with us for a few decades

His chardonnay clones are heirloom as well. Diamond T has the Corton Char-

now. Of course the stigma attached to it—and the source of Talbott’s initial

production, which makes a huge difference.” lemagne clone, while Sleepy Hollow has the old Wente clone.

uneasiness in telling me of his new direction—is that it’s long been the closure

Feeling that he needed to make a change to get his wines from good

for cheap jug wines. That’s slowly changing as more and more vintners, who

to great, he hired Dan Karlsen in 2007 to be Talbott Vineyards’ winemaker.

feel the same as Talbott, switch to screw caps as their closure of choice.

Karlsen is a pinot noir and chardonnay specialist who learned his craft at

What I like about screw caps is they’re easy to open, easy to close, and

a veritable “who’s who” among California pinot noir producers, includ-

they keep the wine in pristine condition. Some wine judges claim that screw

ing Dehlinger and Chalone. “Dan champions a vineyard-first approach,”

cap wines taste “reduced.” I asked a vintner what that meant, and he said

Talbott said. “Like me, he believes in farming the grapes in a sustainable

the reduction of oxygen molecules in the wine, a condition that can easily

manner. I believe that we don’t own the vineyard, we’re just the caretakers.”

Just what is a bad cork? It’s one that imparts a chemical, trichloroanisole, or TCA as it is commonly known, to the wine. While TCA doesn’t pose health hazards, it’s an unpleasant experience. be remedied by swirling the wine vigorously for a few seconds in your glass.

In the winery, the wines are handled with care. “What’s fun is to reach

The big question, of course, is will wine in screw cap bottles age? Chateau

the pinnacle in chardonnay making because we have the right grape in the

Margaux, a Bordeaux first growth (top tier winery) shares Talbott’s frustration,

right climate,” he said. “Traditional winemaking is possible because we’re

and began an experiment 10 years ago with various closures. As reported in

growing the right grapes in the right place.

March in the Wall Street Journal, the wines in bottles with screw caps were doing well, and were actually preferred by a majority of a panel tasting them.

That’s good news for Talbott because he has spent the last 30 years working to produce the best pinot noir and chardonnay he possibly can.

Talbott Vineyards was launched in 1982 in the Carmel Valley where Talbott had planted pinot noir and chardonnay 10 years before on what was more

“With pinot noir, you’ve got to be gentle with the fruit because pinot noir is a gentle varietal. The Bordelais think that cabernet sauvignon is the king of wines, but the Burgundians think that pinot noir is the wine of kings.”

With care like that, it’s no wonder that Talbott plans to use screw caps.

He wants to make sure all that effort—from growing to picking to making—doesn’t go down the drain. n

rock than soil. The 14-acre vineyard sits atop a hill at 1,200-feet elevation. “It’s important to plant the right variety on the right site,” he said. And his hilltop vineyard is the right site for pinot noir and chardonnay on two counts: its sparse soils make for concentrated fruit, and the proximity to the ocean makes for a cool climate, ideal for these cool-climate varietals.

The vineyard was named for another of Talbott’s passions: old trucks, and specifically a Diamond T. “I always loved trucks more than cars,” he’s said in interviews. “I just find them gorgeous.”

Mike Stepanovich is an award-winning journalist who has been writing his Life is a Cabernet wine column since 1985, and reviewing restaurants for Bakersfield Magazine since 1997. Stepanovich has taught wine and food pairing classes for many years, and teaches a wine appreciation and history class for Bakersfield College. He began judging wines in 1987, and now judges at major international wine competitions throughout the United States. A home winemaker, Stepanovich resides in Bakersfield.

wine: little things...that matter www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 77

78 Bakersfield Magazine

backyard gourmet

Entertaining the Bakersfield Way

By Yana Todorova

Hummus with Local Fresh Crudités Summer is the time to enjoy the outdoors and allow fresh local produce to shine in every recipe. In this issue I want to share some of my favorite dishes that are perfect for an hors d’oeuvre party with friends or family.

A creamy hummus for your vegetarian friends, great salmon canapés for the fish lovers, mighty juicy lamb mini-burgers for the meat aficionados, and scrumptious mini chocolate cheesecakes; these are easy and stressfree dishes that you can prepare in advance and relax at your own party!

If you are going to a local farmers’ market, get a basket of fresh produce and use the vegetables for this summer hors d’oeuvre: hummus with crudités (good options are baby carrots, zucchini, yellow squash strips, halved radishes, and red bell pepper strips).

Hummus with Local Fresh Crudités 1 (15-oz.) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained 5 tsp. extra virgin olive oil • 4 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice 2 tsp. water • ½ tsp. salt • ¼ tsp. ground cumin • Black pepper Place all ingredients in a mini food processor. Pulse it until smooth.

Serve in a bowl and round the plate with local baby carrots, bell pepper strips, and walnut bread. Garnish with fresh thyme and crumbled feta cheese, if desired. Serves 4-6.

Note: If you want to prepare your party ahead of time, you can make this hors d’oeuvre two days in advance and keep in your refrigerator.

For an hors d’oeuvre party, I suggest making sliders (instead of burgers). This way, your guests can try different offerings without feeling full. Lamb sliders are great for entertaining, because people don’t buy lamb very often and they get excited when they see it at a gathering (if you don’t like the taste of lamb, you can use ground beef in place of it). My recipe features a tangy yogurt sauce, but you can also use regular mayonnaise. I prepared the brioche rolls from scratch, but any small dinner roll or mini sandwich bun will also work. For a nice twist, I decided to use caramelized onions: the soft and sweet onions add a nice contrast to the juicy lamb. Add a slice of local tomato for freshness and you’ve got fun and tasty appetizers!

Lamb Sliders with Caramelized Onions & Avocado-Yogurt Sauce Mini buns (brioche, Kaiser, or dinner rolls), halved 1 lb. ground lamb • Salt • Fresh sage and rosemary Black pepper • 5 oz. Greek yogurt • ½ California avocado, diced 1 large onion, thinly sliced • Olive oil • Lime juice 1 Roma tomato, thinly sliced • Cherry tomatoes (optional) To prepare the lamb patties, gently mix the ground lamb, 1 tsp. fresh rosemary, ½ tsp. salt, black pepper, and 1 tsp. olive oil. Form eight patties (2 oz. each) and cook in a non-stick pan for two minutes on each side (you will need to cook in batches).

For the sauce, blend the Greek yogurt, the avocado, ¼ tsp. salt, black pepper, 1 tsp. lime juice, and 1 tsp. olive oil in a mini food processor.

For the caramelized onions, heat 2 tsp. olive oil in a large skillet. Sauté the onions eight minutes on a medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook eight minutes. Uncover, stir, and cover again. Cook them 10 more minutes, or until the mixture is soft and brown.

To assemble the sliders, spread the Avocado-Yogurt sauce on both sides of each bun. Arrange one tomato slice and one lamb patty on bottom half of each bun. Top each patty with caramelized onions and >> Lamb Sliders

Cuisine: a feast for the eyes

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 79

CUISINE: a feast for the eyes top half of bun. Keep them together by using bamboo knot picks, decorated with cherry tomatoes and fresh sage. Serves 8.

Smoked salmon and cream cheese canapés are great, too, because these can be assembled ahead of time and served at room temperature when your guests arrive.

The recipe for these tasty treats is online at the web address below.

Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Canapés

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Serve mini chocolate treats with fresh California strawberries and mint. You can make the cheesecakes up to one month in advance, individually wrap them in aluminum foil, then in plastic wrap, and store in your freezer. Recipe is also online.

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Here are some entertaining tips for your next summer party: 1. Plan the menu and send invitations ahead of time. Do most of the job in advance, so you are ready to enjoy guests when they arrive.

2. Offer plenty of drinks (wine, beer, water, iced tea, and cocktails) and ice.

3. Always have one vegetarian option.

4. Place boards with fruits, cheeses, and nuts; bowls with olives; and crudités for guests to snack on at the beginning of the party.

5. If you offer a variety of dishes, label each of them with a short description, so people can choose among them, depending on their food preferences.

6. Make everything look pretty and remember “we eat first with the eyes!”

I hope you have a great summer and take advantage of our warm evenings. No matter what you are hosting–a picnic in the park, a brunch in your backyard, or a dinner under the stars–try these new recipes and experiment with different variations.

Share special moments with your friends and appreciate life’s simple pleasures! n

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80 Bakersfield Magazine

these recipes and others can be found on our website! www.bakersfieldmagazine.net/home-a-garden

Uricchio’s Trattoria

Now Offering Curb-side To-go Service and free validated parking for lunch guests! Nestled in the heart of Downtown in the historical Haberfelde Building. Steaks, chops, seafood, and classic Italian dishes, complemented by an extensive wine list, have made Uricchio’s a mainstay for over a decade.

Uricchio’s San Francisco style setting is family owned and operated, and the perfect spot for a business lunch, or a romantic dining experience. After your meal save room for the fabulous desserts from LaMousse of Beverly Hills. Hours: Lunch Tue-Fri 11am-2pm, Dinner Tue-Thu 5-9pm, Friday & Saturday 5-10pm.

Reservations recommended, lunch reservations for large groups only. www.uricchios-trattoria.com. 1400 17th St. Downtown. (661) 326-8870

Lorene’s Ranch House Coffee Shop

Where Everything’s Homemade! If you’re in the mood for an early morning breakfast, lunch, or a casual evening dinner, stop by Lorene’s for a hearty meal you won’t forget. Our extensive menu includes traditional breakfast skillets, country fresh eggs and omelettes, and a large selection of pancakes and waffles. For lunch or dinner try our South-of-the-Border section or one of our charbroiled burgers.

We also serve great steaks and numerous seafood entrées. Stop by today for family-friendly dining. Hours: 6am-9pm daily, Visa, MC, AE, DC, accepted. Two locations to serve you: 1531 23rd & Eye St. (661) 322-6887 and 6401 Ming Ave. (661) 831-9250

Izumo Japanese Restaurant & Sushi

Variety and style is what you can expect at Izumo. Experience our casual atmosphere where you have your choice of dining experiences. Visit us to enjoy the teppan-yaki, sample the sushi bar, or our more conventional order-off-the-menu setting. The teppan-yaki comes one dish at a time as the chef prepares it in front of you - they will amaze and impress with their skill and expertise. Our relaxed dining gives customers a chance to really enjoy our food and friendly service. Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, Mon-Sun 5:30-10pm. Reservations accepted. Visa, MC, AE. 4412 Ming Ave. (661) 398-0608

Café Med

Café Med has been a Bakersfield tradition for over 20 years. Their diverse menu includes Mediterranean and American cuisine, as well as an extensive wine list, now on iPads! Monthly Wine Tastings are held the last Friday of the month from 5:30-8pm. The $25 cover includes featured wines and sumptuous appetizers. Enjoy live music on both Friday and Saturday evening. Café Med is open 11am to close 7 days a week. Reservations accepted. Visa, MC, AE, DC. Located at 4809 Stockdale Hwy., in the Stockdale Fashion Plaza. Like us on Facebook, or go to Cafemedrestaurant.com (661) 834-4433

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 81

The Dining Guide

Wine Me Up! Wine Bar & Tapas Lounge

Wine Me Up!, in the heart of the northwest, is your new alternative for gatherings with friends or business. Our intimate lounge and patio is the perfect place to enjoy over 30 wines by the glass, craft beers, and savory tapas selections. We also offer live music on Friday nights, daily mixers from 5-7pm for beer and wine, and a knowledgeable staff to assist you with the perfect bottle to enjoy at home. Hours: Mon-Fri, 2pm to Close. Sat, 3:30pm to Close. 3900 Coffee Rd #2, Bakersfield, CA 93308. (661) 588-8556

Sinaloa Mexican Restaurant

Serving traditional Mexican cuisine to Bakersfield residents since 1948. Perfectly situated downtown, just west of Mill Creek Park. Open Tue-Thu 11:15am-8pm, Fri-Sat 11:15am-9pm, and Sunday 11:15am-8pm. Closed on Mondays. Sinaloa is located at 910 20th Street. (661) 327-5231

Belvedere Room in the Padre Hotel

The Dining Guide

Chef de Cuisine Carlos Rodriguez offers a distinctive experience that marries old-world style with modern tastes. From ranch raised beef to seafood delicacies, each dish is thoughtfully prepared for your culinary delight. Explore our innovative wine list or allow us to find you the perfect pairing. Call or visit the website for reservations. Open for dinner nightly. 1702 18th Street. www.thepadrehotel.com (661) 427-4900

El Portal West

We invite you to enjoy our newest Mexican Grill and Cantina, El Portal West. We offer a great selection of appetizers, soups & salads, seafood, and our specialties are chicken, steak and shrimp fajitas. Our full service bar features the best margaritas in town! Happy Hour Mon-Fri 3-7pm (bar only), Lunch specials every day, 11am-2pm. Fabulous Sunday Brunch, 10am-3pm, reservations accepted. 1100 Calloway Drive. (661) 829-2737

Brookside Riverlakes Market & Deli

We welcome you to come enjoy our signature salads, sandwiches, and burgers at your local Brookside Market & Deli. Stop by and try our homemade Fish & Chips with our savory clam chowder every Friday. We also BBQ our own Tri-Tip sandwiches daily! Brookside carries a wide variety of fine wines & market products you may need, including Smith’s Bakery goodies to satisfy your sweet tooth! In addition to our Brookside breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus, we also offer a catering menu that will help you celebrate any occasion with ease. Deli hours: Mon-Sat 5am-8pm, Sun 6:30am-4pm. 4700 Coffee Rd. Store: (661) 588-1338, Deli: (661) 588-2329

Gimmee Some Sugar

Gimmee Some Sugar Cakes was created with a motto that food should be experienced, not just tasted. We proudly stand by the ground rule that all of our products are made with only the best ingredients, like real Madagascar Vanilla Beans, whole sweet cream butter, and fine Callebaut European Chocolate. Our team was built with the love for art, food, and people! With our unique passion, we create the most beautiful wedding and 3D cakes, gourmet sweet tables, and tasty cupcakes in the Central Valley. There is nothing we cannot make and want to continue to be Bakersfield’s local source for the up and coming cake and cupcake trends.

Hours: Tues-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-12pm (pick up orders only). Closed Sun-Mon. 2100 19th Street Ste D. www.gimmeesomesugar.com (661) 321-9922

Valentien Restaurant and Wine Bar

French Cuisine Fused With California Freshness Seafood, Poultry, Beef, Exotic Game, Vegetarian. A welcoming environment in the tradition of a neighborhood bistro. Extensive Wine List and Craft Beer Selection. Coffee Program Featuring Siphon Brewers and Sustainable Sourced Beans. We believe in preparing food from scratch with the freshest ingredients available. We source locally and organically as often as possible. Enjoy the bounty of Kern County’s Agriculture! A daily “Afternoon Epicure” $25 prix fixe menu from 4:30pm-5:30pm. Dinner reservations Mon-Sat, 4:30pm-8:30pm. Lunch reservations Friday ONLY 11:30am-2:00pm. All major credit cards are accepted. Reservations recommended but not required. 3310 Truxtun Ave., Ste. 160, 93301 www.valentienrestaurant.com (661) 864-0397

82 Bakersfield Magazine

Chalet Basque

The number one low price leader Basque restaurant in Bakersfield! Lunch starter $7.50. Dinner starter $12. Full bar with $4 well drinks, $3.50 beers, and weekend drinks. Three banquet rooms that accommodate 10-150 people, $8.95 starter. Perfect for wedding parties, anniversaries, and retirement dinners. If you’re looking for a spacious banquet room with delectable options, they will match any competitor’s price. Open all day from 11am-9:30pm. 200 Oak Street. (661) 327-2915

Asia Market - Teriyaki Bowl

Asia Market & Teriyaki Bowl carries a wide selection of all Asian foods, including Chinese and Japanese favorites! The best part about our store is that after you have chosen your favorite item, you can either take it home and prepare a meal for yourself, or you can come into our restaurant and have us prepare a delicious meal for you using your selection! We have a full-service store and restaurant, so you can come in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Join us today for excellent food provided by a friendly staff in a great atmosphere! Hours: 9am-9pm daily. 7701 White Lane. (661) 837-0982

Frugatti’s Italian Wood-Fired Oven

Real Italian by Real Italians! Whether dining in or al fresco on our patio, come in and enjoy our new menu that’s bursting with flavor for lunch, dinner or just dessert. You’ll love our steaks. We use only the highest quality Certified Angus Brand® Beef. You’ll also love our chicken, seafood and pizzas cooked in our imported Italian wood-burning oven. We also offer a wide selection of pasta dishes and other Italian favorites. For dessert try our homemade New York cheesecakes or Tiramisu. Come experience our friendly atmosphere. Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-9:30pm, Friday 11am-10pm, Saturday 11:30am-10pm, Sunday 11:30am-9pm. All major credit cards accepted. 600 Coffee Rd., corner of Truxtun and Coffee. frugattis.com (661) 836-2000

www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 83

The Dining Guide

Steak & Grape Restaurant

STEAK & GRAPE RESTAURANT / BAR / CATERING delights the senses as a family friendly, California steakhouse featuring classic steakhouse entrées combined with tantalizing favorite local dishes. Steak & Grape delivers “The Best Steak” in town, complemented by wines for every budget. 50% off! Join our email list on Facebook or website and buy one entrée and receive the second one of equal or lesser value at half price, some restrictions apply. Bar: 10am daily to close. Dining: 11am daily to close. 4420 Coffee Rd. Call for reservations. www.steakandgrape.com (661) 588-9463

The Village Sports Bar & Grill

Come see what’s becoming Bakersfield’s most popular locally owned and operated sports bar and grill! This is one dining experience you won’t soon forget, featuring: management with over 24 years of experience, full bar, spacious dining area, outdoor patio, catering, food made fresh (everything is made from scratch; nothing is brought in frozen), pool table area, and nine screens to watch sports on. Thank you, Bakersfield, for your continued support and for helping us grow into what we’ve become today! Karaoke on Thursdays 8pm-1am. Opens at 11am daily.

Kitchen closes at 10pm Sun-Wed, and at 11pm Thu-Sat. 4837 Panama Ln. (661) 282-8990

Farmer’s Wife Recipe Camino Real Restaurante & Bar

Luigi’s Restaurant & Italian Delicatessen

Enjoy an old world Italian delicatessen since 1910 with over 200 wines to complement your lunch. From sandwiches to Pasta Bolognese, you’re sure to find flavorful choices to make everyone happy! Don’t forget to shop the gourmet delicatessen for unique gift ideas, wine and authentic foods. Restaurant Hours: Tue-Sat 11am-2:30pm, Deli Hours: Tue-Sat 8am-4pm. 725 East 19th Street. shopluigis.com (661) 322-0926

sandy garone is no stranger to delicious local produce, as well as some fascinating local history. She currently resides at the McKittrick Ranch, which is named for its original owner, Captain William H. McKittrick, who bought the land in 1895 and planted palm trees alongside the driveway and other parts of the property. “He lost the ranch in 1921 due to debt,” Garone said. In 1939, Frank and Jim Garone bought part of the ranch. “Today the ranch is owned and farmed by my family and me.” The palm trees that line the driveway still stand to this day.

Today, the Garone family farms a number of crops, including black eyed beans. “Black eyed beans or peas are a southern favorite,” she said. “We grow black eyed beans and I pick them in the green—or pea—stage before they dry into a bean.” Then what she does with these “peas” is nothing short of spectacular! One of her recipes is for a dip that is delicious and perfect for entertaining when they’re in season during the warm summer months.

Cowboy Caviar

΄t Bon Appeti Bakersfield Magazine Dining Guide 84 Bakersfield Magazine

834-4126

1 pint of black eyed peas, rinsed and drained (You can also use the 15 oz. size if buying canned) 1 jalapeño pepper, diced fine (Leave seeds and memb rane for more heat or remove for a milder taste) 1 large tomato, diced • 1 large avocado, diced 1 bunch of green onions, chopped 1/2 cup of Bernstein’s Restaurant Recipe Ita lia n Dressing Optiona l: 1 bell pepper, finely diced Mix all ingredients tog ether and serve with you r favorite chips (Garone uses Tostito’s White Co rn Rounds). Best when enjoye d with pinky fingers raised !

hat PHOTO BY Ealdgyth

The Dining Guide

In a town full of Mexican restaurants, take a break and try food that’s Mexican inspired with California love. Check us out at Instagram@caminoed and Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CAMINOED. Open Daily 8am-Midnight. Happy Days @ The Bar, Everyday 11am-7pm. Lunch Buffet, M-F 11am-2pm. Sunday Brunch, 9am-2pm. 4501 Stine Road. caminoed.com (661) 852-0493

NONPROFIT

SPOTLIGHT Kern 999 Foundation

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Bakersfield Police Department senior officers Robert Hayes and Bryon Sandrini pose in front of memorial.

By Eman Shurbaji For peace officers all over the country, being injured or killed in the line of duty is always a possibility. And unfortunately for local families, there will always be too many Kern County law enforcement officers that fall while serving their community.

Thankfully there’s a local organization trying to bring some level of peace to the families of these men and women when they need it most.

Bakersfield Police Department Senior Officer Robert Hayes knew of the star-

999 Foundation based on a simple premise: to help alleviate stress for the family of the officer during the lapse in time between when the officer is killed, and when the family begins to receive monetary compensation. The 999 Foundation (named for the code officers send out when they need urgent help) assists with the financial hurdles a sudden tragedy can cause for a family by donating up to $5,000.

“We don’t tell [the family] what to use the money on, and trust that they will do what they need to do with it,” said BPD Senior Officer Bryon Sandrini, but he

Kern County 999 Foundation is based on a simple premise: to help alleviate stress for the family of the officer during the lapse in time between when the officer is killed, and when the family begins to receive monetary compensation. tlingly high number of law enforcement deaths and injuries in Kern County and wanted to take action. This action was spurred by the sudden and tragic death of Deputy William “Joe” Hudnall who was killed in 2006 by a man under the influence of a controlled substance. In response to Hudnall’s death, officers came together and organized a fundraiser to benefit his family and children. They raised over $17,000 for the family in just two weeks.

Hayes, who’s been in law enforcement for 22 years, then founded the Kern County

also explained that, in the past, money has been used for funeral home costs, plane tickets for family members to attend funerals, or even paying rent.

Everyone on the 999 Foundation’s board is in law enforcement, so they understand what it means to be in a position like the one faced by families of downed or injured officers.

And this nonprofit has been a great asset for those local families.

“Lag time [between the incident and payment] differs because it depends on

If you’d like to find out more information,, visit KernCounty999Foundation.org or call (661) 549-2110. www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 85

community partners

Urgent Assist

the investigation that has to take place.

But that investigation time can leave the spouse and any children without income for a month or two,” explained Officer Sandrini. “We ask them, ‘What do you need?’ It puts the family at ease. Though there is an unfortunate void in the system, we want to take care of it.”

Along with donations from local businesses, funds are raised through a number of annual events.

Among them is a golf tournament, held in September, and put together by KNZR Radio. Over the last five years, $75,000 has been raised for the Foundation.

But as Officer Hayes explained, the biggest event is the Officer Down Motorcycle Ride.

“In October we have a motorcycle ride that ends at one of several locations, like Chuy's or Roadhouse Grill,” he said.

“Roadhouse Grill donates one hundred percent of the food for the ride, and last year we had over three hundred riders,” he added. So that is quite a help.

The ride will be on October 5 this year, and will start at Bakersfield Motorcycle Shop on Fairhaven Drive. The board picks six or seven local restaurants and organizes stops along the journey. Each biker picks three stops and gets a raffle ticket at each; the ride concludes at Roadhouse Grill, where prizes are given out, as well as raffles for big ticket items like TVs. The 999 Foundation has grown since its inception, and the hope is that it can continue growing so that fundraising will be easier.

“We gain visibility through word of mouth and doing other motorcycle rides in other areas and cities,” said Officer Hayes. “We’ll support other rides [like LA County], and they come and support us, but the money raised here stays in Kern County,” he added.

For officers Hayes and Sandrini, the reason why this organization is important is simple: fallen officers’ families need all the support they can get. n

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The DBA is comprised of 400 local members from a wide range of businesses. Each of them are invested in making sure that the thousands of residents that make up Bakersfield are aware of just how special our downtown is.

ness like Third Thursdays and Tuesday Mixers, but they’ve also seen technological advances including a DowntownBakersfield. com app that provides the user with event listings, classified listings, and coupon deals.

Currently, the DBA is comprised of 400 local members from a wide range of businesses. And each of them are invested in making sure that the hundreds of thousands of

photo courtesy Bakersfield Downtown Business Association

If you were to stop and ask a group of people on the street how often they visit our downtown, you’ll get answers ranging from once a week for dinner or shopping to five times a week for work.

But ask Cathy Butler the same question and you’ll be hearing a much higher number.

Butler, longtime Executive Director for the Downtown Business Association, lives and breathes Downtown Bakersfield. Since 1975, she’s been a driving force behind the DBA’s growth and the downtown renaissance, not to mention upholding the missions set forth by the original founders of the DBA. Back in 1954, local business owners realized they needed to band together to restore downtown Bakersfield to its former glory after the devastating 1952 earthquake that left the area in financial shambles. So they did just that. The founding DBA Board of Directors, an impressive list of local movers and shakers that included Walter Wickersham and Malcolm Brock, began campaigning to attract business back to the downtown area, affectionately known today as “the Heart of Bakersfield.”

“The DBA has a vibrant past,” Butler said of the nonprofit, “and the purpose has always been to preserve downtown history; support local businesses; promote local culture, art, and entertainment; and restore downtown Bakersfield to its original purpose and beauty.”

And the DBA went about accomplishing some lofty goals, helping to steadily reshape the landscape of that area of town.

Throughout the last fifty years, the DBA checked off an impressive list of accomplishments, including forming the Downtown Improvement District, promoting the Civic Auditorium Development project, developing the 18th & Eye Parking Garage, bringing back the Bakersfield Christmas Parade to downtown, launching the Downtown Street Faires, raising $100,000 to save Bakersfield’s Historic Fox Theater, developing the Streetscape project downtown, and promoting the redevelopment of the Mill Creek Park area.

Naturally, the last few years have not only seen new events promoting downtown busi-

COM

community partners

Rooting for Downtown

residents that make up Bakersfield are aware of just how special our downtown scene is.

“Our goals are to attract new commerce, help promote local businesses, and increase the number of visitors through social media and global marketing strategies,” Butler con-

tinued. “Also, to create a clean, safe, and welcoming downtown through the establishment of the Downtown Bakersfield Development Corporation.”

The DBDC is a brand new 501(c)(3) developed to improve the overall sense of community in downtown Bakersfield by, “bringing together local partners who have a heart for downtown Bakersfield,” she added. “The mission of DBDC is to serve as a valuable resource to enhance the quality and future of downtown Bakersfield,” Butler said. “We have a vision to create a more diversified, sustainable downtown partnership to advance planning, development, and management of Bakersfield’s downtown businesses emphasizing commerce, culture, and history.”

The DBA is doing all this with a very tiny staff comprised of Butler, Melanie Farmer, Gina Martinez, and two Bakersfield College students. Not to mention a handful of volunteers.

“I believe DBA is the pivotal force that keeps downtown alive, vibrant, and dynamic,” Butler added. “Without DBA’s continuing events that market and showcase the great things happening downtown…well, Bakersfield residents would miss out on some great food, entertainment, shopping, arts and cul-

photo courtesy Bakersfield Downtown Business Association

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ture, and so much more. DBA keeps downtown active, growing, and prospering.”

One such event is the Bakersfield Downtown Business Association Inaugural Taste of Downtown fundraiser. Held on June 27 at JC’s Place (the old JC Penney building), the event is a way to recognize and celebrate downtown restaurants. It’s going to be a fabulous event with delicious food, great wines, and, of course, live entertainment. All the funds raised at the Taste of Downtown will help the DBDC collaborate with an urban architect and purchase new lighting and signage to make the walk between Chester Avenue and Q Street, a darker area of downtown, a little bit safer. It’s just another small step to making our downtown area desirable for both visitors and businesses.

“And I recently talked with the California Urban Forests Council, which selected Bakersfield as one of five cities in California for the promotion, ‘Invest from the Ground Up.’ This project will tie in with the DBDC’s pilot project area in the Arts District.” And ultimately, the campaign will culminate with the First Friday Imagine Trees Art Exhibition on Eye Street on October 4.

Butler believes that when likeminded people get together with a common goal, a lot can be accomplished. When working together, members and sponsors of the DBA, “increase tourism downtown, help the economy turn around, and make downtown Bakersfield the place to visit,” Butler added. “People can enjoy great food, unique shopping, get exposed to local culture, and realize the importance of restoring historical architecture so that generations to come will experience our wonderful downtown.” n If you’d like more information on the DBA, DBDC, or the upcoming Taste of Downtown fundraiser, visit bakersfielddba.com or call (661) 325-5892. www.bakersfieldmagazine.net / Summer 2013 87

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Mr. & Mrs. Matt Hahn (Jennifer Mount) April 20th, 2013 K Bakersfield Country Club

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Abby’s Photography

Mr. & Mrs. Anthony DeCarlo (Lorena Chavez) June 30th, 2012K Bakersfield Country Club

Jessica Frey Photography

Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Phillips (Lindsey Bowles) April 20th, 2013K Noriega House

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Juli Feller Photography

Mr. & Mrs. Scott Reade (JoAnn Tiger)

Mr. & Mrs. Rod Crawford (Julie Shine)

April 13th, 2013 K Stockdale Country Club

April 27th, 2013 K Private Estate

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Mr. & Mrs. Mike Gleim (Hannah Lowery)

Mr. & Mrs. Anselmo Moreno (Isabel Perez)

April 13th, 2013K Olive Drive Church

April 20th, 2013 K San Clemente Mission

• Beautiful Engagement Rings • Fast Jewelry Repair We Buy • One-of-a-kind Gold Custom Design • Same Day Family Owned Appraisals Since 1978 Jennifer Williams Photography

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Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Vogel (Brianna Curtis)

Mr. & Mrs. Matt Sicheri (Megan DeLoreto)

April 20th, 2013 K Private Residence

March 30th, 2013K Bacara Hotel, Santa Barbara

661-587-9298

9160 Rosedale Highway, Suite 600

661-834-0824 3763 Ming Avenue

KLEA Banquet Hall Bakersfield’s best-kept secret!

The perfect venue to host your special day.

Outdoor Patio & Park Setting Bar • Kitchen • Hall • Bridal Room Tables & Chairs • Plus Much More

Isabel Photography

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Mr. & Mrs. Antonio Vega (Jasmin Gonzalez)

Mr. & Mrs. Brandon Pettit (Gina Rossi)

April 27th, 2013 K Ventura Beach Marriott

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Ernie Cloughly & Troy Melendez

Greg Leclerc

Julie & Hector Bueno

Dawn Kerley

API Golf Tournament

Golfers from all over Bakersfield gathered for the American Petroleum Institute’s 64th Annual Golf Tournament and fundraiser. This all-day event, which took place at Sundale, Stockdale, and Riverlakes golf courses, raised money for the organization’s college scholarship fund. The day of golfing was wrapped up with an awards ceremony.

Susan Rolfsen

Stan Unruh

Jack Jones & Jeff Hockersmith

Tony Rinaldi & Danny Iron Garone

Harold Boswell

Andy Woodbury

Halli Mayberry & Sianie Wallace

Scott Jallo

Dan Sliter, Laura Hill, & Amy Ramos

Jack Bartl & Emma Neath

Matt Machado

Carlee Meador

Ray Mendenhall & Kristin Blankenship

Third Thursday

Dominic & Jennifer Wood

Iva Fendrick & Floyd Dillon

Anie McBee & Taia Herrin

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The DBA’s Third Thursdays at Mill Creek Park joined up with a celebration of local women artists at the Sister City Gardens for an evening of food, fun, and live music. Those who stopped by enjoyed entertainment and downtown excitement between the two venues.

Third Thursdays are the perfect event for the entire family.

Imelda Ceja-Butkiewizz, Meseret Springer, & Cynthia Randell

Samantha Schubert

Susan De la Rosa, Veronica Thompson, Jessica Ryder, & Mimi Ramos

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Your Local Alzheimer’s Disease Support Team You’re not alone.

Samantha Tabbytosavit & Rachel Bennett

Mayven Diaz, Blanca Gonzalez, & Leslie Runels

Charles Ignacio

March for Babies

Liberty Park was swarming with local people who are passionate about making better lives for premature and sick babies in Kern County. The March of Dimes’ March for Babies took place on a sunny Saturday, and the walkers donned colorful team shirts to show their support to the cause. The threemile walk is a part of a 42-year tradition for the organization, nationally.

Alexander & Daisy Torrez

Working to give you peace of mind and confidence that your loved one will be provided for by one of Kern County’s finest programs, while giving you relief from the extreme dedication of caregiving.

Lauren Lucas, Jamie Swetalla, Jennifer Maddern, & Michelle Goodspeed

Kim Collier & Kim McCarley

If you, or someone you know is suffering from memory loss, please contact ADAKC for help or information:

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Lauren Duncan, Holly Paul, & Dana Polson

Kennedi, Gwendolyn, & Maya Rosales

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Michelle Ramos

Brian Kirkland

Laila Moldenhauer

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Celebrity Waiters Luncheon

Lazelle Broida & Jacque Pietila

This lovely luncheon, hosted by BARC, brought together local celebrities and excited guests for Administrative Assistants’ Day. Everyone enjoyed a delicious meal, a fashion show, raffle prizes, and gifts delivered to the table by the “celebrity waiters.” All proceeds benefit BARC’s wonderful programs.

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Night to Honor Our Nurses

Carol Harrison & Sharon DuVal

The Bakersfield Marriott was the venue for this great dinner. The 6th Annual Night to Honor Our Nurses brought together men and women of the nursing profession from all over Kern County to receive praise and to be thanked for all their hard work and dedication. Not only was there a delightful cocktail reception and a savory meal, but guests enjoyed an uplifting program.

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Kimberly Adkisson

Barbara Beaty & Jaclyn Krause

Andi Golding, Tiffany Gillies, & Grace Kuhns

Kay Adkisson

Terry & Dennis Thelen

Brent Stratton, April & Josh Finney, Lindsey & Kyle Ursery

Eric & Dawnelise Nielsen

Best of Bakersfield

Amber & Travis Ellis

Jennifer Jensen

Clark Jensen

Beautiful music, romantic lights, and a waterfall set the stage for a magical evening of community and charity at the Best of Bakersfield event benefiting Global Family’s Daughter Project. A gourmet dinner and a live auction followed an exciting reception at the home of Travis and Amber Ellis. Thanks to local sponsors, volunteers, and generous guests, the charity raised over $175,000!

Joey & Christie Porter

Sally Panero, Carole & Ira Cohen

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Tish Duke, Patty Beck, Debbie Raygoza-Wells, & Arika Jackson

Mona Ross & Sheila Held

Bakersfield Amazing Race

This exciting annual race had everyone cheering! Part scavenger hunt and part obstacle course, teams used their smart phones to solve challenging puzzles and answer a multitude of questions to get to the finish line first.

Angelina Esguerra & Linda Fiddler

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Joseph Bachicha & Jessica Santillan

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Women’s Business Conference

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Hundreds of local women gathered once again for the 24th annual Women’s Business Conference, a day full of celebration and womanhood! Naturally, all attendees were excited for a wonderful event packed with educational seminars, a delicious lunch, empowering speeches from speakers including E!’s Guiliana Rancic, and opportunities for shopping!

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Photo courtesy of kern county museum

bakersfield’s sound

99 drive-in theatre c.1949

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here are those of us who can remember Bakersfield’s simpler times well: times when everything was “Mom and Pop.” One such person is resident William Lewis, who not only grew up during the heydays of the drive-in movie theater, but got a unique understanding of some of these outdoor attractions, as well. “My father [Jeff Lewis] ended up running the 99, the Terrace, and the South Chester drive-ins,” he revealed, which were three of several local drive-ins, constructed in 1949, 1950, and 1945, respectively. When you start to consider Lewis’ knowledge about the amount of work that went into bringing the best in entertainment to local families back then, the entire affair may seem anything but “simple.”

Recalling that the 99 was the biggest affair, Lewis detailed the grandness that was held there on a weekly basis. “There was a stage that they built underneath the screen, and there would be live performances there before the shows began.” From musical acts to trapeze artists, the stage had hosted a wealth of impressive shows. “It was so popular during its prime that they nearly tripled the size,” he said. With John Wayne and Disney films drawing the large crowds, a typical weekend night would include the live show, two complete movies, four cartoons, the newsreel, and coming attractions.

Some of the most interesting facts about these drive-ins didn’t have to do so much with the family entertainment it provided as with lesser-known facts. The South Chester was built during World War II, and with supplies being short, they used the wood from old oil derricks to build the screen. The grand opening was slated to be a huge affair, with dignitaries from Hollywood in attendance. However, considering the very date they chose to open it fell on the V-J Day—when the U.S. declared victory over Japan—the opening was postponed.

As the times changed, so did the popularity of the drive-ins, and the cost of the land became so much that keeping the theaters open simply didn’t make fiscal sense.

All three theaters were torn down in the ‘80s, but the memories that they brought to Bakersfield still live not only in the hearts of residents like Lewis, but also in the Beale Library, where Lewis donated the many pictures he took of the drive-ins shortly before their destruction.

the story of bakersfield is all around us, you just have to look — and listen.

98 Bakersfield Magazine

George M. Wahba, M.D. Harvard-Trained Spine Surgeon Specialized in Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar Spine Surgery Spinal Stenosis, Disc Herniations, Sciatica/Leg Pain/Arm Pain, Spinal Deformity/Scoliosis, Spinal Trauma, Spinal Tumors, Revision Surgeries

Dr. Wahba is locally-based in Bakersfield, and he is excited to be providing world-class care to Kern County and surrounding communities.

Complete Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Wahba obtained his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and graduated Summa Cum Laude with College Honors. He earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, which is consistently ranked as one of the top medical schools in the country.

Dr. Wahba graduated from UCSF at the top of his class, as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors

Mercy Orthopedic, Spine, & Hand Center

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Society. He completed a 5-year residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of California, Irvine (UCI).

At that point, Dr. Wahba decided to expand his expertise by completing a prestigious fellowship in Spine Surgery from Harvard Medical School. During that time, he trained at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, two of the most renowned medical centers in the world.

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