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April 2010
CSUB TURNS
www.bakersfieldlife.com
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University toasts decades of excellence
Dining divas Dishing it up family-style at Rice Bowl
Bakersfield’s bounty A look at our past and what’s in store
LIVING GREEN
Ways to be more eco-conscious
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A P R I L
2 0 1 0
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Photo by Casey Christie
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4750 Coffee Road (661) 588-4700
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From the moment Father Garces set foot here to when we set our sights on space, our community has dreamed big and sought success. Take a trip back in time to Bakersfield’s beginnings, and then see some of what’s in store for our growing city.
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4130 California Ave (661) 325-4717
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 10AM – 10PM
Bakersfield Life
April 2010
Bakersfield’s big moments
CSUB turns 40
Cal State Bakersfield has come a long way since opening its doors in September 1970. The university is marking four decades as a major intellectual, social and cultural center for the southern San Joaquin Valley, having kept pace with its fast-growing hometown.
SPECIAL SECTION
Living Green
These days, Bakersfield is thinking greener. From solar panels to savvy hybrids, residents are thinking more about the environment. In this special section, we have tips on how you can do your part to live greener.
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Most valuable player
Growing up an athlete, Greg Williamson learned the value of setting goals and striving for success. His competitive spirit helped him climb the ranks of the Bakersfield Police Department, and, as its new chief, he plans on staying at the top of his game.
Putting on the Dog. “Put on (the) dog is an expression that means to make a display by dressing stylishly and flashily. It's similar in meaning to the later expression, “putting on the ritz.”
“We don’t care what it means, as long as it makes you feel good.” — Chloe
Spring designs arriving daily. Hurr y in today!
(661) 283-4500
www.hwalkers.com
Become a Fan of H. Walker's on Facebook Front & Rear Door Parking - Across from Uricchio’s - H.Walker’s, family owned since 1971
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A P R I L
2 0 1 0
D E PA R T M E N T S 15 So You Want To ...
There's a lot to consider when it comes to adopting a pet.
16 Real People
For those feeling taxed this time of year, Dick Nelsen has a smile and some fresh-baked cookies for you.
18 History
Years in the making, Isabella Dam changed Kern’s landscape for the better.
20 Our Town
Bakersfield Symphony Associates Fashion Show on tap this month.
22 Food and Wine
A tighter budget? Don’t worry, these affordable wines taste like a splurge.
24 Dining Divas
The Divas meet their match with a generous family-style meal at Rice Bowl.
28 Home & Garden
Now is the time to get out and bring beauty to your yard.
St. Francis School celebrates 100 years of Catholic education and community service.
30 On the Red Couch
58 Trip Planner
Local boutique owners are ready for spring.
44 Entertainment
Fresh crop of theater productions heading to venues around town.
46 Pastimes
Writing clubs offer fellowship and feedback for local scribes.
48 Health & Wellness
Employee wellness programs help employers target health costs.
50 Guys On The Green
Local brokers look on the bright side of the market.
Bakersfield Life
April 2010
54 Community
Enjoy a rockin’ good trip checking out petroglyphs just a short drive away.
62 Why I Live Here
Tanisha and Joe Ross share why they love living in northeast Bakersfield.
67 SNAP!
Bakersfield Life’s cameras were at some of the city’s top events recently. Check out who was snapped there.
75 Last Word
Gary Banas of Valley Mattress shares what he thinks Bakersfield needs and what it could do without.
• Full Service Remodels • Countertops / Backsplash • Flooring – Tile / Hardwood • 3 Dimensional Designing From conception to completion, Stockdale Cabinetry will help you every step of the way. We don’t just design it, we help you pick out the materials and put it all together. “Your project is my project,” Rick explains. “My work is my passion.”
FULL SERVICE REMODELING COMPANY Rick Sorci CKD Bakersfield’s only Certified kitchen Designer & General Contractor When we moved into our home almost 14 years ago, everything was so fresh and clean…we even liked the white tile in our bathroom! Through the years we added paint and carpet to every room in our home, except the master suite. One day my husband said, “ Why is there carpet in this bathroom? It’s dirty and disgusting and it’s time for a change.” So, that’s when we decided to start a remodel with our master bathroom. I had seen ads in the paper for Stockdale Cabinetry and through the next few weeks, found out that some of our friends had used them and were pleased with the results. After meeting Rick and his staff, I was sure this was the company to do the job. From laying out the design of the bathroom to the many shopping trips picking out fixtures, granite and stone, Rick and his crew were on top of everything. We miss our friends Rick and Jeff, who truly created the beautiful stone work in our bathroom. He is a master craftsman. The finished product is amazing and we are thoroughly enjoying our new master bathroom. The White tile was nice years ago, but the granite is so much better. Now, if we could only move to the kitchen.
Lynn & Brad
www.stockdalecabinetry.com 661-834-3333 • 4500 Shepard St., Ste. B-2
General Contractor #940909
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Bakersfield’s Premier City Magazine
Bakersfield Life™ magazine is published by The Bakersfield Californian. The magazine is inserted into The Bakersfield Californian on the last Saturday of every month. To subscribe, please call 392-5777. Publisher Ginger Moorhouse President/CEO Richard Beene Vice President Sales, Marketing, Circulation & Operations John Wells Advertising Director Bryan Fahsbender Vice President of Content Olivia Garcia Assistant Editor Stefani Dias Art Direction Glenn Hammett Photography Felix Adamo Henry A. Barrios Casey Christie Brian Dranke Michael Fagans Michael Duffy Jessica Frey Alex Horvath Jill Ireland Chelley Kitzmiller Greg Nichols Tanya X. Leonzo Jan St. Pierre Gene Stirm Rodney Thornburg Jose Trevino Contributing Writers Teresa Adamo J.W. Burch IV Sean Kenny Lisa Kimble Chelley Kitzmiller Dana Martin Jeff Nickell Gabriel Ramirez Dana Robinson Advertising Lupe Carabajal lcarabajal@bakersfield.com 395-7563 Reader Inquiries Bakersfield Life magazine P.O. Bin 440 Bakersfield, CA 93302-0440 BakersfieldLife@bakersfield.com 395-7492 On the cover Spring is in bloom on the Cal State Bakersfield campus. The university is celebrating four decades in the community. Photo by Jessica Frey
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Bakersfield Life
April 2010
Spring sets the moment Spring has arrived and it’s hard not to notice the beautiful things happening in our community. Whether it’s the blooming flowers, going on a nice walk, or an outdoor community event, there’s something that spring gives to many of us. I hope you feel the same reading this issue of Bakersfield Life. Writer Dana Martin shines the light on Bakersfield’s new police chief for the Bakersfield Police Department. A husband and father of two, Chief Greg Williamson is a local product, having graduated from North High School before going onto college in San Diego and later returning. Inside, we are also featuring our “Living Green” special section where we suggest ways to make positive contributions for an environmentally healthier city. There are several great options for “green” vehicles that include a nice list from our local auto dealers. Live in a neighborhood that makes you proud? Share it with us! We are looking for residents who have something nice to say about their neighborhood as part of our “Why We Live Here” section. You can e-mail us your thoughts by sending them to bakersfieldlife@bakersfield.com. For this month's “Why I Live Here," we profile Joe and Tanisha Ross, who also happen to be good friends of mine. Joe works in the health field while Tanisha is an elementary school teacher in town. Find out what they have to say
about their neighborhood. And we have history to share. Our Dining Divas make a nice stop at the Rice Bowl, and it was well worth it! Writer Lisa Kimble looks into the celebration of St. Francis School turning 100 years old. The Catholic school, which is the largest elementary school in the Fresno Diocese, continues to thrive in our community. There are many third- andfourth-generation students who are following in their family’s footsteps. Lots to celebrate, indeed. Also, in this issue, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Cal State Bakersfield. CSUB has produced some talented people who have called Bakersfield their home and continue to do good work in our community. It’s great for us to have a growing university that prides itself on shaping the minds of future professionals. Congratulations, CSUB. Looking to change your style? Check out what our local boutique owners have to say about the right wardrobe for the season. Wine columnist Paul Ulrich talks about enjoying a nice fine glass of wine on a budget. And he provided some great suggestions. Take a look and enjoy. Photo by Tanya X. Leonzo
April 2010 / Vol. 4 / Issue 7
Olivia Garcia Vice President of Content 395-7487 ogarcia@bakersfield.com
HAPPENINGS Find more community events at BakersfieldLife.com or Bakersfield.com/calendar.
Fri. 2
Fri. 2
2&3
Sat. 3
FLICS presents “Jerichow,” 7:30 p.m., Bakersfield Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $5. flics.org or call 428-0354.
First Friday, featuring live music, art openings, specialty shops, galleries and boutiques, 5 to 9 p.m., Downtown Arts District. 634-9598.
Condors vs. Idaho Steelheads, 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $7 to $23. 324-7825 or bakersfieldcondors. com.
Optimal Hospice Foundation's 11th annual Team Roping Competition, 8:45 a.m., Thunderhead Ranch in Shafter. 716-8000.
Sun. 4
Sat. 10
Sat. 10
Sat. 10
Easter
Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, presents “Classical Elegance,” 8 p.m., Rabobank Theater. $32 to $48. bakersfield symphony.org or call 323-7928.
American Lung Association’s Healthy Air 5K Walk, starts at 8:30 a.m., Yokuts Park. healthy airwalk.org or 8474700.
Kern County Scottish Gathering and Games, starts at 9 a.m., Kern County Fairgrounds. $12 to $25. kernscot.com or 393-6765.
Thur. 15
Fri. 16
Fri. 16
Sat. 17
Sat. 17
Phil Vassar, 7 p.m., Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace. 328-7560.
“Rain — A Tribute to The Beatles,” 8 p.m. Rabobank Theater. 852-7308 or rabobankarena.com.
FLICS presents “Jellyfish,” 7:30 p.m., Bakersfield Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $5. flics.org or call 428-0354.
CASA Rio Bravo Run, 10K, 5K and one-mile walk, registration at 7 a.m., races at 8 a.m., Nickel Family Ranch. $20 to $30, includes T-shirt. kerncasa.org or 631-2272.
Greater Bakersfield Green Expo, with Great American Cleanup, 8 a.m., Yokuts Park. gbgreen expo.org.
Thur. 22
Sat. 24
Jake Owen, 7 p.m., Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace. 328-7560
Celebrate CSUB!, variety of activities throughout the campus, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, CSUB. csub.edu/celebrate or 654-2456.
Sun. 25
Fri. 30
WEEK 5
WEEK 4
WEEK 3
WEEK 2
WEEK 1
Can’t-miss events in April
“ABBAMANIA,” 4 p.m., Rabobank Theater. Nine concerts for $60. bakersfieldcca.org or 205-8522.
FLICS presents “Villa Jasmin,” 7:30 p.m., Bakersfield Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $5. flics. org or call 4280354.
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Bakersfield Life
April 2010
UUPP FRONT FRONT
It’s Named After
By Lisa Kimble
It is a rare individual who is honored with the naming of a street or building during the lifetime, but in 1989, a few months after his retirement, popular former Kern County Parks and Recreation Department director Frank Stramler was given the distinction. The Frank L. Stramler Picnic Area and Park, sandwiched between the parking lot of Sam Lynn Ball Park and the Kern County Museum on Chester Avenue, was dedicated June 30, 1989, by then3rd District Supervisor Pauline Larwood. Frank Lee Stramler was born in Bakersfield, but moved to Lancaster with his family as a boy in 1937 where he attended elementary and high school. Stramler returned to Bakersfield after graduation and worked with his brother in farming before he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in World War II.
The Epilepsy Society’s Annual Mud Volleyball Tournament is one of the many community events held at Stramler Park.
Photo by Jill Ireland
Stramler Park
Stramler learned to fly, and he and good friend Mary K. Shell both received their pilot’s licenses the very same day in 1947. Ten years later, he was one of the first
six lake patrolmen hired at Lake Isabella. Stramler later served as supervisor at Hart Park for nine years, during the creation of Lake Ming. He eventually became the parks and recreation department’s third district area supervisor. In 1968, following the death of the department’s first director, Herbert Evans, Stramler was appointed acting director, and presided over the department until his retirement in March of 1989. For more than two decades, Frank Stramler oversaw the management and construction of numerous regional and neighborhood parks, buildings, golf courses and campgrounds, including the Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area. Stramler, who was married for 54 years until his wife’s death in 2001, enjoyed traveling the continental United States, Canada and Alaska, often on the road in a motor home. Today, at 85, Stramler says he feels good. “Kern County has been very good to me. I served under 28 county supervisors,” he said. “It was not a routine job. There was always something new every day.”
The Pulse: What’s hot and what’s not this month in Bakersfield
WHAT’S HOT
WHAT’S NOT
Lots of rain
Teen pregnancy rates
Looks like this year’s rainy season could be the beginning of a turnaround for our drought.
Music to our ears
Despite drastic state-funding cuts, the CSUB music program has fine-tuned itself. In fact, it’s even growing.
Closer to home
David Carr signed with the San Francisco 49ers, meaning it’ll be easier for local Carr fans to head north and see our homegrown NFL star in person.
Helping others
As the weather warms, more people are out and about at fundraisers like the Cioppino Feed and JJ's Legacy Golf Tournament.
Kern County had the highest teen birth rate in California in 2008, even as births to teen moms dropped to a record low in the state as a whole.
Unemployment soars
The jobless rate continues to rise, hitting 17.1 percent in January, the highest rate in 16 years.
Internet rental housing scams
Con artists are duping prospective renters by posting photos of homes for sale as rental properties and fraudulently collecting rent and deposits.
More local layoffs
Kern Schools Federal Credit Union plans to close four of its 14 branches and lay off 40 employees, and Fruitvale School and Kern High School districts accepted plans to lay off staffers.
www.BakersfieldLife.com
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UP FRONT
Short Takes
Photo by Michael Fagans
OVERHEARD
“
Without living here, I cannot imagine being the active artist, director, poet, actor and writer I have become. Bakersfield is such a welcoming, unintimidating place where you can connect with people and not be afraid of trying new things.
”
— Julie Jordan Scott, local artist
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Bakersfield Life
April 2010
Photo by Brian Drake
CASA's Rio Bravo Run
Tie up your laces and hit the trail for CASA’s Rio Bravo Run on April 17. The 10-mile and 5K runs have been in place for a number of years under the Bakersfield Track Club, and a one-mile walk was added to appeal to participants of all fitness levels and ages. With the tag line “Let’s give a child a Light of Hope and help run child abuse out of Kern County,” the
run is intended to increase awareness of child abuse in Kern County as well as offer a community event for the whole family. Check-in time for all three races is 7 to 7:45 a.m. with all races starting at 8 a.m. The races will be taking place at the Nickel Family Ranch, 15701 Highway 178. Cost is $20 to $30 and includes a souvenir T-shirt.
2010 Healthy Air Walk Bakersfield has some of the worst air, and, as a result, many of our children suffer from asthma and lung disease. Help highlight the need for improved air quality and support those whose health has been affected by the pollution at the 2010 Healthy Air Walk on April 10. “It is no surprise to anyone living or working in Kern County that we have significant challenges when it comes to air quality,” said Rep. Kevin McCarthy. “The Healthy Air Walk reminds us all that by working together, we can achieve an effective and immediate solution. Together, we can make our air clean and keep our families healthy.” Walkers of all ages
are invited to come out to Yokuts Park for the noncompetitive 3.5-mile event organized by the American Lung Association. Known in prior years as the Asthma Walk, the Healthy Air Walk is expected to draw more than 750 walk participants. Along with the walk, the event includes a hosted breakfast, lunch, raffle, live auction, DJ and children’s entertainment. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by the mayor’s proclamation and shotgun start at 10 a.m. To register a team, please go to healthyairwalk.org or call 1-800-Lung-USA. For more information, please call Danielle Mendez at 847-4700.
BY THE NUMBERS: Bakersfield Youth Symphony Orchestra
3 34 4 36
77
Total student orchestra members for 2009-10
Concerts held each season
Age of conductor Maxim Eshkenazy
11,758
Soloists for the 2009-10 season
Approximate total miles traveled for the concert tour to Bucheon, South Korea, last March
Violinists for the current season
So You Want To ...
Adopt a pet Talk to the family Discuss everyone’s likes and dislikes and what's the best fit for your family. Large dogs may be too strong or active for young children, for example, while some people may simply prefer cats to canines. Consider allergies to avoid heartbreak down the road.
Consider the cost Getting the pet is not the big expense; it is what follows that can drain your wallet. From buying the necessary supplies and training classes (which can run anywhere from $30 to more than $100) to annual wellness checks and vaccinations, feeding (the bigger the dog, the bigger the food bill) and medical emergencies, there are many ongoing expenses to consider. Also factor in what your pet will need as it ages — when health issues increase — and if you will be able to provide the extra care.
Be ready to devote lots of time and attention A furry friend brings love and adventure as well as new household chores. Some dogs — especially puppies — may need a lot of attention and training, while felines thrive on a daily schedule of feeding, grooming and play. No matter the age, you need to be ready to help your pet get adjusted to its new home. Create a schedule for the family to share responsibility for your pet, and don't expect younger children to handle the animal's primary care, even if they're the reason you have a pet.
Know your breed The American Kennel Club divides dogs into seven groups: sporting, working, terrier, toy, hound, herding and nonsporting. These divisions give you a rough idea of which breeds to consider first. For instance, if you enjoy hiking or jogging, a sporting dog is likely to suit you best. If
your interest includes protection as well as companionship, consider a working breed (although obedience training is likely needed with these independent-minded pups). And you can’t go wrong with a mutt. Mixed breeds actually tend to have fewer of the health problems that may pop up in many purebreds, and animal shelters are overflowing with mixed-breed dogs.
Prepare your home Make any necessary modifications to your yard and fence to provide for your pet’s safety. Dogs are social animals and pets really should be part of the family pack, spending time inside the house rather than being constantly outside. Also be sure to stock up on supplies, food and toys before you bring an animal home. The last thing you want is to rush to the store for a litter box and hope that your new cat will patiently wait for your return! Sources: ASPCA, American Kennel Club
www.BakersfieldLife.com
15
REAL PEOPLE
Dick Nelsen is ready for business at his Niles Street office.
The tax man For those who dread tax time, Dick Nelsen is ready with a smile and some fresh-baked cookies
T
By Dana Robinson
ax season always feels like a desert that you must cross in order to get from the happiness of the winter holidays to the carefree joy of summertime. It’s a treacherous place that’s littered with W2s, 1099s and a million paper-clipped bundles of business receipts. And just like any other journey, if you don’t plan for the trek accordingly, you may find yourself lost in a strange place with no money in your pocket and no way to get home. Dick Nelsen has been helping people prepare for that annual journey for more than 50 years. With a jovial disposition that battles against the stern, joyless image that we’ve all grown to associate with the “Tax Man,” it’s clear to see why Nelsen has been in this business for so long. “Have fun. Get your taxes done,” says Nelsen. And he means that … seriously. That motto is spelled 16
Bakersfield Life
April 2010
Photos by Casey Christie out on a prominently positioned sign in his office. Plus, each of the 10 Liberty Tax Service offices that he owns in Bakersfield and Delano with business partner Brian Holmes are equipped with a variety of ways to make tax season a little more enjoyable — complimentary soft drinks, popcorn and freshly baked cookies. “We have a popcorn machine in every office,” says Nelsen. “We make popcorn once or twice a day, and when we get into the office in the morning, we bake cookies.” This is the first year that the free goodies have been available to Liberty clients, and the company plans to bring the concessions back next year. The philosophy behind Nelsen’s demeanor and the friendly atmosphere at the office is simple. “People come in and they’re upset because they have to pay taxes,” says Nelsen. “So you have to be in a good mood. When they leave, they’re in a better mood.” Nelsen started out in the tax industry back in 1960 with H&R
Block. He retired from the world of tax returns and e-filing in 2002 and explored a number of different business ventures, including owning a USA Baby store and a furniture store. “I ventured out into some things that I knew nothing about,” says Nelsen. But the tax industry lured him back as he eventually began doing tax returns here and there for family and friends. He then started working part time at Liberty Tax Service in 2002. By 2008, he was a franchise owner. In early March, Nelsen was experiencing the brief lull that occurs every tax season. “We’re busy from the last week of January through the first three weeks in February,” says Nelsen. "March is slow, then everything picks back up again on April 2.” During this time Nelsen’s Liberty locations handle about 80 returns per day. The number goes up as the April 15 deadline gets closer. The rational behind this ebb and flow is simple: “Usually the people who file late owe money,” says Nelsen. He also notes that that number is mixed in with people who are self-employed. Thankfully, not everyone participates in the last-minute rush. About half of Nelsen’s clients file by Feb. 18. This 3½-month period leads to very long days and equally lengthy nights for Nelsen. An average day during the busy season begins at 8 a.m. — it’s a cyclone of checking messages, looking over returns, looking over more returns and, thankfully, baking cookies. The work doesn’t usually end until midnight. If you still haven’t made an appointment with your tax man or woman, there is still time. And if your ’09 receipts are a little unorganized, Nelsen says that’s fine too. He recommends putting all of your receipts, W2s, 1099s etc. into a shoebox, and bringing them in. “I say a shoebox because a shoebox is small,” says Nelsen. “Don’t bring in a big box … or you’ll scare us.” Even if
Longtime tax man Dick Nelsen keeps an eye on the hot cookies coming out of the oven in his Niles Street office. you’re a little less than perfectly organized, he recommends filing the forms anyway. It’s always easier to file an amendment than to be faced with a penalty. To avoid the last-minute rush to file your ’10 taxes, Nelsen says that organization is the key. Keep all of your receipts organized throughout the year and check in with your tax preparer from time to time in case any new laws have been put into effect that would impact your return. And if you find yourself getting really stressed out this year, next year, or any other, Nelsen reminds us of a very important fact: “At least you only have to pay taxes once a year.”
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17
HISTORY
Savior
floods from the
A long time in the making, Isabella Dam changed Kern’s landscape for the better
Drilling operations for excavation of Main Dam Spillway Lake Isabella on March 12, 1952. 18
Bakersfield Life
April 2010
By Jeff Nickell, Director, Kern County Museum Photos courtesy of the Kern County Museum
O
ver the course of time, Bakersfield has been flooded on numerous occasions. This makes sense due to the fact that Bakersfield sits in flood plain. Bakersfield was originally known as Kern Island and there was good reason for that: Forks of the Kern River ran around it; at least somewhat. Most floods bring devastation, but the flood of December 1863 was a fortunate occurrence for Col. Thomas Baker, who was attempting to reclaim marshlands around Bakersfield for settlement. The flood rushed down an irrigation channel that had been constructed to divert water to a farm located near the river. Consequently, the course of the river
Groundbreaking ceremony on May 29, 1948.
Excavation completed for inlet portal of Main Dam outlet tunnel on Jan. 12, 1950. was changed forever. Another who used a flood to his advantage was Thomas Barnes, who used wood from the Kern River flood of late December 1867/January 1868 to build his cabin located south of Bakersfield near Kern and Buena Vista lakes. (The Barnes Log Cabin, built in 1868, was the first structure moved to the Kern County Museum’s Pioneer Village.) But, most of time, floods of Bakersfield, Lamont, Arvin, etc., were not welcome events. They brought devastation and cost the towns and townspeople untold amounts of money due to damaged homes, roadways, lost crops and the like. Coupled with the need for agricultural uses, the conservation of water, and the need to tame the river’s desire to spread beyond its normal path, the idea for building a dam was floated before the 1930s. A report, created based upon a flood control act that began the process of studying the need for such a dam, indicated the building of the dam would save an estimated $700,000 per year by controlling flooding. Most of what was included in the report folks around here knew, including the fact that when the river flooded, downtown Bakersfield would be underwater. The primary reason for the report was to convince Congress that something had to be done. Unfortunately, nothing occurred with the project, not even approval for actual funding, until 1944 when Congress passed the Flood Control Act. According to the Centennial Almanac (published in 1966 to commemorate Kern County’s 100-year anniversary), the act’s main goals were the preservation of life and property, irrigation, power development, recreation and preservation of fish and livestock resources.
The site of the dam was chosen based on its proximity to the north and south forks of the Kern River. That area just happened to have a large basin, making it perfect for the construction of the dam. Now, the arduous task of building the massive dam had to take place. Kernville, originally known as Whiskey Flat, had to be relocated because it lay in the midst of where Lake Isabella would soon lie. In fact, when the water levels are low you can still see concrete foundations of the old buildings. Roads also had to be moved, further proof that the building of the dam was far from a simple task. With approval to proceed with planning, drawings were rendered for the dam, although money was not earmarked for building the structure until 1948. The groundbreaking took place on May 29, 1948, with the Army Corps of Engineers in charge of the project. The dam was to be massive compared to any type of dam that had been previously built in Kern County. The main dam was to reach 185 feet tall and 1,725 feet wide with reinforced concrete used to ensure that the structure would withhold the weight of the water. An auxiliary dam was also built measuring 100 feet tall by 3,325 feet. But, in the midst of construction, there was a massive flood in 1950 that wreaked havoc on Kern County. In fact, the damage caused to buildings, levies, and farms totaled more than $1 million. When the project started, plans indicated the job would take 300 days of work and total $15 million. At its completion in 1953, the project actually took five years and $21 million. The reservoir created by the project encompassed 14 square miles and could hold 550,000 acre-feet of water. With the completion of the canal, Bakersfield and towns in the path of the Kern River were protected for the most part from the wrath of the river. Irrigation districts and farmers were able to control the flow of water to crops throughout the region. The building of the dam completed the objectives of the Flood Control Act, while also creating an added bonus: recreation. Many people come to the Kern River Valley to enjoy what it has to offer, including Lake Isabella, making tourism one of Kern’s major industries. www.BakersfieldLife.com
19
OUR TOWN
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Symphony director John Farrer conducts as soloists Steve O'Connor, Sal Panelli and Michael Raney perform.
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Bakersfield Life
April 2010
Photo by Alex Horvath
T
he Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra helps ensure the continuation of its many outstanding programs through the generous support of individuals, corporations, businesses and foundations, such as the Symphony Associates. The group was formed to support the symphony by promoting community interest and sponsoring fundraising events. Every year the group raises funds at its Fashionata Fashion Show and Luncheon, which this year will be held April 24 at the Double Tree Hotel, 3100 Camino Del Rio Court. Festivities will begin with a social hour at 11 a.m., which includes an open bar, followed by luncheon being served at noon. The fashion show will begin at 1 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person or $350 for a table of 10 and may be purchased by calling either 397-9306 or 872-2973.
Penny Boeman 319-3844
Amy Short 717-0218
Judy Smith 428-3139
Michelle Tucker 331-7433
Karen Vanderhurst 809-8738
Pete Yackley 330-9640
We’re Not National. We’re Your Neighbors.
Lois Brehmer 331-6303
Kamri Roberson 246-5947
Joe Roberson 588-6600
Debi Roberson 301-8733
Lezlie Chaffin 319-6611
4708 Ambrister
$182,850
WOW.... New carpet and paint for the whole house. This SW home has 4 bdrms, 2 baths, 2002 sq ft, great room, fireplace, tile counter tops, tile floor in kitchen & breakfast bar. Property sold AS IS. 21003574
4120 East
$595,000
There is a 1050 sq ft shop/RV garage with a 416 sq ft guest room with bath over the garage. There is also a 20 x 40 swimming pool with all new equipment. The property even hosts an orchard with lots of fruit trees. Property is zoned M3 great for business purpose. 21002607
Ronda Chaffin 345-1941
Adoree Roberson 588-6600
Sonia Sides-Collier 337-8198
Jackie Putman 717-4360
11919 Wethersfield
$281,430
Beautiful 2 story home in Villages of Brimhall. This home features 2772 sq ft with 5 bdrms, 3 baths, Great room, tile counter tops, large back yard, pool and a corner lot. Property sold AS IS. 21002904 Sang Dang 364-7775
17414 Havenridge
$1,200,000
Elegant Custom home on 1 acre lot w/guest house. Includes 6 car garage, pebble tec rock waterfall pool & spa, gourmet center island kitchen w/stainless steel appliances, massive family w/fireplace & built in cabinetry, covered RV parking, dog run, split wing, game rm, beautifully office & great master bdrm and luxurious bath. 21002999
Kym Plivelich 319-6978
W W W. R O B E R S O N H O M E S . C O M
3977 Coffee Road, Ste. C, behind Chicago Title
661.588.6600
Joyce Hanson 333-8009
Dru Holbrook 330-4343
Kathy Keener 444-1367
Rhonda Lewis 428-0100
Bob Levesque 332-2305
Eva Martinez 304-3243
Cathie Paulovitz 549-6464
Leann Newfield 817-4182
Susan O’Quinn 619-1797
Dottie Patterson 747-2227
FOOD AND WINE
A fine value With a tighter budget, choose affordable wines that taste like a splurge By Paul Ulrich, wine columnist
T
he current economy has changed the wine market, and consumers are looking for wines that are less expensive. As the days of the $50-plus bottles are over for most of us, I would like to suggest some great value wines, which are widely available and can often be purchased for $15 or less. Value wines are usually meant to be entry-level wines, but some of them are equals to wines that cost two to three times as much. Columbia Crest, a large winery located in Washington, produces consistently good wine across its entire line. Its Grand Estates wines — including chardonnay, merlot and cabernet — can be purchased in most stores for around $10 a bottle, and I can recommend these without reservation. This winery has won a multitude of awards for producing wines of merit, such as its 2005 Reserve cabernet sauvignon, which was chosen as the top wine this year by
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Bakersfield Life
April 2010
Wine Spectator magazine. I know I have stated in the past that one should make their own decisions regarding a wine, but when you see the same winery mentioned over and over in the trade magazines, it is definitely worth a try. McManis, located in Ripon at the north part of the San Joaquin Valley, is another winery worth investigating. I have been impressed by the quality of their wines, especially the zinfandel and petite sirah. In my opinion, Bogle Vineyards is easily the best producer of wines that fall into the category of value wines. I have never been disappointed by any of their wines. This family-owned winery located in the Sacramento Delta region is consistently mentioned in the wine press for its fine wines, and it is amazing that this winery makes a top-quality product across the board year after year. When I visited J. Lohr winery in Paso Robles, I had low expec-
tations when I arrived, but was I ever wrong about them! I have to admire a winery that produces the volume of wine that they do, and yet still makes a fantastic product. It offers a good lineup of wine that is very well made and is reasonable in price. For a change, try their Wildflower Valdigue, a medium-bodied red wine that pairs well with salmon or pork. I can also recommend Au Bon Climat as a top producer of chardonnay and pinot noir. The Santa Maria winery is one of my favorites and its wines are a personal choice as an everyday “house wine.” South America also produces wines that are delicious and fall into this category. Malbecs from Argentina, such as Alamos and Norton, are big, full-bodied red wines worth trying, and you should sample some wines from Chile. There are also good buys in German and French wines. Seek the advice of your local wine merchant when choosing these wines, as there is a lot of variability in the European wine available today. Another suggestion is to visit a tasting room; there are often special buys on wine by the case that are only available at the winery. Take a chance and try something new that does not break your budget; you may discover a new favorite that can become an everyday wine for your own home!
Keeping Business Local
April 10, 2010 Kern County Fairgrounds 9AM to 5PM Athletic Competitions Live Music Stages Food and Beverages Scottish Dancing Children’s Glen Clan Tents Family Information Children under 10 FREE
$15
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Commercial Insurance Workers’ Compensation Bonds Employee Benefit Programs Personal Insurance
661-616-4700 • www.twiw.com 5001 California Ave. Ste 150 • Bakersfield, CA 93309 Bakersfield
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D I N I N G D I VA S
Rice Bowl
The Divas, from left: Wendy Horack, Aimee Williamson, Whitney Rector and Lori Ritchie.
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Bakersfield Life
April 2010
Bowled over The Divas leave stuffed, smiling after a family-style meal at Rice Bowl
Rice Bowl special beef
Photos by Greg Nichols
Warm welcome
Aimee: I was so excited that the Divas were going to have the opportunity to eat at Rice Bowl! Rice Bowl has been a downtown landmark for great authentic Chinese food for over 60 years. My family has eaten many take-out meals in past years, but I have never visited the restaurant before. We were greeted by Alan, the owner/manager of Rice Bowl. You can tell from the moment you meet Alan and his staff that everyone is treated like family. Wendy: The Rice Bowl has been around forever. I think the streets of Bakersfield were dirt! Well, maybe there was pavement, but it’s stood the test of time anyway. Lori: Walking into the Rice Bowl, you get a very traditional Chinese feel; red is the main color in the décor. Red is a very lucky color. Alan greeted us as soon as we got there. He asked us where we would like to sit either in the cocktail lounge or the restaurant; we all agreed the cocktail lounge. Where else would we sit?
Drinks
Aimee: Beverly, our server, came to take our drink order and, like always,
we wanted to know what she recommended. She said the mai tais were her choice, so I blurted out, “I will have that.” When it comes to ordering food and drinks with the Divas, you have to be the first one to claim the item! Two of the other girls ordered them also, but, of course, Whitney had to have something different! She ordered an apple martini. The mai tais were to die for! It was so good I had to have two to make sure the first one wasn’t a fluke! I think Mike the bartender will soon be one of our best friends! Lori: All of us loved our drinks. Mike the bartender was very generous with the alcohol. The drinks were excellent. Whitney: Alan was gracious and extremely friendly and sat us in a great booth in the bar. The bar reminds me of the show “Cheers,” where everyone knows your name. It’s a place where the people are friendly, familiar and everyone is catching up with each other’s lives. Big Mike made me a beautiful apple martini. It was not too sweet, not too tart, but perfect. I felt the drink added a little something special to my dinner.
Orange chicken with white meat
Cashew chicken
Continued on page 26
Walnut shrimp
Lobster Cantonese www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Aimee: We started off with two appetizers: the salt and pepper shrimp and the spring rolls. The girls made me eat a shrimp, but, to my surprise, it was really good. So, for all of you land lovers, this is a must-try if you are trying to step out of the food choice box! I loved the spring rolls. They were filled with vegetables, cabbage and chicken and were fried to a crunchy golden brown! They were served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce that was a perfect complement. Lori: The shrimp is lightly battered, deep-fried and tossed in salt and pepper, one of my favorites. I am thinking, “Wow, this is good,” and I am not the biggest Chinese food eater. Whitney: The salt and pepper shrimp should be a mandatory appetizer or entree and not a suggestion. Outstanding is the word that comes to mind! I’m a girl that likes a dip. Ketchup with everything. Ranch with zucchini fries. Sweet and sour sauce with Chinese food. Salt and pepper shrimp is perfect by itself. Heavy pepper on the shrimp, but it’s not overwhelming. The salt balances out the pepper and pairs well with the apple martini.
A moment of laughter
Wendy: I had the giggles tonight.
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Bakersfield Life
April 2010
It started when poor Alan asked us if we wanted light meat or dark meat orange chicken, and Whitney said she didn’t like duck meat. LOL. While we waited for our food, we started taking some pictures. Aimee got me laughing so hard I got the “ugly cry laugh.” Whitney just kept looking at me and saying, “Really?” Every time Whitney would tell me to stop, I’d laugh even harder. We had to stop, so I could clean myself up. What a mess! Ah, it felt good to laugh like that.
Lunch
Aimee: We had enough food to feed a small army (Wendy actually has a small army at home, so most of the Divas let her have all the leftovers). We each ordered an entrée and made our meal family style. We tried: chicken with cashews, orange chicken, Alan’s chow mein, chef fried rice, Rice Bowl special beef, lobster Cantonese, walnut shrimp and egg flower soup! It was all so good; everything was seasoned to perfection and was simply a joy to eat. I have to say I have a new favorite: orange chicken. I have eaten orange chicken at just about every Chinese restaurant that I have ever been to, but Rice Bowl makes the best orange chicken I have ever tasted! It is served one of two ways: white breast meat or dark meat (yes, Whitney, he said dark meat … not duck! We will soon be fitting Whitney for a hearing aid). We ordered the breast meat. It is served in large slices of tender
and juicy white meat chicken with no fat to be found! It has a light, crunchy coating and covered with the most unbelievable sauce! It is a must try if you love orange chicken! Lori: As the food arrives to the table, we are all thinking, “Wow, so much food!” My main entrée was Rice Bowl special beef — beef with vegetables stir-fried in a light gravy sauce. And we all wanted to try the orange chicken. Aimee and I decided that was our absolute favorite! We couldn’t stop eating it. Whitney: My husband turned me onto walnut shrimp years ago, and I’ve become a fan ever since. I stand by my testimony that Rice Bowl makes the best walnut shrimp I have ever had. I like my Chinese food either spicy or sweet, which is why I went with the shrimp. Nice medium-sized shrimp with a sauce consisting of a little condensed milk and possibly lemon juice. I couldn’t get our nice server, Beverly, to tell me what the secret in the sauce was. And here came Alan with Alan’s chow mein. Like I have always said, you order what an owner or bartender labels as their signature dish or puts their name on it. You just can’t go wrong, ladies and gentlemen. Loaded with shrimp, chicken, sliced beef and of course, chow mein. It’s a meal in itself. Wendy: The food was just what I was expected. Fabulous! I ordered the lobster Cantonese. It was served with the shells, but no fear, the lobster is so tender, it just falls out of the shell. It has a flavor I can’t even describe. There just isn’t anything I can say other than it’s just plain good! The chef fried rice was Rice Bowl: 1119 18th St., 323-2901 Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
fantastic! Light and fluffy with shrimp and pork.
Round two
Whitney: I’m done, overly stuffed, fat and happy. Alan wants to know if we want to try anything else. I firmly tell him no, we can’t possibly eat anything else until I hear him say something about salt and pepper chicken wings. I ask Aimee, did he say salt and pepper chicken wings? I reason that this is now our dessert and that I feel a moral obligation in testing Alan’s favorite menu items. I love them. I love Alan. I love salt and pepper anything at Rice Bowl. Aimee: Next thing we know we are going on round two ... more food! Alan had the chef whip up a batch of the salt and pepper chicken wings. They were so good, black pepper spicy with green onions and the perfect amount of salt. The girls made fun of me because I got every piece of meat off of the bone! Lori: We left the Rice Bowl very full, and if some person ever left there hungry, that’s their fault.
Monday night special
Whitney: I didn’t know this, but every other Monday, you can watch sports, get a barbecue meal and a drink for $10! For $10 you can hardly drive-through at McDonald’s! You aren’t in business for over 60 years without realizing people like to gather for good food with familiar faces and toss in some sports, equals a good time! I have a friend, Carol Ballard, who told me about this every other Monday night Rice Bowl ritual. I get it now, Carol. It’s a great place to meet up with friends and reconnect!
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HOME & GARDEN
Spring greening As the weather warms, it’s time to get out and bring beauty to your yard
I
By Gabriel Ramirez
f flowers are blooming, people are sneezing and lawn ornaments are appearing, then spring must be right around the corner. While your garden gnome might be the star of your yard, Jere White of White Forest Nursery recommends people focus on weeding, seeding and feeding to give their lawn an organic look that will make it pop this spring. Randy Dirkes of Gardener’s Supply Inc. suggests people use Trophy Blend fertilizer at 10 to 15 pounds per 1,000 square feet as well as testing the pH level of your soil. “Soil pH affects nutrient availability as well as the health and function of soil microorganisms that make a soil healthy,” Dirkes said. “Another thing people should do is work in polymer crystal to help the soil retain moisture.” A common mistake that people make when working on their garden is planting without knowing what or where to plant. “It is much easier to be successful with a plan. Start by draw-
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Bakersfield Life
April 2010
ing your yard on a piece of graph paper. Start with the lawn area. Next, plan where you want to place trees for shade or fruit production. These spaces are limited and get first priority,” White said. “The last placement is the perennials or fillers. These are the most fun and have the largest variety. They also can be replaced in the future as your taste changes.” Once you’ve prepared your garden for the spring, the next step is the design. According to White, the trends in gardening this year have been greatly influenced by the economy and are shifting toward the more organic and fruitful selections. “In these tough economic times, we are seeing a big trend toward edible landscapes. Not only are tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables popular, but fruit trees are now back in fashion,” White said. “The good news is they don’t need to be hidden in the backyard any more and you will have fruit over a two-to-fourmonth period.” Being bold and not being constrained by the belief that there is
one way to landscape are key to designing your yard. “Everyone should consider the motif or style that they like best. Consider the yard to be an extension of the house. If properly designed, the garden can be a true extra room that makes a statement that reflects the owner’s style,” White said. Although many people might be afraid to commit a gardening faux pas, White says that you can’t really go wrong when things are well planned. “It is possible to have beauty with almost any object if placed properly. Even the site of pink flamingos in the evening is always inspiring. The only real no-no is size placement,” White said. “It is necessary to have the taller plants to the back of the viewpoint, the medium-growing ones in the middle and the shorter ones to the front. Don’t hide the most interesting items with tall objects that block the view.” White also recommends flowers like floribunda and miniature roses along with perennials for highlights to provide long-lasting color to make the yard really pop and hardscape, such as rocks and statues, as a great way to add interest to the garden. If you feel overwhelmed by the choices White suggests seeking professional advice from a local nursery. “Proper advice and preparation is the key. There are many ways to make the job easier, allowing you to save time and money,” White said. A nursery has “the experience and products to help you be successful. You will find a selection of materials that will capture your imagination and allow you to have a paradise in your own backyard.”
Transformation tips Buck Whitaker of Buck’s Landscape Materials offers some advice for transitioning your yard from winter to spring: • Remove the winter weeds, turn the soil thoroughly and add pure organic compost to the deepest levels. • Purchase your landscape materials in bulk. The savings are substantial. • Plant lots of spring bulbs in the fall. (Start planning now!) • Use old house furniture as lawn furniture. • Include water features such as ponds, waterfalls and fountains. • Work with plants that are native to the area to conserve water.
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ON THE RED COUCH
Springing into style These local boutique owners are ready to mark the changing of seasons with a wardrobe change.
What is the best thing about doing business in Bakersfield? Shari: The fact that we are still a small town catering to several generations, most of whom we call our friends. And I look forward to carrying on the business with future generations. Josie: Giving back to the city that I was born and raised in. Chris: I would have to say the loyal customers. I developed great friendships with many customers that go way past just shopping. The community watches out for its local small-business owners, and you always feel like you have people in your court.
Chris Ludwig House of Talula
What is your favorite thing about spring in Bakersfield? Shari: Looking forward to the flowers in bloom, the blossoms on the trees and taking walks with my dog. Josie: Our spring is short but sweet. You can feel the energy and excitement of people eager to soak in the good weather before the heat rises. Chris: I love the change of season in my store. Fall and holiday colors tend to be a bit more neutral or dark. When spring shipments arrive, the store really pops with color, and people are excited to mix this color into their wardrobes. After being stuck in jeans and boots all winter (even though we love them), it is always nice to put on a colorful sundress!
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Bakersfield Life
April 2010
Heidi Freeman Sugardaddy’s
Photos by Felix Adamo
Shari Cunningham Sugardaddy’s
What is one must-have fashion item for spring? Shari: Bright, cheerful bohemian-style dresses, tunics and leggings and glitzy sandals. As well as jumpsuits and the timeless trench coat! Josie: Skinny khakis. Chris: I am currently loving a great button-down shirt. Everything from plaid to solid to print, boyfriend to sexy fit, they are all on trend.
Josie Bowman Tangerine
What type of items (clothing, accessories) are most popular in Bakersfield? Shari: Big chunky jewelry and tie-dyed items are already popular among our ladies, as well as chic and sassy denim to go back to your existing wardrobe. Josie: Layering tees and tanks. Chris: Bakersfield customers tend to love a great pair of jeans. Jeans have evolved so much over the years ... They now can be dressed up with heels and a great blouse, or casual with boots or flip-flops. Continued on page 32
www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Continued from page 31
What is your least favorite fashion trend? Shari: The color scheme of beige, brown or tan, as well as low-riding pants. Josie: Bedazzled anything. Chris: I really do not care for the “Little House on the Prairie” look. I remember it from the ’80s, and I did not like it then, and I still do not like it.
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Bakersfield Life
April 2010
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Bakersfield Life
April 2010
Photo by Jessica Frey
A Cal State Bakersfield student walks across campus among the spring blossoms.
CSUB TURNS
40
University has come a long way since opening its doors in September 1970
I
By Lisa Kimble
t is hard to imagine a Bakersfield without Cal State. The school and its community have become as beautifully intertwined as its benefactors — local state legislators Dorothy Donahoe and Walter Stiern — had no doubt envisioned some 40 years ago. At the time, Bakersfield became the 19th college to join the 23-campus California State University system, which today is the largest university system in the country. Largely a commuter school, CSUB has become a well-regarded regional university, fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges with four schools — Humanities and Social Sciences, Business and
Public Administration, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Education. “CSUB is a jewel in the crown of Kern County. Undergraduate and graduate programs, distance learning, the Kegley Institute, amazing sports programs, and a library that keeps on teaching are just a few of the many resources nurturing our community,” said Wendy Wayne, former First 5 director and a member of the university’s hall of fame. In 1961, nine years before Cal State opened its doors, the “California State Colleges” was established as a system after the Donahoe Higher Education Act of 1960, which followed the recommendations of the Master Plan for Continued on page 36 www.BakersfieldLife.com
35
Photo by Henry A. Barrios
The Walter W. Stiern Library under construction in 1993.
Continued from page 35
Higher Education in California. Since the 1950s, there had been increasing demand for a university in the southern San Joaquin Valley. Locations in Delano and neighboring Tulare County had been considered, but a steering committee settled on a 375-acre site in Bakersfield because at the time, it was the largest isolated, metropolitan area in the United States without a four-year university. Their decision was turned into a bill by local state Sen. Walter Stiern, ratified by the Legislature and signed into law by then-Gov. Edmund G. Brown. Under these rules, the school was founded as California State College, Bakersfield in 1965. Fellow legislators Donahoe and Stiern were staunch advocates of public education. They were joined in their quest to bring higher education to Kern County by a communitywide grass-roots effort that paid off, when in September 1970, the campus opened its doors for classes. The California State College system became the California State University system and the school changed to its present name in 1982. “Imagine Bakersfield without being able to grant degrees for 40 years, what would that look like?” said Jorge 36
Bakersfield Life
April 2010
Former CSUB President Tomás Arciniega stands outside the Walter W. Stiern Library in 2001.
Photo by Henry A. Barrios
Haynes, CSU Chancellor’s Office spokesman. “Then you can see what an impact the school has had on the stability and growth as an integral part of the valley. Imagine the incredible brain drain, if not for CSUB.” In 1994, the Walter W. Stiern Library opened and is the largest building on the metropolitan campus. “CSUB provided me with insight into how government works and the processes that are needed to conduct studies and ways to verify thoughts and actions,” said Kern County Deputy Fire Chief Mike Cody, who received both his B.A. and master’s in public administration there. “CSUB enabled me to attain a degree in higher education, while working and living in my hometown.” In four decades, the university has also played host to internationally renowned art exhibits and performers, and seen its Roadrunner athletic programs flourish. Four years ago President Horace Mitchell announced a multimillion-dollar, five-year campaign to transition to a NCAA Division I school. “It is so beneficial to the community to have a university and great resource within our town,” said Bill Rector, CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame member and former Bakersfield police chief.
Photo by Felix Adamo
Current CSUB President Horace Mitchell speaks to students and staff of the university about budget cuts and the state economic situation.
Kern County Deputy Fire Chief Mike Cody received both his B.A. and master’s in public administration at CSUB. Today, at 40, the public institution, with a current enrollment of 8,003 students at its main campus and center in Antelope Valley, finds itself at a crossroads. Tuition, while still a value at $14,000 a year, has risen. Looming budget cuts threaten enrollment, teaching positions and sports programs. “The university is an underutilized local resource that for many local residents is the only four-year program available,” said Jeff Green, Grimmway general counsel and recent Hall of Fame inductee. “With the ordered declines in enrollment, local residents may be prevented from attending our local university, which is a great concern and the reason I’ve volunteered to help out the university to teach classes.” Green has Continued on page 38 www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Continued from page 37
taught a Legal Environment of Business course, donating his adjunct pay to the alumni association. Despite the new economic order, the university marks its 40th anniversary as a major intellectual, social and cultural center for the southern San Joaquin Valley, keeping pace with its hometown that has become one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country.
• Stephen Neal, New England Patriot and NCAA and world champion wrestler • U. S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy • Pauline Larwood, former Kern County supervisor •Bill Rector, former Bakersfield police chief •Eric Matlock, former Bakersfield police chief •Shelly Castaneda, chief deputy, Kern County Sheriff’s Department • Wendy Wayne, former director of First 5 Kern • Greg Bynum, developer • Camille Gavin, journalist and Californian arts columnist • Don Martin, arts advocate
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Bakersfield Life
April 2010
Californian file photo
Distinguished CSUB alumni
The Cal State Bakersfield Marching Band takes part in the Veterans Day parade in 1970.
big moments Bakersfield’s
From the moment Father Garces set foot here to when we set our sights on space, our community has dreamed big and sought success. Take a trip back in time to Bakersfield beginnings, and then see some of what’s in store for our growing city.
A look at the past 1776: On April 26, Franciscan friar Francisco Garces became the first known European to stand on the present site of Bakersfield.
Col. Thomas Baker’s house circa 1870. 40
Bakersfield Life
1863: Col. Thomas Baker and his family arrived at Kern Island to begin reclamation of swampland from which Bakersfield would evolve.
1865: The first large-scale cotton production was attempted by brothers Solomon and Philo Jewett at their Rio Bravo Ranch. Baker
1872: A significant earthquake, the first to be noted by the area’s white settlers, rattled the young town of Bakersfield.
Photo courtesy of the Kern County Museum
1860: Christian Bohna arrived to become the first permanent
settler at what was then called Kern Island, the site of the future city of Bakersfield.
April 2010
opening of Bakersfield (Junior) College. It shared the campus of Kern County Union High School, which was later designated Bakersfield High School.
1920: The highway was paved from Bakersfield to the Grapevine, bringing the total number of paved miles in the county to 302.
1925: The first Kern County Fair was held.
1928: Automatic traffic signals made their debut in Bakersfield on Chester Avenue.
1941: Sam Lynn Ball Park opened, bring-
Californian file photo
The Beale clock tower at 17th and Chester, where it stood for 48 years, until the earthquake in 1952.
opened its doors for the first time.
1872: Col. Baker, stricken with typhoid fever, died Nov. 24
1897: Alfred Harrell, 34, purchased what became known as The Bakersfield Californian.
1874: The people of Bakersfield voted to become an incorporated city. Solomon Jewett Bakersfield displaced Havilah as the county seat.
1876: Plagued by sanitation, financial and leadership problems, Bakersfield voted to unincorporate.
1884: Bakersfield’s first black residents settled on the rural outskirts.
1889: On July 7, fire devastated 15 city blocks of Bakersfield, leaving 1,500 residents without homes.
1893: Kern County Union High School
Photo courtesy of the Kern County Museum
ing the California League and professional baseball to Bakersfield for the first time.
Harrell
1898: Bakersfield incorporated again on Jan. 11, by a vote of 387-197. 1904: Truxton Beale, former U.S. ambassador to Spain, donated the clock tower to the city of Bakersfield in memory of his mother, Mary Edwards Beale.
Quake damage on Chester Avenue.
1952: On the afternoon of Aug. 22, a powerful earthquake hit Bakersfield. The face of the city was changed forever.
1953: Two dams on the Kern River were completed to form Isabella Lake, ending the threat of flooding in Bakersfield. Bakersfield’s first television station, KAFYTV, beamed its signal through the Central Valley.
1956: Bakersfield College opened its hillside campus.
1962: Bakersfield Civic Auditorium
1912: Yen Ming, a leading potato grower
opened.
in Bakersfield, started the first school for Chinese students. Ming Avenue was later named in his honor.
1964-65: The conversion and reloca-
1913: A 13th grade was created with the
tion of Highway 99, now entirely a freeway through Bakersfield, was completed. Continued on page 42 www.BakersfieldLife.com
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2001: UC Merced’s Bakersfield facility opened.
Photo by Henry A. Barrios
2001: Bakersfield native Kevin Harvick
A family walks through the snow on the bluffs along Panorama Drive on Jan. 25, 1999. Continued from page 41
1967: Valley Plaza, the city’s first major indoor shopping center, opened at Highway 99 and Ming Avenue.
1970: Bakersfield’s first four-year education institution, Cal State Bakersfield, opened.
1993: The Bakersfield Business Conference, in its ninth year, brought three former U.S. presidents — Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush — to the same podium. A contingent of national and international media came along to see what all the fuss was about.
1994: The Fox Theater, built in 1930, reopened in Bakersfield to much celebration. A 70th anniversary gala was held Christmas week 2000.
1998: Bakersfield celebrated 100 years
Photo by Jack Knight
as a city (based on its second incorporation). Dirt covers a road sign on Highway 58 after the 1977 dust storm.
1977: A dust storm with winds up to 200
Bakersfield Life
in the National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003 in November, winning the rights to build one of the nation's newest veterans’ cemeteries.
2004: A parent-led movement to remove
2004: Burt Rutan made history when
trak station opened to rave reviews.
downtown Bakersfield, adding to the city's nascent arts district.
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2003: Bakersfield was named as a site
July 4, 2000: Bakersfield’s new Am-
1980: Mary K. Shell, a former news-
year drought ended.
Fresno State quarterback David Carr was selected the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft by the expansion team Houston Texans. He became the highest draft pick from Kern Carr County. Bakersfield natives Joey Porter, of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Brock Marlon, of the Miami Dolphins, were named to the NFL Pro Bowl.
greeted Bakersfield residents on the morning of Jan. 25. It was the biggest snowfall of the century.
2000: The Spotlight Theatre opened in
1993: A devastating, valleywide seven-
2002: Former Stockdale High and
a book from classrooms fell apart after Kern County High School District trustees declined to ban Toni Morrison’s novel “The Bluest Eye.” An East High parent objected to the book's sexual content.
1999: A 3- to 6-inch blanket of snow
mph caused millions of dollars in damage.
paper columnist and political activist, was elected Bakersfield’s first female mayor.
was thrust into the national spotlight when he replaced teammate Dale Earnhardt after the racing legend’s death on the track. Harvick became the first driver to win the Busch Harvick Series title and Winston Cup Rookie of the Year honors in the same season.
2001: Bakersfield Museum of Art opened in its new digs, quadrupling in size after a dramatic $2.6 million redesign.
his SpaceShipOne successfully flew a human to space and back twice, earning his team the $10 million Ansari X Prize.
2004: The McMurtrey Aquatic Center, which cost $6 million, opened in downtown Bakersfield.
2005: Buck Owens unveiled several larger-than-life statues of country mu-
April 2010
In 2010 and beyond … After years of false starts, the Padre Hotel reopens.
Photo by Felix Adamo
Following a four-year hiatus, the Bakersfield Business Conference will return in 2010 with scheduled speakers former Vice President Dick Cheney, former first lady Laura Bush and former presidential candidates Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani.
Mesa Marin Raceway owner Marion Collins at the track a few months before the final races were held there in 2005. sic legends at the Crystal Palace. During the celebration, superstar Garth Brooks proposed on stage to fellow singer Trisha Yearwood.
2005: Mesa Marin racetrack, which opened in 1977, hosted its last race after being sold to a housing developer.
2005: U.S. Rep. Bill Thomas secured $722 million for local transportation projects.
2006: The Bright House Networks Amphitheatre at the Park at River Walk hosted its first concert.
2006: Cal State Bakersfield President Horace Mitchell announced the university would move its athletic program to Division I.
Feb. 27, 2006: The $36 million, 64,800-square-foot William M. Thomas Terminal opened at Meadows Field to help accommodate the swelling local market for air travel.
2007: The City Council elected to replace the signs on Highway 99, featuring a squiggle, with a new design featuring a leaf. Debate ended when Councilwoman Sue Benham’s leaf proposal beat Jacquie Sullivan’s squiggle.
2007: San Joaquin Community Hospital
added 70 beds after dedicating its $72 million, five-story North Tower.
2008: Plans for three new medical facilities were announced: A burn center at San Joaquin Community Hospital, a center providing combat veterans with free counseling and a new cancer center.
2008: Larsen Jensen, formerly of Garces Memorial High, won bronze in the 400-meter freestyle and placed fifth in the 1,500 freestyle at the Olympic Games in Beijing. Taft High Jensen graduate Billy Nelson finished second in the steeplechase in the Olympic Trials and qualified for the Olympics, where he was unable to reach the finals.
2009: Two months after folding a team, Bakersfield businessman Stan Ellis announced that the Bakersfield Jam would return to the NBA Development League, playing in their practice facility, dubbed the Jam Events Center, on Norris Road.
January 2009: Gottschalks, the largest department store in Bakersfield, filed for bankruptcy and closed locations in the Valley Plaza and East Hills malls.
Bakersfield will be one of 16 cities to host a stage for the 2010 Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race featuring riders such as Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer and George Hincapie. Bakersfield will host the finish of the fifth stage, which starts in Visalia on May 20. Nearing completion, Mill Creek will offer (along 1.5 miles of the Kern Island canal): a walking bike path with public art, street furniture, lighting, exercise/ climbing stations, decorative fencing, and landscaping; a new pond at Central Park; and a new pedestrian plaza at the intersection of 17th and R streets. Kern County is at the epicenter of a new push to provide green power, with a flood of proposals to build wind and solar plants here. In as little as two years, plans for a federal courthouse — bolstered by $31 million in federal stimulus money — could come to fruition for the building planned for the east end of Central Park, between 21st and 19th streets, in downtown Bakersfield. After decades of effort, construction is under way on the Westside Parkway, which will ultimately connect Truxtun Avenue west, of Highway 99, to Stockdale Highway, near Heath Road. In other road news, widening is in the works for 7th Standard Road (going from two to four lanes, from Highway 99 west to Santa Fe Lane) and the highly trafficked Highway 46 (four lanes from Highway 99 to the San Luis Obispo County line). Facing its first planning review this summer, Bakersfield Commons could be completed by 2030. Developers promise the project, set for 255 acres at Coffee and Brimhall roads, will be a “lifestyle center” of chic retail stores, state-ofthe-art theaters, single- and multi-family homes, offices, parks and open space constructed in three phases.
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Photo by John Harte
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
The Broadway production of “The Wizard of Oz” is coming to the Rabobank Theater on May 6.
Time for theater Fresh crop of productions heading to venues around town By Gabriel Ramirez
S
hake off the winter doldrums with a show at one of our many local theaters. From musicals like “Rain — A Tribute to The Beatles” and “Rent” to children’s shows and Shakespeare, there are plenty of reasons to turn off the TV and experience live theater this season.
Cal State Bakersfield Doré Theatre 9001 Stockdale Highway, 654-3150 “Merry Wives of Windsor”
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April 2010
May 20-22, 27-29, 30 Follow the adventures of Shakespeare’s delightful scoundrel Sir John Falstaff as he faces two women set to expose his deceitful ways.
Bakersfield Community Theatre 2400 S. Chester Ave., 831-8114 “Deathtrap” April 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 30 and May 1, 2 This ingeniously constructed mystery offers a rare and skillful blending of two priceless theatrical ingredients: thrills and laughter.
“Winnie The Pooh” May 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 Come see Pooh, Christopher Robin, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore and all of your favorites in this classic tale for the whole family. “The 23rd Annual One Acts Festival” June 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 Local up-and-coming playwrights unveil their plays at Bakersfield’s own New Works Festival. “The Surprising Story of the Three Little Pigs” July 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 Three classic fairy tales (The Three Little Pigs, The Three Billy Goats Gruff and Goldilocks and the Three Bears) begin in their usual “once upon a time” fashion, but change on the way to “happily ever after.” “Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical” Aug. 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story about a brilliant doctor whose experiments with human personality create a murderous counterpart, this is an evocative tale of the battle between good and evil.
Spotlight Theatre 1622 19th St., 634-0692 “Rent” Opens April 17 The Pulitzer prize-winning musical follows a year in the lives of seven friends living the bohemian lifestyle in New York’s East Village. “All in the Timing” Opens May 22 An evening of comedies combines wit, intellect, satire and just plain fun with six scenes, directed by six of Bakersfield’s top directors. “A Little Night Music” Opens June 19 One of Broadway’s masterpieces, the romantic and achingly beautiful “A Little Night Music” deals with the universal subject of love, in all its wondrous, humorous and ironic permutations.
The Empty Space 706 Oak St., 327-PLAY “We try to present shows that the other theaters don’t usually. Our shows are a little bit more controversial and darker,” said Thomas G. Robinson, marketing and gallery director. “The Diary of Anne Frank” Through April 11 The compelling stage adaptation of “The Diary of a Young Girl.”
“Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead” April 23-May 8 This absurdist, existentialist tragicomedy expands upon the exploits of two minor characters from “Hamlet”: the courtiers, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
“I Hate Shakespeare” Now through April 3 With zombies, talking cows and an appearance by Jerry Springer, “I Hate Shakespeare” is a hilarious and fast-paced rundown of all things Shakespeare with a modern twist.
“Jukebox Legends” May 21-June 5 A look back into the legends of rock ’n’ roll.
“The Maltese Chicken: A Hemlock Stone Mystery” April 16-May 22 This hilarious new Hemlock Stone mystery follows Hemlock as he tries to sort out truth from fiction, friend from foe, and figure out the story behind the prized Maltese Chicken.
“Six Degrees of Separation” June 18-July 3 The play, inspired by the real-life story of con man David Hampton, explores the existential premise that everyone in the world is connected to everyone else in the world by a chain of no more than six acquaintances. “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” July 16-Aug. 7 The humorous musical about overachievers’ angst chronicles the experiences of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. Major League Improv 6 p.m. Saturdays The Empty Space is home to Major League Improv, which offers a fully improvised, family-friendly, interactive comedy experience every Saturday.
Stars Dinner Theatre 1931 Chester Ave., 325-6100 “This season people can expect new shows never before done in Bakersfield,” said Kathryn High, director of operations. “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” April 9-May 1 This Neil Simon play follows the behind-thescenes antics of Max Prince, the star of a weekly comedy-variety show in the ‘50s, and his staff. “The Full Monty” May 21-June 12 This Americanized adaptation of a 1997 British film has six unemployed Buffalo steel workers presenting a strip act at a local club and overcoming their anxieties.
Gaslight Melodrama Theatre and Music Hall 12748 Jomani Drive, 587-3377 “At the Gaslight we primarily focus on comedy and family entertainment. We are trying to make the best live local entertainment we can,” said Michael Prince, artistic director.
“A Mobfather — A Musical” May 28-June 22 This rip-roaring, musical salute to “The Godfather” chronicles the travails of two of the biggest crime families in America, who go head-to-head to see who will become the next Mobfather.
Rabobank Theater 1001 Truxtun Ave., 852-7777 “Rain — A Tribute to The Beatles” April 16 With nearly 200 Beatle favorites, the multimedia show covers the Fab Four from their very first Ed Sullivan Show appearance through the psychedelic late 60s and their long-haired hippie, hard-rocking rooftop days. “The Wizard of Oz” May 6 Travel down the Yellow Brick Road and beyond with Dorothy, Toto and their friends in this lavish production that’s fun for the whole family.
NOR Junior Theatre 392-2000 “NOR Junior Theatre provides an artistic outlet for children ages 5 to 18. As funding for arts in schools continues to decrease in tough economic times, the NOR Junior Theatre program helps fill a void in the community,” said Vickie Stricklind, program director. “Through participation in theater, children develop social skills, learn to work together as a unit for a common purpose and develop a sense of commitment and accomplishment.” “Aladdin” 7 p.m., May 14, 2 and 7 p.m., May 15 Frontier High School Performing Arts Center, 6401 Allen Road The familiar music and characters are here in this adventure set in a far-off land.
www.BakersfieldLife.com
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PA S T I M E S
On the write track
Robert Hargreaves participates in a Writers of Kern critique during a meeting at Green Frog Market.
Writers’ groups offer fellowship, feedback for local literary community By J. W. Burch, IV Photos by Henry A. Barrios
N
ot everyone thinks in terms of characters, plot outlines and sentence structure, but these are all common thoughts in a writer’s mind. That being said, it can easily be seen how a writer’s mind can be their best friend as well as their worst enemy – offering a blessing (creative output) and a curse (when the words simply won’t come). It is in such times as this that a writer needs to be around other writers, and a couple of local groups are meeting that need. “Writers need other writers,” said Dana Martin, president of Writers of Kern said. “It’s something I like to call ‘writer fellowship.’ That epitomizes what Writers of Kern is about and is the main thing that we offer.” Writers of Kern, a chapter of the nonprofit California Writers Club, meet monthly at the Clarion Hotel on Rosedale Highway.
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During that time, writers, both established and novice, have the opportunity to socialize with others of the same ilk — whether they are in need of support, inspiration or feedback. “We do critiques, hold workshops and host speakers,” Martin said. “We provide information and opportunities for writers as they come up. Pretty much, it is an opportunity to be around people who think like you.” Writers, according to Martin, have something resembling a pack mentality and need to be in the company of others of the same mental framework — so that they know they are not alone in their goals, pursuits and struggles. “If a person has a traditional job, whether they are a nurse or a doctor or a fireman or a secretary, they have no problem with saying that they are one of those positions,” Martin said. “If you ask a writer the same question, it is sometimes very uncomfortable for a
During a recent meeting of Writers of Kern at Green Frog Market, members go around the tables giving constructive criticism of a piece written by one of the members. Taking part in the critique are, clockwise bottom left, Dana Martin, Robert Hargreaves, Terry Redman, Joan Kerr, Bobby Scrivner, Robert Anderson and David Luter. writer to admit that they are a writer.” “Writing seems to be unfashionable in this town,” said Nick Belardes, host of the Random Writers Workshop, said. “Even with the counterculture getting more mainstream locally — art is pretty cool here now, the music scene kind of comes and goes, but it is very uncool to be a novelist in Bakersfield. “We want to help grow a literary community in Bakersfield,” Belardes continued. “Bakersfield needs it, and it needs tons of help.” The Random Writers Workshop, which has been meeting at Russo’s Books at The Marketplace every Wednesday for the past three months, takes a more classroom approach. Those who attend the workshop will be given a lecture on various facets of the writing profession, from dialogue and style to marketing and publishing, followed by discussion and exercises. Prior to all of this, there is an hour in which anyone attending can work on his or her project. “We help each other,” Belardes said. “Something one of the attendees may say can be more beneficial than anything I say. It’s a support group for writers, and that includes me.” Help and support are the main things writing groups offer, as many writers don’t necessarily get the support and assistance that they need at home. “Writers are very misunderstood in their own homes,” Martin said. “Because it takes so much of a writer’s focus to create. Sometimes family, spouses and co-workers don’t get it and feel neglected, so they may not be as supportive. “Writing is very personal. Writers are putting themselves out there with their works,” Martin continued. “I think that is why people are 1) hesitant to admit they are a writer and 2) why they need to gather amongst their people.”
Writers of Kern Meets 9:45 a.m. to noon on the third Saturday of every month Clarion Hotel, 3540 Rosedale Highway Meeting cost: $10
Random Writers Workshop Meets from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Wednesday (writing hour from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.) Russo’s Books, 9000 Ming Ave. Suite #14 Meeting cost: $8
www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Photo by Henry A. Barrios
H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S
Kari Sturgeon, left, sales associate for CBRE and Fred Wilkerson, vice president of office properties for CBRE, walk through the fitness room in the basement of the Stockdale Tower building. The wellequipped fitness room is open to the tenants of the building.
Becoming fiscally fit Employers target health costs with employee wellness programs By Sean Kenny
W
hen reviewing your benefits package with your new employer, the list of benefits may go something like this: health insurance, dental, on-site health screenings, 401(k) … Wait, on-site health screenings? Yes, and free to you. More Bakersfield employers and their employees are reaping the benefits of worksite wellness and health promotion programs. Worksite health promotion is, according to The American Journal of Health Promotion, “the science and art of helping people change their lifestyle to move toward a state of optimal health.” It is a well-designed program that facilitates a lifestyle change through a combination of efforts to enhance awareness, change behavior and create environments that support good health practices. With health care costs continuing to rise and employers bearing much of the burden, containment of these costs has been a prime focus. In 2006, The San Francisco Chronicle reported that, nationally,
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medical costs are rising about three times as fast as wages. Worksite wellness programs have been increasingly successful in curbing the cost burden to employers. Once considered just a fad, these programs have a proven track record of success. In fact, more than 86 percent of companies with 50 or more employees have some type of wellness program in place.
The benefits aren’t just financial While saving on the bottom line is important for any company, the benefits of such wellness programs extend far beyond the fiscal. Studies have demonstrated that employees involved in fitness programs have higher morale. The feeling that their employer truly cares for them by providing such programs increases employee job satisfaction. Bakersfield company ELCO Inc. has been very successful in offering onsite employee wellness services such as health screenings and classes. “ELCO has always recognized that a healthy work force
is a productive and safe work force,” said ELCO Facility Manager Greg Dufresne. Dufresne adds, “Benefits for many of our employees have been weight loss, blood pressure reductions, blood sugar control and the behavioral changes that bring the enhanced good feeling about oneself that healthy living brings.”
Programs can grow as need grows Generally, the most successful approach is to implement wellness programs in “upgradeable modules.” As the needs increase, program components can be added and customized for the population. For example, one company may simply start with a monthly newsletter, distributed through interoffice mail or e-mail. Every month, topics such as ergonomics, healthy recipes, interesting health facts and more can be highlighted. Increasing health awareness in a nonthreatening manner can lead to the next level of components: on-site classes. Classes on such topics as nutrition, fitness, back care, stress management, cholesterol and more can be offered at work. One of the most successful class components is “brown bag” sessions, in which employees bring their lunch to an onsite, lunchtime meeting. This makes for a more relaxed, thus more effective, learning environment. Finally, to demonstrate program effectiveness and health impact, add the pinnacle of personalized wellness services: the health screening. Such screenings can allow employees to have their blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, height, weight, body composition and even fitness evaluated on-site. This baseline data can be collected and used for future tracking to ensure your employees are achieving better health and wellness. It is vital to keep information confidential and simply use aggregate data to show trends over a period of time, not individual results.
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Plan today for benefits tomorrow There is little doubt that worksite wellness works. Though Bakersfield hosts large companies such a Chevron, Occidental and State Farm, companies don’t have to be massive to offer such programs. In fact, regardless of size, most companies cannot afford to be without such a program. While programs may seem large and cumbersome, one can start slowly: circulate that simple newsletter or host a local health professional for a “lunch and learn” event. When designing a program, get buy-in from the employees and survey their needs. Then work on realistic solutions together. With a little planning and research, you’ll soon discover that worksite wellness truly does make “cents.”
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GUYS ON THE GREEN
Sunnier outlook With spring in full swing, local brokers look on the bright side of the market
Q
What is your favorite thing about Bakersfield in the spring?
Scott: The weather. Ken: Green grass, cool days with warm sunshine, blue skies filled with fluffy clouds; anxious, silly, smiling kids awaiting summer break; the Easter celebration; Little League, soccer, longer days, wildflowers on the hillsides, weekend adventures … it’s like an awakening for the entire community. This is when it really feels like a new year. It’s the best time of year! John: Well this year it’s going to be the Amgen Tour of California’s visit to Bakersfield in May. Our spring weather affords us the luxury of courting a variety of special events to our community that people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy. In my opinion, it’s the most pleasant time of year locally. Bill: My favorite thing about the spring is being able to see the mountains after a fresh rain, or going for a bike ride on the Kern River Parkway! We are very fortunate to live here in Bakersfield. This is a great town, and the people are great too!
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John Garone
Coldwell Banker Preferred, Realtors
Bill Redmond RE/MAX Magic
Photos by Michael Duffy Summit Photography
Q
What are your goals concerning the local home market?
Scott: It is important to follow the trends of the market. For the past couple of years, the foreclosure market was dominant; now it is short sales. We are making sure our agents are up to speed on the latest trends and requirements for the handling of short sales. Ken: We are poised to capture a strong percentage of the REO (foreclosure) inventory, considering the large number of lenders that we represent, as well as the traditional sellers and buyers who are taking advantage of the opportunities that DO exist in the current market (affordability, historically low interest rates, investment opportunities and alternative-energy development acreage). John: I think we are all hoping for the continued absorption and release of foreclosure or distressed properties, so that our road to recovery and a general stabilization of home values can be realized. A part of this recovery will involve an additional extension of the homebuyer tax credit, increased to affect those that suffer in the medium to high-end price ranges.
Ken Carter Watson Touchstone ERA
Scott Tobias Prudential Tobias, Realtors
Bill: As a broker, you’re constantly trying to analyze the market and project what is going to happen. This is a tough task, due to the fact I don’t have a crystal ball. I believe my main goal for this year is to keep my agents educated and motivated. This way they will be able to give great customer service and thrive in this challenging market. Continued on page 52 www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Q
Continued from page 51
What separates you from the competition?
Scott: When I decided to open our company, I spent quite a lot of time studying successful companies that I admired. There was a common thread and that was they had core principles that guided their business. Most common was doing what they did exceptionally well (better than the competition) and taking care of their people. Those are the principles we have built Prudential Tobias, Realtors on. Ken: Since 1943, Watson has been the industry standard for local real estate sales and marketing. Our merger with the Touchstone Realty Group in ’07 only served to advance that cause. At the end of the day, it’s the caliber of our sales team. We are blessed with some of the very best that our industry has to offer — experienced, reliable, trustworthy … just great, great people. Add to that an exceptional staff who provide the support and service to our associates as well as our clientele. It’s the best of both worlds. John: That’s easy, our agents. Their professionalism, dedication and devotion to their business have enabled us to maintain our position as the leader in residential home sales. We work very hard and understand the value in keeping our agents informed, trained and ready for changing real estate cycles. The real estate industry is no different than any other industry or business where a company’s success is primarily based on the professionalism and success of its agents, employees and partners. Bill: I believe that the No. 1 thing that separates us from our competition is our ability to think proactive instead of reactive. You have to think a little outside the box, due to the fact Bakersfield has never experienced a market quite like this one. Buyers and sellers want agents that are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to get their home sold or purchased. As the general sales manager of RE/MAX Magic, I’m constantly looking at different ways to give our agents an edge over the competition. We
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Scott Tobias April 2010
use all facets of marketing to help us achieve this goal, whether it is newspaper, radio, TV, Internet and, yes, even Facebook and YouTube. You’ve got to be diverse in this market.
Q
What does the average Bakersfield homebuyer look like now?
Scott: We are working with a lot of first-time homebuyers who are taking advantage of the $8,000 tax credit as well as the favorable prices and interest rates. In addition, there are many move-up buyers eligible for the $6,500 credit, who realize that even if they must sell their home for less that they want, they can make up for it in the purchase of another home at the betterthan-before prices. Ken: A number of our current buyers are first-time buyers taking advantage of the homebuyers tax credit. Young, enthusiastic individuals looking to start their home and families together. This has also been a great market for investors looking to turn around REO properties. There’s a restorative value, which actually benefits our community by converting neglected properties into new dreams for individuals and families. John: While this current real estate cycle has negatively impacted many of us, there are others that have now been afforded the opportunity to be a homeowner for the first time in their lives. Additionally, many who have always wanted investment properties are now seeing multi-family properties being priced where they are actually within reach. Ask me about 10 to 15 years from now, and I think you are going to see a lot of “winners” that have come out of the worst economic period since the ’30s. Bill: The average homebuyer is very educated in today’s market. They have already seen the property on the Internet, and quite possibly driven by it. You’ve got to be on your game, otherwise they’re going to find someone who is, and that can cost you money.
John Garone
Bill Redmond
Photo by Jessica Frey
COMMUNITY
A student in Ms. Pam Manning’s second-grade class solves a problem on a Smartboard as his classmates look on.
A century of caring St. Francis School celebrates 100 years of Catholic education, community service By Lisa Kimble
O
ne hundred years ago, Bakersfield as an incorporated city was just 11 years old, but already merging with Kern City. The average worker made a mere 22 cents an hour, and a trip to the corner store for a dozen eggs cost you 14 cents. Life was bustling, thanks to the promise of oil. The Standard School District had been formed with land donated by Standard Oil Company, and a couple of locals — brothers James and George Dewar — had just opened The Chocolate Shop downtown. A few blocks away, a small Catholic elementary school under the watchful eye of a newly formed group of nuns was planting its
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own roots. Today that little school, St. Francis Parish School, is the largest elementary school in the Fresno Diocese, and it joins the ranks of Bakersfield’s elite — beloved local institutions that have reached the century mark. Last fall, St. Francis School kicked off its 100th year with a celebratory Mass on the eve of the start of classes. “This school was built by families of faith that generations later still walk our campus grounds,” said Reverend Monsignor Craig F. Harrison, V.F., St. Francis pastor and former student. “It is truly a joy to be pastor of this great institution, where I too received my religious formation.” The Sisters of Mercy, celebrating their own centennial this
Californian file photo Photo by Jessica Frey
The St. Francis Elementary School band in 1939.
The playground area renovation was a three-year project completed in September. year, founded the school, located then on Truxtun Avenue, between H and Eye streets. They came in 1909 to teach at the invitation of the pastor of St. Francis. “I was driven to that big, two-story building on Truxtun on the block west of St. Francis Church, and enrolled in 1927,” recalls 86-year-old Bakersfield resident Eugene Cassady, one of the oldest living graduates. “The school had an alley on the north side, leaving an even ‘half-block’ for the school, the convent on the east side and a large playground.” Thirty years later, a year of high school was added, making St. Francis a combo elementary and high school. In 1943, the Dominican Sisters of Tacoma, Wash., took over the school’s operations. Four years after that, when Garces Memorial opened its doors, St. Francis’ high school-age students transferred and the two institutions’ feeder-school relationship began. “The teachers were all nuns of the order of Sisters of Mercy,” said Cassady, who graduated in 1936. “Sister Mary Basil was the eighth-grade teacher and principal. For our graduation, she gave a rosary packet to my best friend, Frank Franey, and me. I still keep that little leather case with the rosary in it and say a prayer once in awhile for both Sister Mary, and Frank, who lost his life in World War II.” In 1951, the school moved from Truxtun to its present-day
location at the corner of Palm and Pine streets and into a new 11classroom building. There was also a cafeteria and ample room for growth of its kindergarten through eighth grade program. Since then, classrooms and structures have been added and existing facilities have been upgraded. Today, St. Francis School’s enrollment hovers near 600, according to Principal Cynthia Meek, who has presided over the school’s dramatic physical and technological transformations in recent years. “In our library we have two of the original desks from the school on Truxtun,” said Meek, who last year received the National Catholic Education Association’s Western States Distinguished Principal Award. “As I look at those desks with their ink wells and imagine students sitting there with their slates and chalk, learning from the dedicated sisters, and then I look at our classrooms today, I am amazed at how far we have come in 100 years.” The blackboards have been replaced by electronic Smartboards, where books can be electronically transmitted to the computer. Information is now instantaneous. “Computers are wireless, rather than housed in a huge basement. Even our preschool students are computerfriendly.” At the core of the school’s foundation, some say, is a sense of unwavering tradition. Today, third- and fourth-generation students attend the very school their parents and grandparents did. “I remember St. Francis Parish School the 30 kids in my class distinguished alumni that I saw every day for eight years,” said Marcie • Monsignor Craig Harrison Antongiovanni Soper, • Colette Humphrey, Kern County who is chairing the Superior Court judge school’s centennial cel• Michael Bush, Kern County Supeebration. “We continued rior Court judge onto Garces with most • John Fanucchi, Garces Memorial and a lot of us returned High School president to St. Francis as parents with our children now • Eugene Cassady, certified public accountant enrolled here.” The fact that St. Francis School has not only survived, but thrived during uncertain economic times when other parochial institutions were closing their doors is testament to its commitment to the viability of Catholic education and community service. Over the years, St. Francis School has raised thousands of dollars in support of the needy and causes locally and around the globe. “With all the advances in our education, we still hold true to the values of the Sisters of Mercy, education and serving the poor and the sick,” Meek said. “Our students are trained to value education and provide community service and help those that are less fortunate than themselves.” The school’s yearlong celebration will conclude with a dinnerdance April 24 at the school. Tickets are $25 and advance purchase is required. The following day, Bishop Steinbock will celebrate a Mass at the school. “Our school is blessed with the rich tradition of our Catholic faith,” Monsignor Harrison added. “We owe a debt of gratitude to all of our priests, deacons, religious and laity who served here, as well as the benefactors who sacrificed to make this institution what it is today.” For more information, visit www.sfs100yr.com or call 3267955. www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Photo by Henry A. Barrios
P E R S O N A L I T Y
In 21 years, Greg Williamson has worked, supervised or managed within every division of the Bakersfield Police Department.
Chief protector Bakersfield’s new police chief stands tall in the law enforcement spotlight By Dana Martin
G
reg Williamson is a dichotomy. At 6-foot-4 and built like a stone fortress, he looks like a professional athlete more than Bakersfield’s unpretentious, soft-spoken new police chief. He loves football, has played and coached, but today when he wears a uniform, he dons a badge instead of a helmet; instead of a ball, he carries the responsibility of an entire city’s safety. In January, Williamson, 45, became Bakersfield’s 18th police chief, following in familiar footsteps. Williamson’s father is retired chief probation officer Bill Williamson, from whom Chief Williamson says he learned his dedication to public service, his family and football. “I grew up playing football and baseball, and he was my coach 56
Bakersfield Life
April 2010
all the way through Little League. Then I went to high school at North, and then went to San Diego State and got to play as a tackle,” said Williamson. ”My family supported me the whole way. What I’ve taken from them is the building of my character and how I work and operate. I see a lot of that as a reflection of what I was taught at a young age, especially in those formidable high school years. I think (their support) carried into this job and has helped me with my success in moving to this position.” Moving to the position of Bakersfield’s top cop was a thoughtful and determined path that took years of determination aided by Williams’ spirit of competition. “When you set goals and you’re a competitive person, if you
don’t reach them you’re going to get back up able and have the capability to work in a posiand try again. You keep trying until you realtion, and I think I could do it well, then I always ize something is outside your capability.” tried to move to that position.” While playing offensive tackle for the San Now that he’s met this personal goal, WilDiego Chargers seemed outside his capability liamson has outlined new goals for his depart(Williamson was a free agent before returnment. Amid the challenges of an uncertain ing to Bakersfield to finish college at CSUB statewide budget, Williamson’s main goal is in 1988), he was determined not to allow the officer safety and to reduce violent crimes same thing to happen off the field when he against people and property. Implementing new tested with (and was eventually hired by) the technology will help. Bakersfield Police Department. “During tough budget times, you don’t have While Williamson had no guarantee that the human resources that we’re accustomed to, he would be chief someday, it was a goal for so we have to work smarter, and through techwhich he prepared and educated himself, nology we have the capability to do that if we learning as much as he could at every level use it in the right way.” of the organization to make that promotion a Williamson also expresses his goal to conpossibility. tinue working with faith-based and nonprofit Greg Williamson as a BPD In 21 years wearing the uniform, Williamorganizations, gaining the community’s help rookie in 1989. son has worked, supervised or managed within in identifying problem areas. Further, he plans to every division of the department. “I’m more proficient in some areas keep serving the North Bakersfield Rotary Club, where he follows than others and maybe deficient in some areas — and I’ve been the example of his father and grandfather. working on improving my knowledge in those areas,” he said openly. At home, Williamson’s mission is to carry on the supportive Not realizing that his work ethic was already turning heads in family tradition he treasured growing up. He and wife of 19 years, 2005, it surprised him when then-Chief Bill Rector approached Aimee, attend athletic events for son Beau, 17, and daughter Bryn, him in the training center to learn if chief was a position he would 15, while both juggle busy careers. ever consider. How does a busy dad-coach-police chief connect with his kids? “I was taken aback at first,” recalled Williamson with a wide “I’m not going to sit down and play video games, I can guarsmile. “The goal became more realistic to me when (Chief Rector) antee you that!” he laughed. “But I did learn to text. I’m venturing came and discussed it, but I always had a goal that as long as I’m out a little bit trying to connect with the youth.”
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TRIP PLANNER
Photo by Gene Strim
A good example of the repeated use of the same rock for what Gene Stirm believes to be a form of prayer. A shaman prays for rain, maybe for days, with trances and other ceremonies, then pecks out a bighorn sheep as a symbol of his offering. Years later, another shaman does the same and adds another sheep, etc. Source: Gene Stirm, Doctor of Divinity, Shaman Studies and three years as a Coso escort/tour guide
A rockin’ good trip A look back in time with ancient rock art is only a few hours away By Chelley Kitzmiller
H
ave you ever wanted to step back in time? I mean way back, say 16,000 years ago? No, you don’t need H.G. Wells’ time machine. Just hop in your car, grab your walking stick, your sense of adventure and visit any one of three rock art locations within a few hours’ drive from Bakersfield. What is rock art? David Whitley, a Kern County resident and one of North America’s foremost experts on prehistoric art and the people who created it, says, “The two most common kinds of rock art are pictographs, or rock paintings, and petroglyphs, or rock engravings. Pictographs were created with paints made by mixing ground mineral earths (like ocher or kaolin) or charcoal with a liquid, such as animal blood or water. These paints were applied with the fingers or with a brush made from the tip of a tail of a
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April 2010
small animal. Petroglyphs were made with a stone cobble, using this hammer through the dark coating of rock varnish on the outside of the rock, to create a design in the lighter heart rock exposed below.” When you see rock art, you have to wonder about the people who created it and what they were trying to say through their symbols. For years it was thought the engravings and drawings were made by ancient Celtic and Libyan mariners or even extraterrestrials, but in fact, the artists were American Indians. The symbols often depict rain, a human shooting an arrow at a big horn sheep, a feather, various geometric designs, etc. Whitley says they are metaphoric symbols and generally have nothing to do with what seems like the obvious translation. Archaeologists didn’t pay much attention to rock art until the
Photo by Chelley Kitzmiller
“Sheep are closely related to rain in the shamanistic belief," according to Gene Stirm. "There are hundreds of pecked sheep similar to these in the canyon, leading to the belief that the canyon was a place for rainmaking, much needed in this area.” 1980s. Now, it is widely studied and many of the sites have become attractions that draw tourists, history buffs and photographers. One of the largest and most exciting rock art sites in North America, perhaps the world, is Little Petroglyph Canyon, considered to be a national treasure. Located on Wild Horse Mesa in the Coso Mountain Range (China Lake), this spectacular concentration of petroglyphs was made by Numic-speaking Shoshone, Northern and Southern Paiute, and the Kawaiisu peoples. “Numic shamans traveled from at least as far away as Utah to conduct vision quests in the Cosos. Their petroglyphs are dominated by depictions of bighorn and mountain sheep, the special spirit helpers of rain shamans,” says Whitley. Chronometric dating suggests some of the etchings may be 19,000 years old, while others appear to be 1,000 to 1,500 years old. To the shamans, the Cosos were a place of great power — a place where they could acquire the power to control weather. Little Petroglyph Canyon is accessible only by escorted tours booked through Maturango Museum in Ridgecrest. It’s a good 45minute drive from the museum but once you reach the site, it’s just a short walk to the canyon entrance. There are bathrooms, drinking water and picnic tables near the parking lot.
Closer to Bakersfield, at the eastern edge of Tehachapi in Sand Canyon, is the Tomo-Kahni (meaning “village”) State Historic Park. Here, the rock art features pictographs, painted within the last few hundred years by the Kawaiisu. The paintings are on the walls and ceiling of a cavelike dwelling that the Kawaiisu refer to as “Teddy Bear Cave.” Whitley says a grizzly bear “is said to live in a crack in the rock at the site and is believed to emerge from the crack to frighten away visitors who approach the site without proper respect.” Though a small site with fewer than a dozen paintings, it is still very much worth the effort. It is also only accessible by escorted tours booked through Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park. The walking tour is moderately strenuous and takes between two to three hours to complete. Fifty miles west of Bakersfield, via Highway 58, between McKittrick and Atascadero off Soda Lake Road, are the Carrizo Painted Rock Pictographs. At one time this was the most spectacular pictograph site in North America. Sadly, the paintings were vandalized and degraded many years ago but recent conservation efforts have improved them. Whitley recommends you visit this site after visiting other sites to fully appreciate the detail still evident. Painted Rock is a smooth horseshoe-shaped marine, sandstone rock formation that sits on the floor of the Carrizo Plain. The paintings were created by yet another tribe, the Chumash. From the parking lot, Painted Rock is a quick quarter-mile walk on a developed path. From March 1 to July 15, the site can only be accessed by guided tour; the remainder of the year it is Continued on page 60
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59
If you go
Photo by Chelley Kitzmiller
Little Petroglyph Canyon Call Maturango Museum in Ridgecrest for tour dates and fee information. Spring reservations fill up quickly. 619-375-6900 or maturango.org Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park Call 822-3720 for tour dates and fees. Painted Rock Visit: http://blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bakersfield/ Programs/carrizo/goodwin.html for detailed driving directions and hours of the Goodwin Education Center, where tours can be booked.
Books
“These figures have been etched 75 feet up the west-facing wall of the cliff. The color black represents the west on the medicine wheel, meaning death and the spirit world. Shaman, in trance, journeyed to the spirit world to seek help in healing rituals, rainmaking and finding food or good hunting grounds.” Source: Gene Stirm
“A Guide to Rock Art Sites, Southern California and Southern Nevada,” by David S. Whitley, available at Books & Crannies in Tehachapi. “Following the Shaman’s Path, A Walking Guide to Little Petroglyph Canyon Coso Range, California,” by David S. Whitley, available at Maturango Museum in Ridgecrest.
Continued from page 59
“Cave Paintings & the Human Spirit,” by David S. Whitley, available at Books & Crannies in Tehachapi.
open to the public, weather and road conditions permitting. Whichever site you visit, you can’t help but be in awe. The sheer age of these rock art symbols is staggering. And if you’re very quiet you just might hear a lone shaman chanting to the great spirit as he etches his vision into the rock for future time travelers to ponder.
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Bakersfield Life
April 2010
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W H Y I L I V E H E R E
Photo by Felix Adamo
The Ross family
Joe and Tanisha Ross live on Princeton Avenue in a neighborhood close to Bakersfield College.
There’s so much to love about our town. From Rio Bravo to Rosedale, each neighborhood has its supporters. This month, Bakersfield Life asks Joe and Tanisha Ross what makes their northeast neighborhood special. Has lived in near Bakersfield College for: Have lived in northeast Bakersfield for 5 ½ years Three words to describe your neighborhood: Friendly, quiet and pleasant Best memory in your neighborhood: The best memory is one of our first 4th of July gatherings, when we all (the neighbors) sat outside and got to know each other while we watched the fireworks show. Favorite neighborhood activity: Our favorite activity is running on the bluffs. 62
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April 2010
What attracted you to the neighborhood: The wonderful northeast breeze and the lack of traffic attracted us. Best thing about your neighborhood: The neighbors and the area are the best things about our neighborhood. What you like most about your neighbors: Our neighbors were, and still are, very friendly and welcoming. What you would change: The only thing we would change would be to have our alleys paved. Why someone should move to your neighborhood: Someone should join our neighborhood because it’s a quiet, friendly neighborhood with less traffic than other areas and it’s close to the bluffs.
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PRODUCTS AROUND TOWN
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Antonette and Diane started out making Aunt Mae’s fine handmade English toffee for close family and friends. Once their friends tried it they were hooked. The special combination of ingredients and the cooking process results in a rich candy that is mouthwatering, delectable and crunchy. This delicious English toffee can be found at Luigi’s, Flourishing Art and Sweet Surrender in Bakersfield. Open from October to May. Call (661) 725-5200 or visit www. auntmaessweettooth.com for direct orders, other locations and information. Gorgeous gift boxes are available in various sizes.
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Bakersfield Life
April 2010
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It’s official. Diesel has made a comeback and Audi TDI clean diesel is the reason why. The proof is in the super efficient engine. 42mpg hwy for the Audi 3A TDI and 25mpg hwy for the Audi Q7 TDI to be exact*. Combine that with powerful, off-the-line low-end torque and 20% fewer emissions than gasoline engines and you have the complete diesel package. **Not surprising, the Audi 3A TDI has also been named “Green Car Journal’s 2010 Green Car of the Year.®”† Test-drive an Audi TDI clean diesel today at a dealer near you. audiusa.com/tdi
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Living Green
SPRING 2010
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Bakersfield’s biggest Green Expo coming Be proactive and ‘precycle’ Learn the many reasons to go solar Bakersfield Life 2010 Living Green
Living Green
Contents 4 Green Expo
Education, celebration focus of first-of-its-kind event in Bakersfield.
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Get family recycling
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14 Save with solar
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16 Green vehicles
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Living Green
Last year’s Arvin Green Arts Festival serves as the blueprint for the 2010 Greater Bakersfield Green Expo.
Go green at expo Education, celebration focus of first-of-its-kind event in Bakersfield By Lisa Kimble Organizers of the upcoming 2010 Greater Bakersfield Green Expo are cutting to the chase, knowing that a greener tomorrow hinges on educating today’s youth. This year’s event, billed as the largest “green” event in Kern County, is a double-feature — a celebration of green arts and sciences, and a concerted effort to heighten the community’s awareness through education on the value and importance of recycling and renewable energy. The green expo, the first of its kind to be held in Bakersfield, will take place Saturday, April 17 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Yokuts Park. The prototype was last year’s Arvin Green Arts Festival, where the response was measured using just one city, one high
Bakersfield Life 2010 Living Green
school and 100 students, according to expo chairman Ray Scott, who says the Arvin event was the first-ever recycled material arts student show in the state. The response was overwhelming, and city and county leaders challenged Scott to assemble a similar event for Bakersfield. “This event benefits student education in green arts and sciences and educates the public,” Scott said. “By educating at the student level that recycling should be a lifestyle, we are talking to our future residents and influencing families in a collaborative public way.” The result is affecting daily changes toward a cleaner, greener environment.
Part of the focus of the Green Expo will be on student education in green arts and sciences. This year the competition was open to students from all area high schools, who were invited to submit art pieces using recycled materials and science papers on the topics of recycling and renewable energy. The innovative submissions for Arvin’s festival last year ranged from wearable fashions to yard art, some making bold statements in the process. Those submitting science papers are directed to integrate practical ideas into
N EX P O 20
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greater bakersfield
green expo at yokuts park
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april 17, 2010
saturday
Photo by Casey Christie
David Nigel Lloyd walks through the 2009 Arvin Green Arts Festival.
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This event is in partnership with the Mayor’s Great American Clean Up.
Continued on page 6
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daily living. Twenty scholarships totaling $12,500 will be given out thanks to money raised through vendor sponsorships. The public education facet of the expo — underwritten by the city of Bakersfield, Kern County Waste & Recycling, Keep Bakersfield Beautiful, Kern Refuse and Kern County Waste Management — is taking aim at youth and families in the go green movement. Forty vendors representing all areas of recycling and renewable energy from throughout the county will be on hand, showcasing the latest eco-friendly products. Representatives with the national and California “Keep America Beautiful” organizations will also be on hand. Although green expositions have been staged in smaller and larger cities across the country, organizers say Bakersfield’s Green Expo is being eyed as a model of a perfect collaboration between commercial, governmental and nonprofits in the promotion and public education of the benefits of going green, according to Scott. Local service organizations will also be taking part, something Scott sees as an added benefit in being able to influence the youth in attendance about the role community service plays in their lives. The expo is being sponsored in conjunction with the Great American Cleanup. An estimated 15,000 volunteers are expected to fan out citywide and pitch in, roll up their sleeves and spruce up Bakersfield on April 17. The ninth annual cleanup will target graffiti, illegal dumpsites, neighborhoods and litter in an effort to beautify Bakersfield. For more info on the Greater Bakersfield Green Expo, visit gbgreenexpo.org or keepbakersfieldbeautiful.us.
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Living Green
Get your family recycling State Point Each water bottle you recycle might not seem like much, but don’t undervalue your efforts. Those bottles you drop in the recycling bin can be made into dozens of useful items, from new bottles to T-shirts, carpeting and even automotive parts. Recycling can help save energy, money and land space, create new green jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By getting your whole family involved in the process, it can also be a fun way to do more to protect the environment. And it’s easier than you think. A national survey sponsored by Plastics Make it Possible,
Bakersfield Life 2010 Living Green
an initiative of the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council, found that nearly 70 percent of households make an effort to recycle. Interestingly, of those homes that make recycling a priority, more than two out of three rely on the women of the house to serve as “recycling enforcers.” What better time than now for moms — and dads — to get their families recycling? “It’s encouraging that a majority of Americans are making an effort to recycle at home, but our goal is to get everyone recycling,” said Steve Russell, vice president of plastics for the American Chemistry Council. “Many plastics can be eas-
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support local • shop green ily recycled and given a second life as carpet, clothing, furniture, backyard decks, new bottles and bags, and other products we use every day.” Here are some helpful recycling tips:
Do your homework Find out what is accepted for recycling in your area. Though recycling varies nationwide, most community programs collect plastic bottles and many large grocery chains offer bins for recycling used plastic bags and product wraps. Web sites like earth911.com allow you to enter your ZIP code to locate recycling centers closest to you.
Check the neck For recycling purposes, a bottle is any container with a neck or opening smaller than its base. Be sure to put these items in your recycling bin: milk jugs and beverage bottles; bottles from shampoo, toiletries, laundry detergent and other household cleaners; bottles from salad dressing, cooking oil and condiments; and don’t forget to include jars from things like peanut butter and mayonnaise. Continued on page 10
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Living Green Continued from page 9
Bring empties back to the bin Many bottles and bags are used on the go, so remember to bring them back to where you can recycle them. When you’re out and about, store empties in a backpack or briefcase, or leave them in the car.
Store bags in a bag Many large grocery stores offer collection bins so you can bring back used bags and product wraps. These programs allow you to recycle plastic shopping bags, newspaper bags, dry cleaning bags, and bread bags (with crumbs shaken out). Even plastic wraps from paper towels, bathroom tissue, napkins, diapers and cases of soda qualify. For neat, convenient storage, place bags and wraps in a used shopping bag until your next trip to the store. Visit plasticbagrecycling.org for more information.
Reuse! There are many ways to reuse things we often toss out. Used bags can become wet umbrella covers, suitcase savers for shoes, hand protectors when handling home messes, wastebasket liners and more. Get creative with your bags and containers! For more recycling tips, visit plasticsmakeitpossible.com.
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Bakersfield Life 2010 Living Green
Bakersfield College
Saturday, April 24, 2010 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bakersfield College Environmental Horticulture Arboretum FREE ADMISSION Earth Day, Gardening, Pet & Cooking Seminars, Landscape & Nursery Industry Booths, Arts & Crafts Fair, Gardening Club Plant Sales, Farmer’s Market, Car Show, Bakersfield College Culinary Arts Food, Recreation, and More! ���������������������
Bakersfield Life 2010 Living Green 11
Living Green
Even if hosting a backyard barbecue, serving food on a reusable plate as opposed to throwaway paper plates can pay big dividends for the environment.
Be proactive when it comes to environment Metro Creative Services Perhaps no issue has garnered more headlines in the 21st century than the environment. While there are several reactionary things people can do to help their environment, there are also pre-emptive actions concerned citizens can take to lessen their carbon footprint. Such actions are know as “precycling,” which allow us to reduce the amount of resources needed to manufacture goods. The following ways are some of the more effective means to precycling, and won’t take much effort at all while still paying big dividends. Reduce reliance on packaging. Excess packaging produces significant and often unnecessary waste. When gifting, in lieu of wrapping paper, employ a reusable gift bag. If shopping, if two products are similar in quality, consider the packagaing before making a purchase. If one has excess packaging, send an indirect message to manufacturers and avoid that one. Believe it or not, 12
Bakersfield Life 2010 Living Green
market research is done on such consumer decisions, and your voice will be heard if you routinely make such decisions. Use cloth instead of plastic bags at the grocery store. Many grocery stores now sell reusable cloth bags shoppers can use to reduce the production of plastic grocery bags. If the local store doesn’t sell them, simply purchase them online or at another store. People who have already done this often say they forget the bags when heading to the store. To combat this problem, simply place them in the trunk of your car once you’ve taken the groceries home and unloaded the bags. Convenience isn’t really convenient. Nowadays, society is all about immediacy. The more convenient something is, the more popular it will likely become. However, many times what’s billed as convenient is anything but. For instance, harming the
introducing
Reduce the production of plastic grocery bags by shopping with reusable cloth bags.
environment is never convenient, so while those plastic foam cups at the coffee shop might be more immediately convenient than lugging a travel mug around each and every day, those disposable mugs are not convenient to the environment. When hosting a party, don’t opt for throwaway paper plates. Instead, choose reusable plates. They don’t have to be the fine china, but sturdy, reusable plates can be bought on the cheap at most home stores and will be far more beneficial to the environment than their paper counterparts.
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Photo by Henry A. Barrios
Living Green
Under a hot Bakersfield sun, a crew installs solar panels on a new home in northeast Bakersfield.
Tips to save money (and live green) with
solar
By Angie Zbornik, Bland Solar & Air Conditioning Living green and saving money have become high priorities in Bakersfield. In fact, Bakersfield ranked sixth in California solar installations in 2009, according to California’s Solar Cities – Environment California Research and Policy Center. Glenn Bland, board member of the Solar Energy Council — which works to educate the solar work force, increase public awareness and understanding of alternative energy — and advocate for sound solar policy for the industry — shares some tips and benefits of going solar:
Buy now while equipment costs are low Solar equipment prices have dropped because of product availability, making this an opportune time to buy. Also, new technology 14
Bakersfield Life 2010 Living Green
such as micro-inverters now allows for smaller start-up systems.
Take advantage of new financing Initial costs, which have been prohibitive in the past, can now be avoided with new financing. On approved credit, an unsecured loan at low interest is available with no down payment. The buyer gets instant credit for utility rebates. When the 30 percent tax credit is received, he or she can apply it to the loan, re-amortize, and cut payments in half. By doing this, the payoff time is decreased significantly. Solar buyers can create positive cash flow by saving money on utility bills and having low or no utility bills after the system is paid off.
Reduce before installing
Increase property value
Much like the effectiveness of compact fluorescent lightbulbs, upgrading to high-efficiency air conditioning can take utility savings to a whole new level. By upgrading, homeowners can not only save money on utility bills and ultimately go with a smaller solar system. This lets a customer potentially get solar and air conditioning for slightly more than what it would have cost for solar alone.
Solar increases property value. For every $1,000 saved in utility bills each year, $20,000 is added to the value of the home, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Few home upgrades can provide that kind of return on investment.
Invest in something reliable and profitable Warranties for solar panels and inverters last 25 years and 10 to 15 years, respectively, although both products usually last much longer. That’s more than an automobile. Solar is very low maintenance and the investment can make the owner money.
Increase salability of your home Solar can help a home sell as much as two times faster, reports the U.S. Department of Energy. Thanks to new innovations, systems are attractive and versatile enough to work in most locations. Even the most luxurious homes can retain their elegance while reflecting that they harness the latest in environmental technology. Solar makes a home on the market stand out even before a potential buyer steps through the front door.
Beat utility rate increases
Choose grid tie With grid-tie or net metered solar, the system makes the meter run backwards allowing for “credit” with the electric company. This means if the meter doesn’t show usage, there isn’t a bill for usage. There is no battery expense, which can double the system price, and there is system size flexibility (level of power production can be partial and added onto as needs or budget allows).
Utility rates have increased historically anywhere from 5 percent to 20 percent. While a system is paying itself off in savings, solar consumers own their power and are not at the mercy of utility increases, thus securing a stable “rate” for power. For more information, check the Solar Energy Council Web site (solarenergycouncil.org) or Bland's site (outsmartyourmeter.com). — Bland Solar & Air Conditioning
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If you lease solar: You might save only a few dollars a month and payments may escalate yearly. You won’t get a rebate, tax credit, or improve equity in your home. At the end of a 10-15 year term, you won’t own your system. If you buy solar: You can get financial incentives as well as financing (On Approved Credit - low interest, no hidden costs, fees, or prepayment penalties.) Then, when you get your tax credit, you can apply it to your loan and decrease your payoff time. You can create positive cash flow monthly by saving money on utility bills, then have low or no utility bills after you pay off your system. You permanently lock in your utility rates before increases (5%+yr.)
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Bakersfield Life 2010 Living Green 15
Living Green
Hot time for
hybrids Audi’s 2010 A3 TDI.
Choices abound at local dealerships Options for “green” vehicles continue to grow locally. From economy to midsize to luxury, dealerships throughout Bakersfield have watched a larger number of “green” vehicles come and go as energy-conscience Californians have cashed in on their gas-guzzling clunkers for handpicked hybrids in hopes of saving money with the fuel-efficient vehicles. Honda and Toyota lead the charge for electric and hybrid vehicles at the start of the century, but the Big 3 has made ground on the market and introduced their own versions. And it’s not just electric vehicles that have earned “green” status as Europe has improved on diesel power. Bakersfield Audi, 6000 Wible Road, 866-777-2834 Bad memories of the smoky, poor-performing diesel cars that roamed U.S. highways in the 1970s still linger, but the Audi A3 TDI is ready to help American consumers toss out those memories along with their bell bottoms, disco balls and roller skates. While folks have fallen in love with hybrid and all-electric technology, Audi, along with its Germany compatriot Volkswagen, is improving on diesel technology. The 2010 Audi A3 TDI was named Green 16
Bakersfield Life 2010 Living Green
Car Journal’s Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The A3 TDI (which stands for turbo direct injection) has an EPA highway fuel economy rating of 42 MPG — a 50 percent improvement over the gasoline-powered A3. BMW of Bakersfield, 5400 Gasoline Alley Drive, 396-4040 The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 offers the driver three significant options: to drive under electric power alone, to use the power of the combustion engine, or to benefit from the combination of both drive modes for short periods. The drive system consists of a 407 horsepower V8 power unit with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and two electric engines developing 91 horsepower. Driving completely free of CO2 in the electric mode is possible up to a speed of 37 mph. The hybrid also employs start-stop technology and other energysaving measures to help improve efficiency. The X6 went on sale in December in the U.S. with a base price of $89,765. Jim Burke Ford/Lincoln-Mercury, 2001 Oak St., 328-3600 Ford Fusion Hybrid has been on the market for less than a year, and it’s already a winner in certain auto circles. The Fusion
Hybrid won the 2010 North American Car of the Year Award at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and the Fusion was listed as one of the “10 Best Cars” by Car and Driver magazine. The Fusion offers a Duratec 25 gasoline engine paired with a 106 horsepower AC synchronous electric motor, delivering 41 miles per gallon for city and 36 miles per highway, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ratings. When engaged in electric-only (EV) mode, the Fusion can achieve 47 mph and up to 2 miles of continuous EV driving. In the city driving the full tank delivers 700 miles. Ford Escape Hybrid comes with a four-wheel drive system to enhance traction on roads covered with gravel, ice, or water from rain. The Ford SUV seats up to five passengers and offers a versatile cargo area. With a MPG rating of 34 city / 31 highway, the SUV vehicle actually uses no fuel when stopped in traffic or driving at lower speeds. The electric mode will activate, at speeds up to 40 mph, which will turn off the gasoline engine automatically. A sibling rivalry is brewing between the Ford Fusion and its twin, the Mercury Milan Hybrid. U.S. News and World Report named the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid its best affordable midsize car, followed by the Fusion. Like its twin, when driving on electric-only mode, the Milan can achieve 47 mph and up to 2 miles of continuous EV driving. EPA ratings for the Milan hybrid are 41 miles per gallon for city and 36 miles per highway. Motor City Lexus, 5101 Gasoline Alley Drive, 836-9000 Lexus is the only luxury manufacturer featuring four hybrid models -- LS 600h L, GS 450h, RX 450h and HS 250h. In 2005, Lexus introduced the first luxury hybrid and has since sold more than 80,000 hybrid vehicles in the United States. Lexus hybrid vehicles are 70 percent cleaner for smog-forming emissions than the average new car. Lexus is using plant-based eco plastics in its interiors. In the 2010 HS 250h, 30 percent of the interior and cargo area utilizes eco plastics. In fact, 85 percent of the HS, including the battery, can be recycled at the end of its lifecycle. All Lexus manufacturing plants are near zero-landfill, which means 98 percent of waste resulting from manufacturing is recycled, repurposed or used to generate additional energy. Through Lexus Hybrid Living and the Lexus Eco Challenge scholarship program, Lexus is committed to advancing environmental stewardship. All of Lexus’ hybrid vehicles are covered by the standard Lexus warranty. Additionally, the hybrid-related components, including the HV battery, battery-control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for eight years/100,000 miles.
Ford Fusion Hybrid
Lexus HS 250h
GMC Sierra Hybrid
Motor City GMC, 3101 Pacheco Road, 888-266-5310 The GMC Sierra Hybrid was the first-ever hybrid passenger vehicle offered by GM. Partnering General Motors' patented 2-Mode Hybrid system and a powerful 6-liter gas V-8, the Sierra Hybrid delivers highly efficient performance while maintaining full-size pickup capability. The hybrid system provides all-electric driving at low speeds, allowing fuel savings to be realized even when the truck is fully loaded or towing a trailer. Barber Honda, 4500 Wible Road, 834-6632 The first mass-produced hybrid automobile sold in the United States, the Honda Insight EX earned an EPA fuel efficiency estiContinued on page 18
Honda Insight Bakersfield Life 2010 Living Green 17
Living Green Continued from page 17
mate of 70 miles per gallon in highway, 61 city. The gasoline engine is a 67 horsepower, 1-liter, ECA series 3-cylinder unit. The electric motor adds another 13 HP and acts as a generator during deceleration and braking to recharge the vehicle’s batteries. The Insight is a four-time winner of the “Greenest Vehicle” honor by The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Honda Civic Hybrid is frequently compared to the Toyota Prius but is making a name for itself. The Civic Hybrid has a small but more powerful 95 horsepower four-cylinder engine and its electric motor is rated at 20 HP. The combined power output is 110 HP, the same as the Prius. The Civic Hybrid was also named Motor Trends’ 2006 Car of the Year. Honda Civic Hybrid
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Bill Wright Toyota, 5100 Gasoline Alley Drive, 800-5751524 North Bakersfield Toyota, 19651 Industry Parkway Drive, 615-1100 Now in its third generation, the Toyota Prius has a long track record of proven reliability, with the highest MPG rating of 51 city / 48 highway. The Prius makes use of its electric water pump and its new exhaust gas recirculation system, which contributes to the engine's efficiency. The vehicle also requires no belts under the hood, which can result in less potential maintenance. The driver can also receive feedback, from the multiinformation display panel, which can provide help to cultivate economical driving habits. Manufactured in Georgetown, Ky., the Toyota Camry Hybrid utilizes a four-cylinder gasoline engine with a continuously variable transmission and a 650-volt electric motor. With an EPA fuel economy estimate for the hybrid at 40 mpg city and 38 mpg highway, the Hybrid is very similar to the traditional Camry, albeit with slightly less trunk space due to the battery pack. Nissan of Bakersfield, 2800 Pacheco Road, 835-8600 The Nissan Altima Hybrid can drive up to 600 miles without refueling. The MPG rating is 35 city / 33 highway. The automobile uses the gas engine on highways since it's more efficient at higher speeds. The electric motor will assist at slower speeds, while braking, and when the car stops. Highway travel at faster speeds will automatically recharge the battery in the Altima.
Nissan Altima Hybrid
Volkswagen Jetta TDI 18
Bakersfield Life 2010 Living Green
Three-Way Chevrolet, 4600 Wible Road, 834-4600 The Chevrolet Silverado has a cruising range of more than 500 miles. Partnering General Motors’ patented 2-Mode Hybrid system and a powerful 6-liter gas V-8, the Silverado Hybrid delivers highly efficient performance while maintaining full-size pickup capability. The hybrid system provides all-electric driving at low speeds, allowing fuel savings to be realized even when the truck is fully loaded or towing a trailer. The truck is also capable of traveling up to 30 mph in full electric mode, even if it is towing the maximum 6,100 pounds. Family Volkswagen, 6000 Wible Road, 617-6200 Sharing the same technology as its German compatriot, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI A6 runs on ultra-low sulfur diesel that has 97 percent less sulfur content, radically reducing emissions. The Jetta TDI was named the 2009 Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal.
Kids can go green, too
Thanks to the Recycled Cardboard Dollhouse from Creativity for Kids, youngsters can go green and have fun at the same time.
Metro Creative Services
While the political debate surrounding global warming continues to rage on, the nation in general continues to grow more environmentally conscious. In fact, with the first decade of the 20th century now over, it's quite possible historians might someday refer to the last 10 years as the "Go Green Decade." Most adults are fully aware of the myriad ways in which we can go green, including how to conserve fuel, trimming energy usage or even using cloth bags instead of plastic bags when going grocery shopping. While those are all great and easy ways for adults to make a positive impact on the environment, adults might be surprised to learn the many ways in which kids can go green as well. Go green at school. The average American produces roughly 1,000 pounds of trash every year, and that includes kids, many of whom produce a significant portion of trash while at school. But kids can lessen their carbon footprint at school in several ways. First and foremost, kids can stop using disposable pens. Refillable writing instruments, including pens, pencils and markers, greatly reduce waste with little effort. The average wood pencil, for instance, is typically discarded with lots of lead left to use. A mechanical pencil, on the other hand, uses all its available lead before it simply needs to be refilled instead of discarded. Another way kids can go green at school is to stop brown-bagging their lunch. While the brown bag lunch might be a connection to yesteryear, it's also wasteful. Instead of using throwaway brown bags to pack kids' lunch, parents can purchase a reusable lunch box or cooler made of recycled plastic. Neither needs to be thrown away, and both are a one-time expense that can save money down the road. Go green at playtime. Going green doesn't have to be all business, especially for kids. Kids can now go green at playtime thanks to Creativity for Kids' eco-friendly Recycled Cardboard
Dollhouse. The dollhouse is easy to assemble, and even the packaging becomes part of the experience, as the inside of the box is printed with a play mat yard. Upon construction, kids put together the furniture and punch-out paper dolls before using stickers they color in themselves and markers to decorate everything on the interior and exterior of the house. What's more, once kids have finished connecting with their inner interior decorator, they can take their new passion for going green even further by re-purposing items from around the house to accessorize their new dollhouse. Go green with kids. It's no secret kids learn most of their behaviors from Mom and Dad. Parents can use this to their advantage by involving kids in their own efforts to go green. For example, when the weather allows, instead of taking the car to the library, the park or the grocery store, take your bicycles and explain to kids how you're saving fuel and having fun by riding your bikes instead of taking the car. Parents with a green thumb can enlist kids to help in the garden, all the while explaining to them the environmental benefits of growing your own fruits and vegetables. For information on Creativity for Kids Recycled Cardboard Dollhouse, visit www.creativityforkids.com. Bakersfield Life 2010 Living Green 19
Introducing the new 2010 Hybrids now available.
Mardi Gras Gala benefitting the Bakersfield Art Association Feb. 19, 2010 Held at Bell Tower Club Photos by Greg Nichols View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com Melinda and Mike Heinemann with Kathy Schilling and Ann Sullivan
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Amatilda and Brayton Carpenter
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Randy and Jennifer Asbill
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Bob and Sue Norton with Sally and Walt Wortendyke
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SPCA Fundraiser Feb. 19, 2010 Held at Petroleum Club Photos by Jan St Pierre View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com
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CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame Dinner Feb. 27, 2010 Held at Petroleum Club Photos by Rodney Thornburg View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com Ray and Joan Dezember
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JJ’s Legacy Golf Tournament March 1, 2010 Held at Seven Oaks Country Club Photos by Felix Adamo View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com
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Tatum Balfanz, Carrie Belfanz and Haley Devaney
Lori Malkin, David Carr and Sharon Belfanz
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Michael Rubio fundraiser Feb. 26, 2010 Held at the Padre Hotel Photos by José Treviño View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com
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CASA Kick-off Fundraiser Feb. 26, 2010 Held at Moorea Banquet Centre Photos by Jan St. Pierre View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com
David and Catherine Gay and Susie and John Fallgatter
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Relay for Life Wine Tasting March 13, 2010 Held at Lexus of Bakersfield Photos by Henry A. Barrios View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com
Tom and Karen Salamone, Kathy Henderson and Stephanie and Greg Holland
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31st annual Garces Formal Night Gala March 13, 2010 Held at Garces Memorial High School Photos by Greg Nichols View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com
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Joe Antongiovanni, Alicia Gargan and Joan and Matthew Deming
THE LAST WORD
Gary Banas Owner of Valley Mattress Favorite part of your job: With three stores in town, I always have lots of things on my plate, but I enjoy spending time with both employees and customers. Greatest piece of advice: Even after hundreds of years, Ben Franklin’s listing the advantages vs. the disadvantages still works when trying to make a difficult decision. Something about you that few people know: If I share my secrets, I might lose my competitive edge. What’s on your bookshelf: “The Eat-Clean Diet For Men” (I only wish I could follow it) and “Trump: The Art of the Deal.” Your first job: A newspaper delivery boy. What do you like about doing business in Bakersfield? Bakersfield is big enough to support us, yet small enough to know us. Favorite getaway: Las Vegas or San Diego. What does Bakersfield need more of? Water in the river, of course. Even the navigation system in my vehicle shows it in blue and thinks it’s supposed to have water in it. More flights in and out of Bakersfield. We used to have direct flights to Las Vegas and San Diego. What does Bakersfield need less of? Less energy costs.
Photo by Alex Horvath
Place you could be found having lunch on the weekend: We’re open seven days a week, but I try to sneak home for lunch on the weekends — especially if the Dodgers are playing a day game. Three things that define Bakersfield to you: 1. Great place to live and do business; 2. You can usually get anywhere in 20 minutes or less; 3. Plenty of sunshine. www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Zero due at lease signing 2010 Accord Featured Special Lease
$
0
0$ 0 0 down payment
$
$
$
0
security first-month due at lease Down Payment deposit paymentPayment signing First Month’s Security Deposit Due at Lease Signing*
Here’s an example
Lease the New 2010 Accord LX AT
250
CP2F3AEW
$
/mo* 36 month lease
FEATURED SPECIAL LEASE: Closed-end lease for 2010 Accord Sedan LX Automatic (Model CP2F3AEW) for $250.00 per month for 36 months with a no capitalized cost reduction available to customers who qualify for the AHFC Super Preferred credit tier. Other rates/tiers are available under this offer. $0 due at lease signing ($0 first month’s payment and no capitalized cost reduction with no security deposit; total net capitalized cost and base monthly payment does not include tax, license, title, registration, documentation fees, options, insurance and the like). Not all buyers may qualify. $0 due at lease signing offer requires dealer contribution, which could affect final negotiated transaction.
Take advantage of this huge opportunity while it lasts!
And, drive away with $0 due at signing! See Barber Honda for great leases on other Hondas! 4500 Wible Road
at the Entrance to Bakersfield Automall
834-6632 Se Habla Español
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barberhonda.com *Offer excludes tax, title, license & dealer fees. Subject to limited availability. From 3/2/2010 through 5/3/2010, to approved lessees by American Honda Finance Corp. Closed end lease for 2010 Accord Sedan LX Automatic vehicles (Model CP2F3AEW), for well qualified lessees. Not all lessees will qualify. Higher lease rates apply for lessees with lower credit ratings. MSRP $22,565.00 (includes destination) Net capitalized cost $20,961.42. Net capitalized cost includes $595 acquisition fee. Dealer contribution may vary and could affect actual lease payment. Taxes, license, title fees, options and insurance extra. Total monthly payments $8,750.00. Option to purchase at lease end $13,539.00. Lessee responsible for maintenance, excessive wear/tear and 15 cents/mi. over 12,000 miles/year for vehicles with MSRP less than $30,000, but for vehicles with MSRP of $30,000 or more, mileage cost is 20 cents/mi. over 12,000 miles/year. See dealer for complete details.