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August 2017
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A ME M B E R O F T H E
T B C M E D I A FA M I LY
www.bakersfieldlife.com
Bakersfield transformed
The magic of having water in the river
Dining Divas High marks for the Petroleum Club
S P EC IA L
The Helper family enjoys the walkability of Castle & Cooke’s Highgate community. $3.95
Kern Life ISS U E
• County residents share what they love about their communities • Exploring Ridgecrest, California City • Rafting down the mighty Kern • Family outings in Kern County
www.youngwooldridge.com
For 17 years we’ve been committed to providing premier cardiac care. We bring that same commitment to the rest of your body.
Cath Lab C
Spine Center
Women’s Heart Center Full-Service ER
Center for Wound Healing
Joint Replacement Center
There’s more to good health than just having a healthy heart. At Bakersfield Heart Hospital we’ve been busy adding even more health care services to our already award-winning cardiac care. Things like the Joint Replacement Center, Brain and Spine Center, Center for Wound Healing and, just in case, our Full-Service Emergency Department. Of course you’ll still be able to get the best cardiac care possible in the Women’s Heart Center, the Cath Lab, and our Cardiac Rehab Center. Only now you’ll be able to get that same excellent care for all your other parts, too.
We Accept the Following Insurance Plans Anthem Blue Cross (HMO, PPO, SISC, Senior Medicare, Covered California) )S\L :OPLSK VM *HSPMVYUPH )LLJO :[YLL[ )HRLYZMPLSK -HTPS` 4LKPJHS *V]LU[Y` -PYZ[ /LHS[O *V\U[` VM 2LYU /LHS[O *HYL 5L[^VYR /LHS[O 5L[ 2LYU -HTPS` /LHS[OJHYL 4LKPJHYL (K]HU[HNL PacifiCare/United Health Group/TriCare
We put our hearts into healing yours. BakersfieldHeartHospital.Com
3001 SILLECT AVE. BAKERSFIELD, CA 93308 THE HOSPITAL IS PA RTIALLY OWNED BY PHYSICIANS
www.stockdalekitchenandbath.com
AUGUST 2017
FEATURES
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Bakersfield Life Magazine
August 2017
Kern County is home to nearly 900,000 people and with so many communities contained within its borders, finding a place to settle in can be difficult. We take a look at different communities from the perspectives of those who live there.
PHOTO BY DAMARA ANN
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PHOTO BY CASSIE SARKISIANY
PHOTO BY LISA HARPER
PHOTO BY GREG KETCHUM
PHOTO BY MICHAEL MCCLOSKEY
Calling Kern County home
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• Custom Blade-Free Lasik • Laser Cataract Surgery with Premium Lens Implants • • • •
Glaucoma Surgery Eyelid Surgery Botox and Juvaderm Comprehensive Eye Exam
AUGUST 2017
PHOTO BY MARK NESSIA
DEPARTMENTS
46 Up Front
Kern County is home to many movies. Check out some notable films on Page 19.
PHOTO BY JONAH AND LINDSAY
Eat & Drink
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Try out Slice of Italy’s chicken fettuccine alfredo with sun-dried tomatoes on Page 32.
Lifestyles Competitive dart league in Bakersfield? Yes! Read more on Page 34.
23 Up Front 14 The Big Picture 16 Money Matters 17 Word on the Street 18 Arts & Culture 19 12 Things ... 20 Happenings
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Eat & Drink 23 Dining Divas 26 Food Dudes 30 Lunchtime Picks 32 What’s Cooking Lifestyles 34 Pastimes 36 What’s Haute
Bakersfield Life Magazine
36 Go & Do 38 Entertainment 42 Out & About 46 Trip Planner B Well 50 Get Moving 56 Feature – Vision Therapy
August 2017
58 Your Body 59 Love and Life People & Community 80 Business Profiles 84 History 89 Philanthropy Matters 90 Bakersfield Matters 92 Millennial Voices
94 Personality 96 All-Star Athlete 98 For A Cause 100 Our Town 102 Prime Finds 104 SNAP! 110 Last Word
PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIA
PHOTO BY GREG NICHOLS
Go & Do Kern River rafting, the safe way on Page 42.
B Well Can you benefit from vision therapy? Find out on Page 56.
People & Community Special Olympics Southern California Kern & Inyo County is looking for more volunteers, particularly college students studying kinesiology or special education. Details on Page 98.
STAFF SHARES Bakersfield’s Premier City Magazine August 2017 / Vol. 11 / Issue 11 Bakersfield Life™ Magazine is published by TBC Media Publisher Ginger Moorhouse Associate Publisher Virginia Cowenhoven
ON THE COVER
The Helper Family takes a tour around the Castle & Cooke community of Highgate at Seven Oaks. This distinctive neighborhood is filled with parks, tree-lined streets, beautiful landscaping and resort-style recreational amenities.
Editor Jim Lawitz Sales and Marketing Director Joey Zachary Assistant Managing Editor Mark Nessia
Cover photo by Mark Nessia
Specialty Publications Coordinator Kasey Meredith
Coming Next …
Art Director Glenn Hammett
Women, Weddings and Art
To Advertise,
contact Joey Zachary at jzachary@bakersfield. com or 395-7363.
Thank you, readers! Bakersfield Life Magazine recently sent out a reader opinion survey via e-mail and on our Facebook page. Congratulations to our winners! We had a great response and your comments have been reviewed and taken into consideration for future issues. Your input is welcome throughout the year as we are continually striving to bring you the stories of the people, places and events in our community.
Subscribe – The magazine is inserted into The Bakersfield Californian on the last Saturday of every month and available with The Californian through its digital subscription. For business subscriptions, please call 661-392-5777.
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President/CEO Michelle Chantry
Bakersfield Life Magazine
August 2017
Graphic Designer Holly Bikakis Specialty Publications Intern Amy Daigle Photography Felix Adamo, Damara Ann, Henry A. Barrios, Holly Bikakis, Bruce Deter, Lisa Harper, John Harte, Charles Holmes, Greg Iger, Jonah and Lindsay, Greg Ketchum, Michael McCloskey, Mark Nessia, Greg Nichols, Steve Rengers, Carla Rivas, Wayne Salvatti, Cassie Sarkisiany, Navdeep Singh, Alexia Svejda Contributing writers Kristen Beall Barnes, Asha Chandy, Ellen Cook, David Cothrun, Peter Eileff, Maribel Gamino, Olivia Garcia, Nina Ha, Lisa Kimble, Tony Lacava, Lindsay Long, Stephen Lynch, Arnold Morrison, Joyce Nash, Shelby Parker, Jennifer Perez, Monica Perez, Julie Plata, Harry Starkey, Chris Thornburgh, Liarida Yoakum
What is your favorite thing about living in Kern County? “The people. I’ve never met so many people who not only care about their family but helping others as well. This sense of giving, of community, sets Kern above the rest.” – Olivia Garcia, contributing writer “I love that the cost of living in Kern County is still so reasonable. I’m grateful my husband works hard so I’m able to stay at home for our kids.” – Nina Ha, contributing writer “Exploring new trails has to be my favorite thing about living in Kern County. I love all the amazing, scenic hikes and wildlife around Kern. I’ve done all of these hikes thanks to my sister, who’s always searching for new trails to hike: McGill Trail, Mount Pinos, Vincent Tumamait Trail, Mount Abel and Wind Wolves.” – Mayra Rosales, advertising account executive “The unparalleled geography that spans Kern’s 8,000-plus square miles! From the Mojave Desert and southern slope of the Sierras, to the majestic Kern River winding its way westward and the Coastal Range beyond. It is extraordinary!” – Lisa Kimble, contributing writer “My favorite thing about living in Kern County is the food. There’s so many restaurants to go to such as Cafe Smitten and Shoyu Sushi.” – Amy Daigle, specialty publications intern “Hands down, it’s the people. Going out of town always makes me appreciate the friendliness of everyone back home.” – Mark Nessia, assistant managing editor
We want to hear from you – Send comments or letters to the editor to Mark Nessia at mnessia@bakersfield.com. Please include name, city and phone number. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and to excerpt them.
Contact us – 1707 Eye St. Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-395-7500
www.cbccusa.com
EDITOR’S NOTE
CONTRIBUTORS Kasey Meredith is a journalist and the newly minted specialty publications coordinator at Bakersfield Life. A recent Bakersfield transplant from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, her goal is to uncover the unusual, idiosyncratic characters and places of Bakersfield. Kasey is a recent graduate of the University of South Carolina’s journalism school, her writing appearing in The Sumter Item, The State, Hilton Head Monthly and the University of South Carolina’s Garnet and Black magazine. When she’s not writing, she’s exploring Bakersfield’s best brunch spots, California’s hiking and going to concerts.
Liarida Yoakum is a freelance writer for Bakersfield Life Magazine and recent graduate of CSUB. She enjoys scary movies and attends Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios every year. She is a huge fan of mixed martial arts and the UFC, whose favorite fighters are Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm, Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino and Georges “Rush” St-Pierre. She loves a meal that can immediately make you take a nap right after: barbecue, Italian and Mexican food, just to name a few. One of her passions in the communications field is finding a story through interviews and creating a personal connection with the subject. Everyone has a story, but not everyone knows how to put it into words.
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Bakersfield Life Magazine
August 2017
MOVERS AND STAYERS Growing up in a city three times smaller than Bakersfield, there was a common mindset among my peers: They all couldn’t wait to leave when they were older. Back then, I was in the minority. I loved living in Simi Valley. It’s small, but not too small, and quiet – an introvert’s ideal setting. But that was before I moved to Bakersfield. Now a (hopefully) mature adult, the thought of moving back to my hometown no longer appeals to me. I’m still very much the introvert I was as a teenager but living in Kern County has made me appreciate and value the sense of community that exists here despite the rather large population. During my time in Bakersfield, I’ve noticed that things are flipped: Many locals aren’t tempted to leave. In fact, many choose to come back after spending time elsewhere. It’s no secret that Kern County is a popular destination for millennials, with a median age of 31.4, according to Data USA. So what compels them to stay or move back to the place where they grew up? A study conducted by Pew Research Center shows that an emotional element may play a big role in the decision, with most citing family connections and roots as reasons for staying or returning to their hometowns.
They stay because it’s where they grew up. They stay because it’s a good place to raise children. They stay because it’s where they feel they belong. Kern County is all of this and more. People long for a sense of home and a piece of us will always belong to the place where we were the best version of ourselves. Leaving would leave us incomplete. That’s why locals are drawn back to Kern County and why outsiders find it hard to leave. This place grows on you, even if you try to resist it. But don’t take my word for it. In this issue, residents across Kern County share why they live where they live and what they love most about it. Their reasons – just like their respective communities – are different but one thing remains constant: They stay because they have no desire to live anywhere else.
Mark Nessia Assistant Editor 395-7383 mnessia@bakersfield.com
Connect with us – www.bakersfieldlfe.com facebook.com/BakersfieldLifeMagazine Instagram/bakersfield_life twitter.com/BakersfieldLife
UP FRONT
Find out what’s Happening in August on Page 20.
The Big Picture / Money Matters / Word on the Street / Arts & Culture / 12 Things / Happenings
CALIFORNIA CITY A billowing, fiery sunset in the desert. Several movies have been shot in the California City area, check out some other notables made in Kern County on Page 19.
Photo by Alexia Svejda
www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Up Front
T HE B I G P I C T U RE
MERIDIANS The Trona Pinnacles in the Mojave Desert – a magical photographic destination for those with a taste for the nocturnal. Photo by Steve Rengers via capturekerncounty.com
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Bakersfield Life Magazine
August 2017
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Up Front
MON EY M AT T ER S
ROAD TRIP?
Try these mobile apps to help you save By Chris Thornburgh
One of the many great features of Kern County is its central location for fabulous day trips, conveniently close vacations and great shopping. When embarking on your next adventure, many mobile apps can save you time, money or both. Check these out. Outlets at Tejon Win app-exclusive daily prizes from your favorite retailers in addition to staying current on all the deals at the outlets. Be sure to check out this app before your next shopping trip to Tejon. LivingSocial LivingSocial is the local marketplace to buy and share some of the best things to do in Kern County and beyond. Search for discounts in Bakersfield or wherever your destination may be. Similar to Groupon but with different deals – save on activities, restaurants, retail, hotels and much more. Paribus How many times have you purchased an item and found it on sale the next day for a lower price? Many stores offer a refund if the price drops shortly after purchase, but you must remember to follow up. This app does it for you so you no longer miss out on the savings. It tracks the items you purchase and automatically requests the refund if the price dips. Paribus is free to download, but it takes 25 percent of refunds collected on your behalf.
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Bakersfield Life Magazine
Flipp This app contains the Sunday ads for hundreds of retailers. Search deals and coupons by item, brand or category to quickly find your best deals. Flip through digital copies of flyers or clip virtual coupons for your favorite products, saving time, money and paper. ShopSavvy Scan the barcode of any product and ShopSavvy compares its price with over 40,000 retailers. While this app finds the lowest price, consider weighing the savings with the opportunity to support our local economy and retailers. StadiumPark Have you ever arrived at an event and realize you forgot cash for parking? StadiumPark has partnered with many venues so you can skip the lines and go straight to your parking spot. Use this app to scan the parking attendant’s bar code and have the parking fee charged to your credit card. No cash needed. This app is not accepted everywhere, but it can be used at our very own Rabobank Arena. Rome2rio Planning the transportation part of a trip can be daunting not to mention time-consuming. Rome2rio helps you get from point A to point B as quickly and economically as possible. Various modes of transportation, estimated travel times and costs are compared for you. Navigate like a pro on your next trip with Rome2rio and save both time and money.
August 2017
SkipLagged SkipLagged is known for finding discounted flight rates that other search engines don’t show, including hidden city options. Hidden city ticketing is when the traveler’s destination is the layover location of an indirect flight. For example, a direct flight from LA to Miami may cost $400 but a ticket from LA to Miami to Orlando costs $360. So you buy the ticket to Orlando, but stop your journey in Miami. This trick works if you don’t check your luggage all the way through! HERE WeGO Download maps of the cities you plan to visit for viewing later without an internet connection. Save money if you have a limited data plan, stay safe when you’re in an area with no cell reception and save time by being well-prepared before heading out on your adventure. The Bottom Line Kern County puts us in prime position for access to premium destinations like the beach, mountains, amusement parks, LA shopping and many more. When planning your next outing, try out these apps and see what they can do for you. Chris Thornburgh is a CPA and partner at Brown Armstrong Accountancy Corp. Contact her at cthornburgh@ bacpas.com or 324-4971. The views expressed in this column are her Chris Thornburgh own.
WORD ON T H E ST REET
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IN KERN COUNTY? Compiled by Bakersfield Life
“I like playing tennis at Seven Oaks Country Club.” – Stephanie Van Skike
“Sitting here at The Marketplace is eventful. I like its farmers market on Sundays and its concerts.” – Daniel Castaneda
“I bike and run with my mom. I like local charity runs, like the Thin Mint 5K.” – Heather Butchart
“I just played a game of tennis today at Stockdale Country Club.” – Denise John
“Going shotgun shooting at Kern County Gun Club with my dad.” – Ethan Jeffries
“I like bringing my kids to the pool. In-Shape has a really good outdoor swimming pool.” – Elida Cruz
“Whitewater rafting on the Kern River. It’s adventurous and something different from going on a hike.” – Gabrielle Lipco
“Barbecuing, obviously. If you know how to barbecue, you don’t have to sit out in the heat watching it.” – Branden Slichter
“I love running and jogging alongside the Kern River.” – Rigoberto Cruz
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Up Front ART S & C U LT U RE
THIS MONTH’S PICKS Editor’s Book of the Month
“Everything You Want Me to Be,” by Mindy Mejia
Entertainment The Bakersfield Museum of Art offers unique insight into the artistic culture of Bakersfield with special guest lecturers, artists and behind-the-scenes looks at
art programs and exhibitions on the first Wednesday of each month. On Aug. 2, curator Rachel Magnus and painter Tina Dille will discuss “Mysterious Muse,” an exhibition that explores the nature and iconography of
the raven. Both exhibits are currently on display at the museum. When: Aug. 2, 10 to 11 a.m. Where: Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930 R St. Price: Free to members, $5 for nonmembers
Theater “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” Three performers take their show through the Australian outback aboard a battered old bus nicknamed Priscilla while searching for love and friendship, featuring hit songs like “It’s Raining Men,” “I Will Survive,” “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and more. Show Dates: Aug. 18, 19, 25, 26, 27, 31 Where: Stars Theatre Restaurant, 931 Chester Ave. For more information, go to bmtstars.com.
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Bakersfield Life Magazine
August 2017
All her life, Hattie Hoffman has played many roles. The good student. The loyal girlfriend. The perfect daughter. So when she’s found brutally stabbed to death, the tragedy shocks her small-town community. But as the details of her demise are slowly revealed, it is apparent that Hattie was not whom she appeared to be. Told from the perspectives three characters, including Hattie herself, “Everything You Want Me to Be” reconstructs a year in the life of a mesmerizing young woman as she inches closer to death and asks the question: At what point does the public facade end and one’s true self begin?
12 T HI NG S . ..
Compiled by Bakersfield Life
Movies filmed in Kern County Compiled by Bakersfield Life
Kern County is no stranger when it comes to movies and television with hundreds of scenes shot within its borders. Here are a few notable productions that made a stop in the area.
1
“Erin Brockovich.” Filmed in Boron, the movie is based on the true story of a woman who helped win the largest direct-action lawsuit settlement. Julia Roberts won Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of the title character.
2 “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” The third-highest-grossing movie of all time had portions filmed near Ridgecrest. Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega) meet and are chased by First Order troops on Jakku, which was shot at Trona Pinnacles. 3
“Iron Man and Iron Man 2.” Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) arrives at his airfield and gets on his private jet to head to Afghanistan in “Iron Man.” James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) flies into a military base after acquiring one of the Iron Man suits in “Iron Man 2.”
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“The Mummy.” Before the 1999 remake starring Brendan Fraser and the 2017 reboot starring Tom Cruise, Boris Karloff roamed Red Rock Canyon as Imhotep in the original film about an ancient Egyptian mummy brought back to life through a magic scroll.
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“Blue Steel.” One of many John Wayne movies filmed in Kern County, “Blue Steel” is the story of a U.S. marshal trying to capture the Polka Dot Bandit. The location: Kern River Valley.
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“Ocean’s 13.” George Clooney and company’s most ambitious heist takes them to a Mexican dice factory, which was filmed in the high-desert town of Rosamond.
RED ROCK CANYON
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“Star Trek.” J.J. Abrams’ reboot of the popular sci-fi series featured key scenes in Spock’s home world of Vulcan, which was really Tejon Ranch.
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“North by Northwest.” The movie’s iconic chase scene that shows Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant) being attacked by a low-flying crop duster plane was filmed in Wasco, near Highway 46 and Corcoran Road.
TRONA PINNACLES
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“Jurassic Park.” Even though no dinosaur remains have been found near Red Rock Canyon, Steven Spielberg still chose the location to film the opening scene of the series’ first entry.
10 “Herbie: Fully Loaded.” A sequence shot on Oak Creek Road features Tehachapi’s vast wind farms. 11 “Thelma and Lou-
ise.” Parts of the film were shot in Fellows, near Taft, and Derby Acres, where Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) pick up J.D. (Brad Pitt).
KERN RIVER VALLEY
12 “Die Hard II: Die
Harder.” The scene where John McClane (Bruce Willis) is nearly run over by a plane was filmed in eight different locations, including Mojave Airport.
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE
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Up Front HAPPENINGS
August
Find more community events at bakersfieldlife.com or submit yours via email to bakersfieldlife@bakersfield.com or via our Facebook page: Bakersfield Life Magazine.
Renegade Football just around the corner
1611 19th St. $35. 20
Bakersfield Life Magazine
August 2017
Fashion Illustration Workshops for Beginners, spend a day learning, drawing and designing with other fashionistas. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Central Park at Mill Creek. $49. 323-380-8688.
Aviator Park, 422 E. J St. $30 to $100. cheerstocharity.net. Aug. 17 Rodney Carrington Live, comedian, actor, singer and writer who has recorded eight major record label comedy albums. 8 p.m., Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $60.25 to $200. vallitix.com.
Aug. 10 Aliza McCracken Book Signing, Peaceful Moments. 5 to 6:30 p.m., Arts Council of Kern’s Access Centre Gallery, 1330 Truxtun Ave., Suite B, 324-9000. Aug. 12 Tehachapi Wine, Craft Beer & Food Festival, charitable fundraising event featuring music, food, wine and craft beer beneath the summer sky. 6 to 10 p.m.,
Valley Fever Walk
PHOTO BY CASEY CHRISTIE
It is never too late to Rodney Carrington check out the games and competitions that the BC football team will be particiAug. 4 pating in. “The 15 InThis year, the team will valuable Laws of be starting out with a scrimGrowth,” six-week mage at Antelope Valley on “Mastermind Thursday, Aug. 24, at 6 p.m. at Group” workshop Memorial Stadium series helping atIn addition to the scrimtendees learn how mage, more games will take to grow, personplace in September every Satally and profesurday of the month at 6 p.m. sionally; based on Come and enjoy John C Maxwell’s the exciting best-selling book. 1:30 games that to 2:30 p.m., Greater Aug. 4 - 6 the BC Bakersfield Chamfootball ber of Commerce, 50th Annual team 1725 Eye St. $646. Days Festival ta es Fi will take Frazier Mountain Park part in. Free Aug. 5 For th Annual Fiesta 50 r’s yea Mini GarThis ay, place Frid more Days Festival is taking p.m.; dens, kids class 10 to 1 m Aug. 4, fro inforthat makes mini 10 a.m. to Saturday, Aug. 5, from Aug. 6, mation, gardens; class 10 p.m.; and Sunday, go to from 1 to 10 p.m. includes all materigogades. als and instructions com or call on garden care. 10 a.m. 395-4258. to noon, House of Flowers,
Aug. 18 Murder at the Deuces, 1924 New Year’s-themed murder mystery event benefitting the Fairy Godmother
Ale Tasting at The Petroleum Club Enter the club for a fun night of apps and sensational beers. Summer beer tasting is on Thursday, Aug. 17, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Petroleum Club of Bakersfield, 5060 California Ave. on the 12th floor. Tickets are $25. This event is a PCB new membership drive. This is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to join the Petroleum Club. If you’re already a PCB member, call the club for a discounted ticket at 324-6561. The club will be serving appetizers
paired with pours from Temblor Brewing Company. For gentlemen, slacks and closed-toes shoes are preferred for the dress code, but appropriate denim or Bermuda shorts are acceptable. Appropriate sandals are accepted at a minimum. For more information, email events@thepetroleumclub.com or call 324-6561.
Foundation. 6:30 to 10 p.m., The Station, 7900 Downing Ave., Suite D. Individual tickets $75. 340-0359. Aug. 19 Valley Fever Walk, save lives through increased awareness and understanding of the disease coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever). 7 to 10 a.m., Kern County Museum, 3801 Chester Ave. Free to survivors and children under 12, $20 for general admission. 832-1456. Ultimate ’80s Tribute Festival, featuring local food vendors, beers and spirits and covering artists like David Bowie, Duran Duran and Depeche Mode; lawn chairs and blankets allowed; 21 and up. 4 to 10 p.m., Stramler Park, 3805 Chester Ave. $20 advance, $25 at the door, $40 VIP. 301-4681. Women in Politics Fundraiser Luncheon, fundraiser featuring
Democratic Party activist Hillary Crosby. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Petroleum Club of Bakersfield, 5060 California Ave., 12th Floor. $50 to $400. Aug. 20 The Ultimate Bridal Event All White Party, luxury bridal show for the sophisticated, modern bride; attending brides are encouraged to wear all white. 3:30 to 7 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton, 3100 Camino Del Rio Court. $15 to $90. ultimatebridalevent.com.
Aug. 24 Agent Orange, Southern California punk/ surf power trio that’s been continually active since the early days of West Coast punk. 6 to 10 p.m., Temblor Brewing Company, 3200 Buck Owens Blvd., B. $15 presale, $20 day of show. Aug. 26 Bunco for Boxers & Bullies, fundraiser featuring bunco, food and drinks to aid in the continuing effort to save dogs. 5 to 9 p.m., 11109 Dee Dee Court. $25. 304-3591 or 304-7499.
Celebrate authors and their talent for writing Come and enjoy an evening of wine and creativity. Wine and Words is on Thursday, Aug. 10, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Luigi’s Restaurant and Delicatessen on 725 E. 19th Street. Tickets are $50. Sponsorships are available. Timothy Lemucchi will be Wine and Words’ inaugural author. He will be sharing behind-the-scenes stories about his new book, “Luigi’s: 100 Years Then and Now.” Admission includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, hosted wine and beer, and a no-host bar. The program, sponsored by Kern Literacy Council, will start at 6:15 p.m. For more information, email lwolfe@kernliteracy.org or call 324-3213.
www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Eat & Drink
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DINING DIVAS
Bakersfield Life Magazine
August 2017
Promotional Content
Petroleum Club of Bakersfield
Facing page: Tenderloin fillet with lobster risotto and sauteed green beans.
A fine-dining experience of exceptional quality, hospitality
Left: Dining Divas from left: Joanie Haenelt, Andrea Caldwell, Beatris Espericueta Sandersa and Tamara Clark. Below: Baconwrapped jalapenos Bottom left: Crab cakes
If you are the person that has “everything,” maybe consider adding a membership to Bakersfield’s iconic Petroleum Club of Bakersfield and have access to uncompromising dining at your pleasure! At the helm of our dining experience, General Manger John Reed gave the red-carpet treatment with such hospitality and charm. The dining experience started with a 2015 glass of Giesen Riesling, with a clean minerality and notes of peach and mild spices that gave a clean, refreshing taste.
slices, scallions, sushi-grade ahi tuna, sesame seeds, sesame oil, Sriracha aioli, soy sauce, garlic, gari and cilantro. This is always my favorite appetizer to order in any restaurant and the addition of fresh cucumbers gave the fish a nice, crunchy contrast. Consider ordering your ahi tartare sans crostini and substitute Continued on Page 24
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Petroleum Club of Bakersfield 5060 California Ave
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Tamara Clark on the bacon-wrapped jalapenos: Tender bacon wrapped around a halved jalapeno and stuffed with a whipped cream cheese. Some peppers were hotter than others, but each one was delicious! Andrea Caldwell on the crab cakes and clam chowder: The featured crab cakes and clam chowder were outstanding! The crab cakes were so fresh. Generous crab folded in light salt, pepper, parsley and light breadcrumb coating did not overpower. Garnished with peas, cucumber, tomato and watercress that gave such an “oceanfront” experience on a plate, was delightful. The clam chowder is supreme in every sense of the word “Friday favorite,” which they refer to as their featured soup. From the pureness of the heavy cream, onions and flavorful butter in every spoonful, to the hints of just enough, salt, pepper and parsley that did not disturb the “realness” of this legendary culinary favorite. Tamara on the ahi tartare: A tower of crispy crostini upon a base of fresh avocado, cucumber
MOH A
Promotional Content
APPETIZERS
TOWER WAY
CA LIF OR N
Compiled by Bakersfield Life Photos by Greg Nichols
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Petroleum Club of Bakersfield 5060 California Ave. 661-324-6561 www.thepetroleumclub.com
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Continued from Page 23
cucumber rounds for a fresh, lowcarb twist!
ENTREES Joanie Haenelt on the tenderloin fillet with lobster risotto and sauteed green beans: I ordered the dinner special: tenderloin filet with lobster risotto and sauteed green beans. Our waiter recommended medium-rare. The filet was so tender, there was no need for the steak knife – delicious with the peppercorn glaze and cooked to perfection. It was accompanied by a side of lobster risotto that was beyond amazing. The sauteed green beans were crisp and perfectly seasoned. This was truly one of the best steak dinners I have had in a restaurant. Beatris Espericueta Sanders on the garlic ginger salmon linguini: An excellent medley of fresh vegetables: roasted peppers, snap peas, watercress, green onions, red onions, celery and even mush-
rooms! A generous serving of fresh salmon cooked with a great lemon balance partners with the sweet sauce in the linguini. This dish has an Asian flair to it, not overwhelmingly sweet and very satisfying. Tamara on the crab-stuffed shrimp: Four juicy plump shrimp stuffed with a spiced crab cake mixture upon a bed of a creamy risotto. On the side were sauteed fresh garden green beans with watercress and the entire dish was drizzled in a light lemon beurre blanc sauce. Delectable! Andrea on the New York steak: We move to the “spoilness� in a plate: a New York steak fit for two! Simple, grilled to perfection and the outer crust was bursting with the richness of extra-virgin olive oil that brought out the hearty flavors of sea salt, ground pepper and complemented by a peppercorn demi-glace. It was light and brought unity to the steak, with the hints of rosemary, butter and a light spice. Incredible!
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DESSERT Joanie on the chocolate truffle cake: My dessert was layer upon layer of chocolate goodness. Dark chocolate sponge cake layered with chocolate cream cheese and chocolate buttercream fillings, then covered with a decadent, silky dark chocolate ganache. A must try for any chocolate connoisseur. Andrea on the crème brulée: The picturesque view from the 12th floor came to an end with crème brulée. A divine dish of custard so rich, yet very fluffy, and sprinkled with the simple essence of organic vanilla, heavy cream and light hints of sugar that gave this dining experience memorable notes to date! Tamara on the bananas foster: Created tableside, this sweet flambeed dessert did not disappoint. The vanilla bean ice cream and fresh bananas with a touch of caramel sauce made this sweet and smoky dessert a Diva favorite! The Bakersfield Petroleum of Bakersfield, is the fine dining experience that leaves memories of the caliber of exceptional customer service and hospitality. The trademark to adhere to.
Facing page: Crab-stuffed shrimp and New York steak Clockwise: Chocolate truffle cake, crème brulée and bananas foster
Annette Mercado General Contractor, C.K.D. License # 865925
Michele Waugh
Showroom inside Artistic Surfaces 120 Union Avenue 588-8481 • BRCKitchenBath.com Promotional Content
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Eat & Drink
FOOD DUDES
YAMATO SUSHI & BAR Compiled by Bakersfield Life Photos by Greg Nichols
Yamato Sushi & Bar is a hidden little gem on 19th Street in downtown Bakersfield that is more than meets the eye. Beyond the variety of fresh seafood and sizzling bento boxes served in the dining area, the basement offers additional fun – wonderfully decorated and made for a fantastic private lounge that would be a crazy fun area for a group of friends to enjoy. Yamato Sushi & Bar is great addition to downtown Bakersfield and the local sushi scene.
APPETIZERS Drake Massey on the seaweed salad: For an appetizer, I started the night off with the seaweed salad. My Food Dude amigos looked at me a little funny when this dish hit the table. I don’t know if the salad is real seaweed or not, but it sure was good. The salad is not leafy, but more a small pile of very thin noodles. It’s dark green in color and has sesame seeds lightly sprinkled on top. The texture is a little crunchy and takes a little getting used to, but delicious nonetheless. A must-order, in my opinion. Chris Wilson on the spicy cracker appetizer: The spicy cracker was not a cracker, but multiple thick flour tortilla chips topped with a pureed mix of spicy tuna, tomato and crunch masago sauce. Interestingly, the spicy tuna’s combination of textures and flavors complemented the crunch of the tortilla chip. The spicy cracker was a great start to the evening and an excellent choice to share with others.
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Bakersfield Life Magazine
August 2017
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Facing page: Spicy tuna tempura roll Food Dudes from left: Chris Wilson, Anthony Galagaza, Gary Carruesco and Drake Massey. From left to right: Seaweed salad, spicy cracker appetizer and the Yamato Special Roll
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Yamato Sushi & Bar
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tuna roll with sweet and mayo sauces with green onion and masago on top. This roll truly did not disappoint. It conveyed flavor-packed pockets of savory and hot kicks from the tuna tempura. My roll of choice was flavored to near perfection and I don’t say that lightly, because one roll truly did not seem nearly enough. It was that good! Chris on the Yamato Special Roll: With much anticipation for something new and unique in a sushi dish, I was anxious to try their signature roll, which bears the name of the restaurant.
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Anthony Galagaza on the spicy tuna tempura roll: First, let me state that the service was wonderful and the restaurant itself is inviting. Having a good sushi establishment in downtown Bakersfield is another nice addition to the many flavorful restaurants and choices in the area. All of the rolls were displayed with impeccable plating and presentation and were large portions. I had the spicy tempura tuna roll, which is one of my usual safe and go-to choices when first dining at a sushi restaurant that is new to me. It was a deep-fried spicy
CHESTER AVE
ENTREES
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Yamato Sushi & Bar 1419 19th St. 661-326-1187 Open every day from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Luckily, I was not disappointed. The outside of the roll consisted of albacore, avocado, dried fish, green onion and masago special sauce. Within the roll, spicy crab and tuna complemented each other and gave it that special taste sushi fans crave. Drake on the Bakersfield Roll: What I liked about Yamato Sushi was they had a wide selection of sushi options for the patron who may not be a traditional sushi connoisseur. I happen to like my sushi deep-fried – I know, I know, I cheated. I ordered the Bakersfield Roll, which was tempura-fried spicy tuna, crab, avocado, jalapeno, cream cheese with spicy mayo and sweet sauce. It was great. If you like spicy, this is the roll for you. The spicy tuna and jalapeno gave this roll a nice little kick and the additional ingredients blended nicely to balance it out. And the presentation was phenomenal.
Mango sweet roll Facing page: Green tea ice cream
DESSERT Chris on the tempura ice cream: The tempura ice cream was an impressive ball of
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$0 DOWN FINANCING AVAILABLE Bad Credit OK!
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green tea ice cream fried in a light tempura batter and quartered, revealing the ice cream center. It was topped with crispy, chocolate-rolled wafers, drizzled with chocolate syrup and topped with a cherry. The fried tempura shell made for a delightfully soft coating. I was very impressed with the green tea ice cream. It had a unique flavor I had never tried before. I recommend ordering this dish, but be sure to ask for extra spoons. Drake on the green tea ice cream: For dessert, I enjoyed the green tea ice cream. It arrived in a large goblet and was accompanied with whipped cream, chocolate dressing and two skinny cinnamon chocolate sticks that were delightful. Sweet, creamy and refreshing is the best description I
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can provide for this dessert. A perfect selection for after dinner, especially on a scorching-hot Bakersfield evening.
Celebrate with us!
Our concerts begin November 2017 www.bakersfieldmasterchorale.org
www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Eat & Drink
LUNCHTIME PICKS
KC Steakhouse and tomatoes. The kicker is the drizzled cusabi sauce over the top. It’s creamy with hints of wasabi flavors without being too spicy. This is offered on their dinner menu as well, but at lunch, it’s the lighter version. The sliced almonds on the side was a nice touch, adding texture to this mouthwatering meal. Try pairing a glass of rose with that to top it off.
Story and photos by Holly Bikakis
There is something comforting when visiting Bakersfield establishments like KC Steakhouse. That old-school feeling when you walk in the door is very inviting and comforting, yet when you dig a little deeper into the place, there is something fresh and new happening. Sure, its reputa-
tion is built on being a great steakhouse/American classics kind of restaurant, but times and tastes are changing and so is their menu. Old favorites remain, but new lighter menu choices and wild game options will be available. Even new dishware is in the works. Bakersfield Life met up with one of the owners, Cassie Bittle. She’s not your average owner/bartender in this family run business. She’s ex-
Top: Seared ahi tuna salad Right: Baconwrapped brat
tremely informed about their extensive local wine selections and 107 whiskeys on hand and can recommend what drink to pair with your meal, in every price range. At KC’s, you not only have a waitress but a cocktail waitress for prompt service. Seared Ahi Tuna Salad ($16.95): Wow, was this a good salad. The ahi is seasoned with a house blend of Cajun spices and so tender, it just melts in your mouth. It’s served on top of a bed of fresh baby greens with sliced cucumbers, onions
Bacon-Wrapped Brat ($9.95): To know Cassie is to know that she loves hot dogs. So let’s go fancy and have some fun here. How about an apple-bacon-wrapped beer brat on a fresh grilled bun with garlic butter? Now caramelize some onions, add some classic mustard and a side of fries. Simply delicious. To add to this unique combination, pair a glass of champagne with that and now we’re having a fun meal. Live entertainment and dancing is every Tuesday through Saturday night. Visit their Facebook page for the latest on what’s happening. If you haven’t been by in a while, treat yourself to lunch at a Bakersfield tradition.
KC Steakhouse
2515 F St. 661-322-9910 Hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 4:30 p.m. to midnight; closed Sunday. Lounge closes at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. www.kcsteakhouse.net Find them on Facebook.
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Bakersfield Life Magazine
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LUNCHTIME PICKS
RJ’S BAR AND GRILL Story and photos by Mark Nessia
When it comes to a neighborhood bar and grill, few establishments fit the bill better than RJ’s. Nestled in northwest Bakersfield, bordered by the Links at RiverLakes and residential communities, the revived restaurant is a place to see familiar faces and enjoy delicious food. Breakfast may be considered the most important meal of the day, but the most enjoyable, in my opinion, is lunch. Some of the best menu items aren’t fired up until the clock strikes 11 a.m. and when that time comes, appetites are satiated, riveting conversations are struck and good times are had by all. RJ’s Bar & Grill is a laid-back, mellow lunch spot, offering a full menu and bar, a dozen bigscreen TVs and short wait times for classic American cuisine and ethnic specialties. Trash Can Nachos ($10.99; add $3.99 or $2.99 for steak or chicken, respectively): You had me at “trash can.” Promotional Content
Freshly made chips topped with chopped chicken breast, black beans, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole that’s layered with shredded cheese and smothered in gooey nacho cheese sauce are brought to the table in a large metallic tube resembling a trash bin. When the container is removed, gravity combines all the ingredients together for a fun, tasty and messy appetizer that can easily feed a group of four. Be sure to ask for extra napkins as every inch of the plate is covered in cheese, making it impossible to get through this starter spickand-span. Blackened Chicken Tortellini ($18.99): Just when you think nothing can top nachos served in a trash-can-like receptacle, enter the blackened chicken tortellini, a mountainous portion of ricotta-stuffed tortellini, housemade Alfredo sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and slices of juicy chicken breast served with a side of toasted, buttery garlic bread.
Every element should be tasted separately to truly appreciate how well they all blend together. The sauce is creamy and coats the pasta with rich flavor that complements the savory chicken and veggies nicely. The garlic bread was prepared as it should be: with a crisp, buttery-garlic exterior and a warm, soft interior. This is a dinnertime delicacy enjoyed in the fun, casual setting of a midday meal.
Top: Blackened chicken tortellini Bottom: Trash can nachos
RJ’s Bar and Grill
9440 Hageman Road, Suite C 661-615-3738 Open Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Find them on Facebook and Instagram.
www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Eat & Drink WHAT’S COOKING
Slice of Italy’s chicken fettuccine alfredo with sun-dried tomatoes Chef’s Take “This is one of our more popular dishes. It’s creamy, herby and the chicken is moist.”
PHOTO BY MARK NESSIA
– Chef Ruben Rivera
CHICKEN FETTUCCINE ALFREDO WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES
Ingredients for chicken • 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast • ¼ teaspoon salt • ¼ teaspoon white pepper • ¼ teaspoon rosemary • ¼ teaspoon sage • ¼ teaspoon thyme • ¼ teaspoon basil • 2 garlic cloves minced • ½ to 1 cup of flour Sauce • ½ cup heavy cream • 1 tablespoon shallots • 2 garlic cloves • ½ cup of julienned 32
Bakersfield Life Magazine
sun-dried tomatoes • Pinch of white pepper to taste • Pinch of salt to taste • ½ cup of chicken broth • ¼ cup of grated parmesan cheese • 1 stick of butter • Fettuccine pasta Instructions Marinade chicken by combining the listed herbs, salt, white pepper and minced garlic for 15 to 20 minutes. Cook pasta in a large pot of water according to its directions. Cool down pasta until ready to use.
August 2017
In the meantime, add oil and one stick of butter to a skillet on low-medium heat. Dredge chicken breast in flour and place in skillet. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes on each side; cook thoroughly. Remove chicken from the heat, cut into bite-sized pieces. Set aside until the sauce is ready. For the sauce, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a skillet, adding shallots and garlic once the oil is hot. Add a pinch of salt and white pepper along with 1 teaspoon of butter. Then add chicken breast to the skillet; add julienned sun-dried tomatoes
along with chicken broth and heavy cream and bring to a low simmer. Cook for 3 minutes then mix in parmesan cheese to thicken the sauce. Finally, mix in the cooked and drained fettuccine noodles; let the pasta rest a few minutes to absorb some of the sauce. Plate and garnish with parmesan cheese and parsley. Enjoy! Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 14 mins Serves 4
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B A KE R S F I E LD • F R E S N O • S A N DI E Gwww.kleinlaw.com O • K L E IN L AW.COM
Lifestyles
PASTIMES
COMPETITION, CAMARADERIE AT THE CENTER OF LOCAL DART LEAGUE
Members of the Rogue Darting Association gather for an offseason tournament at Chat ’N’ Chew. Facing page: Bradley Dobbins releases a dart in what would be the second of three consecutive bull’seyes, known as a hat trick.
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Story and photos by Mark Nessia
Get comfortable, maintaining a balanced stance. Keep your throwing hand close to your body, minimizing excess movement. Make sure your grip is relaxed as you sight the dart, release and follow through. Just don’t aim for the center. Contrary to popular belief, the bull’s-eye is not the highest-scoring spot on the dart board. “Aiming for the center is what most people think, but a lot of times, that’s the last thing you aim at, at the very end,” said Bob Becker, league president of the Rogue Darting Association in
Bakersfield Life Magazine
August 2017
Bakersfield. The Rogue Darting Association has been bringing competitive dart players together for close to 10 years, evolving from past steel-tip leagues in town and gathering weekly at Chat ’N’ Chew during league play and monthly during the off-season. The games played consist of a variety of 01 games (pronounced “oh-one”), in which players start with a starting score of 301, 401, 501, etc. and must reach zero in as few throws as possible, and cricket, where the objective is to “close” certain numbers on the dartboard while attempting to accumulate the highest point total. In either game, the bull’s-eye plays a
minimal role. “In an 01 game, you generally don’t throw at the bull,” Becker said. “It’s points but it’s not as easy to hit.” Becker was first exposed to darts in college, hanging out with friends in a dorm room with a board. As he traveled about, the game followed. Now he heads a league that
The Rogue Darting Association has been bringing competitive dart players together for close to 10 years. has over a dozen active members and is always looking for more. A $10 entry fee helps pay for materials and there’s a $5 entry fee to play in each tournament, which individuals can win back depending on the number of wins accumulated. All ages and skill levels are welcome. “We’ve had everybody
from never playing to having played for 40 years,” Becker said. “It’s a good range of people. Right now, most of the people are at a pretty skilled level, but we don’t discourage people from joining – everybody’s got to start somewhere.” The competition and camaraderie is what makes darts most enjoyable, dating all the way back to Becker’s college days.
Kern County Museum 3801 Chester Ave., Bakersfield, CA Pre 72 • NSRA Inspection • Lots of Shade Food and Beverage Vendors Will Be On Site 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Registration
• $30 Pre-Registration Post • Spectators Gate opens at 9am Marked by 9/11/17 • Adults/Children: $10 | Kids 2 Yrs + • $35 Registration Fee at the Under: Free | Seniors/Military: $9 show 9/17/17
Food vendors available for spectators
For more information call
Debbie Wilson at (661) 587-6379 Vintageltdstreetrods.com
An all-in-one restaurant, museum and theatre focusing on the rich history and sounds of country music. Outstanding food, fascinating memorabilia and great live music including the Buckaroos and special guests most Friday and Saturday nights.
OPEN FOR DINNER Tuesday-Thursday 5-9PM • Friday-Saturday 5-10PM • Sunday Brunch 9:30-2PM
LIVE MUSIC NIGHTLY Call for concert & entertainment information.
“I’m not the best player, but even if I lose, I have a good time – most of the time,” Becker said.
Just The Facts
For more information about the Rogue Darting Association, contact Bob Becker at 661-332-5806 or rbecker@bak.rr.com or check out its Facebook page: Rogue Darting Association.
2800 Buck Owens Blvd., Bakersfield, CA 93308
www.buckowens.com
(661) 328-7560 www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Lifestyles
WHAT’S HAUTE
JULIA JULIA at The Marketplace is Bakersfield’s new one-stop shop for designer jewelry and accessories. One of the most exciting brands featured is ALEX AND ANI, who are famous for their expandable and stackable charm bangles – you will see many imitations and knockoffs, but this is the real thing. Handmade in America with eco-friendly metals, each bangle features a meaningful charm that comes with an individual meaning card that explains the significance and story behind it. “I love hearing my customers tell the story of their bangle stack. Some of them were gifts from loved ones and others are ones that they bought themselves to remind themselves of things and people that are important to them,” owner Vincent Cho said. Carolyn Rafaelian started the brand in the basement of her father’s jewelry factory in Rhode Island. A little over 10 years later, she recently made the cover of Forbes Magazine as one of the richest self-made women in America. She attributes the success of the brand to its stated mission of promoting positive energy. An example of this is the “Charity by Design” bangle collection, where ALEX AND ANI creates a special bangle for a charity and donates 20 percent of the purchase price to that charity. To date, they have donated almost $50 million to over 50 charities.
Favorites include the three shown below: the “Lighthouse” (benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society), “Prints of Love” paw print (benefiting the ASPCA) and the “Unicorn” (benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals). Stop by today to join us in exploring the world of ALEX AND ANI jewelry – we can’t wait to show you what they mean to us.
ALEX AND ANI DESIGNS
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1 “Lighthouse” (benefits Leukemia and Lymphoma Society): $28 2 “Unicorn” (benefits Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals): $38 3 “Prints of Love” (benefits ASPCA): $34 4 Wonder Woman logo: $38
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August 2017
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5 “J” initial: $28 6 August birthstone (Swarovski Crystal): $32 7 Mermaid set: $58
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JULIA (located next to Chico’s at The Marketplace) 661-412-8068 Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday. Find them on Facebook Instagram @ JULIABakersfield
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Patty Gray
ONE OF THE OWNERS/CHIEF STEWARDING OFFICER FOR DREAMMAKER BATH & KITCHEN
What does a product like Bakersfield Life Magazine mean to the community?
“
I think it brings the community together, because we’re familiarizing ourselves with other businesses, with leaders in the community, with restaurants and events. It’s just a good way to bring the community together so everybody knows what’s happening and I think it’s a wonderful venue to be able to do that. – Patty Gray
bakersfieldlife.com
”
Go & Do
ENTERTAINMENT
Elle Woods dances into Ovation Theatre in ‘Legally Blonde’ musical By Shelby Parker
Elle Woods has proved that she can do just about anything: get into Harvard, end up with the guy she wants and now her fictional life has been turned into a musical. In 2007, the popular film “Legally Blonde” was adapted into a Broadway musical, known as “Legally Blonde: The Musical.” The new Ovation Theatre in Bakersfield will present its second production every weekend in August. As a new theater, Ovation wanted something that gave an opportunity to balance artistic creativity and familiarity for the audience. This musical allowed them to explore the “sweet spot” for both. “The story’s a good story no matter where it comes from,” Jarred Clowes, the director of the stage production, said. "It all depends on the execution.” Woods is a girl on a mission to win back Warner, the man she thought she’d spend the rest of her life with. She follows him to Harvard, which she also gets accepted to. “She’s super confident and succeeds at everything she tries. She eventually even gets Warner in the end, even though at that point, she doesn’t want him anymore,” Clowes said. 38
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August 2017
Eventually, she finds that there’s more to life than the guy and pursues a career in law on her own. She also meets a few unexpected friends along the way, including a new love interest and pals that help her along the way to a new dream. Alyssa Bonanno will play the always charming Woods.
The audience can “expect to be emotionally affected by the story. I think they’re going to come and expect to see a fun show, and they’re going to see a fun show, but they’re going to see something that leaves them thinking as well.”
– Jarred Clowes
“Alyssa brings a sensitivity to the role that we don’t see in Reese (Witherspoon),” Clowes said. “I think Alyssa’s more vulnerable than she is, or at least how it was played.” Woods’ journey is slightly different from the
film. Clowes explained that it isn’t about Woods trying to overcome her inefficiency, or even finding herself, but she discovers there’s more to life than she thought. The characters have changed a bit and Woods’ relationship with Emmett, the new love interest, also plays a very important part this time around. “There’s some heart to this show that doesn’t even exist in the movie,� Clowes said, “a lot better than it deserves to be.� The audience can “expect to be emotionally affected by the story," Clowes said. “I think they’re going to come and expect to see a fun show, and they’re going to see a fun show, but they’re going to see something that leaves them thinking as well.�
“Legally Blonde: The Musical�
REGISTRATION INCLUDES: t 1SF SBDF CSFBLGBTU t 3VO 5P 3FNFNCFS TIJSU t 5PQ OPUDI WFOEPS FYQP t 1PTU SBDF BXBSE DFSFNPOZ
DATE OF RUN:
SATURDAY 10.28.17
REGISTER AT: www.HoffmannHospice.org EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION: $30 - Ends 9.29.2017 LOCATION: 4401 Buena Vista Rd., Bakersfield, CA 93311
$BOhU BUUFOE 3VO 5P 3FNFNCFS +PJO PVS WJSUVBM SVO 7JTJU UIF FWFOU XFCTJUF GPS NPSF JOGPSNBUJPO
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Ovation Theater 1622 19th St. Show runs every Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and every Sunday at 2 p.m. through the month of August. For the full schedule and more information, visit: www.theovationtheatre.com. Tickets are $35 ($30 for students, seniors and military).
RUN TO REMEMBER YOUR SPECIAL LOVED ONE.
by the
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201 7 7pm to 9 pm
August
03 Pop-Rock Originals and Covers with THERESE MULLER
10 R&B and Classic Rock with LOST VINYL 17 MR. TRIMBLE & UNIQUE SOUL, Classic Soul and R&BÂ 24 High Octane Motown and Rhythm & Blues with FOSTER CAMPBELL & FRIENDS 31 Jamaican Ska, Rock, Salsa & Funk with MENTO BURUÂ
www.drsutervision.com
www.themarketplacebakersfield.com | 9000 Ming Ave. (at Haggin Oaks Blvd.)
www.BakersfieldLife.com
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The Friends of Mercy Foundation and Mercy Hospitals thank the 152 members of the 2016/2017 Catherine McAuley Society for their commitment to Mercy Hospitals.
of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Thanks to the generosity of the Catherine McAuley Society, Mercy will be the only hospital between Los Angeles and Fresno to have this potentially life-saving blue light technology.
Since 2005, this philanthropic group of women has contributed more than $1,284,000 in support of equipment, technology and education programs for Mercy Hospitals. This year, their cumulative gift of $147,000 funded a microtome, used in the lab department, to diagnose many conditions including early stages of cancer; and a stateof-the-art Blue Light Cystoscopy System used in surgical procedures to enhance the detection and management
For more information about the Catherine McAuley Society or how to join this unique group of philanthropic women, visit www.SupportFriendsofMercy.org or call (661) 663-6700. You can view pictures from past Catherine McAuley Society luncheons, by visiting our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FriendsofMercyFoundation.
2016-2017 MEMBERS Cherie Aaron Maureen Andrew Antonette S. Anich* Marcelle Ansolabehere* Rosemary Anspach* Sandy Banducci* Kay Beavers Kathryn Bernardino Mary Berry Edith Bianco Lynda Bittleston Tricia Bland Michele Borel Doreen Boylan-Abrams* Ann Braun Brenda Brown Alissa Buckey* Vicki Burger Sharon Bush* Beverly Camp Pat Campbell* Debbie Cappello* Naida Carlton Patti Carroll* Sylvia Cattani* Susan Cerri-Buck Jennice Cerrina
Julie Cesare Becky Clark Terri Collins Janet Craft Kathy Crettol Sarah Crowley Jennifer Culbertson Linda Dane Joan Dezember* Fern DiNicola* Joyce Downs Jennifer B. Drake Adel Durando* Mesha Elliott Cherilee Ezell Kathy Fahy Gina Fanucchi Judith Fanucchi Christine Farr Kimberly Fiorini Melissa Fortune Sandra Foster Debbie Fowler Marilyn H. Fowler Judy Franconi* Jan Froehlich Sheila Fry
Mary Gamboni Catherine Gay Cynthia Giumarra Marcia Giumarra Keri Gless Jan Glinn ;QNCPFC )TKHĆ‚VJU
Susan Hamilton Brenda Haskell Catherine Haupt Jane Haupt Mikie Hay* Elizabeth Hedden Lauren Helper Ann Hine Beth Hoffmann Patricia Houchin Debbie Hull* Christine Icardo Cynthia Icardo* Nancy H. K. Johnson Cindy Jones Germaine Kimm Lisa King Karen Krausse-Roesle Diane Lake* Valerie Lallo
Dee Ann Lantz* Marianne Laxague Mary Lewis Lesa Mackessy Robin Mangarin-Scott Dana Matuk Mary Mazzei* Ronda Mazzei Louise McCarthy Betsy McMurtrey Theresa McNally Cindy Meek Mary Ann Mulkay Beth Nahama Lily Nahama Marjorie Nixon Cheryl Palla Beth Pandol Carolyn Pandol Mona Pankey* Laura Pascoe Barbara Patrick Patty Plank* Becky Porter Judith Price Sandra Reider Mary C. Richardson
Monique Roberts Linda Rojas Arlene J. Roland Chris Romanini Erika Romanini Alexis Roy Barbara Sandrini* Florence Schroeder* Joellyn Schroeder Sandi Shepherd Juliet Smith Karen Stanley Sherry Stone Sheryl Stuhr Mora Tang Terry Thelen Donna Tirp Donna Toretta Brooke Trybul Jane Uhalt* Marilynn Unruh Kristin Varner Joan Wallace Lynn Ward Stephanie Weber* Evelyn Weddle* Kathy Wells
Katie Werdel Sue Williams Agnes Wu, MD Angela Wyatt Patty Young Jennifer Zahry Dominique Zaninovich Katy Zaninovich Tammie Zaninovich* Theo Zaninovich
Memorial Members Patty Bass Frankie Berchtold Bebe Burke Jacqueline Coppola Patricia Eagleson* ;QNCPFC )TKHĆ‚VJU
Patty Plank* Margaret Philippe Joan Pracy Ruth Ann Montgomery* Judith Schwebel* Mary Lou Thomson Caroline West
Honorary Members Sister Cris Caballero Sister Sherry Dolan Sister Josie Gonzales* *Charter Members Sister Judy Morasci* Sister Mary Hope Sanchez Jane Toller*
“Timeless Commitment to Local Healthcare”
The Friends of Mercy Foundation and Mercy Hospitals extend our sincerest appreciation to the 109 members of the 2016/2017 William Howell Century Club for their support and commitment to Mercy Hospitals. Their cumulative gift of $110,000 funded four new ultrasound units for the Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) Line and Surgery departments at Mercy. The PICC line ultrasounds allow our caregivers to accurately visualize vessels, track needle [YHQLJ[VY` HUK ZLL [OL ÄUHS [PW SVJH[PVU VM 70** SPULZ placed in our patients requiring long-term antibiotics
or continuous blood draws. The ultrasound for the surgery department will allow anesthesiologists to accurately guide needles when injecting numbing block while avoiding nerves resulting in fewer side effects and reduction in post-surgical pain. For more information about the William Howell Century Club and how you can join this annual giving men’s philanthropic group, please visit us at www.SupportFriendsofMercy.org or (661) 663-6700. For pictures from William Howell Century Club dinners, please visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ FriendsofMercyFoundation
2016-2017 MEMBERS Hal Aaron Alpha J. Anders, MD Steve Anderson Jeff Andrew* Kevin Andrew* Robert Anspach* Tim Banks, II Antonio Beccari* Michael Beckwith* Thomas Berry, DDS Leonard A. Bidart* Scott Black Glenn Bland Greg Braun Mike Burger Les Burson, MD William Bush* Javier Bustamante, MD* Jim Camp Mike Campbell* George Cappello* Fred Carlisle Arnold Cattani*
Jim Cesare P.R. Chandrasekaran, MD Steve Chen Anthony Ciarolla, MD* Donald Collins Michael Cooper Alfred Coppola, Jr., MD* Mark Costa Steve Del Papa* Tunde Deru Kirit Desai, MD Vipul Dev, MD William DiNicola, MD* David C. Dougherty, MD* Gordon Downs Brian Ezell William Farr, MD* Franco Felizarta, MD Greg Gallion David Gay Barry Goldner* Raj Gopal, MD Brandon Grimm
Michael Hair, Jr.* Mayor Harvey L. Hall* Chris Hamilton, MD* S.J. Hardy, MD Bruce Haupt* Steve Haupt* Dan Hay Tyler Hedden Thomas Hoffmann Ed Hopple* Donald Houchin Adam Icardo Gary Icardo* Kamalnath Iyer, MD Tom Jamieson* Ray Karpe* Gurvir Khurana, MD Geoffrey King Hemmal Kothary, MD Wayne Kress John P. Lake Ron Lallo Bill Lazzerini
Tony Lazzerini George Martin John Mastalski Angelo Mazzei Livio Mazzei Sean McNally Jarrad Merriman, MD Donald Montano, DDS* Mark Mulkay Joe Nahama Daniel Newton Logan Newton David Norris Rodney Palla Ravi Patel, MD Andrew Pederson Bruce Peters Lloyd Plank* Dick Porter* William Reyneveld Randy Richardson* Joseph Roberts* Chas Sanders
Bob Severs* Robert Sheldon, MD* David Shepherd Joe Smith, MD David Stanley Sandys Tang, MD Tim Terrio Uma R. Varanasi, MD George Wahba, MD Doug Weber* Jim Weddle Tom Werdel David Williams Jimmy Yee
John Young, MD* Jon P. Zaninovich* Joe Ziemann* Memorial Members Bob Abrams George Ansolabehere E.G. Berchtold Romain Clerou, MD Ray Dezember* Warren Haupt *Charter Members
Go & Do
OUT & ABOUT
KEYS TO KERN RIVER SAFETY: Education, life jacket By Liarida Yoakum Photos by Jonah and Lindsay
We may not be as big as Los Angeles, nor a small city where everyone knows your name, but Bakersfield is the happy medium many are looking for. We are fortunate as a community to embody an array of culture, food and music. But more often than not, we forget about one of the most beautiful natural resources of Bakersfield: the Kern River. The Kern River, an integral part of Bakersfield, has been the center of attention for some time and the dangers of the rapids has always been acknowledged and presented. Its reputation has always been less than desirable during this time of year, and it is important to be aware of the dangers and to implement a form of safety should you choose to go down river. Continued on Page 44
“The river is a very safe place to be. When done correctly, it is absolutely worth enjoying. Everyone come out; enjoy the river.”
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– Darron Nilsson, owner of River’s End Rafting
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August 2017
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“It’s a beautiful river, it’s an amazing river – the current never stops,” Darron Nilsson, owner of River’s End Rafting, said. Rivers End Rafting is located off of Highway 178. “It’s not like a swimming pool or a lake,” Nilsson said. “Those are calm and extremely forgiving, whereas a river is not forgiving and it is always moving.” Nilsson has been a rafting guide for 24 years and gone down rivers such as the American River in Sacramento and the Colorado River. “What people don’t realize is the pressure behind that movement,” Nilsson said. “You are at the mercy of the movement. That’s the biggest concern with the river is that it’s always moving.” The key to enjoying the river is “education and a life jacket.” Whether your plans
are to wade in the water or go down river in an inner tube, a life jacket is always essential. There are different types of life jackets. A type I life jacket is more for comfort and is more like a ski jacket, but safety isn’t about looking cute in the water or being “cool.” It’s preparing yourself in a responsible way for the worstcase scenario. The river is always changing, so with that change we need a reliable safety net. The ideal life jacket to wear is a type III, certified by the U.S. Coast Guard and designed to not only keep your body afloat, but also, should a person become unconscious, it will roll the body to be placed on its back. “The river is a very safe place to be,” Nilsson said. “When done correctly, it is absolutely worth enjoying. Everyone come out; enjoy the river.”
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Continued from Page 42
Bakersfield Life Magazine
Go & Do
TRIP PLANNER
A day in RIDGECREST,
CALIFORNIA CITY
Rock formations at Red Rock Canyon tower above visitors.
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Compiled by Bakersfield Life Photos by Mark Nessia
The east side of Kern County contains two unique communities with origins worthy of a Hollywood script. Ridgecrest is the birthplace of innovation and cutting-edge technology and research, where some of the nation’s brightest minds gather. The geneses of the Sidewinder missile, modern-day GPS and MRI technology, and so much more can be traced back to China Lake. But Ridgecrest is also home to remnants of civilizations long gone. The canyons and plateaus of the Coso Mountains contain the largest concentration of petroglyphs in the western hemisphere. These images were
Bakersfield Life Magazine
August 2017
carved into basalt rocks by hunter-gatherers who inhabited the region and date back hundreds, even thousands, of years. California City is a city that never was. Founded in 1958, it was an ambitious development from the mind of Nat Mendelsohn who wanted a utopian city that would rival Los Angeles. But it was not meant to be and much of the area’s 203 square miles are merely empty roads and lots with no buildings or homes to occupy the spaces. Still, for 13,000 people, it’s home – one like no other in the county.
China Lake Museum The U.S. Naval Museum of Armament and Technology in Ridgecrest, more commonly
known as China Lake Museum, is located on the grounds of the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. Unlike Edwards Air Force Base, its neighbor to the south, NAWS China Lake is all about the development and testing of weapons – bombs, rockets, missiles – anything that explodes. It covers more than 1 million acres, most of it open, remote desert where the weapons can be safely detonated. We were given the Cadillac of tours by Paul Homer, a retired 35-year veteran of China Lake. We saw air-to-air, airto-ground, ground-to-air and submarine-launched missiles – Tridents, Tomahawks, Condors, Sparrows and bunker busters. Each weapon was designed to accomplish a very specif-
Left: Must-see attractions in Ridgecrest include the China Lake Museum and Petroglyph Park. Bottom: Tortas and hot chocolate from Celsius 30 in California City.
ic task – to destroy a specific target or operate in a specific environment – and each seemed to have a colorful backstory. One of them was designed to deliver and disperse a chemical agent so toxic that a droplet the size of Abraham Lincoln’s eye on a penny would be lethal.
Petroglyph Park Petroglyphs have become the unofficial mascots of Ridgecrest. The ancient, mysterious, playful images carved into the rocks of the Coso Mountains about 40 miles north of town have a childlike innocence about them and can be seen, in the form of commissioned sculptures, rising out of the median along China Lake Boulevard the town’s main thoroughfare. In 2014, the city put on their inaugural Petroglyph Festival, which coincided with the opening of Petroglyph Park. The park consists of approximateContinued on Page 49
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Go & Do
TRIP PLANNER
The 2017 Ridgecrest Petroglyph Festival is Nov. 4 to 5.
Clockwise from top: Air Force Flight Test Museum at Edwards Air Force Base, lunch from Saigon Flavor in Ridgecrest, Paul Homer of the U.S. Naval Museum of Armament and Technology at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Ridgecrest Regional Wild Horse and Burro Corrals and butte bagging in California City. Facing page: Campsite at the base of the cliffs at Red Rock Canyon.
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Continued from Page 47
ly 12 acres of land on China Lake Boulevard, beautifully landscaped with drought-tolerant native plants. There are walking paths, picnic tables, restrooms and a child’s play area, but the most prominent features are the 21 large slabs of stone, adorned with carved replicas of the petroglyphs. We were given a tour of the park by local artist, Olaf Doud, the creator of the monolithic works of art, and he explained that their purpose is to pay tribute to the Native American heritage of the area and to allow people the experience the petroglyphs without having to leave town.
Butte Bagging Those who love the outdoors will feel right at home in California City. Not only are there camping opportunities at Red Bluff Canyon at the base of its cliffs, the area is also one of the hottest birding spots in Southern California. However, we came for the buttes. California City is home to a half-dozen “major buttes,” according to Alexia Svejda, who was generous enough to guide us during our trip. A butte is an isolated hill with
steep sides and a relatively flat top reminiscent of mesas and plateaus but on a smaller scale. The buttes found across California City range in difficulty from doable to extremely challenging but the views from the top are worth the trouble – quiet, serene and almost otherworldly.
Air Force Flight Test Museum The material history of Edwards Air Force Base is preserved and displayed across 8,500 square feet of exhibits at the Air Force Flight Test Museum located on the base itself. The exhibits cover a wide array of subjects, from flight testing during World War II, high-speed flight and the breaking of the sound barrier, to the story of Glen Edwards, the base’s namesake. Aircraft from the past and present are on full display allowing visitors to see where aviation came from, where it is now and where it will be in the future. Nearly 40 aircraft are on display in addition to various artifacts, models and photographs. Tours for the general public are offered once a month. The tours are free but a reservation is required. www.BakersfieldLife.com
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GET MOVING
Rio Bravo Valley CrossFit staff, from left: Caleb Eknoian, Morgan Musquez, Melissa Folsom and Art Folsom. Rio Bravo Valley CrossFit members participate in the strength portion of a workout consisting of front squats.
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Story by Mark Nessia
Within each CrossFit gym rests a small community of members with one common interest: fitness. But inside the doors of Rio Bravo Valley CrossFit is a society like no other – a collection of individuals whose ages run the gamut from the young to the young at heart, ones who are far in their fitness journeys and those just taking their first steps – an eclectic mix of veterans and newbies. “Our motto is ‘train like family,’” said Melissa Folsom. The owners of RBVCF don’t just train like family, they are family. Along with her husband, Art Folsom, and daughter Morgan Musquez, Melissa and company take their mission to heart. Since opening two years ago, the trio has transformed lives and debunked common misconceptions that surround CrossFit. At 58 and 50 years old, Art and Melissa are some of the oldest CrossFit gym owners – not just locally, but across the nation – and have made the workouts accessible to a middle-aged demographic. Instead of tracking pounds, Rio Bravo Valley CrossFit tracks time. Workouts, which range from an endless combination of strength and metabolic conditioning exercises, come with a time limit. The aim is to finish with as much time left as possible.
Bakersfield Life Magazine
August 2017
PHOTO BY MARK NESSIA
PHOTO COURTESY OF RIO BRAVO VALLEY CROSSFIT
Rio Bravo Valley CrossFit
“There’s a definite yardstick that you can measure how well you’re doing with and it’s based on your performance,” Art said. Many CrossFit workouts are named after women. According to founder Greg Glassman, “anything that leaves you laying on your back gasping for air wondering what just happened to you should be named after a girl.” During my visit, I had the pleasure of meeting “Fran.” Fran is three rounds of thrusters and pullups. We were given 10 minutes to complete a circuit of 21 thrusters, 21 pullups, 15 thrusters, 15 pullups, nine thrusters and nine pullups. Up next was the strength portion of the workout, which consisted of eight one-rep sets of front squats at 90 to 95 percent of your max and a 20-minute time limit. The coup de grace was a 16-minute AMRAP, as many reps as possible, of back squats and burpees. While the workouts are challenging, they are not meant to be intimidating. “In every class, there’s a wide range of abilities,” trainer Caleb Eknoian said. “There’s always a modification. It’s learnable.” Inside Rio Bravo Valley CrossFit, there is laughing and smiling amid the exhaustion, camaraderie among members, encouragement among family. “It’s a community here,” said Diane Monsibais, a member since August 2015. “Even if you’re the last to finish, everyone is there to cheer you on.”
Rio Bravo Valley CrossFit 11000 Kern Canyon Road 661-345-6687 www.riobravovalleycrossfit.com Free two-week trial period after sign-up. Nutrition and diet services also provided.
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B Well
GET MOVING
IN-SHAPE HEALTH CLUBS Story and photos by Holly Bikakis
Once you’ve decided to get off the couch, it can be difficult to find the right gym. Each has its own personality and various offerings of classes and equipment. I suggest looking at In-Shape Health Clubs; they offer something for everyone at every fitness level. Think of them as a fitness retreat for your body and soul. I recently visited the In-Shape at Seven Oaks and met up with some of the staff. District Manager Tom Lange answered my questions and toured me around the club. It’s clean, it’s bright, it’s a happy place to be.
Les Mills Group Fitness Classes I started out by taking a Les Mills BodyPump class. It’s good for building muscle through curls, squats and weightlifting. As a firsttimer to a class, you never
know what to expect. Our instructor, Jennifer Jones, was very motivating, energetic and made the class fun to be in, while at the same time delivering a punishing workout. Yes, my legs are sore as I write this. Afterward, we checked out the club. In-Shape offers everything you need to get fit, have fun and relax. After the workout we just had, the sauna, massage chairs, tanning and hydro-massage beds looked particularly appealing. The strength and weight-training machines looked band-new and in great condition. Upstairs included a unique area called the 29-Minute Circuit for members needing a quick total body workout. In-Shape offers something for the mind, too, with yoga and Pilates classes. We headed back downstairs to check out the 360 Fit area where personal trainers challenge clients in a range of functional exercises.
Top from left to right: Jacqueline Buchanan, Hansel Borges, Tom Lange and Jared Robertson, Bakersfield Regional Manager. Bottom: A view of one of the workout areas from up top.
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Now my favorite part of the tour is the outdoor pool area, complete with cabana and chaise lounges. Heated, of course, in the wintertime. To wrap it up, the ladies’ locker room had all the essentials needed to get ready for the rest of the day, even a swimsuit dryer that takes less than a minute. There are six locations in Bakersfield. Some offer different options like racquetball, tennis and basketball courts, or, in this case, the outdoor pool. We all need motivation sometimes to get to the gym so In-Shape makes it fun with programs like, Work Out and Win – work out at the club, track your visits and win prizes. Do you like dancing? Hot Zumba nights are offered once a month – basically a dance party, but sign up quick; spots go fast. Need a babysitter to make
it to the club? They have a Kid Zone. Want to socialize for a bit? Their lounge area in the lobby is a great spot to meet up with fellow club members. All of these perks create a place that feels like a health retreat that’s all about making you a better you. Get started today by coming in for your free guest pass or downloading the In-Shape App. It’s everything you need to know about signing up, club information and class schedules. You’ll be glad you did.
In-Shape Health Clubs 209-888-8435 www.inshape.com Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/inshape/ Instagram: @inshapeclubs In-Shape mobile phone app
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GET MOVING
FIT FOR LIFE GYM By Glenn Hammett
Photos by Mark Nessia
I pedal my bike past Fit For Life Gym on 19th, just east of Q Street, most evenings on my commute home from work and have always been struck by the number of cars that populate the nearby parking areas. So, I was pleased when I heard that I was assigned to participate in one of the gym’s workouts and finally find out what makes this place so popular. Following a few minutes of gentle warm up and some basic stretching, Tim Gojich, the gym’s owner with more than 18 years’ experience as a certified trainer, efficiently separated the 50 or so attendees into two groups based on their level of fitness. I was assigned to the advanced group and our first task was to do jumping jacks for the duration of the Police song “Roxanne.” Sounds pretty easy, but the catch was we had to a burpee each time “Roxanne” was sung. I had never done burpees before and, due to my lack of flexibility and somewhat gangly build, I found them to be more difficult than they appear. This, coupled with the fact
Members of the beginner group perform the resistance band chest press.
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Bakersfield Life Magazine
A group of advanced members take on landmine thrusters.
that “Roxanne” is uttered no less than 26 times over the course of the 3 minute, 12 second-length of the song made me question my placement in the advanced group, as well as my own fitness program. The meat of the workout consisted of a six-station circuit that included squats, dead lifts, lunges, more burpees and side planks. In groups of five, we spent 40 seconds at a station before quickly moving to the next, with a short water break between each cycle. Each station was set up ahead of time to accommodate five people, so there was no waiting and workout time was maximized. Prior to getting us started, Tim took a few minutes to demonstrate each exercise, explain the benefits and stress the importance of doing them properly. I was impressed by how thorough he was about this and yet, was able to do it quickly enough as to not cut into valuable
August 2017
workout time. Looking over at the beginner group, it appeared they were being equally challenged by Shane, another of Fit for Life’s certified trainers. The less fit are eased into the program via a six-week progressive workout that just about anyone could do. The place is extremely clean and, though I did not check them out, there are locker rooms and showers, described on their website as spa-like, fully stocked with body wash, shampoo, conditioners, gel, hair spray, hair dryers, curling irons and shower towels. Tim creates an atmosphere that is fun and supportive and it’s probably an understatement to call this workout challenging. By the beginning of the third time around the circuit, my burpee form had completely fallen apart and I was toast.
Fit For Life Gym 701 19th St. 661-325-0900 www.fitforlifegym.com Find them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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Go Lift Personal Training
By Holly Bikakis Photos by Mark Nessia
TRX rows, burpees, kettlebell pulls, wall sit, walking lunges, squats, pullups, battle ropes. Repeat. Repeat again and again. That is called a high-intensity interval training workout, or HIIT. I had the opportunity to go and do a workout at the Go Lift Personal Training facility located in downtown Bakersfield. Michael Urioste is a personal trainer there who, through his own journey of weight loss, wanted to share his passion for fitness and nutrition. He is relatively new at this facility but has been a personal trainer for the past five years, most recently at BakersFIT Training Studio. He is ACE certified and two other Go Lift trainers are NASM certified and Les Mills instructors. Also, you might have heard him on The Beat 103.9 as the fitness professional on first Saturdays at 8 p.m.
HIIT Crosstrain Class No pain, no gain. It’s a timeless saying that means Promotional Content
without hard work, there are no results. For me, personally, if I am going to go workout, I want to get as much out of it while I’m there because life happens when you walk out that door and get busy with your daily routines. But making a workout part of your routine is a great way to keep your body healthy – not only physically, but mentally, too. The room is intimate and your workout is with a group of like-minded people all there with the same goal of getting fit and or staying fit. Now that’s motivating. He offered various options to each exercise so you can tailor your workout according your abilities. What I liked about the class, in addition to getting a killer workout, was how Urioste integrates tips about nutrition. Top-ofmind awareness about what you’re eating is critical to overall health. After class, I chatted with Rawlyn Campas, a Go Lift member who has been going there for about a year and she said: “I’ve never been able to do lunges. My husband tried to teach me for years. When I started coming to Michael, I could
Personal trainer Michael Urioste
and was amazed.” I can see how going there on a regular basis is going to help you shed the weight and do it safely as he instructs on proper form so not to hurt yourself. This class is offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with more of a cardio focus, and on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, it’s more weight-training focused.
Bakersfield Challenge Fitness and Nutrition App Can’t always make it to the gym, but want to get on the fitness train? Get on board by trying out this app. The goal is for our town to lose 100,000 pounds. To get there, it offers daily video workouts, nutrition plan, food journal, communication with a trainer, and a place to track your measurements and progress photos.
Also, free Saturday classes are offered for beginners on Saturday mornings. It’s a great way to ease into your new healthy lifestyle. Their mission is to help you create healthy habits in fitness and in nutrition within the ultimate support group. Memberships are monthly or in six-month increments. They also have kids’ camps for ages 4 through 7 and 7 and up. Other services include oneon-one personal training, meal planning, grocery shopping, measurements and checkups, meal prepping and counseling.
Go Lift Personal Training 3500 21st St. 661-326-1266 www.goliftpt.com Facebook: Go Lift Personal Training Instagram: goliftpt
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B Well
FEATURE
There’s more to healthy
VISION than meets the eye Story and photos by Mark Nessia
C
lear vision doesn’t necessarily mean healthy eyes. It’s a common misconception regarding visual health and something that goes beyond a basic eye exam. With the visual system heavily linked to motor movements, eye health plays a bigger role in everyday life than most people realize. Deanna Lugo couldn’t understand why her 9-year-old daughter Analeina was struggling with reading. It wasn’t until Analeina’s optometrist, chiropractor and pediatrician recommended vision therapy and referred her to Dr. Penelope Suter that it was discovered that Analeina had convergence insufficiency and accommodative insufficiency, which means she has trouble focusing and maintaining focus on near items, like the words in a book. A person can have 20/20 vision but still have convergence and/or accommodative insufficiency. “Sight is what your eyes see; vision is how your brain interprets what your
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eyes see,” said Beth Houlihan, a certified optometric vision therapist who has worked with Analeina since April 2016. Because of the brain’s tendency to “self-correct,” combined with the gradual nature of vision degradation, many may not realize there is an issue with their vision to begin with.
Facing page: Teresa Richards, a certified optometric vision therapist, works with 6-yearold McKenzie Neufeld on an activity that combines balance and vision.
Most people just assume their motor system is doing what their visual system tells it, but when it’s put to the test – from kids who are having trouble reading all the way up to high-end athletes – that’s frequently not the case.
–Dr. Penelope Suter
“Our brains do not like to tell us about problems with our vision; it just keeps filling in and filling in,” said Suter, a Bakersfield optometrist with a specialty in vision therapy and vision rehabilitation. According to Suter, when there’s a disconnect between the eyes and the brain, more energy and focus are expended into seeing what’s on the page instead of processing the information, which means a person may be able to read the words but not retain the meaning of the material putting them at a disadvantage in the classroom. The only way to determine if these problems exist is through an eye exam and health check. The checkup starts with a general test and analysis of any functional complaints. Some problems can be fixed with glasses but muscle problems, such as difficulty coordinating the eyes, require a different solution.
Vision therapy is programmatic therapy – muscular and neuromuscular, perceptual and cognitive – that helps patients function better by synchronizing vision and motor function. The procedures assist children and adults with issues ranging from learning problems to brain injuries. “I love the brain injury part of the practice because it’s a place where you really get to help give people back some quality of life,” Suter said. Because the visual system is involved in so many things – from understanding what is seen, remembering what is seen, moving through space, guiding fine motor movements and gross motor movements, etc. – it plays a critical role in day-to-day life. Most people just
assume their motor system is doing what their visual system tells it, but when it’s put to the test –from kids who are having trouble reading all the way up to high-end athletes – that’s frequently not the case, Suter said. “You can increase everyone’s level of performance by making sure that the motor system and the visual system are in sync,” Suter said. “It all starts with healthy eyes.” In addition to improved performance in the classroom and on the soccer field, Analeina’s confidence has also benefitted from vision therapy. “She’s proud about (vision therapy),” Deanna said. “It answers why she sees things differently than we do.”
Nine-year-old Analeina Lugo reads with red-green bar filters on her glasses to help coordinate her eyes when viewing things up close. This page bottom: A Brock string contains three beads placed at varying distances that help patients develop better binocular vision.
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YOUR BODY
such as plantar fasciitis, they also should contemplate ways to protect their feet to prevent incidents that can occur. One way to help protect your feet is by wearing altered foot gear that is accommodating, accustomed or orthotic inside.
Once your plantar fascia gets injured, it can become irritated. As a result, the heel of your foot begins to hurt while standing or walking.
Watch over your feet! An overlooked topic with great importance By Amy Daigle
According to Dr. John Etcheverry of California Southern Orthopedic Institute, the average person takes 7,000 steps a day. We’re constantly working our bodies, whether it’s walking or using our
arms. Once we get up, all of the weight and work that we use go down to the base of our feet. Once our feet start hurting, it can quickly become a significant problem that could cause fractures and inflammations. “Plantar fasciitis is a big one. That’s the heel DID YOU KNOW?
Dr. John recommends Hoka One One shoes They have much more cushioning than average shoes. This cushioning acts to slow the velocity of the foot as it hits the ground. This can decrease pressure under the heel and under the ball of the foot. For this reason, these shoes can be helpful for people with ball-of-foot pain and heel pain such as plantar fasciitis. 58
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pain you see in adults,” Etcheverry said. Once your plantar fascia gets injured, it can become irritated. As a result, the heel of your foot begins to hurt while standing or walking. While people encounter these fractures and inflammations
“The shoes that I recommend a lot, especially for runners or anybody active, anybody with pain in their foot, the shoe that I like the most is called a Hoka One One,” Etcheverry said. This shoe was developed for an ultramarathon with a rocker sole underneath that is slightly curved to resemble the bowing of a rocking chair. According to “The Influence Of Shoe Design On Plantar Pres-
sures In Neuropathic Feet” by Stephan F.E. Praet and Jan-Willem K. Louwerens, shoes with a rocker-bottom principle reduced pressure 35 to 65 percent underneath the heel. Given the protective gear that we can wear to protect our feet, there’s conservative treatment to consider when you’re at home to help prevent inflammations from aggravating. This conservative treatment includes icing, stretching, orthotics, injections and physical therapies. Once your body starts to hurt, these conservative treatments can help treat these injuries. “The first sign of any sort of pain or inflammation ... if it hurts then stop, you don’t have to keep pushing it and just fight through the pain,” Etcheverry said. A quarter of all of the bones in your body are located down in your feet. Therefore, it’s easy to interrupt. “You really take it for granted until they hurt and when they hurt, it’s miserable and so if it’s going to be miserable, see someone sooner than later,” Etcheverry said.
LOVE AND LIFE
CELEBRATING Kern County’s cultures
By Nina Ha
“Let’s move to Bakersfield. It’ll be an adventure.” Those were my reassuring words to my husband, Benjamin, nearly 14 years ago. As newlyweds, we were contemplating moving to a city where we didn’t know a single soul. Looking back, it was the best decision we’ve ever made. Bakersfield, and its surrounding communities, is home to some of the world’s most friendly, philanthropic and welcoming people. Growing up in Los Angeles, I was surrounded by diversity and I was pleasantly surprised to find Kern County just as culturally rich. There’s a vast array of cultural groups in which you can participate and celebrate myriad unique traditions. The Greek Food Festival at St. George Greek Orthodox Church features delightful dancing, camaraderie and baklava. My neighbor, Dee Slade, is the executive director of the African-American Network of Kern County Cultural and
Historical Traveling Exhibits. We have The nonprofit club holds dinner many gracious friends in the Filipino dances, auctions and raffles to raise community who have made our family scholarship money for hardworking honorary Filipinos. high school seniors of Chinese descent. I We’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy admire these brave and beautiful women the lively celebrations, music and culture who founded and sustained a group brought to our area by the growing Indian that’s making a positive impact in Kern and Persian communities. We’re proud to County. Our club celebrated its 70th have friends in the Hispanic community anniversary last year. who do folkloric dancing, own their own So many people have come here with businesses and lead our city in local govthe hopes of living the American dream ernment. And we love to enjoy communal while still holding onto their roots and dining at many of the Basque restaurants what makes them unique. Their stories in town. And there’s still so many more are our stories. unique and beautiful cultures in Kern With the richness of all its cultures, County we’ve yet to experience! Kern County provides so many opporAs a Taiwanese-American, I was elated tunities to engage with others and share your own culture. to connect with the Bakersfield Whether you were born here Chinese Women’s Club. A friend, or found yourself settling here whom I met at a toddler storytime with our kids, is the club’s longer than you had intended, I former president and college hope that staying here was the scholarship recipient. Sylvia Ta best decision you’ve ever made. invited me to a club dinner a Opinions expressed in this dozen years ago and I’ve been an Nina Ha column are those of Nina Ha. ardent member ever since. www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Calling
Kern County Home
Kern County is home to nearly 900,000 people and with so many communities contained within its borders, finding a place to settle in can be difficult. Each area is unique and offers something not found in others. This month, residents from across Kern County shared what they enjoy most about where they live. From recent transplants to longtime residents, these men and women have found Kern living too good to pass up.
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Highway 58 winds through the foothills of the Tehachapi Mountains near the intersection of Highway 223. PHOTO BY GREG KETCHUM VIA CAPTUREKERNCOUNTY.COM
www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Hot air balloons descend on a clearing in the mountains near Tehachapi. PHOTO BY CASSIE SARKISIAN VIA CAPTUREKERNCOUNTY.COM
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Tehachapi By Jennifer Perez
We decided to move to Tehachapi after falling completely in love with the peaceful, slow-paced mountain living lifestyle. We didn’t realize how beautiful it truly was until we started our search for a home here! After viewing dozens of gorgeous mountain homes, we finally fell completely in love with our lakeview home complete with a view of Cub Lake in Bear Valley – with a promise of four seasons to experience and enjoy! The people in this community are warm and friendly, waving and saying hello. We thought it was a perfect place to continue raising our son. The choice was clear, especially with the cooler summer temperatures. Yes, it still gets hot, but I consider it warm compared to Ridgecrest or Bakersfield heat. And the air is much cleaner up here as well, as
far as I’m concerned. If you are the outdoorsy type, you will love it here in Tehachapi, with horse trails and hiking trails to explore, camping and wildlife right outside your front door step. Not to mention the wineries here. So far, I have only had a taste of the Triassic Vineyards and I love it! Especially their Sparkling Legacy Almond Champagne – so delicious. I cannot wait to continue exploring and getting to know this lovely community! So far, I wouldn’t trade it. I love it! – Jennifer Perez is a recent transplant to the Tehachapi community who enjoys spending time with friends and family, being a football mom, photography and long walks.
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Bakersfield By Peter Eileff
Why Bakersfield? It took a chance encounter with a country music legend for me to learn to appreciate Bakersfield and like country music. In the mid-’70s, I was 24, a DJ and was offered a job at KUZZ. I wasn’t a country music fan and really wanted to get out of Bakersfield and work at a Top-40 station maybe in LA or San Francisco. But the job kind of fell in my lap and I needed the money. I came away from KUZZ with a few great stories. But the one that helped me come to appreciate Bakersfield and embrace country music came close to the beginning of my time there, on a hot June evening and the occasion of a brief and unexpected encounter. It was still light at 8 o’clock on North Chester that evening when I put on a long song and stepped outside for a break and walk to my car that was parked in the lot next door. WOW! Who was that leaning against my 1964 Volvo with his left boot heel hooked to the top of my back bumper? None other than Merle Haggard! I didn’t know it at the time but Merle and the Strangers were recording at Buck Owens’ studio just up the street. There he was in the middle of maybe
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five guys chattin’ it up, laughing. They were on their own break. Merle stood out with his jet-black hair, sideburns, powder blue outfit and black boots. I was stunned and he knew it. I could see Merle immediately assess the dynamic of the moment; me a star-struck kid DJ about to approach the country superstar whose boot was hooked on the back bumper of the kid’s car. Then that baritone country drawl floated my way: “Hey, man this your car?” “Yeah.” “Sorry, man.” He leaned forward and took a most graceful step away from the car to give me some space while taking a glance back at the car’s bumper surveying for any violation. “Thanks,” I said. “Sure,” he said. Simple enough. But in that swirling moment, I began to understand Bakersfield and country music. Merle’s easy consideration, his lack of pretense, the instant connection somehow told me Bakersfield might like me and that country music was OK. Working class values, Merle was a workin’ man just like me and this is where we are. Let’s make the best of it. The hot evening turned to a hot night. I hurried back into the studio. Let’s see, how about some Lefty Frizzell? – A former radio personality, Peter Eileff recently retired from Verizon Wireless and is currently a freelance voiceover actor. He has called Bakersfield his home since 1963.
August 19 4:30-7:30 p.m. Admission includes ice cream sundae, cone or root “bear” float, zoocicles for the bears and bobcats, CALM docents strolling the grounds with ambassador animals and FREE train rides! EVENT SERVICES By Peter Wonderly
ADMISSION:
CALM members: $10 adults, $8 kids 3-12 Non-members: $15 adults, $12 kids 3-12
The sun sets behind the clock tower at the Kern County Museum. PHOTO BY BRUCE DEETER VIA CAPTUREKERNCOUNTY.COM
10500 Alfred Harrell Hwy. • (661) 872-2256
www.calmzoo.org www.calmzoo.org
www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Delano is a community that welcomes diversity. PHOTO COURTESY OF COMMINUTIESINC.ORG
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Delano By Arnold Morrison
I have been a resident of Delano since 1980, and prior to that I lived in Los Angeles. I never really knew what small-town life was like until I experienced it for myself, so now I can honestly say that moving to Delano was the best career decision I ever made. Shortly after accepting the job as an instrumental music teacher for the Delano Union School District, I decided to supplement my starting teacher salary by giving private music lessons. Since I was young and single at the time, I gave these lessons at people’s homes throughout Delano. And when I say throughout, I mean all over town. Right away I got to see firsthand how people lived their lives and what a true sense of community existed here. I was overwhelmed by the hospitality and friendliness of practically everyone I came in contact with – something truly lacking in the big city atmosphere I came from. As I got to know this town and its people, it was quite obvious that I could do more
than just teach music here. I joined the local Kiwanis Club, got involved in service projects (particularly ones that involved the youth) and joined several school committees. It wasn’t long before I was shaking hands with familiar faces at the supermarket, waving to people on the street as they passed by and taking the time to seek out small businesses I could patronize. In Delano, it seemed like every time I went out of my way to help someone in need, it wasn’t long before they returned the favor in one way or another. Where else would you see your neighbor selflessly barbecuing steaks for a crew of city workers who happened to be paving your street during lunchtime? In Delano, California. That’s where. – Arnold Morrison a longtime Delano resident and a music teacher for the Delano Union School District.
www.hardtconstruction.com www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Pine Mountain Club boasts a beautiful nine-hole golf course. PHOTO COURTESY OF PINEMOUNTAINCLUBRENTALS.COM
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Pine Mountain Club By Tony Lacava When I first bought a home in Pine Mountain Club 12 years ago, the plan was nothing more than to come and use it on weekends. I wanted a place to get away from the fast pace, traffic, summer heat and smoggier air of Bakersfield and be in a place where I could enjoy the outdoors. Pine Mountain Club offered everything I was looking for – and more. The mountain community, nestled about 5,500 to 6,300 feet up in the far southwest corner of Kern County, about 18 miles west of Interstate 5 off the Frazier Park exit, is not only scenic and tranquil but, unlike the valley floor, one can experience four distinct seasons. Summertime temps are on average about 15 degrees cooler than Bakersfield, we get several snowstorms each year, and spring and fall bring wonderfully cool weather as well as beautiful colors. Perhaps my favorite benefits of living here are the many hiking trails and the wildlife. In 12 years, I’ve been visited by deer, bears, bobcats, raccoons, even a mountain lion. Of course, smaller animals like bunnies, squirrels, chipmunks and quail provide entertainment daily. The best part is that my wife, Irma, and I have been able to run our Bakersfield-based real estate company – Lacava Group – as effectively as we did while living in Bakersfield. Yes, it’s a one-hour commute, but it’s a traffic-free drive that we have come to enjoy. Trust me on this: coming home to a house in the forest has been nothing short of awesome compared to coming home to a tract home in the city limits. I’d highly recommend a day trip here, or even an overnighter. Bed and breakfasts, home rentals and even the cozy Pine Mountain Inn are all available to make your stay comfortable and let you experience a little bit of our mountain magic!
40 years
– Tony Lacava, a realtor and co-owner of The Lacava Group, can be reached at tony@lacavagroup.com or 203-6166 if you have any questions about real estate or PMC. www.BakersfieldLife.com
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Oil and agriculture coexist in a field outside of Shafter. PHOTO COURTESY OF PINEMOUNTAINCLUBRENTALS.COM
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Shafter By Maribel Gamino
I lived in Shafter throughout high school and after high school, I moved to Bakersfield. Although I enjoyed living in the city close to all the stores, I missed living in a quiet neighborhood. I got used to living in a small town with no traffic. When my husband and I decided to purchase a home, we looked around Bakersfield but almost every home we looked at did not have the size lot we were looking for. My husband and I decided to go outside of Bakersfield to see other housing developments. There was a new housing development in Shafter so we thought we go check it out. As soon as we saw the floor plan and the size of the lots, we knew Shafter was going to be our new home. What we enjoy the most about Shafter is that it is a small and very close community. Holidays in Shafter are a big deal. The town gets very festive with parades and you always get a chance to run into old friends and catch up. For example, this past Fourth of July was one of the biggest events in Shafter. The whole
community came out to watch the fireworks show. It is always fun to see the community come and enjoy an event with their families. The closeness that the community has makes the town unique. We love that we do not have to deal with the city’s traffic and when we do come to Bakersfield to purchase our groceries, we make it a day. We have the benefit of local restaurants that sell unique food and small stores. Everything is so close by in Shafter. If we want, we can just take a walk instead of driving our car. We love the outdoors and enjoy taking our dogs for walks in the orchards where we can remove their collars and they can run around and be free without having to worry about vehicles or people walking around. Shafter is a unique town that has kept its small businesses. While towns around Shafter keep growing our towns stays the same. – Maribel Gamino is a CSUB graduate and currently works at the CBCC Foundation as a program coordinator.
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Ridgecrest By Monica Perez
Even though it’s super-hot right now – 104 degrees, I love our small city because there is low crime, plenty of things to do, lots of jobs, a community college, great restaurants, hardly any traffic and everybody knows everybody. I’ve lived in Ridgecrest for 42 years. My father moved us to this town and he worked for the city of Ridgecrest in the Parks and Recreation Department for about 25 years. He also loved it here. He and my mom raised a dozen of us and now my husband, Johnny, and I have raised our three children as well. My daughter and son-in-law recently moved to Virginia because of the Navy and my other daughter is about to move, transferring CSU Long Beach. My son, 72
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the youngest, will be graduating next year and he also has plans to move away but even though they have plans elsewhere, I feel they will be back because they always come back to Ridgecrest. The small, friendly community always draws people back. What makes Ridgecrest unique is that we have a military base here, China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station. Like my husband and many of my family members, most people from Ridgecrest work there. And many people stationed at China Lake live in Ridgecrest and have stayed even after retiring from the military. I choose to live in Ridgecrest because my husband and I both have great jobs and the cost of living is very affordable. The community is great to raise our family. We have
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Ridgecrest Regional Wild Horse and Burro Corrals with the eastern Sierras looming in the background. PHOTO BY MARK NESSIA
a lot of friends and family here. We always see familiar faces when shopping around town. What I love the most about Ridgecrest is that there is no crazy traffic. I can get across town in about five minutes. Also, although the summers are very hot, we have beautiful springs, falls and winters. We also have clear skies, especially at night – the stars are so clear. I plan to retire and stay in Ridgecrest and hope my children find their way back somehow and raise their families here as well. – Monica Perez has lived in Ridgecrest for 44 years and works for the Kern County Children’s Dental Health Network.
2017
2300 Eye Street (Across from Rite Aid)
661.327.9999
wwww.reddoorinteriors.com HOURS: MONDAY-FRIDAY 10-6 • SATURDAY 10-5 • SUNDAY CLOSED
www.BakersfieldLife.com
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The Oil Worker Monument celebrates the role oil has played in the history of Taft. PHOTO BY WAYNE SALVATTI
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Taft By David Cothrun
I am Dr. David Cothrun. I am 86 years old and retired from the Taft College presidency in 2001 after 21 years. I have now lived in Taft for 37 years and am quite content to live here. Why? Because this is a community that cares and gives back. Examples: If you are undergoing treatment for cancer or need dialysis and have to travel to Bakersfield for treatment, the Taft Soroptimist Club will give you funds for transportation for your treatment; the Rotary Club of Taft puts on wonderful Health Care Fair for some 600 folks every spring and is funding the transportation for Westsiders to attend the Bakersfield Community Concert series. All of our local service clubs are funding scholarships for students, plus many other activities supporting local citizens, young and old. When I came here in 1980, somehow at age 50, I had never been around or knew anyone with disabilities. That changed with my first meal in the Taft College cafeteria, which has for many years provided jobs for students with disabilities. Three of those workers became my friends for life. They were accepted throughout the community, leading me to say publically, that if you have disabilities,
then Taft, California, is one of the best places to live. This atmosphere led to the Taft College TIL (transition to independent living) program, a twoyear residential program to teach students with disabilities the skills to become independent and able to live alone. The program is unique in the U.S. and the world. The statistics of their job success after leaving the TIL program are amazing. Opportunities to give forward and give back have come from 37 years as a Taft Rotarian, 18 years on the Taft Chamber of Commerce Board, 14 years volunteering at the wonderful Taft Fort and 34 years involved with WESTEC, the technical training program sponsored by Taft College, plus serving on the Kern County Board of Trade. All along the way, I have made many friends and acquaintances. Taft has been wonderful to me. Plus, my $240,000 home would be worth up to a million on the coast and this one is paid for! For those reasons and many more, I love Taft. – David Cothrun has lived in Taft for 37 years and is the former president of Taft College.
Healthy Kids for a Healthy
r a e Y l o o h Sc
As the new school year approaches, Clinica Sierra Vista reminds you to‌ Start your day off with a healthy breakfast, stay active, get plenty of rest and get vaccinations before school. Clinica Sierra Vista wishes you a happy and healthy school year!
661-635-3050 | CLINICASIERRAVISTA.ORG www.BakersfieldLife.com
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The vivid colors of Red Rock Canyon just outside of California City. PHOTO BY NAVDEEP SINGH VIA CAPTUREKERNCOUNTY.COM
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California City By Joyce Nash
Pat Gordon had always wanted to live in the desert. Although she grew up in the sprawling Los Angeles suburbs, her aunt and uncle homesteaded in the area that would later become California City. She laughed as she remembered her childhood spent “running around the desert, seeing the stars.” Pat was born in 1934 and has lived in California City for 57 years. She arrived in 1960, five years before the city was incorporated. She is a petite woman with a big voice, and she tells the stories of someone who has been “in the know” for a very long time. Pat and her husband owned the city’s first grocery store, and Pat later went on to become the city’s first postmistress. She also worked as a real estate agent for 20 years. She was a central figure in Cal City and met many friends whom she still considers to be her “big, warm family.” She explains that back in those days, “we made our own fun.” She described impromptu barbecues at the community center pool where the kids would play and the parents socialize. This was a time before telephones and neighbors communicated face to face or with CB radios, if they had one. These days, Pat stays busy with her friends at the city’s senior center, doing activities at Central Park and water aerobics. She cherishes her network of friends, saying: “I’ve had a very special life. We all took care of each other.” She also still enjoys the natural beauty that surrounds her: the mountains, the sunsets, the open desert. Pat does enjoy the ease with which she can access different areas, such as nearby Palmdale and Lancaster or the beach, but she maintains, “This is a good place to come home to.” – Joyce is a fitness instructor and freelance writer. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Joyce currently lives with her partner in Mojave, California. The two of them enjoy exploring the desert, skateboarding and eating good food.
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The blue skies and blue water of Lake Isabella in the Kern River Valley. PHOTO BY LISA HARPER VIA CAPTUREKERNCOUNTY.COM
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Kern River Valley By Ellen Cook
Every time I drive up the canyon on my way home, I pass underneath the green bridge that signals I am almost there. I roll down my window, letting the mountain air fill my lungs. It’s good to be home again. Living in a rural pocket of Kern County gave me a unique small-town experience. I also learned the value of community and the importance of preserving our environment for future generations. Our family moved to the Kern River Valley 15 years ago. Our perspective changed when we traded city living for small-town life. I remember our first night seeing the vast number of stars in the Milky Way afraid of what lurked in the pitch black beyond our fence line. I remember the first time it snowed and how quiet it was. I remember feeling shocked that our valley only had two stoplights. Being a member of a close-knit community has enriched my life. When the Erskine Creek Fire forced my family to evacuate, neighbors saved our house while others fed our livestock. And when the Kern River Brewing Company won two medals for its outstanding beer, I was proud of my hometown brewery. Surrounded by mountains, rivers and wildlife, one can’t help but feel connected to the bigger picture. The Kern River is the pride of our valley. It is nature at its primal best as rafters navigate through the Lickety-Split in Kernville. Our river’s future is important. I know because I’ve cleaned its banks in summer with the Keepers of the Kern. And when the bear raids our trash cans for the umpteenth time, I don’t mind at all. It’s just another day in the country. The Kern River Valley is my hometown and a gemstone in our beautiful Kern County. – Ellen Cook is a recent communications graduate of CSUB and a 15-year resident of the Kern River Valley.
San Dimas Pediatrics
Stockdale Pediatrics
500 40th Street Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-327-3784
300 Old River Road, Suite 125 Bakersfield, CA 93311 661-663-3122
7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Se habla español
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Se habla español
We offer the following services: • Well exams
• Sports physicals
• Sick visits
• Same-day appointments
• Immunizations
• After hours on-call
Accepting most PPO, HMO and Medi-Cal insurances.
valleychildrenspediatrics.org www.valleychildrenspediatrics.org www.BakersfieldLife.com
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People & Community
BUSINESS PROFILES
Clinica Sierra Vista physicians and staff assemble for a group photo at Clinica Sierra Vista’s Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program’s welcome dinner and graduation on Sunday, June 25, at the Four Points Sheraton. Included in this photo are administrators, graduating residents, current residents and incoming interns.
What is Clinica Sierra Vista? Clinica de los Campesinos opened the doors of a modest Weedpatch storefront in December 1971 with a simple mission: to serve the migrant farmworkers harvesting the fields of the southern San Joaquin. While we still treat the thousands of men and women who work the land, the nonprofit – rechristened Clinica Sierra Vista in 1975 – has become so much more, to so many more. Clinica Sierra Vista serves more than 200,000 patients a year, making us one of the largest community-based health organizations in the nation. With dignity and compassion, we treat the medical, dental and behavioral needs of the underserved, as well as families of moderate income. With more than 70 locations in Kern, Fresno and Inyo counties, we’re truly part of the neighborhood and like neighbors, we never turn away a friend in need. Everyone is welcome at our state-ofthe-art clinics because our belief is that health care is a right, not a privilege. What’s new at Clinica Sierra Vista? We are thrilled to report that we just graduated our first class of medical residents through our Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program. When
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PHOTO BY JOHN HARTE
Clinica Sierra Vista
Kern Medical discontinued its residency program, Clinica stepped up to help, launching a program that consists of six residency positions per year. The program, which recruits and trains, is sponsored and housed within Clinica Sierra Vista and has an academic affiliation with the University of California, Los Angeles. The program addresses perhaps the most urgent health care crisis in the valley: the enormous need for doctors. Two of our recent graduates have made commitments to continue serving our patients, and we have high hopes for more. What services does Clinica Sierra Vista provide? Primary and dental care; the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program; behavioral health services; HIV/AIDS (HIV housing, Kern Lifeline Project, Sebastian House/ HIV AIDS Homeless Project); cancer screening; chiropractic services; diabetes programs; family planning; maternal out-
reach; nutrition services; homeless health care/ mobile health services; adolescent family services; health insurance assistance program. Clinica’s focus on patients: CEO Steve Schilling has been with Clinica Sierra Vista since those humble beginnings in Weedpatch. He now oversees an annual budget of $110 million-plus and 1,250 employees. His tireless advocacy of patient care has won him and Clinica many accolades – among them, an honorary doctorate bestowed on Schilling by CSU Bakersfield in 2016 and recent recognition as nonprofit of the year by Assemblyman Rudy Salas – but what matters to Schilling most is how Clinica Sierra Vista rates with our patients.
The nonprofit’s longterm stability under Schilling and his dedicated board as well as the top-notch care we administer to patients have earned Clinica Sierra Vista the designation of a best-practices organization within the health care industry. And Clinica is offering patients an enhanced opportunity to connect with us: Our new Call Center was launched in June. Our operators assist customers with a variety of needs, including billing and care questions.
How is health care changing? We know what’s going on with health care in Washington is confusing, maybe a little scary. But this is Clinica’s promise to our communities: We are here for you, regardless of your ability to pay. Visit our website, clincasierravista.org, and find Clinica Sierra Vista a clinic near you. 1430 Truxtun Ave., Suite 400 You’re 661-635-3050 always welcome at Clinica Sierra www.clinicasierravista.org Vista. Promotional Content
COMMITMENT TO OUR
y t i n u Comm Since 1971, Clinica Sierra Vista care providers have listened to your health concerns, treated your ailments, and held your little ones in our arms. We are your neighbors, no matter where in Kern County you live.
We understand that the current changes in healthcare can be confusing and a little scary. But this is Clinica’s promise to our communities: We are here for you, regardless of your ability to pay. Visit our website, www.clincasierravista.org, and find a clinic near you. You’re always welcome at Clinica Sierra Vista.
661-635-3050
People & Community
BUSINESS PROFILES
Lady Justice Law School Apply for fall 2017 starting Aug. 14
Why Lady Justice? There has never been a better time to attend our law school. We just cut our tuition to $4,800 a year and classes are scheduled for two nights a week. The State Bar of California recently shortened the length of the bar exam from three days to two, and the California Supreme Court is now taking measures to make the bar exam easier to pass. We are now accepting upper-division students in addition to first-year students. It’s a very exciting time to be a law student at Lady Justice!
Former Mayor Harvey Hall presents Molly Brown, owner of Lady Justice Law School, with a certificate at their ribbon cutting ceremony.
What is the program? Graduates from our law program will be granted the Juris Doctor degree and will then be eligible to take the California bar exam to become a lawyer in California. What are the requirements to enroll? Applicants are required to have a minimum of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units toward a bachelor’s degree. If a person does not have the minimum units, he or she can qualify by passing designated CLEP tests. We strive to make law school as accessible as possible to qualified applicants. How long is the program? Four years. After the first year, students are required to take and pass the First-Year Law Students’ Exam and then complete three more years of law study. Is it affordable? Yes! We are surprisingly affordable. We are probably the best bargain for a legal education in California. Our tuition is $400 month. What’s the schedule? It is our pledge to always offer classes in the evenings so our students do not have to quit their day jobs to pursue their desire to become a lawyer. Besides teaching the black letter law, will your college offer hands-on training? Yes, upper division students can become certified law students, which will enable them to make court
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appearances and provide legal services under the supervision of a licensed attorney. We will also have several legal clinics supervised by local attorneys and operated by the students. Persons with legal problems could come to one of our clinics and receive legal assistance. This would be free of charge. Our students will gain the hands-on practical experience they desire while helping people in our community.
Lady Justice Law School 7460 District Blvd., Suite C 661-735-8088 www.ladyjusticelawschool.com
Promotional Content
Classes Start
August 14, 2017 • Flexible Schedules • Affordable • Hands on Training Lady Justice Law School 7460 District Blvd. Ste C 661.735.8088 Ladyjusticelawschool.com Guideline 2.3 (D) in Guidelines for Unaccredited Law School Rules: The method of instruction at this law school for the Juris Doctor Degree (J.D.) Degree Program is principally in physical classroom facilities. Students enrolled in the J.D. degree program at this school who successfully complete the first year of law study must pass the First-Year Law Student’s Examination required by Business and Professions Code 6060(h) and Rule VIII of the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California as part of the requirements to qualify to take the California Bar Examination. A student who passes the First-Year Law Student’s Examination within three (3) administrations of the examination after first becoming eligible to take it will receive credit for all legal studies completed to the time the examination is passed. A student who does not pass the examination within three (3) administrations of the examination after first becoming eligible to take it must be prompted disqualified from the law school’s J.D. degree program. If the dismissed student subsequently passes the examination, the student is eligible for reenrollment in this law school’s J.D. degree program, but will receive credit for only one year of legal study. Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or to satisfy the requirements for admission to practice in jurisdictions other than California. A student intending to seek admission to practice law in a jurisdiction other than California should contact the admitting authority in that jurisdiction for information regarding the legal education requirements in that jurisdiction for admission to the practice of law.
People & Community
HISTORY
Nat Solomon’s labor of love connects community’s generations By Julie Plata
Family heirlooms passed through generations create a connection to our past and a bridge to our future. Heirlooms are also found in communities. They can present themselves in the form of a business that several generations of family have patronized or through a special symbol of thanks from the community passed down through its leaders. When a community serves a business for over a century, its history is often intertwined with that of other local entities. One local business did just that. The American Jewelry Company has served the Bakersfield community since 1896. Originally located at 1430 19th St., the business was touted in the May 9, 1910, edition of The Bakersfield Californian as “the safest place in central California to purchase jewelry, precious stones, silverware or cut glassware.” Customers could also turn to the business for perfect-fitting eyeglasses. In January 1910, Nat Solomon, co-proprietor of the American Jewelry Company with Charles Law, was asked to create a gold piece that eventually became an heirloom for the Bakersfield Fire Department. The merchants and businessmen of the city wanted to honor Bakersfield Fire Chief Max Gundlach for his service in protecting their properties 84
Bakersfield Life Magazine
American Jewelry Company
from fire. The merchants raised $700 (about $18,700 today) and commissioned Solomon to create a badge to present to Gundlach. Solomon utilized his master craftsman skills to design a piece that honored the chief and incorporated Kern County’s history. He crafted a solid gold fire chief badge wrought in three different colors of gold with a diamond setting. The gold Solomon chose to use tied the badge to Kern’s past because it was completely mined in Kern County. Placer gold was discovered in the Kern River Valley in 1854. News quickly spread and sparked a gold rush to the area. By 1855, the Kern River Valley’s first gold rush was over but several miners remained in the area and
August 2017
helped establish many of the first towns, including Havilah – the first county seat. Gold helped establish Kern County and is imbedded in its history.
In January 1910, Nat Solomon, co-proprietor of the American Jewelry Company with Charles Law, was asked to create a gold piece that eventually became an heirloom for the Bakersfield Fire Department. According to the July 17, 1951, Bakersfield Californian, “There’s not another badge in the world just like the one worn by the fire chief.” When Gundlach retired,
he passed the badge to his successor, Phil C. Pifer. In 1951, Pifer listed the badge as city property to ensure that it got passed on to his successors and future generations of fire chiefs. The city council officially fulfilled Pifer’s wishes in 1959 and designated the gold-and-diamond piece as a historic badge. Many of the purchases made in the last 121 years from the American Jewelry Company, now owned by generations of the Campbell family, have likely become family heirlooms – just as the badge created by Solomon became a city heirloom. According to a recollection by Pifer to The Bakersfield Californian on July 17, 1951, Solomon told him that making the badge “was a labor of love.”
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n these sacred grounds lie early pioneers, city founders, soldiers of the14358537 Civil War on both sides, and the man for whom our city is named. Historic Union Cemetery is more than a memorial park. It is the storybook of the American West. We invite you now to tour our web site. And to come and tour our unique memorial park as it continues to serve the families of Bakersfield now and well into the future.
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Thank you Bakersfield for your continued business. The St. Clair Family of businesses have been providing real estate services to Bakersfield residents for over 80 years. The St. Clair Family Business maintains the highest level of service and quality of living for their residents and highest level of service to their customers. www.stclairhousing.com For information on Rentals, Buying or Selling call St. Clair Properties today.
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PHILANTHROPY MATTERS
REAL ESTATE: An unexpected resource for giving By Kristen Beall Barnes
Kern residents understand the affordability of local real estate and many have seen considerable appreciation in both commercial and residential real estate over the years. But for some, uncertainties exist about the tax consequences of liquidating these assets. Kern Real Estate Foundation was established as a subsidiary of Kern Community Foundation to help charitably minded individuals and families turn appreciated real estate into liquid assets
As a public charity, gifts of real estate to KREF provide donors with the maximum tax benefit provided by law. Gifts of appreciated real estate reduce or eliminate long-term capital gains taxes, limit or eliminate future estate taxes, and, in some cases, can be used to generate life income. to support the causes they care about. As a public charity, gifts of real estate to KREF provide donors with the maximum tax benefit provided by law. Gifts of appreci-
ated real estate reduce or elimiWith this information, we nate long-term capital gains taxes, determine whether the property limit or eliminate future estate can be accepted. If approved by taxes, and, in some cases, can be our board of directors, we prepare used to generate life income. a gift agreement that transfers the Our local nonprofits and char- title of the property to KREF. itable organizations are often We then actively market the reluctant to accept land or real property, carefully manage it estate because there are many during the sale process and seek legal complexities and risks inthe highest possible price. Once volved. And yet the unrestricted the property is sold, proceeds are capital these assets can provide transferred to the donor’s fund is a precious resource that often at Kern Community Foundation leads to increased capacity and and the donor can begin enjoying improved sustainability. KREF is the rewards of their charitable exclusively dedicated to simpligift by making grants to the causes they care about. fying and facilitating charitable In the end, donating an apgifts of real estate, insuring that many of these deserving orgapreciated asset to Kern Communizations can still benefit from nity Foundation through KREF these types of gifts. eliminates uncertainties while The first step is to discuss the allowing donors to experience the specifics of the potential gift with satisfaction of supporting a cause us. We can help donors and their they care about. Donors control advisers evaluate the timing of the timing of the donation and the gift and identify the type of the resulting financial transaction – that piece is recorded once giving vehicle that will help meet title is transferred to KREF. After their philanthropic and financial goals. A wide variety of real the asset is sold, they control every estate can be used – commercial aspect of their charitable giving – buildings, a house or personal which organization they give to, residence, farmland or undevelwhen they make the gifts and how oped land, an apartment building much each gift will be – on their or even a vacation home. own terms for months or even Next, donors submit a real years to come. To learn more, go to property inquiry form along with kernfoudnation.org. an independent qualified apKristen Beall praisal of your property. Barnes, Ed.D., is the Foundation staff and a team of professional president and CEO advisers will conduct a at Kern Community site inspection, order a Foundation. Contact her at Kristen@ preliminary title search kernfoundation.org or and, in some cases, 616-2601. The views exobtain an environmenpressed in this column tal review and broker Kristen Beall Barnes are her own. analysis. www.BakersfieldLife.com
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People & Community
BAKERSFIELD MATTERS
One direction Guest director staging classic theater in nontraditional sites By Lisa Kimble
On a recent summer morning, Bakersfield resident Jennifer Sampson eyed the eclectic interior of a newly opened coffee house. It isn’t the hip decor that had her reimagining the space, but its potential as a backdrop for a theatrical performance. When Sampson moved to town nine years ago, the classically trained thespian bought into the misconception that theater done right could only be found elsewhere. “I believed the Top: lie that I Jennifer couldn’t do Sampson what I do Top right: here,” she Theater in said. the Garden Relatively 90
Bakersfield Life Magazine
new on the local theater scene, the one woman powerhouse was on a mission. “I wanted to dispel the myth that there is no audience locally for this,” she said. But in just a few short years, she is already making her mark by turning timeless literary tales into performance art within the confines of sites already housing fine art. A year ago, she directed “Eurydice” at the Bakersfield Museum of Art’s first-ever Theater in the Gallery. It was a smash hit. She followed up with the sold-out Theater in the Garden: The Very Ecstasy of Love there this past spring. Welcoming site-specific theater companies into gallery spaces is an emerging trend in the museum industry and already established in places like the Met in New York and August 2017
was sacrificing to chase the bright lights. “In San Diego, actor Daniel Davis sat me down and tried to convince me not to make the move to New York,” she said. “It is a high price to pay.” The couple moved to Bakersfield in 2008 to be closer to her husband’s family. The couple started a family, and Jennifer, believing that her work as a guest director could only be found elsewhere, took jobs out of town. Her last was directing a production at Oklahoma State University in the fall 2013. “It was a dream come true, but it was also a nightmare, dragging a car seat and stroller to productions,” she recalled. Now a theater instructor at Cal State Bakersfield, Sampson marvels at the relationship forged with the Bakersfield Museum of Art. “It was so clear to me that theater had to happen in the gallery and the garden there,” she said. Having now proved her worth to the museum, she is a hot commodity. Sampson is in talks to stage performances at the Kern County Museum, and in September, she will team with Conductor Stilian Kirov and the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra for “Every Good Boy Deserves Favour” at Rabobank Arena. “I love the work of classical theater,” she added. “The classics are the greatest stories, the greatest words and the hardest to do well.” PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA KIMBLE
PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA KIMBLE
The Getty in Los Angeles. “It’s the coming together of the kinetic arts and static arts, like chocolate and peanut butter,” Sampson said. And so deliciously successful for the museum and Sampson that this month
she will return with another Theater in the Gallery installment: “Eleemosynary,” a play by Lee Blessing that explores the oft-complicated mother-daughter-grandmother dynamic. This time, Sampson will also direct herself in the role of Artemis in the threenight run Aug. 24 through 26. A native of Stillwater, Oklahoma, 40-year-old Sampson said she was shy as a child until her mother insisted she audition for a local play. “I had two lines, and took it very seriously,” she laughed. Bitten by the performance bug, she launched a theater program at her high school and later attended the prestigious University of Evansville in Indiana, regarded as an “Ivy League” program for theater students. She and her husband, whom she met while a graduate student at the University of San Diego’s highly selective Old Globe Theater, moved to the Big Apple. “We had the working actor’s lifestyle as newlyweds, temping and running to the next job,” she said. But it grew old fast. And she could Lisa Kimble see all that the couple
Opinions expressed are those of Lisa Kimble.
People & Community
MILLENNIAL VOICES
BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED By Asha Chandy
I moved to Bakersfield when I was 6 and left at the age of 17 to attend UC Irvine. There, I was exposed to and became immersed in all of the distractions that Orange County offered: Chanel purses, crowded clubs and people who take selfies for a living. My personal goals at the time were designer clothes and being able to fit in them, but on the inside, I felt hopeless and useless. My six years in south Orange County, The Bubble, left me with a serious lack of direction, despite the diplomas I worked hard for and spent good money to receive.
I now find that Bakersfield is the perfect incubator for young professionals. It is a growing metropolis that retains its small-town charm, where everybody knows everybody. Last year, after continually struggling with depression, I moved home to seek support from family. In the time since then, I have grown to truly love my hometown. In my year back home, I have learned more about my strengths and what motivates me than I did in my six years inside The Bubble. Moving home and embracing my past allowed me to visualize an optimistic future. Despite growing up here, coming home was shocking. I constantly recognized faces in passing cars, when shopping or walking downtown. Servers in coffees shops recognize your face and remember your usual order. When I do meet a new person, our conversation always includes the question: “What high school did you go to?” and figuring out how many people we know in common. It’s refreshing to realize once again that I would never be surrounded by strangers. Professionally, six-degrees of separation is such a plus. Not only did a longtime friend set me up with a job, but I soon met mentors who actually invested time and effort in young 92
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people like myself – millennials who lacked direction but had the potential to thrive. Most professionals I met were surprised that a local would return home. I now find that Bakersfield is the perfect incubator for young professionals. It is a growing metropolis that retains its small-town charm, where everybody knows everybody. After six years in Orange County, it felt unnatural for me to work with people genuinely interested in my achievement. I had grown accustomed to 400-student lectures where professors, on more than one occasion, forgot which class they were teaching. Another shock came as a result of both myself and the city simply growing up. As a child of southwest Bakersfield, I was raised in a small bubble, never venturing downtown until this past year. With a little more life experience and knowledge, I found myself surrounded by a real city with growing pains. In the news, I recognized those theoretical “social issues” I studied from the ivory tower of Irvine. It took leaving and returning home to recognize that I could thrive in my own community and directly see my impact. I now understand the depths of my privilege growing up here and my ignorance of how others live just a few miles away. Appreciating this allowed me to find a reason to bloom where I am planted. — Asha Chandy is a Stockade High graduate, holds degrees in public health policy and criminology from UC Irvine and is currently an All Action Team Liaison at Building Healthy Communities South Kern. The views expressed in this column Asha Chandy are her own.
People & Community
PERSONALITY
BARRY ZOELLER
PHOTO BY MARK NESSIA
helps cement Tejon Ranch’s legacy as the heart of Kern County
By Amy Daigle
Spanning over 270,000 acres across the southern San Joaquin Valley, Tehachapi Mountains and Antelope Valley, Tejon Ranch is the first thing Southern California drivers traveling north see when they enter Kern County. Established in 1843, the ranch grew as additional lands were purchased by founder Gen. Edward Fitzgerald Beale. Today, Tejon Ranch is the largest contiguous piece of private property in California, a hub for commercial and retail businesses and a popular filming location for movies, television shows and commercials – a stark contrast to its humble beginnings as an area traversed by trappers, frontiersman, outlaws and stagecoaches. 94
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Tejon Ranch’s emergence into the public scene in recent years due in part to the efforts of Barry Zoeller, Tejon Ranch’s vice president of corporate communications and investor relations. “For years, Tejon Ranch had been very, very quiet, almost secretive,” Zoeller said. “You had to have a membership to be a part of Tejon Ranch.” Acting as the primary point of contact with various audiences, from the general public to decision-makers and regulators to the investment community, Zoeller has helped make the area more accessible to locals and nonlocals alike. Prior to joining Tejon Ranch, Zoeller worked at the Kern County Board of Trade. One day, he received a call from Tejon Ranch Senior Vice President of Real Estate Joe Drew
and Chief Executive Officer Bob Stine asking for recommendations for a position the company was looking to hire for. Given Zoeller’s background and experience in public relations and communications, he saw no better candidate than himself. “I was really not looking to change careers,” Zoeller said. “I saw the job description and I said this was written for me; there’s no one better qualified to take this job. They said that’s what they were hoping to hear.” Tejon Ranch’s history and legacy is found all throughout Kern County, from the Beale Library and General Beale Road, named after the ranch’s founder, to more recent contributions like the Bakersfield National Cemetery. Tejon Ranch donated 500 acres for the veteran cemetery located
PHOTO COURTESY OF TEJON RANCH
PHOTO COURTESY OF TEJON RANCH
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WKH PXVLFDO off Highway 223, just south of Highway 58. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It opened in late June 2009 and now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a national shrine,â&#x20AC;? Zoeller said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do a lot of emceeing at events throughout town but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no event that gives me more satisfaction and pride.â&#x20AC;?
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I saw the job description and I said this was written for me; thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no one better qualified to take this job. They said thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what they were hoping to hear.â&#x20AC;?
â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Barry Zoeller
Zoeller was also intimately involved with the development of the Outlets at Tejon, helping create a business plan and reaching out to potential retailers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I remember the days taking them out when it was just this big empty lot and we put fence posts up in every corner where the outlet center would be built and just had them imagine and envision what it would look like when it was finally done,â&#x20AC;? Zoeller said. The Outlets at Tejon
opened in 2014 and was completely leased. Sales and traffic continued to grow ever since. As Kern County continues to grow, Tejon Ranchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impact will follow suit. According to Zoeller, almost â&#x20AC;&#x153;anything that is importantâ&#x20AC;? that goes from Northern California to Southern California passes through Tejon Ranch. The ranch, which is the only public company headquartered in Kern County, plays an important role in Kern Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic development and its future looks bright with projects like the Grapevine community and Commerce Center on the horizon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are one of the critical drivers of the future economic development within the county and the creation of jobs, the creation of opportunity and also the creation of reputation,â&#x20AC;? Zoeller said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we can set the stage for what Kern County is like and how Kern County takes care and does things with the degree of quality and excellence and a degree of being conscious of the environment of being sustainable, I think we set a good example as the front door to Kern County from Southern California.â&#x20AC;?
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People & Community
ALL-STAR ATHLETE
WASCO SWIMMER
PHOTO BY HENRY A. BARRIOS
exudes excellence in, out of pool
Wasco High’s Abigail Abshire starts the girls 100-yard freestyle at the Division II Central Section Championships held at Bakersfield College.
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Abigail Abshire has been swimming competitively since she was 7 years old. But it wasn’t until Abshire began high school in fall 2014 that she started to realize how fast she could be in the water. Now, there is no slowing down the Wasco High standout. She’s one of the top girl swimmers in the Central Section and continually getting better. Abshire left nearly everyone she swam against in her wake this past season, as she led Wasco to its first league championship in at least three decades. The extremely focused and determined Abshire won four individual South Sequoia League titles (50 free, 100 free, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay) before finishing second in the 50 free and 100 free at the Central Section Division II Championships. Abshire’s 100 free time at the league championship meet (53.80 seconds) was more than a second faster than that of the SSL boys champion. She was the only swimmer not from the Southwest Yosemite League to post the fastest time in an event. “I achieved 90 percent of my goals this year,”
Bakersfield Life Magazine
August 2017
PHOTO BY HENRY A. BARRIOS
By Stephen Lynch
Abshire said. “The only goals I didn’t reach was winning ‘valley’ and (going under 24 seconds) in the 50 free.” Abshire, who was a junior this past year, will have another chance to reach those goals and Wasco coach Joaquin Castillo believes it would be foolish to bet against her. “Nothing is impossible for that girl,” Castillo said. “She is the fastest swimmer that I’ve ever coached.” Abshire’s success in the pool is the result in large
“The goal (this coming year) is for Abby to be the ‘valley’ champion and have the fastest time in the ‘valley’ out of D-I and D-II next year and shoot for second day at state.” – Joaquin Castillo, Wasco swim coach
“She is definitely one of, if not the hardest worker, I’ve ever had on a team,” Castillo said. All Abshire’s hard work allowed her to do something this past season she had never done before: go below 25 seconds in the 50 free. She did it, registering a 24.9 during a Junior Olympics meet, one week before the high school season started. “I was so excited,” Abshire said. “That really motivated me. All year to consistently hit it (24 seconds) was pretty cool because that was my No. 1 goal of mine and I reached it.” Abshire stayed below the 25-second mark in the 50 free all season until the section finals, when her nerves got the best of her and she had an uncharacteristic off day. Abshire followed up her second-place finish in the 50 free by getting outtouched in the finals of the 100 free. Those rare setbacks are motivation for the 5-foot-4 Abshire, whose best times in the 50 free (24.57) and 100 free (53.52) are both Wasco
school records. “The goal (this coming year) is for Abby to be the ‘valley’ champion and have the fastest time in the ‘valley’ out of D-I and D-II next year and shoot for second day at state,” Castillo said. Regardless of what happens in the pool her senior season, Abshire has already had big impact on those around her. “She is not only an outstanding and wonderful swimmer, but she’s also an outstanding and wonderful person,” Castillo said. “She is just a beacon of hope to all swimmers and other people at our school. She is a shining example of what it means to be a mature, young, responsible lady in the 21st century. I’m very proud of everything she’s done.”
Abigail Abshire
PHOTO BY FELIX ADAMO
part due to her uncommon work ethic. She regularly races against boys during practice because none of the girls on the Tigers roster can keep pace with her.
Born: April 7, 2000, in Bakersfield but has lived in Wasco her entire life. Family: Includes parents Aaron and Elizabeth plus a younger brother and younger sister. Accomplishments: • Six-time league champion and eight-time section medalist. • First Team All-Area Swimmer in 2017. • Member of Bakersfield Aquatics Club. Hobbies: None because she’s always swimming but enjoys hanging out with family.
www.BakersfieldLife.com
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People & Community
FOR A CAUSE
Special Olympics spreading compassion, acceptance through sports By Mark Nessia Photos courtesy of Special Olympics Southern California Kern & Inyo County
Special Olympics Southern California Kern & Inyo County has been transforming lives through the joy of sport for nearly 50 years.
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For nearly 50 years, Special Olympics Southern California Kern & Inyo County has been transforming lives through the joy of sport, spreading compassion and acceptance in communities across 18,390 square miles. The main vision and goal is inclusion – that children and adults with intellectual and/or physical disabilities are members of society and the community and should be accepted for who they are and what they are capable of. For the organization’s staff, 688 athletes and 115 volunteers, can’t is the real disability. “They love to do sports just like all their peers do,” Regional Director Davida Murphy said. “They want to be accepted for
Bakersfield Life Magazine
August 2017
who they are and what they can do – not what they can’t do – and
Special Olympics Southern California Kern & Inyo County offers 12 sports throughout the year – track and field, basketball, bocce, golf, and gymnastics in the spring and summer and bowling, softball, soccer volleyball, tennis and floor hockey in the fall and winter. we bring that out in them. They do the best that they can do and we praise them for that and
we work with them to do even better.” Special Olympics Southern California Kern & Inyo County offers 12 sports throughout the year – track and field, basketball, bocce, golf, and gymnastics in the spring and summer and bowling, softball, soccer volleyball, tennis and floor hockey in the fall and winter. Athletes can start as young as 2 ½ years old and can compete until they or a doctor no longer feels it’s safe to participate in the program. But the availability of high- and low-functioning sports allow athletes to transition to other activities to help them stay active. “Our oldest (athlete) right now is 76 years old and I don’t see him retiring anytime soon,” Murphy said. A typical season lasts 16 to 18 weeks and there are no registration deadlines or fees for athletes
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and their family members to participate in the program. Equipment, uniforms, transportation and hotel accommodations are all covered by the organization. “Please bring them; that’s the catch,” Murphy said. “The catch is bring them so we can train them.” With programs such as Team Wellness, a two- to three-week conditioning and nutrition program that takes place before each season, and an enforced code of conduct, athletes gain valuable life skills that assist them
off the field and benefit the community. “Our community here in Bakersfield, they’re a very loving community and so our athletes outpour that love back into the community,” Murphy said. “Being raised here, they have that feeling and that compassion to give back and our athletes want to give back. They’re willing to go out and do other projects within the community, as well as serve. That’s what we encourage our athletes to do: to give back to the community as well. It’s a revolving door.”
Get Involved Special Olympics Southern California Kern & Inyo County is looking for more volunteers, particularly college students studying kinesiology or special education. More athletes are welcome as well. For more information, call 661-383-2909 or go to www. sosc.org/kerncounty.
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People & Community
Top: Friends and family enjoy a quiet day alongside the Kern River as the sun sets over the horizon. Right: Dozens of critters, from rabbits to roadrunners, can be found along the Kern River Bike Trail west of Allen Road.
OUR TOWN
KERN RIVER’S TRANSFORMATION OF BAKERSFIELD A SIGHT TO BEHOLD By Harry Starkey Photos by Mark Nessia
With the drought behind us, we are left to marvel at the wonders of nature as a river runs through our city. A record snow pack is melting and finding its way into our once dusty riverbed. Bakersfield is transformed. The sustained flow of water in the Kern River has caused an explosion of plants and wildlife.
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The circle of life is spinning at a million miles per hour. The lush shores of the Kern are brimming with abundant food for the herbivores. Herbivores give rise to carnivores and those who like to consume both, that would be omnivores. Suffice it to say, the food web has exploded and its bounty is plentiful. Use of the bike path is way up and not just by the two-legged variety. If you’re a frequenter, you’ve noticed it’s become the squirrel and
rabbit version of the video game “Frogger.” For those who cycle, it’s a veritable slalom course of fourlegged ground huggers that can’t seem to decide whether to zig or zag. The once nearly dead cottonwood and black willows trees have been resurrected. Birds of curious origin are everywhere. Locals can be spotted standing motionless on the river bank, mesmerized by the swirling eddies of water and smiling ear to ear. (The medical term for this
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condition is “Kern River Catatonic Paralysis” or “River Zombie-ism”). I can’t get enough of our river. I’ve paddle boarded through town, ridden my mountain bike along the shoreline and, at times, joined the spaced-out river zombies standing on the shore. My fondest memory, thus far, came from a morning bike ride toward Enos Lane. As I was pedaling along a storage pond, a flock of white-billed ibis exploded out of a mossy patch of water. One of them lifted off with a small raft of moss covering its head and eyes. Blind and disoriented, it hovered and gyrated in flight drifting backward in the breeze toward some power lines. In a moment, the mossy patch dislodged and sight was restored. The bird flew to safety. Enjoy it safely while it lasts. The last time we saw flow like this was 2011. Hopefully we won’t have to wait so long for another transformation. Harry Starkey is the general manager of the West Kern Water District. The views are his own. www.BakersfieldLife.com
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People & Community
PRIME FINDS
Paint your own emoji mug! Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let the summer end just yet! Bring the kids to paint their own Emoji mug, plate or even an emoji piggy bank! Color Me Mine at The Marketplace, 9000 Ming Ave., 661-664-7366 www.bakersfield.colormemine.com
Looking to spruce up your wardrobe? Find it all at Rags to Rescue. Handbags and accessories to complete formal wear. Come and check it out; we guarantee a treasure awaits you. All proceeds from sales go directly to supporting the dogs in our adoption program. Like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pg/haltragstorescue, and visit us at 234 H St. Open Tuesday through Saturday.
Icons and more Local Bakersfield landmarks captured on canvas or watercolor paper in an exhibit at the Arts Council of Kern, Mission Bank Building, 1330 Truxtun Ave. The reception is Thursday, Aug. 10, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Additional paintings continue to be at the Art Center, 1607 19th St. To commission your favorite icon, contact the artist, Charlotte White, at 661-330-2676.
Personalize your home Check out our eclectic selection of furniture, artwork, kitchenware, books, collectibles and decorative accessories. Farm Girls Vintage Finds 2113 Q St. Open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Business News
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AVAILABLE AT THESE LOCATIONS Inside Locations Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce Bakersfield Convention and Visitors Bureau Bakersfield Country Club Bakersfield Heart Hospital Bakersfield Museum of Art Bolthouse Farms Braun Electric CSUB SBDC CSUB School of Business CSUB Student Union CSUB Center for Community Engagement and Career Education Chain | Cohn | Stiles Chuy’s Mesquite Broiler Comprehensive Blood & Cancer Center
Crest R.V. Parks Dagny’s Coffee Shop DaVita Dialysis DoubleTree Hotel Four Points Sheraton Fox Theater Glenwood Gardens Homewood Suites Houchin Blood Services Kaiser Permanente Kern Economic Development Corporation Kern County Administrative Building Kern County Board of Trade Kern Medical Center Links at RiverLakes Ranch Marriott at the Convention Center Memorial Hospital
Watch for the Health issue
Aug. 14 www.kernbusinessjournal.com
Mercy Hospital Mercy Hospital Southwest North Bakersfield Toyota Scion Padre Hotel Residence Inn Sequoia Sandwich Shop (Downtown Location and Southwest Locations) Seven Oaks Country Club Stockdale Country Club Total Woman Fitness Village Grill Worklogic HR Outside Locations 24th Street Cafe Bank of America Post Office Vons Apple Shed Restaurant Tehachapi
Out-of-Town Inside Locations Kernville Chamber of Commerce Voyage Restaurant – Mojave Foxy's Restaurant – California City Convention Visitor's Bureau – Ridgecrest Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce – Ridgecrest Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce – Tehachapi Tehachapi City Hall – Tehachapi Tehachapi Association of Realtors – Tehachapi
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Beautiful Bakersfield Awards Date: June 11 Held at: DoubleTree by Hilton Photos by: Carla Rivas
Jonny and Reina Perez
Iching Chuang, Gaby Scully and Delia Avila
Tony Miranda, Dennis Schulgen and Kristen Beall Barnes
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Erwin and Robin Ledford
Madison Carter and Rachel Glauser
Traco Matthews and Jessica Grimes
Liliana Morales and Maureen Alvidrez
Elena and Gilbert LaRoque and Cathy Butler
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KEDC Annual Dinner Date: June 14 Held at: JEH Ranch
Cheryl and Darren Scott
Sue Benham, Lorie Holdsworth, Lorie and Rick Kreiser
Lori Paris, John Tarjan, Jinping Sun, Dan Zhou and Kathleen Madden
Chris and Kristin Hagan, Tracy and David Leach
Photos by: Carla Rivas
Ben and Nora Dominguez, David James, Kevin Bartl and Justin Fahsbender
Christina and John Sistrunk
Justin and Emily Salters, Robin Fleming and Jonathan Harshman
Have a Happy, Healthy
r e m m u S
Well itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that time of year againâ&#x20AC;Ś Summer is here! Remember to wear sunscreen, stay hydrated, and make sure you swim with adults at all times. Clinica Sierra Vista wishes You a Happy, Healthy and Safe Summer!
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Beauty Bash Date: June 24 Held at: Beautologie Cosmetic Surgery and Medispa Photos by: Greg Nichols
Alex and Tim Traynham
Milan Shah, Leigh Pozas and Darshan Shah
Nan Coke and Elana Wendel
Ana Bugarin and Carol Alvarado
Nancy Shah, Danny and Kait Hill
www.colesrestoration.com 106 Bakersfield Life Magazine
Amy Reddatz and Colleen McGauley
August 2017
David and Maithe Flores
Verenice Mendoza, Brett Tathwell, Phyllis Kantor, Margaret Atkinson and Graciela Murillo
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Derek Carr event Date: June 25 Held at: City Center Photos by: Greg Nichols
Julia and Santiago Ortiz
Ed Flickinger and Enone Evans
Valerie Hernandez, J.R. Trevino, Ethan Verdugo and Ellijah Trevino
Clem, Ella, Ryan, Ariel and Corina Mojica
Jacob, Michele, Juanathan Sr., and Juanathan Jr. Reyes
Saul Alvarado and Nick Sartoris
Emery and Cristian Nevarez
Carlos Martinez and Julio Cruz www.BakersfieldLife.com
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661-635-3050 clinicasierravista.org
20 30 Club Charity Give Away Date: June 29 Held at: Lengthwise Brewery Photos by: Greg Nichols
Kat and Alex Balfour
Tigger and Kim McAllister, Courtney and Branden Slichter
Rebecca and Eric Giddens
Rosalia Garza, Andres Hernandez, Daniela Perez and Gloria Huerta
Marco and Lorena Vazquez
Jose Ramos and Cathleen Gandara
Maggie Cushine, Juanita Recinos, Natalie Martinez and Veronica Deleon
Vance Elmore and Robert Lee 108 Bakersfield Life Magazine
Bethany and Mark Charmley
August 2017
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27th annual Mercy Charity Golf Classic Date: June 9 Held at: Stockdale Country Club
Brandon Shelton and Clint Lewis
Valerie Lallo, Catherine Gay, Walter Ray, Rita Flory, Michal Yniguez, John Mastalski and Brandie Vigil
Chad White and Jerry Avalos
Photos by: Greg Iger
Michael Burger, Valerie Lallo and Mark Mulkay
Mike and Pat Campbell, Mike Clark and Becky Clark
Dr. Phil Dang, Dr. Matthew Malerich, Dr. Al Coppola and Dr. David Bowen
Mike Perez, Sean Andrew, Edgar Mendoza and Loren Henderson
Special Services Include: • Colonoscopy • Endoscopy • Video Capsule Endoscopy • ERCP • Cancer Screening Esophageal pH & Motility Study • Treatment fo Liver Diseases • Ambulatory Endoscopy Center
Josh Weber, Kindra Weber, Kristin Weber, Doug Weber, Stephanie Weber, Kelly Ashe and Jeremiah Ward
9870 Brimhall Rd. #100 Bakersfield, CA 93312 (661)588-8725 Fax (661)588-8749
20041 Hwy 202, Valley Blvd., Unit 3, Tehachapi, Ca 93561 (661) 822-0377 Fax (661) 588-8749
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People & Community
LAST WORD
Happy trails for family, friends ‘In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.’ By Olivia Garcia
In his writings, naturalist, conservationist and founder of the Sierra Club, John Muir often shared his admiration for the great outdoors. There is truly something special about exploring nature in solitude or with family or friends. And given that summer is here and many are hoping to squeeze in a convenient, low-cost but memorable trip, consider one unforgettable place awaiting visitors that’s right here in Kern County. I’m talking about the Wildlands Conversancy Wind Wolves Preserve. Don’t let the name fool you. There are no wolves around the preserve, but it is filled with other animals – Tule elk, greater roadrunners, bobcats, coyotes and the Northern Pacific rattlesnake, to name a few – and plenty of natural beauty, such as the coyote melon, Bakersfield cactus and Fremont cottonwood tree. On a recent Wind Wolves visit, my husband Julio and I, with our two boys, Joaquin, 10, and Cruz, 8, hiked some trails and spotted a roadrunner, various types of lizards and a red-tailed hawk along the way. One of our favorite hangout spots is the shaded floating dock near a picnic area. A popular spot we saw visitors exploring was the Mountain View Trail, which is uphill and about a mile and half in, you can hang out in a location overlooking the preserve to admire its beauty.
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Stretching across 93,000 acres, Wind Wolves Preserve is located at 16019 Maricopa Highway, which is about a 40-minute drive from downtown Bakersfield. During the summer season, it is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is free to visit although there are locked boxes located at different locations for those who would like to make donations. The preserve is open to hiking, mountain biking and picnicking, even nature photographers. Camping permits can be obtained at the Hacienda located on the preserve. Dogs are also allowed but must be on a leash. One cool feature at the preserve is the shuttle service called San Emigdio Express. Reservations are not required for the express. Visitors can use the shuttle service “to catch a ride along the historic El Camino Viejo (The Old Road) to trailheads within San Emigdio Canyon,” according to preserve handout materials. Preserve officials note that the San Emigdio Express is not a tour. However, if you are interested in getting an insider’s scoop of the preserve, then consider one of the following free upcoming events:
Full Moon Night Hike Tentatively planned from 8 to 10 p.m. Aug. 5 and from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 9, depending on the sunset time. This is a neat opportunity to explore the preserve under the stars and moon. According to preserve materials, visitors will be joined
– John Muir
by naturalists who will share knowledge about the preserve as well as its residents. This activity is open for adults and families with children over the age of 6. No strollers allowed.
Outdoor Survival Preparedness Aug. 12 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. In this event, naturalists will provide expert advice to visitors on outdoor safety. The incentive for little ones is that they will receive a safety whistle, lanyard and certificate. This activity is open for adults and families with children over the age of 7. No strollers allowed. Backcountry Safari Aug. 26 and Sept. 30 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Consider this event more like a VIP experience as visitors will be able to explore “authorized access only” areas with the preserve’s pros. Some of the safari themes include birds of Wind Wolves Preserve, natural history, Native American history, animal sightings and wildflowers, depending on the season, according to preserve materials. Keep in mind, however, the above events require reservations, and you can do so by calling 858-1115. You may also contact preserve officials via email at windwolvespreserve@twc-ca.org. Happy trails. Opinions expressed are those of Olivia Garcia.
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