®
March 2014
bakersfieldlife.com
The Pet Issue
• Four-footed miracle workers • Happy endings to a lost dogs tale • Local animal competitors • Bakersfield’s cutest pets
Supreme Grand Champion Bengal cat, Calcatta’s Custom Made, aka Gus
$3.95
4 55-plus crowd real estate options for the
Picnic in the park Dining Divas feast on Café Med’s food to go
F E A T U R E S March 2014
The Pet Issue Honoring our furry family members • Check out champion pets who live to compete. Page 78. • Meet a few of our local fourlegged miracle workers. Page 86.
• Lisa Kimble shares her family’s lost dogs search and rescue story. Page 32.
• See some of Bakersfield’s cutest pets. Page 92. • Score workout tips for getting fit with Fido and staying toned in your golden years in our Fresh and Fit column. Page 126.
Craig Edmonston and Lisa Kimble, pose with their daughters Caroline and Marisa Edmonston (front) and their pack of pooches. Dogs from left to right are Pauly, Frances and Charlie.
6
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
• Take a look inside great homes in Bakersfield’s 55-plus communities. Page 70.
WHO DO LEGAL PROFESSIONALS CALL? ...when their clients, friends or family need a lawyer to handle a serious personal injury case: “Daniel Rodriguez and I specialize in different areas of law, but we have one thing in common: we are trial warriors! He isn’t afraid to take a case to trial. He’s fearless against the big insurance companies. That’s exactly what you need to get the most value in your personal injury case. And that’s why I refer my clients to Daniel Rodriguez. He’s a proven warrior.” - Fred Gagliardini, Attorney at Law Law Office of Fred Gagliardini, Bakersfield
"Daniel Rodriguez is the premier personal injury attorney in the San Joaquin Valley. If I or any member of my family was involved in an accident I would not hesitate to go to Daniel Rodriguez. He not only cares about the people he represents but also their families. In the 35 years I have known him I have found him to be committed to getting his clients the best result the law permits. He has assembled a staff that is second to none and who share his commitment to his clients. For anyone who has sustained a serious injury themselves, or any member of their family, Rodriguez & Associates is the law firm you should consult."
"Daniel Rodriguez has a commanding knowledge of the law in personal injury cases. He is a highly experienced, talented and effective trial lawyer which has resulted in winning the highest jury awards for his clients. I recommend Mr. Rodriguez to represent friends, family and clients in personal injury matters. He will work tirelessly to prepare your case and will present your cause to a jury in the most persuasive and compelling fashion. Mr. Rodriguez is the best because he wins."
- John A. Tello, Attorney at Law The Law Office of John Tello, Bakersfield
- H.A. Sala, Attorney at Law Bakersfield
- David A Torres, Attorney at Law Law Offices of David A, Torres, Bakersfield
"As a criminal defense trial lawyer, the art of jury selection is key to the success of any case. Daniel is a renowned legal expert in the this area. His success is based not only in this area, but also, in his meticulous trial preparation."
When choosing a law firm for a serious injury or wrongful death case, it’s good to know who legal professionals themselves turn to. When you need a lawyer, turn to Rodriguez & Associates.
(661) 323-1400 www.rodriguezlaw.net 2020 Eye Street Bakersfield CA 93301 @DRodriguezLaw
DRodriguezLaw
SERVICES
D E P A R T M E N T S
Oilfield and Environmental Services Since 1983 MTS Stimulation Services offers a variety of oilfield services for: • Oil Production • Disposal and Injections Wells • Well Maintenance Treatments • Hydrogen Sulfide Removal and more! We currently offer the traditional and green chemicals for the oil field industries. Our product line of Green chemicals are acids, caustics, xylene and more. Hydrofluoric Acid is coming soon. For more information or a green acid demonstration, please contact us.
MTS Environmental Solutions is committed to improving the health and safety of our community by offering a full line of our community by offering a full line of Safe, Green, and Clean products. Our revolutionary new line of synthetic acids and caustics were created for sustainable agriculture and food industries, and replaces traditionally used chemicals. MTS Stimulation Services www.mts-stim.com M T S E n v i ro n m e n t a l S o l u t i o n s www.mts-es.com
March 2014
13 34
Up Front Dining Divas
104 34 38 Food and Wine 44 Foodie 48 Entertainment 54 Hometown Hero 56 On the Road 61 Why I Live Here 62 All-Star Athlete 64 Talk of the Town 68 For a Cause 96 Pastimes 100 History
104 112 114 116 118 120 124 126 132 130 134 136 146
Our Town Inside Story In My Closet Streets of Bakersfield Home and Garden Personality Real People Fit and Fresh Golf Trip Planner Prime Finds SNAP! Last Word
62
96 114
S TA F F S H A R E S
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO CELEBRATE SPRING?
“Starting a new workout and keeping with it the entire season. It makes the summer a lot more enjoyable when you are in shape.” — Eduardo Gamez, intern
Bakersfield’s Premier City Magazine March 2014 / Vol. 8 / Issue 6 Bakersfield Life™ magazine is published by The Bakersfield Californian. The magazine is inserted into The Bakersfield Californian on the last Saturday of every month. To subscribe, please call 392-5777. To advertise, contact Lisa Whitten at lwhitten@bakersfield.com or 395-7563. Publisher Ginger Moorhouse President/CEO Richard Beene
“Springtime means lots of dates at the park with my pug, Moju. Best. Dates. Ever!” — Mark Nessia, contributing photographer and writer
Senior Vice President Revenue and Marketing John Wells Vice President, Administration and Operations Nancy Chaffin
“Play 36 holes!” — John Wells, senior vice president revenue and marketing
“Wind Wolves Preserve is amazing in the spring. The easy terrain and beautiful views make it a great place to take the kids. It’s hard to believe this place is only 30 minutes from my house.” — Kelly Damian, contributing writer “By celebrating the return of track season for my boys, probably more than they do. I love seeing them in action. Doesn’t hurt that I love the sport too!” — Olivia Garcia, editor “With all our unusual weather that I now dub ‘global weirding,’ spring arrived in some parts of our yard at the end of January! Accordingly, I've been placing vases of fresh flowers around the house ever since. I may be back into a parka and Ugg boots by April!” — Lisa Kimble, contributing writer
“I love to fill my space with organic arrangements of daffodils, wildflowers, peonies, poppies and more!” — April Massirio, contributing photographer “For me, spring begins with the return of the Kern County Scottish Gathering & Games. It’s like Opening Day of the Celtic season!” — Kevin McCloskey, contributing writer “By soaking in the pleasant weather. Coming from Idaho, I’m accustom to spring seasons of snow and freezing temperatures, so I enjoy California’s sunny spring days by taking my dog for walks and eating lunch in my backyard.” — Rachel Cook, assistant managing editor “As long as my allergies are under control, spring is the best time to run outdoors and put my tennis racquet to use on the courts.” — Hillary Haenes, specialty publications coordinator
Interactive Sales Manager Gunter Copeland Advertising Sales Manager Lisa Whitten Advertising Traffic Manager Shauna Rockwell Marketing Manager Mira Patel Distribution and Marketing Representative Patrick Wells Editor Olivia Garcia Assistant Managing Editor Rachel Cook Specialty Publications Coordinator Hillary Haenes Editorial Assistants Estella Aguilar, Marisol Sorto Art Director Glenn Hammett Photography Felix Adamo, Sally Baker, Henry A. Barrios, Casey Christie, John Harte, Lois Henry, Michael Lopez, April Massirio, Greg Nichols, Mark Nessia, Carla Rivas, Rod Thornburg Contributing writers Sally Baker, Kelly Damian, Lois Henry, Lisa Kimble, Katie Kirschenmann, Stephen Lynch, Marissa Lay, Kevin McCloskey, Ken Hooper, Louis Medina, Mark Nessia, Chris Thornburgh, Jerry Prigmore, Jacque Servadio, Robert Alimirzaie Interns Eduardo Gamez, Ryan Barrera, Eric Garza, Amanda Dixon On the cover Photograph by Mark Nessia. Supreme Grand Champion Bengal cat, Calcatta’s Custom Made, aka Gus, takes a moment to bask in the grass.
10
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
SEE THE LASIK SURGEON TRUSTED BY EYE DOCTORS We trusted our vision
DR. HIGSON Optometrist Winchester Optometry
to Dr. Daniel Chang and you can too!
FR EE CONSULTATIONS CALL THE OFFICE TODAY 661.325.EYES (3937)
DR. NG Optometrist
DR. TAKHAR Optometrist
Empire Eye & Laser Center EmpireH.Eye & Laser Center Daniel Chang, M.D. 4101 Empire Drive, Ste 120 Bakersfield, CA 93309 PH: 661 325 3937
4101 Empire Drive, Ste 120 Montecito Aesthetic Institute Bakersfield, CA 93309 1150 H Coast Village Rd Montecito, CA 93108 PH: 661-325-EYES (3937) PH: 805 565 5700
empireeyeandlaser.com
Joseph H. Chang, M.D.
MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS
EDITOR’S NOTE
Kevin McCloskey is a Santa Monica native who moved to Bakersfield in 1983 to attend Cal State Bakersfield and has lived here ever since. Studying philosophy with a minor in communications, he naturally entered the technology industry and is currently an IT consultant and project manager for Quantum Data Systems. To support himself while attending college, Kevin cooked and bartended at several local steakhouses around town and eventually built a downtown bar, Riley’s Tavern, in 1999 with two fellow CSUB classmates. An original Bakersfield Life Food Dude, Kevin is now a freelance writer for the magazine. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, scouting, live Celtic music, wine tasting and spending time with his beautiful wife, Tamara, and three children, Sydney, Joey and Dylan. Chris Thornburgh is a CPA and partner in charge of Brown Armstrong’s tax department. She brings expert knowledge and effective strategy to the financial matters of both individuals and closely-held businesses. She enjoys sharing valuable financial and tax advice with the community in her monthly “Money Matters” column. Growing up, Chris experienced life in a military family, living all over the United States before making Bakersfield her home in 1990. She is married to her husband of 24 years, George Thornburgh, and has two teenage children, Austin and Alyssa. Emily Claffy began writing for Bakersfield Life as an intern while attending Cal State Bakersfield to study public relations. Now, more than one year later, Emily continues to write for the magazine and has let her passion for communication manifest working with a small team at a local government relations/public affairs firm. Emily has learned a great deal since graduating last winter and is always looking for new ways to challenge herself. Recently, she’s taken to free online learning through a variety of mobile applications and websites. Currently, she is learning computer code and Spanish. Although she leads a busy life, Emily takes the mantra of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” “Treat Yo Self,” seriously. But instead of pampering, she unwinds by spending time with loved ones, reading, practicing yoga and (attempting) to rock climb.
12
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
THE LOYAL COMPANION
W
hen many of us talk about family, we often include our pets in the conversation and for good reason. Our pets fill our hearts in many ways. They put up with us on good days, bad days, happy-go-lucky days. It doesn’t matter what kind of day it is, their love is unconditional. This issue of Bakersfield Life captures some of the love and bond that we have with our pets. Lisa Kimble’s ‘Bakersfield Matters’ column is a perfect example. She details the heart-wrenching experience of losing her pets, only to recover them several weeks later after she took the search for her dogs to social media. I shared a similar experience when my two German shepherds got out of our yard, most likely looking for us. Thankfully, friend and Fit and Fresh columnist Katie Kirschenmann spotted them as she driving to her morning run route and texted me. Thanks to Katie my dogs and I were reunited, bringing a sigh of relief for my sons, who adore them. In this issue, you will meet plenty of pet owners and lovers - those who work with their pets to compete at a higher level, and others who rely on them to get around in their daily lives. Others simply love their pets and can’t imagine life without them. Courtney Clerico is one of those. She’s a pet owner, but also very involved in pet rescue. Take a peek inside and learn more about people like Courtney. Aside from pets, we also focus on active adults and living. We interviewed a number of realtors in town, who shared some great housing finds in 55-plus communities. If you are looking to upgrade or downsize because you’re retiring, sending the kids off to college or want to get moving on your bucket list, then read about the good living available at smart prices in these great neighborhoods.
process runs from March 10 through to April 18. Look inside for more details.
NEW FACE Many of you may have seen Rachel Cook’s byline in The Bakersfield Californian. Please welcome her as the new assistant managing editor of our magazines. She replaces the much loved Jorge Barrientos, who is now marketing director at Chain Cohn Stiles. Rachel hails from Idaho but has loved living in Bakersfield. She brings experience as a reporter, designer and communications consultant to her job, as well as a passion Rachel Cook for telling good stories. Rachel earned a degree in journalism from the University of Montana School of Journalism, where she was the designer editor for the campus newspaper. After college, she served as a communications consultant for LWF Cambodia, a rural development non-profit, and lived in Phnom Penh for nearly one year. She returned to her hometown of Idaho Falls, Idaho, to work as a reporter covering education and later cops and courts. She moved to Bakersfield in 2011 to cover breaking news for the Californian, and become the health reporter in 2012. When she's not at work, Rachel likes to travel, watch the Bakersfield Blaze at Sam Lynn and take adorable/annoying pictures of her boyfriend and her Yorkshire terrier. Email her your story ideas or comments. She’d love to hear from you: rcook@bakersfield.com
20 UNDER 40 CONTEST Look for our announcement about the second annual Bakersfield Life’s 20 under 40 People to Watch. We are seeking reader nominations for champions in our community, up-and-coming leaders, and men and women who are game changers in their profession or school. The nomination
Olivia Garcia Editor 395-7487 • ogarcia@bakersfield.com
UP FRONT
WORD ON THE STREET Compiled by Mark Nessia
WHAT’S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? Patrick LaForge “Win the Stanley Cup soon (LaForge is the Edmonton Oilers President and Chief Operating Officer), open the new arena (Rogers Place) in 2016, and have grandchildren.”
Steve Worford
Wes Cunningham
“Go back to Russia ASAP.”
“Go to Dublin, Ireland and backpack across Europe.”
Ray Thurm
Melissa Llama
“Go on a wine tour through Argentina and Chile.”
“Visit the fairytale castle (Neuschwanstein Castle) and go to Austria.”
Samantha Gailey
Don Hardcastle
Phyllis Hansen
“Go to Fiji and have my son play for the Boston Bruins.”
“Going to Alaska.”
“Go to Canada, spend more time in Hawaii, go back to the U.S. Open and visit the Bush Library.”
Angie Ramirez “Go to Niagra Falls. That would really top off my list.”
SHORT TAKES
FLEX SOME MUSCLE
I
t’s time to flex those muscles Bakersfield. Body Exchange and Mecca Nutrition, in conjunction with INBA Natural Body Building and Dibetta Productions, will hold the INBA Central California Natural Bodybuilding Championships on March 29 in the Harvey Auditorium at Bakersfield High School. The competition showcases local bodybuilders and gives competitors a chance to show off their hard work. Champion body builder Kiyoshi Moody will also be in attendance as the guest bodybuilding poser. Tickets are for sale at all nine Body Exchange locations, Mecca Nutrition, and Strength and Health Gym on 21st Street. Prejudging is 9 a.m. to noon, show begins at 6 p.m. — Ryan Barrera
Four-time Mr. Natural Olympia Kiyoshi Moody will be a guest poser at the Bakersfield event.
bakersfieldlife.com
13
UP FRONT
THE BIG PICTURE Photo by Casey Christie
TAKEOUT FOR TALONS A golden eagle has his talons full of his lunch on a recent afternoon near Kernville.
14
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
bakersfieldlife.com
15
UP FRONT
THE BIG PICTURE Photo by Felix Adamo
EASY RIDERS John Panick, Paul Cates and Paul Bowman discuss Cates' classic 1974 H2-B Kawasaki 750 Mach IV motorcycle at bike night. Motorcyclists gather at Logan's Roadhouse Grill on California Avenue on the second Monday of every month to show and talk about motorcycles. The monthly event was started several years ago by the Euro Riders of Kern, a group of motorcyclists who own European-made motorcycles, but all brands and makes are welcome.
16
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
bakersfieldlife.com
17
UP FRONT
NAMED AFTER By Lisa Kimble
The Dezember Reading Room at CSUB offers a quiet area for study. 18
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
PHOTO BY HENRY A. BARRIOS
CSUB LIBRARY DEZEMBER ROOM
The Dezembers’ professional success allowed them to help others in the community they call home. “We have a favorite saying that ‘To whom much is given, much is expected,’ ” Joan told Bakersfield Life. “We have been very blessed; that is a gift from God, and I believe Ray and Joan Dezember we are to give to others.” Ray has served as trustee of their alma mater, Whittier College, since 1970, and chaired its $70 million capital campaign. In 1994, the college bestowed an honorary degree on Ray. The college also named its Alumni house in the couple’s honor. Locally, the Red Cross, Garden Pathways, the Boy Scouts, the Junior League of Bakersfield and the Homeless Center are a few of the organizations that have been on the receiving end of the Dezembers’ generosity. The Dezembers have four children – Becky Dreese, Brent Dezember, Cheri Ezell and Katie Werdel – and 11 grandchildren. Although Ray is no longer involved in day-to-day business work, he and Joan are still active in nonprofit work in the community they have helped shape and grow. PHOTO BY HENRY A. BARRIOS
T
he face of philanthropy in Kern County looks a lot like Ray and Joan Dezember, local movers and shakers and pillars of the community whose generous support of so many worthy causes here is nearly unparalleled. But in their trademark low-key fashion, the Dezembers have preferred to stay behind the scenes and give quietly, without fanfare, although one of the recipients of their philanthropy, Cal State Bakersfield’s Walter Stiern Library, named its wood-paneled reading room after the couple. Rayburn Dezember, often dubbed ‘Mr. Bakersfield,’ was born in Evansville, Ind., in 1931 and raised in Arizona. Joan Erreca was born in Whittier in 1935. She met Ray at Whittier College where Ray was student body president and captain of the football team. They became college sweethearts, married on Sept. 11, 1954, and moved to Bakersfield to help Joan’s father, Martin Erreca, start Bakersfield Ready Mix. “As a young man I thought that was pretty neat, working with truck drivers and machine operators and loaders, things we used to play with as kids,” Ray said in an interview with Bakersfield Life several years ago. But he wasn’t in the concrete industry for long. In 1964, Ray oversaw the start up of American National Bank. Twenty-five years later, after the bank was purchased by Wells Fargo Bank, Ray served as a director on the Wells Fargo Bank board, CalMat, Inc., the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and VISA U.S.A. The widely admired banker cemented his reputation as one of the most respected business figures in the county whose keen advice was always sought after by his peers.
MONEY MATTERS
IS IT WISE TO TAKE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS EARLY?
I
t’s a big decision. Should I take Social Security as soon as I’m eligible, at age 62, or wait until I’m 66, or even 70, when I’ll receive the maximum benefit? It is probably the least-evaluated decision for retirees, but it’s a call that has many complexities. Improper timing could cost you several thousands of dollars during your lifetime.
WHEN AM I ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE BENEFITS? To receive your full Social Security benefit, you must wait to claim benefits until full retirement age. That’s 66 for people born between 1943 and 1954 (after that it gradually climbs to 67). You can claim benefits as early as 62, but your benefit is cut by 25 percent. However, rewards are high if you retire later. Your full benefit grows 8 percent for every year between age 66 and 70 that you wait to claim Social Security benefits. If you’re married and didn’t work long enough to get a big benefit of your own, you can retire at 66 on half of your spouse’s full benefit. If you retire earlier, you’ll get less (the reduction is roughly 30 percent if you’re 62). If you are widowed, you can switch to a survivor’s benefit, which generally equals the payment of your late spouse. Divorced spouses whose marriages lasted at least 10 years get the same benefits on their ex’s account.
THE CASE FOR DELAYING In general, the best advice for claiming Social Security is to wait. Yet most people take Social Security at 62. Granted, there are some people who can’t wait because they need the money or have shorter life expectancies. Others start drawing benefits as soon as possible and invest it in hopes of making a greater return. However, if you wait until 70, you are guaranteed roughly an 8 percent rate of return. The magic age is 80. Tapping Social Security early means smaller checks over your life-
time. Waiting means fewer bigger ones. If you’re single, you need to live past 80 to make waiting until age 70 financially feasible. If you’re married, and you think one of you will live past 80, you want the higher earner to wait as long as possible. If you’re still working, perhaps delay benefits if you are under full retirement age. Benefits are reduced $1 for every $2 you earn over $15,480 this year if you are under 66. If you turn 66 in 2014, you can earn up to $3,450 a month before you reach 66, without affecting your benefits; for each $3 you earn above the monthly ceiling, you lose $1 in benefits.
STRATEGIES FOR MARRIED COUPLES Couples can maximize their Social Security by coordinating benefits. Let’s use a scenario assuming a bread-winning husband with a slightly younger wife who has a modest Social Security benefit of her own. Claim and switch – The wife takes her own retirement benefit at 62. When her husband reaches full retirement age, he files for spousal benefits on his wife’s account. He receives half of her benefit. At 70, the husband switches to his own benefit, which has grown by 8 percent a year plus cost-of-living increases. If he dies first, his wife switches to her survivor’s benefit, now inflated by those 8 percent gains. File and suspend – The husband files for his own retirement benefit at 66 but then suspends his benefits. This allows his future benefit to grow. His wife immediately files for spousal benefits on her husband’s account. Again, she only receives half of his benefit. At 70, he claims his higher payments.
THE BOTTOM LINE Social Security timing is not one-size-fitsall. There are many factors to consider including genetics, life expectancy, marital status and tax considerations. Seek assistance from your financial planner or tax professional when looking to maximize your benefits. — Chris Thornburgh is a CPA and partner at Brown Armstrong Accountancy Corp. Contact her at cthornburgh@bacpas.com or (661) 324-4971.
Thornburgh bakersfieldlife.com
19
UP FRONT
SHORT TAKES
W
20
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Lupe Lerma, center, tried out Twist-a-Mania at the 2012 Healthy Bakersfield Expo.
DISCOVER BAKERSFIELD’S HEALTHY SIDE
T
he fifth annual Healthy Bakersfield Expo presented by The Bakersfield Californian is coming soon. The event will be held at Rabobank Theater from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 22. This free health expo is designed to educate our community about the array of health and wellness services that are available in our backyard. Come spend the afternoon with us and discover a healthy Bakersfield! A variety of health experts from local practices will be on hand to answer questions about the services and programs they offer. Participating vendors include Neck and Back Integrative Medicine Center, Dr. Atul Aggarwal, Kern Medical Center, Curves, Children’s Hospital Central California, Houchin Community Blood Bank, Hoffmann Hospice, Order of the Dragon, Anthem Blue Cross, VIPO, The Smile Generation and more. Come learn about facial treatments and non-surgical options from
Albertson’s pharmacist George DuPreez offered blood pressure checks at the 2012 Expo.
PHOTO BY FELIX ADAMO
hen the founding members of the Bakersfield Women’s Business Conference first gathered in 1988, the event was just an idea. “I remember the drive all the women on the board had at that time to cultivate and mentor women for the boardroom, as well as the worry of whether anyone was going to show up,” said Mary Jo Pasek, former board member. But 25 years later, the conference has grown to become the networking event of the year, drawing thousands of Bakersfield’s female professionals. The 25th anniversary of the Bakersfield Women’s Business Conference will celebrate all that the conference has done for the women in our comRandi Zuckerberg munity since its inception and wil look ahead to what is to come in “The Next 25 Years.” “This theme shows our confidence in what the women of this community have done, are doing and will continue to do to strive for a better way of doing business, providing for others’ needs and improving our communities,” said Dayna F. Nichols, a board member for 21 years. The theme of looking ahead is highlighted in this year’s conference speakers. Headlining as conference keynote is Randi Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media, and editor-inchief of Dot Complicated. Opening up the conference is Shira Lazar, host and executive producer of the Emmy-nominated live interactive daily show, “What’s Trending.” Closing the conference will be Kim Flynn, speaker, trainer and workshop leader for entrepreneurs and small business owners. The conference will be held April 24 at the Rabobank Convention Center. For information, visit bakersfieldwomen.org. — Irma Cervantes, Bakersfield Women’s Business Conference Board Member
PHOTO BY FELIX ADAMO
WOMEN’S BUSINESS CONFERENCE CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
Dr. Milan Shah of Beautologie and safe surgery tactics from Dr. Darshan Shah of Beautologie. The festivities will also include a performance by Miracles at Every Turn from the Kern County Special Olympians and an appearance by Marley’s Mutts Hooch, Fred and Sonar. Got Milk will be offer product samples and the chance to learn about the importance of calcium for bones from a registered dietitian. Local sponsors for Healthy Bakersfield include GemCare, Beautologie, Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center, Guarantee Shoe Center and Got Milk. To participate, please visit healthybakersfield.com for information. — M ira Patel
bakersfieldlife.com
21
UP FRONT
MY PET
P
et rescuer Courtney Clerico is head over heels for her pint-sized pet dog Olive. Olive, a 4-year-old Chihuahua, entered Clerico’s life three and a half years ago when Clerico came across the pup at the Fresno animal control center. “Olive brings joy to my life every day,” Clerico said. “She has an incredible ability to live in the present and always be happy. The unconditional love she gives me makes me feel complete.” Clerico, 23, shares her home with plenty of other rescue animals, but Olive’s personality sets her apart from the pack. According to Clerico, Olive is a very photogenic dog who knows how to cast a look at a camera at just the right time. Olive obeys Clerico, but when she spots other animals, she hurries to play with them, whether they like it or not. Aside from caring for Olive, Clerico is a recent graduate of Cal State Bakersfield and works in management for Consumer Credit Counseling Services. A devoted vegan and athlete, Clerico likes to run, bike and swim. She is currently training for a triathlon. I named my pet… Olive after I came back from Fresno and saw an exit called “Olive.” But it took some time to name her. I know my pet is moody when… she makes her biggest puppy eyes and stares for a long time. My pet is happy when… I take her to work with me. She also loves it when I bring new rescue pets home, take her for walks and cuddle in bed with her. My pet in 5 words or less: Ready for adventure. Favorite game: Racing with the other foster animals (cutting corners and winning). She loves playing tug-of-war, too. Favorite food: Anything and everything.
Courtney Clerico with her dog, Olive.
PHOTO BY CASEY CHRISTIE
COURTNEY CLERICO AND OLIVE
Talents: Shaking hands with both paws and dancing. Antics: When I play with rescue cats, she interferes and ruins play time. Favorite moments: Olive comforts new foster animals and make them feel right at home.
SHORT TAKE
JOIN THE REVOLUTION ON THE RINK
W
hether you’re a lone wolf or a team player, the Derby Revolution of Bakersfield understands your need for a good time. With a practice gym at 810 Niles St., the Derby Revolution of Bakersfield has been operating since 2006 and is comprised of businesswomen, mothers, wives, girlfriends and sisters who enjoy and appreciate the thrill of sports. 22
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
The mission of the Derby Revolution of Bakersfield is to provide an athletic club for athletic-minded women in an unconventional fashion. The organization is a positive league focused on helping women achieve their goals and promoting positivity for all women. This particular derby is the only WFTDA Member League in Bakersfield and calls itself a league “for the skaters, by the skaters.” For information, visit myderbyrevolution.com or email ttony22@yahoo.com. — Eduardo Gamez
www.bmwofbakersfield.com
661-396-4040
BMW of Bakersfield 5400 Gasoline Alley Drive Bakersfield, Ca. 93313
UP FRONT
SHORT TAKES
NOR CHAMBER HOSTS FIRST CASINO NIGHT
L
et Lady Luck be your date for an evening of cards, chance and prizes as the NOR Chamber of Commerce hosts their First Annual Casino Night. Taking place 7 p.m. at Riverlakes Golf Course on March 29, Casino Night promises to be an evening of great games and goodwill with proceeds benefitting NOR Chamber’s programs and scholarship fund for college-bound North of the River high school seniors. Tickets include a light dinner of appetizers and finger foods, coffee and tea. Professional Las Vegas-style croupiers will also be on site offering attendees a chance to play blackjack, roulette and craps with special Casino Night cash. At the end of the evening, extra Casino Night cash can be exchanged for raffle tickets, giving participants a shot at amazing prizes. A no-host bar, silent auction and other entertainment are also on the docket for the evening. Tickets are $60. Call the NOR Chamber at 873-4709 or visit norchamber.org. — Miranda Whitworth
WHAT I’M READING
ANDREA CALDWELL Director/Mentor, Stepping Stones Youth Development Program
A
ndrea Caldwell, director of Stepping Stones Youth Development Program, is a firm believer in the value of reading and the importance of community service. She’s worked for the Kern County Department of Human Services for more than 17 years. Caldwell developed the Stepping Stones mentoring program to help youth ages 14 to 18 and is working to expand the program. In addition to her devotion to the community, Caldwell fosters a love of poetry. She selfpublished a book of poems titled “Conversations with the Heart” and is working on a second installment called, “Personal Passions.” What I’m currently reading: “If It Takes a Village, Build One,” by Malaak ComptonRock. It’s an incredible overview of her work in public relations for UNICEF and her tireless Andrea Caldwell work in public and behind the scenes...The book even includes advice on how to start a nonprofit, set goals and objectives, and how to craftily use the people and resources you have to the maximum benefit of your organization. “How to Impact and Influence Others: 9 Keys to Successful Lead-
24
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
ership,” by James Merritt. With a touch on faith, this is a very motivating book to remind, renew and rejuvenate our spirit to serve and give back to others in our daily actions. Books I have read more than once: “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou. Poems by Maya Angelou. “Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus,” by John Gray for anger management and domestic violence classes I instructed. Other materials I like reading: “Our Daily Bread” for daily inspirational reading, Essence, Self, and The Bakersfield Californian and the Los Angeles Times — gotta be aware of daily news. Where I enjoy reading: Somewhere with jazz music playing in the background. Can’t go wrong with a café mocha/tuxedo–style in our local Starbucks or by pulling over and sitting in the park. The book that’s been inspirational in my life: The Bible, for stability, strength and purpose. I read Nelson Mandela’s biography many years ago, and it charged my energy to serve the community, And, of course, my own work. I write poetry based on what I see daily, conversations with others, and the voice from inside, to give a message to someone to remember the power and inspiration of love and motivation. Any other thoughts on reading you wish to share with the readers? Whether we read on the computer, cellphone or words on paper, we have to read daily!
COOKING WITH CHEF ROBERT
SHORT TAKES
GET CHEESY AT THE MACARONI & CHEESE FESTIVAL
A
merican General Media is serving up a scrumptious event in April, Bakersfield’s first Macaroni & Cheese Festival. Cal State Bakersfield is playing host to the cheesy festivities. Tickets are $45. If that price seems sharp, remember that the event is sure to smother attendees with plenty of things eat and drink. The day is stacked with 20-plus chefs offering samples of gourmet macaroni and cheese. And the event isn’t only about America’s favorite comfort food. Guests must be 21 or older and can try wines from 20-plus wineries, beers from 12-plus beer companies and six different types of liquor. What could possibly make this event more delectable? Live performances by Truxtun Mile and Chris Gardner. The event also benefits Children’s Miracle Network
F
Hospitals. For details, visit macandcheesefestbakersfield.com. — Ryan Barrera
CHALLENGE BRINGS CORPORATE COMPETITION TO KERN
C
orporate Challenge is bringing an Olympic-style competition to Kern County to promote healthy living and company pride among local businesses. Bakersfield is hosting the six-week competition, which involves businesses within the Kern County area, with 17 athletic and non-athletic sports organized by Q-Event Management, LLC. The challenge, which kicks off with an opening ceremony on May 10, raises money for a charities like the League of Dreams and the Bakersfield Police Activities League. The sign-up deadline is March 1. For details, visit kerncorporatechallenge.com. The entrance fee for each corporation is $2,000 and each team can have up to 50 players. Teams will compete in events, including volleyball, outdoor laser tag, kickball, bowling and poker to name a few. Similar competitions have been held
EAT SEASONALLY THIS SPRING TO FULFILL YOUR APPETITE FOR FLAVOR
across the United States including in Ventura, Las Vegas and Indianapolis, according to Quin Miller, Corporate Challenge coordinator. — Ryan Barrera
ood is the most stimulating art form to the senses, especially when it’s made from ingredients that are at their seasonal peak. When you use ingredients grown in season, you will enjoy the maximum amount of flavor those products can deliver. Tomatoes grown in season are much tastier than ones picked green, gassed and shipped to destinations thousands of miles away. Some good cooks might be able to decorate those tomatoes with flavors, but it’s no comparison to the flavors and simplicity of the seasonal product. As you will see in our suggestions for your spring menu, cooking seasonally can also provide a shortcut for culinary artists seeking harmonious combinations of ingredients and flavors. The reasons for cooking seasonally are not only rooted in seizing an ingredient’s peak flavor, aroma, and texture. Cooking seasonally also satisfies our learned food cravings. As always, eat well to be well. Seasonal suggestions Fruits and vegetable for spring: Artichokes, asparagus, fava beans, chervil, citrus fruits, garlic, papaya, peas, new potatoes, strawberries, watercress and zucchini. Spring proteins: Salmon, chard, clams, soft-shell crabs, crayfish, halibut, lamb, veal and pig. — Robert Alimirzaie is the executive chef and operations manager at the Petroleum Club in Bakersfield. bakersfieldlife.com
25
UP FRONT
IN SEASON
Compiled by Bakersfield Life
I
t’s no secret that Bakersfield has its share of animal issues — thousands of animals are euthanized in the city every year. But Bakersfield isn’t short on animal lovers either, from the dedicated folks who run our local shelters to the everyday people who pause to help the strays they spot. There are plenty of opportunities for people to pitch in with local animal rescue efforts. And every pet owner can help the cause by spaying/neutering their pets, microchiping their furry companions and outfitting their critters with collars.
LOCAL OPTIONS FOR ANIMAL RESCUE • Kern County Animal Services Bakersfield Animal Shelter, 3951 Fruitvale Ave. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday Contact: 321 3000,
animalcontrol@co.kern.ca.us, www.co.kern.ca.us/acd • City of Bakersfield Animal Care Center, 201 S. Mount Vernon Ave. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday Contact: 832-7387, visit petango.com to view adoptable animals • Bakersfield SPCA, 3000 Gibson St. Hours: 9:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday Contact: 323-8353, bakersfieldspca.org • Helping Animals Live Tomorrow (H.A.L.T. Rescue) Contact: haltrescue@gmail.com, haltrescue.org Pet adoptions every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at PetSmart, 2661 Oswell St., and from noon to 4 p.m. at Petco, 5151 Gosford Road • The Cat People Contact: 327-4706, thecatpeople.org, www.facebook.com/thecatpeople Adoptions held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays at Petco, 8220 Rosedale Highway. • Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue Contact: 750-2875, marleysmutts.com
The Kern County Animal Services is one of the many animal rescue options in Bakersfield.
PROTECT YOUR PET - Microchip your pet. - Get your pet licensed with the municipality where you live in. - Make sure your pet is always wearing a collar with a tag that includes your contact information. - Make sure your pet is properly restrained in public on a leash and that your yard is secure. - Bring your pet inside during harsh weather conditions. When tempertures rise, give your animal plenty of fresh water and a shady place to hide out from the sun. - Neuter or spay your pets. - Make sure your pet is up-to-date on all shots.
Sources: www.co.kern.ca.us/acd, humanesociety.org, haltrescue.org, marleysmutts.com
26
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
CALIFORNIAN FILE PHOTO
ANIMAL RESCUE
FINDING FAME
VIDEO EDITOR OSCAR LOZOYA By Kelly Damian
Oscar Rene Lozoya II in his office at the Universal Studios backlot for “Chicago Fire.”
COURTESY OF OSCAR RENE LOZOYA II
O
scar Rene Lozoya II didn’t grow up with dreams of becoming a video editor. In fact, he began his studies at Cal State Bakersfield as a business major. Then one day in 2007, he and his friend decided to make a video re-enacting a scene from Star Wars. He didn’t know it when he started editing the clip, but that goofy light saber duel would set his life onto a course he never had anticipated. “Editing that video was the most fun I ever had,” Lozoya said. Once he was introduced to the world of editing, Lozoya couldn’t be stopped. Since CSUB doesn’t have a film department, he switched his major to communications and immersed himself in the world of media. As a student, he videotaped sporting events and created content for a Fox news affiliate. He also worked at KBAK-TV as the national news editor and photographer. “Every time I mentioned an outside source for video experience, Lozoya would be standing in front of my desk asking how he could take advantage of it,” remembered communications professor Gary Byrd. To professor Mary Slaughter, Lozoya stood out from the other students. “He would never have been content to just pass one of his digital media classes. He demonstrated his passion for this field with the caliber of his work, which was always inventive, engaging and professionally crafted,” she said. Slaughter and other instructors encouraged Lozoya to apply for an internship through the CSU Media Entertainment Industry Initiative. Although it’s an extremely competitive program, in 2009 Lozoya secured a post-production internship with NBC Universal/Wolf Films in Los Angeles. As an intern, his duties varied from delivering scripts to getting coffee for directors. When he was finished with his tasks for the day, instead of heading home he spent time with producers and assistant editors who let him watch them as they worked, teaching him the skills he would need to
advance his career. “I was extremely fortunate to meet this group of people,” he said. After the internship ended, Lozoya was hired on as a post-production assistant, and later promoted to assistant editor. Today he is the assistant editor at the NBC drama “Chicago Fire.” Lozoya describes the process of editing a television show as “putting together a big puzzle.” Each day the scenes are shot on location in Chicago and the footage (also known as the dailies) is sent to Los Angeles. Once in the studio, the assistant editors organize and prepare the dailies for the editor. They also have to coordinate with the camera, sound and visual effects departments to ensure that the episode the editor ultimately puts together fulfills the director’s vision. In addition to his day job, Lozoya also directs commercials and works as a camera assistant. All this makes for a busy schedule, but when he talks about his work, Lozoya’s enthusiasm is irrepressible. In Slaughter’s words, “Believing that you can succeed is critically important for any field. Lozoya has believed (and worked) his way into a wonderful career.” — Do you know someone from Bakersfield who is finding fame, or is representing Bakersfield while in the spotlight? Email us at bakersfieldlife@bakersfield.com with the subject line: Finding Fame.
Celebrating 19 Years of Caring! Darlyn Baker, RN - Owner
ASSISTED CARE Personal Assistance Hospital Sitting Companionship Light Housekeeping Bathing Shopping Preparing Meals ...and much more!
HOME HEALTH RNs/LVNs Physical Therapists Home Health Aides Wound/Ostomy Care
FACILITY STAFFING RNs, LVNs, CNAs Senior Placement Services
Screened * Bonded * Insured The only RN & family owned provider in Kern County!
Call Today! (661)
395-1700
mybakersfieldhealthcare.com. bakersfieldlife.com
27
UP FRONT
Find more community events at bakersfieldlife.com or submit yours via email: bakersfieldlife@bakersfield.com
HAPPENINGS: Can’t-miss events in March Sat. 1
Tue. 4
Fri. 14
Fri. 21
CSUB Men's Basketball, vs. New Mexico State, 7 p.m., Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $5-$20. gorunners.com or 654-BLUE. Super Cruise Car Show, registration 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kern County Fairgrounds. Free with paid admission to the Central Valley Sportsmen Boat, RV & Outdoor Living Show. 345-1627, 431-7688
Fat Tuesday Party with Mento Buru, DJ Mikey, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, 2800 Buck Owens Blvd. Free. 3287560. Homebrew & Barbecue, sample a variety of beers, paired with barbecue by Salty’s BBQ & Catering, 6 p.m., The Gentleman, 1420 17th St. $75. kerncasa.org or 631-2272.
Bakersfield Fiesta, sponsored by the Kern County United Square Dancers Association; with mainstream, plus, advanced, challenge, round dancing, Friday through Sunday, Kern County Fairgrounds. $8 to $45 depending on session. bakersfieldfiesta.com or 324-1390.
FLICS International Cinema Society presents “Graceland,” 7:30 p.m., Bakersfield Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $5. flics.org or call 428-0354. Roberto Tapia, 8 p.m., Rabobank Theater, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $33$53 plus fee. ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
Sat. 15
Sat. 22
Fri. 7
Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra presents “A Very Special Event,” 7:30 p.m., Rabobank Theater, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $20 to $45; all students are $10. bsonow.org or 323-7928.
5K Run4Help, race day registration 7:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., race 9 a.m., California Living Museum. $25 pre-registration; $30 adults, day of race; $25 students; $15 for 10 years and under; $100 for group of five. run4help.com or 247-9109. Luck be a Lady Tonight, cocktails, dinner, gaming tables, live music, dancing, and silent auction. 6 p.m. Bell Tower Club, 1200 Truxtun Avenue. $75. Bakersfield Twilight Rotary Foundation. 319-6878. Healthy Bakersfield Expo, featuring new products, health screenings, financial planning, assisted living, shopping, recreation, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Rabobank Theater, 1001 Truxtun Ave. Free. healthybakersfield.com or 395-7586.
Jazz Jam, featuring CSUB Jazz Ensemble with composer and pianist James Miley, 8 p.m., CSUB, Doré Theater, 9001 Stockdale Highway. $15; $10 seniors; free for students with ID. Email jscully@csub.edu.
Sat. 8 All Breed Horse Show or 345-1629.
Sun. 2 Western Extravaganza All Breed Horse Show, 8 a.m., Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 S. P St. Free with paid admission to the Central Valley Sportsmen Boat, RV & Outdoor Living Show. 4873333 or 5772047.
Roberto Tapia 28
Bakersfield Life Magazine
Merle Haggard, 8 p.m., Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $43.50-$93.50. vallitix.com or 322-5200. Walk, Run & Ride for Brain Injury, motorcycle poker run registration 8:15 a.m., ride 9 a.m., run registration 9 a.m., run 10 a.m., walk registration 10 a.m., walk 11:30 a.m., Kern County Museum. $30 adults; $20 person with brain injury; $20 students in kindergarten through 12 grade. Visit biacal.org or 872-4903.
Merle Haggard
Sun. 23
Collectors Showcase Antique Show Sale, jewelry, vintage lighting, old toys, furniture, linens, china, primitives, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Hodel’s Country Dining, Kern Rooms, 5917 Knudsen Drive. $4.50 at the door (good for both days). 399-1140 or 399-7074.
Boxes, Bags & Bows, learn to create fun packages, enjoy hors d'oeuvres, wine, juice and special sweet treats, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Kern County Museum, at the historic Standard School House. $60. kerncasa.org or 631-2272. Open Testing & Open House, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Kern County Raceway Park, 13500 Raceway Blvd. Free. Email sblakesley@kernraceway.com or 835-1264.
Sun. 9
Sat. 15-Sun. 16
Christian Youth Film Festival, 7 p.m., Bakersfield Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $10 at Youth for Christ, Heritage Bible Church or at the door. christianyouthfilmfestival.org. Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra, featuring Edvard Grieg’s Symphonic Dance in D major, pianist Yung Mee Rhee in Grieg’s piano concerto, Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 in B-flat, 4 p.m., Country Oaks Baptist Church, 20915 Schout Road, Tehachapi. Free. 821-7511.
“Dust Bowl Dreams,” 11 a.m., 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, CSUB, Doré Theatre, 9001 Stockdale Highway. $5; free for children 12 and younger. 6543150.
Sat. 8-Sun. 9
March 2014
Sun. 16 Chamber Orchestra & CSUB Chamber Singers, 4 p.m., Doré Theatre, 9001 Stockdale Highway. $10; $5 seniors and students; Free for CSUB students with ID. Email Lsakomoto@csub.edu or rprovencio@csub.edu.
Chili Verde Cookoff, music by Dub Seeds, 18 two-person teams, judging begins at noon, Amestoy’s Bar, 2303 River Blvd. $10, includes food samples and one drink ticket. Interested cooks can call the bar at 871-2303; entry fee is $40. Deadline is March 19. Awards will be given.
Thur. 27 Guitar Masters presents Richard Smith, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., American Sound Recording Studios, Studio A, 2231 R St. $30. Email rkreiser@carneys.com or 204-7685. Hair - Broadway in Bakersfield, 7:30 p.m., Rabobank Theater, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $30 to $50 plus fee. ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000.
Fri. 28 Jennifer Nettles: That Girl Tour 2014, 8 p.m., Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $43.50-$73.50. vallitix.com or 322-5200.
BY THE NUMBERS
GROWING OLDER IN KERN COUNTY 82,983, or 14 percent, of Kern County adults are seniors (age 65 or older) 67 percent of Kern seniors are 70 or older 30 percent of Kern seniors live on less than $25,000 a year
30 percent
60 percent of Kern seniors garden as a pastime
46 percent of Kern seniors have life insurance
of Kern seniors live alone
68 percent of Kern seniors are grandparents 76 percent of Kern seniors always vote in presidential elections Compared to Kern adults, seniors are 2 times as likely to donate money to environmental causes
44 percent of Kern seniors do not have access to the Internet Source: Scarborough Research 2013 R2
bakersfieldlife.com
29
UP FRONT
12 RANDOM THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT...
DR. RAJ PATEL Compiled by Bakersfield Life Magazine
S
ome people dread waking up every morning to go to work, but that’s not the case for Dr. Raj Patel. Patel genuinely enjoys talking to and treating his patients, who usually range from teens to 100-yearolds. His passion for interacting with the people he cares for drove him to choose a career as an internist over a life as a surgeon. “I did not prefer to work on patients when they (were) ‘out,’” Patel explained. He earned his medical degree from Government Medical College, Surat in India. He has been practicing medicine since 1990 and has owned the practice Preferred Family Care Physicians since 1996.
Patel’s hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. His practice was named a favorite in Bakersfield Life’s 2012 “Best of Bakersfield” competition and Patel was crowned Bakersfield’s best doctor/general practitioner in the 2013. Here are 12 random facts about this popular local physician.
1. When I was growing up, I wanted to be an architect. No one was a doctor in my family - so my father pushed me to study medicine.
2. I grew up without electricity in a town in India until I was 12.
3. Tears in the eyes of any child break my heart. 4. I won two prestigious gold medals in surgery, but I became internist instead. 5. I am firm believer in Karma! Do good and expect nothing in return!
6. I was 22 years old when I graduated from medical school to be a doctor.
7. For 23 years, I have woken at 4:30 a.m. every day and run three miles on the treadmill.
8. I enjoy walking and listening to the BBC News every day. I walk about 30 miles a week.
9. I met my wife Daxa when she was 15 and I was 18. We were married as soon as she turned 18.
10. The joy of my life is interacting with my patients and chatting with my office staff.
11. What I love most is when my patients proudly reporting weight loss at their office visit.
12. What I adore most? Honesty on dis-
PHOTO BY HENRY A. BARRIOS
play by any individual that I encounter.
30
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
B A K E R S F I E L D M AT T E R S By Lisa Kimble
A DOGGONE TAIL
32
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
PHOTO BY APRIL MASSIRIO
M
ake no mistake, our community is a doggone, petloving, animal-caring place, even if we’re only now just beginning to come up with a plan to address the overpopulation through spaying and neutering. These four-legged family members tug at our heartstrings from the minute they scratch or limp their way into our lives. They don’t sass back or generate mounds of dirty laundry, and they never complain about what’s for dinner. Our pets offer unconditional love and loyalty, and a good ear. No advice, just an expression that affirms exactly what we are experiencing. They are the furry backdrop to our daily lives that we often take for granted until they aren’t there anymore. Five months ago, it was such a moment — an occurrence we now affectionately dub ‘dog-gate’ — that darn near sucked the life out of us. Two fluffy pets flew the coup on eight hairy (two of them crooked) legs and spun a lost-and-found tale more challenging than locating embroidery needles in a Shafter haystack. The search and rescue operation began on foot and ended happily ever after thanks to the help of total strangers on social media. Our pets are a quirky collection of characters: A slider turtle who prefers to swim in the pool, a cat who doubles as our very own vector controller, and a golden retriever so friendly he’d fix you a cocktail if he could. And then there are his side-kicks: Frances, a corgi mix who is splayed-footed (envision the beleaguered dog in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”) and by far the most expensive auction item we ever won at a St. Francis Crabfest, and Pauly, a Lhasa mix who found me one morning in the alley near St. Vincent de Paul. These three amigos get along better than a lot of siblings do. Sunbathing poolside with plenty of yard to roam, life was pretty good in their neck of the woods. Or so we thought until a late Sunday afternoon in September when Frances and Pauly — who are, by nature, dogs of the street, as my husband has often reminded me ever since the great escape — made a break for it. Split. Ran away. It is a sickening feeling, akin to discovering you’ve been robbed, when you realize your beloved pets have slipped from your grasp and out of sight. Worse yet, their fancy collars with their identification information were at home! An epic fail on our part. We were guilty of a cardinal sin of pet ownership: Not having them microchipped or collared. The timing could not have been worse. Their disappearance occurred on the eve of the day the ‘divorce’ between the city and county’s animal shelters became official. Facilities weren’t technically open to the public yet, and new operations weren’t up and running. We were frantic. We plastered every lamp post in our neighborhood with fliers, and calls of false-sightings trickled in. We bombarded Facebook, where friends and acquaintances of friends reposted our pleas. Some offered to relieve us of the daily visits to the three local shelters. Days turned into weeks and fall gave way to the holiday season. We bought newspaper ads and widened our search, but to no avail. Then someone suggested we focus our attention on Craigslist. I knew little about the social media website except for
There is no place like home for Pauly, left, and Frances. details from the few headline-grabbing stories I’d read. But we were getting desperate. Turns out we were finally starting to bark up the right tree. What we didn’t realize was that with every posting, more and more strangers were becoming familiar with our plight and the photograph of the two dogs, and becoming interested in our pets’ odyssey. One of those was a young woman who was searching for her own missing white dog, but ended up with one of ours and was intent on getting her back to us. We will never forget her random act of kindness. Right down to the skin discolorations of her underbelly, our sweet Pauly, needle-in-a-haystack No. 1, was found. She reeked of cigarette smoke and was badly in need of a spa treatment, but the thrill of locating her was indescribable. The reunion revived our depressed golden retriever. One down, one to go. A month later, another phone call from another Craigslist reader led us to our missing Corgi, who was being kept by a young couple outside their East side trailer. They were hoping to adopt her before the birth of their baby. Christmas had come early. Like Pauly, she was filthy, but otherwise no worse for the wear. The thoughtfulness of perfect strangers that led to the discovery of our dear dogs was overwhelming and reminded us that Bakersfield’s heart for its pets and people is bigger than a billion Grinches’. We got a second chance at being first-rate, responsible pet owners, and so, with that, we gladly spread the message: microchip your pets, make sure they wear their collar with tags at all times, and the next time you cross paths, in person or online with a lost animal, take the extra minute to help. It’s what we Bakersfieldians do and who we are! — Agree, disagree? Send your questions, comments or topics you’d like to read about to me at itmannersalot@bakersfield.com or visit itmannersalot.blogspot.com. Lisa Kimble
D I N I N G D I VA S
CAFÉ MED DELI The perfect takeout fare for a springtime picnic
Dining Divas, from left, Nina Ha, Tanya Hutson, Amanda Reade, Aryana Mosley and Norma Diaz enjoy a picnic at The Park at River Walk.
Photos by Greg Nichols
W
hat better way to enjoy the perfect weather than an afternoon picnic? For this month’s Dining Divas’ review, we headed to The Park at River Walk in southwest Bakersfield. Laid out on a whooping 32 acres of space, the park’s amenities include an amphitheater, a meandering cobblestone creek and two lakes. The park is also a fantastic place for people-watching. While we ate, we spotted many local high schoolers dressed to the nines mingling and taking pictures before heading to their formals. OK, enough about location — onto the food from one of the best restaurants in town! For this divalicious picnic, we were treated to a neatly packaged feast from the Café Med Deli located on Stockdale Highway. Café Med’s deli has been
34
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
in operation for 12 years, offering a casual alternative to its upscale restaurant. You can pick up a wonderful feast on the run, but if you have a few minutes to spare, be sure to browse the refrigerated cases and fully stocked shelves. There you will find exceptional gourmet fare including decadent desserts, a large wine selection, unique kitchen-related items and seasonal home decor.
APPETIZERS Norma on the gourmet cheese platter: On the cheesy side, the deli has a large selection from aged white cheddar to Vella Dry Jack and everything in between. This presentation had delicious cheeses atop a bed of kale sprinkled with walnuts and beautifully sliced fresh strawberries. If you stop reading now and run out to get this cheese platter, I will totally understand.
Gourmet club sandwich
Amanda on the crab bisque: I started my picnic meal with a bite of crab bisque. This soup of the day didn’t disappoint. Spicy and full of crab meat, this made for a nice starter. Norma on the pita with Turkish salad and zehug platter: You can’t go wrong with the Turkish salad topped with that wonderfully spicy zehug relish (pronounced “zug”). Scoop it up with the fresh pita bread and it’s a favorite for any event. Can you say, “Turkish delight?” Yum! Nina on the caprese salad: When it comes to antipasto (served before the meal), one of the most quintessential Italian dishes is the caprese salad. Named after the island of Capri in Southern Italy, the insalata caprese is simple in its ingredients, but full of flavor. Cafe Med’s savory salad includes buffalo mozzarella, ripe tomatoes and basil tossed with olive oil and sprinkled with fresh-cracked sea salt and pepper. Balsamic vinegar is available upon request. Tanya on the strawberry salad: I’m trying to cut down on the massive volume of sugar that I consume on a daily basis, but my sweet tooth still makes its presence known. If that struggle sounds familiar to you, then the strawberry salad is a great compromise. Fresh sliced strawberries are served on a bed of chopped romaine, along with blue cheese and candied pecans ... need I say more? A mouth-watering strawberry vinaigrette is served on the side, but honestly, the salad tasted so good, I really didn’t need the dressing.
Strawberry salad
Continued on page 36 bakersfieldlife.com
35
Roasted pepper wrap
Continued from page 35 Aryana on the hummus and pita bread: I would call myself a hummus connoisseur, and Cafe Med’s hummus is by far one of the best. The mixture of chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice and, I am assuming, a few of their secret ingredients is simply sublime. They provided fresh pita bread that they make daily, which can be eaten with whatever crudities you prefer.
ENTREES Amanda on the gourmet club sandwich: After enjoying the bisque, my next bite was the gourmet club sandwich and it was yummy! Seasoned chicken breast topped with crispy bacon and creamy avocado along with lettuce, tomato and a sourdough baguette made for a hearty and tasty sandwich. This is definitely a must-order for a big appetite. Norma on the roasted pepper sandwich: If you’re looking for a clean-eat deli item, this is the one for you. Roasted red and green peppers, lettuce, tomato, onion, sundried tomato aioli and fresh mozzarella usually come on a rustic roll, but, as I’m always opting for a healthier spin, I asked for a tomato basil wrap. This wrap is made to share, so bring a friend and enjoy!
Reuben sandwich
36
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Nina on the portobello toasted panini sandwich: Café Med’s grilled portobello mushroom on focaccia is a creamy panini that won’t leave you missing the meat. Some restaurants serve their portobello Flintstone’s style in one massive slab. I prefer it thinly sliced and doused in aioli like it’s done at the Med. Their version of the Provençal mayonnaise-based sauce includes pureed sunCafé Med Deli dried tomatoes, which Address: 4809 Stockdale takes the standard Highway aioli and gives it a Phone: Deli 834-5522; Restaubold twist. The portorant 834-4433 bello is served with Website: fresh basil, mozzarelcafemedrestaurant.com la, tomatoes and red Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mononions, which comday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 7 plements its rich flap.m. Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. vors nicely. If you’re packing this panini for Hungry for more? Check out more food photos on bakersa picnic, make sure fieldlife.com. you wrap it in a napkin before putting it in the container. That way your toasted focaccia, with grill lines, stays crispy. Tanya on the smoked salmon sandwich: I love salmon and I love sandwiches, so ordering this was a nobrainer. The salmon was perfectly prepared — neither over nor under-cooked — and the portion was generous. I was happy to discover that the rustic roll on which it was served was soft, as rustic bread can sometimes be a little tough. Served with cream cheese, capers and tomato, I have just one word to describe this sandwich: Yum-o! (Yes, I did steal that phrase from a TV personality.) Aryana on the Reuben sandwich: The Reuben sandwich is classic Americana at its best, the perfect balance of corned beef and swiss
cheese. Café Med Deli serves the sandwich with a slight twist. Instead of the classic rye bread outside, the sandwich comes on focaccia piled high with corned beef accompanied with sauerkraut, sauteed onions and mustard. I seriously would have inhaled the entire sandwich had I not shared with my friendly Dining Divas. Delish!
DESSERT Amanda on the fruit tart: For the sweet tooth, the fruit tart is five-star. The blueberries and strawberries were very fresh. Inside the crumbly tart shell, the light and sweet custard was a great contrast to the tart fruit. Something as beautiful as this should be admired before it is consumed. Norma on the five-layer bar: I was thrilled to see this on our dessert platter. Imagine this, a graham cracker bottom layered with chocolate pieces, walnuts and toasted coconut. The taste was out of this world! Ask for it — you’ll love it! Nina on the two-layer chocolate cake: Café Med’s pastry chef of 14 years, Jonell Cleveland, takes pride in her baked goods. For this sumptuous dessert, Jonell starts with a butter base and then adds brown sugar and pecans. The sugar crystals caramelize as they bake and the result is a sheet of nutty sweetness that lines both layers of this guilty
Fruit tart
pleasure. The moist cake is then topped with whipped cream and crunchy flecks of praline imported from Europe. My 8year-old daughter, Ashley, stole a bite and said, “If I were a Dining Diva, I’d say it’s really, really yummy and perfect!”
®
32 Years of Bakersfield Real Estate Service Excellence in both Buyers & Sellers
Scan the QR Code with your smart phone to sign up and see 50-photo Visual Tours of all listings
REALTOR® BRE Lic.#000818891
or visit
www.MaryCRealtor.com • (661)301-Mary 301-6279 bakersfieldlife.com
37
FOOD AND WINE
Customers wait to dine at Mike E's Grill 'n Grub.
TRUCK AND TRAILER TREATS Food truck revolution kicks off locally with two pioneers leading the way Story and photos by Kevin McCloskey
I
f the number of reality shows about an industry is any indication — and it most likely is — the food truck industry is growing. Three shows alone on the Food Network and Cooking Channel — as well as a shelf of how-to books — are devoted to this segment of the restaurant industry. In the largest cities across the country, food trucks gather in central locations to feed hungry business folks or evening revelers. With the exception of Mexican food trucks, Bakersfield is trailing a bit in the movement, but you can be
38
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Quig’s BBQ & Catering’s Ultimate Burger
Yo quiero taco truck
T
aco trucks have a long history in Bakersfield. Dave’s Tacos was legendary in the 1980s, and staying up-to-date on its location was required knowledge for any late-night hungerrun after all the clubs had closed. Today, a growing number of these mobile dining spots are cropping up, and the variety of specialties and culinary styles are beginning to expand beyond the street staples of asada, pollo and carnitas. Here are a few crowd favorites:
EL TACO LOCO 2
Quig’s BBQ & Catering staff are busy preparing their kitchen. sure that it’s coming. As with any new business sector, the earliest explorers and entrepreneurs will wade through regulations, city codes, licensing and public opinion to pave a smooth road for larger groups that follows. Two of these pioneers took some time away from serving their hungry crowds to share their business, menu and specialities with Bakersfield Life.
MIKE E’S GRILL ‘N GRUB What they’re about: Mike E’s Grill ‘n Grub is the dream child of Bakersfield native Mike Eggert. “Ever since I was 10 years-old, I’ve wanted to have a hot dog cart,” said Eggert. “We started with making salad dressings, then added a catering business about 25 years ago, which evolved into the current food trailer.” After retiring from his 28-year career with the Bakersfield City School District, Eggert added the trailer to his catering side business in January 2013. Along with his wife, Mary, and
daughters, Allysen and Anne Marie, Eggert finally made that hot dog cart dream a much bigger reality. What they serve: Seven different salads accompanied by their own dressings. The tender pulled pork sandwiches are a crowd favorite, and the chile verde fries are great for a meal or to share while browsing the farmers market. The must-try garlic chicken strips are reminiscent of a certain Basque restaurant. Regular menu and specials are posted on Facebook every day. Where to find them: Monday through Friday at the corner of Empire and Bahamas drives between Truxtun Avenue and Yokuts Park, Saturdays at the Brimhall Farmers Market with the salad dressing booth, and Sundays at the Kaiser Permanente Farmers Market across from the Marketplace. They also cater events and bottle and sell nearly 1,000 units per month of nine different salad dressings.
Continued on page 41
Where: 2301 Panama Lane (in the Chevron parking lot) When: 5 a.m. to 3 a.m. Monday through Sunday Specialties: Al Pastor, tostadatitas, sopes and tortas, breakfast burritos and homemade salsa Hungry for more? 834-3529, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Yelp
TACOS MI CASA Where: Gosford Road and White Lane (in the Sparkling Image Car Wash parking lot) When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday Specialties: Carnitas, shrimp, chicken and carne asada tacos Hungry for more? 472-3594, Yelp
EL PARAISO TACOS Y MARISCOS Where: 6500 District Blvd. (at the corner of District Blvd. and Ashe Road) When: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday Specialties: Tortas, shrimp ceviche, al pastor tacos with homemade adobo sauce, quesadillas and tortas. Hungry for more? 809-7115, Yelp
bakersfieldlife.com
39
Garlic chicken strips from Mike E’s Grill ’n Grub.
Mike E’s chile verde fries
BROKER/OWNER • CalBRE#00624026
HUD’s • Short Sales • REO’s • Re-Sale
Open 7-days a week! We can show you any property listed for sale. Call us or stop by today.
661.847.1050 3861 Stockdale Hwy. • Bakersfield, CA 93309 Se Habla Español 661.201.9049 www.bettybyrom.com • peoplerealtyinc@gmail.com Real Estate Broker, California Bureau of Real Estate
Serving Bakersfield for Over 35 Years! 40
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Continued from page 39
QUIG’S BBQ & CATERING What they’re about: Barbecuing has long been a hobby of Scott Quigley, but when the economic downturn began to dry up his long-time career in the construction industry, he took to the road to learn from smoke-pit barbecue barons. Enhancing his skills among those pork and poultry professionals, he turned his hobby into the incredible trailer and catering business it is today. “We can cook up to 1,000 pounds of meat per day in here, and feed 2,000 to 3,000 people,” Quigley said. “But I only cook enough for the day, and once it’s sold out, we’re done and starting the next day’s offerings. Our brisket and pulled pork cook for 16 hours. Ribs and chicken for six.” What they serve: The smoked beef brisket plate is Quig’s most popular item. It’s melt-in-your-mouth good and comes with two sides of salad, coleslaw, chili beans, Southern-style green beans or Quig’s twice-baked stuffed potato casserole. The unadvertised combo sampler plate will allow you to taste all four meats. Hand-patted and cooked-to-order burgers are also on the menu. Try the buffalo burger if you are looking for something a little leaner and if not, sidle up to
Continued on page 42
Quig’s Two Meat Plate — beef brisket and pulled pork
bakersfieldlife.com
41
The Quigleys, Feifei and Scott, run Quig’s BBQ & Catering.
Continued from page 41 the ultimate burger made of a half-pound patty, two cheeses, pulled pork, bacon and brisket. Quig’s has a hot link special on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a full prime rib dinner on Fridays. Where to find them: Garces Circle in the Elks Lodge parking lot, 1616 30th St., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call 345-9395 or visit quigsbbq.com. Everything is cooked on-site in the huge smoker that takes up the back quarter of this 42-footer.
If you are looking to make a change in your lifestyle, I am qualified to assist you. Seniors Real Estate Specialist® Call for a free consultation...
Darlene Tobias, Realtor 661.301.1722 CalBRE#01345186
42
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Jalapeno and cheese burger from Quig’s BBQ & Catering.
FOODIE
Denise Ferdinand whips up some traditional Basque eats in her kitchen. 44
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Ingredients for oxtail stew with egg noodles
Denise Ferdinand transfers the drained egg noodles to a serving dish.
DENISE FERDINAND Continuing the Basque tradition By Hillary Haenes
G
rowing up with a Basque mother taught Denise Ferdinand how to be an outstanding cook, and that there’s always room for one more person at the table. “Cooking reminds me of my mom, the good times we had in the kitchen and how grateful I am for all that I learned from her,” said Ferdinand, who is the principal planner with Fairy Godmother, a local wedding and event company. Ferdinand is also the administrator for the Bakersfield Women’s Business Conference. Working as an event planner, it’s only natural that Ferdinand loves any chance she gets to entertain family and friends. “I cook just about every day, which some people think is crazy because it’s only me most days! It’s relaxing for me. I
Oxtail stew cooks slowly over medium heat for an hour and a half.
am always volunteering to host holidays or events at my home,” she said. She pays attention to the smallest details and knows that there is more to great cooking than just making food. “At every occasion, my mom had her culinary rituals and each of them resulted in a signature dish. She put her love and care into each creation. When the entire family would gather, each of us would be delighted to see our favorite item on the table. I want to continue her tradition,” said Ferdinand of keeping her mother’s customs alive, especially when it comes to preparing Basque food.
COOKING ADVICE Everything goes better with: Wine. I always mess up: Baking… I am not a baker. I rock at: Barbecuing. My go-to ingredient: Garlic because it adds good flavor. I buy this in bulk: Cheese. My disastrous kitchen story: A friend brought me his aunt’s homemade cinnamon roll recipe thinking I could follow it and make his favorite rolls. I’m not much of a baker, but I said I would try.
Continued on page 46 bakersfieldlife.com
45
Denise Ferdinand remembers her mother, Marguerite Ferdinand, as she cooks oxtail stew (a Basque dish) with egg noodles.
Continued from page 45 It started out smooth but ended in a flour fiasco! I think the rolls should have been called sticky spools because no matter how much flour I used, I could not get them to roll out. The flour was all over me, all over the kitchen — it looked like a cartoon where the bag of flour blew up! When I ran out of flour, I just plopped the dough on a pan and baked it. It was on the counter cooling when my friend returned. With a puzzled look he asked, “What is that?” I replied, “That, my friend is why I like to cook and not bake.” He has never asked me to make that recipe again. And although they looked really bad, the cinnamon rolls tasted great! How I find inspiration to create a new dish: I can taste something or see recipes and put together my own dish. I can tell what goes together and what flavors mix well. If I could spend a day with a famous chef, it would be: Rachael Ray because she knows how to put a twist on recipes. Her style is straightforward and easy to follow. Advice I would ask her: Tips on baking.
TOOLS OF THE TRADE Favorite piece of cooking equipment: Dutch oven and cast iron pans. Must-have kitchen tools: Sharp knives. Go-to cookbooks: “From the Sheepcamp to the Kitchen: Volume 1” put out by the Kern County Wool Growers Auxiliary Bo-Peeps. The recipes are from the local Basque commu46
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
nity, passed down from generation to generation. Spice cabinet necessities: Montreal steak seasoning. Ingredient that I dislike: Accent seasoned salt. Dream kitchen appliance: I really do not have one; I do everything by hand (chopping, mixing).
GLOBE-TROTTING Favorite cuisine: Mexican food. Favorite local restaurant and my order: Wool Growers Restaurant’s lamb chops, of course. Best food memory: Cooking with my mom. Best culinary destination: Italy. Weirdest food I like: Pigs’ feet. Most surprising food I’m not crazy about: Lamb shanks.
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS Always in the fridge: Blue cheese. Farmers market finds: Tomatoes and zucchini. Comfort food: Spaghetti and garlic bread. Family recipe: Oxtail stew. (See recipe on page 47) The single tastiest thing I’ve eaten this month: Barbecue pork tenderloin chop. I’m addicted to: French bread. The local restaurant that I want to eat at that I haven’t yet: The Padre’s Belvedere Room. My splurge at the grocery store: Cookies, because I don’t bake, remember?
Oxtail Stew Serves: 6 Ingredients 3 pounds oxtails 3/4 can tomato sauce 1/2 white onion, chopped 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon butter 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1/4 teaspoon thyme 3 carrots, chopped 1/4 cup sauterne wine 3 celery stalks, chopped 1 1/2 tablespoons flour 2 tablespoons oil 2 cans chicken broth Salt & pepper to taste Red pepper flakes to taste
Directions Heat the oil and flour the meat, then brown on both sides in a Dutch oven on top of stove. Put to the side. Add carrots, celery, onions and garlic, cook until limp. Add chicken broth and tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Season with salt, pepper
and red pepper flakes to taste. Add bay leaf and thyme. Reduce heat and add meat. Cook slowly for about one and a half hours (until meat is tender), add sauterne cooking wine and butter for the last 20 minutes of cooking. Serve over rice or noodles.
It’s time for a Change. • Cellulite treatment • Circumferential reduction • Skin-tightening for the face and body Call now for a free consultation. Skinsation is proud to be Kern County’s Largest Botox, Juvederm and Voluma provider!!
ny’s Pizza heck in at any Toe Where’s th location with ial r the day’s spec Bazomb? app fo the Where’s offer. Download r FREE from the Bazomb? app fo gle Play. App Store or Goo Play Where’s Bazomb? at Tony’s Pizza to win cash, prizes, and earn great deals!
661-617-6101
1500 Haggin Oaks, Suite 100 • Bakersfield, CA Dr. Gregory Klis, M.D. • April Cooper, R.N. • Beckie Duke, R.N. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and CareCredit!
www.skinsationmedispa.com bakersfieldlife.com
47
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
Dancers participate in the annual Bakersfield Fiesta, a weekend-long event, sponsored by The United Square Dancers Association, at the Kern County Fairgrounds.
SWING YOUR PARTNER ‘ROUND TO THE BAKERSFIELD FIESTA Bring your best shoes to this one, square dancing is back at the Kern County Fairgrounds By Eric Garza
Photos by John Harte
G
rab your partner one more time because square dancing is back in town! The 48th Bakersfield Fiesta is promenading into town March 14 through March 16 at the Kern County Fairgrounds. The event hosted by the Kern County United Square Dancers Association features square dancing of all styles and attracts locals and out-of-towners for a weekend of
Continued on page 50 48
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Dancers Lin (center) and Robert Fisher (right) of Hughson, Calif., take to the floor.
Bakersfield Fiesta Tickets for all three days are $40 with pre-registration, $45 after March 6, and $25 for those ages 17 and younger. Attendees who don’t want to commit to the full event can buy tickets for particular days, or parts of a day. Thursday night’s dance is $8 in
advance, $10 at the door. Friday’s activities are $16. Saturday’s events cost $35 for the full day, $25 for the afternoon and evening programs only, or $15 for evening program only. Sunday’s program is $8. Visit www.bakersfieldfiesta.com for details.
Ken and Erika Spira traveled from Orange to participate in the annual Bakersfield Fiesta.
Bakersfield Fiesta attracts both locals and out-of-towners. bakersfieldlife.com
49
Continued from page 48 unbridled fun. Join the KCUSD for a weekend of dancing as some of the top square dancers and callers from around the country help the crowd get little foot loose. A smorgasbord of events are scheduled throughout the three-day event including feature dancing with the special guests and dancing workshops. This year dancers will be able to glide on the floating wood floor in the Albert Goode building. Those that do not wish to participate or are not experienced square dancers can stick around to spectate or hang out in the cantina. The tradition of the Bakersfield Fiesta dates back to the weekend of May 27, 1967, when the event was a Saturday and Sunday affair. The next year, a Friday night dance was added to the event, and a few years later an afternoon dance was chalked in for Friday as well. Originally, the Fiesta was held in the Bakersfield Convention Center, but the location proved to be problematic for guests arriving in RVs because there was not enough space to accommodate them. And so the event chassed over to the Kern County Fairgrounds and has
Continued on page 52
• Community Gardens • Spacious Single Level Floor Plans • Cottage Style Apartment Homes • Walking Distance to Shopping, Dining, Banking & Entertainment! • Relaxing Pool & Spa
• Media Center • Putting Greens • Fitness Center • Weekly Social Events • Electronic Gate Access • Pet Friendly
Husband and wife dancers Sandi and Robert Noynes of Bishop met at the annual Bakersfield Fiesta.
John Owens, M.D. 4000 Physicians Blvd, E-211 Bakersfield, CA 93301
4015 Scenic River Lane, Bakersfield, CA 93308 661-588-2400
(661) 401-2000
www.VillasAtScenicRiver.com
www.johnowensmd.com
Directions: From Highway 99 take the Olive exit going West. Turn left onto Coffee Rd, and left on Meany Avenue. Turn left onto Scenic River Lane.
50
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
John Owens M.D.
Laura Valenzuela MSN, NP-C
Continued from page 50 been there ever since. As the event swung into full gear, the Fiesta committee added Friday as a full day of fun and eventually included Thursday night dancing as well. Over the years, the Fiesta also gained dances for different skill-level, such as mainstream and advanced. This year’s Fiesta will kick-off with a “Trail’s End” dance with caller Charlie Robertson and cuers Chuck and Doreene Ball at 7 p.m, March 13. The tentative schedule for festivities begin with a Bonus Dance at 2 p.m. Friday, March 14 with special guests Jet and Sylvia Roberts Bjork. Saturday’s packed with programs offered from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The fiesta finishes Sunday with a shorter schedule of offerings from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Evelyn Glines, organizer for the Fiesta, says that she welcomes everyone in the community to come out and have a wonderful time. If you’re an experienced square dancer or caller itching for an opportunity to cut a rung with other professional dancers and enthusiasts, come on down and join the fun. And be sure to bring your square dancing clothes!
Mark and Donna Martin of Bakersfield take a break at the annual Bakersfield Fiesta
Discover the Holiday Lifestyle. Our all-inclusive rent includes:
• Daily chef-prepared meals • 24/7 live-in managers • Weekly housekeeping • Scheduled transportation • And so much more.
$500 Off
1st Months Rent Offer Ends soon.
Joseph Amaya, Realtor
Jerry Flynn, Realtor
661.303.2009
661.703.3916
dhinds@bak.rr.com CalBRE#00640701
erbiz2005@gmail.com CalBRE#01463742
661.617.4434
*Limited time offer. Please see management for details.
52
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Abdul Jobah, Realtor
661.333.8183 jflynnrealtor@sbcglobal.net CalBRE#01191965
Debbie Banducci, Realtor
3201 Columbus, Bakersfield, CA 93306 661-578-6123 | columbusestates.com
Dewey Hinds, Realtor
661.865.9388 amaya.joseph@yahoo.com CalBRE#00982370
debbiebanducci.com CalBRE#01083331
Salah Jobah, Realtor
Ann Choung, Realtor
661-201-3163
661-312-4270
salah661@gmail.com CalBRE#01920825
annchoung@hotmail.com CalBRE#00916260
PROUDLY PRESENTS…….
Reserve your seats today!
Washed up silent film star Norma Desmond thinks her life may turn around when she meets Joe Gillis. Based on the 1950’s film of the same Ytle. DON’T MISS SUNSET BLVD! February 28 March 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22
Call 325-6100 or visit www.bmtstars.com
4560 Coffee Road
661-588-7503
Coffee & Hageman Vons Shopping Center www.fabriejewelers.com bakersfieldlife.com
53
HOMETOWN HERO
BRANDON PHILLIPS U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three (ret.) Compiled by Eduardo Gamez
Photos courtesy of Brandon Phillips
B
akersfield native Brandon Phillips traveled around the world in his 20-year career with the U.S. Army, but he still feels right at home when he returns to Kern. “I’ve been away for 22 years, but when I drive down certain streets in Bakersfield, it is like I just left last week. I love the memories,” Phillips wrote in an email. Phillips graduated from Bakersfield High School in 1990 and enlisted in the U.S. Army after a stint at Bakersfield Col-
Brandon Phillips and his wife, Melissa Phillips, at his retirement ceremony in June 2011.
II and my father was an Army helicopter pilot. I had an early interest in military aviation. My decision to enlist before I was qualified to apply for flight school was driven by a need for financial assistances that the GI Bill would provide.
CW3 Brandon Phillips piloting a UH-60 Black Hawk over the Atlantic Ocean. lege. Phillips married his sweetheart, Melissa, and the newlyweds soon headed to Germany for his first assignment. Following assignments in Korea, Alabama and Alaska, Phillips spent the last nine years of his military career assigned to Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga. During his service time, Phillips jumped at opportunities for training and attended college full time on nights and weekends. He closed out his military career serving in Army Special Operations as a Black Hawk pilot. Before he retired from the Army in 2011, Phillips began working on a master’s degree in early childhood education. He currently works as a fourth–grade teacher in Effingham County, Ga.
What I gained from the Army: Self-confidence. Prior to my Army career, I never really felt driven to succeed. I don’t think I recognized my potential or the opportunities I had. The Army provided a clear path to success and I learned early on that I could succeed in a task and move on to the next (one), often with a promotion. I wish I had that clarity and self-confidence in school and sports as a kid. Is there anything you would change about your experience? Not really. When I look back on it, every experience or assignment set me up to be successful in whatever would come next. This is true even for the few experiences that were pretty miserable at that particular moment. Biggest challenge of serving: After a while, the unpredictability and instability began to take a small toll on me. There were things I wanted to pursue and experience in my personal life that my career prevented me from doing. I could never plan for or commit to anything more than a week or two in advance.
Rank: Chief warrant officer three, retired Deployments: Operations Iraqi Freedom (Iraq), Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Operation New Dawn (Iraq) and multiple assignments in Central America and South America. Why I joined: My grandfather piloted B-17s in World War 54
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Advice for young Americans thinking about joining the service: Whether you spend a couple of years in the service or an entire career, there are seemingly endless opportunities for challenge and advancement. Nobody hands them to you. You have to seek them out, but they are there. Get everything you can out of the time you serve. The rewards will last a lifetime.
โ Weโ re here to help.โ
8JCMF 3E #BLFSTรถFME t t XBZBVUPNPUJWF DPN
6DOHV 0RQ )UL 6DW 6XQ ย 6HUYLFH 0RQ )UL 6DW ย 3DUWV 0RQ )UL 6DW
ON THE ROAD
Bakersfield Life assistant managing editor Rachel Cook drives the 2014 Cadillac CTS.
2014 CADILLAC CTS Motor Trend Car of the Year is loaded with style, safety features By Rachel Cook
Photos by Michael Lopez
T
he 2014 Cadillac CTS has earned plenty of praise, but the title that stands out amongst the accolades is “2014 Motor Trend Car of the Year.” With an award like that, a sleek look and a seemingly endless list of safety features, I couldn’t have asked for a more impressive car for my first test drive. I have to admit I was a bit awestruck when I first spotted the CTS on the floor at Three-Way Chevrolet-Cadillac. Another customer seemed to share my admiration, remarking, “Awesome car!” as he circled the cherry red vehicle. Motor Trend also gave the CTS kudos for aesthetics, noting that the car “leaves no question” that the Cadillac’s Art and Science design theme “is as relevant and trend-busting as ever.” 56
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
The CTS’ head-turning design is sure to catch attention. As Motor Trend Associate Editor Scott Evans reflected on the car’s design earlier this year, “The signature achievement is the successful extension of the ‘light blade,’ as Cadillac calls it, up the front fender and down into the front fascia, creating an unmistakable look as easily identifiable in a rearview mirror as when you're standing in front of it.” And once you recognize the CTS’ distinct, eye-catching presences, you’ll find yourself quickly spotting the powerful
Your hands will never get cold behind the heated steering wheel of the 2014 Cadillac CTS.
car all around town. I also appreciated the sedan’s subtler style touches. For instance, you’ll find the Cadillac moniker inscribed in the top of the tail lights and even in the brake calipers. The interior of the CTS matches the car’s inspiring exterior with plush leather seats, clean lines and aluminum accents. The seats are oh-so comfortable, and my boyfriend was a big fan of the power lumbar support in the front passenger seat, as well as the booming Bose audio system. Make no mistake, the car is flat out gorgeous inside and out. As with the exterior, it was the little interior details that impressed me - such as the heated steering wheel and the electronic cup holder cover. I expected heated seats for a sedan of this caliber, but the ventilation feature was an added bonus, and perhaps even a necessity when you live in a town this hot. The air filtration system is also a perk for valley residents seeking a reprieve for their lungs on dubious air quality days. The central feature inside the car is “Cadillac User Experience” (CUE). With an 8-inch touch screen in the heart of the dashboard, you can do everything from check the weather to navigate your route to work with ease. The car can sync with up to five smartphones total but can only be connected to one at a time. The voice command system and Bluetooth capability also make it easy to safely place a call while you’re on the road. And with a simple touch, the control panel lifts up to reveal a USB port and a convenient space to stash your phone, wallet or
other valuables out of sight. The ride is unbeatably smooth. Car and Driver dubbed the CTS “unequivocally the best-handling car in the mid-size luxury segment.” Car and Driver also named the CTS to its “2014 10 Best Cars” list. And the car’s numerous high-tech features made me feel like the sedan was driving with me during my three-day test drive. The forward collision alert warns you if you are coming up too fast on another car, while the rear vision camera provides a clear view of the trash bins and trucks that you could encounter as you back out of the driveway. Blind spot alerts light up in side view mirrors when another vehicle is loitering or passing through your blind zone. The car also comes with signature LED headlights that illuminates everything – and I mean every little thing – in your path. But my personal favorite safety features of the CTS were the Safety Alert Seat and the lane departure warning system. The driver’s seat vibrated to warn me as one of my coworkers snuck up behind me in an SUV in the parking lot. Such signal warnings came in handy at home and in crowded parking lots across town. The lane departure warning chides you if you fail to use your turn signal– a feature I desperately wish every driver in town had. Even with a myriad of safety features to help you avoid an accident, if you do end up in a crash, the CTS has you covered with a five-star safety rating for a frontal crash. Overall, all it’s the perfect car for anyone who craves a bit of luxury every day.
Cadillac User Experience (CUE) puts everything from music to weather reports at the driver’s fingertips.
It’s all in the details Mileage: 20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway
Price tag: Starting at $46,025 Five best features: Safety alert seat, V Sport with 420 hp twin turbo V6, CUE - Cadillac User Experience, Brembo brakes on every CTS, and Heads up display. Target customer: With its new technology, performance and its level of luxury, I would say everyone.
Three words that define the 2014 Cadillac CTS: Performance, luxury, safety.
What do you like most about the 2014 Cadillac CTS: My favorite feature of the CTS is CUE- Cadillac User Experience - Infotainment system. Intuitive Natural Voice Recognition adds yet another level of convenience. Source: Michael Thomas, Senior Sales Manager for Three-Way ChevroletCadillac.
bakersfieldlife.com
57
ON THE ROAD
Bakersfield Life editor Olivia Garcia takes the 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited Edition for a spin.
2014 JEEP CHEROKEE Latest model still packs a punch, but adds more safety and luxury to its class By Olivia Garcia
Photos by April Massirio
A
bout three years ago, I scored big and got to test drive the Jeep Grand Cherokee. As I’ve mentioned before, there is something special about the Jeep Cherokee brand - I’ve always admired them. They carry this strong persona, this kind of “Don’t worry, I have things under control” attitude. And while it may not have the rugged and prowess of the Jeep Wrangler, the Cherokee delivers toughness with just the right amount of finesse and beauty. This time around, I got to test drive the 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited Edition, and I have to say that my view of the Jeep Cherokee hasn’t changed a bit. OK, maybe it’s evolved to a new level of impressive after spending a few days with the 2014 Limited Edition model, packed with a robust 3.2-liter 58
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
271-horsepower V-6 engine and a nine speed transmission. It was neat to run into old friends at the Chrysler Jeep dealership, Alex Karegaran, the general sales manager of Bakersfield Chrysler Jeep and Fiat of Bakersfield, and Joseph Mays, formerly a sales consultant at the dealership but now the finance manager. Congrats to Joseph, who walked me through the new model. Seeing their familiar faces brought back memories of my first Jeep test drive. This time around, however, I felt a little more sure and familiar with the redesigned Jeep Cherokee, which recently earned the MotorWeek’s Drivers’ Choice Award and accolades for its powerful towing capacity. Aside from that attention, I discovered the 2014 model featured more than 60 safety and security features, according to Wk2Jeeps.com, a website for Grand Cherokee owners and enthusiasts. Now I have mentioned this before, but the Jeep Cherokee delivers a strong performance and control. I wasn’t worry about safety, but these features provide that extra reminder that you and your passengers are in great hands. Case in point: The blind spot and course detection system gives me a visual alert illuminates on my side view mirrors when there is an oncoming car in my blind spot. This can be a significant help, especially in high traffic areas where
The latest Cherokee seats up to five.
It’s all in the details Five best features:
Drivers of the Cherokee can pump up the volume via an 8.4-inch touch screen or buttons on the steering wheel.
motorists are flying by, said Mays. I appreciated this one recent morning as I was driving toward Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School. An older SUV flew past me where two lanes had converged into one. (Construction work is in progress on Highway 178 so you would think people would be extra careful, but no). Mays added that the forward collision warning with crash mitigation system detects when the car may be approaching another too rapidly and alerts driver. The adaptive cruise control not only allows you to pick your speed, but it also can detect the speed of the car ahead of you and adjust speed along the way. No more worries about putting the foot on the break for slower cars and restarting the cruise control again. It’s got you covered. Mays also mentioned the standard electronic stability control, which includes electronic roll mitigation, hillstart assist, trailer-sway control and newly available Selec-Speed Control. Now, of course, I live in sunny California, where we are praying for rain, and test-driving a Jeep in great Cali weather is fine. But can it withstand extreme weather? And the answer is, yes, without a doubt. It just so happened that I ran across a Christian Science Monitor article where the writer test drove the Cherokee in the Northeast where we all know the weather has been nothing but brrrr. “On that front, we can only say that
the Jeep crawled itself through 4 to 6 inches of snow and up our steep and unplowed driveway without drama or fuss, assisted by the ‘Snow’ setting on the all-wheel drive SelecTerrain control knob,” wrote John Voelcker, a Christian Science Monitor blogger, on Feb. 1. Like Voelcker, I appreciated the allwhite drive system and its choice of drive modes, but I was also blown away by the comfort and perks. To begin with, I loved the leathertrimmed seating and panoramic sunroof. It made me want to crawl in there with a blanket and take a snooze. They were that comfortable. Just ask my husband, who dozed off while I drove us to Best Buy. The stadium seating offered in the Jeep Cherokees is designed to reduce motion sickness. With two boys who get carsick pretty easily, I know how important this is. I did not complain once about having to warm up my Jeep either, as it came with heated seats and mirrors and its rapid air cleared up the frosty windows quickly. Its Uconnect system with navigation, Sirius XM, HD radio and more is set up on a smooth 8.4-inch touchscreen, although you can control the system via the buttons on the steering wheel. But my most favorite feature was the Park Assist. Yes, it parked the Jeep for me in a parking space that had cars parked on each side. I was blown away.
• New engine options, including a two new motor options. The 184 hp 4cylinder mulit-air Tigershark, and the powerful 271hp 3.2L v6 Pentastar. • Class exclusive 9-speed transmission. • Touchscreen media center/ navigation. Lane sense technology, adaptive cruise, and park assist. • Reinforced uniframe body, which makes it rigid enough to handle off-roading when equipped with either Active Drive 2 or Active Drive lock. • Bold new styling, refined finish, and the latest technologies
City and highway mileage: 21/30 (city/highway) with the Tigershark i4, and 19/29 with the Pentastar v6.
Price tag? Starting base price $24,900. The Jeep Cherokee is perfect for: Those who wish to have amazing economy and still have the ability to go off road when they are seeking a little adventure.
What makes the 2014 Jeep Cherokee stand out from others? The styling will absolutely distinguish our vehicle from others in its class — those being the Honda CRV, and Toyota RAV4, and the Ford Edge. Additionally, with the new Pentastar motor, ours is capable of towing 4000 lbs. where the others are maxed out at 1500lbs.
Target customer: Anyone interested in economy, yet still wants quality and capability in their SUV.
Three words that define the 2014 Jeep Cherokee: Bold, capable, and dynamic What do you like most about the 2014 Cherokee? I like the new technical features the Cherokee possesses. From its lane sense and adaptive cruise (which provide a tremendous amount of additional safety) to its off-road prowess, this new model is at the top of the game. Source: Joe Mays, Finance Manager, Bakersfield Chrysler Jeep
bakersfieldlife.com
59
BAKERSFIELD
CHRYSLER JEEP
®
3101 Cattle Drive • Bakersfield Auto Mall • (661) 832-3000 www.drivecj.com
WHY I LIVE HERE
NATHAN HODGES From flexing muscle on the mat to pinning opponents in the courtroom, a young attorney shares his thoughts on life in Bakersfield Compiled by Ryan Barrera
N
athan Hodges has found plenty of success in Bakersfield, first as a college wrestler, and now in his career as an attorney. Hodges was born and raised in Grass Valley, a small town between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. He moved to Bakersfield in 2000 to wrestle and learn at Cal State Bakersfield. A decade later, Hodges returned to Bakersfield to work for the Law Offices of Young Wooldridge, LLP. In between, he earned All-American honors at the 2001 World Team Trials for wrestling, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. When Hodges isn’t busy working — he specializes in personal injury litigation and has experience in business litigation — he enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons. Why Bakersfield? I first moved to Bakersfield in 2000 to attend CSUB and wrestle. However, at the end of 2002 I left school and moved back to Grass Valley because my dad was diagnosed with cancer. Several years later, upon my dad’s insistence, I moved back to Bakersfield to finish college. In 2008, after earning a bachelor’s in philosophy, I moved to Sacramento to attend law school at University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. Upon graduating from McGeorge in 2011, I once again moved back to Bakersfield, this time to accept a job at the Law Offices of Young Wooldridge, LLP.
What do you think about the town? I really like this town; without it, I would not have met my wife. How long have you lived here? I have lived in Bakersfield, off and on, for a total of eight years.
PHOTO BY HENRY A. BARRIOS
What’s your neighborhood like? I live in a Northwest Bakersfield subdivision that is mostly composed of families with elementary school-age children.
Nathan M. Hodges with the Law Offices of Young Wooldridge, LLP.
son play sports. I also really like going to Wool Growers with the attorneys in my law firm each Friday.
Is there a place in Bakersfield that you go to relax? When the weather is good, I like to play golf. However, once it gets really hot, I like to go with my wife and kids to my in-laws to barbecue and swim.
How would you describe Bakersfield to outsiders? It’s a great place to raise a family because you get the small-town feel in a good-sized city.
Favorite thing to do in Bakersfield? My favorite thing to do in Bakersfield is going to watch my
Do you have a favorite restaurant in Bakersfield? I really like Mossman’s fish and chips. However, if you ask my son, the best restaurant in town is Outback Steakhouse. bakersfieldlife.com
61
A L L-S TA R AT H L E T E
CAMI PRIVETT
UC Irvine midfielder Cami Privett dribbles the ball in UC Irvine’s season opener against Cal on Aug. 31. 62
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
PHOTO BY GLENN FEINGERTS / UC IRVINE
Former Frontier High soccer star continues to stand out at UC Irvine
By Stephen Lynch
O
nly one thing has been able to slow down Cami Privett during her college soccer career: injuries. When healthy during past years, the former Frontier High standout has excelled as a midfielder for UC Irvine. This past season, the 5-foot-8-inch, 155-pound Privett scored two goals, registered two assists and was an All-Big West honorable mention selection. Privet missed a big chunk of her sophomore year because of a medial collateral ligament tear and then suffered a right quad injury during her junior season that forced her to sit out two games. Those setbacks have forced Privett to learn how to overcome adversity. “I kind of told myself I wasn’t going get injured after my sophomore year because I didn’t like the experience of sitting out and not being able to play,” Privett said. “But things happen. You just deal with it and bounce back.” Privett’s college career started off with a bang. Her first year at UCI she scored five goals, including two game-winners and was named Big West Freshman of the Year and All-Big West Second Team. Her immediate success as a collegian wasn’t surprising considering Privett was a dominating force for Frontier. She was a four-time All-Area selection in high school. Her senior year, Privett led the Titans to the Central Section Division II championship. Privett began playing soccer at age 4 and joined her first club team at age 10. Since then, she has continually worked to hone her game and constantly improve. She believes her biggest strength as a soccer player is her vision of the field. “I’m able see what’s happening before I get the ball,” Privett said. Privett has gained 50 pounds since she headed to UCI. “You have to be big and you have to be strong in order to play at a high level in college,” Privett said. “When I was in high school, I was small. I was really petite and thin, but then, as soon as you come to college, they have you training all the time, lifting weights.” Privett has several goals for her senior season, including staying healthy, upping her assist totals and helping UCI win the Big West championship. The Anteaters lost a 2-1 overtime thriller to UC Riverside in the Big West Tournament championship game this past year. “I want to win the Big West Tournament because that is something that UCI women’s soccer has never done before,” Privett said. “I would like to start off with that and then, after that, go as far as we can.”
Facts: Cami Privett Born March 16, 1993 in Visalia Parents are Roger and Leiza Privett. Older brother, Roger, and younger brother, Chase. Four-time All-SWYL and AllArea selection at Frontier High School. SWYL MVP in 2011. Led Titans to section titles in 2009 and 2011. Career totals at UC Irvine: 52 games played, 7 goals, and
19th & N Street, Downtown Bakersfield www.emporiumwesternstore.com
(661) 325-8476
8 assists. Anteaters are a combined 3419-7 during her three years at UCI. Says the highlight of her college career was UCI beating then nationally–ranked No. 6 BYU on the road last year. Majoring in Anthropology Scheduled to graduate next year. Hobbies: Learning how to play the guitar.
bakersfieldlife.com
63
Joe Fontaine stands with a giant Sequoia.
SIERRA CLUB CELEBRATES WILDERNESS ACT’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY Local chapter marks the occasion with Joe Fontaine, past national president for the environmental group By Ryan Barrera
This month, the local chapter of the Sierra Club will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act with one of Kern’s greatest wilderness protection warriors, Joe Fontaine. Fontaine has dedicated his life to improving and protecting the environment and public land. Born in Bakersfield, Fontaine grew up in a boxcar and graduated from Bakersfield High School in 1951. Fontaine returned to Bakersfield after earning a bachelor’s degree and worked for an oil drilling company. But he 64
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
PHOTO BY JON HAMMOND
TA L K O F T H E TO W N
later switched careers to become a science teacher in 1962. It was on a vacation to Greenhorn Mountain that Fontaine came upon a barren opening in the landscape — a gaping hole left by thousands of trees cut away from the land. The encounter made a lasting impression on Fontaine. He joined the Kern/Kaweah Chapter of the Sierra Club and labored for the cause locally before he was elected to the Club’s National Board of Directors. Fontaine, 80, who lives in Bear Valley Springs with his wife, Leah “Bugs” Fontaine, took some time to talk to Bakersfield Life about his lifelong fight to protect land and share the importance of the Wilderness Act, which, according to USDA officials, established the country’s National Wilderness Preservation System. USDA officials say there are more than 750 wilderness areas that cover nearly 110 million acres. ‘I felt those public lands belonged to all of us’ As a kid living in Bakersfield, I had a craving to get up into those mountains I could look at east of Bakersfield. Back then, air pollution was not as bad and you could see the mountains nearly everyday. As I got older, I could finally get up there. When I saw what logging was doing to our public lands, I hit the roof and joined the Sierra Club in 1962. I felt those
Longtime Sierra Club member When I first got involved with the Sierra Club, I was active at the local level, then moved to statewide issues and, finally, was elected to the Club’s National Board of Directors. I served on that Board for 13 years, two of them as the national president, and then served on the Sierra Club Foundation for 21 years. I have received several awards from the Sierra Club. The SC Foundation raises money for Sierra Club tax-
Eva Nipp, right, presents Joe Fontaine with a handmade quilt in honor of his 80th birthday.
PHOTO COURTESYT OF MAJORIE BELL
public lands belonged to all of Kern/Kaweah Chapter us and not just to of the Sierra Club the private annual banquet sawmills that When: March 29, social hour only cared about starts at 4 p.m. profits. We all live Where: Hodel’s Country Dining, in wood-frame 5917 Knudsen Drive houses but logCost: $26, reservation due by ging can be done March 21. Visit kernkaweah.sierrawithout destroyclub.org and check out the chapter’s latest newsletter for more ing the forests. details. There have been big positive changes since, but that is what triggered my interest in the environment back then.
exempt activities. (An annual banquet of the Sierra Club is planned on March 29).
Continued on page 66
Serving all of Kern County!
REAL ESTATE LOANS Pay Bills • Buy Property Equity 1 Loans 34 Years Of Happy Repeat Borrowers 5405 Stockdale Hwy. Suite 108 • Bakersfield, CA 93309 Hablo English & Español
661-398-9382 • www.Equity1Loans.com
“CA Bureau of Real Estate” Broker Lic#00707520
bakersfieldlife.com
65
Kern-Kaweah Chapter of the Sierra Club members joined other local groups in a demonstration against bringing coal into Kern County to fuel a proposed hydrogen energy plant.
PHOTO COURTESYT OF MAJORIE BELL
protect air quality as Bakersfield grows. We have also been encouraging the use of non-polluting, clean sustainable energy in Kern County. Where appropriate, we support wind and solar energy projects that minimize their environmental impacts.
Continued from page 65 On a mission to control urban sprawl, protect air quality In addition to working to protect our public lands, the Kern/Kaweah Chapter has worked very hard and has been successful in controlling urban sprawl and finding ways to
Golden anniversary of Wilderness Act renews appreciation for U.S. wildlands We feel wilderness preservation is a critical resource that needs to be protected. In my talk to the local chapter about wilderness, I plan to go into the need for wilderness protection in detail. Wilderness provides a recreation opportunity for those of us living in an increasingly urban environment. It gives people a chance for solitude and introspection, an escape from our electronic preoccupations, especially for young people. Wilderness can also provide the so-called “canary in the cage” early warning system for unwanted changes in our changing worldwide environment. How natural systems respond to environmental changes may give us important information about how things like climate change are impacting the Earth... We push the envelope when it comes to implementation of the Wilderness Act on public land. We feel it is extremely important to administer the Wilderness Act as it was intended when it passed Congress in 1964.
Authentic Flavors, Affordable Elegant Dining
Now Featuring Live Music THAI FOOD
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesdays Therese Muller
Spring Wine Dinner in April Mother’s Day Brunch & Dinner May 11th Spring Beerfest May 31st
Call Nick for banquets and off site catering
66
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Thursday Big Sax Nights
Amy is now cozy and comfortable and enjoying life in her new home. Congratulations and welcome home from your friends at Premier Realty.
Congratulations! In this ever changing market, we work hard to make sure each and every one of our clients get the home of their dreams. Premier Realty stands for
“Pride of Ownership and Pride in our Community.”
“We’re Not National, We’re Your Neighbors” Not a franchise company • CalBRE# 01357148 • Real Estate Broker - CA Dept. of Real Estate 3977 Coffee Road, Ste. C (Behind Chicago Title) • 661.588.6600 • www.gopremierrealty.com
FOR A CAUSE
Guests mingle at last year's gala and golf tournament to raise money for The CBCC Foundation for Community Wellness.
TIMELY TREATMENT Pairing golf and a glamorous gala, The CBCC Community Wellness Foundation’s annual fundraiser helps patients get to treatment By Bakersfield Life Photos courtesy of The CBCC Foundation for Community Wellness
W
hen a Bakersfield child is diagnosed with cancer, his or her parents have to worry about more than just what care their child needs. They also have to unravel the logistics of how they will get their sick son or daughter to
treatment. Though services for pediatric oncology patients are expanding in Bakersfield, many children and their families have to travel outside of the county to get the surgeries and therapies kids need, often heading south to Los Angeles or north to Fresno. The trips can be challenging logistically and financially for families. To ease that burden, The CBCC Foundation for Community Wellness — a nonprofit affiliated with the Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center — began a program to provide transportation to and from appointments for these families. Michelle Avila, the foundation’s director, said the program grew out of alarming conversations with social workers from children’s hospitals. 68
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Golfers enjoy a sunny day at last year's tournament. “They (the social workers) made it be known that many children from Bakersfield were missing their appointments because the parents did not have a way to get them to their hospital,” Avila said. Jayme Torres, whose son Jaime Marroquin was diagnosed with cancer in May, says the shuttle service and gas cards the foundation provided helped her family tremendously.
Proudly Serving Bakersfield for 75 Years! www.kcsteakhouse.net
2515 F Street • (661) 322-9910 Family Owned & Operated Ariana Ramos, shown here at last year's gala, is one of the patients who benefited from The CBCC Foundation for Community Wellness' pediatric transportation program.
“The service they provide means a lot to us The Annual CBCC because we wouldn’t Foundation Golf Tourknow how to get to nament & Gala Madera (to Children’s Gala will be held a 6 p.m. March 16. Hospital Central CaliforGolf tournament starts with regisnia) without them,” Tortration and lunch at 10:30 a.m. res said. March 17 at Seven Oaks Country The foundation also Club, followed by a shotgun start at noon. provides shuttles for Gala tickets are $150. Tournament patients who need help tickets are $2,000 for a four-man getting to appointments, team (including gala tickets), $500 as well as other much for an individual player (also includneeded aid. ing a gala ticket). The annual CBCC For tickets, contact Michelle Avila Foundation Golf Tournaat mavila@cbccusa.com or 8627145. Registration form and sponment & Gala, the main sorship information available online fundraiser for the transat cbccusa.com/foundation. portation program, will tee off in style this month. The gala will be held March 16 at the Seven Oaks home of Dr. Naina Patel and Dr. Ravi Patel, CBCC’s founder. The Mardi Grasthemed event will feature catering by Steak & Grape and wine tasting, accompanied by live entertainment and an auction. The enchanting evening will be followed by a golf tournament on March 17. Dollars raised from the past years’ reveries have helped children and grown-ups get to the case they need. Since 2013, the foundation has provide more than 1,000 trips for children suffering from cancer from Kern County to hospitals outside the county, as well as more than 1,100 trips for adult cancer patients to medical appointments. “My favorite part about this event is the committee of volunteers who have worked their tails off to make this an event to be proud of,” Avila said. “These volunteers have met the patients who benefit first hand, they have heard their stories and are committed to our cause. Seeing others believe in our mission and give of themselves because they believe as much as I do is the best part of my job,” she added.
Monday: 11:00am - 10:30pm Friday: 11:00am - 12:00am Tuesday - Thursday: 11:00am - 11:00pm Saturday: 5:00pm - 12:00am Happy Hour: Weekdays 3:00pm - 6:00pm
WELCOME NEW PATIENTS Oral & IV Sedation Available Our goal is to help you keep your natural teeth for as long as possible. Most Insurance Accepted, Payment Plans available.
Call now to make an appointment 661-369-7380 • 2320 17th St. Bakersfield www.sangerdds.com bakersfieldlife.com
69
Aging in
style Local realtors give us a look at the homes and amenities of Bakersfield’s 55-plus communities
70
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Editor’s Note: At Bakersfield Life Magazine, we weren’t alone in our search for the finest homes for active adults this month. A couple of the homes we profiled were snapped up off the market before we went to print. Nevertheless, we chose to feature these desirable properties as an example of what Bakersfield’s popular 55-plus communities have to offer.
B
Y
M
A R I S S A
L
AY
I
magine waking up one morning, looking around the house you built your entire life around, and feeling that it’s just not right for you anymore. Perhaps your children have all grown up and moved away, or maybe you’re retired and have become the homebody you never really wanted to be. For a senior citizen or active adult, the decision to downsize — or upgrade — homes can be spurred by a multitude of reasons. “Moving to the right home is critical in this transition in their lives,”
Continued on page 72
PHOTO BY HENRY A. BARRIOS
A view of the intersection of Ashentree Lane and Upper Waterford Drive in the 55-plus community in Brighton Parks.
bakersfieldlife.com
71
This home at 228 Edgerton St. in the community of Brighton Parks in Bakersfield recently sold for $264,000.
PHOTO BY HENRY A. BARRIOS PHOTO BYHENRY A. BARRIOS
The centrally-located community center is an inviting place in the gated 55+ Brighton Parks community in Bakersfield.
Continued from page 71 said Terrie L. Vaughn, realtor for Miramar International Downtown. One of the first steps to moving to a new home is finding the perfect realtor and loan officer who understands the motivations for your move. “You need to find out exactly what you can comfortably afford and then decide exactly what you are looking for in your new home,” said Adoree Roberson, owner/manager of Premier Realty. “Make a list what features you have to have and a list of what you’d like to have.” It’s important to understand the facets of an active adult’s 72
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
life when choosing a new home. Does he or she still drive? Would he or she feel safer in a gated community? Will the community offer suitable activities? Are there any health issues or concerns involved? “No matter the reason, there are usually a lot of emotions about moving out of their family home and down-sizing the personal items they’ve carried with them for years,” explained Darlene Tobias, Seniors Real Estate Specialist for Tobias Real Estate. “When working with seniors, I first want to find out the ‘why’ they are considering a move and then I can assist them with all the various aspects of their move.” Moving into 55-plus communities — where activities and support systems for the active adults abound — can make the transition smoother and more enjoyable. Here’s a look at what some of the 55-plus communities in Bakersfield have to offer.
Brighton Parks A hop, skip, and a jump away from Cal State Bakersfield and The Marketplace, Brighton Parks is one of Bakersfield’s most desirable gated communities. “Tree-lined streets, beautiful clubhouse, and large inviting pool, together with daily activities sets the stage for enjoying new friendships,” said Roberson. Living in Castle and Cook’s Brighton Parks provides access to an award-winning walking and bike trail, and privileges at Seven Oaks Golf Resort. “Being a senior myself, I would appreciate Brighton Parks for all the amenities that it provides in a safe, gated community,” Roberson said. “I know many residents of Brighton Park who are very happy with their homes and environment. That says it all!”
PHOTO BY APRIL MASSIRIO
This house on Sterling Heights in the Solera 55-plus community was built in 2012 and is currently listed at $249,000.
228 EDGERTON ST. Located very close to the clubhouse, this two-bedroom, two-bath, 1582-square-foot home features an office and spacious kitchen with beautiful granite counter tops. The house was built in 2005 and recently sold for $264,000. The backyard is low maintenance with stamped concrete, a pond and a waterfall. This home also has stunning tilefloors in the kitchen, bathrooms, halls and walkways and an
indoor laundry room, separate bathtub and shower in the master bedroom, and large walk-in closets.
Solera Solera, a Del Webb 55-plus active adult community, is a gated community that offers both a clubhouse and an exer-
Continued on page 75
bakersfieldlife.com
73
PHOTO BY APRIL MASSIRIO
The Solera neighborhood offers many amenities, including a pool, club house and exercise room.
- Local
Ownership -
deal with local people, not corporate giants
- Experienced our staff has over 200 years of combined mortgage experience
- Competitive Competitive rates & fees
- Professional our loan officers are licensed with the CA BRE & NMLS Call one of our experienced Loan Officers today. Locally Owned and Operated
3977 Coffee Rd. Suite A, Bakersfield, CA 93308 661-615-1111 www.GoToSummitFinancial.com NMLS# 303625 BRE# 01522391
*Real Estate Broker, California Bureau of Real Estate* ***Subject to qualification, terms & conditions.
74
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
2300 Eye Street (Across From Rite Aide) 661.327.9999 • www.reddoor-interiors.com Monday - Friday 10-6 • Saturday 10-5 Closed Sunday
PHOTO BY HENRY BARRIOS
This home, at 104 Dillon Court in Kern City, is listed at $179,900 and was built in 1968.
Continued from page 73 cise room for members. This neighborhood is located close to the mountains and the lakes and adjacent to Rio Bravo Country Club. Living in Solera, residents get the feeling of being outside the city, while still staying close to shopping and dining.
13422 STERLING HEIGHTS DRIVE Built in 2012, this two-bedroom, two-bath home is located on a 6,534-square-foot lot and is listed at $249,000. With gorgeous hardwood floors, granite counter tops and a covered patio, this home is perfect for impressing family and treating guests. This home’s special touches include pendant lights over the bar and a backyard installed with extra concrete. This house is move-in ready; just pack up your golf cart and get ready to embark on a whole new life chapter.
Kern City Another innovative Del Webb-built community, Kern City offers many amenities and programs for residents. This community is situated around the Sundale Country Club, providing homeowners with lovely views of the lake and golf course. Residents appreciate the association clubhouse, recreation room, gym and swimming pool. Daily activities, varying from health fairs and special dinners to classes and town hall meetings, are scheduled for the active adults of the community. Centrally located, this neighborhood is close to both transportation and shopping. “Being the first-on-its-kind in Bakersfield, it is well-established, and the residents appreciate a real sense of community,” Tobias said.
NEW LOGO, BUT AS GROUNDED AS EVER. At Bank of the Sierra, community matters most. We’re here to stay, so we decided it was time to freshen up our brand. Our new logo features our familiar mountain range in vibrant, cheerful colors to reflect the warmth and optimism we feel for this place and the people we serve. Our new slogan – Keep Climbing – sums up our commitment to keep pushing just a little higher to help you achieve financial success and live life to the fullest. Let’s keep climbing and get to these shared goals together, side by side.
104 DILLON COURT Located at the end of a cul-de-sac and perfectly angled north/south (limiting exposure from Bakersfield’s hot sun), this threebedroom, 1.75-bath home is perfect for anyone looking for a getaway in their very own home. The house, which was built in 1968, boasts a spacious backyard with a mature landscape of multiple fruit and shade trees. Listed at $179,900, the home also has a formal dining room, spa-
Bankof theSierra.com
Continued on page 76 bakersfieldlife.com
75
PHOTO BY APRIL MASSIRIO
Continued from page 75 cious living room with a brick fireplace, and plantation shutters. “There is a private, gated front courtyard and once you step through the front entry, you will feel the love that has gone into this home and maintained it over the years,” said Tobias.
The Four Seasons This 55-plus community offers its residents both newlyconstructed or previously-owned homes. This community’s many amenities include a swimming pool, spa, gym facilities and meeting rooms. “The thing I hear over and over for buyers in the area is that they most like the beautiful views of the Southern Sierra 76
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
This Four Seasons home has more than 2,000 square feet of living space and was last lsited at $243,000. It is currently in escrow.
PHOTO BY APRIL MASSIRIO
Kern City, an established Del Webb community, is built around Sundale Country Club golf course and provides many common facilities and activities.
PHOTO BY HENRY BARRIOS
Four Seasons residents enjoy a swimming pool, spa, gym, meeting rooms and million-dollar views of the mountains.
Mountains and foothills that are near by,” said Mike Saba, realtor for Watson Realty ERA.
6413 DOVER PLACE Although this home is already off the market, it gives us a peek at the elegant homes in The Four Seasons. Built in 2012, the home was recently listed at $243,000 — the home is now in escrow. Utilizing the popular Kern County floor plan, measuring over 2,000 square feet, this home features a large living area and a three-car garage. Upgrades to the home include a breakfast area, split wing, and trash compacter. One look reveals the pride that went into building the home.
Whether they’re jumping, racing or strutting their stuff, these animals are in it to win it 78
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
PHOTO BY FELIX ADAMO
&
Companions competitors
River Kern leaps off the docks at Lake Ming. River and his owner, Nancy Bouman, have competed in competitions across the nation, including the 2013 Dock Dogs World Championships.
bakersfieldlife.com
79
Story and photos by Mark Nessia
T
here is no better feeling than heading into a competition and coming out on top. The thrill of victory offers a euphoria like no other. Cheers of adoring fans fill the air. Cameras flash to capture a snapshot of the winner. The champion poses atop a podium, looking down on fellow competitors, who lower their heads in shame and tuck their tails between their legs. Literally. When it comes to contests, animals can be just as competitive as their human counterparts. In tests of endurance, physical ability or physical perfection, the end goal is always the same: win. After all, if you’re not first, you’re last.
See River Jump When Nancy Bouman and her black Labrador retriever River Kern Runs Through It compete, they don’t leave anything up to chance. Unlike breed and obedience shows, which are subjective depending on the judge’s preferences, dock diving is more exact. “In dock diving, they either do it or they don’t,” said Bouman. “Computerized cameras can measure the end of the dock to the base of the dog’s tail up to a quarter of an inch. There is no guesswork.” Bouman and River fell in love in the sport in 2008 at the Kern County Fair. There was a dock diving event that allowed owners and their dogs to participate and the duo went almost every afternoon. By the end of the fair, River was leaping 15 feet off the dock. “It’s a great way to wear out a puppy,” Bouman said. Now 6 years old, River’s competitions have taken him across California and the country, including to San Francisco, San Diego, Long Beach, Phoenix, and even Iowa for the World Championship Invitational. “It’s changed my whole life,” Bouman said. 80
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Nancy Bouman and her black Labrador Retriever River Kern (full name River Kern Runs Through It) sporting a medal from the 2013 Dockdogs World Championship. River’s most recent trip to the world championship was in doubt, however, heading into a May competition in Las Vegas. River injured his neck and back a week earlier and wouldn’t even jump onto the bed in the hotel room. Bouman didn’t think she was going to be able to let him jump. But seeing the water changed River. Not only did he compete in the extreme vertical, he set six personal bests — each jump surpassed the previous mark. He finished with a career best of 7 feet 4 inches and earned a second trip to Iowa for the world championships. “Thinking I was going to have to pull him out of it, he ended up jumping as high as any dog that whole weekend,” Bouman said. “When you’re in a big competition like that and there’s a big crowd, the dogs seem to feed off the cheering. He’s just so excited.”
A Cat of a Different Breed Calcatta’s Custom Made achieved the highest title awarded to a show cat, then sauntered off into the sunset. Custom Made, aka Gus, rose through the ranks of champion, grand champion, double grand champion, triple grand champion, quad grand champion, and, finally, supreme grand
Christina Dahleen and her supreme grand champion Bengal cat, Calcatta's Custom Made, aka Gus.
champion in six months, competing in just five shows. His last competition was around 2002. “It was unheard of because (his) breed was fairly new,” said Gus’ owner Christina Dahleen. Gus is a Bengal cat, a domestic breed that has the looks of a wild cat and boast markings similar to those of a leopard or an ocelot. The breed is the result of the mating of a wild Asian leopard cat to a domestic cat. It is the first hybrid breed to be recognized by registering cat organizations. “They’re bred specifically for that look,” Dahleen said. Dahleen originally showed horses, but her kids didn’t like being dragged to the shows. She got into cat shows as a family-friendly alternative. “It’s much easier for the kids to be involved, so it’s something the whole family can do together,” Dahleen said. Cat shows are similar to dog shows except the animals are not paraded on a leash. Instead, they are taken out one at a time and placed on a judge’s table for inspection. The preferred features for a Bengal show cat are a long body and blunt-tipped tail, an egg-shaped head with fairly small, rounded ears and almond-shaped eyes. High contrast between the background and markings on the coat and horizontal flow are ideal. Some Bengal cats’ fur sparkles in the light. It’s not a requirement, but it’s a bonus — a feature Gus possesses.
Continued on page 82
Would like to welcome you to our NEW LOCATION!
8327 Brimhall Rd, Bldg #700, Suite #704 Bakersfield, CA 93312 • Located in the Crown Pointe Business Center
Our goal is to provide you with unique, top-quality medical care with which you will be very satisfied.
• EKG • Exercise Treadmill Testing • Diabetic Management • Lipid Management • Pro-time Therapy Clinic
William E. Gilli, MD
Kevin Nelson, FNP
Tracy Simonsen, ACNP
www.mesawest.com
661.617.6750 Fax 661.617.6760 8327 Brimhall Rd, Bldg #700, Suite #704 Bakersfield, CA 93312 Located in the Crown Pointe Business Center
bakersfieldlife.com
81
Continued from page 81 Unlike dogs, cats are more independent and shy. They require lots of socializing so they will be comfortable around strangers, particularly the judges. Bengal cats are more active and outgoing than house cats and also more mischievous. Toys can help keep their attention on the judge’s table. Even though Gus is no longer competing in shows, his great-great granddaughter Calcatta’s Evenstar appears to be a promising prospect for showing. “She has a lot of the qualities you want in a show cat,” Dahleen said.
A Champion in the Making
James Lewis’ grand champion bully dog, Brute.
Brute knows he belongs in the ring. At 9 months old, he and his owner, James Lewis, entered a dog show at Sam Lynn Ballpark and, with no training whatsoever, took third place. Three months later - with a couple months of training under his collar - the American Bully entered his second competition in Ontario and dominated. Brute won his class (standard bully), won best of breed, and beat the best standard male and female of the day, including another American Bully named Beastro. “I didn’t know who Beastro was at the time,” Lewis said.
LEASE FOR
99
$
PLUS TAX PER MONTH FOR 42 MONTHS
One at this price Stock#697/VIN#663423 $99 per month, plus tax and licence for 42 months. MSRP $20,760.00. Cap Cost $17,500. $1,500 Factory Rebate, $4,500 due at lease signing, $1,000 Bonus Lease Rebate: The customer must be currently leasing a competitive make vehicle, does not have to trade-in. , $500 Military Rebate: This special offer is for those who’ve risked their lives defending us. If you’re active, Active Reserved, Retired Military or Retired Military Reserve you’re eligible for up to $500 in Bonus Cash under our Military Incentive Program. 10,000 miles at $0.20 over. Must finance through Chrysler Capital. On approval of credit. Buyer is responsible for tax, license & title. Not all applicants will qualify. See dealer for details. Offer ends 3/31/14
Fiat of Bakersfield 2900 Cattle Drive • In The Bakersfield Automall • (661) 843-7888
fiatusaofbaker sfield.com 82
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Like us
Marci Cunningham sits atop her horse, Aul Ablaze, a 5-year-old she’s ridden 3,600 miles on.
“Everyone was all, ‘Did he just do that?’ and coming up to me like I did something great.” At the time, Beastro was the No. 1-ranked bully dog for the past two years. “Brute beat him and shocked the bully world and shocked (me) at the same time,” Lewis said. Six months later, Brute reached champion status, which is earned by accumulating 150 points and winning three shows. In 2013, Brute achieved grand champion status, winning his class five times against other champion bullies. Brute’s fifth win was awarded to him by Ron Ramos, the head judge of the American Bully Kennel Club. “That was as good as it gets,” Lewis said. “When the head judge picks your dog, that means your dog is up there.” Judges inspect dogs to ensure they fit breed standards, assessing areas including bite, head size, shoulders, legs and tail, then watch the dogs as they walk around the ring to inspect the canines’ movement. Lewis trained Brute himself and does all his grooming. “I’ve done everything on my own with him,” Lewis said. “I just love competing. When I win, I get excited. We go out and have a good time. Beats going out to the bars and drinking on weekends for sure.” Dog rankings reset every year and Brute’s 2014 goal is to finish in the top 10. He fell two wins short of the top 10 last year. “This year I’m going to show him a little harder and make sure we
Continued on page 84 bakersfieldlife.com
83
Continued from page 83 crack that top 10 spot,” Lewis said.
Along for the Ride Marci Cunningham got her first horse at 12 years old as a reward for performing well in school. Her parents hoped she would eventually outgrow it. Now 61, Cunningham has accumulated 16,135 miles in endurance riding, an equestrian sport based on long-distance races ranging from 25- to 100-mile rides. Since her first endurance ride in the early 1980s, Cunningham has participated in over 300 rides, including the Tevis Cup, a 100-mile trek across the Sierra Nevada that is considered the “grand daddy” of endurance rides. While the rides are technically races, how to go about it is ultimately up to the rider. Some like to go fast and place high, while others prefer to take it slow and steady. “You set your own goals,” Cunningham said. “The motto is ‘to finish is to win.’” Cunningham rode her first endurance race atop an appendix quarter horse named King’s Alibi, a horse she originally showed as a hunter and jumper. After discovering that Arabian horses were the “rock stars” of endurance riding, as they were
bred to carry the Bedouins across the desert, she started riding on a part-Arabian mare named Caliente Babe. Cunningham has ridden seven different horses through nearly 30 endurance seasons, with her horse Koztarr putting in the most work, carrying Cunningham 5,235 miles over 15 seasons. Her current mounts, Aul Ablaze and Fire Mt Zoom, have gone 3,620 and 660 miles, respectively. “I like having two endurance horses as it lets me do more rides and (I) am able to pick and choose which rides I take each horse to,” Cunningham said. “Zoom seems to enjoy multi-day rides, while Blaze likes one-day rides.” Riding her horses for hours over long distances has helped Cunningham develop special bonds with them. Not only is Cunningham able to tell what her horse is feeling, her horses can sense her status as well. “When you spend that much time together you can’t help but feel like you can read their minds,” Cunningham said. During a 100-mile ride on Koztarr, Cunningham closed her eyes and dozed off as he carried her down the trail. “I had complete trust in my horse to take care of me,” she said. Cunningham has averaged 10 endurance rides a year since 1985 and doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon. “I don’t want to stop riding until I can’t physically do it anymore,” Cunningham said.
We Are Your Authorized
Master
Jeweler
We Specialize in
Certified Diamonds Bridal Jewelry Jewelry Repairs Ring Re-sizing & Refurbishing Laser Gold & Silver Soldering (70% Stronger than Torch Soldering) Diamond & Colored Stone Replacements Rhodium plating Pearl Re-Stringing Sterilized Ear Piercing - No Age Limit WE PAY TOP PRICE FOR GOLD & SILVER
Serving you for 52 years!
JANE’S JEWELERS Where Bakersfield Gets Engaged
84
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Visit our web page at JanesJewelers.com 9530 Hageman Road • 587-6242 Corner of Calloway & Hageman Tuesday - Friday 10:00 - 6:00 • Saturday 10:00 - 3:00 Visit us on our website: JanesJewelers.com Facebook.com/JanesJewelers Pinterest.com/JanesJewelers
86
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
PHOTO BY CASEY CHRISTIE
Audrey Eden reads to Sonar at the Beale Memorial Library’s Barks and Books event. Sonar and other dogs visited the library from Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue.
Furry four-footed
Lending an ear or a paw, these animals change lives
miracle workers By Louis Medina
T
hey are eyes for the blind, wordless comforters that allay the night terrors of veterans and even illiterate teachers for children struggling to learn to read. Most of us refer to them as service, therapy or companion animals, but to their grateful owners and handlers, they are nothing short of four-footed miracle workers. When they don their harnesses or vests, these animals are at work and fully attentive to the needs and commands of the people in their care. But when the working gear comes off, they are just as playful as any pet. Bakersfield Life is grateful to get a closer look into the lives of some local service animals and the humans whose lives they enrich and protect. Continued on page 88 bakersfieldlife.com
87
PHOTO BY CASEY CHRISTIE
Fred, a service dog, left, and Diamond listen to Mia Romero read with the help of Liz Kover of Marley’s Mutts.
Continued from page 87
Mutts and kids make for a good mix Dogs don’t judge and dogs don’t correct. Those characteristics make canines ideal reading partners for children. “If kids read to dogs consistently, their reading scores go up. They gain self-esteem and Barks and Books is they’re more confident reading out loud,” said held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the second and Beale Memorial Library Associate Susan Palm. fourth Wednesday of Palm partnered with Marley’s Mutts Dog every month. Rescue to bring “Barks and Books” to the downTo sign up your child town library. Children take turns reading to genfor Barks and Books, tle therapy dogs accompanied by Marley’s call 868-0750. Mutts handlers. The program is free. On a recent Wednesday afternoon, Fred the yellow Labrador retriever, Diamond the pit bull, Red the Great Dane, and Sonar the Rottweiler-German shepherd mix served as the mellow audience for children at the library. The mood was tranquil as the kids sat on the floor, dogs and handlers beside them, and read out loud as waiting mothers watched. The children stroked the dogs as they read. Jeanie Romero said her 6-year-old daughter, Mia, a kindergartener at Stockdale Elementary School, is suppose to practice reading as homework, but Mia doesn’t like to read aloud. “She’s always afraid that she’s going to get the word wrong,” Romero said. But reading at Barks and Books is different. “I told her the dog isn’t going to care if she gets it wrong,” Romero said. And sure enough, Mia was uninhibited as she read out loud to her canine companion. 88
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
The program also helps dogs to keep up their service animal skills for interacting appropriately with humans, trainer Liz Kover said. Some of the dogs are rescue animals as well. When Sonar was rescued about two years ago at the age of 8 weeks, his ears had been cut off with a box cutter to mark him as a “bait dog” for bigger, fighting dogs. The cuts had caused into a life-threatening infection. “They told us he wasn’t going to make it, but he did,” Sonar’s handler Lisa Porter said. Now Sonar is a certified therapy dog who has passed his Canine Good Citizenship. On this afternoon at the library, 7-year-old Audrey Eden, a Longfellow Elementary first grader, wrapped her arm around Sonar’s head as he sprawled out beside her. Audrey was pleased with her new friend. “I get to pet the dogs and they’re really cute. I like reading to the dogs because they give me kisses,” Audrey said.
A comforting paw Bob Linder’s “silent disability,” post-traumatic stress disorder, stems from life-threatening experiences he’s survived, including a heavy firefights against drug smugglers and a brutal attack at the hands of a violent prison inmate. A U.S. Coast Guard veteran and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation retiree, Linder spiraled into a vortex of depression, heavy drinking, memory loss and suicidal thoughts for five years following the 2006 prison assault. He relived the attack in his dreams and thrash about in bed. “He’s punched me in the face before,” said Susan, his wife of 35 years. Linder, 58, spent five months at a VA health facility from late 2011 through early 2012. Later in 2012, the VA referred
PHOTO BY LOUIS MEDINA
Bob Linder and his faithful pal, Daisy.
• Personal Care • Bathing Services • Homemakers Service • Care Management • Meal Preparation • Transportation • Alzheimer’s & Hospice Care • Emergency Monitoring • Hospital Attendant • Bonded & Insured
We personally match our caregivers to each client and their needs.
him to the Bergin University of Canine Studies north of San Francisco hoping that a therapy dog could help him. That’s where Linder met Daisy, his now 3-year-old golden retriever. At Bergin, Daisy and Linder were required to undergo an “umbilical cording” exercise, spending 10 days and nights tethered together by a special leash to ensure that they’d make a good team. In the middle of that bonding period, a night terror struck. Daisy wasn’t trained to interpret night terrors in particular, but she instinctively knew something was wrong with him. She climbed onto the bed and calmed Linder down by putting her forelegs on his chest. It wasn’t the last night terror she saw Linder through. Today, Daisy accompanies Linder everywhere. He describes the dog as “a lover who can’t get close enough” and is always seeking hugs, kisses and shakes. “She distracts him so he doesn’t stay inside his head all day,” his wife said. Linder, a past state commander of the Disabled American Veterans, also helps other vets suffering from PTSD. Best of all, Linder has not had any suicidal thoughts since he brought Daisy home in December 2012. “Our dogs, next to our wives, they keep us going,” Linder said.
A special horse for special clients
Our dependable caregivers are experienced, drug-alcohol screened, background checked, bonded and insured. 24 -Hour Service Call today for your FREE In-Home consultation!
(661) 631-2036 2029 21st Street • Bakersfield, CA 93301
To Tracy Totton-Martin, bravery and love are the best qualities of Jim, a 20-year-old Tennessee walking horse whom she rescued three years ago from a dangerously malnourished state. These traits are especially important at Bit-O-Heaven Horse Rescue Ranch when gentle Jim is assisting one of Totton-Martin’s clients, a 61-year-old woman with cerebral palsy who has been riding him
Continued on page 90
Established by Jeanne Schamblin in 1990 • Serving Bakersfield for over 21 years.
bakersfieldlife.com
89
CALIFORNIAN FILE PHOTO
Tracy Totton-Martin and Jim at Bit-O-Heaven Horse Rescue Ranch.
Continued on page 89 once a week for eight years. The spasms that accompany the disease could frighten a horse and cause the animal to think something bad is about to happen with its rider, but Jim remains calm. “He does recognize the difference, that there’s a special person on him,” said Totton-Martin, the ranch’s CEO. Jim must stay still as this rider gets on him from a specially built platform with the aid of two people. The rides take about 40 minutes, and someone from the ranch is
90
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
always there to lead Jim. “For a horse to overcome fear and discomfort is big and he does that every week for her,” Totton-Martin said. “What he does is heroic.” Jim and his fellow horses also help some eight to 10 physically and mentally disabled adults learn job skills at Bit-O-Heaven. Just Johnsons Millworks Inc., which trains adults with disabilities for jobs in woodwork, construction and equestrian care, sends clients to Totton-Martin’s 34horse ranch four days a week. “It’s a super win-win,” she said. “I needed the help and they needed the jobs.” Just Johnsons clients clean the stalls, water the troughs, and groom, walk and interact with the horses. “The horses recognize these folks are special and they love having them on the property,” she said. “It’s amazing.”
An international tail James’ journey to become Dane Geer’s service dog is a movie-worthy tale of international proportions. James, a gentle black Labrador retriever with a moonless-night-colored coat and amber eyes, is a “re-issue dog” who had another handler before Greer. Sadly, James’ previous handler died while visiting family in Peru, leaving the
Many of us have “four legged” Seniors in our life...don’t forget to get them their Senior’s Wellness Exam! For more information, call...
(661) 589-9900 Dane Geer and guide dog James at the Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
PHOTO BY MARK NESSIA
2720 Calloway Drive, Suite E
www.ThurmanVetCenter.com
dog stuck far from home. The family of James’ former handler and the San Rafael-based organization Guide Dogs for the Blind mobilized to bring James back to the United States. First, James was transported some 700 miles to Lima, the Peruvian capital, by land “over rough terrain,” Greer said. The dog was then flown to San Francisco via Miami, a trip that entailed a proper health clearance, a Federal Aviation AdministrationYou can read more approved crate and a “spa break” durabout James the guide ing James’ Florida layover. dog’s journey back from Back in the U.S., James was paired Peru on Guide Dogs for the Blind’s official blog, with Geer by Guide Dogs for the Blind. No Bones About It, at Geer, a computer instructor at the Cenguidedogs.blogspot.com. ter for the Blind and Visually Impaired, The post is titled “Hands suffers from a visual impairment called Across the Sky.” retinopathy of prematurity. Geer, 35, has used guide dogs since he was 21. James is his second dog and in their three years together, the pair have developed a strong, loving bond. “He’s a sweet, attentive dog,” Geer said. “He’s very loyal to me and if I go anywhere, he’s right there with me.” Geer calls James “Baby,” “Honey,” and “Son” and keeps a bed and toys for the dog under his desk at work. “He’s my eyes and helps me get around,” Geer said proudly of his 78-lb. companion. “He keeps me safe from traffic and cars. He saved my life a couple bakersfieldlife.com
91
Cute pets of Bakersfield
Readers share stories of their favorite fuzzy companions
Compiled by Bakersfield Life
W
e asked readers to bring on the cute last month and they didn’t disappoint. Thank you for flooding our inboxes with adorable photos of your critters for our cutest pet contest. By a hare, the winner is Breanna Hundley and her family’s bunny Harley, aka Bubba. The Hundleys and Harley will receive a $50 gift card to a pet store. It was tough to choose just a handful of the cuddliest contestants to share in this issue, but here are just a few of the cutest pets in town.
JUNIOR This is our Junior. He was purchased from the Kern County animal shelter five year ago this month. We think he is a schnauzer mix. My husband saw him under a pile of chihuahuas when he was only 6 weeks old. Junior has a huge fan club. He has an amazing personality that attracts people. Junior travels all over the country to dog shows with our purebreds. Everyone there knows him Junior and comes looking for us to say hi to him. Junior is also a member of the Bakersfield Obedience Training Club. He has titles in both obedience and rally. He is an excellent working dog. His antics in the ring always make the judges smile. We are very lucky and happy to share his house with him. — Joan Payton
CUIVRE FORD LADY
Harley
HARLEY Our bunny’s name is Harley but we never call him that. We call him Bubba, and he always seems to respond to that. He is a Holland Lop bunny, 1 year old. The cutest thing about “Bubba” is his adorable little face. He looks like a stuffed animal. Besides that, when he is happy or excited he does what is called a “binky.” He runs full speed, jumps in the air and twists his body in all different directions. That is what I call “cheap” entertainment! It is hilarious and our family just watches him and laughs! — Breanna Hundley 92
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
“Cute” probably isn’t the word to describe Cuivre Ford Lady, my 4-year-old English Pointer. She is the best working dog and companion anyone could ask for. Bird hunter, dental office mascot, mountain bike trail boss, airplane co-pilot, running partner and parttime couch potato, she does it all. Lady truly is an amazing friend, even if she does leave little white hairs everywhere. Cuivre Ford Lady — Dr. Jared Gianquinto
TOMMY This is Tommy, a 5-and-a-half-year-old tabby who we rescued from the pound. Don’t let this picture fool you, Tommy is an industrious, hard-working boy – why, he can straighten out file cabinets like nobody’s cat business! He dives into files
Continued on page 94
The biggest men’s professional event since the 1965 Davis Cup
MARCH 8 - 16 Bakersfield Racquet Club Pine Street & Truxtun Avenue
FREE ADMISSION Visit brctennis.com for schedule of top level pro-action, exhibition matches, public clinics and kids days! bakersfieldlife.com
93
Lucca and Donegal
Tommy
LAMBEAU
Continued from page 92 with gusto, rearranging and shredding as he goes. His office skills are truly phenomenal. Tommy rates bird-watching as his number one sport. Many hours are spent anticipating in the shade of the bird bath. He leaps up with Olympic skill and watches as they fly away. Tommy is affectionate, loves to have lap time, and has enriched our lives in countless ways. — Laurie Rott
LUCCA AND DONEGAL Lucca, on the left, is 8 years old and Donegal, on the right, is 4 1/2 years old. My "boys" are West Highland terriers or "Westies" and since they are together all the time, I have to nominate both.
Lambeau is our second rescue dog. He is a 4-year-old Australian cattle dog mix. He is not the sharpest tack in the box, but as my wife says, he has “street smarts.” Every weekend, at the first hint of daylight, he starts barking for his trip to the dog park. When we get back, he works on us to take him to River Walk for more laps. He loves soft stuffed toys and he’s only Lambeau dog we’ve seen that will fall asleep with one in his mouth, whether in his bed or on our lap. Yes, he’s a lap dog. — Gregg Byrd
*&$7%( 9&&)
20+7.&34$ 9&&)
Pine Mountain Inn
'"# 5$%0+ 9&&)
,&!$ 6&/1 '&!("%0( -4"%3%1
94
Pinecone Room
(877) 246-4922
8"%$ 9&&)
Rose Room
Being half Italian and Irish, their names reflect my heritage. Lucca is the perfect dog, very easy going, while Donegal is the younger, feisty one.They both enrich my life immensely and bring me joy daily. — Kathy Rosellini
16231 Askin Dr. Pine Mountain Club, CA
www.pinemountaininn.com/pinemountaininn@gmail.com
Bakersfield Life Magazine
Club Room
Just a few steps from shops, eateries and the outdoors. Come relax and play with us in the beautiful Los Padres National Forest! March 2014
PA S T I M E S
BURNING RUBBER Famoso’s March Meet draws thousands for the races, fellowship of the track
Wisconsin's Jim Young was consistently one of the fastest top fuel cars at the 2013 Bakersfield March Meet.
By Kelly Damian
Photos by Felix Adamo
I
n Ron Capps’ 20 years of racing, the professional drag racer has won 41 event titles, but there is one race that he has yet to win: the nostalgia funny car event at March Meet. “If I was to win a March Meet event, it would go right in the middle of my professional trophies,” said the San-Diego based driver, who is sponsored by Napa Auto Parts. “It’s a special event. I want to win it bad.”
GUNNING FOR THE TROPHY Famoso Raceway will host the 56th annual March Meet, a drag racing competition that Capps likens to the Super Bowl or Indy 500, from March 6 though March 9. Drag racing pits two vehicles against each other in tournament-style eliminations. Beginning at a standstill, the cars speed along a quarter-mile straightaway to the finish line. The 96
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
The crew of the Mr. Explosive funny car celebrate after their driver beat a competitor for an upset win in the quarterfinals of funny car eliminator.
Exhaust fumes fly as Wayne Mellinger hits the throttle on his funny car.
Ticket prices For March Meet ticket prices and information, visit famosoraceway.com.
competition includes a variety of events; some are tests of speed and others are contests of accuracy and control. No matter what the category, winning a drag race requires a perfectly-calibrated vehicle, lightning reflexes, and a fearless spirit since drivers can reach speeds of 250 miles per hour in as little as five seconds. Blake Bowser, who co-owns Famoso Raceway with his father, John Bowser, estimates that the meet will bring about 15,000 people to the track. While many locals look forward to it, the event also draws people from all around the world. Last year alone, attendees from Canada, Mexico, Japan, France, Germany, Australia and England flocked to Famoso. “This event is unique within the drag world,” Blake Bowser said. “This type of racing and atmosphere, you can’t find it anywhere else in the country.” Open to hobbyists and professionals, there are no sponsors and purse sizes range from $500 to $7,000. With the cost of vehicles, crews and fuel, it’s not unheard of for a competi-
Jana Treur takes a hop as she guides the War Eagle funny car back to the starting line.
tor to spend $25,000 to get to the race’s starting line. Still, every year race organizers have to turn prospective competitors away once the 500-entrants limit is reached. “They’re not here to make a profit,” Bowser said. “They want the trophy.”
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE For the price of admission, fans have access to not only the races but also to the pits, where they can watch crews work on the cars. There is a swap meet where many a gearhead has scored hard-to-find parts. On the vendor’s midway, a visitor can find not only food and beer, but also purses, clothes, tattoo parlors and a hair styling booth where classic 1950s’ up-dos can be procured. During the day the air is alive with the smell of burnt fuel and the reverberations of 5,000-horsepower engines. At night,
Continued on page 98 bakersfieldlife.com
97
Continued from page 97 the barbecues and music take precedence. The atmosphere is “hospitable and inviting,” said Bowser, adding that a person could show up to the meet hungry and alone, and leave with a full stomach and some new friends to boot.
A LASTING TRIBUTE
Tire smoke surrounds the capsule of Adam Sorokin as he heats his tires prior to a qualifying run.
HSC is proud to announce the opening of our High Pressure Iron Testing and Recertification Facility for our Bakersfield Branch. HSC has industry certified technicians to serve all of your equipment needs to ensure that your equipment is safe and free of washout and corrosion. INSPECTIONS INCLUDE 1. VISUAL INSPECTION - Looking for wash out and corrosion that’s identifiable to the naked eye. 2. ULTRA SONIC THICKNESS TEST - A gauging process used to identify thickness of metal. 3. MAGNETIC PARTICLE INSPECTION - An inspection using magnetic particles to identify cracks and discontinuities in metal. 4. HYDROSTATIC TESTING-Pressure test using air and water. Plug valves - ball valves - swivel joints - pup joints fittings - vessels - temporary piping -manifolds - flanges welds - down hole tools -pumps
Bakersfield (661) 324-9721
3824 Buck Owens Blvd, Bakersfield, CA 93308
Ventura (805) 641-3002
4300 N. Ventura Ave, Ventura, CA 93001
www.Howard-Supply.com 98
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Local driver Gabe Wood likes to say that he was born and raised at the track. He’s been going to Famoso since he was a baby. His father, Lorin Wood, was a crew member who built engines for the racing team Warren, Coburn and Miller. Sadly, Wood’s father recently died. “It’s going to be pretty emotional without him,” Wood said. “We did this together as a family.” His father used to quip that he wanted to die at the race track, so Wood has come up with a way to honor his father’s wishes. When his race comes to an end this year, Wood will release, along with his parachute, some of his father’s ashes. And with that gesture part of his father will be laid to rest amid the roaring engines. It will be an act of love that many March Meet fans can appreciate.
A 1918 file photo of women demonstrating at the White House demanding voting rights.
PROGRESSIVE KERN COUNTY In a time when Democrats were conservatives and Republicans were progressives, Kern County women gained the right to vote By Ken Hooper
“W
hat if women do yearn to add to their burdens that of voting! Surely they must see that to do so intelligently would require thought and heaven preserve them from that diversion! Why if they are allowed to think they may begin to doubt the superiority of man-made public officials.” So trumpeted the Berkeley Daily Gazette on Sept. 20, 1911, just a few weeks before Californian women’s suffrage was set to be decided on election day. The same year that the Bakersfield’s Woman’s Club was established, California women were denied the right to vote when men failed to pass the enfranchisement law in 1896. 100
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
AP FILE PHOTO
HISTORY
When progressive Republican Hiram Johnson was elected governor in 1910, the women of California saw their opportunity to win the ballot box in October 1911. The California of 1911 was the political opposite of the California of 2014. Progressives were Republicans and conservatives were Democratic Party members. San Francisco and Berkeley were conservative bastions and the people of the agriculture and oil rich southern San Joaquin Valley were more moderate to progressive on social issues. San Francisco and the Bay Area led the charge to deny women enfranchisement, while Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley supported women’s right to vote. The day after the election, it seemed California’s women would have to wait yet again for another shot at enfranchisement as the measure trailed by 7,000 votes. But vote counting continued in the San Joaquin Valley over the next several days. When the ballots were tallied, the women’s right to vote in California finally prevailed. On Oct. 13, 1911, Sibyl Curran Chenoweth, of 214 Eureka St. in Bakersfield, was the first woman to register to vote in Kern County. Chenoweth’s father, James Curran, was a pioneer to Bakersfield in 1863. He became a business leader in Kern County, founded Sandstone Brick Company in 1886 and is the namesake of James Curran Middle School in the Bakersfield City School District. Chenoweth’s husband was Lawrence E. Chenoweth, Vice President of Echo Publishing Company, the publisher of the Bakersfield Morning Echo
Sybil Chenoweth, front row, far right, at the PTA Women Founder’s Day Pageant in 1939.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KERN COUNTY MUSEUM
newspaper. Sibyl Curran Chenoweth registered with the Republican Party twenty-four hours after California Attorney General Ulysses S. Webb stated that women could ‘register at once.’ She was joined by her mother, Mary G. Curran of 222 Eureka St., and two of her neighbors on Eureka Street, who also registered to vote. Curran and Alice L. Polhemus, of 216 Eureka St., registered with the Republican Party, while Adaline Silver, of 212 Eureka St., registered with the Democratic Party. Maricopa housewife and Indiana native Hattie Mason was also among the first Kern County women to register to vote. She also registered with the Democratic Party. Sarah E. Bedinger, a native of Kentucky and a librarian in Bakersfield, joined the Democratic Party as well. Mary Greeley Knowles of Fruitvale also registered as a Democrat, as did Annie C. Foran of Bakersfield. Daisy Hensley, a native of Oklahoma and a resident of Bakersfield, joined the Socialist Party. To register, women had to be 21 years of age and answer all questions on the registration form, including listing any ‘visible marks or scars,’ a provision no longer required when registering to vote. Potential voters had to include their height, occupation, place of residence and post office address. They also had to “be able to read the constitution, to write their name and mark a ballot.” Women were also
required to state that they had “resided in the United States five years and in the state one year, in the county ninety days, in the precinct thirty days preceding any election.”
Continued on page 102
bakersfieldlife.com
101
The Kern County Historical Society bership and details on programs, visit www.kchistoricalsociety.org
The programs of the Kern County Historical Society are held monthly from September through May, with the exception of December. The programs feature speakers on subjects relating to county history, historical sites, and Kern County lore. All programs and field trips are open to members and guests. For information on mem-
Spring 2014 programs March 15: “Prohibition in Kern County” by Richard Roux April 19: “Kern County’s Banning of the Grapes of Wrath” by Marci Lingo May 17Ò: “The Geology of Kern County” by Jack Pierce
Kern Veterans Oral History Project Become part of history one more time. The Kern Veterans Oral History Project is designed and created for veterans of any age, any branch of service, combat experienced or not, to tell their story of their service to our country. If you have a story, we are ready to listen.
Continued from page 101
The Kern Veterans Oral History Project is coordinated by the Kern County Historical Society, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter # 604, Bakersfield High School’s CEO Academy students, and KGET-TV Channel 17. Contact the Kern County Historical Society at kchs1931@gmail.com.
gently and effectively as it has in states where woman’s suffrage has been recognized for some time.”
Within one week, hundreds of women registered to vote across Kern County. The Bakersfield Morning Echo newspaper, a proponent of women’s suffrage, stated that voting was an “acquired prerogative, a privilege which will undoubtedly be used as intelli-
— Ken Hooper is a history and archiving teacher at Bakersfield High School. He is the past-president of the Kern County Historical Society and the current historian for the Kern Veterans Memorial Foundation.
Since 1947
LIC# 378549
You will like the clean, neat, inexpensive way we get rid of these and other pests!
Winter Special $
68
Initial start up charge, then $68 every other month with one year pest control service.
Price good for up to 2000 sq. ft. home. Fleas and Ticks extra. Offer expires 05/31/2014.
CUSTOM CANVAS AWNINGS COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL Stationary Motorized Retractables Roller Curtains Boat Covers Canopies Graphics Create the image you desire by selecting from an array of awning designs, shapes & fabrics
Web Control Included Prices quoted over phone!
Locally Owned & Operated Licensed & Bonded
SSAN A N JOAQUIN J O A Q U I N PPEST E S T CCONTROL ONTROL 832-3182 • 1-800-398-8518 P. O. BOX 41705, BAKERSFIELD 102
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
631 California Ave Bakersfield, CA 93304
661-322-7360
www.SpecialtyTrimAwning.com
• Emmy Award winning Facebook Marketeer • DotComplicated.com • Zuckerberg Media
Over 30
Motivational & Educational Workshops!
• Exhibitor’s Fair • Networking Areas • Career & Business Consulting
• “What’s Trending” Host • Webby Awards Honoree • IAWTV Winner for Best Web Series
“The Night Before Premiere” Wed., Apr. 23 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Cooking demo with Chef Robert & Friends Anniversary Celebration & Awards Fashion Show • Shopping Exhibitor’s Fair & Networking Areas
Best selling author/ trainer “Playing BIG: The Unsexy Truth about How to Succeed in Business”
• Purchase Gift Certificates!
• Tables of 8 for Assigned Seating bakersfieldwomen.org
OUR TOWN
Candace Macias sheds tears of joy as she greets her son, Army Private Mathew Macias, at Meadows Field on Feb. 4. Little brother Jacob and dad Danny watch at left.
BLUE STAR MOMS United by their childrens’ service, these military moms support each other on the homefront By Kelly Damian
Photos by Felix Adamo
M
athew Macias was in sixth grade when he told his mother that he wanted to be in the U.S. Army when he grew up. He never wavered from his boyhood dream and today, he a private first class stationed with
104
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
the 10th Mountain Division. Although she is proud of her son’s military service, seven years of advanced warning was not enough to prepare Candace Macias for the emotional roller coaster ride of being a soldier’s mother. “As a mom, our entire purpose is to protect our children,” said Shonda Abercrombie, Kern River Blue Star Moms president, whose twin daughters both serve in the Army. “Sending a child to war is incredibly unnatural.” Realizing a need to connect to other mothers with children serving in the armed forces, Candace and Shonda formed Kern River Blue Star Moms in January 2012.
SERVING OTHERS Blue Star Mothers is a national organization. Founded in 1942, the group is open to mothers, grandmothers and
“
Every soldier is someone’s kid, whether they’re 19 or 45. The mothering never stops.
”
— Shonda Abercrombie President, Kern River Blue Star Moms
Candace Macias was the first to welcome her son home.
female legal guardians of soldiers serving in or honorably discharged from any branch of the armed forces. The organization’s mission statement calls on members “to assist in veterans’ ceremonies, to attend patriotic rallies and meetings; to foster true democracy; to care for the unsupported mothers who gave their sons to the service of the Nation.” Taking the mandate to heart, Kern River Blue Star Moms have placed wreaths on veteran’s graves at Bakersfield National Cemetery, marched in the Veteran’s Day parade, taken part in blood drives, and sent care packages to troops deployed overseas.
EVERY SOLDIER IS SOMEONE’S KID When putting together care packages, the women make sure a personal note is always tucked in with the toiletries,
snacks and treats. The last round of care packages also included sauce packets from In-n-Out. One young man who received a package sent the Kern River Blue Star Moms a note thanking them for that little packet that brought back the smells and tastes of home. Shonda grew tearful recalling the soldier’s gratitude. “Every soldier is someone’s kid, whether they’re 19 or 45,” she explained. “The mothering never stops.” Go to any playground or stand in front of a school at the end of the day and you will hear the casual flow of advice passing from parent to parent. The Kern River Blue Star Moms continue that tradition of sharing words of advice and reassurance, but with a marked difference. Instead of discussing fevers and teachers, their conversations might center
Continued on page 106 bakersfieldlife.com
105
Continued from page 105 on navigating military bureaucracy or how to live with the knowledge that your child could be the target of the next bomb or bullet. “We give each other support that no other mother, father or brother can give you,” Candace said.
A HOMECOMING SURPRISE On Jan. 10, Mathew Macias was scheduled to arrive in Fort Drum, N.Y., after a year spent in Afghanistan. When the soldiers were dismissed to greet their families, Candace didn’t want her son to be alone in the crowd with no one to welcome him. She was crushed when she realized that she couldn’t afford the trip, which would require not only airfare, but six days of hotel expenses. (Families are given the date of a soldier’s arrival, but with the warning that they could come three days before or after that particular date.) Shonda encouraged her to reach out to the Blue Star Mothers to see if someone might be able help. Without hesitation, Joyce Mader of New York Chapter 1 offered to host Candace and her daughter. Thanks to a fellow Blue Star mother, Macias was surprised in New York with the hugs and joyful tears of his mother and sister. “She’s an angel.” Candace said of Joyce. “She gave us the love we would give to another mother.”
A big kiss for her soldier!
106
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
®
for The Filet-O-Fish Sandwich. Crispy fish topped with melted cheese and tartar sauce on a steamed bun. And from now until April 19th, your locally owned and operated Bakersfield McDonald’s is offering a deal worth diving for. There’s great tastes for everyone to love at McDonald’s.
Limited time offer. Price and participation may vary. ©2014 McDonald’s.
AP FILE PHOTO
OUR TOWN
Bagpipes and kilts will be out in force at this year’s Scottish Games, Gathering and Ceilidh.
BREAK OUT THE PLAID Kern County Scottish Games, Gathering and Ceilidh returns to the KC Fairgrounds on April 5
Genealogy is practically a required hobby for the society’s members, and connecting with your clan is much more satisfying than friending your grade school classmates on Facebook. If your family clan isn’t represented, maybe it’s time for you to join up and establish your Kern County branch. And don’t worry if your ancestors were not Scottish. A good humor, openness to new friendships, and a Highland spirit are all that is necessary to get along with this crowd.
By Kevin McCloskey
T
his year marks the 19th anniversary of the Scottish Games, Gathering and Ceilidh, brought to you by the Kern County Scottish Society. One of Bakersfield’s must-see festivals, this family-friendly affair kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 5 and doesn’t slow down until 10 p.m. Children age 10 and younger and under get in free, and your leashed, non-threatening canine family members are welcome too.
CLANS Walk through the clan tents for a little dose of Highland history, from the new world as well as the old country.
108
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT In spite of weekly live Celtic music around town all year long at Irish Heritage Club on Mondays and Dagny’s Coffee Company on Wednesdays, some fans only get their fix at the society’s events. “The Wicked Tinkers will be back this year,” said David Stroud of Clan Bruce, this year’s Games Marshall, “along with Whiskey Galore, Banshee in the Kitchen, and Wrenwood. We will have an acoustic/traditional stage this year, two other main stages, and music in the Tea Room as well.” More out-of-town acts are being booked, and updates can be found on the Society’s website at kernscot.org. True music fans stick around after the games for the
SUPERIOR ROOFING Give Superior Roofing A Call For All Your Roofing Needs Accurate Leak Detection • Quick Turnaround Complete Re-Roof Repairs • Minor Roof Repairs Tubular Skylights • Blown Attic Insulation Solar Powered Attic Vents • Energy Efficient Roofs
PHOTO BY CASEY CHRISTIE
SUPERIOR
The Scottish Games, Gathering and Ceilidh is a family-friendly event.
ROOFING
Bonded, & insured for your protection
DON’T GET CAUGHT IN THE RAIN licensed #867069
182 Quantico Avenue, #3
661-322-8300
evening Ceilidh (pronounced KAY-LEE). This raucous, four-hour event features most of the bands from the day’s festivities, one after the other and sometimes inter-mixed, along with a great deal Get your kilt on of dancing, stomping, singing, and clapping. Kern County Scottish Society’s 19th Annual Scottish Games, This is one of BakersGathering and Ceilidh field’s best musical When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for games, shows, but be sure to 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for Ceilidh get your tickets early, Where: Kern County Fairgrounds, or grab a combo ticket 1142 S. P St. at the gate for the Tickets are available at the gate, games and Ceilidh, as or before the event at World it often sells out. Records, 2815 F St. Cost is $16 for games, $16 for Ceilidh or $26 for both. Free for children age 10 and younger. Tickets are $13 for seniors, military service members and students. Parking is $3. Visit kernscot.org for information.
GAMES
While the entertainment aspects of the event may be the biggest draw for some folks, the athletic competitions have been the root of the gathering since their origin. The caber toss, the most widely-recognized event of the games, requires the competitor to hold the smaller end of a tapered pole and flip it
Continued on page 110
bakersfieldlife.com
109
o’clock from the tosser’s ending position. Strength and skill play an equal role in this challenging contest. Other events include the Scottish hammer throw (similar to the Olympic hammer throw), the stone throw (similar to the shot put), weight toss for distance and weight toss for height. All three are fairly self-explanatory, and each has its own set of subtleties and rules that govern stance and approach prior to launching the projectiles. Watching the games is a great time to relax a little and enjoy your lunch.
CALIFORNIAN FILE PHOTO
FOOD AND SHOPPING
Heavy combat demonstrations are among the crowd-pleasing events at the Kern County Scottish Society’s Gathering, Games and Ceilidh.
Continued from page 109 so that the larger end strikes the ground first and the smaller end lands pointing away from the contestant. Scoring is based on how close the smaller end of the pole lands to 12
Whether your tastes lead you to the fish and chips, meat pies, bangers and mash, or the haggis, it’s hard to go wrong with your choices this year. And if you want to avoid Black Friday this November, consider this Black Watch Saturday and visit the gift vendors to knock a few Scots, young and old, off your Christmas list. Family tartans and clan-branded treasures can be found throughout the vendor building. Other attractions at the games include a bagpipe competition, scotch tasting with JVS Imports, the haggis toss, and an entire section of children’s activities co-sponsored by the Society for Disabled Children. There is plenty to see and do, so get there early and pace yourself. You don’t want miss that Ceilidh.
IS IT SAFE OR IS IT LIBERTY SAFE?
REVERE U.L. SECURITY RATING
COLONIAL
FAIL-SAFETM TRIPLE RELOCKERS
FRANKLIN BREAK-IN WARRANTY
LINCOLN
PRESIDENTIAL
SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
NATIONAL
NEW BTU FIRE RATINGS!
PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES - GUNS, COINS, JEWELRY, BIRTH CERTIFICATES
T&T LIBERTY SAFES 7th STANDARD RD.
EX IT NO
Y
RR IS
HW
RD .
E AT ST SNOW ROAD
NORRIS RD. E.
T&T 7104 GOLDEN STATE HWY OLIVE DRIVE
SEN UD KN
Hours: MON-FRI 9am - 6pm SAT 9am - 4pm
EN LD GO
7104 Golden State Hwy. Bakersfield, CA 93308 Showroom 393-3782 • www.tntlibertysafe.com
. DR
The Largest Gun, Home and Office Safe Display in the Valley • See Liberty’s Complete Line of Safes at TNTLIBERTYSAFE.COM 110
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
INSIDE STORY
DIRTY DOG DIY WASH Story and photos by Mark Nessia
D
irty Dog DIY Wash, located at 2000 F St., provides everything you need to bathe your best friend. The wash is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Its automated doors open and close at the beginning and end of business hours. Outside the station, the Dirty Dog DIY Wash lawn features doggy bags and a waste container for waiting customers. Inside, the dog wash station has all the necessities to get your pooch sparkling clean, including warm water, flea shampoo and conditioner. A wash gun dispenses the shampoo, conditioner and water, while the blow dryer allows for a towel-free finish. On a recent visit, Maggie Jr. — aka Moju the pug — received a much-needed bath in the wash’s spacious tub. The dog wash station can easily fit two dogs at a time but has housed as many as three. If they can fit, they can be washed! Ten bucks will buy you 10 minutes of cleaning time, which includes shampoo, rinse, conditioning and blow dry cycles. The station accepts cash, cards and tokens, which can be purchased at the nearby Caffeine Supreme. Additional time may be purchased for $1 per minute. Visit Facebook.com/dirtydogdiy.
Maggie Jr. receives a bath at Dirty Dog DIY Wash.
Dirty Dog DIY Wash, located at 2000 F St., is an unmanned do-it-yourself dog wash. 112
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Each cycle is timed to fit within the 10-minute timeframe, but additional time may be purchased at $1 per minute.
The first Miele upright designed specifically for pet owners. The wash gun dispenses shampoo, conditioner and warm water.
Receive a complimentary bottle of No Return Pet Odor & Stain Remover with purchase of any Miele Vacuum
$10 buys 10 minutes and includes shampoo, rinse, conditioning and blow dry cycles.
Mini-Turbobrush included Available at participating locations
All Miele vacuums have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal.
Try an Oreck risk-free for 30 days. If you don’t love it, you don’t keep it.®
Annie Stephens rinses Maggie Jr.
WE SERVICE ALL BRANDS
Hours: Mon. - Sat. 10-6
8200 Stockdale Hwy., Suite D-5
835-0333
Town & Country Village (Between Trader Joe’s & Albertsons)
bakersfieldlife.com
113
IN MY CLOSET
JENNY MADDERN Princess dresses, tiaras and zombies
114
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
By Hillary Haenes
J
another baby. In December 2012, my husband, Bryan, took me to Vegas for a weekend trip and we saw a sign for Bullets and Burgers. We may have had too much to drink, but we signed up to shoot machine guns and eat burgers in the desert the next day! I shot the bejeezus out of that zombie, and I felt a little better.
enny Maddern is not your average beauty pageant queen. For starters, the 33-year-old is a wonderful wife to husband Bryan, and loving mother to their almost 3year-old son, Max. Though the last couple of years have brought Maddern a whirlwind of emotions, she has come out on top. In 2013, Maddern beat her battle with cervical cancer, Tailored “romantic,” was crowned Mrs. Bakersfield and opened her own the Banana Republic coat and Ivanka business. My personal Trump clutch “After I lost my teaching position durstyle: Of the five ing my cancer treatment, I decided it main fashion perwas time to pursue my dream of ownsonalities, I am a ing my own business and staying home romantic, meaning I am artistic, charmwith my son. I literally started to Google ing, diplomatic, enchanting and magsome of the things I liked to do to see if netic. It also means I love very feminine there was a business opportunity hiding looks, soft fabrics and girlie details. inside. It turns out, my dream job was My fashion icons: I always try to chanthere,” she said. nel Brigitte Bardot when I’m doing my hair and Maddern went back to school, took makeup. Her looks are so effortlessly sexy and online image consulting classes from romantic. When I’m looking for style inspiration, Fashion Stylist Institute and MackenLeighton Meester, Blake Lively and basically the zie Image Consulting and got certientire cast of “Gossip Girl!” Maddern’s first fied as a stylist. She launched SnapFavorite designers: dress from when py Casual Consulting in August Someday I’d like to fill she realized this and has been working hard and my closet with Diane was her color. loving life ever since. von Furstenberg Snappy Casual Consulting is dresses. about all things image, Maddern said. For Where I shop: I the business, Maddern specializes in helping love the hunt of shopping at Ross women look and feel their best by offering closet and Dress For Less stores! I love Lucky wardrobe makeovers, special occasion styling, motivational Jeans, most things from Banana workshops, social media or business head shots and personal Republic, and I find myself shopping at shopping. White House Black Market more than anywhere else. PRIZED POSSESSIONS IN MY CLOSET: Green peacoat. I purchased it with my
first paycheck when I moved to New York to nanny for a few years. It cost the entire paycheck and was totally worth it! My Mrs. Bakersfield crown, which reminds me every day to be my best self (and it is super sparkly). Royal blue dress — it’s my signature color. I picked this one up at Goodwill for $6. Snow White dress. I guess I should say costume, but I think of it as part of my wardrobe. I find any reason to wear it.
My biggest fashion faux pas: The ’90s. I was
trying really hard to be like everyone else. I would call my friends to see what they were wearing and then wear the same thing. One staple every woman should have in her closet: A pair of nude heels — they
Zombie target from Bullets and Burgers.
lengthen the legs and look great with everything! Edward Cullen doll from the Twilight Style advice: Take the time to Saga. He would do anything to be with find out your own fashion perBella, and even though she was just a sonality — it will save you time, normal girl, he saw something extraordiMaddern’s Snow money and frustration! Once nary in her. I think we all want someone White dress and you understand how you want to like this. Swoon! Edward Cullen doll look and what looks best, you will be This zombie poster has special unstoppable! meaning to me. After I finished my first To learn more about Maddern’s image consultround of chemotherapy and radiation, I ing business, email her at snappycasualconsulting@yahoo.com was pretty angry — angry at the situation, the doctors who or visit her website at snappycasualconsulting.com. didn’t catch the cancer in time and that I would never have bakersfieldlife.com
115
STREETS OF BAKERSFIELD
BUCK OWENS BOULEVARD Story and photos Mark Nessia
C
hristened after a local legend, Buck Owens Boulevard welcomes visitors to Bakersfield off Highway 99 with a mix of eaterys and hotels. Whether you’re looking for the perfect pair of boots or one of the best brunches in town, there’s plenty to explore on this stretch of street.
5 4
Gol den Sta te A ve.
Brittan Rd.
California 9 9
Buck Owens Blvd.
Gulf St.
3 Antonio Ave. Gilmore Ave.
2
Original Hacienda Grill (2600 Buck Owens Blvd.) originating in Taft before opening up in Bakersfield, bringing the best of American and Mexican cuisine together. A menu featuring steaks, fajitas, burritos and tacos ensures there’s something for everyone. Authentic margaritas made with fresh juice are just one of the many drink options available at the full bar. Breakfast is served all day on weekends.
116
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
California 99
Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace (2800 Buck Owens Blvd.) is a restaurant, museum and theater all under one roof. Steaks, burgers and pizzas taste better when paired with live music from the Buckaroos and special guests most Friday and Saturday nights. Memorabilia Owens collected over the years is displayed throughout the museum, just a few feet away from the checkered-cloth covered tables and the dance floor, giving visitors and diners a glimpse of West Coast country music history.
Buck Owens Blv d.
1
6 Sillect Ave. 1
2 Riverside Dr.
Ros eda le H wy.
NIGHT OF BEAUTY & WELLNESS
3
Advance Mobile Security (3624 Buck Owens Blvd. Suite 5) is your one-stop shop for mobile security, audio and fabrication. Specializing in security and safety, AMS has the latest in hands-free devices, alarms and mobile camera systems. You can also take car audio to the next level with the latest products from top brands like JL Audio, Pioneer and Sony. Custom enclosures ensure pieces are tailored to fit according to each individual vehicle’s specifications.
APRIL 9TH 2014 | 6-8PM Exclusive One Night Only
Special Discounts
4
Boot Barn (3913 Buck Owens Blvd.) is more than just boots. Not only does Boot Barn carry Bakersfield’s largest selection of boots with approximately 10,000 pairs in store, it also offers an extensive selection of clothes, hats and accessories for men and women from many top brands. Boot Barn also has Bakersfield’s largest selection of flame-resistant gear. It’s the place to go for all your Western and work wear needs.
Including Cosmetic Surgeries, Aesthetic Procedures and Luxury Products
5
Valley Cycle & Motorsports (3917 Buck Owens Blvd.) is Kern County’s largest toy box, selling new and used motorcycles and Yamaha Waverunners. The full-service department can ensure your vehicles are in top running condition, while the extensive selection of street and off-road gear from brands such as Fox, Shift and Arai guarantees you’ll look sharp, as well as safe.
FREE Chiropractic Posture Analysis By Dr. Chris Berry
FREE Cosmetic Giveaways Plus, Incredible Discounts on Cosmetic Surgeries
Call To Reserve Your Spot
661.410.5476 Don’t miss this one special Night of Beauty & Wellness.
6
A good sign
Constructed in 1949, the original ‘Bakersfield’ sign was located on Union Avenue, linking the two wings of the Bakersfield Inn and welcoming travelers to town. After the hotel closed down in the 1990s, the sign fell into disrepair and was torn down due to safety concerns. Enter Buck Owens. The Bakersfield icon helped erect a smaller version of the iconic blue-and-yellow sign in 1999. Now located on Sillect Avenue, just outside the Crystal Palace off Buck Owens Boulevard and Highway 99, the sign once again welcomes visitors to Bakersfield. Source: The Bakersfield Californian, Los Angeles Times, whatwasthere.com
Husband & Wife Approach to OB/GYN and Cosmetic Surgery liwell Dr. Jason P. Helliwell Certified by the American board rd of gery in cosmetic surgery d breast, body, and extremities. ed OB/GYN Board Certified aneen Dr. Siniva Kaneen Board Certified OB/GYN
CosmeticSurgeryBakersfield.com bakersfieldlife.com
117
HOME AND GARDEN
A FLORAL ENGAGEMENT These flowers are in full bloom at the 66th annual Camellia Show By Eduardo Gamez
T
PHOTO BY FELIX ADAMO
he camellia is not just a simple flower. It is a culture all its own. Nicknamed the “Queen of the Winter Garden,” this gorgeous blossom is Alabama’s state flower. But the camellia is native to parts of Asia, including China and Japan. In Chinese culture, the camellia reflects the female spirit, its delicate curves and intricate design are thought to emulate femininity and an alluring beauty that is both elegant and timeless.
So what makes the camellia so special to Bakersfield? Perhaps the camellia’s relevance to our city is best displayed each year at a show coordinated by the Camellia Society of Kern County. The 66th annual Camellia Show will bloom on March 1 and 2 at the Bakersfield Racquet Club. Guests can see the beauty of the camellia in an array of colors — from red to white and shades in between. Camellia growers can also bring out their own blossoming arrangements for judging. “We have had this show going since 1948, and each year we are amazed at what everyone brings to the table,” said Susan Stull, president of the Camellia Society of Kern County. Stull, a second-generation enthusiast of camellia cultivation and one of the lead coordinators of the event, is excited for the camellia design contest, which gives participants a chance to win prizes donated by local businesses. Susan’s sister, Libbie, is the show chairperson, making the engagement a family affair for these floral aficionados. The Stull sisters developed their interest in camellias from their father, Tom, a camellia devotee and longtime member of
Drama Girl camellia grown by Helen Maas.
118
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Easter Morn camellias grown by Helen Maas.
PHOTO BY CASEY CHRISTIE
the Camellia Society of Kern County. Tom Stull has been involved with the Camellia Show since the 1950s. According to him, “One is never too young or too old to appreciate the unique beauty of the camellia.” The 66th annual Though the Stull famCamellia Show ily has found great joy in Cost: Free and open to the this particular flower, the public. plant’s popularity hasn’t Where: Bakersfield Raquet thrived everywhere. Club, 1660 Pine St. Susan Stull said there’s a When: From 1 p.m. to 4 derth of camellia shows, p.m. March 1, and 10 a.m. to noting that many com4 p.m. March 2. munities no longer have To enter: Entries can be submitted from 7 a.m. to 10 club or a show, including a.m. March 1. Judging will Orange County and Fresbe held from 10:30 a.m. to no. 1 p.m. “We want to continue Information: to provide a show for the americacamellias.org, Bakersfield community (310) 210-9676 or email s_stull10@yahoo.com. that people from all around the state can see and enjoy,” Stull said.
• Proudly Serving our Community for 60 years
• Locally Owned • Easy Parking
• Full line of Brighton Merchandise
BAKERSFIELD’S ORIGINAL BRIGHTON STORE www.shopchristines.com 4915 Stockdale Highway • 661-834-3068
www.bobbishallmark.com
Monday - Friday 10-6 • Saturday 10-5
8200 Stockdale (Stockdale & Gosford) • 834-7467
834-7467
bakersfieldlife.com
119
PERSONALITY
STRIVING AND IN THRIVING HEALTH CARE Hospital CEO’s work ethic proves to be a prescription for success By Lisa Kimble
S
ome months back, Memorial Hospital president and CEO Jon Van Boening was sitting in a meeting with other high-level Dignity Health executives, when a fellow administrator had to stop the discussion to take an important phone call. The person on the other end of the phone, whose call brought the meeting to a halt, was President Barak Obama. “It was incredible. Here I am and there is one person between me and the President of the United States,” recalls Van Boening, who is also senior vice president of Operations for Dignity Healthy in the Central Valley. There are moments like that when Van Boening, the son of a candy distributor from Stockton, still feels like a kid in a candy store himself. “I enjoy being a corporate officer and part of the team helping to manage the operations of Dignity Health. It is challenging and exciting to be there and I love the action,” he said. Van Boening, who is the longest-serving hospital CEO locally, has had a bird’s eye view of much of the unprecedented growth at the once small community hospital that opened in 1956 with 95 beds and 300 employees. Today, Memorial is the largest hospital in the county, with 426 beds and five times as many employees. Those who know the pharmacist-businessman turned hospital administrator and volunteer best, describe Van Boening as a master leader who is highly competitive, but equally passionate about the community he calls home.
STARTING OUT IN STOCKTON Jon Harlan Van Boening, the oldest of three children born to Harlan and Dorothy Van Boening, grew 120
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Jon Van Boening is CEO and president of Memoral Hospital.
up near the Calaveras River in Stockton, where he began a lifelong love for the great outdoors. His father moved the family to Bakersfield when Jon was in high school to join relatives in the family business, Casa Moore Furniture in east Bakersfield. Jon graduated from East High and attended Bakersfield College before heading back to Stockton to attend the University of the Pacific. “I was a delivery guy riding all over the county,” he recalled. “I knew this wasn’t what I wanted to be. I had an uncle who owned a successful chain of pharmacies in Wyoming. I admired his profession and decided I wanted to be a pharmacist.” In 1971, armed with a degree from UOP’s School of Pharmacy, Van Boening moved to Sheridan, Wyo., to open a Bi-Rite Drug Store for his uncle. “He was a mentor to me. I spent my college summers in Casper working at his stores,” Van Boening recalled. But ‘divine intervention’ was about to come knocking. Van Boening returned to Bakersfield a few years later at the behest of the Sisters of Mercy, who were having difficulty recruiting pharmacists. After a couple of years at Mercy, Jon went to work for Rufener’s Country Club Drug. Eventually, he and the lead pharmacist of the other Rufener’s store bought the company. They entered the retail pharmacy market in Kern County, with five stores in Bakersfield and two in Lamont. By 1989, Van Boening, who’d minored in business in college, — Jon Van Boening pursued a Master of Science degree in health care management at Cal State Bakersfield. The challenge of managing businesses, attending classes at night and raising four children as a single father would eventually pay big dividends.
“
Anyone who knows me knows I never go half way in anything,
”
GRADUATING TO HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION Van Boening graduated in 1992 and was named CSUB’s outstanding graduate student. A few months later, he negotiated the sale of the flagship Rufener’s to Payless and had a meeting with the late Larry Carr, then CEO of Memorial, that would change Van Boening’s career path. On Jan. 2, 1993, Van Boening started working at Memorial as assistant to Carr. “Larry liked what I had done with my businesses and he found value in the relationships I had developed with physicians through the pharmacies and in the nonprofit sector with the American Cancer Society,” Van Boening said. Van Boening’s reputation in local volunteer circles was rock solid. He was a former volunteer president for United Way, and as a past California division president and lifetime national board member of the American Cancer Society, he became one of the top national volunteers with that organization. “I was a young pharmacist in Bakersfield and (the American Cancer Society) wanted to do something locally, so they recruited me as a volunteer. Anyone who knows me knows I never go half way in anything,” he said.
Continued on page 122 bakersfieldlife.com
121
Continued from page 121 Van Boening recalls serving on the American Cancer Society’s Income Development Committee that gave birth to the renown Relay for Life movement. “I was thrilled and honored to be the board member who made the motion to make Relay the national signature fund raising event for ACS,” Van Boening said. It was at that very meeting in Atlanta that he also met his wife, Louisiana native Phillis Corkern, an ACS staffer who was serving on the special events committee at the time. In 2010, CSUB named Van Boening its Alumni of the Year, and in 2012 he was given the prestigious John Brock Community Service Award.
SPEARHEADING AN AGE OF GROWTH Carr retired in 2000 and Van Boening succeeded him. “I was fortunate to have the dean of hospital administrators as my mentor,” Van Boening said. In the early days, Van Boening shadowed his boss, soaking in every experience from top to bottom like a ‘sponge’. “Larry’s objective was to teach me the business as rapidly as he could,” Van Boening said. Carr had found more than just an able assistant when
he tapped Van Boening. He’d also found a trusted ally. Together they weathered the painful and divisive battle to successfully affiliate Memorial with Mercy and Catholic Health Care West. “I was there on the front lines helping Larry. At one point, we had three lawsuits going,” he said, remembering eventually winning over the effort’s critics. “Memorial would not be the hospital it is today without the affiliation with CHW, now Dignity Health. It is the larger systems that are going to survive.” Under Van Boening’s leadership and vision, the once small campus of Memorial is now a sprawling compound that bears little resemblance to its early beginnings. “The advancements we’ve made in cardiac medicine, building the west tower, developing the north campus and modernizing the front of our hospital, I am very proud of those services and improvements,” Van Boening said. The hospital’s growth spurt shows no sign of slowing. Expansion of the Lauren Small Children’s Medical Center pediatrics department continues and soon ground will be broken for the Robert A. Grimm Children’s Emergency Room Pavilion, the only children’s ER in the community. “I am so proud of what we do and it is a gratifying feeling to know patients experience great care at our hospitals,” Van Boening said.
BAKERSFIELD
CHRYSLER JEEP
®
3101 Cattle Drive • Bakersfield Auto Mall • (661) 832-3000 www.drivecj.com 122
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Longtime Bakersfield barber Robert Key in his shop at 762 E. Brundage Lane.
SHOP TALK Robert Key, proprietor of Key’s Barbershop, looks back on nearly half a century of barbering in Bakersfield Compiled by Kevin McCloskey
W
ith our increasingly fast-paced lifestyle, there is comfort in finding aspects of our lives and culture that change slowly, or almost not at all. These foundational places help us accept this rapid evolution and provide a haven to hid when it all becomes too much. The local barbershop is one such safe harbor, and Key’s Barbershop has been servicing our community in that capacity since 1965. A visit to Key’s at 762 E. Brundage Lane will transport you back to the barbershop of your youth. Robert Key, owner and 124
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
PHOTO BY FELIX ADAMO
REAL PEOPLE
operator, cuts hair at the shop with his son, Rory. Born in Mississipi, Key and his family moved to Shreveport, La., when he was age 2, and then to Bakersfield in 1946 when he was 9 years old. Key graduated from barber school in 1961. He married his wife, Ruby, and was drafted into the U.S. Army. After serving in Hawaii and Thailand, Key returned to Bakersfield and finished his two-year apprenticeship working at Lakeview Barbershop before opening he opened his own shop. He recently shared a few words with Bakersfield Life on life as a barber and his wise advice for youth. A dream come true I guess I’ve always wanted to be a barber. I started working in a barbershop when I was about 11 or 12 shining shoes. As I got older, the barber school down in Los Angeles looked like my only option until I heard that Moler Barber College was opening up in downtown Bakersfield. It was 1960 and that was a dream come true. I saved my money for about a year and enrolled. The history of Key’s Barbershop Paul Parks originally had this shop, but he closed it down
to open a Mobile service station. I’ve always tried to save a nickel or dime wherever I could, and when this opportunity came along, I picked (the shop) up for $900. I went to work here at 12 o’clock that same day and I haven’t looked back. Returning customers, creating memories I have a lot of photos on the walls here, and customers will come back in to see their picture or show it to their kids and share a little family history. On the tradition of fathers bringing their sons to the barbershop for their first professional haircuts. That’s kind of fading a bit. The younger generation is a little different. Kids want to go to hip-hop barbershops today. We have a lot of parents come here for a haircut, but drop their kids off at a shop with a younger crowd. It’s not quite the tradition that it used to be. The force behind the barbershop The barbershop is the hub of the community. Everybody can come down to talk and express themselves on politics, sports, what’s happening in the community, or whatever is on their mind. The community has spread out over the years, so the shop is not quite as busy, but the conversation is still the same.
When it comes to hair cuts and styles, find a middle ground You can get caught up between what a parent wants versus what their kids want. You have to try and find something that will make them both happy and meet somewhere in the middle. On giving advice to younger clients I’m always trying to help kids stay in school and understand a bit about life. Life is not always fair. One thing I always tell them is that there’s no elevation without education. Sometimes kids need to hear this from an outsider and not just their parents. Some of these kids are in trouble and I’ll try to help straighten them out and get them to stay in school. The main thing I try to get across is that if you don’t go to school, you don’t have a chance in life. Not all kids want to hear it, but I still have some pretty good kids and they’re my main concern. That’s just part of my DNA. The significance of music and the arts I love music, and I’m trying to learn the keyboard and guitar. There are a lot of churches around here without musicians and I’d like to try and change that by teaching kids how to play an instrument. I’ll teach them how to play chess too.
Bakersfield Rid Your Home of Rats NOW! EXPERT RODENT PROOFING If you have heard noises in your attic or in your walls, chances are it’s Rats! Rats can squeeze through the hole the size of a quarter. Due to imperfections in con-struction, rats can find their way into your attic or crawl space with ease. Cutting trees off the roof, setting traps, and even putting out poison are only Band-Aids. Some facts about Rats. According to the Center for Disease Control rats, their droppings and urine left behind can con-tribute to and cause allergies, asthma, bacterial diseases, hantavirus, they also carry mites and fleas. Rats can reach sexual maturity at only five weeks. A female rat is in heat every four to five days and she will produce six to thirteen rats per litter. With over 16 years of experience All Pest Pros will professionally solve your Rat problem. We will trap and remove all Rats, seal all Rat entry points from the foundation all the way up to the roof lines. Only construction grade materials will be used. (no steel wool or expandable foam) If your insulation is contaminated we will disinfect, deodorize, remove all insulation, HEPAVAC all rat droppings and install new insulation up to or above recommended levels. All of our work is done in house. We do not sub contract. There will be one charge with out the need for monthly visits or charges. Your home will be 100% guaranteed free of Rats.
DON’T PUT YOUR HEALTH AT RISK Rodent droppings contribute to many health issues and diseases including asthma, respiratory infection, allergies, bacterial diseases, hantavirus, tularemia and more
Your Attic will be Rodent-Free, Clean & Energy Efficient! Services We Offer: • Disinfect • Deodorize • Remove Old Insulation • Install Greenfiber Cellulose insulation up to or above building code levels. How many rats are in your attic?
Attic Before
10% OFF Any One Service (New customers only)
Cannot be combined with any other offer and must be presented at time of inspection.
Attic After
Schedule your free inspection today by calling
661-323-2818 www.allpestpros.com
Licensed, Bonded, Insured. Lic. PR6001 bakersfieldlife.com
125
FIT AND FRESH
GETTING FIDO FIT
Dogs, like people, benefit from a regular exercise routine.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KATIE KIRSCHENMANN
Tips for exercising your pooch and keeping fit in your golden years
By Sally Baker and Katie Kirschenmann
Healthy bro wn rice
and kale
Ingredients 1 bunch orga nic kale 1 1/2 tables poons vege table oil 3 cloves ga rlic, minced 3 large spri ng onions 2 cups cook ed brown ri ce 1 teaspoon soy sauce pine nuts fo r topping 2 ounces To scano chee se Directions: Steam for fi Cut the kale, removing ve minutes ribs and ch . medium he at, then browHeat the oil in a large opping small. saucepan on n the garlic Add the stea . a one to two med kale and spring on minutes. Add io ns an d cook through. Add ri soy sauce, st ce, stirring for a minut briefly — e to warm ir in for 30 Toss in a ha se conds. nd Serve and en ful of pine nuts and sp joy. rinkle with grated chee Add a smal se. l, lean chicke night supper n breast for . a simple, nu tritious wee — Sally Bak ker
126
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
S
ally and I are unabashed dog lovers. Sally has been running with her dog, Sam, ever since she found him injured and abandoned in an almond grove. Though the Baker family nursed him back to health and fattened him up, running with Sally truly saved Sam’s life. Running on and off leash routinely with Sally gave Sammy the self-confidence and security that other humans in his life had taken away. A shy and frightened Sammy bonded with Sally, blossoming into an obedient, loving and charismatic dog. Our dog Olive is also a rescue pup. While farming, my brother-in-law found Olive and two of her littermates dumped in an irrigation canal and fished the 12-week-old puppies out of the water. Olive has been a challenge ever since. We call her the “Counter Surfer” because she is constantly “hanging 10” on the kitchen counters in search of food. Bowls of spaghetti, plates of bacon, cartons of eggs and whole pizzas have gone missing in our house on more than one occasion. So how do you solve a canine behavior problem like Olive’s kitchen capers? Long walks and long runs help. Like us, dogs get bored. They need stimulation and fun just as much as we do. Also, like us, dogs need exercise. An inactive dog will find a way to have fun and the fun they choose may be destructive. I’ve lost more than one pair of shoes to a bored Olive.
PHOTO COURTESY OF RUFFWEAR
EXERCISE OF THE MONTH: TOE TOUCH AND EXTEND
The Roamer leash by Ruffwear
If you want a happy dog, take him to the park. If you want a gleeful dog, take him on a hike where your four-legged friend can engage all of his senses exploring the world around him. At the end of the hike, your dog will thank you and so will your shoe collection. Dogs give us love and enhance our lives in ways that we often take for granted, so give back to your furry friends by exercising with them. And if you are looking to add a dog into your family, please rescue one. There are many dogs in our community with sad stories like Sammy and Olive. Give a little life a happy chapter by rescuing it. — Katie Kirschenm ann
ADVICE FOR RUNNING WITH ROVER Whether it’s walking or running, six legs are better than two. Your dog will be a thrilled and inspiring running partner who will never turn you down or make excuses. But check with your vet before strenuous exercise, some breeds are naturally better athletes. Others may be prone to respiratory- or joint-related issues. As with any new exercise regimen, start easy and build up mileage until Fido proves he has no problem with a distance before increasing it. Don’t forget, if you are thirsty, your dog probably is too. Carry water or plan a route with a river or lake along the way. Choose a leash that works well for both you and your dog. I prefer a hands-free leashes with a little bungee action midleash for a comfortable partnership. My favorite from Ruffwear is called the Roamer, $34.95. It is sturdy, comfortable and longlasting. Most importantly, be a responsible dog
owner, and don’t leave home without your poop bag! Also, get in the habit of leaving a bowl and large bottle of water back in the car for your dog. Happy trails! — Sally Baker
To perform this simple core strengthening exercise lie on your back on a mat. Drawing your navel into your spine, lift your legs up to vertical position with legs straight and toes down. At the same time, bring your arms up to meet the toes, holding abs in firmly — don’t forget to breathe! Slowly release both your upper and lower body back to start position to the count of five. Try to keep your back down into the mat. If you feel you are straining your lower back, bend your knees - always work within a pain-free range of motion. Repeat 10 times to begin with and add more sets as you gain abdominal strength.
STAY FIT WITH THESE MARCH EVENTS: • Yokuts Park Fun Run: Run or walk one, two, three or five miles on March 8 at this free gathering. Held on the second Saturday of each month, this casual get-together is hosted by the Bakersfield Track Club and is a great way to train with friends. • The Brain Injury of California Association’s 7th annual walk, 5K or motorcycle poker ride also kicks off on March 8. Race starts at 10 a.m. Cash prizes of $50 are awarded to the top male and female competitors in the 5K, as well as to the first place man and woman who have had brain injuries. Register at 9 a.m. behind Sam Lynn Ball Park or online at www.biacal.org. • The first Run for Love-Water 1K, 5K and 10K hosted by the charity LoveWater is set for March 22. Race starts at 8 a.m. at Yokuts Park, register between 6 a.m. and 7:45 a.m on the day of the race or at www.love-water.org/runforlovewater in advance. Cost is $25 for pre-registration, $30 on race day. A family-oriented 1K will also be held. Breakfast burritos and refreshments included.
FITNESS AND THE SENIOR CLIENT As millions of baby boomers enter the senior segment — folks 55 or older — it is imperative for seniors to play an active role in managing their own health.
Continued on page 128 bakersfieldlife.com
127
March3_BLife template 2/14/14 1:06 PM Page 128
Continued from page 127 Fitness professionals must also become educated in senior specific conditions such as arthritis, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and hearing impairments. Before beginning an exercise program, it is most important for older clients to check with their doctors. When meeting with trainers, senior should discuss any medications they take and ailments they have, as well as their health history, and consider their goals. Many seniors have found ways move into their golden years feeling stronger and fitter than they felt in their middle age. Some fitness programs are designed to help seniors enjoy improved mobility, flexibility, balance, strength and better sleep. Aqua programs are a wonderful way for senior to start a new workout program. Exercising in water can relieve joints of some burden and impact, allowing the exerciser to work as intensely or as moderately as they wish. Fuller ranges of motion can be achieved in the water, without the risk of falling, to gain strength and mobility in a warm, comfortable environment. — Sally Baker, NASM Senior Fitness Specialist
Why I choose Total Woman...
I work out at Total Woman to have fun, participate in classes, socialize with friends and de-stress after work. Staying active gives me a sense of p ppier and prou independence and control. I feel happier proud of what I can Wom for my health, achieve when I exercise regularly. I joined Total Woman the happiness it giv gives me is a bonus! -Jill Hess
www.twfitness.com www.t tw wfitn e s s .com
Valued member since 2006 Val
MARCH MARCH TO THE BEAT of a new drummer for for the body you want by Summer! Try T us for
14 DAYS FREE!
No no commitment, N obligation, obliga no kidding!
fitness and f training
5329 Truxtun Ext. 325-0208 Hageman Rd. 588-8931 9901 Hagem
128
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
A fitness program can help seniors enjoy greater flexibility, balance and strength.
THE 5TH ANNUAL
Be An Exhibitor! Don’t miss the opportunity to promote your product or service in front of your perfect target audience!
Performances by “Miracles at Every Turn”, Kern County Special Olympians Dr. Darshan Shah discusses safe surgery practices Appearance by Marley’s Mutts Hooch, Fred & Sonar Dr. Milan Shah discusses facial treatments and non-surgical options
Vendors Featuring: • Medical Screening • Retail Shops • Product Samples Mira Patel mpatel@bakersfield.com 395-7586
March 22, 2014 | 10 am - 4 pm | Rabobank Theater
healthybakersfield.com
TRIP PLANNER
SEARCHING FOR SPOUTS Whale watching tour of Morro Bay promises plenty of fun even if the marine mammals fail to appear
An otter plays in Morro Bay with the famed Morro Rock in the background.
Story and photos by Lois Henry
I
have to say right up front that my whale watching tour out of Morro Bay was a bit of a disappointment. But it was still a great trip and I can’t wait to go again. That’s not a contradiction and here’s why: I love going on trips no matter what. And if Mother Nature doesn’t feel like cooperating with your plans, who ya gonna argue with? Huh? I had read that there was a big upswing in gray whale sightings off the coast this year as they migrate from
The two littlest whale watchers have had it after their day on the high seas. 130
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Alaska to Mexico and if I went quickly (in mid-January), I’d be right in the thick of it. So I got on the Internet, booked a tour and got up at a truly uncivilized hour one Sunday to drive over and try my luck. I can’t say enough good things about Sub Sea Tours. They weren’t that expensive, $40 per person, they were easy to work with and efficient. I really liked the open catamaran-style boat and both the captain and the naturalist, Rouvaishyana, (that’s right, just Rouvaishyana), were friendly and informative. Nice as they all were, though, they couldn’t control the wind and the sea. Both were up. In a big way. We had a weird, and very strong, off shore wind that blew the spray backwards off of waves and littered the ocean with white caps, making it almost impossible to spot the telltale whale spouts. And we had swells. Big swells. So big, you had to wait until you crested one to search the horizon for flukes or spouts or the giant glossy undulating backs that I so hoped to see. Some of my fellow passengers didn’t take to the swells so well (some started singing the “Gilligan” song… you know “…a three hour tour…”). But the captain was good-natured about it and, lucky for some more sensitive passengers, he was prepared with buckets blankets and lots of fresh water. Meanwhile, Rouvaishyana and the captain did a great job pointing out lots of other animals — seals, sea lions, otters, pelicans and tons of other ocean birds. They slowed down and circled so we could gawk and get photos.
Rouvaishyana, a naturalist and manager of the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History since 2005, shows a chart of different whales we hoped to see on the tour.
Finally, after about two hours, a lady at the front of the boat hollered. She didn’t say “Thar she blows!” More like “OH! OH! OH! There’s one!” Immediately, the other passengers ran to the railing, me included with binoculars and camera clanging uncomfortably on my chest. “Oh, wait, that’s just a big white cap,” she said, deflated. “Sorry! Sorry everyone.” Phooey. I sat back down and grumbled to myself, scanning, always scanning the swells. The same lady hollered and jumped up and down a few minutes later and this time, I saw it! The tail end of the spout she was excitedly pointing at. As I watched the wind whip it away, I saw another spout! A full spout right in front of me. “There’s another one!” I squealed. “It’s another one!” The captain throttled back to make sure we didn’t get too close and followed what we thought were a pair (I never actually saw the whale, just the spout) a little ways south before we lost them. We rode the bucking waves back in around Morro Rock and everyone sighed in relief as the waves flattened out and the wind cut off inside the bay. OK, so it wasn’t the most successful whale watching tour. But the sun was shining and I was on the coast about to eat fish tacos and enjoy a glass of wine at the Dutchman’s Seafood House. That’s a pretty successful Sunday in my book. Next up, humpbacks in April!
The distinctive “stacks” of the Morro Bay Power Plant, owned by Houston-based Dynegy, can be seen in the distance from the dock.
Other tips to plan your trip Whale watching guide: www.discover-central-california.com/whale-watching-california.html
Sub Sea Tours, Morro Bay: www.subseatours.com/whale-watching-morro-bay
Morro Bay state park: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=594
I also highly recommend a quick trip to the Morro Bay State Park, which is a short distance south of the main Morro Bay “drag.” It’s a very pretty setting and a good chance to stretch your legs after being on a boat all morning. The exhibits are very kid friendly. In fact, mostly kid friendly. Adults might be more interested in the binoculars docents hand out on the balcony. Either way, it’s a nice stop.
Then, of course, I always head to the Brown Butter Cookie Company in Cayucos before making the drive home. But that’s up to you. — Lois Henry
bakersfieldlife.com
131
GOLF
By Jacque Servadio
W
hen I started playing golf in 1989, there were no colored flags on the greens to mark front, middle or back pin locations - no 100-, 150-, 200or 250-yardage markers in the middle of the fairway, much less on the sprinkler heads. All we had to go by was the trusty 150-yard bushes at all county courses. How times have changed! Now, with the plethora of yardage markers on golf courses and GPS devices on the market, you would think that the pace of play would really speed up. But I’m afraid that the hundreds of golfers swinging away every day would beg to differ. Since Bakersfield does not have an executive or par-3 golf course, golfers who don’t hit the ball very far, or who are just starting out, have to play on a regulation-size course. I see and hear about this all the time from many of my students who are either new to the game or who can’t hit the ball far. Many are intimidated by the length of the courses. So what’s a golfer to do? Well, many courses have put in gold tees to accommodate the older men who can no longer hit it as far. These gold tees shortened the courses anywhere from 500 to 1,000 yards. But what about the women and juniors who can’t hit the ball great distances? Courses also sport red/women’s tees, but for many golfers, the courses remain intimidating. Some golfers have to whack the ball so many times in the fairway that they’re tired and frustrated by the time they reach the green. Not pleasant! As a golf professional, one of my main goals is to grow the game of golf, and I think more players would stick with the sport if the game was more enjoyable. So to make it more fun, I tell my students who don’t hit the ball very far to ‘Play It Forward.’ Who says you have to tee the ball up from the tee box? I say, make your own executive golf course right here in Bakersfield, no matter what course you are playing. For example, if you can only hit your driver 125 yards, tee off from the 200-yard marker with your driver and play the hole in from there. This will leave you 75 yards to the hole — a much more attainable distance for the short knocker. Hitting
PLAY IT FORWARD
Greenacres Community Center Mon, Wed 5:30pm
Riverlakes Community Center Tues, Thur 9:00am Sat, 8:30am
Uniglobe Travel Tues, Thurs 5:30pm
For more info:
589-8950 or Jazzercise.com
132
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
Hitting your tee shot from the 200-yard marker is a good way for beginners to enjoy the game more. a driver and an iron to the green, then a making a chip and a couple of putts also makes for a more realistic round. You won’t be stuck out in the fairway hitting five fairway woods trying to reach the green. Another great benefit for playing it forward, this approach really speeds up play, which everyone will love! Also, for the new golfer, you take off the pressure by teeing off in the middle of the fairway without anybody watching you from the tee box. As you get better and hit the ball farther, just move back in the fairway or tee off from the tee box. This is the perfect way to transition your game to a full-length course. You can download a Play It Forward Yardage Chart at www.jsgolfinstruction.com under the quick links tab. — Jacque Servadio, an LPGA Class A teaching professional at Kern River Golf Course, specializes in skill-based golf instruction. More information, appointments: www.jsgolfinstruction.com, 3015944 or jacque@jsgolfinstruction.com.
PRIME FINDS
1
3
2
4
5
7
6 134
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
1
2
3
4
Farm Girls Vintage Finds Farm Girls Vintage Finds is located at 7200 Shafter Road in Bakersfield. We are south of Taft Highway between Ashe and Gosford roads. Assorted iron wall decor available. $20 and up. farmgirlsvintagefinds.com.
Uniquely Chic Smell sensational! Come into Uniquely Chic to see our great selection of scented candles to make your home smell sensational. 9500 Brimhall Road, Suite 701; 588-7997; uniquelychicflorist.com.
Aunt Mae’s Sweet Tooth Fine handmade mouth-watering English toffee made by Aunt Mae’s Sweet Tooth. Available at Luigi’s, Sweet Surrender Bakery, Café Med, Flourishing Art and Sullivan Petroleum stores. 725-5200; auntmaessweettooth.com.
Now Showing Bakersfield’s fastest-growing network with more than 25 hours of live video programming every week!
Watch live and on-demand at
Kuka’s Folk Art Just in. Day of the Dead men’s wallets in 10 different designs. Made with genuine leather. A creative and unique gift idea for the man in your life. 1609 19th St.; 325-0000; kukasfolkart.com. N e w s , We a t h e r a n d Tr a f f i c U p d a t e s Weekdays 7 to 10 am
5
Color Me Mine at the Market Place Almost 8 inches high, this sitting dog is not only cute, but functional. Its removable head reveals a deep opening ideal for dog treats. Come in and personalize one for your dog today. 9000 Ming Avenue; 664-7366; bakersfield.colormemine.
6
7
C i n d y Po l l a r d d i s c u s s e s l o c a l business and economic development Mondays 10 to 11 am
C o r ey C o s t e l l o e reviews CSUB’s Athletic Programs Tuesdays 10 to 11 am
Lisa Krch explores We l l n e s s , H e a l t h , F itness and Living Wednesdays 10 to 11 am
Ke v i n B a r t l a n d R ya n H o l t discuss the Condors Wednesdays Noon to 1 pm
With Don Clar k and Tina Miller Thursdays 10 to 11 am
Ilitchi Children Boutique babies, come in to see our beautiful new selection of children’s clothing at Ilitchi Boutique. 205 E 19th St. near Union Avenue; 396-1609.
Creation Craze Come into Creation Craze and make your favorite friend their very own treat jar. We have a great selection of items geared to your best pal. 9680 Hageman Road, Suite D; 588-7107.
Zach Ewing previews High School Spor ts Thursdays 2 to 3 pm
bakersfieldlife.com
135
Feb. 1 BC’s Sterling Silver Fundraiser for the Culinary Arts Program
2
Held at Bakersfield College Photos by Carla Rivas View these photos and more at bakersfieldlife.com
1
4
3 5
6
1. Tiffany and Scott Simpson 2. Dennis Slater and Annette Bridgman 3. Gayla and Roger Anderson 4. David Zuech and Jess Kent 5. Marie Krause, Ben and Pat Goossen 6. Neeley Hatridge, Amber Chiang and Margaret Head 7. John and Kay Alexander, Victoria and John Trichell
Now taking orders for the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe and
:LEOH 5G %DNHUVILHOG ‡ ‡ ZD\DXWRPRWLYH FRP 136
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
7
2 4
3
Jan. 23 Bakersfield Museum of Art Winter Exhibit Opening
5
Held at the Bakersfield Museum of Art Photos by Carla Rivas View these photos and more at bakersfieldlife.com
1
6
1. Jerry and Brenda Horwedel 2. Liza Helger, John McCullah and Ashleigh Wright 3. Linda Hyatt and Hank Webb 4. Laura Cattani and Alyssa Wolfer 5. Jenny Marsh, Dorothe MacDonald and Sally Dudek 6. Jim and Kathleen Faulkner and Win Eaton 7. Jim and Nancy Duncan
7 Come to Three-Way Chevrolet-Cadillac today!
‌the 2015 Cadillac Escalade. 6$/(6 0RQ )UL 6DW 6XQ ‡ 6(59,&( 0RQ )UL 6DW 3$576 0RQ )UL 6DW bakersfieldlife.com
137
2
3
Jan. 25 KC Scottish Society Burns Dinner Held at American Legion Hall Photos by Carla Rivas View these photos and more at bakersfieldlife.com
1
5
8
1. Ted and Holly Nelson 2. Caitlyn Acquaviva, Jason Kibbey and Tony Urzanqui 3. John and Tammy Olinger 4. David and Lisa Stroud and Sandy and Timothy Ryan 5. David and Cari Campbell 6. Jillian and Arianna Urzanqui 7. Carl and Kathy Guilford 8. Karen Abercrombie, Crystal Burns, Mia and Dana Garcia, Jennifer Abercrombie and Samantha Manning 9. Gary and Jan Lockhart 10. Marvin and Beth Davisson and Gail Scarazzo 11. Kenneth and Reverend Nancy McMaster and Martha Correll 138
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
4 6
9
7
10 11
2
3 Jan. 24 St. Francis Crabfest
4
5
7
6 8
1
Held at KC Fairgrounds Photos by Carla Rivas View these photos and more at bakersfieldlife.com
9
1. Shane and Jeana Brandon 2. Kelli Gruszka and Cathy Register 3. Michelle and Alan Rogers 4. Juliana Houchin and Gina Wegis 5. Raul and Raye Bugnosen and Mary Kay Atchison 6. Ashley and Jake Claunch, Janey Keown and Carly Heinen 7. Beth and Andrew Pandol and Ginger Willard 8. Suzie and AJ Antongiovanni and Trevor and Annalisa Townsend 9. Christine Frazier, Sylvia Treanor, Pam Sanders and Stacy Inman 10. Renee Carter, Monsignor Craig Harrison and Ken Carter
10
bakersfieldlife.com
139
2
3
Jan. 23 GBCC Board Installation Dinner Held at the DoubleTree Hotel Photos by Greg Nichols View these photos and more at bakersfieldlife.com
1
4
5
6
7
9
8 140
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
1. Derron Juarez and Mondi Rollans 2. Bob Meadows, Shannon Groves and Maria Gonzalez 3. Wendie and Ryan Nielsen 4. Clayton Montgomery, Kathy and Don Miller, Tonya Sterling and Bryan Burrow 5. Kevin Burton, Margaret and Ken White 6. Ghina and Sam Itani 7. Casey Knaak, Holly VonderHaar and Danielle Davis 8. Christina Rajlal, Lesley Adams and Rebecca Callaghan 9. Andrae Gonzales, Gladis Gonzalez, Jason Gutierrez, Vanessa Emo, Christopher Lowe and Carinne Cowell
NOMINATE SOMEONE WHO IS A: Champion in our community | Successful up-and coming leader Game changer in their professional career or school ACCEPTING NOMINEES MARCH 10 TO APRIL 18 Bakersfield Life will celebrate the excellence of 20 local individuals under the age of 40 who exhibit leadership qualities in their personal life, career, community or academics and who represent the people to watch in Bakersfield. Submissions accepted at bakersfieldlife.com during the nomination period only. The nominee must be between the ages of 18 and 40 during nomination period. For detailed criteria information visit bakersfieldlife.com. Deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. Friday April 18, 2014. Winners will be published on Saturday, June 28, 2014 in Bakersfield Life Magazine.
bakersfieldlife.com
141
2
Jan. 22 Pink Dot Room ribbon-cutting Held at Houchin Community Blood Bank Photos by Rod Thornburg View these photos and more at bakersfieldlife.com
1
4 6
5
8
1. Lori and Bob Malkin 2. Joy Ivina and Tracy Hunter 3. Lezley Pumphrey and Brenda Brown 4. Casey Knaak, Heather Pennella and Joy Davis 5. Greg Gallion and Mayor Harvey Hall 6. Tomeka Powell and Jacob Henry 7. Carola Enriquez and Mary Church 8. Drew, Thomas and Jenny Johns 9. Bob Meadows, Romeo Agbalog and Steve Bohn 10. Cindy Valverde, Connie and Lauren Bittle and Kathy Vochoska
142
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
3
7
9 10
3
2
4 5
6
Feb. 7 Grapes of Wrath VIP Pre-Party
1
7 1. Mary Feldstein and V. John White 2. Sandy and Jose Ornelas 3. Rick, Dan and Tom Alexander 4. Liora Gubkin, Christy Gavin and Jeanne Harrie 5. Mike and Nancy Russo 6. CJ Wilson and Tanya Hildebrand 7. Gene Tackett, Josie Kouyomjian, David Coffey and Horace Mitchell 8. Nona and Jim Darling and Miriam Raub Vivian
Held at the Hayden Building Photos by Carla Rivas View these photos and more at bakersfieldlife.com
8
Air Force Health Professions
Air Force Health Professions 11075 Santa Monica Blvd, Ste 300 Los Angeles, CA 90025
Office: 310-481-5089 Fax: 310-481-5088 timothy.bernau@us.af.mil AIRFORCE.COM/healthcare
TIMOTHY A. BERNAU Master Sergeant, USAF Air Force Recruiter 1-800-423-USAF
bakersfieldlife.com
143
2
Feb. 1 KCHCC Installation & Awards Dinner Held at the Marriott Photos by John Harte View these photos and more at bakersfieldlife.com
3
4
1
5 6 Special Services Include: • Colonoscopy • Endoscopy • Video Capsule Endoscopy • ERCP • Cancer Screening Esophageal pH & Motility Study • Treatment fo Liver Diseases • Ambulatory Endoscopy Center 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
www.bakersfieldgi.com 144
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
7
8
1. Sandra Serrano and Judge Robert Tafoya 2. Esther Torres and Martha Morales 3. Norma Diaz, Jacque Servadio, Sophie and Julian Jimenez 4. Ernie Pineda, Jay Tamsi, Olivia Garcia, Blodgie Rodriguez, Donna Hermann, David Alanis, Ed Herrera and Carlos Navarro 5. Seth, Sydney, Rebecca, Sterling, Spencer and Josh Garza 6. Olga Rodriguez and Yolanda Aguirre (seated), Aurelio Rodriguez, Blodgie Rodriguez, Quinton Freeman, Marilu Olvera and Doug Kaiser 7. Cecilia and Kiyoshi Tomono 8. Betty Younger, Fran Trevino and Dee Slade
bakersfieldlife.com
145
LAST WORD
By Jerry Prigmore
THE SOUND HEARD ’ROUND THE WORLD
You explain pretty well on your blog how Bakersfield and Beyond started, but how did you go from merely wanting to explore the sound to actually having a show dedicated to it? When we discovered that there was an actual Bakersfield Sound we were covering a regular show for a host who was out of town. Later, when he decided to leave the show, we were offered the slot. It’s now been FIVE years on the air. Were there any raised eyebrows about your choice of genres or did the station’s musical diversity make it not a big deal? Not a real big deal. The station has a wide, diverse selection of music that is programmed by the individual hosts. It’s always had a fair bit of bluegrass, country and Americana programming. Bakersfield and Beyond fits right in. What would you say to Bakersfield folks who might suspect something ironic in all this, maybe some Bay Area folks having a bit of sport with us? While Marin County might be the last place one would expect a radio show featuring Bakersfield, we are located in West Marin, known for its wide open spaces, farms, and cattle ranches. In that respect, we are not quite so different. A lot of people there tell us that they have a connection to Bakersfield — either they lived there in the past, or have relatives there. There is also a fairly large contingent of musicians and bands in the Bay Area who have their roots in West Coast country music. 146
Bakersfield Life Magazine
March 2014
A Marin County radio station is spreading the Bakersfield Sound, a musical style pioneered by artists like Buck Owens.
CALIFORNIAN FILE PHOTO
N
o doubt most readers of Bakersfield Life are at least casually familiar with the homegrown sub-genre of country music known as the Bakersfield Sound. Understanding the Bakersfield Sound is fundamental to the full Bakersfield experience. Developed by legends like Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, it was and is a highly popular, electrified alternative to the slicked-down, highly-produced Nashville Sound that held sway in 1950s country music. To this day, one can hardly listen to more than a few minutes of country music — and even a lot of rock and roll — without hearing the Bakersfield Sound, or at least traces of its influence. None of that is a revelation to any Bakersfieldian worth their Dewar’s chews, but they may be surprised at just how far the influence reaches. One gauge of the Bakersfield Sound’s clout can be found in the picturesque town of Point Reyes Station in Marin County, Calif. Yes, that Marin County — a place most of us Valley types think of as the affluent, rural sister to San Francisco, maybe even a sort of anti-Bakersfield. But from a small community radio station there comes the show “Bakersfield and Beyond: Music for Mavericks, Outlaws and Romantics.” To satisfy any potential doubters, I asked some questions of DJ Mike Varley, who, along with station manager Amanda Eichstaedt, hosts the bi-weekly show on KWMR FM 90.5.
Are you able to track the locations of those who stream the show, and how far away are some of the listeners? I know, through the use of social media, we have had listeners all over the U.S. and a few from as far away as New Zealand and Brazil. How has the show been received locally? It’s been received very well. We try to bring a good mix of music old and new with interviews and a bit of history. We’ve been able to interview artists such as Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakam, Wanda Jackson, Chris Hillman, Homer Joy... It’s great to get stopped on the street the day after a show and have folks tell us they enjoyed the show. So there you have it, a Bay Area radio station carrying the sounds of Bakersfield abroad. The good news for us here in the cradle of the Sound, far from KWMR’s radio signal, is that Bakersfield and Beyond can be streamed live on www.kwmr.org every other Thursday night from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. You can also visit their Facebook page and their blog at bakersfieldandbeyond.wordpress.com to learn about the show and the current West Coast country music scene and view the schedule. Listeners can also email comments and requests to the Bakersfield and Beyond blog at bakersfieldandbeyond@wordpress.com. — Jerry Prigmore is a civil engineer and 1987 graduate of North High School. He has been known to enjoy Basque restaurants, Dewar’s chews and Buck Owens, though seldom all at once.
Wayne Long & Company 1502 Mill Rock Way, Suite 200 Bakersfield, CA 93311 (661) 664-0909 FAX (661) 664-0915
www.welcpa.com