Bakersfield Life Magazine May 2010 by The Bakersfield Californian Specialty Publications

May 2010

www.bakersfieldlife.com

SALUTE TO

NURSES

We recognize some of our best local providers

NIGHTLIFE

Special section on where to go, what to do

Local heroes

Everyday people honored for heroic acts

BIKE TO WORK Greener commute good for you, environment

PERSONALITY Sandra Serrano built career on service to Kern students

M AY

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F E AT U R E S

Extraordinary Pizza and No Compromise

Photo by Jessica Frey

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Bakersfield Life

May 2010

Tribute to nurses

They’re with you at your most frightening moments. You put your life and the lives of those you love in their hands. Who are these amazing people? They are the dedicated nurses serving our community. We highlight some local men and women who are standouts in their field.

Red Cross Real Heroes

They may not wear capes, but these 12 men and women are heroes, nonetheless. Whether their job is saving lives or if their acts of heroism were spontaneous, this year’s Red Cross Real Heroes are each remarkable in their own way. Bakersfield Life salutes these selfless individuals.

Community

It’s seems natural to want to improve your community, but the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce makes a point of recognizing those who are making a difference. The Beautiful Bakersfield Awards honor individuals and organizations that are improving the quality of life locally.

Bakersfield Nightlife

When the workday’s done, it’s time to get down to the business of having a good time. From fine dining to festivals, there’s plenty on your plate. While options abound, check out our sampling of hot tickets in town.

the frappé

A blended ice drink made with a hint of coffee, real whipped cream and a sweet chocolate or caramel drizzle. A sip of cool, creamy decadence.

Blended fresh at your locally owned and operated Bakersﬁeld McDonald’s.

M A Y

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D E PA R T M E N T S 16 Real People

BC program director Primavera Arvizu is making a college education a reality for many students.

18 History

From saloons to honky-tonks, Bakersfield has always known how to party.

22 Home & Garden

Stylish solutions to home space needs are easier than you think

24 Food and Wine

As the weather warms, versatile sauvignon blanc is a perfect complement to whatever you serve.

26 Dining Divas

The ladies sample shrimp, steak and ski-jump chocolate cake at local favorite Tahoe Joe’s.

30 Pastimes

Photo by Casey Christie

Local swim clubs offer something for swimmers of all ages and levels.

32 On the Red Couch

These women are making “Magic” helping plan a fundraiser for children with cancer.

52 Health & Wellness

Take charge of your wellness at Healthy Bakersfield Expo.

54 Going Green

In honor of National Bike Month, consider a greener commute to work.

58 Our Town

May kicks off with Relay for Life, and we have the details.

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

From trains to trails, Fillmore area offers fun and history.

70 Why I Live Here

Aisha Ainsworth tells us what she loves about her Westlake neighborhood.

82 SNAP!

60 Guys On The Green

Get moving with four local physical therapists.

Bakersfield Life’s cameras were at some of the city’s top events recently. Check out who was snapped there.

66 Personality

90 Last Word

For Sandra Serrano, a brief stay turned into a lifetime of service to Kern students.

68 Trip Planner

Gallery owner Chris Vanderlei shares what he thinks is missing in Bakersfield.

• Full Service Remodels • Countertops / Backsplash • Flooring – Tile / Hardwood • 3 Dimensional Designing From conception to completion, Stockdale Cabinetry will help you every step of the way. We don’t just design it, we help you pick out the materials and put it all together. “Your project is my project,” Rick explains. “My work is my passion.”

FULL SERVICE REMODELING COMPANY Rick Sorci CKD Bakersfield’s only Certified kitchen Designer & General Contractor When my husband and I moved in to our home 6 years ago we loved the floor plan and the area. At the time we realized we were going to do a lot of updating to get the look we wanted in are home. We did a lot of shopping around, Rick was the one that listened to our dreams and was able to make them a reality and had the best products to offer. With all the help Rick and his team gave us from selecting appliances to sinks, tile, granite it took all the stress out of the process and I had a wonderful experience. From the time we purchased are cabinetry everything was so well organized it seemed like it just took no time to have my kitchen up and functional again. I love my new Kitchen and we are in the process of doing a bathroom with him at this time. I do recommend Stockdale Cabinetry to all my family and friends.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Bakersfield’s Premier City Magazine

Bakersfield Life™ magazine is published by The Bakersfield Californian. The magazine is inserted into The Bakersfield Californian on the last Saturday of every month. To subscribe, please call 392-5777. Publisher Ginger Moorhouse President/CEO Richard Beene Vice President Sales, Marketing, Circulation & Operations John Wells Advertising Director Bryan Fahsbender Vice President of Content Olivia Garcia Assistant Editor Stefani Dias Art Direction Glenn Hammett Photography Felix Adamo Henry A. Barrios Casey Christie Michael Fagans Jessica Frey Chelley Kitzmiller Tanya X. Leonzo Greg Nichols Dan Ocampo Jan St. Pierre Rodney Thornburg Contributing Writers Teresa Adamo Jennifer Bachman J.W. Burch IV Lisa Kimble Chelley Kitzmiller Dana Martin Jeff Nickell Gabriel Ramirez Rodney Thornburg Paul Ulrich Advertising Lupe Carabajal lcarabajal@bakersfield.com 395-7563 Reader Inquiries Bakersfield Life magazine P.O. Bin 440 Bakersfield, CA 93302-0440 BakersfieldLife@bakersfield.com 395-7492 On the cover Nurse RaeAnn Schmunk has worked the last six years at the Family Birth Center at Mercy Southwest Hospital. Photo by Jessica Frey

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

Paying tribute to nurses If you ever feel the need to be inspired, talk to a nurse. I had the opportunity to reach out to local hospitals and get in touch with some really special nurses. The theme of “caring” and “compassion” were common in their conversations, and it was quite special to hear their love for their work and most importantly in dealing with patients. We are very fortunate to have some really giving nurses in our community to treat us and our family and friends with the greatest care possible. One nurse shared something with me that I couldn’t forget. She said if she made a difference by helping someone else’s life, it was her hope that they would somehow pass on that help to others. I know she touched me. Be sure to read about them inside. Also check out more local honors. The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce is recognizing people and organizations that are improving the local quality of life. There’s a wonderful list of people who are making a difference to better our community. One colleague who I admired is our art designer, Glenn Hammett. For many years, Glenn has faithfully rode his bike from his northeast Bakersfield home to downtown for

work. He is one of the fittest and healthiest people I know and in this issue, he outlines reasons to ride as a tribute to National Bike Month. Talk about being fit. In our “Guys on the Green” section, we chat with a few local physical therapists about their work and tips. Check out to what they have to say. They give great advice. This is coming from firsthand experience. I can see Brian Monroe nodding in agreement as he once helped me recover from a hip injury. Welcome to Bakersfield nightlife, courtesy of our special section. We created a wonderful guide of what to do and where to go in Bakersfield after dark. In addition, treat yourself to a rollicking trip back in time with Jeff Nickell as he explores Bakersfield's saloons and nightlife from back in the day. Also read up about Sandra Serrano, the chancellor and guiding force behind the Kern Community College District. Before I close, I want to wish a happy Mother's Day to all mothers and grandmothers. Enjoy your special day with your families. Photo by Tanya X. Leonzo

May 2010 / Vol. 4 / Issue 8

Olivia Garcia Vice President of Content 395-7487 ogarcia@bakersfield.com

Wedding party left to right; Matt Waldrop, Robby Pelmear, Kyle Rowland, Jeff Mestmaker & Tommy Mestmaker

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HAPPENINGS

Find more community events at BakersfieldLife.com or Bakersfield.com/calendar.

Sat. 1

1-2

Sugarland, with special guests Vonda Shepard and Julianne Hough, 7:30 p.m., Rabobank Arena, $20.50 to $48. ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.

Fifth annual Downtown Criterium bike race. Start times from 7:30 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. Start/finish line at 20th and Eye streets. bikebakersfield.org.

Annual Relay for Life, 8:30 a.m. Saturday to 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Cal State Bakersfield. relayforlife.org/bakersfieldca or 327-2424.

Rod and Kulture Dragfest, gates open 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Auto Club Famoso Raceway. $20; $30 twoday pass. 852-0106 or dragfest.com.

Tue. 4

Thu. 6

Fri. 7

7-8

CSUB Roadrunner Baseball vs. UC Santa Barbara, 3 p.m., CSUB campus, Hardt Field. $3 to $9. 654-2583.

“The Wizard of Oz,” 7:30 p.m., Rabobank theater. $30 to $50. ticket master.com or 800745-3000.

First Friday, featuring live music, art openings, specialty shops, galleries and boutiques, 5 to 9 p.m., Downtown Arts District. 6349598.

Jo Koy, with special guest, 8 p.m. Friday, Bakersfield Fox Theater. $29.50. vallitix. com or 324-1369.

24rd annual Bakersfield Jazz Festival, 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday, CSUB, Amphitheater, 9001 Stockdale Highway. Two-day combo $55; students $35; children under 12 free. vallitix.com or 322-5200.

Thur. 13

14-16

Sat. 15

38th annual CSUB Athletics Spring BBQ, 5:30 to 9 p.m., Icardo Center, Cal State Bakersfield. $25 to $30. gorunners.com or 654-3473.

CSUB Roadrunner Baseball vs. University of the Pacific, 3 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, CSUB campus, Hardt Field. $3 to $9. 654-2583.

Pyles Boys Camp Annual Bar-B-Q, noon to 5 p.m., Kern River Golf Course picnic area. $15; children under 12, free. 412-5325 or 805-5766.

Grand Finale, Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, 8 p.m., Rabobank theater, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $32 to $48. 3237928 or bakersfield symphony.org.

WEEK 4

WEEK 3

WEEK 2

WEEK 1

Can’t-miss events in May

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

Thur. 20

Sat. 22

2010 Amgen Tour of California Stage 5. Finish will be at Bakersfield College on Panorama Drive. Estimated finish time: 3:17 to 4:03 p.m. amgentourof california.com

Bakersfield’s Biggest Baddest BBQ Championship, 10 a.m., Stramler Park, 3805 Chester Ave. $10, adults; free for children 12 and under. 324-2427 or www.bakobbq.com.

UUPP FRONT FRONT

It’s Named After

By Lisa Kimble

HENRIETTA WEILL Henrietta Levy Weill, for whom the mental health center for children and families is named, was a pioneer in early childhood education in Bakersfield, establishing the first kindergarten in this community. Henrietta was born in 1863 in San Francisco. Though she wanted to attend the University of California, Berkeley, her family felt it was not appropriate, so she received her schooling in San Francisco, including the study of kindergarten models by well-known children’s author Kate Douglas Wiggin, who started the first free kindergarten in San Francisco. She came to Bakersfield in 1882 when, at 19, she married Alphonse Weill, a local businessman who had migrated here just 12 years earlier. Henrietta maintained an interest in early childhood education, and used her training to educate their four children: Irma, Blanche, Adelle and Lawrence. Her passion for the kindergarten movement was so strong that she opened a program in her home at the

southeast corner of 17th and H streets for the children of their neighborhood. Some years later, when the city school district claimed it could not support a kindergarten, Weill and several other mothers joined forces in the support of the hiring of a kindergarten teacher. Weill’s lifelong interest in child welfare was also reflected in her social service to such organizations at the Children’s Home Society, American Red Cross and the Kern County Musical Association. The Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Clinic was founded in 1946 by her children and community members intent on recognizing her impact on Kern County. The Weill family home, built in 1882, was considered “modern” in its day because of its high ceilings, long hallway and indoor plumbing. Nine years later it would be neighbored across the street by the Howell House. The Weills' house was donated to the Kern County Museum in 1950.

The Pulse: What’s hot and what’s not this month in Bakersfield

WHAT’S HOT

WHAT’S NOT

Local auto sales

Traffic delays

March numbers were up 16 percent from the same time last year and 42 percent from February, offering hope to local dealerships

Lots to do

With the Jazz Festival, Downtown Street Faire, Amgen Tour of California and fundraisers galore, there are a lot of reasons to head outside in May.

A reason to smile

Researchers studying photos of baseball players from the ’50s found that bigger smiles in photos corresponded with a longer life. So put on a happy face!

Caring community

When residents read the story of 4-year-old cancer patient Ylaria Carrasco-Cazares, they responded with donated sick days for her parents and fundraising to help the family.

We’re looking forward to the Westside Parkway, but not all the road snarls as construction affects the Coffee Road and Truxtun Avenue intersection as well as Jewetta Avenue, Calloway Drive and Brimhall and Allen roads.

Entertainment cutbacks

Cuts shutter Movies in the Parks series, two pools and the popular Beale Band Concerts, which leaves the symphony seeking more private funds.

Aggravating allergies

Spring is in the air ... and most of us are sneezing. Experts advise to keep your windows closed at night and use over-the-counter relief if symptoms get too bad.

Tough times for kids

More than one in every four children in Kern County lived in poverty in 2009, and these children are more depressed, less educated and generally worse off than other children in California, according to a new report.

www.BakersfieldLife.com

Signature Properties, Signature Service

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Garden tour You’ll be green with envy after taking the Bakersfield Green Thumb Garden Club’s garden tour on May 1. The club has planned a tour of five outstanding local gardens, which will be open to the public for viewing through the club’s fundraiser. Gardens will include seasonal and indigenous flowers and trees, fountains, statuary, unique gardens within gardens and more. For $20, you get a brochure with maps to the homes and information about the gardens. All proceeds will benefit

scholarships at Bakersfield College in the field of horticulture. For more information and tickets, call 872-2188. The Bakersfield Green Thumb Garden Club, started in 1995 to address a need for an all-inclusive educational gardening club, meets at 9 a.m. the third Saturday of every month (except December, when a luncheon and gift exchange are held) at the social hall of Church of the Brethren, 327 A St. For more information about the club, visit bakersfieldgreenthumb.org.

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24th annual Bakersfield Jazz Festival 2010 California State Governor

Jazz lovers, rejoice: It’s time again for the Bakersfield Jazz Festival, running May 7 and 8 at Cal State Bakersfield Amphitheater. The two-day celebration, presented by the CSUB Music Department and BMW of Bakersfield, is the largest campus-sponsored event in the entire Cal State University system. This year’s lineup includes David Baron Stevens, Dave Douglas 14

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

and Keystone, Marcia Ball, Greg Porée, Kern County Honor Jazz Band, Luis Lenzi, Charlie Hunter, Christian Scott and more. Two-day tickets are $55 general admission; $35 for students, and free for children under 12. (One-day tickets are also available.) Call 3225200 or visit vallitix.com to buy. For more information on the festival, visit bakersfieldjazz.com.

BY THE NUMBERS: Kern Photography Association

117 292 29 3,644 102,473 Members

Cameras owned by association members

Photos uploaded to the group’s Flickr page

KPA “Meet & Shoot” events held so far

Record number of views on the KPA Web site – kernphotographyassociation.org — in January

So You Want To ... This is the perfect time to get outside and work on your photographic skills. Don’t feel pressured to get great shots, but rather have fun doing it, or it's not worth it.

Prepare for the elements Don't forget to carry water. Also, use sunscreen, wear a hat, bring a light jacket and a lunch.

Be careful With wildflowers, running creeks and rivers, and birds everywhere, it's a great time of year for pictures, but be careful and prepared. It helps to know the area and go with another person. Start with plenty of gas in the car and let someone know where you will be.

Know your equipment It’s worthwhile to be comfortable with your photo equipment before heading out,

especially if you are going on vacation or out of the country. Remember, on that once-in-a-lifetime trip, you may never have a chance to reshoot that "great shot that got away" again. So, I try to approach most subjects in a photo essay fashion. Using a variety of lenses, giving you the chance for close shots, medium and wide shots. A longer telephoto is great for tight, closer shots of animals, sunrises and sunsets or moon shots.

Keep shooting With digital cameras, remember it doesn't cost much to take a lot of shots of the same subject. When you see something you like, shoot until your heart’s content. You will be thankful when you get home and look at your take on the computer, or after you get prints back from the photo shop. The more you have to choose from, the closer you will get to a very special photo from an expedition or vacation.

Photo by Casey Christie

Get a great outdoor shot

Stock up Take plenty of flash cards, especially on a longer trip. It's always nice to have two camera bodies, in case one fails. (Believe me, it will.) Make sure batteries are charged, carry your charger in your suitcase or have it close by. A tripod, or monopod, can be very helpful, especially for slow shutter speed photos or special effects you may wish to obtain. Most of all, have fun and happy shooting. — Casey Christie, Californian staff photographer

www.BakersfieldLife.com

Photo by Casey Christie

REAL PEOPLE

Primavera Arvizu on the BC campus.

Mentoring for a brighter future By J. W. Burch IV

he world is filled with many obstacles, which can stand between you and your dreams. For some, it is college that remains a dream unachieved, whether it’s due to financial, familial or other considerations. Indeed, college is not an easy task to be taken on, especially when one may need an extra hand when it comes to getting to and from school, or finding a job that allows them to attend school. That's where Primavera Arvizu comes in. At Bakersfield College, Arvizu is the director of three programs — Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOP&S), CalWORKs and Cooperative Agencies and Resources

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

for Education (CARE) — that all aim to make the goal of a college education a reality for students who may otherwise not see the dream come to fruition. “It’s all for the students,” Arvizu said. “What I like most about my job is, despite the stress and wearing of multiple hats on a daily basis, seeing students from the programs graduate, or have the come back and thank you – that makes everything worthwhile.” Arvizu, a former EOP&S participant and 2001 Bakersfield College graduate, found her calling after facing criticism and her own obstacles to success. “Being a pregnant teen, I was a statistic in high school,”

Arvizu said. “I was told by some professionals in high school that I wasn’t going to amount to anything and was going to become dependent on welfare and that’s was it. “But the EOP&S program provided me with a lot of opportunities and mentoring. It opened my eyes to what I really wanted to do, which was help first-generation and under-privileged students.” The extended opportunity program provides counseling, tutoring, prior registration for classes, book vouchers and other such beneficial services to under-represented, first-generation low-income students – helping ease some of the worries that less-privileged individuals face. CARE is a program specifically for single-parent families that provides child-care grants, meal vouchers, school supplies, gas cards “Having a pregand bus passes so the parent/student can succeed in school. CalWORKs nant student on employing students on come in that was focuses campus by helping fund a certain Dumpster-diving percentage of the student’s pay. After graduating from BC, for food and being Arvizu transferred to Cal State able to give them Bakersfield, where she received a bachelor’s degree in sociology food and know and a master’s in counseling with they are going to a concentration on student affairs. She then worked as the director of eat that day — it the McNair Program, a mentoring is things like this program, at CSUB before being hired at BC, where she has been for that make it all two years. “I enjoy what I do. It’s a great worthwhile …” place to be. I enjoy being here for — Primavera Arvizu the students and helping them accomplish their goals and succeed and mentoring them,” Arvizu said. “There were always mentors throughout my life,” Arvizu continued. “I believe it is crucial for individuals to have a strong support system and mentors, whether it is a colleague at school, a faculty member or a director from another program.” “Family support was always the biggest for me,” Arvizu said of her support and mentoring. “There was also a Title 5 director at CSUB who showed me what a true leader really looks like and how a leader can really be – and basically created that model for me, as well as an assistant director of EOP&S at CSUB who provided me with leadership and encouragement.” “Although I serve on multiple councils here at BC and committees and have a lot of meetings, I have an open-door policy – so students and staff can come to me at any time,” Arvizu said of her openness to those involved in the programs. “Every student has a story,” Arvizu said. “One might ride the bus to and from Tehachapi to be here, or an RN major with five children and still graduating, or a father who was accepted at Chico State. Some of our students have dealt with domestic violence and homelessness – those things occur quite frequently. “Having a pregnant student come in that was Dumpster-diving for food and being able to give them food and know they are going to eat that day – it is things like this that make it all worthwhile and it is things like this that define why you’re here.” www.BakersfieldLife.com

HISTORY

Bakersfield’s

Domenico Mungai, center with white hair, presides over Mungai’s Saloon, circa 1900. The Mint Bar, 1207 19th St., is in operation where the saloon stood.

wild Y nights From saloons to honky-tonks, city has always known how to party

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

By Jeff Nickell, Director, Kern County Museum Photos courtesy of the Kern County Museum

ou’ve all heard stories of the Old West, with rough-and-tumble saloons that sprung up seemingly overnight (especially in California’s Gold Country), but Bakersfield’s saloons and nightlife took a back seat to no one. They were being built nearly as soon as the first buildings were going up. The Discovery Well, on the banks of the Kern River just northeast of Bakersfield, caused a large migration to the area and the creation of several businesses, including many saloons. The reputation of Bakersfield after dark was that it was a “man for breakfast” kind of town, meaning that on any given day you could walk the downtown streets and see hordes of men lying on the boardwalks, streets, and alleys, left there after one too many shots of whiskey or from a drunken brawl. Accounts show

Peerless Saloon on Chester Avenue was one of Bakersfield early watering holes. that one of Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren’s early jobs was picking up some of these folks and make sure they got to work in the oil fields. This was especially the case after the workers received their paychecks, as many early oil workers were single men who came west looking for work and ended up doing their fair share of rabble-rousing. One of the most notorious outlaws in the west, Jim McKinney, used to frequent the saloons of Bakersfield as well as other establishments throughout the Central Valley. It is claimed that McKinney killed a friend after a night of drinking in Bakersfield. Later on, he was responsible for killings in Porterville before leading the authorities on a chase through much of the southwest United States. His fate was sealed April 19, 1903, when he was killed in downtown Bakersfield in a gunbattle that also took the life of Marshall Jeff Packard. Of course, there were other things that occurred in our town’s late-night hours. Bakersfield’s Chinatown and New Chinatown had “opium dens” in some of the basements, and there were also several bordellos offering the services of ladies of the night. The Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of the early 1900s record a preponderance of saloons, cathouses and the like. A clergyman once noted upon his arrival that he and his peers were sorely needed because there were more saloons than places to worship in Bakersfield. Early drinking spots in Bakersfield included Mungai’s Saloon, Pasquini & Lencioni Saloon, Peerless Saloon, Withington’s Saloon and Zimmer’s Place. The building that housed Mungai’s Saloon and another business is where the Mint Bar still operates Continued on page 20 www.BakersfieldLife.com

Continued from page 19

at 1207 19th St. If you fast-forward about 50 years, another type of bar was popularized: the honky-tonks that helped to create the Bakersfield Sound. The likes of Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Fuzzy Owen, Lewis Talley, Bonnie Owens, Red “Suitcase” Simpson, Bill Woods and a bevy of others honed their craft inside the smoke-filled nightclubs. The granddaddy of them all was The Blackboard Café on Chester Avenue, famous because so many stars and upcoming performers played there. It was also the base for Bill Woods' radio program. (You might say it was the Crystal Palace of its day, although a lot smaller and definitely rougher.) Folks have shared their stories of the fights and worse that occurred not only at the Blackboard but other places like the Lucky Spot on Edison Highway, the Barrel House at Garces Circle, and sole survivor Trout’s, which is still open just across the Kern River on North Chester, or should I say Oildale. An unnamed musician is said to have ruined his guitar over the head of a man who was dancing with his wife, and there are other stories not fit for print. These places didn’t seem any more violent

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Bill Woods and his Orange Blossom Playboys perform with Buck Owens on lead guitar at The Blackboard Cafe. than other bars of their time, but the spotlisten to good ol’ country music with some light shined brighter on them. Even today, I down-to-earth people. hear many people saying that they wouldn’t The main reason saloons, bars and go into Trout’s because it was an unsafe nightclubs have existed is so people place to be. The stigma placed on Trout’s can have a good time, let off steam, etc. kept me from going there until a few years Bakersfield has definitely had its share of ago, but the stereotype couldn’t be further nighttime excitement over the course of its from the truth. It is just an historic place to brief history.

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Bakersfield Life

May 2010

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HOME & GARDEN

Everything in its place Come up with creative, stylish solutions to home space needs

By Lisa Kimble

t is the dream within the American dream of homeownership: space, and lots of it. While maximizing it may seem challenging in the current economic climate, experts say organizing your home or office — whether it’s the closet, pantry or entertainment area — can be done with efficiency, sophistication and style. California Closets pioneered the trend in spatial design. Today, the company has expanded from the closet into the living areas of the house. Big box do-it-yourself stores have also tapped into the modular appeal of the spatial design with aisles of products to create more space and organization in the process. Local cabinet builders all agree that the first and most important step is to know what the needs of the space solution

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

are going into a project. “It comes down to why does the client want shelving in the linen closet or more pantry storage in the kitchen,” said Daniel Stewart, owner of Daniel’s Construction. The initial meetings involving the homeowner and the builders will set the framework for expectations and solutions. “The first thing I do is meet with the homeowner at their residence,” said Ronnie Jung with Frank’s Cabinet Shop. “That is where I get an idea of what you want to accomplish.” The early consultations, experts say, are also critical to making sure a client’s needs and wants mesh with the reality of what their budget will allow. “Often people will want something done cheap, but they will come in with expensive ideas,” Jung added. Materials, like the configurations of shelving and organi-

zation, will run the gamut. Knobs and handles can range from several dollars apiece to $20 or more. Much of the cost for space solutions will lie in lumber. Experts say paint grade may be less expensive, but the painting may end up costing more than it would to stain. Right now, oaks and alder will be easier on the wallet. Another potentially cost-saving consideration simply involves looking around for existing options. “We always want to look at existing space first,” Stewart said. “Anytime we can reorganize an existing space that will be the most economical. If that doesn’t work, we look to move non-bearing walls and take closets that can easily convert.” Closets, especially older ones, have long been the bane of a homeowner’s existence. The trick, experts say, whether doing it yourself or hiring a spatial designer or cabinetry builder, is to consider your needs down the road as well. “In closets, we make sure everything is adjustable, so you can move something around when your needs or styles change,” Jung said. Keeping the shelves and rods adjustable, especially in children’s rooms, will enable the new space to grow with the child’s growing wardrobe and accumulation of books and toys. When dealing with shelving, one local expert recommends utilizing pullouts. “One of the best things is pullout shelves. That helps a lot,” said Virginia Munoz with Munoz Cabinets. “Sometimes cabinets and shelving will look nice but they aren’t 100 percent useful.” And don’t overlook the corners, she says. “So often we see cabinets and shelving where the corner space was wasted. That is a big problem. Always use the corners, and try a Lazy Susan or a pullout.” A deep shelf, if it is hard to reach, can be equally inefficient, Munoz added. Experts also suggest that in seeking space solutions, don’t

forget to add your own sense of style. Warm wood stains and colors will add to the overall enjoyment of the organization station. Choosing a contractor who is creative and will put your best interests first will translate into a functional space and enjoyable experience. And don’t forget, that storage space that is so important to you now will also be as big a deal to prospective homebuyers should you decide to sell someday. “Make sure that aesthetically what you create looks like it has always been there,” Stewart said about the importance of making sure the plan is well thought out in terms of resale value. So whether it is a closet, entertainment center or office cabinet, and you plan to do it yourself or hire someone, it really is possible to, as the old adage suggests, find a place for everything and everything in its place.

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FOOD AND WINE

Sip of the

season Versatile sauvignon blanc is perfect for warm-weather dishes By Paul Ulrich, wine columnist

here are some wines that go with a particular time of year, and sauvignon blanc is a perfect wine for the spring and summer. This varietal is made in many different styles, but all share a solid backbone of acidity and freshness that are versatile with a large range of foods. It is also easy to drink on its own as an aperitif. As with some other wines, there has been some confusion when reading the label. In California, Robert Mondavi originally produced and promoted this wine as fume blanc. Some of you may remember the frosted bottle that held this wine. Fume blanc is sauvignon blanc; now most California producers label it as such, but some still call it fume blanc. Now grown around the world, sauvignon blanc was originally from France, and the French continue to make fantastic sauvi-

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

gnon blanc. It is labeled Pouilly Fume, or Sancerre, which both come from the Loire valley in northern France. It is also grown in Bordeaux, and is a component of Sauternes, a sweet after-dinner wine. There are also some excellent wines being produced in New Zealand and South Africa. While the New Zealand wines are readily available, you have to look a little harder for those imported from South Africa. Both are worth trying. One of the good points about this wine is that many producers, both foreign and domestic, have this wine priced at less than $20 per bottle. The California wines are usually easy to find at the store, but you may have to look through the imported wine shelves to pick out the sauvignon blanc from overseas. I would recommend that you try a few different bottles to find the style that suits your taste. As a rule, the wines from cooler, coastal growing areas tend to have more herbaceous, â&#x20AC;&#x153;grassyâ&#x20AC;? and citrus notes to it. Those

grown in warmer areas, such as Napa Valley, have more fruity, melon and citrus characteristics. The wine is also made in different ways around the world: Some producers ferment the wine in stainless steel and do not age it in oak. Some do the opposite and ferment in oak barrels and age the wine in oak or sur lie (on the dead yeast cells after fermentation), which adds to the complexity of the wine. When it comes to food, this wine is very versatile. It is a natural partner with seafood, can be served with dishes that contain herbs such as cilantro, rosemary, thyme, or accompany a salad with a light dressing (a perfect warm weather meal). Try this wine with several dishes; the fun is in the discovery of what pairings suit you best. I can recommend wines from New Zealand produced by Kim Crawford. For California producers, look for wines by Morgan, Ferrari-Carano, Gainey and Dry Creek. On the higher end of the price spectrum, wines made by Duckhorn, Rochioli and Araujo are also good choices. The next time you are in the wine section, go past the chardonnay and pick up a few bottles of this delightful wine. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

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D I N I N G D I VA S

Tahoe Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

The Divas, from left: Lori Ritchie, Aimee Williamson, Wendy Horack and Whitney Rector.

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

Shrimp and steak, oh my! Divas get their fill of favorites at Tahoe Joe’s Photos by Greg Nichols

Atmosphere

Aimee: When you walk into Tahoe Joe’s you instantly feel at home. The fire is lit and welcomes you into the restaurant. The staff is super friendly and truly cares about making your dining experience a great one. Kathryn, our server, was so great. She gave us recommendations and her personal favorites. This is not just what the Divas experienced, but what other customers also feel! We were approached by a nice guy named Tony (he was having lunch the same time we were). He wanted to let us know that the quality and consistency of the food and service at Tahoe Joe’s is always fantastic. That says a lot for a restaurant, when people want to share their positive experience with the people of Bakersfield! Lori: A large roaring fire in the fireplace is located by the front door and tepee chandelier lights give Tahoe Joe’s that cozy cabin ambience. The staff greeted us with friendly smiles and

Mushroom skillet

Railroad Camp Shrimp

Blackwood Canyon pasta

Lobster, off the "secret menu"

made us feel like we were special and that’s the kind of service that will keep customers coming back.

Drinks

Aimee: There are so many different drinks at Tahoe Joe’s, they need their own menu. There was not even any argument about who was going to order what … that was a first! The menu is full of signature cocktails, martinis, Mason jars specialties, margaritas, frozen creations, as well as beer and wine! There are lots of nonalcoholic drinks also. There is something for everyone! I had the wildberry lemonade … yum! It is made with raspberry, blueberry and strawberry, shaken with vodka and scratch-made lemonade. Everyone loved what they ordered. Whitney: My drink of choice was the Sierra Mary. Absolut Peppar vodka with horseradish, Worcestershire and Tabasco mixed Continued on page 28

Sierra mountain skillet

Ski jump chocolate cake www.BakersfieldLife.com

Continued from page 27

in with their own secret, healthy tomato juice. I need my daily dose of vitamins and this fit the bill. Wendy: The lemon drop martini is my usual in Tahoe Joe’s, but I decided to try something different this time and since it was a “girls night out” that’s what I ordered. Girls night out martini. It really was the perfect drink with the perfect blend of ingredients. I almost had to put Lori in a headlock over it! I think Whitney may have liked her drinks, too, because she was ordering them back to back!

Appetizers and Joe’s ‘secret’

Aimee: The appetizers are so fantastic at Tahoe Joe’s! We ordered the railroad camp shrimp, brave hearts and the mushroom skillet. As you all know, shrimp is not my favorite, but as silly as it sounds, the salad mixture that the shrimp is served on was so good! The lettuce was mixed with wontons and peanuts in a spicy garlic-soy dressing … I gave up the shrimp, but not the salad! The brave hearts were a must-have! Artichoke hearts are fried to a light crisp texture and served with a lemon garlic butter sauce. Lori and I kept them to ourselves as much as possible! Wendy: There is a “Joe’s secret menu.” Well, Joe, your secret is out because I’m telling everyone that when they go to Tahoe Joe’s they should ask about the “top secret menu”! You must try the railroad camp shrimp. Lightly battered tempura shrimp served on a bed of wonton salad with peanuts and a spicy garlic soy sauce. It’s fabulous! Now for the mushroom skillet, it is incredible! Sautéed mushrooms with garlic served on a hot skillet. I order them with my rib-eye every time Mike and I come to Tahoe Joe’s. There are several items on the secret menu: $22 lobster dinner, prime rib dip, scallops and several others. Way to go Joe!! Whitney: The railroad camp shrimp can be a meal in itself if you order the big railroad with 18 shrimp. Shrimp, wontons, peanuts, sweet and spicy garlic sauce says it all. I wish I could have tried the brave hearts, for I love the name of that appetizer, but Aimee ate them all.

Lunch

Aimee: I ordered a new item on the menu, the Sierra mountain skillet, but it is only here for a limited time! This is a great idea if you want a lot of food and want to try a variety of items. It is a 9-oz. sirloin steak that is grilled over a real almond wood fire served with blue lake green beans, hand-breaded onion strings, steak mushrooms, garlic mashers and a choice of soup or salad! The steak was perfectly cooked, and the buttery mushrooms made a fantastic toping. The green beans are super crunchy and have the perfect amount of spice. I picked the soup, because Monday is potato cheese, which is my favorite. It was very creamy and I could have eaten just that and been happy. (If you are a soup lover like me, Tahoe Joe’s is the place for you. They offer a new soup

Tahoe Joe’s Famous Steakhouse 9000 Ming Ave., 664-7750, tahoejoes.com 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday 28

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May 2010

and salad lunch feature available daily from 11 a.m. to 2 pm. Unlimited soup — a different one daily — signature salad and fresh baked sourdough rolls all for $7.99. That is a great deal for a quick lunch that tastes great!) Lori: My choice was going to be the calamari until I heard Kathryn offer the lobster, which is another item not on the menu. It was absolutely amazing. Lobster was cooked perfectly and served with melted butter. The portions were very generous, and the food came out hot and tasty. When all of our meals were delivered to the table, and since no one ordered the rib-eye, it was brought for all of us to share. They thought we needed to try it, and of course we did and loved it. Cooked perfectly, just how a steak should be. Tahoe Joe’s has won Best Steakhouse in the Central Valley for six consecutive years. Whitney: I ordered the Blackwood Canyon pasta with woodgrilled shrimp. (You can get it without meat.) It had all my favorite things in it, like mushrooms, artichoke hearts, tomatoes and basil, all in a parmesan sauce. It's so large I had to take three-quarters of it home. Along came the jumbo lump crab cakes made with all crab. No fillers in these big boys. They come with an avocado cream and mustard sauce, and I think I liked the avocado cream sauce the best! Because I do my job 100 percent, 100 percent of the time, I also had the wood-grilled chicken salad. It had baby field greens with raisins, walnuts, tomatoes and Gorgonzola cheese, all topped with a mound of shredded chicken. Tahoe Joe’s uses a light champagne vinaigrette dressing that I loved on it. Wendy: I ordered the blackened halibut special. It was excellent! (On a normal evening I would have ordered Joe’s famous rib-eye, but I was trying to get over my “bad belly” illness.) The rib-eye is always great! Seasoned and cooked just how I like it! And never with ketchup, Whitney! Whitney does the unthinkable … she puts ketchup on her steak! No worries, she isn’t allowed to order steak with us!

Dessert

Aimee: We had the ski jump chocolate cake and the Nevada cheesecake. Oh my God, they were to die for. The cake is about the size of a quarter of a six-layered cake. We ate it until we could do no more, and didn’t even put a dent in it. This is a must-have if you are having lunch or dinner with the kids. It not only tastes great, but it is fun too! It comes with a small plastic skier making his way down the “white mountain” of fresh whipped cream. We also dug into the cheesecake … well we tried. Lori spilled the chocolate sauce all over the table, and then Wendy was scooping up any leftover sauce off the plate. Once we took care of the mess, we had the cheesecake with fresh strawberries and chocolate sauce drizzled over the top. It was so filling Lori had to lay her seat down in the car on the ride home, because she was so full and happy! Lori: Thank goodness there were only two desserts. Aimee and I kind of took over the chocolate cake and we both decided that was our favorite, and Wendy and Whitney liked the cheesecake. OK, now I’m over-the-top full. Wendy: No “single” person could eat a dessert alone. They are huge! And not only was the chocolate cake hilarious, it was so good! I think Lori ate most of it! I could hardly get a bite of the cheesecake. Aimee and Whitney weren’t sharing. I think we may have to go back to rock, paper, scissors!

Photo by Dan Ocampo

PA S T I M E S

Club swimmers practice at the Bakersfield College pool.

In the swim of things No matter your age or skill level, there is a local swim club for you

By Jennifer Bachman

wimming is a popular activity among the people of Bakersfield. While some swim for leisure and to cool down in the burning summer, others take swimming to a different level. For those interested in swimming with purpose, there are local clubs that all hold to the same philosophy: promote fitness and health while having

fun. You may think that swim programs would be mainly composed of young children learning how to swim or wanting to prep for high school competition, but this is far from true. Most swim clubs range in ages from infants to adults, welcoming anyone who wants to participate. One such group is the Bakersfield Swim Club, which, dating back to 1972, is the oldest swim club in town. Its philosophy is “From infants to Olympians.” Operating as a nonprofit swim organization in town, the teams are divided up into different groups based on skill level and commitment. There are monthly dues for each group, varying depending on age and skill level.

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May 2010

Keith Moore, the club’s head coach and manager, has been coaching for 26 years. He says his favorite part is interacting with the participants and the ability to connect with an athlete as he guides them to achieve their goals. “It is the greatest sport in the world, and you stay clean,” said Moore. To join this group a tryout must be arranged by either calling the main office or visiting the Web site at bakersfieldswimclub.org. The monthly fee for the club starts at $50 a month for beginners and goes up from there. Gold Wave Masters, coached by Rafael Guijarro, is another swim club in town. This group has the early advantage: They practice from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday at Cal State Bakersfield. “All you have to do to join my club is to show up with a towel and goggles at 5:30 a.m. and be able to swim at least one lap,” explained Guijarro. Guijarro has been coaching the team for six years, and he says

his favorite part is seeing people better themselves and have a good time. Practices are early in the morning and consist of drills, long-, middle- and short-distance training. Unlike Bakersfield Swim Club, members must be 18 years or older to join the Gold Wave Masters. A team focused on improving swimmers’ skills is the Bakersfield Aquatics Club. This program, which swims at Bakersfield College, provides opportunities for Bakersfield area youth to improve their swimming skills and achieve success at every level of swimming, novice, elementary, high school and college. Tina Cummings, the aquatics director and full-time faculty member at BC, has been teaching aquatics for 30 years. “I love being able to provide healthy fitness offerings for everyone. Our programs work together to serve the needs of the college and the community,” explained Cummings. Charlie Pike, the head coach of the Bakersfield Aquatics Club, has been coaching for 25 years. “Watching the kids grow and improve in and out of the water is my favorite part about coaching. Swimming takes a lot of dedication and the skills they learn during practice carry over to their lives outside of the pool,” said Pike. The club’s monthly fees range from $50 to $80, with a family maximum of $150 a month, so the whole family can swim together four to five times a week. Bakersfield Aquatics Club works with Central California Swimming and USA Swimming to offer reduced rates and fees for families in need. “It is the best Bakersfield has to offer. There is something for everyone. We really strive to meet the needs of the community and to provide a healthy, safe environment for children and families to

enjoy the sport of swimming,” said Cummings. Anyone that wants to join the Bakersfield Aquatics Club can either go to bakersfieldaquatics.org or just simply show up at the BC pool from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. “With the closure of Siemen Park this summer, we are going to expand our offerings to try and support the needs of the community that surrounds Bakersfield College and the east side of town. Our goal is to make sure that every child who wants to swim this summer has the opportunity to do so,” explained Cummings. Swim clubs are a great way to stay in shape, stay cool, and stay healthy. For those that have Olympic ambitions to those simply looking to improve health and prosperity, there is a club that fits every lifestyle.

A Nurse’s Prayer Let me dedicate my life today to the care of those who come my way. Let me touch each one with healing hand & gentle care for which I stand. And then tonight when day is done let me rest in peace, if I have helped just one. We think NURSES are special, especially OURS! 847-7342 395-1700 4801 Truxtun Ave.

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O N T H E R E D C O U C H

Making ‘Magic’ These women know how to support a good cause. They are part of the planning committee for the fundraiser Mikella’s Magical Evening, held in memory of Mikella McAuley, who died of leukemia in 2001 at the age of 6.

Debbie Wilson How did you get involved with Mikella’s Magical Evening? Susan: I actually got involved with Mikella’s Magical Evening when Pam (Hornbuckle) came in to speak with me on a possible location for the event. I remembered when they had Mikella’s bone marrow drive and was amazed with the response from the community. I knew I wanted to get involved with something that would benefit so many people and carry on Mikella’s name. Pam: When I worked at Houchin Community Blood Bank, Christa McAuley (Mikella’s mother) came to me and asked if I would help her with a fundraiser to keep Mikella’s memory alive. The first Mikella’s Magical Evening was in 2005 with proceeds going to Houchin Community Blood Bank to help with the cost of bone marrow testing. Tami: I met Mikella in 2001, when I did a story on her. I was struck by her parents' wish to not only help their daughter, but other sick children as well. After Mikella passed, Christa asked if I would help with a fundraiser for children with cancer, and, of course, I said “yes.” Debbie: After helping to coordinate the bone marrow drives for Mikella, Christa asked me if I would like to participate. It is such a wonderful way to keep Mikella's spirit alive, while helping others who continue to struggle with disease.

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

Tami Mlcoch

Photos by Felix Adamo

Susan Greer

What element makes the event “magical”? Susan: I can feel Mikella watching over … smiling and seeing that she made a difference.

Pam Hornbuckle

Pam: The wonderful committee — Renee Pair, Brenda Brown, Jan Glinn, Becki Pruitt, Christa McAuley, Susan Greer, Tami Mlcoch, Debbie Wilson — and our community. Without their dedication and hard work, there would be no Mikella's Magical Evening. Tami: I would have to say Mikella. Even though she’s not here, you can't help but feel her spirit. She was such an amazing little girl, who touched my heart and continues to help so many people. Debbie: The smiling eyes of a child. Although Mikella is no longer with us, banners with her smiling face grace the evening. Continued on page 34

www.BakersfieldLife.com

Continued from page 33

Name one of your favorite items included in past or current raffles and/or the live auction part of the evening: Susan: In the past, we did a silent auction along with the live auction, but we changed it last year to a raffle — it gives you a better chance to win something. Pam: My favorite item is a live auction item for the evening. It is a framed piece of artwork that was created by Mikella. A big hit.

with quite a few baggies of malted milk balls!

Debbie: Susan does such a tremendous job of picking out the candy, that one is tough! I think it would be a tie between the mint malted milk balls or the mocha almonds, yum …

Why do you think our community always steps up — tough economy or not — to help good causes?

Tami: Last year, one of the live auction items was a kid's birthday party at a Bakersfield fire station. Someone bid on the party, then donated it to a young boy with cancer. It was very touching.

Susan: Even though Bakersfield has grown so much, it still has that small-town feeling. It always seems whoever you are talking about, you know them, or know someone who knows them.

Debbie: Each year, Mikella's parents — Mike and Christa — donate one of her original drawings or paintings. That piece of artwork is always my favorite item of the night!

Pam: We have a community that cares about people and steps forward when there is a need. I call it, “The Community with a Big Heart.”

The tempting “Candy Bar” featured at the event is always well received — what is the one treat there you just can’t resist? Susan: Since I’ve been put in charge of this part of the event, I get to order all of my favorites, not a good thing for the hips. The mint malted milk balls are unanimously the favorite candy of the committee. Pam: Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, and the mint malted milk balls. Tami: Just one? That's tough, but I do remember leaving there

Tami Mlcoch 34

Bakersfield Life

Susan Greer May 2010

Mikella’s Magical Evening The event is May 14 at Stockdale Country Club. No-host cocktails begin at 6, with dinner at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person; $750 for a table of eight. For more information and tickets, call 616-8810.

Tami: I think people empathize with others who are struggling, so they want to help in any way they can. Through this event, parents who can't afford to take their kids to L.A. for treatment can get a free ride.

Debbie: Because it's Bakersfield! We walk the walk and talk the talk, supporting each other when needed. We live like one big, extended family, pulling together in the fun times as well as the tough times.

Debbie Wilson

Pam Hornbuckle

Heart Gallery A Gallery of Hope

Photo by Greg Iger

Photo by Misty Dameron

Photo by Studio G

Photo by Amanda Frank

Please Join Us!

FourthAnnual Heart Gallery Gala

Photo by Anita Matejka

Photo by Henry Barrios

A Gallery of Hope

4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served

KERN PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Business ��Human Services �� Community

Photo by Amanda Frank

Photo by Maribeth Heasley

Barber Honda Showroom 4500 Wible Rd Bakersfield, CA 93313

Exhibit Open May 25th through June 30th, 2010

Photo by Leila Page-Goslin

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Photo Heart Gallery Event

Photo by Chelle Haney

You are invited to celebrate a heartfelt, photographic exhibit featuring the faces and stories of Kern County’s foster children seeking “forever families.”

For more information call Jana Slagle, Heart Gallery Coordinator (661) 633-7393 For more information on Adoption call (661) 631-6006 www.heartgallerykc.org

Babylynn Castillo 36

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

Heartbeat

of health care We pay tribute to local nurses bringing expert care to the community Photos by Jessica Frey Nursing is an art ... it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter's or sculptor's work; for what is the having to do with dead canvas or dead marble, compared with having to do with the living body, the temple of God's spirit? It is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said, the finest of Fine Arts. — Florence Nightingale Many of us have come across a nurse who has touched our lives, and it is through their dedication, compassion and care that these nurses excel at their craft. As part of a salute to such an honorable profession, Bakersfield Life reached out to local hospitals and asked them to share with us some of their finest nurses. It was a tough selection as there are many to highlight, but we have found a few who represent the essence of nursing excellence. While their paths may vary, one thing is clear: Their love and caring of patients is utmost. The following is a snapshot of their philosophy on nursing and life.

Babylynn Castillo Nurse at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Did you always want to be a nurse? I thought I wanted to be an interior designer or teacher... then as a senior in high school, I had two extra hours in the afternoon, so I wanted an “easy class” and I signed up for an ROP class and volunteered at the local hospital in Ridgecrest. That’s where I first came in contact with patient care. There was a nursing assistant, Regina Lewis, and she took me under her wing. She showed so much compassion to the patients and joy for her job that she made me want to be at the hospital all the time. It was then that I knew that I wanted to become a nurse. Regina did not have the most glamorous job, but she enjoyed what she was doing and that made me want to go into the nursing field. How long have you been in the field? How long with Bakersfield Memorial Hospital? I got my RN license in 1992 and graduated from CSUB in 1993. Prior to obtaining my RN license, I was a nurse extern at Memorial Hospital, I believe that was for a summer. In June, it will be 18 years that I have been an RN and all those years have been with Memorial Hospital.

What are the attributes of a great nurse? I believe the ideal attributes in an RN include being well-prepared, having up-to-date professional knowledge and technical competence, ability to work well and communicate well in a variety of situations and with different persons, ability to problem solve quickly and pay excellent attention to detail. Be humorous. You have to be able to laugh at yourself and with your co-workers. Nursing is a stressful job and you must be able to laugh at yourself and at life, otherwise, you burn out. In addition, a great nurse must be able to motivate others, show empathy and compassion, and enjoy his/her job. Patients can pick up on the feeling that “you don’t like your job” and I believe that can cause negative feedback, not just on the nurse, but on the entire hospitalization. What do you love about serving this community? I love this community because the people that live in Bakersfield are very giving and care for their neighbors. You hear about young children being stricken with cancer and their families having fundraisers for these children, and it no longer surprises me when so many people come out to participate in these Continued on page 38 www.BakersfieldLife.com

Arthur Chiapa-Cook

Continued from page 37

fundraisers. Another example is providing for the less fortunate by having food drives or coat drives during the wintertime. How many other people can say that about their city? When I was told I was going to be interviewed for this special issue, I actually felt very fortunate and proud. I could not have done it without the great people that I work with at Memorial Hospital, some of whom have known me since I was a student nurse. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to say their names, but these people know that I consider them to be my second family and they have helped me to become the nurse I am today ... I love them all and I thank them for all they do!

Arthur Chiapa-Cook Nurse manager for Medical-Surgical and Intensive Care Unit, Good Samaritan Hospital Did you always want to be a nurse? During the last semester of high school, I had a wish to be able to take care of others. I decided that I wanted to be a nurse. This was interesting because there have never been any nurses in our family, and this was not an open field for males. I graduated from high school on a Thursday night and started taking courses for nursing the following Monday. How long have you been in the field? How long with Good Samaritan? I have been a nurse for the past 42 years. I have had many wonder38

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

RaeAnn Schmunk

ful experiences and opportunities to meet many people. I have always had a passion for helping patients and their families. I have been working at Good Samaritan Hospital for the past two and a half years. What are the attributes of a great nurse? The person must be compassionate and willing to look for opportunities to serve those in need. Be able to leave at the end of your shift knowing that you have provided the best personalized care possible. Nursing is much more than passing pills and doing treatments. It is being able to take care of the patient and those who must care for them when they are discharged. Be able to provide the spiritual needs of those who come into your life. What do you love about serving this community? The people who I am privileged to serve in this community are a blessing to me. I am given an opportunity to give and support them. Many of the patients who come to Good Samaritan Hospital cross my path outside of the hospital. Once a month, my spouse and I do a lunch feeding for 100 people who are homeless. We go into the campsites and serve them a sack lunch. I am also very active in my church, where I am a deacon.

RaeAnn Schmunk Nurse at Mercy Southwest Did you always want to be a nurse? My mother told me at a young age that I should become a nurse. My grandmother was a nurse and so was my aunt. I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t com-

pletely sure it was the right choice for me until I was accepted into the RN program at Bakersfield College. Everything just seemed to fall into place, and all of a sudden, school wasn’t “school” anymore. It was fun, new, and exciting. It was absolutely my calling. How long have you been in the field? How long with Mercy Southwest? I have just completed my 10th year as a registered nurse in labor and delivery. The last six years I have been lucky enough to call the Family Birth Center my home. What are the attributes of a great nurse? A great nurse is the nurse who puts their whole heart into what they do. They are caring, compassionate, nonjudgmental, and they work with integrity and honesty. Great nurses know they are part of a team working for the greater good of the patient. What do you love about serving this community? I have practiced nursing outside of Bakersfield. I came back because I love that the people of Bakersfield have such good hearts. This is a very caring and giving community that welcomes diversity in background and culture. I have had the chance to work with well-respected physicians, care for immigrant fieldworkers, educate schoolteachers, and bathe babies. I was raised here. My children are being raised here. Helping new mothers is a chance to improve lives. I believe that there is no greater gift than to offer a healing touch, a calming word, or some peace of mind. If you have ever been a patient of mine, please know that it truly was my honor to take care of you. Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your special moment.

Judy Watkins Retired from Bakersfield Family Medical Center in

Judy Watkins January Did you always want to be a nurse? I have always wanted to be a nurse. My mother said that I played with my “nurse kit” from age 2 on, utilizing my sisters and

Thinking about staying where you are? Think about what you’re missing.

Continued on page 40

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with the community at large, through health seminars; director of first aid at the Borton, Petrini Bakersfield Business Conference; director of the first Bakersfield Senior Expo, hosting 5,000 seniors; and creating a “Members Only Club” for BFMC seniors to further their education regarding medical advancements, and an opportunity for social connection. As a nurse, one has opportunities to teach, and that has been a definite love of mine. I taught medical assisting at San Joaquin Valley College. I also enjoyed instructing students at the University of Phoenix. In addition, I served as associate instructor for the UCLA nurse practioner program. Bakersfield is a giving community; it has been an honor to give a little back. In addition to nursing, I have had the opportunity to serve in various capacities at Laurelglen Bible Church: weekly home Bible studies, Sunday School leadership, and parish nurse. I have served on the advisory boards of CSUB and Bakersfield College nursing departments, San Joaquin Valley College and Bakersfield Business College. I have served on the board of directors of the Bakersfield Pregnancy Center, Californian Office Plaza, the Arthritis Association Adaptive Aquatics Center and the American Cancer Society. In 2009, I was honored to serve as the chairwoman of the “Go Red for Women” for the American Heart Association.

Lucile Zarate, HSN I

Lucile Zarate and Jeff Rockholt Continued from page 39

neighbors as patients. I have felt a calling from God into this noble profession. How long were you in the field? How long were you with Bakersfield Family Medical Center? I have served in numerous capacities as an RN for 43 years. The majority of the time has been in supervision/leadership positions. I was at Bakersfield Family Medical Center for 21years. I served at BFMC in numerous capacities — director of nursing; client services representative; assistant administrator; director of marketing; senior vice president of patient relations; and finally, at retirement, senior vice president of business development. What are the attributes of a great nurse? The attributes of a nurse are empathy for others, kindness, caring, gentleness and a deep love for people. I also would include stability, calm in the face of emergent situations and a hunger to learn more about medicine and medical issues. A nurse needs to anticipate the needs of the patient and the physician team. What have you loved about serving this community? Other than nursing, are there other ways you serve the community? I have loved nursing because it has fulfilled my deepest desires to help my fellow man. As a Christian, I firmly believe that “in as much as I am doing for those in need, I am doing for the God I love.” I am blessed with the ability to work well with a diverse group of people; my supervisors, colleagues, support staff and the community at large. Working in Bakersfield has been a great joy with much satisfaction. I have had the privilege of working with many senior adults in our community and have learned to appreciate their wisdom and sense of responsibility. In addition, I have been honored to work 40

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

Emergency Services, Kern Medical Center Did you always want to be a nurse? I wanted to be in the medical field since childhood, but in my country (Mexico), it was difficult to go to a college or university. I chose to finish nursing school first, and I love my profession. I have gained so much as an individual and it’s given me the opportunity to be a better person. How long have you been in the field? How long with Kern Medical Center? I’ve been a nurse for 36 years, and I’ve been part of KMC family for 12 years. What are the attributes of a great nurse? Everything: caring, compassion, dedication, knowledge, quality care and be ethical. What do you love about serving this community? My mission is to help make it healthier, safer and better. When I'm giving classes to the community, regardless of the topic, I have found that the people of Kern County are great listeners and want to be part of this effort. It makes me happy to see such enthusiasm.

Jeff Rockholt Nurse at Kern Medical Center Did you always want to be a nurse? As a young man, I never considered nursing as a career until after I graduated from Cal State Bakersfield in 1983 and some other career options did not work out. I was probably inspired most by my grandfather, Jim Cartwright, who had retired from heavy construction and then became a licensed vocational nurse and worked at the intensive care unit at Memorial Hospital until he retired again. How long have you been in the field? How long with Kern Medical Center? I graduated from the nursing program at Bakersfield College in 1986 and began working at Kern Medical Center a few weeks after graduation. I have been privileged to work in the medical surgical, intensive care unit, emergency department, and now the operating room. I worked for eight years with the Department of Corrections Continued on page 42

Debbie Hankins RN, BSN, MAOM

Administration - Leadership Award

Faye Bergeron RN, CNOR

Cath Lab- Education Award

Kelley Beglin - ICU RN, CCRN, BSN

Sheila McNally- ICU RN, BSN, CCRN Lifetime Achievement Award

Patient Care Award

Celebrating 100 Years of Inspired Nursing National Nurses Week May 6-12, 2010

For 100 years, San Joaquin Community Hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nurses have cared for our community and patients with expert skill, dedicated service and overwhelming compassion. Each year, a select group of SJCH nurses are nominated by their colleagues for exceptional performance in specific areas of nursing such as education, leadership and patient care. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nominees have gone above and beyond the demands of the daily routine and exemplified what being a nurse really means.

In honor of National Nurses Week and to commemorate our 100th Anniversary, SJCH wishes to honor all of our nurses: from the pioneers who built our hospital to the caregivers of today. Thank you for all you do, and for inspiring us to lead every day.

www.sjch.us 661-395-3000

Continued from page 40

and Rehabilitation and found this to be an interesting challenge. I have been in the operating room for two years now and will soon be taking a national certification exam in this specialty. What are the attributes of a great nurse? I believe all great nurses have a strong work ethic, are constantly willing to learn and challenge themselves and put the needs of their patients first when on duty. A great nurse can think critically and interpret data accurately. As I have matured professionally I have learned that really listening and "being in the moment" with the patient is as important as all of the technical things we do. In a time when increased efficiency is demanded in health care, this is a great challenge. What do you love about serving this community? I love working with the patients and staff at Kern Medical Center because of the true cross section of our community that we see there. I have an opportunity to serve the affluent and the homeless. Working with university professors and medical residents in an environment where constant learning is expected and encouraged, there is not a day I do not learn something new.

Synda Plain Nurse at Bakersfield Heart Hospital Did you always want to be a nurse? No, I just knew I wanted to be in the health field and to help people. When I graduated with an interdisciplinary major from George Fox College as biology/ health major, I thought I would actually pursue a teaching position. But after exploring several Continued on page 44

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

Synda Plain

Y O U

S H O W E D

M E

H O W

M U C H

M A T T E R

The dedicated nurses at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital treat every patient with kindness, compassion and dignity They inspire us and make us proud to be on their healthcare team T H A N K Y O U F O R A L L T H AT Y O U D O

www.bakersfieldmemorial.org www.facebook.com/bakersfieldmemorial

Continued from page 42

options, nursing was a natural choice. So, I continued to ADN program at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash. How long have you been in the field? How long with Bakersfield Heart Hospital? Twenty-five years. I graduated in 1985 and was hired for ICU in Bakersfield. I worked 14 years in critical care during that time, achieving a bachelor’s in nursing at Cal State Bakersfield, a CCRN (critical care certificate) and ACLS instructor (advanced cardiac life saving). I started at the Bakersfield Heart Hospital when it opened in 1999, so I have been working at this facility for almost 11 years. I love working here. Bakersfield Heart Hospital has a close-knit family atmosphere. Everyone knows one another and they are very supportive. What are the attributes of a great nurse? What I think what makes a good nurse is patience, conscientiousness and a love for people. Some of the best new nurses I have precepted have been those who have worked in service-oriented fields as they supported themselves through school. They have been known to have good organizational skills and are very detail-oriented. The nurse has to be flexible and always ready to learn something new. What do you love about serving this community? I love the people I work with. My colleagues are the best at what they do. My experience in serving the Bakersfield community has been wonderful. I have met so many warm and friendly people. Kern County has a tradition of coming together to help people. I have encountered such a variety of great people in Bakersfield.

Kelley Beglin Nurse at San Joaquin Hospital Did you always want to be a nurse? I wanted to go into the sciences because I fell in love with biology so I was directed by my high school counselor and my mom to go into nursing. How long have you been in the field? How long with San Joaquin Hospital? I started volunteering in 1977 as a hospital volunteer and I did that for six months. That summer, I trained as a certified nurse's aide, and then I got a job as a convalescent hospital and worked there as a nurse aide throughout high school and nursing school. I graduated in 1982 at 20 years old. I took night classes while I was in high school that were prerequisite. I fell in love with it when I worked as a nurse’s aide at convalescent hospital. They’ve become like family. I’m still in correspondence with one of my patients. She and I still write letters to each other. I was hired at San Joaquin Hospital in 1983 in the intensive care unit. I’ve also worked in different areas of nursing, shift leading and I teach nursing classes at Cal State and I do some critical care classes at the hospital. It’s fun because I work now with a lot of my students and co-workers. That’s exciting. What are the attributes of a great nurse? You’re compassionate and you care for people. You always have to have an innate sense of curiosity so you can determine how to help your patients. You stand up for your patients at all times. They are No. 1 as far as your focus of care goes. You

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Bakersfield Life

May 2010

should have a good sense of humor. Also you have to have a certain amount of ability to work as a team because you are not an island as a nurse. You become very close with others … the respiratory therapists, pharmacy technicians, care partners, nurse’s aide and families. And you have to have the ability to multitask. Good listening skills, too. That’s a lot of care for our patients. What do you love about serving this community? Bakersfield is a big town but it’s a small town. It’s like six degrees of separations. Eventually you’re gonna know somebody that your patient knows. You do make an impact with whomever you touch. Just your act of kindness will move on to another person. Who knows, they may help and save someone else’s life. What you might think is a simple task will make an impact in greater ways. It’s great to see some patients get better. That’s the best part of the job: to see them walking out the door. Plus knowing you’ve been able to support a family through difficult time. Bakersfield is very friendly and gracious community. Plus I give credit to my family: my husband, Philip, public defender for Kern County, for always having a hot cup of coffee cup ready for me for whatever shift I work, and my daughters, Katie, a student at Cal Poly SLO, and Bonnie, a junior at Ridgeview High School. Continued on page 46

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Mary Jane Macusi

Peggy (Margaret) Kasinger, RNP

Continued from page 45

Mary Jane Macusi Medical surgical unit, Mercy Hospital Did you always want to be a nurse? At first I wanted to be in psychology. My mom's ambition was to be a nurse. She wasn't able to take nursing after all, so she encouraged me to go into nursing school. That’s where I met a lot of my best friends, many whom I stay in touch with today. How long have you been in the field? How long with Mercy Hospital? I’ve been in the nursing field since I graduated in 1990 from a school in the Philippines. I worked at the Children’s Hospital in the Philippines. I went to Saudi Arabia for another five years and then I came here. I started at St. Joseph’s in Chicago. I arrived at Mercy Hospital on April 23, 2007. What are the attributes of a great nurse? It's the value of caring and the learning of caring. It's being able to help people on such a personal level in an important time in their lives — when they are really sick. Your mission is to ensure the same value of care to any patient regardless of their economic status. What do you love about serving this community? I love being to help patients and take care of them. There's been a lot of special patients who have impacted me. Chemo patients are very special to me. It's a rewarding feeling to see them get their life back. They'll even come back and see us in the hospital. 46

Bakersfield Life

Peggy Kasinger

May 2010

Nephrology department, Kaiser Permanente Did you always want to be a nurse? The idea of becoming a nurse actually came as advice from my father just before he left my mom with four children. I was 14. I took care of my younger siblings, so I was already a caregiver. My dad had told me, “Keep going to school and pick a career that will last so you can always take care of yourself, like a teacher or a nurse.” I liked the idea of nursing, because, even then, I liked caring for other people. I loved nursing from the first moment I stepped on the hospital floor. How long have you been in the field? How long with Kaiser Permanente? If you count the first three years of nursing school, I have been in the field for 45 years. I attended L.A. County USC Medical Center. They put us immediately on the floor. They depended on student nurses to take care of patients. It was excellent team nursing. I have been with Kaiser 22 years. What are the attributes of a great nurse? Caring, caring, caring. Treating patients (and actually everyone I know or meet) as if they were your own family. Age and experience have given me the innate ability to empathize. What do you love about serving this community? People are open and friendly. I have taken care of at least two generations of some families. I see them when I am out and about. The staff and physicians at Kaiser are very supportive.

Citizen

Photo by Felix Adamo

hero

Red Cross honors residents for selfless acts, saving lives

By Dana Martin

hey may not wear capes, but they are heroes, nonetheless. Some go to work each day knowing they may save a life or defend their nation while others are ordinary folks who feel compelled to answer an innate calling to protect their fellow man. For Kern County’s Real Heroes for 2010, the American Red Cross Kern Chapter selected the following 12 people from nearly 90 nominations — a number sure to represent an even larger contingent of neighbors willing to jump any hurdle, take anyone to task, or risk their own life to save or protect the innocent. Bakersfield Life salutes these 12 selfless heroes and their families.

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

Outstanding adult role model Carla Pearson If it’s true that every 15 minutes someone loses a life to a drunken driver, then every hour, four families must suffer in the way that Carla Pearson’s family did when her stepson, Adam Pierce, was killed in a car crash caused by a repeat DUI offender. Pearson could have withdrawn from society; no one would have blamed her. She could have honored Pierce’s memory in private and concentrated

Kern County's Real Heroes for 2010, from left: front row, Kim Brown, Lisa Kane, Candy Mason (mother of Army Reserve Maj. Jason E. George), Wounded Heroes Fund Executive Director Wendy Porter and Carla Pearson; back row, BPD Officer Isaac Aleman, Lucian Whitman, Scott Smith, BPD Officer Aaron Stringer, Dr. Vipul Dev, Clyde George (father of Maj. George) and Martin Barrios III. on piecing together her grieving family. Instead, Pearson became a road vigilante, of sorts, on a mission to take DUI offenders off the streets. On weekends, Pearson stands beside uniformed police officers at DUI checkpoints and distributes pamphlets on the consequences of driving drunk, and she co-authored the California Vehicle Code known as “Adam’s Law” that warns convicted DUI offenders that if they drink and drive and someone dies, they can be charged with murder.

Outstanding youth role model Martin Daniel Barrios III To save a person’s life requires a certain amount of luck, bravery and being in the right place at the right time. Some people go into the business of saving lives; others make thoughtful acts of charitable donations. But, for some, it happens quite unexpectedly and without time for deliberation. Highland High School student Martin Daniel Barrios III would know. In September, Barrios risked his life to pull three young children from inside a burning house on his street. As the roof threatened to collapse, Barrios barged into the smoky structure and called out to learn if anyone was inside. Hearing cries, he opened a bedroom door and found three terrified children. Like a football player rushing for a touchdown, Barrios lifted a child beneath each arm and instructed the third to follow as they broke for outdoors. Everyone survived — thanks to a teenage superhero.

Outstanding volunteer group Wounded Heroes Fund The Wounded Heroes Fund is a local organization established to help returning wounded veterans (and their families) obtain services, necessities and other forms of assistance. The fund’s challenge is to locate veterans wounded in the current conflict — and with more than 40,000 casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan, their job is a big one. The idea for the group grew at a dinner party, where friends agreed there was an unfilled need for an agency that would close gaps in government services for local veterans wounded in current military actions. The fund helps with financial needs but also matches wounded warriors with doctors or psychologists specializing in their physical or emotional conditions. An all-volunteer, nonprofit organization, the Wounded Heroes Fund has become an ironclad local supporter of military heroes, providing direct assistance to the wounded soldiers and their families, taking care of transportation costs, lodging, home modification to accommodate injuries, and job training.

Educator Lisa Kane At Lighthouse Christian Center, the students — and the teachers — are special. Lighthouse Christian Center is an established

private school that provides children with a holistic education by structuring programs around their individual learning preferences. Lisa Kane (and Kim Brown) provide daily support, encouragement and love to the children who perhaps would struggle to find such a tailored learning atmosphere in a traditional school setting. Kane helps students with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, learning deficiency and ADHD reach unimaginable potential. As a Lighthouse instructor, Kane sees pupils blossom as their self-esteem increases. Kane and Brown motivate the students through social enrichment programs, and the students motivate each other. Kane is the director of an after-school program, and “Coach Kim” is the dance teacher, who brings joy to children with Down syndrome and autism. For the students (and their parents), these women are heroes.

Firefighter Engineer Scott Smith It was Halloween, but when Bakersfield Fire Department engineer and paramedic Scott Smith responded to a call last October and found a tree trimmer dangling helplessly from a palm tree, he knew it wasn’t a trick. Smith’s first priority was to scale a ladder and assess the trimmer’s vital signs, but when the man, who was bent backwards at a nearly 90-degree angle and barely breathing, began slipping from his 70-foot perch, Smith did what next came instinctively: He grabbed him. With the weight of the weary trimmer in just his two hands and unprotected by a harness himself, Smith held tightly for 10 minutes until another ladder truck could arrive to assist with the rescue. Smith, who has been a firefighter just eight years, wasn’t about to let the man fall, and his heroic (and almost supernatural) efforts to save the trimmer’s life make him a Real Hero for 2010.

Law enforcement Officers Aaron Stringer and Isaac Aleman It doesn’t take a lifetime or even a full career to be a hero. In fact, sometimes the opportunity to save a life presents itself unexpectedly soon, as it did for Bakersfield Police Officers Aaron Stringer and Isaac Aleman. Between them, they have just seven years of service — five for Stringer and two for Aleman — and already both have received the department’s Medal of Valor award for their actions on the night of Sept. 20, 2009, that led to the Stringer apprehension of three suspected robbers of Continued on page 50 www.BakersfieldLife.com

Continued from page 49

a 7-Eleven store. Arriving minutes after receiving a call about suspicious activity, Stringer and Aleman surprised the suspects and gunfire erupted, Aleman one round hitting Aleman in the leg. Thanks to quick thinking by both officers, though, the suspects were apprehended without injury to customers. Aleman credits his training for his reactions and says the incident won’t stop him from doing his job.

Medical professional Dr. Vipul R. Dev It takes nearly 12 years of college and residency to become a plastic reconstructive surgeon. Who could begrudge doctors their income after spending more than a decade attached to textbooks, test tubes and scalpels? Well, Lee Lyle certainly doesn’t, but gratefulness for saving his life couldn’t pay the bill when he found himself without medical insurance after a motorcycle accident left him with a brain injury in 2008. That’s when Dr. Vipul Dev donated his services to ensure the completion of Lyle’s surgery. Lyle’s initial doctors had removed a portion of his skull (to allow for brain swelling) and placed the bone in his stomach for safekeeping. Dr. Dev successfully retrieved the skull section from Lyle’s stomach and replaced it free of charge, giving this patient in need the opportunity to begin life again. Lyle explains, “He gave me back my life, and I’m sure he’s done it for many others.”

Heroic act Lucian Whitman It was Fourth of July weekend last year, and the Kern River teemed with happy outdoor enthusiasts enjoying a beautiful day in 50

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

Kernville. Lucian Whitman had seen it before from his shop, River Toyz: Holiday revelers, weekenders and others flock to the river to escape the heat. For those unprepared for the strength of Kern River, the current is dangerous (or deadly), so when Whitman heard a woman screaming, he knew he needed to act. Running to the edge, he saw Margie Farmer, who was wearing a life vest but was struggling to free her foot that had lodged itself between rocks or rebar beneath the surface. Despite help, she could not free her shoe. Whitman, without a thought to his own safety, threw on a life vest and dove beneath the surface, angling himself in Farmer’s path. With one welltimed shove, Whitman tackled Farmer’s legs and her foot became free.

Military Larry Ybanez Before there was the Wounded Heroes Fund, there was Larry Ybanez. Ybanez, who served with the 82nd Airborne Rangers Special Forces and the 101st Airborne units in Korea, has selflessly dedicated his life to improving the lives of fellow veterans for 52 years. Two Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars and a Silver Star to his credit, Ybanez doesn’t ask for any pomp and circumstance in his honor. Instead, like other military professionals, he’s a quiet hero going about the business of heroism in the same way other professionals wake up, make coffee, and go to work for a living; but in Ybanez’s case, his selfless service is to others. Ybanez has been transporting veterans to doctor appointments at the VA hospital in West Los Angeles for the last 30 years and has logged 15,365 hours and 288,685 miles. Ybanez is also responsible for helping countless veterans receive the benefits they’ve earned for their service.

Fallen heroes Army Sgt. Joshua Soto A soldier who serves one tour — or one day for that matter — during war is a hero. If he should return for a second tour, perhaps he’s decided to make a career of the military. However, when that solider returns to combat for a third tour of duty in a war zone, you get the feeling that he is doing exactly what he wants to do. That’s what the family of Joshua Soto says about the man who was killed by a roadside bomb on June 16, 2009. He loved life. He was one of two children, both military men, and he loved to pull pranks and make people laugh. Soto was born and raised in Bakersfield and was a man who treasured time with his family and newborn baby. The army sergeant, an infantryman by choice, earned two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal.

Army Reserve Maj. Jason E. George Jason George was accomplished at just about everything he did, whether it was boxing (he was undefeated at West Point) or football (he kicked the winning field goal during a Desert Inyo League Championship game), or pursuing his career and education with tenacity. He was a student at Cal State Bakersfield, had already served the Army for eight years, then earned his MBA before enlisting in the Army Reserves. At 38, he’d lived more life than many people do over the course of 70 long years. Last May, Maj. George was on foot patrol in Iraq with two other soldiers when a suicide bomber exploded a device that killed all three Americans and at least 25 Iraqi citizens. George had been in Baghdad for less than a month. The legacy George leaves behind is of a compassionate, loving son, friend and a treasure to his country.

Penny Boeman 319-3844

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H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

Healthy for life Collaborative expo to offer resources for taking charge of your health By Gabriel Ramirez

besity and diabetes are just a few of the medical conditions overwhelming Kern County. According to countyhealthrankings.org, 29 percent of Kern County adults are obese, compared to 23 percent in the state. To further promote health and wellness in the community, Memorial Hospital has partnered with The Bakersfield Californian to hold the first Healthy Bakersfield Expo. The free expo will be held Saturday, May 15 at the Bakersfield Marriott.

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

“Keeping people healthy is the reason the people in our community built Memorial. To be here when they need us and to be constantly thinking about better ways to keep them well,” said Gary Frazier, vice president of business development. “Since 1956, we’ve kept thinking about how to make our health care even better, both within our walls and throughout the community. We want to empower the people of this community to take charge of their health and to let them know that BMH is here to support them in that lifelong endeavor — that’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”

According to Frazier, The Bakersfield Californian was working on a health expo at the same time Memorial was planning one. “It just seemed like a logical move to collaborate with them on a health and wellness-focused event,” Frazier said. John Wells, The Californian’s vice president of advertising, circulation, marketing and operations, said the newspaper has recently launched a new Web site called HealthyBakersfield.com, which is a destination where people can go to get advice, ask local health care professionals questions and read health-related news. “The Healthy Bakersfield Expo is an extension of this new site,” Wells said. The expo will feature 40 to 50 companies representing a variety of industries within the health and fitness sector, which includes hospitals, medical groups, fitness experts, gyms and plastic surgeons. Frazier said that Memorial Hospital hopes people who attend the event will leave with better information about their own health, the tools they can use 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 15, Bakersfield Marriott in their daily lives to get healthy and Grand Ballroom, stay healthy and a sense of security 801 Truxtun Ave. that the city they live in has everything they need when it comes to health and wellness. “Memorial is the most trusted and most comprehensive community hospital in Kern County and The Californian is the most trusted, and most comprehensive local newspaper – together we’ll provide the most comprehensive and educational health expo Bakersfield has ever seen,” Frazier said. Some event activities include: Free smoothies provided by Jamba Juice for anyone who stops by to learn more about good health and the Bakersfield Memorial booth. Memorial doctors and other health experts will also be on hand to share information on a variety of health topics throughout the day. Health screenings for cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, pulse rate and body fat with lab-accurate results within six minutes. A raffle with a Wii game console with “Wii Fit.”

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Photo by Henry A. Barrios

GOING GREEN

The bike lane along 21st Street is popular for cyclists commuting to work as it connects the bike path to the downtown area.

Reasons to ride In honor of National Bike Month, consider a greener, healthier commute to work By Glenn Hammett

akersfield and Kern County make a lot of lists. Sadly, on those for air quality and health, we usually come in at the bottom of the heap. A recent study released by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute ranked Kern County last of California’s 56 counties for physical environment, which focuses on air quality, and health behaviors, which includes obesity. Both of these shortcomings could be improved upon if more of us rode bikes to work. Every person commuting by bike is one less car adding to our already terrible air quality; and cycling is lowimpact form of exercise that burns calories, greatly improves heart and lung health and can sharply reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Motor vehicles are responsible for more than half (57 percent) of the air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley, with a huge chunk of that coming from commuters. And, while we love our cars here,

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

apparently we prefer not to share, as about three-quarters of us drive to work solo. On yet other lists, Kern County consistently ranks among the highest in the nation for obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Basically, we are an unhealthy bunch that does not get enough exercise. If a person weighing 175 pounds makes a five-mile commute to and from work each day and does not change their eating habits, he or she would lose about 3.5 pounds per month, or more than 40 pounds over the course of a year. Regular physical activity can help ward off everything from heart disease and Type 2 diabetes to depression and some cancers; plus, it just makes you feel better. The federal government’s Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends two and a half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity per week for adults for “substantial health benefits.” Biking to and from work two or three days a week, assuming a 30-minute trip

To do it right:

Bare minimum: Backpack $30, Jansport Super Break

Emergency repair kit $45 (Tube, patch kit, tire levers, saddle bag, frame pump)

Helmet $30, Giro Transfer

Bike $150, used

Helmet $170, Giro Atmos

Gloves $30, Pearl Izumi Select Gel

each way, will get you there without having to join a gym. A couple of things I have learned from commuting by bike for nearly 20 years are: one, it is not that difficult; and, two, Bakersfield is, in many ways, an ideal place to do it. Granted, I am very lucky to work for an employer who provides showers, lockers and bicycle storage for employees, but getting to

Emergency repair kit $50 (Tube, patch kit, tire levers, saddle bag, CO2 inflator)

Bike $1,150, Trek Soho

Backpack $125, CamelBak Fourteener Shoes $110, Shimano M086

Jersey $160, Assos Uno Shorts $130, Pearl Izumi P.R.O.

work on two wheels can be done without those luxuries. You just need a decent bike, a helmet (never ride without one!) and a little ingenuity. If you don’t have a bike, there are a few great bike shops in town. If money is an issue, Bike Bakersfield’s Recycle-a-Bicycle

Continued on page 56

B L A N D S O L A R & A I R CO N D I T I O N I N G , I N C . — YO U R LOC A L E X P E R T S I N C E 1 9 8 4 .

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Kevin Talley works on a bicycle in the Bike Bakersfield repair shop where you can build a bike from donated parts in exchange for 15 hours of volnteer work.

Continued from page 55

program allows you to assemble a bike from donated parts in exchange for 15 hours of volunteer work. They will even show you the safest route between your home and the office through the Web site, bikebakersfield.com. I wear cycling clothes to ride in, but any close-fitting comfortable clothes will work. I carefully fold and pack my work clothes in a backpack before heading out the door and shower and change when I get to work. Some fellow commuters drive on Mondays, taking their week’s supply of work clothes so they don’t have to carry them each day, while others simply ride in their work clothes. In the absence of a shower, you can sponge and towel off in the bathroom, or use a nearby gym, as some offer showeronly memberships. Despite what you may think, the weather here makes biking to work easier. I know it gets hot, but even in the summer months, mornings are pretty comfortable. Relatively speaking, we get very little rainfall and morning lows seldom fall below 40 in the winter. The weather here is far more conducive to year-round bike commuting than, say Portland (rain), Minneapolis or Seattle (more rain), the three U.S. cities that, according to the census, have the highest percent of residents who bike to work. Also, we are very fortunate to have a world-class bike path. If you need to travel east or west, you can do so completely

Bike shops: Action Sports 9500 Brimhall Road, 833-4000 teamactionsports.com Snider’s Cyclery 2700 Union Ave., 324-4759 2700 New Stine Road, 833-2700 sniderscyclery.com Finish Line Bicycles 8850 Stockdale Highway, 833-6268 finishlinebikes.com

Bike Bakersfield: 1708 Chester Ave., 321-9247 bikebakersfield.org

isolated from traffic. Bakersfield also has more than 100 miles of marked bike lanes that make traveling off of the bike path doable. And Bakersfield is pretty flat, which means you don’t have to be in Tour de France shape to peddle to work. With all of the reasons there are for Bakersfield residents to bike to work (I haven’t even mentioned saving money on gas and wear and tear on your car) and the lack of reasons not to, I have always been puzzled as to why more people don’t do it. I realize that having more bike commuters is not going to turn Bakersfield into Denver or Portland, but it might help move us up a few notches in the rankings, at the very least, ahead of Fresno and Modesto.

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OUR TOWN

Relay for Life

Friday, April 30 3 to 9 p.m.: Campsite setup

Saturday, May 1 7 a.m.: Registration of survivors 7:30 a.m.: Parade of teams 8:30 a.m.: Opening ceremonies 9 a.m.: Survivor lap 10 a.m.: Relay team laps begin 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Live music Noon: Lunch

1 p.m.: Locks of Love 4:30 p.m.: Dude Looks Like A Lady 5 p.m.: Dinner 6 p.m.: Campsite Awards 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Live music 8:30 p.m.: Luminaria ceremony 10:30 p.m.: Limbo contest 11:30 p.m.: Pajama contest

Participants crowd the front stretch as the survivors complete the first lap at the 2009 Relay for Life.

Sunday, May 2 9 a.m. Final Relay lap

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Bakersfield Life

May 2010

Photo by Felix Adamo

It’s time again for thousands to descend on Cal State Bakersfield for the 19th annual Bakersfield Relay for Life. Here’s a rundown of events for the weekend. (Note to visitors: Please allow extra time when arriving to complete the waiver process at your entry gate.)

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www.BakersfieldLife.com

GUYS ON THE GREEN

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get moving Who knows your aches and pains better than these four? From weekend warriors to workaholics, these physical therapists treat them all.

What is your favorite thing about working in physical therapy?

David: I enjoy being able to work with and educate patients. Some people need convincing and others need encouragement. Creating an appropriate atmosphere for patients of all ages is something that gives me a lot of pride. Over the years we have created an environment in our clinics that is successful and rewarding to our patients as well as our employees. Brian: I love getting to know people beyond their injuries. Many patients come to therapy two to three times a week and you really get to know them. When you can discover what motivates someone you can become passionate with them and share in their joy when they reach their goals. Scott: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always gratifying to have clients come in after an injury or surgery with significant functional limitations and on completion of therapy be able to resume doing what they want to do whether it be something as simple as walking or gardening, or as demanding as returning to work or sports. Mike: I enjoy the challenges and the mental stimulation that treating numerous patients with various backgrounds, injuries and goals provides. Physical therapy is somewhat like solving a puzzle, putting the pieces in place to make a whole picture. At the end of the day patients leave stronger and happier, on their way to a better life because we help put their puzzle back together. 60

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May 2010

David Rous

Glinn & Giordano Physical Therapy

Mike Marotta Pair & Marotta Physical Therapy

Photos by Greg Nichols

Share your best client story.

David: A lady came to me after a total knee replacement, and her knee was overly stiff. She was optimistic that we would help her get full motion, but this was one of the stiffest knees I’d seen; and while motivating her, I was preparing her for another possible surgery to manipulate her knee so it would bend. I played the role of agitator while treating her and egged her on by saying if she got full flexibility of that knee on her own, I’d “eat my hat.” On her last visit, she came into the clinic, with full flexibility, and carrying a hat-shaped cake and said, “Eat up.”

Brian Monroe Glinn & Giordano Physical Therapy

Scott Laurente

Center for Rehabilitation Medicine

Brian: This question brings back memories of people who have changed me as much as I have changed them, but my favorite memory is of a physician who was ready to give up his career due to pain and thought that his injuries would limit his future ability to do surgeries. After only a few weeks, his symptoms were gone and he was performing surgeries again without a problem. Scott: There’ve been a lot of great stories, but one I remember in particular is the client who was involved in a car accident and was referred to me with fractures of both legs and one arm. He was in a wheelchair when he started and could only use one arm normally. After a few Continued on page 62 www.BakersfieldLife.com 61

Continued from page 61

months of therapy he was walking, had almost normal use of his injured arm and was able to return to work. He had a great attitude throughout the course of his rehabilitation despite the pain and hard work he had to put up with to get to where he wanted to be functionally.

Mike: While doing a rotation at â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rancho,â&#x20AC;? a national rehabilitation center in Los Angeles, we treated a couple who was involved in a horrific motorcycle accident resulting in the loss of both of their left legs below the knee. What I witnessed while this couple was going through therapy inspired me and I have never forgotten it. The power of moral support mixed with the competition between them to take the first step propelled them into an incredibly speedy and functional recovery. They were both going through the same thing and used that to push and motivate each other. I saw the true human spirit in action.

What are the most common injuries you see? How could they be avoided?

David: I see a lot of sport-related injuries as well as normal wearand-tear injuries, which affect most body parts. Strength and flexibility issues account for a wide variety of problems, especially in the younger athletes, but sheer volume of activity will often lead to overuse syndromes with running, jumping and overhead sports like baseball and volleyball. A lot of wear-and-tear breakdown in the normal population is due to poor posture and body mechanics during an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Reminders of proper sitting posture at the computer and lifting mechanics would allow people to avoid some of the most common back and neck injuries. Brian: Soft tissue injuries are most common, including muscle strains and joint sprains. To avoid many accidents that lead to these strains and sprains, you should be aware of your surroundings, be aware of your posture and slow down. Scott: A majority of my patients have shoulder injuries, most commonly rotator cuff tears and subsequent surgical repair. Most of those injuries are either traumatic from a slip and fall, lifting or pulling heavy weight, or repetitive-use injuries. The mechanics and structure of the shoulder joint makes many of those injuries unavoidable. For

Scott Laurente 62

Bakersfield Life

David Rous May 2010

athletes who are involved in repetitive overhead activities, such as baseball, tennis or swimming, proper stretching and strengthening may help to reduce the risk of injury.

Mike: Lower back pain is one of several common symptoms we treat. There are actually five precursors for the majority of lower back pain: improper body mechanics, poor posture, decreased fitness, poor nutrition and stress. I know it is not as easy as it sounds, but making good choices, having an active lifestyle, good nutrition plan and maintaining lower body and core strength is a key to back health.

What do you advise for people exercising/playing sports now that the weather is warming up?

David: Try to be realistic about starting off with an activity, especially if you have been sedentary over the winter. Too much activity too soon will land you in our clinic instead of outdoors where you want to be. Brian: Start at a slower and less aggressive level of play and build up from there. Too often people go too hard too soon and pay the consequences. Ideally, you should be doing some off-season training including aerobics, strengthening and stretching to prepare for your activity of choice. Scott: Anyone who is going to start participating in sports or physical activity should start gradually, with a well-rounded program of conditioning, stretching and strengthening to help avoid injuries. This will help the muscles, tendons and ligaments acclimate to high demand exercise or activity. This will also improve balance and neuromuscular control to improve coordination and body awareness. Mike: I would recommend exercise year-round and stay fit. Consider attending a sport or boot camp that focuses on functional exercise, quality over quantity. But for those who are just getting started, do an adequate warm-up. A warm-up that uses the muscles and movement involved in the activity you are about to do will help lubricate joints, turn on the nervous system and increase blood flow to muscles, all which will help prevent injury as well as improve performance. Also remember it is important to drink plenty of water and wear appropriate clothing when exercising in the heat. Proper hydration is key to performance at all times, but especially important when outdoors in Bakersfield summers.

Brian Monroe

Mike Marotta

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Photo by Casey Christie

COMMUNITY

Civil Air Patrol's Emily Golleher, left, practices the presentation of colors at Minter Field Air Museum before the hangar dedication ceremony in September. Golleher's squadron is nominated for a Beautiful Bakersfield Award.

Awarding civic beauty Beautiful Bakersfield Awards recognize those improving the quality of life in city By Gabriel Ramirez

he Emmys, the Golden Globes and the Oscars have passed, but award season isn’t over … at least in Bakersfield. The 20th annual Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce’s Beautiful Bakersfield Awards, which honors people, places, businesses and groups who have contributed to the quality of life of the greater Bakersfield area, will take place June 5. In 1986, Mary Kay Shell organized the first program, which was on a much smaller scale than today’s Beautiful Bakersfield Awards. When the Chamber took over the program in 1990, it became a dinner banquet and now has grown to include a reception and televised ceremony. The awards are presented in 15 categories, with suggested

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

nominees come from the community. The Beautiful Bakersfield Committee then reviews and approves nominations, working with nominees to gather additional information to submit to judges. “Judging is from a panel of community members entirely separate from the Chamber committee that puts on the program,” said Jean Scheiber, operations assistant. “Judges must sign that they have no conflict of interest before being assigned to a particular category. Judges do not know the outcome of judging prior to the announcement at the event.” One of this year’s first-time nominees, Char Gaines in the individual arts category, said she is thrilled by the recognition. “I am honored to be nominated for this award. To be nominated

for doing something I have enjoyed doing for 35 years is a special thrill, Gaines said. I feel especially honored because Bakersfield Music Theatre has been at the center of my creative world, and has molded my life into the blessed fullness I am enjoying at this time of my life.” Individuals in the art category are selected because of their excellence or achievement in visual arts, dance, literature, music or theater. In 1975, Gaines became a part of the BMT family with her first job as royal babysitter for the children starring in “The King and I.” She performed in her first show, “Sugar,” in 1977. Since then Gaines has been in more than 100 shows. “This nomination is important to me because it enhances the enjoyment I have experienced all these years,” Gaines said. “To be honored for something you enjoy doing is a mixed blessing. It's not something I have to do, but something I choose to do in my life.” Senior Airman Emily Golleher of the Air Patrol Composite Squadron 121 Cadet Program — a first-time nominee for youth group — said it is outstanding to be nominated. “It's always a good feeling to do something for the right reasons but then to have someone recognize the effort is always an added bonus,” she said. The youth group category honors a group with members under the age of 21 that through personal involvement and endeavors has answered the challenge of good citizenship. “I believe we were nominated because we have upheld the traditions of the United States Air Force and the Civil Air Patrol in our commitment to support our community,” Golleher said. “The importance of this nomination is twofold. First I think it will motivate the cadets to do even more and it will encourage the youth in our community to get involved hopefully through Civil Air Patrol.” The Civil Air Patrol offers its services to the community whether it is for a color guard event or volunteering at events. One of this year’s recurring nominees is the Valley Achievement Center in the education category, which recognizes efforts to promote education in Bakersfield at all levels. Jolene Billinger, director of the Valley Achievement Center, said the nomination is a great honor. “We have been in the community for 12 years and worked to support children and young adults with autism,” Billinger said. “We are an important part of the community, and we serve a great population of children and young adults with autism.” The Beautiful Bakersfield Awards event, hosted at the DoubleTree Hotel, is open for anyone to attend. Tickets are $40 per person, with the reception at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. and the awards at 7 p.m. Those interested in attending can call the chamber at 327-4421. The awards will also be televised on KGET-17 at 7 p.m.

2010 Beautiful Bakersfield Award nominees All America City Tradition – Civic/nonprofit 1. Bakersfield Vision 2020 Image, Downtown Business Association and Melodrama Theater 2. Children Joining Children for Success 3. Civil Air Patrol Bakersfield Squadron 121 4. Community Action Partnership of Kern Food Bank 5. H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection 6. Homes for Our Troops Inc. 7. Kern Assistive Technology Center 8. Kern Regional Center Foundation Architecture 1. Granite Construction Corporate Headquarters 2. M.D. Manufacturing Inc. 3. The Orchard 4. The Village Park Senior Apartments 5. Truxtun Office Complex Arts – Individual 1. Char Gaines 2. Cindy Trueblood 3. Don Martin 4. Jill England 5. Pat Evans 6. Ronald M. Kean, D.M.A. Arts – Group 1. Arts Council of Kern 2. Bakersfield Museum of Art 3. Boys and Girls Club KidzArt Artists 4. Omnipresent Puppet Theater 5. San Joaquin Community Hospital Art Care Program Commercial Remodel 1. Boys & Girls Club Keystone Teen Room renovation 2. Enso Japanese Grill 3. Fluxar Design Studio 4. Garces Memorial Chapel 5. Green Frog Market, Alta Vista 6. Guild House 7. Mill Creek Deli 8. Rosewood Retirement Community front lobby Education 1. Abbas P. Grammy 2. Advancement Via Individual Determination Program 3. Alliance of Women in Energy 4. Bakersfield Adult School 5. Bob Lewy 6. Erin Hodson 7. Foundation for SUCCESS 8. Project D.R.E.A.M. 9. The Association for Advancement of Retired Persons 10. Valley Achievement Center Health 1. Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House 2. Carol Hatton 3. Comprehensive Blood & Cancer Center 4. Darlyn’s Darlings, Pediatric Day Health Care Center 5. David B. Hari, M.D. 6. ElderLife Adult Day Health Care Center 7. Glinn & Giordano Physical Therapy Inc. 8. Grossman Burn Center at San Joaquin Community Hospital 9. Kern County Public Health Services Department 10. Children’s Health Initiative of Kern County Humanitarian – Individual 1. Belinda Singleton 2. Dr. Rose Rakow DVM 3. Harvey L. Hall

4. Jeffrey Hill 5. Jim Luff 6. Kim Albers 7. Lori Christine Malkin 8. Michelle Johnson 9. Mike Brown and Randy Harden 10. Ross Johnson Humanitarian – Small Group 1. Bakersfield Association of Realtors Can Tree Committee 2. Bakersfield Christmas Parade Committee 3. Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association 4. Bakersfield SPCA Therapy Dog volunteers 5. Career Services Center Career Closet 6. Department of Human Services, Girl Scout Troop 7. Eternal Flame at Union Cemetery 8. Kern River Corridor Endowment 9. Save America’s Youth Yes Center Humanitarian – Large Group 1. ACAP Productions Keep Old Glory Flying Event 2. Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club Wreath Project 3. Bakersfield Condors 4. Children’s Miracle Network Business Council 5. Guild House Volunteers 6. Halliburton Energy Services 7. Home Instead Senior Care 8. Woman’s Club of Bakersfield Public/Private Partnership 1. Boys & Girls Club of Kern County, City of Bakersfield and County of Kern – Harvey L. Hall Gym remodel 2. City of Bakersfield, Bakersfield Southwest Baseball and Aera Energy LLC – Aera Park 3. Golden Empire McDonald’s Operators, Bakersfield City Fire Department and Kern County Fire Department – Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House 4. Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee and City of Bakersfield – Highway 99 Beautification Project 5. San Joaquin Community Hospital, Bakersfield City Fire Department and Kern County Fire Department - Grossman Burn Center 6. United Way of Kern County – FISH Program Seniors 1. California Living Museum Railroad volunteers 2. Camille Gavin 3. Maria Delgado 4. Robbie Robinson 5. Rosewood Senior Living residents Youth – Individual 1. Cameron Hutton 2. Cory Camp 3. Douglas Taylor Jr. 4. Rose Barton 5. Taylor Willoughby Youth – Group 1. Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program Squadron 121 2. East Bakersfield High School Health Careers Academy 3. Fruitvale Junior High School History Day performance group 4. Horace Mann State Pre-K 5. Stockdale High School Community Outreach 6. Sunset Elem. School Solar Garden

www.BakersfieldLife.com 65

PERSONALITY

Kern Community College District Chancellor Sandra Serrano talks with Abe Ali, vice chancellor of human resources.

An educated move A sojourn to Bakersfield leads Sandra Serrano to a lifetime of service to Kern students By Dana Martin

Photos by Casey Christie

andra Serrano is the chancellor of the Kern Community College District, geographically one of the largest community college districts in the United States (covering 24,800 square miles), comprised of campuses at Bakersfield, Cerro Coso and Porterville colleges. At her current post since 2004, Serrano’s path to becoming KCCD’s skipper began 31 years ago during a chance meeting in law school. “I met my husband at Hastings Law School in San Francisco,” said Serrano, who graduated from Berkeley with a degree in political science (she’d started as a pharmacy major). Her husband — Kern County Superior Court Judge Robert Tafoya — led a cadre of law school graduates, including Serrano, to Bakersfield, where they provided legal services and education to the poor and Spanish speakers through a grant from the Legal Services Corporation. It should have been a short assignment; Serrano, a Northern 66

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May 2010

California native, “never expected to stay in Bakersfield,” she said. “I remember telling my husband that in two years, we’re moving. It has now been 31 years.” Today, she considers Bakersfield home. After her stint in law, Serrano took a position at Cal State Bakersfield in 1991 for nine years, eventually garnering one of 11 statewide fellowships with the CSU Administration Fellowship Program. Her fellowship assignment was to Cal State Fullerton. “My mentor was Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb, president at the time and the only African-American president at a CSU,” said Serrano, who spent a year under Plummer Cobb’s tutelage. Plummer Cobb was the first high-level female in CSU administration, who “blazed trails in places women hadn’t blazed trails.” For Serrano, working a year with Plummer Cobb was pivotal in developing her expectations for her career. “It was possible to move to a higher position and be successful. She had me participate

661-336-5100

Porterville College

Serrano credits her family with providing support and encouragement throughout her career. in cabinet meetings and get a good sense of issues and challenges and relationships at the university level. She shared with me what I should be thinking about if I wanted to move to higher level of administration.” Amid Plummer Cobb’s words of encouragement, she made sure Serrano understood the challenges she would face, too. “She said, ‘You have to be prepared to live in a glass house, and if you can’t live in a glass house, then don’t do it.’” Back at her house in Bakersfield (from where she commuted during the week), Serrano credits Tafoya and their children for giving her the freedom to pursue the path that would eventually take her to the helm of KCCD. “My husband and children have been supportive, encouraging, and understanding. As a parent, you are supposed to be the one encouraging your child — but I’ve been supported by them.” In 1990, Serrano started her trek through the community college system, first as the associate dean of students at Bakersfield College, then vice president of student services. In 1996, she became president. “I never aspired to be president. When I became associate dean, I thought I’d retire there. I never thought I’d have a leadership role,” said Serrano. For the next eight years, Serrano worked on site and felt that she was making a difference in students’ educational goals. “Some students can go to any university of their choice; for some, BC is their only choice for a higher education. Bakersfield College provides exceptional education opportunities that will prepare them for the work force or for transfer.” In 2004, the opportunity arose for her to become chancellor. “I loved my position, but we had another leadership need in the district. So, I threw my hat in the ring,” said Serrano. As chancellor, Serrano enjoys touching more communities but says her role is not as personal as when she was president. “I’m more distant from students than I was at BC, but I’m meeting their needs in another way. They may not know me, but I’m hiring staff and working behind the scenes to help them reach their goals.” Besides being a member of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield, Serrano has also served as a Kern High School District trustee and on the Memorial Hospital board of directors. Serrano says she is satisfied with her career. “I feel like I’ve had opportunities I didn’t know existed. Truly, I’ve been honored and feel humbled to have exceeded my career goals.”

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��Potential� ��Opportunities� www.BakersfieldLife.com 67

TRIP PLANNER

Owned by the Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society, the turntable came all the way from Capreol, Canada, and was installed in Fillmore in 2007.

All aboard for adventure From trains to trails, Fillmore area offers fun, history Story and photos by Chelley Kitzmiller

hen I was a kid, I rode the Santa Fe Super Chief from Chicago to Hollywood to visit relatives. I’ll never forget the luxurious sleeper car with its velvety upholstery and its tiny, but oh so cute, bathroom. The dining rivaled an upscale Hollywood restaurant with attentive waiters, linen tablecloths, monogrammed dinnerware and gourmet dinners. That was in the late 1950s. My next train ride was in 1983 with Amtrak and it was nothing like the Super Chief. I didn’t get on another train until a few weeks ago during Fillmore’s Railfest. The fond memories came pouring back … Fillmore is an easy 2 ½-hour drive from Bakersfield, with the quickest route being Highway 99 south to I-5 past Castaic Lake. Gone is the stark freeway when you turn right onto Highway 126.

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

The historic Heritage Valley stretches out ahead of you with miles of citrus groves, avocado orchards and a dozen or more quaint little fruit and vegetable stands that can’t be ignored. A point of historical interest is the The Rancho Camulos, which was established by the del Valle family in 1853. It’s the best remaining example of a Spanish-Mexican rancho in its original rural environment in California. Helen Hunt Jackson’s novel, “Ramona,” was set on this property. Tours of the main adobe, cocina, winery, chapel, schoolhouse and the gardens are conducted 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The town of Fillmore has a turn-of-the-century feel. It’s chockfull of antique shops, fun stores to browse and quaint eateries. The main street is lined with trees and the parking is at an angle. If you’re lucky, you’ll run into the ice cream man pulling his trolley

high-pitched screech is a little disconcerting the first time you hear it, but by the time you leave, you’ll be used to it and you might even miss it. Well, maybe not. My visit to Fillmore was an unexpected treat, one that I hope to repeat in the near future. The city truly lives up to its name: the Last Best Small Town in Southern California. Winery Giessinger Winery, 365 Santa Clara St., Fillmore, 805-524-5000, giessingerwinery.com/ 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday

Lodging

The 409 is a 1929 Santa Fe Observation car complete with sitting room, two bedrooms, bathroom, dining room, kitchen and porter’s quarters. down the street. After a tour of Fillmore’s downtown, take a break at the Giessinger Winery and bistro, located track-side, across from the railroad station in the Central Park Plaza. This charming old world wine tasting room was once a welding shop. A vine-covered patio invites you to sip wine and feast on French gourmet sandwiches. For the bargain price of $8, you can taste 15 different wines. But if you can only taste one, make it the organic dessert wine Forgiveness, named in honor of the winemaker’s mother. Guaranteed — one taste of Forgiveness and you’ll forgive anybody for anything! Consult their Web site for barrel tastings and wine tours. Fillmore is the home of the Fillmore and Western Railway, a fully operational antique train, that features vintage equipment, an antique 1920s-style Pullman, restored dining cars, sleepers, commuter and baggage cars. The engineers, ticket-takers and other workers dress in vintage railroad costumes. The train offers a dozen or more theme-based rides. One is the Pumpkinliner, which travels to a pumpkin patch. A Christmas train stops at a Christmas tree farm where passengers chop down their own trees and load them onto a flat car. Throughout the year, murder mystery trains, wine trains and scenic trains run on a regular basis. There’s even a train for toddlers — Thomas the Tank Engine. The whole family can take a 25-minute ride behind Thomas. Hard-core railroad fans can buy a ticket to ride in the cab of a locomotive with the engineer and they will thrill at being able to stand and watch a free demonstration of a locomotive or other rolling stock move onto the turntable (a large circular platform set inside a concrete pit) and make a 360-degree turn. A restored railroad station and the Railroad Visitor Center display model train setups. Fillmore and Santa Paula have a number of lodging choices, but if you want to take your RV or your tent, try the Ventura Ranch KOA in Santa Paula. RV sites have water, electric, fire pits, tables and nearby clean bathrooms with showers. The campground is 15 minutes from Fillmore but worth the drive. The grounds have shade trees and grass, which my dogs loved. Some 40 peacocks and peahens wander around, putting on an awesome show. The males strut their stuff with their beautiful feathers fanned. Their

Ventura Ranch KOA, formerly Far West, 800-562-1899, ventura ranchkoa.com The Artists’ Barn Bed and Breakfast, 805-524-1216 Best Western La Posada Motel, 805-524-0440

Historical information and sites Rancho Camulos, ranchocamulos.org, 805-521-1501 Two miles east of Piru on Highway 126

Train information and reservations Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society (scrvrhs. com, 805-524-2254) is located in the Railroad Visitor Center, 455 Main St. Fillmore. Open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays For train rides, reservations and schedules call 800-773-8724 or the Fillmore and Western Railway (fwry.com, 805-524-2546)

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The company reserves the right to reinstate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per guest per day if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel.

(661) 852-4070 Rates, terms, conditions, availability and itinerary are subject to change without notice. Not responsible for errors or omissions. The Automobile Club of Southern California act only as agents for Carnival Cruise Line CTR #1016202-80 Copyright 2010 Automobile Club of Southern California. All rights reserved. *Cruise rates are category 1A, per guest, based on double occupancy, capacity controlled and cruise only. Government taxes and fees ($20–$170) are additional per guest. Rates available on select sailings only. Restrictions apply. See carnival.com for details. © 2009 Carnival Cruise Lines. All rights reserved. Ships’ Registry: The Bahamas and Panama.

www.BakersfieldLife.com 69

WHY I LIVE HERE

Aisha Ainsworth

Photo by Felix Adamo

Westlake neighborhood

Aisha Ainsworth and son Aiden Bishop like their neighborhood in the northwest.

For Aisha Ainsworth, this really is a small community. Growing up on Oxford Street in Delano, she was friends with Patricia Gonzales, who is now her neighbor on Yosemite Falls Drive in Bakersfield. The two are close again, taking evening walks with their children (who they want to be as close as they are). She shares what else makes her Westlake neighborhood special.

Favorite neighborhood activity: Fourth of July, watching all the families interact with each other. What attracted you to the neighborhood: The surrounding neighborhoods and, of course, the people. Best thing about your neighborhood: That it is diverse. What you like most about your neighbors: That they are friendly and very helpful.

Has lived in Westlake for: Seven years Three words to describe your neighborhood: Friendly. Quiet. Fun. Best memory in your neighborhood: The best memory in my neighborhood was the day that I brought my son home from the hospital and introduced him to some of the neighbors. 70

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

What you would change: I wouldn't change a thing about my neighborhood. I love it just the way it is. Why someone should move to your neighborhood: I think if you are looking for a neighborhood where you can build strong ties with your neighbors and enjoy the quiet times that come along with our area, then this is the neighborhood for you.

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Bartender Courtnee Hahn pours a Manhattan at Cafe Med. 72

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May 2010

B A K E R S F I E L D

Nightlife When the sun goes down, things start to look up in Bakersfield. From cocktails to concerts, art exhibits to appetizers, local nightlife is alive with sights, sounds and tastes to rival any big city. Here's just a sampling of the places and pursuits that keep us going after hours. Restaurants

Photo by Henry A. Barrios

Uricchio’s Trattoria A Bakersfield landmark since 1995, Uricchio's is known for serving up authentic Italian favorites in an elegant and intimate setting. Dinner: 5 to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday 1400 17th St., 326-8870, uricchios-trattoria.com Padre Hotel The boutique hotel has five venues offering entertainment and a variety of menus. From fine dining (Belvedere) to fun on the rooftop (Prairie Fire), the Padre boasts a dining delight with an upscale twist. • Belvedere From a business lunch to an elegant dinner, Belvedere offers a fine dining experience. Dinner: 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday • Brimstone Whether you’re catching the game or catching up with friends, Brimstone offers casual dining with happy hour and weekday

specials. And ask about the “secret menu.” 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday to Thursday, open until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday • Prospect Head to this Vegas-style lounge on the weekend when DJs spin hits or for Sangria Sundays with live music and red and white sangrias along with a tapas menu. 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday to Saturday, opens 6:30 p.m. Sunday • Prairie Fire Socialize under the stars at the hotel’s recently opened second-floor spot with a long bar, high seating, fire wall and plenty of room to circulate. 4 to 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday 1702 18th St., 427-4900 Café Med Offering quality food and an elegant dining experience, the restaurant is always high on the list for best local dining spots. With family-style meals and new items, Café Med has responded to changing economic times. Of course, when you’re ready to splurge, there are still a variety of decadent dishes to tempt you.

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Hungry Hunter The restaurant, which has thrived while its namesake chain shuttered, is known for its signature prime rib and steaks and its warm ambiance. Californian food critic Pete Tittl recommends the lamb chops and stuffed top sirloin. The steakhouse also boasts an impressive wine list. 3580 Rosedale Highway, 328-0580, hungryhuntersteakhouse.com Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace For a taste of country, you’ve got to head here. Buck’s legacy lives on with music from Buddy Alan Owens, the Buckaroos and Monty Byrom. With succulent steaks and the “best chicken fried steak in town,” according to Pete Tittl, there’s plenty to enjoy. 2800 Buck Owens Blvd., 328-7560, buckowens.com Tahoe Joe’s Famous Steakhouse With specials and a first-rate staff, Tahoe Joe’s keeps packing in the Bakersfield crowds keen for a steak or happy hour with friends. For a deeper look at the Tahoe Joe’s experience, check out our Dining Divas’ adventure in this issue. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday 9000 Ming Ave., 664-7750, tahoejoes.com

Purchase a card and sample one of the many wines on hand in the Imbibe tasting room. courtesy of longtime chef Gilbert Sabedra. New at Red Pepper is its Chef’s Table. Enjoy an evening of food, wine and conversation with up to eight friends as the staff prepares a customized meal paired with wines for the occasion. Dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Chef's table Monday through Thursday. 2641 Oswell St., 871-5787, redpepperrestaurant.net Goose Loonies The bar and eatery in its new spot downtown is still dishing up Greek favorites like gyros and the flaming saganaki along with bar staples Buffalo wings and pizza. The bar itself is great for a stop on a girls night out or a good spot to catch the game after work. 816 18th St., 631-1242 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday, 9 a.m. to midnight Saturday.

Libations

Enso From the owners of Toro Sushi in southwest Bakersfield, Enso also delivers a satisfying sushi adventure. Enjoy a drink in the basement bar while waiting for a table, then order and let the sushi chefs work their magic. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday 1419 19th St., 327-7785, ensosushibar.com

Imbibe Imbibe’s wine bar is open with current release and new arrival wines during the week with wine staff available to answer your questions. Friday afternoons feature the week’s special flights, with wines being poured through Saturday evening. Upcoming flights include a look at 2003 Bourdeaux (May 7) and great 2007 cabernets (May 14). The wine bar also recently held a bourbon tasting, after hosting scotch and tequila events, with hopes of adding a vodka and another scotch tasting in the coming months. 4140 Truxtun Ave., 633-9463, imbibewine. com

Red Pepper Celebrating 30 years of “Mexican done right,” this northeast establishment has kept things interesting with an inventive menu

Café Med With vineyard bus tours and monthly tastings — 5:30 to 8 p.m. the last Friday of the month (next one is May 28) — Café Med is a

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

Greek favorites are served at Goose Loonies.

Photo by Greg Nichols

Valentien Restaurant & Wine Bar For cutting-edge cuisine in Bakersfield, you must head here, according to Californian critic Pete Tittl. With seasonal menus and a hard-working staff, Valentien delivers. And if you’d like dinner and a show, the restaurant is continuing its Cinema Saturdays in May with: “Spanglish” (May 1), with Valentien’s “perfect sandwich”; “Bottle Shock” (May 15), recreating the film’s culminating French-vs.-U.S. wine tasting; and “Big Night” (May 29), with some of the Italian dishes highlighted in the film. 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday 3310 Truxtun Ave. Suite 160, 864-0397

Photo by Felix Adamo

4809 Stockdale Highway, 834-4433, cafemedrestaurant.com Dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday

longtime winner for best wine selection in The Californian’s Best of readers poll. Valentien Restaurant and Wine Bar When it comes to wine, Valentien co-owner Jeramy Brown says, “Go crazy, experiment.” To that effect, the restaurant encourages diners to explore wines with its Wednesday wine pairings, which feature a dish and a complementary wine. Recent pairings included a 2007 Frog’s Leap cabernet sauvignon with a lamb burger and pommes frites and a grilled baby octopus salad with a Cotes-du-Rhone white wine. Wine Me Up If you’re not sure about wine, Wine Me Up staff is happy to help in any way they can. No need to feel intimidated! Wine is a constant learning experience, and Wine Me Up is ready to teach you a thing or two. 3900 Coffee Road, 588-8556, winemeupbakersfield.com

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Bakersfield Life 2010 Living Green 75

12 noon

The Fat Daddy Blues Band performs at The Marketplace.

Walk to beneﬁt your favorite non-proﬁt while having fun. ■ ■

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Opening Ceremony at Betty Younger Sculpture Gallery Live music throughout the route from the Best of Kern Concert Tour, Soulajar—Crosstown Plaza Banshee In The Kitchen— Bakersﬁeld Museum of Art Joel Jacob—Wall Street Alley Sarah Rhodes—Fox Theatre Foster and Friends— Rabobank Arena Contests for best-decorated hats and best team uniﬁcation Free admissions to galleries and museums Finish line celebration with food, art, music and awards at Rabobank Arena

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Fishlips Bar & Grill The popular music venue and restaurant just celebrated 10 years in business. Sample the seafood selections or join the martini club with 32 different drinks. 1517 18th St., 324-2557, fishlips.org Riley’s Tavern Change is under way at Riley's as the new owner remodels the downtown bar. Plans include a new stage and VIP lounge. 1523 19th St., 324-3268 Hourglass The eatery with a Los Angeles sensibility in its food and décor turns things up at night with a happening happy hour. 1120 Calloway Drive, 679-1977, hourglasskitchenandbar.com Guthrie’s Alley Cat This downtown Bakersfield mainstay nightclub is as full of history as it is regulars bellied up to the bar. Play a game of pool or warm up the jukebox. 1525 Wall St., 324-6328

Crystal Palace Country acts flock to play the house that Buck built. Upcoming acts include Billy Currington (May 6), John Berry (May 19), Tracy Lawrence (May 26) and a reunion of the Desert Rose Band (May 27).

Children under 2 free.

Continued from page 74

Concerts/ performances

(t-shirts not guaranteed)

Sposnors

Photo by Felix Adamo

8am to

May 2010

Fox Theater The theater hosts a variety of acts, from concerts and plays to movies and social events. Upcoming shows include comedian Jo Koy on May 7, Spanish Basque singing group Mocedades on May 15 and an evening with celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain on June 18. 2001 H St., 324-1369, foxtheateronline.com Rabobank Arena, Theater and Convention Center

Home to the Bakersfield Condors, the Rabobank also draws big musical acts, like Daughtry (May 4) and Pepe Aguilar (May 29). Tours also head here, including the upcoming Jagermeister Music Tour featuring Korn (June 11) and the Country Throwdown with Montgomery Gentry, Little Big Town, Ryan Bingham and The Dead Horses, Heidi Newfield and more (June 16). 1001 Truxtun Ave., 852-7300, rabobank arena.com Concerts at The Marketplace Free live concert every Thursday night, June through August from 7 to 9 p.m. by the main fountain near Edwards Theatres. 9000 Ming Ave. Arts Council of Kern The council, which won a two-year grant from the James Irvine Foundation, is using the funds to encourage residents to support local musicians in local venues. In March, it brought together performers with venue owners and managers to encourage hiring the acts. In April, sponsored acts Soulajar, Near Miss Mallet and Ron McOwen headlined the council’s “The Best of Kern Concert Tour.” The council also organizes house concerts, which this season feature The Alternative String Band, Banshee in the Kitchen, Peppino D'Agostino, Steve Key, Ed Miller, Anne Weiss and more. kernarts.org

Theater/movies Spotlight Theatre Featuring live performances and rotating art exhibits in the lobby, the theater is known for a variety of works from Shakespeare to Steinbeck. The current production is “Rent,” the rock opera about a community of young artists struggling to make their mark in New York’s rapidly changing East Village of the 1990s. 1622 19th St., 634-0692, thespotlight theatre.com

Stars Theatre Restaurant Bakersfield Music Theatre Bakersfield Music Theatre stages numerous productions at the Stars restaurant and at the Harvey Auditorium at Bakersfield High School. For those who love American musicals, “A Night With the Stars III” on May 15 is sure to please, with songs from “Kismet,” “The Music Man,” “Carousel” and “Cats.” And Stars — nine-time winner for best community theater in The Californian’s Best of poll — is taking it off this month with “The Full Monty,” about steelworkers in Buffalo, N.Y., who take to stripping for quick cash. 1931 Chester Ave., 325-6100, bmtstars.com The Empty Space Productions range from classic, like the recent “The Diary of Anne Frank,” to the experimental, like the current “Hamletmachine,” at the venue that is “setting theatre free.” The theater also is home to Major League Improv and a rotating gallery featuring local and regional artists. The next big production is “Jukebox Legends,” which starts in late May. 706 Oak St., 327-7529, esonline.org Gaslight Melodrama Theatre & Music Hall The privately owned performing arts venue offers a variety of productions that are fun for the whole family. Grab a bite at the Moosehead Lounge, serving snacks and beverages. The current production is “The Maltese Chicken,” a Hemlock Stone mystery that runs

though May 22. 12478 Jomani Drive, 587-3377, themelodrama.com FLICS at the Fox For 28 seasons, FLICS International Cinema Society has brought independent and foreign films to the big screen for local audiences, 14 of those years at the Fox. This season wrapped up on April 30 with “Villa Jasmin.” Take heart, the next season will start up again in the fall, so stay cool this summer with some arty Netflix picks at home. flics.org Bakersfield Valley Plaza 16 2000 Wible Road, 833-2230 Edwards Bakersfield 14 9000 Ming Ave., Suite G, 663-3042 UA East Hills Mall 10 3100 Mall View Road, 872-0517 Maya Cinemas 1000 California Ave., 636-0484, maya cinemas.com Bakersfield Movies 6 4200 California Ave., 869-0169

Art galleries Metro Galleries With a focus on contemporary art, Metro

showcases prominent and emerging artists from California and the West. The downtown gallery is also a big draw during the monthly First Friday celebrations, which are enlivened thanks to the work of gallery owner Don Martin. 1604 19th St., 634-9598, themetrogalleries. com Surface Gallery The downtown spot promotes the work of emerging and under-recognized artists. “Cross Pollination: Connection Through the Art of Encaustic,” which features works of pigment bound with hot wax, is up until the beginning of May. 1703 20th St., 323-4090, surface-gallery. blogspot.com Bakersfield Museum of Art The museum features gardens and four galleries showcasing national and international art. Up through May 23 are three exhibits: “They Swim, Fly, Wiggle, Walk or Slither: The Hidden Code of Animals in Japanese Art,” “Everyday Garden” by Francis Baker and “Home Grown” by Betty Finch. 1930 R St., 323-7219, bmoa.org

Special events Festival of Beers According to organizer Cory Jenkins, this April

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www.BakersfieldLife.com

Continued from page 77 24 festival is “Bakersfield’s official kick-off to the summer party season.” This year's event features live music by Dub Seeds and The After Party. And of course the beer: Each attendee can sample 40 brews from dozens of offerings. bakersfieldfestivalofbeers.com

Wed ne sday W in g-day ! Basket of Wings

Bakersfield Jazz Festival Bakersfield’s “Rite of Spring” returns for its 24th year. The two-day event on May 7 and 8 will feature: David Baron Stevens; Dave Douglas and Keystone; Marcia Ball; Greg Porée; Kern County Honor Jazz Band; Luis Lenzi; Mike Lee and New Tricks; Charlie Hunter; CSUB Jazz; and more. bakersfieldjazz.com

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Wine Fest The Kern County Museum’s biggest fundraiser will take place on June 12. This evening of wine tasting features a variety of wines along with fine cuisine from local restaurants. Support local culture and history while enjoying food and wine out in

the balmy summer air. More than 1,500 local professionals and wine lovers are expected to attend the popular annual event. kcwinefest.org Village Fest On Sept. 11, it’s time to enjoy the suds and sounds of the annual Village Fest. Last year’s festival featured 60 breweries with more than 100 different brews as well as 70-plus wines to sample. More than 30 restaurants served unlimited food samples while 17 bands performed on five stages. This annual fundraiser sells out quickly, so be prepared. bakersfieldvillagefest.com First Friday On the first Friday of the month, shops, boutiques and galleries in downtown Bakersfield stay open late and offer many types of events and promotions, including art openings and live music. Along with the businesses, artists often set up along 19th Street to show and sell their works. The next one is May 7.

Bakersfield Life 2010 Living Green 79

PRODUCTS AROUND TOWN

Perfect Ponies for Your Baby Girl

A Night on the Town Big Dogs enjoy the Bakersfield nightlife, too! Outfit your proud pooch with a “bling” collar or outfit and hit the town! Biscuit Boutique has many sizes of collars and clothing to dress your pet. And, as you can see, Biscuit also has a variety of fun squeaky toys for your pooch!

Biscuit Boutique

Handmade English Toffee

Antonette and Diane started out making Aunt Mae’s fine handmade English toffee for close family and friends. Once their friends tried it they were hooked. The special combination of ingredients and the cooking process results in a rich candy that is mouth-watering, delectable and crunchy. This delicious English toffee can be found at Luigi’s, Flourishing Art and Sweet Surrender in Bakersfield. Open from October to May. Call 725-5200 or visit www.auntmaessweettooth.com for direct orders, other locations and information. Gorgeous gift boxes are available in various sizes.

Aunt Mae’s Sweet Tooth

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

Bebe Doos Perfect Ponies are an instant cute hairdo for your baby girl. Whether you have a baby with little to no hair or a baby with a head full, these baby headbands with ponytails/pigtails are a quick adorable style! These ponies look very natural and are just too sweet for words. Hair colors currently available are blonde, frosted, dark brown and black with curls. Exclusively available at JM’s Just for Children, located at 930 Wible Road in Bakersfield. Visit JM’s online at www. jmsjustforchildren.com or call 834-7277.

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www.BakersfieldLife.com 83

Bakersfield Christian High School Key Event March 20, 2010 Held at Seven Oaks Country Club Photos by Greg Nichols View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com

Karen Dierks, Carolyn Pandol and Debbie Camp

Steve and Traci Anderson

Carrie and John Balfanz

Daryl Manning and Gary Hemme

Tracey and Wes Bradford

Stacey and Peter Bae

Janie and Mel Atkinson

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May 2010

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Kern Economic Summit March 24, 2010 Held at the DoubleTree Hotel Photos by Rodney Thornburg View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com Monica Jefferies and Tina Burke

Jordan Feilders and Larry Pickett

Sally Selby and Melinda Brown

Bob Meadows and Harley Pinson

Rick Kreiser and Stacy Cooks

Barry Hibbard and Kathy Miller

Cheryl Scott, Barry Zoeller and Patricia Marquez

Stuart Witt and Sandra Serrano

Full Service Spa/Salon Gift Certificates Available Breann Ritchie - Owner/Esthetician Behind the Green Thumb & House of Talula

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www.BakersfieldLife.com 85

Night of Champions March 19, 2010 Held at Riverlakes Community Church Photos by Jan St. Pierre View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com

Eddie Voltaw, Baleigh Biter, Robin and Ed Wright and Natalie Feinberg

Robert, Steven, Lanette and Jenna Cornford

Patti, Wyatt, Riley and Gary McElmurry

Gerald and Jodie Pierucci

Lee and Kathy Lackey

Dreanna and Bryan Wheeler

Paula Gould and Rita Bellah

Janelle and Jared Tonks, Greg and Ann Braun 86

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

First Friday April 2, 2010 Held at Metro Galleries Photos by Greg Nichols View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com

Susan and Larry Moxley with Cindy and Harley Pinson

Mary Ann and Paul Verderber

Julie and Jim Francisco

Larry Reider and Milton Younger

James Mayfield and Christina Tafoya

Justin and Jennifer Jennings

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www.BakersfieldLife.com 87

Kern County Scottish Society Gathering and Games April 10, 2010 Held at Kern County Fairgrounds Photos by Rodney Thornburg View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com

Micael and Joseph Counihan, Mark A. Peterson, Christopher Counihan

Irma Lopez, Justin Allison and Michelle Staat

Jim Treanon, Alex Fan

Hunter, SheRie and Maneje Wolosz

Meagan and Allen Gage, Asher Macleod

Robbie and Bonny Emslie

Tim Dominguez and John Censor

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Bakersfield Life

May 2010

Jeriah Michi, Melissa Denney, Heather, Calderwood and Jesica Mooney

Champagne on the Green bridal event April 11, 2010 Held at The Links at Riverlakes Photos by Greg Nichols View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com

Daniel Torres, Michael Vejvoda, Matt Lemon, John Gonzales and Aaron Heartsill

Brianna Ward, Adriana and Veronica Alvarez

Gail and James Davidson

Vicki Williams and Colleen Bauer

Michelle Barron and Valerie Patino

Stephanie Caughell and Courtney Ghilarducci

Mark Basta and Kimberly Beam

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Jency Santos, Denise Zalvala, and Paola Llamas

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www.BakersfieldLife.com 89

THE LAST WORD

Chris Vanderlei Owner of Chris Vanderlei Gallery Where/how do you get your inventory: All over — I go to estate sales, the Rose Bowl once a month … but most everything walks in my door because I have a reputation for being fair. I carry Persian and Indian rugs, Native American pieces, jewelry, retro furniture and an art collection from A to Z. I also appraise items. Best treasure you ever found: A painting by California impressionist painter William Wendt. Best thing about Bakersfield: Its people, because they’re down-to-earth. We have a sense of balance here of who we really are. What is Bakersfield missing: I think we could be more art-conscious. Things are a lot better than when I first opened my gallery in 1990, but people could still be more appreciative and have more awareness of all the arts. It’s getting there, though. Best eats in Bakersfield: The ceviche salad at Mama Roomba; grilled chicken tacos at La Costa; fries and hamburgers at Moo Creamery; and the steak salad at the Padre Hotel. Benefits of a downtown business location: I love downtown. I love having my gallery as part of the Fox Theater building. I work and live downtown; I always have. When you are downtown, you stand out as having something special, not something generic like a store in a strip mall.

What’s on your bookshelf: I’ve got a library to die for! Anything related to art, I have it. But I don’t normally read a book cover-to-cover. I read on a need-to-know basis — and look out, because then I’m dangerous! Something few people know about you: My grandfather, Jake Vanderlei, was a former mayor of Bakersfield. 90

Bakersfield Life

May 2010

Photo by Felix Adamo

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