Bakersfield Life Magazine September 2011 by The Bakersfield Californian Specialty Publications

3 great mountain hikes close to town / Barbara Grimm-Marshall’s edible garden It’s a guy thing: Yoga / Healthy local cuisine / Food Dudes at Coconut Joe’s

September 2011

www.bakersfieldlife.com

Latination Tr3s Juried exhibition expresses the beauty of the Hispanic culture

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Celebrating the

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in every stage of their lives

We are making good health easier and more fun! We’ve joined forces with hospitals across the country to help women take action that results in better health through Spirit of Women—where the motto is good times create good health. Treat yourself to some great experiences, helpful information, and exciting events focused on the health care subjects that matter to you. It’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s free! Visit mercybakersfield.org/spirit to become a Spirit member and for details on upcoming Spirit events. Spirit Girls’ Night Out October 13, 6 – 9 PM The Petroleum Club Join us in celebrating your health as your best accessory. Enjoy a night of food and drinks, fun and games, and most importantly learn tips and techniques to improve your health for a long and vibrant life. Invite your friends for an evening out to laugh, play, and learn. Call 324-7070 to register.

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Bakersfield Life

September 2011

Who is Kelly Damian?

We welcome new columnist Kelly Damian with open arms, even though this Bay Area transplant is still learning to love our city. Read her thoughts on what life is like moving from fresh coastal air to the valley floor filled with smog.

Hiking trails

Make sure to bring a walking stick! Hit the hiking trails with hiking enthusiast Jeff Green as he takes us on a tour of three of his favorite local hikes with gorgeous views of open meadows, wild flowers and pine trees.

Latination Tr3s

Don Martin, aka Mr. Downtown, has done it again. The Metro Galleries owner gave us a sneak peek of the bright colored pieces by local artists celebrating the Latino culture. These works will be on display Sept. 2 for the third annual Latination Tr3s exhibit.

Health and Wellness section

From nutritional advice and workout tips from trainers to choosing the right gym for you, this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s special section has lots of information concerning your health.

Photo by Casey Christie

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Bakersfield Life

September 2011

It’s a Guy Thing

62 Going Green 66 Why I Live Here 86 Education 90 Communty 102 Entertainment 108 Personality 110 Talk of the Town 112 Trip Planner 114 Get out of Town 124 Snap! 130 The Last Word

Photo by Jessica Frey

10:30am - 2:15pm Closed Sundays

Photo by Casey Christie

Downtown

1231 18th Street (18th and L Streets)

12 Up Front 17 Letters to the Editor 22 Happenings 24 It Manners A Lot 26 Our Town 28 Real People 30 Food Dudes 34 Food and Wine 40 Sports Legend 42 On the Road 46 Why I Serve

EDITOR’S NOTE

Bakersfield’s Premier City Magazine September 2011 / Vol. 5 / Issue 12

Publisher Ginger Moorhouse President/CEO Richard Beene Senior Vice President Revenue and Marketing John Wells Advertising Director Bryan Fahsbender Editor Olivia Garcia Assistant Editor Stefani Dias Features Associate Hillary Haenes Editorial Assistant Marisol Sorto Art Director Glenn Hammett Photography Felix Adamo Henry A. Barrios Jaclyn Borowski Casey Christie Michael Fagans Dave Fore Jessica Frey Camielle Fulton Natalie Green Dianne Hardisty Lois Henry John Harte Alex Horvath Greg Nichols Tanya X. Leonzo Michael Lopez Dan Ocampo Jan St. Pierre Ashley Reyes Carla Rivas Contributing writers Vicki Adame Jennifer Bachman Allie Castro Kelly Damian Ashley Decker Lois Henry Todd Jeffries Kelli Johnson Lisa Kimble Stephen Lynch Ann McCright Melissa Peaker-Whitten Gabriel Ramirez Miranda Whitworth Intern Laura Sverchek 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 “Angel of Fall,” by Alberto Herrera, will be on display at Metro Galleries for the Latination juried art exhibit. Photgraphed by Casey Christie.

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

Living healthier

By the time you receive this issue, many of our readers will be well into back-toschool mode. I think the students will be doing more adjusting than parents, especially when it comes to waking up early. I know two of my boys, a seventh-grader and high school freshman, are starting to remember how hard early mornings are. With school back in session, we asked a few local educators to share some thoughts on this academic year. On the cutting edge, Taft College is also expanding its Transition to Independent Living, a great program that benefits adults with intellectual disabilities such as autism and Down syndrome. Aside from education, we devoted much of this issue to health and wellness, topics that concern many of us. It’s clear that we care about our minds, bodies and souls, and we want to find ways to improve. Some of us are looking to shed a few pounds while others want to develop healthier lifestyles. As a result, we review a number of health topics, including the Lap-Band and fitness tips. For the explorer at heart, community member and hiking pro Jeff Green also provides us with some tips to checking out a few nearby trails. Also with health in mind, we highlight men who practice yoga for exercise and meditation and six local restaurants that offer delicious vegetarian and gluten-free meals. Ever tried tofu tacos or pad Thai? I recommend you give it a shot. Speaking of restaurants, our Food Dudes paid a visit to Coconut Joe’s on California Avenue and gave us their take on why you should stop by the popular, locally owned business. Congratulations are in order for Ginger Moorhouse, publisher of Bakersfield Life magazine and one of the honorees of the upcoming Girl Scouts Women Inspiring Girls Luncheon. Read inside for more details.

Photo by Tanya X. Leonzo

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.

Another inspiring woman is our newest columnist, Kelly Damian, a Bay Area transplant who had some nice words to say about living in our neck of the woods. She will be delving into other slice-of-life Bakersfield stories in upcoming issues. This month, celebrate culture by attending Latination Tr3s, a monthlong juried art exhibit being held at Metro Galleries downtown. The exhibit will kick off at 5 p.m. on First Friday, Sept 2. The art show highlights the work of many talented artists who designed pieces on Latino culture. In its third year, I expect the show to be an even greater success.

Olivia Garcia Editor 395-7487 ogarcia@bakersfield.com

TH E

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FIELD CALIF OR

2010

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FAVORITE RE

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UP FRONT Kelly Damian

An acquired appreciation for Bakersfield A lot of people love where they live. For some its love at first sight: cue the Midwestern girl who steps foot in Manhattan, breathes in the barely controlled chaos of the city and she knows she is instantly and permanently home. For others, they love their town like they love their mother. It’s a part of them and every drive to work is turning the pages of a family album. There's where I learned to ride a bike. There’s the fence my grandfather built. There’s that tree Aunt Lou crashed into after she had too many eggnogs. Personally, my relationship with Bakersfield has been more arranged marriage, less love-match. I cried for much of the long drive from Oakland to Bakersfield, throwing wadded-up Kleenex out of the car window, leaving behind a trail of tissues in the weeds along I-5. It has been five years since that melodramatic drive south, and I suppose I am now a fully incorporated citizen of Bakersfield. My oldest daughter goes to the public school down the street. When I run an errand I know I will bump into a co-worker or a friend or distant relation. And I know that Luigi’s on Saturday afternoon will be a zoo, but it will be worth the wait. Slowly, painfully, Bakersfield and I are coming to terms. Now, when I visit San Francisco or Oakland, I look at the towns from an outsider’s perspective. In the middle class and wealthier neighborhoods there remains an air of utopian fervor; the sense that the world will be OK if we would all just be a little more artisanal and locavore and organic. I’m not knocking these ideas. I just realize now that it’s a lot easier to be dogmatic about what the rest of the world needs to do when you are sitting in your beautifully restored craftsman, down the street from the preciously overwrought coffee shop, breathing big lungfuls of clean ocean air. When I

visit my friends up north, I can’t shake the feeling that they’re on the upper decks, taking in the sunset, cocktails in hand while we in the valley are shoveling coal into the belly of the beast of California. Here in the valley, I am up close and personal with the beginning and end points of consumption. The exhaust from my car is no longer carried away by ocean breezes. It sits in the sky day after day, the spoiled leftovers of the Yukons and Escalades and RAV4s. I mark my daily route to work by the fields I pass. First the oil field, then the carrot field, the cotton field, a skeleton of construction that was to be a housing tract but is now a tumbleweed field, and, off in the distance somewhere, breeding flies and pestilence, the sludge field. Instead of looking at glammed-up posters of farms in Whole Foods, I get stuck behind tractors and notice when the hay has been baled and marvel at how carrots are picked. (With this conveyor belt tractor thing, in case you were wondering.) I love the Bay Area, and I always will. It was a first crush. And the first crush is always special. But Bakersfield, with its terrible weather and Dust Bowl history and workhorse mentality, has gained my respect. Living here, I appreciate the heavy lifting the Central Valley does for California. It captures the smog and pumps the oil and grows the food and, of course, provides a punch line for the jokes. Many people, especially those who grew up here, love this town. Thinking about how I feel toward Bakersfield, I would have to say that I love it like I would a wire-haired threelegged dog: I'm learning to love it because somebody has to.

Photo by Alex Horvath

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Bakersfield Life

September 2011

to enjoy Theater on the Kern* with California wines, hors d’ oeuvres, a Kern River sunset and informal theatrical entertainment provided by Stars, Spotlight, The Empty Space, Bakersfield Music Theatre and Bakersfield Community Theater.

September 25, 2011 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Please join us. Mingle with local actors and enjoy your favorite duets and musical scenes with the backdrop of the Kern River. Support our local theater and help us audience-build * A fundraising event to pay for an on-going ad in The Bakersfield Californian, listing the not-for-profit theaters’ playbills. $35 per person, $30. for ACK members. Credit card reservations/information ACK 324-9000

Short Takes

‘Theater on the Kern’ benefits live theater groups The picturesque grounds of Timothy and Margaret Lemucchi’s northeast Bakersfield home will be the setting of an afternoon fundraiser for the community’s five nonprofit theaters on Sept. 25. With the Lemucchis’ home in the Uplands of the Kern gated community featuring beautiful gardens and a 180-degree view of the spectacular Kern River, guests will be treated to an afternoon of live theater performances, hors d’oeuvres and California wines. This is the second consecutive year that the Lemucchis and the Arts Council of Kern have hosted “Theater on the Kern” to benefit the community’s five live theater companies: Stars Theatre, Spotlight Theatre, The Empty Space, Bakersfield Music Theatre and Bakersfield Community Theatre. Among the performances that will entertain guests from 4 to 7 p.m. will be: Stars’ Sally Bowles welcoming the audience to “Cabaret,” Spotlight’s cast from “Sweeney Todd” performing a medley, The Empty Space’s cast performing selections from next season’s “Nine People’s Favorite Things” and Bakersfield Music Theatre’s six merry murderesses of the Cook County jail giving their rendition of the “Cell Block Tango” from “Chicago.”

“The purpose of the evening is to raise funds to finance an advertising campaign to build audiences for all five nonprofit theater companies,” explained Margaret Lemucchi, an Arts Council board member. “Weekly advertisements will be published in The Bakersfield Californian to highlight local theater performances. “We are so fortunate to have so much live theater in Bakersfield and such opportunity to discover and nurture/offer an outlet for our amazing local talent,” she said. Theater on the Kern at the Lemucchi residence also is intended to share the histories and backgrounds of the local theater companies, and give the audience a sampling of “the amazing theater being presented in our community every weekend of the year.” Margaret Lemucchi likens the performances to a “theater in the round,” where actors will entertain and mingle with the crowd. The Lemucchis’ home is located off Round Mountain Road, on two-and-a-half acres of land along the shores of the Kern River, three miles east of Gordon’s Ferry Bridge. Guests will be invited to roam the grounds and enjoy the many gardens. — Maureen Buscher-Dang

“Theater on the Kern” • 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 25 • Timothy and Margaret Lemucchi’s home, 6501 Uplands of the Kern Drive $35 per person • For reservations, call the Arts Council of Kern at 324-9000 • Credit cards are accepted.

��

www.BakersfieldLife.com

UP FRONT Short Takes

Support ALS walk to benefit local patients What are you doing Saturday, Oct. 1? Michael Gagner; his wife, Stacy Inman; and the ALS Association invite you to take a Walk in the Park at River Walk to raise funds for those affected by ALS. ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease that can strike down even the healthiest person. Eighty percent of those diagnosed with the disease die within two to five years of diagnosis. It is a fatal, neuromuscular disease that strikes the nervous system. An ALS patient will slowly loses their ability to walk, talk, eat and even breathe as their muscles waste away. Although progress has been made, there is still no known cure or effective treatment for this devastating illness. Approximately 30,000 people in the U.S. are affected with ALS. Seemingly rare, its effects are far-reaching; it can strike anyone at any time. In Bakersfield, ALS has struck a

More than 500 people participated in last year’s ALS walk. 19-year-old teenager, an 83-year-old woman and many other people in between. ALS does not discriminate between gender, race or age. In 1999, Michael Gagner was diagnosed with ALS. At that time, there were no resources in Bakersfield. So the Gagners drove once a month to Westlake Village for an ALS support group. After four years of traveling to L.A., they set a goal of providing resources right here in Kern County. They started the Bakersfield Walk to DeFeat ALS in 2004. About 200 people

participated in the first walk and raised about $35,000. Last year, about 500 people helped raise $80,000, bringing the total to $610,000 over seven years. With these funds, the local ALS case manager has located approximately 60 percent of the ALS patients in Kern County, giving one-on-one assistance to people with ALS and their families. The ALS Association also maintains an equipment loan pool and sponsors a fabulous support group! But there is more to do. — Stacy Inman

ALS Walk — Kern County • Saturday Oct. 1 • Registration 8:30 a.m. • Walk 9:30 a.m. at the Park at River Walk

Word on the Street

You haven’t truly experienced the Kern County Fair unless … “You have tried all the food, like the turkey legs, funnel cakes and candy apples.”

“You have eaten the baked potatoes or sweet potatoes.”

“You have tested all the rides and eaten a corn dog.”

— Julie Morrow

— Samuel Resendez

“You have seen all the animals.”

“You have eaten a funnel cake and candy apple.”

— Stephanie Govea

“You have eaten a big corn dog!” — Marci Calley

“You have tried all the rides twice in one night.” — Richard Guerrero

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

— Louie Banales

“You have seen the multiple exhibits.” — Elsy Zavaleta

— Valerie Hernandez

“You’ve jumped on the bumper cars.”

— Natalie Sierra

UP FRONT Short Takes

Run for sickle cell awareness help local kids go to sickle cell camp and support the India bloodscreening program. Proceeds from the event will help the foundation support these causes. At the event, Houchin Community Blood Bank will be running a blood drive and bone marrow registration, both of which are important in fighting blood disorders. The event will also include music, a raffle, food and other activities for families to enjoy. Registration for the event can be done online at hinapatelfoundation.org or from 7 to 8 a.m. the day of the event. Registration is $20 per person before Sept. 9 and $25 afterward. This includes a T-shirt and lunch. For more information, visit hinapatelfoundation.org or contact Bhavana Patel at sicklecell@yahoo.com. — Laura Sverchek Photo by Dianne Hardisty

The third annual Sickle Cell 5k Run/Walk will take place at 7 a.m. on Sept. 17 at the Park at River Walk on Stockdale Highway. The event is hosted by the Hina Patel Foundation for sickle cell disease, which is named for Hina Patel who was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at birth. Hina started the foundation in 2008 as a support group for people with sickle cell disease. Bhavana Patel, Hina's mother and president of the foundation, said the No. 1 goal of the foundation is to increase awareness about sickle cell disease, which is genetic. “It could be preventable if we Bhavana, left, did genetic counseling,” Bhavana and Hina Patel. Patel said. The foundation's other goals are to improve the local services for people in Bakersfield with sickle cell disease and give them a support group, support gene therapy research,

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Bakersfield Life

September 2011

UP FRONT Letters to the Editor The impact of coaches

Kudos

Kudos to Gabriel Ramirez for his article about first-time East High softball coaches April Tabarez and Roxy Leiva. As a softball coach at Mira Monte, I understand the hurdles that east side coaches have to clear in order to get inexperienced players up to speed. Many parents on the east side don't have the resources to put their kids into leagues, much less hire personal coaches. But more importantly, they know they are not only coaches, but mentors, who make their kids understand the importance of academics and personal responsibility. In our summer league, I watched a great group of kids from east Bakersfield make big strides. As a member of three generations of East High grads, I hope that the Blades' administration recognizes them as an asset not only to the program but to the school overall. Great job, ladies!

Just wanted to let you know what a great job you are doing with Bakersfield Life magazine. It is designed and organized in a very thoughtful, professional and organized manner. This magazine puts many national publications to shame. I especially enjoy reading Lois Henry’s trip planner, the restaurant review by the Divas and the Food Dudes, and the automobile reviews by Olivia Garcia. Bakersfield Life presents a welcoming, pleasant and vibrant slant to the city we live in — people forget that there are so many wonderful activities, venues, restaurants, day trips, etc. that lie within the boundaries of Bakersfield and Kern County. — Kevin Keller

— Tim Murphy

Bakersfield Life art director Glenn Hammett responds: While the Kern’s deadly force from Lake Isabella to Bakersfield is well documented, the paddleboarding photos, both on the cover and inside of the August issue, were taken by freelance photographer Jessica Frey from the Calloway bridge in southwest Bakersfield. Dozens of local residents, myself included, have had the pleasure of paddleboarding the shallow and slow-moving six-mile stretch from Beach Park to the Park at River Walk this summer. The entire trip takes about an hour and a half, which means you are moving at an average speed of four miles per hour (brisk walking speed); and much of the time you are looking for the deepest channels, so the fin on your board does not drag on the bottom. Having water run through Bakersfield this summer has been a rare treat, and we wanted to celebrate that on the cover of our August issue.

Geography lesson I enjoyed the article in the July 2011 issue concerning the river. However, it contained an error. Mount Whitney is not the highest point in the continental U.S. Mount McKinley in Alaska at 20,320 feet is much higher. Mount Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous or “lower 48” states.

The Bakersfield Californian publishes Bakersfield Life magazine monthly. If you have any questions or comments regarding our magazine, write to us at Bakersfield Life magazine, P.O. Bin 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302, or e-mail us at bakersfieldlife@bakersfield.com. We’d love to hear from you.

To submit material

Sincerely James M. Miller

River photo concern For the record I would like to express my thanks for the kind article about me in the August Bakersfield Life magazine. Melissa Whitten did a wonderful job of presenting some of what we do in vision rehabilitation. I would like to make one clarification. I practice optometry and attended optometry school at UC Berkeley, not medical school as stated in the article. I am very proud of the work that my profession does, and am grateful to the Bakersfield Life magazine for helping spread the word. — Penelope S. Suter, OD

I just finished reading from cover to cover your wonderful magazine. It was superbly done and a presentation to be proud of. Photography and articles were fantastic. But, in light of the number of people who have drowned in the Kern River, both past and present, why in the world would you put on the cover page and inside, a picture of someone on the river without a life jacket, and with no apparent fastener to the board should the rider fall off and the board get away from him? I am surprised and interested in your comment. — Rod Middleworth

Letters to the Editor: We publish all letters that are signed and deemed appropriate for our readership. Letters must be signed to be considered for a publication. Please type or print your name, as well as an address and a daytime phone number. E-mail should include the writer’s full name and city. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and space. Please submit letters to Olivia Garcia, Editor, Bakersfield Life magazine, P.O. Bin 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302. For e-mail, send letters to the editor to bakersfieldlife@bakersfield.com. Calendar events: Please submit information in writing to Marisol Sorto, no later than the first of the month, two months prior to the month in which the event will take place. Contact her at bakersfieldlife@bakersfield.com.

To advertise

Please call Lupe Carabajal, retail advertising sales manager, at 395-7563 or lcarabajal@ bakersfield.com or bakersfieldlife@bakersfield. com.

www.BakersfieldLife.com

UP FRONT It’s Named After

By Lisa Kimble

The Florence R. Wheeler Cancer Center at Mercy’s downtown hospital has played a significant role in the lives of many, most of whom probably never met the radiation oncology facility’s namesake. Born in Bakersfield in 1929, Florence Reid Wheeler graduated from East Bakersfield High School in 1946 and attended Bakersfield College and San Jose State College. When Florence moved home in 1959 she became reacquainted with East High classmate William A. Wheeler. They married the following year, and in 1964 their daughter, Nancy, was born. The family’s fortune was built on Bill’s innovative and pioneering developments in the oil field waste disposal industry, and later in residential development in California and Nevada. Their company, Petroleum Waste, was eventually sold to International Technology Corp. Florence, who was fond of playing bridge and enjoyed family outings to Bass Lake, felt strongly about giving back to the community that had been so generous to them. The couple contributed to many local charities, including the Junior League, as well as schools like Bakersfield College and East High School, and routinely in quiet ways without recognition. In 1989, the Wheelers formed the Wheeler Foundation, which made community contributions in the areas of health, education and child welfare.

Photo by Casey Christie

Florence R. Wheeler Cancer Center

In 1992, the Florence R. Wheeler Cancer Center was established. More than a million dollars has been given to the facility since it opened its doors, and it was a source of great pride for Florence. In 2002, Florence lost her own battle with cancer at age 73. Her daughter and son-in-law remain active in the community Florence and Bill Wheeler loved and enjoyed.

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Signature Properties, Signature Service By the Numbers

Kern County Fair

Mary Christenson

number of years the fair has been operating

S pecializing

360,000 average number of people who visit the fair annually

30,000

average number of people who visit the fair a day

895

the number of different food items sold at the fair

total number of carnival rides

130

height, in feet, of the tallest ride at the fair (The Turbo Force)

total number of carnival games

in Luxury Homes, Estate Properties and Golf Course Communities

cost, in dollars, of a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entrance ticket

168

the area, in acres, covered by the fair

280

Direct Cell

weight limit, in pounds, for pigs at the fair

301-MARY

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UP FRONT 25 random things you didn’t know about ...

Noe G Noe Garcia (aka Noe G) may have been serving up the beats for more than 30 years, but he is also a jack of many trades. You may have heard him on the radio on HOT 94.1 FM on the weekend or maybe you hired him as the DJ for your special day. Perhaps you dealt with him under his interim role as custodian of records for the insurance department at Kaiser Permanente with his goal of taking great care of your personal medical documents. He’s a familiar face at local Hispanic chamber events, looks up to role model and good friend attorney H.A. Sala, and loves to volunteer for Relay for Life, in honor of his mother, Esther Garcia, who passed away this year of cancer. If you haven't met him yet, here's your chance to get to know Noe G.

1. I was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, and moved to Bakersfield when I was 21.

2. People say I have OCD. I say, “No. I just like my things to be clean, in order and well taken care of!”

3. I love my job — all three of them! 4. My mother taught me to take care of things so they would last me forever. Gawd, I miss that lady.

5. When my brother and I would argue, my dad would always

say (in Spanish): “Cayate, Noe. Es mejor un loco y no dos!” (In English): “Noe, shut up! Don’t argue back. It’s better one crazy guy than two crazy guys.” RIP, Dad.

6. Only a handful of people know that I can draw pretty well. 7. I’ve DJ'd hundreds of events, weddings, parties and clubs since the early ’80s.

8. I like to joke around a lot. Like I always say, “If I pick on you or

joke with you, it’s because I like you and I feel comfortable around you to be myself.”

9. I love my Garcia family, although I don’t get to see them as much as I want to. Life somehow finds a way to keep you busy and away from those you love. Gotta make time.

lection, which had more than 30 years of music, everything from Motown to 2005 contemporary. I just didn’t have room for it anymore.

13. You can listen to me on the weekends (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) on local hip-hop and R&B station HOT 94.1 FM. I’ll play your jam!

14. The most emotional time in my life was losing the first

woman I truly loved: my mother. I lost her to cancer, and my life will never be the same.

15. I can get frustrated right away. 16. I have two amazing kids, Mackenzie and Jonathan. 17. For me-time, I sneak off to Santa Barbara for dinner and a nice glass of cab.

18. No one knows that I often stop at a church to say a prayer for my family and friends.

19. My 7-month-old German shepherd is finally barking and trying to bite people he doesn't know. Go, Max!

20. I’m pretty sure I’ve DJ’d your mama’s mama’s party. 21. I like grape Gatorade and orangeflavored Slurpees.

22. I don’t have a pool, so

sometimes I’ll book a room at the DoubleTree just to go swimming all day. I love to swim.

23. Blocked numbers annoy me! 24. I’m single, but I’m a proud grandpa and a good dad.

25. My outlook: Every day you

learn something new, and at times, silence can be your best weapon.

10. My all-time favorite song is “To Say I

Love You” by Ralphie Pagan, but I love house music. Must be a soul thing, I guess.

11. My local fave restaurants are Manuel’s Casa de Mariscos and Fishlips.

Photo by Dave Fore

12. I’ve recently sold my album col-

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

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HAPPENINGS

Find more community events at bakersfieldlife.com or submit yours via e-mail: bakersfieldlife@bakersfield.com

WEEK 3

WEEK 2

WEEK 1

Can’t-miss events in September

Fri. 2

Sat. 3

First Friday, featuring live music, art openings, specialty shops, galleries and boutiques, artists will set up their artwork, 5 to 9 p.m., Downtown Arts District. 6349598.

Fifth annual End of Summer Family Fun Day, food, music, puppet show, guest speakers, door prizes, car and bike show, water slide, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Stramler Park, 3805 Chester Ave. Free. 332-9297.

Fri. 9

Sat. 10

Through Sept. 10 Greek Food Festival, Greek music, dancing, food, children’s games and more, 4 to 11 p.m. Friday; 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday, St. George Greek Orthodox, 401 Truxtun Ave. $5 adults; children under 12 are free. 325-8694.

Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County Golf Classic, four-person scramble, shotgun begins at 12:30 p.m., Rio Bravo Country Club, 15200 Casa Club Drive. $125 per person; $500 per team. adakc.org or 393-8871 ext. 18.

43rd annual Wasco Festival of Roses, parade, rose field tours, fun run, art show and fair, tennis tournament, rose show, golf tournament and more, 10 a.m. Wasco. www. ci.wasco.ca.us or 7582616.

International Festival, celebrating all abilities, communities and cultures, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Yokuts Park, 4200 Empire Drive. 328-9055 ext. 257.

2011 Concert Series, with Karla Bonoff, 8 p.m., Bright House Networks Amphitheatre, 11200 Stockdale Highway. $10. ticketmaster.com or all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 800-745-3000.

Tue. 13

Thurs. 15 Fri. 16

“Better Cooking for Better Living,” exhibits open at 3:30 p.m., cooking demo at 6 p.m., Bakersfield Marriott Hotel, 801 Truxtun Ave. $35. Visit SJCH.us/bettercooking for tickets or 869-6580.

BC Alumni Barbecue, social 5:30 p.m., dinner 6 to 9 p.m., BC Football practice field. Tickets ($5 to $25) can be purchased at the BC ticket office, 395-4326, BC Foundation, 395-4800 or at the gate.

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

Sat. 17

Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, with Mariachi Los Camperos, 8 p.m., Rabobank Arena Theater and Convention Center, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $25 to $95. ticketmaster.com or call 323-7928.

Seventh annual B-Town Blues Fest, 5 to 10:30 p.m., CSUB Amphitheater. $25$40. Students, military and seniors 65 and up, 18 and under are free. 831-3100.

Anjelah Johnson, doors open at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m., Bakersfield Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $28.50. vallitix.com or 3225200.x

Alejandro Fernandez, 8 p.m., Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $45 to $150 plus fee. ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.

Sun. 18

Thurs. 22

Sat. 24

Fun in the Sun Car Show, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kern County Museum, 3801 Chester Ave. $10 adults; $9 students/ seniors; children under 3 are free. kcmuseum.org or 852-5000

Johnny Mathis, 7:30 p.m., Bakersfield Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $47.50 to $135.50. vallitix.com or 3225200.

Which One's Pink?, a Pink Floyd Tribute band, 9 p.m., Fishlips Bar & Grill, 1517 18th St. $20; 21 & over only. 324-2557 or 852-3238.

Tue. 27

Fri. 30

Carlos Santana & the Santana Band, 8 p.m., Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $28-$88. ticketmaster.com or 800-7453000.

Through Oct. 1 PRCA Rodeo, gates open at 6:30 p.m., begins at 7:30 p.m., Kern County Fairgrounds, Grandstand, 1142 P St. $9 to $13. vallitix.com or 322-5200.

IT MANNERS A LOT

Traveling with social grace

F By Lisa Kimble

From funeral processions to the daily commute, it seems civility is stalled in the center divider. Motoring from point A to point B has never been more unnerving. Try changing lanes, entering traffic or alerting the motorist ahead that the light has turned green, and you’re likely to be serenaded with hand gestures. When did we drive ourselves into such disregard? Intersections, intended to be free of gridlock, are now like the nearby fast-food drive-through, clogged with cars. The rare funeral procession from downtown to the eastside is fraught with motorists trying to cut in. And parking spaces reserved for drivers with disabilities are simply too inviting for the hurried motorist. Thanks to readers who weighed in with frustrations from the on-ramps and parking lots. How we behave behind the wheel is as important as any place else because it really “manners” a lot. Dear It Manners A Lot, What is it with local drivers? No one seems to observe the “Don’t block intersection” signs anymore! Dear Reader, This annoying habit isn’t germane to just Bakersfield. Many states prohibit intersection gridlock. California’s Vehicle Code Section 22526 states: (a) “Notwithstanding any official traffic control signal indication to proceed, a driver of a vehicle shall not enter an intersection or marked crosswalk unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the intersection or marked crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle driven without obstructing the through passage of vehicles from either side.” In other words — don’t enter an intersection unless you have enough room to clear out of it. It’s the orderly flow of traffic, and ensures that emergency vehicles can get by if need be. Besides, a violation will cost you more than 60 gallons in gas. Imagine where that would take you. Lisa Kimble

Dear It Manners A Lot, Recently, I was part of a large funeral procession of cars traveling from the church to the cemetery. I was shocked at how disrespectful other drivers were, trying to cut in. Dear Reader, If a single-lane, escorted cortege of cars traveling at a low rate of speed with stickers on the windshield and headlights on in the middle of the day doesn’t signal an out-of-the-ordinary event, then a citizen’s arrest is surely in order. The clueless drivers you witnessed were probably the same ones who blocked intersections a few miles back. A driver isn’t required to pull over, but it is most definitely the decent, respectful and thoughtful thing to do. Funeral processions have the right of way. Slow down or pull over until the procession passes. It will take less time than it does to change the radio station. Dear It Manners A Lot, I work at a video store with spaces in front reserved for handicapped parking, but almost every day someone without a sign parks there, even if it is only for a few minutes. Dear Reader, Anyone who has a loved one with a physical disability understands the importance of these spaces and wouldn’t dream of doing so, but it is galling how many people think nothing of taking a spot designated for drivers with a handicap sign. Vehicle Code Section 22507 is pretty clear on this: (a) it is unlawful for any person to park or leave standing any vehicle in a stall or space designated for disabled persons unless the vehicle displays a distinguishing placard. As tempting as it is to appoint yourself the disability cop, addressing the issue with the driver is risky. It is possible they do need that space but don’t have the sign; however, anything you say or do isn’t likely to change the situation. Agree, disagree? Send your questions, comments or topics you’d like to read about to itmannersalot@bakersfield.com or visit itmannersalot.blogspot.com.

BIKEBAKERSFIELD & Safe Routes To School We invite you to come see our SRTS page for great back to school tips and programs! Please visit us at:

WWW.BIKEBAKERSFIELD.ORG/SRTS BIKEBAKERSFIELD’S Safe Route to School program (SRTS) is a program that enables and encourages walking and biking to and from school. The SRTS program integrates health, fitness, traffic relief, environmental awareness and safety under one program.

19th & N Street, Downtown Bakersfield www.emporiumwesternstore.com 24

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

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At Bakersﬁeld Memorial Hospital… It’s Ok. We’re always thinking about you and your heart. YOUR HEALTHY HEART For a free personalized e-health newsletter to learn more about staying heart healthy and other topics of interest to you, go to: www.ItsOkBakersﬁeld.org/every-lifematters/your-health/. Select “Every Life Matters” from the menu. Then, click on “Your Health” in the drop down list to request your free subscription.

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OUR TOWN

Maya Cinemas

Photo by Jessica Frey

More than a movie

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

Photo by Jessica Frey

“Let’s go to the movies! Let’s go see the stars!” sang Little Orphan Annie, upon experiencing the theater for the first time with Daddy Warbucks. Seeing a movie in the theater for the first time can be a very memorable experience. The gigantic screen, comfy seats and buttery popcorn are all so strange, new and exciting. Maya Cinemas aims for that very same feel by bringing that magic and life back to theaters. They don’t want audiences to just watch a movie; they want them to experience a show. Here are some fun and interesting facts about Bakersfield’s very own Maya Cinemas, setting it apart from the rest. 1. They just celebrated their second anniversary. 2. Their busiest day of the year is Christmas. 3. They have quiet rooms so families with little ones can watch the movies in relaxation. 4. They have Tapatio hot sauce for the popcorn. 5. They currently staff more than 70 employees. 6. They often feature independent or limited release films such as, “Midnight in Paris” and “A Better Life.” 7. Aside from movies, they also have a conference room available to rent and often host concerts put on by KRAB Radio. 8. They are the only theater in town with movable DBox seats, which add an entirely new element to the movie experience and are a quick upgrade to a 4D experience. Better grab your tickets fast though; there are only 20 Dbox seats and prices range from $18 to $20. 9. Their regularly priced seats are roomy, made of leather and even recline.

Photo by Felix Adamo

By Kelli Johnson

10. They have 16 auditoriums, with the number of seats ranging from 85 in the smaller auditoriums to 321 in the largest. 11. If you’re looking for dinner and a show, you might want to try the Maya on Mondays when hot dogs are only $1.25. 12. Tuesdays are Family Day at the Maya where regular movie tickets are only $5.50 and 3D tickets are $8.50. 13. Wednesdays are Senior Day, when seniors only pay $4 for regular tickets and $7.50 for 3D tickets. 14. During the summer, Maya has a kids’ film fest, where they feature $1 movies at 9 a.m., every Wednesday and Thursday. 15. Things get a little spooky around the Maya during Halloween when they put on their Horror Movie Fest. Every Thursday for the entire month of October, they show one old horror movie for all the local ghouls and goblins to enjoy.

www.BakersfieldLife.com

REAL PEOPLE

Cliff Popplewell This artist’s tools are a flat iron and hair dryer

Local stylist Cliff Popplewell is an artist in his own right whose creations are crafted using a flat iron and hair dryer. He did not set out to become a stylist, but his muse found him while attending Bakersfield College. Popplewell had plans to pursue a degree in musical theater and television journalism, when his path took him in an entirely different direction. “A friend of mine talked me into it,” Popplewell said of his unplanned career move. “She was notoriously late when we would go out at night, so at one point she asked me to blow out her hair (to save some time) and when we went out, she got compliments on it.” That same friend encouraged him to go to beauty school because she thought he was a natural, so he decided to take classes at Federico’s. And nearly 20 years later, Popplewell is still cutting and styling hair. But theater is something he would like to become involved in again someday. As for singing, that is something he has never stopped doing. “I get my 15 minutes of fame at karaoke on Saturday nights at Don Perico’s,” Popplewell said. “I’m a pretty steady thing there.” The consummate professional, he brings his own CDs. And if he happens to be out of town for the weekend, he’ll look up the local karaoke scene. He’s been singing karaoke since the 1990s. “I’ll just go wherever I find it — there are clubs that I’ve been to that do it every night — some places have karaoke bars and each place has its own ambience,” he said. When he’s in town, people will come up and ask him to do a duet, or make a request for him to sing a particular song they’ve heard him perform before. His signature songs are “My Maria” by Brooks and Dunn or “Crying” by Roy Orbison. “I’ve been known for singing since I was a young child,” Popplewell said. Over the years he’s worked at a few different salons in town, but has finally found his niche at Pizazz, where he’s

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

Photo courtesy of Cliff Popplewell

By Melissa Peaker-Whitten

Cliff Popplewell has been cutting and styling hair for nearly 20 years.

worked the past two years. “It’s a very established salon that has been in business for 25 years,” he said. “I work with a great group of people who are very supportive. I’m quite content, it’s really nice.” Though he’s a very well-rounded hairdresser, Popplewell said color and weaves are what he most enjoys doing, because they allow for more artistic expression. Longtime friend and weekly client Joy Rose had nothing but praise for him. “I’ve got to tell you, no matter where I go, and I travel quite a bit, I always have people ask me about my hair,” said Rose. “He’s really good with the flat iron, blow dryer and his cuts are incredible — he’s very talented.” Because Rose has such a busy lifestyle, she said this is especially important to her. “He’s efficient, he gets the job done and knows how to take care of business,” said Rose. “We’re very fortunate to have someone of his professional quality here.” For Popplewell, following his instincts 20 years ago has paid off. His pastime has become his passion and his natural talent and hard work have taken him far. But no matter what path he’d chosen, it would have been be an avenue for artistic expression. “I’m pretty artistic all the way around,” Popplewell said. “I surround myself with great people. I have a great network of friends and family who have always supported what I’ve done.”

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FOOD DUDES

Coconut Joe’s The Food Dudes, from left: Dave DuBose, Bill Trivitt, Kevin McCloskey and David Luter.

A slice of island paradise Coconut Joe's offers right blend of food, great company Photos by Greg Nichols

Bill Trivitt Coconut Joe’s has been one of my favorite restaurants for close to 20 years. While it hasn’t always been called Coconut Joe’s, the food has always been great. Joe and Leah Coughlin purchased a one-third share of Pepe’s Pollos in the early ’90s. The restaurant was having financial difficulties and needed a new direction. Joe brought his management expertise and a vision that transformed a modest mom-and-pop business into today’s island getaway. The decor at Coconut Joe’s makes you feel like you’re in North Beach Oahu waiting for a surf competition to start. Joe has a vast collection of surf memorabilia that is displayed with a Disney attraction quality. Joe also acquired vintage surf footage from filmmaker Bruce Brown, the creator of “The Endless Summer.” Brown’s surf footage can 30

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

Coconut Joe’s owner Joe Coughlin shows Food Dude David Luter around the prop room of Coconut Joe’s Beach Club banquet hall.

Fish and chips

Ginger lime chicken burrito

be seen on several big screen monitors throughout the restaurant. If you think it couldn’t get any cooler, Joe did it with his banquet hall, Coconut Joe’s Private Beach Club. This is the place for your next party. Joe’s is definitely a feel-good kind of place. The staff at Coconut Joe’s is the most important part. Without caring energetic employees, the restaurant wouldn’t be the same. Joe and Leah have built a team, or should I say family, that works and plays as one. You can tell the staff is happy to be part of the never-ending Coconut Joe’s party. One thing that can’t be missed is the Coconut Joe’s Island Taxi, modeled after the ’70s beach buggies from Hawaii. They were awning-covered whimsical vehicles that hung around resort hotels ferrying tourists round the island. We were treated to a short drive over to the beach club. A very cool ride and I think David is going to start building his own soon. But enough about the place, taxi and people. Let’s get to the food.

Kevin McCloskey Coconut Joe’s has long been a Bakersfield staple for great grilled chicken and tri-tip in all their various forms, and when they added their fantastic fish and chips it really slowed down my ability to order in a timely manner. Choosing between the fish and chips or the tri-tip was very difficult for me, and the logical solution — fish and tips — wasn't a posted option. Now I alternate between the two, but that wasn't good enough for Joe, he had to go and complicate my choices again. There are quite a few perks in being a Food Dude, and for our outing to Coconut Joe's, one of those perks was being able to sample some new menu items before they actually hit the menu. As this issue of Bakersfield Life is being released to you, good readers, Coconut Joe's will be releasing three new fish taco platters as well as a crab cake sandwich and a ginger lime chicken burrito.

Crab cake sandwich

I've been a fan of fish tacos since I first discovered them in the early ’90s, so this was a real treat for me. You will have to choose between the halibut, catfish or fish and chip (Alaskan cod) tacos, but rest assured there is no wrong choice. Served on double corn tortillas with their chipotle ginger lime sauce, lettuce, tomato, avocado, cilantro, sour cream and the perfectly prepared fish, these tacos aren't just the best in Bakersfield but quite possibly the whole Pacific Coast. The crab cake sandwich surprised me as well. The patty is made from Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab, not the imitation stuff or Dungeness crab. Combined with their homemade tartar sauce and lettuce on a warm bun, this fantastic sandwich is further proof that Coconut Joe's is no ordinary eatery. "Eat at Joe's" was a running gag on the Warner Bros. cartoons of my youth, but now it's no joke. Prophecy perhaps?

Dave DuBose Sometimes things don’t happen the way you expect. I was the first to arrive and introduced myself to Joe Coughlin, CEO and founder, and the first question he had was did we want to just eat or have some fun too. “Both” I replied, and he made sure both hapContinued on page 32

Tri-tip sandwich www.BakersfieldLife.com

Continued from page 31

pened. I was surprised at the size of the crowd. We set the time at 2 in the afternoon thinking the crowd would be thinned out but it was packed. It was a pleasure to meet both Joe and his wife, Leah, and see the obvious passion they still have, even after 20-plus years in the business. And that passion was obvious with their staff as well. During my travels, I rarely pass up an opportunity to try the local fish and chips, both good and bad. Most of the excellent examples have been on the California Central Coast or back east. I’m not sure what I expected, but the fish and chips from Coconut Joe’s are right there at the top on my list of favorites. The chips were not the usual as they add some spices that give them a nice flavor, and there’s the coleslaw, another of my favorite side dishes. This was to

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Bakersfield Life

September 2011

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my liking as well, fresh and not covered up with sauce. Next up was a thin-sliced tri-tip sandwich and the new crab cake sandwich. I’ve never been a fan of crab cakes, but this was tasty and light, not the hockey pucks I’m used to. They just kept bringing out more dishes with goodies to try. It’s not often you can sample that many different menu items without finding at least one you don’t care for, but I have to say everything brought to the table hit the mark. Coconut Joe’s is a great local restaurant, and proof that you don’t have to go to the coast for fresh, well-prepared fish. So stop by for some great food, and don’t forget the fun factor. It makes for an enjoyable time.

David Luter Upon receiving the news of our next assignment, these Food Dudes counted the days, one by one, for our date with this wellknown landmark to begin. Like Bill, Coconut Joe’s has been a favorite of our family for almost 20 years. We have seen them expand and change themes, but the quality has always been outstanding. In addition to the excellent food and service already mentioned, Coconut Joe’s has one little hidden gem tucked away on Easton that people might not be aware of, its banquet hall. What started as a partial storage room for props and a small getaway for Joe and his friends during the football season, has since transformed into one of the best banquet halls in greater Bakersfield. Coconut Joe’s Beach Club is decorated in a style similar to the restaurant, with separate sections for dining, dancing, and a place to socialize. The hall easily holds parties of 150 plus, and they not only provide everything you need for a great event (all inclusive), they also do the cleanup afterwards. That to me is a huge plus. Our family has been fortunate enough to enjoy this venue on a few occasions, and the overall experience was top notch. An interesting fact on the Beach Club and Coconut Joe’s, the skulls and shrunken heads displayed in the back bar were created by the same guy who did the ones you see at Disneyland. Who would’ve ever thought of that? If you find yourself in the area, stop by. Chances are you’ll see Juan, the manager, or Julyssa, the assistant manager, making sure that everything is in its place, the food is spot-on, and the patrons are having the best possible time. And tell them the Food Dudes sent you, you will not regret it.

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FOOD AND WINE

Healthy fare

Photo by Henry A. Barrios

Tasty vegetarian and gluten-free options around Bakersfield

Eggplant parmesan from Cafe Med

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

Whether you’re a life-long vegetarian (or a recent convert), have celiac disease and stick to a gluten-free diet or just want to try something new, it can be hard to find that healthy and delicious meal when you are going out to eat. However, many local restaurants have great options. From Thai food to tofu tacos, dine-in to take out, these are the vegetarian or gluten-free meals you definitely want to try around town.

Eggplant parmesan Cafe Med Restaurant, 4809 Stockdale Highway This vegetarian dish is made with eggplant, tomato, garlic, basil, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and Cafe Med’s homemade marinara sauce. “If you love or like eggplant, you will fall in love with this,” said Kathy Brown, co-owner and marketing director. “It’s a vegetarian favorite for many.” Meir Brown, Kathy’s husband and co-owner of the restaurant, is from the Mediterranean, and eggplant is often used in that region’s dishes. Eggplant is highly sought after by vegetarians since it is a filling and delicious substitute for meat. “It can be fried, sautéed and cooked in so many different ways,” Kathy said. The eggplant parmesan has been on Cafe Med’s menu since the restaurant opened 20 years ago and is one of Meir’s favorite dishes. “Its such a full and satisfying meal,” Kathy said. The meal is high in antioxidants and has very little cholesterol.

Tomato basil mozzarella panini The Sequoia Sandwich Co., 1231 18th St., 9160 Rosedale Highway and 9500 Ming Ave. This hot vegetarian panini has sliced mozzarella cheese, Roma tomatoes and fresh basil, topped with balsamic vinaigrette on focaccia bread. Sequoia doesn’t use mozzarella cheese like the cheese that comes on pizza, they use the fresh mozzarella that comes in balls and they slice it up. The focaccia has a little bit of herbs, which add flavor to the sandwich. “This is a really fresh-tasting sandwich,” said co-owner Gary Blackburn. This sandwich is so tasty that even meat-eaters are willing to skip the meat in their sandwich. Continued on page 36

Photo by Henry A. Barrios

By Laura Sverchek

Fresh mozzarella cheese is the key to The Sequoia Sandwich Co.’s tomato basil mozzarella panini.

www.BakersfieldLife.com

Photo by Michael Fagans

Chef’s Choice Noodle Bar’s Pad Thai is glutenfree and can also be made vegetarian.

Continued from page 35

“It’s interesting because it’s been a hit with both vegetarians and non-vegetarians,” Blackburn said. Paninis don’t require any butter to be grilled and therefore, have a lot less fat than other grilled sandwiches “We aren’t brushing butter on this sandwich like we do on other sandwiches,” Blackburn said. Sequoia doesn’t currently have any gluten-free sandwiches, but Blackburn said they are thinking about adding some to their menu. Chef’s Choice Noodle Bar, 1534 19th St. This gluten-free pad Thai is a stir-fry made with rice noodles, scrambled eggs, bean sprouts, red cabbage, peanuts, fish sauce and paprika. Owner Nick Hansa describes this dish as very colorful and “a savory noodle dish.” He said this gluten-free dish is popular because of its varied flavor. “Within one dish you get all the different flavors,” said Hansa. “Sweet, sour, salt from the fish sauce and a little spice from the paprika.” 36

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

The falafel plate from Flame & Skewers.

The bean sprouts, red cabbage and peanuts come on the side, so that they stay crunchy. “It tastes clean and healthy, and when you have the raw vegetables, you can have them on the side or mix them in the noodle salad and use the vegetables for crunch,” Hansa

Photo by Felix Adamo

Pad Thai

said about the pad Thai. Pad Thai is naturally gluten-free and can also be made vegetarian by using salt instead of the fish sauce. Chef’s Choice also has many other choices for vegetarians. “Thai food is very friendly to both vegetarians and gluten-free folks,” Hansa said.

assistant manager at the California Avenue restaurant. “Because it’s actually fulfilling compared to some other vegetarian meals and it’s deep-fried and yummy.” Kephart said that although the falafel balls are deep-fried, it isn’t an unhealthy meal. Falafel’s main ingredients is chickpeas, which are high in protein and dietary fiber and low in fat. This meal is great for those vegetarians who have trouble finding food with enough protein.

A fresh twist on a popular dish, Anita’s tofu taco.

Falafel Flame & Skewers, 5482 California Ave. and 1201 24th St. This popular vegetarian meal at Flame & Skewers is a traditional Mediterranean dish. The falafel is made with well-seasoned chick-

Photo by Henry A. Barrios

Tofu tacos

peas and is deep-fried in olive oil. This falafel dish comes with a Mediterranean salad, hummus, pita bread and tzatziki, a sauce made with yogurt and cucumbers. “A lot of vegetarians come in for it and they absolutely love it,” said Kara Kephart,

Anita’s Mexican Grill, 4240 California Ave. These vegetarian tacos are made with tofu that is rubbed in chipotle, grilled and served in corn tortillas then garnished with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and cotija cheese, a fresh Mexican cheese. The dish also comes with black beans and rice on the side. Manager Vanessa Villatoro said this item is popular because it’s unique and that Anita’s was the first restaurant in town to use tofu in a Mexican dish. “It’s a fresh twist on a popular Mexican item: the taco,” Villatoro said. Vegetarians can still eat their favorite

Continued on page 38

www.BakersfieldLife.com

Continued from page 37

Mexican dishes even if they have meat. Besides the tacos, tofu can be substituted for meat in any item on the menu, said Villatoro. Mexican food can sometimes seem heavy, but these tofu tacos are a fresh and nutritious item. The black beans are a good source of fiber and low in fat, and tofu is high in protein.

Photo by Felix Adamo

Chef Shawn’s stacks Valentien Restaurant and Wine Bar, 3310 Truxtun Ave., Suite 160 Chef Shawn’s stacks, a vegetarian and gluten-free dish, are “basically stacked vegetables,” said co-owner Jennifer Sanderson. There are two kinds of the vegetable stacks: one with eggplant, mushrooms, and tomatoes, and the other is made with seasonal

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squash. The vegetables are roasted in olive oil, garlic, and salt and pepper, then stacked and served with basil pesto, basil oil and herbed goat cheese. The yellow summer squash and zucchini are the current seasonal squash used in the squash stack. “It’s a nice dish because we can keep it on the menu year-round, but rotate the produce seasonally,” Sanderson said. This dish is good because it’s a lighter dish that is on the healthier side. “It’s a nice alternative to some of the other heavier items that we have on our menu,” said Sanderson. This dish has no cream, butter, flour or redefined carbohydrates, and is very low in fat. This is a perfect dish for veggie lovers looking for a healthy dish.

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SPORTS LEGEND

Photo by John Harte

Ken Barnes Bakersfield native became one of the best skeet shooters of all time Born and raised in Bakersfield by parents who were original “Okies,” Ken Barnes went on to become, according to Skeet Shooting Review columnist Ed Scherer, one of the 10 best skeet shooters of all time. After high school, Ken and his father built and operated the tire store on the Garces traffic circle. He is remembered for putting up the “Big Indian” in the 1960s. During the mid’70s, he managed the gun department for Vince Clerou at Vincent’s Sporting Goods on 18th Street, and, in 1978, entered the real estate profession until his recent retirement He also became very adept with a video camera and has had clips shown on The Outdoor Channel’s “Cabela’s Memories in the Field” nine times in the last three years. Blessed with a great family of five children and six grandchildren, Barnes said he is very fortunate to have the shooting career he had and the support of so many friends and his wife, Loretta. He adds with a laugh that, “I only broke four targets out of 25 the first time I shot.”

Ken Barnes facts • Born March 9, 1939, in Bakersfield. Graduated from North High School in 1957. • In 1962, friend Pete Lokey, owner of Westchester Bowl, introduced Ken to skeet shoot-

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

ing at the old Kern County Gun Club below the Panorama bluffs. First registered target shot at was declared lost because the safety on the gun was still on! • In 1966, Barnes won the first of his eight career individual World Championships by taking the .410 bore title at Rochester, N.Y. It was only the seventh perfect score of 100out-of-100 shot up to that time with the 410. • Competing at the 1967 Western Open Championships, Barnes broke the first perfect 400out-of-400 score in history using four gauges at one shoot. He is still the only shooter to do so with pump-action guns. After winning the .410, 28, and 20 gauges titles in heavy wind and rain, he shot a perfect 100 in the 12 gauge and hit another 205 straight targets in the shoot-off before finally missing. • Between 1966 and 1969 Barnes captured eight individual nationwide high averages for the year. Five of these were world records at the time including being the first to carry a 99 percent all around average for the year. He is still the only one in history to do it using pump-action shotguns. • From 1966 through 1978, Ken was selected to Sports Afield Magazine's All-American Team 12 times, including being named captain twice. • Between 1966 and 1969, Barnes won 12 individual California State championships and four all-around titles. He went on to capture a total of 27 state titles, still a record.

• In 1974, Barnes won his second world .410 title in San Antonio with his ninth perfect score with the Winchester Model 42 pump gun, seven more than anyone else in history. He also accumulated an astounding 35 scores of 99-out-of-100 over the years with the 410. The gun is enshrined at the Hall of Fame in San Antonio. • After winning the world 12 gauge title in 1975, Ken became one of only five shooters in history who have won a world title in each gauge. • Won virtually every two-man and five-man team championship, and was a member of the California 5 man team that broke a perfect 500-out-of-500. • Inducted into the National Skeet Shooting Association Hall of Fame in 1979. He was also a charter member of the California Hall of Fame along with his good friend and actor Robert Stack, who won a world title as a teenager in the mid-1930s. • Inducted into the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame in 1972 • Tried his hand at competitive doubles shooting for the first time in 1986 and took the national high average for the year of 99.4 percent. • For the last 30 years Barnes' only competition has been at the event named for him annually at the Kern County Gun Club where he gets to meet many old friends and competitors.

ON THE ROAD

Cruising on the right path Chevy Cruze offers plenty of safety, new traditions

The Chevrolet Cruze LT is more than ready to handle after undergoing 4 million miles of durability testing.

By Olivia Garcia

Photos by Michael Lopez

I may have mentioned it before, but I tend to favor Chevy models. Maybe it’s because my Chevy SUV has always been reliable and loyal to me (although we pretty much argue about gas from time to time). Or perhaps it’s because the brand has been with my family through generations, dating back to my abuelito’s green 1952 Chevy truck — another faithful vehicle that often transported me and my grandparents to the Pumpkin Center feed store, the nowdefunct swap meet in southwest Bakersfield, or the old-fashioned burger stand in southeast Bakersfield as part of our weekend family traditions. I can still see myself sitting snugly between my grandparents, trying to steer clear of the long stick shift that moved our truck through then-rural roads I was reminded of tradition recently when I stopped by Richland Chevrolet in Shafter to pick up my latest test drive, the 2011 Cruze LT. There I met Joe Wells, who joined the dealership in 1969, and Jim Upton, who joined the sales team 15 years ago after a fruitful

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

The Cruze comes with roomy interior and cargo space.

With 10 airbags, the Cruze is a reassuringly safe option for parents looking for a car for their young drivers. career in real estate. Meeting both made me feel like I was reuniting with longtime friends whom I hadn’t seen in years. They had a way of putting you at ease and making you feel like family. The dealership itself is family-owned, spanning three generations. It opened its doors in 1947 with Ray Duerksen and Herb Nickel, and today Duerksen’s grandson, Jeff Millwee, is the company president. And while most dealerships are open on Sundays and especially on holidays, this dealership is closed. Wells said it follows the belief that Sundays and holidays are meant for worship and family time. “Now you know why I have been here for 15 years,” quipped Upton, who has Bakersfield roots. Upton gave me a tour of the Cruze and read off details so casually, as if he had known the car for many years. But the Cruze is new, almost a year old. It replaced the Cobalt. Safety in numbers There are a couple of neat things about the Cruze (one being the same name of my youngest, sans the “e”). One of its biggest features is safety, particularly the fact that it comes with 10 airbags — yes, 10 airbags all around — something that my close girlfriend, Sofia, was lured by as she is currently searching for

the first car of her high school-age daughter, Lauren Taylor. The model went through 4 million miles of durability testing that included running it through the Saudi Arabian deserts, Russian winters, high-altitude Alps and Thailand’s monsoon season. Its day running lights are automatic, and that comes in handy, Upton said, when you are driving on windy or curvy roads or highways. The nightlights pop up when evening strikes. Maintenance checklist The OnStar system will help you keep track of your oil, tire pressure and more by e-mailing you an update. Of course, it’s also set up for you to check on those maintenance items in the car if preferred. Quieter ride One marked improvement from the Cobalt to Cruze was eliminating the noise. I drove through rural roads in Shafter where I passed farm vehicles and delivery trucks, and I didn’t hear a thing. No wind or outside noise. Nice. Putting the brakes on gas At up to 40 mpg, the Cruze saves you

It’s all in the details: Five best features of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze LT I can name a few: safety (10 air bags); fuel economy; midsize car presence to a compact car class; OnStar and XM radio; premium materials (overall fit and finish); 4 million miles tested and a fiveyear/100,00 miles power train coverage that’s transferable.

Mileage: 26 to 36 mpg city; 40 mpg highway

This car is perfect for: Everyone who wants more!

What makes the Chevy Cruze LT standout from the rest? Safety and a strong performance with economy!

Target consumer for this model: Students, commuters and family.

Three words that define the Chevy Cruze LT: Safety, economy and design! Source: Jim Upton, Richland Chevrolet, Shafter

Continued on page 44 www.BakersfieldLife.com

Continued from page 43

plenty of gas money. Upton said the Cruze is easily tailored for college students who regularly travel from school to home, working commuters such as correctional officers, and young families. Other perks One feature I liked is that you can have a dozen stations preset on the radio and they can be a mix of AM, FM and XM. No need to shift between bands to look for your favorites. Here they are collected under one list. The other cool thing is, given that many of us practically have our phones attached to our bodies, the Cruze allows you to take calls without breaking the law. The memory of five phones can set up through its Bluetooth system.

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WHY I SERVE

Dorian Quezada U.S. Navy Age: 29 Rank: Petty Officer (E-4) Assignment: Personnel specialist/manpower Stationed: Salt Lake City Photo courtesy of Linda Quezada Dominguez

I have served in the military for: three years. Why I joined: I volunteered to enlist in the U.S. Navy because I

wanted to prove my understanding of citizenship by offering my services to my adopted country, and I also took the first step toward an exciting and rewarding career. I continue to serve because: I love what I do. The U.S. Navy is

an important component of the American defense establishment, and I’m honored to be part of a vital role in maintaining and protecting the country from our enemies in time of war and supporting peacetime. I have been deployed to: Honduras. Unique experience. I made

a lot of local friends along the way. Being deployed confirmed how privileged and blessed we are in the States. My favorite activity to do back home: Spending

time with family, visiting friends and taking my nephews and niece to the park when time permits. I also like to go to King Leo's Pizza. What I miss the most about Bakersfield: Hot

summers and going to Hart Park. How I stay connected to family and friends back home:

Telephone and text messages. My best military accomplishment so far: Junior Sailor of the

Year, deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. When I return to Bakersfield, the first thing I’m going to do is: Hug my family members, hide my boots and wear my sandals

— I’m home. Something I’d like to do this year is: Spend Christmas with fam-

ily, just like the old times. If I had to choose a different career path, I would have become: An entrepreneur. After my time in the Navy, I would like to: Go back to Califor-

nia, work for a government agency or become an entrepreneur. — Know a Kern County native who is proudly serving in the military? E-mail us at bakersfieldlife@bakersfield.com with the message subject line: Why I Serve. Please include an e-mail, phone number and/or Facebook link to reach the nominee.

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Photo by Casey Christie

Kristy Yowell, foreground, and Nichole Popplewell, of Bakersfield, head up the Mill Creek Trail, off the Old Kern Canyon Road.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Green

Jeff Green at the top of Mount Pinos on a winter snowshoe hike up the Condor Point Trial.

Take a hike Three hiking trails worth exploring By Jeff Green They won’t include a vision of Half Dome rising from Yosemite Valley, or a view of Lone Pine from the peak of Mount Whitney but day hikes near Bakersfield can still inspire local hikers to recall the words of John Muir: “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness." In this article, I hope to highlight my favorite local day hikes. Since I’m over 50 and my current hiking buddies are suffering from bad knees, bad backs, and/or bad feet, I’m also hoping to recruit some new hiking buddies to replace the old ones as they fall apart.

Mount Pinos — Condor Point Trail The hike from the parking lot at the Nordic Base to Condor Point at the summit is a gentle 2.2-mile hike along an established trail. The gentle nature of the trail belies the fact that the trail climbs from 8,300-foot elevation to 8,800 feet at the summit (which is Continued on page 52 www.BakersfieldLife.com

Photo by Casey Christie

Mill Creek Trail, left, runs parallel to Old Kern Canyon Road, right, for a short distance before turning east toward Breckenridge Road.

Kern Canyon — Mill Creek Trail

Continued from page 51

higher elevation than the Main Lodge at Mammoth). The trail winds through beautiful pine forests with views of open meadows and the southern San Joaquin Valley. During spring, the trail is complete with wild flowers. The panoramic view of Lockwood Valley from the summit is awesome. There is no water on the trail so bring water and trail snacks. It’s been my experience that the temperature on the trail is at least 15 degrees cooler than in Bakersfield. The difference makes summer hikes bearable. The wonderful aspect of this trail is that it is accessible yearround. From spring to winter, you can hike in tennis shoes or hiking boots. Once the snow sticks, bring your snowshoes or cross-country skis. This is a great trail to experience and learn snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. My daughter and I both learned to snowshoe on this trail and it’s a lot of fun. On winter hikes, also bring a GPS and cold weather gear. It is very easy to lose the trail in the snow. I’ve lost my way in snow storms more than once. To get to the trailhead, take the Frazier Park exit from I-5 and head west on Frazier Mountain Park Road. Veer right on to Cuddy Valley Road and stay on the road following the signs to Mount Pinos until you reach the parking lot. You’ll need a day pass for the Los Padres National Forest ($5 a day). Passes are available for sale at Sport Chalet and Big 5. Don’t worry if you don’t have a pass; the penalty for parking without a permit, is the cost of a day permit. 52

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

Besides being a great endurance training hike, this hike is beautiful and includes numerous creek crossings, newts, pine trees, and even a rock with American Indian mortar holes. The full length of the trail to Breckenridge Road is 7.5 miles. The rock with the mortar holes is about 2.25 miles up the trail on the left. It is large and flat (perfect also for a nap). About three miles up the trail there is a nice flat area with a view and a log for sitting — a perfect place for lunch. During the summer the trail is dry and hot, and hikers should bring lots of water. In the spring, there are wildflowers, the creeks are flowing (I recommend waterproof boots and hiking poles for creek crossings), and the pools are full of orange bellied newts. Because of the abundance of cattle in the area, I would discourage drinking the creek water unless it has been sterilized. To reach the trailhead, take 178 east up the canyon to Old Kern Canyon Road. Veer right for 1.5 miles and you’ll see the trailhead on the right just after you pass the cattle guard. I like both of these day hikes because they’re convenient and close to home. For timing, I usually leave southwest Bakersfield at about 8 am. I usually bring a light lunch for the trail. If it’s a Saturday, I try to hit Luigis for lunch on the way home. In my opinion, there are very few things better to do in Kern County than spending a Saturday morning snowshoeing at Mount Pinos and the afternoon eating pasta and socializing at Luigi's!

Photo by Dan Ocampo

Mount Pinos — McGill Trail

Temperatures in the Mount Pinos area are at least 15 degrees cooler than in Bakersfield, making it a great summer hiking destination.

The trailhead for this trail begins on the road up to Mt. Pinos. There is a small area for parking and the trail is on the right just past the road to Pine Mountain Club. Like the trail to Condor Point, this trail includes some pretty views, pine trees and wildflowers. Because this trail is generally narrower than the Condor Point Trail, and it is also popular with off-road bicyclists, you must keep an eye out for possible collisions. In a collision with a bike, the hiker always loses. This trail is not as open and is steeper than the trail to Condor Point. For winter trips, unless you’re an experienced cross country skier, I’d suggest snowshoes. From the trailhead at 6,000-foot elevation, the trail travels about 6 miles, 2,300 feet of elevation gain to reach the parking lot at the Nordic Base. Unfortunately, for most day hikers, the hike will have taken about four hours (not including the hour to get to the trail) and you’re now 6 miles from your car at the trailhead. Unless you leave your house at four in the morning, getting to Luigis for lunch is out of the question.

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“Pajaro #1,” acrylic by Alberto Herrera. 54

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

“Indian With a School of Fish,” acrylic-pastel, by Alberto Herrera.

Latination TR3S

Art show celebrates cultural cornucopia By Lisa Kimble

Photos by Casey Christie

Growing up in Arvin, not far from the fertile fields and labor camps, Bakersfield businessman Don Martin was influenced early on by the Latino culture. “My grandfather was half Mexican. I remember a lot of very traditional Christmas Eves where menudo was plentiful and other great customs were handed down from generation to generation,” he said. It would be decades later before the colorful and lasting impressions would dance off the walls of his Metro Galleries downtown, miles away from those dusty Arvin fields, in a soulful confluence of food, music and traditions that has become Bakersfield’s most well-attended art show of the year. Latination Tr3s, the much-anticipated, monthlong juried art exhibit will open with the largest field of entrants yet. “I’ve wanted to do something with the Latin (culture) since we opened,” added Martin, who coined the term Latination, a word blend of heritage, color, politics, artContinued on page 56 www.BakersfieldLife.com

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istry and interpretation that in just three years, has become an acclaimed celebration of the Latino culture so cemented in our community. “We are asking the entrants what the Latin experience means to them. What do they see and feel? Is it the food, the music, colors?” Martin said. Unlike other juried exhibits, Martin taps community members to critique the submissions. “It's not the professional artist’s eye that is looking at it. I wanted to make it where it isn’t stuffy, and I want it to be a community-driven event.” And judges and artists need not come from a Latino background. Local artist Bonnie Hineline-Kempner, who is not of Latino descent, grew up in northern San Diego County, where Hispanics comprised nearly half of all her classes. “As a child, I loved going to Tony’s at least once a week with my parents, for the Mexican food, and also because of the beautiful Hispanic ladies who were family and waitresses wearing dresses of every color of the rain“El Mirador,” acrylic, by Linda Osburn. bow,” Hineline-Kempner recalled. LATINATION TR3S opening • 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 2 • Metro Galleries, 1604 19th St. • 634-9598 or themetrogalleries.com.

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Bakersfield Life

September 2011

Through the use of pastels, her primary medium, she brought those memories to life on canvas in happy hues. Two years ago, her delightful piece titled “folk Lorico” featuring merry dancers took first place in the inaugural Latination show. “The last few years I have done mostly oils, for the fun of pushing around the paint on a canvas,” she added. This year, she has entered a bright oil of two senoritas. Fruitvale Junior High art teacher Alberto Herrera is hoping the third Latination exhibition will be his lucky charm. The past two years, Herrera has taken the coveted top prize, Best of Show. Heavily influenced by family and his mother, who was born in Mexico, Herrera’s spicy pieces, some as rich as mole, reach out and grab the beholder with their dynamic lines and tints. From his “Ninos de la Revolucion” to his “India Maria” — a portrait of his mother in pastel and acrylic — the impact of his ancestry is undeniable. “It is my life,” Herrera exclaimed. “It is all about persistence. If you are true to your passion, something good will come out of it.” And it is the diversity of the other artists

“It is all about persistence. If you are true to your passion, something good will come out of it.” Alberto Herrera, artist

that also inspires Herrera, he said. He has entered four pieces in this year’s exhibition. “This show brings a lot of people together from all cultures and that is a good thing.” Martin knew after the first year, when 60 artists entered, that he was on to something that tugged at heartstrings — 30 were selected for judging. Last year, entries nearly doubled. “The pieces that aren’t selected and juried are still displayed,” he said. Word has

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spread throughout the state’s arts councils and inquiries have come from beyond the county line. This joyful, feel-good show is not limited to canvas either. The range of submissions includes photography, sculpture, mixed-media and fiber arts, and is Metro Galleries’ only 30-day art show of the year. “I like to make it a fiesta rather than your typical art opening,” Martin added. Mento Buro is slated to perform and El Pueblo will cater again. “It is a party and we do have a lot of fun.” The last two years, the festivities have spilled out into the Downtown Arts District, with neighboring galleries and stores taking on the Latination theme. The Padre Hotel, where the after-party will be held, is mixing a Latination-named margarita in honor of the event. “To get all of downtown involved is a lot of fun.” Latination Tr3s is co-sponsored by Grimmway, Dr. Luis Cousin, David Leon, Freestyle Entertainment, House of Flowers and Bakersfield Life magazine and is the centerpiece of September’s First Friday events.

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ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S A GUY THING

Eric Letourneaux

39, owner and landscape architect of Terra Divina Ecological Landscape Design, professor at BC and Taft College, yoga instructor at Yoga Space and 24 Hour Fitness

Yoga This group of yogis has been chanting om for years. Read how the power of yoga has helped these guys. Not only is yoga a great workout, but this holistic practice relaxes and distresses their minds and bodies. Namaste. Photos by Jessica Frey

How long have you been practicing yoga?

Letourneaux: 10 years (first five years, two to three times a week; next five years, five times a week minimum). Buch: Almost 17 years. Bachman: Three and a half years. Humphrey: I think a little over three years now. 58

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

How did you get into yoga?

Letourneaux: I started yoga at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor that offered Iyengar yoga only because this yoga style has a scientific and technical approach to stretching. It describes poses with precision to avoid injuries and teaches the students the importance of alignment. This is why only this form of yoga was allowed

Kyle J. Humphrey

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Milt Bachman

Dhaval Buch

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on campus. Then, I went to the Ann Arbor School of Yoga to take higher level classes in Iyengar yoga with Laurie Blakeney, advanced Iyengar yoga teacher. I decided to start yoga because I was exercising a lot, even as a graduate student and felt I needed to stretch to feel comfortable. My legs felt heavy, muscles were tight and my joints were losing range of movement. Yoga was the best option to force me to regularly stretch, which clearly should be part of any workout program. I also had high blood pressure, even as a child for no known reason per medical expertise and had to start medication at the age of 28. This motivated me to immediately start yoga to help me become independent of the need of foreign chemicals into my body and their side effects. Yoga is slow medicine. You must be patient. Within eight years, I reduced and finally stopped taking medication because my blood pressure was stabilized at normal levels.

Buch: I was attending a weekend meditation retreat held by Chinmaya Mission in December 1994, and part of the activities

included an early morning yoga session presented by Mr. Soneji of Sarathi Yoga Foundation, Irvine. His dedication, style of presentation and the positive impact it had on me, deeply impressed and motivated me to learn more, which I did by attending his free weekly classes while I was living in Los Angeles. I am now carrying on the tradition by offering free weekly yoga classes in Bakersfield since 1999 at the Chinmaya Mission.

Bachman: I was looking for a way to increase my core strength and flexibility due to some lower back problems. I participated in some swimming pool exercises designed to help my back problems and felt that I had maximized my progress with this sport after a year. I was looking for some additional help on the Internet and came upon some yoga poses and information about yoga, and decided to give it a try. Humphrey: I struggled with shoulder and neck pain, and one day my massage therapist Wendy took me to yoga. That was it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; I knew I was going back.

What was your first impression of yoga and has it changed over time?

Letourneaux: People stay away from stretching because of the natural discomfort involved in pulling on muscles, tendons and ligaments. My impression of yoga has never changed. It was a revelation from the first day. I never stopped after my first class. There is physical and intellectual work that simultaneously occurs during a practice. The discomfort is actually an advantage. It forces you to do better and makes you think of how to become better and improve. Effort and challenge force the mind to work on solutions. This opens up the body and the mind. First, I felt the immediate, typical physical effect from the practice of yoga after a session when you feel that your body is so much more comfortable than the standards you are accustomed to. If you do not pracContinued on page 60 www.BakersfieldLife.com

Continued from page 59

tice yoga, you do not know that your body and your mind can actually feel so much more at ease. So, the first impression is physical. Your body becomes your friend as it becomes relaxed. Over the years, your way of thinking also evolves. It becomes easier to stay focused, live in the present, prevent your mind from constantly fluctuating in all directions, control your negative emotions and be satisfied with what you have. The ultimate goal of yoga is to prevent the fluctuations of the mind. That is at least the 20-year plan in societies designed to keep us stressed. The asanas (poses) act on the outer layer of the body to relax it, so that the body no longer gets in the way for the mind to relax in its turn.

Buch: I felt very energized physically! Over time, it continues to energize me at the mental, emotional and spiritual levels of my personality as well. Bachman: I, like many men of my age, assumed that yoga was not a macho thing to do, but after my first two, one-and-a-half-hour practices, I realized that yoga was much more than an advanced stretching class. My opinion is very different now because after a short while, I realized that yoga is an excellent way to counter the back and other body problems that most of us have due to the prolonged sitting and computer work that we do. I have also found that I can have a terrible frustrating day and after a one-and-a-half-hour class, my mind is free and I have close to zero symptoms of stress. Humphrey: My first impression of yoga was that I had found

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something I had to do for the rest of my life. My belief has only strengthened over time.

What type of yoga do you enjoy practicing the most?

Letourneaux: I enjoy Iyengar the most because of its technical and scientific explanations that are given during practice and in the readings. We are told precisely what muscles to contract and what muscles to relax to remove unnecessary tensions that appear in a strenuous situation that poses represent. Stretching is a science after all. Buch: What I have learned and teach in the classes is traditional yoga, which includes systematic postures, breathing, concentration and meditation techniques as propagated by the Bihar School of Yoga in India. At a personal level, I practice Kriya yoga, which is a specialized scientific method consisting of postures, breathing and concentration techniques designed to systematically help the practitioner to evolve at the physical, energetic, mental, intellectual and spiritual levels of his/her personality. Bachman: I like all forms of yoga because I enjoy the challenge of new poses and practicing pose improvements via the wall or using the straps to help learn the poses. I do enjoy the head, hand and forearm stands because it gives me great joy that an old geezer like me can still do them. Humphrey: I love all of the instructors and classes at Inner Bodyworks, a flow style of yoga. I think just going is doing yoga. The peace and serenity that comes from the practice, the people and the teachers is probably what I enjoy most.

What is your favorite yoga pose?

Letourneaux: I like the headstand (Sirshasana; shirsha means head, and asana means pose in Sanskrit). After holding the pose for a minimum of five minutes, you come out of the pose very quiet in your mind and you no longer have your mind fluctuating in all directions. You no longer feel the urge to rush to do or go to the next duty that our modern civilizations try to or succeed in imposing on us to keep our mind and bodies stressed to better control us and make us forget what is important in life, which is nothing material. Sirshasana is every time a reminder that we can live in a slower pace and fight the unhealthy life rhythm imposed on us. Buch: Surya Namaskar (sun salutation), which is actually a series of systematic poses smoothly flowing from one to the next. When done with proper guidance and technique, it can be a sure remedy for all kinds of health problems. I also like the Pranayam (breathing) techniques, which I have found to be very beneficial. Bachman: I like all forward folds because they help me lengthen my spine, which in turn makes my back feel much better.

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Bakersfield Life

September 2011

Humphrey: It depends on the day. Some days a deep spinal twist seems to be the best, other days just sitting.

GOING GREEN

Barbara Grimm-Marshall among the corn stalks in Buena Vista's edible garden.

Garden of eatin’ Vegetable mogul cultivating nutrition and education with hands-on classroom

By Lisa Kimble

Photos by Casey Christie

On a recent, warm afternoon, Bakersfield businesswoman Barbara Grimm-Marshall and her husband, Darcy, walked around mounds of dirt, side-stepping irrigation lines and tiny sprouts of growth. Here, at the southeast corner of Panama Lane and Buena Vista Road, the carrot mogul, a modern-day “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary,” surveys the progress made and assesses what remains to be done on the two-acre parcel of land, so that in six weeks, the new Buena Vista Edible Garden and Classroom will be turnkey. And how will her garden grow?

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

It will boast corn, tomatoes and herbs all in a row, and feature a pizza oven and greenhouse where children, across the street at Buena Vista Elementary, will learn how to cultivate and prepare a cornucopia of crops. As dirt was moved and soil amended earlier this year, the edible garden at first resembled a roadside vegetable stand, much like one that Grimmway co-founder Rod Grimm and his brother, Bob, began farming in the 1960s in Southern California before launching the baby carrot boom here. Over the spring and summer, the one-acre organic garden and adjacent classrooms and kitchen took shape, and the vision for this innovative project came into sharper focus. “This is designed to provide a hands-on experience in the garden and develop a better relationship with food and its seasonality,” said Grimm-Marshall, co-owner of Grimmway Farms and CEO of the family’s foundation, which donated the land and made a $400,000 annual commitment to build and maintain the program. “By taking the students and what they have grown into the kitchen, they have the ability to develop life-long skills and an overall healthier outlook on food,” she said.

A visit from Alice Waters Alice Waters, chef, author and proprietor of Chez Panisse Restaurant in Berkeley, will be stopping by Bakersfield on Oct. 8 to attend a fundraiser as Barbara Grimm-Marshall’s special guest. In 1996, Waters created the The Edible Schoolyard at Berkeley’s Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. For more information, call the Grimm Family Education Foundation at 241-7020.

The project is modeled after the popular Edible Schoolyard in Berkeley, started 16 years ago by famed chef Alice Waters, who created the Chez Panisse Foundation to celebrate the silver anniversary of her renown restaurant. Today, there are seven such programs across the country, including Buena Vista’s. The project is the brainchild of Grimm-Marshall, although the idea was actually planted by her daughters, co-owners of the hip and trendy Carrots boutique in San Francisco. “They were the ones who first asked me if I knew anything about the Edible Schoolyard Program. ‘This is the coolest thing, Mom,’” she recalled. Once she visited and saw firsthand how engaged the children were, ideas began sprouting. “It seemed like a natural fit. Our company has been in the agriculture business for 45 years.” The mother of three grown children and now an empty-nester, she and Darcy began nurturing the seedlings of what they knew was a valuable program, especially here in the southern San Joaquin Valley, the bread basket of the world. Each sixth-grader will spend one class session a week for six weeks in the garden, followed by another six-week rotation in the kitchen, which can accommodate up to 30 kids at a time. They will prepare the soil, sort seedlings, plant and tend to the garden and chicken coop. In the garden’s center, a trellised area will provide shade where students gather to write in their journals, a sort of agricultural Camp Keep. When it’s harvest time, they will reap what they have sown, delivering the produce to the kitchen where they will learn about nutrition, the food’s history, and preparation of such fruity and fibrous fare as kiwi, grapes, watermelon and apples. The entire “eco-gastronomic” curriculum is based on lesson plans written to interface with the children’s studies and relatable to such core subjects as history, science and math, in a much more substantive way, which proponents say distinguishes it from other school gardens. “Every experience here is integrated into what they are learning in the classroom,” Grimm-Marshall said. “It doesn’t take the place of their studies, but rather is in addition to.” Gathering support for this program wasn’t nearly as bruising as her efforts to gain approval for the Grimmway Academy charter school in Arvin. In fact, Panama-Buena Vista School District officials enthusiastically embraced the idea from the beginning by throwing their full support behind the project. At a time when child-

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The Panama-Buena Vista School District officials enthusiastically embraced Barbara Grimm-Marshall’s edible garden project from the beginning.

“This is designed to provide a hands-on experience in the garden and develop a better relationship with food and its seasonality.”

Continued from page 63

read the applications, she was surprised there weren’t more, considering the global carrot prohood obesity is a national epidemic and the battle cessor is in the heart of one of the poorest and against bad nutrition wages, educators were eager low-scoring communities in the state. When her to give this back-to-basics approach a whirl. youngest child left for college, she put her com“There is a seasonal connection that is lost munity activism into full throttle. today. This program takes it back to learning that “There are a lot of opportunities to be inthere is a natural seasonal order,” Grimm-Marvolved here in giving back to the community,” she shall added. said. “My passion has evolved over the years.” And teachers will be an important compoAs a mother, she’s been involved in her nent, she said. “It is definitely a partnership and children’s education, and through the foundation, that has been critical to the success of getting the she has supported improvements in learning, inprogram going.” cluding the Grimmway Academy where there will Buena Vista instructor Laura Leppke recently also be an edible garden. told The Californian “the room just lit up” when “Finding the balance in life is what we all staffers were told of the project. To be able to strive to do. I do really feel blessed to have the actually touch and smell what you’re studying, resources to do these projects and to provide the she said, will take students to a different level of opportunity for these students,” she said. “They understanding. And there is no limit to the possiare our future.” Barbara Grimm-Marshall bilities as they germinate a healthier relationship Friends and business associates say whatever with food. she sets out to do, whether it be raising funds for For 58-year-old Grimm-Marshall, a philanthropic and politia gubernatorial candidate or advocating for educational alternatives cal fundraising powerhouse beyond Kern County and California, for the disadvantaged, Grimm-Marshall does it with grace, committhe garden program and charter school are moral obligations as ment and passion. well. “It has been a humbling and rewarding experience, and I feel At the time of Rod’s death in 1998, the Grimmway Scholarship grateful to be doing things like this.” Program was established in his memory, and again in 2006 when As the Sept. 12 startup date approaches, those involved with the Bob Grimm died. Edible School Garden and Classroom hope the program will include Although Grimmway has awarded 275 scholarships to camps next summer, and serve as an example for other schools. employee’s children in the past 13 years, as Grimm-Marshall 64

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September 2011

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WHY I LIVE HERE

Joseph “Joey” Williams Community assistant at Cal State Bakersfield, youth director at Believers In Jesus Foursquare Church Age: 33 I have lived in Bakersfield for: 29 years. I was born in Bakersfield and stayed here because: I was born here at KMC. I left to go to college in the early 2000s, but came back because my family and all that was important lives in Bakersfield. I have lived in: East Bakersfield for most of my life, but recently, I have been living in southwest Bakersfield. Three words that describe my neighborhood: Rough, tough, home (east Bakersfield).

Favorite community event: Kern County Fair — as much trouble as I used to get into as a teenager at the fair, I still love it. I enjoy taking my daughter, Savannah, to eat corn dogs, cotton candy and kettle corn. Favorite local restaurant: Bill Lee’s Bamboo Chopsticks — my Mom used to take us there, and they have some of the best Chinese food in town. I relax in Bakersfield by: Reading a book at Starbucks or taking a drive. I keep cool during the summer by: I grew up swimming in the Kern River, but the nearest tia (aunt) with a swimming pool is a better option. Best place for a family outing: Maya Cinemas, they have discounts on movies, and they even have Tapatio Hot 66

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

Photo by Henry A. Barrios

Favorite Saturday activity: Driving out to Hart Park in spring and summer. It’s a nice mini getaway and relatively close to town. The atmosphere is great to barbecue or just take a drive.

Sauce for the popcorn. Best-kept secret in Bakersfield: The emerging arts community near Metro Art Galleries. The First Friday events every first Friday of the month at Metro is amazing. Artists set up all over the block displaying their talent. The event is growing every month.

den, and the place was packed. They started calling Bakersfield, Lakersfield. What I like most about Bakersfield: Bakersfield is affordable to live, and it is a large city with a small-town feel.

When I want to get out of town I always go to: Santa Barbara, it is my second home. I lived there for three years.

Bakersfield often gets negatively ranked on lists, the positive list I think we should rank near the top on is: Hospitality. Bakersfield has some of the most caring and generous people in the world.

Favorite memory about Bakersfield: I enjoyed when the Los Angeles Lakers came to play here in 2000. I had tickets for event at the then Centennial Gar-

The perfect place for date night in Bakersfield is: Dinner at Bill Lee’s, then a walk by Mill Creek or a movie at Maya Cinemas.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Pat Brown, a personal trainer who lost nearly 100 pounds in six months, poses with his clients who have also lost as many as 70 pounds.

Feel the burn

By Allie Castro Pat Brown, owner of Lifetime Fitness, has been helping others get the bodies they want since he first started as a personal trainer at 18 years old. Since then, he has trained everyone from Olympic and professional athletes, to the average gym member who just wants to look and feel great. Three years ago, Brown developed a workout system that he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;has clients and myself losing fat, water retention and putting on lean, quality muscle at breakneck speedâ&#x20AC;? and has some clients losing as much as 20 to 40 pounds in eight weeks. Here are some of the most helpful tips Brown has learned over a lifetime of fitness training:

For people just getting started: My suggestion for a person starting to workout, be realistic with your goals and be realistic with what you are willing to do or sacrifice to achieve your goals. Beginners should start with the basics: three to four days per week doing 8 to 12 reps, cardio three to four days per week, 30 to 45 minutes at a moderate pace. Make sure you consume one gram of protein per body weight, and carbs should be moderate, fats should be low to moderate, and drink water throughout the day. 68

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

Pat Brown works out at his Lifetime Fitness gym.

Photo by Jaclyn Borowski

With these fitness tips from Pat Brown

For people who have been working out for years: Seasoned lifters should change up their programs every four to six weeks. Change the rep scheme, go to drop sets, giant sets and forced reps, making sure that you are eating at least one gram to one-and-half grams of protein per body weight. If you are an experi-

enced lifter, you can drop the carbs down low to show all that hard work over the years of training

For people who don’t have a lot of time in their schedules:

Heart rate people should aim for when working out: When working out, I recommend keeping your heart at 75 percent to 80 percent of your max target heart rate. To calculate your ideal heart rate, this is the formula you should remember: 220 minus your age, multiply by .75 or .80. ((220 - age) x .75). This is a good rule of thumb for most people.

Photo by Felix Adamo

To burn nine to 13 calories per minute, I feel that circuit training will do the trick. A fast intense pace should be set with no rest between exercises. The tempo will ﬁt perfectly with anyone who has a busy lifestyle with limited time spent in the gym. Glenn Imke, right, and the rest of the Action Sports fitness class try to keep up with instructor Kerry Ryan, left, on their stationary bikes.

If you’re bored with your gym workout, try taking one of the classes below for a change of pace.

Popular workout myths: Women think that they will get “too bulky” if they workout too much or intensely. Wine, cheese, bread, pastries and eating junk makes a person bulky. Females do not possess enough testosterone in their bodies to get big and bulky like men.

Another myth: Doing hundreds and hundreds of abdominal exercises will give you a six pack. It is true you need to work your abs like you do other body parts, but, you will not be able to see them unless you eat properly and do some cardio.

Stay motivated: Set a realistic goal in a certain time frame. Tell everyone about your goal and when your goal will be achieved. Try to ﬁnd someone else to do it with you; accountability. After you have achieved that goal, move on to another. Don’t stop, don’t settle, don’t become complacent. Do what you say, and say what you do. — Want more information from Pat Brown? Visit patbrownsystem.com or call Lifetime Fitness at 334-1986.

By Allie Castro

Spin classes Kerry Ryan assured us that not only any athlete will benefit from one of Action Sport’s spin classes, but non-cyclists are in for a treat as well. The indoor cycling at Action Sports is different than other spin classes. “Our classes feature wattage-type indoor cycling. Most spin classes have no measurement of resistance; it’s all by your guess and feel. That approach usually has you pedaling too easy or too hard, so you never know your true power output,” Ryan said. “Our CycleOps PT300 indoor bikes, used in the classes, sell for $2,400 and are awesome at giving the rider exact feedback such as heart rate, cadence and energy burn.” Not only does this provide a better workout for the participant, but the results are rewardingly tangible with this technology. “You can truly see the gains you make because you will register more wattage every week and at a lower heart rate,” Ryan said.

What: Spin class When: Class schedules vary and can be found at teamactionsports.com/events. php. Classes feature various instructors and music, and ladies-only classes. Where: Action Sports, 9500 Brimhall Road, Suite 400 Cost: $8 each; $72 for 12 classes ($6 each) Information: 833-4000. Call ahead because bikes must be reserved.

P90X After losing 44 pounds with the P90X workout and food nutrition system in 2008, Mike Ryan decided it was time to show others what the P90X system could do for them. Now an independent, 10-Star Diamond Coach with Team BeachBody, Ryan leads cardio-based workouts twice a week at the Marriott Hotel and The Links at RiverLakes Ranch. With different workouts each week such as the popular Kenpo routine from P90X — a 55-minute punch/kickboxing class — Ryan said the classes remain successful because they adjust to all ages and fitness levels. “We get all ranges of fitness levels at our community fit club, so everyone is welcome. Our workouts are very easy to Continued on page 70 www.BakersfieldLife.com 69

modify, so you’ll have someone super fit and someone doing their first workout in years, right in the same workout. One can drop 800 calories in the workout and the other will sweat and have fun, realizing that they too can do it,” Ryan said. What: Bakersfield Team BeachBody Fit Club When: 6 p.m. Tuesdays; 6 p.m. Wednesdays Where: Tuesdays; Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center, 801 Truxtun Ave. Wednesdays; The Links at RiverLakes Ranch, 5201 Riverlakes Drive Cost: Free Information: Call Mike Ryan at 213-7653, send him an e-mail to mike@1fitnation.com or visit 661fit.org.

Zumba “I walked into my mentor’s (Zumba) class about three years ago and giggled my way through the class. I was hooked and became certified within months and taught soon after. I have been teaching for over two years and love it,” said Zumba instructor Ann Wilson. The best part about the class is it doesn’t feel like a workout. “Zumba is often described as exercise in disguise, be-

Zumba instructor Ann Wilson leads a class at the Silver Creek Community Center.

cause when you take a class, you feel like you are at a friend’s home dancing to some great international music. As at any party, it doesn’t really matter how you dance, how coordinated you are or what you look like, we are just happy you are partying with us,” said Wilson. “A lot of my participants don’t come to my classes because they want a good sweat or workout, which they do get, but they come because it is so much fun.” Wilson also teaches the children’s version of Zumba, which is called Zumbatomic

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Photo by Jaclyn Borowski

Continued from page 69

at Silver Creek from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Mondays for children ages 4 to 7; and 6 to 6:30 p.m. for children ages 8 to 11. She teaches at the In-Shape located on Coffee Road at 5:30 p.m. on alternating Fridays. What: Zumba classes When: 6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; 9 a.m. Saturdays Where: Silver Creek Community Center, 7011 Harris Road Cost: $20 for four Monday and Wednesday classes; $10 for four Saturday classes Information: E-mail Ann at ann@zumbann. com or visit zumbann.com/home.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

How to choose the right gym

Compiled by Gabriel Ramirez Deciding to join a gym is hard enough, but determining which gym to join might be impossible if you are not well-informed. Bakersfield gyms differ in more than just their rates and hours of operation. Some gyms are only for women, while some are for families and others target the more muscular and bodybuilding crowd. Deciding to stay healthy is a good thing and the gym you choose to do this at might be critical to your success. Here’s a list of local gyms to help you make a more informed decision when choosing the gym.

Fitness 19

Brandi Blagg, manager Why join this gym? Our dues are pretty much lower than any other gym. We are able to work with people and we want people to afford to be healthy. What kind of client is this gym good for? In the morning, it is seniors and in the evening, the regulars are families with kids. Basically, our clients are the average middle class family who wants to stay fit and not pay an arm and a leg. Membership fees: Start up fees are $50; and on average membership fees are $5 to $19 a month; and you can get a family of three in for $35 a month. Trainer rates: $45 per hour. Hours: 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Bakersfield location(s): 9620 Hageman Road. Call: 588-5519. Website: fitness19.com. We recommend: Join this gym if you don’t like monthly contracts. Don’t join this gym if you are not into the family gym scene.

Body Xchange Health Clubs Why join this gym? Bakersfield is very lucky to have many nice clubs to choose from. By far the best selection compared to other markets this size. Body Xchange is locally owned and operated and was developed specifically for Bakersfield. We are the only health club that has different styles of facilities to choose from. We are clean, well maintained, have state of the art equipment and we constantly put money back into our gyms to freshen them up and add more services for added value. Our memberships are very budget friendly and most of our 72

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thinkstockphotos.com

John Ovanessian, president

plans come with a combination of free tanning, kid care or unlimited guest privileges, so you can bring whomever you want with you whenever you want, no questions asked (as long as they are 18 or over). We also have more locations that any other gym in town. What kind of client is this gym good for? Our members range from school-age children to Bakersfield’s senior population, who are getting more and more involved with health and fitness. Our sport clubs and express locations typically attract everyone because of the size, proximity and all the activities, and our fitness spas attract a clientele that doesn’t mind paying a bit more for privacy, smaller crowds and a bit more luxury.

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Membership fees: Membership fees range throughout the year from less than $10 to start to about $100 to start. Trainer rates: Our personal trainer rates start at about $35 per session. Hours: Club hours range from 4:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Bakersfield locations: Eight. Call: 377-2639. Website: bxfitness.com. We recommend: Join this gym if you want a variety of locations. Don’t join this gym if you like working out past midnight.

Total Woman Health & Fitness Leigh Pozas, owner/trainer What does your gym offer? We offer over 75 classes per week included in membership. A heated indoor pool is offered at the Truxtun Avenue location for water aerobics classes and lap swimming. Continued on page 74

If you are interested in a home medical care visit, please call our office to discuss available options.

Call (661) 587-8990 Most Insurances Accepted!

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In-shape Health Clubs

Babysitting is also offered at both locations. What makes your gym different? We have been locally owned and operated for almost 25 years. We offer that personal touch that is hard to find. At Total Woman, there is something for everyone and our goal is our members’ success. There is a unique atmosphere of friendship and camaraderie as well as excellent classes, and training programs taught and administered by well-trained and experienced instructors and trainers. Membership fees: A one-year agreement ranges from $29 to $39 per month. Paid in full memberships have no enrollment or joining fees. Trainer rates: Rates for individual one-on-one trainers range from $50 to $65 per hour based on commitment period. Small group training is as low as $7 per session. Hours: Truxtun Avenue location, 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Northwest location, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Bakersfield locations: Two. Call: 325-0208.

Jared Robertson, district manager What does your gym offer? In-Shape amenities vary by location, but include: basketball, café, cardio, kids club, cycling, group exercise, massage, free weights, Pilates, yoga, indoor and outdoor pools and waterslides, circuit training, a rock climbing wall, tanning, tennis, wireless Internet, sauna, steam rooms and more! Do you have any cool machines? All of In-Shape’s machines are modern and top-of-the line, but the Pilates reformers are unique. Membership fees: Vary, contact location near you. Trainer rates: Vary, contact location near you. Hours: Vary, contact location near you. Bakersfield locations: In-Shape currently has 47 California locations, with five in Bakersfield. Call: 1-800-5-IN-SHAPE. Website: inshapeclubs.com. We recommend: Join this gym if you want locations in town and outside of Bakersfield. Don’t join this gym if you want the same amenities at all locations.

Website: twfitness.com

Curves

We recommend: Join this gym if you want all that a big gym has to offer without the big gym feel. Don’t join this gym if you are not a woman.

Greg Hamilton, owner What type of gym is this? Curves is about fitness, health and moving away from disease. Curves is about gaining strength and losing weight. Curves is about reaching your goals in a community of

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Bakersfield Life

September 2011

support and encouragement. Curves is about strengthening women. What does your gym offer? All four Bakersfield locations offer CurvesSmart, which is a state-of-the-art personal coaching system that has been incorporated into our 30-minute circuit workout. Now every piece of equipment in our circuit is programmed with your body’s information to give you moment-by-moment feedback. CurvesSmart also automatically adjusts to your body’s endurance level, so you stay continually challenged and achieve your potential on every machine, during every workout. CurvesSmart then automatically computes all of your workout data to produce detailed progress reports that show your overall muscle strength, your calories burned and how close you are to reaching your goals. It’s the knowledge and motivation you need to get the results you want. Membership fees: The most popular is a 12-month membership for $34 monthly. Trainer rates: Vary, contact location near you.

entele. We don’t offer an open format to come in and “do your own thing.” We realize that the human body is a very complex system and because of this complexity, improving overall health takes a comprehensive approach. We really focus on individuals who are looking for a network of professionals who can assist them in attaining their goals. Terrio Physical Therapy & Fitness is a locally owned company that has facilities in Bakersfield, Tehachapi and Fresno. Terrio has diverse fitness programs for athletes, general fitness and rehab specific programs. What does your gym offer? We offer comprehensive programs for individuals and small groups under the direction of our team of professionals, so all of our programs are designed and implemented by college educated professional trainers. We have registered dieticians for nutritional therapy services, certified strength coaches/performance enhancement specialists, sport skill coaches and of course, we offer physical (occupational and speech) therapy services.

Hours: Vary, contact location near you.

Membership fees: Fees are dependent upon the program in which the client is enrolled.

Bakersfield locations: There are four convenient Curves locations in Bakersfield.

Trainer rates: Trainer fees are included in our programs.

Call: 589-2380. Website: curves.com. We recommend: Join this gym if you want a state-of-the-art personal coaching system. Don’t join this gym if you are a man.

Terrio Physical Therapy & Fitness

Hours: 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. for fitness. Our programs are scheduled, which allow for two things: the client makes a commitment to be there at a scheduled time, and appropriate staffing of the trainers. We allow flexibility if a client needs to change times. Bakersfield locations: Nine facilities. Each offers various programs for therapy, health, fitness and sports training. Call: 377-1700.

Tim Terrio, CEO

Website: myTERRIO.com.

What type of gym is this? Well actually, I don’t consider us a “gym.” There are lots of “gyms” out there who serve a certain cli-

We recommend: Join this gym if you want a challenge. Don’t join this gym if you want to keep it simple.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Tim Gojich, left, owner of Fit For Life Personal Training and Get Fit Boot Camp, works with Leonard Bidart on back strengthening exercises.

What, where and when to eat Nutritional advice from Tim Gojich, C.P.T. and owner of Fit For Life Personal Training and Get Fit Boot Camp

Compiled by Hillary Haenes

Photos by Casey Christie

Being a big advocate of learning, Tim Gojich made a decision early in his career as a trainer to try and learn as much as he could from the best professionals in his industry. So Gojich has made it a habit to attend a major seminar once or twice a year since he became a certified trainer 14 years ago. Several years ago Gojich became a nutrition and lifestyle coach and golf bio mechanic specialist in San Diego at the C.H.E.K Institute. After becoming a lifestyle coach, he started to take people to a much higher level of wellness. When he opened his personal training studio Fit For Life in 2001, he realized that he needed to do something unique that would 76

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set his gym apart from others. That’s when he started Get Fit Boot Camp in 2002. He was the only trainer doing an outside fitness camp in Bakersfield at the time. “My first class had five people at Beach Park. The second class grew to 20 and by the end of 2002, we had an average of 100 people in each six-week class. Over the past four years, I added two more workout times. This really helped us grow further. When you sign up for boot camp, you are able to use one of three workout times daily to make sure you get your exercise for the day,” Gojich said. With his boot camp becoming popular, so did his personal training sessions with new clients. The personal training at his gym is a lot more focused on the individual needs of a client. “The trainers are some of the best that Bakersfield has to offer, carrying exercise science degrees and national certifications. This enables us to work super hard at helping each client attain whatever goal they may have,” he said.

Tim’s tips Personal training: One-on-one training is around $55 per one-hour session. While one-on-one is effective, most of our clients actually prefer working in small groups. When a client shares the hourlong session with two or three other people, the price drops to $25 per session. The small group training yields the same results as one-on-one, but is more affordable and really is a lot of fun. The

six-week boot camp class is $144, but we run specials all year. To get the class at a discounted cost, we ask for your e-mail on our site and for you to become a fan of our Get Fit Boot Camp fan page on Facebook. Nutritional assessments: A popular service at Fit For Life is a unique service called metabolic typing. I spend one hour helping the client understand their own individual nutritional needs based on genetics. This costs $55, but I also offer a 30-minute assessment for $30. This includes an accurate body fat breakdown and a plan that helps you lose pure body fat without the expense of lean tissue. All about the routine: With the information overload about diet and exercise, it is hard to know where to even begin. One of the reasons for our success in helping people lose weight and to keep it off is that we have managed to be a part of their lifestyle. If you are looking to lose weight, you have to make a decision on what will keep you consistent. This is the biggest key to being successful. Our boot camp runs four days a week, for six weeks on and two weeks off. During the two-week break, we roll into our fat loss class that enables people to keep their consistency in building muscle and losing fat. Our services are effective because you do not have to think about what you will do. When the average person signs up for a big gym, they are really intimidated by all of the options. It makes getting into a routine really tough. 80/20 rule: Our approach to nutrition is really about trying to educate. I realize people are being bombarded with diets everywhere. There are gurus making claims that their diet is the solution. In fact, if a celebrity endorses the diet, it really takes off for about two weeks of your life. I have seen this trend for years. We do not endorse fad diets. I educate all of our people with basic common sense principles: • Eat whole foods. • Stay away from processed foods as much as you can. • Eat organic as much as possible. • Eat a good source of protein at every meal including snacks. • Try to eat and prepare most of your meals at home while only eating out a couple of times a week.

I ask people to try and live the 80/20 (spend 80 percent of the day trying to be healthy, allowing yourself to be “bad” 20 percent of the day). Trying to eat perfect always ends in binging. This can seem extreme at first, so I do not pressure anyone to change overnight. Just showing up to our classes, you will hear this enough that you will eventually work it into your lifestyle. Fast food in Bakersfield: When eating out in Bakersfield, you will want to put the following three places at the top of your list. Lassen’s deli is my first choice. They have a great salad bar that is all organic. Their sandwiches are all made with nitrate-free meats. That makes them the only place to get a sandwich without this cancer-causing additive. My favorite sandwich is the chicken salad sandwich. The second place I recommend is Chipotle. Be-

Tim Gojich started Get Fit Boot Camp in 2002.

sides the food being great tasting, it is almost all organic. They only do business with responsible farmers to ensure that what ends up in your burrito is not riddled with chemicals and hormones. I wish that there were more companies that ran their business this way. My favorite is a chicken bowl with half the rice and black beans. Try and eat salads and bowls, one tortilla is 250 calories. Organic or not, that is way too many calories for something that you can do without. My third choice would be Coconut Joe’s. What to put in your shopping cart: When you are grocery shopping, you should really try to shop for meals and snacks. If you make a list of dinners, lunches and snacks, you will have your list for what you need at the store. Going up and down the aisle is almost always going to lead to putting things in your cart that you do not need. Try and shop for whole foods and healthy fruits and veggies. You should look to shop for the week, not the month, meaning you should not shop at a warehouse store. One rule to live by is, if it Continued on page 78 www.BakersfieldLife.com

Continued from page 77

doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go bad in a week, do not put it in your body. Protein shakes: I have been an advocate of protein shakes for most of my career. When I became a nutrition and lifestyle coach, I learned what really goes into most of these protein powders and shakes. Most of the popular brands of protein tend to be really unhealthy, for example, Muscle Milk has been tested and arsenic and lead have been found. EAS has tested for some of the same toxic additives. Their biggest market is young adults. I only carry or recommend clean source protein powders. I sell Jay Robb, Sun Warrior and Warrior Defense proteins at my gym. I like my clients to do one scoop of protein in about 10 ounces of water and about 1/4 cup of raisins within 30 minutes of intense exercise. I also recommend you use the protein powders that I mentioned as meal replacements. Cutting edge health concepts: While I do try and keep my nutritional advice simple. I like to keep up on anything that is cutting edge and health related. For instance, 10 years ago I learned about the importance of omega-3s and began recommending fish oil. Some people thought I was crazy,

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and now almost everyone takes fish oil. The latest concept that I have been studying is intermittent fasting. This is where you fast once a week for a 24-hour period. I have looked into the science of what happens on a hormonal level and I have full confidence in people using intermittent fasting as a way to not only reduce body fat, but to really become healthy from the inside out. A great book written about this is “Eat Stop Eat” by Brad Pillion. H20 and sleep: Hydration is really important. If you are not hydrated, your body will not let go of body fat. I do not care how great the program is, if you do not drink enough water, it is a waste of time. You have basic needs that have to be met or you will not see change. The average person should consume half of their body weight in ounces daily. If you drink caffeine, add another 12 to 20 ounces to that number. Sleep is another basic need that has to be met. If you are not getting an average of seven hours a night, you will find it almost impossible to accomplish any goal. For more healthy tips or nutritional questions, check out fitforlifebootcamp.com to read Gojich’s blog about everything from eating too fast to the benefits of coconut water.

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Smoothie recipes that can replace a meal and keep you satisfied Chocolate-Peanut Butter-Banana • 10 to 12 oz. cold clean water • 1 to 2 scoops chocolate Jay Robb Protein or chocolate Sun Warrior • 1/4 cup fat-free Greek yogurt •1 Tbsp. organic peanut butter • 2 tablespoons of flax seed meal (not oil) • 1/2 banana if you weigh 180 pounds or below; full banana if you weigh above • 4 ice cubes Berry and Spinach Fat Loss Shake • 14 to 16 ounces of cold water • 1.5 to 2 scoops of Sun Warrior Protein or Jay Robb • 1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves • 3/4 cups mixed frozen berries • 2 tablespoons of flax seed meal

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

When it’s time to consider hospice care Photo courtesy of Optimal Hospice

When the goal of medical treatment begins to shift from curing an illness to providing comfort and relief, it is time to consider hospice. Sadly, many people wait until their final days to involve hospice. By contacting hospice early in the diagnosis, the patient and family reserve time to understand their options and choose the path that will have the most positive impact on quality of life. The best time to learn about hospice is before you need it. Here are a few things you should consider: • Hospice care focuses on enhancing the quality of life in its final stages. It seeks neither to shorten nor prolong life. A patient can choose to leave hospice care at any time and return to aggressive curative treatment for the disease. The choice is always yours. • Misconceptions abound in hospice, and one of the most common in hospice is that “I am giving up when I choose hospice.” Electing to receive hospice is not giving up — it is merely choosing a type of health care that is most appropriate during the end stages of a life-limiting illness. Hospice agencies are available to meet with you and your loved one at home or in the hospital to see if hospice is appropriate in your circumstances. There is no cost and no obligation for this consultation visit. • Hospice care takes place in the home. For some, “home” may mean a house or an apartment. For others, it may be some form of extended care facility, such as a nursing home or assisted living community. Regardless of your circumstance, the hospice 80

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

Photo courtesy of Optimal Hospice

By Todd Jeffries

team will come to you where you live. • The majority of hospice patients live in their own home with the help of a family member or friend who serves as the primary caregiver. This caregiver works closely with the hospice team to provide for the patient’s daily needs. In extended care facilities, hospice teams create a partnership with the staff and family, just as they would with the family in the home. • Care is provided by the combined knowledge and skill of a team of

hospice professionals, including physicians, nurses, social workers, certified aides, spiritual care providers and trained volunteers. Patients may continue to use their own physician who becomes part of the hospice team. • Hospice’s expertise in palliative, or “comfort” care, assures the patient of state-of-the-art pain control and symptom management. • Hospice is a Medicare and Medi-Cal benefit that is a cost effective alternative to the high costs associated with hospitals and traditional institutional care. Most private insurance plans also include a hospice benefit. Additionally, most hospices also have a nonprofit component that will pay for hospice care if the patient does not have insurance. • There are no charges for medical equipment, supplies or medications that are specifically related to the hospice care. Hospice care is carefully designed to add quality of life to the patient and to the caregiver. Quality of life may mean feeling better, eating and sleeping better and it may mean being able to visit with family and friends and participate more fully in life. — Todd Jeffries is the director of community relations at Optimal Hospice Care.

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Illnesses and provide Emotional support for Family and friends. R.E.L.I.E.F. is an application of focused care for patients with life-limiting illness. Physicians are gifted healers; however, not all diseases are curable. In some cases, a time comes when the treatment is worse than the disease. Optimal Hospice Care has specially trained physicians, nurses, social workers, spiritual counselors and others to provide R.E.L.I.E.F. Our goal is to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals and their families, all under the direction of the patient and family. R.E.L.I.E.F. means focusing care on feeling the best you can when the disease cannot be cured. The application of R.E.L.I.E.F. through hospice changes

the way your disease is managed, from curative treatment to aggressive comfort. Optimal Hospice and your doctor use the procedures and medications needed for controlling the symptoms of your illness. There are many examples of curative treatments that may have failed or are losing their effectiveness where patients may be seeking relief. These may include chemotherapy in cancer, excessive fluid overload in congestive heart failure, severe or frequent trips to the emergency room for COPD, recurrent stoke symptoms or a decline in one’s physical function or nutrition status for patients with adult failure to thrive or Alzheimer’s. Comfort and R.E.L.I.E.F. consultations are free from Optimal Hospice Care. We’re here to help.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Why buy organic?

By Ashley Decker, Lassen’s Natural Foods and Vitamins marketing director You see the word “organic” everywhere. In grocery stores, magazines, social media, on television and any place the public eye can see. But why should you buy organic? For that extra amount you pay in the grocery store or the farmers market, what are you getting when you buy an organic product? To start, you are getting a beautiful product grown from the earth that is untouched by harmful chemical pesticides. You are supporting a form of agriculture that emphasizes the use of renewable resources and the conservation of the soil and water to enhance environmental quality. In organic farming, the soil is built up with organic materials, which enrich the soil and prevent erosion. You are contributing to the assurance that our drinking water is clean and has not been contaminated by pesticides that often leak from farms into our water system. You are supporting a movement of people who work hard to keep their farming practices as close to the way nature intended. You are getting the freshest produce possible without going directly to the farm itself, because there is no use of irradiation, fungicides or preservatives. Organic farmers are the caretakers of our soil and

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

the stewards of the land they farm, you are supporting their livelihood and their cause. Why buy organic? Because you care about the health of your family and you care about the health of the earth. To buy organic is not just about buying fruits or vegetables that is free of chemicals, it is much bigger than that. Organic is lifestyle, supporting a healthier soil, healthier water, healthier earth and ultimately a healthier you. To buy organic says you care about what you are putting in your body and the little bodies you take care of too! So when you go to the store and are making the choice between conventional foods and organic, we hope you choose organic!

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Weigh your options Compiled by Jennifer Bachman Who should get it? You are ready to make a serious decision to change your lifestyle and will be committed to tackling the rigors of the pre-operative nutritional program. Shayla Reed, office manager for Lap Band VIP, said LapBand is for someone who has 50 pounds or more to lose or has a body mass index of 30 or higher. How does the lapband work? “The Lap-Band system is a hollow ring that goes around the top portion of the stomach, limiting the amount of food you can eat. The ring has tubing along the inside that can be filled with saline solution to make the band tighter, further restricting the amount of food you can eat. When you eat less, your body burns fat to get energy, so you lose weight. The smaller stomach also means you will feel full sooner and for a longer period of time,” Reed said. What’s the price? The cost of Lap-Band surgery will vary from one person to the next depending on their individual needs. “The best thing to do is to call (1-800) 561-9000 to schedule a free seminar where you will get a cash price,” explained Reed. How long does it last? Lap-Band adjustments are tailored to meet your individual needs and will be used to find a balance where you don’t feel hungry between meals,yet still lose an optimum amount of weight each month. “The Lap-Band has been FDA approved for over 10 years. It’s meant to last as long as the patient, but every case is different,” Reed said. What are the benefits of surgery? The Lap-Band system is considered safer and less invasive than gastric bypass, as there is no stomach cutting, stapling or intestinal re-routing. “Surgery is always the last resort. Patients that suffer from morbid obesity most likely have other issue vs going on like: diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, joint pain, asthma, ect. These can prevent

them from being able to exercise, therefore they are unable to lose the weight. The Lap-Band is a tool that will help them get on the right track, so they can have a healthier life,” explained Reed. What happens after the weight is lost and kept off? Our patients are our patients for life! We still follow up with them once they’ve lost all the weight! If they feel like they need some restrictions, we can tighten or loosen their band. Is the surgery painful? It is a minimally invasive operation, which helps you lose weight, with fewer risks than any other type of weight loss surgery. “The Lap-Band is placed laparoscopically, which requires only a few small incisions. On average, surgery takes about 45 minutes to an hour. The length of recovery depends on how you feel, but majority of patients go home the same day,” Reed said. Can you reverse the surgery? Yes, it is reversible. There’s no cutting or stapling of the stomach like other weight loss procedures.

Interested in scheduling a free seminar? Lap Band VIP • 3550 Q St., Suite 106 • 1-800-561-9000 • lapbandvip.com

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

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The pros and cons of getting Lap-Band surgery

EDUCATION

The state of education Local educators weigh in

W By Gabriel Ramirez

With the economy still trying to recover from what many called “The Great Recession” legislators are struggling to fund education and threatening to cut even more from a system that is already working with limited funding. In this turbulent economic and political climate our system of education will have to adapt in order to survive and continue to provide quality services to all students. Local educators are weighing in on the struggles the education system is going through and what they foresee for it in years to come.

Horace Mitchell

How has the education system changed in the past five years? It has run out of money. California historically has been committed to the Master Plan for Higher Education. The Legislature has provided the resources for the Master Plan to work. Over the past five years, and in fact extending far beyond that, the Legislature has not provided those same resources. It is not clear that the Legislature or the public values the importance of higher education nowadays. So the cost of higher education is going higher and higher because of the lack of state support. As the costs go up, you run into the problem where some students cannot afford it anymore. Some districts have opted to cut sports instead of academics in order to deal with budget deficits. Is this the way to go? It is partly the way to go. We have taken a balanced approach whereby every area of the University has seen reductions. We’ve made the decision not to make reductions across the board because if you do that, you’re not identifying what the priorities are. We have made reductions in such a way that it is clear that the priority is instruction — student access to classes and such. We have reduced the 86

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athletics budget like we have reduced other budgets. We did make the decision last year to cut four sports. The community asked us if those sports could stay if the community provided the funding. The answer was yes, but we made it clear that there would not be a point where these four sports would be moved back to state funded.

Christine Lizardi Frazier Kern County Superintendent of Schools What got you interested in working in education? As a requirement for a class, I needed to volunteer in a hospital, a homeless shelter or a school. I chose a school that served students with disabilities. When I realized how much the students had learned from someone who didn’t have a clue how to teach, I thought to myself, “what an impact I could make if I actually knew what I was doing,” I was hooked! Photo by Casey Christie

What do you think has been your greatest accomplishment in your field? Certainly being selected to be the President here at CSUB. It was an interesting challenge both in terms of where the campus was at the time and what the potential was. It wasn’t about just getting the job, it was about having the opportunity to make a difference in this University, its students and also very importantly, in the community in terms of the community understanding to a greater extent the importance of having a University in this community and how it is a fundamental institution for the future develop of the community.

Photo by Felix Adamo

President, CSUB

What would you say is the biggest roadblock preventing the success of some students, if any? Low expectations for students who bring challenges to the system are a major roadblock that prevents the success of some students. The belief that your zip code determines your level of academic achievement not only is a disservice to the students but also creates systems of inequity.

Andrae Gonzales Trustee, Bakersfield City School District Board of Education

Photo by Michael Fagans

Despite cutbacks in education across the board, what are you doing to ensure student success? Student success is not something one person alone can ensure. It really does take an entire community to educate children. I am grateful to serve on a board that collectively, works toward prioritizing the district’s necessities in lieu of our resources. Our district administrators, principals and teachers have been resilient in their efforts to educate all children despite the increasing fiscal challenges. Our families have also been more engaged in their children’s learning and in the change process that has been taking place in public education. The amalgamation of our efforts is what ensures student success. What would you say is the biggest roadblock preventing the success of some students, if any? What works for one student, may not work for another. Each student has his or her own unique talents and circumstances that they bring to the learning process. What is universal however is their need for support and parents, teachers and administrators all play a critical role in creating an environment that is conducive to positive student outcomes. What is the best thing about the education system? While public education has its challenges, it is still one of our greatest social equalizers. Public education is available to all children and opens doors that sometimes are closed due to economic disadvantages. We all know people whose lives have been changed because of the power of education and it is our responsibility to continue supporting it.

Lisa Strobel Trustee, Edison School District What do you think has been your greatest accomplishment in your field? As a trustee I have been a part of the transformation in the Edison District from being in program improvement to almost being out of it. I’m very proud of all of the staff in the Edison District who have taken on a mighty big challenge in turning our schools around

both in staff morale and in academics. Some districts have opted to cut sports instead of academics in order to deal with budget deficits. Is this the way to go? No, as educators we are commissioned with the transformation of the whole child. Sports and the arts are what help many students learn and connect with others and themselves in positive ways. There is so much more to education than what goes on in the academic classroom. What is the biggest problem with our education system? I think our biggest problem with our education system is that bureaucrats and the general public have used a business model approach to education that has a measured output where each child is to become proficient with a set of standards on a set date or the teacher and school are deemed failures. In reality, education is all about transforming human lives with all the baggage children bring to school with them each day. This is a slow, messy process where each child has different needs. Schools are not assembly lines churning out a neatly defined product.

Octavio C. Patino Assistant principal, Shafter High School Some districts have opted to cut sports instead of academics in order to deal with budget deficits. Is this the way to go? Athletic programs are essential for student success. While belonging to a team often means more to the student than academics, in order to participate in sports a student must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA. As a result, sports and extracurricular activities give educators a “hook” for many students to stay in school. These programs also provide students with wholesome activities after school and on the weekend. Athletes also tend to have more school pride, which in turn leads to a positive outlook toward education. The elimination of sports programs would have far-reaching negative effects. Photo courtesy of Octavio C. Patino

How has the education system changed in the past five years? The performance standards are much higher now than five years ago not to mention 25 years ago. Technology is playing a greater role in the access of information by students and teachers. More importantly, the use of technology in the classroom is opening the doors to a growing awareness of the world around us.

What would you say is the biggest roadblock preventing the success of some students, if any? Mindset. Far too many students are already defeated when they walk into the classroom. They believe they can’t learn; they believe they are stupid; they believe they will never succeed. If they could only see all that they are capable of and all of the amazing opportunities ahead, they could achieve just about anything. What changes do you see in education in the next 10 years? Every school is headed toward becoming a Professional Learning Community - where students, teachers, parents, counselors and administrators work together on common goals of student success.

Lydia Caceres Counselor, Shafter High School How has the education system changed in the past Continued on page 88 www.BakersfieldLife.com

Continued from page 87

five years? As a result of NCLB (No Child Left Behind) the effect in the classroom has been a higher emphasis on testing. Budget cuts have reduced personnel and forced education to work with less resources. Nevertheless, a focus on state standards in instruction has required teachers to identify and “zone in” concepts essential in student learning. NCLB has had a tremendous effect in education. What is the biggest problem with our education system? I believe that the biggest problem in education is personal accountability. Instead of wondering or blaming the “system,” “the economy,” “society,” “teachers, parents or students” we need to look at ourselves and ask “how can I improve education,” what am I doing today to become a better educator, a better teacher, a better parent, a better student or a better administrator? I aim at bringing my “A” game every day. I can’t control society, the economy, the system, but I can aim at giving you my 100%, every day. What is the best thing about the education system? Being an immigrant and an American citizen, I must say that in comparison to other countries, the best thing about education is the availability of a free education to all. In addition, our education system provides students with free and reduced lunches (for qualifying families), and provides transportation to the school site! These three programs take away the physical barriers that stop students from receiving an education. The opportunity to become educated is available to all. That is fantastic!

Kip Glazer Teacher, Independence High School

Photo courtesy of Kim Glazer

Some districts have opted to cut sports instead of academics in order to deal with budget deficits. Is this the way to go? I don’t believe that we should cut any “extracurricular” activities at the expense of “academics.” What makes the United States the best country in the world, I firmly believe, is our wisdom and unwavering desire to invest in our future by way of educating every child to become a well-rounded and well-informed citizen. I feel that providing a variety of educational opportunities is the only way that we can ensure all students become productive members of our society. My students need to participate in homecoming games. They need to attend drama performances. They certainly need to listen to beautiful music that they themselves created. Without any of that, our civilization won’t survive. What is the best thing about our education system? One day my principal asked me about how my day was going. I jokingly said to him how terrible my 10th graders were acting that particular day: they weren’t listening, they didn’t do their work, and they were particularly rambunctious, etc. He looked at me with a smile and said, “This is a public school. We educate everyone who walks through that door and try to do our very best.” I think that’s the best thing about our education system. We educate EVERYONE; at least, we try. Back 88

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September 2011

in Korea, some of my friends couldn’t continue with their education because their parents couldn’t pay the tuition. I remember seeing my friends crying because they had to drop out of school because of their financial situations. I wouldn't trade that for the world. If they could do one thing, what would be the most important thing parents could do to ensure the success of their children in school? I think parents should remember that their children’s teachers are their partners not enemies. Also they should remember that teachers are humans. We have feelings, too. We are here to do an incredibly important job, such as educating their children, and we desperately need their support. I have had few parents who thought that I was trying to crush their children’s spirit by assigning too many homework assignments or being honest with their children’s behaviors. It frustrates me to no end that they don’t realize what they are doing to their children. Every teacher knows that the students take cues from their parents. When parents treat their children’s teachers as someone to fight against rather than cooperate with, their students tend to mistreat their teachers. Of course, teachers do make mistakes sometimes. I hope that the parents can remember that in the end we are all in this together.

Tracy Weddell Teacher, Richland Junior High School How has the education system changed in the past five years? It has gone from being an art, to being a scripted activity. Teachers used to be valued for their unique approach to a lesson. Now, teachers are valued for how well they stick to the script. Some districts have opted to cut sports instead of academics in order to deal with budget deficits. Is this the way to go? There is nothing that is good to cut. Every philosophy that could be used to decide what to cut and what to save will be fraught with problems. Of course, a person wants to say, “No, students need that experience and the motivation and buy in to the school that sports provides.” But if you had said, should school districts cut educational programs to support sports programs that would be equally offensive. What is the best thing about the education system? The best thing about the education system is a teacher. That is where the rubber meets the road. Although there are some teachers that are not as proficient as they could be, as is true in all professions, teachers are the backbone of the system and backbone of society.

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Centennial celebration Girl Scouts to honor three local women as it marks 100 years of service

Back in 1912, when a spitfire of a Southerner gathered 17 girls for a meeting in Savannah, Ga., for what would eventually become the Girl Scouts, women’s rights were thinner than the petticoats of passengers aboard the Titanic. But Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low’s vision for empowering young girls grew alongside the equality movement, withstanding the test of time and cultural challenges. Today, on the eve of its centennial celebration, the American institution, with more than 3 million members around the country and abroad, cheers the pivotal role it has played in the development of young women. Low most certainly was ahead of her time. But the message of aspiration and achievement would never go out of vogue. In October, the Joshua Tree Council will honor three Bakersfield women whose lifetimes of accomplishments and generosity have made them the very role models Low set out to mold a century ago, and who exemplify the Scout slogan of “doing a good turn daily.” Former City Councilwoman and police officer Irma Carson, retired television news anchor Robin Mangarin Scott and The Bakersfield Californian publisher Ginger Moorhouse will be lauded at the third annual Women Inspiring Girls Luncheon and awards ceremony, which will be held Oct. 7 at Valley Baptist Church. “We wanted to be able to have women who are excellent role models to girls, who have the values we teach,” said event chair Joy Tolladay. “We have chosen women of courage, confidence, who are out in the community, involved in education and a variety of aspects. We are honoring the whole person, women who are inspiring and have overcome obstacles.” All three honorees are former Scouts even though it was not a prerequisite for selection. There aren’t many barriers Irma Carson hasn’t broken since moving to Bakersfield in 1953. Within a few years she was making history, first in 1959 as

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

Robin Mangarin Scott

Photo by Henry A. Barrios

By Lisa Kimble

Irma Carson

the city’s first African-American employee at City Hall, again 10 years later as the police force’s first black woman where she ascended the ranks to sergeant, and in 1994 when she became the first African-American woman elected to the City Council. Her dedication to Ward 1 has been unparalleled. Carson is credited with helping establish southeast Bakersfield’s Redevelopment Area, shining a spotlight on the region’s blight and crime, and recognized for her abilities to bring people to the table to tackle the gritty issues within her district. Carson, a native of Monroe, La., traced her hunger for action to her summer days as a Girl Scout Brownie at her community center in St. Louis. “The message then, that you can achieve and aspire to do whatever you want, never left me,” she said. “Girl Scouts reached out to a group and addressed a population of women and girls that had been isolated. The program taught them to see themselves as being important to the world and learn about the contributions of women.” Carson, executive director of Ebony Counseling Center, said as a woman, this is one of the best awards she could ever receive. Virginia F. “Ginger” Moorhouse, greatgreat granddaughter of Bakersfield Californian founder Alfred Harrell, cut her chops in the family business when it was very much a man’s world. She earned a B.A. in political science from the University of California Berkeley, a teaching credential in secondary education from San Francisco State, and a master’s in business administration from Rivier College in New Hampshire where she

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worked for a newspaper, taught school and owned and operated a business. While chairman and publisher of The Californian, Moorhouse has poured her time and energy into furthering youth causes. She serves as chairman of The Bakersfield Californian Foundation, which allocates funds to Kern County nonprofits dedicated to education and the arts. As a fourth-generation owner of the family paper, Moorhouse’s devotion to the local institution and preserving it at a time of economic-unfriendliness for the newspaper industry is inspirational, Girl Scouts officials said. She also serves on the foundation boards for Cal State Bakersfield and UC Merced, and is the current president of the California Newspaper Publisher’s Association. In 2003, Editor and Publisher Magazine named Moorhouse its Publisher of the Year. For Robin Mangarin Scott, arguably the most recognizable of the trio, the honor comes on the heels of a notable retirement from the anchor desk where the newscaster spent 25 years in front of the camera. “I thought the previous winners were the epitome of the Girl Scouts creed,” she said. “So imagine my surprise when I was notified. I never thought the award would go to me.” Some of the cornerstones of her remarkable career were shaped as a Brownie serving in the Joshua Tree Council in Lancaster, she said. “My mother was our leader and it was a wonderful time in Girl Scouts,” Mangarin Scott recalled. She began her award-winning broadcast-

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ing career in Southern California before moving to Bakersfield and KERO in 1986. Mangarin Scott, along with news icon Burleigh Smith and her co-worker and spouse Jim Scott, also blazed a new trail in local media — volunteerism. Recognizing the need to pair her celebrity with making a difference, her tireless advocacy for cancer research and children, and her participation in such efforts as Relay for Life and the Muscular Dystrophy Telethons has helped raise millions of dollars. Mangarin Scott was lured from Bakersfield in the 1990s to her native San Diego, a major television market, where she anchored from atop the pinnacle of her career. But Bakersfield was really where her heart was, she said. She returned in 1996 and anchored her imprint on this community through her persuasive stories and charity work. In 1996, she was honored as the state’s “Woman of the Year.” Last month, Mangarin Scott changed careers, assuming the job of director of strategic marketing for CHW Mercy and Memorial Hospital’s Bakersfield Service Area. “When you see the statistics, women in scouting that have reached the high points of their careers, it speaks for itself,” Tolladay added. Previous local honorees include Wendy Wayne, Sue Benham and Barbara Grimm-Marshall. Famous alumna includes Lucille Ball, Nancy Reagan and Mariah Carey. The luncheon will kickoff the organization’s yearlong 100th anniversary observance. Tolladay said locally, there are more than 2,900 girls participating in the Scout’s Joshua Tree Council. That’s a lot of merit badges, sashes, brownie beanies, camping trips and cookies. The Girl Scouts Women Inspiring Girls Luncheon will be held 11:30 a.m. Oct. 7 at Valley Baptist Church, 4800 Fruitvale Ave. To purchase tickets, contact Pamela Mann at 327-1409, ext 204, or pmann@ girlscoutsccs.org

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Artist's rendering of the new Transition to Independent Living Center.

Taft’s TIL Program gets new home

T By Laura Sverchek

The Transition to Independent Living Program, a nationally recognized and life-changing program in Taft for people with disabilities, has expanded its program and is building a new center. The Transition to Independent Living Program, or TIL, began in 1995 at Taft College and is a post-secondary educational experience for adults with intellectual disabilities such as autism, Aspergers and Down syndrome. TIL helps its students live independently by providing them with instruction and training that promotes functional, social and career skills. “This is a groundbreaking movement for people with disabilities,” said Sheri Horn Bunk, executive director of the Taft College Foundation, which raises money for programs at Taft College. “It’s really huge.” The TIL program takes on about 25 to 30 students in each class 94

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and will now be a three-year program. In the first year, students work on their social skills. “They learn how to socialize, they work in groups, they take field trips, they learn how to deal with the opposite sex,” said Horn Bunk. “They learn about themselves.” During the second year of the program, the students move out of the dorms and have to live on their own. They work on various skills such as how to do their laundry, pay their bills, use public transit, cook and work on a balanced budget. “It gives them a lot of confidence and skills,” Horn Bunk said. Last year, with the help of TIL Director Jeff Ross, the school received the Federal TPSID (Transition Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities into Higher Education) Grant that gives $2.5 million over five years to the program. With this grant, a third year has been added to the program. Horn Bunk said the third year will focus on training the students for work and giving them actual work experience. The TIL Program has partnered with Frito-Lay to give students work experience. There are also 30 places in Taft that employ TIL students. “The city of Taft really embraces the TIL students,” Horn Bunk said. Based on statistics and parent feedback, the program is highly successful. Horn Bunk said 95 percent of graduates now live independently and 89 percent of graduates are employed. Jim and Laurie Jarrett of Palo Alto are the parents of a 1997 TIL

graduate, Tracey. Tracey now lives in her own apartment in Palo Alto and has a job. Tracey also lived independently in Taft four years where she worked and took classes at Taft College while her parents were living in China. “The TIL program was excellent for our daughter,” said Jim Jarrett. “It was very valuable in giving her the skills and the confidence necessary to live independently.” For the past 16 years, TIL has used the Taft College facilities, but a bond measure passed that gave state funds to the TIL program to build their own center. Construction of the center will begin in the next month and take about 18 months to complete. Horn Bunk said the new center will include 32 apartment style dorms for the students to live in, a kitchen, classrooms, offices and gathering places for the students. However, there is a gap of $3 million between the funds the state has provided to build the new TIL center and how much it will actually cost to make the center suitable for the TIL students. Because of the disabilities of the students, the facility needs special equipment that will make the students comfortable such as specific lighting, tinting on the windows, furniture, recreation equipment and computers. “$3 million to take a house and make it a home,” Horn Bunk said. The Taft College Foundation is running a campaign to raise the money and close this gap. The first part of the campaign is naming opportunities for the 32 dorms, classrooms and buildings of the new TIL center. The foundation is contacting the families of TIL graduates, so they can name a building after their family name or their child that graduated from TIL for $20,000. Another fundraising event is the fourth annual Casino Night, which will be held at the Bakersfield Jam Event Center on Sept 17. The event will include blackjack, craps, food catered by Café Med and music. Horn Bunk said the event is heavily supported by the petroleum industry in Bakersfield and chaired by the Occidental of Elk Hills operation manger, Alan White. “He has chaired it for the last four years and taken it to great levels of success,” she said. — For more information about the TIL program or the Casino Night fundraising event, contact Sheri Horn Bunk at shornbunk@taftcollege.edu.

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Ben and Megan Seibel of Bakersfield following their July 9 wedding at the Pines Lodge in Cambria.

Royal influence seen in local weddings By Ann McCright

Blame Walt Disney. His classic movies, such as “Cinderella” and “Sleeping Beauty,” have created generations of little girls who dream of marrying a prince and living happily ever after. But this spring, the beautiful commoner Kate Middleton gave a big dose of reality to these fairy tales when she married Prince William, heir to the British throne. The royal couple and their worldwide televised wedding have left a profound, long-lasting influence on weddings, even those planned by Bakersfield couples. “The trend now seems to be to have a fairy tale wedding,” said Diane Klawitter, owner of House of Flowers in Bakersfield. “The brides want to be princesses. We are seeing a lot more bling this year.” Mark Ramkey, owner of Walker Lewis Rents in Bakersfield said, “People are still getting married on a budget, but they seem to 96

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Photo by Natalie Green of NYFotography

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be spending more to make their weddings special.” Ramkey and Klawitter are just two of hundreds of vendors scheduled to participate in the Ultimate Bridal Event on Sept. 18 at the Rabobank Convention Center to showcase their products and services, and help families plan their “dream weddings.” “In 2008, 2009 and even part of 2010, a family was likely to spend 85 cents a chair for rental,” Ramkey said, explaining his company has a variety of products ranging in price from budget to higher end. Ramkey said many families now want added luxury, with some paying up to nearly $4 a chair. “There has been an uptick in weddings. People are willing to spend again,” Ramkey said. The recession that began gripping the nation in 2008, forcing many families onto the financial ropes in 2009, caused many couples to postpone their weddings, or scale down their events. More elaborate weddings began coming back in late 2010. But the royal wedding has fueled demand, according to local vendors. From makeup, cakes and gowns, the royal influence is evident. With the weather normally overcast in England during April, when Kate and William exchanged vows, the wedding What: Ultimate Bridal Event When: Noon to 4 p.m. on Sept. 18 Where: Rabobank Convention Center Information: For more details or to register online visit ultimatebridalevent.com.

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party practically glowed, as if they had just stepped off the beach. As a result, British newspapers reported a 200 percent increase in sales of self-tanning lotions. Simple, but elegant describes the stunning wedding gown Kate wore on that royal day, prompting an ongoing run on anything with lace. “Brides want the same lace on the tops of their dresses,” said Laura Wageman at Ladies and Gents Bridal in Bakersfield. “They are taking sleeveless dresses and adding it on. We have seen a lot of this in just the last three or four months. “Other trends include girls adding beaded belts, replacing tiaras with rhinestone jewelry. Veils are popular again. We are seeing simple elegant dresses and more accessories,” she said, adding that, “short, puffy bridal gowns also are very popular. Every time I get one in, it flies out the door.” The royal influence was reinforced when Kate and William visited Canada and the United States this summer. Much was said about Mark Rankey, Kate’s habit of wearing “repeats.” Walker Lewis Rents For example, the cream Reiss dress she wore in her engagement photo reappeared in one of her Canadian stops. Other frequent sights on the couples’ overseas trip were nude-colored leather pumps and a straw box clutch. The “repeats” brought praise from international fashion observers, as well as politicians, who noted Kate’s desire to demonstrate that she is wisely using the royals’ money. “I think this concept of one wear and it is out is ridiculous for anybody,” observed Harper’s Bazaar editor Edwina McCann. “Really we should be focusing more on investment dressing, buying fantastic pieces that you really love and can wear in different ways.” “Local brides also seem to be going for the clean, simple and

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Continued on page 98

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Continued from page 97

elegant gowns,” noted Oleta Collins, owner of Flourishing Arts and Grandeur Productions in Bakersfield. Collins joked that Americans seemed more enthralled with the royal wedding than the British. She should know. She is married to an Englishman, Sean Collins, the public information officer for the Kern County Fire Department. “Families are now focusing more on the actual ceremony, which they are keeping simple, rather than overflowing the church,” she said, adding that they are spending more on the reception. The events planner noted that families want “more elegant, higher-end productions. They are paying for fewer, more expensive items, rather than cheap and cheerful. They are making more of a statement.” This willingness to pay more for better products is even seen in local wedding cakes, according Stephanie Fisher, owner of Gimme Some Sugar Cakes in Bakersfield. “We are seeing some very motivated brides,” she said. “A couple of years ago, we were down to six to 11 wedding cakes a month. Now we have orders for 16 to 25 a month. Weddings are definitely back on track.” — Ann McCright of the McCright Agency is the organizer of the Sept. 18 Ultimate Bridal Event. Visit ultimatebridalevent.com to register online for the event and prizes.

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September 2011

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YMCA of Kern County CEO Clete Harper with some of the kids served by the Y.

The Y A safe and fun environment for Kern County’s youth Q&A with Clete Harper, CEO of YMCA of Kern County How did you get involved with the YMCA? I was recruited by the chairman of our board of directors, Dave Wilkerson. I was basically retired, but when Dave candidly said the YMCA here in Kern County had some financial and administrative challenges, he caught my attention. I have always been competitive and I saw this as a worthwhile challenge. What groups of people does the Y serve? We have about every ethnic background living here in Kern County participating in our programs. They come from all socioeconomic levels. We are a true mixer of diverse people. I must also remind everyone that we are co-ed in all of our programs. In most of the country, all of the YMCA’s have merged with the YWCA’s. We have a new logo and our name is now “The Y.” 100

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Photo courtesy of Clete Harper

COMMUNITY

What does the Y mean to you? Why should it be important to our community? The Y represents a safe and wholesome environment for our youth to participate in positive activities and program. I read recently that 80 percent of all the men and women incarcerated in our prisons are from single parent homes. If we can fill some of that void with coaches, mentors and counselors, I have to believe we can reduce the number of youth at risk. How long has the YMCA of Kern County been around? I do not know the exact date the YMCA opened. I have been told the Y in Bakersfield is close to 90 years old. Why did it go quiet in recent years? Until 1996, the YMCA had a complete facility with a gymnasium, racquetball court, swimming pool, weight and exercise rooms, and many other features. I have been told that the facility needed some refurbishing. But rather than make the repairs, the board of directors decided to sell it (without having the funds to replace the building). Our current location on District Boulevard has very poor visibility. Most of the community is unaware that we are still in operation.

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Want to help? Donations: Monetary donations can be mailed to 5800 District Blvd., Suite 13, Bakersfield, CA 93313, or donate by credit card on our website at ymcaofkern.net. Click on the “donate” button. Fundraising: If you have fundraising experience or ideas, please call me at my office at 837-9622. Volunteer: We always have a need for volunteers. Please call us and will make an appointment to meet with you and discuss how best we can work together.

What have been other challenges? Our No. 1 challenge is finances. We receive no outside funding from any source. We are solely dependent on what we raise locally. One of the purposes for bringing me aboard was to have a point person that would meet with the various corporations, businesses, service groups and individuals to seek financial assistance. I am looking for a grant writer to assist us in applying for local and national grants.

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What are the future plans of the YMCA of Kern County? First of all, we must gain visibility. The Californian has been exceptionally helpful in giving us the publicity we need in order to show our community that we are still in business and growing. We presently serve more than 2,400 youth every year. We are the YMCA of Kern County and we want to serve all of the communities in our county. We presently have soccer leagues in Arvin, basketball leagues in Kern Valley and we are starting soccer in Delano this fall. We will work with any community that wants our services. Our long-range plan is to have our own building again, and offer a family YMCA. With additional funding, we will start a building fund.

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What are some of the more popular activities? What kind of activities or programs are you looking forward to grow? We are known for our sports programs, and will always be known for them. But we are expanding our base to include many other types of programs. We now offer theater arts, cheerleading and hip-hop dance instruction. We have a child care program at Suburu School in the Lakeside School District, and we are looking for new locations. We are in the planning stages of expanding our after-school programs at our facility on District Boulevard. We are going to offer tutoring and a computer lab. We are presently working with the Society for Disabled Children to conduct speech and language therapy. We have discussed co-sponsoring some programs together with The Boys and Girls Club. I have met with PAL (Police Activities League) and we are discussing starting a wrestling program this winter. Our Childhood Obesity Program is in the planning stage. In April, we will join with the National YMCA to hold a “Healthy Kids Day” with free dental and health check-ups, nutrition counselors, and bike and water safety available for children of all ages. www.BakersfieldLife.com

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ENTERTAINMENT

B-Town Blues Fest Iconic local record store celebrates 29 years in business

After nearly 30 years working in the Bakersfield music scene, Pat Evans is giving back to the community that has kept him in business — and he’s doing it in a fun, sustaining way. Evans, owner of World Records, is hosting the Seventh annual B-Town Blues Fest at the Cal State Bakersfield Amphitheater Sept. 17. While bringing the heavy hitters on the blues circuit to town, he is also bringing blood donations to Houchin Blood Bank and cash donations for its bone marrow program. Evans said after so many years of community support for his record store, it was time to turn the momentum around and direct the energy toward a cause that is there for our neighbors in times of emergency. “It’s so necessary for people to see the blood bank as part of everyday life, not just something you need in times of tragedy. In order for our community to have a stable blood supply and be able to help other communities nearby, raising awareness about blood donation needs to be connected to something fun. The B-Town Blues Fest is about fun, life and good things.” Working with Houchin Blood Bank, Evans has found a way Pat Evans to link donors to the festival by encouraging people to give blood and enjoy the music. “Until the festival, everyone who donates blood will receive a coupon for $10 off their ticket price, then at the event itself, all of the money from the food and drinks will go to the bone marrow program at Houchin.” Evans has had a long relationship with Houchin as he’s brought more than a dozen concerts to CSUB with proceeds going to the blood bank. With the Blues Fest behind the donation drive, the idea seems to be catching on and growing by leaps and bounds. “We were able to double the amount of concert coupons we redeemed last year over the year before. We hope to do that again this year and are working on ideas to encourage people to go back to the bank and donate again once the fest is done.” 102

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Lee Rocker playing the upright bass at the 2007 B-Town Blues Fest.

Photo by Dan Ocampo

By Miranda Whitworth

As Evans works on the fundraising front, he is working his magic said. in an industry that has seen many corporate names come and go as As for keeping his doors open for nearly three decades, Evans atof late. Evans mans the helm at World Records, Bakersfield’s most tributes the longevity to customer service and the customer loyalty that prolific locally-owned music store. In June, he celebrated the establish- is returned. ment’s 29th anniversary in its new location at 2815 F St. “Lots of people who come in are people that have been coming After spending years in the northeast, the southwest and a short to us from the beginning. They like to spend their money in town and stint in downtown, Evans feels his new digs is the perfect place for buy local. Whatever they ate growing up or was in their water, we need him to watch the store grow to what he feels a real community music more of that,” Evans joked. business should be. But with the utmost sincerity, Evans said the future of his business “It’s a great old building that’s just the right size to sell music, have rests with customers of the past and the people they bring with them. recitals and really do more for musicians. “Thanks to those customers, we are It’s a place where you can sit, hang out still open and we aren’t going to close. and talk about music.” We don’t make a living at this, but we Seventh annual Since their move, Evans has taken adlike what we do and we are going to find B-Town Blues Fest vantage of the ample parking and popular a way to keep going. This new concept is Presented by World Records local businesses that sit to the north and going to do it.” • 5 to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 17 south. Flanked by the Village Grill and Like encouraging blood donations, • CSUB Amphitheater, 9001 Stockdale Highway Beverly’s Fabric & Crafts, Evans said he running a local music store is a commu• $40 reserved table; $30 lawn seating; $25 lawn seating for students, military and seniors saw potential in the location and spotted nity service to Evans. 65+ and up; 17 and under are free. (Donate customers he knows have passion for “We want to educate people about blood for $10 discount off lawn seating) local business. music, we can’t just be the place where • Featuring Joe Louis Walker, John Nemeth, Gina “A lot of people who live in Westsomeone just comes to buy something Sicilia and more. For tickets, call 831-3100, stop in at the new location 2815 F St. or visit shopchester live there because they chose to and that’s it. We must be more than that,” worldrecords.com. live there. They are ‘shop local’ people he said. “We are part of a new trend and it’s a great fit for us. You have people where sound matters and enjoying the eating next door and walking down from album may be a better deal than having the farmers markets. We’ve already had bands playing outside on the 15 gigs of songs in your hand. That’s great, it’s a lot of music. The weekends in the mornings and the place has really come to life,” Evans question is ‘Are you really enjoying it?’”

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ENTERTAINMENT

Spotlight Theatre Q&A with Hal Friedman, executive/artistic director Compiled by Hillary Haenes

Q: What production are you most excited about? A: I am very excited about all our productions. However, I think one of the most important productions being done is “Spring Awakening,” which is a show that broke all sorts of Broadway boundaries. It is the story of teens exploring who they are and what 104

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

Hal Friedman, executive/ artistic director of the Spotlight Theatre.

Photo by Camielle Fulton

Q: Tell us about your new season. What shows are on your list? A: We have an amazing new season with many hit shows and new works that have not been done in Bakersfield. We are doing the Bakersfield premiere of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels;” “Spring Awakening” the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway hit written by pop icon Duncan Sheik; as well as the premiere of the Tony winning show “Ragtime.” We are doing the Latino based classic “Real Women Have Curves;” Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” and “Into the Woods;” the holiday classic “White Christmas;” and other Broadway hits like “Evita;” and Will Roger’s “Follies.” We have our black box shows, the Spotlight Series, playing on dark main stage weekends. Those shows include: “Jekyll and Hyde” (the play not the musical); “The Talented Mr. Ripley;” “The Rainbow Footlocker;” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch;” “Dangerous Liaisons;” and the original play “The Demon's Roommate.” Also, we are producing a production in Los Angeles called “Zanna, Don’t.”

they believe, as opposed to the generation that is raising them, and it is a musical based on a play of the same name written in the early 1900s. The show is very relevant and deals with topics we explore today and that teens still deal with like pregnancy, school pressures, religious pressures and sexuality. It’s a landmark show and I believe this musical production will appeal to everyone. It has an alternative rock score, and is told with an abandon and earnestness that few shows can capture. Q: The theatre’s slogan is “Beyond Community Theatre,” so how is the Spotlight giving back to the community this year? A: “Beyond Community Theatre” means a lot of things to us. First and foremost, it speaks about the type of theatre we strive to be: one that isn’t satisfied with the community theatre label and how it relates to production quality and caliber of performers. We have an amazing group of young professional quality performers and our shows are done to the utmost professional level. Do we always hit our mark? We try to, but we are limited due to resources (money) and sometimes due to interest in the community itself. The other way we try to go beyond is we reach out to the community and support the endeavors going on around us. We linked the LBGTQ to Hal Friedman our show “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” and are using a night of it's proceeds to help them raise funds for a Community Center for their programs. We are also linked to the Boys and Girls Club, the Bakersfield AIDS project, and many other fantastic Bakersfield causes. You can see a full list in our program at a show. Our goal this year is to link every show with a local cause.

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Q: What is the theatre’s goal this season? A: Other than the above statement about shows and causes, we have the goal to push the theatrical arts farther and farther. This year we have the talents of American Idol’s Amy Adams gracing our stage, adding even more legitimacy to our productions. We hope to create Continued on page 106

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Q: For you to continue giving back to the community, the Spotlight Theatre needs Bakersfield’s help as far as donations and sponsorships. How can Bakersfield help support the theater? A: People can help the Spotlight by advertising in our programs, giving tax deductible donations, (we are a 501c3, so all donations are tax deductible) or by helping us sponsor a show, which generally costs $5,000 to $10,000 to produce. We call these sponsorships Underwriting and are also tax deductible. Without this help from Bakersfield, we truly cannot continue to survive.

Photo by Felix Adamo

buzz around all our productions due to the professional quality of them. We have reached that end to a point, but we have to keep pushing the envelope. Q: This past spring, you offered the Spotlight stage as an alternative for Frontier High School’s “The Phantom of the Opera” because the drama department could not extend its run of the play. How can other schools take advantage of this? A: All a school has to do is give us a call, and if we have the available space, we would extend this opportunity to anyone who may want it. East High took advantage in May as well. They received an extended run of their original play and hope to grow these relationships.

Spotlight Theatre • 1622 19th St. • Phone: 634-0692 • Email: haldfrie@gmail.com • Website: thespotlighttheatre.com

This month • “Real Women Have Curves” • Sept. 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 • $25 adults; $22 students and seniors; $15 group of 10 or more. • To purchase tickets call 634-0692 or visit thespotlighttheatre.com.

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PERSONALITY

Dave Krueger Fate, a flat tire and a good deed landed tennis pro in Bakersfield

By Stephen Lynch Photos by Henry A. Barrios Had it not been for an unusual twist of fate, Dave Krueger probably would have spent the past 19 years somewhere other than Bakersfield. The 45-year old has been here working as a tennis pro during that entire time, including the past 17 ½ years at Seven Oaks Country Club. “It’s a funny story. I had graduated from college and was working on getting my master’s and this guy had a flat tire alongside the road (on Interstate 280 in San Jose). So I pulled over to fix his tire and he was the guy who was in charge of Rio Bravo Resort. And he was looking for a tennis pro. I said to myself this may not be a bad opportunity,” Krueger said. Krueger, who was living in the Bay Area at the time, ultimately decided to take the job offer. A couple of years later he made the move to Seven Oaks, where he’s not only the tennis pro but is in charge of the club’s fitness and pool areas. “It’s a small town so I’ve got to know a lot of people over the years and they still keep coming out to play tennis,” Krueger said. “A lot of times in this line of work you’ll teach somebody for a month or two or six months or a year then you keep revolving and rotating. But I’ve pretty much kept good base clientele.” It’s a job that requires Krueger to work six days a week. When he does have free time, he enjoys spending it with his wife Regina, the women’s tennis coach at Cal State Bakersfield, and their two young children Greta and Noah. Krueger met his wife, a Hungarian native, 12½ years ago while she was a star player at CSUB. The couple has been married for 11 years. Krueger himself played tennis for two years at CSUB back in the mid-’80s after a stellar prep career in Beaverton, Ore.

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He led Sunset High School to four straight state team tennis titles and in the process also won state doubles championship one year. Krueger played well enough in high school and junior tennis to catch the eye of numerous college coaches, including Kurt Neilsen who successfully recruited Krueger to play for the Roadrunners. Although he earned All-American honors his sophomore season at CSUB, Krueger decided to transfer to Division I San Jose State. “The team was falling apart,” Krueger said of his decision to leave CSUB. “… At San Jose State it was pretty intense. You got to play all the top schools at that time. Back then there was a 30 match schedule and we played actually all year round. We got to play USC, Stanford, UCLA, Berkeley, all those schools. And that was one of the biggest reasons to go there and play for John Hubbell.” While earning a bachelor’s degree in finance at San Jose State, Krueger continued to excel on the tennis court and was selected as an All-American his senior year. He was working on his master’s degree in finance at San Jose State and teaching tennis at Almaden Valley Athletic Club when that fateful flat tire led him back to Bakersfield. And though Krueger enjoys traveling all over the globe with his family, he couldn’t be happier to call Kern County home. “The community is great as a whole. You can afford a house here and send your kids to a great school and do pretty much what you want to do. It’s all been positive for me,” Krueger said. That positive experience includes working at a job that allows him to follow one of his passions in life.

Dave Krueger is the head tennis pro at Seven Oaks Country Club.

“I really enjoy seeing people improve. That’s my biggest thing whether it’s tennis or anything else. I try to bring the best out in people. I think that’s one of the gifts I have, to help them and not just in tennis,” Krueger said. “When I teach someone tennis I try to teach them a little about life too. One thing I love about teaching is I like to see the kids grow. I’m not saying I like to teach kids more than adults but with kids you can see them grow and mature, turn into something. And it doesn’t have to be a good tennis player.”

www.BakersfieldLife.com 109

TALK OF THE TOWN

Ryan Beckwith Bakersfield College athletic director

Compiled by Stephen Lynch

From volunteer track coach to athletic director in just a matter of months, it didn’t take Ryan Beckwith long to ascend to the top of the Bakersfield College athletic department. Just a couple of days after being hired for the AD job, the upbeat and competitive 32-year-old took time out of his busy schedule to answer questions regarding his vision for BC sports and Bakersfield.

Initially you were hired as an assistant track coach. Where does that stand now that you are the athletic director? Obviously my priority is the athletic director. My priority is making sure we’re on time with our eligibility, our budgets are met, and we’re doing those things correctly. So am I going to be an assistant track coach? Short answer probably not. What is your top priority as the new AD? Building a team atmosphere. I think that ultimately everybody needs to understand that in an athletic department we are exactly that. We are a team. We can’t continue to try and develop our kids into being successful teammates and leaders and successful students if we don’t exemplify that as a staff. You’ve said one of the top reasons you got your master's degree was in hopes of someday becoming an athletic director and that becoming an AD has long been one of your goals in life. What is it about the job of athletic director that appeals to you so much? I knew I was going to be an athlete for only so long. After that am I always just going to want to be a coach? I want to take my knowledge and my experiences and develop a program that helps our students to thrive like no other. That’s the great thing about being an athletic director, you can build something.

Photo by Casey Christie

You've lived here now for about eight months. So what are your thoughts on Bakersfield? I love it. My fiancee is from here. Her dad’s a firefighter. Her sister and brother-in-law live here. We all live within a few miles of each other. I am a part of a family where everybody’s here. It’s just one of those towns that you don’t really know about until you get here. And when you get here you don’t leave because you fall in love with it. I am going to be here the rest of my life. Because this is where I want to be.

What do you like to do when you’re not working? Well the great thing about my fiancée and her family is we have a lot in common. We just like to be active. We just like to get out and ride our bikes or run or if we can, go play tennis.

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You have a strong marketing and fundraising background. How do you plan on using that to help you here? Any successful person or business will tell you that things just don’t fall into your lap. It’s a matter of us going out

and showing everybody who we are. The reality is that once we build this team that we can go out into the community and say ‘hey here we are, this is what we do, we would love your support and we want to support you as well.’ You’re well educated and intelligent but you’ve never run an athletic department before. What do you plan on doing to offset your lack of experience as an AD? A lot of it is feeding off of what I’ve seen and experienced. The things I may have questions about, we have a support staff here on campus. Everybody wants to help each other. So any lack of experience I have, there’s people here to help with that. You are replacing Jan Stuebbe who was here for quite a long time. How do you feel about following in the footsteps of someone that was so successful at the job? To follow a legend, someone who has been so successful, it’s great. I don’t want to be status quo. I don’t want to just sit on my hands and say hey you know this is great. No, I want to raise the bar. We have a very successful program here. And the great thing about it is I think we can be more successful. Is that going to be easy? Absolutely not. I love the challenge. I want to build something. What personal characteristics do you possess that you think will help you the most with the job? I have an unyielding determination to succeed. That’s just how I’ve been my entire life. It’s ingrained in me.

Historically BC has been one of most successful junior college athletic programs in the state of California. What are you planning to do to ensure the school’s on-field success continues? Familiarizing myself with the tradition. It’s about getting out and understanding what this athletic department and this institution means to the community. That’s one of the most important parts of continuing the success or the legacy — understanding what’s happened in the past. One of the responsibilities of an athletic director is to oversee the coaching staff. What is your opinion of your current group of coaches at BC? I can’t imagine a better staff of coaches. I’ve met every single one and love them. Every single coach here has the student athlete’s best interest in mind. You can’t ask for anything more. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the Bakersfield College athletic department? Establishing that team atmosphere. That’s huge. I think everything rolls on from that. If our coaches aren’t happy, the kids aren’t happy, we’re not successful. You said earlier that this is the place that you want to plant your roots so what are your long-term goals? Our goal again is to let the community, the state, and the country know who we are. I think if people see who we are they’re going to recognize how special this place is. And to me that’s the most important thing. I want people to understand what this place can offer. And if they see it, it speaks for itself.

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TRIP PLANNER

Lone Pine

The snow-covered eastern Sierras jut up behind the rounded rocks of the Alabama Hills outside of Lone Pine.

Hollywood’s backdrop to Western films and beautiful scenery

Story and photos by Lois Henry

22nd annual Lone Pine Film Festival

When: Oct. 7 to 9 Where: Lone Pine Information: For all the events, tours, times, directions and prices visit: lonepinefilmfestival.org or call 760-875-9103.

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You could go for the history, or for a brush with Hollywood glamour or for the sheer love of movie making. But I say the trip to Lone Pine for its 22nd annual film festival (Oct. 7 to 9) is worth the drive just for the incredible Alabama Hills. It’s only two hours from Bakersfield, but the high desert town in the shadow of Mount Whitney feels like a world away. Especially, when you take Whitney Portal Road east out of Lone Pine. A short distance from town you’ll see a right hand turn into the Alabama Hills. I highly recommend taking at least a few hours (if not, a trailer or tent for a few days of camping!) to meander through the weird and fascinating rock formations. People see different things in the rocks — toes, dinosaurs, potatoes or giant sand

worms (think “Tremors”). I always see noses, but that’s just me. Hollywood has seen far more in those rocks over the past 90 or so years filming countless movies among the twisted formations from westerns to sci-fi. If you go up during the film festival, the Museum of Lone Pine Film History has a ton of great tours that will show you where different movies were filmed and give a lot of the back story that doesn’t make it onto the silver screen. All the Hollywood greats have made it up to Lone Pine and the eastern Sierras at one time or another, and the museum is the best place to get your bearings and figure out what you want to see. Tours range from information on the geology to specific stars, such as John Wayne. They start at 8:30 a.m. Friday and

Someone gave a face to one of the rocks on the road to Alabama Hills.

The Lone Pine Film History Museum holds a fundraiser dinner each year in June in the Alabama Hills to support its October film festival. run all through the weekend. And don’t worry, the museum has buses, so if you’re not up for a strenuous hike in the thin air, you’re good. The festival will also have screenings of key films during the western’s heyday, a live stunt performance, rodeo, parade and even a lecture by an Emmy winning sound man. Like I said, it is a short drive, but hotel rooms fill up fast, so you’ll want to make reservations now (lots of places to camp too). Don’t forget nearby towns of Independence, Bishop or even Ridgecrest. Make sure to give yourself time for ample wandering through those strange and hypnotic Alabama Hills, and maybe a quick trip up to Whitney Portals where the views go on for miles. Oh, and it’s up on that road that you’ll find a marker that explains why this pile of rocks in the rugged California desert is called the Alabama Hills. I could tell you, but I don’t want to spoil it. No cheating and looking it up on the Internet either!

The Eastern Sierras make a dramatic backdrop to the Film History Museum. www.BakersfieldLife.com

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GET OUT OF TOWN

Day trips Los Angeles area museums are only a short car ride away

W By Laura Sverchek

Want to escape the tail end of the dog days of summer in Bakersfield, but don’t have time for a vacation? Drive to Los Angeles with friends or family to visit great art, history and science museums, which are only a couple of hours away. Visit the museum websites to plan your next visit. LACMA The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in central Los Angeles is the largest art museum in the western United States. The permanent collections include ancient art, contemporary art, modern art and virtually the entire history of art from all over the world, with expansive collections in Asian art, Latin American art and Islamic art. The LACMA will feature a spe“Asco: Elite of the Obscure” cial exhibit beginning in September called “Asco: Elite of the Obscure,” which will present the work of the Chicano conceptual art group, Asco. Other special exhibits include: a Tim Burton exhibition displaying more than 700 drawings, paintings, photographs, moving-image works, storyboards, puppets, concept artworks, maquettes and costumes; a Zodiac exhibit, which features the 12 bronze animal heads of the Zodiac; and “Five Car Stud,” which is a major civil rights work. Check out the LACMA for a wide collection of art. 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles 323-857-6000 lacma.org

Bakersfield Life

masters; “A Revolutionary Project: Cuba from Walker Evans to Now,” shows Cuba’s history through three sets of photographs taken in 1933, during the revolution in 1959 and after 1991 when the Soviets withdrew from Cuba. Admission to the Getty is free every day. “In Focus: The Sky”

J. Paul Getty Museum The Getty Center in Los Angeles has a collection of Western art dating back to the Middle Ages. Its collection includes European paintings, drawings and sculptures, and European and American photographs. The center itself has unique architecture and gardens. Special exhibitions that will be featured include “In Focus: The Sky,” which shows photographers attempts to capture the beauty of the sky; “Luminous Paper,” which presents watercolor paintings and sketches done in the 1700s and 1800s by British watercolor 114

“Carousel” from the Tim Burton exhibition at LACMA.

September 2011

1200 Getty Center Drive Los Angeles 310-440-7330 getty.edu

California Science Center The California Science Center in Downtown Los Angeles is a hands-on and interactive science center that is perfect for families. The center’s permanent galleries are free and include: the Earth’s ecosystems, “Creative World” that showcases human inventions and innovations, “World of Life” that shows how living creatures exist, and air and space exhibits. The center also has an IMAX theater, which shows movies about the history of the earth, animals

California Science Center and space. The California Science Center is educational and a great place to take kids. 700 Exposition Park Drive Los Angeles 323-724-3623 californiasciencecenter.org

The Huntington The Huntington in San Marino near Pasadena includes a library, art collection and beautiful botanical gardens. The Huntington Library has about six million rare books and manuscripts for research and display. It holds great works of British and American literature and history, including early editions of Shakespeare’s works and a Gutenberg Bible. The Huntington Art Collections includes the European art collection and the American art collection. The European art collection consist of 18th- and 19thcentury British paintings; decorative arts; Renaissance paintings and sculpture; and 18th-century French sculpture, tapestries, porcelain and furniture. The Gutenberg Bible The Botanical Gardens covers more than 120 acres and contains more than 14,000 different kinds of plants. It has a wide-rage of specialized gardens including the Desert, Japanese, Rose, Shakespeare and Chinese gardens. Twice a year the Garden has a plant sale where visitors can buy thousands of rare plants. With books, history, art and plants, the Huntington has something to interest everyone. 1151 Oxford Road San Marino 626-405-2100 huntington.org

Norton Simon The Norton Simon Museum is an art museum in Pasadena with a large collection of European art from the 14 century to the 20 century. Its European art covers many of the large art movements,

including the Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque, Impressionism and Post-Impressionism with work by Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh, and Modernism by Pablo Picasso. The museum also has a collection of Asian art with a large selection of Indian sculptures and religious paintings, modern and contemporary art, and photographs. Outside the museum, there is a sculpture garden with unique landscaping and more Rodin’s “The Thinker” than 180 species of plants and trees. National Public Radio described the Norton Simon as “America’s least known great museum.” So visitors of the Norton Simon can expect wonderful works of art and an uncrowded museum. 411 W. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena 626-449-6840 nortonsimon.org

Griffith Observatory The Griffith Observatory is a public astronomy attraction in Los Angeles located on Mount Hollywood. The observatory has high-quality public telescopes that are free every day and night that the sky is clear. During the day, you can observe the sun with the observatory’s three solar telescopes, and at night, you can view the moon and the planets with the Zeiss Telescope. The Samuel Oschin Planetarium Theater at the observatory offers three live shows: one about cosmic exploration and discovery, one about the search for life beyond Earth and one about the northern lights. There are also exhibits at the observatory about the planets, solar system and other worlds, how people have observed the sky, a 150-foot timeline of the universe, and how science and mythology interact. The Griffith Observatory is the place to go to learn about and observe space. 2800 E. Observatory Road Los Angeles 213-473-0800 griffithobservatory.org

www.BakersfieldLife.com

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BUSINESS PROFILE

Synergy Lifestyle Center Jan Trobisch, M.D., president

What kinds of programs does your center offer? Addiction treatment: We offer comprehensive addiction treatment in  a relaxing spa-like atmosphere through combination of prescription medications and counseling. The treatment at Synergy is highly individualized and involves treatment planning, individual-, family- and group counseling along with the care by board certified addiction specialist. We offer detoxification from various substances of abuse (e.g., opiates, painkillers, stimulants, Xanax, alcohol, etc.) as well as maintenance treatment. Medical weight loss: The medical weight loss side of the business offers a multitude of programs depending on the client's motivation, commitment, medical history and budget. Each program at Synergy is highly individualized and tailored specifically to the client. The consultation starts with a Body Composition Analysis  “BCA” (a detailed report about the client’s body composition including fat and water percentage, basic metabolic rate, individual cancer risk, etc.). With the data of the BCA I will then customize a weight loss program for the client. Products and Services include: Weight Loss: Body Composition Analysis (BCA); low-calorie diet products; appetite suppressants (Phentermine); Vitamin B-12 injections; Lipoprotein-B (or “fat burner”) injections; dietary supplements; Capsiate 116

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September 2011

Photo courtesy of Synergy Lifestyle Center

Address: 4100 Empire Drive, Suite 120 Phone number: 878-9100 Website: synergybakersfield.com E-mail: info@synergylsc.com

Natura weight loss counseling. Addiction Treatment: Addiction counseling (individual, family, group), treatment planning, detox from various drugs, Vivitrol ™, Suboxone ™. How do you care for patients with an addiction problem? Addiction is a chronic medical illness and neither counseling alone nor prescription medications alone are usually sufficient for patients to completely recover. Therefore, we offer a combination of counseling and medications (where indicated), customized to the patient. Each relationship at Synergy starts with a comprehensive assessment by one of our counselors. The patient then meets with the doctor who decides if prescription medications are indicated or helpful. There are several medications available for treatment

of withdrawal symptoms, relapse prevention and possible underlying medical and mental disorders. Once stable on medications, the focus turns on the counseling, which helps the patient to work on underlying problems. Each step of the recovery process, we stand by our patient and guide him/her towards full recovery. What can your clients expect from joining the weight loss program? Short answer: Results. Long answer: Everybody who joins the program will lose weight. The amount of weight lost in a specific time period depends on the program that the doctor chooses (with the client) and the client’s adherence to the program. Weight loss is very simple as long as the right tools are being used no matter if a client wants to lose 10 pounds or 100 pounds (or even more).

BUSINESS PROFILE

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen Patty Gray, owner/chief stewarding officer

What types of services does DreamMaker offer? How long has DreamMaker been in business? Since 1987, Everett and Patty Gray have been serving Kern County as residential remodelers. In 2003, their team and family made the decision to focus on kitchen and bath design/build and they soon opened their DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen location on District Boulevard. Their services include turnkey kitchen and bath design and installation, along with room additions and whole house remodeling. What kinds of special/interesting requests have your clients made? Unusual or unique requests have come over the 30 years of their remodeling experience. From cat boxes built into bathroom cabinets to a raised dishwasher above the floor for a senior couple, DreamMaker enjoys finding creative solutions for their clients. In one such client’s home, a custom-built 12-by-18-foot oak framed florescent ceiling was turned into a gorgeous showpiece by hand-grinding copper panels and installing puck lighting in each panel. This saved their beautiful woodwork and with new granite countertops, backsplash and fixtures, the kitchen became an updated luxurious magazine quality kitchen that receives a big “Wow!” from friends and family. 118

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Photo courtesy of DreamMaker

Address: 5880 District Blvd., Suite 19 Phone number: 837-1117 Website: dreammakerbakersfield.com E-mail: patty@dreammakerbakersfield.com

What strengths set DreamMaker apart from other local businesses in this industry? The team would agree that their greatest strength is the 140 years of combined experience in the construction industry, along with the creativity of owner Everett Gray and designer Mel Fox, and the fine craftsmanship of their in-house production team. DreamMaker’s subcontractors are handpicked, fully licensed and insured and have become part of their team culture for many years. Building strong relationships, both internally and externally, is an important part of the Grays' business philosophy. What feedback have you received from your clients? Unquestionably, the Grays would say that the most gratifying projects are those

that transform the lives of their clients with special needs. In more than one instance, DreamMaker has been able to apply their knowledge of universal design in building accessible bathrooms for the handicapped and seniors. A patio off a master bedroom was turned into an entire wet room with a large barrier-free shower to accommodate a wheelchair. It also included an elevated toilet and remote-controlled bidet for a gentleman with Lou Gehrig’s disease. This made a huge difference in his daily activities giving him and his family more freedom. Being a Certified Aging-In Place (CAPS) company, DreamMaker is able to enrich people’s lives in more ways than most remodeling contractors. Every project is unique to the families needs and every project is treated with the same care to protect their client’s home and provide for a positive experience.

ALL UNDER ONE ROOF EXPERIENCED, CREATIVE, COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE

Tommy Moody

Production Manager Years of Experience: 20 Strengths: Project Management, Demo, Finish Carpentry, Cabinets, Framing, Electrical, Plumbing

Harold Workman Michelle Sweaney Office Manager Strengths: Organization, Accounting, Purchasing

Journeyman Carpenter - “Mr. Magic” Years of Experience: 42 Strengths: Project Management, Finish Carpentry, Cabinets, Framing, Electrical, Plumbing, Drywall, Painting

Mel Fox

Sales/Designer Years of Experience: 39 Strengths: Design, Residential Remodeling, Finish Carpentry, Framing

Everett Gray

Owner/Sales/Designer Years of Experience: 38 Strengths: Creative/Visionary, Design, Residential Remodeling, Carpentry, Framing, Concrete

Gabe Romo Patty Gray

Owner/Chief Stewarding Officer Strengths: Team Management, Organization, Customer Service

Apprentice Years of Experience: 4 Strengths: Customer Service, Staging, Demo, Finish, Cabinets, Plumbing

Dave Hacker

Owner, Valley Granite & Tile Years of Experience: 11 Strengths: Industry Leader in Machinery and Fabrication

• KITCHEN AND BATH DESIGN & INSTALLATION • CABINET REFACING • WHOLE HOUSE REMODELS • ROOM ADDITIONS • RETAIL SALES

CALL TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

837-1117

5880 District Blvd. Suite 19

DreamMakerBakersfield.com

Fully licensed and insured License #548785

Photo by Henry A. Barrios

BUSINESS PROFILE

E Salon|Spa Dee Dee Todd, owner Address: 10930 Stockdale Highway, Suite 104 (located next to Target at The Shops at River Walk) Phone number: 654-0317 Website: esalonspas.com E-mail: info@esalonspas.com What has business been like since the grand opening in May? People familiar with Aveda products and services are thrilled they no longer have to travel to Los Angeles, the coastal cities or elsewhere to experience the Aveda lifestyle. And, those who have discovered us by their own curiosity or responded to one of our marketing pieces have quickly embraced the Aveda (ah-vay-da) culture, which is inspired by Ayurveda, the ancient Indian healing art, and is rich in essential oils and rituals, botanical ingredients and earth-friendly practices. What is the atmosphere and dĂŠcor like at the salon? Walking into E Salon|Spa, you are 120

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quickly enveloped in the natural plant aromas of Aveda, which enhance the feelings of health and well-being, while bringing balance to your senses. All guests are invited to experience a complimentary cup of Aveda calming tea while they shop or receive a service. From a visual standpoint, E Salon|Spa is modern with a white industrial backdrop and splashes of color. The fixtures are built with eco-friendly materials, and the furniture is both high on style and comfort! E Salon|Spa was designed by the local architectural firm of Paul Skarphol Associates, built by Diamond Peak Construction and showcases the talents of Bakersfield artist Johnny Ramos and Bossanovastudios. What kinds of services and products does your salon and spa offer? E Salon|Spa is a full service Aveda lifestyle salon and day spa. We perform haircuts, color services and styles as well as a full menu of facials, massage and body treatments, manicures and pedicures, waxing, makeup application and more. E Salon|Spa also offers a variety of spa, bridal and special event packages, and membership and reward programs.

How does E Salon|Spa differ from other salons and spas around town? With each and every service visit, guests are given the unique choice of receiving two free-of-charge Aveda rituals such as chakra balancing aromatherapy, a neck and shoulder massage, hand and arm treatment, stress relieving footbath, finishing touch makeup application or facial refresh for men.

What is the most requested treatment and why? E Salon|Spa offers a series of all-natural Aveda Caribbean therapy massage, nail and body treatments that incorporate techniques to work on the physical energy layer of the body, as well as the subtler mental and emotional layers. The new Aveda smooth infusion retexturizing system, which unlike other hair straightening services on the market is free of formaldehyde and harmful side effects, is also gaining a lot of popularity with our clientele.

PRIME FINDS

Canine cooler Make a statement in the kitchen

Stylish, tulle-trimmed, colorful apron with a removable tulle flower. New shipment just arrived! Only at Kuka's, 1609 19th St. 325-0000.

Creates a soft, cool and comfortable place for your pet to lay down! Prices start at $60. 1617 19th St. 321-9602

Biscuits Boutique & Doggy Spa

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Unique, handmade Born

The shootie, a cross between a shoe and a boot, is by Born and can be seen at Guarantee Shoe Center downtown.

Guarantee Shoes 122

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Rock Me Baby Clothing now available at Divaz Desirez. Stop by and see it at Divaz Desirez on the corner of Coffee and Hageman in the Vons center. 679-7278.

Divaz Desirez

Diamond in white gold

Custom-made by Robson-Eilers at The Marketplace. 1.15 carat diamond in 14K white gold. $5,000 on sale for $3,750. 665-0411 or RobsonEilers.com.

Robson-Eilers Jewelers

Entertain family and friends Gorgeous custom-made alderwood bar with attention to detail. Let us make something beautiful to fit in your home. 836-8747 or MunozCabinets.com

Munoz Cabinets

www.LSEnglandDesigns.com

General Contractors Designing - Building Creating Your Vision

Colorful, fun, healthy eating

Your child can paint his or her own dinner plate to reinforce the concept! $20 (includes studio time and firing). Color Me Mine at The Marketplace, 664-7366, bakersfield.colormemine.com.

Color Me Mine

Over 30 Years Of Experience Lance & Sue England

Locally Owned & Operated

Visit Our Showroom

Mon-Fri 10-4, Sat 10-2 6600 Suite B District Blvd.

(661) 835-8000 Bakersfield 93313 Lic#605344

First Friday Aug. 5 Held at Metro Galleries Photos by Jan St. Pierre View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com

Tony and Elva Martinez

Gordon and Kathy Leaman

Jon and Lydia Rowles

Michael Castaneda, Audrianna Hope and Christian Flores

Lauren Thomas and Ginny Mitchell

Bob Crewdson, Nicole Saint-John and Betty Woollomes

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September 2011

Cristine Grontkowski, Beth Rienzi, Wendy Wayne and Judith Pratt

(855) 393-2840 www.motorcitywest.com

PAL Fun Run Aug. 13 Held at The Park at Riverwalk Photos byJan St Pierre View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com Andrea and Justin Golding

Tammi Noe and Jen Pafford

Tonee Rohatsch, Beth Walker and Ryan Brock

Balentin and Rosa Lugo and Pedro Segura

Kelley Mitchell and Stephanie Underwood

Jorge and Stacey Briceno and Harley

Sharon Lutje and Jerene and Garrett Stephenson

Greg Williamson and Lyle Martin

www.BakersfieldLife.com 125

‘Latinas Leading the Way’ Recognition Awards July 16 Held at Four Points Sheraton Photos by Ashley Reyes View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com

Lisa and Jess Kent

Julie Ashford, Sarah, Noah and Adam Ketchum and Wendy Holt

Jessica Boshears, Joey and Terry Andrews

Larry and Alice Rector

Fabiola Reyes, Maria Reyes, Trevor Dolena and Luis Reyes

Bob Castaneda, Rosemarie Arribillaga, Denise and Albert Ornelas, Terry Andrews and Jessica Ornelas

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September 2011

Back: Servando Diaz, Saul and Dulce Perez, Javier Martinez, Fabiola Reyes. Middle: Christine Johnson, Roani Sandoval, Maria Reyes. Front: May Soe, Teza Han, Pierre Flores

(855) 393-2840 www.motorcitywest.com

Jet Set Our Dreams art show Aug. 12 Held at Bakersfield Museum of Art Photos by Greg Nichols View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com Cooper and Zane Adamo and Peter Marcos

Mariah Sherman Graham and Lauren Nolasco

Lisa Overall and Misty Glasco

Archie and Audrey Sherman and Bryson Marantos

Marilou and Dan Slayton

Cheri Smith and Kathy Ramos

Aubrey Trammell and Kari Evans

Motivation without Medication™

PATHWAYS HYPNOSIS Vaughn Barnett

C.Ht., NLP, BA Alpha Chi Honor Society American Hypnosis Assoc.

661.322.0077

PathwaysHypnosis.org

Hudson Joe’s Jeans Jeffrey Campbell Juicy Couture

www.shopatbella.com 661.664.4974 www.BakersfieldLife.com

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Helping Little Hearts Benefit Aug. 11 Held at Buck Owens Crystal Palace Photos by Carla Rivas View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com

128

Scott Cox and Joy Byrom

Gloria Escover and Megan Gretona

Kevin and Sofie Zimmermann

Lidia, Brianna and Albert Bravo

Andie and John Froehlich

Jeff Radliff and Pamela Urner

Steve and Ronda Chaffin

Debbie and Bob Aurin

Bakersfield Life

September 2011

(855) 393-2840 www.motorcitywest.com

First annual Jammin’ Island Luau July 16 Held at Kern County Museum Photos by Ashley Reyes View these photos and more online at BakersfieldLife.com Kirsty Rabanal and Vicky Barroga

Lucia Garcia and Rolando Borquez

Alexandria, Vincent, Alex, Diana, R.C. and Dolores Quiroa

Santiago, Arely and Elvia Rivera

Alice, Linzey, Kelley, Alyssa, Clayton and Gene Brown

Seth and Dahlia Langendoerfer

Jeffrey, Jeremy, Jenny, Betty, Josh and Jamie Goens and Peggy Smith

• Additions • Remodels • Alumawood Patios • Custom Patios

• Outdoor Kitchen & BBQs • Maintenance • Project Management • Bonded & Insured

Pacific Construction Services, Inc. 661-829-1002 • PCSBakersfield.com Lic. #947863

www.BakersfieldLife.com 129

THE LAST WORD

Art Medina Director of marketing, Brown Armstrong Accountancy Corp.

Biggest accomplishment: My two sons, Joaquin, age 6, and Alejandro, age 5. They have brought perspective to my life. The best part of my job is: The whole creative process, starting with an idea and taking it all the way to fruition. I enjoy the challenges that are presented to me and try to find unique solutions to each of them. Best piece of advice someone has given me: Plot your own course, and don't let anyone else steer your ship. Something few people know about me: I am a closet comic book nerd. My favorite getaway: The beach in Carlsbad. On my bookshelf you will find: The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde. My favorite places to have lunch on the weekend: Lengthwise Brewery and Sequoia Sandwich Co.

The one thing that defines Bakersfield to me: Opportunity. When my wife and I arrived here nearly eight years ago, I had just gotten out of the Navy. I didn't have a degree; neither of us had a job, and we didn't know anybody. Now I have my degree, we both have great jobs with great companies and we own our home. We could not have done this without the support of all our friends we have made along the way. This community has embraced us as if we grew up here and we are thankful for it. 130

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Photo by Henry A. Barrios

Most influential person in my life: My nana, Isabel Hernandez.

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We Honor 9/11 and Its Memory

We Will Never Forget

With every Barber Honda Oil Change during the months of August and September, we will donate $1 to the Bakersﬁeld Fire Fighters Burn Foundation in honor of this Anniversary.

We Will Never Forget 4500 Wible Road

at the Entrance to Bakersﬁeld Automall

834-6632 Se Habla Español

www.barberhonda.com

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