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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, June 30, 2011
Eye Street
Index Oscar Whittington tribute and benefit . . . . . . . .20 Fort Tejon Historical Park July 4th celebration . .21 ‘Star Spangled Patriotic Blast!’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Cinema Saturday presents ‘Jaws’ . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 First Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 ‘Transformers’ movie review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-31
Editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail jself@bakersfield.com
“It's great when you come out here. ... You hear the crack of the bat, and smell the smell of the hot dogs cooking, and the grill going; there’s kids running around in the kid zone — the whole atmosphere feels completely American to me. It’s what we do as a country when we go to baseball games.” — Elizabeth Martin, Bakersfield Blaze general manager
Blaze ’n’ saddles for 4th Baseball game with fireworks, bull riding top local July 4 plans BY ASHLEY FISCHER Contributing writer
H
ot dogs, fireworks, family, friends and the national pastime: Is there anything more American than that? But just to make sure they’ve covered all the bases, the Bakersfield Blaze are throwing in apple pie for a perfectly patriotic evening at the team’s game and fireworks show at Sam Lynn Ball Park on Sunday. And the team’s general manager said they’ve been stocking up on fireworks for an explosive 10 to 12 minutes of “bombs bursting in air.” “It’ll be a pretty decent-sized show,” said General Manager Elizabeth Martin. “Typically, we do fireworks once a month on a Friday for our Fan Fridays. But after this one, we’re not doing any other shows in July. We’ve stockpiled all of the fireworks. “This show is also being financed by the mayor, so we can have a larger show than usual. ... We’re more than happy to work with the mayor and the city to make sure that Bakersfield still gets a good Fourth of July, or in this case, July 3rd show.” Traditionally, the Blaze play a home game on either July 3 or 4, but the post-game fireworks show is a relatively new addition the team’s owners added to ensure that the people of Bakersfield still got a healthy dose of pyrotechnics since the city discontinued its own long-running fireworks show at Bakersfield College. And as someone who definitely understands the importance of fireworks as part of a Fourth of July celebration (“When I was in still in junior high, I once told my parents they were un-American for making us leave a party before the fireworks,” she laughed), Martin helped ensure that even those fireworks fans who don’t attend the game can stop by and enjoy
COURTESY OF MILLER PHOTO
Now in its 12th year, the Benz Bad Bulls competition helps ring in the 4th in Tehachapi.
the show. “For folks who can’t or don’t want to come out to the game, it costs $5 to park in the parking lot and watch,” she said. Martin suggests that those just coming for the fireworks arrive approximately an hour and a half after the game starts to make sure they get there in plenty of time to
catch the entire display. She also suggests that fans who want to come out and root for the home team get their tickets early, since this is the one game of the year certain to sell out. But what really hits it out of the park for Martin is the opportunity to provide families with a fun, safe way to spend an evening together
and to help continue America’s longtime love affair with baseball. “It’s great when you come out here. You get to see the sun set, and then the lights come up. You hear the crack of the bat, and smell the smell of the hot dogs cooking, and the grill going; there’s kids running around in the kid zone — the whole atmosphere
feels completely American to me. It’s what we do as a country when we go to baseball games. “Oh, and to get the apple pie in there,” she added, “that night our booster club will be holding its annual bake sale. Baseball, hot dogs, fireworks, and apple pie — I don’t think you can get much more American than that.”