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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, May 27, 2010
Eye Street
Index Desert Rose Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Arts Alive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Sonny Langley obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Kyle Gass and Trainwreck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Battle of the Salons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Bakersfield Masterworks Chorale . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-29
Editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail jself@bakersfield.com
Fun do-gooders? Think pink Group gives to charity, has good time doing it BY MIRANDA WHITWORTH Contributing writer
Y
ou know a Pink Lady when you see one. The vintage hair and makeup, ’50s-style clothing and pink jackets set them apart from the pack. But behind the lipstick and cuffed jeans is a group of women with a sense of sisterhood and responsibility to their community. The club began on Valentine’s Day 2008 when a group of friends decided to transform their weekly ladies night out into something more, said Paulette Engle, Pink Ladies president. “We would go out to put school and kids behind us. We wanted to relax and have fun but eventually we realized that a lot of us were really into charity work and we loved to help people. So we thought, let’s do this.” With help from mainstays of Bakersfield’s downtown scene, like Guthrie’s Alley Cat and Fishlips, the Pink Ladies have managed to raise hundreds of dollars and collect toys and coats for the Jamison Center and Bakersfield Homeless Center. If you think it sounds like a lot of work, Engle said you’re right. But being a Pink Lady is a lot of fun as well. “There are several bands that we like to see. We usually like to meet for brunch to talk about our charity events and we love to barbecue.” The Ladies also share a common taste in fashion, which tends to follow the rockabilly scene and lifestyle. High heels, tattoos and charity work? A perfect mix, Engle said. “We all have very old-fashioned values. We also love the style of the ’50s. We love the fashion, the music and the cars. It’s not dress up for us.” The Pink Ladies teamed up with local band 800 lb Gorilla for a charity event to benefit the Jamison Center in December. “We really like what the girls do,” said lead singer Steve Faughn. “They are a social club that helps local organizations. They have also come out to support our music and we love to do the same.” The are 29 members of the Pink Ladies, and the women have become a very tight-knit group, especially considering that new members are accepted only twice a
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PINK LADIES
The Pink Ladies, a local club that blends socializing, a love of 1950s culture and charity work.
Pink Ladies Summer Shoe Drive
A sampling of other local women’s groups The Women’s Active 20/30 Club Golden Empire #1038
What: Accepting donations of men’s, women’s and children’s shoes to benefit the Bakersfield Homeless Center. When: 8 p.m. Friday Where: Guthrie’s Alley Cat, 1525 Wall St. Alley
year. Engle said the club is looking for girls with good hearts who can get along with one another and care about their community. “I have said this a million times! I believe in quality over quantity,” Engle said. “I would rather have 20 dedicated girls than 50 who just want the jacket.” Christina Sweet is one of nine new inductees. She joined during the Pink Ladies’ latest initiation ceremony and said she first heard about the group over a Facebook post and got to know the members online. “I am an old soul and I love the retro style, so that’s what initially attracted me to the group. But after meeting them and talking to
Pink Ladies co-president Joanne McCain and president Paulette Engle.
Paulette I realized it was a sisterhood. That’s what I was looking for.” The Pink Ladies invite any women interested in joining to come out to events and see what the group is like in the flesh, but Engle said one rule is firm. “You have to be 21. With the amount of children’s charity work we do, I never want to see anyone in a jacket under the age of 21 with alcohol in their hand.”
Formed in 2006, this philanthropic organization is composed of female professionals in their 20s and 30s. Events organized by the group benefit several local children’s charities, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County and M.A.R.E. The group meets twice a month for dinner and welcomes anyone interested in joining to attend a meeting. For more information on the group and meeting dates, go to 2030girls.com.
The Kern County Roller Girls This skater-owned-andoperated amateur roller derby league looks for members who are vibrant, motivated, willing to train hard and respect their teammates. KCR hosts bouts at Rollerama on 34th Street and travels to compete against other roller derby teams in Southern and
Central California. They’re looking for members who want to make friends and a difference in the community. Women ages 18 and older interested in joining are encouraged to attend practice. For more information, go to myspace.com/kerncountyrolle rgirls or e-mail kerncountyrollergirls@yahoo.c om.
The Cherry Bombs Created in 2008, this group bills itself as women who aren’t afraid to live outside the box. They represent everything from punk to pinup, goth to glam. The group has teamed up with the Bakersfield Burrito Project to help feed the homeless once a month in Central Park. There is an application process for becoming a member of The Cherry Bombs. Applications are reviewed once a month and can be found online at myspace.com/unvcherries.