FREE
January 11-17, 2009
w w w . b a k e r s f i e l d v o i c e . c o m
All revved up! Race event moves motocross mom , pg. 6
Meet the club: Writers of Kern Pg. 4 Prune the fruits of your labor Pg. 5 Educator on power of words Pg. 7 See who’s celebrating Pg. 11
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
JAN. 11-17, 2009
EXTRA!EXTRA!
Cream of the CSUB crop
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alifornia State University, Bakersfield is currently searching for the 2008-09 Alumnus of the Year. The CSUB Alumni Association will honor a CSUB graduate who has made significant contributions to his or her profession, society and the university in a special recognition ceremony. The nominations must be received no later than Jan. 20 and will be accepted from individuals, businesses and corporations, non-profit agencies, schools and community service organizations. Alumni must meet the following criteria to be
eligible for nomination: • Received a graduate or undergraduate degree or teaching credential from CSUB. • Made significant professional, societal and university contributions. • A selection panel of past recipients and members of the CSUB Alumni Association board of directors will review the submissions, interview candidates and select a winner. For nomination forms, log onto: www.csub.edu/alumnom/ and either submit online or fax to (661) 654-3324. For additional information, please contact Alumni Relations at 654-3211.
Staff EDITORIAL Olivia Garcia Publisher ogarcia@bakersfield.com 395-7487 Natalie Erlendson Managing Editor nerlendson@bakersfield.com Teresa Adamo Associate Editor tadamo@bakersfield.com
ART Timothy Heinrichs Designer theinrichs@bakersfield.com
ADVERTISING Jaime De Los Santos Sales Manager jdelossantos@bakersfield.com 716-8632
MEETTHE CONTRIBUTOR
Allow us to introduce ...
K
athy Robinson of Robby’s Nursery in northwest Bakersfield, 13129 Hageman Road (588-0859), is nearly a B-town native. She moved here when she was 5. Kathy attended Frank West and Golden State Junior High schools and is a proud South High Rebel as well. She graduated from San Diego State in 1974 with every intention of becoming a teacher, but the nature girl in her called out. As a child, Kathy — along with her brother and sister — spent a lot of time playing, then later working at her parents’ nursery, Robby’s on South H Street, which they opened in 1961. “We always loved ‘going to work’ with my parents and luckily I still do,” said Kathy. Kathy’s brother, Dave is now a landscaper; while her sister, Karen became the teacher in the family! Gardening columnist When asked if today’s “push to
KATHY ROBINSON
David Alanis Sales Executive Gustavo Carrillo Sales Executive Samantha Vilchis Sales Executive
go green” has impacted business at Robby’s, Kathy said they haven’t noticed it too much quite yet, though she added that she does hope to see more young people “green up their little piece of the world.” “Of course, our customer base — those tried and true gardeners — have been on board with this thinking all along,” Kathy said. “We actually saw the first ‘go green’ movement in the ‘60s.” And even though she decided not to become a teacher after all, Kathy knows she was right to follow her heart to what she knew and loved best: Robby’s Nursery. “I’ve always loved being outside, and obviously my parents have inspired and taught me about the nursery industry throughout the years,” she said. — Do you have a gardening-related comment, question or story? If so, it’s easy to share your voice in The Bakersfield Voice. Just go to: www.bakersfieldvoice.com, set up a free profile and start posting your articles as a citizen journalist! Still need help or have a specific question? E-mail Natalie Erlendson at: nerlendson@bakersfield.com or Teresa Adamo at: tadamo@bakersfield.com
Mark Wells Sales Executive
OFFICE Marisol Sorto Office Administrator msorto@bakersfield.com 716-8640
The Bakersfield Voice 1522 18th St. Suite 310 Bakersfield, CA 93301 The Bakersfield Voice is published by Mercado Nuevo, an independent subsidiary of The Bakersfield Californian To learn more or to contribute news and pictures, visit us online at: www.bakersfieldvoice.com
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
JAN. 11-17, 2009
Share your
voice today!
■ Submitting your stories for The Bakersfield Voice is simple and FREE! Just go to: www.bakersfieldvoice.com and create a profile. ■ Choose what you’d like to contribute (an article, letter, picture or community event listing) and post it yourself for our online readership to see. You can even add video to the site!
■ We also include as many community contributions as possible in the print edition of The Bakersfield Voice, published Sundays. ■ Still need help getting your contributions onto our Web site? E-mail: Natalie Erlendson at: nerlendson@bakersfield.com or Teresa Adamo at: tadamo@bakersfield.com
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Writers of Kern workshop
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Homegrown fruit
Do you have a love for the written word? If so, check out this local group and their upcoming workshop.
Forget the grocery store! Prune trees to give you the freshest of fruit — right from your own back yard.
Motocross mania
Adam Pierce Memorial Raceway gets motors going at first event.
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Words with meaning
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Sports snippets
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Celebrations galore!
Educator Peggy Dewane-Pope shares how vocabulary words help students succeed later in life.
Michael Elliott looks back, looks forward and tips his cap to local supporters of area athletes.
Contributors share special moments in their lives. You can too, post a celebration at: bakersfieldvoice.com.
About the cover A motocross rider rounds a turn at the first Adam Pierce Memorial race. Photo by Carla Pearson. Your photo could be on our next cover! Photos and stories for the Feb.1 issue must be posted by Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 5 p.m.
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
JAN. 11-17, 2009
MEETTHE CLUB
Writers of Kern host Critique Workshop Jan. 17 BY CAMILLE GAVIN Community contributor
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riters of Kern will hold a Critique Workshop from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Wyndham Garden Hotel, 3001 Buck Owens Blvd. Cost is $10. And believe me, I’ll be there. Even though I’ve been a published writer for more years than I care to count, I know the value of seeking constructive advice from my peers. We all need that second set of “eyes” to point out trouble spots. I joined Writers of Kern in 2001. Since that time three of my books have been published and I can assure you each one of them has had a thorough going-over by a critique group before I sent the manuscripts to the publisher.
Unfortunately, some writers avoid critique groups because they fear the participants will rip their story or poem to shreds. I can assure you that will not, and should not, happen in a well-run critique group. The goal is to help, not hurt. In fact, providing guidelines for a successful critique group is one of the main reasons for the upcoming workshop. Carol Black, club president, initiated the idea. The purpose, she says, is to help writers feel more comfortable about having their work critiqued in a constructive way and in a non-threatening atmosphere. Those who attend are asked to bring only two or three double-spaced pages of a fiction or non-fiction piece they are currently working on, or a single poem. Participants should also provide three extra copies of their selection. After Black gives an overview of
guidelines, participants will be broken up into small groups according to genre, including fiction, sci-fi-fantasy, non-fiction, memoirs, children’s and poetry. Each group will be led by a published writer. Writers of Kern is the Bakersfield branch of the California Writers Club, which was founded 100 years ago in the Bay Area by well-known author Jack London and Ina Coolbrith, a librarian who was also a poet. Initial membership fee is $65, with dues dropping to $45 after the first year. You don’t need to be a member to attend the workshop. Club rules allow potential members to attend two meetings before they join the club. For more information, send an e-mail to Beth Davisson, membership chair, at: bdavisson@bak.rr.com
GAVIN’S WORKS Bakersfield author Camille Gavin has written the following books: “How Roadrunner Got His Red Spots and Other Yokuts Myths” “Biddy Mason: A Place of Her Own” “Dear Cora: A Personal History of Bakersfield’s Early Days” — All are available at Russo’s and Barnes & Noble.
SPOTLIGHT ON: CHRISTOPHER MOUNT Christopher Mount first learned about photography in a class at Frontier High School and instantly fell in love with the art. Today, he is a senior taking his second photography class and is vice president of the Frontier Young Art Professionals. You can see more of Christopher’s photos and even submit your own at: www.bakersfieldvoice.com.
PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER MOUNT
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
JAN. 11-17, 2009
YOURGARDEN
Learn how to care for true giving trees
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ach year there seems to more interest in our Fruit Tree Seminar. This year, with all the talk of going green and back yard gardening, is no exception. It seems people have been adding trees to their landscape, why not plant a tree for shade that gives something to eat, too? Care of these trees is different than a plain shade tree and the amount of yield can depend on how you maintain them. Join us for this seminar at 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 17 at Robby’s Nursery, 13129 Hageman Road. First of all fruit trees require spraying. Dormant fruit trees (without leaves) will benefit from spraying throughout the winter. Think back to summer problems and come in with that info. We can then recommend your dormant sprays and how often they should be used. In other words, if you had insects in or on your trees, an insecticide Gardening columnist will be recommended. If there was a lot of leaf spotting or curling, possibly a fungicide as well. There are dormant oils that can be mixed with fungicides for getting both in some cases.
KATHY ROBINSON
Secondly, it is very important to prune each individual fruit tree correctly. Some trees bear on old wood and some trees on new wood. If pruned wrong,
THE CALIFORNIAN
A harvest luscious fruit, like these peaches, requires a home orchard that is sprayed, pruned and fertilized with care.
you may not have as much fruit, if any. A book we have recommended for 30 years is “How to Prune Fruit Trees.” It’s a simple book with a simple title, that’s easy to understand (a great value for little money). I like to recommend customers attend the seminar and pick up the book for a refresher. The seminar at Robby’s is very unique in that he prunes his older established trees in his “orchard.” Before the seminar, half of his trees are pruned and half are left natural. This gives a visual “before and after.” The particulars can then be discussed
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and demonstrated on each tree. The third tip on fruit trees is fertilizing. It is crucial that you get the right combination of fertilizers and trace minerals to your trees. Again, your fruit production will reflect the correct care. Robby has a fertilizer regiment he has been using for over 45 years and it really works. You just have to make that extra effort to feed your trees. We use this combination of products — with an organic fertilizer as the base to the mix — on the nursery each month. These fertilizers are more readily picked up by the plants and less likely
to burn them. The Fruit Tree Seminar will take place on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 1 p.m. Remember to dress for the weather, it’s cold outside! The seminar will be rescheduled only if it’s raining! Come by and take this informative class given by Robby himself on care and pruning of fruit trees. There is no charge for the class and we will run specials on many related items. If you cannot attend this popular seminar, we have knowledgeable staff to help you with your problems, whenever they might occur.
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
JAN. 11-17, 2009
YOURVOICE
Motocross event starts year on right track BY CAROL ONSUM-PIERCE Community contributor
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just want to thank all the people from Bakersfield who were a part of our first motocross event Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008 at the Adam Pierce Memorial Raceway on Breckenridge Road. While this event drew a crowd from Los Angeles and beyond, the vast majority of our patrons came from Kern County. Those who helped make this race happen and those who came to race and watch showed unparalleled class. These hundreds of people not only showed up and paid to be a part of the excitement, but they were also courteous, respectful and left virtually no trash behind. It was, quite honestly, a joy to open our home and property to them. After working the entry gate most of the day, I got to wander around, watch some races and see the trophies being presented. Everybody
seemed to be having a fabulous time. The track was easy enough for beginners and rugged enough for professionals — even the weather was accommodating (rain showers were predicted, but we never saw them). I smiled from the inside out when I saw a little girl with a long, blond braid being coached at the starting gate by an apparently proud father, and when I observed the many children (our grandson among them) just “hanging out” with their families — riding bicycles, throwing dirt clods and racing (on foot) up and down the hills near the racing pit. It was definitely a time for families to bond and new friends to be made. There was even one child making some of the announcements — and doing a great job of it! Our first motocross event was everything we hoped it could be. Thank you, Bakersfield. I wasn’t born here, but it made me proud to say I live here. Carol Onsum-Pierce with Nolan Pierce and friends at first Adam Pierce Memorial race.
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
JAN. 11-17, 2009
EDUCATIONUPDATE
However you word it, knowledge is power all income. oes your first-grader know Yup, knowledge is power. the concept of circular Robert Marzano, author of “Buildmotion? Can your third- ing Background Knowledge for Acadgrader define divisibility? emic Achievement,” provides lists of Does your sixth-grader nearly 8,000 know what recitation means? Can your words in 11 subhigh school junior tell you what absoject areas that lutism is? children should Research shows that if students know at varying know concepts and words like those, grade levels. they will not only do better in school, Marzano writes they will find themselves with better that, “Subjectjobs and more money. specific terms are Researchers randomly selected the best target for more than 500 adults and quizzed direct vocabulary them on their basic academic inforinstruction.” mation and terminology and found a The crew of significant relationship between educators that knowledge of this academic informapulled together tion and type of occupation and over- Education columnist the list
D
PEGGY DEWANE-POPE
approached the project with research in hand. Rather than sitting around with colleagues dreaming up words they thought would be helpful, which other authors have done, Marzano’s team focused on the standards movement with emphasis on specific words students should know in various subject areas. They used documents like the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards and organized history into categories like general history, U.S. history and world history. Eighth-grade English Language Arts teachers at our school quiz our students weekly on subject area words, exposing our 350 students to words that they must know to be suc-
cessful in school. When we build students’ vocabularies, we potentially increase their earning power. — Peggy Dewane-Pope is an eighthgrade teacher at Stonecreek Junior High School in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District. — Are you a local educator who would like to voice your thoughts on a school-related topic? If so, it’s easy to share your voice in The Bakersfield Voice. Just go to www.bakersfieldvoice.com, set up a free profile and start posting your articles as a citizen journalist! Still need help or have a specific question? E-mail Natalie Erlendson at: nerlendson@bakersfield.com or Teresa Adamo at: tadamo@bakersfield.com
GOINGGREEN
Educator of the month Recycle that e-waste! Mrs. Porcho Nominated by Lilyanna Evangelista I would like to nominate Mrs. Porcho to be Educator of the Month, please & thank you. She is my Language Arts teacher. She is very fun to learn with and very comprehensive. She teaches eighth grade at Lakeside District. Yayyy! p
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■ If you have a teacher you think is great, nominate them for Educator of the Month by going to: www.bakersfield.com and posting an article. Nominations should tell us in 50 words or less why your teacher is the best and should also include their name, school, department and a picture. All nominees will be featured in the print edition of The Bakersfield Voice and each month the winning entry will receive a $50 gift card for school supplies, compliments of GW School Supply and The Bakersfield Voice.
C
alifornia State University, Bakersfield will host its Fourth annual electronic waste, or e-waste, recycling event on Saturday, Jan. 17, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the former Southwest Little League parking lot on campus. The event is open to all Kern County residents. County businesses and school districts can drop-off their e-waste at the same location 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jan. 12-16. “The January event allows both companies and area residents to bring their e-waste to a convenient site for recycling,” explained David Beadle, CSUB’s director of safety and risk management. “The event is free to the public and those wishing to recycle only need to bring their e-waste, provide information for recording requirements, and we will properly disposed of the items.” Electrical items that will be accepted include answering machines, camcorders, compact disk players, copiers, DVD players, electric typewriters, electronic games, fax machines, laptops, mainframe computers, cell phones, modems, pagers, PDAs, personal computers (CPU, monitors keyboards, mice, and peripherals), printers, radios,
remote controls, scanners, stereos, tape players, telephones and telephone equipment, televisions, testing equipment, two-way radios, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), VCRs and word processors. “If you can plug it into a wall socket, we can generally accept it,” Beadle said. “We will also take batteries and battery packs at the event. However, we cannot accept car batteries, as they are regulated separately under the universal waste law. CSUB receives a fee for all recycled electronic waste that includes a monitor screen. The income offsets the cost of recycling all other e-waste, and any remaining money is used to purchase various items for use on campus. For example, the “plastic lumber” handrails on campus outdoor stairways are made from recycled plastic milk and water jugs, and were purchased with funds generated by the campus recycling program. For more information about the ewaste recycling event, please call CSUB’s Safety and Risk Management Office at (661) 654-6320 or (661) 6542066. — Courtesy of CSUB Public Affairs & Communications
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
JAN. 11-17, 2009
THE VOICE CALENDAR Sunday 1/11
Tuesday 1/13
BASA girls softball registration Sign up Jan. 11, 17, 18, 9 a.m. to noon, North Rosedale Park, Jewetta Ave. www.leaguelineup.com/basa or 3922016.
Monday 1/12 CSUB Roadrunners vs. San Jose State Men’s basketball 7 p.m., Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $5-$25. ticketmaster.com or call 322-2525. Sierra Club Conditioning Hikes 3 to 5 miles 7 p.m. Tuesdays, meet at corner of Highways 178 and 184. 872-2432 or 8738107. Women’s Night with Bike Bakersfield Learn basic bike mechanics, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Bike Bakersfield, 1708 Chester Ave. bikebakersfield.org or 321-9247.
Wednesday 1/14 Car Nights 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, in front of Bakersfield Billiards, 2916 Niles St. 549-6276. Condors vs. Las Vegas Wranglers 7 p.m. Wednesday, Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $7 to $23. bakersfieldcondors.com or 324-7825. Fair Trade Store Jewelry Baskets, gift items from Third World countries. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, First Congregational Church, 5 Real Road. 3271609.
Thursday 1/15 Bakersfield Bobby Sox registration Sign up girls ages 4 - 18, 5 to 9 p.m., Cataldo’s Pizzeria, 3611 Stockdale Hwy. www.bakersfieldbobbysox.com or 8321271.
Featured Artists Beverly Carrick, Charlotte White, Richard Geissel, Pattie Doolittle, Mary Lou Slinkard, Shirley Rowles and Les Robison, art on display until March 1, Bakersfield Art Association, Gallery of Art, East Hills Mall, 3000 Mall View Road. Gallery hours 11 a.m. to 5 p.m, Tuesday through Sunday. 872-2806. “The Big Read” Music, reading and guest speaker Dr. Fitzalbert Marius, 5:30 to 7 p.m., The Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930 R St. 323-7219.
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
JAN. 11-17, 2009
Friday 1/16
Saturday 1/17
“Dancing with Our Stars� Doors open at 6 p.m., dance class 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., open ballroom dancing to the Bakersfield Jazz Orchestra, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays, Randolph’s Lounge, 7737 Meany Ave. $15 per person, includes dance class. bakersfieldjazzworkshop.com or 4440853. Playhouse Disney Live! On Tour, 6:30 p.m., Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $18-$40. ticketmaster.com or 322-2525.
Writers of Kern Critique workshop from 10 a.m. to noon, Wyndham Garden Hotel, 3001 Buck Owens Blvd. The purpose is to help writers feel more comfortable having their work critiqued in a constructive way and in a nonthreatening atmosphere. Writers are asked to bring two to three pages of something they are currently working on. $10. 399-0423.
Kern Autism Workshop on Behavior Therapy, led by LaQuita Spivey Montgomery. 8:15 a.m. to noon, Kern County Superintendent of Schools office, 1300 17th St., Room 1B. Current paid Kern Autism Network members are free; non-members $5 per person. 588-4235. Comedian Gabriel Iglesias Doors open at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m., Bakersfield Fox Theater, 2001 H St. $39.50, $41.50. vallitix.com or 3225200. Condors vs. Phoenix Roadrunners 7 p.m., Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $7 to $25. bakersfieldcondors.com or 324-7825. CSUB Legends of Jazz Concert Featuring The Jack Sheldon California Cool Quartet, 8 to 10:30 p.m., CSUB, Dore Theatre, 9001 Stockdale Hwy. $16; $8 students; $12. 654-2293. CSUB Roadrunners vs. UC Riverside Men’s basketball, 7 p.m., Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $5-$25. ticketmaster.com or call 322-2525. Electronic Waste Recycling Event Bring your answering machines, camcorders, compact disc players, copiers and more for proper disposal, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., CSUB, Southwest Little League Parking Lot , 9001
Stockdale Hwy. 654-2066 or 6546320. Paleo Workshop With Mark Hodson, learn why and when Kern County and California were under water, fossil preparation and restoration techniques, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, 2018 Chester Ave. $25 members; $35 nonmembers; all participants will receive a Paleo workshop certificate. Prerequisite for attending Paleo Workshop II. 324-6350.
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
JAN. 11-17, 2009
SPORTSSHORTS
Old sport sayings, new fields & those Lakers!
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aw a sports headline in The Bakersfield Californian not long ago which piqued my interest and brought back memories of some of the creative lines spewed forth by the greatest professional basketball announcer of all time, the late Chick Hearn of the Los Angeles Lakers. To wit: “IN-AND-OUT HEARTBREAK!” (Ball went at least halfway into the hoop and popped back out). “LIKE A MOTORCYCLE IN A MOTORDROME!” (Ball circled around inside the rim for several revolutions before going in or out). “PUTS HIS MAN IN THE POPCORN MACHINE!” (Faked his man up into the air and drove around him). “50BY-92 FOOT HUNK OF HARD-
WOOD!” (The court). “MAGIC YOYOS AT THE TOP OF THE KEY!” (Dribbling the ball in one place). My favorite, and what ultimately befell Chick: “THE JELLO’S CHILLIN’, BUTTER’S GETTING HARD AND YOU CAN CLOSE THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR!” (Game over). Excitement is brewing just off of Stockdale Highway, northwest of The Park at Riverwalk, as 11 new baseball diamonds are nearing fruition. Bakersfield Southwest Sports columnist
MICHAEL ELLIOTT
SPORTSAWARDS
Tops in taekwondo
H
an’s Taekwondo Academy at 2008 Athlete of the Year (Athletic 3536 Stine Road is proud to accomplishments and full-time attenannounce the winners of our dance four times per week) Annual Awards Program. All Jonathan Gallegos (38 gold medals in of these students performed 2008, National Champion) with honor and distinction. Ethan Gallegos (37 gold medals in Congratulations, keep 2008, National Champion) working hard! Patrick Matsuda (28 gold medals in 2008, 2008 Student of the Year Forms National ChampiMust show great on) improvement and full2008 Most Disciplined time attendance four Award times per week Athletic accomplishValerie House ments and perfect fullReanna Carino time attendance four Garrett Pedersen times per week 2008 Academic Student Joey Stieger (56 Total of the Year Medals-2008, National Must have 4.0 GPA and Champion) full-time attendance four times per week — For more information RaShall Holguin (4.5 about the martial arts GPA) program at Han’s, you Mark Agbalog (4.0 can see their profile at: GPA) bakersfieldvoice.com, Alexandria Carino (4.0 Student of the Year, keyword:Hanstaekwondo. Garrett Pederson GPA)
Baseball shall be cutting the ribbon this coming spring as they present to the baseball-playing youth of Bakersfield the brand-spanking new Aera Park. Special thanks goes out to Aera Energy, the City of Bakersfield, numerous donors and all of the invaluable volunteers who have, or will have, “pitched in” to make this dream become a reality. A tip of the cap also to CSUB for use of their land and facilities over the years as BSWB initiated, grew and thrived on Cal State Bakersfield’s campus. All of the aforementioned, please take a bow for all of your hard work and enduring vision! Eight months ago it was opined in this column that the Los Angeles Lakers would fight off the tougher
teams of the NBA’s Western Conference and make the finals, but be worse for wear because of the harder road traveled. Sure enough, the heavily favored Lakers were thumped by the Boston Celtics. Well, parity has disappeared in the Western Conference this year as the stock has dropped on San Antonio, Phoenix and New Orleans, among others. Boston, albeit with the best record in the NBA, must now contend with the likes of vastly improved teams like Cleveland, Orlando and surprisingly, the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference. The Christmas Day beatdown of the Celtics has sent a message that Los Angeles intends to rectify last year’s embarrassment in the finals.
Star Athlete Aaron Baker Nominated by Gayle Baker I would love to nominate my son, Aaron Baker, for Youth Athlete of the Month. He is 16 years old and a junior at Centennial High. He is the best son anyone could ask for. He loves football and has played for years.
■ Do you have a son, daughter, grandkid or buddy who is your pick for MVP? Nominate them for Star Athlete of the Month by going to: www.bakersfield.com and posting an article. Nominations should tell us in 50 words or less what makes this kid a star athlete and should include a photo. All nominees will be featured weekly in the print edition of The Bakersfield Voice and each month one nominee’s name will be drawn to receive a $50 gift card for sporting equipment, compliments of Sports Authority and The Bakersfield Voice.
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W W W. B A K E R S F I E L D V O I C E . C O M
JAN. 11-17, 2009
YOURCELEBRATIONS Youth with heart Over the Christmas holiday, Centennial High freshman, Anthony Baca (pictured top right) raised enough money to purchase winter hats for over 200 clients of the Bakersfield Rescue Mission. On Dec. 14, 2008, the Christ of King youth group helped him distribute the gifts to a crowd of very thankful Bakersfield residents in need.
One photo, five generations ... Happy Third Birthday, Jackson!
She’s a teen!
Jackson turned 3 years old on Dec. 16, 2008! Happy Birthday, Buddy — hope you had fun at your party with your friends! We love you, sugar-piehoney-bunch, Mommy, Daddy, and Drew (Molly and Sophie, too — ruff-ruff, woof-woof!)
Tristyn Lucey, my grandaughter, turned 13 on Dec. 28, 2008. Happy birthday, Tristyn! Love you, Gran
This picture is a photograph I took at Thanksgiving 2008 of my wife Summer Shepard with her mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and her daughter. We live in the Rosedale area and have lived out West for approximately four years. From left: Lola White, 96 (great-grandmother) of Wasco; Jean Elom, 78 (grandmother) of Taft; Jacqui Sickles, 53 (mother) of Bakersfield; Summer Shepard, 32, my wife of northwest Bakersfield; and Dalani Shepard, 11, who is in the sixth grade at Patriot Elementary School. — Steve Shepard/Community Contributor
BUSINESS DIRECTORY HOT-N-READY LARGE PIZZA HEALTHY KIDS • HAPPY PARENTS • FITWIZE FAMILIES
A large 14” pepperoni or just cheese pizza, hot out of the oven and ready when you are! No need to call ahead! No need to wait! No limit!
$
6
Limited Time Offer. Valid Only At Participating Locations.
99 + tax
Call for Classes • Zumba • Cardio Kick Boxing
WHERE THERE BE PIRATES, THERE BE A PARTY! We provide full service children's birthday parties!
872-5110
Sign up in December and receive $75 off the first month.
The Nation’s first health club just for kids!
(661) 829-2009 2900 Calloway Dr., Suite 502, Bakersfield visit us at: www.fitwize4kids.com