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January 25-31, 2009
w w w . b a k e r s f i e l d v o i c e . c o m
Frontier formal photos Pg. 4 Creative Corner debuts Pg. 6 Oildale celebrates 100 years Pg. 9 Local rugby kicks off season Pg. 11
Pint-size perspective The funny things kids say, pg. 5
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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
JANUARY 25-31, 2009
EXTRA!EXTRA!
Hear local composer on Valley Public Radio BY MARGARET SOUTHWICK Community contributor
O
n Feb. 2, at 10 a.m., the Valley Public Radio, FM 89 will broadcast Richard Southwick’s latest “Sonata for Violin and Piano,” a three movement compostion performed by Darius Johnson, violinist, and Patrick Bender, pianist, at a
New Directions Concert in Bakersfield. Dick, a longtime retired high school orchestraal conductor, has completed many compostitions, including several numbers for the Bakersfield Symphony and two numbers for the CSUB Community Band. He plays tennis at the Racquet Club, sings in the Goldenaires, and is active with 60+ Club at CSUB.
MEETTHE CONTRIBUTOR
Allow us to introduce ...
E
d Coleman’s work experience is rooted — literally — in the northern Kern County agricultural community of Wasco. In 1969, Coleman first began toiling on his father’s farm. Since then, Coleman has grown nearly everything imaginable — and at one time, was the largest kiwifruit grower in the world. Coleman, a contributing columnist on home improvement for The Bakersfield Voice (TBV), also built (actually engineered and did the fabricating) a fruit packing shed on his own. This taught Coleman all about electrical, efficiency of machinery and the use of space as well as building and machinery maintenance, he said. By 1989, Coleman left the kiwifruit industry — “Or it left me because Chile was coming in with a much cheaper fruit than we could produce,” he said. That’s when Coleman became the farm superintendent for Al Bussell Ranch, where he “just had a ball for four years!” But when that northwest Bakersfield farming operation also dissolved, Coleman decided that was two farms too many for him to watch go under. He “retired” from farming and began installing sprinkler systems and taking on landscaping jobs, eventually earning his contractor’s license in 1996. Handyman work for Coleman soon followed. “People then asked if I could fix this or that and I said, ‘Yes,’ and with so many guys and Handy fellow
ED COLEMAN
gals out there doing landscaping, handy-manning just kind of evolved,” Coleman said. “I am often asked questions like ‘Since you have retired, do you do a lot of handyman work?’ My answer is simple: ‘Since I started doing handyman work full time, I can go 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week — does that sound like retirement?’” Still, Coleman finds much satisfaction in his postretirement career, he said. “I do enjoy a good challenging repair, and I have been known to take on some things that I probably should have left to either the younger generation or to a larger contractor with lots of help,” Coleman said. About five years ago, Fleetwood Homes hired Coleman to perform repairs on new modular homes through the company’s warranty department. He would later also work on Champion Homes, another modular home maker, which led to 12- to 14-hour workdays statewide. Once the housing bubble burst, the modular home industry took a big hit, too, according to Coleman, which led to a slowdown in his business as well. “But I needed a break anyway, right?” said Coleman rather good-naturedly. In addition to offering home improvement tips and advice, Coleman invites TBV readers to send him any pet peeves about streets or intersections, local or out of town. He’d love to hear from you and says he may be able to help get a community solution started. — Do you have a home improvement-related question or comment for Ed? 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 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.
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 David Alanis Sales Executive Gustavo Carrillo Sales Executive Samantha Vilchis Sales Executive 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
JANUARY 25-31, 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
5 6 8
A little kid wisdom
Speaking beyond their years, these little ones will give you a chuckle.
Your Creative Corner
Creative writing finds a home in The Bakersfield Voice!
Junior League of Bakersfield
Women with heart volunteer to change lives, improve our community.
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100 years of the ‘Dale
Oildale invites you to celebrate the community’s rich history.
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Conserve water & costs
Go easy on your water usage and your wallet will thank you.
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Rugby: The other football
Rugby group kicks off season with goals for growth in popularity.
About the cover Lynn Bradshaw Photography took this adorable photograph of Kyle, Reagen, Ryker and Ryder and their proud grandma, Gabriele Baker couldn’t help but share it with us at: bakersfieldvoice.com. Your photo could be on our next cover! Photos and stories for the Feb. 15 issue must be posted by Wednesday, Feb. 4 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
JANUARY 25-31, 2009
YOURCELEBRATIONS Happy Birthday. Isiah! Isiah Moses Lopez Born on Jan. 29, 2004. I am thankful to have such a beautiful boy like you! Happy 5th Birthday, “little bear!”
Happy Birthday, Donna! Happy Birthday, Donna — Christmas Day, Dec 25! And welcome to Bakersfield! All our love, David, Shirley, Josh, Tamara, kids, Jose and Annalisa
Happy Birthday, Kadin! Kadin Joshua Petersen’s 4th Birthday — Dec. 16. Happy Birthday to you! Love, Grandma & Grandpa Petersen
SPOTLIGHT ON: Frontier High School’s Winter Formal Above and top right: Frontier sophomore, Hailey Keeter hoped that her childhood friend Beau Hashim, now a sophomore at Liberty, would see the sign and take her to formal. He did and Hailey had “the best night ever!” Bottom right: Frontier seniors Audrey, Breann, Liz, Anna, Lindsey and their dates look picture perfect for their big night. See more photos of the Frontier Winter Fromal in our PHOTO GALLERY. Go to: www.bakersfieldvoice.com and click PHOTOS, then SEE USER GALLERIES. Feel free to post your own shots, too!
Happy Birthday, Cambria! Happy birthday, baby girl! We can’t believe that you are 8 years old already! You are so special and we love you so very much. Have a great birthday ... We love you! Daddy, Mommy & Reagan
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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
JANUARY 25-31, 2009
YOURVOICE
Out of the mouths of babes... Bakersfield moms share how their kids say the darnedest things! No more ‘Mary Movie!’
Big girls go to school
BY HEATHER IJAMES
BY BROOKE RICE
Community contributor
M
O
Community contributor
K, so my daughter decided over Christmas break that she wanted to go to school. I was told under no uncertain terms that she was going to go to school and do homework like Brandon (her brother). So I thought to myself, guess I’d better get cracking on that one. I guess my attempt over the last several months to help her learn her ABCs at home was not what she had in mind. So we started going to Neighborhood Place, I figured it was a good place to start since she has never really been away from me in that kind of setting. She could handle an hour, or should I say, I can handle an hour. First day of school was great, she loved it. Second day of school she decided, "Hey, I think I'll get up at 3:30 a.m. I want a Scooby Snack, yes at 3:30 a.m.” And of course she was back in bed by 6 a.m. Not mommy though. I had two other kids to get off to school. I have all the fun. Now don't get too jealous. So needless to say we did not make it to school that day, but as toddlers often do, she threw something else new into the ring. She wanted to
potty train. And so it began. I'm glad to say it is going really well. And we went back to school on Wednesday. Even when she came down with a cold this weekend she didn't backslide on the potty training. So proud. Getting to be such a big girl, sniff.
y 5-year-old, Ethan, never gives our household a shortage of things to laugh and laugh about. One unforgettable moment comes circa the recent New Year's Eve ushering in 2009. With young children, you can imagine we have to rock in the New Year kindergarten style, and this year our festivities consisted of ooey gooey s'mores and a better-late-than-never viewing of “It's a Wonderful Life.” Or as Ethan likes to refer to it, the “Mary Movie.” I think he was impressed with how many times George said the name of his love, Mary... hence the “Mary Movie.” At a quarter to midnight, we watched as George smoked a cigarette outside his mother's house and let her convince him to pay a visit to Mary who had just come back from college. At about 11:53 p.m., George has Mary wrapped in his arms and is kissing her all over her face as he's moaning, “Mary, Mary, oh Mary, Mary, Mary, Mary....” We turned off the movie at 11:58 p.m. to ring in the New Year; mainly with eskimo kisses because Ethan had
Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed embrace in the 1946 film “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
crusted marshmallow on his cute little lips. At 12:10 a.m., after we were sure the neighbors behind us weren't going to set our redwoods on fire with their illegal fireworks, we all sat back down on the couch to see the rest of the movie. At this time Ethan responded, “No, I don't want to see the Mary movie any more. First there was smoking, then there was kissing. This movie just keeps getting worser and worser!” With that kind of profound wisdom, how could we deny him? Although, I can't necessarily say I ever anticipated putting “It’s a Wonderful Life” on the Ijames family “naughty” list.
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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
JANUARY 25-31, 2009
CREATIVECORNER
Got creativity?
Editor’s Note: We’re happy to introduce a new feature in The Bakersfield Voice called, “Creative Corner.” This is a place for our community contribu-
Songs men should probably not sing... BY: SAMUEL R. "SAMURAI" WRIGHT III Community contributor
A
dmit it guys … there have been times when you have been sitting at home, or in the car, and a song has come on that you cannot help but sing along with … but is not meant for a guy to
sing. Unfortunately, I too am guilty of this. There have been a couple times I caught myself, being a big fan of ABBA, singing something like “Gimme Gimme Gimme” when it comes on the radio. Granted … I will try, when I think about it, to edit the lines to say woman … so the
result is no longer the “Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight” that are the real lines of the song. There are many other songs that are like this — written from the point of view of the woman and sung by a woman — yet they are catchy enough that we all tap our toes and sometimes sing along. I was driving the other day and heard
tions to TBV’s Creative Corner by setting up a FREE profile and posting them at: www.bakersfieldvoice.com Still need help? E-mail Natalie Erlendson at: nerlendson@bakersfield.com or Teresa Adamo at: tadamo@bakersfield.com
tors with a flair for creative writing, whether that means poetry, fictional pieces, whatever prose strikes you. We want to include your creative voice, so put pen to paper — or in today’s modern times, fingers to keyboard — and submit your contribu-
a guy in the car next to me singing Gretchen Wilson’s “Red Neck Woman,” and it looked like he was really getting into it, until he saw me watching him. As I turned and looked forward again, I heard his radio tune to a talk show and he was no longer singing. Then there are the songs that guys sing when they do not know the meaning of them and the people that do sit, put their head in their hands, and groan. I used to have a friend that loved a song by the Kinks called “Lola.” He used to say that it was a song that he would dedicate to his wife and reminded him of how they met. This confused me because anyone who really LISTENS to the song will realize that is about a guy’s first sexual encounter with a male transvestite. When I explained this to him, he ignored me. I am all for having the occasional romantic song in your life, but it might be a good idea to select one that you know the meaning behind. Then there have been the times I have seen women singing songs that were meant for men. Yes, ladies… you are guilty, too. Like a time I was sitting in a bar, out of town, having dinner ... I noticed a young lady singing Dierks Bently’s “What Was I Thinking?” to herself and she was really getting into it, too. Like I said … we are all guilty of doing this from time to time. I know it will never stop and sometimes we just do not realize that we are singing the song until you notice that people are looking at you like you just peed in the holy water at church. So … keep singing … because the rest of the world needs a reason to laugh.
Amazed! BY DIMITRI “DODIE” MARCELLANA Community contributor
Agape... I was to view this beautiful ‘aura;’ morning has wakened unmindfully to its beautiful loveliness of white! has the dark of night left it untouched till the morning light? this blackness of white like an instant magic, blinded me to a halt of wondrous things all around; Aha, it's awfully majestic! Filled my eyes half-awakened; all its stillness suspended all ways of nature brought to my sight. Oooh, what a wonderful display of yet a colorless panorama! Rendering everything around engulfed in privacy of such nature’s endearment, soft, yet tender; caressed an invite to touch to my human frailty... Just like feelings deep inside me, drawn to a beautiful time - to refresh all of its ugliness... Seemingly, allowed me to breathe its beauty a nourishment to my hungering soul; and brought newness to my wholeness, once again! Yet, offered me a steal of the moment, to fill my aching longingness a heart’s content; clear as water filled the glass, to quench my dying thirst. It is not very often I find nature in such mood; I only know, it’s only in the winter. I reconciled myself about this matter; Is it Nature’s way of giving to living, in its grandeur and splendor of white? Just as an artist eagerly awaited to render the view, only on his canvass...and treasure it - his masterpiece! Aha - while it lasted I filled my heart’s delight until the sun vanished it to fade where it is unknown? I only knew one thing sure I could recall at the last moment; before it began to fade away tomorrow will set a stage, once more... And that my life begins again to it's path anew who knows? Maybe, Nature displays its other 'loveliness of white' ... And I will once more come to view; succumb to its wonders and glorious might!
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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
JANUARY 25-31, 2009
MEETTHE CLUB
Nothing ‘Junior’ about this club’s efforts BY SANDY MCMAHAN Community contributor
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QUALITY & PRIDE IN OUR WORK
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f you think the Junior League of Bakersfield is another baseball team, think again! Started in 1952 as the Community League of Kern County and becoming part of the Association of Junior Leagues International in 1964, the Junior League of Bakersfield (JLB) is a premier women’s organization with a mission to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women and improve communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. With a long history of community service, JLB makes a difference in Kern County through project and enabling fund grant given annually to non-profits in the community. In the mid 1960s, the JLB dedicated an $80,000 Community House building for senior citizens, initiated and built by members of JLB, and then deeded to the City of Bakersfield. JLB has been instrumental in funding numerous projects and activities focused on women and children such as CALM, the Bakersfield Art Museum, Boys and Girls Club, Youth Connection, Special Olympics, MARE, and Bakersfield Homeless Center. JLB was instrumental in initiating and developing the Lori
Brock Children’s Museum, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the Women’s Business Conference, and developed a girl’s program for the Bakersfield Police Activities League. Grants and projects of JLB are financed through the Wine Fest fundraiser, an annual November event. Restoration of the 1911 Italian Renaissance building at 1928 19th St. became the JLB Community Center, providing office and meeting space for JBL, and free usage during office hours by community non-profits. Also available for lease for weddings and events, the building provides an elegant indoor and outdoor setting. (For information, please call Cathi Guerrera at 301-3701). If you are a woman at least 21 years of age, a resident of Kern County for at least three months and interested in impacting the community through volunteerism and contributing to the well-being of women and children, JLB is the organization for you! With a membership of approximately 400 women, JLB changes lives and improves the community. Members make friends, participate in training activities, work hard and have fun. For information about the Junior League of Bakersfield, go to: www.juniorleagueofbakersfield.org or call 322-1671. — Sandy McMahan is a JLB member and past president.
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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
JANUARY 25-31, 2009
THE VOICE CALENDAR Sunday 1/25
Weddings 2009 Bridal Show 12 p.m., Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 P St. $10, general admission, $15 VIP. 633-9200. Brokencyde, with Drop Dead Gorgeous, Eyes Set to Kill, And Then There Was None, doors open at 6 p.m., Jerry’s Pizza, 1817 Chester Ave. $15. 633-1000.
Tuesday 1/27 Poerty reading with Juliana Spahr, an American poet and co-editor of the art magazine Chain. Part of the California Writers Series. 7 p.m., California State University, Dezember Room of the Walter Stiern Library. Admission is free. 6546503.
Wednesday 1/28
Friday 1/23
Everyday Meditation with Marcy Cox. 7 p.m., Enchanted Cottage, 30 H St. $25, plus $5 for materials. 323-9929. Pro-tégé art exhibit California State University, Bakersfield's art department faculty, staff and alumni art is on display. Exhibit hours are 12 – 6 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday. Todd Madigan Gallery, The exhibit runs through March 7. Admission is free, however normal parking fees still apply. 654-2487.
Power Cooking Class Learn to cook meals that will save you time & money. 7 p.m., $15 per person in exchange for recipes and products. Call for reservation & directions, 663-8051. Silence O’ Israel, with See the Light, Down for the Kill, doors open at 7 p.m.. The Gate, 2010 O St. $7. 323-4162. Bakersfield Music Theatre’s Big River Doors open at 7:30. Harvey Auditorium,
Thursday 1/29
additional child. Divorce Care for Adults will be offered at the same time. 3993303. Art Clay Jewelry Workshop for beginners, learn to set a bail, set a stone, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Juliana’s Art Studio & Gallery, 501 18th St. Bring your own lunch. Space limited, 327-7507.
Saturday 1/24
1316 G Street. Tickets start at $35. bmtstars.com or 325-6100. BARC Super Spud Fest Hot baked potato Reiki 1 Class With Lovoy Roper. & salad served in ceramic bowls painted Enchanted Cottage, 30 H St. $100, plus by BARC clients.11:30 a.m., Stockdale $10 for materials. 323-9929. Towers, 2nd floor, 5060 California Ave. Divorce Care for Kids (DC4K), a special $15 per person, benefitting BARC and program to help children deal with MOVE International, 834divorce or separation. CSUB Roadrunners vs. Utah Valley 2272. Games, crafts, music and University, men’s basketball, 7 p.m., Columbia Elementary Chili activities. Ages 6-12. Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $5Cook-off 5 p.m., schools Group will meet $25. ticketmaster.com or call 322-2525. multipurpose room, 703 Wednesdays, 6:45 to 8:15 Music Night, with T’was Writ, 7 p.m., Mondavi Way. $5 per chili p.m. Olive Knolls Church, Borders, 4980 Stockdale Highway. 328dinner or $20 per family 6201 Fruitvale Ave., $15 Nominated by Guadalupe Hernández 9800. of five. 243-6651. first child; $10 for each I’d like to nominate my twin daughters’ kindergarten teacher Mr. Rhodes who teaches at Discovery Elementary School. At the beginning of the year, I was so skeptical after having learned that they were going to have a male teacher for kindergarten. He has superseded all of my expectations as to what a great kindergarten teacher should be. My girls love Mr. Rhodes. He teaches them lots of cute and silly songs. He builds up their self-esteem. He is just so marvelous with my girls!
Educator of the Month
Mr. Rhodes
Educator of the month 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 LanTo submit your teacher. nominee for Educator of the Month, guage Arts She is very fun go to: www.northwest voice.com then click on “Post Something!” and contribute a to learn with and very comprehenparagraph about why you appreciate and would like to recognize your nominee. Be sure to include the sive. educator’s name, school, department picture. The She teaches eighthandgrade at contest is open to educators in the Southwest area. Entries can also be e-mailed to: Lakeside District. Yayyy! dmartin@northwestvoice.com. Each month the winning entry $50 gift certificate,
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compliments of GW School Supply and The Northwest Voice. Sponsored by
■ 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.
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JANUARY 25-31, 2009
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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
YOURVOICE
Celebrating the ’08 in ’09 BY STEVE ESSELMAN Community contributor
T
his year is Oildale’s 100th anniversary since becoming a community born from the Kern River oilfield, and the citizens of Oildale are celebrating. To kick off the celebration, the Kern County Library's Rathbun Branch (200 W. China Grade Loop) is presenting “Memories of Oildale” Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m., an event to share in its past. Keynote speakers will include Oildale natives Gerald Haslam, awardwinning author, and Jim Wattenbarger, Oildale Poet Laureate. KUZZ’s Casey McBride will be the master of ceremonies for the event. Oildale’s past is colorful and rich, and is being preserved. The Kern County Library has taken on the task of preserving these memories through an oral history project as part of the celebration. These histories point to a community-oriented, individualistic and rugged mentality that still defines the
community. Talking about the Oildale where she grew up in the 1930s and 40s, Lillian Haggard-Hoge, resident and Merle Haggard’s sister reminisced, “I thought it was just the most charming community possible. We didn’t even have locks on our doors.” Walter Jones, referring to the Hundred and Fifty Thousand Club, which unsuccessfully tried to encourage residents to incorporate into Bakersfield, said, “That was a very independent group of people who lived there.” This sense of community solidarity has also thwarted numerous attempts by the city of Bakersfield to annex the community into the larger metropolitan area. As stated in a 1978 Bakersfield Californian article, “People living there strongly identify themselves as being separate from Bakersfield.” Originally a place to provide oilfield workers with a home near the oilfield, Oildale has developed a personality over the last 100 years that reflects the strong and rugged men, and the equal-
George Thurston in front of the Oildale Self Service Station in 1937.
ly-capable women, who have toiled and raised generations in the area. In association with the Oildale Chamber of Commerce and the Citizens for a New Oildale, the Oildale Centennial committee invites you to share in Oildale’s celebration. The committee has scheduled four adult social dinners at the iconic Trout’s nightclub, the first on March 7 at 5 p.m., which will highlight Oildale’s past and hopeful future. All proceeds from the social and any addi-
tional donations will go towards this year’s celebratory events and a beautification project within the community. Call the North of the River Chamber at 871-4555 for more information. Family-oriented events are also planned throughout the year. A schedule of the year’s events can be found at: http://www.bakersfieldvoice.com/hom e/User/oildalecentennial. Come and celebrate the ‘08.
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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
JANUARY 25-31, 2009
HANDYFELLOW
Watching your water & cash flow BY ED COLEMAN Community contributor
I
was watching the Huel Howser show the other night and the subject was just what we all need to be taking heed of, and when I was doing more landscaping than handyman work I preached it to my customers and installed water efficient systems as best I could. The subject was "California's Water and Conserving It." We are in the throws of a long and bad drought, if you haven't heard it enough before, right? I was up in the Monachee Meadows area two summers ago in the late part of the spring. It was still cool then and we even got a bit of snow one night while we were there. The only problem was that the meadow was already turning brown and drying up, and the creek had just enough water to get your ankle bone wet while traversing the creek. IT IS BAD, and if we don't get any better storms than we have had so far
this year, it will continue to get worse. It is our water, and we are the biggest wasters of it. Therefore it is up to us to do our part to conserve it as much as we can. Huel was in Long Beach and the water people down there have really put heavy restrictions on the waste of their water. We don't want that to happen here but some of the talk I hear from around the area is that we will have to face it sometime if we don't do it ourselves. They cannot put any, and I mean ANY water in their sidewalks or driveways and if ANY water is getting to and going down the gutters, the people responsible get a ticket. There were some interesting thoughts about it that I would like to repeat. If you have an anti-siphon valve in your sprinkler system, it is there to prevent any water from returning into the water system and possibly poisoning the rest of the area with your nitrogen or any other chemicals that could make its way into the water.
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The show brought up a point that hit me right between the eyes. The grass cuttings are being washed into the streets and into our water drainage systems too. What are cuttings made of? nitrogen, potassium, pottash, chlorifil, and any other nutrients and chemicals you put on to make a lushish and beautiful yard to keep up or do better than your neighbors, RIGHT? Well, the beaches were closed last year because of these things getting into the drains and then out to the ocean. We, however, don't have a beach to dump these things into like they do, but we do recycle our water in this city, and these things do get into our water. Along with the chemical problem was the fact that wasted water cost you money (and we all know that there is precious little enough of that around these days, don't we?) and it costs our government more and more all the time to get this stuff out of our water so it won't poison you and me. The other thing is that the water in the gutters usually gets stagnant and then it becomes a breeding pool for our beloved "skeeters" which carry the West Nile virus. This in turn costs for medical treatment and so on. What I am getting at is that it is so easy to control the amount of water on your yards. You have a timer on automatic systems, get to know it better and use it for what it was made for. If it is old and not set up to do several things, please get a new one put on and have the installer teach you how to use it. Most of the newer controllers have so many different functions that I cannot in this column come even close to telling all of them. Most of the time when I get a call to check a customers controller, it is either way out of sink with the yards needs at the time or isn't working properly at all. Then there are the ones who let it go as if it were in the summer in the winter. You know who you are. It is not as complicated as you might think. Oh, by the way, the instructions are usually on the cover or on the face of the controller itself. The other thing about water waste in our yards is that most of the systems that have been put in were set up with sprinklers that were made to put a lot of water on in a short time. If you dig down after a 10-minute run, I'll bet you won't find the water has penetrated more than two inches, and that some if
not a lot of the water is running off of the yard and into the street, taking the aforementioned junk with it. The lack of penetration is the main reason you have to water again the next day just to keep it all green, RIGHT? If you can get all of that 10-minutes worth of water down in the ground, it might last for three or four days. All this could take is changing to more efficient sprinklers in the yard or reducing the number of sprinklers you have. No run off, water in the ground, healthier plants, less water used, money savings when the water bill comes calling every month, less mosquitoes ( less itching too) and less doctor bills too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All this for a little sprinkler tune up.
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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
JANUARY 25-31, 2009
YOURSPORTS
Rugby roots run deep in Kern County BY MATT MARTZ Community contributor
T
he Kern County Rugby Football Club, also known as the Tuskers, have competed with other teams from the Southern California Rugby Football Union each Saturday from January to April for nearly four decades. The club’s past accolades include five Southern California North Division II Championships, six Southern California North Division III Championships, and a fourth place National ranking in 2004 in their division. There are over 30 active players ranging in age from 19-44, and over 100 past members in the community providing support in many ways. The Tuskers, who will play their 2009 season in Division II along with rivals San Luis Obispo and San Fernando Valley, will be looking to improve upon their 2008 season which concluded with only two wins and a seventh place fin-
ish. “We are at a crossroads for our club this season. We are bringing up lots of younger players, with a third coming from our High School League,” says club president Ahmed Baaumer. “These young players make up 50 percent of our team now.” The Kern County High School Rugby program is under the non-profit umbrella of the Kern County Athletic Association and is for players between the ages of 14-18 years of age. Currently there are teams based out of BHS,
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Foothill and Highland High Schools, but are open to any high school student from Kern County, regardless of the high school they attend. These clubs compete against each other and high schools as far away as Orange and Ventura counties. The club views these young “ruggers” as the future of Kern County and great ambassador’s of the sport as they continue to grow in participation. The club has made the high school program their number one priority over the next several years in an effort to build depth within the organization and to maintain consistent competitiveness for a chance at a Division I promotion. To assist in this strategy, the Kern County Rugby Football Club has launched the KCRFC Rugby Scholarship Program. Beginning this season a limited number of scholarships will be made available to young rugby players that have difficulty fulfilling the financial obligations of belonging to the club.
“ A major goal is to educate the school system that rugby is a graceful game.” says Ray Salazar who has been playing rugby in Kern County for 13 years. Salazar and Baaumer both agreed that the clubs main focus for 2009 is to build depth by starting even more youngsters this season. “My goal as a coach is that when we leave this game these kids will take over this club. Hopefully, we have coached them well and have taught them about respect and honor, and I think it will go along way on the field and in their life.” The Tuskers opened the 2009 season with a 24-10 loss to host Pasadena. All home games are played at Emerald Cove Park in Bakersfield, kick off is at 1p.m. Check the Kern County Rugby Football Clubs website for complete 2009 schedule at www.kcrugby.com —You can read the complete version of this article at: bakersfieldvoice.com, search keyword RUGBY.
Star Athlete: Kylie Snyder Nominated by Trisha Ashmore
I am nominating my daughter for Star Athlete because of her strong will and determination to do well at what ever she does. She started off with dance, she then began gymnastics and swimming. She is only four, so she has never competed, however she competes with herself to do better each time. She is not the fast runner or a grand slam hitter, but she always has a smile on her face and never gives up, even when it’s 105 degrees outside. She has a heart of an athlete, always striving to do better, her next mission is to play flag football. Mommy is not so sure about this one, but who knows. Kylie is such an awesome, freespirited young girl. I love you so much and Mommy is so proud of you.
■ 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.