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The Bakersfield Voice Sunday, March 21, 2010
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YOURSPORTS
YOURCELEBRATIONS
Are you ready to rock? Sports Shorts: In tune with local & national athletic scene
Congrats, Frontier Titans!
“B
een a long time since I rock and roll-l-l-led!” That line, from “Rock And Roll” off Led Zeppelin IV, seems apropos as the Voice format has changed and this column will now appear every three weeks or so. For those of you too young to have indulged in the works of Zeppelin back in the day, perhaps you recall this particular song promoting the new Cadillac Escalade when it came out several years ago. Speaking of, let’s roll! Read one of Herb Benham’s columns in The Californian the other day mentioning the first black National League baseball umpire, Art Williams, from our town. A reader had asked about honoring Art’s accomplishments. Back in the late ‘70s, early ‘80s, the County League baseball league, which played at Sam Lynn Ballpark, was renamed the Art Williams League. Art’s son, Brian, played ball in that league. I was anchoring first base defensively one evening at Sam Lynn and Brian came to bat. He roped an absolute rocket straight at me. I remember thrusting my glove out in front of myself for protection, turning my head 180 degrees towards right field ... and the ball landing in my glove for the out. I passed it off as a routine play, all the while shaking in my cleats and looking skyward for thanks! Brian Williams was an exceptional basketball player at South High. Any of you remember the four-overtime game played between South and, I believe,
Foothill up at Bakersfield College where Brian had just a phenomenal game? Even the upper stands were packed that night. Can’t remember who won but what a classic. How many newborn boys in New Orleans have been named Drew, or Brees, since the Saints’ Super Bowl victory? How many girls have been named Destiny? LeBron and Kobe are the faces of the NBA, but Kevin Durant is the most promising, exciting player to come along since, well, Kobe and LeBron. Something’s amiss in the NBA All-Star balloting process when Allen Iverson is selected as a starter! Commish David Stern needs to take a closer look at that system. Brett Favre will be Sports columnist back. In time, so will North Carolina’s basketball team, which didn’t make it to “The Dance” this year. The Tar Heels had four starters from last year’s team drafted into the NBA. Do you call it parity or just plain ‘ol “not very good” when you finish analyzing the 2010 Pac-10 hoop conference? Only two teams, Cal and Washington, made it to the NCAA tournament. Weird
MICHAEL ELLIOTT
not seeing UCLA in the mix. This year’s March Madness sets up to be the most intriguing tournament in quite some time and looks to be as unpredictable as President Obama’s health care plan. A four, five or six seed could realistically end up in the title game. Hope so! The Celtics are old. I thought the Winter Olympics were great! Bummer stumbling onto results on the Internet prior to the night’s telecast. Just how stunning were the television shots showing the picturesque views of Vancouver? Epilogue: Last column referenced the AT&T golf tournament at Pebble Beach. So, I’m standing by the eighth green watching groups come through when spectator and golfing legend Johnny Miller comes walking by. A guy standing next to me approaches Johnny and asks him to sign his white Titleist cap. Miller whips out his black Sharpie and obliges by writing “Calloway” on the hat as he is affiliated with that golf company. I’m getting excited standing right there and am going to be next to get my hat signed by Johnny Miller. Wow! With great anticipation I take my all-black cap off to hand to Johnny for him to sign it with his black Sharpie! Epilogue II: As I bid you adieu, ‘tis only fitting to stay with the theme of our intro by begging the musical question posed by The Three Degrees: “When Will I See You Again?”
Frontier Titans Softball team wins Glinn & Giordano BHS tournament.
EXTRA!EXTRA! Join ‘Friends’ at Red Brick Pizza & help shelter animals COURTESY OF FRIENDS OF THE KERN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTERS FOUNDATION
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oin Friends of the Kern County Animal Shelters Foundation at Red Brick Pizza, 9500 Brimhall Road, Saturday, March 27, from 2 to 6 p.m. A portion of the proceeds during that time will be donated to Friends, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to assisting local shelters and rescue groups to reduce pet overpopulation.
Monies raised during the Red Brick Pizza fundraiser will be used to assist with low-cost spay/neuter efforts in Kern County. There will also be opportunity drawings for great prizes and items available for sale. If you’ve ever been curious about Friends, want to find out more about how you can help shelter animals in your area or want to support low-cost spay/neuter, while enjoying good food and drink, Red Brick Pizza is the place to be on March 27. See you there!
YOURVOICE
EXTRA!EXTRA!
The fields are alive with early wildflowers!
Walk for healthy air at Yokuts Park COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
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PHOTO BY DOUG KESSLER
Wind Wolves Preserve offers an early showing of wildflowers. About 25 miles from Bakersfield, the preserve is open on weekends, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. BY DOUG KESSLER Community contributor
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arly wildflowers are blooming at the Wind Wolves Preserve. That is my wife, Laurie, enjoying the floral display.
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IF YOU GO Wind Wolves Preserve Directions: Take Old River Road south to the end. Turn right and about a mile on the left is the entrance (just past a large orange grove). Open on Saturday & Sunday only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about Wind Wolves Preserve go to: http://www.wildlandsconservancy.org/twc_preserve_wind_wolves.html
YOURCELEBRATIONS Warren Jr. High verse choir takes top honors at festival BY DHAVAL BUCH Community contributor
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am happy to announce that the Warren Jr. High boys have won second place at the Kern County Oral Language Festival held on Feb. 20 at Norris Middle School. They performed a verse choir piece on “Handsome & Gruesome” by Steve Lane. The participants are:Josh Dhaliwal, Mudit Buch, Humza Siddiqui, Shawn Bhogal, and Manraj Garewal. As always, their performance was excellent, and we are all very proud of their achievement.
he American Lung Association in Bakersfield will be highlighting the need for improved air quality and support for those affected by asthma, lung disease and transplantation during it Healthy Air Walk, being held at Yokuts Park on April 10. Known in prior years as the Asthma Walk, the Healthy Air Walk is expected to draw more than 750 walk participants, including corporate teams from some of the area’s largest and most influential employers. “The Healthy Air Walk provides Kern County residents with a rare opportunity to come together and raise awareness and funds for something that improves all of our lives – cleaner air,” said Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the member of Congress that represents Bakersfield. Air pollution affects the development of young children’s lungs, which can lead to chronic lung issues like asthma. In fact, roughly 9 percent of all children in Kern County — that’s one in every 11 —
COURTESY PHOTO
The American Lung Association will host the Healthy Air Walk at Yokuts Park on April 10. More commonly known as the Asthma Walk, the event is expected to draw more than 750 people, including corporate teams. have been diagnosed with asthma. Asthma is also the leading cause of hospital admissions in California and absenteeism for schoolaged children. “It is no surprise to anyone living or working in Kern County that we have significant challenges when it comes to air quality,” said McCarthy. “The Healthy Air Walk reminds us all that by working together, we can achieve an effec-
tive and immediate solution. Together, we can make our air clean and keep our families healthy.” Tami Mlcoch, the 2010 Healthy Air Walk Honorary Chairman states: “Since moving to Bakersfield 10 years ago, I have experienced firsthand the effects of breathing bad air. Both my children and I have asthma, while I also suffer from bronchitis. We look forward to the day when there is no need for inhalers. I hope you’ll join us on April 10 in Yokuts Park as we take big strides toward having healthier air in the valley.” People of all ages are encouraged to register to walk and enjoy a hosted breakfast, lunch, raffle, live auction, DJ and children’s entertainment. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by the Mayor’s Proclamation and shotgun start at 10 a.m. To register a team, please go to: www.healthyairwalk.org or call 1-800-Lung-USA. For more information, please call Danielle Mendez at 847-4700.
YOURVOICE
People helping people one community at a time BY OPAL MORLAND Community contributor
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he Fraternal Order of Eagles recently held a fundraising event to help a small child — TJ Garcia — with numerous community partners such as Ideal Connex, Jamm’n Island Hula, the Ronald McDonald House and many more. This special child is now 3 years old and suffers from brain cancer. The Eagles auxiliary was approached by family members to assist this needy child. The current chairwoman, Rose Martinez, auxiliary Vice President, who was hosting a Taco Tuesday for Alzheimer’s, her own charity, kindly offered half of all her proceeds to this child — and the fun began!
This auxiliary sister has an outstanding and generous heart for children as well as the elderly. She lives on the east side, and I would love neighbors to know who lives in their community. This fundraising event at least doubled, if not more, of what we usually raise — and was well attended by our community and membership. I am so proud of everyone for their outstanding support. I want to thank the television news coverage as well. What a nice surprise! Together we have all made the difference in the life of a child and his family — and helped our Alzheimer’s friends! Thank you, Rose for your generous offer. You are “People Helping People.”
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Rose Martinez, along with the Fraternal Order of Eagles and others in the community, recently held a fundraiser for TJ Garcia, a child who is suffering from brain cancer. I am attaching a picture of Rose Martinez, an outstanding volunteer for all ... I am proud to call her sister!