The Bakersfield Voice Nov. 1-7, 2009

w w w . b a k e r s f i e l d v o i c e . c o m

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Nov. 1-7, 2009

Walking toward acure for diabetesWalking toward acure for diabetes

Celebrations: The Voicetravels to Connecticut! Pg. 2‘Tis Chez Noel season Pg. 4Haggard & Haslam togetherfor Oildale celebration Pg. 9

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NOVEMBER NOVEMBER SPECIAL SPECIAL

Join the fundraiser hosted by theBakersfield JDRF Nov. 7, pg. 3Join the fundraiser hosted by theBakersfield JDRF Nov. 7, pg. 3

2 W W W. B A K E R S F I E L DVO I C E .C O M NOV. 1-7, 2009

EDITORIALOlivia Garcia VViiccee PPrreessiiddeenntt //CCoonntteenntt

[email protected]

Teresa Adamo AAssssoocciiaattee [email protected]

Sandi Molen CCoonnttrriibbuuttiioonnss CCoooorrddiinnaattoorr

[email protected]

ARTKent Kuehl DDeessiiggnneerr

[email protected]

ADVERTISINGJaime De Los Santos SSaalleess MMaannaaggeerr

[email protected] 716-8632

OFFICEMarisol Sorto OOffffiiccee AAddmmiinniissttrraattoorr

[email protected] 716-8640

The Bakersfield VoiceP.O. Box 2344

Bakersfield, CA 93303

The Bakersfield Voice is published by Mercado Nuevo, an independent subsidiary

of The Bakersfield Californian.

S T A F F

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VoiceHospice volunteers offered weekend trainingBY RHONDA FRANKHOUSERCommunity contributor

ptimal Hospice Care,4700 Stockdale Hwy.,Ste. 120, is offering aspecial weekend volun-teer training session

Saturday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m.

This special training sessionis offered for individuals whoare interested in volunteering,but find it difficult to attendweekday training sessions.

Please call today to reserveyour seat at 716-4000 or e-mail:[email protected].

A light lunch will be provided.If you have special foodrequirements, please plan tobring your lunch.

E X T R A ! E X T R A !

C E L E B R A T I O N S

Dave Jolley and grandchildren, Jake and Sophia Schonacher,take The Bakersfield Voice to New London, CT!

Breakfast and craft fairto benefit music program

Southside Chicago Seven in concert Nov. 22

Happy 50th Birthday, David Judd!

Happy Birthday, Bobby Judd!We Love You

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BY PEEJAY HERDACommunity contributor

akersfield Parent Nurs-ery will host its Thirdannual Pancake Break-fast and HolidayCraftacular Bonanza,

Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to3 p.m., 2080 Stine Road.

Bring family and friends.Breakfast is $6 for adults; $4 forchildren. Proceeds from thisevent help fund BakersfieldParent Nursery’s HarmonyRoad Music Program.

BBY MARJORIE BELLCommunity contributor

he Southside ChicagoSeven will beappearing in concerton Sunday, Nov. 22 at4 p.m. in the sanctu-

ary of First CongregationalChurch, 5 Real Road. Thelocal swing jazz group ispresenting the third concertof the season in the Fred andBeverly Dukes MemorialConcert series. There is nocharge for admission.

Details, 327-1609

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COURTESY PHOTO

Make a difference by donating a little time and compassion!

COURTESY PHOTO

Southside Chicago Seven

NOV. 1-7, 2009 W W W. B A K E R S F I E L DVO I C E .C O M 3

Taylor’s Troopers walked for the benefit of finding a curefor diabetes. This will be the 12th annual 5k fundraiserwalk for JDRF. It takes place Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 inYokuts Park. Registration is at 8 a.m.; walk begins at9:15 a.m., sharp! Last year, $225,000 was raised. Thegoal for this year's walk is $250,000. Photo by Linda J.Oliver.Your photo could be on our next cover! Photos and stories for the Nov. 15 issue must be post-ed by Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m.

About the cover

These pets may be adopted quickly! Please visit the KERN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER at 201 S. Mt. Vernon Ave. to see all of our adoptable pets. For more info call 661-868-7144 or visit our website at www.co.kern.ca.us/acd.

Merlin - 783047 Meet Merlin! Merlin is a one year old male, orange and white, domestic medium hair Tabby mix. He will be neutered before he can go to his forever home. Merlin was a stray, but would make a wonderful pet for just about any family as he is very sweet, affectionate and loving. Don’t forget to mention his ID number - 783047!

Meet Jack! Jack is a one year old neutered male, red Labrador Retriever mix. Jack would do best in a family with older children as he is a high energy dog and will need lots of exercise and attention to make him a happy dog. Jack would be happiest in a home with no cats. Don’t forget to mention his ID number - 783406!

Contents

6 Let there be lights! Independence High switches on new football sta-

dium lights.

6 A sports smorgasbord Sports Shorts columnist Michael Elliott checks

out the local sports scene. Take his pop quiz, too!

8 Real athletes wear pink!Some young football players don’t mind wear-

ing pink in support of cancer awareness.

Take a stroll to find a cure for diabetes Nov. 7BY A. PERKINS-THOMASCommunity contributor

im’s Supply, Inc. presents theBakersfield Branch of Juve-nile Diabetes Research Foun-dation (JDRF) 12th annualWalk to Cure Diabetes.

The Bakersfield branch of JDRFis gearing up for its 12th annual 5kfundraiser walk on Saturday, Nov.7 at Yokuts Park. Over 2,500 peo-ple are expected to walk, run andbike to raise money for diabetesresearch.

Free family activities: bouncehouses, rock climbing wall, localentertainment, dancing toChesterfield King and the Sultansof Swings, free continental break-fast and lunch for all walkers andvolunteers.

Registration for the walk is at 8a.m. and the walk begins at 9:15a.m., sharp! Last year, the Bakers-field Chapter raised over $225,000for diabetes research, and thisyear’s goal is $250,000.

More than 24 million Americanslive with diabetes and its compli-cations. As many as 194 millionpeople are afflicted worldwidewith diabetes. Diabetes kills oneAmerican every three minutes.Recent studies have shown thatdiabetes accounted for more than$132 billion in annual health carecosts to the US. Insulin is only lifesupport — it is not a cure.

In Kern County, JDRF has beena presence for over 12 years. It isestimated that at least 7 percent ofthe total county population hasdiabetes. The Annual Walk for aCure for Diabetes has raised over$1.7 million for diabetes researchsince 1997 for both type 1 and type2 diabetes.

JDRF–Bakersfield hosts month-ly and bi- monthly support groupsfor teens, kids and their families.Hundreds of “Bags of Hope” havebeen distributed to newly diag-nosed families. All materials areavailable in both Spanish and Eng-lish.

Also, each year JDRF sponsors afree day camp and away camp fortype 1 and type 2 kids.

The Honorary Walk Chair forthe 2009 walk are all Kern Countyresidents who are diabetic. Spon-sors for this year’s walk include:

Presenting Sponsor: Jim’s Supply,Co, Inc. Platinum Sponsors: TheDiane S. Lake Family, Gold Spon-sor: Mary Cruz Realty Silver Spon-sors: Bank of America, Chevron,Performance Electric and Pro’sRanch Markets. Lunch Sponsor:The Ben H. and Gladys Arkelian,Klein, Denatale and Goldner,David Carr Family and the Bak-ersfield Chapter of the Links, Inc.Bronze Sponsors: Baker-Hughes,Haddad–Bashirtash, Del-Taco,SEIU 521. Media Sponsors: SanJoaquin Community Hospital,Buckley Radio Group, KGET-Channel 17 and KKEY-Telemun-do.

To help us fund a cure for Dia-betes, please visit one of ourSneaker Sale Locations duringNovember: Pro’s Ranch Markets;Del Taco; Lassen’s Health Foods;El Tejon Pharmacies; All Post Net;Lee’s Pharmacies; Ming & H Phar-macies; and Walgreens.

JDRF, the leading charitablefunder and advocate of type 1 dia-betes research worldwide, wasfounded in 1970 by the parents ofchildren with juvenile diabetes, adisease which strikes childrensuddenly, makes them insulin-dependent for life, and carries theconstant threat of devastatingcomplications. Since inception,JDRF has provided more than$910 million in direct funding todiabetes research.

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Chez Noel to feature Christmas decor at local homesCOURTESY OF THE ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF BAKERSFIELD

his will be the 20th year of highlighting hol-iday decor on the Chez Noel ChristmasTour — during which local homes are trans-formed into twinkling Winter Wonderlands,then opened to the public for two days. It is

a favorite among many Bakersfield residents.The event is a major fundraiser for the Assis-

tance League of Bakersfield, which operates theBargain Box Thrift Store (open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.,Monday through Saturday at 1924 Q St.) as well asthe Operation School Bell program.

Operation School Bell provides brand new cloth-ing, shoes and school supplies for Kern Countychildren whose families cannot afford these newitems.

Starbucks also provides the refreshments at theHoliday Boutique during Chez Noel weekend, dur-ing which local vendors set up their yuletide waresfor sale.

“This place turns into a Christmas fantasy-land— it’s very pretty,” said Judy Thomas, co-chair ofChez Noel.

Chez Noel tickets will be available starting Satur-day, Nov. 7. They are $35 for either day of the event— Friday, Dec. 4, or Saturday, Dec. 5.

Tickets are available at: Bargain Box; Pappagal-lo; Olcotts; Sugardaddy’s; Miss Holiday; CountryClub Liquors & Delicatessen.

Note: No cell phones, photography, high heels,wheelchair access or children under 12 allowed onthe tours.

Details, 861-9223.

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BY DEBORAH TINOCOCommunity contributor

n Saturday, Oct. 17, at theCalifornia FirefightersMemorial located on thegrounds of the State Capitol,

the Kern County Fire DepartmentHonor Guard participated in the cere-monies commemorating 82 firefight-ers who died in the line of duty fromtraumatic field injuries or job-relatedcauses.

This year, one of Kern County’sfinest, Grant Young, was added to thewall. Grant began his firefightingcareer as a part of the U.S. Forest Ser-vice Fulton Interagency HotshotCrew. He loved to fight wildfires, andin 1984, joined the Kern County FireDepartment and became an essentialpart of their wildland program andhelped to create the Black MountainHotshots and the Golden Empire handcrew. After a courageous battle that

lasted over a year, Grant succumbedto job-related cancer in 2009.

Six KCFD Honor Guard membersparticipated in ceremonies in honor oftheir fallen brother, Grant Young. FireCapt. Dan Gonzalez was one of fourMemorial Wall Guards and Firefight-er Ed Martinez rang the Last AlarmBell as the names of the fallen wereread. Fire Capt. Gil Tinoco dipped theflag in honor of a fallen Ventura Coun-ty firefighter. Firefighter Tony Garciaand Retired Batallion Chief Rich Hall,also dipped the flag in honor of a fallenfirefighter as their names were read.Firefighter Blain Haywood dipped theKCFD’s flag in honor of their fallenbrother, as Fire Capt. Pat Rebello pre-sented the American flag to GrantYoung’s widow at the request of theYoung family.

Accompanying the KCFD HonorGuard to the ceremony were BatallionChief Brent Moon and CommandChief Mike Miller.

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Kern firefighters honor colleagues who’ve died in the line of duty

Fire Capt. Pat Rebelloholding American Flagas Firefighter Blain Hay-wood holds the KernCounty Fire Depart-ment’s flag, awaitingGrant Young’s name tobe read.

PHOTO COURTESY OFTHE BRENT MOON FAMILY.

FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN

Charlotte and Bob Brandt's formal dining room was a virtual feast for the eyes in 2008.

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BY MIRIAM RAUB VIVIANCommunity contributor

alifornia State Universi-ty Bakersfield and thePublic History Instituteat CSUB will present“Oildale and Beyond:

Interpreting the Region ThroughWords, Images, and Music,” anall-day conference on campus,9001 Stockdale Hwy., on Satur-day, Nov. 7, featuring presenta-tions on a wide range of localhistory topic including — thesecret U-2 spyplane program inOildale, the impact of the 1918influenza, New Deal architec-ture, the early oil industry, waterissues, the experiences of vari-ous ethnic groups, the KKK, andthe Bakersfield Sound — as wellas a short original play, a keynoteaddress by author GeraldHaslam, an interview of MerleHaggard by journalist RobertPrice. A song or two by Haggard,and a Q & A with Haslam, Hag-gard, and James L. from Oildalewill wrap up the event.

Cost for the all-day event is $30general; $25 seniors (65+) and$20 for students.

Visit our Web site for fulldetails and instructions on regis-tering: www.csub.edu/history.

BY MIRIAM RAUB VIVIANCommunity contributor

arm up to the “Oil-dale and Beyond”conference with aconcert the previousevening, Friday,

Nov. 6, at Trout’s, 805 N. ChesterAve., the last of the original Bak-ersfield honky tonks, wheresingers Buck Owens and MerleHaggard launched their careersand created what’s known as theBakersfield Sound. Beginning at8:30 p.m., hear Rockwell’s Black-board Playboys perform in peri-od costume, with special guest,local legend Red Simpson, at 8:45p.m. No charge before 8 p.m.; $5thereafter. Must be at least 21years old.

Free, first-time line and coun-try couple dance lessons. His-toric displays of BakersfieldSound memorabilia. BBQ dinneravailable for $10: Rocksliders(filet mignon on Hawaiianbread), green salad, green beans,fresh fruit, cheddar and jackcheese cubes, and chocolatecake.

To contact Trout’s, call 399-6700.

Visit our Web site for fulldetails and instructions on regis-tering: www.csub.edu/history.

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Bakersfield’s favorite son to celebrate Oildale

COURTESY PHOTO

Gerald Haslam

Educator of the month

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Nominated by Mrs. Green’s Class of 2009-10

We nominate Mrs. Veronica Green foreducator of the month. She teaches sixthgrade at Downtown Elementary. Mrs. Greenalways encourages us to do our best.

This year, Mrs. Green told us that we have tobe more responsible students because we’regrowing up. But that helps us learn even moreand get ready for junior high and high school.

We will be going to Camp Keep this monthwith Mrs. Green — we know it will be fun!Thank you, Mrs. Green, for all you do!

Veronica Green

Mr. Rhodes

Sponsored by

Nominated by Guadalupe Hernández

Educator of the Month

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!

To submit your nominee for Educator of the Month, go to: www.northwest voice.com then click on “Post Something!” and contribute a

paragraph about why you appreciate and would like to recognize your nominee. Be sure to include the educator’s name, school, department and picture. The contest is open to

educators in the Southwest area. Entries can also be e-mailed to: [email protected]. Each month the winning entry $50 gift certificate,

compliments of GW School Supply and The Northwest Voice.

Y O U R E N T E R T A I N M E N T

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HENRY A. BARRIOS / THE CALIFORNIAN

Merle Haggard performs during Billy Mize birthday party at the Crystal Palace in April this year.

‘Oildale and Beyond’ conference toinclude Haslam & Haggard Nov. 7


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ocal sneak peeksCentennial High’s varsity

volleyballers appear to bethe cream of the crop in ourarea, as well, perhaps, in the

entire Central Section. In keepingwith, Bakersfield College has asweet, unblemished Western StateConference v-ball record.U n d e f e a t e d ,you say? Lookno further thanthe FrontierTitans’ power-house footballteam. Howabout Stock-dale’s girls ten-nis run of 11straight SWYLtitles, andcounting. Rareair indeed asBHS garneredfootball victory#700 to become California’s firsthigh school team to reach that loftyplateau.

Going to the birdsThe Condors have taken flight

with an early Pacific Division leadin the ECHL.

Freeway seriesThe Dodgers and Angels both

had exemplary seasons with divi-sion titles and first-round playoffvictories. But each came up shortin their quest to reach the bally-hooed matchup Angelinos and FoxSports executives were hoping for.In the end, the closest that theFreeway Series came to fruitionwas that each team was free to gotheir own way!

‘Where Have All The FlowersGone?’

I keep wondering the same asthat song title in regards to Oak-land Raiders gear as I drive aroundtown. Used to be that, come foot-

ball season, car flags, T-shirts,skull caps, jackets, ball caps, hood-ies, etc. adorned with the symbolsof the Silver & Black were domi-nating the sports scene in “Raider-sfield.” Guess the off-field producthas grown as cold as the on-fieldproduct as czar Al Davis refuses toacquiesce to current pro footballlogic. Where’s John Madden, Ken-ny Stabler, Howie Long and Mar-cus Allen when you need them?

‘Welcome to My Nightmare’While we’re on the subject of

song titles and as Halloween hasjust passed, anyone rememberAlice Cooper’s breakout solo effortinto shock-rock? Please, I’m notdiverting from local subject matterhere, as I personally witnessed his“Nightmare” show down at theCivic Auditorium back in the ‘70s.It was ghoulishly entertaining!Which leads me to the eagerly-anticipated recent high school foot-ball showdown in Wasco as TaftHigh acted out its version of anightmare in blanking the Tigers42-0. Going in, it was thought thatWasco not only had the home fieldadvantage, but also their black-and-orange school colors on theirside. Scary.

OK, Pop Quiz timeThe Men’s Senior Baseball

League World Series is currentlytaking place in Tempe, Arizona,and with keeping with subject mat-ter, thought I’d pop a macabre quizon you. The name of one of the 450teams participating in the Series isthe Oregon Donors. Can youdeduce what the team name isreferring to? Hint #1: Read thefirst name of the team really fast!Hint #2: Not for the faint of heart!Check out the answer in my nextcolumn a few weeks from now ...

Lest I forget ... BOO!

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Local volleyball teams could‘spike’ golden seasons!

MICHAELELLIOTTSports columnist

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PHOTO COURTESY OF MELANIE BETTIS

They built it, and now they come to enjoy nighttime football games at Independence High.

Let there be lights!BY MELANIE BETTISCommunity contributor

we inspiring, phenomenal, andexciting were just a few wordsused to describe this memorableFriday night football game. Forthe very first time, hundreds of

students, parents, and faculty entered thestadium under the new lights at Indepen-dence High School.

School Principal Willie Sandoval said itwas “great to see the excitement of theentire student body.” He, along with otherstaff, commented about the pride felt by

the students and how much they look for-ward to setting new traditions. The best isyet to come when the stadium is fully com-plete with a scoreboard and sound system,hopefully in the very near future.

Independence High School opened inAugust 2008, and, as we all know, last yearwas not the easiest time to try and raisemoney. We have been fortunate to have anamazing level of involvement from par-ents, school employees, the Kern HighSchool District and the community. With-out your support and generosity, this goalwould not have been met, so a big “thankyou” goes out to all!

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Y O U R S P O R T S

BERECRUITED.COM

At right, Amar Deol of the Stockdale Mustangs bas-ketball team.

BY OLIVER BROWNCommunity contributor

tockdale’s new varsity boys basketball coachhas brought together an experienced and tal-ented coaching staff that, togetherwith talented student athletes,will make a strong contender

for this year’s League and Valleytitles. Brown, a graduate of CSUBand Point Loma Nazarene Uni-versity, coached under Alex Leeat Centennial for the last fouryears, helping the GoldenHawks compile an 86-29 over-all record. Brown was a part oftwo consecutive SWYL cham-pionship teams in 2008 and2009; in 2008, the team was aDivision II valley runner-up.

Brown is excited about theupcoming season and has found thisgroup of players to be “all in.” “I’mexcited to have this opportunity,” Brownsaid. “Head coach of boys basketball at a Divi-sion I high school is a dream job. I look forward toworking with all the talented players at Stockdale andhave found the parent support to be top-notch.” Thenew coaching staff is now assembled and featuresfaces both new and familiar to Stockdale.

“My first priority was to get some of the best coachespossible,” Brown said. Mike Thompson will be coach-ing the JV team. In 2004, Thompson was the JV coachat Stockdale. He brings 13 years of coaching experi-ence including every level of club basketball. His son,

Cale, was the starting point guard for the2002 Valley Championship Stockdale

Mustangs. In addition, Thompson iscurrently employed by North of the

River Recreation & Park Districtand is responsible for all after-school sports.

Also joining the coaching staffat Stockdale is 1999 Stockdalegraduate Bryson Gholston. Ghol-ston, a teacher at Stockdale,received his bachelor’s degree in

psychology from Northern Col-orado. Gholston played two years at

Bakersfield College, and laterplayed professionally in Germany,returning to the U.S. to tryout for theDenver Nuggets. Gholston is current-ly earning his masters degree at Cal

State Bakersfield.Talking about the outlook for the program, Brown

said: “I believe this team, with these coaches, has thepotential to go far — and it will definitely be a excitingseason.”

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Stockdale boys basketballcould ride to championship

‘Extra Innings’ with Dad!BY RON VALENTICommunity contributor

xtra Innings, Bakersfield’snewest baseball instructionalfacility, is holding its first“Daddy & Me Hitting Clinic.”The clinic will be held over

two days; Thursday, Nov. 12 (6:30 –7:30 p.m.) and Saturday, Nov. 14 (1– 2p.m.). The first session will be for par-ents only, where they will be intro-duced to basic hitting fundamentals,common errors, and how to recognizeand correct flaws. During the secondsession, the parent(s), accompaniedby their child, will actually instructtheir son or daughter in hitting tech-

niques. Professional hitting instruc-tors will be constantly moving around,helping the parents with their one-on-one interaction.

Video will be taken of each hitterbefore and after instruction. The videowill then be transferred to a DVD,with voice-over assessment, and givento each family. This informativeopportunity is open to children ages 7-13, with a maximum of only 10 chil-dren being accepted for registration.

Instructors are Larry Barnes, TySoto, and Ron Valenti. Cost is $90.

Call Extra Innings at 589-8900 toregister, or sign up at the instructionalfacility, located at 4820 RosedaleLane. Rosedale Lane is located justeast of Allen Road, off of Hageman.

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Athlete of the month: Sarah Baker

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Nominated by Sally Baker

I would like to nominate mydaughter, Sarah Baker, for theOctober athlete of the month.

Sarah is a junior at Bakers-field High School, where sheplays varsity soccer and runs forthe varsity track and cross-country teams.

It’s cross-country season rightnow, and Sarah is already break-ing records for her 3-mile-runtimes!

She won the EB Invitationalmeet earlier this season with atime of 19:19. Then she clockedthe fastest time in Kern Countyso far this year at the Wood-bridge meet with 18:23!


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Y O U R S P O R T S

Freedom football goes the extra yard for cancer causeBY PAUL GARCIACommunity contributor

rom national teams tothose at the club level,athletes around thecountry are wearingpink and recognizing

Breast Cancer AwarenessMonth.

My son plays for a GoldenEmpire Youth Football team,Freedom’s Freshman team,and after practice one evening,he approached me with somepink shoelaces. He explainedto me that a parent donatedthem to the team, to be wornfor the next few games. I knewwhy, and this gave me anopportunity to explain to myson why.

Throughout October, NFLathletes have been wearingpink during games. BrettFavre, Larry Fitzgerald, DrewBrees and many other NFLstars will wear pink cleats andother pink-colored gear duringgames this weekend as theleague supports October’sNational Breast Cancer Aware-ness Month.

Jessica Ramirez, a FreshmenFreedom football parent, mayhave seen the NFL playersdoing it on the field andthought what a great idea forour football team to do as well.She invested in pink shoelacesand donated them to the team.

The pink laces have beenproudly worn by the FreshmenFreedom football team duringthe month of October.

This has been a great way toeducate our youth and get themactively involved in supportingcancer awareness. Many of ourfamilies have been affected bybreast cancer and many peopleknow someone who has beenaffected by it.

Freshmen Freedom footballhas something in common withthe NFL, and now, breast can-cer awareness. This is a reallycool idea to unite the nation’ssports and its athletes, at alllevels of the playing field, forawareness of breast cancer.

How wonderful for our areasyouth athletes, as well asnational athletes, to supportawareness for such a worthycause.

F

PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL GARCIA

GEYF players donned bright pink shoelaces to show support for breast cancer awareness.

Documents

The Bakersfield Voice Nov. 1-7, 2009