User Posts : The Southwest Voice

Its Nutcracker Season!

Getting into the spirit of Christmas, Barnes and Noble hosted its annual "Nutcracker" storytime on November 15. Members of the Bakersfield Symphony played select tunes from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker as narrator Patty Jensen read from the beautifully illustrated book. Children (and parents) were enraptured as the story of Clara seemed to come to life while performers from the Civic Dance Center danced in costume to the familiar music. Admission was free and the entertainment was priceless!

Want to really take hold of your Christmas spirit? Then be sure to attend the always phenomenal performance of "The Nutcracker", when the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Dance Center celebrate their 31st anniversary of the production. Rabobank Theater showtimes are: Fri. Dec. 12 @ 7:30pm, Sat. Dec. 13 @ 1pm and 7:30pm, and Sun. Dec. 14 @ 1pm. For ticket information, call (661)323-7928.

Warren Jr. High Band Celebrates Veterans Day

The Warren Junior High School Band was fortunate once again to participate in Bakersfield's Veterans Day Parade. This year they were accompanied by both the Warren Colorguard and Warren Cheerleaders as they marched while impressively performing "God Bless America."

Bandleader Bradford Pickett was instrumental (pun intended) in orchestrating a fantastic performance. The students put a lot of effort into this event, resulting in a performance they can be proud of. Everyone enjoyed themselves and certainly enjoyed hearing the news later that they had received the honor of Most Patriotic Junior High Band in the parade! In the spirit of the event, it was heartwarming to be able to give something back to the veterans of our community.

Christmas in August?!

Family of Four Vacation to Knotts Berry Farm and Soak City: $500+

Detour to "bargain" Hockey Gear and "discount" Dancewear Stores: $300+

Stumbling Onto the Set of Nickelodeon's Drake and Josh Christmas Movie: priceless (and free!)

First impressions are not always what they seem. As we approached the Valencia Mall entrance, I was taken aback at the sight of... super-sized Christmas trees... everywhere! Giant Nutcrackers greeted us at the escalator. Balls of holly hung from the ceiling. What was going on here? Could they possibly be pushing the decorate-for-Christmas-just-after-Halloween routine forward even more? Where could I send my complaint letter? How dare they!

I was so consumed with resentment that I even passed up the opportunity for a great zebra-print clutch bag, focusing my conversation with the salesgirl on the indignancy of the decorations instead. It did not take long to learn, however, that it truly was still August. The decor was simply the remains of that day's interior shooting of Nickelodeon's Drake and Josh Christmas Movie! Phew. My faith in mankind had returned.

It took us even less time to track down the exterior filming location. Here, our family of four was thoroughly entertained and somewhat educated in the fact that it takes FOREVER to film just one small scene. Pity the actors in their wool sweaters and caps in the 90 degree heat. As we propped ourselves against the nearest brick wall, sipping iced lattes in our flip flops, it became apparent that acting might not be all that it is cracked up to be. A college education is still the more viable option. Learn now, act later. Now, time to do some Christmas shopping!

Take The Voice on Vacation

PBVUSD Summer Music Conservatory Program

School may be out for many, but for four weeks of this summer, PBVUSD student musicians practiced hard at their instruments. For the final three days of the session, parents, summer school students and their teachers, district employees and guests were treated to performances at Warren Junior High School by both the intermediate and advanced music conservatory students. Classes were taught by talented orchestra and band teachers from throughout the district, with several musically-inclined high school and college students serving as assistants. They all joined in the final performances to provide the audience with a fantastic show.

Trumpets, flutes, tubas and such cleverly joined forces with those annoying cellular ringtones to provide us with a song with a new twist, "Cellular Symphony". School fight songs and movie and television theme songs were also energetically performed. Violins, cellos, violas, etc. played the familiar "Smoke on the Water", along with other rock, disco and Celtic numbers. One encore that many students are sure to remember was the ice cream they were all treated to, courtesy of Dreyer's!

It's "Seuss" and So Much More...

About nine years ago, one of my dear friends couldn't use her tickets to the Civic Dance Center's annual "Nutcracker" performance in conjunction with the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. Being a former big-city girl, off I toted my toddler daughter, expecting to see a "cute" little performance to put us into the Christmas spirit. Not only was I mesmerized, my daughter sat entirely still, both of us fixated on the astonishing costumes, the graceful dancers, and the wonderful sounds of Tchaikovsky. This was far better than any performance I had ever seen.

Naturally, I seized the opportunity to sign my daughter up for dance lessons at a studio designed for teaching little tots. Two classes into it, price tags now removed from the new shoes, tights and leotards, it became apparent that my daughter did not have the same intentions as I did, judging from the screaming, crying and tight grip on her car seat as we approached the studio. Maybe we'd try soccer or ceramics.

Years later - five to be exact - my daughter was enamored by "Barbie and the Nutcracker" and informed me she would like to be a ballerina after all. Apprehensively, I snipped off the price tags once again, and we ventured into the Civic Dance Center for a quick summer session. This time she was hooked.

Fast forward another five years, and I find myself sharing a week or two sitting alongside other moms, new ones and veterans, as our kids rehearse for the Civic's 40th Annual Gala 2008. Many of us reflected on our first Galas, remembering when it was our little ones dressed up as wee Parasol Girls or Buttercups or Birds. Now new little dancers practiced before us, gearing up for this year's production of "Seuss", performing as Little Birds, Kids Who Fish, Clowns, and Lampshades. It won't be long before I, too, will be joining the veteran moms, when my daughter no longer needs me to apply her stage makeup or even drive her to the studio. This will come all too quickly, many of us moms are fully aware.

If you weren't lucky enough to catch one of this year's four performances, I highly recommend you mark your calendar for next year's 41st. Because of the amazing choreography talents of the Civic's Kristen Doolittle, the show isn't limited to the attention of parents and family members of the performers themselves. The show truly provides a great bundle of entertainment for anyone even remotely interested in dance. Each year's ballet tells an entire story such as Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, or Willy Wonka, with the talents of the tiniest dancers to that of the most senior dancers intertwined throughout the show. The second portion of the program provides a vast array of Jazz, Tap, Modern and Hip Hop numbers, showing off the skilled choreography of many of the Civic's fabulous teachers, again with creative costumes and just plain fun dances!

Each performance is preceded by a cast call, where owners/directors Kevin and Cindy Trueblood take the time to recognize everyone instrumental in the success of the show. This includes teachers and assistants, technical directors and staff, video production, assistant directors, backstage directors, parent volunteers, and finally, the dancers themselves. My daughter is now old enough that I do not need to accompany her to these cast calls, but it is here that many of us parents are reminded of why we don't mind shuttling our little ones to and from dance several times a week. It is here that we realize that being part of a Civic production is more than just about dance, it is about learning responsibility, teamwork, discipline and dedication. It is also about friendships, kindness and caring about others. The passion and emotion that circulates the room is contagious in the best of ways.

Each year, the senior dancers perform a special and unbelievably moving "farewell" dance. Tears flow. Fathers or significant family members present their senior with flowers onstage as the dance sadly comes to an end. I watch this with such an admiration for the beautiful performers they have become. Bittersweet that it is, I can only hope my daughter will take it this far - wonderful memories are being made!

Ladies Night Out... and the City

Not only had I forgotten to wear my Manolos, more importantly I had forgotten my camera! This was absolutely an evening worthy of photography, yet there were no paparazzi in sight. Fashion was everywhere. Hair was coiffed, nails were sparkling, bling was abound. This was the place to be … if you were female and between the ages of 35 and 65.

Who knew the long-awaited movie premiere of those four glorious New York rompin’ gals would create such a buzz in little ol’ Bakersfield? There we all were, decked out in our finest cosmopolitan-sipping, rarely used happy hour outfits, anxiously awaiting the return of an old friend -- the infamous “Sex and the City” movie. Friday night regulars at Que Pasa were likely taken aback by the transformation from young and hip to... well... lets say “older” and hip, entirely female crowd.

For many of us, this was our chance to relive a tradition started when those who had HBO took pity on those of us who didn’t. This is how we enjoyed the final seasons of the "Sex and the City" series. We would gather early so we could get our chatting out of the way and devote our attention to every word, every detail of each episode. What was Carrie wearing? What is wrong with Miranda (someone needs to slap her)? Charlotte, for God’s sake, Harry is the one for you – ignore the hairy back! Samantha… well, she lived up to the title.

The movie itself wasn’t as enticing as the chance to revisit old girlfriends with the same common bond. As our own group grew larger, it soon became apparent we were surrounded by women just like us. In fact, when the odd man scurried by, it was only en route to the men’s room or the exit, once he’d discovered what he stumbled into. Well… there was one prominent orthodontist seen wandering in the patio area, but he confessed to being “line patrol” for his wife’s own Carrie-watching party. They were ready to board a bus bound for Edwards once he gave the word that any hint of a line was forming. (I knew I admired him for more than just my kids’ smiles - what a husband!)

Comically, where many of us had stood alongside our children just months before, anxiously awaiting the Hannah Montana Movie, here we all were again, only this time it was our turn to wear the glitz. The lines were unbelievably orderly and polite. The short wait allowed us a few extra minutes to chat – we were with our girlfriends after all, not our husbands. We could also further check out the local fashion. One young group sported matching hot pink feather boas, another wore custom-made gold embossed “Sex and The City” t-shirts. It was all a sight to behold.

The movie itself?? If your expectations weren’t of the red carpet variety, it did not disappoint. Personally, I found myself mad through much of the movie – mad at Big, mad at Miranda, mad at Carrie for wearing pearls to bed and for that horrid bird-feather thing in her hair. But it was what it was: entertainment. If I took anything insightful away from the movie at all, it was that even these four women, privy to the best of makeup artists, couldn’t escape the fact that red lipstick is going to run into those tiny little lines that have formed around our lips. How satisfying to see that we weren’t the only ones who’ve aged since the series ended.

Will there be a second movie? Knowing the studio's penchant for capitalizing on a money-maker when they see one, quite likely. Will we all be grandmas by then? Who knows, but if and when it does happen, break out the cosmos, roll out the red carpet, and get me on that bus to Edwards!

PBVUSD G.A.T.E. Students At It Again

Do you stub your toe on chair legs often? Does your oven mitt tend to fall off? Does it drive you crazy when you try to raise your blinds and they go all crooked? Would you like your toddlers to be learning the alphabet as you are stuck in traffic? Then you should have attended this morning's Invention Convention, held at Stockdale Elementary.

Each morning this week, 5th grade G.A.T.E. students from Old River, Laurelglen, Buena Vista, McAuliffe, etc. showed off their creativity at an annual "Invention Convention." Students have been working diligently for weeks, first visualizing their creation, then constructing it on paper, and finally, producing a model that represents their invention as closely as possible. Sixth grade GATE students served as judges. Visiting students, parents and teachers were in awe at the originality of these inventions. Things were being invented that we didn't even know we needed! (a hands-free clipboard? a scented airline "barf bag"? a remote control backpack?)

G.A.T.E. coordinator and 5th grade instructor, Kathleen Scrivner, has been hard at work supervising the huge variety of inventions, with a different set of schools displaying their product each day. With a little press coverage, she could have the makings of an entire week's worth of The Ellen Show's Childhood Inventors! With the right marketing, maybe even the next product lineup on QVC!

Warren Bands Rock!

This just in... Warren Junior High's Symphonic Band also received a Division 1 Superior rating at today's CMEA performance held at Stockdale High School. Congratulations go out, once again, to "superior" bandleader Mr. Pickett!

Also in the news, Warren Junior High Orchestra received a Division 1 Superior rating yesterday afternoon. Congratulations Mrs. Maguire and team!

Impressive!

Meow... Old River 5th Graders See "Cats"

Old River Elementary School 5th Graders travelled to the Harvey Auditorium this morning to see the Bakersfield Music Theater's fantastic production of "Cats". Their very own music teacher, Mr. Malone, performed as Old Deuteronomy! The production is unbelievably impressive and captivates even this young audience. The costumes and set - WOW! The singing and dancing - WOW! You really shouldn't miss the opportunity to see local talent that will make you proud. Hurry and catch the Saturday, April 12 performance - call 325-6100 for tickets. You will not be disappointed!

Warren Wildcat Concert Band is Superior!

The Warren Junior High Concert Band attended the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), held at Stockdale High School today. The outcome? The band proudly took the highest rating - a unanimous Division I Superior! Way to go Wildcats and Mr. Pickett for a job well done! Tune in tomorrow for Orchestra and Symphonic Band results. (Note that Warren acted as the host school, so students are in their casual Warren Wildcat attire as opposed to their normally spiffy band uniforms!)

Celebrities Abound at Old River Elementary

You may not have caught it on "Extra" or "The Insider," but Thursday, April 4^th marked the premiere of Old River Elementary’s Annual Celebrity Reader Day. The newest PBVUSD school may only be in its first year, but Old River Elementary is probably already a familiar name to many -- it was featured in a previous Southwest Voice as the campus celebrated with an official 2007 school dedication.

Nicole Curry-Bownds, "Executive Producer," started rolling out the reader red carpet early in the school year, as she is keenly aware that our celebrities lead very busy lives.

“I think it is just great that our local community members take the time out of their schedule to give back to the students. The kids absolutely adore them, and the fact that they take the time from their own hectic workday means so much,” she said.

Bakersfield’s very own Mayor Harvey Hall arrived bright and early, reading, greeting and continuously having to pose for the paparazzi! KERO TV staff was hot on his tail, with Doug DeRoo, Melissa Vreeman, Gregg Johnson and Steve Taylor not only reading to the students, but also featuring the event (and the mayor!) on the evening news.

The guest list read like an Oscar party as Student Council members escorted representatives from the District Attorney’s office, PBVUSD Superintendent Kip Hearron, Board of Trustees Linda Brenner, various district staff members including principals and former principals, all taking the time to share a good book with a room full of eager listeners. Big hits with the younger students were readers accompanied by their puppet companions: Omnipresent Puppet Theater’s Don Kruvska, Calvary Chapel Westbrook’s Kelli Espiritu, and Kern County Library's Sherry Wade. Kern County Fire Department Dennis Thompson and Paul Gutierrez had their audiences "fired up"! Bakersfield Police Department’s D.A.R.E. Officer Miller and Officer Morphis, accompanied by special K-9 dog, Maximus, thoroughly impressed their fans as well. County employee Aaron Ellis of Employers Training Resources was also on the scene.

Old River parent volunteers were on hand as assistant directors, and some even to sport their physician’s coat and stethoscope or their banking attire, and share a good book with a classroom or two. Librarian, Rosie Halcomb, was gracious enough to donate her library to host the venue and help readers select age and personality appropriate books to read. Favorite books this year were Skippyjon Jones, Mr. Wolf’s Pancakes, and the classic, Fox in Socks. Just ask The Southwest Voice’s own Dana Martin, who was fabulous enough to read this to five different classrooms. The book is no easy feat!

Primary students were later seen with both a gleam in their eye and a Condors’ poster in hand as they hoped to catch just one more glimpse of Baby Cal. “There she is!” they could be heard shouting, only to be equally delighted to see Kern Schools Federal Credit Union’s very own Rocky Raccoon making his rounds. Afternoon kindergarteners were not forgotten – they were treated to a story from their very own – Principal Mike Boles.

The day was more than just a special treat, more than just a chance to catch some of our community leaders at their best. The day also delivered an educational experience, often for the teachers, students and the readers. Sixth graders from Mr. Morrissey’s class were enlightened on the makings, the cost, and the bilingual skills of a BPD K-9 Unit dog. German Shepherd Maximus showed his talent by finding and shredding a towel in seconds flat. “He could jump as high as our teacher!” the kids remarked. Students in Mr. Prow’s class (and more) learned that the Southwest Voice would love to receive their coverage of community events such as this.

Think you have what it takes to be a celebrity reader at your child’s school? Just repeat three times: Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew… you can do it! See you on the red carpet!

It's A Sacramento Field Trip!

The alarm flashes 5am -- on a normal school day, we would cringe at the thought of rising so early, but... it's FIELD TRIP WEDNESDAY! My daughter and I amazingly bounce out of bed, ready ourselves and make it to the Amtrak Station by 6:30am, even allowing time to pick up friends and Starbucks! We excitedly join about 60 fellow PBVUSD 5th grade G.A.T.E. students (from 11 different schools), 30 parents, and our fabulous G.A.T.E. instructor/coordinator, Mrs. Kathleen Scrivner, for a 5 hour trek to Sacramento to visit our state capitol. Chaperone-experienced parents may instantly ask "why would you put yourself on a train for 5 hours one way with all of those students?" It was actually terrific! We had the luxury of our own car, but even better, the kids had the freedom to move around at all times, thus alleviating the stuck-in-the-school-bus-seat syndrome.

The kids soaked up the view of pistachio, almond and citrus trees. They pointed out the countless farms, oil producing areas, cotton gins, and were well aware of the 8 stops and 9 counties we passed through on our trip. Long after the educational value soaked in, Nintendo DS's were up and running allowing a peaceful transition for our arrival. The five hours passed before we knew it, where we would now embark on a 1.1 mile journey by foot to the capitol. Unbelievably, this felt more like a short jaunt from a Saturday parking spot at Valley Plaza into the mall. As we ascended on the capitol's lush grounds, we ran into (literally) none other than Bakersfield's Mayor, Mr. Harvey Hall! He must have felt like Miley Cyrus as we surrounded him with cameras flashing for a priceless photo opportunity.

After a short walk admiring the gorgeous trees scattered throughout the beautiful park, we were escorted through metal-detectors, which may very well have garnered the most excitability from the kids yet. We were then split into groups, where we were taken on a tour by very knowledgeable guides. Students were encouraged to ask questions as they were busy photographing both the senate (decorated in red for wealth)and legislature (green). We were educated on the history of California, including the importance of the gold miner, the grizzly bear and the Goddess Minerva to our state's seal. The kids were told, above all else, that the biggest voice in this building was that of the people. One of the groups was even fortunate enough to have been personally greeted by State Assemblywoman, Jean Fuller. She told the group that while she is in meetings constantly, talking about many laws, the highlight of her day is getting to meet the bright students who are eager to learn about our state.

Some of the group managed to fit in a brief visit to Sacramento's Old Town area before we all boarded the train bound back to Bakersfield. Again, the five hours sailed by, as the kids chattered on about their favorite statues, politicians, etc., and just how big this building really is! Decks of cards and neatly-packed snacks took us through the evening, where only the occasional parent could be caught napping. We were back in Bakersfield by 9:40pm, where we left the train station with the knowledge that memories had been made.

Educator of the Month Winner - Mrs. Scrivner!!

Our nominee: Kathleen Scrivner, 5th Grade G.A.T.E. teacher for PBVUSD, Stockdale Elementary School

"She does so many great things, it would be hard to sum it up in one paragraph", said my daughter, Leigh, a Thursday student of Mrs. Scrivner's. "She made learning fun," my son Grant remembers, as he had the benefit of her great teaching in both 4th and 5th grades. Mrs. Scrivner currently teaches all 5th grade G.A.T.E. students in the Panama-Buena Vista school district. Having so many students is certainly challenging, yet she makes each student feel important and individual. She genuinely cares about her "kids". Her vast area of knowledge is remarkable. Her enthusiasm and positive energy -- if only it could be bottled! Mrs. Scrivner has that special charisma that stays with you long after you've left her presence. I think we can speak for both her students and parents alike when we say we adore her! Thank you, Mrs. Scrivner, for all you do for so many, and for how well you do it!