News: The Southwest Voice

CSUB Kern Economic Journal reports county’s economy declines, unemployment grows

Kern County’s economy experienced a downturn during 2008’s third quarter and the housing market numbers were mixed, according to the latest issue of the Kern Economic Journal, published by California State University, Bakersfield.

“The county’s economy declined at an annual rate of 1.8 percent. Compared to the previous year, the economy fell 4.1 percent,” said Abbas Grammy, professor of economics at CSUB, and publisher of the Kern Economic Journal. The county’s economy generated $15.7 billion in personal income, $70 million less than the previous quarter. With continued growth of the labor force, personal income per worker decreased $800 to reach $42,400.

He added the county’s labor market indicators were mixed. “The county added 5,410 members to its work force and created 1,690 jobs. This increase in employment consisted of 2,660 more farm jobs, 500 less non-farm jobs, and 470 less informal jobs (self-employed workers and those working outside the county),” he said.

Meantime, the jobless rate grew. The number of unemployed workers increased by 3,720 and the rate of unemployment climbed from 8.8 to 9 percent. Still below the county average, the rate of unemployment averaged 6.6 percent in Bakersfield, 7.4 in California City, 5.4 percent in Ridgecrest and 6.3 in Tehachapi.

Yet businesses have become less pessimistic about local economic conditions. The Business Outlook Index rebounded from a sharp declining trend over the previous five quarters. The index stood at 88 compared to 82 in the previous quarter and 116 four quarters ago.

Several identified factors that brightened the business outlook included families spending money on kids going back to school, increased tourism and recreation during the summer months, and increased spending during the election months.

In contrast, consumer confidence fell once again. The Bakersfield Consumer Sentiment Index declined for the sixth consecutive quarter, reaching its lowest level since CSUB began tracking household expectations in 1999. The slippage was barely perceptible – to 74 in the third quarter from 76 in the previous quarter.

“Data on Kern County’s housing market were mixed,” Grammy said. “While the median housing price continued to fall, sales volume increased. In Bakersfield, the median housing price plummeted $25,600 (or 11.8 percent) from $216,500 to $190,900. Depreciation in prices caused housing affordability to rise from 18.7 to 21.9 percent. The number of homes sold increased from 2,667 to 3,190 in Kern County and from 1,955 to 2,462 in Bakersfield.”

The county’s foreclosure activity slowed 39.3 percent from 3,459 to 2,196. And as a result, 1,263 fewer homeowners received notices of loan default from their mortgage bankers.

The latest issue of the Kern Economic Journal also has a detailed article by Craig Kelsey, dean of CSUB’s Extended University and professor of public policy and administration, on strategic planning in government and business.

The journal includes a CEO profile of Bernie Herman, the executive director/CEO of the Bakersfield Museum of Art; and examines “Increased Business Valuations Based Upon Patents” by Charlette Crissman, from Klein DeNatale, Goldner, Cooper, Rosenlieb and Kimball, LLP.

The Kern Economic Journal is a quarterly publication focusing on local economic trends and developments. The journal provides the community with economic information produced by the CSUB Economics department. “What we provide is local economic data and data analysis which are not readily available in the community,” Grammy said. “This helps local business people make better decisions. We study local economic trends to determine how the local economy is progressing.”

The journal is available to the public free of charge at [ http://www.csub.edu/kej/ ]http://www.csub.edu/kej/. For more information contact Grammy at (661) 654-2466 or by e-mail at [ mailto:agrammy@csub.edu ]agrammy@csub.edu.

A Christmas Wedding Christmas as it Should Be... Happily-Ever-After!

Congratulation to this years winners
Crystal Rustman and Roger Towns

Christmas as it Should Be... Happily-Ever-After!

The Annual Downtown Christmas Parade will take on a special meaning for one lucky couple, who were selected as the winners of this year's Christmas Parade Wedding. Crystal Rustman and Roger Towns will tie the knot in front of thousands of witnesses aboard the Kern County Bridal Association's Christmas Parade Float live on Thursday night. The Association, comprised of local wedding businesses, sponsors the entire wedding at no cost to the bride and groom (with the exception of their marriage license). After the live wedding atop the parade float, the couple and fifty of their closest friends and family will enjoy a private cake and punch reception. "This is the third year we've done the Christmas Parade Wedding",
said Kern County Bridal Association founder Kyle Brown, "and we're more excited than ever for this year's winners! All of our members, even those who aren't directly involved as sponsors, love this event. It's a way for us to give back the community by helping one couple have a wedding they might not otherwise be able to afford in today's economy. The wedding and reception has a long list of participating businesses, including:
Be Our Guest! 25-Free Wedding Invitations Bella Noche Events Bridal Indulgence Cookies Couture Good Time Entertainment Hair by Carleen at Le Vuitton Full Body Boutique OccasionOgraphy Kern County Bridal Association Ladies & Gents Bridal Mr. Tuxedo Randy Urner's Outside Reverend Albert M. Haywood The Links at Riverlakes Ranch Uniquely Chic Florist Boutique Vintage Limousine With Love Photography
The wedding includes gown, tuxedo, flowers, disc jockey, officiant, coordinator, hair, makeup, transportation, photography, announcements, favors and of, course, the float in the parade. "They are way too cute", says Tara Fernandez, owner of Bella Noche Events and the sponsoring wedding coordinator, "I'm so happy to be a part of their special day!". "We're thrilled to add our facility to the list of sponsors this year", adds Cathy Frampton, Special Events Coordinator for The Links at Riverlakes Ranch, who are sponsoring the cake reception. "Well, it's always a challenge for us to get a couple from a contest entry to marriage in less than two weeks", concluded Kyle Brown, "but it's worth it!" Kern County Bridal Association will be decorating the float for this year's parade entry in the parking lot of Mr. Tuxedo at 2409 Brundage Lane beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 4th. "The Association is an active part of this community.", said Carl Leech, owner of Mr. Tuxedo and sponsor of the tuxedos, "and this gives us a chance to show off what do what we do best ... make some one's wedding a great experience!". Members of the community are invited to stop by the float decorating area to help out or just share their good wishes before the parade. We hope to see everyone there clapping their congratulations during the Christmas Parade beginning at 6pm on Thursday. For more information on the Parade Wedding, contact The Wedding Center at 633-9200. Kern County Bridal Association 531 H Street. Bakersfield, Ca 93304 661-633-9200

December events

Nov. 29 — Relay For Life Holiday Boutique
Help raise money for Relay for Life by shopping at Team Kim’s first annual Holiday Boutique. The boutique will be held at Valley Baptist Church, 4800 Fruitvale Ave., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include a barbecue, refreshments and raffle’s throughout the day. Details, contact Michelle Dean at 829-1380.

Dec. 5-6 — Chez Noel Home Tours
The Assistance League of Bakersfield invites you to tour three beautifully appointed and sumptuously decorated homes in Southwest Bakersfield. After you’ve toured the homes, shop our Holiday Boutique and Bargain Box at the Assistance League, 1924 Q St. Tickets are $30. For more information and home locations, call the Chez Noel hotline at 861-9223.

Dec. 5-28 — The Magical Forest
Enjoy a holiday adventure that includes Santa’s secret shoppe, a forest of sights and sounds, tantalizing food, Santa at the North Pole, the Grinchmobile and train rides, live entertainment and more than 30 crafters! The Magical Forest is open each night from 6 to 9 p.m. Located at the top of the Stockdale Towers parking structure at 5060 California Ave. Tickets: Children 5 and under are free, children 6 to 12 $4; adults $8, and seniors $6. Details, call 834-2272.

Dec.6 — Han’s Tae Kwon Do Toys for Tots Fundraiser
Han’s Tae Kwon Do Academy, 3536 Stine Road, will be hosting a toy drive and national team fundraiser, benefitting Toys for Tots. Mario Cart event will start at 3 and Rockstar 2 event will start at 5 p.m. Cost is $10, and you must bring a new, unwrapped toy for registration. Details, call Francis Esposo at 833-2625.

Dec. 6 — Bakersfield Masterworks Chorale Christmas Concert
Bakersfield Masterworks Chorale will present “Christmas Concert 2008” at 7:30 p.m. at Harvey Auditorium, 1316 G St. The concert will feature beautiful selections from Handel’s “Messiah” as well as other wonderful holiday choral music. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $25 for preferred seating. For tickets, call the Bakersfield Symphony office at 323-7928.

Dec. 10 — Kern Photography Association Anniversary Celebration

Do you have a camera? Do you love to take pictures? Then we’re the place for you. Come join the fun at 1300 Easton Drive at 6 p.m. We’ll save a slice of cake just for you! Details, visit: www.kernphotographyassociation.org.

Dec. 11 — Be a Santa to a Senior Wrap Party
Come and Join us this evening and help wrap presents for Be a Santa to a Senior at 350 Calloway Drive. There will be light refreshments, and hopefully carolers, to keep us full of the Christmas spirit while wrapping. Bring your own scissors and tape. Details, call Patty Mell at 321-3235.

Vitamin myths debunked

The past couple of weeks, national news has highlighted several large studies that reinforce what the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Council on Science and Health have recognized for years: vitamin supplements will not prevent cancer or heart disease.

The reason for this involves three well-designed biological mechanisms that maintain nutrient homeostasis (balance) over a broad range of intakes. These three mechanisms dispel the myth that vitamins are not stored in the body, nor is it necessary to consume a specific maximum amount of any nutrient on any given day. Rather, it is the average intake over a week or two that is important.

The three mechanisms are:

• Storage capacity of all nutrients last from weeks to months, even longer in some cases.
• Changes in absorption rates range between twofold and fourfold when needs increase.
• Retention or changes in excretion rates occur when needs increase.

Let me use vitamin C to illustrate these often-misunderstood functions. Vitamin C has a storage capacity of roughly 1500 mg for the average adult male. Consuming just 60 mg a day can maintain this. To illustrate just how easy this is to maintain, one naval orange contains 80 mg.

During periods of increased need or decreased availability for any vitamin or mineral, absorption rates increase between twofold and fourfold, and excretion rates are simultaneously reduced. Additionally, the vitamin, in this case vitamin C, is conserved in the tissue that needs it the most. In “Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease,” Robert Jacobs, Ph.D., notes that “overall, the body turnover of ascorbic acid amounts to about 3 percent of the existing body pool per day.”

According to “Present Knowledge in Nutrition” by Barbara A. Bowman, “When doses of ascorbate is less than 100 mg, no ascorbate is excreted in the urine. By contrast, at steady-state [chronic intakes for doses greater than or equal to 500 mg] all of the ascorbate dose is excreted in urine.” At 100 mg, about a quarter of the dose is excreted, and at 200 mg, the figure rises to half. With higher doses of vitamin C, virtually all the absorbed dose is excreted.

Most consumers fail to understand that there are an estimated 4,000 different plant chemicals that play a role in health. To assume popping a pill that contains a fraction of these compounds will actually enhance health is naïve, unnecessary for most, and in some cases potentially dangerous.

— David Lightsey works with Glinn & Giordano Physical Therapy, and is the author of “Muscles Speed and Lies - What the Sport Supplement Industry Does Not Want Athletes or Consumers to Know.”

Serenading our Sister City

Hundreds of years ago, European cities with their own symphony orchestras were considered very fortunate. Such a feat signified that a community had reached a certain cultural and artistic level — the equivalent of a feather in one’s cap.

Traditionally, these groups of musicians honed their talents to perfection so the ultimate goal could be achieved: a concert tour.

“By traveling to other villages and towns, an orchestra was able to show what they had accomplished — it would express how much your community must value the arts,” said Maxim Eshkenazy, conductor of the Bakersfield Youth Symphony Orchestra (BYSO) at a recent parent meeting.

Eshkenazy’s explanation of why symphony orchestras go on concert tours further emphasized the importance of a very exciting plan for the 2008-09 BYSO — the group’s 70-plus student musicians will go on tour April 1-9, 2009 in Bucheon, South Korea.

Fundraising is already underway for the once-in-a-lifetime experience of playing orchestral music at several venues in Bucheon, an official Sister City of Bakersfield.

A letter-writing campaign, Cold Stone ice cream event, California Pizza Kitchen pizza night and See’s Candy sale kicked-off the efforts for each student to raise the approximate $1,700 cost per student for the trip. The final payments for the trip are due by Feb. 23.

Currently, BYSO members are selling Gold Canyon Candles for the holidays. Ongoing efforts to obtain additional corporate sponsorships continue as well. All donations are tax deductible.

The original community orchestra for young players began in 1985 as a Bakersfield College class, disbanding after a few years, according to the BYSO Web site.

In 1992, Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra (BSO) string players Barbara Byers and Rebecca Brooks approached BSO Conductor John Farrer with a proposal to reorganize the group under BSO sponsorship.

Today, the BYSO remains an affiliated group of the Bakersfield Symphony. Students wishing to be in the BYSO audition each September — even if they have been admitted in previous years.

Weekly, two-and-a-half hour rehearsals take place at Thompson Junior High School. Each season, three concerts are held at Cal State Bakersfield’s Doré Theatre.
BYSO funding is provided by corporate and private contributions, player tuition fees and ticket sales.

The Bucheon tour will be a first for the BYSO, which only adds to the anticipation, said Regina Pryor, BYSO board president as well as a music teacher at Tevis and Thompson junior high schools in Southwest Bakersfield.

“When we told the kids that this trip would be happening, they were very surprised,” Pryor said. “You could just feel their excitement.”

She credited Frank Tripicchio of the Sister City Corporation as an integral part in making the necessary Korean connections.

Bucheon’s history is rooted — literally — in its fertile soil and peaceful farming villages in the central part of the Korean peninsula between Seoul and Inchon.

Today, Bucheon is considered a thriving cultural center with three major universities, countless beautiful parks — including one called “Bakersfield Park” modeled after several parks in its Sister City — a modern stadium, theaters, museums and the Bucheon Philharmonic, considered to be “Korea’s best symphony orchestra.”

While in Korea, the BYSO will perform a collection of songs by American composers — “Stars & Stripes,” “Porgy and Bess,” and scores from “Westside Story” and John Williams — as well as a popular Korean folk song. One of the audiences will be a Korean high school and in turn, the BYSO will reciprocate as an audience for young Korean musicians.

The Bakersfield musicians will each stay during the entire trip with a Korean host family in their home — one that includes a Korean family member who speaks English and a child who plays music. Not only will this add to the cultural exchange during the trip, but the room and board provided by these Korean families is keeping costs down for the trip itself, according to Pryor.

The younger musicians (seventh through ninth grade) will have the option to stay at a Korean home along with a fellow BYSO member, she said.

Hundreds Korean families have applied — much more than needed — to host an American student, Pryor said.

“They consider it (hosting American student musicians) an honor,” she said.

Each host applicant must include a detailed plan of the sight-seeing they would plan for their guest. There will also be joint activities among the different families and their BYSO guests, according to Pryor.

“These kids will come back changed people,” she said. “They will be ambassadors for their city, their state and their country and will learn a true appreciation of other cultures.”

The BYSO will also be changing for the better, according to Eshkenazy, who told the young musicians’ parents that because of this momentous concert tour, “These kids will be working harder and playing better than they ever have before.”

Bakersfield Youth Symphony Orchestra
If you or your business would like to make a tax-deductible donation toward the group’s trip to Bucheon, call Regina Pryor at 332-9582.

WHAMOBASS Hot Air Balloon Festival

In the dark, lonely parking lot of Denny's on 7th Standard Rd., with batteries charged, lenses cleaned and a desire for that perfect shot, members and guests of Kern Photographer Association met Saturday morning at 3:00 a.m. Would you get up in the cold, crisp, wee hours of the morning for a photograph? Maybe not, but these enthusiastic amateurs have been looking forward to KPA's November
Meet & Shoot. Their destination? The WHAMOBASS, Whiskey Hill Atherton Menlo Oaks Ballooning & Sporting Society's 3 day event (Nov. 21st thru 23rd, 2008) in Coalinga, California. The group was hoping to capture images of the colorful ballons, flames glinting from the propane burners against the night sky. Unfortunately, WHAMOBASS cancelled the "Dawn Patrol", but the group captured amazing images nevertheless.

WHAMOBASS, founded in 1965, is the longest continuously running balloon rally in the world. It has been held every November since its founding, moving from location to location for many years, and then finally settling in Coalinga, California. You can visit their website at http://www.whamobass.org/

Fun Hot-Air Balloon terms:

Aeronaut
A person who operates or travels in a balloon or airship.

Aerostat
A lighter-than-air craft. A hot-air balloon is an aerostat.
A device supported in the air by displacing more than its own weight of air.

Kern Photography Association (KPA) meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month. For time and location, please visit our website at
http://www.kernphotographyassociation.org.

All skill levels are WELCOME!

Hot off the press.............KPA now has a Flickr site as well as our website. So if
you are a flickrholic and you live, work or play in Kern County, come join the group
and add your pics. We'd love to see them!! www.flickr.com/groups/898803@N25/

Win tickets to Cookies at the Clocktower!

Santa Claus is coming to town real soon and The Southwest Voice wants to know what kind of cookies you’ll be cooking up for the jolly man in red! Will you be baking sugar cookies shaped like candy canes, gingerbread men begging to be eaten, or the classic and always tasty chocolate chip?

WIN TICKETS TO COOKIES AT THE CLOCKTOWER!!!!!
Share your favorite holiday cookie recipes with us for a chance to win a family pass (for up to five) to the Kern County Museum’s Cookies at the Clocktower taking place on Saturday, Dec. 14, from noon to and 3 p.m. Enjoy craft activities, magicians, a visit from Santa and, of course, cookies!

For your chance to win, submit your recipes at: www.swvoice.com. Feel free to include a picture of the finished product or the kids doing a taste test! Entries must be received by Monday, Dec. 8, and the winning entry will be randomly selected and featured in an upcoming issue of The Southwest Voice.

Also, be sure to check out the museum’s Holiday Lamplight Tours on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 3 to 8 p.m. Costumed interpreters, carolers, strolling minstrels and hundreds of old-fashioned lamplights set the stage for a holiday tour of Pioneer Village that will take you back in time and show you how the holidays of yesteryear were celebrated. A festive and educational experience for the whole family, admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children and an additional fee for carriage rides and refreshments. For more information on the Holiday at the Clocktower events, call 852-5000.

Holiday gift-giving in stressful economic times

Solution for holiday gift-giving in stressful economic times? Create a gift from the heart that's easy on the wallet!

When thoughts of past holidays come to mind, do yours include lines at the checkouts, rude clerks, or even worse, the bills that arrive shortly after the decorations are stored for another year? Do your trips to the mall leave you more anxious than when you arrived? These are the realities of prepping for our holiday season of gift giving. We put on brave faces, arm ourselves with our wallets and set out in search of perfect gifts for our friends and family members. Even after we’ve checked the last name off our list, and assure ourselves that there is enough wrapping, ribbon and tape to add the finishing touches, we fret "Will they like my gift? Or will they return it?"

Color Me Mine owner Kathy Hunt wants you and your family to re-think your holiday strategy. “Our Paint-It-Yourself Ceramic Studio offers a festive, stress free environment in which you celebrate your family as you create wonderful presents. You aren’t just buying a gift, you’re making a memory!”

In the current economy, value is the aspect that all of us need to consider. What can be more precious to a loved one than a thoughtful, one-of-a-kind gift to cherish always? Hunt continues, “There are no check stand lines or chaos in our studio. It’s a joyfully relaxing time to paint with your family and make a memory that will last a lifetime.” Choose from a large selection of unpainted ceramics. We offer a variety of ceramic shapes ranging from platters, ornaments, mugs, trinket boxes, figurines and much more. Design and paint your pieces any way you like, we have more than 60 colors to choose from. Get your creative juices flowing, or follow some of the beautiful examples decorating the studio. Timid artists? No talent? No Problem! With our helpful staff, image gallery and design center’s help, your gift from the heart will be perfect. We will glaze and fire your items for you. After a few days, your gifts are ready to be picked up.

Color Me Mine customer Myrna Miller has a ceramic vase that her grandchildren painted and gave her when they were small. Myrna describes the vase, “It has their hand-prints on it, and I just can’t believe how much they’ve grown! It’s such a precious memory,” she continues. “When he’d grown up a little, one of my grandsons painted me an adorable piggy bank because he knows that I collect pigs.”

With hundreds of ceramic shapes to choose from, it’s easy to find the perfect piece for every person on your gift list. Color Me Mine reminds us that the fun of designing and painting a one-of-a-kind masterpiece gift, and the memory of being creative together with family and friends can be as special as the act of giving. There is no better value than truly enjoying yourself and your family, while anticipating the smile and years of enjoyment the recipient will surely gain from your gift of creativity and love. You'll also have the peace of mind of knowing Color Me Mine gifts never see department store return lines.

Start a new holiday tradition for your family to enjoy and cherish - the act of creating gifts at Color Me Mine.

Color Me Mine of Bakersfield is conveniently located at the Marketplace in southwest Bakersfield. Walk-ins are always welcome. For more information visit www.bakersfield.colormemine.com.

LOCAL BALLET COMPANY- ACCEPTED INTO REGIONAL DANCE AMERICA, A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BALLET

Imagine Ballet Company, Bakersfield’s professional dance company, is one of only 11 companies in the state of California to be accepted into the Regional Dance America. After 10 months of tireless efforts and company auditions, 23 anxious young ladies, ages 13 to 28, finally heard the news of their acceptance into RDA. “It was a fourteen year goal that was finally realized and we are really excited to represent Bakersfield on a national level,” said Kristen Doolittle, Artistic Director for the company.

Founded in 1993, Imagine Ballet Company has provided 14 years of entertainment and youth arts education to Bakersfield. Dancers featured in the company have studied with many professional companies including Alvin Ailey, American Ballet Theatre School, Boston Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet. These dancers also collaborate with the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra and Civic Dance Center in bringing our favorite Nutcracker performances that light up Bakersfield’s holiday season.

Imagine Ballet Company provides inspiring professional dance performances that support the arts in Kern County and throughout California. Local community service performances include high schools, elementary schools, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, City of Bakersfield Parks and Recreation Dept., and Kiwanis & Rotary Clubs.

As new members of the Regional Dance America, these young ladies now have the opportunity to represent Kern County at the spring RDA festival in Utah. As a non-profit organization, Imagine Ballet Company will be holding performances, outreach events and fundraisers throughout the winter and spring. Companies, schools, and community organizations are encouraged to contact Imagine Ballet Company for scheduling information.

Their website is imagineballetcompany.com and their email address is imagineballetcompany@yahoo.com.

CSUB honors graduates at upcoming winter commencement

California State University, Bakersfield will celebrate its fifth winter commencement in two separate ceremonies on Monday, Dec. 1, in the Icardo Center on campus. Nearly 900 students are eligible to participate.

Procession for the Humanities and Social Sciences school will start at 9:50 a.m. Doors for the ceremony for the remaining three schools will open about 1:15 p.m. and the processional will start at 2 p.m.

Degree recipients from the School of Business and Public Administration (114 bachelor’s, 35 master’s), School of Education (42 bachelor’s, 56 master’s, which may include a number of the 241 teacher credential awardees), School of Humanities and Social Sciences (307 bachelor’s, 15 master’s) and School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (61 bachelor’s, 14 master’s) will be honored during the two ceremonies.

Speaker for this fifth winter commencement is CSUB President Horace Mitchell.

Mitchell became the fourth president of CSUB in July 2004 after 36 years of experience in higher education. Under Mitchell’s leadership, the university has continued a period of rapid development, with a vision to extend the excellence and diversity of the faculty and academic programs, enhance the quality of the student experience and strengthen community engagement.

Mitchell came to his current position from the University of California, Berkeley, where he served as vice chancellor, business and administrative services and affiliated professor of African American studies.

Mitchell holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master of arts in education, and doctorate in counseling psychology, all from Washington University in St. Louis. He began his professional career at his alma mater in 1968, serving as assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, assistant professor of education and black studies and chair of the black studies program.

Mitchell then spent 17 years at University of California, Irvine, serving in several faculty and management positions. He was associate dean for student and curricular affairs in the UCI College of Medicine from 1980-1984. During his last 11 years at UCI, he was vice chancellor-student affairs and campus life, and associate clinical professor of psychiatry and human behavior.

Mitchell, also a psychology professor at CSUB, has teaching and research interests in the areas of identity construction, multicultural psychology, and psychological assessment. He continues to teach each year and he maintains his California license for private practice as a psychologist.

He is a member of the board of directors of the American Council on Education and a commissioner of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. He has been recognized widely for his many years of community service by civic, non-profit, governmental, educational and professional organizations. Currently he serves on the board of directors of the Kern Economic Development Corporation and the governing board of the United Way of Kern County.

Those planning to attend winter commencement should enter the university on Roadrunner Drive off Camino Media on the south side of campus. Parking for guests is in Lot I, south of the Icardo Center and Lot E, south of the Student Health Center. Roadrunner Drive will be closed to through traffic for short periods of time at the Icardo Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Parking for disabled visitors is available at the northern edge of Lot I, marked by signs. A disabled drop-off point is also at Lot I’s northern edge.

For more information, log onto [ http://www.csub.edu/commencement/ ]www.csub.edu/commencement/.

Making a difference in this world

My son, Zachery Castillo, is a 15 year old Sophmore at Stockdale High School. Zachery is such an awesome guy and volunteers in so many ways that I just thought it would be nice to recognize him!

He volunteers in the Children's Department at Bakersfield First Church and every other Sunday morning he is a part of a program where adults and teens act out skits for children. Also, he is the sound guy for the annual Children's Christmas Musical and volunteers on Sunday mornings, Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings at church doing the sound for a total of 4 hours a week. He is so faithful and has not missed a musical practice since it started in September. Even though there are days when he would rather be home relaxing, he will say "Well, it's gotta get done, so I will do it". He also volunteers at Vacation Bible School, as a counselor at summer camp and really anywhere that there is a need. In addition to volunteering at church, Zachery also volunteers for three hours per week at San Joaquin Hospital.

He is truly making a mark in this world by giving back to his community and I am so proud to call him my son!

Meet your new Teen, Miss and Mrs Bakersfield!

The 16^th Annual Bakersfield Pageant took place last Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Bride Bible Church. Over 530 people attended to see who the new Teen, Miss & Mrs. Bakersfield title holders would be from a field of 35 outstanding contestants. The theme was “Salute to Our Veterans” (which was appropriate since it was Veterans Day weekend).

The teen contestant crowned that evening, Erica George, got a surprise visit from her brother Zack Julien, serving in the Army. Stationed in Texas and going to Iraq in January, a loving brother with last minute weekend leave flew into Bakersfield to support his sister. What a touching moment it was!

The winners are:

• Teen Miss Bakersfield: Erica George, a 16 year old Junior from Bakersfield Christian H.S.

• Miss Bakersfield: Angelica August, a 20 year old student at Bakersfield College.

• Mrs. Bakersfield: Rhenana Grimes, the mother of three little girls and works as a sign language interpreter at a local elementary school.

• Teen Court: first runner-up: April Mitchell; second runner-up: Jessica Martinez.

• Miss Court: first runner-up: Heather O’Conner; second runner-up: Kirby Krausgrill.

The Four Points Sheraton hosted the judges’ accommodations, the Elephant Bar hosted the Judges’ Dinner and the California Pizza Kitchen hosted all of contestants at a dress rehearsal dinner.

Prizes included a cash scholarship from Wells Acoustics & Alta One Credit Union, tiaras from Daniel’s Jewelers, trophies, flowers, a photo package, fitness memberships, personal training, restaurant certificates, jewelry, facials etc. Winners will advance on to the California International state pageant which will be held in Los Angeles next August.

November Events

From softball tryouts and video game tournaments, to coffee- or wine-themed festivities, Southwest Voice readers can mark their calendars with these events:

Nov. 15-16 — All I Want For Christmas
That’s right, Christmas is creeping around the corner and you know what that means: shopping! The All I Want For Christmas event, brought to you by Baby Fest, will be held at the Golden State Mall, 3201 F St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit: www.baby-fest.com for details.

Nov. 15 — Bobby Sox registration
Bakersfield Bobby Sox, a girls softball league, will be accepting registrations for ages 4-18. Sign ups will be on Nov. 15 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Cataldo’s Pizzeria, 3611 Stockdale Highway. Players new to Bobby Sox need to bring a copy of their birth certificate. For girls born 2002-2004 cost is $80, and for girls born 1990-2001 cost is $100. Details, visit: www.bakersfieldbobbysox.com or call Kathy at 832-1271.

Nov. 15 — ‘United We Brawl’
DeVry University Bakersfield, 3000 Ming Ave., will host “United We Brawl,” a fundraising opportunity for United Way of Kern County and a video game tournament for high school students, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Contestants must be at least 16 years of age and enrolled at a Kern County High School. Registration deadline is Nov. 13. Participants are encouraged to make a minimum donation of $25. All donations will benefit United Way of Kern County. To register, call Laurie Arichea at 833-7120.

Nov. 22 — Olive Knolls Church Craft Fair
Visit Olive Knolls Church, 6201 Fruitvale Ave., from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for its annual craft fair, pancake breakfast, and soup and salad lunch. There will be more than 50 vendors and thousands of unique, handcrafted items. Admission is free, meals are $5 per person. Details, call Jaime Johnson at 399-3303.

Nov. 22 — Coffee roasting 101
Let the captivating aroma amuse your senses and allure you and a friend as you learn about coffee roasting all the way from bean selection to roasting. Event begins at 10 a.m. and cost is $40. Proceeds benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates. Details, call Nicole Stanford at 321-4876.

Nov. 22 — Wine Fest
Presented by Junior League of Bakersfield, “Starry Night” is the artistic-inspired theme of the this year’s Wine Fest. Enjoy food from Bakersfield’s finest restaurants, wines from California’s most notable wineries, as well as live and silent auctions. Event begins at 7 p.m. and cost is $60. Details, call the Junior League at 322-1671.

Pages of our past

In his book “Obscene in the Extreme,” Rick Wartzman takes a brave look into the world of 1930s politics through a single event in Kern County history. While some may see the banning and burning of John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” as a single moment in our past, Wartzman takes us behind the scenes into a world where fear and hatred abound. It was more than a novel to those who lived here. It was edging into their lives, and residents thought democracy was at stake, social order was on the brink of chaos, and power would shift into oblivion.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting with Rick before he spoke at the Southwest Branch Library. A very pleasant man, Rick eagerly answered my questions.

NM: What prompted the book “Obscene in the Extreme”?
RW: I saw a photograph of Bill Camp presiding over book burning of grapes of wrath while writing my first book, “The King of California.” It’s the kind of image that stays with you. At a book reading here at Russo’s, a friend and I were talking and the photo came up. She asked if I saw it and I said yes. She asked if I knew about the librarian, Gretchen Kneif, who fought the censorship. I didn’t so I started poking around with it. The moment it became a book for me was in the drama itself, even though it happens in a week. A first I didn’t think there was enough drama for a book. But it became a great window into the class politics of 1930s America.

NM: How long did it take to write?
RW: It took four years.

NM: Did you come to Kern County to research?
RW: I did a lot of research at Beale Library, the Local History room in particular. I also did a fair bit of interviewing here too. I was able to talk to Clell Pruett, who was the only surviving character when I wrote the book. I talked to Bill Camp’s sons. I also talked to then-young librarians who worked with Gretchen Kneif and others who made the trek from Oklahoma and Missouri.

NM: Has there been any controversy about your book?
RW: No. I’ve actually had very nice responses. When writing the book, I tried to be more than fair minded. I tried to understand the perspective of those who censored the novel, to understand what would compel someone to be so scared of a book. I tried to step into their boots and examine their fear. That is what became really interesting to me. The 1930s in America, particularly in California, was a strange and nervous time. What they were afraid of wasn’t just the novel, but what it represented. It threatened their way of life; it threatened the social fabric of America as they wanted it to be.

NM: Do you see similarities between 1939 and today?
RW: Yes, there are three parallels that I see. One is that censorship remains a real issue in this country. Some 2,000 books are challenged each year in this country. The second thing that struck me was the fields around here haven’t changed much. The only thing that has changed is the faces of those working. A lot of the fear, really, the xenophobia or fear of the outsiders those south of the boarder feel, is not too dissimilar than what the migrants who came in the 1930s felt. Lastly, we’re at a time where the economic parallels are striking. We’re going through the worst financial crisis that we’ve had since the ’30s. In my mind, he (Steinbeck) raised the question of capitalism and it isn’t much different than it was in the ’30s. How can we have so much want in a country with so much plenty?

NM: Did you look at the censorship of “The Grapes of Wrath” in other parts of the country?
RW: I looked at it and mentioned it in the book, but it wasn’t that interesting to me. Some readers wanted more of the censorship side of it and I was more interested in the politics side of it. In Kansas City, Buffalo, and East St. Louis it was banned on obscenity grounds. It was banned here by the board of supervisors on profanity, lewdness, among other things. It was the other things that interested me. I felt it was way more interesting here because it was more than obscenity. They (the board of supervisors) went on to say, “We don’t like how you depict our community.” It’s the class struggle of the ’30s that I think really is the root of the fear about the novel, at least here and in California. That’s what intrigued me. And that’s what I think is the story.

To the point

Fencing — to many this word means separating your property from that of another with a barrier or wall. It actually is the name of an Olympic sport with origins deep in the past. It is a sport that is fast and athletic — a far cry from the choreographed bouts seen on film or on stage. Instead of swinging from a chandelier or leaping from balconies, you will see two fencers performing an intense dance on a 6-by-44-foot strip. Movement is so fast that touches are scored electrically — much more like “Star Wars” than Errol Flynn in action.

Fencing for gold
Fencing is one of only four sports to be included in every modern Olympic Games since the first Olympics in 1896. Fencing was also a sport in the original Olympic Games in Ancient Greece. The tip of the fencing weapon is the second fastest moving object in sport; the first is the marksman’s bullet.

In April 2003, Keeth Smart was the first American fencer to achieve a No. 1 world ranking, winning the World Cup in Athens, Greece in men’s saber (also referred to as sabre) fencing. In 2004, Sada Jacobson was the first American woman to place No. 1 saber fencer in the world. Since that time, U.S. fencers have had great performances on the world stage, culminating this summer in Beijing, where the U.S. women’s team swept the competition by taking first, second and third place in saber. The men’s saber team took second place defeating the much stronger and higher rated European teams.

About the bout
Foil, épée, and saber are the three weapons used in the sport of fencing. While some fencers compete in all three events, elite competitors generally focus their energies on mastering one weapon. Competitors win a fencing bout, an individual “game,” by being the first to score 15 points (in direct elimination play) or five points (in preliminary pool play) against an opponent, or by having a higher score than an opponent when the time limit expires. Each time a fencer lands a valid hit (a touch) on an opponent, a point is scored. The time limit for direct elimination matches is nine minutes, three three-minute periods with a one-minute break between each.

Local sword play
There is a venue here in Bakersfield where those with ideas of swashbuckling and sword play can make them a reality. You can acquire swordsmanship skills that will allow you to compete in this high-tech sport. The local club has members from ages 10 to over 65 years old. It is a sport that has no age limits. Fencing athletes from Stockdale, East, and Garces high schools and Cal State Bakersfield, together with members of the general community, meet every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Fruitvale Norris Building, 6221 Norris Road. There, as the Guerra Fencing Club, the group participates in lessons and competition for two hours each week.

Ethan Childress, former CSUB Fencing Club instructor and East High School teacher, and myself, a chemical engineer and nationally ranked local fencer, formed the club with the assistance of many participants from the CSUB Fencing Club and the Stockdale High School Fencing Club. Their efforts engaged fencing master Jose Guerra, who has had international competition and coaching experience. Guerra travels weekly from Antelope Valley to coach the class and give private lessons.

Several club members participate in USFA sanctioned tournaments, including the yearly Summer National Championships. I obtained seventh place in saber during the 2008 National Competition and rank ninth in the nation in saber in the veterans over 60 group.

Fencing is an NCAA sport. Several former club members have continued fencing in college. Guy Rodgers, a former club member and visitor when in town, is on the UCLA fencing team. Kim Silken, formerly from Stockdale High School, is on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo fencing team.

Fencing is a great sport for families. Our club has a father and son who participate. This allows parents and children to develop a deeper understanding of each other and spend quality time together. As many martial arts do, fencing develops discipline, coordination, and stamina. Many call it “physical chess.”

Group lessons and private lessons are available. Fees are $65 per month and equipment is available for rental. If you are interested in participating or learning more about this Olympic sport, call Jose at 992-7327, or me at 319-2235.