Bakersfield Life Magazine April 2021

Neighborhood Guide

Bakersfield area rounded up for your next move

Green thumbs take over

Plant boom interests many

Less is more

Ways to introduce minimalism in your life

April 2021

White Oaks Florist owner Jami Graham

the

$3.95

Home & garden issue

Made for more old friends

You were made for more. More laughs. More stories. More bonding.

And that’s why we offer a range of healthcare services to meet your needs. With three hospitals and more than 20 medical offices throughout the county, we’re here to care for you whether you’re in search of a family practitioner or expert cancer care. We offer more access to top-rated healthcare services and providers with both in-person and virtual care options. Find us online to see how much more we offer everyone in Kern County.

You were made for more, so learn more.

AdventistHealthKernCounty.org

Giving you more

choices, healthier hearts,

happier

and

families

better lives.

When your heart is healthy, everything else just seems to fall into place. To help make that happen Bakersfield Heart Hospital is dedicated to bringing you more choices for better healthcare. Learn more about all these healthcare options at BakersfieldHeartHospital.com

Women's Heart Center Cath Lab

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Center for Wound Healing

Cardiac Rehab Center Joint Replacement Center

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Spine Program

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3001 Sillect Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93308 852-6200 | BakersfieldHeartHospital.com

EDITOR’S

NOTE

For the love of plants, decor

»

SPECIALTY PUBLICATIONS EDITOR

Ema Sasic PUBLISHER Cliff Chandler EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christine Peterson SPECIALTY PUBLICATIONS DESIGNER

Julie Mana-ay Perez PHOTOGRAPHY Alex Horvath Ema Sasic Brenda Twist Julie Mana-ay Perez CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bakersfield Association of REALTORS Brooke Bratcher Carissa Diaz Anna Marie Frank Jessica Jones Lisa Kimble Michelle McMurry-Heath Lyle W. Norton Julie Plata

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR HOME AND GARDEN ISSUE FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS NOW BECAUSE I LOVE EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH IT! Like a lot of other people this past year, I have gotten really into plants. Green has never been one of my favorite colors, but now my living room is covered in all its different shades.

It’s amazing what just a few plants can do to a space and for you mentally and emotionally. I feel as though my plants have totally lightened up my living room. Having a bit of nature indoors seems to bring the sunshine with it, which helps on those gray, boring days that we’ve experienced during this pandemic.

My plants have also become a new hobby for me, and they have lifted my spirits when I needed it the most. Taking care of houseplants is really fun, especially when you see new leaves join the party. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure if I was doing a great job with them. Some leaves turned yellow — a sign of overwatering — others seemed to be thriving, and it was hard to find the sweet spot. But after a bit of research and learning about what conditions certain plants like most, that helped me feel more confident in my skills.

The world slowed down quite a bit for us in the last year, and some days it’s hard to find the motivation to work, go out or do the things you like to do. Finding this new plant hobby has helped me a lot. I forgot how fun it is to dive into something new and discover your passion for it. My mom always had plants in our home, so it’s no wonder why I have been enjoying them!

Another big aspect of home and garden is home decorating. As people were spending more time at home, they realized they needed some upgrades. I’m guilty of it too at times — though I can’t change my apartment’s paint color, renovate the kitchen and build some better storage options, I still found little things to change up.

My Google searches were dedicated to finding myself a new couch, cute decorations and other little furnishings here and there. I didn’t go too crazy with any of it, but I have a nice wishlist of items ready for when I want to splurge.

All of this is to say that home and garden is fun! It signals the start of spring for me, and hopefully it inspires people to make some well-needed changes in their homes.

Our April issue is full of stories dedicated to different interior design styles, how to decorate your home full of plants and sprucing up your backyard.

As the weather gets warmer, have some fun brightening up your home! Some new throw pillows, furniture and greenery never hurt anyone!

Ema Sasic Editor 661-395-7392 esasic@bakersfield.com Follow her on Twitter: @ema_sasic

Get social with us! Follow us on social media to get the inside scoop. www.bakersfield.com/bakersfield-life/

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April 2021

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April 2021

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COMING UP IN MAY...

THE BEST OF ISSUE

CONTENTS

APRIL 2021

Vol. 15 / Issue No. 8

25 UP FRONT

Editor's Note Meet our Contributors The Big Picture Pet of the Month What We're Streaming

LIFESTYLES Real Estate Peace of Mind Health Feature Love & Life Home & Garden Home & Garden Home & Garden Home & Garden The Marketplace

EAT & DRINK Salty & Sweet Sip & Swirl What's Cooking What We're Loving

GO & DO

Arts & Culture Entertainment Trip Planner Out & About

4 10 11 12 13

15 17 18 19 20 22 24 25 26

27 30 32 33

49 52 54 56

GREAT KERN COUNTY Study Hall Culture Personality Study Hall Bakersfield Matters History How Bakersfield are you?

15 27

17 O N T H E C OV E R White Oaks Florist owner Jami Graham.

— Photo Courtesy of Jami Graham

58 60 62 63 65 66 67 www.BakersfieldLife.com

7

FEATURES

THIS MONTH

44 34 Neighborhood Guide

Looking to make Bakersfield your home?

This is a guide perfect for both newbies and natives — we take a tour of what's in the area — from notable schools and businesses to activities, neighborhoods and home listings.

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April 2021

MEET OUR

CONTRIBUTORS

GUEST

CONTRIBUTORS

Anna Marie Frank Anna is a brain health expert, a worksite wellness specialist, published author, lecturer, business owner, and, as if that doesn't keep her busy enough, she's also the mother of two thriving children.

Follow Anna and find information on how you can become your best self @HappyWholeYou on Instagram and Facebook.

Brooke Bratcher Brooke Bratcher is the founder and creative director of Bratcher Home & Design.

Follow her on Instagram @Bratcher_Home_Design.

Lisa Kimble Lisa is an Emmy Award-winning former broadcast journalist who began her career in radio. She's done it all — news anchoring, producing, radio and is one of Bakersfield Life's regular contributors.

Lisa has served on countless community boards in Bakersfield such as the Junior League of Bakersfield and has been a Kern County Grand Juror, to name a few.

Lyle W. Norton Lyle is a wine enthusiast and blogger who has written a wine column for 20 years.

He incorporates wine into his passion to travel and tries to bring his readers along on the journey.

Visit his blog at lifebylyle.com.

Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath Michelle McMurry-Heath, a physician scientist, is president and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. She previously served as a senior official in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Regulatory Health, the top science and health legislative aide for Sen. Joe Lieberman and on President Obama’s science transition team.

Carissa Diaz Julie Plata Julie is a historian and lecturer at Cal State Bakersfield and Cerro Coso Community College.

She has been a contributor to Bakersfield Life Magazine since 2015 and loves to bring the stories of Bakersfield’s past to life. When she isn’t digging through the archives, she loves spending time with her family and menagerie of pets.

Jessica Jones Jessica is a lifelong resident of Bakersfield, a wife and a homeschooling mom to two teens.

She is passionate about her faith, loved ones and our community. Her hobbies include yoga, hiking, fitness, gardening, thrifting and flipping furniture.

She loves to write daily in her journal, for her blog, a novel each November for Nanowrimo and now for Bakersfield Life.

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April 2021

Carissa is an entertainment journalist born and raised in Bakersfield. She covers a range of content from musicians to cultural influences and community stories.

INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING A STORY TO THE MAGAZINE? We feature all things lifestyle — including business, food, health, beauty, individuals who make our community greater, events and more!

Email our editor Ema Sasic esasic@bakersfield.com

THE BIG PICTURE

A sun setting on top of Banducci Road in Tehachapi, looking east.

A sunset captured along a little creek that runs through The Park at River Walk on Stockdale Highway.

Parnter with us We’re not experts at everything, but we care about what matters most to your business.

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CUSTOM PUBLISHING

Combine your brand and message with our expertise to create a publication that tells your unique story.

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For more information, contact Michelle Lanham • mlanham@bakersfield.com • 661-395-7235 PHOTOS BY BRENDA TWIST

www.BakersfieldLife.com

11

Partner Content

Pet of the Month

MEET CHOCO This guy is a hunk. He came into the shelter on Jan. 8 as a stray. Choco smiles at everyone that walks by his kennel and waits patiently for anyone to stop and greet him. He loves to run and play in the yard. He is very toy motivated and loves to chase the ball. He is content to lay in the sun and chew on a favorite toy. He is also friendly with people and other dogs.

Breed: Pitbull terrier ID # A119698 Color: Chocolate Sex: Neutered male Weight: 65 pounds Age: 5 years old Lifestyle: Active Temperament: Social Obedience: No training Behavior: Friendly to men, women and other dogs.

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April 2021

Bakersfield Life Magazine is partnering with the Bakersfield Animal Care Center.

For more information on Kern County's furry friends, visit bakersfieldcity.us.

BAKERSFIELD ANIMAL CARE CENTER 201 S. Mt. Vernon Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93307 661-832-PETS (661-832-7387) Hours of Operation: By appointment only Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BAKERSFIELD ANIMAL CARE CENTER

What We're Streaming

What We’re Streaming in April “Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel” (Netflix): Netflix has been releasing many docu-series in recent months and I’m here for it. This four-hour docu-series tells the story of the disappearance of Elisa Lam at the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles.

In 2013, Lam, from Vancouver, Canada, traveled to California and ended up at the Cecil Hotel. On the day she was supposed to depart Los Angeles, she never checked out of the Cecil Hotel. Her disappearance sparked an obsession for people online trying to find the missing puzzle pieces to the case.

Detectives, bloggers, YouTubers, LA residents and Cecil Hotel’s employees and former guests are all part of the docu-series. What sparked a lot of interest is the hotel’s history and its former guests, such as Elizabeth Short (The Black Dahlia), Richard Ramirez (The Night Stalker) and Jack Unterweger, along with numerous reported deaths. “The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel” will make you wonder about this mysterious hotel for days on end.

“Moxie” (Netflix): There’s nothing I love more than crushing the patriarchy and seeing strong female leads do it. Over time, I’ve developed a few film favorites of women revolutionizing their environments to create change. The movie “Moxie” is now one of them, and it’s directed by Amy Poehler. The plot revolves around Vivian, a bashful high schooler who flies under the radar while the men run the school and the women are discredited for every move and sound they make. After witnessing harassment of a new female student, Vivian anonymously starts a resistance group called Moxie to dismantle the gender dynamics, which turns heads at her high school. “Moxie” is a touching film that encourages and reminds women to stand up for what’s right and that there will always be others who stand behind you.

— Julie Mana-ay Perez, specialty publications designer

”Behind Her Eyes” (Netflix): One night, Louise meets a man, David, at a bar and they hit it off. He’s the first man in a long time that she connected with, but, of course, he’s married. What makes the whole thing even worse is that he ends up being her new boss. Talk about an awkward first day at work. Though the two know it’s wrong to keep seeing each other, they start an affair, and things get even more complicated when Louise and Adele, David’s wife, meet and start a friendship.

“Behind Her Eyes” mixes a number of genres — psychological thriller, supernatural, romance — that keep you guessing what’s going to happen next and ultimately shock you in the end. It’s OK if you binge this six-episode series in one sitting — you’re not the only one.

— Ema Sasic, specialty publications editor www.BakersfieldLife.com

13

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Partner Content

LIFESTYLES

A step-by-step guide to buying your first home By the Bakersfield Association of REALTORS

» WHY RENT WHEN YOU CAN BUY! Now is a great time to purchase a home. Take advantage of the lower interest rates and all the special opportunities for first-time buyers. If you’re not familiar with what it takes to purchase a home, here is a simple checklist to help you make that decision.

1. KNOW YOUR FINANCES: Are there any bills you could eliminate or payoff that would give you extra money to put aside and save for a down payment? Down payments can run 0 percent for certain types of mortgages or 5 percent to 20 percent depending on the loan. The more

money you put down for a down payment, the less added fees to the mortgage, which equates to a lower monthly mortgage payment.

2. CHECK YOUR CREDIT SCORE: Know what your number is. Lenders use this information to decide if they will approve your loan and what interest rate they will offer you. Late payment or other harmful items can lower your odds of getting a loan. So, check that score! And by the way, start a wish list of what you want and need in a home.

OK, get out your list. Finances – check. Credit score – check. Now we move on to the pre-approval process. » See more on homebuying on PAGE 16.

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www.BakersfieldLife.com

15

Partner Content

Lifestyles 3. PRE-APPROVAL: Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork. Getting pre-approved is a process where the lender scrutinizes your finances, your credit history, and so much more. They look at your income, assets, debt-to-income ratio, and all of this helps them determine if they will loan you the money to purchase the home. They also determine what your monthly payment will be and what you can afford.

Pre-approval — check, check, check.

4. NOW, FIND A REALTOR: REALTORS are members of the National and California Association of REALTORS and pledge to follow its strict code of ethics. They are obligated to you, the client. They are the expert guides that will help you get through the stack of forms, reports, disclosures and other documents. They offer objective information about each property. They have expanded search power and knowledge about the area that you won’t find elsewhere. They can find opportunities not listed on home search sites and avoid any out-of-date information, not to mention they can negotiate for you. They have experience and will be your rock through the challenging and emotional times.

Get out your wish list and share it with your REALTOR. Now let’s go house hunting.

Remember, you probably won’t find a home with everything on your wish list, so know your needs vs. your wants.

You found the perfect home; now you can have your REALTOR make an offer. Once your offer is accepted, they will open escrow, order a home inspection, and appraise the home you want to purchase. Don’t fret; REALTORS are with you every step of the way. Everything is verified and complete; you checked all of the boxes. You are now officially a homeowner.

What’s next — moving day!

Congratulations!

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April 2021

THE MORE YOU KNOW Short sale versus foreclosure

Shopping for real estate may require prospective buyers to learn a whole new language.

Buyers may come across certain terms they don't understand. Among the more common terms that first-time buyers may not fully understand are "short sale" and "foreclosure."

According to Realtor.com, short sales and foreclosure auctions are situations that occur when homeowners fall behind on payments and can no longer afford to live in a home. A short sale happens when a homeowner owes more on the mortgage balance than the market value of the property when the owner needs to sell.

The homeowner can ask the mortgage lender to accept a lesser amount than the total mortgage owed - making the homeowner/seller "short" on paying the lender back.

A foreclosure is a legal process that occurs when a borrower cannot make mortgage loan payments for a significant period of time. If the debt is not recouped, lenders will step in and take ownership of the property, putting it up for sale in a foreclosure auction.

While these situations can be troublesome for the homeowner facing financial peril, distressed properties can be advantageous for buyers who oftentimes can buy homes at steep discounts. However, short sales and foreclosures are not without challenges.

The real estate experts at Zillow say that foreclosures and short sales involve more layers than traditional transactions. Zillow offers that bank lenders historically can be slow at giving approval for mortgages to purchase short sale properties or even agreeing on an amount for the sale. As a result, buyers may miss out on other opportunities while waiting for short sales to move along.

Foreclosures carry their own hurdles. Buyers may not get a chance to even see a foreclosure property, nor be eligible to have it inspected, as foreclosed homes are typically sold "as-is" and at auction. The real estate agency Re/Max says buying a foreclosure typically is faster than buying a short sale, and an investor can buy a foreclosed home for below market value. But foreclosures cannot be contingent on the sale of another home, so a buyer must have funds in place and be ready to move quickly.

Short sales are often initiated by homeowners looking to avoid foreclosure. As a result, short sale properties may be in decent condition. This may not be the case with a foreclosure. The American Society of Home Inspectors says foreclosed homes may have been neglected by having utilities turned off and no maintenance done on the home. Other homes may have been purposefully vandalized by the former owner or by squatters.

— Metro Creative Connection

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Peace of Mind

Earthing

Don’t be electron deficient

By Anna Marie Frank

» HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE TERM “EARTHING”?

OR “GROUNDING”? Earthing is a natural way to heal your body by connecting your skin to the Earth.

But why? Our Earth is alive and shares electrons that our bodies need. With increased inflammation in our bodies, scientists have found links that direct skin contact with the Earth can help decrease body inflammation. Yes, go hug a tree!

You may be asking yourself, don’t we already touch the Earth? We walk on it every day. Truth: We do not touch the Earth like we used to. If you think about it, when is the last time you walked barefoot on the grass or sand? The last time you put your feet in the ocean? When was the last time you laid your body on the ground? We are always wearing synthetic soles on our feet. We sleep high off the ground on our beds. We walk on carpet or tile floors daily. We do not connect to the Earth as our ancestors did. Our ancestors used to sleep on the ground, dig in the dirt (this is why gardening is so good!) and wear leather shoes or no shoes.

What can we do to improve our connection with the Earth?

• Walk barefoot around in your front or backyard every morning for 10 minutes. I do this every morning.

Yes, even in the cold.

• Put your feet in the ocean! Ocean water is the best conductor for earthing.

• Stretch on the grass. Sit down and let your legs connect.

• Sleep on an earthing mat. You can order these online or get at some local health food stores.

• No grass? Walking on concrete barefoot can also provide some electron connection, or hugging a tree.

• Get your hands dirty and start in the garden. Plant some flowers, fruits and veggies.

For more information on earthing, I suggest you check out the book “Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?” This book is by Clinton Ober, Martin Zucker and Stephen Sinatra. In this book, they document how earthing constantly produces benefits, such as rapid reduction in inflammation; reduction in chronic pain, even elimination of some chronic pain; reduced stress; increased energy; improved sleep; and faster recovery time for injuries.

Let me know how earthing helps you.

Get your Earth on!

The opinions expressed in this column are those of Anna Marie Frank.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA MARIE FRANK

www.BakersfieldLife.com

17

Lifestyles

Answers to your COVID-19 vaccine questions

By Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath

» MANY AMERICANS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINES – AND RIGHTFULLY SO. There’s lots of information out there, and researchers are learning new details about the virus daily.

But the science is very clear: Getting communities vaccinated is a crucial step to returning to “normal” life.

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccines:

SHOULD I GET THE VACCINE WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS? People with certain pre-existing conditions, including cancer, diabetes, obesity and heart disease, are more likely to experience severe complications from contracting COVID-19. For this reason, they’re strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.

In clinical trials, the COVID-19 vaccines showed similar safety and effectiveness in folks with some underlying medical conditions as in patients without pre-existing conditions.

Talk to your doctor in more detail about your specific concerns before getting vaccinated.

ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS TO THE VACCINE? Yes, it’s possible to have side effects to the COVID-19 vaccine. Side effects vary depending on the individual and the vaccine. Many people may have mild side effects, including pain or redness at the site of the injection, fatigue, headache, muscle ache, fever and chills. Most let up within a day.

Although rare, some people have reported allergic reactions to the vaccines. An extraordinarily tiny fraction of vaccine recipients have experienced anaphylaxis — a severe allergic reaction that can impair people’s breathing. However, you’re about six times more likely to be struck by lightning than you are to experience anaphylaxis from a COVID-19

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April 2021

vaccine.

Speak with your doctor or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more details.

WHERE DO I GET VACCINATED? The federal government is delivering vaccine shipments in bulk to states, which are then responsible for distributing the doses to different vaccination sites, such as pharmacies and clinics. Therefore, the vaccine is available in different places in different states. Depending on your state, you may be able to get the vaccine at a health care site (like a doctor’s office, pharmacy, hospital) or a temporary clinic (like a school gymnasium, community center, church or library).

Visit your state health department website or www.covidvaccinefacts.org/states to learn where and when you can receive a vaccine.

WILL I STILL NEED TO WEAR A MASK AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING AFTER I GET VACCINATED? Yes. Research shows vaccines protect individuals from contracting and experiencing severe reactions to COVID-19.

However, it’s possible to spread the virus to people post-vaccination. Until we know for sure there is minimal risk of infecting others post-vaccination, you should continue to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

More questions? Visit www.covidvaccinefacts.org to find a comprehensive list of answers related to vaccine technologies, clinical trials, the FDA-approval process, and more.

Michelle McMurry-Heath, a physician scientist, is president and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. She previously served as a senior official in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Regulatory Health, the top science and health legislative aide for Sen. Joe Lieberman and on President Obama’s science transition team.

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Lifestyles

Happy home

By Jessica Jones

» IF YOUR FAMILY IS ANYTHING LIKE OURS, YOUR

ONCE QUIET AND EMPTY HOME IS NOW FULL OF LIFE. With one or more parents at home working, kids still

schooling at home, not to mention the family pets, keeping the house tidy, clean and organized feels like an endless, overwhelming and even impossible task.

But before we get discouraged and throw in the towel, I’d like to share some time-saving tips and tricks from the books and blogs I’ve read on the topic, all of which I have tried and have found super helpful over the years.

Housework should not land on just one person but should be shared by all who live in the home. Even children as young as 3 or 4 can learn to feed family pets, fold clothes and tidy their toys. Kids of all ages gain confidence and learn responsibility when sharing family tasks. Our teens earn their screen time only after schoolwork and daily chores are completed, keeping them motivated to work hard without dawdling.

Creating a list of chores and breaking them up according to age and skill level will require some effort and patience from the organizer. But with persistence and practice, the family will get into the groove. And before you know it, the chore delegator will be out of a job.

Having too much stuff can steal our time, creativity and inner peace. So it is beneficial to write out personal and professional goals, travel plans and hobbies. It will surprise you how much time you’ll earn back once you thoroughly purge and get on a regular cleaning schedule.

Some experts recommend organizing by the item instead of the room. I did try this and found it a lot less overwhelming. I’ve also found that listening to my favorite music while sipping my favorite beverage makes organizing and cleaning more fun and feel like less of a chore.

After you have organized and tidied your entire house, you can apply some new rules. One of mine is, if I acquire three new items, then three old goods must go, including bought items, hand-me-downs and gifts. Thus successfully keeping clutter away and allowing us to find ways to bless others.

Wiping out the inside of your fridge and freezer before new groceries get put away takes less than 10 minutes but saves hours in the long run. On that note, an hour of meal

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA JONES

prep during the weekend can shave off hours during those busy weeknights.

Doing a load of laundry a day can keep the laundry pile-up blues away. Going through your closet seasonally can save you money. Shop what you already have before you buy and accumulate more.

Because our homes are not just the place we eat, sleep, work and learn, but also where we dream, create, hope, celebrate, love and grow, keeping them tidy, clean and organized is a worthy effort. For more housekeeping tips, you can check out my blog, breakfast@jessica’s.wordpress.com.

The opinions expressed in this column are those of Jessica Jones.

www.BakersfieldLife.com

19

Lifestyles

Sustainable swaps to reduce waste

By Julie Mana-ay Perez

» IT’S NO SECRET THAT WE HAVE A TRASH PROBLEM

— AND WE’RE RUNNING OUT OF PLACES TO PUT IT. After trash is collected from households, haulers transport waste to a transfer station or landfill but you’d be surprised how far it travels. The transfer stations sort trash from recyclables and other materials before sending them to an allocated destination — a recycling center or landfill. Once separated, recyclables are sent to centers to be prepared for reuse. Ridding of trash is complex — it’s either sent to landfills that are layered allowing it to decompose naturally, sent to an incineration or waste-to-energy plant, which can be used to generate electricity, turning trash into a resource.

However, all trash doesn’t make it into the garbage — it pollutes places like lakes, rivers, oceans and the streets we walk, affecting the environment we live in. The solution isn’t easy but the resolution starts at home, educating others and being mindful of what we consume. Here are some ways we can affect change by swapping sustainable items to reduce waste.

REUSABLE BOTTLES Reducing plastic usage has become more important than ever.

Swap that plastic bottle for a reusable bottle at any of your local stores. According to the Container Recycling Institute, Americans bought

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April 2021

more than 70 billion plastic water bottles of one gallon or less in 2018, and three out of four of them ended up in a landfill or an incinerator. I would recommend a stainless steel bottle because most of them keep your liquids hot and cold all day, and who doesn’t want that?

REUSABLE STRAWS Straws are designed to be used once and discarded after keeping your mouth from touching the container. In the beginning of 2019, full-service restaurants in California were banned from automatically giving customers plastic straws to reduce waste. As reported by EcoCycle, about 500 million disposable straws are used by Americans every day. In 2017, straws were also ranked seventh as the most common piece of trash collected on global beaches by cleanup groups associated with the Ocean Conservancy. If you’re able, ditch the straws and invest in reusable straws.

SAY GOODBYE TO PLASTIC BAGS A world without plastic bags seems unimaginable — we use them every day at grocery and retail stores and for throwing out waste. According to research by Ronald Geyer, Jenna R. Jambeck and Kara Lavender Law, approx-

imately 6,300 metric tons of plastic waste was generated in 2015 — around 9 percent was recycled, 12 percent was incinerated and 79 percent was accrued in landfills or the environment. If production were to continue at the reported production data, humankind will have produced double its number by 2050.

Swap the plastic bags for compostable reusable bags or trash bags, which are made of natural plant starch and not do produce any toxic material. The most difficult process is remembering to bring those bags when making a trip to the store.

REDUCE FOOD WASTE As stated in the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s 2019-2020 Federal Interagency Strategy on reducing food waste, 30 percent to 40 percent of food goes uneaten through loss or waste. Before tossing out food, ask yourself if it needs to be thrown out. If food goes bad, compost it so it transforms organic waste into nutrient-rich soil.

REDUCE PACKAGING Packaging is all around us — boxes and plastic wraps in grocery stores, retail stores, takeout containers and e-commerce packaging from online shopping. So what can we do if this choice is not in our hands? There is no right or wrong answer because it starts with the business, but you can shop from the right businesses that do follow green packaging practices. And also, buy your most usable items in bulk. Another suggestion is to thrift for clothes in any area.

Aunt Mae’s has your

Easter Baskets, gourmet tofffee & gi s

in Easter themed packaging!

830 18th Street www.auntmaessweets.com March Hours: Open Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

FREEPIK.COM

www.BakersfieldLife.com

21

Lifestyles

Houseplant styling Breakdown of what rooms plants thrive in

By Julie Mana-ay Perez

» SOMETHING I’VE SEEN BECOME A POPULAR TREND SINCE PEOPLE STARTED WORKING FROM HOME IS PLANT DECOR. There’s something about houseplants that offer a nurturing and peaceful vibe to your surroundings. If you’re ready to refreshen up your space, it’s time to bring in some houseplants to make your rooms feel more cozy and welcoming.

Before you style your plants, consider the maintenance your plant requires — space, food and care. Then consider the fashion of the plant — leaf shapes and color of the pot reflecting the design of your space.

LIVING ROOM Strelitzia nicolai, or giant birds of paradise, add a glow to your space, especially because it’s large — a plant like this requires bright light. Monstera adansonii plants are another perfect addition to the living room space, though they grow in bright indirect light, but they can adapt to low light conditions. Pilea, or the coin plant, has beautiful rounded leaves that add a splash of color to your shelves, accent tables and requires medium-bright indirect light.

Fiddle-leaf fig plants are also a sophisticated accessory to add into the living room but it requires bright, filtered light to grow and look their best.

KITCHEN Bring some greenery into your kitchen area with plants like aloe vera and herbs, which thrive near a sunny window. Other plants that flourish near a window and a kitchen counter are pothos, Chinese evergreens, aspidistras, spider plants and African spear plants, which are able to withstand low lit areas.

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April 2021

Books we recommend for plant care "Wild at Home: How to Style and Care for Beautiful Plants" by Hilton Carter

"The New Plant Parent" by Darryl Cheng

Y O U ’ R E A LWA Y S W E L C O M E A T

Gables Residential Care Homes BATHROOM Dress up your bathroom space with a stagehorn fern or an air plant, which thrive in humidity and can be taken care of in low lit environments.

For these plants, it’s important to protect them from harsh rays of the direct sun and provide a bright, indirect light. Hang them up in your shower or on your wall.

The Meadows • 10702 Four Bears Dr. RCFE No. 157204176

Spruce Gardens • 13303 Nantucket RCFE No. 157206898

BEDROOM Snake plants, pothos, dracaenas and bromeliads don’t need too much water or sunlight, which makes them three ideal plants to store in the corner and still add a pop of color to the room.

The Gables • 903 Spirit Lake RCFE No. 155801279

When living at home is no longer the best option for your loved one, visit the private homes of Gables Residential Care.

In these elegant, family homes, you will find: • Comforts of home in a beautiful surrounding • Caring and competent staff on duty 24 hours a day • Only six residents in each home – companionship with others • Personal assistance with activities of daily living – bathing, dressing, grooming, meals, medication supervision, transportation – whatever is needed.

• Delicious, home-cooked meals and snacks • Lovely patios and secure walking paths • Alzheimer’s/Hospice Waivers

661.631.2036 www.BakersfieldLife.com

23

Lifestyles

Interior styling A classification of different designs

By Julie Mana-ay Perez

MID-CENTURY MODERN Mid-century modern broadly describes architecture, furniture and graphic design from roughly the 1930s to 1960s, where the interiors are classic, clean and minimal. This furniture design is based on Bauhaus architects and designers and characterized by simplicity and functionality. Though there are many ways to style mid-century modern designs, it’s common to see neutral and Art deco bold colors.

any type of home. Industrial interior designs have elements like brick walls to give a rustic feel, metal and wood for furniture designs, pipes, steel beams and ducts to give your space the “unfinished” look. Take the industrial look further by incorporating vintage or antiques into your home decor.

And stick to a metallic color palette when decorating — silver, gold and gray.

Mid-century modern

SCANDINAVIAN Scandinavian designs are esteemed for their simplicity, beauty and functionality.

Scandinavian inspired homes have a pure style centered around a warm, clean, elegant and perfect craftsmanship look. Scandinavian designs carry elements like light Scandinavian wooden floors, white walls, wood decor to add texture throughout the home and cool tones to bring down the ambiance of the room.

ART DECO Art deco uses a lot of bold colors and symmetrical patterns like geometric and linearity shapes, making a statement in decorating and architecture. Bright and deep yellows, reds, greens, blues and pinks are common colors to use accented with silver, chrome or black.

ELECTRIC

FARMHOUSE If there’s one thing about farmhouse style, it’s its coziness and warm feeling. A farmhouse design consists of rustic finishes, metal elements in decor and a neutral color palette, enough to give your space a minimal yet nature-inspired look.

Farmhouse

INDUSTRIAL Industrial design is usually associated with city dwellings or lofts, but there are many elements of this style to make it work in

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April 2021

Industrial

Electric

Electric interior design is about harmony and bringing together dissimilar styles, textures and colors all while making them beautifully cohesive. Electric design doesn’t follow any rules from color to texture to materials. Select a core color palette that complements one another to create a base and accents. Experiment with different patterns and textures within your furniture because electric design is all about personality. Allow your decor accessories to speak for themselves.

SPRUCE.COM

Composting at home » AVID GARDENERS KNOW THAT COMPOST

CAN ADD VITAL NUTRIENTS TO SOIL USED IN GARDENS, CONTAINER PLANTS AND LAWNS. The fact that compost is so versatile and nutrient-dense may not even be its most admirable quality. Made from items used in and around the house, compost costs just about nothing to produce.

The raw materials that make up compost come from organic waste. These can be disposables from the garden and kitchen, as well as other areas around the house. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, yard trimmings and food scraps add up to 20 percent to 30 percent of the municipal solid waste in the United States. Turning waste into compost not only helps the landscape, but also the planet.

Compost is relatively easy to make, and there are scores of materials that can be put into compost. But it is just as essential to know which ingredients cannot be used in compost.

OK FOR COMPOST Most organic materials, or items that were once living, can be used in compost. Plant-based items used in cooking, such as potato peelings, carrot skins, banana peels, cocoa hulls, coffee grounds and filters, corn cobs, apple cores, egg shells, fruit peels, kelp and nut shells, can be added to compost.

Other items from around the house, like unused kitty litter, hair, shredded newspapers and cardboard, leaves, flowers, paper, pine needles, ashes and sawdust, can be successfully added to compost. Stick to items that are not treated heavily with chemicals.

SHOULD NOT BE USED IN COMPOST Inorganic and non-biodegradable materials cannot go into compost. These are items such as plastic, glass, aluminum foil and metal. Pressure-treated lumber, although a natural material, is treated with preservatives and often pesticides that can be harmful if they leech into the garden.

The small-gardening resource Balcony Garden Web indicates coated or glossy printed papers, such as those from catalogs, magazines, wrapping paper, marketing materials and business cards, should not be added to compost piles because of the chemicals and inks used in these pages.

Planet Natural Research Center says to avoid pet droppings from dogs and cats. Animal products like bones, butter, milk, fish skins and meat may decompose and start to smell foul. Maggots, FREEPIK.COM

“

The fact that compost is so versatile and nutrient-dense may not even be its most admirable quality. Made from items used in and around the house, compost costs just about nothing to produce."

parasites, pathogens and other microorganisms can form in the compost. These materials also may attract flies and scavenger animals. Plus, they decompose very slowly.

Any personal hygiene products should be avoided because they are tainted by human fluids and that can pose a health risk.

While weeds are not harmful in compost piles, there is the risk that seeds can germinate and then infiltrate garden beds when the compost is used. The same can be said for tomato plants and some other hardy fruits and vegetables.

Compost is a winner in the garden and around the landscape. Learning which ingredients can and can’t be added to compost piles is useful for any gardener.

— Metro Creative Connection

www.BakersfieldLife.com

25

Promotional Content

Lifestyles

Spring Orchard Paintings

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by Raul Zavala

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Bakersfield Art Association

Four expressive watercolor paintings of almond orchards in bloom, some with bee boxes, are now available for purchase.

An original painting is a great addition to a home or office.

Private and small group drawing and painting classes are starting now. Anyone interested in plein air painting is encouraged to call for the next location.

Commission for watercolor and oil paintings accepted.

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April 2021

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EAT & DRINK

Meet the owners, Jed and Melissa Larson

New Vintage Grill is the spot for all-day fare

By Ema Sasic and Julie Mana-ay Perez

» WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A BREAKFAST/BRUNCH

SPOT OR A PLACE TO TAKE A SPECIAL SOMEONE OUT, YOU CAN COUNT ON NEW VINTAGE GRILL DAY OR NIGHT. Owners Jed and Melissa Larson were always interested in bringing those unique dining experiences that you see in other California to Bakersfield with a family-friendly atmosphere. The result was their first location on Hageman Road four years ago, and they haven’t looked back since. In fact, the couple said they

are “in it” for the long haul and are ready to serve customers for years and years to come.

Right before the COVID-19 pandemic affected how restaurants could operate, the couple opened a second location on Truxtun Avenue. There are always challenges associated with expansions, but the pandemic tested them in new ways, but they said community support helped them get through the difficult » See more Salty & Sweet on PAGE 28.

PHOTOS BY JULIE MANA-AY PEREZ

www.BakersfieldLife.com

27

Salty & Sweet

Seize the 'dilla

and confusing times.

Today, the staff is ready to serve customers a number of breakfast and lunch favorites that will keep them coming back for more. Everything from omelets to pancakes, spuds, burgers, nachos and pizzas are available on the menu. And it doesn’t matter what time you stop by because happy hour is all day long.

BREAKFAST

JULIE MANA-AY PEREZ ON THE SEIZE THE ‘DILLA: There’s nothing I would rather have for breakfast than eggs, eggs and more eggs.

As scrumptious as it looked, this breakfast quesadilla was savory with every bite. Between a wrapped tortilla was fluffy scrambled eggs, country sausage, cheese, topped with avocados and sided with sour cream and pico de gallo.

EMA SASIC ON THE NUTELLA JACKS: I’m a European girl so I grew up eating Nutella every weekend with my breakfast. Clearly I was a big fan of these pancakes! The pancakes themselves were super light and fluffy, and the strawberries and whipped cream on top were the best combination with my favorite chocolate hazelnut spread.

JMP ON THE LARA’S BENEDICT: One of my weaknesses is ordering eggs Benedict at any breakfast spot so I had to try the Lara’s Benedict. To say the least, I was impressed — a toasted English muffin stacked with fluffy scrambled eggs, creamy and savory hollandaise sauce, tomatoes that bring a sweet taste and topped with bacon and sliced avocados. Side it with fruit to keep it on the lighter side or country potatoes and spuds.

ES ON THE SPUDS: New Vintage Grill’s take on classic hashbrowns standout. These are a blend of shredded potatoes, red quinoa, garlic, spinach and white aged cheddar, and all of these flavors blend beautifully together. They make a great side with any breakfast dish.

Lara's benedict

LUNCH

Nutella jacks

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April 2021

JMP ON THE POKE NACHOS: Sitting on a bed of fresh wonton chips is tender and marinated ahi tuna, which is seared rare, thinly sliced onions, fresh jalapenos, grated carrots, cilantro all tossed in poke sauce and drizzled with cucumber wasabi. The Poke Nachos are good enough to share with the rest of the table!

ES ON THE NACHO AVERAGE NACHO: As the name suggests, these nachos are not average. Crispy flour

Ema Sasic

Stuffed avocados

chips, uncle Kurt’s chunky chili, cheese, black olives, lettuce, pico, sour cream, guacamole and fresh jalapeños come together to give you a mouthful of flavor and a bit of kick. This table starter is giant, so make sure you have a couple of hungry friends by your side to help dig in.

JMP ON THE STUFFED AVOCADOS: When I say this is the best thing I’ve ever eaten, I truly mean it. The second this dish hit my mouth, my eyes opened and I couldn’t stop thinking about my next bite. This dish was packed with creamy pesto sauce, diced tomatoes, little mozzarella balls, drizzled with Balsamic vinaigrette stuffed in between avocados. It was a perfect light dish packed with a lot of savory flavor!

DRINKS

Lynchburg's blackberry lemonade (front), the cucumber melon spritzer (back left) and the keylime martini (right).

ES ON THE LYNCHBURG’S BLACKBERRY LEMONADE: Two of my favorite tastes in one drink!

This was a very refreshing drink that I would enjoy any time of day.

JMP ON THE CUCUMBER MELON SPRITZER: One thing I liked about the cucumber melon spritzer was that it reminded me of being on vacation — it was refreshing, light and full of mint and cucumber flavors. It’s good enough to have on a warm day, sitting and enjoying New Vintage Grill’s relaxing ambiance, or sitting outside and soaking up the sun.

Poke nachos (front) and the nacho average nacho (back).

More information

New Vintage Grill 3320 Truxtun Ave., Ste 150 661-864-7029 OR 9901 Hageman Road, Ste100 661-829-6814 www.BakersfieldLife.com

29

Sip & Swirl

Warmer weather forecasts rosé days ahead

By Lyle W. Norton

Malene winemaker Fin du Fresne.

» IT’S WARMING UP. My peach tree is breaking out in salmon colored blossoms. It reminds me of enjoying a glass of rosé with friends, something I hope to do soon. Rosé has come a long way since the days that some California wineries combined leftover red and white wine and marketed it as such.

Whether the grapes are grown exclusively or some red wine juice is bled off early, a process known as the “saignee method,” the core of rosé production is minimal maceration, or limited contact with skins resulting in lighter color and softer flavors.

For decades, seasoned U.S. palates have turned to Provencal rosé from southern France. Appellations like Côtes de Provence and Bandol farm the vineyards exclusively for the production of artisanal rosé. They predominantly use Rhone varietals like grenache, syrah, cinsault and mourvedre that produce fresh, fruit-forward rosé wines with

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April 2021

The 2019 Bruliam Rosé of Pinot Noir, 2019 Balverne Rosé of Pinot Noir, 2020 Malene Rosé and 2019 La Bernarde Cotes de Provence Rosé.

an elegant mouthfeel.

One such import, from high altitude vines in Côtes de Provence, the pale-pink La Bernarde Cotes de Provence Rose Les Hauts du Luc 2019 ($18) comes from limestone soils that deposit large stones on the surface. Predominantly cinsault, with grenache, mourvedre, rolle and syrah, the aromas were fruity and flinty while the soft, integrated flavors added spice on the finish. This good value rosé is available online.

Provencal rosé has both inspired and challenged California winemakers throughout the state to produce exclusively grown, high-quality “pink wine” releases of high standard.

I recently tasted a rosé from the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County that answered the call.

A New Zealand native, winemaker Fin du Fresne has brought his knowledge and experience working in Provence and Bandol to create the 2020 Malene Rose’($22). A classic Rhone-style blend of grenache (80 percent), mourvedre (10

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LYLE W. NORTON, MALENE WINEMAKER FIN DU FRESNE

The Brickbarn Estate Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley.

percent), syrah (6 percent) and cinsault (4 percent), it is sourced from sustainable vineyards and produced at a SIP (Sustainability in Practice)-Certified winery.

A distinct minerality is woven through the aromas and flavors of melon and strawberry. The salinity in the local sandy loam soils adds to the flinty elements, but Fin credits his rare inert gas press with preserving the freshness of its aromas and flavors. Malene also produces single varietal rosé from grenache and mourvedre.

The Limerick Lane Winery, in the east Russian River Valley, is known for developing fine California zinfandel and Rhone varietals. However, a trip to Provence and days of drinking rosé and eating mussels inspired owner Jake Bilbro to plant new grapes for exclusive use in his “nonsaignee” release.

A blend of Grenache (49 percent), Syrah (39 percent) and Mourvedre (12 percent), the Limerick Lane 2020 Rosé ($28) exudes soft mineral notes with aromas of orange blossoms and fresh citrus and berries on the palate.

Estate grown in the Santa Ynez Valley, the single varietal Brickbarn 2019 Grenache Rosé ($32) offers a bouquet of stone fruits, melon and mineral notes, fresh strawberries flavors and rich texture. Wine Enthusiast magazine awarded this release 92 points.

Rosé can be served with just about everything from soft cheeses and shellfish to fresh salmon and Thai food.

However, it is best paired with good friends on a warm afternoon.

The opinions expressed in this column are those of Lyle W. Norton.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRICKBARN ESTATE VINEYARD

www.BakersfieldLife.com

31

Eat & Drink

Homemade pasta noodles and marinara sauce

By Ema Sasic

» I LOVE PASTA, AND I RECENTLY DECIDED TO MAKE SOME ON MY OWN. It’s a task I’ve wanted to do for quite some time, and it turned out to be much easier than I thought! To accompany my fresh pasta, I made a homemade marinara sauce. It’s simple, requires few ingredients, many of which you already have in your kitchen, and it adds to the authentic flavor that you get with your noodles. Enjoy the mouthwatering food from Italy in the comfort of your home!

INGREDIENTS PASTA: • 4 large eggs (room temperature) • 2 1/2 cups flour (“00” flour, semolina flour, all-purpose flour — or a blend) • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt MARINARA SAUCE: • 2 tablespoons olive oil (or butter) • 1/3 cup finely-diced white onion • 4 cloves garlic, pressed or finely-minced • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes • 1 28-ounce can San Marzano whole tomatoes (with juices) • 1 teaspoon dried oregano • 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper • 3 sprigs of fresh basil DIRECTIONS PASTA: Place the flour in a mound on a flat surface. Use your fingers or a spoon to create a well in the middle of the flour mound. Add the eggs in the center of the well. Sprinkle the salt and drizzle the olive oil on top of the eggs.

Use a fork to begin whisking the eggs until they are combined. Then begin to gradually whisk some of the surrounding flour into the egg mixture, adding more and more until the egg mixture is nice and thick. Use your hands to fold in the rest of the dough until it forms a loose ball. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic, sprinkling some extra flour if needed to prevent sticking or if they dough seems too wet or sticky.

Form the dough into a ball with your hands and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Let the dough rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Roll out the pasta dough into your desired shape, either by hand or using a pasta maker. Cook the pasta in a large pot of generously-salted boiling water until it is al dente, usually between one to five minutes depending on the thickness of your pasta. Drain.

MARINARA SAUCE: Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté for five minutes, stirring occasionally, until combined. Add garlic and crushed red pepper flakes and sauté for one to two minutes, stirring frequently, until combined. Add the tomatoes, oregano, salt and black pepper and stir to combine. Use a wooden spoon or a potato masher to gently break up the tomatoes as the sauce continues to heat. Stir in the fresh basil sprigs.

Continue cooking the sauce until it reaches a simmer. Then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and continue to simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove the fresh basil sprigs. Taste and season the sauce with salt and pepper, as needed. Serve over pasta noodles and enjoy.

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April 2021

PHOTOS BY EMA SASIC

Eat & Drink

What We're Loving Right Now JIN SUSHI MANGOTANGO ROLL

By Julie Mana-ay Perez

» NO MATTER WHERE I GO TO EAT SUSHI, EVERY RESTAURANT’S MENU IS DIFFERENT. This Japanese establishment offers an assortment of options — from appetizers, salads, lunch specials, dinner entrees to endless sushi options. Jin Sushi’s mango-tango roll consists of crab meat, shrimp tempura rolled in white rice and seaweed topped with thinly sliced salmon and mango fruit and drizzled with eel sauce and mango sauce for sweetness. Both the savoriness and sweetness hit my tastebuds at once and is a sushi roll I recommend.

In this 2015 file photo, Jin Sushi chef Charlie Han lights up what they call the flaming dragon.

JIN SUSHI

12900 Brimhall Road, Ste 100 (661) 459-3400 1600 19th St. (661) 447-4622

PHOTOS BY JULIE MANA-AY PEREZ, CALIFORNIAN FILE PHOTO

www.BakersfieldLife.com

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The George and Millie Ablin home designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

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April 2021

ESOTERICSURVEY.COM

Special Advertising Section

Whether you're looking for a new area to live in or checking out the city's features, we've rounded up some of Bakersfield's neighborhoods, notable schools, parks and hot spots. In addition to a small tour around the neighborhood, we give you a home tour and home improvement tips.

Compiled by Bakersfield Life Magazine Californian File Photos

Market data and statistics from Realtor.com. Intended for reference only.

www.BakersfieldLife.com www.BakersfieldLife.com

35

Special Advertising Section

Exterior

HIGHGATE AT SEVEN OAKS ADDS ITS NEWEST COMMUNITY Highgate Park CASTLE & COOKE CREATED THE ORIGINAL SEVEN OAKS COMMUNITY MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO. Since then, it has grown to include multiple communities and become the most coveted residential address in Bakersfield.

Today, the Seven Oaks legacy continues with the development of Highgate at Seven Oaks, Castle & Cooke’s newest gated, master planned community.

Among Highgate at Seven Oaks’ six distinct neighborhoods, the newest is Highgate Park. Located behind elegant iron privacy gates, Highgate Park features five unique floor plans from 2,081 square feet to 3,186 square feet to meet the needs of buyers with growing families. All feature three- and four-car garages on spacious lots with a choice of six different elevations, including the newly developed mid-century modern and coastal styles. Setting these homes apart from other new construction homes are their variety of upgraded standard features, including luxury vinyl plank flooring, quartz kitchen countertops, quality Whirlpool appliances and abundant oversized windows to enhance natural lighting.

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April 2021

Kitchen

Highgate Park residents can also take pride in the fact that their new home was constructed following efficient green building practices. All homes include features like upgraded insulation to help reduce energy loss, tankless gas water heaters, drought tolerant landscaping and a standard solar package. Efficiency is further enhanced by a hot water delivery system that reduces the wait time for hot water to arrive at fixtures, resulting in less water waste.

Two of the most impressive features of life in Highgate at Seven Oaks are the natural beauty of the community and the variety of recreational and social opportunities available to residents. Throughout the community, tree-lined streets guide residents to the beautifully landscaped central park and the High-

Dining Room

Bedroom

gate Swim & Fitness Clubhouse. The Clubhouse includes a large community room with catering kitchen for events, a media room equipped with TVs and gaming systems and a fully-equipped state-of-the-art fitness facility.

Surrounding the Clubhouse are the resort-style swimming pool with beach entry, a relaxing spa and children’s wading pool and spray park area. And embracing the entire Swim & Fitness Clubhouse complex is a large central park with tot-lot playground, covered basketball courts, amphitheater, a large grassy play area and picnic pavilions with BBQ grills.

In addition to the Highgate Swim & Fitness Clubhouse, residents of Highgate Park will also enjoy the new Parkshire Pool & Pavilion, currently under construction. When completed later this year, the Pavilion will feature another resort-style pool with lap lanes and spa, pickle ball courts, outdoor BBQ facilities and a central park. The Highgate Swim & Fitness Clubhouse and the Parkshire Pool & Pavilion will make Highgate at Seven Oaks the only Bakersfield address offering residents two resort-style recreational amenities within the gates of their own community.

A testament to the popularity of Castle & Cooke master planned communities is the fact that Phase 1 of Highgate Park is already sold out, and Phase 2 is filling rapidly. Model homes in Highgate Park are currently viewable by appointment.

To schedule a tour of the models and all the recreational amenities of Highgate Park and Highgate at Seven Oaks, contact a sales associate at 661412-4857.

Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Master Bath

Kitchen

www.BakersfieldLife.com

37

Bakersfield Housing Market

In February 2021, the median list price of homes in Bakersfield was $290,000, trending up 12.2 percent year-over-year. The median listing price per square foot was $169. The median sale price was $284,500.

Market data and statistics from Realtor.com.

Intended for reference only.

west

NOTABLE NEIGHBORHOODS: Northwest Bakersfield is one of the fastest-growing parts of the city. The area consists of retail centers and many residential communities. » Brimhall Estates » Westlakes » Riverlakes » Fox Run » Windsong » Nottingham Estate » Crystal Ranch » Eagle Ranch

WHAT'S HERE: From day life to nightlife, residents in the community can enjoy industrial sectors, retail centers and entertainment. » Studio Movie Grill » Action Sports » Firehouse » Gaslight Melodrama » Brix Lounge » RiverLakes Community Church WHERE TO DINE: » Brazilian Acai Bowls

38

April 2021

» Brocados Sushi Bar » Pappy's Coffee Shop » Fit Pantry » Mesa Mexican Grill » Hummus Express » Fuegos Tacos » Love Sushi » Salt Water Poke » Salad Sensations » Rancho Grande » Pour House Bar and Grill NOTABLE SCHOOLS: » Freedom Middle School » Patriot Elementary School » Almondale Elementary School » Frontier High School » Norris Elementary School » Centennial High School WHERE TO PLAY: » Riverlakes Ranch Park » Polo Park » North Rosedale Park » Links at Riverlakes Ranch Golf Course » Madison Grove » Emerald Cove Park » Krebs Dog Park

Before planning a trip to any businesses, visit their website to check out operation hours and COVID-19 regulations.

Firehouse

Northwest Promenade

Brimhall

North east

California Living Museum

NOTABLE NEIGHBORHOODS: Residents in northeast Bakersfield can admire and value the view of the southern Sierra Nevada, mountain bike trails and blue skies. » Lakeview » Homaker Park » La Cresta/Alta Vista » Bakersfield Country Club » Oakridge » Hillcrest » Eastridge Estate

Hart Park

Cataldo's Pizzeria

Lake Ming

WHAT'S HERE: If there's one thing this area is known for it's adventuring from a wide array of parks and activities. » California Living Museum (CALM) » Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County » Bakersfield Country Club » Hillcrest Memorial Park

WHERE TO DINE: » Smith's Bakeries » Grandma's Tamales Restaurante » Johns Burgers » La Tapatia Mexican Grill » Cataldo's Pizzeria » Pho Kitchen NOTABLE SCHOOLS: » Bakersfield College » Sierra Middle School » Pioneer Drive Elementary School » Walter W. Stiern Middle School » Voorhies Elementary School » East Bakersfield High School WHERE TO PLAY: » Lake Ming » Heritage Park » Pioneer Park » Kern River Bike Trail Park » Rancho Rio Equestrian Center » Panorama Park » College Park

Bakersfield Country Club www.BakersfieldLife.com

39

NEIGHBORHOOD LISTINGS AREA

MEDIAN LISTING PRICE

Seven Oaks $582,000 Laurelglen $299,000 City in the Hills $336,000 Oleander-Sunset $299,000 Silver Creek $285,000 Stockdale West $349,000 Rio Bravo $350,500

$/SQUARE FT.

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

$202 $183 $148 $154 $174 $177 $157

50 2 33 — 71 — 71 — 36 3 21 — 27 1

Market data and statistics from Realtor.com. Intended for reference only. As of February 2021.

town

NOTABLE NEIGHBORHOODS: Downtown is the central business and city government district for Bakersfield.

Known for its historic neighborhoods like Westchester and Oleander, residents are close to a variety of dining and entertainment options. » Oleander/Sunset » Riviera/Westchester WHAT'S HERE: Through day and night, residents can stroll through Bakersfield's beautiful downtown area for favorite food spots, cafes, parks and more. » Fox Theater » The Padre Hotel » Mechanics Bank Arena » Bakersfield Museum of Art » Beale Memorial Library » Visit Bakersfield center » Amtrak Station » Sam Lynn Ball Park » Kern County Museum

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April 2021

WHERE TO DINE: » Cafe Smitten » Pork Chop & Bubba's BBQ » Dewar's Candy Shop » Nuestro Mexico » Tacos La Villa Mexican Grill » Great Castle Chinese » Rosemary's Family Creamery » Rice Bowl » Mexicali Restaurants » 24th Street Cafe » Locale Farm to Table Eatery

Fox Theater

Bakersfield Museum of Art

NOTABLE SCHOOLS: » Bakersfield High School » Downtown Elementary School » William Penn Elementary School WHERE TO PLAY: » Mill Creek Park » Central Park at Mill Creek » Beach Park » Jastro Park » Beale Park » Lowell Park

Dewar's Candy Shop

Central Park at Mill Creek

Pork Chop & Bubba's BBQ

NEIGHBORHOOD LISTINGS AREA

MEDIAN LISTING PRICE

Park Stockale $241,500 Kern City $230,000 The Seasons $270,000 Lakeview $159,000 Wible Orchard $220,000 Riviera-Westchester $319,500 Fruitvale $334,500

$/SQUARE FT.

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

$164 $165 $179 $145 $147 $173 $180

42 2 22 1 23 — 33 — 29 2 34 3 22 3

CREATING

your own backyard oasis OUR BACKYARDS ARE SOME OF THE BEST PLACES TO SPEND THE SUMMER MONTHS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING AND ARE TIRED OF BEING COOPED UP INDOORS. Fortunately, it’s possible to transform your outdoor living space into a secluded, open-air retreat.

BRING THE INDOORS OUT We often hear about bringing the outdoors inside, but the reverse is also true when designing a luxurious extension of your home. Homey, lived-in touches can take your outdoor space from sterile and unfinished to cozy and inviting. Think patterned throw pillows, fluffy blankets for chilly evenings, outdoor rugs, colorful lanterns and decorative accessories like painted terra cotta pots or metal tins.

INVEST IN COMFY FURNITURE What’s the best part of your living or family room?

Chances are it’s your comfortable couch or recliner. To recreate the same feeling, splurge on some soft furniture that will make you want to stay outside for hours reading a book or working remotely. It doesn’t have to break the bank either — you can DIY a cozy lounging bench with reclaimed wood and hand-sewn cushions with outdoor stuffing and fabric.

ADD A RELAXING POOL OR SPA Water has a calming effect and is often linked to our favorite memories at the cottage or on vacation.

A pool or spa can help transport you somewhere far away without leaving your home. A pool can help you and the kids get some exercise while swimming laps, while a spa can soothe tired muscles after a long day hunched over your laptop. To reduce energy costs and increase longevity, consider using Nudura insulated concrete forms, which provide superior insulation. ICF pools also can be custom-made to accommodate any design, making them a very versatile and efficient way to build pools.

FREEPIK.COM

GO WILD WITH GREENERY Live plants can help you feel connected with nature, and tending to them can help you feel relaxed yet productive during isolation. A vertical garden can add visual interest, while trees and shrubs can provide shade and character. Aromatic herbs like lavender or rosemary offer pleasant scents and can spice up your cooking. And don’t be afraid to cut some flowers from your garden to place in vases or pots for beautiful finishing touches. www.BakersfieldLife.com

41

NEIGHBORHOOD LISTINGS AREA

MEDIAN LISTING PRICE

$/SQUARE FT.

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

Emerald Estates Southgate Fox Run Spice Brighton Venola

$320,000 $210,000 $390,000 $235,000 $439,000 $255,000

$185,000 $142 $154 $185 $204 $171

17 — 33 2 20 — 23 — 15 — 22 2

Market data and statistics from Realtor.com. Intended for reference only. As of February 2021.

west

NOTABLE NEIGHBORHOODS: The southwest area of the city contains major residential communities, shopping centers, parks and educational institutions. » Highgate » River Oak » Seven Oaks » Tevis Ranch » Haggin Oaks » The Oaks » The Seasons » Park Avenue » Olde Stockdale WHAT'S HERE: Residents put the "life" in "lifestyle" when it comes to the southwest neighborhood. From shopping plazas and restaurants to parks and college institutions, there are many activities to do day and night. » The Marketplace » The Shops at River Walk » Rollerama West » Seven Oaks Country Club » Stockdale Country Club » Sundale Country Club » Barnes & Noble

WHERE TO DINE: » Smitten » Yard House » La Costa Mariscos » Frugatti's » Viceroy Indian Cuisine & Bar » ReMix Asian Kitchen & Ramen » Tahoe Joe's » Bakersfield Pizza Co. » Vida Vegan » Wiki's Wine Dive & Grill » Bagels & Blenderz

Cal State Bakersfield

Vida Vegan

NOTABLE SCHOOLS: » Cal State Bakersfield » Stockdale High School » Stockdale Elementary School » West High School » Leo B. Hart Elementary School » Ronald Reagan Elementary School » Wayne Van Horn Elementary School WHERE TO PLAY: » The Park at River Walk » Kroll Park » Windsor Park » Aera Park » Quailwood Park » Haggin Oaks Park » Westwold Park

Valley Plaza

The Park at River Walk

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April 2021

Friendship House Community Center

South east Kern County Fair held at the Kern County Fairgrounds.

NOTABLE NEIGHBORHOODS: If there's one thing the southeast area is known for it's its cultural diversity and rich history. » Rexland Acres » Benton Park » Southgate » Casa Loma » Greenfield WHAT'S HERE: The southeast area is filled with family-fun activities day and night. » Historic Union Cemetery » Golden West Casino » Kern County Fairgrounds » Kern County Basque Club » Friendship House Community Center » Bakersfield Community Theatre WHERE TO DINE: » Los Aguacates » Panini Kabob Grill » Papa Hills Fish Grill » La Villa Taqueria

» Tacos La Villa » Punjabi Dhaba » Carla's Cafe » Las Adelitas » Alma's Mexican Food NOTABLE SCHOOLS: » Sequoia Middle School » Wayside Elementary School » Frank West Elementary School » South High School » Greenfield Middle School » Golden Valley High School » Valle Verde Elementary School » Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School WHERE TO PLAY: » Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park » Wayside Park » Wilson Park » Casa Loma County Park » Belle Terrace Park » Planz Park » Stiern Park » Rexland Acres Park

6 OPTIONS

for funding your next home improvement project BEFORE STARTING A HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, EITHER ON ONE’S OWN OR WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTOR, HOMEOWNERS MUST FIRST CONSIDER THE COSTS INVOLVED. According to the home improvement resource HomeAdvisor, more than one-third of homeowners do not understand what hiring a professional will cost, and then cannot successfully budget and secure financing once they have set their sights on a renovation project.

HomeAdvisor says that some of the more popular projects, such as remodeling a kitchen or bathroom or building a deck, can cost, on average, $19,920, $9,274 and $6,919, respectively.

Homeowners may find that the more expensive renovations require them to secure some type of financing. Those who have never before sought such financing may want to consider these options.

CASH-OUT REFINANCING With cash-out refinancing, a person will begin the mortgage process anew with the intention of paying off the current mortgage balance, and then taking out additional funds for other purposes.

Cash-out refinancing is a way to tap into a home’s existing equity for use on improvements or other expenses, such as college tuition.

HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT The financial experts at Bankrate indicate that a HELOC works like a credit card, with the house as collateral. There is a credit limit, and borrowers can spend up to that limit. The interest rate may or may not be fixed.

However, the interest may be

tax-deductible if the financing is used to improve, buy or build a home.

HOME EQUITY LOAN Individuals also can borrow against equity in their homes with a fixed interest rate through a home equity loan. Most lenders will calculate 80 percent of the home value and subtract a homeowner’s mortgage balance to figure out how much can be borrowed, according to the financial advisory site The Simple Dollar.

PERSONAL LOAN Homeowners can shop around at various financial institutions for competitive personal loans to be used for home improvement purposes.

Funds may be approved within one business day, which can be ideal for those who want to begin their improvements soon.

PERSONAL LINE OF CREDIT A personal line of credit allows borrowers to borrow only the money needed at the time, and offers a variable interest rate that is generally lower than fixed loan rates.

Again, like a credit card, PLOC gives a person a maximum borrowing amount and is ideal for ongoing purchases.

CREDIT CARDS In a pinch, credit cards can be used to finance improvements, but they do come with the cost of very high interest rates if the balance is not paid in full by the time the bill comes due. However, for funding smaller projects and maximizing rewards points through home improvement retailers or specific credit card company promotions, credit cards can be a way to earn various perks in addition to the benefit of improving a home. www.BakersfieldLife.com

43

Green over thumbs take

Plant popularity brings awareness to benefits of greenery

By Ema Sasic Photos by Ema Sasic

A

mid all the questions and a little bit of chaos that the COVID-19 pandemic caused this past year, bringing a little bit of nature indoors was one way people decided to take on the challenges.

Javier Valdes’ apartment is full of plants — about 20 of them, to be exact. He has a little bit of everything: bird of paradise, fiddle leaf figs, monsteras, snake plants, prayer plants, a cactus, some succulents and a pothos.

His love of plants started three years ago when he was gifted a snake plant from a coworker and his goal was to keep it alive. Today, he has green in different areas of his apartment, and he’s done his homework to keep them growing.

“I initially saw plants as a way to add some life to a dull space.

But since the pandemic started, I found myself doing research into different ways that would help my plant thrive,” Valdes explained. “I started setting humidifiers for some, and misting the leaves of others.

Now it almost feels like an enjoyable part-time job.”

Local plant store owners have also noticed interest skyrocket this past year.

Amanda Klawitter, House of Flowers co-owner, said repeat customers, as well as people just starting out with their green thumbs, have stopped by her store, looking for the right plant to take home.

She believes a heightened appreciation for nature and people’s need to care for living things are some of the factors that may have led to the plant boom.

“I think especially during COVID times people are looking for ways to care for themselves, and in a way...a lot of times we learn how to care for ourselves by caring for other living things,” Klawitter said. “Houseplants are a great way to do that, we’re giving them sun and water, and it’s been a sense of therapy for a lot of people.”

House of Flowers, located on 19th Street, has a variety of plants available, from small succulents and cacti to large trees.

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April 2021

House of Flowers, located on 19th Street, has a variety of plants available, from small succulents and cacti to large trees.

Customers that walk in are surrounded by green, living things, which in turn makes them “feel relaxed and good vibrations,” explained owner Amanda Klawitter.

Customers who walk in are surrounded by green, living things, which in turn makes them “feel relaxed and good vibrations,” explained Klawitter.

The foot traffic at White Oaks Florist on Rosedale Highway has also increased both in-person and through online orders and deliveries. Owner Jami Graham has always had houseplants in her life — she grew up in a household that had a lot of greenery, she sends pictures of new plants to her mother and daughter and her own home has a sort of “jungle feel” to it — and she said it’s exciting to see other people get more into them.

She’s noticed three types of customers in the last year: a younger crowd that wants to watch a baby plant grow; shoppers who are looking for rare houseplants; and people who want to bring organic

and natural elements into their homes. No matter what they’re shopping for, it’s clear they’re ready to decorate with various shades of green.

“Walking into a home without a live plant feels like there’s something missing. It adds life,” Graham said. “What’s fun with this trend is it’s fun to educate people. I never knew people had a fear of plants, but they’re showing more interest and want to learn more.”

The two business owners say many people are afraid they’re going to kill their plants, which is why they have often steered away from them. However, they believe those individuals are missing out on several benefits plants offer.

According to WebMD, researchers found that rooms with plants

Walking into a home without a live plant feels like there's something missing. It adds life. What's fun with this trend is it's fun to educate people. I never knew people had a fear of plants, but they're showing more interest and want to learn more."

— Jami Graham, owner of White Oaks Florist

» See more plants on PAGE 46. www.BakersfieldLife.com

45

House of Flowers owner Amanda Klawitter.

White Oaks Florist owner Jami Graham.

46

April 2021

A variety of pothos, succulents, cacti, hoyas, ferns, ficus, dracaena and philodendrons are just some of the plants available at White Oaks Florist.

have less dust and mold than rooms without any foliage, which helps allergy sufferers. Leaves and other parts of the plant act as natural filters to catch allergens and other airborne particles. Many plants also have healing properties, such as gel from aloe vera plants which soothes sunburns, and herbs such as mint may help tamp down bloating, gas and other problems after eating, according to WebMD. Houseplants may also help boost mental health, which could be another reason why people turned to them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a hobby, it keeps people busy — which comes in handy after so few entertainment options in the past year — and it can bring joy to see new leaves open up, leading to a sense of pride among plant caretakers.

“There is this sense of responsibility that I feel to my plants,” said Valdes. “I live on my own so it feels nice to have something to care for.”

“I truly feel like it brings happiness: to be able to nurture something and watch it grow. I know even for me and my houseplants, on Sunday mornings, taking my watering can around the house, it’s very therapeutic,” agreed Graham.

For those ready to take the plant plunge, House of Flowers, White Oaks Florists and other local shops and nurseries have everything someone might need to succeed. A variety of pothos, succulents, cacti, hoyas, ferns, ficus, dracaena and philodendrons are just some of the plants available in stores. Pots can also be purchased to accessorize and bring in more color to a space, and books dedicated to plant caretaking are there to help as well.

Klawitter and Graham also provide tips and advice to anyone who comes into their stores. They can diagnose a plant that doesn’t seem to

Where to buy plants

locally

House of Flowers 1611 19th St. White Oaks Florist 9160 Rosedale Highway No. 500

Plenty of plant caretaking books are available for purchase at White Oaks Florist.

be thriving, and even help with repotting.

The two main factors plant owners need to consider are light and water. Most houseplants will be happy near a window. When it comes to watering, most people overwater, which is why yellow leaves appear. More often than not, it’s best to let soil dry out completely before watering.

Klawitter added it’s important to remember that it’s OK if a houseplant dies because you’ll end up learning something from the experience — whether you overwatered, didn’t provide enough sunlight, etc.

“It happens to a lot of people, I kill a lot of plants,” she said, laughing. “It’s only a failure if you quit and don’t take what you learn.”

Plant enthusiasts hope the trend seen recently continues for years to come. The benefits, fun of discovering new greenery and bringing natural elements into their home has delighted them, and they hope more people discover all the good that awaits them with a bit of green.

“The more plants the better for me,” said Graham. “There’s never enough green in my house.”

Robby’s Nursery 4002 Terracotta Court Cricklewood Secret Garden 2816 Brundage Lane White Forest Nursery 300 Morning Drive Bolles Nursery 3255 Allen Road Monte Vista Nursery 9435 S. H St. Log Cabin Florist 800 19th St.

www.BakersfieldLife.com

47

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GO & DO

Buena Vista Extra Virgin Olive Oil one of items found in Bratcher Basket

By Brooke Bratcher

» BRATCHER HOME & DESIGN IS OWNED AND OPERATED

BY RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR DESIGNER, BROOKE BRATCHER.

Located at 1219 18th St. in downtown Bakersfield, you’ll find yourself in a beautiful showroom stocked with home decor, a design studio filled with textile samples, wood finishes and home furnishing catalogs, along with specific local vendors who bring added charm to our carefully curated inventory.

Speaking of local vendors, we have hand selected a few favorites. Our products include Buena Vista Extra Virgin Olive Oil bottles from the Edible Schoolyard, “Locally Grown” and “BAKO” merchandise from Kinley M. Designs and a children’s pajamas collaboration with Little Pajama Co., hand-poured candles and raw honey from Olive & Co., homegrown dish and body luffas from The Neglectful Gardener, handmade ceramics from Blue » See more of Bratcher Basket on PAGE 50.

PHOTOS BY EMA SASIC

www.BakersfieldLife.com

49

Go & Do and health, not only for the students of the Edible Schoolyard Kern County, but also for the community. Each year, Marshall harvests and presses the olives that are hand-picked. He named the bounty of his harvests Buena Vista Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Buena Vista Edible Schoolyard Extra Virgin Olive Oil is fresh and local olive oil that is robust, aromatic and full of rich flavor, which makes it perfect for enjoying over a slice of freshly baked bread, in creamy vinaigrette or in hearty dishes such as soups and stews or grilled meats and roasted vegetables. This 100 percent extra virgin olive oil is certified by the California Olive Oil Council and is pressed in small batches resulting in a peppery and authentic taste that cannot be compared to mass-produced olive oils that have been cut with cheaper, less healthy oils.

Marshall donates the finished extra virgin olive oil to the Edible Schoolyard Kern County, a proThe Bratcher Basket includes items from several local venders, such as Edible Schoolyard’s Buena Vista gram of the Grimm Family EducaExtra Virgin Olive Oil, Olive & Co. and “Locally Grown” and “BAKO” merchandise from Kinley M. tion Foundation. His wife, Barbara Designs.

Grimm Marshall, founded the Grimmway Academy in Shafter These baskets predominantely started with the use of 'Locally Grown' and and Arvin, public charter schools 'BAKO' merchandise designed by Kinley M. Designs, paired with unique for K-6 students. The schools are Bratcher Home kitchen accessories, such as a mini cheese board with built around a unique educationspreader and a mini glass honey pot. The baskets quickly evolved into al-nutritional model of edible somewhat of a local vendor buzz, incorporating suitable inventory scaled schoolyards. and priced properly for a gift basket."

With all that being said, you can see how we absolutely love incorporating one of the two size Canyon Ceramics and handblown dor buzz, incorporating suitable inoptions into our beautiful baskets. glassware from Dougherty Glassventory scaled and priced properly for Currently, we have partnered with works. a gift basket. The baskets are typically two of Sully’s Family Store locations: Given so many vendors, an idea to purchased as a Christmas or birthday Sully’s Stockdale, located at 250 Cofshowcase them happened by chance. present, residential closing gift from fee Road, and Sully’s Ming, located Being that we opened in the midst of a realtor to a proud new homeowner, at 11400 Ming Ave. These specific the holiday gift giving season, plus the a housewarming or hostess gift, a locations will be stocked regularly natural ability to assemble aesthetiyear-end teacher’s gift, a more mature and open 24 hours to purchase the cally pleasing baskets, consequently Easter basket and especially the most Bratcher Basket. However, if you resulted in one thing: the Bratcher perfect Mother’s Day gift. prefer to hand select products for your Basket.

This month, we want to spotlight basket, swing by Bratcher Home & These baskets predominantand share the Edible Schoolyard’s Design from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays ly started with the use of “Locally story and how its Buena Vista Extra through Fridays and every second Grown” and “BAKO” merchandise Virgin Olive Oil bottles have quickly Saturday of the month where we can designed by Kinley M. Designs, paired become a staple in most every Bratchcreate a unique basket specific to your with unique Bratcher Home kitchen er basket. special gift giving occasion. accessories, such as a mini cheese In 2012, beautiful, mature olive board with spreader and a mini trees were transplanted from WoodBrooke Bratcher is the founder and glass honey pot. The baskets quickly lake by Darcy Marshall. These olive creative director of Bratcher Home & evolved into somewhat of a local ventrees became a source of food, light Design.

“ 50

April 2021

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Go & Do

When a hobby turns into a business The beginning of Olive & Co.

By Ema Sasic

» WHEN MADISON ANDERHOLT DECIDED TO GIVE

CANDLE MAKING A TRY LAST JANUARY, SHE HAD NO IDEA WHERE THE JOURNEY WOULD LEAD HER — MAINLY BECAUSE THE FIRST CANDLE SHE MADE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A “DISASTER.” There’s a lot that goes into the process that she never considered before: how to properly melt wax, how much fragrance oils to add, how to slowly pour the melted wax.

But through determination, and steady hands, a new hobby quickly manifested itself into a small business: Olive & Co. In a year’s time, she’s gotten people’s attention locally — her candles can be found in several stores — and nationally. People from Illinois, New York and other states are buying her products.

“It’s flattering and it’s awesome to see people everywhere across the U.S. be interested,” she said. “I do a little happy dance anytime that happens.”

In January 2020, Anderholt, who is a full-time teacher and intervention coordinator, decided to give candle making a try. As a fan of baking, self-care hobbies, math and science, all of that tied into making candles. So one weekend, after gathering a bunch of supplies off of Amazon and perfumes, she gave it a go — and quickly saw it wasn’t as easy a task as she thought.

But the complexities behind the process and its therapeutic nature intrigued her. Sure, the first candle wasn’t the best, Anderholt said, but the coming months involved learning more about different waxes, trimming wicks, creating scents and operating a business with her husband, Dylan Wilson, out of their two spare bedrooms.

The name Olive & Co. refers to Anderholt’s best friend, Olive, a black and white shih tzu that came into her life when she was 13 years old. For years they were an unstoppable duo, but in 2014, they both got sick. Anderholt recovered quickly, but Olive was getting much worse.

On Dec. 14, 2014, Olive passed away, and Madison always told herself she would name something after Olive.

What better way to honor her memory than putting her name on a beloved product, Anderholt thought.

“That was the goal, to find something that her name could represent joy to other people because she was so joyful as a dog, and I wanted to represent that in the best

52

April 2021

Olive & Co. founder Madison Anderholt shows off honey that is available for purchase on her website.

Dough bowls are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors.

PHOTOS BY EMA SASIC

“

That was the goal, to find something that her name could represent joy to other people because she was so joyful as a dog, and I wanted to reprsent that in the best way possible."

— Madison Anderholt, founder of Olive & Co.

way possible,” she said.

After getting the hang of candle making — “we’re still learning,” Anderholt said, and there’s a bit of trial and error from time to time — she released her first candles line in late February 2020. Since then, a number of local stores, such as Bratcher Home & Design, Archer the Storefront and Redhouse Beef, sell Olive & Co. products, and Anderholt and Wilson have been introducing new scents, waxes and products.

Olive & Co. candles come in a variety of scents, such as blood orange, sea salt and orchid, coconut lime, golden rose and other seasonal ones. Wilson explained the pair blends scents from bases provided by suppliers. One combination — grapefruit, mint, cucumber and melon — will be available this spring.

Some candles come in unique holders, such as dough bowls, which are hand carved, made from raw wood and from Mexico. They come in a number of shapes and colors, and once the candle is all used up, the bowl itself can be used for other decorative purposes. Anderholt’s mother also created concrete jars.

After some time, beeswax candles were introduced to the lineup. That allowed the couple to learn how it differs from soy wax and its health benefits. But first, they had to learn how to actually work with a 15-pound block of pure beeswax.

“How do I melt this? What do I do with this block?” Anderholt remembers asking herself.

“I tried shaving it, cutting it, throwing it on the ground.

I used a pick and I just beat it as hard as I could... that was the only way to break it up into chunks and melt it down,” Wilson added.

Beeswax candles help purify the air by producing negative ions while burning, eliminate dust, odors and mold and help with allergies, asthma symptoms and improves breathing, according to Olive & Co’s website.

Orange blossom (from the Central Valley) and clover (from North Dakota) honey is also available for sale, and some jars even come with almonds on top.

With a fruitful first year, Anderholt and Wilson hope one day to have a store of their own. But for now, they’re taking the process step-by-step, and even introducing others into their candle world. Olive & Co. offers candle making classes which provide everything one needs to create an 8-ounce soy wax candle. Classes are held in-person and limited to six people.

To learn more about Olive & Co., find the company on Facebook and Instagram @olivecocandles or visit https:// oliveandcocandles.com/

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53

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Go & Do

Do more, for less in Santa Maria Valley

Wine, food, and fun await on the Central Coast » MAKE THE MOST OF THE CENTRAL COAST SAFELY AND AFFORDABLY IN SANTA MARIA VALLEY. When you use Santa Maria Valley as your Central Coast home base, you get more for less. Experience more world-class wine tasting opportunities, more iconic Santa Maria Style barbecue and more outdoor adventures in a relaxed, uncrowded atmosphere.

Spring and summer in Santa Maria Valley are the perfect times to take advantage of the gorgeous coastal climate and get outdoors. Santa Maria Valley is wellknown for its juicy, delicious strawberries that bloom beginning in March and April. Local favorite attractions like U-Pick Blueberries allow you to get into the fields and pick your own delicious strawberries and blueberries while staying safe and socially distanced.

U-Pick Blueberries never uses harsh chemical sprays on their plants, ensuring the safest berry-picking experience for everyone.

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April 2021

If you don’t want to pick your berries yourself, you can find berries at local farmers markets and supermarkets throughout the valley. You might even be able to find Santa Maria Valley strawberries in your local supermarket!

What’s a trip to the Central Coast without wine tasting? Hop in the car, on the motorcycle or on a bike to cruise the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. This 30-mile stretch of road is home to 13 winery tasting rooms that serve a wide array of varietals, from cool-climate to Rhône-style wines and more.

Stop by Cambria Winery to sample pinot noir and chardonnay that are sustainably farmed and passionately tended on the family-owned estate’s 1,600 acres of vineyards. Each wine Cambria produces is 100 percent estate-grown, fully revealing the essence of northern Santa Barbara County and the Santa Maria Bench.

The beautiful Rancho Sisquoc Winery is another can’t-miss stop on the trail. Rancho Sisquoc’s vineyards grow some of the most sought-after grapes on the Central Coast. Only their estate-grown grapes are used in crafting their award-winning cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, malbec, merlot, pinot noir, syrah and more.

On your way to Rancho Sisquoc, you’ll likely pass by the San Ramon Chapel and Cemetery. This beautiful church is on the California Historical Landmarks list and is also the first historic landmark listed by Santa Barbara County. The chapel is still an active parish, but visitors are welcome for tours through the church or cemetery.

La Purisima Mission State Historic Park is another historic site located just 20 minutes from Santa Maria.

Founded in 1812, La Purisima Mission is one of the oldest original Spanish missions in the region. It is also considered the most extensively restored missions in the state. The mission is open nearly every day for guided tours and features an extensive trail system guests can embark on.

No matter how you spend your Central Coast getaway, you’ll get more when you make Santa Maria Valley your home base. More wine, food and fun for less.

Visit SantaMariaValley.com to learn more and start planning your next Central Coast trip today. www.BakersfieldLife.com

55

Go & Do

Less is more

Ways to introduce minimalism into your life

By Julie Mana-ay Perez

» LIVING A MINIMALIST LIFESTYLE DOES NOT HAVE

things like buying too much fast food each week or shopping. Instead, begin investing and spending on things that maximize your lifelong term, be that purchasing a house, traveling or getting out of debt.

The goal of minimalism is not depriving yourself of everything, but choosing selectively and carefully what enters your space. Popular Japanese organizing consultant Marie Kondo even has her own show on Netflix on ways to declutter your life.

Living a minimal lifestyle is more than just cleaning out the belongings in your life; it often means curating your space to items you love. It’s important to note that there’s not one way to lead a minimal life because it’s about curating and forming your ideal life in the way you see it to fulfill happiness.

DIGITAL MINIMALISM

TO BE FOR EVERYONE, BUT WHEN YOU LIVE IN A CHAOTIC WORLD, MANY OF US HAVE A NEED TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL — LONGING FOR LESS, NEEDING LESS AND DOING LESS.

SPENDING LESS, DOING MORE Embracing minimalism does not mean to stop spending money, but instead spending it on other things that shift your focus from making money to enjoying your life.

Prioritize your spending and start a budget. This means setting aside money for your bills and limiting the need for

56

April 2021

The digital age will always continue to rise. We live in a noisy world where everyone around us is always connected. Technology is always in our faces because our world relies on this for entertainment, work, creating, staying up-to-date on news, etc.

In Cal Newport’s book “Digital Minimalism,” he writes about how people struggle to step away from their devices and how they are missing out on activities that are “crucial to a flourishing, functional human life.”

Use your smartphone as a tool, and not the other way around. Newport recommends a “digital detox” by stepping away from social media and apps for 30 days.

“Get back in touch with what you really care about, what you want to spend your time on, and when you’re done with the 30 days, rebuild that digital life from scratch — but do it this time with real intention,” Newport said.

Start by deleting apps you don’t need. You don’t have

DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

“

Get back in touch with what you really care about, what you want to spend your time on, and when you're done with the 30 days, rebuild that digital life from scratch — but do it this time with real intention."

— Cal Newport in his book "Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World

• DISCARD BY CATEGORY: Clothes, books, mementos, old paperwork, etc.

• ONLY KEEP THINGS THAT SPARK JOY: Go through all your belongings and get rid of items that don’t serve a purpose in your life.

• ORGANIZE YOUR SPACE: This step helps you take back control in your life and decide where to store items.

SPEND TIME ALONE

to delete your accounts, but only use it when you’re on a device other than your smartphone.

When I first started my digital detox, I deleted all my social media, news and entertainment apps off of my phone and now access them through a web browser. This practice allows me to spend less time on my phone and focus more on what’s in front of me. Since the start of my digital detox in January, I’ve been more productive at work, have been creating better art, maintaining a better relationship with my family and friends and doing more activities.

After the digital detox, return to social media and bring back purpose into your content — create more, follow more inspiring people and scroll through social media for a limited time.

KONDO’S METHOD Kondo’s method is not tied to minimalism, but she does encourage “living among items you truly cherish.” To organize your home, follow the KonMari method:

Going back to Newport’s “Digital Minimalism,” he references another book written by Raymond Kethledge, a federal judge serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and Michael Erwin, a former Army officer who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Kethledge and Erwin’s book, “Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude,” discussed the topic of solitude — the importance of being alone with your thoughts. Many people mistakenly associate solitude with physical separation and isolation — that you need to travel hundreds or thousands of miles away from other people. Kethledge and Erwin explain solitude is about what’s happening in your brain and not the environment around you. You can experience solitude in a coffee shop or even in your own backyard as long as you don’t allow input from other minds to intrude your thoughts. There are benefits to doing things by yourself because it allows you to enjoy activities you love at your own pace. Through solitude, you learn more about yourself and reflect on your experience to grow as a person.

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57

GREAT KERN COUNTY

Ibram X. Kendi, historian, antiracist scholar and author of "How to Be an Antiracist," will be the featured speaker for the Kegley Institute of Ethics' 34th Annual Charles W. Kegley Memorial Lecture.

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April 2021

PHOTO COURTESY OF IBRAM X. KENDI'S WEBSITE

Author Ibram X. Kendi to speak at Kegley Institute of Ethics Charles W. Kegley Memorial Lecture

By Ema Sasic

» IBRAM X. KENDI, HISTORIAN, ANTIRACIST SCHOL-

AR AND AUTHOR OF “HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST,” WILL BE THE FEATURED SPEAKER FOR THE KEGLEY INSTITUTE OF ETHICS’ 34TH ANNUAL CHARLES W. KEGLEY MEMORIAL LECTURE.

The event, scheduled for 6 p.m. April 14, will be held via Zoom and is free and open to the public.

This time last year, when the institute was planning on having its annual lecture with speaker Christian Picciolini, it had to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, with a year’s worth of experience working in a virtual setting, Michael Burroughs, KIE director, will be moderating the conversation between he and Kendi, as well as answering audience questions.

The discussion will focus on summer 2020 protests, issues regarding police reform and what antiracism looks like in practice. Kendi, who is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities and the founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research and whose book is often selected as reading material on college campuses, including CSUB, was a top choice to lead the lecture series.

“When I sat in on one of his lectures online, I thought he’s such a great speaker. He’s someone who is brilliant and talented and can speak to a diverse audience,” Burroughs explained. “I saw him as somebody who could help take these conversations to the next level.”

Kendi is also a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a CBS News racial justice contributor. In 2019, Kendi was awarded the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship. In 2020, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Those interested in attending the talk can visit https:// csub.zoom.us/j/82440309975 Focusing programming on issues such as social justice or racism isn’t new for KIE, Burroughs said. In the wake of the protests of summer 2020 following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the institute put together a slate of online events featuring local and national university members and authors.

As CSUB’s spring semester slowly comes to a close, the institute still has a number of online events scheduled.

One such event, “NextTech: From the Central Valley to Silicon Valley,” scheduled for 5 p.m. April 21, will feature four former Central Valley residents who now work in major tech companies. They will describe what their educational pathways looked like and how they worked their way into

Silicon Valley. The event is free and open to the public.

Despite the challenges that come with not being able to hold events in-person just yet, Burroughs is still “very proud” of the work done by his team and other individuals at CSUB to keep the online lineup busy.

“I think that we’ve worked really hard to try and be a resource for engaging programing and ethics, and I’m happy with how things have gone,” he said.

To stay up-to-date with KIE programming, visit https:// www.cs.csubak.edu/~kie/. Links to all public Zoom events can also be found on the KIE site as well as on KIE Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages in advance of each event.

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Great Kern County

The short film “The Seeds They Grow” takes a look at the challenges and hardships that Bakersfield’s Latino essential workers are dealing with during the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘The Seeds They Grow’

delivers a personal insight into Bakersfield’s Latino essential workers

By Carissa Diaz

» IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY, THE WORRY SUR-

ROUNDING CORONAVIRUS ISN’T JUST CONTRACTING THE ILLNESS ITSELF. Instead, it’s more of a concern of “how can we continue to provide for our families?”

That is the question that Bakersfield filmmaker David Gonzalez documented from his father, Juan Gonzalez, and stepmother’s perspective in his short film, “The Seeds They Grow.”

The film was released on Feb. 18 through PBS, as part of the Latinos are Essential program, which is a collection of videos that tell the stories of what Latino workers are dealing with during the pandemic. In the video, the 23-year-old takes viewers into his family’s experience with COVID-19 when his stepmother, a hospital maintenance worker, and father, a chef, contracted the virus.

“It never dawned on me that anyone close to my family would actually get it,” Gonzalez said. “Once they got it and they were telling me about their experiences, I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is seriously no joke. This is something that really is hurting them. This is something that is deteriorating them in some sense.’”

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April 2021

David Gonzalez is a 23-yearold filmmaker and Bakersfield native capturing the important and personal stories of the Latino culture.

At the time, Gonzalez was attending the University of California Santa Cruz when his parents told him they had the virus. He immediately felt worried and out of reach, but said his extended family stepped in to help deliver necessities as they quarantined.

His father, unfortunately, had a tough battle and still struggles with complications today.

After graduating in 2020, Gonzalez was given the opportunity by a professor and mentor to submit an application for Latinos are Essential.

She had confidence in him and inspired by his work in college.

Gonzalez felt that this would be an opportunity to shed light

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID CONZALEZ

Bakersfield is located in the heart of agriculture, where many migrants come to America and work in the fields.

on his culture that he held so close to him.

“It’s important because during the last four years [in] America, there’s this whole stigma about Latino people, but it’s now given this idea of essential workers,” Gonzalez said. “I think Latinos make up a large population of that. I think during that whole time, nobody thought about it in that way.”

The title, “The Seeds They Grow,” stems from the background that most Latinos in Bakersfield can relate to; it’s a symbol of migrant parents who come to America and work in the fields to provide for their families. Gonzalez’s parents migrated from Guadalajara, Mexico, became field workers and gave their children a chance to grow in an environment full of opportunities.

“I’m practically the seed that they grew because through their hard work and through their labor, they were able to create a child, and [gave] me the opportunity to flourish as much as I can just because they choose to do the essential work that they were dealt with,” Gonzalez said.

Although Latinos held the title of essential workers before the pandemic, they haven’t necessarily been treated as such. Gonzalez mentioned that his father was grateful to receive unemployment, but his stepmom felt discriminated against for asking for help since she mostly spoke Spanish. He expressed that many Latinos are facing hardships and challenges to receive government aid because they are undocumented and aren’t fluent in English.

“I think that was one thing that they highlighted toward me, when I was talking to them,

The title of the short film, “The Seeds They Grow,” holds a special meaning for undocumented workers, who come to America and work in the fields to provide for their families.

“

I'm practically the seed that they grew because through their hard work and through their labor, they were able to create a child, and [gave] me the opportunity to flourish as much as I can just because they chose to do the essential work that they were dealt with."

about how they kind of made ends meet because they had to kind of fight even [to get] the resources that were there for them,” Gonzalez said.

“The Seeds They Grow” sheds light on the hardships the Latino community is currently facing, but it also sends a message that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

The short film can be found online at PBS.org.

— David Gonzalez www.BakersfieldLife.com

61

Great Kern County

A LEAP of faith Pediatric physical therapy center opens in Bakersfield

By Ema Sasic

» CORINNE PETTIT DELIVERED ALL THREE OF HER CHILDREN PREMATURELY, BUT NOTICED DELAYS EARLY WITH HER YOUNGEST, CORA, WHO WAS DELIVERED AT 31 WEEKS GESTATION AND REMAINED IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT FOR FOUR WEEKS.

She and her husband, Justin, began seeking early intervention services locally for Cora when she was 7 months old. Shortly thereafter, Pettit began researching alternative therapies, such as Cuevas Medek Exercise and intensive therapy, and traveling to neighboring cities for help.

That’s when they saw Cora’s body and life change drastically.

“We started her at about 13 months old for her first intensive and at that point she had no trunk control, no crawling,” Pettit said.

Once she started doing intensive therapy, “We started to see a lot more movement, rolling, a lot more trunk control. She’s now crawling, she’s learning how to use her walker.”

Cora was diagnosed at 20 months old with cerebral palsy. Once a diagnosis was established, Pettit made it her goal to bring the therapies that have helped her daughter here to Kern County. Today, LEAP Pediatric Physical Therapy, which opened in January, hopes to change as many children’s lives as possible.

Children with neurological or rare genetic disorders participate in a three-week program ranging in hours per day, intensity and therapies. A number of approaches are utilized at LEAP, including Cuevas Medek Exercises, physical therapy and speech therapy.

Cuevas Medek Exercises is a pediatric therapy approach created

by Ramón Cuevas in 1972 for children with developmental delay caused by a known or unknown non-degenerative syndrome impacting the central nervous system, according to the LEAP website.

Cuevas wanted to create a method of exercises that provokes the automatic postural responses.

Specific CME characteristics include provoking the appearance of absent motor functions and automatic responses of functional — postural motor control; exposing a child to the influence of gravity; promoting the use of distal support rather than hand-to-hand contact; and stretching.

While therapy sessions vary from child to child, Amanda Rohkohl, physical therapist and co-owner, works with parents to establish what a child’s goals are and how to best meet them.

“I don’t treat a diagnosis, I just treat what I see is delayed in gross motor abilities,” explained Rohkohl. “I’m looking at what they can’t do. If they can’t army crawl, I’m going to show them the motor planning. Do they not have core strength or extremity strength? You’re going to do exercises to help that.”

LEAP also offers therapy sessions for families focusing on communication areas such as early intervention, pediatric sign language, oral-motor, articulation, aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia, fluency (stuttering), language, autism spectrum disorders, auditory processing and pragmatic language.

Speech language pathologist and co-owner Carolyn Maxwell shared several families want their children to be able to express themselves without getting frustrated or to say common first words

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April 2021

From left, Amanda Rohkohl, Corinne Pettit and Carolyn Maxwell.

such as “mama.” With the number of children she has worked with so far, many parents come back each week and express how much more vocal their children are at home.

“When you’re working with students at schools, it’s 30 minutes twice a week if you’re lucky,” Maxwell explained. “Here I can work with them for an hour, five days a week, and really build their language and focus on that.”

She builds on limited vocabulary or helps establish it, incorporates sign language to help children who are unable to talk and even builds on sounds. For example, if they can say the letter “m,” she works with them to say the words “more,” “mama” and “milk.”

So far, families who have come to LEAP have seen their children make steady progress. Cyle and Elyse Bakker, from Tulare, have completed one full three-week session with their son, Calvin, 1 1/2-years-old, and noticed his “personality came out” and he was able to balance better when standing.

“We’re ready to come back,” Cyle Bakker said.

Hearing those stories, and seeing how intensive therapy helps her own child, makes Pettit excited to serve as many families as possible.

“I was the mom with the dream and wanted to share this intense model of therapy with so many other kids,” she said. “I know it works, I’ve seen it with my own daughter. It’s not just a three-week one-time fix it, it’s something that you’re going to have to do and work on, but the results are amazing.”

To learn more about LEAP, visit https://www.leappedtherapy. com/

PHOTO BY EMA SASIC

Great Kern County

The Central Valley Scholars team.

Central Valley Scholars helps local students achieve academic dreams

By Ema Sasic

» FOR MANY CENTRAL VALLEY STUDENTS WHO COME

FROM LOW-INCOME OR FIRST-GENERATION HOUSEHOLDS, PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION AND HAVING AMPLE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE A GIVEN. Michael Piña (pronouns she/he), who grew up in Kerman, noticed the lack of educational resources and support students from the Central Valley face in comparison to her University of California Berkeley peers. Counselors and teachers in high school did not believe in Piña’s chances of graduating, nor pursuing higher education, due to her background, and she realized many of her Central Valley peers were likely experiencing the same thing.

So she created Central Valley Scholars to meet the

need and advocate for her peers.

Central Valley Scholars empowers students to realize their potential and capabilities and directly provides the resources, guidance and support in order to make their educational dreams a reality. It also creates a safe space for all students where they are supported, admired, advocated for and respected.

Piña said the program started with workshops, themtors (who assist first-generation, undocumented and Black students from the Central Valley with their college applications) and scholarship opportunities. In its nearly two years, Central Valley Scholars has grown and expanded quickly. » See more Our Town on PAGE 64.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICHAEL PIÑA

www.BakersfieldLife.com

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Great Kern County “I wanted to create a space that provided these educational spaces and was inclusive,” Piña said. “I never envisioned it as a nonprofit. I started off with what I saw as a need, and I thought I had some experience and resources to pass along to my fellow Central Valley community.”

The year-long program helps high school seniors, community college students and other non-traditional G.E.D. school students throughout the entire undergraduate application process. There are workshops available to provide free online webinars on subjects such as the UC applications, Ivy League applications, Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the Dream Act. Themtors also help guide students on various applications and completing all things college-related both correctly and promptly.

Central Valley Scholars also helps students ease into college, answering questions such as what it’s like to live with roommates and what college classes are like, before they step foot on campus, and checks in with them regarding their mental wellbeing.

Cristofer Arellano Acosta (pronouns he/him), a current Central Valley Scholars student from Lamont, wasn’t sure what his educational path would look like. Once he applied to the program, he was paired with a themtor who ex-

plained different options and encouraged him to pursue his educational dreams.

“When I told them about the schools I wanted to attend, they gave me motivation and really helped me go through the process and helped me to apply,” Arellano Acosta said. “I’m really grateful that they saw hope in us.”

Arellano Acosta participated in workshops with Berkeley admissions personnel who offered tips on how to write a strong essay and impress them with an application. It helped him immensely in the end — he recently learned he was accepted into the university.

Hearing those success stories is a “beautiful feeling” for Piña. Knowing that so many students face various barriers, being able to create a program that advocates and supports them has been rewarding.

“Just that initial disbelief because you come from a low-income, uneducated family, people immediately label you as unsuccessful. That’s a huge thing done with Central Valley students and those with intersexuality barriers,” Piña said. “We’re tapping into the potential that these students always had, showcasing it and making them believe they can achieve it.”

To learn more about Central Valley Scholars, visit https://www.centralvalleyscholars.org/

Central Valley Scholars empowers students to realize their potential and capabilities and directly provides the resources, guidance and support in order to make their educational dreams a reality.

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April 2021

Bakersfield Matters

Women’s & Girls’ Fund announces 2021 grantees Programs aim to transform lives in Kern County

By Lisa Kimble

» SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE WOMEN’S AND GIRLS’ FUND,

PART OF THE KERN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, HAS BEEN AFFECTING CHANGE IN THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND GIRLS THROUGH ANNUAL GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE. This year, $75,000 was

awarded to three programs, all pilot efforts focused on long-term solutions to societal challenges.

No Sister Left Behind received $25,000 for its upstart “Total Well-Being Program.”

“This stood out for me because the nonprofit operates in a much-needed place for women of color who may not be equipped to realize their dreams of college or bettering their employment,” said Fund Vision Committee member Cathy Bennett.

The program will provide workshops for Black women between the ages of 18 and 44 who are undereducated, underprepared and unqualified for economic empowerment.

“It is not enough to simply encourage women to strive for a better life,” said organization founder Glenda Woolfolk. “We need to address disparities from a holistic approach with a network of support.”

The focus of this year’s grant-making was education. The other two recipients zeroed in on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“Our research, the 2020 Report on the Status of Women and Girls in Kern County, told us that girls will earn significantly better salaries if they are in STEM fields,” Bennett added.

Mighty in STEM Sisters (MiSS) was awarded $25,000 for its new after-school mentoring program in collaboration with the DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

Department of Defense, Edwards Air Force Base female civilians, NASA and STARBASE professionals. Edwards is one of nine active-duty bases with a STARBASE program.

“Eastern Kern communities have limited enhanced educational opportunities for girls in the targeted communities like California City, Boron and North Edwards,” said program director Amira Flores. “Girls will be immersed in a variety of STEM areas such as robotics, physics, and aerospace. These golden opportunities are so special and will inspire future innovators.”

The third recipient is the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Educational Services Foundation which has created Girls Excelling in Math and Science (Gems). The 12-month program for up to 35 fourth- and fifth-grade Hispanic students from the Edison School District will be led by female STEM majors at CSUB. “These students are the data points in the 2020 Report. Of the 1,060 students enrolled, about half are female. 90 percent are Hispanic/Latino living in a rural, isolated farm working community,” said Kern CountySuperintendent of Schools Science Coordinator Michelle Roy. “Girls’ interest in STEM begins to drop in middle school due to peer pressure, lack of encouragement and exposure and lack of role models.”

Developers of the pilot GEMS program hope, thanks to the grant, to replicate it in other school districts in the future.

“We at the Women’s and Girls’ Fund love STEM. These programs are attempting to break the mold so that girls learn at a young age that they can do science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and that it is fun,” Bennett said. www.BakersfieldLife.com

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History

LEFT: This Feb. 25, 1939, Bakersfield Californian image shows the El Cielo Drive home built by William Gannon.

BOTTOM: Williamsburg-Colonial built by J. M. Eggleston is seen in the July 15, 1939, edition of The Bakersfield Californian.

The Grand Opening of La Cresta Heights Unique in design and promotion

By Julie Plata

» THE AD IN THE APRIL 3, 1937, BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN

STATED, “HOMES BLOOM WHERE CACTUS BLOOMED [A] MONTH AGO.” Referred to as both Upper La Cresta and La Crest Heights, La Cresta’s newest 160 lot subdivision on the Kern River bluffs promised prospective buyers a view of the city, valley and mountains amid quiet, refined and exclusive surroundings. According to the same article, Howard Nichols Inc. designed the neighborhood to make La Cresta a place of “home happiness” to locate permanently.

The residential development would be modern in every way, but aside from all the amenities that were sure to attract buyers, one of the most unexpected things the developers were proud of was the immense 100-foot-long electric neon sign with letters 10 feet high intended to catch the attention of all. Touted as the “largest neon sign in the San Joaquin Valley,” the April 3, 1937, Californian, in doing its own investigative work, reported that “a check of neon signs was made last Saturday in Los Angeles and it was found that no sign on Wilshire Boulevard from Western Avenue to Santa Monica reached the 10-foot height of the La Cresta sign.” The sign was so successful in attracting visitors that by April 24, Howard Nichols issued a plea in The Californian for no more visitors to La Cresta. His reason being that the amount of dust caused by the ongoing grading and the incomplete oiling of the streets caused visitors to “[experience] the annoyance of dust and dirt” and he would rather have them visit the tract in comfort.

Col. Howard Nichols was one of the area’s pioneering developers who helped turn Bakersfield into a metropolitan

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April 2021

area. Nichols wanted this latest neighborhood to be unique and unlike any other tract in Bakersfield. With that in mind, the Nichols company approached the design and construction of the model homes in a unique way as well. Nichols was a marketing genius with his idea. It was announced competing contractors would design, build and furnish 12 different model homes.

Once complete, the public could visit the homes between June 6 to 13, 1937, and cast their ballot for the winner. Entrants included Z.L. Murray, J.M. Eggleston, William Summers, H.C. Evans, Lauren K. Miner, Crowder & Ingalls, Hubbard & Son, O.D. Williams, Jr., Willard K. Michael, Carter & Fowler, Alva Hackney & Sons, and Elliott Construction Co. The models were judged as follows: 35 points for floor plan, 25 points for interior decorating and finish, 25 points for exterior appearance and 15 points for yard appearance.

On June 14, 1937, O.D. Williams Jr.’s “Hearts Desire” entry earned 54,045 points and was announced the top winner of the $750 cash prize. Z.L. Murray’s “Regal Manor” earned 41,120 points and won $350 for second place. Third place and an award of $250 went to Alva Hackney & Sons’ “Honeymoon Bungalow” and the final cash prizes of $100 went to H.C. Evans, Lauren K. Miner and Hubbard and Sons.

Called “one of the greatest expositions of its kind ever held in the state,” more than 35,000 people visited the La Cresta Heights model homes during that single week alone and demonstrated why it remains one of Bakersfield’s most unique and charming neighborhoods.

CALIFORNIAN FILE PHOTOS

Great Kern County 1

How Bakersfield are you?

2 3

4

See the answers at bakersfield.com/ bakersfield-life

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6 7

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The April Puzzle ACROSS

DOWN 1

What was the name of The Bakersfield Californian before Alfred Harrell purchased it in 1897?

3

This individual is credited with growing the area’s first cotton in 1862.

4

Where was the first county seat located?

5

Where was the first commercial vineyard established in Kern County?

7

This Fresno-based tech hub is building a new building in downtown Bakersfield and expects to hire 500 people to participate in apprentic ships allowing employees to "earn while you learn"

2

This education leader was a well-liked and respected member of the community. In 1952, she ran as Democratic candidate for the state's 38th Assembly District. She also has a building named after her at Cal State Bakersfield.

5

Other than being the owner of Sweet Tree Farms, what other business does Annie Florendo own?

6

On Feb. 10, 1971, this medical transportation provider, which would later become the largest in Kern County, was established by Harvey

L. Hall.

8

In 1853, geologist William Blake discovered marine vertebrate fossils at this location, as it is known today, along the Kern River.

9 What was this town called before its name changed to Kernville in 1864?

12

The first automobile garage in Bakersfield opened in 1906 by this

10

What was the first free library in Kern County?

individual.

11

What bakery was established in 1945 by Howard Smith and

13

This element was discovered along the Kern River and, in 1853, at

Roy Balmain?

Greenhorn Gulch on Greenhorn Mountain.

14

This Bakersfield school established the Blade Closet, a pantry full of hygiene products, toiletries and clothing.

www.BakersfieldLife.com

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