Author:pablo

Hollywood Comes to Taft

By Emily Davis

Taft and surrounding areas in Kern County offer a multitude of different sceneries from modern to historic. Because of this diversity, Taft has been an ideal location for the movie industry.

Over the past seven decades, Taft has provided its diverse scenery to 36 different productions. Some of the most popular titles are The Best of Times (1986), Thelma & Louise (1991), and For My Daughters Honor (1996).

In The Best of Times, after being the laughing stalk of the town for years, Robin Williams convinces Kurt Russell and his other teammates to reunite for one last chance of redemption. A large part of the 1986 movie was filmed in Taft. Center Street and the Moose Lodge racked up quite a few minutes on the big screen.

“It’s a sweet film, I like it . . . . It’s about friends basically, friends and wives, and a little bit about football, but more about memories,” the late Robin William said about The Best of Times (YouTube video).

Taft Union High School is the scenic star of the 1996 movie Indecent Seduction (For My Daughters Honor).The movie is set in Tate, Okla., but was filmed here in Taft. A majority if the movie was filmed at TUHs with a few scenes filmed on Center Street, in the oilfields, and various buildings around Taft.

This movie tells a story about a high school coach’s (Gary Cole) affair with a student (Nicholle Tom).

Many of the employees that worked at TUHS remember what it was like having a film crew around while they were working.

“It was very interesting to watch and kind of distracting. The crew and cast were very nice and cooperative with the staff,” says Greg Davis, a Taft High employee who was present during the time of filming.

A mutated, human-sized frog looking for love terrorizes the town and romps onto the TUHS football field in the 2004 movie, Frog-g-g!

Next time you are watching the AMC network, keep an eye out for these movies that were also filmed in Taft and surrounding areas; The Cell (2000), A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014), Five Easy Pieces (1970), The Onion Field (1979), Best Laid Plans (1999), Break Up (1998), Boom Town (1940), Robot Wars (1993), The Measure of a Man (2011), In Old Oklahoma (1943), Sugar Boxx (2009), 25 Hill (2011), Intersection (2015), Goth (2003), Winged Victory (1944), Vengeance (2004), Girl in the Cadillac (1995), Black Cresent Moon (2008), Destination Unknown (2007), Eye of the Stranger (1993), Coiled (2014), Then Again (2013), and Wonder Full of Nothing (2009).

California Pizza Kitchen Makes Dreams Come True

California Pizza Kitchen Grants a Wish

Ellie Hilliard

One of Bakersfield’s more popular restaurants, California Pizza Kitchen, has recently teamed up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to make a difference in the lives of Kern County children. The beginning of 2016 marked the start of California Pizza Kitchen’s “Round Up for Charity.” The “Round up for Charity” program simply encourages customers to round up on their bill and donate a little extra money at the end of their meal for a charitable cause. The extra proceeds are then donated by California Pizza Kitchen to the Central California chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Since the beginning of 2016, California Pizza Kitchen has raised a significant amount of money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Furthermore, the Bakersfield location of California Pizza Kitchen has had the opportunity to grant a wish for one very special Kern County child. A high school junior attending Stockdale High School was granted his ultimate wish, to have a culinary experience.  California Pizza Kitchen gave this student the opportunity to create his very own pizza. Seventeen year old Zach, who suffers from a severe muscle disorder, was invited to the California Pizza Kitchen headquarters for a day of culinary exploration and pizza making. Zach was able to custom design his very own pizza featuring: bacon, fig jam, goat cheese, and arugula, which will be sold at the California Pizza Kitchen located in Bakersfield.

All of the sales earned from Zach’s very own pizza will be donated by California Pizza Kitchen to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. California Pizza Kitchen and the Make-A-Wish Foundation are grateful for the opportunity to grant Zach’s wish and remain hopeful that they will be able to grant the wish of another Kern County child in the near future. For those individuals eager to give back in some manner, how about taking a trip to California Pizza Kitchen and “rounding up” on your next bill? Anyone can make a positive difference in the life of a Make-A-Wish child.

Zach attending his Make A Wish and CPK event

Kiwanis Kolor Run Superhero 5K

“Sit Down” Comedian Visits TC

By Jonathan Celiz

On March 1, The Taft College English Language Arts Division was host to a unique individual, Miguel Lugo who goes by the stage name, “El Chueco.” He is an Hispanic comedian who also has cerebral palsy and is a advocate for people with disabilities.

He spoke at the Cougar Room about his life, his career, and what motivated him to take up comedy as well as raise awareness about people with disabilities and helping those people make the most out of life and not be tied down by the low expectations of peers or society in general all while incorporating humor.

His speech also coincided with a short film entitled “My Reality” which is an honest look at how society views others with disabilities such as his. It’s freely available to view on youtube and on his site www.elchueco.com

Black History Month

By Nick Kawano

Every February, Americans in retrospect think about how far this country has come when it comes to racism and The Civil Rights Movements. Black History Month is when we pay our respects to legends such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall, and many others.

I remember when my father would always tell me the stories about Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus, Jackie Robinson changing the game of baseball by being the first negro player to ever play Major League Baseball, and of course, the famous “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Being a young college student makes me feel very blessed and fortunate that I have not been exposed to as much racism. I couldn’t imagine watching people being harassed because of the color their skin. The fact that black women and men had to use different restrooms, drink from different water fountains, and go to different schools is crazy to think about. Now in today’s world, we pay homage to the men and women that dealt with a lot of adversity to make the world a better place.

Walking around the TC dorms at Taft College, I asked people I’ve never met about their opinion of Black History Month. Whyhella Haley said, “I’m very thankful for all of the brave men and women that risked their lives to help better this country and make everyone equal. It’s not about what color of skin you have, it’s about what kind of person you make yourself out to be and that’s the most important thing.”

Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other Countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history. February 24^th and 25^th, Taft College celebrated Black History Month with a quiz about black history and a “Taste of Soul” cooking lesson.

Whyhella Haley at Black History celebration

Finding the Pot of Gold and Black

By Ashley Renteria

Traditional Irish foods, games, and raffles, these are the things you found if you attended Taft College’s ASB St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

The celebration was held on March 17th in the Conn Expo room in the cafeteria.

Traditional Irish dishes consisted of shepherd’s pie, Irish soda bread, red cabbage salad and a cereal bar treat that consisted of lucky charms, white chocolate drizzle, and pretzels. Candied pecans with local honey were prepared by Shoshana Kukuliev who is student trustee of ASB.

There were cup stacking games where the winner from each round played other winners. Winners of each round were awarded one raffle ticket for the prizes.

Ariel Manzano, Arielle Stoyanow and Nancy Reynaga discuss rules of the cup stacking game

Ryan Gaunt prepares to play against opponent

First place prize was Ryan Gaunt who won a $50 Visa Gift Card and 2nd place was Nancy Reynaga who won a gift basket and goodies.

Nancy Reynaga and her gift basket and goodies pictured with ASB Vice President Alicia Huizar

Classified Employee Appreciation

Irish Event–St. Patrick’s Day

Bakersfield Symphony Comes to Taft

Kentucky Wildcats Top Texas A&M to Claim SEC Title

Photo CourtesyTroy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports

By Veronica Renaker

The Kentucky Wildcats faced Texas A&M Sunday afternoon and did not disappoint.

The Cats went up against the Aggies earlier in the basketball season but lost 79-77 on a disputed technical foul with Alex Poythress on the bench. Poythress, a 6-foot, 8-inch, 230-pound small forward, is a crucial player on Kentucky’s team, averaging 10.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and .4 assists per game.

After stumbling earlier in the season, the Cats are back, and are their claws out! The two teams hashed it out in a tournament championship game at Bridgestone Arena. With 18.7 seconds left on the clock Danuel House of Texas A&M hit a three pointer which tied the game at 71.

Tyler Ulis of Kentucky quickly returned the favor with a jump shot putting his team back in front. With 15 seconds until victory, House hit nothing but net from the three point line, followed by a layup, putting TAM ahead 75-73.

With such a close call the stadium was brought to their feet. TAM’s final jump shot of the night brought the scoreboard to 77-76, UK. Not allowing a victory for Aggies, the Wildcats did not give up hope. Both Willis and Murray had back to back three pointers to win the game right before the buzzer. The final score was 82-77.

”We’re disappointed, but we don’t have time to hang our heads or be disrupted in the journey we’re trying to accomplish,” said Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy. TAM was seeded third in March Madness’ Western Regional.

UK coach John Calipari was disappointed with Kentucky’s seeding in the upcoming March Madness, fourth in the tough Eastern Regional.

“A&M got a 3-seed. Did we not play a basketball game today?”

It was Kentucky’s 29th SEC tournament championship. Now winning 14 of the past 24 SEC tournaments, it’s safe to say that the Cats are a force to reckoned with.

Kentucky will play Stony Brook this Thursday, March 17.

Courtesy of Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports!