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October 12, 2015
Via Arté: Street Painting Festival
By Etelvina Castillo
It’s that time of year again. Fall colors are busting out all over. No, not on the trees but on the sidewalks. The Bakersfield Museum of Art hosted its 17th annual Via Arté Street Painting Festival at The Marketplace. Each year artists from all over California gather around to create chalk masterpieces on the pavement for spectators to enjoy. There is also entertainment such as live music and other performers for everyone to enjoy. The festival is full of color and creativity. Professional artists to student artists participate. This event is based on the Italian tradition of I Madonna and has been a tradition here in Bakersfield since 1998.
The heat in Bakersfield didn’t stop anyone from going out to show their support to the artists. The festival officially started Saturday morning and ended Sunday afternoon. Some artists got a head start on Friday. The festival was full of people who gathered with their family and friends. Some people even took their pets to join the fun.
Monica Mendoza
This year Monica Mendoza, who is a current student at Taft College, participated in the festival. She is a very passionate artist who was inspired to do a painting of one of her favorite surrealist painters Salvador Dali. Monica was intrigued by the green apple and its reflection. She started working on her chalk drawing Saturday morning and finished Sunday afternoon. With the support of her family and friends, Monica made it through the heat and completed her art work. She likes to paint and draw just for fun. For Monica what is seen as a masterpiece is simply her hobby.
Destiny Zambrano “Divided”
Destiny Zambrano is the person behind “Divided,” a masterpiece of her own. Two days of hard work were put into the chalk drawing. “Divided” is the name that Destiny gave her art work which has a powerful meaning. Her inspiration behind it was how people change as they develop into what society wants them to be, as she said “losing individuality as we develop, loss of creativity.” Destiny wants people to be themselves and to express themselves as she does through art and not let society change who they are.
Via Arte was a total success this year. Not even the heat was able to stop people from having a good time. People of all ages were able to enjoy and watch the pavement transform into amazing works of art. The Marketplace became an art gallery for the weekend; sadly, it had to come to an end. After the festival, the chalk drawings are left for an extra day for people to take a last look at the beautiful works of art, but after that they are washed away. The good thing is that this event is held done annually. So if you didn’t get a chance to enjoy the works of art and live entertainment, there is always next year. Maybe you can be one of the artists who transforms the pavement into a work of art.
October 12, 2015
99 Music Fest: Americana at CSUB
Truxton Mile
Fans of Americana music got a real treat Saturday, October 10 at Cal State University Bakersfield’s Amphitheater at the 99 Music Fest. Americana music is hard to describe but combines other American genres such as blues, county, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues into its own unique sound.
Fans had to brave an exceedingly hot day for October in Bakersfield with the festival running from 12:30 to 6 pm. The temperature topped out in the high 90s, but that didn’t deter the crowd.
Fans try to stay cool
The music started at 1 pm with Monty Byrom and The Road Pilots. Byrom blends a mix of musical influences including, of course being from Bakersfield, Buck Owens and Merle Haggard along with rock and blues to create his own “Bakersfield” sound. As local resident Tony Bolivar commented, “I’m a great fan of Monty Byrom. I love his music.”
Other acts included The Roustabouts, a local bluegrass band, The Sheepdogs, a rock band from Saskatchewan, Sam Outlaw, a country singer based in Los Angles, and Taft’s own Truxton Mile. Truxton Mile entertained the crowd with everything from a Merle Haggard classic, “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink” to their latest single “California in My Mind.” Taylor Unruh, who plays guitar for the band, stated, “The band will be playing in Taft next week for Oildorado with other acts.”
The Sheepdogs
The headliners of the Fest were James McMurtry and Ray Wiley Hubbard. Speaking about McMurtry, local radio personality Scott Cox said, “He’s the greatest songwriter in America right now.” Hubbard is also known for his songwriting and has appeared on the Late Show with Dave Letterman. Both hail from Austin, Texas, and are fixtures in the Austin music scene.
James McMurtry
Ray Wiley Hubbard
The day of great music was rounded out by good food and drink with Michaelangelo Pizza, Johnny Rockets, Brookside Deli & Market, The Curbside Kitchen, Hungry Hunter Steakhouse, Café Med Restaurant & Deli, Iron Horse Saloon, Pyrenees Café Champs BBQ & Catering, Advance Beverage, and Imbibe Wine and Spirits Merchants on site.
The event was sponsored by Three-Way Chevrolet, Kern Insurance Associates, Cushman and Wakefield Pacific, Kern Citizens for Energy, Chain Cohn Stiles, The Padre Hotel, Fastrip, Wiki”s Wine Dive and Grill, and Barrel House Brewing Co. The event featured two stages—the Kern Insurance Associates Stage and the Chain/Cohn/ Stiles Stage.
October 8, 2015
Oildorado Store Opens!
As Olidorado officially starts to kick off, the city opens the new Oildorado Headquarters Store at 501 North St. From October 1-18th, patrons can purchase a variety of Oildorado merchandise such as t-shirts, mugs, books on Taft, and wooden nickels. The celebration was kicked off by various volunteers as well the costumed denizens of the Sheriff Posse and the Wooden Nickel Gang just to name a few. Also available are tickets to other Oildorado events as well as numerous raffles and giveaways. The Store also includes the “Oildorado lounge” with food and live music
The opening had many esteemed guests such as famed chief Leonard Gentieu who had his own history with Taft and Oildorado:
The Store will be open from 9am to 6pm throughout the duration of Oildorado, for more info please visit http://taftoildoradodays.com/
October 8, 2015
Same Team, Same City
By Alberto Muro
Jumbo-tron
Hockey season is here.
One week prior to their season opener at the Rabobank Arena, The Bakersfield Condors have concluded their pre-season series at home against the San Jose Barracudas on October 3, 2015. To the condors, it was an eye opening experience as athletes on a semi-professional level showed their skills to the fans that have been anticipating the return of hockey.
Staying focused
The stars came out on Friday night as the players consisting of a predominantly American Hockey League roster took to the ice and gave the spectators a sneak peak of what to expect from a rebuilt team. Although the Condors offense was dominant over the Barracudas, the star of the game was goaltender Laurent Brossoit. Two seasons ago Brossoit was the goal tender for the Bakersfield Condors, so his return to the net showed the fans that his quick reflexes allowed him to deflect and recover the puck.
Shaved ice
Superior athleticism defines what the Condors displayed Friday night as they maintained a well-coordinated offense behind the San Jose defensive line. Pucks flew and tempers arose, but there is no denying that the Condors and Barracudas fought vigorously for possession of the puck. The impact from the players’ body checking each other caused the protective glass to shake and sent a thunderous echo around the arena.
Body check
Overall, the pre-season was only an appetizer of what Bakersfield hockey fans can expect as the Condors are now affiliated with the American Hockey League. The official first game of the AHL will take place on October 9, 2015 and fans will get to witness a new team in action.
Fan appreciation
October 8, 2015
Oildorado Maids of Petroleum
By Ashley Renteria
Beauty pageant contestants walk the Taft College campus.
This year Taft is hosting its quinquennial Oildorado celebration in honor of the community and its ties to the oil business. A big part of Oildorado is the Maids of Petroleum Pageant, which features 15 local contestants.
“Oildorado is my favorite time! Although it’s a lot of work, it is truly the best thing to be involved in around the community. I mean what other town gets to celebrate oil the way we do? So many people step up and help by volunteering or donating things we need, for me it’s the best part of being in this tight knit community,” says co-chair of the Maids of Petroleum pageant and former Oildorado princess; Brittney Odle.
Oildorado brings many fun activities for the town to participate in, such as country music festivals, warrants for (fake) arrests and kidnappings issued by your friends and family, hair and beard contests and the Maids pageant.
The Maids of Petroleum is not your run-of-the-mill pageant you see on television. The Maids of Petroleum Pageant features local women, possibly family members, neighbors. They are people you grew up with and are honored to see representing the community and everything for which it stands.
“We selected girls who’s applications were complete and had met all the requirements to join this years 2015 Maids of Petroleum. The lengthy process produced 15 eligible maidens. This year has been composed of challenges and triumphs. Several of us were strangers when this all began, but we have come to love each other and truly enjoy our time spent with these girls. We have learned we are almost a group of sisters aka MOPS. ” expressed Odle.
The 15 women competing this year have been preparing for Oildorado and its events since January. This summer the Maids held fundraisers to supply Fourth of July Fireworks for the community, raising a total of $12,000. Of the $12,000, $7,000 was raised in a single day.
“The pageant consists of 4 main parts; Formal Dress and Introduction(speech), Bathing Suit, Talent and Question. During the actual pageant they are judged on many things including their poise, charisma, stamina, and appeal. ” Odle stated.
Five of the contestants are students at Taft College, including: Emily Davis, Maddison Rubadeau and Taylor Owen. The three women provided insight into what it is like being a Maid.
Emily Davis
Emily, a sophomore at Taft College and sponsored by Soroptimist International of Taft, was inspired to join the Maids from being born and raised in Taft. Growing up watching women from her town being a part of the pageant had inspired women like Emily to run when they got the chance.
Not only was she inspired by the women in her town, but also from her long time love for the film “Miss Congeniality,” starring Sandra Bullock. Emily noted that the Maids of Petroleum Pageant does offer a Miss Congeniality title, voted by the contestants themselves. It is right after queen and princess.
“We get only one question in our evening gown phase of the contest,” she said. “We don’t know what the question is until we’re asked it the night of the actual pageant.”
If you have ever watched a beauty pageant, it’s a given that there is a talent portion and Oildorado’s version did not pass up the opportunity for these girls to showcase their talents.
Emily was in the advanced choir for all four years at Taft Union High School and received two awards, so to those who know her it is no surprise that she will be singing Kristin Chenoweth’s “Taylor the Latte Boy” for her talent portion of the contest, giving the audience a bit of comedy.
“I genuinely love the pageant and all the fun I’m having,” Emily said. “I’m getting to know girls I’ve never met before, forming friendships with my fellow Maids, being guests of honor everywhere we go and the local celebrity status never hurt either.”
Maddison Rubadeau
Maddison, who often goes by Maddi, is sponsored by the Alpha House. She was inspired to compete by her older sister who competed in Oildorado’s Maids of Petroleum in 1990.
Maddi said she admires that the Maids of Petroleum is more than just a pageant. It’s a town tradition that holds value and love for everyone, she said.
Maddi said she has had a blast going to events such as the TUHS Alumni Game and raising money for fireworks and looks forward to the actual Oildorado events.
Unlike Emily, Maddi’s talent will be line dancing to a country song mashup which explains why her favorite things about being a Maid are dancing, performing and hanging out with the other Maids.
“I’m not your typical ‘beauty’ pageant contestant,” Maddi said. “I prefer the casual look to the gowns and love that there is variety in the girls competing. That makes us feel more like friends and a small family that helps each other rather than just competition.“
Maddi is a freshman at Taft College and works as an event planner for Taft Chamber of Commerce.
Taylor Owen
Taylor, a freshman, is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Taft. She was compelled to join to prove that you could be a normal, average teenage girl to run and possibly win in a pageant, Taylor said.
She wants to let people know that you do not have to be perfect to be in a pageant, Taylor said.
She will be singing and playing guitar to Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.”
“I’m most surprised at all the new variety of friends I have made being a part of the Oildorado tradition.” Taylor said.
To see Taylor showcase her musical talents, she will be performing on Friday October 9th at the 5th and North Music Fest along with other musical acts such as Truxton Mile, Tex Pistols and Sarah Lopez. Tickets are $7 and presale tickets are $10.
