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Faculty Art Exhibit

By Gloria Saldivar

“Then and Now, Here and There.” This is what the faculty here in Taft College are striving to get across as the message to art lovers visiting their current exhibit. The faculty exhibit demonstrates different progressions of traditional art coming in contact with new medias.

Four professors took part in the exhibit: Professors Graupman, Rubio, Rosenhauser, and Swenson. Professor Graupman’s work focuses on the progression of photography over a 35 year span on nature’s phenomenal landscapes and scenery. Professor Rubio’s artworks demonstrate the differences between traditional oil and new acrylic paint. The textures and patterns of his artwork prove to be similar to each other yet they still have their differences. Professor Rodenhausers’s art work travels down a different path as she explores the technique of mixed media along with today’s modern technology and how it personally affects the viewer. Last but surely not least, Prosessor Swenson’s art work explores her personal fascination with the Orient and traditional Asian artists.

The last art exhibit of the school year before summer comes into session is a sight to see. Faculty’s artwork is absolutely extraordinary, and their message “Then and Now, Here and There” is like the cherry on top.

Release Party for Annual Literary Publication

By Lisa Ybarra

There will be a book release party and reading event for A Sharp Piece of Awesome at Dagny’s Coffee Company in Bakersfield. The address is 1600 20th St.

The event is this Saturday, May 17th at 3PM. There will be readings by those who wrote and contributed to this year’s issue including Bill Devine and other published writers and poets.

The event is free, but you can contribute to next year’s publication by purchasing this year’s issue of A Sharp Piece of Awesome at Amazon.com or the Cougar Corner bookstore.

2014 Bakersfield Craft Beer Festival

By Michael Clites

After being such an astounding hit last year, the Bakersfield Craft Beer Festival will be returning for a second time around. On Saturday, May 24, Cal State University of Bakersfield will be hosting the festival at its amphitheater. With more than 30 breweries offering their craft beer on tap, the festival can guarantee an endless variation of delicious style and substance in the quest for new and unusual craft beers.

The goal of the Bakersfield Craft Beer Festival is to continue to bring quality beer choices to all and introduce Bakersfield to the many breweries in attendance.  The festival does a good job incorporating the culture and style of Bakersfield into the event, which gives the breweries a warm welcome. Breweries like Firestone Walker, Lengthwise, and Kern River Brewing Company will all be in attendance as they were last year.

The event is all put on by the Benefit Bakersfield Foundation, which distributes funds raised to local Kern County nonprofit organizations with an emphasis on child and family services, shelter, and food. Local restaurants such as Moo Creamery, Jake’s Tex-Mex, Eureka! Restaurant and Imbibe Wine & Spirits Merchant are the sponsors who help make this event happen for the second time.

The festival should be a blast and could potentially help educate one about craft beers and inform about the many evolving microbreweries across the nation.

Planz Skate Park

Planz Skate Park

By Alejandro De Alba

The City of Bakersfield is opening a brand new skate park located at Planz Park at the corner of Planz Rd and South H. The new park is going to be open on Memorial Day weekend which is just around the corner.

The skate park is going to be a brand new cement park that is going to feature a mellow intermediate bowl and street inspired obstacles like ledges, stairs, and rails.

On the opening weekend the park is going to be extremely crowded, so if you want to beat the crowed, I suggest getting there early.

If skateboarding isn’t your thing the park is still offering the softball field, basketball courts, and playground, so there is something for everyone.

Bakersfield Jazz Festival

Annual Jazz Festival Comes to CSUB Once More
By Nick Fequiere

For the 28^th consecutive year, the Bakersfield Jazz Festival set up shop on California State University of Bakersfield’s campus. Various faculty members, students, and jazz enthusiasts have helped to foster and cultivate the jazz program at CSUB and within the larger community over the years.

This year’s event was sponsored by headliners BMW of Bakersfield, OXY, and Heineken, as well as various other organizations such as Kern Schools Federal Credit Union and KGET. The festival is an annual two-day celebration of jazz music and its rich history which has become known as a “rite of Spring” in Bakersfield.

This year boasted a talented lineup of accomplished performers including, but not limited to, Jeff Coffin and Delfeayo Marsalis. Coffin is well-known for his work as the saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band. Marsalis has enjoyed his fair share of success and is credited with facilitating the resurgence of acoustic recording in jazz music.  On Saturday night, Marsalis performed a beautiful tribute in honor of the late and great Nelson Mandela, who was a huge jazz fan during his lifetime.

In the 28 years since the festival’s inception, over 200 artists have come to Kern County to perform in lineups which have included incredibly talented artists such as Dizzy Gillespie and Maceo Parker, the latter of which began his illustrious jazz career performing with James Brown’s band.

​This year looked poised to offer no shortage of thrills and sparks certainly flew. A fireworks show took place on Saturday night, just before Gerard Albright’s performance. Albright is an especially accomplished jazz musician who has sold over one million albums in the United States, performed at President Clinton’s inauguration, and made various television appearances, just to name a few of his achievements. Once again, the Bakersfield Jazz Festival has come and gone leaving one more indelible mark on the community in which it has found a home.

International Food Day

By Gloria Saldivar

Students and Faculty from all over campus got together to enjoy International Food Day here at Taft College. The five dollar fee to eat the delicious food was a way to raise money for different clubs, departments, and sports here on campus.

There was a designated area that was set up so people could comfortably eat their food in a cool shady area that protected them from the good ol’ Taft heat; which nobody seemed to mind. People seemed to be having a good time while they ate their food and chatted with their friends and co-workers.

People who arrived early got to eat right away before the long line was formed. Everyone wanted to get a taste of the food from all over the globe. Students and faculty were able to keep an open mind when they tried the new exotic foods they were not used to eating. There was plenty of food to eat, so of course people were able to get seconds. There were a lot of positive nods coming from the food tasters so I think it is safe to say that International Food Day was a success.

The Stem Lab

By Gloria Saldivar

Last Week on April 29, 2014, the Stem program hosted an event to inform people from all over campus about our mobile stem lab. It turns out that we have the only one across the nation! We have had our awesome mobile lab stored away in storage for a quite a while because no one had any ideas for it.

The mobile lab was designed to help students understand science, math, engineering, and technology. Our lab has a connection with NASA to help collect data from outer space explorations through radio telescopes. Students working in this area of study also have direct links to talk with scientists. This gives a real hands on experience for students to be engaged in. Now the stem program is opening up to other departments on campus such as Art, English, Social Science, and Dental Hygiene. The lab has the ability to transmit live data to other states so students can have a visual to understand their area of study better.

The lab is designed with four computers on the inside that project to the four big screens located on the outside of the lab. The lab also has its very own Rover that collects data wherever it is released. The lab also has the ability to set up its very own Wi-Fi hotspot wherever it goes which is very convenient for learning sessions.

The Stem program is preparing to use the mobile lab a lot more often. Getting students engaged in their studies is the priority, and the Stem lab is a perfect way to do exactly just that.

Condors Fight for the Kelly Cup

Condors VideoCondors Fight for the Kelly Cup

By Kendyl Chavez

For the second time in twenty years, the Bakersfield Condors have made it to the second round in the playoffs for the Kelly Cup! This past weekend the Bakersfield Condors played the Stockton Thunder in two exciting games.

On Friday night, the Condors played their first game against the Stockton Thunder. The first period was extremely intense with Thunder player, Nichaolas Tremblay, making the first goal of the night and giving the Thunder a lead 1-0. The second period started with another goal by Thunder player, Ryan Hayes, increasing the Stockton lead. The Condors fans started to get crazier in the stands and the Condors players were able to score two goals within ten minutes by players, Ryan Watson and Chase Schaber. The second period ended with the score of 2-2. The third period was a long period of missed shots until Condor, Joel Broda scored a goal with five minutes left in the game! The Condors were able to hold off the Thunder for the rest of the game and won 3-2.

On Saturday night, the energy in the Robbobank Arena was through the roof, and everyone inside of that arena was ready to see the Thunder lose again. The first period started with a Condor goal by Nick MacNeil. The period ended with many shots taken from both teams, but the Condors were able to hold off the Thunder, ending the period in a score of 1-0. When the players returned for the second period, both teams seemed to come back out on the ice with an even higher intensity level. The Condors and Thunder continued to go back and fourth through the period until the end; neither team was able to score in the second period. As the third period began, the crowd was more encouraging than ever, and the Condors fed off the crowd’s love and energy. Condor Greg Miller made a goal on a power play that ensured the Condor’s victory with the leading score 2-0. Once the game ended, all of the high energy and intensity came out on the ice and fights broke out amongst the Stockton and Bakersfield players!

This week, the Condors continue the series in Stockton for three more games, and if they’re able to win two of these three games, the Condors will return back home to complete the series. If the Condors are able to pull off two victories, they will play their next games are on May 13^th and May 14^th at 7:00 p.m. inside the Robbobank Arena. GO CONDORS!

An Evening of Jazz

An Evening of Jazz

By Alejandro De Alba

Taft Union High School will be hosting an evening of jazz that will be held on May 24 at the Westside Recreation Center Auditorium, 500 Cascade Place. The Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and is expected to last until 8 p.m.

There is a limited amount of individual tickets for sale at the price of $25, and reserved tables of 6 will cost $150. The event is open to the public and tickets will be going fast so don’t hesitate purchasing in advance.

Tickets are available from any band student or from Amanda Posey at TUHS. You may also purchase tickets over the phone by calling Jane White at (661) 623-1299, or Shelly Gable at (661) 293-0074

Bake Off Results

Bake Off Results
by Juan Ochoa
Allisa Tweedy was the 1^st place winner in Taft College’s 5^th Annual Dessert Throw Down. The Throw Down was a fundraiser for the college’s “Stop Cancer in its Tracks” cause.

Allisa won the competition with her Oreo Cupcakes. She was also awarded this year’s Baker of the Year plaque.

2^nd place went to Linda Powers who made Seven Layer Magic Cookie bars.

3^rd place was a tie between Cindy Johns, who made Buffalo Chip Cookies, and Jennifer Altenhofel’s Caitlin’s X-mas treats.