Photos: Bakersfield.com

WOW New Patch Shaman Talents

"I think it would be bigger news that the World of Warcraft has hit 11."In World of Warcraft, shaman is the Shaman has three talent trees, Elemental which ranged magical damage, Enhancement which controls the melee damage, and Restoration that major on the healing. 5 million subscribers.These special powers make the shaman be one of the most major classes in the World of Warcraft. That data is been recently announced that the WoW has hit another milestone.Shaman is a versatil class that could make you gains much of World of Warcraft gold and can act as a mage, priest, or rogue. This really comes as no surprise after the release of an expansion, especially one as widely hyped as Wrath of the Lich King which broke a few records of its own. In new patch, the game developer introduce the new function of Shaman talents.the below will provide you the details of shaman talents. *Enhancement Enhancement is quite a complex talent.in new patch there are some change major in Maelstrom Weapon and Shamanistic Rage. Gamesindustry.When you start it, you need to read the details and understand each of them function in order to make more wow gold profit in the combat. biz has a quote from Senior VP of merchandising at GameStop Bob McKenzie, indicating that it's not just Wrath of the Lich King doing well. Maelstrom Weapon: Maelstrom Weapon could reduce the cast time of Hex in the fighting. These numbers haven't spiked because of all of the returning customers, WoW is gaining plenty of new ones, too. Shamanistic Rage: Cooldown has been cut down to 1 minute. The base WoW package and the World of Warcraft Battle Chest are still doing quite well.You have chance to generate mana equal to 15% down from 30% of the shaman's attack power once you win the melee attacks. *Restoration Restoration talent in some aspect makes the Shaman into a healer. Better than last year, he specifies.One of the extremely useful talents is Nature's Swiftness and Mana Tide is of nearly legendary fame. power level So while those base package purchases are certainly fueled by the Wrath hype.and Earth Shield is a very good 41 point talent. it's bringing in new customers, not just the returning customers.If you want to get the best multi-target heal in the game, you need to buy cheap wow gold to level up the Chain Heal. power level WoW may not be the kind of game for every gamer out there, and the game isn't without its flaws. Ancestral Healing: The buff from this ability now reduces the physical damage taken by the target by 3/7/10% instead of increasing the target's armor. Despite that, it has proven over and over that it's by far one of the best games out there, and definitely the best of its genre. Cure Poison and Cure Disease: Combined into a single spell, Cure Toxins. wow leveling I don't expect it will be going away anytime soon. Earth Shield: Dispel effects will now remove charges of Earth Shield rather than the entire aura. I think, World of Warcraft has become the most famous and interesting online game in most wow players’ eyes. Improved Water Shield: Improved Water Shield talent would make you has a 10/20/30% chance to be triggered by Chain Heal, and the charges of Water Shield are no longer consumed by this talent. wow leveling Buy WOW Gold, WOW CDKeys and WOWwow powerleveling powerleveling as a holiday gift for friends and your family, cheap WOW gold is for sale at holiday season! Take this opportunity, happy hunting in your WOW world. All in all，you will find that pay some attention to improve the talent points of Shaman would gain much of profit in the combat or you will lost much World of Warcraft money and easily die from the powerful attack. Last month." . wow leveling service Wrath of the Lich King is released and millions of players around the world have stormed the shores of Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord. More than 4 million copies of the new expansion were sold in the first month of release --a new record for PC-game sales. wow lvl Meanwhile, to go along with that record, World of Warcraft’s global community has now grown to more than 11. 5 million subscribers. wow power leveling Read more about these latest achievements in the Blizzard Entertainment official press release. and from all of us at DOCOIN, happy holidays, thank you for taking World of Warcraft to new heights, and enjoy your time in Northrend! "

Getting Craft With Digital Scrapbooks!

New Age Scrapbopoking-

When most think of scrapbooking, what usually comes to mind is a large table crowded with various tools, scraps of paper and old photos. I have to admit, I was once a victum of such crimes. I almost couldn't scrapbook because my house was turned upside down with unorganized printed photos and all the expensive paper, stickers, and tools that one needs to truly express creativity. I was limited to scrapbooking on long weekends, days off, or when my husband was out of town. I found myself scrapbooking at a friend's house once every three or four months. I was feeling like I was neglecting my hobby, and I didn't like it.

It wasn't until I discovered the digital scrapbooking world that I started scrapbooking at least once a week, if not more! Digital sacrapbooking allows me to organize all my photos. I'm not forced to spend $100's on stickers and paper that never get used up. I have endless use of lettering, themes and more! With traditional albums, I would finish a layout and sometimes find another must have picture in the spread and be disappointed I wouldn't be able to add it in. I resorted to creating another layout of the same theme just to include the exiled picture. Not with digital! Now I have no worries about mistakes or regretted layouts. The fixes are so easy. I also do not have to take up space around my house for storing supplies, and it's always clean!

There are several digital scrapbooks companies to choose from. From places like Wal-Mart.com and Costco.com to specialized companies like kodak.com and creative memories.com, you are sure to find an easy program with many options and price ranges to fit you. I prefer the Creative Memories scrapbpooking software called Storybook Creator Plus 3. You pay a little out of pocket, but compared to what I was spending, I am saving money. The program is versatile and allows both veterans and beginners to create albums to be proud of. Also, their printed albums are gaurenteed quality.

So put away your scissors and glue. It's time for the New Age of Scrapbooking!!

Revenge of the Riverwalk Beaver?

While out walking along the Bakersfield bike path with a client's dog this morning (Mon., Aug. 24 @ 9:15A) a large tree had fallen over along the trail by Riverwalk Park. Upon closer inspection it looks like the tree was the victim of chewing! I snapped a few pictures with my cell phone, and my suspicion is that the infamous Riverwalk beaver is back with a vengence!

Pool crash landed in tree

Saturday Morning - Bakersfield Fire may not respond for cats in trees any longer, but for a pool? That's another story... Columbus near Auburn

For the Love of Cats! Have fun - do good!

Did you know you can enter your pets picture in the "Tails of Bakersfield" and help the Cat People at the same time. It is $10.00 for each entry, you pet's picture will be in the Bakersfield Californian and the fee is donated to the charity of your choice. The Cat People are one of those choices.

So what are you waiting for..... get your pet's picture in the paper and help the Cat People at the same time.

If you enter the Calendar contest it's $15.00, and your pet has a chance of becoming a Bakersfield Calendar Cat (or Dog) and the entrance fee goes to charity as well. So get out your camera and snap away, then pick your favorite picture and WIN THE CONTEST!

Have fun - do good!

Help out the cats of Bakersfield!

Pet of the Week

Here comes FRED! He is a 2 year old sweet and friendly Basset Hound. Fred is quite the guy lapping up your attention. He bounces around with a wagging tail waiting for those back scratches and warm loving pets. He will make a perfect family pet. Come in and spend some time with Fred.

Who pays for this?

The serious recycler

UP-SIDEDOWN

How this happened , I am not sure but it could have been caused by a left front tire blow out. I got there ( Edison & Quantico at 4:05 P.M.) just before the the fire trucks got there, but I did not have my camera so after making sure they did not need me I went for my camera and here are the pictures.

Georgie's Digging technique

My 3 yr old English Bull Terrier's idea of digging. The out come--one big hole (which I eventually fell in) & a dirt covered doggie.

NAF El Centro Airshow

March in El Centro, California means lots of jet noise, and the start of another exciting airshow season in North America. The US Navy’s Blue Angels use NAF El Centro for their winter training, which runs from approximately January right up until the base’s annual airshow in mid March. During that time, the locale becomes a mecca for diehard aviation fans and photographers who love to hang out atop hay bales near the runway and cheer on their favorite team, while at the same time, trying NOT to get a haircut from those very same blue & gold F/A-18 Hornets!

This year’s show, held on March 14th, featured a variety of performers, ranging from aerobatics to warbirds, to modern military demos, two of the latter being welcome surprises. The show was kicked off with a flight of three Stearman trainers, then the “Thunder Delfins” took over, flying their Czech-built (?) L-29s. Normally the team flies four aircraft, but only two were able to make it. Bill Cornick, and Spencer Suderman provided the aerobatics. John Collver, a regular at many Southern California airshows, flew his SNJ “Wardog”. NAS Fallon sent down their SAR demo team for what looks like their last airshow appearance, with the Huey helo being slated for retirement. Next up was the popular F-15E Strike Eagle demo, from Seymour-Johnson AFB, flown by Capt Phil “Ritz” Smith with his WSO, Capt John “Gizmo” Cox. After displaying a lot of ‘turning and burning’, the Eagle then formed up with the P-51 “Wee Willy II” being flown by Kevin Eldridge, for the Heritage Flight. NAS North Island sent over a C-2 “Greyhound”, aka “COD” for a flyby just before Black Dagger jump team performed. Afterwards, there was a change of command for NAF El Centro, giving the crowd a chance to run for the numerous food vendors on hand, before the action resumed. When the show started up again, the well known B-25J, “Heavenly Body” went up and did a few flybys for the crowd. The F-18 Super Hornet demo (from NAS Lemoore), and C-17 demo (from nearby March Field ARB) kept everyone looking to the skies with their contrasting speeds and maneuvers. A BIG surprise was the appearance of not one, but TWO B-1 Lancer bombers from Dyess AFB in Abilene, Texas. They arrived during the COC ceremony at high altitude, and after a lengthy absence of both narration and the planes’ returning, a person could’ve easily thought that was the flyby. But not quite. Wait for it - wait for it. The two bombers eventually came back by in formation, low and close in! It’s rare enough that airshow fans can see a B-1, let alone TWO of them. What a sight that was! The other surprise was the appearance of two AV8B Harriers, apparently returning from the MCAS Yuma airshow, which was being held on the same day as El Centro’s. Even though a Harrier demo did not occur at the EC show, the two aircraft did do a nice flyby, with a break for landing at about midfield. The Commemorative Air Force’s Southern California Wing, based up the coast in Camarillo, sent down their F6F Hellcat, and A6M Zero for a simulated dogfight. And finally, getting back to the modern era, it was time for the Blue Angels to take over. Their C-130 transport, known as “Fat Albert”, took to the skies and did several flybys before handing it over to its F/A-18 teammates.

More coverage of the El Centro airshow, as well as Blue Angels' winter training, can be found in the near future on my website, SoCal Airshow Review, and in an upcoming issue of World Airshow News magazine.

Heritage Flight Airshow Pilots Train at Davis-Monthan AFB

Overcast skies and high winds failed to dampen spirits, or prevent flying, at the 2009 ACC Heritage Flight Conference, held March 6^th thru the 8^th, at Tucson’s Davis-Monthan AFB. Strangely, while Tucson was socked in, the weather just up the highway in Phoenix was clear. Adding to the strange weather was the arrival of one of those mysterious “Janet” 737 aircraft. And once its landing roll took it past the hot ramp area, we never saw it again that day, which was fitting, considering that aircraft’s mission. Lady Luck smiled on the event on day two of the practice sessions, with the clouds giving way to sunshine all day long. Media Day was held on Friday, with about a dozen representatives getting approved by Air Combat Command to cover the event. We had writers and photographers from the local Tucson area; Reno, Nevada, Texas; Southern California; and as far away as Holland. The F-4 Phantom Society was well represented with at least five members attending this year. DM’s PAO escorts were generous in allowing several of us to stay on base most of the day. We were allowed on the hot ramp for about 90 minutes, getting close up views of the participating aircraft. World War II era warbirds this year included the following: “Proud American”, an A-1 Skyraider in an SEA scheme, flown by Alan Anders; “Double Trouble Two”, a very sharp-looking P-51 Mustang; two other P-51s (including “Wee Willy 2”), and a pair of P-40s, one of which belongs to the Chino, California-based Planes of Fame museum. It was still in its “Valkyrie” movie paint scheme, which featured British markings. Steve Hinton and Kevin Eldridge represented the Chino museum this year. Kevin is beginning his second year as Heritage Flight pilot. I met Kevin during the 2008 season and he told me at that time he was very excited to be a part of the HF program. The other P-40 was bright green, with Flying Tiger markings. The P-47 Thunderbolt, “Tarheel Hal”, did not make it this year. Back for 2009 after standing down for one year, is the A-10 East Team, from Moody AFB. All of the other usual demo teams were there of course - F-4 West, F-4 East, A-10 West, Viper East, Viper West, and the F-15E Strike Eagle team. F-15 West from Eglin was present, and there was another F-15 with no tail code at all. Jet demo team pilots this year include Lt Col Ryan Luchsinger, aka “Chief” (F-4 West); Lt. Col. Ron “Stuff” Miller (F-4 East); Major Dave “Zeke” Skalicky (F-22 East); Major David Graham (Viper West); Major George Clifford (Viper East); Capt. Paul Brown (A-10 West); Capt. Johnnie Green (A-10 east); Capt. Sam “Nuke” Joplin (F-15 West); and Capt. Phil “Ritz” Smith with WSO Capt. John “Gizmo” Cox (F-15 Strike Eagle).

Just about thirty different formations were flown over the three-day period, and that does not include arrival formations. 2009 brings us a new F-22 Raptor demo pilot, and even though there does not appear to be anything drastically new in the demo routine itself, it certainly shows us nothing less than what Max Moga has presented over the past two seasons. Of course a good portion of the Raptor’s true capabilities presumably cannot be shown publicly. An exciting change this year was the apparent clearance for the F-4 Phantoms to do complete rolls in transition following their Heritage Flight split passes and their individual flybys. Until now, they’ve only gone just a little bit past the 90 degree mark, before straightening out. There were four Phantoms here this year, two from Holloman, #72-162 and #74-626, both of which are now on their third season in the Heritage Flight program; and two from Tyndall AFB - #237 and #74-622, believed to be going on their second Heritage Flight season.

The three-day event trains / certifies airshow pilots in the Heritage Flight program in preparation for the upcoming airshow season. The F-4 Phantom was added to the program in 2005, while the F-22 was added in 2006. It is not open to the public, however there is usually one media day, and there are many spots off base where you can view the formation practices.

Thanks to Capt. Ferrau and Michelle at ACC and Lt. Pekas along with Major John Napierand Ssgt Jacob Richmond at the DM PAO, for their assistance and access.

In the near future, extended coverage (with many more photos) of the event can be found on my website, and also in World Airshow News magazine. All photos shown are available to purchase as large prints, calendars, etc.

Southern California Airshow Review & Aviation Photography:

http://home.earthlink.net/~socal_airshow_review

Boy in a bubble

I shot 591 photos of my grandson Micah playing with bubbles the other day. Here's my favorite.

14 Pound Carp at Riverwalk

Justin Fine and Cory Koot from Bakersfield, Calif., pull in a big carp from The Park at Riverwalk. The Carp weighs in at about 14 pounds and measures 2 feet 8 inches. The fish was caught on a jig with a plastic worm.

DANGER

Today, 03/06/09 at 11:02 AM - Another accident at Sterling and East Brundage, no fatality's this time but could have been. I watched this accident as it happened, I could hardily believe my eyes, it seemed to happen in slow motion, then the noise from the screeching tires and the impacting of sheet metal and the final bang of van crashing thru the fence and striking the tree. Were it not for the tree the van could have gone thru the house.

Here are some pictures taken at the sceen.

Alaskan F-22 Raptors & Edwards AFB F-16s Participate in Latest Nellis AFB Red Flag Exercises

Red Flag 9-2 was held at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, for the past few weeks, and on Feb 2 and 3, I was able to get on base with press credentials for their media days. About 100 of us showed up to be bussed out to a spectacular location - right in between the two runways! Later on day two we were taken over to one of the EORs (End of Runway) for landings. No limits on photography, we could shoot anything that flew. Even though there were very few foreign players this time around, this was one of the bigger Red Flag exercises. I photographed 134 different aircraft, and 62 of those alone were F-16s! Here’s the breakdown of participating aircraft: F-16s (62) - 23 from Shaw AFB; 13 from Spangdehlem, Germany (sp?); 12 aggressors from Nellis; four aggressors from NAS Fallon; a handful from Edwards AFB; four Thunderbirds were spotted practicing in their newer model Vipers; and one Nellis test bird. Twenty eight F-15s included the following: four aggressors from Nellis; 13 aircraft from Seymour Johnson AFB back east; and eleven test birds from Nellis. One of the primary highlights of this particular Red Flag, were the TWELVE F-22 Raptors - from the 525^th FS in Alaska, and four test birds from Nellis. There were six British-based Harriers here, as well as two of their E-3 AWACs birds, along with one American E-3. Originally there were three B-2 stealth bombers present, but later that dropped to two, the Spirit of California and Spirit of Ohio. Unfortunately only one of them flew while I was on base, but it was good enough! I’d never been that close to a moving B-2 before! Four B-1 Lancers from Ellsworth AFB were here, including ‘Nighthawk’, ‘No Antidote II’, and ‘Dakota Demolition’. What a rush it was to be within 150 feet of the takeoffs! We were so close that we could've easily photographed the larger aircraft with our wide angle lenses! For the most part, a 75-300mm lens was perfect. Other aircraft types involved with this session included a C-130, several KC-135s, and an RC-135. Transient a/c seen included a C-17, and T-38.

My thanks go out to the Nellis public affairs staff for the priviledge of attending this event, and for taking time out of their days to assist us in getting out there. Hopefully those budget cuts won’t hurt too bad, and they’ll be able to offer us this opportunity again sometime in the future.

fishing photo

Mark Malone

Bakersfield

age 41

5 pound large mouth bass caught 2/11 at River Walk park. bait: salmon egg peach power bait on #2 triple hook

805-558-0788

COVENANT

NO WORDS NEEDED

SNOW DAY

Once again, the magic of majestic snow fell upon Owens Primary kindergarten students! On Friday, January 30, four kindergarten daddies brought truckloads of snow to our playground for eight kindergarten classes! We scraped, packed, rolled, and piled wet, white, slippery, icy, snow to form eight unique snowmen for our school. Snow day is a tradition that is probably one of the best memories for Owens Primary Kindergarten students and teachers!

100 DAYS IN SCHOOL

100 days of school translates to lots of learning for children! What better way to celebrate than to involve families in making displays of 100 items! Enjoy these photos of ambitious young learners in Room K-1 Kindergarten at Owens Primary School!

Boat Trip

My wife (Alma) and I booked a five day cruise to Cabo San Lucas Mexico, just to get away for a little while, to meet new people and see new things. So we boarded the ship and guess who we got to meet ? Yep, you guessed it four hundred Bakersfield citizens and we all had a great time.

We got to meet the featured musical group called the Majestics who also live in Bakersfield. In Cabo we met a little four year old girl, that was sitting on a rope fence who's name is also Alma, here are some pictures of both Almas and some sunsets.

Oildale, 1939

North Chester Avenue, Oildale, 1939.

From the collection of the Kern County Museum. To view more photos like this, go to www.kcmuseum.org.

Father and son's big catch!

Friday january 16, 2009

Mark and Markis Gonzales (father and son), of Bakersfield, fishing out of Lake Buena Vista, along with Grandpa Joe. Markis(age 4) was the first to reel in a seven pound trout. Next, dad (Mark) caught a fourteen pounder using cast masters. The group caught their limit and had a great time!

Levan Institute Launches Second Semester at BC

Levan Institute Launches Second Semester at Bakersfield College

Gone are the days of riding into the sunset of retirement. Today’s retiree is looking for ways to enrich their life, and Bakersfield College is presenting a new educational opportunity for residents 55 and better.

Through the 2006 $5.7 million gift from local dermatologist Dr. Norman Levan, Bakersfield College is announcing the Levan Institute for Lifelong Learning, which opens for its second semester in late January. The purpose of the Institute is to make interesting and useful learning experiences available primarily to those 55 and better who are interested in continuing to gain knowledge throughout their lives.

“The Levan team has worked for more than a year to develop a series of courses which are interesting, insightful and relevant to the needs of our community,” said chair Dr. Robert Allison. “Each session will introduce new courses and courses which are applicable to what is currently happening in our society.”

Course topics include gardening and plant care, soapmaking, silversmithing, drawing, photography, music, personal finance, astronomy, wine appreciation and many more. A full schedule of courses is available in the Spring 2009 Catalog and Schedule, which can be requested by calling 395-4090 or checking online at bakersfieldcollege.edu/levaninstitute.

While the courses offered by the Institute are primarily designed to address the interests of seniors, they are open to all adults. Courses vary in length and subject, and with just two exceptions, are outside the “credit” sphere of the college.

“We have tried to provide a curriculum that will appeals to the wide spectrum of interests of those living in our community,” said committee member Ned Gilfillan. “We hope that we have succeeded in providing a range of topics that will interest many people.”

Classes take place on various days and at various times to fit all schedules. Check the course schedule for full information on dates and times. Fees vary by course and some courses will require books or materials. Check the course schedule for full information on fees and materials.

For more information on the Levan Institute for Lifelong Learning, please contact Dr. Bob Allison at 395-4090 or at rallison@bakersfieldcollege.edu.

A fishing prize!

Hazel Abbott with a 25-pound Dorado caught on lure in Cabo San Lucas with her husband, Douglas, on Nov.19. Fishing with Juanita's Sport Fishing, the couple caught six Dorado and one 150-pound Marlin on live bait.

Catfish caught at Lake Isabella

This is an 18 pound channel catfish caught at Lake Isabella on November 18, 2008. It was caught on shad at Camp 9, by Isabella Monsibais, age 3 1/2, helped brought in by her great-grandpa, Ben Gannon, age 74, both of Bakersfield. She named it "Boy". It was turned back into the lake the following day at her request!

Red Fall Reflections

I took this photo at Hart Park yesterday (Nov. 19) showing the brilliant fall reds and yellows reflected in the park lake.

Saint Ann School honors America's troops

On Monday, November 10th, Saint Ann School held a Veteran’s Day Ceremony at morning assembly in front of the flagpole at the Parish Center. Students proudly raised their flag in honor of veterans of the United States. During the flag ceremony, students and guests learned what each fold of the flag means. Student Council Vice President Sam McDonald acted as master of ceremonies. Adison Blubaugh and Chandler Welsh, who are in 5th Grade, unfolded and raised the flag. The flag ceremony brought special meaning to the recent gift of the flag to the school. The flag was received from Lt. Commander Mike Stokes in thanks to the Saint Ann School community for their generous support through letters, gifts and prayers for soldiers serving in Iraq. The flag was last flown over a palace in Iraq where he is stationed.

Honored veterans in attendance were Tom Pearl (former Navy Lieutenant), Lt. Colonel Pat Blubaugh, Jim Janson (retired Marine CWO-3), Sr. Chief. Rick Johnson, Steven Busby (former Army Sergeant), and Frank Youngblood (retired Air Force and Navy). Also remembered were Lt. Commander Mike Stokes and Specialist Mike Rogers who are currently deployed to Iraq.

Tom Pearl talked to the students about the meaning and importance of service and the different ways military and civilians can be of service to their community. Lt. Col. Pat Blubaugh gave an energetic speech regarding how he serves the United States as a Marine pilot. Both guests were very engaging and their messages were well received by the enthusiastic students.

Salmon fishing at Chilkat Lake, Alaska

Marik Knapp, 12, of Bakersfield attempts to hold up his 20-plus-pound Silver Salmon he recently caught on a trip to Chilkat Lake, Alaska. Marik's dad & uncle all fished for seven days limiting out each day. Marik continues to talk about the fishing trip of a lifetime.

Beauty shines at the Bakersfield Pageant

In front of more than 530 people Saturday, three winners were crowned at the 16th Annual Bakersfield Pageant.
From a field of 35 contestants, Erica George, a junior at Bakersfield Christian was named Teen Miss Bakersfield; BC student, Angelica August, won the Miss Bakersfield title; and Rhenana Grimes, a mother of three and a sign language interpreter at a local elementary school, took home the Mrs. Bakersfield crown.
The theme of the evening was “Salute to Our Veterans.” When Erica George was crowned Teen Miss Bakersfield she got a surprise visit from her brother Zack Julien, who is serving in the Army. Stationed in Texas and going to Iraq in January, Julien took a last-minute weekend leave to fly in to support his sister.
The winners will advance to the California International state pageant next August in Los Angeles.
April Mitchell was the first runner-up in the Teen Court, and Jessica Martinez was second runner-up. In the Miss Court, Heather O’Conner was first runner-up and Kirby Krausgrill was second runner-up.
The Four Points Sheraton hosted the judges’ accommodations, the Elephant Bar hosted the Judges’ Dinner and the California Pizza Kitchen hosted all of contestants
at a dress rehearsal dinner.
Prizes included a cash scholarship from Wells Acoustics & Alta One Credit Union, tiaras from Daniel’s Jewelers, trophies, flowers, a photo package, fitness memberships, personal training, restaurant certificates, jewelry, facials etc.

Veterans Day: Bakersfield patriots

PATRIOTISM CAN BE SHOWN IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, ONE OF THE EASIEST IS TO SHOW THE FLAG AND VETERANS DAY IS A GREAT DAY TO HONOR OUR VETERANS AND SHOW THE FLAG, AND THIS VETERANS DAY, MANY SHOWED AND WAVED THE FLAG IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND HERE ARE PICTURES OF SOME OF BAKERSFIELD'S PATRIOTS.

Leonardo Cuellar in Porterville

For those of you who couldn't join us in Porterville this past weekend, here are some pictures of Mexican Women National Coach, Leonardo Cuellar and his son Chris Cuellar, Mexican Women National Goalkeeper coach and current USC goalkeeper coach. They conducted a clinic for South Valley Chivas Academy members and were able to have a press conference with local media about future projects and events which are planned for the Central Valley.

The event was a success and we will be doing future projects with Leonardo Cuellar and his coaching staff. We are talking about a Christmas camp in Bakersfield, Visalia and Fresno.

Veterans Day: Ernest T. Roberts

Ernest T. Roberts

Branch of service: U.S. Army

Years of service: Inducted February 1943; discharged April 1946 as a private first class.

Ernest T. Roberts recounts the horrors of Omaha Beach in disturbing detail. He recalled landing craft blown apart before anyone could get off, sending arms and legs flying. As he struggled to reach shore, the water surging around him was red with blood. He ditched his weapon and crawled onto a beach so thick with dead there was hardly room to move. He came across a dying soldier, entrails strewn on the sand, who handed him a rifle and told him to shoot as many Germans as he could.

Roberts' eyes welled with tears.

"You have to be in it to ever really know what combat is," he said. "It's bad."

At St. Lo, on D-Day plus 28, he was shot six times at nearly point-blank range. Roberts fired his rifle at the German but doesn't know if he died.

"I don't know if I ever killed one, and I don't care," he said, "but I saw a lot of them fall."

He went on to fight in Brest, France, and into Germany, where he ended the war as part of the occupation army in Bremen. He came back to Oklahoma and married his sweetheart, Lola, raising two boys in Bakersfield after moving here to work as a painter with his brother.

Roberts said he's willing to talk about his experiences because of the lessons they carry, lessons that he said have made him question the war in Iraq.

"War is bad. War is bad. I think it's a good thing to let the kids know," he said.

(this article first appeared in The Californian in 2004, 60 years after D-Day)

Record-sized Red Pargo

This record sized Pargo was caught by Bakersfield fisherman Chip Wickline 61 on October 4th at Las Arenas near La Paz Mexico.

It was caught on a whole 2 Lb. Bonita on 30 pound test line fishing near shore with Captain Archangel on the gaff.

It was four feet in length and weighed 50 pounds and was quite the topic of discussion by all the skippers down there as they have not seen one this size caught for a long time.

Chip has fished in Mexico for over thirty eight years and has landed most species but this elusive one tops the list.

He was fishing with his buddies from Bakersfield, Bob Pair who caught many Dorado, Jorge delToro, who caught a 200 Pound Blue Marlin and Dave Peterson who also caught a Marlin.

The Civilian Conservation Corp Camp at Havilah

The Sequoia National Forest is a land of prehistoric and historic sites in the western portion of Kern County. The forest is full of history of the Sierra Nevada and our different cultures from before written time. The Forest Service, by law, is to conduct an archeological reconnaissance (Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act) of project areas to examine if prehistoric and historic resources are present. What this reconnaissance does it to determine whether impacts of projects will damage or destroy these irreplaceable resources and what can be done to preserve them if possible. Our job as archeologists on the Piute Grazing project was to examine if cattle grazing in this area of the forest will impact archeological resources and to record them as found. One important historic site to American History from the 1930’s that was in this project is the Havilah Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) camp location.

This camp was established in 1933 / 34 in the Havilah area on Forest Service land. The CCC camp location was coordinated with Frank Cunningham (Forest Supervisor) to establish a camp near Havilah. Cunningham’s official correspondence with a F. G. Munzer from Bakersfield states that, “In order to handle 200 men from one camp, it is necessary for us to place them where there is ample water, camping room…and work within a reasonable distance. My present thought is to establish one camp at Havilah.”

The camp was established with orders to have an 80’ warehouse, a guard station, ranger station and other various buildings built. We have a list from July 13, 1935 of individuals who worked in the Havilah and Bodfish camps or area. This list is in our documents file and can be accessed by writing to the Sequoia National Forest for a copy.

Today the only surviving structure is the warehouse which is used as the garage both for fire engine 45 and the Breckenridge hotshot crew at Havilah. Across the road and to the south of this standing structure we found the remains of the original CCC camp built during the 1930’s.

The camp is no longer there but the remains of foundations, depressions, and piping with artifacts still are. We set about recording these and came across a total of 25 different features. These consisted of latrines, root cellars, foundations of buildings with steps, walls and pits. One of our structures is the Dining Hall / Recreation Hall. This has a complete side stair case of rock and cement with retaining wall on the east side (Picture 1 & 2). An entrance of similar dimension is on the north side with the remnants of a main fire place in background (Picture 3) and smaller interior side fireplace on the right (Picture 4). These foundations are interesting and unique for they were made to stand the test of time as we see here. Another structure we called the Administration Hall has a large three step entrance way (Picture 5). Both of these structures and others have vanished except for these low lying stairways and sidewall foundations. These foundations were all under about 1” of dirt with numerous bushes and trees growing in and around them. A “sidewalk” from the Dining Hall north to the Administration Building is composed of local rock in a vertical pattern (Picture 6). One can walk down this area and not even notice this feature today due to overgrowth of grasses and bush. The last structure to mention out of the numerous features is the boiler room (Picture 7). This is a flat concrete foundation with side walls of broken granite spread out on the sides. Walls of milled wood were originally installed as confirmed by milled wood we found along the sides. The foundation has a central drain and boiler foundation in the middle portion of the structure (Picture 8). An interesting note is we found inscriptions, prints and paint on the cement after 75 years.

Recently the son of Doyle Henderson (Ranger at Havilah in 1935) visited the fire station and talked to the fire crew there. He left an email address but it bounces back and anyone who reads this story with information on contacting him would be appreciated.

This year is the 75^th anniversary of the CCC and further information on the CCC can be found by emailing Joan Sharpe, President – CCC Legacy at ccc@ccclegacy.org. I hope that we continue to preserve the American Heritage of our history and prehistory by recording these resources before they are gone forever. Preservation of these historic artifacts and structures from the CCC days are important for our understanding the history of Kern County and the areas we call home.

About the author: Mark L. Howe is an archeologist, with the Kern River Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest. Contact him at mhowe@fs.fed.us.

Veterans Day: Joshua Hudnall

I read in the paper about posting pictures and stories for Veterans day.

My fiance` Petty Officer Third Class Joshua Hudnall is Proudly serving his country overseas in Kuwait, This is his first tour and he is very excited and Proud to have the chance to serve his Country. I am so proud of my sailor and all the other men and women who are, and have served our country. God Bless America and God Bless our Troops!

Keep Pets Safe from Halloween Tricks & Treats

Kern County Animal Control and the ASPCA Want to Help You Keep Your Pets Safe.

The arrival of Halloween brings fun parties, trick-or-treaters, and lots of candy. However, some of the goodies and decorations that are used can be potentially hazardous to companion animals. Kern County Animal Control and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) are providing pet owners with some crucial tips to ensure their pets stay healthy and safe this Halloween.

· Don’t bring the family dog along for trick-or-treating. Dogs may become difficult to handle during the noise and confusion of the night. A lost dog or dog bite will quickly end holiday fun.

· Keep pets safely inside, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities. Pets can become frightened or feel threatened at the sight of noisy, costumed children, and run off into the night.

· Keep pets safe in an enclosed area with a toy and some soothing music.

· Always make sure your pet has proper identification. If for any reason they escape and become lost, a collar and tags and/or microchip increases the chances that they will be found and returned to you.

· Keep candy out of a pet’s reach. Candy can be harmful to pets, and chocolate can be deadly to cats and dogs.

· Keep aluminum foil and cellophane candy wrappers away from pets as they can cause vomiting and could even produce intestinal blockage.

· Don’t put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it. For pets that are dressed up, make sure the costume isn’t annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal’s movement or hearing, or impede the ability to breathe or bark. Look out for small, dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces on the costume that a pet can choke on. Make sure the costume does not obstruct vision in any way.

· Never offer or allow your pets to consume alcoholic beverages. Place unattended drinks where pets cannot reach them. If ingested, the animal could become very ill and weak and may go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.

· Keep pets away from decorations such as pumpkins and decorative corn. Although considered relatively non-toxic, these items can cause gastrointestinal upset and may even result in intestinal blockage as well if large pieces are ingested.

· Jack-o-lanterns and candles can quickly singe, burn or set fire to a pet’s fur. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire.

· Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of pets. If chewed, pets can experience damage to their mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

“Dogs and cats rely on a daily routine, when that routine is disrupted by lots of noise and commotion they can become frightened or agitated. By following these simple tips, parents, children and pets can enjoy a safe and happy Halloween,” stated Guy Shaw, Kern County Animal Control Director.

For more information, contact Kern County Animal Control at 661-868-7104, or you can log onto www.co.kern.ca.us/acd to download a flyer with Halloween Pet Safety Tips.

Make Adoption Your First Option & Save A Life Today!

Kern County Animal Control's Monthly Off-Site Adoption Event is scheduled for Saturday, November 1st at the PETCO located at 8220 Rosedale Highway in Bakersfield.

Off-site adoptions involve taking adoptable animals from the shelter and placing them at a location where the public is able to view, interact and ultimately adopt the animal away from the shelter.

“We have many wonderful animals seeking loving forever homes, but not everyone is comfortable coming into a shelter to adopt a pet, even though they want to make adoption their first option,” said Maggie Kalar, Marketing & Promotions Associate for Kern County Animal Control. “These events will allow a portion of the public that may never have been able to step foot into the shelter, the same opportunity to adopt and love a wonderful shelter pet.”

The department has partnered with PETCO to provide a number of dogs available for adoption on the first Saturday of each month. The event will run from 10 am to 3 pm and every adopter will receive a PETCO coupon book, a starter bag of Science Diet food, a leash and a pet related DVD.

Kern County Animal Control would like to remind potential pet parents that responsible pet ownership requires more than simply agreeing to take an animal into their life; the potential adopter should be ready to make a commitment that will enhance the lives of both the human and the animal. People bringing a companion animal into their lives need to thoroughly review their lifestyle and their readiness to take responsibility for the animal's care. Kern County Animal Control advises people to consider the following five questions below before they adopt a dog:

· Am I ready to make a long-term commitment? Adopting a pet means being responsible for its health and happiness for the rest of his or her life, this could be up to 15 years for dogs.

· Is the animal right for my household? A strong, active pet may be too much for a young child or elderly person to handle. Small pets may be too delicate for rough play with children. Always make sure that everyone in the household agrees to adopt an animal.

· Who will be the primary caretaker for the animal? One adult in the home should be designated as the primary caretaker so that the pet's needs do not become lost in the shuffle of busy schedules.

· Can I afford the animal? The cost of a pet is more than just the purchase price or adoption fee; remember to include the cost of food, pet supplies, veterinarian bills and training.

· Am I ready to commit to making this dog a good canine citizen? A well-trained dog is a pleasure and is welcome in public parks, on walks, and as a visitor. Research shows that people who take the time to train their dogs are more likely to keep them longer than people who don't.

"Last month's kick-off event was a success, with three dogs finding new forever homes due to the dedicated Kern County Animal Control Volunteers, added Kalar. "Our off-site adoption program volunteers are essential as Kern County Animal Control simply could not do this program without them. This program provides an opportunity for animal lovers to save lives of shelter animals and help find them loving homes. We invite interested people to contact the Department to find out more about this program."

For more information on the event or to become a volunteer, please call 661-868-7104.

Perfect Pumpkin

Picture perfect at the Banducci Pumpkin Patch.

Catch of The Week

Steve Boyes caught this striper on Oct. 24 out of the Ca. Aqueduct, using a Gitz'it tube jig. It was 36-1/2" long and weighed 18 pounds.

Halloween 2008

Butterfly makes special landing

While at the Banducci pumpkin patch Friday with my 1-year-old grandson, Micah, a butterfly flew past and then landed right on his head! He was startled and I was lucky enough to get the shot!

To Our Regulars

We would like to publicly thank all of our regulars [ and you know who you are ] for sticking with us thru thick and thin these past fifteen years and recommending us to all your friends, I can't tell you how many times new customers have told me someone told them about our steaks, or our lasagna or other food.

Our location is a bit hidden so we really appreciate all the support.

Sincerely,

Sorella's.

Trout fest

My son, Austin Fallas, and I hit the Kern River on Friday the 10th at Sandy Flat Campground. We caught these three trout on Rappala Countdown lures.

Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary feeds the homeless

Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary provided a hot meal for over 200 homeless people at the CHW Learning Center, 631 E. California Ave., on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary meets on Wednesdays at 6:45 a.m. in The Petroleum Club - 5060 California Ave. (corner of California Ave. and Mohak St.) For more informaiton please vist www.bbrc.org

Heroes in action

Yesterday (Tuesday) as I was leaving work I could see heavy billowing smoke starting the blacken the sky, so we (my wife and I) drove to the location, just a few blocks away and the fire trucks were just pulling up.

I had just got a new camera and I wanted to get some pictures but I got so tied up in watching the firemen work that I only took a few pictures. To watch these men at work is truly amazing. They seem to have a special communication system because they did not seem to be talking. They were just going about their job of knocking down the fire, and that they did. It was all over in a matter of what seemed like just minutes. We know that firemen save lives, but they also save the house or business next door. This fire was in very close quarters and they kept it from becoming a catastrophe. I can not say enough about how great our firemen (our heroes) are.

Here are some pictures. I could have taken better ones and more, but as I said I got so caught up in the action that I didn't start clicking until it was almost over.

Halloween on 20th Street

The Cousins (Griffin, Mimi, Lily and Hannah) take a picture with our biggest pumpkin this year. We finally harvested it after 4 months of growth. Unfortunately, it did not break our scale but at 247 lbs she is a beauty! The pumpkin is now on display at my sister's house as a big orange reminder to everyone to have a very Happy Halloween!

Feeling Blue? Me Too!

This Bird I call Blue & he is a wild bird but comes to my back yard to eat peanuts that I put out on Saturdays. He is never with another bird. He is always alone, and always Blue ... I think he wants to fall in love, but can't. Though he is beautiful, he is always alone, could be he has personality flaw ...

Fish photo

Cory Marshburn caught this 29 inch, 6 pound Steelhead on the Mackenzie River, Eugene, Oregon, in June. Caught on a light fly rod rigged for trout. It was a great battle. Celebrating with dad.

Meet Chef Tomato Head

Mr. Elvis Murray, who is a resident at Kern City Retirement Community, plants various vegetables in the Kern City Community Garden. He grows okra, onions, black peas, mustard greens, cucumbers, and wonderful tomatoes. He shares all his wonderful vegetables with residents of Kern City and family.

This odd-shaped tomato with a funny face was named Chef Tomato Head. We ate it several days later and he was delicious.