Author Archives 
-
Counting the homeless, a personal perspective
When the Kern County Homeless Collaborative led an effort to count the homeless who live among us last week, grant writer Louis Medina with the Bakersfield Homeless Center was there. Here is his account of what it was like interviewing homeless people in the Lamont and Weedpatch areas.
-
Oildorado 2010 celebrates Taft’s centennial
Beard and hair bun contests, a bronze sculpture unveiling, and an oilfield skills competition are just a few of the festivities planned for Taft’s 100th birthday and Oildorado Days celebration Oct. 15-24. It takes five years to plan each Oildorado, say event organizers.
-
Sequins, feathers and rhinestones: Liberace was one glitzy guy
Even eternal divas are not immune to the effects of the prolonged recession. The Liberace Museum in Las Vegas is closing Oct. 17. Writer Louis Medina describes his recent trip to see the collection of this king of camp and capes.
-
Local mosque to hold open house on 9-11
In a bold move to dispel ignorance and hostility against their faith, Bakersfield Muslims are inviting the greater community to visit a local mosque and learn about Islam on Saturday, the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
-
Eco-dramas take stage at Center of the World Festival
The second year of Pine Mountain Club’s storytelling and amateur playwriting contest explores the relationship between humans and the environment. The festival, Aug. 20-22, is held at the foot of Mount Pinos, which the local Chumash consider the “Center of the World.”
-
Most important tool when ghost hunting is faith
Who knows whether Piet the Basque ghost really exists in Old Town Kern. But for one night, a group of people led by Ethical Paranormal Investigations of California shared compassion for and faith in a being they could not see. Read the story and watch the video.
-
Solstice ceremony somber as Chumash pray for Gulf victims
Mount Pinos, considered the “Center of the World” for native Chumash, is home to an annual summer solstice ceremony in celebration of Mother Earth. This year’s event was made solemn by tears and prayers for the healing of the Gulf of Mexico region, where oil gushing from BP’s failed well is affecting fish, birds and other sea creatures.
-
Symposium addresses county’s feral cat problem
What can Kern County do about the overpopulation of feral cats? Local activist groups gathered this weeked to start solving the problem. The majority support a program of trap-neuter-release (TNR), which they say is more humane than euthanasia. But then, who will feed the strays?
-
Local Native American tribe draws strength from its tragic past
This month, the Tubatulabal tribe of the Kern River Valley will look back on the 1863 massacre that took many of its members’ lives. But they will also look ahead to a future of keeping their culture and language alive and gaining federal recognition.
-
Ghost hunting, belly dancing all part of Psychic Faire
Jackie’s Magical Treasures in Old Town Kern will host a day-long Psychic Faire Sunday, April 11, featuring tarot, palm, astrology and rune readings, an art exhibit, belly dance performances, henna tattoos, Reiki healing, a ghost hunting presentation, and workshops on incense making, pendulum divination, energy work and tarot-aided meditation.
