mas magazine - august 2009

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Gaby Trujillo

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Bring home the warmth of Latin America with our unique selection of beautiful Mexican folk art handmade by the very finest artisans and personally selected for your home and gift giving needs!

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End of chapterEva Patiño retires from teachingSpanish, but continues to inspire.

Olivia Garcia VP/Content [email protected]

Gene Garaygordobil Managing Editor [email protected] 716-8642

Teresa Adamo Associate Editor [email protected]

Matt Muñoz Staff Writer [email protected]

Sandra Molen Staff Writer/Copy Editor [email protected]

EDITORIAL

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

MARIA AHUMADA-GARAYGORDOBIL, NOE GARCIA,

JOSEY HERNANDEZ, DENISE ORNELAS, DEBORAH

RAMIREZ, GABRIEL RAMIREZ, EDDIE RONQUILLO

FELIX ADAMO, MARIA AHUMADA-GARAYGORDOBIL,

DANIELA GARCIA, HENRY A. BARRIOS,

TANYA X. LEONZO

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

ART

Glenn Hammett Design Editor [email protected]

OFFICEMarisol Sorto Office Administrator

[email protected] 716-8640

STAFF

ADVERTISING

Jaime de los Santos Sales Manager [email protected] 716-8632

Gustavo Carrillo Sales Executive

Mark Wells Sales Executive

Anthony Menchaca Sales Executive

William Guerro Sales Executive

Giving backDelano superintendent known forgreat attitude & great leadership.

7

14

ON THE COVER: EliaRobles of the KernCounty Youth MariachiFoundation. See storyon the group’s fundrais-er, page 16.

PHOTO BY: Tanya X. Leonzo

Cover storyKern County Youth MariachiFoundation fundraiser to help keepthe musical tradition alive.

16

More Mento!Ska-riffic new CD is on its way for localband favorites, Mento Buru!

11

Spinning a web!“Spider Baby The Musical” getsinspiration from horror movie genre.

18

CONTENTSJ U LY 2 0 0 9

This is a juried exhibit. All works are submitted and juried by a panel of judges. The selected pieces will be on display at Metro Galleries during the month of September 2009. The exhibit will open on Friday, Sept. 4. Awards for Best of Show and several

other categories will be presented during the opening reception.

For More Details & Sponsorship Information Contact:

Don Martin Gallery Director Metro Galleries 661.634.9598 [email protected]

An Art Exhibit Dedicated to Celebrating and Exploring Latino Life Pride . Heritage . Color . Family . Culture . Music . Food . Tradition

Paintings . Ceramics . Sculpture . Photography Glass . Any Mixed Media


CROSS INTO THE BLUECROSS INTO THE BLUE

RESPECT.

IT’S JUST PARTOF WHATYOU’LL EARNFOR A LIVING. Working for the U.S. Air Force has its

rewards. Respect, for one. Not to

mention a good salary, great benefits,

a quality lifestyle and the chance to

do something important with your

life. All in all it adds up to quite a

benefits package. To find out more, call

1-800-423-USAF or visit airforce.com.

Sabrina Smith E MPLOYEE O F T HE M ONTH

manage those awkward teenyears — feel that way aboutschool.

“High school is tough forkids,” Rivera said. “That’s whywe create an atmosphere ofpride, old-fashioned DelanoHigh School District pride, builton tradition!”

And that tradition transcendsto teachers and staff, many ofwhom graduated from DelanoHigh School, just like Riveradid in 1980.

“We have a lot of alumni whocome back and support us,” shesaid. “Many come back to workand teach.”

She uses that to help put stu-dents on a positive pathway to abetter life, whether it is collegeor a vocational school or a jobafter graduation.

“For most students, highschool is almost like completingyour life in education, youeither complete it or you don’t,”she said. “Students can alsobuild a second bridge that theycan use to become a profession-al in another capacity.”

Teamwork with her employ-ees is important to her. “We allcan disagree, but we have toagree on the education of thestudents.”

Rivera’s story begins in theMexican town of Irámuco, Gua-najuato, where she was born.Her father — a cook in the origi-nal U.S. Bracero program in the1940s — worked there as abutcher. Her mother took careof Rivera and her nine brothersand one sister.

When she was 7, the familymoved to the tiny community ofRichgrove, east of Delano,where she attended school. Thetown’s high schoolers, as theystill do today, travel the sevenmiles to attend school inDelano. Back in the late 1970s,there was only one campus,Delano High School.

“I was a very proud Tiger,”Rivera said of the DHS mascot.“I was also a Top 10 student.”

Her plan after high schoolwas to pursue a law career andshe was actually accepted intoStanford University. But shedidn’t go because it “wasn’t anavenue for me at the time,because it involved movingaway from my family.”

Instead, she attended CalState University, Bakersfield,where she earned her bache-

lor’s degree and teaching cre-dential. But even that wasn’tplanned.

She and a friend met up withthe teacher trainer at CSUB,because her friend was interest-ed in teaching. Instead, Riverawas recruited.

“I told her I was too shy to getup in front of a classroom,” shesaid.

“(Dorothy Tuttle) said you’dbe a great teacher.”

She enrolled in the (Mini-Corps) program, which isgeared toward migrant studentsfocusing on the educationalfield.

“I’ve always liked the schoolsetting,” Rivera said. “I was for-tunate I had very good teachers,who loved me as a student andtreated me with utmost respect.My teachers were the type thattook on the life of a student,shaped them and took care ofthem.”

As a college student, her firstplacement was in the Delanohigh school district as a tutorand helper. “It’s funny how thecircle of life brought me backhere.”

Her first teaching job was atBakersfield College, followedby a year of teaching at St.Mary’s Catholic School inDelano, which has since closed.

Then came a job at McFar-land Middle School that wouldchange her life — for the better.That’s where she met her hus-band, Bulmaro “Boomer”Rivera.

Continued from page 7

PHOTO BY MARIA AHUMADA-GARAYGORDOBIL

Rivera with the new principal ofDelano High, Terri Nuckols.


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their new CD, “Mento Buru: 15Crucial Traxx,” a greatest hitscompendium designed for theband’s legions of fans, some ofwhom missed out on two previ-ous album releases.

“It’s a collection of our bestsongs so far and defines whatMento Buru is about,” saysMunoz. The album includes“Move it, Girl,” and “Streets ofGold,” off the band’s ‘97 MoonSKA Records debut album “NoDancing, Please.” Some songsfeatured off the band’s 2000self-titled album are “DoubleJeopardy,” and “Shame andScandal.”

What’s not surprising is thatfans are begging for it.

Saxophonist Paul Perez,who has been with the band forabout seven years, says hedoesn’t just stay in the band forthe money, but for its leg-endary status and loyal fans.

“It’s insane,” Perez says.“Everybody loves the group.”

Mento history:Munoz dives into ‘80sska invasion

Formed in ‘91, Mento Buruwas originally called “Triple RSounds” (think: roots-rock-reg-gae).

“There were no ska bandsbefore Mento in Bakersfield,”Munoz says. “Here I was stilltrying to preach the ska word.We knew we would be the onlyband in town doing it.”

In October ‘91, Munoz finallygot the courage to take his loveof ska into the Bakersfieldmusic scene with Joe Vazquez(trombonist), and mentor ScottThompsett (saxophone), fellowhorn players and friends fromthe Bakersfield College march-ing band.

“Scott was a brotherly men-tor early on, who turned us onto a lot of different types ofmusic,” Munoz says ofThompsett.

The first show as ‘Triple RSounds’

“We placed an ad in a news-paper called “The Music Note”run by Andy Zepeda from theband 2 Lazy 2 Steal,” Munozremembered. “We got a callfrom the Triple R band and aguy came to my work, namedJon Higgins. He said, ‘Why

don’t you come and hang withus? We have a dub reggae band(instrumental).”

But Munoz said the guys inTriple R were more interestedin partaking of “the herb,”than being a serious band.

“We (Munoz and Vazquez)went to sit in with the band.But Triple R were smoking outand things became kind of con-fusing to say the least.”

But Munoz and crew had big-ger aspirations than Triple R.

“Me, Joe, Scott, and theband’s vocalist Bob Dunn,moved on,” he said.

Some other original mem-bers included bassist JasonGrooms, Mike Brown on key-boards and percussionist“Ras” Larry Roberts. Dunndied from cancer in the mid-‘90s, after which, Munoz tookover at lead vocals.

Drummer Cesareo Garasajoined the band very early onin ‘91, but soon moved to Idahoto get married. He wasreplaced by drummer KyleBurnham.

Percussionist Marcos Reyes(now with WAR,) who used tosit in at various gigs, became afull-time member afterRoberts left.

After the departure of Reyesin ‘98, percussionist RobertMartinez has become a Mentofan favorite with hard-hittingconga and timbale solos, plushis trademark humor.

“Playing with these guysmakes me happy,” he said,smiling. “Seeing people dance,and the ‘thanks’ we get fromfans. We’re like a family, andI’m happy to be able to sharethe gift that God gave me witheveryone.”

Early recordings andpacked shows

In ‘92, Munoz and MentoBuru made their first originalrecordings in a BakersfieldChristian Life Center class-room, now the location of OliveDrive Church. “We made afour-song demo, and you couldhear the outside sprinklers onthe recordings,” he laughed.

The band’s initial perform-ances were in the ‘90s at down-town Bakersfield venues likethe underage venue Bam Bamsaka Mars, which had a reputa-tion for being a punk and gay

teen hangout. They also per-formed at Chaos Coffee andMannequins, another down-town club.

Drummer Cesareo Garasahas plenty Mento memories ofhis own.

“The one thing I rememberabout the early shows was thisfeeling that people really dugit,” said Garasa. “We’d be play-ing at Mars in downtown, andas soon as we’d play the firstnote — we’re talking about amidnight show on a Sunday —literally 10 minutes later, theplace was packed out.”

Mento Buru: A staple ofthe Bako music scene

Eventually the band landed“Mento Buru Thursdays,” reg-ular gigs at John Bryant’s Tav-ern in southwest Bakersfieldduring the mid ‘90s and at SudsTavern, now Azul’s in the WallStreet Alley.

“Mento Buru was known as aparty band for years,” sayssaxophonist Paul Perez, whobelieves the band has maturedmusically, especially afteradding guitarist Pablo Alanizin ‘06.

Alaniz is the grandson of AlGarcia of “Al Garcia and theRhythm Kings,” a legendaryCentral Valley band that beganplaying and recording surfmusic in the ‘60s. Mento Buruand The Rhythm Kings share asimilar history, as both beganincorporating Latin flavorsinto their sound as years pro-gressed.

“Joining Mento was anopportunity to perform musicgenres of which I’d alwaysbeen a fan,” said Alaniz. “Itwas also a thrill to be in agroup that strived for originali-ty.”

Bassist Caleb Moore hasbeen with Mento Buru for 13years. He says he sought theband out after Mento Buru hadbeen flown to play a show inRidgecrest, where he lived.

“I came over here (Bakers-fiel) on a CSUB jazz scholar-ship. I saw these guys play inRidgecrest, which isn’t a verybig place,” he says. “I knew Iwas going to be playing withthem. Here it is 13 years later,and I can’t get away fromthem,” Moore laughs. “It’s mytherapy.”

Today, Mento Buru contin-ues to perform and inspirepeople of all ages.

“Success for us is about themusic,” says Munoz. “Sure, wewere on the Moon SKA label.But being signed to a label isn’teverything. We’ve had some ofthe city’s best talents in thisband, too many to mention inone sitting … haha.”

Munoz believes future greatmusicians are hidden amongBakersfield’s talented youthjust waiting to be inspired.Mento Buru often gives localmusic students inspiring talksabout their experiences inmusic coming through theschool system.

“We’ve been a champion ofthe local arts since day one andsupport keeping music inschools,” Munoz says. “It’sdone so much for our lives andwe’ve helped create a lot ofmemories together with peoplewho’ve followed us all theseyears.”

Yet inspiration isn’t justabout assisting the youngerteens and children. MentoBuru has been needed as Bak-ersfield’s musical compass tohelp provide direction forbands and musicians of allages.

Munoz aptly describes theever-changing Bakersfieldmusic scene as a rollercoasterthrough the decades. And he’sright about one further inspir-ing thought about a scene ofrevolving door bands:

“One thing that has alwaysremained is the consistency ofMento Buru,” he said.

Mento Buru factoid:The band’s name refers to twotypes of Jamaican folk musicdrum rhythms — ‘Mento’ and‘Buru.’ Together they are thefoundations of ska and reggaemusic..

“15 Crucial Traxx” is availablelocally at World Records andGoing Underground Records inBakersfield, and all Mento Burulive shows. Their entire musiccatalog is available at:Amazon.com and iTunes. Visit their Web site for completeschedule:wwwwww..mmyyssppaaccee..ccoomm//mmeennttoobbuurruu



EDUCATION

¡Adios,Señora Patiño!

By Gabriel RamirezSpecial to MÁS

Eva Patiño knows themeaning of hard work,whether toiling in thefields, taking orders as

a waitress, manning the snackbar at a movie theater or teach-ing English to immigrants in

our community.No matter the task, Patiño

gave it her all — not that shealways had a choice, though.

“I had to work,” said Patiño,now 62. “When my familydecided to stay in Arvin, themonths they didn’t work in thefields I had to work to pay forfood.”

But of all those stints ofemployment, it was teachingthat truly touched Patiño’sheart. She would eventuallybecome a well-loved highschool Spanish teacher, pass-ing along her language, hercultura and her love of learn-ing to students over the last 24years.

Now, however, that belovedchapter in Patiño’s life hascome to an end — she retired atthe end of the 2008-09 schoolyear. But not before her col-leagues, family and even for-mer students could bid her afond farewell and tell her howmuch of an impact she made onso many lives.

After 24 years, belovedSpanish teacher retires

f

PHOTO BY HENRY A. BARRIOS

After 24 years, Eva Patiño retired from teaching, but not before leaving a lasting — and inspiring — impression on countless students.


COVER STORY

Foundation planning fundraiser for Aug. 16

By Gabriel RamirezSpecial to MÁS

For many people, mariachi isa job, a form of entertain-ment, or a reminder of pasttimes. But to many students

participating in the Kern CountyYouth Mariachi Foundation, mari-achi is also a cultural connectionthey might not get elsewhere.

“I have gained a lot of thingsfrom the foundation. I am a lotmore in tune with my culture,” saidAriana Quiñonez, a violin player.“Playing mariachi music gave meinsight into my culture. I havealways been close to my grandpar-ents and playing mariachi music issomething they can understand andthat can connect me to them.”

Eighteen-year-old Quiñonez saidthat being involved with the mari-achi group has given her a betterappreciation for where her familycame from.

However, this cultural connec-tion is feeling the strain of the cur-rent failing economy.

“We are going through hardtimes because of the economy,”said Mauro Laris, music director.“Donations have been reduced alot. It’s a tough economy.”

In an attempt to raise funds tohelp support the nonprofit founda-tion, a summer concert featuringthe Mariachi Juvenil de Aztlán isbeing held Sunday, Aug. 16 at 5838Round Up Way. The event will fea-ture a deep-pit barbecue dinnerand a night of mariachi music from

Youth MariachiCarrying the torch

Elisa Quiñónez

Photos by Tanya X. Leonzo


ENTERTAINMENT

Oh, baby!Barista-turned-playwright takes ‘Spider

Baby The Musical’ on the road, but it’llmake a hometown stop, too

By Teresa AdamoMÁS staff

Just how well do you know yourbarista?

Walk into the Barnes & NobleBooksellers on California Avenue,

and you’ll smell the java brewing away atthe in-house cafe.

Ready to happily serve you the latte ofyour choice is Enrique Acosta — and hecan whip up a caffeinated beverage withthe best of ‘em.

Little do most of his customers know,however, Acosta can also whip up a full-blown musical production — which he’sdone with “Spider Baby The Musical,” anadaptation of director/writer Jack Hill’s1964 dark comedy horror film.

As a fan of horror movies, Acosta kepthearing about this “Spider Baby,” andupon reading several letters praising itsgreatness in a magazine devoted to fans ofthe genre, he just had to see the film.

“I expected it to be cheesy, maybe evenvery cheesy,” Acosta said. “But I found itto really have a story ... an emotional senseto it — and at the same time, it had alove/romance angle.”

What turned out to be actor Lon ChaneyJr.’s last film would turn out to be localcomposer Acosta’s inspiration to writesome “Spider Baby” songs for what heoriginally envisioned as a concept album.

Five years ago, Acosta, 39 — who playsguitar, bass and percussion — began piec-ing together some words and music in a nodto “Spider Baby,” which depicts the suffer-ings of the Merrye family. Each familymember must contend with the samedegenerative mental disorder, which caus-es a loss of impulse control.

What follows are the conflicts that arisewhen distant relatives want to institution-alize the Merrye children and sell off theirland — but the kids won’t have any of that.

As his songwriting progressed, Acosta’swife, Helen, also 39 — a professor of com-

munications at Bakersfield College for thelast 14 years as well as a former communi-ty theatre director — told her husband of17 years that his creation seemed morelike a musical score than a concept album.

“It just had all the elements of a musical— it already had the story and the songswent with that,” she said.

Next, however, Acosta realized that hewould need Hill’s blessing (and permis-sion) to officially turn his horror movieinto a musical.

After a few weeks, Acosta was able totrack Hill down and made a phone call tohim, asking for the green light.

“He just laughed and told me he getsasked for that from people probably once amonth — what made me think I would be

any different?” Acosta said. “I told him,‘Well, I’m not in it to make money — thisisn’t about profits, it’s about the art.’”

Plus, he told Hill, he had already wrotesome songs to prove his creativity anddedication to the possibility of the project.

When Hill requested Acosta send himsome recordings, well, there weren’t any.

Not yet, that is.“So I played the songs for him over the

phone,” Acosta said.Apparently pleased by what he heard,

Hill said he was OK with Acosta’s “SpiderBaby” musical to proceed.

And so it did.Acosta began shopping his now author-

ized, “Spider Baby The Musical” baby to

Continued on page 21

COURTESY PHOTOS

Top: Original “Spider Baby” writer/director Jack Hill with the cast of the musical version.

Right: One of the final scenes in “Spider Baby The Musical.”


person, Patiño said sharing her culturethrough her Spanish teaching and the feed-back she’d get from students kept her aliveand energized.

In fact, one particular student gavePatiño the ultimate feedback.

Dionicio Altamirano was a student inPatiño’s advanced Spanish class at Centen-nial High School. He clearly remembershow much teaching meant to Patiño.

“I saw how much she loved her job andenjoyed her culture. She was my favoriteand always will be,” Altamirano said.

And why not? Especially considering thatsame favorite teacher played an integralpart in this young man’s future.

“She inspired me to become a Spanishteacher,” he said.

Altamirano just finished teaching at Lib-erty High School and will be transferring toSouth High School in the fall.

Patiño said she remembers tellingAltamirano that he would make a greatSpanish teacher.

“He looked at me and smiled. I just knewthat he could do it,” she said. “And then oneday, he walks into my classroom and says

‘Señora, ... I am a Spanish teacher.’ I wantedto cry.”

Patiño was also Altamirano’s MEChAadviser. Patiño served in this role at allthree schools she worked at, which allowedher to give students experiences they mightnever have had.

Through the MEChA program, she wasable to take students to colleges such asUCLA and CSU Northridge and to placeslike the Museum of Tolerance.

“Education has always been my goal.Another goal was community service,”Patiño said.

She pushed her students to help out in thecommunity through sock drives for thehomeless as well as Thanksgiving andChristmas food baskets for the needy andmore.

Over her years of teaching, Patiñoreceived the California Language TeachersAssociation Outstanding Teacher Award in2002 and was nominated for the Jim BurkeFord Teacher Award in 2001.

“I knew that if I hired Eva, that if studenttook her class for four years, they wouldknow Spanish,” said Bill Hatcher, formerprincipal of Centennial High School.

Hatcher opened the school in 1993 andimmediately thought of Patiño for the Span-ish department.

“If there is one word to describe thePatiños, it is: passion. Everything they do,they are passionate about,” he said. “Let’sjust say that the decision to bring heraboard worked out better than I planned.”

Hatcher said that not only did Patiñobring an excellent teaching style to Centen-nial, but she also brought much-needed cul-tural awareness to the campus.

Job well doneAs Patiño’s teaching career ends, it

becomes even more evident how much herencouraging words influenced others.

That encouragement naturally continuedwhen Patiño-Guadarrama followed in hermother’s footsteps, also becoming a Spanishteacher — and even starting at West Highjust like mom!

She said her mother was always just aphone call away to answer all her questionsand guide her through her first year as aSpanish teacher — an invaluable resourcefor a new educator.

Patiño’s former student teacher, LenisMora said she also owes a lot to her mentor.

“I can honestly tell you I wouldn’t be theteacher I am, if it weren’t for her help,”Mora said. “She has a special place in myheart and I wish her the best.”

Ana Cataño, a Spanish teacher at ShafterHigh School, also counts Patiño as a majorpositive force in her career.

“She is fun loving, caring and so sweet,”Cataño said. “I’m happy she is retiring, butsad we are losing such a great teacher.”

Now that Patiño will no longer be wakingup early Monday through Friday to teachstudents how to conjugate verbs, she hasplenty of free time on her hands and she’salready making plans.

Patiño said she will work on her familyscrapbook and sew things that she can sellat her husband’s art shows, such as Dia delos Muertos bags, along with her unique cre-ations of aprons for men and women with aChicano twist to them.

She will also travel to Chicago and Texasto visit family.

“Then my husband and I are going to planan exotic trip somewhere far away,” Patiñosaid. “I have a lot to do.”

Of course, there will be a sense of nostal-gia when Patiño looks back at her 24 yearsof teaching.

“I will miss the students — they are theones that kept me going with their discus-sions and their concerns,” she said.

For all those new teachers just startingtheir career in education, Patiño offeredthis advice:

“Keep going to workshops, keep learningand become more effective because there isso much out there. Remember that you arein the best profession in the world. It is veryrewarding.”


PHOTO BY HENRY A. BARRIOS

Patiño looks forward to traveling with her husband and updating the family scrapbook.

What’s up peeps?Well, pretty soonyou gonna be see-ing Christmas

decorations, lol ... for reals.Mira, it’s already August &time is flying ...

Last month, back in the daychicks, The MaryJane Girls,performed at the Nile androcked the house. Recordingartist Frankie J came thru QuePasa to woo the girls, Super-star Dj Sprite killed it atReplay. Who’s next? Younever know.

Congratulations to Elia &Javier Moreno finally tyingthe knot. B-day shouts toLucinda, Ofelia, Jasmine (thebrat) and the homegirl GlendaRobles. Noche De Rumba wasoff the hook, shouts to KCH-COC, Latina Leaders andCabana Palms for another coolnight of salsa lessons and theafter party, and a special shoutto the homie H.A. Sala forhosting the event. Happy B-Day to my nephew Casey Gar-cia ...

Alright, let’s get “In theMixx” and see what’s up forthis month.

Get the lowdown at the12th annual LowriderNationals

Don’t miss out on this year’s12th annual Lowrider Nation-als Custom Car Show happen-ing Sunday, Aug. 9, at theKern County Fairgrounds,1142 South P St. Gates open at11a.m. to 5 p.m. Come out andcheck out Cali’s coolestlowriders and custom bikes,the hop competition and thehot concert so far featuring

The New Boyz, Mack 10, ColbyO Donis, June Bug Slim, aBanda and more artist to beadded. Yours truly, Noe G, willbe “In the Mixx” and hostingthe event along with the num-ber one radio station, HOT94.1 fm. Also take advantageof the First Annual LowriderNationals Scholarship Awardfor Kern County high schoolgraduates. Check out the Website for more info at:www.lowridernationals.com.Tickets are $25 this year andyou can hook them up at MetroPCS, Ritmo Latino, The RedLion Inn. For more, call 323-352-8384 or the Web site ...

and when you’re out there“BEHAVE,” ... lol

Starring ‘Midnight Star’at the Nile

Get your tickets for oldschool band, Midnight Star,coming to the Nile Theater,1721 19th St., Friday night,Aug. 7. Performing hits like“Operator,” Freak-A-Zoid,”and my favorite, “No ParkingOn The Dance Floor,” thisshow is gonna be cool. Ticketsare $28 @ vallitix.com or call322-5200. Doors open at 8p.m., show time is at 9 p.m. , soget there early, have a drink,mingle and get ready to remi-nisce back to the ‘80s. See youthere. Shaaaa, say hi ...

Invading a theater nearyou ...

Old School invades Bakers-field this month as yet anotherback in the day old skool bandis set to perform at the NileTheater, 1721 19th St. TheDazz Band comes to town Fri-day, Aug. 28. to take you backto the days, getting down withhits like “Joy Stick,” “Let ItWhip,”’ and more, tickets are$25 at vallitix.com or call thehomegirl, Josie, at 322-5200.Pretty soon Eminem is gonnabe old school, the way thesedays are flying by, lol ... havefun !

Alright gente, that’s it forthis month. Have fun and sup-port your local events. Getyour tickets for the LowriderNationals Car Show. Be safe,don’t drink and drive and untilnext month, stay fly, don’t hateand peace out ... Noe G!


NO E G.

IN THE MIXX

By NOE G. | Contributing Columnist

Do you know of acomedy show, play,nightclub or other eventthat you want to sharewith MÁS magazine? E-mail it to: [email protected] [email protected]

Noe GCourtesy of League of

Women Voters of KernCounty

Women in Politics willbe the topic when theLeague celebratesWomen’s Equality DaySaturday, Aug. 29 with abreakfast at Hodel’sRestaurant, 5917 KnudsenDrive in Bakersfield.

Fran Florez, a candi-date for the CaliforniaState Assembly lastNovember, and Dee Whit-ley, a former member ofthe Panama Buena VistaSchool Board will discusstheir experiences cam-paigning for office.

What are the challengesin raising campaign fundsand support? How doesone handle innuendo andattacks from opposingcandidates? Both womenare members of our localLeague of Women Votersof Kern County.

Aug. 26 of each year isdesignated in the UnitedStates as Women’s Equali-ty Day. Instituted by Rep.Bella Abzug and firstestablished in 1971, thedate commemorates thepassage of the 19thAmendment, the WomanSuffrage Amendment tothe U.S. Constitution,which gave U.S. womenfull voting rights in 1920.

The meeting begins at 9a.m. Cost for breakfast is$15. Reserve your placeby calling the LeagueLine, 634-3773.

The League of WomenVoters, a nonpartisanpolitical organization, isopen to any person of vot-ing age.

CelebrateWomen’sEquality DayAug. 29

‘Mixx’ itup with

Ay Mujer, if we’re not anoverachiever, wemight as well forgetbeing appointed to the

Supreme Court or any otherhigh level position for that mat-ter. I’ve listened to much of thebanter about Sonia Sotomayorand heard little said about thefact that Sotomayor has moreexperience as a lawyer and ajudge, coupled with a stellareducational background, thanany other nominee andappointee in the history of theU.S. Yet, there’s more talk andfault found in the fact that she“spekz d’ troos” as my Welitawould say in broken inglés.

Of course, she has a betterperspective than those thataren’t Latina on matters relatedto Latinas. Just like womenwho’ve given birth, can tell“better” birthing stories thanthose who’ve only witnessed abirth. And, just like a personwho lives in New York City can“better” tell you the ins andouts of NYC than someonewho’s never been there. Notminimizing this, but those out-raged by and call Sotomayorracist need to pull their choniesout of their big cola and I’m nottalking CocaCola either.

Being so rigid and uptightmust have an affect on yourlooks because those throwingout the rhetoric (another wordfor BS) — ay mujer, ‘tan FEO! Itjust doesn’t pay enough to bethat ugly. I’m serious mujer,just look at ‘em. Even the “couldbe considered” attractive likeElizabeth Hasselbeck on TheView have pierced lips and ascowl on their face that makesyou wonder if they just have thefart throw-ups (my son’s wordfor diarrhea) or were born likethat.

So, as the return of schoolapproaches for us Latinas, goforth and overachieve becausein this society where prejudice,racism, and bigotry was thenorm for hundreds of years, beproud that it only took us Lati-nas a short period of time toassert ourselves as confidentand competent while remainingtrue to ourselves. That’s onething that can’t be said aboutthose with their chonies thor-oughly wedged because whenwe transform, we don’t lose ourappeal (notice I didn’t sayappearance because beauty’smore than skin deep). Wah-cha-le ...

Oh yah, and one more thing,discrimination is discrimina-tion whether up, down,inside/out, locked in a box or ina hole with a fox (I love Dr.Seuss). Just a pet peeve from awell educated, highly experi-enced trained observer, if I doconfidently and competentlysay so myself.


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Overachieving Latinasshould remain

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AY MUJER

“Ay Mujer” is written byDeborah Ramirez, a proud

Chicana de Bakersfield.


The

NetworkKern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce August 2009www.kchcc.org

New ‘Home Sweet Home’ forFirst Mortgage Corporation

SAVETHE DATE

Contributed by KCHCC

On July 16, the Kern County Hispanic Cham-ber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting andre-grand opening for First Mortgage Corpo-ration located at 4630 California Ave.

Present were Ronald Briggs, district manager;First Mortgage Corporation and staff joined by LindaHaslow from Senator Roy Ashburn’s office; Cham-ber Board of Directors, Chamber members andfriends.

First Mortgage Corporation is an independent res-idential mortgage banking firm with branch officeslocated throughout the West.

Founded in 1975, FMC is a direct-lending mort-gage banker approved as a lender and/or loan ser-vicer by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA);the Veterans Administration (VA); the FederalNational Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae); theFederal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie

Mac); the Government National Mortgage Associa-tion (Ginnie Mae); the California Housing FinanceAgency (CalHFA); the Nevada Housing Division; theCalifornia Public Employees’ Retirement System(CalPERS); the California Teachers’ RetirementSystem (CalSTRS); and many other major secondarymarket institutions.

With more than 350 employees, it has assistedmore than 70,000 families with their mortgage needs.FMC enables families to enjoy the American Dreamof home ownership …“It’s the only thing we do.”

FMC has a long-standing tradition of providingunparalleled customer service and a reputation builton adding value to the home loan process. That’s whyFMC should be considered … “YOUR FIRST LEND-ING RESOURCE.”

For more information, contact Michael Valverde321-3300, or stop by their new Bakersfield location at4630 California Ave.

AUG. 12Business MixerHosted by Alta OneFederal Credit Union

6501 Ming Ave.

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For information, call397-2555.

AUG. 30Hispanic Trade ShowKern CountyFairgrounds

1142 South “P” St.

Noon to 5 p.m.


SEPT. 9Business MixerHosted by AztecaAmerica 42/ABC 23

321 21st St.

Bakersfield, CA 93301


OCT. 14Business MixerHosted by Wells FargoBank (Downtown)

1300 22nd St.

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.


NOV. 11Business MixerHosted by Double TreeHotel

3100 Camino Del RioCourt

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.


It was all smiles at the re-grand opening for First Mortgage Corporation at 4630 California Ave.

-

m

PHOTO BY JOE SERRANO


KERN COUNTY HISPANICCHAMBER OF COMMERCE

One groooovymixer atCode 3

Uniforms!Contributed by KCHCC

On July 8, the Kern County Hispan-ic Chamber of Commerce andCode 3 Uniforms hosted “That‘70s Mixer” at their Uniform

Store located on Rosedale Highway. Andboy, was it ever a “FAR OUT” mixer!Polyester never looked so good!

About 150 members and guests showedup throughout the evening. If you attend-ed, you got to enjoy some of Omar’s deli-cious appetizers from “Los HermanosRestaurant.” You also got to experiencethe sounds of “All Sound Music” that real-ly took you back to the ‘70s as the vinylspun the “Bee Gees,” “KC and The Sun-shine Band,” “Evelyn Champagne King,”and other great ‘70s artists.

The embroidery department was openshowing off and giving away ‘70s styleretro truckers caps with “That ‘70s Mixer”logo embroidered on it.

Digital Designs Screen Printing’s staffwas on site to “Show Off” their screenprinting techniques and graphics. CallManny at Digital Designs for your screenprinting needs, or stop by their shop at1705 California Ave.

Code 3 Uniforms was also celebrating12 years in business — Owner Ruben Gon-zales Jr. opened his Law EnforcementUniform & Supply store in 1997, when hedecided to leave the California Depart-ment of Corrections for greener pastures.Code 3 Uniforms has grown since, nowwith an in-house custom embroidery

department that does much more than justlaw enforcement embroidery and boasts17 embroidery machines.

Ruben, Jo Ann, Derek, Sabrina, Sara,Manny, Joey “The Print Master,” Bob,Van, Travis, Yvonne, Steven, and Sandywould like to thank everyone who attendedtheir mixer. They really enjoyed hosting

all the guests. Code 3 Uniforms would like to pay a

special “Thank you” to these folks whohelped make “That ‘70s Mixer” a success:KCHCC, Digital Designs, Los HermanosRestaurant, Tables 4 Fun Party Rentals,Polar Express, Census 2010 Staff, and AllSound Music DJ Service!

The staff of Code 3 Uniforms at 1705 California Ave. give a round of applause!

Code 3 Uniforms owner, Ruben Gonzales poses with amarketing assistant at this FAR OUT mixer.

PHOTOS BY JOE SERRANO


GENTE GALLERY

Happy Sweet 16,

Keri Villanueva

SONIA SAENZ Agente De Seguros

Saenz Insurance Agency

Auto, Home, Life, Business, Workers Compensation

3737 Stockdale Hwy, Suite 140 Bakersfield Ca 93309

Bus: 661-412-4905 • C ell 661-865-9691 Fax 661-412-4906 • C a L ic # 0 F 49472

[email protected]

Happy Retirement! From left: Brian Mendiburu, Valerie Mendiburu, retiring KernCounty Superintendent of Schools Larry Reider, and Jack O’Connell, CaliforniaState Superintendent of Public Instruction. The cartoon drawing depicts Reider.

May your 16th birthdaybe filled with many greatmemories of friends &family. You are just start-ing out on the path to greatadventures.

— Love, Ron, Liz, Marissa Corez & the

Bakersfield Raiders Booster Club Family

Dolores Huerta surrounded by attendees of the Latina Leaders Awards.Chief Deputy Rosemary Wahl(Honoree) and Wendy Ávila.

Latina LeadersAwards

The 11th annual LatinaLeaders of Kern Countyawards dinner, honored:KC Sheriff’s ChiefDeputy RoseMaryRamirez Wahl; newKern County Superin-tendent of Schools Chris-tine Lizardi Frazier; andLaura Arredondo, co-owner of Delano FamilyMotors and local philan-thropist.

PHOTO BY DANIELA GARCIA

PHOTOS BY TANYA X. LEONZO

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mas magazine - august 2009

Documents

art exhibit

juried exhibit

molen staff writercopy

los santos sales manager

teresa adamo associate

noe garcia

daniela garcia

gene garaygordobil