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All I Want for Christmas

Thirty vendors and crafters are needed for the All I want for Christmas event. The Bazaar will be held Nov. 15 from 9 to 6 p.m. and Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To reserve a space or receive additional information, call Marsha Bidwell at

661-679-7830 in the evenings or e-mail babyfest2008@yahoo.com. Or go to the web page at

www.baby-fest.com. Items such as wreaths, candles, jewelry and egg ornaments will be sold. Proceeds are used to educate new teen parents.

How to Win A Halloween Costume Contest

With Halloween right around the corner, costumes are on every ones mind right now. Everyone wants to have a unique costume that blows people away, however, most people fall short. Well grab a drink, take notes and relax because whether you're competing at a friend's party, or at a night club costume contest we've got the inside secrets for you on what the judges are looking for.

Rule number one:
Forget the idea of going to your local party store for the latest Halloween costume like Cat Woman, Iron Man or any such nonsense. Now this is not to say the party store or local costume shop is completely worthless, use it for ideas to the start of your costume. Not only do the costumes sold there look cheap and you look cheesy wearing them, but they are completely unoriginal and boring. Focus more on finding an idea from the combination of their costumes that's new and exciting.

Rule number two:
Pick a costume that fits your personality AND your body. You may want to dress up as a stripper nun, but there's nothing more displeasing than seeing a person who spent more time getting into their costume than they did making it. There are plenty of wonderful ideas for the people who don't fit the Barbie mold, don't stress over it, accept reality, and spend your time finding the right costume for you. (like thinking of costumes that can mock the Barbie mold).

Rule number three:
Avoid dressing up like unknown characters/people or making your costume hard to "get".

Rule number four:
Run your costume by at least 5 people before the big event. No, not your mother she doesn't count. Get the opinions of at least 3 to 5 people who will not lie to you. If they don't get it, think its stupid, or just too cliché, take their advice and try mixing it up.

Rule number five:
Cute only works for kids. Grown up costume contests don't have to be all serious, but stay away from "cute" ideas. A five year old in pig tails dressed up like a baby is adorable, a grown up doing the same is just lame. Know when you're too mature to pull it off.

Rule number six:
This one is for all the couples out there picking out Halloween Costumes. Couples costumes are probably the hardest of all to make unique. Please avoid the popular yet utterly unoriginal ideas of going as things such as Romeo and Juliet or a pimp and a hooker. Try for something that is not usually a "couples" theme. You don't have to be a man and a woman or even something that people would normally associate of going together.

Rule number seven:
Making fun of popular culture is a gold mine. The more hilarious your costume is and the more it mocks a famous person that has been in the spot light recently the better. Just make sure it's someone and something lots of people know about. Do not however make fun of people's horrible misfortune like a disease or handicap for some good ideas watch this video from knots scary farm Halloween haunt the hanging (Knots Berry Farm)

Rule number eight:
Popular costumes that seem unoriginal can be a success. You just have to know how to put a new twist on them. The favorites can be a good thing when used correctly; you just have to come up with your own unique concept of them.

Rule number nine:
Be the character you're portraying. If you don't like your costume no one else will either. This rule especially applies to horror costumes; they are the hardest to pull off. In order to fully win people over with your costume they have to believe it. Anyone can dress up like Freddy Kruger but don't try unless you can seriously scare someone by doing it.

And last but certainly not least...
Rule number ten: HAVE FUN! All in all, costumes are supposed to be fun and exciting. It is a chance for you break out of yourself and put on someone else persona for a while. No one likes a spoil sport and even if you don't win, you'll still be happy if you had a blast doing it!

karaoke

Hang Gliding

Hang gliding enthusiasts will find no local outlets, but they can find information, equipment and professional instruction by contacting two Southern California dealers:

Fly Above All: Paragliding and paramotoring in Santa Barbara, 805-965-3733. Hang gliding taught at Fly Away Hang gliding, also in Santa Barbara, 805-403-8487.

Windsports Soaring Center: 12623 Gridley St., Sylmar, 818-367-2430 or 800-644-8988.

Flying

Flying enthusiasts have a variety of choices for instruction in the Kern County area. Lessons are available for everyone from beginning private pilots to those seeking commercial transport certifications. Among those businesses offering flying instructions are:

Benbow Aviation Service Inc.: 410 Commercial Way, Tehachapi, 822-3293, 549-8352.

Kern Charter Services Inc.: 410 E. Planz Road, Bakersfield, 834-6870.

Skylark North Glider Flight School: 16334 Harris Road, Tehachapi, 822-5267.

Red Rock Canyon State Park

Red Rock Canyon State Park: The opening archaeological scenes of “Jurassic Park” and countless Westerns were filmed in the more than 27,000 acres of Red Rock Canyon, something of a miniature Grand Canyon featuring some of the California desert’s most unusual scenery. Fossil remains (no collecting allowed) and ancient petroglyphs represent earlier periods. On-foot exploration of these colorful “badlands” — a geologic transition zone between the Sierra Nevada and the Mojave Desert — is the main attraction, along with car camping. Fifty units for primitive camping are available at Ricardo Campground, with nature hikes and campfire programs offered on weekends in the spring and fall. Camping runs $12 per night for one vehicle and $5 for each additional vehicle. Camping for seniors is $10. It is best to avoid visiting in summer due to intense heat. Red Rock Canyon State Park is 25 miles northeast of Mojave on Highway 14. 320-4001.

Millerton Lake State Recreation Area

Millerton Lake State Recreation Area: Many Kern County residents enjoy watersports and camping at Millerton Lake on the San Joaquin River near Fresno. With more than 40 miles of shoreline, the park offers fishing, boating, access to the Friant Dam and winter boating excursions to view bald eagles. Kings Canyon and Yosemite national parks are within an hour drive. In Friant, 20 miles northeast of Fresno via Highway 41 and Highway 145. For camping information, call 559-822-2332.

Los Padres National Forest

Los Padres National Forest: This national forest stretches 220 miles from the Carmel Valley to the mountains near Frazier Park. In the Mount Pinos Ranger District, southwest of Bakersfield from Frazier Park to Highway 33, there are hiking, camping and off-highway vehicle opportunities. At 8,900 feet in elevation, Mount Pinos is an excellent spot for cross-country skiing and snow play. An Adventure Pass for vehicles is required at certain areas, $5 a day, $30 a year or $35 a year for two vehicles together. Mount Pinos Ranger District, 245-3731.

Fort Tejon State Park

Fort Tejon State Historic Park: Fort Tejon, established by Gen. Edward F. Beale on Aug. 10, 1854, was abandoned about a decade later. The regimental headquarters of the First U.S. Dragoons later became part of Beale’s Tejon Ranch until it was given to the state Department of Parks and Recreation in 1939. Restoration began in 1949, including several restored adobe buildings from the original fort and exhibits on army life and local history.

Living history lessons are presented the first Saturday of every month and Civil War re-enactments are frequently held. Group tours are available. The park is open sunrise to sunset and park buildings are open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 36 miles south of Bakersfield off Interstate 5; take the Fort Tejon exit. 248-6692.

Col. Allensworth State Park

Col. Allensworth State Historic Park: In 1908, a group of black Americans led by U.S. Army Col. Allen Allensworth, a former slave, established a small farming community on the Santa Fe Railroad line next to what is now Highway 43, seven miles west of Earlimart. Several of the town’s buildings have been restored since its demise after World War II. The park is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The visitor center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Campground contains 15 campsites for $10 per night. 45 minutes northwest of Bakersfield; take Highway 99 north to Cecil Avenue exit in Delano, go west to Highway 43. Daily fees are $4 per vehicle entering the park. 849-3433.

Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area

Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area: Challenging courses for off-road enthusiasts using motorcycle, four-wheel drive and other all-terrain vehicles. Nearly 140 miles of scenic trails wind between 19,000 acres of hilly terrain between 2,600- and 4,500-foot elevations. There is also a marked open riding zone. Safe hiking is available on a 60-acre oak preserve, which is closed to vehicles. More than 2,000 acres are available for open camping including nine semi-developed campgrounds with restroom and refuse facilities containing 150 designated campsites. The park is 55 miles south of Bakersfield near Gorman off Interstate 5. 248-7007.

Sequoia National Forest

Sequoia National Forest: The national forest stretches from the Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park in the north to Breckenridge in the south and encompasses Isabella Lake and much of the Kern River. There is camping, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, waterskiing, swimming, whitewater rafting,kayaking, downhill skiing, snowboarding, summer campfire programs, off-highway vehicle use, horseback riding, wilderness areas and the Giant Sequoia National Monument. Day use parking in signed lots is $5.

Camping in Golden Trout Wilderness requires a permit, issued free, at the ranger district or supervisors office. No overall fee is required unless in a designated area. The Greenhorn Ranger District Office is in Lake Isabella, 760-379-5646. The Cannell Meadow Ranger District Office is in Kernville, 760-376-3781.

Disc Golf

Kern River Parkway: Truxtun Avenue and Commercial Way. 9 holes, 2,584-foot course length, first tee is north of the volleyball courts near the bike path.

Riverview Park: 401 Willow Drive, east of Oildale Drive. 18 holes, 2,188-foot course length, mostly grass course.

Silver Creek Park: Harris Road and Reliance Drive, Bakersfield. 9 holes, 2,300-foot course length, flat with small trees in a new park, easy course.

Boxing

Police Activities League: PAL Youth Center, 301 E. 4th St., 283-8880. The PAL-sponsored program is year-round and open to anyone between the ages of 8 and 17. Beginners train from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday in the summer and from 4 to 5:30 p.m. the rest of the year. Advanced boxers train from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the summer and 5 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. PAL sponsors an annual boxing show — the Mid-State Slugfest — the last weekend in July. Participants are from the western United States.

Eric Nolan’s Xtreme Martial Arts and Kickboxing: Two locations: 4510 Stine Road and 4000 Fruitvale Ave., Suites 10-11. Offers cardio kickboxing, kids’ kickboxing, kids’ kung fu, Brazilian kiu jitsu and free weights. Ages 4 and up. 833-3367, 588-KICK(5425).

Special Olympics

Kern County Special Olympics offers year-round training and competition opportunities for individuals with disabilities ages 8 and older. Sports include swimming, bowling, volleyball, floor hockey, soccer, softball, basketball, gymnastics, bocce, tennis, golf, track and field, roller skating and cycling.

For more information, call 322-7598, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Mailing address, P.O. Box 2544, Bakersfield, 93303; fax, 322-7599; e-mail here.

Oleander Neighborhood

Demographics, Crime Rate & More

Beale Park

In 1908, Truxtun Beale, the only son of Tejon Ranch owner Lt. Edward F. Beale and wife Mary E. (Edwards) Beale, donated five acres of land on Oleander Avenue for the building of the first park in the City of Bakersfield. Truxtun Beale also donated the materials for all of the landscaping and for the building of the Greek Theater and a swimming pool.

For almost one hundred years now this park has been a mainstay within our city. During the summer evenings, the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra performs concerts from the Greek Theater for residents to enjoy. Their beautiful music has been a tradition which has brought generation after generation of families together for relaxing, tranquil evenings in the park.

Although the pool, after almost one hundred years of use, needed to be removed, the park still offers a water amenity in the spray park recently constructed to allow people in the neighborhood to cool off during the hot days of summer and fall.

Beale Park also offers two group picnic areas, which can be reserved for your family or organizations functions, along with numerous individual picnic areas for smaller outings to the park. There are also three lighted tennis courts, four lighted horseshoe pits, one lighted basketball court, a turf volleyball area, and a softball backstop available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

There is a sandlot style playground area for children, with plenty of toys for them to enjoy their adventure to the park! They are sure to find their favorite toy within this fantastic playground.

In addition to the people amenities, there is something at this park for people who like to bird watch. Since approximately 1977, during the horrible windstorm that struck Bakersfield and Kern County, there has been a population of Rose-ringed Parakeets who first settled in Beale Park, and later also settled in Beach Park and Hart Park. The two original breeding pairs escaped when the roof was torn off of the Happy Bird Aviary during the storm. Since that time, through natural breeding and other unintentional releases of additional parakeets, Beale Park has become the primary home to a large naturalized population during the daytime hours. The birds roost at night in the tall palm trees along Union Avenue and California Avenue. The Rose-ringed Parakeets’ population in greater Bakersfield is the largest naturalization of this species in the world! When at Beale Park, just look up into the trees, these birds are bright green with a very loud call (sounding like “kee ep”). They have a natural lifespan of approximately 20 years, so we are sure to be able to enjoy their company for a long time.

Come and visit Beale Park, located on Oleander Avenue between Dracena and Palm, and enjoy the legacy left to the citizens of the City of Bakersfield by Truxtun Beale