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Community Noticias

Kern County Fair Children’s Art winners announced

A self-portrait in pencil won Esther Han, a Tevis Junior High eighth-grader, the Kern County Fair Children’s Art Contest Sweepstakes Trophy.

Han drew the picture as a seventh-grader. Awards were announced at a ceremony inside Harvest Hall on the morning of Sept. 27.

The contest is sponsored by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office to showcase art created by public school children.

Each entry had to be original in color and design. Each classroom submitted two or three pieces of their best art. The Kern County Fair’s Children’s Art Committee pared the submissions down to the final competitors.

The artwork was hung by grade level and displayed inside Harvest Hall at the fair.
Blue Ribbons were awarded to:

• Special Education: Alberto Gonzales, Valle Verde Elementary
• Preschool: Melanie Castellanos, Del Vista School
• Kindergarten: Chandler Paul, Maple School
• First Grade: Melissa Elizalde, Rio Bravo Elementary
• Second Grade: Brittnie Colvard, Rio Bravo Elementary
• Third Grade: Jeremiah Espitia, Maple School
• Fourth Grade: Natali Beltran, Noble School
• Fifth Grade: Patricia Martin, Planz Elementary
• Sixth Grade: Chelsie Ellis, Patriot Elementary
• Seventh Grade: Alisa Rinehart, Rosedale Middle
• Eighth Grade: Sarah Berumen, Tevis Junior High

Federal grant part of effort to increase Hispanic engineers, teachers and business professionals
A $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education will help area colleges and universities increase the number of Hispanic engineers, teachers and business professionals in the valley.

The project, “Opening Pathways to College Degrees for Hispanic Students: A Comprehensive and Collaborative Approach,” will be distributed over a five-year period that began Oct. 1. California State University Bakersfield’s Antelope Valley Campus, Antelope Valley College and Fresno State will work together on the project.
The three majors were selected as the focus because of critical shortages of qualified professionals, particularly Hispanics, in those fields, officials said. Hispanics may not be the only group helped, as the project will also look at other underrepresented groups.

Students will be mentored and monitored throughout their undergraduate career.

The funding will provide for supplies, computer labs, faculty training, workshops and an outreach position that will work with high school counselors for recruitment.

Paint it Pink
The Paint it Pink Art Show — in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month in October — will be hosted by the boutiques at Fox Plaza: Haute Décor, Danica & Company and Paul Woggs on Friday, Oct. 6, and Saturday, Oct. 7.

The show will feature fine art, photography, jewelry and fabric by local artists and cancer survivors: Karla Jadwin, Cathy Lake, Claudia True, Nicole Saint-John, Lila Martin and Kay Betz.

The event will benefit Link-For-Life with a portion of sales donated to the local breast cancer support group.

The art show will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, including a wine tasting held from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 6 at Fox Plaza, 1717 20th St. (near the Fox Theater downtown).

For more information, call or e-mail Maitecha Jauretche at 661-619-1281 or maitecha
@coquettehandbags.com.

Poplar Pointe offering new homes in Wasco
Poplar Pointe — a new housing development by Triumph companies in Wasco — was unveiled to the public on Sept. 23.

Two other housing developments are planned to open, including Baker’s Street Village and Magnolia Village.

With just 39 homes, Poplar Pointe was developed to create a friendly small-town atmosphere that is still near the amenities of Bakersfield and the Central Coast, developers said.

Poplar Pointe includes four architectural styles; a 1950s California style, Craftsman, Santa Barbara Spanish and an Italian design.

The homes are 1,965 to 2,525 square feet in size and pricing on the homes start in the mid-$300,000 range.

There are six floor plans, including up to five-bedroom homes on large lots.

For more information, contact the Poplar Pointe office at: 661-758-1070.

Or, visit: www.poplarpointe.com.

Local artist wins blue ribbon at the Kern County Fair
Alicia Anaya won a blue ribbon for her colorful chipped china and tile mosaic stepping-stones at the Kern County Fair the day the fair opened.

Anaya had the idea to enter her art in the contest when the teacher of her Native American basket making class at the Kern County Museum urged students to enter baskets and other crafts.

This gave Anaya the opportunity to enter her art and display it publicly.

Anaya has been making art in her back yard and selling it for $20 locally with customers hearing about her by word-of-mouth.

Anaya said she was inspired by stepping stones she saw on the coast that normally sell for $60 to $100 and started making her own versions of unique stepping stones in her own yard. 

—Community news items compiled by MÁS staffers Lisa Wuertz and Christina Dillmann