More memories of Jack LaLanne, and a local attorney gives a tip of the hat to the lads of Kappa Sigma fraternity out at Cal State Bakersfield

 * ... TRASH: Normally the only reward people get from picking up litter along the side of the road is the satisfaction of knowing they've done a good deed for their city. Franklin "Woody" Allen of Bakersfield got that and more on a recent cleanup patrol with members of his Kiwanis club. The crew was tidying up an area near Calloway Drive and Hageman Road when Allen spotted a crumpled piece of green paper. Yep, a $100 bill. Nice volunteer work if you can get it.

 * ... KAPPA SIGMA: College fraternities earn their own negative attention sometimes, but they can also do a lot of good and provide kids with lasting memories and a full college experience. Local attorney Dan Clifford was a Greek (Chi Psi) himself at the University of Oregon, and he passed on this bit of good behavior involving the Kappa Sigma fraternity out at Cal State Bakersfield. Turns out Clifford and his wife Jennifer went to Deer Peak Park to hold a birthday party for their daughter, but learned the park had already been reserved by the Kappa Sigs. James Wilson, one of the fraternity brothers, responded by helping the Cliffords carry tables to another area so both groups could enjoy the park. "Jennifer and I could not have been more relieved and appreciative. Shortly thereafter the playground was filled with screaming kids and the party went off without a hitch. For the fraternity’s part, they looked like they were having fun and were complete gentlemen. Although my encounter with the guys was brief, it was an extremely positive one. It is refreshing to know that the Greek system continues to turn out well rounded, good natured adults.  Many thanks to James and the rest of the Kappa Sigs. "

 * ... RALPH: My earlier note on the late fitness guru Jack LaLanne drew yet another local connection, this one from KNZR radio host Ralph Bailey. Turns out Ralph went to high school with LaLanne's son, Jon Allen, in Sherman Oaks where they both played baseball, soccer and football.  "And we were coached by Gary Fowler, former Highland, Centennial and Golden Valley coach and athletic director. Gary recently retired from Golden Valley and Jon Allen is playing in a band and is a pool cleaner in Brentwood. His parents came to all of his games and one of my great thrills came after one of our football games in which I ran back a punt for a touchdown. Mr. LaLanne came up to me and said, 'That was a great run, Ralph.' Thought I was gonna die! I don't know what impressed me more: the fact that he admired my run or the fact that he actually knew my name!"

 * ... KUDOS: Hats off to local human resources consultant Holly Culhane for coming up with a creative and generous way to recognize her company's 25 years in business. Instead of holding an anniversary party, Culhane sent out small, pre-stamped post cards asking folks to choose from three charities who would receive a $25 donation in their name. The non-profits are Youth for Christ/USA, the Bakersfield Rescue Mission and the Houchin Blood Bank capital campaign. Kudos to Holly and her colleagues over at PAS Associates.

 * ... DUST BOWL: If you are a history buff you might consider taking in the annual "Dust Bowl Festival" at the Sunset School in Weedpatch this Saturday. It's always an interesting look back at our past and will feature the usual wealth of comfort food (biscuits, gravy, cornbread etc) and classic cars. It runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: This nugget comes compliments of longtime reader Linda Welch: You might be a Bakersfield old timer if you remember "when the freedom train came to town on Baker Street carrying the Constitution and Bill of Rights... Also the other train that carried Harry S. Truman when he was running for president. He came out on the landing of the last car. What a thrill those trains were to a very small child."

Bako Bits: the drama at Garces Memorial High, the indecision of Rep. Jean Fuller and Urner's celebrates 90 candles

 

 * ... THE DRAMA AT GARCES: Whatever is going on over at Garces Memorial High School isn't pretty. A lot of alumni and supporters are up in arms over the resignation of football coach David Fanucchi (some claim it was forced) and the demotion of his older brother, Vince Fanucchi. The Fanucchis (third brother John is school president) are virtual institutions at the private Catholic school and it's hard to envision a school year without the Fanucchis in charge in some way. Add to that the sudden resignation of swimming coach Bill Potter and it just adds to the intrigue. So what is it? A purge? Or simply a changing of the guard? The buzz around this community institution is hot, emails are flying and some longtime supporters are threatening to withhold their support, which is considerable. Honestly, I'm not sure I really want to know the inside dirt. Rather, I hope this  storm passes and the school returns to its roots of providing a quality private school education for our local kids. I did hear the school's annual barbeque last week was a huge hit, and that's a good sign. My take: let's hope cooler heads prevail and some form of explanation comes from the diocese to calm the alumni. Garces is a community institution that is too important to put at risk. 

 *  ... JEAN FULLER'S DECISION: State Rep. Jean Fuller addressed the downtown Rotary club last week but didn't reveal much about  her political future. Fuller, who represents the 32nd Assembly District, will either run for a third and final Assembly turn or make a run for the state Senate seat that Roy Ashburn is vacating. One thing was certain: Fuller seems to have grown in the job and impressed the group with her grasp of the issues, particularly regarding the water crisis that is of so much concern to valley farmers. She was accompanied by aide Dana Culhane, daughter of Holly Culhane, owner of PAS Associates.


 * ... 90 CANDLES FOR URNER'S: Urner's Applicance Center is one of those Bakersfield institutions along the lines of Dewar's Candy Shop, Woolgrower's and Luigi's. Is there anyone in town who hasn't purchased a refrigerator, TV or washer and dryer from these guys? So it's worth noting that Urner's, still family owned after all these years, is celebrating its 90th birthday. And they are doing it in with style. On Friday, Oct. 9, principals from Urner's will gather at the Bakersfield Rescue Mission to replace all the mattresses in the men's and women's dormitories with new Tempur-Pedic mattresses. In addition, they'll donate two 60-inch home theater televisions. This is why supporting family owned businesses like Urner's is so important. These are our neighbors, not  some faceless corporate bureaucrat from Arkansas. The company president is David H. Urner, son of the founder, and Steve Illingworth (grandson of David E.  Turner) serves as vice president.

  Urner's opened its doors on September 1, 1919, as Home Appliance Co. during a time when "modern appliances" were sold mainly in hardware stores. Urner's now also specializes in big screen televisions, sofas and mattresses. Over the years the family has been generous to such groups as the CSUB Foundation, the Bakersfield Symphony, Memorial Hospital House of Hope and Teen Challenge. (photo by The Californian)

Some perspective on college tuition, the man who fathered 1,000 kids and bringing back the Bakersfield Business Conference

 * ... BUSINESS CONFERENCE REDUX? Interesting to read in The Californian that local attorney George Martin is resurrecting the Bakersfield Business Conference, once the premier "must see" signature event in town. The business conference had a great run but when ended in 2005, truth was it was well past its prime. In fact, it had been almost comatose the last few years. Like a lot of things, folks simply grew weary of the same speakers and the same theme year after year. (It also lost its sense of humor, opting for too many F.W. De Klerks and too few Jay Lenos or Rich Littles) The business conference was not the only event that has run  its course (the Beautiful Bakersfield awards and the Garces Gala are two others that need serious makeovers, in my opinion) so let's hope George has the vision to make it something more than  listening to retired prime ministers followed by fireworks and a do-wop  '50s band in the evening.

 * ... SOME PERSPECTIVE ON TUITION HIKES: Students at CSUB and across the state are understandably upset  at the seemingly endless tuition hikes they've faced as the state and the Regents deal with this economic mess. But some perspective is in order. Even with the latest increase, the average in-state student in the Cal State system will be paying $4,827 a year (check out a more complete report here). Now I recognize that's not peanuts, but despite all their issues California's public colleges and universities remain some of the best in the world, and at $5,000 a year, that's a bargain. Even the more expensive and selective UC system is looking at tuition and fees of around $8,900 (full report here) but when you consider schools like UCLA, Cal Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara, it's still a bargain. As a comparison, check out this chart here that shows comparable tuition and fees at public schools in other states. Some examples:

University of Virginia: $10,364
 Rutgers Univesity: $12,462
 University of Michigan: $13,189
 University of Illinois: $13,015
 Ohio State University: $8,679
 Texas A and M: $8,385

 * ... FAREWELL TO ROGER POPPEN: Old friend Holly Culhane tipped me to a retirement celebration honoring one of the real institutions in our community, Roger Poppen of Laurelglen Bible Church. Roger has been head pastor over at Laurelglen for the past 20 years, overseeing the growth of the church from 600 attendees to more than 2,000 on any given Sunday. (The church is located on Ashe Road) The farewell for Roger and wife Naomi will be held this Sunday at 10 a.m. at Centennial High School. For more information call 661-833-2800 or go http://laurelglen.org. Best wishes to Roger and Naomi in this next chapter of their lives.

 * ... MAN WHO FATHERED 1,000 CHILDREN: Enjoyed hearing from Jenna Odlin, who was naturally proud to report that her father, lawyer Marc Widelock, was being honored for his role in helping local residents in the adoption process. According to Jenna, Widelock will be the recipient of the United States Congressional Coalition on Adoptions "Angels in Adoption" Award.  The honor is bestowed on individuals by Congress who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of children through adoption. Said Jenna:

 

 " He didn't do this all by himself; he had the help of birth parents (those who choose to place a child for adoption), surrogates, egg and sperm donors, prospective adoptive parents (families who wish to adopt), and intended parents (parents who have contracted with a surrogate)."

 She said her father's practice focuses on family formation (e.g. Adoption and Alternative Reproductive Technology) and Juvenile Law. and has been involved in over 1,000 adoptions, helping to form families from Maine to Alaska and "does it all from his Bakersfield office!"