HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.20.2025Bakers eld Notes
The Sound of What's Happening!
March 20, 2025
Notable Items
City awarded KernCOG Chairman's Award of Merit
The City of Bakers eld was recently recognized by the Kern Council
of Governments during its annual Regional Awards ceremony earlier
this month.
Our California Violence Intervention & Prevention team, now the
Of ce of Violence Intervention & Prevention, was awarded with the
KernCOG Chairman's Award of Merit on March 6.
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The Chairman's Award of Merit is presented to individuals who have
made important contributions to regional cooperation, progress, and
understanding in Kern County.
Members of the City Manager's Of ce, OVIP, the Bakers eld Police
Department and community-based organizations were on hand
during the ceremony to receive the award.
New arts project bringing color to Saunders Park!
This week, the City's Recreation & Parks Department, in partnership
with the Arts Council of Kern and California State Parks, announced
"Arts in the Parks," a new mural project coming to Saunders Park.
The Saunders Park Activation Through Art and Nature Project is
funded in part by the Arts in California Parks Local Parks Grant
Program, which is administered by Parks California.
The $250,000 grant will cover 15 shade trees, installation of a new
ADA-compliant accessible walking path, four benches, lighting and
community engagement events.
The mural, which will feature designs from local artist Wendy
Johnson, will cover more than 100 feet along walls at Saunders.
Four of Johnson's eight designs will ultimately call Saunders Park
home.
The public is invited to vote on those designs and also participate in
the process of bringing those designs to life.
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Vote on Designs!
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Dozens gather for BPD's 2nd annual motor skills
competition
Members of law enforcement from throughout California gathered
in Bakers eld last weekend to nd the best motorcycle riders.
The Bakers eld Police Department's second annual Motor Skills
Competition saw 40 competitors partake, coming in from as far
north as Vacaville and as far south as Beverly Hills.
The competition was divided into two divisions - Harley Davidson
and BMW - with each division having an A and B group. Those in the
A group had previously participated in competitions and placed in
the Top 3. Those in the B group had never placed in competition.
Winners were:
Harley Davidson, A Group: Richard Robles, Bakers eld Police
Dept.
BMW, A Group: Mike Guzman, Beverly Hills Police Dept.
Harley Davidson, A Group: Dominick Vance, Bakers eld Police
Dept.
BMW, B Group: Axel Padilla, San Jose Police Dept.
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Old Town Kern Vision Plan Open House set for March
29
What does the future of Old Town Kern look like to you?
You have another opportunity to share your ideas during an
upcoming Vision Plan Open House.
Discover how we plan to promote economic revitalization, improve
mobility, and honor the cultural heritage of one of Bakers eld’s
oldest communities.
The Old Town Kern Vision Plan Open House is taking place from 2-5
p.m., Saturday, March 29 at Eligon Venue, 307 E. 21st Street.
Learn About OTK
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More than 50,000 pounds of trash
collected at bulky item event
The City of Bakers eld's Solid Waste
Division collected more than 50,000
pounds of trash during its March pop-up
large item drop-off event held on
Panorama Drive.
The 52,960 pounds of trash was the
second-most collected this year at a pop-
up event (February collected 79,400
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pounds). Another 6,840 pounds of metal was also dropped off by
nearly 200 vehicles on March 8.
Residents dropped off 127 mattresses, 13 tires, 720 pounds of
recycling, and 100 e-waste items.
These large item drop-off events are part of Bakers eld's Clean City
Initiative and are typically held on the second Saturday of each
month, providing an opportunity for residents to get rid of large
items that don't t in their normal trash bin.
Multiple City streets to face closures due to Bakers eld
Marathon
The Bakers eld Marathon is taking place Sunday, March 30 and it
will impact a number of streets.
Street closures along the course will take place starting at 4 a.m. and
run through 2 p.m.
Bakers eld Marathon Info
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Rec. & Parks hosting FREE Sports & Education Academy
The City's Recreation & Parks Department is hosting two free Sports
& Education Academy sessions this spring and summer to keep your
kiddos busy.
Thanks to a grant from Kaiser Permanente, Rec. & Parks is able to
host the sessions for free. The four foundational pillars of the
program are: sports, academics, health and nutrition, and life
enrichment.
The rst seven-week program runs from April 7 - May 23 at the Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 1000 S. Owens Street.
The second session runs from June 9 - July 25 at the Saunders Park
Recreational Facility, 3300 Palm Street.
Space is limited for the academy. The spring deadline to register is
April 3.
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Click yer to register
Rec. & Parks recruiting for 2025 Lifeguard Academy
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Click yer to register
Next episode of The Something
Better Podcast to feature water
conversation
You may have noticed construction taking
place near the Kern River off Truxtun and
Coffee Road, but don't know exactly what's
going on.
On the next episode of The Something
Better Podcast, Daniel Maldonado, Water
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Resources Assistant Director, explains the purpose behind the
construction of a new weir and the importance and impact on the
community.
That episode is scheduled to drop on Tuesday, March 25.
The Something Better Podcast is streaming on all your favorite
podcast platforms, including:
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
iHeart
YouTube
You can also nd it by visiting The Something Better Podcast
homepage.
Service Awards
Week of March 16
Nina Bishop, Police Dept., 5 years
Patrick Cruz, Public Works, 5 years
Linda Evans, Technology Services, 5
years
Ralph Hernandez, Recreation & Parks, 5
years
David Johnston, Development Services, 5 years
Stephanie Quirino, Police Dept., 5 years
Reports
Bakers eld Police Department, Special Enforcement Unit Monthly
Report, Jan., 2025
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Bakers eld Youth Jobs Program Annual Report, Nov. 2023 - Oct.
2024
Events
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Click calendar to visit Bakers eldCondors.com
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