Germany gets credit for turning beer into a month long "fest," as in Octoberfest. However, when it comes to chili, Mobility Opportunities Via Education (MOVE) International and Bakersfield Association for Retarded Citizens (BARC) introduced a new "fest," a "Soup-toberfest" on Oct. 30 at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office in Bakersfield. Forget for the moment that chili was served and not soup. Clam chowder, along with chili, was on the original menu when the word Soup-toberfest was coined by event planners in September. Since they both are served in a bowl and chili kind of has the same consistency of thick soup, just consider it an exercise in semantics. What Soup-toberfest offered was something new for downtown workers and residents looking to satisfy their lunch-time appetites and help severely disabled children and adults at the same time. More than 150 people decided to do just that, spending $12 to feast on a bowl of Sequoia Sandwich Company chili in collectible, ceramic bowls, hand-painted by BARC clients. The proceeds benefited BARC and MOVE, both of which are making it possible for children and adults with severe disabilities to gain independent movement. Since it was a first-time event, there was a small glitch, some of the chili had not been pre-heated when it came time for serving. But the friendly, generous patrons seemed little deterred or disappointed by the extra wait. Comments afterwards indicated it was more about the hand-painted bowls and helping those being helped by MOVE and BARC than it was about the warmth of the chili. More

Neither rain or threat of rain could keep a small army of young children from their appointed rounds at the Kern County Museum on both Oct. 30 and 31. Those were the nights for the museum’s 25th annual Safe Halloween. Spending $8 a ticket gave each child (with a parent or guardian) the chance to trick-or-treat off the streets and in the safety of the museum grounds. A project of the nonprofit Kern County Museum Foundation, Safe Halloween bills itself as Kern County’s premier trick-or-treat experience. Surrounded by all the rustic, pioneer structures that have served families settling Kern County in the past, the antique setting makes it sort of like “Trick-or-Treat Meets Back to the Future." Among the fun for children were over 30 local service club and business operated trick-or-treat stations, a carnival, costume contest, food and beverages. Approximately 4,400 children and parents took part each night as their brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles have over the past 24 years. Sponsors included Kern Family Health Care, Diane S. Lake Family, KERO TV23 and Azteca America Kern County 42 and Groove 99.3 FM. More