Lunch Bunch: The Petroleum Club

Written by Tracie Grimes

FEATURED RESTAURANT

THE PETROLEUM CLUB

“We really strive to put the ‘wow’ on for our patrons,” explains Petroleum Club Manager, Lili Marsh. “Our chef Robert Alimirzaie creates fare that is as diversified as Bakersfield itself. He loves to use his imagination; we have several patrons who will come in and say something like, ‘I feel like seafood tonight...surprise me!’ ”

And surprise us he did—Robert sent the most sinful desserts to our table! Crème Brule, Chocolate Lava cake, Mango Sorbet...all delicious and Robert assured us that he had taken out at least half of the calories.

“I can usually resist desserts, but these were amazing!” said Sue Benham, adding that her salmon salad topped with Pink Lady apples was “excellent.”

“They really know how to ‘do’ salmon,” agreed Pat Loyd, who also had the salmon salad.

My ahi salad was also a winner and Colleen McGauley, our guest, enjoyed her vegetable quesadilla.

We were all enamored with Colleen, who is the executive director of Kern County’s CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Her descriptions of how our CASA volunteers work to give children hope by giving them a voice within the foster care system were deepened by the budding trees and flowers on the streets below us. It was the perfect setting for our topic of “hope.”

“Colleen is an inspirational leader,” Sue said. “CASA is one of the outstanding nonprofits in Bakersfield and I always enjoy hearing about the CASA volunteer’s dedication to the children they represent.”

“What a wonderful insight into CASA and how they operate,” added Patricia. “The love and dedication that is so obvious in Colleen is contagious and affects those around her.”

And it’s no wonder commitment to CASA practically oozes from Colleen; as a graduate of the first CASA training class in Bakersfield in 1994, CASA has been a part of Colleen’s life for the past 15 years.

“We’ve trained over 600 volunteers who’ve worked hard to make sure foster kids don’t ‘fall through the cracks’,” Colleen said. “Last year alone our 200 citizen advocates gave over 11,000 hours to help 503 children and 97 percent of those kids found forever families.”

But those impressive numbers barely scratch the surface of the figures needed to provide advocates for Kern’s abused and neglected children. It’s not just volunteer hours that keeps CASA going; dollars are needed as well.

“It costs about $1,685 a year (about $140 a month) to give a CASA to a child in need, so we really have to cast our ‘net’ out wide to make sure we can give our neglected children a chance to succeed in life,” Colleen explained.

And CASA’s “wide net” offers many opportunities for Bakersfield’s community members to become involved, including: Circle of Hope, a monthly gift that goes directly to CASA of Kern County in which contributors can donate as little as $5 a month.

Celebration Parties, through which individual community members host parties to raise money for CASA of Kern County. In looking at some of the upcoming line-up of parties thrown by some of our Bakersfield neighbors, creativity is definitely at work...there’s the “Evening in CASAblanca” event on June 6 at The Petroleum Club; Second Annual “Wastin’ Away Again in Margaritaville” on June 27 at Randy Urner’s Outside, hosted by Joe and Jan Drew, Renee Goodwin, Ted and Sharon Pierce, Randy Urner, Jeff and Jenny Vaughan, and PK and Jane Zander; “Date Night” at Jezabelle’s on August 1, hosted by Jezabelle’s & Christine Hennings; “Bollywood in Bako” on September 19 at the Vaughan residence, hosted by Larry and Pat Bentley, Bill and Marjorie Nixon, and Jeff and Jenny Vaughan; and “The Pig Party—A Party with a Purpose” on November 7 at the Sandrini residence, hosted by Robert and Patt Sandrini.

Becoming a CASA volunteer, which is the real nuts and bolts of the program. It involves 36 hours of training and between 9 and 15 hours per month on a case. Usually it lasts for the 12 to 18 months the child may be a dependent of the court.

But it doesn’t take a lavish party or big bucks to contribute to CASA and make a difference in the life of a child, Colleen pointed out.

“Sometimes at the top of our ‘wish list’ is something as simple as a ream of paper, some pens, or an old office chair,” Colleen said. “We have one little old couple that writes out a check every month for $15. It just warms my heart every time I see the familiar handwriting on the check, which gets shakier and shakier each month. I want more people like them!”

Lunch Bunch Updates

Spring was a busy time for Judi McCarthy and the Women’s & Girls’ Fund of Kern County (which is part of the Kern Community Foundation). She reported that in March, local artists Jeanette Richardson, Jen Bowles, and C & C Hardware were honored at the Fund’s annual “Women in Art” celebration. In April, Fund volunteers sponsored two sessions at the Women’s Business Conference entitled “Ordinary Women of Extraordinary Spirit.” New grants from the Women’s and Girls’ Fund were also announced in April at the 5th Annual Luncheon Celebration on April 29. The grants supported mentoring for junior high girls from single parent families in the Kern River Valley; African American female students at Foothill High School as they complete A-G course requirements needed for university admission; and the expansion of the Garden Pathway’s capacity for mentoring services that benefit both children and adults.

Sue described a busy spring for Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, too. On April 21, BMH and the Physician Leadership Campaign honored Hans E. Einstein, MD, for his outstanding community service and lifelong contributions to medical research. The BMH Foundation will also be sending out invitations for community members to become a part of “The Miracle Society,” which supports the Children’s Medical Center at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. June 5 & 6 was a fun weekend as “Bakersfield’s Biggest, Baddest BBQ Competition” was held at Stramler Park. This exciting event was sponsored by the Marriott to benefit Children’s Miracle Network programs at BMH.

Keeping Kern animals from being euthanized has been near and dear to the heart of Patricia Loyd. Through Alpha Canine’s voucher program to help low income or senior citizens spay/neuter their dogs, Patricia reminds community members that we can drastically reduce Kern County’s euthanasia rate of 80 percent of impounded animals by altering our pets. Not only can Alpha Canine help by giving vouchers, volunteers can provide transportation to the veterinary hospital.

Jillian Fritch-Stump is very excited about the BAM After School Program. BAM is working with XCOR Aerospace experts and other local STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) professionals in bringing the building of student constructed rockets and launches to life. BAM’s hands-on learning experiences are designed to inspire young people to imagine themselves as scientists, inventors, engineers, and mathematicians and to connect them with local professionals, Jillian explains.

Ann Hansen had to miss our wonderful lunch, but wanted to give an update on a program close to her heart, our local Teen Enrichment Program. She explains that the program began 12 years ago and is focused on mentoring 10th grade girls at local high schools. “Our sessions are for two class periods, once a month. We serve lunch and present a program that enhances life skills, goal setting, adversity issues, and so much more. We are always looking for new women to help with our program. We will be having a lunch and a two-hour training seminar this summer, but the date has not yet been selected.” Please contact Ann Hansen at (661) 549-1834 for information.

To learn more about how you can help CASA, call (661) 631-2272 or log on to kerncasa.org. Or, to learn more about the charities our Lunch Bunch supports, please call (661) 834-4126 or visit bakersfieldmagazine.net.

Article appeared in our 26-2 Issue - June 2009