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PALMDALE BLVD

Volume I No: 9 “Where every story is a positive story.” June 2018

Bringing Back The Old West

Groat Family
Productions
Story Page 3

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Palmdale Blvd’s very first sponsor, a citizen of Palmdale that cares about his community.

Robert E. Alvarado continues to work hard to provide current and future


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Serving Palmdale Water District since 2011.
2 PALMDALE BLVD

PALMDALE BLVD NASA Selects Lockheed Martin The Mourning Dove


“Where every story is a positive story.”
Hobalong@adelphia.net
Skunk Works to Build X-Plane By MARILYN DALRYMPLE
Contributing Writer
661.618.3301 LOCKHEED MARTIN Most likely, if you live here in the Antelope Valley,
Contributed you’ve heard the cooOOoo-woo-woo-woooo sound of
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
PALMDALE – Supersonic commercial travel is on the male mourning dove, who uses this call to attract fe-
Larry Hobson
the horizon as NASA awarded Lockheed Martin Skunk males.
661.618.3301
Works a contract to design, build and flight test the Low- Other calls heard may be the cooOOoo used by paired
Publisher Assistant Boom Flight Demonstrator, an X-plane designed to make doves calling their mate back to the nest.
Amanda Hobson supersonic passenger air travel a reality. The short roo-oo is made by the male or female to warn
Office Manager The Lockheed Martin Skunk Works’ X-plane design will others of danger.
Ashleigh Hobson cruise at 55,000 feet, Mach 1.4, and will generate a gen- The birds, which are in fact small pigeons, are plentiful
Managing Editor & Copy Editor tle, supersonic heartbeat instead of a sonic boom. and have a range of nearly 6.8 million square miles.
Thomas Fitzgerald “It is super exciting to be back designing and flying They are found throughout the Greater Antilles, most
X-planes at this scale,” said Jaiwon Shin, NASA’s asso- of Mexico, the Continental United States, and southern
S t a f f Wr i t e r ciate administrator for aeronautics. “Our long tradition of Canada.
Thomas Fitzgerald solving the technical barriers of supersonic flight to bene- The light gray and brown birds mate for life and are
Advertising fit everyone continues.” excellent parents, taking turns caring for the young.
661.618.3301 Lockheed Martin Skunk Works will build a full-scale The pair can raise from two to six broods a year. Most
experimental aircraft, known as an X-plane, of its prelim- clutches consist of one to three eggs, most commonly
Layout & Design
inary design developed under NASA’s Quiet Supersonic two. Incubation takes two weeks.
Thomas Fitzgerald
Technology (QueSST) effort. The male and the female work together to feed their
Distribution Manager The X-plane will help NASA establish an acceptable young, “crop milk,” or, “pigeon milk,” a cottage cheese-
Kelsey Hobson commercial supersonic noise standard to overturn current like substance secreted by the adult’s crop lining.
regulations banning commercial supersonic travel over By day four, their diet of the squabs segues to seeds. At
Palmdale Blvd is a First Amendment Free Press. land. two weeks, the squabs are fledged.
In compliance with federal Civil Rights legislation, “We’re honored to continue our partnership with NASA Adult doves can fly up to 55 miles per hour.
we do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, to enable a new generation of supersonic travel,” said Doves are celebrated appearing in scripture as symbols
color, national origin, ancestry, religion or lack of, Peter Iosifidis, Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator program of the Holy Spirit, and they symbolize hope and peace.
sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orienta- manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. “We look for- It was the dove who flew from Noah’s Ark to return with
tion(s) or veteran status in our employment. ward to applying the extensive work completed under the olive tree leaf.
Palmdale Blvd has not investigated any service or QueSST to the design, build and flight test of the X-plane, A fun fact about mourning doves. “The male leads the
product advertised in this newspaper and publica- providing NASA with a demonstrator to make superson- female to potential nest sites, and the female will choose
tion of advertising does not imply endorsement of ic commercial travel possible for passengers around the one. The female dove builds the nest. The male will fly
any product or service by this newspaper. globe.” about, gathering material, and bring it to her.”
Palmdale Blvd is a free newspaper published Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and NASA have part-
monthly and is distributed to Palmdale residents , nered for more than a decade to enable the next genera-
tion of commercial supersonic aircraft. NASA awarded
It’s time to remove State
businesses and public school district staff.
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works a contract in February Highway 138 off Palmdale
2016 for the preliminary design of the supersonic X-plane
Blvd and clean up the Blvd.
PALMDALE FIN & FEATHER CLUB flight demonstrator.
The aircraft will be built at the Lockheed Martin Skunk

TROUT SEASON NEARING END; Works facility in Palmdale, California, and will conduct
its first flight in 2021.

BASS/CATFISH UP NEXT For more information visit: www.lockheedmartin.com.

As Palmdale Fin & Feather Club’s trout season is


coming to an end with their last two trout stockings
having occurred on April 24th and 26th, they’re going
into Bass/Catfish season better than ever.
And despite the indecisive weather changes we’ve
been having they’re still pulling out beautiful rainbow
and lightening trout from previous stockings.
Daily fishing limits include the following: Trout: 5
per day; Catfish: 3 per day with a 16” minimum size/
slot limit; Bass: 2 per day after 7/15/18 with a 12” to
16” minimum size/slot limit; Crappie: 3 per day af-
ter 7/15/18 with a 12” to 14” minimum size/slot limit;
Bluegill, Perch: 5 per day after 7/15/18 with a 6” min-
imum size/slot limit.
Fishing season altogether ends October 7, 2018, but
Palmdale Fin & Feather Club is still accepting mem-
berships for the remainder of the year with a load of
Catfish, a Catfish Derby and our famous Annual BBQ All content belongs to Palmdale Blvd newspaper and is
to look forward to in the upcoming months, so you copyrighted. Re-printing stories require written
don’t want to miss out! approval by Palmdale Blvd newspaper.
JUNE 2018 3

Best of the West Productions:


~
In Tribute to 1930s Serial, Short Reel and B-Westerns
In 1983, Groat decided to form his own family produc- And securing a display table at a film festival was no
By THOMAS FITZGERALD
tion company because he wanted to focus on Westerns guarantee patrons would notice because, as Groat rec-
Staff Writer
and do things his own way. ollected, the larger production films were given prime
Since his first appearance as a television actor in 1964, “I got tired, frankly, going on auditions and I wanted location at tables while lesser known productions were
Rick Groat has accumulated over 40 film, television and to call the shots myself. And I really liked writing,” said relegated to an inconspicuous space.
live performance credits ranging from background extra Groat. “So I formed Best of the West Productions.” Today, thanks to the internet and services like Netflix,
to starring roles. Groat’s first movie was a black & white shot on 16mm independent production companies can market and show-
That was the plan all along as Groat knew from child- film. Called, The Shooting - Story of the Kane Brothers, case their films on-line.
hood he wanted to be an actor. it was made in tribute to the serial, short reel and B-West- “The internet has made a level playing field for us,” said
“When I saw my first Western, which was High Noon, I erns of the 1930s. Groat. “It’s really opened a lot of doors and I’m grateful
remember telling my mother, ‘That’s what I want to do,’” “I also made The Shooting in tribute to William S. Hart for that.”
said Groat. and the silent era,” said Groat. “He’s one of my inspira- According a report in Bloomberg, in 2017, movie the-
Today, 54 years later, Groat has added writer, producer tions.” ater attendance in the U.S. and Canada fell to its lowest
and director to his entertainment resume’. Filming in black & white, Groat used tricks of the trade point since at least 1992. Though an estimated 1.24 bil-
Specializing in Westerns, his skill as a showman are taught to him by his grandfather, such as using chocolate lion tickets were sold, the figure represents a drop off of
not limited to the, “lights, camera, action!” of filmmaking syrup for blood. 5.8 percent from the previous year.
and extend to live performances alongside his family as The Bloomberg report notes streaming services like Net-
the Groat Family Wild West Show. “I see our western film histo- flix, Amazon, and HBO Go are presenting a legitimate
“I see our western film history as an important part of ry as an important part of our challenge to Hollywood by offering more entertainment
our American roots, and one of the foundations of our options viewers can watch in the comfort of their home.
artistic culture,” said Groat.
American roots, and one of Rick’s brother, Tag Groat, is a co-producer, a second
His mother, Dolores “Gypsy” Groat, at 7 years old, be- the foundations of our artistic unit director, an actor and is responsible for taking care of
came a child actor for MGM in the late 1930s and ap- culture.” the, “hard equipment,” used in filming, like guns and the
peared in several musicals. blank rounds fired from them.
Her father, Clifford Groat, was a director for silent films Filming of The Shooting was done with era authentic For safety, the Groats manufacture the blank rounds fired
and early talkies at Pathé Studios. cameras and sound equipment from the 1930s acquired from hand guns and long rifles in their films themselves
“He started in 1922 as an extra and worked his way by Groat after visiting a movie apparatus rental company instead of purchasing them from an outside agency.
up and became a stunt man,” said Groat. “And then he in Hollywood. “I’ve seen dangerous things happen,” said Groat. “I like
got involved in special effects. And then they trusted him That business did not have the equipment Groat needed, to control everything we use, especially if you’re putting
enough to let him direct a Western, and he did six of them but knew somebody that did. He rented one tripod, one somebody at risk. I want to be sure what’s in that gun.”
after that.” camera and a sound recorder and filmed for a total of 21 Groat said he’s seen blanks that had shrapnel inside the
Groat said he was unaware of his grandfather’s Hol- days spread over the course of one year. Film editing was case, which is essentially shooting someone with buck-
lywood history until he was about 15 years old. Later, done using an old time hand splicer as well. shot, and also witnessed blanks that were crowned, and
his grandfather gave him an album book with historical “I had to shoot on weekends because I involved my when fired the blank would be shot out the barrel as a
prints of movie sets he worked on. friends and family,” explained Groat. “It was a great ex- projectile.
As a boy, Groat would leave home just off Sunset Blvd perience. We had a film festival and I screened it.” “I’ve seen blanks that were supposedly quarter loads or
in Los Angeles and spend weekends and summers at his Next came a phone call from the Southern California half loads and were actually full loads,” said Groat. “So
maternal grandfather’s ranch in Simi Valley. Motion Picture Council and an invitation to their film fes- the boxes were mismarked.”
There, he learned to ride horses and was around farm tival, where to his surprise, The Shooting was honored Groat said shooting in close quarters – an actor two or
animals, giving him experience he would put to use in and presented with 12 different awards. three feet away from the pistol being fired – with mis-
film and live performances in the future. “That’s where it all started for me,” said Groat. “Since marked blank ammunition is especially dangerous.
When he was 13, Groat met a former vaudevillian then, I’ve done seven or eight films and a couple of horror Groat’s Best of the West Productions uses wax rounds
performer in his 80s who went by Jesse J. James, and movies, and appeared in dozens of other things for other Continued on Page 4
claimed to be the third son of infamous American outlaw producers.”
Jesse James, and who, at the time, operated a Wild West Back in the early 80s, not being backed by major Hol-
Stunt Show on weekends. lywood studios meant the independent filmmaker faced
“He taught us vaudevillian stunt work and we became challenges getting their production distributed and shown
part of his stunt show,” said Groat. “And about two years to audiences in the theatre.
after that, my family and I formed our own Wild West When pitching The Shooting, Groat was told repeatedly
Show and we’ve been doing that ever since.” his film was no good because it was in black & white, GUNS • AMMO • RODS • REELS • SAFES
The Groat Family Wild West Show is the longest run- dialogue didn’t have foul language, no gore and blood, NEW PALMDALE STORE
ning, family-owned Wild West show in U.S. history,
though the troupe has undergone a few name changes
since originally being called the Groat’s Wild West Show.
and no sex.
Since The Shooting was modeled after the 1930s B-West-
ern it didn’t include sex and gratuitous violence, leaving
NOW OPEN!
As a teen, Groat did background work for movies and major distributors thinking the film would be a flop at the
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“I’d audition as often as I can,” said Groat. “I did a


whole lot of stuff. I would get bit parts here and there.
“It’s a little, sweet movie, it’s not a big blockbuster or
anything like that,” said Groat. “It’s a very quaint story
SAVINGS YOU DESERVE
ON THE GEAR YOU’VE ALWAYS
Small parts. I got a part on Days of Our Lives for two
weeks.”
with old time action, which is why it won those awards;
because it’s got all the old, right flavors in it.”
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When on set, Groat took advantage of opportunity by Not too long ago a producer would need to physically Ask Sales Associate For Details

being as close to the director as he could to, “look, listen knock on doors and personally attend film festivals to get 39626 10th St. West • 661-225-9420
and learn,” everything he could. the right eyes watching their film. WWW.TURNERS.COM
4 PALMDALE BLVD

Best of the West


~
Productions
taken heads off.” his family when Shay Thompson, a rancher and a killer,
Continued From Page 3
On a set for a different production and one which Groat and his gun hands take revenge on Elkhorn, his brothers,
when needing to film a gunshot penetrating a door or would not name, he recalled a scene where men fired and innocent people for the death of Thompson’s brother.
wall, as was used in the 1930s. A wax round can injure wax loads from rifles at bad guys hunkered down inside a Thompson and his men use violence, rape, and murder
a person just as well as a led round, so these shots are building across a street. in an attempt to wipe out the Elkhorns. John Elkhorn and
tasked to the B-Unit and filmed without actors. The scene called for blank rounds. Wax loads were re- his brothers are their last hope to survive.
“It’s dangerous,” said Groat of wax rounds. “It’ll be a served to punch holes in glass windows on a separate shot “Killer’s will not be heard in a courtroom, they will not
B-Unit shot, take one camera out, point it at the wood, when nobody was on the other side to receive the incoming. be tolerated, they will be dead,” is a telltale line from the
nobody behind it, set up all the safety and get the shot.” “Action,” was called and the men began firing. Groat movie.
Groat said he’s seen more than one incident involving a said he grabbed an extra standing just in front of him, Groat said there was one accident when shooting the
firearms mishap when working on a set prior to establish- telling her not to move because, “something was wrong.” trailer, and it involved him. Shot in Agua Dulce, and the
ing his production company. Within moments, Groat said an actor in front of them last scene for the day, this scene called for Groat to be on
Filming at Vasquez Rocks and working as an extra and took a wax round to the leg – a round penetrating the leg horseback and fire a gun.
stuntman on Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn, with an entry wound – and went down and passed out. He was put atop a different horse than he worked with
an apocalyptic, cult sci-fi flick, Groat was often in scenes Groat, who also took a wax round to the back of his that day so he asked the owner if the horse was used to
driving a Mad Max, glorified dune buggy.
In a scene with Groat and other nomads on foot, an ex-
plosive charge was placed inside what appeared to be an
elaborate cubic crystal – about ten feet tall and five feet
wide – but was actually made with Plexiglas.

Filming of “The Shooting”


was done with era authentic
cameras and sound equip-
ment from the 1930s acquired
by Groat after visiting a movie
apparatus rental company in
Hollywood.
The scene called for a group of nomads to begin running
past camera and away from the crystal when the director
called, “Action,” and then a few short moments later, the
crystal would explode.
Just prior to the scene, Groat recalled asking the actor in
front of him if he could run fast and then warning him in
the event he didn’t run fast, he’d be run over.
“Because I knew. I’d seen stuff before,” said Groat.
Rick Groat with son, Ethan
“And when I heard that they had dynamite inside that
crystal, you never know if they know what they’re doing leg, said people immediately began shouting, “cut,” and gunfire and got an, “absolutely, absolutely,” for an an-
when they do this kind of stuff.” filming stopped. swer. Groat said he asked again and was told the horse
Groat said when the charge was set off, he literally felt “The wax load should have never been used,” said Groat. was great.
his hair fly when shrapnel went past his head. The hurled “I don’t know who handed what to who, but obviously “I pointed the gun and fired the gun and the horse started
object was a piece of Plexiglas about three feet in diameter the wrong blank got into the firearm. That shut down the crow hopping and spinning,” said Groat. “I came off that
that was found embedded in the ground just off camera. whole production, actually.” horse pretty hard. But we kept the shoot and you can ac-
“It went just like a Frisbee,” said Groat. “It could have Currently, Best of the West Productions is completing tually see it in the trailer.”
work on a full color, traditional Western movie called After filming of Copperhead Creek is completed, Groat
Copperhead Creek. plans on taking a break over summer, and then it’s back in
“It’s not what most people are used to seeing nowadays,” the saddle to begin producing more movies.
said Groat, on explaining the meaning of “traditional” On the drawing board is a traditional Western titled, Ride
Western. “There’s no digital stunts in it; there’s no digital the Wanted Trail, and also a film called, The Outlaw and
make-up. It’s all real, old school stunts, old school guns the Little Lady. Groat also plans on making a thriller – not
and blanks. We do everything as legitimately as possible.” to be confused with horror – with a Western flavor called,
The film is centered around John Elkhorn, sheriff of Cop- The Deadly Attraction.
perhead Creek, who, along with his brothers, must protect Industry standard identifies a thriller as, “psychologi-
cal and requires more thought and explanation as to what
Glenn's Lawn Care happens within the film, whereas a horror has mainly
blood and gore with careless actions of violence.”
When the suggestion was made to make a thriller West-
ern movie, Groat said he thought, “Scary and a Western.
That’s interesting.”
“This will work,” said Groat. “A modern day Western
also a bit scary.”
Movie release dates and more on Rick Groat at Groat-
661.992.3575 FamilyProductions.com. More photos on page 7.
JUNE 2018 5

Inclusion Criteria: ‘When Your Perfect Little


Black & White World Becomes So Gray
and that it had to do with the mind,” said Enter lawmen Detective David Kelly, Tara’s best friend and art gallery over-
By THOMAS FITZGERALD
Norton. “It was the type of thing when I played by Richard Anderson, and his part- seer Amber Quinn (Jewelle Colwell), is
Staff Writer
heard it, I thought that was scary, I would ner, Detective John Rawlings, played by first to drop the P-word (Paranoid), after
Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t love to bring attention to that circum- Ra Hanna. Tara tells her friend about rearranged paint
mean they’re not out to get you, as any stance, the danger of that situation.” brushes.
Tara, as does any reasonable person, trusts
wise person knows. In addition writing this film with a sinis- the police. They’re the police. What’s not Or is she really her friend?
And as any person erroneously labeled ter plot, Judy Norton stars as main char- to trust? Sensitive to her mother’s alleged genetic
paranoid plainly understands, paranoia acter Tara Malone, an artist who earns a To negatively compound matters, the mental illness and subsequent hospital-
is nothing more than, “a heightened modest living selling her oil paintings. people in Tara’s life are a bit strange. ization and suicide, Tara lashes-out and
state of awareness,” to what’s really go- Tara doesn’t know if she’s going crazy Her next door neighbor, and property screams she’s not paranoid, nor crazy.
ing down. and following down the same path that led owner, Ruth Jarvis (Marlene Hamerling), Eventually, Tara seeks the help of a men-
Matthew 7:15 “They come to you in to her mother’s own battle with mental ill- is weird, to put it mildly. tal health professional (another learned,
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are fe- authority figure with no reason not to
rocious wolves.” not trust), who begins prescribing a con-
tinuum of psychotropic drugs to combat,
The producer and direc- “anxiety-induced illusions,” and, “prevent
tor, Josh Hodgins...had further episodes of paranoia,” but Tara’s
said something about sense there’s a diabolical conspiracy afoot
can’t be shaken.
psychological thrillers, Subtle clues are cleverly woven into
and I remembered an twists and turns of a cerebral roller coast-
article or story and that er ride accompanied by an eerie violin
staccato soundtrack. The film is an Al-
it had to do with the
fred Hitchcock-like, classic psychological
mind. It was the type of thriller.
thing when I heard it, I Which characters in Tara’s life are in on
thought that was scary, the treachery? Who’s innocent, but just
plain bizarre? Who is the hero, saving Tara
I would love to bring at- in the end?
tention to that circum- And who’s on deck, next to step up to
stance, the danger of the plate and into the batter’s box for their
that situation. turn at bat at the old ballgame known as
inclusion criteria?
Inclusion Criteria is a psychological If you want the blatantly obvious, and
Judy Norton stars as Tara in the physcological thriller Inclusion Criteria
thriller as creepy as they come. It is art action, this film is not for you. If you’re a
imitating life; a concept well understood ness and subsequent suicide, or if there’s Ruth is nosey, raunchy and dishonest - she gang-stalker and professional psychologi-
by any person having the unfortunate ex- something nefarious going on behind the feeds Tara’s hamster a sugary treat right cal abuser, you’ll see yourself.
perience of being gang-stalked. scene. after being admonished not to while Tara If you’re open-minded and mentally
The screenplay is written by Judy Nor- Is Tara being manipulated into hurting has her back turned preparing tea – and is prepared for a peek into the dark side of
ton, who you should remember as Mary herself so she can then be legally commit- fond of letting herself inside Tara’s house humanity, then Inclusion Criteria is a film
Ellen, a character in the The Waltons, an ted to a mental institution against her will? when Tara isn’t home. for you.
iconic 1970s television series depicting a Is she the victim of a secret societies’ While at tea time with Ruth, Detective After watching Inclusion Criteria, maybe
slice of Americana during the 1930s and sick and twisted notion of, “all in a day’s Rawlings arrives to get a sketch Tara drew the next time someone claims they’re be-
early 40s. work.” of the suspect. In her own special, crude ing gang-stalked, instead of dropping the
Produced by Nancy Criss, proprietor Or is she legitimately, genetically men- way, Ruth continually suggests Detective P-word, you may understand what they’re
of Nandar Entertainment, along with tally ill? Rawlings and Tara spark up a romance, saying is possibly true and appreciate the
Judy Norton and Josh Hodgins, the film Conventional wisdom to the uninitiated planting a seed in her friend’s mind. juxtaposition between, “paranoia,” and, “a
is eponymously named after the clinical – jokes on them – is that Tara is bonkers. Or is she a friend? heightened state of awareness.”
term, “inclusion criteria,” which is de- But this may not be the case. Ruth is joined at her home by her hot, Inclusion Criteria can be purchased at
fined as, “predefined characteristics used The story begins with Tara walking out hillbilly granddaughter, Chloe (Vanessa Amazon.com and pay per view at You-
to identify subjects who will be includ- the studio where her paintings are dis- Leigh), and Chloe’s psychopathic, drum- Tube.
ed in a research study. Inclusion criteria, played for sale when she witnesses two mer boyfriend, Sticks (Josh Hodgins),
along with exclusion criteria, make up men grapple over a paper sack. who live together in grandma’s basement. More on Inclusion Criteria and Judy
the selection or eligibility criteria used to The bag falls to the ground during the While Tara is at the police station to look Norton at JudyNorton.com. Nandar Enter-
rule in or out the target population for a struggle, the assailant runs away and the at a line-up at the request of Detective tainment at NandarEntertainment.com.
research study.” victim gives chase down the block, around Rawlings, her home is broken into.
In an interview with Moviehole, Norton the corner and out of view and doesn’t re- From this point forward, strange things
If the American flag
was asked how she became involved with turn for the money – Red Flag for Tara. happen in her house whenever she is offends you then you
the film as the writer and main actor. Tara retrieves the paper and bag and gone – drawers left open, paint brushes don’t belong in America.
“The producer and director – Josh lo and behold she discovers a large moved (Tara has a habit of lining-up her
- Larry Hobson, Publisher
Hodgins – and I had worked together on amount of cash, and doing the right paint brushes “precisely”), kitchen knife
other films, we got along well so he had thing because she’s like that, secures the goes missing, clothes in the closet rear-
said something about psychological thrill- bag, goes home – she lives alone – and ranged, Vincent the pet hamster’s cage GLENN’S LAWN CARE
ers, and I remembered an article or story phones the police. found open. 661.992.3575
6 PALMDALE BLVD

Opportunity Knocks for The Story About Bingo: A Boy and His Pal
Inmates at Fenner Canyon By LARRY HOBSON
Publisher
has to go. After doing his business he was back sitting at
the back door, not barking, but just standing patiently in

Conservation Fire Camp


Can you remember the first dog you ever had and what hopes my mom would remember he was there.
that dog’s life meant to you growing up? My first dog was To get rid of any of that dog smell mother was afraid of
named, “Bingo,” and I had him from the time I was born. adding to our home, it was now bath time in the Hobson
Bingo was a mix of probably some Scotty and who house. And in the bathtub Bingo went. He never did fight
By LIZ DIACHUN knows what else. He was a short dog. Only about one the bath or the water. If this is what it was going to take
Antelope Valley College foot to one foot-and-a-quarter tall. He was black in color to stay inside and be part of the family, he was game for
Executive Director, Marketing and Public Information with some white on his stomach and a few white whiskers anything.
LANCASTER - California Department of Corrections on his face. My dad was a building contractor and he would build
and Rehabilitation inmates at the Fenner Canyon Conser- Bingo seemed to take a liking to me and would go every- a new house for us about every two years, so moving to
vation Fire Camp completed the Multi-Craft Core Curric- where I would go; he was my shadow. He wouldn’t fol- another new home from time to time was in the cards for
ulum (MC3) Pre-Apprenticeship Program. low when I left the yard unless he was invited. He would Bingo. He never seemed to mind the move just as long as
The MC3 program was created via a partnership between stand right out at the edge waiting on that call he loved to I was there by his side.
Antelope Valley College Corporate and Community Edu- hear the most, “Here Bingo,” and off he went just as fast We moved to what I called the country, at least it was
cation and the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building & as his legs would take him. outside of what others called city limits. We still lived in a
Construction Trades Council to prepare individuals for He would always be there right by my side. Through neighborhood with houses all around but across the street
the Building and Construction Trades. It is supported by rain or snow, Bingo was there. After watching Western you would be able to venture into the unknown for a boy
various trade locals such as IBEW Local Union 11 and shows on TV, Bingo would sometimes ask to be the horse and his dog. The open field across the street lead to the
is funded by California Apprenticeship Initiative grants. that pulled the wagon that made up the only wagon in our woods and a small stream that ran on down to the river a
newly formed wagon train. mile away.
Sometimes, when I would find myself shot by one of Bingo and I would find ourselves exploring the unknown
those Indian arrows – just play-like arrows that just hap- together. He found the world of the tick and I found the
pened to be shot from that play-like Indian friend of mind world of the snake, and neither of us like either of them.
– old Bingo would end up standing by his master’s side I found myself always looking for those ticks that would
licking my face to help heal my wounds. find their home on my dog and remove them just as fast
Bingo was an outside dog at first; my mom didn’t think as I could.
dogs belonged in the house. But on one of those freezing Bingo would give me a big lick on the face as if to say,
cold winters in Oklahoma, mom moved him to the ga- “Thanks, buddy.” Yes, we were buddies through thick and
rage. He was given a nice bed to lie on made from one thin. We both grew up together and had some of the same
of mom’s old blankets. It was still very cold in that ga- experiences and found a deep love of each other.
rage but Bingo didn’t complain. He would just settle in When we moved from Oklahoma to California, Bingo
Pictured with the students are Palmdale City
by walking around a few times to get the blanket just the was right by my side in the car, on our way to a new place.
Council Member Steve Hofbauer, instructor
way he wanted before he would lay down for the night. A place that was going to be strange to both of us. One
at Fenner; Vince Dino, retired IBEW member
The next day he would always be up and ready for his thing that Bingo didn’t mind leaving behind was the tick.
and Palmdale Water District board member;
food and a trip through the neighborhood with his best It seemed in the desert they just didn’t have all the ticks
and Kathy McLaren, business development
buddy: me. One day it was the coldest I could remember like they did in Oklahoma. The flea didn’t seemed to like
rep from IBEW Local 11 and PWD board
in Bartlesville and people all over were talking about just the desert that much either. When you get right down to it,
member.
how cold it was. The news had shown how cattle froze I don’t think Bingo really liked it either, nor did I.
This was the college’s first class held at a correctional the night before. Time was passing and we were both getting older, but
facility. The 21 inmates who participated were enthusias- The garage didn’t have any heat in it and Bingo had just still good buddies when I found my first job throwing the
tic and excited about the prospects of having a career to that old blanket to lie on. I hoped and hoped it would keep Valley Press. I had 150 newspapers to fold and then take
pursue upon release. Bingo warm enough. That day I think was the first time them on my bike. Down the street I went, a newspaper in
One inmate stated that he had never had an opportunity my mother made eye contact with Bingo. She opened the my hand and Bingo running at my side. This didn’t last
like this before, and that it would be life changing for him door to feed Bingo and there he was, just standing look- too long because I was small for my age and 150 newspa-
to become a union apprentice. ing up at her as if to say, “It sure is cold in here.” pers on the handlebars of the bike were just a little more
Local trade unions welcome formerly incarcerated in- After that, Bingo was an inside dog and he wasn’t just than I could handle. My mom started driving me around
dividuals to fill much needed vacancies, especially with my dog anymore because he became the family dog. Yes, as I threw the newspapers out the window of the car. Bin-
so much construction activity expected in the Antelope old Bingo made it into the heart of my mom on that day go had to stay home and just wait on my return.
Valley in the coming years. A new class begins at Fenner and entered a new frontier in his life. Mom was really As a boy, you never think about things dying or getting
in June. worried about having a dog in the house. She said they older. You see yourself getting taller and can see that the
The program provides students with an eight-week smelled and he didn’t have any way out just in case nature whiskers on Bingo’s face are much whiter now. But won’t
curriculum, during which time they explore a number called. Back then they didn’t sell the dog doors we have he live forever? He seems to be slowing down as he runs
of trades from plumbing and masonry, to carpentry and today. behind my bike, but maybe that’s because he’s just get-
sheet metal work. But Bingo, from the time he walked in the door, seemed ting tired of going.
By the end of the program students have competed CPR to know that outside was the bathroom, not in the house. Bingo was 15 years old when he left me and we had to
training, received OSHA certification, and are given a na- He went right to that backdoor, even knowing just how put him to sleep. And even as sick as he was, too sick to
tionally recognized certificate of completion. cold it was outside, and gave that little bark to say Bingo even walk, he still gave me that little wag of his tail to say,
The program seeks to help individuals discover their “Good bye, buddy. I’m going to miss you.”
preferred trade and send them up the path to apprentice- Lakeside Weddings and Events Bingo, will always be remembered by everyone that
ship within that field and ultimately employment.
For more information please visit AVC.edu. 702.240.5290 had the pleasure of knowing the small black dog named,
“Bingo.”

Farmers Insurance ~ George Rasmussen Toyota of Lancaster


661.942.7240 661.948.0731
JUNE 2018 7

City Aims to Bring Scheduled Flights


to Palmdale Regional Airport
Best of the West
By STEVE HOFBAUER
resources available to our local veteran
community.
Productions
Mayor Pro-tem
The days started at dawn with morning
City of Palmdale
breakfast planning and strategy sessions
PALMDALE - The return of scheduled and ended with evening debriefs and
air service at Palmdale Regional Airport schedule review for the following day.
(PMD) is one step closer following our
Palmdale team’s recent lobbying at the Palmdale Council-
US Capitol.
There they met with key federal officials man Steve Hofbauer
on our efforts to support local and region- travelled to D.C. earli-
al transportation and transit infrastructure, er that week to partic-
return air service to Palmdale Regional
ipate in forums at the
Airport, support our defense contractors
as they ramp up to fulfill billions in fed- Congressional Cities
eral contracts and improve local Veteran’s Conference focused
services. on transportation in-
While in D.C., the lease with the USAF
for use of the civilian facilities, taxiways
frastructure issues, The Groats in a Shootout
and runway was signed, providing a huge the federal budget,
boost in the discussions with other federal and its impact on lo-
agencies and officials. cal government and
This lease, and the Joint Use Agreement
companion document are the “key to the transit funding.
dance” so to speak, to resuming air ser-
vice. Meetings were very informative and pro-
There was a very encouraging meeting ductive, and included several powerful
with THE GUY at the USAF in charge of House Subcommittees on Aviation, High-
ALL facility joint use agreements. ways and Transit, Aviation Operation
Combined with the support of the con- Safety and Security; Federal Highways;
tractors, Plant 42 and senior Air Force the Department of Transportation; the
personnel, the team is optimistic in accel- USAF chief of joint use facilities opera-
erating the time line. tions; Senators Feinstein’s and Harris’s
Palmdale Councilman Steve Hofbauer and Inhofe’s key legislative and transpor-
travelled to D.C. earlier that week to par- tation staff; Congresswoman Brownley’s Greg Worley and Rick Groat
ticipate in forums at the Congressional Chief of Staff of Veterans Affairs; and our
Cities Conference focused on transporta- Congressman Steve Knight.
tion infrastructure issues, the federal bud- Our defense contractors are supportive in
get, and its impact on local government the resumption of scheduled air service to
and transit funding. facilitate the travel of the many corporate
Hofbauer met and strategized with our staff, engineers and designers associated
federal transit lobbyist, and followed up with the billions in new contracts, many
on the visits earlier in the week by AVTA centered around Plant 42 and Edwards Air
management team members Len Engle Force Base.
and Norm Hickling to maintain and im- Their participation is seen as a key to
prove federal grants and other resources pushing the passenger count to sustainable
necessary to continue and upgrade our levels. The contractors support, combined
transit services. with the Plant and USAF, and the selec-
The balance of the Palmdale team, Palm- tion of a viable hub with a timely schedule Tag Groat
dale City Manager Jim Purtee and Public were key points in discussions with those The Groats on Set
Works Special Projects Manager Mike involved in the joint use and other funding
Behen, joined Hofbauer mid-week to ad- and approval processes.
vance our local priorities. Although there are several other challeng- Rasmussen Insurance Agency “Golf is the closest
They used our recently approved federal es related to post 9/11 security require-
agenda as the script in our approach to key ments and other infrastructure upgrades,
Farmers Insurance game to the game
we call life. You get
agency and legislative members and staff
in their meetings over the next three days
we are confident the return of regional air
service is just over the horizon, and look 661.942.7240 bad breaks from
on Capitol Hill. forward to announcing the carrier(s), and Opening a new business today good shots; you get
The meetings included an impressive yet another ribbon cutting on a new and takes hard work and a big invest- good breaks from
list of many influential senior congres- improved terminal. ment. You need to make sure all bad shots – But you
sional and senate committee staff whose your assets are protected and
role is critical in assisting our efforts to “It’s great to be great, have to play the ball
give you the ability to get back to
resume civilian air service at Palmdale but it’s greater to be business in case of unforeseen
where it lies.
Airport, improving roadway access serv-
ing USAF Plant 42, and improving local
human.” - Will Rogers problems. We’re here to help. - Bobby Jones
8 PALMDALE BLVD

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Money Doesn’t Buy Happiness


Sailing and feeling the warm sun, the wind, and the salt spray, whipping your face
By ASHLEY HOBSON
may bring you true joy. Would the marine biologist fighting to free that whale caught
Contributing Writer
in the fishing net be a job to you?
Confucius said something profound many years ago, and it is truly ageless: “Find a Doing what we love! It brings endless fascination and anticipation to every day. If
job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” you happen to be lucky enough to be well paid for your efforts, even better, but it is
Really, could there possibly be anything more indubitable about the essence of life? certainly not necessary for happiness.
I find this to be especially relevant to me. I have discovered that when I am working Finding yourself working at a job for material compensation only might very well
on something that I enjoy, the time just seems to fly and I notice a real sense of ac- bring you a life of misery. Money can bring you nice cars and beautiful homes, all the
complishment. I relish the time spent and actually anticipate another challenge. I love perks, and many will think you have it all.
what I am doing! But, will it truly bring you pleasure and contentment? When it comes to a relation-
For many people, finding a career begins when they enter college. Choosing some- ship, will you know they love you or, perhaps, love your money?
thing just because, “These classes are so easy!” or, “Hey man, this job makes really big Can your job choice really affect your future? Absolutely, I believe most would say.
bucks!” may greatly affect your life. I’m a happy person and I love to be active. If I got stuck with a dreary office job, that
If you do not choose something you enjoy, will you really want to wake up every would be terrible, I might have to commit Hara Kiri.
morning and seize the day? Will you be able to look at yourself in the mirror and like I want to wake up in the morning with a big ‘o smile on my face, ready for work. I
what you see, will you have, “sold out”? When reality knocks on your door, and it will, want to enjoy what I do so that I can be a good example for my family, and support
you will suddenly realize that you have to be ready for it. them in the best possible way. I don’t want to have to wake up one day and realize, “I
Should you be lucky enough to find something that you genuinely enjoy and make a should-a, could-a, would-a.”
career of that, will you really be working? For example, major athletes paid to play the I just wanna hear the birds sing, see the sun shining down, and smell the flowers on
sport they love, are they really working? the warm scented air. What-a life!
You love interacting with children, you choose to be a teacher. Will it really feel like
work when a child peers into your eyes and says, “Wow, now I get it”?

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