Portrait of a Warrior Gallery Marks America's 250th Birthday with 250 Bell Rings

In recognition of America's 250th birthday, the Portrait of a Warrior Memorial Art Gallery in Bakersfield honored the nation's military heroes with a special ceremonial ringing of the Bell of Honor. The gallery, which is dedicated to preserving the memory of Kern County's post-9/11 fallen service members, traditionally rings the Bell of Honor 27 times each day—one ring for each of the 27 local warriors who were killed in action or died from wounds sustained in combat.

As part of the America 250 celebration, the gallery added 250 additional bell rings to commemorate 250 years of American freedom and to pay tribute to all American service members who made the ultimate sacrifice. Operating in collaboration with Gold Star Families, the Portrait of a Warrior Memorial Art Gallery is dedicated to honoring Kern County's fallen heroes while providing a place for remembrance, education, and support for veterans and their families.

In addition to its gallery featuring portraits of the 27 post-9/11 fallen warriors from Kern County, the facility includes a Vietnam Room, an MIA Room displaying more than 82,000 personalized dog tags representing American service members still missing in action from World War II to the present, a Hall of Honor, a Team Room, PTSD support meetings, and guitar lessons for veterans.

For more information or to support the Portrait of a Warrior Memorial Art Gallery, visit www.kern-warrior.org or stop by the gallery to experience its exhibits and memorials honoring local heroes.

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Dr. Portia Choi Named Kern County Honorary Poet Laureate

The Kern County Board of Supervisors, with the recommendation from The Arts Council of Kern, appointed Dr. Portia Choi as Honorary Poet Laureate, recognizing her outstanding literary contributions, dedication to the arts and commitment to fostering a vibrant culture of poetry throughout Kern County.

“Dr. Choi’s appointment will strengthen the role of poetry in civic connection, increase awareness of poetry in the pursuit of literacy, and inspire increasing creativity in the community,” says Em Radmacher, Creative Director for The Arts Council of Kern.

As a Family Physician and Preventative Medicine Specialist, Dr. Choi has been writing and promoting poetry as part of a healthy lifestyle for almost as many years as she has practiced medicine. Dr. Choi founded Kern Poetry and invites guests to Dagney’s Coffee Company on the first Friday of the month for open mic to showcase local talent. For more information, please visit www.kernarts.org.

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Local Teens Launch Careers Through BGCKC Summer Jobs Program

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County (BGCKC) recently celebrated 48 local teens who completed its 2026 Summer Jobs Program at a graduation dinner. The annual workforce development initiative equips teenagers with the skills, experience, and professional mentorship needed to succeed in today's job market. Through the program, interns gained paid, part-time work experience with local employers while participating in career readiness workshops and industry-recognized training.

This year's program was made possible through the support of Bank of America, the Taco Bell Foundation, and U.S. Bank, with additional support from Buffalo Wild Wings. This summer, interns were placed with nearly 30 employers and organizations across Kern County, representing industries ranging from healthcare and education to government, media, retail, hospitality, and nonprofit services. Program leaders say the broad participation of local employers reflects the community's ongoing investment in developing the region's future workforce by providing teens with meaningful mentorship and hands-on career experience.

Since launching the Workforce Readiness/Summer Jobs Program in 2013, BGCKC has provided workforce readiness training to more than 2,550 local teenagers. Including this year's graduating class, 558 teens have completed paid summer internships through the program, helping prepare the next generation of skilled employees while strengthening Kern County's workforce. For more information, please visit www.bgckc.org.

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New Playground Opens at The Park at River Walk 

People visiting The Park at River Walk have a new reason to celebrate this summer: the construction fencing surrounding the playground was recently removed, giving children and families access to the new play equipment for the first time. The $700,000 improvement project was funded through the Public Safety & Vital Services Measure, which identifies enhancing community amenities to improve quality of life and attract visitors as one of its priorities.

The project marks the first major playground replacement at The Park at River Walk since the park opened 20 years ago. The upgraded play area features modern equipment designed to provide a safe and engaging space for children while enhancing one of Bakersfield's most popular community parks.

For more information, please visit www.bakersfieldcity.us/recreation-parks.

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Kern County Dads: Your Voice Matters

The Kern County Fatherhood Initiative is asking fathers throughout Kern County to share their experiences by participating in a new anonymous survey aimed at strengthening programs and resources for dads. The brief community survey is designed to gather feedback on the challenges, successes and day-to-day experiences of fathers and father figures in Kern County. Organizers say the information collected will help guide future services, support systems and community programs that better meet the needs of local families.

The survey includes 17 questions and takes approximately seven minutes to complete. Participants are asked about their experiences as fathers, with organizers emphasizing that every perspective matters and every dad's voice can help shape future initiatives. To encourage honest feedback, all responses will remain confidential.

Residents can complete the survey online through the Kern County Fatherhood Initiative at https://kerncountychildsupportservices.com/resources-events/.