We're in the paper again, thanks to Don!

Community Reading in Arvin

Sunday, June 3 we had a community reading for our Institute play in Arvin.  This was essentially the third draft of FLOR, by Will MacAdams.  In May we did 3 small readings of an earlier draft. 

On Friday, June 1, we had an in-house reading of this draft at Cornerstone.  The draft we read together on Friday did not include the parts of the script intended to be in Spanish.  Many people had to leave before we finished reading, but when we finished Laurie, Sigrid, Julie Marie Myatt, Angie, Mark and I spent some time talking about the script.

Meanwhile our translator in Arvin was working furiously to get Spanish into the script as Will has intended.  We got the script for Sunday early that morning and Angie started making copies on Cornerstone’s resistant copy machine and a little after 10am we piled into the Big White Van and drove the two hours to Arvin.  Here’s who went: Mark Valdez, Will MacAdams, Jeanette Godoy (I-9 student), Bill Honigstein, Nephelie Andonyadis, Angie Kamel and me.  (Nephelie met us in Arvin.)  Rick, the facilities guy at Veterans Hall, met us there and let us into the space where we set up quickly.  The room is so big we decided to sit in a circle on the stage where people’s voice might be more easily heard.  We had RSVPs for about 30 people.  22 people actually made it.  Many were more than 20 minutes late, but it all worked out.  Here’s who joined us:  The Dustbowl folks, essentially monolingual English speakers-- Don & Carol Burkett, Larry Hallum, WC Stampes, Jim & Ruth Young; The currently-living-in Arvin monolingual Spanish Speakers—Mr & Mrs. Martinez (parents of Mónica), Mr. & Mrs. Garcia (parents of Gabriel), Paula & Gabby Fernandez (mother & sister of Paola); plus Javier Arreola (translator), Mónica, Paola, Sam & Maria Mercado, Luz Peña, Clara Bruno and her little sister Susie, city council member Toni Picardo, and Stanley Clark who is a professor at CSUB.  Two or three people told me before beginning that they had to leave early but no one did. 

We did introductions around the room at the beginning. (Of course many people joined us post-introductions.)  Will made some opening remarks, mostly thanking folks for their participation and acknowledging that they are the experts on the south Kern communities and their generous sharing of stories is at the heart of Will’s work as playwright.  Mark handed out parts around the circle—most folks were willing to read—even those who we’d been advised would not want to read.  This version of the script includes stage directions in English and Spanish, some scenes that include both languages and others that are in one or the other with no included translation.  We opted to read the stage directions in Spanish – Javier did this for us—and ask the English-speakers to follow along with directions written in English.  Most of our participants were bilingual and they seemed to do well with the bilingual script.  Some were very enthusiastic about how language was treated in the script.  The monolingual English speakers felt shut out and in the dark regarding the scenes in Spanish and the quantity of Spanish.  Larry spoke loudly and forcefully about how Dustbowl folks would not come see the play if it stays as written regarding proportions of language. The monolingual Spanish speakers shared no comments.  Toni Picardo said that a large majority of Arvin residents are Spanish-only speakers.  (Though Will has heard other statistics.)  There was discussion about language and ideas for how to include simultaneous translation including super-titles and the headsets used in city and organizational meetings for translation. 

Immediately following the reading though, Will took advantage of the very unusual circumstance of having this unique mix of Arvinites in the room and asked that we each take a few minutes to speak with someone we don’t know in the room and share something we remember from the script.  Many people just shared something they remember or think as related to the content of the script rather than specifically something in the script.  (At least, that’s what happened in my group with Jim Young, Guadalupe Martinez and Mr. Garcia—as translated by Javier.)

Will asked a couple other questions about the script, like what characters were strongest and what do they think happens at the end of the play.  Afterward we took a group picture and then many people had smaller conversations as folks were cleaning up and leaving.  I spoke with Toni Picardo who expressed disappointment that other council members did not attend, and that she was glad to have come to this even though she had to rush over from a fundraiser right beforehand.  Sam & Maria also arrived late due to other events attended earlier.   Mark had a conversation with WC.  Will walked out with Jim, Ruth and Larry. 

Clara interviewed Will for a SouthKernSol.org article about the reading.

Afterward the Cornerstone folks had lunch together at the Thai restaurant in Arvin.  

And dessert at the ice cream place next door to little ceasar's.    

Upon arrival in town you will understand that Little Ceasar's pizza place is kind of a landmark.  Also the ice cream place has some unique things on the menu-- 1 is some kind of weird item where the top is cut off of a tostitos (or similar) snack bag and some goop is put on top of the chips in that bag-as-serving-bowl.  It's hard to say what the goop is other than red and maybe jiggly, like it could be seafood (shrimp? squid?) or it could be gummy worms, or it could be, maybe onion slices slick with salsa.  We did not eat this but someone else there ordered it and it didn't make any more sense in person than it did in the photographic illustration on the menu board. 

2 is the most amazing selection of what seem to be homemade paletas (popsicles). We had a coconut one and a lime one. They are generous portions and extremely flavorful and delicious.

Thess are the paletas flavors, some made with milk, some made with water.  And also an image of the paletas in the freezer case.

Cornerstone in the Arvin Paper: May 2

Our friend Don Burkett is a special columnist for The Arvin Tiller and he wrote about Cornerstone's script reading at his house!  Here's a great little feature article.  Of course, there are some usual sort of errors, mostly with using the TRE spelling when identifying Cornerstone formally and confusing the heck out of the names of the folks previously unknown to him.  It's common that while working with Cornerstone everyone's names become interchangeable in some circumstances.
Don is really great and this is a sweet and true article!

Community Readings in April

Will MacAdams, Angie Kamel and I set up and attended a series of small community readings of the current draft of Will’s script for our Arvin community play.  Will completed a first rough draft of the script, Flor, in late March.  Since then he’s taken that script apart, divided it (for working purposes only) into three parts and re-written a lot of it.  For our readings this past weekend we had Part 1— pages 1-21 in All English and in All Spanish and Part 2- 21 pages of 9 scenes (English only at this point).  The direction of Part 3- the climax and ending of the play—is one of the things that Will hoped to learn more about from the readings this weekend.

Friday evening (4-7p) we were hosted at the home of Don & Carol Burkett who also provided a bbq dinner.  Will has spent a lot of time with a group of friends who mostly share a history of having moved to Arvin as children during the 1930s. They all graduated from Arvin High School and many of them taught there too.  This group was the majority of our participants at the first community reading on Friday night, April 20.  Here’s who was there:  Don & Carol Burkett, Jim & Janell Wren, Wayne & Barbara Slusser, Reford & Liz Hutson, Larry & Brenda Hallum, Barney Meyer, Betty Polk, Toni DeRosa-- the editor of the Lamont Reporter & Arvin Tiller newspapers, and Maria Morales Mercado.  (14 community members, plus 3 CTC.)

Maria came to all three readings this past weekend.  It was terrific to have her at Don’s since she was the only Latina (only self-identified Latina?) there and she was comfortable with that role.  Some of these guys were her teachers at AHS and she was classmates with Don’s daughter.

[One discussion on the way there was about what kind of beer to bring.  One might assume Bud or PBR or Coors was the beer of choice given how these guys like to frequently joke about their low class and early poverty.  One might also a assume that with a craft beer there would be another kind of joking and possible disdain.  We opted for Sierra Nevada as a middle of the road choice and all assumptions turned out to be true. Sierra Nevada was “fancy.” Will countered by pointing out the deluxe far-from-impoverished setting of our get together…  But yes, the guys had Bud Light, Miller Light and Coors on hand.]

The Burketts home is in a lush property on the Kern River in far NE Bakersfield.  To get there you drive by some crazy views of the oilfields that look kind of like a desolate grey planet.  (Three of the six largest oil fields in the world are in in Kern County.) We spent most of the first hour there sitting out by the river with just a few of the guys- host and early arrivers.  There we enjoyed conversation that included opera simulcast (Don loves it and takes any of the guys he can get to go with him), cds bought off the tv, and the differences between Hispanic, Latino, Chicano, etc., among other things.

The reading itself didn’t actually start until 6pm!  There were some slow moments throughout due to age and eyesight of the readers.  Some folks chose not to read.  A lot of the response was about their own specific experiences of farm work and language (ie: we say Cut Grapes not Pick Grapes, and Pick Up potatoes not pick potatoes).  Lots of detail notes and more stories of experiences were shared.  Then we had hot dogs and salads and the gang switched from beer to wine- those who were drinking.  Will, Angie and I each had different conversations with folks.  Angie learned that Janell was recently diagnosed with possible dementia or alzheimers and she and Jim were dealing with her memory difficulties with grace and a positive front.  I talked with the Hallums- Larry is a fan of cowboy poetry. I told them about CTC other Arvin project focusing on school discipline and the high expulsion rate to which Larry responded that anyone who gets expelled should be. I wonder if Brenda, who is teaches 8^th grade English in B’field, agrees, but we didn’t discuss it further.  Will was invited by Wayne into a debate about Obama but everyone else told Wayne to back off.  Maria and Jim talked for a long time.

Saturday morning (9a to noon) we were scheduled for a reading at the Lamont Library expecting Maria & Sam Mercado, Gabriel Garcia, Luz Peña who runs the So Kern Sol journalism group, and 8 of the So Kern Sol youth.  We only  had 2 kids from So Kern Sol—Clara and Berenice.  (6 community members total, plus 3 CTC.)  Sam Mercado grew up in Lamont and Clara & Berenice both live there, too, so that was a cool perspective.  Maria dominated the conversation a bit.  We hoped to hear more from Berenice and Clara but since they are both not very outgoing speakers it was hard to make windows for them to contribute.  They both were very engaged and interested and did have good questions comments, I just wished we could have heard more from them. 

We did have conversations with them about maybe CTC helping to arrange a ride for them and some of the other SoKernSol of DHF kids to come down to see Café Vida, which I think they’d really enjoy.  I also spoke to them about the idea of spending time with our institute classes.  I let them know that we see them as potential leaders in their community and they could be involved in our Arvin School Discipline project if they are interested.  They seemed interested.  (These two young women don’t share their emotions or thoughts in their faces or body language with us so you mostly can only rely on what they say and you have to be patient for them to say anything.)

Saturday evening (5 to 8pm) we were hosted at the home of Monica Martinez.  Her dad Lupe is a monolingual Spanish speaker and a farmworker and we scheduled a few factors of this reading around him.  He did not attend though.  We planned for this to be a reading where Spanish speakers would be prioritized and there were many Spanish speakers, they just also spoke English.  Here’s who was there:  Monica Martinez, Gabriel Garcia, Sue Calderon, Ariceli Aguilar, and Paola Fernandez (all former AHS drama students current college-age-ish friends).  Gabriel’s brother David the botanist (AHS 14), Maria Mercado (AHS 75), Javier Arreola the translator, and Gene Lundquist (AHS 60) and his wife Susan.  (10 community members + 3 CTC)

The Lundquists are among the last of a dwindled Arvin Congregational Church that is in process of granting their facilities to a Latino church group.  Gene’s family was farming in Arvin since 1917—pre-Dustbowl migration.  Javier joined us after doing in person translation from 8a to 4pm at a parenting workshop and he was fried.  It was also very hot on Saturday.  Our group was just small enough to move inside to the a/c’d living room rather than sit in the growing (setting) sun on the patio.  This was a very warm and sincere group of people.  We read Part 1 in Spanish.  Those of us who don’t speak Spanish followed along in the English version.  Everyone joined in reading Part 2 in English.  This group seemed the most connected to the script and the most moved by it.  Javier was very happy to have heard it read in Spanish, said it made sense to him in lots of new ways.  He seemed elevated by the experience.  People shared a variety of feedback, mostly answering questions.  At both Saturday readings we asked the group to write on an index card what they think the story of the play is.  Will collected them to read later.  We checked out from this reading by sharing 1 thing each person hoped for this play, either in the content or the experience of it.  Will recorded this.  Afterward we shared dinner that CTC had brought and Maria had brought chocolate for dessert.  We ate outside and there was more conversation but more silliness and relaxing.  Monica and Gabe are performing in a theater for youth production at CSUB and they did a command performance for us of their parts sans giant hippo costumes, sans all the other cast.  It was a really fun way to end our full visit to Arvin.

There are so many things that happen, so many things that get witnessed and/or shared on these visits.  These are just some basics here for you.  Feel free to ask Will or Angie or me about anything you’d like to hear more about.

Next steps:  Friends will share flyers about our project at next weekend’s Wildflower Festival.  Will is working on completing Parts 2 & 3 of the script. We’ll have a bigger more public—invite everyone who’s interested-- community reading of that draft (and, I hope, an in-house read at CTC too) in late May early June.

Paula D

windy day in arvin: High School, House and Council Mtg

Ashley W and I went to Arvin for meetings on Tuesday.  It was a strange weather day—gloomy clouds, a little rain, a little clear blue sky on the drive through Grapevine pass.  Once we were in the valley though: cloudy skies and WIND.  There were tumbleweeds and dust storms on the highways, dust like fogbanks. 

Blossoms like snow on the ground in March

Trees in bloom- almonds, I think

First we met Charles Trellis the City facilities guy at the Varsity Drive House so we could see inside and assess what we need to do before moving in, what we might want to bring for our stay there and how we might choose to use that property we are renting for the residency.  The repairs include replacing 2 broken windows, repairing the kitchen sink faucet, cleaning the carpets and replacing some filter.  Charles says they’ll paint the walls before we arrive.  The house has 3 bedrooms and one bathroom.  It has a living room in front and a kitchen sans appliances.  There’s also a one-car garage. 

We went to Arvin Library (boo! No wi-fi!) to do some work between meetings. 

At the high school we met with Robert Moore, Assistant Principal of Administration, and Principal Carlos Sardó, though Carlos missed the first third of the meeting.  Carlos continues to be very enthusiastic about our project and committed to supporting it as much as possible.  Unfortunately they were operating as if they’d never received the proposed schedule and explanation of use that I’d sent back in October.  BUT I’d brought extra copies and we all have that info now.  Their challenges for our project include 1. need for maintenance staff to be present whenever we are working on campus & the cost of that, 2. Cost of considerable use of air conditioning in the auditorium, 3. Their alarm systems adjustments.  Of all these things only #1 is a serious concern factor.  I am going to look at adjustments in our schedule to minimize the times when we would be there outside of hours when maintenance staff is already scheduled to be on campus.  I’ll send a revised schedule for use as soon as I can get that together.  Robert Moore will also look into a few variables that affect when the maintenance staff might already be on campus. 

It became clear too that we will have full use of the Auditorium, the loading dock/work room, and dressing rooms.  There didn’t seem to be any restrictions on the spaces affiliated with the auditorium.  But an additional room or space for rehearsals is not in the picture there.  Given all these circumstances it seems we should rent and utilize the Veterans Hall as primary rehearsal space, allowing the theater space to serve as production/shop workspace used during the hours that maintenance staff is already present on AHS campus. 

inside Veterans Hall

Finally we attended the Arvin City Council meeting because approval for us to utilize county-restricted spaces at Adobe Plaza (adjacent to Veterans Hall) was on the agenda.  When this came up, as we predicted, they immediately asked if we’d be sleeping and showering there!  City Manager contextualized our use of space there as housing but we clarified that our plans had changed and we’d use the Veterans Hall, the Y Suite (dining room and kitchen) and the A/B Suite for a variety of uses but not for living/sleeping/residence use.  This has become clear in the past few weeks of researching other possible housing spaces and other possible shower solutions.   The city council approved our use. 

[Other notes about the city council meeting: 

In Public Comments a gentleman told the council that he’d heard that a co-worker, fellow city employee was going to be reviewed by the council & likely fired, and this speaker wanted to speak out in favor and positive reference for the guy who’s job was on the line.  Mayor Tarver asked the man where he’d heard that this man’s job was under review by the council & on the agenda.  The man named someone who may or may not have been the individual he was advocating for.  The mayor turned to city staff and asked if this was truly an agenda item & the attorney replied that there were some “closed session items that were confidential.”  Mayor Tarver said, “Yes, that’s the word.  Confidential.  Please note, staff: confidential.” He shook his head and moved on.

Two different individuals spoke regarding a new apartment complex.  The city council approved this new(?) structure/apartment complex under the stated plan that it would be available to farm labor and low-moderate income renters.  But they are responding to inquiries from applicants that only farm labor (or retired former farm laborers) are permitted to rent there.  Also the new building is not handling their driveways/in & out access very well and are causing a nuisance and hazard for the road they are on. 

One other agenda item was a renewal of a lease to use the rec center at DiGiorgio Park to Arvin Boxing Club.  Councilmember Guzman—who almost always has questions—asked the representative present if in fact there was just one Arvin team as originally presented.  He’d heard that there might be a rift within the original group and that 2 different representatives at cross-purposes were trying to make arrangements for the space with the city.  The boxing guy said that’s not the case. 

We left as they transitioned to “reports.”]

After these meetings we are looking at this as a plan for our use of spaces in Arvin:

VETERANS HALL @4^th Street location – Classes and Rehearsal. 

Might reduce our dates for rental to reduce some cost.  We could start this rental as late as July 5 or July 7.  We might could definitely end this rental on August 5, maybe as early as July 31.

Y SUITE (KITCHEN & DINING ROOM) @4^th Street location - 

The Nest: Meals and Meetings

A/B SUITE @4^th Street location –

If it’s not too costly, we could use it for a secondary rehearsal space, classroom, meeting space, shop space, another landing place, and possibly an extension of the dining room for company meetings if we cancel the rental of Veterans Hall once we move to the theater for rehearsals.

VARSITY DRIVE HOUSE (across the street from AHS auditorium)–

Housing for 6 full time staff and occassional short term &/or visiting staff, and as a possible landing/mtg space for staff.  Living room might serve as an office.

ARVIN HIGH SCHOOL – Production work, shops and rehearsal for weeks 3 & 4 and performances. 

HAMPTON INN – Housing for students and majority of company.

Distances:

Between Nest & AHS/Varsity House = .7miles/15 minute walk

Between Nest/AHS & Hotel = 15 miles/30 min drive.

That’s where we’re at today!

-Paula Donnelly