Condors promote good health and family fun through summer essay and drawing contest

Condors Mike Hofstrand and Colonel Claw'd join Bakersfield's Bike-to-Work Day Thursday

Fit & Fun Condors Essay and Drawing Contest:

To encourage children to think about ways to stay active and healthy throughout the summer and spend quality time with their families, the Bakersfield Condors have created the "Fit & Fun Condors Essay and Drawing Contest." Creating the essays and drawings will be an enjoyable process for Kern County students and will fortify important writing and creative skills learned in school.

The essay and drawing contest is open to children, pre-school through 6th grade. Individuals may submit an original drawing or an essay that addresses any of the following topics: Staying Fit: "What activities am I going to do this summer to stay fit and healthy?"; Summer Family Fun: "What fun activities am I going to do with my family during the summer?"; and Condors Visit: "Why should my classroom receive a visit from a Condors player or mascot?"

The top 100 submissions will win a replica Condors youth jersey. One grand prize winner will be awarded a classroom party with a Condors player or mascot as well as a youth jersey. The deadline is May 30 and all essays and drawings must submitted to the Condors front office, at 1001 Truxtun Ave. or mailed to: Condors Essay and Drawing Contest, P.O. Box 1806, Bakersfield, CA 93303.

This Week in Condorstown:

Wednesday, May 14: Condors mascot Baby Cal will hang out with her mascot buddy, Heater the Dragon (the Bakersfield Blaze mascot), at the Blaze Field Trip Day baseball game starting at 10:30 a.m. at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

Thursday, May 15: It's Bakersfield's Bike- to-Work day and Condors player Mike Hofstrand and Colonel Claw'd will be joining a number of bike enthusiasts and other local celebrities on a bike ride from Beach Park to the Spot Light Cafe downtown, starting at 7 a.m.

Friday, May 16: The Condors Promo Girls will be selling raffle tickets at the California Truckers Association Charity Golf Tournament, which will be held at Kern River Golf Course (Rudal Road and Lake Ming Dr.) beginning at 10:00 a.m.  All proceeds from the golf tournament will directly benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation, CHP Widows and Orphans Fund and other charitable organizations.

Saturday, May 17: Condors mascot Baby Cal will be rooting on participants of the Aquathon, a swimming marathon to benefit the Arthritis Association Adaptive Aquatic Center. The Aquathon will be held at 1800 Westwind Drive, Building 500, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Week in Review:

Wednesday, May 7: Condors mascot Colonel Claw'd appeared at Panama Elementary School as a Celebrity Reader. The Colonel acted out scenes from a children's book, "Stretch, Bend, Leap," while the story was read aloud.

Wednesday, May 7: Condors players Sean Venedam and Andrew Ianiero spoke to the Centennial High School journalism class and answered questions about their careers as professional athletes and the Condors Student Journalist Program.

Thursday, May 8: Mascot Colonel Claw'd and Condors D Scott Balan assisted the ribbon cutting ceremony at the grand opening of a new roller hockey rink at Saunders Park. The roller hockey rink will soon have open stick time as well as roller hockey leagues.

Thursday, May 8: Condors front office staff attended the CSUB Athletics Spring Barbeque at the Icardo Center. Fans were given Condors gear and information about next season..

Friday, May 9: Mascot Colonel Claw'd and Condors front office staff members, along with representatives from Diamond Technologies, presented Ian Stevenson with a state- of-the-art computer at Fruitvale Jr. High School. Stevenson's name was drawn from nearly 4,000 students that entered in the drawing through the Condors T.H.I.N.K. Program, which awards students for academic achievement.

Friday, May 9: Mascot Colonel Claw'd attended the Evergreen Elementary School Carnival. Students and parents were able to take a whack in the Condors Slapshot and enjoy other activities while raising money for scholastic activities.

Saturday, May 10: Condors front office staff members were out doing their part to keep our community beautiful through the Adopt- A- Highway program. Condors staff members and Baby Cal cleaned Ming Avenue from Old River Road to Gosford Road.

Saturday, May 10: Condors Head Coach Marty Raymond and players Sean Venedam, Scott Balan, Mike Hofstrand and Andrew Ianiero attended a fundraising dinner for Liberty High School's James Liles, who was recently diagnosed with cancer. One of the items auctioned off to help raise funds was a Condors gift basket.

2008-09 Ticket Information:

It's not too early to secure your seats for the 2008-09 season! The Condors offer full season ticket plans as well as mini plans, which include the Weekender Plan, the Saturday Assist Plan and the Pick 6 Plan. Click here to see further details on each of the Condors plans. Stop by the Condors office or call 324- PUCK (7825) to purchase your seats now!

To stay up-to-date with all the offseason events, log on to www.bakersfieldcondors.com and sign up for Face Off, the Condors E-newsletter.