Andrew Bergman Journalist Profile

Articles

Chamber starts new year with HR aid

Jan 15, 2025 | ridgecrestca.com | Andrew Bergman

The Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce started off 2025 with a human resources presentation. First up was Michelle Schwanhauser from Moving Mountains HR Consulting. Schwanhauser began her presentation speaking about the need to create employee handbooks, explaining how they not only protect your business but also inform your employees what is expected of them and what laws and regulations apply to their positions.
Ridgecrest’s Lucille Dunn celebrates 100th birthday at USO Building

Jan 13, 2025 | ridgecrestca.com | Andrew Bergman

Friends and family gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of local citizen Lucille Dunn. Dunn was born on Jan. 9, 1925, and a birthday celebration was held for her at the Historic USO Building on Jan. 11. She has lived in Ridgecrest since April 1960 and has had two children, one granddaughter, and five great-grand and great-great-grandchildren. Kiss N Bell Events decorated the celebration with a 1925 speakeasy theme.
Police host final town hall for body cameras

Jan 12, 2025 | ridgecrestca.com | Andrew Bergman

Ridgecrest Police Chief Mario Ysit hosted the second town hall meeting to inform Ridgecrest citizens of the benefits of purchasing body cameras. “It gives us the ability to see what’s happening after the fact, to help us make improvements,” Ysit said at the start of his presentation. kAm%96 42>6C2D @A6C2E6 :? 2 DE2?53J >@56 AC:@C E@ 24E:G2E:@?[ C64@C5:?8 C@F89=J 2 c_ E@ e_ D64@?5 =@@A @7 D:=6?E G:56@ 2E 2 E:>6] %9:D 2==@HD A@=:46 E@ 92G6 2 C64@C5 D9@F=5 E96 F?6IA64E65 DF556?=J 92AA6? — =:<6 :7 2?
First annual Community Scholarship Fair presented by Rotary and Chamber

Jan 9, 2025 | ridgecrestca.com | Andrew Bergman

Ridgecrest's first annual Community Scholarship Fair is coming after several months of preparations and planning. The fair is intended to be a one-stop shop for students to meet with businesses and organizations providing scholarship funds, organized by the Rotary Club of China Lake and the Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce. Rotarian Stephanie Hudson came up with the idea while going over applications for the Rotary Club's scholarships.
Kerr McGee features Christmas tree, winter wonders for families

Dec 10, 2024 | ridgecrestca.com | Andrew Bergman

The beginning of December was celebrated at Kerr McGee Center with a fun evening of yule tide events featuring the lightning of the city Christmas tree. The tree was set in the center of the roundabout between the community center and City Hall. Mayor Eric Bruen addressed the community and a young boy, Kanon Maroney, was given the hours of pressing the button to turn the lights on. There were many fun events for families to enjoy.
Rotary Club seeks to erect peace pole monument in Ridgecrest

Dec 6, 2024 | ridgecrestca.com | Andrew Bergman

“We are not individually responsible for world peace, but we are responsible for a piece of peace,” said Julia Morse, Peace Chair of the Rotary Club of China Lake. Morse spoke to the Club at its weekly luncheon about plans for the club to be more active in Rotary International’s Peacebuilder efforts, both activities within a club’s community and overseas in regions of poverty and conflict. The primary goal for next year is the installation of a Peace Pole at Cerro Coso Community College.
Blazing Saddles 4K Ultra HD Review

Nov 28, 2024 | theaterbyte.com | Brandon DuHamel |Norman Steinberg |Andrew Bergman |Richard Pryor

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes1974’s Blazing Saddles, a satire on the western genre would turn its attention on prejudice and racism, and its rather prolific use of the word “n****r” is sure to be offensive to all those who cannot see the point of the film in its entirety, that is to point out the insanity and ignorance of people’s prejudices.
Ribbon cutting for VEN’s sit-down eatery

Nov 26, 2024 | ridgecrestca.com | Andrew Bergman

VEN A Communal Eatery is no stranger to Ridgecrest, with its food truck often seen at most of the city’s events at Balsam or City Hall. At the end of September, VEN opened a restaurant that expands the menu and offers guests a comfortable, sit-down experience instead of the usual outdoor, take-out business. The Chamber of Commerce was there for a ribbon cutting on Monday, Nov. 25, to celebrate the restaurant’s opening and to catch the public’s eye.
'With fiddle and banjo,' Men of Worth 'covered ground' at Cerro Coso

Nov 24, 2024 | ridgecrestca.com | Andrew Bergman

“There’s two songs that we know; we’re starting off with ‘Mary’s Wedding’ . . . and we’ll finish with “Only Day to Day” — and what happens in between? Who knows?” James Keigher said at the start of Men of Worth’s 2024 Ridgecrest concert. The folk duo of Keigher and Donnie Macdonald performed traditional Scottish and Irish music at Cerro Coso Community College. They’ve toured the world and have regularly come to play in Ridgecrest for nearly 30 years now.
All wines pair with generosity at Cerro Coso fundraiser

Nov 18, 2024 | ridgecrestca.com | Andrew Bergman

“Food is beautiful, wine is beautiful; they should go along perfectly together. They are made for each other,” said Eric LeBarbe, guest speaker at Cerro Coso Community College’s Wine and Dine Fundraiser. LeBarbe is the program manager for Oasis Family Resource Center; he previously worked at E. & J. Gallo Winery, the largest in the world, for 17 years.