Good morning and happy Wednesday! The holiday season is in full swing, and the countdown to the big day is officially on! From festive gatherings to last-minute preparations, this is the time to embrace the cheer, check off to-do lists, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Today’s brief includes:

• ❤️‍🩹 Mental Health and Social Media News

• 🚮 Dump your Junk

• 💰Wealth Wednesday

• 📆 Upcoming Events

• 🍲Yummy Recipe

• 💌 Christmas Poll

Enjoy!

Weather Forecast

Wednesday - 60°☁️ | Thursday - 57°⛅ | Friday - 59°☀️

Brief Update…

Social Media to Require Mental Health Warnings

California may become the first state to mandate mental health warning labels on social media platforms under a bill proposed by Attorney General Rob Bonta. The legislation seeks to address social media’s impact on youth mental health and expand protections for children. While supporters praise the effort to hold tech companies accountable, critics raise concerns about free speech violations and suggest focusing on mental health education and resources instead.

source: bakersfieldnow.com

Human Remains Found in Canal

Human remains were discovered Monday in the canal at Mill Creek Park in Bakersfield by maintenance workers during routine upkeep. Bakersfield Police and the Kern County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team recovered the body, but its age, gender, and race could not be identified due to decomposition. Detectives are awaiting the coroner's findings to determine the victim's identity and uncover further details.

source: bakersfield.com

Dump Your Junk

Bakersfield residents can declutter their spaces at a bulky item drop-off event on Saturday, December 14, at Mesa Marin Sports Complex from 8am to noon. Items like furniture, mattresses, appliances, electronics, and BBQ grills (without propane tanks) will be accepted. Over 100,000 pounds of trash have been collected at similar events this year.

source: kget.com

Events

• Holiday Candle Making - 12/11 - Wine Me Up

• The Nutcracker - 12/13-12/15 - Mechanics Bank Theater (must purchase tickets)

• Second Saturday Holiday Pop up - 12/14 - 2819 F St. (9am-3pm; Santa 11am-2pm)

• Meet Santa – 12/14 – Café Smitten downtown (10am)

• NOR’s Christmas Parade - 12/14 - N. Chester (10am)

• Ugly Sweater Market - 12/14 - Stockdale High School (5:30pm-9:30pm; ugliest sweater wins a prize)

• Sip & Shop – 12/14 – TLO Winery (12pm-5pm)

• Cirque Dream Holidaze - 12/16 - Mechanics Bank Theater (must purchase tickets)

• Christmas in the Alley - 12/20 - Jerry’s Pizza (6pm-8:30pm)

• 1st Annual Christmas Pajama Takeover - 12/21 - Downtown Bakersfield

• 6th Annual Jingle Bells Run - 12/21 - RiverWalk (benefits Toys for Tots)

• Bako Market - 12/21 - 1001 Truxtun Ave. (10am-3pm)

• Christmas Cookie Crawl - 12/21 - participating locations downtown (1pm-4pm; tickets are limited)

• Christmas Grinch Market - 12/21 - Stockdale High School (5:30pm-9:30pm)

Christmas Events All Month

• CALM Holiday Lights - all month - CALM (purchase tickets)

• Bakersfield Christmas Town - all month - Kern County Fairgrounds (admission fee)

• Family Holiday Skate - all month - Valley Children’s Ice Center
  

2025:

• Boots in the Park - 3/7/25 - Bakersfield Sports Village

• Bakersfield Marathon - 3/30/25 - Kern County Museum

• Mud Factor - 4/26/25 - Kern County Raceway Park

• Lightning in a Bottle - 5/21-5/25 - Buena Vista Lake

Let us know about events coming up!

Kid Brief

• Junior Gardners - 12/14 - Jerry’s Pizza

• Santa - 12/7 & 12/14 - Frosty’s Forest (12pm-2pm; Brimhall/Coffee)

• The Polar Express - 12/16 - The Fox Theater

• Santa Letters Express - 12/2-12/16 -Riverlakes Community Center (and other participating locations)

  • Write and send a letter to Santa and receive a letter back

• Santa Home Visits - 12/2-12/19 - call to book

Wealth Wednesday

How to build a budget

With Christmas shopping in full force, this may be a good time to consider budgeting and understanding what you can do to prepare for next month. Key steps:

1. Track what you earn and what you spend.

2. Work to keep the second number lower than the first.

3. Lather, rinse, repeat each month.

Although it sounds straightforward, it can be intimidating. Keep in mind budgeting can change month to month so embrace the ongoing process. Consider what you make, your expenses, remember to pay yourself first, and always plan for discretionary expenses such as going out to eat.

Be sure to track, compare and adjust accordingly. Budgeting can be your friend if you plan and use it wisely.

source: forbes.com

Sports

Thursday Night Football (NFL):

• Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers at 5:15pm on Amazon Prime Video

Scoreboard

Monday Night Football (NFL):

• Cincinnati Bengals defeated Dallas Cowboys 27 to 20

Food Brief

Mississippi Pot Roast (crockpot)

Ingredients:

• 4 to 5 pound chuck roast or pot roast

• 1 packet ranch seasoning mix 

• 1 packet au jus gravy mix or brown gravy mix, low sodium

• 6 pepperoncini peppers plus ½ cup juice

• ¼ cup butter

Directions:

• In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, brown the roast for about 5 minutes per side.

• Place roast in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker and pour in the pepperoncini juice. Sprinkle the dry ranch dressing mix and au jus gravy mix over the top of the roast. Add the pepperoncini peppers and sliced butter on top of the roast.

• Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours (or on high for 4-6 hours) or until the roast is fork-tender.

• Once the roast is cooked, shred it with a fork and mix it into the juices in the slow cooker.

• Serve over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice.

Future Holiday Reminders

• 14 Days until Christmas

Christmas Movie Poll

Results will be revealed Friday

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