TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

When I first saw the term "Lethal Mixer," I was puzzled because it seemed contradictory. After all, "mixer" usually refers to a pleasant social gathering. Put a synonym for deadly in front of it and it looks like the title for an Agatha Christie mystery.

Turns out the catchy phrase is the name of a Japanese-themed event to be held Thursday evening at the Bakersfield Museum of Art. It's a farewell party for the impressive exhibit of ancient Japanese armor and weapons that's been on display in the George and Millie Ablin wing of the museum for the past two months. On Sunday, the exhibit will go back to its owner, the Clark Center for Japanese Art in Hanford.

This evening's send-off will include a demonstration of martial arts by individuals from Bakersfield Budo, a private school on White Lane that offers instruction in a variety of Japanese warrior traditions, such as akido, karate and jujutsu. Lessons in the art of calligraphy are also available.

To make the "Lethal Mixer" even more culturally authentic, Jason Gutierrez, the art museum's marketing director, said a sampling of Japanese foods will be served and sake will be available as well.

Woman's Club festival

"Festival of the Trees," now in its 31st year, gets under way Saturday morning at the Rabobank Convention Center.

But unless you already have a ticket, you'll have to wait until next year to participate, said Karen Dixon, coordinator of the Woman's Club of Bakersfield's annual fundraiser.

"We were sold out on Oct. 1 -- all 1,700 tickets," she said. "Now we have a waiting list."

This year's event will feature 57 trees embellished with decorations and surrounded by valuable gifts donated by local merchants and businesses. The club also has a tree and Dixon said it will have close to $2,000 worth of gifts. Each tree is awarded to the holder of a winning ticket in an opportunity drawing. Tickets are sold at the party, which includes lunch and a fashion show.

The festival is a major fundraiser for the club. Dixon said last year's net profit was about $50,000. Of that amount, $30,000 was given to high school and college students in the form of scholarships; $10,000 went to various charities; and the balance was put into a reserve fund for maintenance of the club's historic building at 2030 18th St.

Freebo performs in Tehachapi

A guitarist, singer and songwriter who goes by the single name of Freebo will make two appearances at Fiddlers Crossing in Tehachapi this weekend.

On Friday he'll perform a concert. Then on Saturday, Freebo will lead a workshop designed to show songwriters and poets how to awaken their creativity.

"Along with exploring the creative process, Freebo will give specific tools and hints for songwriting, song arrangement, chord substitutions and performing," said Deborah Hand, owner of Mountain Music and the adjoining coffee-house-style venue, Fiddlers Crossing.

Hand met the musician a few years ago at a Folk Alliance conference in Memphis, Tenn. Her husband, Peter Cutler, engineer for the weekly Folk Scene program on radio station KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles, has known Freebo for many years.

"In 1967, he acquired the name Freebo," Hand said. "His birth name is now his well-kept secret."

To folk, rock and blues musicians, Freebo is an icon, she said. As a bass player, he provided the solid foundation on stage and in the studio for 30 years for such artists as Bonnie Raitt, John Mayall, Maria Muldaur, Neil Young, Loudon Wainwright III, Ringo Starr and others. He has appeared on "Saturday Night Live," "Midnight Special," "Muppets Tonight," and in concert with Spinal Tap.

Freebo now lives with his wife, Laurie, in California Hot Springs, which is in the foothills of the Southern Sierras in Tulare County. He has just released his fourth CD, "Something to Believe," which includes songs ranging from blues and rock to folk and country.

Fundraiser for artist

On Saturday, Jen Raven and other members of The Foundry, are hosting "Await," a fundraising exhibit for Jerome Lazarus, a talented photographer who is seeking permission to become a legal resident of the United States.

The event will feature artwork by Lazarus, who was forced to leave his home country of Sri Lanka, which was at that time ravaged by civil war.

"Jerome is building a new life in the United States, and proceeds from sales of his photographs will go toward having his immigration paperwork finalized," Raven said.

Lazarus has lived and worked in Bakersfield for about three years.

The photographer is trying to raise money to pay legal fees in connection with a hearing scheduled for Dec. 13 in San Francisco.

Resources for finding grants

Literally hundreds of foundations in the United States offer grants to nonprofit organizations, and in some cases, to students, artists, researchers and other individuals.

Yet locating the one that fits your needs can be overwhelming. For example, a hefty hard-bound volume containing an informational index on these organizations is a staggering 2,800 pages.

Thankfully, there is an easier way, via an online database of foundations, corporate givers and grant making public charities. This particular database is available only at specified branches of the Kern County Library: Beale in Bakersfield, Kern River Valley and Ridgecrest.

Unlike other library resources, it cannot be accessed from your home computer.

To aid in your search, the Beale Memorial Library is offering two free workshops on Saturday. The first, a two-hour session starting at 10 a.m., is a hands-on class to be held in Beale's computer lab. Reference librarian Scott Frederick will provide tips and tools on how to find grant funding sources.

In a related afternoon workshop to be held from 2 to 3 p.m. in the library's Tejon Room, Frederick will show attendees how to write a grant proposal and the key components that must be included in the document.