Kern County begins to open up after the long closure, San Louis Obispo closes "bubble gum alley" and local meteorologist heads to Florida

Welcome to Bakersfield Observed. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this community such a special place. The views expressed here are strictly my own and do not represent any other person or organization.

 * ... RESTAURANTS REOPEN: There could not have been better news for the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people who either own or work at one of our restaurants. Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, they can now open their doors with certain restrictions. The bars won't be open but you will be able to enjoy table service. The folks over at The 1800, voted best new restaurant of the year by

readers of The Californian, summed it up nicely on Facebook when they wrote this: "Brighter days are ahead y’all! As a family owned and operated restaurant our goal is to be the safest restaurant to re-open, not the first. We love and miss you Bakersfield and will keep you updated on our plans.
#staycoolbakersfield"

 * ... MORE OPENINGS: Some restaurants were ready to open quickly, including Shawna Haddad's Two Goats and a Goose (formerly Muertos in the Wall Street Alley), and Wikis Wine Dive and Grill. Others, like Uricchio's Trattoria, were taking it slowly having just reopened to offer curbside service. Meanwhile, The Outlets of Tejon announced that hoped to be open on May 27, but that date could chance. The food court at the Outlets will remain closed temporarily.

 * ... BUBBLE GUM ALLEY: Now here is a true sign of the times. Apparently concerned about the health aspects of San Luis Obispo's famed "bubble gum" alley, authorities there have decided to close it. For how long, we don't know.

 * ... ADIOS ALLISON: KERO TV meteorologist Allison Gargaro has left the station, joining Fox 35 in Orlando, Florida in a similar position. A graduate of Arizona State University, Gargara joined KERO two years ago and quickly engrained herself in the community.

 * .... REMEMBERING HARVEY: There was a nice tribute to the late Mayor Harvey Hall, posted on the marquee of The Fox Theater downtown. Has it really been two years since he passed?

 * ... MORE MARQUEE ACTION: The use of theater signage during the pandemic has exploded across the United States. Take a look at some of these random shots.

 * ... MEMORIES: Who remembers Freddie's Top of the Hill on Mt. Vernon? Thanks to the Kern County of Old Facebook page for this blast from the past.

Merced DA's office takes up the Father Craig case, frustrated business people consider vigilante justice to combat the drug addicts and looking into the horrific death of young Sara Hudson

Friday, August 30, 2019

 Welcome to Bakersfield Observed. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this community such a special place. Send news items to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... FATHER CRAIG: The Merced District Attorney's office is now reviewing the allegations of

sexual abuse against Monsignor Craig Harrison. The Merced police ended their probe and passed it onto the DA's office, which will now conduct its own review to determine if the case is worth prosecuting. Bakersfield police recently closed their investigation into a decades-old allegation, saying there was no "corroborative evidence" to support formal charges. No matter what the Merced DA's office rules, the most important ruling on Father Craig's fate will come from the Diocese of Fresno, and there is no word on when that might come.

 * ... VIGILANTE JUSTICE: If there is one thing downtown business owners can agree on, it is this: we do not have a homeless crisis. Rather, we have a drug crisis. That was the consensus of a group of downtown business owners who discussed our crisis on my radio show (KERN NewsTalk 96.1 FM) this week. Among those we talked with was Dixie Haley Brewer, a downtown retailer whose business - In Your Wildest Dreams at 19th and Q streets - has been vandalized and targeted by thieves multiple times over the past year. Haley said if things continue to spiral downward, it will only be a matter of time before vigilante justice kicks in as people take their safety into their own hands. What that means, and how it is handled, is unknown at this time but it reflects the extreme frustration business owners feel as this situation spirals out of control.

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: Speaking of the drug addicted homeless, a business owner downtown posted this on Facebook: "Now we've got these 'animals' pounding on windows and breaking them in broad daylight. This little white chick with very short bleached blonde hair, in a grey hoodie and black shorts just walked up 19th Street pounding our windows with her fist as she walks by. She shattered a window at Mill Creek Antiques and kept on walking. Then proceeded to hit ours.  I currently have a boarded window and a boarded door. I guess we're "blessed" to not have another broken one ourselves. Watch for this little hoodlum.  Usually has a 'girlfriend' with her. They like to try and get inside and divide employees so one can steal.'"

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "No matter how nice I ask random people, nobody will take me to Funkytown."

 * ... THEFT: And finally, now that it is a misdemeanor to steal anything merchandise valued under $950, businesses are witnessing a wave of shoplifters simply walking out the door with stolen goods. Check out this post from 23ABC: "The Bakersfield Police Department is asking for help in finding two people wanted for questioning regarding a petty theft on July 15 at an Albertsons on Brundage Lane. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Dunn at (661) 326-3876." In many cases, thieves will steal items like cases of diapers and then sell them individually at the transient hotels scattered about town.

 * ... SARA HUDSON: Did you hear about the terrible death of 22-year-old Sara Hudson in Dallas? Hudson, who attended Garces Memorial High School and later the University of Arkansas, was killed in Dallas on her 22nd birthday. Her body was discovered in a burning SUV and authorities believe she was the victim of a car jacking that led to her murder. Arrested in the case was Glen Richter, 49. Hudson has relatives in Bakersfield and she was well known in the Garces community.

 * ... ALLISON GARGARO: Congratulations to 23ABC weather forecaster Allison Gargaro, who has become a certified meteorologist. The Arizona State graduate received her credentials from Mississippi State University.

 * ... ANNIVERSARY: Happy 27th wedding anniversary to House minority leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy and his wife, Judy. Check out this adorable picture of the two back in the day. The couple met in high school and have been inseparable since.

* ... MEMORIES: More old photos from two Facebook pages devoted to local history, Kern County History Fans and Kern County of Old. Do you spot Dewar's n the first photo?

Bill O'Reilly picks Biden and Bloomberg as the Democratic frontrunners for 2020, Guapo's Tacos offers a full line of vegan meals, Mexicali West prepares to close and a cookbook benefits the homeless

Friday, December 14, 2018

 Welcome to Bakersfield Observed. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this such a special place to live. Send your news tips to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

  * ... BILL O'REILLY: Former Fox commentator Bill O'Reilly doesn't think the Democrats will push to impeach Donald Trump, at least based on what we know now about the investigation into

alleged Russian collusion. That's what he told me when he appeared on The Richard Beene Show (KERN NewsTalk 96.1 FM) this week. Looking ahead to the 2020 general election, O'Reilly thinks the Democratic front runners are former VP Joe Biden and Michael Bloomberg. He dismissed the others - Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker and Kristen Gillebrand - are too far left for even the Democrats to nominate.

 * ... GUAPO'S TACOS: One of the hottest vegan restaurants in town is located off White Lane and Highway 99. Run by Ali Gazali, Guapo's Tacos offers a full selection of steak, chorizo and chicken but also an ever evolving offering of vegan tacos, vegan nachos and vegan chili cheese fries. I tasted them all when Ali appeared on my radio program (KERN NewsTalk 96.1 FM) and they were simply outstanding. They are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "My boss said 'Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.' Now I’m sitting in a disciplinary meeting dressed as Batman."

 * ... MEXICALI: The choice has been clear for years: are you loyal to the downtown location of Mexicali, or do you prefer the Mexicali West location on California Avenue? If you are the latter, chances are you have made a pilgrimage to the "second" Mexicali as it prepares to close down at the end of the year. The building has been  sold and the family that runs the restaurants will concentrate on the downtown location. Scores of loyal customers have been visiting the California Avenue location, just to get that last meal (and margarita) in before it closes for good.

  * ... 23ABC COOKBOOK: Hats off to Allison Gargaro and her crew at KERO-TV for pitching in to help the Mission of Kern County. Gargaro, who handles the weather and is studying to become a meteorologist, partnered with different local personalities (Mayor Karen Goh and Rep. Kevin McCarthy among others) to write a cookbook. All of the proceeds from the sale went to the Mission.

 * ... MEMORIES: Check out this photo of our old train depot, courtesy of the Kern County History Facebook page. The caption read: "Southern Pacific Depot, East Bakersfield, California
Postcard Dated: 12 September 1918."