Local oil producers prepare to wage war on new state regulations and Bonnie's Best opens a second location

 * ... OIL PATCH: Local oil producers are up in arms over what they see as state regulations that are putting a lid on new oil drilling in Kern County. As reported earlier by Californian energy reporter John Cox, the producers are fuming that the regulations - some of which are caused by environmental concerns - are slowing production at the very time that it should be increasing. Dave Kilpatrick, a longtime oil executive and former head of the local independent petroleum association, was in town Tuesday for a meeting with both independent producers and representatives from the big oil companies to raise awareness of the issue. "We have fields with 10,000 wells where we can't drill a new well," he said. "It's absurd." In the cross hairs of the producers is Elena Miller, a lawyer who is supervisor of the state division of oil and gas, who they accuse of "overkill" in implementing new regulations. This is an issue that is not going away and comes at a time when producers argue that domestic oil production should be increasing, not decreasing. Stay tuned.

* ... BONNIE'S BEST: I stopped in the new, second location of Bonnie's Best the other day and had a nice chat with co-ower Katie Watson. Located at 19th and O streets, the new Bonnie's is a lovely little deli with indoor seating, an outdoor patio and a lively and friendly decor, not to mention an impressive lineup of sandwiches. Katie's partner is mother Laurie Watson, owner of the original Bonnie's Best at F and 21st streets, and the two hope the revival of downtown and the Mill Creek area will afford the new location the success of the original shop. You have to admire these entrepreneurs who put their own capital on the line, in a bad economy, when so many others are holdling back.

 * ... HOARDERS: I have enough problems with one gray tabby cat, so the idea of animal hording is not something that has ever appealed to me. But it's out there, and now comes word that a local psychologist, Dr. Corey Gonzeles, will be appearing on the cable TV show "Confessions: Animal Hording" to provide some advice. The Animal Planet show airs Wednesday evenings and portrays the human condition that affects people and their animals. Apparently this is the third season in which Dr. Gonzales has appeared on the show. For all you hoarders, tune in for some free advice.

 * ... CLASS CRUNCH: School is back in session and for many teachers, it will be a much more difficult year in the classroom. Why? Budget cuts eliminated hundreds of teacher aide positions that provided valuable backup in classes that typically have 30 or more students. Teachers rely on these aides to help maintain order in the classroom as well as to give equal attention to the slow learners, as well as the stars. But they were the first to go in districts that have been forced to make drastic cuts in the face of budget shortfalls.

 * ... MEA CULPA: I misspelled the name Arnold Johansen in a recent blog about his collection of classic Gar-Wood boats. Johansen is CEO of Holloway Gypsum Mining Co.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: Geraldine Sproul is a product of Standard School in the early 1950s and remembers the old Bertha P. Elliot Hall. A number of women's clubs met there, including the North of the River Women's Club and - if she recalls correctly - it hosted the first meeting of St. Mark's Methodist Church before its new building was constructed on Oildale Drive. "I don't know what name is on the building now, but it is the building on the south side of the brick building at the corner of North Chester and Woodrow Avenue. This is where the underpass from Standard School comes up. Wish I had a nickel for every time I went through the underpass!"

Get ready for another First Friday in downtown Bakersfield and an explosive wild flower season in our hills

* ... FIRST FRIDAY: Tired of the fog and cold and looking for some fun? Head downtown this Friday for the return of the First Friday activities, which took last month off. My advice: grab dinner at any of our downtown restaurants (Mama Roomba, Uricchio's Trattoria, Mexicali, La Costa Mariscos, Casa Munoz, The Padre to name a few) and then stroll through the art galleries, boutiques and antique shops or grab a cocktail at a speakeasy like the Alley Cat. The brainchild of First Friday is Don Martin,  a master marketer who always puts on a good show at his Metro Galleries on 19th Street. This week he's featuring photography by Samuel Wooten, a French born photographer and anthropologist whose work is really impressive. Also on display in nature photography by San Diego artist Peter Fay.

 * ... BIG ORANGE: Received a nice email from Tony Wilder, a businessman in Kingsport, Tennessee, now home of retired county Resource Management Agency director David Price. David was deeply involved in our community while here and apparently he's now been drafted into the social fabric of Kingsport. Wilder said Price had recently graduated from Kingsport's ENCORE Leadership program and is now serving on the non-profit board of Kingsport Tomorrow. "And I just want to confirm that yes, he is now a rabid Big Orange fan and was even seen wearing a University of Tennessee pin on his lapel at a community function last week. But I also know that Bakersfield must be a very nice community because I can tell that Dave still has a big part of his heart there."

 * ... WILDFLOWERS: All this rain we've been having is certain to signal a terrific wildflower season in the hills of Kern County. In just a few months, the lupines, fiddlenecks and poppies will be in full bloom. Make sure you don't miss them this year. And wouldn't it be nice if we'd have water in the river all summer as well?

 * ... BONNIE'S BEST: Heard the other day from Laurie Watson, owner of Bonnie's Best Cafe over off 21st and F streets. Bonnie's Best is one of those locally owned downtown fixtures that always serves up superb food, and it also has a terrific meals "to go" program. Laurie wanted me to know that the Country Rose Cafe on H Street is not owned by Bonnie's Best but rather by  another person who used to work at Bonnie's Best. "I have not purchased the Country Rose Cafe," she said, adding that she is concentrating on keeping Bonnie's fare and customer service at the top of their game.

* .. BAKERSFIELDISM: From reader Gregg Byrd: You know you're a Bakersfield oldie "if you have an original neon Coors sign from Trout's bar in your garage (given to me by my late father, Jack Byrd) and if you remember the Byrds Club, which was my grand father's bar a few blocks from Trout's."