Crystal Palace plans on reopening in November, Samantha Fish comes to World Records and Bakersfield loses a prominent obstetrician-gynecologist in a motorcycle accident on the Westside Parkway

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 company or publication.

 

 * ... MARK ROOT: Bakersfield lost one of its most prominent and popular doctors this week when Dr. Mark Root was killed in a motorcycle accident on the Westside Parkway. The California Highway Patrol

said Root was traveling east bound on the parkway Monday night when his Harley Davidson left the road and careened down a slight embarkment and through a fence. He was located several hours later and the CHP said they believed Root may have been traveling at a high rate of speed. Root, 65, was a respected and popular long-time obstetrician-gynecologist who delivered hundreds of babies in town, as well as serving as chief medical officer at Bakersfield's Memorial Hospital. Gifted with a quick wit and keen intelligence, Root became a fixture at Memorial Hospital and in local medical circles and was active in any number of local charitable causes. He is survived by his wife Bernadette and children Daniel, Jordan and Jackie. Services are pending. (family photo of Mark and Bernadette Root)

 * ... RENO FLIGHTS: There is some good news for local travelers: Meadows Field will soon get service to Reno from ExpressJet Airlines. The new agreement will run for eight months and provide flights three days a week. The service will start as early as next week.

* ... SAMANTHA FISH: Live music has been one of the casualties of the ongoing pandemic, but some local venues are inching back into the business. This weekend, World Records will be hosting Samantha Fish, a red-hot blues guitarist recently voted one of the greatest female guitarists of all time. World Records owner Pat Evans said customers must show proof of being vaccinated.

 * ... CRYSTAL PALACE: And more good news on the music front: After going dark or more than a year, Buck Owens' Crystal Palace is planning to reopen in November. The problem, KGET says, is staffing. The Palace is looking for part-time bartenders, servers, hostesses and kitchen staff.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "I’m giving a best man speech at my brother’s third wedding, and I’m going to open with 'Hi, it’s me again.'”

 * ... JOSHUA TREES: There is an odd story coming out of east Kern County where hundreds of protected Joshua trees have been found uprooted and destroyed. KERO-TV reported authorities are trying to determine if they trees were cut down legally, to make room for a solar farm, or if they were destroyed illegally. Stay tuned. (photo by KERO)

 * ... MEMORIES: Take a moment to gaze at these historic photos, one of the Garces traffic Circle back in 1954 and the other a "before" and "after" shots of the old French shop. Thanks to the Kern County History Fans Facebook page.

Barry Goldner honored with Bench and Bar award, Monty Byrom and other local notables

 * ... GOLDNER: Kudos to Barry Goldner, the local attorney who will be honored with the  Kern County Bar Association's Bench and Bar Award on Thursday, April 28, at the Petroleum Club. This is a prestigious award in the legal community and recognizes outstanding service to the administration of justice and contributions to the profession. Barry is a principal at Klein DeNatale and Goldner and is married to Teri Goldner, a former judge who now serves as county counsel. Their daughter, Rachel, will graduate from Garces Memorial High School this year and will attend Fordham University in the fall.

 * ... MONTY BYROM: Had a chance to stop by the Buck Owen's Crystal Palace Saturday to take in the music of Monty Byrom, founder of the country rock band Big House. I had not been to the Palace in some time and was reminded of what a pleasant venue it is on any given night. Big name acts regularly appear there, but you can enjoy it just as much with the house band or a local talent like Monty Byrom, who wowed the audience with his rendition of Roy Orbison's song "Crying," a darkly emotional ballad that was No. 1 on the charts way back in 1961.

 * ... LIGHTSPEED: Lightspeed Systems, a locally owned technology company, is expanding its footprint in the downtown area. The company, owned by Rob and Judi McCarthy, has taken possession of the old Youth Authority building at the corner of 19th and F streets. The building is now being spruced up and remodeled, a welcome sight considering its checkered past. A few months ago a fight broke out among some of the youthful offenders hanging around outside, leading to the stabbing of one man.

 * ... ILLINOIS BOUND: Stephanie Green dropped me note to inform me that Josh Gallington, who kicked for Bakersfield Christian High School and Bakersfield College, has won a full scholarship to play football at Northern Illinois University. NIU's first game is at home against Army on September 3. They will also face off against Big Ten power Wisconsin on September 17 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

 * ... TUMBLEWEEDS: Frances Cagle Sinclair wrote to say she "got a huge chuckle of your mention of tumbleweed snowmen. When I was doing my student teaching in Fresno (1959) I imported some Lost Hills tumbleweeds, sprayed them white and put together a snowman for my fourth grade class. It was quite a feat getting those 'weeds' in my little Chevy for the trip."


 * ... HOST FAMILIES: My friend Sue Peninger is once again looking for families to host a French exchange student this summer. The program is called Horizons du Monde in which French students are placed with American families between July 29 and August 18. This is always an interesting program and folks who have done it rave about the experience. If you are interested, call Sue Peninger at (661) 332-7147.

 * ... WHO KNEW? Covenant Coffee is a local Bakersfield company that gives all its profits to support foster youth. Its coffee comes from Tanzania but is packaged right here in town.