Some restaurants make the cleanliness grade and some fail, more on officer-involved shootings and Facebook suspends the account of conservative commentator Candace Owens

Monday, May 20, 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 such a special to live. Send your tips to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... SHOOTINGS: Did you read the front-page Californian story Sunday saying that most of the

officer involved shootings in town involve people of color? It is an oft-repeated story that offers absolutely no solutions, because the issues are complicated and have long confounded experts. It speaks to  segregated neighborhoods, poverty,  drugs, crime and gangs. It is really surprising that more shootings occur on one side of town other than, say, Seven Oaks? (Shootings follow crime and drugs, not skin color) Stories like this make for provocative headlines, while casting doubt on our police officers, but do absolutely nothing to add to the dialogue of where we go from here.

 * ... PERFECT KITCHENS: On the other hand, Bob Price's Sunday story on how some restaurants keep their kitchens spotless (even in century old buildings more prone to infestations) offered a look at how some restaurant owners are frankly more diligent about keeping their kitchens clean than others. People like Jaclyn Allen of the Hen's Roost (one of my favorite vegan eateries in town) routinely score a perfect 100 on their restaurant inspections while others are cited repeatedly for rat infestations and other misdeeds. It's another reason to pay attention to the health department grade ratings posted in the windows.

* ... LOCALE: Meanwhile, it was good to see that the restaurant Locale Farm to Table is back open after being shut down by the health department because of rat droppings. It was the second time the popular organic restaurant had been cited for rat droppings, but the place is now cleaned up and back open for business across from the downtown post office.

 * ... FACEBOOK BAN: Did you sewed that Facebook suspended the account of conservative commentator Candace Owens? Owens, who last week spoke in Bakersfield at a fund raising event for state Sen. Shannon Grove, is the latest conservative commentator to face the wrath of Facebook. This time, she was suspended for saying white supremacy is not a threat to black Americans. And that was enough for a suspension? You be the judge.

 * ... GOOD FORM: What did you do this weekend? Whatever it was, I bet it pales in comparison to what a group of young people did to help beautify our community.  Thanks to a generous grant from the Virginia and Alfred Harrell Foundation, the Tree Foundation of Kern planted 45 potted trees in Downtown Bakersfield Saturday morning. City Councilman Andrae Gonzales joined the effort and had this to say: "This project- over a year in the making- could not have been possible without the support from General Tree Inc., Conway Lopez and John and Enriquez and the Tree Foundation board members, and volunteers from Arvin High School, the Carpenters Local 661, among others. Special thanks goes to Melissa Iger for coordinating the effort!"

 * ... MEMORIES: Some old photos from Bakersfield compliments of the Facebook page Kern County of Old.

Monday's Bakersfield Observed: Gov. Gavin Newsom weighing outlawing fossil fuels, Spanish guitarist confronts racism at a local bar, a second person comes forward to accuse Monsignor Craig Harrison and Candace Owens heads to Bako in support of Shannon Grove

Monday, April 29, 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 such a special to live. Send your tips to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... NEWSOM TO BAN OIL? Can you image if the state of California moved to ban the production of fossil fuels? Think about it. Nearly a half million people would lose good paying jobs, the state would be forced to import oil from places like Saudi Arabia which would spike carbon

missions, and communities like Bakersfield would dry up and become magnets for crime and the homeless. But that is exactly what Gov. Gavin Newsom is considering, if not an outright ban than restrictions that would heavily curtail local production. Environmentalists like the Sierra Club think this is a dandy idea, and frankly they could care less about the people who pay their mortgages and send their children to school thanks to the oil and natural gas industry. California has been flirting with the idea for years, blissfully ignoring the fact that if we don't produce it ourselves, we will simply have to import it from oversees. Stay tuned on this one. Madness could be just around the corner.

 * ... BAD FORM: I could barely believe my eyes when I spotted a post on Facebook accusing employees at Sandrini's downtown for refusing to serve a customer because he looked like "a foreigner." Did this really happen? Here in Bakersfield? Apparently it did, at least according to the renowned Spanish guitarist Diego "Twangero" Garcia, who was brought to town by Rick Kreiser for a concert at the Buck Owens Crystal Palace. Here is what the musician posted: "Last Wednesday, after our magic show at the @bocrystalpalace in #Bakersfield we decided to go to have a drink to @sandrinisbar  two blocks away from @thepadrehotel where we were staying. After 25 years of touring the world and bringing my music to the people I wasn’t allowed to come in to a place just for being a foreigner. “Just US ID, please." This is the very first time ever I felt discrimination and I needed to tell the story. Anyway, I love America and the way americans treat me everyday. Love and Peace Twanguero." On social media, some blamed Sandrini's doorman for the mistake, saying he was only making sure the customers were of legal age. Still, not a good thing for our community.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "My wife can find a stain on my shirt from across the room but can't see the mailbox when she's backing up?"

 * ... NEW ACCUSER: A second man has come forward to accuse Monsigner Craig Harrison of sexual molestation. According to reports, the man said he was a victim of Harrison's advances back in 1988 in Merced. This is the second person who has accused Harrison of impropriety. Meanwhile, a prayer service for Harrison is set for this Wednesday as his supporters continue to rally around the popular 59-year-old priest. If these accusations are true, it would be hard to think of a more precipitous fall from grace for this man who is so beloved in this community. But let's not rush to judgment. Let the cards play out.

* ... CANDACE OWENS: Conservative commentator Candace Owens, one of the bright new voices of the conservative movement, will be in Bakersfield May 16 for a fund raiser for state Sen. Shannon Grove. Known for her intelligence and rhetorical flair, Owens is beloved on the right and despised on the left and I suspect her appearance will lead to a sold out event on behalf of Grove.

* ... BEHEADING: Remember Jamie Osuna, the madman who was convicted of murder in Kern County and is doing time at Corcoran state prison? Well no surprise here, but Osuna allegedly beheaded his cellmate. Now that Gov. Gavin Newsom has pledged no more executions in the state, Osuna can rest assured he will never play the ultimate price for taking multiple lives.

 * ... MEMORIES: And lastly, thanks to the Facebook page Kern County of Old, is this old advertise meant for the Golden Crust Bakery around 1928.

Friday's Bakersfield Observed: Conservative firebrand Candace Owens is coming to Bakersfield to support state Sen. Shannon Grove, celebrating fresh produce at Dot and Ott and the annual Mac 'n Cheese Festival coming up later this month

Friday, April 12, 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 such a special to live. Send your tips to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... CANDACE OWENS: Leave it State Sen. Shannon Grove to bring in a big hitter for a fund

raiser next month. Set for Saturday, May 25, Grove will host a VIP reception and dinner featuring Candace Owens as the guest speaker. Owens is an conservative commentator and political activist known for her pro-Trump stance and her criticism of Black Lives Matter and of the Democratic Party.  She is wickedly smart, articulate and her frequent clashes with Democrats have elevated her to being a darling of the political right.

 * ... DOT AND OTT: Have you been to the new green grocer and restaurant downtown on Eastchester called "Dot and Ott?" Owned by Jesse and Jeremy Blackwell, the eatery is named after former neighbors of Jesse's named Dot and Otto and it certainly does the couple justice. Housed in a beautiful old historic building on 18th Street that was once a feed store, it features fresh vegetables from Pickalittle Farms, locally produced eggs and a full lineup of beer and wine. It is open Monday through Saturday with a full service of breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: "I may be chubby, but I identify as thin. I am trans-slender."

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "Not to brag, but I've been invited to join AARP. This is all happening so fast."

 * ... MAC 'N CHEESE: One of our community's most popular outdoor events is coming on on Saturday, April 20, when the sixth annual Mac 'n Cheese Festival is held on the youth soccer fields at CSUB. Put on by American General Media (owners of KERN NewsTalk 96.1 FM)s the event features beer, wine, live music and varieties of macaroni and cheese from 30 local restaurants. Get tickets at www.macncheesefest.com or at Event Bride website.

 * ... RAINBOW: Remember that wind we had earlier in the week? It triggered some interesting weather including this rainbow out near Taft, captured by my friend Pam Taylor.

 * ... MEMORIES: Check out this picture of the old St. Pauls's Episcopal Church.