More than 100,000 Christians descend on Washington, D.C. for the national prayer, more Black Lives Matter protests in downtown Bakersfield and a Good Samaritan comes forward

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.

 * ... BLM PROTESTS: Black Lives Matter protesters turned out both Friday and Saturday nights in

downtown Bakersfield, leading to a scuffle when a couple dozen pro-Trump protesters showed up in a caravan of cars and trucks. Bakersfield police said a fight broke out Friday night although no one was seriously injured. The protest Friday night was about half the size of the previous evening.

 * ... PRAYER MARCH: An estimated 100,000 people descended on Washington, D.C. Sunday for the 2020 Prayer March. The overflow crowd, representing Christians from across the nation, spilled over the National Mall for a day of prayer and hope. Among those from Bakersfield attending were Mission of Kern County director Carlos Baldovinos and his son, and Pastor Angelo Frazier of Riverlakes Community Church. Frazier contributed two of these photos and Monday he will be on The Richard Beene Show at 2:30 p.m. to talk about his experience there.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "I spent more on weed last year than Trump paid in taxes."

 * ... GOOD SAMARITAN: The best read of the weekend was the story by Steven Mayer in The Bakersfield Californian about the good samaritan who replaced the broken neon restaurant sign at Casa Munoz Union Avenue at no cost. As Mayer reported, Jerad Webb confessed that he was behind the good deed along with his colleagues at California Neon Signs in Bakersfield, a company that also has worked on signage at the Pyrenees Cafe and the Fox Theater. Webb came upon the sign, took measurements and replaced it all without telling owner Joe Munoz what he was up to. Now that is good form. (picture courtesy of The Californian)

 * ... OIL TOWN: Spotted this on Facebook and surprised we have not seen one of these here.

 * ... MEMORIES: Check this out compliments of Art Moore and the Kern County History Fans Facebook page.

A swarm of earthquakes hit Ridgecrest and the high desert, Casa Munoz heads to Las Vegas, Rep. Kevin McCarthy makes some predictions and what is with all the nude homeless people around town?

Friday, July 5, 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.

 * ... JULY FOURTH: The downtown July Fourth parade, now 31 years old, keeps growing in size

and popularity. Mayor Karen Goh kicked off the festivities at the corner of Elm and 22nd Street as several hundred people walked the streets of old downtown to celebrate the birth of our nation. Enjoy these random shots.

* ... EARTHQUAKE: So where were you when the 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck on July Fourth? I was at the Bakersfield Racquet Club, taking a rest between pickle ball games, and sat in awe as i watched the huge light poles sway back and forth like a palm tree. Seismologists say we should expect more aftershocks of equal or even greater strength. take a look at this map of the known faults in our area.

 * ... TERM LIMITS: Remember David Abassi, the marijuana proponent who has tangled with both the city and the Board of Supervisors?  He says he is out of the cannabis business now, but he is not done with politics. His next goal is to gather enough signatures to put a initiative on the local ballot to establish term limits for the Board of Supervisors. "This could wipe out the entire board," he told me. "Wipe the slate clean."

* ... KEVIN MCCARTHY: Who does House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy think may win the Democratic presidential nomination? When we spoke earlier this week on The Richard Beene Show, McCarthy said Bernie Sanders was the best positioned to use his vast organization and fund raising ability to win the nomination. Joe Biden will fade, he said, and at this point in time, he said Sanders seems most likely to win the nomination.

 * ... CASA MUNOZ: One of our city's most iconic Mexican restaurants is moving to Nevada, and you can blame the high cost of doing business in California. Pep Munoz, part of the family that ran not only Casa Munoz but also Mexicali and Sinaloa, told me it was the rising cost of doing business here that led to the decision to leave California. Munoz blamed new fees and taxes and a rising minimum wage for his reason to live. If the minimum wage rises to $15 an hour, Munoz predicted there would be a mass exodus of full service restaurants. Munoz' father, Joe, will likely stay in town and possibly operate a much smaller restaurant, possibly in Shafter. The new eatery will be located in Henderson outside of Las Vegas and may be named either Sinaloa or Casa Munoz.

 * ... MORE PEP: And where does Pep Munoz go when he is not eating at his own restaurant? I posed that question to him and here is his list: Pyrenees Cafe, Uricchio's Trattoria, Sorella's, K.C. Steakhouse and Happy Jack's.

* ... HOMELESS: Here's a post on Facebook that speaks to our homeless crisis. No comments are necessary.

 * ... MEMORIES: Some old pictures of a Bakersfield in another time. First we see a scene from the old Golden Crust  Bread facility and then a shot of the stately old Southern Hotel, 19th Street and  Chester, circa 1898-1905. Enjoy.

The group that invented the term "shacking up" - the Baby Boomers - are at it again in their post divorce 50s and 60s, and head to Wire and Pearl for a unique Mother's Day gift

 * ... SHACKING UP: So guess which age group is leading the pack in terms of living together out of wedlock? It turns out it is the same group that invented the term "shacking up," the Baby Boomers. That's according to the New York Times which reports that the number of people over 50 who are

living with a single partner jumped 75 percent from 2007 to 2016, the highest increase of any age group. The reason? "People who've divorced have a more expansive view of what relationships are like," said Deborah Carr, a Rutgers University sociologist. "The whole idea of marriage as the ideal starts to fade, and personal happiness becomes more important."

* ... GOOD FORM: Here's a missive from a reader named Patty Sue that should lift your spirits: "Richard, on Friday had to pull my car over when I had an issue, corner of Merle Haggard Drive and Wings Way. It was 1:30 p.m. and hot, put the hood up, rolled down the windows with lights blinking.
Within about three minutes the cars started stopping and checking with me if I needed help. This kept up until the tow truck arrived. All ages, women and men. Officer Baurer pulled in behind me and protected me from traffic, young men from the airport checked on me and brought me a bottle of cold water.  I don't think it had anything to do with my white hair put just goes to show what kind of people live here."

* ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "It may look like I’m having really deep thoughts but 99 percent of the time I’m just thinking about what food I’m going to eat later."

 * ... MOTHER'S DAY: Here is a tip for all you men who are waiting until the last minute to purchase that present for Mother's Day: head over to Wire and Pearl on 17th and F streets, a charming little boutique where owner Susan Ruppel makes some of the most unique, beautiful and affordable jewelry you will find anywhere. Make sure you check their Facebook for store hours.

 * ... MYSTERY: A reader wrote: "Who remembers the name of the mountain lion who lived in the penthouse of the Oak Park Towers on Oak and 21st Street?

* ... HIDDEN GEMS: Here is my list of some underrated hidden gems on the local dining scene, places that operate largely under the radar but serve consistently great food with friendly service: Nuestro Mexico on 21st Street, Casa Munoz on Union Avenue, Juicy Burger on 24th and Q streets, Locale Farm to Table (previously known as Union Deli) across from the downtown post office, Red Pepper (an eastside favorite), Little Italy, Village Grill and Centro 18.

* ... MEMORIES: Mike Varela, an East High graduate, remembers going to a place called the Rainbow Gardens that later became the Crystal Inn on Union Avenue. "I saw Fats Domino, Ray Charles, Ruth Brown and other groups there... those were good times."

 * ... MORE MEMORIES: And finally, thanks to Ralph Dennis for this note: "Listening to the radio the name Cousin Herb was common place. But, I don't remember his name being mentioned without the name of his band, The Ozark Squirrel Shooters. How come? Not politically correct?  I returned to Bakersfield a few years ago and subscribed to the Californian at the four days a week level. I glance over Bakersfield Observed to see if anything catches my eye and was glad to see the names of two restaurants, previously unmentioned, appear. If you wanted to impress or be impressed those were the places, Maison Jaussaud and The Saddle and Sirloin."

McCarthy gets some bodyguards and Bako buzzes with social events over the weekend

 * ... WEEKEND: Out and about over the weekend and so nice to see so many restaurants and retailers doing a brisk business. Over Imbibe Wine and Spirits on Truxtun Extension, it was a sellout crowd of 150 people Saturday afternoon for a "top 100" wine tasting. Owner Dave Dobbs said he had a waiting list of almost 30 people and couldn't be happier with the turnout. Also had a chance to catch up with Joe Munoz, patriarch of popular Casa Munoz Mexican restaurant on Union Avenue which enjoyed a full  house on Saturday night.  Joe took the time to brag about the two big bucks he and his grandson shot on a deer hunting trip to Colorado last year. Make certain you add this family-run restaurant to your list of favorite local eateries.

 * ... CRABFEST: I was among those lucky enough to score a ticket to the St. Francis Parish "Crabfest" fund  raiser at the Kern County Fairgrounds Friday. This event annually raises more than $200,000 for the school and has evolved  into one of our community's most popular fund raisers. Tickets sold out within a week and even Monsignor Craig Harrison didn't have enough for all of his children. Huge piles of fresh crab, delicious salty ribs and wine were served, followed by the live auction of an adorable eight-week old puppy.

 * ... MCCARTHY: Making the rounds at Crabfest was Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), who rose to Majority Whip when the Republicans gained control of the House. McCarthy comes back to the district almost every week, and now that he's Majority Whip, he's accompanied by three members of the U.S.  Capitol Police who are charged with protecting members of Congress. The plainclothes bodyguards were inconspicuous in the crowd but are now part of McCarthy's entourage.

 * ... HOMELESS SHELTER: Finally, I also shared a few moments with Louis Gill, director of the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter, who was enjoying Crabfest. With unemployment now well  north of 16 percent, Gill said the shelter is near capacity and he doesn't see things changing any time soon. The bad news: corporate donations have slid 20 percent in this recession, but the good news is that checks written by individuals have held steady. "I understand businesses have to cut back, but it's gratifying that so many individuals still support us. It's great to work in such a supportive community like Bakersfield."

 * ... TILER PECK: Bakersfield native Tiler Peck is the toast of the New York ballet world. She was once again featured in the Sunday New York Times with a glowing story on her work with noted choreographer and director Susan Stroman. Peck, who was offered an apprenticeship with City Ballet at 15, is now a principal with the New York City Ballet where she continues to dazzle audiences. The story noted "she is not just irrepressibly dimpled, bouncy and game for anything (she recently appeared on 'Dancing with the Stars'). She is also - at the advanced age of 22 - and old business hand."  (photo courtesy of The New York Times)

* ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You know you're from Bakersfield if "you remember the High Fever Follies put on by the Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Auxiliary in 1959. The question was: would anyone pay $8 for a ticket? The first Follies raised $13,5000 which was the most anyone had raised at that time." Thanks to Phyllis Adams for this nugget.

Three lost children arrested in savage beating of grandmother while life goes on for the rest of us ...

  

 * ... BRUTAL BEATING: What are we to make of the arrest of three teenagers in the savage beating death of 81-year-old Dorothy Session in her east Bakersfield home? Here we have three runaway teens, all apparently so lost and angry that they allegedly beat this poor woman to death for no apparent reason. One thing we can agree on is Sheriff Danny Youngblood's assertion that these "kids" gave up their rights to childhood when they beat this grandmother to death. And for what? To burglarize her home? The suspects were identified as David Deshawn Moses, 17, and sisters Angelique Elandra Nash, 17, and Katila Ann Jean Nash, 15. (Photos courtesy of KERO-TV)

* ... BIKE RACE: I headed out to the USA Cycling bicycle road race off Bena Road on Sunday, a truly stunning day that featured more than 400 riders from across California. This was one of those events that attracts a narrow niche of enthusiastic followers but it showed off our community beautifully. The 30-mile route went from Towerline Road down to Caliente and back. I spotted a number of local riders there, including Hank Pfister, Mike Marotta, Jeff Simpson, Mike Hudson, Pam Awe, Mike Noel, Tom Morgan, David Rous, Adam Hensley and Gareth Feldstein just to name a few. The event was coordinated by Sam Ames from Action Sports.

* ... YOUNG KARPE: Was pleased to hear that Robert Karpe, son of Ray and Lisa Karpe and a senior at Garces Memorial High School, has decided to attend college at the University of South Carolina. Robert's final two choices were South Carolina and Tulane University, and after some soul searching he decided to head to Columbia, S.C. to spend the next four years as a Gamecock. Robert's father Ray is the chief operating officer at Terrio Therapy-Fitness.

 * ... HIDDEN TREASURES: One of the great things about our community is the number of locally owned restaurants with outstanding food and service, many tucked away in out of the way places. There's Luigi's Restaurant and Delicatessen of course, Uricchio's Trattoria, Cafe Med, 24th Street Cafe, Woolgrower's, Goose Loonies, Sequoia Sandwich Shop and all the Basque eateries. I had a chance to stop by two of my favorites this weekend, Casa Munoz over on Union Avenue where service and the Mexican fare is always over the top, and the Great Castle Chinese restaurant also on Union Avenue. Try the seafood noodle soup at Great Castle, large enough to feed two and with some left over.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You know you're from Bakersfield when you "know that Hodel's used to be at Valley Plaza."