Bako ranks near the bottom of socially networked cities, but is that a bad thing?

 * ... DO YOU TWEET? Do you spend too much time on Facebook and find yourself on Twitter at all hours? If not take heart, because you're not alone. At least not here in Bakersfield. A story in USA Today on the most socially networked cities lists Bakersfield near the bottom of a list of 100 cities that are engaged on the internet. The top networked cities? Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Denver, Minneapolis and Seattle. Down near the bottom with Bakersfield were Lubbock, Texas, Stockton, Laredo, Texas, and El Paso. Dr. Kenneth Secor, a fellow Rotarian, told me he thought it was just fine that we rank so low. "Personally,  I think it's great," he said, "as it indicates that we have a community where folks still talk with one another face to face!"

  * ... CHAINLAW: The law firm of Chain, Cohn and Stiles has a way of luring young guns back to Bakersfield. The latest to join the firm is Mathew N. Malerich, a graduate of Garces Memorial High School, UCLA and the University of San Diego School of Law. Matt's father is Dr. Mathew M. Malerich, who has been practicing in Bakersfield for more than 30 years. Chainlaw marketing director Marlene Morales told me that five out of the six lawyers at the firm are all local products who returned to town.

 * ... BEALE PARK POOL: Contributor Jerry Kirkland fondly recalls the old Beale Park pool that served as a "baby sitter" for generations of young Bakersfield kids. Back in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Kirkland said the Beale pool was the original home of the Bakersfield Swim Club, formed in 1947. "At the beginning and end of each school year, the high school used the Beale pool for P.E. classes and, of course, the swim team practiced there... Life guards during that era, many of them teachers, included Stan Segal, Rena Russell, Margo Robesky, Bob Bone, Gib Shimmel, Carl Berra, Margaret Sworder, June Uhalt, Shorty Martin, Ray Roberts, Ray Scott, Andy Hinderliter, Wally Bertrand and of course, the ubiquitous Russell brothers."

 * ... DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that the Lightspeed Building at 19th and G streets was originally built for Standard Oil in 1902. Fire nearly destroyed the building in the 1990s but owner Rob McCarthy restored it to its former grandeur.


 * ... DRIVE-INS: Reader John Pryor picked up on the conversation regarding the drive-in restaurants that were once so popular around town. In addition to Bloomfield's Drive-In, he said "there was Michener's Drive-in at about 18th and M streets or so - where KC (BHS) Drillers tended to go. In between these two was Baxter's Drive-in on Union Avenue at about 19th Street, if I remember correctly. Baxter's was started by WWII veteran Harold Baxter and his wife, Vita. He was still young when he returned from the war with purely - and very prematurely - white hair said to have been a result of his combat experiences. His wife designed colorful and imaginative outfits for their car hops purported to have out shined both Bloomfield's and Michener's! I can't remember if Baxter's car hops were on skates but perhaps other readers of your blog from that era can add to this previously untold story."


 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: Reader Neil Cameron says you are really a Bakersfield old timer if you can remember Whitmore's Drive-In at the Garces Circle. The drive-in was owned by his parents, George (who was blind) and Della Whitmore. During World War II, it was a favorite for the folks stationed at Minter Field for the for people traveling on Highway 99. The frontage was taken by eminent domain to make  room for the overpass. Tex's Barrell House later stood on the property and Deja Vu is now located there.

.

Local oil engineer Claude Fiddler dies, two weeks after his wife passes away

* ... RIP CLAUDE FIDDLER: Two weeks ago I reported that Shirley Ann Fiddler, a longtime Bakersfield resident, had died after a lengthy illness. And now I learn that husband Claude Fiddler passed away late  last week. Claude was a retired Chevron oil manager and he and his wife spent a career in some of the most exotic locales (Hong Kong, Madagascar, Paris and Taft among other places) but they loved Bakersfield and called it home. (read the previous post on Shirley Ann here) I was not aware Claude had any health problems; in fact he was the picture of a robust soul: striking silver hair combed back, thin waist, firm  handshake. It's always curious and odd to me how long-time married couples will often die within weeks of each other, and this was one couple who shared a long and close marriage. Claude served as president of the downtown Rotary Club and was a long time board member at the Golden Empire Gleaners. According to a story in Inside CSUB, a publication of  Cal State Bakersfield, the Fiddlers established two scholarships at the university, both fully endowed to the tune of $100,000. They have two children, Linda and David, both of whom earned master's degrees from CSUB. (photo courtesy of CSUB)

 * ... ETCHEVERRY OFF TO AFRICA: I also learned the other day that Jeffrey Etcheverry was headed off to South Africa to inspect some grape packaging equipment. Jeff works for David Sabovich, president of Fresh Look Brokers, a company that handles some of the Central Valley's table grape brokerage and packaging. Apparently the new equipment in South Africa shows great promise in making the process more efficient.


 * ... KUDOS FOR THE MUSEUM: Local community activist Sheryl Barbich shared some accolades that came to the Bakersfield Museum of  Art concerning its recent show featuring the work of artist James McMillan. Apparently the New York attorney who loaned the art, Patrick Bradford, was so impressed with the show that he donated $2,500 to the museum. Bradford's note: 

 "You and your colleagues have a real national treasure in the Bakersfield museum. Over the past decade I have served on many, many non-profit boards and I must say that the enthusiasm from your museum's patrons and supports was inspiring. Again, thank you for presenting Mr. McMillan's work in such a highly professional manner."

 McMillan's work was part of the Harlem Renaissance show and he also has come art in the current exhibit.  

 * ... THE BUZZ: It looks like the plaintiffs law firm of Chain, Cohn and Stiles has stolen the marketing director away from the Kern Schools Federal Credit Union. The firm convinced Marlene Morales to give up nine years at the credit union to run the marketing program for the law firm. Morales also served as marketing manager for San Joaquin Valley College. She's a native of Bakersfield, a Foothill High grad, and went on to Bakersfield College and Cal State Bakersfield where she earned her bachelor's in English/Communication.

Macey Kibbee's recovery and RIP Shirley Ann Fiddler

 * ... MACEY KIBBEE'S RECOVERY: I've been following the slow recovery of Macey Kibbee, one of our local girls who was gravely injured when she was hit by a car while jogging in Long Beach. (read the previous post here). Macey, who graduated from Stockdale High two years ago, is a sophomore at Long Beach State. The accident, which happened around dusk several weeks ago, has left her with brain injuries but the family says there is reason for optimism. To check out her progress, go to the family blogsite here. Since the accident, a steady stream of friends and well wishers have visited her at Long Beach Memorial. The details of exactly what caused the accident are not clear, and the emphasis now is on her recovery. Her long term prognosis remains uncertain, but she is talking and has regained movement of her body since coming out of a drug-induced coma. Keep Macey and the Kibbee family in your thoughts.

 * ... AND THE KIDS COME HOME: The tragedy of Macey is a cautionary reminder for all the families and children on the move this Christmas. College holiday breaks began this week for most schools, and the local kids will be arriving for their annual pilgrimages to Luigi's, Woolgrower's, the 24th Street Cafe, Uricchios and all their  favorite haunts. Hats off to so many of our local retailers who have opened their payrolls to hire some of these kids part-time over the holidays. It keeps them busy, out of trouble and provides them with a few bucks to take back to school. Let's hope this holiday is a safe one for everyone traveling and on the road.

 * ... THE CLARKS OF BAKERSFIELD: Matt Clark, one of the young lawyers at Chainlaw, reminded me that both he and his wife Molly are among the growing list of folks who went away to school and then returned. Matt went to Garces Memorial, graduated from Loyola Marymount and then McGeorge law school. Molly went to Bakersfield High and earned her B.A. from Cal State Bakersfield. They lived in Sacramento before deciding to head home. Michael Clark, Matt's father, was a North High grad who went off to UCLA and Stanford, only to return with his wife, Norleen Clark, who graduated from BHS and then went onto San Diego State. Finally, Matt's sister is Amanda Meszaros (Clark), a BHS Driller who went off to Rutgers and Sacramento State who has since returned to Bakersfield as a special education teacher in the Panama Buena Vista School District. As if that were not enough, Matt added that his "good buddy Jeff Giumarra" went to BHS and then to Claremont McKenna College, returning to work for his family business. Lastly, Matt said another of his friends is Chris Ruppel, a West High graduate who graduated from New Mexico State but is back in town. That's quite a list. My thanks to Matt for submitting it to BakersfieldObserved. 

 * ... RIP SHIRLEY FIDDLER: I was saddened to hear about the death of Shirley Ann Fiddler, a longtime Bakersfield resident and wife of retired oil engineer Claude Fiddler. Shirley was active in the community and a regular guest at the downtown Rotary Club where Claude served as president. (They were married in 1955) I am always impressed by breadth of experience and travel seen in the obituaries of folks in the oil industry, and Shirley's did not disappoint. Working for Chevron, the Fiddlers lived everywhere from Hong Kong to Madagascar, Perth, Australia, Paris and Taft before ending up in Bakersfield where both Shirley and Claude threw themselves into the community. Services will be held Thursday, Dec. 17 at Greenlawn Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to the local SPCA.