As homelessness grows the city and county struggle with ways to combat it, Greg Gallion hangs it up at Houchin Blood Bank and animal rescue groups push for new laws

Friday, August 17, 2018

 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 news tips to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... HOMELESS: Was the big county meeting on the homeless a sincere effort to deal with a serious problem, or a political stunt aim at putting on a good face so close to the November election?

Jeff Heinle, the firefighter running against Supervisor Mike Maggard, called it a cynical stunt put on by a board who has wasted a decade doing nothing. Heinle said homelessness is the county's No. 1 issue, and I for one agree with him. And what would he do to tackle the problem? Dig into the county's emergency fund and pay for programs that were set up - but largely left unfunded - almost a decade ago. "We have to do something," he told me on KERN NewsTalk 96.1 FM. "This is why I am running. I am not a career politician and I want to get something done."

 * ... POOP PATROL: Meanwhile, one of the potentially harmful side effects of homelessness is all the urine and feces left on the streets, creating a health hazard reminiscent of some of the worst Third World cities. And it is happening in California now in San Francisco, where the city has created a full-time "poop patrol" to clean up feces left by the homeless. Seriously. And all that at a cost of $700,000 a year. Let that sink in.

 * ... HOUCHIN BLOOD BANK: After overseeing explosive growth at the Houchin Blood Bank, Greg Gallion is hanging it up as president of the local non-profit. Gallion joined Houchin in 2001 and was instrumental in the opening of the blood bank's new facilities off Buena Vista Road. A graduate of East High School known for his signature handlebar mustache, Gallion has been the public face of the organization while serving on the board of multiple boards and non-profits. Among other things, he is a past president of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield, former member of the Kern County Fair Board and a board member with JJ's Legacy. No word yet on who will replace him.

* ... ANIMAL CONTROL: Meanwhile, the folks in the local dog and cat rescue world are starting to come together to demand the county and city adopt tougher laws to protect stray dogs and cats. Some of their top priorities: make breeders take out permits before they breed dogs (exceptions allowed for AKC breeders), make the tethering of dogs more restrictive and form an animal control cruelty task force to impose harsher penalties on those who abuse their pets. This is one issue that can we solved with some forward thinking policies.

 * ... FOREVER HOME: And speaking of animal rescue, congratulations to the folks over at the Bakersfield Boxers and Bullies Rescue for finding a "forever home" for Shadow, a pit bull who lived the first five years of his life chained to a stake in the ground. Left in the sun all day, Shadow spent his days trying to chew through the huge chain, losing most of his teeth in the process. Donna Carpenter, a former Bakersfield resident now living in Alaska, adopted Shadow after money was raised to get the pit transported to his new home.

 * ... AH THE IRONY: The irony in this scene is rich. On the day the county's Homeless Collaborative met to discuss our growing problem with the homeless, I pulled into the radio station parking lot to find our parking lot had been taken over by eight to 10 homeless and all their belongings.

 * ... PROVIDENCE: Hats off to Gabriela Gonzalez, most recently a staffer for state Sen. Andy Vidak, who has now joined Providence Strategic Consulting, Inc. as its new Government Public Affairs Manager.

 * ... MEMORIES: You just have to love this old photo/postcard.

Keep an eye on Idaho as unions clash with the state over reforms and Cal Radio welcomes Gene Tackett on Monday at 9 a.m.

 * ... UNIONS: Keep your eye on Idaho, the latest battleground where teacher unions are fighting an effort to limit their collective bargaining rights. Faced with dismal education ratings, state school superintendent Tom Luna launched a "Students First" initiative that, among other things, would restrict collective bargaining to salary and benefits. This rankles the unions, of course, who want to hold onto to archaic ideas like tenure that protects bad teachers from being fired. This is all reminiscent of the battle in Wisconsin, where the unions were dealt a setback when they unsuccessfully tried to recall Gov. Scott Walker.

 * ... CAL RADIO: It's been a big week in politics - Obamacare upheld, the simmering immigration debate, the House holding Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt - and Monday I'll address those issues with my guest, political consultant Gene Tackett. We'll also talk about the upcoming "celebration of life" for Wendy Wayne, Gene's late wife who died two weeks ago. Join us at 9 a.m. on Californian Radio KERN 1180. Phone (661) 842-5376 with your questions. (file photo of Wendy Wayne and Gene Tackett)

 * ... HITCHING POST: I wandered over to Luigi's Restaurant and Delicatessen for lunch Friday (spinach salad with tuna, thank you) and owner Tonya Valpredo walked me outside to see the old hitching post buried in the concrete near the front entrance. The post disappeared a few years back when the city widened the street, but thanks to Tonya's efforts they located it in a scrap heap and re-cemented it in place. I'm only aware of a few of these hitching posts left in the city. Let me know if you know of others around town.

 * ... THREE GENERATIONS: If you've spent any time in our community you may know the Rous clan, beginning with family patriarch John Rous, father of the Thanksgiving Day "Pie Run" at Hart Park and a longtime cyclist and runner. Last week the family spent some time in Cayucos and three generations of the Rous family found themselves riding bikes together. "Son David, my grandson Parker, who will be 13 on August 21, and myself rode the tough, steep Old Creek Road. Of course David led Parker on the ride, and I finally made it to the top. Did not stop." David is vice president of Glinn and Giordano physical therapy and is an accomplished athlete and competitive cyclist. (file photos of John, David Rous)

 * ... OVERHEARD: Greg Gallion, CEO of Houchin Blood Bank, is heard telling a friend about being ticketed for a "California roll" in his Old Stockdale neighborhood. "It was the California Highway Patrol on Fairway Drive!"


* ... POKER: My earlier post about a couple of local card sharks headed to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas triggered this response from reader Mike Hutson. He noted the tournament's "Main Event" begins July 7 with a grand prize in the $8 million range. "Well, at least three Bakersfield residents have qualified for the Main Event, having won local tournaments to get there. Ryan Huston and Larry Hieb each won a seat by capturing the two top spots in a recent satellite tournament at Golden West Casino.  Both were given an additional $2,000 to help with the travel expenses.  The third player is local teacher and Centennial High baseball coach, Justin Roberts.  Certainly, congratulations are in order for these three with the hope that Lady Luck sits a little closer to Ryan!"

Bolthouse Properties makes big donation to Houchin Blood Bank, and Bako Buckeyes Unite

 *  ... GOOD NEWS FOR HOUCHIN: Houchin Blood Bank had some big news Thursday when it announced that Bolthouse Properties was donating five acres of vacant land for a new blood facility off Buena Vista Road. This is just the latest example of the generosity of the Bolthouse family, which has helped fund many causes through the years. Houchin CEO Greg Gallion told me he was overwhelmed by the donation, which will allow the blood bank to build a completely new and expanded facility across from St. John's Lutheran Church. Gallion sees that area of the Southwest as the epicenter of our city's growth, and a prime location for a new blood facility. Bolthouse Properties is no longer affiliated with Bolthouse Farms, the huge carrot producer, instead holding and developing commercial and agricultural properties located mainly in Southern California. Bakersfield attorney Tony Leggio is president of  Bolthouse Properties and said the donation was consistent with "the Bolthouse Family legacy in giving back to the community."

 * ... BAKO BUCKEYES UNITE: I received a strong response from an earlier post wondering how many Ohio State Buckeye alumni or fans live here locally. Reader Sunny Kapoor had emailed me to get in a dig at all those Oregon fans after the Ducks lost in the Rose Bowl. A sampling of the responses:

 - Louis Sun, wastewater superintendent for the city of Bakersfield, graduated from Ohio State in 1997 and said he too "bleeds scarlet and gray." He was at the Rose Bowl game said his expectations for the Buckeyes next year are "sky high."
 - Dianne Hoover, director of our city recreation and parks department, told me that she grew up in central Ohio and though she didn't attend Ohio State, is a fan by birthright.

 "Most of my family still lives in Ohio so I return for holidays and get the football fever all over again. My brother has an entire room dedicated to Ohio State football and yes, he did graduate from there. I bring 'buckeyes' to share with co-workers after a big win, or sometimes before one. A  real buckeye comes from the nut of the buckeye tree, which can't be eaten by humans since it is poison to us when consumed, but not to touch. ... The buckeyes, the tree's way of reproducing itself, have a thorny outer shell but when they fall off the tree, the shell splits open and the remaining nut looks like the eye of a buck; hence the buckeye."

  - Bill Allison, corporate sales manager for the Bakersfield Condors, chimed in that he grew up just south of Dayton, Ohio, in Centerville, the home of former Buckeyes and current NFL players Mike Nugent and A.J. Hawk. "I wear my scarlet and gray proudly in the Condors office and can't wait for next season. Go Bucks!"
 - And finally there is Frank Colatruglio, vice president of UBS Financial Services in Bakersfield, who grew up in Tiffin, Ohio, attended Bowling Green State University for three years before transferring to Cal State Bakersfield and falling in love with our community. He's been here 30 years but still roots for the Buckeyes. "Growing up in Ohio where it is like Iceland this time of year, it always seemed the Rose Bowl was playing in some faraway land of perpetual sunshine and 72-degree temperatures." 

 * ... SERVICES FOR CLAUDE FIDDLER: The funeral service for longtime Chevron oilman Claude Fiddler has been set for Thursday, January 28 at 2 p.m. at Greenlawn Mortuary and Cemetery. Expect a huge crowd as the community expresses its respect for both Claude, who died last week at 77, and his late wife Shirley Ann, who died just about a month ago.

 * ... DANNY MAITIA'S FAREWELL: Bakersfield always reserves a special send-off for its most beloved citizens, which explains why the service the Danny Maitia came as close as we have here to a state funeral. Danny was the former co-owner and head bartender of the popular Woolgrower's Basque restaurant, founded by his mother, Mayie Maitia.  He died of brain cancer after a two-year battle. He was 55. The service, held at St. Francis Church and officiated by Monsignor Craig Harrison, drew a standing room only crowd. The wake was held at the Basque Club, catered by Luigis Restaurant and Delicatessen and again drew an overflow crowd. Farewell Danny.

H. Walker's: a company that markets to its "tribe"

One of the savviest marketers in town is Tracy Walker-Kiser, owner of H. Walker's Men Clothing Company, located downtown at the corner of 17th and K Street. Herb Walker's has been around for a long time, and Tracy recently took over the day-to-day control from her father, Herb. What impresses me is how well Tracy knows her market. Her audience - it's actually more like a "tribe" than an audience - is the Bakersfield that is connected, involved, aware and more likely than not to show up at a Rotary function or art show. And she targets her marketing dollars wisely, only using venues that speak directly to that audience. She's a regular in BakersfieldLife magazine, for example, a publication whose demographics skew older, better educated, wealthier and - this is important - involved in the community. It's one reason why her print ads - like the one shown here with Houchin Blood Bank's Greg Gallion and her father - are so well received. She's speaking to her "tribe."