District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer criticizes a Superior Court judge for going soft on crime, Wool Grower's opens for outdoor dining and longtime tennis pro Hank Pfister prepares to retire

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.

 * ... CYNTHIA ZIMMER: District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer has come under fire for criticizing a Superior Court judge for alleged having a "pro criminal bias" when handing down sentencing. The Criminal Defense Bar of Kern County said Zimmer's comment "undermines the public's confidence in the judicial system and is affront to the principles reflected in the Constitution." A statement went on to say

that "these comments instill fear in and pressure on all judges to act in accordance with the prosecutions wishes or face unfair attacks on their integrity." Zimmer has defended her statements and said the public should be well informed about where judges stand on crime and sentencing.

 * ... WOOL GROWERS: KC Steakhouse has enjoyed good success with its "Stockyard" outdoor dining, and now Woolgrowers has introduced its own version of that called the "Sheep Camp." The popular Basque eatery said seating was limited and it urged customers to make reservations.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "While I was talking to a young colleague the other day I discovered that she's never seen 'Pulp Fiction.' As I prepared to exclaim my disbelief, I realized SHE HADN'T YET BEEN BORN WHEN IT WAS RELEASED."

 * ... RETIREMENT: Congratulations to Hank Pfister, the longtime tennis pro at Stockdale Country Club who is retiring in October. Once one of the top ranked singles players in the world, Pfister enjoyed a long career on the professional circuit before returning to Bakersfield where he eventually landed at Stockdale Country Club. Pfister said he and his wife, Kim, plan to spend time at a ranch they purchased in the lower Sierras. At one time Pfister was ranked No. 12 in the world in professional tennis.

 * ... RIP FRANK HOOVER: Former Kern County Superior Court Judge Frank Hoover died this week, leaving a legacy for honesty, wit and treating everyone with dignity. For a time Hoover presided a "drug court" where he was known for his equitable treatment of people dealing with difficult times. His son posted this on Facebook: "Maybe during these hard times, with the pandemic, ever growing political division, and natural disasters, we can pay homage to the memory of Frank Hoover by taking a moment to reflect on his belief that, ultimately, we are all human, that we all need to be loved, we all deserve to be treated with dignity and belonging, and that by giving it we can make real and lasting difference in the lives of people around us. Can you think of someone today that needs to hear from you? Can you think of anyone that would benefit from being given a hand up?"

 * ... MEMORIES: I picked up this old photo of the area that became Lake Isabella off the Kern County History Fans Facebook page. The picture dates from July, 1927.

 * ... MORE MEMORIES: And how about this classic shot of Chester Avenue, looking toward the clock tower, in the mid 1930s? Courtesy of the Kern County of Old Facebook page.

CSUB's incoming recruiting class called the "most intriguing" in the WAC, Milo Yiannopoulos appears headed to CSUB and Stockdale Country Club unveils a new tennis facility

 * ... ROD BARNES: College basketball season is just around the corner and already a new group of recruits at Cal State Bakersfield is putting the spotlight on the Rod Barnes-led Roadrunners.

SB Nation recently called the 'Runners incoming class "the most intriguing" in the Western Athletic Conference, led by freshman guard Jarkel Joiner. Interestingly, although Joiner averaged nearly 40 points per game, the Oxford, Miss., native never got a scholarship offer from Ole Miss. Enter Coach Barnes, who not only played at Ole Miss but coached the Rebels and won 2001 Southeastern Conference 'Coach of the year' honors.  “That’s really tough, sometimes frustrating, because I’m right here in their back yard,” Joiner said about being overlooked by Ole Miss. “I feel like I’ve proven myself time after time. It just makes me work harder and adds fuel to my fire." Said SB Nation: "That lack of interest from a program Barnes played and coached for paid off for CSUB. The Oxford connection may have been a factor, as Jarkel mentioned that his father used to cut Barnes’ hair. Whatever the ultimate selling point, Barnes signed Joiner away from schools like Middle Tennessee and TCU. The WAC has some explosive point guards lately, and — if all goes right — Joiner seems built in that mold."

* ... MILO YIANNOPOULOS: Keep an eye on Cal State Bakersfield and the wrestling match between the CSUB College Republicans and the administration over the appearance of conservative commentator Milo Yiannopoulos on campus. Fearful that Yiannopoulos could trigger a disruptive backlash if he appears, the administration seems to be dragging his heels on approving his appearance. My advice to President Horace Mitchell and others: allow him to appear on campus and move on. Squashing free speech, even if you don't agree with it, sets a terrible example for a university.

 * ... STOCKDALE: I dropped by Stockdale Country Club for the unveiling of its new 7,500 tennis center, a marvel of a facility that includes a full fitness center, yoga and cycle spinning room and kid's room outfitted with the best of flooring, fixtures and lighting. Hats off to tennis pro Hank Pfister and the Stockdale membership for introducing a world class facility to town, which was built at the princely price of around $1.7 million.

 * ... GARCES BBQ: For all of you who count yourselves as part of the Garces family, make sure you calendar next Thursday, Sept. 28, for the annual Garces Holy Smoke barbecue. This long tradition started more than 50 years ago and this year it marks the 70th anniversary of Garces Memorial High School. To spice things up this year, organizers have included live music and the traditional New York steak has been replaced by a Harris Ranch "choice" filet in addition to a twice baked potato, salad, Pyrenees French bread and Jake's Tex Mex famous cake. Music will be provided by Lonely Avenue and proceeds from the event will fund student subsidies. Tickets are just $30 per ticket. The feed starts at 6 p.m.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "If you keep following your dreams someone is going to file a restraining order against you."

 * ... COLUMNIST: Kudos to the management of The Bakersfield Californian who opened their pages to contributing columnist Justin Salters, who brings a fresh, sober and thoughtful perspective to local and state politics. In the wake of the firing of Danny Morrison, it's refreshing to read a columnist who relies on facts and accuracy to make a point.

Former House Ways and Means Committee chairman Bill Thomas to appear on First Look to talk what is going on in Washington, and Bakersfield rallies around the St. Vincent de Paul homeless center

* ... THOMAS: The ongoing stalemate in Washington that has shut down the government has left the country dismayed and plunged the popularity of Congress to an all-time low. What got us to the point, and why has Congress seemingly lost the ability to cooperate to get things done? Those are some of the questions I will be addressing with former House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas when he appears as my guest on First Look with Scott Cox. The show will air at 9 a.m. Tuesday on KERN NewsTalk 1180 and will be broadcast live on bakersfield.com.

 * ... HOMELESS: Bakersfield loves to rally around a good cause, and last week it was the St. Vincent de Paul homeless center that benefitted from our community's generosity. More than 800 people showed up last Thursday to dine on Gary Icardo-cooked steaks to raise money for the Baker Street center, a turnout that came as a pleasant surprise to event chairwoman Deborah Leary. "It was a perfect night and we were all thrilled," she said. The center serves breakfast and lunch for the homeless, as well as providing showers and other essentials.

 * ... BIRTHDAY: Hank Pfister, longtime tennis pro at Stockdale Country Club, celebrated his 60 birthday this weekend in typical Pfister style. He convinced a group of 32 cyclists to ride into the Sequoias for a grueling, 106-mile ride. In exchange for his family providing food at rest stops, each rider wrote checks to support Links for Life.

* ... GIRLS' FUND: If you run a nonprofit and your focus is on educating local women and girls, The Women's and Girls' Fund is planning a new round of funding in 2014 for the right programs. The fund is a leadership initiative of the Kern Community Foundation and expects to award at least $25,000 to local nonprofit charitable organizations in 2014. The focus should be on literacy, educational attainment, dropout prevention, high school graduation, college prep or job skills training. The deadline for applications is Nov. 6. For more information go to www.kernfoundation.org.

 * ... CSUB: Make sure to mark your calendar for this Thursday, October 17, when Cal State Bakersfield will put on a tri tip fund raiser for the men's soccer team. The event will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Lengthwise Brewing Company on Schirra Court. Former House Ways and Means Committee chairman Bill Thomas will help run a live auction to support the college soccer program.

* ... BAKERSFIELDISM: Reader Marsha Wiswall says you may be a Bakersfield old timer if you remember the drug stores run by Jules Reufener, who she described as "a most kind and unselfish man." She said Ruefener owned the drug store on the southeast corner of Baker and Sumner streets and also the one inside the Green Frog on Alta Vista. (He later had stores in Arvin, Lamont and Fresno.) "Each Halloween Jules was as happy as the revelers as he handed out Fleer double wrapped bubble gum. Inside were coveted cartoon strips. We would have contests who could blow the biggest bubbles."

Bako Bits: animal lovers turn to hospice care for their pets and another California city teeters on bankruptcy

* ... PETS: Losing a beloved pet is one of life's more difficult moments, and determining when you should pull the plug can be heart breaking. But hospice care for failing pets? That's what got my attention in a story in The Los Angeles Times about a woman who sought hospice care for her failing cat. And it turns out that this is a growing movement across the country as grieving owners try to find a kinder and gentler way to say goodbye to a long-time companion.  (photo courtesy of The Los Angeles Times)

* ... ATWATER: Keep your eye on the small northern California town of Atwater, the latest municipality to head dangerously close to insolvency. The city has declared a fiscal emergency, which allows it to restructure union contracts without negotiations. The city has had layoffs, furloughs and salary freezes as it tries to balance its budget.

 * ... KIRSCHENMANN: The race to succeed Sue Benham in the Ward 2 City Council race is fully under way, pitting restaurateur Terry Maxwell against Planning Commission member Elliott Kirschenmann and David Mensch. Kirschenmann will be my guest on Californian Radio KERN 1180 on Monday at 9 a.m. Also joining me later in the hour will be Jeff Konya, the Athletic Director at Cal State Bakersfield, which is expected to join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) this week.

 * .... FOOTHILL: Foothill High School will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 13. During halftime of the football game the school will dedicate and anounce the new name of the football field as "Ned Permenter Stadium," recognizing the retired dean of the local coaches.

* ... CYCLING: Amanda Bartel is a local cyclist who wrote to put the spotlight on two fellow cyclists who came to the aid of a stricken rider during the recent Lighthouse Century on the Central Coast. Turns out the rider, an unidentified man, suffered a heart attack during the ride when two Bakersfield nurses, Sharon Pierce and Lisa Osborn, stopped to help save his life. He was stabilized, hospitalized and expected to make a full recovery. "I am honored to be a part of a community of people that care for our fellow man and don't hesitate to do whatever it takes to assist others," she said. "Sharon Pierce and Lisa Osborn are heroes in my book."

 * ... PFISTER: And speaking of cycling, Stockdale Country Club tennis pro Hank Pfister held his annual birthday ride Saturday to Panorama Heights, a grueling 100-mile jaunt with more than 8,000 feet of tough climbing. Among those who joined in the fun were Herb Benham, Kerry Ryan, Richard Picarelli, Bruce Haupt, Jack Skaggs, Bob Smith, M.T. Merickel, Ryan Ricard, Zach Griffin, Glenn Hammett, Jeff Simpson, Greg Walker, Brett and Cindy Bonetti and others.

'BAKOBOB' goes public, Ray Karpe lands at Terrio Therapy-Fitness and Stockdale C.C. celebrates a birthday

* ... BIRTHDAY FOR STOCKDALE: Stockdale Country Club is getting ready to celebrate its 85th birthday next month, a milestone that deserves some recognition. Club tennis pro Hank Pfister told me the club's history is a fascinating reflection of our community, starting when Lloyd Tevis and partners Ali Haggin and William (Bill) Carr formed the Kern County Land Company in 1890. In 1896, according to Pfister, William Tevis (son of Lloyd Tevis) purchased the land on which the club now sits and built a 9,000-square-foot mansion on the site. Lloyd Tevis later developed a nine-hole golf course on 300 acres, using the mansion as the club house, and opened the club for public play on February 18, 1923. Original dues were just $5.50 a month or $1 for a round of golf.  In 1925 Lloyd Tevis sold the property to a group of investors who formed the Stockdale Holding Company and began what is now the private Stockdale County Club, thus the 85th birthday. And as Pfister said, "now you know the rest of the story."

* ... BAKOBOB SHOUT OUT: All this good natured banter over whether the term "Bako" is an appropriate nickname for our town is old hat to Robert H. Brumfield III, a local attorney specializing in real estate and business law with Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann and Girard. Turns out Robert not only embraces the term "Bako" but also uses it on his personalized California license plate called "BAKOBOB." And he's had the tag for a full decade. That's what you call an early adopter.

 * ... KARPE IN AT TERRIO: It looks like Ray Karpe, until recently the president of Karpe Real Estate, has landed on his feet as the new chief operating officer of Terrio Therapy-Fitness, Inc. Owner Tim Terrio told me that his business had grown so quickly these last few years that he needed a right-hand person to help him "continue to grow, but grow responsibly. I'll continue to do the vision and program development and Ray will run the operations. I couldn't pass him up." Karpe ran the company bearing his family's name until he had a falling out with his father, Bob Karpe. He told me he's anxious to get started and is looking forward to his new career. Terrio now has 12 locations, including one in Fresno, with some 150 employees. 

* ... HISPANIC RADIO: The Bakersfield-area radio ratings for the Fall are out and - no surprise - reflect the growing influence of the local Hispanic market. The perennial winners continue to dominate the primary market, with American General Media's Rhythmic station Hot 94.1 continuing as the market leader by a large measure. AGM also has the leading Hispanic station in town with La Caliente 96.9 FM. Country icon KUZZ held its own and was in a respectable second place in the survey. The Hispanic influence in our market is interesting - and impressive. Latin heavyweight Piolin por la Manana is the leading morning host on the dial followed by Hot 94.1's Romeo and KUZZ's Steve Gradowitz.