The eighth annual Latination art show kicks off First Friday, thieves target a fancy new cooler and Colin Kaepernick ups the ante in his anti-police campaign

 * ... LATINATION: It wasn't that long ago when the biggest thing going downtown was the occasional street fair featuring kettle corn and classic cars. But thanks to the vision of a handful of creative people who live and work downtown, Bakersfield now has a wildly popular First Friday that is at the same time whimsical, intelligent and fun. This Friday is perhaps the biggest of the year because it features Latination, an annual art show celebrating our west coast culture in oil, canvas and sculpture. This is the eighth year of Latination, the brain child of Don Martin, owner of Metro Galleries on 19th Street. Martin had some 150 entries and the winner will be announced at Metro Friday evening. Things will get under way around 5 p.m. Friday and won't end until the crowds disperse.

 * ... YETI COOLERS: Can you guess what is one of the hottest items for thieves today? According to The Wall Street Journal, it is the Yeti cooler, an expensive, bear resistant cooler that has been targeted by thieves across the country. A standard sized Yeti goes for around $400 and some models top $1,200. They are so prized that some folks are referring to the Yeti as the "Redneck Rolex."

 * ... KAEPERNICK: Colin Kaepernick has upped the ante in his very public protest against what he calls institutional racism among police. First he refused to stand for the national anthem (that prompted fans across the country to burn his jersey) and now he was spotted wearing socks depicting a pig wearing a patrolman's hat. What is it they say about karma?

* ... JOHN BROCK: Congratulations to Joe MacIlvaine, the retiring president of Paramount Farming who will be the recipient of the John Brock award this year. The award goes to prominent local business people who have displayed leadership and support of the business school out at Cal State Bakersfield. He will receive the award next Thursday during a dinner at Seven Oaks Country Club.


* ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "Letting someone in your life is like turning off the antivirus, downloading a file from the internet, installing it and hoping it is not a virus."

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: "Dating in middle age is a bit like Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Too much baggage to handle."

 * ... PETROLEUM WIVES: The Association of Petroleum Wives (AP W) is having a reception Friday,  September 9, for new and past members who want to be involved with this philanthropic group. The organization is open to spouses of folks who work in the oil and gas industry. The reception starts at 6 p.m. at The Petroleum Club. Call (661) 301-0907 or (661) 241-3507 for tickets and reservations.

* ... BAD FORM: When I lamented spotting a profane bumper sticker the other day, Ken Schmitz joined in my lament about the state of civil discourse.  "I read your item in Bakersfield Observe" about the *UCK TRUMP" bumper sticker. I spotted the same sentiment, this time on a gray pickup with four inch letters in the rear window. Welcome to the intolerant and low class world of progressive politics in America."

The eighth annual Latination art show kicks of First Friday, thieves target a fancy new cooler and Colin Kaepernick ups the ante in his anti-police campaign

 * ... LATINATION: It wasn't that long ago when the biggest thing going downtown was the occasional street fair featuring kettle corn and classic cars. But thanks to the vision of a handful of creative people who live and work downtown, Bakersfield now has a wildly popular First Friday that is at the same time whimsical, intelligent and fun. This Friday is perhaps the biggest of the year because it features Latination, an annual art show celebrating our west coast culture in oil, canvas and sculpture. This is the eighth year of Latination, the brain child of Don Martin, owner of Metro Galleries on 19th Street. Martin had some 150 entries and the winner will be announced at Metro Friday evening. Things will get under way around 5 p.m. Friday and won't end until the crowds disperse.

 * ... YETI COOLERS: Can you guess what is one of the hottest items for thieves today? According to The Wall Street Journal, it is the Yeti cooler, an expensive, bear resistant cooler that has been targeted by thieves across the country. A standard sized Yeti goes for around $400 and some models top $1,200. They are so prized that some folks are referring to the Yeti as the "Redneck Rolex."

 * ... KAEPERNICK: Colin Kaepernick has upped the ante in his very public protest against what he calls institutional racism among police. First he refused to stand for the national anthem (that prompted fans across the country to burn his jersey) and now he was spotted wearing socks depicting a pig wearing a patrolman's hat. What is it they say about karma?

* ... JOHN BROCK: Congratulations to Joe MacIlvaine, the retiring president of Paramount Farming who will be the recipient of the John Brock award this year. The award goes to prominent local business people who have displayed leadership and support of the business school out at Cal State Bakersfield. He will receive the award next Thursday during a dinner at Seven Oaks Country Club.


* ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "Letting someone in your life is like turning off the antivirus, downloading a file from the internet, installing it and hoping it is not a virus."

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: "Dating in middle age is a bit like Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Too much baggage to handle."

 * ... PETROLEUM WIVES: The Association of Petroleum Wives (AP W) is having a reception Friday,  September 9, for new and past members who want to be involved with this philanthropic group. The organization is open to spouses of folks who work in the oil and gas industry. The reception starts at 6 p.m. at The Petroleum Club. Call (661) 301-0907 or (661) 241-3507 for tickets and reservations.

* ... BAD FORM: When I lamented spotting a profane bumper sticker the other day, Ken Schmitz joined in my lament about the state of civil discourse.  "I read your item in Bakersfield Observe" about the *UCK TRUMP" bumper sticker. I spotted the same sentiment, this time on a gray pickup with four inch letters in the rear window. Welcome to the intolerant and low class world of progressive politics in America."

Valley Republic Bank sponsors another Latination at The Metro Galleries, remembering the comedic genius of Joan Rivers and lamenting more deaths from drunk driving

 * … LATINATION: It's the biggest First Friday of the year this week and Metro Galleries on 19th Street is having its 6th annual exhibit Latination. Metro owner Don Martin tells me that this has been the best

year of entries overall and that the judges had a difficult time picking their top choices. In six short years this event has become something of a Bakersfield tradition. As always, you can expect Luis Aguilar and his restaurant El Pueblo serving the food and drinks and popular local band Mento Buru performing throughout the evening. For the second year in a row I will be presenting the top three awards along with KERO-TV 23 anchor Jackie Parks.

   * … JOAN: RIP Joan Rivers, a woman whose sharp wit and humor left us laughing. Three of my favorite Joan Rivers jokes: "The first time I see a jogger smiling, I’ll consider it… My best birth control now is just to leave the lights on... I've had so much plastic surgery, when I die, they will donate my body to Tupperware."

 * … DRUNK DRIVING: Suzanne Bierley was one of a handful of readers who wrote to express their outrage at the number of deaths caused by accidents involving drunk drivers. "The laws must be tougher on drunk drivers! The horrific accident on Rosedale Highway early Saturday morning may not have happened if stricter penalties were imposed the first time. What is it going to take? Sure we will put out candles, balloons and stuffed animals at the scene – but that does not account for the two lives that were unnecessarily taken from their family and friends. What about six months in jail and $15,000 fine for first offenders and it goes up from there? Too many innocent victims are dying because someone wants to irresponsibly drink and then get into a car. My heart goes out to the three passengers and their families."

 * … GOOD FORM: Florence Diaz asked me to thank the anonymous Good Samaritan who aided her when she took a tumble. "There is an angel walking around the Southwest part of town." she wrote. "I don't know her name but I would like to thank her profusely for staying with me during my unfortunate spill in front of Von's at the Marketplace. She not only stayed with me, but she got a friend to pick up her daughter after school, called 911, and informed my son of the accident. I'm sorry I didn't get her name in all the confusion. I wanted to thank her and let her know how much she is appreciated."

 * … COKE, NOT PEPSI: And speaking of Good Samaritans, I singled out John Moralez the other day for single handedly directing traffic at an accident site. The problem, a witness identified him as a driver for Pepsi. His wife, Donna Moralez, told me he works for Coca-Cola, not a small distinction in the beverage industry.

 * … GRAMMAR: The University of Oklahoma was left red faced this past weekend when it ran an advertisement on its academic programs but misspelled a word in the process. While beating Louisiana Tech in football, the university ran a banner advertisement reading: "You're degree is within reach." Ouch.

Cal State Bakersfield professor threatens House Majority Whip over the issue of immigration, saying it will be like the 1960s all over again

 * ... MCCARTHY: It is reasonable that people get passionate over immigration reform, but does it excuse threats and intimidation? In a meeting with local pro-reform activists, Rep. Kevin McCarthy was taken aback when CSUB sociology instructor Gonzalo Santos issued a veiled threat if real reform legislation doesn't pass within three months. According to McCarthy, Santos said he would "make me feel the pain... make it difficult for me" by having his movements shadowed by protests if immigration reform doesn't happen. "He told me it would be like the 1960s again," McCarthy told me. "They already come by my house and it makes my daughter feel uncomfortable... I don't like being threatened." My own views on this issue are probably closer to those of Santos than McCarthy, but I don't believe these kinds of threats are the least bit constructive. McCarthy also dismissed accusations that he refused to meet with pro reform protesters who showed up at his local office over Labor Day, saying he had been called back to Washington for the intelligence briefing on the Syria conflict. (file photo of Gonzalo Santos)

* ... VALLEY FEVER: House Majority Whip McCarthy may be in the cross hairs over immigration reform, but some of the most important work he is doing is in trying to find a vaccine for Valley Fever. He has now gotten the attention of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, and two CDC directors will be in Bakersfield Sept. 23-24 for the first Valley Fever Symposium. McCarthy is invited all survivors of Valley Fever, and their family and friends. to a reception on Sept. 23 at 4:30 p.m. at the Hans Einstein Center at 1800 Mount Vernon.

 * ... MORE VALLEY FEVER: And speaking of Valley Fever, did you know that 97 percent of all Valley Fever cases come from Kern and three Arizona counties? It's the limited impact geographically that has allowed the disease to fly under the radar.

 * ... SPOTTED: On Truxtun Avenue headed east near Oak Street a reader spots a Bakersfield police officer in an unmarked patrol car, stopped with his lights and flashers on in the left hand lane. "He was out of his vehicle helping a driver push his stalled or broken-down car out of the road and into a nearby parking lot. I know it's something pretty simple, and I shouldn't really be surprised, but it was awesome to see one of our local officers offer a quick helping hand to a stranded motorist. And I think it shows you're never too busy to help someone."

 * ... LATINATION: If you have never attended a First Friday in the downtown arts district, this is the Friday to do it. The most popular art show in town opens today at The Metro Galleries when Latination premiers, an impressive collection of more than 100 pieces celebrating the arts and culture of the Latino community. As usual, all of the other art galleries along 19th Street and around the Fox Theater will be open. Things get popping around 5 p.m.

 * ... PROSTATE CANCER: There is a free prostate cancer screening for the uninsured or under insured this Saturday. It's sponsored by the Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center and local urologists and will be held at the CBCC on Truxtun Avenue. You can call now to make a free appointment at (661) 862-7136. The screening runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hundreds march on Rep. Kevin McCarthy's office to press for immigration reform: great political theater but was it effective? And get ready for the fifth annual Latination at The Metro Galleries

 * ... IMMIGRATION: It was some interesting political theater this week when protesters marched on Congressman Kevin McCarthy's office to press for immigration reform. It was a mix of local residents and folks bused in from other communities, and many of them were wearing the red solidarity colors of the United Farm Workers. I can't help but wonder if turning this into a UFW rally might backfire politically in McCarthy's conservative district. If you really want to get McCarthy's attention, it might be more effective to gather some of the big name local growers who support real immigration reform (they view it as an economic necessity) and have them meet quietly with the congressman to press their case.

 * ... LATINATION: One of the most popular art shows in town is coming up on Friday, September 6. It will be the fifth annual "Latination," a celebration of art and culture that always attracts some world class entries. It's the brainchild of Don Martin, the owner of Metro Galleries art center and the creator of the First Friday events. This year there will be a kid's category as well. Downtown will certainly be popping so make your reservations now at one of the many locally owner eateries downtown (Uricchio's Trattoria, Chef's Choice Noodle Bar, The Mark, The Padre Hotel, Muertos etc). Valley Republic Bank is sponsoring this year's Latination. The deadline for entries is August 27.

 * ... PARKWAY TRASH: Well that didn't take long. The Westside Parkway has been opened less than two weeks and already the litter has started to appear. Plastic bags, dozens of paper towels and a broken red plastic chair were among the items I spotted on a recent cruise down the freeway. Said reader Janice Yackovich: "It's disgusting to see this beautiful new freeway littered in such a short amount of time. Do some irresponsible citizens not even care about keeping Bakersfield beautiful?"

 * ... GOOD FORM: Juli Marta is a teacher at Longfellow Elementary School and shared this story that reflects well on our community. She was shopping for school supplies at the Target on Rosedale Highway recently when something unexpected happen. "While the checker was on the phone I was unloading the items from my cart. The checker began to ring up my items while she waited on hold for the customer in front of me. My bill came to $45. The lady in front of me asked if I was a teacher and I told her I was. She proceeded to take out a hundred dollar bill and insisted on paying for my purchases! She said that she was not a teacher but had many educators in her family. I was so flabbergasted I feel like I may not have properly thanked her. It was so nice to have someone acknowledge the importance of teachers!"

 * ... BEALE MARKET: Another memory about the old Beale Park grocery store known as Gus's. Said Stephanie Forsythe: "Gus's was a favorite haunt as a kid. We could take pop bottles in and get candy... Jerry (Kirkland) mentioned driving through the area and seeing the store is now an overgrown field, so I thought I would share what happened to it since I still live on the same street I grew up on. The store was eventually turned into a dwelling, long after Gus and his wife Sally passed away, and sadly a few years ago it went up in flames... the people who had lived there had their PGE turned off, so they illegally hooked up a hose directly to the gas meter and POOF it went up. I could see the flames from my home and went to see what was burning. As I stood and watched the blaze, I watched my childhood memories burn with it. It was a sad night for me, and I remember thinking while I looked at the others watching, that I was probably the only one there that night who knew about Gus and his little store."

 * .... MEMORIES: Retired Kern County Superior Court Judge Jerold Turner asks if anyone remembers the old AW drive-in restaurant on Chester Lane west of Oak Street, situated exactly where Highway 99 now cuts through.

Latination: Metro Galleries to present second annual exhibit devoted to Latin inspired art

 Check out a few examples of the work you will see at Metro Galleries this Friday for the opening of "Latination," a show devoted to art inspired by all themes Latin. The opening runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Metro Galleries on 19th Street downtown.

First Friday features Latination art show at Metro Galleries and some good news about keeping our parks clean

* ... PARK SHOOTING: There appears to be some positive developments regarding the safety of our downtown parks following the shooting death of a 30-year-old man at Jastro Park last weekend. Sue Benham, the city councilwoman whose Ward 2 includes Jastro and some other parks, told me she is looking for both short and long-term solutions. For the immediate term, which includes the long Labor Day weekend, Benham said Police Chief Greg Williamson has promised stepped up patrols at Jastro, Beale, Yokuts and Beach parks. From Friday through Monday there will be four officers assigned to the parks, two in patrol cars and two on bicycles. The two on bicycles will patrol Jastro and the Westchester area exclusively. For the longer term, Benham said she is looking at things like limiting the hours at parks in residential areas (Jastro is an example as opposed to Beach or Yokuts park) and possibly restricting the hours when alcohol permits will be issued. All this comes as residents of the Westchester and downtown area have become alarmed over not only a rash of burglaries in their neighborhoods, but now the shooting.

* ... FIRST FRIDAY: We've got another First Friday celebration this week and this is one you don't want to miss. A terrific art show will open this Friday at Metro Galleries on 19th Street, where proprietor Don Martin will be hosting "Latination." This is the second year of this show and it features a variety of stunning work by local artists, all with a Latino theme. Artists from throughout California were asked to submit their interpretation of what the Latin life experience meant to them. The opening runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Of course, Metro Galleries is just one of the many downtown businesses and art shops that will be open this Friday, and don't forget to head over to Uricchio's Trattoria (love the fried calamari there) or your favorite downtown eatery for an al fresco dinner. These First Fridays are chances to enjoy the waning days of summer and celebrate some of the great things about our community.

 * ... ADVANCE MUFFLER: Earlier this week reader Patti Bailey wrote to extol the virtues of a local automotive repair shop at 22nd and M streets downtown. The correct name of the shop is Advance Muffler and Automotive owned by Greg Pierucci. Apparently there is a similarly named shop elsewhere in town but it is Advance Muffler that won the praise from Ms. Bailey. 

 * ...  100 YEARS: Hats off to New City Cleaners, the locally owned company that is celebrating 100 years in business this year. Company president Jarrell L. Epp told me a November celebration is being planned for the anniversary. "Many wedding gowns have been cleaned and preserved over the years at New City along with other specialty articles such as formals, designer garments, family table linens and table cloths and draperies."

 * ... SOME GOOD NEWS: Not everyone who visits our local parks leaves them trashed with garbage. Reader Peter Wollesen said he attended the water balloon fight at Yokut's Park to raise money for the Bakersfield High School Band. "While I was there I imaged the depth of trash that would be left behind. However, when I rode my bike past Yokut's on Sunday less than 24 hours later, I was pleasantly surprised to see the park was spotless! Kudos to these students for doing such a great job!"


 * ... LA CRESTA BAKERY: Reader Pamela Mahan took note of the mention of the old Plahn's Bakery the other day.  She asks if anyone remembers the "La Cresta Bake Shop on Alta Vista Drive?  It was owned by my parents, J.D. and Betty Starr.  They had a thriving business for many years when the city came in and decided to reconstruct the road. They took out the road and the sidewalks. The construction was supposed to take weeks and ended up taking months. So, customers had to park two blocks away and hike on plywood to get to the bakery. At the same time, Smith's opened an outlet at Green Frog Market a few blocks down the road, so my parents' business went kaput!  An interesting note, my dad ended up as manager of Smith's bake shop on Union Ave until his death in 1981."

 * ... HERB KINGS: And one more remembrance, from Dan Imes: "When I was little, my mom and step-dad, Dr. Harry Tyerman (‘doc’ for those who remember him) use to take me to Herb Kings Steakhouse for dinner where a little cup of rainbow sherbet was always served with the steaks.  Back then Herb King’s was on the corner of 18 and Q St. where the downtown Mexicali now sits."

 * ... OVERHEARD: As a young woman tries to get the attention of an employee at a local sports store, the employee jabbers on endlessly with a co-worker about her recent evening doing "shooters" at a local bar.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: From reader Gill Pederson: "You know you're a Bakersfield old timer if you remember the band Firehouse 5 Plus 2 playing at the old clock tower at 17th Street and Chester around 1949 or 1950."