Rudy Salas bails out of his debate against Congressman David Valadao, we remember the giving legacy of Peggy Darling and life downtown, where the drug addicts have taken over the public restrooms

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.

 * ... VALADAO-SALAS: Lots of movement in the hottest race in the Valley this week: Assemblyman Rudy Salas abruptly pulled out of a scheduled TV debate with Rep. David Valadao this week, apparently miffed over a Valadao attack ad in their hotly contested congressional campaign. This is one of the most closely watched races in the country and both parties are pouring in money to tip the campaign. But let's not mince words here: Salas' decision was a bad one, totally inexcusable and a move that calls into

question if he has the integrity to serve. Too harsh? Then consider this: our country is undergoing the deepest and most disturbing upheaval in politics we have seen in decades, and when the voters get a chance to hear from the candidates for the 22nd Congressional District, they should be able to do so. KGET TV offered up the air time, Valadao was ready to debate, and Rudy opted to pout. Sorry Rudy, but cutting out because you are upset over an attack ad doesn't pass the smell test. Salas held a comfortable lead for months but polls now show the race as a tossup. 

 * ... FLORES VS SMITH: One of the more interesting races in the local elections this year is the campaign for 3rd District Supervisor pitting Jeff Flores against Brian Smith for the seat being vacated by a retiring Mike Maggard. And no where in town is there more campaign signage than Panorama Drive, where almost every house has either a yard sign for Flores or Smith. If Panorama Drive is any indication, it will be a close race.

 * ... SALVAGGIO WEIGHS IN: Former city councilman Mark Salvaggio has weighed in on that supervisor race, tossing his support behind Jeff Flores while saying he was deeply troubled by Smith's statement that he is an election denier and proud MAGA Republican. "In this vein, I opine Donald Trump is intellectually, ethically, and emotionally unfit for any public office. A person with a working moral compass did not and would not ever support the chaos, incivility. confusion and cruelty of this former president who was a part of the attempt to overturn a free and fair election and keep himself in power, against the will of the American people. Make America Great Again supporters like Brian Smith have endeavored to gut the integrity of our democratic political process... We do not need an ideologue on the Kern county Supervisors," Salvaggio said.

 * ... KERN TAX ENDORSEMENTS: Michael Turnipseed and his organization Kern County Taxpayers Association, a group that monitors local government and makes recommendations, has issued its endorsements for this election year. Among other things, KCTA supports the 1 percent sales tax increase for unincorporated country areas, but it does not support a referendum that proposes term limits for supervisors.

* ... VAGRANTS WIN AGAIN: Jastro Park was the home to the Central Valley Pickleball Classic, a regional tournament that drew more than 100 players, many coming from out of town. Jastro is one of our town's oldest parks and is home to both tennis and pickleball courts. It also has a public bathroom, but it has long been the home to drug addicts who have been allowed to basically live in the park. So what did the pickleball tournament do? Organizers rented their own portable potties instead of subjecting the players to a closeup lesson in heroin or fentynal addiction. Now with all the millions of dollars we have raised through Measure N, which was targeted to fight crime and homelessness, is it too much to ask that the public can use a public bathroom without witnessing a heroin shoot up?

 * ... RIP PEGGY DARLING: Bakersfield lost an icon recently when philanthropist Peggy Darling died just a few weeks before her 96th birthday. Many younger people may not know of Peggy, her family and legacy and her contributions, and that is a shame because without her efforts and generosity the Fox Theater would not be in the shape it is in today. And while the Fox was a favorite of Peggy's through the years, her philanthropy did not end there. CSUB, local theater and the arts were among the dozens of local organizations that benefitted from her charity. Before her death, Darling also announced plans to convert the back of the Fox into a space to honor our local firefighters. Peggy is preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Darling.

 * ... MEMORIES: Take a look at this giant California oak tree from a long ago picture at Tejon Ranch. Photo compliments of the Kern County of Old Facebook page.

A sexual abuse lawyer accuses Monsignor Craig Harrison's lawyers of "draconian" tactics to silence critics, we have now entered into the realm of "flying shaming" and the Kern County Fair board needs to move toward transparency, not secrecy

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 reflect the views of any other individual, organization or company. 

 * ... FATHER CRAIG: As if the story involving Monsignor Craig Harrison could not get more interesting, it just did. Harrison, suspended from the Catholic Church after multiple men came

forward to accuse him of sexual impropriety, is now in civil court fighting an effort to have his personnel file opened for the public to see. The question: did a victims' rights advocacy organization defame Harrison by holding a press conference where its spokesman (Stephen Brady) reiterated the allegations? Harrison attorney Craig Edmonston says yes, and he slapped a defamation lawsuit against the group Roman Catholic Faithful. Attorneys for RCF responded by demanding to see Harrison's personnel file at the Diocese of Fresno, arguing that only by making the allegations public could the RCF defend itself. Mike Reck, an attorney for Jeff Anderson and Associates, a firm that specializes in sexual abuse cases, called Edmonston's lawsuit "draconian." Said Reck: "To use litigation to try to silence others is very heavy handed ... and uncommon. It's draconian." The opening of the file could be revealing: it would first provide in graphic detail all the salacious allegations against Father Craig, and it could also reveal damning information on how the church failed to deal with allegations against sitting priests. Stay tuned. (file photo of attorney Mike Reck)

 * ... FLYING SHAME: I suppose it was inevitable, but in the name of global warming, people are now being shamed for flying. That's right, the correctness police are now focusing on individual air travel to "shame" people for expanding their carbon footprint. In Sweden, it is known as "flygskam" or "flying shame" and it is directed by people who travel for leisure. As it turns out, it is a small group of frequent flyers (12 percent) who make more than six round trips a year and are responsible for two years of all air travel. According to the New York Times, these travelers emit more than three tons of carbon dioxide per year, a substantial amount by global standards. Personally, I think this is a good thing. Let's allow those who want to shut down fossil fuels to feel the real impact of doing so: instead of flying, take a bus (oops more carbon emissions) or a train (more emissions) or simply walk.

 * ... SOUND AND THE FURY: At this point you would think the people who run our public and quasi public agencies would understand the need for transparency. Not so with the Kern County Fair Board, where chairwoman Blodgie Rodriguez summarily dismissed the fair board without hearing from a room full of people who were there to speak about the controversy over more than $300,000 in unaccounted for expenditures. Hey Blodgie, it's just the public, and when you are chair of the board, it might be wise to let the people speak. On a lesser scale, the superintendent of the Bakersfield City School District shows similar tone deafness in dealing with parents at the Downtown Elementary School  angry about possible changes in the way the school operates. We are told that superintendent Harry "Doc" Irvin doesn't like to talk to the press (he has declined my invitation to appear on the radio) and he opts instead to meet with select group of parents behind closed doors. Here are my two cents for both Blodgie and Doc: dodging the press and the public may work in the short term, but you will pay dearly later. Just open the doors and let the sunshine in.

 * ... IN 'N OUT: We all know how Californians feel about our beloved In 'n Out burger, but what about the french fries? According to a recent online posting, the franchise's French fries are hardly a fan favorite. Too limp, too oily, not crisp enough, the complaints abound when it comes to the fries. But one poster had a remedy:"Order them well done," she said. "And they will come out perfect." Try it next time and tell me what you think.

 * ... DOWNTOWN CRIME: The rash of crime across town, much of it done at the hands of our drug addicted masses who roam our streets with near impunity, continues. Check out these surveillance pictures from TLO wines on 18th Street, where the Zaninovich family has poured tens of thousands of dollars into a lovely facility to display their wines. The person in the photo destroyed pots and plants and left a faucet on that flooded the facility

 * .... MEMORIES: Love this picture of the old Kern County Courthouse thanks to the Facebook page Kern County History Fans. The second picture is of the Pastime Theater, at 1517 19th St. (Bakersfield) was a silent-era theater that opened in February of 1913 and closed in July of 1927....

The demise of the "mainstream media," good news for the old Silver Fox and Karen Goh comes in for some criticism

 * ... ELECTION: One of the biggest losers in this election cycle is the mainstream media, however you choose to define it. Thanks to the internet and more sharply social media, this is a world where

everyone is a publisher, further eroding whatever influence and credibility the so-called "mainstream" media (traditional gatekeepers like network and cable television, local TV, newspapers etc) has enjoyed over the years. Increasingly, bloggers and activists who are savvy in social media and new distribution methods are the ones holding the influence in today's elections. It's up to us, the voters, to sift through the tsunami of lies and half truths that often pass as "news" these days.

 * ... SALVAGGIO: A good example of this trend is former city councilman Mark Salvaggio, who occasionally takes to the internet to share his political views. His latest: a stinging criticism of mayoral candidate Karen Goh whom he describes as deceptive and calculating. Said Salvaggio: "What do Emilio Huerta, Vince Fong, Tiffany Organ-Bowles, Cory Woodward, Kay Meek, Kyle Carter, and all other local candidates with ballot statements have in common?  They are all, unlike Karen Goh, being open or transparent with the people they want to vote for them. Goh is the only one who does not list her age. She is 60 years old. Why the secrecy over your age Karen?" He goes on: "Karen Goh will not openly talk with the press; she insists on any questions from the media be e-mailed to her first so she can have time to huddle with her campaign consultant, Mark Abernathy, to develop e-mail responses."

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "If you ever get caught sleeping on the job… slowly raise your head and say 'in Jesus' name, amen.'"

 * ... SILVER FOX: More great news on the restaurant front: I was thrilled to read in The Californian that Rod and Julie Crawford, owners of Pyrenees Cafe, are buying the old Silver Fox lounge and will try to bring it back to is former glory. The Crawfords' track record at Pyrenees is nothing short of remarkable, and I have little doubt that their new eatery, to be called Silver Fox Starlite Lounge, will become one of the "it" places downtown.

 * ... MARATHON: The inaugural Bakersfield Marathon is set for next week (Sunday, November 13) and while it should be a good show for spectators, but be advised streets will be closed throughout town. It will start at near Cal State Bakersfield in the early morning, head down Stockdale Highway to Oleander, through Westchester, up Chester to Panorama Drive and back down the bike trail. People along the route are already talking Bloody Mary parties to cheer the nearly 2,000 runners when they pass. If you have questions about road closures, call (661) 249-6450 or email directors@activebakersfield.org.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You may be a Bakersfield old timer if you remember the name of the pitcher for the Bakersfield minor league baseball team who got married at home plate at Sam Lynn Park. He later pitched for the Cleveland Indians. The pitcher: Don Mossi.

City councilman Terry Maxwell and Mark Salvaggio square off on the 24th Street widening project, the Bakersfield Racquet Club gets a new eatery and a big celebration for a 100th birthday

 * ... 24Th STREET: City Councilman Terry Maxwell has taken a lot of heat for opposing the widening of 24th Street, and just last week he took a tongue lashing from former Congressman Bill Thomas who secured the funding for the project. And now former city Councilman Mark Salvaggio

has weighed in, sending Maxwell an email that triggered a lively online debate between the two. Salvaggio argued that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is being used (or abused) by a vocal minority to hold up the project. Salvaggio recalled at least two other times when CEQA was used to delay projects and told Maxwell: "But the thing you don't get is the 24th Street Widening Project is good for Bakersfield. It is a much-needed road improvement project. Why is this so? In short, 24th Street is well over its design capacity.  It carries more traffic than all but one other arterial segment in the city with four lanes for traffic. The other 17 top arterials carry less traffic with six (6) lanes. 24th Street is also unsafe due, in part, to its traffic volumes, lacks controls over left turns and driveways which go directly into the travel lanes. Do you ever drive 24th Street? Or do you walk or ride your bike?  It takes some navigation. You favor the Hageman flyover. So does everyone else. This road project is needed to provide an alternate and direct route from the Northwest into Downtown (our urban core) Bakersfield.  Both of these important projects complement our efforts to improve circulation in metropolitan Bakersfield. The prevailing view is both of these road projects are needed." Maxwell, for his part, is holding firm to his opposition, seeing the project as a waste of taxpayer's money when there are cheaper alternatives.

* ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "Statistics show the number one cause of failed relationships is opening your mouth and letting words come out."

 * ... BIRTHDAY: Karene Williams wrote to tell me that Hazel Ream celebrated her 100th birthday Sunday. A huge gathering helped celebrate the day at the local Moose Lodge in Lake Isabella.

 * ... RACQUET CLUB: I have been hearing some rave reviews for the new Match Point Grill in the Bakersfield Racquet Club coffee shop on Pine Street between Truxtun and 18th Street. This space has been occupied by a number of restaurants over the years, most recently Covenant Coffee. Operated by Catering Affairs, Match Point is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those living and working downtown, as well as club members, are thrilled to have another eatery option. Match Point is open to the public.

 * ... SUSHI: Speaking of food, the new Japanese restaurant Jin Sushi is also getting some good reviewers from downtown diners. Located next to the Metro Galleries at the corner of Eye and 19th streets, Jin Sushi has only been open a few days but has gained a small but loyal following. Let's hope the place can maintain its service and quality of food.

 * ... APW: The Association of Petroleum Wives is holding a "Welcome Back" party this Saturday at the Metro Galleries on 19th Street. Ladies whose husbands are employed (or retired from) the petroleum industry are invited to attend to join or renew your membership. The event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with live music, food catered by Chef's Choice Noodle Bar. Call Lynn at (661) 301-0907 to make reservations.

 * ... MEA CULPA: And finally, my sincere apologies to Kim McAbee Carter, whose last name I butchered in a recent column. Kim is an accomplished country music singer who, along with husband Kyle Carter, are building the Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame.

Analysts see no end to the global oil glut and work continues on the Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame

 * ... OIL: The price of oil has dropped by almost 60 percent since its peak, but U.S. and global producers are maintaining production. In an analysis of the global oil glut, the Wall Street Journal noted that the world's biggest suppliers have yet to curtail production, almost guaranteeing the price

will remain in the $40 per barrel range and possibly sink below that. Saudi Arabia, for one, is maintaining its production as a hedge against new Iraqi and Iranian oil expected to hit the market. The Journal called the result a type of "energy industry version of trench warfare, with producers all trying to gain an inch of market share no matter the cost. And it is producing winner and losers around the world, luring American drivers into gas guzzling pickup rucks while sending the Venezuelan economy into chaos."

 * ... CRIME: If you have a "lock" mechanism on your garage door, make sure to use it. Police say thieves are having a field day around town by making their way into garages by forcing the overhead doors open by hand.

 * ... ZIGGY: Hats off to the folks over at Cal State Bakersfield who made the right call in promoting Kenneth Siegfried as the new athletic director. Known as "Ziggy," the personal and quick witted Siegfried has the energy, experience and youth and he has bonded with this imperfect community we all call home.

 * ... 24th STREET CAFE: I rewarded myself after a Sunday morning 10-mile hike with a trip to the 24th Street Cafe, one of our town's iconic homestyle restaurants that is always busy and never seems to disappoint. My recommendation: eggs benedict accompanied by biscuits and gravy and a cold Bloody Mary.

* ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "Knowledge is like underwear. It is useful to have it, but not necessary to show it off."

 * ... HALL OF FAME: Work continues on converting the Bakersfield Sound Studio into the Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame, and this weekend a huge new sign went up at the front entrance. Funded by Kyle Carter and his wife Kim McAbee, herself an accomplished musician, the Hall of Fame will recognize Bakersfield's rich musical heritage. The building is located the corner of Q and 23rd streets.

 * ... CALTRANS: Someone at Caltrans wasn't paying attention when they created, and installed, a sign on Highway 46 near Paso Robles that reads: "Groved Pavement." Thanks to Margaret Scrivano Patteson for passing that along.

Making and keeping those New Year's resolutions, more good deeds by Twilight Rotary and Mark Salvaggio joins the staff of Supervisor David Couch

* ... NEW YEAR: Local wealth advisor Bradley Barnes has his own "to do" list for 2013, and it is worth sharing.  "For me, true happiness comes from helping others. That’s what I’ll be spending my time doing," he said. "Here’s my list of New Year’s resolutions: Do something every day to help someone who needs it. Give more than I take. Create a great legacy for those who come after me." Hard to top that.

* ... MY LIST: Some of my wishes for the new year: a healthier local housing market, more jobs and lower unemployment, less news about Lindsay Lohan and the Khardasians, political courage in Washington to compromise and get the job done and a more civil dialogue among those who disagree.

 * ... ROTARY: More good news from our local service clubs, in this case Twilight Rotary, which is just three years old. Said Barry Rosenfeld: "Over the past two weekends we have provided more than 100 toys to needy children transitioning from homelessness with their parents as clients of Flood Ministries. We also assisted Covenant Community Services with their toy drive (more toys!) as well as providing former foster children with gently used clothing."

 * ... SALVAGGIO: Former city councilman Mark Salvaggio is joining the staff of new Kern County Supervisor David Couch. Salvaggio never really left political life when he retired from the council, and has the heart of a civil servant even if you don't agree with all his views. "This will be my second tour of duty with the County of Kern.  I will approach every constituent issue and circumstance with the same dogged commitment that I exercised during my five years of service with former Supervisor Michael J. Rubio in the 5th District.  No problem will be too small and people from all stations of life will be served."

* ... LITTER: A reader who will remain nameless dropped me a note that, despite my rants about litter, even The Californian is occasionally guilty. "This morning I went out to pick up my newspaper just as the Bakersfield Californian deliveryman drove up and threw it from his window. Not seeing me, he reached back into his car, threw a second item out the window, and then drove off.  I picked up the paper, and then saw that the second item was some trash (cardboard that is used to hold the plastic bags the newspapers are placed in).  It isn’t a big deal, and I of course picked it up, but considering your commendable efforts to call attention to the amount of litter in our community, I thought it ironic that a Bakersfield Californian employee was willfully spreading trash on his morning rounds. I suspect that this was not my regular delivery person, as the paper came two hours later than normal, but I thought you would be interested." I apologize for that and thank you for writing.

 * ... BELMONT PARK: Carol Black dropped me a note about the news that the same group that owns The Padre Hotel will be restoring Belmont Park in San Diego.  "As a teenager, back in the 1950s I hung out at Mission Beach every summer. When we had a quarter, we would ride the roller coaster at Belmont Park and we paid 10 or 15 cents to swim at the Plunge.  However, the ocean was free, so that's where we spent the majority of our days.  Oh, the memories!  My husband and I go to San Diego at least once a year and we always spend a few hours walking around Belmont Park.  Can't go down there without my Mission Beach fix!"

The proposal for a tree lined Westchester Parkway picks up support downtown, and homeowners join the trend to downsize their homes and lives

 * ... 24th STREET: An alternative proposal to widen 24th Street by converting it into a "Westchester Parkway" with a green belt in the center seems to be picking up some strong support among downtown residents. There are certainly people who prefer the "no build" option, but commercial real estate broker Wayne Kress' "Westchester Parkway" option is gaining supporters. The idea: work with the city to achieve the widening but in doing so create a beautiful gateway into our community with a more landscaped option.

 * ... RADIO: Mark Salvaggio is a retired city councilman who has remained active in local political circles and never shies away from a strong opinion. He will be my guest on Monday, at 9 a.m. on Californian Radio KERN 1180. We'll discuss public employee pensions, the governor's budget  and the local political scene. Join us by calling in questions at (661) 842-5376.

* ... WENDY: I attended the celebration of life Saturday for the late Wendy Wayne, an event that packed the downtown Fox Theater with friends, family members and well wishes. It was amazing how many people flew in from out of town to give their last respects to this amazing woman. Wendy's oldest son, Larkin Tacket, gave a moving, sometimes funny tribute to his mother that had everyone dabbing their eyes with tissue paper.

 * ... GOING SMALL: I read with interest the Sunday column by Opinion Page Editor Robert Price who extolled the virtues of "going small" when his family sold its Stockdale Estates home and moved to a much smaller home downtown. The economy is pushing many of us in that direction, but others like the Prices are doing it as a lifestyle change. Fortune magazine picked up on this recently saying "millions of people are finding that having less makes them happier. Spending less and saving more is kind of like sushi: You have to be made to try it, but then you may find you love it."

* ... REUNION: Reba Mullen's family held its 16th Bulter-Williams family reunion recently, attracting more than 60 relatives from at least six states. "I would like to give kudos to our local businesses and merchants who were very generous, gracious and supportive. Among them were Wendy Zielsdorf at the Bakersfield Convention and Visitor's Bureau for a goodie bag full of Bakersfield branded pens and bumper stickers, the folks at My Husband's Nuts and to the people at Coconut Joe's for the good food and service. And, let's not forget about Dewar's and its famous chews."

 * .... SCAM: Heads up on a possible telephone scam. JoAnn Williams wrote that she received four calls in just one week, all from people with heavy Indian accents telling her she had a computer virus. "I know there is no virus. I refuse to speak with anyone I can not understand, so I never continue the call. I know there has been notice of this scam before, but so many phone calls in such a short period of time worries me."

 * ... POEMS: Esther Dougherty sent me a copy of "Search," a series of poems by local waste management executive Skeet Varner. Some of the poems deal with Varner's love for and support of the sport of wrestling, and others deal with topics like aging.

Teachers attack Bakersfield Observed for focusing the spotlight on pension reform and a customer gives a shoutout to David Rous at Glinn and Giordano

* ... FEEDBACK: My recent post about a clash between the Idaho  state school superintendent the teacher's union drew this response from Mark Weir, who lead off by calling me an "arrogant ass." (Probably not the best icebreaker to start a dialogue between strangers). He continued: "Having read enough of your columns I'm over the fact you make it obvious that you are a Catholic and, no doubt, would argue that Garces is the only local place for anyone to receive a quality education. Your ill informed dribble on union busting in Idaho, comparing it to a recent union loss in Wisconsin, makes it appear you read only your left leaning newspaper. I won't even go into why I disagree." First, thanks for writing even if we disagree. But for the record, I'm not Catholic but the ones I know seem like swell people. Second, the story being played out in Idaho is a legitimate topic and has been well covered beyond the lines in this column. Lastly, I'm not certain what all this has to do with Garces Memorial High School but the folks over there seem like hard working people, and they did forgive me for sending my daughter to Stockdale High.

 * ... SALVAGGIO: A more measured response to the Idaho post came from former city councilman Mark Salvaggio, who never shies away from tugging my leash if he disagrees with me. Salvaggio is all for pension reform (making new hires pay more for their share of the costs for example) but warns against piling up on public employee unions. "What should not happen is to throw the baby out with the bath water when it comes to public pensions and public employees. Public employees are the lifeblood in delivering vital services to the taxpayer. Quality of life issues must not be forsaken here. You get what you pay for as the old adage goes."

 * ... ROUS: Earlier this week I dropped the name of John Rous and his son David, who works as vice president at Glinn and Giordano Physical Therapy. That prompted this note from reader Barbara Fleming: "When I read your column in Monday's paper, I saw the name of a gentle giant. Dave Rous represents things to strive for:  kindness, integrity, calmness, humor and many more traits. When a client at Glinn and Giordano, I look forward to working with him."

 * ... SPOTTED: A friend tipped me off to an incident in the parking lot of a private school in the Southwest. "A car pulled up to a woman walking and either the driver or a passenger screamed 'throw your purse in the car!' After the woman obliges, the car drove out. It was a black sedan. What a country."

  * ... TREES: Mary Webb wrote to wonder who trimmed the sycamore trees on the east side of the Elephant Bar along Calloway Drive. "Who owns or leases the land and makes such idiotic decisions hacking these used-to-be trees? And in the 100 degree temperatures of summer! S-t-u-p-i-d-i-t-y. Seems an annual occurrence: same thing, same time last year."

 * .... DREAM CATCHERS: Want to feel good about our young people? Then consider the Dream Catchers club at Liberty High School, where a group of kids got together to grant last wishes to the elderly. It's all the idea of the Busacca triplets - Anthony, Sophia and Isabella - and some of their classmates to pay tribute to their elders. One of their first ideas is to remember the late Wendy Wayne on Monday, July 9, with an event at Jastro Park. There, folks will learn ways they can honor Wendy's life by doing something for other people in our community. The event runs from 10 a.m. until noon. Bruce and Molly Busacca are the parents of the triplets.

Fourth District supervisor candidates Pinson and Couch line up support and remembering the old Canaday Nursery and its monkeys

 * ... CANADAY: Earlier this week I wrote about the monkeys who used to live at the old Canaday Nursery in Pumpkin Center, including one who was fond of hurling fecal matter at visitors. That brought a response from Jane Canaday, who remembers it well. "I was happy to see our old family business, Canaday Nursery, mentioned in Monday's column. I lived at the nursery until I was about 13. I had forgotten about Larry's 'proclivity.' I do remember that even though my father discouraged it, visitors would sometimes give the monkeys lit cigarettes. The monkeys would finish smoking them (and) then eat the butts."

 * ... SMART DOGS: Longtime animal lover and former KERO TV weather forecaster Melissa Dignan turned me onto a webiste featuring the smartest dog breeds. The smartest dog? The Border Collie, which the story described as extremely bright but in need of an energetic owner. Rounding on the list were the Poodle, the German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Doberman Pinscher, Shetland Sheepdog, Labrador Retriever, Papilion, Rottweiler and the Australian Cattle Dog.

 * ... PINSON: One of the hottest and closely followed local political races this year is the 4th District Kern County supervisor campaign where lawyer Harley Pinson is squaring off against City Councilman David Couch. Pinson is holding a fund raiser May 15 at the home of Bryan and Marie Batey. Among the supporters expected to attend are state Sen. Jean Fuller, Ray and Joan Dezember, Gene and Linda Voiland, Bob and Betty Stine, Jay Rosenlieb, Sam and Linda Monroe and John and Beverly Allen.

 * ... COUCH: Couch meanwhile announced his campaign co-chairs. Among them are George and Linda Martin, Keith and Jennifer Gardiner, Paul and Karen Sturgeon, Bob and Judy Hampton, Stan and Bonnie Ellis, Lou and Sheryl Barbich, Mayor Harvey Hall and wife Lavonne, former Sheriff Carl Sparks and former 4th District Supervisor Trice Harvey.  Couch also picked up the endorsement of former city councilman and local political observer Mark Salvaggio. (file photos of Pinson, Couch)

* .. SPOTTED: And speaking of Trice Harvey, he was spotted at the Guild House downtown volunteering. Thanks to Julia Alsup for this submission.


*  ... OUR WORLD: From Californian editor John Arthur's Twitter feed: "In effort to boost oil change recycling, the state notes that 'Kern [is] the state’s fourth-largest DIY (do it yourself) oil change market.'" Who knew?

* ... MEMORIES: Hart Park is beautiful this time of year, and LaVone and Bill Walker remember when it was truly a bustling place. "Families spent summer weekends at the park. There was a zoo to enjoy, as well as a swimming pool filled with dark river water, bumper cars, rings to swing on and a snack bar. Across the street from the snack bar was a small narrow gauge train that adults would ride on with their children; it ran by the rustic waterwheel mill," she said.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: Dean Lemaster told me you might be a Bakersfield old timer if you remember when  the circus came to town in the 1940s and set up on Kentucky Street just off Baker Street.

Reunion set for the 1978 Bakersfield College basketball team and Salvaggio heads to the Kern County Fair Board

 * ... CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON: There will be a special reunion tonight (Wednesday) bringing together many of the players and coaches of arguably the most successful Bakersfield College basketball team ever to take the court. It's all built around the theme "The Unforgettable Season," a sentimental nod to the incredible 1978 team that boasted 11 of the 13 players from Kern County and ran up an impressive 33-2 record. There will be a reception from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the terrace above the recently refurbished gym floor, and all former BC Renegade players - men and women - are invited. Some of the honored guests include former head coach Ralph Krafve and former Athletic Director Herb Loken.

 * ... SUPER BOWL: Did you know that the Monday after the Super Bowl is known as the highest employee absenteeism day of the year? Apparently so many employees "sick out" after the big game revelry that many companies take the unusual step of reminding employees not to abuse their sick time privileges.

 * ... OVERHEARD: A businessman sharing a joke at lunch: "I want to die like my grandfather, asleep. Not like those two screaming passengers in his car that night."

 * ... TAXES: It looks like California voters may be greeted with competing proposals on the November ballot to raises taxes. There are now at least three initiatives under way to put a tax hike proposal on the ballot, including one that would raise taxes on those earning more than $1 million a year. Some analysts believe voters will be confused by so many competing initiatives and will simply vote against them all.

 * ... SALVAGGIO: Kudos to Mark Salvaggio, the former city councilman who has been appointed to the Kern County Fair Board. Salvaggio spent 19 years on the council and was always a straight talker with a strong independent streak.

* ... SPOTTED: Man driving an older maroon Ford van down H Street with a small mixed breed dog plus a toddler sitting on his lap, two other children and a woman in the front seat and two more children in the back, one of whom is unbuckled and standing up leaning against the side window.


 * ... JEWELRY SHOW: The jewelry of Diana Campbell-Rice will be on display at the Metro Galleries on 19th Street Wednesday evening. There will be live music featuring Kama Ruby, wine and finger food. Perfect for a Valentine gift. A portion of the sales will benefit the Bakersfield AIDS project. The show runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

 * ... GOOD SERVICE: I have enjoyed reading the weekly stories in The Californian highlighting outstanding servers and waiters at local bars and restaurants. These folks work hard, don't make a lot of money and have little to show for their efforts. Another group of cheery workers are  the young ladies who work at the downtown Cruz Thru Express Car Wash on 24th Street, who invariably greet everyone with a smile.

Mark Salvaggio: Musings on a chance encounter at Taco Bell and a long career in public service

The last time we visited Mark Salvaggio the former city councilman was in a public spat with Chad Vegas, the boy-pastor turned trustee of the Kern High School District. Mark has never been one to mince words and his tendency to wax poetic tripped him up more than a few times during his long career in public service. Salvaggio is now on staff with Supervisor Michael Rubio's office but he's not busy enough to take time to drop me an email full of bitter-sweet memories, not unlike Ryan O'Neal's character "Preppy" in the 1970 movie "Love Story." In Mark's words:

"I went to Taco Bell after leaving my job with Supervisor Michael Rubio yesterday afternoon... ran into a young male African American city of Bakersfield employee. We smiled and shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. We talked about the tough budget times for both the City and County... After (he)left, I got my order and sat down thinking about how nice it was to see him and talk a little shop. Moments later, (he) came back into Taco Bell and asked me ...if I was coming back to the City as a Councilman again.... He said the talk around city government is that I would be back. I took a deep breath and smiled with regret. I thanked (him) for asking me this question and told him I was honored to hear that some employees are still thinking about me. I mentioned how at times I missed my work as a Councilman but had no plans to run again. He said everyone missed me a lot. My heart and throat swelled with both joy and sadness. We said goodbye again. This was the second time I have run into a city employee who said the same things about how I would be back.

"Sometimes I yearn for public service again. I had a good run, a good time though making a clean sweep of 576 consecutive meetings without an absence and never ducking a vote due an apparent or real conflict of interest. I served with 21 council members and four mayors and three city managers and five police chiefs and four fire chiefs... The best service is public service and knowing who you are, where you came from, and why you are there: to take all calls and make no problem to small. I continue to live to fight."

I don't think we have heard the last from Mark Salvaggio yet. I think he misses us.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself! Why wading in the mudpit with Chad and Mark can be so fun.

I could spend all day following the sophomoric bickering among some of our town's more prominent voices: Chad Vegas, the pastor and member of the Kern High School District, former city councilman Mark Salvaggio and the self-important Mark Martinez (pictured)out at Cal State Bakersfield. This is a field day for political theater (see previous post) so I couldn't resist posting Mark's response to Chad's response to a Salvaggio post. So confusing but so fun to follow. For those who don't know, Mark and Chad represent the far extremes of the political spectrum: Chad a thoughtful voice on the religious right and Mark an articulate far lefty who is fond of wrapping himself in the activist skin of "la raza." The background of this catfight is less important than the wonderfully tactless language they use. Here's Mark:

"If, after reading his heartfelt and insightful comments, quoting Proverbs 26:4 to Mark is all you can come up with you have issues. Still, I agree that Proverbs has much to say to all of us. This one in particular seems appropriate, Proverbs 26:7 'Like the legs of the lame that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Before you respond, you might want to think of this one, Proverbs 26: 11, "As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly." I can do this all day. In fact, if you want to join me, you can come on my radio program this afternoon. I have someone scheduled for the 3 pm time slot, so you'll have to call in during the first hour. I'm bringing my Bible."

Ouch! Can this get any better?

Salvaggio and Vegas: is mud wrestling next?

Some of the best political theater in town these days involves pastor-high school district board member Chad Vegas (pictured) versus Mark Salvaggio, the longtime city councilman who retired a few years back. It started when they went after each other, via long strings of email, over state Sen. Roy Ashburn's decision to vote with the Democrats to break the logjam and pass the state budget. (for the record Salvaggio found Ashburn's vote courageous while Vegas labeled him something akin to a modern-day Judas. The vitriol was searing, and one email triggered a response and on and on. So now they're at it again, this time with Salvaggio posting a long email (with me copied in) calling out Vegas for not voting to extend Cobra health benefits to four high school teachers. That got the attention of Californian columnist Lois Henry (read her column here. ) Here's an excerpt from Salvaggio's latest salvo:

"I read Lois Henry's recent column. She called you petty, harsh, snake-belly mean, and unable to look upon a personnel matter before the Board on a human level. Henry was right. I would add this: you are a Christian, a Christian pastor at that. Where is the love of Christ in your heart? Saying "That's neither here or there to me" shows a huge lack of compassion, compassion our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ demonstrated and imparted to us as believers. You said, " I'm not going to contribute to over-inflating the size of government." Does that mean you are going to vote against the federal stimulus money the Kern High School District may receive in the near future, or any other federal funding augmentation?"

Stay tuned. You know there's more to come.

Stan Harper: Cal budget nothing more than a valentine to state employee unions

The sound and the fury over the new state budget (see earlier post here)is bringing everyone out, it seems. Conservative political consultant Stan Harper joined the chorus calling for state Sen. Roy Ashburn's head for supporting the budget compromise. Harper responded to an email from Mark Salvaggio, the former city councilman, in which Salvaggio praised Ashburn's "courage" for helping save the state from financial ruin. Harper then chimed in (while copying in dozens of others, including me) saying Salvaggio was simply off base.

"(I) don't understand why any legislator would want to increase any tax ... let's face it Mark, this was simply a SUPPORT THE UNION budget. Why are we rewarding only the union workers while penalizing the rest of the taxpayers? ... we need to support recall campaigns that are going after those GOP legislators that crossed party lines and fiscally bankrupting California."