Mexicali West is up for sale, Fatburger opens its first local franchise and anchor Erin Briscoe and reporter Danny Freemen leave their TV stations

Friday, August 3, 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 place. Email your news and notes to rsbeene@yahoo.com. 

 * ... NEWS AND NOTES: There are lots of news and notes around town involving local restaurants

opening and closing, and local TV anchors leaving the business or moving to another market. Let's get it started ... 

 * ... MUERTOS: Did you know that the restaurant Muertos downtown is housed in a space that once housed the horses for the city fire department? The old space, lovingly restored over the years, has long been a favorite spot for eateries. Before Muertos, it was the home of the Horse's Tail in the 1970s and later morphed into the Happy Buzzard, Suds and Azul's.

 * ... FAT BURGER: And speaking of dining, the Southern California burger chain Fatburger is coming to Bakersfield. A sign announcing the new burger joint went up at a space at Oswell and Bernard streets, saying it will be open sometime this year.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "When my husband annoys me I like to say, “The doctor said I need to lose 10 pounds. What do you think?”

 * ... MOVING UP: Danny Freeman, one of KGET TV's aggressive young reporters, is leaving town for another job in San Diego. Freeman was one of the lead reporters on the story of the potential conflict of interest involving Supervisor Leticia Perez and her husband's cannabis consulting business. Meanwhile, long-time KBAK anchor Erin Briscoe has also left the business but will apparently stay in town.

 * ... LOCAL RETAIL CHANGES: I was told by an employee at Floyd's that the venerable hardware store has been sold to a local plumbing company. Apparently owner Jan Meyer decided to leave the business and found a local buyer. Meanwhile, I have also been told that Mexicali West is now for sale (asking price is $3.85 million), leaving the original Mexicali on 18th Street the only venue for the restaurant's legions of fans.

 * ... SINALOA: The folks that own the venerable Sinaloa Mexican restaurant downtown have also put that business up for sale at an asking price of $1.9 million. Mike and Annie Munoz opened the original Sinaloa in the spot that now houses Woolgrower's, and moved to its present location on 20th Street in 1957. Prior to housing Sinaloa, the two story building houses a children's homeless shelter, Susie's Cafe and two Italian restaurants.

 * ... FOOTWEAR: Did you check out the footwear that House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy was wearing before an appearance on the Laura Ingraham show?

 * ... MEMORIES: And finally enjoy this old photo of three Harley riders in front of the old clock tower on Chester.

A final wish for less pettiness in our political discourse for the new year, Muertos and the Silver Fox Starlite Lounge roll out new menu items and some recommendations for the new year

 * ... FINAL WISH: A final thought as we head into 2018 after a tumultuous year politically and

socially. My simple wish is that we as a people can reject the poisonous attitudes of tribal politics that focus on blame and character assassination and instead look for the beliefs and traditions that bring us together. No matter who is in the White House or Congress, it is up to us as individuals to establish a more civil discourse. Identity politics that categorize us by the color of our skin, our gender, our nationalities or our political affiliation serve only to divide us and do precious little to advance a meaningful and honest conversation. Enough of pettiness and blame. Surely we can do better.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "When I told my parents over the phone that my husband had the flu, my dad said 'Have you tried euthanasia?' and in the background my mom yelled 'For the last time, it’s echinacea!'"

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: "Reflections on sexual harassment: Be respectful and don’t say anything to a woman at work that you wouldn’t want another man to say to you in prison."

 * ... GOOD EATS: One of the local eateries I frequent - Muertos in the Wall Street alley downtown - is adding a handful of custom hot dogs to its menu. Among them: the "serrano dog" featuring grilled serrano peppers and onions, chopped bacon jack cheese and tomatillo slices, the "cheesesteak dog" featuring grilled carne aside, onions and bell peppers with melted jack cheese, and the "bird dog" with grilled chicken with pico de gallo, melted jack cheese, chopped ortega chillies and tomatillos salsa.

 * ... SILVER FOX: Meanwhile they are now serving food over at the newly renovated Silver Fox Starlite Lounge across from Mexicali on 18th Street.  Bar manager Andrew Willingham told me the Starlite is now serving street dogs and tacos along with a few other items. The Fox is owned by Rod and Julie Crawford, owners of the iconic Pyrenees Cafe in east Bakersfield.

 * ... PICKLEBALL: Did you know the fastest growing sport in America - including here in Kern County - is pickle ball? The paddle sport, played on a court about a third the size of a tennis court, has been embraced across town. At the Bakersfield Racquet Club, "pickle ball only" memberships are nearing the 100 mark, and private clubs like Stockdale Country Club and Seven Oaks have also restriped tennis courts to accommodate its popularity. Nick Jacobs, a Garces High graduate who is now the men's tennis coach at Bakersfield College, is preparing to hold his second "Renegade Cup" pickle ball tournament this September. Last year, its inaugural year, he had more than 100 entries.

 * ... NEW YEAR TIPS: If you own an old home like I do, it's good to know folks who can attend to the occasional problems that older homes present. So here are some recommendations for your new year, courtesy of my own experience: family owned Bakersfield Plumbing for those clogged sewer lines and water issues, Rich Johnson Painting and his crew for quick, affordable and thoughtful attention to detail,  Dean Farnsworth for a versatile handyman who can handle just about any job, and General Tree Service for those seasonal trimming jobs.

Foodie website selects Bakersfield's best restaurants, I add my own touch and more on those porch thefts about town

 * ... FOODIE: A website called "The Culture Trip" has listed its favorite Bakersfield restaurants, and they clearly hit some of the high spots. Included were Noriega Hotel, 24th Street Cafe, Hodel's, J's Place, Uricchio's Trattoria, Mama Roomba, Zalka Indian Cuisine, Cope's Knotty Pine Cafe

and Muertos Kitchen and Lounge. I would add these to that list: Luigi's Delicatessen, Pyrenees Cafe, Jin Sushi, Cafe Med, Casa Munoz, The Red Pepper, The Mark, Valentien's, Mexicali, Woolgrowers and The Padre Hotel. (Photo of Muertos owner Shawna Haddad)

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "If I had a dollar for every time I thought about you, I would start thinking about you.

 * ... THEFT: The maddening trend of folks stealing packages off porches continues. Consider this note from Debbie Statezni: "My daughter sent me flowers today…on HER birthday to thank me for being her mom.  Someone took them off my front porch before I got home from teaching. Nice.  I hope whoever did that needed those flowers."

 * ... GOOD FORM: Kelly Clanton sent out these kudos to a local Costco employee: "Special thanks to Alan, who works the door at Costco, for singing 'It Had to be You' to people as they walk in the door and brightening everyone's day. What a gem!"

 * ... BAD FORM: And Joe Michael submitted this nugget that will have you shaking your head. Said Michael: "Have you noticed the flocks of gulls around town recently? Maybe the wet weather has brought them in? As I was parking at Target on Wible, I noticed a single bird interested in something on the ground. As I watched I finally identified it as a discarded diaper. The bird pecked and pulled until it was finally opened and the bird dined on the contents. I suppose a bird watcher was kind enough to leave this morsel for a hungry bird? Unfortunately the ungrateful bird did not dispose of the wrappings in the garbage."

* ... ACHIEVER: Some good news about a local South High lad from Mary K. Shell. John W. Lathrop, 1982 graduate of South High School, has been promoted to Brigadier General and Assistant Division Commander, 40th Infantry Division of the California National Guard. His promotion was celebrated in the fall  at a ceremony in Los Alamitos. He is the son of Donna and Robert Lathrop, both of whom taught at South High. Lathrop was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1986 upon his graduation from UC Riverside. He saw duty in South Korea and participated in Desert Shield and Desert Storm while assigned to the Army’s 27th Field Artillery Regiment. After joining the National Guard in 1991 he was deputy commander of a group deployed to Iraq in support of Iraqi Freedom IV, serving in 2005 and 2006. His wife is the former Mary Patrice Manning and the couple has two daughters: 21-year old Kaitlin and 19-year-old Elizabeth.  John’s twin brother, Mike, is a retired Marine.

Here's my completely biased, unscientific selections of some food, people and events about town that make this place called Bako home

 * ... THIS AND THAT: I will be off for a few days and I will leave you with my entirely unscientific views on some of the "best bets" about town. Enjoy.

 * ... BEST SOUNDS: There are two sounds that greet you if you work or live downtown: the beautiful hourly chimes from the First Presbyterian Church, and the frequent wail of a train horn that serves as the soundtrack of where you live.

 * ... BEST  SANDWICH: The only problem with Sequoia Sandwich Co. is its popularity, particularly the downtown store that serves as a magnet for jurors and other folks who work in the downtown courthouses. There isn't a bad sandwich in the place, and my favorite: the Sequoia tuna melt with a side of cole slaw.

 * ... BEST COMEBACK: When Rod and Julie Crawford bought the Pyrenees Cafe and Saloon, the best days for the east Bakersfield landmark were behind it. But they gave the old girl a makeover, introduced live music and now Pyrenees is one of "the" hot spots in town for Basque food and weekend cocktails. Check out its new outdoor seating area and new music venue.

 * ... CORNER BAR: There are few restaurants in town that match Uricchio's Trattoria in  terms of service and food. Hard day at work? Stop in at Uricchio's happy hour and catch up with your friends at its long bar, and don't forget the fabulous appetizers (fried clams being one of my favorites). This is one of the places I always take out of town guests to treat them to warm, friendly service and meals that never disappoint. The late Nick Uricchio would be proud of how his daughter Claire has carried on the family tradition.

 * ... BEST NEWCOMER: This is a tough category because of the explosion of new eateries about town, but newcomer Jin Sushi on 19th Street is off to a fast start with healthy and fresh offerings and friendly service. Today's tip: they occasionally have blue fin tuna on the menu. It is a can't miss selection.

 * ... BURGERS: There are too many to choose from that pass my taste test, but here are my local favorites: the 'Hudson' burger at Muertos, the 'Sonny' burger at Mexicali downtown, virtually any burger from Eureka!, and the bacon, cheese and mushroom burger from Pyrenees Cafe. (file photo of a Muertos burger)

 * ... FUND RAISERS: Our town lives and breathes fund raisers, but there are a few that stand out above the rest: West Rotary's annual Cioppino Feed is at the top of my list, followed by St. Francis Parish's Crabfest, and virtually anywhere where Gary Icardo is cooking Harris Ranch steaks (like this week's St. Vincent de Paul Center event).

 * ... HIKING: We take Hart Park for granted, but the undeveloped hills above the park provide a beautiful venue for weekend hikes and mountain bike rides. There are only a few things standing between you and enjoying these hills: a sturdy paid of hiking shoes and you own will.

 * ... PIE RUN: And finally, the annual Thanksgiving 'Pie Run' has always ranked among my favorite early morning activities. It all starts on Thanksgiving morning at Hart Park where a hundred or so walkers, hikers (with their dogs) show up in this annual pot luck event to kick off the long Thanksgiving Day feed. Stay tuned for more details.

More scams about town, the dismal lack of landscaping around the Westside Parkway, the quest for the best hamburger and will Aldi stores come to Bakersfield?

 * ... SCAM: Jenifer Pitcher is an intelligent young professional who is aware of the world around her, yet even some of the smartest among us are susceptible to scams. Last month, a group of gardeners

knocked on her door and offered to mulch her garden, at a cost of $8 a bag. After they put five bags down, she agreed they could do the rest of her garden. "About 30 minutes later I come outside as they were finishing up and they had a pile of bags they 'used.' The guy counted the bags… 88 bags! At $8 a bag? I was furious.  I told him, 'there is no way in hell you used that much.' We argued for a while, he was VERY pushy, and eventually I ended up writing him a check for $400. That was $400 I was NOT planning on spending that day. I also kind of got a little worried since now they know where I live so if I didn’t pay them anything, I was worried they would come back.  I had a horrible feeling about the whole transaction, so I immediately called my bank and stopped the check. I went to go run some errands, still didn’t feel right, went home and checked my bank account online. The $30 stop check fee was posted, as was the $400 check to Ernesto Vides. But the check number wasn’t right. I went to my bank (Kern Schools Federal Credit Union). I was frustrated to tears at this point.  Apparently, they went straight to the bank with my check at the same time I was calling to stop the check. They had altered the check number so that it went through. The manager at the Kern Schools on Coffee and Olive was so fantastic and worked so well with me, and I was able to get my money back.  It was a horrible experience. And I’m usually pretty skeptical of people in general, and the fact that I went against my gut was the worst part."

 * ... WESTSIDE PARKWAY: Well that didn't take long. The landscaping of the (relatively) new Westside Parkway between Truxtun Avenue and Coffee Road is so full of weeds it now resembles Highway 58.

 * ... FOODIE: I was asked the other day what happened to my hunt for the best burger in town. Well, it's still on (why quit now?) but if I were to decide today, it would be the Hudson burger at downtown's Muertos Kitchen and Lounge followed closely by the Sonny burger at Mexicali.

 * ... SPOTTED: I spotted this on Twitter: "Imagine being naked in a room full of people who speak a different language and everyone wants to touch you. That is the life of a dog."

 * ... ALDI: If you haven't heard of Aldi food stores, you will soon. The Los Angeles Times reports that the German-owned company plans 45 stores in Southern California. Aldi stores are about the same size as Fresh and Easy but are focused even more on deep discounts. You have to pay 25 cents for a shopping cart (you get the quarter back when you return it, which prevents thefts) and many of the specialty items are featured on palates on the floor to reduce stocking fees. No word yet on if Aldi is headed to Bakersfield, but sounds like a perfect fit for our market.

* ... BAD FORM: I don't normally like to run anonymous comments, but this one from a "concerned citizen" is worthy of airing: "To the person that dropped off the light colored pitbull on Country Club Drive on the morning of Friday, June 5: Shame, shame on you. She was a new mom, and ran all over the neighborhood, probably looking for her puppies. She cried all night, and a neighbor had to call animal control to come and get her. She was probably euthanized. You probably kept the puppies to sell, and dumped the mom when you were finished using her for your benefit. I will pray that this sweet dog will haunt your memories every single day."

McFarland High School, featured in the Kevin Costner film of the same name, also boasts a legendary wrestling coach, and Guy Fieri lines up local restaurants to feature on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

 * … WRESTLING: The storied McFarland High School cross country runners are getting some well deserved attention with the release of the Kevin Costner movie chronicling their success, but Mike Stricker reminded me the school also boasts another hometown hero. Said Stricker: "With all the attention the McFarland cross country team and coach Jim White are getting and how great this is,

McFarland has another coaching hero. Wrestling coach Ed Levenson is closing out 40 years of coaching the world's oldest sport, 38 years as the head coach at McFarland High, two years as an assistant coach at West Torrance High and two years as an assistant coach at Reghetti High."

 * … FOODIE: The eclectic (and quite tasty) downtown eatery called Muertos will be featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on Friday, March 13. The eatery, located in the Wall Street Alley, is among a number of local restaurants to be featured on the show. Others include Mama Roomba, Salty's BBQ and Catering, Pyrennes Cafe and KC Steakhouse.

 * … MUSIC FESTIVAL: Kevin Cornelius took me to task for questioning the price of tickets to the upcoming big music festival being put on by local attorney George Martin. He said: "Give me a break Richard!  Mr. George Martin has got a handle on this music festival thing. When George is behind an event he goes all out, because that's who he is. It does not matter that it's Steppenwolf, Chubby Checkers and tickets are $130 each or preferred seating $425 each. If George can bring world leaders from around the globe right here to little 'ol Bakersfield year after year with sell crowds every year don't you think he can pull off this music festival gig? This thing is a piece of cake for him, it's in his blood. He never disappoints and always has an ace up his sleeve. George, I'll see you there!"

 * … HELL'S ANGELS: And another reader, Robert Clements, reacted with surprise to a recent post about the Hell's Angels doing good deeds around town. "Really?" he wrote. "Riding Harley's with the Hells Angels and collecting toys  they get drunk makes them real? Fifty Shades of John Gotti passing out turkeys. I served 35 years in law enforcement in this state, including dealing with them at the annual  Hollester Fourth of July Run. I have witnessed their carnage and criminal  acts on innoncent Harley riders like you. Not a pretty picture for sure. If you want to see the real  Hells Angels park your precious Harley in front of their club on 19th Street overnight, then call BPD to report it stolen. Better yet call the Monguls to get it back."

 * … SPEEDING: High on my list of pet peeves are drivers who speed and run red lights. Gail Glende agrees and left this note: "Each weekday morning when I leave the McMurtrey pool, I pass Franklin Elementary School on Truxtun Avenue. Kudos to the police that stand as a flock on the corner of Pine and Truxtun catching speeders unwilling to follow the 25 mph sign for one short block in front of the school in the morning. We all need to be reminded that children are precious and we should remember to slow down. It just takes a few seconds longer to obey the law." That said, she did note a police service technician truck (#5542) blowing past a large yellow school bus from Bakersfield Christian High at 7:40 a.m. "I don't usually notice other drivers, but it seemed sad that they most of all, could not drive slow enough to protect our children."

Downtown Bakersfield gets a new bistro, and Texas Rangers pitcher Colby Lewis stops by the Californian studio to talk about his year

 * … FOODIE: Another privately owned restaurant has opened downtown, this one a cozy bistro that features soft leather couches, a comfortable, homey interior, a wide selection of drinks and light salads and sandwiches. It's called CraSh Lounge and it is located on Eye Street next to the Caribbean eatery Mama Roomba. Check out the Mephistopheles panini but be warned it is spicy. Opened by Muertos Lounge owner Shawna Haddad-Byers, CraSh should not be confused with another relatively new wine bar and restaurant called Krush located in the Northwest off Hageman Road. Both are excellent choices for a quick bite. (a panini by CraSh and a view of the inside of Krush)

* … COLBY: It was good to see former Bakersfield College standout pitcher Colby Lewis in the California video studio this week, talking to local sportscaster Greg Kerr about his year with the Texas Rangers after coming off hip surgery. Lewis managed to pick up 10 wins in a shortened year and is feeling good and back in form. Kerr hosts a new weekly show streamed live on Bakersfield.com called "The Renegade Report," devoted to BC athletics. It airs every Thursday at 11 a.m.

* …. SCAM: Dwayne Ardis shared his story about how to avoid a scam: "I was getting gas at the Chevron/Fast Trip station at White Lane and Gosford one day when a lady approached me and asked me if I could help her get back home to Tehachapi because she ran out of gas. I said sure but I also requested to see her driver’s license to verify she lived in Tehachapi. She gave me a dirty look and walked away. Scam averted."

 * … GOOD FORM: Kudos to the woman who regularly pulls a litter barrel and cleans up trash along Alfred Harrell Highway and Fairfax Road. Said a reader: "May you be richly rewarded for all your time and effort  It is wonderful to have a leisure drive up the hill on a nice clean highway."

 * … WASTE: Amid the long drought, Jon Stuebbe wonders why "the Beach Park men’s toilet still has a trough urinal with a constantly running waterfall of water? Imagine how many million gallons of water run through it in a year. Apparently the water used by the city Parks and Recreation comes from a different and inexhaustible source."

 * … BLUE STAR: The Blue Star Moms, a group of mothers of current service members of all branches of the armed forces, is hosting a blood drive from Nov. 10 to Nov. 15. The group is looking for folks to donate blood at the two branches of the Houchin Community Blood Bank and is soliciting donations for care packages for military men and women stationed overseas.

 * … PETS: Remember that Busters Pet Fund, a group that helps abandoned and rescued pets, is collecting blankets and old towels at the Petco on Gosford Road this weekend.

A veterinarian gives props to a local animal rescue group and remembering Tooey's Steak House in lower La Cresta in the Northeast

 * … PETS: The way some people treat their pets, like disposable diapers, is beyond disheartening, but every once in a while we hear something that gives us hope. Over at the City of Bakersfield Animal Care Center, veterinarian Robert Duquette sent me this note: "We are always appreciative of the many rescues that help us rehome our furry friends but The Kern Project recently adopted 37 animals in one day. These pets were then transferred to shelters in Marin County that have a shortage of adoptable shelter animals (obviously our long term goal!).  This was organized locally by Tammy Folino who works with Grace Stauffer from Novato. We are also very extremely grateful to Cori Mincher, Jeff Cross and Bill Murray from the Double Tree Hotel for making a substantial donation of towels and linens that can be used for bedding. Our shelter is always in need of any bedding donation and their single contribution almost doubled our stock!"

 * … DINING: Last week I mentioned some of the new restaurants that have sprung up downtown over the last few years. A reader chastised me for not mentioning The Mark, a stunning eatery on 19th Street. Said the writer: "They have a great atmosphere food and a full bar music on weekends. The food is fresh and great quality." I could not agree more.

 * … BURGER: And on the subject of food, I am shameless in my devotion to the Hudson burger at Muertos downtown (who doesn't like a fresh burger with egg and bacon on top?) A friend told me that Bill Lee's and Mexicali downtown also make a good burger. What is your favorite burger in town?

 * … HONOR FLIGHT: Hats off to KERN radio host Ralph Bailey, who raised more than $10,000 on his Monday show to help fund the Honor Flight program. Bailey accompanied some of the veterans back to Washington, D.C., and promptly returned the favor by asking his listeners to support the program. Among those who chipped in were Rep. Kevin McCarthy, state Sen. Jean Fuller and state Rep. Shannon Grove.

 * … TOOEY'S: Margaret Lemucchi solved the puzzle about a long-gone restaurant in La Cresta: "Tooey's steak house was the restaurant where the Tam O'Shanter restaurant sits now. It had a stainless steel half-circle counter where the broiler is now located plus several tables. Jack and Hazel Ewing operated a Scottish/golf-themed bar next door called The Shillelagh. The Ewings acquired Tooey's and then operated the bar and restaurant for many years as Ewing's Tam O'Shanter. Timothy and I bought the business from the Ewings in 1971, called it Lemucchi's Tam O'Shanter, then bought the building, and then expanded the bar to the south where the second bar, stage, and dance floor are now.  Manny Mendez became the proprietor in 1988 and calls the establishment Manny's Tam O'Shanter. "

 * … MEMORIES: Added reader Connie Allen Frasch: "You brought back memories for me. I  grew up in La Cresta just blocks from Tooey's steak house in the 1940s, a small cafe with a counter and stools. I always wanted to go there and have one of Mr. Tooey's famous hamburgers but my dad said it was too expensive!"

With the Arts Council of Kern in turmoil, a new arts non-profit opens its doors, and what are the 22 secrets to a long and happy life?

 * ... ARTS:  With the future of the Arts Council of Kern in doubt, one of its former employees has moved on to create a new arts related non profit. Local artist Nicole Saint John has created the Kern Community Arts Partnerships (KERN CAP) to "raise the quality of life through arts and arts education in Kern County." Saint John is already working on several grants and is currently working on bringing renowned artist Wiktor Szostolo to Bakersfield to create a public art project. Saint John is one of seven employees that have either resigned or been fired by the Arts Council in the past year. Saint John's move comes at a time when the future of the Arts Council is struggling to remain viable and afloat. (file photo of Nicole Saint John)

* ... HAPPINESS: I read with interest a piece called "22 Things Happy People Do Differently" on a website called "Successify." Among those things to consider: don't hold grudges; accept what cannot be changed; speak well of others; take time to listen; never seek approval from others; live minimally; eat well; exercise; tell the truth and never make excuses. Sounds like a good place to start.

 * ... BURGERS: There are a lot of good hamburgers in town (Juicy Burger, In-N-Out, Tahoe Joe's, The Padre to name a few) but my top pick is the Hudson burger over at Muertos Kitchen and Lounge in the Wall Street Alley. If you haven't tried it, make sure you do so. And what is your favorite burger in town?

* ... YOUNG TURKS: BakersfieldLife, the premier glossy city magazine around town, is accepting nominations to recognize some of the up and coming young people in our community. This "20 under 40" competition will recognize folks who give back to our community while showing outstanding character. The nominations can be made at www.bakersfieldlife.com until April 12.

 * ... NO BUTTS: Hats off to the nearly 50 students from Freedom Middle School and Almondale Elementary (Rosedale Union School District) who participated in the No Butts Left Behind (NBLB) program, designed to raise community awareness about cigarette butts littering and its impact in the environment. This week they helped clean up Almondale Park in the northwest. Rosedale Union students have already cleaned up two other parks in the past several weeks. In an hour's time at each park, Polo Community Park yielded 1,796 butts and North Rosedale Park's total was 1,255.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You may be a Bakersfield old-timer if you "stopped in the evening on the way home from school for milk and bread at Niles Street Liquor and picked up .22 ammo at the same time."

Voters kill the proposed tobacco tax; does this portend bad things for the twin tax hikes for the November ballot?

* ... TOBACCO TAX: I was surprised that Proposition 29, which would have added a new $1 tax on cigarettes, appears to be losing by a narrow margin. The tobacco lobby threw almost $50 million in misleading ads against the tax, but some experts think a general anti-tax sentiment across the state may have doomed the measure. If that is the case, it spells trouble for the two tax measures that will be on the November ballot to bail out higher education.


* ... NUT FESTIVAL: A group of folks who work hard to improve the image of our community are hoping a "nut festival" will bring Bakersfield some better publicity. It's all the brainchild of Sheryl Barbich and a small group of influential business people who are modeling the "nut festival" after the garlic festival in Gilroy and other successful events. The first Kern County Nut Festival will be held June 14-15, 2013, at the Kern County Museum. Organizers stay the event will feature a number of culinary creations using almonds, pistachios and walnuts, as well as games and activities for kids and adults. It's still being planned, but this could be just the thing our community needs to put Bakersfield in a better light.

 * ... JEOPARDY! Alex Trebek has hosted the popular game show "Jeopardy!" for almost 28 years, and there is a lot of speculation on when he might retire. In a recent interview, he dropped the idea that he may just drive up to Taft College to take a few courses. "Learning something new is fun," says Trebek. "When I finish as the host of `Jeopardy!' I'm going to go up to Taft in central California. They have a small college there that teaches you about oil drilling. I'd like to take a course," he says.

 * .... D-DAY: The 68th commemoration of D-Day brought this note from Bonnie Bogle Farrer. "On June 6, 1944,  my father sent me a telegram from 'somewhere in England.'  Six days after D-Day he landed at the Normandy beaches  in France as a major in the American Army. A medical doctor, he cared for both American and German wounded soldiers. Much later, he wrote his war memoirs about those incredible days."

* ... BILL RAY: If you consider yourself handy around the home, or if you aspire to be, head over to Bill Ray Tile on East Brundage on Saturday for a workshop on laying tile. Bill Ray Tile has an incredible selection of tiles around the world, and they will be giving away Dodger tickets and other prizes. Bill Ray is located at 6301 East Brundage and the workshop starts at 11 a.m.


 * ... EATERY: The renaissance of downtown Bakersfield continues with the opening of yet another restaurant, this one called Muerto's Kitchen and Lounge in the Wall Street alley just across from Guthrie's Alley Cat.  I stopped by the other day and was impressed by its menu and service (I highly recommend the white wine sangria and machaca tacos). Muerto's is in the space formerly occupied by Azul and the infamous Sud's Tavern in the 1970s and 1980s. It was originally a firehouse in the late 1800s and in fact the back patio area was the stable for the horses that pulled the fire wagons.  Muerto's is owned by Shawna Haddad-Byers, formally of Fishlips.

* ... BAD FORM: From Dr. Bill Farr, a physician whose office is near the intersection of Calloway Drive and Brimhall Road: "A teacher from Emerson Junior High dumped all of her class room crap all over the dumpster in my office, missing the dumpster and getting it all over the floor.  The trash (collectors) would not pick it up because it was such a mess. The pupils' grades and reports were scattered all over the ground."