A CSUB economist predicts we are in for a long recession because of the coronavirus, the number of infected in Kern County reaches 30 and Deborah Leary is recognized for her work with the homeless

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 person or organization.

 * ... HOLD ON FOR THE RECESSION: Will the coronavirus plunge our country into a recession? That's the word from Richard Gearhart, a professor of economics at CSUB. Gearhart told me it was

 likely we are in for a "long recession' - between 12 and 18 months - as the nation struggles with a

spike in unemployment thanks to so many businesses shutting down. In addition to the jobless claims, Gearhart said keep an eye on the number of workers who have held onto their jobs but saw their hours cut, another sign of a sick economy trying to get back on its feet.

 * ... SMARMY CHARACTERS: I was chatting with Supervisor Mike Maggard the other day and he offered up the simplest, and most accurate in my opinion, reason why the two recent marijuana initiatives failed at the ballot box. Some of the proponents of the initiatives, Maggard said, were "smarmy" and appeared to discredit the effort to bring medicinal pot sales to Kern County. I don't use the word "smarmy" often, but Supervisor Maggard chose exactly the right word.

 * ... CORONAVIRUS: Do you ever wonder why the Kern County Public Health Department doesn't report the communities where the people are sick from the coronavirus? Former city councilman Mark Salvaggio put that question to Public Health Director Matt Constantine who said reporting the communities where virus cases occur may violate HIPPA laws. Constantine also said, "Unfortunately, we are now detecting more positive cases within Kern County and as such we will be able to release some broad geographic areas with positive test results next week."

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "My husband is working from home and he’s still late."

 * ... DEBORAH LEARY: Hats off to Deborah Leary, a tireless advocate for the homeless and other local causes, who was featured in The Bakersfield Californian this week. Leary was featured in a piece on St. Vincent du Paul on Baker Street, which provides meals for hundreds of homeless every day as well as providing showers and mail boxes so people will have a place to receive their mail. The facility takes no state, federal or local money and exists solely on donations and proceeds from its thrift store. (photos courtesy of The Californian)

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: Only in California.

 * ... FARM BUREAU: Colleen Taber has been named administrator of the Kern County Farm Bureau, replacing Ariana Joven who was appointed government affairs for Kern's largest farming company, Los Angeles-based The Wonderful Co. Taber previously worked as regional manager of the FARMS Leadership Program, where she partnered with Kern high schools to teach young people about local farms and careers in agriculture.

 * ... MEMORIES: Check out this front page of The Bakersfield Californian during the great Spanish flu.

Supervisor Mike Maggard gets some love from his constituents and is Bakersfield ready for loft apartments?

 * ... MAGGARD: Marjorie Boese sent out some props to Supervisor Mike Maggard, who helped her clean up a local eyesore. "I live in the Glade Street neighborhood and there is a foreclosed house with a toilet on the roof and piles of trash, and debris everywhere. It was a nasty eyesore, until Mike Maggard our 3rd District Supervisor saw the mess and said he would get it cleaned up. Ten days later it was done. All my neighbors and myself would like to give a huge thank-you to Mike Maggard, his manager Dick, and all the people who cleaned it up and boarded it up. Thank you all very much."

 * ... RADIO: Our downtown is about to get the kind of loft apartments that are so common in older, larger cities. The apartments are being built on the second floor of the building on 19th Street that houses The Metro Galleries, and is the work of Realtors Gary and Eydie Gibson and their partners. We'll talk about the latest downtown development on Californian Radio, KERN 1180, with Metro Galleries owner Don Martin. Tune in at 9 a.m.

 * ... MORE PROPS: I received a sweet hand-written letter from Therese Gaston, who wanted to pass along a remarkable thing that happened when she went to the National Cemetery on Memorial Day to place roses on the grave of her late husband. "A young couple with two boys, 8 and 10 years old, came up to me. Ryan, the 10-year-old, asked if I would like a card he made placed at the grave. It was a beautiful corrugated cardboard sign painted with a U.S. flag, the American eagle, sky and grass... Surely a day of pride and joy for me and my World War II Navy veteran husband. What exemplary parents they have!"


* ... MAMA TOSCA'S: One of our community's finest restaurants, Mama Tosca's, is celebrating its 30th anniversary of fine dining. A little history of the family: owner Luigi Rienzo, his brother Tony and their mother left Italy and came to Bakersfield in 1973. Luigi worked at the Tam o' Shanter for a few years as a waiter while he saved up enough money to live out the American dream. In 1982 he opened Mama Tosca's Restorante Italiano which is now located in the Marketplace. Said Luigi: "We are going to celebrate by providing the same great food and friendly service to our wonderful customers that we have for the last 30 years and we're looking forward to the next 30."

 * ... SPOTTED: From reader Brent Clayton: "I saw a middle aged blonde lady driving west on Brimhall with a cigarette in her left hand out the window, cell phone in her right hand held up to her ear and driving with her left knee. My kids and could not believe our eyes."

 * ... TADEJ: Local orththodontist Dr. Gerald Tadej held a patient appreciation day in which he hosted 600 patients, family and friends at Edwards Cinemas in two private theaters for a 3D showing of Men in Black.