Thousands evacuate as the Kincade fire burns in California wine country, Taft College honors Bob and Judy Hampton and a walk down memory lane in pictures

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. 

 * ... KINCADE FIRE: The Kincade fire in northern California continues to burn, leading to the evacuation of the city of Healdsburg and dozens of local wineries. Thousands have fled the fire's path

(some coming here to Bakersfield to wait out the worst of it) and in the meanwhile many Californians are putting the heat on Gov. Gavin Newsom, already the target of a recall effort. Newsom toured parts of the areas devastated by the fire, putting the blame directly on PGE for decades of mismanagement, as well as climate change. "The hots are getting hotter. The dries are getting dryer. The wets are getting wetter, and the winds are becoming more and more a factor... Climate change is wreaking havoc," he said. Leaders of the recall effort will try to link Gavin to these wildfires, but it remains to be seen if state voters will connect the governor to it all.

 * ... ALWAYS A DRILLER: Congratulations to the Bakersfield High School class of 1979, which celebrated its 40th reunion in style this past weekend.

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: "A dog never dies. He is just sleeping in your heart."

 * ... MORE FACEBOOK: "Is an argument between two vegans still called a beef?"

 * ... HONORS FOR THE HAMPTONS: Congratulations to Bob and Judy Hampton, who were honored by the Taft College Foundation as recipients of the Community Spirit Award. The Hamptons, longtime businesspeople in the Taft area and strong boosters of Taft College, were honored at a recent cookout on the campus. (File photos of Bob Hampton with Cynthia Zimmer and Bob and Judy Hampton with L..J. Radon)

* ... COUNTY SUPERVISORS: Mark Salvaggio, a former city councilman and a former field representative for county Supervisor David Couch, knows local politics and he keeps us all updated with his periodic email blasts. In a recent post, he talks about Emilio Huerta, son of Dolores Huerta, eyeing the seat of Couch in District 4. Said Salvaggio: "The petition in lieu period, as it is called, to avoid paying filing fee of $1,072.10 began several weeks ago with local attorney Emilio Huerta (District 4), Kern Valley resident David Fluhart (District 1), former Western Pacific Research employee Natalie Noel (District 1) and Richard Herrera (District 5) having taken out papers to gather petition signatures. Huerta reportedly has 15 people in District 4 circulating petitions for him.Supervisor Mick Gleason's District Director has announced he is running for his boss's seat. The popular Gleason is retiring after serving two terms. The rumors continue to be bandied about that Dick Taylor will run. Taylor is a former Field Representative for Supervisor Mike Maggard and retired County Director of the Department of Veteran Affairs. Taylor told me he is thinking about running. Political consultant Cathy Abernathy will line up behind Taylor with her Western Pacific Research political consulting firm juggernaut. "

 * .... CALFORNIA LIVING: Some fun memes I have spotted on social media speaking to the state of affairs living in California.

 * ...MEMORIES: Just look at this very old picture of Bakersfield along H Street, Thanks to the Kern County of Old Facebook page for posting this. The second picture shows the old Highway 99 back in 1939 looking south toward the Grapevine.

The generosity of Alex Trebek to Taft College, the top 500 most polluted cities in the world exclude North America, and Dennis Quaid stops by for a cocktail at Uricchios

Friday, March 8, 2019

 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 to live. Send your tips to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... ALEX TREBEK: The news from Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek that he is suffering from Stage 4

pancreatic cancer stunned America, but few know if his personal connection and his generosity to Taft College. It was five years ago that Sheri Horn-Bunk, head of the Taft College Foundation, read on the Huffington Post that Trebek joked he wanted to take a course in oil exploration at Taft College once he retired. Calls were made and Trebek ended up speaking at the West Kern Petroleum Summit in 2015, introducing Oklahoma oil baron T. Boone Pickens. In honor of his appearance the college started an oil engineer's scholarship in his name, and he promptly sent Horn-Bunk a check for $10,000 to endow it.

 * ... POLLUTED CITIES: I ran across a list of the world's top 500 most polluted cities, and guess what? The United States, and in fact Canada, did not have a single city on the list. Does that mean we are free of pollution? Certainly not, but it does point to the lunacy of mounting a  all-out effort on climate change here while the rest of the world does nothing. Consider: of the top 10 most polluted cities, nine are in India. Of the top 100, fully 57 of them are in China. Mexico and several Central American counties - Guatemala, Colombia, Peru and Costa Rica - made the list far down but no U.S. or Canadian cities made the list.

 * ... DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that upwards of 70 percent of the incoming freshmen at CSUB enter college deficient in both basic math and English.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "If Morgan Freeman was narrating my life story, I bet he'd be tired of repeating 'He's still eating' all the time."

 * ... SPOTTED AT URICCHIO'S: Well look who was spotted at Uricchios the other day, none other than actor Dennis Quaid. Word was that Quaid was here, along with country singer Tanya Tucker, to record music at a local recording studio.

 * ... MEMORIES: How about this old postcard featuring fishing on the Kern River?

 * ... MORE MEMORIES: And how about this advertisement for the Padre Hotel in 1962:

Out with the old guard and in with the new and Bakersfield welcomes a new mayor, police chief and new council members, and recognizing the remarkable work of retiring Californian photographer Casey Christie

* ... CITY COUNCIL: Change is inevitable, particularly in politics and government, but it was bittersweet to watch the new City Council being sworn in. We will all miss Mayor Harvey Hall, the

eternal optimist and ambassador of goodwill, but I am confident incoming Mayor Karen Goh will display the same inclusiveness that was the hallmark of the Hall years. It's in her nature to do so. Terry Maxwell and Harold Hanson are also gone, and in their places are Andre Gonzales (downtown) and Jeff Tkac (southwest). New energy for new times.

 * ... CASEY CHRISTIE: Also leaving the local scene is longtime Californian photographer Casey Christie, whose stunning photographs graced the pages of the local newspaper for more than 25 years. Like Harvey Hall, Christie was always gracious, kind and thoughtful as he went about his work. Life will go on, but we will all miss his keen eye for capturing life in this place we call home.

 * ... LYLE MARTIN: And finally I am not sure there could have been a better choice to lead our police department than Lyle Martin, who replaced the retiring Greg Williamson as police chief. Martin's personality is one of openness and honesty, and he will have to call on that to confront a department under attack after yet another officer-involved shooting, this time claiming the life of an unarmed 73-year-old man in the southwest. Martin deserves a change to address some of the cultural and training issues facing the Bakersfield Police Department.

 * ... DUMP ROAD: Most of you have never been on the old County Dump Road right off Fairfax and Alfred Harrell Highway. The dump has long been closed, and the road is a dead end so it doesn't get much traffic other than cyclists who like its long steady climb to the top. And even though "no dumping" signs are posted all along the way, the road has become a favorite spot for people to discard everything from soiled mattresses to washing machines to old sofas and chairs. It is an absolute mess, a civic embarrassment, and it resembles something out of a dirt poor Third World country. Can we get it cleaned up?

* ... MEAN STREETS: My earlier post about the growing criminal element on our streets hit a nerve and prompted responses like this one from reader Lydia Dunton: "I think 'prison realignment' and the subsequent early-release programs are a direct cause of our mean streets. It doesn't take a genius to foresee that this would happen. Thanks federal mandate!"

* ... TAFT COLLEGE: There was a nice scene out at Taft College recently when the college foundation surprised Chevron with an announcement that it was naming its STEM Lab after the energy company. The Chevron STEM Lab recognizes Chevron's generosity to the college, totaling more than $1.3 million over the last several years. Said Dr. Deb Daniels, president of Taft College: “We are grateful to Chevron for their continuous generous support of not only the programs and students of Taft College but of their support for education from elementary school through college. Their investment in our community has made it possible for more students to go to college and become part of an educated workforce to return to our community."

 * ... MEMORIES: Lastly, Bill Clayton wrote to talk about the old 34th Street Junior Baseball diamonds off 34th Street. "I played Little League there in the 1950s and my team was the Hod Carriers sponsored by the labor union by the same name. Our coach was Mr. Pigg who I think was a union member. I like your Bakersfield Observed column!" Thank you Bill.

The Wounded Warrior Project is in crisis mode after a damning investigation into its lavish spending, Wiki's Wine Dive offers a lunch special and the Bakersfield Arts District Foundation gets off a big night

 * ... VETERANS: One of the largest and most prominent non profits that serves veterans - the Wounded Warrior Project - is in crisis mode after a damning report that calls into question its spending on lavish dinners and parties.
Among the findings of a New York Times investigation: the charity flew 500 employees to Colorado Springs for an "all hands" meeting at the exclusive Broadmoor Hotel, employees routinely buy business class seats and others stay at $500 a night hotel rooms. More troubling: the charity spends 40 percent of the money is raises on overhead, as opposed to other groups like the Semper Fi fund that spends just 8 percent on salaries and overhead. The organization raised some $372 million last year, mostly small donations from people over the age of 65.

* ... BOB ELIAS: I spotted an interesting picture on social media the other day that originally appeared in the Taft Midway Driller. The fading black and white photo showed local celebrities Buck Owens, Don Meridith, Frank Gifford and Gifford's mother, Lola, at a Bob Elias Hall of Fame banquet in 1976. Thanks to Sheri Horn Bunk, director of the Taft College Foundation, for sharing.

 * ... GOOD MESSAGE: And speaking of Sheri Horn Bunk, I can always rely on her to pass on some inspirational wisdom. From her Twitter account: "A person will soon forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "There was a glorious time, before social media, when you would just lose touch with people."

 * ... FOODIE BEST BET: One of the best lunch deals in town is over at Wiki's Wind Dive and Grill in the Sully's shopping center at Seven Oaks. Simply cut out the coupon that has been running in The Californian and get enjoy a "buy one, get one free" lunch. The popular watering hole also features more than ten items at under $10 each.

 * ... ARTS DISTRICT: It was nice to see a good turnout for the new Bakersfield Arts District Foundation kick off reception at Metro Galleries the other night. Among those who appeared to support this new foundation focused on the downtown arts district included former Supervisor Karen Goh, Dignity Health's Robin Mangarin, Assembly candidate Vince Fong, the Art Council of Kern's David Gordon, David Cohn and George Barrientos from Chain Cohn Stiles, Lisa Kimble Edmonston, the Tree Foundation's Melissa Iger, Bakersfield City School District board member Andres Gonzales, Bike Bakersfield's Jason Cater, the Bakersfield Chamber's Nick Ortiz and Hillary Hanes, Kati McKeown from Congressman Kevin McCarthy's office and her husband, Bakersfield High teacher Sean McKeown, Mento Buru's Matt Munoz and Miranda Whitworth from the Kern Federal Credit Union and finally D.R. Horton's Jason Martin and daughters Ellie and Lillie.

* ... GOOD FORM: Congratulations to Deborah Durkan, who recently retired as head of MARE (Mastering Abilities Riding Equines). Durkan spent more than 20 years at this important non-profit, helping it grow and expanding its programs serve a greater number in our community with special needs and disabilities. In a letter to MARE supporters and staff, Durkan thanked everyone "who has blessed my life through MARE ... and 'May the Horse be with you.'"

Drunk driving cases are down in cities where Uber operates, Sheri Horn-Bunk is recognized by the Taft Chamber and here's to a new U.S. citizen

 * ... UBER: It looks like ride-sharing services like Uber are helping reduce the number of drunk driving cases. That's the word from Mothers Against Drunk Driving which noted that cities that  allow Uber are showing a marked decline in driving while intoxicated.  As a report noted: "In California, drunk-driving crashes fell 6.5 percent among drivers under 30 in the markets where Uber operates following the launch of uberX in the state. That represents potentially 60 fewer drunk

driving crashes each month -- a total of 1,800 crashes avoided -- since July 2012. California is Uber’s home state and longest-running market and demonstrates for a possible similar reduction in other Uber markets." If you haven't downloaded the Uber app and tried it, you should. It is cheaper, faster and as reliable (or more so, some would argue) than traditional taxi cabs.

* ... CAFE MED: Cafe Med is one of our signature restaurants known for its unique Mediterranean cuisine, quality of service and lively happy hour. And this year it is celebrating its 25th year in business by offering customers a series of specials along with a grand celebration in June. According to owner Meir Brown, there will be specials on the 25th of every month thought the year. Said Brown: "It has been an amazing 25 years and we look forward to serving Bakersfield for many more!"

 * ... BURGERS: And speaking of food, a reader wrote to complain about the quality - and size - of the custom hamburgers at The Padre Hotel bar. "They are half the size they used to be," he told me. So I took it upon myself to check out the complaint and I can assure you the Padre burger is as delicious - and as large - as ever. Maybe the cook had a bad day when the reader dined there, but I list the hotel's Blue Truffle burger as one of the best burgers in town, along with the Hudson burger from Muertos Kitchen and Lounge and the Sonny burger from downtown Mexicali. (file photo of the Hudson and the Sonny burger)

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: This quote was attributed to Will Rogers: "When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car.”

 * ... GOOD FORM: Congratulations to my friend Juan Ventimiglia, a local substitute teacher soon to be credentialed in English, who last week became a U.S. citizen. With all the debate and controversy over immigration, it's heart warming to see someone like Ventimiglia talk with youthful wonder about the legal process he went through to become a citizen. The 29-year-old was born in Argentina but came to the United States with his mother, Monica Ayuso, who was pursuing a Ph.D. in English, at the age of two. He is a graduate of CSUB. In this case, Argentina's loss in our gain.

 * ... MORE GOOD FORM: It was good to hear that the Taft Chamber of Commerce is recognizing Sheri Horn-Bunk as its Woman of the Year for 2016. The ever energetic Horn-Bunk is director of the Taft College Foundation and is one of the brains behind the successful West Kern Petroleum Summit that is held on the college campus. Kudos also go to Bob Colton for being named Businessman of the Year and Tanner Melton who will be given the Youth Leadership Award.

Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek sends $10,000 to Taft College to fund a scholarship, downtown Bakersfield gets some love from a travel writer and the Bakersfield Californian Foundation gives out $275,000 in grants

 * ... TREBEK: Alex Trebek, the popular host of the long-running game show Jeopardy!, has developed a love affair of sorts with Taft College. Trebek has long had a fascination with oil and gas production, and in October he showed up as the emcee of the West Kern Petroleum Summit

sponsored by the Taft College Foundation. Trebek politely declined to be paid for his appearance, and instead foundation director Sheri Horn Bunk promised to create an engineering scholarship in his name. What happened next? Bunk said Trebek sent a check for $10,000 to help fund the scholarship, which Bunk called totally unexpected. "His letter to me asked if I found a good text book on drilling for oil please send that to him," she said. "The gift was unsolicited and this is one I will always remember." What's next? Trebek told Bunk he planned to return to Taft, this time to take up skydiving.

 * ... VALENTINE: A travel writer from the Sacramento Bee spent some time in Bakersfield recently, and his story cast us in a pretty good light. The piece was devoted to downtown and some of our iconic buildings and businesses: the Fox Theater, the Kress Building, the Woolworth building, the antique malls and the Padre Hotel. Said the writer: "Yet there is an undeniable charm to downtown Bakersfield’s fossilized, late-1950s feel. If you want modern conveniences – an Applebee’s and an Apple store; a Chipotle and a Nordstrom – alight to the 150-square-mile sprawl of the city’s outer, strip-mall-saturated regions. Downtown Bakersfield clings to the past with buttons and buckles, not Velcro. Sure, there’s a fancy arena and a few chain hotels anchored on Truxton Avenue. But on the grid, streets numbered and lettered with straightforward humility, the past isn’t even the past, as Faulkner wrote. This is a good thing. This is downtown Bakersfield’s charm." (photo courtesy of the Sacramento Bee)

* ... GRANTS: The Bakersfield Californian (family) Foundation awarded its Fall grants last week, handing out $275,000 to deserving non-profits. The Community Action Partnership of Kern was awarded $100,000 for a food bank solar energy improvement project, the Children First Campaign was awarded $50,000 (with an additional $50,000 in matching funds available) for a family zone pocket park, the Bakersfield SPCA was given $50,000, and the Independent Living Center of Kern $25,000. Lastly, the Lamont Women's Club was awarded $25,000 to restore the city welcome sign and the Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation won $25,000 for a technology readiness project.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "The sole purpose of a child’s middle name, is so he can tell when he’s really in trouble."

 * ... DRILLERS: Elaine Conley added this note about the old days at Bakersfield High School. "My husband, Larry Conley, enjoyed your column  about the pep band playing 'Sweet Georgia Brown' when the basketball team warmed up. Larry was captain of the pep band in 1960-61 and remembers this very well. He said the basketball coaches didn't like it because the players started twirling the ball and acting like the Globetrotters, but nothing was ever done because it was THE Driller Band!"

 ... GOOD FORM: This note, signed simply Dee and Jean, showed up in my mailbox and is worth sharing. "This morning my gentleman friend and I went to have breakfast out at our favorite restaurant - Mel's Cafe on Knudsen and Olive. It was one of those chilly mornings where pumpkin pancakes for me and ham and eggs for my friend seemed fit.  Since we are just a little old senior couple, it was a big order. Soon our waitress came over and said our check had been paid for.  It was such a great surprise.  Made our day! We want to please say thank you to the man and his little boy for turning our day into a happy day. Sir, if you are reading this, we thank you and God bless you!"

Is Krispy Kreme headed to Bakersfield? If not on California Avenue, then where? And if you are ready for some outstanding barbecue, head over to Quig's BBQ and Catering on the Garces Circle

 * … KRISPY KREME: It looks like I spoke too soon in announcing that Krispy Kreme will open a new store on California Avenue. Duane Keathley, senior partner at Cushman and Wakefield, conceded he erred in telling me the popular doughnut shop was returning to Bakersfield on California Avenue across from Barnes and Noble. "My

apologies," he said.  "Krispy Kreme was negotiating and told us that they had a deal here." But Keathley said there is good news: "Krispy Kreme is actively working on another site (not California Avenue), but it is not done." Stay tuned.

 * … FIRST FRIDAY: I am looking forward to the opening this Friday of an art show featuring the seascapes and landscapes of Santa Barbara and the California coast. It's happening at the Metro Galleries on 19th Street, all part of the First Friday celebration downtown. There will be new works by Mary-Austin Klein, David Allen Gordon, Bonnie Hineline-Kempner, Betty Leonor and Bob Rowley. (artwork by Mary-Austin Klein)

 * … FOODIE BEST BET: I finally dropped by Quig's BBQ and Catering on the Garces Circle after months of driving by and enjoying the irresistible scent of slow cooked ribs and pork. Owner Scott Quigley, West High/Bakersfield College/CSUB, was enjoying a brisk lunchtime business (he also specializes in catering events and weddings) and I am happy to report that it did not disappoint. Try the pulled pork sandwich platter that comes with some of the best French fries and cold iced tea in town.

 * … OVERHEARD: A young teacher is walking with her mother when she remarks: "You know you're from Bakersfield when the phrase 'a breath of fresh air' is not longer acceptable to say."

* … TAFT COLLEGE: A special couple is being honored by the Taft College Foundation Community Spirit Award.  That is the word from my friend Sheri Horn Bunk, head of the foundation, who told me that John and Betty Miller will be honored at the fifth annual Cougar Rib Eye Cookout on October 16 on the Taft College quad. Miller, 93, trained fighter pilots during World War II and later returned to Taft to work with his wife's sister who owned a grocery store. He later purchased Pacific Perforation that serviced the oil industry. Tickets are just $20.

* … FUND RAISER: If you can't wait for the Taft College barbecue, head up to Garces Memorial High School this Thursday for its annual Fall barbecue. The always popular event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. featuring Harris Ranch New York steak or chicken and tickets are just $25.

* … BAKERSFIELDISM: Retired Realtor Ken Barnes said you may be a Bakersfield old-timer if you remember all the local theaters that once graced downtown. "You had your choice of seven in a five square block area of downtown Bakersfield: the Nile, Fox, Kern, California, Rex, Rialto, and Virginia. Those really were the days before television became so popular."

Former House Ways and Means Committee chairman Bill Thomas: I wouldn't know how to operate in such a toxic environment that exists in Congress these days

* ... THOMAS: Bill Thomas served in the House of Representatives for 28 years and left widely regarded as an expert in tax policy and health care. As chairman of the House Ways and Means

Committee, he was instrumental in influencing some of the biggest pieces of legislation that passed in the Clinton presidency. His view of the mess in Washington now? "I wouldn't know how to operate" in that toxic of an environment, he said, referring to the stalemate and  extreme views on both sides of the aisle. Truth is, Thomas just might bring an adult influence were he to return to Washington, but his statement is indicative of the frustration we all have with the inability of our elective representatives to compromise. He also called the Republican strategy of trying to defund the Affordable Care Act a mistake. The ACA is so flawed, he said, the Republicans should have simply allowed it to roll out so Americans could view the mess it is and blame the appropriate party.

 * ... MERGER: Two locally owned and high powered engineering firms are merging effective Nov. 3. Innovative Engineering Systems, Inc., founded here in 2002, is merging with Technical Services and Management, Inc., a local company that was founded here in 2008. David Wolfer, president of IES, will remain president of the combined entity. "Combining the expertise and knowledge of both companies will be very valuable to us and to our clients," he said.

 * ...GRAFTON: The latest book by novelist Sue Grafton spends a lot of time in Bakersfield. Called "W is for Wasted" the novel is the twenty-third entry in the long-running Kinsey Millhone series. In it, she talks about visiting Bakersfield, Beale Park, driving along Truxtun and the Central Valley.

* ... NAVY: From Navy veteran and submariner Gene Bonas comes this: "Thought you'd like to know that our United States Navy is celebrating its 238 years of service to our country. It was 1775 when early American leaders foresaw the importance of a fighting force at sea.  On October 13, George Washington commissioned a small fleet to intercept British supply ships off the coast of Massachusetts. The Continental Congress approved two additional armed vessels, and the U.S. Navy was born.
For 238 years since, the Navy has excelled at its mission of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas."

 * ... OVERHEARD: A woman is talking about being stuck in the Sears elevator last week along with 100-year-old Connie Narez. "I asked her if this was ever on her bucket list," the woman said. "She was just fine and I think I was more worried than her!"

 * ... COOKOUT:  The Taft College Foundation is putting on its annual Alumni and Friends Cougar Ribeye Cookout to salute veterans and soldiers this Thursday. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students and children. You can buy them by calling (661) 763-7700. The following day, on Friday, the West Kern Petroleum Summit will be held on the Taft College campus.