Stunning new art show planned for First Friday this week and Steve McEvoy lands a job in sales art KBAK TV

 * ... FIRST FRIDAY: I am no expert on art, but I know what I like and I am impressed with some of the art that will be shown this Friday at The Metro Galleries on 19th Street. The show is called "Semblance" and it features a group of Southern Californian artists with some simply stunning pieces of work. Metro's Don Martin calls it "our most prestigious group showing ever." Curated by artist Mary-Austin Klein, he described the show as a "double decker group show with a nostalgic perspective on landscape and culture.". Also showing at Metro is glass artist Cameron Daugherty, son of local residents David and Pam Dougherty. He now resides in the Bay Area and works for a master glass blower. Another First Friday event will be a kids art opening at Ellie Jaye's Boutique. Two weeks ago Ellie Jaye's had an art class for 3-6 year olds and their work will be on display from 5 p.m. to 9 pm. this Friday.

 * ... TRASH: The city is running an anti-litter campaign, Mayor Harvey Hall and thrown his weight behind it yet some folks just don't seem to listen. Jastro Park is near my home, and it was distressing to see how the Memorial Day revelers left it defaced it with literally dozens of used soda cups and other assorted trash left behind.

 * ... BAD FORM: And speaking of bad form, memo to the driver of a white welding truck that almost took out six cyclists on Granite Road Tuesday morning: you might think it was a clever move coming within a foot of hitting the group, but it will be less humorous when you kill or maim someone and your employer gets the call from plaintiff lawyers David Cohn or Daniel Rodriguez.

 * ... MCEVOY: Nice to hear that Steve McEvoy has landed a job in sales with KBAK TV. McEvoy was fired from his job as general manager of KERO TV when the station was sold and the new owners brought in their own manager. The KBAK job allows McEvoy and his family to remain in Bakersfield.

 * ... GOOD SERVICE: Hard to think of another retail store in town that provides the kind of upbeat, friendly customer service that Hoggz Surf Shop does. Owner Chad Hoggard certainly sets the bar high.


 * ... ALLEN: Former Sheriff Mack Wimbush wrote that his grandson, Brock Allen, will be attending Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa, to play baseball. He was a catcher for the Stockdale Mustangs when they won back to back Valley championships in 2008 and 2009. He then played for the Bakersfield College Renegades and graduated this year.


 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You might be from Bakersfield if you remember Johnny's BMW motorcycle shop on 19th Street over near the new federal courthouse. Thanks to Convenant Coffee's Randy Martin for that one, and here's wishing him a speedy recovery. He spent Memorial Day weekend at Mercy Hospital being treated for two spider bites.

More turmoil at CSUB over VP Beverly Byl as the campus struggles with a very tough budget situation

 * ... CSUB TURMOIL: As if Cal State Bakersfield didn't have enough to worry about with a shrinking budget and layoffs, President Horace Mitchell is dealing with more complaints from alumni and supporters about Beverly Byl, the vice president for advancement. Byl joined the campus some three years ago to head the office in charge of fund raising and community development, but her dictatorial style has never set well with some of the more prominent members of the community or her staff. Last week, it all came to a head when the outgoing chair of the CSUB Foundation, Geoff King, called for Byl to be replaced. I am told that King, who is a partner in the accounting firm of Barbich, Hooper and King and himself a CSUB alum, spared no words in telling the Foundation board (President Mitchell and Byl were in attendance) that a change was "sorely needed" in University Advancement. King prefaced his remarks praising so many other positive things going on at the university, but he reflected a widespread view that Byl has squandered her time here failing to successfully build strong bridges with the community to raise money. This should come as no surprise to anyone close to the university, including Mitchell, who has heard all this before from a series of prominent Foundation members. And while Mitchell himself remains popular, many wonder why he has turned a deaf ear to these complaints and Byl's divisive attitude that has alienated her own co-workers and members of the community. Mitchell told me he respected King's opinion "but it's his opinion."

 * ... MORE CSUB: There's no doubt campuses like CSUB are in a squeeze, and President Mitchell is having to make some tough calls to balance the budget. Four ranking administrators were laid off this week, and other positions have gone unfilled. But what about the compensation of Mitchell, Byl and others at the top? In the private sector it's not unusual for presidents and ranking executives to take pay cuts themselves - full disclosure here: at The Californian all senior executives, including me, have taken multiple pay cuts and watched their bonuses be eliminated - so I posed that question to Mitchell. He said that's a decision that can only be made by the CSU system level, and CSUB spokesman Rob Meszaros noted that while no one has taken a pay cut at CSUB, there also haven't been raises since 2007. But with other folks losing their jobs, it seems to me like this might be something to consider.

 * ... OLD GLORY: Is your American flag starting to wear and tear? If so, you may want to drop by Goin Postal over off Brimhall Road where owners Joel and Gary Young are once again giving away new flags in exchange for your old flag. This generous offer will run through July 4th. The retail package shipping office recently presented 150 flags to blood donors at Houchin Blood Bank during its salute to the military. Goin Postal is located at 11000 Brimhall Road, Suite E.


  * ... SICK BAY: There was a nasty crash involving seven bicyclists Thursday morning on Granite Road when a pickup truck attempted to pass on a curve and brushed one of the riders when he faced an oncoming car. Greg Walker, a construction project manager, was taken to Kern Medical Center where he was treated for major road rash but no broken bones. There were about 15 cyclists in the group when the truck apparently brushed Walker, forcing him to fall and trigging the massive pileup on the road. Among the other riders who crashed were physical therapist David Rous, Stockdale Elementary principal M.T. Merickel, pharmaceutical reps Curt Pierce and Adam Hensley, State Farm employee Richard Picarelli and Bike Bakersfield's Zach Griffin. Please remember to share the road with cyclists.

* ...RETIREMENT:  Fortune magazine came out with its top four retirement communities. In the category of  "lifelong learner" the winner was Athens, Ga., home of the University of Georgia. Runner ups were San Luis Obispo and Madison, Wis., also college towns. For the "urbanite" who likes big cities, Seattle came out on top followed by Portland, Ore., and New York. For the nature lover, Fortune liked St. George, Utah, followed by Whitefish, Mont., and Maggie Valley, N.C.. For "the intrepid world traveler" the magazine liked San Rafael, Argentina, followed by Boquete, Panama, and Ambergris Caye, Belize. (photo of Athens courtesy of Athens Downtown Development Authority.)