Gov. Gavin Newsom performs a "bait and switch" with the state dollars meant for road improvements, Countryside Market opens to serve the east side of town and North High and Stockdale hold some high school reunions

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. 

 * ... BAIT AND SWITCH: If you voted for the state gas tax under the assumption the money would

be used solely for road and bridge improvements, how do you feel now? In yet another Sacramento bait and switch, Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order allowing him to siphon off at least $5 billion for "environmentally friendly" alternatives to projects associated with fossil fuels. That's right, those taxes we were promised would go to infrastructure are now going for softer, more green friendly pet projects. Among the project that were killed were several in the Central Valley, including the widening of the "blood alley" portion of Highway 46. And they wonder why the public is so cynical.

 * ... COUNTRYSIDE MARKET: There is finally some good news for those folks living on the east side of town, particularly those in the Tuscany and City in the Hills communities. Countryside Market has opened a new branch at the corner of Comanche Drive and Highway 178, featuring gas, fresh coffee, groceries and even a Smith's bakery. Countryside Markets are always top shelf, and you can expect this one to benefit from some very grateful neighbors.

 * ... REUINIONS: Congratulatons to the North High School class of 1989 that celebrated its 30th reunion at Woolgrower;s, and the Stockdale Class of 1999 which held its 20th this weekend as well.

* ... THEFT: I spotted this post on Facebook. Beware of your surroundings during this surge in crime.

 * ... PORTER RANCH FIRE: Check out this picture of a partially burned edition of The Los Angeles Times, scorched in the fire that engulfed part of Porter Ranch in the San Fernando Valley. The banner headline reads, in part: "...blackouts raise anger... high fire danger affect millions" (Screen grab from KTLA live footage)

 * ... MEMORIES: And how about these pictures of some old theaters, starting with one  on North Chester back in the mid 1950s. The second shot shows movie goers outside of the California Theater at 1816 Chester Ave. Next to the theater was the Opera Meat Market and the Union Stage Depot. The photo is dated 1923 and is compliments of the Kern County of Old Facebook page. Enjoy.

More than half of Kern County's homeless describe themselves as drug users or mentally ill, get ready for a new hike in gas prices and Jastro Park set to get six new pickle ball courts

Monday, June 24, 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 community such a special place. Send news items to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

* ... HOMELESS: Here are some statistics from the latest homeless census that will depress you: 51 percent of the Kern County homeless identify themselves as drug abusers, 27 percent say they are

mentally ill, 24 percent say they have a chronic illness, 71 percent say they have no income, 10 percent say they are victims of domestic violence, 10 percent say they are fresh out of jail or prison, 2 percent were in a mental health facility recently and 2 percent are out of a hospital. All of this points to one conclusion: housing alone will not solve this crisis. Those addicted to drugs or suffering from mental illness will be harder to get off the street.

 * ... MORE HOMELESS: An speaking of the homeless, former homebuilder and mayoral candidate Kyle Carter, who lives downtown, posted this as a sign of our times: "Well, I’ve seen it all now. I was driving home from work today, Saturday, 2 p.m. and noticed a young girl in her 20s just drop trow and defecate right on Mary K. Shell's front lawn. Right on the corner of 21st and Elm streets.  This business is beyond out of hand. I want to be a good Christian and show God's love. But does that include putting up with, cleaning up after and paying for the shenanigans of these people that choose to destroy their own lives ? I’ve done all I can. I’ve worked all of my life to make this community a better place for people to live. This is not safe. It is not healthy. I am sure that this is not what God condones. We have got to do better as a community."

 * ... GAS TAX: Think gas prices in California are high enough? Well think again because the price is about to jump another six cents a gallon in line with the transportation initiative approved by the voters. The price per gallon will jump another six cents on July 1, yet another insult in a state already overburdened by state taxes and fees.

 * ... ARCHITECTS: Congratulations to Paul Skarphol and Gregory Frank, who have merged their businesses to create Skarphol/Frank Associates, specialists in architecture, planning and interiors. The new business relocated to a building in the emerging "EastChester" area of downtown.

 * ... PICKLE BALL: Bakersfield is getting six new pickle ball courts at Jastro Park. The city stripped the old tennis courts on Truxtun to create six pickle ball courts and two tennis courts to accommodate the growing popularity of pickle ball around town. The courts will be dedicated next Saturday at 8 a.m. with City Manager Alan Tandy (himself a big pickle ball fan) doing the court dedication.

 * ... BUCKET LIST: Congratulations to Pam Taylor, who works at Elk Hills, for scratching off skydiving from her bucket list. Taylor did the jump Skydive Taft.

 * ... MEMORIES: Enjoy these old pictures from the Facebook Kern County of Old and Kern County History Fans pages.