The best tacos in California? Right here in downtown Bakersfield. Plus we turn our attention to pit bulls and beware of a pack of sharks spotted off of Pismo Beach!

 Friday, May 11, 2018

Welcome to Bakersfield Observed, now online only. 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. We value your feedback. Email your news and notes to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... BEST TACOS: So where are the best tacos in California? At one of the many dives in Los

Angeles? Or San Diego? Or San Francisco? Not so fast. According to Thrillist, that honor goes to Nuestro Mexico right here in Bakersfield. Located in the original location of La Costa Mariscos on 21st Street, Nuestro Mexico is my personal favorite and apparently writer Matt Meltzer agreed, explaining that what pushed Nuestro Mexico to the top of the pack was the restaurant's meat, which is expertly seasoned and piled high on the tortilla.

 * ... MASON MAROTTA: It was standing room only for the funeral and mass for Mason Marotta, the 23-year-old Garces High graduate who died suddenly recently. Mason was the son of Lynda and Mike Marotta and like his father, was a gifted athlete with a wide range of interest and friends. The mass at St. Francis Parish was presided over by Monsignor Craig Harrison who used Mason's love of his own family and nieces to remind us all to tell our loved ones how much we love them.

* ... SHARKS: A pack of sharks has been spotted off Pismo Beach and folks are being warned to be careful if you plan to visit the popular beach. It was a pilot who spotted at least 13 large 
sharks swimming in the three-mile stretch of ocean between Pier Avenue in Oceano and the Pismo Beach Pier, California State Parks district superintendent Kevin Pearce said the sharks measured 5 to 12 feet long. Some were within the surf line, he said, while others were within a half mile of the shore.

* ... GOOD FORM: Hats off to four remarkable local women who were honored by Garden Pathways for their contributions to our community. At the "Women with a Heart" lunch at Seven Oaks Country Club, the organization honored Beverly Camp, Robin Fleming, Lili Marsh and Janis Varner for their work.

* ... PIT BULLS: So what is your take on pit bulls and other large, aggressive dogs? Are they ticking time bombs, born aggressive, or are they misunderstood and like any other loving pet? Don't ask that to Lois Henry, the former Californian columnist who has now had two bad experiences with pit bulls. The first time came a couple years ago when she was out walking her dogs (on leashes) and a female pit attacked and killed one of her dogs. Then last week, she was out walking again when three pit bulls charged out of a neighbor's house and attacked her dogs again, injuring a small sweet one named Fugs who was treated  by a local veterinarian. Henry told me the story on my radio show, and it triggered an outpouring of love, and hate, for the breed. Next week, on KERN NewsTalk 96.1 FM, a group of pit bull owners, including Matt Nelson and Sundae Oberlies Martineau, who runs a pit rescue program, will appear on my show to defend the breed. Tune in at 2 p.m. Tuesday for the show.

 * ... SICK BAY: Here's hoping Harvey Hall bounces back from his undisclosed illness. The former four term mayor was hospitalized in Los Angeles and was forced to step down as head of Hall Ambulance, turning over the reins to his wife Lavonne.

* ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "I woke up early and drank coffee on my back porch just like one of those people in a commercial for prescription drugs."

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: "You cannot make everybody happy. You are not a taco."

* ... MEMORIES: I spotted this old photo in the Bakersfield Memories Facebook page. It's a keeper. The caption read: "Looking west down 19th from Chester in 1910. A Pope automobile sits behind the pedestrians in the foreground. The building with bunting and a flag is a land sales office. Beyond that at 19th and Eye is the Dinkelspiel Brothers store, beyond that is the Hayden Building then the largest one is the Oil Exchange Building which became the Tegeler Hotel. It was operated by Fred Tegeler, former manager of the Southern Hotel. Behind the Oil Exchange can be seen the front of the Kern County Land Co. building at 19th and H."

Experts say the coming El Nino is attracting hammerhead sharks closer to the California coast, a classy new entree from Cafe Med and more help for those stray dogs about town

 * ... EL NINO: The coming El Nino may be bringing more than a little rain to California. According to experts quoted in The Los Angeles Times, the unusually warm water is also attracting great white sharks that are feeding closer to shore. The experts said hammerheads have been reported off the

coast the past two years "because warm water draws them and their food supply - mainly yellowtail and tuna - from Central America and Baja California." Chris Lowe, director of Cal State Long Beach's shark lab, told the newspaper that "it's a different ocean than we've been used to for the last 40 or 50 years." Be careful out there.

* ... SCAMS: Carol Craig knows a scam when she sees one, and the letter from "Walmart" but with a Spanish postal marking immediately got her attention. The letter claimed to be from Walmart and enclosed a check for almost $2,000 if Craig agreed to be part of a "quality control" program. Of course, once the check is cashed (and before your bank figures out it is fake) you are asked to wire $350 "to get started." Don't fall for this one.

 * ... FOODIE BEST BET: Cafe Med is getting some rave reviews about a new 12-inch pizza is it serving, using its signature pita bread as the crust. Starting at just $10.95, this entree item is on both the bar and lunch menu. If you have had Cafe Med's pita bread, you know this will be a can't miss dish.

* ... SPOTTED: A relevant Twitter post from my friend Trish Reed: "You know you're a grown up when you're excited about getting new tires on your car after work."

 * ... STARBUCKS: Next time you are in the drive-through lane at Starbucks, consider this note from Mike Huston: "On pretty much a daily basis, I pass through the drive-thru lane at the Starbucks on 7th Standard and Highway 65.  On two occasions so far this month, I have been treated to a 'free' cappuccino, courtesy of the driver in front of me. I doubt that this practice is isolated to this particular Starbucks, but certainly worth mentioning. And, while an early morning cup of coffee is a nice way to get your morning started, I submit paying it forward to the driver behind you will make you feel even better! If you are already a regular Starbuck’s donor, you deserve the free drink destined to come your way!"

 * ... GOOD CAUSE: Feel like doing something nice for a good cause? If so, head over to Sparkling Image Car Washes of Bakersfield Friday (today) where they will be hosting their 6th annual car wash fundraiser to benefit Camp KEEP. Half of the proceeds from the sale of all full service car washes will be donated to Camp KEEP to help send kids in need to camp. In recent years, more than $40,000 has been raised through Sparkling Image for the cause.

 * ... RESCUE DOGS: Here is a new twist in the noble effort to help all those stray dogs in town. A new thrift store, called Rags to Rescue and located at 234 H Street, is opening to help fund the HALT (Helping Animals Live Tomorrow) rescue operation. The store will feature home goods, furniture, and some gently used clothing, and all proceeds will go to support dog rescue and placement operations. The store opens Friday (today) and is looking for volunteers to help staff it. Consider this a "cause for paws and other treasures."