City Council votes against a homeless hotel near Bakersfield Heart Hospital, Labor Day revelers trash our own Hart Park and local among those rescued in the Cedar Fire

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 company or publication.

 * ... PROJECT ROOMKEY: It was a tough call, but the Bakersfield City Council did the right thing in voting unanimously to reject plans to use a hotel near the Bakersfield Heart Hospital as the site to temporarily house the homeless. The idea was called Project Roomkey, which envisions using local hotels to house the homeless during this Covid-19 pandemic. Anna Lavin, executive director of the Kern County homeless collaborative, said she was disappointed in the vote especially when she felt city staff had

supported the idea. But while Lavin and others urge compassion when it comes to the homeless, what about the surrounding businesses that must subject their own customers to to the endless parade of homeless and the problems they often bring: trash, filth, drug use, mental illness and a host of unsanitary conditions? The project ran into a buzzsaw when Dr. Brij Bhambi, a local cardiologist and one of the Heart Hospital Owners, urged the Council to vote down the idea because of the safety issues it raises with the hundreds of people, patients, employees and visitors who drop by the hospital campus daily. Let's be honest here: what local business, particularly one that serves people who already are ailing from medical conditions, want their customers to be forced to walk the gauntlet of the homeless just to get treatment?Project Roomkey is a sound idea but this was not the right location.

 * ... CREEK FIRE: You can thank the creek fire, roaring and threatening Shaver and Huntington lakes, for the bad air quality in Kern County. While the fires rage, dozens of hikers and campers have been rescued in the Sierras, including weather forecaster Aaron Perlman of KBAK TV and his wife, who had been in the area camping. (file photos of rescues)

 * ... CRESSMAN'S: If you are a regular visitor to Shaver Lake, chances are you may have stopped at Cressman's General Store to gas up or to buy a sandwich. Well, Cressman's did not make it, burned to the ground over this past weekend, another casualty of the Cedar Creek Fire. Cressman's was well known to Valley residents and it once hosted the Heavenly Half marathon as a starting point.

 * ... TRASH AND LITTER: Hart Park, which has struggled for years with trash and litter, was left a mess after the long Labor Day weekend. Huge crowds descended on Hart Park Sunday on the banks of the Kern River, leaving literally mountains of trash. A resident of Round Mountain Road, CSUB professor Dr Jeanine Kraybill, snapped a picture of the trash days after the weekend and wrote a personal note to the Kern County Board of Supervisors. It read: "I realize this is a very challenging time in terms of providing resources to clean up the trash left behind at the park and the illegal dumping that occurs out on RMR, but I would like to know how the County is and/or plans to continue to address this issue. I know I do not have to tell you the damaging environmental impact that dumped and left debris causes--this really is also a public health issue. I want to know if there are clean up crews still operating? What is being done by Park Rangers at Hart Park to combat against people leaving their trash?... I want us ALL (both residents of Kern County and visitors) to enjoy our public spaces. I love Hart Park--it is a special place, with so much potential---I am just heart-broken to see this. I am sure this is upsetting to you as well."

 * ... MEMORIES: Recognize this old building on 34th Street? Well according to the Kern County History Fans Facebook page, the old roller rink used to be home to Bell's Garden Supply, at least in this picture dated to 1949.

Smoke from the Creek fire near Shaver Lake descends over Kern County, protesters gather at the personal residence of Rep. Kevin McCarthy and the cancel culture muffles free speech

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 company or publication.

 * ... FREE SPEECH: If you are like a lot of people, the world has become so polarized that it's better just to keep your mouth shut. Mention you support Joe Biden, or Donald Trump, and you may lose

friends. Researchers say it is increasingly common for people to hold their beliefs to themselves, lest they incur the wrath for simply saying how they feel. The New York Times reported that 62 percent of all Americans agreed with this statement: "The political climate these days prevents me from saving things I believe because others might find them offensive." That includes 77 percent of self identified conservatives and also 52 percent of liberals.

 * ... CREEK FIRE: You can thank the Creek fire up near Shaver Lake for much of the bad air that has descended over Kern County, but it remains a dangerous situation near the lake. The Visalia Times-Delta reported that at least 20 people were injured the fire and thousands of families had been forced to evacuate from the Sierra National Forest during the Labor Day holiday weekend. More than 40,000 acres have been consumed in the fire and the National Guard is using military helicopters to rescue people stranded at the lakefront. (fire photos courtesy of KMPH and The Fresno Bee)

 * ... KMAC PROTEST: I am not sure what was worse: the fact that a group of protesters rallied outside of Kevin McCarthy's personal residence, or the utter ridiculousness of their demands. Let's be clear here: nobody broke the law when a couple dozen young protesters showed up at 4:30 a.m. to harass the McCarthy family, even if it was in such poor taste that seems beyond question. But the real fun was reading the "demands" from the protesters: including that McCarthy end his support for oil and natural gas or resign. Unknown up to this point, the groups included the Sunrise Movement, Kern County Hub, Our Revolution Kern County and Kern Young Democrats. And, let's be fair here, it's not a true 2020 protest unless it includes some kind of charge about white supremacy. Which, of course, this one did.  “We have a message for all local, state and federal Kern County politicians,” the group said in a statement. “If you don’t work to dismantle the white supremacist ideals that devalues (Black, indigenous and people of color) lives, if you don’t advocate for a just transition for workers while moving away from fossil fuels, you need to resign.”

 

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "My boss said 'Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.' Now I’m sitting in a disciplinary meeting dressed as Batman."

 * ... ATTACK AD: Did you see the advertisement attacking Rep. Kevin McCarthy in the Sunday Bakersfield Californian? The full page advertisement was taken out by ActBlue.com, a non-profit that supports Democratic candidates and policies.

 * ... MEMORIES: I ran across the old pictures from Taft - they actually were postcards - on the Kern County of Old Facebook page.

 * ... MORE MEMORIES: And check out this postcard of the old Southern Hotel thanks to the Kern County History Fans Facebook page.

District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer criticizes a Superior Court judge for going soft on crime, Wool Grower's opens for outdoor dining and longtime tennis pro Hank Pfister prepares to retire

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 company or publication.

 * ... CYNTHIA ZIMMER: District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer has come under fire for criticizing a Superior Court judge for alleged having a "pro criminal bias" when handing down sentencing. The Criminal Defense Bar of Kern County said Zimmer's comment "undermines the public's confidence in the judicial system and is affront to the principles reflected in the Constitution." A statement went on to say

that "these comments instill fear in and pressure on all judges to act in accordance with the prosecutions wishes or face unfair attacks on their integrity." Zimmer has defended her statements and said the public should be well informed about where judges stand on crime and sentencing.

 * ... WOOL GROWERS: KC Steakhouse has enjoyed good success with its "Stockyard" outdoor dining, and now Woolgrowers has introduced its own version of that called the "Sheep Camp." The popular Basque eatery said seating was limited and it urged customers to make reservations.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "While I was talking to a young colleague the other day I discovered that she's never seen 'Pulp Fiction.' As I prepared to exclaim my disbelief, I realized SHE HADN'T YET BEEN BORN WHEN IT WAS RELEASED."

 * ... RETIREMENT: Congratulations to Hank Pfister, the longtime tennis pro at Stockdale Country Club who is retiring in October. Once one of the top ranked singles players in the world, Pfister enjoyed a long career on the professional circuit before returning to Bakersfield where he eventually landed at Stockdale Country Club. Pfister said he and his wife, Kim, plan to spend time at a ranch they purchased in the lower Sierras. At one time Pfister was ranked No. 12 in the world in professional tennis.

 * ... RIP FRANK HOOVER: Former Kern County Superior Court Judge Frank Hoover died this week, leaving a legacy for honesty, wit and treating everyone with dignity. For a time Hoover presided a "drug court" where he was known for his equitable treatment of people dealing with difficult times. His son posted this on Facebook: "Maybe during these hard times, with the pandemic, ever growing political division, and natural disasters, we can pay homage to the memory of Frank Hoover by taking a moment to reflect on his belief that, ultimately, we are all human, that we all need to be loved, we all deserve to be treated with dignity and belonging, and that by giving it we can make real and lasting difference in the lives of people around us. Can you think of someone today that needs to hear from you? Can you think of anyone that would benefit from being given a hand up?"

 * ... MEMORIES: I picked up this old photo of the area that became Lake Isabella off the Kern County History Fans Facebook page. The picture dates from July, 1927.

 * ... MORE MEMORIES: And how about this classic shot of Chester Avenue, looking toward the clock tower, in the mid 1930s? Courtesy of the Kern County of Old Facebook page.

Most people who die during the pandemic have serious underlying conditions, the District Attorney expresses no confidence in a local judge and "Back the Blue" protesters hit Highway 101 on the Central Coast

 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 company or publication.

 * ... COVID DEATHS: We have good news and bad news when it comes to the coronavirus. First, it's probably good news that 94 percent of patents who died from the virus also had underlying health conditions. But the bad news? Well, according to local health experts, many of those underlying

conditions - diabetes, obesity, auto-immune conditions - are prevalent among adults in Kern County. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention only 6 percent of deaths listed COVID-19 as the only cause of death, meaning the rest died from other health conditions.

  * ... CYNTHIA ZIMMER: In a rare move, our District Attorney's office has denounced a local Superior Court judge as biased and said it lacks confidence in the judge's ability to handle future criminal cases. District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer  said she will try to avoid having criminal cases heard by Judge Michael E. Dellostritto after he struck firearms enhancements when sentencing a man who shot and wounded another man in east Bakersfield. "If ever there was a case that warrants the imposition of a life sentence for unlawfully injecting firearms into crimes and increasing violence and suffering cause by doing so, this is it." I will discuss the case when I interview Zimmer Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. on KERN NewsTalk 96.1 FM/1180.

 * ... STREET RACING: The crackdown on street racing in town - long overdue - is finally reaping some results. Over the weekend police arrested seven people and cited 80 others in a second consecutive weekend of street racing enforcement. Between 9 p.m. Friday and 2 a.m. Saturday, Bakersfield police cracked down on street racing, leading to 33 vehicles being impounded and dozens of citations.

Anyone with information regarding street racing or reckless driving is encouraged to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at 327-7111. 

 * ... BACK THE BLUE: If you were on the Central Coast this weekend you may have spotted a pro-police rally staged on an overpass on Highway 101. Protesters gathered at the overpass and hung U.S. flags and "Back the Blue" signs while they were cheered on by passing cars honking their horns.

 * ... TEJON PASS: Check out these contrasting picture of the Tejon Pass over the years, and remember this the next time you drive to Los Angeles.

The last time anyone saw Morgan Patten alive she was eating alone at an Applebee's, eager to meet her fiance the next morning. She would never make it, and a family is determined to find out what happened

 THIS WEEK ON THE RICHARD BEENE SHOW (KERN NEWSTALK 96.1 FM/1180 AM) WE WILL FEATURE A SPECIAL REPORT ON THE LIFE OF MORGAN PATTEN, A 24-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHOSE LIFE WAS CUT SHORT IN MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES LATE LAST YEAR.  ENGAGED TO A BAKERSFIELD MAN AT THE TIME OF HER DEATH, IT IS A STORY

OF YOUTH, HOPE, LOVE AND UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY THAT HAS LEFT LIVES CRUSHED FROM BAKERSFIELD TO BOSTON. 

 TUNE IN ON TUESDAY, AT 1:30 P.M. PACIFIC TIME, TO HEAR MORGAN'S LOVED ONES TALK ABOUT THEIR QUEST FOR JUSTICE. IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE THE BAKERSFIELD AREA, YOU CAN GO TO KERNRADIO.COM AND LISTEN TO INTERVIEW LIVE.

Philip R. Brandon grew up a block off Panorama Drive on a leafy street in Bakersfield, California,  and like many of his neighbors, spent his early years attending classes at Our Lady of Perpetual Help and later at Garces Memorial High School. But Kern County and Bakersfield were not in his future, and his journey into adulthood took him 3,000 miles across the country to Massachusetts
where he found meaning in work, the Marine Corps and most of all, a woman who would forever change his life.

Morgan Patten

 By all accounts Morgan Patten was remarkable: an ethereal presence who grew up in Bradford, New Hampshire, where her family owned a small family lumber mill. Her parents called her “Mouse,” and through them she inherited a work ethic and moral compass that reflected the core values of her family: loyalty, faith and family. It was hardly a surprise then that Morgan, the only child of Steve and Renee Patten, set her sights high to become an environmental lawyer. While waiting for law school to start, she pulled long shifts as a  manager at the Hyannis Marina.

 Philip and Morgan’s lives converged on Martha’s Vineyard, where Phil had moved after leaving Bakersfield, and in the parlance of their parents, it was meant to be. They were instantly inseparable, their bond only growing closer when Phil shipped off to Parris Island, S.C., where he would endure three months of basic training to become a U.S. Marine.

 But this romance had no story-book ending. By now engaged, Morgan took a commercial airliner to Jacksonville, N.C. to reunite with Phil, who was wrapping up Advanced Infantry Training at Camp Geiger. The last time anyone would hear from Morgan was the night before she was to meet Phil. Hungry after a long day of traveling and anxious to get to bed early to meet Phil in the morning, Morgan walked to an Applebee’s next door to her hotel and ordered a garden salad with grilled chicken and a Sam Adams Boston Lager. She spent dinner texting both her parents and Phil.

 The last time her parents would hear from her was at 9:42 p.m. on Friday, November 8. “Okay, going to sleep.” she told her mother, who responded with a simple, “Love you. Goodnight.”

 There would be no more texts. Morgan’s short life would come to an end on a lonely country road 15 miles away from Applebees when a pickup truck carrying Morgan and two Camp Lejeune Marines - military police off all things - flipped and crashed, throwing Morgan from the vehicle. Police said the vehicle was going close to 90 mph when it veered off the road.

 She was 24 when she died, her death cloaked in a mystery, a murder mystery some might call it, and it has consumed the lives of her fiancee Phil and her parents and friends.

 How did Morgan end up in a truck with two strangers? Why did this young girl, overwhelmed with excitement to see her fiancee, a young lady known for her caution and good judgment, end up with two Marines who were complete strangers? Was she kidnapped? Forced into the truck by the Marines? Something more sinister?

 How did she die? Why did she die? Who will be held responsible, and where is the justice? 

 Next week on Tuesday, September 1, I will chat with Phil Brandon and Morgan’s parents, Steve and Renee Patten, about the search for justice in the death of Morgan Patten.

 It is a story of love, hope, youth, promise and tragedy. And it is a story that at least today, has no ending. 

 The segment will be aired at 1:30 p.m Tuesday on KERN NewsTalk 96.1 FM/1180 AM. To listen to the broadcast outside the area, go to KERNRADIO.COM to listen to the interview live.

Despite the pandemic CSUB posts a record enrollment for the semester, Bakersfield gears up for dove season and the long project to widen 24th Street starts to wind down

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 company or publication.

 * ... CSUB: Despite the pandemic and millions out of work, Cal State University Bakersfield has set a new record for enrollment. CSUB president Lynnette Zelezny says enrollment for the semester that began this week stands at 11,700, a record high for our local university. All 23 CSU campuses have gone to
online learning, even though Zelezny said a few students remain on campus, some of them living in the on-campus dormitories. Zelezny noted that fully 80 percent of CSUB's students receive some time of financial assistance.

 * ... CSUB FUND RAISING: Meanwhile, someone is doing a a hell of a job with fund raising out at CSUB. Largely through the efforts of University Advancement under vice president Victor Martin, the university has raised $10 million for students, a 34 percent increase from the previous year. 

It’s a record fundraising year for California State University, Bakersfield during the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

CSUB president Lynnette Zelezny put it this way: “In a year of great challenge and sacrifice, CSU Bakersfield’s most loyal supporters demonstrated their belief in our students with generous gifts that will allow the university to expand research opportunities and other innovative programs for the benefit of our region, economy and residents. CSUB owes a special debt of gratitude to Barbara Grimm-Marshall and Kari Grimm Anderson for their visionary investment in the study of agricultural business, which is a game changer for CSUB and the families committed to this honorable way of life that feeds millions around the world." 

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "One morning, the CEO of UPS woke up and was like 'Screw it, trucks don’t need doors.'"

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: This picture pretty much sums up the year.

 * ... 24TH STREET: The long slog to widen and improve 24th Street from Highway 99 through town is coming to an end, and not a day too soon. With most of the road widened and repaved, the city will use most of September to work on landscaping on both the north and south sides of the street. There will be periodic lane closures in each direction. Below are some artist renderings of how the landscaping may look.

 * ... DOVE SEASON: Dove season opens next week, but opening day is celebrated as much in some of our iconic watering holes as it is in an open field. Traditionally the opening of dove season has been a gang buster's business at places like Woolgrower's and Pyrenees Cafe in east Kern and this year - despite the pandemic - the show will go on. Check out this post from Rod and Julie Crawford over at Pyrenees: "Opening Day of Dove Season is next Tuesday September 2 and our patio is open for service with a full Basque Breakfast and cocktails. Please try and come early since we do not take reservations that day, also remember we have limited outdoor seating due to COVID and once you are seated we cannot allow guests to walk around ... we ask that you stay in your seat. Also please have a mask on until you are seated. Thanks for understanding. See you Tuesday it’s going to be a fun day." (photo is from a previous year at Pyrenees)

 * ... MEMORIES: From the archives of the Kern County History Fans' Facebook page comes this little treasure, who around 1988 at Paso Ranch.

California's rush toward green energy is leaving residents in the dark, Amestoys closes and is left tagged and vandalized and CSUB president Lynnette Zelezny set for a radio interview on the first day of classes

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 company or publication.

 * ... POWER BROWNOUTS: Just so we are all clear, it's important for every Californian to know that if your utility cuts your power because of the heat, this is something the California legislature brought on themselves. That's right because the truth is there is plenty of power in California, more than enough to

keep every air conditioner humming through the most extreme heat waves. But in California, in the name of climate change, the state requires that 60 percent of our power should come from renewable energy, and wind and solar farms simply cannot keep up. With the mandate in place, augmented by generous federal subsidies for alternative energy, perfectly functioning power plants have been closing, leaving our state increasingly dependent on wind and solar. In a report from the Institute of Energy Research, it is noted that "California's blackouts are a product of its politically-determined reliance on intermittent, unreliable renewable energy, not the heatwave. " Many of California's natural gas and nuclear plants have had to shut down because they cannot compete with heavily subsidized renewable energy," it said. "Also, California's state water regulations are forcing the shutdown of natural gas plants along the coast that can quickly ramp up generation during peak demand periods or when solar power plunges. Because of policies promulgated by California's anti-fossil energy politicians, Californians are paying for new renewable power when they already have natural gas capacity readily available to meet demand 24/7."

 * ... AMESTOYS: Amestoys, the iconic east Bakersfield bar that held court for more than 70 years before closing last year, has been reduced to a sad pile of graffiti-strewn trash and rubble. The River Boulevard bar closed in June of last year, and already it has turned into an eyesore. It has been broken into, set afire and tagged with graffiti on virtually every wall.

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: "I am getting tired of being part of a major historical event."

 * ... LYNNETTE ZELEZNY: The pandemic has turned the college experience upside down and no where is that more true that out at Cal State Bakersfield. The CSU system kicks off virtual classes Monday while other schools - notably in the Southeastern Conference - are planning to have students on campus and continue with sports. I will chat with CSUB president Lynnette Zelezny on Monday at 2 p.m. on KERN NewsTalk 96.1 FM/1180 AM to get her views as we kick off a new academic year.

 * ... CALIFORNIA FIRES: There are literally hundreds of fires burning in California today, many of them clustered in northern California from Santa Cruz to Vacaville and all along the I-80 corridor. And one problem plaguing California is the lack of firefighters, which was aggravated when Gov. Gavin Newsom patrolled hundreds of fire fighting inmates because of the coronavirus. State officials say there are normally some 3,000 inmate firefighters ready to serve, but that number has been reduced to around 1,000 because of the paroles.

 * ... IBERIA HOTEL: Check out this picture of an old Basque Hotel in east Bakersfield. A precursor for the now closed Noreiga Hotel?