The owners of Cafe Smitten looking at a new downtown business, The Cue gets ready to open and electric cars become the hottest segment of the new car market

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.

 * ... EASTCHESTER: Keep an eye on east 18th Street - dubbed Eastchester by the downtown crowd - for some new developments. First, the owners of Cafe Smitten - Stasie and Shai Bitton - are preparing to

open a new food and drink establishment across the street in the home of the old Dot & Ott. The venue will offer mixed drinks and food, and has been named the "Botanist." The original Cafe Smitten was opened in February 2017, followed by the Buena Vista location several years later.

 * ... THE CUE: A little farther east down 18th Street, nestled next door to the Silver Fox Lounge and across the street from Mexicali, the new Cue luxury apartments is about to open, providing yet more housing in the central business district. The Cue joins the 17th Street Townhomes as the latest project by city councilman Robert Smith and a group of investors. Ground already has been broken for a third apartment complex at the site of the old Sinaloa restaurant, and a fourth and fifth complex are in the works for the same area.

 * ... NEW STORES: Meanwhile out on Rosedale Highway a new Chick-fil-A is being built at the site of the old Pier One. It will be the second Chick-fil-A in town and, judging by the success of the California Avenue location, this one will be a hit. In fact, developers are building the new franchise with two drive-thru lines to speed things up.

 * ... ELECTRIC VEHICLE SALES: Sales of electric vehicles in the United States have gone mainstream and battery powered vehicles are now the fastest growing segment of the auto market. All that is according to Cox Automotive, who said sales of conventional cars and trucks declined 15 percent during the first nine months of this year compared to last year. Cox said buyers of electric cars tended to be both younger, and women. In that same period, the total market share of electric car sales jumped to 5.6 percent to 2.9 percent. And electric vehicles are also popular beyond California, home to early adopters.

 * ... DOG IN PAIN? GIVE HIM A CBD BISCUIT: More Americans than ever are turning to CBD products to calms their nervous dogs. A recent survey of 409 dog owners, by the Center for Canine Behavior Studies, showed that over half the owners had given their dogs CBD treats to soothe their pets. Still, there are no studies that conclude how effective these treatments have been, but apparently most dog owners are convinced CBD biscuits do work.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "There are over 8 billion people in the world now and you're still single."

 * ... BAD DRIVERS: Here's a new study on California drivers that may not surprise you. According to a study by Lending Tree, California drivers rank as some of the worst in the nation and the worst of them are in two cities: Bakersfield ranked No. 1 and Sacramento No. 2. They were among eight California cities that made it into the top 10 list, including Richmond at No. 9, Riverside at No. 8, Fresno at No. 5 and San Diego No. 6. San Francisco weighed it at No. 5 and Los Angeles at No. 4. The best drivers, the driver said, were in Louisville, Ky., which landed at No. 1.

 * ... SPOTTED AT NUESTRO MEXICO: Apparently famous Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro was in Bakersfield recently and he ate at Nuestro Mexico, which has been highlighted in the southern California media for its authentic cuisine. The director posted this on Instagram saying he stopped in Bakersfield "for some sweet molten cheese w chorizo!!"

 * ... MEMORIES: Compliments of the Bakersfield Memories Facebook page comes this picture of old downtown at 19th and Chester facing east in 1938. In the second shot, the Bakersfield History Fans page offers a promotion for Zippy the Clown.

Early election results have Rep. David Valadao hanging on against Rudy Salas, the county sales tax increase is leading and remembering the old Blackboard Cafe and the day Hells Angels road into town and visited the honky tonk

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.

 * ... LOCAL ELECTIONS: It is much too early to call many of our local elections but here are a few conclusions, hopefully not submitted too prematurely:

 * Just 13 percent of Kern County's eligible voters cast ballots, another anemic showing in what could be argued was a terribly important election.

 * After months of his ads dominating the airways, it looks like Rep. David Valadao has jumped to an

impressive lead over challenger Rudy Salas. No doubt Valadao can thank his colleague, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, for the money that flowed into his campaign as McCarthy sought to collect enough GOP victories to become Speaker of the House. With so many outstanding ballots to count, it's too early to call this race.

 * Taft doctor Jasmeet Bains has a significant and possibly insurmountable lead over Supervisor Leticia Perez in the 35th Assembly race. Bains was aided by significant media buys on her behalf in the last month of the campaign.

 * If Measure K passes you can thanks a very smart and well executed pro-K campaign by county CAO Ryan Alsop, Sheriff Donny Youngblood and District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer. The trio went on a public road show the past month to push for the tax, which would raise the sales tax in the unincorporated area to pay for vital services

 * ... BLACKBOARD CAFE: The Blackboard Cafe, a honky tonk that thrived in the rollicking days of the Bakersfield Sound and was frequented by all the great singers of the day, is long gone but fondly remembered. It originally stood on Chester Avenue just north of the Garces Circle near 34th Street (3601 Chester Avenue), but is now just a memory. Yet now comes word that an original clock that adorned the club has been donated to the Kern County Museum. Thanks to a story in BeLocal, a relatively new city magazine that is a sister publication to Stroll magazine (formerly known as Westchester mag), I learned the clock was donated and will be on display somewhere at the museum. Here's a picture of the clock along with some classic old photos showing Hells Angels at the Blackboard back in the 1960s. (Photos of the Hells Angels by Bill Ray)

 * ... SEXUAL PREDATORS: There's little doubt that sexual predators live among us - neighbors, coaches, priests, confidents, relatives, teachers - and many go unpunished because the public simply refuses to believe the allegations, or statues of limitations have expired. And that is precisely the theme of a new book by Jeff Pickering entitled "Better at the Broken Places" that recounts his own assault at the hands of a family doctor when he was a teenager living in Florida. Pickering, who spent years as head of the Kern Community Foundation, penned the book after suppressing his own assault for years and finding out years later that the doctor was still practicing in Florida. The book tells Pickering's painful personal story and how - like many victims - he suppressed the memory for years as his attacker continued to practice without consequence. The book is available on Amazon. As an added note, former Bakersfield Californian chief graphic artist Glenn Hannmett did the cover for Pickering's book.

 * ... COMEDY FOR VETERANS: If you are in the mood to help local veterans while enjoying some standup comedy on Veteran's Day, check out a special comedy club benefit set for this Friday. Sponsored by Comrades and Canopies, a group that treats veterans to skydiving in Taft, the show will feature headliner Ellis Rodriguez with Jeremiah Nation, Sam Ridley, Greg "G" Williams and Patrick Rabin. Doors  at The Well comedy club open at 6:30 at 7401 White Lane.

 * ... MEMORIES: More on the Blackboard, that famous country bar of the Bakersfield Sound era. This post from Kern County History Fans reminds us of the place that was the place for musicians to meet.

 * ... DUSTBOWL: And finally, I am sharing these remarkable pictures from the Dust Bowl, all shot in Kern County, that appear courtesy of the Kern County of Old Facebook page. Enjoy.

Bakersfield braces for a cold winter of crime and vandalism, a fed-up Portland finally moves to oust the homeless and celebrating 100,000 spay neuters by the non profit Critters Without Litters

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.

 * ... WINTER IS COMING: Winter is coming and with it the expected spike in seasonal crime. It's hard to think of petty crime getting any worse here, and for the most part residents - and of course the politicians who are supposed to do something about all this  - have learned to live with an ugly new reality of life in Bakersfield. You'd think there would be more of an urgency to clean the streets, but with a few rare exceptions (supervisor candidate Jeff Flores among them) most local elected officials just choose to ignore it. Cars are broken into nightly in the best of

neighborhoods, catalytic converters disappear in broad daylight, park restrooms have been taken over by drug addicts, empty buildings burn with frightening regularity as the number of mentally ill homeless on the streets seems to grow by the day. A businesswoman comes back from cancer treatment to find her downtown office broken into and a mess. A new business owner, proud of what she has built, finds two windows shattered during the night. A third person, an employee of a business on Stockdale Highway, reports to work one day to fire a fire smoldering in a dumpster. So what can we do? Not much it seems, but if you are a homeowner never leave anything in your car or truck, leave your outside porch lights on, install a security camera, consult with neighbors and when it is time to vote, kick out any public official who minimizes what has come of our community. (random photos around town)

 * ... PORTLAND RESPONDS: Want to know how bad the homeless issue has become? Even in Portland, home to a mindset that has allowed homeless encampments to flourish, city officials appear to have had enough. This week city crews moved into a major homeless encampment at Laurelhurst Park, located in a high income neighborhood, and cleaned the place out. As they cleared the camps bulldozers moved in and built multiple pickleball courts and a skate ramp. (file photo of Laurelhurst Park)

 * ... ENFORCEMENT WORKS: Most people involved in the homeless issue focus on providing permanent housing as the answer, yet that does little or nothing for the business people and residents who are subjected to the general craziness and lawlessness that vagrants bring. But enforcement (keeping vagrants on the move) does work, just like we saw in Portland, Just take a look at the Smart and Final parking lot on F Street, one of the city's longtime gritty venues for the homeless to gather. After a rash of vandalism, the homeless were moved out several weeks ago and - for now at least - the problem is gone. 

* ... CRITTERS WITHOUT LITTERS: Critters Without Litters is the only low cost, spay neuter non profit in Bakersfield devoted to dealing with our pet explosion problem. And now, just a few weeks from the organization's 10th anniversary, it reached a new milestone: Critters has now spayed or neutered 100,000 pets. "It's a mind boggling number," said Vicky Thrasher, executive director. "I still remember our first few weeks when we wondered how we'd ever get up to 20 surgeries a day." Critters routinely provides 70 to 80 spay/neuter surgeries a day for pets and feral or free roaming cats in the community, four days a week. They also offer a walk in vaccine clinic Monday through Thursday where anywhere from 120 to 180 animals arrive each day for vaccines. Critters Without Litters is located off White Lane on Stine Road. For more information go to www.critterswithoutlitters.org. (photos courtesy or Critters Without Litters)

 * ... SODA CRACKERS: One of the hottest local bands around, The Soda Crackers, is returning to the Kern County Museum for a special show on Sunday, Nov. 13. The band features brothers Zane and Cooper Adamo (sons of photographer Felix Adamo and author wife Teresa) and their bandmates to create a Western swing sound closely associated with the Bakersfield Sound. Tickets normally sell out so order them at https://www.eventbrite.com/.../the-soda-crackers-present...(photos by Felix Adamo)

 * .... MEMORIES: It's easy to forget how big Buck Owens was in his prime, particularly among Asian crowds who embraced his Bakersfield Sound. This picture says it all, compliments of the Kern County of Old Facebook page. The caption: "Buck Owens in mid 1970's on tour in Sydney, Australia. His manager on left is Jack McFadden, and on the right is Banjo player Ronnie Jackson. This was a month long tour in Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. Sold-out shows wherever they appeared."

Kevin McCarthy squares off with Marissa Wood in a debate, Church Militant raps Brian Smith for being endorsed by the accused "homo predator" priest Craig Harrison and local business icon Dave Urner passes away

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.

 * ... MCCARTHY DEBATE: Did you catch the televised debate between Rep. Kevin McCarthy and Democratic challenger Marissa Wood? It was a doozy with Wood laying into McCarthy for his embrace of Donald Trump and McCarthy deftly deflecting the criticism. The debate won't change the outcome of the

election - smart money is on KMAC  - but the point is it was held, both candidates showed up and viewers were entertained with a lively exchange of barbs. Say what you will about McCarthy but he did show up, took the insults and honored his commitment to the voters. And don't forget the folks at KGET and anchors Jim Scott and Alexan Balkian of Fresno who provided a public service by sponsoring the debate and asking the tough questions. 

 * ... CRAIG HARRISON: A national organization devoted to tracking and exposing priests accused of sexually molesting young men has criticized 3rd District supervisor candidate Brian Smith for his association with former monsignor Craig Harrison. In a video produced by the organization Church Militant, anchor Christine Niles leads the broadcast saying "a politician is happy to be endorsed by accused homo-predator priest" Craig Harrison. Smith, Niles said, had benefited from an event "hosted by notorious ex monsignor Craig Harrison" at Harrison's downtown Bakersfield home. Harrison left the church after it found he had been "credibly" accused by seven young male men. No charges have been filed  because the statute of limitations has expired, and Harrison has been busy trying to rebuild his life as a spiritual guide of sorts. The video from Church Militant, which Harrison unsuccessfully sued for defamation, is a reminder that this case is not over and Harrison's critics in the abuse community are not likely to be silenced. Harrison faces multiple civil lawsuits from alleged victims which are all headed to trial.

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 * ... THE EXPERIMENT IS OVER: Remember when the city installed new diagonal parking on 18th Street and added the confusing requirement that people back into the spaces because it was apparently safer? While the city thought it was a swell idea, nobody else did. So now the city has left the diagonal parking in place but removed the objectionable requirement that people back into the space. Chalk this one up as yet another nutty idea sponsored by people who would be better served figuring out how to crack down on crime and vagrants. 

 * ... ARVIN BULLYING: The family of a special needs boy who was bullied at Arvin High School, videotaped as a group of boys cut his hair, has hired one of Bakersfield's premier plaintiff's lawyers to take his case. Daniel Rodriguez of Rodriguez and Associates said he is planning a lawsuit to hold responsible those who failed to protect the boy. "The bullying happened right under the nose, right in front of the security guard," Rodriguez said.  "What excuse do they have?"

* ... RIP DAVE URNER: A man whose name is synonymous with Bakersfield business - Dave Urner - has passed away at the age of 92. It was Urner who helped position Urner's as the premier appliance store in town, a place where service came with a golden glove and the selection of washers, dryers, dish washers and refrigerators seemed endless. At one time, Urners held a chokehold on the local market and if you were in the market for an appliance, you inevitably ended up at Urner's. Urner was a 1948 graduate of Bakersfield High School and he worked for Urner’s for 70 years, serving as its president from 1980 to 2019.  Services are set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery. 

 * ... MEMORIES: A couple of old pictures, compliments of the Kern County History Fans, that speak to our collective past.

Does the restoration of Putah Creek provide a model to bring back the Kern River? Plus the Democratic no-shows at debates, prayers for Pastor Roger Spradlin and three women wanted for setting fire to a Party City

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.

 * ... WATER IN THE KERN: If you are among the many who dream about a regular flow of water in the Kern River through town, you should know about something called the Putah Creek Accord signed on May 23, 2000. In that case Putah Creek, much smaller than the Kern but similar in that it had devolved

into a largely dry creek bed full of trash and debris, became the focus of lawsuits and political action that eventually led to a comprehensive plan to restore the creek while dividing the water between farmers and the public interest served by a free flowing creek. Backed by the Public Trust Doctrine and Fish and Game Code 5937, a coalition involving environmental groups, the city of Davis and UC Davis spent four year negotiating with water agencies before a federal judge basically forced the sides to settle. Today, Putah Creek has been fully restored (a major surprise was the return of salmon), water agencies are happy to have a predicable flow of water every year and the creek has evolved into a major recreational asset. The organization Bring Back the Kern recently held a roundtable on Putah Creek focusing on ways we can get water back into the Kern River. Check out the panel discussion at Bring Back the Kern's Facebook page or at their website.

 * ... SHAME SHAME SHAME: The next time someone on the City Council tries to downplay the sharp spike in crime, remember the three women who visited the Party City store on Rosedale Highway this week and - get ready for it - set the place on fire. That's right, Bakersfield police are looking for the women in these photos - and the white Jeep - after they allegedly set fire to the store, perhaps to cover up for their shoplifting. Getting the feeling crime is out of control?

 * ... DEBATE NO SHOWS: What started with one candidate refusing to show up for a debate has apparently now become a "thing," at least among Democrats. If you recall I was harshly critical of Assemblyman Rudy Salas when he abruptly failed to show up for a scheduled televised debate with Rep. David Valadao on KGET. Now another Democratic candidate, 16th State Senate District's Melissa Hurtado, has joined in, backing out of her own scheduled debate with challenger David Shephard. Let's be clear here: when you put your name forward to represent 'the people" in a race, the very least we can expect of you is to share your views in a public setting, and to answer the criticisms in a debate. The news department over at KGET TV graciously provided the time and manpower to host the debate; the least you can do is to show up.

 * ... ROGER SPRADLIN: The community at Valley Baptist Church has rallied around Pastor Roger Spradlin who is battling an inoperable illness. Spradlin's legions of followers are being kept up to date on his condition via a Facebook account. According to a note from Andrew Spradlin, the pastor's condition is inoperable but a prayer chain is hoping for a miracle.

 * ... RICKY'S TACOS: One of the most famous taco trucks in Los Angeles is coming to Bakersfield. That's right, the widely heralded Ricky's Fish Taco truck, long considered one of the best taco trucks in the LA basin, has announced it is headed to Bakersfield to offer its highly acclaimed Ensenada-style fish and shrimp tacos. The Los Angeles Times said the award-winning taquero "garnered national attention, first popping up in Silver Lake in 2009 with a metal three-drawer filing cabinet that Piña had converted into a makeshift fryer, then with a food truck parked primarily in Los Feliz, and, more recently, in Hollywood, where he plans to sell seafood tacos for the next two weekends before leaving town." The report said the move shocked fans of Ricky's Fish Tacos who called the news devastating. Once here, the company will alert fans as to the truck's whereabouts on Twitter. (photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Times)

 * ... RIP DAVID WOOD: There has been yet another fatality involving a car hitting a bicyclist, and this time the cyclist died. Bakersfield Police said David Wood, an employee of The Finish Line bicycle shop on Stockdale Highway, was hit on Allen Road on Oct. 17 and died. There are no reports of anyone being charged or further details.

 * ... LAKE MEAD: Lake Mead is surrendering old treasures and secrets as its water level shrinks to historic levels because of the long drought. Here's a shot of a 1938 Chrysler Imperial that showed up in low water, and under it a picture of an original similar car.

 

* ... MEMORIES: Take a look at this old postcard, from Taft, along with the note on the back side. This comes compliments of the Kern County History Fans page on Facebook.

 * ... MORE MEMORIES: And lastly, check out this picture of Buck Owens along with other musical greats that appeared on the Kern County of Old Facebook page. The caption read: "1989 in San Francisco this iconic photo was taken at the music awards called the Bammies! Buck Owens performed and these other  famous musicians are all around Buck in the photo. Huey Lewis, Chris Isaak, Neil Young, Joe Saterini and John Foggerty.  Anywhere in the world that Buck Owens appeared he was always introduced from Bakersfield, California. You could say he put the city on the map!"