Bakersfield Observed

Thursday, February 9, 2023

The energy sector reacts with disappointment to the president's State of the Union address, water trickles back into the Kern River and all the hoopla over gender identity at the Kern High School District

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 RIVER: Don't look now but there is water back in the Kern River, albeit not much but at least there is something and that's worth celebrating. Because no matter who you are, the

overwhelming percentage of Bakersfield residents say water in the river is a much coveted quality of life issue, and when it's gone - well it's just plain ugly. And so the legal tug of wars continue over who owns the water in the river, and those of us who live and pay taxes here are left wondering when it will be public's turn to enjoy the sight of water in our river year round.

* ... CHAD HATHAWAY: Local oil executive Chad Hathaway got a front row seat at this week's State of the Union as the invited guest of GOP Congressman David Valadao. Hathaway, a plain speaking oilman who company has survived the erratic ups and downs of the energy market, returned frustrated that President Biden seems blind to the contributions - both big and small - of fossil fuels.

* ... CHAMBER TRANSITION: A major transition is under way at the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce where CEO and president Nick Ortiz announced he is leaving to become vice president of local chamber relations at CalChamber and president and CEO of the business group's main training program, the Western Association of Chamber Executives. In the interim and while a nationwide search is conducted, Hilliary Haenes will replace him. Haenes is currently vice president of member engagement. Ortiz has presided over the Chamber for almost eight years and his departure is a big loss for Kern, but Haenes is experienced and talented and the transition should be a seamless one.

* ... RIP JOHN MOORHOUSE: John Moorhouse, a local insurance agent who was part of the family that owned The Bakersfield Californian, has died. He was 82. Moorhouse was married to Ginger Moorhouse, whose family owned The Bakersfield Californian for years before selling it a few years ago. He served on the company's Board of Directors until the paper was sold and he also served time as president of the Tree Foundation of Kern, as well as being a member of the downtown Bakersfield Rotary Club. Moorhouse was originally from New Hampshire and moved west to Bakersfield in 1994 when Ginger Moorhouse returned to California to run the family business.

* ... LOU ANN DURRETT: A familiar name over at Garces Memorial High, Lou Ann Durrett, is leaving her job on the school leadership team to become executive director of the Bakersfield Catholic Education Foundation (BCEF). The foundation was previously known as the Garces Memorial High School Foundation, established in 1989 to benefit Garces.

* ... WHAT'S HOT: The hottest ticket in town is a seat to watch the Kern High School District Board in action, and boy was there action this week. The topic: a Kern high school teacher who told The New York Times that her job is to "protect kids" and part of doing so is giving them advice on gender identity. As you can image dozens of Bible toting residents appeared demanding the Del Oro High teacher (Olivia Garrison) be fired. In addition the senior pastor of the Rock Harbor Church, Brandon Holthaus, called Garrison's remarks an affront to parental authority. For its part, school board president Bryan Batey assured the crowd that the school board believed that parents, not teachers, are the best people to counsel children.

* ... MEMORIES: Here are a couple of wonderful old historic photos, featured on the Facebook page called Kern County History Fans, to enjoy today. The first shows the Bakersfield Fire Ladder Wagon at 20th and "K" Streets in 1911 just outside of Fire Station number 1.

Friday, February 3, 2023

A former cop outlines a culture of corruption, silence and doing "whatever it takes" to get a conviction in the Bakersfield Police Department, Gov. Newsom calls Bako the murder capital" of California and Traco Matthews gets his own church

* ... POLICE CORRUPTION? A disgraced ex cop has leveled a series of accusations against the Bakersfield Police Department, claiming a culture of corruption in the early 2000s led officers and officers to lie, cover up and "do anything" to make a case stick. The charges came from Demacio Diaz in a

remarkable interview with KGET this week, and even if you consider that Diaz's own credibility has been called into question, his charges about a culture of corruption at BPD are troubling. Diaz was convicted and sentenced for his role in stealing drugs from the police evidence room, and has been linked to a 2013 shooting in which a police informant was killed in the Four Points Sheraton parking lot. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Diaz told KGET the culture at the department was to "get the case closed by ant means possible." What that meant, he warned, was "your own business." Now retired Greg Williamson was chief at the time and did not comment for the KGET story.

* ... BLAME GAME: Here's a question for those of you who live in Bakersfield and Kern County: do you feel as if you are living in the murder capital of California? That's exactly how Gov. Gavin Newsom refers to Kern County as he trades political barbs with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his 23rd Congressional District. Newsom was asked if he had spoken to McCarthy since the mass shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, and he dismissed that notion and added this: “Of course, he represents the murder capital of California,” Newsom said of McCarthy.

* ... HAGGIN OAKS: When crime spikes in times like these, there are few neighborhoods that are immune from its poison. So it wasn't really a surprise when we learned that an elderly woman in Haggin Oaks suffered a home invasion robbery recently. But in Haggin Oaks? Police said several young men ransacked her home and made off with money and jewelry, temporarily turned the quiet neighborhood into a crime scene. When it happens in Haggin Oaks, you know it is happening just about everywhere.

* ... TRACO MATTHEWS: Congratulations to Traco Matthews who has just been installed as the new pastor of the Church of God Bakersfield. Matthews, a CSUB graduate and among a group of young leaders emerging in Kern County, will preside over the church along with First Lady Jessica Mathews, his equally accomplished wife. Previously Matthews worked for Area Energy, the Kern Superintendent of Schools, Community Action Partnership and State Farm. He currently serves as chief health equity officer at Kern Health.

* ... WHAT A VIEW: Check out this lovely drone photo of the hills of Kern County taken by German Cervera. And we wonder why cyclists love to traverse this county on two wheels.

* ... MEMORIES: Two more great historical photos of some familiar streets posted by the folks over at Kern County History Fans Facebook page.

Thursday, January 26, 2023

A new documentary takes aim at Kern County and depicts cops out of control, we pass the anniversary of the famous "snow day" and improvements to Hart Park help make it shine

* ... KILLING COUNTY: If you haven't already heard of "Killing County," a new Hulu documentary depicting Kern County as a violent place where police are out of control, you will soon. The documentary reviews a series of officer involved shootings that put Bakersfield in the spotlight several years ago. And yet, the piece has already come under harsh criticism for small but important things like confusing the

Bakersfield police department with the Kern County Sheriff's Department and putting the blame squarely on the shoulders of Sheriff Donny Youngblood. And to top it off, the documentary is introduced by controversial former NFL quarterback Colin Kapernick. So is Killing County yet another hit job or does it reflect a reality we don't want to accept? View it yourself and draw your own ... conclusions. https://youtu.be/NEC1_fV6wgo

* ... EXERCISES FOR LIFE: If hitting the gym is not for you, you might want to consider a few simple exercises that can be done right at home without equipment, and experts say it may just be about all you need. Using just your body weight, experts say a simple routine of squats, lunges and a few exercises on a yoga matt to strengthen your spine and back may be all you need. It's a workout that focuses on mobility and overall core strength. "Your spine is the center of your torso, the hip is what connects your legs to torso, and the shoulder is what connects your arms to your torso," said Jessica Valiant, physical therapist in Denver. "These are the main areas that you use to reach and lift and pull. If you can work to keep those mobile, you are going to help yourself with 90 percent of the activities that you do every day."

* ... SNOW DAY: Can you believe it's been 24 years since the famous "snow day" in Bakersfield. Yep, it was this time in 1999 when Bakersfield awoke to an amazing snowfall, grinding the town to a stall as kids enjoyed a rare day in Kern County. Here are a few pictures taken from that day including a couple famous ones by Californian photographer Henry Barrios and KGET.

* ... HART PARK: Hart Park shines this time of year and the trail hikes above the KCSO shooting range have been full of people enjoying the child and fresh air. And the park, thanks in part of county CAO Ryan Alsop, has never looked better. A relatively new bathroom at the base of the trail near the shooting range is a huge hit, as is the new parking lot and other amenities.

* ... RIP MICHELE BUONI: Bakersfield lost an angel recently when Michele Buoni died after a short but tragic battle with gastric cancer. A service was held at St. Francis this week in honor of her life. A bright light gifted with a wide smile that she brought to her tennis group almost every day at Bakersfield Racquet Club, Michele was married to her high school sweetheart Mario for 39 years. Her obituary ended with this: "In lieu of flowers, Michele's memory may be honored with a donation to the Bakersfield Racquet Club for the dedication of a court in her name, 1660 Pine Street, Bakersfield CA 93301. If we are lucky, and in the right place at the right time, someone amazing can fall into our lives. For many, Michele was that extraordinary person. "

* ... MEMORIES: The old Hotel Lebec once graced the old Ridge Route road before the completion of Interstate 5 to Los Angeles, and in its day it played host to Hollywood celebrities, politicians and well-to-do travelers looking for a place to rest after a long journey. Here is a wonderful picture of the place, thanks to John Kelley and the Bakersfield Memories Facebook page. Steven Humphrey, a local historian, added the picture of the vacant property to show us where the Lebec once stood.

Saturday, January 21, 2023

The man responsible for the success of the VW Beetle dies, California winter heating bills skyrocket with the price of natural gas, San Jose requires gun liability insurance and a Harvard study finds warm friendships may be the secret to happiness

* ... RIP CARL HAHN: If you ever owned a Volkswagen Beetle, and if you are of a certain age chances are you did, you owe a nod of gratitude to Carl Hahn, the German marketing whiz who as CEO oversaw an

explosive grow of the German "people's car" in the United States. With Hahn as CEO, and behind a clever advertising campaign that emphasized the Beetle's small size and practicality, sales of the VW Beetle rose to a peak of 423,000 in 1968. Hahn died this week at the age of 96. This bit of counter marketing, emphasizing smallness and practicality in a market dominated by Detroit muscle cars, proved a master stroke for sales of the Beetle.

* ... WINTER HEATING BILLS: Have your heating bills skyrocketed this year? If you're in California, there is aa reason for that. Experts are pointing to uncertainty over when a new pipeline will reopen to deliver relief to customers who are experiencing sticker shock. Heating bills in Bakersfield, depending on the size of the home, have jumped to $400-$500 a month in many cases, and more is on the way. San Diego Gas and Electric, owned by Sempra, said typical residential gas bills averaged $120 higher in January alone. The Wall Street Journal noted that natural gas production in California is about half of what it was a decade ago.

* ... GUN INSURANCE: The first mandatory gun insurance law has taken the books in San Jose, and gun owners are already finding a way around it. On Jan. 1 a new law went into effect mandating that gun owners have insurance covering costs related to accidental gunshot injuries or death. Some gun owners are simply placing their weapons elsewhere, outside the city, or joining new legal challenges to the new law.

* ... LIFELONG FULFILLMENT: At some point in life we will all ask ourselves this: what is the real secret of a full life? Well according to an 85-year study by Harvard, personal connections are the most important factor in long-term health and happiness. Said The Wall Street Journal: "Contrary to what many people might think, it's not career achievement, or exercise or a healthy diet. Don't get us wrong; these things matter. But one thing continuously demonstrates its broad and enduring importance: good relationships.... Good relationships keep us healthier and happier. Period. If you want to make one decision to ensure your own health and happiness, it should be to cultivate warm relationships of all kinds."

* ... MEMORIES: A couple of important old historical pictures from the Kern County of Old Facebook page, a treasure trove of historical photos. The first one shows Merle Haggard at his local office an the second a wonderful old photo of the Kern County Union High School.

Thursday, January 12, 2023

Despite California's war on fossil fuels, petroleum and natural gas production is surging, Mother Nature's post storm beauty and In-N-Out heads east to Tennessee

* ... FOSSIL FUELS: If you live in California, you are subjected to the loud, chaotic drumbeat of a message that views fossil fuels - oil, natural gas - as the enemy. But what happens when the wokeness of official state policy meets reality? That answer is here and it won't please those who are hellbent to destroy the fossil fuel industry. Said the Wall Street Journal: "Thanks to a mix of events, from the Russian

invasion of Ukraine to the U.S. economic recovery, fossil fuels are showing surprising resilience, despite President Biden's push to transition to clean energy and the industry's own history of boom-bust investing and heavy reliance on debt. So here's the truth: U.S. production of natural gas is near an all time high and crude oil production are at 2019 levels and prices have spiked, particularly in California.

* ... RAINSTORMS: The storms and rain that pummeled Kern County produced some wonderful images. Enjoy these shots and thanks to all the contributors like Pam Taylor, Rusty Burchfield, Melissa Dignan,

* .... MACYS: It's a wonder how any retailer in men's or women's clothing stays alive these days, so it should come as no surprise that Macy’s will be closing more stores in 2023, including a big one in Los Angeles. Among the four stores set for closing is the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza outlet, along with stores in Fort Collins, Gaithersburg, Md., and Hawaii. Meanwhile, struggling retailer Bed, Bath and Beyond is flirting with bankruptcy and also announced it is closing more than 140 stores nationwide, including many in California, but the Bakersfield store is not on the list and survives, at least for now.

* ... KMAC: After Kevin McCarthy became Speaker of the House, just about everyone from Bakersfield posted a picture on social media of them with McCarthy. But few reflected the utter joy of accomplishment better than this picture of McCarthy's family posted by the Speaker himself.

* ... DOWNTOWN CRIME: If you have a business downtown and you finally said

"enough!" and moved to Seven Oaks, no one would blame you. Even the most loyal downtown advocates have been pushed to the limit, enduring countless indignities to vandalism, break-ins and run-in with vagrants destroying local property. Local accountant Andrea Rutherford-Hill knows the feeling too well after her downtown offices were vandalized twice, as witnessed by these pictures here. And so it goes.

* ... LIBERTY HIGH: You have to love this collage produced by the Kern High School District to recognize the Liberty Patriots and their first division 1A state championship. Liberty beat Pittsburg in the state championship game 48 to 20.

* ... IN-N-OUT BURGER GOES SOUTH: It looks like In-N-Out Burger is moving east and plans to set up shop in Tennessee. It's the farthest east the company has ever ventured. In-N-Out owner and president Lynsi Snyder – who is also the only granddaughter of founders Harry and Esther Snyder – said the company was eager to expand into Tennessee.

* ... MEMORIES: Check out this old photo of the Fox Theater back in its day, compliments of the Kern County of Old Facebook page. And the last picture - from the Kern County History Fans - shows the then and now corner of Union Avenue.

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Kevin McCarthy fights for political survival of his dream to be Speaker, a bomb cyclone of rain and wind ravages California and the abortion pill will soon be available in pharmacies

* ... KEVIN MCCARTHY: The political fate of Kevin McCarthy hangs in the balance as this week's Bakersfield Observed goes to press and it's hard to find anyone who doesn't have a take on his dilemma. Make no mistake: in Bakersfield McCarthy remains hugely popular, and in this fight he has won the

overwhelming and enthusiastic backing of radio and TV hosts who have rallied behind the local BHS driller and former owner of Kevin O's Deli. Others rally behind McCarthy out of the sense that we get no respect here, part of that deep seated insecurity that screams Bakersfield is happy to be out of step with more liberal parts of the state. Interestingly, locally McCarthy's most vocal critics come from the extreme right wing of his own party, the pro-MAGA crowd, the very same people who have been preventing him from being elected speaker of the House- at least so far.

* ... CALIFORNIA WOES: One of the more thoughtful, and experienced, commentators on life in California is Dan Walters, the dean of the Sacramento press corps who now works for the Golden State non-profit Cal-Matters. This week Walters laid out California's greatest challenges: the multi-year drought, public

schools struggling with post Covid issue, our deteriorating electrical grid and a shortage of housing for the homeless. And Walters, whose columns run in The Californian but whose writings can be accessed online, said this: "California used to be the place where people went to make better lives for themselves, but now we've become one of those places that people leave because we make it too difficult for them to prosper. Newsom often disparages states such as Texas as Florida, but they are gaining population while California is losing it."

* ... BOMB CYCLONE: Thanks to a fast moving atmospheric river, California is being lashed by heavy winds and rains that have caused havoc and even death in northern California. Atmospheric rivers are common in California and hugely influential in terms of the drought and the damage they can cause because of too much moisture. So what exactly is an atmospheric river? This answer comes from The New York Times: "These storms get their names from their long, narrow shape and the prodigious amount of water they carry. They form when winds over the Pacific draw a filament of moisture from the warm, moist air over the tropics and channel it toward the west coast. When this ribbon of moisture hits the Sierra Nevada and other mountains, it is forced upward, cooling it and turning its water into immense quantities of rain and snow."

* ... ISABELLA DAM: And how does all this rain affect Lake Isabella, which has been flirting with dangerously low levels? One who had the answer was Steven Mayer, the gifted Bakersfield Californian feature writer and one of the more thoughtful analysts around town, who posted this on Facebook: "Isabella Lake’s water level grew by more than 1,000 acre feet in a 24-hour period. On the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 4, the lake held 55,670 AF (acres feet) of water. Twenty-four hours later, it was measured at 56,697 AF, a difference of 1,027 acre feet. Great progress, but we must keep it in perspective, as 56,697 AF is only about 10 percent of the lake’s capacity, and only 39 percent of the average lake level for this time of year. Still, more is pouring in (much more than is being released downstream), and lots more precipitation is forecast. " (photo courtesy of Mayer's Facebook account)

* ... ABORTION PILLS: Here is an interesting development in the blowback against the Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade: It looks like pharmacies will soon be carrying abortion pills thanks to new changes made by the Food and Drug Administration. This is a big change that will likely - by design - give more women access to the abortion pills on demand. Up until now, the pill was only dispensed by a few mail order pharmacies or by certain doctors and clinics. Abortion pills are already used in roughly half of the cases where pregnancies are ended. (In California, the pills will be available without prescription)

* ... TRACO MATTHEWS: It was good to see Traco Matthews being recognized as the local NAACP's "Man of the Year" as part of the celebration of Black History Month. Matthews is among a local group of young, motivated and talented "next generation" leaders that will help define and mold what life in Bakersfield and Kern County will look and feel like in the next in the next several decades. The event will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, at Bakersfield Country Club.

* ... MEMORIES: So who knew we used to have salt baths down near Mill Creek Park? I didn't until I spotted this on the Kern County History Fans collection of remarkable photos on the group's Facebook page.