McCarthy: no to raising the debt ceiling until President Obama agrees to significant spending cuts

  House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy looks at the week on Capitol Hill. In his words:

 " It was great to be in Bakersfield on Monday to spend Memorial Day with my family and those who have served from our community. I was honored to participate in events at both Union and Hillcrest Cemeteries to
thank the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms. The Memorial Day Weekend also marked the first wildfire of the season in our area. As always, our firefighters did a great job
and acted quickly to contain this fire.

  "I arrived back in Washington on Tuesday where I went straight to the House floor to vote ‘no’ on raising the debt limit without accompanying spending cuts and budget reforms. I made it clear from the beginning of this debate that not one House Republican would vote for an increase in our debt limit without spending cuts and budget reforms, and Tuesday’s vote proved that we’re serious about getting Washington’s fiscal house in order.
 "Our nation is over $14 trillion in debt and borrows 40 cents out of every dollar. This is unsustainable and threatens America’s economic vitality and credibility. Any increase in the debt limit must be accompanied by substantial spending cuts and budget reforms that start the process of getting our borrowing addiction under control.
  "This was reiterated to the President on Wednesday when I was joined by the rest of the Republican Conference for a meeting at the White House. I urged the President to present a credible deficit-reduction plan. I left the meeting cautiously optimistic, and with the President’s assurance that he was committed to discussing real spending cuts and recognized the need to reform our critical health and retirement security programs. I am hopeful this isn’t just Washington political speak, and that we really will be able to work with the President and our colleagues across the aisle to implement solutions that will create jobs, pay down our debt and put our budget on the path to balance.

  "On Thursday, the Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on the San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act, legislation I introduced with Reps. Nunes and Denham earlier this month to get water running in our
communities and get people back to work. I had the honor of introducing Jim Beck, General Manager of the Kern County Water Agency, who was testifying in support of this bill that is critical to our local economies. I will continue to work to move it forward.

  "Several families from Bakersfield were in Washington this week. I was pleased to see the Georgino, Pisano and Etcheverry families and Donice Boylan. I also want to send my congratulations out to all our students
who have graduated in May and that will be graduating this month. These graduates are the key to the future of our community and nation, and I wish them the best of luck. The teachers and parents who have
supported these young people are also deserving of our gratitude, and I want to thank them for their commitment.

First Friday is alive and well in downtown Bakersfield and some perspective on the local housing market

  * ... HOUSING: Local appraiser Gary Crabtree, arguably the foremost authority on the Kern County housing market, added some perspective to news that the nation's housing market has hit the dreaded  double dip. "Let's not hammer another nail in the Bakersfield market coffin just yet. My independent research for the first quarter of 2011, indicates that the Bakersfield market is still 2.7% above falling into the 'double dip' category. My preliminary numbers for May indicate the median price rose last month to $131,750 or an increase of 4.6% over March. Sales volume has remained stable at around 550 units per month and foreclosures have remained stable at an average of 400 units per month over the last year. Well conditioned 'short sales' are receiving multiple offers  What is driving the Bakersfield market? Investors - they account for 1 of every 3 sales in Bakersfield in the past year."

  * ... FIRST FRIDAY: It's time for another First Friday downtown, and yes First Friday is alive and well. There seems to be some confusion about that since the advent of Third Thursday, a new event which replaces the old Chester Avenue Street fairs sponsored by the Downtown Business Association. These are two distinctly different venues serving different audiences. First Friday is more high brow, focusing on the arts district, art galleries and downtown businesses and restaurants and is the brainchild of Metro Galleries owner Don Martin. Third Thursday seems to be an extension of the old street fair idea with kettle corn and other street vendors hawking their wares, though it has moved to the more attractive Mill Creek Park. Different experiences, but both deserving of our support.

 * ... METRO EXHIBIT: And speaking of First Friday, Metro Galleries will feature an all-women art show that will benefit the Women's and Girls' Fund, part of the Kern Community Foundation. The show is called "Chronicles" and features the art of Chris McKee, Claire Putney, Barbara Reid and Marlene Tatsuno. Also on display will be new works by artist Heidi Rufeh. A portion of the opening night sales will be donated to the Women's and Girls' Fund. Metro Galleries is located on 19th Street but make sure you visit the other galleries, businesses and restaurants in the downtown area.

 * ... TUITION: The annual cost of tuition, room and board and a private, four-year college has not soared to $37,000 and tops $50,000 at some elite schools. For public schools, the average annual tuition is $16,000. The University of California system's tuition is set at $11,000 and change but could rise dramatically if the state budget is not brought under control.

 * ... CSUB SPORTS: Did you hear that three CSUB sports teams (men's basketball, women's water polo and golf) were among eight NCAA Division 1 sports programs in California that have been warned by the NCAA for poor academic performance? Not surprisingly, a supporter of the embattled wrestling program wrote to point out that three of the ten starters on the CSUB wrestling team are on the national All Academic Team: David Morgan, Elijah Nacita and Tyler Iwamura.

 * ... FOUNDATION: The Bakersfield Californian Foundation, a private family foundation run outside the auspices of the newspaper company, recently handed out almost $62,000 in grants. This round of grants focused on the Tehachapi area and included groups such at the Rotary Club of Tehachapi, the Tehachapi Community Orchestra, the Tehachapi Community Theater Association and the Tehachapi Mountain Foundation.

 * ... OVERHEARD: A downtown resident is heard telling a friend that he has taken to mowing the lawn of the abandoned house across the street because he fears its dismal state will hurt his chances of selling his own home.

Broken TSA screening machine leaves dozens stranded at Meadows Field

 * ... AIRPORT NIGHTMARE: It was a nightmare at Meadows Field Tuesday morning when some 30 passengers were stranded when their Phoenix-bound US Airways flight left without them. What happened? It seems the TSA X-ray baggage screening machine broke on Monday, forcing every piece of luggage to be hand checked. Passengers who showed up over an hour early  for the 6:20 a.m. Phoenix flight didn't make it through the screening in time and the plane left without them. There was no warning of this on the Meadows Field website and no email alert from the airline, leading one passenger to moan, "Another reason not to fly out of Bakersfield." Meadows Field director Jack Gotcher told me the machine was fixed by midday Tuesday and he had no idea why two days passed without it being repaired. "This is a TSA issue," he said, noting that four flights leave within an hour of each other in the morning to Phoenix, Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco and there is little room for error.

 * ... DOUBLE DIP: It looks like the dreaded "double dip" in housing is now official. Prices continue to fall as tens of thousands of foreclosed properties queue up to move through depressed markets across the country. One expert told CNBC that "our fingers are crossed" that housing may begin to recover in late 2012. Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that the percentage of Americans owning homes has sunk to 1998 levels and will drop further because of general disenchantment with the market.


 * ... KERN RIVER: Spent Memorial Day paddle boarding on the Kern River, starting at Beach Park and ending up 6.5 miles downstream at the Park at River Walk. Friend and columnist Herb Benham promised a stress relieving bit of exercise mixed with pure unmitigated fun, and he didn't disappoint. Ninety minutes of pure bliss in a bank to bank river that bristled with wildlife, affording a spectacular view of our community thanks to the record snowfalls. The Kern should have water most of the summer, and this particular area is generally shallow and fairly safe.

 * ... IRISH: Amazing how many local kids end up at Notre Dame, and here are two more who just graduated. This from Cindy Gallegos: "I just wanted to let you know that our family just returned from South Bend, Indiana. We were there to see our daughter Chelsi Gallegos (Garces class of 2007) graduate from the University of Notre Dame.  She will be living in Chicago and working for the Aon Corporation. We were also able to visit with the family of Ricky Gonzalez (East High class of 2007). Ricky will be working for General Mills in Minneapolis. We are very proud of both of them. Go Irish."

 * ... HOFFMAN: Hoffman Hospice held a fund raiser last week and got an unexpected boost when dinner with BakersfieldLife's Dining Divas brought in a whopping $3,500. Wendy Porter, director of the  Wounded Hero's Fund, was the top bidder and is anxious to dine with the Divas. The  Divas include Californian columnist Lois Henry, Robin Noble, Kim Jessup,  Sofie Zimmermann and Sofia Ronquillo.  Each month the Dining Divas review a local restaurant about town and apparently it can be a lively group.

 * ... MEA CULPA: I goofed in an earlier post about an upcoming book signing this Saturday at Russo's Books. The local author is Shirley Castro and the book is in the Pelican Family Series. Turns out Shirley does not live at the beach and lives right here in Bakersfield.

 * ... MEMORY: Karen Earl DeWalt wrote to wonder if anyone remembers "Sudds Hardware on North Chester and the Standard Malt Shop on Ferguson next to Standard School?"

Cindy Meek retires at St. Francis Parish School while Art Sherwyn says goodbye to Stockdale High School

 * ... MEEK RETIRES: Cindy Meek, the longtime principal at St. Francis Parish School, has retired after a long and distinguished career. She served as principal for 20 years and has worked with Monsignor Craig Harrison for years. "I started working with him when I was teaching at St. Francis and he was in the seminary.  It has been a great thirty-two years experience all together." Meek will continue to be involved with scholarship, teacher training and assisting her successor, Father Denis Ssekannyo.

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 * ... ART'S FAREWELL: I attended the retirement party for Art Sherwyn, the popular Stockdale High School art teacher who has left a lasting imprint on so many students, colleagues and friends over the years. If the measure of a life can be judged by an event like this, then Art Sherwyn has certainly done something right. Teachers, friends, former students and family members showed up at the Bakersfield Museum of Art to testify to the ability of one person - in this case a teacher - to profoundly influence the direction of one's life. His two children, Liz and Ben, gave moving tributes to their father, as did several former students of Art's when he was at Wasco High School. Sherwyn is best known as an artist, but I know him from his time guiding my younger daughter on the Stockdale girls tennis team. And I will you he was an artist there as well.


 * ... THREE SONS: It's not often that you have three sons in the same family celebrating graduations at the same time, but that's the case with John and Angela Genter. Their son Brock is graduating from CSUB with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. He was also named biology student of the year and is working for the Forest Service and studying for the MCATS. Son Aaron is also graduating from CSUB with a degree in business. He works for Lightspeed Systems as a sales force administrator. And finally, son Evan is graduating from Frontier High School with a not too shabby 4.2 GPA. He is headed for the Colorado School of Mines where he will be studying to become a petroleum engineer. Congrats to John, who is chief operating officer at Lightspeed, and wife Angela.

 * ... GOOD NEWS: Reader Shelley Cauzza dropped this nice note: "I meant to write a while back, then forgot, then was re-inspired by today's (Friday's) column  I can't tell you how much I appreciate the good news in your column.  I was very pleased to see your comments about Jacob Frost and University of Colorado.  I was his first grade teacher (and his younger brother's a few years later) and I can tell you he was a great kid back then. I wasn't surprised to see what he had accomplished. He had the heart of a lion back then. But proud to know him, for sure. And his parents deserve a round of applause too. Carol was probably one of the most amazing mothers I have ever met. Here I am 10 or so years later raising my own kids, and I pray I am half as good as she is. So, thank you, I enjoy the good news."

 * ... ENGINEER: And then there is Don McCuan, a 2000 graduate from Wasco High School who will be getting his master's in geology at CSUB. Dan worked  for his father's  window business but was inspired by Bakersfield College geology professor Natalie Burzstyn to pursue a career in petroleum geology. He is finishing his thesis in time to start work as a professional geophysicist at Occidental Petroleum in just a couple of weeks. While in graduate school at CSUB, he worked as a research assistant on a prestigious National Science Foundation grant to the Geology Department.
  
* ... WHO KNEW? Highland, East Bakersfield and South were all high schools attended by members of Bakersfield-grown, Grammy-award winning band, Korn.

McCarthy: Israel deserves our support and Obama's call for a pullback to pre 1967 borders is simply wrong

 House Majority Whip Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) gives us his weekly view from Capitol Hill. In his words:

 "This week, I had the opportunity to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu while he was in Washington addressing a joint session of Congress. Israel is a critical ally and a model of democratic government in an unstable region. Israelis live under a constant threat, and President Obama’s call for the implementation of 1967 borders only puts Israel in an indefensible position, limiting their ability to properly defend their people. We cannot allow for that.

 "Our commitment to our friends around the world isn’t just based on national security, but our economic security as well. There’s no question we need to get people back to work and generate more economic opportunities in our local communities. On Wednesday, I spoke to the Latino Coalition about the need to break down barriers to job creation. One way to do that is to pursue an ‘all of the above’ energy approach that will help increase our domestic energy production and address high gas prices. Earlier this month, I launched the House Energy Action Team to pursue policies to do just that, and this week, we released our ‘Fed Up With Prices At The Pump?’ video to highlight our efforts. In June, I’ll be making my way up to Ridgecrest to discuss with local business owners and community leaders ways in which the action we take in Washington can actually help folks back home.

 "This Memorial Day, I’ll be at home in the district participating in several events over the long weekend to honor our members of the Armed Forces. On Sunday, I’ll be at the Bakersfield National Cemetery at 9 a.m., and on Monday, at Union Cemetery at 9 a.m. and Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. I urge anyone who wants to join to come out and remember the men and women who have sacrificed so much so we can live in freedom and democracy. While we all enjoy the three-day weekend, let’s also reflect on the meaning of the holiday. The liberty we enjoy every day is directly due to the selfless service of countless men and women who’ve given their time, and too often their lives, to protect and defend our great nation. This Memorial Day has added significance as we recognize the tremendous work of those in our military and intelligence community who brought justice to Osama Bin Laden.

 "Luckily, several constituents came to town this week. I was able to have lunch with Tommy and Barbara Lee and their family, as well as meet with Al and Barbara Sandrini and Cathleen Rutherford. Speaking of our local community, this Friday is the annual Mojave Intermediate Space Challenge. This great event encourages creativity and strengthens local students’ interest in science and technology. In 2009, the House passed a resolution I introduced recognizing this great event and I applaud the innovation of these young people.

 "I will continue to work to protect our nation’s values and promote policies that will help grow our economy and jobs here in Kern County.

Mick Fleetwood is a Formula 1 racing fan: who knew? And responding to a nasty email

 * ... HOME TOWN: Received a sharply worded note from a reader, anonymous of course, accusing me of ignoring our community's many problems while promoting the children of my "rich friends." Huh? For the record: I don't know the lion's share of the successful kids I write about, and I am more than happy to share their stories when they come across my desk. As for Bakersfield, I am more aware than most of the very serious issues facing our community (illiteracy, poverty, crime, bad air etc) and I do address those issues from time to time. But I also try not to dwell on the negative. We all have a choice: wake up and embrace the good that surrounds us, and there is certainly plenty of that in our community, or be imprisoned in the darkness of the negative. I choose the former.

 * ... RETIREMENT: Hats off to Delani Bair, who is retiring after 43 years of teaching first, second and third grades, most of it in the Panama-Buena Vista School District. Bair arrived at Stockdale Elementary in 1985 and her class has participated in the school's insect-themed spring play every year. What's next? It's all about the grand children, including a new one due in October to her daughter in Ohio.

 * ... MICK'S VISIT: It turns out legendary rocker Mick Fleetwood was in Bakersfield this past weekend because he's a big Formula 1 race face. Fleetwood, co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, stayed at the downtown Padre Hotel for three days to attend a Formula 1 gathering out at the Buttonwillow Raceway Park.

 * ... OIL MOMUMENT: Reader Judi Anderson Gahagan wrote to praise the new Oil Worker Monument in Taft, saying it was well worth the drive. "Pack a picnic lunch and take a drive to Taft. It's worth seeing," she said. The monument-park is located on the corner of 6th Street and Supply Row Road. Make it a full day by also taking in the West Kern Oil Museum.

* ... CHILDREN'S BOOK: Nice to hear that Shirley Castro, a retired Beardsley School District teacher now living at the beach,  is writing a book along with her son, Christopher. The book, "Stelly and the Stickey Gooey Taffy," is out now. Shirley will be at Russo's on June 4 for a book signing. Christopher went through the Norris School District and graduated from Garces Memorial High and later Cal State Bakersfield. He is now a licensed marriage and family therapist and works for Contra Costa County as a mental health technician.

 * ... ART D'CEW'S: Reader Jeff Tuculet wrote to correct the spelling of a long closed soda shop on North Chester. "You and Clete Harper should be ashamed of yourselves. Clete and I are classmates, North High 1958. Spent many nights eating burgers, fries and cherry Cokes at Art D'Cew's at 1509 North Chester Avenue. Never heard of Art D'Que's. Tongue planed firmly in cheek."

 * ... LONG GONE: Dr. Bob Smith, a retired endodontist and avid cyclist, says you have been around a long time if you remember the general merchandise store Sackett and Peters at the corner of Wible and Wilson roads.

Appreciating locally owned businesses and getting ready for more parolees to walk the streets of Bakersfield

 * ... STINSON'S: Dropped by Stinson's Stationers this week and joined a couple hundred other people for a tri tip sandwich lunch. The occasion was a table top show featuring more than 30 vendors displaying the latest in office supplies. Ben Stinson III wielded a bullhorn and worked the Sonoma Street warehouse like a showman, giving away prizes and introducing folks as they walked in the door. Locally owned since 1947, Stinson's is one of those reminders why Bakersfield is such a special place to live. There is nothing like walking into a Stinson's showroom, or a locally owned restaurant like Uricchio's or Luigi's or Casa Munoz, and being greeted by name by the owner.

* ... INMATE RELEASE: It was disheartening, not to mention alarming, to read that the Supreme Court has ordered the California prison system to release 30,000 inmates because of crowding. Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood called it "shocking" and "dangerous" and noted state inmates are more of the hard core criminal types. "These are real prisoners, real felons," he warned, not just some pot smoking offender. It's  yet another consequence of this long recession that has left California broke and with a swollen prison population, many of whom will be dumped on the streets of Bakersfield. (Photo courtesy of the California Department of Corrections)

 * ... SPOTTED: Mick Fleetwood, founder and co-namesake of the legendary rock band Fleetwood Mac, was spotted at the downtown Padre Hotel this weekend.  The British-born Fleetwood was seen talking to friends and fans on the Prairie Fire lounge but it was not immediately known why he was in town.

 * ... GARCES CIRCLE: Nice to see the Garces Circle all spruced up and landscaped after the long Cal-Trans project to improve the overpass. If you haven't been down to the circle, it's worth a drive by. 


 * ... YOUNG DOC: Michele Newell wrote to sing the praises of her nephew, Jon Witcher, former valedictorian at Centennial High School. The son of Bob and Caryl Witcher, he will be graduating in June with a Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Science from UC Davis. He attended the University of Arizona where he received his bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering and  then transferred to UC Davis where he earned his master’s.  "Not only will he become Dr. Witcher in 2011, he will also gain a wife! In October, he will marry Jasmyn Pangilinan, a graduate of BHS and daughter to Florencio and Nenette. Florencio is a local physician here in Bakersfield. Our family could not be more proud!" she said.

 * ... UCLA BOUND: Another local high school senior, Daniel Kinder, is headed to UCLA to study neuroscience. What makes this particularly appealing is that Daniel, who attends Liberty High, will be able to part of research for a cancer that has struck his own father. "On May 18, 2010 my father was diagnosed with a brain tumor that was eventually deemed cancerous. My major will allow me to be part of the research for cancer at the UCLA Medical School campus." Congratulations, Daniel.

 * .. BAKERSFIELDISM: You know  you may be from "old Oildale" if you remember Art 'D Que's Drive-in on the corner of North Chester and Justine Street, where Winchell's now stands. Thanks to Clete Harper for this little nugget.

Jay Leno takes a shot at Bakersfield (no surprise there) and spring gifts us a splendid weekend

 * ... JAY LENO: The "Tonight Show" host, remarking on how former Gov. Arnold  Schwarzenegger's mistress was discovered  in Bakersfield, takes this shot at our town: "Neighbors got suspicious when they learned it was the only house on the block not manufacturing meth." This is the kind of publicity we don't need.

 * ... WEEKEND: Outside of barbs from late-night talk show hosts, the real Bakersfield could be experienced anywhere about town this weekend when our community enjoyed mild days in what has turned out to be a splendid spring. Perfect weather for eating outside, grilling, waking or running on the bike trail or enjoying our parks. I ended up in Glennville Saturday and the creeks were swollen bank to bank and the wildlife was out in abundance, along with the snakes. One friend spotted five snakes on his daily run out towards Enos Lane. Spring forward a couple months and we will miss these days.

* ... MEMORY: Perry Whealy wrote to share a memory of his family, who lived on Rosedale Highway in Greenacres when it was a two-lane country road. "During the summer, my mother would take us to swim in the Kern River. We parked on the northwest side of the 24th Street bridge. On the north side of the bridge, a cement company operated a dredge that extended on a cable across the river from the northeast side. The dredge would scoop up sand from the river bottom leaving about an eight-foot hole where we would swim until the dredge slid down the cable again. It was cold, fun and it was free. Then on Friday evenings for one dollar, we would watch a movie at the 99 Drive In Theater located on Pierce Road. This is where I saw the movies High Noon and The African Queen."

 * ... OVERHEARD: That new construction out near P.F. Chang's China Bistro on Stockdale Highway is apparently getting ready for a Eureka Burger and a new Chipotle, all good news for those folks in the Southwest.

 * ... COLLEGE BOUND: North High School held a special ceremony to honor a group of California Scholarship Federation "Gold Seal" students headed to colleges across the country. They include Joseph Adams, Corban University; Yazmin Abasolo, CSUB; Sarah Billington, UC Santa Cruz; Eli Carroll, UC Davis; Brianna Cazares, BYU Hawaii; Kathryn Chapin, Sonoma State; Ariel Clark, CSUB; William Collins, CSUB; Dana Denesha, Sonoma State; Joshua Diebel, Sonoma State; Daniel Gross, Cal Poly; Oliver Guzman, UC Davis; Katie Hoffman, University of Hawaii Hilo; Leanne Jett, UC Davis; Robert Keene, UC Davis; Zachary Lenander, UC Santa Barbara; Jessica Lopez, UC Santa Barbara; Tobias Lopez, UC Santa Barbara; Veronica Martinez, San Diego Christian College; Jame Nguyen, Cornell; Maricruz Ortega, CSUB; Maribella Ortiz, CSUB; Andres Robles, CSUB; Jacob Rogers, Cal Poly; Delanie Schrader, CSUB; Jacqueline Swartz, UC Davis; and Elizabeth Underwood, UC Santa Barbara.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: From reader Craig Holland: You may be a Bakersfield old-timer "if you remember bowling at Paola's on Mount Vernon and ordering a vanilla cream Coke."