Californian staffers fear big changes as the newspaper changes hands after 122 years, a new Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is coming south of Town and the homeless who have seemed to take over our streets

Friday, June 7, 2019

 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.

 * ... RIP TBC: After 122 years The Bakersfield Californian has been sold, ending a long and distinguished period under the Harrell-Fritts family. The new owners, based in Canada, have pledged no major changes but we can expect just the opposite. In fact, staffers at The Californian are expecting the new owners to force all employees to reapply for their own jobs, a common event in an asset sale. Sound Publishing, the new owners, also operate newspapers in Palmdale and Lodi, so you can expect "back office" jobs like those in human resources, circulation and accounting could go away and replaced by a corporate shared services model. The bottom line: big changes are coming, and not all of them will be good for current employees.

 * ... TEJON CASINO: So be honest here ... just how excited are you about the news that the Tejon Indian Tribe will open a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino just 20 minutes south of town? The project will be built on 350 acres at Highway 99 and state Highway 166 (Mettler exit), with the hotel on 52 acres and an adjacent RV park on 22 acres. It will feature 13 restaurants and bars as well as a live concert venue and employ some 2,000 people. No word on when ground will be broken.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "It's so hot I almost called my ex to be around someone shady."

 * ... ALAN TANDY: City manager Alan Tandy is retiring in December, and no matter what your opinion is of him, his legacy will be a lasting one. After 27 years in the position, consider some of projectsTandy will leave behind: completing the hotel that is now the downtown Marriott, Rabobank Arena, McMurtrey Aquatic Center, Valley Children's Ice Center, the senior housing at 21st and R streets, the new federal courthouse in Central Park, the Westside police station, Maya Cinemas, the Amtrak station, the Park at River Walk, the Mesa Marin Sports Complex, the Kaiser Sports Village, the Mill Creek developments, Yokuts Park and let's not forget the 24th Street widening.

 * ... FOODIE: If you are a fan of Uricchio's Trattoria downtown, check out their roasted vegetable ravioli which is beyond delicious. It's not on the menu yet, but this gluten-free vegetarian dish will knock your socks off.

 * ... GAS PRICES: Think our gas prices are high? Check out this telling graph.

 * ... LAUREN MAE: Congratulations to Lauren Mae Skidmore who has been appointed to the Kern County Planning Commission by Supervisor Mike Maggard. Mae is one of our community's rising millennial stars and has already established herself as a talented leader who knows the workings of government.

 * ... DOWNTOWN: Well now, here is a snapshot from downtown that is becoming increasingly common these days. How long, as citizens, will be put up with this before our civic leaders respond?Or is this the new norm in California? Thanks to my friend Dee Rhodes for sharing.

 * ... MEMORIES: Enjoy this old photo of one of our downtown churches back in the day.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy honors local students graduating from one of our service academies

House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy gives us his weekly update from Capitol Hill. In his words:

"Every year Members of Congress have the privilege of nominating local high school seniors to attend one of our U.S. Service Academies. These students strive for greatness and go above and beyond in their desire to serve our country.

Four years ago, I had the distinct honor of nominating several outstanding students to receive a nomination to attend one of our nation’s most prestigious academic institutions. Now they graduate from their respective schools as members of the Class of 2019, prepared to lead our men and women in uniform across the different branches of our armed services.

I am proud to announce the graduation of six cadets/midshipmen from the U.S. Service Academies. Ensign Kiani G. Espiritu who will graduate from the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Engineering on June 15, 2019. He is a graduate of Stockdale High School in Bakersfield, CA. After graduation, he will be joining the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association Union as a USCG-licensed Third Assistant Engineer. He will also be fulfilling his military obligation with the Navy Reserve as a Strategic Sealift Officer.

Ensign Joshua L. Bailey graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ocean Engineering on May 24, 2019. He is a graduate of Frontier High School in Bakersfield, CA. After graduation, he will be joining the USS BAINBRIDGE (DDG 96) homeported in Norfolk, VA.

Ensign Nelson J. Chandler also graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in English on May 24, 2019. He is a graduate of Bakersfield Christian High School in Bakersfield, CA. After graduation, he will be attending Naval Pilot Training at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola, FL.

Second Lieutenant Samuel J. Oliver graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nuclear Engineering on May 25, 2019. He is a graduate of Frontier High School in Bakersfield, CA. After graduation, he will be attending Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning, GA.

Second Lieutenant Samuel J. Oliver graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nuclear Engineering on May 25, 2019. He is a graduate of Frontier High School in Bakersfield, CA. After graduation, he will be attending Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning, GA.


Second Lieutenant Anna C. Leland will graduate from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Systems Engineering on May 30, 2019. She is a graduate of Desert Christian High School in Lancaster, CA. After graduation, she will work as an engineer at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX.

We are proud of them and are cheering them on as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.

We will be skiing at Mammoth into August thanks to the snowpack, CNN will focus on Tom and Christy Morgan and Dignity Health wins Corporation of the Year at the annual Beautiful Bakersfield awards

Monday, June 3, 2019

 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.

 * ... SNOWPACK:  How much rain did we get this summer? Enough to make the snowpack in the

high Sierras 202 percent of average, or 33 percent bigger than last year. That's right, that means there is enough snow to keep the ski lifts at Mammoth open until August. It's all great news for the spring and summer runoff that will feed rivers and reservoirs, water crops and fill bathtubs.

 * ... WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE: The Kern River is bank to bank with water through town, giving all of us a sneak peak into how our city would look with year-round water. Kayaks and canoes were out in force this weekend, but they had to contend with the visual pollution of literally dozens of homeless emcampments along the river, a kind of homeless "House Hunters" episode where everyone gets a waterfront camping spot.

 * ... DIGNITY HEALTH: It's been a great week for Dignity Health. First, it won the coveted Corporation of the Year award at the Beautiful Bakersfield Awards, and later it was announced that Derek and David Car had signed on to continue their sponsorship and endorsement of Dignity Health Central California. Not a bad week I would say.

 * ... MONEYWISE GUYS: And speaking of the Beautiful Bakersfield Awards, it was great to see the Moneywise Wealth group (known as the Moneywise Guys on KERN NewsTalk radio) recognized as the Small Business of the Year. Outstanding people and outstanding service.

 * ... REDEMPTION PROJECT: If you watched CNN's Redemption Project Sunday night chances are you spotted a few familiar faces. The project focuses on victims of crime facing their accusers, and among those featured was former Kern County deputy (and later county counsel) Tom Morgan, who was shot and left for dead by a gang member more than 20 years ago. In the series, Morgan comes face to face with the shooter and talks about forgiveness, hope and salvation.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "Welcome to middle age. Prepare to pay for all the damage  you did to your body over the past 40 years."

 * ... MORE SPOTTED: "Got one of those laser pointer things for my cat, and now I'm having to sit through all these presentations."

 * ... CLIFFORD AND BROWN: There has been a mass exodus at the law firm of Clifford and Brown, where eight attorneys have left to form their own firm. Leaving to form the new comprehensive law firm called Zimmer and Melton were Charles Melton, Richard Zimmer, T. Mark Smith, Nicholas Street, Victoria Trichell, Jeffrey Travis, Dennis Gallagher and William Zimmer. The head of the firm, Steve Clifford, died last year and his son, Dan Clifford, recently left the firm to become house counsel for Bolthouse Properties.

 * ... FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Think about this for a minute.

 * ... MEMORIES: Courtesy of the Facebook page Kern County History Fans,. check out this picture of the old Vincent's across from the post office.

Will Bakersfield benefit as people flee the taxes and cost of living in our major cities? The shame of Kern County in how we treat our pets and a new high end bakery opens downtown

Friday, May 31, 2019

 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 such a special to live. Send your tips to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... CITIES: The Census Bureau has confirmed what we all expected: people are fleeing the high cost of living and taxes in our glamorous big cities in droves. In Seattle alone, almost 5,009 people

 left for greener pastures, and in the San Jose area, an astonishing 25,000 people have left. Said the

New York Times: "The trend is becoming widespread. Eight of the 10 largest metropolitan areas in the country, including those around New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami, lost people to other places in 2018." The question, of course, is will less glamorous locales like Bakersfield benefit, and it seems as if we already are. Bakersfield was recently named a top destination for millennials, who see us as a place where it is cheaper to start a business, raise a family and own a home. Our city leaders would do well to notice this trend and market us accordingly.

 * ... STRAY DOGS: There are a lot of reasons to take pride in the community we call home, but the way we treat our dogs and pets is not one of them. Despite the best efforts of dozens of cat and dog rescue operations, Kern County is euthanizing thousands of dogs and cats each year, . One of the reasons: the large number of "puppy mills" operated by individuals who use puppies like barter. One woman posted on Facebook she would trade a pit bull puppy for a new iPhone. Expect a push in the coming months to put some regulations around these puppy mills, not to shut them down but rather to make sure the dogs are well treated.

 * ... 18HUNDRED: The new 18Hundred restaurant and bar, located in a beautifully renovated bank building at the corner of 18th and Chester, has become the new "it" place in Bakersfield. In the last week I have spotted a number of friends and acquaintances there including Bernadette and Mark Root, Judy McCarthy, Leslie Walters, David Jensen, Brian and Katie Kirshenman, Jim and Karen Poteete, Janis Varner, Michael Bowers and Traco Mathews, Lou and Sheryl Barbich and Felix and Teresa Adamo.

 * ... NEW BAKERY: A new bakery has opened on 19th Street just west of F Street, the latest addition to the downtown restaurant scene. It's called Ghila Dolci and it features coffee, fresh pastries and cakes. The owner, Courtney Ghiladucci, previously was a partner in a pastry shop behind the Padre Hotel.

 * ... DAVE PRICE: There will be a celebration of life for the late David Price II this Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church on 17th Street. Price, former head of the county resource management agency, was retired and living in Tennessee when he died recently. The celebration will start at 1 p.m.

 * ... MEMORIES: More old pictures from the Facebook groups Kern County of Old and Kern History Fans. Enjoy.

Is another In-n-Out burger outlet coming to town, Zach Esparza graduates from the Peanut Mobile, Teresa Adamo to tout her new book on KERN and a look at those sound walls on 24th Street

Monday, May 27, 2019

 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 such a special to live. Send your tips to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... MR. PEANUT: Do you remember Zach Esparza? He was the Stockdale High and later Arizona State University graduate who landed a most enviable job representing Planters Peanuts by driving

the peanut-mobile across the country? He visited me at the KERN Radio studios and the other night, I ran into his mother Sylvia Esparza who said Zach is now working for a company in Manhattan and living in Brooklyn. Well done my friend.

 * .... BURGER WARS: I heard a rumor, that I have yet to corroborate, regarding a new In-n-Out franchise coming to town. Word has it that the wildly popular burger chain will build its third local outlet at the corner of Olive Drive and Knudsen, a high traffic area already with the Starbucks and Hodel's nearby. Stay tuned.

 * ... INDY, OH INDY: One thing about living here in Bakersfield, we love to see local people excel. Which is why I was so thrilled to see Teresa Adamo's new children's book, "Indy, Oh Indy," leap off the shelves after its debut a few months ago. If you want to hear Teresa's story, tune into The Richard Beene Show on KERN NewsTalk 96.1 FM on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. She will be appearing with her illustrator, Jennifer Williams-Cordova, to talk about the process.

  * ... TELEPHONE SCAM: I have received three calls on my cell phone by someone claiming to be from the Social Security Administration, saying if I did not call back "legal action" would commence immediately. This is a scam, and like me, you should simply hang up. This is what our government has to say about the scam: "The Inspector General of Social Security, Gail S. Ennis, is warning citizens about a caller-ID “spoofing” scheme misusing the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) Fraud Hotline phone number. The OIG has received recent reports of phone calls displaying the Fraud Hotline number on a caller-ID screen. This is a scam; OIG employees do not place outgoing calls from the Fraud Hotline 800 number. Citizens should not engage with these calls or provide personal information. Callers may use a variety of false scenarios or threats to request personal information or payments, often by means of gift cards or prepaid debit cards. The caller may claim to be from a 'legal department,' and they may state that one’s Social Security number (SSN) has been involved in fraudulent activity. They may also accuse citizens of committing crimes, and may threaten arrest by Federal marshals.

 * ... SOUND WALLS: Ever wonder what those huge sound walls look like on the other side of 24th Street? Here is the view from Elm and Beech streets on the south side of 24th Street.

 * ... MEMORIES: Enjoy this shot of Chester Avenue, compliments of the Kern County of Old Facebook page.

Our Memorial Day and graduation day weekend in pictures ....

A weekend in pictures. It was Memorial Day 2019 and also a weekend of graduations across the community. Thanks to all the photographers who took these shots. Enjoy.

Monsignor Craig Harrison launches an aggressive defense against charges of lewd conduct, Jacqui Kitchen is promoted to assistant city manager and RIP Harry Kenefsky

Friday, May 24, 2019

 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 such a special to live. Send your tips to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... MONSIGNOR CRAIG: Monsignor Craig Harrison, suspended after allegations of abuse were raised against him, has issued a strongly worded statement proclaiming his innocence. Here it is, in its entirety:

"I will be returning to my home in Bakersfield shortly to assist my attorney in proving my innocence. I am innocent of all accusations.

 "It's been nearly a month since I was forced to leave my beloved parish and my Bakersfield home. Each day has been agonizing. I continue to be lifted up by the support from my community through your letters, phone calls, emails and most importantly your prayers.

"Over the past four weeks I have been waiting to hear anything about the allegations against me from the Diocese and for the opportunity to share my side. The last contact I had with the Fresno Diocese was on April 24 when I was called to the Bishop's office and told there were allegations against me. That day my ability to share Mass with my parishioners was suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

 "It is with deep sadness that I have come to the realization that this is a battle that I am left to fight without support from the Diocese. Over the past month, while the Diocese investigated the accusations against me, they never once reached out to me for my side. In fact, neither Bishop Ochoa, Bishop Brennan nor any member of the Diocese has checked on my state of mind or welfare. I have not been invited to respond or provide evidence to the Diocese. Out of respect for the investigation, I have remained silent.

 "I feel compelled to address the latest in a series of false accusations. The claims of Ryan Dixon have been heartbreaking because they involve false, defamatory, and slanderous charges by a man who is supposedly a member of the religious. I have never done any of the things that he has said. When I first met him, he was in his twenties and seeking to become a Catholic. Like so many he came from a difficult background and broken relationships. He sought the solace of the faith and considered a vocation to the priesthood. He had been the focus of negative publicity and was seeking a new path. Throughout his time at the church, he drank socially and frequently, and I would caution him to remember he represented the church and he must get that behavior under control.

 "Things came to a head in our relationship on a pilgrimage to Rome. Two seminarians, two Sisters of Mercy, two friends of the seminarian's and I went to visit the Vatican. Ryan continued to drink excessively and embarrassed himself with his crude language and behavior. I reprimanded him and that day he left in anger. I have had little contact with him since, other than to encourage him in his faith path. He, like all other seminarians, priests, and religious are mandated reporters and are taught the rules of safe environment by the Diocese of Fresno. He was obligated to report any misconduct at the time and would have never suffered any consequence for following the rules. He did not report because nothing happened. Since the allegations were made by Ryan Dixon, I have received contacts by numerous people who wish to come forward and offer more information regarding Ryan Dixon's behavior. My attorney and team will continue to work diligently to prove the falsity of these accusations. My attorney has been contacted by numerous people who were told by Ryan Dixon to make sure to watch the news the night his allegations were made public. He called again after that to ask what they thought about how he did on the news. Whatever his motivations might be, his allegations are completely false. Thank you for your continued prayers."

 * ... CITY COUNCIL: Is Bakersfield ready for a full-time city council? Council members are currently paid $100 a month and all hold down full time jobs elsewhere, even though we are now the state's ninth largest city closing in on a population of over 400,000. City Councilman Andrae Gonzales says the time is fast approaching when the city will be forced to think about changing the city charter to allow for full-time council members. Any change in the city charter will require a referendum.

 * ... PARKING: And speaking of Andrae Gonzales, hats off to him for working with city engineers to make G Street one-day at the downtown post office and installing diagonal parking, adding more than 20 spaces to that area that is now home to restaurants and coffee shops in addition to the post office.

 * ... JACQUI KITCHEN: And finally, another congratulations to Jacqui Kitchen who has been promoted to the role of assistant city manager. She previously was head of development for the city.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "Before you pride yourself on being a big fish, make sure you’re not swimming in a puddle."

 * ... RIP HARRY: I was saddened to learn of the passing of Harry Kenefsky, a Navy veteran and longtime resident of Columbus Estates independent living center. Harry was 100 years old and was the picture of wit, human and strength. Keep his family in your thoughts.

 * ... MEMORIES: Enjoy these pictures from the Kern County of Old Facebook page.