California makes the list of "worst states" to own a home, Valley Children's clinic set to open in October and Alissa Carlson is crowned "Mrs. California"

Monday, June 25, 2018

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 place. Email your news and notes to rsbeene@yahoo.com. 

 * ... HOMEOWNERSHIP: A new survey on home ownership is out, and as you may have guessed, it is not kind to us here in California. In fact California was ranked in the top ten of the "worst" states

to be a homeowner, based on the strength of the housing market, the high costs of maintaining a home and the propensity of crime. Joining California in the "worst" list were Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, New Mexico, Alabama, Missouri, Texas, New Jersey and Georgia. The best states to be a homeowner, according tho ValuePenguin, were Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Maine, Minnesota, West Virginia, Michigan, New Hampshire and Wisconsin.

 * ... GOOD NEWS: If you are looking for some good news, head west on Stockdale Highway and check out the new Valley Children's clinic scheduled to open in October. The building, located across the street from Bakersfield Christian High School, is an important step in our community's evolution to providing a whole range of pediatric services to prevent parents from taking ailing children out of town. There will be 32 new pediatric specialists in 16 different disciplines.

 * ... MORE GOOD NEWS: And hats off to David Collins and the South Oswell Neighborhood Watch, an organization of residents who consistently give back to their community. This weekend the group dropped off dry food and other supplies at the Bakersfield Homeless Center. It was the group's 12th drive for the organization with donations totaling some 1,025 pounds.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "I should not be this chubby considering the amount of food that misses my mouth when I eat."

 * ... MORE TWITTER: "It’s a good thing not everyone has a smartphone. Someone has to honk when the light turns green."

 * ... ALISSA CARLSON: Our own Alissa Carlson, chief meteorologist for KGET TV, was crowned "Mrs. California" over the weekend at the state pageant in Palm Springs. The Mrs. America pageant has been "celebrating the uniqueness of the married woman, her family, and community" for the past 39 years, according to organizers. KGET's website said Carlson is now slated to compete with 50 other representatives, from every state and Washington, D.C., Aug. 25 at the Westgate Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

 * ... MEMORIES: This old picture, taken in 1923, shows a swarm of motorcyclists on the Panorama Bluffs with the Kern River oil field in the background. Photo courtesy of the Kern County of Old Facebook page.