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.