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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
[Image] 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.

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 * ... 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.

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 * ... 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.

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