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Foreclosures are going to get worse, some stats show (and as always, California is in the thick of the mess along with Florida, Las Vegas and some other spots).

Some buyers are out picking up the pieces. Be sure to read Vanessa Gregory's story offering tips on nabbing foreclosed and short-sale homes.

And have a great rest of your weekend...

-- Gretchen Wenner, staff writer

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Radio ads for Kieffe and Sons Ford dealerships in eastern Kern telling non-Christians to "sit down and shut up" continued to boil passions Thursday, blogs and e-mails show.

One reader sent us an e-mail allegedly from Ford Motor Co. saying the company had investigated the ads and "determined that the advertising was placed in error," among other things.

We have a call in to Ford's main spokesman asking him to elaborate on what that means (and confirm the e-mail was from Ford; if not I'll let ya know ASAP).

The dealership's Web site is fronted with an apology, but the Oklahoma man who claims to have written the ad, JW Horne, is reveling in the outcry.

Some locals find Kern's voracious thumpery oppressive and even threatening, this blog indicates, while some faraway observers are puzzled by the sales tactic.

...developing...

-- Gretchen Wenner, staff writer

Here's a "raw report" press release from Assemblywoman Jean Fuller's office. Each member of the assembly got to honor a local business. Here's Fuller's:

ASSEMBLYMEMBER HONORS LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AT CEREMONY IN SACRAMENTO
 
Assemblymember Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) honored Eric and Kim Kauffman, owners of Sunset Media/KZIQ-KWDJ in Ridgecrest, at the 2008 California Small Business Day Luncheon in Sacramento.
 
Each California State Assemblymember was encouraged to select one small business in their district who has significantly contributed to their community.  Small business owners will be honored, recognized, and presented with an award at the celebration.
 
Fuller chose Eric and Kim Kauffman because of their tireless effort to grow a successful and important source for news and entertainment in the Indian Wells Valley.  They have been dubbed the “Voice of Ridgecrest.”
 
“I am honored to recognize Eric and Kim,” said Fuller, “Their passion and mission is to inform the citizens of Ridgecrest and the outlying areas about community events and important causes that deserve support.”
 
The Kauffmans are also well known for their outstanding community involvement.  The couple run Operation Indian Wells Valley Cares, which sends care packages to troops overseas, and also created a separate fundraiser to assist Ridgecrest’s adopted sister city, Long Beach, Mississippi, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  Eric was also President of the Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce from 2000-2001, and will be installed as President once again on June 7th, 2008.  Eric is also currently the Chairman of the “Concerned About Ridgecrest Streets Political Action Committee” for the Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce.
 
“The whole experience was a great honor,” said Eric Kauffman. “It was apparent after today that we have representatives that truly champion the cause of small business in Sacramento. Kim and I look forward to continual involvement in small business affairs at the state level.”

For more than a decade Rick Kieffe has paid the same Oklahoma advertising producer to come up with ads for Kieffe and Sons Ford. And all that time, Kieffe says, no one has called to complain about the ads, which are generally humorous and often politically conservative.

Until recently, that is.

One of the dealership's recent radio spots attacks non-Christians who object to references to God on U.S. currency and the Pledge of Allegiance. The ad tells nonbelievers to "sit down and shut up."

Well, they apparently don't want to.

Kieffe says he's getting a large number of calls from as far away as Australia. Atheists in the blogosphere have seized on the ad, prompting complaints that have been sometimes angry, sometimes polite, sometimes vulgarity-laced.

What's unfortunate is that Kieffe insists he never heard the ad until it aired. An ad that speaks of the dealership in the first-person plural was not listened to by the people it represents until it was too late.

There's a lesson for you.

Kieffe, by the way, a "Christian spirit" who doesn't attend church, says he's sorry for the ad.

Read the full story here.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis sent me this nifty set of facts about how much people in the Bakersfield area make.

Click on the blue box to the left to learn more.

Warning: It's pretty depressing — more data on how average incomes here just don't stack up to other parts of the country.

We ranked 337th out of 363 "metropolitan statistical areas" in the country in terms of per capita personal income. Plainspeak: We're not making much.

You can also check out various graphics and data tables for all different areas of the country here: http://www.bea.gov/regional...

— Christine Peterson

Here's a "raw report" press release from the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce:

Please note that the Chamber office will be closed from May 27 through May 30 for office repairs and renovation. During this time, we will be intermittently checking phone and e-mail messages. Please be sure to leave messages and staff will get back to you as soon as possible. The office will resume regular operation on Monday, June 2. Thanks for your understanding.
 

Here's the top of a "raw report" press release from Assemblywoman Nicole Parra's office:

ASSEMBLYMEMBER PARRA HONORS LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER
 
SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Nicole Parra (D-Hanford) has nominated local business owner Oscar Ramos of Ramos Torres Wines as the small business owner of the year from Assembly District 30 at the 2008 California Small Business Day.  The event is sponsored by over 30 small business organizations and chambers.
 
“The Central Valley is noted for the strength of its small businesses, and nobody epitomizes the entrepreneurial spirit more than Oscar Ramos.  A local who has made a true commitment to his craft and his community, I am pleased to nominate Oscar Ramos a small business leader in the 30th Assembly District,” said Assemblymember Nicole Parra.  “I applaud the release of Ramos Torres Wines’ 2005 vintage and look forward to the opening of a tasting room in Kingsburg in the near future.”
 
A resident of Kingsburg, Oscar F. Ramos Torres is a young winemaker with a degree in enology from Fresno State University. He began his career as an assistant winemaker with the 2004 crush. Today, Oscar’s vision of producing his own label has become a reality.  Ramos Torres Winery produces wines that truly introduce the Central San Joaquin Valley with its very own premium wine.

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A new study has concluded Americans are experience the most extreme income swings in a generation. Great for those on the way up, traumatic for those on the way down.

The Bakersfield Californian would like to interview Kern County residents who either have recently enjoyed a dramatic increase in pay or have endured a  severe cut because of unemployment or taking a lower paying job or  insufficient savings for retirement.

If you are willing to be interviewed and possibly photographed, please call business reporter Courtenay Edelhart at (661) 395-7372 or e-mail cedelhart@bakersfield.com .

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Sandi Truman has had enough of rumors; she wants action.

As the owner of Juice/Java and More, a sandwich and gift shop situated near what had been the main Gottschalks at East Hills Mall, Truman has as much reason as anyone to be nervous now that the Fresno-based retail chain has moved clearance goods to that location and transferred apparel and other merchandise further east to the mall's other 80,000-square-foot Gottschalks store.

The moves are part of the Fresno-based chain's plan to consolidate its space at the mall and improve shoppers' experience there.

But that's not what concerns Truman. What makes her anxious is what still hasn't happened at the mall in her three years there: significant change.

"Talk and speculation is all we hear," said Truman, taking a break between selling food to customers. Even in the five or so minutes we spent speaking with her, a Gottschalks employee who declined to give her name walked in and shared word that she just heard that a crafts store would move in soon.

Howard Setser, owner of Nana's Country Cupboard near the mall's other large Gottschalks, worries about the mall's future and his own.

"I know our business is slower in the last year than it's ever been," he said. And while he hopes a large store moves into the Gottsschalks by Truman's place near the middle of the mall, he'll believe it when he sees it.

"I've heard all sorts of rumors about who's going to go into that store," the former gasoline store owner said. "I said, 'Well, let's wait and see.'"

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Our latest home sales map is ready for a peek.

No need to grab a map to find Twin Falls Drive and Little Falls Court (homes on those streets recently sold.) We’ve done the work for you.

The map is updated with homes that sold in Bakersfield April 7 to 13, color-coded by sales price.

We regularly publish single-family home sale transactions that occurred between individuals. Since foreclosures, or bank-owned properties, now account for an increasing number of weekly sales, sales between banks and individuals are now being included.

Check out what homes are going for with the information from First American Real Estate Solutions compiled by reporter Vanessa Gregory.

Highlights for April 7 to 13:

• 76 homes are new on this map.

• Priciest? One sold for $965,000 in the 93311 ZIP code. (It was 4,972 square feet.)

• Cheapest? One sold for $80,000 in the 93301 ZIP code. (It was 1,683 square feet.)

What do you think of the prices?

— Christine Peterson

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I love a rural campus (go Independence High!)

But I was struck by the lack of construction activity surrounding the new southwest Bako campus when I visited recently.

In addition to the stalled projects listed in today's story, here are a few others:

• The cluster of tracts east of the campus along Progress Road, straddling McCutchen, don't exist in the real world. A herd of tumbleweeds rests in a depression east of the railroad tracks. There's basically nothing until you get to Structurecast at Gosford.

• Lennar's Tradewinds East track at Harris, by the tracks, appeared to have no work going on although utilities were in. Were workers just off that day or have they left that sitting for now?

• I didn't get a chance to check on the big GMAC/Lennar-owned track on the south side of Panama between Old River and Buena Vista. A few homes have been sold; is construction continuing there?

Retail and commercial also seemed iffy:

• A retail/mixed use lot at the northwest corner of Panama and Old River was for sale, a sign showed.

• The lot at the southwest corner of Gosford and Harris (Shops at River Walk) also had a for sale sign.

• Most of the nice new office buildings on Harris between Gosford and Old River were empty.

Discussion questions:

- Will the real estate market recovery look like those past or are we dealing with a new animal?

- Do you like rural campuses? (Me first: I do, I do!)

- What's up with retail/commercial out there...???

Gretchen Wenner, staff writer

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Heard the news? ExpessJet is pulling out of Bakersfield come Aug. 23.

That means no more flights to San Diego and Sacramento.

An airport representative told reporter Vanessa Gregory there will be one more last-ditch-effort meeting June 4 to try to save the service, but an airline rep told Vanessa the decision was final.

So that service lasted just a bit more than a year. Business people and politicians lauded the addition of commerical service to Sacramento when it started up. They'd asked for it for a long time.

Others were excited about the San Diego service. Who wants to drive four to five hours through LA traffic to get to sunny San Diego when you could fly in about 45 minutes?

Today's news follows other recent pull-out announcements from the Bakersfield market.

How much more can Bakersfield take?

— Christine Peterson

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Do you know the man on the left? Do you know what he accomplished?

Take a look at this week's People in Business column to find out.

It's the place to announce promotions, new jobs and professional achievements.

Would you like to be in next week's? It's best to submit to bakersfield.com/yourwords.

You can also mail contributions to The Bakersfield Californian, business editor, P.O. Bin 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302; faxed to 395-7519; or e-mailed to business@bakersfield.com. Sorry, photos that are submitted cannot be returned. For information, call 395-7345 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

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ReynenMap.pdf

Reynen & Bardis (Sacto developer) just racked up its 5th LOCAL default (two in one day yesterday for Wasco sites).

These are getting commonplace now. Except this time one of the defaults impacts a tract with people living in it (Hidden Grove).

Does anyone know what's going to happen? Especially in sites where someone lives...what if the property gets repossessed? Etc.

Our map of Reynen's local projects is available if you click the blue box.

Previous stories on developer defaults should show up on the story link.

-- Gretchen Wenner, staff writer

You can from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 3 at the BMW of Bakersfield, 5400 Gasoline Alley Drive, during an event called the "12th Annual BMW Ultimate Drive Supporting Susan G. Komen for the Cure."

There will be 25 BMWs available for test drives, according to a press release from the Ultimate Drive campaign.

BMW says it will give $1 for every mile driven to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, according to the press release from organizers.

Here's a "raw report" press release from the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce:

Mix it up under the Tuscan sky when McMillin Homes hosts the Chamber’s Business After Five Mixer on Thursday, May 22 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the green in Venecia at the Tuscany model complex.

Bring a friend and lots of business cards, make new and renew business connections while enjoying all the amenities of “business after five.” Local art exhibits from the Arts Council of Kern will be on display. And don’t miss your chance to win an exciting weekend at Liberty Station in San Diego! Regular admission is $5 per Chamber member and $10 per nonmember.

We look forward to seeing you at 13912 Raphael Avenue (Highway 178 east past Alfred Harrell Highway to Miramonte, north on Miramonte and follow the signs).

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Get ready to pull a few more dollars out of you wallet if you fly American Airlines this summer.

Beginning with tickets purchased June 15, you'll have to pay $15 to check just one bag — each way.

I can just see it now — people who don't want to pay the $15 will try to lug their large bag through security — and possibly make it through — only to find they can't smash it into the overhead compartment aboard the plane.

Then what? A nice flight attendant will try to tell the passenger it needs to be checked, and where's your $15?

My guess: This won't be pretty.

— Christine Peterson

The Bakersfield metropolitan statistical area, which includes all of Kern County, has one of the nation’s lowest rates of home price appreciation, according to a Thursday report by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.

Home prices depreciated 14.89 percent in the first three months of 2008 compared with the same time a year ago, the report states. And home prices were down 7.14 percent from the last three months of 2007.

Nationwide, year-over-year home price declines of 3.1 percent were higher than at any other point during the 17-year history of the report, the federal office writes.

California and Nevada were the only two states to see quarterly price declines of more than 8 percent, the report states.

The report analyzes home purchases involving conforming, conventional mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

It's an 82-page study, chock-a-block full of charts and tidbits. Click on the blue icon if you're interested in reading the whole thing.

-Vanessa Gregory, staff writer

So by now you've likely heard the news that come June 1, the Vons on White Lane will be no more.

Read the full story from reporters John Cox and Courtenay Edelhart here.

A spokeswoman said the store just wasn't performing up to expectations.

So with Vons pulling out of that location, a big-box pad will be left behind.

What should go in there? What do neighbors living in that area want?

National real estate auction company Hudson & Marshall will be back in Bakersfield on June 9.

The company Web site shows 47 Bakersfield homes listed for sale, along with a handful of listings in Kern communities such as Pine Mountain Club and Delano. (I wrote about a similar auction of bank-owned homes in April.)

Earlier today I was talking with Bakersfield real estate Jon Vaughn for a weekend story, when the Hudson & Marshall event came up.

He offered a good tip that most people probably don't know about: If you're really interested in a home being offered at auction, see if you can make an offer before the auction event, Vaughn said.

The company's goal is to sell these homes as fast as possible, he said, and many will accept fair offers before the live auction.

Different auctions have different rules, but you might get the chance to beat out those other bidders.

-Vanessa Gregory, staff writer

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Our latest home sales map is ready for a peek. See it here.

No need to grab a map to find Harvick Avenue or Roosevelt Street (homes on those streets recently sold.) We’ve done the work for you.

The map is updated with homes that sold in Bakersfield April 1 to 6, color-coded by sales price.

We regularly publish single-family home sale transactions that occurred between individuals. Since foreclosures, or bank-owned properties, now account for an increasing number of weekly sales, sales between banks and individuals are now being included. Check out what homes are going for with the information from First American Real Estate Solutions that's compiled by reporter Vanessa Gregory.

Highlights for April 1 to 6:

• 56 homes are new on this map.

• Priciest? One sold for $600,000 in the 93314 ZIP code. (It was 3,819 square feet.)

• Cheapest? One sold for $85,000 in the 93308 ZIP code. (It was 1,130 square feet.)

Also, we've updated our map of March home sales one last time to include the sales from March 31. See that map here.

— Christine Peterson

The new owners of downtown’s landmark Padre Hotel are hurriedly trying to secure a $16 million construction loan after San Joaquin Bank declined to finance the building’s renovation.

“No one’s lending for anything right now,” owner Brett Miller said.

The project is still on track to open as a 112-room boutique hotel by March next year, said Miller, a partner in the San Diego development team that bought the nearly empty building two months agofor $4 million.

The developers have a letter of commitment from another bank, but the financing isn’t yet a sure thing, Miller said. They expect to know if the loan is theirs within 30 days.

It’s a financing saga highlighting how the subprime lending crisis has tied up all types of credit, not just home loans. Read the whole story.

Discuss, if you wish.

-Vanessa Gregory, staff writer

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What a mix of airline news this week.

Mexicana Airlines officials said this may be the end of the flights between Bakersfield and Guadalajara. U.S. Airways won't fly to Las Vegas anymore come Aug. 19.

And then there was the good news — there will soon be a third daily trip between Los Angeles and Bakersfield thanks to United Airlines, and a flight to Salt Lake City via Delta.

John Cox delved into what's happening in an in-depth report you can find here.

But it got us thinking: If flgihts from Bakersfield could go anywhere, where would you want to fly for fun or business? Which destinations are on your wish list?

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Do you know what the man to the left did?

Check out our weekly People in Business column here.

People in Business is the place to announce professional achievements. Want to be in next week's list? It's best to submit to bakersfield.com/yourwords.

You can also mail contributions to The Bakersfield Californian, business editor, P.O. Bin 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302; faxed to 395-7519; or e-mailed to business@bakersfield.com. Sorry, photos that are submitted cannot be returned. For information, call 395-7345 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

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CBIA Table March~.pdf

California's new-home market doldrums is nearing its nadir, the California Building Industry Assocation announced this morning.

The trade group based its statement on the the slowing pace of year-over-year sales declines.

Still, the numbers aren't pretty. Sales fell more than 48 percent statewide in March compared to the same month last year.

In Bakersfield (which typically includes all of Kern County for most studies) they dropped about 41 percent.

The silver lining in those numbers, the BIA's release says, is that they're better than last month's year-over-year drop of 57 percent.

You can read the release here and access a chart with localized figures. You can also download the PDF chart by clicking on the blue box in the upper left of this post.

What do y'all think...is this figure enough to call "bottom" for the Golden State?

-- Gretchen Wenner, staff writer

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It's nearly graduation time. Know a grad? What are you spending to say "hey, good job!"

Some numbers to ponder:

• The average American who is buying grad gifts this year will have two lucky recipients.

• The givers are spending an average of $55.12 on each gift.

That's from the National Retail Federation's graduation survey done by BIGresearch.

What are you spending?

— Christine Peterson

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OK, OK, they only go 40 miles an hour. And yes, their range is but 25 miles.

But folks, we're talking about 60 cents for those 25 miles. Beats whatever you're getting in your gas-powered vehicle, no?

All this is according to Zap, a publicly traded Santa Rosa maker of electric cars and trucks (technically speaking, they're manufactured in China). Zap's plug-in Xebra model recently went on sale at a Visalia dealership, G&M Used Cars/Zap of Visalia, at 1234 E. Center Ave. The truck version retails for about $12,500, while the car goes for about $11,200.

So we ask ourselves: Who's in the market for these cars? If you're the kind of person who leaves town now and again, this can't be your only car. But if you have a fleet of cars for tooling around a limited campus, we don't see why they wouldn't work. Or if you live close to your job and don't need to take the vehicle outside the city.

Really, honestly, it's the colors that get us. Check out Zap's Web site.

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Our latest home sales map is ready for a peek.

No need to grab a map to find Otto Lane and Kent Drive (Homes on those streets recently sold.) We’ve done the work for you here.

The map is updated with homes that sold in Bakersfield March 24-30, color-coded by sales price.

We regularly publish single-family home sale transactions that occurred between individuals. Since foreclosures, or bank-owned properties, now account for an increasing number of weekly sales, sales between banks and individuals are now being included.

Check out what homes are going for with the information from First American Real Estate Solutions compiled by reporter Vanessa Gregory.

Highlights for March 24-30:

87 homes are new on this map.

Priciest? One sold for $540,000 in the 93308 ZIP code. (It was 2,675 square feet.)

Cheapest? One sold for $53,000 in the 93308 ZIP code. (It was only 536 square feet.)

— Christine Peterson

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It seems obvious in retrospect: If you want to treat patients locally (and keep Kern County health-care expenditures in Kern County), it helps if local practitioners know who each other are.

But it's the obvious things that often elude us. No longer. On Wednesday, Comprehensive Blood & Cancer Center is hosting a networking dinner to kick off a get-to-know-you effort being headed up by Kern Economic Development Corp.

The free event is to run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the center, 6501 Truxtun Ave. Scheduled to make presentations are KEDC President and CEO Richard Chapman; the center's business developer, Gitesh Patel; Trevor Townsend, co-manager of the Valley Institute of Prosthetics & Orthotics; Mike Bartell, vice president of marketing and business development at Bakersfield Heart Hospital; and Houchin Blood Bank's community relations manager, Tracy Hunter.

Here's a report I got last week from the Center for Economic Policy Research and the National Low Income Housing Coalition -- both out of Washington D.C.

"The bubble that developed in the U.S. housing market from the years 1996 to 2006 pushed prices in many markets far out of line with fundamental values," the report begins.

The study goes on to compare rental and ownership costs in the 100 largest metropolitan statistical areas, and to look at the potential for accumulating equity in each market -- assuming a homeowner stays in the same home for four years.

Here's the stats on Bako:

In the Bakersfield MSA (a census designation including all of Kern), the middle figure for monthly ownership costs is $1,398, according to the report. Monthly cost for a three-bedroom rental? $981.

The report's equity projections (Bako is on page eight) are almost too bad to mention. The report says some local homeowners will be in a 51,322 equity hole by 2012. Yikes.

The whole report is attached (blue icon).

-Vanessa Gregory, staff writer

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DFA_memberletter.pdf

Dairy Farmers of America recently alerted members that two (former) top executives spirited away $1 million. Unauthorized, like.

This happened in 2001, when the trade group's former CEO, Gary Hanman, allegedly had the cool mill transferred to former board chair Herman Brubaker, without board approval.

The money has been returned, the group's letter to members says, but they're investigating. It's not clear when they learned about the deal.

I'm not sure where to post this but since we have lots of local dairy farmers I thought someone might like to know if they haven't already seen the letter. You should be able to download the PDF by clicking on the blue box.

-- Gretchen Wenner, staff writer

Downtown has two new businesses--a bridal boutique for the recently bethrothed and an all ages nightclub for any kids who come later.

Little White Dress has left the Haberfelde building, where it occupied 600 square feet, for fancy new glass and corrugated steel diggs at 1800 21st Street. The new site is 2,000 square feet, with a loft and skylight. The owner eventually wants to put a rooftop garden on top for bridal parties and other special occasions.

Speaking of which, there's a ribbon cutting 4:30 p.m. Wednesday May 14, followed by a private party with a D.J., hors d'oeuvres and cocktails.

Not far from there is Screwy's, 902 19th St., a new all ages club that serves coffee, energy drinks and smoothies to anyone who shows up for the local bands or D.J.s offering up music Friday and Saturday nights.

There's no age limit, but anyone age 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Some day, you might be accompanied by a dog, too. The owner wants to convert some space near an outdoor patio into a private dog park, charging admission that he'll donate to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

--Courtenay Edelhart

Kern County had the nation’s ninth riskiest residential mortgage market during the first three months of the year, according to a Monday report by First American CoreLogic, a Santa Ana-based real estate data company.

At the end of 2007, the county ranked No. 8 among the 100 large metropolitan areas reviewed in the quarterly report.

Eight of the top 10 high-risk markets, defined as those where home loans are most likely to become delinquent, were in California, the report states.

Risky mortgage markets are typically characterized by double digit home price declines and deteriorating labor markets, CoreLogic reports.

Kern home prices depreciated 20 percent in the first three months of  2008 compared with the same time period a year ago, according to CoreLogic.

Foreclosures and risk of fraud are also factored into the report’s ranking system.

The report is attached (click on the blue icon).

-Vanessa Gregory, staff writer

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Reporter Vanessa Gregory headed up to Tehachapi this morning to catch up with residents of Alta Estates.

The developer of their new subdivision, Empire Land (aka Prestige Homes and numerous other entities) filed for bankruptcy April 25. The Ontario homebuider's attorney told us the company will be liquidated although it's currently a reorganization case.

Folks who bought homes in the tract this fall wonder what will happen with little things that need fixing and whether they'll have home warranties they were counting on.

Here's the full story, along with links to our other coverage of the troubled market.

-- Gretchen Wenner, staff writer

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Talk about a good cause.

Ginger Boyd is a 32-year-old Bakersfield mother of five children, three of whom are adopted. She's single, having been recently divorced, and she works for a living.

Until this week, Boyd had no car of her own.

So her mother nominated her for the annual Mini-Van for Mom event. Every year since 2001, Auto Shopper America at 911 Oak St. in Bakersfield has given away a minivan to a single mother, preferrably one without a vehicle.

On Thursday, Boyd drove away from Auto Shopper with a silver 2000 Dodge Caravan Sport. She also took home a computer donated by San Joaquin Bank.

"We want to come alongside a working mother and help her with transportation challenges," said Tina Miller, who heads up the event.

A similar event, organized by the same people, takes place near the holidays in December.

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If stay-at-home Moms were paid for all the incredible work they do — raising children, doing laundry, shuttling kids to sports and activities, offering counseling — they'd make $116,805 annually.

A lot of that pay is driven by overtime, says the study released by Salary.com and reported on by the Associated Press, because Moms, as we know, sure don't work just 40 hours a week.

And for moms who work outside the home too, they'd get $68,405 if they were paid for their work as mothers, the Associated Press reports.

Salary.com has a cool Mom Salary Wizard that let's you plug in number of children by age, ZIP code and hours worked doing various tasks so you can personalize what your Mom is "worth." It ends with a fake paycheck. Sigh.

And what about Dad? Well, there is a calculator for him too.

Or do the right thing and deem your Mom "priceless."

— Christine Peterson

Here's a "raw report" press release from the state's Department of Housing and Community Development:

CalHome Program Workshop to be Held in Visalia

Sacramento, CA – California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) will hold a workshop in Visalia on Wednesday, May 14 to educate developers, non-profit organizations, cities and counties about the CalHome Program.

CalHome provides grants to local public agencies or nonprofit corporations for first-time homebuyer downpayment assistance and owner occupied housing rehabilitation.

The workshop will help CalHome applicants answer questions about the funding and awards process.  Approximately $60 million is available for this round of funding.  Applications are due on June 25, 2008. 

Wednesday’s Visalia workshop will be held at Self-Help Enterprises, located at 8445 West Elowin Court.  The workshop will run from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  For more information, visit www.hcd.ca.gov or call (916) 327-3646.

HCD provides leadership, policies and programs to preserve and expand safe and affordable housing opportunities and promote strong communities for all Californians.  The Department also supports increasing the supply of housing, especially affordable housing and works to improve the state’s housing conditions and the health and safety of its residents.  As the lead housing department, HCD is part of the state Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.

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Do you know the person to the left?

Find out what she accomplished in this week's People in Business column.

Want to be in next week's list? It's best to submit to bakersfield.com/yourwords.

You can also mail contributions to The Bakersfield Californian, business editor, P.O. Bin 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302; faxed to 395-7519; or e-mailed to business@bakersfield.com. Sorry, photos that are submitted cannot be returned. For information, call 395-7345 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Reporter Jenny Shearer found out that Bakersfield Wal-Marts are seeking liquor licenses from the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

No word yet on what kind of beer or wine would be sold if Wal-Mart gets the OK.

Read the full story here.

Then tell us what you think.

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Do what you know. That's what business coaches always tell budding entrepreneurs. Don't, for example, try to start your own professional football franchise if you work as a ... a ... I don't know — a newspaper reporter.

Do like Arnie Bella, is what they'd say. She's a local medical biller, but that's neither here nor there. The point is, she loves to cook, and her relatives can't get enough of her crepes. So Bella got a business partner, finance manager and New Jersey transplant Paulyn Mercado. Together they're working to open two adjoining restaurants at 5550 California Ave., just north of Stockdale Highway.

Warning: Their ideas for the restaurants are going to make your mouth water, so you may want to eat before reading on. We'll wait...

One is House of Shabu, an asian fondue place like the kind Bella loves to eat at in Los Angeles. Picture thinly sliced meat and vegetables dipped in piping hot sauces. Indoor and outdoor seating, beer and wine.

The other is Oh Goodness! Crepe 'n Gelato. Sort of speaks for itself, really. No beer or wine, but yes, outdoor seating. If all goes well, the idea will turn into a franchise and make Bella and Mercado rich.

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Our latest home sales map is ready for a peek.

No need to grab a map to find Snowdrop Drive and Rose Petal Street. (Homes on those streets recently sold.) We’ve done the work for you.

The map is updated with homes that sold in Bakersfield from March 17 to March 23, color-coded by sales price. We regularly publish single-family home sale transactions that occurred between individuals.

Since foreclosures, or bank-owned properties, now account for an increasing number of weekly sales, sales between banks and individuals are now being included. Check out what homes are going for with the information from First American Real Estate Solutions that's compiled by reporter Vanessa Gregory.

Highlights for the week of March 17 to 23:

• 76 homes are new on this map.

•¨Priciest? One sold for $1.1 million in the 93309 ZIP code.

• Cheapest? One sold for $50,000 in the 93309 ZIP code.

What do you think of the prices?

— Christine Peterson

Financial blogs in the big city can use more exciting terms, but here at the family paper let's just say we've got charts.

Kern County foreclosures and defaults. In April 2008, they set new records again.

These are from the county recorder's office, and you can enjoy the PDF files by clicking the blue boxes.

There's also a chart from appraiser Gary Crabtree showing how the pace of defaults that ultimately foreclose has swooped up since 2006.

-- Gretchen Wenner, staff writer

Zillow's first-quarter home value report came out this morning and we're among the spots with ugly blue masses...the most depreciation.

You can find the national report here, or just focus on Bakersfield stats here.

-- Gretchen Wenner, staff writer

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Karpe Ad.pdf

Bakersfield, brace thyself!

Some edgy ads have arrived in our market. Click on the blue box to the left for the Karpe ad.

Read the full story here — then tell us what you think.

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Lawyers should do OK in the real estate bust if the Dunmore Homes bankruptcy is any indication. The Sacto developer's downfall (it has turned into a liquidation case) has created a nasty swamp of legal action.

Small companies, however — including many in Bakersfield — have  bitter pills to swallow. They're not likely to get much from bankruptcy proceedings. Most pay out-of-pocket for work and materials they supply. For them, those expenses are a total loss.

Here's our full story on local fallout from Dunmore's demise. You'll also find links to previous articles in the Developer Default series.

-- Gretchen Wenner, staff writer

Mission Bank is teaming up with Adept Dental Group to build a 7,600-square-foot building at Lerdo Highway and Beech Avenue in Shafter.

The two entities will share ownership and tenancy of the building, a groundbreaking ceremony for which is set to take place at 9 a.m. Friday.

The building is expected to be ready for occupancy in late October. The Bakersfield-based bank’s president and CEO, Richard Fanucchi, said the branch will replace a temporary office Mission occupies nearby, where business loans have exceeded expectations.

Mission Bank has two other branches, its headquarters in downtown Bakersfield and a branch it opened in Greenfield in 2004. Adept Dental Group has an office at 8605 Camino Media, Suite 100.
 

Mission Bank’s 2007 operating results have garnered it some positive recognition in the industry.

The Bakersfield-based institution recently made The Community Banker magazine’s list of eight “Top Performing Banks,” based on its average return on equity (22.49 percent) and return on assets (3.75 percent). The average return on equity among California’s commercial banks was 5.4 percent; the average return on assets was 0.17 percent.

Mission also won a “top honors” distinction in The Findley Reports, an industry publication. The bank ranked second in the “super premier” category, which listed 55 banks. It was Mission’s fourth consecutive year on the publication’s “top honors” list.

Here's a "raw report" press release from the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce:

Comprised of sophomores, juniors and seniors from 13 area high schools, the 2008 Class of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce’s award-winning Youth Leadership Bakersfield program completed an intensive six-session curriculum, devoting approximately one day per month studying diverse aspects of our community. Graduation ceremonies, sponsored by Mid State Development Corporation, were held May 2 at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel.

It is with pride that the Chamber salutes: Claire Bainbridge, Centennial; Anna Cartmell, Centennial; Derrick Chan, Highland; Garrett Croney, Ridgeview; Sydnie Espiritu, Garces; Cederek Feltus, West; Sarah Frankhouser, Stockdale; Karlee Grundeis, East; Ashley Hackney, Garces; Jake Lerma, BHS; Kelsey Linford, Centennial; Cristina Martin, Golden Valley; Ashley Martinez, South; Jazmin Martinez, South; Eric Mercado, Foothill; Nicole Mercado, East; Alex Mitchell, BHS; Marilisa Montano, Foothill; Tyler Murray, Stockdale; Katie Niday, Liberty; Adam Nielsen, Liberty; Jami Ordiz, BHS; Jacqueline Phillips, Ridgeview; Michael Reuland, Stockdale; Marlene Reynoso, Golden Valley; Steven Sargent, Ridgeview; Seth Schilhabel, Ridgeview; Bryce Sterling, Centennial; Ben Walker, Frontier; Hannah Warren, Stockdale; Emma Watson, Centennial; and Caroline Yabiku, East.

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Sometimes you just can't tell why large companies do the things they do, as we witnessed in Linens 'n Things' big announcement Friday.

That's the day the home furnishings and bedding retailer said it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection (that's the one where the company gets to continue operating, free from debtor harassment, while it reorganizes its finances). No wonder there: The economy's down, and stores dependent on people buying and outfitting their homes are sluggish these days.

What's hard to understand is why the company chose to close the stores it did. Of 120 or so closings nationwide, 27 are in California -- and the one at 9300 Rosedale Highway isn't among the ones set to shut down, a spokeswoman for the Clifton, N.J.-based chain said Monday.

Clearly sales numbers would play into the company's thinking. But what drives that? Some folks have suggested that newer stores -- the ones with better merchandise and a more welcoming design -- are the ones staying open. So why not come out and say that, if that's the case?

All we got from company spokeswoman Susan Kenney was, "I can't say why that store wasn't chosen" to close. We honestly think it's the case that she hasn't been informed.

The company doesn't have to explain itself. For one thing, the company's no longer public (the Associated Press said in a report Friday that New York investment firm Apollo Management took the company private in 2006 for $1.3 billion). Private companies aren't generally obliged to discuss their decisions.

Still, we'd sort of like to know.

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What did they used to say about movies during the Great Depression? Can't remember just now (we weren't there), but maybe it was something about how people spend their money on forms of escapism when times get tough.

Ready for a little escapism? And world domination?

Kern's got you covered. Bakersfield alone has three strategy game stores and one manufacturer of historical military simulation board games. And the news is (you were waiting for this weren't you?), they're expected to do well — better, even — as consumers cut back on other expenses.

Why? Gaming enthusiasts list a number of reasons: It's a relatively cheap, "renewable" form of entertainment; it promotes community; parents prefer it to video games; it's habit-forming; and, unless you want to be crushed by your opponents, you just may need to invest in the latest cards or gaming miniatures.

This all makes us wonder. What other discretionary-spending-based industries are positioned to do well through this economy? (Drugs, alcohol and repo services don't count!)

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It isn’t just the family budget that’s stretched as the nation teeters on the brink of recession. Local business owners are feeling the pinch, too.

Some are cutting prices to entice consumers who are hunkering down amid soaring food and gas prices. Others are curbing inventory or pressuring suppliers for deals.

Read the full story here.

Fed officials are considering tighter restrictions on credit card companies.

Namely, according to several wire service reports, the Office of Thrift Supervision and the National Credit Union Administration (now there's a mouthful) seek to prevent the companies from boosting interest rates on existing debt in most cases.

What do you think? Have you run into this?

In this tough economy, are you using credit cards more?

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Do you know the person to the left?

Find out what she achieved in our weekly People in Business column.

It's the place to announce promotions, new jobs and professional achievements.

Want to be in next week's? It's best to submit to bakersfield.com/yourwords.

You can also mail contributions to The Bakersfield Californian, business editor, P.O. Bin 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302; faxed to 395-7519; or e-mailed to business@bakersfield.com. Sorry, photos that are submitted cannot be returned. For information, call 395-7345 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Today's quote:

"Senators come and go. Presidents come and go. The lobbyist has been there for 20 years."

--J.R. Lewis, an agent with Scott Tobias Real Estate, expaining the benefits of professional political help to a room full of newbie Realtors

Here's a "raw report" press release from the military about a job fair:

NAVAL AIR WEAPONS STATION CHINA LAKE, Calif. – The Fleet and Family Support Center, Community Support Department, will host a job fair May 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Paradise Community Center on Blandy Ave.

The job fair, which presents an opportunity for prospective employees and employers to meet face-to-face, will have representatives from a wide variety of fields, including defense, information technology, financial services, retail, law enforcement, government, intelligence and more.

Employer registrants include:  California Highway Patrol; Ridgecrest Regional Hospital; General Atomics Aeronautical Systems; EDD; Continental Labor; Cerro Coso Community College; Lockheed Martin; California Career School; New Directions Technologies, Inc.; California Department of Correction; Systems Application & Technologies Inc.; Computer Science Corporation; Saalex Solution; Synectic Solutions; Sierra Sands Unified Schools; Wyle Laboratories; DS2; AltaOne Federal Credit Union; Rio Tinto Minerals; BNSF Railway; Los Angeles County Sheriffs; BAE Systems; Booze Allen Hamilton; Community Support Department; NAVAIR; Jacobs Naval Systems Group Inc; FAA; Kern County Personnel; and L3 Communications.
        & nbsp;
People interested in looking for employment are encouraged to come dressed for success and to bring up-to-date copies of their resume.

Past job fairs have resulted in many successful matches – for the employer as well as the employee.  Questions can be addressed to the NAWS Public Affairs Office at (760) 939-1683.

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Two museums will receive grant money Friday in an effort to boost the number of out-of-county visitors, according to Dave Hook, marketing coordinator at the Kern County Board of Trade.

Bakersfield Museum of Art will receive $22,500 for two efforts — a regional marketing campaign, and to promote the Via Arte Street Painting Festival.

Buena Vista Museum of Natural History gets $14,000 for a regional advertising campaign.

The money is part of the 2007-2008 Kern County Tourism Promotion Grants.

"The intent of the grant program is to fund projects that develop, promote and or expand tourism opportunities within Kern County," Hook said in a statement. "The specific focus of the current cycle is to assist qualified organizations in attracting out-of-county visitors, increasing the economic benefits of tourism to the county."

Learn more about the Kern County Board of Trade.

Life's not fair. You shouldn't have to entertain a newspaper's business reporting staff in order to get your point across. But it helps, as Urner's demonstrated this week with a press release about its new Z's Please sleep center at 4110 Wible Road.

The actual news is significant if not riveting: The 88-year-old retailer this week threw open the doors to its new 2,000-square-foot showroom featuring beds by Sealy, Stearns & Foster and Tempur-Pedic. It's the first step in what marketing director David Perkins said is an expansion that will eventually entail new satellite stores around Bakersfield. Fair enough — that's news.

But put yourself in our shoes: That's fairly dry stuff. Oh, we'll write it up. But where's the fun?

Urner's, ever mindful of newsies' need for constant stimulation, included some gems in its Z's Please press release. We won't call them euphemisms, but the company was kind enough to introduce new names for its mattress sales staff. We suspect it has something to do with Tempur-Pedic's insistence that it doesn't sell mattresses, but "sleep systems." And that's the company's prerogative.

So what is Urner's calling the members of its Z's Please sales team? "Sleep consultants." "Certified sleep solutions specialists."

Bravo! Magnifique! If you ever have to write a press release, do yourself and the reader a favor: Use creative language. If nothing else, it'll get you a fun blog post on this here Web site.

In preparation for Kern Life, our annual guide to life in Kern County, reporter Courtenay Edelhart was updating a list of top employers.

Interesting reading. Here it is:

Kern County’s Top Employers:

Kern County Public Schools    27,000
Edwards Air Force Base    11,285
County of Kern    9,339
Grimmway Enterprises    6,300
China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station    6,192
Giumarra Vineyards    4,000
Esparza Enterprises    3,600**
Catholic Healthcare West    2,952
Wm. Bolthouse Farms    2,350**
Sunview Vineyards    2,000**
Sun World    1,600
City of Bakersfield    1,420
Bear Creek Production Company    1,250
Chevron USA    1,200
San Joaquin Community Hospital 1,100

Paramount Citrus    1,096**
California State University, Bakersfield    1,069
State Farm Insurance    1,020
Community Action Partnership of Kern    924
U.S. Borax    900**
Kaiser Permanente    900
Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream    853
Aera Energy LLC    850
Sears Logistics    725
Frito Lay    706
Target Distribution Center    653**

Disclaimer: This is the most current information available at press time.
*Partial List
**2006 data
Source: Information compiled by Californian staff research and Kern Economic Development Corp.