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Community members are invited to Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Wednesday for a town hall-style meeting on the push for national health-care reform.

The 10 a.m. gathering at the hospital’s Founders Hall Auditorium, 420 34th St., is part of hospital owner Catholic Healthcare West’s plans to gather public comments about health-care reform and forward them to the Obama administration and Congress.

The meeting is to be moderated by Robin Mangarin, an anchor and health reporter for KGET-TV, Channel 17. Panelists have been invited to participate.

“Bakersfield Memorial Hospital believes the time for health reform is now,” hospital President and CEO Jon Van Boening said in a news release about the meeting. “Our nation’s leaders have a rare window of opportunity to achieve health reform this summer. They must make the most of it — to help the nation, employers and families alike.”

Read our special report on health-care reform and what Bakersfield health-care leaders are saying.
 

From reporter John Cox's story today:

Kern's own economic recovery may be quicker and ultimately less painful than that of its neighbors to the north and south, a recent report predicts.

Thanks mostly to the county's relatively mild housing bubble and proximity to Los Angeles, Kern is in shape to return to its pre-recession employment peak by late 2011, according to an economist with IHS Global Insight, which released its annual forecast in late May.

By the same measure, Fresno's economy isn't expected to recover until the third quarter of 2012, which would be slightly slower than the Visalia-Porterville area (second quarter 2012) but faster than Merced (fourth quarter 2012), Stockton (second quarter 2013) and Modesto (second quarter 2014). IHS said the Los Angeles area won't regain its peak employment until 2014 or later.

Read the full story here.

What do you think?

Animal Emergency and Urgent Care has received accreditation by the American Animal Hospital Association.

“AAHA is kind of like a gold standard in the veterinary hospital world,” said office manager Johnni Flesner. “Being accredited means we have met a lot of different standards.”

To be accredited, the hospital first had to be evaluated. The evaluation included reviews of the hospital’s facility, medical equipment, patient care and human resources.

“You name it, they check it,” Flesner said.

Animal Emergency and Urgent Care, at 4300 Easton Drive, has been in business for more than 30 years.

The Kern Minority Contractors Association will host a California Unification Certification Workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m Thursday.

The workshop is being held to help local contractors complete the application needed to get certified to bid on projects that are funded by the federal stimulus package.

Presenting at the workshop will be a Caltrans certification analyst, who will go through every step of the application process. 

Those who pre-register will receive the required application, as well as a checklist of items to bring to the workshop. Pre-register at 324-7535.

Those who don’t pre-register are still welcome to attend.

The workshop will be held at the organization’s office at 1330 E. Truxtun Ave. A similar workshop will be held in either August or September.
 

The Wet Seal is opening a new store in Valley Plaza mall on Friday.

Wet Seal is a clothing retailer aimed at young women.

A grand opening for the new store, which is next to Sears, will be held July 11. 

As part of the grand opening, the store will offer Wet Seal gift cards, ranging from $5 to $100, to the first 100 customers who come to the opening.

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The ranking of the top 20 agricultural commodities produced in Kern County didn't change much between 2007 and 2008, but the value did.

For the second year, Kern County had gross production value of more than $4 billion, agricultural commissioner Ruben Arroyo wrote to the Kern County Board of Supervisors in a letter dated Tuesday accompanying an annual crop report. But the gross value of all ag commodities produced was down 1.4 percent from 2007, the report said.

Read the full story here.

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See what homes are selling for across Bakersfield, and across the price spectrum.

See the current update to our map, plus a year’s worth of sales data. We publish single-family home sale transactions, as well as foreclosures.

The homes are color-coded by price, with information from First American Real Estate Solutions.

This week’s data covers May 4 to 10. Highlights include:

112 homes are newly plotted on the map.

Priciest? One sold for $410,000 in the 93311 ZIP code. It was 2,811 square feet.

Cheapest? One sold for $20,000 in the 93305 ZIP code. It was 1,816 square feet.

Anyone buying? What are your stories?

The North of the River Chamber of Commerce is holding a free Oildale Business Mixer from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the historic Oildale Bank, 1301 North Chester Ave.

It’s a chance for people to meet other business owners and hear about Oildale Centennial activities.

Call 871-4555 to RSVP.
 

Monster Mini Golf, a chain of monster-themed indoor glow-in-the-dark miniature golf facilities, is giving away prizes in a contest to thank customers.

Everyone who enters the company’s “appreciation campaign” contest, which is going on through the end of July at all Monster Mini Golf locations, will get a discounted round of mini golf.

Other possible prizes include mini golf for life, free parties, free rounds of golf and a custom Monster Mini Golf Epiphone Guitar.

No purchase is necessary to enter online at www.monsterminigolf.com. Those who enter in person are eligible for an additional $500 cash prize.

The chain has 23 locations, including 4751 White Lane in Bakersfield.

Tejon Ranch Co. and Rockefeller Group Development Corp. have announced that CB Richard Ellis will represent their joint venture for industrial and warehouse development at Tejon Industrial Complex.

The complex is a 1,450-acre master-planned development at the junction of Interstate 5 and Highway 99.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. is the world’s largest commercial real estate services firm by revenue.

Kern County unemployment rates by cities and communities, released by the Employment Development Department  on Friday.

Arvin: 35.5 percent

Bakersfield: 10 percent

California City: 11.1 percent

Delano: 34.7 percent

Frazier Park: 12.4 percent

Lake Isabella: 16.9 percent

Lamont: 24.7 percent

Maricopa: 15.6 percent

McFarland: 28.4 percent

Mojave: 17.5 percent

Oildale: 14.8 percent

Ridgecrest: 8.2 percent

Rosedale: 5.3 percent

Shafter: 24.5 percent

Taft: 13.8 percent

Tehachapi: 9.5 percent

Wasco: 25.4 percent

The Leadership Bakersfield class of 2009 is set to celebrate its graduation tonight at the Petroleum Club.

The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce program “offers an opportunity for participants to become actively involved in the community and gain insight into our area’s challenges and issues while exploring solutions and alternatives,” according to the chamber Web site.

The graduates are: Sgt. Allan Abney, Bakersfield Police Department; Jessica Allegranza, Valley Republic Bank; Lou Chizlett, Bright House Networks; Sgt. Rene Chow, Bakersfield Police Department; Nicolette Cross, O’Dell Cross, A Professional Corporation; Christina Dixon, Aera Energy LLC; Dustin Dodgin, Klein, DeNatale, Goldner et al; Rob Duchow, The Gas Company; and Christabel Edwards, Frito-Lay, Inc.

Nick Gomez, San Joaquin Valley College; Scott Gray, Business Initiatives; Jeanell Guenther, San Joaquin Community Hospital; Leah Headrick, Processes Unlimited International, Inc.; Sam Itani, San Joaquin Community Hospital; Alice Juarez, Wells Fargo Bank; Darryl Manning, Chevron North America Exploration and Production; Josh Martinez, Bakersfield Machine Company.

Kirsten Myers, Goodwill Industries of South Central California; Tom Pasek, Shaggy Dog Solutions, LLC; Frank Ramirez, University of California Merced; Patti Reed, Kern Schools Federal Credit Union; Joshua Schroeder, Chevron North America Exploration and Production; Sheri Seal-Bailey, San Joaquin Community Hospital/Bariatric Solutions; Darrell Stapley, Hall Ambulance Service, Inc.; and Jeremy Zoch, Mercy Hospitals of Bakersfield.

From September through June, students attended an all-day seminar each month that included presentations by community leaders, discussions and visits to places in the community connected to the day’s theme.

The chamber is accepting applications for next year’s class. They may be found at bakersfieldchamber.org The deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, June 26. For details, e-mail tsterling@bakersfieldchamber.org or call 327-4421.

The Anchor Blue youth apparel and accessories store at East Hills Mall is among 46 “underperforming” stores being shuttered across the chain.

As part of the Ontario-based retailer’s overall restructuring plans, the store kicked off a closing sale Friday that will include discounts of up to 40 percent, and continue until “all merchandise is sold,” the company announced.

Anchor Blue, which started in 1972 as Miller’s Outpost, has 177 stores across 12 states. Its store at Valley Plaza mall is not set to close.

A summary straight from the state Employment Development Department:

The unemployment rate in the Kern County was 14.2 percent in May 2009, down from a revised 14.8 percent in April 2009, and above the year-ago estimate of 9.0 percent. 

This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 11.2 percent for California and 9.1 percent for the nation during the same period. 

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Unveiling of the latest addition to the Kern County Interactive Visitor Kiosk Network took place Monday in Boron. The 11th in a planned network of 13 kiosks was officially dedicated by a cadre of dignitaries headed by Kern County Second District Supervisor Don Maben.

The kiosk, a “virtual visitors center” designed specifically for Boron, delivers 24-hour tourism information to travelers; directing them to businesses, events and attractions in East Kern and across Kern County. The Boron kiosk was funded by Maben and developed by the Board of Trade.

Located at the twin Twenty Mule Team and Vernon P. Saxon Aerospace museums, the Boron kiosk is intended to capture museum visitors and traffic on Highway 58. 

Additional kiosks are already operating in Mojave, Rosamond, Lebec, Taft, Bakersfield and the Kern River Valley. Kiosks at Tehachapi and Jawbone Canyon will be deployed later this month.

— Kern County Board of Trade

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The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the City luncheon forum is 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, at the Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center.

The lunchtime session will feature Mayor Harvey L. Hall’s welcome and annual report. City Manager Alan Tandy will discuss Operating in a Challenging Economy-The Effects on the City and Our Community. Administrative Analyst Steven Teglia will focus on Economic Stimulus Funding Projects for our area.

The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce and Ford Motor Company Fund (the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Co.) will kick off the State of the City event with an announcement that will benefit Bakersfield and Kern County students.

Cost is $27 per chamber member and $50 per nonmember. Register at bakersfieldchamber.org, e-mail info@bakersfieldchamber.org or call 327-4421.

State of the City 2009 is sponsored by Raymond’s Trophy & Awards.

— Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce Metro E-News

Assemblyman Danny Gilmore, R-Hanford, will host a job fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, June 26, at the Army National Guard Building, 2800 Gateway Ave. in Bakersfield.

“As many unemployed professionals are struggling to find work and with time constraints on many employers to find qualified applicants to fill vacant positions, it is a top priority for me to address these issues by providing a venue that will afford a successful outcome for both,” Gilmore said.

The Employment Development Department of Kern County through its Career Services Center is providing support for the event and will host resume building workshops.

Some employers topping the list to participate include Holiday Ford-Lincoln Mercury, U.S. Army, Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, Western Truck School and Forever 21.

— Office of Danny Gilmore

The iPhone 3G S goes on sale at AT&T stores, including in Bakersfield, on Friday.

Apple unveiled the device at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference.

Although this latest generation is an incremental improvement compared to previous iPhone launches, it boasts faster processing speed and new features including a new 3.0 megapixel camera with auto focus and longer battery life.

The phone gets nine hours of Internet browsing using WiFi, 10 hours of video, 30 hours of audio and five hours of 3G talk time.

AT&T has exclusive rights to sell it.

— Californian staff

Employers’ Training Resource sent a written report on its first-quarter activities to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. The report provides a snapshot of local unemployment. Excerpts follow:

Climbing unemployment rates have resulted in a large increase of customers. Employers’ Training Resource and the Career Services Centers served 7,662 first-time visitors during the first quarter of 2009. These first-time and repeat customers made a total of 10,660 visits and accessed 58,736 units of service during this time.

Services given to our customers included, but were not limited to, accessing case management services; use of the resource room; fax, phone and copy machines; referrals to job training; assessment of skills; job referrals; supportive services; and referrals to partners for other services.

Total job openings resulting in 2,349 job openings given by employers, which were entered in the CSC system in the first quarter of 2009, resulting in 890 reported placements. Job openings are slightly lower than the last quarter  of 2008 when there were 2,478. Many placements are not reported to the CSC so actual numbers are most likely higher. There were 48 employer recruitments, representing 30 different companies held at the various CSCs throughout Kern County during the first quarter of 2009.

The Rapid Response team is continuing o provide layoff services for employers who face business closures. The rate of these closures has slowed, with the majority of participating businesses completing layoffs started late last year or early in 2009.

A total of 965 job losses in 45 businesses were reported to the ETR Rapid Response team, which assists these employers to help provide services to reduce the impact of job loss on workers, families and communities. Laid off employees attend an orientation and are given information about the many employment services, programs and resources available to assist them in their job search.

— Verna Lewis, director, Employers’ Training Resource

National Health Services, Inc. recently opened a new optometry department, as well as a remodeled behavioral health department, at the Oildale Community Health Center.

A section of the center that was not being used was remodeled to equip the departments with new state-of-the-art technology, said Melanie Dawar, associate director of health promotions for National Health Services.

The departments have been open and serving patients for about six weeks, Dawar said.

An open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 23 at the center at 525 Roberts Lane.

— Californian staff

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers is returning to Bakersfield June 23 for another unreserved public auction of industrial and construction equipment.

The auction starts at 8 a.m. at 20638 Taft Highway. It is expected to feature at least 2,900 items, including a large number of late-model, low-hour construction and concrete fabrication equipment now owned by United Rentals.

At its last auction in town March 27, Ritchie auctioned off more than 1,100 items to 430 buyers. The company said that event attracted nearly 1,350 bidders from 14 countries.
Interested bidders are advised to register in advance, free of charge, at rbauction.com. The sale site phone number is 763-3852.

— Californian staff
 

The State Board of Equalization is offering a free one-day tax seminar to assist taxpayers in preparing sales and use tax returns, how to use resale certificates, determining what is taxable and non-taxable labor, and how to maintain adequate records.

For more information or to register, contact the Board of Equalization District Office in Bakersfield at 395-2881 or visit the BOE Web site at: www.boe.ca.gov/cgi-bin/tax_class.cgi.

The seminar is 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the Board of Equalization, Bakersfield District Office, 1800 30th St. Suite 380.

— State Board of Equalization news release

Packaging design and manufacturing firm Maxco Supply Inc. has opened a South Valley distribution facility in Delano.

Maxco has vacated a leased facility a quarter mile away and moved into a larger, more modern facility it owns at 14095 Avenue 24 in Delano.

The new hub, which will assemble and move boxes for shipping grapes, is 22,500 square feet and will house 50 employees. The company also hires seasonal employees during grape harvest months.

A barbecue is planned fo Wednesday to show off the new facility to customers.

— Californian staff

Excerpts from a Faith in Action recap of their Saturday event:

This past Saturday, more than 490 families facing foreclosure visited the Rabobank Convention Center to seek face-to-face help from servicers and HUD-approved counselors.

The event, sponsored by HOPE Now, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and Neighborworks America, left many families walking away feeling hopeful and empowered. In fact, according to Faith In Action’s exit survey, “were your expectations met?” 87 out of 117 respondents answered “yes” (three responded “somewhat”).

The HOPE Now event came to Bakersfield after Faith In Action’s community meeting on the foreclosure crisis in February 2009 with more than 700 concerned residents and people of faith. Faith In Action worked with the regional office of HUD and the Federal Reserve of San Francisco to bring more resources to Kern County’s families facing foreclosure.

— from Andrae Gonzales, executive director of Faith in Action Kern County

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Curious about the market? See what’s selling on our weekly home sales map.

See a year’s worth of sales data.

We publish single-family home sale transactions, as well as foreclosures.

The homes are color-coded by price, with information from First American Real Estate Solutions.

This week’s data covers April 20 to 26. Highlights include:

108 homes are newly plotted.

Priciest? One sold for $727,500 in the 93309 ZIP code. It was 3,597 square feet.

Cheapest? One sold for $28,000 in the 93308 ZIP code. It was 1,053 square feet.

— Christine Peterson

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Here's a press release from the CVB:

The Bakersfield Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched its new Web site, www.VisitBakersfield.com, using new technology to give information about Bakersfield and resources for travel planning.

“With so many people utilizing the Internet for travel research and booking, it’s essential we give users the most relevant and current information possible,” said Convention & Visitors Bureau Manager Don Cohen.

Simple navigation, more accessible content and enhanced meeting planner tools allow users to find information quickly including where to stay, explore, eat, meet and shop in Bakersfield.

The site highlights key points of interest such as photo tours, current promotions and an events calendar. Visitors can also create a detailed travel itinerary, which can be printed or e-mailed. Elements and sections of the site continue to be developed, with plans for a mobile site launch sometime within the next year.

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Giant vinyl banners boasting of the latest McDonald's burger promotion used to go in the trash when the sale ended, but a local franchise group is experimenting with a way to keep them out of landfills while helping sick children.

Golden Empire Operators Association, a trade group of nine owners of 31 Bakersfield area McDonald's restaurants, is working with a northern California company to recycle the colorful banners into bags that will be sold to benefit the new Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House.

Read the full story by reporter Courtenay Edelhart.

You can buy them at Guarantee Shoe Center on Chester Avenue or at the Bakersfield Memorial Hospital gift shop.

Banks will auction foreclosed residences at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the DoubleTree Hotel, 3100 Camino Del Rio Court in Bakersfield.

Prospective buyers must pre-register to participate.

The local sale is part of auctioneer Hudson & Marshall’s liquidation of more than 150 homes in cities throughout Southern California happening June 10-14.

All homes come with title insurance paid by the sellers. Buyers are required to make a cash or certified check deposit of $5,000 for each property for which they are the winning bidder. A 5 percent buyer’s premium will be added to the sales price.

Property details and information are at www.hudsonandmarshall.com or by calling 866-539-4172.
 

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Are you on the fence, thinking about buying a home? See what's selling on our weekly home sales map.

See a year's worth of sales data.

We publish single-family home sale transactions, as well as foreclosures.

The homes are color-coded by price, with information from First American Real Estate Solutions.

This week's data covers April 13 to 19. Highlights include:

117 homes are newly plotted.

Priciest? One sold for $620,000 in the 93314 ZIP code. It was 4,058 square feet.

Cheapest? One sold for $25,000 in the 93307 ZIP code. It was 850 square feet.

— Christine Peterson

Ray Morgan Co., which provides document technology solutions, imaging and workflow services, has opened a local office at 4415 Yeager Way, Suite 700.

The company, which has existed for more than half a century, opened the Bakersfield office after doing business locally for many years, said Rodney Archer, major account manager for the company.

Among other things, the business sells Canon and other products.

It offers a system that captures everything that puts out paper on a network.

“We can tell them the costs of what is being put out in the office,” Archer said, and then recommend cost-saving measures.

Here's a news release straight from the county tax collector:

Kern County Treasurer and Tax Collector, Jackie Denney announced the recent mailing of Delinquency Notices to property owners who have not paid their property taxes. Ms. Denney advises property owners to pay their delinquent taxes on or before June 30, 2009, in order to avoid incurring additional penalties.

If property taxes are not paid by June 30, 2009, the parcel will be placed in a “tax-defaulted” status and will be subject to public auction after five (5) years of delinquency.

Various methods of payment are available:

1) Via mail to: KCTTC 1115 Truxtun Avenue - 2nd Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93301-4640
2) In person at the Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office located at 1115 Truxtun Avenue - 2nd Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93301.
3) Via the Treasurer-Tax Collector's website at www.kcttc.co.kern.ca.us
Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover Cards or electronic checks can be used for payments over the Internet. Please access our website for additional information.

If property owners feel they have received a delinquent notice in error, they are asked to contact the Treasurer-Tax Collector at (661) 868-3490.

Last week, Los Angeles-based apparel retailer Forever 21 Inc. purchased at auction more than a dozen leases held by bankrupt Gottschalks, which is in the process of liquidating its department stores at Valley Plaza and East Hills malls.

We weren't able to reach the buyer in time for last week's story, but naturally we wanted to know what it intends to do with those leases.

Here's what Forever 21 marketing manager Kirsten Nagle had to say about the company's plans for Valley Plaza when we caught up with her Monday.

Read reporter Courtenay Edelahart's Q&A.

What do you think?

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Get a glimpse of the homes that are selling in Bakersfield on our maps.

Click to see a year's worth of sales data and maps.

We publish single-family home sale transactions, as well as foreclosures.

The homes are color-coded by price, with information from First American Real Estate Solutions.

This week's data covers April 6 to 12. Highlights include:

128 homes are newly plotted.

Priciest? One sold for $560,000 in the 93306 ZIP code. It was 3,917 square feet.

Cheapest? One sold for $30,000 in the 93306 ZIP code. It was 1,071 square feet.

— Christine Peterson

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The news about gas prices you REALLY want to read is in the last sentence of this Associated Press story.

What they say: The lowest price in California was $2.65 a gallon in Fresno and Bakersfield.

Here's the rest:

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The U.S. price of gasoline jumped 19 cents a gallon during the past two weeks, but remains well below prices from a year ago.

That’s according to the national Lundberg Survey of fuel prices released Sunday.
Analyst Trilby Lundberg says the average price of regular gasoline was $2.49 a gallon Friday, when the survey was completed.

That’s up 54 cents from ten weeks ago, with most of the rise occurring during May.

The average price for a gallon of mid-grade was $2.62. Premium was at $2.73.

Tucson had the country’s lowest price — $2.22 for a gallon of regular. The highest was in Chicago, at $2.76.

The lowest price in California was $2.65 a gallon in Fresno and Bakersfield, and the highest was $2.72 in San Francisco.