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What deals are out there?

See the current update to our home sales maps, plus a year’s worth of data on the sale of Bakersfield homes.

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 July 6 to 12. Highlights include:

96 homes are newly plotted on the maps.

Priciest? One sold for $495,000 in the 93312 ZIP code. It was 4,046 square feet.

Cheapest? Two sold for $40,000 each. One was in the 93304 ZIP code and was 1,209 square feet; the other was in the 93305 ZIP code and was 2,394 square feet.

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Black push pins, blue push pins ... what does it all mean?

See the final set of data added to our June map, and the start of our July map. You can also find a year’s worth of data on the sale of Bakersfield homes.

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 June 29 to July 5, with homes newly plotted on the map for each month.

Highlights between the two maps include:

84 homes are newly plotted on the maps.

Priciest? One sold for $440,000 in the 93314 ZIP code. It was 3,319 square feet.

Cheapest? One sold for $41,500 in the 93305 ZIP code. It was 1,315 square feet.

Reporter John Cox has a story on SmartMeters. Here's the top:

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has returned to Kern County to upgrade customers' SmartMeters, a move the utility insists will mean better service at a modest price.

As expected, however, the change has stirred skepticism among some customers who say the meters are to blame for higher electric bills.

SmartMeters are designed to give customers more information about how much power they use, and when. The devices also let PG&E charge some customers according to their electricity consumption during times of peak use.

Tell us what you think ...

The unemployment rate in Kern County stood at 14.4 percent in July, according to figures released by the Employment Development Department today.

Last July unemployment in Kern was 9.7 percent.

This July's figures are a little better than June, whent the rate stood at 14.7 percent.

If you’re a credit card holder, watch your mail this week.

As of Thursday, credit card companies must provide 45 days notice before increasing rates or changing any significant terms of the credit agreement, and mail statements at least 21 days before payment is due.

That’s because of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act singed into law in May.

Because of the new law, a lot of major credit card companies are mailing out notices this week announcing planned rate hikes. Customers who object to the increase can close their accounts, locking in the old interest rate on whatever balances they owe.

But there’s only a narrow window of time to opt out of the new rate, so consumer advocates are urging borrowers to call as soon as they get their notices in the mail.

— Staff writer Courtenay Edelhart

Came across this list of happy news about Kern County and thought folks might be interested.

This is straight from the Fall 2009 Kern Economic Develolpment Corp. newsletter, so credit goes to the folks thre for gathering the examples into this list!

Here's what they say:

As a public relations agent representing Kern County to outside regions, Kern Economic Development Corp. is always looking for positive headlines about the local business climate.

Some may think that good news is hard to find due to the current state of the economy, but Kern County continues to be a successful place for business.

Here are just a few of the newest accolades you may have missed:

• Ranked Top 20 least congested metro area in the nation. Forbes.com 2008

• Least expensive monthly parking rate in the nation. Colliers International 2008

• Ranked Top 8 distribution warehouse market in the nation. The Boyd Co. Inc. 2008

• Ranked Top 10 whitewater destination in the nation. Forbes.com 2009

• Fewest poor quality roads of any major urban metropolitan statistical area in the state. American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials and TRIP 2009

• Ranked Top 7 of 325 counties in the nation to return to pre-recession employment in the next two years. IHS Global Insight 2009

• Ranked Top 25 fastest growing city in the nation. U.S. Census Bureau 2009

From a Kern Leaders Academy news release:

The Kern Leaders Academy, a countywide, community leadership program directed by the Kern County Taxpayers Education Fund,  seeks qualified applicants for its program. The deadline is 5 p.m. Friday.

The academy consists of 18 four-hour sessions over nine weeks, beginning Sept. 14.

The academy’s purpose is to assist in the development of visionary community leaders who recognize that a healthy business climate is necessary for a strong economy, and a strong economy is necessary for a vibrant community.

The academy will provide education and training to civic, professional and business leaders and others with outstanding leadership potential so that they may enter public service with the appropriate skills and vision to address creatively the challenges facing Kern County.

Information and a downloadable application are at www.kernleadersacademy.org.
 

From a Kern County Board of Trade news release:

The Kern County Board of Trade will provide help to organizations seeking funding through a Kern County Tourism Promotion Grant for their visitor promotion efforts.

Kern County Board of Supervisors authorized up to $135,000 to help qualified groups attract visitors to the region. The program, administered by the Board of Trade, has provided 191 grants since 2001.

The Board of Trade will present workshops to familiarize potential applicants with the program and discuss new guidelines. They are to be held at 6:30 p.m. on:

• Thursday, Sept. 10, East Kern Airport District Board Room, 1434 Flightline St. in Mojave. 

• Monday, Sept. 14, Kern River Valley Senior Building, 6405 Lake Isabella Blvd.

• Wednesday, Sept. 16, Taft Veterans Building, 218 Taylor St. 

• Thursday, Sept. 24, East Bakersfield Veterans Building, 2010 Ridge Road.

Call 868-KERN or e-mail kerninfo@co.kern.ca.us.

The new Target at the Shops at River Walk is near completion and is set to open Oct. 11.

The city’s newest Target store will be 139,000 square feet and include the usual general merchandise, as well as expanded food options including produce, meat and baked goods, said Target spokeswoman Anna Anderson.

Other locations include the Northwest Promenade location at 144,000 square feet and the northeast Target at 106,000 square feet. There is also a Target across from Valley Plaza.

Plans are on hold indefinitely for the Target that had been slated to go into Valley Plaza mall before construction was abruptly halted.

“We are continuing discussions with the developer but there are no new updates,” Anderson said.

Anyone interested in working for the new Target can apply at in-store kiosks at any existing Target location, Anderson said.

— Courtenay Edelhart

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Whether you want to buy or sell — or your simply curious — our home sales maps provide recent data on Bakersfield home sales.

See the current update to our sales map, plus past 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 June 22 to 28. Highlights include:

91 homes are newly plotted on the map.

Priciest? One sold for $500,000 in the 93311 ZIP code. It was 2,899 square feet.

Cheapest? One sold for $44,000 in the 93308 ZIP code. It was 863 square feet.

Any comments on the prices?

— Christine Peterson

A new motorsports shop has opened in southwest Bakersfield and will hold a grand opening event this weekend.

Let’s Ride Motorsports sells parts and accessories for motorcycles, side-by-sides, ATVs and watercraft. It had a soft opening June 15 and will hold a grand opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the store, 4401 Ride St.

Along with free hot dogs and soft drinks, Let’s Ride will have custom vehicles on display, and manufacturers will have exhibits of their new 2010 model year products.

Run by Darren and Sharon Fulce and Ron Segroves, Let’s Ride is an independent, family-owned store not affiliated with any franchise. For information, call 397-4333.

— Staff writer Courtenay Edelhart

A new Basque deli is opening downtown next month.

Brenda Sharp, landlord of the Silver Fox and operator of two successive hair salons over the course of a decades-long career in hairdressing, is opening Mill Creek Deli at 700 18th St.

The roughly 800-square-foot restaurant will sell deli sandwiches alongside such Basque staples as pickled tongue, soups, French bread and beans.

It will have a permanent staff of five, supplemented initially by culinary student interns.

The decor includes a Patti Doolittle mural of Bakersfield landmarks, and the deli will deliver in the downtown area using a 1936 Dodge truck that has been in Sharp’s family for years.

“Cooking is my passion, and my mom worked in restaurants so I had a good teacher,” she said.

But Sharp also liked styling hair, so she took a detour. Now, at 67, she’s coming out of retirement to pursue her deferred dream.

“I think this will be my last venture,” she said.

— Courtenay Edelhart, Californian staff writer

A new indoor skatepark has proven to be popular since it opened earlier this summer, according to its owner.

Big City Skatepark has had 1,200 customers come through since it opened June 14, owner Rick Peralez said Wednesday. That is based on the number of waivers skaters must sign before using the park.

The skatepark, which is at 4350 Wible Road, provides 15,000 square feet of space for those who wish to skateboard or rollerblade.

The park is open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The cost is $7 per two-hour session.

“This is a place for kids to hang out,” Peralez said. “It gets them off the streets, and out of the heat.”

— Katie Steiner

Donna Stanfield has expanded her business, Words of Art, to offer printed monograms on live flowers.

Stanfield partnered with Uniquely Chic Florist and Boutique to do it. For example, she can print a corporate logo on a flower, or have a dozen tulips with different words on them.

"This adds a little more of a professional touch," Stanfield said. "It's just so neat, it's just a little different."

Words of Art will continue to make stencils for people to use at weddings, special events and around their houses.

For more information, call Stanfield at 330-3179 or visit Uniquely Chic at 9500 Brimhall Road. Or go to www.wordsofartstencils.com.

— Katie Steiner, staff writer

Extra Innings, an indoor baseball and softball training center, is set to open Aug. 15 at 4820 Rosedale Lane.

The 10,000-square-foot facility is a franchise purchased by Bill and Wanda Wagoner and staffed by them, their two teenage sons and several former professional baseball players.

The site's five multi-use training tunnels can be used to practice pitching, batting, fielding, catching or base-running. The cost to rent one is $20 per half hour, or $35 an hour. The business also features a circuit training room and a pro shop that sells everything from mitts and bats to apparel and training aids.

Extra innings is to operate from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. The phone number is 589-8900.

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Maybe you’re looking to buy. Or sell. What are homes going for?

See the current update to our sales 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 June 8 to 14. Highlights include:

93 homes are newly plotted on the map.

Priciest? One sold for $540,000 in the 93311 ZIP code. It was 2,902 square feet.

Cheapest? One sold for $38,000 in the 93306 ZIP code. It was 1,481 square feet.