Community Corner

🌱 Is your child’s car seat ready for California’s 2027 law change?

Coming up on the Bakersfield Patch calendar: TRAPT Live at Temblor Brewing!

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Good morning to you Bakersfield! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

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In today's newsletter:

  • Is your child's car seat ready for California's 2027 law change?
  • What Bakersfield's new water director means for your taps and bills
  • How Bakersfield property owners can officially protest new sewer rates

Also on today's calendar: Bank of America Museums On Us offers FREE admission Oct 3 at Bakersfield Museum of Art and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Do you know what the two sides of a circle are? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Toasty conditions, with a high of 100 and low of 68 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Friday: Mostly sunny and warm, temps: high: 92, low: 64.
  • Saturday: Partly sunny and very warm, with a high of 95 and low of 65 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. BPD urge parents to schedule car seat checks ahead of National Seat Check Saturday (bakersfieldnow.com) — Bakersfield parents are being urged by local police to schedule car seat checks and start using the "Five-Step Test" now, ahead of a 2027 law expanding booster-seat requirements for kids up to age 16. The Bakersfield Police Department is offering guidance and a dedicated phone line to help families ensure seats are installed correctly during Child Passenger Safety Week and beyond.
   

2. Bakersfield officials announce new water department director (kget.com) — Bakersfield has appointed longtime resident Daniel Maldonado as the city's new water director, a key role in managing local water supplies and major Kern River projects. Maldonado, previously assistant director, will oversee upcoming water and wastewater initiatives that shape reliability and infrastructure for Bakersfield households and businesses.
   

3. Kern County posts sample letter to challenge Bakersfield's sewer rate hike amid ongoing legal fight (turnto23.com) — Kern County is giving Bakersfield property owners a ready-made "payment-under-protest" letter they can copy to formally challenge the city's recent sewer rate increases while still paying their bills. County officials say submitting such a letter is the only way residents can preserve the right to seek refunds if a court later rules the higher charges unconstitutional.
   

4. What's new at the Kern County Fair? Here's your first look (turnto23.com) — Bakersfield families can start planning their trip to the Kern County Fair, which runs Sept. 23 through Oct. 4 with new food, attractions, and added safety measures. Organizers highlight fresh vendors like Mac Daddy's mac and cheese, a new sunrise experience, and ID wristbands plus a reunification center to help keep kids safe amid an expected 300,000 visitors.
   

5. Online predators target kids through video games and social media, experts warn (turnto23.com) — Bakersfield-area parents are being warned that online predators increasingly target kids through video games, chat apps, and social media, often without adults realizing it. Kern County prosecutors, Bakersfield Police, and KCSO describe recent sting arrests and urge families to watch for behavior changes, talk regularly with children about online contacts, and report suspicious activity to 911 immediately.
   

📸 Around Bakersfield

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • We're still trying to find a home for this beautiful girl.
    One year old, spayed. Litter box trained. Super friendly and well behaved. Vaccines are up to date. Please let me know if interested. (Nextdoor Hillcrest)
  • I want to say congratulations to my daughter for trying out for the football team and being selected.
    She was the only girl who tried out. She will be the running back. Today is her first game. The boys tell me shes a beast on the field. PLEASE READ… (Nextdoor Fairview Rd)
  • Lakeside Union School District - Bakersfield posted a job opening for Utility Worker/Custodian - 7 Hour in Bakersfield. Apply here.
  • Panama-Buena Vista Union School District posted a job opening for School Clerk (2026-27 School Year) in Bakersfield. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bakersfield here.

Ok Bakersfield! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The inside and the outside ! (Thank you James M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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