Valerie Cassity-Special to the Sun

At the Kernville Chamber of Commerce meeting on Aug. 28, President Cheryl Borthick made a stand for the trees at Riverside Park in Kernville. Riverside Park is losing one of its largest trees due to disease, and Virginia MacLaughlin, owner of Kern River Inn Bed and Breakfast, along with a concerned Kernville resident, Laura Oreskovich, have begun a fundraising effort to replace the tree with one or two mature trees.

MacLaughlin and Oreskovich walk their dogs in Riverside Park daily, and hold regular potlucks with other dog lovers there. When they heard that a large tree was going to be removed, they decided to do something to ensure that it would be replaced. They created and distributed flyers around Kernville, and went to local businesses asking for donations. But initially they didn't have much luck. The two women did not give up, however, and continued on their quest to preserve the beauty of our community park.

“We're just a bunch of goofy dog walkers,” said Oreskovich, “but we love Riverside Park.”

Borthick learned of the plight of the tree from MacLaughlin and Oreskovich when they came to Cheryl's Diner to ask permission to leave a flyer requesting funds. Borthick displayed the flyer, and managed to raise $57 from her customers and her employees in five days.

Although MacLaughlin and Oreskovich are not members of the Kernville Chamber of Commerce, Borthick thought it was an important issue and brought it up at the membership meeting on Monday.

“The parks are an important part of the tourism of Kernville. Riverside Park is the most heavily-used park in Kern County,” said Borthick.

At the Kernville Chamber meeting, local business owner Lucien Whitman immediately “threw out the gauntlet,” said Borthick, and pledged $50, along with $50 from his new bride Rachel, and challenged everyone else in the room to do the same. He also asked the Kernville Chamber to match any donations raised.

The members of the Kernville Chamber of Commerce raised $500 in 30 seconds, which the chamber matched.

“I think that the most important thing that Kernville has to offer is its public parks, and as the Chamber of Commerce, it's in our interest to make them look as beautiful as possible,” said Whitman.

If you are interested in making a donation toward purchasing one or more mature trees for Riverside Park, please call Laura Oreskovich at (760) 376-1769. Or you can mail your donation to P.O. Box 1725 Kernville, CA 93238, or bring it by the Kern River Inn Bed and Breakfast located across the street from Riverside Park.