Kern River Valley Revitalization (KRVR) held their monthly Steering Committee meeting last Wednesday, Sept. 6, at Cerro Coso College in Lake Isabella to discuss local current events and topics.
KRVR is a collaboration of local agencies, business owners, and concerned citizens working to facilitate the social, natural, and financial health of the KRV for this and future generations. Everyone in the Kern Valley is invited to come share their ideas at the Steering Committee meetings, as everyone who lives here is a stakeholder in our community's future.
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Guest speaker Holly Hart, Executive Director of the Smart Growth Coalition of Kern County, gave a presentation on her organization as well as the problems and opportunities that Kern County is facing as more people decide to make their homes here. The Smart Growth Coalition (SGC) has been operating in Kern County for 13 years, focusing on underlying policies that can affect change rather than specific projects. The organization was responsible for getting a planning coalition reestablished in Kern County, and are currently focusing on instituting an integrated Graphic Information System (GIS) with all information about the demographics of our county, which will be an effective tool for home buyers and business owners. “The reality is that we are going to grow; the question is, how do we want to grow?” asked Hart.
According to Hart, a Congressional report released in 2005 showed that the San Joaquin Valley region, which includes the Kern River Valley, is worse off in some parts socio-economically than Appalachia. She also informed the group that each year, as many as 47 million American citizens are moving from one city, county, or state to another, with Kern County currently growing exponentially. “We need to elevate our expectations. Nothing is good enough any more, we have to rise,” said Hart.
“If we really want healthy communities, it's up to each of us to make that happen,” said Hart. She encouraged everyone to look into a law that passed in July, 2004, titled AB1268, which allows residents, planners, and businesses to design communities to be more functional. For more information, email Holly at hart.holly@gmail.com.
Highway 178 Corridor Expo will be in October
Bob Barnes asked for sponsorship for the upcoming Highway 178 Corridor Expo, which will take place at the Kerr-McGee center in Ridgecrest Oct. 27-29 to promote the excellent recreational opportunities along the highway from “the Palace to the Pinnacles.” Sponsorships are available at all levels. If you are interested in learning more about the Expo, or in becoming a sponsor, email Barnes at bbarnes@lightspeed.net.
Small Business Financial Expo on Sept. 26
Carolyn LoFreso of the Mojave Desert-Mountain RC&D Council encouraged everyone to attend the 2006 Small Business Financial Expo that will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at the Senior Center in Lake Isabella from 7:30-10:30 a.m. The Expo will feature knowledgeable guest speakers from several prominent small businesses, with breakfast catered by Big Blue Bear. Registration for this event is $10, and you must RSVP by Sept. 22. For more information, call (760) 446-1974 or email m.rcnd@mchsi.com.
Fall Dance at Nuui Cunni Center Saturday
Ron Wermuth of the Monache Intertribal Association encouraged the community to attend the Kern River Paiute Shoshone Fall Dance at dusk on Sept. 16, at the Nuui Cunni Cultural Center at French Gulch. The event is designed to realign ourselves with Mother Nature, and will include a round dance by the Monache Intertribal drum and singers and a sweat ceremony before the dance. Refreshments will be provided, but it is asked that everyone bring their own chairs. No cameras, drugs, firearms, or recorders are allowed. For more information, call 376-4240.
Wermuth was also excited to announce that he has helped to organize an authentic pow wow at the Kernville Rodeo grounds next June 9-11. The pow wow will include drummers and singers from Oklahoma and South Dakota, as well as local tribes, and competition dancing. During the event, there will also be a health fair and art show. For more information, call the number above.
Leadership training
applications accepted
Nancy Puckett of the Kern Valley Collaborative announced that applications are being accepted to take part in a Leadership Development Training Program in 2007 offered by the Kern County Network for Children. The training courses are held once monthly in Bakersfield, and include 36 hours of instruction in nine subject areas including public speaking, time management, strategic planning, conflict resolution, and others. If you are interested in learning more or applying for the program, call Debra Burris-Garafalo at (661) 636-4488, or visit the website at www.kcnc.org.
Preserve to participate in Pride Day
Laurie Robinson, Program Director of the Kern River Preserve, requested volunteers to help out on Kern Valley Pride Day this Saturday, Sept. 16, as part of the Audubon team. Call Laurie at 378-3044 if you are interested in volunteering. She also encouraged everyone to attend the Turkey Vulture Festival coming up on Sept. 30-31. Information is available online at http://kern.audubon.org.
Boys and Girls Club holds sailing program
Ron Hyatt announced that his sailing program is going well, with over 160 hours of sail time with the kids of the Boys and Girls club this year, teaching them the essentials of sailing. He is planning a sailing trip to Catalina Island for the dedicated kids who have come to love sailing. Hyatt also announced that he is running for Trustee for the Kern Valley Healthcare District.
Valley Fest coming Oct. 14
Kathy Evans, Executive Director of the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce, reminded everyone that the third annual Valleyfest will be held Oct. 14 at Scovern Hot Springs in Lake Isabella. Call the Chamber office at 376-5236 for more information.
Bus trips to Trail of 100 Giants in progress
Rhonda Stallone of Mountain and River Adventures announced that the docent-led travel tours to the Trail of 100 Giants are now available. 2006 tour dates are Sept. 16 & 30, Oct. 6, 14, 15, and 28, and Nov. 4 & 11. The cost per person is $46.35 and includes transportation, a picnic lunch under the sequoias and a guided hike through the trail. For more information, or to make a reservation, call 376-6553.
“Kern Valley Cares” to combat trash problem
(Editor's note: the author, of Sequoia ForestKeeper, gave an overview at the meeting of the “Kern Valley Cares” program that she is developing along with Jennie Cox of the Kernville Chamber of Commerce. The program will place recycling receptacles at key high-traffic points around the valley and each receptacle will be adopted by a different youth group or non-profit organization. The group that has adopted the receptacle will be responsible for maintaining it, and will keep whatever money is earned by the recycling.)
KRVR meets the first Wednesday of every month, and the public is welcome and encouraged to attend. The next meeting will be held on Oct. 4, at 9 a.m. at Cerro Coso Community College.
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