Valerie Cassity-Special to the Sun

Kern River Valley Revitalization (KRVR) held their monthly Steering Committee meeting last Wednesday, July 11, 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.

KRV Cemetery District Needs Help Clarence Semonious, Trustee, and Randy Kyt, Manager of the Kern River Valley Cemetery District gave an update on the status of the cemetery water issue, as well as informing the group that the District is forming an assessment district to help water the cemetery lawn and replace failing equipment. They are considering putting an annual assessment, or tax, of approximately $7.70 per household on the ballot in November so Kern Valley voters can determine whether they will assist the cemetery in necessary costs. According to Semonious, the money is necessary because costs to maintain the cemetery have increased, while their tax revenue has decreased. “From the beginning of the KRV Cemetery District, we have never increased the tax,” said Semonious, “If we closed, a new entity would take over and start again with a much higher tax, I might add.”

KRVR members gave the speakers several suggestions to pursue, including requesting funding from the Department of Water Resources, xeriscaping the new section of the cemetery so the water needs are not increased, and establishing a task force to take the issue to the public.

Sierra Business Council “State of the Sierra” Conference Report

The Sierra Business Council held a regional conference last Tuesday, July 10 at the Veterans Hall at the Senior Center in Lake Isabella, from 1-5 p.m., directly followed by a networking reception from 5-7 p.m. The conference, which was second in a series of eight similar events planned throughout the Sierra region, included a presentation of the SBC's Sierra Nevada Wealth Index and release of State of the Sierra report with discussion of key findings; local stories from Saving the Sierra: Voices of Conservation in Action, an independent regional media initiative; and a discussion facilitated by a Sierra Nevada Conservancy representative on opportunities to invest in our area's sustainable future.

New Hospital CEO Introduced

Newly hired CEO of the Kern Valley Healthcare District Bob Duncan introduced himself to the group, and gave an update on the state of the hospital. He was excited to announce that the recently criticized Skilled Nursing Facility is doing well; state officials have been visiting regularly and have observed that the SNF is getting back on track. Also, three nature-themed murals are being painted in each of the three wings of the facility by Judy Deems. “The patients love watching her paint,” said Duncan.

Duncan also said that the clinics are doing well, and the Emergency Room is quite busy with lake accidents. He admitted that the ER is outdated, since it was built in the 1960s, and hopes that the new proposed addition will allow for even better care. “My goal is for the patients to have a good experience in the hospital; quality care is of the utmost importance,” said Duncan.

The KV Healthcare District has decided against putting the bond to fund the necessary hospital renovations on the ballot in November, and will wait until next year so they can have a more accurate cost to bring to the public. Duncan said that if the hospital is not built by 2012, the State will probably allow them to stay open if the plans are moving forward and funding has been secured. “We need to show commitment from the community to keep the hospital open,” he said.

Youth Center Announces Exciting New Programs

Angela Looper, new Program Coordinator at the Youth Center, was excited to announce the many programs the center is offering this summer. The PC Building class is quite popular, and the kids building the computers from the ground up get to keep their units once completed. They are also planning a field trip to the Channel 17 newsroom to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the television news is made, and a Self Defense Boxing class will soon be offered by local Youth Probation Officer Brett Correia.

In October, the Youth Center will once again be offering the Young Eagles program, where up to 50 children aged 8-17 learn about the process of flight, including how to fly an airplane and what types of jobs are available in aviation. The Rotary Club sponsors this free program, which includes a hot dog feast and a trip in an airplane from the Kern Valley Airport, where kids are flown over their homes to see them from a new perspective.

In addition to the many special programs offered, the Youth Center has many daily and weekly activities including skateboard ramps, badminton, basketball, volleyball, pool tournaments, a computer lab, dances, weight lifting, drama, and much more. Participation is necessary to keep the Youth Center going, and they are currently seeking volunteers. “None of the programs could survive without the support of our volunteers and the generosity of Kern Valley organizations,” said Looper. To donate funds or your time, please call Angela at 379-4360 or email her at angelarlooper@aol.com.

Capital Improvement Workshop Scheduled

On Wednesday, Aug. 1, at 6:30 p.m. at the Veterans Hall in Lake Isabella, Kern County will hold a workshop to discuss their new Capital Improvement Plan and get community input. The plan can be viewed at any Kern County Library or online at krvr.org.

Senior Summer Health Fair Coming Soon

The Kern Valley Healthcare District will be holding their Senior Summer Health and Information Fair on Monday, Sept. 17, from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Senior Center in Lake Isabella. The event is free, and many services will be offered. There will be a $10 fee if attendees want to participate in the Lipid Panel Blood draw, but all other services are offered at no charge.

KRVR meets the first Wednesday of every month, and the public is welcome and encouraged to attend. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 1, at 9 a.m. at Cerro Coso Community College. For more information, visit www.krvr.org.