Valerie Cassity - Special to the Sun

Local documentary filmmaker Chuck Barbee is busy getting at least a modicum of recognition of the Kern River Valley at the Kern County Museum in Bakersfield. He announced at the July 2 Kern River Valley Revitalization meeting that he will be holding a fundraiser at the Fox Theater in Bakersfield on Friday, Aug. 1, at 6 p.m. The fundraiser is to benefit the Kern County Museum so that necessary repairs and renovations can be made to the historic Lopez Hill House, which has recently been relocated to Pioneer Village. The repairs are slated to cost $200,000-300,000, and Barbee had the idea to combine Bakersfield history with Kern Valley history when he noticed that the Kern Valley is never mentioned by the Kern County Museum, located in Bakersfield. 'I believe our valley is largely ignored by Kern County Officials,' said Barbee, 'I’m hoping to change that.'

At the event, Barbee will show his newest documentary on the moving and history of the structure, as well as his locally famous 'Wild West Country, Episode One,' which outlines a portion of the history of the Kern Valley. The fundraiser already has received support from the Kern Valley Historical Society, who contributed $3,500 and will do a mailing to 5,000 of its members and history enthusiasts; The Kern County Museum was able to secure the Fox Theater at no cost, and has been advertising the event in print, radio, and television; and the Bakersfield Businessmen’s Association has agreed to close the street in front of the Fox Theater that evening for a pre-show. Barbee has asked his reenactors to appear at the event in costume, and is seeking donations to reimburse them for their fuel expenses to attend. If you would like to help with that effort, you can mail a check to: Kern River Valley Education and Cultural Foundation, P.O. Box 405, Kernville, CA 93238. To purchase tickets to the event, which cost $12.50 per person, go to vallytix.com. Kern River Valley Air Quality

Guest speaker David Jones, Air Pollution Control Officer with the Kern County Air Pollution Control District (KCAPCD), gave a presentation on the monitoring that has been done on Kern Valley air quality, as well as upcoming monitoring activities. KCAPCD covers the eastern half of Kern County, extending over 3,786 miles, and monitors the four sources of air pollution in that area: stationary, portable, mobile, and biogenic. Jones explained that the Kern Valley is extremely prone to inversions, which is a pocket of warmer air that prevents particulates from escaping. He said that the worst air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley is the in the southern part of Kern County because the pollution pools there.

Jones said that since 1994 in Kern County, the days that the area is over the State ozone standard has been reduced from 118 days to 20 days, and that the levels never even approached the minimum by Federal standards. The KCAPCD monitored PM10 levels at the Kernville Airport from 1998-2002, and said that the highest reading was in Oct. 2000, and that was the only week during the entire study that the PM10 was over the stringent CA standard. Jones cautioned that dust is the main emission source in the Kern Valley, and that new monitoring will be done for PM2.5, the more dangerous particulate matter, at both the Forest Service work station on the corner of Sierra Way and Kernville Rd., as well as in Canebrake. The Forest Service has had a PM2.5 monitor for some time, and 'After two years, they finally have it running right,' said Jones, who hopes that now accurate data can be gleaned from the expensive monitor.

Although the Kern Valley is generally under the minimum level of ozone and particulate matter, Jones said that we do have bad air quality days due to dust storms from the lake and fires. 'When there is unhealthy air quality, get inside, preferably in an air conditioned area,' he cautioned.

Information Kiosk to be Installed Soon

Cheryl Borthick, President of the Kernville Chamber of Commerce, updated the group on the progress made with the Kern County Board of Trade regarding the interactive informational kiosk that will be placed in Circle Park in Kernville. The original location with the most visual exposure was nixed by Kern County, and so the new spot will be across from Pringles Art Gallery so that it can be handicapped accessible. There has been much discord between the Kernville Chamber and the Board of Trade over the design of the kiosk, which the Board of Trade had originally promised would fit in with the western theme of the town and has now refused to do any modifications to their generic design, which looks like a bus stop. To ensure that the kiosk will fit in with the classic western Kernville theme, the Kernville Chamber is seeking donations to assist with building a faˆßade around the ugly structure. Donations will be used for materials, as all design and labor will be a volunteer effort. To learn more about how you can help, contact the Kernville Chamber of Commerce at 376-2629.

Riverwalk Meeting

The Kernville Chamber is also hosting Jim Donovan with the National Park Service for a meeting on July 19, at 8 a.m. to discuss the Kernville Riverwalk. Anyone interested can meet the group across the street from the Rodeo Grounds to find out what needs to be done to make this longtime dream a reality. For more information, contact Chuck Barbee at 376-8784.

Fire Safe Council Honors Alison Sheehey

Lloyd Smith, President of the Kern Valley Fire Safe Council, presented Alison Sheehey with a certificate of recognition for the work she has done on their website to 'Help bring the Fire Safe Council into the 21st Century.'

Smith also announced that the KRV Community Wildfire Protection Plan has been updated and is available on their website or at the library. www.krvfiresafecouncil.org.

Sequoia National Forest Updates

In June of 1996, the Tule River and Hot Springs Ranger Districts were administratively combined, and now they have renamed them the 'Western Divide Ranger District.'

The Forest Service held a meeting last Saturday, June 28, at the Senior Center in Lake Isabella to discuss the management of the Giant Sequoia National Monument, asking residents how they would like to see the 328,000 acre monument managed. This effort is part of an ongoing collaborative process to create a new management plan for the Giant Sequoia National Monument, as their first attempt to create a plan was found illegal by Judge Bryer two years ago. Anyone who would like to learn more and/or comment on the Monument management can do so at wwwlfs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/gsnm_planning.html.

Seniors Summer Health/Information Faire Coming Soon

Jeanette Rogers announced that the Kern Valley Healthcare District will be hosting its 8th annual Seniors Summer Health and Information Faire on Monday, Sept. 29, from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Senior Center in Lake Isabella. The faire will offer many free health and information services from more than 45 community participants. They are also offering a Cardiac Assessment Blood draw for $10, and those who are interested in the draw are reminded to fast for 12 hours prior. For more information about booths and providers, call Jeanette at 376-4419.

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, Aug. 6, at 9 a.m. at the Kernville Chamber Building. For more information, visit www.krvr.org.

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.