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Kern Valley Sun 5-23-2012 HIGH SPEED INTERNET NOW AN OPTION - 2012/05/23 17:47
SOURCE: http://www.kvsun.com/articles/2012/05/23/kv_life/doc4fbc118f81107723129128.txt
Kern Valley Sun 5-23-2012
HIGH SPEED INTERNET NOW AN OPTION
Valerie Cassity/Special to the Sun
Kern River Valley Revitalization (KRVR) held their monthly Community Meeting last Wednesday, May 2, to discuss various issues and opportunities in the Kern Valley.
New High Speed Internet Now Available
Mark Jordan and Anthony Bohn, co-owners of Kern Valley Wireless, Inc. gave a talk about their new company, which provides high-speed internet locally through low-latency microwaves instead of the more commonly known DSL lines or satellite services. They currently have three transmitters to serve the entire Kern Valley; one on Rocky Point, one in Lake Isabella, and one in Kernville. “We feel we have enough capacity to cover this entire valley without congestion,” said Jordan.
Not only is the service provided by local owner-operators, it is superior to other services in both cost and capability. Everyone pays a one-time $99 installation fee which includes up to 100’ cat5 cable, mounting hardware, and system turn-up. Then, you can get either the lower level service which has download speeds of up to 4 Mbps and upload up to 1Mbps for only $61.95/month for residences and $99/month for businesses, or you can get the Plus program, a faster service which offers download speeds of up to 7Mbps which costs $81.95/month for residences and $129/month for businesses. No matter which service you choose, it will be faster than the current available options. “You want to stream Netflix, play video games, and use your IP phone all at once, you can do it,” boasted Jordan.
For more information, or to set up your installation, call (760) 376-2246 or visit HYPERLINK "http://www.kvwireless.com" kvwireless.com.
Becoming a Firewise Community
Tom Anderson of the Fire Safe Council (FSC) gave a presentation about the group’s activities and need for more community involvement as the current leadership has been dealing with health issues and can no longer continue in their active roles there. Anderson reminded everyone of the Deer Fire that happened ten years ago and caused the most structural damage of any fire that had ever occurred in Kern County, and the Bull Fire that happened just two years ago and burned down six residences in Riverkern. Wanting to ensure that the Kern Valley is protected as much as possible from losing homes in the inevitable wildfires that sweep through this area, the FSC is working to make the Kern Valley an official Firewise Community, which is an interagency program that encourages local solutions for safety in Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas such as ours. To do so, Firewise Communities involve homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, firefighters, and others to ensure that everything is done that is possible to reduce the damage to people and property in the event of a wildfire. Anderson showed a short film about the successes that the program has had throughout the nation in reducing the fire risk through community and agencies working together to create the best conditions for surviving fire. “It’s essential to have sustainability to keep this going,” cautioned Anderson. “Plants regrown and what was cleared five years ago needs to be done again. It’s a continuous process.”
To learn more about the FSC or becoming a Firewise Community, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.krvfiresafecouncil.org" krvfiresafecouncil.org, or attend their next stakeholders meeting which will take place on Thursday, May 17, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the Supervisor’s conference room at the County Building in Lake Isabella.
Kern Valley Aquatics Program
Lynette Thomas, Kern Valley Aquatics Program (KVAP) Director, gave a presentation about the upcoming opportunities for water activities at the South Fork School pool, and what KVAP has accomplished in its first three years of operation. Swimming lessons are offered for all ages, from infant to adult, and cover all levels of instruction from beginner to advanced. There is also a swim team which was formed last year and already has 16 members signed up for this season. The Junior Lifeguards program had 70 children participate in 2011, and this summer KVAP expects the program to be even larger. Participants will be competing against the Junior Lifeguard team in Avila Beach and adding ocean safety to the program which already consists of swimming, lifeguard skills, running, calisthenics, first aid/CPR, team-building games, special guests, and activity days such as kayak lessons offered by Sierra South and paddle boarding with Mountain and River Adventures. Participants also get to go on a raft trip and do other fun activities. In addition, they offer recreation camp for $50/month at South Fork School which includes activities, arts and crafts, games, swim time, and a free lunch for kids under 18. The recreation program goes June-July from noon-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday.
For the adults, KVAP offers lap swimming, swim lessons, senior aquatics, and aquatic Zumba with Vitalia. The pool is kept at 86 degrees, thanks in part to the solar heater that they were able to purchase with funds raised through donations. The goal is to also get a solar cover for the pool so that it can be used year-round in the future.
KVAP is seeking donations for their scholarship program, so that every child in the Kern Valley will have the opportunity to have swimming lessons no matter what their family’s economic status. For more information about KVAP or to donate or sign yourself or your child up for lessons or activities, call (760) 299-2030 or visit HYPERLINK "http://www.kvap.org" kvap.org.
2012 Living Green Festival Report
Jenny Hanley and Richard Rowe gave a PowerPoint Presentation about KRVR’s 2012 Living Green festival which took place March 11-25 at various venues throughout the Kern Valley. This was the 4th annual festival, and most of the events were very well attended, thanks in part to the promotional abilities of Richard Rowe and the $8,000 grant from the Kern County Board of Trade awarded to promote the event. New this year was the kids video contest, which was won by Emma Lane, Career Day which offered job seekers the opportunity to meet with potential employers and learn job skills, and the Pony Up for Education Dinner, which raised over $3,000 which was split between the Cerro Coso textbook fund, KVHS FFA Program, and the FHA HERO program. The Living Green festival standards were also well attended, including green film showings for children and adults, Greenstock Music Festival, which took place on two different nights, the Women’s High Tea and Fashion Show, Community Faire, Green Expo, and more. For more information about the Living Green, visit the website at HYPERLINK "http://www.livinggreenkrv.org" www.livinggreenkrv.org.
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, June 6, at 9 a.m. at the Kernville Chamber Building. For more information, visit http://www.krvr.org.
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