A blog about Business & Finance, Neighborhoods, and News.
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Is a new southwest Body Xchange coming? Will The Californian allow new story commenting tools? Why are tractors plowing on a no-burn day? What is the Fairfax-178 "design flaw"? When will the Mount Vernon Avenue construction be finished? When will Bob's Big Boy open? Why is Highway 119 being paved again? Can we silence ambulances during quiet times? Any local stations going high def? Why is the San Lauren dog park such a mess? June 06 July 06 August 06 September 06 October 06 November 06 December 06 January 07 February 07 March 07 April 07 May 07 June 07 July 07 August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 February 09 March 09 April 09 May 09 June 09 July 09 August 09 September 09 October 09 November 09 |
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Q: Are there any plans to fill the other Riverwalk lakes on the corner of Stockdale and Jewetta? The park seems incomplete without them.
— Mike Mooers
A: Yes, sort of.
Those aren’t lakes. They’re recharge basins. When there's water in the river, such as in 2006, the 5 acres can be covered by 6 to 7 feet of water, which will then soak through the sandy bottom into the aquifer below.
Q: When is construction going to start on the Wal-Mart Supercenter at Gosford Village? I know that in November of 2007 that the last hurdle for the store’s plans was completed, and the judge approved the EIRs. So why hasn’t construction started yet? In this economy, I would think many people in Bakersfield would be clamoring to shop at a SuperCenter? What’s the hold up now?
— Travis Anthony
A: A company spokesman said construction on that store will begin...
Q: Today 11-1-2008 I went to three different post offices looking for stamps only to find the machines are gone at the Pegasus office, downtown office and the Oildale office has a machine, but it has a sign saying it is out of service and slated to be hauled out just like the rest of them.
I ended up paying 65 cents for one stamp at a local store. No wonder no one is using the post office anymore to send bills.
Where can I purchase single stamps without paying more than face value for the...
Q: Can you advise me where I may dispose/recycle my burned out curly energy efficient light bulbs? I was informed by a neighbor that these specific light bulbs contain mercury which can cause harm if broken and tossed in the garbage.
— Rick Rinaldi
A: Those curly, energy-efficient light bulbs should be taken to the Kern County Special Waste Facility. The facility is located at 4951 Standard St., at the southwest corner of Standard and Foster Streets. Light bulbs and other hazardous...
Q: I would like to ask this question: Is there a city or county ordinance that forbids the extended parking of RV's and/or 5th wheel trailers on residential streets? If so, how does one report violators of such an ordinance?
Many thanks,
— Chris Bennett
A: You cannot park your vehicle — RV, Ferrari or otherwise — more than 72 hours at a time on city and county residential streets. If someone else is dwelling on your street for more than that, you can...
Q: We have some residents in our complex who have converted their garage to a den, bedroom or other living space. Of course they then have to park outside somewhere.
Is this permitted under the building code?
Thank You,
Bill Huffstutter
A. It depends.
Since you live in the city of Bakersfield, we talked to Phil Burns, the city’s building director.
A zoning rule requires homes have two off-street parking spaces, Burns said. Each space must be at least 9 feet by 18 feet.
Spaces...
Q: A mature pine forest that appears to be 5-10 acres in size is a surprising sight on the east side of Buena Vista just south of Panama. It has probably been there about 20 years, no doubt the creation of someone who wanted to live in the mountains without the commute. We imagine a beautiful home, maybe even a family compound, in the middle of the forest, but don’t have the nerve to drive down the curving dirt entry road to check it out. Can you tell us what’s there and something...
Q: I have often heard the post office state that we should mail early in the day.
However, when I use the drop-off boxes outside the Larson station or the Stockdale Highway station, the boxes list the pickup time as 5 p.m. weekdays and 1 p.m. Saturdays.
Why should I mail early when my letters won’t go out until the evening?
Thank you for your question/answer column.
— Alex Burland
A: Mailing early is still a good idea, says Bakersfield Postmaster Jim Brouillard. The pickup...
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