Ask The Californian - askthecalifornian's Blog

Ask The Californian - askthecalifornian's Blog - Bakersfield.com http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian en-us What can I do about my neighbor's overflowing trash cans? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/33036 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/33036 My neighbors leave their two brown trash cans on the street 24/7.  Usually, they are overflowing and trash ends up in the street. Is there a county law that prohibits this nuisance and eye sore? — Darrell Sephus A: Overflowing trash cans are code violations in both the city of Bakersfield and the County of Kern. Anyone whose trash cans overflow onto the public street can be cited by code officers, according to officials with the Kern County Waste Management Department and the city Solid Waste Division. City of Bakersfield code enforcement violations can be reported by calling 326-3712. Violations in the county of Kern can be reported by calling 862-8603.   Is a Sam's Club coming to Renfro and Rosedale? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/33034 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/33034 Q.  I heard a rumor last year that a Sams Club was planned for the corner of Renfro and Rosedale. True or not? — Dwight Tackett A. Not. “We are always looking for opportunities but we have no current plans for another Sam's Club in Bakersfield,” said Aaron Rios, a spokesman for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. “We have one in Gosford Village and will be constructing a new Wal-Mart Super Center next to that Sam's Club, which was approved last year. That’s it for now.” What happened to the trees near the Ben Austin Senior Center? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/32666 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/32666 Q: I live near McKee Road in south Bakersfield just down the street from the Ben Austin Senior Center. Recently, all the trees behind the center were cut. I thought this area was a planned city park and was hoping the mature trees would be incorporated into the park. What are the plans for this open area? — Joanne Hoover A: The city and county discussed putting a park next to the senior center, said Bob Lerude, director of the county’s parks and recreation department. But for now, it’s an idea without financial backing. Initial estimates for a neighborhood park with a play area and picnic shelters were about $2.5 million, Lerude said. But that figure could change based on park amenities. The city and county haven’t identified where the money would come from to develop a park. Trees along McKee were cut down within the past 30 days, Lerude said, because they were dead. If the site becomes a park, more trees would be planted.   Why no flag at Hart Park? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/32566 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/32566 At the west entrance into Hart Park is a flag pole. It used to have a flag flying all the time. Is there a reason for not flying the flag anymore?  — Harold Johnston Kern County Parks and Recreation Director Bob Lerude said cutbacks in staff led to the temporary cessation of flying Old Glory at the entrance to Hart Park. But staffers have hit upon a solution to the problem and it should add some eco-green to the traditional red, white and blue A solar-powered light will be installed at the site “so the flag will be flying all the time,” Lerude said. “We’ve already done it at a couple of other locations.”   How would you describe Bakersfield's “spirituality”? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/32244 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/32244 Q: We are considering moving to the area. In regards to religion, we have heard the spectrum: from Bakersfield being the friendliest town in America for a pagan to Bakersfield being the pulse of the Bible belt of California. What do you think of the churches in Bakersfield? How would you describe the “spirituality” of the area? Thanks. — Laura Carpenter A: Bakersfield and other cities in Kern County have numerous houses of worship representing a wide variety of faiths including: Protestant, Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Baha’i congregations, and more. As in other thriving areas of the state, there are megachurches and well-attended temples and mosques just as there are small, intimate congregations that take turns gathering in people’s homes for worship. There are churches that have existed for more than a century just like there are new ones being established every year. Faith is such a personal issue that we cannot really give our opinion on, as you put it, “the ‘spirituality’ of the area.” However, The Bakersfield Californian family of publications has several resources that may be useful to you in making a decision on a place of worship that suits your needs. • The Californian runs a Faith section every Saturday. Besides containing articles on religion that are of local and national interest, the section also has a Faith Calendar of upcoming local events and a double-page spread of ads from area houses of worship grouped by denomination or religious affiliation. • Our Web site has an interactive “Bakersfield Worship Map” that shows where local places of worship are located. Please visit  www.bakersfield.com/worshipmap/. A simple click either on the name of a church on the right-hand index, or on a balloon-like marker on the map, will open up an information box with the church’s address, phone number and Web site as available. • Kern Life, a glossy magazine published annually, contains an extensive listing of local places of worship as well as other religious organizations. The 2008 edition is available for $1.50 from our lobby at 1707 Eye St., in downtown Bakersfield. The lobby is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.   Who is going to save the Highway 99 oleanders? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/31837 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/31837 Q: On Highway 99 from Panama Lane to Bear Mountain Boulevard, there are oleanders growing in the median that in a normal rainfall year are in full bloom almost all summer. However, with our record low rainfall the past two years, they are extremely stressed. Some are dead or dying. Who is responsible for their care? Is it Caltrans? Do they plan to water them soon — before we lose them? I hope so! — Sandy Henry A: Yes, Caltrans is responsible for the oleanders in the Highway 99 median. And due to the low rainfall, the oleander shrubs are stressed, said James Lawson, the Bakersfield region maintenance manager for Caltrans. They’ve suffered two record-breaking dry years in a row. Last year, 2.98 inches of precipitation fell in Bakersfield, making it the fifth driest on record, according to the National Weather Service. This year 1.56 inches have fallen making it the driest year so far that Bakersfield has seen. Caltrans relies on rain to water the shrubs, Lawson said. There’s no irrigation system installed. And due to the lack of a budget on top of lean state funds, watering and replacing highway flora doesn’t rank high on the list of necessities, he said. “When money is a factor it’s more important to patch the potholes than replace a dead oleander,” Lawson said. “We don’t have the resources and manpower to go out and hand water hundreds of miles of oleanders.” Oleanders are hardy shrubs and usually come back with a little water, he added. What's up with DirectTV and local hi-def channels? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/31836 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/31836 Q: Can anyone tell me why we cannot get high definition TV from any of our local TV affiliates ... ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC on the DIRECTV satellite service? With football season right around the corner it sure would be nice if local programming figured out a way to get this done. I feel like we need to await the invention of the wheel again. Yikes! Bob Boyich A: Bakersfield will likely begin receiving HD local channels from DIRECTV next year, says company spokesman Robert Mercer. The company does not have a specific launch date. Is it illegal to turn without signaling? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/31519 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/31519 Q: While driving around town I continue to be amazed and angered by the number of drivers who never use a turn signal. It seems half the cars on the road don’t signal. I can remember the time before turn signals were standard on all vehicles and an arm out the window was required. Talking with friends recently, none of us can remember anyone ever being cited for nonuse of a signal. Is using a signal still law? Why don’t officers hand out citations? Can you, “Ask The Californian,” investigate and find out how many citations have been handed out in the past year? And what is the penalty, if there is one? Thanks so much, — Sandy Westra A: Bakersfield police Sgt. Greg Terry said the following: “The law requires every driver to use their turn signal before turning from a direct course or moving right or left on a roadway. The law also requires that any signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given continuously during the last 100 feet before turning. We wrote 112 citations in 2007 for failure to use turn signals and 40 citations in 2007 for failure to signal during the last 100 feet before turning.” The penalty is a fine, which varies depending on the circumstances, court staff said. Is Bass Pro Shops still coming to town? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/31518 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/31518 Q: I was wondering if the Bass Pro Store that was announced about a year ago is still a go for the location on Hwy 99 south of Panama Lane. Haven’t heard anymore or seen any development on this property. Thanks, — Jim Brownridge Q: I heard a rumor that Bass Pro Shop backed out of its store proposal here in Bako? Does this rumor have any backbone? The latest catalog shows that Bakersfield is slated to open in 2009. Bottom line is Bass Pro Shops still coming to Bakersfield? Thanks — Brent Andrews A: Plans for a 150,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops store on the northeast corner of Highway 99 and Hosking Avenue are moving forward, according to a spokesman for the sporting goods chain as well as the chairman of the project’s Texas-based developer, who said the store should open in 2010. The surrounding retail, entertainment and hotel project — a 93-acre, 1 million-square-foot development known as Bakersfield Gateway — is working its way through the governmental review process, The Woodmont Co. Chairman Stephen Coslik said. And while no other retailer has committed to the center, Coslik said the company is working to get signed leases from a dozen “fairly large” retailers. Where's the dirt from the 178/Fairfax highway exchange going? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/31328 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/askthecalifornian/31328 Q: Where are the trucks taking all the dirt being removed at the site of the 178/Fairfax highway exchange? — Darlyn Baker P.S. I look forward to this feature every Monday. Thanks for researching and providing answers. A: The dirt removal at State Route 178 at Fairfax Road Interchange is part of a $29 million transportation improvement project. About 592,500 cubic yards of earth will have to be removed from the site, Thomas Roads Improvement Program spokeswoman Janet Wheeler said. About 425,000 cubic yards have been removed from the site so far. Trucks are taking about half of the material to the old landfill near North Fairfax to be used as a final cap. The remainder will be used as fill dirt at the State Route 99/7th Standard Road Interchange project. Construction began Oct. 15, 2007 and is expected to be complete in summer 2009.