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Dear Kern River Courier,

 

It is with pleasure and great expectations that we are starting an organization aimed at the betterment of our beautiful Kern River Valley, specifically the community of Wofford Heights.

 

Founded in the late 1940s, this little community has for too long been degraded and put in the shadow of Kernville and the other valley communities, yet it covers a land area far bigger than most.

 

Another interesting fact is that through its location (it's the only valley community right on the shore of the lake), commerce and many activities, Wofford Heights contributes much to the valley and its success. It boasts numerous noteworthy merchants, restaurants, a movie theater, two real estate offices (offering local properties boasting some of the finest homes and best views of the lake in the valley) and an unending variety of recreation opportunities enjoyed year round. These range from swimming, boating, camping, hiking, etc. to snow skiing and other winter activities only a few miles from its downtown. It has all this plus room to grow, being in the middle of the major byway between Kernville, the acclaimed focal point of valley activities, and the town of Lake Isabella, the commercial hub of the area.

 

It has all this to offer, yet it's the least recognized part of the Kern River Valley. This brings us to the mission of the Wofford Heights Community Association, a proposed non-profit organization formed to promote the recognition of this remarkable area. Our goal is to upgrade this community, raising its value and benefitting not only all who reside and work within its boundaries, but the valley in general, giving us a community of which we all can proud.

 

We aim to accomplish this through various means. Our goals, for a start, include the erection of a welcoming sign, beautification of the community, signs for slowing down the traffic, an increase in advertising through various outlets from publications like newspapers, magazines, posters, brochures and mailings to participation in the numerous trade shows. We have all these goals, but no money with which to accomplish them.

 

This brings us to the reason for the formation of an association with annual dues and a paying membership. This will give us one source of funds with which to operate and perform our mission.

 

Other sources we have in mind for making money are various fund-raising events, grants, donations and any other avenues that become available to us.

 

Last, we emphasize that we are in our embryonic stage and would welcome any help and suggestions you can give, including, of course, joining our association, which has the potential for benefiting greatly, not only Wofford Heights, but the valley in general.

 

To join us merely remit the first year’s dues that best fit your needs, and either send them to P. 0. Box 96, Wofford Heights, CA 93285-0096, our mailing address, or give them in person to one of our committee members at one of our monthly general meetings, which are held on the second Thursday of every month at 6 pm at the Family Life Center on the corner of Panorama and Sycamore in Wofford Heights. If you want further information, please feel free to call 760-223-1058 or 760-376-1403, we’ll be glad to help.
Single - $25.00 per year
Couple- $35.00 per year
Business level 1 (no ads) - $50.00 per year
Business level 2 (4 ads) - $100.00 per year

 

We hope to hear from you soon and look forward to seeing you at our next general meeting.

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Dear Kern River Courier,

Valley Pioneer, Golden Girl and Longtimer Bev Blackwood has died.
The first community activity which called out to me, twenty years ago when we moved from the city, was the Board of the Friends of the Kern River Valley Libraries and Bev was a member of that board.  Shortly thereafter, I helped P. J. Sherlock and a committee raise $15,000 to furnish the new library in Lake Isabella. Bev was a member of that committee. 

 

In 1996, when I ran for Whiskey Flat Mayor, The Arcade, now the Kern River Saloon, held a steak breakfast for our cause and Bev and Brad were there.  The last time that I saw Bev, she was playing bridge in the Thursday group. 

 

When I interviewed her for my old Longtimer series in another newspaper, she told me about her early days, before the dam was built, living in Edison housing above the Kern River when her name was Beverly Mergenthaler. 

 

A favorite story was the way that she met Brad. They both said that P. J. Wiseman (Suhre, Sherlock) had introduced them, but the final installment of that story was that P. J. was on the bus which took Valley students to Bakersfield for high school on Sunday afternoons and brought them back to the Valley on Fridays.  Brad was the driver.  P. J. saw Bev on the walk outside of school as she was not riding home that week. P. J. called out to Bev, Brad saw her, and the rest is history.