Herb Benham: Beavers, trees -- can't we all just get along?
| Monday, Sep 14 2009 05:34 PM
Last Updated Monday, Sep 14 2009 11:05 PM
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Henry A. Barrios / The Californian Two beavers groom themselves near the shore of the lake at the Park at River Walk. The beavers have been causing damage to trees in the park but have attracted attention from people who use the park.
Here's what I've noticed. Most people like animals more than they like people. Even if those animals are beavers.
The beavers are chewing through trees at the Park at River Walk, but not everybody is ready to make a mink coat out of them.
"While home visiting my family in Bakersfield, I read your August 25th column regarding the beavers at the Park at River Walk.
"Replacing a tree might cost $500, but the opportunity for Bakersfield residents to actually see a beaver in a natural setting is priceless."
Rae Ann Kumelos, Ph.D.
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"My husband and I, with our two Scottish Terriers -- Stewart and Sir Duncan -- visited the Park at River Walk on Sunday morning. It was exciting to see not one, but definitely two, of the infamous Kern River Beavers in the lake next to Stockdale Highway.
"There may be even be three. Our dogs didn't understand until one of the beavers sauntered out of the water, about 50 feet from us, stood up on his back two feet, and preened. Yes, he stared us directly in the eyes. My little Stewart shuddered with excitement and awe.
"These interesting creatures gave me mixed emotions. I know how destructive they've been, but maybe they could do something good! How about posting signs at the lake, "DO NOT ENTER--DANGEROUS BEAVERS." They could save lives and keep the City from being sued!
Aneta L. Adams,
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Finally a history lesson on the beavers from Wendy Haverstock. She said that in 1984-1985, the SPCA relocated nine beavers that had taken up residence in the lower Kern. Some of them were taken by helicopter to Horse Meadow.
"All the agencies worked together," Haverstock said. "It can be done."
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Mark Bagby read his award-winning conclusion to Mark Twain's unfinished story called "Conversations with Satan" at Borders recently to about 100 spectators. Bagby, director of communications for Calcot, won the national contest held by HarperStudio and Borders.
"The facility was a tad overwhelmed." Bagby reports. "Seating was scarce. People sat in chairs, on the floor...a bunch stood. Which means I had a standing ovation for 45 minutes."
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Diane Sandidge makes a good point about the recent article on the county's plan to demolish the ranger's house at Hart Park as well as eight adobe bathrooms due to concerns about earthquakes and unreinforced masonry:
"Did you ask your county contact why they were demolishing the adobe bathrooms at this particular time?
"A. The county is strapped for money.
"B. The buildings have survived for decades.
"C. Why spend money to destroy what must have been working and spending more money to construct new facilities?"
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Stephen A. Montgomery had this to say about a 1991 survey of unreinforced masonry buildings owned by the county that includes the condemned bathrooms..
"To indicate just how poor the survey of buildings in Hart Park was, of the eight rest rooms identified as adobe, only two are actually adobe. The rest are either wet cast concrete block or cinder block structures built to look similar to the two surviving adobe rest rooms, both of which are structurally sound, contrary to the report. One major problem in the Kern County General Plan is that it does not have a Historical Preservation element."
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Where do I live?
"Herb, a question please," wrote Phyllis Smith. "From where did the idea come that says you live in Westchester? I was born here 79 years ago and Westchester has always been the area on the North side of 24th street."
Smith was referring to a column where I had talked about the neighborhood south of 24th (with H and Oak being the east/west boundaries) as being Westchester. Smith knows that is not true and so do I.
That is downtown (Bakersfield to those who go way back), however over the last 30 years, it has become popular for residents and Realtors alike to refer to the downtown residential area as Westchester.
