Newsletter

1. The Roadrunner
Bimonthly Publication of the Kern-Kaweah Chapter of the Sierra Club — March/April 2002
KERN-KAWEAH
HANNUAL CHAPTER BANQUET H
SATURDAY, APRIL 20TH. 5:30 PM.
MARK IT ON YOUR CALENDAR NOW!
It is time to relax and socialize while meeting old friends and making new acquaintances
from all over the Chapter and from the community! Time to feel free to bring a friend(s) to enjoy
a convivial evening and/or to introduce them to the Sierra Club. Time to hear about what has
been going on in the Chapter over the last year! Time to recognize and honor those who have
contributed their time and energy to further the environmental causes that Sierra Club and
Chapter members hold dear and worth fighting for. Time to think of the rivers, the air, the
mountains, the desert, the animals and plants that count on us to speak on their behalf. Time to
be proud of how much has been done and is being done with successes against powerful
forces.
This gala affair will be held at the East Bakersfield Veterans Hall on Ridge Road, off Mt.
Vernon Ave. The social hour, enhanced by wines, soft drinks and snacks, will begin at 5:30 PM .
There will be time to talk and time to view exhibits that will be on display from our Chapter’s
groups, other local environmental groups, and government agencies.
Raffle??? Oh yes, there will be a raffle. Wonderful things are offered. It is always lots of fun
to take a chance on going home with a real prize to enjoy for many a day and to know that
you are supporting the causes you care about.
Dinner will consist of either lemon chicken or spinach lasagna as the entree, along with
vegetables, salad, roll, and dessert. Dinner will be served at 6:30 PM . Price: $15.00 per person.
With socializing being encouraged on every hand you can’t miss having a truly enjoyable
time. Sign up now!
Many thanks to Harry Love,who is the chairman for this year's event.
We are all grateful for his assuming this responsibility.
Please complete the coupon below and enclose a check for the total amount. Make check payable to KERN-
KAWEAH CHAPTER/SIERRA CLUB. RSVP by April 12. Sorry, there can be no walk-ins or pay-at-the
door reservations.
Mail to: Harry Love, 13500 Powder River Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93312.
£---------------£-----------------£---------------------£---------------£----------£----------£
Yes, I wish to attend the 2002 Annual Banquet of the Kern-Kaweah Chapter of the Sierra Club on April 20.
At $15.00 per person I have included a check for the total.
My name________________________________________________Phone___________________
Number attending: ____ (@ $15.00) Total amount: $___________
Desired entrée: indicate number requested for each item:
____ Lemon chicken ____ Spinach lasagna

2. Assembly Member Kevin Shelley for Secretary of
VoteVote Vote Vote Vote State. Authored the Healthy Schools Act of 2000 to
March 5th is election day—and there is lots that is protect children from toxins. Worked to fund en-
important on the ballots. We hope that you will take vironmental programs, protect marine programs.
whatever it takes to get your YES vote and the YES 100% good votes for conservation programs.
votes of friends and relatives on these items. Decisions on the two other statewide offices,
*Prop 40 The California Clean Water, Clean Governor and Insurance Commissioner, have been
Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks and Coastal Protection deferred until after the March 5 primary.
Act of 2002, a $2.6 billion dollar bond measure,
which, if approved, will provide $1.3 billion for land From the Chair
conservation and improved air and water quality and Group Subventions
$1.3 billion to be used for California state and local Beginning this year, the Chapter will increase the
parks, as well as recreation, cultural and historical subvention or transfer of funds to each of our five
resources. groups. The funds transferred to the groups will be
We REALLY need this one, especially for the land in two parts. The quarterly subvention of $100 per
aquisition. Every year the price of land goes up and group will remain the same as in the past. However,
the choices for wildlife and open space become more in addition we will now contribute $2 per year per
limited. There is more information on this item at member to each group. This will be divided into
the following website: www.vote yeson40.org quarterly payments. The executive committee felt
*Prop 45 Term Limits Extension. Would give that there was a need to increase our financial sup-
one-time only, four year extension for state legis- port of local activists, whether it was to increase
lators. Why recommended?“Rookie”legislature (not mailings to group members or for other activities.
enough experienced folks ) can’t get its act together Air Quality Litigation Succeeds
to be really effective; voters want their “good peo- Club chapters in the San Joaquin Valley, along with
ple” to continue to represent them. Supported by the National Sierra Club, Earth Justice and several
League of Women Voters, Chambers of Commerce, Latino and public health groups have settled most of
and Sierra Club among others. our claims against the air district and EPA on vio-
Candidates endorsed by Sierra Club: lations of the Clean Air Act. Our action gained
Johan Klehs for Controller. The Controller is one of widespread local and statewide press coverage, and
three members of the State Lands Commission, which editorials throughout the Valley called for action to
regulates the use of millions of acres of state lands “clear the air.” The Modesto Bee, in a strongly
and waterways, and can affect environmental policy worded editorial, demanded that the board of the San
in other ways through involvement in a number of Joaquin Valley Air Quality Control District resign en
taxing and spending decisions. Klehs is life long masse for their failure to obey the law, and their
Sierra Club member. Enviro accomplishments failure to confront polluters. While we won on nearly
include collection of tobacco taxes to fund all of our issues, our success contributes only mod-
conservancies, other funds for energy conservation, estly toward cleaner air in the Valley. We have a long
tire recycling, and toxic spill cleanup. way to go. For that reason, most of the same litigants,
Phil Angelides for re-election as treasurer, based on including the Kern-Kaweah chapter, have filed an-
his impressive performance in office, his grasp of other suit against EPA for authorizing the SJVAPCD
key environmental issues, and his commitment to to exempt industrial agriculture, such as feedlots,
promotion of smart growth, energy efficiency and from air pollution standards that other industries
renewable energy. must meet.
Cruz Bustamante for re-election as lieutenant gov- Look for the March Appeal
ernor, based on his record of environmental advo- It seems like just yesterday we were scrambling to get
cacy in office in areas of coastal protection, park out last year’s March Appeal. Your contributions in
bonds, 2001 made it one of our most successful ever. While
Senator Jack O’Connell for Superintendent of Public we’d like to attribute that to our stellar letter writing
Instruction. A longtime Sierra Club member, skills, we know that your generosity was more due to
O’Connell authored major environmental bills, renewed and overtly aggressive assaults on the en-
including the 1994 Statewide Offshore Coastal Sanc- vironment both nationally and here in California.
tuary law and the Natural Heritage Preservation Tax Chapter Excom
Credit Act in 2000. He has supported cleanup of un- Members are always welcome at the Chapter’s and
derground toxics and vigorously opposed offshore Groups’ executive committee meetings. Contact an
oil drilling. ExCom member for details.

3. THE ROADRUNNER 3
Chapter Awards Banquet weakening of that document. These regulations have
Mark your calendars for the Chapter’s annual awards fewer “teeth” in them and would erode the intent of
banquet, to be held on the evening of Saturday April the Proclamation in achieving the clearly prescribed
20. The venue and format will be similar to last protections detailed in that document. The Monu-
year’s, where we have more time to socialize and ment Management Plan should be distinct and de-
enjoy the company of our fellow club members. mand more protection than the other areas of the
Paul Gipe, Chapter Chair National Forest. The final Management Plan should
truly protect the resources in the Monument and not
SEQUOIA NATIONAL MONUMENT allow continued logging and roadbuilding.
Please attend local open house meetings As things develop, you will be receiving e-mail
*Monday, March 11th . Porterville alerts, mailings, etc. to encourage you to take the
Porterville Veterans’ Memorial Bldg. time and make the effort to help protect this world
1900 West Olive Avenue class resource right in our own back yards. Please be
(559.781.7693) ready to pitch in and help when the time comes, and
do try to attend one of the Open Houses coming up.
*Tuesday, March 12th (Bakersfield) MONITORS NEEDED TO CHECK IN
Holiday Inn Select (Baker Room) SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST.
801 Truxton Avenue Visiting Sequoia National Forest now and in the
Bakersfield future? Please add another dimension to your trip.
661.323.1900 Use your eyes to make extra observations about the
surroundings.
Notices just arrived that OPEN HOUSES will be held What are we encouraging you to look for? Such
by the USFS to share their progress in the develop- things as logging damage, over-grazing, erosion
ment of the Sequoia Monument Plan. This will along trails and riverbanks, OHV and other user
include a review of the working “draft” alternatives. damage, water diversion from streams, no trespassing
You can review them on the web at: signs posted within forest boundaries. Write down as
http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/giant_sequoia. completely as possible what you have seen, take
The final draft is expected to be released sometime in pictures if you can, be sure to record the date and
May. location of your observation as exactly as possible.
The open houses will begin at 4:30 to meet with Turn in your findings as soon as possible. (See
staff, view maps. etc. At 5:30 there will begin a below!)
presentation on working “draft” alternatives, at 6:30 If you would like to volunteer to monitor timber
a question and answer period. sale activity like tree marking and cutting, you
President Clinton established the Giant Sequoia should indicate that interest specifically. Please e-
National Monument in Sequoia National Forest on mail or call to volunteer so you can be notified of the
April 15, 2000 with a proclamation that the lands time to do monitoring and a guide for what to look
within the Monument are to be managed for the for. (See below)
protection of all the biological, ecological, geological AND if you visit your special places frequently
and historical objects within its boundaries. over the years, your observations of changes or no
To quote directly from the Proclamation, objects changes in the area would be invaluable. They could
identified and listed for protection include: *The become a part of a general database of the forest’s
rich and varied landscape; *Magnificent groves of conditions and could be most helpful in determining
towering giant sequoias; *A great belt of coniferous the true health conditions of the Sequoias.
forests, jeweled with mountain meadows; *An extra- The Hume District has the 215 acre Highway Fire Rehabilitation
ordinary number of wildlife habitats; *A spectrum of Salvage Sale near Mt. Sampson and Delilah Lookout. The
ecosystems; *Unique paleontological and archeo- Cannell Meadow District has the Manter Restoration Project
logical resources, and much more. salvage sale off of the Sherman pass road between Bald
Mountain, Kennedy Meadows and Troy Meadow, which needs to
The Proclamation signed by the President is be observed and recorded for the accuracy of the marking to
clearly the legal document that must determine how determine compliance with the guidelines.
the Monument is managed. But it appears that Se-
quoia National Forest Service is attempting to devel- For further information with details on these
op a Management Plan for the Monument using volunteer monitoring opportunities, please contact
regulations from the Sequoia National Forest general Ara Marderosian at 760.376-4434 or 866.533.
management plan and the Sierra Nevada Framework 7873. Web site is www.sequoia forestkeeper.org
Plan, the latter being “reviewed” by the Bush ad-
ministration, which might well result in drastic

4. 4 THE ROADRUNNER
4
WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN REACHES PRIVATIZATION OF WATER
A CRITICAL POINT A MISTAKE
For the past several years the Sierra Club has The Sierra Club opposes the environmental con-
been part of a coalition to try and save what remains sequences of the Cadiz Water Grab in the Mojave
of the wild areas on the federal public lands in Cali- National Preserve, but there is no Sierra Club policy
fornia. We have done an inventory of public lands to regarding privatization of such resources.
map those areas which qualify for Wilderness desig- Private enterprise as an economic engine had
nation under the Wilderness Act of 1964. Statewide done marvelous things for the United States.
several million acres have been identified, while here But private enterprise has its limits. 1. Private
in the Kern/Kaweah Chapter there are over 350,000 enterprise doesn’t handle health and safety issues
acres in Sequoia National Forest alone. very well. 2. Private enterprise has difficulty dealing
All of the proposed areas would be magnificent with very long-range or non-economic values such as
additions to the Wilderness System. They contain an endangered species. 3. Private enterprise is a total
enormous variety of plants and wildlife including failure when dealing with monopoly. Greed over-
groves of Giant Sequoias and habitat for endangered whelms the system.
species. On top of that, the areas encompass some of Yet some systems are inherently monopolistic. We
the most spectacular and rugged landscapes in the have one water pipe coming into our homes. It would
southern Sierra. Current and future generations have be uneconomic to have, say, six. Actually, it is quite
a right to enjoy these wild and beautiful corners of possible we will have two in the not too distant future.
the earth just as we have enjoyed them. One will carry recycled water for our watering.
Now we are ready to approach Congress to add Historically, when we must have monopoly, the
some of those areas to the Wilderness System. Legis- state regulates it. In the United States, water and its
lators interested in legislation to protect Wilderness delivery systems have been largely community
include Senator Barbara Boxer. We expect legislation owned. There is considerable pressure to privatize it.
to protect these areas to be introduced in Congress This would be a mistake.
this spring. (see below) Take a look at the mess in the deregulated elec-
If you want to help in this campaign contact Joe Fontaine in tricity systems. Once shortages appeared, greed
Tehachapi at 661.821.2055, fontaine@lightspeed.net 2055, Janet and overwhelmed the market. The unregulated market
Harold Wood in Visalia at 559 739 8527, hwood@ sierraclub.org or allowed astronomical increases in costs and the
Mary Ann Lockhart, PMC, 661.242.0432. We will keep you posted in the
Roadrunner as the campaign develops. bankruptcy and near bankruptcy of once great
Descriptions of proposed Wilderness additions in regulated public utilities.
Kern Kaweah Chapter area: In the United States we have always had both
In Sequoia National Forest we have selected four wild areas as private and public water. The change in this century
our priorities. Our proposal would add the north flank of the Piute is that the public utilities such as the Metropolitan
Mountains south of Lake Isabella to the Bright Star wilderness.
The area surrounding Sirretta Peak, at 10,000 feet and the highest
Water District of Southern California (MWD) are
peak on the Kern Plateau, would be added to the Domelands being forced by law to carry private water to private
Wilderness. The Rincon Roadless Area that extends from the customers using the public pipes. Private monoply of
north fork of the Kern River up to the crest of the Kern Plateau water is facilitated. It is a potential disaster.
would be added to the Golden Trout Wilderness. The Moses In the Mojave Desert, a private company, Cadiz,
Roadless Area in the Giant Sequoia National Monument would
also be added to the Golden Trout Wilderness. Finally we are
Inc., with a farming operation of 1600 acres, is
proposing that the lower Kern River below Isabella Dam to claiming it has the rights to sell all the water in the
nearly the mouth of Kern Rivers System be classified as a Fenner/Cadiz aquifer—the size of Rhode Island.
Recreational River. The Forest Service has already completed a MWD is lined up to buy the water and also carry the
study that has determined it is eligible for that classification. private water to private customers. It is an uncon-
In the Mt.Pinos Dist. of Los Padres NF special emphasis has
been on supporting the designation of areas (San Emigdio,
scionable water grab. It is an economic fiasco and, if
Antimony, Salt Creek, Pleito, ) bordering the WindWolves it happens, an environmental tragedy.
Preserve, located just north of Mt. Pinos District, in order to add Perhaps it would be worse if we privatized the air
to the travel corridor of tule elk and antelope as well as to protect and had it metered out to us. We would pay any
still unrecorded Native American rock sites. Also recommended price, for we would be paying to stay alive. Without
is enlarging the Chumash Wilderness and protecting beautiful
sites along Quatal and Apache canyons.
electricity we are certainly inconvenienced and eco-
nomically harmed. Without air we would die in a
couple of minutes.
Without water we might last a day. This is too
great a risk to allow privatization.
By Elden Hughes (Reprint from Desert Report)

5. THE ROADRUNNER 5
Kern Kaweah’s quicky calendar
*March 9/10th REGIONAL CONSERVATION COMMITTEE MEETS IN SAN LUIS OBISPO.
Workshops on sprawl,Yosemite. Discussion of political candidates, Merced campus, wildlands,
transportation, CAFOS and much more. More info? Call Gipe 661.324.1923
EX-Com Mtgs: CHAPTER ex-com: Saturdays, noon, usually at Beale Library, Bksf. Exception: Sat. March
16, 11 AM meeting will be held in Visalia at Friends House. Details: Call 661.324.1923. GROUPS: Buena
Vista March 3. (sun) Elaine, Chair 661.833.3795 1pm. Condor: March 24. (sun) Ex-com. 1 pm. Call Ches,
661.242.0423. Mineral King: fourth Thursdays. March 25 (mon) 7 pm. Call 559.739.8527.
MARCH
*March 7. (thur) 6 pm Dinner social, Los Portales, Visalia. See Mineral King Gp.
*March 9. (sat) See Nordic Ski Patrol on top of Mt. Pinos. Tentative. See Condor Gp.
*March 14. (thur) 7 pm “Wolf in the Classroom” See Mineral King Gp.
*March 16. (sat) Birding. See Condor Gp.
*March 19. (tues). Pilot curbside recycling program. See Buena Vista Gp.
*March 23. (sat) Jawbone Cyn. area. See Owens Peak Gp.
*March 23. (sat) Frazier Park area hike. See Condor Gp.
APRIL
*April 6 (sat) Mountain Islands. See Condor Gp.
*April 11, (thur) New Thai Restaurant, Visalia. See Mineral King Gp
*April 14. (sun) Excursion to Windwolves. See Condor Gp.
****APRIL 20 (sat) ANNUAL KERN-KAWEAH CHAPTER BANQUET. ****
*April 20. (sat) Timosea Peak (8664 ft), west of Owens Lake. See Owen Peak Gp.
*April 20. (sat) Birding. See Condor Gp.
*April 27. (sat) Thorn Peak Hike. See Condor Gp.
WEEKLY WALKS Wed: Visalia. See Mineral King Gp. Thurs: Bakersfield. See Buena Vista Gp.
LOOKING AHEAD
May 4, (sat) Windmill-Wildflower Hike Planned for Pacific Crest Trail. Call 661.324.1923 to verify.
The Kern-Kaweah Chapter of the Sierra Club will lead the 15th annual hike to spotlight a little-known
section of the PCT trail as well as the 5,000 wind turbines in the Tehachapi Pass. More than 600 people, from
children to octogenarians, have taken the six-mile walk across Cameron Ridge during the past decade.
The hike leaves the trailhead at the junction of Cameron Road and Tehachapi-Willow Springs Road
promptly at 9:00 am. Spring weather at 5,000 feet in the Tehachapi Mountains? Temperature can vary from
near freezing to sweltering. Dress appropriately, bring one to two quarts of water per person, lunch.
2002 Basic Roster of Kern Kaweah Chapter and Groups, Bakersfield, CA 93385
Executive Committee 661.324.1923
Paul Gipe, Chair; Vice Chair, Harry Love; Ara Marderosian, Secretary, Larry Wailes, treasurer; Lorraine Unger, Membership
Regional Delegates, Sub-Committee Chairs Harry Love, Ara Marderosian, RCC, Lorraine Unger, SC Council; Theresa
Stump, Outings; Larry Wailes, Treasurer; Carla Cloer, Chair, Sequoia Task Force; Mary Ann Lockhart, Roadrunner.
Buena Vista Group (Bakersfield) 661.833.3795
Elaine White, Chair; Glenn Shellcross, Vice Chair; Kevin Smith, Secretary; Karen Smith, Treasurer.
Condor Group (Pine Mtn Club, Frazier Park area) 661.242.0423. Ches@frazmtn.com
Ches Arthur, Chair; Dale Chitwood, Vice-Chair. Candy Posson, Secretary, Marta Bigler,Treas.
Kaweah Group (Porterville) 559.781.0594
Theresa Stump, Chair; Dianne Jetter, Vice Chair; Boyd Leavitt, Treasurer.
Mineral King (Visalia) 559.739.8527 Harold Wood, Chair; Mary Moy, Vice-Chair; Cynthia Koval, Secretary; Janet
Wood,Treasurer.
Owens Peak Group (Ridgecrest) 760.375.7967 Dennis Burge, Chair; Steve Smith, Vice-Chair; Jean Bennett, Secretary;
Dolph Amster, Treasurer.

6. 6 THE ROADRUNNER
Buena Vista Group
Meets at Bakersfield, Beale Library. More info? Call Mineral King Group
Elaine White, Chair 661.833.3795 Meets in Visalia.
Every Thursday. Conditioning Hike. 4-5 miles. More info? Call Harold Wood, Chair. 559.739.
Bksf. 7 pm. Corner of 178 184. Details? 661. 8527 email: harold.wood@sierraclub.org
872.2432 Website http://kernkaweah.sierraclub.org/mineralking
March 3. (sun) Ex-Com Planning Meeting. 1 pm. Weekly walks: Wednesdays. Starts March 6, 5:30 pm.
Call Elaine White for directions. Meet at St. John’s Parkway parking lot at north end
March 19 (tues). Greg Sanders, Special Projects and of Lover’s Lane, 45 minutes or so. For further info:
Operations Coordinator for Varner Bros., Inc., will 559.739.8527.
give a report on design and implementation of pilot Programs and Dinner Socials
curbside recycling program authorized by the City March 7 (thur) 6 pm. - Dinner social at Los Portales
of Bakersfield. Bring your questions. Meet at Beale Mexican Restaurant. Visalia. Call 559.739. 8527
Library, 7-9 pm. Reservations needed. Reply by Mar. 6
Next Meeting: To be announced. Call Chair. March 14 (thur) 7 pm. Wolf in the Classroom with
Tulare County Audubon. Location? call Brian
Newton (559) 627-3571 e-mail:xchiker@lightspeed.
Condor Group net
Meets at Pine Mountain Club More info? Call Ches March 16. (sat) 11am. Friends Meeting House,
Arthur, Chair, 661.242.0423. All events subject to Visalia - Our Group hosts Chapter Ex-Com. All
change. Call prior to event. Sierra Club members welcome. Info: 559.739.8527.
ALL EVENTS START AT TENNIS COURTS, March 25. (mon) 7 pm. Ex-Com. Call 559.739.
PMC , 8 am, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. 8527.
March 9. See Nordic Ski Patrol in Action. Trip to April 11. (thur) 6 pm. New Thai Restaurant, Visalia.
top of Mt. Pinos. Tentative. Details: 242.0423 April 20. (sat) 6 pm. Annual Chapter Banquet in
March 16. (sat) Birding. Call Lynn, 242.2137 or Bakersfield. Call 559.739.8527 to carpool from
Ches, 242.0423. Visalia.
March 23. (sat) Frazier Park Hike. easy. April 22. 7 pm. Ex-Com. Call 559.739.8527.
March 24. (sun) Ex-com. 1 pm. Call Ches.
April 6. (sat) Mountain Islands. Lynn Stafford.
Potluck 6 pm, Program 7 pm. Pavilion Rm, PMC.
April 14. Excursion to Windwolves. Call 242.0432 Owens Peak Group
for details. Meets in Ridgecrest More info? Call Dennis Burge,
April 20th. (sat) Birding. Call Lynn or Ches. Chair 760.375.7967 or dennis93555@yahooo.com
April 20th. (sat) Kern Kaweah Chap. Banquet. (p. 1) March 23. (sat) Meet Ridgecrest Cinema parking lot
April 27. (sat) Thorn Peak Hike. Strenuous. 7:30 am. Two peaks, Chuckwalla (5029) and Cross
May 11th. SPECIAL Wildflowers in person. Mike (5203 ft), south of Jawbone Cyn. (Elevation gain
Foster, Los Padres botanist, presenter. 7 PM. Pool 2800 ft with 800 ft drop between the two peaks
Pavilion Room. (No potluck) coming back.) 7 miles round trip. Be prepared for
warm weather; bring 3 plus qts. water. High clearance
vehicle (4WD preferred) to reach trailhead. More
Kaweah Group info? Call Dennis Burge or Jim Nichols at
Meets in Porterville. More info? Call Theresa Stump, 760.375.8161.
Chair. 559.781.0594 April 20. (sat) Meet at Cinemas, 7 am. Destination:
May 8. (wed) 7 pm “Front Country Trails of the Timosea Peak (8664 ft), west of Owens Lake. Great
Tule.” Overview of some of our favorite trails, show view of Cottonwood Creek and Owens Valley.
slides and share maps. Presenter: Carla Cloer. 2630ft, 2 2 / 3 miles round trip. Spectacular, little
Porterville Community Center, 466 East Putnam. known road to the roadhead. More info? See above.
7:00 to 9:00 pm. Refreshments too!
May 11. (sat) Kaweah Group Hike: Tentative date
for easy day hike in local area. Destination undeter-
mined. Call Theresa a week before..

7. THE ROADRUNNER 7
MIDGEBUZZINGS of a devoted family. In her last years she had begun
Looking out at one of my bird feeders this to cultivate a vegetable garden, and she loved sharing
morning I saw it thronged with little thistle-eating her produce with family and neighbors. They called
finches, a sure sign of spring. Soon we’ll see mobs of her “the little backyard farmer.”
robins on the lawns cocking their heads for worms I wish her family could know how much I was
and tugging them out of the warming ground. affected by that phrase. What an achievement! She
For several weeks I’ve been suffering from ser- might have written a best seller or made a killing in
ious garden nostalgia, sharpened by regret over the stock market. But she was better than that. She
having gone out of the chicken business. Long-time coaxed abundance from the earth and shared it with
readers may remember the stories that used to come others. I would like to have known her and to have
from the antics of my three banty hens and plucky learned her gardening secrets.
little rooster, all famous with the neighborhood chil- We are daily harried by thoughts of the violence
dren and endlessly entertaining. and mean abuse of public trust we are steeped in
Even in their demise there was a touch of comedy. now, and by our unending environmental problems.
A neighborhood dog, long neglected by her family But in a garden, given the graces of sunlight and
and lonely, squeezed through a hole she had dug adequate water, one can create a delightful world,
under the fence and destroyed the little flock. She especially if there are chickens to give it a comic
was still in the garden when I came home and saw the dimension.
carnage. When I confronted her angrily with the So keep reading, friends. What better metaphor
evidence, she looked up from what remained of one for the whole environment than this?
of the corpses and belched, expelling a cloud of By Ann Williams
feathers that fluttered up before settling around her What’s up at RED ROCK CANYON?
feet. I did the only thing I could do in a case like The fate of magnificent country in the 1994
that; I buried the chickens and kept the dog. addition to the park is the big concern. Last Chance
Two things have happened fairly recently that Canyon and Nightmare Gulch are places that can be
have contributed to the aforesaid longing. The first accessed by high clearance vehicles with difficulty,
occurred on my favorite coastal road with an old but the delicate riparian systems are impacted by
friend whose husband had entrusted us with his fire such activity.
engine-red sports convertible—two ladies approach- The Club believes there should be opportunities
ing seventy, with dangerous vestiges of adolescence for vehicle touring in Red Rock Canyon. It is para-
still in occasional evidence to the wary. mount, though, that no visitor activity, including
It was a beautiful day on a road where old family vehicle use, ought to be permitted without restrictions
farms remain unthreatened by the hideous huge to protect natural values. In particular, vehicles
houses lately so popular with the newly rich and should be prohibited from using washes. Protection
springing up everywhere to the ruin of experience. must come first for the unique blend of spectacular
We gossiped and sang with the wind in our hair and geology, human and fossil history and suite of
rounded every curve a little too fast in anticipation of ecosystems that comprise the park.
the next gorgeous sight. There was reason to expect release of the Draft
Then we saw chickens. They were running around General Management Plan (DGMP) and resulting
in a large green pasture, dodging cows, and busily public comment period to start next month. However,
scratching up insects and grubs. In their midst was a there has been further delay. State Parks are
wonderful little rooster. He was all black except for gathering more data, and we are confident that will
an outrageous crown of wild white feathers and a lead to a better DGMP. Thanks for all the past
yellow beak, and he was exhausting himself in a support and please help us see the planning process
futile attempt to command the attention of the hens. through.
We couldn’t help ourselves; we pulled over just to Sign up for State Parks mailing list for Red Rock
laugh at this phenomenon, and I have been unable to Canyon notices (Contact: Marsha Moss, California State
get it out of my mind ever since. I would love to have Park, 8885 Rio San Diego Dr. Suite 27, San Diego, CA
92108 or mmoss@parks.ca.gov) and our local task force
that rooster! mailing list too: Red Rock Canyon State Park Task Force,
The next thing was an obituary in the local paper. P. O. Box 1569, Ridgecrest, CA 93556 or jeanie.stillwell
Our editor, Dianne Hardisty, has rightly said of @sierraclub.org or call 760.375.8973.
obituaries that they are “family-written pieces that
create a community’s rich mosaic.” One morning I
saw the gentle face of a little lady who had been
photographed in the traditional headgarb of women
from India. She had reached a good age in the midst

8. 8 THE ROADRUNNER
http://kernkaweah.sierraclub.org TIPS FOR WRITING THOSE LETTERS
Activities, alerts, plus six additional numbers of Ann William’s
TO OUR GOVT. OFFICIALS.
Midgebuzzings. Write Ann Williams, 3112 LINDEN AVE,
USE A “CHEAT SHEET.”
BAKERSFIELD, CA, 93560, if you need copy.
HOW DO YOU DO THAT? READ ON!
General Publication Information 1, Go on to the Web.
Deadline: April 5th for next issue 2. Find a search engine. (Alta Vista, Ask Jeeves, Google)
*Want to submit an article? 3. Type in Sierra Club.
650 words max., shorter is better. What pops up first is the home page with news and
*General questions about outings? ACTION items. Check it out BUT...
Call Theresa Stump, 559-781-0594 Above that are two rectangles, one labeled e nvironmental
update (on the left, general, whole country topics), the other
****Want to sign up to receive ALERTS?**** labeled My Backyard. (on the right) takes you to
Send to alunger@juno.com WE NEED MORE OF YOU! California, then on to our Chapter.
*Submission after deadline? we will try. ****Searching through those sections, you will
*Web questions? harold.wood@sierraclub.org very often find a “canned” letter on your topic.
MANY THANKS To ANN WILLIAMS, MICHELLE Just “sign” your name! The rest is done by the
HOFFMAN, HAROLD WOOD FOR HELP WITH Sierra Club. What can be easier?*****
THE ROADRUNNER However.
# You can also personalize those canned letters, adding
Not a member of Sierra Club? Not a member of Kern your own comments.
# You can also read those letters to get facts, points to
Kaweah Chapter? Want this newsletter? Send $5 to
use in a letter of your own and more background information.
L. Unger, 2815 La Cresta Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93305 AND, why not add your name to the ALERT list? Sometimes
things come up with only a few days notice and pressure
RoadrunnerAddresses: jmal@frazmtn.com or must be applied IMMEDIATElY. Check Sierra Club Home
Editor, Roadrunner, P.O. Box GG, Frazier Park, Page and/or alunger.juno.com
CA 93222 You think no one is paying attention to all these letters,
etc.? Remember what happened when the public spoke up
about arsenic in the water? The Bush administration backed
Take Action Numbers. Call, Write! down. Need more be said?
Federal Govt. Numbers:
White House Comment Line: 202.456.1111
George W. Bush’s e-mail - president@whitehouse.gov
Address - 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC 20500
US Capitol Switchboard - 202-224-3121.
Sen Barbara Boxer: 312 N Spring St., LA 90012-213.894.5000
Sen Diane Feinstein:11111 Sta. Monica Blvd. S.915, LA 90025
Dir. Gale Norton, c/o Tom Fulton, Department of the Interior,
1849 C Street, NW, Washington
Dir. Ann Venneman. U.S. Dept of Ag, 14th Independence
Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. 20250. phone: 202.720.2791
California numbers:
Gov. Davis: 1-916-445-2841 Calif. Legislative Switchboard
(receptionist will help you ID your Senator and Assembly
member if you are unsure): 916-322-9900.
Yes, I want to join the Sierra Club. Check enclosed.
Name.......................................................................
City.....................................State.............. Zip.........
Check one:
Introductory $25........
Regular $39....... Joint $47.........
Any of the following $24:
Senior..... Student....... Limited Income.........
F94QW 0600-1 Send to Sierra Club, P O Box
52968, Boulder, CO, 80322