Photo by Catherine Stachowiak
A few board members of the Lake Isabella & Bodfish Property Owners Association met at Kissak Park, in Lake Isabella Saturday October 19, to try a seat on the new park bench dedicated to Karene Williams, a valued member of the Kern Valley community.
Williams, who recently passed away, was one of the founding members of the Kern River Skate Park, a group wherein she spent many years raising money to have a skate park built in Kern Valley. Because of her efforts the George and Darlene Randall Skate Park opened over the summer.
On the bench was engraved the words, “In loving memory of Karene Williams.”
Local resident, Ruth Franz said, “I wanted to do something for my sister. So I got together with Teresa (Contreras.) I told her what I wanted and she ordered it for me and I paid for it.”
Contreras ordered the bench for Franz and when it was shipped, it was assembled for her.
Franz said about her sister, “She worked eight years for this Skate Park. She always wanted a bench so she could sit and watch the kids. Well she’s got a bench.”
The bench was temporarily on display, Saturday. Franz said it would be installed permanently on the other side of the George and Darlene Randall Skate Park. “They’re going to pour a slab. I bought the things to mount it, so it’s permanent. But they want to display it here,” she said.
