TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Q: Are there laws regarding fireworks and/or noise late at night? The Blaze has late fireworks for Friday home games, once starting at 10 p.m. and once starting at 11 p.m., disturbing residents and frightening pets on Beech, Irene and Panorama streets.

We already deal with Garces football game fireworks at 10 p.m. in winter.

Seems unfair for the public to have to plan their lives around these functions to ensure uninterrupted sleep and pet protection.

-- Dorothy Daves

A: There are local noise ordinances, but they don't appear to specifically regulate legal fireworks shows.

But in response to a couple of recent complaints about fireworks being shot off late after Bakersfield Blaze games at Sam Lynn Ballpark, an understanding has been worked out between the ball club and Kern County Fire Department, said Battalion Chief and Fire Marshal Benny Wofford.

(County fire has jurisdiction under a city-county joint powers agreement regarding service at Sam Lynn, a county park located in the city of Bakersfield).

Under the agreement, the Blaze will be required to fire off the fireworks by 11 p.m. and if for some reason it cannot, it or the pyrotechnic company involved must stay with them to ensure they are secure. Wofford said this is the first year he's heard people complain about the noise from fireworks shot off after Blaze games.

Q: What is that construction going on around The Padre Hotel downtown and who is paying for it?

-- The Californian

A: The city of Bakersfield is having sidewalks, curbs and gutters replaced on H Street between 18th and 19th streets and the Padre-owned parking lot just north of the hotel improved for multiple uses including parking and a staging area for events, said city Construction Superintendent Rick Millwee.

The $340,000 project is being funded with federal Community Development Block Grant money and in exchange for the improvements being made to Padre-owned property, the hotel must create four new jobs in a five-year period, said Ryan Bland, associate planner for the Bakersfield Economic and Community Development Department.

Q: I've noticed some new construction going on in the Gosford Village adjacent to the Chase Bank. What is being built?

-- Barbara Somorai

A: There are two new buildings being constructed, one a Carl's Jr. and the other a multiple tenant building, said Darlene Mohlke, spokeswoman for developer Castle & Cooke.

The tenants for the second building will include Pacific Dental and Great Clips, she said. Mohlke said there should be room for two additional tenants, but that depends on the needs of those future tenants.

The buildings should be complete at the end of this year or the very beginning of next year, Mohlke said.

Q: What's been going on with Bright House Networks lately? Last night we were without cable and Internet service for almost seven hours and a couple of weeks ago it was four hours. They offer no explanation or apology and even block their phones with that annoying "busy" signal when you try to call in. Even a "we are experiencing technical difficulties" recording would be preferable to them hiding from their customers.

... It's getting to the point where I want to start subtracting the hours they're down from my bill since we pay almost $200 a month, but I'm sure they would cancel me for non-payment. Even a coupon for a free movie on demand would be nice. Their only job is to provide a signal -- why are they incapable of doing that?

-- Reader asked not to be named

A: Colleen Dillaway, spokeswoman for Bright House, responded:

On the afternoon of July 23, some of our customers did experience a service interruption with their Bright House Networks services. Our engineers were fully engaged, identified the exact source of the problem and we have taken corrective actions. It was a temporary issue and has been completely resolved.

That day our call center, which is located right here in Bakersfield, received many calls. We regret that some customers who called heard a busy signal while we were helping customers. We would like to thank our customers for their patience as we continue to work to ensure the world class network, powered by local people, that they have come to expect from us.

As always, we encourage our customers to get in touch with us if they have any further questions or concerns.

Ask The Californian appears on Mondays Have a question? Submit it to asktbc@bakersfield.com or to The Bakersfield Californian, c/o Christine Bedell, P.O. Bin 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302.