AB 1652 and SB 880 take a comprehensive approach to promoting safety for skiers and snowboarders
SACRAMENTO – This week the State Legislature approved two bills to improve safety at ski resorts. Assembly Bill 1652, authored by Assemblymember Dave Jones (D-Sacramento), requires California ski resorts to make public reports about all fatal injuries occurring at the resort. It also requires resorts to create and make public annual safety plans, and implement better signage warning of boundaries and other dangers. AB 1652 was approved by the Assembly by a vote of 51-22. Senate Bill 880, authored by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), would require all children under age 18 to wear helmets while skiing and snowboarding. SB 880 was approved by the Senate by a vote of 22-11.
California has 32 largely unregulated ski resorts. There are no requirements concerning posting of signs related to ski slope conditions, boundary warnings, or known hazards. Data regarding injuries or fatalities occurring at ski resorts is only aggregated nationally by the ski industry associations; therefore, consumers are unable to get information about the overall death and injury statistics or the relative safety performance of individual ski resorts. AB 1652 will provide greater awareness to consumers about the frequency and circumstances surrounding fatalities that occur at California ski resorts.
Numerous recent studies have found that traumatic brain injuries are the leading cause of injury-related
death among skiers and snowboarders, and children in particular are at higher risk. A 2008 study conducted by University of Washington professor Peter Cummings concluded that the use of helmets could reduce the risk of serious injury in up to 60 percent of all accidents. Additionally, skiers and snowboarders who crashed or fell had a 15 percent reduction in the risk of any head injury if they were wearing a helmet. The Federal Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has found that more than 7,000 head injuries per year on the slopes in the U.S. could be prevented or reduced in severity by the use of a helmet. The CPSC study also showed that “for children under 15 years of age, 53 percent of head injuries (approximately 2,600 of the 4,950 head injuries annually) are addressable by use of a helmet.
“While tragic accidents at California’s ski resorts are not common, we can do more to protect the safety of ski resort enthusiasts and families,” said Jones. “Requiring helmet use for kids, having a clear safety plan, posting consistent signs warning of possible dangers and changing conditions are the tools we need to put in place to ensure the safety of those enjoying California’s mountains.”
“California’s ski slopes are perhaps the last area of recreation where we do not have basic safety standards in place for children,” said Yee, who is a child psychologist. “Despite repeated warnings from public health experts, professional athletes, and ski resorts, each winter brings news of hundreds of unnecessary tragedies for the failure to wear a helmet. With this legislative package, we can significantly reduce instances of traumatic brain injury or death for such a vulnerable population.”
AB 1652 and SB 880 have the full support of the California Ski and Snowboard Safety Organization (sponsor), California Psychological Association (sponsor), California Ski Industry Association, American College of Emergency Physicians, California Brain Injury Association, California’s Children’s Hospital Association, California Chiropractic Association, California Medical Association, California Nurses Association, California Psychiatric Association, California Travel Industry Association, Children’s Advocacy Institute, and the National Academy of Neuropsychology, among others.
The Governor must sign or veto both bills by September 30.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Camptonville .. ….. The Bullards Fire started Friday afternoon, pushed by winds and warm temperatures. It is burning in Yuba County south of Bullards Bar Reservoir on both sides of the North Yuba River in the Tahoe and Plumas National Forests. A Forest Service fire management team will be arriving Saturday, mid-day to assume command of the operation.
Size – estimated 600 acres
No estimated time of containment or control
Evacuations are in effect for the Bullards Bar Campgrounds, Moonshine Road, Oregon Hill Road to Summit Road, Kelly Road, County Road 169, Souix Trail areas. Marysville Road is closed beginning at Mirriam Road to Hwy 49. Moonshine Road is closed.
Agencies Responding: Forest Service, Calfire, Yuba County Sheriff, CHP, PGE, Local Fire Agencies, Private Contractors.
Currently assigned;
3 Hand Crews
27 Engines
8 dozers
4 Helicopters (during daylight)
5 Air Tankers (during daylight)
The fire is being managed in Unified Command between the Forest Service and Calfire.
Fire began Friday afternoon – cause is under investigation.
Information Center at the Forest Service Yuba River Ranger Station – 6:00 am – 11:00 pm 530-288-3231.
Most roads in the Bullards Fire are now open including the Marysville Road and Moonshine Road. The Oregon Hill Road is also open but with cautions as fire equipment may be on the roadway. County Road 169 remains closed. Bullards Bar recreation areas and campgrounds are open as well.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Assemblyman Ted Gaines, running for State Senate, District 1, will be in Loyalton, Sept 9th, at 10:30 am, at the Social Hall by the museum.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Congressman Tom McClintock made the following statement to the Regional U.S. Forest Service Management Roundtable hosted by Congressman Wally Herger in Sacramento on Wednesday, August 25th:
I want to thank my friend and colleague, Congressman Herger, for organizing this meeting and for his invitation to participate in it.
There are four general subjects that my constituents have brought to my attention that I feel are important to raise in this forum.
First, some of the most disturbing stories I have heard locally involve the abuse of cost recovery fees by the Forest Service. This has been a source of great frustration and evinces an attitude within the Service that I believe requires immediate correction.
For example, the California Endurance Riders Association had been using the El Dorado National Forest for many years. This time, when they sought a simple 5-year 10-event permit to continue doing exactly what they have been doing without incident for decades, the Forest Service demanded $11,000 in fees.
They paid these fees, but the El Dorado National Forest management nevertheless pulled the approved permit and halted the process on utterly specious grounds. It then demanded an additional $17,000 fee, causing the Endurance Riders Association to cancel what had been a long-term civic tradition that had been a boon to the local economy. In 2010 this outrage was repeated after the group spent $5,800 for the “Fool’s Gold Endurance Run” that had been an ongoing event for more than 40 years.
The Polka Dots Motorcycle Club tells a similar story of excessive Forest Service fees that forced them to cancel a ride they have sponsored for four decades. Likewise, the Gold Country Endurance Riders, an equestrian group, had to cancel an event they had been holding since 1993 because of a prohibitive increase in the permit fees.
I seriously question the authority of the Forest Service to exact these fees at all, since federal guidelines do not require them if the surveys or research are done in the “public good.” Moreover, it is clear the Forest Service was not dealing in good faith with these groups and that it should refund these fees in full and restore to them the full access to our public lands that they have been accorded for many years.
Second, the Forest Service is charging exorbitant Cabin User Fees to families that have had long-term possession of mountain cabins, based on peak market prices from 2007 and 2008. These inflated prices are many times the actual market price in this distressed economy, forcing many of these families to abandon cabins that they have had for decades and even generations.
Third, my office has been approached by several families that have had long-established grazing permits dating as far back as 1931, who are now seeing conditions placed on their use that are simply ludicrous.
For example, the Leavell Family has grazed cattle in the Tahoe National Forrest since 1931 and by all accounts has been an excellent and responsible steward of the land. The incidents of harassment that they have encountered from the Forest Service have been unconscionable.
With absolutely no warning, the Forest Service presented them with a letter declaring that they were in non-compliance because of cattle that occasionally stray off the land. Yet in the past, federal regulations have prohibited them from building fences to prevent that very problem. The Forest Service recently charged that the cattle were damaging Aspen stands – allegations that further inspection proved to be groundless. Having failed to make its case on these grounds, the Forest Service then ordered the Leavells to remove cabins they have maintained and paid property taxes on for 79 years.
Also without warning, the Forest Service told the Coughlin family that it was cancelling their long-standing grazing permit because of a lack of sufficient feed as determined by a Forest Service biologist. A subsequent field trip utterly disproved the biologist’s opinion – so the Forest Service next informed them that their permit is still in jeopardy because of the same wandering cows that it used as pretense in the Leavell’s case.
Finally – and most importantly, since this affects the safety of entire communities in my district – I remain concerned over the demonstrated disinterest that the Forest Service has recently demonstrated in supporting sustainable timber harvests. The expensive and labor-intensive process of twig removal cannot achieve fuel reductions that reduce the risk and intensity of forest fires. We must restore responsible and sustainable thinning of over populated forests called for in the Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Forest Restoration Act of 1998, and which the U.S. Forest Service is now thwarting in our region.
For generations, the U.S. Forest Service maintained a balanced approach to the management of our forests that assured both healthy forests and a healthy economy. Now, it seems to be following a very different policy of exclusion, expulsion and benign neglect of our forests.
My office has brought these concerns and complaints of arbitrary and capricious conduct to the Forest Service’s attention without a satisfactory resolution.
Practiced in the marketplace, we would renounce these tactics as predatory and abusive. In the public service sector, they are intolerable.
Combined, these actions evince an ideologically driven hostility to the public’s use of the public’s land – and a clear intention to deny the public the responsible and sustainable use of that land.
If the Forest Service fails to reverse these policies – and the attitude that has produced them – I intend to use my position on the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee to press for extensive hearings during the next session of Congress into the economic damage these actions have caused.
Friday, August 27, 2010
A TRIP BACK to Independence Lake was led by Kenny Osburn, a third generation “fisherman by trade,” and Robert Haug, caretaker of the property 11 years under NV Energy, with a small band of Sierra County folk.
The pair have made three presentations before the Sierra County Board of Supervisors. With the sale of the property to The Nature Conservancy, “Friends of Independence Lake,” are fighting two fronts, road access where the road ends for public access into Independence Lake and the prohibition of motorized boats, making safety on the water an issue with the lake’s white caps.
Attending Tuesday’s tour were Supervisor Pat Whitley, Supervisor 5 candidates Scott Schlefstein and Karen Rickman, Bill Bate of Calpine, Larry DaVita and Jan Buck.
Kenny notified The Nature Conservancy of “giving a tour of the roads up to the Independence property....I am hoping you or David will be available and agree to let us walk the roads on the property. I promise a fair, non-confrontational, objective and most of all friendly visit. I merely want to expose more people to the lake that is getting so much attention.”
The road is not an easy one yet along its extreme rocky trail, driver Kenny grew more intense and excited, pointing out a trail taken as a small boy. Kenny has fished the lake the past ten years and noted it as “the number one lake......phenomenal fishery......not an easy lake to fish.”
At an intersection with the old road, he noted private property and its caretaker came to investigate the caravan of cars. Kenny noted, “We’ve shot ourselves in the foot,” with so much recent publicity on the sale of the lake to The Nature Conservancy.
He talked of the old road to Independence and how the County maintains it. The 350 Sierra County road is a planned dialogue topic.
They drove up to what is a brand new gate, replacing a former chain link, according to Kenny. He tells his passengers NV Energy had put up the gate. He says there had been five gates, never locked other than for seasonal closure.
The new gate is shut and a sign states the Independence Lake Preserve service entrance is for staff and other authorized users. “No public entry; no parking.” The group meets David Mandrella, Preserve Manager. From some prior conversation, Kenny expects to drive through but David says they didn’t ask ahead of time. Kenny asks if there is some solution. Present was a County supervisor who is on oxygen, he explained. Kenny asked for the path of least resistance and suggested David put Supervisor Pat Whitley in his vehicle, to which he did. The remainder of the group walked through the gate.
A second gate is an original. They passed the former summer residence of Robert, his wife, Joanna and son, Nate. He noted they’ve redone the inside of the home, added a deck and siding. A third gate, now gone, was a toll gate to camping and fishing. Kenny remembered an eight-foot sign that told about the Cutthroat. An 1880’s cabin now looked abandoned, formerly rented out.
A fourth gate joins County Road 351 and is a ‘60s-era gate. Mileage is 3.85 miles to the gate. Supervisor Whitley questioned it being a closed road if the County is paid for it by the State.
Robbie reminisced about the day use and boat area and told how a chain link fence was taken down in 2001 as a liability to snowmobilers.
There was a lot of talk about exactly where Road 351 comes in, noting historic roadbed.
The area was totally deserted. Robbie remembered, prior to the sale, the only time it was like this was when it was closed. He pointed out the camping area where so many Sierra Valley families would camp during summer months and all the activity that occurred along the shoreline, full through week ends. He told how they used cable spools as tables which have now been taken out.
David has been employed there since Mid-May, coming from Green Cove Springs, Florida. He agreed the area is wonderful and likes the quiet, remote natural communities. He enjoys hiking, fishing and mountain biking. As Preserve Manager, he coordinates research projects with the US GS Fisheries, research on the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, aquatic vegetation surveys, invasive plant surveys for mussels and plants. He does all the contract work for renovation of one structure and does recreational surveys.
Under discussion of the 220 yard hike to the picnic area and Whitley asking how she could use that, David explained they have only been open two months and are discussing options for handicapped access in the recreational plans.
Whitley stated with State or federal funds they are under obligation for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
David emphasized it’s “hike-in access.”
Scott Schlefstein questioned possible accidents or injuries with Robbie telling about prior drives to the lake’s shore. Robbie reminiscenced about how they had sponsored Care Flight dinners, survival training, mock search and rescue, night operations a whole week and Air Force training with bush planes landing on the ice. He felt that wouldn’t continue with the Conservancy and that will be an issue.
David said there is no camping this year either, yet they’re talking about it for next year.
Whitley saw that as garbage bins and garbage fees and now a loss of Transient Occupancy Tax. Previously there had been two campgrounds, two cabins for employees and one semi-private, all with motorboats attached.
David says there’s now no camping but one day use picnic area and five new tables on the lake.
The group walked back out the same route, noting the perfect weather, glass surface of the lake and no visitors.
Heading back out, they drove up the rocky path to that new picnic area, picking their way between large boulders in a steady climb.
Turning into the small parking area, they were met with a graduated series of seven instructional signs and another gate. The hike down to the lake was well worth the view where the new tables are placed strategically looking out over the water.
Again, the area is deserted and the group basks in sunny solitude. The hike back up is proof the area is only for the physically fit.
As they drive away, no cars are left in the parking lot. The motorcade passes a pair of mountain bikers trudging up.
Kenny thanks the last group of folks who went up to the lake for the tour and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), stating, “it is nice to see the issues first hand.”. He write,s “We have only just begun this battle but are optimistic that we can work something out with the TNC. For those that have not joined us on a trip to the lake I offer an open invitation anytime, TNC has been a good host with some prior notice. If you have not seen it, there is a controversial video on News Channel 3 that depicts a totally different experience at the lake. Attached here is the link, http://www.kcra.com/video/24374328/detail.html. Remember, the gate they (TNC) opened for the news crew is the very gate that is locked for all of us.. Channel 3 did the news story with their vehicle right at the water’s edge; another thing none of us or the disabled can do. The story also eludes to a lake that was never open to the public; it seems just the opposite for us. Try to keep an open mind, thank you for your continued support. Kenny and The Friends of Independence Lake.”
Friday, August 27, 2010
Anderson, CA – Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) today announced that it has sent a notice to NV Energy in Nevada stating that SPI will suspend operations at its Loyalton, CA power plant immediately. The plant’s fifteen power plant operators who will be directly affected by this announcement were notified today.
Numerous government decisions, including decisions not to implement laws passed by Congress, have cut off SPI from feasible fuel supplies and otherwise made it impossible to operate. Additionally, Nevada Energy recently lowered the rates it pays to SPI for electricity generated from the Loyalton plant. The combination of uncertain fuel supplies and reduced energy rates made the facility uneconomic to run.
The circumstances forcing the shutdown include: First, the United States Forest Service failed to carry out its legally mandated timber sales under the 1998 Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery Act (“QLG Act”) (the act mandates unequivocally certain timber sales on Federal Land in the vicinity of the power plant). SPI rebuilt its sawmill in Loyalton relying on the QLG Act, only to have to close it about two years later when the timber supply failed to materialize. Second, litigation filed by environmental groups has blocked certain attempts by the government to offer timber sales that would have produced in-woods biomass from federal land surrounding Loyalton.
As a result of these events, beyond SPI’s control, SPI has been unable to procure sufficient supplies of suitable fuel to operate its power plant in compliance with legal requirements of federal, state, and local law.
Notwithstanding these events, Sierra Pacific Industries is exploring opportunities that might allow it to reopen the facility.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
On 8/11/2010 at 2349 hrs The Plumas County Sheriff’s Department received information from Washoe County Sheriff’s Department that they were in pursuit of a stolen black 2009 Ford Shelby Cobra Mustang that was headed east bound on Hwy 70 towards Portola CA. Washoe County S.O. advised there were three suspects in the vehicle, one male and two females and they were considered armed and dangerous; Terril Boss, age 25, Rebekah Couper age 28 and Krystal Nardone age 23 all of Nevada.
The incident began with a burglary in progress at a home in Washoe County. Officers surrounded the house and when the three suspects realized they were trapped in the home, they took a 2009 Ford Shelby Cobra Mustang that was backed up in the garage and drove it through the garage door almost striking two Sheriff’s Deputies. The suspects fled the scene and were later located travelling north bound on Hwy 395 near Border Town where the pursuit was initiated. Possible items stolen in the burglary were several firearms and tools.
At approx 0100 hrs Deputies from the Plumas County Sheriff Office located the stolen Mustang driving at a high rate of speed through the City of Portola. A high-speed chase ensued leading to the Graeagle area where officers lost sight of the Mustang due to it being a high speed sports car that was no match for the department SUVs. A search of the Graeagle area was conducted with the Mustang being located at a vacant house on Wishram Trl. The suspects fled on foot leaving behind the stolen property. An intense search of the area was conducted involving Officers from Plumas County Sheriff’s Department and it’s SWAT Team, the California Highway Patrol, Officers with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department, their SWAT TEAM, K9 unist and Helicopter.
The County's emergency notification system (reverse 911) was activated notifying residents of the suspects in the area.
At 0800 hrs after receiving a tip from a resident, the two female suspects were arrested walking out of the wooded area near Yonkala and Wishram.
At approx 1200 hrs the male subject, Terril Boss was taken into custody by Plumas County Sheriff Deputies. Boss was located in a wooded area within a quarter mile of where the Mustang had been abandoned.
An assault rifle was recovered by a citizen riding a bicycle on Hwy 70 and turned it in to the Sheriff’s Department. It is believed that this firearm was thrown out of the window at some point during the pursuit.
Boss, Couper and Nardone were transported to the Plumas County Correctional Facility where they were booked and are pending arraignment. Boss was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, evading, reckless driving, possession of stolen property and felon in possession of a firearm, bail was set at $150,000. Couper and Nardone were charged with being an accessory; bail was set at $100,000.
By
Steve W Peay
Investigations Sergeant
For Sheriff Greg Hagwood
Saturday, August 14, 2010
the SIERRA NEVADA GeoTourism MAPGUIDE is essentially an interactive online map of the entire Sierra Nevada (by the Sierra Business Council in partnership with National Geographic) with places of interest as nominated by the residents in any particular area. The idea is that the locals know the best stuff in their area so they can customize the map for their area. The ultimate goal is for people everywhere who may be planning a visit to the Sierra Nevada to use the map as a way of finding new places they would like to visit thus increasing tourism throughout the Sierra Nevada but specifically for areas off the beaten path into the lesser visited corridors of the area. All places of interest can be nominated, from museums and historical/cultural sites all the way to restaurants and great swimming holes. Anything unique and special can be nominated.
The site is going to be unveiled online with a barrage of publicity soon and the last chance to get locations on the first iteration of the map is by August 31st.
One issue will be images. Nominations will be stronger with images and there are lots of great images out there of our more popular destinations such as the Kentucky Mine, Sardine Lake Resort, Salmon Lake Resort, Gold Lake, Perazzo Meadows, Independence Lake, etc.
Please go to www.sierranevadageotourism.org and create a login and then start nominating places so that Sierra County will be well represented on the first presentation of the online map.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
By
Assemblyman Dan Logue
In California, we spend more money a year on taxes than most spend on food, clothing, and shelter combined. As Californians we also pay some of the highest taxes in the nation, including the highest sales and income taxes. Yet Sacramento Democrats are scheming to take away even more of your hard-earned dollars to compensate for their over-spending despite a staggering $12.5 billion tax increase imposed just last year!
With the highest sales tax and second highest income tax in the country, Democrats are planning again to raise billions of dollars in new taxes. Here are just some of the measures that they have proposed:
· $14 Billion in a New Income Tax Increase over 5 years.
· $1.4 Billion Tax on Oil- Californians already pay 63.9 cents/gallon, the highest in the nation.
· 4.8% Tax Increase on New Home Insurance Policies- another hit on home and property owners.
· Tax on the Miles you Drive- a “pilot program” that will lead to taxing Californians on the number of miles they drive each year.
· 25 Cents Per Bag Grocery Store Tax- a “green” bag fee of at least 25 cents on each bag for groceries.
· 10 Cents Per Soda- taxing the soda you drink based on sugar content.
· $3 Tax on Traffic Tickets- a tax increase of $3 per ticket
· Tax on Parking- workers that receive free or subsidized parking will now be taxed for it as income.
To make matters worse, Californians are facing hundreds of billions in increases for employers, ratepayers, property owners, and local taxpayers from recently enacted policies:
· $210 Billion in New Health Care Taxes- taxes on employers to fund a new government-run health care plan
· $146 Billion in New Global Warming Taxes- AB 32 related cap and trade could result in $146 billion in new costs being passed on to consumers.
· $420 Million Lost by Repealing Job Creating Tax Incentives- California’s unemployment rate is currently 12.5% and growing, but businesses are treated like enemies.
· Potentially Billions in New Local Tax Increases- Democrats are paving the way for authorizing cities and counties to establish local income taxes and car taxes.
· Potentially Billions in a Split Roll Property Tax- will increase taxes on property owned by businesses that create jobs in California.
It seems to me that my colleagues across the aisle refuse to hear the voice of the people. We already live in a state that is ranked last in the nation for business, with some of the strictest regulations and highest taxes around. Voters across our great state spoke loud and clear last May when they voted two to one against tax increases. All the same, they continue to push for more. Our weakened economy is merely the tip of the iceberg, with worse to come if we continue down this path.
The economic troubles currently facing Greece should serve as a wake up call to us all. A country that was once ranked amongst the thirty largest economies in the world is now in the midst of a full blown economic meltdown. How did they get there you ask? Simple; they continued to spend and borrow until credit dried up and their looming deficits reached a point of no return. California is currently treading in eerily similar waters. If Greece foreshadows what is in store, I am all the more convinced that we must put a stop to our practices now. As you can clearly see, over-spending and senseless taxation is not a long term solution. Let the majority party know that you will no longer finance their pet projects and out of control spending by allowing them to take away your hard earned dollars. If government continues to “kick” taxpayers like skunks, they should stick around for the smell.
You spoke loud and clear in the last election, and you told Sacramento no new taxes. Call your legislators, and remind them – once and for all – who they work for. Together, we can win this fight.
Assemblyman Dan Logue, R-Linda, represents the 3rd Assembly District in the California Legislature. He is vice-chair of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy, and Chairman of the Assembly Republican Task Force on Jobs and the Economy.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District is developing a Particulate Matter Reduction Plan for Loyalton. The Plan is being developed in response to Loyalton resident air quality concerns, specifically, particulate matter. The Air District initially received comments from Loyalton residents during a May 3 Air District Board of Director's meeting, is currently investigating all sources of particulate matter in Loyalton and has begun drafting the Plan. The Air District is writing the plan in coordination with Sierra Pacific Industries, owner of a large cogeneration facility just outside of town.
The Draft Loyalton Particulate Matter Reduction Plan will be available for review on November 12, 2010 on the District’s website at www.myairdistrict.com.
Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District’s Board of Directors will be holding a board meeting in Loyalton on November 22, 2010 to consider adoption of the Loyalton Particulate Matter Reduction Plan.
The Air District has made some preliminary documents available on their website at www.myairdistrict.com
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Happy May!
Due to unavoidable plan changes, our July speaker has been rescheduled to August 5; the revised 2010 Academy schedule is attached and listed below.
Heads up, we will be sending out a call for RSVP’s in the coming days for the May 27th workshop, “The Impact of Depression”, with Kate McCracken.
SIERRA COUNTY 2010 COMMUNITY ACADEMY TRAININGS
SEPTEMBER 2
Ron Gilbert- “Building Community: Personal Effectiveness”
SEPTEMBER 30
Roderick Q. Hickman- “Leadership Lifestyle: Times of Challenge”
OCTOBER 21
Bruce Anderson- “Welcoming-Based Cultures in Organizations & Communities”
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Sierra Work Connection is hosting a workshop ‘Setting the Course for Responsible Healthcare Reform’ presented by Susan Christensen of Christensen Insurance. For $39 per person, you will be provided information on the new Healthcare Reform bill and how it may affect your business. Lunch will be provided.
On September 20, 2010, Sierra Work Connection will host the Healthcare Reform workshop from 11AM to 1PM at the Loyalton Senior Nutrition Center @ 302 First St., Loyalton, CA 96118. For more information regarding registration, contact Kathy Norris @ 530-993-4295 or knorris@ncen.org.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Auburn — Building consensus on the management of Sierra Nevada forests will be a key topic of discussion when the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) holds its quarterly governing board meeting in Sierra County September 1-2.
“We’re looking forward to having the Governing Board come to Sierra County and see firsthand the issues facing our communities,” said Sierra County Supervisor and SNC Board member Bill Nunes. “The SNC is committed to addressing the risk and consequences of large damaging fires and doing so in a way that is sustainable for our forests and communities. This is a huge issue in our county and I appreciate the SNC providing leadership and support.”
The SNC is sponsoring an initiative aimed at restoring public forests to ecological health, reducing the threat and consequences of large damaging fires and contributing to sustainable local economies. The Sierra Nevada Forest and Community Initiative is designed to bring a wide range of parties together regionally and locally to identify areas of agreements and initiate actions.
“A century of fire suppression and decades of conflict between multiple stakeholders regarding forest and habitat issues on public lands has resulted in lawsuits, limited forest management and more frequent large damaging fires in the Sierra Nevada,” SNC Executive Officer Jim Branham said. “At the same time, the loss of wood production infrastructure has contributed to forest overgrowth and the suffering of local economies. The status quo is simply unacceptable.”
On Wednesday September 1, the SNC Board and staff will visit a fuel break near Calpine, and discuss the importance of ranching and recreation to the area at various locations in the county. The Conservancy has awarded more than $5 million in grant funds for projects in Sierra County, the most funding awarded within any county in the Sierra Nevada region.
The public is welcome to attend both events. The tour, which begins in the parking lot across Highway 49 from Herrington’s Sierra Inn at 1:30, includes stops near Sierra Valley, Calpine and Sardine Lakes. There is limited transportation available, so please contact Theresa Burgess, (530) 823-4672 to reserve a seat. The board meeting will begin at 9:00 am September 2 and will be held at the Sierra City Community Hall, 13 Castagna Alley (off Hwy 49).
About the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, Governing Board
Created in 2004, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy is a state agency whose mission is to improve the environmental, economic, and social well-being of the Sierra Nevada Region. In its first five years, the SNC, which receives no general fund tax dollars, has awarded nearly $30 million in grants for projects including fuels reduction, conservation easements and acquisitions and watershed and habitat restoration. Funding for these projects comes from Proposition 84 passed by voters in 2006.
The SNC Governing Board meets quarterly around the Sierra Nevada region, which spans 25 million acres, encompasses all or part of 22 counties and runs from the Oregon border on the north to southeast of Bakersfield.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
In an era of budget cuts and financial hardship, First 5 commissions continue to stockpile $2.4 billion in various bank accounts. Since the last analysis in 2008 by Senator Dave Cox, the 59 First 5 commissions collectively reduced their fund balances by $22.7 million, barely one percent of its total reserves.
“Cuts to critical programs for the state’s neediest families are being made,” said Sen. Dave Cox. “Yet, First 5 Commissions continue to spend money on singing circles, yoga classes and fun activities while putting away billions in reserves.”
In 2008, an analysis by Sen. Cox’s office found that the State First 5 commissions and the 58 First 5 county commissions and the State Children and Families Commission were holding onto $2,447,338,951. After its discovery, First 5 commissions were under pressure by the public and lawmakers to spend down their reserves and prioritize their spending.
“I was shocked to find that First 5 Commission has $200 million in the bank,” stated San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts in the San Diego Union Tribune on May 24, 2009. “That is not a prudent reserve; that is a sinful reserve.”
Some First 5 commissions actually increased their reserves according to their audited financial statements for year ended June 30, 2009.
Some highlights of the most recent audit:
2007 Fund Balance 2009 Fund Balance Change
Ø State Commission $367,990,126 $382,493,635 $14,503,509
Ø Los Angeles $860,486,903 $875,270,635 $14,783,732
Ø Riverside $ 55,985,328 $ 63,619,690 $ 7,634,362
Ø Sacramento $ 99,547,863 $106,026,911 $ 6,479,048
Ø San Bernardino $ 93,664,944 $ 99,721,457 $ 6,056,513
Ø San Diego $187,746,785 $194,885,729 $ 7,138,944
First 5 California and its 58 county commissions were created by Proposition 10 in November 1998. Spearheaded by Hollywood actor/filmmaker Rob Reiner, it added an additional $.50 per pack tax on cigarettes with the promise to pay for early childhood development and anti-smoking programs. The tax brings in about $580 million each year with 80 percent going to 58 county commissions and 20 percent to the state commission.
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All the materials that illustrate the misspending and lack of accountability including a timeline, letter to the Governor and Legislature leaders, bill language, news articles and recent actions by First 5 can be viewed at: http://cssrc.us/web/1/firstfive.aspx
Senator Dave Cox represents the residents of the First Senate District, which includes all or portions of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lassen, Placer, Plumas, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Sacramento and Sierra Counties. Contact his office at 916-651-4001, or via email at senator.cox@sen.ca.gov.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
What started as a get-together of old classmates and college roommates over the 4th of July weekend developed into a short ATV ride through Antelope Valley and a quick ride over TV hill, ending at Silver's ranch. This now has developed into an annual ride for those who can saddle an ATV or muster an off-road motorcycle. This year's riders included Brooks Mitchell, Bill Sims, Tom Maxwell, Nathan McFarlane, and Joe Franco. Buzz Ford, who made the first run last year, missed the event to attend a family wedding in Sicily.
Unlike last year's first annual ride, which took us through sagebrush and mostly Juniper trees, with the exception of a pure stand of Washoe Pine found on the northeast side of Babbitt Lookout (also found south on Mount Rose), this year's ride wound through forests of Red Fir, White Pine, and Buck Brush. The first annual ride had a historical significance related to Sierra County. Troop guide and leader Brooks Mitchell (former supervisor of Sierra County), pointed out interesting statistics and facts about the surrounding peaks and passes and high mountain valleys of Sierra County. At Babbitt Lookout, one of the many rest stops, one could see in all directions--viewing peaks and landmarks such as Mt. Lola, Mt. Rose, Sierra Buttes, Mt. Ida Stampede Reservoir, Prosser Reservoir, Bordertown, and even Mt. Lassen--not to mention getting a beautiful view of Loyalton and the surrounding valley.
The second annual ride took place on July 5. After attending the 1960 class reunion at Annie Tarrasas' beautiful picnic and park area, and celebrating the 4th of July festivities, we loaded ATVs and motorcycles onto trailer and pickup beds and headed west somewhere past Webber Lake. Again led by Brooks Mitchell, who practically grew up in the Webber Lake-Independence Lake area, this time the goal was a rock outcropping in the form of a natural arch. Not knowing if this landmark has been named, we called it The Arch. This rock outcropping had the center completely eroded, erosion
that must have taken thousands of years, maybe millions of years, to form. It was a tough climb--no foot trails, no deer trails or bear trails, two hundred yards straight up the mountain. (The approximate elevation was 7500'.) What a sight to see here in our own Sierra County and well worth the climb. It was like something you might see in the southwest or in Utah's Zion National Park. Due to the elevation the climb for me was tougher than I thought. Living practically at sea level (Redding, 400') and climbing to 7,500' seemed a little stressful but I made it--the whole group made it, even at our ages.
We left Loyalton around 9 AM and arrived just west of Webber Lake where we turned off the Webber Lake road and on to forest service road #88. Here we parked the vehicles and unloaded the ATVs and motorcycles next to an unoccupied forest service cabin. The temperature was great, but mosquitoes were coming at us in swarms. After a five mile jaunt on road #88, we cut off onto a logging spur that climbed up near the top of Carpenter Ridge. We viewed the beautiful snow-capped peaks that surround Carpenter Ridge: to the east was Webber Peak 8,092', to the west English Peak 8,373', to the southeast Mt. Lola, the highest mountain in Sierra County at 9,143'. The Sierra Buttes which were somewhat north of us showed their majestic snow-covered tops at 8,587'. We crossed the Pacific Crest Trail and headed down the back side of Carpenter Ridge toward Moscow Meadows. We seemed to have lost the trail but Brooks always seemed to know a short cut that eventually got us back to the correct log spur.
Continued........
Tom Maxwell seemed to have the toughest time on these shortcuts since he was riding a 1976 Yamaha Enduro. Going over windfalls (fallen trees) and fighting through brushy fields of buck brush was a tough ride for everyone. After negotiating several log spurs and windfalls, we reached the closest point to the rock arch, approximately 200 yards by foot to the top of the ridge. The hillside surrounding the arch was laden with beautiful wild flowers: Lupines, Indian Paint Brush, Buttercups, and several others that this writer could not name. After resting for a while and enjoying the view of the arch and surrounding peaks, it was time for that wonderful lunch that Ann and Bill had prepared for the group.
After lunch, we decided to loop to the east around the mountain toward Meadow Lake. Along the ridge we could see Fordyce Lake to our west surrounded by granite peaks covered with late spring snow. It is a huge lake, but from our vantage point looked very isolated, probably due to the heavy snowpack along its ridges. We continued east around the mountain until we came to the White Rock Lake turn off. We would have ventured to White Rock Lake but snow drifts on the road were too deep and soft forcing us to backtrack. So we returned to Moscow Meadows, through Pass Creek Loop, east to Jackson Meadows Road and finally to road #88 and back to the staging area.
A 40-mile ride through giant firs, lodge pole pines, crossing streams, snowdrifts, and meadows of wild flowers, surrounded by snow capped peaks and culminating with a visit to the rock overcropping which we called The Arch, and last but not least sharing all this with life-long, special friends and college roommates, made this a very special day to remember and an activity we all agreed should become an annual affair. - Joe Franco
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
CHECK OUT LOYALTON SENIOR
THRIFT STORE NEWS
Phone: 993-1948
Open EVERY Saturday.
Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Check out the large inventory of shorts, skirts and various summer wear we have available plus yard ornaments and decorations.
There is a great variety of jewelry and clothing accessories.
Purchasing “gently used” items from the Thrift Store is considered a “green” effort. It decreases landfill use and saves money at the same time!
Help in the effort and keep our planet “greener” by patronizing the Thrift Store!
Thank you for your generous contributions.
But please, DO NOT BRING car seats and mattresses (against the law to sell), T.V.s, computers, furniture that is broken and worn out and clothes stained and torn. We have only a small number of volunteers and it takes a lot of time and energy to go through donations, plus the expense of hauling items to the landfill.
Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Purchasing “gently used” items from the Thrift Store is considered a “green” effort. It decreases landfill use and saves money at the same time!
Help in the effort and keep our planet “greener” by patronizing the Thrift Store!
Monday, February 08, 2010
Proposition 10 tax dollars must be prioritized to serve children in need
First 5 commissions continue to waste scarce tax dollars on playgroups and arts and crafts activities while thousands of needy children are without health care. Long time critic of First 5 – Senator Dave Cox – introduced legislation to do away with all 59 First 5 commissions.
“California continues to face budget and economic woes,” said Sen. Dave Cox. “Governments at all levels must focus on vital health and education services like health insurance for needy children, not singing circles.”
Citing that California is at a critical moment to make real reform, Cox is making another attempt to eliminate First 5 California and its 58 county commissions. These 59 tax-paid entities held $2,447,338,951 in fund balances according to an analysis.
“First 5 is holding onto billions that they say have been committed for future use. But they are failing to recognize that California’s children are in need of healthcare now,” Cox stated.
Cox added, “Thousands of children are without healthcare or risk losing coverage. It is shameful that First 5 is spending money on singing circles while sick children cannot see a doctor.”
Proposition 1D would not have solved the problems with Proposition 10 and First 5, and neither would the Governor’s budget proposal. These patchwork proposals simply move money around and fail to provide any reform.
Specifically, Senate Bill 8X 41 will direct all future revenue – an annual estimate of $580 million - from Proposition 10 to the Healthy Families and Medi-Cal Programs. This will provide long-term stability to the existing Healthy Families Program (HFP) and allow for adequate funds to cover an additional 200,000 kids who are currently eligible but not yet enrolled.
State General Fund contributions to HFP were budgeted at $425 million. Federal funding provides a two-to-one federal/state match. The ongoing revenues from Proposition 10 will allow the state to provide health coverage to all eligible children. Any additional funding will address ongoing needs in the Medi-Cal program.
By freeing up existing General Fund dollars committed to HFP, the Legislature and the Governor will gain much needed flexibility to address the state’s healthcare issues. The state could restore current and proposed Medi-Cal provider-rate reimbursement reductions, for example, to encourage doctors to accept Medi-Cal patients.
Schools will receive 50% of all unencumbered funds held in the 58 county commissions.
It is clear that schools will not receive as much money as anticipated from this year’s proposed budget. This proposal will help ease some of the loss because schools will be able to use this revenue for one-time expenses or to cover current program shortfalls.
The remaining balance from the unencumbered funds of the 58 county First 5 commissions will be directed to counties and cities, where elected officials are accountable to the public. Half of these funds will go to counties’ general funds and the other half will go to cities’ general funds based on a per-capita basis. In a difficult fiscal environment, this proposed measure will provide for immediate fiscal relief to local government to pay for local services.
Cox’s measure will also help pay down the state’s debt by re-directing the unencumbered funds from the State’s Children and Families Commission to the State General Fund for deficit reduction. A June 2007 audited financial statement showed fund balances of $368 million. A June 2009 audited financial statement showed fund balances of $382 million.
First 5 California and its 58 county commissions were created by Proposition 10 in November 3, 1998. Spearheaded by Hollywood actor/filmmaker Rob Reiner, it added an additional $.50 per pack tax on cigarettes with the promise to pay for early childhood development and anti-smoking programs. The tax brings in about $580 million each year with 80 percent going to 58 county commissions and 20 percent to the state commission.
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All the materials that illustrate the misspending and lack of accountability including a timeline, letter to the Governor and Legislature leaders, bill language, news articles and recent actions by First 5 can be viewed at: http://cssrc.us/web/1/firstfive.aspx
Senator Dave Cox represents the residents of the First Senate District, which includes all or portions of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lassen, Placer, Plumas, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Sacramento and Sierra Counties. Contact his office at (916) 651-4001, or via email at Senator.Cox@Senate.ca.gov
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Sacramento – Updated fire and building codes developed to increase fire resistance in buildings and homes across California will take effect in January 2011. The new codes, which will be enforced by CAL FIRE’s Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), bring California in line with the 2009 International Building, Fire, and Residential Code. The new codes were adopted by the California Building Standards Commission.
“Providing an enhanced fire safe environment is important as we promote a sustainable living and working environment,” said Acting State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover. “The reduction of fire not only protects our residents but also enhances our environment and business community. These standards will increase fire safety and awareness in communities throughout California.”
Each year wildfires char thousands of acres and destroy hundreds, even thousands, of homes in California. A portion of the newly adopted codes focus on regulations for homes built in the wildland-urban interface in order to make them more ember resistant, increasing structure survivability. Additional amendments relate to tire storage, dry cleaning, and automatic extinguishing systems.
A key component in the 2010 code adoption is the addition of residential fire sprinklers in all new one and two family and town-home construction. For many years, installation of fire sprinkler systems has only been required in office buildings and multi-family dwellings like apartments. These sprinkler systems are proven to save lives and extinguish fires. More than 100 jurisdictions in California already have a local residential fire sprinkler ordinance.
For more information about fire and building codes in your community, contact your local fire department or building department. Information concerning fire and panic safety can also be obtained by visiting the CAL FIRE – OSFM Web site http://osfm.fire.ca.gov.
To review all of the new codes to take effect in 2011, visit www.cbsc.ca.gov
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Regarding the mosk being planned near ground zero, last time I checked this was still America. Maybe not if the fearful righties get their way. WHO'S NEXT? Remember the KKK, those guys didn’t think too nicely of Catholics and Jews, Mormons weren’t too popular either, Italians and Irish were, at one time, at the bottom of the heap, General Sheridan (great American Hero) said “the only good Indian is a dead Indian”. Nice, uh? Any strict constructionists knows the first amendment covers this.
Don McKechnie
Editor:
I noted with interest Bill Copren's claim that 55% of private land is in TPZ and pays only 1% of the taxes. As a free standing statement it gives a false impression and could allow the uninformed reader to form a false conclusion. To start, approximately 3/4 of our county is held by the feds who pay nothing. Of the private land holdings, SPI owns the major share. The other 45% is all the other private properties, much of which is developed with significant capital improvements, such as residences, business structures and so forth. The 55% of private land that Mr. Copren speaks of is largely vacant. If the TPZ land were similarly improved and developed as the rest of County private property, I dare say that Mr. Copren would be quoting a significantly different figure.
What should be made clear to the readers is that this was the will of the electorate when they passed Proposition 8 in 1974. It created a statewide and uniform zoning to address what was formerly a mish-mash of local codes that were often contradictory from county to county. The essential bargain is the 10-year rollout obligation which is an encumbrance upon the capital value of the property. Even now in Sierra County, properties are being taken out of TPZ for that very reason. The landowner agrees to what is a rolling conservation easement renewable yearly that establishes the working timber landscape. In a class III property in the east county it could take as much as 100 years to grow salable trees. And the land owner holds that bag of risk which can range from catastrophic fire to crippling pest infestations and drought. But the critics are unwilling to grasp the nettle of the simple burden of proof that must be shown, which is "a significant impact to the management and harvesting of timber". Casey Stengal used to say "look it up!" There are some in the County who still haven't bothered.
Robert Eshleman
Pennyroyal Forestry
Dear Editor;
The School Bond issue is one that I hope all can look at and think about where Sierra County has been and where are we going? Sierra County leaders have chosen no growth and no jobs, while 30,000 acres of the Sierra Valley have been turned into no growth conservation easements. Now not only is the farmland tied up, but the forest land is being tied up in easements and cap and trade as well.
In 2003 the average daily attendance was around 690; in 2010 the average daily attendance was around 417. This could be the result of the County's inability to provide a job friendly setting. Without jobs and young families with children how can our schools grow, hold their own or even survive.
Bad decisions have happened one after the other. Water meters for Loyalton, a 5 million dollar bond for Loyalton's sewer, the pool not redone and the money thrown after pet projects, the last thing we need is another bad decision and be tied to a 35 year bond, while the ones promoting it are long gone.
The School Superintendent stated in a public meeting last spring that “Loyalton is not dying”. I guess it is how one looks at the word dying. To those that moved here after the mill closed and 350 jobs were murdered, Loyalton might seem to be not dying. If one has a County Dept Head job and is paid over $100,000.00 Loyalton might seem to not be dying. To those that went to school, or lived here all their lives and could buy furniture, clothes, go to DMV, have a bank, not have vacant buildings and lots up and down main street, these people might think Loyalton is dying.
With the School Bond, why should the property owners pour more money in the bond? Teachers were laid off last spring, programs cut, the superintendent gets 3 raises of 2% on a $110,000.00 salary, the attendance is falling with nothing in sight to show jobs coming to Sierra County, the bus route is cut down which could send students to Portola and the list goes on.
Maybe if the maintenance was not done over the years that reflects on the prior people in charge. Maybe it is time to think about new ways, one would be to consolidate this district with a neighboring district, cutting this massive overhead, another is to look at the benefits the school board members get that takes money from education. Another is to be real that the past no growth, no jobs and not cutting logs to save the owls, put us where we are and the way it was, has been changed forever. The schooling in this School District is no different. The same environmental ideas have changed our local schooling forever, and we need to downsize and consolidate, not throw money away on a shrinking population.
Please vote NO on the School Bond!
Thomas Dotta
Rural Loyalton
Dear Editor,
As a member of the Sierra Brooks Property Owner's Association, I am trying to reach as many members as possible before the election of officers. Ballots will be mailed in the next few days. Our current directors have served us well for a very long time. I'm sure that they would be appreciative of new directors taking the responsibility from them after all they've done. My understanding is that it's too late to add candidates to the ballot. I would like to suggest a write-in. Barbara Leffingwell is ready, willing and able to serve. Please consider writing her name on your ballots as a candidate for director.
As secretary of the Senior Citizen's Board of Directors, I'd like to re-state that we need honest, hard working volunteers at the thrift shop as well as management personnel. Please contact Phyllis Mitchell if you are interested in helping and supporting our Senior Center. Another way to support the center is to become a member. The dues are presently $5.00 per year.
As a member of the East Sierra Valley Chamber of Commerce, I'd like to encourage everyone to support our Farmer's Market/Bazaar on Sunday afternoons and to thank judge candidate Charles Ervin for his help and suggestions.
Twelve plus years of being in the real estate business has prepared me well to "work for free". (Little joke. I will be retiring effective 8-31-2010).
Please volunteer!
Thank you,
Betty Thatcher
The High Sierra Rural Alliance (HSRA) sued Sierra Country to object to the county’s adoption of a definition in the zoning code of the “High Water Mark” as the seasonal high water mark of the county’s water bodies. HSRA contends that the high water mark should be the FEMA defined 100 year flood plain. Zoning codes provide for a 100 foot setback from the high water mark. What is HSRA trying to achieve by this lawsuit? How could this possibly benefit the environment or the community?
In 1974 Sierra County adopted a guideline to assure a common sense approach to construction near streams and lakes. With public safety and water body protection in mind, the county established a prohibition of construction within 100 feet of the high water mark of any stream or lake.
The county never formally defined the high water mark, however in 1988 the county established a floodplain management ordinance which regulates the process for building inside the floodplain.
In 1996, with the adoption of “flexible stream setback widths” in the General Plan, the county once again separated the “high water mark” topic from Flood Plain development restrictions. The General Plan identifies policies and construction codes for building within the 100 year flood plain which may feel costly and even excessively restrictive but they come with both environmental and public safety benefits that most responsible property owners will respect.
To make the code more complete the county, in May of 2010, passed an amendment to the zoning code adopting a specific definition of high water mark as the seasonal high water mark of the streams and lakes. It is this definition to which the HSRA seems to have some ill defined objection.
The county is an easy target. It does not have reserves of money with which to defend a lawsuit. There does not seem to be any environmental or community benefit to be derived from the lawsuit, but the county is forced to invest in legal resources to defend itself.
What could the objective of the HSRA possibly be?
When you “follow the money” one needs to wonder if the mission of the HSRA is about generating income for itself. What if the HSRA had a Business Plan that looked somewhat like this?
• pick a name that implies affiliation with national powerhouse environmental groups
• recruit staff that are care about the environment and believe “the end justifies the means”
• find young attorneys who want to build a name for themselves and will work on commission
• find a political entity that does not have the financial resources to defend itself against a lawsuit
• pick a poorly understood quasi-environmental cause (avoid competition)
• badger the political entity over the environmental issue until the agency takes an action
• load the record with verbiage and hide the true business plan (like a 347 page public comment)
• scream foul and refuse to negotiate
• use the hungry attorney to file a lawsuit
• settle with the political entity taking financial resources for billable hours for the attorney and the costs of staff (make sure the settlement is generous enough to fund future “business opportunities” and ideally leave room for future suits on the same issue)
The HSRA couldn’t have found a better “soft” target than Sierra County. The County, much to the chagrin of the pro-development residents in the County, has been a conservation leader for decades.
A few examples:
• The County spearheaded the first ground water regulations in California that prohibit water export.
• The 1996 General Plan update has been acclaimed for its visionary approach to guiding future development and allows very little growth.
• Ranching families in Sierra County have placed conservation easements on their properties that deeded away development rights while protecting the family owned ranching/farming properties.
• California’s largest timber land owner placed conservation easements on 7,000 acres of their property.
These measures have not come without cost. The county does not have the tax base of neighboring Placer, Nevada or even Plumas counties.
The county has attempted to establish a dialogue with the HSRA thus far to no avail. On two prior occasions HSRA did not come to the table with constructive dialogue and filed law suits resulting in cash settlements to the group.
There are many ways this group could re-channel their passions to protect the environment while helping the County and its residents in constructive and collaborative ways:
• Help the County implement the General Plan in a cost effective way.
• Develop recycling opportunities that take advantage of the Co-Generation plant in Loyallton
• Develop Class A bike trails in the Valley promoting safe and responsible “green” tourism.
• Help additional large land owners commit their properties to conservation easements
• Help the local land trust bring environmentally sensitive properties into the public trust
• Restore impacted watersheds
• Thin the forest to prevent devastating forest fires.
• Foster eco-tourism opportunities (i.e. Sierraville Fire Dept bike ride fundraiser)
Consider how much more rewarding your life’s work will be if you can say: “I helped protect Sierra Valley and the Yuba River by…..” instead of saying “I brought Sierra County to its knees with 20 law suits in 10 years and made a good living doing so”.
Unless the HSRA is honorable and withdraws this suit—there will be victim after victim including:
• The taxpayer in this cash strapped rural County. Few of these tax payers would think that paying out 10’s of thousands of dollars to settle a manufactured suit is money well spent. The government was being prudent by adopting a specific definition of “high water line” to clarify a vagary in a 1960’s restriction. The taxpayer will be tapped again if this reversal of the new High Water Mark remains un-defined and the County remains vulnerable to new legal action.
• Environmental groups who are working to protect and restore the environment. They are all tainted by the misguided efforts of this group
• Property owners within 100 feet of the mapped 100 year flood plain in the County who cannot build or remodel.
• The neighbor who is a builder, a plumber, or an electrician and needs work
• The volunteer firefighter who needs to respond to an electrical fire in a vintage home that hasn’t been retrofitted to current electrical codes because it is difficult and risky to get building permits for existing structures in the flood plain.
HSRC: Please re-consider this suit. There is a better way to work with the County and your neighbors. Picking a fight--- even winning a fight-- doesn’t necessarily make things right.
Rick Maddalena
Property Owner in the Sierraville Creek Flood Plain
Sierraville, CA, 96126
Dear Editor,
Here are a few things I’d like to say to Royce Stevens: 1) If you like meat consider these facts from Dr. T. Colin Campbell nutritional researcher at Cornell University, “The vast majority of all cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and other forms of degenerative illnesses can be prevented simply by adopting a plant based diet. Also, vegans have stronger immune systems than meat eaters, are far less likely to be obese-in fact, meat eaters are 9x more likely to be obese than vegans. Meat, dairy, and eggs are completely devoid of fiber and complex carbohydrates, the nutrients we’re supposed to consume more of for good health. Plus, they are loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol which can make us fat and tired in the short term.” 2) Since you like milk, think of this: No species naturally drinks milk beyond the age of weaning and no species would naturally drink milk of a different species. For humans, drinking cow’s milk has been linked to heart disease, some types of cancer, diabetes, and even osteoporosis- the very disease the dairy industry claims it prevents. The high animal protein content of milk actually causes calcium to be leached from the body. This is according to a Harvard Medical School analysis proving that milk does NOT protect your bones from osteoporosis! 3) Obviously, you missed this part – If farmers devoted the land, water, labor, and other resources currently used for meat production to growing non-meat food, we would be able to feed MANY more people using LESS agricultural land. And there wouldn’t be all the pollution that factory farming generates. 4) If you believe the nonsense about the world being created by a “higher power” that’s your choice, but make no mistake about it, humans ARE destroying this planet at an alarming rate. You of all people should know a bit more about this since you state you worked in the timber industry for 35 years and unless you’ve lived under a rock for the past 150 years anyone can see what that industry has done to the forests! Does the term clear cut ring any bells? Rainforests once covered 16% of the earth, but thanks to humans now only about 6% remain-one and a half acre every second disappears! 5) Finally, I’d like to quote part of an essay written by a philosophy professor named Robert Bass Ph.D.: “At the heart of being vegan is a kind of compassionate awareness. We share this planet with not only billions of humans, but also with billions of other creatures, many with lives, wants, enjoyment, and suffering as real as our own. Humans have had and used the power to crowd them out, push them aside, sometimes driving them into extinction, and often making them into tools for our use, servitors of our desires, food for our tables, clothes for our backs. As vegans, we look, we pay attention, we see the unnecessary suffering imposed on our fellow creatures. We respond in compassion, refusing to pretend that might makes right, refusing to turn away and ignore what we know. The vegan message is ultimately very simple: Look. Pay attention. See the unnecessary death and suffering. We don’t have to contribute or help keep it going. We can stop being a part of this. And so, that’s what we try to do.”
Sincerely,
Roger Dunn
Fallon
P.S. As a very wise man indeed by the name of Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated.”
To: Editor and Citizens of Loyalton
I have witnessed the “Heyday” and the “What’s Left of Loyalton.
What was Loyalton like before the mill? It was a wide spot in the road. The only goings on were ranchers. Then the mill came to town. Lumber was shipped by rail to Boca. Then the original mill shut down – having logged all its own land. See where I’m going with this? Loyalton was in limbo for awhile as the mill workers left town. But in the meantime, sewers were put in, streets paved, bigger and better schools all with tax dollars that were going to come in. All revenue based on when the big mill was in town.
You now have a school that is falling apart! Some of you think it is more important to have swimming pool! Get real folks! Use your hose and a sprinkler.
You could take that sewer plant money and put most homes back on septics.
The biggest tax payers in Sierra Valley are the ranches. But they don’t seem to have much say so on how their tax dollars are spent. They always pay more than their fair share and then have to put up with the tax and spend mentality and to change, change, change! Including salaries.
The coming back of old number 8 is a good step into the future. Maybe 8 years?
I caught a good many fish out of Independence Lake. Drove right up to the place and camped there. Disney wanted to make it a fake Alpine resort. Glad he didn’t. But now, it is going to be locked up just for the backpackers! This means that us folks that have walking disabilities are being denied access! All wilderness areas are in violation of the Disabilities Act!
When Loyalton did away with the board walk to me it was the beginning of the end of Loyalton.
Why do you bemoan that fact that the kids have no future in Sierra Valley. To have what would keep them there will destroy the Valley. They can move back when they retire. Besides, how many of them want to stay?
You have elected people who promise change. Change to what? Higher sewer fees, and higher costs for schools and the water system is going to need help. All of this means higher taxes. And don’t forget you have to pay these people more money.
So, why don’t you folks just go back to being a “cow town”, and capitalize on it.
Bring #8 back to Loyalton. Then reclaim the railroad right of way to Boca Reservoir and people will show up for the ride and great scenery. I can just picture the “new,” old town of Boca! Just a short train ride to Loyalton, and on to Beckwourth – kick back and relax in either town. Experience cowboy cooking at Loyalton, or logging camp cooking at Beckwourth, great lake fishing at Frenchman, Davis, Gold Lake, Coburn, Webber, and which one did I forget?
All of you elected people and your promises – you can’t even hold the line on taxes, but you sure can come up with excuses to cause them to be raised. Quit spending money you don’t have!
Sincerely,
Marvin Reed
Loyalton resident, 1940’s
Addendum #1 – Marvin Remembers
I need to mention the weekly or monthly dances that were held at Loyalton, Vinton, Beckwourth, Calpine and Sierraville. We kids didn’t have too much to do. Eat, try to dance, and then find folk’s car and go to sleep. I never did like to dance.
And where did all the little sawmills go? One at Chilcoot, Vinton, and Sierraville – the whole Sierra’s were populated with these little mills. As I recall, the Forest Service quit selling off small lots of timber and then with the building of roads, only the big companies could afford the costs. Good roads a good idea – access to better hunting and fishing. Now those same agencies are slowly closing those same roads! Our tax dollars at work.
Back to Loyalton – it was a great and memorable time in my life. I am sure glad I grew up when I did. Thank you , Lord.
Marvin Reed.
Dear Editor,
I write this letter on my own and not for the Board. Mr. Dotta is raising a concern about the slight increases in Stan Hardeman’s salary. It is true; the School Board has voted this provision in Mr. Hardeman’s contract. I am proud of that vote and stand by it. My vote supports the value of Mr. Hardeman to the schools and the community. Mr. Dotta’s letter fails to consider the tremendous consolidation of duties Mr. Hardeman has done with the administration of the schools. Mr. Hardeman is performing duties no other superintendent is doing in the state. The consolidation of duties Mr. Hardeman is doing accounts way more than the 20% cut Mr. Dotta calls for in his letter. Mr. Hardeman’s salary is comparable to other superintendents that have a lot fewer duties. I believe that it is not unreasonable to allow an employee to move up steps in his employment, which are similar to what the other staff receives. Mr. Hardeman position warrants his salary and is fair.
Under Mr. Hardeman’s leadership, test scores have risen significantly. He has put together a good team of teachers and staff. He is fixing truancy problems, oversees special education and increased programs for our gifted students. Mr. Hardeman has worked hard to involve the community in the schools’ financial difficulties. These financial difficulties are huge and Mr. Hardeman is taking them on with energy and determination. Mr. Hardeman’s leadership has brought in significant grant dollars to this district. These are funds this district has not sought in the past and they are allowing the maintaining of programs for our children. The cuts facing the schools would be much larger if it was not for Mr. Hardeman’s leadership. His leadership has put together comprehensive safety and health plans. He has done great things for our school district and I admire his dedication to the children, staff and the taxpayers. He understands that the survival of this county depends on having high quality schools.
I also strongly disagree with Mr. Dotta about the School Bond. The School Bond is absolutely necessary to have a safe learning environment for our children. The neglect of the schools over several years was not created by Mr. Hardeman. Our children did not create the mess that has happened with our country, state or the county. They are innocent victims of our unwillingness to tackle serious problems and just demagogue. What has happened is done. It does no good to complain about it. We just need to move on and fix the problems. This school year the Downieville School was closed due to an ancient fuse breaking. The schools’ bathrooms should not smell of urine because of old flooring and the roofs should not leak. This is not right or fair to the children. There is no money to fix these problems in the budget. Mr. Hardeman’s justified minimal increases in salary will not fix leaking roofs, broken electrical systems, inefficient windows, ancient furnaces, broken bathrooms, or potholes in the pavement. Due to budget regulations, it probably couldn’t be used for that purpose anyway. The bond is an investment in our community and our future. The Bond allows us, as a community, to take care of our problem and not rely on the state or Federal government handouts. The Bond is money we can control as a community. Mr. Hardeman’s strong work ethic and dedication have given us the tools to fix our problem. I am proud of Mr. Hardeman and his leadership. I believe the Board and Mr. Hardeman represent Mr. Dotta and the rest of the taxpayers well.
Mark J. Lang
School Board Trustee Area 1
Letter to Editor
It's a beautiful sunny spring day, bright green grass, tall in the breeze, purple Lupin scenting the air beside orange poppies. I've got the whole day before me to soak up the season along the Yuba River with its spring runoff water. This is how I enjoy rivers now, along the riverbank with trekking poles a picnic and a book; beached with a back injury. Gone are my days of youth as a whitewater river guide, eleven glorious years of commercial boating on California rivers.
As I'm reminiscing over my good life I spot four children walking toward me, in shorts and cotton tee shirts with cheap pool toys under their arms. The oldest is perhaps 12, in a thin life vest and a plastic circular inflatable in her hand, the others are younger with similar attire, the last child is 6 or 7 years old, no life vest and carrying a small beach ball. My trained eye immediately detects candidates for a drowning. With instant alarm I ask them how far they will be going. Four miles they answer. Holy s'mollies, Yikes, not good. They are with some kayakers upstream.
I reach a woman that is walking her boat around the first rapid. I approach her with my concerns. They are planning on the kids walking the riverbank between rapids. She says “don't you think it will be safe after the rapids?” I say an emphatic “No”. stating there are more rapids and the water is way to cold and much to swift to be safe for the children. There is a high risk of hypothermia.
I explain that with the weather warming rattlesnakes are starting to move along the rocky shore, that while some places can be walked others cannot. Help, in case of an emergency, is not easily available. My professional experience in teaching river safety and of assisting the general public out of near drowning settings made me try to do a quick introduction to river safety.
I say I know they don't want to lose any of their children. The river is much more dangerous than it looks and I strongly encouraged them to rethink their plans telling them of some roads they could hike out if need be. I left feeling grave misgivings.
My quiet day to relax in the flourish of spring flowers had been destroyed. I could not enjoy my surroundings as my adrenaline pumped and imagination surged. Abandoning my plans I returned to my car, crossed the bridge and drove a mile down stream where I hoped they would have terminated their trip at least for the two Moms and the children, thinking I might help with transportation. I saw they were beyond that spot and heading away from the road access. I climbed down a steep bank and crossed a fork of the river on foot to check on them while they were pulled over on the bank. They said they were all right and were going to continue. The pool toys were gone so perhaps they had taken my warning into account. It appeared they fit the kids into their kayaks and canoe.
Did their day end in tragedy? I don't know. Did they make it to their destination and think what they had done was safe? Did they understand the risk taken or did they think their poorly planned outing with inadequate gear and little knowledge or training for the conditions was okay?
There is a saying, “God protects fools and children” but I know from experience don't count on it. Don't be a fatality or lose someone you love. Owning a raft does not automatically mean adequate training or experience is onboard.
There is no risk free activity on the water or in life, however a quality commercial trip with a well-known company improves the odds of a safe fun trip down the river.
Sincerely
Susan Jorjorian
While attending the Loyalton City Council meeting Tuesday, March 23, I was prepared to stand up to speak about something that is on many people's minds, the use of Prop 40 funds to make Loyalton a better place to live; a place that might draw new people to the area. I was on the verge of thanking Council member Bighaus for her response to an email that I sent to all members of the City Council regarding the use of these funds. While I disagreed with her response, I was, nonetheless, grateful for it in the face of silence from the other members.
However, my appreciation was short lived after the meeting began with questionable behavior on the part of both Ms. Bighaus' and Ms. Ferguson. Following an impassioned presentation by Mrs. Mona Trigg on the pool, and a comment from the audience about "the city of Loyalton dying", Superintendant of Schools Stan Hardeman prefaced an eloquent presentation on the possible use of the abandoned Middle School with a pronouncement that Loyalton is not dying. Ms. Bighaus and Ms. Ferguson responded with applause and comments directed toward the citizen in the audience who had suggested that Loyalton is on its way down.
Just as all citizens have a first amendment right to express their opinion, decorum demands that public officials resist the kind of petty responses exhibited by Ms. Bighaus and Ms. Ferguson. Mayor Mike Hudson, thankfully, discouraged further outbursts from the Council. Behavior like this is often part of the dialogue at Sierra County Board of Supervisors meetings and has done much to add to divisiveness between citizens and county officials. It would be nice if we could avoid that on the city level.
This brings us to the issue of the city’s autonomy. The City of Loyalton is a jurisdiction unto itself. It is in the county, true, but the city council has a responsibility to the citizens of the incorporated city and they seem little cognizant of this, ceding their responsibility to the county on countless occasions, one of which is the pool issue and another of which is upon us: the potential use of the abandoned middle school as a recreational opportunity for the community.
At the aforementioned City Council meeting, the city threw its hands up in the air in desperation as to how to move forward on the middle school as an alternative for the Prop 40 monies. To his credit, Tim Beals assuaged the Council and the Mayor's fears of their inability to react within the specified time requirements. Still the city balked at leading the effort and citizens stepped forward to assist. A plan was made and discussed which involved a representative of the city along with 2 citizens to contact Mr. John Mason, a Prop 40 official in Sacramento, for fact finding. In the meantime, Mr. Beals, with no direction from the city, according to the Mayor, took it upon himself to contact Mr. Mason and, separately, set up a meeting with members of his choosing, specifically limiting attendance at the meeting without notice to the public or the press; a meeting which may have already taken place by the time this letter is in print.
And finally, there is an editorial in this issue that addresses the City’s handling of the fallout surrounding the recently completed waste water treatment plant expansion. Don’t miss it!
Is it any wonder that a long time resident, like Mrs. Trigg, is expressing frustration with our City Council? My guess is that there are many more like her wondering what's going on here in Loyalton.
Regards,
Gail M. Ellingwood
Well, we now know our Board of Supervisors are do-nothings and wimps.
1. They wouldn't even let their constituants have the opportunity to declare their desires as to the pool. SHAME ON YOU!!!!
2. I have no respect for this Board for ducking any conflict by letting a motion die for a lack of a second.
3. You (Board) do not have my vote in any election.
Mona Trigg
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Attached is the finalized 2010 Community Academy Schedule – details for each academy will follow later!
Please note the date of the May academy has been set, and the date for Ron Gilbert has been changed.
Human Services employees, please adjust your calendars as appropriate.
SIERRA COUNTY
2010 COMMUNITY ACADEMY TRAININGS
SEPTEMBER 2 - Ron Gilbert
SEPTEMBER 30 - Roderick Q. Hickman
OCTOBER 21 - Bruce Anderson
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Portola, CA, October 28, 2009 One of the seven cooperative principles is commitment to community. Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) is very committed to the communities we serve.
Our We Give Back referral programs give 10 percent of the profits from our telecommunications subsidiaries back to local groups and organizations in Plumas, Lassen and Sierra counties that refer customers to purchase our products and services.
We also provide matching fund donations to local fire departments, including the Greenhorn Creek Volunteer Fire Department (VFD).
Greenhorn Creek VFD is a small organization with a crew of nine volunteers who protect lives, homes and property in the Greenhorn community of Plumas County off Highway 70 between Blairsden and Quincy.
This group of volunteers responds mostly to medical emergency calls in the area. They will use the donated funds for first-aid training, purchasing medical equipment and supplies and keeping fuel in their fire engines.
Groups such as the Greenhorn Creek VFD that rely on donations and fundraisers to finance their organization have another great opportunity with the We Give Back referral programs offered by Plumas-Sierra REC's subsidiaries.
Once they become a participant in the We Give Back program, they simply refer customers to purchase Internet, DIRECTV or Verizon Wireless cellular phone services from Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications and Got Sky. The new customers let us know at the time of sale that they were referred to Plumas-Sierra by a group, and the group gets credit for the sale, earning funds from each sale.
For more information and an application for the We Give Back program, visit www.psrec.coop/wegiveback, or call the Plumas-Sierra REC Marketing Department at (530) 832-4261.
Friday, November 13, 2009
“PASSION FOR THE LAND” is a series of personal stories from Sierra V alley.
In their own voice, twelve rural residents of Plumas and Sierra Counties share stories about preserving community heritage while protecting agricultural lands and natural resources for future generations.
Stories were created to promote awarenes and stimulate discussion about agricultural viability and resource stewardsip in Sierra Valley.
The stories were produced by University of California Cooperative Extension, Plumas Sierra Counties and UC Davis Art of Regional Change. Financial support was from UC Cooperative Extension’s RREA, UC Davis Center for Regional Change, UC Davis Humanities Institute and California State Water Resources Control Board.
Storytellers are Gary Romano, “Is Sustainable Attainable?” Cindy Maddalena, “Water Worries;” Dave and Doris Goss, “Passing it on;” Holly George, “Keeping People on the Land;” Carol Dobbas, “Chasing Water;” Bill Loveridge, “Future Farmers of America;” Dave Goicoechea, “Just a Farmer;” Cindy Noble, “Unforeseen Consequences;” Gia Martynn, “Blue Gold;” George Goodwin, “Preserving for the Future;” Lacey Maddalena, “The Next Hundred Years” and Rick Roberti, “A View from the Barn.”
Videos can be seen at http://artofregionalchange.ucdavis.edu
Friday, November 13, 2009
PORTOLA ROTARY CLUB has sent two ShelterBoxes to Haiti. The first one was paid for out of our club budget for International Service. The second ShelterBox was extra special because it was paid for by generous donations from Bob and Toodie Marshall, the High School Interact Club (a Rotary affiliated club), and out of pocket funds from members and guests of the club!
The Portola Interact kids held several fund raisers, shoveled sidewalks and raised awareness about Polio to raise and donate $500! These students are wonderful!
The Rotary Club of Portola is very grateful to the Marshalls and everyone who reached into their pockets to make this second gift of shelter, food and clean water a reality for those in desperate need in Haiti.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Jim Burson
President
Since ShelterBox is the largest Rotary Club project in the world – local Rotarians in Haiti have been a vital part in obtaining clearance for ShelterBox to land and get the life saving aid into the country.
Since its inception in 2000, ShelterBox has provided shelter and dignity following over 100 disasters in more than 60 countries, bringing the organization to the forefront of international disaster relief. ShelterBox instantly responds to earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami or conflict by delivering boxes of aid. In many cases “ShelterBoxes” have made the difference between life and death.
Each “ShelterBox” supplies an extended family of up to 10 people with a tent and lifesaving equipment to use while they are displaced or homeless. The contents are tailored depending on the nature and location of the disaster, with great care taken sourcing every item to ensure it is robust enough to be of lasting value. Highly trained ShelterBox Response Teams distribute boxes on the ground, working closely with local organizations, international aid agencies and Rotary clubs worldwide.
For more information please contact Veronica Brandon Miller at 941-907-6036 or by email at vmiller@shelterboxusa.org.
Editor,
This letter is written to thank all those good folks who helped clean the snow from the sidewalk in front of 600 Main Street. Thank You for plowing snow to help us and Thank You for shoveling snow to help us.
But NO THANKS TO THOSE WHO APPLIED SALT OR ICE MELT to our sidewalks! I am sure you meant well, but you have done irreparable damage to our property!
The sidewalk is RUINED, along with damage to our brick pathway, and I even found SALT on our brick stairway up to the entry. These are special bricks, rescued from an historic farm building in Sierra Valley. They will be destroyed by SALT! They CANNOT BE REPLACED! And our landscaping will be forever damaged, and the soil will be poisoned when the SALT melts and runs into it.
Your idea of “help” was actually TRESPASSING! Before you try to help anyone else, please study the effects of SALT and ICE MELT on the environment, and then ASK FIRST! Thank You.
Dick Dons, Loyalton
Hi Jan,
I am in strong favor of the Loyalton Pool reopening. As a founding partner of Sierra Valley Physical Therapy in Loyalton, I have fond memories of our Therapeutic Aquatics classes, as well as one-on-one treatments to our patients in need of neutral buoyancy, held at the Loyalton Pool. I believe there would be a need, once again, for such access and subsequent treatments rendered to members of the community, should the pool be repaired and opened.
Good luck with your efforts, Jan, and THANK YOU!
Jim Burson, M.S., P.T.
Owner/Therapist
Summit Physical Therapy
To the editor:
As a health care professional with 32 years practice experience, I am appalled that we have such a great facility as the indoor swimming pool and it stands there in non-use. I treat debilitating diseases of the musculoskeletal system on a daily basis both here in Loyalton as well as in Truckee that would benefit hugely from regular non-weight bearing exercise.
The public health is declining and is evident everywhere I look, especially here in our community, and not just in the elderly. Many of the younger people are obese and would find swimming a welcome exercise, especially during the cold seasons. Our athletes need swimming to build strength and endurance to prevent the many back injuries I treat, even in 9-12 year olds. For those who are not currently participating in school sports, swimming is an excellent low impact exercise and represents all that is fun about exercise. As a child, my own feet were so flat that I had terrible shin splints when required to run. I did run but lived in pain all through baseball season. I loved going to the Lodi Municipal swimming pool for swimming lessons and was eager to advance to intermediate and eventually to Lifeguard training. It is my opinion that the Public Health of our community is what is at stake here and as such, should be put ahead of any other needs at this time, no matter how crucial they may seem.
Finally, when I see such blatant and obvious need as we have here and the facility that meet that need, I say it's a matter of High Importance, it's a matter of the Public Health and well-being.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mitchell B. Mays
Loyalton
Letter to the Editor:
I am disgusted with those who are against the pool because they may have to work a little. I am not disgusted with people who are having a problem with finances; that is a concern. This money was only going to be used IF the pool was opened--not like the fiasco about the meters. This pool was well attended by the community from l981-l993. It helped senior citizens with aches, illnesses and infirmities. The grandparents were glad to bring their grandchildren here for the summer.The children and youth had a place where they could go when idle--not like now where youth are ignored and therefore get into trouble. We had a lot of people coming from Portola because it was safe and the weather was not an issue. People were impressed with the pool and gave Loyalton a better look as we had something other towns did not have. We had some organizations use the pool for the community parties.
IF the pool had been cared for correctly and repaired like it should, it might have lasted longer. This committee on keeping the pool opened has worked hard with little help from the City. I guess the city wants to die and become a ghost town. You have to give something up to become dead or alive. Why live in Loyalton? We have nothing to give to the populous. People will see the do-nothings, will win and leave. Then how will we pay the city empoyees?
Mona Trigg
Former Loyalton Pool Manager
Friday, November 13, 2009
By the time this is in print, we will be back in Sierra Valley after too long away. The elections are over and we have heard rumblings of election shenanigans and possible conflicts of interest during counts and recounts. We hope it's not true but, frankly, we don't miss the fray. Email us at conservativecorner@yahoo.com or blog us at SierraBooster.com. Please maintain civil discourse.
Bonjour from Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Once a year, Rotary International celebrates its global nature by holding an International Convention. This year's convention in Montreal coincides with the 100th anniversary of Rotary in Canada. I was last in Montreal in 1967 for the World's Fair. I have some memories but, as yet, have not come across any familiar sites. Hopefully that will happen Thursday after the Convention ends and we have a day of site seeing before returning home.
The theme of the 1967 World's Fair in Montreal, "Man and His World", was based on the 1939 book entitled Terre des Hommes (translated as Wind, Sand and Stars) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. In [novelist Gabrielle] Roy's introduction to the Expo 67 corporation's book, entitled Terre des Hommes/Man and His World, she elucidates the theme:
“In Terre des Hommes, his haunting book, so filled with dreams and hopes for the future, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry writes of how deeply moved he was when, flying for the first time by night alone over Argentina, he happened to notice a few flickering lights scattered below him across an almost empty plain. They "twinkled here and there, alone like stars." .... In truth, being made aware of our own solitude can give us insight into the solitude of others. It can even cause us to gravitate towards one another as if to lessen our distress. Without this inevitable solitude, would there be any fusion at all, any tenderness between human beings. Moved as he was by a heightened awareness of the solitude of all creation and by the human need for solidarity, Saint-Exupéry found a phrase to express his anguish and his hope that was as simple as it was rich in meaning; and because that phrase was chosen many years later to be the governing idea of Expo 67, a group of people from all walks of life was invited by the Corporation to reflect upon it and to see how it could be given tangible form.” (Wikipedia.com)
I haven't heard the final count of attendees, but it is safe to say that it is in excess of 15,000, so we are not experiencing much solitude, but we are sharing much “human solidarity” and “dreams and hopes for the future”, most of them uplifting, rich in cultural exchange and friendship. We Rotarians have taken over downtown Montreal. Sitting at a sidewalk café, Rotarians bedecked with badges and pins walk by smiling and exchanging greetings.
Highlights so far include a moving speech by an African woman from Cote d'Ivoire presenting Rotary International with a humanitarian award for its unceasing efforts to wipe Polio off the face of the earth. It is the kind of moment that will occur throughout the convention, giving us inspiration and a warm feeling about participating in an organization whose Service Above Self motto is exemplified in the hundreds of displays in the House of Friendship in the Palais du Congres (Convention Center).
A personal highlight for me was listening to Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, and Stones into Schools, this morning. His humility, so evident in his book, was even more evident during his talk and brief video that put visuals to many of the scenes described in the book. His passion for literacy is well matched with Rotary's own and it is not hard to imagine that a partnership with his organization could end up with a goal to end illiteracy just as Rotary has committed to end Polio.
And then there is the fun. Last night, I attended the second of the two Opening Plenary Sessions at the Centre Bell (Bell Centre), the site of concerts and sporting events, including the Montreal Canadiens' hockey games. They needed two sessions to accommodate the thousands of Rotarians and the evening ended with a concert by Celtic Thunder, 6 male soloists who perform both solo and ensemble pieces backed by a band of strings, drums, guitars and bagpipes. So it would seem that the only thing left to do is to try Montreal's signature dish: Poutine (fried potatoes covered with melted cheddar cheese curds and gravy). Or, maybe not. Abientot!
While it was snowing in Loyalton, it was also snowing in Northern PA at a scenic and rustic camp on a pond where we saw a bald eagle, whistle pig (a.k.a. ground hog), deer, beaver, and had part of our dinner stolen by a bear. Please email conservativecorner@yahoo.com or blog us at SierraBooster.com. Please maintain civil discourse.
Hospitality
Hospitality is defined as “kindness to visitors: friendly, welcoming, and generous treatment offered to guests or strangers” by the Encarta World English Dictionary. Synonyms are: welcome, friendliness, warmth, kindness, generosity, cordiality, sociableness, and openness”.
In a strained and somewhat surreal situation this past weekend, I experienced a supreme example of hospitality with all of the nuances of each of those synonyms thrown in. Driving from Virginia to an hour north of Scranton, PA to attend the wedding of a friend’s son, I looked forward to a mini-reunion with two women whom I have known since the 6th grade along with their husbands. One couple was the parents of the groom-to-be and the hosts. One couple drove from CT and would be sharing a cabin with me. We brought sleeping bags, along with many of the comforts of home, camping being a different experience when you are past 50.
A barbecue and bonfire Friday night supplied entertainment and food for about 30 guests who arrived to spend the weekend at the camp, while many others would arrive Saturday for the festivities. Some of the exotic items, all procured and prepared locally, on the menu were marinated beaver, moose burgers, venison skewers, fiddleheads, smoked trout and, of course, those bonfire staples: s’mores.
While weather prognosticators foretold ominous doings for Saturday, the day dawned partly cloudy and windy; the rain holding off. A darker cloud appeared on the horizon: three hours before the nuptials scheduled for 2 p.m., the bride and groom announced that the wedding was being canceled. An amicable, though painful decision, parents and friends scrambled to notify guests at the camp, and those still at home or on the road to the event.
The caterers were already on the way as was the cake. The dining hall was decorated, the bar stocked and the hors d’oeuvres and guest disc jockey were standing by. The groom’s parents made a courageous decision that the “show would go on” in the form of a party. Awkward, you say? Well, yes, how could it not be? But the healing began as old friends comforted one another and met new friends. The young friends of the bride and groom now not-to-be, mostly 20-somethings, exhibited extraordinary poise and support for the star-crossed couple and their parents. We adults put on our wedding finery ranging from dressy to casual to camoflage. (It was, after all, rural PA.)
Some hours later, I commented that I have been to some real wedding receptions that did not last that long. Dancing and drinking continued long into the night. And the party continued over the weekend. On Sunday afternoon, as the temperature dropped and the wind increased with snow flurries, camp guests gathered around a fire in the lodge, played cribbage and scrabble, ate clams casino, clams in black bean broth, more venison and the rest of the non-wedding cake. Of course, we talked, diagnosed, commiserated, hugged, cried, counseled, shared, hypothesized and rationalized the weekend’s events. But the most remarkable part was the unbridled hospitality offered to one and all. The selfish part of me reveled in the fact that regardless of what happened, I got to spend precious time with lifelong friends. And our offer of hospitality was to be there for friends in need.
The final hospitality postscript of my trip occurred with my return to VA and my final night at my sister’s house. Dinner with my sister and her husband, capped off many fun days at their home prior to the
The weather is not heating up despite the arrival of spring, but things around Loyalton are, with talk about dollars available for various projects. Sadly, there is no lack of intrigue as city and county officials jockey for publicity with elections drawing near, but once again there is a silver lining. More and more citizens are taking an interest in the future of their town, speaking out and holding officials accountable for decisions. That isn't keeping those officials from treating citizens with disregard and ridicule, but kudos to the citizens nonetheless. In the midst of all this, an impressive cultural occasion took place. Those who attended are now permitted to swagger when they state that they got a little “culcha” Friday night, March 26, in Sierraville! Please email conservativecorner@yahoo.com or blog us at SierraBooster.com. Please maintain civil discourse.
Culture
Culture can be defined as: “arts collectively: art, music, literature, and related intellectual activities, considered collectively” or “knowledge and sophistication: enlightenment and sophistication acquired through education and exposure to the arts”. (Encarta World English Dictionary) And there was plenty of knowledge, sophistication, and related intellectual activities taking place at the Sierraville School on Friday, March 26, as musicians Idris Ackamoor (alto sax, flutes, mbiras, tap dance, percussions, invented instruments) and Frederick Harris (electric & acoustic piano, drums) performed, free, supported by a grant from the California Arts Council in partnership with the Attorney General's Office, from funds provided, in part, by a 2003 antitrust settlement with major music-distribution companies and national retail chains.
The concert, entitled “Artistic Being”, combined jazz, world music, and tap dance and is being presented to geographically-diverse regions of California. The tour is focused on rural counties away from major population centers, though inner city communities with large urban centers are also being visited. The press release states that “One of the intentions of the presentations will be to break down the traditional barriers that separate the audience and performer” and break down barriers they did. From the opening number of keyboard, alto sax and tap the audience was captivated, many of them young people who showed their delight with fingers mimicking keyboard and flute playing and keeping time to the music. Mr. Ackamoor interacted with the audience by leaving the stage and tapping and saxophoning his way through the audience.
I found myself transported to a time years ago when I was working many late nights in a mostly darkened office building, with a single light over my desk, and my radio playing “smooth jazz”, my introduction to jazz music. I looked around and saw adults tapping their feet and swaying with the music. The 5th piece was an original arrangement of “My Favorite Things” by John Coltrane, made famous in “The Sound of Music”, as a blend of a traditional piece with the global influence of flutes, bells, cymbals, and a Jamaican mollusk. Even a jazz neophyte like myself could hear echoes of jazz master like “Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and others”.
After an enchanting hour and a half, Mr. Ackamoor and Mr. Harris further entertained and provided enlightenment and exposure to the arts by answering questions from the audience, many of which had to do with the large collection of unusual and invent
ed instruments used in the performance. Mr. Ackamoor explained that just because he has collected an instrument from a particular culture (e.g., Russian zither, Egyptian harp) does not necessarily mean that he duplicates the way the instruments are played in that culture. The tunings are Mr. Ackamoor's own. Mr. Ackamoor and Mr. Harris are currently engaged in a project in prisons in Johannesburg, South Africa that involves female inmates in performance for rehabilitation.
One of the outcomes of this experience is the undeniable value of having the luxury of a venue like the Sierraville school. Having recently attended a benefit drama event held by the LHS Drama Club at a much less conducive venue, it gives one pause to think about the possibility of the rehabilitation of the Loyalton Middle School for recreational purposes. Despite the hurdles that may exist, it behooves us to take a hard look at whether one more opportunity to provide a facility for our youth and others can be allowed to slip through our fingers.
The Olympics have started and the United States has won its first gold medal in Women's Moguls. A first-ever silver medal in Men's Nordic Combined ends a draught in that sport for the U.S. Ahead of us are 14 more days of the highest competition in the world. I know you join me in being excited and hopeful for outstanding performances, not only by the U.S, but by all of the athletes. Please email conservativecorner@yahoo.com or blog us at SierraBooster.com. Please maintain civil discourse.
Involvement
I wrote about hope twice last year; both times regarding our local youth. I had planned to address it again today in a larger context: hope for the city of Loyalton and for the County of Sierra. Remembering that I was away for a month and may not have my finger on the pulse of things, I was feeling optimistic about things that I heard were happening in the county. However, given the inaction by the Board of Supervisors to let the pool motion die without a second at their meeting this week, the most encouraging thing for consideration I can find is the involvement of people in activities that they believe will result in a better place to live and a place that will attract others.
The Encarta World English Dictionary provides the following definition for “involve”: “to cause somebody to participate; to make somebody part of, or make somebody take part in, an event or ongoing process”. The WordReference.com English Dictionary definition for “involvement” is: “a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something”. The pool is only one instance of involvement on the part of a broad section of our community. Let me mention a few others before closing with a few words on what involvement regarding the pool means.
The group that formed this winter to fight for property rights, largely in response to aggressive and relentless pursuits by the High Sierra Rural Alliance (HSRA), is growing and making some concrete moves toward organization and efficiency. The response to the call for action was a grass roots effort and a surprise. It feels like there may have been more promising moments during the past 5 years, our time here, when it should have been right for people to do this. With the recent economic turmoil to distract us, it seemed unlikely that this was the right time. However, at the third meeting of the group which is striving to become the Citizens' Alliance for Property Rights (CAPR) Plumas/Sierra Co. Chapter, forty-seven citizens became “involved” and share a sense of concern.
There is also ongoing discussion about the possibility of the 8 Spot steam locomotive returning to Loyalton. While there are some issues to be resolved, the potential for a day when a train whistle again echoes across the valley remains, and many good people are determined to be “involved” in that dream. Dreams are good.
Candidates for election are out and about getting to know the people and, for some positions, there are multiple candidates. I haven't met them all, but am impressed by people who are willing to spend their days outside of our local grocery store to meet and greet me. I'm also impressed by candidates who are willing to sponsor a social hour at the Golden West. I'm also impressed when candidates care enough to show up at a local patriotic walk to benefit Walter Reed Hospital wounded veterans on a holiday. (By the way, where were the rest of you?) Their sense of concern may be with “something” (i.e., a job, status, benefits) or, perhaps, their sense of concern is for “someone” (i.e., the people of Loyalton and Sierra County). In any case, they are involved in a process that helps people get to know them and their qualifications.
Finally, there is the Loyalton pool. I heard a lot of different reports while off in the snowy East. This week's Rotary program was a presentation by Pool Committee Chair Don Yegge. The presentation was down to earth, full of facts and some history. It was refreshing to hear someone who truly cares about the success of the pool put forth logical arguments, while expressing an understanding for those who might not be as enthusiastic (e.g., senior citizens on fixed incomes, citizens with no children and no desire to use a pool and less to pay for it, etc.). It sounded to me like the many people who have invested much time and effort to be “involved” had come up with a viable proposition that the voters deserved to consider.
I was unable to attend the Board of Supervisor's meeting this past Tuesday, but received reports from two reliable sources. The good news is that there were a lot of good people involved. People spoke for and against, in a civil manner. The bad news is that the Board of Supervisors chose not to be involved. After a motion by Supervisor Pat Whitley to go forward with the pool initiative, not a one of the other four Supervisors, including those who represent most of the citizens in Loyalton and Sierra Brooks, could bring themselves to be involved. There not being a second, technically, no discussion could be held. Chairman Goicoechea enforced this denying Ms. Whitley any further discussion though previously allowing Supervisor Nunes to opine for too lengthy a time.
British writer Quentin Crisp said “I recommend limiting one's involvement in other people's lives to a pleasantly scant minimum”. This seems to be the path that the majority of the Supervisors have chosen. Their reluctance to bring the issue to a conclusion by going on record with what most assuredly would have been nay votes and would have caused them to be accountable to their constituents is insulting to all those people on both sides of the question. Perhaps the words Danny Glover better describe their inaction, “I'm not so vain as to believe that my involvement changes anything whatsoever.” If this is so, the people of Sierra County deserve more.
Those who have been advocating for the rehabilitation of the Loyalton pool have certainly been on a rollercoaster ride and, given the heart and soul that they have poured into this effort, it may not be over yet. As a postscript, after the pool participants departed the building, the Supervisors wasted no time in unanimously voting to extend the deadline on the large amount of Prop 40 dollars earmarked for the pool so that the money could, according to my source, be used otherwise. I suppose we can expect talk about salary raises, bonuses and the like to be forthcoming. Martina Navratilova said “The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.” Sometimes, it is hard to separate the chickens from the pigs.
Hello readers of the Conservative Corner from Boston, MA! It is cold and snowy here and I believe you are experiencing much of the same in Sierra Valley. Please email conservativecorner@yahoo.com or blog us at SierraBooster.com. Please maintain civil discourse.
Compassion
If you have not seen the images from Haiti after the worst earthquake there in 250 years, then I might have to gently suggest that you are related to an ostrich and have had your head in the sand for the last week. Sitting in a hotel room in Boston and enjoying all of the cultural and culinary delights that a city like Boston has to offer, it is hard not to feel incredibly grateful about the lifestyle available to us in America. Watching 24/7 coverage of the earthquake that hit on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, the growing horror is impossible to avoid.
The Free Dictionary by Farlex defines compassion as: “Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it,” and also: “a feeling of distress and pity for the suffering or misfortune of another, often including the desire to alleviate it.” I felt every part of this in my gut Tuesday night when the first broadcast from CNN occurred as reporter Anderson Cooper stood by as a group of people dug a 13 year old young woman out from beneath a pile of rubble.
On camera, we heard her crying out. The men digging her out were in peril as a huge cement wall lay on top of her and could tumble down at any moment. On camera, they pulled her out, cut and bruised, but otherwise unscathed. An interpreter translated that she could hear the cries of people below her dying. We cheered her rescue and felt devastated that there were others crushed that could not be saved, seemingly within striking distance of those who rescued her, but out of reach given that they had only their hands matched against large blocks of cement.
I couldn’t help wondering how Mr. Cooper could stand by in his impeccably clean t¬¬¬-shirt and provided blow by blow reporting about the rescue without lifting a hand. Maybe his network insists that he can’t help in case there is some liability involved. Maybe the fact that his reporting reaches people like me who will open our pocketbooks is a compelling reason for him to be reporter vs. rescuer. I wonder how he feels about that.
Our hearts were similarly hurt when a Boston family heard that their daughter, on a mission to Haiti, had been found. The family along with the family of four others flew to FL to meet her and their loved ones, only to find out that it was a case of mistaken identity. To date, she and colleagues have not been found. We are compelled to fall on our knees and pray for them and for all who are caught up in this disaster.
While this was occurring, my sister, Dawn arrived in Boston and we have spent hours in front of the tv crocheting granny squares for a cause called Hugs for Haiti. Shortly after arriving here, she got a call asking her knitting circle for squares for blankets to be sewn at a central site and forwarded on to Haiti. President Bush has subsequently said "I know a lot of people want to send blankets or water. Just send your cash.” That good advice notwithstanding, anyone watching can see that if unable to go there and help in person or funnel a large amount of cash into a responsible agency, the alternative of sending something that might provide a basic comfort is, indeed, a response to alleviate some of the hardships associated with this event.
And this is a bit of a digression, but in moments that call for compassion, it is important to point out a blatant lack of compassion, particularly from a public figure. Danny Glover is an actor that I paid money to see in many movies, particularly the action-packed Lethal Weapon series with Mel Gibson, and he has been called by the website imdb.com, “the dean of African American character actors”. Mr. Glover made a fool out of himself in the wake of the tragedy in Haiti. He is on record as saying that what happened in Haiti is a result of America’s failure to respond to global warming at the Copenhagen Summit. He said, "When we see what we did at the climate summit in Copenhagen, this is the response, this is what happens, you know what I'm sayin'?" No, frankly, I don’t know what he is saying. He went on to say that countries like Venezuela have “stepped up”. According to all accounts, Venezuela has sent one cargo plane with supplies. According to the same accounts, President Obama has promised $100 million in aid.
We are bombarded everyday by those who would politicize human suffering. I am eternally thankful to live in a land where a disaster like that experienced by those who bore the brunt of Hurricane Katrina have the opportunity to rebuild their lives. Given the lack of infrastructure in Haiti despite the millions of dollars that America has poured into the country, it is hard to know how most of that country will return to any kind of normalcy. However, unlike Mr. Glover, I happen to believe in an unfailing compassion on the part of Americans and will lend my prayers and resources as I can to their aid.
Happy New Year from the Conservative Corner! We had a white Christmas and New Year which made me and my grandchildren very happy. Who can believe that we are starting the second decade of 2000? And if you are like me, you have been spending a bit of time reminiscing where you were and what you were doing on the eve of the new century ten years ago. Do you remember Y2K? Please email conservativecorner@yahoo.com, or blog us at SierraBooster.com. Please maintain civil discourse.
Resolutions
As the New Year begins, many of us are prone to consider making resolutions. While it is human nature to want to start out “fresh and new”, the truth is that in a short few days, weeks, or months, these resolutions will, in many cases, have fallen by the wayside.
Resolution is a rich word, originating in the 14th century in French, derived from Latin as a past participle of resolvere or resolve. Resolution can be a “process…”, a “decision…”, a “solution…”, an “expression of collective opinion…”, the “quality of detail in an image…,” the “separation into constituent parts…” (physics/chemistry), the “subsiding of symptoms…” (medicine), “harmonic progression…”or “final note…” (music), the “part of narrative when conflict is resolved…” (theater/literature), or “syllable replacement…” (poetry). (Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.)
In case you are wondering why I frequently go to the dictionary at the outset of these musings, one of the things that I enjoy about writing this column is talking about words, their meanings, and their importance in our everyday communications. We live in a time when our language changes by the minute due, sometimes, to our inability to keep pace with the technology around us, but also due, much of the time, to our unwillingness to take the time to be precise. I offer the example below.
A word like utilization, whose original meaning quite specific, gets bandied about in almost every conversation. The Free Dictionary by Farlex says it better than I can: “utilize: To put to use, especially to find a profitable or practical use for. [French utiliser, from Italian utilizzare, from utile, useful, from Latin tilis, from t , to use.] Usage Note: A number of critics have remarked that utilize is an unnecessary substitute for use. It is true that many occurrences of utilize could be replaced by use with no loss to anything but pretentiousness, for example, in sentences such as They utilized questionable methods in their analysis or We hope that many commuters will continue to utilize mass transit after the bridge has reopened. But utilize can mean "to find a profitable or practical use for." Thus the sentence The teachers were unable to use the new computers might mean only that the teachers were unable to operate the computers, whereas The teachers were unable to utilize the new computers suggests that the teachers could not find ways to employ the computers in instruction.”
My point is that our language is rich and complex and when we take the time to understand it and use it well, we can express ourselves in ways we had not thought was possible and can positively impact how we interact with others. When we don't take the time, we can come off sounding pompous and bombastic.
Okay, back to resolutions. This is a favorite topic of pundits and prognosticators at this time of year. You will hear about resolutions on radio, TV, and in the newspapers. There will be statistics about how long people actually stick to their resolutions and how lightning fast they become part of this year's history. In fact, I am watching a late night show as I write this where the host is talking about a statistic indicating that resolutions are easier kept when the goals are practical and realistic. In any case, there remains value in pursuing what, to some, may seem a futile pastime.
In the process of making resolutions, we, necessarily, look back on our behavior, desires, goals, and dreams. We make decisions to reaffirm what we want our lives (and, yes, bodies!) to look like in the future. We become determined to find solutions to dilemmas and difficulties and promise not to repeat mistakes. We look around for good examples and take heart in those who share our wishes to improve ourselves, our lives, our families, our communities and our world.
Interestingly enough, like the literary allusions above, the examination of past can result in the making of resolutions that actually resolve conflict in our lives or replace unwanted behavior with something much better, at least for a period of time. When that happens there is always the possibility that the change can become permanent and make a huge difference in our lives and the lives of those around us.
So join me in making some realistic and practical resolutions that will not only contribute to your own improvement, but will significantly and positively affect everyone around you. Good Luck and Happy New year.
By Gail M. Ellingwood
By the time you read this, we will be back in Sierra Valley and after a month of life on the road, we are really looking forward to it. The gas fireplace in the hotel room just cannot replace the warmth and coziness of a wood fire in our living room. However, we remain grateful for our blessed life and in hopeful prayer for those still struggling with lives turned upside down in Haiti. Please email conservativecorner@yahoo.com or blog us at SierraBooster.com. Please maintain civil discourse.
Etiquette
Sitting in front of a fire in Bluemont, VA, snow falling furiously outside, enjoying some warming libations with good women friends this past weekend, the topic of etiquette came up. As you can imagine, we covered the gamut: cell phones, the Internet a.k.a. the Net (netiquette?), teachers and students, parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and on and on. Obviously, this is an endless topic and we can, practically, only scratch the surface here, but one of the things we like to do is stir the pot and get you thinking and talking, so here goes.
The Encarta World English Dictionary defines etiquette as “rules of acceptable behavior: the rules and conventions governing correct or polite behavior in society in general or in a specific social or professional group or situation”. Synonyms include: “manners, good manners, protocol, custom, propriety, decorum, politeness”. This definition and synonyms are components of the discussion threads associated with civility that we have visited previously.
We could get into a discussion about who gets to define acceptable behavior. In the past, we have had Miss Manners and Emily Post to guide us. Naomi Polson, the founding Director of The Etiquette Company, says that, "Etiquette has to do with good manners. It's not so much our own good manners, but making other people feel comfortable by the way we behave. So it's more or less thinking of others and how others perceive us...”. For me, that is getting a little too touchy-feely. Shouldn’t we be able to be ourselves? Aren’t we being hypocritical if we don’t say what we mean and mean what we say? Isn’t that where all this annoying political correctness stuff originated?
That was me playing devil’s advocate for a moment. The reality of etiquette is captured in the phrase “thinking of others”. If we are thinking of others and trying to be considerate of the feelings of others, we must think about what we say before we say it. Certainly, we should not lie, but sometimes, in some company, it is not only acceptable to avoid confrontation, it is the only polite thing to do. We know what we believe; it is rude to be thoughtless just to hear our opinions vocalized.
Then there are cell phones. Does someone have to publish a book on cell phone etiquette? (If so, check out Modern Manners Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips on Cell Phone Etiquette.) Doesn’t common tell us that loudly discussing our company’s business on a cell phone in a restaurant, airport or ladies’ room is not only rude, it’s probably a violation of our company’s intellectual property rights? My husband and I have a rule: no cell phones, including texting, in restaurants. We simply turn them off. We find ourselves wishing that others would join us but, at least, we are not adding to the din.
Another legitimate criticism of the cell phone is the texting phenomenon. Young people, in particular, text shorthand in inappropriate situations. It is acceptable etiquette to type “How r u?” on your cell phone to your friend. It is unacceptable to use that language, as a young person, with an adult, except in limited situations, or in a writing setting such as school or letters. The nuances here are lost on many youngsters and this is undoubtedly making the education process more challenging for teachers.
The “Net” (or Internet) is a different can of worms and worth a complete column in the future. I was alone among my women friends in having a Facebook account. For those computer adverse readers, Facebook is a social networking site that is growing exponentially and most teenagers and young people have an account unless they are locked away in a closet somewhere. I spend a lot of time “being friends on Facebook” with teens and young relatives with whom I have a mentoring relationship and the news is not good. Our young people feel a sense of safety and security on the “Net” that is false and dangerous. Few of them understand that things that they write and post (e.g., photos) may come back to haunt them. Even fewer of them realize that their bad language and poor manners may be viewed by college admissions counselors and future employers.
We are surrounded by examples of bad etiquette, particularly on television, radio and in the movies. It is discouraging and disheartening to be bombarded by news anchors, talk show hosts, commentators, celebrities, and actors who constantly talk over (and sometimes shout) over one another and make an art of name calling and ridicule. I do yearn for a kinder, gentler time. The only answer is to keep striving to maintain etiquette in daily life. Please send us examples of those situations where you find etiquette is lacking in our society.
Friday, January 22, 2010