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Monday, 12 July 2010 06:16

AWA Could Begin Prop 218 verification for CAWPthis Week

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency last week had yet to start verifying the protests submitted July 1st aimed at stopping a rate increase in the Central Amador Water Project service area. General Manager Gene Mancebo said the verification could get underway today (Monday, July 12th). The Proposition 218 protest verifications had not yet begun due to vacation time being taken, he said. At the July 1st protest, Board Clerk Chris Thompson said it would likely take about two 8-hour days to verify the protest. She said other protests, such as the Camanche water system, were easier to verify because they were all on the same piece of paper. On July 1st, organizer David Evitt delivered 1,691 protests. They need 1,313 valid protests to stop the rate increase. Thompson said they were each on individual forms, which all must be compared with the AWA database. Karen Gish of the AWA said Thompson and Mancebo were on vacation last week. The verification must look at whether signers of protests were the owners of the properties, or if they were renters. The process will also look to eliminate duplication. Protest organizer Ken Berry said there would be duplicates, but he and board members expected there to be enough protests to end the rate increase. Evitt said he, Berry, and other volunteers spent 200 to 400 hours collecting signatures door-to-door. He would say: “Hi, I’m David Evitt and I’m here to talk to you about why your water rates are going up.” He said 98 percent of the people he talked to signed a petition. Last week, Director Don Cooper said the board should “talk about how to interface with the public” and educate them about the agency. He spent 2 hours at a holiday party explaining the difference between the Central Amador Water Project service area and the Gravity Supply Line project. He said “our customers are not totally aware of what we are,” and did not know that the Central Amador Water Project was a territory and was not (in itself) the Gravity Supply Line. Vice President Debbie Dunn agreed, but said “you should build a relationship with them before you educate them,” and “you just can’t keep slamming them with information.” Cooper agreed, and said they really need a “marketing plan.” Rich Farrington agreed, saying some explanations by the board at the July 1st rate hearing seemed to help CAWP residents better understand the situation. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Monday, 12 July 2010 06:13

Sac State to Reduce Enrollment Due To Budget Cutbacks

Sacramento - Faced with severe budget reductions from the state and an increase in student applications, Sacramento State officials have declared campus enrollment impaction starting with the fall 2011 semester. University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Joseph Sheley and Vice President for Student Affairs Lori Varlotta offered a recommendation regarding impaction to President Alexander Gonzalez. The recommendation, which was accepted by Gonzalez, was approved by the CSU Chancellor's Office in Long Beach. University officials presented their information to and sought feedback from students, faculty and staff during meetings and forums held throughout the spring semester. A campus is designated as impacted when the number of applications from qualified applicants exceeds the funded capacity of the campus to accommodate them. Application data indicate Sacramento State could see an enrollment jump of 4 percent to 6 percent, and would not be able to financially provide quality academic programs, courses and support services to the extra students, says Ed Mills, associate vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Support. Students from Sacramento State's local area for admission, such as seniors at local high schools or transfer students from local community colleges, will continue to be admitted under the existing minimum requirements for CSU admission. The local area for admission includes students at high schools and community colleges in Amador, Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Solano and San Joaquin Counties. The campus will be able to apply additional admissions criteria to students outside these counties and accept them on a space-available basis. Some students outside the counties may qualify for admission based on hardships and/or special circumstances. Sacramento State will continue to conduct outreach efforts in Alpine, Amador, Colusa, Nevada, Sierra and Sutter Counties to ensure that students in those areas have the information they need to apply for CSU admission. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Friday, 09 July 2010 06:19

Grape and Gourmet Honors Some Amador Wineries

Amador County – Numerous Amador County winemakers were present to share the fruits of their labors at the 15th Annual California’s Grape & Gourmet, which took place Wednesday evening at the Sacramento Convention Center. The event honors excellence in the California wine industry, as determined by the 2010 State Fair Commercial Wine Competition, noted by event coordinators as “the oldest and most prestigiously judged wine competition in North America.” Proceeds from the Grape and Gourmet will benefit the California State Fair Scholarship Program. An estimated 3,500 paying guests were on hand to sample products at strategically placed table groups in the giant building. Competition for business and recognition was stiff, as evidenced by the 2,786 wine entries from more than 600 participating wineries. There were also stations for 80 featured restaurants and caterers and 25 award-winning California micro-breweries and cheeses. The event is solely for the purposes of networking and featuring the awards different brands receive, although select wines were also available for purchase. Various bands provided a soundtrack to the event on the center stage, and guests were treated to complimentary wine glasses and food plates. Lorraine Nichols, a resident of Roseville, said she comes to the event every year and is shocked by just how many quality wineries our state has to offer. “I’ve sampled wines and food from Mendocino to Lodi to Paso Robles, and I’ve yet to try something of inferior quality,” she said. Amador County wines were featured prominently, including familiar names like Renwood, Wine Tree and Sobon Estate. Seventy-two professional wine judges awarded 1,915 medals this year, including 37 Double Gold, 195 Gold, 1,073 Silver and 610 Bronze awards. The awards were announced early Tuesday. Among the top honors for businesses from Amador County, Casque Wines took Double Gold in the category of Best Microwinery for its Vermentino; Deaver Vineyards won gold for Best of Sierra Foothills Red with its 2007 Zinfandel; and Jeff Runquist Wines won Gold for Best Barbera. “The State Fair’s Wine Competition has helped shape the California Wine industry for many years and we remain committed to showcasing the best of the best,” says Norbert J. Bartosik, California State Fair CEO and General Manager. Judging by this year’s winners, this event is sure to thrive for decades to come. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Friday, 09 July 2010 06:22

Pine Acres Hearing Continues Tuesday

Amador County - An appeal hearing for the Pine Acres North subdivision project is scheduled to resume at the Board of Supervisors meeting next Tuesday after an all day discussion before a packed chamber last week. According to Lynn Morgan, Upcountry Community Council Chair, Supervisors opted to continue the hearing “ because they received so much additional information from the witnesses that they really needed some time to look through it and analyze it before they made a decision.” Morgan was among the scores who filled the chamber last week to hear more about the proposed project, to be located in the area of Tabeaud Road and Highway 88. Pine Acres residents Jerry and Kelly Trottier recently filed an appeal regarding the Amador County Planning Commission’s approval of the project, prompting consideration by the Board of Supervisors. Jerry Trottier previously told TSPN that one of the paramount reasons behind his decision to appeal is that in the case of a fast moving wildfire, he would have to exit down Tabeaud Road onto Highway 88. “With the density of the Pine Acres subdivision, it would make it more difficult to get onto Highway 88 from Tabeaud road,” he said, adding: “The situation is difficult now, and this would make it a lot worse.” As proposed, the development would create 90 units, including 66 single family lots, 3 four unit lots or “quadplexes,” and one 12 unit apartment complex on a total of 44 acres, or what Trottier describes as “an extremely high density.” Some units are proposed to be built on 1/5 of an acre or less. Trottier also says the developers plan to build additional tank storage a mile and half down Tabeaud Road, which in his opinion would cause closure of the road for an extended period of time due to construction. The vast majority of those in attendance last week seemed to agree with the Trottier’s concerns, and voiced their opinions during public comment over the course of over four hours. Supervisors were reportedly convinced that many valid issues were raised, and opted to continue the hearing without deciding whether to give a decision. Supervisor Ted Novelli said Thursday that the board was recently “sequestered by county counsel,” which disallows board members from speaking publicly about the issue. He said he personally would like more transparency, but for now encouraged concerned citizens to attend the continued hearing next Tuesday at the board chambers in Jackson. The official time was not available at the time this story was written. Pine Acres is proposed by Thomas Martin & Associates, a developer located in Folsom. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Monday, 12 July 2010 06:08

Resource Connection of Amador and Calaveras Appoints New Interim Executive Director

Amador County - The Resource Connection of Amador and Calaveras counties has appointed Kelli Fraguero as the interim executive director after the resignation of Jim Ormand earlier this month. Fraguero is the program director of the Prevention and Intervention Division of the organization which includes the Calaveras Crisis Center, the Court Self Help Legal Center and the Once Again Thrift Store, and has been with the Resource Connection for eight-and-a-half years. Prior to her employment with the Resource Connection, Fraguero served as the executive director of the Calaveras Visitors Bureau and was employed by the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau as the marketing manager and film commissioner. Fraguero lives in Sonora with her husband Rick and her three dogs. “It is my responsibility to keep the organization moving forward so that the board can take the time to find the right leader for this organization,” Fraguero said. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Friday, 09 July 2010 06:29