AmadorArts is among 24 projects funded statewide in support of transforming communities through the arts 

The California Arts Council announced it plans to award $40,000 to AmadorArts as part of its new Creative California Communities program. This award will support AmadorArts’ “River Reflections” project, to showcase the arts to build awareness and appreciation of the Mokelumne River among the 1.4 million people who depend on its water including Amador, Calaveras, and the East Bay Area.

The California Arts Council received 157 applications for this highly competitive grant program, which is supported by one-time funds from the California State Assembly. The 24 projects supported by this grant program will reach 19 counties across California.

In this collaborative “River Reflections” project, the Arts Councils of Amador and Calaveras Counties, the Foothill Conservancy, a local environmental non-profit, and the East Bay Municipal Utility District, will work together to highlight - through the arts - the beauty of the river, as well as the environmental and water use issues, and encourage visitors to the region to experience the watershed for themselves. 

Juried works of artists inspired by the river will be showcased in three one-month-long exhibits this coming winter, and at a grand finale event in the spring of 2015.  The “River Reflections” project will give artists of all disciplines from Amador, Calaveras and the East Bay region, the opportunity to draw inspiration from the river at a series of events and then to produce new work to be exhibited in all three regions.

When Terra Forgette, Executive Director of AmadorArts heard the news, she said, "I am so excited about this project.  I grew up on the Mokelumne River and look forward to seeing how the many talented artists in Amador and Calaveras and beyond are inspired by it."

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated $510 million to 83 transportation projects that will put people to work improving the state’s highways, bridges, and public transit. One of the highlights of the meeting was the CTC revising its funding estimate upward for the State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) for the 2014-15 fiscal year from $2.2 billion to approximately $2.4 billion. The revision was in response to the new state budget, which provides $351 million in new transportation funding through the early repayment of loans made to the General Fund.

The new funding includes $210 million for the SHOPP, which pays for transportation safety projects, pavement repair and preservation work, and upgrades bridges; $27 million for Caltrans maintenance projects; $100 million for city and county transportation; $9 million for bicycle and pedestrian projects under California’s new Active Transportation Program; and $5 million to mitigate environmental effects of proposed transportation improvements.

The $510 million in CTC funding allocations include nearly $163 million for “fix it first” projects that will repair bumpy pavement, preserve roads that are in good condition from deteriorating and upgrade bridges to make them safer and stronger. Most of California’s highways are more than a half-century old, and they carry nearly half of the nation’s container freight – heavy loads that pound our highways more than any other state.

“To get the most bang for the buck for taxpayers, Caltrans targets dollars where they are most effective - pavement preservation,” Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty said. “Every $1 spent on preventive pavement maintenance saves Californians $11 that would have been spent on expensive pavement repairs.”

The allocations also include $104 million from Proposition 1B, a transportation bond approved by voters in 2006. To date, more than $17 billion in Proposition 1B funds have been put to work statewide for transportation purposes.

Here are some of the significant projects that will improve and/or preserve California’s valuable investments in its transportation system that received allocations:

San Joaquin County: $5,740,000 – Construct a new underpass on Navy Drive in Stockton, accommodating a future four-lane highway and an additional mainline to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe/Amtrak shared track. It will reduce vehicle delays, improve air quality, enhance the movement of goods and reduce noise pollution.

San Joaquin County: $624,000 – Install 15 pedestrian curb ramps at various locations on State Route 4 (SR-4), SR-26 and Interstate 5, in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

Mariposa County: $2,149,000 – Rehabilitate pavement on Mt. Bullion Cutoff Road, near the town of Mariposa, from SR-140 to 1.1 miles west of SR-49. Crews will reconstruct the road surface of approximately four lane miles.

Senator Tom Berryhill and Assembly Member Frank Bigelow will visit the Amador Centers for Higher Learning on July 18, 2014 beginning at 1:30 PM at the HHS Building 10877 Conductor Blvd., Suite 700, Sutter Creek and concluding at the ACTC Center 117 Valley View Way, Sutter Creek. The Amador Community College Foundation Board will conduct a tour of both facilities and showcase business, community, and college partnerships that support the centers offering over 100 choices in certificate and degree programs for Amador County residents.

The Eldorado National Forest is preparing for one of the biggest recreation weekends of the year. All recreation facilities in the forest will be open.

“It is important that we all take responsibility to keep wildfire out of the forest”, said Forest Supervisor Laurence Crabtree. “Visitors need to know that all types of fireworks are illegal in a National Forest. Citations will be issued for violations.”

Due to the severe drought conditions, wood and charcoal fires are not allowed in the Eldorado National Forest outside of designated campgrounds. Gas or propane fires are allowed with a 2014 California Campfire permit at this time. These permits are free and can be obtained at any U.S. Forest Service, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFire), or Bureau of Land Management office. Visitors can help by educating others about fire danger and reporting abandoned or illegal fires to 911 or to the nearest Ranger Station. The Eldorado will be staffing extra patrols and patrolling after dark over the weekend.

Motor vehicle use on the Eldorado National Forest is allowed only on the designated routes displayed on the free Motor Vehicle Use Map that is available at all Eldorado National Forest offices. Visitors planning to camp outside of developed campgrounds must park their vehicle on or within one vehicle length of a system route.

More information on recreation opportunities and fire restrictions is available on the Eldorado National Forest website: www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado

Assemblyman Frank Bigelow (R-O’Neals), recognized Al Lennox as his 2014 Veteran of the Year for the 5th Assembly District. Lennox was honored with veterans from across the state at the annual California Assembly Veterans Recognition Luncheon yesterday in Sacramento.

“Mr. Lennox has dedicated his life to protecting our freedoms and to improving the lives of veterans throughout all our communities. His selfless dedication and his service to others is to be admired and I’m honored to recognize him as Veteran of the Year,” Bigelow said. “Mr. Lennox is a hero to us all and a tremendous asset to our local region.”

Al Lennox

Al Lennox is a US Navy Vietnam Veteran (1964-1970). Al was stationed at Cubi Point Naval Air Station and Point Mugu Naval Air Station. His duties as a meteorologist included weather observations, operational weather forecasting, flight forecasting, ship routing and at the Geophysics Division, Point Mugu, upper air analysis and research. 

Al and Donna’s family consists of five children, nine grandchildren and nine great-grand children. Donna in her own right is very active in the American Legion Auxiliary. She is a multi-year Unit President, Past District President, present State President of the Past Commanders Sweetheart’s Club and Chairs the Department Rules Commission.  Al worked in the Retail industry for 20 years in various management roles.

Al was a volunteer Firefighter/Paramedic for eight years. In 1990 his hobby became his employment as he joined American Legion Ambulance Service as a Paramedic. In 1992 he assumed the position of General Manager, American Legion Post 108 Ambulance Service. Today Al is President, Chief Executive of the ambulance company.

On June 25, 2014, at approximately 1715 hours, a Sutter Creek Police Officer was on foot in the downtown area. The officer observed a WMA vandalizing an electrical box on Eureka Street, just west of Boston Alley. It was determined the WMA was writing the word "Deto" in red on the electrical box. 

The WMA was detained on Main Street, south of Church Street and identified as 18 year old Tyler Christopher Jones, a resident of Ione, California. Jones was positively identified as the subject that committed the act of vandalism. Jones was later booked at the Amador County Jail and charged with vandalism and resisting arrest. 

The Sutter Creek Police Department is asking for the public's assistance. If you see the same or similar graffiti ("Deto" or "Rise") in the area, you are asked to contact the Sutter Creek Police at (209) 267-5646. 

Kathy Boyd Fellure, a member of Bookies Book Club, introduces her fellow bookies, Sylvia Troppmann, Eileen Lokteff, and Gwen Friesen. They have fun talking about being part of a book club and the books they have enjoyed together.  

The Amador County Park Restoration crew has been hard at work stripping the bark from cedar and oak logs to be used as support beams in rebuilding the sacred Roundhouse.  Volunteers are requested to help with this job as they will need to strip more than 250 logs by hand before they will have enough material to begin the rebuild.  Volunteers can also help by staining the new split rail fencing that surrounds the park as well. There’s a job for just about anyone here, and we look forward to working side by side with you as we push to complete this once in a lifetime park restoration project.

Volunteers are welcome Tuesday thru Thursday from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. and all workers will be supplied with gloves, tools, a hot lunch and a complimentary T-shirt for their efforts. Donations are appreciated and necessary to help make our parks the best they can be. Please mail your contribution to the Jackson Rancheria Park & Field Restoration Fund, C/O Venissa Morse P.O. Box 1090 Jackson CA 95642.

We hope to see you at Chaw’se Indian Grinding Rock, and we thank you in advance for helping to support our efforts.  Call (209) 223-8405 for more information.

2nd Generation was formed in 2008 by a group of individuals who believe that it is the responsibility of our generation to support, reward and aide the hard work of our Ag communities children, just as their parents and grandparents once did for them. Since 2^nd Generation’s formation thy have raised tens of thousands of dollars to support Ag youth. In 2013 they raised $50,000 with the generous support of local businesses, community members, families & friends. With that money  they were able to help support over 100 local  4-H, FFA and Grange members at the 2013 Amador County Fair Jr. Livestock Auction. All proceeds go right to the local children (here in AMADOR) to help ensure their hard work and dedication continues into the future. 

2nd Generation supports this goal by:

Raising the "floor" on the price paid for livestock during the Amador County Fair Jr. Livestock Auction.

Purchasing Livestock to offset the loss of buyers during this tough economy.

Financial contributions to the Amador County Fair specific to improvements in the livestock area including new "pens" in 2011.

Promote the support of our community's youth programs specific to Ag including 4-H, FFA and Grange.

The 2^nd Generation Dinner and Auction is one of the ways they raise money. Please show your support of their efforts to help our 4-H youth excel by participating if you are able.

“Cowboy Boots & Country Roots”

Saturday, June 28^th, 2014

5 p.m. No Host Bar

7 p.m. Dinner

Amador County Fair Grounds

Plymouth, CA

Dinner Tickets: In Advance: $25/Person, $40/Couple

                                At the Door: $30/Person, $50/Couple

                                Children (12 & under) $10

Purchase Tickets Online:

2ndGenerationDinner.com

Richard Forster reports on the Board of Supervisors Meeting.