Sunday, 11 January 2015 05:30

Love A Fair - Sat Feb 14

Sent by Gwen Clayton
 
Back in 2011, I wrote a blog for the Amador Music Hub (no longer available online) about California Governor Jerry Brown (with help from the Assembly and Senate) dealing a harsh blow to county fairs when he signed Assembly Bill 95 (AB95). The bill completely eliminated funding for the California fair network, leaving more than 30 fairs, including Amador's, threatened with closure.

Funding for the fair has always come from State funds generated by horse-racing activities as well as local donations of property, cash and talent. With the horse-racing funds depleted, the State has now cut all support for county fairs. This leaves local residents with the responsibility to accommodate for the $220,000 shortfall.

Normally, this would be not be a problem, as Amadorians are rather adept at pulling together and getting things done without the need of assistance, but when the State cut its funding, it didn't cut the expensive mandates (the state still regulates county fairs). For Amador, this means we cannot use volunteer labor or donated materials for certain things, and we still have reporting requirements that cost staff hours and office supplies for which we don't get reimbursed.

The Amador County Fair has been the single biggest local cultural event since 1938. It brings together everything that is right about our county - agriculture, music, art, food and wine - plus there's the carnival rides, Frontier Town, the saw mill, Miwok Village and of course, the great carnie food (you gotta get a steak sandwich from Plymouth Rotary or a BBQ tri tip from Incahoots). There's the rodeo, tractor pulls, and demolition derby in Bennie Brown Arena at night too. Live music can be heard on three different stages from noon until closing. And we can't forget the Miss Amador pageant.

This four day event at the end of July every year brings in $3.5 million in spending activity for the region, $29,000 in business-tax revenue, $110,000 for local non-profit groups, and $1.3 million in jobs for local residents.

In 2011 and 2012, I helped put on a fundraiser called Fair Aid to help raise funds to save this important cultural resource. We're no longer doing that event, but on Valentine's Day, you can attend a The 7th Annual Love-A-Fair Ball. The special dinner dance will be held Saturday, February 14, 2015 at St. Katherine Drexel Church in Martell. Tickets are $100 per person or $1,000 for a Corporate Sponsorship, which includes a reserved table for 8 people, and your organization/company name clearly displayed on the table as well as noted in their brochure. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres start at6 pm. Dinner is served at 7:30 pm. Festivities include a no host bar, silent and live auctions, a catered sit down dinner, live music by Wasted Space (I believe this is Mike Roser's band; he's the winemaker for Cooper. They are a lot of fun to dance to).

This event is hosted by the Amador County Fair Foundation. All proceeds benefit the Amador County Fairgrounds.
 
For more information and to purchase tickets, contact Ray Ryan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (209) 304-5220. Tickets can also be purchased online at : http://amadorfairfoundation.org/events.html
Published in Local
SACRAMENTO, Calif. 1/9/2015– There’s more to Girl Scout Cookies than what’s in the box! It’s about the essential skills a girl gains from interacting with customers. It’s about the experience of running her own cookie business and working with others. And new to this year, Girl Scouts will be able to sell their cookies online through Digital Cookie, adding new skills to the program like online marketing and e-commerce.
 
Local Girl Scouts are currently taking cookie pre-orders! After pre-orders, Girl Scouts will sell cookies at booths outside of local storefronts Feb. 27 to March 22. Cookies are $5 per package. The Girl Scout Cookie Finder App and more information can be found at girlscoutcookies.org
 
From its earliest beginnings in 1917 to its current popularity, the Girl Scout Cookie Program has helped girls have fun, develop valuable life skills, and make their communities a better place. Cookie earnings help pay for the leadership activities and field trips Girl Scouts do all year long. Plus, the cookie program benefits more than just the girls selling them. With their earnings, Girl Scouts fund important community projects at the local level. When you buy Girl Scout cookies in your neighborhood, you are keeping your dollars in the community.
 
A Guide to the 2015 Girl Scout Cookie Program:
The 5 Skills girls learn are: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. There are financial literacy badges girls can earn at each level, kindergarten through grade 12. In terms of skill building, statistics show the Girl Scout Cookie Program works. According to a survey from the Girl Scout Research Institute, 85 percent of Girl Scout “cookie entrepreneurs” learn money management through developing budgets, taking cookie orders, and handling customers’ money.
 
Nine cookies (including one new flavor): Girl Scouts Heart of Central California purchases its cookies from ABC Bakers, one of two licensed Girl Scout cookie bakers. This year, girls will sell Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Shortbread, Lemonades, Thanks-A-Lot and Cranberry Citrus Crisps. Select troops will also be selling a limited supply of the new gluten-free Trios, made with real peanut butter, chocolate chips, and whole grain oats.
 
National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend: Becoming a national holiday for Girl Scout Cookie fans, National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend will take place February 27–March 1, 2015. In honor of this nearly 100-year-old American tradition, Girl Scout members, volunteers, alumnae and supporters across the country will celebrate the world’s largest girl-led business.
 
Project Thank You: GSHCC will also continue its partnership with the American Red Cross for Project Thank You. Through Project Thank You, customers can purchase Girl Scout Cookies, which are distributed by American Red Cross to local service men and women, VA hospitals and food banks. At booth sales, customers just need to tell the girls that they’d like to purchase cookies for Project Thank You and they will put the cookies aside.
 
About Girl Scouts:
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development organization for girls. The local council, Girl Scouts Heart of Central California, stands behind its mission to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, girls Discover their interests and talents, Connect with others, and Take Action to improve the world around them. The council is headquartered in Sacramento and serves nearly 27,000 girls in 18 counties* in Central California. For more information on how to join, donate or volunteer with Girl Scouts Heart of Central California, visit girlscoutshcc.org.
*Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Mariposa, Merced, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tuolumne, Yolo and Yuba.
 
About ABC Bakers:
Girl Scouts Heart of Central California purchases its cookies from ABC Bakers, one of two licensed Girl Scout cookie bakers in the U.S.  ABC Bakers became the “Official Girl Scout Cookie Bakers” in 1937. ABC is part of Interbake Foods LLC, a Richmond, Virginia-based manufacturer that has been baking cookies and crackers for over 100 years. For more information on ABC Bakers and to read nutritional information on each cookie variety, visit abcsmartcookies.com.
Published in Local
Sunday, 11 January 2015 05:25

Aaron Lewis Concert Rescheduled

JACKSON, CA- Due to unforeseen personal circumstances, Aaron Lewis has had to reschedule his concert at Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort that was scheduled for Friday, January 15. The new concert will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Previously purchased concert tickets will still be valid for the rescheduled show and the assigned seat or seats will remain the same.

If a guest is unable to make the concert on its new date and needs a refund, please contact the Sales Department at 209-223-8477 or come in to the Casino Cashier’s Cage.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort is located at 12222 New York Ranch Road, Jackson, CA 95642. For more information, call 800-822-9466 or visit JacksonCasino.com.

Published in Local

Heather Murdock sits down with Baptist Missionaries Ed and Nancy Gidders about their 34 years of missionary work in Tanzania.

Published in Love, Hope, and Faith
Wednesday, 07 January 2015 20:15

Group Hug on Amador Live January 7, 2014

Monique Graziadei and Richard Forster close out AM Live with their Guests.

Published in AML
Wednesday, 07 January 2015 20:14

AAUW is on Amador Live January 7, 2014 001

Kelsi Williams, presentation speaker for AAUW, talks to Monique Graziadei about the upcoming 'Impacts on our Ecosystems, Here & Abroad' on January 14 at 4pm at the Sutter Creek Community Center.

Published in AML
Wednesday, 07 January 2015 20:12

CASA is on Amador Live January 7, 2014

John Stettler, from the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, tells Richard Forster about the upcoming Training Class for Volunteers starting in February. Call John Stettler at 209-257-1980 for more information.

Published in AML

Cherie Flores, from Gold Country Pet Resort and Training Center, talks to Richard and Monique about facility Updates, new programs, training, boarding, and more.

Published in AML

Natalie Vetter and Anna Garcia, from Operation Care, talk to Monique Graziadei about the Color Madness 5K and fun run / walk on Sat, Feb 7 at Margaret Dalton Hall.

Published in AML

Rich Farrington, Dist. 3 Water Agency, talks to Richard Forster about the MokeWISE update and public outreach meeting on Thursday, Jan. 8 in Calaveras.

Published in AML