Designation advances ongoing Trump Administration priority to safely increase public access to outdoor recreational opportunities.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt designated a new national recreation trail in California today. The 1.5-mile-long Amboy Crater Trail takes hikers through a sprawling lava field to the top of the iconic Amboy cinder cone volcano. The view from the 984-foot rim will awe those who take in the vastness of the Mojave Desert. The designation is part of a broader national announcement that establishes 30 new national recreation trails in 25 states, adding more than 1,275 miles to the National Trails System. 
Today’s announcement is in addition to the 370 miles of national recreation trails that were designated in 2018, bringing the Trump Administration’s total to 49 national recreation trails added, spanning 1,645 miles.
“I encourage Americans to get outside, enjoy our incredible public lands and visit a nearby national recreation trail. Spanning more than 83,000 miles, larger than the interstate highway system, the National Trails System provides easy access to a wide variety of outdoor experiences,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “The Trump Administration is committed to expanding public access to the outdoors, so more Americans have the opportunity and ability to experience it in all of its splendor.”
The new designations advance the Trump Administration’s priority to increase public access to outdoor recreational opportunities in alignment with Secretary’s Order 3366.  Interior-managed outdoor recreation activities support more than 452,000 jobs and account for more than $58 billion in economic output across the country.
“American Trails promotes and maintains the database of our country’s National Recreation Trails (NRT) and applauds this new slate of Secretarial designations from the Department of the Interior," said NRT Executive Director Mike Passo. "The NRT program brings vibrancy to the National Trail System by uniquely highlighting trails that are accessible, relatable, and serve a wide diversity of our nation's public. With these designations, the NRT database at AmericanTrails.org exceeds 1,300 trails."
“American Hiking Society welcomes the designation of 30 new National Recreation Trails that will create enhanced recreational opportunities for hikers and all types of trail users," said American Hiking Society Executive Director Kate Van Waes. "Each trail selected to receive this honor must support a diversity of users, reflect its region, and be among America's best trails, all qualities that benefit the hiking community.”
"Americans are enjoying close-to-home recreation and thanks to our amazing National Trails System, they have even more places to explore. With a 75% increase in bike ridership on trails this year, we commend the Department of the Interior for this expansion and granting our nation more access to the outdoors," said PeopleForBikes President and CEO Jenn Dice. "Thanks to these initiatives, we're getting closer to meeting the needs of a fast-growing community of people outdoors and on bikes finding joy, freedom and health on our trails nationwide."
The National Trails System, which includes national scenic, national historic, and national recreation trails, offers an abundance of scenic, historic, and recreation trails for outdoor enjoyment on America’s public lands. The system promotes preservation, public access, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas, and historic resources of the United States.
The National Recreation Trails Program is jointly administered by the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, in conjunction with a number of federal and nonprofit partners. The designation of a national recreation trail can be done by either the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture on an existing local or regional trail with the consent of the federal, state, local, nonprofit or private entity that has jurisdiction over the trail.
The trail's managing agency or organization must apply for the distinction. Each of the newly designated trails will receive a certificate of designation, a set of trail markers and a letter of recognition from Secretary Bernhardt.

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About the U.S. Department of the InteriorThe Department of the Interior conserves and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people, provides scientific and other information about natural resources and natural hazards to address societal challenges and create opportunities for the American people, and honors the Nation’s trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives and affiliated island communities to help them prosper.

SACRAMENTO — The California Transportation Commission today approved more than $830 million to repair highways and bridges and improve the state’s growing network of pedestrian, bicycle and mass transit routes. This investment includes more than $600 million in allocations for State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) projects, Caltrans’ “fix-it-first” program aimed at preserving the condition of the State Highway System.

“We are advancing projects that will keep our economy moving and improve access for all Californians,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “This includes improving safety for cyclists and pedestrians, expanding public transportation and helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Projects approved in District 2 for Trinity County include:

·      Swift Creek Bridge Replacement (State Route 3 near Trinity Center): Replacement of deteriorating bridge with precast concrete girder bridge on a raised profile with 12-foot wide lanes and standard shoulders, along with upgrade of bridge rail and improved horizontal alignment.
·      Big French Creek Permanent Restoration (State Route 299 near Junction City): Off-site environmental mitigation and plant establishment from prior Big French Creek Emergency Project near Del Loma.

The CTC approved more than $43 million for 18 complete streets projects that will augment existing state highway projects with additional bicycle and pedestrian safety features. This includes bike routes, enhanced crosswalks and sidewalk gap closures. Caltrans continues to seek input from stakeholders to select complete street projects for funding.

The California Transportation Commission also approved more than $36 million in funds for rail and mass transit projects, including freight, intercity rail and bus services. This investment includes $30 million for the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program, enhances the movement of goods along corridors with high freight volume through projects that improve state highways, local roads, freight rail systems, port facilities and truck corridors.

Project funding is derived from federal and state gas taxes, including $637 million from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. The state’s portion of SB 1 funds are used for the ongoing maintenance and rehabilitation of the State Highway System. By 2027, these funds will enable Caltrans to fix more than 17,000 lane miles of pavement, 500 bridges, 55,000 culverts, and 7,700 traffic operating systems that help improve highway access, such as ramp meters, traffic cameras and electric highway message signs.
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 Loyalton Schools- SPJUSD will offer Bus Driver Training and reimbursement for related costs associated with License and Certification for Successful Candidates



View position details on website at https://sierracountyofficeofeducation.org/SPJUSD/sample-page/departments/employment-opportunities/ or call Sierra County Office of Education at (530) 993-1660 Ext. 151

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Plumas County Public Health received notification of seven (7) new positive COVID-19 test results today. Cases #55, #56, #57 and #58 are a part of a cluster of cases in the Northern (Indian Valley) region. As a result of the contact tracing investigation it appears the positive Plumas County individuals were exposed to COVID-19 during a multi- generational social gathering with a positive COVID-19 individual from outside the county. The investigation is still ongoing with more individuals currently being

tested. If additional exposed residents are identified during the investigation, they will be contacted by a member of the Public Health COVID-19 Response Team for further screening.
Positive case #59 is from the Southern Region (American Valley), positive case #60 is from the Eastern Region (Portola/Graeagle) and positive case #61 is from the Northern Region (Indian Valley). Contact tracing and case investigation has started and there is nothing to indicate there are any connections to the cluster of cases in the northern region. Again, if additional exposed residents are identified during the investigation, they will be contacted by a member of the Public Health COVID-19 Response Team for further screening.
The seven new positive cases may affect the county’s yellow tier status. The data that determines which tier a county falls is based on two health metrics: a case rate per 100,000 residents and the percentage of COVID-19 tests that come back positive. Plumas County may move to a more restrictive tier; such as orange or red, if Plumas County is unable to meet the criteria for the yellow tier for two consecutive weeks. The state calculates the positive cases by the date the individual was tested; not when Plumas County received notification of the positive test. Therefore, at this time it is unknown how the seven new positive cases will impact the county’s tier status.
In order to continue to stay in the yellow tier and do yellow well, Plumas County should continue to practice the following:

• Wear a face covering in public places.
  
• Practice physical distancing of 6 feet
  
• Wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water
  
• Avoid or limit social gatherings with those not from your household
  It is important to continue to practice mitigating precautions especially during the holiday season.Unfortunately, this year is not like other years and adjustments should be made in order to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our community.
  If you have any questions please contact the Plumas County COVID-19 informational phone line 530- 283-6400 or send an e-mail to COVID19@countyofplumas.com or visit our website at www.plumascounty.us 
  

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By Harold Pease, Ph.D.



Big tech outlets Twitter and Facebook are presently “actively interfering in this election in a way that has no precedent in the history of our country.”  So said Senator Ted Cruz of the Senate Judiciary Committee, October 15 after thousands of incriminating documents were released by the New York Post the previous day showing Joe Bidden knew a great deal about the corruption of his son Hunter with Burisma in the Ukraine , despite his insistence that he didn’t.  This looks to be the biggest case for influence peddling for money and election interference, in U.S. History. 
This story was immediately blocked by both Twitter and Facebook.  The New York Post, the fourth largest newspaper in the nation, itself faced censorship of Its own story, when it attempted to cover the newly released documents  “Never before have we seen active censorship of a major press publication, with serious allegations of corruption of one of the two candidates for president.”  Senator Cruz had tried to share the story with others and was himself blocked by Twitter (Ted Cruz EXPLODES On Big Tech Censorship, C-Span Senate Judiciary Committee, October 15, 2020).
The same paper broke a second Biden scandal story in China the next day revealing “the Biden family receiving millions of dollars from Communist China government officials.”  Neither of these stories is new.  But the thousands of documents suggesting influence peddling and the amount of money, millions, coming to the Biden family with it, including to “the big guy,” Joe, is new, powerful, damning and can’t be ignored outside censorship.  The Hunter Biden trove of laptop documents also implicate Hunter’s Uncle James Biden and James’ wife, Sara Biden (“Emails reveal how Hunter Biden tried to cash in big on behalf of family with Chinese firm,” by Emma-Jo Morris and Gabrielle Fonrouge, New York Post, October 15, 2020. View also New York Post first story “Biden Secret E-Mails”, October 14, 2020).
Two emails that popped up early, of the estimated 40,000 emails, were particularly interesting.  One with Chinese billionaire Ye Jianming, chairman of the CEFC China Energy Co., China’s largest private energy company, during Joe Biden’s vice presidency.  In it Hunter demanded “a $10 million annual fee” for three consecutive years for “introductions alone” to his father Joe Biden.
A second email entitled “Expectations” sent to Hunter in a proposed related business venture divided the resultant equity profit into six “remuneration packages.”  Strangely only first names were identified and recipients only by initials.  Of the six recipients Hunter was to receive 20% and another 10% was to be held by Hunter for “the big guy,” presumably his father Joe Biden (Ibid.).  
When pieces of the story began to emerge last year, Joe Biden denied any wrongdoing and that he knew of any of the business dealings of his son Hunter.  The documents from Hunter’s own laptop show otherwise.  Democratic Party news outlets never ask him about this, then or now—and never will.  Since the avalanche of documents went public October 14, Joe’s only comment is that it is a smear.  Otherwise he refuses any question on it and has cancelled all public appearances until after the coming debate, October 22.  Unless Donald Trump can find a way to bring it up, it will be censored by Democrats then as well.
Biden’s defenders first attacked the repair shop owner, then disinformation, then the discredited Russian collision—again, and now Rudy Giuliani—each failing in turn.  They do not deny any specific allegation, nor that the documents are not real, nor that they didn’t come from Hunter’s own laptop.  With thousands of text messages and emails they know they can’t.  So they have resorted to censorship.  
Thus the rush by the Democratic Party billionaire CEO’s Jack Dorsey, of Twitter, and Mark Zuckerberg, of Facebook to censor the story away so Americans cannot see the blatant evidence—at least not before November 3rd.  Presumably if Joe Biden is elected president this all goes away.
Hunter Biden never returned for his laptop.  Eventually, in December 2019, the repair shop turned it over to the FBI which admits having it in their possession.  It, with all the incriminating evidence, exists!  Why they sat on it for most of a year has yet to be explained,
As a result of what appears to be both a contribution in kind and election interference by Twitter and Facebook, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Lindsey Graham, is calling for billionaire CEO’s Jack Dorsey, of Twitter, and Mark Zuckerberg, of Facebook, to testify before his committee October 23,  The accusation “contribution in kind” is because no amount of money contributed can equal the power dealt the opposing side by the censorship of the probable coverup of allegations of corruption.
Chairman Graham explained, “These social media platforms have a dominance in our lives: their newspapers, their TV stations, their radio stations, their publishers.  And this to me crystallizes the problem better than anything I could think of for the American people. You may be a Democrat, saying I don't want to hear the New York Post,[but] it could be you tomorrow.”  Adding, “So the point is that the power behind these platforms have been taken to a level that truly is dangerous” (Ted Cruz EXPLODES On Big Tech Censorship).
He could have added, “They are the public square.  Without them the opposition has no access to the public square.  Thus there exists no freedom of the press.”  Freedom of speech is denied soon thereafter.


 
Dr. Harold Pease is a syndicated columnist and an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He taught history and political science from this perspective for over 30 years at Taft College.  Newspapers have permission to publish this column. To read more of his weekly articles, please visit www.LibertyUnderFire.org.
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President’s message: Vote no on Proposition 15
By Jamie Johansson
Farmers and ranchers take for granted the need to work hard all the way through the end of the season—and that's what we'll need to do to defeat the property tax increase on the November ballot, Proposition 15.
In the days leading up to the election, you can expect to see ads, mailers and other materials claiming the initiative would exempt agriculture from increased taxes under its split-roll scheme. Don't believe it.
If you haven't voted yet, you may just now be turning your attention to the statewide measures on the November ballot. Proposition 15 would end longstanding property tax law, established under Proposition 13 in 1978, and allow local jurisdictions to reassess commercial and business properties at least every three years.
California's top agricultural organizations are united in strong opposition to Proposition 15 for a simple reason: It exposes a wide range of agricultural property to steep property tax increases at the worst possible time.
But if you've heard from the initiative's supporters, you might say, "Wait—doesn't Prop 15 exempt agriculture?" The simple answer is no.
The more complex answer—as there always seems to be with ballot measures—is that the special interests behind Proposition 15 exempted agricultural land, but failed to exempt other agricultural properties classified as "fixtures and improvements."
That may sound like a mere technicality—but under California tax law, "fixtures and improvements" includes almost everything on a farm but the dirt, such as dairies, barns, irrigation systems, processing plants, wineries, even mature fruit trees and grapevines.
For many farms, these fixtures and improvements have been around for years or even decades. So when Proposition 15 reassesses them at current market value for property tax purposes, it will expose many farmers to massive tax hikes.
Don't take my word for it; check out the measure itself. You'll see it only mentions agricultural land.
You could also ask the county assessors who must assess property for tax purposes.
As Stanislaus County Assessor Don Gaekle said: "Voters should realize that Prop 15 exposes a wide range of agricultural property to higher taxes, including agricultural barns, milking parlors, shops, hulling operations, irrigation systems, fruit and nut trees and grapevines, all of which are 'improvements' and not excluded from the definition of 'commercial and industrial real property' under the measure."
Even the proponents behind Proposition 15 recognized that. Their initial fact sheet used to say that Proposition 15 would indeed reassess agricultural property such as "a dairy barn, food processing facilities or wineries."
Apparently, that was before they did some polling and realized voters don't want to pay the higher food prices that would stem from increasing taxes on farms. So now, the proponents and their political allies throughout the state are singing a different tune, trying to sell the line that Proposition 15 exempts agriculture completely.
Their flip-flopping and self-contradiction would be laughable if they weren't spending so much money spreading misinformation—up to $50 million at last count. It's not just the usual suspects from Sacramento who are funding the Yes side; they also got Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg to pony up $10 million to help raise our taxes.
So, you can see what we're up against. That's why we need farmers and ranchers to keep working, all the way through Nov. 3, to tell the simple truth: Proposition 15 exposes farmers and ranchers to steep tax hikes—and when you tax farmers and ranchers, it means food costs go up.
A tax on farmers and ranchers is a tax on everyone.
Many Californians already struggled with the high cost of living before COVID-19, which just made things worse. The last thing our state needs is to tax farmers and ranchers and jack up the cost of food.
Get the facts and find out how you can help by visiting the Family Farmers Against Prop 15 website at cafarmersagainstprop15.com.
Vote no on Proposition 15.
(Jamie Johansson is president of the California Farm Bureau Federation.)

​Forecasted High Wind Event Means PG&E Might Need to Proactively Turn Off Power for Safety for About 54,000 Customers in Portions of 19 Counties and Two Tribal Communities on Wednesday
 
Customers Who Might Be Affected by the Public Safety Power Shutoff Are Receiving One-Day Notifications
SAN FRANCISCO — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) continues to monitor a potentially strong and dry offshore wind event forecasted to start Wednesday evening. Given the expected conditions, PG&E began its one-day advance notifications to customers in areas where PG&E may need to proactively turn power off for safety to reduce the risk of wildfire from energized power lines.
 
Potential Public Safety Power Shutoff Wednesday evening through Friday morning
 
The potential PSPS starting Wednesday evening could impact approximately 54,000 customers in portions of 19 counties in the Northern Sacramento Valley and adjacent elevated terrain, the Northern Sierra Nevada generally north of I-80, the North Bay mountains, and Mt. Diablo in the East Bay. Specifically, customers in portions of the following counties are being notified: Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Napa, Plumas, Santa Clara, Shasta, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba.
 
The potential PSPS event is still approximately 24 hours away. PG&E’s in-house meteorologists, its Wildfire Safety Operations Center and its Emergency Operations Center, continue to monitor conditions closely and additional customer notifications will be shared over the next few days.
 
Customer notifications—via text, email and automated phone call—began Monday afternoon, approximately two days prior to the potential shutoff. Customers enrolled in the company’s Medical Baseline program who do not verify that they have received these important safety communications will be individually visited in person by a PG&E employee when possible. A primary focus will be given to customers who rely on electricity for critical life-sustaining equipment.
 
The sole purpose of a PSPS is to reduce the risk of major wildfires during severe weather. While a PSPS is an important wildfire safety tool, PG&E understands that losing power disrupts lives, especially for customers sheltering-at-home in response to COVID-19.
 
Potentially Impacted Counties
 
The potential shutoff is currently expected to impact approximately 54,000 customers in the following 19 counties:
 

• Alameda County: 470 customers, 24 Medical Baseline customers
• Butte County: 11,291 customers, 988 Medical Baseline customers
• Colusa County: 565 customers, 32 Medical Baseline customers
• Contra Costa County: 563 customers, 45 Medical Baseline customers
• Glenn County: 377 customers, 18 Medical Baseline customers
• Humboldt County: 298 customers, 5 Medical Baseline customers
• Lake County: 963 customers, 69 Medical Baseline customers
• Lassen County: 319 customers, 17 Medical Baseline customers
• Napa County: 4,316 customers, 175 Medical Baseline customers
• Plumas County: 781 customers, 25 Medical Baseline customers
• Santa Clara County: 236 customers, 9 Medical Baseline customers
• Shasta County: 22,760 customers, 1,794 Medical Baseline customers
• Solano County: 49 customers, 4 Medical Baseline customers
• Sonoma County: 960 customers, 35 Medical Baseline customers
• Stanislaus County: 33 customers, 0 Medical Baseline customers
• Tehama County: 7,759 customers, 665 Medical Baseline customers
• Trinity County: 458 customers, 21 Medical Baseline customers
• Yolo County: 11 customers, 0 Medical Baseline customers
• Yuba County:  1,324 customers, 96 Medical Baseline customers
• Total*: 53,533 customers, 4,022 Medical Baseline customers

 
*The following Tribal Community counts are included within the County level detail above.

• Cortina Rancheria Tribal community: 8 customers, 1 Medical Baseline customer
• Grindstone Rancheria Tribal community: 49 customers, 3 Medical Baseline customers

 
Customers can look up their address online to find out if their location is being monitored for the potential safety shutoff at www.pge.com/pspsupdates.
 
Community Resource Centers Reflect COVID-Safety Protocols
 
PG&E will open Community Resource Centers (CRCs) to support our customers. These temporary CRCs will be open to customers when power is out at their homes and will provide ADA-accessible restrooms and hand-washing stations; medical-equipment charging; Wi-Fi; bottled water; and non-perishable snacks.
 
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all CRCs will follow important health and safety protocols including:
 

• Facial coverings and maintaining a physical distance of at least six feet from those who are not part of the same household will be required at all CRCs.
• Temperature checks will be administered before entering CRCs that are located indoors.
• CRC staff will be trained in COVID-19 precautions and will regularly sanitize surfaces and use Plexiglass barriers at check-in.
• All CRCs will follow county and state requirements regarding COVID-19, including limits on the number of customers permitted indoors at any time.

 
Besides these health protocols, customers visiting a CRC in 2020 will experience further changes, including a different look and feel. In addition to using existing indoor facilities, PG&E is planning to open CRCs at outdoor, open-air sites in some locations and use large commercial vans as CRCs in other locations. CRC locations will depend on a number of factors, including input from local and tribal leaders. Outdoor CRCs will provide grab-and-go supply bags so most customers can be on their way quickly.
 
Here’s Where to Go to Learn More
 

• PG&E’s emergency website (pge.com/pspsupdates) is now available in 13 languages. Currently, the website is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Russian, Vietnamese, Korean, Farsi, Arabic, Hmong, Khmer, Punjabi and Japanese. Customers will have the opportunity to choose their language of preference for viewing the information when visiting the website.
• Customers are encouraged to update their contact information and indicate their preferred language for notifications by visitingwww.pge.com/mywildfirealerts or by calling 1-800-743-5000, where in-language support is available.
• Tenants and non-account holders can sign up to receive PSPS ZIP Code Alerts for any area where you do not have a PG&E account by visiting pge.com/pspszipcodealerts.
• PG&E has launched a new tool at its online Safety Action Center (safetyactioncenter.pge.com) to help customers prepare. By using the "Make Your Own Emergency Plan" tool and answering a few short questions, visitors to the website can compile and organize the important information needed for a personalized family emergency plan. This includes phone numbers, escape routes and a family meeting location if an evacuation is necessary.

 
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 23,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
 
 

by Melinda Myers



It’s time to think spring. Fall is the time to plant tulips, daffodils, crocus and other spring flowering bulbs. Use these early bloomers to welcome spring to your landscape. You’ll appreciate the color and cheery blooms after another long winter passes.


Extend your enjoyment by including early blooming bulbs like snowdrops, squills, and winter aconites. Add early, mid, or late spring blooming tulips and early and mid-spring flowering daffodils for a continuous display of color. Check the package or catalog description for bloom times. Gardeners in milder climates should look for low chill varieties that need a minimal cold period to bloom or plant prechilled bulbs annually. In either case, wait until late fall or early winter to plant.


Create some winning combinations by planting white tulips with grape hyacinths or yellow daffodils with the equally assertive blue squills. Plant a fragrant garden bouquet by combining tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. Select varieties that bloom at the same time in complementary colors or blends.


Include summer flowering hardy lilies. Many are fragrant and these stately beauties provide vertical accents in the garden. Cut a few stems to display in a vase or mix with other flowers in summer bouquets.


Don’t let hungry animals stop you from brightening your spring with these bulbs. Include animal resistant bulbs like hyacinths, grape hyacinths, daffodils, fritillarias, and alliums. 


You can plant tulips, crocus, and lilies, just be sure to use physical barriers like chicken wire or animal repellents like rain resistant Plantskydd (plantskydd.com). It’s an organic repellent that comes in both liquid and granular formulations to protect bulbs animals prefer to eat.


Lay the bulbs out on newspaper, apply the liquid repellent, and allow them to dry before planting.  Add an extra layer of protection by sprinkling the granular repellent over the soil surface. In spring, begin protecting the plants before the animals begin feeding. Follow label directions for proper timing of additional repellent applications.


Prepare the soil before planting. Work compost, peatmoss, or other organic matter into the top twelve inches of soil to improve drainage, a key factor in growing success.


Wait until the soil is cool to plant your bulbs. This is usually after the first hard frost or when night temperatures average between 40 and 50 degrees. Plant the bulbs two to three times their vertical height deep and at least two to three times their diameter apart. Try grouping at least six to nine larger bulbs, like tulips and daffodils, and 15 to 20 smaller bulbs, like squills and crocus, together for greater impact.


Mix a low nitrogen, slow release fertilizer into the soil surface and water thoroughly after planting.  Continue watering thoroughly when the soil is dry throughout the fall, while the bulbs grow roots.


After you enjoy their blooms next spring, leave the leaves intact until they yellow. Leaves produce the energy needed for next year’s floral display. Mask the fading foliage by planting winter hardy pansies with your bulbs in fall, adding color to both fall and spring gardens. Or plant bulbs amongst perennials. Early spring flowering perennials double your pleasure, later bloomers extend the flowering season, and both help hide fading bulb foliage.


Break out your trowel and gloves and get busy planting. You’ll be glad you did when that first flower appears next spring.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD seriesand the Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Tree World Plant Care for her expertise to write this article. Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.

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(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) has been honored with the “Guardian of Small Business” award from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). The nation’s largest small businesses advocacy association, NFIB represents small-business owner members and gives them a voice in public policymaking. LaMalfa was chosen for this award based on his outstanding voting record on behalf of America’s small-business owners during the 116th Congress.
 
 LaMalfa said: “Small businesses employ the vast majority of Americans and are the driving force behind rural economies — like those in Northern California — but they have been through a lot this year. As our country navigates the coronavirus pandemic, small businesses need support from both consumers and Congress to bring our economy back up to speed. I am honored to receive this award and will continue to promote pro-growth policies that will help small businesses recover and prosper.”
 
“Small businesses have never needed more reliable allies in Congress than they do now, and Congressman Doug LaMalfa has been a steadfast fighter for Main Street enterprises,” said NFIB Vice President of Federal Government Relations Kevin Kuhlman. “It really helps he comes from small-business roots. There is a qualitative difference from those representatives who don’t, and that difference is a fundamental understanding that small businesses are not smaller versions of big businesses and are not always helped by one-size-fits all legislation. Our Guardian of Small Business awards are given only to those whose votes back up their rhetoric, and Congressman LaMalfa is a man of his word, and small businesses are honored to have him in our corner.”
 
 Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.

“What a dump!” - this line, from King Vidor’s 1949 film Beyond the Forest starring Bette Davis and Joseph Cotten, was voted #62 in the American Film Institute’s “100 Years… 100 Movie Quotes” when the list was made in 2005. The film and its notorious quote are also referenced in Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? The “dump” that Bette Davis’ character Rosa Moline refers to in the film is no other place than the city of Loyalton. Let’s take a closer look at the film and how Loyalton was included.
Ed Stephan puts forward the plot of the film as follows on IMDB: “Rosa Moline is bored with life in a small town. She loves Chicago industrialist Neil Latimer who has a hunting lodge nearby. Rosa squeezes her husband's patients to pay their bills so she can visit Chicago; her husband's patience is also tried: he tells her to go and never come back. Once there, Neil tells her he doesn't want her. Back home and pregnant, Neil shows up and now wants her. The caretaker at Neil's lodge threatens to reveal her pregnancy…”
Sierra County’s own city of Loyalton serves as the small town that Rosa is bored with. However, since the story takes place in a small town outside of Chicago, “Loyalton, California” is now re-named “Loyalton, Wisconsin” in the film.
The opening sequences of the film show many shots of 1940s Loyalton: its lonely Main Street, its long-gone theatre, and the Clover Valley Lumber Company’s mill; aside from losing a few buildings on Main Street, Loyalton looks almost the same today as it does in the film!
However, contrary to what I’ve heard a few Loyalton residents say about the filming process, Bette Davis, Joseph Cotten, and their co-stars did not shoot any of their scenes in Loyalton nor did they ever visit the town. The town was purely used as a backdrop to larger shots lacking the main characters (as seen in the opening scene). The train station, the Main Street and it’s business fronts that Davis’ character glides by, and the old house her character inhabits are all Hollywood sets. None of the film’s interior shots portray actual structures in Loyalton; they too are sets.
In one striking scene, Davis’ character can be seen on the balcony to her house while the fiery glow of the Clover Valley Lumber Mill’s teepee burner rages in the background. This scene was capable due to the amazing work of cinematographer Robert Burks, who used forced perspective to make the scene appear that it was filmed on location. Burks’ work caught the attention of Alfred Hitchcock, who later on utilized Burks’ talents for twelve of his films.
The character of Rosa Moline also describes Loyalton as “a two-train-a-day town” and her time there being like “sitting in a coffin and waiting to be carried out” and that “If I don't get out of here I'll die. If I don't get out of here I hope I die and burn.”
Raymond Durgnat and Scott Simmon wrote in their biography about director King Vidor that “In contrast to the city’s brutal industry, the film takes in its stride what is virtually a little documentary on small-town community, whose sawmills and rural industry set the slow, stolid human pace to which Rosa’s nervous intensity cannot adapt, and into whose neighborly concerns she cannot sink her spiritual roots… Loyalton’s one tiny blemish is that it is built around a pollution-belching mill that runs day and night, and after dark the sawdust flames turn the townscape into a glowing inferno.”
Beyond the Forest ended up being the final film Bette Davis completed during her tenure with Warner Brothers. Davis and Vidor feuded often during filming, and at one point, Davis went as far as asking Warner Brothers to replace him as the director. The film was generally looked upon as a failure. New York Times film critic Bosley Crowther wrote “To be sure, the script by Lenore Coffee offers little for her to do but run through the usual banalities of an infidelity yarn ... For those who have not been embarrassed by pretensions in a fairly long time, let us recommend the climax of this incredibly artificial film—the final scene in which the lady, apparently burning up with a bad case of peritonitis, drags herself out of bed, pulls herself to her mirror, smears make-up on her face and gets dressed in disheveled finery to stagger forth toward the railroad tracks and death… Not to be coy about it, we can see no 'Oscars' in the offing for this film.” The film also features abortion elements that were controversial at the time. However, Max Steiner, who composed the score of the film, was nominated in 1950 for an Academy Award for Best Music (Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture).
A copy of Beyond the Forest can be found at the Loyalton Library.

 
Dr. Richard Webby, member of the World Health Organization’s Influenza Vaccine Composition Advisory Team, responsible for each year’s vaccine composition recommendation, says “get the flu shot now”  
 
MEMPHIS, TENN. – As coronavirus cases surge across the nation heading into the winter season, Dr. Richard Webby, a member of the Infectious Diseases Department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the World Health Organization’s Influenza Vaccine Composition Advisory Team, encourages all Americans to use October to get this year’s newly reformulated flu vaccine to receive full protection. 
 
“Taking roughly two weeks to build up immunity in your body, it is important to get the flu vaccine by the end of October to have full protection before influenza season arrives,” said Dr. Richard Webby, a member of the Infectious Diseases Department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the World Health Organization’s Influenza Vaccine Composition Advisory Team. “It is the most effective tool we have to stave off the influenza virus. We can all help save lives by getting the flu shot now in order for it to provide maximum immunity.”
 
The World Health Organization Influenza Vaccine Composition Advisory Team members, released recommendations earlier this year on the composition of the flu vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere.  The recommendations are used to guide national vaccine regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical companies to develop, produce and license influenza vaccines.
 
“To avoid what could be a volatile dual influenza and COVID-19 season this fall and winter in the United States, now is the time to get the flu shot,” Webby said. “The absolute best way for the public to prepare against this unique and unpredictable scenario is to protect themselves now and not to wait for influenza activity to start before getting the flu shot.”
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people receive a flu shot by the end of October. Given it takes approximately two weeks for the influenza vaccine to build up enough antibodies to offer the shots full protections against the influenza virus, people shouldn’t wait until the flu starts spreading in their community. 
 
“The more people who get the flu shot will result in less severe influenza in our communities, resulting in less of an impact on our medical facilities and greater protection for the entire population,” Webby said. “Let’s not wait for a spike in flu cases to take action.  The bottom line is the flu shot is still the most valuable and life-saving public health tool in preventing and spreading the flu while protecting our most vulnerable family, friends, and neighbors.”  
 

 
Dr. Webby is a leading, expert voice on the importance of getting the flu-shot with guest pieces in CNN, Newsweek, & FOX News. A world-renowned virologist, he is an often-sought-after source for on-the-record commentary by national, international and local media for expert advice and analysis on the spread of influenza and other contagious viruses. 
 

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St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. St. Jude is ranked the No. 1 pediatric cancer hospital by U.S. News & World Report. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing and food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. To learn more, visit stjude.org or follow St. Jude on social media at @stjuderesearch.
 

 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Nearly six teen drivers are involved in a fatal car crash every day in the United States.  Inexperience combined with driver distraction increases the risk for error, making motor vehicle crashes the leading cause of death for young drivers in the nation.  To reduce teen distracted driving, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has partnered with Impact Teen Drivers (ITD) to teach positive habits and behaviors to our most vulnerable drivers through education and enforcement.
 
Ten percent of all drivers ages 15 to 19 who were involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash, and 100 percent of those crashes were preventable.  Based on miles driven, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety discovered that teens are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers.  To combat this alarming trend, the message of the ITD program is simple:  keep both hands on the wheel, eyes on the road, and mind focused on driving.
 
“Teen drivers are the most at risk of driving distracted.  They are more likely than any other demographic to be involved in traffic crashes where distracted driving is a factor,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley.  “Sadly, many of these crashes will result in injuries and deaths.  We hope to help eliminate these preventable deadly crashes.”
 
The CHP and ITD will conduct virtual classes at schools and community events throughout California during the pandemic to help change the behavior of teen drivers.  The yearlong Teen Distracted Drivers Education and Enforcement X grant provides for an education component as well as enforcement operations to be conducted statewide through September 30, 2021. 
 
“In California we lose the equivalent of eight, large school buses filled with teens each year to car crashes.  Impact Teen Drivers, CHP, and the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) partner to offer free in-person and online training for parents and teens—together, we can stop the #1 killer of teens,” said Dr. Kelly Browning, Executive Director of ITD.
 
For free safe driving resources in English or Spanish, please visit www.ImpactTeenDrivers.org.
 
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from OTS through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

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Dr. Glenn Mollette 
 
Halloween is typically a relaxed day for America's kids to fill their coffers with candy. Children and adults often don their favorite wacky attire for a day of comic relief. 
 
America needs a day of some kind of relief and maybe Halloween will provide some insanity or terror relief. Because nothing about Halloween is as scary as what America and the world has been experiencing. 
 
We have buried over 220,000 Americans from Covid-19. Over eight million have been sick. Nursing homes and Intensive Care Units have become horror wards. The projections for more sickness and death scare most Americans. We are afraid to go to church, out to eat, and to the grocery store. The airplane, hotel and restaurant industries are in peril as many have already closed or are on the verge of closing. Over 12 Million Americans are now unemployed and many in financial devastation because of Covid-19. 
 
 Congress continues to haggle over what and how much the government can further indebt our nation to keep us afloat for the present. With an approximate 28 trillion-dollar deficit and growing when will America file for bankruptcy? What will it take to keep Social Security and Medicare going? More taxes for a broader range of Americans and increased payroll taxes are on the near horizon, most Americans fear. It's more than a little scary. 
 
On top of Covid-19, job loss, business failures and increasing poverty Americans are masked fatigued. Children are tired of being home from school. Adults miss the comaraderie and social dynamics of their workmates. Working at home first felt good and welcomed but has become old for many Americans. The thought of this going on for another six months or even a year or longer is more than scary - it's terrifying. 
 
On top of all this we have a major election in front of us. Americans are terrified about the election. We are frightened about who will be elected. Trump being reelected terrifies millions while millions are terrified Joe Biden will be elected. We are horrified of what may come as the result of this election and what either of the candidates may bring to America the next four years.
 
We are further scared by each other. The hostility of Americans toward people with different views is out of hand. Hurting people, cursing people, destroying property are not hallmark qualities of a civilized society. We have sadly stopped being civil in America. Rude and crude are no longer shy in this nation. Pushing, shoving and outright fighting with people is becoming too normal. This is not what the average American wants and is disdained by most of us. Let's face it, people who act this way scare most Americans.
 
It's Halloween time in America and there is plenty of fright to go around. The best treat we can give our country is treating each other the way we would like to be treated. 

Click here for -> Books By Glenn Mollette , Read his latest book Uncommon Sense
Music by Glenn Mollette through iTunes and all music dealers
  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – If you lost your home or sustained other losses because of wildfires in Lassen or Tulare counties Aug. 14-Sept. 26, 2020, you may be eligible for assistance from FEMA. This applies to survivors of the Sheep Fire and W-5 Cold Springs Fire in Lassen County and Tulare County’s SQF Complex, which includes the Castle Fire and Shotgun Fire.

FEMA gives eligible survivors financial awards to help them pay for such needs as rent, home repair or replacement; medical, dental or funeral costs and other serious disaster-related expenses.
Insurance is generally the best source of funds to recover from a disaster. If you have insurance that covers all or part of your wildfire losses, file your claim immediately before applying for disaster assistance. Get the process started as quickly as possible. The faster you file your insurance claim, the faster you can move ahead with your recovery. If your insurance doesn’t cover all your serious disaster-related expenses, you may be eligible for FEMA assistance to help fill the gap.
Take photographs or video of the damage and keep all receipts related to clearing smoke, home repair or other disaster-related needs.
The only way to determine whether you are eligible for FEMA assistance is to apply. You can do that in three ways: online at www.disasterassistance.gov, by downloading and using the FEMA app on your smartphone or tablet, or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. PDT. The helpline has specialists who speak many different languages. If you use a relay service such as a videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, provide FEMA the specific number assigned to that service when you register. Deadline to register is Nov. 23.
You may also call the helpline for answers to your questions about FEMA assistance and to discuss letters that FEMA may send you.
To apply for assistance, be prepared with the following information:

• Social Security Number
• Insurance policy information
• Address of the damaged primary dwelling
• A description of disaster-caused damage and losses
• Current mailing address
• Current telephone number
• Total household annual income
• Routing and account number of your checking or savings account (for direct transfer to your bank account)

After registering, create your own personal account at the disasterassistance.gov website or with the FEMA app on your smartphone or tablet. You can use your account to check the status of your application, view messages from FEMA, update your personal information, and upload important documents.
If you are unable to upload your documents, mail them to FEMA at P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville MD 20782-8055 or fax them to 800-827-8112.
Inspections
Before FEMA can determine eligibility for home replacement or repair, the applicant’s property must be inspected. During COVID-19, FEMA inspections are being conducted by phone. These remote inspections are comparable to traditional, in-person inspections and can expedite recovery assistance for eligible applicants. For security purposes, the inspector will verify your identity by asking a series of qualifying questions and then provide you with the first four digits of your application to complete the verification.
If you reported that you cannot safely live in your home, a FEMA inspector will contact you by phone and ask about the type and extent of damage sustained. Survivors with minimal damage who can live in their homes will not automatically be scheduled for a home inspection when applying to FEMA, but they may request an inspection.
Home inspections do not impact the types of assistance that may be available for other disaster-related expenses such as for childcare, transportation, medical, dental, funeral, moving and storage assistance and other serious wildfire-related expenses.
U.S. Small Business Administration
Following a disaster SBA makes disaster loans available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations. Many survivors use SBA disaster loans to help fund their recovery. SBA has established a Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center to help homeowners and renters. Customer service representatives are available to assist business owners and individuals, to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each person complete their electronic loan application.
Virtual Business Recovery Center and Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center
For customer service:
Mondays – Sundays
5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT
FOCWAssistance@sba.gov
(800) 659-2955
For the latest information on wildfire recovery, visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4558 and follow the FEMA Region 9 Twitter account at https://twitter.com/femaregion9 .
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All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).
FEMA’s mission: Helping people before, during, and after disasters.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property.
For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. TTY users may also call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit SBA at SBA.gov/disaster.

SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 29 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief in support of the United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ability to require graphic warnings on cigarette packages in the case Philip Morris USA v. FDA. Tobacco continues to be the deadliest product sold in the United States and one of the most addictive. In the amicus brief, the coalition argues that the FDA has a significant interest in informing the public of the potential health consequences of smoking and is not prevented from requiring graphic warnings by the First Amendment.    
“As tobacco companies work to entice a new generation of smokers, the FDA must work to inform Americans of the consequences of using tobacco products,” said Attorney General Becerra. “Smoking cigarettes is a deadly choice, particularly in the midst of a respiratory pandemic. That’s why we’re standing with a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in support of the FDA’s ability to require graphic warnings on cigarette packages.” 
Smoking is the number one preventable killer in the United States, with over 480,000 Americans dying from tobacco-related diseases every year. This is more than the number of people who die from alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murder, and suicides – combined. Over forty years of experience has shown that small, obscurely placed, and text-only warning labels on cigarette packs simply do not work. More than 40 million Americans continue to smoke today.
On March 18, 2020, the FDA issued a final rule requiring that new graphic warnings be placed on cigarette packages and cigarette advertisements to increase the public’s awareness of the serious health consequences of cigarette smoking. The warnings are necessary to counteract the effect that decades of deception by the cigarette manufacturers have had on the public. The warnings will permit consumers to make an informed choice rather than a choice made without considering relevant information. 
In the amicus brief, the bipartisan coalition urges the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to uphold the FDA’s ability to require graphic warnings, arguing that:

• The FDA has a substantial interest in reinforcing consumers’ understanding of the dangers of smoking; and
• The warning labels are consistent with the First Amendment because they serve the public interest of disclosing beneficial consumer information and counteract decades of deceptive behavior by the tobacco industry.  

Attorney General Becerra joined a similar brief in support of the FDA’s ability to require graphic warnings on cigarette packages in July 2020.
Attorney General Becerra joins the attorneys general of Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia in filing the amicus brief. 
A copy of the amicus brief can be found here.

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Cybercrime is a massive global industry, reaching $3.5 billion in damages from reported incidents in 2019. Safety.com consulted the 2019 FBI Internet Crime Report to uncover the states most affected by cybercrime. The report provides statistics for every state regarding the number of victims, number of cybercriminals, total losses, and total earnings by cybercriminals.

States are ranked by total monetary losses as a result of cybercrime.Social engineering, or manipulating people into divulging confidential data, is one of the leading forms of information theft that causes financial damages. Perpetrators might call and pretend to be from a tech support team from the victim’s bank, for example. People are vulnerable to these social attacks the same way they’re liable to fall for other phishing attacks online, in which victims are tricked into handing over highly personal information such as Social Security numbers, account numbers, or passwords.
Phishing attacks could come in the form of an email or text that looks like it is from a reputable company or site asking you to click on a link to change your password or offer you free merchandise.These attacks can easily catch victims off guard—from unsuspecting retirees to top-level employees at major companies.
Using security software on devices including computers, tablets, and smartphones is recommended by the Federal Trade Commission, as is using multi-factor authentication for accounts when offered. And for those who think they have fallen victim to cybercrime, it is important to report it to the proper agencies, such as the FBI‘s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Being aware of the threat is the first step to defend against cybercriminals. Read on to find out how much cybercriminals steal in every state.
Data visualization
States most affected by cybercrime heatmap (Preview)

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Teen drivers can face challenges with every new experience.  During National Teen Driver Safety Week, October 18-24, 2020, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) joins the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to encourage parents and guardians to discuss driver safety with their young drivers.
 
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, ahead of any type of injury, disease, or violence.  According to preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, 255 people in California were killed last year in crashes involving drivers aged 15-19.  
 
“Teen drivers do not have the experience needed when confronted with new challenges on the road.  This can create a potential danger to themselves and others,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said.  “Through open communication and by setting an example with their own good driving habits, parents and guardians can help keep their young drivers safe.” 
 
Discussions about safe driving include avoiding distractions such as cell phones, using seat belts, obeying speed limits, not driving impaired, and limiting the number of passengers.  Parents and guardians must be aware that their own driving behavior and following the same rules is as important as any conversation they may have with their teen.
 
The CHP provides education to help keep teen drivers alive in its Start Smart course, offered by all CHP offices free of charge.  Participating in Start Smart will help parents and guardians learn how to effectively discuss the importance of driving safely with their young drivers.  Start Smart also teaches driver responsibility, the Graduated Driver License program, and collision-avoidance techniques.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Start Smartclasses are being held online.  Contact your local CHP Area office for information on how to enroll.
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
 

SACRAMENTO--State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced Thursday that the California Department of Education (CDE) has launched a statewide fundraising effort to bolster aid for schools in regions ravaged by wildfires and other disasters.
Thousands of students, families, and educators across California have endured weeks of back-to-back challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, wildfires, power outages, and poor air quality. The new CDE Emergency Response Fund, launched Thursday in partnership with the Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation (CDEF), will support the rapid generation of resources to schools facing unprecedented loss and uncertainty.
“Too many of our school communities are hurting and have endured more challenges than many of us will experience in a lifetime,” Thurmond said. “Californians are resilient, generous, and always have each other’s backs in times of crisis. Let’s continue to come together for our communities in need so they can get back on their feet.”
Those wishing to donate to the CDE Emergency Response Fund can visit its GoFundMe page. Funds will be used for essentials such as food, water, computers, internet hotspots, personal protective equipment, and other supplies.
"It has been amazing to witness the strength and compassion of Californians in response to this devastating wildfire season. Several county offices of education mobilized immediately to gauge need and work with us to direct supplies,” said Jessica Howard, Chief Executive Officer of the CDEF. “Building on other successful partnerships with the California Department of Education, we will provide rapid and flexible support to those in need and ask you to contribute to the CDE Emergency Response Fund so we can continue this important work."
Last month, at the height of this season’s wildfires, as many as 71 schools and more than 23,000 students were at one time located in known evacuation zones. At least four schools in three counties have been damaged or destroyed.
The new fundraising effort builds on relief work already underway. The CDE, in partnership with the Governor’s Office and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, has worked in recent months to deliver resources to school communities in need, including 40,000 N95 masks to the Butte County Office of Education. The CDE’s emergency response efforts have also secured more than 900 computing and connectivity devices and other essential distance learning accessories, such as headphones and monitors, as communities recover and resume learning.
During a virtual news briefing Thursday, school superintendents from some of the regions hardest hit by tragedies spoke to the tremendous need that remains.
"Whenever schools are impacted by wildfires, there are many hidden costs that are not immediately apparent,” said Dr. Barbara Nemko, Napa County Superintendent of Schools. “It's vital that we provide the financial support needed to ensure that student learning is uninterrupted."
"We are familiar with devastating fire, but we have learned from our past, we are prepared for our present, and we know that no matter how many times we face the flames, we will rise together from the ashes to build our future,” said Mary Sakuma, Butte County Superintendent of Schools. “As our displaced students and their families begin to rebuild, the main areas of need continue to be gift cards for gas, food, and other essential items. We are continually grateful for the support we receive. A special thank you to Superintendent Thurmond and all of CDE for their support of Butte County students."
Questions about the CDE Emergency Response Fund can be emailed to emergencyservices@cde.ca.gov.
An archived broadcast of Thursday’s full media check-in with the State Superintendent can be viewed on the CDE’s Facebook page.
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The California Department of Education is a state agency led by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. For more information, please visit the California Department of Education’s website. You may also follow Superintendent Thurmond on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
 

BOY SCOUT MASTER DERRICK KOCH is shown with Troop 60 at Loyalton City Park following their first meeting of the year this week following COVID-19 restrictions.