State Roadside Rest Areas Will Be Closed Alternating Days
 
NEVADA COUNTY – Caltrans is alerting motorists of alternating, planned closures of the eastbound and westbound Donner Summit State Roadside Rest Areas (SRRA) this week for maintenance work.
 
Caltrans maintenance crews will be restriping the rest area parking lots and performing other miscellaneous work following a heavy winter snow season in the Sierra.
 
Alternating rest areas will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following days:
·         Eastbound: Wednesday, June 26
·         Westbound: Thursday, June 27

The Gold Run SRRA’s located between Alta and Colfax will be open during Donner Summit maintenance work.
 
Weather or unexpected events may delay or prolong the work. Caltrans advises motorists to “Be Work Zone Alert.” The department will issue updates on Twitter @CaltransDist3 and on Facebook atCaltransDistrict3. For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans’ QuickMap quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ or download the QuickMap app from theApp Store or Google Play.
 

As Wildfire Season Progresses, Updates Needed from More Than 240,000 Customers
More than 390,000 Customers Have Updated Information Since June 2018
 
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is sending postcards to more than 240,000 customers encouraging them to update their mobile number, email and other key information so the company can contact them in advance should it become necessary to temporarily turn off power for safety this fire season.
 
These customers, who live throughout PG&E’s service area, have incomplete or no contact information on file.
 
It is important that all customer information is up to date so PG&E can share important wildfire safety alerts. In addition to notifying customers directly, PG&E also will provide outage updates and information through channels such as social media, local news, radio and the pge.com website.
 
“With the 2019 wildfire season now upon us, we all need to be better prepared to stay emergency-ready and to keep our families and friends safe,” said Laurie Giammona, PG&E’s senior vice president and chief customer officer. “We are asking our customers to be sure we have their latest contact information so we can do our best to reach them in advance of a potential Public Safety Power Shutoff event.”
 
The Public Safety Power Shutoff program is one of many additional precautionary safety measures in response to the 2017 and 2018 wildfires that the company is putting in place as part of its Community Wildfire Safety Program intended to reduce wildfire threats and strengthen communities for the future.
 
Extreme weather threats can change quickly. PG&E’s goal, dependent on weather and other factors, is to send customer alerts through automated calls, texts and emails at 48 hours, again at 24 hours, and again just prior to shutting off power.
 
Besides updating their contact information to prepare for Public Safety Power Shutoffs, PG&E encourages customers to do the following:
 
•       Have an emergency plan for wildfires and discuss it with your friends, family and neighbors;
•       Update or create a go bag or 72-hour kit that can be used if you need to evacuate; and
•       Clear defensible space around your home or business.
 
PG&E thanks the over 390,000 customers who have taken action to ensure they will receive its wildfire safety alerts since June 1, 2018. For customers who have not yet confirmed or updated their contact information, PG&E strongly encourages everyone to do so by visiting www.pge.com/mywildfirealerts or by calling the PG&E contact center at 1-866-743-6589.
 
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 nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.

andy@nevadacityengineering.com
June 25, 2019-Andrew R. Cassano is a Town/Regional Planner and Professional Land Surveyor with 50 years of experience in Northern California. He is CEO of Nevada City Engineering, Inc., a firm offering regional planning, surveying, and civil engineering consulting to the private and public sector since 1978.
What’s Fair?
After being a professional planner for most of my 50- year career, I’ve been in countless public hearings either representing local government or the land use applicant. The debates can be furious at times.
Neighbors and some community groups are understandably concerned with change and the possible effects of a new project. The applicant is understandably defensive about their reasonable expectation to improve the property. Planning commissioners and elected officials are there to sort it out.
But what is truly fair? The General Plan is the definition of the proverbial “level playing field” when it comes to land use and development. It’s there to protect and give assurances to the neighbors of new development proposals. It’s also there to protect land development applicants from their neighbors, by providing advanced notice of what will happen with all new development.
The General Plan is a detailed policy document required in every California jurisdiction, both cities and counties, to provide the community’s plan and policies for growth and development. You can Google it for your community, and it will probably be online.
From the General Plan flows zoning and all related land use and development requirements. With a few exceptions, California law requires that all zoning be consistent with the General Plan and that all discretionary project approvals be consistent with the General Plan. The professional planning staff’s in each jurisdiction keep an eye on this and help their decision-making planning commissions, city councils, and boards of supervisors feel confident that their decisions comply.
The General Plan is the ruling document in land use decisions. It provides the information, for all to see and understand, on how each vacant or under-developed piece of property is likely to be used in the future.
As such, the General Plan is also the definition of property value. Property value is the basis for taxation, which funds government services and schools. We all rely on this land value when we make any real estate investment, including our personal residence.
Real estate sales prices are based on the value indicated by the General Plan’s designation for how you can use your land. The Assessor’s role is to assess land at fair market value based on the highest and best use under the General Plan. Property taxes are based on the assessed value.
Zoning is the way that most of the General Plan requirements are implemented. Zoning has more detail than the general plan and it has become the first document that land use applicants and County/City staff look to for development requirements. Zoning typically includes density standards, lot coverage limits, building setbacks, and even building design standards.
As a professional planner, I turn to the General Plan and zoning often as the official declaration from the community on what they want and plan to see with respect to the property that I’m working on.
So, if you’re wondering what will become to the vacant parcel next door to your house, turn to the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance for insight. These documents will provide you with a good idea of the development possibilities that you should anticipate or call us and we will help you understand these documents and their implications to you. 

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​The Sierra County Grand Jury 2018-2019 Final Report has been filed with Heather Foster, Sierra County Clerk-Recorder.  Copies of the report may be obtained via email or mail by contacting the Sierra Superior Court by mail at P.O. Box 476, Downieville, CA 95936 or phone at 530-289-2930.  You may view and print the report on the County website under the title of Grand Jury Reports at www.sierracounty.ca.gov

 

WASHINGTON, DC, June 21 -- America’s children are under attack by the entertainment industry, says Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. He cites the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, which reports that a Netflix TV series, which premiered two years ago, 13 Reasons Why,is associated with a significant increase in suicides among adolescents.

Meanwhile, Weber expressed concern about the inappropriate impact of other teen accessible TV programming. He says that much of that content can have negative influence on the lives of kids due to explicit content, including scenes of drug use and sex and rape. He noted that Tim Winter, who heads up the Parents Television Council, recently said that what “Netflix is doing with ’13 Reasons Why,’ HBO, with its new high school centered show, ‘Euphoria,’ appears to be overtly, intentionally marketing extremely graphic adult content – sex, violence, profanity and drug use – to teens and preteens.”

Winter told Fox News that although the cable program company says Euphoria is a show intended for adults, “HBO is now internationally marketing this content to children.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics has long warned that kid-centric media content, whether on the big screen, on TV or in video games can be harmful to young minds. The AAP has noted that even suggestive lyrics in the songs they listen to can put the health and welfare of children and adolescents at “significant” risk.

Weber says that there is plenty of evidence that “the right kinds video games” can have a positive impact on children. He says there are many games that challenge kids brains to solve problems -- electronic puzzles, games that can improve hand-eye coordination and that teach how to analyze complex situations and make quick decisions, for example.

According to a large scale study of adolescents conducted by Michigan State University, “the more kids played video games, the more creative they were in tasks such as drawing pictures and writing stories.” 

However, Weber points out that many children are attracted to games with aggressively violent themes and that there are numerous studies showing these can have a negative effect on youngsters. “It’s up to parents to monitor their children’s video gaming as well as the amount of time they are spending with these devices. It is most important, however, that guardians make sure the games are age appropriate, a task that can be aided by the Entertainment Software Rating Board. The ESRB rates games by age, offering six categories ranging from ‘Early Childhood’ to ‘Adult Only’.”

Weber also suggests that parents preview any such game that can be purchased for use in gaming systems and those that are downloaded via the Internet. 

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_______________________________
The 2 million member Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] [https://www.amac.us] is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. We act and speak on their behalf, protecting their interests and offering a practical insight on how to best solve the problems they face today. Live long and make a difference by joining us today at https://amac.us/join-amac.

​Celebrate Your Community on Independence Day! 
By Quint Studer, author of Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America
As I go about my work of helping communities revitalize and reinvent themselves, I often get to see the best of America and I'm reminded that the foundations that built this country are still just as important today. 

It's long been said that America is all about rugged individualism, and that is true to some extent. Yes, being as self-sufficient as you can be is an admirable trait, but it only takes one so far. People need people in order to really live and nowhere is that more true than in communities. 

Back when our ancestors landed on our shores, they didn't head off into the woods to build a log cabin singlehandedly. No, they banded together in small communities. They worked together, struggled together, cried together, and celebrated together. They shared what they had when they could—and expected others to do the same for them when they needed help. 

Early Americans had to live this way. Otherwise, they would never have survived in this unfamiliar, unforgiving land. 

Today, something very similar is happening. We're in the middle of a massive community revitalization movement. Across America, cities and towns of all sizes are looking to reinvent themselves after a long, hard recession and several chaotic decades that turned their world upside town. 

For many communities, globalization and technology reshuffled the deck. Much like our forefathers and foremothers, people found themselves lost in uncharted territory. Jobs disappeared. Unemployment skyrocketed. Infrastructure crumbled. Once-bustling downtowns deteriorated. Young people moved away in search of better lives (and who can blame them). 

Now, we've collectively decided to look homeward. We've decided to bring our communities back from the brink. And we're not doing it as a nation of rugged individuals. We're doing it in small, tight-knit groups as we embrace the spirit of cooperation, collaboration, and partnership. 

Community leaders, business owners, and citizens are deeply engaged and working together to breathe new life into our downtowns. We're encouraging entrepreneurs to start new ventures. We're choosing to eat, drink, play, and shop locally. We're showing up at street festivals, volunteering, and supporting the institutions that feed, educate, and heal our community. 

As I look to communities that are thriving, one thing is for certain. We are still the land of opportunity. People are finding they can still start a business, make a living, and provide jobs to others. While a strong local government is part of every vibrant community, in most cases private industry is the backbone. Thriving local business communities lead to long-term prosperity. 

So here's what I believe: Real independence is about working hard, playing hard, building strong relationships with family and friends, and being happy in the place we've put down our roots. It's about choosing the kind of life we want to live. For the most part, this can exist only in the context of community. 

This Independence Day, I hope you'll take a moment to be grateful for your community and reflect on what you might do to make it better. Get involved. Find a cause that speaks to you. Share your ideas. Join together with like-minded neighbors and work to make something happen. 

The spirit of community is the spirit that built America. And it's what will rebuild us as we work together to create our future.
# # #
About the Author: 
Quint Studer is author of Building a Vibrant Community and founder of Pensacola's Studer Community Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on improving the community's quality of life and moving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties forward. He is a businessman, a visionary, an entrepreneur, and a mentor to many. He currently serves as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of West Florida. For more information, visit www.vibrantcommunityblueprint.com and www.studeri.org.



Celebrate Your Community on Independence Day! 

By Quint Studer, author of Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America
As I go about my work of helping communities revitalize and reinvent themselves, I often get to see the best of America and I'm reminded that the foundations that built this country are still just as important today. 

It's long been said that America is all about rugged individualism, and that is true to some extent. Yes, being as self-sufficient as you can be is an admirable trait, but it only takes one so far. People need people in order to really live and nowhere is that more true than in communities. 

Back when our ancestors landed on our shores, they didn't head off into the woods to build a log cabin singlehandedly. No, they banded together in small communities. They worked together, struggled together, cried together, and celebrated together. They shared what they had when they could—and expected others to do the same for them when they needed help. 

Early Americans had to live this way. Otherwise, they would never have survived in this unfamiliar, unforgiving land. 

Today, something very similar is happening. We're in the middle of a massive community revitalization movement. Across America, cities and towns of all sizes are looking to reinvent themselves after a long, hard recession and several chaotic decades that turned their world upside town. 

For many communities, globalization and technology reshuffled the deck. Much like our forefathers and foremothers, people found themselves lost in uncharted territory. Jobs disappeared. Unemployment skyrocketed. Infrastructure crumbled. Once-bustling downtowns deteriorated. Young people moved away in search of better lives (and who can blame them). 

Now, we've collectively decided to look homeward. We've decided to bring our communities back from the brink. And we're not doing it as a nation of rugged individuals. We're doing it in small, tight-knit groups as we embrace the spirit of cooperation, collaboration, and partnership. 

Community leaders, business owners, and citizens are deeply engaged and working together to breathe new life into our downtowns. We're encouraging entrepreneurs to start new ventures. We're choosing to eat, drink, play, and shop locally. We're showing up at street festivals, volunteering, and supporting the institutions that feed, educate, and heal our community. 

As I look to communities that are thriving, one thing is for certain. We are still the land of opportunity. People are finding they can still start a business, make a living, and provide jobs to others. While a strong local government is part of every vibrant community, in most cases private industry is the backbone. Thriving local business communities lead to long-term prosperity. 

So here's what I believe: Real independence is about working hard, playing hard, building strong relationships with family and friends, and being happy in the place we've put down our roots. It's about choosing the kind of life we want to live. For the most part, this can exist only in the context of community. 

This Independence Day, I hope you'll take a moment to be grateful for your community and reflect on what you might do to make it better. Get involved. Find a cause that speaks to you. Share your ideas. Join together with like-minded neighbors and work to make something happen. 

The spirit of community is the spirit that built America. And it's what will rebuild us as we work together to create our future.
# # #
About the Author: 
Quint Studer is author of Building a Vibrant Community and founder of Pensacola's Studer Community Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on improving the community's quality of life and moving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties forward. He is a businessman, a visionary, an entrepreneur, and a mentor to many. He currently serves as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of West Florida. For more information, visit www.vibrantcommunityblueprint.com and www.studeri.org.

The Plumas Sierra Cattlewomen helped make the last Tuesday that the local children attended school a very special occasion.  The fourth grade classes of Ms Thayer and Ms. Preston from C.Roy Carmichael attended with their total of 44 students in the morning.  In the afternoon from Loyalton Elementary came 24 members from Ms. Folchi's third grade class along with 36 fourth grade children from the classes of Ms. Haug and Ms. Armstrong .  They were greeted as they arrived  by Plumas Sierra Cattlemen who were eager to begin the Ranch Day Experience.  After dividing into 5 groups they rotated between five stations of interest:
These were as follows: Ranch owner Dave Goss with the help of Cinnamon LaFeaver and daughter Karlie drove the hay wagon with his tractor out into the fields as areas of interest and history were pointed out.  New baby calves were among the sights.  Another area contained Ms. Goss with her sheep and dogs.  Explaining about the care of a lamb from its beginning to adulthood was followed by a demonstration of a working sheep dog.  Next Mrs. Roberti held the attention of the students with information about the care of calves from their birth to maturity.  Then the students each received a newly branded piece of wood at the brand identification station.  Mr. Knight and Mr. Forrest were in charge of the hot branding irons. Along the back fence three poster-type bulletin boards were hung where Ms. Knight and Ms. Pombo informed the listening students abut the many by-products gotten from a cow,  (Did you know that the NFL uses 3,000 hides in a season for their footballs?}  As students answered questions about the many by-products, they got a marshmellow which has components made from a cow.  The last station was where the  wonderous mysteries of the egg-producing process in a hen was explained. by Ms. Colberg
 All in all it was a very successful and educational day.  The Plumas Sierra Cattlewomen have the goal in their involvement with the youth of the community to "instill in the coming generation the love of the land and of life, the humility and awe before nature and the hope and faith in the future".  This is a direct quote from the Cattlewomen's Creed.  Those members who participat ed in this activity were Laural Colberg,  Hollis Coogan, Valerie Cook, Stacey Estrada, LaVerne Forrest, Denise Geissinger, Doris Goss, Kathy Knight, Chris Lindberg, Marjorie Logan, Karka Pombo, Helen Roberti, Linda Springer, Debbie Thompson, Nancy Thompson,Joleen Torri, and Lulu Zeits.  


                  Nancy Thompson

 
            The Sierra Schools Foundation announced the award of $38,881 in grants on June 13 to teachers in the Sierra-Plumas Unified School District. The various amounts will fund equipment for the arts and sciences, field trips, new curriculum materials, and a part-time instructor in engineering-related courses.
            The funding for the grant projects are listed as follows:
Loyalton High School:

• Soil pH and Moisture Meters, $1,246, Jason Adams
• Visiting Artist Joe Winter, $120, Katherine Genasci
• Nevada Museum of Art Field Trip, $155, Katherine Genasci
• Film Equipment, $2,335, Katherine Genasci
• Mindfulness Art Equipment, $350, Katherine Genasci
• CTE Engineering and Design Pathway, $15,000, Tom Jones

Loyalton Elementary School:

• Sierra Nevada Journeys, $5,880, Juli Lane

Downieville School:

• Ashland Shakespeare Festival Trip, $5,630, Lynn Fillo
• Film and Recording Studio Equipment, $6,000, Josh Boli, Lynn Fillo, Katrina Bosworth, Amber Bacca-Sansbury
• Salmon Spawning Habitat Rafting Expedition, $1,225, Robin Bolle

District-wide Program:

• Building Skills for Self-Regulation Curriculum, $1,246, Megan Meschery

SSF President Jenna Holland said two projects in particular will make a meaningful impact on student learning. “We are very excited to fund $15,000 to create three courses at Loyalton High School—Introduction to Coding for 7th and 8th grade students and Mechanical Engineering 1 and 2 for high school students. These career-technical education programs will build mathematical and science skills in our students and provide elective alternatives for students.
“Similarly, the foundation is excited that Downieville School will be purchasing equipment to build a sound studio and digital media center. The members of the board and I are thrilled that teachers are stepping forward to explore new creative and technical equipment that will challenge students in the coming years.”
The Sierra Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Megan Meschery many years ago to raise funds to support teachers with grants for special projects that otherwise could not be funded by SPJUSD. Over the years SSF has disbursed more than $300,000 to support public school programs in Sierra County. No board member or other person draws a salary for oversight of SSF.
More information about The Sierra Schools Foundation can be found at its website at www.sierraschoolsfoundation.org. 

AUBURN– After another wet winter, warming temperatures and winds are quickly drying out the abundant annual grass crop. The increasing fire danger posed by the high volume of dead grass and hotter, drier conditions in the region is prompting CAL FIRE to suspend all burn permits for outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Area of Nevada, Yuba, Placer and Sierra Counties. This suspension takes effect Monday June 17, 2019 at 8:00 A.M. and bans all residential outdoor burning of landscape debris such as branches and leaves.

Since January 1, 2019 CAL FIRE and firefighters across the state have already responded to over 1,170 wildfires. While outdoor burning of landscape debris by homeowners is no longer allowed, CAL FIRE is asking residents to take that extra time to ensure that they are prepared for wildfires by maintaining a minimum of 100 feet of Defensible Space around every home and building on their property and being prepared to evacuate if the time comes.
Here are some tips to help prepare homes and property:

•   Clear all dead and or dying vegetation 100 feet from around all structures.
  
•   Landscape with fire resistant plants and non-flammable ground cover.
  
•   Find alternative ways to dispose of landscape debris like chipping or hauling it to a biomass
  energy or green waste facility
  The department may issue restricted temporary burning permits if there is an essential reason due to public health and safety. Agriculture, land management, fire training, and other industrial-type burning may proceed if a CAL FIRE official inspects the burn site and issues a special permit.
  The suspension of burn permits for residential landscape debris does not apply to campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property. Campfires may be permitted if the campfire is maintained in such a manner as to prevent its spread to the wildland. A campfire permit can be obtained at local fire stations or online at PreventWildfireCA.org.
  For additional information on how to create Defensible Space, on how to be prepared for wildfires, as well as tips to prevent wildfires, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
  

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Nevada City, Calif. –The Tahoe National Forest has released Fire and Forest Health: Your Tahoe National Forest on YouTube. The link to this short, eleven minute film is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CupwYkSaRE. Fire and Forest Health was an official selection at the 2019 Wild and Scenic Film Festival in Nevada City, CA.
Fire and Forest Health showcases wildland firefighters, biologists, foresters, and fuels specialists as they work together to stop catastrophic wildfires and increase forest health. This film was shot on location within the Tahoe National Forest and features Tahoe National Forest employees.
“At its heart, this is an educational film. Within a few short minutes audiences can learn how wildland firefighters prepare for the upcoming fire season and also how the US Forest Service is working to prevent catastrophic wildfires through the planning and implementation of forest health projects,” said Eli Ilano, Tahoe National Forest Supervisor. “We hope this film will be shared far and wide by educators, community groups, social media users, and anyone interested in wildfire prevention, forest health, and modern National Forest land management.”
Fire and Forest Health was produced in association with the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association. This film was written and directed by Tahoe National Forest Public Affairs Officer Joe Flannery. Origami Rocket, from Squaw Valley, CA. provided motion graphics, cinematography, and editing. Gigantic Film Co., from Bend, OR provided cinematography and editing.
Additional information about this film can be obtained from Joe Flannery, Public Affairs Officer for the Tahoe National Forest, at joseph.flannery@usda.gov or 530-478-6205.
For more information about the Tahoe National Forest, go to www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe. Join the conversation by following us on Twitter attwitter.com/Tahoe_NF and Facebook at www.facebook.com/TahoeNF.
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