News Archive (6192)
Pine Grove
Community Park may soon see some much-needed amenities: a new bathroom and stage. Supervisor Louis Boitano has pledged 5000 dollars
of his recreation funds for improvements to the park. Roy Ragan, a board member
of the Pine Grove council, as well as the Pine Grove Community Services
District, reports that the new bathroom will be located on the opposite side of
the building, with the new stage in between, adjacent to the fire house wall.
The stage will be cement, probably with an open-slat gazebo-type covering.
At Wednesday night’s council meeting, members discussed the myriad of uses for a stage at the park, including summer events such as Hot August Nights. Also, the stage could be used for parties and other public gatherings. Once the club has obtained the funds, they will send out requests for bids and hope to have the project finished sometime this year. In the meantime, for this summer’s Hot August Nights, the council will again borrow the stage from the Jackson Senior Center. Ragan added that “we have the best small park in Amador County,” citing the fact that the park is completely fenced and has great play equipment for toddlers on up. In addition to the recreation funds pledged to the park, Supervisor Boitano will also be giving $10,000 to Pine Grove Elementary towards their new playground equipment. Boitano says, “We like to take care of our people.”
The first lunar eclipse of 2008 is perfectly placed for observers throughout most of the Americas and Europe. During the eclipse, Saturn lies about 3 degrees northeast of the Moon and will shine brightly. The total phase is expected to last nearly 51 minutes. The public is invited to view the eclipse at the Columbia College observatory on the college campus. There is no charge to attend and the event is being presented by the arts and sciences department. The evening activity will be conducted by Wayne Christensen, a Columbia College community education astronomy instructor. The observatory will be opened from 5:30 until 8:00 p.m. for the viewing. Christensen suggests dressing in layers, as it will probably be chilly. For more information, contact Columbia College.
Amador County has been experiencing an unusual winter spell of warm days, cool evenings, clear skies, and little wind. But not for long - forecasters have been observing a change. Last night, Amador County saw wind gusts as high as 26 miles per hour in some areas. The night before was the same, with high winds gusting across the lower foothills. In Sacramento last night, erratic winds knocked down power lines, caused power outages and knocked down trees. Driving was dangerous for thousands of rush hour commuters in the morning hours. Wind-related accidents were reported across the Central Valley. Although the immediate forecast doesn’t call for it, more unpredictable winds should be anticipated in the coming week.
The board of ACRA (Amador County Recreation Agency)
adopted a strategic board plan prepared by Executive Director Tracy Towner-Yep with the assistance of Community
Foundation Executive Director Shannon Lowery. The organizations three planned goals: Stabilizing
Funding, Maintaining the quantity of programs while continuing to
improve there quality, and beginning the
planning process for the newly acquired Volcano Communications
Park and the Molly Joyce
Park.
Jackson City Council will consider several key issues at tonight’s city council meeting. Last week the Jackson Planning Commission approved sending a recommendation that the City Council allocate zero Housing Equivalent Units for 2008 – in other words, no new housing allocations for subdivision applicants. The council may go along with the planning commission’s recommendation, or choose a different allocation number. New councilman Wayne Garibaldi will be sworn in tonight and the council will begin accepting applications for those interested in serving out Garibaldi’s vacated seat on the Jackson Planning Commission. Letters of interest will be accepted until Wednesday Feb 6, for selection at the February 11 City Council meeting. Looking at one of Jackson’s most pressing issues, the council will conduct a public hearing on a Sewer System Management Development Plan, and may take action on the plan. The agenda also includes reviewing Regional firefighting proposals, and completing appointments to the city’s Oro de Amador Property Planning Committee. Tonight’s city council meeting will start at 7 pm at Jackson City Hall.
ACES Waste Service wants to raise trash collection rates in the City of Jackson by 3.3%, effective January 1st. The rate request reflects a 3.3 % increase in the Consumer Price Index – allowed under the terms of ACES’ franchise agreement with the city. ACES letter to the city of Jackson notes that a small additional increase may be necessary early next year due to an expected increase in fees charged by the Buena Vista landfill where ACES takes trash collected in Jackson. If the Jackson City Council approves the rate hike when they consider the request at tonight’s council meeting, the rate for a 96-gallon trash cart would increase about 45 cents per month. Also at tonight’s City Council meeting, Bob Devlin will present his “Concepts for Alternative Transit in Amador County” and ask for a resolution of support for Devlin’s Amador Transit Project. Devlin has worked the past two years to research and promote the use of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles on special Alternative Transit Lanes in Amador County in order to reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions. Devlin’s project received a unanimous vote in favor of his project’s goals last week from the Sutter Creek City Council. And Bob Devlin will be joining us here at TSPN studios at noon to talk about the little electric cars he hopes will change the way we think about driving.
Ione City Council met Tuesday evening to discuss multiple issues regarding City finances. Opening the discussion was the presentation of the City’s Quarterly Financial Report, with the next report coming in January of 2008. This is the first time quarterly reports have been presented at city council meetings and Ione City manager Kim Kerr said she plans to make it a regular practice.
Next on the agenda was the appointment of 2 council members, Andrea Bonham and Lee Ard, to help the City Council meet its financial reporting oversight responsibilities. Further training for the project is required and both appointees will attend a League of California Cities training in Sacramento in January. The City also applied for the California Integrated Waste Management Board Tire-Derived Products Grant, requesting a $100,000 grant to replace the bark that currently is used on the play structures in city parks, for a recycled tire product. The rubber chips have several advantages: it is actually easier to clean and the rubber is much heavier than bark chips and won’t fly away during wind storms.
Registration is now open for a Symposium on Climate Change presented by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. This free Symposium will take place on Wednesday, December 5th, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Miners Foundry in Nevada City and will feature in-depth discussions with experts from the academic, government, business and non-profit fields on the vital topic of climate change in the Sierra Nevada. In an attempt to reduce the carbon footprint as much as possible, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy is encouraging Symposium participants to carpool. To register for the event phone (530) 823-4670 or go to their website Sierranevadaconservancy.ca.gov
Mother Lode Scots Christmas Walk Saturday Dec 1 in Plymouth
Written byMother Lode Scots Christmas Walk will be held on Saturday, Dec 1. in Plymouth this year. This Scottish candlelight procession is a favorite long-time Amador County tradition. Gather at the gazebo on Main Street at 5:30 pm. The candlelight procession on Main Street begins at 6.
