MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF MY MI WUK BLOG READERS AND FRIENDS

It's been a wild and crazy year for the Klipple household but we're finally slowing down for a day or two to relax and enjoy a little Christmas coziness.

I want to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas.  Thanks for following our blog, offering ideas and incident updates, and just being good neighbors!

 

SAFETY INFORMATION FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

The following was posted by Mi Wuk / Sugar Pine and Sonora Fire Fighter of the Year, Neil Gamez on the Mi Wuk Fire Protection District FaceBook home page.  Just put Mi Wuk Sugar Pine F.P.D in the FB search box and click to "add as a friend".  Neil is always posting good information for all of our benefits.

If you are thinking of burning gift wrap paper, ribbons, cardboard boxes, scrap lumber in your fireplace DON'T. 

Christmas tree can create excessively large and hot fires, which can damage fireplaces and chimneys—or suddenly flare out of control. Each year, people lose their homes to these unexpected, fast-moving fires. 

Burning improper items can also create embers that bypass missing or damaged spark arresters. These embers cause roof and attic fires that can destroy your home and everything in it. Burning improper items in a fireplace can also create fumes that make people ill and harm the environment, according to the fire department. 

The winter holiday season is also time to pay special attention and care to the lighting, placement and disposal of candles. Leaving lit candles inside a home packed with flammable items and holiday decorations is an invitation to disaster. Anyone or anything can knock over a candle—including a pet, a wayward toy, or a distracted adult.

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone.  Be safe.  Ask for snow for Christmas (yeah, really).

WHEN IS IT A BURN / NO BURN DAY?

From our FireFighter of the year, Neil Gamez:

The number to call for Burn Day information is Air Pollution Control 209-533-5598. Also please remember that the county has not seen rain in some time now.  We need to be very careful about keeping an eye on burn piles and making sure they are completely out before we leaving them unattended. Also if you are going to discard your fire place ashes, make sure they are in a metal container and not a paper bag or other flammable container. The department has been to a number of structure fires with that being the cause. 

 

Keep Safe!   Thanks Neil!  :)

WINTER'S COMING

And with that flash bit of information, here is a paraphrase of a comment Fire Fighter Neil Gamez, this year's fire fighter of the year,  posted on FaceBook today:

With the up coming snow season now would be a great time to check the batteries in your flashlights, smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector.

Also with the high volume of fire calls lately it is a good time to get your chimney cleaned and checked and clear all leaf litter from gutters and roof.

Have a safe holiday season from the Staff of the Mi Wuk Sugar Pine Fire Protection District.

Good advice for sure!

MI WUK COMMUNITY HOLIDAY GATHERING ON SATURDAY!!!

Mi Wuk 

Area Homeowners' 

Association

      Holiday Gathering

      2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

       Mi Wuk Community Center

(aka Library)
       
** Bring an appetizer or dessert to share**

Coffee, cider and Punch will be provided . . . and Door Prizes!

Don't forget a canned item or two to donate to Interfaith's Food Bank.

     Come, join your neighbors and be festive!

Even if you're just up for the weekend, stop by and say HI!  I know I'd love to meet "my" blog readers and we'd just like to have you stop in.

See you 

on Saturday!

MORE WIND RELATED PHOTOS

No 'events' in our area, equals nothing of interest to report.  No news is no news!  But, when we have news it's not always good for the homeowners.

These are photos of the house on Lama-Tamalin Road in Mi Wuk which has been damaged by the very recent wind storm:

I'm not sure what portion of the tree went into the house but it's obvious that something did.  If the owner happens to read this blog, it would be great if you could or would update us on what you have found inside.

A tree also fell across two roofs of the Mi Wuk Mutual Water Company, their warehouse and another (I don't remember which it was).  There was not a lot of damage and no one was injured.

Again, please let me know (blythek@mac.com) if you have any interesting photos or incidents where you live.  If you have a question about your property, ask me and I'll try my best to check it out.

the Klipples are still without power.  It's a little over 36 hours and counting.  PG&E says some areas could be restored later tonight and the others maybe tomorrow afternoon.   Hmmmm, what will it be for "Section 5" of the Village?  I think we're the Mi Wuk Heights Water Company area.

At any time, if you have something you'd like me to post here on this blog, please let me know.  When the BLOG is quiet it's because I have nothing of community interest to share. Right now, there's lots to post about.

Have a great weekend!

STILL NO POWER

Just a little FYI that there is still no power in the Lama-Hisum, and further along the road, area of Mi Wuk Village. 

PG&E's next suggested time to call for an update:  11 p.m. tonight, Saturday.  In case you want to call for your location:  1-800-743-5002. 

HOW ABOUT A NEW CHRISTMAS TRADITION?

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

I started this post on the day after Thanksgiving and just realized I hadn't actually sent it!  Does that explain a bit about how my 'mind' sometimes works???

After that big meal yesterday are you all heading out to get that Christmas shopping underway----or even finished?  Think about this before you hit the stores.   I received the thoughts below in three separate emails and deem it great food for thought.

"As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse ......that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

"It's time to think outside the box. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

"Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

"Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

"Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

"Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

"There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

"How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

"Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

"My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

"OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

"Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theater.

"Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

"Honestly, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

"You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS is the new American Christmas.  Spread the Christmas cheer!"

HIGH WINDS AND NO POWER IN THE MOTHERLODE

As I drove home late Thursday afternoon I dealt with strong winds all the way from Dublin.  Once in Mi Wuk I saw one home on Lama Tamalin Road with a gaping hole in its roof and accompanying power lines dangling low over the road.  They had already been marked with streamers so that tall trucks (like maybe PG&E?) would see them.

With the help of our generator we saw this on the evening news:

This is the Twain Harte Family Dentistry Office which was sliced in half (!!) by a falling tree.  Miraculously and thankfully, although the tree fell within inches of a patient, Dr. Grossman reported that no one was injured! I think my husband's upcoming appointment will be moved back a few weeks.  Can you imagine???

Check out this link to a FOX 40 (all I could find on line) video review of the office.  You'll have to get beyond a commercial (ugh) to get to 'the news'.  Just stick with it.  And if you're using WildBlue Satellite internet it'll be a slow connection.

Let me know if you had some damage or an interesting story on your property that can be shared here.  Although the trees are still swaying, it's not nearly as bad as yesterday.

The report from the 1-800-743-5002 PG&E Information Line is that:  be expecting an "extended outage" with no end date mentioned.  Wanna take bets???  Fortunately I had been at my daughter's at a Wildtree Party, packing up ten 'pre-packaged' meals, so our dinner prepping needs are d-o-n-e.  Pull out the baggie of choice,  add a veggie and a starch and we're good to go.  Last night it was Spanish Style Garlic Shrimp; tonight Chipotle Lime Fajitas.  

Three cheers for a generator and a fireplace.  At 8.45 a.m., it's still only 57 in the house.  Should be up to 73 by the time we go to bed tonight.  Remember---we had lots of practice perfecting this warming skill in February---this time without snow.

I wish you all a great day.

IMPORTANT DECEMBER DATES AND EVENTS

Coming up in the month of December:

December 6th:  Fire Fighters Appreciation Dinner at the resurrected Kelly's Kitchen.  Pre-purchased ticket.  Sorry I neglected to get this posted earlier. 

December 10th:  Mi Wuk Area Homeowners Holiday Gathering at the Mi Wuk Community Center and Little Library in the Pines.  2-4 p.m.  Please bring an appetizer, sweet or savory (dessert-ish or dip/chip/protein-ish)

December HOLIDAY Library Hours:
     December 21, 21, 28, 29:  1 p.m. - 4 p.m. WEATHER PERMITTING   (smile now)

If any other events come to mind, I'll post them.  If I've omitted YOURS, please send me an email and I'll get it posted.

WELL FOLKS, the trees are playing tag with each other this morning!!!  Do you know what a "head fake" is???  One tree will sway to the left and the tree behind it is swaying to the right!  Hmmmm.  How do they do that?

Yes, the wind this morning is an attention grabber.

By the way, remember last Thanksgiving and early December with the oak tree leaves weighted down by the snow?  Well this year, thankfully, because of the wind and Mother Nature, there are only a few leaves (countable) on the oak trees so we won't have "oak tree LEAF branch" damage when the snows fall.

Also, at least our part of Mi Wuk Village is experiencing "an extended power outage" according to the 'plastic lady' on the PGE call-in line.  Who knows what that means!!

Have a great day in the wind.  I'm in Dublin and will be driving home shortly.  My husband Russ is holding the fort.

THANKSGIVING IS HERE!

November has been a quiet month up until now.  And now......hold on cuz life gets crazy!

Today I wish you the love and warmth of family.

Wherever you spend your Thanksgiving Day, enjoy it.   Our family tradition, rather than a prayer at the dinner table, is to take a moment, each person, to say what we are thankful for this year.  This year, my daughter and family are in Georgia and my son and family will remain in San Jose, coming up to Mi Wuk on Friday.  We'll have a second Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday where we'll share our thoughts of thankfulness.  

Russ and I will be spending Thanksgiving with his ex-wife (yes really) and his sons and my cousin, in Murphys.  His oldest son has AmyoLateralSclerosis, aka ALS, aka Lou Gehrig's disease.  I'm not quite sure how we'll work in the "what are you thankful for" conversation this year since Jeff is now immobile.  But, our thankfulness could be that their original family is together for this Thanksgiving Day, something that hasn't happened for nearly 20 years.

Be safe everyone.

WEEKEND WEATHER DETAILS (Thursday - Sunday)

Here are the weather details from my favorite VERY LOCAL weather site:

Today: (THURSDAY, Nov 3, 2011)  A chance of rain showers after 11am. Increasing clouds, with a high near 54. Breezy, with a south southeast wind 10 to 13 mph increasing to between 20 and 23 mph. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tonight: Rain and snow showers likely before 11pm, then snow showers. Low around 29. Southwest wind 17 to 20 mph becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 38. East wind 7 to 11 mph becoming west northwest. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. North wind between 9 and 11 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. East northeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming southwest.

Saturday Night: Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Sunday: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

 

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=38.08052761936274&lon=-120.18562316894531&site=sto&smap=1&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text

That long url above is the exact locaton for MI WUK VILLAGE!

WHAT A POTLUCK!

Huge kudos must be extended to ALVENA LEAL and her helpers for coordinating the most well-attended Auxiliary Potluck (and Bingo) event at the Mi Wuk-Sugar Pine Fire Station in years!!!!

I think, in the excitement and amazement, NO ONE took a photo!  If you do have one, let me know so I can put it up here on our blog.

The theme was a Thanksgiving Dinner.  The request was to bring side dishes for a Thanksgiving Dinner.  Over 70 residents and a few guests flooded the room (which was filled to capacity), and we socialized, laughed, reunited and just had a great time.  And the food!  It was delicious and I challenge any restaurant to create tastier treats!  My husband, Russ's, comment:  These people know how to cook.  So true!

Thank you Alvena, for phoning everyone on the roster, rousing such a fabulous turn out and coordinating this event -- with heart.  It was an amazing evening. 

AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA COMING TO *SONORA* IN 2012

That's right.  Check out that map!!!  And put May 16th on your 2012 calendar.  The AmGen Bicycle Tour of California will be coming to the Motherlode, SONORA to be exact, on May 16, 2012.  I'm sure there will be a lot more details coming in the spring.  Just how cool is this!?

PAY ATTENTION.....SIERRA NEVADA WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY

Yosemite - Half Dome From Glacier Point

November 02, 2011    03:25 pm,   Mark Truppner, MML Reporter 

 

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Sierra Nevada from Thursday 5 PM through Friday 5 AM.

Two to four inches of snow accumulation may fall above 4000 feet. Three to six inches are possible above 7000 feet.

Steady winds of twenty to thirty mph are likely. Wind gusts of up to fifty mph are expected over the Sierra crest.

Could this really mean............... snowflakes???  We've put the plow on our Jeep, just to be ahead it.

MI WUK AREA WEATHER FORECAST FOR OCTOBER and NOVEMBER 2011

FYI from http://www.almanac.com/weather/longrange/zipcode/95346

My husband, Russ, was looking around the web for weather for our area and this is what he came up with this morning.  Let's check back at the end of November and see just how accurate the Almanac really is.  

2012 Long-Range Weather Forecast for Mi Wuk Village, California

Free 2-Month Weather Forecast

OCTOBER 2011: temperature 66 ° (1 ° above avg.); precipitation 0.8" (0.4" below avg. north, 1" above south); Oct 1-2: Sunny, warm; Oct 3-5: Sunny, warm north; t-storms south; Oct 6-10: Sunny; cool north, warm south; Oct 11-13: Sunny, Santa Ana winds; hot coast, warm inland; Oct 14-16: Sunny, cool; Oct 17-19: Sunny, Santa Ana winds; hot coast, warm inland; Oct 20-26: Sunny; cool, then hot; Oct 27-31: T-storms, then cooler.

NOVEMBER 2011: temperature 59.5° (4° above avg. northeast, 1° below southwest); precipitation 4.5" (3" above avg.); Nov 1-6: Occasional rain and drizzle, cool; Nov 7-9: T-storms north, sunny south; warm; Nov 10-11: Sunny, mild; Nov 12-19: Rain and t-storms, then sunny, cool; Nov 20-24: Showers, mild; Nov 25-30: Stormy, mild.

Annual Weather Summary: November 2011 to October 2012

Winter temperatures will be below normal, on average, with the coldest periods in mid- and late December, mid-January, and early February. Precipitation will be much above normal in the north and below normal in the south. The stormiest periods will be in early to mid-November and December, with mid-January being the snowiest period in the mountains.

April and May will be cooler and rainier than normal.
Summer will be warmer than normal, with near-normal rainfall. The hottest periods will be in mid-July and much of August.
September and October will be warmer than normal, with slightly below-normal rainfall. Expect hot weather in early and mid-September.

WE COULD USE YOUR HELP...........

As a result of last night's C.A.S.T. meeting (Community Assistance & Support Team), a high priority request from our chief, Randy Miller is a 10' x 12' wooden shed.

If you happen to have one on your property that you'd like to get rid of, or if you have materials you'd like to donate for a shed to be placed on on the fire station property, please let me know at blythek@mac.com.

As a part time or full time resident, this is a great way to help out our fire department.

If you have any framing skills to help make this happen, it would sure be fun to see you out there when the time comes to swing the hammer!  (And if you don't have framing skills come on out and get some on-the-job-training.)  When we have the materials, a work day/days will be announced.  We'd love to have you be a part of the TEAM and the history of our great department.

HAVE YOU NOTICED ANYTHING DIFFERENT IN FRONT OF THE HWY 108 FIRE STATION???

Or should I ask:  have you noticed anything missing?

Last Monday, the 10th, a pickup truck, with travel trailer attached, was gassing up at Zak's.  The driver went inside to pay.  The truck left the pumps...............

...........and traveled down the left shoulder of 108, past the parking area alongside the fire station missing the parked vehicles, into the apparatus parking and staging area AFTER DRIVING THROUGH THE BULLETIN BOARD AND SMASHING IT TO SMITHEREENS:

........on through the area in front of the bays heading right toward the trucks until the grade in the tarmac changed the truck's trajectory, pointing it toward the lower driveway exit ready to get back onto 108 heading downhill--or directly across the highway.

Mind you, there are parents waiting across the highway to meet the school bus and their children.

Into action jumps firefighter Steve White, who along with firefighter Jeff Santi, was distracted from his work inside the bays, heard unusual noise and looked out from the bays in total amazement.  Steve chased the truck, and on his second attempt, safely jumped into the open driver's door and finally brought the truck and trailer to a halt in front of KELLY'S KITCHEN!

So, what's different in the fire station 'front yard'?  No bulletin board.  Lady Luck was sitting in that truck, ensuring that no vehicles or people were harmed during this adventure.

C.A.S.T. MEETING TONIGHT AT THE FIRE STATION

Kirk Wallace will be facilitating a meeting for the proposed C.A.S.T. program at the Mi Wuk / Sugar Pine Fire Station on Hwy 108 in Sugar Pine tonight at 7 p.m.

C.A.S.T. is Community Assisted Support Team.  (or something very close to that!)  Team members will support our fire department in many many ways as needed.  That could mean:

• filing
• manning the phones
• helping build the new bathroom for the crew quarters
• greeting neighbors who are using the station during a time of need--such as a warming station during power outages
• delivering coffee/sandwiches to 'on-site' fire fighting crews
• making those sandwiches
• retrieving fire hoses and delivering dry hoses to fire fighting crews
• any other help the chief requests

Anyone and everyone can help in one manner or another.  If you have any special skills, let us know!!!  Come on out and see what it's all about.  Your community needs YOU!

"WEATHER" IS ON IT'S WAY BACK TO THE MOTHERLODE

And just to be prepared, I thought I'd post the site where I get what I feel are the most accurate weather reports for our area:


Your National Weather Service Forecast for 4 miles East of Twain Harte

Click on the image for a larger view!

Rain for the next few days with a possibility of snow on Thursday, down to 4900 feet, rising to 5400 feet during the day.  Little or no accumulation expected.  Good news. Welcome fall.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES IN MI WUK

OCTOBER 5, 2011
Mi Wuk / Sugar Pine Fire Auxiliary monthly POTLUCK at the Highway 108 Fire Station, 6 p.m.--be there by 5.45 because we start serving promptly at 6:00.  Just bring any dish that will serve 6-8 diners.

OCTOBER 12, 2011
Mi Wuk / Sugar Pine Fire Auxiliary monthly meeting at the Highway 108 Fire Station, 10.30 a.m Brunch!  The Meeting will begin at 11 a.m.  If you are interested in coming but haven't been before, give me a call: 586.1962 and I'll be glad to pick you up, bring you and introduce you.  

OCTOBER 13, 2011
C.A.S.T. Meeting at the Highway 108 Fire Station, 7 p.m.  C.A.S.T. is a proposed Community Assistance Support Team, designed to assist our fire chief and department in any time of need.  Kirk Wallace is the fearless leader.

I hope to see you at one of these community events.  Even if you're a part-timer--or especially if you're a part-timer, come on out and meet some fellow community members. 

Leave a comment below if you have any questions!  

 

PROPOSED: COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE and SUPPORT TEAM MEETING

A small group met at the Mi Wuk / Sugar Pine fire station tonight to consider the formation of a Community Assistance and Support Team, C.A.S.T. for short.

This Team will consist of citizens who are interested in providing assistance and support to the Fire District as directed by the District Fire Chief.  This is a great opportunity to come together and support your community in ways that fit your skills.

Responsibilities could include (with proper training and certification as necessary)

• operating department non-emergency vehicles and equipment---this would include retrieving departmental personnel from out of District locations--such as a firefighter who has accompanied someone down to Sonora to the hospital and now needs a ride back up the hill.  A C.A.S.T. volunteer could pick the firefighter up rather than sending another firefighter and fire truck to bring him/her back.
• retrieve District hoses and equipment from fire and other emergency response sites
• move tables and chairs to event locations
• Other assistance and support could include administrative and clerical duties
• find and write grants
• assist the District Secretary in filing, copying etc
• answer phones when all station personnel are out on a call during time of emergency
• Miscellaneous duties could include
• Fire Station maintenance, construction (new bathroom/tiling), and housekeeping
• be a greeter during a time when the station is being utilized as a warming shelter/center
• prepare coffee, etc. when station is being utilized as a warming shelter/center
• Grounds keeping
• equipment maintenance etc.

During and after emergency situations, CAST could provide Team support through

• establishing communication links by ham radio and telephone
• provide onsite information of road conditions
• checking on stranded residents
• assistance at evacuation and warming centers
• provide coffee, nourishment, water, etc. for fire personnel at or near scene of an emergency

These are tasks that community members can provide in times of need or emergency.  Remember last winter???  This is what we're talking about.  

The next C.A.S.T. formation meeting will be held at the Mi Wuk/Sugar Pine Fire Station on Thursday, October 13th, at 7 p.m.  Just show up.  Please.  We need YOU!

In the meantime, you can pick up an informational packet at the fire station (Secretary's office).  If you choose to you can also fill out an interest form, stating your name, email, skills, interest areas etc.  This will be the beginning of a contact list for when C.A.S.T. gets off the ground and is called in to service.

Questions?  Just send me an email, blythek@mac.com , and I'll forward it to Kirk Wallace who is pulling this Team together.  This is an effort whose time has come.

(yes, today is the first day of Fall)

THE "YELLOW" IS BACK IN MI WUK VILLAGE

Once again we can give visitors road directions within Mi Wuk Village like

• follow the broken yellow line to the 4-way stop; then turn right onto the double solid line and ..............
• stay on the broken yellow line until 'xyz' Court/Road/Lane
• follow the solid yellow line to Chief Fuller Road, turn left or right and you'll be at Hwy 108.

Yes, the 'powers that be' came into the village yesterday or Wednesday and finally restriped the naked 'major' roads in Mi Wuk.  I don't know about you, but directions I give to visitors incorporate those yellow road lines.

 

This photo was taken around 6 p.m., Thursday, September 8th, with my iPhone (not hands free!!) through a dirty windshield as I returned from 2 days of babysitting in the Bay Area.  I was so excited to see these fresh yellow lines once again and just had to capture a quick picture to share with you all.

Now hopefully the snow doesn't wipe them out and we have to live another 6-7 months without adequate road lines.  This is cool and I'm a happy camper.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR MI WUK / SUGAR PINE FIRE STATION FUND RAISER

Community participation for our Spaghetti Dinner, put on by the Mi Wuk Sugar Pine Fire Protection District Auxiliary, yesterday afternoon so warmed my heart!  It was fabulous.  Tables were FULL, chatter was constant, workers were busy, diners left full........and as always, the committee who pulled it together learned a few things.  If all goes well we'll be presenting another SPAGHETTI DINNER next September, on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.

I was chairman of the event and I must thank my awesome committee members:  Margie Bowen, Linda Clark and Alice Smith.  Together we are a real t-e-a-m.  But then we couldn't have made it happen without the super support of Auxiliary Members, women and men.   There were over 25 Auxiliary members helping with set up, cooking, serving and clean up----all those things that just "miraculously happen".  THANK YOU TO ALL for supporting our fire department and our community.

Thanks also goes to the gals who donated items for and then created our great raffle baskets.  They were a hit and they brought in nearly $500 which will be used to purchase necessary safety equipment for our department upon their request.

It takes a VILLAGE to make it all happen!

Below:  The Committee, who put in many hours behind the scenes, ahead of the event:  

Blythe, Linda, Margie, Alice

And finally (woohoo!) thank you to Dave and Cindy Zbin and Monica, faithful blog readers, for finding me and introducing yourselves.  That meant so much and it was just great to meet local part-timers with whom I've exchanged a bunch of emails.  You guys made my day.  And Loretta, you're included in that group as well.

Making it all happen:

Russ Klipple and Denny Bowen (and Blythe) were at the station at 6 a.m. getting the sauce going:  50 diced onions sautéd first:

Above:  the garlic is added.  Below:  diced tomatoes and puree were added, followed by the herbs.

Below:  Firefighter Neil Gamez (new daddy) took care of all of the bread after Jessie, Marti and Karin buttered it.

Below:  Three of my grandchildren plus my son put the ice cream into the cooler.  Thanks Zion, Austin and Nora.  And adult supervisor, Jason.

Thanks again for coming out on this lovely warm September evening.

SPAGHETTI DINNER NEXT SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd!

YUM YUM, the Mi Wuk/Sugar Pine Fire Protection District Auxiliary's famous SPAGHETTI DINNER is back.

Saturday, September 3rd 2011

4 - 7 p.m.

Adults $10   Children ten and under, $5

Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Salad, Dessert, Water/Lemonade/Coffee/Tea

Please join us.  

Proceeds benefit our Mi Wuk / Sugar Pine Fire Protection District.  

Bring the little ones so they can get their photos taken with the fire trucks!  I know my children and grandchildren will be here this year.  It'll be easy cooking for one dinner meal on Labor Day Weekend for the Klipple household.

**IMPORTANT** THIS RELATES TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY

(I have made this post a "sticky post" so it will stay at the top of all subsequent posts until August 8th.  You haven't lost your mind when seeing that date above!)

Have you heard about the "SRA" fee that has been passed by our California State Legislature?  It was signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. on July 7th, 2011.

The SRA fee is a 'fire prevention fee' of up to $150 for each "structure" on a parcel within the "State Responsibility Area".

The bill language defines a structure as "a building used or intended to be used for human habitation" including but not limited to a mobile home or manufactured home.

The bill directs the Board of Forestry to adopt emergency regulations to establish the fee which the State Board of Equalization will be responsible for assessing and collecting.

A lot of details of the bill are still unknown.  (Blythe [BK]--editorial:  "oh really!?") The Governor has asked a working group to address many of the complexities and issues.

The legislature requires the Board of Forestry to adopt emergency regulations to establish the fee in an amount not to exceed $150.

HOW CAN I VOICE MY OPINION ON THIS ISSUE???

The public can provide written comment to the Board prior to 5 p.m., Monday, August 8, 2011

You can also send a letter to your state legislators.  I have 4 letters that you can print out and send to Senator Tom Berryhill, Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen, Stan Dixon (Chair of Forestry and Fire Protection) and The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr.  Since I can't put an attachment on the blog, please email me, blythek@mac.com, for these letters which I will email back to you a.s.a.p.

Here is what the letter says:

Date___________

Addressee  (see way below for names/addresses)

SUBJECT:  AB 29 - State Responsibility Area Fees

Dear ________,

We/or I live within the Mi-Wuk Sugar Pine Fire Protection District (MWSPFPD).  MWSPFPD provides fire service to its rural customers in the Sierra Foothills.  Our full-time, fully staffed and equipped fire and rescue department is experienced in wild fire and structure fire suppression, as well as most type of rescue opeations.  To support this level of fire protection and rescue service, the MWSPFPD Board of Directors, supported by a majority vote of the people within our community, authorized a special assessment of $170 per dwelling unit per year in 2010, and said assessment currently sits at $172.58.  In addition, we have a mutual aid program with Tuolumne County Fire Department and neighboring fire services.

The community was distressed to hear that the Governor signed AB 29 on July 7th, authorizing a $150 assessment to support the California Department of Forestry fire service (CAL FIRE), a service that only operates for a portion of the year in our area.  Our rural community cannot afford any additional special annual assessments for fire and rescue.  We urge you to initiate and support legislation that would exempt rural property owners from this special state SRA assessment when they are currently supporting a dedicated local fire and rescue program, such as that offered here by MWSPFPD.

Thank you for your consideration of my/our concerns.

Sincerely,


You are more than welcome to copy the above letter and send it to the following:

Senator Tom Berryhill
6215 N. Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93710

Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen
3719 Tully Road, Suite C
(State Capital, First Floor   <-- delete this line)
Modesto, CA 95356

Stan Dixon, Chair
Board of Forestry and Fire Protection
PO Box 944246
Sacramento, CA 94244-2460

The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
Governor, State of California
State Capital, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Be sure to get your letter sent so that it arrives by Monday, August 8th.  This affects us all!!

COMING SOON!!! AUGUST 13, 4-7 p.m., OUR FAMOUS SPAGHETTI DINNER!

The Mi Wuk Sugar Pine Fire Protection District Auxiliary will be presenting their now 'famous' SPAGHETTI DINNER, on Saturday, August 13th, 4-7 p.m. 

Same great sauce, pasta and yummy Pugli garlic bread!  Make a note to join us for dinner on the 13th.  Dine in (our lovely tables will be waiting for you in the Bays that normally house our fire apparatus) or take out. 

Price:  $10.  Children 10 and under: $5.

We hope to see you there.  Yes, I'll be there.  (I'm the chairman!!!)  Tell your friends.  Bring your friends.