1. art and entertainment
2. comics and animation
3. comics

Volume 25 – No. 2
Published
by
The Dutch Flat Community Center,
Shana Brown and her find in 2011
with
Summer 2012
Chlarson - Gone Fishing at No Hands
2012 White Elephant Sale
Chlarson Wins Award
The DFCC will hold its 44th Annual
Dutch Flat White Elephant Sale on Labor Day
Weekend, Saturday, September 1st, from 9
a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday, September 2,
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come search among
the treasures for your heart’s desire.
Find excellent bargains in tools, clothing, home and housewares, decorative items,
jewelry, books, and much more. The DFCC
will offer coffee and donuts, along with wonderful gourmet sandwiches and home-baked
goodies on Saturday. Doughnuts and coffee
will be available on Sunday morning.
If you have donations for the sale, contact Laura Resendez at 389-8840 or Marilyn
Gregory at 389-2932 to arrange a drop-off
time at the Community Center.
If you’d like to volunteer - and all volunteers are welcome! - contact either Laura
or Marilyn. Volunteers have fun meeting
other active local residents and helping raise
money for a worthy community institution.
Also, as a thank-you, each volunteer gets to
purchase one item before the actual sale.
Local artist Joan Chlarson’s watercolor
of No Hands Bridge won second place in the
art show celebrating the bridge’s centennial
in March 2012. The painting is hanging in
the Auburn City Hall until June 6. City Hall
is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5
p.m., at 1225 Lincoln Way in Auburn.
Other paintings in the No Hands
Bridge exhibit include “One Hand and a
Bridge” by Frank Ordaz, which won first
place, and Sandy Rascon took third place
with “Summer at Mountain Quarries Bridge.”
Treats at last year’s WES
Member Support
Emigrant Gap fire, 2001
Girls and goats, 4th of July 2011
2012 Parade News
Getting ready for the parade? Break
out those madras shirts, bellbottoms and
macrame tops - the theme this year is Music,
Fashion & Culture of the 60’s & 70’s. As
usual, the parade will start at 10:30 a.m.
sharp. Parade participants need to check in
with a parade marshal and be in place no
later than 10 a.m.
After much discussion, the DFCC
Board has made some changes to the waterplay areas for the parade, in response to
safety concerns. They want to be sure everyone has a fun, safe time at the parade. Continued on Page 8
How To Stay Fire Safe
Need a Lift?
By Susan Prince
By William Hart
Our area has seen several recent wildfires - the Gap Fire in 2001, the Stevens Fire
in 2004, which threatened homes in Cape
Horn and Secret Town, or the Ponderosa Fire
in 2001. Some may even remember the fire
near the Monte Vista in 1959 which threatened Dutch Flat and Alta. Wildfire is a real
and continuing threat to our area, probably
Are you over 60? Are
you over 50 with a disability?
Are you finding it difficult, at
times, to get to your medical
appointments? Are you looking for a way to help others
in your community? Seniors
First is currently making final
Continued on Page 5
Continued on Page 15
Page 2
w Community – Summer 2012
President’s Column
Community Volunteer Staff
Publisher – Dutch Flat Community Center
Editor – Susan Prince, 530-389-8344
Ad Manager – Michael Barham,
530-389-2347
Reporters & Columnists:
Lauraine Bacon
Doug Ferrier
Mark McLaughlin
Susan Prince
Rick Sims
CHP Officer Todd Kettwig
William Hart
Photographers:
Susan Prince
Rob Putnam
Julianne Smith
Other Contributors: Joan Chlarson - artwork
Heidi Johnson
Placer County Community Outreach
Dutch Flat Community Center Board
Lauraine Bacon, President
Tom McDonnell, Vice President
Neil Allen, Treasurer
Julia Morgan, Secretary
Rob Putnam, At-large
Laura Resendez , At-large
Eleanor Bridges, At-large
Amanda Smith, At-large
New ads – Michael Barham, 530-389-2347
Email – [email protected]
Address – P.O. Box 14,
Dutch Flat CA 95714
Website - www.dutchflatcc.org
Website manager - Bill Junker, email
- [email protected]
This newspaper is published
quarterly and distributed to Dutch Flat
Community Center members and to
residents of the Center’s service area,
from Secret Town to Emigrant Gap, along
Interstate 80 in Placer County, California.
We welcome contributions
from readers. Submission dates
for upcoming issues:
Fall 2012 – August 15, 2012
Winter 2012 – November 15, 2012
Spring 2013 – February 15, 2013
Summer 2013 – May 15, 2013
Views expressed in letters and guest
opinion pieces and other contributions
do not necessarily reflect the
views of the editors, the Dutch Flat
Community Center or its Board.
By Lauraine Bacon
The Dutch Flat Community Club was
established in 1952 to serve the needs of
the residents from Secret Town up to Emigrant Gap and, when it became a nonprofit
organization, was renamed the Dutch Flat
Community Center. This year marks the 60th
anniversary of the DFCC, an organization
devoted to developing community, relying on
local volunteers.
Our first priority is the maintenance
and restoration of the DFCC building, the
historic Dutch Flat Grammar School. Our
community is rich with people in trades
who’ve helped keep the building maintained
all these years, from roof work to foundation
work and everything in between. Many of
our regular events came about because a
local resident with an idea stepped forward
to make it happen. New people have come
along over time to keep these events happening in our historic building.
Speaking of events, our big annual
event, the Fourth of July Parade and Celebration, is just around the corner. The theme
of the parade this year is Music, Fashion &
Culture of the 60’s & 70’s. Find more information about the event on Page 1. There
are many things to do before, during and
after the 4th. Let’s make it another fabulous
event! Call me at 530-748-5484.
The DFCC relies mostly on membership to keep the boat afloat. While our
member drive starts with the new year,
we welcome renewing and new members
throughout the year. This year, we are only 3
memberships away from reaching last year’s
level. About 9% are new members. If you
have a new neighbor or have met someone
new to our area, tell them about the DFCC,
its events and services.
During our member drive we often get
notes from our members. While I’d love to
share them all with you, there was one that
really touched me. It reads:
Although I live in Roseville, I subscribe to the Dutch Flat paper in memory
of my wonderful friend Jan Fonseca. I
like to read about the amazing things that
Dutch Flat people do. I can no longer
attend functions as I am 101 years old. I
am sending this contribution to help with
your projects.
Wow! Over a hundred years old and
still helping out - still contributing - still caring
about this community. This is your Community Center and we look forward to working
with you soon!
Community Calendar
of Events
Special Events:
►►
Fri., 6/8, Colfax Art Walk, 3 - 8 p.m.
downtown Colfax along Main and Depot
Streets.
►►
Sat., 6/9, 19th Century Kids’ Games,
free family event, Bernhard Museum, 291
Auburn-Folsom Road, Auburn. For information, call 530-889-6500.
►►
Thurs., 6/14, Auburn Art Walk in
downtown Auburn and Old Town, 6 - 9 p.m.
►►
Thurs., 6/21, DFCC potluck, 6 p.m., at
Community Center.
►►
Tues., 7/3, annual Colfax 4th of July
Parade, 6 p.m., downtown Colfax.
►►
Wed., 7/4, downtown Dutch Flat,
10:30 a.m., annual DFCC Fourth of July
Parade and Celebration. See article, Page
1, for details.
►►
Thurs., 8/9, Auburn Art Walk in downtown Auburn and Old Town, 6 - 9 p.m.
►►
Sat. and Sun., 8/11 and 8/12, County
Museums Heritage Trail Days, 11 a.m. - 4
p.m., museums open. See article, P. 9.
►►
Sat. & Sun., Labor Day Weekend,
annual DFCC White Elephant Sale. See
article, Page 1, for details.
Ongoing Events:
►►
Second Friday July through Sept.,
Colfax Art Walk, 3 - 8 p.m. downtown
Colfax along Main and Depot Streets.
►►
Second Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
Alta Flea Market, Alta Deli parking lot.
►►
Third Thursday of each month, September through June, Dutch Flat Community Center potluck, 6 p.m. Bring family,
friends, place settings, and a dish to share.
►►
Dutch Flat Community Center board
meeting, second Wednesday of the month,
times and locations vary. Call President
Lauraine Bacon for details at 530-7485484, or at [email protected].
►►
Dutch Flat United Methodist Church
- Fellowship Dinner at 5 p.m. and Worship
Service at 6 p.m.
►►
Sierra First Baptist Church, Alta, worship service at 11 a.m. every Sunday.
►►
Pioneer Union Church, Gold Run,
Sunday Service 10 a.m.
►►
Bingo at the Alta Community Center
the first Friday of each month, 7 p.m.,
except on June 1. For more information or
a reminder call, contact Carol Gillies at 530389-2601. All proceeds benefit the Alta Fire
Department.
►►
Dutch Flat Methodist Episcopal
Church pancake breakfast, the second Saturday of each month.
►►
Golden Drift Historical Society Board
Meeting 7 p.m. first Monday of each month,
Golden Drift Museum, Dutch Flat. Contact
Doug Ferrier for information, 530-389-2617.
►►
NFARA board meeting 7 p.m. third
Tuesday of each month, locations vary.
Community – Summer 2012
Community Calendar, continued.
Contact Jim Ricker, 530-389-8344.
Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council meets
at 6:30 p.m. on the 4th Thursday of each
month, Colfax City Hall. Agendas available
- [email protected] or by phone at
866-372-2543, toll free.
►►
Golden Drift Historical
Society
By Doug Ferrier, Society President
As you may know, Art Sommers and I
are working to create a picture book covering
the historical towns between Gold Run and
Drum. It’s an interesting process.
Art tried to talk Arcadia Publishing
into allowing us to do one of their Images of
America volumes, but they needed to be able
to sell at least 1,500 copies in the first year
after publishing it. We didn’t have the right
demographics to demonstrate this, so they
denied our application. Art was not discouraged and found a publisher in Sacramento,
so the book goes forward.
Art is identifying the photos, over 200,
from his and my collections of old photographs, from the Historical Society’s collection, and from other sources. I am writing the
expanded captions that go with each photograph. We recently finished putting together
the chapter on Drum.
You may not be aware of it, but there
was once a nearby town of Drum with an official US Post Office, as well as a public school
and a hospital. Pacific Gas & Electric Company, PG&E, started construction in 1912 to
build the Drum Powerhouse. Today, you can
drive your vehicle to the Powerhouse by turning left off Main Street on Drum Powerhouse
Road, between Dutch Flat and Alta, then turn
left again almost immediately. That road goes
about eight miles to the Powerhouse.
In 1912, that option didn’t exist. The
old water ditch that became today’s road was
owned by another company which hoped to
continue to use it someday for water conveyance. To access the site of the Drum Pow-
erhouse, as well as the associated Drum
Canal, Drum Forebay and penstocks to the
powerhouse, PG&E built a standard gauge
railroad spur from the Oriel Railroad Station,
on the Southern Pacific railroad above Midas,
which contoured around the hillside. The spur
swung below the present site of Caltrans’
Whitmore Maintenance Station, and hit the
notch on the ridgeline just below Drum Forebay, where today’s Culberson Road meets
the penstocks coming out of the forebay.
It was here that the “town” of Drum
was built to house the workers and bring in
supplies for the project. Trains brought the
construction material to the top of the ridge
directly above the site of the powerhouse,
where they were then winched down an
incline to the construction site. Workers also
reached the site by going up and down the
incline on a flat wooden “car” with a front
hand rail. This incline lasted long after the
original powerhouse was built. It was not until
1923 that today’s road was constructed to the
powerhouse.
We have a picture in the Golden Drift
Museum showing the Governor of California
standing in a crowd at Drum Powerhouse,
taken in August of 1919. He and his aide had
taken the tram down the incline to attend a
show-me trip by some of the PG&E executives. I imagine it was an interesting trip going
up and down that incline. You can still see
parts of the incline from the ridge above the
Drum Powerhouse.
Not much is left on the ground where
once the town of Drum stood; only a metal
bar between two trees marks the playground
of the old school. Art Sommers and I hope
you’ll soon have an opportunity to see the old
pictures of the area when the PG&E DrumSpaulding Project was built.
Burn Day Information
Now Available Online
The Placer County Air Pollution Control District has put the daily burn day status
online. The District expects to have the information updated by 8 a.m. daily.
The web address for updated burn
information is http://www.placer.ca.gov/
Departments/Air/DailyBurnNotice.aspx
The District will continue to update burn information on the two telephone numbers available to the public:
For the Greater Auburn Area, within 12
miles or for cell phones - 530-889-6868, and
for all other areas of Placer County, land lines
only - 1-800-998-BURN (2876), toll-free.
w Page 3
Dutch Flat Community
Swimming Pool
By Doug Ferrier, Pool Board
By the time this
article is published, our
annual Volunteer Clean-up
Day at the pool will have
occurred. The grounds are
clean of the past winter’s debris. The pool has
been raked clean, power
washed, patched and
repainted, and filled with
untreated water. Chemicals will be added to the
water and the filter system
will run for a week so the pool’s ready to open
on June 7. Without the help of our volunteers,
we would not be able to have the pool and
grounds in such good shape. Continued community support, both through payment of the
Special Service District property fees and by
individual donations of time and/or money is
always appreciated
Swimming lessons are tentatively
planned for the two weeks following the
week of the Fourth of July. Marci Seither will
again be in charge of them; you can contact
her at 530-389-8401. Each swimmer will be
charged a fee of $15 for the two weeks of lessons. For those unable to pay the fee, there
is a fund to help.
We are always looking for new volunteers to learn how to test the various chemical levels in the pool water and how to adjust
them. State health codes require that every
day before to 8 a.m., the water in the pool
must be tested for a variety of chemicals and
adjusted accordingly. John Seither and Kenny
Weatherwax have taken the training but more
people are needed. Volunteers must take
a two-day training course given by various
swimming pool groups, and must pass an
exam to qualify.
Last season, the burden mostly fell on
Kenny, who did a great job. This work needs
to be spread out so our volunteers don’t burn
out. Give me a call at 389-2617 if you would
be interested, or know someone who might
be. Otherwise, to keep the pool open, the
County must send someone up every day to
do the checking, and our pool funds would
be charged accordingly. By using volunteers,
we’ve built up a $32,000 reserve fund to use
for special projects, such as replacing the
cement around the pool apron.!
We hope you have survived our quirky
past winter’s weather, and are looking forward to using our community swimming pool
all summer.
Page 4
w Community – Summer 2012
On and Off the
Wire
A Series by Susan Prince
Part 4 – Free or
Low-Cost Video
Years ago when I was working at KVIE
as the program manager, we talked about the
future of TV. At that point, TV meant over-theair broadcast or, if one lived in a more populated area than we do, cable TV. In the early
1990s, with the development of the internet
and the web, we anticipated changes with
excitement and dread. Now, we get our video
over the air, over phone lines, over cable
lines, or from a satellite or a wireless feed.
Broadcast TV is fading away.
We’re finally at the point I anticipated
over 18 years ago, where we can watch most
of our favorite TV programs when we want,
rather when they’re scheduled by the networks or stations.
I have a trunk containing
continents. -Beryl Markham,
adventurer (1902-1986)
For Free
There’s free video. Starting with the
Big Guys, the major broadcast networks,
NBC, CBS, PBS, ABC, and Fox, all offer full
episodes of some of their shows, but not
all. You can explore what’s available at their
websites (just add .com to the commercial
networks, and .org to PBS, because it’s a
nonprofit). CBS even offers full episodes of
some of their old series, like Dynasty and The
Brady Bunch. You can find out if episodes
of your favorite show are available by typing
the series or program name into Google or
another search service and exploring the
results.
A special word about PBS; it provides
a lot of free programs online. You can watch
years’ worth of Nova (science), Great Performances (concerts, plays, ballet, opera,
etc.), Austin City Limits (contemporary
music), Frontline (public affairs documentaries), Nature (nature documentaries), as well
as dramas like Masterpiece Mystery: Sherlock Holmes, and news. The performance
series, like Austin City Limits, are available
for short periods of time only because rights
are negotiated with the performers and are
usually quite limited.
PBS also has a website, pbskids.org,
with video and content for kids young and
older. KVIE and other local public TV stations
also provide videos of the series they produce, like America’s Heartland, a KVIE production, about farming across the country.
Hulu.com is a major online TV streaming site, with lots of free content. There are
ads, but we’re used to those. Hulu provides a
good cross-section of genres. Some of what
it used to provide is now available on the
network sites, like CBS.com, but it still offers
a good range of free TV.
For A Price
There’s also Huluplus, a premium
service for $8 a month which provides even
more video on your computer and can also
stream it to your TV if you have devices like a
Wii game player or a Roku box ($59 - a deal).
Another low-cost online program
service is Acornonline.com where, for $25
a year, you can watch hours and hours of
British television, mostly dramas. They rotate
their programs every month and feature highend material like Prime Suspect, with Helen
Mirren and Cadfael with Derek Jacobi.
If you subscribe to the Netflix streaming video service, $8 a month, you can watch
lots of streaming video, movies and TV, either
on your computer or iPod/iPad, or with one of
the devices mentioned above, on your TV.
Another source of inexpensive video
is the Amazon Prime service. For $79 a year
you have access to lots of movies and TV at
no cost. Again, you can watch on your computer, your iPod or iPad, or on your TV, using
a Roku box, a Wii, or other devices.
These services are redundant and
offer much of the same material, but each
has its unique content, too. As you explore,
you’ll find services which provide the right
mix for you. You do need broadband internet
service to watch streaming video, like DSL,
wireless or satellite service, which can be
pricey. If you already have that type of service, however, this can be an inexpensive way
to expand your video horizons.
Go ahead, be your own program
manager and watch what you want when you
want. That’s the way TV should be!
Next issue - Where to find reviews for new
tech gadgets or software. Send me your
questions about the online world, too, and I’ll
try to help - [email protected].
The willow
which
bends to the
tempest,
often escapes
better than
the oak which
resists it; and
so in great
calamities,
it sometimes
happens
that light
and frivolous
spirits recover their elasticity and
presence of mind sooner than those
of a loftier character. - Walter
Scott, novelist and poet (1771-1832)
Community – Summer 2012
County’s 2012 Economic
and Demographic Profile
Available Online
Fire Safe, continued from Page 1
By Placer County
Community Outreach
The 2012 Placer County Economic
and Demographic Profile is available online,
providing facts and figures on a host of
county-related topics, including demographics, the business climate, the real estate
market and quality of life.
The Center for Strategic Economic
Research, a consulting group affiliated with
the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade
Organization, prepared the 174-page report
for the Placer County Office of Economic
Development.
In addition to demographics, it features information on many general-interest
topics like recreational activities, community events, places of historical interest and
tourism resources. It also provides updated
statistics on the population of the county and
its cities. In many cases, there is data for
Placer County and its incorporated communities along with comparable statistics from five
and 10 years earlier and future projections.
The report also provides comparisons to the
Sacramento Region, Bay Area and California
as a whole.
Business owners
and groups will find
the profile particularly useful. The
business-climate
chapter provides an
industry overview
and covers such topics as the county’s major
employers, companies that have located or
expanded in Placer County since 2005, the
labor force, wages, taxable sales and workforce training and development programs.
A PDF version of the profile is available here: http://www.placer.ca.gov/~/
media/ceo/ecd/documents/2012PlacerE
conDemogProfile.ashx, or request a copy
from the Office of Economic Development, at
530-889-4016.
w Page 5
Doggie School for Bella
By Heidi Johnson and Bella
SIT! I am sitting.… BELLA, SIT! Ok,
maybe you mean longer than a millisecond?
GOOD GIRL! Ok, I get it…. WAIT! Hmm,
now what? ISABELLA, WAIT! Oops! Full first
name - maybe I should pay more attention?
HERE! You mean??? HEERRE! I'm coming!
I'm coming! WHAT A GOOD GIRL BELLA!
Goodie, I got it! Liver snacks!
I'm in school. Mom says it's not too
late to teach an old dog new tricks (Old dog?
I'm only two!) so Rusty and Ken have been
coming over to train my mom and play with
me. The first time was free, which really
impressed my dad. They bring liver snacks! It
was an “evaluation.” I think they were making
sure my mom and dad could be trained
properly….
Now we go to Colfax on Saturday
afternoons to work on my "social skills."
Rusty and Ken are really cool and very
patient with my buddies and me (and even
with our "people" when they get a little
crazy!). It's like having a play date, with liver
snacks! I’m making new friends but working
hard to follow Mom's commands and body
language. (All I really want is to sniff Baxter
again.…) It's rewarding and fun, and makes
Mom happy! Maybe you can join us and learn
to be a "good neighbor"… Did I mention the
liver snacks?
Group classes 2 - 3 p.m. every Saturday, Sierra Vista Community Center Room
C-4 (back by the ball field):
Rusty and Ken Westeren
530-852-2345 or 530-305-2504
Bark Avenue Westeren
www.barkavenuewesteren.com
Visit their Boutique at: 201 South Railroad Street Colfax, CA 95713
the greatest risk facing
local residents. Fortunately, we can take
steps to safeguard our
lives, our homes, and
our communities.
Our local fire
protection agencies,
including the Placer
Sierra Fire Safe Council, Placer County Fire,
the Alta Fire Protection District, the Dutch Flat
Volunteer Fire Department, and CalFire, work
hard to keep us safe. Our local representative
on the Fire Safe Council is Postmaster Karen
Calvert. These agencies want our input on
an online survey, to learn our major concerns
and how we'd be willing to help them keep us
safe. The survey is active until July 1st, and
can be found here: http://www.zoomerang.
com/Survey/WEB22F98HL5EZ4
Please take the time to complete it.
The more local voices are heard, the more
likely we are to see the fire prevention activities we want. If we don't speak up ... well,
then we get what we deserve, someone else
making decisions for us.
Another important activity this group
of agencies has begun is a recent mailing
to learn if you, a family member, or a friend
might need extra help during an emergency
like a fire or a severe winter storm. This could
be help with transportation, communication
for the deaf or sight-impaired, supervision
for those with mental impairments, or those
using a medical device requiring power, like
an oxygen machine. They sent a mailing
to our area this spring with a form to return
asking for more information or specific assistance. If you didn't receive the mailing or need
another copy, call the Placer Sierra Fire Safe
Council at 530-878-2795, send a request
to P.O. Box 661, Alta, CA 95701, or contact
them by email at [email protected].
Their website is www.placerfirealliance.org.
If you need more reasons to participate in the survey, remember your home
insurance rates, and even insurance availability, are based partly on the quality of fire
protection services near your home. Some
local residents have had difficulty getting
insured or have even lost their insurance. A
community effort, where you can play a role,
will keep us, our families, and our region
safer and insured. Do your part!
Too often we underestimate the
power of a touch, a smile, a kind
word, a listening ear, an honest
compliment, or the smallest act
of caring, all of which have the
potential to turn a life around. -Leo
Buscaglia, author (1924-1998)
Page 6
w Community – Summer 2012
Cattle at the Denver Stockyard
THE ADVENTURES OF
ARCHIBALD GWATHROP
A Fiction
By Rick Sims
Part 33 - The Final Episode
It is better to prevent crimes
than to punish them. -Cesare
Beccaria, philosopher and
politician (1738-1794)
Archibald Gwathrop had slept only
sporadically on the jerky train. But he was
asleep when the porter shook his shoulder
and said, “Denver, Mr. Gwathrop. Denver. We
will be here for three hours. Taking on oil and
water.”
Archie decided that he would make the
most of this lengthy break. He would stretch
his legs and explore Denver in the vicinity of
the train station.
Unlike train stations in the Eastern
part of the country, the Denver station was
not ornate. Rather, it was all business. In
truth, the Denver station was not designed
to accommodate passengers, for there were
few of them. Rather, the Denver station was
built to facilitate the loading and transportation of the railroad’s most lucrative transported product: cattle.
Thus, as Archie strolled down the dirt
street adjacent to the station, he soon found
himself walking beside a huge stockyard.
Literally thousands of cattle were crammed
together in large pen after pen, with little
room to move about. These were cattle that
had been, only weeks earlier, free to roam
over the prairies and great plains of our Midwestern states.
Archie approached the edge of one of
the pens, which were constructed of sturdy
boards with a string of barbed wire running
along the top. He climbed up high enough
to be able to see the teaming herd at close
range below him. As he looked into the eyes
of the cattle, many of whom were mooing
loudly, this is what he saw: terror.
“They know,” Archie thought. “They
know more than we ever give them credit for.
They know the end is near for them. I wonder
if God will recognize their sacrifice? I wonder
if there is a heaven for animals? And if there
is, what would it be like? Maybe they share
God’s heaven with humans?”
And he remembered with a fresh
poignancy the comments of his daughter,
Julia, at dinner on their last night together
in Northampton. He had taken Julia and her
new roommate, Judy, out to dinner at the
Friar’s Tavern. Archie and Julia had ordered
roast beef, but Judy, without being rude,
explained that she tried to avoid the killing
of God’s creatures. She had ordered various
side dishes of vegetables. Julia had said,
“You know, I’d never really thought about it
that way. There might be something to that
argument. I guess that’s what college is all
about, isn’t it? I mean meeting new people
who bring with them new ideas to think
about.”
Archie had secretly cringed. It was bad
enough that his daughter had come to disrespect his life’s work . When he saw her again,
would she condemn him and her mother for
the food they put on their table at The Flying
Fish Mine? “Damn!” Archie exclaimed, as he
thought that it was time to return to the train
for some breakfast.
But as Archie began to climb down
from his perch on the fence, his foot slipped.
When he reached out instinctively to stop his
fall, he grabbed the strand of barbed wire
that ran along the top of the fence. Two of
Community – Summer 2012
the barbs pierced his right palm. “Ahhh!” he
exclaimed.
He lowered himself down and examined his pocked palm. There were two fresh
puncture wounds, one of which was bleeding
and one was not. He wrapped his handkerchief around his hand and hurried back to the
station. In the station, he went immediately
to the bathroom and ran water over his hand.
There was no soap. Then he got back on
the train, went directly to the bathroom, and
washed his hands again, this time with soap.
Two days later, Abigail Wardwell
Gwathrop met him at the train station in
Sacramento. She gave him a kiss that was
unusually passionate for a woman in a public
place. She had driven the carriage down from
Dutch Flat herself, and on the way home, she
insisted on Archie’s recounting his trip with
their daughter in fulsome detail.
When they reached The Flying Fish
Mine, it was a little after four in the afternoon. Without a word between them, they
entered the house and repaired directly to the
bedroom. As had been their ritual for many
years, Abigail’s last act of enticement was the
removal of her wig—an event that had begun
on their wedding night and that always produced a near frenzy in Archie.
After, as they lay together under the
covers (for fall was in the air), Archie asked,
“You know what one of the greatest myths of
mankind is?”
“I know of many great myths, dear,
but what do you have in mind?” responded
Abigail.
“That women are used up after 50,”
Archie said. “It just keeps getting better for
us.”
“I think you will get two desserts
tonight,” she said.
And then she noticed his right hand,
with its two new red dots in the palm.
“What on earth have you done to yourself” she asked.
“It’s absolutely nothing,” said Archie,
who then recounted the episode at the
stockyard.
Later, Abigail cooked them a fine
dinner of steaks. At the end of it, she served
Archie serially two pieces of Laura Fitch’s
apple pie.
The next morning early, Archie went to
his office in downtown Dutch Flat. It seemed
as though every merchant in town had an
urgent need to see him. He did his best to
accommodate his clients, skipping lunch in
order to catch up with Sal Ascalon, who had
received a generous offer to purchase the
Dutch Flat Store.
“I don’t really want to do it,” said Sal.
“I’ve got enough money, and what would I do
with myself?”
“The question is,” replied Archie, “what
would Dutch Flat do without you?”
When Archie finally returned to The
Flying Fish Mine around 7 p.m., he discovered that Abigail had invited his brother, John,
to dinner. They hugged and pounded each
other on the shoulder.
But John did not even inquire about
Archie’s trip East.
“Let me take a look at that hand,” commanded John.
Archie gave Abigail a disapproving
look, but he extended his right hand for his
brother’s inspection in the bright light of the
kitchen. “It’s really nothing,” said Archie. “I’m
frankly embarrassed that Abigail would haul
you over here like this.”
In the light, Archie could see that
the two small red puncture wounds had
increased slightly in diameter.
“Exactly how did you do this?” asked
John.
And Archie told him an outline of the
story, omitting any of his ruminations about
the fate of the cows.
“I really don’t like this,” said
John grimly. “I think I should bleed you
immediately.”
“Bleed me?” asked Archie incredulously. “What the hell?”
“It appears to me that there are toxins
still in your body,” said John. “Bleeding
your hand is the best way to get them out.
I brought my kit; we can do it right in your
bathroom.”
And so John and Archie entered the
main bathroom of the house, whereupon
John poured a glass full of alcohol and
bathed both his scalpel and Archie’s hand.
Then with two deft passes, John caused
Archie’s blood to begin flowing. Archie
thought how really beautiful the dark red of
his blood looked against the pure white of the
tub. But he also thought that there was a lot
of his blood going down the drain. After about
15 minutes, John bandaged Archie’s hand.
For the rest of that week, Archie kept
up a frantic pace at his office. At the end of
the week, he felt not quite right, but he attributed that feeling to exhaustion from work.
John unwrapped the bandages at the end of
the week. The two red dots had doubled in
size. They were more, not less, painful. John
bled Archie again.
“I must tell you, my dear brother, that
this is serious,” John said, frowning.
“What do you think is wrong?” asked
Archie.
“I think it may be a disease that first
Continued on Page 10
w Page 7
The Fox and the Goat
By Aesop
A FOX one day fell into a deep well
and could find no means of escape. A Goat,
overcome with thirst, came to the same well,
and seeing the Fox, inquired if the water was
good. Concealing his sad plight under a merry
guise, the Fox indulged in a lavish praise of the
water, saying it was excellent beyond measure,
and encouraging him to descend. The Goat,
mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped
down, but just as he drank, the Fox informed
him of the difficulty they were both in and suggested a scheme for their common escape.
"If," said he, "you will place your forefeet upon
the wall and bend your head, I will run up your
back and escape, and will help you out afterwards." The Goat readily assented and the Fox
leaped upon his back. Steadying himself with
the Goat's horns, he safely reached the mouth
of the well and made off as fast as he could.
When the Goat upbraided him for breaking his
promise, he turned around and cried out, "You
foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in
your head as you have hairs in your beard, you
would never have gone down before you had
inspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had no means
of escape."
Look before you leap.
Page 8
w Community – Summer 2012
Parade, continued from Page 1
The "Swamp People" and Me
By Debby McClatchy
Let's say you are a
producer of television programs or
film documentaries and you need
some background
music. You could
select live musicians, record them
in a studio, pay the
rates and salaries
for work and use,
cover the copyright
fees, if applicable,
and then edit, mix,
Debby at Colfax
and master the
Founders’ Day, 2005
results. A lot of
work; most producers prefer not
to go that route.
There are a number of agencies that
provide music already recorded and fees prepaid.
One of these is Extreme Music in London, which
specializes in international styles of folk music.
Their database runs from Appalachian to Zulu,
and includes everything from full songs and tunes
to short sound-bite bits. You select what you want
from their web page, they make up a CD, and you
are all set. One fee; no hassles.
About ten years ago I recorded for
Extreme Music over a two day period in a classy,
beautiful studio near Hampstead Heath. The
studio had been converted from an old Methodist chapel by the Beatles, so behind the sound
baffling and equipment were soaring arches and
multi-hued glass windows. There were hot- and
cold-running minions, all young and respectful, to
fetch tea and sandwiches, and to call cabs. Next
door a full orchestra was recording the sound
track for "Shrek 2." When the engineers couldn't
quite get my tapping foot right, they muted it with
blankets, then later had me just tap the foot to
add on a different track. Try tapping your foot for
fifteen minutes straight! I was paid very professionally and sent on my way. Royalties were
mentioned, but not anticipated. I'm a small fish in
a large acoustic sea.
To my surprise, small checks started
appearing every six months. I never know where
my music is being used unless someone hears it
and tells me. I do know of two uses. Here in the
U.S. my Cotton Eyed Joe was part of Meercat
Manor on the Animal Planet Channel.
But my real international claim to fifteen
minutes of fame, evidenced by emails from Northern Ireland, South Africa, and Finland, amongst
others, is from Swamp People on the History
When Angie and Howie first took over
the Alta Deli last fall they could not have
comprehended the impact they would have
on the community in such a short amount of
time. Not only do they serve deliriously good
breakfasts and lunches daily but they’ve
also expanded their menu to Friday night
feasts; a sumptuous addition to traditional
local fare that many are hoping will stay on
as a neighborhood tradition. With seasoninspired dishes, live music and a welcoming
ambiance the Deli is fast becoming the ideal
weekend hangout.
As if that isn’t already impressive,
Angie and Howie recently opened up their
parking lot to the Alta Flea Market, where
vendors can sell their treasures at bargain
prices to the
public. At only $5
a table, this is a
great deal if you’re
seeking to get rid
of those boxes
labeled “yard sale”
without having to
hassle with signs
or parking. “We’re
really indebted to JB Burton” says Angie “She
was the one behind the scenes managing
all the advertising … the signs, the Craigslist
ads, even doing shout-outs on KNCO.”
It was obvious on the Flea Market’s
first day that her efforts had not gone unrewarded. On an unusually warm Saturday
afternoon, children with cherry snow cones
and a few Jack Russells in tow could be spotted weaving in and out of the dozen or so
tables and canopies. Some, content with their
morning plundering, sat in the shade with one
of the Deli’s gourmet sandwiches and a cold
Continued on Page 13
Continued on Page 11
Angie, at the Alta Deli
Deli & Flea Market
Success
By Maggie Slover
Map for parade water play area - blue
for water, pink for no water
Please follow the following guidelines
for water play during the parade:
►► The only area in town designated for
water play with the parade participants is
below the Odd Fellows Building on Main
Street, along Sacramento Street, and left
along Stockton Street to Jay Street
►► Be respectful and refrain from any water
play for the specially designated sections
of the parade that say "no water play section, designated with signs and monitored
by parade marshals.
►► Please, no sling shot water balloon launchers and no frozen water
balloons.
Thanks in advance from the Board and
from the others at the parade.
2011 Parade Zumba Dancers
Community – Summer 2012
w Page 9
2012 Heritage Trail Event
By Jim Ricker
Community Center
Garden at the Hearse
House
By Julianne Smith
The daffodils, hyacinths, violas and
phlox were a gorgeous colorful welcome for
Dutch Flat locals and visitors in March this
spring. They were quickly followed by iris and
peonies.
Your garden toilers had a real “row to
hoe,” pulling out the grasses that invaded in
May. They continue their diligence to retain
the beauty of the area for all to enjoy. Laura
and Kim Glassco are most deserving of a
shout-out and hearty thanks from our communities. They both did yoeman service
Saturday morning May 12th, weeding and
weed-whacking, so the garden is especially
gorgeous.
Walk by and enjoy it. Even better, call
me - 530-389-2325 - and join us volunteer as
a community gardener.
Science Fair Judges Tom McDonnell,
Joel Baiocchi and Gabor Kernacs
Alta-Dutch Flat School News
Our local school has been a busy
place lately, with its recent Science Fair and
end-of-year preparations.
On May 15, several community members visited the school to judge this year's
Science Fair. Judges included Trudy Davey,
Gabor Kernacs, Joel Baiocchi, Tom McDonnell, Officer James LaPlante, Lauraine Bacon,
Shana Brown, and Susan Prince. They
evaluated and rated fair entries from students
Continued on Page
The 5th Annual Heritage Trail will be
held on August 11 and 12, 2012. Eighteen
participating museums from Roseville to
Tahoe will showcase history in a fun and
entertaining way. Admission is free to all
visitors.
The museums, mostly located with
easy access to Interstate 80 between Roseville and North Lake Tahoe, are open from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.
Activities at each museum are varied.
Trail Guides will be available at every
museum in July. For complete information
visit theheritagetrail.blogspot.com or call
1-530-889-6500.
Valley Museums – Located in South Placer
►► Lincoln Area Archives Museum
►► Maidu Museum & Historic Site (Roseville)
►► Roseville Historical Society Carnegie
Museum
►► Rocklin History Museum
►► Griffith Quarry Museum (Penryn)
Auburn Museums – Within one mile of the
Historic Courthouse
►► The Benton Welty School Room
Bernhard Museum Complex
Gold Country Museum
Placer County Museum
Joss House Museum
Gold Country Medical History Museum
Mountain Museums –Located in the Sierra
Nevada and North Lake Tahoe
►► Forest Hill Divide Museum
►► Colfax Area Heritage Museum
►► Golden Drift Museum (Dutch Flat)
►► Donner Summit Historical Society
Museum (Soda Springs)
►► Western SkiSport Museum (Boreal)
►► Gatekeeper’s Museum (Tahoe City)
►► Watson Cabin (Tahoe City)
►►
►►
►►
►►
►►
Page 10
w Community – Summer 2012
Gwathrop continued from Page 7
appeared during the war. It’s called tetanus.
You can die from it. It’s not good that you
were around cows.”
This news hit Archie like an Indian’s
arrow. He had thought that the two red dots
on his hand were utterly inconsequential. In
an instant, his mind had to make an adjustment from that appraisal to one in which his
life might end. He felt like throwing up. His
mind was flooded with images of Abigail and
Julia. He thought, “Do I even have a will?”
But then his common sense prevailed,
and he told himself, “This has been just a
scratch. It is utterly inconceivable that one
could die from such a thing. Men die from
bayonets or cannon balls but not from barbed
wire.” This is what he told Abigail. She looked
tense and tired, not having slept well for several days.
The next week there was more bleeding, and John had Archie ingest a potion
made from sulpher.
The red circles got bigger. Archie’s
hand had begun to swell up.
Several days later, red lines began to
creep up his forearm.
He went to attorney Paul Chamberlain
and had him draw up a will.
John remained concerned. There was
more bleeding, but Archie felt faint and took
to bed.
Abigail telegraphed Julia and told her
that her father was ill. Julia telegraphed back,
“Should I come home?” But the answer was
“No.” Abigail could not bring herself to interrupt her daughter’s first year at
Smith College.
Several
days later, Archie
could not get out
of bed. His entire
right arm was
red and bloated.
Many friends
came to The
Flying Fish Mine
to see Archie,
but, with the
exception of Sal
Ascalon, Archie
said, “I don’t
have time to see
them.”
On the
evening of
November 3,
Archie was talking with Abigail
at his bedside.
He told her how
he had loved her from the first time he had
seen her get off the stage in Dutch Flat. He
told her, for the first time, how hard it had
been when she had married his best friend.
He told her everything would be all right with
her and Julia; there was plenty of money. And
he thought to himself, “Plenty of money that
can’t buy my life!” Abigail took her wig off and
wept.
And then, Archibald Gwathrop slipped
into a coma. His vision took him far from
the surroundings of The Flying Fish Mine.
Indeed, he recognized the lush , green fields
of Cambridge and his aunt and uncle’s home.
And then he was in the Cathedral on the day
the Bishop visited and there was the wonderful feast. And the Bishop himself was in the
pulpit preaching, and at the end of the service, the Bishop raised high both his hands
and proclaimed:
“May the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and
minds in the knowledge and love of God…”
THE END
Linda and Rick above Lake Aloha
Editor’s note: The serialized story of
Archibald Gwathrop is the work of Rick Sims,
longtime Dutch Flat resident and retired
Justice of the California Third District Court of
Appeal.
Rick has contributed his work regularly
for 33 issues, in more than eight years’ worth
of issues of “Community.” Rick has been an
editor of this publication as well as a contributor, and an active community volunteer.
He and his wife, Linda Wallahan,
recently purchased the Flying Fish Mine from
the estate of Katy Hall. We welcome them
to their new home and look forward to many
new Dutch Flat adventures with the team of
Wallahan and Sims.
A writer must refuse to allow
himself to be transformed into an
institution. - Jean-Paul Sartre,
writer and philosopher (1905-1980)
NFARA News
By Jim Ricker
Spring Celebration
Our annual Spring Celebration, held
May 5 at the Dutch Flat Community Center,
was a grand success. A crowd of about 60
enjoyed a wonderful slideshow about the
Mountain Quarries Railroad. Auburn State
Recreation Area Superintendent Mike Lynch
gave the presentation. Bob Suter acted as
MC and Judy Suter provided the refreshments; both serve on NFARA Board. Other
Board Members gave updates on various
issues: Bill Carnazzo on suction dredge
mining, Ron Gould on trail projects, Jim
Ricker on Donner Summit and Park Watch.
American River Confluence Festival: June
9 and 10, 2012
Protect American River Canyons will
host the 21st annual American River Confluence Festival on June 9 and 10 at the American River Overlook on Pacific Avenue in
Auburn. This year will include a special celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Mountain Quarries Railroad with the sole surviving
locomotive, #202, on site.
NFARA is a co-sponsor for this year's festival.
Festival Entertainment and Events
Saturday June 9 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
►► Wine and Beer Tasting from Local Vintners & Brewers
►► American River Benefit Silent Auction •
Music & Light Foods.
Sunday June 10 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM:
►► Joe Craven - Multi-Instrumentalist
►► Haute Trash Fashions from Recyclables
►► Wild Things’ live animals presentation
►► Cabaret Music from The Tepid Club of
Cool
►► Izzi Tooinsky Juggler and Storyteller
►► Pyronauts
►► Thunderfoot Cloggers
►► Loping Wolf Native Cedar Flutes
►► White Doves Release
►► Nature & art activities for kids including
canoe & face painting
►► River Art Show
►► Guided American River Ecology Hikes
►► Mountain bike ride
►► Canyon Fun Run
►► Rock-climbing wall
►► Gourmet food.
We are looking for volunteers to help
staff the NFARA booth on June 10. It is easy,
no experience or special knowledge is necessary. Even if you can only give an hour or
two, it will help. Contact Jim Ricker at 530389-8344 or at [email protected].
Community – Summer 2012
Board Seeks Input on
Federal Funds Spending
By Placer County Community
Outreach
At its regular meeting on
Tuesday, May 22nd, the Placer
County Board of Supervisors
heard presentations on seven
projects obligating more than
$105,000 in Federal funds.
Before it can officially approve the projects,
the Board is legally required to get input from
county residents and approved a 45-day
public comment period.
All the funding was allocated to Placer
County under Title III of the Fiscal Year 2000
Public Law (PL) 106-393, the Secure Rural
Schools & Community Self-Determination Act
(HR2389), and the remainder was reauthorized under PL 110-343, also known as the
“Stimulus Act” in 2009.
Project funding was reviewed by the
Office of Emergency Services and members
of the Placer County Fire Safe Alliance, an
organization including representatives of
the Foresthill, Greater Auburn Area, PlacerSierra and Rural Lincoln Fire Safe Councils,
and other local, state and federal agencies
involved in land management and fire suppression. Their recommendations are below.
The $4,719 unobligated PL 106-393
funds would be combined with previously
approved funds and used to update the
Placer County Biomass Master Plan.
Unobligated PL 110-343 funds
($100,972), by law, can only be allocated in
three areas: (1) reimbursement for search
and rescue operations on federal lands,
(2) preparing community wildfire protection
plans, or (3) for projects that support the
Federal Firewise Communities Program. The
Board recommends this project funding:
►► Reimbursement for search and rescue on
federal lands: $15,000
►► Fire Mitigation Coordinator: $40,000
►► Grant Writer $15,000
►► Auburn Project Canyon Safe support $
6,972
►► Public Education initiatives $14,000
►► Firewise Communities Coordinator
$10,000
Get details on all projects from the
Office of Emergency Services, OES, 175 Fulweiler Ave., Auburn, CA 95603, 1-800-4884308, ext. 5300 (toll-free in Placer County).
Fax - 530-886-5343.
Comments on the projects must be
in writing, mailed or faxed to OES at the
address above. Comments must be postmarked no later than July 6, 2012.
Gold Run CHP Update
By Officer Todd Kettwig
Looking through my office window,
I realize that winter has left and summer
has arrived. The changing of the seasons is
symbolic as we see changes at the California
Highway Patrol Gold Run Area.
Our former commander, Lieutenant
John Arrabit, has been promoted to captain
and has been tapped to run the Office of
Employee Assistance and Safety at the CHP
headquarters facility in Sacramento. Although
he will be greatly missed, especially after
all he has contributed to our area and the
surrounding communities, we welcome his
replacement.
Lieutenant Andy Williams, the new
Gold Run commander, comes to us from the
Sacramento Communications Center, where
he has spent the past 2 years. Lieutenant
Williams has been with the Department for
roughly 18 years and has served in the Field
Offices of Blythe, El Cajon and the Morongo
Basin. His resume also includes time as a
Sergeant in the Office of Internal Affairs, the
Office of the Assistant Commissioner Field
Operations, and the Yuba Sutter Area.
Lieutenant Williams values family
and is committed to the public, saying “I
am extremely excited to work with the CHP
family assigned to Gold Run and will continue
to provide the highest level of safety, service
and security to the communities we serve.”
For your convenience and safety, our
office wants to local motorists and residents
to drive safely as chain control has turned
to construction zones. Additional community
policing signs have been installed to encourage you to report speeding vehicles or to
make other requests for service. We want
those who use back roads to remember that
pedestrians and bicyclists also share the
roadway and to slow down for them.
New 2012 California
State Laws remind parents
to make sure their children,
up to 18 years of age, wear
helmets when riding their
bicycles on the roadway
and to obey all traffic laws,
such as riding as far to the
right of the road as possible, in the same direction
as traffic. Another law new this year requires:
►► Children under the age of 8 must be
secured in a car seat or booster seat in
the back seat.
►► Children under the age of 8 who are 4’ 9”
or taller may be secured by a safety belt
in the back seat.
w Page 11
In addition, we remind drivers to use
their hands-free cellular devices and not to
text while driving so they are not distracted
or inattentive. Driver fatigue has become an
increasingly dangerous problem and safe
driving practices are everyone’s responsibility. As always, please wear your seatbelts.
Children under 12 years old are
required to ride in the back
seat, unless all other seats are
used. If you would like a new
child safety seat or need to
have yours inspected, please
contact me or Officer Chris
Nave. This is a free service. If
you have any additional concerns or questions, stop by the Gold Run Area Office or call
(530)389-2205.
Have a great and safe summer!
Deli, continued from Page 8
drink, catching up with friends and neighbors.
“I can’t believe what a successful
morning it’s been,” one vendor said with
pleasant surprise, “I thought it would be
really slow on its first day but I’m almost out
of things to sell!” The selection of items was
wide-ranging, with clothes, books, children’s
toys, cast-iron ware, vintage kitchen items
and fabric, and a few pieces of furniture in the
mix.
The Alta Deli owners are happy to
announce they plan to continue the sale on
the second Saturday of each month from 9
a.m. to 3 p.m. They invite anyone with a few
items to sell or a hankering for a cup of coffee
and a gathering of friends to come by. Just
be warned - Angie’s cinnamon rolls have an
uncanny way of disappearing during the first
hour of business.
The Lion and the Mouse
By Aesop
A LION was awakened from sleep by
a Mouse running over his face. Rising up
angrily, he caught him and was about to kill
him, when the Mouse piteously entreated,
saying: "If you would only spare my life, I
would be sure to repay your kindness." The
Lion laughed and let him go. It happened
shortly after this that the Lion was caught
by some hunters, who bound him by strong
ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came and gnawed the rope with
his teeth, and set him free, exclaiming, "You
ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to
help you, not expecting to receive from me
any repayment of your favor; now you know
that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer
benefits on a Lion."
Page 12
w Community – Summer 2012
1920 First Airmail Reno Northwoods
Ponies, Trains & Planes
By Mark McLaughlin
The invention of the airplane was one
of those benchmark advances in technology that dramatically improved the lives of
those living in the Far West, where wide open
spaces and remote locations made for a
lonely life.
The first breakthrough came when a
couple of promoters thought of using young
men and fast horses to deliver letters and
communication to California and Nevada
communities. The Pony Express was in business for less than 19 months, but those brave
men who delivered the U.S. mail over rugged
mountains and waterless deserts made
history. Starting in 1860 riders relayed their
satchel of letters in an operation that could
move mail nearly 2,000 miles in just 10 days.
When the transcontinental telegraph
was completed in October 1861, the Pony
Express died a quick death. The telegraph
could send messages through wires in the
blink of an eye, but for the average person
it was expensive and letters were still the
standard method for communicating over
distance.
The next breakthrough came less
than a decade later when Central Pacific and
Union Pacific completed the first transcontinental railroad across the United States. The
two railroad companies raced each other to
lay as much track as possible to earn lucrative government payments and federal land
grants. Central Pacific worked east from California and Union Pacific pushed west: the two
finally met in Utah in May 1869. Imagine the difference the transcontinental railroad made for people of that time.
Before the railroad many California-bound
immigrants traveled in covered wagons, leaving the western frontier (Missouri River) in
spring with the hope of reaching the Pacific
Coast before winter snow in the Sierra closed
the road. It was a long journey of 2,000 miles
that could take four to five months, replete
with multiple dangers that included accidents,
disease, Indian attack and equipment break-
down. (Commercial stagecoaches could
deliver you to the West much quicker during
the summer months, but you were limited in
what you could bring with you and it was a
bumpy, dusty ride.) Once the railroad was
completed, however, someone in New York
City could decide in early December that they
wanted to spend Christmas in San Francisco.
They could board a train and ride in safety
and relative luxury through stormy weather,
enjoying food and wine while gazing at the
passing scenery.
The transcontinental railroad was a
real game changer when it came to crosscountry transportation in America. Despite the
development of railroad lines in the United
States, efficient and easy travel in the Sierra
was still a challenge even after 1900.
The next breakthrough came in
December 1903 when the Wright brothers
made the first successful flight in a powered
airplane at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The
news was broadcast around the country, but
years would go by before anyone in Truckee
or rural Nevada would see a plane. Despite a
few attempts, the early airplanes were incapable of flying over the ridgeline of the Sierra.
One of the first to try was a well-publicized
flight by Robert Fowler in 1911, but his primitive, underpowered airplane could not surmount the range.
In April 1916, a New York millionaire
attempted a transcontinental flight from San
Diego to New York, transiting through Las
Vegas. He crashed 125 miles into his flight,
but the effort was front-page news in Nevada.
Initially air travel was too expensive and
complex for individual entrepreneurs. As with
railroad and highway transportation, it would
take the power and resources of the federal
government to develop aviation.
During World War I (1914-1918), the
Army Air Service established 69 airfields
across the U.S., but none in Nevada. These
bases became part of a nationwide network
of airways and landing fields that permitted
rapid deployment of military units across the
country. During WWI, primitive biplanes made
of wood and canvas with top speeds of 100
mph were outfitted with machine guns and
converted into offensive weapons. More than
125,000 aircraft were produced during the
war. The adaptation of the airplane as a military weapon rapidly accelerated their technological development.
Following the war, the Army Air Service worked with civilian leaders to develop
municipal airports. The Army Air Service pioneered transcontinental air routes throughout
the West. In 1919, three U.S. Army planes
with 90 horsepower engines successfully
crossed the Sierra from Sacramento to Reno.
They flew over Donner Pass where a wagon
train of emigrants had struggled and died in
deep snow less than 80 years before.
Once the air route between Reno and
San Francisco was established, flights over
the Sierra became almost routine. Another
big step occurred that year when a military
pilot flew from New York to San Francisco in
just three days. Nevada newspaper editors
began to envision regular air routes across
the Silver State, which would dramatically
reduce traveling times by automobile.
The successful flights over the Sierra
near Donner Pass opened the door to aviation’s first practical use which was airmail. On
May 15, 1918, the U.S. Postal Service inaugurated airmail service between New York
City and Washington, D.C. Western bankers
and other business leaders wanted the eastern network linked to the western states, in
part to help reduce the float time of checks
moving across the country. Postal officials
laid out a transcontinental air mail route
between S.F. and New York via Reno, Elko,
Salt Lake City, Cheyenne, Omaha, Chicago
and Pittsburgh.
On Sept. 8, 1920, a West Coast-bound
airmail plane took off from New Jersey on
the first leg of the new transcontinental route.
1920 Truckee Biplane Dutch
Pilots relayed the 400 pounds of mail to each
other much like a hi-tech version of the earlier
Pony Express mail delivery system. Planes
could not fly at night, but the mail still arrived
in San Francisco in four days. The coast-tocoast delivery had taken nearly 83 hours,
more than the projected 54 hours for the trip,
but the media loved it. One aviation booster
magazine, the Aerial Age Weekly wrote,
“September 8 will go down in history as the
great day when the epoch making event, the
first trip of the transcontinental aerial mail,
took place.”
Flying over the Great Basin was one
of the most treacherous portions of the journey, with serious problems related to climate,
geography, and weather. Vast expanses of
alkali desert and only isolated, remote settlements, made the flight over Utah and Nevada
Community – Summer 2012
daunting. Without location transmitters or
radios, it was nearly impossible to find a pilot
who crashed landed in the vast expanse of
Nevada.
To give themselves a chance, pilots
followed the tracks of the transcontinental
railroad and the Lincoln Highway. Despite the
obstacles, airmail pilots in the West developed a fairly safe operation and during the
first three years only seven pilots died in the
western sector, a rate comparable to other
sectors of the country.
Tahoe historian Mark McLaughlin is a
nationally published author and professional
speaker. His award-winning books are available at local stores or at www.thestormking.
com. You can reach him at [email protected]
Help Needed??!!
By Susan Prince
While talking with several local
residents, including Julianne Smith, Laura
Resendez and Marilyn Gregory, we agreed
this area could sure use a youth jobs coordinator, a volunteer who could help kids
in the area find jobs with those who need
simple jobs done around their property, or
babysitting.
Laura, Julianne and I all agreed we'd
be happy to hire local kids, from, say, 14
years old to 18, to do a wide variety of jobs lawnmowing and other garden work, helping
clear out closets or garages, simple painting,
etc. It would also be great to have someone,
perhaps a parent with a child in this age
range, to collect and organize the names of
kids, with phone numbers and skills, so locals
could call one phone number to find someone willing to work. We also agreed we'd be
willing to pick up the worker and return him or
her to their home after the job was finished.
So ... is there a parent or another local
resident seeking a useful volunteer activity? This would accomplish two important
things, to provide local youth with jobs and
some spending money, and to provide local
residents with a one-stop way to find nearby
labor.
Julianne, Laura and I already have lots
of volunteer activities on our plates, but I'd be
willing to help someone set up a youth labor
clearinghouse, as it were. Any takers? If so,
call me at 530-389-8344. Heck, maybe we
could find a kid to organize this, for a modest
fee. Let’s talk.
w Page 13
Swamp, continued from Page 8
School, continued from Page 9
Channel in
Europe, where
they use my
Row Your Boat
as a promo.
I don't get a
credit, so these
people have to
track me down
on the web,
and I now have many new fans and friends.
I wonder, though ... what do they think, as
my music backs up grizzled swamp people doing
rather horrid and weird things to animals lurking in muddy waters? Am I of that ilk? Now, I do
come from an Appalachian background; while my
father came from a Gold Rush/Celtic connection,
my mom is pure Smokey Mountains Tennessee.
I'm not sure how I should play it on my next tour
across the waters.
It’s kinda fun being a Documentary Diva,
but will they desert me when they find I'm just a
normal school-marm type girl? Should I change
into frilly blouses and cut-off jeans and go barefoot on stage? Should I have Big Hair? What
opportunities await me? Stay tuned for further
developments.
in the 4th through 8th grades. All agreed
many of the entries were outstanding, both
informative and demonstrating solid scientific
knowledge.
Alta-Dutch Flat students are athletes
as well as scholars. In May of this year, The
Alta-Dutch Flat School eighth-grade girls volleyball team, the Lady Bears, was crowned
the Sierra Foothill League champions. Team
members are Chyann Worrell, Amanda Ames,
Adele Putnam, Bailey Breech, Tessa Davey,
Maddison Roosen, Jessica Sellers, Jennifer
Vossoghi, Maya Vossoghi, Triniti Wood and
Alyse Sibley. Kacee Stetler is the coach.
Leading this crew of smart, lively students is Teaching Principal Lisa Graham. This
year, Ms. Graham received the Placer County
Award for New Administrator of the Year at
the Association of California School Administrators, ACSA, dinner on February 27th. Her
colleagues at the school wrote:
Alta-Dutch Flat School has benefited from
Lisa’s positive and calm approach to problem solving. She has a can-do attitude in
every situation she faces. She takes the
time and effort to know every student and
parent at the school, making her teaching,
discipline and other administrative decisionmaking easier.
Page 14
w Community – Summer 2012
Is Something Biting You?
By Susan Prince
Yep, it's mosquito
season. From a minor
summer annoyance,
mosquitos have become
a threat, as they can now carry West Nile
Virus, Western Equine encephalitis (WEE),
Malaria, Filariasis (canine and feline heartworm), and other diseases.
Joel Buettner, general manager of the
Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District,
recently said “Public awareness and participation is our biggest help.” He reminded the
public that the best protection from mosquitoborn diseases is to prevent bites in the first
place, by using effective insect repellant,
wearing long pants and long-sleeve shirts,
and treating cats and dogs with heartworm
preventives.
Buettner also had some tips for minimizing mosquito populations.
►► Drain any standing water that may produce mosquitoes, like old tires, plant
water containers and plastic buckets.
►► Defend yourself and your home by using
an effective insect repellent and dressing
protectively when outside, and making
sure screens on doors and windows are in
good condition.
►► Contact the District for any additional help
controlling mosquitoes around your home.
He encouraged local residents to
identify potential mosquito sources such as
neglected pools and ornamental ponds, and
drain them, if possible.
For more information, contact the district, call (916) 380-5444, toll free (888) 7682343, or visit www.placermosquito.org.
Although West Nile Virus has already
been detected in Sacramento County,
through analysis of dead birds, it hasn't yet
been reported in Placer County. Dead birds
are some of the earliest indicators that West
Nile virus activity is increasing in an area.
The map, below left, shows counties in
gray where West Nile Virus has been found in
2012 so far.
West Nile virus is primarily a bird
disease that is transmitted through mosquito
bites. Currently, dead birds are reported to
the California Dead Bird Hotline by phone
and can also be reported online. To report
a dead bird, call 1 (877) 968-2473 or visit
the state Department of Public Health West
Nile Virus website, at http://westnile.ca.gov/
report_wnv.php .
After you have reported a dead bird,
you will be contacted to determine the condition of the bird and if it is suitable to be picked
up for West Nile virus testing. All dead bird
reports are used for surveillance purposes
and are extremely valuable to us even if the
bird is not submitted for testing.
If you haven’t been contacted within
24 hours of your report, you may safely
dispose of the dead bird in your trash. There
is no evidence that West Nile virus can be
acquired by handling dead birds, but it is best
not to handle the dead bird with your bare
hands. Use gloves, a shovel, or a plastic bag
to place the bird in a trash bag for disposal.
Please DO NOT freeze dead birds. West Nile
virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, so the
best way to protect yourself from West Nile
virus is to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes.
The Muses
By E.M. Berens, from “Myths and
Legends of Ancient Greece”
Of all the Olympic deities, none
occupy a more distinguished position than
the Muses, the nine beautiful daughters of
Zeus and Mnemosyne.
In their original signification, they presided merely over music, song, and dance;
but with the progress of civilization the arts
and sciences claimed their special presiding
divinities, and we see these graceful creations, in later times, sharing among them various functions, such as poetry, astronomy, etc.
The Muses were honoured alike by
mortals and immortals. In Olympus, where
Apollo acted as their leader, no banquet or
festivity was considered complete without
their joy-inspiring presence, and on earth
no social gathering was celebrated without
libations being poured out to them; nor was
any task involving intellectual effort ever
undertaken, without earnestly supplicating their assistance. They endowed their
chosen favourites with knowledge, wisdom,
and understanding; they bestowed upon the
orator the gift of eloquence, inspired the poet
with his noblest thoughts, and the musician
with his sweetest harmonies.
Like so many of the Greek divinities,
however, the refined conception of the Muses
is somewhat marred by the acerbity with
which they punished any effort on the part of
mortals to rival them in their divine powers.
An instance of this is seen in the case of
Thamyris, a Thracian bard, who presumed to
invite them to a trial of skill in music. Having
vanquished him, they not only afflicted him
with blindness, but deprived him also of the
power of song.
With regard to the origin of the Muses,
it is said that they were created by Zeus in
answer to a request on the part of the victorious deities, after the war with the Titans, that
some special divinities should be called into
existence, in order to commemorate in song
the glorious deeds of the Olympian gods.
The libations to these divinities consisted of water, milk, and honey, but never of
wine.
Their names and functions are as
follows:—
►► CALLIOPE, the most honoured of the
Muses, presided over heroic song and
epic poetry, and is represented with a
pencil in her hand, and a slate upon her
knee.
►► CLIO, the muse of History, holds in her
hand a roll of parchment, and wears a
wreath of laurel.
►► MELPOMENE, the muse of Tragedy,
bears a tragic mask.
►► THALIA, the muse of Comedy, carries in
her right hand a shepherd's crook, and
has a comic mask beside her.
►► POLYHYMNIA, the muse of Sacred
Hymns, is crowned with a wreath of laurel.
She is always represented in a thoughtful attitude, and entirely enveloped in rich
folds of drapery.
►► TERPSICHORE,
the muse of
Dance and Roundelay, is represented in the act
of playing on a
seven-stringed
lyre, shown at the
right.
►► URANIA, the
muse of Astronomy, stands
erect, and bears
in her left hand a
celestial globe.
►► EUTERPE, the
muse of Harmony, is represented bearing a musical instrument,
usually a flute.
Community – Summer 2012
Lift, continued from Page 1
plans with the Placer County Transportation
Planning Agency to extend its Door-to-Door
Rides non-emergency medical transportation
program to the Alta/Dutch Flat community.
What is Seniors First? Seniors First
is an independent nonprofit senior services organization that strives to keep Placer
County senior citizens living independently
and comfortably in their own homes. Using
volunteer efforts, they provide such free
services as Meals-on-Wheels, transportation
to daily errands and medical appointments,
information and assistance, home modifications, safety repairs, friendly visitors and
housing placement assistance. Seniors First
serves western Placer County, including the
Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Colfax, Auburn
areas, with limited service to Granite Bay, and
Alta/Dutch Flat.
About Door-to-Door Rides - Door To
Door Rides is a volunteer-based transportation program in operation since 1971. This
is not a shared ride, nor is it charity although
donations are welcome to help keeping the
program running. It is your tax dollars being
put to work in your community, a way to help
those who have given for a lifetime.
Who can use Door to Door Rides?
Volunteer drivers provide non-emergency
transportation for Placer County seniors 60
and older and for disabled adults over 50 who
are unable to drive themselves or use public
transportation. Transportation is provided to
medical and dental appointments, labs and
pharmacies in and around the Auburn, Roseville, Grass Valley and Sacramento areas.
Unfortunately, the drivers are not able to
accommodate clients with large oxygen tanks
or wheelchairs, at this time, nor are they able
to provide medical care en route. However
backpack-style oxygen is acceptable.
When and How Much? Clients simply
call at least three (3) business days before
of their appointment, if they don't already
have a pre-arranged driver. Clients must
call and inform the scheduler of arranged
rides with their own driver. Transportation is
not available on weekends, holidays or after
normal business hours. Door-to-Door Rides
does not charge a fee for its services. Donations, which allow them to help those less
able to contribute, are accepted and greatly
appreciated.
How about Volunteering to Drive?
Absolutely! This is a great opportunity to help
make life a little easier for your friends, neighbors and family. If you have a valid California
driver's license, a registered vehicle, valid
insurance and are cleared through the Seniors First office you can volunteer to be a
Door-to-Door Rides driver. Drivers are reim-
w Page 15
bursed by Seniors First on a per-mile basis,
to help defray today's high cost of driving.
How Do I Get More Information?
Call Seniors First at 530-889-9500, ext.201,
or visit the Seniors First website at http://seniorsfirst.org/ .
PCWA Reports Water Supplies in Normal Range
At the April meeting of the PCWA
Board of Directors, Senior Engineer Tony
Firenzi said that 23 inches of precipitation in
the Yuba River watershed was measured at
PG&E’s Lake Spaulding during March, which
is 236 percent of the March average.
“I guess you could say we’ve had
another miracle March,” said Firenzi, referring
to the so-called “Miracle March” of 1991 that
produced three times average precipitation
and averted what would have been a very
low water year.
While this year’s precipitation totals
are still expected to trail the annual average, enough rain and snow have fallen to
put water supplies comfortably in the normal
range.
This year’s dry conditions prevailed
well into March and water agency officials
were making plans for dry year water deliveries, including cuts to Zone 5 agricultural
water users in far western Placer County.
Now, Zone 5 and all other PCWA
service Zone customers will receive normal
surface deliveries of water this season.
Most people are mirrors, reflecting
the moods and emotions of the
times; few are windows, bringing
light to bear on the dark corners
where troubles fester. The
whole purpose of education is
to turn mirrors into windows.
- Sydney J. Harris, journalist
and author (1917-1986)