Elverta • Rio Linda • Pleasant Grove • Antelope • North Highlands • McClellan • Sacramento • Natomas North Country News VOL. 8 NO. 2 ESTABLISHED 2008....THE BEST PAPER IN TOWN !!!! February 2015 SINGLE COPY FREE www.NCNews328.com PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID # 799575 EDDM Retail POSTAL CUSTOMER Rio Linda / Elverta Community Water District will be holding a Inside This Issue...... for the L Street Reservoir and Pump Station Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Friday, February 13, 2015 Senior Brown Bag Notice - page 2 Community Meetings - page 2 Lions Beef Stew - page 3 10:30 a.m. located at 730 L Street, Rio Linda, CA 95673 Bits & Pieces - page 3 February Word Puzzle - page 4 Library News - page 4 Business Listings - page 5 Quotes & Words of Wisdom pg 6 Let's Dig In - page 6 Church Listings - pages 7 Abandoned Wells - page 8 Yummy Yums - page 9 January Puzzle Answers - page 10 Friends of Dry Creek - page 11 Master Gardener clinic - page 13 Rio Linda Class '65 Reunion - pg 14 Emergency Drought Barriers - pg 15 Dare Real Estate - page 16 In 2007 a compliance order was issued to the Rio Linda/Elverta Community Water District by the California Department of Public Health. The compliance order was issued due to findings of inadequate water source capacity and low system pressure violations. The District received a loan from the State Revolving Fund program in the amount of a $7.5 million dollars funded by the State Water Resources Control Board (formally California Department of Public Health – CDPH) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These funds were used to resolve the Districts issues by completion of the following projects: In 2012 the District constructed well 15 and 1 mile of distribution pipeline to our existing distribution system with these funds. The new well produces 2,800 gallons per minute of drinking water and was a significant part of complying with the compliance order. The District had minimal storage facilities so additional storage was needed. The completion of this reservoir and pump station is the last piece to correct the District’s compliance order and lift a building moratorium, which has been in effect since November of 2007. The project took 10 months to complete at a cost of approximately $3 million dollars. The project was designed by Affinity Engineering and constructed by JJM Engineering Constructors, Inc. The completion of these projects with funding from the State Revolving Fund program enabled the District to ensure safe and reliable water and added fire protection for our customers. Please see Editors comments on page 15 Rio Linda Elverta Country Faire Planning Committee Meeting Monday February 16, 2015 6:30 p.m. Calvary Lutheran Church Corner of 5th & L Street in Rio Linda RLE Country Faire is granted tax deductible tax exempt status By Charlea Moore On October 22, 2014, the RLE Country Faire was incorporated as a non-profit public benefit corporation. The Country Faire applied for tax exempt and tax deductible status as a 501(c)(3) corporation and received their Determination letter from the IRS granting that status ef- fective October 22, 2014. The RLE Country Faire Planning Committee has been meeting every month except December to plan the upcoming 2015 Country Faire - Saturday Sept. 12, 2015. Please join us with your ideas and support. Everyone is welcome! Page 2 North Country News February 2015 Senior Brown Bag Hosted by Seniors For Seniors Foundation P O Box 328 Elverta CA 95626 Brown Bag distribution continues: February 10th. Mark your calendar. Location: Elverta Fire Station on the corner of Elverta Road and Elwyn Avenue, catercorner from the Elverta Post Office. Bags will be available after 10:00 am until 12:noon. New recipients may register between 11:00 am and 12:noon the same day. In addition to bagging the commodities from Sacramento Food Bank and items purchased directly from local stores and bakeries, the volunteers man the sign-in and registration tables, carry out bags then clean up and put everything away. One bag per house hold is handed out to registered and qualifying seniors 60+ years of age as well as to disabled members of our community. Social and Fraternal Organizations RIO LINDA/ELVERTA LIONS CLUB Rio Linda/Elverta Community Center 810 Oak Lane, Rio Linda Meetings - Second, third & fourth Thursdays Dinner 6:00pm / Meeting 7:00 pm 916-991-6223 RIO LINDA MASONIC LODGE AMERICAN LEGION POST #521 Front & M Street, Rio Linda 6700 8th Street, Rio Linda Meetings - Third Mondays Meetings Second Tuesdays - 7:30pm Dinner 6:00pm - Meeting 7:30pm 916-991-9921 916-992-1891 or 916-991-7715 GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING ELKHORN MOOSE LODGE #2060 & VFW POST 4647 WOMEN OF THE MOOSE LODGE 3300 U Street, North Highlands 6003 Rio Linda Blvd, Rio Linda Meetings - First & third Thursdays-7:00pm Meetings - First & third Tuesdays - 7:30 pm Hall Rental - 916-332-5960 916-992-1273 Community & Elected Board Meetings ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Sundays 6 pm. • Tuesdays 7 pm Wednesdays 7:30pm. • Fridays 7 pm. Calvary Lutheran Church Parish Hall • 5th & L Street • Rio Linda • 916-992-1409 • or Call 24/7 hotline AA 454-1100 ROUND TABLE ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (A.A.) Group Monday Night 8-9 p.m. St. Andrews Episcopal Church 7850 Watt Avenue Antelope CA 916.454.1100 RIO LINDA ELVERTA RECREATION & PARKS DISTRICT 3rd Wednesday of each month 6:30 p.m. Depot Visitors Center 6730 Front St. • Rio Linda • 991-5929 DRY CREEK PARKWAY ADVISORY COMMITTEE 1st Wednesday every other month Next meeting is February 4, 2015 Please call for location/time Sac. Co. Parks - Liz Bellas - 916-875-5925 RLE VISIONS TASK FORCE 2nd Monday each month 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Mike Huiras 916-320-9520 Community Room Fire Station 111 6609 Rio Linda Blvd. Rio Linda TWIN RIVERS SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD COMMUNITY AWARENESS SAFETY ALLIANCE - CASA 1st Wednesday every other month. 5:30 p.m. Depot Visitor Center, 6730 Front St. • Rio Linda. RIO LINDA/ELVERTA COMMUNITY PLANNING ADVISORY COUNCIL - CPAC 4th Wednesday of each month 7:00 p.m. Depot/Visitors Center 6730 Front Street • Rio Linda RIO LINDA/ELVERTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2nd Wednesday 5:30 p.m. Depot/Visitors Center 6730 Front Street • Rio Linda • 916-991-9344 SACRAMENTO FIRE DISTRICT 1st & 3rd. Wed. of each month. 6:00 p.m. - 916-566-4000 2101 Hurley Way • Sacramento ELVERTA SCHOOL DISTRICT 2nd Monday of each month. 5:30 p.m. • 916-991-2244 7900 Eloise Ave. • Elverta OVERCOMERS OUTREACH Christian based 12 Step Every Thursday • 7:00 p.m. Capitol Free Will Baptist in the Fellowship Hall 6201 Watt Ave. North Highlands • 916-432-0980 TRI COMMUNITIES LUNCH BUNCH 1st & 3rd Tuesday each month • 916-566-1786 5107 Dudley Blvd. Building 250 Bay “B” McClellan • McClellan Park www.twinriversusd.org 1st Thursday each month 11:30 a.m. Pancake Palace Watt Ave. North Highlands • Gary Monk591-2207 FRIENDS OF THE RIO LINDA PUBLIC LIBRARY FOOD ADDICTS IN RECOVERY ANONYMOUS 1st Wednesday - Quarterly • 6:30-8:00 p.m. Next meeting March 4th 631 L Street • Rio Linda • Phone: 916-264-2920 RIO LINDA/ELVERTA COMMUNITY WATER DISTRICT BOARD 3rd Monday of each month 6:30p.m. Depot/Visitors Center 6730 Front Street • Rio Linda • 991-1000 RIO LINDA GRANGE # 403 1315 G Street Rio Linda 1st Thursday each month at 7 p.m. Linda MacCracken 916-716-2354 Free 12 Step Recovery Program Mondays at 7:00pm St. John’s Episcopal Church, 2351 Pleasant Grove Blvd. in Roseville Meeting info call 916-759-5765 or 916-761-3009 CELEBRATE RECOVERY LifePointe Church of the Nazarene 7200 Rio Lnda Blvd. • Rio Linda • CA Scott Johnson: 916-991-4624 Tuesdays 7 pm Free Child Care: infant - 12yrs. RIO LINDA/ELVERTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY Board meeting • 2nd Wed. each month • 7 pm 6852 Dry Creek Rd • Rio Linda • 991-3910 Info Bits!!! Information for “Info Bits!!!” was obtained from books read, evening news reports, channel 6 - American Heartland and PBS News hour, National Geographic and various other publications and polls. They are printed as food for thought…Viv Food Closet The Rio Linda & Elverta Ministerial Association Food Closet serves zip codes 95673 & 95626 only. The Food Closet is located at the Rio Linda United Methodist Church, 6800 6th St. at the corner of 6th and M St. in Rio Linda, across from the Rio Linda Elementary School. The Food Closet is open on Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. You must provide proof of address and identification for everyone in your household that is requesting food. Donations are needed including canned and dry goods that can be made into nutritional meals. Please join the Rio Linda/Elverta Historical Society for their monthly Social Sunday Feb. 15, 2015 Place: Calvary Lutheran Church Corner of 5th & L Street in Rio Linda Time: 2:00 P.M. RIO LINDA ELVERTA QUILT TRAIL PROJECT PRESENTED BY ANNA MARIE TOMLINSON & DEBBIE CROWE The public is invited • Everyone is welcome Donations are gratefully accepted NORTH COUNTRY NEWS North of Sacramento Elverta • Rio Linda • Pleasant Grove Copyright 2015 by Vivien Spicer Johnson Published Monthly • Circulation 10,000 PO Box 328, Elverta, CA 95626 Email: [email protected] Visit the web site: www.NCNews328.com Vivien Spicer Johnson Owner, Publisher and Managing Editor ADVERTISEMENTS For a price quote please Email NCNews328 @ aol.com. NEWS DEADLINES: Articles; Letters to The Editor; Meeting Announcements; Event Flyers; due by the15th of the preceding month. Example - items for the July issue will be due on June 15th. North Country News February 2015 Page 3 BITS & PIECES Now here is something that just takes the cake and goes to show how our state and federal representatives waste our tax dollars. Ms. Feinstein is pushing a bill to require all toy guns to be made of bright colored materials so the police will know it is a toy! Right off the bat I said how stupid. Ms. Feinstein proves over and over that many do not gain wisdom with age. It is well time past for her to retire. At the time, I remarked that some criminals will just paint their real gun yellow or green causing a law enforcement officer to hesitate and get him self killed or some bystander killed. Well, well, well. Just this past week, TV news showed how real guns are being customized in neon colors with parts purchased on the internet. Those guns looked just like toys. There were even toy guns modified into real guns, one in particular was turned into a shot-gun. The comment from officers being interviewed said, “now all officers would just have to assume any gun, no matter the color, is real and a danger.” Take that Feinstein! Now here is something that would really benefit Californians. Designate money to fund an investigative department that would verify all those that have checked the box stating “I am a citizen” on the voter registration forms. At present, there has never been money allotted to actually weed out those not legally eligible to vote and the Registrar of Voters says, “that is not my job!” Another endeavor for Feinstein might be to carry a bill that states: Unless funds are available and designated for that specific bill it could not be adopted. In other words, “show us the money” before passing a bill that costs us money or does not have policing/enforcing funds available prior to passing. Just my thoughts. Delivering the January issue of NCN around Pleasant Grove, Elverta, Rio Linda, North Highlands, McClellan, Natomas and N. Sacramento this last month gave me a good feeling even though the wind tried to blow me away. There were very few blooming things to see but there were lots of structural improvements all around. Newly painted and new fences were springing up just everywhere. More yards were picked up and neater. New roofs, room additions and various remodel projects were evident. Houses with newly painted trim and even some cute mail box creations were to be seen. EvContinued to page 12 Hello all, Our youth theater classes will begin once again starting Tuesday, February 2. Our times will be: Ages 5-11 6PM-7PM Ages 12-17 7PM-8PM We are working on curriculum for this program and expect it to produce another great recital toward the end of the semester. Please make sure to come and sign up! Thank you, Danny Stipe VP Communication, RLEC Theater Page 4 North Country News February 2015 February Word Puzzle Created by Vivien F F I N F O O L I S H N E S S F E A T E E E O U V O F S W A E F F E I X F A N R R N F E M I N I N E F I F F I N K A O O M E N E B S N I I C C I D L O E M C C U E U T E I G G N K K D Y E X N W I I S B N E R U U O S L L U N D I E O O O I L A T R R N U T E E C A G O L L U F E E L A A A A S S F F I M Y U A L S I I L T T T T N T I I I A R F S N E S L L I I I T I I S D R R R E I F I F E I I V M M A C M O E M N Y H S I F F A B E E F E K F O R N A A A S T N O F L U O R E S C E N C E M M K I I C R E N S S V W F O T S H K E E F F C H B A I T T E E U O L U E E N N I I U A E T F E E L R F L O R I S T T N N F T A H E R O A E I E C V T I N O G G F C R E A N R W A S R K E R T T P E E S H S R L R S N L H S S E N S S E L R A E F 28 Words beginning with the letter “F” feeble feel fiber fewer fishy fink fellowman fermentation fiduciary filibuster fisticuffs fluorescence feather fickle finger ferocious figurative foolishness felon finch florist feminine fisherman fetlock finale fearlessness fiddlesticks firmament Find the listed words in the diagram above. They run in all directions, forward, backward, up, down and diagonally. Answer in next month's issue. Rio Linda Library Activities & Programs for January 2015 Rio Linda Library, 631 L Street, Rio Linda Sunday & Monday: Closed. Open: Tuesday 12 p.m.- 8 p.m.; Wednesday & Thursday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Friday, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. BOOK SALE @ Friends of the Rio Linda Library BOOK STORE Second Saturdays from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Find special books at terrific prices at our Friends of the Library Book Store, located at 440 Elkhorn Blvd., #7, (in the Food Source shopping center). Tell your friends and family about the big book sale every month. The book sales are fundraisers for the Library!!! Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24, Tues. 6:00 p.m. Knit and Crochet Circle Enjoy a bit of conversation and companionship at the Rio Linda Library Crochet and Knitting Circle! All ages and skill levels are welcome. This is not an instructional class but some assistance will be available. Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, Thur. 10:30 a.m. Preschool Storytime Talk sing read and play with us! Grownups are welcome to accompany litte ones most Thursday mornings for a fun storytime with books songs letters and numbers. No need to register. Sponsored by the Friends of Rio Linda Library. Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28, Sat. 10:00 a.m. Technology Help Now offering one-on-one walk-in service most Saturdays for patrons who need basic computer help such as creating e-mail accounts using the internet or downloading ebooks for e-Readers. Also basic help offered for smart phones and tablets. All sessions are first come first served and last 30 minutes. Feb. 20, Fri. 4:30 p.m. Minecraft Play Minecraft an open world adventure/building game. You will gather materials to build the best creation you can imagine. Someone will win a prize! This program is sponsored by the Friends of Rio Linda Library. AUTHORS ~ WANNABE AUTHORS ~ PUBLISHERS Do you write &/or Publish? Do you want to? FREE Sat 14 Feb 2015 10:30am--12:30pm North Highlands/Antelope LIBRARY FRIENDS BOOK SALE LOST RESTAURANTS AND THEIR RECIPES Just in time! The Friends of the North Highlands/Antelope Library will be having a Fabulous February book sale on Friday and Saturday, February 6 and 7. Come check out the wide selection of books and find something for you and/or someone special. We will have several tables set up with many different genres, puzzles, DVDs and much more. Most books are priced between $ .50 and $2.00. The sale will be open for Friends of the Library one hour prior to opening for the general public. Hours for the sale are: Friday, February 6, Friends preview at noon, with the public sale from 1 to 6. On Saturday, February 7, the sale starts at 10 and ends at 3:00. The February adult program is Lost Restaurants and Their Recipes on February 14th at 2:00 p.m. in the Community Room. From saloons and tamale vendors to greasy spoons and neon-lit drive-ins, Sacramento natives Maryellen and Keith Burns trace the trends of California’s capital city through 150 years of dining out. From their book “Lost Restaurants of Sacramento and Their Recipes” discover a century of Hangtown Fry served at the Saddle Rock, crispy wonton dunked in red sauce at the Hong Kong Café, pineapple spare ribs with Mai Tais at Maleville’s Coral Reef and burgers and sundaes devoured at Stan’s Drive-in. Books will be available for purchase. If you would like to donate books or other items for the book sales, please drop them off at the circulation desk any time the library is open. The books also go in our rounds for continuous book sales. Remember!, the money earned from these sales go back in to the library in support of programs, activities, library needs, and the “Lucky Day” collection. The North Highlands/Antelope Library is located at 4235 Antelope Road, Antelope, CA (near the corner of Walerga and Antelope). For more information email us at: [email protected] or call 916-2642700. You are also welcome to check out our bi-monthly newsletter at http://nhantelopefriends.blogspot.com/. Northern California Publishers & Authors (NCPA) Meeting Emeritus at Citrus Gardens (Senior Citizen Residence) 7418 Stock Ranch Road (near Greenback & Sylvan) Citrus Heights, CA Husband and wife team, Ken & Dahlynn McKowen, CEO and publisher of Publishing Syndicate LLC, share their experiences in: Travel Writing 101 (Covers a discussion on writing about destinations in works of literary fiction) Through a visual PowerPoint presentation, the McKowens give an overview on travel writing, something they’ve done for a combined 60 years. Topics also include tips on making the most of your travel time, equipment suggestions and how to effectively “show” a travel destination with words using strong visual descriptions. Dahlynn McKowen : Before publishing, Dahlynn spent 25 years as a freelance travel writer, author, ghostwriter and copyeditor. In 2012, the McKowen’s launched the Not Your Mother’s Book (NYMB) anthology. Ken McKowen: writing career has spanned more than three decades, and he’s an award-winning author and speaker. From 1999 to 2009, Ken & Dahlynn were coauthored Chicken Soup for the Soul Books, including Chicken Soup for the Fisherman’s Soul and Celebrating Brothers and Sisters. Dahlynn has been referred to by Chicken Soup for the Soul founders as one of their most trusted coauthors. For more information on NCPA: www.norcalpa.org Or contact: [email protected] ACHY JOINTS…DRY SKIN TOO!!! North Country News February 2015 Page 5 DEAR READERS Please visit our web site www.NCNews328.com for the current and all the back issues of NCNews. PAPA’S PIZZERIA & GRILL 420 Elkhorn Blvd. Rio Linda Lew’s Club 6734 Rio Linda Blvd. Rio Linda Vanessa’s Place Hair Salon KEY SHOP 825 M Street, Rio Linda 641 M Street, Rio Linda Creekside Diner Let's Talk Phone 916-992-0518 825 M Street, Rio Linda Corner of Pleasant Grove Rd. & Baseline Archway Market Archway Check Cashing 416 M Street, Rio Linda Water Rite Products Plumbing & Irrigation Supplies Stop & Shop 7835 Rio Linda Blvd. Elverta Villa Fat Chinese Cuisine 440 Elkhorn Blvd. Suite 5 916-991-1228 Elverta Food & Liquor 8008 Dutch Haven 916-991-9279 ___ Rio Java River Valley Feed & Pet Supply Jimmy’s Donuts Elkhorn Bait & Tackle Rio Linda Library Elverta Sudzy Paws 631 L Street Rio Linda 428 “M” Street, Rio Linda 6748 Front St. Rio Linda 440 Elkhorn Blvd. #1 Rio Linda 6745 20th St. Rio Linda Rio Linda Liquor Rio Linda Hardware & Building Supply 6007 Dry Creek Rd. Rio Linda 430 Elkhorn Blvd. Rio Linda Elverta Market & Deli Corner of Rio Linda & Elkhorn Blvd., Rio Linda 4807 Rio Linda Blvd. 916-925-3629 Elverta Feed Pet 6549 16th Street Rio Linda & Tack, Inc. Food Source 7831 Rio Linda Blvd. Elverta 7 Eleven Food Store Pleasant Grove Cafe Riego Market & Deli 916-648-2580 4125 Winters St., Sacramento 7145 Watt Ave. Unit B North Highlands Phone: 916-339-9190 Vic Cell: 916-600-6665 www.vicautopaint.com 950 Oak Lane, Rio Linda Corner of Pleasant Grove Rd. & Howsley Rd., Pleasant Grove COLLEGE OAK TOWING Vic Auto Paint & Supply 7805 Rio Linda Blvd. Elverta 916-991-3811 Coffee Break Cafe 717 Del Paso Rd. Sacramento Corner of Main Ave. & Northgate Blvd. 916-641-5808 Hair Gone Wild 4381 Gateway Park Blvd. Ste. 550 Natomas 916-419-4100 748 M Street, Rio Linda 798-4748 Amy’s Cafe 750 M Street, Rio Linda 992-0378 Tummy’s Sub Shop 741 M St. Rio Linda 991-5507 Goodwill Industries 8031 Watt Ave. Elverta Elverta Crossing Shopping Center Jenny Craig 3661 North Freeway Blvd. #110 Sacramento - Natomas area Rio Food & Liquor Corner of R.L. Blvd. & Elkhorn Property Sisters 7811 Rio Linda Blvd. 916-548-2535 Pick up your North Country News at any of these businesses _ _ _ TRY "BLUE EMU..." Page 6 North Country News February 2015 Quotes & Words of Wisdom! "Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from the corn field." Dwight D. Eisenhower In Memory of “I pay the School Master, but ‘tis the school boys that educate my son.” Ralph Waldo Emerson “If you hit a pony over the nose “Where there is no vision the at the outset of your acquainpeople perish.” tance, he may not love you but he L. B. Johnson will take a deep interest in your movements ever afterwards.” “The power to tax involves the Rudyard Kipling power to destroy.” John Marshall “The freshmen bring a little knowledge in and the seniors “There are two ways to conquer take none out, so it accumulates and enslave a nation….One is by through the years.” sword….The other is by debt.” A. Lawrence Lowell, President John Quincy Adams, 6th Presi- of Harvard dent “There is nothing wrong with “The point to remember is that America that Americans can’t what the government gives it fix.” must first take away.” Ronald Reagan John S. Coleman “If you think about what you “My optimism comes not just ought to do for other people, from my strong faith in God, but your character will take care of from my strong and enduring itself.” faith in man.” Woodrow Wilson Ronald Reagan “I was born modest; not all over, “Creatures whose main spring but in spots.” is curiosity will enjoy the accu- Mark Twain mulating of fact, far more than the pausing at times to reflect on “This land of ours cannot be a those facts.” good place for any of us to live Clarence Day in unless it is a good place for all of us to live in.” Richard M. Nixon FREE COMMUNITY MEALS 2nd, 3rd and Last Saturday of Each Month Henry Dewey Penick Sunrise April 7, 1925 - Sunset January 31, 2015 Dewey was born in Subiaco, Arkansas, 89 years ago to Joseph Penick and Edith Spicer. Dewey was a resident of Rio Linda since the mid 1940’s. Many of his family members continue to reside in Rio Linda and Elverta. He is preceded in death by his infant daughter Patricia Penick, adult daughter Kathryn John and his wife Shirley Penick. He is survived by his daughter Sharon Lindle Meadows, sons Samuel Penick, (Daylinda) and David Penick. He was a Grandfather, Great Grandfather and Great, Great Grandfather as well as Uncle to many nieces and nephews. He will be missed by his family, friends and the many who bought his sweet red onions. For him his last day was a perfect day. He tilled the soil in his garden, getting ready for planting his tomatoes and those sweet red onions. Then he sat in the chair he kept in his garden and as the warm sun was shining on his face, he went to sleep. Services are pending. LET’S DIG IN !!! _____ 5:00 - 7:00 pm 2nd and Last Saturday’s held at Calvary Lutheran Church 515 L Street Rio Linda in Social Hall 2nd Saturday: Hosted by Life Pointe Church of the Nazarene Last Saturday: Hosted by Calvary Lutheran Church 3rd Saturday held at Rio Linda Community United Methodist Church 6818 6th Street Rio Linda 3rd Saturday: Hosted by 1st Southern Baptist Church, New Covenant Fellowship and Rio Linda Community United Methodist Church Everyone Welcome While looking out my second story window one Saturday last month, I observed a tanish-yellow older truck with a lawn mower in back come to a slow stop near my corner. A tall person got out and looked in the back then got back into the truck. He then got out again and took a sack from the back, tipped it up and poured something out. I watched for awhile as he/she watched what had been dumped. After a bit I put on my boots and proceeded out to check on what was going on. When I rounded the corner and was spotted the truck left. I proceeded on to my fence line, expecting to see puppies or kittens. To my surprise there stood two big chickens. I am sure this person thought those chickens would hop over the fence and join my group of chickens. Well those two chickens knew right off you do not join uninvited. A LITTLE DAB WILL DO!!! ,,, VIV Continued to page 8 North Country News February 2015 Page 7 ATTEND YOUR PLACE OF WORSHIP AND FEED YOUR SOUL CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH 5th & L Streets, Rio Linda (916) 991-2135 Pastor: Kirsten Moore Sunday Adult Ed: 9:00 am Sunday Worship: 10:30 am Child Care Provided during Worship with Bible Stories and Crafts Free Community Meals: 2nd & Last Saturday Each Month: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm All Are Welcome! nd (2 Saturday hosted by Life Pointe) Elverta United Methodist Church “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” 916-991-1451 7861 Elmont Avenue • Elverta Worship Service 9:00am. Pastor Jeff Holder New Life Center 2037 Elkhorn Boulevard • Rio Linda Ph. 916-991-3001 Sunday School 9:45am. Sunday Service l0:45am. Sunday Evening 6:00pm Wednesday 7:00pm. Pastor James A. Duncan The Church Home of Old Time Religion 6550 Dry Creek Road • Rio Linda Ph. 916-991-6766 - Bob Royer, Pastor Sunday School 10:00am Sunday Evangelistic 6:00pm. Wed. Bible Study 7:30pm. Fri.. Youth Service 7:30pm FULL GOSPEL LIGHTHOUSE FELLOWSHIP 18th St. & Elkhorn Blvd.. • Rio Linda Phone 991-9774 Pastor Lyle Monday Sunday Worship Morning 10:00 a.m. Evening 6:00 p.m. Children’s Classes 10 a.m. LIBERTY MINISTRIES CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 4840 Marysville Blvd.. • Rio Linda Pastor Shannon Fannin Liberty Ministries extends an Invitation to come and join us for Celebration Worship each Sunday 9am or 11am Call for info on Child Care, Pre-School, Youth Extreme & Food Closet. 916-922-6442 Victory Tabernacle Pastor Timothy Hinkle Sunday: 10 am Sunday School children & adults 11 am Church Service Friday: Youth Group 7 pm ages 13-18 3910 Marysville Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95838 916.320.0249 or 916.550.1563 FIRST SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH 6420 Rio Linda Blvd. • Rio Linda Corner of Elkhorn & Rio Linda Blvd. Pastor Steve Gleghorn Sunday School 9:30am Morning Worship 11:00am Evening Worship 6:00pm Wed. Prayer Service & Youth 7:00pm Trinity Apostolic Faith Church NORTH METRO CHURCH OF CHRIST 7842 Elmont Avenue Elverta, CA 95626 991-7895 Pastor Steve Mixer Sunday School 9:30 am Worship Service 11:00 am Evening Evangelistic Service 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30 p.m. 4191 Norwood Ave. Sac. 95838 Phone (916) 923-1147 Jason Darden, Minister Sunday Bible Classes 10:00am Worship 11:00am Worship 6:00pm Wednesday • Bible Classes • 7:00pm Rio Linda Seventh-day Adventist Church ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH 7535 - 10th St. & U • Rio Linda 991-4091 9:15am Saturday Sabbath School for Adults & Children 11:00am Worship Service ELVERTA FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH (SBC) 112 West Delano Street • Elverta Pastors Ted Hooker & Randall Gillespie Church Ph:. 991-5545 Sunday Adult Bible Study: 9:45am Teen Bible Study: 9:30am Worship with Band : 11:00am KidSpace Children’s Service: 11:00am Gospel Service:6:00pm Wed.: Worship & Bible Study 7:00pm Friday: TeenLIVE! Youth 7:00pm LifePointe Church of the Nazarene Connect-Grow-Serve Corner Q St. & Rio Linda Blvd. R. L. Phone 991-4624 Pastor Dennis Druckhammer Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. Wed. Family Night 6:30 p.m. Rio Linda Community United Methodist Church 6th & M Streets • Rio Linda 991-1638 Pastor Debbie Dillon Sunday School 9:30am Worship Service 11:00am New Covenant Fellowship Church 6851 2nd Street, Rio Linda, CA 95673 House Church Sunday Bible Studies: 10:00 a.m. Sunday Service: 11:00 a.m. Pastor Michael Revell [email protected] Int’l. Full Gospel Christian Alliance FAMILY GOSPEL CENTER Rio Linda Four Square Church 1281 Q Street • Rio Linda • 348-3637 Pastor John Frank Church and Sunday School 10:00am Wed. Bible Study 7:00pm 3644 Bolivar Ave. North Highlands, CA. (LCMS) Tel:332-4001 http://www.ZionLutheranNH.org Sunday Schedule 8:00 AM Traditional Worship 9:30 AM Kingdom Quest for kids 9:30 AM Adult & Teen Bible Study 10:45 AM Praise Service with Band Kid’s Church (during 10:45 service) CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH 6608 16th St. • Rio Linda • Ph. 991-5870 Pastor William Hilton Sunday School 10:00am Morning worship 11:00am Evening Worship 6:00pm Wednesday Bible Study 7:00pm St. Clare Catholic Church 1950 Junction Blvd. • Roseville, CA Rev. Liam MacCarthy, Pastor Rev. Paul Ricks, Parochial Vicar (916) 772-4717 Saturday 5:00 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. • 11 a.m. • 5 p.m. Sacramento Bible Fellowship (Anabaptist or Mennonite) 10 am Sunday Service 7 pm Wednesday Meetings held at the Rio Linda Grange •1315 G St. • Rio Linda 916-991-2553 or 916-616-0087 Rio Linda Pentecostal Church of God “Home of Christian Family Worship” 736 “O” Street • Rio Linda (916) 606-6928 Pastor Rick Willock • Sunday Services • 10am - Christian Ed. 11:00am - Morning Worship 6:00pm - Evening Worship House Of Faith Apostolic Church Spanish/English "Come a feel the love of God and fall in love with God" 902 Oak Lane Rio Linda 95673 Pastor Ricardo Moya (916) 212-2053 Sunday worship 4:30 Tuesday prayer 6:30 Thursday Bible study 6:30 Monthly Youth activities RIO LINDA FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH (American Baptist) 10th & O Streets • Rio Linda Sunday School 9:15am Sunday Worship 10:30am Page 8 North Country News February 2015 Could You Have an Abandoned Well on Your Property? LET’S DIG IN !!! _____ Continued from page 6 Abandoned Wells – Pose Danger to Ground Water Quality While most never think about it – improperly sealed or abandoned wells pose significant risks to our groundwater quality and are a very real safety hazard for children, adults and small animals. With these concerns in mind, Sacramento County’s Environmental Management Department (EMD) is continuing its survey program to identify hundreds of these wells to help ensure that they are properly secured or destroyed. “We find wells on vacant lots, farmland and backyards in suburbs,” said Val Siebal, Director of EMD. “People don’t realize that the runoff water that goes into these wells carries pollutants that flow directly into our groundwater. It’s important that we find them and properly seal them.” Environmental Management has identified approximately 600 potentially unsecured abandoned wells in the south area of the County alone. These wells can be found on any type of property, even residential homes. Often the wells are forgotten and lost in the tangle of weeds or brush, where an opening as small as 8 inches can entrap small children and animals such as dogs. Your help is needed to find all abandoned wells to ensure they are secure and safe. Why it Matters: How Abandoned Wells Impact Groundwater Sacramento County relies on groundwater to supply approximately half of its water needs. Due to deterioration or lack of maintenance, many abandoned wells are a source of runoff water carrying bacteria, sediment, fertilizer, pesticides and other pollutants that flow directly down into our groundwater. Many contaminants are not visible from just looking at the water and consumers may not know their drinking water is unsafe. It is essential for groundwater quality that steps are taken now to help ensure there is a safe water supply for County residents, businesses and farms. Safety Hazard of Abandoned Wells Children, animals and even adults can fall into abandoned wells causing injury or death. Open pit wells and large-diameter drilled wells are particularly hazardous and often are hundreds of feet deep. It is easy to miss a well opening and a small child or animal may become trapped inside. How to Make Abandoned Wells Safe Merely capping an abandoned well or filling it with concrete is not enough to prevent it from becoming a problem. Plugging materials must be strong, durable and free of contaminants. Effective well-plugging requires experience and knowledge of well construction materials and methods. EMD can assist by safeguarding that the proper materials are used and the contractor is trained and knowledgeable. “Our objective is to get the wells into compliance; either make them active again, deactivate them if they will be used again, or properly destroy them,” Siebal added. “Within the next three years, working with property owners, we want to identify all the abandoned wells and target the most dangerous as high priorities for closure. We’re sending postcards to property owners now and will make follow up appointments with the owners.” If you know of an abandoned well, or need assistance locating them on your property, leave a message on the abandoned well hotline: 916875-8532 or email EMD-abndwells@ saccounty.net. You may also email for more information, or call, 916-8758400. If people, government planners for sure, observed the various animals, wild or domestic, they might learn a thing or two. You don’t just mix varieties, different age groups, colors and you don’t over crowd the pen. All will lead to some real fights and unhealthy living environments. These two chickens may in time join up with those already in residence but the pecking order will be strictly enforced, I am sure. PS, I threw some grain over the fence just to make sure they had dinner. Later in the week I spotted those girls in the church yard, probably getting a spiritual uplift - for sure a worm or two. Please note dumping any critters is really a cruel thing to do to your pets. Just because we are a little bit country out here does not mean your dumped animals will be able to find food and water to drink. _____ Lots of pruning and tree trimming going on here while the rain holds off. I am sure when it comes we will all be crying uncle. If you bother to stay in one place long enough you become familiar with the rhythm of the weather and plan accordingly. This is where lots of old sayings have come along such as “make hay while the sun shines.” Now is the time to prune, check drains, nail down loose roof sheets, check for leaks, store things higher and clear out trash that needs to go to the dump or be recycled. Do the things that need doing when the time is right. _____ A few years ago I had a big fig crop. Lots of birds sat around in one of my trees, after having a big lunch on these figs. Later on in the year, many little fig trees started sprouting all around that big tree. At the time I gave several of those trees away but the area just kept getting fuller and fuller with little trees. Well, now I am working on removing these small trees, some are 1.5” in diameter. Guess I should have cut those tree sprouts out when they were only around 1/8” in diameter, but I just hate to kill any plant. Now Black Berry vines are another story and I am still working on clearing them out, as well. Take it from me, never, never let berry vines get started or they will take your place. _____ Was out and about today and picked up a couple lime trees, another lemon tree and some bedding plants. The lemon is a “Eureka” and the limes are “Bearss.” I have never grown limes but have noted several recipes call for lime juice and it does adds a nice bit of zing to the dish. You can find these citrus trees at Wal Mart for $14.00 each. They are in a tube, the new version of the bare root stock. Just remember when planting bare root anything to dig the hole large enough to spread all the roots out, no bent ones and make sure the plant is standing straight. The plant should not be setting below the dirt line on the trunk then mud it in. Mudding it in is filling the hole with water and gradually adding the soil. This way will eliminate air pockets making sure there is good soil contact with all the roots. As you fill the hole allow the excess water to run off and do not water again until the soil is dry about an inch down. You can stake the tree, one on each side but allow some movement and remove the stakes as soon as possible. Do not make the ties to tight as it will choke the plant. If the plant is top heavy pinch off a few twigs. This will give the roots a chance to grow without putting a strain on them trying to support a large top. _____ Well you all know by now how I stress using your leaves as mulch around your plants and things, old straw or hay works just as well to keep the weeds down and hold the moisture in. I still believe we will be getting the rain needed for our use. This last week, Forrest Tree Service spent three days working on several of my large trees, cutting, trimming and chipping. I now have 4 ½ truck loads of wood chips, two large piles, to spread around which will give me plenty of exercise and lots of mulch for the yard. If I Continued to page 13 North Country News February 2015 Page 9 VIV'S YUMMY YUMS!!! This recipe is for an energy snack. We all know the good things found in nuts, oats and honey. How about flaxseed? Well here is a bit of information: Flaxseed contains 2600 mg of Omega 3 oils per serving (2 Tablespoons). Flaxseed is a good source of fiber, gluten free, has no sugar, no salt and no cholesterol plus contains protein, calcium and iron. This is a No Bake Snack, you can make it with your grandchildren. Makes forty-five bite size pieces for around 52 calories each. Ingredients: 1/3 cup Honey - any brand 1/2 cup ground Flaxseed - you can buy a box milled flax seed. 1/2 cup Hazel Nut spread 1 cup Oatmeal - I use the minute oats. 1/2 cup sliced Almonds 1 teaspoon Vanilla 1 cup Coconut flakes In a large bowl mix all the dry ingredients, Almonds, Flaxseed and Oatmeal. Set aside the coconut flakes for later. Now add the Honey, Hazel Nut spread and Vanilla. Mix well and form into bite sized balls. I used my melon ball scoop to make the small balls. Pour the coconut flakes into a pie pan. Now roll the shaped balls in the coconut flakes, coating well. Place into a flat pan and chill until firm. Now if you like Peanut Butter and Chocolate chips you may substitute Peanut Butter for the Hazel Nut spread and mini Chocolate chips for the sliced Almonds. The calorie count is within one calorie. Just remember to keep the balls of mixture the same bite size and count. Did you Know??? Back in 1969 four very important historical things happened in just 72 hours. 1. 2. 3. 4. New & Fashionable Cuts and Perms Hair Color • Weaves • Ear Piercing Facial Waxing • Tanning • Nail Tech 916-991-2441 Watson Storage Richard M. Nixon was sworn in as our 37th president. Just two days later Lyndon B. Johnson our 36th president died. The supreme Court made their ruling on Roe vs. Wade. A peace agreement was negotiated with North Vietnam. Riddles Questions 1. When did the Roman Catholic Church begin allowing girls to be alter servers? 2. What was California’s driest recorded January? 3. What person was elected president on his third try? 4. Since 1900 how often has Iowa not voted for the winning president? 5. How many Head Coaches has the 49’ers football team had? 6. How many spare the air days have we had so far this year? Answers on page 10 (916-992-6022) Storage Units, Rv’s & Boats 5 X 10 - $45.00 5 X 14 - $55.00 - 1 Room 8628 Pleasant Grove Rd. Open 8:30 am - 5:00 p.m. Closed Sundays & Mondays 10 X 10 - $65.00 - 2 Rooms 10 X 12 - $75.00 - 3 Rooms 10 X 14 - $85.00 - 4 Rooms 12 X 14 - $95.00 - 5 Rooms 14 X 24 - $140.00 - 6 Rooms+ Drop in and visit with the Elder Craftsman any Wednesday between 10:00am & 2:00pm at the Depot in Rio Linda. Everyone is Welcome 991-2810 Page 10 North Country News February 2015 Do You See Our Creator??? By Viv Have you ever really looked at your hand? Have you ever thought what a gift your hand really is and how it is such a wonderful engineering accomplishment, as well. Do you ever think how you would do the things you are able to do if you were missing a finger or your thumb? I had a neighbor, years ago, who lost both his thumbs. Mr. Bowman was an old cowboy from Montana. He has been gone for many years now but always seemed to have such a wise way of looking at things. For a time he worked in a mill with all those big saws, going all the time. Through an accident he lost one of his thumbs. Things went okay for awhile then another accident took is other thumb. Well, his old doctor, way back in the early fifties, tried a daring operation. This doctor cut off one of Bowman’s big toes and sewed it on where his right thumb had been. It healed and was quite functional. Mr. Bowman said it was better than nothing but never as good as the original. Without our thumbs it would be very difficult to pick up things or grip tools such as a hammer, wrenches, those knitting needles, catch a football, throw that strike or handle surgical tools. Man has tried for years to duplicate the actions of a real hand and they are making great strides but I believe no matter how things improve and the many discoveries are made God’s creation will never be duplicated. Now look at your fingers, ever wonder why they are different lengths? I have no answer why but for me my middle fingers give my hands more strength. Those fingers are much stronger than any of the others. You know the male and female hands are different, not just in strength and size but in style as well. These differences are consistent between the sexes. In the male the forefinger is shorter than the ring finger. In the female the forefinger and ring finger is the same length. Sometimes, due to arthritis and age it is hard to see these differences. Ever wonder why your fingers are different lengths? Did you know there are more than 20 bones in your hand? Ever stop and think, you don’t have to tell your hand to pick up something or move a certain way, it just does it. Our fingers are so important that we have finger nails to protect the ends of our fingers. Just stop and think about how many things you do with your hands each and every day, for many years, yet those hands seem to continue to last, never wearing out. Sure we get aches but on the whole your hands continue to serve you well. All hands are not created equal, some are gentle enough to caress a baby’s cheek, others strong enough to land a killing blow, others to paint the Mona Lisa or make delicate surgical repairs. There are all kinds of hands just like people. Maybe you should say thanks once in a while. January Puzzle Answer MONTHLY MEETING OF MILITARY RETIREES/ SPOUSES Info Bits!!! Channel 13 predicted 1.25 Billion “Chicken Wings” will be eaten on Super Bowl Sunday. Four wings for every American. DID YOU KNOW??? Our next monthly meeting is scheduled for 10 Feb 2015. Meeting place is the North Highlands Park and Recreation District, 6040 Watt Ave, North Highlands and the start time is 1030 hrs. Our speaker for this event is John Locher, Sr Ombudsman for DMV. This should be a very informative discussion on DMV issues. Come on out and enjoy a cup of coffee and some delicious cookies. Questions can be referred to our volunteer staff at 640-8446, Mon thru Thurs, 0900 to 1500 hrs. Lubbock Texas produces more cotton than any other state. It produces 9 billion pounds of cotton yarn per year. The cotton fiber is one inch long and is the longest single cell. Cotton bales weigh 500 pounds. Denim was first made in Chief Moses France. Feeding cotton seed meal to cows increases the butterfat content of their milk and is a good source of Riddle Answers protein for the cows. It takes one ton of cotton seed 1. Cannon law was changed to produce 320 lbs of oil. There is a March 28, 1983 ton of seeds in 900 pounds of meal. 2. January 2015 In the years from 1920 to 1930 3. Ronald Reagan the boll weevil destroyed a big 4. Only twice percentage of the US cotton crop. 5. 19 Now farmers handle the problem 6. Only 4, no burn days so by crop rotation and are able to use far in 2015. less sprays. Prior to harvesting the cotton the crop is sprayed to dry the leaves of the plant and expose the cotton bolls. Open Garden at the Horticulture Center Event: See proper methods for pruning ornamental grasses and shrubs. Watch Master Gardeners finish winter–pruning fruit trees and grape vines. Learn the basics of planting late winter and early spring vegetables. Observe on-going compost and worm composting demonstrations. Located outside – rain or shine Day and Date: Saturday, February 21, 2015 January Twenty-six words beginning with the letter “T” Tabby Tail Tailor Than Thatch Timber Trade Tsar Thumb Teakettle Taxidermy Terrestrial Timorous Tomahawk Trampoline Thermodynamics Tease Tepee Toast Toy Tabernacle Tablespoon Theatrical Theocracy Twitter Tweed Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Location: Horticulture Center, 11549 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks, CA 95628 South of Madison, in Fair Oaks Park, next to the Library Cost: Free For More Info:UC Cooperative Extension, (916) 875-6913 or go to: ucanr.edu/sacmg or facebook.com/sacmg Friends of Dry Creek Parkway North Country News February 2015 Page 11 Friends of Dry Creek Parkway Photo of the Month By Charlea Moore The Friends of Dry Creek Parkway had a very productive clean up day on Sunday January 18, 2015. There only a few of us but we were a 'committed' few. That means we are all 'certifiable' for heading out into the creek on a chilly Sunday morning in January to pick up trash and debris. Aside from a great deal of flood debris that had washed downstream, we had a bonus of finding my shovel that was lost last fall. It was on the sand bar right about were we left it, buried in the sand and dead weeds. Shirley Breckenridge found it and triumphantly dug it out. There were quite a few golf balls including several without any damage. We found two target (?) arrows with metal tips; lots of general trash, bottles, cups, and plastic bags. Many people are under the impression that plastic bags are in fact biodegradable because when exposed to the sun over a period of time they disintegrate. While it is true that we can no longer see these plastic bags with the naked eye, they in fact never truly disintegrate but remain in the environment, in the molecular form of plastic for eons. Insects, nematodes, earthworms and microscopic organisms that depend on organic material for their diet, feed on the molecules of plastic but it provides no nutrition. So just as there is a 'dead zone' in many areas of the seas and oceans caused by plastic, the same is true in the soil. While you may think that we don't need earthworms or nematodes, you would be mistaken. No one knows how the loss of microscopic organisms will affect the planet. Consider the widespread use of herbicides to eradicate entire species of weeds from farmers' fields. Now we know that this also caused the near eradication of the Monarch butterfly. There are so few left because their food source disappeared in a matter of a few short decades, too fast for the butterflies to adapt and evolve new food sources. Scientists know a great deal about how many of the natural systems on the planet earth work but not even the most knowledgeable can predict the impact of molecular plastic on the planet. There is no area of the earth including the Arctic and Antarctic that is free of plastic in it's basic molecular form. Just like gold it will never change into anything else. This is something to consider when the big money tries to persuade voters to reject the proposed ban on all plastic bags in California. Even banning those bags today will not remove the tons and tons of plastic already in the environment. Just something to think about. In the meantime, we all need to care for what is left and try to not make it any worse. If all those folks who toss their trash over the bank into the creek would just take it home instead, it would really help the Dry Creek Parkway become a place for everyone to enjoy. Lets make that a goal for 2015 - use the trash barrels instead of the creek. Friends of the Dry Creek Parkway A native western painted turtle basks in the in the Dry Creek Parkway with a parasitic leech attached. (See the knob close to the back of the turtle.) The inset is a close-up of the leech. The photos were taken by Randy Aeschliman in December of 2014. TiTLE: cOmpOSTInG and VeRmIculTuRe EVENT: Introduction to making garden gold, and raising worms to make it even better! DAY and DATE: February 19, 2015 TIME: 10 a.m. to Noon LOCATION: West Sacramento Community Center, 1075 West Capitol Ave., West Sacramento, CA 95691 COST: Free FOR MORE INFO: UC Cooperative Extension, (530) 6668143 TITLE: chOOSInG The RIGhT IRRIGaTIOn SySTem FOR WaTeR SaVInG and GROWInG SucceSS In yOuR GaRden EVENT: IRRIGATION CLASS DAY and DATE: Saturday, February 21, 2015 TIME: 9am to 10am LOCATION: Grace Garden Davis United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall 1620 Anderson Davis CA 95616 COST: FREE FOR MORE INFO: UC Cooperative Extension, (530) 666-8143 A one hour principles of irrigation class designed to help the home gardener learn how to save water while enjoying their best garden ever. Attendees will learn how to select the best irrigation system based on their soil type, geography, landscaping and garden needs. Page 12 North Country News February 2015 BITS & PIECES Continued from page 3 ery little bit helps to lift the spirit of those living in or just passing by our communities. Way to go!!! useful years that person may have left to live. If the number does not come out a plus for the government you will not receive that new hip or have that by-pass surgery. In the U.S. where most still have private medical coverage, needed surgery is scheduled right away. These sneaky ways socialism is being put into place will only bring everyone lower. Socialism does nothing to encourage excellence. Without excellence our country will sink to a much lower level in all ways. The best way for our country to improve the economic climate would be for the government to adopt the “flat tax” on earned income and eliminate all deductions. Then cut the investment tax to encourage business development and eliminate inheritance tax all together. It takes rich people to create jobs. When have you ever seen a poor person create jobs? Never! Do the math, everyone would benefit and the government would have all the money it needed to do the jobs government was intended to do such as protect our country inside and out, build, replace or repair the infrastructure and handle a few health problems. Government meddles in too many things and with a bit less money those responsible might prioritize a bit more. I know, it is just too simple. The gray foggy days remind me of one January back in the nineties and another time in the sixties. Both times the fog was so thick you could barely see one or two marks of the white line. The fog never lifted, was solid all day long, no sun for three weeks. Back in the sixties I was driving school bus for Grant Union School District. My route was around Rio Linda and out along the East Levee. Several times I made stops at a row of mail boxes thinking it was a line of students. I just had to creep along at 10 or so miles per hour, especially out on the levee where there was just a few inches between the bus and the edge of the levee or the on coming beet trucks. Those were the days. There are some pluses when it is foggy. The fog is full of moisture and all the evergreen trees are loving every bit of the mist. Foggy days causes many to be a bit more introspective and gives others license to spend time reading or doing in door projects. Foggy days are quiet days, giving pause before Stop by Elkhorn Bait, out on the rebirth of spring. Enjoy this downtime, this slow-down time, 20th Street south of Elkhorn Blvd. They have everything you need to time to rebuild and plan. catch that big one! When you do, be sure to take a picture and email Since we have no art gallery it to NCN at [email protected], out this way all those who like pic- with all the particulars. I am sure tures should stop by The Rio Java you have already seen several picCoffee House Two at 440 Elkhorn tures of those big catches in NCN. Blvd in the Food Source Shopping Keep those pictures coming! Center. Every month or maybe more I have been hearing about the often local artists hang their works new craze…..green lips….ugh. on the walls and yes they are for sale. Stop by for a cuppa and view Anyway it seems even the Presithe latest renditions. The pictures dent is spending time with those that have started this new fad. My cover the full range of tastes. thought, if they didn’t paint their lips green no one would even give I was reading a book the other them the time of day. Now how day written in 1988 “The Veiled can painting your lips green make One” by Ruth Rendell and set in them worth the time of the PresiEngland. I came to a passage that dent? This is so beneath the posimade a statement about their Na- tion, especially when we have so tional Health Service or a socialis- many more important problems tic medical coverage like the USA that need his time. is headed toward with Obama care. The character in the story What is going on at the Food needed a hip replacement but had been placed on a three year wait- Source Shopping center and around ing list, not unlike Canada’s health the Community Center/Depot Park coverage today. The person was area? Seems the sheriff’s officers lamenting about what shape he are spending much more time corwould be in by the time his name ralling the druggies & homeless finally would come up. You know, lately. Don’t get me wrong, I think in Canada after you reach a cer- this is good. The vagrancy and tain age an operation such as hip panhandling laws should be enreplacement or by-pass surgery forced much more. is analyzed, money vs number of Some shopping centers such as Wal Mart and Food Maxx have security that patrols their parking lots and I feel much safer at these locations. It is about time for a security patrol at these two local locations. I know of several people who considers both the Community Center/ Depot Park area and Food Source parking areas unsafe and they avoid both. It would not hurt for some of the smaller locations such as Rio Linda Food & Liquor, Archway Market and the Seven/Eleven to clear out some of those hanging around their doors as well. Here is a question for the Sacramento City Council, Sacramento County Supervisors and our State Representatives. If there is such a water problem, as we continually hear every night on the evening news, how can they justify issuing more and more building permits for more and more houses to be built? Where is the water coming from to supply these thousands and thousands of new people? Will each existing home be required to cut that much more? If we cut usage by 20% every year pretty soon you may have to make the choice, flush the toilet vs. taking a bath or take baths like I have read they did in the old days. Using the same water, the cleanest one goes first till you worked through the family with the dirtiest one last. We have all been told to cut water use by 20%. Southern California is the least conservative in the state yet the Governor is continuing to send them more and more of our water south while cutting the farmers. The farmers have invested years growing their orchards and producing food at reasonable prices and yet they are paying the penalty more than any other business. Less farm production means higher food prices and the loss of lots of jobs. As usual, what government does best is tax and regulate, never making sense or being accountable for their stupid decisions. Why Brown and his fast train is allowed to move forward is beyond belief. When or if this fast train is completed, it will destroy more farms and never pay its way. Brown was stupid the first time around and is more stupid now and yes, I remember. This water issue needs to be fixed the only way it can be fixed with more reservoirs, to save the water when it comes and not more regulations. Desalination plants need to be built all up and down the California coast, actually all up and down both US coast lines. Everyone knows the oceans are rising so why not make use of the extra water. Excess water in the east could be piped, along the railroad lines, to the west. This would create new businesses and products such as selling the sea salt as a by-product and storing the extra water or recharging the aquifers in the Midwestern states. There should be a state wide building moratorium on all homes and apartments until there is proof that enough water is available to support more people. A five to seven year average would need to be considered to obtain the right figures, gallons of water vs. people. I am sure it will take several more reservoirs to accomplish the goal of really supplying water for this state. Where oh where has the common sense gone? Healthy living space and clean water is finite. Any given area can only support just so many people. Over populating an area just causes everyone to sink in the crap created by government. Any small farmer/gardener knows over crowding causes disease, crime, filth and contributes to family break downs. Maybe all our local, state and federal representatives should spend some time in the barn yard, especially the chicken pen!!! Well, with all this foggy weather I have made a big dent in my book supply and will have to make another trip to the “Friends of The Library” Book Store real soon. The book store is located on Elkhorn Blvd. at the Food Source shopping center. I have been reading several books written in the late eighties to mid nineties. Technology has changed so much in the last twenty plus years I find it interesting how crimes and legal mysteries were solved back then. Many times I am so into the story that I find myself thinking “use your cell phone” or “Google for background information you dumbo.” I cannot stress enough the power it gives students when they learn to read and comprehend what they read. My 4th grade school teacher, Willie Culp-Thompson, always said, “you do not have to know all the answers, just know where you can find them.” That is why reading is so important. Obtaining information and getting answers are so easy when you read. Read any good books lately? Well, it is time to go for now… There is so much more that could be said…but at the moment I have plenty of good books to read or I can always go haul some more wood chips! Some people may doubt what I say or write but they will always believe what I do. I will always do my best, stand to be counted, keep the faith and try to let God do the rest… Viv North Country News February 2015 Page 13 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (Editors note: The loan for these projects was obtained by the Board elected in 2008 and known as the “Golden Girls,” Mary Harris, Vivien Spicer Johnson, Cathy Hood, Belinda Paine and Joyce Hafner who was replaced by Stephanie Suela. A confirmation letter from the California Department of Public Health was received November 2010. I, Vivien Spicer Johnson, said as early as 2007 and was reported in NCN numerous times that all the water district needed was one large capacity well, a large water storage tank and larger transmission lines. This was confirmed by CDPH engineer, Carl L. in 2007, as well. These projects could have been completed much sooner but due to additional board members, elected in 2010 & 2012 and their preoccupation with increasing employee benefits, refusing to settle lawsuits, hiring an expensive engineering firm, Affinity, to do jobs the GM should have been doing and the needed activity required with increasing water rates the ratepayers took second place. It is sad when boards abdicate their responsibilities and forget just who they work for. It remains to be seen just how long it will be before the new board, additional members elected 2014, decide to raise the water rates once again.) LET’S DIG IN !!! _____ Continued from page 8 working for awhile. So far I have hauled 17 loads and guess I better stock up on “Blue Emu” cream. Check out the coupon in this issue. You cannot beat it for aches and pains. No matter if you have only one tree or several trees, Forrest Tree Service is the one to call at 916332-8733 or 916-721-3611. _____ Heavy pruning should be about finished now. With the days warming up buds may come early and any pruning after budding begins will weaken your plants and such. Scatter some clover seed around so when it blooms it will feed the Honey Bees. Without the Honey Bees our diet would be very limited indeed. It is still not too late to plant those bulbs that you might find on sale now. They may not bloom as early as those planted last fall but the next blooming season with hit with all the others. haul five wheel barrows per day I should be finished with the pile on my front driveway in twenty-eight days, if I work every day! But you know how that goes. Forrest's crews do a real good job trimming and shaping the trees, actually repairing some of the damage the SMUD crews have done over the years. The crew chips Rio Linda Elverta Food Closet at the all the trimmings and hauls them away or dumps them for you to use Methodist Church at 6th and M Street, around your yard. Just let them every Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon know you want them and have a The Rio Linda Elverta Food Closet needs to constantly recieve dona- place they can get their truck into tions in order to meet the needs of our communities. Please think about in order to dump the load. I had the Food Closet each week when you go shopping. One or two items lots of obstacles, chicken pens and will make a difference if we all do it. such that they had to work around so the clean up was quite a job, but HAVE YOU HUGGED YOUR Here is a list of food item's needed every week at the food they did good. CHICKEN TODAY??? …….. closet. Clip this and take it with you to the store. I figure it will take at least 260 Viv wheel barrow loads to move both 1. Peanut Butter piles. Hauling 5 per day I will be 2. Jelly or Jam 3. 5lb bags of flour 4. 1lb boxes of sugar 5. Cans of chili, raviolis, spaghetti with meat balls 6. Tuna Open Garden at the Horticulture Center 7. Cans of beans, refried, baked, pork and beans, plain beans 8. Bags of dry beans Event: Bring your questions. Master 9. Cans of soup 10. Oatmeal - we get ours at 99 cent store Gardeners will provide tips on 11. Cereal - we get ours at the 99 cent store how to select water efficient 12. Mayonnaise plants and grow warm-season 13. Spaghetti noodles 14. Noodles, elbow, shells egg, vegetables. Learn how to man15. Cans of vegetables, corn , green beans, mixed vegage pests in the orchard and etables, vineyard. 16. 1lb bags of rice or if you wanted to get a 25 or 50 lb bag we can break it down to 1lb bags Observe on-going compost and 17. Cans of fruit worm composting demonstra18. tomato sauce or canned tomatoes tions. 19. spaghetti sauce. 20. Macaroni and cheese Located outside – rain or shine T D SNELL General Building Contractor Lic. #585156 • Fully Insured We are a full in house General Contractor With journeyman level tradesmen with expertise in: • Concrete Foundation & Flat Work & Stamped Concrete • Framing: We have a full residential & commercial crew • Remodel & REO, dry rot work, reroofs & prep houses for resale • Journey masons: Brick, blocks & tile • Jennifer 916-432-9320 • Contact: Tom 916-432-9380 • Email: [email protected] Day and Date: Saturday, March 14, 2015 Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Location: Horticulture Center, 11549 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks, CA 95628 South of Madison, in Fair Oaks Park, next to the Library Cost: Free For More Info:UC Cooperative Extension, (916) 875-6913 or go to ucanr.edu/sacmg or facebook.com/sacmg Page 14 North Country News February 2015 Elverta Lawn & Garden 7801 Rio Linda Blvd. Elverta Outdoor Power Equipment Sales, Parts & Repair Call: 916-468-6191 SUBSCRIPTIONS Have the North Country News delivered to our home or business. Subscriptions are available. This is a monthly newspaper. Yearly fee is $30.00 Send a check, payable to: North Country News Enclose the name and address where paper is to be sent. Mail to: North Country News • PO Box 328 • Elverta, CA 95626 Info Bits!!! RLHS Class of ’65 Reunion Plans are underway to celebrate the 50 year reunion for Rio Linda High School Class of 1965. Come and reminisce about those fun years as Rio Linda Knights and share your memories. Catch up with old friends and find out what they are doing now. The reunion will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2015 at River Oaks Golf Course, Nicolaus, CA from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. It’s a comfortable setting about 30 minutes north of Rio Linda. We need your help to locate other classmates, so if you have addresses, phone numbers or e-mails for any of our class members, please share them with us. For more information contact: Joe & Frances Del Rio – (916) 725-3325 or Loren Jochim – (916) 539-3455 or see Loren at Rio Linda Hardware – (916) 991-1756). The tiger has striped skin as well as striped hair. The average age of vehicles on the road today is 11.7 years, which is an all time high. Between 2003 and 2005 wine consumption jumped 18%. American Legion Hall Jam Session Every Sunday 3 to 7 pm Karoke Thursday • Friday • Saturday Night 7:00pm to 11:00pm Sundays 4:00pm to 8:00pm Smoke Free Rooms Highlands Alumni Association Is Looking For You Highlands High School has been an integral part of the community for over 50 years. Have YOU ever been a student or staff member (even if you went on to attend Foothill or Rio Linda)? Do you want to be a part of the future of the school that launched you into adulthood? Highlands Alumni Association (HAA) has awarded $3,600.00 in scholarships to Highlands graduates in the past three years. HAA has renovated the Coach Gilbert Memorial with a garden and a mural that was designed by and is being painted by current Highlands students. Highlands Alumni Association holds regular meetings, recruits members, solicits scholarship donations, works exclusively with Highlands HS and Twin Rivers USD staff to promote the school, to encourage the students and to provide our support. The first event sponsored by the Alumni Association was the 2008 GALA at Highlands High School to celebrate the 50 Years Highlands has been in existence. Over 3,000 former students, staff and community members came to reconnect with each other and the school, enjoy the congratulatory speeches and entertainment and feel the Highlands Scots pride once again. Our social activities include dances and barbecues, while yard sales and golf tournaments are held to raise funds for the annual scholarships the Association bestows. If you want to be a part of the only group that reveres Highlands High School in these ways, you can find a membership application on our website, www.highlandshighalumni.com or by contacting us at: HIGHLANDS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 794 North Highlands, CA 95660-0794 North Country News February 2015 Page 15 Emergency Drought Barriers applicatiion by Dept. of Water Resources Public Notice by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District Sacramento District Comments Period: January 29, 2015 – February 28, 2015 SUBJECT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) is evaluating a permit application to construct the Emergency Drought Barriers project, which would result in permanent impacts to approximately 0.75 acres (20 linear feet) and temporary impacts to approximately 3.14 acres (583 linear feet) of waters of the United States in Sutter Slough, Steamboat Slough, and False River. Temporary fill would be installed starting May and removed November. This notice is to inform interested parties of the proposed activity and to solicit comments. AUTHORITY: This application is being evaluated under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 for structures or work in or affecting navigable waters of the United States, Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (as codified in 33 USC 408 commonly referred to as Section 408) for the alteration or occupation or use of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works project and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for the discharge of dredged or fill material in waters of the United States. APPLICANT: California Department of Water Resources, Attn: Paul Marshall, 1416 9th Street, Room 215-37, Sacramento, California 95814-5511 LOCATION: The proposed project consists of three separate locations, Sutter Slough, Steamboat Slough, and False River. The proposed Sutter Slough site is located approximately 1.25 miles downstream from the confluence of Sutter Slough and the Sacramento River at the northwest end of Sutter Island. The site is approximately 1 mile southwest of the community of Courtland and 7 miles northwest of Walnut Grove, on the border between Yolo and Sacramento Counties. The proposed Steamboat Slough site is located approximately 0.95 mile downstream from the confluence of Steamboat Slough and the Sacramento River, between Sutter and Grand Islands. The site is approximately 2.1 miles south-southeast of the Sutter Slough site and 5.25 miles northwest of Walnut Grove, in Sacramento County. The proposed False River site is located approximately 0.4 mile east of the confluence of False River and the San Joaquin River, between Jersey and Bradford Islands. The site is approximately 4.75 miles northeast of Oakley, in Contra Costa County. The applicant has proposed the use of three potential material stockpile locations. All stockpile locations are existing Department of Water Resources (DWR) storage facilities at the Port of Stockton, Rio Vista, and the community of Hood. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is proposing to construct three temporary salinity/ drought barriers in response to the current and forecasted drought conditions in the State of California. The temporary barriers would be rock (rip-rap) structures installed within Sutter Slough, Steamboat Slough, and False River. All structures would be trapezoid-shaped barriers with a wide base tapering to a 12-foot-wide crest installed perpendicular to the channel. The Sutter and Steamboat Slough barriers would serve two important drought management purposes: redirect freshwater flows into the central Delta; and create a hydrologic barrier to repel high-salinity water. The False River barrier would be a physical barrier to reduce the intrusion of high-salinity water into the central and south Delta. For more information, diagrams and maps please visit the State of California Emergency Drought Barriers website at http://water.ca.gov/ waterconditions/emergencybarriers.cfm PURPOSE AND NEED: Based on the available information, the overall project purpose is to prevent the intrusion of saltwater into the Delta. The applicant believes there is a need to reduce the water supply risk for delta and upstream users. The applicant has stated that water quality conditions in the Delta are declining due to the severe drought conditions and have already approached human health criteria at many locations in the South Delta and as far south as the State Water Project and Central Valley Project intakes. These and projected conditions put several communities and local water purveyors at risk. Increased salinity levels and reduced levels of cold water in upstream reservoirs also have an adverse effect on sensitive aquatic resources in the Delta and waterways below the reservoirs. Construction of the barriers would allow the retention of additional water available for upstream community needs and cool water to protect natural resource values later in the year. Additional water would be retained in upstream reservoirs for later use, as less water would need to be released for water quality earlier in the year. Models and projections prepared by the applicant show that there may be insufficient water in natural runoff or stored in reservoirs that can be released to keep salinity intrusion out of the Delta without exhausting stored water before the end of the year. Given current reservoir storage and expected runoff, projections indicate that low river inflows will allow salinity intrusion to the extent that interior portions of the Delta will exceed water quality objectives by May. Once salinity intrudes into the Delta, moving it back toward San Francisco Bay is difficult; thus, high salinity could persist for an extended period if high winter and spring freshwater flows are not available to move it back downstream. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The Corps is currently processing this permit application under normal procedures. If the conditions change, the permit application may be elevated to emergency procedures as defined in regulations. Environmental Setting. The Project is located within the legal Delta, which includes 700 miles of channels and approximately 8,000 acres of tidal marsh. The Delta includes approximately 57 islands, many of which support farmland and/or residential housing. Alternatives. At this time, the applicant has not provided information concerning project alternatives. Additional information concerning project alternatives may be available from the applicant or their agent. Information on other alternatives is currently being developed and will be considered during the review process for this permit application. All reasonable project alternatives, in particular those which may be less damaging to the aquatic environment, will be considered. Mitigation. The Corps requires that applicants consider and use all reasonable and practical measures to avoid and minimize impacts to aquatic resources. If the applicant is unable to avoid or minimize all impacts, the Corps may require compensatory mitigation. The applicant has proposed to restore all temporary impacts to pre-project conditions and is currently developing compensatory mitigation options for 0.75 acre of permanent impacts. ENDANGERED SPECIES: The proposed activity may affect Federally-listed endangered or threatened species or their critical habitat. The Corps will initiate consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, as appropriate. ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT: The proposed project may adversely affect Essential Fish Habitat. The Corps will initiate consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service, pursuant to MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as appropriate. The above determinations are based on information provided by the applicant and our preliminary review. EVALUATION FACTORS: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts, of the described activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit, which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the described activity, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the described activity will be considered, including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, consideration of property ownership and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people. The activity's impact on the public interest will include application of the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 230). The Corps is soliciting comments from the public, Federal, State, and local agencies and officials, Indian tribes, and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps to determine whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity. SUBMITTING COMMENTS: Written comments, referencing Public Notice SPK-2014-00187 must be submitted to the office listed below on or before February 28, 2015. William Guthrie, Project Manager, US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District,1325 J Street, Room 1350,Sacramento, California 95814-2922 Email: william.h.guthrie@usace. army.mil The Corps is particularly interested in receiving comments related to the proposal's probable impacts on the affected aquatic environment and the secondary and cumulative effects. Anyone may request, in writing, that a public hearing be held to consider this application. Requests shall specifically state, with particularity, the reason(s) for holding a public hearing. If the Corps determines that the information received in response to this notice is inadequate for thorough evaluation, a public hearing may be warranted. If a public hearing is warranted, interested parties will be notified of the time, date, and location. Please note that all comment letters received are subject to release to the public through the Freedom of Information Act. If you have questions or need additional information please contact the applicant or the Corps' project manager William Guthrie, 916-557-5269, william.h.guthrie@ usace.army.mil. RLECWD BOARD MEETING February 16th 6:30 p.m. Depot Visitors Center • 6730 Front St. 916-991-1000 Page 16 North Country News February 2015
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