Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

Update:
On the weekend, the Greenhouse School of Music in Nevada City reworded the message that was posted to its website Friday. While sounding more upbeat, it didn’t change the realities facing the school:

Here’s what the Greenhouse website looks like:

A post and photo from their grand opening in April, which I attended, is here.

We were hopeful of their success and are rooting for them.

One of the problems in our area: We have too many nonprofits, and in my opinion, a disproportionate number are dedicated to “non-human” causes. That’s fine, but we have to support the “human” ones first. I can’t think of a better combination for our future: youth and the creativity and innovation that arts brings.

It also is a reminder that we have a declining, aging population in our area. We need to reverse that.

Here’s the description of the school on its Facebook page:

“Musicians/Teachers offer high quality, affordable private lessons daily and in the evenings. Special workshops in collaboration with musicians and arts organizations are offered on weekends. Ensemble classes and camps – in multiple genres – provide supportive and fun opportunities to play and perform with other musicians.

“Our facility is 5,000 square feet painted in spunky colors with windows in every space. We have 2 practice rooms, 6 larger classrooms, an acoustic studio/ensemble room, a performance/recording studio, and a large room for early childhood music development.”

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Five days after this blog wrote that ousted Tea Partier Mark Williams had spoken to a locally organized gathering of the faithful at the fairgrounds last summer, The Union gets around to reporting the connection — but treats its leader Mark Meckler “with kid gloves,” to coin an old phrase.

In a stop in D.C., Meckler denounced Williams, The Union reported, repeating statements that appeared elsewhere. “The guy is a horrible, vile, despicable racist,” Meckler said. “This guy is not supported by us.”

He added, “We warned them about this guy early on.”

The Union restated what was reported here: that Williams appeared with Meckler and others at a rally organized by tea party locals. Our Congressman Tom McClintock appeared too, but that wasn’t included in The Union’s article.

“I’m not personally involved in the Nevada County Tea Party or with the people who attend their events,” Meckler said.

In the comments section, a reader asked the question that the paper didn’t — but should have: “You appeared at a rally with Williams, your father invited him along with you to speak, try all you like to deny a connection but it appears as if you treat everyone as if they are stupid.”

This is not the first time that the Union has treated Meckler with kid gloves.

“He’s handsome, charismatic and intelligent,” as the newspaper described him in a previous account. The Union publisher also wrote a “softball” Q&A about Meckler, prompting some criticism from readers.

“The Union’s laudatory story on the Tea Party and Mark Meckler leaves the reader wondering whether the newspaper intended it to be a true fact-finding news article or a thinly disguised story to promote the Tea Party movement.”

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I went to Fudenjuce in Nevada City for a healthy refreshment this week and noticed the former trophy shop next door was being spruced up and filled with some boxes that read “Nevada County Wine Guild” and “Our Daily Red.” (Our Daily Red is a good, local organic wine).

I asked the Fudenjuce clerk, and he told me that the plans were to open a wine shop where customers could bring or buy a clean, empty bottle and fill it up with wine at the shop — a common, fun practice in the South of France. (I’d heard this venture discussed by others as well).

It’s a cool idea, buying wine in bulk: You recycle wine bottles and no doubt get a break on the pricing. It’s a good spot too: with parking out in front.

Buying other products in bulk is a growing trend. In Nevada City, S.O.A.P. does just that for soap products, as I’ve written before.

I’m sure more details need to be worked out before the store opens. But the sign of wine boxes and some activity in the store indicates that an effort is underway.

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The orchards along Hwy. 70 just outside of Marysville on the way to Oroville are brimming with fruit, we noticed this week.

It’s an ideal route to grab some fresh fruit. The growers are making it easier for our “cashless” society, too.

We noticed multiple hand-written, roadside signs stating that you could buy fresh fruit using your ATM.

It was a refreshing sign of compromise, blending an old-fashioned lifestyle with new world realities.

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