More than 400 show up to protest closure of SouthYuba River and Malakoff Diggins State Park

Posted on December 12, 2011 by jeffpelline

More than 400 people showed up at the town hall meeting at the Miners Foundry to protest the closure of Yuba State Park.

It was a (largely) bipartisan effort — ranging from Cliff Newell to Keith Royal to Hank Weston. People from Grass Valley political circles were there too.

Now a petition drive is being launched to protest the planned closures.

“Dear Governor Brown, Please remove the South Yuba River and Malakoff Diggins State Parks from the closure list. We urge you to keep our parks open for future generations,” the petition reads.

The goal is to collect 5,000 signatures. The person who collects the most signatures and submits them to the South Yuba River Citizens League will receive a Wild & Scenic Film Festival Weekend Pass (January 13-15, 2012) and The Grant Farm will contribute $250 to the school of your choice for environmental education. For more information contact Miriam Limov (miriam@syrcl.org).

There were lots of good handouts on the benefits of state parks — not just in our area but throughout the state.

Earlier in the day, Grass Valley students showed up in Sacramento to protest the planned closures, and a report was broadcast on KCRA. Details are here.

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Scoop: Downtown Nevada City’s BofA branch slated to close in March

Posted on December 12, 2011 by jeffpelline

This summer, I received a tip from reliable sources that downtown Nevada City’s BofA branch was slated to close and that an ATM was going to be installed at the National Hotel instead.

I asked the branch manger, who denied any knowledge of this.

Now months later, however, it appears to be true.

•First, I learned last week (before we headed out of town to New York) than a BofA ATM is being installed at the National Hotel. (You can see some tangible signs of construction work). This immediately led me to believe that the branch could close. After all, why would you have an ATM and a branch so close together?

Sure enough, I received further reports from regular readers today who have received letters from the bank and/or confirmation of the closings:

•”My husband and several other bank patrons overheard it while they were in line this afternoon,” said one. “They voiced concern and the bank manager confirmed the closure, sometime around March.”

•Then another regular reader received this letter: “We’d like you to know that at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 23, 2012, we will be closing the Nevada City Banking Center located at 201 Commercial Street, Nevada City, California. Signed Patrick J. Holcomb, Area Executive, Bank of America.” It was dated Dec 9. 2011 and received by this person today.

I am confident that this information points to the closure, as rumored. Now I’ll poke around to see what might happen to the building.

I am saddened to lose our only bank branch in the historic downtown, just as I am saddened to learn that we might lose a downtown courthouse.

A downtown is vibrant because of the businesses it provides for locals, not just tourists. Whether you like BofA or not, you have to respect the need for a vibrant downtown.

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Grass Valley Charter School children demand to keep Yuba River State Parks open

Posted on December 12, 2011 by jeffpelline

Editor’s note: We watched this inspiring report on Sacramento’s KCRA television newscast tonight. Here’s the press release:

In a series of high-level meetings at the Capitol today, students from Grass Valley Charter School delivered a clear and compelling message to state officials: Keep our Yuba River State Parks open!

After a tour of the historic Capitol building and its legislative chambers, the kids got to work – applying what they read about in textbooks to the real world of democratic decision-making. They met with State Secretary of Natural Resources John Laird under the gilded ceiling and hanging chandeliers of an historic 19th century hearing room.

Filling eight rows of old oak seats, the kids took turns coming to the front to make a series of well-rehearsed and moving presentations. Some made persuasive speeches; some recited poetry. “These parks are essential to our education,” said fifth-grader Kelly Muir.

One group presented a video, filmed at Yuba River State Park and edited by the kids. Five students even acted out a dramatic skit, imagining the semi-tragic consequences of a world without state parks. And some kids conducted television interviews in the hallways.

Many shared examples of how the school utilizes the state parks as outdoor classrooms.
“When I go there the trees and plants come alive,” said Devin Anderson, a fifth grader. “It’s where a kid can really learn about California during the Gold Rush.”

The students applauded Secretary Laird for his own personal commitment to California’s natural heritage. He, in turn, was clearly impressed and thanked the students for their work. “Democracy in action,” he called it in an interview after the meeting.

Representatives of local elected officials, Assemblyman Dan Logue and State Senator Ted Gaines, were nearly overwhelmed by the kids and the power of their heart-felt message. The legislative aides lauded their presentation skills, noting their professionalism and talent.

“You guys are making a difference.” Joanne Stacy, Logue’s legislative aide, told the kids.

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Auburn Journal launches Facebook commenting system

Posted on December 12, 2011 by jeffpelline

“We don’t always say what’s on our mind,” writes the Auburn Journal.

“Sometimes we might be shy, other times we’re not sure of our knowledge, and sometimes we recognize that our thought may not be very kind. In the end, we’re thinking about the consequences of our actions.

“The Journal’s online comment system has in many ways served as a forum for readers to say whatever is on their mind without fear of repercussion.

“We’re unveiling a new comment system in which readers will need a Facebook account to post their opinion, thought, etc. on any of our stories.

“In today’s world, many users have a Facebook page that uses their first and last name and a photo. Our hope is that by readers using their Facebook profile as their online log-in to comment, users will hold themselves more accountable for what they post.

“It’s a move other newspapers are making as well, including The Los Angeles Times.

“Now, we did not base our decision to move to this new comment system because other newspapers have. I cite them as examples that show other publications face similar challenges with operating anonymous public forums and the inappropriate comments that accompany them.

“On the Journal’s website, I’ve read a range of comments from the good, the bad and the really ugly.

The rest of the article is here.

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