Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

Education is the cornerstone to sound decision-making, and as regular reader Judith Lowry has commented here, our community — for whatever reason — often can be “stubbornly backward.” I guess it’s why they published the “(blank) for Dummies” series of books.

Here’s an issue that comes up now and then when it comes to web analytics, as explained on Web Hosting Talk. The discussion — dubbed Alexa vs. Google — is here:

Question: “Hey,

I have more than one website. With one of the sites, the traffic exceeds the traffic of the other websites by much, according to Google Analytics. However, when I look at the Alexa ranking, that site falls far behind the other sites.

Is there any possible reason why this might happen?

Answer: “Traffic ranking websites are bogus; they only grab traffic from people who use their toolbar. Then they average that with how many people use the internet.

Response: “Oh, ok. That explains a bit. Always wondered, but never really looked into how they got their statistics.”

So now you know.

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From the new issue of Sierra FoodWineArt magazine. We’re looking forward to the Grand Opening tomorrow. A business expansion in our community is worth celebrating:

NOWHERE IS THE RESURGENCE OF downtown Grass Valley more visible than at Tess’ Kitchen Store, a longtime Mill Street merchant that will become an ultimate cooking store this spring with an innovative expansion.

Tess’ has been in continual operation since 1931, when original owner Tess Hawkins had a gift and card shop. The store has relocated on Mill Street three times, each time to a bigger location.

This expansion, under owner Steve Rosenthal, is going to be the most exciting of all. Besides the kitchen gadgetry ranging from gourmet to just plain useful— there’s going to be a “resident chef” to help with menu planning and cooking, and eventually, a cooking school and commercial kitchen. The new Tess’ also will showcase locally made products.

Some of the region’s best wine-tasting rooms are in the same block, providing a convenient opportunity for wine and food pairings, along with regular cooking demonstrations at Tess’.

Tess’ new store will open in late April in the heart of downtown. Once a JC Penny building, it is an historic and striking three-story structure. The store will occupy more than 6,200 sq. ft., compared with 2,740 sq. ft. at the previous location.

New products will include: more gourmet foods, spices, bulk olive oil and vinegar; an expanded BBQ section with wood chunks, rubs, cookware and accessories. They also will offer more tabletop serving items, such as platters, dishes, bowls and more; more electronics, including Kitchen Aid toasters and blenders, Hurom slow juicers, and VitaClay ceramic rice cookers, to name a few.

There will be barware from Reidel and,” as Steve jokes, “believe it or not, more gadgets.” Tess’ expanded store will feature a Coffee Café, where you can come in and try out a new coffee maker, get a free cup of coffee, pull up a chair and relax. The store’s new resident chef and cooking teacher is Roberta Des Bouillons, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York City.

There will be a grand opening April 21, with raffle prizes, food tastings, product demonstrations and sale items. A “support local” event on April 28 will feature local vendors, local cookbook authors and artisans.

Tess’ Kitchen Store
115 Mill Street, Grass Valley
530-273-6997, TessKitchenStore.com

Photo credit: Rachel Rosenthal

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“Almost as soon as he stepped to the lectern Thursday, new UC Davis Police Chief Matt Carmichael seemed set on showing that change is coming to his Police Department,” the Sacramento Bee is reporting.

“‘We’re going to be out meeting people and hearing about your needs and concerns. … You’re going to know us by name,’ Carmichael said at his swearing-in at the campus’s Activities and Recreation Center. He started with his: ‘I’m Matt.’

“Carmichael said his top priority will be rebuilding trust between his department and the campus community, severely damaged in the five months since campus officers sparked international outrage by pepper-spraying students during tuition protests last November.

“Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi said Carmichael was her pick to replace chief Annette Spicuzza, who retired under fire Wednesday. Carmichael had been interim chief since the pepper-spray incident.”

The rest of the article is here.

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“I took the road less traveled and that has made all the difference.” —Robert Frost

The Spring issue of Sierra FoodWineArt magazine is out. Click here to read a digital version. We’re promoting downtown Grass Valley and Nevada County this time. Some highlights:

•A focus on what we’re calling “the road less traveled” — traveling on Hwys. 49, 20 and 174 in Nevada County. “Instead of traveling along I-80 to and from Lake Tahoe, take the more leisurely route.”

•What’s new in historic Grass Valley. A guide for a weekend or weekday getaway and look into its past: Gold & High-Tech.

•Father’s Day Events: A Ribfest in Truckee to the Nevada City Bicycle Classic to a Bluegrass Festival at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.

•A Pink Floyd Tribute by Music in the Mountains and The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley; what’s new at MIM. The Sierra Master Chorale performing “The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace.”

•Sierra Vintners’ Wine Trail. Nevada County Arts.

We distribute the free quarterly magazine in Reno, Tahoe/Truckee, the Foothills, Folsom/Roseville/Rocklin/Granite Bay, Marysville and Yuba City, Chico and Paradise, among other cities, as well as California Welcome Centers.

We also hand out SWFA at major regional events, such as this weekend’s “Passport” wine trail in nearby El Dorado County. We hope to get some attendees to visit our county’s wineries and tasting rooms.

The Sacramento Bee — a partner of ours — is now republishing some of our articles in its newspaper. An example from the winter issue on “Little ‘ol Loomis” is here. The Bee also promotes our companion website, SierraCulture.com.

We hope to bring some visitors into the county and provide some information for locals and their out-of-town guests. It’s been a fun (and growing) venture.

Photo illustration: Lisa Redfern

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SYRCL issued this press release:

The recent proposal to reopen a major gold mine on the San Juan Ridge has raised community-wide concerns about potential impacts to the South Yuba River. The San Juan Mining Corporation recently submitted an application to re-open the San Juan Ridge Mine which closed in 1997. During its last period of operations, the mine hit a fault that caused both a massive flood in the mine and dewatered a number of local wells.

SYRCL has formally requested the Nevada County Planning Department to require a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposal. SYRCL is concerned about the potential significant impacts of the project on water quality and quantity in Spring and Shady Creeks, impacts to wildlife and vegetation and sensitive species as well as indirect impacts on the South Yuba River.

“A project of this magnitude needs thorough study and public review,” said Executive Director Caleb Dardick.

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