Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

The Grass Valley Downtown Association put on a wonderful soiree on the attractive grounds of the Grass Valley Courtyard Suites that we attended on Tuesday night. The group of merchants was energized and enjoying each other’s company. We see other BIDs in our business — in Auburn, Truckee, Tahoe City, Roseville and the like — and Grass Valley’s ranks at the top. This group is running on all cylinders.

Here’s what they announced at the gathering:

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the staff we want to say thank you to all of the GVDA members, Associate members, Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce staff and board, City of Grass Valley Staff and community volunteers that were able to make it to our annual BBQ. We all enjoyed the fun, the conversation and the delicious food! It was a wonderful turn out.

Special thanks to The Grass Valley Courtyard Suites for their hospitality! The space was spectacular and it goes without saying…WE APPRECIATE YOU!!!!!

Here is what you missed if you were unable to attend…

Our 2012-2013 announcement of Board of Directors are:
Sue Amick
Cheryl Benso
Carl Brenner
Sara Christiansen
Steve Graham
Roxanne Miller
Steve Rosenthal
Dennis Roberts
Lynn Wilson

The new board is excited and ready to tackle on a new year of exciting projects and events. We sincerely hope that you will all become more involved by joining a committee.

The winners of our window and exterior contest (brought to you buy your Design Committee) are:

Exterior-Villa Venezia
Window Display- (tie for first place) Ala Mode Vintage and The Bamboo Home Store!

Best Patriotic Display- Junk in the Trunk

Congratulations! Job well done, and thank you to all the businesses for putting your best forward to draw interest to our downtown!

Finally, Thank you Stucki Engravers for our new name tags for the GVDA Board and staff… THEY ROCK!

See you all at the next meeting in September!

(Photo: GVDA)

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Retiring Judge McManus posted this comment on Sierra Foothills Report, responding to a reader:

Thank you for your very kind words. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of our community for the past 22 years, and our legal system for 26 years. Although I deeply regret having to leave the bench in this manner, I will find other ways to pursue my passion for helping the children and families of our county through volunteer efforts. Thank you again for the kindness and support. Respectfully, Julie A. McManus.

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Update: As of this afternoon, Russ Steele has updated the blog with this statement, without elaborating: “The FCC speed test problems have been solved.”

The Sierra Economic Development Corporation (SEDCorp) received a one-year, $150,000 grant to help northern California counties to “move closer to the goal of expanding high-speed Internet access to rural areas,” and Russ Steele wound up as one of the grant project’s “consultants,” posting information and announcements on the Gold Country Broadband Consortium blog.

Here’s the latest announcement he posted on July 5 without further explanation: “The FCC is currently having problems with the speed test the GCBC has been requesting participants to conduct. All tests are suspended until the issue is resolved. —Russ Steele, SEDCorp Consultant”

Wow. It will be interesting to track this $150K project, and see if the participants can deliver. The question “Will the Gold Country Broad Consortium deliver?” already has been raised.

The public-private partnership is aimed at increasing digital access and use in Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Sierra and eastern Alpine counties. The new partnership, the Gold Country Broadband Consortium (GCBC) is one of 14 regional consortia in the State funded by the California Advanced Services Fund Rural and Urban Regional Broadband Consortia grant program.

The Consortium was formed to leverage regional, state and national resources as an investment in improving and expanding broadband access.

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