Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

Jamie Lavalle-Marchetti has been a good friend for a decade. Our children went to school together. She knows we’re “empty nesters” in training, so she sent me and Shannon this wonderful poem this morning. I read On Children to Shannon over coffee:

“And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children.

“And he said: Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you,

“And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts.

“You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

“For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

“The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

“Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.”

-Khalil Gibran, from The Prophet

I sighed when I read the GV Chamber’s “Destination” publication, which Shannon picked up at the SPD Market. On page 46, a repurposed article was attributed to “John Hopkins Hospital.” That’s a podunk mistake. It’s Johns (with an “s”) Hopkins. And the source is Johns Hopkins Medicine, not just the hospital. Perhaps the Chamber can correct the online version. Go (Johns Hopkins) Blue Jays!

Amanda Gorman of Los Angeles, the United States’ first-ever youth poet laureate, recited a powerful poem at the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. More details about Ms. Gorman, 22, is here.

It is here:

“In honor of the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Classical Movements, in collaboration with world-renowned conductor Marin Alsop, has formed the Hope & Harmony Ensemble,” according to Classical Movements, the premier concert tour company.

“The 14 musicians represent the Atlanta Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, National Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, Peabody Institute, South Asian Symphony, St. Louis Symphony and Utah Symphony.

“At a time when the orchestra world has been virtually silenced by the pandemic, Classical Movements has made a deliberate effort to bring together orchestras from every part of our country and to reflect the diversity of our people. Half of the performing musicians are women and 6 are musicians of color.”

Now that our son is settling into his dorm room at Johns Hopkins University, Shannon is exploring downtown Baltimore.

Shown here, the swimming pool at the Sagamore Pendry boutique hotel looks across the harbor to the corporate headquarters of Under Armor, one of the city’s most prominent companies. Ferries shuttle workers across the harbor to work.

The pool deck offers a seasonal bar and grill with outdoor dining and lounging, set at the water’s edge. I hope to visit when the pool opens in late spring.

In 2017, Baltimore’s historic Recreation Pier in the Fells Point neighborhood was converted into the 128-room Sagamore Pendry boutique hotel. It is the latest sign of the reinvigoration that is going on in Charm City. It began in the ’70s with the late urban planner James Rouse (A Time magazine cover story is here).

Sagamore Pendry Baltimore was developed in collaboration with Montage International and Sagamore Development Company, owned by Kevin Plank, founder, chairman and CEO of Under Armour.

“Plank is making significant commitments across Baltimore through strategic investments managed by his privately-held company, Plank Industries, the parent company of Sagamore Development,” according to the hotel.

“The Fell’s Point neighborhood is recognized as one of the best-preserved historic areas in the country, thanks to substantial revitalization efforts that have protected the historical integrity of the neighborhood.”

(Photo: Shannon Pelline)

“President Trump’s incitement of his supporters before their attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 has galvanized a nationwide extremist movement and fueled those determined to disrupt the transfer of power to President-elect Joe Biden and violently challenge the legitimacy of the election for months — and possibly years, according to U.S. officials and independent experts,” this morning’s Washington Post is reporting.

“U.S. officials have warned authorities nationwide to be on alert for potential acts of violence at state capitols, as well as a possible second attack on the Capitol or on the White House. Law enforcement authorities have said extremists might use firearms and explosives and are monitoring online calls to rally in cities nationwide beginning Sunday. Security at the inaugural ceremony in Washington on Wednesday probably will be the most intense ever.

“At the center of the amorphous but increasingly motivated extremist movement sits the current president, now twice impeached, deprived of his social media megaphones but still exerting a powerful influence over his followers who take his baseless claims of election fraud as an article of faith.”

The rest of the article is here.

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed an article charging President Trump with “incitement of insurrection” for his role in last week’s deadly Capitol attack, as CNN and others are reporting.

The vote was 232 to 197, with all Democrats joined by 10 Republicans, “in a House chamber protected by National Guard troops stationed throughout the Capitol and its grounds,” The Wall Street Journal is reporting.

Trump is the first president in US history to be impeached twice.

Our region’s representatives, Doug LaMalfa and Tom McClintock, voted “nay.” The votes are here.

“The State has lifted the Regional Stay Home Order for the Greater Sacramento Region, which includes Nevada County,” according to an email I received from the Nevada City Chamber.

“Due to Nevada County’s current daily average of COVID-19 cases and positivity rate, Nevada County will be exiting the Stay Home Order into the Widespread Purple Tier.

“As we move back into the Widespread Purple Tier, some businesses will be able to reopen with modifications. Most notably, these are:

• Hair Salons/Barbershops/Personal Care: Open with modifications in the Purple Tier
• Hotels and Lodging: Open with modifications in the Purple Tier
• Movie Theaters: Outdoor only with modifications in Purple Tier
• Wineries: Outdoor only with modifications in the Purple Tier
• Restaurants: Outdoor dining with modifications allowed in Purple Tier

“Although this is welcome news that our ICU capacity is projected to be above 15%, Nevada County remains well into the Widespread Purple Tier with significant business modifications.

“Nevada County Public Health continues to thank the community for wearing a mask, being mindful of social distancing and refraining from social gatherings. Together, we can stop the surge to save lives and work towards lowering our daily COVID-19 cases and positivity rate which may allow us to move into the less restrictive Red Tier.”

“This college football season had a series of stops, starts and ripped-up schedules because of the Covid-19 pandemic,” as CNN is reporting. “Yet, despite its unevenness, the 2020 season did conclude — and with a familiar team at the top.

“For the sixth time under head coach Nick Saban, the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide are national champions, pulling away to defeat No. 3 Ohio State 52-24 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

“At 13-0, Alabama ended a dominant season as the nation’s only undefeated team. The Crimson Tide also avenged their loss to the Buckeyes in the inaugural College Football Playoff semifinals in the 2014 season.”

The rest of the article is here.