by Diana Pasquini, San Juan Ridge Family Resource Center

It’s summer in the foothills; and summer is Fire Season. It’s time to be particularly vigilant. Make sure to provide defensible space of 100 feet around homes. A defensible space not only reduces flammable vegetation that can spread wildfire to your home. It provides a safe area for firefighters. Be sure all flammable materials are swept from roof tops and gutters. An area of 30 feet around a home should be free of flammable vegetation, including burn piles and firewood. Mow dried grasses along roadways and in fields. Be very careful with fire. One live ash or glowing ember on a windy day can ignite a devastating wildfire. Remember that Smokey’s Friends never play with matches!

The joys of summer will be gone in the blink of an eye so make the most of this delightful season; and please remember to stay fire safe!

by Diana Pasquini, San Juan Ridge FRC

Photo credit: Aubrey Puetz

by Liz Pickell, M.Ed., Independent Living Specialist—FREED

Our intention is to provide an explanation of the different types of disability support (SDI, SSDI, SSI), information on which to apply for, and specific guidance about the information required for each. 

About FREED

FREED is a disability and aging resource center providing services to residents of a five county area comprised of Nevada, Sierra, Yuba, Sutter and Colusa Counties. FREED’s mission is to promote independence and self-determination for people with disabilities through person-driven services, collaborative community partnerships and education, and leadership that advocates for fully inclusive communities.  FREED’s vision is that people with disabilities enjoy a fully accessible community strengthened by diversity and unified by a culture of limitless possibility.

by Diana Pasquini, San Juan Ridge Family Resource Center

JUNIOR SPORTS CAMP for ages 5, 6 & 7  ~ July 9-13 ~ 9:30am-12:30pm

INTERMEDIATE SPORTS CAMP for ages 8, 9 & 10 ~ July 16-20  ~ 9:30am-2:30pm

SENIOR SPORTS CAMP for ages 11 & up ~ July 23-27  ~ 9:30am- 2:30pm

We will not be able to accommodate drop-ins; so all campers must be pre-registered to attend. To enroll, please call 292-3174 or drop by the Family Resource Center at 18847 Oak Tree Road during regular business hours (see page 1).

by Pastor Pinkie Rideau

You may have noticed that since we have had construction and tree trimming on the roads that there is a food truck sitting on the side of the road. I saw them, did you? Didn’t know what it was for. I thought maybe it was there for the road construction guys. I was wrong. Just north of Marysville Road on Hwy 49 you will find a taco truck on the right hand side of the road (traveling North). Fatty’s Fine Foods is the idea of Camptonville longtime local Fatty Querequincia (kerry-ken-see-ya). His recipes are absolutely fantastic! I’ve had the pork adobo taco and the chicken taco and they are amazing! Custom sauces and meat covered in two kinds of cabbage and cheese makes it healthy and tasty—all at the same time! Fatty serves up lunch and his niece, Camptonville Fire Department Volunteer Lynn Coppock, serves up breakfast. They serve it all up with a smile! Fatty and Lynn are parked there from Thursday through Saturday—except when they are catering. Stop in, roll slow, sit and eat. Eat some more. Tell them Pastor Pinkie sent you! :) This does not earn me free tacos, darnit! Love, Peace, Happyness & Music! One Love Ya’ll, Pastor Pinkie

by Diana Pasquini, San Juan Ridge Family Resource Center

Although we are grateful to our many friends and neighbors for so generously donating clothing and footwear throughout the year, the San Juan Ridge Family Resource Center will not be accepting any wearable donations throughout our summer camp season from July 1 until August 6. The clothes closet will still be open to folks who need to take clothes during that time, but not to those who wish to donate. If you can hang on to your donations until mid-August, we’d appreciate it. If not, there are many worthy non-profits who are supported by thrift stores and would certainly appreciate a donation. Thanks.

by Hank Weston, District IV Supervisor—Nevada County Board of Supervisors

Congratulations to Sue Hoek, as District IV Supervisor-Elect!

Please join me the next time you see Sue and congratulate her as our new next District IV Supervisor. Over the years, Sue has always exhibited a keen ear and ability to listen on issues with a fair and balanced perspective, spoken out on when needed, not only issues important to her but for the community, knows the community, and is courteous by nature but holds a fierce spirit for public service. Sue will be sworn into office in January 2019. I have all the confidence in the world that she will represent you with every action she takes and will be a great addition to my colleagues on the Board. 

The same day of the Election, the Board adopted the County’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2018/19 at its regular meeting on June 5, 2018. At the meeting, County Executive Officer Richard Haffey provided the Board with a summary report on the state of the County with a total proposed budget of $235.7 Million.  Fiscal conditions remain stable and continue to exceed pre-recession levels. County property tax growth is projected to have a 5.5% growth rate next year, which is the average growth over the past two decades. The budget is balanced and is focused on continuing to provide core services. Allocations have been made to address the Board’s Priority A Objectives that include programs to reduce the risk of wildfire while pursuing hazard vegetation mitigation, implementing a homelessness Service Plan, and to continue to develop a long term  cannabis regulation and funding measure for the November ballot – just to name a few.  I would like to also thank CEO Haffey for not only for his leadership and great work on this year’s budget, but also for his work throughout the years, as this was his final budget message to the Board of Supervisors before his retirement this summer. His leadership and fiscal insight has been invaluable to the Board, the County and our community alike.

In other updates, the Save Our Bridge Campaign Committee (S.O.B) has been back at it again. The county was informed on Monday May 21, 2018 that a funding shortfall of $ 2.8 million for the Bridgeport Bridge Restoration Project emerged that, if left unfunded, would delay the project for at least one (1) year that would most likely drive costs up and threaten the project. For the project to remain on schedule, with construction beginning this summer, funding for the project would need to be included within the State’s FY 18/19 Budget. With the State’s budget coming to a close, our CEO’s office quickly sprang into action and the Board authorized the Chair to submit a letter to the applicable State legislative committees requesting increased funding be considered as a part of the Budget for this year – thereby keeping the project on schedule. And without fail, the S.O.B. immediately mobilized showing how important this project is to our community. I am pleased to report that on Friday, June 8^th, the State Budget Conference Committee unanimously voted to include the additional 2.8 million in funding need to restore the Bridgeport Bridget as planned. As Dave Anderson from the S.O.B. exclaimed, “The Save Our Bridge committee is thrilled with the provision of the additional funding needed for the restoration of our precious bridge. We wish to express our appreciation to the community, community organization, and our county and city leaders that have been so instrumental in achieving this critical milestone. We are looking forward to the day that we can again walk across this historic treasure.” To echo Mr. Anderson remarks, I would like to specifically express my gratitude to Assembly member Brain Dahle for his leadership as well as the rest of the committee members including Assembly member Philip Ting, Assembly member Richard Bloom, Senator Jim Nelson, and Senator Ted Gaines, and Susan Chan, committee staff to the Assembly Budget Committee, for their support for this project. I will be working with our Chair to submit a letter to Governor Jerry Brown urging him to ensure the allocation of funds remains included in the Budget when he signs the Budget into law.

Last but not least, I want to urge you to be safe when recreating at the South Yuba River. Over the past year, I have had a pleasure of working with District I Supervisor Heidi Hall on an initiative called the Yuba River Public Safety Cohort which is a multi-agency workgroup that includes Federal, State and local agencies and departments. The Cohort was established for the purpose of coordinating public safety and law enforcement efforts in the South Yuba River corridor for the sole purpose of mitigating wildfire and promoting public safety. Supervisor Hall and I will be presenting to the Board on various initiatives that you soon will be hearing about. But in the meantime, remember these six key messages:

Be Safe – No Cell Service * No Fires – It only takes one Spark * Pick-up After Your Pets * Prevent Injuries – No Glass *

Pack It In, Pack It Out, and Recycle * Obey Parking Signs

Also, in an effort to help keep the community abreast of any local emergencies, the County Office of Emergency Services (OES) uses a notification system called CodeRED Emergency Alerts. CodeRED sends alerts to your phone when an emergency has been identified within your area that requires an immediate response - like an evacuation. You can sign up for CodeRED alerts by going to MyNevadaCounty.com and clicking the icon CodeRED Emergency Alerts at the bottom of the screen and then, simply follow the prompts to sign up. If you sign up with a mobile phone number, you will receive texts during an alert, whereas a registered landline number will receive an actual phone call. If you are having trouble signing up or have questions, please contact our Office of Emergency Services for assistance at 530-265-1515.