TGIF, Amador County! Here is my week-end, editorial wrap-up of all things Amador County. Well, most all things...tell me if you missed it.
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Putting the “Unity” in “Community”
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Putting the “Unity” in “Community”
Enjoyed Reverend Karen Siegfriedt’s sermon last Sunday on spiritual gifts. Everyone has at least one thing they do and do well, and what better way to utilize your talents and gifts than to contribute to your neighborhood, community or cause? Some might have a “meh” attitude, thinking "Why bother, nothing will change…I'm just one person, how can I make a difference?...” A better way of looking at it would be: Don’t just sit around talking about doing something, or nay-say with a defeatist attitude. Find that one thing...ONE thing you do, and do well, then do it. Share it!
After all, it’s the meaning of life!
Multiple Sclerosis Support Group met last Tuesday. I didn’t even know this group existed. I’m sure there are a lot of community groups we are not aware of, and I’m grateful that more and more folks are contacting me to post about their meetings and events.
Sierra Child & Family Services is seeking foster families. They claim that there is an “immediate need”, so if you have the heart for it, they will guide you through the processes. Call 209-257-1244 for more info.
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Who’s on Facebook? Raise Your Brand
The shared stories on ACN’s Facebook that had the most reach (500+) this week were:
Tri-County Wildlife’s rescues of the Common Poorwill and Great Egret...the Folsom Dam leak...Sierra Lodestar’s article on the town of Volcano. There were also several regional and national stories, such as Jaime Foxx’s heroic rescue of a man in a burning car...restauranteur Guy Fieri’s visit to Modesto and Stockton...Celine Dion’s grief of losing husband and brother...the death of Glenn Frey of the Eagles...several posts from FEMA and The Weather Channel about El Nino...the story of a Chinese restaurant’s [not-so-covert] roadkill pickup...ew...
Excited to have many more Supporting Advertisers on board with ACN, and with shareable Facebook pages. There are some great groups out there, too, such as the Neighborhood Watch Group (big thanks to Gabrielle Melani!), Uncensored Amador Calaveras Fire & Police, and more. There’s a whole list of groups and pages on our Main Page on ACN in the right hand side bar, check ‘em out!
I was curious, so....being that it is an election year, I wanted to check out the online presence of Amador’s political parties. Here's what I found:
Excited to have many more Supporting Advertisers on board with ACN, and with shareable Facebook pages. There are some great groups out there, too, such as the Neighborhood Watch Group (big thanks to Gabrielle Melani!), Uncensored Amador Calaveras Fire & Police, and more. There’s a whole list of groups and pages on our Main Page on ACN in the right hand side bar, check ‘em out!
I was curious, so....being that it is an election year, I wanted to check out the online presence of Amador’s political parties. Here's what I found:
Amador Republicans - http://amadorrepublicans.com/
- Facebook page has 224 likes, with their last post on December 25, 2015.
- Facebook Group has a membership of 55, is a bit more active (my status is still “pending”).
-They had a meeting on January 21st, but I never got a notification about it.
-Upcoming Events page hasn't been updated since July 2014.
-Endorsement page also obviously not updated.
Amador Democrats - http://amadordemocrats.org/
- Web site hasn't been updated since November 2015
- No communications from them so far, as far as meetings, events, etc.
Gold Country Libertarians - http://www.fredtyg.freeservers.com/Goldcountry.html
Lame web site.
Facebook page has 30 members. Last update was September 23, 2015
I started up an Amador County Voters Facebook group. Join and feel free to post your thoughts, opinions and issues about Election 2016 - local, state and national!
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LAFCO: Not a place to buy laughs
Not to be confused with last night's Volcano Union Inn’s Comedy Night, there was also an Amador LAFCO meeting.
What is LAFCO, you might ask? Or may not ask, but here it is, anyway...
LAFCO stands for “Local Agency Formation Commission”. In a nutshell and by definition from the CALAFCO’s Citizen’s guide:
“The Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Act directs LAFCOs to achieve two main purposes: 1. Discourage sprawl. 2. Encourage orderly government. Boundaries are important because they assign physical space and define the identities of local governments. LAFCOs have both planning and regulatory powers. LAFCOs plan by adopting and revising “spheres of influence,” which are planning documents that show a city or special district’s future boundary and service areas. They regulate by reviewing and acting on proposals to change boundaries. LAFCOs control nine types of boundary changes: annexations, detachments, disincorporations, dissolutions, formations, incorporations, mergers, consolidations, subsidiary districts, and reorganizations…”
Controlling boundaries means LAFCOs control the timing and location of development. For instance, LAFCOs regulate boundaries for the following services:
-Water, sewer, fire protection, flood control (growth inducing facilities and services).
- Parks, libraries, airports (growth supporting facilities and services).
- Hospitals, cemeteries, pest abatement (non-growth related facilities and services).
The power of LAFCOs to determine these lines comes from the United States Constitution. The Tenth Amendment says, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution… are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.” In other words, the federal constitution allows each state to determine how to organize its local governments.”
So basically, LAFCO has regulatory power and “sphere of influence” influence when it comes growth and boundaries in Amador County.
For more information on Amador LAFCO, visit: http://www.co.amador.ca.us/government/lafco
See? Ya learn somethin' new every day!
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Art Trekkies, Love Art and Prosper!
1st Saturday Art Trek is coming up on February 6, and there are some new places to visit. Check 'em out! http://amadorarts.blogspot.com/2016/01/february-6-is-next-art-trek-first.html
Bummer news! Amador Arts Council’s "Taste of the Arts" has sold out! Told ya they'd go fast. Good news for those who signed up early, though...
Tonight, Feist Wines hosts Marty O'Riely and The Old Soul Orchestra at 7pm. Great wine, great music...and look forward this year to Feist's move into the former "Susan's Place" in Sutter Creek!
Tomorrow “Holmes Hounds” is holding auditions for the Baker Street Players. Call for an audition time 209-470-9573.
Did you know that the Amador County Artists Association has monthly meetings on 2nd Wednesdays. By the way...do y’all know about the program, “Art in Public Places”? Consider displaying local art at your place of business, office or dining establishment. What a great way to support your local artists! Contact the ACAA for more information. www.amadorartists.org
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All of our Business...
The JBCA has merged (or is in the process of merging) with the Chamber of Commerce. I’m a part of an Amador Political Discussion Group on Facebook, and I recently asked what the Chamber of Commerce specifically does for Amador County, besides holding monthly mixers, a workshop/class here and there, a Business Person of the Year gala, etc.
I also posted on ACN this week that Paperback Oasis will be closing their store soon...so what does/would the Chamber...or for that matter, all of Amador’s business organizations (Ione Business & Community Association, Sutter Creek Business & Professional Association, BNI, etc.) actually do to help struggling businesses? I realize that it takes active participation and volunteerism for any type of membership to be effective, but what if some businesses or start-ups cannot afford a membership? What if business owners don't have time, or don't really like cliquish, social gatherings?
I think that social networking has helped...Facebook has given rise to several local business groups, such as the Amador-Calaveras Small Business, Amador County Home-based businesses, and Made in Amador County, Amador Wedding Professionals...all are free to join and network away. It's like having a daily online mixer. Now, don't get me wrong; I don't discount the value of "Facelook" time with others in the Amador business community, but if I'm going to spend upwards of $50-500+ for a membership, it needs to offer more than just a drink ticket and a monthly raffle.
Oh, and speaking of weddings, "Here comes the..."
Jackson Rancheria’s Wedding Faire, slated for Sunday, May 1st! Amador County Vendors (only) can get their booths for just $75 if they return the Exhibit Contract by January 29th! Vendor Set-Up: Sunday, May 1st , 2016 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Includes a 8x8 trade show booth, curtained back wall, skirted table and chairs. We anticipate approximately 300 people.
They're also offering, as a "thank you", an offer of a $25 Lone Wolf Dining Credit if you return the contract January 29th, 2016!
Here's the contract:
If it's happening in "The County", it's probably here:
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