Dec. 28

Anthony Arvizu, bottom left, of Valley Springs, Ashley and A.J. Robinson of Campo Seco were all smiles after receiving bicycles from National Wild Turkey Federation members, back from left, Thomas Eisenbrandt, Clint Gleason and Tom Dockter.

Turkey federation, San Quentin Prison give bikes to kids

   Several children in the area received bicycles this holiday season due to efforts from the National Wild Turkey Federation, San Quentin State Prison and its inmates.

   The Foothill Bearded Flyers Chapter of the federation received nearly a dozen rebuilt bicycles from the prison. The bicycles were lost or stolen from the Marin County area and were left unclaimed. They were then turned over to the prison to be rebuilt by the inmates.

   Clint Gleason, a member of the local chapter’s board, said the bicycles were given to local children after speaking with school officials and churches.

   Three youngsters were on hand Wednesday when some of the bicycles were given away. Anthony Arvizu of Valley Springs was quick to jump on his new bicycle and begin riding it around the parking lot.

   The federation is dedicated to conserving wild turkeys and preserving hunting tradition, according to Tom Dockter, the chapter president.

   The local chapter will have its annual banquet Feb. 23 in Valley Springs. For more information about the banquet or the organization, call Dockter at 786-6800.  

Dec. 26

Noreen and Paul Coca, owners of Firefall Jewelers, have released a gospel album of 13 original songs based on real life experiences.

Jewelers spread gospel through "Street Songs"

By Nick Baptista

   At first glance, one would not suspect that Paul and Noreen Coca of Firefall Jewelers are musical artists.

   The owners of Firefall Jewelers spend at least three weekends a month playing music and singing on the street corners of Berkeley and San Francisco spreading the word of God and for 11 years they worked with homeless teenagers in the San Jose area.

   Their musical training is as different as night and day. Noreen is an accomplished violinist who attended college on a musical scholarship, while Paul is a self-taught guitarist. Paul said he began playing the guitar when he was 10 and his cousin who managed Carlos Santana’s band provided the inspiration.

   The couple recently completed recording their third album, titled “Street Songs,” which is available at their Firefall Jewelers locations at 10 L Nove Way, Valley Springs, and 1259 S. Main St., Angels Camp.

  The album features 12 songs written by Paul and one by Noreen of real life experiences – good times and bad - and with messages of hope, Paul said.

   Many of the songs were written within the past three to four years, but one, “The Spirit and the Bride,” dates back to 1982 when the couple was spending their first anniversary in Yosemite National Park.

   “After a hard day of playing and hiking we settled down to our campsite and I walked off by myself with my guitar, sat by the river and wrote this song,” he said.

  “We got some amazing people to help us with this,” Paul said, as he launched into a “Who’s Who” list of Christian music artists.

   The album was produced by Chuck Girard, whom Paul said someday will be in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

   Girard was a member of The Castells, The Hondells and later, Love Song, one of the pioneer Christian rock groups. He later enjoyed a solo career as a performer of Contemporary Christian Music.

   His daughter, Alisa Childers, provided some of the vocals in “Street Songs.”

   She is known for being in the all female group ZOEgirl. She has had a string of top ten radio singles, four studio releases, and received the Dove Award from being with ZOEgirl.

   “Street Songs” features the first time Girard and Childers have been recorded together, Paul added.

   Phil Keaggy played electric guitar on the album. He is a seven-time recipient of the GMA Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year, and was twice nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album.

  Rumors have followed Keaggy for years that Jimi Hendrix or Eric Clapton had supposedly named him as the world’s greatest guitar player.

   And on bass was Mark Childers, who plays for Carrie Underwood.

   “It’s just so amazing how this happened,” Paul said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think these people would help us out, but they did.”  

Work to repair the overhang at the Valley Oaks Center is expected to begin next month.

Work expected to begin in January to repair center

By Nick Baptista

   Plans to repair the façade on the west side of the Valley Oaks Center have been submitted to the county planning department and work is expected to begin sometime in January.

   Several vehicles were damaged and business interrupted Oct. 17 when a portion of the façade above the walkway fell.

   The incident has been blamed on a lack of horizontal support in the façade. The overhang has been shored up and deemed safe.

   Once work begins, it is projected that it will take three to four months to complete. Work will begin on the north end of the building at Dr. Benedicto Estoesta’s clinic and continue in 100-foot increments until reaching Mexico Lindo. It is predicted that six to eight parking spaces will be closed at one time due to the work and the scaffolding involved.

   Existing signage will be temporarily removed and the contractor will install banners for the businesses. The contractor will add trusses, install a new façade, paint and put the existing signage back in place.  

Dec. 21

Santa and Rudolph with Jenny Lind Pre-schooler Angela McCullough, 4 1/2, of Valley Springs. Photo by Nick Baptista.

Jenny Lind firefighters help St. Nick gather last-minute wish lists

By Nick Baptista

   The Jenny Lind Fire Protection District this week continued its recent tradition of escorting Santa Claus around the area to receive last-minute gift wishes from neighborhood children and the popular event will conclude tonight with one more run.

   Firefighters are ushering Santa and his friend Rudolph around Rancho Calaveras in style with a caravan of fire trucks. The lead truck carrying Santa and Rudolph is decorated with twinkling Christmas lights and children can wait at street corners for the trucks to stop and Santa will visit with them and hear their Christmas wishes inside the fire truck’s cab.

   The department started their Santa Express run last year and it proved so popular they decided to do it again this year and make it a tradition, said Fire Chief Brian Chavez-Ochoa.

   The firefighters look forward to assisting St. Nick and seeing the bright, smiling faces of the children, he added.

   Santa and Rudolph combed the area Tuesday and Wednesday nights and Friday’s final run will begin at approximately 6:30 p.m. The fire department is scheduled to drive Santa along Kirby Street, Gabor Street, O’Reilly Street, Owens Way, Redman Road, McAtee Street, Sparrowk Road, Pardini Place and Hedgpeth Road.

   For those children who were unable to catch Santa and Rudolph while they were on the road, they will return to Jenny Lind Fire Station No. 1 at approximately 8:30 p.m. for more visits. The fire station is located at 6501 Jenny Lind Road.  

Dec. 19

The Bucy residence at 4280 Grisham Road finished in first place in the Rancho Calaveras Holiday Decoration Contest.

Bucys win Rancho Calaveras holiday decoration contest

By Nick Baptista

   Santa Claus won’t need Rudolph this Christmas Eve to find West Calaveras as residents have gone to great lengths to decorate and light up their homes and yards for the season.

   The Rancho Calaveras Property Owners’ Association recognized those efforts on Saturday by announcing the winners of their annual Holiday Decoration Contest.

   Bob and Linda Bucy at 4280 Grisham Road took top honors with their front-yard display that is synchronized to music. Bob uses an 8-channel frequency controlled system to have nearly 2,500 lights flash on and off with the sounds of Christmas and the holidays. He generally has the lights and music on from 5:30 to 9 p.m. each evening to entertain passers-by.

   Second place went to Tammy Wilhelm’s display at 8296 Hautly Lane.  

Dec. 14

The young and the young at heart gaze Wednesday evening at the newly lit Christmas trees near the downtown intersection of Highways 12 and 26.

Tree lighting ceremony a big hit

By Nick Baptista

   Fifty or so brave souls who came out in the cold Wednesday evening to witness a community tree lighting ceremony behind the Century 21 Tri-Dam Realty office at the corner of Highways 12 and 26.

   The realty office and Umpqua Bank of Valley Springs hope to make the ceremony an annual event and the initial reaction was positive.

   Three of the larger evergreens behind the office were lit up shortly after 6:30 p.m. and the reaction was immediate as passing motorists honked with approval. The crowd was treated to hot chocolate and cookies and sang a variety of Christmas and holiday songs to usher in the tree-lighting ceremony.

   The trees are decorated differently with one in red lights, another in green and the third with a variety of colored lights and featuring a large gold star on top.

   Danielle Scaparro Palm of Umpqua Bank said there is talk of holding the ceremony the evening of the annual Christmas Parade and Crafts Fair, which are always scheduled for the first Saturday in December. She added that with a little more time in advance to prepare for the ceremony, they hope to make a bigger, better and well publicized event next year.  

Dec. 12

Valley Springs Area Business Association President Vip Hale, left, presents the ABA’s Citizens of the Year plaque to Barbara and Bing Stanley.

ABA honors Bing, Barbara Stanley as "Citizens of the Year"

By Nick Baptista

   Whether it’s the Christmas Parade and Crafts Fair, Snyder’s Valley Springs Pow Wow, or Fireworks over New Hogan, the couple honored Saturday evening as the Valley Springs Area Business Association’s Citizens of the Year are on hand taking an active role.

   Bing and Barbara Stanley of Rancho Calaveras received the award during the ABA’s annual Christmas Dinner at Jenny Lind Fire Station No. 1.

    The Stanleys have lived in the area for 22 years. Bing is a retired ironworker and Barbara is a retired surgical nurse, formerly with Lodi Community Hospital. They run Tri-Valley Water Services, and Barbara says, “We’re about ready to retire from that too.”

   They have been involved with the ABA for nearly a decade and the Valley Springs Boosters for approximately five years. Barbara is also a member of the Jenny Lind Fire Department Auxiliary where she has been the president for two years and vice president for another two.

   At the Christmas Parade, Bing can be seen at the end of the event with the enviable task of pulling Santa and Mrs. Claus’ sleigh, while at the Pow Wow he’s generally on a Quad runner directing traffic and parking along with other assorted tasks. Barbara keeps busy helping Betty Snyder when she’s not manning the pie shop or serving ABA snow cones at the event.

   At the annual Fireworks Show, they’re involved with the set-up, barbecue, parking and selling raffle tickets.

   “We do whatever we can do to help,” Barbara said.

   Booster activities also included working at the Oktoberfest and wine and cheese reception/fundraiser.

   When he’s not working or volunteering, Bing likes to hunt, fish and make wine. He is a member of the Calaveras Wine Alliance and has won several awards for his winemaking, including recent notification that he won a silver and bronze medal along with two honorable mentions for the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition.

   The pace the past few years has been a little hectic, Barbara said, and the couple is planning “to slow down a little bit.”  

Dec. 7

Some of the items at the Affordable Gifts of Art Show.

Affordable Gifts of Art Show under way in San Andreas

   The public can share the creativity and spirit of local artists with loved ones by selecting original gifts of art at the Calaveras Arts Council’s Gallery on Main Street in San Andreas.

   More than 30 artists have a variety of items displayed in the 15th annual Affordable Gifts of Art Show and Sale going on now through Jan. 3, 2008.

   Art show shoppers avoid the stress of shopping at malls and unlike on-line shopping, they can actually touch and see the items they’re buying. The items are from locals you may even know, who have painstakingly put their hearts into each creation.

   From small paintings to ceramic garden plaques to hand-forged metal candleholders, the variety of affordable art is endless. There will be photography, ceramic vases and sculpture, jewelry, ornaments, pine needle baskets, CDs, books, gallery gift certificates, tickets to Ovations, boxed cards, and more.

   Artists include Randy Metzger (Randall’s Candles), Edie Schembri, Lynda Gilmore, Megan Aguilar, Dorothy Burnett, Marilyn Thomas Hinsdale, Margaret Roberts, Ken Winebrenner, Lori Kelly, Robert Atkinson, Cate Culver, Ruth Morrow, Bambi Papais, Susan King, Ann Nancy Macomber, Kathy Martinez, Lynn Keever, Lura Francis, Sarah Switek, James Aarons, Dave Gano, Bonnie Gill, Ingrid Brown, Rory Gage, Michael Wood, Maren Sampson, Jane Brown, Don Hukari, Martha Wallace, Pat Rohovit, Barbara Schmidt, Helen Scofield, Lisa Gage, Jerry Gantgen and Andrea Silva.

   The gallery is located at 22 Main St. and is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. On Saturdays, the hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Free parking is easily accessible behind the gallery where there is a parking lot off of California Street.

   Call the Calaveras Arts Council, which is a non-profit, public benefit corporation, at (209) 754-1774  for any arts-related information or go its website at www.calaverasarts.org.

Dec. 5

Top Hat School of Dance students perform a holiday number to capture the best walking group-children award at the 24th annual Christmas Parade.

Brownies win top honors at Christmas Parade

By Nick Baptista

   Brownie Troop 535’s float captured the attention of the judges on Saturday and won the best float-kids and the grand prize trophy for the 24th annual Valley Springs Business Association’s Christmas Parade.

   The Brownies wooed the judges with their colorful holiday-themed float and Christmas caroling.

   The event, which traditionally kicks off the holiday season in west Calaveras County, attracted 39 entries and a large crowd along Daphne Street and in front of the Jenny Lind Veterans Memorial Hall where the annual Crafts Faire was under way.

   The association’s Citizens of the Year – Bob and Dolly Paden - were the parade’s grand marshals. The final float of the parade featured North Pole residents Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus who set up shop at the Vets Hall to hear everyone’s Christmas gift wishes and pose for photographs with the young ones.

   The parade also marked the unveiling of Foothill Fire Protection District’s newest piece of equipment, a 50-foot ladder truck recently purchased for $25,000 from the Waterloo-Morada Fire District. The truck was a hit as the fire district won the parade’s emergency vehicle category.

   The remaining parade winners were, by category:

   American Legion and Boy Scout Troop 302, honor guard; Abbey Water Well, commercial float; Top Hat Dance, walking group-children; Habitat for Humanity, walking group-adults; Foothill Classics Car Club, vintage auto; Double Springs Ranch, vintage emergency/farm vehicles; and Dara Coleman and Family, mounted.

   “Things went without a hitch,” ABA President Vip Hale said. “The crafts faire was a success and the vendors were happy.”

Mail: P.O. Box 1297, Valley Springs, CA 95252 
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