I had to do a double take on this one. Driving to Grass Valley on the Colfax Highway I saw this school sign. It appears that the Union Hill Elementary School is serving ice cream, and holding a health committee meeting at the same time! Tomorrow they’re having a board meeting. Wonder if they are going to talk about why the kids were hyper active with a sugar high from the ice cream on January 11? Or maybe the health committee is doing an experiment on serving kids sugar and fat and seeing what that does to their grades?
Just for fun, here’s a 4 once serving of Baskin Robbins chocolate ice cream: 22% fat, 11% sugar, no vitamins.
Serving Size 4 oz
Amount per serving
Calories 260
Calories from Fat 0
%Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g
22%
Saturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 0mg
0%
Total Carbohydrates 33g
11%
Protein 0g
Vitamin A
0%
Vitamin C
0%
Calcium
0%
Iron
0%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
It’s somewhat of an American tradition to bash teachers in songs: “No more pencils. No more books. No more teachers’ dirty looks.” Anti-teacher songs were common as I grew up. The Coasters’ sang about “Charlie Brown,” the kid in school who caused trouble. “School Days,” by Chuck Berry, complained about getting up each morning just to go to school. Pink Floyd pictured school kids as, “Another brick in the wall.” Other songs sang of kids unhappy with teachers.
So, I decided to write a song about a teacher unhappy with a student. Since I taught at Oakland High at the time, this song has an urban setting and street lingo.
During the 1980’s, I sang teacher activist songs along with rock ‘n roll. This song started when I was in Washington D. C. at the National Education Association’s teacher’s convention. A group from Pennsylvania proclaimed themselves to be “United Mind Workers.”
I condensed this to “Mindworker” and began working on a song that would become the title cut to my first CD. As with most songs, it grew out of my own life experiences.
The song begins with a teacher confronting a hostile student in the classroom. This is nothing new if you’ve taught inner-city kids. And, as in every fictional piece, the story quickly began to define itself.
As a songwriter, I know to keep it simple. Consider The Beatles. Their songs are full of words like love, arms, hold, lips, kiss and other monosyllable words, repeated with melody, harmony and a beat. It sounds simple. There are not, however, many musicians out there singing Beatle songs because of the complex interaction of the chords and lyrics.
Some words don’t sing well but I used them anyway: “Don’t make me the target of your vulgar darts. I’m gonna drive your mind right out of the dark.” Target … vulgar darts. These are not common words for lyrics but I wanted to get the sense of conflict across.
I used street language to characterize the young student: “You better lighten up dude, get outta my face.” Again, most inner city teachers soon come to understand, and sometime use, the inner city students’ vernacular
The song has somewhat of a surprise twist when the Mindworker tells the student, “I was a more sarcastic kid than you.” And it twists again when the student gets up for another confrontation with the teacher but instead says, “Hey man, you know, I mean like, thanks.”
Writing the song is only the beginning. I worked with an LA producer, Paul Chiten, who added the Beatlesque complexity to the tune. He built a solid instrumental foundation. I shared my music writing credit with him. When it came time to record in San Francisco, Chiten wanted to use David La Flamme, from It’s A Beautiful Day, to do the lead vocal instead of me.
It was kind of like being fired from singing my own song. However, I quickly agreed because David (who appeared at the Psalms in Winters on Sat. Oct. 17th) has sold millions of records, including his hit, “White Bird”. My lifetime total sales were more like 210 albums to relatives and friends.
Mindworker - By Paul August
Paul August is a local writer and singer.
He also writes for the San Francisco Chronicle and The Union
You may buy his song Mindworker at cdbaby.com
I’ve talked to a few people who are really concerned about the world ending in 2012. Much like those who were sure that the world would crash when the year 1999 rolled over to the year 2000. They were totally convinced that that all the computers on Earth would stop working because the computers were not programmed to use any date beyond 1999.
I remember people hoarding food, selling their homes and moving deep into the mountains, sure that marauding bands of starving people would be out doing whatever it took to keep alive. Well, 1999 flowed quite smoothly into 2000. Now we have the latest and greatest scare which of course is the end of the world in 2012.
Feeding this fear factor, Sony Pictures, in order to promote an upcoming disaster movie called 2012, has set up a website for an organization called the Institute for Human Continuity which predicts a cataclysmic denouement for Earth three years from now. How sleazy can you get to promote a picture?
It suggests that “after two decades of rigorous research from the world’s top astronomers, mathematicians, geologists, physicists, engineers, futurists, we know that in 2012 a series of cataclysmic forces will wreak havoc on our planet”.
It even details how elections have begun for the leader of the post-2012 world, offers survival kits and asks people to sign up to a lottery to be saved.
All this hype is based on the assumption that Mayan calendar ends on 2012, which in fact does not. Apolinario Chile Pixtun, a Mayan elder, notes there are other inscriptions at Mayan sites for dates far beyond 2012 – including one that roughly translates into the year 4772.
A significant time period for the Mayans does end on the date, and enthusiasts have found a series of astronomical alignments they say coincide in 2012, including one that happens roughly only once every 25,800 years.
Along with the sleaze factor there is a website that states scientists are supposed to be tracking an unknown Planet X which is on the edge of the solar system, and yes, you guessed it, is on a collision course with Earth. The site is so successful that hundreds of people are now convinced something terrible is about to befall the planet.
Dr. David Morrison, a senior scientist at Nasa’s Astrobiology Institute, said he had received more than 1,000 inquiries from worried members of the public.
That included teenagers saying they would rather commit suicide than witness the world end. Dr. Morrison said the website was “ethically wrong”. But Vikki Luya, Sony’s publicity director said: “It is very clear that this site is connected to a fictional movie. This can readily be seen in the logos on the site.” Yep, but some people don’t read the details that Sony tries to hide.
The Smothers Brothers in Boil That Cabbage Down
If you can’t see this video you need to download Adobe Flash (It’s free)
I’ve always enjoyed the The The Smothers Brothers and now they are coming to Grass Valley this Saturday October 17. They will perform at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 255 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley. They will start at 8 pm, General Admission is $45.00. If you want to spend a little more money, for $125 per person you can get reserved table seating in front of stage, pre-event cocktail party with entertainment, complimentary beer, wine and appetizers and reserved parking.
Starting the affair will be The Yo Yo Man who begins his tricks with a trademark dance-like step that signals he’s in a “State of Yo” and ready to proceed. With each successive trick, the spirits rise until the crowd can no longer contain itself and contagiously fills the air with shouts of “Yo!”
For the younger one’s in the crowd, it was five decades ago that Tom and Dick Smothers first took stage together professionally. Comedy was about to change. Many comedy duos, have had success but none as enduring as the Smothers Brothers whose lengthy career has surpassed all other comedy teams in history. Their cutting-edge humor has not only been ahead of its time but has remained timeless as well. With their singular blend of comedic and musical talents, the irrepressible brothers have made a sweeping impact on diverse generations of fans. Such lasting power is a testimonial to their intuitive humor, natural warmth, superlative showmanship and the pure unadulterated joy they bring to audiences of all ages.
One of my favorite bands in Nevada County is the Nevada County Regulators. Why they picked that name I don’t know. A little history of where the name “Regulators” came from is in the late 1800’s some areas of the west was pretty wild. So quite often, posses of cowboys or ranch owners would band together to get them outlaws. They would be call themselves regulators to regulate the lawlessness of the times. Of course sometimes it was hard to tell the regulators from the outlaws.
An example of this is in February 1878, in Lincoln County, New Mexico, a band of Regulators were formed out of numerous small ranch owners in the Lincoln area. Many of those who became best known as “Regulators” had a long history with one another previously in the Lincoln County War.
Ironically, Henry McCarty aka Billy the Kid would become the best known, most likely due to the notoriety of his name and due to the fact that everything the Regulators did, they blamed it on Billy the Kid. The Lincoln County War brought Billy to the front, but several of the other Regulators were actually the driving force behind the events, and had a history of killing alongside one another prior to the war.
However, I can assure you that over the years that I have known the band, I have never seen them shoot anyone. According to their bio, the Nevada County Regulators got together in the summer of 2005. Since then, they have been playing at our local hot spots, such as Coopers, Peterson’s Corner, Dos Banditos, the Crazy Horse, the Holbrooke Hotel and many other places. They have also played at the Nevada County Fair almost every year since they started up here.
They play great rock and roll and can play most anything from the 50’s to the 90’s, depending upon the occasion. A portion of their play list is at upbeat tunes.
The band consists of Ian Garfinkel – Guitar and vocals, Steve Sheppard – Bass and vocals, Tom Agar – Drums and vocals, and Kevin McElligott – Percussion and vocals.
If you love to listen to real live rock ‘n’ roll, like some variety or love to dance – then check out one of their upcoming shows or book the Nevada County Regulators for your own party. For their schedule go their website The Nevada County Regulators
Are you kidding me? I took this photo at a local store in Roseville. The CHRISTMAS decorations were up less than 1 week after they stocked the Halloween decorations. I’m all for thinking ahead…but give me a break!
This Sunday September 20th, the “Give Peace a Chance” will be a celebration of music from 10 am to sundown. To be held at the Nevada County Peace Center, 316 West Main Street, which is directly next to the Center for the Arts in Grass Valley.
A free family event, all the performers are donating their time and expertise. Some are even donating their CDs to be sold with proceeds to go to the Peace Center to pay for the “Give Peace a Chance” event.
One of the performers donating his time is Dakota Sid. Read the following reviews about Sid and you’ll definitely want to hear him play this coming Sunday at 11 am to 12 pm.
“Quietly Raging,” the title of the new CD by Dakota Sid and Travers Clifford, offers a quiet guitar and mandolin as bedrock to lyrics of protest, local history, religion and Americana adventures. Paul August Special to The Union
“It’s all in how the music touches the listener. “Killing Time Won’t Wound Eternity,” or in Dakota’s words, “It’s okay to go fishing,” might touch that man who likes to get away to smell the woods or ocean, and the next track is a sensitive song that caresses a woman’s heart.” Virginia MacIsaac, Rambles.NET
“Dakota Sid comes on with a voice that was rode hard and put away wet. It ain’t pretty, that’s for sure. He sings like he has a corncob stuck in his throat. That’s all right though. This ain’t opera, it’s folk music, and in that context Dakota Sid, his voice, his material and his ethics all seem as genuine as Woody Guthrie sounding off at a labor rally.” Charlie Creekmore, Chico News and Review
“After twenty five years on the road, Dakota Sid could have been a burnout case. Instead, as the years passed, his songs took on a lyrical and emotional honesty that grabs an audience in the gut. His best songs reach across boundaries and draw people together.” Bill Varble, Medford Mail Tribune
The Dutch Flat Community Center will hold its’ Annual White Elephant Sale
and Silent Auction on Saturday, September 5th from 9am-2pm and
September 6th, 10am to 2pm.
The Center is located at 933 Stockton Avenue in downtown Dutch Flat.
The Annual White Elephant Sale provides a major contribution of funding for
the restoration and maintenance of the Dutch Flat Community Center which
was originally the Dutch Flat Grammar School. The town of Dutch Flat is
registered historical landmark #397. Local legend has it that the log cabin
founders Charles and Joseph Dornbach built in 1851 was on a flat piece of
ground which is now part of the school grounds.
In 1859, Joseph Dornbach sold a parcel to the Trustees of Common Schools
for the Third District of the Fourth Township of Placer County. In 1860,
when the town had the largest voting population in Placer County, a single
story school was built and later replaced by a two story structure in 1875.
A fire destroyed the school on July 15,1898 and later rebuilt as a two story
building similar in appearance to the 1875 school. The new school was
dedicated on December 23, 1898
By 1962 enrollment was down to 18 students and only two students graduated from the school. In that same year the Dutch Flat and Alta School Districts consolidated and all students started to attend the school in Alta.
The building is now most often called the Community Club or the Community
Center, but it is and always will be the Dutch Flat Grammar School. It is one of the most distinguished and historically significant buildings in the area and the center of much civic and community events.
Many residents of the area contribute to the event by donating items,
volunteering and shopping at the event. Laura Resendez, coordinator of the
sale and resident for over 17 years, commented, “I love to gather items folks no longer want or need and help them find new homes. During the sale many shoppers share ideas of what they are going to do with their new treasures.
Many of our volunteers have been helping with this event for over 10 years.”
Alta resident, Heidi Johnson says, “I love to cook so I provide baked goods and sandwiches for both the other volunteers and busy shoppers.
The building is such an asset to the community and there are more improvements needed to encourage people to use it. If you like antiquing and finding interesting treasures, it is an event you don’t want to miss.”
Donations are still being accepted. Please contact Laura Resendez 530-305-3881 or visit Alta’s Website for more information.
Michael Vick playing with the Falcon's 2006 Photo Courtesy Wikipedia
This article is not about Nevada County real estate or Nevada County. I just felt I had to write about Michael Vick going back into football and the NFL. Michael Vick, former quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons and once the highest paid player in football, was convicted in August 2007 of conspiracy and running a dog fighting operation.
He did not just bank roll the operation; he was part of it, hanging dogs, electrocuting and drowning them. He served 23 months in prison and house arrest. He was banned indefinitely from the NFL, well, that is until he got off house arrest in June of this year. On June 20th, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally lifted Vick’s suspension, allowing him to sign with a team.
Join the Gold Country Woodturners each day at the Nevada County Fair for hands-on demonstrations on woodturning and using a lathe.
Each day, from noon – 8 pm, under the tent outside the Northern Mines Building, skilled woodturners will provide hands-on woodturning demonstrations to adults and children. Using a lathe and a grinder, these experts will be making tops, tool handles, magic wands, and small wooden boxes for the audience. The group will begin at 9 am on Friday, the Day for People with Disabilities. Continue reading Woodturning at the Nevada County Fair→
