News

Celebrate TrailFest and National Get Outdoors Day in Coloma!

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I think nearly everyday in the Coloma-Lotus Valley is a reminder to get outdoors and play, but this Sunday is actually National GET OUTDOORS Day! To honor National Get Outdoors Day, a local company, Mother Lode River Center & Trips is hosting a fun and free family friendly event at their Riverside Campground from 10-4. They will open their challenge course, climbing wall and zip-line and offer workshops and activities focused on gardening and sustainability, all to promote and emphasize the importance of health & outdoor recreation for youth & their families. Come one, come all…and check out their website for more info: malode.com

The fun doesn’t stop there! Last weekend was the official kick off to the LoCol Farmer’s Market held at the Gold Trail Grange #452. It will be every Sunday from 10-2 through the Fall. I stopped in last weekend and left with a bag full of delicious, fresh fruits, veggies, herbs and eggs, as well as a few things I didn’t know I even needed but was happy to find, such as tamales, jewelry, and handmade buttons, soaps & more! Check out their facebook page to see who will be here this week so you can shop LoCol! LoCol Farmers’ Market Facebook

The Gold Discovery Museum at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is pleased to announce that they are now open everyday from 10-4. The Park hours are 8-7.

Rumor has it that Hart 2 Hart Vineyards, formerly Venezio Vineyards & Winery, will be opening this Thursday for tasting. This is their grand opening weekend! Stop by when you get done whitewater rafting the South Fork American River or after one of these other great events to say HI and sip some vino! http://hart2hartvineyards.com/

Also, it is the 10th Annual American River TrailFest this Sunday! Yippee! A favorite local event for TEN years now! Featuring dinner, local beer & wine, silent & live auctions, massage, an Interactive kids’ zone AND live entertainment by Nancy Cassidy, Tiffani Shiro & Hugh Hoeger, Arann Harris & The Farm Band and The Rusty Buckets! Fun for all ages! All the proceeds go to the American River Conservancy for continued maintenance and support for our local trails.  Check out the website for ticket info. and more details. http://www.arconservancy.org/site/c.psKZL3PFLrF/b.8664113/k.5FAD/TrailFest_2013.htm

Seriously, there is too much Summer fun to be had! Hope to see you around the River’s bend! Cheers!

Ready, Set…Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

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Well, the Coloma-Lotus Valley is officially OPEN FOR BUSINESS for the 2013 Summer Season! All the seasonal businesses are open to serve your dining, lodging or recreational needs, the river is flowing and that Summertime feeling is here! Check the business directory on this website for a complete list of local businesses and information.

Memorial Day weekend is our official kick-off to the Summer Season. From a bird’s eye view, you would probably see a plethora of tents, cabins, RV’s, rafts, kayaks, barbeques and families recreating, but from the view of the South Fork American River, you will just see a bunch of people having  good ol’ fashioned family fun in the great outdoors!

The river will be flowing and the temperatures will hover around 70 degrees for daily highs, which, if you ask me, is perfect! Most the local restaurants will have live music in the evenings, so you can soak up the sunshine and river by day, and boogie by night! Beware, the side effects of being in the Coloma-Lotus Valley are extreme happiness and a general feeling of goodness from head to toe, and it’s contagious!  So, come catch the buzz!!!

While this is a joyful weekend kick-off to the fun Summer Season, don’t forget to take the time to acknowledge the reason we are celebrating this federal holiday. Memorial Day is a day to pay tribute to, honor and remember the men and women that have died serving in the United States Armed Forces.  It’s easy to get wrapped up in packing the cooler and the car for the weekend’s festivities, and forget the reason we have this 3 day weekend. So, once you set up camp, grab a cold beer or soda out of your cooler, dip your toes in the river and raise your glass in honor of Memorial Day. Oh, and don’t forget to have a safe & happy Memorial Day weekend! CHEERS!

More Events Happening In the Coloma-Lotus Valley!

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My last post included fun, upcoming events that are happening RIGHT HERE in the CL Valley…but apparently one post wasn’t nearly enough to accommodate everything that is happening! I was informed of even more great events, and thereby encouraged to share them with all of you!

First of all, this Sunday April 14th, there is a guided Wildflower Walk to benefit the Sierra Nevada Alliance. Spend the afternoon among the poppies, lupine, creeks and the South Fork American River, enjoying Mother Nature’s magnificence. Hurry to reserve your tickets since it’s just two days away! Please visit the Sierra Nevada Alliance website for ticket information and details: http://sierranevadaalliance.givezooks.com/events/2013-wildflower-walk

On Saturday April 20th the Gold Trail Grange #452 is hosting a play to benefit the grange. The play is “Greater Tuna” by the Green Valley Community Grange Theatre Company of Sacramento. It has received rave reviews and is sure to be a fun evening! With kids tickets at just $5, adults at $10 and a social potluck beforehand, you really get a lot of bang for your buck AND it supports a great local business!  Please visit this website for more details and information about the grange and this event. https://sites.google.com/site/goldtrailgrange/calendar

On May 5th, David Girard Vineyards and Oak Ridge High School are helping to sponsor the 1st Annual Ruff Road Race, in memory of Josh Ruff. Please visit this website for race prices and details, and to learn more about this wonderful event: http://www.runningguru.com/EventInformation.asp?eID=RuffRoadMile

Okay, this next one is only for the true fitness fanatics, exercise junkies or the clinically insane! The Sacramento Running Association is hosting the Inaugural Gold Rush 100K. For those of you not versed in kilometers, that’s a whopping 62.1371192 miles! Now that requires some serious athleticism…WOW!!! This event takes place on May 11, 2013 and begins right in our backyard at Sutter’s Mill in Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma and goes all the way to Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento. Please check out this website for more information: http://www.goldrush100k.org/

Seeing as how I just began training for my first half marathon, I won’t be participating in the Gold Rush 100K, but I will definitely be at Sutter’s Mill that morning to check out those incredibly motivated athletes that are participating! Have a great Spring weekend folks! Whether you are walking through the wildflowers, hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting, gardening or running-I do hope to see you around town! Cheers!

 

What’s happening in the Coloma-Lotus Valley?

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Gosh, where to start?!? Well, first of all-we are finally getting some much needed RAIN, which is perfect hiking weather if you ask me! The poppies and lupine are sprouting up on the hillsides and we are starting to see more kayaks and rafts in the South Fork American River! All signs are pointing to Spring having sprung!  Although we are a few weeks off from merging into our peak season, there are still some fun things happening around the area. Check this out!

The American Paranormal Investigations is hosting a “GHOST RUSH 2013″ on Saturday April 6th at the historic, and rumored haunted, Sierra Nevada House. The fun starts earlier in the day and goes into the wee hours of the morning including workshops, ghost stories and an actual investigation!  All proceeds go to this non-profit. Please visit their site to learn more. 

The Hindquarter House is hosting their 1st Annual Rattlesnake Bar Classic Car & Motorcycle Show! It will be held Sunday April 14th from 10-4. There will be great food, live music, vendors, raffles and trophies for all those hot cars! Admission is free. Visit their website to learn more about the restaurant or event here. If you’d like to register your car please contact Coop at (530)888-9001.

The Olde Coloma Theatre is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year! Their newest perfomance titled, “A Pennysworth Is More Than You Think” or “Trains, Plots & Dirt Lots” will be opening on May 3rd. Please visit their website to learn about workshops, memberships, upcoming shows and sponsorship opportunities! 

The Mother Lode Century bike ride is coming up on Saturday May 11th. There are 28, 64 and 100 mile routes, all with support, meals snacks and a wind down BBQ on the river. Proceeds go to benefit the American River Conservancy and the El Dorado Trail. Visit this website for more information. 

On Saturday May 18th there is quite a great itinerary. You can start off your day by hitting the local trails for the 2nd Annual Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Coloma River Run! There’s a 5k, 10k and 10 mile loop option on this tough, but rewarding trail run beginning at 8:00 AM. All proceeds to benefit the JDRF. Please contact Eric at (916)920-0790 or visit the website.

After the race head over to the highly anticipated 3rd Annual Wakamatsu Farm Festival: A Celebration of the diverse history of the Wakamatsu Tea & Silk Colony Farm. This festival runs from 10-4, and is so rich with history, culture and fun, you just have to experience it for yourself. For a complete itinerary and list of events, exhibits and vendors, as well as ticket info. please visit the American River Conservancy website.

Hope to see you around, but in the meanwhile stay tuned for more FUN in the Coloma-Lotus Valley!

2013 Coloma-Lotus Community Easter Egg Hunt!

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Calling all local kids and families! Hopping into town this weekend…

The 14th Annual Coloma-Lotus Community EASTER EGG HUNT!!!

Saturday March 30th, 2013

Beginning PROMPTLY at 12:00, Noon

BYOB (meaning, bring your own basket or bag!)

The Egg Hunt will be held at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Park in the meadow behind Back Street (behind the historic jail).

Egg Hunt is open to all local children 10 and under

Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy an afternoon in the park or near the beautiful South Fork American River

Free parking for the event courtesy of the park

This event is entirely sponsored by local non-profit organizations and local families, so please bring a few dollars to donate if you’d like to continue to support this wonderful community event!

Please be advised the Park Rangers have expressed it is a high tick season, so check your families for ticks after the Easter egg hunt. They have also requested you leave the fake Easter basket grass at home. It only makes a mess of our preserved nature and historic areas.

Sponsored by the Coloma-Lotus Chamber of Commerce, the Gold Trail Grange, and Coloma-Lotus families, with graceful facilitation by the staff of Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. This event and blog information was organized and contributed by our Easter Coordinator & Volunteer, Jane Phillips Widroe. Thanks Jane, keep up the good work!

Wake up HAPPY in the Coloma-Lotus Valley!

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I grew up in Glacier National Park in the breathtaking State of Montana. I have lived and traveled all along the west coast, living as far North on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State bordering Canada, to the Baja border of San Diego offering Panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. I have lived in small Inland and Coastal towns in Washington, Oregon and California, that have left lovely and memorable impressions, but it wasn’t until I moved to the Coloma-Lotus Valley that I truly found home.

Over 7 years ago my husband & I took a year long assignment in Lotus, California just 1 mile from the historic 1849 Gold Rush Town of Coloma, California. We thought we’d check it out for a year and then move on to another place, which fit our nomadic lifestyle. Then one year wasn’t enough…there was just so much to see and do! So, we decided to extend our position and stay for another year. But we continued to fall deeper and deeper in love with the area; the history, the recreation, the community and residents, the weather, the proximity to mountains and cities and oceans, but all tucked in the quiet Sierra Foothills with the South Fork of the American River running right through it.

I was having coffee with my husband the other morning who prompted me to write this blog. I told him that every morning I rise to my feet and pull open the curtains to reveal one of my favorite views in the world, my back yard! For nearly 300 days of the year the sun is shining on the river sending sparkles through the whitewater. The hills change from Spring green, to speckled orange and purple from poppies and lupine, to a golden hue from the Summer heat. I feel so fortunate to have found this gem of a place that truly makes me “wake up happy” nearly everyday! Now, if I could just get our families in the Northwest and New England to move closer to our Coloma-Lotus paradise!

Recently, a few of our local businesses were “secret shopped” by some travel writers that seemed to share my extremely biased view of the area. Check out this article to learn more:
Discovering a Luxurious Hideaway in the California Gold Country

Until next time…happy trails and CHEERS!

CHRISTMAS IN COLOMA IS COMING!!!

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The storm clouds have lifted and the forecast is calling for perfect weekend weather just in time for Christmas in Coloma! This Annual event attracts people from all around with its rustic and historic Christmas charm. It is held at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park on both Saturday December 8th and Sunday December 9th from 10:00AM-4:00PM.

This festive event boasts many local vendors featuring handcrafted and artisan goods, as well as family friendly games, crafts and activities for all ages. Come enjoy a wagon ride and photos with Santa, wreath making, children’s crafts & activities and a yummy selection of food and drink to keep you warm! There is also a Farmer’s Market being held at the Grange located in the park for additional Christmas shopping & Cheer!

Let this lovely event aid in ringing in the Christmas spirit and holiday season, and honor the living history that exists right here in our back yard! Oh, and Merry Christmas! May your days be merry and bright…

Santa and Mrs Claus at Christmas in Coloma

Winter storm warnings!

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The meteorologists are calling for “aerial flooding” and “atmospheric rivers”…which in layman’s terms means HUGE STORMS! All of Northern California is drenched right now! Please read the following information to learn how this series of storms will affect the Coloma-Lotus Valley and the South Fork of the American River region.

This was contributed by Bill Center representing Camp Lotus and Dominic Pugliese representing Ponderosa Resort:

The Thursday 2:00 update from CNRFC shows a very slight drop in the projected South Fork peak flow from this morning, to around 26,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) at Chili Bar. This storm looks to me very much like the storm leading to the December 31 2005 flood, which was about 40,000 cfs.

Caution recommends that everyone along the river remove anything that can float or be swept away that is below the level of the 1995 flood.  If you weren’t here then ask a neighbor. The 1995 flood was within a couple of vertical inches at Camp Lotus of the levels of the 1980, 1982 & 1986 floods. The 1997 flood, about twice the volume, was 7 feet vertically higher that the other 4. With virtually no snow up in the Sierra we are not in a 1997 South Fork situation, but the intensity of the rainfall predicted on Saturday into Sunday morning will cause a rapid rise of all local creeks and the South Fork, much of it happening in the dark and in pouring rain. So get ready early and be safe.

For folks interested in tracking the peak, and knowing about when it will reach the Coloma-Lotus area, here are some things I’ve learned. At flows above 20,000cfs travel time from Chili Bar to Lotus is an hour or less. So what you are seeing at the Chili Bar gage will get to Lotus no more than an hour later.

It is also worth looking at Dreamflows to see the flow below Slab Creek Dam, listed under real time flows, South Fork American. Slab Creek Dam will probably start to spill sometime Friday and if not then certainly on Saturday (right now the flow is 35cfs). Rock Creek is the major tributary that comes in between Slab Creek Dam and Chili Bar, and it will probably be contributing above 5000 cfs at the peak, with White Rock powerhouse putting in another 3000+, but in floods the South Fork’s major flow spills over Slab Creek Dam, and so looking up there gives another hour lead time for the flow shown at Chili Bar. Looking even further upstream at Kyburz gives the longest look ahead for the peak but gives less information about the magnitude.

To see a live feed and a rivers eye view of the storm, please visit the live cam brought to you by local business, the American River Resort. http://american-river-resort.raftingcalifornia.org/

Otherwise stay safe, warm and as dry as possible. It is really coming down right now, but the forecast should improve by mid-week.  Hope to see you all at Christmas in Coloma held at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park next weekend, Dec. 8-9!

Think globally, but shop locally for the holidays!

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Believe it or not, the holidays are here! The Autumn leaves are changing color, the Sun is long gone by 6:00 PM, and the evenings are chilling off to Winter temperatures. This means it’s time to start thinking about Christmas shopping!

The department and grocery stores in our larger surrounding cities are already decorated  in jingle bells and garland, and stocked with the latest toys and technology, but right here in our back yard there are opportunities to find great, hand-crafted, locally made gifts and treats!

The LoCol Farmer’s Market is still open, but has changes location and times. It is still held every Sunday but is located in the Grange at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park at 319 State Highway 49 in Coloma. There is free 30 minute parking behind the grange for customers. Research has proven that we are not an early rising community, so the new hours are from 10-2. Perfect for us sleepyheads!

I checked it out last Sunday and was happy to find, knitted goods, jewelry, ceramics, soaps, crafts, candles, gourd art, glitter tattoos, fresh sweet and savory baked goods, tamales, salsa, and crepes and omelettes to order! The charming French man representing Sierra Rizing Bakery was playing beautiful guitar too! If you are anything like me, I think you’ll find this market lovely to attend, and easy to support! They will be open Nov. 11,18 and Dec. 2,8,9 and 16, but will close over the Thanksgiving and Christmas weekends.

Before or after you visit the Farmer’s Market on Sunday Nov. 18th, make sure and stop by the First Annual Holiday Boutique at Enchanted April Inn located at 5950 Salmon Falls Road in Pilot Hill. This Boutique will feature over 18 vendors to cater to all your Christmas shopping and stocking stuffing needs, and some of the proceeds will benefit the All About Equine Animal Rescue. This event is from 10-3, located at a beautiful venue and proceeds benefit a good cause…which always makes shopping more fun!

Also, don’t forget CHRISTMAS IN COLOMA is coming on Dec. 8-9!  I hope to see you around town at these great events, but if not, have a safe, happy and healthy Thanksgiving Day! Cheers!

Coloma: Home to Fall Festivals & Family Fun!

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The kids are back in school, Labor Day has come and gone and the weather is starting to cool off as Fall approaches, but do NOT fret…the Coloma-Lotus Valley still has plenty of fun to offer in the coming weeks!

This weekend, September 7th-9th, marks the 31st Annual American Whitewater Festival! Head on down to Henningsen Lotus Park for a weekend of fun for all ages. Friends of the River will host a “gear swap” on Saturday and Sunday.  There will be kayaking events such as Whitewater Rodeo, Slalom Kayak Race and Down River Race for those who wish to show off their sweet river skills. There’s also games, food and river demos all weekend long, so bring the whole family down for a relaxing day on the river! Then a dinner and silent auction on Saturday night will benefit Friends of the River, American Whitewater, and the American Canoe Association. To learn more about this great event, please visit their website at: http://www.americanriverfestival.org/

If you are looking for something just a little different this weekend, then do yourself a favor and go see a melodrama at the Olde Coloma Theatre.  The theatre has been around since the late 1930′s and is currently operated as a non-profit by many passionate and talented locals.  The current melodrama “Publish or Perish” or “Write Away” will play through this Sunday, September 9th.  All performances are written, produced, directed and performed by the Coloma Crescent Players.  Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8:00 PM and Sunday’s matinee at 2:00. The tickets are just $5.oo for kids and $10.00 for adults, and proceeds support this wonderful organization. The talent and fun that this little theatre is producing is sure to surprise and delight you! The next play will open September 28th  and will run through October 28th, and is amply titled: “Hilda’s Haunted Hilltop” or “Home Is Where The Haunt Is”! You can learn more about the Olde Coloma Theatre at: http://www.oldecolomatheatre.org

American River Music Festival

And now…raise your arms in the air and wave them from side to side…jump up and down with excitement…because the 6th Annual American River Music Festival is finally here!  This 3 day festival takes place over September 14th, 15th and 16th and gives the word “festival” proper respect. The main stage, and vendors offering: food, art, beer, wine, and more are situated at Henningsen Lotus Park on the bank of the South Fork of the American River. The festival offers full day performances on both Saturday and Sunday, but that is just the beginning! The whole community gets involved and offers live music all weekend long at local campgrounds, restaurants and bars too! Not to mention “join-in” shops, hikes and whitewater rafting trips that are available with different ticket package options! This festival of music and moving water was named “Best of” by the Sacramento Bee, and was touted as “one thing you shouldn’t miss in 2012″!  Tickets and packages are still available, and affordably priced, starting at just $35 per day with many combo pricing packages available. The line-up is just too much to list, but you can be guaranteed a good time! For more information about this festival and a full schedule of artists and events, please visit their webpage at: http://www.americanrivermusic.org

So, I hope to see you around town…at the theatre or chillaxing in or by the river because everyday is a good day in the Coloma-Lotus Valley!