Wildflower Walk in Coloma Sunday Afternoon, April 6

An afternoon of spectacular wildflower viewing in Coloma will be hosted by Bill and Robin Center and led by Sierra Nevada Alliance staff on Sunday, April 6, from 1-4 pm, in Coloma. This is a benefit for the Sierra Nevada Alliance. The blooms should be perfect, so come on out to enjoy each other's company in a beautiful place and raise some money for a great cause.

There will be two walk options. The easier walk will be less than a mile long and will involve about 200 feet of vertical ascent. The harder walk will be about two miles long and will go down to the river and back, which is about 1000 feet of vertical. Both walks are on narrow trails. The views from both walks are spectacular! All you need is hiking boots, walking clothes, sunscreen and a water bottle. Camera, binoculars, etc. are optional. NOTE: The walk will go off rain or shine, so bring your rain gear!

The walk is open to the first 50 people who respond - any and all ages are welcome and encouraged! Feel free to invite friends. However, please leave pets at home for this one.

The suggested donation is $40/person, kids 12 and under free. Directions to the Coloma location will be provided upon RSVP.

Please reply to Kay@sierranevadaalliance.org.

Thanks to Mark Leder-Adams for letting us use his photograph of poppies above Third Threat on the South Fork of the American River.

Cowboy Hay featured on NPR

National Public Radio's Morning Edition for Friday, March 7, focused on "virtues classes," where parents of different faiths bring their children together to learn about universal values such as kindness and helpfulness.

We were enjoying the engaging story when a familiar name came up:

"The children have been so patient for more than an hour, waiting for the highlight of the class, Cowboy Hay. Gil Miller Muro's stepfather strides into the room, sporting a long white beard, a hillbilly hat and a banjo. He begins strumming and the kids join in, perhaps not realizing they are crooning a theological message."

Cowboy Hay is well-known in Coloma for his portrayal of living history characters from the Gold Rush era. He is also a member of two reenactment bands, Coloma Celtic and Coyote Hill, which play music of the gold rush and old Celtic Irish music.

You can find the text of the show, along with photos and audio, at NPR.org. For more about Cowboy Hay, please visit CowboyHay.com.

Dance Workshop in Lotus D'Or Studios Sat. March 8

Great artistic offerings continue at the Lotus D'Or Studios on 7312 Hwy 49 in Lotus. Lotus D'Or Studios promotes dance, yoga, performing arts, music & culture in the Coloma-Lotus Valley.

On Saturday, March 8, from 1-2:30 pm, Cynthia Johnson will offer a beginning/intermediate level West African Dance Workshop - no experience necessary! Participants will be introduced to West African Dance-style movements and song in traditional dances "Fanga" (Nigeria) and "Kpatse" (Ghana). The class will be held in Suite B and costs $15.

Cynthia Johnson has been passionate about African dance for over 30 years, and has taught locally and in Humboldt County since the 1980's. She has been teaching African Dance at American River College for the past 7 years, and at Folsom Lake College for 3 years. In 2005, she spent 4 weeks in Ghana, West Africa, traveling and studying dance. She is returning to Ghana this summer, and bringing some students for a dance/drum tour. Cynthia is in the process of forming a samba parade group to perform at street fairs. For the past 3 years she has taken students to dance in the samba parade at Carnaval San Francisco, and always welcomes eager participants!

For more information about the Lotus D'Or Studios, contact Cintia Bonham at cintia_escobar@msn.com, or at 530-919-3704.