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.

Gold Discovery Day at Marshall State Park January 26

The 160th anniversary of James Marshall’s momentous discovery of gold in the tailrace of Sutter’s Mill will be celebrated on January 26, 2008, from 10 am to 4 pm at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Hiway 49, in Coloma.

In 1847, John Sutter asked James Marshall to build a sawmill along the banks of the American River. Sutter needed lumber for his expanding agricultural enterprises in the Sacramento Valley and Marshall, a carpenter, was looking for a job. Marshall and Sutter chose Coloma as the site for the sawmill because of the rushing river for power and a forest of pines for lumber. As the sawmill neared completion in January 1848, James Marshall contemplated its efficiency and made adjustments. Checking his project on the morning of January 24, 1848, James Marshall reached into shallow water at the side of the tailrace. He scooped up a handful of sand, gravel, mud... and a few flakes of golden metal. "Hey boys," he lifted his voice to workmen around him, "by God, I believe I've found a gold mine." It was a moment that was to change the course of history.

Gold Discovery Day will feature a gold discovery reenactment on the banks of the American River. Other activities include mill carpenter demonstrations, a Miwok Village, free wagon rides to Marshall's Cabin, gold panning, and Gold Rush period music and entertainment. Gold Rush authors introduce their writings and sign publications at the museum store. The public is invited to all these activities, free of charge. There is a $7 per car parking fee at the State Park.

California State Parks and Gold Discovery Park Association — a nonprofit organization dedicated to the interpretation and conservation of Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park — sponsor Gold Discovery Day. Park volunteers and docents in period dress bring the event to life. For more information call 530.622.3470 or click here.

Think Global but Shop Local!

Many artists, stores and businesses in the Coloma Lotus Valley are ready to help with your holiday shopping. Shopping locally saves gas, time and money by staying close to home. Many businesses have extended hours to make gift-buying easier. Consider these local choices:

Gold Hill Olive Oil: Just releasing their new 2008 locally grown and crushed olive oils, many varieties available.

The River Store: Christmas trees, wreaths, mistletoe, kayaks, boating gear, and free cookies made by Dan Crandall's mom!

The Golden Gecko Plant Nursery: Gift cards, stocking stuffers, items for the home gardener, Golden Gecko T-shirts, sweat shirts, and aprons.

The American River Nature Center: Nature books for adults and children, or click here to purchase books through Amazon.com and donate to this non-profit organization.

Gold Rush Mercantile: Period clothing, hats, aprons, bonnets, a large selection of books on gold rush history, music, children's toys, and genuine gold nuggets.

Wine: Need wine for holiday parties or hostess gifts? Stop by and taste at Venezio, Gold Hill, or David Girard Wineries, or choose from the bottles available at the Riverside Mini-Mart.

Sierra Rizing Bakery: Gifts from the kitchen; jams, jellies, syrups, delicious dog biscuits, and a wide selection of Gold Hill Olive Oils.

Andie Thrams Art- Andie has just produced her new 2008 calendar with a nature theme.

To find out more about these and other local shopping options, click here. Shop local and save time, money and gas!

Fundraiser for Kelley Kalafatich: $23,000 Success

In October of this year, Coloma local Kelley Kalafatich was hospitalized and diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a rare virus which paralyzed her from the waist down. Hospitalized since, she is undergoing intensive physical therapy in hopes of recovering some mobility. Kelley is a graduate of El Dorado High School, and became a river guide soon after. Her outdoorswoman and river guide skills have gained her employment in Arizona, Alaska, South America, Central America and Africa. She was the stunt double for Meryl Streep in the film "The River Wild," and co-produced her own film, "Three women, Three Hundred Miles." Her phenomenal worldly accomplishments are surpassed only by her gracious humility, generosity, kindness, and loyalty to friends. After release from the hospital she will reside in Fair Oaks with her boyfriend Kurt, and her furry four-legged friend Wilbur.

There was a fundraiser for Kelley on Sunday, December 9. Event Planners were pleasantly overwhelmed by 225 people who attended a dinner and auction hosted by the Sierra Nevada House. Special thanks go to Howard Penn, who donated the dinner, the staff, and the facility. A longtime friend of Kelley's, Howard made friends of everyone by serving celebratory shots to all the volunteers at the end of the night, a more generous host I've never met. The Event Chairperson, Janice Stanley, did an outstanding job orchestrating over 30 volunteers and 75 product donors in just 3 weeks to make this event successful. Thanks to all the volunteers, sponsors, donors, and attendees who stepped up; the list of supporters is too long to recount here! Kelley has clearly touched many people's lives, I'm certain she feels grateful for each and every act of generosity. Our community is lucky to have her, many people who attended the event who didn't even know Kelley. Yet we all left with a warm sense of security having seen our community take action when the need arises.

To check for updates on Kelley's condition go to www.checkonkk.blogspot.com.

Christmas In Coloma, December 8 & 9

Step back in time with this annual old-fashioned Christmas. Period crafts, music, strolling musicians, historic trade demonstrations, 19th-century children's games, and wreath making. A visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus is a colorful highlight of the day. Vendors offer hand-made crafts as well as a variety of foods. Snow Mountain guarantees kids will have fun. The Park's historic buildings will be open for visitors' enjoyment. New this year, the event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, December 8 and 9. Located in Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. Cost is $7 per vehicle. For more information, call (530) 295-2162 or go to Marshall Gold Discovery Park Association. Photo courtesy Betty Sederquist, and may not be reprinted without her permission.