A Wine & Food Experience with an Historic Flavor

Saturday, August 26, 2017, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.  Downtown Nevada City

It’s All About Wine!

To purchase event tickets: www.sierravintners.com

San Francisco Mime Troupe – August 18

Paul Emery Music and the Miners Foundry will present the San Francisco Mime Troupe in an outdoor twilight concert on Friday, August 18, 2017 at the Miners Foundry.  The San Francisco Mime Troupe will open their 58th Season with “WALLS”, written by Michael Gene Sullivan with music and lyrics by Michael Bellow.  Doors open at 6:30 p.m., music begins at 7:00 p.m., and the show is at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $20 and are available online, by phone or in person at the Miners Foundry, or in person at Briar Patch Co-Op.  Ticketing fees may apply.

The San Francisco Mime Troupe creates and produces socially relevant theatre of the highest professional quality and performs it before the broadest possible audience. SFMT makes sense of the headlines by identifying the forces shaping our lives and dramatizing the operation of these giant forces in small, close-up stories that make audiences feel the impact of political events on personal life.

Nevada City Film Festival – September 8-11 (at the Miners Foundry)

This September, the Nevada City Film Festival (NCFF) embarks on its 17th year with a seven-day voyage to explore the human experience through the best in independent cinema. Beginning with the birth of filmmaking and the rise of black and white silent films, leading into modern day talkies and ending with the future of filmmaking with Virtual Reality, festival-goers will find that the technology of how we see and experience films will change, but a beautifully crafted story will always remain timeless. Tickets available at www.nevadacityfilmfestival.com

Theater by the Book – September 13

Sierra Stages and the Miners Foundry will present Talley’s Folly on Wednesday, September 13, 2017.  Talley’s Folly, written by Lanford Wilson and directed by Sara Noah, is the next installment of Theater By the Book, a series of informal play readings for the community.

The scene is the ornate, deserted Victorian boathouse on the Talley place in Lebanon, Missouri; the time 1944. Matt Friedman, an accountant from St. Louis, has arrived to plead his love to Sally Talley, the susceptible, but uncertain daughter of the family. Bookish, erudite, totally honest and delightfully funny, Matt refuses to accept Sally’s rebuffs and her fears that her family would never approve of their marriage. Charming and indomitable, he gradually overcomes her defenses, telling his innermost secrets to his loved one and, in return, learning hers as well. Gradually he awakens Sally to the possibilities of a life together until, in the final, touching moments of the play, it is clear that they are two kindred spirits who have truly found each other—two “lame ducks” who, in their union, will find a wholeness rare in human relationships.

Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the performance begins at 7:30 p.m.  Admission is free with a $10 suggested donation.  Advance tickets are available online, in person or by phone at the Miners Foundry, or at the door.

The Wailers – September 14

The Miners Foundry is pleased to present The Wailers in concert on Thursday, September 14, 2017.  Together with Bob Marley, The Wailers have sold in excess of 250 million albums worldwide. The Wailers’ sound is indisputable and yet today’s line-up combines old school know-how with lead vocals from one of Jamaica’s most exciting new singers. 

The Wailers put reggae on the map.  More so than any other set of musicians on the planet, The Wailers brought reggae to the attention of the world outside of Jamaica.  Through the concerted musical support they supplied during the 1970s, The Wailers helped elevate Bob Marley to the status of the first Third World Superstar, and in the process, brought the reggae of their native Jamaica to audiences on every continent.

All Ages welcome.  Doors are at 8:00 p.m. and the show starts at 9:00 p.m.  Standing / dancing show with limited seating available.  Tickets are $30 in Advance and $35 at the Door.  Tickets are available online, by phone, or in person at the Miners Foundry Box Office, or in person at Briar Patch Co-Op.  Ticketing fees may apply.

Conor Oberst with The Felice Brothers – October 3

The Miners Foundry and (((folkYEAH!))) are pleased to present Conor Oberst with special guests, The Felice Brothers, on Tuesday, October 3, 2017.  Over the last two decades, Conor Oberst has released music of uncommon insight, detail, and political awareness.  Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the Show begins at 8:00 p.m.  Standing / dancing show with limited seating.  Tickets are $29 in Advance and $34 at the Door.  Ticketing fees may apply.  Tickets may be purchased online, by phone, or in person at the Miners Foundry Box Office, or in person at Briar Patch Co-Op.

Conor Oberst joined his first band at the age of 13 and has been releasing music since 1993.  Over the last two+ decades, he’s released music of uncommon insight, detail, and political awareness with his band Bright Eyes, under his own name, as a member of Desaparecidos, as leader of The Mystic Valley Band, and with the supergroup Monsters of Folk.  In the fall of 2015, Oberst returned to his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska somewhat unexpectedly due to serious health isues.  Making and playing music has always been a healing balm for the sometimes troubled musician.  While Oberst wrote and intially recorded (with just voice, piano, guitar, and harmonica) the songs created during this time, he intended to ultimately record them with a full band.  In the midst of putting together the band (upstate New York’s The Felice Brothers plus legendary drummer Jim Keltner) the passionate responses about the first solo recordings encouraged him to release the songs as is, in their sparse, original form, resulting in 2016’s Ruminations.

“Since 1895, the Miners Picnic is a local event that has become a popular tradition. Last year around 1,500 visitors came to celebrate the day at Empire Mine State Historic Park,” said Event Chair Steve Sanchez. “In fact, many came from neighboring counties, states – and even other countries.”

The special activities will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the Stamp Mill Stompers playing that “new-fangled” Dixieland jazz under the Assay Office porch near the Mineyard entrance, while award-winning barber shop quartet, the Forte Miners, will perform by the mine shaft – just before the mine-rescue reenactment at high noon. With more music by one-man-band, Gary Hinze, old-time tunes by Fire in the Kitchen, and donkeys all set to go prospecting; the Mineyard will have lots of activities.

Visitors may bring their own lunches, chairs and blankets – and picnic on the shady grounds near the 1905 Clubhouse. Food, beverages and lots of Lazy Dog ice cream will be for sale, as well as traditional Cornish pasties and exclusive “24-Karrat Cakes,” only available at Park events. Here’s where a balloon sculptor, a face painter, a magician, a mountain man, and music by Celtic Joy will add to the fun. With vintage cars and an old-fashioned cakewalk, it’s going to feel like a return trip to the early 1900s. “One of the day’s highlights,” Sanchez explained, “will be A Toymaker’s Journey through the Gold Rush, performed by multi-talented Izzy Tooinsky. In fact he will make his debut performance at Miners Picnic on the Clubhouse Stage at 1:15 p.m. This creative, interactive show should enchant both children and adults alike. Another new attraction is popular local band, Past Due and Playable, and they’ll perform next.”

In Empire Cottage, visitors will enjoy tales from the past by entertaining docents in period costumes, with popular singer/guitarist Kelly Fleming performing in the garden from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

“Don’t forget the gold panning, the special children’s crafts, the raffle prizes and the silent auction,” Sanchez added. “Miners Picnic is an action-packed event, and everyone’s invited. I encourage visitors to spend the whole day, and enjoy each and every aspect.” Miners Picnic takes place on Saturday, August 26^th. Tickets may be purchased at the Visitor Center on the day, and admission is $7 for those 17 and over, $3 for ages 6-16, with free admission for children under 6. Parking is free– and well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome too. Each Miners Picnic is a unique experience, with something new and different to discover.

Early Miners Picnics, dating back to 1895, helped raise funds for miners’ widows and orphans, injured miners and out-of-work miners. More recently this event is hosted by Empire Mine Park Association (EMPA, for short). EMPA is the association dedicated to maintaining and improving the Park, and ensuring its future. For further information, phone the Visitor Center on (530) 273-8522 or visit http://www.empiremine.org

Photo credit: Docents with picnic basket, photo by Richard Bannister

Photo credit: Women in red, vintage car, photo by Courtney Ferguson

Photo credit: Gold-panning donkeys & pony, photo by Richard Bannister

Photo credit: Stamp Mill Stompers band, photo by Courtney Ferguson

Lively 1920s’ style jazz will be performed by the Stamp Mill Stompers, in the Mineyard in the morning, and later, on the Clubhouse Stage.

The 51st Annual Constitution Day Parade tops a weekend of festivities Sept. 9 & 10, 2017 in this historic California Gold Rush town. Nevada City’s Constitution Day Parade has been a local tradition since 1967 and is reported to be the oldest and largest Constitution observance in western America.

The 2 p.m. Sunday parade features more than 100 entries and culminates other activities including Revolutionary War Living History in Pioneer Park, the Gold Country Duck Race on Deer Creek.

The parade through the downtown historic district includes marching bands, floats, antique autos, equestrians, politicians and the perennial crowd favorites the Famous Marching Presidents of Nevada City, a humorous but reverent group that portrays each U.S. president.

Sign up today!!  2017 Constitution Day Parade Application

Join Sierra Harvest for another family-friendly farm potluck AND our Volunteer Appreciation Celebration at the Food Love Farm on August 17th from 5:30-8pm with live music by Eclectic Mayhem!

The Food Love Farm is our primary educational farm, where we host over 1,700 visits every year for school children to learn about the joys of growing and eating fresh food. Come explore the summer row crops, the living green teepee, mobile chicken coop, worm bins, medicinal herbs and more! And for our special Volunteer Appreciation Celebration, we’ll be grilling up fresh farm vegetables and honoring our amazing team of volunteers, and sharing how YOU can get involved to help Sierra Harvest grow and flourish in our community.

You won’t want to miss this potluck! Join us at 5:30 for a farm tour with Farmer Maggie McProud, and potluck starts at 6pm. Volunteer appreciation program begins at 6:30pm. Chair massages will also be available by David King with all proceeds donated to Sierra Harvest. David’s work combines the relaxing affects of Swedish massage techniques with the therapeutic affects of deep tissue work.

What to bring:
Utensils, a plate and cup for yourself/selves
A bountiful dish to share,( its nice to label key ingredients for those with allergies)
A blanket or chair to sit on
A healthy appetite

There is NO CHARGE and NO RSVP needed.

For more information, please call 530-265-2343 or www.SierraHarvest.org

Directions to The Food Love Farm:

The Food Love Farm is located at 16200 Lake Vera Purdon Road in Nevada City. From Nevada City, take N Bloomfield Road from Hwy 49, and turn left on Lake Vera Purdon Rd. Look for the Burton Homestead on the left hand side and teepees, right before Excelsior Ditch Road.

On August 18 the Nevada City Film Festival will be hosting a complimentary screening of the 1969 Western classic Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, the true story of fast-draws and wild rides, battles with posses, train and bank robberies, a torrid love affair and a new lease on life in far-away Bolivia. It is also a character study of a deep friendship between Butch – one of the more likeable outlaw in frontier history – and his closest associate, the nefarious Sundance Kid.

The screening falls on the 81^st birthday of one of the film’s stars, Robert Redford. In addition to numerous legendary film roles, Redford has made a career by founding the renowned and revered Sundance Film Festival, which provides much-needed support for independent filmmakers.

NCFF has been called the “Sundance of the Sierra” for its emphasis on fiercely independent cinema by showcasing innovative, progressive and exciting new voices in film. The title was bestowed upon NCFF by the Sacramento News & Review.  The festival was also named in 2016 by Moviemaker Magazine as one of the top 50 film festivals in the world worth the submission fee for filmmakers.

The Butch Cassidy screening will double as a fundraiser for NCFF. A portion of each beer sold will be donated to the festival and donations will be graciously accepted. Funds go toward not only the costs incurred by holding the festival – which runs from September 8 -15 this year – but also towards programs that assist independent filmmakers and their projects. The event will also feature DJs, food, and of course award-winning beer.

Citing Redford and Sundance as inspiration, NCFF Festival Director Jesse Locks shares, “Every time you watch an independent film, you are witnessing the story of someone or of someplace. And that is incredibly powerful in the exploration of ideas, opportunities and possibilities in our culture. You are also helping someone, somewhere accomplish their dream.  And in turn the filmmaker is daring you, the viewer, to dream.  It’s the most powerful way for us to communicate, and one we take for granted every day.  The Nevada City Film Festival is here to be a platform to share these stories and ideas, and elevate independent filmmakers and their films.  We are here to remind you that film and art matter!”

KNOW & GO

WHAT: Nevada City Film Festival presents Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid

WHEN: Friday, August 18, 2017 – 6:00pm – 9:00pm

WHERE: Ol’ Republic Brewery – 124 Argall Way, Nevada City

TICKETS: Free Admission; donations graciously accepted

INFO: http://bit.ly/2u2Ikqk

Research Findings & Interpretive Panels to be Unveiled

On Saturday, September 9, 2017, from 11 am-4 pm, Friends of North Bloomfield & Malakoff Diggins and California State Parks will jointly commemorate the French heritage of the park, and unveil two new interpretive panels that are the result of recent research into its French and French Canadian pioneers.

162 years ago, the French army toppled the impenetrable Malakoff Tower, thereby ending a 10-month siege by French and English forces upon the Russian naval port of Sebastopol. French people all over the world celebrated France’s victory in the Crimean War. A mock Malakoff tower was created in the streets of San Francisco, and French miners drawn to the Sierra during the Gold Rush gave the name to their claims. Hundreds of thousands of French-speaking immigrants were lured to California to participate in what has been called the greatest migration in history. The famous Malakoff Mine is testimony to their presence.

Recent study has found that their influence at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park was widespread. Entrepreneurs designed massive water systems and hydraulic ventures, opened hotels and businesses, and planted gardens. They dominated the local scene at the Park for 15 years, laying the groundwork to the nation’s biggest hydraulic operation of the day, the North Bloomfield Gravel Mining Company, which was commonly called the French Company for years. The Malakoff Mine became so large that it was the defendant in the famous federal lawsuit that handed down the Sawyer Decision, the renowned injunction against the laissez-faire practice of polluting waterways.

The Malakoff’s French Connection Festival will commemorate these early French pioneers responsible for much of the early technological and cultural developments at the Park. It will be a festive, lively gathering open to the public with French themed music and dancing, food, wine and beer, games, tours and hikes.

We will unveil newly installed interpretive panels, welcome dignitaries from near and far, and premier an original marionette show explaining the origin of the name Malakoff. World and fusion quartet, Beaucoup Chapeaux, will provide the music. A raffle will be held featuring a grand prize of a week’s lodging in the French Riviera.

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park is located 26 miles northeast of Nevada City, nestled in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Within the Park’s roughly 3,200 acres of forested hills, lakes, dramatic cliffs, and historic buildings lies the exciting and significant story of the nation’s largest hydraulic gold mining operation and the nation’s first environmental regulation.

Visitors are awed and humbled by the dramatic, multi-colored cliffs of the Park’s main attraction–the remains of a hydraulic mine–a massive, man-made pit carved into the landscape by giant water cannons. The Park was created in 1965 in order to preserve this important part of California’s gold mining history.

Today the Park is often characterized as a place of peace, quiet, and solitude, an ironically drastic shift from the destruction and devastation that created it. Popular activities include historic town tours, hikes through scenic diggings, mountain biking, camping, fishing, and photography.

For more information on Malakoff’s French Connection event go to www.malakoffdigginsstatepark.org

Friends of North Bloomfield & Malakoff Diggins Mission Statement: We enhance the interpretive experience for visitors, promote park-based education for learners of all ages, and support and preserve the natural and cultural resources of Malakoff Diggins SHP.

We also assist other cooperative associations and the State Park System mission for the benefit of the public. Read: Historical Information – French Settlers & Village of Malakoff

This September, the Nevada City Film Festival (NCFF) embarks on its 17th year with a seven-day voyage to explore the human experience through the best in independent cinema. Beginning with the birth of filmmaking and the rise of black and white silent films, leading into modern day talkies and ending with the future of filmmaking with Virtual Reality, festival-goers will find that the technology of how we see and experience films will change, but a beautifully crafted story will always remain timeless.

NCFF has been called the “Sundance of the Sierra” for its emphasis on fiercely independent cinema by showcasing innovative, progressive and exciting new voices in film.  Each year, NCFF attends major film festivals, collaborates with film schools around the world, reads countless film blogs, and watches the hundreds of films submitted, to narrow it all down to the very best in independent film. From feature-length documentaries to world premiere animated shorts, NCFF brings in the buzzed-about festival winners, as well as some of independent cinema’s best-kept secrets.

NCFF’s Kick Off Bash on Thursday, September 7, at the Stone House, encompasses this year’s theme of exploration with a special complimentary presentation of the 1902 French silent film A Trip to the Moon directed by Georges Méliès. Widely regarded as the earliest example of the science fiction film genre and, more generally, as one of the most influential films in cinema history, this 12 minute short film not only featured lavish set designs and innovative special effects but at the time an unparalleled emphasis on storytelling. NCFF will present this film with a never before heard score written and performed by an all-star line up of some of Nevada County’s most innovative and talented musicians including Randy McKean, Callum McKean, Murray Campbell and Wes Steed.

“Our submissions nearly tripled this year and to accommodate the many amazing films we received, we doubled our programming,” says Jesse Locks, NCFF Festival Director. “We also have a three very special guests who could only make it on a certain day, so we increased the festival from four to seven days.”

Locks is speaking of Bill Nye, the Emmy Award-winning host of the popular late-nineties PBS series “Bill Nye, the Science Guy” and now host of the Netflix series “Bill Nye Saves the World, who will be in attendance at the screening of the documentary film Bill Nye: Science Guy along with co-directors Nevada City native Jason Sussberg and David Alvarado.

In the film, Nye embarks on a quest to change the world through science advocacy and education. With intimate and exclusive access, this is a behind-the-scenes portrait of “the Science Guy,” as he inspires Millennials to participate in STEM. With wonder and whimsy, the film follows Bill’s journey to change the world… with science. Bill Nye: Science Guy screens, Monday, September 11 at 5:30pm at the Miners Foundry.

“We are so proud of Jason and all that he has achieved as a filmmaker,” says Locks. “We’ve screened nearly every one of his films, from little shorts he made while at Nevada Union High School to his masters thesis from Stanford. So for us to screen this film which premiered at South by Southwest, and bring Bill Nye, the man himself, to the festival, we’ve come full circle. It’s a real treat and honor!”

Other highlights of this year’s festival include the nearly 100 award-winning shorts and feature length films, with over 35 of the film’s filmmakers traveling from around the world to attend and participate in Question & Answer’s following the films.

“As both the festival’s director and as a movie-lover, it is always fascinating to see how filmmakers are inspired by what’s happening in the world, and how these stories are told in various ways and genres – animated narratives, fictional dramas, funny and compelling documentaries or in Virtual Reality,” says Locks.

Last year, to rave reviews, NCFF launched a world-class VR Festival within the Film Festival. People traveled across the state to see the very best in VR. This year they have raised the bar and are bringing VR to all of Nevada County (well, most of it!).

They have partnered with Exit Reality VR to have their VR trucks stopping throughout Nevada County before and during the festival for individuals to experience VR for the first time. The free VR experiences last anywhere between 2-5 minutes and a location list and time will be the festival’s website for those interested to follow along.

Exit Reality VR will also take part in the VR Pavilion located at the Miners Foundry during the festival. The VR Pavilion features VR experiences from the world’s top VR creators on Facebook/Oculus VR and HTC Vive, plus live Tilt Brush demonstrations on the HTC Vive by visual artists, workshops and panel discussions, DJs and a common area for creatives to meet up, hang out, and talk about their next project.

NCFF will present a special free student workshop on Saturday, September 9, at 11am at the Miners Foundry with leading VR artist Wesley Allsbrook, one of the creators behind Dear Angelica.

From Emmy Award-winning Oculus Story Studio comes Dear Angelica, a journey through the magical and dreamlike ways we remember our loved ones. Entirely painted by hand inside of VR, Dear Angelica plays out in a series of memories that unfold around you. The immersive, illustrative short story stars Geena Davis and Mae Whitman.

“NCFF has always been committed to creative storytelling and as a staff we are naturally curious in finding ways to use technology to aid in the storytelling process,” says Locks. “We saw the premiere of Dear Angelica at Sundance and were completely amazed; it’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen and experienced before.”

Speaking of students, NCFF will host nearly 400 students from Nevada City schools on Friday, September 8 for a special film presentation from Pixar Studios. NCFF will also host a free screening for children of international shorts on Saturday, September 9 at 1pm at the Miners Foundry.

NCFF has also teamed up with Music in the Mountains and InConcert Sierra to present Score: The Film Music Documentary, Saturday, September 9, 7pm at the Nevada Theatre, which brings Hollywood’s elite composers together to give viewers a privileged look inside the musical challenges and creative secrecy of the world’s most international music genre: the film score. A film composer is a musical scientist of sorts, and the influence they have to complement a film and garner powerful reactions from global audiences can be a daunting task to take on. The documentary contains interviews with dozens of film composers who discuss their craft and the magic of film music while exploring the making of the most iconic and beloved scores in history: “James Bond”, “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Titanic,” “The Social Network,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” and “Psycho.”

New to the festival is its After Dark series of live music and film experiences, visual artists, live comedy and more. Gimme Danger:  A Film + Music Tribute to Iggy Pop, Friday, September 8, 7pm, at the Stone House, pays homage to one of rock’s ultimate provocateurs, Iggy Pop, with a screening of director Jim Jarmusch’s film Gimme Danger followed by music from local rock bands including Beautiful Dudes, Chat Room, My Dallas Teens, and Blake Severn + Broken Spoke.

All the Feels!  An Evening for the Senses on Saturday, September 9, 6-9pm at the Osborn Woods Gallery at the Miners Foundry, is a sensory event featuring visual artists Juli Elin, Rene Medina, Rahlene Weeden + Stardust Station, Jacob Goodrich, plus live VR artists, DJs and more.

Eric Wareheim returns to NCFF, Thursday, September 14, 8pm at the Stone House. The writer, comedian, director and musician is bringing his friends with him for an evening of comedy shorts, a brand new episode of Bedtime Stories, and more.  Best known as one half of the comedy duo Tim & Eric, alongside Tim Heidecker, Wareheim is responsible for producing such comedy cult favorites as the Adult Swim sketch show “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!,” Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule starring John C. Reilly, Comedy Bang! Bang!, The Eric Andre Show, and Nathan For You.  He currently stars with Aziz Ansari in Netflix’s Master of None.

The festival wraps Friday, September 15 with an outdoor “Best of the Fest” screening in Pioneer Park at 6pm. Attendees can enjoy delicious eats from local and regional food trucks, live music from Strictly Business, award-winning beer from Ol’ Republic and the winners of this year’s festival including the highly coveted Audience Choice Award.

“There is so much happening at the festival this year! You’re best bet is to pick up the Early Bird pass and try it ALL,” says Locks. “We’ve really tried to curate an experience that would entertain and excite all movie-lovers.”

KNOW & GO

WHO: 17^th Annual Nevada City Film Festival

WHEN: September 8-15, 2017

WHERE: Historic Locations throughout downtown Nevada City, Festival HQ located at the Miners Foundry Cultural Center, 325 Spring Street, Nevada City

TICKETS: Early Bird Festival Passes (ends Aug 15) $59 includes all films, VR Pavilion, Reserved Seating and Complimentary Membership, Festival Passes (after Aug 16 $89/$79 Festival Passes, Individual Screenings Tickets $10/$8,

Advance Tickets available online at www.nevadacityfilmfestival.com, by phone at (530) 362-8601, and in person at NCFF Office, 110 Union Street, Nevada City, M-F 10am-3pm. During the Festival tickets are available at NCFF HQ at the Miners Foundry during festival hours.

Local celebrated folk and bluegrass musicians The Banner Mountain Boys, Brendan Phillips and Cedar Hennings will join forces in a benefit show on Sunday, August 20 from 3 to 5 p.m. at The Open Book, at 671 Maltman Drive in Grass Valley. Show tickets, available at the show doors, are priced on a sliding scale, $10-$20. The musicians are donating their time and talents to this fundraising event.

Proceeds will benefit Partners in English Language Learning (PiELL), a nonprofit that provides free, one-on-one tutoring in English as a second language to Nevada County adults.

The Banner Mountain Boys feature traditional and contemporary bluegrass music with “smooth vocals and scorching instrumentals from the Gold Country,” according to the California Bluegrass Association’s billing in the 2010 Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival. The band members include Taylor Carey on guitar and vocals, Rob Shotwell on banjo and vocals, Ron Gaynor on resonator guitar and vocals, and Cecelia Shotwell on upright bass.

Brendan Phillips is the front man for Fast Rattler, which made its record debut in the 2009 Grammy nominated album “Singing through the Hard Times, A tribute to Utah Phillips.” Brandon is the son of folk singer Utah Phillips, and wears his influences on his sleeve. He plays from his pop catalogue and from the American folk music that he grew up listening to around campfires and at festivals all over the U.S. and Canada.  He is joined by Cedar Hennings, also of Fast Rattler.

For more information about the Banner Mountain Boys, see (and hear) bannermountainboys.com.

Brendan Phillips and Cedar Hennings can be seen and heard on Fast Rattler’s Facebook page.

For more information about the show, contact PiELL at 530-265-2116; the Open Book at 530-264-6844, or visit theopenbookgv.com.

Refreshments will be available from Sierra Mountain Coffee Roasters.

PiELL uses volunteer tutors, who are trained during a two-day session (the next training begins Sept. 30). After training, the tutors are matched with an adult student. Tutors meet with their students for an average of one to two hours per week at a location convenient to them. For information on tutoring, call 530-265-2116 or email admin@piell.org.

When you’re at the Fair, stop by the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce Booth located on Treat Street and enjoy a juicy Hamburger and Root Beer Float! 

Check out the Chamber’s booth that has just undergone a major renovation thanks to many of our local businesses including:   Knight’s Paint, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Byers, Sign Crafters, B & C True Value, Hills Flat Lumber Co., Ernie’s Van & Storage & Grass Valley Glass & Northern Air HVAC.

Fair Office to extend its hours and be open the weekend before the Fair for discounted tickets!

Tickets for the Nevada County Fair are on sale now. Purchase your admission, carnival tickets, and arena event tickets before the Fair begins and save money! The Fair Office is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, and Guest Services will be open specifically for ticket sales on Saturday, August 5 and Sunday, August 6 from 10 am to 5 pm on both days. You can also save time by purchasing your Fair tickets online at NevadaCountyFair.com.

Buy your admission tickets by August 8 at 5 pm and get an admission ticket for $6. Or, purchase a “Be a Kid Again” adult admission ticket for Thursday of the Fair for only $4. You can also take advantage of other pre-sale offers, including a five-day Fair pass with unlimited entry for $30; an event parking pass for $25; or a carnival ride bracelet, good for unlimited rides for any one day, for $25.

Now is the time to also purchase your arena event tickets – including tickets to this year’s Destruction Derby. Tickets are now on sale for the Flying U Extreme Rodeo on Wednesday and Thursday night; Monster Trucks and Tuff Trucks on Friday and Saturday night; and the Destruction Derby on Sunday night.

There are several ways to get your Fair tickets early. Purchase them online at NevadaCountyFair.com or stop by the Fair Office on McCourtney Road by Tuesday, August 8, at 5 pm. Or you can call the Fair Office at (530) 273-6217 by August 7 at 5 pm. The Fair Office at Gate 1 is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, and Guest Services will also be open on Saturday, August 5, and Sunday, August 6, from 10 am to 5 pm on both days.

After August 8, ticket prices for the Fair are $9 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for children
6-12, and free to children under the age of 5.

This year’s Nevada County Fair – with a theme of “Sea You at the Fair!” – is August 9 – 13. The Fair’s Office is located on McCourtney Road in Grass Valley. The phone number is (530) 273-6217 and the website is NevadaCountyFair.com.

Thanks to Governor Brown, State Legislators, and Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), the funding to save the longest, single span wood covered bridge left in the world is assured. This was accomplished by the unwavering efforts and support of the Nevada County Board of Supervisors, City and Town Councils of Grass Valley, Nevada City and Truckee, all Nevada County Chambers of Commerce, our partners at South Yuba River Citizen’s League, Bear Yuba Land Trust, Nevada County Historical Society, Nevada County Economic Resources Council, and many other community organizations, businesses and individuals.

DPR reports there is $4.128m in the approved 2017-2018 budget allocated for the renovation of this historical treasure. Of that $4.128m, $356,000 has been spent on final plans and working drawings leaving $3.772m for construction costs. Most of the environmental and permitting processes have been completed or are in their final stages and should be completed by the end of 2017. The Project is anticipated to go out to bid in early 2018, and construction is scheduled to commence in summer 2018, with a projected completion date of May 2019.

There are many factors that can affect the start of the Project such as high spring river waters, the availability of seasoned old growth size lumber for milling, and weather conditions. Also, this is a very special Project.  Reconstructing and renovating a uniquely designed, 155 year old wood structure over a rapidly flowing river and at the same time maintaining its historical status and significance will not be an easy task!  There are sure to be challenges and possible delays but if we all keep our eyes fixed on the goal of full restoration and work together we can Save Our Bridge!  Stay tuned for further updates on the progress or visit www.southyubariverstatepark.org. 

Hugging the steep slope above the Wild and Scenic South Yuba River, Independence Trail winds through a mature forest of Pacific madrone, mountain dogwood and incense cedar. For decades, busloads of eager school children, some in wheelchairs, have come here to explore Gold Rush era flumes and discover Sierra newts in Rush Creek every spring.

But today, the wooden ramp that took folks of all mobility levels to the creek is barricaded and several feet of decking removed to keep people out. It’s too dangerous to use.  Bear Yuba Land Trust (BYLT) is launching a community-supported effort to restore the iconic wooden Rush Creek Ramp and other features on the historic and universally-accessible Independence Trail located on the Land Trust’s 207-acre Sequoya Challenge Preserve.

Founded by the late Naturalist John Olmsted and built and maintained by a passionate crew of volunteers, the trail known for its dramatic wooden flumes became the nation’s first wheelchair accessible wilderness trail in the 1980s.

Located approximately six miles north of Nevada City, off Highway 49, the trail meanders through property owned and managed by BYLT and California State Parks. A popular hiking destination, the trail with the wooden switchback wheelchair ramp, which looks more like an art sculpture, attracts visitors from all over the world to experience one of Nevada County’s many wonders.

“This trail is forward-thinking and inclusive. With some fine-tuning and hard work we can attract even more users with limited mobility as well as the general population,” said local archaeologist and trails writer Hank Meals, who helped build the trail decades ago.

The trail memorializes the historic Gold Rush-era Excelsior Canal and includes ditch and berm sections, bridges, wooden flumes, overlook decks, and a long wooden ramp providing wheelchair access to Rush Creek. Every year, volunteer work parties, organized by BYLT and South Yuba River Parks Association (SYRPA) Volunteer Warren Wittich, help keep the ditches and wooden flumes free from forest litter but lack the funding for big infrastructure improvements.

Already, local rotary clubs, FREED Center for Independent Living, South Yuba River Citizen’s League (SYRCL) and others are coming forward to do whatever it takes to restore access to Rush Creek and keep the trail open.

“The Independence Trail isn’t worth saving because of one man’s dream conceiving it, or because of a few people’s hard work building it, it’s worth saving for every reason that parks and trails are important at all – public access to the wilds of nature,” said John Olmsted’s son, Alden, who remembers his dad’s patching the flumes with flattened coffee and bean cans hammered down with big flat head nails.

The South Yuba River corridor provides year-round habitat and migratory routes for many mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles that make the river canyon their home. In general, riparian habitat accommodates a greater variety of wildlife than any other habitat type in California. Animals who are known to make their home in the area of this Land Trust preserve include deer, mountain lion, coyote, gray fox, bobcat and bear.

On a path to wildness

In 1969, John Olmsted discovered the overgrown ditch, the perfect solution to a problem his friend with disabilities asked him to solve:  help her get out into nature. He had found the ideal place for a rugged wheelchair trail into the wilderness. The 100-year old rock-lined ditches were the perfect width for maneuvering a wheelchair or as a safe passage for people with limited sight who used walking sticks. The historic integrity of the ditches could be preserved and recycled to serve a new purpose.

A decade later, Olmsted returned with enough money he and a group of other interested naturalists had scraped together to make the first down payment.

The tall, thin, bearded naturalist with a crumpled hat was regularly seen clipping dead branches away from the trail or replacing rotted flume planks. He always carried along his repair kit: a pack containing a bow saw, hammer and nails, scrap metal and long handled loppers to keep the trail in check.  Olmsted died in 2011, at the age of 73, after a long fight with cancer.

Like many locals who grew up here, Caleb Dardick, Executive Director of SYRCL, has a personal connection to the Independence Trail. As a kid growing up on the Yuba River, the trail fulfilled a dream of his, of taking his father, who used a wheelchair, to visit river swimming holes. The late Sam Dardick, was a disability rights activist and Nevada County supervisor who worked alongside John Olmsted and other volunteers to build the trail.

“I’ll never forget the first time we rolled down that smooth trail along the river canyon edge, over the new flume and down the remarkable switchback Ramp to the creek. Thanks to the Independence Trail, so many people with disabilities, like my Dad, enjoy the thrill of visiting the beautiful Yuba canyon,” said Caleb Dardick.

In recent years, the ramp has fallen into disrepair and was closed last fall because of safety concerns regarding the structure’s stability. A great diversity of outdoor lovers of all ages and mobility levels can no longer access Rush Creek.

Community support needed

In 2012, the non-profit group Sequoya Challenge (founded by Olmsted and his wife, Sally Cates) transferred ownership of 207 acres – including sections of the Independence Trail and the Rush Creek Ramp – to BYLT.

Restoring Independence Trail to its original glory, meeting today’s stringent standards to enhance accessibility, developing interpretive panels, and re-opening the ramp at Rush Creek will require phases of engineering and costly construction, supported by an enormous fundraising effort from the entire community.

BYLT is in the middle of a trail campaign to raise money and awareness about important projects like Independence Trail. A peer-to-peer on-line crowd funding campaign is available at http://donate-trails.causevox.com/ and will help BYLT reach its goal of raising $15,000 for the initial engineering report.  

“People can feel the magic and connect to a different time and place when hiking the Independence Trail. This ramp provides unique access for people of all mobility levels and we need to get it back,” said BYLT’s Land Access Manager Shaun Clarke.

A profound vision

Hank Meals was on the original Independence Trail work crew called the “Tin Woodsman” that in 1983 reclaimed the overgrown ditch and broken, rotten flumes.

“It was challenging work especially with John’s insistence on using 19th century tools and methods and his uncanny habit of appearing out of nowhere for an impromptu critique. But it was worthwhile,” said Meals.

Gold Rush ditches and canals originally used for water conveyance to the mines were not designed for recreational purposes yet today offer unique outdoor experiences, revealing environmental niches and views seldom seen by conventional trails. Easy grades make the trail accessible to a wide spectrum of users.

“John’s vision to convert a ditch to a trail suitable for wheelchair-users was and is profound and his determination and endless hustle made it a reality. We would be small-minded and foolish to drop the ball now,” said Meals.

Learn more about how you can donate today http://donate-trails.causevox.com/ and get involved with this important project to Save Independence Trail: www.bylt.org

Independence Trail Pioneers – Photo Credit: Hank Meals
Photo Caption: Early visitors of the Independence Trail heading out for an adventure. Today the trail has fallen into disrepair and the wooden ramp to Rush Creek is closed. BYLT is launching a community campaign to save this important California treasure.

Building Independence Trail – Photo Credit: Hank Meals
Photo Caption: In 1983, local Archeologist Hank Meals captured this image while working with the crew “Tin Woodsmen” with Naturalist John Olmsted building the Independence Trail. Crews of volunteers turned a Gold Rush era water conveyance system of ditches and wooden flumes into the nation’s first wheelchair accessible wilderness trail appropriately named Independence Trail.

Rush Creek Ramp – Photo Credit: Laura Petersen
Photo Caption: BYLT closed the iconic wooden ramp to Rush Creek on the Independence Trail last fall, after the structure was deemed unsafe. A community campaign is underway to raise money for an engineering report that will help guide the restoration.

Thursday, August 17 at 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Please join us for the official unveiling of the new NCTV Studio & Creative Lab. Come learn what new tools have been added to help create digital projects for the community, meet fellow artists and filmmakers and explore the world of ‘All Things Digital”.

The Nevada County Digital Media Center/NCTV is a non-profit that is focused on fostering community dialogue, increasing civic engagement, and enriching the cultural life of our community through television, the internet, and other digital media.

Two shows with work by Nevada City artist LeeAnn Brook will open across the street from each other on Nevada City’s final First Friday Artwalk on August 4. Nevada City Winery located at 321 Spring Street, will host Brook’s show “Botanika”, from 5-7 p.m., with live music by John Girton. LeeAnn Brook Fine Art gallery will open with “Into the Woods”, from 5-8 p.m., live music by Induction. The gallery is located at 300 Spring Street in Nevada City. Both shows will run through August 31.  Read more…

www.leeannbrookfineart.com

Introducing The Presidency, a look at the men in power in the highest office in the land. This historical keepsake publication will have a glossy cover and be inserted into The Union, as well as distributed at Constitution Day Weekend events in Nevada City. Content will feature bios of all 45 U.S. Presidents, listing of all Constitution Day weekend events including the parade, historical Revolutionary War reenactments and demonstrations at Pioneer Park, a look at the Oval Office, The Constitution and more. Publication date: September 5, 2017.

Exhibiting for the 12th year in a row at Nevada City Winery, LeeAnn Brook’s show “Botanika” will feature her large and small format paintings that are inspired by gardens in the wild. Incorporating collage, acrylic and mixed media, the contemporary paintings are filled with depth in Brook’s interpretive manner that explores line, texture and a unique use of color.

Opening Reception 5-7pm, August 4, live music by John Girton.

Tasting Room · Open Daily 12–5pm
321 Spring Street · Nevada City · California · 95959 · USA
Tel 530.265.9463 / 800.203.9463 · www.ncwinery.com

This summer, Sierra Stages brings the excitement of the hit musical “Chicago” to Nevada City with an all-local Nevada County production playing from July 13 through August 5 at the historic Nevada Theatre. Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, “Chicago” tells the story of Roxie Hart, a chorus girl who murders her lover. Desperate to avoid a conviction, Roxie dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer, Billy Flynn, to transform her crime into a barrage of sensational headlines.

Most audiences know “Chicago” from the 2002 movie version with Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, and Richard Gere. Originally premiering on Broadway in 1975, “Chicago” is a modern classic of the American musical theatre, with a catchy score by John Kander and Fred Ebb (perhaps best known for another modern classic, “Cabaret”) and a funny and engaging book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse (who directed and choreographed the original production). The show is wholly entertaining and incredibly artful as it leads the audience to contemplate the ease with which public opinion may be manipulated with a little smoke and mirrors and a lot of razzle-dazzle.

“Chicago” is directed by Robert Rossman, with dance direction by George Jayne and music direction by Ken Getz, who will conduct the 16-person onstage band. The local Nevada County cast includes Kate Haight, Jacquelynn Kolenko, Jonathan Hansard, Sara Noah, Micah Cone, Janet Rossman, Trish Adair, Erin Beatie, Audrey Delgado, Heidi Grass, Tinley Ireland, Tina Kelly, Michaela King, Heather Lucas-Ross, Hailey Patrick, Kimberly Shepard, Angela Williams, Elliot Childs, Chase Coney, Kris Meadows, and Jonathan Willis.

“All of us are excited to be mounting a local production of ‘Chicago’ as our ninth annual summer show,” says musical director Ken Getz. “It’s an extremely popular musical and not many theatres are given the rights to perform it because both the Broadway revival and the national tour are continuing to go strong after more than 20 years. We have put together an amazing cast, band, and production staff for the show, and I’m certain we are going to have almost as much fun performing ‘Chicago’ as the audience will have attending the show.”
Performances of “Chicago” are Thursdays at 7 PM, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM. General Admission tickets for the first two “preview” performances on Thursday July 13 and Friday July 14 are $20. Thereafter General Admission tickets are $28. Reserved Seating is also available (in advance) for all performances for $38 and is a great way to provide additional financial support for the production and Sierra Stages. Student Rush is also offered for $15 at the door (subject to availability) 30 minutes before each performance (age 25 & under with a valid student ID). For tickets and information, visit www.SierraStages.org or call Sierra Stages at 530.346.3210.

Following “Chicago”, Sierra Stages will conclude its ninth season with the intimate musical from the bustling streets to the quiet rooftops, “Ordinary Days” tells the story of four New Yorkers whose lives are unexpectedly interconnected by circumstance. Warren house-sits a cat for an imprisoned guerrilla conceptual artist. Deb has come to New York for grad school. Jason has moved in with his new girlfriend, Claire, and they negotiate the perilous shoehorning of one person’s stuff into another’s small apartment. The series of funny and fortuitous events in this intimate, fast-paced musical proves that ordinary days can be simply extraordinary. Sandra Rockman directs, with musical direction by Ken Getz.

Sierra Stages is a nonprofit community theatre based in western Nevada County with a mission to provide quality productions that are affordable and accessible to everyone. Since it began eight years ago, Sierra Stages has presented 30 plays and musicals and has been recognized by the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance with six Elly Awards and 58 Elly Award nominations. The annual Elly Awards honor outstanding achievements of community theatres and artists in the greater Sacramento area. Sierra Stages performs at various local venues, including the Nevada Theatre in Nevada City and the Off Center Stage in Grass Valley.

Know and Go

What: Sierra Stages presents “Chicago”

When: July 13 – August 5, 2017, Thursdays at 7 PM; Fridays & Saturdays at 8 PM; Sundays at 2 PM

Where: Nevada Theatre, 401 Broad Street, Nevada City, CA

Information: www.SierraStages.org or call 530-346-3210

“They Both Reached for the Gun” with cast members from the Sierra Stages production of CHICAGO playing July 13-August 5 at the Nevada Theatre

Photo credit: David Wong