May 31

A crew from the California Department of Forestry camp at Vallecito works on a vegetation fire Saturday afternoon that got close to some structures. The Foothill Fire Protection District, the California Department of Forestry and the CDF work crew from Vallecito responded to a vegetation fire reported  at 1:12 p.m. at Paloma and Hillwood roads. The fire was limited to a quarter-acre. The cause is under investigation.

Fire seasons begins on Monday

The California Department of Forestry will officially open fire season in the Tuolumne/Calaveras Unit at 8 a.m. Monday, June 5.

The unit includes the counties of Calaveras, Tuolumne, and those eastern portions of San Joaquin and Stanislaus that are within the State Responsibility Area. All TCU fire stations will be opened and staffed. Helicopter 404 is in full operation at Columbia Air Attack Base, with the air attack and two air tankers scheduled to come on base June 16. All fire crews at Baseline and Vallecito Conservation Camps are currently available.

CDF Unit Chief Fred McVay asks all area residents to "firesafe" their property for the fire season and reminds everyone that maintaining 100 feet of defensible space around their homes is the single most important step in preparing for a wildfire.

 "Late rains have caused a seriously abundant crop of grass in the foothills," said McVay. "This needs to be cut down and removed now while conditions are still safe and the growth has not dried out to a hazardous level."

With the declaration of fire season, the public needs to have a heightened sense of awareness with any activity that may start a wildfire. Burning is currently allowed by permit on permissive burn days only and due to increased hazardous fire conditions, the Tuolumne/Calaveras Unit will be restricting burn hours from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. effective at 8 a.m. June 5, 2006. Burning is allowed by permit only.  

May 26

Kyle Latt of Jitters offers up a delicious drink. Photo by Rocio Miller

Area has plenty of business for everyone

By Rocio Miller

   Valley Springs is growing rapidly with new businesses and developments. This change poses the question, are the local businesses going to be all right?

   Marie Roeben has lived in Valley Springs for the past 15 years. She has owned Country Charm Cafe for almost four years. She previously worked at Jenny Lind Elementary as an aide and loves to bake and cook so when the opportunity came to own a small restaurant, she took it. Her business has donated items and gift certificates to local causes including the flood victims relief.

   "We've developed a lot of relationships and customer loyalty that might make a difference," said Roeben. She is slightly concerned about the incoming competition corporate sandwich giants Quiznos and Subway will have with her popular sandwiches and salads. But she also remains optimistic.

   "We close at three, so they can serve the community at hours when we don't," she said.

   "We are more in direct competition with the new Quiznos that is going in." said Lucky Sibia, owner of two Subway franchises including the new one in Valley Springs.

   "There's more than enough business to  go around," said Valerie Latt, owner of Jitters.

    She doesn't show any concern for the new Starbucks in town, saying, "I don't think Starbucks being around the corner is going to hurt at all.”

   Starbucks has been blamed for shutting out small, locally owned coffee business. So has it hurt Jitters? Latt said the was a slight decline in sales the first week of April when Starbucks opened, “but that was also the week of the flood and the week that gas prices went up."

   "If it wasn't for Starbucks, none of us would be here,” she said. “Starbucks was the beginning. I go to coffee seminars where people have said that when Starbucks comes to town the mom-and-pop stores do better, because there is a comparison. We are small so we attend to the quality of coffee."

   Latt has donated coffee for the parents at school events and sponsors a softball team every year.

   John Miller, manager of the new Starbucks, is making sure Starbucks is keeping up with the generosity of the other businesses.

   "We are in the process of displaying student artwork from the Calaveras High School,” he said. “We also provided coffee and pastries to the sandbaggers during the flooding”.

   Starbucks is praised for offering many benefits to even part-time employees, he added.

   "I live in Lockeford and I'm a small town person.  If you do things right and you take care of people there is enough business out there for everybody."

   In addition, Valley Springs has a local “ma and pa store” challenging a long-time corporate franchise in the community.

   The Monster Electronics and the Ice Cream Depot owned by Gary McGinness and his sons Mark McGinness and John Miller offer a unique combination of goods.

   "We originally started the electronic store and then bought out the ice cream store, so now when you come here you can get an ice cream and get your computer fixed,” said Mark.

   They are up against the long-established RadioShack franchise in the Valley Oaks Center.

   "We're a fairly new residence around two to seven years, generating a history of our own," said Mark.

   They are also preserving and renovating the history of Valley Springs in the old train depot.

   "It's in a historical building, this used to be the railroad depot,” he said. “We've displayed original railroad signs and photos.  When we purchased the ice cream depot the photographs were all stacked up in the back so we reframed them and hung them on the wall.”  

May 24

Nifty '54 Chevy

Bob Niederbrach Jr.’s 1954 Chevy, above, was selected the Best Retro automobile at Saturday’s third annual Foothill Classics Car Show. The event attracted nearly 200 vintage autos.

Foothill car show attracts nearly 200 classics

By Nick Baptista

  Frog jumping and the fair had some competition this past weekend as the third annual Foothill Classics Car Show attracted nearly 200 vintage automobiles and approximately 2,000 spectators to Valley Springs.

   Saturday’s car show at Veterans Memorial Park featured vehicles that were 1972s and older. Tony McAfee of the Foothill Classic Car Club said the event had 188 vehicles, 20 of which were cars from club members and not included in the judging.

   Money the club earns from the car show is used to help support various youth organizations and special needs in the community, McAfee reported. In addition, the Valley Springs Boosters and Loose Threads Quilt Guild were selling raffle tickets to help support the annual fireworks show at New Hogan Lake and other community work.

   Plaques were awarded in 20 categories. The winners were:

   Best of Show – 1936 Ford owned by John and Anita Rhoades.

   President’s Pick – 1933 Ford coupe owned by Jerry and Sally Byrd.

   Best Paint – 1947 Chevy coupe owned by Don Lutz.

   Best Upholstery – 1935 Ford owned by Jack Taylor.

   Best Motor – 1923 T-bucket owned by Bill Hildenbrand.

   Best Stock – 1932 Ford owned by Jason Freitas.

   Best Hot Rod – 1932 Ford owned by Bill Reis.

   Best Custom – 1947 Chevy owned by Gordon Ellingston.

   Best Graphics – 1929 Ford coupe owned by Mike Hackett.

   Best Commercial – 1955 Chevy pickup owned by Tom Reeves

   Best Ford – 1939 Ford owned by Don Clawford.

   Best Chevy – 1955 BelAir owned by Bill Elshdz.

   Best Retro – 1954 Chevy owned by Bob Niederbrach Jr.

   Best Under Construction – 1949 Dodge owned by Frank Corpening.

   Ladies Choice – 1940 Ford owned by Wayne Johns.

   Men’s Choice – 1040 Ford owned by Fred Loya.

   Youngest Rodder – 1970 Monte Carlo by Adan Prado.

   D.J.’s Pick – 1928 Model A special couple owned by John Martin.

   Club Participation – Over the Hill Gang of Elk Grove with 16 participants.

   Longest Distance – 1949 Ford owned by Herman and Sharon Vincent of Washington.  

May 12

Barbara Thomas, left, and Gail Belmont display a custom quilt they made that will be auctioned at Saturday’s barbecue to benefit victims of April’s flood in Valley Springs. Thomas was the piecer and Belmont was the quilter. The minimum bid for the quilt is $500 and it has a vlue of $1,500. Tickets for the event at Sheng Chi Kung Fu, 139 Main St., are $20 per person and can be purchased by calling Bonnie Thygesen at 642-0114 or 772-8959.  

Chicken barbecue Saturday to help flood victims

   Area Realtors are spearheading an effort to help the victims of the April 4 flood in Valley Springs.

   The group has set up the Valley Springs Flood Victim Relief Fund and plans a May 13 chicken barbecue at Sheng Chi Kung Fu to raise funds for families that sustained losses due to the flood.

   An application to receive assistance can be obtained at Calaveras Title Co., Century 21 and RE/MAX offices in Valley Springs. In addition, a hotline has been established. The phone number is 786-9111.

   The May 13 barbecue will feature live music. The cost is $20 per person and a number of items will be available in a raffle. The contact person is Bonnie Thygesen and she can be reached at 642-0114 (cell) or 772-8959 (office).

   The goal is to sell at least 150 tickets to the barbecue. Tickets will be sold in front of MarVal. All proceeds will go to flood victims. In addition, area businesses are encouraged to donate toward the raffle.

   In addition, the committee is also placing donation jars around town to aid the flood victims.

   If individuals would like to make cash donations, a trust fund has been established at Central California Bank.  

May 5

Sonia and Lucky Sibia, above, have opened the new SUBWAY restaurant in the Valley Oaks Shopping Plaza.

Sandwich giant opens for business

By Nick Baptista

   The No. 1-ranked franchise in the nation has opened its doors in Valley Springs and the No. 2-ranked franchise is not too far behind.

   Husband and wife Lucky and Sonia Sibia opened their new SUBWAY restaurant Wednesday at the recent annex to the Valley Oaks Shopping Center. They also own the SUBWAY in San Andreas.

   Quiznos Subs, the No. 2 franchise according to Entrepreneur magazine’s 27th annual “Franchise 500” rankings, is scheduled to open in about three months at the Valley Springs Plaza at Highway 26 and Nove Way.

   Lucky, who has been associated with SUBWAY the past six years, said his Valley Springs sandwich shop would be open from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. during the summer. He may adjust the hours during the winter months.

   The restaurant will employ eight to nine people, he added.

   SUBWAY has nearly 26,000 shops in 84 countries and recently eclipsed McDonald’s as the largest restaurant chain in the country. SUBWAY has 13,247 stores in the United States, 148 more than McDonald’s as of the end of last year.

   SUBWAY has held the No. 1 ranking in Entrepreneur magazine’s top 500 list since 2001.

   Mina Nasser is the owner of the new Valley Springs Quiznos Subs and her daughter Samira Nasser is the manager.

   Samira said Quiznos Sub’s initial hours would be from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., but they can be adjusted depending on the market. The new Valley Springs Quiznos will be situated in an 1,100-square-foot space at the front end of the new plaza and have access to an adjoining patio area.

   Hiring at Quiznos is expected to begin in a few weeks and Samira said the restaurant would employ about 20 people.  

May 3

Area cancer survivors started this year’s Relay For Life activities April 29 at Bret Harte High School. The annual event benefiting the American Cancer Society raised more than $185,000. See Friday’s edition for more on the Relay For Life.

Stitchers raise $10,000+ for '06 Relay For Life

   The Valley Springs-based Stitchers For Hope team raised at least $10,000 for the fourth annual Relay For Life held April 29 and 30.

   The team is planning more fundraising to benefit The American Cancer Society including the second annual Stitchers For Hope Golf Tournament. The tourney, originally scheduled for April 8 has been postponed to July 29.

   In all, Relay For Life in Angels Camp raised more than $185,000.

   The winner of the Miss Relay For Life Pageant was Valley Springs resident Rick Iwanciow, also known as Miss Bernadette.

   In flip flops and mini skirt, Miss Bernadette had the crowd’s attention early as “she” made her way around the track “soliciting” votes along with a stylist, make-up artist and manicurist. It was a repeat performance for Miss Bernadette, who also won the Relay For Life pageant title in 2005.  

Skip Thomas, center, is surrounded by, from left, Mike Cammisa, Charles Neuerburg, Tony Daniello and Kris Hinds. Cammisa, Neuerburg and Daniello rescued Thomas from the front porch of the Thomas Center during the April 4 Cosgrove Creek Flood, while Hinds rescued a woman on Grouse Lane.

Firefighters praised for efforts during April's flood

By Nick Baptista

   Volunteer firefighters from the Jenny Lind Fire Protection District were honored for their bravery and devotion to duty during the April 4 Cosgrove Creek Flood at a special ceremony on Friday.

   The meeting room at Jenny Lind Fire Station No. 1 was filled to capacity with the honored firefighters, family, friends, fellow firefighters, district constituents and those who were rescued during the flooding.

   Firefighters received commendations and letters of appreciation from District 5 Supervisor Victoria Erickson, representing the County Board of Supervisors; Dana Jorgensen, district director for state Sen. Dave Cox; Jenny Lind Fire Chief Brian Chavez-Ochoa and Jenny Lind Fire Board President Dennis McCord.

   Four of the firefighters – Mike Cammisa, Tony Daniello, Kris Hinds and Charles Neuerburg – received special commendations from the Jenny Lind board for water rescues during the flood.

   Cammisa, Daniello and Neuerburg were helping sandbag a home on St. Andrews when Foothill Fire District was dispatched to the Thomas Center at Highway 26 and St. Andrews Road for a trapped vehicle.

   Foothill asked the three Jenny Lind firefighters to bring rope rescue equipment to the scene and help evacuate occupants in the vehicle. The vehicle was in 3 ½ feet of swift moving water and the Jenny Lind firefighters set up a rescue harness. Cammisa was the first at the vehicle and a rescued a toddler. He and Daniello then rescued two female occupants. Neuerburg stayed at the rigs to monitor the ropes.

   In addition, there were two women stranded on the porch of the Thomas Center at the intersection of Highway 26 and St. Andrews Road. Cammisa and Daniello rigged a taut line to the women. They were placed in harnesses and hooked to the line as the water was approaching four feet deep and moving very swiftly. All five people were evacuated to dry ground with no injuries.

   Hinds had been dispatched to Grouse Lane during the flood. One woman was stranded in her house and when she saw the high water level she panicked. Hinds carried her on piggyback to safety.

   At the end of the ceremony, area resident John Raine said its time that the public think about approving a tax assessment for the department to hire full-time firefighters.  

Mail: P.O. Box 1297, Valley Springs, CA 95252 
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