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The Valley Citizen
Black Phoebe: Post #15 in Jim Gain’s “Learn 100 Valley Birds”
Jim Gain’s “Reflections of the Natural World” is one of the finest sources for nature’s beauty and bounty anywhere. His images of birds are especially inspiring. We’re proud to publish his ongoing series, “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds.” Here is post #15 in that series.
Homeless: No Shelter from the Storm
Monday, homeless people in Modesto found no respite from the biggest rainstorm in years as Caltrans continued to sweep them away from encampments along Highway 99 and locations nearby. Governor Gavin Newsom’s ongoing program to get homeless people out of sight now includes pouring concrete along steep slopes under overpasses and erecting sturdy metal fences along highway borders as he attempts to sweep homelessness under the rug while he explores a presidential campaign. The concrete slopes and iron fencing are meant to prevent the possibility of homeless people camping along our major highways. Out of sight is out of mind.
Homeless: “Right now, we aren’t managing anything”
Frank Ploof has served on several committees in Stanislaus County dedicated to homeless and housing issues, and has spent thousands of hours in direct contact with homeless people, trying to help in tangible ways with problems local authorities can’t address. He and Modesto resident Steven Finch are partners in the Stanislaus Homeless Advocacy and Resource Enterprise (SHARE) nonprofit, which is dedicated to serving the urgent needs of people in dire distress in Stanislaus County. Below, Frank reports on current problems trying to address homelessness in Stanislaus County. ed.
Homeless: Why we Fail and What to Do Now
The Stanislaus County’s Civil Grand Jury Report on homelessness could serve as a report card for the entire State of California. Noting that homeless numbers continue to rise despite vast expenditures of money, the Grand Jury concluded that lack of coordination and focus among myriad public and private entities has led to wasted dollars, a lack of accountability, and public distrust in government efforts to reduce homelessness.
Looking for Holiday Gifts? Try Empathy
I was sitting out front by my apartment the other day, putting a book down as dusk began to gather when I saw my neighbor Sally turn the far corner on the other side of the pond, walking with her floppy-eared fluffy white dog, gripping her walker as she struggled for breath, a cannula attached to her nose, an oxygen container resting on the seat of her walker. We waved hello to each other, as we do every day.
Learn 100 Common Valley Birds #14: Wild Turkey
Perfectly appropriate for Thanksgiving Day, Post #14 in Jim Gain’s “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds” series is the Wild Turkey. We’re proud to post Jim’s fine work, and urge you to visit his Reflections of the Natural World for more of his fine work and spectacular images.
Western Meadowlark: #13 in Learn 100 Valley Birds
We’re proud to post #13 in Jim Gain’s Learn 100 Common Valley Birds series. The Western Meadowlark is actually species #18 in the series; some posts feature more than one species. Introduction. The buoyant, flutelike melody of the Western Meadowlark ringing out across a field can brighten anyone’s...
Homeless? Gavin Newsom Passes the Buck
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s presidential ambitions hinge as much on appearances as they do realities, and the unsightly presence of homeless people throughout California is a reality he can’t make disappear. Born of desperation fostered by the futility of his own efforts to eliminate homelessness, Newsom has decided to blame California’s mayors for his own failure to understand the fundamental nature of a humanitarian emergency that grows worse by the day.
Learn 100 Valley Birds #12: Wintering “White” Geese – Part II
In Part I of the Our Wintering “White” Geese post, we learned about the larger “white Goose with the Grinning Patch”, the Snow Goose. In this post, the star of the show is the smaller Ross’s Goose. Introduction. The Ross’s Goose is a Fairly Common...
Valley Voters Could Decide House Majority
Republicans are still favored to become the majority in the House of Representatives, but Democrats nationwide have performed better than expected, leaving a narrow possibility they could maintain their current House advantage. Three Valley races could tip the balance. With half the total votes left to count in the race...
Three Rules of Thumb for Late Valley Voters
Rule #1: Choose democracy. When America’s founding fathers put the power of last resort in the hands of the people, they knew democracy is a flawed and often clumsy form of government. They also realized that among all options, it’s the most likely to achieve the critical balance between freedom and equality that empowers the best qualities of human nature.
Learn 100 Valley Birds #11: White Geese Part I, Snow Goose
“Your first indication of their presence is the distant sound of baying hounds. As you look up, you see the sky flecked with tiny white moving shapes, which appear like snowflakes drifting lazily across the azure sky.” naturalist J. B. Grinnell. There are two species of “white” geese in...
Gary Thomas: The Making of a Poet and Teacher
Thus with tenderness and love does Turlock poet Gary Thomas portray his late father at work in the opening lines of “Ox Bow Education” – one of seventy-four poems that comprise Mr. Thomas’ superb new collection, All the Connecting Lights (available through Finishing Line Press). Mr....
Are Valley Foothills the Water Bank of the Future?
Among several pieces of encouraging news Peter Drekmeier brought the Stanislaus County Water Advisory Committee during his October 26 visit to Modesto was the scientific consensus that it’s still going to rain in the northern San Joaquin Valley. In fact, said Drekmeier, according to the best science we have, it’s probably going to rain just as much as it always has. The catch is that the realities of climate change mean it’s going to rain less often and, when it does rain, it’s going to rain much harder.
Did Candidate Keating’s Biggest Donor Sell MID Water?
It was probably only a coincidence that Frank Damrell and Robert Frobose were chatting in front of an outdoor bulletin board that read “Modesto Irrigation District Public Information” on Tuesday, October 11. Damrell and Frobose had just come out of a meeting of the Modesto Irrigation District (MID)...
Learn 100 Valley Birds #10: Wood Duck
The Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) is arguably the most spectacularly beautiful duck in the Central Valley. It is a Fairly Common Year-round Resident throughout the wetlands and waterways of the valley. Similar to other dabbling ducks, the Wood Duck is an omnivore with a broad diet of seeds, fruits, and aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates.
Adam Gray Joins River Partners’ Honorees
California State Assemblymember Adam Gray moved closer to entry into the Valley’s Natural History Hall of Fame last Friday, when River Partners honored him for “leadership and dedication to restoring rivers in the San Joaquin Valley, giving new life to ecosystems, enriching communities, and ensuring a bright future for the entire region.” He joined several other honorees — including the Bill and Mary Lyons family and legendary U.S. Fish and Wildlife Biologist Kim Forest — at Dos Rios Ranch in Stanislaus County, newly designated as a State Park.
MID Board: Damrell and Frobose for Your Water
For decades, ratepayers and farmers within the Modesto Irrigation District (MID) have benefitted from low water and power rates while enjoying exceptionally good service. Today, after costly legal battles, lack of transparency, and mounting employee turnover and discontent, the embattled Board of Directors is certain to have at least two new members after the November 8 election, perhaps three if incumbent Stu Gilman is ousted by farmer John Boer.
Learn 100 Valley Birds #9: Killdeer
The Killdeer (Charadrius vociferous) is a Common Resident in the San Joaquin Valley. Killdeer belong to the plover family Charadriidae, with 68 species worldwide. As their Latin specific name indicates, they are quite noisy (vociferous). Description. Killdeers’ upperparts are mostly brown with white underparts. Their upper chest is interrupted by...
How to Really Learn the Birds (Updated)
When Jim Gain started his “Learn 100 Valley Birds” series, we immediately thought of one our earliest posts, “How to Really Learn the Birds.” We thought a few changes might make it more relevant to Jim’s exciting project. “How to Really Learn the Birds (Updated)” doesn’t contain anything new; rather, we’ve shifted the focus just a bit toward Jim’s excellent series, making it even more local. ed.
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