At the McKinley Park Rose Garden in Sacramento, the first rose of 2024.
We have a slightly humorous tradition in our family: At the beginning of every season, one of us will say something like, “Winter in California is amazing, and I’m going to miss going up to the snow—but spring really is the best season.” Or "yeah sure summer is fun with the swimming and all, but ahhh the colors of fall—obviolusly the best season."
I realize this is not all that funny, but what makes it a little bit funny (to us) is that we say it at the beginning of every single season, and have been doing so for many years. And we kind of mean it every single time. Because every new season holds the promise that it'll be better than the last.
This winter, as you know, was cold and wet. I am a nature-worshiping Californian who’s been living through a deadly drought, so I stopped complaining about the rain more than a decade ago … until this year. Last week’s warm sun and long evenings made me feel better than I have felt in months.
So: In this week’s edition of The Newsletter, four things, all related to the very best season: Spring!
Product Launch from Hilltromper: BloomTracker
As you may have noticed, we do not tire of singing the praises of California, and Hilltromper (which is kind of CALocal's sister-site) focuses on our state's awesome natural beauty. For our final piece of appreciation today we present the coolest wildflower-finding tool you've ever seen, which was launched last week by our friend Mike Kahn.
BloomTracker: Wildflower Finder & Protector from Hilltromper
Over at Hilltromper, “The Nature-worshiping, Fun-Loving Adventure Guide” that serves the South Bay Area, Santa Cruz County, and anyone who visits these beautiful places, our friend Mike Kahn has just launched a new product he named BloomTracker—“an online resource that helps you find the best places to see wildflowers, in real time, and helps reduce impacts on parks and other open spaces.”
• Groups Partner With Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to Offer Free Books
Local agencies and nonprofits are working with the Marcella Foundation to offer free monthly books to local children up to 5 years old as part of the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library initiative.
(03/25/2024) → South Tahoe Now
• Mountain Lion Attack Update and Fundraiser
The family of two men attacked by a mountain lion in El Dorado County released an update of the survivor and fundraising details for those who wish to contribute to funeral and medical costs.
(03/25/2024) → South Tahoe Now
• Mountain Lion Attack in El Dorado County
A man was fatally attacked and his brother injured by a mountain lion in a remote area near Georgetown.
(03/23/2024) → Village Life
• City of South Lake Tahoe Soliciting Community Input
The city released a survey for resident input on government input and quality of life with the intent of utilizing the feedback in strategic planning for the future.
(03/22/2024) → South Tahoe Now
• New Road Proposed to Ease Latrobe Traffic
El Dorado County Supervisors are considering a proposal to build a new roadway connecting Latrobe Road to the Sacramento County line to help with growing congestion and accommodate for new development.
(03/22/2024) → Mountain Democrat
• El Dorado County Women Honored
Local legislators named two El Dorado County women as 2024 women of the year.
(03/22/2024) → Mountain Democrat
• Representative Kevin Kiley's Secures Funds for El Dorado County Water Projects
Included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 is $2M requested by Representative Kevin Kiley's to fund water projects in the El Dorado County region.
(03/20/2024) → South Tahoe Now
• Placerville and El Dorado County Pass Bans on New Tobacco Shops
The Placerville City Council and the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors both pass edprohibitions on new tobacco shops citing concerns around an increase in tobacco use by middle schoolers.
(03/20/2024) → Mountain Democrat
• City of South Lake Tahoe-El Dorado County JPA Progressing
In an effort to improve public transportation services across the Lake Tahoe south shore, the City of South Lake Tahoes and the County of El Dorado are in the process of forming a transportation Joint Powers Authority (JPA).
(03/19/2024) → South Tahoe Now
• California Tahoe Conservancy Acquires Motel 6 Property
The buildings and parking lot on the 31 acre South Lake Tahoe Motel 6 property on the upper Truckee River will be removed and the land restored.
(03/19/2024) → South Tahoe Now
At the McKinley Park Rose Garden in Sacramento, the first rose of 2024.
