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By Eric Johnson
Published Mar 25, 2024

At the McKinley Park Rose Garden in Sacramento, the first rose of 2024. At the McKinley Park Rose Garden in Sacramento, the first rose of 2024. Image credit: Eric Johnson

Four Good Things about Spring

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 CALocal: 1GT

The beginning of Spring is a great time to launch stuff. Which is one reason we chose last week to release a new California Local feature that we are calling One Good Thing (which we've already started abbreviating as 1GT). This was CALocal co-founder and product guy Chris Neklason’s idea, and here he briefly explains why 1GT is a good thing.


One Good Thing

Every now and then, it's important to focus on good things.
We announce a new initiative and invite our members to contribute.

Spring in the Valley

For our first One Good Thing, Chris takes you on a short journey to Yosemite Valley to witness a fleeting and amazing phenomenon.


The Rainbows of Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls in Yosemite Valley.
Yosemite Valley is extraordinary, and in certain places at certain times of the day, magical. A brief insider's guide to a special place and time in Yosemite National Park, including a short video of the springtime rainbows of Yosemite Falls.

An Ode to the Season

If you already know everything about the Vernal Equinox, our friend Kathy Morrison of Sacramento Digs Gardening brings you a delightful reminder: Eostre, the goddess of fertility and spring, has a rabbit as a spirit animal—and over the millennia, Eostre’s rabbit morphed into our Easter Bunny. More fun facts (plus a FREE cookbook, Taste Spring!) on the other side of the link.


First day of spring is cause for celebration

Cherry blossoms herald the start of spring. The warm, sunny weather is expected to continue through Thursday.
Plenty of sunshine and flowers welcome start of new season

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.”

Recipe of the Week

Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.

See more recipes in their Taste Winter! cookbook.


This easy chicken dish puts zesty zing in spring

Chicken thighs achieve crispy deliciousness when marinated and baked at high heat.
NEW Baked lemon-Dijon chicken thighs with herbs


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Direct your browser to santaclara.californialocal.com to catch up on the latest news in California and Santa Clara County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community!


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Hilltromper announces an online resource that tells you where your favorite flowers are blooming right now, and helps preserve these wonders of nature.

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• Funding Sought for Free Shakespeare in the Park in Cupertino

The nonprofit San Francisco Shakespeare Festival has produced free 90-minute shows in Cupertino's Memorial Park every summer for decades but now faces a budget shortfall.

(03/25/2024) → The Mercury News

• Palo Alto and Stanford Consider Bus Road

The City of Palo and Stanford University are considering an option of converting a strip through El Camino Park into a road for buses.

(03/25/2024) → Mountain View Voice

• School Kitchens Experience Staffing Shortages

As school meal programs expand, school kitchens are experiencing struggles hiring and retaining food workers.

(03/24/2024) → The Mercury News

• City of Palo Alto Review Questions Safety of CalTrans El Camino Bike Lanes

A report commissioned by the City of Palo Alto noted serious safety concerns for users of CalTrans designed bike lanes based on the high speed vehicular traffic on El Camino Real.

(03/23/2024) → Mountain View Voice

• Semiconductor Equipment Manufacturer Applied Materials Acquires Properties

Applied Materials adds to $250M+ spent on South Bay properties with purchase of two more office and research buildings in Sunnyvale.

(03/22/2024) → The Mercury News

• Name That Tunnel Boring Machine

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(03/22/2024) → Silicon Valley Voice

• MVLA Superintendent to Retire

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(03/22/2024) → Mountain View Voice

• Office Tower to Housing Project Underway

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(03/21/2024) → The Mercury News

• Bloomberg Backs Liccardo

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(03/21/2024) → The Mercury News

• Silicon Valley Janitors Rally in Support of in Support of AB 2364

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(03/21/2024) → The Mercury News

• San Jose Mayor Mahan Supports Anti-Displacement Ordinance

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(03/21/2024) → The Mercury News

• San Jose Water Seeks Rate Increases

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(03/21/2024) → The Mercury News

• Menlo Park Housing Development Proposed

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(03/21/2024) → Daily Post

• Mountain View Office Buildings Are Foreclosed

Two office buildings located at 515 and 545 North Whisman Road in Mountain View have been foreclosed by their lender, adding to other recent foreclosures in the region.

(03/21/2024) → The Mercury News

• Palo Alto Mayor Touts $52M for Affordable Housing Since 2017

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Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit of an urgent priority: shutting down access to abortion pills for women across the country.

(03/25/2024) → KFF Health News

• California Forever Denies Reports of Shady Tactics Outside Bay Area Target

Rumors are flying that California Forever is using dodgy tactics to gather signatures.

(03/24/2024) → SF Gate

• California Speeds Plans to Empty San Quentin's Death Row

California prison officials announced they will move the last 457 condemned prisoners out of San Quentin's death row by summer. They will be transferred to other state prisons and housed in the general population.

(03/18/2024) → Los Angeles Times
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Housing Opportunity Districts (HODs) Public Comment Request

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The Right Time to Spray Pesticides

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Esmeralda Soria California Assembly 27:
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