Before we get into the (locally sourced, humanely raised) meat and (organic) potatoes of this week’s newsletter, I want to point out that further down on this page you will find a gift: Taste Spring! Sacramento Digs Gardening presents delicious seasonal recipes from your garden.
That’s right: a free online cookbook. Wherever you live, you are sure to find recipes that will make you and your family and friends happy. More on that later.
In this episode of The Newsletter, we celebrate food. The star of this week’s show is none other than Alice Waters, the Queen of California Cuisine.
Below, you will find an in-depth interview in which our own Graham Womack talks to Ms. Waters about her twin passions: feeding and educating all of us, especially children.
Alice and Graham also talk about the Alice Waters Institute for Edible Education, part of the $1.2 billion Aggie Square development—a collaboration between UC Davis and the City of Sacramento. And we offer further reading on that exciting project.
Speaking of California cuisine: My friend and colleague Sharan Street, who was a foodie before that word existed, decided it would be fun to surround Queen Alice with her Court—the men and women whose gastronomical innovations helped make the local fare of our fair state famous. There are 30 people on Sharan’s list. (!) Graham decided to briefly profile the top-ten old-school gourmets, including Pasadena’s own Julia Child.
As a proud resident of the farmtown that is the capital of California, I like to remind people that agriculture is still the biggest industry in the state that is home to Hollywood and Silicon Valley.
As a person who studied organic agriculture at Cabrillo Community College in Santa Cruz in the 1970s, when that idea (cultivated by Alice Waters and a small army of Bay Area farmers and cooks) was still fresh, I am so psyched that the ag industry has shifted radically toward sustainability in my lifetime.
Maybe an even more significant export than our agricultural products is California culture, which includes the movement that has brought fresh, local, organic ingredients to restaurants nationwide. I invite you to dig in to some chapters of that ongoing story.
• Cameron Park Likely Shuttering a Fire Station
With reluctance, the Cameron Park Community Services District Board of Directors supported a fire service plan that will brown out Station 88 on Alhambra Drive. The plan includes a five-year service extension agreement with Cal Fire.
(04/24/2023) → Mountain Democrat
• South Lake Tahoe Seeks Fourth of July Parade Entries
The city is seeking participants for the annual Fourth of July Parade. This year's theme: “Celebrating the Red, White, & Big Blue!”
(04/24/2023) → Tahoe Daily Tribune
• El Dorado County Supervisor Served Recall Notice
A surprise for District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin came at the kickoff of the public comment segment of the April 18 Board of Supervisors meeting, courtesy of some in her jurisdiction: a recall notice of intent.
(04/21/2023) → Tahoe Daily Tribune
• New Program Prepares Residents for Disaster
Residents of south county communities on April 30 and May 6 will have the opportunity to learn about the Neighbor to Neighbor program recently implemented by the West Slope Foundation.
(04/21/2023) → Mountain Democrat
• Roseville Approves Tax Bonds for Community Facilities District
The Roseville City Council approved the Westbrook Community Facilities District Tax Bonds. Not to exceed $4,500,000, the bonds can be used for various amenities, such as drainage system improvements and park improvements.
(04/21/2023) → Gold Country Media
• Residents Raise Concerns, Ideas at VHR Forum
Dozens of local residents came together for a public forum held by El Dorado County Supervisor Brooke Laine regarding potential amendments to the ordinance governing vacation home rentals.
(04/20/2023) → Tahoe Daily Tribune
• Auburn Names New City Manager
The city of Auburn has made an offer to Sean Rabe to take over for former City Manager John Donlevy, who retired. According to Mayor Alice Dowdin-Calvillo, “We were extremely fortunate to have received over 35 applications for the position from which we interviewed four highly qualified candidates.”
(04/20/2023) → Auburn Journal
• Tennis, Pickleball Courts Coming to Tahoe Vista
Construction of new tennis and pickleball courts at the North Tahoe Regional Park will begin soon after a critical funding component was approved.
(04/20/2023) → Sierra Sun
• The Landing Spot Supports Parents
The Landing Spot, a non-religious group that is part of the Loomis Basin Congregational United Church of Christ, helps LGBTQ+ youth and families. The group has been plagued by threats, and all in-person gatherings had to be temporarily canceled. Speaking anonymously to protect themselves, parents shared their positive experiences with the Landing Spot.
(04/20/2023) → Gold Country Media
• Input Sought for Tahoe Truckee Housing Needs Survey
The Mountain Housing Council of Tahoe Truckee, a project of the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, launched a new housing survey for employers and employees.
(04/20/2023) → Sierra Sun
• Loomis Town Council Decides to Appoint Treasurer
Rather than call a special election, Loomis officials have opted to appoint a temporary replacement for beloved Town Treasurer Roger Carroll, who was killed in a bicycle accident. Staff recommended a one-year appointment until the 2024 regular election.
(04/19/2023) → Gold Country Media
• State Officials to Attend National Wildfire Preparedness Day
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and California Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil will speak at an event in May that will help residents understand new wildfire mitigation, insurance, and home inspection laws.
(04/19/2023) → Tahoe Daily Tribune
• South Lake Tahoe Planners to Discuss Noise Policies
With a surge in inquiries and permit applications for whole house generators, the city of South Lake Tahoe Planning Commission will discuss whether noise policies should be revisited by the city council.
(04/19/2023) → Tahoe Daily Tribune
• Placer Community Shares Thoughts on Project 8 Winery
Although the Placer County Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the Project 8 Winery and its entitlements on April 27, residents took the opportunity to begin sharing input during the public comment period of the April 13 meeting.
(04/18/2023) → Gold Country Media
• Kaiser Breaks Ground on Expansion
Kaiser Permanente has begun a $1 billion construction project that will include six floors of additional hospital space at its Roseville location. Additional beds, operating rooms, a pharmacy, and more will be included. The project is expected to be complete in 2027.
(04/17/2023) → Read the full The Sacramento Bee report