Our Journalism Needs Your Support

By Eric Johnson
Published Nov 18, 2024

The Chumash National Marine Sanctuary Image credit: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA

The Life Aquatic: Resilience and ... Aquarium Webcams!

This week, you might appreciate some reasons to believe that it's reasonable to hold out hope for the future—I'm just guessing. And you may also be ripe to be remindeed that there are some good things happening in this real world, while elsewhere things are getting weirder than ever. I feel fortunate to bring you three pieces of truly good news.

And yes, a reminder: If you hopescroll a bit here, you will find a recipe that you might use to make yourself and your loved ones more happy, AND links to true news articles about stuff that is happening where you live, so you can actually participate in building democracy. (Sorry ... don't mean to sound preachy ... and ... you're welcome.)

People Have the Power

Here’s a good story with a happy ending: A decade ago, the Chumash Tribal Council, led by Chief Fred Collins, proposed to federal authorities that the coastal waters offshore of their ancestral homeland be designated as a National Marine Sanctuary. In October, that wish came to be. (See below.)

The Chumash people found an ally in the state of California, and also in federal agencies. Sometimes–not always–government works. In this case, definitely yes.

Meanwhile, up the coast in Santa Cruz County, the California State Parks department is working to democratize decisions about rebuilding a state beach and campground that were decimated by storm damage in 2023. The Seacliff Resilience Project is holding public meetings and collecting input—"reimagining" ways to guard against the twin threats of megastorms and rising sea-levels. This could be a new thing statewide and beyond.

And the life of the sea abides: The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a California treasure of global significance. Among the myriad gifts it brings the world are its webcams. Please do yourself a favor and hit the link and watch -- the otters. Or the moon jellies. Or (deep breath) the kelp forest. Face it: Things are not all bad.

The Chumash National Marine Sanctuary

The newest of the 17 U.S. marine sanctuaries is being stewarded by the people who know it best.

Thousands of square miles of ocean and coastal habitat are now preserved for future generations.

Crowdsourcing Plans for Resilience

Seacliff State Beach was obliterated by storms in 2023. California State Parks is mobilizing the public to reimagine its future.

One Good Thing: Monterey Bay Aquarium Webcams

The gentle waving back and forth of the kelp forest has entranced visitors since the aquarium opened.

Have a desire to watch a kelp forest, or some moon jellies, or some otters, or sharks, or birds? Not a problem thanks to these amazing live webcams.

	Yolo County's Homepage
Direct your browser to https://yolo.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and Yolo County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community!

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 Fall! cookbook.

Persimmons add flavor to fruity fall scones

The firmer Fuyu persimmon is the fruit featured in this delicious scone.

New! Persimmon-raisin scones with fresh Fuyu persimmon

Get to Know a Group

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brother Big Sisters provides children facing adversity with strong, enduring, professionally supported mentorship. The chapter serves Sacramento and Yolo counties, as well as southern Placer County.

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From Our Media Allies

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	When Fish Are Free: Hundreds of Salmon Are Now Spawning in Klamath River and Tributaries After Dam Removal Completed
	Hundreds of fall-run Chinook salmon are now spawning on the Klamath River and its tributaries both above and below the former sites...

	Sierra Nevada May Hold Key to Meet California’s Ambitious 30×30 Goal
	California's 30 X 30 goal was a topic at the Sierra Nevada Alliance Conservation Conference held at Lake Tahoe Community College, Nov. 7-8. In 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom committed the state to conserving 30% of lands and coastal waters …

	Holiday Tree Lighting Date Announced
	The streets in front of City Hall in West Sacramento will shut down and become a Winter Wonderland on Dec. 6.

	West Sacramento Provides Meals and Socialization for Seniors
	On July 31, Meals on Wheels Yolo County launched Café Yolo, a social dining experience for seniors age 60+ to meet and socialize every Wednesday at the West Sacramento Community Center.

	West Sacramento to Host Turkey Tri
	Presented by the West Sacramento Recreation Center, Turkey Tri is a popular sprint triathlon that takes place annually, typically around the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s a festive, family-friendly event that welcomes athletes of all levels to participate in various race formats …

	Yolo County Upgrades to a New Evacuation System
	Yolo County is introducing a new evacuation notification platform that went live on Nov. 7 called Genasys Protect EVAC.

	City Council Rejects Yarbrough Appeal
	After a more than four-hour public hearing Nov. 6, West Sacramento City Council voted four to one to deny an appeal and approve a resolution to proceed with the Yarbrough development, a project first approved in 2008.

	SMUD Lists Unclaimed Checks on Its Website
	The names of customers and vendors who have not yet cashed checks dated Sept. 30, 2021 or earlier are now available on smud.org.

Recent Local News

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• Sacramento Traffic Fatalities a 'State of Emergency'

Get the details of the Sacramento City Council consideration of a Pedestrian Safety State of Emergency declaration and the increasing pedestrian and cyclist fatalities behind it.

(11/15/2024) → CapPublicRadio

• New Plans to Invest in Old Sacramento Waterfront

In a November 14 press conference, City of Sacramento officials outlined a planned major investment in the Old Sacramento Waterfront. Read on for details.

(11/14/2024) → CapPublicRadio

• Yolo County Building Neighborhood Resilience

Learn more about the Yolo County Office of Emergency Services launch of the 'Yolo Ready' program with a mission of increasing neighborhood resilience and disaster preparedness.

(11/14/2024) → Davis Enterprise

• Mountain Lions Seen in Winters

Learn more about where in the Winters area mountain lions have been sighted, and advice for residents from the Winters Police.

(11/12/2024) → Daily Democrat

Recent Statewide News

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• Lobbying Activity This Past Summer Cost a Record-Breaking $168 Million. Here’s What We Know.

Between the summer session of the California Legislature featuring hot topics like AI regulation and money for journalism, and a special one focusing on gas prices, powerful corporations poured in record-setting money to influence lawmakers.

(11/18/2024) → CalMatters

• How Three Trump Policy Decrees Could Affect California’s Agricultural Industry

Voters in California’s farm belt, stretching more than 400 miles from Kern County on the south to Tehama County on the north, delivered solid majorities for Donald Trump in this month’s presidential election.

(11/18/2024) → CalMatters

• Fewer Kids Are Going to California Public Schools. Is There a Right Way to Close Campuses?

Declining enrollment, the end of pandemic relief funding and uncertain state funding are forcing school districts to make some difficult decisions.

(11/14/2024) → CalMatters

• California Schools Brace for Trump’s Attacks on Immigrants, Trans Students and ‘Woke’ Curriculum

More than 115,000 children in California were undocumented in the most recent census count, and it’s estimated almost half of California children have at least one immigrant parent.

(11/13/2024) → CalMatters

• UC Faces Half-Billion-Dollar Budget Shortfall and Eyes Tuition Increase for New Nonresident Students

The University of California anticipates more than a $500 million budget gap next summer, so It’s considering a $3,402 jump in tuition for new nonresident students next fall. Meanwhile, the system is planning billions in construction projects.

(11/13/2024) → CalMatters

• Trump Has Promised to ‘End’ Offshore Wind. What Will That Mean for California’s Big Bet?

Trump’s promise to “end” the offshore wind industry could threaten CA’s renewable energy goals, potentially cutting off federal funding.

(11/13/2024) → CalMatters

• Trump’s Proposed Tariffs, Especially on China and Mexico, Could Hit California Hard

Trump has threatened new, higher tariffs on two of California’s biggest trade partners, China and Mexico. The state’s workers and economy could feel the most impact.

(11/12/2024) → CalMatters

Government Announcements

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	United States (11/17/2024) IHA Beverage Issues a Voluntary Recall of Super Cinnamon Powder 4oz Because of Lead Contamination
IHA Beverage of Commerce, CA is recalling Super Cinnamon Powder 4oz, because it has the potential to be contaminated with elevated levels of lead. Short term exposures to very low levels of lead may not elicit any symptoms. It is possible that increased blood lead levels may be the only apparent sig

	United States (11/17/2024) Fabalish Inc. Recalls "Kickin' Carrot Falafel Bites" Because of Possible Health Risk
Fabalish Inc, Carlstadt, NJ is recalling Kickin' Carrot Falafel Bites because it may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O121:H19

	United States (11/16/2024) Grimmway Farms Recalls Organic Whole and Select Organic Baby Carrots That May Be in Consumers' Homes Due to Potential E. coli Contamination
Grimmway Farms has issued a recall of select organic whole carrots and organic baby carrots that should no longer be in grocery stores but may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers.

State of California (11/14/2024)

Bill Dodd CA Senate 03:
Sen. Dodd Comments on Insurance Commissioner’s Wildfire Insurance Regulations

Thursday, November 14, 2024 SACRAMENTO Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued the following statement today on the submittal by California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara of new regulations on catastrophic modeling that could help improve availability of insurance in wildfire-prone areas: I appreciate Commissioner Lara for moving this forward, Sen. Dodd said. Its a complex problem and there isnt a panacea, but …

	City of Woodland (11/14/2024) Martin Luther King Jr. Student Essay and Visual Art Contest
Students are invited to participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Essay and Visual Art Contest.

	State of California (11/12/2024) Bill Dodd CA Senate 03: Sen. Dodd: Napa County Agrees to Skyline Wilderness Park Purchase
Tuesday, November 12, 2024NAPA Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, today announced the culmination of a yearslong campaign to expand conservation and recreation for Napa County residents as the Board of Supervisors signed off on an intent to purchase the 874-acre Skyline Wilderness Park from the state of California. Im excited to see the vision for this incredible piece of land come …

	United States (11/11/2024) Gilster - Mary Lee Corp. Issues a Recall for Undeclared Egg Allergen in Bowl & Basket Onion Soup Mix
Gilster-Mary Lee, 520 Old St. Mary's Road, of Perryville, Missouri, is voluntarily recalling two lots of Bowl & Basket Onion Soup Mix, UPC 41190-08394 at the consumer level because it may contain undeclared egg. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to egg run the risk of serious or lif

	United States (11/09/2024) Yu Shang Food Inc. Recalls Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2024 - Yu Shang Food, Inc, a Spartanburg, SC, establishment, is recalling approximately 4,589 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products out of an abundance of...

	United States (11/07/2024) Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. Announces Voluntary Recall of Large Asian Sesame Salad with Chicken Due to Presence of Undeclared Egg Allergen
Possible Undeclared Egg Allergen

	City of Woodland (11/07/2024) Yolo County Upgrades to New Evacuation System
New platform will help provide more responsive and informative evacuation notices to residents during an emergency

The Life Aquatic: Resilience and ... Aquarium Webcams!

People Have the Power

Yolo County's Homepage

Recipe of the Week

Get to Know a Group

From Our Media Allies

Recent Local News

Recent Statewide News

Government Announcements