Lorraine’s Lowdown: All you need is love … and a warm scarf

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It’s called heat bombardment when members of the anonymous group Nevada County Random Acts of Warmth leave dozens of plush scarves and hats in random GeeVee locations. The items are free for passers-by who need them. This year’s Warmth Bombing took place on December 11th and it rained until late at night. “We were concerned that if some scarves and hats weren’t picked up that day they would become mushy nuisances, so the cute husband of one of us bombers drove downtown to see at 4:30 the next morning,” reports an organizer. â€œHe only found two items and got them. Fortunately, he was not reported for suspicious behavior at this hour … “

Scarves and hats are left in strategic locations in downtown Grass Valley by members of the Nevada County Random Acts of Warmth. The items are free to those who need them. This year’s message, included with every hat or scarf, was: â€œKeep Nevada County Warm. And nice.”
Submitted to the Union

NevCo Random Acts of Warmth started in 2015, and this year’s Warmth Bombing seemed to affect more people than in some years. “I think after everything that has happened in the last two years, people are just looking for one good thing that they can feel good about,” says the organizer, who says that everyone who does next year – anonymously – want to help, visit the group’s Facebook page. â€œAfter this year’s bombing, we received several offers for donations. We seek and are unable to receive monetary donations and suggest that people donate to one of the many wonderful local nonprofits that touch their hearts instead … “

This year’s Christmas decoration proudly displays the facade of the newly renovated Center of the Arts. The Grass Valley Downtown Association publishes a Christmas ornament each year that celebrates the city through its architecture. The tradition dates back to 2004, and previous ornaments have featured the downtown clock tower (2012), the Stamp Mill (2013), and the Ore Cart (2014). The $ 15 collectibles are available at Foothill Mercantile, and a percentage goes to the nonprofit GVDA …

**Foothill Mercantile saleswoman Nadine McCary shows off the Grass Valley Downtown Association 2021 Christmas ornament with the Center for the Arts.**
*Lorraine Jewett*

Wreaths reap rewards. The NevCo Contractors’ Association sells wreaths to its members to buy for $ 250 and uses those donations to help others. The nonprofit, which consists of approximately 350 local construction companies, sold 30 wreaths that year for $ 7,000. The NCCA also hosted a drive-thru BBQ last month that raised $ 4,000 for its altruistic vacation efforts. “Our drive-through dinner and donations from our generous members will help provide food and gifts to seven families who could use a little help this Christmas season,” says NCCA Executive Director Bre Deschaine …

From left, Nevada County Contractors’ Association Chairman Steve Piziali, his wife Molly and NCCA General Manager Bre Deschaine show the organization’s Christmas tree, which is adorned with the names of member companies who have bought wreaths to serve local families in need help. At the NCCA holiday celebration, guests also donated groceries and gifts.
*Lorraine Jewett*

NevCo Auditor-Controller Marcia Salter tells me she won’t run again in the June primary. Marcia started working in the office in 1993 and was named chief honcho when Bruce Bielefelt retired at halftime in 2006. She was then elected and re-elected four times. Marcia was one of three county employees who uncovered a nefarious $ 1.2 million embezzlement program in 1995 in which the risk manager used his ill-gotten gains to buy gold coins and other investments. â€œIt was a great learning opportunity and the catalyst for further strengthening our internal control practices,â€ says Marcia. â€œIt was truly an honor and a very humbling experience to work in this area of â€‹â€‹public service. However, I am ready to start a new chapter in my life filled with grandchildren, volunteering, travel and time in the great outdoors … “

Marcia Salter is not seeking re-election as Nevada County auditor in the June primary. Salter has been working as an auditor controller since 2006. She is also the past president of Grass Valley Rotary Club – shown here at Rotary Work Day – and past president of the State Association of County Auditor-Controllers.
*Submitted to the Union*

NevCo Board Chairman Dan Miller was elected chairman of the Rural County Representatives of California (http://www.RCRCNet.org). The RCRC promotes policy on behalf of its 38 small and rural member states and has committees that have direct contact with state lawmakers. As chairman of the RCRC, Dan will mandate these important committees to oversee and direct the membership. “The RCRC is fighting the ‘one size fits all’ mentality prevalent in Sacramento and Washington,” says Dan. â€œDuring this pandemic in particular, we saw how this attitude benefits the larger, more densely populated areas. If we defend ourselves against laws that adversely affect our small counties, we are essentially fighting for our rural quality of life … “

They call themselves “bookmakers”. but they are only betting on the success of the NevCo Library System. About a quarter of a million books are donated to local libraries each year, and Friends of the Libraries (http://www.NCFOL.org) sort, organize and rate each one. Some books – duplicates or damaged ones – are sold to a company who will resell them or turn the books into recycled paper. All other donated books are available from the book sale, held at the Doris Foley Historical Library in NevCity every first Saturday of the month from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Note: The January 1st sale is postponed to January 8th due to the New Year holidays …

From left, Nevada County’s Friends of the Library members Barry Howard, Joan Elmore, Cathy Eville, Irene Ventura, Sara Brownwood, and Eric Trygg help sort, organize, and evaluate each of the 250,000 books donated each year.
*Lorraine Jewett*

â€œWork with these books is an addicting social activity, â€said Desmond Gallagher, Friends of the Libraries board member, who has been donating time to tome since 2001. “Our book sales fund special programs that don’t cover the library’s budget.” Monthly book sales bring the library system about $ 42,000 annually, even though books cost between 50 cents and $ 1 …

From left: Jill Kelly, Gale Williams, Marie Rich, Desmond Gallagher, and Eric Flaherty are members of the Nevada County Friends of the Library, a volunteer group that raises $ 42,000 annually for local libraries through monthly book sales.
*Lorraine Jewett*

Andrew Trygg is the interim CEO of the NevCo Fairgrounds, and our beloved fairgrounds couldn’t be in better hands. Andrew entered the show part-time in 1996 as a teenager and continued to work on the show’s major seasonal events, Draft Horse Classic and Country Christmas Faire. Fast forward to 2013, when Andrew was named to the Fair Board of Directors by Governor Jerry Brown. That year, Andrew was elected chairman of the board and agreed to serve as interim CEO after former CEO Patrick Eidman moved to Colorado in September. Andrew reports that new CEO recruiting is progressing. He says, â€œWe had interviews last week and are looking forward to a candidate. We hope that this person will hold the chair until February 1st … “

If Ricki Heck (yes, Nevada Irrigation Department elected board member) wanted to send her daughter a beloved family rocking horse halfway across the country, Ricki went to the UPS shipping point near the airport. UPS employee Garret Cox, assisted by Kevin Porter, realized that the unusual size and shape of the toy required their packaging expertise – plus there was no way to take it apart. So configured, buffered, layered and sealed. “You did a great job and the rocking horse arrived safely and undamaged at my daughter’s home in Bloomington, Indiana,” says Ricki. â€œHaving these cherished family toys for the Thanksgiving and Hanukkah holidays meant a lot, especially to my grandson Rubin. I just want to honor Garret and Kevin who went out of their way to help … “