Bears unlimited/Fostering dogs and kitties

The Union has a good article today regarding the bear population and bear interaction in Nevada County.  The title is:  Official:  People "root" of nuisance bear problems.  I know, some of my readers will often say, "Yes, but they are getting too close and too bold, and I have kids/grandkids."  Please be assured that there has NEVER been an incidence of black bear attack, even by momma bears in Northern California.  While it may seem bold that they are passing only yards away from you, their quest is their food, not human meat.  They are mostly fruit/vege eaters.  They forage.  When you leave garbage/dog/cat food accessible to them, or when they sniff food being prepared in your home, they are attracted.  So, if you take proper precautions, ie garbage out in the am on Thursday, no pet/bird food on porches, they will have no reason to get close to your home.  Just a thoughtful moment can actually save a bear's life.  These are majestic and shy natural residents of these mountains.  Please respect their space, and you will find that they will respect yours.
********************************
If you read this blog, you know I am a foster mom for both Scooters Pals and Sammies Friends.  Both of these organization desperately need foster homes for high risk animals.  For Sammies, it is full on kitten season.  Almost every day someone brings in kittens, often feral with no momma, and they are too young still for adoption.  They need homes for these babies for only a few weeks till they are 2lbs and can be spay/neutered and old enough for adoption.  They are usually already eating on their own.  Is this something you can help with?  It is at no cost to you, as they will supply any food/meds needed. You can reach the shelter at 471-5041 to volunteer.  It is very rewarding and a great way to get you "kitten fix" without making a 15 year commitment.
They also sometimes have dogs that are recovering from surgery or getting depressed from long term stays, who would be far more adoptable if they were thriving in a home atmosphere.
Scooters Pals pulls dogs from high kill shelters (some kill 60% of their dogs).  They pull highly adoptable dogs, mostly under 20 lbs. that are set to die merely due to overcrowding.  No issues.  Right now they have poodle and poodle mixes, rat terriers, and other assorted small mixed breeds.  They are having an adoptathon tomorrow at 11-2pm at Petco in Grass Valley by Raleys.  Even if you don't want to adopt, if you think you can provide a safe foster home for these sweet babies please come down and talk with the volunteer staff.  Scooters does not have shelter, ALL their dogs are in foster homes. You can visit Scooterspals.org for more info.  We always have at least one Scooters dog, and currently have Sammies Friends dog staying with us.  Most get adopted within a month, as they are listed on Petfinder.com which is very effective for placing dogs.
I can't tell you how rewarding it is to see these dogs blossom as they start feeling secure and loved again, after being abandoned by their families.  I fall in love over and over, but always keep in mind that the sweet animal is just a visitor in my home, and will soon go to what will hopefully be their forever family.  My adopters always keep me posted, and the many emails and pics I get make it all so worth the small effort on my part.
So, please consider this worthwhile way of helping our doggie and kitty friends.

Friends of Gary are planning a event at LML for friends of Gary

Pam Herrenkohl would like all to know that a potluck/bbq will be held in Gary's honor Saturday, June 2nd at 3pm.  That man sure loved a good BBQ!  So please come and remember Gary with friends and neighbors.  I'm sure the horseshoes will be flying, along with the funny and warm stories.  Thanks for the comments on this blog.  We all have memories we would like to share, and this would be a great place to share them.
*********************
There is a meeting at the Firehouse this Wed. regarding sewer issues.  As you may know, 83 of the 400 or so homes in the shores are serviced by their own sewer plant in Gas Canyon.  It's a long story that you probably already know . . . but if you have interest in the status quo, be at the firehouse 5/30 at 7pm.
*********************
I learned alot at the annual CSHA meeting, which I'll try to recall. One thing comes to mind is that if you have Surburban Propane, they have a summer college student program, in which they hire kids to paint their tanks.  SO, if your tank is looking grungy (mine sure is) you can call the GV office and they will FOR FREE send a kid to clean and paint your tank.  Nice.
***************************
The Garden Tour was fabulous this year.  Every year I am a bit apathetic about my yard, then I go on the tour and get COMPLETELY ENERGIZED.  Everything is just leapin' out of the ground right now.  Gotta love spring here.  We live for 6 months in a black and white photo, then it just POPS into color like the movie PLEASANTVILLE.  The dogwoods are spectacular this year.  Enjoy.
***************************

Waited a week for the solar eclipse, then completely forgot.  Here I was on the sofa about 5:30 when it suddenly got real dark in the yard, and still it didn't jog my one functioning memory cell.  Oh well.  Did you  see it?  Was it fab?

Gary Kilday, 5-18-2012

If you've lived in Cascade Shores for the past 12 years or so, you know Gary.  He was a frequent fixture at Lost Mine Lake (grounds keeper and parking lot greeter), the General Store, the Firehouse events and Scotts Flat Lake.  He loved the Shores, and had many friends and if truth be told, foes, here.  Gary was a lifetime scrapper, and proud of it.  He has a can of beer permanently affixed to his grip, and a smile and a joke were never far away.  Gary had many exwives, and 7 exchildren.  I'm not being mean, this is a Gary quote.  Just to prove he was a hopeless romantic, he married a nice woman with 2 sons, Monica, Tom and Trever right here in the Shores only 5 months ago.  z
Gary lost his battle with cancer on Friday, May 12th at the Hospice of the Foothills.  It is one battle I wish Gary had won, but so it goes.  Arrangements are being made at Hooper & Weaver for cremation and placement in their Memorial Garden.

I'm sure I join many in hoping Gary finds plentiful fishing, lots of firewood and many friends to share a brew with in the afterlife.  Here's to you, old boy.  Thanks for all the laughs, controversy, jokes and help at the lake.  You have left plenty of memories and stories for your friends to relive in you absence.

Tips on making your home Bear Safe (from Bear League)

Yes, the bears are out now, and they have their spring babies. So it is very important that you take all precautions to make your home or yard NOT "bear friendly." If you make it easy for them to find food in your area, you are enabling them, and causing them to become a "nuisance bear." A nuisance bear is a dead bear. Please do your part to help keep the bears and yourself safe.

* Never Feed the Bears! Not Ever!

Report any neighbors or visitors who are doing so to the BEAR League.

* Make birdfeeders inaccessible to bears or take them down.

* Do not leave accessible windows or doors open. Screens are not bear-proof.

* Be sure your doors are solid wood or metal and install and use heavy deadbolts.

* Spray Pinesol on window and door casings to mask food odors coming from inside. Repeat often.

* Check out deterrents at www.rexplus.com and think seriously about getting a motion activated barking dog device. (Call us for advice or assistance)

* Replace single pane windows with double pane.

* If your house is not permanently occupied (if is a vacation home) it is highly recommended that
all food be removed between visits or rentals and while the house is unoccupied. Bears smell spices, teas, and other food through the walls and normal bear instinct dictates that they use their claws, teeth and incredible strength to get at it.

* Securely block access to under-house crawl spaces.

* Leave lights and radio or TV on when not at home.

* Do not use DeCon. It attracts bears.

* Don't leave any garbage near the house.

* Don't leave pet food outside and don't feed pets outside.

* Don't leave food in cars. Roll up windows and lock doors.

* Don't talk nicely to bears who come near your house. Make them think you will harm them.

* Be aggressive with them. * Use a paintball gun, throw a rock, or use an airhorn

^ Be dominant, not submissive. Make sure they know they are not welcome.

Master Gardener @ Womens club meet Wed evening*****

Hi yall, enjoying 2 days of snow? Not sticking much, still, is this really April. Well, the nature rule is 3 snows after the dogwoods bloom. I have not yet seen a bloomin' dogwood, so hang in there.

*************

Who: Lynn Sorenson, Master Gardener

What: Her speech will be about plants/soils for a Fire-Wise Community.

Q & A will follow afterwards

When: Wednesday, April 25 at 7:00-8:30pm

Where: Firehouse

The Womens Club is extending an invite to all residents for the above. Bring a treat to share if you wish. It's always a challenge growing anything other than natural landscaping here, and you certainly don't want to increase the fire danger on your property, so this would be a great opportunity for those ready to face the challenge!

***********************

So many for sale and seemingly abandoned properties here, and in all parts of the county I suppose. I am becoming concerned about the amount of downed/dead trees on these properties that seem to have no caretakers at this time. Hope to bring it up at the annual meeting. How about you? Do you have a property adjacent to yours that looks like it could use some firewise attention? Obviously it's not a problem at this very wet moment, but this summer things could get dicey. The Homeowners Assn. has been helpful in the past to notify property owners (if you can identify) that their lot needs attention. Hoping they can be of assistance in these challenging times with property being in limbo . . . . .Any ideas?????? Is there any way to have the banks that are holding title adhere to fire safety guidelines?

HOMEOWNERS ASSN annual meeting this Sat

Hoping you can come to the Firehouse this Sat. 1-3PM for the annual open meeting. This is your opportunity to discuss issues, or give the Board a pat on the back for a year of volunteer service. Also, bring your membership fee, which helps them help YOU get that great Surburban Propane discount in addition to supporting Lost Mine Lake and newsletter mailings, among other things. I think they are confirming this years board also. I'm guessing there are snacks and beverages, and the chance to mingle with some neighbors, so why the heck not! Hope to see you there.

************************

A nice (new) neighbor came into the shelter looking for his lost kitty. He just moved into a home on Gas Canyon by BQH, and he said his kitty just disappeared. It was a cat he adopted from the Plains of Iowa, so he's hoping the cat is "wild" wise. If you see a spare kitty around, he is the 3rd house on the right when you go down Gas Canyon. I think there are posters out there.

**************************

Lots of rain due this week, but spring is around the corner. All the daffs are blooming in town, and ours are showing their sunny little faces on the hill. Such a great time of year. Can't wait to feel warm air again. This was a long winter ya'll.

CRIME SPREES IN CASCADE SHORES/PLUS EASTER PARTY

Hope you're all planning a great Easter weekend. The women's club is putting the finishing touches on their annual Firehouse Easter Party for the little ones. If you have a child who wants really fond memories of Easter, bring them down on Saturday. Linda Lumos, Charlotte Starn and I baked dozens and dozens of beautiful cookies for the event. They will have games and crafts and fabulous take home baskets for all. Snacks will be served and I hear that the EASTER BUNNY himself will be there, and his name is Herve. They club pulls out all the stops for this, never knowing who's coming . . .so don't cheat yourself or the kids out of a fun time.

****************************

Went downtown Grass Valley this am with Karen Lari, and we toured Mill St. Lots of transitions happening there. Tesses Kitchen is moving a few doors down towards Main, and will have 3 levels including a real kitchen for classes. That wonderful art and floral shop on Mill (name escapes me) is reinventing itself into flowers plus hand made chocolates and candies by Lazy Dog bakery. That is a total winner. Saw a few more shops that are now vacant (don't even remember what was there) so should see some new businesses soon. Grass Valley is ever evolving, and usually for the better!

*******************************

I hear thru the grapevine there have been a rash of burglaries and vandalism here in the Shores.

Because I did not confirm (though I'm sure it's true) I will only mention the street where the event happened.

Banner Quaker Hill Rd: thieves entered an open garage and broke antique gum ball machines. Gum balls stolen.

Summit Ridge Dr: 1 adult and 3 minor's broke into a home while owners were vacationing. Intruders vandalized a sofa, ate from the refrigerator, and found a bed that was "just right." Bedding was damaged beyond repair. Intruders used flooring as a toilet.

Cascade Loop: an intruder or intruders opened a closed door in a garage, entered and raided a freezer. Stolen and assumed eaten were 1 prime rib, 1 pork loin, 2 fish sticks and 1/2 gallon of strawberry ice cream.

Pictures of the suspects are below. If you see any these "characters" in the neighborhood, DO NOT ATTEMPT a citizens arrest. This should be left to the pro's.