Mariposa Daily News 2012

California State Parks Foundation Announces Grants to Help Keep State Parks Open

Last Updated on Thursday, 17 May 2012 08:40

Funding will help nonprofit partners across the state keep 15 parks open for one year.

May 17, 2012 - SAN FRANCISCO -- Today the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) announces it will award 13 grants totaling $328,586 to organizations that are fighting to keep state parks off the closure list (organizations and parks listed below). This serious one-year commitment is one of several steps the 43-year-old foundation is taking in response to the crisis of park closures across California's state park system. These grants were made possible by generous funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and the Thomas J. Long Foundation. These foundations have supported the work of CSPF for many years, and both have stepped up their support at this critical moment to help keep a number of state parks open.

“We are pleased to announce these grants as part of our integrated effort to help keep these threatened parks open,” said CSPF President Elizabeth Goldstein. “The grantees that have come forward to assist parks need our help now, and more organizations will have similar needs in the future. It is our hope to assist in providing reprieves for as many parks as possible by working closely with the parks community. We’ve been working hard on a number of different fronts, such as launching a major fundraising campaign and offering new technical assistance to nonprofits working to keep parks open.”

In addition to these 13 new grants, CSPF previously awarded two grants to temporarily keep open Santa Susana State Historic Park and Jughandle State Natural Reserve. All of these awards are contingent on the state entering into agreements with these organizations who have developed strong and effective proposals to keep parks open.

“This is an example of the value of public-private partnerships,” said California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Director Ruth Coleman. “We thank CSPF for mobilizing donors and resources to assist our nonprofit partners to get through this budget crisis.”

“Our Foundation is proud to support the Park Operations Challenge Grant Program that will keep state parks on the closure list open, and we applaud the efforts of the California State Parks Foundation for its vision of developing public-private partnership models of management to make continued operations of the state park system sustainable long into the future,” said Thomas J. Long Foundation Executive Director Bob Coakley.

Seventy state parks were originally slated for closure by July 1, 2012. Thanks to the efforts of private donors, nonprofits, local governments and DPR, numerous deals throughout the state have been finalized to keep some parks open temporarily, with many more in the works. All of the state parks community has acted in an exemplary fashion to adapt to the state’s financial distress. Ultimately however, this good work can only be rewarded by the state re-funding these parks so they have a long-term future that is sustainable.

“We look forward to the moment when the ink dries on the deals between these nonprofits and the state,” said Goldstein. “They are very much in the process at the moment, and we think these grant announcements are an important milestone toward their completion.”

Grants were awarded to the following organizations:

Park: Anderson Marsh State Historic Park
Grantee: Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association

“The Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association is grateful for this financial support,” said Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association Treasurer Henry Bornstein. “This will allow us to meet our fundraising goals and be ready to move ahead with confidence in negotiating an operating agreement with DPR. We appreciate everything that the California State Parks Foundation is doing to assist nonprofits that are working to prevent park closures.”

Park: Austin Creek State Recreation Area
Grantee: Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods

“Stewards' efforts to keep Austin Creek SRA open and preserve both its natural and cultural resources would not be possible without the assistance provided by CSPF,” said Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods Executive Director Michele Luna. “Their operating grant and technical assistance program have given us both the confidence and resources to launch a plan that is strategic, innovative as well as adaptive during these changing times.”

Parks: Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park and Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Grantee: Napa County Regional Parks and Open Space District

“The money is a huge help and it feels good to know there are people out there who understand how hard we are working,” said the Napa Valley State Parks Association’s Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator Jeanne Marioni. “We have assembled a great team and believe the Napa Valley State Parks will benefit under our stewardship.”

Park: Castle Crags State Park
Grantee: Innovations Housing

“Castle Crags State Park is a unique and wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors, a gateway to California from the North, and vital to the economy of the Northern California,” said Innovations Housing President Jim Koenigsaecker. “A grant from the California State Parks Foundation could be the catalyst that enables this community to save our park.

Park: China Camp State Park
Grantee: Marin State Parks Association (for Friends of China Camp)

“The CSPF grant fills a critical need for capital improvements which not only will improve the experience of park users, but increase revenues to support the operation of the park,” said Friends of China Camp Chairperson Ernest Chung.

Park: Greenwood State Beach and Elk Visitor Center
Grantee: Department of Parks and Recreation

“It's great to get another park 'off the list;' great for Elk and the local community, and yes, more proof that great things can be accomplished when we work together,” said Olmsted Fund Executive Director Alden Olmsted.

Park: Hendy Woods State Park
Grantee: Hendy Woods Community

“The grant from the California State Parks Foundation will help us implement key provisions of our Donor Agreement, particularly our commitment to field 1,000 hours of volunteer time at the park,” said Hendy Woods Community Chair Kathy Bailey. “The grant money will allow us to hire a part-time Volunteer Coordinator to ensure the volunteer program runs smoothly, with a minimum amount of management time needed from park employees. Additionally, the grant money will allow us to have funds on hand if revenues fall short or an unexpected infrastructure problem arises.”

Park: Jack London State Historic Park
Grantee: Valley of the Moon Natural History Association

“We are honored to have the support of the California State Parks Foundation as we embark on this historic and precedent setting public/private partnership to keep parks open,” said Valley of the Moon Natural Historic Association Executive Director Tjiska Van Wyk. “Thanks to the support of the Foundation and other important community partners, Jack London State Historic Park will remain open and THRIVE as a treasured community resource for all of the public to enjoy.”

Parks: McConnell State Recreation Area and George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area
Grantee: East Merced Resource Conservation District

“Keeping McConnell and Hatfield SRAs on the Merced River opened, was so much worthwhile work, but without CSPF’s gap-funding grant for the 30 percent funding still needed, it would have been for naught,” said East Merced Resource Conservation District Director Richard Jantz. “We had about 60 percent of the funding; then with the possibility of this gap funding we were able to raise the final 10 percent. The committee truly appreciates the East Merced Resource Conservation District for stepping up to take this on, the County of Merced, City of Newman, the Delhi MAC and numerous area farms, businesses and individuals that donated to keep these riparian, oak-studded parks open for our local families and visitors to the Central Valley. Our year two campaign starts June 2 and 3 at the Pick and Gather at Riverdance Farms and Merced River Fair.”

Park: Palomar Mountain State Park
Grantee: Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Interpretive Association (for Friends of Palomar)

“This tremendous contribution from CSPF rounds out our first year's mission-critical funding, which not only closes Palomar's projected operating deficit, but also gives the park staying power in the face of unforeseen costs or underperforming revenue,” said Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Interpretive Association Chairman Rick Barclay. “This takes us out of survival mode for the first year and frees us up to focus on things that will actually move Palomar forward.”

Park: Salton Sea State Recreation Area
Grantee: Sea and Desert Interpretive Association

“This is just the jump start we have been looking for,” said Sea and Desert Interpretive Association President Bill Meister. “Now we will go back out to the media and put out a challenge to hopefully double and triple this money.”

Park: Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
Grantee: Sonoma Ecology Center

“This is fabulous news for Team Sugarloaf,” said Sonoma Ecology Center Executive Director Richard Dale. “Our struggles for nearly a year to keep this special park from closing are turning into a celebration of what a team of committed groups and individuals can accomplish. This grant will allow us to bring all public services back to Sugarloaf, and will help create a reliable revenue stream to assure it stays open into the future.”

Park: William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park
Grantee: Ide Adobe Interpretive Association

“As an interpretive association for a small park, we have appreciated the support of CSPF from the very beginning, and the allocation of this grant has raised our spirits greatly as we continue our efforts to keep Ide Adobe Park open!” said Ide Adobe Interpretive Association President Judy Fessenden.

About CSPF
With our 130,000 members, the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) is the only statewide independent nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, enhancing and advocating for California’s magnificent state parks. Since 1969, CSPF has raised more than $186 million to benefit state parks. CSPF is committed to improving the quality of life for all Californians by expanding access to the natural beauty, rich culture and history, and recreational and educational opportunities offered by California’s 279 state parks—the largest state park system in the United States. For more information about California's state parks, visit calparks.org.

Sierra Foothill Charter School in Cathey's Valley Wins "Green" Grant in Statewide Competition

Last Updated on Thursday, 17 May 2012 06:22

Sierra Foothill Charter School is one of 10 recipients of the first annual Green + 1 Challenge Grants sponsored by the non-profit Synopsys Outreach Foundation.

The $2,000 grant was awarded for the proposed project "Rainwater Harvesting in the Land and Legacy Garden." The proposal was submitted by teacher Caroline Korn. Work on the rainwater harvesting project is already underway at the school.

"Our Judges had a difficult time choosing the winning recipients because we received so many excellent entries from across California," said Gary Robinson, president of the Synopsys Outreach Foundation. "The grant to Sierra Foothill Charter School will provide a terrific 'green' experience for the students and make a measurable impact on the environment."

"We're thrilled and honored to be chosen," said Caroline Korn. "This grant will help provide a wonderful and meaningful experience for our students."

The Green + 1 Challenge awarded 10 grants in the amount of $2,000 each to help teachers undertake class or school-wide projects intended to have a positive and measurable impact on the environment. The deadline for entries was April 16, 2012 and the competition was open to K-8 teachers at public and private non-profit schools in California. A total of 101 entries were received. The proposals were reviewed by a panel of judges from UC Berkeley, Our City Forest, and the Environmental Defense Fund.

Founded in 1999 and based in Sonoma, CA The Synopsys Outreach Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports students and teachers developing science projects. Foundation funding is provided by a generous grant from Synopsys, Inc. of Mountain View, CA, a world leader in electronic design automation (fOA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, JP,and services used in semiconductor design and manufacturing.

Travis Blagg accepts position of Sierra Foothill Charter School Principal in Cathey's Valley

Last Updated on Thursday, 17 May 2012 06:11

travis-blagg-.1 Sierra Foothill Charter School (SFCS) has offered the job of Principal to Travis Blagg and he has accepted.

Blagg is currently under contract with Mariposa County Unified School District (MCUSD), where he has worked as a teacher and teaching principal since 2005. He is currently teaching principal for the Tenaya Opportunity Program, County Community School, and Jessie Benton Fremont Community Day School.

“Travis brings a great deal of experience to our school, plus he has the advantage of knowing and working with MCUSD administrators, teachers, and staff, which is very important to us,” said Jill Harry, Board Chair of SFCS.

Blagg has his administrative credential from the Golden Bell Award winning program, Bridges to Leadership through the Madera County Office of Education. He is currently working on his Masters in Education with an Administrative Services Emphasis from Fresno Pacific University.

"I am thrilled and excited to join the SFCS team,” Blagg said. “From the first organizational meeting I attended, I’ve been impressed by this group of dedicated parents and community member who have worked so hard to bring this charter school to fruition. I consider it an honor and a privilege to have been selected to serve as SFCS’s principal and I can’t wait to begin."

Blagg lives in Mariposa with wife Chrystel and their four young children. His parents are residents of Catheys Valley.

Sierra Foothill Charter School is a new, free, public school in Catheys Valley, which is open to all California residents. SFCS is now accepting registrations for K-8 students for the 2012-2013 school year. Visit sierrafoothillcharterschool.org for more information or to enroll your child

California farmers focus on immigration reform, farm bill in Washington

Last Updated on Thursday, 17 May 2012 04:17

A delegation of California farmers, ranchers and Farm Bureau leaders focuses on federal immigration and farm policy this week during meetings with congressional leaders and administration officials in Washington, D.C.

The California Farm Bureau delegation arrived in Washington Tuesday for two days of meetings that conclude today. Farmers say they will provide firsthand examples of challenges they have faced in hiring and maintaining skilled employees to harvest crops and manage livestock. The delegation will urge representatives to take action as soon as possible to avoid labor shortages that affect the ability to harvest food for American tables.

"Peak harvest season is approaching, and California farmers and ranchers will depend on 400,000 employees to cultivate and harvest fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, livestock and other products," California Farm Bureau President Paul Wenger said. "Another year without a workable solution to immigration policy further jeopardizes our ability to provide the nation's food supply."

Wenger and other Farm Bureau members say farmers depend on an immigrant workforce and that immigration reform should include both a solution for the existing workforce and create a viable visa program for future workers.

As Congress works on federal farm policy, the Farm Bureau group encourages passage of a new farm bill that includes programs to benefit the environment, communities and the agricultural economy.

"For the farm bill to be successful, it must include components we see as vital," Wenger said. "It must help farmers tackle invasive pests and diseases, while opening doors for farmers to sell California-grown crops to new markets and creating more access to fruits, nuts and vegetables in nutrition programs. A successful farm bill must promote conservation programs that help working agricultural land improve air, land and water quality."

The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 74,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of more than 6.2 million Farm Bureau members.

Reprinted with permission: California Farm Bureau Federation.

CalPERS Board Approves State and School Contribution Rates

Last Updated on Thursday, 17 May 2012 04:04

May 16, 2012 - SACRAMENTO, CA – The State of California will pay approximately $3.7 billion next fiscal year for State employee pensions, up from $3.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2011-12. However, this amount is lower than the $3.9 billion the State paid in Fiscal Year 2010-11. In addition, employer contribution amounts for classified School members will drop by $29 million to $1.2 billion. The CalPERS Board of Administration approved the new rates that will go into effect July 1, 2012.

The largest factor in the $213 million increase is the change in economic assumptions approved by the CalPERS Board in March 2012. Lowering the discount rate from 7.75 to 7.5 percent would have had an even greater impact, but the Board adopted a phase-in to allow employers to transition to the higher contribution rates.

“We recognize that these contribution increases, though a very small part of the State’s General Fund, are a challenge in this economic environment,” said Board President Rob Feckner. “The phase-in will allow all employers to gradually transition to higher rates.”

CalPERS adjusts employer contribution rates every year. In 2012-13, the State will pay 19.7 percent of payroll toward the pension cost of Tier 1 Miscellaneous employees, up from 18.2 percent last year. Without phase-in, the State would pay 20.5 percent of payroll.

“Due to the fiscal crisis, employer rates are increasing,” said Priya Mathur, Pension and Health Benefits Committee Chair, “but increased member contributions agreed to in the last two years are keeping costs lower than they were in Fiscal Year 2010-11 when the State paid $3.9 billion for pensions.”

The Board also approved new rates for the Legislators’ Retirement System (LRS) and Judges’ Retirement System II (JRS II). For the first time in over a decade, there will be an employer contribution rate for the LRS, resulting in member contributions being reinstated. The employer contribution rate for JRS II has dropped due to a larger than expected increase in the total payroll and no salary increases for current members in the plans. Details are available online in the agenda items for CalPERS Pension and Health Benefits Committee.

The 2012-13 rates for Public Agencies have already been set, and valuation reports containing those rates for each contracting agency are available in the Forms and Publications Center on CalPERS website at www.calpers.ca.gov.

CalPERS, with assets of approximately $232 billion, is the largest public pension fund in the U.S. It administers retirement benefits for more than 1.6 million California State, local government, and public school employees, retirees, and their families on behalf of more than 3,000 public employers, and health benefits for more than 1.3 million enrollees. The average CalPERS pension benefit is $2,332 per month. The average benefit for those who retired in the most recent fiscal year that ended June 30, 2011, is $3,065 per month.