News

►Community Walk T-Shirt is Light Blue!

All are excited about this year’s Mineral to Mill Creek Community Walk light blue t-shirts. Supporting the Volunteer Fire Dept. and community projects, an anticipated 70 people will wear the t-shirt on the Sept. 5th walk.

►Water Conservation Watch

Mineral remains under Blue Flag Watch, an advisory to conserve water.

►Caltrans & RCDTC Community Visit

On August 14th, Caltrans and the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County (RCDTC) visited Mineral and joined with community members to see and discuss the future multi-use path. The planned path will go from the 36 & 172 intersection to Battle Creek Campground. On a recent Community Call, community members were invited to join the

visit. After discussion, the group viewed the landscape of the path, the culverts, and considered how to define the community’s story that will be shared along the “walk & roll” path. The group also visited the Park 40 interpretive exhibit at the Pacific Crest Trail and Collins Pine in Chester. Collins Pine conservation specialists joined us and shared the story of Park 40 and their conservation efforts on this historic property and in other local areas. Thanks to Bennie, Andy and their teams!

Signage on both the PCT and the Park 40 trail served as inspiration for future considerations on the Mineral path. Park 40 is open to the public and offers educational and experiential information, showing conservation efforts, before and after, highlighting the advantages of safely removing fire fuels. The Mineral community will be invited to share ideas and feedback, as the project progresses.View photos of the day, complete the Caltrans survey (by Aug. 28th) and find a sample letter of support to send on our website’s path page.

►Tehama County on the Watch List for COVID-19 Elevated Disease Transmission

As of Aug. 15th, in Tehama County, there were 318 confirmed positive cases and 7,231 negative tests. Cases doubled in less than a

month; aged 20-39, 10-19 most affected. The watch list threshold for 7 day average positivity rate was greater than 8%. Tehama County has 16%. The threshold for case rate per population was greater than 100. Tehama County had an average of 131. For more details, closures and links, visit our website’s public health page.

►Volunteer Fire Department

Cal Fire has called members of the Mineral-Mill Creek Volunteer Fire Department to hard cover the Manton CDF station, as CDF firefighters normally stationed there were working fires. ►Unhealthy Air Quality

NASA Earth Observatory reports “August 19, air quality monitors reported unhealthy levels of pollution across California as the smoke tinged skies with red haze. In fact, atmospheric testing showed Northern California had the worst air quality in the world on that day… Wildfire smoke is dangerous because it carries tiny, harmful particles into the air. Known as aerosols, these solid and liquid particles can degrade air quality and cause breathing and lung problems.” AirNow reports air quality in Red Bluff as unhealthy..

►Lassen Volcanic National Park Fires

The Park conducts ongoing fire management projects and experiences frequent fires from lightning during storms. To track fire activity, visit the Park’s Current Fire Activity page.

►Former Park Chief Ranger Albert Carl Schneider, Age 88, Passed Away Aug. 12th

Former Lassen Volcanic National Park Chief Ranger, Al Schneider passed away on August 12, 2020. "After college Al began a 33-year career with the National Park Service. With assignments from coast to coast, Al and Mary made many life-long friends and raised their family in Gettysburg, Washington DC, Cape Cod, Grand Canyon, Death Valley and finally to Mineral and Red Bluff where Al served as Chief Park Ranger of Lassen Volcanic NP until he retired in 1992. "Al was devoted to his family and loved to be involved in the community. Always a sports fan, Al organized a baseball field for park employees and the Mineral community. They fondly named it Schneider Stadium." Read more on Dignity Memorial's obituary page.

►Sheriff’s Local Emergency Notifications

Sign up for TEHAMA ALERT emergency alerts or fill out the form & mail to the Sheriff’s OES at P.O. Box 729 Red Bluff, CA 96080.

►For the New Mineral California Magazine

Share with us what you love about Mineral.

► Ongoing Mineral News

Check the latest news, including fire updates on the news page of the website.

Preservation

►The Mineral School Landmark Building

Pete Dailey joined representatives from the Park and UC Davis at the Mineral School building to discuss its future. Through his family foundation, The Dailey Family Foundation for Education, Conservation, and Research, Pete has agreed to purchase the building from the School District and provide the facility to the Park Service and UC Davis for a field station for conservation efforts through the Park and UC Davis partnership. Both Pete and Park Superintendent Jim Richardson have committed to ensuring the building can be used for community events, too! During the recent Caltrans & RCDTC visit, Bruce Starkweather expressed the value of having conservation efforts in town through this NPS & UC Davis partnership, and the likelihood that it will help us learn and apply that knowledge to our local community. Thank you to the Dailey Family Foundation for this generous effort to preserve one of our most beloved landmarks and to all who are making this restoration possible.

►Sewer Arterials Inspections Due Aug. 30th

Reminder: Videos & statements from plumbers are due to Speero (385-1462 x3025) by Aug. 30th. Check the website for plumbers offering Mineral specials & read recent meeting notes.

►Time to Check Chimneys

Chimney sweep and HVAC care providers are listed on the website.

►Old Videos Added to the Website

Old videos including the Mt. Lassen volcanic eruptions & the classic Mineral ski video are now on the website’s Preservation page.

Conservation

►Dumpster Days for Green Waste Disposal

Thank you all who have removed fire fuels this season, especially neighborhood volunteers and Green Waste. On Aug. 1st, we removed 100 cubic yards of yard waste!

►Time to Switch Rakes for Snow Shovels?

Dave's Garden predicts the first frost in Mineral by Oct. 9th, but as early as Sept. 15th.

Activities & Special Events

►Zoom Community Calls

Date: Wednesdays, Sept. 2nd, 16th & 30th^th Time: 6–8 pm Join the community Zoom call & spend some informal, virtual time with neighbors. Call-in information past calls’ notes are on the website’s community call page.

►Aug. 26th PG&E Wildfire Safety Town Hall Webinar

Hear about safety efforts, wildfire prevention plans, get answers to questions and share your feedback with the executive leadership team.

►Aug. 28th Caltrans Survey Due

Complete the Caltrans multi-use path survey.

►Aug. 29th Tehama County Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Dispose of HHW at the Tehama County/Red Bluff Landfill HHW Facility.

►Sept. 5th 9:00 a.m. Community Walk!

Walk from Mineral Lodge to Mill Creek Resort and get a milkshake! Your t-shirt orders support the Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) and care of the flagpole and Mineral signs, at each end of town. Thanks to Sharon and Vikki for coordinating the Walk for the past 17 years!

►Water District Board of Directors Meeting

The MCWD Board will hold their monthly meeting on Sept. 14th. To apply for the Board, find the application on the MCWD website.

►Sept. 18th-19th Photo Workshop

Lassen Association will host the 2020 Nature Photography Workshop in the Park, including an educational class. See the flyer and register.

►Sept. 19th 6:00 p.m. The Lassen Foundation Peak Experience Auction Online

Support the Foundation, the Park and camp programs when you bid on auction items at this year’s virtual Peak Experience Auction. Save the date on Sept. 19th and watch for free, live on YouTube or Facebook Live at 6:00 p.m.

►Visit Lassen Volcanic National Park

Read the Lassen Volcanic Summer/Fall 2020 Guide and check the Park’s website for hours.

►Mineral Event Calendar

See the website calendar for notable events.

Add the Mineral California Google Calendar to your calendar.

Shop Local

►Lassen Foundation Auction Items Online!

The highly anticipated Peak Experience auction is an annual event hosted by the Lassen Foundation. This year, the event will be online for the first time. On Sept. 19th, we will be able to join online, for free, and celebrate community support for the Lassen Volcanic National Park. However, auction items are available now online for supporters to peruse. Here is a sneak peak:

Campfire Dutch Oven Dinner for 6 - Enjoy a campfire cooked Dutch Oven dinner for six (6)people with Foundation Board Member Bill Latham and his wife, Janice, next June.

Mim's Bakery Double-Layer Cake - Famous in Chico, CA for delicious cakes with exquisite decor, take a double layer cake home for yourself! Photo is Mim's Citron Framboise cake

Toyotomi Portable Heater & A/C - Donated by Comtec Distributing, the Toyotomi can be rolled to where you need it. It has whisper quiet operation and a wireless remote.

Glamping at Lewiston Lake - Donated by Basecamp Hospitality, 2 people can enjoy 3 nights in this comfortable Glamping Unit at Mary Smith Campground on Lewiston Lake.

Day Hiker's Survival Pack - Enjoy a day hiking with the Day Hiker’s Survival Backpack, donated by Mrs. Elizabeth Norton & Mr. Robert Andrews.

Deluxe Tent Cabin at Big Basin - Donated by Basecamp Hospitality, enjoy 2 nights in a deluxe tent cabin for up to 4, in Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

Relaxing Lavender Spa Basket - Relax tired feet or sore muscles with a personalized spa sure to bring you comfort and restore your spirits, donated by Mrs. Elizabeth Norton & Mr. Robert Andrews.

►Free Pine Rounds for Firewood Thanks to the Church Camp & Conference Grounds!

Thank you to Lani, Lee and Julie for sharing their cut rounds with community members this season. Still need wood or have a truck and want to help deliver? Let us know. Thanks to the Forest Service’s help, Lisa has a permit for distributing free wood to the community.

►Mill Creek Resort Sweatshirts & T-Shirts!

New sweatshirts and t-shirts are available at Mill Creek Resort during their open take-out hours Friday through Sunday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. and can also be purchased at their online store.

►PG&E Community Wildfire Safety

Planned power outages for additional safety are underway. PG&E's Medical Baseline Program offers lower energy rates and earlier notification of upcoming shut-offs. For links, see the Mineral California website’s Power & Gas page.

►Looking for Services Providers?

See the website’s Service Providers page.

Mineral Photo

The Mineral signs and flagpole are maintained by long-time residents and volunteers, Sharon and Vikki, and supported by funds raised through the t-shirt orders for the Mineral Walk on Labor Day weekend.

►Share Google Photos of Mineral

Share with mineralcalifornia@gmail.com.

Open a PDF of the September 2020 Newsletter by Clicking Here

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