Georgia Knutsen at Chester Library
Lorie Metcalf, Librarian 
We had our first in-person Summer Reading Program presentation at Chester Library last Thursday, and did we have fun! Our theme was "Staying Safe is Cool!" and our special guest presenter was Georgia Knutsen from Plumas County Search and Rescue. She taught the kids all about what to do and not to do in case they get lost while hiking, camping, etc. They learned to "hug a tree," to stay in one place, and to stay calm. She also talked about things they should have in their backpacks, and gave each child their very own whistle and emergency blanket! We also talked about other settings where children can get separated from their parents, and read the book "Lost in the Museum" by Miriam Cohen. Finally, our Friends of the Chester Library member Mark Melcon taught everyone how to make brightly-colored fobs to put on their whistles!
We have another in-person program planned for Thursday, July 15, at 1:00pm, on the lawn at Chester Library. The theme will be "Wildfire Prevention with Smokey Bear Himself" with Brigitte from Lassen National Forest. If you have any questions, please call 258-2742. Hope you can join us!
Town Trivia
The winner last week was Amy Hutchinson with the correct question “What is Hamilton Park” to answer, “In the 1920s, the place started to flourish when the cabins from Red River Lumber Company’s Camp 32 were retrofitted, winning a $15 gift certificate from Watkins Pet Supply. Thank you for sponsoring Town Trivia.
This week’s sponsor is Forever Home & Outdoor offering a $15 gift certificate.
 Answer this week courtesy of Steven Fleming: A prominent Plumas County surveyor and a mountain peak east of Lake Almanor bears his name.
Please note: Last Week's Trivia was courtesy of Tim Purdy, not Tom. Apologies.
Please send your question to Trivia@lakealmanorarea.com.
Looking for sponsors for Town Trivia! Get your company name and logo in Town Chatter for four consecutive weeks. Contact katherine@sansoneplus.com.
Please note: only emails received after release of Town Chatter Wednesday am will be considered. Send your question to Trivia@lakealmanorarea.com on or after each Wednesday of publication. We are always looking for sponsors for Town Trivia. If interested, please contact katherine@sansoneplus.com.
Job Board
Employment and Career Opportunities
The Greater Lake Almanor Basin offers a variety of seasonal, part and full-time positions for those seeking employment. Please check out the link below and discover how fun and rewarding a career or job in this beautiful area can be.
www.lakealmanorarea.com/employment
This week's featured job:
Gather Home
Accepting applications for two delivery positions. Please visit Gather Home during business hours to inquire. 138 Willow Street, Chester, CA 96020
Tuesday-Saturday 9am-4pm
Welcome to our Newest Chamber Members
Chester Library Book Donations
Books! Friends of Chester Library is happily accepting donations of gently used books for their upcoming book sale this year held on Saturday, July 31st, and Sunday August 1st in the Chester Library parking lot. |
Bits & Pieces
Beckworth Complex Fire Update - Plumas News
Jake Cagle’s July 13 evening update brought welcome news: The Beckworth Complex is now 66 percent contained. Cagle is the system operations chief for the incident management team overseeing the fire. Read More
St. Andrews Academy Choir Camp Monday July 19
Singers of all abilities are invited to their annual week-long summer choir camp here in beautiful Lake Almanor, CA. Singing • Great Music • Worship • Learning • More Singing • Friendship • Swimming • Sailing • And More Singing!
- Mon Jul 19 – Sun Jul 25, 2021
- For youth (9 yrs +) and adults
- For all skill levels
- Bring a friend
 Volunteers Needed for 2021 Lake Almanor Poker Paddle Water Run
Please Call or Email
The Poker Paddle event, sponsored by Almanor Recreation and Park District, is scheduled for July 24th and they expect a big turnout and are in need of some additional help. This event helps fund ARPD youth recreation programs and field maintenance. Below are two requests for help:
1. Need one more boat to serve as a rest stop for the paddlers who will pick up a poker chip to make their hand for the poker run. Your duty involves spending the morning on the water as a rest/poker hand stop. You will need to check-in at Plumas Pines boat dock at 7:30am to pick up supplies and instructions. Start 8:00am and will be done by 11:00am.
2. Need additional help with set-up and the registration process to make the event go smoothly. These are early shifts lasting 2-3 hours. We are looking for 3-4 additional volunteers. Check-in at Plumas Pines at 6:00am for set-up; 6:45am-8:00am registration.
This is a very fun and festive event! Please call or text Susan Espana at 916-201-4833 or email at sjespana@gmail.com
 Mill Creek Resort Dinner and Music July 23
We are so excited to announce another greatly missed event is coming back to Mill Creek Resort! On July 23rd, we are hosting a very special night of dinner and live music in the meadow. Our Farm-to-Fork prix fixe dinner will feature a very special menu created by our spectacular kitchen team that will showcase produce and meat from our favorite local farmers including Red Gate Ranch, Farmelot, Grub, and more. Tickets are $70 per person and are on sale now. Reservations are required and seating is limited. Please call 530-595-4449 or email for more information and to purchase tickets.
Peninsula Fire Sirens Thrift Shop New Hours
The new hours of operation for the Peninsula Fire Sirens Thrift Shop will be 9:00am to 1:00pm. A day pass is available at the Clifford Gate.
 Chester Library In-Person Program Wildfire Prevention with Smokey Bear Himself
Thursday, July 15, at 1:00pm on the lawn at Chester Library. If you have any questions, please call 258-2742.
 Highland Ranch Resorts Presents 5th Annual Rods & Reels Car Show August 1
Sunday, August 1, 2021 from 10am-3:30pm
Entry fee is $35 and includes a t-shirt and drink token
Call 530-595-3388 for more information
Caltrans is Coming to Chester’s Main Street, and We are Planning for it!
Carlos Espana The Caltrans Division of Transportation Planning has just announced the award of a Sustainable Communities planning grant to the Plumas County Transportation Commission for Chester’s Main Street. The grant title is “State Route 36 Chester Complete Streets and Context Sensitive Streetscape Plan.” For the last 3 years, a team that includes Almanor Recreation and Park District (ARPD), Lake Almanor Area Chamber of Commerce (LAACC), Chester Public Utility District (CPUD) has supported the Plumas County Transportation Commission (PCTC) in applying for this highly competitive, statewide Sustainable Communities Grant. Several other Chester groups wrote letters of support showing the strong backing of our community to secure such a grant.
Caltrans is continuously making capital pavement improvements to sections of its highway system. These range from major pavement rehabilitation to minor installations of safety elements. As a Caltrans project is planned, it eventually becomes listed in the Caltrans “Ten Year Book.” Chester’s Main Street is now in the “Book” to begin a 2028 pavement overlay project. Formal planning for this will begin in 2024. The work will extend along Highway 36 from Highway 89 to Melissa Avenue, but only for paving in the Caltrans right of way of Main Street.
But what if a community wants more than a pavement overlay. What if the Chester community wants safety improvements, sidewalks, bike lanes and landscaping? Think Greenville, our neighbor to the southeast. Well, that takes some pre-planning well in advance of construction and it takes extra money both for planning and to pay for these additional desires, again well in advance of construction.
In 2009, a plan for Chester Main Street improvements was created using a grant and a great deal of discussion, input, and hard work from the community. But at the time there was no plan by Caltrans to come to Chester for a sizable improvement project and no money was available for detailed improvement plans nor for construction. And as time has gone by, these old plans do not contain the latest standards and design features that are currently required.
The new grant allows the PCTC to select a consultant to create a detailed concept plan to add Chester Main Street features to improve traffic safety and efficiency, increase walking and biking mobility, and include a concept for landscaping and street furniture. This concept plan will be completed in early 2024, allowing early solicitation of strong input from the community, and creating cost estimates for the various feature categories. Detailed estimates will allow Caltrans to potentially identify funding for these categories in advance of their planned 2028 pavement overlay project such that all funded work can be built at the same time.
Caltrans and the California Transportation Commission, the group responsible for programming and allocating funds for the construction of highway improvements, are very supportive of creating “complete streets” and “active transportation” features in rural communities. These features allow reduction of greenhouse gas generation by promoting less vehicle travel and adding landscaping to sequester CO2. At this time, the added features may not be funded in total, but the timing allows all parties to plan and identify needed funds from a variety of sources before paving begins.
ARPD, LAACC, and CPUD will continue to support PCTC during the concept planning by encouraging their memberships to turn out at outreach events to have their voices heard on desired improvements and safety features to be added to the concept plan. The 2009 Chester Main Street Design Plan will form a basis for such features and a tool for educating the public as to what may be possible. These local groups will conduct information briefings and “pop-up” sessions in front of popular local venues to gather opinions, suggestions, and “design” ideas, compile them, and be a resource to PCTC and its consultant as to what the community needs and prefers. Our community recognizes that the recent Greenville Street improvements were quite positive and now Chester can plan positive changes to its Main Street.
1st Annual Bayou By the Lake Crawdad Boil
Join The Almanor Foundation at the 1 st annual Bayou by the Lake Crawdad Boil on August 28 from 4:00 to 8:00pm at Chester Community Park. “We invite everyone to come to the Cajun-inspired festivities to enjoy the spirit of the Bayou Lake Almanor style,” says Bex Pezzullo, chair of the event. All the traditional fixings of corn on the cob, boiled potatoes, smoked Andouille sausage and a vegetarian option, Jambalaya, with a selection of beers and Sincere Cider to be served.
Guests will be entertained by Tom Rigney and Flambeau, sponsored by Coldwell Banker; and can partake in a variety of lawn games and join the raffle for a selection of Celebrate Lake Almanor packages and gift baskets.
Adults, $55 to include one drink ticket
Children under 10, $25
Table of 10, $550 with two drink tickets per guest.
Tickets are available at the following locations:
Coldwell Banker, 244 Main Street, Chester
Rouland Insurance, 650 Main Street, Chester
Every Thursday at the Farmers Market or ONLINE HERE.
The Almanor Foundation oversees and manages a variety of initiatives and projects that enrich the community and impact economic growth in the Lake Almanor Basin. www. TheAlmanorFoundation.org. 530-268-5422, admin@thealmanorfoundation.org
4th of July Parade Float Winners will be Announced at Farmers Market on Thursday
 The 2021 4th of July Parade 1st, 2nd and 3rd place float winners will be announced at the Lake Almanor Farmers Market on Thursday at 5:00pm.
There's still time to vote! Check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lakealmanorarea, look for our post at the top of the page titled 4th of July Top Five, and comment listing your top three with the first being your favorite.
The top three floats from this year will ride in the front of the 2022 parade displaying their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place banner.
This Week at the Farmers Market - July 15
Jennie Mathews, Farmers Market Manager Signature Cocktails & Beverages
This week's signature cocktail is a delicious Mojito. In addition, there will be plenty of Sincere Cider on hand, the official hard cider of the Lake Almanor Farmers Markets, as well as, an assortment of beers.
This Week's Vendors
All-American Girls Softball Guzetti's Indian Food
Amaiya's Magical Treats Jeffroe's Produce
Annika Peacock Julia's Fruit Stand
Backroad Botanicals Kona Ice
Baja Vaca Ranch & Almendra Lake Almanor Life
Bernadettie's Lake Almanor Fitness
Blue Ox Coffee Merry Morsels
Cheri's Fish Tacos Mile High Milling & Grain
Diamonds & Dirt Nikki Marlow's Eggs
Eric Hauge's Hot Dog Stand Rejoicing Recycler
The Farmstead Connection Siren's Tail Alchemy
St. Andrews Academy
*Please note that this list is subject to change.
For more information, contact: Market Manager, Jennie Mathews
530-616-8104, fm@lakealmanorarea.com
You Don't Want to Miss This!
Weather, Lake Almanor and Fishing Report
John Crotty  7/12/201
There has been little change since my last report; 100 degree temps have water temps approaching the 80 degree mark. Today is going to be another hot one before we see temps drop into a more seasonal pattern. Boat traffic has been heavy; both USFS public ramps are open and busy.
Fish are hunkered down in deeper cooler water and tough to catch. I fished two days this past week, we caught eight fish one day and five the next. All my fish were caught on crawlers and gulps fishing in 40-50’ of water 25-35’ feet on the wire with an 80 foot setback. It’s a grind at best with the best bite taking place in the early am. The East Shore, Dorado, Rec #1, A-Frame and Auggie’s Alley are all good places to start your day. We are seeing more Pond Smelt throughout the lake which is typical for this time of year.
There are still some Hex bugs hatching, not seeing many fly fishermen targeting the hatch. Bass fishermen are few and far between as well. Your best shot at catching fish from shore remains the branch.
AFA’s annual Paul Garido Family picnic is on the schedule for Saturday July 31rst between 4-9pm. If you plan on attending please get your ticket ASAP as we will be limiting ticket sales to 550. Steaks tickets are $20 and Hot Dogs $10. Tickets can be purchased on line at Almanorfishingassociation.org. We will be holding a raffle at our picnic for a lifetime fishing license, a Weber pellet grill, a Yeti Cooler, a fuel card and a custom spiral wrapped 8’ Duncan McIntyre trolling rod with a Diawa 100 line counter reel. Raffle tickets are $10 each and can also be purchased online at Almanorfishingassociation.org (winner need not be present to win). The AFA Board recently approved the replacement of four fish pens and docking ($56,000) with the goal of replacing all ten pens over the next four-five years; all monies raised go directly towards our fish pen program and community outreach programs. If you have a raffle prize please send us an email at almanorfishing@sbcglobal.net and we will make arrangements for pick up. |
