It’s a little chilly for all but the die-hard of the die-hards to be rafting this time of year (although we will take you year round if the South Fork’s calling to your crazy self) but if you’re hankering for a little Sierra Foothill scenery before the 2012 rafting season starts, head to Boeger Winery in [...]

River Ride on January 29, 2012 "Wanna go for a ride on Sunday?" he asked quite innocently. A ride through any part of California is a favorite way to spend a few hours on a Sunday. Who was going and why were my questions, and the answers were kind of vague in their response. An annual ride with people I didn't know so that I could write a blog about the trip. Now that sounds interesting and I

Many of you have probably rafted the South Fork of the American River and wondered about the wildlife that lives on the riverbank and in the canyon.  If you’ve been particularly curious about the feathered creatures, you’ll be interested in a special event hosted by the American River Conservancy at the end of January.  Point [...]

Rumor has it–and by “rumor” I mean online reports and also some “professional snowboarder” that Amy d talked to who read the 2012 Farmer’s Almanac–that a storm in the Sierra is on its way.  We, as are all of you no doubt, are quite excited.  Sometimes it snows early, sometimes it snows late, and there’s a [...]

Effective: 03:09 PST on 01-16-2012
Expires: 15:45 PST on 01-16-2012

...FREEZING TEMPERATURES TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING...

.COLDER AIR MOVING DOWN FROM THE WEST COAST OF CANADA WILL MOVE
INTO CALIFORNIA BEHIND THE WEAK COLD FRONT TODAY. CLEAR SKIES
TONIGHT ALONG WITH A COLD AIR MASS OVER THE AREA WILL BRING BELOW
FREEZING TEMPERATURES FOR 6 TO 12 HOURS TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY

If your weekend is still open and you’re looking for something fun–and inspiring–to do, don’t forget that the Wild and Scenic Film Festival in Nevada City starts tomorrow, Jan 13th. Films this year run the gamut from explorations of the Congo River, New Environmental Activists, and Biodynamic Farming in Egypt, so there is probably literally [...]

Start the new year out with some inspiration, some beauty, some cold hard facts, and the information you need to make a difference!  The annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival in the lovely Sierra Foothill town of Nevada city is back! The three day festival runs January 13, 14, and 15 and will showcase diverse [...]

Rob Charney Interviews El Dorado County Sheriff John D'Agostini -- Old Guy Tech was very fortunate to have El Dorado County Sheriff John D’Augustini stop by the studio and talk with Rob about the Sheriff’s Department.
http://goo.gl/FtIjr

Horse hit by SUV on Hwy 49 in Coloma Rd. near Rattlesnake Bar Rd
http://goo.gl/gbSGY

Dry Winter has CAL FIRE on Alert
http://goo.gl/7NUHW

Placerville City employees take unpaid time-off -- Due to continuing financial constraints, most Placerville City employees will be taking their unpaid, mandatory time-off on Fridays; and as a result, the city offices will continue to be closed on Fridays
http://goo.gl/BDQD3

SMUD Hosts Two New Slab Creek Powerhouse Project Meetings
Mosquito Fire District Station http://goo.gl/IF86L
Camino Elementary School http://goo.gl/rO6hR

Parks and Trails Master Plan Upadate Releases Chapeters 10 & 11 in Draft Review Form (PDF)
http://goo.gl/nkwu7

EDHCSD board hires interim GM -- The El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors named Richard J. Ramirez as interim general manager in a 4-1 vote, during a special meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 3, with Director Bill Vandegrift opposing
http://goo.gl/up3Ym

Whodunit author gave up CEO post to start writing -- The stories take place in El Dorado County and feature locations on Main Street, Placerville, at Apple Hill and local wineries, and even scenes set in Tahoe
http://goo.gl/Q44kX

Federal funds to help counties' health programs for low-income residents -- "With this additional funding, quite a number of our poor will receive care and have a good primary medical home," said Jim Ellsworth, executive director of El Dorado Community Health Center
http://goo.gl/sRpiA

El Dorado Hills' Rolling Hills Church youths help needy -- More than 180 young people handed out gifts to homeless in Placerville
http://goo.gl/LrkAV

Relive the 1960 Winter Olympics -- During the winter of 1960 athletes from around the world came to Lake Tahoe to participate in the Winter Olympic Games.  This historic venue will come alive with the Olympic spirit as the public is invited to join us for a week of special events celebrating our Olympic Heritage
http://goo.gl/ZcA1J

Get your Chocolate Affair tickets today -- The “Chocolate Affair” will be hosted by Soroptimist of Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills and Placerville on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds
http://goo.gl/vWkKf

The food of 'Hunger Games' -- The Placerville natives behind the A Tale of 2 Foodies blog used a bechamel base in their version of the Capitol's creamy orange chicken dish
http://goo.gl/gJsFL

FISH REPORT: Jan. 5 -- The best rainbow reported, and the new top fish of the season, was a 9.9-pounder landed by Jared Parker, Placerville, on chunky cheese Power Bait in Boat Dock Cove
http://goo.gl/BvBTW

Sacramento Business Journal's publisher steps down -- Joanna Wessman said Wednesday she is stepping down, four years after taking the weekly paper's top post
http://goo.gl/a0nsm

Record-high 66 degrees sets Jan. 4 record in Sacramento
http://goo.gl/pdYLz

Lone wolf causes stir as it stays in California's far north -- Initial speculation that he might soon turn back to Oregon has been laid to rest
http://goo.gl/chiWH

New Casino Coming to Tejon? -- "Upon review of the facts and history of this matter," Echo Hawk, head of Indian affairs, told the tribe in a letter, "I hereby reaffirm the federal relationship between the United States and the Tejon Indian Tribe..."
http://goo.gl/xrlL9

Yahoo names PayPal chief Scott Thompson as CEO -- that has been vacant since Carol Bartz was fired in early September. Scott Thompson, CEO of eBay Inc.'s PayPal unit, was officially appointed Wednesday to take the reins at the Sunnyvale online content hub
http://goo.gl/iqj4b

The California Senate has a new Republican leader -- Bob Huff
http://goo.gl/lVeZ8

Bankruptcies could double in 2012
http://goo.gl/sQN7D

Obama Uses Executive Authority to Make Recess Appointment — While Senate Is Still in Session
http://goo.gl/Lnrpw

 

Exene of XFunny how time stands still in moments like this. I saw "X" on Thursday night at Harlow's on J Street in Midtown, Sacramento. Time came to a screeching halt as the band came out and grabbed their guitars and mikes. Los Angeles is where X comes from and their sound is uniquely theirs. When I first saw them way back in the 80's, punk rock music was their calling. But, their punk was not

...CHANGE IN THE WEATHER OVER INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TODAY...

AFTER A PERIOD OF DRY WEATHER OVER INTERIOR NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA...AT LEAST PORTIONS OF THE NORTH STATE WILL SEE SOME
RAIN...MOUNTAIN SNOW AND WINDY CONDITIONS TODAY.
MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION WILL FALL NORTH OF THE INTERSTATE 80
CORRIDOR AS THE TAIL END OF A FRONTAL BAND MOVING THROUGH THE

I admit it. I am the food writer for FOOD! and camp recipes. How I got involved in that was kinda funny as I am not a great writer... but I love food (oh, my waist-line).I went rafting with WET a few years ago and really loved what they did to their albacore salad and how they made their pesto pasta. On the side of the river in a beautiful canyon, those young men and women provided a freshly-made

California rafters provided the Christmas tree for the Capitol this year!  Well, not really.  But the tree DID come from the Stanislaus Forest, which is verrrrrry close to some of our rivers…………..so we like to think that we somehow had something to do with it.  Probably a bit of vainglory but it is the most [...]

December sneaked in with hardly any storms blanketing the Sierras with a promise of a another great whitewater season. California is blessed with a supply of snow and water from last year for all of our needs: water, agriculture, energy and recreation. Good clean water. We are very lucky. And, we still have the wettest months still to come!Holidays are here and every morning, I receive an

Rain came like a silent warrior in the night. Just enough rain to wash the house, sidewalks and streets clean. But, then the next day... brilliant blue skies torturing all of us who love to go skiing! Fresh powder! Where is it? Sugar Bowl in Northern California w/ GoProSki resorts are best bets for friends and families this holiday season!Here are the California ski resorts that are open now and

Our annual rafting expedition to Chile’s beautiful Patagonia region is just around the corner.  The “Rio Futaleufu” is a genuinely world-class river.  Challenging rapids, high-volumne water, jaw-dropping scenery………..all that and then you get to come home every night to a wood-fired hot tub, tasy dinners, fabulous local wines, and a comfy bed.  Did I mention [

I am a bit late as a blogger to repeat or dissect the going-ons of Occupy Wall Street and the myriad communities that have jumped aboard the protest. My first reaction was, "Right on!" But, here we are months later and there are so many people who haven't heard or are ignoring the movement. Why? This is important info as all of us suffer through the slings and arrows of the current economy.For me

Yes, it’s hard to imagine now, but after the holidays are over and it’s just you and your resolutions and cloudy skies and rainy days, you are going to be seriously glad you planned ahead and got tickets for the annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival in Nevada City!  This year’s line-up will include pieces [...]

Hollis and I wanted to thank you for your help and support for our local Toys for Tots campaign. It means so much to us because just two weeks away we are praying for a miracle of new toys. The El Dorado County Office of Education and I have been receiving e-mails and phone calls from our less fortunate families needing help for Christmas.

When California is mentioned, the ocean, beaches and surfing are always a highlight of the conversation along withthe beach communities of Malibu. Los Angeles and the glitzy glamour of Rodeo Drive, Hollywood, Getty Museum and music at every club and lounge in that area are something to brag about when talking about the pros of California.Then there is California's most famous city, San Francisco.

WET River Trips has just finished their 2011 rafting season. What a long season we had, too! We started on the first Friday in March and kept going until last weekend. Geesh, what a year!Learn how to guide the river in 2012 with W.E.T. River Trips! "Saving a Person in the River"Here is the upcoming schedule for W.E.T. for this winter:Discounts and promotions for 2012 - this weekSpring rafting -