Laura Petersen

Nevada City has been awarded a grant from Sierra Nevada Conservancy to develop an environmentally sound fuels treatment plan for 32 parcels and 348 acres of public and private lands, which will help protect 960 homes, Nevada City’s sewage treatment plant, three schools, St. Canice event center, the popular Deer Creek Tribute Trail and popular suspension bridge from the threat of wildfire.

When a plane flies overhead, Vicky Reeder looks apprehensively at the October sky. In August, a small wildfire burned two miles away from the home she shares with her husband Brian McFarren, three miles from downtown Nevada City at the west end of the Deer Creek Tribute Trail. “We were all worried about it because […]

California’s largest wildfire of 2022, the Mosquito Fire, had burned more than 76,000 acres near Foresthill in the foothills of Placer and El Dorado counties. The blaze, 90% contained as of Friday morning, raged through bone-dry forests and forced thousands of people to flee their communities, some within just a few short hours. Thousands of […]

Grass Valley – Beginning June 1, eligible nonprofit and cooperative organizations can apply for BriarPatch Food Co-op’s competitive 2022 Round Up at the Register fundraising program, previously known as CAUSE.    Since 2015, BriarPatch shoppers have raised more than $250,000 for nonprofit organizations through the program. In the past, the program supported organizations working to build trails, […]

Krysta and Tyler Blake moved to their family home on Ponderosa Way in 2019. At the time, the six-acre property was dense with vegetation. “You couldn’t see through that before,” said Tyler pointing to the far end of his backyard to a line of heritage manzanita that now provides a privacy buffer from McCourtney Road. […]

September 7, 2020 – The local community can support Federal Recognition and Cultural Revitalization efforts of the Nevada City Rancheria during a virtual event featuring live music, art and history on Sept. 12, 2020. California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project (CHIRP) is co-hosting the fundraiser, “Lyla June & MaMuse: A Night of Music & Art”, co-sponsored […]

Grass Valley February 6, 2020 – The Just Enough Regional History Course, a five session audio-visual presentation by Archaeologist, Historian, Hiking Guide and Author Hank Meals is coming to audiences at the Banner Guild on Feb. 13. Meals first presented his series to history lovers who filled the North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center on the […]

November 19, 2019 – The Yuba, Bear and American Rivers have played a major role in California’s history. Personalities and incidents in this dramatic story have influenced science, industry and ethics on a world-wide scale with good and bad consequences. With so much heritage surrounding us how can a person begin to appreciate it? Local […]

NORTH COLUMBIA, Calif. October 17, 2019 – The Yuba, Bear and American Rivers have played a major role in California’s history. Personalities and incidents in this dramatic story have influenced science, industry and ethics on a world-wide scale with good and bad consequences. With so much heritage surrounding us how can a person begin to […]

NORTH COLUMBIA, Calif. October 4, 2019 – The Yuba and Bear Rivers have played a major role in California’s history. Former players and incidents in this dramatic story have influenced science, industry and ethics on a world-wide scale with good and bad consequences. With so much heritage surrounding us how can a person begin to […]

June 6, 2019 – Archaeologist Hank Meals will lead a hike on the Spaulding Trail to Fordyce Creek this Saturday, June 8. The six-mile moderate to challenging outing is part of an ongoing year-long series exploring cultural landscapes at different elevations within the Yuba, Bear and American River Watersheds called Yuba Trails and Tales exclusively […]

June 3, 2019 – A mistaken delivery at BriarPatch Food Co-op last week will help supplement food packages to area families experiencing food insecurity. On Friday, BriarPatch Food Co-op and Clover Sonoma donated 10 cases totaling 300 pounds of butter to Interfaith Food Ministry (IFM) that will be distributed to local families who struggle to […]

NEVADA CITY, Calif. April 9, 2019 – Join Archaeologist Hank Meals on Saturday, April 20 for a hike along the rugged South Yuba Trail to the dramatic view of Long Point, a horseshoe bend in the river where in 1927 a dam was proposed by the Hydraulic Mining Commission. It’s the second offering in a […]

March 27, 2019 – Runners and lovers of the South Yuba River are gearing up for the 2019 Annual Salmon Run and Spring Festival organized by Woolman at Sierra Friends Center. The 10k event, known by serious runners who like the challenge of rugged natural terrain and epic views, takes place April 20 followed by […]

Nevada City, Calif. March 22, 2019 – Just in time for spring, Hiking For Good is offering two special field trips in March that explore Northern California’s rich history and biodiversity, wildflowers and waterfalls while giving back to a local nonprofit. Local Archaeologist Hank Meals will lead a 6 – 8 mile walk at Spenceville […]

NEVADA CITY, Calif. March 5, 2019 – Over the past 55 years, Hank Meals has remained an active participant with camera in hand documenting the people, places, and home-brewed culture of a community he adores and feels a deep connection to. Next month, the Nevada County photographer, author, hiking guide, archaeologist, historian, folk artist and […]

February 18, 2019 – Historic and ongoing attempts to domesticate the environment, both with and without intention, have created much of the landscape that we know today, says Archaeologist Hank Meals. This theme will be the topic of a presentation for the Sierra Club – Sierra Nevada Group by Hank Meals called “Cultural Landscapes: How […]

January 28, 2019 – This weekend, nature and history lovers have two excuses to get outdoors. Hiking For Good and Outlandish Experience will offer two guided outings on local trails. The first outing at Purdon Crossing on Saturday, Feb. 2 is part of an ongoing monthly “Sauntering” Series with Certified California Naturalist Steve Roddy. On […]

NEVADA CITY, Calif. October 29, 2018 – Internationally renowned and locally loved vaudevillian entertainer Izzi Tooinsky is bringing back his “heartchild” to the Nevada Theatre – Kids Cabaret, a variety show featuring young local performers. Kids Cabaret is a showcase of music, live theater and dance performed by some of the most inspired young entertainers, […]

October 4, 2018 – Kathi Griffis “Prima Debris” will never look at trash the same way again. As a seamstress, designer, and Haute Trash Fashion Show Producer, Griffis sees every empty bag of dog food, bottle cap, and used coffee filter as a promising material to reclaim and repurpose for haute couture runway styles. Griffis […]