By Ted Hickman©2010

Feel Free to Email: Tedhick@gmail.com

USAF Effort to reduce bird strikes…Nancy Bird
 

This ought to scare the hell out of anything.

One Rare August

Look at your calendar for last month….this is a rare occurrence.  For those who have children show them because they will never see this again.  An interesting fact about August 2010 is that it has 5 Sundays 5 Mondays and 5 Tuesdays all in one month. It only happens once in 823 years. Next time I’ll try to alert you before hand.

One Gripe

            Not that there weren’t probably more, but I only heard one gripe (second hand from a guy who griped to Mike Ceremello about something I wrote no less) about the motorcycle story I did last week. It seem a “used to be police officer” was unhappy with fact I didn’t make the visiting members of the Solano County (Vallejo) Hells Angels look bad…and the fact they were allowed here in the first place. I thought you have to be able to read to become a police officer and understand our constitution? I guess it depends where you are a cop huh?

            Most people who read the story saw that over 30 different motorcycle clubs from throughout Northern California came here for a day of “end of the year” relaxation luncheon party. Of the 500 or so bikers gathered here (a vast majority reportedly were vets) I only saw about six folks identified to me as members of the notorious biker club. I heard there were as many as 20 were there but you couldn’t prove it by me. Either way it doesn’t matter. Those present set an acceptable level of decorum that was held to while everyone mingled, ate, enjoyed a raffle, had fun, left a $1,000 donation for the American Legion and went home. Those of you who know me know had it been any other way I would have reported that too.

What they did before or after that is none of my concern. While they were here they were good guests who caused no problems and cleaned up after themselves…You got a beef with that give me you name, number or email address and I’ll see if I can’t have one of them to contact you OK?

Call 511 For Highway Help!

            As we were headed on I S 80 for Woodland to set up for the Yolo County Fair we lost all of the tread on a tire on the trailer we were towing. We heard a loud “bang” and I looked in the rear view mirror to see the entire tire tread flying through the air so I pulled off the highway just feet before the Pedrick Road off ramp. Before the dust settled I saw a white CHP car with a tow truck close behind pull up behind us…Instantly. I mean I looked up through the cloud of dust and there they were…like magic. It just so happened the CHP was a couple of cars behind us,  the tow truck behind him and they saw the flying tire tread. The tow truck was right there to help us almost as soon as I got out of the SUV..

It’s called the “Freeway Service Patrol” a state financed program that works in conjunction with the CHP and MTC and Cal Trans as part of the San Francisco Bay Area Freeway Service Patrol. If you have problems traveling on 530 miles of Bay Area freeways around San Francisco, in any of the eight Bay Area Counties, and need help you just call 511. They can change a flat tire, jump a dead battery, tape leaking hoses and refill your radiator or even giving you a gallon of gas if you run out. If they can’t get you back on the road they will tow you off the freeway to a CHP safe location then take you to the nearest pay phone to call for whatever help is necessary…The charge for all of this? IT’S FREE…well not really, as a taxpayer you pay for it but it COST YOU NOTHING. You just dial 511 and tell them where you are and one of two trucks on a continual rotating route will find you.

The object is to get disabled vehicles off the freeways and reduce the number of accidents caused by such disruptions of traffic. It worked really well for us and we were really glad to see them…its dangerous and scary out there. They operate a split shift of four commute hours in the morning and four in the afternoon…You have a problem on the freeway during these times  just dial 511…it just could get you out of a bad situation and/or save your life.

From the Email Box

          Ted: Opposing Manhattan Mosque …is aiding and abetting our enemy. That is not an opinion, it is a fact.  Even if it is the right thing to do (I disagree) it is still a fact that it is giving aid to our enemy.  It was inevitable, and has now been reported from multiple sources, that Islamic terrorists would use this controversy as a recruiting tool:
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/30/taliban-using-mosque-controversy-to-recruit.html
          By opposing the this Islamic community center (it is, in fact, more like a YMCA than a Mosque) you are telling all Muslims that Osama is right: the west is trying to destroy Islam and he is only fighting back.  It seems to me that actively trying to make enemies of one billion Muslims is not a good idea. Richard Smith (Ted: For a change I’m speechless.)

Did You Get Stupid Phone Survey?

The Dixon Library’s phone survey was even more insulting that the stupid one the school district did trying to manipulate the public’s thought process…What BS questions. Can we have a copy of the “GRA Public Research” survey questions? I bet not. Linda and I both got “the call.” If I had even remotely thought of destroying the Historic Carnegie Library before, I certainly wouldn’t allow it now. Have you been to the library? It’s fine. Its good and it serves us well as it has for years. I’ve never seen it over crowded or lacking for any service. I have heard the librarian threatened his people with dismissal if the speak out against the multi-million dollar bunko scheme to build a new palace…primarily for the librarian…Go figure. You will have your chance to voice your opinion at the ballot box. If you got the survey and think it wasn’t loaded, biased, and just plain out of whack let me know. Hope I don’t get my library card yanked over this by the beastly librarian…the thought of him being mad at me just makes me shudder.

Block Unwanted Calls

Cell Phone Numbers have Gone Public so this is a REMINDER….all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls. You can be charged for these calls if you have a limited calling plan. To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone:  888-382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list it will only take a minute of your time…It blocks your number for five years. You must call from the cell phone number (or your home phone) you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number. 

Ignored Soccer Scandal?

            I was taking my semi-regular bike ride around Northwest Park a little while back and I heard parents talking about the Dixon Soccer Club being “corrupt,” re-writing their own by laws, not having legal elections where the members can select the board and the whole “club” being dominated by one woman. There apparently are questions about the lack of credible (if any) audits, missing funds, and the complete lack or leadership or regulation of parent or coach qualifications or behaviors….and this was just listening to about a five minute conversation…No separate PAD committee? No field marshal’s to protect the young referees. If they have a 5013-C non-profit status they better come clean

            The soccer parents that are paying the bills have every right to demand free and open elections with a one-vote per member and a objective outside accounting for all funds for the past 10 years. If not the IRS and the State will be happy to come in and examine the books and bylaws.

            If any of this is true I think SYSL and CYA should be pressured to look into this matter or perhaps and outside entities like the grand jury or district’s attorney’s office if necessary. The city, allowing taxpayers fields to be used might put a hold on the use of the fields until open and fair elections are held…that is unless the current board can explain some of these things and their re-written by-laws are explained, modified and made right.

            My wife was one of the first board members and helped write the fair by-laws and I served as head referee and helped arrange for all of the soccer facilities we have today. All four (our two sons) of us have all been certified referees and certified coaches. Our eldest son and I were certified state level coaches and referees and I still am a USSF state referee with over 3,500 games experience and USSF referee instructor so don’t tell me we don’t know what we are talking about…If any of what I heard is true this current organization has a lot of explaining to do and now is the time. We have grandkids about soccer age and if they want to play, everything better be on the straight and level.

Golf Or Sex?

 Tim is watching a game of golf on TV. But he keeps switching channels to a sexy movie featuring a lusty couple having raucous sex. “Man, they are really getting’ it on! I don’t know whether to watch them or watch the game”, he says to his wife. For Pete’s sake, dummy,” his wife says, “Watch them! You already know how to play golf!

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Rich Reeser 

Pictured is Trey and Ted

           Linda, Trey and Ted Hickman (the IV Outdoor Editor) went up by Ukiah this past Saturday and took two nice Blacktail bucks during the coldest day in recent memory in  the early A zone. Trey got a nice three pointer (about 15 inch) and Ted a forked horn (about 11 & 1/2 inch). The forkie field dressed dress at 95# and the three pointer at 120#. They filled their tags at 7:15 am, after they spotted three bucks together. Linda, who has her license didn’t get a tag because she “shot one deer once and that was enough.” She did help haul them out and help skin them. They said the ticks and fleas were among the worst they had ever seen coast deer.

Deer bot larvae

          When Trey skinned the head of the three pointer for a European mount he found these huge live squirming larvae in the nasal cavity area which people in that area said aren’t that uncommon…The poor thing must have suffered from a very real sinus condition…there was no outward sign of it either bothering the deer or having any affect on it. They were the size of big grubs maybe an inch long and quarter inch around. Anybody ever seen critters like this before?

 Thousands of Hunters Expected at Dove Season Opening

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California’s split 2010 dove season will be open from Sept. 1-15, and again from Nov. 13-Dec. 27, the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) announced.  The season includes white-winged and mourning doves, for which the combined bag limit is 10 birds and the possession limit is 20. Hunters can also harvest Eurasian collared doves, which are now common in some parts of the state. There is no daily bag limit or possession limit for this species. There is no open hunting season on common ground-doves, ruddy ground-doves or Inca doves.

Open or limited dove hunting opportunities are available in DFG-managed wildlife areas and ecological reserves from Shasta Valley Wildlife Area in the north to the Imperial Valley Wildlife Area in the south. Hunts are conducted both on a reservation and non-reservation basis. Information on these opportunities can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/lands and www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/uplandgame/gamebird.

This year, numerous additional hunting sites will be made available in the Niland area of the Imperial Valley, through the cooperative efforts of DFG, Desert Wildlife Unlimited, the Imperial County Fish and Game Commission, Quail Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and the San Diego Chapter of the Safari Club. More information on this program is available from the Imperial Wildlife Area, (760) 359-0577.

Hunters must be in possession of a valid hunting license, an Upland Game Bird Stamp and a free Harvest Information Program Stamp. Proper safety precautions should be taken, including wearing shooting safety glasses in the field. Hunters are required to leave a fully feathered wing attached to doves when transporting them.

Each year an estimated 90,000 dove hunters take to the field in California to harvest more than 1.5 million doves. The sale of the required upland game bird stamps supports DFG’s Game Bird Heritage Program, which provides funding annually to plant dove food crops on state lands and on partnership private lands in the Imperial Valley. The upland game bird regulations for 2010/11 can be found at www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/uplandgamebirdregs.asp. Further localized information is also available at regional offices throughout the state.

CORRECTION to September 2010 DFG Calendar

Corrected information is on Sept. 12 and 26.12 — Last day of Deer Archery Hunting season in the B-zone. For details, please see California Mammal Hunting Regulations, section 361,
at www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/mammalregs.asp#361.

26 — Last day of Deer Rifle Hunting season in the A-zone. For details, please see California Mammal Hunting Regulations, section 360, at
www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/mammalregs.asp#360.

California Outdoors Q  &  As

Taking extra game to give away?http://californiaoutdoors.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/kaiab_stein1.jpg

Question:If I go diving with a friend in Sea Ranch (Sonoma County) and my wife stays home in San Francisco, can I dive one day and gift those abalone to my wife even though she is not with me at the moment? Then the following day, can I dive again, take an additional limit for myself, and then drive home alone with six abalone in my car? I would make sure the abalone remained in their shells and I would carry a letter stating three of the abalone are gifts for my wife. Does she have to be with me in order for me to gift the abalone to her? (Chuck V.)

Answer: This scenario would not be legal. Regardless of your intent, if you have six abalone in your possession, you will be in violation of an over limit and could be cited and have all of your abalone confiscated. Only three abalone may be possessed at any time by an individual, period (California Code of Regulations, section 29.15[c]).

In order for you to legally gift abalone to someone else, that person must be with you to receive and personally take possession of the abalone. Just carrying a note stating that you intend to gift three of the six abalone in your possession to your wife will not suffice because you are still in possession of an over limit, and are thus in violation of the law.  

Even though regulations allow for gifting abalone to other people, remember that bag and possession limits are set up as fishery management tools to help control excessive take of abalone. Even with the current limits and regulations, there is concern that some heavily used fishing sites are showing signs of reduced abalone populations. Careful management of this fishery is required to help assure California’s abalone stocks remain healthy and sustainable for continued future harvest through the coming years. Each diver and shore picker should be aware and mindful of this and help whenever they can.

Wild bird feeding

Question: We feed birds in our yard year round, but this year we are delighted to have a family of wild quail who have taken up residence in our yard in San Ramon. Our problem is there are also two pairs of raucous big birds that look like and act like blue jays, and they have taken over our yard.

Their call is so unpleasant and they are aggressive and chase away other smaller birds. They are eating the food we’re trying to preserve for the quail and other smaller birds, such as finches. Can those large blue-jay-like birds be trapped or contained some how? They are so bold they attack neighborhood dogs and cats by pecking at their heads. Help, please! (Dione Z.)

Answer: Sorry to hear about the problem you’re having. Unfortunately, the jays are protected under the Migratory Bird Act and so cannot be trapped, contained or hurt. Your best bet is to try to change your feeding methods somehow to exclude the Jays. This may be difficult but it’s really your only alternative.

Deer hunting from my porch

Question: I have a house on five acres near Winters in northern California and have some really nice bucks on my land. Everyday they come within a few feet of my house and graze on my garden and plants. If I purchase an A Zone tag this year, can I legally shoot a deer on my land from my house or porch? My house is situated more than 200 yards from any other property or house and it is outside of the city limits. Thanks. (Brian T.)

Answer: Yes. The safety zone law prohibits shooting within 150 yards of any occupied dwelling without the permission of the occupant. As long as it is otherwise legal to discharge a firearm in this area (e.g. not in the city limits), then go for it!

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 By Mike Ceremello

Where were you all when yet again the three stooges of the Dixon city council made the move to further tax you and set the plan for even more down the road?  I am talking about the special joint meeting held Tuesday night to create another unnecessary bureaucracy which will be looking for more of your money in the not so distant future.

The logic put forth by city staff and parroted by BJ and company is that the JEPA is old and doesn’t allow them to do what is necessary.  The JPA on the other hand will enable regular joint meetings of both boards to address items of mutual interest.  Want to buy some swamp land?

The JEPA, the joint exercise of powers agreement, is a document that set up the Dixon/Solan Municipal Water Service (DSMWS) to operate a water utility for the newer homes in Dixon plus any new development outside of the boundaries of California Water Service.  The billing was to be done by the city with the operations of the wells to be conducted by those trained in that area who worked for SID.  Finance appeared to be beyond the capabilities of either agency so an outside firm was hired to come to an “impartial” decision based on the inputs from staff.

The JPA, the joint powers authority, also calls for the mutual operation of the same system with a few minuses and pluses which all appear to be minuses to me.  First off, there will be no more council or board representation at a committee level in giving direction to either staff.  Whenever one individual is strong enough to question improprieties and not act as a rubber stamp to management plans, guess what management does?  It gets rid of the committee which was only there to reassure the public that they were on the up and up when they really aren’t.  How do I know?  It has happened to me once before when I worked at General Motors and the similarities haven’t escaped me.

I was put on a committee to deal with quality aspects of our shipping department.  In less than a year, I became the chairman of that committee.  Once I began implementing techniques I learned in business courses at the University of Nevada-Reno, a.k.a. UNR, the University of No Respect, the shop chairman of the union began attending the meetings.  After he observed the power accruing to this committee, he unilaterally decided to disband it.

Another aspect of the JPA is the ability of the agency to borrow money.  City manager Nancy Huston inimically attempted to con the council as well as the public by running around the point stating that at some point the city may be mandated to use surface water instead of our deep water wells.  We will have to build a water treatment plant.  Yeah right.

More likely scenario: the Northeast area can’t develop because of lack of infrastructure.  To enable a “jumpstart” of development, the agency will issue a bond to build a well and storage facility.  Who will be paying back the bond?  All of us instead of those who are directly benefitting from the new development.  I am sure we will be reassured that “all” of us are benefitting by the new development through tax dollars flowing to the city.  Uh huh!  Seems to me city staff and their salaries are the only ones who ever benefit from general fund money.

Want further proof?  Maybe you should ask what they did with that depreciation money which came out of your rates.  Maybe you should ask what their plans are to pay you back.  Maybe you should get a clue and understand that they will lie, cheat, and steal to get their way, all the while professing how “proactive” and future enabling they are.

More likely and more insidious is the bureaucracy’s bent to spend ever more of your money on unnecessary projects to keep their employees busy.  They will want to issue a bond to do repair work or upgrades.  This will benefit the system as a whole.  But just look at the scenario as it now stands.

The staff comes up with the idea.  The staff meets at a District Technical Committee meeting amongst themselves and they all say “yeah that’s a great idea and Bob will have something to do this year”.  Then it goes to the council and SID, the same council who never questions anything on a 3 to 2 basis only to be trumped by the SID board who never questions anything period.  Which leaves the opposition only one last resort: the proposition 218 protest.  If you see nothing wrong with this, God help you because I can’t.

I should point out that those whose money is not on the line have no interest in making sure it is spent wisely.  We keep hearing those little bon mots out of people like BJ and “Fluffy” Cayler that it is only a couple of bucks a month so why worry.  Considering that Jack and Kay don’t care that $2.2 million of rate payer money was spent with no plan to repay it, that neither of these two even understood the “depreciation expense” issue, nor did either of them have a problem with staff encumbering the water agency with their salaries in an unjustified manner, you might understand why I don’t want either of them having an opportunity to give their blessing to staff wishes.  Clueless is an apt description.

Getting back to the topic at hand, the JPA was passed last night in another display of why we don’t need Kay Cayler, Rick Fuller, or Jack Batchelor on this council.  Again, valid concerns and problems with the document were expressed and ignored.  The same old BS of “we can modify it later” and “we have to start somewhere” were thrown out there.  Just when I think Fooler is seeing the light, the lightbulb appears to go dark.

Let me tell you exactly where this is going to go.  They have eliminated council input during the planning stage for rate increases.  Now, city staff and SID staff will have no opposition as they “tell” the consultant what to find and as they refuse to examine expenses.  One more “check” has been eliminated and there is no “balance” where citizen oversight and welfare can be addressed.  There will be a rate increase proposed in early 2011.  Their argument will be to fund a rehabilitation account and increase operating reserves to 50%.  They will ignore the fact that they “stole” $2.2 million from the operations fund to use for “planning and development” of the northeast and southwest quadrant wells.  It will pass by the same 3 to 2 margin if the same three stooges are in office.

There are only two things standing in their way.  One is Proposition 218 which allows the citizens of Dixon to protest the increase.  This next protest will see enough ballots gathered to defeat any increase and it will be accomplished by a large margin.  The last run told us just how much distrust there is in this government.  The second is the upcoming election.

Hopefully, this November’s election will take care of this matter.  Without Cayler in office, sensible solutions instead of railroad jobs will be accomplished.  So who are the choices?  Dane is already doing the job.  That takes care of one spot.  That leaves Thom Bogue and Phil McCaffrey.

Bogue has attended meetings although he missed last night’s meeting.  He was busy learning city budgeting from what I have been told.  McCaffrey hasn’t attended a meeting yet.  I don’t know where he stands on the issue.  Despite my dislike for his union backing, it is a total lack of knowledge on his stances, principles, and logic which prevents me from considering him for this position.

Given the tag team duo of Russ and Kay Cayler weighing in with subjective bleating and the mantra of “it has taken so long” as justification for taking action, a rock could do a better job simply by sitting there silently.  I hope you all study long and hard before allowing the city to remain in the position we find ourselves in at this moment: clueless and elitist.  It is time to end the BOB regime.  I leave it to you…

* * * * *

I participated in the wine stroll on Saturday.  It was a great event although some participants can’t leave politics out of social events.  Some can and did.  Many said this was the best stroll yet.

I found the selection of wines to be quite good.  Jess Jones was pouring a port which I thoroughly enjoyed.  A Tempranillo was served at the Firehouse café and the Smoking Loon Pinot Noir I had elsewhere were also outstanding.  The folks over at Dixon Propane and Gas did a repeat of last year’s offering of Sauvignon Blanc plus tri-tip and chicken.

I finally got to meet Phil McCaffrey over at Janice Luzzo’s Every Baking Moment.  He seems like a very personable guy.  We did not discuss politics in any depth but did talk a little about his background.  Phil seemed to be enjoying the event as much as the rest of the crowd.

I especially liked the attention I got over at Bud’s Pub and Grill where one young lady fascinated by my western style Fu Manchu moustache asked if she could “twirl” it.  This is real small town charm mixed with the essence of a “town dance” on Saturday night.  It was socializing at its best.

Too bad so many of the BOB’s can’t get beyond their little cliques and personality issues to enjoy real life … their loss not ours …

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500 “Bikers” came to
Dixon last Saturday

 

Story and Photos by Ted Hickman©2010

Click on pictures to enlarge 

 

All of the law enforcement and city angst was wasted worrying about motorcycle clubs from throughout the area gathering in Dixon this past Saturday for an end of the year “Blowout.”
Bikers started arriving as early as 11 am and event organizer, Greg Coppes, Commander of the Dixon American Legion Post 208 nervously paced waiting for the “Pack” of unknown numbers to reach the new Vet’s Hall on North First Street. He said, “There was only supposed to be about 225 people but we had over 100 here before the pack arrived.” The event wasn’t really publicized and is a kind of impromptu get together that just happens. This get together in Dixon reportedly was the “biggest ever.”

They started out in Vallejo picking up numbers as they took a round about route to Dixon. At times they were shadowed by a helicopter, and law enforcement folks from Napa and Solano Counties, the CHP and of course, local sheriff deputies and Dixon City Police.

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When the “pack” arrived their numbers stretched, bumper to bumper, from the Vet’s Hall at least back to Wal-Mart which was as far as one could see.

As the day progressed some came and some went and over 450 were served meals, about 500 bikes appeared and disappeared and dozens of raffle prizes were won. Cases and cases of non-alcoholic beer were drained and the event had all of the earmarks of a big family reunion.

The day was trouble free and those who worried that, “Some Hells Angels might come” should have been glad they showed as just one of the over 30 different motorcycle clubs represented. The difference in having the Hells Angels there was decorum. During the several hours this reporter was at the “blowout” it was quietly acknowledged who was in charge of acceptable behavior…and it wasn’t the police.

All of these men and women came to Dixon to have a good time and help raise money for the American Legion…Over $1,000 was raised.
There were no incidents or accidents reported and as the roar of bikes faded the Hells Angels proved what kind of guests they were by leaving the entire structure, including the parking lot, even cleaner than it was before they came. So if you drove down North First Street any time Saturday and wondered what was going on…now you know.

The IV was the only news media invited and the pictures and story are exclusive.

Here are additional photos:

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By Ted Hickman©2010
Feel Free to Email: Tedhick@gmail.com

Legion Steak Dinner and Fish Fry Returns

           The American Legion’s famous annual steak dinner will be held Friday September 10 at the new Dixon’s Veterans Hall 1305 North First St, Cocktails will be at 6 pm followed by dinner at 7.  The price $15 per person and on the menu will be:  Steak, baked potato, salad, roll, butter, desert, coffee and or soft drink. For tickets call Bob Fletcher 678-5155 or the Veterans Hall 678-6308…this is a great deal folks and it goes for a good cause.

  This dinner will help support American Legion programs like Boy’s State, Youth Environmental Conference, Blood Drives, and Flags for all Dixon first grade kids after the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, Vanguard Scouting, and Legion Riders.

         Starting this Friday, September, 3 the Dixon American Legion Post 208 will bring back its “all you can eat fish, hush puppies and fries” event at the Vet’s Hall on N. First Street. It’s like $10 buck for adults and half price for kids under 12 and $8/4 for Legion, VFW or Aux members. All other Friday’s they will have the current all you can eat spaghetti/salad feed. Due to popular demand they will have the fish dinner the first Friday of each month starting at 5 pm.

Not Just Another Blond Joke…

“Hi Mom, How are you?” “Hi Misty, where are you? I thought you were with your father at the Ace Hardware” “Yeah we were, but I got arrested for assault and battery and they’ve let me make one phone call”
“What happened?” “Oh, I punched this African-American woman in the head.” “What on earth, why did you do that?” “Well it wasn’t my fault. Dad told me to go find a Black & Decker.”

My Dog’s Life

My dog sleeps about 20 hours a day.  She has her food prepared for her.  She can eat whenever she wants, 24/7/365.  Her meals are provided at no cost to her.  She visits the Dr. once a year for her checkup, and again during the year if any medical needs arise.  For this she pays nothing and nothing is required of her.  She lives in a nice neighborhood in a house that is much larger than she needs, but she is not required to do any upkeep.  If she makes a mess, someone else cleans it up. She has her choice of luxurious places to sleep.  She receives these accommodations absolutely free.  She is living like a queen, and has absolutely no expenses whatsoever.  All of her costs are picked up by others who go out and earn a living every day.  I was just thinking about all this, and suddenly it hit me like a brick in the head, Holy carp, (remember the publisher won’t let me use the word crap) my dog is a Democrat!

City Manager Backlash

           Let’s see, your city manager has three of her top management bail in a matter of weeks, city clerk, assistant fire chief, and public works/recreation director WTF (what’s the facts)?
         She has ignored direct instructions from the city council, come out as anti-veteran/business and this past week tried to stop a veteran fund raiser at the Vet’s Hall that took place this past Saturday which was only saved with a Solomon like decision by our police chief. She reportedly didn’t like the fact a couple of hundred motorcycle rides were coming to the Vet’s Hall for a end of the year get together/fund raiser for the American Legion. She apparently forgot about the US constitution again and the right to assemble part of it. She was probably too busy working overtime to make up her list of how she thinks council member should behave…Can you say November’s coming?

…And so the bikers came

            There were no problems thanks mainly to the three bad asses in the photo above. Left to right are Mario Flores, President, Hells Angels Vallejo, Ted Hickman, Vice Commander Dixon American Legion and Addison Webb, of Vacaville, and former President of the Hells Angles. There was a helicopter, CHP, Sheriff’s deputies, and a squad of Dixon Police patrolling every inch of the bikers round about progress from Vallejo to Dixon. Close to 500 bikers showed up during the day, had lunch, a raffle, cleaned up the place and went home. (See many more photos on my web site). If the peace officers try to take credit for this peaceful event I want some of what they are smoking. I spent a couple of hours there and there was only one force that made sure things stayed on a even keel…and that force didn’t really have to do anything but be there. The “force”? The Vallejo Chapter of the Hell’s Angels. Every one was on their best behavior and just came to this end of the year biker thing to spend some biker time together, show off their bikes, go for a nice ride, eat, maybe win a prize, help raise funds for Vet’s causes and go home…They started coming about 11:30 and were gone by 5 pm and the “pack” of hundreds of riders showed about 2…end of story. No trouble, no arrests not even a ticket that I know of…except for passing cars that were stopped. No big thing, as a mater of fact Past Legion Commander Kevin Kilkenny (not a biker) said, “We’ve had a lot more trouble at a girl’s coming out party than we did today. They broom swept the parking lot, mopped the floors and left the place in even better shape than they found it.” Thanks to Legion Post Commander Greg Coppes I was able to wander around the event and freely take pictures like I was one of the boys. The big guy in the photo above, Bill Carter of Vallejo is the Angel’s Protocol Officer. We talked for quite a while and I listened for a change and learned quite a lot.

Today’s Lesson

One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

           Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up. Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
Free your heart from hatred – Forgive.
Free your mind from worries – Most never happen.
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
Give more.
Expect less.

NOW…Enough of that carp. The donkey later came back, and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.
Moral from today’s lesson: When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you

The Yolo County  Fair

 We spent five days at the Yolo County Fair in Woodland last week and our booth was right in front of the main entertainment stage so we had a continual show…both from it and those passing by. Three of the highlights are shown.
Picture #1 has to be the coolest tattoo ever. The guy who stopped to talk had his head inked and hair cut to reveal a face that looks a lot like Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter.

 Picture #2 has my first wife Linda learning how to print a name on a grain of rice and she also watched them weave material bracelets and around pens with people’s names on them…in less than five minutes…truly remarkable. The guy does the grain of rice lettering freehand with no magnification.

Picture # 3 shows Linda with the Pleasant Valley Bluegrass Boys (plus 1 obviously). Two of the members are from Dixon, Matt Dudman in the center, and Jenny Lynn to the right. Far left is fiddle player, Jim Allison and next to him Geroge Goodel with the banjo. Between Linda and Jenny Lynn is Mark Eagleton who plays the stand up bass. Yes they’ve been to the May Fair and if you like traditional bluegrass music go to their website, www. Pleasant Valley Bluegrass Boys and see where they will be next.

Bats…Batty?

 
          This is very timely: the latest newsletter from The Texas Gardener’ Seeds said: Put up a bat house to encourage the presence of these shy animals. Bats consume 3,000 or more mosquitoes and other insects nightly, and bats are less likely to be rabid than dogs are. Need another reason? Bats are responsible for up to 95 percent of the seed dispersal essential to the regeneration of forests. Our planet is populated with plenty of bizarre and astonishing creatures. Here are three from the Bat family…without the need for resorting to fiction.

Below is the Sucker Footed Bat

Red Winged Fruit Bat     

Left winged ding bat

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Rich Reeser

   For some of us it seems like forever and even though it has been over forty years I can still remember sitting through hunter safety course. All my friends sitting along side one of their parents or grandparents listening how to safely handle a gun and the rules that go along with it. I can remember how hard it was trying to stay focused on the instructor while at the same time all I could think about was opening day of pheasant season which was approaching rapidly.  Knowing that when opening morning came we would meet up with other members of our hunting party at the pancake breakfast that happened every year on opening day of pheasant season here in Dixon. That first year I was able to carry a gun into the field along side my dad is a memory I will never forget.

          Well that feeling and a new memory gets passed on with each new generation of hunters. This past week was a proud moment for Dad (Pat Carpenter), Papa (Butch Carpenter) and I (Uncle Richie) when Lyndsey Carpenter bagged her first buck. Lyndsey came up to the Gunn Ranch as Papa’s guest where Butch and I are both members to fill her tag. Lyndsey made a perfect shot dropping her 3 point buck from 140 yards with one shot from her 25/06.

  Pictured is Lyndsey, dad Pat  and deer dog Dottie

          Another first was when Matt Kelley son of Chris Kelley of Woodland came up to the Gunn Ranch as a guest with member John Pardi and bagged his first buck another 3 pointer with one shot from his .223. There have been a lot of happy youngsters that over the years have been invited up to the Gunn Ranch to bag their first buck thanks to Larry Benefield who started the club 30+ years ago.
 

Pictured below is Matt Kelley
   

California Outdoors Q & A

 
If I own the land, do I need to be drawn to hunt it?http://californiaoutdoors.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/hunting-at-sunset2.jpg
 
Question: I was looking into buying some land in California to use for hunting, but someone told me that even if you owned the land, you would still have to be drawn to hunt it. Were they correct or full of it? In Texas and in most other states, you can hunt on your own land. (Mitch, Southern California)
 
Answer: Yes, it’s true. The wildlife belongs to the State of California and not to the landowner who owns the land they may be residing on or passing through.  Under the provisions of a Private Lands Management program (PLM), however, landowners can improve their property to benefit wildlife, and in return receive additional tags that they may sell or use themselves. These tags may also allow them additional hunting rights that begin before or run after the regular hunting seasons and that allow additional cows, spikes or bucks to be taken.
Hunting big game with a cow decoy?
 
Question: I know that cow decoys may not be used for hunting birds. Does this also apply to hunting deer or other big game? (Brent N.)
 
Answer: No, it is not prohibited when taking mammals (FGC, section 3502 ). There are no Fish and Game laws or regulations on the books regarding using any type of “blind” when taking mammals.

Thinning the Eurasian collared doves
 
Question: I have a question pertaining to Eurasian doves. I have heard they are an invasive species and compete for food and shelter with the native mourning doves. I believe they are open game during dove season and do not count towards a personal limit. Can the Eurasians be hunted year-round? In the last couple of years their population has grown extensively near where I live. If they are open year-round, I was thinking of thinning the herd a bit and enjoying some bacon-wrapped roasted dove breast. (Mike G.)
 
Answer: While it’s very nice of you to offer to help in “thinning the herd”, Eurasian doves can only be taken during the regular season. Otherwise, year-round hunting for this one species would create an enforcement nightmare for the game wardens. Eurasian doves are invasive and are living with, and competing with, native species. However, at this point they do not seem to be gaining the advantage over the native species. Keep in mind that there is no limit on Eurasian collared doves when the season is open (Sept. 1-15 and Nov. 14 – Dec 28), so you can take as many as you like for your bacon-wrapped roasted dove dinners during that time!

California Department of Fish and Game News Release

Contact: Sarah Deaton, DFG Wildlife Branch (916) 445-3563  Karen Fothergill, DFG Wildlife Branch (916) 445-3703
Dove Hunt Application Forms now Available for the 2010 Season The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is now accepting applications for all dove hunts for the 2010 season.

The hunts will be held at 12 locations, including Sacramento, Fresno, Imperial, Merced, Stanislaus and Tulare counties.

To allow a maximum number of hunters to participate, applicants and their party members may be drawn only once for all lottery dove hunts during the season. Any duplicate applications will be disqualified. Interested parties can find the specifics about each hunt, as well as
the application form, at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/uplandgame/gamebird. Applications
must be received by Tuesday, August 10 at 5 p.m. Applications will be drawn at random and successful applicants will be notified by mail within a week.

These hunts were developed in cooperation with private landowners, Department of Water Resources, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Southern Tulare County Sportsman’s Association ad DFG.                 #

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Dixon City Councilman Mike Ceremello

Last week I criticized the school district’s proposal to go out for a $32 million bond on top of their already existing $29.2 million bond left over from constructing the high school.  During the intervening period, the Dixon Chapter of the Solano County Taxpayers Association met with Roger Halberg, the superintendent of our Dixon schools, at his request.  In what has become typical of how governmental affairs are conducted in this town and elsewhere, information was presented which should have seen the light of day before the school board of trustees approved conducting a bond campaign.  You don’t need information, though, if you are simply going to rubber stamp requests as Herb Cross and Jim Ernst do.

It might surprise both of them to learn that there is no intention to access the full $32 million amount.  In fact it is impossible for them to do so as it is beyond the bonding capacity of the district.  Instead they intend to go out for $5.5 million immediately, as they have stated was their intent, but even this may prove problematic given their promise to hold tax rates at $60 per $100,000 valuation.  Now I need to explain some financial concepts extremely simply.

The tax rate is not static.  There are factors that impact it.  If the district grows, either from development increasing the amount of homes and businesses that are taxed or through your assessed value on your tax bill going up, the tax rate can be allowed to fall.  I say “can” because the bond can be paid off faster if the same rate is maintained.  Allowing the tax rate to fall enables the district to issue more bonds which will then increase the tax rate back up toward their established limit.

On the other hand if assessments decrease, as is currently happening, the tax rate again goes in the opposite direction which is up.  The reason for this is simple.  The principle and interest payments have to be met.  If the tax rate was not increased, they could not generate enough to pay the necessary amounts.  So as assessed valuation goes down, rates must go up to generate the same revenue.  It is as simple as 2 times 2 is 4 and if one of the inputs drops to 1 then you need 4 to multiply against it to remain at a total of 4.

Where the district finds itself is with a tax rate that declined to $47 per $100,000 during the period when home prices were escalating.  Now that home values are dropping like a big fat rock, the rate has come back up.  The estimate Halberg gave us was approximately $57 which I will have to verify.  That gives very little leeway to issue any new bonds at all and keep the tax rate under $60.

Extending the term of a bond also reduces the tax rate.  The longer you have to pay, the lower your payments.  So if the district can supplant some of the shorter term bonds they have, this should allow them to create more debt.  A look at their books shows a mixed bag consisting of ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty five, etc to 40 year debt outstanding.

Looking at the debt on the district’s own financial notes let’s you see the true cost of borrowing. $28 million in debt is going to cost the citizens of Dixon $45.5 million in interest.  Further, to understand what the district’s potential for additional borrowing is, one has to look at what will be paid off in principal which isn’t the true cost to the district as interest must be paid in addition.

From 2010 to 2014, about $2.7 million in principal will be paid off.  In the next five years, $4 million more will be eliminated.  While it has been the premiere contention of the bond counsel and district staff that the pay off of the certificates of participation (COPs), some $12 million, will be the first use of the bond money, it doesn’t appear that this will be possible.  If it were, they wouldn’t be telling you that the first issuance is only going to be $5.5 million which will free up far less than the $800,000 per year in COP payments they say they are going to invest in the classroom.

The other major argument is that additional bond money will be used to “fix” an assortment of problems from leaky roofs to lack of technology.  If you can’t even pay off the COPs, where is the money coming from to pay for these improvements?  The district could use the first $5.5 million to do projects that will save money, perhaps a couple hundred thousand a year, but then that won’t pay off the COPs even if they get State matching funds.

All of this should be making you ask yourself “just what is their plan”?  How did the board approve this without understanding all of the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle?  But wait, the analysis isn’t quite done.
Let us say that the district decides to max out the tax rate this next year.  What happens when homes sell for less and are devalued?  No building is anticipated this next year and probably not the following thanks to the fantastic job our federal government is doing in recognizing and correcting our economic malaise.  As you know from the explanation above, the tax rate must go up.  Now the district will wring their hands and tell you that a promise is not a promise, that they couldn’t have anticipated you having to pay more.  THE TAX RATE MUST EXCEED $60 AT THIS POINT.

Speaking of paying more, what happens if the economy improves?  Now the tax rate goes down but your payment goes up because your property value increases.  I have not checked my tax bills over the years, but I would bet my total payment hasn’t stayed constant.

The bottom line to all of this is likewise simple.  If the district can’t even put all the facts on the table for consideration before a vote, if the school board can’t ask these questions, if the board doesn’t have a plan for the money’s use, and if they intend to use money for things that will be worn out or gone long before we finish paying for them, you need to tell them in no uncertain terms that this isn’t wise and won’t work for you with a big fat NO!!!

It seems that this is more of the same “trust us, we will use the money wisely, and we will tell you what we spent it on after it is gone.”  Maybe you like to do business that way, but I don’t.  Trust but verify.  It has been verified there still is no plan …

* * * * *

The other topic of the day is from the “special” council meeting last Thursday to establish a “joint powers authority” (JPA) as opposed to the “joint exercise of powers agreement” (JEPA) with the Solano Irrigation District (SID).  The JEPA is the current form of governance for this dual control of the Dixon-Solano Municipal Water System.  So what is the plan and the big picture here?  Why does the structure need to be changed as it has worked just fine for the last 25 years?

As the saying goes, “follow the money”.  What the problem is, in the eyes of a few and those few being within city and SID management, is that they just can’t do all the things they think they need to do without having more of your money.  When you have those with eagle eyes watching the books, what they have done, and what they are doing, it makes it extremely difficult to expand their bureaucracies or the plush surroundings they think are necessary to run a water company.

What is the major difference between a JPA and a JEPA?  Even our city manager, Nancy Huston, admitted it is the ability to encumber those within the district with bonds or other indebtedness to do their projects.  I say their projects because those who are served water do not suggest these things.  I seriously doubt that those in the district want to fund expansion projects such as the Northeast Quadrant wells through their rates.  Well you already have.

Rather than putting aside some $2.2 million in depreciation charged off against revenues, which make it APPEAR as if the district is losing money, into their rehabilitation fund, past councils and water boards approved expending those funds to plan wells in both the southwest and northeast quadrants.  I know I have told you this before but it bears repeating.  Their complaints that there is no money to do rehabilitation projects rings hollow as it is their own fault.  Now, just like the school board, these boneheads are telling us to trust them.

Would you trust two agencies, the city and SID, who want to eliminate having a board member and a city councilman on their advisory committee which recommends rate increases and the like?  That is their plan.  The joint water committee comprised of the city manager, the SID manager, and a member of the council and water board is being eliminated.  In its place will be no one but staff.  So what can we expect from this group?

Who was it that found a problem with expenses and their accounting this last year when they asked for rate increases?  It wasn’t staff and it wasn’t the SID board member.  In fact, there is no point in involving the SID board whatsoever as they rarely see a problem with what staff is doing.  It was only Dane Besneatte and myself who pointed out the holes and problems.  The simple solution, as it is to all governmental agencies, is to raise rates.

When rates can actually be lowered, the suggested decrease is always less than it can be as opposed to increases which are always as high as they figure will be palatable to the public.  All you have to do is look at the past history, and I mean recent history as in this last round of greedy bastard increases which got substantially reduced once the glaring light of reason was focused on them, and you will see the analysis is correct.

The plan is simple.  Eliminate real oversight.  Minimize the impact of anyone who questions their actions by combining one financially responsible board with a group of fuddy duddy farmers and self serving individuals who rubber stamp whatever is suggested and never question anything.  Once you have the governance gamed, then the major expansions come.

We shouldn’t have to worry about our water pipes going bad or situations such as the Northeast Quadrant wells having to be financed by developers.  You will pay for all of that and you will be paying a lot more than you are right now.  Also you can pay for assistant manager positions which are unnecessary, for a Taj Mahal administrative facility with only the best furnishing from that SF interior design firm, and for city salaries during these stressful economic times.

As few of you seem to care about any of this until you are told your water bill will increase, I am giving you fair warning.  You need to get your butts out of your easy chairs and get down to city hall.  There will be another special meeting on this subject in the next couple of weeks.

I don’t want you down there to tell me how wonderful I am.  I want you to tell me that you don’t care what the city does.  I want you to tell me you like paying higher rates, that “Fluffy” Cayler is right that it is only a couple of more bucks per month.  Tell me that you want me to cast a blind eye on the inner operations of the organization.  Tell me it is okay to be a rubber stamper.

If you really want me to resign as a councilman, come down there and do that.  You will get exactly what you deserve…

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Feel Free to Email: Tedhick@gmail.com

Yolo County Fair Is Free

 We (NorCal Outdoor Connection) will have a booth at the five day (free to get in) Yolo County Fair in Woodlandand somebody from our family will be there from now through Sunday. Our booth is located just outside the entrance to the commercial building by Wave Broadband where we will be booking fishing and hunting trips world wide. We are going to specialize in booking Caribou Hunting trips out of MontréalCanada with Safari Nordik (one of the hundreds of outfitters we represent). Our two sons and I have been on several trips to the sub arctic and really enjoy the country, northern lights, the Inuit people, the float plane flights, the fishing, and even the French speaking eastern Canadians.

We havea special deal for all inclusive round trip from Sacramento. You go from here to Montréal, Canada, to Kuujjuaq and a float plane to the hunting site and back. Guides, food, meat processing, license, taxes and two caribou, etc. is all included. Want to give or take a hunting trip of a lifetime? This is it. Drop by and say hi.

I Want To Marry My Brother

 I feel as though I am “a second class citizen”  (like the gays and lesbians say) and I will be until the stupid law changes and I can marry either my cousin, my brother (if I had one) or my mother (if I still had one).

With the people’s choice Prop 8 shot down by some judge there is now hope for me. I will probably be able to marry my bother since we are the same sex right? No? Why not? You would deprive me of my constitutional right to equal treatment under the law?  Why can’t brothers and sisters or first cousins marry?

The law of the land, the will of the people and the law of all bibles is being ignored so the door’s wide open now.

 I guess first cousins will now be able to marry and produce more future lawyers and judges and sisters can marry sisters and brothers, brothers. How can you stop that once the flood gates have opened and the courts rule against the will of the people?

Ballot decisions by the majority have been ignored and one pansy judge backed by the Governator Arnold (who has changed since getting elected), president, and all elected democratic liberals decided we must now allow such things. Certainly the gay/lesbian, trans-whatevers, and flat out weird folks couldn’t object to such a thing could they? When I do marry my brother I want to adopt little girl children and explain to them how it is natural and fair it is that their parents are who they are…
I will be at the court house waiting in line to get my “marriage license.” And they better give it to me or I will protest, call in the ACLU, the NAACP, AARP, NSCAR, and the RMEF (Editor’ note: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation) to help me out or I, and my kind, will boycott them in the future…See that’s how it works…WTF (Editor’s note: He said it means What’s The Facts), seriously I mean WTF?

There’s always an upside to all issues. If this things prevails, overturning Prop 8, the problem will eventually solve itself. Those boys marrying boys and those girls marrying girls should eventually cleanse the gene pool.

Not surprising is the endorsement to overturn Prop 8 from our Attorney General and the Democratic Party nominee for governor. Ignoring the will of the people, the polls and a public generally getting pissed off at elected officials, and bureaucrats ignoring the will of the people, the former “Governor Moonbeam” Jerry Brown, somehow thinks this will help him get elected our leader…go figure. Do the gays/lesbians, and trans gender voters now determine the outcome of an election? The last time he ran there were bumper stickers galore saying “If it’s Brown, flush it!” Any wonder why most of this country and many around the world truly believe California is the land of fruits and nuts?

From city hall to the county to the state all the way up to the white house elected and appointed officials are thumbing their noses at those who put them in office and in power. Polls show that up to 80 per cent of all Americans are opposed to building a Muslim shrine just a couple of blocks where Muslims butchered thousands of innocent Americans and brought down two of the country’s icons.

So what does your President with his Muslim background do? He endorses it and then their right to do it. Do you now believe he is dead set on being a one-term wonder and is obsessed with getting his personal agenda completed before he is taken out of office? Why else would he go against the will of millions of Americans? Why else would he make the many devastating decisions that have harmed so many non-Muslim (Judo-Christian) families costing them their jobs and homes?
I think the eyes of the voting public everywhere, from here in our little city, to the county, to the state and national level are now opening. I expect to see the biggest voter backlash in this country’s history. We have allowed them to usurp powers they weren’t granted, do as they wish, carry out personal agendas and them their noses at us while taking way to much of our tax dollars in payment for these misdeeds…It should all change in the upcoming election don’t you think? If you are not registered to vote, get registered, if you are registered you better get out and vote this time.
Millions of Americans have lost their jobs, homes, cars, and self respect while this government keeps pouring zillions of dollars into their own pockets, foreign aid and world-wide causes…all the while short changing senior citizens.

Brown says to hell with the voters and wants to over turn Prop 8. The Obama nation says to hell with a vast majority of Americans and wants his people to build a Mosque right next to an American icon the decimated…what do you want?

My Dogs Life

My dog sleeps about 20 hours a day.  She has her food prepared for her.  She can eat whenever she wants, 24/7/365.  Her meals are provided at no cost to her.  She visits the Dr. once a year for her checkup, and again during the year if any medical needs arise.  For this she pays nothing and nothing is required of her. 

She lives in a nice neighborhood in a house that is much larger than she needs, but she is not required to do any upkeep.  If she makes a mess, someone else cleans it up. She has her choice of luxurious places to sleep.  She receives these accommodations absolutely free.  She is living like a queen, and has absolutely no expenses whatsoever.  All of her costs are picked up by others who go out and earn a living every day.  I was just thinking about all this, and suddenly it hit me like a brick in the head, Oh My God, my dog is a Democrat!

From The Email Box…How Much You Paying?

 
 Ted: “Someone told me you wrote a piece a week or so ago about “bundling” your cable, Internet, and phone for some ridiculous price…I must have missed it. I’ve had it with the overpriced three companies I have to use while living here in Dixon that keep raising prices and reducing service. Can you tell me what you said before?” JB Dixon.
(Ted: All I said was I was paying three different companies over $140 a month for the three different services. A year ago I switched to Wave Broadband which offered all three, phone, internet and cable through one source with one bill. I’ve had the service for over a year now and our son and Linda’s mother both changed over too. They are currently offering the same package (that offer will expire Sept. 8thby the way) of which we took advantage. All three things, enhanced cable with over 120 channels (take out the foreign language channels, the information ones, the religious ones, the commercials ones and you’re left with a lot less like all of them but you do get the local Sac. ones), high speed 10 internet, and unlimited phone service with no long term contract. They are so sure you’ll like what they haveyou are on a month-to-month basis with them. The price is a guaranteed $89 a month for one year. Customer service and the direct sales folks have been great…and you know I wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t so. If you want to save a bundle you better hurry…the last time I mentioned this a lot of people took advantage of the offer…you can call local rep Joaquin Morales at 1-916-223-3900 for a personal visit and to verify what I’m saying here. There’s actually even more to it than I have room to explain…LOW COST…NO CONTRACT…ONE BILL…GOOD SERVICE…what will they think of next?)

Play Poker Next Saturday

The Dixon Lions Club  third annual Texas Hold-Em Poker Night fundraiser will be help on Saturday August 28 in the Denverton Hall at the Dixon Fairgrounds. A $75 donation per person will let you havegood time and a chance to win prizes. The best part is all proceeds go to those in need right here in our community. For tickets call Scott Smith at 707-693-1754 or contact any Dixon Lions Club member.

Not Just Another Blond Joke

“Hi Mom, How are you?” “Hi Misty, where are you? I thought you were with your father at the Ace Hardware” “Yeah we were, but I got arrested for assault and battery and they’ve let me make one phone call”
“What happened?” “Oh, I punched this African-American woman in the head.” “What on earth, why did you do that?” “Well it wasn’t my fault. Dad told me to go find a Black & Decker.”

Legion Fish Fry Returns

Starting next Friday, September, 3 the Dixon American Legion Post 208 will bring back its “all you can eat fish, hush puppies and fries” event at the Vet’s Hall on N. First Street. It’s like $10 buck for adults and half price for kids under 12 and $8/4 for Legion, VFW or Aux members. All other Friday’s they will have the current all you can eat spaghetti/salad feed. Due to popular demand they will have the fish dinner the first Friday of each month starting at 5 pm.

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California Department of Fish and Game News

By Rich Reeser

 
A new study is under way to determine why black-tailed deer populations
in some areas of northern California have declined over the past 20
years. The Department of Fish and Game (DFG), the University of
California, Davis and several doctoral candidates recently began a
three-year study of habitat changes, predation and land use patterns
affecting black-tailed deer in Mendocino County. The decline in the
harvest of black-tailed deer over the past 20 years is well-documented.

“We have concentrated our study in Mendocino County to try to find
out if and why black-tailed deer populations have declined in some of
the state’s best habitat,” said DFG Associate Wildlife Biologist
David Casady, “This study should provide important information for
wildlife and habitat managers to better understand the factors involved
in the deer population cycles and management alternatives.”

The study will take place over the next three years in the rugged
mountains east of Covelo, California in Mendocino, Glenn and Lake
counties. The location was selected because it represents some of the
best black-tailed deer habitat in the state and has seen a steady
decline in the harvest of bucks. While some ranching and ownership
patterns have changed over the past 20 years, most of the area is not
directly affected by urbanization and housing developments.

In 2009, an estimated 164,753 hunters pursued deer in California.
Approximately 38,037 of those hunted in the B zone area encompassed in
the black-tailed deer study. Statewide, the harvest of black-tailed deer
bucks has declined from 27,846 in 1989 to 14,895 in 2009, a drop of 46
percent. In the counties in the study area zone, harvest numbers have
dropped from 3,013 to 1,297, a 57 percent decline. 

The project takes a multi-species approach and employs state-of-the-art
equipment. Researchers are currently tracking fawns and adult doe deer
with radio and GPS tracking collars. Additionally, a female mountain
lion was fitted with an Argos satellite GPS collar in June and her
movements are tracked daily. Five additional mountain lions will be
collared and followed during the study. Deer are mountain lions main
prey. By tracking mountain lions biologists hope to estimate the overall
level of predation on deer by lions in the study area. Deer with radio
collars that die are necropsied within 24 hours to determine the cause
of death. Remote cameras are being used to determine relative abundances of other species such as coyotes to better understand habitat use and causes of deer mortality.

Scientists will carefully analyze changes in plant communities which
may affect food availability over the life cycle of deer, major land or
forest practices affecting habitat types and predation by mountain
lions, coyotes and other predators. 

UC Davis is responsible for study design, data collection and analyses.
DFG is responsible for animal capture and handling, project oversight
and providing vital equipment and personnel, as well as other expertise.
UC Davis Adjunct Professor Heiko Wittmer will play a key role in the
study (Wittmer can be contacted at huwittmer@ucdavis.edu).           

Major funding for the study comes from The California Deer Association
(CDA), UC Davis and DFG. Other donors include the Mendocino County
Blacktail Association.

“Black-tailed deer are very important to California hunters and there
are a lot of questions regarding why they declined. Hopefully this study
will provide some answers,” said Jim Lidberg, Project Chairman for the
CDA. “We look forward to working with DFG and improving the herds in
the future.”

August 2010 DFG Calendar

DATE — EVENT
1 — Deer Archery Hunting season closes in the A-zone. For details, please see California Mammal Hunting Regulations, section 361, at www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/mammalregs.asp#361.

1 — First day of recreational red abalone season (after July fishery closure). Additional information at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/invertebrate/abalone.asp.

11 — California Advisory Committee on Salmon and Steelhead Trout meetings, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The public may attend at either the DFG Coastal Watershed Planning and Assessment Office at 1455 Sandy Prairie Ct. Fortuna 95540 or the Department of Consumer Affairs at 1625 North Market Blvd., Room 210, Sacramento 95834. For details, please contact Patty Forbes at (916) 327-8842. 

14 — Deer Rifle Hunting season opens in the A-zone. For details, please see California Mammal Hunting Regulations, section 360, at www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/mammalregs.asp#360.

14 — Black Bear General Hunting season opens in the Deer A-Zone. For details, please see California Mammal Hunting Regulations, section 365, at www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/mammalregs.asp#365.

15 — Last day of recreational groundfish season (including lingcod) for all boat-based anglers in the North-Central North of Point Arena Recreational Groundfish Management Area (from Cape Mendocino, Humboldt County to Point Arena, Mendocino County). More information is on the Groundfish Central webpage at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/groundfishcentral.

18 and 24 — Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Bat Talk and Walk in Davis. A 45-minute indoor presentation on bat natural history followed by an opportunity to view live bats. The group will carpool to the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area to watch one of the largest colonies of Mexican free-tailed bats in California as it emerges to hunt insects at sunset. Begins at 6 p.m. Aug. 18 and 5:45 p.m. Aug. 24. Online registration is required at www.ticketturtle.com/index.php?ticketing=ybf. Scroll down to your preferred Bat Talk and Walk date. For information, please call (530) 902-1918.

21 — Black Bear Archery Hunting season opens and runs for 23 consecutive days, closing Sept. 12. For details, please see California Mammal Hunting Regulations, section 366, at www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/mammalregs.asp#366.

21 — Deer Archery Hunting season opens in the B-zone. For details, please see California Mammal Hunting Regulations, section 361, at www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/mammalregs.asp#361.

25 — Deadline to apply for East Park Reservoir 2010 Fall Wild Pig Hunt, a limited public entry, permit-only opportunity on a portion of East Park Reservoir in western Colusa County. Hunters may apply for two-day, muzzleloader-only pig hunts to be held in October. The drawing for all fall hunts will be held on Thursday, Aug. 26. Application and information are on the wild pig management website at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/pig/docs/specialhunts/2010EastParkHuntDates.pdf, or contact Marc Kenyon, Wild Pig Program Coordinator at (916) 445-3515.

26 — Wildlife Conservation Board Meeting, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the State Capitol, Room 112 (location is subject to change). Details at www.wcb.ca.gov.

28 — Black Bear General Hunting season opens in Deer Zone B-4. Please see California Mammal Hunting Regulations, section 365, at www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/mammalregs.asp#365.

30 — Last day of recreational Pismo clam season in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties (open year-round in all other counties). Additional information at  www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/invertebrate/bivalves.asp.

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I have a few questions for you.  The first bunch is related to the never ending quest of government to wrest or wrench more money from its citizens.  The second bunch have to do with a crooked politician and convicted criminal who will be leaving office shortly.  This is the only newspaper in the county where you will read this as the others are more than happy to wallow in their ignorance while not addressing the actual corruption within plain view.

We have the school district going out for not one bond but eventually two as the library district is governed by the same board.  Although the library has not settled on the amount for a bond, most believe it will be in the $15 million range.  My first question is this: just how much can various agencies encumber the citizens and their properties with these types of obligations?

After asking this question of Roger Halberg, the school district superintendent, and getting the answer that he didn’t know, it would be an easy jump to criticize him for not having this necessary information.  Halberg has lost his chief business official.  As a good manager he would rely on those with expertise in specific areas to provide the details.  However, when you are going out for a $32 million bond on top of an already existing $29.2 million bond, it should be expected that you have looked into this as a bonding capacity restriction may preclude you from garnering the funds necessary to accomplish your goals.

The $29.2 million has now grown to an obligation slightly over $30 million as detailed in the district’s annual report.  That is not the end of the story.  The district has also issued certificates of participation (COP’s) totaling another $13 million.  The purpose of the COP’s was to finance various improvements to Gretchen Higgins and Tremont elementary schools after the Mello Roos district hit its cap of $9 million (Thanks Tim Larin, Frank McNerney, Ralph Moody, Mike the Hammer, and others including the late Chuck Davis).  Then there was the additional funding needed for the new high school whose construction costs ballooned from the originally proposed $44 million with a budget of $55 million to well over $66 million.

Rather than rethinking the logic of building a one way in, one way out high school in a hidden location primarily for the purpose of accessing city park property, the school board counted on continued residential development to fund their ill fated financial plan.  Much as they blew it with the district’s finances in giving wage increases of 6% when they had no money to do so, they gambled and lost because they approached the situation on an emotional basis of what a pretty new building or two would do for the kid’s esteem and learning capacity.  Yes, this was their argument.

Unfortunately for all of us but especially the school district, the same types of buffoons which sat on previous school boards are also entrenched throughout our State government, many no doubt sponsored by the same teachers and educational unions which have destroyed learning in our State.  Recall that Shana Levine, or should we now call her Shama as in Shame on you, wanted to move up the elective ladder after having her head bloated by the honor of heading up some State organization of school board members.  It is the State legislature who can’t control their spending which now is punishing schools and parents to whom they have taken away local funding control.  Their solution?  You want more money, get it from your citizens.

We have the examples of how past money was used, finances improperly planned, and their desire to usurp even more money to continue down the same road they have traveled.  The question remains, “how much is enough and what is the legal limit?”  Well I went to the tax collector to find out.

The law limits “unified” school districts to 2.5% of the assessed value of all properties within their district.  It is half of that if the district is other than “unified”.  The 2008/2009 assessed valuation was $2,302,630,605.  The bonding capacity based on this is $57.565 million.  Houston, we have a problem.

I have been told that the county can issue bonds up to 5% of the values in the county.  I don’t know how many assessments or other financial encumbrances that the city can impose.  Do you remember the housing bubble?  Lenders were giving money away.  “We will loan you up to 125% of the value of your home.”  Anyone around here get caught up in that?  Well this isn’t much different.

As I said, the library district will follow suit.  Common sense would tell you that a $15 million bond should not be possible given the previously described capacity limits.  I am sure the attorneys for the district will say “but hey, the library district is separate from the school district and you have the right to say no.”  Well, just because some well intentioned bubble headed bleach blond fool and her friends think this is a great idea doesn’t make it one.  I have no intention of making foolish decisions simply because “it’s for the kiiiiiidddddds”.

The bonding capacity will presumably decline as property values have.  With $30 million already outstanding, this means a maximum bond of $27 million or less could be issued. $12 million of that is designated to pay off the principal of the COP’s.  That leaves $15 million to spend on construction.

These bonds have a term of 40 years.  We, or the future generations including some of our sons and daughters and likely our grandkids, will still be paying for repaired roofs that will have worn out long ago.  Plumbing fixtures, bell systems, technology are also have short term lives.  Think not.  Gretchen Higgins was dedicated in 2002 and Tremont in 1992.  Less than 8 years and the roof needs replacing?  Computers and other technology is constantly evolving.  Is this a wise use of bond money?  Infrastructure such as wiring shouldn’t even be considered as a “construction” use of funds.

What about the freed up funds?  The district claims that $800,000 will be freed up by paying off the COP’s.  The first proposed bond is for the amount of $5.5 million.  This will pay off less than half the outstanding COP debt.  Can you recognize Lie #1?

Is it problematic to you that they haven’t identified what programs and intent they have for this windfall from your largesse?  Class size reduction is the first in class “program” that is mentioned.  This is not a program that translates into increased success.  The computer programming arena phrase “GIGO” applies here.  Garbage in, garbage out.  Unless curriculum is modified in a big way, more money is being thrown at a failed system.

Lie #2, and the biggest of the bunch, is your tax rate won’t go up.  YOUR TAX RATE IS GOING TO DOUBLE!!!  There is no intent to pay off any part of the $29.2 high school bond.  The tax rate on that was set at $60 per $100,000 valuation of your home or property.  This same rate is to be applied to the new bond.  Seems to me that unless one goes away, you will be paying the same for each bond.

Last questions for this segment.  After knowing all of this, are you still supportive of yet another bond?  Do you actually believe that any of this will change the educational system for the better?  And, of course, the final question: “Can we really trust them?…”

* * * * *

I rarely digress to personal problems or that of others unless these conflicts have larger ramifications or can prove past contentions.  One of my favorite targets is the little sawed off slime ball who passes himself off as our district attorney and who I affectionately refer to as David “Pondscum” Paulson.  His political retribution was not lost on me when his office decided to back a proven liar’s allegation that I had damaged his vehicle by hitting it with my car door in a parking lot.  The same political retribution visited upon Dan Supriano falsely accused of embezzlement when in fact Supriano was never paid for services he rendered.  Of course we all remember the Pacheco/Moreno case where good old Dave was caught on camera by 60 Minutes as he scurried away like the little cockroach he is to avoid their questions.

The commonality of all of these cases is two fold.  If your name doesn’t end in a vowel, Pondscum doesn’t go after you.  Secondly, his assessment of both sides of the case is negligent and non-existent.

I have been following the ongoing “situation” between two young men in our community.  It seems there has been dislike and hatred engendered in one over unrequited romantic desires involving the other’s choice of girl friends.  This first confrontation and altercation resulted in a one punch knock out of individual A after his having voiced many verbal threats to his friends about going after individual B.

A more recent event, both are now no longer minors, was the eye witness confirmed threat by brandishing a weapon and statement “I am going to put a bullet in your brain” by individual A.  This resulted in a later subsequent beat down when the two again encountered each other.  Law enforcement here in Dixon became involved and arrested individual B who could have logically been presumed to be defending himself from the verbalized threat.  After much prodding and pushing by individual B’s parents, the police finally charged individual A on 4 different counts.

Considering the questionable mental stability of individual A, what did the soon-to-be-retired Pondscum do?  He rejected prosecuting the case.  So let me get this straight.  You prosecuted a guy for hitting a car door in a parking lot but don’t think you have a case for brandishing an altered weapon along with a threat against someone’s life?  What the hell are you thinking, Dave?  Are you just planning on saying you are sorry, when this couple’s son is dead?

Just as in the Toler case where Dave was convicted of depriving a citizen of his civil rights, both types of actions are criminal in my mind.  Failing to uphold your oath of office to defend the Constitution by actually acting in a manner contrary to the highest law in the land is criminal.  Allowing another to “assault” someone is a tortuous offense.  Negligence or dereliction of duty to serve “all” of the public despite the again unconstitutional concept of “prosecutorial discretion” is criminal in my eyes.

The final question, therefore, is reserved for me.  Aren’t you going to miss Dave Paulson when he is gone?  My answer is I haven’t decided yet what type of cake to serve at the celebration party…

* * * * *

Reading the comments online about the Vacaville Repeater’s stories on the three city officials retiring or moving on this week, I have to reflect on my “cockroach” comment of the past.  It is not difficult for me to assess individuals on a number of bases such as compensation and actual performance.  Evidently, others within the community also are beginning to “get it”.

Elitism, brought on by not just the former city manager but a camaraderie of those within an “industry”, has brought us to the point of having overpaid in all cases, underperforming in some cases, and morally if not criminally corrupt individuals accepted and retained by councils who refuse to offend staff by critiquing or criticizing their performance.

The reflection at this point is they are gone, so let it go.  The future should not be a repetition of the past.  Are we as a city and is our city council going to do things differently?

Now that is a question I can hardly wait to see answered …

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