Would you like to advertise in our newsletter starting at $25 an issue? Call ACRA at 223-6349 to sign up or for more information!!! The Amador County Recreation Agency News (209) 223-6349 . 10877 Conductor Blvd., Suite 100, Sutter Creek, CA 95685 . ACRA@co.amador.ca.us July/August 2008 ACRA’s Outdoor Cinema Adventures Will Reel In Local Audiences Beginning Friday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. in Detert Park, ACRA’s Outdoor Cinema Adventures will bring big-screen movies to parks throughout the county every other weekend until Nov. 1. Films will be shown on this inflatable o utdoor cinema system, which is 27 feet tall and 36 feet wide. Films are like the outdoors in that they have the power to transport, transform and inspire. The first week in August, the Amador County Recreation Agency is unveiling a new program that combines both by bringing big-screen movies to parks throughout the county. ACRA’s Outdoor Cinema Adventures will provide those who work, live and play in Amador the opportunity to enjoy quality films with loved-ones while lounging under the late-summer stars. Outdoor Cinema Adventures premieres Friday, Aug. 8 at Detert Park, and will continue every other Friday and Saturday night through Nov. 1. Once it leaves Jackson, the 36- by 27-foot outdoor cinema system will make its way to Sutter Creek, Pioneer, Volcano, the Kennedy Mine, Plymouth and finally Ione. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 … After School Program Begins Aug. 13 in Jackson and Ione The Amador County Recreation Agency’s Club Live After School Program resumes this month, and plans are in the works to make the program bigger and better than ever! New for this year, the program will include field trips and video production! We still provide help with homework, healthy snacks, contests, prizes and more! The program will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. in Jackson at Aimee Field in Detert Park and from 2 to 5:30 p.m. at Howard Park in Ione. ACRA’s After School Program is open to 6th, 7th and 8th grade Brianna Amaro, an Ione Junior students. High student who participated in The After last year’s After School Program, shows off her place-winning egg School Program during the annual egg dropprovides middle contest. ACRA’s After School school-age youth Program begins Aug. 13 in with a fun, Jackson and Ione. positive environment in which to learn and grow. Best of all, everything is FREE! For more information or to register, call ACRA at 223-6349. Car need some work? Go to Howard’s Body Shop in Sutter Creek! Howard’s Body Shop has made a generous offer: for any estimate more than $500, they will donate $50 to local parks and recreation when you mention ACRA! Amador County Recreation Agency . Page 1 . July/August 2008 DIRECTOR’S TAKE Wow! This summer absolutely flew by! Where did the time go? We had a fabulous summer starting off with swimming lessons at Ione and Plymouth, the fair, the advent of the outdoor cinema kit and the garnering of grant funds for outdoor education at Mollie Joyce Park. We were also blessed with an intern who spent more than her ‘designated’ time helping us out, and learning all about what it’s like to be part of a bustling office. For making the time and lending your hand to help us out, we all thank you, Tanya Crisp! Dissemination keeps rolling along. You can see our flyers—and yours if you wish—all over the county. From Camanche to River Pines, from Ione to Pioneer, we deliver! Special thanks to Rocky Tuell, our very capable office manager, for lending her artistic expertise to our exhibit at the fair. With her help and the extra help from a few staff, we were able to earn second place. BRAVO! Next year, watch out! We are aiming for a first place ribbon. Our exhibit showcased all of the activities we have done over the course of the year and other recreation opportunities in the county. Pretty exciting stuff! Thanks to all of you who have been so supportive of the agency. Without community support, the struggle would be much more Tracey Towner-Yep, Executive Director … CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Outdoor films are something that Tracey Towner- Yep, ACRA’s executive director, has always wanted to offer in the county. “I think Amador County needs this,” she said. “Movies in the parks are a terrific way to spend the evening with friends and family. Thanks in very large part to the Sutter Amador Hospital Community Outreach Fund, we have finally realized this dream. Sutter Amador has provided the county with a state-of-the-art outdoor theatre. “We have a terrific crew full of vim, vigor and vitality -- not to mention youth and enthusiasm -- who will be bringing the latest or greatest movies to you,” Towner-Yep added. “A slate of movies has been selected for the fall series, consisting of action, drama, animation and classics. Movie night sponsorships are also still available, so those interested should call ACRA as soon as possible.” ACRA’s Outdoor Cinema Adventures kicks off with Pixar’s “The Incredibles” on Friday, Aug. 8 and “Cars” on Saturday, Aug. 9, both starting at 7 p.m. These showings, as well as the first in Sutter Creek (“Raiders of the Lost Ark”) will be free to the public, thanks to sponsorships from the Upcountry Pool Center, Safeguard Pest Control and the Sutter Creek Peace Officers Association. Other showings will cost $5 per person or $20 per family. All events in the Outdoor Cinema Adventures series are drug, alcohol and tobacco free. “ACRA’s Outdoor Cinema Adventures will help bring Amador County residents to the parks in their neighborhoods for years to come,” Towner-Yep said. “I am so excited!” A complete list of movie titles, times and venues is available on page 3 of this newsletter as well as on ACRA’s Web site, www.co.amador.ca.us/depts/acra. Calling All Local Teens!!! Join ACRA’s REC-ing Crew, a group of Amador County high school students who get to plan their own awesome events! Got ideas about events you’d like to see happen like skateboard or pie-eating contests? Get involved and give ACRA a call! Amador County Recreation Agency . Page 2 . July/August 2008 ACRA’s Outdoor Cinema Adventures movie scheduleYouth Painting Classes Inspire ‘The Wonderment of Children’ Artistic endeavors such as learning to paint or play a musical instrument provide a positive avenue through which individuals can express themselves. P. Bishop, an accomplished painter and art instructor, is offering art classes in Amador County in the hope that she can guide local youth in the development of their own artistic abilities. “My personal coined phrase is, ‘I am fascinated with the wonderment of children,’” Bishop said. “As I take you through my method teaching, I am sure you will understand.” Bishop begins by encouraging her students to “apply color with sheer abandon. Since there are no boundaries at this point, they are free to paint what they feel – an emotion,” she said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 … ACRA’s Dissemination Program Have an event you want publicized? We distribute information throughout the county twice monthly. More than 100 locations are covered for a fee of $50. To have your flyer distributed, contact ACRA today! Giant Library Sale First Weekend in November Friends of the Amador CountyLibrary are holding a library sale Saturday, Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, off Highway 49. Take advantage of this opportunity to add to your book Amador County Recreation Agency . Page 3 . July/August 2008 collection for fabulous prices! For more information, call 267-5652. Amador Swimming Pools Open Through August Summer is almost over but you can still take advantage of this year’s swim season. Below is a partial list of the pools’ schedules and daily admission prices (call ACRA for more information): Jackson: Daily gate admission $2 youth/seniors, $2.75 adult Lap swim 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. M-F Recreational swim 1:30 to 5 p.m. and 8 to 9 p.m. M-F and 1 to 6 p.m. Sat/Sun Ione: Daily gate admission $2 youth/seniors, $2.50 adult Lap swim noon to 1 p.m. M-F, 7 to 8 p.m. M-Th and 7 to 7:30 p.m. Fridays Recreational swim noon to 6 p.m. Sat./Sun. and 7:30 to 9 p.m. Fridays Plymouth: Daily gate admission $2 youth/seniors, $2.50 adult Lap swim noon to 1 p.m. M-F and 6 to 7 p.m. M-Th (no lap swim Fridays) Recreational swim noon to 6 p.m. Sat./Sun. and 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays Get Jazzed at the Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival The Mother Lode Ragtime Society presents the tenth annual Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival Aug. 8 through 10. Invited guests include Patrick Aranda, Nan Bostick, Jack and Chris Bradshaw, Tom Brier, Marty Eggers, Ann Gibson, HeeBee JeeBees, Frederick Hodges, Brad Kay, Carl “Sonny” Leyland, Stevens Price, Raspberry Jam Band, Hal Smith, Adam Swanson, Keith Taylor, Virginia Tichenor, Town Square Harmonizers and more! Badges cost $65 for the entire event. Youth 16 and younger attend free with a paying adult. Daily badges and concert tickets are also available. The 2008 festival tee shirts are available now at the Sutter Creek Ice Cream Emporium, 267-0543, or send a check for $20 to P.O. Box 1658, Sutter Creek, CA 95685. Please state your shirt size. For more information, call 223-0867, email jasser09@yahoo.com or visit www.suttercreekragtime.com. Sewing Classes Come to Drytown Over the past three years, The Old General Store in Drytown has slowly been transforming into a quilt shop. The store stocks machines, fabric and notions, and also would like to offer a variety of sewing classes. Learn how to make a winter flower quilt with Anelie Belden Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Belden’s pattern is original, never before seen or published! The class fee is $55 and includes the pattern. Christmas stockings will be taught in August or September by Sue Wakefield. Many samples are available to view in the store now! From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 6, the Pixeladies will be back to do the Piece Party! Don’t miss the chance to learn more than you ever have in a day- long class. This is the time to start having fun with all those scraps that you have been saving for so long! The cost is $45. There are also a variety of sewing groups and repeat events held at the Old General Store. Call the store for the latest information, or stop by to see the examples of these projects. All classes must be paid for at the time of registration. Register online, generalstor.com, or by calling 245-6914. Youth Flag Football Returns this October Fall is fast approaching, and with it comes the Amador Flag Football League. Flag football is a great way for kids in first through sixth grades to exercise, learn the rules of the game and practice playing as part of a team. It is a no-tackle form of football, so injuries will be at a minimum. Flag football is open to both boys and girls in first through eighth grades with a $60 fee Amador County Recreation Agency . Page 4 . July/August 2008 per player, which includes a shirt and one free photo. Registration forms will soon be available at the ACRA office or by calling 223-6349. … CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Next the students practice painting still life pictures, where they incorporate techniques such as using texture, light and shadow. Participants in Bishop’s classes learn many styles, including pop art, collages and abstracts, while completing a number of fun projects. “I prefer to keep the class limited to eight students so they get semiprivate lessons,” Bishop added. pantingPrior to moving to California, Bishop studied at Notre Dame and Indiana universities. She later taught various art forms at St. Joseph’s Orphanage in South Bend, Indiana. Later she taught classes for children at the Barn School of Painting, also in South Bend. She also exhibited in various galleries and shows, winning prizes in both impressionistic and abstract paintings. Bishop even painted backdrops and designed sets for an Indiana theater and Ballet Celeste in San Francisco. Her art classes—newly offered in Amador—provide youth with an amazing opportunity to draw from Bishop’s wealth of experience. Classes will be held each Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Amador County Folk Art Center. Children ages 8 to 12 are welcome. For more information or to sign up, call Bishop at 223-4955. “Living in Jackson gives me endless painting opportunities, since landscapes are my favorite subject,” she said. “Since I will never tire of the wonderment of children, I look forward to teaching here as well.” Don’t know what to do this summer? Grab a 2008 Activity Guide!!! Archery School’s Fun for Families Program Now Enrolling in Ione Lodi Bowmen's Archery School is now enrolling students for October classes in Ione. This course is designed for all ages, and enables both beginning and experienced archers to reach expert performance level. All equipment is provided for the class, which is conducted by certified instructors on four consecutive weekends from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., beginning Oct. 11. Classes are held at Lodi Bowmen's archery range, located on Buena Vista Road near north Lake Camanche. The cost is $100 per student or $150 per family. Archery students hone their skills on the Lodi Bowmen’s practice area near Ione. Space is still available in October’s Fun for Families Program. “Target Archery is a sport that the entire family can participate in, from children through grandparents,” said Brent Sloan, certified National Field Archery Association master instructor and 2006 NFAA National Champion. “Families can have a great time together participating in a sport where safety and good sportsmanship are stressed.” Archery classes will be taught by Brent Sloan, Victor Morrison, Jeff Bowles, Dennis Parish, Bill Brown, Bob Shield and Lynn Shield, all certified NFAA instructors. Lodi Bowmen, Inc. was formed some 50 years ago to support archery in the United States. It boasts a 95-acre archery range in Ione near Lake Camanche that includes a large practice area, 42 archery targets laid out like a golf course and approximately 45 acres committed to wilderness for 3D animal targets to increase hunters’ skills. Spaces are still available for the October classes. Enrollment in the archery school will be limited to 20 beginners and four advanced Page 5 . July/August 2008 Drop by the ACRA office and get your copy today! students. For more information or to reserve a spot in the class, contact Sloan at 571-1618 or e-mail archeryplus@pacbell.net. Minestock 2008 Will Take Place Sunday, Aug. 31 Attention, music lovers: Minestock 2008 will take place Sunday, Aug. 31 at the Kennedy Mine Amphitheater. Originally scheduled for the end of May, Minestock was postponed due to the threat of rain. The Minestock event will feature local musical acts such as The Favoritz, Krystal Image featuring Honey & Spice, Substrate, Bobby D and the Blues Organ_ization, blues singer Darcel Hunter and John Covert. Gates open at 2:30 p.m. and tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger. Tickets can be purchased at Home Sweet Home in Jackson (39 Main Street, 223-4663), Hein & Company Bookstore in Jackson (204 Main Street, 223-9076), Mother Lode Music in Martell (11310 Prospect Drive, #20, 223-4323), Lizzie Anne’s Gift Shop in Sutter Creek (48 Main Street, 267-5680) and at the Amador Council of Tourism Visitor Center in Plymouth (9310 Pacific St., across from the 49er RV park). Tickets will also be available at the door, however seating is on a first come basis, so get there early. Tickets purchased in advance include a free meal and drink! For more information, contact ACRA or the Kennedy Mine Foundation, 223-9542 or kmmine@volcano.net. Chinese Cooking Classes: Coming Soon? Are you interested in learning how to cook Chinese food? If we can get at least 15 interested individuals to sign up, Chinese cooking classes could be coming soon! The classes will be held for four nights and the cost to join is just $50. Call ACRA if you’re interested and together we can make this a reality! Geocaching Catching on in Amador County Geocaching is a relatively new sport that combines the latest technology with good old fashioned treasure hunting. A cache is a container—usually an ammo box— filled with trinkets like toys, coins, souvenirs and key chains as well as a log book. The log book is used by those who discover the cache to record messages and/or what they took from (or left in) This geocache is a typical example of what you might find here in Amador. Caches are found in logs, under and in trees, even in open fields. Geocaches vary in size: Some are as small as a film canister, others are huge! the cache. Caches are marked using Global Positioning System units, which mark the location based on lines of latitude and longitude. There are hundreds of geocaches already hidden in Amador County! The official geocaching Web site, www.geocaching.com, offers a search of our local area based on zip code or by using maps. The site also tracks the size of the cache, how difficult it is to find, who hid it and when, and who has visited it since it was hidden. Geocaching is a fun sport for the whole family and—save for the cost of the personal GPS unit and the gas to get around—is a relatively inexpensive and entertaining way to spend an afternoon. Happy hunting! Interested in forming an ADULT . July/Aug flag football league? ust 2008 ACRA needs four teams to get started. If you’re Amador County Recreation Agency . Page 6 Please Take the Time to Fill Out This ACRA SurveyYour opinion is important to us! Please fill out this questionnaire. Your ideas will help us create better parks, outstanding facilities, and awesome programs and activities! Mail it to ACRA, or bring it with you to one of our Outdoor Cinema Adventures events and get in for FREE!!! Age: ______ Zip code: ______________ Male or Female? Please circle one. What are the best places to play, hang out or have fun in Amador County? _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ CAN ALSO BRING IT TO ONE OF OUR OUTDOOR CINEMA ADVENTURES EVENTS AND GET IN FOR FREE!!! How frequently do you visit the following places? Circle the letter to show how often you visit these facilities. O = Often, more than once a month, S = Sometimes, more than once a year, N = Never. Sports fields O S N City parks O S N Woods and trails O S N Waterfront areas O S N School playgrounds & gyms O S N What types of programs should we offer? Please check all that apply. . Outdoor/environmental programs (hiking, canoeing, nature programs, etc.) . Extreme sports/outdoor adventure (rock climbing, snowboarding, etc.) . Aquatic programs (swimming, scuba diving, water fitness, etc.) . Special events (dances, concerts in the park, festivals, etc.) . Sports (baseball, ultimate Frisbee, etc.) . Arts (performing, visual, cultural, etc.) . Drop-in activities (gymnasium, game room, computers, etc.) . Job-related activities (volunteer, internship, or employment opportunities) . Other: ____________________________________________ . No new activities are needed What would you like to see in our newsletter? PLEASE FAX (257-1409), MAIL OR BRING THIS QUESTIONNAIRE TO ACRA. YOU Workshops on Caring for Grandchildren Grandparents play a very special and vital role in the lives of their grandchildren. Grandparents who care for their grandchildren on a regular basis play an even more important role and face unique challenges. Join HRC Child Care Resources for a free, casual and engaging workshop designed especially for grandparents. Don’t miss this opportunity to interact and network with other grandparents, gain some information and insight and go home with free stuff! Two workshops will be held: The first is Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to noon and the second is Thursday, Sept. 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. RSVP by calling HRC at 223-1624. Interested in Forming a Hiking Group? ACRA is looking to start a weekend morning hiking program and we’re wondering if you’re interested. If this sounds like something that would be right up your alley, call us so we can get a group together. We can even arrange for someone to give “guided” hikes, where points of interest along the route are discussed. Call 223-6349 today! For Those Who Would Like to Further Support Recreation in Amador County: Just like public television and radio, this newsletter is free. No obligation, honest. But just in case it makes you feel better, here’s a form you can use to make a donation: Please check one: . I’d like to “subscribe” to this newsletter for $10/yr. . I’d love to “subscribe” for $20/yr. . I have too much money and need to unburden myself. Please let me donate to ACRA the following amount: $______________ All donations made to ACRA are tax deductible. . Send me more information about donating to ACRA Send to: ACRA 7 . July/AugThank Yust 2008o u!!! Amador County Recreation Agency . Page 10877 Conductor Blvd., Ste. 100 Sutter Creek, CA 95685 Amador County Recreation Agency . Page 8 . July/August 2008