I’m a huge fan of mediation as a vehicle for conflict resolution: did you know bringing peace to people at odds can be as simple as helping them communicate more clearly? It’s true. A neutral mediator can help willing parties understand each other’s positions, underlying interests, and needs. As a result, people get to agreement, often restoring relationships in the process.

For the past two years I’ve been involved in a project with the Tuolumne County Superior Court to use mediation to divert civil and small claims cases from the courtroom, lighten their caseload, and allow disputants to craft their own settlement agreements. As a result of the Court’s support for mediation, 75% of the cases assigned (several hundred) have settled outside of court.

Now the Court is interested in resolving community disputes before they even become lawsuits and has contracted with Sierra NonProfit Services to establish a new mediation program: TUOLUMNE MEDIATES. Hurrah!

The following training is the first step in building local capacity to do that. Please consider joining us.

TUOLUMNE MEDIATES, a Tuolumne County Superior Court and community collaborative partnership, invites you to attend a two-day mediation training to learn how to resolve conflict and promote new opportunities to volunteer, partner, and/or refer neighbors, employees, and clients for mediation services.

Join us at the two-day training on April 5th and 27th. You’ll be able to brush up on old skills and develop new ones. The training is free to those who commit to becoming volunteer community mediators or whose organizations are willing to support our new program in some way.

We’re looking for volunteers AND community partners! Participants will learn to:

• Diffuse heightened emotions;
• Use appropriate conflict management skills;
• Solve problems using interest-based negotiation;
• Use mediation to address & resolve conflict;
• Get past impasse;
• Create mutually acceptable solutions; and
• Foster responsibility & accountability for solutions.

Diane Martin of Martin Mediation & Training will conduct the training. Diane is a former Sonora resident with 15 years of experience as a professional mediator and instructor of mediation and communication skills. She’s trained mediators for the California State Mediation Service; Fresno County Office of Education; Mariposa, San Joaquin, and Sacramento County Community Mediation Centers; and the US Postal Service.

TUOLUMNE MEDIATES’ training is sponsored by the Tuolumne County Superior Court and Sierra NonProfit Services. For more information, contact TUOLUMNE MEDIATES at 694-4586 or Sandi at (209) 532-1607.

And while the gains haven’t and won’t erase many of the things we are still concerned about (and about which I frequently blog), today we focus on what’s going right. Thanks for the miracle, God. And thanks to Larry and Beth at TCEDA, for everything you do. And thanks to city and county staff for helping them succeed.

A look back at 2010 and a look forward to 2011

A Guest Opinion by Larry Cope

Wow, what a difference a year can make. When I last submitted a guest opinion we were cautiously optimistic about the Tuolumne County and City of Sonora’s economy. While we all know how difficult 2009 was on our community, 2010 brought many announcements of industrial and retail projects.

Some of the major economic changes that affected Tuolumne County in 2009 were the closures of the Sierra Pacific Industries Mill and the Gottschalks and Mervyns retail locations. These closures not only affected the employees who were laid off and businesses they frequented; it also affected suppliers who provided materials and labor.

In 2010 we were proud to announce the retooling and the future reopening of the Sierra Pacific Industries Mill in Standard and the addition of an estimated one hundred and thirty jobs to the Tuolumne County economy.

We were excited to work with Kohl’s corporate real estate department and the owners-manager of the Junction Shopping Center to open the new Kohl’s store, with its one hundred and thirty jobs, in the former Gottschalks location.

Sandvik, formally known as MRL Industries, announced at the February meeting of the Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority that they will be adding up to one hundred and fifty high-tech jobs over the next three years. As of November they are actually ahead of their growth curve with seventy six new employees hired in 2010.

An additional twenty plus jobs and two and three quarter million dollars in investments were made by Blue Mountain Minerals, California Wood Shavings, Indigeny Reserve, Kamp’s Propane, Sierra Resource Management, and various other manufacturers and value added companies in Tuolumne County.

Avalon Health Care Center announced in 2010 the expansion with a new facility, adjacent to their current center, and will employ one hundred and ten employees and expand health care services in Tuolumne County.

Opening at the very end of 2010 will be the new Lowe’s Home Improvement Center on Wards Ferry Road next to Crossroads Shopping Center.

Additional retail openings that have occurred during 2010 were the new Tractor Supply store near Standard Road, Circle the Earth, Swank Boutique, Scarlet’s Web and The Candy Vault in downtown Sonora and the RadioShack store in Crossroads Shopping Center.

New restaurant locations throughout the community include Artisan Pizza, Lighthouse Deli, Rosie’s Hot Dogs, Sonora Joes, Sonora Pub, Sonora Thai Cuisine and Stuff-It Ravioli in downtown Sonora;  La Hacienda in the Junction Shopping Center. Opening soon is Eric Davis’s Standard Pour restaurant in the old Lumberyard Brewery in Standard. Renovations of Taco Bell and Subway locations in Tuolumne County are currently underway.

Columbia State Park has seen resurgence since 2009 with the attraction of Briggs Hospitality who now operates hotels, two Restaurants, the Saloon and Ice Cream Fountain and the attraction of many new vendors/owners in Columbia State Park.

Job and investment growth looks positive in 2011 with the recent announcement that the former Mervyns location has been secured by national retail tenant(s), Wal-Mart will move ahead with their expansion of their current location in the City of Sonora, ARCO and a possible future fast food location is being constructed on the corner of Mono and Standard Roads and a new Schnoogs location in Standard. Numerous projects are in the planning and development process throughout the county including projects in Columbia, Groveland/Big Oak Flats, Jamestown, and Sonora.

One major project that could bring as many fifteen hundred jobs is the Jamestown Mine Project. It will feature recreation and tourism activities that include baseball and softball fields, botanical gardens, hotels and other visitor services.

We have seen great success in our newest partnership, the Business Alliance of Tuolumne County,  which is a partnership  between the  Tuolumne  County  Chamber of  Commerce, our local SCORE Chapter,  Alliance  Small Business  Development Center  and the Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority.  In just under ten months the partnership has referred and counseled three hundred and eleven clients. Many of these clients have been able to remain in business or have had an opportunity to open a business of their own.

Let us remember that this is a beginning to our economic recovery. We have been fortunate to witness this growth and investment in our community while many other communities throughout California continue to suffer business closures and job losses.

Much work still remains. We must continue to work together to ensure that our economy improves – for economies continually change – either moving forward or falling back, but never stagnating.

Since then, county staff has been pretty preoccupied trying to adjust to the ever-shrinking revenue stream and take their best shot at predicting how a yet-to-be-approved state budget will impact us. That’s still up in the air… Meanwhile, consultants have kept on working.

Late last week, Bev Shane, Director of the Community Development Department, said she plans to release the draft study for public review in early September and conduct a public meeting in conjunction with the Tuolumne Design Review/Planning Advisory Committee’s regular meeting on Thursday, September 23^rd. 

Comments from the public will be incorporated into the final study which has been tentatively scheduled for consideration by the Board of Supervisors on November 2^nd.

So things are moving ahead… slowly, but surely. I’ll post a link to a copy of the draft when it’s available and let you know about public meetings scheduled.

As you know from this blog, the closure of the mill (along with two other SPI mills) last year was devastating to the local economy. MANY jobs (direct and indirect) were lost here and a number of folks moved away to find work.

This is great news from an economic standpoint alone. But we have the added benefit of once again having  a local facility where forest products can be processed – important from a fire fuels management perspective. That’s major!

Thanks, SPI and TCEDA and county staff for the elbow grease it took to make this work.

Go Team Tuolumne!

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For Immediate Release Contact: Larry Cope, 209-989-4058

PRESS RELEASE

Sierra Pacific Industries to Retool Sawmill at Sonora: Will Create 130 Jobs

In a Joint Announcement, Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) and the Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority (TCEDA) today announced that SPI is making a major investment in Tuolumne County by retooling its sawmill in Sonora, updating an older mill that closed there in 2009. This facility, when completed, will incorporate state-of-the-art technology to produce lumber from a wider array of log sizes than was possible under the older configuration. Remodeling of the old plant is expected to begin by mid-July, and the updated facility is planned for operation in May of 2011. This announcement does not impact the SPI cedar fencing mill in Chinese Camp, which currently employs about 80 people.

“We are investing in the future of this community,” said SPI area manager Ryan Land. “Lumber markets have improved modestly and by increasing the range of acceptable log sizes we will be able to bring family-wage jobs back to this area,” he added. SPI continues to invest in its forests and mills to grow more trees and enhance productivity while protecting the environment and creating jobs,” Land went on to say. He added that Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority director Larry Cope has worked cooperatively with SPI to retool the mill and restore jobs to the community.

The Sonora mill closed in July 2009 amid weakness in the lumber market, reduced timber harvests on nearby national forest lands, and increasing state regulatory burdens. In addition, the plant was configured to only accept larger-diameter logs. “When combined, these factors left us no choice but to close the plant,” said Land. At that time about 130 employees were affected by the closure. About that same number of employees will be hired when the retooled plant begins production in 2011.

SPI spokesman Mark Pawlicki stated, “Retooling this mill will help California meet its own demand for wood products, rather than importing lumber from faraway places with lower environmental standards.” “The time has come when more of the lumber needed in this state can be produced in California’s mills,” he added.

Retooling of the mill will be managed by Sierra Pacific Industries. It is anticipated that SPI will hire local workers to help with the project.

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Sierra Pacific Industries is a third-generation family-owned forest products company based in Anderson, California. The firm owns and manages nearly 1.9 million acres of timberland in California and Washington, and is the second largest lumber producer in the United States. Sierra Pacific Industries is committed to managing its lands in a responsible and sustainable manner to protect the environment while providing quality wood products and renewable power for consumers.

The Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority (TCEDA) promotes the County of Tuolumne, including the City of Sonora, as a dynamic business location and provides business with essential information needed when locating or expanding business in the Sierra – Mother Lode Area of California.

TCEDA’s mission is to facilitate a local economy that is innovative, resilient and diverse, by assisting in business formation, developing a skilled workforce, supporting local businesses, and attracting innovative companies to Tuolumne County.

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Nansea Arquette and the folks at Dawn’s Light Center for Children & Adults in Grief have announced the formation of teen and children’s groups this summer to connect them with others who can relate to what they’re going through.

Click on the flyers below for details and please print out copies to post on bulletin boards in your neighborhood. If you are an grieving adult, that sucks too. Dawn’s Light has a group for you, as well.

Give them a call at 532-9001.

Rol Bergen on Copper

As you may or may not know, Rol Bergen was recently involved in an accident while working with a mule near Tuolumne. He is currently at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. His wife, Linda Miller-Bergen, has established a website to let us know how things are going. Thanks, Linda! Please let us know if there is any way we can help.

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Dear Family and Friends,

To keep you up to date on Rol Bergen, I created a CaringBridge website. You can follow Rol’s progress and show your support.

Visit Rol’s website in two easy ways:

1. Visit the CaringBridge website by clicking the link below.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rol

2. Enter the website name, rol, at www.CaringBridge.org.

When you visit you’ll be asked to log in, because I’ve chosen to keep the site private.

Linda

Every year at this time, women – and one man this year -decorate a themed table for the Tea. After the winning table is chosen, TWIST members, table decorators, and guests sit down for a  gourmet Tea.

As usual, Saturday’s wildly popular sit-down Tea Party is sold out, but tickets will be available at the door for Friday night’s Preview. See beautifully decorated tables, participate in drawings for prizes, and enjoy refreshments. Proceeds from this event and Saturday’s Tea benefit TWIST scholarship and community improvement projects.

Over the past four years, TWIST has donated $17,000 to local high school seniors and has assisted over 100 families with community clean-up projects. Additionally, TWIST donated a new stove to the Tuolumne Memorial Hall and gave $2000 toward Summerville High School’s new tennis courts.

TWIST is a non-profit service organization dedicated to community improvement through volunteer service. Donations are tax deductible and much appreciated. For more information, contact Terri Neher at (209) 928-4908.

At the Tuolumne Veterans Day Ceremony today I got to thinking about the tremendous sacrifices made by men and women who gave so much for their country – our country.  I was thinking about the strong sense of duty that drove many of them to leave home, family, friends, and country that we might be free. And then I thought about the mess California and the US are in and asked myself, what’s our excuse? How did we come to this?

Quite simply, we did not show up. We let it come to this.

We ignored our duty to get involved. We abdicated our responsibility to direct and correct our leaders.  We let agendas we didn’t share chart the course to the future. We allowed political and governmental leaders to legislate and spend to their hearts’ content. We figured it was someone else’s job to be vigilant. When folks tried to warn us about a day of reckoning, we ignored them.

We need a strong dose of what you have, Vets. Duty. Self-sacrifice. Commitment to something beyond ourselves.

We let you down. We didn’t do our part while you sacrificed elsewhere. Dare I say that you had a reasonable expectation that while you served in the military, we would watch over the land you love?

We didn’t. We wanted to be left alone to recreate, prosper, and follow our dreams. We believed your sacrifice was enough to maintain what made California and the nation great. We didn’t attend meetings where decisions were made, didn’t vote, and didn’t hold anyone accountable for bad behavior or poor choices.

In Tuolumne at the Veteran’s Day ceremony today, I saw men and women who did their duty. They showed up – you showed up – when needed. We have no excuse.

At the risk of asking too much, may I suggest one more thing you can do for California and your country? We’re in trouble. Big trouble. Teach your children, grandchildren, neighbors, and friends about duty, self-sacrifice, and commitment. Teach them to show up and stay there.

We’re going to need it.

Many local agencies, basic needs and other safety net programs, faith-based, and community service groups will attend to share how you can volunteer to help them reach out to an increasingly needy population. A partial list of participants includes: Behavioral Health, Veterans outreach, Parish Nursing, Horse Rescue, Mentoring Works, Sierra Non-Profit Services, Dawn’s Light (grief support), the David Lambert Community Center, Sheriff’s Office/Search and Rescue, Tuolumne County Library, Habitat for Humanity,  Victim Witness, Interfaith, Seniority Life Care, Adult Day Health Care, Guide Dogs, Thumbs Up, the Disability Resource Agency for Indendent Living (DRAIL), Catholic Charities, WATCH (provides support to adults with developmental disabilities), the Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency, and the Foodbank.

The Community Day of Caring on July 18th is an outgrowth of the work the Safety Net Planning Group is doing to bridge budgetary gaps to meet basic needs in Tuolumne County. If you have questions, want to present your agency or program’s volunteer opportunities at the Community Day of Caring, or you want to contribute, please contact Jema Padavana at jema, or Jean Jones at jjones.

Tuolumne County Administrator Craig Pedro will discuss the economic conditions that led to the crisis, answer questions, and present a best-guess estimate of anticipated revenues from the state (a general prediction given ongoing state budget discussions). He’ll also share his proposed draft 2009/2010 budget – including cuts – to be considered by the Board of Supervisors the following day.

Teri is seeking serious, creative, and community-supported ideas on how to continue some at-risk programs. Community volunteer coordinators will also attend and hand out information on their efforts to extend safety net services and enlist volunteers to help out.

Please join us for this important opportunity to be part of the solution for Tuolumne, District 3, and the county.

For more info, contact Teri at 533-5525 or email info.