I haven't changed the color scheme on the website yet as I have been waiting for the snow to come so I wouldn't be advertising falsely that it's a winter wonderland up here. But, the way things are going, I have NO idea when the snow will come...so, the fall colors are staying as we wait. And there have been leaves on many trees still in yellows and some reds up until now, so I figured it wouldn't be bad to keep those pictures up. Though the recent fall storms have more or less taken care of the leaves, and it's mostly evergreens that add color now.

Don't get me wrong, it's still a wonderland up here, breathtakingly beautiful as always. The holidays are in there air with all the blinking cheerful christmas lights on businesses, homes and trees throughout the county. So it will still be a great christmas. Probably just not a white one!

Back by popular demand! 
In order to encourage everyone to get signed up at the end of the yer when things are quieting down, but before Winter hits in full force and we're all busy with the snow and such, we're providing an early bird special rate for all members of the chamber who want to renew, or for any new members who want to join.

Go to the membership page to renew or apply. If you are a current member, just log in using the email you signed up with the chamber, and if you can't remember your password, click on the link for that.

Please sign up before 11/15 to get the early bird discount-- $80 for membership and an ad in the 2012-2013 Visitors Guide. After 11/15 that goes up to $100. I know I can think of all kinds of things I could do with that 20% savings!

Once you have joined, make sure you have the description and information you want on the site so that when people are looking for you or a business that provides what you do, that they find you and all the information they need.  Also, make sure you link to the chamber site from your website, and make sure your website is linked to in your chamber profile. This site is only as good as the information we members provide.

And, we'd love to see you engaged in the chamber; we have so many exciting things going on. Whether it's:

• the Visitor's Guide
• improvements to this website
• entry submissions to the NatGeo Sierra Nevada Geotourism site
• implementation of the Yuba River Scenic Byway project
• design and building (and manning the booth) of the Sierra County 2012 California State Fair exhibit
• Improvements and additions to the Northern California Travel Guide App for iPhone and iPads (yes!  Even Sierra County has an app!)
• The creation of a promotional pamphlet called "49 Things to do along Highway 49"
  
• promoting Sierra County via sites such as the Gold Country Visitors Association and the DogTrekker
  
• tweeting, or
  
• blogging, 
• and numerous other things
  

well, we have a lot going on, and would love your involvement!

We'll be hosting some workshops this winter:

• how to make sure your business and any landmarks or events you think are important appear in the Northern California App
• how to get on the DogTrekker site (and why it's so important)
• how to spot spam from legit email, and what to do with it
• how to get a web presence for your business in a way you can afford
  

We might also host workshops on how to get your digital photos off the camera and into your computer -- and what to do with them once that's done. If you have any ideas for workshops you'd like to see, email us at info@sierracountychamber.com.

Kathy Breed
President
Sierra County Chamber of Commerce

The autumn colors our area is so recognized for has been coming on strong over the past few weeks, but in the last couple of days it's become intensified and the drive along highway 49 from Sierra City to Sierraville is out of this world beautiful. I think this is the best time of the year to go for hikes--still warm enough to be really pleasant, but not too hot. And, nature is dressed in its most colorful display ever.

There is not as much red this year as a couple of years ago, but the yellows are crazy intense, and there is red mixed in too. Read about why leaves change color.  The Forest Service's Fall Color Hotline (1-800-354-4595) can provide you with details as the autumn color display progresses -- across the country.

But, I think we have some of the best autumn color displays, so, if you can get away this weekend, now is the time to come up here and enjoy our beautiful display of fall colors. Before you know it we'll be strapping on skis and be wowed by the incredible beauty of the snow clad mountains!

Did I mention I love living up here?

On Saturday October 8th Sierra City is turning into a festive cider making, beer drinking, bratwurst eating, crafts booth filled mountain town with fun to be had for all. There will even be a magician performing in the Community Hall. Taking place annually during the locals' favorite time of year, right when the trees are turning colors, the days are warm and quiet and nights are cool and soothing, this is one of the best time of the year to come visit Sierra County.

Though we're in the midst of a big and very early winterstorm with rain and cold winds, we'll be back in the sun and warmth by Thursday, with temperatures expected to be in the 70s throughout the weekend.

Come join us. Festivities take place during Saturday, but Sunday will be a great day to get yourself some red, green, yellow color and a walk by the river before you go back home.

We'd love to see you!

Our Fall chamber meeting will be held on Tuesday, October, 11th. Sardine Lake Resort has graciously allowed us the use of their dinning area for our meeting. The meeting will begin at 5:00 P.M., with hors d" oeuvres.

Meeting Agenda:

= Dave Bond our new Pacific Gas & Electric contact for Sierra County  will offer energy efficiency solutions

= Update on the Gold Country Visitor Association
= San Francisco Travel Fair opportunity
= California Visitor Guide & Map
= Nat Geo website
= Visit California website
= Dog Trecker website
= State Fair 2012
= Christmas trees, yes Christmas
= Yuba River Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan

  You are encouraged to bring your ideas and suggestions.

Please plan to attend this meeting to be involved with the decisions that affect your chamber and promote tourism for Sierra County.

If you know of a business or individual that benefit benefit from joining our group, please bring them along.

As usual we plan to have some fun, so mark your calendar and we will see you there!                      

Kathy Breed,

Your Chamber President :)

Come join us in the big river clean up. Over 126,000 pounds of trash and recycling have been removed from the watershed in the past 13 years by over 5,500 volunteers.  You can be part of the solution this year in removing the waste out of the rivers and creeks before they reach the ocean.

For the first time there a site on the North Yuba River!

Saturday, September 17, 2011
9 am – Noon (Clean-Up and Restoration Projects)
FREE picnic at Bridgeport from 12:00-3:30 PM

North Yuba River (from the Highway 49 crossing going upstream to Downieville)
Directions to site: Take Highway 49 toward Downieville and after you cross the North Yuba River, go one mile further and make a left into Indian Valley Outpost. Park near the horseshoe area to meet your site leader.

Important Site Information: You can either pick up trash going upstream on the North Yuba headed towards Downieville or you can help remove large pieces of metal from the river. Some volunteers are working all day not just the morning. But you can end at 11:30 am/ or noon to come to the Bridgeport celebration.

More info at: www.yubariver.org

Nothing's Better than Homemade!

Come to Calpine on September 10 at 10 am - 4 pm for a great day of browisng & shopping crafts & homemade items, fresh produce and miscellaneous goods. And, don't miss the yard sale booths.

This is a fundraiser event for the community, put on by the Calpine Improvement Association.

If you're interested in being a vendor, there are still some spaces available: see the event listing for registration form. Space are only $10!

Sierra County Tobacco Use Reduction Program is a local program that works to reduce youth access to tobacco. The program implements undercover Youth Tobacco Purchase Surveys (YTPS) as a means of assisting tobacco retailers by informing them whether or not employees are following proper procedure and guidelines for requesting identification of underage tobacco purchasers.

Employees who correctly follow the proper procedures and guidelines for requesting identification during the purchase of tobacco products are assets to our communities as they help in reducing illegal tobacco sales to minors and help in protecting our youth from the dangers of tobacco use.

Why is it important to reduce sales of tobacco products to minors?

• 90% of smokers begin at or before the age of 18,
• 1000 youth under 18 become new regular daily smokers,
• 596,000 California youth under 18 will ultimately die prematurely from tobacco use.

During the last Youth Tobacco Purchase Surveys 40% of the 5 tobacco retailers surveyed in Sierra County sold tobacco products to minors. The Tobacco Use Reduction Program offers free Tobacco Retailer Training to merchants and their employees. The Sierra County Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board/Tobacco Coalition is looking to find practical solutions to the problem of illegal tobacco sales to minors in our communities. If you would like to participate in this process, please call 993-6745 or email prevention@sierracounty.ws.

By John Geiger

Mountain bike mania!  Despite the snow-filled Sierra Buttes this season, the race went on.  Sierra City began to buzz around 7am on Saturday as racers arrived for weigh-in and to cue for the start of the 29 mile cross-country ride to Downieville. The wind of the passing pack at the 9:30 race start blew back flags to the clamor of cowbell and cheering fans.

On June 6, Kevin Citta, who is Biking for Wishes from Weed, CA to Asheville, NC (a 4,125 miles trip) came through Sierraville and stayed the night. Kevin's bike ride is a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He was originally planning to camp at Cottonwood Creek, but when the Sierra Hot Springs heard about the bicyclist they graciously and generously reached out to offer him a room for the night. This was not only very nice of them,  to provide Kevin with luxury of sleeping in a bed for a change, but very well timed as bad weather was coming in with lots of rain forecasted for that evening. Thank you to the Sierra Hot Springs!

As Kevin Citta arrived in Sierraville, he was met at the fire station by a great crew of fire fighters and a welcoming committee consisting of East Valley Chamber members who brought him a nice home cooked dinner.

The Western part of the county was represented by Mary Ervin, Vice President and Kathy Breed, President, of the Sierra County Chamber of Commerce. Kathy Breed, owner of the Sierra Country Store in Sierra City brought a gift bag full of breakfast items, snacks and of course a Sierra County visitor guide -- and, that very special monkey butt powder (for that long ride).

And of course Smokey the Bear was there -- wouldn't miss it!