State Of California

Drought, climate change and recent court decisions requiring more water to protect fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are endangering the water supply for California residents, he said. A reminder of the water system’s vulnerability came Thursday with the latest survey of the Sierra Nevada snowpack, which is measured throughout the winter and spring so state water managers can plan deliveries to farms and cities. The state Department of Water Resources reported the snowpack is 118 percent of normal for this time of year, reassuring after last year’s dry winter. Yet the department said it was immediately reducing water pumping through the delta to communities and farmers in the Central Valley, San Francisco Bay area and Southern California. The cutback complies with a December federal court order to protect the tiny delta smelt and will reduce water deliveries as much as 30 percent, the department said. The department’s survey showed snow was at 122 percent of normal for February in the northern Sierra, 110 percent in the central part of the range and 130 percent in the southern mountains. More California News

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“Long Beach California”

Long Beach, California will hold beautiful memories for many of us, my friends and myself included.  A couple of years back, three of us from San Francisco rented a sporty car, packed some art and writing supplies, and headed south along the coast toward Long Beach, California.  We intentionally went without a map so we could serendipitously discover new areas and people and things to write about and photograph, but had as a destination the place one of us had been to many times.  Despite all the remarkable and stunning history, scenery, and activity we enjoyed along the way (the missions, the Orange County Fair, and more), our arrival in and visit at Long Beach was brilliantly satisfying.

Once we arrived at a mutual friend’s house in Long Beach California and reminisced, refreshed, rested, we hit the town.  (One piece of advice I have always listened to and passed on is to hang out with locals when you are touring, for you will get to experience the underbelly of the vacation spot…not just the touristy areas.)  We visited a magic shop first, a small enclave on an out-of-the-way street.  We had lunch at a classic diner.  We shopped along Pine Avenue, where curiosities and collectibles meet with contemporary and other arts and souvenirs.

After a stint back at our friend’s air-conditioned apartment, where we did henna tattoos and tarot readings, we went for Italian food in a crowded but friendly (popular) local place called Ciravello’s Restaurant and Sports Bar.  We ate outside, not only so we could smoke but so we could pick up more of the outer ambience than the drinking din of Friday night revelers.

The most remarkable of Long Beach California experiences, though, happened at midnight.  Fate in our favor, there was a full moon…beaming seductively over the ocean and city beach just a few blocks down from the bar.  We stripped down and went swimming in the Pacific, no one but the four of us frolicking and slip-sliding about in soft, smooth, sleek calm waters.

I might also tell you that as fanatic about Nic Cage, the knowledge that he grew up in a house in Long Beach, California made the trip even more magical, even more romantic.  In fact, Nic went back to visit that home, humbly and politely asking the new home owners if he could look around to reminisce.  They were of course delighted, and as they begged him to sign one of their WALLS, he resisted, but finally relented and signed a wall in their living room.  (I bet they never wash THAT wall again!)

So for you who visit the playful town (or city, really, with a population of almost a half a million), the parks and playhouses and plazas might turn your crank.  Or, the realization that major celebrities live or lived there might be the crowning moment in your Long Beach, California vacation.  You might be thrilled to know, then, that Bobby Burgess and Bo Derek; the Doggs, Snoop and Nate; Spike Jones; Billie Jean King; and many, many other superstars have lived or do live there.  And I am sure some even visit now and again.  Maybe you will rub elbows with someone!

Though the last native speaker of Salinan died almost half a century ago, more and more indigenous people are finding their extinct or endangered tongues, one word or song at a time, thanks to a late linguist and some University of California, Davis, scholars who are working to transcribe his life’s obsession. Sometimes he spent 20 or 30 minutes on one word, saying it over and over until the person he was interviewing agreed he’d gotten the pronunciation correct, said Jack Marr, who met Harrington as a 12-year-old boy and worked as his assistant into his 20s. But the same impulse that made him successful — in many cases his notes provide the only record of long-gone languages — would also confound later efforts to pass the words down to new generations. The Harrington Project was created with the goal of returning the words to those who can imbue them with life again, as well as making the material more accessible to scholars. He has decoded all the material Harrington gathered on his people — more than 6,000 pages — and is now working on information about their linguistic neighbors to the north. More California News

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Ontario, California

Ontario, California is a moderate-sized city of modest advertisement: the people number about 160,000 but they keep to themselves for the most part, enjoying the community environment and benefiting economically from the local industries and the Ontario California Airport.

The residents earn an equally modest income, averaging approximately 42,500 dollars a year per household; a stunning 15 ½ percent live below the poverty line.  There is no lack of education in Ontario, California, with twenty-five public elementary schools, six middle schools, five high schools, two military schools, numerous private schools, and even nine trade schools and one university (Chapman).…  And employment is available in numerous industries—such as manufacturing (which provides the most work, almost twenty percent); education, health, and social services; and retail—with almost a third of the population of Ontario California staying in town to work.

At the same time, Ontario has its moments of claims to fame. It provided the setting—at the old Ontario Airport—for the DeCaprio/ Hanks movie, Catch Me if You Can, the exterior shots of a supposed Miami airport filmed at the old Ontario California airport terminal.  According to a trivia buff at IMDB, “This old terminal is still standing, but was converted to office space when the new Ontario California Airport was opened.”  Ontario, California is also home to and/or birthplace of “pioneer surfboard maker and catamaran builder” Hobie Alter; Major League Baseball players Rod Barajas, Del Crandall, Prince Fieldler, Al Newman, and Mike Sweeny; famed conductor Robert Shaw; renowned authors Beverly Cleary and Joseph Wambaugh; former Philadelphia Phillies’ manager Nick Leyva; pro footballer Anthony Munoz; and Major League Soccer player Landon Donovan.

And for all its quiet and charming discretion, Ontario California has a couple of best-kept secrets: not only did it undergo a constitutional dispute in 1989 when, after 30 years of displaying the 3-D Jesus scenes on the median at Euclid Avenue, the sculptures were challenged as violating separation of church and state laws, but the city has a reputation with Ripley’s Believe it or Not!…for their picnic table which for an intermittent seventy years has welcomed the diversity of residents every Fourth of July and which is recorded as the world’s longest picnic table.  Now THAT’s community.

Whitewater Rafting in California
Whitewater Rafting in California can be one of the best experiences of a lifetime. Though many of its runs have been known for years, California whitewater remains some of the best whitewater paddling in the world. Boaters from all ability levels have hundreds of different runs to choose from, from scenic flat water paddles through beautiful canyons to some of the hardest whitewater paddling on the planet, California whitewater boasts nothing short of world-class paddling.

For those looking to dust off their creek boats and tackle some Class IV and Class V rivers, look no further than the Sierras. When the Sierra rivers start running in the spring, thousands of boaters flock from all over the world to test their mettle in the steep, close-walled, granite canyons. These California whitewater rives are not to be underestimated; many of them require strenuous hikes to reach the put-ins and/or take-outs, forcing boaters to hike over a day in some instances with fully loaded boats and packs. Though the hikes are tough, the rivers are often tougher, and a moderate Class IV creek can easily turn into a stomping Class V-VI monster if the mountains in the area catch much rain or experience particularly warm weather, which will melt off the snow and dump all of the melt water into the rivers. Wherever you decide to boat in the California backcountry, be sure to let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back, and carry a first aid and safety kit. A night under the stars isn’t so bad if you have some food and an emergency blanket, but if you’re cowering under a rock in your wetsuit it’s not going to be a comfortable experience.

Of course, not all California whitewater is so extreme. Larger drainages like the Kern boast miles upon miles of moderate whitewater, perfect for beginner or intermediate kayakers and advanced canoeists. These larger drainages also run with water throughout the year, not depending on heavy rain or snowmelt like the smaller, more technical creeks.

If you’re looking to experience Whitewater Rafting in California for the first time, your best option would be to look into one of the numerous whitewater raft guiding companies which populate the countryside. Most of these companies run a number of different raft trips, from wild to mild. Some companies even raft Cherry Creek and other Class V rivers, though these will require you to prove yourself on an easier trip before you tackle these beefy California whitewater runs.

Pest infestations in recent decades caused a decline in cotton acreage, and the decline accelerated as fuel costs soared and urban centers like San Diego, about 90 miles to the west, pushed for a larger share of the state’s stretched water supply. Cotton is a water intensive crop, and the fields here are irrigated by canals that draw from the Colorado River, the source of drinking water for much of Southern California. His skills were honed in the long season of planting, weeding, watching and waiting for the bolls — the so-called fruit of the cotton plant — to swell with lint. But a cotton plant reveals its mood in the number and spacing of its branches and the placement of its flowers. The Dahms could stand on the green carpet in their living room here and, looking out the window, see acres of cotton flowers in a field turn from purple to yellow to white over the course of a season. But the growth of textile mills in countries like China and India and improvements in mill technology mean buyers now look to lower quality — and less expensive — lint and rely on mills to make up the difference. More California News

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Seal Beach California

There is something magical, mystical, dynamic, important about Seal Beach, California.  Or at least there used to be.  While today the locals bask peaceful on light sands or romp in the surf or walk the pier in the warm wind, yesterday the place was lively, invigorated, and dynamic—for the games, rides, amusements…and the seals.

As a town incorporated in 1915, by a population of 250, its beach was the backdrop to more than just ocean, waves, and a pier that is reportedly the longest one south of San Francisco.  It was a site where seals frequented (hence the name change from Bay City to Seal Beach, California), where gamblers partied, where people picnicked, where adults danced in the pavilion or dined at the café, and where kids and adults alike rode the great roller coaster and other rollicking rides and walked the pier playing arcade-like games and eating fun foods.

Henry Huntington, with his Pacific Electric Railway, ran a passenger train through Seal Beach, California, bringing (for 25 cents a trip) people eager to invest in that rare commodity of beachfront real estate.  The population expanded, the people continuing to enjoy the adventure and excitement of Seal Beach, California.  The tenor was high, the pace was fast, and the people were industrious.  Though WWII would temporarily slow things, the post-war years would increase settlement, income, and industry. The township incorporated, the land was further developed, and people settled.  Over time, they made gambling prohibited, closed down costly amusement park features, and turned to conservation of Seal Beach, California area—working to fight off-shore drilling, coastal erosion, and other environmental menaces.

While a population of 250 has been accelerated to one of over 25,000, folks of Seal Beach, California have decelerated in lifestyle habits and attitudes.  Rather than make their home town a screaming, animated fol de rol of activity, they make comfort and quiet priorities.  Reportedly, the residents enjoy the calmer environment, use the land for relaxed living rather than mechanistic movement and growth and the beachfront for peaceful sunning rather than manic amusement.

At the same time, as did the old Seal Beach, California newspaper invite visitors, newcomers, and site-seers, the town welcomes vacationers…with equally engaging activities and events…from surfing to shopping to music and art appreciation.  The amusement facilities of yore are now lovely playground and picnic sites; the town proper is now the old beach boardwalk; and the seals, once frequent visitors, are now the mascots and namesakes of this idyllic beach town. In Seal Beach, California you can also expect to find great rentals as well as hotels and motel accommodations to help enjoy your stay.

Rescue crews had to cut three people out of a car that slammed into a tractor-trailer rig, CHP Officer Joseph Miller said. One woman was pinned in her car for almost 40 minutes while crews attempted to pry her out from between two big rigs. Several other crash victims who gathered on the freeway shoulder complained of scratches and cuts but declined treatment, Bowman said. Matasha Bailey, who was commuting from Fresno to Tulare, jumped out of her car to avoid being hit after she heard cars crashing in the haze around her. More California News

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Newport Beach California

Newport Beach California has the highest per-capita ownership of Mercedes Benz automobiles in the entire world.  Houses on the bay and on the Newport peninsula rank among the most expensive on the west coast of the United States, which puts them in the running for some of the most expensive real-estate, per foot, in the entire world.  Home of the O.C. and the Balboa Bar, Newport Beach California represents some of the new-old money of the west coast.  Though these houses aren’t historic estates, the peninsula was built up in the 50s and 60s, which sets the rich development of Newport apart from the even newer big money developments of Silicon Valley which cropped up by the hundreds in the early 90s.  The rich of Newport occupy an interesting middle ground between the old money of the steel and oil families of the early 19th and 20th centuries and the ultra-new money of those who made it big during the tech boom.

However you look at it, Newport Beach California means money.  When you drive Pacific Coast Highway through town you’ll pass yacht dealers situated across from Ferrari and other exotic car dealerships.  I’ve seen more Bentleys in the Newport area than anywhere I’ve ever seen; they’re lined up in ritzy supermarket parking lots like Accords and Camrys back in the real world.  I worked as a caterer near Newport for awhile and waited on small, friend-and-family Christmas gatherings which included 200-name guest lists, carolers, magicians, and dozens of staff.  In order to reach the house where the party was being hosted I had to get past an armed security guard at the gatehouse that kept the riff-raff out of the gated community.

Though the clientele is posh and the real-estate astronomically expensive, it isn’t tough to imagine why the rich decided to settle there.  Newport Beach California is a beautiful area, with around 300 days of sunshine a year and beautiful views of Catalina Island and the Pacific Ocean.  Thanks to the influx of money in the area, Newport boasts a great school system and amazing restaurants.  On a nice day you can walk for hours up and down the boardwalk, people watching and checking out the surfers lined up on the breakers.  Sure, the rent for a two-bedroom apartment may be more in Newport than the mortgage payment on a house in many parts of the country, it’s a pretty good bet that those houses aren’t a block from the beach and less than an hour from Hollywood or
L.A.

 Hotels in Laguna Beach

  Finding the best Hotels in Laguna Beach can lead to a wonderful and relaxing vacation. The beautiful state of California is a dream vacation site for many people. Laguna Beach is the ideal destination for those of us who want to visit the ultimate state. Finding a hotel in Laguna Beach California isn’t difficult but there is one that really stands out from the rest.

The Montage Resort and Spa offers every amenity that you could possibly imagine. This hotel in Laguna Beach California is the epitome of elegance and the essence of sophistication. This site offers the most relaxing stay while giving you formal treatment. You will feel like a star in this Laguna Beach hotel.

The Montage is close to airports so you don’t have to travel any more than you have to. Located just 18 miles from the John Wayne Airport in Orange County, the hotel in Laguna Beach, California is a convenient stop for weary travelers.

My husband is a big fan of the Duke and he liked the idea of choosing Hotels in Laguna Beach just because he wanted to land at the John Wayne Airport. He couldn’t stop talking about making the arrangements to get to this dream vacation resort in California.

Those who land in Los Angeles can still travel to the Montage Resort and Spa but they can expect to travel a little further. However, this hotel in Laguna Beach California is so well known for its excellent atmosphere and endless amenities that many people who land at the Los Angeles International Airport will gladly travel the 60 miles it takes to get to the destination.

One of the most appealing features of hotels in Laguna Beach California is that they are  family friendly. There are programs developed specifically for children and pre-teens. These activities range for arts and crafts to activities on the beach. No matter who comes along, you are sure to enjoy your stay at the Montage.

The only drawback to the Montage Resort and Spa is that you may never see the rest of the state. Hotels in Laguna Beach have direct access to the ocean so you don’t have to drive around looking for a great site.

There are also three restaurants on the property. Each caters to different tastes and each has a different atmosphere. You can enjoy formal dining or a casual family meal in one of these three onsite restaurants. The Montage is the ultimate hotel in Laguna Beach California.