Volume XVI Issue 227

Tuesday, June 18th, 2024

There were memorable performances on the pulpit of the Methodist Church, the concrete floor of the basement at the Hotel Mt. Lassen, and the activity centers of various old folks homes. In every instance, we made do with what we had. Lugging in sound equipment, changing costumes in a cramped bathroom stall, and carefully executing our steps over carpeted surfaces.

I was also a member of many audiences over the years. Watching Mame in the cramped, humid Little Theatre at LHS. Craning my neck around a tall man sitting in front of me to see The Sound of Music in the Student Center. Trying to get comfortable in the Lassen College bleachers during a concert by the Greg Kihn Band. (Remember their hit “The Breakup Song”?)

There was always talk about building a grand Performing Arts center. Vague plans. Flighty fundraisers. But they were just rumors.

Again, with every performance the group in charge made do with what they had. They are a creative and resilient bunch! Despite the challenges, the arts have survived, and in many cases, thrived in Lassen County.

Currently there are several dance studios, Best of Broadway, the Susanville Symphony, bands, choirs, and theatre groups from the high school and elementary schools. church choirs, hand bell ringers, local bands and singers, and other fundraising events, like Dancing for a Brand New Me that will pack the calendar.

We are not just a “Cowboy” town wanting to be an “Ashland, OR” as one Facebook naysayer recently posted, we are actually both. We have proved that culture is alive and well in Susanville. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a place to showcase it?

Last Friday, SBAC and Forgery gave us a little taste of this possibility and it was incredible.

Forgery is always a fun band to listen to and to hear them in a place with awesome acoustics, comfortable seating, and the grandeur of the Sierra Theatre was so cool! At times, I had to remind myself that I was actually at home, not hours away at another concert venue.

It was an exciting night, you could feel it in the air. There are so many opportunities for local groups to utilize this space and to also bring in entertainers from other places.

SPAC has a sound business plan in place. As early as January 2025 (and maybe even sooner), we could be filling the auditorium with citizens of all ages ready for a concert, comedian, play, or dance performance.

There are other worthy causes proposed as well. As a mom of three, I know the Little League field needs bathrooms. Many years ago, my toddler would rather walk home than set foot in a Porta Potty. Here’s a thought: maybe each year the SBAC could host a fundraiser dedicated to these other proposals.

These volunteers have planned for the future with programs to benefit kindergartners to senior citizens. They know how to market, as proven by their recent media push, and they represent all areas of visual and performing arts and beyond. I believe in them.

I hope you do too.

You have an opportunity here to not just put Susanville on the map, but to affect generations of Lassen County for years to come. Don’t let this potential Performing Arts center go the way of the other rumors, make it a reality and fund their proposal.

Sincerely yours,

Shelley Bennett

Remember when news was ‘newsy’? When you read about weddings, family

events and engagement announcements in the newspaper? If you have

something that might be newsworthy, please submit it to

shelleybennett24@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to include it here in “The Good Stuff.”

Each year Law Enforcement agencies all over Northern California raise thousands of dollars by hosting fundraising events which support the Special Olympics programs.

Lassen’s event has law enforcement personnel raising funds for the honor of running the Special Olympics Torch, “The Flame of Hope,” through town as a sign of their dedication and commitment to Special Olympics athletes.

All along the torch’s path, down Main Street to Rob’s Way and then to the new Hall of Justice, spectators and supporters lined the street to cheer on the participants.

Barbara Oxford and her team from Golden 1 Credit Union passed out drinks and goodies at the end of the run.

There is still time to make contributions to the Torch Run. Go contribute to a great cause and the support the efforts of this nice group of people. Click here to donate before June 24th.

We have a lot more pictures in our photofeature over at SusanvilleStuff. Click here to see them all!

The church is looking for the following items to help stock the shelves for the free lunch program:

• Peanut Butter
• Pre-packaged fruit
• Pre-packaged snacks
• Pre-packaged fruit snacks

You can drop off donations at 65 S. Lassen Street, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.

Volunteers are needed for the Herlong and Susanville areas. Susanville volunteers meet at Numa Road in Susanville, Monday and Wednesday at 8:45a.m. Herlong volunteers meet at 170 DS Road Tuesday and Thursday at 10a.m. Gas vouchers are available for drivers.

You are invited to be a part of helping to grow local and nutritious food for our community.

There is no need to RSVP, just bring some water, closed toed shoes, and anything else you need to be comfortable outside. LARP suggests sunscreen and protective clothing, a hat, gloves etc.

LARP strives to provide access, opportunity, and healthful food to the community, from within its borders, by its neighbors, through the use of local, sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices and education.

Bluegrass acts already booked for the festival include Darin and Brooke Aldridge, Volume Five, Edgar Loudermilk Band, Hillbilly Fever Band, Eddy B and Pure Country, Yoseff Tucker and the Bow Ties, Red Dog Ash, Sugarpine Bluegrass and The Strung Nugget Gang.

The very popular Susanville Music Camp will also return, and will start at 10:00a.m., on June 18th, and run through the 20th. Music camp is $175 and attendees can purchase discounted festival passes.

Fairgrounds gates will open for camping beginning Sunday, June 16th. Included with the festival is an air-conditioned secured quilting room, 75+ RV sites with power and water, pets allowed, lighted picking areas at night.

A three-day festival pass is $90 and you can click here to purchase them online.

For more information visit the Susanville Bluegrass Festival’s website.

Would you like to win a pair of tickets to Saturday at the Bluegrass Festival? Of course you would!

You can enter once per day, per email address, from now until midnight, June 20th, to win a pair of tickets to Saturday at the festival. We will announce the name of our ticket winner Friday, June 21st. The more entries the better your odds of winning.

Click here to head over to SusanvilleStuff for contest details and an entry form.

The collapsed remains of the boy scout camp at Butte Meadows in the late 1930’s

New Campsite is Opened at Silver Lake

Construction Now Contemplated for Scouts

June 18, 1938

Construction of a new Boy Scout campsite at Silver Lake, near Susanville, is being contemplated by the Nevada Area Council, J. E. Horgan camp committee chairman, announced Tuesday.

An extensive building was outlined at a recent meeting of the council at the present Scout camp at Lake Almanor by Lester D. Summerfield, council president, who said that the program, when completed will provide local scouts with one of the finest camps in the west.

Damaged by Snow

The old camp buildings, constructed a number of years ago, were damaged last winter by heavy snows, while snow-blocked roads delayed start of the building program in time for summer camp.

Summerfield asked scout executives at the meeting to present the building program to their troop committees for consideration and to report to the council in the near future.

An unnamed donor, Summerfield disclosed, has offered to match all money raised by local districts for completion of a mess hall, sanitary buildings, a hospital building and camp headquarters. If sufficient funds are pledged to warrant the construction of a mess hall, work will start within the next two weeks.

A dining hall, 25 by 60 feet, with a kitchen, 12 by 16 feet, will be constructed first, with the building to be made of peeled logs in a log cabin fashion sufficiently large to accommodate 175 scouts. Tent platforms will also be erected to house capacity of 20 scouts and leaders.

In addition to the western division camp, Grant Smith Jr. of Elko announced that the eastern division is planning to construct a camp in Lamoille Valley. Funds have been raised and the forest service and railroads have offered their co-operation. A. R. Togerson is in charge of the camping program for that section.

Robb Thomas Williams April 28, 2024

Celebration of Life for Faye and Geraldine (Gerry) Roberts

Steven William Dustin – May 16, 2024

Daniel Mark Gaumont – May 28th, 2024

Scott Allen Evans – May 30, 2024