As I found during this week away from home, Mrs. Wilczynski should have been a travel agent and tour guide. She had choreographed every minute of the trip, from the stop for lunch in Old Sacramento to our hour of mini golf at Scandia, as we made our way to the Bay Area.

Not a moment was wasted! We had reservations to watch a movie, campus tours of Berkeley and Stanford, a BART ride, dinner in Chinatown, and a visit to Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 to complete.

Somehow, we even made it to Santa Cruz and the Boardwalk, where we rode the Big Dipper and ate funnel cakes.

Whenever I take students on a field trip, I always think about Mrs. Wilczynski’s rules when it came to being away from the group. If I remember correctly, you could pretty much do whatever you wanted as long as you had at least three people and a boy with you.

As a 15-year-old away from her parents for the first time, I thought that was a great rule!

After the Boardwalk, my friends (Micky Bridges, Julie Marinoni, Jennifer Martinez, and Stacy Lensing) found some guy friends (Stacy’s brother Brett and his friend Rob, I think) and decided to find the nearest Taco Bell.

It was dark, we were in Santa Cruz, and we walked for M I L E S. My cool shoes were giving me blisters, but it didn’t matter because we were laughing and talking and having a great time.

We finally made it to Taco Bell and ate whatever it was you ate at Taco Bell in 1985. It was such a novelty because at the time the only “fast” food we had in Susanville was the Arctic Circle across from the high school.

Then we had the bright idea to walk back to the hotel on the beach. So, we took our shoes off, rolled up our jeans and walked for miles the other way in the cold, wet sand in the dark. We made it just in time for bed check and told Mrs. Wilczynki good night as we walked up the stairs to our room.

On the last day of the trip, Mrs. Wilczynski told us we were going to visit a very old, very respected college known only as the “Italian University”. We were all confused, including co-advisor Mr. Ralph Ramsey.

Imagine our surprise when we pulled into the parking lot of the Budweiser Brewery. I don’t think Mr. Ramsey knew what to do. He looked quite befuddled as Mrs. Wilczynski led the way to the start of the tour.

For an hour or so, we learned how beer was brewed and bottled, while the upper classmen joked about “free samples.” We did get some pretzels and soda at the end. Mr. Ramsey chuckled all the way home.

The bottom line is that we survived and the friendships I made on that trip stayed with me for all of high school and beyond.

I was lucky enough to go on a few more CSF trips during my four years and I am still amazed at how well-organized Mrs. Wilczynski was! And thankful too, for teachers like her and Mr. Ramsey who would give up their Spring Break to take busloads of students all over the state.

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.”

LL&TT’s proposed Almanor Rail Trail, one of the 12 funded trail projects.

Lassen Land and Trails Trust Celebrating

2022 as a “Very Good Year for Trails”

Lassen Land & Trails Trust, a member of the Lassen/Plumas Trails Coalition of public agencies and nonprofits that are leading the charge to expand a network of trails across northeastern California, has announced that 2022 was a very good year for trails.

“LLTT is happy to report 12 trail projects just got a big boost in funding to plan and then construct another 130 miles of interconnected trails by 2030,” reports LL&TT Trails Committee Chair Elizabeth Norton.

Two plans are guiding the Coalition’s efforts to build an interconnected trail system in our region: the 2020 Lassen/Lake Almanor Basin Regional Trails System Concept Plan, and the 2022 Lassen County Active Transportation Plan. 

Grant awards for the twelve funded trail projects total over $7.3 million. Most of these projects will be implemented over the next two years. Several are for planning activities to complete designs and environmental studies. Once pre-construction studies are completed, the partners are cleared to apply for trail construction grants.

“We are grateful to all our grantors who share our vision and support our trails network,” said Norton, “It takes committed partners to make this much progress in just one year. We are fortunate to live in a diverse region at the crossroads of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Great Basin. With its biodiversity and scenic landscapes, this region offers an array of outdoor recreation pursuits to all who live and visit here. We already have great events on our trails each year, which draw thousands of visitors to our area. We believe continued investments in trails will always have a positive return in healthy communities, healthy economies, and healthy people.”

The Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship is also developing a trail system that will connect fifteen mountain towns in Sierra, Butte, Nevada, Lassen and Plumas Counties with their grant funded “Connected Communities” project. 

SBTS’s motto “A Trail for Everyone” includes trail linkages to Susanville and Chester. In nearby Siskiyou County, the Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance was also awarded a grant to complete the planning for expanded outdoor recreation opportunities in south Siskiyou County. 

“So, stay tuned, more trails are coming,” said Norton. “The Coalition always appreciates your feedback as we prepare the designs and environmental studies for these new trails.”

Lassen Land and Trails Trust, a non-profit membership-based organization, actively works to conserve significant natural areas and working landscapes, and to promote and enhance a system of public trails in northeastern California—where the Sierra Nevada, Cascade, Modoc Plateau and the Great Basin converge, a unique region rich in agricultural heritage, wildlife and scenic vistas. For more information about the Trust’s work or to support their trails program, please visit www.lassenlandandtrailstrust.org

The big winners in Saturday’s Cornhole Tournament – photo provided

Results from the Susanville Rotary “Bags and Beers” Cornhole Tourny

The Susanville Rotarians held a big Cornhole tournament Saturday, in Jensen Hall at the Lassen County Fairgrounds, with all the funds raised going to the organization’s many local community, youth, and service projects.

Here are the final results:

• 1st Place – Alex Vegas & Brian Bardouski
• 2nd Place – Colby Gelba & Diane St. Jacques
• 3rd Place – Wes & Zack

“Thank you to all who volunteered and especially the organizing committee: Daniel & Teresa Stalter; Aaron & Becky Weigel (Grocery Outlet); and Ryan Cochrane,” said organizer Alan Siemer.

“A big thank you to Northern Nevada Cornhole for your coordination of today’s activities, teaching us how it’s done, and generously contributing to the cause. You’re all awesome folks to work with.”

Roop’s Fort in 1925 from the Library of Congress.

Group Seek to Save Landmark

February 21, 1937

Action to save old Fort Roop on Weatherlow Street as a landmark of the City of Susanville has been taken by the chamber of commerce.

It has been agreed to obtain an option on the ground on which it stands and later rebuild the historic structure.

The fort was erected eighty-two years ago by Isaac Newton Roop, first provisional governor of Nevada, Governor Roop’s name is welded with the early history of Susanville and Lassen County. He came to California on October 18, 1850.