Donors wanted to adopt or underwrite signs

How many of us, when we drive or walk by the various mining headframe or ruins in the county, know what we're looking at? Which mine, when?

As a sesquicentennial project, Sutter Creek Councilman Bill Hepworth and artist Robert Richards of the same city, have cooperatively placed printed, metal signs marking the city's Central Eureka, Old Eureka, and Wildman (Emerson shaft) mines. The cost for each - about $150 - came from the city's beautification funds.

Besides working on raising money to get other Sutter Creek signs marked, Richards is hopeful the ACSC and others will make the program county-wide.

If you wish to adopt a mine sign, contact the ACSC, Box 175, Jackson, 95642 or contact Richards in Sutter Creek.



Music at celebration

There will be music, too, during the year-long Amador County Sesquicentennial Celebration in 2004.

At the last meeting of the Sesquicentennial Committee, music chair Irv Gidding of Sutter Creek outlined the basic schedule of performances and/or events.

Thus far, he said, his committee is working on performances at the June 5 dedication of the courthouse plaque, in a program produced by the Grand Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West.

Also on the schedule is taking part in the planned "Living History" exhibition of the Sesquicentennial Committee during the Italian Picnic, and perhaps at the county fair.

Gidding said there will be a music program outdoors from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Italian Picnic Grounds June 14 preceding the banquet.

And the last date is in October, when the Music Committee is working on a musical showcase for all of Amador's plentiful talent.

Have ideas of what music you'd like to hear during the Sesquicentennial? Let Gidding know.



Brown bag lunch meeting

The Amador County Sesquicentennial Committee will hold its second March meeting on Thursday, March 25, in the main meeting room at the General Services Administration on Airport Road starting at noon.

"We call them our brown bag lunch meetings," says ACSC Chair, David Butow. "We get a lot more done by munching before meeting." The meeting will go no longer than 2 p.m.

All members of the committee are urged to attend, as well as anyone in the general public who wishes to take part, or has some idea or event he or she would like to see the committee adopt.



T-shirt sales to benefit cemetery fund

How can you help the Amador County Sesquicentennial Committee achieve its goal of protecting and restoring our pioneer cemeteries?

Any person or organization can donate any amount to the ACSC Cemetery Fund. The immediate goal is to raise $15,000 to provide matching funds for other grants and also to plan a general restoration plan of action.

Sales of photographer Ralph Merzlak's already popular T-shirt dubbed "Moon over Thunder Mountain" is a major contributor. Half of the sale price, or $6 per shirt, goes to the ACSC Cemetery Fund.

Helping to underwrite this fund-raiser is Raley's Supermarket in Jackson where the T-shirts are on sale. At last report, another batch of 144 shirts had been ordered.

That same panoramic image on the T-shirt also has been reproduced, matted and framed. For each photograph that Merzlak sells, a third of the proceeds, or $50, goes into the cemetery fund.

Merzlak is also chair of the ACSC Photo Committee. The committee is out and about taking photos of Amador scenes, people and events. A selection of those photos may appear in a commemorative soft-cover book later in the year.

Any photographer interested in taking part in this ACSC project should contact Merzlak.



Purchase special series of envelopes

The Amador County Sesquicentennial Committee has a special series of envelopes with vignettes drawn by award-winning artist, Rand Huggett, of Sutter Creek.

At the ACSC's request, and at no charge, Huggett has drawn 15 vignettes or illustrations representing all the postal and non-postal communities in the county.

According to ACSC member Ken Bosworth, a set of 15 of the vignetted envelopes sell for $2. Also available are sets of 10 of just one community, sold for $1.50. All or most of the proceeds go to the ACSC Cemetery Fund.

The envelopes are available now at Hein & Co. and Trassare Jewelers in Jackson. The committee is seeking outlets in other cities.