B.1.429 Variant of COVID-19 Confirmed in Nevada County

The Nevada County Public Health department announced that it has confirmed the first identified instance of the B.1.429 Variant of COVID-19 in Nevada County. Public Health officials requested genetic sequencing of a positive test in February, after a person who already had COVID-19 was re-infected. Results from the State lab came back this week.

“This adds urgency to the need to vaccinate as many people as we can, before a variant emerges that is not susceptible to our current vaccines,” said Nevada County Deputy Public Health Officer Glennah Trochet. “And for those who are not yet vaccinated, it is crucial to continue to wear masks, social distance, and avoid gatherings. Every time someone gets infected with this virus, they provide an opportunity for the virus to mutate as it replicates millions of times within their body.”

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Nevada County May Remain in Red Tier as State Modifies Criteria

Yesterday, the State announced changes to the Blueprint for a Safer Economy that would make it more difficult for counties to move backwards in the Tier system. Based on these changes, it is possible Nevada County will remain in the Red Tier next week instead of moving backwards to the Purple Tier as previously expected.

Public Health officials stressed the continued importance of taking precautions to stop the spread of COVID-19. “If you aren't wearing a mask, keeping your distance from others, and avoiding gatherings, you're playing Russian roulette with your health,” said Deputy Public Health Officer Dr. Glennah Trochet. Trochet pointed to the health impacts of COVID-19 as a cause for concern. “Fewer people are dying, but we are seeing people with long-haul COVID-19 symptoms, neurological issues, and lung damage. This virus is very serious,” said Trochet.

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YubaNet Weekly COVID-19 Webinars, Thursdays at Noon

YubaNet is hosts weekly half-hour webinars every Thursday at noon to provide updates on COVID-19 and vaccine distribution in Nevada County. Public Health officials provide real-time updates on the availability of the vaccine, the county’s status in the state’s tier system and what to expect in the coming week.

Panelists, including doctors and other health care providers, will join occasionally to update Nevada County residents on the resources made available. Please click the image below to rewatch this week's meeting.

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Stay #ReadyNevadaCounty by Preparing for Wildfire Season

Exactly 1 year ago today, Nevada County’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) shared this film highlighting how County of Nevada, CA, CAL FIRE NEU, and Fire Safe Council of Nevada County are collaborating with property owners to create a custom fuel reduction strategy with The Ponderosa West Grass Valley Defense Zone Project. What a year it has been!

Even with the challenges of a global pandemic, work has progressed. OES is happy to report the project has over 1000 acres completed. The second phase implementation has begun on approximately 20 acres of private land and all 213 acres of the county parcels. The project has roughly 60 new acres signed up for treatment and are securing permissions to treat on the remaining 270 acres. Watch the film and learn about this important collaboration. Hopefully it will inspire you to tackle your own wildfire preparedness plans to stay #ReadyNevadaCounty with our Office of Emergency Services.

The Nevada County Community Library Celebrates Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month and the Nevada County Community Library is celebrating with special programs, grab bags, and fun activities all month long!

On Mondays in April, the Just My Type writing club is featuring poetry prompt. The library publishes one prompt ahead of time and one new prompt at the beginning of the meeting for a free-write. Each week participants meet via Zoom to share and discuss. Stop by the Madelyn Helling, Penn Valley and Truckee libraries this April for a chance to encounter typewriter poetry by Pioneersofourselves local poet Evelyn Schmelling! She will be coming to several library locations on random days with her typewriter in hand to type out original short poems for the public. Also throughout April, Madelyn Helling and Grass Valley library locations will have a poet tree with poems hanging from it for the public to take as part of the poem in your pocket celebration and haiku cat bookmarks and Instagram post will inspire the haiku poet in you. There will also be grab bags available throughout the month.

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Board of Supervisors April 13^th Agenda Preview

Pursuant to Governor Gavin Newsom's Executive Order pertaining to the convening of public meetings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the County of Nevada hereby provides notice that it will hold its regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Supervisors by remote. The Board of Supervisors will attend the meeting and participate to the same extent as if they were present. Tuesday's April 13th meeting starts at 9:00 a.m. Please refer to pages 11 and 12 of the agenda to find the ways you can provide public comment. Highlights on the agenda include but are not limited to the following. Please visit the link below for the full agenda.

Following the consent calendar, the Board will receive a presentation on Nevada Joint Union High School District's Yearly Update: The 2020/21 School Year and Beyond.

Next, the Board will consider a resolution proclaiming April 2021, and every April thereafter, as Arts, Culture, and Creativity Month in Nevada County.

Following public comment, the Board will consider a resolution authorizing a loan to Affordable Housing Development Corporation through Nevada City Cashin’s Field, a Limited Partnership to be used for Cashin’s Field, a 51-unit low-income multi-family housing project.

Next, the Board will consider An Ordinance amending Chapter II of Title 3 of the Nevada County Land Use and Development Code regarding Administrative Enforcement and Cannabis Cultivation.

Lastly, the Board will consider a resolution approving the contract between the County of Nevada and Fire Safe Council of Nevada County pertaining to free residential green waste disposal for wildfire mitigation for the period of April 13th, 2021 through July 16th, 2021.

April 13th Agenda

Q&A: Call to Artists

Nevada County Transit Services (Nevada County Connect and Now) is inviting proposals from artists for original art as part of a Transit rebranding project and subsequent brand awareness campaign, supported by
Nevada County Arts Council, and launched as we celebrate California Arts, Culture, and Creativity Month through April.

Between now and April 30th, artists are encouraged to create a visual representation of their vision for Nevada County in the form of a design that will be displayed using the “canvas” of the Transit Services Division fleet of eleven buses in the form of a single vinyl bus wrap. Attend a Q&A for artists on April 13, 2021, at 5:00 p.m., hosted in partnership with County staff, Nevada County Arts Council, and 3-Fold Communications.

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National Main Street Conference 2021

Get the tools to build stronger, more equitable communities at the virtual Main Street Now Conference! Hosted April 12-14th, Main Street Now is the premier gathering of local leaders from across the country–and the world—who share a commitment to building vibrancy and economic opportunity in downtowns and commercial districts.

Have you checked out the sessions National Main Street conference has lined up for Small Business Day at Main Street Now? From a workshop on increasing customer engagement during the pandemic to a live happy hour on gaining visibility for small businesses, sessions are uniquely designed for Main Street entrepreneurs. For a discounted registration rate of only $25, small business owners will get practical, actionable tools to move forward in the changing commerce landscape.

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Meet the Match for SNMH's Community Cancer Center Equipment

Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation is raising the necessary funds to purchase new equipment for our Community Cancer Center. In an effort to bolster gifts toward this project, SNMH Board member Denis Drew, MD, and his wife Barbara Drew, RN, PhD, are offering a dollar per dollar match up to $10,000! Help us reach our goal by June 2021.

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Job Openings at Nevada County: Transit Bus Driver

Nevada County employs approximately 800 employees covering a full range of services and positions, from accountants to wastewater treatment system operators. In Nevada County, quality of life comes first. It is the only rural California county with two designated Cultural Arts Districts and is known for its abundance of outdoor recreational activities.

Looking for a great job where you get to be outside driving? Love working with the public and providing excellent customer service? If you enjoy driving, working around a supportive team, and serving your community with a valuable service, then we have a job for you! The County of Nevada Transit Services Division, aka Nevada County Connects, is currently recruiting for Temporary and Trainee Bus Drivers in the Grass Valley and Nevada City region. We are seeking motivated, customer service-inclined folks who enjoy being a part of a close-knit team that provides services to the public. Our goal is to provide safe, efficient and friendly transit services to the residents of Western Nevada County. The Temporary Bus Driver position is an integral part of accomplishing that goal, so we need you to join our team. The position is part-time, up to 20 hours per week. We offer lots of flexibility in scheduling.

Find out more information about this position online. Have a question? Contact Human Resources by calling (530) 265-7010 and selecting option 2.

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