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IN MEMORIAM -- SERENA, RHONDA, JUSTIN
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We continue to mourn the loss of three Fresno corpsmembers who died in a vehicle accident Tuesday morning: Serena Guadarrama, 18; Rhonda Shackelford, 20; and Justin Vanmeter, 21. Their water conservation crew was on its way to a turf removal project in Dinuba.
Three others in the CCC vehicle were injured and hospitalized: two corpsmembers and the Conservationist I. The C I and one of the corpsmembers have since been released.
We are grateful for the considerable local support of Cal Fire and California Highway Patrol personnel on Tuesday as first responders. Cal Fire's emergency incident counseling support has been very helpful as well.
Support for all CCC staff and corpsmembers is available through the Employee Assistance Program.
CCC Director Bruce Saito and Chief Deputy Amy Cameron spent several days in Fresno visiting the families of all of the deceased and all those injured. District Director Marie Mijares and Fresno Conservation Supervisor Enrique Rios have been providing extensive assistance, along with Headquarters units and field staff.
Workers' Compensation provides some funding for funeral expenses. In addition, each family has set up a GoFundMe page (GoFundMe.com).
We have received many condolences for the corpsmembers from our project sponsors and partners, including John Muir Charter School, more than a dozen corps programs throughout the country, the Student Conservation Association, NOAA, CaliforniaVolunteers, Conservation Volunteers Australia and many more. In addition, the CCC Foundation has pledged to provide funding to each of the corpsmember families to assist with expenses.
Governor Brown released a message of condolence Tuesday regarding the corpsmembers. It reads in part:
"Anne and I are deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of these California Conservation Corps members. These three individuals had just embarked on a year of service and had so much ahead of them. Our hearts go out to their families, friends and colleagues as they mourn this tremendous loss and our thoughts are also with the others injured today."
In honor of the three corpsmembers, the Governor requested that flags at the Capitol be flown at half-staff; we have done the same at Headquarters and center locations. We will be providing flags to the parents of the corpsmembers. And at the request of Senators Tom Berryhill and Andy Vidak, the Senate will adjourn Monday in memory of the three corpsmembers. In the Assembly, Assemblymember Jim Patterson will make a similar request.
On February 16, all of our centers as well as Headquarters will take time between 2 and 4 p.m. to recognize the Fresno corpsmembers through readings, music, poetry and more.
We will keep you posted on funeral services and other memorial efforts in the days ahead.
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PROPOSED CCC BUDGET INCLUDES INCREASE
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Governor Brown released his proposed budget for the next fiscal year a few weeks ago, and the CCC has a projected increase. If enacted by June 30 as proposed, the Corps' budget would go from this year's $94.6 million to $111.4 million in 2016-17.
CCC Director Bruce Saito notes that while we'll lose staff positions due to special funded projects that expire June 30, we'll also add 62.5 positions, as follows:
-- 12.5 permanent positions for the Butte Fire Center, expected to open this spring.
-- 2.5 positions through June 2018 for the Fuel Reduction Program.
-- 24 positions through June 2018 for Greenhouse Gas Reduction energy crews. The CCC would receive $15 million for three years to fund 11 energy crews.
-- 23.5 positions through June 2017 for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Forest Health. A proposed $5 million appropriation would add 100 corpsmembers to focus on fire hazard reduction, dead and dying tree removal, reforestation and erosion control.
Among the additional funding proposed is an allocation to replace 30 vehicles each year over three years.
Capital Outlay expenditures proposed include $19.7 million for construction of a new kitchen, multipurpose room and dorms at the Placer Center. Our effort to rebuild the residential program is reflected in the budget with funding proposed for site evaluation for a new residential center in Napa or Yountville and in Pomona, as well as for replacing the residential center in Ukiah.
Also proposed, one-time General Fund monies to address infrastructure/deferred maintenance at various CCC locations.
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FLOOD DEMONSTRATION DRAWS CREWS FROM EVERY CENTER
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Corpsmembers anchor heavy plastic on the side of the levee. Photos by Susanne Levitsky.
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After devoting more than a half-million hours to wildfires during 2015, corpsmembers throughout the state are all flood-trained, ready to respond where needed.
This year's floodfighting demonstration was held in early December on Twitchell Island in the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, with every center sending at least one crew. This resulted in more than 200 corpsmembers participating. The crews camped out at nearby Brannan Island.
The exercise was headed by Stockton Conservation Supervisor Ray Garcia and San Diego Conservation Supervisor Sara Weaver. The other positions in the incident command structure were shared by both Region I and Region II staff.
Crews filled and passed sandbags, secured heavy plastic -- visqueen -- to the levees to prevent wave-wash erosion, and sandbagged around boils --water seeping through the levees.
"All the crews arrived prepared and well-trained," said Ray. "One thing that was really impressive was the cohesiveness -- how they all worked together so well in the various divisions."
Sara agreed, and noted that "everyone participated fully. And the crews and supervisors all showed up with the proper supplies."
She thought the best part for the corpsmembers was "seeing that they're not alone, it's not just their center, but everyone doing this throughout the state."
Ray also noted the positive impact of the evening activities. Each crew did a presentation of some kind the first night. "The camaraderie they showed in supporting one another was great -- and there were a lot of good skits, good singing and talent."
Before departing for home, the corpsmembers and staff were commended by CCC Director Bruce Saito, the district directors and members of the Executive Team.
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Stockton's Ray Garcia, one of the incident commanders, does an interview with a Sacramento TV station.
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| | CCC Director Bruce Saito takes a break from the exercise. |
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C I EXAM APPLICATION DEADLINE FEBRUARY 12
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With more than two dozen Conservationist I vacancies expected this fiscal year, there will be many hiring opportunities for those on the new C I list. Applications are being accepted through February12 for the upcoming exam -- the exam bulletin is on our website.
Oral interviews for those meeting the qualifications are expected to be held in March/April 2016.
Questions? Call HR's Donna Pyevach at (916) 341-3140.
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IT'S OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR
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On July 7, 1976, Gov. Brown signed into law the legislation creating the CCC. We'll have two major events to celebrate, one in Sacramento, one in Los Angeles.
Thursday, June 30, 2016 -- celebration and ceremony at the Capitol. That afternoon and evening, the CCC Foundation will host a reception at the Crest Theater for alumni, staff and friends, with the premiere of a special anniversary video.
Thursday, July 7, 2016 -- work project, celebration and ceremony at Griffith Park in Los Angeles.
Retired center director Dick Warren is collecting stories and memorabilia. We'd like to capture short stories, CCC recollections of all kinds that could be shared with others. No more than 400 words each, but you can write as many separate stories as you want.
Maybe, like Jerry Downs, you had a copy of the Medfly board game, or there's a sweatshirt from the 1986 floods in the back of your closet. Let Dick know what you have that we may be able to photograph or exhibit.
Dick is waiting to hear from you: rhwarren52@gmail.com.
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| NEW ADMINISTRATIVE CHIEF -- DAWNE BORTOLAZZO | |
 Dawne Bortolazzo, the CCC's new Administrative Services Chief, always thought she wanted to be a park ranger. "We camp a lot, I'm a big supporter of parks and being outdoors, so what better place to work." But when applying for jobs with State Parks, she never got an interview. It turns out that Parks' loss is the CCC's gain. "The Corps is like Parks' squared," she said. She saw the CCC job announcement, read the mission, and was immediately attracted to the department. "The mission, absolutely, the mission." Not only was there a focus on the outdoors, but the CCC's focus on young people was an added plus. "I see so many kids on their phones and laptops, but not involved with anything outdoors," she said. "This department adds that to their lives, especially for those who may have never seen the ocean, or a forest or thought they'd be fighting a wildfire." Dawne has worked for the State for 15 years, beginning in 2001 as a budget analyst for the Dept. of Corporations. Before long she promoted to budget officer at the Dept. of Financial Institutions, becoming Chief Administrative Officer in 2011. In 2013, that department was combined with Corporations, becoming the Dept. of Business Oversight. Before her state service, Dawne had 15 years of private sector experience, working for a public opinion research firm and then a phone company. She grew up between Stockton and Sloughhouse, "where all the corn comes from," and where her grandmother has a ranch. She went to Cosumnes River College then Sacramento State, earning a degree in communications with a focus on organizational business communication and training. Dawne and her husband, Bob, have been married for 28 years and together for seven years before that. They have a son, Tony, 17, who attends Sacramento's School of Engineering and Sciences, and they also care for two young nephews. On her second day at the CCC, Dawne attended the Twitchell Island flood demonstration as well as a district directors' meeting. She has visited the Placer Center and hopes to visit other locations before long. Has anything surprised her in her brief time on board? "Yes, the longevity of the people -- the number of district directors who came up through the Corps." "The dedication and commitment to stay with the Corps for their whole career -- that says a lot about the department," Dawne said. "It's impressive and reassuring that having a career here could last until retirement. I'm happy and proud to be a part of it." |
| NEW REGION DEPUTY -- LARRY NOTHEIS | |
 The new Region II deputy, Larry Notheis, most recently headed the Fortuna Center. But he started out as a Humboldt Fire Center corpsmember. That was back in 1988. Larry had an adventurous childhood, having grown up in South and Central America, as his father worked for the U.S. State Department. When he heard about the CCC, he viewed it as one more adventure. "Scot Schmier was my recruiter in Pomona and Virginia Clark, Keith Welch and Norma Escamilla my trainers at the Academy in San Luis Obispo." Then it was on to Humboldt County, where he became both a cook specialist and a chainsaw specialist. He was selected for the Australian exchange in 1989, deciding to stay on to spend more time in Australia. He was hired as a team leader for the Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers. Ultimately he returned to the CCC and over the years worked as a Special Corpsmember, C I, C II, Australian Exchange staff liaison, Cook, BSO, Conservation Supervisor and then District Director. He also served as operations chief for the corpsmembers sent to Louisiana for hurricane recovery work in 2005. As of November 30, he started in his new position in Sacramento. Within the first month, Larry visited all seven of his locations and hopes to serve as a conduit for success between the field and Headquarters. He's already working with the Department of Motor Vehicles to improve the process for corpsmembers seeking Class B licenses, and is also focusing on staffing and vehicle needs. "The biggest thing is being part of the team helping to move the CCC in direction I believe in," he said. "I really enjoy working with Amy Cameron and Bruce Saito and feel a part of the decision-making process." "I want to serve as a champion for the field at Headquarters, but I'm already impressed with the commitment of Headquarters staff in helping the field," noting the passion of Sacramento staff for the program. On a personal level, Larry and his wife, Deidra, have one daughter and two young grandchildren.
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| MT. TAMALPAIS WORK FOLLOWS IN FOOTSTEPS OF 1930s CCC | |
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Greenwood corpsmember Silas Johnson at work in the Mountain Theater. He is part of C I Luis Aldape-Garcia's crew. Photos by Aaron Dunson.
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As part of our CCC/State Parks partnership, crews are once again working at Mt. Tamalpais State Park in Marin County. In recent years they have worked on the Bootjack Trail and are now tackling an ADA project in the celebrated Mountain Theater, built by the Civililan Conservation Corps about 1935-36. Those original CCC crews were composed primarily of veterans of World War I.
The theater is designed to seat about 4,000 and is regularly used for plays, weddings and other events.
Aaron Dunson of the Trails Partnership says Greenwood crews are rebuilding sections of the historic amphitheater to bring it into compliance with accessibility standards. This includes building rock retaining walls and rock-armored drainages and installing a firm and stable aggregate surface. There will also be a new accessible parking pad, a path to the restroom and a wider path on the lower tier of the amphitheater.
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1930s CCC construction photos, courtesy of California State Parks.
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The CCC works on constructing the amphitheater in January 1936.
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| NEW FORTUNA DISTRICT DIRECTOR -- RAQUEL ORTEGA | |
 Fortuna's new district director, Raquel Ortega, has come a long way since a 25-hour Greyhound bus ride up to Humboldt County. That was back in 1997, when she joined the Corps, eager to explore the world outside of the Imperial Valley.
Once at Fortuna, she became a crewleader, crewleader II and helped run the COMET training programs for Fortuna, Leggett, Ukiah and Butte corpsmembers. Soon after her CCC days, she joined the Watershed Stewards Program, working for the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife in Fortuna. Raquel took a C I position in Fortuna in 2000 and spent the next 10 years there, with stints as an out-of-class project C 2 and Corpsmember Development C 2. Along with working on fires and Exotic Newcastle Disease, she also supervised one of the crews helping with hurricane recovery work in Louisiana. Raquel served as Business Services Officer on a training-and-development assignment, then promoted to Conservation Supervisor, a job she's held for the last three years. With Larry Notheis now in Sacramento as the Region II deputy, Raquel began her new position in December. She's excited about the opportunity to effect change and help the Fortuna team with upcoming CCC developments thoughout the state, including new residential locations and a chance for greater visibility during the Corps' 40th anniversary. She will also oversee several programs based at the Fortuna Center: the Backcountry Trails Program, the Watershed Stewards Program and the fisheries crews. When she has some spare time, she and her family -- husband, Chris, son, Isaac, 5 and daughter Eva, 1 1/2, like to head outdoors -- exploring parks or the zoo, or hiking. But she's looking forward to her new duties in Fortuna. "It's pretty dynamic here," she said. "Something's always going on."
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| C-CUBED FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS | |
 In
formation Systems' Steve Turtletaub offers some FAQs about the progress of
Q: What is the release schedule for C³?
A: C³ will have three releases:
Release 1 -- Preliminary Projects and Personnel Modules: This release will provide the ability to create edit and approve projects and will also provide the ability to enter and upload corpsmember and staff personnel records. Go Live March 22, 2016\\
Release 2 -- Timekeeping, PTO (Paid Time Off), and Emergency Dispatch Modules: Release 2 will provide the ability to enter and track corpsmember time based on crew rosters. In addition, emergency dispatching will be activated. Finally, PTO information needed to generate payroll information will be activated. Go Live August 1, 2016
Release 3 -- Workers' Comp, Scheduling, FTE Calculations, Separation Calculations, and Expiration Date Calculator: Release 3 will incorporate workers' comp rules and tracking functions into C³. The scheduling module will allow district managers to plan resource needs and schedule crews in advance. Three calculators will be activated, a) FTE -- replacing the current spreadsheet being used to calculate Full-Time Equivalents, b) the Separations Calculator that will calculate final paychecks when a corpsmember separates, and c) the Expiration Date Calculator that allows HR to calculate when a corpsmember's enrollment will end. Go Live September 21, 2016
Future Releases -- The CCC chose to use a cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) system to replace CADCARS because a SaaS system is flexible and can be updated relatively easily (compared to a static system such as CADCARS). Therefore, after Release 3, we'll be implementing refinements, improvements and new features on a regular basis.
Q: What will happen to CADCARS?
A: CADCARS will eventually be retired but data will not be lost. Headquarters and field users will continue to use CADCARS and C³ through the end of Release 2. At that time all Projects, Personnel and Timekeeping functions should move out of CADCARS and use C³ only. This means that during the time between Go Live Release 1 and Go Live Release 2 users will be doing double entry. This gives us an opportunity to use C³ and get used to how it works prior to moving off of CADCARS. It will also provide users with an opportunity to suggest refinements and improvements for inclusion in Future Releases.
CADCARS will continue to stay in service until Release 3 is completed because workers' comp functions won't be ready in C³ until Release 3.
Once all functions are operational in C³ CADCARS will be retired. Keep an eye out for the CADCARS retirement party announcement.
Q: Will there be training for C³?
A: Yes, each district and headquarters unit will send representatives to C³ training sessions throughout the year. The first set of classes is scheduled to start February 16. Representatives will be provided with training material they'll bring back to the districts for local instruction.
Q: What happens if I have a problem with C³?
A: We expect a lot of questions and issues when C³ goes live. We'd like everyone to consult with their representative first (the person who attended training for your unit). If, after consulting with their representative the problem is not resolved, then the representative will open a ticket with the ISB Help Desk.
Q: Are there other ways to provide feedback to the C³ team?
A: Yes. We have opened a special C³ questions and comments email box. We would like all questions, concerns, ideas, likes, dislikes channeled through this email box:
C3Project@ccc.ca.gov. The C³ team will endeavor to respond to your question or comment within five business days. Frequently asked questions will be added to a FAQ document that will be posted.
Corpsmember Development Manager Hunt Drouin has been assigned to assist the C³ team through February.
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| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STORM WORK | |
The Pomona crews of LaToya Owens and Captain Reed cleared a large storm drain in the Los Alamitos Channel near the 605 freeway in early January. Other work included loading hundreds of sandbags and clearing other drains in the area impacted by the storm. Their work was photographed by the Los Angeles Times and others and even ended up on the front page of the Boulder, Colorado paper.
And during the same stormy period, here's a look at the sandbagging the CCC did in front of our Los Angeles Satellite at Vernon and Main.
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| THE TAHOE CENTER IN WINTER | |
Tahoe District Director John Martinez took these photos of his center under the January snowfall. The center is located off Highway 50 in Meyers.
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| BUTTE FIRE REHAB WORK | |
Bud Riley's Chico crew spent many hours on fire rehabilitation work at the site of the Butte Fire. Working in Calaveras County near San Andreas, they planted more than a thousand plants and moved almost 40 tons of rock into culverts subject to erosion.
The crew also spread a thousand bales of hay and reseeded the entire drainage. Photos by Bud Riley.
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| CALTRANS SUCCESS STORY -- ROBERT ARROYO | |
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From left, C II Angel Lizaola, former Inland intern Robert Arroyo and Conservation Supervisor Brandon Joanis. Photo by Nicole Whitten.
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Inland Empire District Director Scot Schmier reports that the center has had five corpsmembers hired by Caltrans yards in the last few months, including C I (and former corpsmember) Aron Johnson. One of the corpsmembers, shown above, is Robert Arroyo.
In addition, Scot reports the center has 12 Caltrans intern positions and two trainee positions.
"Robert is a classic example of a corpsmember who took advantage of every opportunity that came his way in the CCC."
Scot notes that Robert joined without a high school diploma but through hard work, received one from John Muir Charter School. He also earned nearly $8,000 in AmeriCorps and CCC scholarships. He became a Caltrans intern and six months later was hired by Caltrans's Landscape Maintenance Crew in Fontana.
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| WHERE DO THOSE CHRISTMAS TREES GO? | |
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It was the CCC's miserable conditions as Ken McDonald's Chico crew passed Christmas trees down to the Lake Oroville shore on a rainy day. Photo by Laramie Griffith.
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It's a project the Chico Satellite has been tackling for about 20 years, as far back as Butte Fire Center days, says Conservation Supervisor Keith Welch.
After a Chico Boy Scout troop collects discarded Christmas trees, they're brought to the shores of Lake Oroville where corpsmembers anchor them to provide habitat for black bass and other fish. When not under water, the trees offer cover for smaller animals and birds. The trees will last 10-15 years before they biodegrade and fall apart.
Under the direction of the Department of Water Resources, Chico C I Ken McDonald's crew placed some 1200 trees over a two-week period. There were holes drilled in each tree, and a guy wire run through each hole, secured to a post in the ground.
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| | Anchoring the trees. Photo by DWR's Kelly Grow. |
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The work on a sunny day, Lake Oroville in the background. Photo by C I Ken McDonald..
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| | The big picture, with corpsmembers installing clusters of trees. Photo by DWR's Kelly Grow. |
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Chico Conservation Supervisor Keith Welch is interviewed by a local TV station. Photo by Laramie Griffith.
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| GOOD STUFF |
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Camarillo C I John Johnson took this photo of his crew -- and the rainbow -- while working on a project for the Dept. of Water Resources near Lake Castaic in December. The photo was honored as one of the photos of the month by the Corps Network.
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Redding corpsmembers participated in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in Redding.
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Monterey Bay corpsmembers are shown at the trail dedication at Garrapata State Park south of Carmel. Among those on the bridge the CCC constructed are Senator Bill Monning, Assemblymember Mark Stone and Sam Schuchat, head of the Coastal Conservancy.
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Corpsmembers from Pomona and San Bernardino spent three days volunteering their help with float preparations for the Pasadena Rose Parade. Inland Empire crew supervisor Mary Ruiz is shown above.
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Camarillo corpsmembers working for The Nature Conservancy remove arundo from a site along the Santa Clara River in Ventura County, part of a habitat restoration effort for the endangered Southern California steelhead trout. Photo by Tom van Meeuwen.
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This could be your worksite, complete with ocean view! A Los Angeles Satellite crew is shown clearing brush on trails at Malibu Creek State Park.
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San Luis Obispo Watershed Stewards Team Leaders Allie Watts and Madison Sanders-Curry are shown measuring a Coho salmon redd, or spawning nest, in Lagunitas Creek in Marin County for the Marin Municipal Water District. Photo by Daniel Hossfeld.
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James Roe's Pomona energy crew tackles retrofit work at Coast Community College in Costa Mesa. The crew worked nights, 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
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Los Angeles corpsmembers participated in the Compton Initiative, along with the Just Do Good organization. Workers restored a house for a local resident. CCC Director Bruce Saito stopped by to see the work. Photo by C I Martin Hernandez.
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Kudos to Vanessa: Chico Special Corpsmember Vanessa Phanor found and developed a service project with the Paradise Elks Club. The Elks wanted to host some 200 veterans for a December dinner, but didn't have enough members to be able to accomplish the task. With the help of the CCC, 16 corpsmembers in two shifts coordinated by Vanessa and C I Bud Riley, an entire meal was cooked from scratch, served, tables bussed and cleanup done.
The Elks chair wrote to commend the CCC: "I was completed impressed with how all these young adults conducted themselves, their manners and eagerness to jump in and do whatever was asked. ... Thank you for your help in bringing our vision to reality."
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| IT'S OFFICIAL |
San Diego District Director Rhody Soria and two corpsmembers attended the 2015 Giftraiser hosted by Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, Assemblymember Shirley Weber and Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez.
The San Diego Corpsmember Advisory Board had voted to use some of their funds to purchase toys for local families. Rhody is shown above with Assem. Gonzalez, CAB President Dave Barkley and Crew Representative David Marquez. |
| CCC MILESTONES | |
Congratulations to Andrea, Meredith, Dan, Marie and Lynetta on their many years of service.
10 Years in the CCC
Andrea Poteet Fish Habitat Specialist Fortuna
15 Years in the CCC
Meredith Hardy Fish Habitat Specialist Los Padres
35 Years in the CCC
Dan Diederich Maintenance Mechanic Placer
25 Years of State Service
Marie Mijares District Director Greenwood
Lynetta Moses Human Resources Chief Headquarters
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IN MEMORIAM: MITCH COX, FRANCES CRAYTON, J. MURILLO-SANCHEZ
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Mitch had posted this photo with Gov. Jerry Brown on his Facebook page -- it was taken on a fire near Lake Elsinore around Thanksgiving 1980.
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Longtime Monterey Bay Conservationist I Mitch Cox passed away from a heart attack January 24 at the age of 55. He had worked for the CCC for some 34 years, starting out as a corpsmember at the former San Pedro Center.
After two years at San Pedro, where he became a crewleader, Mitch was hired as a C I  in 1981 at the Camarillo Center. From there he also worked at the Santa Clara Center, and then on to Hollister and Watsonville. He had more than 33 years of service in the CCC and hoped to retire in June of this year.
Monterey Bay Conservation Supervisor Janet Wohlgemuth said Mitch was a "larger than life member of our team. He was about the betterment of the corpsmember and their experience in the program. He was full of jokes and keeping us on our toes."
"He was known for his sausage-making and recipes for different foods," she added. "He was a great cook and loved to BBQ for us at staff meetings."
Retired Inland Empire staff member Jim Teegardin noted that Mitch may well hold the record for time in the C I classification. Jim praised Mitch's work ethic and leadership.
"When Mitch became a supervisor, he commanded respect and his crews were fiercely loyal," he said. "Mitch developed top-notch leaders on his crew and crew production rates were high. He had high expectations of his folks but nothing he couldn't do himself or model as a leader."
Mitch is survived by his father and stepmother, a brother and sister, one niece and two nephews.
According to his stepmother, Marilyn, he was an avid fisherman from an early age and at 15 earned a commendation from Gov. George Wallace of Alabama for preventing the drowning of a young fishing companion after their boat capsized. Mitch also loved to hunt and enjoyed teaching gun safety and target shooting.
His stepmother suggests that any memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice. Here is a link to an obituary page sponsored by the funeral home.
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Mitch Cox, left, and Jim Teegardin, working on the 1991 Oakland Hills Fire recovery efforts.
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Frances Crayton had retired as a Los Angeles C I in 2014 after more than 27 years of CCC service, starting with a one-year stint in 1979. She returned as a C I in 1986 and remained in Los Angeles for the remainder of her career.
Frances passed away in December, the youngest of 11 children. Before retiring she had been an AmeriCorps supervisor at the Los Angeles Satellite.
Camarillo District Director Christie Rochte attended her memorial service along with a number of past and present staff and corpsmembers. Christie presented her family with a CCC plaque signed by her and Bruce Saito, commending Frances' impact on the lives of young people.
In Memoriam: Former Santa Maria corpsmember Javier Murillo-Sanchez, 23, was allegedly gunned down with another man January 12 in Santa Maria. Javier was a member of Bill Nolan's crew for six months in 2012.
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| 1930s CCC CORNER: IN MEMORIAM -- ARNOLD BLUMHARDT |
We were saddened to learn of the passing November 27 of Arnold Blumhardt, past president of the Sacramento chapter of the National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni and a former "CCC boy" from South Dakota.
Arnold, along with Bob Griffiths and Herb Perry, was one of three members of the 1930s CCC who spoke at the Headquarters statue dedication in 2008, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of President Franklin Roosevelt's program. "The C's really got you going," he said at the time. Arnold, who was 95, joined the CCC at age 16 in 1937 and spent two years in the program. He was assigned to Camp 792 in Deadwood, South Dakota in the Black Hills. He planted 800 Ponderosa pines a day and fought a forest fire, among other tasks. And he recalls seeing Mount Rushmore when there only three presidents carved on it. CCC boys were paid $30/month, with $25 sent home to their families. Arnold remembers that the money allowed his mother to buy a gas-powered washing machine for their ranch. His subsequent career included work as an electronics radar technician at McClellan Air Force Base and later in Oakland with the Federal Aviation Administration Arnold worked with the late CCC director B.T. Collins during the early days of the California program, and noted that B.T. spoke to an alumni convention in Kansas City. Our condolences to Arnold's family, including his wife, Betty, an active member of the CCC alumni chapter, and to whom he was married for 71 years.
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At the 2008 statue dedication outside the Headquarters building.
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| COMINGS AND GOINGS ... | |
Second Chancer: One of Tahoe's new Conservationist I's goes way back in CCC history. Dave Marion joined as a corpsmember in 1978, then became a C I, working until about 1984. He was based at the La Honda, Yountville, Fresno and Santa Clara centers over the years. He went on to a 25+ -year career with the U.S. Forest Service, from which he recently retired, before rejoining the CCC.
Also back at Tahoe is Special Corpsmember Raechelle Young. She started her CCC career there as a corpsmember, then moved to Headquarters to work as Special Corpsmember in Corpsmember Development, followed by a Spec. Cm. stint at the Sacramento Satellite. And she has a special claim to fame -- both of her parents were corpsmembers.
Limited Term Office Technician Cody Ross of the Delta Satellite in Stockton has accepted a permanent OT position with Caltrans in Stockton.
Vincent Anderson, a student at American River College, is a new Student Assistant at the ISB Help Desk.
Associate Environmental Planner Jed McLaughlin in the Special Projects Support Unit for the last two years has returned to work as an environmental planner at a Sacramento private consulting firm . . . In the same unit, welcome to Dena Iutzi-Mitchell, an Associate Governmental Program Analyst overseeing the water conservation (eDRIP) program. Dena previously worked for Caltrans as well as the State of Alaska.
Accounting Officer An Phan has taken an Accounting position at the Office of Technology.
Cathy Barr, who started her CCC career as a corpsmember at the San Marcos Satellite in San Diego County, is the new Conservation Supervisor at the Ukiah Center. Over the yaers she has been a C I at Placer and Ukiah, a cook, and a C II in Projects and Corpsmember Development.
New to the Ukiah Center, but not to the CCC, is Noah Wall-Torres. Noah is the new Corpsmember Development C II at Ukiah, after a number of years as a CMD C I at the Tahoe Center.
Shin Kang is the new Associate Programmer Analyst in the Information Systems Branch. He'll work as the Mobile Developer/Support for the C³ project. Shin, who is new to state service, has a bachelor's degree in computer science from California State University, Sacramento.
Sarah Her is back at the CCC after more than three years with AmeriCorps' National Civilian Community Corps. She is the new Associate Governmental Program Analyst in Corpsmember Development, where she previously worked as a Special Corpsmember.
Mark Allee is the new Conservation Supervisor at the Fortuna Center. He began his Corps career as a Youth Serve AmeriCorps Program team leader in McKinleyville in 2006 and later served as the program's supervisor. He has been a Backcountry Trails supervisor and most recently was a Conservationist II.
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District Directors: John Button is the Acting out-of-class District Director for the Ukiah Center. John began his CCC career as a corpsmember and crewleader at the Del Norte Center, was on a Backcountry crew in Yosemite and worked as a sponsor for the National Park Service, US Forest Service and State Parks. He returned to the CCC as C I at the Del Norte Center as well as Fortuna, where he moved up the ranks.
Jose Phillips is a Retired Annuitant, helping out temporarily as District Director at the Los Padres Center. Jose is back in California after heading the National Civilian Community Corps in Washington D.C. He had previously served as the CCC's Region II Deputy and has held many field positions.
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Wedding Bells: Congratulations to Recruitment's David Dauer and wife Aparna Sinha on their recent marriage. The pair were wed in a traditional Indian ceremony December 4, followed by a week-long cruise in the Caribbean.
Future Corpsmembers Dept.: Redding Recruiter Jared Fautt and his wife, Beth, are the parents of daughter Raphael Simone, born November 27. And Special Projects' Alicia Tutt and husband, James, welcomed Adalyn Josephine, born December 2. See photos below.
Have staff changes at your location? We'd like to include them here.
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RETIREMENTS
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Leedy with Brenda Burks-Herrmann, Marie Mijares a few years ago.
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Leedy Dunkle, most recently the Program Development Branch Chief, retired in December after more than 35 years as a CCC staff member.
It all began back in 1979 when she joined as a corpsmember. After a few weeks at the Training Academy (see below left), Leedy went to the La Honda Center. She would be promoted to Crewleader and Sign Language Specialist during her corpsmember days, which also included a stint at the Inyo Fire Center. |
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Leedy as a corpsmember at Bret Harte Academy, 1979.
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In 1980 she was appointed to a Conservationist I position at Camarillo, later working at the Owens Valley Fire Center, the Woodlake Center, the Pomona Center, the Escondido Center and the San Diego Satellite.
She then moved on to Fresno, first as a Zone Recruiter and later a Conservation Supervisor overseeing the Satellite.
Leedy spent four years as the Tahoe Center Director before coming to Headquarters. Throughout her long Corps career, Leedy exemplified dedication to corpsmembers and the values of the CCC.
Chris Malinowski has retired from the CCC after many years at the Ukiah Center. Chris started out as a corpsmember in 1986 at the Humboldt Fire Center, working on both salmon restoration and a fire crew. In 1989 he became a crew supervisor for the East Bay Conservation Corps, returning for a stint at Tahoe as a C I, then back to the EBCC in time for the Oakland Hills Fire.
In 1995, he was a C I at the Red Bluff and Weaverville satellites, worked for several years at the Tahoe Center, then was promoted to a Conservation Supervisor in Ukiah in 2005 where he remained until retirement.
Sheila Middleton, a Position Control Analyst in Human Resources, retired in December after nine years with the CCC and 27 years of state service. "I am very honored that the CCC is my last place of employment," she wrote to staff. "I am leaving a wonderful organization."
Longtime San Diego Office Technician Ginger Barrera retired at the end of November, after many years of service. Ginger started her CCC career as an Office Assistant in 1997 at the San Diego Center; previously she had worked for several years with California State Parks.
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| NEXT NEWSLETTER SET FOR MARCH |
Deadline for material for our next issue is Tuesday, February 23. Photos may be used on Facebook or in the newsletter, or both. They should be in the 1-3 MB range; if larger, we would have to compress them for usage.
Have new staff members? We'd like to welcome them to the CCC.
Please direct your items to Susanne Levitsky at susannel@ccc.ca.gov; (916) 341-3145
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