Greenville Rising: Nov 16
Many of us are still basking in the warm glow of support Greenville saw on Veterans Day. It’s been reported by multiple groups that well over 200 hundred people were in attendance to support veterans and support the first holiday to be celebrated in downtown Greenville post Dixie Fire, (Gold Diggers’ 2021 was the last parade on Main Street pre-fire). By all accounts the day gave the community of Indian Valley a sense of hope and the strength to persevere through the next phase of our journey—which for many is the on going clean up.
Shout outs here for incredible efforts. Mary Shero of Mary’s German Grill fed as many as possible on November 11 directly after the parade and as usual the comments noted that her superb cooking—and especially given the limitations of being off the grid cooking. Wolf Creek 4-H raised money with much sought after wild flower seeds (and sold out). Lisa Forcino and her volunteer posse distributed the rest of the friendship and solidarity T-shirts sent by St. Giles Presbyterian Church in Greenville, South Carolina.
“Lisa has done such wonderful work in carrying out the California side of our mutual project. Please extend our thanks to her and love to all of our family in California. Our prayers continue with you,” said Ted Morrison the coordinator of the effort on the South Carolina end of things.
Temporary trailers have been set up near the north end of Wolf Creek Road. Check out the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office facebook page for video showing the temporary encampment. Forward progress. “The site will be managed by the Plumas County Department of Social Services,” according to their post.
Some people have seen the new short video Hope Rises, which features Indian Valley locals talking about what it is to live in Indian Valley and how the Dixie Fire has affected us all. It’s a fundraising video put out by Plumas Strong. Plumas Strong is the new name of an old Indian Valley non-profit organization that has always championed Indian Valley and its residents and their needs, formerly called Genesee Retreat. Check out the video (https://www.hoperises.help/hope-rises-video) of your friends and neighbors and maybe send it on to some folks outside the area
More than anything, what seems to be really affecting Dixie Fire survivor resilience is not being forgotten. We expect to be forgotten on the grand federal and state scale of things—so much happens in every global news cycle of every day. We expect the bureaucracy that many of us are now facing on the federal, state, (and private insurance level). So what means the most to us is the specifics and kindnesses of every day people for every day things. The people who do not ask for public thanks and gratitude and are not publicizing themselves for it either but are quietly giving are so appreciated. It is that quiet giving that warms my heart this Thanksgiving season as I hope the quiet spirit of giving extends to all of Indian Valley, Indian Falls, Canyon Dam, Rich Bar communities.
Case in point. My physical therapist/massage therapist in southern California is retiring and downsizing to a much smaller place out of state and sent me up north with a carload full of gently used household and therapy items to find homes for among Dixie Fire survivors establishing new homes. She’s been following the news and it just seemed to her that rather than have her stuff just sit in a junk yard, it could be made useful. Some things she sent up were absolute heirlooms. She wants no credit. It stuff like this that gives me hope too.
Speaking of hope and gratitude here’s a list of all things Thanksgiving related below. If I’ve missed a cause, please let me know. As usual, you are welcome to send press releases, tips, and deadlines related to Greenville’s recovery to [email protected]
Thanksgiving
Indian Valley Food Pantry is offering up free Thanksgiving boxes which will be available for pickup on November 22 at 1 p.m. The boxes filled with turkey and all the trimmings to make a family holiday dinner will be at Greenville Southern Baptist Church. To order, call (530) 616-5808.
There may also be some Thanksgiving dinner boxes available to Dixie Fire survivors. Residents do not need to have lost their home in order to receive the dinner. Call Natasha at Plumas Rural Services (530) 283-2735 for more details.
Another group Tiny Pine Foundation, is also giving away baskets of food for Thanksgiving. Their deadline for contact for one is Wednesday, November 17. Call (530) 720-1199 to sign up for one or go to the website
https://www.tinypinefoundation.org/ to fill out a brief application. They require proof of being a fire survivor.
The Greenville Southern Baptist Church is having a Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday, November 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
After all that food prep, don’t forget the Turkey Trot. It begins at 8 a.m. at 417 Crescent Highway (look for the Indian Head Properties trailer) and it ends at the same spot. The Turkey Trot asks a donation of $10. All donations will benefit Indian Valley sports programs for our community’s youth. A light brunch, coffee, and hot cocoa will be served immediately following the race.
Christmas
More on Christmas next week, but don’t forget the annual Taylorsville Christmas parade on Saturday, November 27. Activities start around dusk.
Other Deadlines and Events
Speaking of hope and recovery, there is a “[Re] Build Greenville: Community Meeting” on Saturday, November 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Greenville Junior Senior High School. Hosted by Supervisor Kevin Goss, attendees will meet the members of the Dixie Fire Long Term Recovery Committee, local design and construction experts, and residents who plan to stay and are invested in rebuilding communities lost to the Dixie Fire. There will be ample opportunity for residents to get involved with various committee and volunteer projects. Much of the meeting and ideas are modeled after the recovery of Greensburg, Kansas after a tornado decimated the town in 2007.
Needs
As the weather turns colder, the Rebuilding Greenville Resource Center in Crescent Mills is requesting warm winter coats, gloves, and socks. Evergreen gift certificates and gas cards are also being requested by the center along with emergency hardware, cleaning supplies and paper products. They are also accepting non-perishable food items.
What a difference a week can make in one’s outlook. As we head into the holiday season it is crucial, now more than ever, that we hold on to hope.
Our local Clampers may have lost their local watering hole but not their spirit. Photo by Anna Lawson
Veterans Day parade brings out residents from around Indian Valley including Karisa Joseph and the Turkey Trot banner of the event she started a few years back that has become an Indian Valley staple. Photo by Anna Lawson
