The Ledger Dispatch Introduces the Amador Visitor

In 2005 the Amador County's local newspaper, the Ledger Dispatch, introduced this site to its readers.

Welcome to www.amadorvisitor.com a new Web site from the Ledger Dispatch (www.ledger-dispatch.com Amador County's local newspaper serving Amador County since 1855.

I always enjoyed reading about the news and events happening in Amador whenever I was visiting my folks who have a second home in Armador County up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near the Bear River Lake Resort. I work for a small progressive software development company and travel around the US working with the IT teams of companies and organizations on creating custom software, assisting implementing or integrating Salesforce, or discussing Magento's capabilities before implementing a Magento development strategy for their e-commerce websites. I find it fascinating work, although Magento development and customization happens to be my specialty. The platform is so powerful and vast, while also being feature rich. It’s also easy to customize, and it’s scalable. However my work can also be extremely stressful, particularly when deadlines are looming and unexpected glitches pop up. Amador, on the other hand is the best place to chill and the Amador Visitor was such a handy way to find out what was happening. I will miss our source for local Amador news and events, but it had a good run for about seven years. I still return to Amador to visit my folks. This past winter I decided to work from Amador (with the blessing of my boss) and took weekly snowboarding trips to the Sierra at Tahoe Ski Resort which is less than 2 hours away. I needed to get a good, warm winter jacket so I went online to check out North Face Gotham jackets. This weatherproof North Face jacket is insulated with warm 550-fill down insulation and features an adjustable hood, stormflap, and ribbed trim for complete coverage. Good choice on my part. It was very warm but also breathable and comfortable in the car. I enjoyed the fur hood and light weight material. I could throw it on quickly in the morning with just a T-shirt, walk out in freezing temperatures, and still be very toasty. My folks loved the fact I was with them for 6 months. I actually enjoyed the break and caught up with friends from the area. Even met my future wife! Anyway, I digress.

As of 2011 Amador Visitor was still posting Weekend events. Sometime in 2011 the Ledger Dispatch disbanded the site. When I saw that the domain was available I decided to purchase it. I used archived pages from the site to recreate some of the news / events that were posted between 2005-2011. For nostalgic buffs and other interested folks, ENJOY!

****** 2005 ******

April 5, 2005

View homes, art at 33rd annual Home Tour

Featuring some of the most fascinating historic homes in Jackson, the 33rd annual Home Tour sponsored by the Amador Branch of the American Association of University Women will shine on Saturday, April 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Treasures of Jackson” is the theme, with featured homes ranging from an historic miner’s cabin, to the St. Sava Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church, one of the earliest consecrated churches of its denomination in America. Not only will ticket holders be treated to touring five elegant homes, a members’ show of art works will be on display at St. Patrick’s Social Hall where tea and cookies will be served. And one of the homes, the lovely Orescan house, will be the setting for complimentary wine tasting.

One of the most popular features of the tour last year was the drawing for the quilt handmade by AAUW members. This year, members have outdone themselves creating a masterpiece titled “Amador Spring.” The quilt is 75 inches square or queen sized, in light, spring colors with a green border and hand appliquéd flowers. Drawing tickets cost $1 each or six for $5. The tickets will be on sale up to the time of the drawing at the end of the home tour day, before the home tour from various AAUW members and by mail at the same address as tour tickets

Now travel back 125 years to 1880, when an English miner and his wife purchased the land and built a two-room miner’s cabin in Jackson. In l920, two small bedrooms were added to the Marchus home. The present owners are the ninth custodians of this property. Upon entering an inviting living room and master bedroom expand the area dramatically but looking into the nearest small room with its original redwood floors takes the visitor back to the beginning. Located a few steps from the kitchen door is the stone powder house/cellar. This structure predates the house. This area of Jackson is rich in history and artifacts from mining days continue to be found on the property. It is a never-ending quest for the treasures of the past.

Wallace Kay, pioneer photographer, came to Amador and Jackson in 1855. In 1860 he purchased the home from the town druggist, Wesley Jackson. Kay descendants retained ownership of the home for 110 years. The original rooms of the home can be easily determined by the height of the 13-foot ceilings. Upon entering the parlor the combination of mid-19th century architecture and English and New England furniture sets the tone for the rest of the home. The kitchen is a very cozy, welcoming retreat. The guest quarters show the original floors. The rooms are furnished with some wonderful collectibles including a child’s iron bed and French washstand and French fashion dolls. Upon exiting the home walk past the old outbuildings, past the gazebo and through the vintage garden replete with mature flowering trees and shrubs.

Perched on a hill, visible from all directions, sits St. Sava Church, a beautiful jewel of Amador County. The original bell still hangs in the belfry and a beautiful chandelier illumines the nave - a gift from Russia. The church of St. Sava in Jackson holds more than local history. The altar table contains a fragment of the relics of St. King Lazar. The ceiling of the church is covered in frescoes from the hand of a contemporary master of the Serbo-Byzantine school of iconography. A visit to St. Sava evokes the memory of the Serbian pioneers who came to America seeking economic opportunity during the Gold Rush.

Proceeds of the tour each year fund educational scholarships for women who are entering college and for continuing women students. Last year, tour proceeds allowed the chapter to award six $500 scholarships to women and girls from Amador County entering college and two $1,000 scholarships to those continuing studies at the upper division or graduate level. Amador Branch AAUW also supports at least two junior high girls for a weeklong “Tech Trek” each summer at Mills College, where girls work with women scientists, mathematicians and engineers.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the tour. Lunch at the Jackson United Methodist Church is available to reserve for $8.50. Tickets may be purchased by writing to AAUW Home Tour, 26317 Meadow Drive, Pioneer 95666. Mail requests must be postmarked by April 8. Tickets are available now at Home Sweet Home in Jackson, Twice Sold Tales in Pine Grove, Squirrel’s Nest in Sutter Creek, Far Horizons 49er Village in Plymouth and the Ione Pharmacy in Ione

****** 2006 ******

May 20, 2006

Welcome Visitors - Mark your calendar for the Italian Picnic and Parade June 2-4

125th annual Italian Picnic and Parade June 2-4

The Italian Benevolent Society presents the 125th annual Italian Picnic and Parade June 2, 3 and 4.
The carnival will kick off the celebration Friday at 5 p.m. with Kiddies Night featuring special prizes. Saturday the carnival runs from noon until midnight and on Sunday it is open from noon to 6 p.m.
Friday night will also be scholarship night at 7:30 p.m. at the stage. There will be dancing and music Friday and Saturday night with Stonehouse from 8 p.m. to midnight. Saturday and Sunday there will be Italian music with the Don Garibaldi Trio from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Amador Community Band will present a concert on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
Bingo opens on Friday at 5 p.m. until close and Saturday and Sunday 1 p.m. to close. There will be prizes for all winners. The beer and wine pavilion will be open daily with live music and dancing.
Tri-tip barbecue is offered on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the dining room for $6.50 per plate. The chicken and ravioli six-course dinner will be on Saturday night with cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling Wayne at 223-2320.
Bocce ball will be offered to the public on Friday and Saturday featuring "Bocce for a Buck." On Sunday a professional tournament will be held at 9 a.m. and will continue all day.
Admission onto the Italian Picnic Grounds is free.

****** 2007 ******

February 2007 Calendar

Feb. 8
Country music legend Merle Haggard returns to Jackson Rancheria Casino at 8 p.m. Tickets are $79, $69, $59 and $49. (800) 822-WINN or www.jacksoncasino.com.

Feb. 9
Folk icon and entertainer Cheryl Wheeler at Sutter Creek Theatre, 44 Main St., Sutter Creek. 8 p.m. Tickets: $18 in advance, $21 the day of the show. (866) 463-8659 or www.suttercreektheatre.com.

Feb. 10
Amador Vintners' "Behind the Cellar Door," 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Features tastings of new wines and current releases at 28 Amador wineries. Tickets are $50 per person for the weekend, $35 for Sunday only and include a commemorative wine glass. Advance purchase is advised. Tickets can be ordered at www.amadorwine.com. (888) 655-8614.

Feb. 17
Argentine high energy band Los Pinguos at Sutter Creek Theatre, 44 Main St., Sutter Creek. 8 p.m. Tickets: $15 in advance, $17 the day of the show. (866) 463-8659 or www.suttercreektheatre.com.  

Feb. 22
John Kay & Steppenwolf, the innovators of rock's rugged side, will bring their rebel anthems to Jackson Rancheria Casino at 8 p.m. Tickets are $59, $49, $39 and $29. (800) 822-WINN or www.jacksoncasino.com.

Feb. 23
Beppe Gambetta, Italian master guitarist, at Sutter Creek Theatre, 44 Main St., Sutter Creek. 8 p.m. Tickets: $15 in advance, $18 the day of the show. (866) 463-8659 or www.suttercreektheatre.com.

****** 2008 ******

March- June 2008 Calendar

MARCH

Through April 12
Main Street Theatre Works presents "Angel Street" at The Playhouse at the Days Inn in Sutter Creek. Dinner theater is Friday and Saturday nights. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and the show begins at 7:45 p.m. The Sunday lunch matinee is April 6, with doors opening at 12:15 p.m. and the show at 1:45 p.m. Prices for dinner theater are $40. Prices for lunch matinee are $30. Tickets are available at Lizzie Ann's/Bubblegum Books at 59 Main St., Sutter Creek, or charge by phone at 267-5680 during the hours of 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. www.mstw.org.

March 30
Mother Lode Friends of Music Orchestra Symphony Concert, 3 p.m. Event will be held at Church of the Nazarene, Sutter Creek. Corina Stoian, violin soloist; Alex Dumitrache, cello soloist; Henrik Jul Hansen, conductor, and more. Admission charged.

APRIL

April 3
Jackson Rancheria Casino, Hotel and Conference Center presents 3 Blonde Moms, 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The show is in the Grand Oak Ballroom at the Jackson Rancheria Hotel. Tickets are $20 and are available at the Dreamcatcher's Club booth in the casino. Ages 18 and older welcome. (800) 822-WINN, www.jacksoncasino.com.

April 5
Fiddletown Heritage Day, Fiddletown, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrating the Gold Rush era. Go back in time to the 1850s, and Fiddletown's Chinese heritage. (209) 245-3364, www.fiddletown.info.

April 5
Party Pardee at Howard Park in Ione. This 26- and 62-mile bike tour travels the gentle rolling hills of Amador and Calaveras counties. Rest stops will be stocked with cyclist-type refreshments and on-the-road support will be available. A hot meal will be served at the finish and Mumbo Gumbo will provide live music. This ride must be pre-registered. The Party Pardee has a 1,200 rider limit. Partypardee@aol.com, www.bikehikers.com.

April 9
Amador County Chamber of Commerce Trade Show Mixer, hosted and co-sponsored by the Jackson Rancheria Casino, Hotel and Conference Center, 5 to 8 p.m. Local businesses will showcase their products and services in the Grand Oak Ballroom at the casino hotel. More than 40 exhibitors will be on hand to provide the public with information about their businesses. The public is invited at no charge.

April 11-May 17
Volcano Theatre Company presents "Tuesdays with Morrie." Curtain is at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday matinees April 20, 27 and May 4; curtain at 2 p.m. General admission, $15; seniors 62 and over, $13; students age 18 and under, $10. Purchase tickets online at www.highsierratickets.com. For more information, visit www.volcanotheatre.org or call 296-2525, toll free (866) 463-8659.

April 12
Preston Castle Seafood Dinner, 5:30 p.m. Seafood dinner with musical entertainment and silent auction to raise funds to save the historic Preston Castle in Ione. Sponsored by the nonprofit Preston Castle Foundation. No host bar at 5:30 p.m.; 6:30 p.m. dinner. Dinner will be held at Howard Park, Evalynn Bishop Hall, Ione. Cost is $35. Preston Castle Foundation, (209) 274-4112, www.prestoncastle.com. Contact: Sandy Buchanan, (916) 233-6312 or Doug Hawkings, (209) 274-4112.

April 12
49er Bypass Challenge - 5K and 10K run; 25K bike ride; 1 mile fun walk/run. Starts at Main Street bridge, Sutter Creek. Proceeds go to the Amador County Recreation Agency. Main Street vehicle traffic will be detoured. All children eighth grade and under will receive a free scoop of ice cream for crossing the finish line.

April 19
Amador Branch of American Association of University Women present the 36th Annual Home Tour, "Victorian Spring in Historic Jackson." 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The docent-guided tours will include five Victorian-style homes, the Amador County Museum and the Catholic cemetery. Ticket holders will also enjoy tea and homemade cookies, wine tasting and an art show. Tickets: $20 each. (209) 245-6052.

April 20
Mother Lode Friends of Music Argentinean Tango and other music from Latin America performed at the Sutter Creek Theatre. For details and ticket information, call (209) 293-4227.

April 26
Annual Great Sutter Creek Duck Race, Minnie Provis Park in Sutter Creek. For more information, call 267-0252 or visit www.suttercreekduckrace.com.

MAY

May 3
Sierra Showcase of Wine presented by the Amador County Arts Council. 2 to 4:30 p.m. Amador County Fairgrounds. For more information, call 267-9038 or visit www.acaconline.com.

May 4
Mother Lode Friends of Music presents Young Musicians Concert with the Mother Lode Youth Symphony performed at the Church of the Nazarene on Ridge Road outside of Sutter Creek. 2 p.m. Free admission. (209) 293-4227.

May 9-11
132nd Ione Homecoming in Howard Park and downtown Ione. This year's theme is Mardi Gras Magic. Activities include games, entertainment, dancing and more. Parade is held Sunday. (209) 418-8211, www.ionepicnic.com.

May 17
Festival of the Arts, Sutter Creek's Main Street. The event will feature two stages to showcase performance arts of all kinds and music for listening pleasure. For the young, and young at heart, there will be face painting, and a children's art booth will be set up for a fun, "hands-on" experience. (209) 267-1344.

May 23-26
Grand Opening, Jellystone Park at Pine Grove. Formerly Pine Acres Resort now Jellystone Park at Pine Grove. RV sites, motel, daily cabin and cottage rentals, tent spaces. Themed weekends, activities throughout the week. Pool and miniature golf open for daily use. Meet Yogi Bear. 13026 Tabeau Road, Pine Grove. www.goldcountryjellystone.com, (877) IGO-YOGI or (877) 446-9644.

May 30-June 1
127th annual Italian Picnic and Parade in Martell and Sutter Creek. Festivities are May 30 through June 1 at the Italian Picnic Grounds. Family fun, carnival, food, drinks, vendors, games, dinner, bocce ball and dancing. Parade is Sunday in Sutter Creek. (209) 267-0206.

JUNE

June 14
Preston Castle Jazz Jubilee and Dinner, 5 p.m. Spend the evening outdoors listening to local and Bay Area jazz and blues artists. Event is to raise funds to save the historic Preston Castle in Ione. Tickets can be purchased at www.prestoncastle.com or by calling (209) 274-4112. Cost is $35.

June 19
Hospice of Amador art auction - Art on the Lawn. (209) 223-5500 or visit www.hospiceofamador.org.

June 21
Whiskers & Wine, A-Pal Humane Society, Jackson Rancheria Casino, Hotel and Conference Center. 5 to 10 p.m. Dinner and wines at the Jackson Rancheria with a raffle. Silent and live auctions to benefit the animals. Tickets are $75 each and include a special DVD of the animal goals and accomplishments. (209) 223-0410 or (209) 223-2809.

June 21-22
Daylily Days at the Amador Flower Farm. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Join the fun and informative demonstrations. The flower farm is at 22001 Shenandoah School Road, Plymouth. (209) 245-6660, www.amadorflowerfarm.com.

June 21-22
Black Bart Hold-up Days. Black Bart's reenactments at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Downtown Sutter Creek. A direct female descendant of Reason McConnell, the stage coach driver, still resides in Sutter Creek and will wave to each departing gold shipment, from the balcony of the Warner-Swift building which is still in the Swift family.

2009 Weekend Events

May 2009

Amador County Fair runs through Sunday
7/30/2009
Fair themes can be corny or crazy or historical, but you can count on the Amador County Fair to bring it with something fun for everyone.

Monte Carlo Night at the Hard Rock
7/21/2009
The Ione Business and Community Association's 15th Anniversary will be celebrated with Monte Carlo Night at the Hard Rock on Aug. 7 from 5:30 to 10:30

Concert at Sierra Ridge
7/21/2009
Sierra Ridge Vineyards and Winery presents Concert on the Lawn Aug. 8 from 7 to 10 p.m. Reservations are required. Cost is $10.00

'Music on the Ridge' concert series begins July 4
6/23/2009
Sierra Ridge Vineyards and Winery, 14110 Ridge Road, Sutter Creek, will play host to "Music on the Ridge." The grand opening for the "Music on the Ridge” concert.

La Notte Canta - An Evening Under the Stars
7/9/2009
La Notte Canta - An Evening Under the Stars
Third Annual Event - The Park at Hanford Coute, presents, La Notte Canta - An Evening under the Stars  Enjoy an Italian Concert and Dinner An Evening with the Italian Music Man, Pasquale Esposito
Hours of Event: 8pm
Location of Event: The Park at Hanford Courte - Sutter Creek

2011 Weekend Events

May 2011

Upcountry 88 Lions hosts spring steak barbecue April 30
4/28/2011
The Upcountry 88 Lions Club will hold its annual spring steak barbecue April 30 at t Help celebrate Central Valley Chapter of the American Truck Historical Society 25 years

Help celebrate Central Valley Chapter of the American Truck Historical Society 25 years
4/21/2011
Help Howard Kirkland and all the members of the Central Valley Chapter of the American Truck Historical Society celebrate 25 years in the Shenandoah he American Legion Hall, 12134 Airport Road, Martell

Amador Flower Farm offers Easter egg hunt for children
4/22/2011
The Easter Bunny will make a stop in Plymouth and hide her eggs at the Amador Flower Farm on Sunday.
Every year, toddlers and children to 12 years old are invited to participate.