Gerlachians's topics - tribe.net

Gerlachoise

Metric — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:13:43 GMT

You see, there's the Gerlachians, the folks who have lived in Gerlach for generations and are entrenched in the area, and now you got your Gerlachoise (pronounced Ger - lock - WAH, or, Ger - lock - wah - ZEE). These are the folks from the outside who have infiltrated the steady calm that existed here before for decades. The ones who don't quite speak the local language. The rabble-rousers who want to change everything and make it look like California.

I think the only way for a Gerlachoise to become a Gerlachian is through marriage, although I suspect bribes are another avenue.

posted in Gerlachians - 3 replies

Reno Benefit Without Borders - July 18

fuzzynathan — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:09:09 GMT

On July 18, several communities around the world (now including Beijing, China and Toronto, Canada) will be gathering, further building relationships, doing some partying, having fun, and raising funds for Burners Without Borders.

Reno will be celebrating much of that day and night at The Amendment 21 in downtown Reno...

Reno Benefit Without Borders
A FundraisingCelebration of Burners Without Borders
Saturday, July 18, 2009
The Amendment 21
425 South Virginia Street
(775) 786-0808
Event begins at 3pm
ALL AGES until 10pm / 21+ after 10pm
$10 with eyeglasses donation / $15 without

Please, come join in Reno's celebration of Burners Without Borders, a unique fundraising adventure in community, entertainment, art, dialogue and fun -- an event accompanying similar benefits around the world on the same day.

Reno Benefit Without Borders is a collaborative project of individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses from many walks of life, whose common goals are to financially support Burners Without Borders through the July 18 benefit, educate the community on BWB’s philosophy and projects, and in so doing, nurture enduring community relationships, development, and creativity, beginning at home.

Controlled Burn, Dragonfly Aerials, Mister Jellyfish's Fluffer, Shadowbots, Jahzilla, Jill Marlene, The Shames, Nick Ramirez, Truckee Tribe, The Green Mondays, Train of Thought, Dj's D6, Ryan, Ahn, Jeremy Curl, and Too Dread, The Hoop Group, Valkyrie Follies, Black Label Bike Club, fashion shenanigans, and a multi-city webcam and more are confirmed for this outdoors/indoors event.

Celtic Forest c/o Black Rock Arts Foundation, just down the street, will also be lit up for that night, with a free shuttle c/o The Amendment 21 operating between Reno Benefit Without Borders and Celtic Forest.

Several organizations will also be representing -- Burners Without Borders, Black Rock Arts Foundation, Earth Guardians, Black Rock Solar, Friends of Black Rock / High Rock, Reno-Host Lions.

There will be a Kidsville with fun, interactive activities primarily for the younger among us, as well as hoola hoop and poi workshops for all ages.

There will be a raffle/silent-auction of dozens and dozens of items and experiences from local theme camps, artists, organizations and businesses, many of which are best suited for your life in Black Rock City. Two tickets to Burning Man, a week's worth of coffee at the Burning Man Cafe, bicycles for the playa, and three home-made burning manish quilts, are among the many wonderful prizes.

Some local burner-owned businesses will also be vending at this benefit.

Net-proceeds to go to Burners Without Borders c/o Black Rock Arts Foundation.

For further information, please check out:

RenoBenefitWithoutBorders.Ning.com

And to see more about the international Benefit Without Borders, visit:

www.benefitwithoutborders.com
______

Who are Burners Without Borders?

(From the BWB website)

Burners Without Borders is a grassroots, volunteer-driven, community leadership organization founded by Burning Man participants, whose goal is to help unlock the creativity of local communities to solve problems that bring about meaningful change. Founded by Burners (Burning Man participants) who instinctively gathered in the Hurricane Katrina disaster zone to help those who couldn't help themselves, BWB has grown into a dynamic international, volunteer organization made possible by the generous financial support of the community and an army of highly creative volunteers.

This past year alone, Burners Without Borders welcomed over 350 volunteers from all over the world to Pisco, Peru to support earthquake reconstruction efforts there. In communities across the world, people inspired by the activities of BWB, are taking the initiative to bring creative solutions to issues they care about. Whether it's using art to save camp fires at San Francisco's Ocean Beach or mobilizing volunteers to support the victims of the Fernley, NV flood, it's BWB's innovative solutions that make a real impact.

BWB is constantly engaged in new projects and their ability to be effective depends largely on donations to buy the materials needed to get the job done.

This is where we can help. Come out on July 18th and support Burners Without Borders on July 18th and bring all your friends!"

You can check out what BWB has been up to at www.burnerswithoutborders.org and be sure and check out their Blog to read about the projects through the words of the volunteers who are on the ground making them happen.

posted in Gerlachians - 0 replies

Looking for Playa Images

fuzzynathan — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:57:19 GMT

I am looking for images of the Black Rock Desert playa, more specifically, images of a hard, cracked playa, for use in a Burning Man-related project.

Something like this:

www.terragalleria.com/photo/

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.chandlerphotoimages.com/images/nevada_landscape/early%2520black%2520rock%252035%2520mm%2520-%2520balloons%2520and%2520quinn%2520sump__l.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.chandlerphotoimages.com/nevada_landscape_1.htm&usg=__LiyFkC9w4Ym03cOD-nfvH6e5g1k=&h=313&w=468&sz=162&hl=en&start=10&tbnid=qnedu9O5sClVXM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=128&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstephen%2Bchandler%2Bblack%2Brock%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

http://www.chandlerphotos.com/Photos/LargeJPEGS/cocaineflatcolor.html

I need images of a hard, cracked playa, with a horizon, mountains would be a huge plus, and blue sky -- daytime but without the sun in the shot, and so some of the color (and not just grey) stands out.

I understand there is water out abouts there, so maybe if anyone has been out theres recently, or is going out in the next few weeks, you'll happen to see some spots and take some pics?

If you have any similar images that you would possibly be willing to freely share, please pm, or email me at perseverential@yahoo.com

Thank you~

posted in Gerlachians - 0 replies

Question for residents...

mmm — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 19:02:57 GMT

How do locals deal with the week of BurningMan? Are the roads impassable? Do people just leave altogether?

posted in Gerlachians - 1 reply

fireworks available in Gerlach?

james — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 17:24:47 GMT

Are fireworks legal/sold in Gerlach?

I'm going to be spending time on the playa this coming weekend and would like to make noise/blow things up.
They don't legally sell fireworks around home so I may not get a chance to buy any until I get to the area.

thanks!

posted in Gerlachians - 10 replies

Looking to store a pop up trailer from July 28th to August 19th

Cory-Faded — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 06:02:02 GMT

Were taking a road trip before our arrival to the playa on August 20th.
We want to leave our pop up trailer in Gerlach while we travel and then pick it up
for our early arrival on the playa on August 20th.
Can anyone suggest a safe place.
A good price...
Thanks much.

posted in Gerlachians - 2 replies

It IS Rocket Science

DustBunny — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 14:03:20 GMT

A long article datelined Gerlach, Nevada appears in today's New York Times. The subject of the article is rocket launching (amateur) on the Black Rock Desert. Mention of Bruno's ravioli and everything.

JudyC

posted in Gerlachians - 2 replies

Fearless Fred Passes

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 08:39:00 GMT

This just out from Super, Fred was a great spirit to be around. I'll never forget his smile.

- quote -
After a year of battling cancer Fred Maynor, Fearless Fred, died Wednesday
evening. Fred was often hard to see over the big hood and behind the dusty
windshield of his water truck but his huge smile always beamed on through.
I never saw Fred miss a meal but he couldn't have been more than a hundred
pounds, fringed leather coat and all.

Fred would get up at 3AM warming up the trucks and getting ready for
long days of helping to keep the dust in our city on the ground and out of
the air. Fred loved the Blackrock Desert and if you were lucky enough to
score a trip back to Reno with Fred it would become a sightseeing tour for
hours, only scratching the surface of his memory.

Fred's last hours were spent outside watching the weather and fires that
were cropping up around the Palomino Valley where he lived.

I have asked Bex to put Fred's name on the remembrance plaque.

Dave

-End quote-

posted in Gerlachians - 0 replies

A tribe for Bruno

Metric — Mon, 08 May 2006 02:00:32 GMT

http://tribes.tribe.net/bruno

posted in Gerlachians - 1 reply

CRITICAL ACTION AGAINST SEMPRA -- Smoke Creek basin adjudication

Metric — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 21:34:26 GMT

http://www.nevadacleanenergy.org/Smoke%20Creek%20Waterl%20Report.pdf

The link above is a new report analyzing the economic implications of water use for the Smoke Creek Desert hydrological basin. It basically demonstrates that water is more valuable as a resource for the growing communities near Reno. This is still a controversial issue since there are some people who would not want ANY water exported, but it seems to me that RESPONSIBLE expolitation of a resource in the state for the benefit of the state is a balanced development, vs. removing water to meet growing out-of-state electricity demands which can be fulfilled through other means.

WHATEVER development, the first step to ensuring that water use is fair and balanced is an ADJUDICATION of water rights in the Smoke Creek basin. This would basically be an audit of water supplies by the State water engineer, Hugh Ricci, and would reveal that the water rights which Sempra is claiming are highly dubious.

Please write a letter to Washoe County Commission Chair Bonnie Weber, strongly urging her to request an adjudication to the State water engineer
in regards to Sempra Energy’s claimed water rights for the proposed coal-fired
power plant near Gerlach. See below for the official call for action from the Nevada Clean Energy Coalition.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Nevada Clean Energy Supporter,

Of the many dangers the proposed Sempra coal-fired plant would have on Washoe County, one of the most important is the danger of losing our precious water resources- specifically those in the Smoke Creek Desert.

We can prevent Sempra from taking away this valuable resource by contacting
Washoe County Commissioners and asking them to request a water adjudication from the State water engineer. This request will make a state engineer look at the water rights Sempra is claiming and compare them to other water rights in the Smoke Creek basin. We strongly believe the water rights Sempra are claiming are bogus, we need officials to see this too.

This is a CRITICAL ACTION AGAINST SEMPRA. Without a vast amount of water
Sempra will not be able to operate the plant. Our water should be kept in Nevada and Washoe County, our wildlife and our community will all benefit from this adjudication.

For a direct link to the Washoe County Commissioner’s contact information
visit the Take Action page at
http://www.nevadacleanenergy.org/takeaction.html

...or the Washoe County website at:
http://www.co.washoe.nv.us/bcc/bios.html~color=grey&text_version=

If you like you can copy the message below and paste into your email for
your County Commissioner, or if you live outside of the County, to the Chair, Commissioner Bonnie Weber (BWeber@washoecounty.us):

Dear Commissioner-
I am strongly urging you to request an adjudication to the State water engineer
in regards to Sempra Energy’s claimed water rights for the proposed coal-fired
power plant near Gerlach. Washoe County’s water supply is a very precious
commodity which both the local community and indigenous wildlife cannot afford to lose in favor of energy production for California.
Thank you.

posted in Gerlachians - 2 replies

SNOW

farmer — Sat, 26 Nov 2005 08:06:15 GMT

Gerlach got its first snow of the year. A dusting, hopefully much more to come.

posted in Gerlachians - 3 replies

november issue of "You wish you were here"

gingerpetunia — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 02:02:49 GMT

http://www.pbase.com/gingerpetunia/november_gerlach

posted in Gerlachians - 2 replies

Sweet 16 Sunday Service

gingerpetunia — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 17:58:23 GMT

Gerlachians,

Sunday October 16th
Dogg and I plan to head South & West of Gerlach for a special "Sweet 16" Sunday Service."

Celebrate the 16th of October for no particular reason,
other than we haven't held service in far too long.

If you have a weapon and a desire to join, speak up now for directions. If you don't have a weapon, let us know now and we'll try and get some extra ammo in time.

Am not posting directions here; you can use tribe message, you can use email or you can send me an AIM at gwarcereal.

Just be sure and speack up before tomorrow evening - 15 Oct 2005 -by around 6pm because we're heading out the night before. If you're up for camping, let us know that too.

posted in Gerlachians - 5 replies

Gerlach Hotel

gingerpetunia — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 00:40:46 GMT

Hi from the Gerlach Hotel. Did you even know of such a place?
It is between the garage and Bev's Miner Club. The hotel was
featured in a bad horror film starring Drew Barrymore, and
has seen better days since then.

Reorganizing the space has begun and there are 20-plus rooms,
all in dire need of tlc. If you want to come by and help I can
probably give you meals, or groceries.

If you're around enough, you might even get a room here.
Must be able to endure feral cat visits or keep your door closed.

Duties in trade for meals or groceries can include cleaning, organizing or whatev. I'll give you a tour and see if you want part of this thing.

If you're a crafter, maybe you get paid in yarn.

If you're in town for just the summer with a meal-plan at Bruno's,
maybe you want one meal a week away from the crowds of the
"Gerlach Estates".

I heard Utah Phillips mentions the hotel on his CD
with AniDifranco, but don't know what track... Anyone know?

Send me a message through tribe or by email ginger on fire (at) yahoo
or dial 2263 - if you're truly in gerlach you know what that means.

"do what you love"

posted in Gerlachians - 0 replies

it's raining

gingerpetunia — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 06:54:24 GMT

after 10 days of 100-plus degree days, this wet cold dribbly stuff should be a miracle, but i hope bev's doesn't flood.

there was a good crowd at joe's tonight. saw farmer, nummy, d-generate, shaber, dogg, metric, and a bunch more... where were you?

posted in Gerlachians - 2 replies

wet greedy playa

gingerpetunia — Sat, 02 Jul 2005 03:52:01 GMT

http://www.pbase.com/gingerpetunia/2005_june_first_to_july_first

the playa wanted our trailer, but we got it back... the mountain wanted guru way ' doobie lane... and got it.

posted in Gerlachians - 0 replies

California may block Nevada Coal Plants

Metric — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 15:36:03 GMT

Jun. 14, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Coal plants plans in jeopardy
California market could be lost after panel, governor act

By JOHN G. EDWARDS
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Many independently owned coal-fired power plants planned for the West -- including three proposed for Nevada -- may no longer be feasible in the wake of two new developments in California , experts say.

The developments involve California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's executive order on greenhouse gases and a California Public Utility decision.

"Gov. Schwarzenegger's new executive order, coupled with the California Public Utility Commission (rule), could effectively kill all the coal plants proposed in Nevada because it will shut them out of the California market," said Jon Wellinghoff, an energy attorney with law firm Beckley Singleton.

Wellinghoff noted that companies are proposing to build three merchant coal plants in Nevada . Merchant plants are power plants that are built to sell power wholesale, typically to utilities.

The three plants proposed for Nevada would cost $3.6 billion or more and generate 2,800 megawatts or more of electricity.

California is such a major market that some merchant coal plant projects may die on the drawing board if they can't sell power there, Wellinghoff said.

Schwarzenegger's order on greenhouses gases would have a clear effect on any coal-powered plants.

On June 1, the California governor ordered the state to cut its carbon dioxide pollution to 2000 levels by 2010 in an effort to stem global warming. He ordered that the maximum drop to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

The order is significant because coal-fired plants emit twice the carbon dioxide as conventional, natural-gas burning plants.

Wellinghoff and others concluded that the cap on carbon dioxide pollution applies not just to plants built inside California but also to plants outside the state that would supply power to it.

Also, a utility regulatory decision adopted by the California Public Utilities Commission in December will hinder new coal-fired plants. The decision requires major investor-owned utilities to factor in the risk of increased future regulation when entering into five-year or longer contracts for power created from coal and natural gas.

Joe Desmond, chairman of the California Energy Commission, said he generally agreed with Wellinghoff's assessment that future coal-power plants in Nevada may be in jeopardy.

"The ( California ) PUC procurement rules apply to investor-owned procurement whether they are considering in- or out-of-state resources," Desmond said.

Desmond, however, said, "It does not rule out clean coal technologies that meet higher environmental performance standards and in some cases have the ability to isolate and capture the carbon emissions."

Wellinghoff agreed but said those technologies are too costly to be used with a coal-fired generation plant.

One of the plants proposed for Nevada would sell power to California , Nevada and northwestern states.

The plant, Granite Fox, is a 1,450-megawatt, coal-fired plant that Sempra Energy wants to build 110 miles north of Reno .

Schwarzenegger's order, Sempra spokesman Art Larson said, "does not directly address out-of-state power generation sources."

Asked if the governor's order would have an indirect effect on Granite Fox, Larson said state leaders, regulators and utility customers must decide that. Moreover, Sierra Pacific Resources, a Nevada-based investor-owned electric utility company, is not planning to buy power from Granite Fox.

"We don't anticipate that we'll be needing the vast amounts of power that they anticipate (generating), and clearly that unit was developed primarily for California ," said Roberto Denis, senior vice president of generation and energy supply.

LS Power Associates of New Jersey is developing a coal plant near Ely but says the "targeted customers" are utilities and cooperatives in Nevada .

Sithe Global Power is considering whether to build a coal-fired plant northwest of Mesquite , but director Thomas Johns said the company does not have transmission line connections to California . It would sell to wholesale customers in Southern Nevada and Arizona .

posted in Gerlachians - 4 replies

Gerlachians, registered NV voter

Shooter-666 — Sat, 21 May 2005 02:25:37 GMT

Just was talking to someone here in Gerlach. How many of you are actually registered voters in Gerlach, NV? I am.

Shooter

posted in Gerlachians - 3 replies

Another local letter

Metric — Sat, 11 Jun 2005 00:32:18 GMT

Here's another local letter-- the writer asked that her/his name be omitted to avoid backlash from particular people she/he does business with who stand to gain financially from the project.

The Hon. Kenny C. Guinn
Capital Building
Carson City NV 89701

In regards to: Sempra
~ Granite- Fox Coal Fired Power Plant

Dear Governor Guinn,
I am not sure Governor Guinn, have you ever been to Gerlach? I doubt it as there are not a lot of votes here. The residents that live here are really not very politically important as they are mostly old, low income native Nevadans or county workers. They either can’t afford or have no desire to live in the smog and bright lights of Reno, Las Vegas or Carson City. I believe that is why Sempra is proposing their coal-fired power plant near Gerlach. We may not have a lot of votes but we are Nevadans and the residents of Gerlach would hope that you will come out against strongly against this monster.
From what we can see it does nothing for Nevada and has lots of unnecessary risk. It may even ruin any chance for geothermal investment in an area that has some of the best geothermal potential in the whole state.
Have you considered that Sempra’s plant would be a giant risk to Nevada’s tourism industry? At this time the Black Rock Wilderness is becoming such a popular outdoor destination. The Black Rock is a vacation destination to probably 100,000 visitors or more a year at this time and is growing every year. If the Buffalo Hills and Granite Range Wilderness becomes a reality is it good business that this plant will be right between them?
It is rumored that the Black Rock NCA and this northwestern part of Nevada is being considered in a long range plan as a Great Basin National Park. Do think it would hurt this decision if The Sempra Coal Fired Plant was at the entrance to a National park? Do you think the economic crumbs that Sempra is bringing is worth more than the potential of a National Park in Nevada within driving distance of several million California and Oregon tourists?
I am in the outdoor recreational business and I believe it will be a disaster for me. I have many clients that ask me directly if me or my employees smoke or not. Do you think these same people would not object to coming to an area with the largest coal powered plant in the North American Continent? The people that come to visit northern Nevada come for its natural beauty not industrial wonders.
Southern Nevada has been fighting the Atomic stigma for 50 years. Do you think that this polluting monster will not ad the mercury stigma and include northern Nevada. Have you considered that the potential loss to northern Nevada’s recreational income to the state could be incalculable?
Have you considered all the environmental risks that Sempra’s plant could cause? I am talking about irreparable damage on a grand scale. Since one of the worst byproducts of the plant would be large amounts of mercury annually, it would also bring terrible risks for our Pyramid Lake fisheries as well the three trout streams in the Granite Range less than ten miles downwind of the plant. I am not sure if these native trout are classified as endangered or not.
Have you considered the impact on our native wildlife? Also at great risk to the wildlife that lives in the adjacent Granite Mountain and Buffalo Hills. High densities of native bighorn sheep, mule deer, antelope and wild horses live out their entire lives within ten miles downwind of the proposed site.
I am told and have read that not one watt of the power that this Sempra’s plant puts out will stay in our state. If this is true this is a definite lose-lose for Nevada. We will get something that most Nevadans do not want; something that California not only does not want, will not even consider allowing to be built in their state! Nevada gets all the pollution; we get to use up Nevada’s water and clean air and California gets all the power. Now tell me Governor Guinn, this a good deal for Nevada?
All that I can see this plant will do is ruin northern Nevada’s pristine air and use millions gallons of precious desert ground water each day, ground water that we have not inventoried for 75 years or more. How can your State Water Engineer let out huge water right permits to Sempra when we have no idea how much water we have? Are you aware in the last forty years the water table in the surrounding agricultural areas has dropped significantly? Does your state Water Engineer have a contingency plan should the Gerlach water supply become polluted as a result of Sempra’s actions? Gerlach’s water supply is less than five miles from the proposed plant site, can your State Water Engineer guarantee that our water will not be affected by runoff or depleted by Sempra’s plant ground water consumption? Do you and your State Water Engineer have a contingency plan should the Gerlach water supply be dried up as a result of Sempra’s actions?
For years the road to Gerlach and on to Cedarville, California has been almost completely ignored by the State and is affectionately called “dangerous but passable” by the local people that are forced to use it. With the tremendous traffic the Sempra plant would certainly have to be repaved. Is Sempra going to do this or is the State of Nevada going to finally take care of our road?
The town of Gerlach would be overrun with workers from the Sempra project. Crime would certainly be a major problem as it historically is in boom town situations. Services of every kind would be stressed from the roads which the State of Nevada already ignores to health and law enforcement. Have you calculated the cost to the State and Washoe County to keep up with these services?
I have friends that work for Union Pacific Railways that say that the 450 carloads a day that it would take to run the plant would stress the already over worked Feather River line though Gerlach. Do you think the coal dust pollution to Gerlach from the estimated five open car trains a day could be an issue?
Nevada’s power costs would no doubt be raised because if Sempra is contracting with Union Pacific Railway for five trains a day on an already stressed system. Sierra Pacific’s coal prices will rise dramatically and as you know then passed on to tier Nevada customers.
Last but not least, is the safety and well-being of native Nevadans an issue here or not? This area has some of the cleanest air in the whole United States and this plant is far from as a clean plant as you can get. They do have clean power plant technology, but they are not using that technology here as it would cut into Sempra’s profit.
For many years I flew a small plane out of Gerlach and had to pay very close attention to the air currents in the area. There is always air flow moving between the Smoke Creek and Black Rock deserts. The Granite Range acts as a very steep 9000ft natural barrier or wall at the end of the Smoke Creek desert that forces all winds out of the West, the area’s prevailing wind around the south end of the Granite range. Therefore all pollutants from the Granite Fox Power Plant will be forced over our town.
Due to the prevailing winds and position of the proposed plant in relationship to the adjacent Granite Mountains, Gerlach will receive most of the pollutants that Sempra’s plant will put out. The other half will go into the surrounding snow packs to be leached into the ground water, where coincidently we get our drinking water.
Have you considered that the secondary wind flow is out of the east and would blow any pollutants, I.E. mercury directly to Pyramid Lake and Reno?
Are you aware that in the winter time it is not uncommon for the Smoke Creek/Black Rock, I.E. Gerlach area to have cold weather inversions that can last 20, 30 0r even 40 days? During these inversions the town of Gerlach will not ever see the sun for this period of time only thick fog. Native Nevadans call this “Pogonip Fog” which in the Paiute language means “The White Death” If this weather condition was loaded with Sempra’s Coal Plant pollutants suspended in it the name “Pogonip” would take on new meaning as well as a new color. It would also be another real health hazard for the residents of Gerlach and Empire as well as the surrounding ranches. The bottom-line is that the health risks for the town of Gerlach especially the older segment of Gerlach’s population from the Sempra plant are real and not imagined.
Part of me is turning cynical in my old age and makes me think that many of the people that are going say yes or no on this issue are already counting their money. The optimistic part of this Nevadan hopes you and others will please take look hard at this issue and fight hard against this power plant and for the native Nevadans that live in the area.
Why should the State of Nevada take all this risk in order just to provide power to Southern California? Let California change their laws and put the plant in their back yard not our great state of Nevada!

Respectfully yours,
(omitted)
Gerlach Nevada

posted in Gerlachians - 0 replies

see ya in a few weeks

gingerpetunia — Sat, 04 Jun 2005 16:13:59 GMT

we hit the road today. cheers
ginger

posted in Gerlachians - 0 replies

For Rent Out in Gerlach?

Chuckie — Thu, 26 May 2005 18:43:19 GMT

Anybody know of rentals available out in Gerlach or Empire?

Anyone already renting a manufactured home or mobile out there could tell me what kind of rents to expect?

Thanks,

mailto:cejack@cja.lvcoxmail.com

posted in Gerlachians - 1 reply

population

gingerpetunia — Wed, 03 Nov 2004 22:31:53 GMT

So what is the population of Gerlach now days?

http://www.co.washoe.nv.us/voters/AD2.html

according to that 309 people voted in the GGID election...
that's JUST voters.

How many people you think it is total?

posted in Gerlachians - 6 replies

BLM Sempra/Granite Fox EIS scoping meeting

Metric — Fri, 20 May 2005 18:07:42 GMT

NEVADA CLEAN ENERGY COALITION

REMINDER!!!
GERLACH SEMPRA COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT
EIS SCOPING MEETINGS

Monday, May 23, Gerlach,Community Center, 410 Cottonwood St.
Tuesday, May 24, Cedarville, Surprise Valley Senior Center,
502 Main St.
Wed,, May 25, Susanville,BLM Eagle Lake Field office,
2950 Riverside Dr
Thurs., May 26, Reno, Nevada State Office of the BLM,
1340 Financial Blvd

All meetings begin at 7 PM

Sempra Energy, a San Diego, California based energy business, is proposing to construct a 1,450 megawatt coal-fired power plant 10 miles Northwest of Gerlach (100 miles North of Reno) will release dangerous pollutants into our pristine Northern Nevada air, deplete our water supply, and prevent the development of clean, renewable energy resources in order to generate electricity for Southern California. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is holding a series or meetings next week to determine the scope of the environmental impact review that it will conduct on the proposed coal plant project. If you care about the environment in Northern Nevada and believe that renewable energy development is a better alternative to the construction of polluting coal plants in our community please turn out to the BLM scoping meetings and make your views known. If you cannot attend, PLEASE WRITE A LETTER!

SUGGESTED POINTS TO BRING UP AT BLM SCOPING MEETINGS:

· Insist that the BLM study all the cumulative impacts of
the proposed plant on air, land, noise, vegetation,
wildlife, and water quality and insist that the BLM
address the true availability of water for the water
consuming plant.

· Insist that the EIS respond to health issues that may
result from this dirty plant.

· Insist BLM explain in simple terms how much pollution
and hazardous waste may be produced annually and daily
from the plant.

· Insist the BLM provide comparative studies on
environmental and economic impacts between coal-fired
energy and renewable energy.

· Ask the BLM to evaluate how the proposed coal plant
will impact future compliance with federal Clean Air
Act ambient air quality standards.

· Ask the BLM to study whether mercury emissions from the
proposed coal plant will impact fisheries in Nevada.

· Request that they do a land use compatibility study to
show that this plant will not impact surrounding land
users or the National Conservation Area.

· Insist that the EIS study and determine that San Diego
and Los Angeles really need energy from dirty coal
rather than renewable energy.

· Remember! Be polite, be factual and speak from the
heart and head. Be sure to add some questions and
comments of your own.

You may speak at a meeting or write comments. Written comments are due June 21 in the Winnemucca BLM Field Office, 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca NV 89445, attn: Fred Holzel

For further information, please visit our website: http://nevadacleanenergy.org.
You may also contact us at info@nevadacleanenergy.org

posted in Gerlachians - 1 reply

Sempra plant in L.A.'s hands ...

Tue, 12 Apr 2005 19:56:57 GMT

From L.A. Times:

Any of you see this in the LA Times today?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Energy Quest Sets Up Power Struggle

Nevada showdown pits coal plant proponents against advocates of
renewable resources. L.A. is seen as playing a key role in the
outcome.
By Miguel Bustillo
Times Staff Writer

April 10, 2005

About 100 miles north of Reno, outside a desert town named
Gerlach - whose slogan is "where the pavement ends and the West
begins" - a quarrel is simmering that highlights the competing
visions for the future of electricity production in the United States.

And in a curious political twist, Los Angeles may find itself playing a
deciding role in the dispute, a showdown between "green power"
and coal power.

Near the site of the annual Burning Man festival, a subsidiary of
San Diego-based Sempra Energy is proposing to build a coal-fired
power plant that could supply enough electricity to California and
the Pacific Northwest to light up 1.5 million homes.

Nearby, green-power advocates are pushing an equally ambitious
proposal to harness the force of the wind, as well as the heat of the
sun and the Earth's core, to create enough electricity to power 1.2
million homes.

Both proposals would connect to the same high-voltage transmission
line in order to move electricity to consumers. But there is only
enough space left on the electrical freeway for one of the two - at
least at the current sizes. So government regulators and politicians
must make a choice.

That choice is between coal-fired power - a heavily polluting form of
fossil fuel energy that could be counted on to help curtail the West's
chronic electricity shortages - and renewable power. The latter is a
less-proven option that promises a future free of the emissions that
cause smog and acid rain and that contribute to global warming.

Los Angeles, which recently had its own debate over investing in
coal or renewable energy, may wind up resolving the dispute,
because the city Department of Water and Power runs and partly
owns the transmission line that passes through northern Nevada.

The Los Angeles City Council would have to agree to allow one of
the projects to connect to the line, which moves megawatts between
Sylmar and Oregon. So would the other owners: Pasadena,
Glendale, Burbank and Southern California Edison. Decisions are
not expected for months.

Sempra representatives said their proposal, Granite Fox Power,
would bring badly needed electricity to Western states, including
California, where the managers of its power grid recently warned of
"critically thin operating margins" that could lead to shortages this
summer. The plant, which Sempra expects to be operational by
2010, would provide jobs and tax revenue to a corner of Nevada
whose main economic benefactor is gambling and, they contend,
would produce 80% less pollution than most coal plants.

"This is not your father's power plant. This is a new-technology coal
plant with sophisticated designs," said Michael R. Niggli, president of
Sempra Generation, an arm of Sempra Energy.

Proponents of green power said their proposals - the most advanced
of which is an office complex of sorts for geothermal, wind and solar
generators called the Nevada Energy Park - also would add jobs and
boost tax coffers, without dirtying the air.

Unlike Sempra's plan, however, the green-power proposals do not
have sufficient financial backing at this time, and even supporters
concede that they may not come together for years.

"The renewables are a little ahead of their time right now, but in the
long run, this has to start taking the place of fossil fuels," said
David Rumsey, a retired California real estate developer, who owns
a ranch near Gerlach that he hopes to turn into a wildlife refuge.
"The difficult political decision in Nevada is: Do we take this
old-fashioned coal plant, or do we wait?"

Although the Granite Fox plan might be less polluting compared with
coal plants built decades ago, it would still spew an estimated 4,400
tons of nitrogen oxide and 2,500 tons of sulfur dioxide every year,
said Phyllis Fox, an air quality specialist hired by Rumsey. Sempra's
preliminary figures predict it would emit 3,315 tons of each of the
contaminants, the main ingredients of smog and acid rain.

Last year, in a decision praised by environmentalists, Mayor James
K. Hahn and the City Council pulled out of a plan to invest in more
coal-fired electricity in Utah and proposed requiring the city to
obtain 20% of its power from renewable energy by 2017.
Proponents of green power argue that city leaders should now back
up their commitment by blocking the Nevada coal plant and perhaps
investing in the Nevada renewable projects.

"It's very much in L.A.'s court," said Jon Wellinghoff, a Las Vegas
lawyer and an advocate for green power in the West. "They're
sitting on the line."

DWP officials have received a proposal by Sempra to connect to the
transmission line. But many questions need to be answered, notably
whether the new link would affect the line's ability to reliably move
power to Los Angeles customers, said John Schumann, the
department's director of power system projects. Meanwhile, DWP
officials and Councilman Tony Cardenas recently traveled to Nevada
to learn more about the rival renewable projects there.

Though virtually unknown outside the headquarters of western
utilities and halls of power in Sacramento and Carson City, Nev., the
proposed coal plant has aroused strong passions in Gerlach.

The town of fewer than 500 residents, a gateway to the Black Rock
Desert, relies heavily on tourism, including hunters, hikers and the
annual hordes that make the pilgrimage to the Burning Man festival.

"What Sempra is trying to do is create a sense of inevitability," said
Don Asher, an author and freelance writer, who founded an
opposition group called Keep California's Pollution in California. "But
the reality is [that] this power plant can be stopped. This is a
nightmare of old thought. This is not 'clean coal.' We can wait for the
renewable energy. We don't need mercury and smog dumped on us
for the next 30 years."

Similar debates are taking place throughout the country, as public
and private utilities weigh the benefits of additional coal power - the
nation's most plentiful and inexpensive fossil fuel source - against
the prospect of renewable energy, which is becoming
cost-competitive due to advances in technology.

More than 100 coal-fired power plants are being proposed across
the U.S., as energy companies seek to take advantage of electricity
shortages and a coal-friendly regulatory climate in Washington to
revive a source of power that had fallen out of favor due to its
polluting emissions.

Simultaneously, a growing number of states, including California and
Nevada, are passing "renewable portfolio standard" laws that
require utilities to invest in green power, hoping to propel a
burgeoning market in biomass, wind, solar and geothermal energy.

Sempra representatives say that building a connection to the type of
transmission line that moves through Nevada is extremely
expensive - estimates range from $130 million to $150 million. Right
now, Sempra is the only player with enough money to pay for it.

The coal plant would need a capacity of 1,450 megawatts, but
Sempra is proposing to build a bigger connection. It would contain
enough excess space for about 200 megawatts of renewable power
to get to market - a link that otherwise might never become
available, backers argue.

"Obviously, there are some folks from the environmental community
that have questions and doubts about Granite Fox. But from an
economic standpoint, renewables alone would not generate enough
power to make a project viable," said former Nevada Gov. Robert
List, a lobbyist for Sempra. List also is an investor in a wind-power
venture that hopes to piggyback on the coal plant's connection.

Green-power proponents consider 200 megawatts of renewable
power to be a mere fraction of what northern Nevada is capable of
producing. They point to a recent California Energy Commission
report that listed the region as an exceptional location for
renewables.

Although no current renewable project has the financing to build a
connection, that could change in the near future, said V. John White,
a Sacramento environmental lobbyist, who is executive director of
the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies.

"If we put that coal plant in now, we foreclose that conversation
[in Nevada] - all for a coal plant for which there is no customer
currently in California," White said. "It's getting late for anyone to
do old-fashioned coal. Global warming is becoming a significant
issue, and California is beginning to look at where its power is
coming from."

Attitudes may be different in Nevada, however. Richard Burdette,
the energy advisor to Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn, said green power
may indeed be the electricity source of the future. But for the time
being - and for years to come - he believes coal's reliability cannot
be beaten.

"Nevada has some of the best renewable resources in the country,
and I am one of the biggest supporters of renewables around,"
Burdette said. "But we are still going to buy two-thirds of our energy
from fossil fuels two decades from now. There is just no viable
alternative."

If you want other stories on this topic, search the Archives at
latimes.com/archives .

Article licensing and reprint options

Copyright 2005 Los Angeles Times

posted in Gerlachians - 3 replies

Tribe against Coal Plant near BRC

Mon, 09 May 2005 23:36:18 GMT

Hi Dusty and other folks of the community!

I just noticed that Dusty wanted to start a tribe and I wanted to inform you that one was started a couple weeks ago on this topic. Resistance to this coal plant is now growing fairly quickly and I think we have the right people on board to make an amazing difference.

One of those people is Metric. We are considering a large scale fundraiser/action party to take action. We will make the right connections and raise funds to use as needed.

Visit http://brc-nimby.tribe.net/ for details. And tell your friends! We WILL make a difference!!!!

Bottom line is SEMPRA is wrong to establish a coal burning plant anywhere in the world. They are exploiting supply and demand dynamics on the west coast.

We can't allow the greed of a few to ruin our planet.

posted in Gerlachians - 0 replies

Stop Sempra in Gerlach

Dusty — Mon, 09 May 2005 07:38:23 GMT

A new tribe will go on line soon.
Stop Sempra in Gerlach @ Tribe.net.
Tell your freinds
Aloha
Dustydog

posted in Gerlachians - 0 replies

Status?

mmm — Wed, 03 Nov 2004 22:00:48 GMT

Hey Everone,

Just wondering (here in San Francisco) what the status was of the proposed plant outside Gerlach?

Is there anything we can from here to help stop it?

posted in Gerlachians - 27 replies

burnin pallet

gingerpetunia — Tue, 01 Mar 2005 19:15:00 GMT

As May and Memorial Day quickly approach,
Burning Pallet 2000 (part 2)
Memorial Day weekend.

Dates: May 27-30th
the Playa, near Gerlach, NV
What: drinkin', skeet shootin', music

yee haw

posted in Gerlachians - 2 replies

meow cake

gingerpetunia — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 02:56:07 GMT

see gerlachians tribe photo for cat cake photo

CAKE INGREDIENTS
1 box spice or German chocolate cake mix
1 box of white cake mix
1 package white sandwich cookies
1 large package vanilla instant pudding mix

A few drops green food coloring
12 small Tootsie Rolls or equivalent

SERVING "DISHES AND UTENSILS"

1 NEW cat-litter box
1 NEW cat-litter box liner
1 NEW pooper scooper

Prepare and bake cake mixes, according to directions, in any size pan. Prepare pudding and chill. Crumble cookies in small batches in blender or food processor. Add a few drops of green food coloring to 1 cup of cookie crumbs. Mix with a fork or shake in a jar. Set aside.

When cakes are at room temperature, crumble them into a large bowl. Toss with half of the remaining cookie crumbs and enough pudding to make the mixture moist but not soggy. Place liner in litter box and pour in mixture.

Unwrap 3 Tootsie Rolls and heat in a microwave until soft and pliable. Shape the blunt ends into slightly curved points. Repeat with three more rolls. Bury the rolls decoratively in the cake mixture. Sprinkle remaining white cookie crumbs over the mixture, then scatter green crumbs lightly over top.

Heat 5 more Tootsie Rolls until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake and sprinkle with crumbs from the litter box. Heat the remaining Tootsie Roll until pliable and hang it over the edge of the box. Place box on a sheet of newspaper and serve with scooper. Enjoy!

posted in Gerlachians - 7 replies

price of freedom: $13.65

gingerpetunia — Mon, 01 Nov 2004 22:48:33 GMT

Despite temporary obstacles presented
trying to vote from afar,
the U.S. Post Office says my ballot
will arrive in Nevada by noon tomorrow.

Price of freedom? It was $13.65
Didn't need to get my ballot notarized,
Or fly to a foreign country in fatigues,
but still had to overnight it -to arrive,

cause it got to me 'here' with too little time
if i sent it normal mail -it would have perrished
so i sent it along, hold the pickles, and please relish
my freedom./

I hope my vote counts. Hear it? Let freedom ring.
I even read-up info about those local and state things;
those parts of my ballot - where questions, with numbers,
well who reads that stuff? I had often wondered...

but it's not that hard to read, so I checked online first
and voted knowingly, instead of guessingly with dizzy mirth.
\\Now it's your turn to vote, your choice, your chance to say...
vote for him, him or neither.
just vote anyway.

good luck america
vote early and often
-till we get it right-
ginger petunia

posted in Gerlachians - 1 reply

Small Earthquake on the Smoke Creek?

Tue, 31 Aug 2004 19:56:29 GMT

Apparently there was a 2.0 magnitude Earthquake at 3am on 8/28.
See:
http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Maps/119-41.html

The interesting thing is that the depth was 0.0 miles.

Did anyone blow up anything? Was the band playing at Bev's
and they made the joint jump?

Below are the details:

A microearthquake occurred at 3:21:28 AM (PDT) on Saturday, August 28, 2004.
The magnitude 2.0 event occurred 3 km (2 miles) NE of Phil, NV.
The hypocentral depth is 0 km (0.0 miles).

Magnitude 2.0 - local magnitude (ML)
Time Saturday, August 28, 2004 at 3:21:28 AM (PDT)
Saturday, August 28, 2004 at 10:21:28 (UTC)
Distance from Phil, NV - 3 km (2 miles) NE (51 degrees)
Gerlach-Empire, NV - 9 km (6 miles) WNW (299 degrees)
Trego, NV - 27 km (17 miles) WSW (245 degrees)
Lovelock, NV - 97 km (60 miles) NW (304 degrees)
Sacramento, CA - 292 km (181 miles) NE (36 degrees)
Coordinates 40 deg. 39.8 min. N (40.663N), 119 deg. 26.2 min. W (119.436W)
Depth 0 km (0.0 miles)
Location Quality unknown
Location Quality Parameters Nst= 7, Nph= 7, Dmin=0 km, Rmss=0 sec, Erho=0 km, Erzz=0 km, Gp=0 degrees
Event ID# nn00111402

-Christopher

posted in Gerlachians - 7 replies

Blackrock Hardware store for sale

Jon-Sarriugarte — Mon, 19 Jul 2004 20:39:23 GMT

Any one interested in buying our store for BM this year.
We did very well, but don't have the time to run it this year.
We have:
Inventory
website
Contacts, and Last years books.

Jon

posted in Gerlachians - 2 replies

gerlachian photos

TremainCalm — Sat, 17 Jul 2004 01:29:28 GMT

Howdy,
T'Remain Calm posted a fresh batch of photos to this space from 'out there', for your entertainment pleasure. Gringo there are a few of those sheep shot you requested.
Enjoy.
T.C.
cjc

posted in Gerlachians - 0 replies

Playa Surface

Lyingbare — Fri, 07 May 2004 14:12:24 GMT

Ginger Darling.... or anyone one of you beautiful Gerlachians.. Has anyone been out to the playa.... what kind of surface are we lookin at... any guesses as to what it will be this year or are we too soon to know... just curious... thinkin about makin a trek out soon....... Love ya all like a new springtime on the playa

posted in Gerlachians - 5 replies

Gerlach 4th of July

fuzzynathan — Sun, 27 Jun 2004 22:42:55 GMT

Can anyone brief on what sorts of fun will be occurring 4th of July in Gerlach?

posted in Gerlachians - 1 reply

Blackrock Hardware

Jon-Sarriugarte — Tue, 04 May 2004 00:35:27 GMT

We need a new home there in town for sept.
Anyone one have a lead?

Jon

posted in Gerlachians - 5 replies

Gerlach/DPW picnic..

freebeer — Sat, 03 Jan 2004 08:27:53 GMT

some of you may not have seen the pics yet from the Gerlach/DPW/save the water tower picnic back in august. there are 2 albums of photos...

http://fnord.org/~squeak/gallery/albums.php

if i don't have your name in the caption, or worse, have the wrong name in the caption, feel free to either fix it or drop me a line.

posted in Gerlachians - 0 replies

Give thanks here!

gingerpetunia — Sat, 22 Nov 2003 20:01:26 GMT

IF you would like to attend our healing Gerlach Thanksgiving party we have a 23 pound bird and enough vegetarian options to fill up several hippies. Must be openminded and thoughtful. Secret indoor space with 6000 square feet and pinball machines. Directions to the location would be given to people who write back a nice letter. Bring enough of your own intoxicants to survive. This event is not sponsored by any corporations or rich folks but we poor folks did scratch enough chickenfeed together to cover a big turkey, stuffing, Italian sausage with roasted peppers, a roasted winter gourd medly (green acorn squash and yellow), traditional greenbean casserole with crunchy onion and creamy soup, a few small cheap store-bought pies, lots of homemade breads, homemade mashed potato, ambrosia salad. Like I said, plan to BYOI and maybe a good pie or a good loaded eggnog... also bring good shoes for barhopping. Gerlach pulls out all the stops on Thanksgiving. cheers!

posted in Gerlachians - 1 reply

weather report

gingerpetunia — Thu, 30 Oct 2003 20:36:08 GMT

Gerlach with grand clouds.
Will it last till May, the snow?
Perhaps ask Crow.

Wait now, it's sleeting
the snow was only fleeting
the flurry, hurried.

Little beads of ice
isn't that nice, on my bike
better hide my ride;

or on the way home
i might just freeze my ass off
like a garden gnome.

when sun slides westward
streak home fast to warm right up
warm dogg, thick blanket.

cheers and chills to you,
hallow'd eve's eve in Gerlach.
ginger petunia

posted in Gerlachians - 3 replies

Happy Happy Birthday Darling!!

Lyingbare — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 17:47:35 GMT

My my Ms Ginger...... HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!! I hope it's absolutely everything you want it to be...... Take care.... make it sweet.. and ENJOY!!!

posted in Gerlachians - 2 replies

fall is nice

gingerpetunia — Mon, 27 Oct 2003 17:33:46 GMT

chilly mornings 34;
79 by noon, or more.
marlins won, gerlachians drank
he who gets in FOX has rank
stop in brunos, larry's, bevs,
watch some cable, chat the regs
visit jola, buy some stamps,
go see danny, get some amps
sherrif's car says K9 on it
betty in her pretty bonnet
take a walk down doobie lane
join the club, you've gone insane.

posted in Gerlachians - 0 replies

gerlach

gingerpetunia — Tue, 07 Oct 2003 04:26:18 GMT

this week in photos
http://www.pbase.com/gingerpetunia/october

I took these in and around Gerlach last week.
monday sept 29 to sunday october 5
two photos re-touched in photoshop for fun.
The rest, not.

posted in Gerlachians - 0 replies

long tail

gingerpetunia — Tue, 07 Oct 2003 02:29:11 GMT

The world has a long tail.
Long enough to bitch-slap the thief,
who sneak-steals words penned by another.
One of us will learn the lesson about it.
Later.

posted in Gerlachians - 0 replies

And let us not forget...

sfslim — Tue, 23 Sep 2003 21:13:30 GMT

Doobie's stones, another local favorite of mine.

posted in Gerlachians - 1 reply

Autumn Tea today

gingerpetunia — Tue, 23 Sep 2003 13:34:54 GMT

Today's the beginning of Autumn. There are a lot of spiders. Spiders and flies. It's been in the upper 80's and lower 90's but Betty says the insects are having so many extra babies because they instinctively know to plan for a long hard Winter. So let's enjoy this day with some tea.
Stop by the Gerlach office around 4:20 and we'll make some tea. Weather determines if tea will be brewed hot or cold. It will be 92-94 today. put your sweater away until night. It gets down to 46 at night which feells colder after a daytime high in the 90's. Happy Fall.

posted in Gerlachians - 0 replies