Olympic Memories-

Lapel pins and a beer can offer tributes to the games

My collection representing over forty years as a working professional include these Olympic themed pins.  Photo:  Newvine Personal Collection

The Olympics have been dominating our television sets and the social media outlets this summer.  

It happens every other year since the summer and winter games moved to an alternating schedule in 1994.  For a few months before the games, and during the sixteen days of competition, it seems everyone is talking about the athletes, the new records, the brewing controversies, and the uniforms.

I need not look any further than to my collection of lapel pins collected over four decades of work.  Each of the near two hundred pins was worn on my suit lapel at least one time.

Part of the news team I worked with thirty years ago. I’m the guy in the white shirt, tie, and dark hair.   Inset: a special pin made in anticipation of the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France.  Photo: Newvine Personal Collection

One pin stands out from 1992. 

I was working for the CBS affiliate at a television station in Rochester, New York. 

The station was carrying the winter games.  That was the year of Kristi Yamaguchi and the US Women’s Figure Skating team.

My job then was as an executive producer in the station’s news department.

Our general manager determined that if we worked really hard we might be able to maximize the lead-in from those winter games on CBS to move our third place late newscast to second place. 

The manager gave us pins that displayed the Olympic rings, the CBS logo and our station call letters. The pins helped keep my focus on the big prize.

We succeeded, and at least for that particular local rating period, our late news made the jump in the ratings.

The years I worked in Rochester were linked to the Olympic games because of three major companies in the area. Kodak, Xerox, and Bausch & Lomb were all official sponsors of the games.  

They were really big companies back in the nineties. But success does not last forever.  Tech giants such as Apple and Microsoft dominate the Dow Jones Average today. 

While most people will remember the US Hockey team’s win over the Soviet team when thinking about the 1980 Winter Olympics, I have a much different memory from the year the games were held in Lake Placid, New York.  

1979 was the first year I was working as a television news reporter. 

The games would start in early 1980 so Olympic fever was high throughout upstate New York.

I was earning a decent paycheck so I wanted to give extra special Christmas presents for my family.  I forget what I got for other relatives, but I do remember getting my sister an Olympic ski cap with images from Lake Placid on it.  

The Winter Olympic Snow can, sold as a novelty during the 1980 Lake Placid games. Photo: Newvine Personal Collection.

Also acquired that year was a special beer can. 

There was no beer in it, but rather a unique souvenir of the Lake Placid games.  Printed on the back of the can of “Lake Placid Snow” was a message from the manufacturer saying that sealed inside the can, there was a small packet of moisture guaranteed to be 1979 Lake Placid snow. 

I took their word for it and never opened the can.

The can has been sitting on a shelf in my den or stashed away in a keepsake box wherever I lived for over forty years.

Steve Newvine lives in Merced. 

He wrote about his experiences as a television reporter in 1979 and 1980 in his book Stand By Camera One.  The book is available at BarnesandNoble.com, Amazon, and at Lulu.com

New Heights, a World Record, and a Milestone-

Updates and an anniversary

Southern California climber Brennen Thompson at Mount Kilimanjaro. Photo: ValleyTough.com

Every now and then, stories require updates

Remember the young man who along with his friend, climbed ten mountains in California to raise money for two hometown charities?

Brennen Thompson did just that with the successful climb up Half Dome at Yosemite in June.

But that’s not all

In early July, Brennan and two others took their climbing gear and community spirit to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

The ten California climbs were more than just build-ups to the big climb in Africa.

Each step embraced an effort to make an impact on Brennan’s hometown as well as his adopted new home in southern California.

“By the grace of God himself, we did it,” Brennan said in a video recorded after the Kilimanjaro climb. “I’m forever indebted for the place that makes us who we are.”

Brennen Thompson kept a video diary of each of his climbs, including one at the top of Half Dome in June. Photo: ValleyTough.com

We did two columns on Brennan: one in 2020 at the start of the effort, and one in June when he came to Yosemite.

What’s next for this young man?

Not even he knows.

But if this effort is any indication, we can be assured whatever he attempts will have impact, and make a difference.

You can see Brennan’s video from that Kilimanjaro climb on the website ValleyTough.com

A two-seater all-electric airplane that is part of a four plane fleet being used to demonstrate the feasibility of all-electric aircraft propulsion. The planes are based at Fresno Chandler Executive Airport. Photo: NewVisionAviation.org

We received a lot of attention from the column on the all-electric airplanes now at the Fresno Chandler Executive Airport.

The planes are part of a demonstration project to help develop policy on using all-electric aircraft regularly.

The non-profit New Vision Aviation imagines a future with all-electric planes traveling throughout California.

Smaller municipal airports, such as the one in the City of Merced, might someday be equipped with charging stations.

New Aviation President Joseph Oldham did a test flight in mid-July with the all-electric plane.

He flew round trip from Fresno to Sacramento, with recharging stops in Madera, Merced, Modesto, and Lodi.

As the portable chargers used to regenerate the plane’s power cells were energized by the sun, the flight actually set a record for the longest solar-powered flight in history.

That’s a record that New Vision hopes will be short-lived as more aviators get into the all-electric aircraft space.

The first column I wrote for MercedCountyEvents.com in 2011

That takes us to this brief column from ten years ago about the benefits of volunteerism.

It may not seem like much, and it probably did not make much of an impact when it was first posted in this space in February 2011.

But that column, and the more than two-hundred that have followed since 2011 represent my small contribution to MercedCountyEvents.com.
Webmaster Brad Haven has stayed on top of this effort to provide a forum for non-profits to list their events, for churches to post their hours, for service clubs to share their successes, and for local businesses to get the word out about their offerings.

It’s a tenth anniversary, plus another six months, for the Our Community Story column.

I look forward to many more.

Steve Newvine lives in Merced.

His book Can-Do Californians is available at BarnesAndNoble.com and at Lulu.com

Wings Up on All-Electric Planes-

Local Airports are on board creating capacity for the future

The four Pipistrel Alpha Trainers on display at Fresno Chandler Executive Airport. Photo: New Vision Aviation

Imagine a time when most airplanes will run off power cells that recharge in the same way electric cars do today. 

All-electric aircraft are already in use here in the Central Valley of California as part of a demonstration project.  

The non-profit group New Vision Aviation facilitated the creation of an eight-county coalition of local governments to apply for a federal grant that has effectively jump-started the concept.

The original idea came to Joseph Oldham, the former Sustainability Manager for the City of Fresno and former Executive Director of a transportation planning non-profit.  His accomplishments include nurturing relationships between businesses and the government to get zero-emission buses into public transit fleets.  

He reached out to the manager of the Fresno Chandler Executive Airport to brainstorm a plan to buy four experimental electric airplanes from a Slovenia company.  The planes are manufactured in Italy.

Joseph did a lot of leg work in preparing the application for a grant to demonstrate advanced transportation technology. 

He believes the planes, along with charging stations at airports within range, will do just that.

After presenting the idea to local governments, writing a grant proposal, and pushing the initiative forward, New Vision Aviation was successful.

The idea boils down to creating a network of chargers at local municipal airports such as Merced Municipal Airport and Castle Airport in Atwater.

The experimental aircraft has a two-hour flying range, so the need for a charging network is critical to the success of the program.

“When we asked local governments in the valley with municipal airports to support our grant application, Merced was among the first to sign on,” Joseph said.

The initial grant application was approved.

One of the four Pipistrel Alpha Trainers at the Fresno Chandler Airport getting recharged.  Photo:  New Vision Aviation.

Four two-seater planes, known as the Pipistrel Alpha Trainer, were purchased and are in use right now.

Joseph has been a pilot for over forty years and has been a passionate advocate for sustainable transportation throughout those years.  He says this concept could create the next era of aviation.

 “With chargers at these municipal airports, the San Joaquin Valley could support the operation of small all-electric aircraft,” he says.

Alongside the track of creating a network of planes and charging stations to support all-electric aircraft, New Vision Aviation is developing a second track: getting high school and college-aged men and women excited about careers in aviation.

Reduced maintenance and lower electric (as opposed to fossil fuel) costs create an opportunity to bring more diversity into aviation.

The New Vision website envisions a mentorship program where pilots become mentors for young people interested in aviation.

Joseph Oldham is the President of New Vision Aviation.  Photo:  New Vision Aviation

“We’ve worked with Boeing on identifying the need to increase interest among younger people in flying,” he says.  “Especially in lower-income areas and among communities of color.” 

All-electric aircraft offers the opportunity to lower the cost of flying when compared to conventional small airplanes. 

Some in the industry estimate an hour of flying time now runs a student about $200.  This is due primarily to the higher cost of fuel.  With an all-electric aircraft, some observers believe that cost could be cut by half or more.

Joseph mentors a young student interested in aviation right now.  That student is learning to operate small aircraft.  

The student, his flight trainer, and Joseph were featured in a recent episode of the PBS series NOVA.  The segment was titled “The All-Electric Airplane Race”.

Joseph Oldham pilots the Pipistrel Alpha Trainer with NOVA correspondent Miles O’Brien in a segment from the “All Electric Airplane Race” broadcast aired earlier this year on PBS.  Photo from the NOVA segment.

Joseph intends to fly one of the Pipistrel Alpha Trainers to Sacramento later this summer. 

He plans stops along the way from Fresno to the Capitol using existing technology to charge the plane’s fuel cells.  That demonstration flight will include a charging stop in Merced County.

“We want to raise awareness of the potential of an all-electric fleet and charging stations throughout California and eventually throughout the nation.”

 New Vision is awaiting F.A.A. approval to start a flight school with the planes. 

Achieving that goal may be out on the time horizon, but the initiative to bring more young people into the world of aviation will continue to move forward.

It may not be too far into the future when a young Merced County teen can connect with a pilot mentor to help learn more about the discipline and rewards from flying as a career.

The relatively brief history of aviation has two revolutions so far. 

The first was powered flight.

The second revolution was jets.  

As Joseph told the PBS documentary reporter, “Electric propulsion is the third revolution.”

This entire effort is about making the most of the third revolution and making it more than just an alternative way to fly.

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The NOVA documentary featuring New Vision Aviation’s electric airplanes is no longer available for viewing on YouTube, but a program transcript is available at:  https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/great-electric-airplane-race/

For more information on New Vision Aviation, go to NewVisionAviation.org 

Steve Newvine lives in Merced. 

His book Can-Do Californians is available at BarnesandNoble.com and at Lulu.com

Yosemite Welcomes and Challenges

-Southern California pair complete a dozen hikes, looking ahead to Kilimanjaro

Brennen Thompson at the bottom looking up Half Dome at Yosemite National Park. Photo: ValleyTough.com

What would you say if you hiked eleven mountains throughout California, and then stared at the bottom of the awe-inspiring Half Dome at Yosemite National Park.

If you were this former upstate New York transplant to California, there is just one sentence:

“It’s going to be long day!”

For the past year, Brennen Thompson and his climbing partner Garrett Wright have been climbing mountains.

Every month, the pair has been making their way through a series of climbs throughout California.

Starting with Sandstone Peak (southern California), they set their sights on a new mountain each month.

Over the course of twelve months, they made it to Mount Wilson, San Gabriel Peak, and Mount Whitney among others.

Half-Dome at Yosemite was number twelve.

They intend to wrap up this year-plus adventure with a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro this summer.

Brennen shortly upon entering Yosemite National Park. Photo: ValleyTough.com

Each climb has been done with purpose.

They raised over seven-thousand dollars to benefit charities in Brennen’s hometown in upstate New York.

But there was more to this effort than raising money for non-profit organizations.

As a new Californian in late 2019, Brennen was committed to making his time in the Golden State impactful. Once the COVID crisis hit, the resolve to succeed became even stronger.

In the Our Community Story column from a year ago when the climbs started, he said, “What better time to give back.”

The Yosemite climb began with a 4:00 AM wake up, a breakfast of pre-cooked oatmeal with fruit, and the trip to the trailhead.

“I was surrounded by massive shadows like El Capitan and, of course, Half Dome,” he said.

Brennen Thompson is originally from Herkimer, New York. He moved to southern California in 2019. Photo: ValleyTough.com

Midway up the cables of Half-Dome, Brennen’s awareness of the gift of life was heightened.

“After encountering trees the size of skyscrapers, waterfalls that couldn’t be imagined, and views that take your breath away, I was a little more thankful to be alive than normal.”

Peanut butter sandwiches, nuts, and granola kept the pair nourished during the adventure.

After five hours, they made it to the top. Brennen took it all in.

“Climbing the sub-dome cables was one of the dumbest things I’ve ever done,” he thought to himself. “Can’t wait to see what they’re like on the way down.”

Thinking initially they would take in a few moments with the solace of nature before heading down, they met another climber who has done the Mount Kilimanjaro climb the pair intends to do this summer.

“We stayed up there longer than normal, probably an hour.” By then, it was time to head back down Half Dome.

It took four hours to make it back to the valley floor using the same route.

“Going down the sub-dome was actually harder than going up!” Brennan explained. “Baby steps, and don’t look to the left or right.”

This was Brennen’s first time in Yosemite. “I was overwhelmed with the beauty and couldn’t have been more pleased with the hike.”

Brennen taking it all in at the top of Half Dome. Photo: ValleyTough.com

As spectacular as Yosemite was, and as ambitious as the total package of twelve hikes has been, the real challenge is coming up soon on the other side of the world.

The pair will head to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa later this summer.

After that, who knows what is in store for this pair of Californians who promised to make an impact and who are delivering on that promise.

To paraphrase Brennen’s own words, it may indeed be a long and satisfying climb.

Steve Newvine lives in Merced

Brennen Thompson’s story is featured in his book Can Do Californians, available at BarnesandNoble.com and at Lulu.com

You can view summaries of the Valley Tough mountain hikes at YouTube.com and on the ValleyTough.com website

Pedaling Police Escort-

Merced officers lead a community bicycle ride along the Bear Creek paths

Bicyclists are welcomed to the Pedaling with the Police event sponsored by the Merced Police Department. Photo: Steve Newvine

It’s not uncommon on a spring Saturday morning to see groups of bicyclists pedaling the trails along Bear Creek in Merced.

But on this particular Saturday, part of Memorial Day weekend, this group had a special escort.

Officers from the Merced Police Department provided the leadership and protection for participants in the Pedaling with the Police riding event.

The group met at the Merced Open Air Stage in Applegate Park, and then headed along the Bear Creek trail to Parsons Avenue and on to a rest stop at Rahilly Park.

Pedaling with the Police began at the Merced Open Air Stage. Photo: Steve Newvine

About thirty area bicyclists of all ages took part in the free event.

“This is something the Department’s Bike Unit wanted to do to for the community,” said Police Community Affairs Officer Emily Foster.

A pair of older cyclists liked the idea of a police escort along the Bear Creek trail.

“This is good for all of us,” one of the pair said.

The pace was kept with the help of officers from the Department’s Bike Unit. Photo: Steve Newvine

The group headed to the bridge on G Street, and then changed sides of Bear Creek to be in position for the eventual midway point at Rahilly Park.

Once at the park, the bicyclists had traveled three-and-one-third miles. It was time for a break.

“We think it’s important for everyone to know that police officers do a lot more for the community that what is seen in some of the media,” Lieutenant Foster said.

“We’re here now to have a lot of fun with our citizens.”

The group stopped at G Street to change sides from South to North Bear Creek. The switching of sides was made much safer with the Merced Police escort. Photo: Steve Newvine

All that was required for this six-and-a-half mile bike ride was a safe set of wheels, the stamina to complete the ride, and a positive attitude.

“C’mon dad,” one seven year old encouraged his father as the ride was underway.

Whether it was a son with his dad, a daughter with her mom, or a husband-and-wife pair, folks were taking advantage of perfect bicycling weather.

Sunshine and blue skies helped provide the ideal setting for a leisurely bike ride along Bear Creek for the participants in the Pedaling with the Police event. Photo: Steve Newvine

This is the second event the Department has done after enduring the worst of the COVID restrictions.

The first was Star Wars themed activity held on May 4th (may the forth be with you).

“We’re glad with COVID coming to an end, we can host more events like this one,” said Lieutenant Foster.

The returning cyclists had a good workout in the fresh air, a nice outing on a spring day, and hopefully a better understanding about the role police officers play in keeping everyone safe.

Steve Newvine lives in Merced.

His latest book, Can-Do Californians, is now available in a hard-cover version as well as paperback.

Steve Newvinelives in Merced.

His latest book, Can-Do Californians, is now available in a hard-cover version as well as paperback.

Long Overdue: The Library Reopens

Merced County branches welcome back patrons

The view of the Merced County Library Main Branch from the second floor. Photo: Steve Newvine

When the Merced County Library system reopened branches to in-person use at the end of April, it reopened my appreciation for the quiet solace of books and reading.

The hours of operation remain the same, but for the time being, the capacity is limited to twenty-five percent to comply with health department guidelines.

Computers are still available at the Merced Library, but they are socially distanced in compliance with health department guidelines. Photo: Steve Newvine

It is nice to be able to go back to the library.

The system made do throughout the COVID crisis with curbside service, but that was not the same for me.

I’m a library fan and have been since the days of going to the one-room community library in the village where I grew up.

The library was housed in a classroom at the local school.

It is now in a stand-alone building in my hometown.

I remember my library card, the book card inside each cover where you could see the names of others who had taken out the same book, paying fines, and our librarian always reminding us to be quiet.

My high school library was bigger, had essentially the same rules, but a strict librarian.

She’d terminate our privileges the moment she believed we were up to no good. Still, she must have instilled my love for libraries. To be fair to her, by the time I was a teen,

I did not use the library for purely educational purposes.

There’s a legend in my family about my going there early in the school day and eventually being “kicked-out” for the day by this librarian for talking too much.

Later in the day, as the legend goes, my older brother innocently entered the same place only to be told by the librarian “I kicked you out earlier. Get out of here.”

In college, my part time student job was at Bird Library at Syracuse University. I stocked shelves with books. That’s all I did for two years at that job: put books back to their rightful place on the shelves. As a father, I remember taking my daughters to the library in the small upstate New York village where we lived. The children’s section had a sandbox filled with books.

My daughters would often choose a few books each from that sandbox.

Along about this time, VHS video tapes made their debut as part of the library collection.

In a few years, DVDs would replace those tapes on the rack.

You won’t find many chairs in the County libraries thanks to COVID rules. Photo- Steve Newvine

Photo- library 3 no chair- Caption: You won’t find many chairs in the County libraries thanks to COVID rules. Photo- Steve Newvine

In recent years, I visited libraries up and down the valley in my job that took me out all over the Central California region.

Sometimes, I’d pop in at the library in a small city like San Joaquin in western Fresno County after a work meeting.

In Bakersfield, I made the City Library a regular stop during most of my monthly visits.

The Friends of the Library Bookstore where folks could purchase used books with proceeds going to the Library will remain closed until rules from the health department permits greater capacity levels. Photo: Steve Newvine

So I welcome the reopening of the Merced County Library branches. In Merced, the checkout desk has been relocated directly in front of the entrance.

The only chairs found are those at the computers, which are now socially distanced. And, according to County Librarian Amy Taylor, there’s a fresh coat of paint on the walls.

Some branches, such as the one in Atwater, received even more drastic changes.

The Friends of the Library bookstore did not reopen at this time. Amy Taylor says that will come as the capacity limits are raised.

The library is back, and it’s time to go back and rekindle some memories.

Steve Newvine lives in Merced.

His book Can Do Californians is available at BarnesandNoble.com or at Lulu.com

Seeing Half Dome from Merced-

A spot nearby where Yosemite is visible

Photograph of the Sierra Mountains where, if your eyesight is good, you can see Half Dome in Yosemite National Park.  Photo: Flip Hassett

How many times have you heard that there are people who have lived in Merced for many years, and have yet to visit Yosemite National Park?

Even if you have seen the Park, you have to ask yourself how long has it been?

If you have not been to the Park in person, there’s an opportunity to get a view at the iconic Half Dome from a spot in north Merced.

Local photographer Flip Hassett recently posted to Facebook a shot he took along Golf Road in the area near Merced Country Club and UC Merced.

It’s there, a little spot in the upper right portion of the photograph.

With the sun just right, and the air unusually clear, Half Dome is shining in all its’ majesty. Another person reposted the shot and circled the spot.

The view where photographer Flip Hassett found Half Dome was obscured by Mother Nature in the days leading up to this column. Photo: Steve Newvine

Flip has been photographing the people and natural wonder of Merced and Stanislaus Counties for a number of years.

For the professional photographers who know these things, Flip reports he shot this particular photo with a 400mm with a 2.0 tele converter.

Yosemite gets a lot of visitors every year, but it’s interesting to note that the Park is not even in the top ten in attendance, according to the National Park System.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park heads that list with twelve million recreational visits in 2020. Yosemite stood at roughly four-million based on averages provided by the Park Service.

COVID definitely had an impact on all National Park attendance last year and in the first months of 2021.

The photograph taken in Merced by Flip Hassett with Half Dome circled.

Writing about Yosemite brings back memories of other columns and book chapters shared in this space over the past ten years.

In my book9 From 99, I shared the story of the first time I travelled into the Park.

Two Fresno area friends invited me to drive into the park in their convertible in March of 2005.

The view was stunning under normal sedan conditions, but with the convertible top down it was an extraordinary way to take in the grandeur of this special place.

I remember visiting the park on business at the time a California wildfire was being fought many miles away from the then Tenaya Lodge (now known as Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite following a copyright dispute over the name a few years ago).

That business visit was marked by the ever present smell of wood burning.

Even though our meeting was a safe distance away from the firefighting, the air let you know something was happening.

A few years ago, I wrote a column lamenting the overcrowding problem my wife and I experienced at Yosemite.

(Click here to read it)

Some steps were taken to improve traffic flow, but I have not been to the Park since that time.

Finding the spot where Half Dome is visible on a clear day is relatively easy. Head north at this intersection of Lake and Golf Roads, and pull off to the right for the view. Good luck. Photo: Steve Newvine

Finding the spot where Half Dome may be visible is relatively easy. Take G Street in Merced about a mile north of Mercy Hospital.

Turn right on Bellevue Road and go about a mile to Golf Road. From there, head north on Golf Road less than a mile and park just north of the Lake Road intersection.

If you want to see Half Dome from that spot, go on a very clear day and consider bringing along binoculars.

Good luck. An alternative: make a plan to travel to Yosemite and see everything up close.

It may be more satisfying.

Steve Newvine lives in Merced.

He wrote about Yosemite National Park in his book 9 From 99. That book is available at Lulu.com