Assembly Bill 2356

On February 19, 2010 Assembly Member Amina Carter introduced Assembly Bill 2356. The bill establishes a 2.5 mile buffer a round Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park that would prohibit development that is incompatible with the historical or recreational significance of the park.

AB 2356 is one of bills that the California State Parks Foundation asked legislators to support during Park Advocacy Day 2010.

You can read the complete bill on the California State Senate site.


Stephen Hill, Sr.

Allensworth State Historic Park Black History Month

YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE.

The sun shined on this event from 10:00 a.m. until late afternoon. The attendance was all cars and trains, on the last weekend of the month. The volunteers and the rangers provided walking tours of the buildings. All who were able to attend had a great time with the personal touch of the various walking tours.

The next event at the park will be the May Old Time Jubilee on May 15, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. Until 4:00 p.m. Remember there are other events at the park, and you can schedule a visit to the park, or a family gathering.

Call 661-849-4012 for more information.

Susie Smith
Docent/Volunteer Coordinator
Fremont Chapter of the Friends of Allensworth

8th Annual Park Advocacy Day

February 19th is the deadline to register for the California State Parks Foundation’s 8th Annual Park Advocacy Day. The 2010 Park Advocacy Day is Monday, March 8th, at the state capitol in Sacramento.


Park Advocacy Day is an opportunity to sit down with our state legislators, their staff and members of the Governor’s administration, and let them know how important Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park is to the state of California. To remind them that Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park is more than a place of recreation, that it preserves not only an important part of California history, but a vital part of American history. African Americans came to Allensworth from all parts of the United States to pursue the American dream.

The day will begin with registration where you will be assigned to a team of 4-6 people then assemble in the secretary of state’s auditorium for welcome remarks and an overview of the day’s goals. Then participants will participate in après conference at the state capitol. After the press conference the teams will meet with legislators. Teams typically go to 3 – 5 offices during the day, there will also be an afternoon speakers panel followed by a park advocacy day reception.

There is no cost to participate in the park advocacy day, but registration is required.


Stephen Hill, Sr.

Ranger Ptomey appears on the Great Day Show

Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park Interpreter Steven Ptomey appears on KMPH FOX 26’s the Great Day news and entertainment show with Kopi Sotiropulos and Kim Stephens. This show is part of their 2010 Black History Month series.


Stephen Hill, Sr.

Black History Month at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park

Please join the Friends of Allensworth and the California Department of Parks and Recreation as we celebrate Black History Month at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park on Saturday, February 13 & 27, 2010. This is our first major event for 2010, for a list of other events scheduled for this year visit our calendar of events.

The focus of the Black History Month program is to provide activities for school age children that are both entertaining and educational while emphasizing the accomplishments of our African American ancestors. Docents will be on site to give tours of the town’s two room school house, Col Allensworth’s home, the Hindsman General store, the hotel, and the other historic homes and businesses in this self governed all Black town. In addition to the activities and tours, the video “Allensworth: A Piece of the World” will be playing in the visitor center.

Date:  Saturday, February 13 & 27, 2010

Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Cost:  Private Vehicles: $6.00

Buses:

          10-24 passengers $50.00

          25 or more passengers $100.00



For more information about the Black History Program or the Friends of Allensworth contact Thomas Stratton at tomten@pacbell.net.

Directions

Get directions to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. Enter your starting address to get driving directions, estimated driving time, and distance to the state park.

 



Stephen Hill, Sr.

Elimination of State Parks From General Fund

On January 8th the governor released his proposed FY 2010-11 state budget. Under the governor’s proposal the state parks would no longer be funded by the state general fund but rather from the controversial Tranquillon ridge offshore oil lease. Has the governor forgotten that the drilling proposal was defeated twice in 2009, first by the State lands commission, then in the legislative e budget negotiations in the fall? What is going to happen to the state parks when the drilling proposal is defeated again in 2010?

You can help Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park and the other state parks by:
• Taking a moment to send a message to your legislators urging them to reject the governor’s proposal
• Signing up to gather signatures to put the California State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010 on the November 2010 ballot
• Submitting an endorsement form for the California State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010

Stephen Hill, Sr

Ballot initiative cleared to gather signatures

On November 4, 2009 we reported on the California State Parks Foundation’s efforts to get the State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010 on the November 2010 ballot. The Fresno Bee reported on December 31, 2009 that the ballot initiative was cleared by Secretary of State Debra Bowen to begin gathering voter signatures.

If the initiative passes it is expected to generate $500 million a year for park funding and maintenance by adding an $18 surcharge to the annual vehicle registration fee, which will give California motorists free admission to state beaches and parks.

If you are willing to commit to helping put the state Park Access Pass on the ballot go to the California State Parks Foundation web site to join the team.


Stephen Hill, Sr.

Park Protection Bills Vetoed

The fall 2009 issue of the Parklands magazine, a publication of the California State Parks Foundation, reported that park protection bills SB 679 and SB 372 have been vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. These bills would have put safeguards in place to protect state parks from inappropriate, non-park use development.

Without concern for the wishes of the citizens of California or the damage it will cause to our state parks Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed Senate Bill 372 (Kehoe) and Senate Bill 679 (Wolk) after both bills passed in the State Senate and Assembly with bipartisan support.

Senate Bill 679 would have required requests to dispose of or change the use of state park land be accompanied by substitute property. Governor Schwarzenegger said “This bill is duplicative of existing statute and significantly reduces the state's ability to effectively manage the State Park system.” He went on to say “In times of fiscal crisis, we must be able to balance the costs and benefits of our park system with the costs and benefits of other important government programs. This proposal would limit our ability to do so.”

Senate Bill 372 would have required legislative approval before major projects can be built in state parks. The bill was designed to mirror the current federal process that requires an act of congress to remove federal park land from the park system. Governor Schwarzenegger said “this proposal is an inappropriate delegation of Executive branch authority over the state park system to the Legislative branch and I cannot support it.”

The California League of Conservation Voters said “the Governor took a big step back from his environmental pledges and turned in the worst performance of his tenure.”

Traci Verardo-Torres, Vice President, Government Affairs for the California State parks Foundation wrote “Given this governor’s actions on state parks, it’s clear that state parks will be on the losing side of his equation.”


Stephen Hill, Sr.

Colonel Allensworth SHP Closed to Vehicular Traffic

On November 1, 2009 we reported on the service reductions announced by California State Parks. The reductions are part of Governor Schwarzenegger’s plan to keep the state parks open after a $14.2 million budget cut.

Kathy Weatherman, the Tehachapi District Superintendent has announced the specific service reductions for the state parks within the Tehachapi District.

Effective from November 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010 Colonel Allensworth SHP will be closed to all vehicular traffic Monday – Thursday. The park will be open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and for scheduled special events. Park hours will be reduced from 8am to 5pm to 9am to 5pm.

During this period of reduced service we ask for your help in keeping Colonel Allensworth SHP clean. Please take out your trash and keep the restrooms as clean as possible.

Stephen Hill, Sr.

New Plan to Save State Parks

In the last two years California state parks were on the verge of being closed twice. Budget cuts this year have caused nearly 60 state parks to reduce their hours of operation. Budget cuts have also caused needed maintenance and repairs to be delayed.

To provide a stable source of funding for the state park system the California State Parks Foundation has filed a proposed statewide ballot measure, slated for the November 2010 ballot, which will create the State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010. The act will purchase State Park Access Passes by adding an $18 surcharge to the vehicle license fee.

To get this measure on the November 2010 ballot volunteers are needed to gather the required signatures to qualify the initiative for the ballot. After the California State Parks Foundation hosted organizing meetings this fall and in early January signature gathers will be teamed with 1 or 2 other volunteers from their community.

Please help keep Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park and the other state parks open by going to the California State Parks Foundation web site to sign up to be a signature gather or to fill out an endorsement form.

Stephen Hill, Sr.

State Park Service Reductions

On September 25th Governor Schwarzenegger announced that no state parks would be closed. But the $14.2 million budget cut would cause services reductions at many of the 278 parks in California.


Last week California State Parks announced the list of service reductions for 278 parks in California. State Park District Superintendents decided on the specific reductions for each park within their respective district. Some of the most common reductions included:

• Reduced days of operation

• Reduced hours of operation

• Closing of restrooms

• Closing portions of campgrounds

• Closing and consolidating park offices

• Closing visitor centers two or more days per week

The service reductions at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park include reduced days of operation and reduced hours of operation.

Stephen Hill, Sr.

Double the Power of Your Gift Today

The California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) Board and the Donner Foundation have issued a special challenge grant to CSPF members. Between now and December 31st your tax-deductible gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar.


Next year’s budget battle will be intimidating but with your continued commitment we can keep the parks open. Please show your support for California State Parks by making a tax-deductible contribution to the CSPF today. Remember, your gift will be DOUBLED, only until Dec 31st.

Stephen Hill, Sr.

Pacific West Region Freeman Tilden Award

Yosemite National Park interpretive ranger Shelton Johnson has been selected as the recipient of the 2009 Pacific West Region Freeman Tilden Award. As the Pacific West Region winner he is one of seven regional winners. During the National Association of Interpretation National Workshop in Hartford, Connecticut on November 19th one of the regional winners will be selected to receive the national Freeman Tilden Award. Each year, the national award is given to an individual who has successfully developed or delivered an effective interpretive program.

The award is named after Freeman Tilden (1883-1980) a pioneer in the field of natural and cultural interpretation, who began writing about America's national parks in the 1940s. He wrote four books on visiting, learning, and teaching about national and state parks and other heritage areas.

Johnson was given the regional award for his work with the Ken Burn’s film The National Parks: America’s Best Idea and his original research into the role the Buffalo Soldiers played in Yosemite National Park’s history.

Range Shelton Johnson performed at the Allensworth Centennial Celebration at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in October 2008.

Stephen Hill, Sr.

Jestine Hurst and the Allensworth Adventure

The Los Angeles Sentinel reported that Jestine Hurst was honored as Queen for the Day.

Jestine Hurst has been organizing bus trips to the Jubilee Celebration at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park since the early 1970's. On May 9, 2009 she was honored as Queen for the Day by Brother and Sister Smith of Fremont, California.


Stephen Hill, Sr
　


Photo by: Jeff Peroera
Taken during the Los Banos Buffalo Soldiers visit to Allensworth.