life
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You know that moment when you feel like you might actually rip your hair out and your head feels like a shaken-up soda can? Yeah, that one. The kids are bickering, the dog just knocked over the water bowl, your phone won’t stop buzzing,…
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With the first day of school already behind us, we’ve officially entered that time parents and kids dread in equal measure: homework season. If you’re anything like me, you probably had that one subject you could ace without breaking a sweat and another that…
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Lately, it feels like the air around me has been heavy with half-truths, twisted stories, and flat-out lies. The occurrence of people lying to me and those within my circle has been at an all-time high. And while I’ve always lived with the mindset…
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If your kids think “outside” is just a loading screen between Wi-Fi signals, this one’s for you. As a mom of three and a small-town nature wanderer, I’ve watched my kids come alive in the wild—muddy boots, rock collections clinking in their pockets, and…
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Tonight was one of those evenings that reminds you exactly why small-town living is so special. The 2nd Annual Back to School Night at the North San Juan Community Center was an absolute success, with a huge turnout of community members ready to celebrate,…
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The first day of school always seems to come at us faster than we expect (while also taking too long to get here.) One minute, you’re buying popsicles and sunscreen, and the next, you’re staring at a pile of school supplies wondering how your…
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If you’ve been around the Ridge long enough, you know we do back to school a little differently here. We’re not just about shopping lists and shoe sales—we’re about coming together as a community to make sure every kid heads into the school year…
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Small-town gossip is like wildfire—only faster, and without the courtesy of a CAL FIRE update. If you live in a place where the population is smaller than the line at Starbucks in the next county over, you already know: news travels fast, facts are…
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Nevada County’s dispatch logs are back at it again, delivering a mix of chaos, confusion, and characters that would give any soap opera a run for its money. From Instacart driver concerns to bacon burglaries and mysterious guns unearthed in yards—we’ve got it all.…
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Let’s be honest: the Nevada County Fair 2025 is still the same slightly-chaotic, sugar-drenched, loud-and-proud small-town event we’ve come to love (and laugh about)—and that’s exactly why it works. Despite the high ticket prices and rides that creak a little too dramatically for comfort,…
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Nevada County is abuzz—as in, “did someone leave the stovetop on?”—all thanks to the Richards Fire, which ignited on August 1, 2025, on private land. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as crews work hard to keep it contained.
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Summer in Nevada County can be beautiful, but it also comes with risks we don’t always think about—one of the biggest being children accidentally left in hot cars. Even on what feels like a mild day, temperatures inside a parked vehicle can skyrocket in…
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Every year I tell myself, This year I’m going to be organized. I’ll have the school supplies bought weeks in advance, everything labeled, and the kids set up for success. And every year… I still end up making at least one emergency Target run…
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Nevada County is known for its charm—quaint towns, creative energy, and a neighbor-helping-neighbor kind of vibe. But beneath that surface are two community powerhouses doing the heavy lifting to support local families and fuel our cultural soul: the Community Support Network of Nevada County…
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Nevada County has always been a curious mix of old gold rush grit, rural independence, and artsy free-spiritedness. But lately, something else is stirring in the foothills—a wave of progressive activism that’s reshaping the local political and cultural conversation. What once felt like scattered…
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Summer’s still sizzling in Nevada County, and there’s plenty happening to keep the whole family entertained.
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There’s something magical about nicknames. They’re not just shorter versions of our names or quirky monikers; they’re pieces of identity gifted to us by the people who truly see us. I firmly believe everyone should have a nickname—whether it’s used daily or just shows…
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When someone with a known violent history looks you in the eye, or even texts you, and says, “I’ll do whatever it takes and go to prison with a smile on my face” it’s hard to shrug it off as harmless. But in the…
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If you’ve stepped outside lately and wondered whether we’re living inside a sepia-toned Instagram filter, you’re not wrong. Wildfire smoke is back, and it’s turning our normally crisp mountain air into a hazy mess that smells like a campfire gone rogue. For those of…
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When people talk about Nevada County’s economy, the conversation almost always circles back to tourism. Sure, being the birthplace of the Gold Rush naturally makes us a travel destination, but relying on tourists as our economic backbone isn’t exactly a recipe for long-term stability.…
