Charity is absolutely right. This is hearsay but I heard a complaint from a mother of a 16 year old the other day. She said that her son had applied at one of the new sandwich shops and was told there were 300 applications in front of him so there wasn't much use. Now I don't know if that number is true but I do know there has to be some truth to it. I see it all the time.
There are so many kids floating around here with no hope of an entry level job. So they just float. I find that if I hire an 18 year old from the area (unless I hire one of my long time martial arts kids) they have absolutely no work ethic. I attribute this to the fact that there are no local entry level jobs where they can get the experience of working for someone.
I've also done a little bit of research as far as our local demographics. There is an extreme scarcity of people between the ages of 18 and 35. Typically in my business this is my prime target market and is what you would see as the weight of the student body. But not here. The majority of our students are 9-18 and 40- 60 with not much in between. This is highly unusual in my business and I think it reflects the fact that we have sent that part of the workforce elsewhere.
So what do you think happens with all these 16-18 year olds that just float around because there are no jobs? I could give you a pretty good idea. So could our local sherriff's.
Phil
Posted by Phil Weaver
on Jun 5th, 2006 at 11:06 am.
You are absolutely right Phil. The young people in our community really do need enty level jobs so they can learn how to become employable. Not to mention I sure wouldn't mind skipping trips to Stockton and Lodi to shop local.
I am writing as a past part-time and hopefully future full-time resident of Calaveras County. I was fortunate enough to visit my parents’ cabin in Dorrington all throughout my childhood years (1970s to 1990s). I still fondly remember departing San Leandro every Friday night to begin our family’s 2 ½ hour ascent up the hill. The course of this drive also brought us through the lovely (and then rather sleepy) community of Valley Springs. Little did I know then that my parents would choose to retire in Valley Springs, and I would have the opportunity to spend even more time in its charming embrace. At first, I was slightly shocked that my parents chose to retire in Valley Springs. It always seemed a little hot as we would drive through in our non-air conditioned truck. But my impression changed indeed when I visited their property for the first time. It was a serene oasis located in an area which truly seemed to possess community spirit. My husband and I were recently married at that point in time, but somehow we knew that we must work hard in other parts of the nation so that we would have the opportunity to join my parents out in this wonderful area. What was so alluring to us, you might ask. Well, many of the things that Supervisor Erickson purports to conserve: natural beauty, tourism and local small businesses. Unfortunately, during my annual visits to the area these past four years, these are the very assets that are being flagrantly ripped away from Valley Springs. For those of you familiar with nature shows on television, I wish I could have videoed the “growth” of Valley Springs these past four years and then fast-forwarded the scenes at lightning speed. That, unfortunately, is the representation that I have of the area. To put it in real simple terms, it is DISGUSTING. If I wanted a Burger King, Subway, Starbucks, KFC, gourmet hot dog joint, etc. and its concomitant drive-by traffic I could stay in Rock Island, IL and visit my local strip street. What is local or small about any of those businesses? If I wanted natural beauty, I surely wouldn’t try to find it in some tract housing division. And tourism you might ask; what’s touristy about some nameless, faceless commuter village? Yes, the answer to that is again NOTHING! I urge all of you to think long and hard before you head into the balloting booth next week. To me, a visiting outsider, it is clear that this community is at a crossroads. What sort of community do you want to live in? Do you want to live in some garbage pit that serves the needs of those heading to and from the high Sierras, or do you want to live in a truly desirable destination which is charming not just to tourists but offers a quality of life to its residents which is unrivaled and sorely lacking throughout so much of this nation? While so many other communities throughout the nation are scrambling to create redevelopment programs that will make their areas more hospitable and reminiscent of yesteryear, don’t let Valley Springs enter into the development processes that will require redevelopment 25 years from now – it just doesn’t have to happen that way. FYI – my parents support Russell L. Thomas for Supervisor, 5th District. Kopriva M. Marshall nee MartinRock Island, IL
I think it's great that you love Valley Springs so much. I grew up in Valley Springs. I can remember when Mar Val and Longs came in. Heck, I remember when the Texaco, now Shell Station, was built. Now I'm an Adult raising my own children. I love Valley Springs too. Yet I do think some growth is nessisary. The community has nothing to offer young people (well, now there is some). I had to leave Valley Springs to work and live at one point. Now I currently work in Angels Camp, closer but not close enough. And unfortunatly I have to work in another county AGAIN because I need to make enough to support my family. Yes it is sad that the beauty of Valley Springs is slowly leaving, but so many people are coming here to escape the city too. I think it's kinda flattering so many people love my community. Keep that love going for our community!
“Every once in a while one of natures treasures is offered for sale………………”
An amazing opportunity to have a rare luxury ranch estate. One of the few places in the world where you can purchase lake acreage.
Near Yosemite and overlooking Lake Don Pedro. Visit Seven Legends Ranches.
Entry level jobs
Charity is absolutely right. This is hearsay but I heard a complaint from a mother of a 16 year old the other day. She said that her son had applied at one of the new sandwich shops and was told there were 300 applications in front of him so there wasn't much use. Now I don't know if that number is true but I do know there has to be some truth to it. I see it all the time.
There are so many kids floating around here with no hope of an entry level job. So they just float. I find that if I hire an 18 year old from the area (unless I hire one of my long time martial arts kids) they have absolutely no work ethic. I attribute this to the fact that there are no local entry level jobs where they can get the experience of working for someone.
I've also done a little bit of research as far as our local demographics. There is an extreme scarcity of people between the ages of 18 and 35. Typically in my business this is my prime target market and is what you would see as the weight of the student body. But not here. The majority of our students are 9-18 and 40- 60 with not much in between. This is highly unusual in my business and I think it reflects the fact that we have sent that part of the workforce elsewhere.
So what do you think happens with all these 16-18 year olds that just float around because there are no jobs? I could give you a pretty good idea. So could our local sherriff's.
Phil
Oh So True!
You are absolutely right Phil. The young people in our community really do need enty level jobs so they can learn how to become employable. Not to mention I sure wouldn't mind skipping trips to Stockton and Lodi to shop local.
Russ Thomas for Supervisor
I am writing as a past part-time and hopefully future full-time resident of Calaveras County. I was fortunate enough to visit my parents’ cabin in Dorrington all throughout my childhood years (1970s to 1990s). I still fondly remember departing San Leandro every Friday night to begin our family’s 2 ½ hour ascent up the hill. The course of this drive also brought us through the lovely (and then rather sleepy) community of Valley Springs. Little did I know then that my parents would choose to retire in Valley Springs, and I would have the opportunity to spend even more time in its charming embrace. At first, I was slightly shocked that my parents chose to retire in Valley Springs. It always seemed a little hot as we would drive through in our non-air conditioned truck. But my impression changed indeed when I visited their property for the first time. It was a serene oasis located in an area which truly seemed to possess community spirit. My husband and I were recently married at that point in time, but somehow we knew that we must work hard in other parts of the nation so that we would have the opportunity to join my parents out in this wonderful area. What was so alluring to us, you might ask. Well, many of the things that Supervisor Erickson purports to conserve: natural beauty, tourism and local small businesses. Unfortunately, during my annual visits to the area these past four years, these are the very assets that are being flagrantly ripped away from Valley Springs. For those of you familiar with nature shows on television, I wish I could have videoed the “growth” of Valley Springs these past four years and then fast-forwarded the scenes at lightning speed. That, unfortunately, is the representation that I have of the area. To put it in real simple terms, it is DISGUSTING. If I wanted a Burger King, Subway, Starbucks, KFC, gourmet hot dog joint, etc. and its concomitant drive-by traffic I could stay in Rock Island, IL and visit my local strip street. What is local or small about any of those businesses? If I wanted natural beauty, I surely wouldn’t try to find it in some tract housing division. And tourism you might ask; what’s touristy about some nameless, faceless commuter village? Yes, the answer to that is again NOTHING! I urge all of you to think long and hard before you head into the balloting booth next week. To me, a visiting outsider, it is clear that this community is at a crossroads. What sort of community do you want to live in? Do you want to live in some garbage pit that serves the needs of those heading to and from the high Sierras, or do you want to live in a truly desirable destination which is charming not just to tourists but offers a quality of life to its residents which is unrivaled and sorely lacking throughout so much of this nation? While so many other communities throughout the nation are scrambling to create redevelopment programs that will make their areas more hospitable and reminiscent of yesteryear, don’t let Valley Springs enter into the development processes that will require redevelopment 25 years from now – it just doesn’t have to happen that way. FYI – my parents support Russell L. Thomas for Supervisor, 5th District. Kopriva M. Marshall nee MartinRock Island, IL
Thanks for loving Valley Springs!
I think it's great that you love Valley Springs so much. I grew up in Valley Springs. I can remember when Mar Val and Longs came in. Heck, I remember when the Texaco, now Shell Station, was built. Now I'm an Adult raising my own children. I love Valley Springs too. Yet I do think some growth is nessisary. The community has nothing to offer young people (well, now there is some). I had to leave Valley Springs to work and live at one point. Now I currently work in Angels Camp, closer but not close enough. And unfortunatly I have to work in another county AGAIN because I need to make enough to support my family. Yes it is sad that the beauty of Valley Springs is slowly leaving, but so many people are coming here to escape the city too. I think it's kinda flattering so many people love my community. Keep that love going for our community!