A sure sign that the seasons are changing. On October 1st, the campgrounds and seasonal roads in the Jackson Demonstration State Forest will close until spring. The closure means all unauthorized motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and ATVs, are prohibited. The state says the closure prevents forest roads from damage during wet weather. Some non-seasonal roads will stay open unless they have to be shut for weather or forest management activities. If you use one of them, you should avoid wet or muddy areas because rutting can cause damage, and the road surface may be slippery. Unlicensed vehicles and off-road travel are never allowed anywhere in state forests. While you can’t take any motorized vehicles on the seasonal roads after October 1st, you can still use them for hiking or horseback riding. There is more information available through CalFire’s website.
CalTrans has a plan to replace a historic and unique bridge on Highway 1 along the Mendocino Coast, but many locals aren’t happy. The Albion River Bridge is a landmark that soars 150 feet over the water below–built of wood in the 1940s because steel and concrete were in short supply due to the war. 80 years later, it’s the only wood-supported bridge CalTrans still owns. Engineers say it’s dangerous, with rotting timbers eaten away by decades of salt air, making the old bridge vulnerable to collapse in an earthquake. SF Gate reports Albion residents don’t like what CalTrans has come up with in its place. They say the arch-shaped design for the new structure is too sterile and would destroy what’s become a beloved symbol of the community. The new crossing just east of the current span would cost 136 million dollars and take 3 years, with work scheduled to start in 2028.
California may be about to have another official state holiday. A bill designating Diwali–the festival of lights–has passed in the legislature and is on the governor’s desk. The religious holiday is celebrated by Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains worldwide. Celebrants light small oil lamps, place them around the home, and pray for health, knowledge, and peace. It is usually in October or November– the main celebration of the five-day festival this year is on October 21st. Sponsors of the bill say it allows for participation in an important religious observance and deepens cultural understanding. The governor has until October 12th to sign it.
