WILL CHAVEZ VISITS SACRAMENTO
It was our honor to host Will Chavez in our home in Roseville during his stay. We picked Will up at the airport at noon on Friday, October 27. After we unloaded his baggage, we took him up to Grass Valley where he wanted to visit the John Rollin Ridge Family Plot. We then toured the Empire Mine State Historic Park and Mansion Grounds. We ate dinner in Grass Valley, then went home to bed. Will slept under the protection of the Water Spider Blanket while he was here.
On Saturday, Will taught the Cherokee History Course presentation, Part 1, for the CNCV. All attendees were invited to have dinner with Will at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Roseville that evening. Sunday morning, we took Will to breakfast in Roseville. Sunday after completing Part 2 of the History Course, Will was presented the CNCV Glass Flame Award in appreciation for bringing the Cherokee Nation History Course to CNCV, as well as his participation in the CNCV Campout in July.
On Sunday after Will's presentation, we took him to see Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma. Ganel and Garrit Fenenga came along as well (they live close by, near Placerville). Ganel found the trail that traversed the mountainside up to the James W. Marshall Monument where Marshall is pointing to the spot on the American River where gold was first discovered in the tailrace of the sawmill.
We then drove up California's shortest State Highway (State Highway 153 is only a half mile long, up to the Marshall Monument). Will, Gan, Garrit, Liz, and I went to Mel's Diner in Placerville for eats. Monday morning, we did a quick breakfast at our home, then onto the airport. Will sent an email thanking the CNCV, noting and how he really enjoyed hiking the mountainside trail up to the Marshall Monument.
--Mike Webb
