Briefs: Library seeks donations for sale

Donations are sought for the upcoming Spring Book Sale by the Friends of the Sutter County Library.

Used or new books, video games, puzzles and DVDs are sought.

Donations can dropped off 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday to Saturday at the library, 750 Forbes Ave., Yuba City.

All proceeds go toward programs and activities hosted by the library.

The sale is set in March.

For more information, call Karen Lazzareschi at 755-2734.

Marysville

Program will cover Caltrans history

Historian Dana Hubbard is presenting the history of Caltrans in Marysville at the next Table Talks at the Yuba County Library, 303 Second St., Marysville.

The free program, at 3 p.m. Jan. 26, includes Hubbard's research on the history of CalTrans since 1895 and how it shaped Marysville.

The event also includes a Caltrans historian as a guest speaker.

Appointed by the governor as a state historian, Hubbard is a retired educator and vice president of the planned Yuba County Museum of History.

In addition, photos of D Street in Marysville from the 1860s are on display at the library.

For more information, call the library at 749-7380.

Marysville

Tour tells Chinatown story

A special walking tour of Marysville's Chinatown designed for children is planned at 1 p.m. Feb. 2, sponsored by the Friends of Bok Kai and Marysville-Peiking Sister City Association.

A donation of $15 is requested; space is limited.

Starting at the Bok Kai pavilion, at First and D streets, and ending at the Chinese School, the tour features the history of the Chinese new year, Chinatown and the Bok Kai Temple.

The program also includes traditional Chinese puppets telling the story of Bok Eye, the man who became a god.

In addition, each child receives a lucky dragon necklace and learns how to print in Chinese characters using bamboo brushes and ink.

Tickets can be purchased at the Candy Box, 415 D St., Marysville. Proceeds go to the Chinese School Restoration Funds.

For reservations, call 742-6508.

Yuba City

Fundraising dinner planned

A barbecue dinner and silent and live auctions are part of the second annual River Valley Community Foundation fundraising banquet at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Veterans Memorial Building in Yuba City.

Tickets are $50 per person or $1,000 for a table for eight. The memorial building is at 1425 Veterans Memorial Circle.

For reservations, or to donate auction and raffle items, call Mike Ziegenmeyer at 682-4201 or John Jelavich at 821-2460.

Money raised by the foundation will be redistributed this year to charitable and education organizations in the community.

In 2012, the foundation provided more than $40,000 to 27 causes in Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties.

Beale

Loud booms heard Tuesday were ordnance disposal

Booms heard from lower Yuba County all the way to Yuba City on Tuesday were caused by an explosive ordnance disposal, an official at Beale Air Force Base said.

Sgt. Eric Petosky said the explosions periodically happen on the base, with about one to three small shots done from a safe distance.

A number of residents reported hearing at least two booms sometime around 1 p.m.

"Sound travels in amazing ways sometimes ... especially when it's cloudy. You can tend to hear the sound from further away because it bounces off the clouds," Petosky said.

Yuba-Sutter

Celebration planned for returned Guard troops

Plans are under way for a Feb. 15 event to honor the recently returned Yuba-Sutter National Guard 2668th Transportation Company.

The event's organizational meeting is at 8:30 a.m. today at Perko's, 742 W. Onstott Frontage Road in Yuba City.

The welcome home celebration will be held Feb. 15 at the Veterans Memorial Building in Yuba City.

For more information, call Stephanie Ruscigno at 315-6722.

Yuba County

Small-business owners will have less tax paperwork

Small-business owners in Yuba County will see a reduction in tax paperwork, with a new form from the county assessor's office allowing them to fill out a simpler form three out of every four years.

The one-page direct billing statement, which could be used by more than 330 businesses in the county, would take the place of a longer form documenting property and equipment for the state Board of Equalization.

According to the county, the assessor's office is charged with assessing items of equipment and personal property held or used in connection with a business, trade or profession. The longer document would still need to be completed by a business owner every fourth year.

To qualify, businesses must have no more than $90,000 in equipment costs, somewhat consistent assets from year to year, and be current on filing the longer forms.