Since You Asked: Junk food still available near YC High

Q: I thought Yuba City High School removed soda machines for nutritional reasons. I've noticed there's a vending truck selling Mexican food on Clark Avenue at the gym every day. How is the school district handling nutritional value if a private vendor is selling to the school kids during school hours? Is the sidewalk at the school gym considered school property?

A: School district officials may not be happy about students scarfing down fast food during the lunch hour — but there's not much they can do about it, according to Baldev Johal, the district's deputy superintendent of business services.

Since the taco truck is parked on a city street, the district has no more jurisdiction over it than it does over a restaurant, Johal said.

There's no agreement of any kind between the district and the truck operator, he said.

"Historically, the taco truck has been out there and, as evidenced by patronage by the students and its longevity, they must be doing well," Johal said.

Since the high school still has an open campus policy, students are free to leave during the lunch hour and eat whatever or wherever they want, he said.

"Our focus as a school district has been to educate our students as to the importance of making the right nutritional choices that lead to healthy lives," he said.

All food served in the school cafeteria — Mexican or otherwise — must meet strict state and federal nutrition guidelines.

"For example, lunch is based on a calorie count of 846 calories, of which less than 30 percent can be from fat and less than 10 percent from unsaturated fats," he said.

For students who don't like guidelines, a fat fix is only a hop, skip and jump away.

Reporters note: After last week's column about the 101-year-old factory building at F and 12th streets in Marysville, "Since You Asked" was politely set straight by Bill Checkvala, one of the building's owners. Seems it's not vacant (as it appears to the casual observer) but is being used as a warehouse by a local firm, Livewire, which sells fencing materials to area farms and ranches.

But the really interesting part came from Richard Neault, president of a new group called the Yuba County Museum of History, which he said is working with other historical groups to establish a county museum in the fortress-like building.

A meeting on the proposal is scheduled at 10 a.m. Oct. 10 at the First Presbyterian Church, 1940 Freeman St., Marysville.

The factory once turned out giant mining dredges that were shipped all over the world.

"Yuba County is rich with history that needs to be preserved and passed on to the future generations," said Neault.

The building could also include a Cold War museum, according to Neault and Checkvala.

Since You Asked is published Mondays. Send questions to reporter Rob Young at the Appeal-Democrat, P.O. Box 431, Marysville CA 95901, e-mail him at ryoung@ appealdemocrat.com or call (530) 749-4710.