Swine Flu Pandemic – Fact or Fiction?

Sent in by a reader to help you stay informed:

Critical Alert: The Swine Flu Pandemic – Fact or Fiction?

American health officials declared a public health emergency as cases of swine flu were confirmed in the U.S. Health officials across the world fear this could be the leading edge of a global pandemic emerging from Mexico, where seven people are confirmed dead as a result of the new virus.


On Wednesday April 29th, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its pandemic alert level to five on its six-level threat scale,1 which means they've determined that the virus is capable of human-to-human transmission. The initial outbreaks across North America reveal an infection already traveling at higher velocity than did the last official pandemic strain, the 1968 Hong Kong flu.

Phase 5 had never been declared since the warning system was introduced in 2005 in response to the avian influenza crisis. Phase 6 means a pandemic is under way. WHO now openly states it is not possible to contain the spread of this infection and recommends mitigation measures, not restricting travel or closing borders.

However, a pandemic does not necessarily mean what you think it does, it is NOT black-plague carts being hauled through the streets piled high with dead bodies. Nor does it mean flesh eating zombies wandering the streets feeding on the living. All a pandemic means is that a new infectious disease is spreading throughout the world.

The number of fatalities, and suspected and confirmed cases across the world change depending on the source, so your best bet -- if you want the latest numbers -- is to use Google Maps' Swine Flu Tracker.

Several nations have imposed travel bans, or made plans to quarantine air travelers2 that present symptoms of the swine flu, such as:

* Fever of more than 100
* Coughing
* Runny nose and/or sore throat
* Joint aches
* Severe headache
* Vomiting and/or diarrhea
* Lethargy
* Lack of appetite

Top global flu experts are trying to predict how dangerous the new swine flu strain will be, as it became clear that they had little information about Mexico's outbreak. It is as yet unclear how many cases occurred in the month or so before the outbreak was detected. It's also unknown whether the virus was mutating to be more lethal, or less.

Much Fear Mongering Being Promoted

I suspect you have likely been alarmed by the media's coverage of the swine flu scare. It has a noticeable subplot - preparing you for draconian measures to combat a future pandemic as well as forcing you to accept the idea of mandatory vaccinations.

On April 27, Time magazine published an article which discusses how dozens died and hundreds were injured from vaccines as a result of the 1976 swine flu fiasco, when the Ford administration attempted to use the infection of soldiers at Fort Dix as a pretext for a mass vaccination of the entire country.

Despite acknowledging that the 1976 farce was an example of “how not to handle a flu outbreak”, the article still introduces the notion that officials “may soon have to consider whether to institute draconian measures to combat the disease”.

Fortunately some respectable journalists recognize this and are seeking to spread a voice of reason to the fear that is being promoted in the majority of the media


WHO and CDC Pandemic Preparedness Seriously Broken

The pandemic warning system has failed as it simply doesn't exist, even in North America and Europe. To improve the system, massive new investments in surveillance, scientific and regulatory infrastructure, basic public health, and global access to common sense interventions like vitamin D optimization are required.

According to the Washington Post, the CDC did not learn about the outbreak until six days after Mexico had begun to impose emergency measures. There should be no excuses. The paradox of this swine flu panic is that, while totally unexpected, it was accurately predicted. Six years ago, Science dedicated a major story to evidence that "after years of stability, the North American swine flu virus has jumped onto an evolutionary fasttrack".

However, maybe this is precisely what public health authorities desire.


This is NOT the First Swine Flu Panic

My guess is that you can expect to see a lot of panic over this issue in the near future. But the key is to remain calm -- this isn't the first time the public has been warned about swine flu. The last time was in 1976, right before I entered medical school and I remember it very clearly. It resulted in the massive swine flu vaccine campaign.

Do you happen to recall the result of this massive campaign?

Within a few months, claims totaling $1.3 billion had been filed by victims who had suffered paralysis from the vaccine. The vaccine was also blamed for 25 deaths.

However, several hundred people developed crippling Guillain-Barré Syndrome after they were injected with the swine flu vaccine. Even healthy 20-year-olds ended up as paraplegics.

And the swine flu pandemic itself? It never materialized.

More People Died From the Swine Flu Vaccine than Swine Flu!

It is very difficult to forecast a pandemic, and a rash response can be extremely damaging.

To put things into perspective, malaria kills 3,000 people EVERY DAY, and it's considered "a health problem"... But of course, there are no fancy vaccines for malaria that can rake in billions of dollars in a short amount of time.

One Australian news source,3 for example, states that even a mild swine flu epidemic could lead to the deaths of 1.4 million people and would reduce economic growth by nearly $5 trillion dollars.

Give me a break, if this doesn't sound like the outlandish cries of the pandemic bird-flu I don't know what does. Do you remember when President Bush said two million Americans would die as a result of the bird flu?

In 2005, in 2006, 2007, and again in 2008, those fears were exposed as little more than a cruel hoax, designed to instill fear, and line the pocketbooks of various individuals and industry. I became so convinced by the evidence AGAINST the possibility of a bird flu pandemic that I wrote a New York Times bestselling book, The Bird Flu Hoax, all about the massive fraud involved with the epidemic that never happened..


What is the Swine Flu?

Regular swine flu is a contagious respiratory disease, caused by a type-A influenza virus that affects pigs. The current strain, A(H1N1), is a new variation of an H1N1 virus -- which causes seasonal flu outbreaks in humans -- that also contains genetic material of bird and pig versions of the flu.

Interestingly enough, this version has never before been seen in neither human nor animal, which I will discuss a bit later.

This does sound bad. But not so fast. There are a few reasons to not rush to conclusions that this is the deadly pandemic we've been told would occur in the near future (as if anyone could predict it without having some sort of inside knowledge).


Why a True Bird- or Swine Flu Pandemic is HIGHLY Unlikely

While in my opinion it is highly likely factory farming is responsible for producing this viral strain, I believe there is still no cause for concern.

You may not know this, but all H1N1 flu's are descendants of the 1918 pandemic strain. The reason why the flu shot may or may not work, however, from year to year, is due to mutations. Therefore, there's no vaccine available for this current hybrid flu strain, and naturally, this is feeding the fear that millions of people will die before a vaccine can be made.

However, let me remind you of one very important fact here.

Just a couple of months ago, scientists concluded that the 1918 flu pandemic that killed between 50-100 million people worldwide in a matter of 18 months -- which all these worst case scenarios are built upon -- was NOT due to the flu itself!4

Instead, they discovered the real culprit was strep infections.

People with influenza often get what is known as a "superinfection" with a bacterial agent. In 1918 it appears to have been Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Since strep is much easier to treat than the flu using modern medicine, a new pandemic would likely be much less dire than it was in the early 20th century, the researchers concluded.

Others, such as evolutionary biologist Paul Ewald,5 claim that a pandemic of this sort simply cannot happen, because in order for it to occur, the world has to change. Not the virus itself, but the world.

In a previous interview for Esquire magazine, in which he discusses the possibility of a bird flu pandemic, he states:

"They think that if a virus mutates, it's an evolutionary event. Well, the virus is mutating because that is what viruses and other pathogens do. But evolution is not just random mutation. It is random mutation coupled with natural selection; it is a battle for competitive advantage among different strains generated by random mutation.

For bird flu to evolve into a human pandemic, the strain that finds a home in humanity has to be a strain that is both highly virulent and highly transmissible. Deadliness has to translate somehow into popularity; H5N1 has to find a way to kill or immobilize its human hosts, and still find other hosts to infect. Usually that doesn't happen."

Ewald goes on to explain that evolution in general is all about trade-offs, and in the evolution of infections the trade-off is between virulence and transmissibility.

What this means is that in order for a "bird flu" or "swine flu" to turn into a human pandemic, it has to find an environment that favors both deadly virulence and ease of transmission.

People living in squalor on the Western Front at the end of World War I generated such an environment, from which the epidemic of 1918 could arise.

Likewise, crowded chicken farms, slaughterhouses, and jam-packed markets of eastern Asia provide another such environment, and that environment gave rise to the bird flu -- a pathogen that both kills and spreads, in birds, but not in humans.

Says Ewald:

"We know that H5N1 is well adapted to birds. We also know that it has a hard time becoming a virus that can move from person to person. It has a hard time without our doing anything. But we can make it harder. We can make sure it has no human population in which to evolve transmissibility. There is no need to rely on the mass extermination of chickens. There is no need to stockpile vaccines for everyone.

By vaccinating just the people most at risk -- the people who work with chickens and the caregivers -- we can prevent it from becoming transmissible among humans. Then it doesn't matter what it does in chickens."

Please remember that, despite the fantastic headlines and projections of MILLIONS of deaths, the H5N1 bird flu virus killed a mere 257 people worldwide since late 2003. As unfortunate as those deaths are, 257 deaths worldwide from any disease, over the course of five years, simply does not constitute an emergency worthy of much attention, let alone fear!

Honestly, your risk of being killed by a lightning strike in the last five years was about 2,300 percent higher than your risk of contracting and dying from the bird flu.6 I'm not kidding! In just one year (2004), more than 1,170 people died from lighting strikes, worldwide.7

So please, as the numbers of confirmed swine flu cases are released, keep a level head and don't let fear run away with your brains.


So is the Swine Flu Getting More or Less Dangerous?

On Sunday, April 26, The Independent reported that more than 1,000 people had contracted the swine flu virus in Mexico, 8 but by the afternoon that same day, Mexican President Calderon declared that more than two-thirds of the 1,300 thought to have contracted the disease had been given a clean bill of health and sent home.9

Additionally, the number of actual confirmed cases appears to be far lower than reported in many media outlets, leading me to believe that many reporters are interchanging the terms "suspected cases" and "confirmed cases."

Interestingly Mexico is the ONLY country in the world where someone has actually died from this disease.Mexico has reported 159 fatalities in flu-like cases in recent days, seven of which have been confirmed as swine flu. Another 19 patients have been confirmed as having swine flu but surviving. Although some insiders at WHO believe these numbers are seriously inflated and could be as low as single digits.
By contrast, the United States has had 109 confirmed cases, five hospitalizations and no deaths from US Citizens. On April 29th CNN reported the first swine fatality in the US, however this was actually a child from Mexico that died in Texas.

According to the World Health Organization's Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response site; as of April 30 there are:

* 109 in U.S. -- 1 death (from Mexican child that died in Texas) (reported by CDC as of April 30)
* 26 in Mexico -- 7 deaths
* 19 in Canada -- 0 deaths
* 13 in Spain -- 0 deaths
* 8 in United Kingdom -- 0 deaths
* 3 in Germany -- 0 deaths
* 2 in Israel -- 0 deaths
* 1 in Switzerland -- 0 deaths
* 1 in Austria -- 0 deaths
* 1 in Netherlands -- 0 deaths

Additionally, nearly all suspected new cases have been reported as mild.

Personally, I am highly skeptical. It simply doesn't add up to a real pandemic.

But it does raise serious questions about where this brand new, never before seen virus came from, especially since it cannot be contracted from eating pork products, and has never before been seen in pigs, and contains traits from the bird flu -- and which, so far, only seems to respond to Tamiflu. Are we just that lucky, or... what?


Your Fear Will Make Some People VERY Rich in Today's Crumbling Economy

According to the Associated Press at least one financial analyst estimates up to $388 million worth of Tamiflu sales in the near future10 -- and that's without a pandemic outbreak.

More than half a dozen pharmaceutical companies, including Gilead Sciences Inc., Roche, GlaxoSmithKline and other companies with a stake in flu treatments and detection, have seen a rise in their shares in a matter of days, and will likely see revenue boosts if the swine flu outbreak continues to spread.

As soon as Homeland Security declared a health emergency, 25 percent -- about 12 million doses -- of Tamiflu and Relenza treatment courses were released from the nation's stockpile. However, beware that the declaration also allows unapproved tests and drugs to be administered to children. Many health- and government officials are more than willing to take that chance with your life, and the life of your child. But are you?

Remember, Tamiflu went through some rough times not too long ago, as the dangers of this drug came to light when, in 2007, the FDA finally began investigating some 1,800 adverse event reports related to the drug. Common side effects of Tamiflu include:

* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Diarrhea
* Headache
* Dizziness
* Fatigue
* Cough

All in all, the very symptoms you're trying to avoid.

More serious symptoms included convulsions, delirium or delusions, and 14 deaths in children and teens as a result of neuropsychiatric problems and brain infections (which led Japan to ban Tamiflu for children in 2007). And that's for a drug that, when used as directed, only reduces the duration of influenza symptoms by 1 to 1 ½ days, according to the official data.

But making matters worse, some patients with influenza are at HIGHER risk for secondary bacterial infections when on Tamiflu. And secondary bacterial infections, as I mentioned earlier, was likely the REAL cause of the mass fatalities during the 1918 pandemic!


Where did This Mysterious New Animal-Human Flu Strain Come From?

Alongside the fear-mongering headlines, I've also seen increasing numbers of reports questioning the true nature of this virus. And rightfully so.

Could a mixed animal-human mutant like this occur naturally? And if not, who made it, and how was it released?

Not one to dabble too deep in conspiracy theories, I don't have to strain very hard to find actual facts to support the notion that this may not be a natural mutation, and that those who stand to gain have the wherewithal to pull off such a stunt.

Just last month I reported on the story that the American pharmaceutical company Baxter was under investigation for distributing the deadly avian flu virus to 18 different countries as part of a seasonal flu vaccine shipment. Czech reporters were probing to see if it may have been part of a deliberate attempt to start a pandemic; as such a "mistake" would be virtually impossible under the security protocols of that virus.

The H5N1 virus on its own is not very airborne. However, when combined with seasonal flu viruses, which are more easily spread, the effect could be a potent, airborne, deadly, biological weapon. If this batch of live bird flu and seasonal flu viruses had reached the public, it could have resulted in dire consequences.

There is a name for this mixing of viruses; it's called "reassortment," and it is one of two ways pandemic viruses are created in the lab. Some scientists say the most recent global outbreak -- the 1977 Russian flu -- was started by a virus created and leaked from a laboratory.

Another example of the less sterling integrity of Big Pharma is the case of Bayer, who sold millions of dollars worth of an injectable blood-clotting medicine to Asian, Latin American, and some European countries in the mid-1980s, even though they knew it was tainted with the AIDS virus.

So while it is morally unthinkable that a drug company would knowingly contaminate flu vaccines with a deadly flu virus such as the bird- or swine flu, it is certainly not impossible. It has already happened more than once.

But there seems to be no repercussions or hard feelings when industry oversteps the boundaries of morality and integrity and enters the arena of obscenity. Because, lo and behold, which company has been chosen to head up efforts, along with WHO, to produce a vaccine against the Mexican swine flu?

Baxter!11 Despite the fact that ink has barely dried on the investigative reports from their should-be-criminal "mistake" against humanity.

According to other sources,12 a top scientist for the United Nations, who has examined the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in Africa, as well as HIV/AIDS victims, has concluded that the current swine flu virus possesses certain transmission "vectors" that suggest the new strain has been genetically-manufactured as a military biological warfare weapon.

The UN expert believes that Ebola, HIV/AIDS, and the current A-H1N1 swine flu virus are biological warfare agents.

In addition, Army criminal investigators are looking into the possibility that disease samples are missing from biolabs at Fort Detrick -- the same Army research lab from which the 2001 anthrax strain was released, according to a recent article in the Fredrick News Post.13 In February, the top biodefense lab halted all its research into Ebola, anthrax, plague, and other diseases known as "select agents," after they discovered virus samples that weren't listed in its inventory and might have been switched with something else.


Factory Farming Maybe Source of Swine Flu

Another theory as to the cause of Swine Flu might be factory farming. In the United States, pigs travel coast to coast. They can be bred in North Carolina, fattened in the corn belt of Iowa, and slaughtered in California.

While this may reduce short-term costs for the pork industry, the highly contagious nature of diseases like influenza (perhaps made further infectious by the stresses of transport) needs to be considered when calculating the true cost of long-distance live animal transport.

The majority of U.S. pig farms now confine more than 5,000 animals each. With a group of 5,000 animals, if a novel virus shows up it will have more opportunity to replicate and potentially spread than in a group of 100 pigs on a small farm.

With massive concentrations of farm animals within which to mutate, these new swine flu viruses in North America seem to be on an evolutionary fast track, jumping and reassorting between species at an unprecedented rate.


Should You Accept a Flu Vaccine -- Just to be Safe?

Watch the video above to see ridiculous 1976 commercials promoting Swine Flu shots.

As stated in the New York Times14 and elsewhere, flu experts have no idea whether the current seasonal flu vaccine would offer any protection whatsoever against this exotic mutant, and it will take months to create a new one.

But let me tell you, getting vaccinated now would not only offer no protection and potentially cause great harm, it would most likely be loaded with toxic mercury which is used as a preservative in most flu vaccines..

I've written extensively about the numerous dangers (and ineffectiveness) of flu vaccines, and why I do not recommend them to anyone. So no matter what you hear -- even if it comes from your doctor -- don't get a regular flu shot. They rarely work against seasonal flu...and certainly can't offer protection against a never-before- seen strain.

Currently, the antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza are the only drugs that appear effective against the (human flu) H1N1 virus, and I strongly believe taking Tamiflu to protect yourself against this new virus could be a serious mistake -- for all the reasons I already mentioned above.

But in addition to the dangerous side effects of Tamiflu, there is also growing evidence of resistance against the drug. In February, the pre-publication and preliminary findings journal called Nature Precedings published a paper on this concern, stating15:

The dramatic rise of oseltamivir [Tamiflu] resistance in the H1N1 serotype in the 2007/2008 season and the fixing of H274Y in the 2008/2009 season has raised concerns regarding individuals at risk for seasonal influenza, as well as development of similar resistance in the H5N1 serotype [bird flu].

Previously, oseltamivir resistance produced changes in H1N1 and H3N2 at multiple positions in treated patients. In contrast, the recently reported resistance involved patients who had not recently taken oseltamivir.

It's one more reason not to bother with this potentially dangerous drug.

And, once a specific swine flu drug is created, you can be sure that it has not had the time to be tested in clinical trials to determine safety and effectiveness, which puts us right back where I started this article -- with a potential repeat of the last dangerous swine flu vaccine, which destroyed the lives of hundreds of people.

Topping the whole mess off, of course, is the fact that if the new vaccine turns out to be a killer, the pharmaceutical companies responsible are immune from lawsuits -- something I've also warned about before on numerous occasions.

Unfortunately, those prospects won't stop the governments of the world from mandating the vaccine -- a scenario I hope we can all avoid.

How to Protect Yourself Without Dangerous Drugs and Vaccinations
For now, my point is that there are always going to be threats of flu pandemics, real or created, and there will always be potentially toxic vaccines that are peddled as the solution. But you can break free of that whole drug-solution trap by following some natural health principles.

I have not caught a flu in over two decades, and you can avoid it too, without getting vaccinated, by following these simple guidelines, which will keep your immune system in optimal working order so that you're far less likely to acquire the infection to begin with.

* Optimize your vitamin D levels. As I've previously reported, optimizing your vitamin D levels is one of the absolute best strategies for avoiding infections of ALL kinds, and vitamin D deficiency is likely the TRUE culprit behind the seasonality of the flu -- not the flu virus itself.

This is probably the single most important and least expensive action you can take. I would STRONGLY urge you to have your vitamin D level monitored to confirm your levels are therapeutic at 50-70 ng.ml and done by a reliable vitamin D lab like Lab Corp.

For those of you in the US we hope to launch a vitamin D testing service through Lab Corp that allows you to have your vitamin D levels checked at your local blood drawing facility, and relatively inexpensively. We hope to offer this service by June 2009.

If you are coming down with flu like symptoms and have not been on vitamin D you can take doses of 50,000 units a day for three days to treat the acute infection. Some researchers like Dr. Cannell, believe the dose could even be as high as 1000 units per pound of body weight for three days.

However, most of Dr. Cannell's work was with seasonal and not pandemic flu. If your body has never been exposed to the antigens there is chance that the vitamin D might not work. However the best bet is to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D around 60 ng/ml.

BUT to keep this in perspective the regular flu, not the swine flu, has killed 13,000 in the US since January. But there is strong support that these types of figures are grossly exaggerated to increase vaccine sales. However, the fact remains that the regular flu at this point in time is FAR more dangerous than the swine flu and were you worried about the regular flu before the media started talking this up?

* Avoid Sugar and Processed Foods. Sugar decreases the function of your immune system almost immediately, and as you likely know, a strong immune system is key to fighting off viruses and other illness. Be aware that sugar is present in foods you may not suspect, like ketchup and fruit juice.

* Get Enough Rest. Just like it becomes harder for you to get your daily tasks done if you're tired, if your body is overly fatigued it will be harder for it to fight the flu. Be sure to check out my article Guide to a Good Night's Sleep for some great tips to help you get quality rest.

* Have Effective Tools to Address Stress . We all face some stress every day, but if stress becomes overwhelming then your body will be less able to fight off the flu and other illness.

If you feel that stress is taking a toll on your health, consider using an energy psychology tool such as the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), which is remarkably effective in relieving stress associated with all kinds of events, from work to family to trauma. You can check out my free, 25-page EFT manual for some guidelines on how to perform EFT.

* Exercise. When you exercise, you increase your circulation and your blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are also better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of finding an illness before it spreads. You can review my exercise guidelines for some great tips on how to get started.

* Take a good source of animal based omega-3 fats like Krill Oil. Increase your intake of healthy and essential fats like the omega-3 found in krill oil, which is crucial for maintaining health. It is also vitally important to avoid damaged omega-6 oils that are trans fats and in processed foods as it will seriously damage your immune response.

* Wash Your Hands. Washing your hands will decrease your likelihood of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth or other people. Be sure you don't use antibacterial soap for this -- antibacterial soaps are completely unnecessary, and they cause far more harm than good. Instead, identify a simple chemical-free soap that you can switch your family to.

* Eat Garlic Regularly. Garlic works like a broad-spectrum antibiotic against bacteria, virus, and protozoa in the body. And unlike with antibiotics, no resistance can be built up so it is an absolutely safe product to use. However, if you are allergic or don't enjoy garlic it would be best to avoid as it will likely cause more harm than good.

* Avoid Hospitals and Vaccines In this particular case, I'd also recommend you stay away from hospitals unless you're having an emergency, as hospitals are prime breeding grounds for infections of all kinds, and could be one of the likeliest places you could be exposed to this new bug. Vaccines will not be available for six months at the minimum but when available they will be ineffective and can lead to crippling paralysis like Guillain-Barré Syndrome just as it did in the 70s.

Source: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/29/Swine-Flu.aspx

Read article »

ART STREET in Healdbsurg

CELEBRATE HEALDSBURG AND CELEBRATE THE ARTS
SATURDAY, MAY 9

Plaza Arts Center hosts Celebrate the Arts on "ART STREET" on Saturday, May 9 as part of Celebrate Healdsburg 2009, a food, wine & art event on the plaza and surrounding streets.

Join Plaza Arts Center on this special day when Plaza Street is transformed into "ART STREET" complete with an Art Fair, Art Raffle and Art Demonstrations, Art Education, activities and fun for both children and adults.


Events on "ART STREET" from noon until 6 p.m. on May 9 include:

"Own Original Art for $5" - Art Raffle:
This is your opportunity to own an original piece of art or jewelry for $5 a chance. Each ticket is $5 or $20 for 5 tickets. Tickets can be purchased at the gallery or from any of the gallery Artists. There are 12 beautiful works of art and jewelry available for you to select from. Each of your purchased raffle tickets will apply towards a separate drawing on one of these works. So, you can buy tickets for as many artworks as you like. Stop in at the gallery at any time to view the artwork or visit "ART STREET" during Celebrate Healdsburg. The raffle drawings will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 9 at the gallery.


Art Fair: Plaza Arts Center Resident and Associate Artists, Members and invited guests will be displaying their artwork, jewelry and crafts at the Art Fair.


T-Shirt Painting: There will be a t-shirt painting in a booth for children and adults. $15 includes a t-shirt and all the painting materials.


Mural Painting for Children: We will have a free mural painting activity for children. Late afternoon, we will auction off the mural!


Plaza Arts Education Program: Free demonstrations and activities promoting our summer art classes.


In the gallery: The annual Plaza Arts members show themed, "As You Like It" is on display in our gallery. There are over 60 members exhibiting in this show. The works of our Resident and Associate Artists are also on display in the gallery.


Plaza Arts Center is a non-profit, community gallery and arts center dedicated to enriching the artistic life of our community through art classes for youth and adults, gallery shows and social events, and support of local school art programs.


Plaza Arts Center is located at 130 Plaza Street, Healdsburg is open daily from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Beginning May 1, we will be open on the first Friday of every month for ArtWalk from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. For more information, please visit our website at www.PlazaArtsCenter.org or contact the gallery at (707) 431-1970.


Oil Painting by Gerald Stinski for Raffle.

Read article »

Fundraiser for Sebastopol Public Schools

SEBASTOPOL EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
FUNDRAISER FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DINNER / AUCTION / LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2009, 5:30 – 11:00 pm
‘On the Green’ at O’REILLY & ASSOCIATES, 1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol

HAVE FUN AND RAISE FUNDS FOR SEBASTOPOL SCHOOLS*

Featuring: DINNER BY GERARD’S PAELLA
A local favorite and legendary paella chef for Hollywood celebrities, as well as the highlight of the Occidental farmer’s market, he uses only local farm fresh produce and fresh seafood. Gerard is wonderfully engaging and entertaining, sharing the rich its history while cooking his famous two hour layered paella. Guests will have a choice of paellas – seafood, chicken or vegetarian. www.gerardspaella.com

UNIQUE AND EXCITING AUCTION ITEMS
An extensive and unique collection of wines is available as part of the Spanish Fiesta Auction on May 16 – from a signed magnum of Merry Edwards’ famous Pinot Noir to the Korbel champagne used at Obama’s inauguration and more! Preview our growing list at www.sefauction.org.

DRINKS, APPETIZERS & DESSERT
Enjoy a no-host bar featuring sangria, as well as fine local wines and beer.
Delicious appetizers and spectacular desserts are included with the price of admission.

LIVE MUSIC BY DGIIN
Pronounced just like the alcohol ‘gin’, similarly clear and strong, DGIIN is a wildly popular North Bay band with a unique style that brings together various cultures and influences with songs sung mainly in French with an intoxicating beat: French-Gypsy-Funk with a twist of Flamenco and Django. www.dgiin.com

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
BY THE ALCHEMYSTICS
Thrill to the excitement of live fire dancing by the ALCHEMYSTICS who will perform a wild and original Flamenco dance.

HONOR ARTIST PATRICK AMIOT
Endowing Sebastopol and beyond with a legacy of original, fun, witty and intelligent sculptures, Patrick Amiot (pronounced ah –me-o), has long supported Sebastopol public schools by donating the sales of his famous annual calendar. This is your chance to meet and honor him and his family at the event.

ONLINE AUCTION
April 23 – May 9, 2009
Go to www.sefauction.org
Bid on awesome stuff for the necessities of your home, garden, recreation, and body.

TICKETS AND INFORMATION
$50 per person, before May 1
$45 per person when reserving a table for eight, before May 1
$60 per person on or after May 1
To purchase tickets go to: sef.sebastopolschools.org for the Spanish Fiesta on Saturday, May 16.
For more information call or email: 707-824-0361 or sefauction@sebastopolschools.org

*All proceeds benefit Park Side, Pine Crest and Brook Haven School

Read article »

GoLocal Economic Summit September 18 and 19

This will be a very interactive, "roll-up-our-sleeves" event focused on
Economic Localization.

It will be held at the Petaluma Community Center and we will be joined by Michael Shuman, an expert in Economic Localization.

We have already received many exciting "Big Ideas" for the idea gallery.

If you or your organization is working on a project that will help stimulate the local economy, create local green jobs and or localize goods and services, please submit your idea to present at the Summit. You can learn more at www.golocal.coop.

Please mark your calendars for September 18-19th.

Thank you!
Kelley & the GoLocal team
www.golocal.coop
707-888-6105

Read article »

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED at Forestville Cemetery

The Forestville Historical Society needs volunteers for a cemetery cleanup. It will be held at the Forestville Cemetery on Saturday, May 16 between 9:00 am and 12 noon.

There will be trimming, pruning, picking up and other chores.

The Forestville Historical Society will furnish ammonia for spraying and cleaning headstones. If you are able to attend call Phil Marcucci at 544-4789 for more information

Read article »

iWalk Guerneville - Community Walks for Health

Come Join Us On A Community Walk!
The WCHC Wellness Committee
along with other enthusiastic members
of our community will be taking you on a walk.

Look for our tent at the
Sonoma Nesting Company
16200 Main St, Guerneville
Saturday, May 16 @ 10:00am

Come join us for a walk around downtown Guerneville
or take the 4 mile walk to Armstrong Woods and back!

Enjoy complimentary water provided by local businesses.

Sonoma County Health Action is launching iWALK, the first initiative under the Health Action umbrella for improving the health of Sonoma County residents.

Any community is welcome to become an iWALK community for the purpose of celebrating and expanding our population’s commitment to healthy living.

The goals are to …

• Mobilize significant numbers of people to join existing walking groups or form
new ones, or just walk
• Increase the availability of walking groups in Sonoma County communities
• Increase the walkability of communities all over the county

For more information: www.iwalksonoma.org

Read article »

Bill Moyers Interviews William Black about our Economy

Dear Vesta,
I've just watched the 15 minute PBS Bill Moyers interview with William Black, former fraud advisor to the US government, link below. It tells a pretty dire story about our financial mess, but at the end, William Black gives some very optimistic hopeful advice about how we can regain our integrity. If you get a chance to watch it, you may find it useful, and you may find a way to let your readers know about it. I haven't watched the other film about Argentina as yet. - Dee

Ask not for whom the bell tolls...

In 1900, Argentina was one of the richest, most promising countries in the world.

Just 100 years later it was, well... Argentina, a beautiful, cultured, wonderful place that's such an economic basket case that many of its promising young people emigrate to Mexico to find work and opportunities.

What happened to this country so rich in natural resources?

The bankers squeezed it dry is what happened.

Could such a thing happen in the US?

If you're talking about the future of middle class America, yes.

And not only that, it is happening.

In just under 15 minutes Adrian Saibuchi, a financial analyst from Argentina, explains how what happened to his country is now happening to ours, and what the outcome will be:

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/596.html

And if you missed Bill Moyers' interview with William K. Black, former director of the Fraud Prevention Institute, who explains in more detail how the financial sector has deliberately defrauded the entire world you can watch it here:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04032009/watch.html

Read article »

Water Conservation Alert - ACTION NEEDED!

We need YOU and your friends to write a letter to the State Water Board by April 24 and speak up for protecting water quality in the River! We will be urging the Board to modify the low-flow order to better protect the River during what will be a long, hot summer.

The State Water Board is about to act on water conservation policy that will impact Russian River communites when it sets madates for river flows. The deadline for letters to be included in their packets of decision-making material is April 24th - BUT - you can stil send letter of your concerns if you miss that particular deadline. Keeping the water board informed of impacts their decisions have on or communities is vital to the health and well-being of many.

Please see that sample letter below and re-write it according to your own concerns. You can copy it from this page. I'm also giving you a link to the Russian Riverkeeper web site so you can get a WORD document of ths letter and learn more on our river and water issues.

LETTER MUST BE SENT TO BOTH PARTIES LISTED IN THE ADDRESS SECTION!

Thanks for being a participating member of our home.

http://www.russianriverkeeper.com/

Template of letter

(Insert Date)

Jeannie Townsend
Clerk to the Board
State Water Resources Control Board
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Randy Poole
General Manager/ Chief Engineer
Sonoma County Water Agency
PO Box 11628
Santa Rosa, CA 95406
(E-mail commentletters@waterboards.ca.gov & randy.poole@scwa.ca.gov)

RE: Comments for May 6th Workshop on Order WR 2009-0027-DWR


Dear Chairman Hoppin and Members of the Board,

I am writing to express my concern regarding impacts related to Order 2009-0027- DWR and modifications in permit terms that would reduce those impacts. The reduction in flows will cause severe impacts to water quality, recreation, community water systems, over-summering juvenile salmon and Steelhead as well as the lower River economy that depends on a healthy Russian River.

--------------------------
Your personal story here…..make it personal, include your history on the river and why ensuring a healthy river is important to you.
For example:

I have lived along the Russian River for 25 years and spend most days at the River swimming with our family. I am concerned that without additional protections this flow reduction will result in the river not being clean enough for my family to swim in this summer.

Or-

I have lived in the lower River area for 15 years and have seen how the past low water years of 2004 and 2007 caused the river to become filled with algae and warmer than a bathtub. Talking to some friends in town their businesses suffered from less visitors because people were staying away due to the low flows. The lower river economy depends on summer visitors to make it through each year and this flow reduction will harm local businesses.
--------------------------------

In order to reduce the impacts from reduced flows under Order 2009-0027-DWR we urge you on May 6 to take action to protect water quality and beneficial uses in the Russian River.
Specifically we urge you to:

- Increase frequency of chemical water quality monitoring to every two weeks with results posted promptly on a public website to proactively prevent water quality problems such as algae blooms from increased nutrient concentrations

- Include new provisions in the order to require flow changes in response to violations in water quality standards or as needed to protect juvenile ESA listed fish over the summer, the water agency released water to protect grapes from frost on April 14 to 16th so we expect increases to protect water quality as well

- Installation of additional gauges as needed to ensure instantaneous flow compliance levels are maintained, in 2004 and 2007 compliance levels were violated under previous orders

- A minimum of 25% mandatory conservation for SCWA customers and all users downstream of Dry Creek to to help maintain flows and conserve water in case of multi-year drought.

- Mandatory conservation by all permitted water diversions upstream of Dry Creek including agricultural and rural residential diversions and streamside wells pumping underflow

- Additional prohibitions in the Order on diversions that are not permitted in critically dry conditions or if needed a separate order restraining those unpermitted diversions to protect water storage in Lake Mendocino and maintain higher flows

- Keep order prohibition on commercial turf irrigation in SCWA service area and expand to include all commercial turf using water from the Russian River

We believe that modifying the order to include these provisions will improve protection of water quality, juvenile endangered fish and likely result in somewhat higher flows due to reduced diversions. We greatly appreciate your consideration of our comments.

Sincerely,


(Your name)

BACKGROUND INFORMATION - from Russian Riverkeeper Don Mc Enhill

Friend of the Russian River,

We need YOU and your friends to write a letter to the State Water Resources Control Board, if possible before April 23rd, to let them know about the severe impacts that will result from reducing flows under their recent Order 2009-0027-DWR.

Background:
Due to reduced rainfall and poor management we are facing the lowest levels in Lake Mendocino in 32 years. This caused the Sonoma County Water Agency to petition to reduce flows to conserve water in the Lake to provide for flows all summer and for fall king salmon migration. The State Water Resources Control Board issued Order 2009-0027-DWR to allow SCWA to reduce flows this summer. This order was signed without a public meeting so Riverkeeper objected and a meeting will be held on May 6th in Sacramento to listen to public comments and potentially modify the order. The Board can change the order as a result of the workshop and Riverkeeper and others will be giving comments at the hearing and your letters will help support our calls for the State Board to do the right thing and improve the order to better protect the river and provide the best flows possible in this difficult year.

This decision will reduce flows to critically dry year levels of 35 cubic feet per second (cfs) or a 72% reduction from a normal water year and a 59% reduction from a dry water year. Part of this is due to lack of rain and part is due to lack of proper water management. A flow reduction down to 35 cfs could mean more algae blooms that harm juvenile salmon and river recreation, increases in pollutants that will harm recreation and could impact local wells and severe impacts to the local economy that depends on a healthy Russian River.

There are ways the State Water Board can reduce the impacts on the lower Russian River community and your letter will help them make a good decision for the health of the River and our endangered fish. We need people to inform the Board members how bad the impacts will be and what they will mean to you personally either due to impacts on your families recreation or impacts to river wildlife and water quality.

We need you to support calls for:

- Increase frequency of chemical water quality monitoring to every two weeks with results posted promptly on a public website to proactively prevent water quality problems such as algae blooms from increased nutrient concentrations

- Include new provisions in the order to require flow changes in response to violations in water quality standards or as needed to protect juvenile ESA listed fish over the summer; the water agency released water to protect grapes from frost on April 14 to 16th so we expect increases to protect water quality as well

- Installation of additional gauges as needed to ensure instantaneous flow compliance levels are maintained, in 2004 and 2007 compliance levels were violated under previous orders

- A minimum of 25% mandatory conservation for SCWA customers and all users downstream of Dry Creek to help maintain flows and conserve water in case of multi-year drought

- Mandatory conservation by all permitted water diversions upstream of Dry Creek including agricultural and rural residential diversions and streamside wells pumping underflow

- Additional prohibitions in the Order on diversions that are not permitted in critically dry conditions or if needed a separate order restraining those unpermitted diversions to protect water storage in Lake Mendocino and maintain higher flows

- Keep order prohibition on commercial turf irrigation in SCWA service area and expand to include all commercial turf using water from the Russian River

We have provided a basic template e-mail but if you have time please do write a personal letter of your own.

Try and include some information about the impact the flow reduction would have, how it would impact you specifically and what you want the State board to do (list above). It won't hurt to have some people asking for an increase in flow levels, unfortunately there isn't much more than water they can add but they still need to hear that request especially as the SCWA works to permanently reduce flows in the future.

Deadline for including in Board members meeting packets Friday April 24th - if you talk to friends after the 24th letters still go in the record and make a difference but if at all possible getting them in before the 24th is best. As per Board procedures on water rights we have to also send a copy to SCWA. Be sure to include Order 2009-0027-DWR in your subject line.

Addresses: -Letters:
Jeannie Townsend
Clerk to the Board
State Water Resources Control Board
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Randy Poole
General Manager/ Chief Engineer
Sonoma County Water Agency
PO Box 11628
Santa Rosa, CA 95406

In case you want to include the individual board members as addressees they are:
Charles R. Hoppin, Chair
Francis Spivey-Weber, Vice-Chair
Arthur G. Baggett Jr.
Tam M Doduc

E-mail commentletters@waterboards.ca.gov & randy.poole@scwa.ca.gov
Fax: SB - 916-341-5620 & scwa 707-544-6123
Call Riverkeeper at 433-1958 f

Read article »

IMAGE GALLERY: El Molino Little League Opening Day '09

El Molino Little league Opening Day
April 2009
at the Forestville Youth Park in Forestville

And the parents who cheer their children on...

And the volunteers who work the Snack Shack that brings in funding for Little league

Read article »

IMAGE GALLERY: Forestville's Easter Egg Hunt 2009

The Great Easter Egg Hunt 2009
Sponsored by the Forestville Chamber of Commerce

For Kids of all ages...

Coloring Contest Winners:

The RACE is On!

Our Easter Bunny...

More than the candy is sweet!

Read article »

EFREN CARILLO: Hot, Cool amd Green

APRIL 2009 ISSUE COLUMN - scroll down for previous columns...

On March 25th, The Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP) opened its storefront (Energy Store) inside the Water Agency headquarters with a large crowd in attendance. That day, our County became the first in California to launch an innovative and exciting way for homeowners and businesses to retrofit their properties for energy and water efficiency. According to the Climate Protection Campaign’s Action Plan, retrofitting 80% of Sonoma County properties by 2015 will be one of the steps needed to reach our carbon footprint goals.

Here are some of the highlights:
The big news is that financing for your improvements will be an assessment on your property, which can be paid off over a 5-20 year period. Using an assessment to finance means that the amount borrowed does not show as consumer debt or affect your credit rating. It shows on title searches to the property, and would remain with the property during changes in ownership.
Hopefully, this encourages people to seriously consider retrofitting, which should save money, energy, and water over the lifetime of the improvement.

Tax dollars are not being used to finance the program. Instead the investment by the County treasury in helping people retrofit will be revenue neutral, with interest paid (currently 7%) to cover program overhead and costs of future bond funds.

The minimum advance is $2500, with the maximum advance limited by property values.
Use of SCEIP funding is limited to energy or water efficiency improvements which are permanently affixed to the property. These include, but are not limited to:

• high efficiency windows
• solar or tankless water heaters
• solar panels
• upgrading wall and roof insulation (including cool roofs)
• duct sealing and high efficiency heating and cooling systems
• ‘smart’ irrigation systems (see next section!)

Other options can be proposed and approved if an efficiency value can be proven.
The Energy Store reports that there has been a great deal of interest in the program. They are already processing applications, and took in 5 the first day! That really says something about how excited people are to have this option, as there is some planning involved. You will need to have current property taxes, clear title to the property (mortgages are not a problem), and know the amount of funding needed, which means obtaining estimates and permits.

Go to www.sonomacountyenergy.org to find out more about the program.

Water Tips:
During this dry year, we all need to be conscious of our water usage. Well users must strive to conserve the water table for their neighbors. Did you know that over 300 gallons of water can be used in an hour of inefficient watering? Here are a few simple steps to make your water usage more effective and spare:

• Install and use an automatic sprinkler system. Then, calibrate your system by measuring your sprinkler output. A simple method for this and many other useful tips can be found at http://www.wateruseitwisely.com.
• Water only in the morning…this is the best time for both water consumption and your plants.
• Most importantly, be mindful when watering by hand or with sprinklers of what the needs are for the health of your landscape…don’t over water.

If you see your neighbors wasting water, be sure to provide information when asking them to change bad practices.

Update on COBRA insurance coverage for the unemployed
Thanks to Bill Hannant of Hannant Insurance Services for keeping our office updated on new information about the Federal Stimulus Funding for COBRA health insurance. Currently, emergency legislation (AB23) is in the works to extend the Federal assistance to laid-off/terminated workers to those who work for small employers covered under Cal COBRA. (2-20 employees) Legislation is expected to be passed by the time this paper is in print.

We also discovered that if you are eligible for insurance from any other source (spouse’s coverage for example) that will make you ineligible for assistance. You must have no other option available to you. A more detailed set of information may now be found at:
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-cobra-premiumreductionEE.html

---------------------------------------------
March 2009 Column - scroll down for previous column

AB885 Actions…

On February 24th, following public meetings held by the State Water Control Board to thousands of concerned local residents, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in opposition to the proposed AB885 septic tank regulations. While the County lauds the intent of this legislation to maintain groundwater quality, the proposed regulations place some unreasonable and costly requirements on septic system owners. Unfortunately, a one-size-fits-all approach to regulating systems is impractical with potential to be extremely burdensome to rural property owners and our local agencies that will be mandated to enforce the rules.

During the coming months, the State Board will be working on the proposed regulations, and has pledged to consider comments from the public during this process.

Forestville's Roundabout…

As mentioned in Vesta’s article, many of you turned out for a public meeting about the roundabout proposed for Highway 116 and Mirabel Road. It was my privilege to be part of the mostly positive commentary on the design presented. This is a work in process, but it does seem to be the most effective solution for both the community and the intersection. I look forward to working with Forestville on this roundabout on making this option a reality.

Here’s the 2-1-1…

On February 11th, Sonoma County partnered with the United Way, Community Foundation, and Volunteer Center to launch 2-1-1. This wonderful new, free, confidential, 24-hour information and referral service is available to anyone in Sonoma County. Calls are handled by trained specialists with resources for community services ranging from child and elder care, health and mental health services, alcohol and drug abuse treatment, food, shelter, counseling, and immigration assistance.

Calling 2-1-1 is the best way to connect with volunteer opportunities. Whether there is a natural disaster, such as a flood or earthquake, or your interest is finding the best way to use your skills to help your community as a volunteer, 2-1-1 can help you to make a difference.

Other helpful *-1-1 numbers: 4-1-1 directory assistance, 5-1-1 traffic and transit, 6-1-1 AT&T repair, 7-1-1 California relay for hearing impaired, 8-1-1 “call before you dig” (underground utility lines) and of course,
9-1-1 life-threatening emergencies…

Help for the unemployed…

How does the economic stimulus help you?

This is a frequent question, often asked with a certain amount of despair. Many of us in Sonoma County have been personally affected by the recent economic travails…from record home value decline, to business closures or reductions in force brought about by the recession. Unemployment numbers are increasing locally, and if you are one of those affected, there is help for you in the new stimulus bill.

If you are eligible for COBRA continuation of your health insurance, but think that you can’t afford to keep your health insurance…reconsider. One direct result of the stimulus bill is that the Federal government will pay 65% of your COBRA health insurance premiums for 9 months beginning February 17, 2009.

Sound too good to be true? That’s why it is so important to spread the word about this. Employers are still finding out the details, so information may not get to all of those who are eligible for this help. If you or someone you know was laid off after September 1, 2008 (Yes! Eligibility goes backwards! But only if your employer has a group of 20 or more) you can elect to enroll in your Cobra health insurance and pay 35% of the premium.

Here are some FAQ’s…

1. Who is eligible?
Anyone who was involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009.

2. How does the premium payment work?
Employers can contact the IRS at http://www.irs.gov/ Premiums are taken as a credit against federal payroll taxes on the quarterly report 941, which has been revised. The 35% premium co-pay is paid to the employer.

Another helpful link: www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm

3. What about the premiums that I paid before February 17th?
Unfortunately, there is no “look back” or payment for insurance prior to February 17, 2009.

Additional assistance for those seeking work or improving their job skills can be found at Sonoma County Job Link's web site. (http://www.socojoblink.org/) This site is a full service link to job search assistance, business services, training & labor market information. The free services available to job seekers and the services for employers are described at this website. Job Link's <http://www.socojoblink.org/location_map.shtml>Job Seeker Center is located at 2245 Challenger Way in Santa Rosa, and the <http://www.socojoblink.org/employer_resource_center.shtml>
Employer Resource Center is located at 606 Healdsburg Avenue in Santa Rosa.

--------------------------------------------

Febraury 2009 Column:

Budget, Water, and Health Care: Facing a Drought!

Budget:
My first month has been a whirlwind. Even before taking office, I attended briefings on our County’s dire budget position. Our General Fund deficit is projected at over $22 million in the coming year. Administrators began the process of analyzing our position and planning action earlier this year than ever before. As a result we’ve already begun the difficult budget process, balancing our dwindling resources with our ongoing commitment to vital public services.

While Sonoma County finds itself in better financial shape than many other County governments in California, we still face difficult decisions. Working with community members, we will ensure that we emerge from this process preserving needed services and with an honest budget that reflects our citizen’s priorities.

One bright light at this difficult time is Sonoma County’s ongoing leadership in advancing climate protection efforts. The Board has begun its process for launching the Sonoma County Energy Independence Project. Under legislation that passed last year (AB811), Sonoma County is poised to be first in California to establish an innovative and wide spread renewable energy generation and water and energy conservation program for residential and commercial buildings.

This effort, which will not cost tax payers one dime, will allow home and business owners new access to green technology that save energy, water, and generates green house gas free energy. This program will also provide green jobs employing our residents. I’ve just returned from meeting with Obama Transition Team members in Washington, DC about securing funds for this innovative program.

Sonoma County has a broader climate protection agenda which includes reducing green house gas levels by 25% of 1990 levels by 2015.

Water
Without a torrential downpour in the next month, we are heading into what has been dubbed the most severe drought in California history. A February 2nd news conference held by the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) raised the red flag that reservoir storage levels in Lakes Sonoma and Mendocino are at or near historic lows.

Also announced was the lowering of Russian River water releases to Federally mandated minimum flows in order to protect Coho and Chinook salmon and steelhead trout, which are listed on the endangered species list. Agriculture, recreation, and tourism also depend on water releases and will be affected by drought conditions.

Preparing for worse case scenarios, SCWA will call for a minimum 30% rationing order by early March.

This drought will affect us all. If we do not heed a call for reducing water usage, Lake Mendocino levels are projected to reach a level so low that portions of the Russian River may run dry! Urban water users consume about half of the water taken from the Russian River, while agriculture consumes the rest…and in the West County, many of us depend on private wells for our water.

SCWA is working with grape growers in the Russian River watershed to develop irrigation best management practices which will help reduce water use, and is working to implement a volunteer monitoring program of water levels throughout the Sonoma Valley basin to evaluate how the drought is affecting groundwater.

Reduce the amount of water you use starting right now!

Health Care:
Health programs have been targeted for reductions due to the State of California’s projected $41.6 billion deficit this fiscal year. The Governor proposes many actions including eliminating the California Children and Families Commission and eliminating 50% of local funds paid to support children’s programs.

The Sonoma Children and Families Commission (Sonoma First 5), is a valuable and effective resource which has expanded local enrollment in quality early childhood education programs, increased children’s access to health insurance and pediatric dental care, and provided parent education and support.

Fortunately, President Obama signed the State Children’s Health Insurance Program reauthorization which will expand health coverage to approximately 12,000 children in Sonoma County. Making sure that every child in Sonoma County has access to affordable health care is critical to children, their families, and our community. For more information about the Healthy Families program, contact: Access to Health Care at 565-4471 or (Spanish speakers) 565-4476

I am truly enjoying my work for the Fifth District. If you have any concerns or questions, you’re welcome to contact my office at 565-2241-kindly, Efren

Read article »

GO LOCAL SONOMA COUNTY - Earth Day

On Christmas day forty-one years ago this photo of “Earthrise” over the lunar horizon was taken by the Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders. They had become the first humans to leave Earth orbit. In a historic live broadcast that night, the crew took turns reading from the Book of Genesis.

The view of the Earth, whole and complete, stunned the world’s consciousness. To see our home in all its glory and fragility floating in the colorless void made environmental converts out of many of us. In September 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson announced that on April 22nd of 1970 there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on the environment – Earth Day.

Today, the view from space has lost much of its visceral impact but we should look again. There is still much we have to learn. Imagine the earth not as a planet but as a fish bowl. Like one you may have won at a church bizarre with a lucky toss of a ping pong ball and brought home with a bright eyed goldfish anxiously darting within. And now complete that story by remembering the lesson that fish taught you; the iron rule of nature, that the waste of one organism must be the dinner for another. Not knowing this rule, you probably “over fed” your fish and it suffocated in its own waste.

This is the core lesson that the “global warming deniers” simply don’t get. The issue is not whether the planet’s temperature is changing, but that the human population is spewing forth more waste, in this case CO2, than the planet can metabolize. We don’t know in detail what the full repercussions will be. Quite likely the added CO2 will have more impact on humanity by chemically turning the ocean more acidic than in its effect on climate. That acid makes it very hard for animals who live in shells and who are the base of the food chain. When they die, the ocean dies we are all in really serious trouble.

Look again at the earth in space. Now see that globe, not as a fish bowl, but as a carefully crafted aquarium. One in which just the right plants and animals have been placed so that they are in perfect balance. Creating such a miniature ecosystem is a typical project in biology courses. When properly done they can be tightly sealed and will live longer than their builder. This is what ecologists call self-sustaining systems. Our world and our economy are similar systems. When carefully made they can be “sustainable.”

Take a final look at the earth. If you could take that picture today, the polar caps have visibly shrunken, the tan deserts are larger, storms more powerful, and the infernos of regional fires could be seen. In four decades man has literally changed the face of the earth.

This is the first regular GoLocal column. A goal of this column is to provide ideas to help us redesign our “fish bowl” so that we can stop, and then begin to reverse the changes we are making to this precious place.

J.Beckwith@GoLocal.coop
www.GoLocal.coop

Read article »

LISTENING 2 CHILDREN - The Journey into Rightness

The Journey Into “Rightness”

Have you ever stepped back from a situation in your life and looked at it with fresh eyes? And then asking, “Why did I do that?” Perhaps it was some happening that took place…and you re-look at it and the way it was handled. Many years ago, I heard the term “Auto-Pilot”, in reference to one who just responds as if they were “programmed”. With so much to handle in today’s world, going into a state of automation, has its advantages. The main one being, it’s one less thing to think about, so we respond in a certain way time and time again.

Before you proceed reading this article,
I invite you to ponder the following.
Do you have an on-going question that you ask yourself?
It could be about your personal life, or your parenting or your work.

Before proceeding, please take time to ponder this and write down the question/s you ask yourself on an on-going basis.

When I first came across this concept, I did not think I was asking myself a question. However, upon closer observation, I discovered I was. Following are a few examples of questions I’ve heard being asked by people.

Why don’t I earn more money?
Why don’t the kids go to bed on time?
Why aren’t I happy?

Do any of these resemble the question/s you ask yourself? I invite you to consider if the above form resemble yours or not. Was your question looking at what’s wrong or what’s right? I believe that many times we are on “Auto-Pilot” and have just become accustomed to looking for the problem not the solution.

Kurt and Patricia Wright, in their marketing book, Breaking the Rules, introduce the concept of asking the “RIGHT QUESTION”. The one they invite readers to ask themselves is: “What are you and I like at our very best?” They feel that when the right question is asked, the result is one of getting on a roll toward high performance. If you are interested in their work, they are on line at www.clearpurpose.com

As I’ve taken this into my life, I find that asking a question that focus on “What’s Right” in any particular situation, truly creates a momentum in an up-hill direction.
So I invite you to consider asking such a question about your world in relationship to the children in your life. Following are some possible questions.

What’s working in the way I listen to children?
What’s working in the way the children listen to me?

For so long I sense that our focus has been on the problem, not the solution. It’s something that has been ingrained in our consciousness so deeply that we just naturally think about looking at the problem. Could we expect new and better results if we begin to focus on the least little bit of goodness or rightness in a situation and allow that to flourish? It’s not an easy journey to make the switch and focus on ‘rightness’; however, I do believe it’s a journey worth traveling!

Children, and adults for that matter, thrive on acknowledgment and encouragement. As we see the ‘rightness’ going on with our children and acknowledge that, more emerges. Children enjoy attention. So, acknowledging them for the positive encourage more of that! Calling attention to the negative behavior will encourage more of that! It’s so easy to think we need to address the problem, and at times, that is necessary, but many other times, I think a focus on what’s right, can create more “rightness”.

I invite you to take the “Journey into “Rightness” and see if a little rightness grows into more rightness. The areas that this can be practiced in are so numerous. I’d love to hear from you regarding the “rightness” in your world.

What’s Right about our family?
What’s Right about our dinnertime?
What’s Right about our home?
What’s Right about my lifestyle?

Sharon Ann Wikoff holds two California Teaching Credentials and is an EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Practitioner. She hosts the Radio Programs, Heart 2 Heart Listening and The Voice of Change on BlogTalkRadio.com For many years she’s had a small business teaching piano to children and adults. She now holds Teacher Trainings for individuals wanting to create a small business, teaching children from their passions and life experience. She can be reached at www.BusinessTeacherTrainings.com

Read article »

MITZVAH MOMENTS - Donate Shoes, Electronics…Life!

Donate Shoes, Electronics…Life!
Save WATER and MORE!

A Mitzvah is a good deed
By Tish Levee

Let Your Old Sports Shoes Do a Mitzvah
Sponsored locally by Coddingtown Mall, Congregation Shomrei Torah, and several community partners, the Great Shoe-in collects used athletic shoes––tennis, gym, cross-trainers, running, walking––to be refurbished and given to those who need them. They also take that odd shoe lying around ‘cause the dog ate its mate or the pair you’re sure aren’t any use––they’ll be sent to Nike and the rubber bottoms shredded to make safe playground turf. Last year nearly 2,500 pairs of donated shoes helped people locally and in Africa. Drop off shoes, tied together, at Coddingtown from 10-4 on April 11, 12, 25, and 26, or at the Santa Rosa High School tennis courts from 3-5 Tuesdays through Fridays in April. Find out more at http://www.kzst.com/clubz/SHOES2009color.pdf.

Earth Day is April 22nd
Recycle your electronic waste at Santa Rosa Community Market’s Earth Day Celebration from 10-4 on Saturday, April 18th. Bring broken computer equipment, TV’s, VCR’s and DVD players, cell phones, stereos, cables, fax machines, copiers, and small kitchen and household appliances. No large appliances like washers or refrigerators. Local food vendors will have free samples, and local manufacturers, non-profits, massage, music, and fun are all part of an Eco-Fair from 12-3. Call 707-545-1806 for more information.

April is National Donate Life Month.
If you’re not already registered as an organ donor, do so now at http://www.ctdn.org/. It only takes a minute. Register regardless of your age or health, because more people are eligible than think they are. And let your family know you’ve registered.

Save Lives and Taxpayer Dollars.
The National Kidney Foundation says one in nine Americans has chronic kidney disease (CKD). Millions more have an increased risk of CKD, which can lead to kidney failure, requiring dialysis or a transplant. The growing incidence of CKD has increased the demand for transplanted kidneys, far outstripping the supply.

In the last decade, the number of people waiting for a kidney has grown 86%, but there have only been 31% more transplants. Currently 78,209 people––77% of those waiting for an organ transplant––are waiting for a kidney. The average wait for a kidney is 7 1/2 years; 4,500 people die each year while waiting for a transplant.

Everyone waiting for a kidney could have one from a living donor. One barrier preventing that is the cost of travel and lost wages for living donors. A donor’s medical expenses are covered by the recipient’s insurance, but it can cost a donor thousands of dollars to donate, especially if the recipient lives at a distance. H.R. 218, the Living Organ Donor Tax Credit Act of 2009, introduced in January, provides a non-refundable tax credit of up to $5,000 to offset those expenses. This would make it possible for some people, who could not otherwise afford to do so, to donate a “qualified life-saving organ,” e.g. a kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, intestine, bone marrow, or part of one.

Members of Congress pay the most attention to phone calls, so call Lynn Woolsey at 707-542-7182 or 202-225-5161 and ask her to support and co-sponsor H.R. 218. You can also go to http://capwiz.com/kidney/issues/bills/?bill=12731371 to request her support and for more information on the bill.

It’s Still a Dry Year!
Even with all the rain we’ve gotten, this is another dry year; water conservation remains critical. The toilet is the biggest water user in your home. SelectAFlush can save water without replacing your toilet; it even works with low-flush toilets. This unique dual flush adapter you can easily install is available at http://www.dualflushkit.com/ for $39.95 (4 for $129.95), shipping included. Use the $10 off coupon during April. The website’s water savings’ calculator shows how much you can save, e.g. 49 gal/day for a family of four, that’s 18,000 gal/year––enough to fill a large swimming pool.

Do a Mitzvah Clicking
As readers know, I really like Greater Good Networks’ sites––the hunger site, breast
cancer site, etc. Now you can join their Take Action Today! Campaign. Go to http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/takeaction.faces?siteId=2 to find petitions for several causes, e.g. ending commercial seal hunts and keeping humanitarian workers in Sudan. You can add your personal comments and encourage your friends to join you. As petitions meet their goals, new ones, sponsored by various organizations, will replace them.

A Mitzvah is a good deed
Tish Levee
ivrit@sonic.net
© Copyright Tish Levee, 2009. All rights reserved

Read article »

CHINESE MEDICINE: Veterans Administration Funds Treatment

VETERAN’S AND CHINESE MEDICINE

Recently, a new patient came in who had back surgery a year ago through the Veteran’s Hospital in San Francisco. He had been suffering for many years from an injury and the doctors decided to fuse his entire lumbar area together in order to give him relief. They fused L1-L5 together and supposedly wrapped the muscle over the top in order to give him some mobility.

It is my experience that many patients I have treated who have fusions along the spine area have a Kidney deficiency as a result, and have lost the strength of this organ. They’ve also done very little to build this organ back up.

In Chinese medicine the treatments and the herbs used to treat this deficiency are extremely important because they not only help to alleviate pain, but they also build kidney energy over time so that future surgery can possibly be avoided.

In all my years of practice I have found that fusions along the spine are very difficult to heal from since the spine is built to be flexible and moving. It seems that even when there is a fusion in one location along the spine, trouble occurs along a different area of the spine in order to compensate for this lack of movement. However having said all this, there is relief for many who have had this type of surgery.

The patient who walked into my office came in with severe pain and was unable lie down to sleep without experiencing cramps and spasms throughout the night in his lumbar area, and also down one of his legs. Prior to his fusion he had developed chronic degenerative joint disease in both of his hips and also in his lumbar region. One of his hips had been replaced, but the joint disease created a rubbing of bone on bone, and the doctors decided it was best to take the pressure off the spinal column by doing the fusion.

I must say that in several cases in my clinic, I have put patients on a protocol to help reverse this degenerative disease formation, including women who have low bone density tests. I have been able to reverse this process through acupuncture and herbs.

This patient was also taking five different medications including sleep meds, pain meds (ox codeine), and heart medications. In addition, his diet was not serving him and he was drinking five cups of coffee per day. To treat someone like this is always a challenge for me ,but the amazing thing was that the Veteran’s actually prescribed him six physical therapy/acupuncture treatments, which they would cover. This patient needed relief fast and his willingness to take his own health into his own hands proved to him that he could achieve astounding results.

As an acupuncturist I can recommend and even give Chinese herbs and alternative plans of treatment but I cannot alter medications given from western doctors. Through my suggestions, this patient is no longer on sleeping or heart medications since we have found alternative formulas which have positive results. I put him on alternative products, which not only allowed him to sleep 5 hours, but also took away his spasms and a lot of his pain.

He is only drinking one cup of coffee in the morning and has improved his diet and takes herbs to strengthen his back. Here is his testimonial: “For over a year I have suffered from severe cramping of my lower back muscles, a complication from lumbar spinal surgery. Even taking large nightly doses of prescription sleeping pills, I could only sleep about 3 hours before the pain whole me up. But after only 2 acupuncture treatments and a week’s use of the corresponding natural supplements I was sleeping 5 hours without sleeping pills at all. Now, after 6 treatments and the supplements daily, I have eliminated 3 of my 5 daily prescriptions drugs and I haven’t had any cramping in over a week. I’m convinced; I recommend acupuncture (in general) and Marcy Basel (in particular) to anyone dissatisfied with the AMA results.”

I feel strongly encouraged that the Veteran’s Hospital in now acknowledging alternative medicine to their patients, and paying for these treatments at the recommendations of their own neurosurgeons and doctors. This is a breakthrough for Chinese Medicine.

Please take advantage of this, as a veteran, if you have had problems. There are alternatives herbs, which can be taken instead of the western medications, which have no side affects and still can perform as well.

Marcy Basel can be reach at 707-824-8747 or e-mail: marcybasel@aol.com

Read article »

ARTIST PROFILE: Marcy Basel, painter

Artist Profile – Marcy Basel

Marcy Basel is becoming a known force in Sonoma County since her arrival in the summer of 2001. She has a private practice in alternative medicine to address many of the ailments of day to day life. She contributes to the community through her Chinese Medicine column in the West County Gazette. And most important to this column, she won a 1st and 2nd at the 2008 Sonoma County Harvest Fair in the Fine Arts – Oils, Amateur category.

Marcy began her career in Chinese Medicine while living in Santa Monica, CA. She was not feeling well and while visiting a Chinese herbal pharmacy, the proprietor observed an innate ability in Marcy to intuitively select the herbs for her ailments. The encounter led to a long term student/teacher relationship and enrollment in acupuncture school. Not only was this a major change in her life at the time but this career change resulted in an introduction to Sebastopol and a reemergence of art as a major emphasis in Marcy’s life.

The life of a traveling acupuncturist in celebrity populated Santa Monica was exciting and lucrative but was beginning to take a toll on quality of life. Marcy daydreamed about a different life with a studio of her own. Browsing the Practices for Sale in industry magazines for an established practice became a common pastime. One day she saw an advertisement for a business in Sebastopol. She spoke to the owner and found herself on an airplane to Northern California. Driving into Sebastopol with a belief that all of California is akin to the Los Angeles basin is like entering the Twilight Zone from June Cleaver’s home. Where did these relaxed women in Birkenstocks come from? Were there no designer shops or salons in the whole area? What was Marcy Basel doing here?

The experience was strange – the owner decided to not sell – Marcy gratefully returned to Los Angeles and continued her life as it was established. Sebastopol was all but forgotten. Life goes on. A year later, her apartment was sold and she needed to move. During the period of searching for a new place to live, the contact from Sebastopol called to let Marcy know that she was selling her business. Was Marcy still interested?

We all get a feeling at one time or another that things happen for a reason. We are not sure what that reason is nor do we understand what really is happening. For Marcy the confluence of events told her that now was to time to make another life change. Not only did she purchase the Sebastopol business but moved into the offered accommodations on Jonive Road. Her practice is diverse with particular attention to menopause and food allergies. Never thinking that she would live in the “woods”, she loved the quiet and serenity and ended up purchasing a home nestled in the forest outside of Occidental. She then built her studio where she can paint. The spirit of the setting comes through in Marcy’s paintings – tranquility and light.

After hearing this wonderful story about acupuncture and herbal medicine, my curiosity was piqued to learn where the art interest developed. Marcy matter-of-factly announced that she held a Masters Degree in Art Education and had run an art school in Malibu! Oh, and she had a ceramics company that she had sold. All of this before discovering herbal medicine as her calling. The intensity of her new profession had squelched any time or energy for art and she lost touch with her native skills of painting and creating.

Today Marcy paints in oils the nature that surrounds her in West Sonoma County. Her paintings range from landscapes to abstract nature. She works in oils and charcoal. The color combinations evoke a sense of continuity and compatibility – totally in keeping with wellness. Her paintings are frequently on display at Gallery One in Petaluma and will be featured at the Prudential CA Realty office on Healdsburg Avenue in Sebastopol during June and July. I am certain that you will find her at the Harvest Fair in October.

If you would like to see her paintings now, feel free to call Marcy directly at 707 874-2402.

You can email your comments to bshula@comcast.net

Read article »

Ask EcoGirl: Remaking the EPA

Remaking the EPA

Dear EcoGirl: The EPA too often seems to put corporate interests over its mission to protect the environment. Will President Obama’s EPA really be any better? Signed, Skeptical

Dear Skeptical: Thank you for your question. The short answer is — yes, I think that real improvement is possible, if we help.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has indeed been seriously compromised by the Bush administration. Thus, many environmental observers were delighted when candidate Barack Obama said that, in his EPA, “the principle of scientific integrity will be an absolute, and I will never sanction any attempt to subvert the work of scientists.” President Obama’s choice for EPA head, Lisa Jackson, affirmed this commitment in her introductory letter to staff, pledging to “uphold the values of scientific integrity, rule of law, and transparency every day.”

Those heartened by this change in direction include the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), which for years has been drawing attention to the Bush administration’s “pattern of suppression, manipulation, and distortion of federal science” in order to advance predetermined policy objectives. This, says the UCS, has significantly hindered policymakers in making informed decisions, decreased agency effectiveness, threatened our ability to respond to our nation’s challenges, risked “demoralizing the federal scientific workforce,” and made “our government less accountable to the citizens it is supposed to serve.”

Among the countless decisions compromised was the EPA’s shocking choice not to set federal limits on toxic perchlorate levels in drinking water. It did this over the objections of its own scientists, removing from its report key scientific evidence of the reasons for concern. (I discuss this topic more in “Toxics & The Thyroid” at www.healthyworld.org/thyroid.html)

So it’s a relief to hear the EPA’s Jackson now call science the “backbone” of the agency’s programs, and speak her commitment to view data objectively and disclose the information supporting their conclusions. She outlined her five priority goals: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, managing chemical risks, cleaning up hazardous waste sites, and protecting America’s water. She added, “These challenges are indeed immense in scale and urgency. But, as President Obama said [on Inauguration Day], they will be met.” (More about her staff letter is at www.ombwatch.org/node/9639

However, for that promise to be fulfilled, we citizens need to insist on its implementation, because ahead surely lie the pitfalls of vested financial interests, competing budget priorities, and bureaucratic inertia. We need to empower their ability to act.

I was encouraged by one detail I uncovered. It turns out that Jackson in her previous job (head of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection) did support a five parts per billion perchlorate standard, which is within the National Academy of Science’s recommendations.

What You Can Do
I encourage you to learn more about the proposed improvements, then speak for the ones you value, either through the groups taking action or directly to President Obama at www.whitehouse.gov/contact. Also support the non-profits that inform us and coalesce our voices.

Here are some places to start.

• Union of Concerned Scientists. For UCS’s detailed recommendations (based on interviews with EPA scientists), and ways to join their efforts, see www.ucsusa.org/scientific_ integrity

• Pesticide Action Network (PAN). This international group, which works for global reduction of pesticide use, has submitted recommendations endorsed by nearly 100 organizations and thousands of individuals. Its top priorities include scientific integrity, transparency, accountability, public and environmental health, and a green and fair economy. View it and sign on at http://www.panna.org/agenda-for-change

• The Louisville Charter for Safer Chemicals. Signed by 70 groups, including PAN, this community-created declaration calls for government leadership in key areas of chemical policy, including restoring scientific integrity in chemical regulation, adopting the precautionary principle to ensure product safety before going to market, and increasing transparency in decision-making. www.louisvillecharter.org

As President Obama said election night, this moment “is not the change we seek; it is only the chance for us to make that change.” We need to take action for the possibilities to become real. But, because these vital intentions are being spoken at government’s highest levels, positive results become more possible and our efforts more effective. What a wonderful time to allow ourselves a glimmer of hope, then join with others in creating a better world. We certainly wouldn’t want to waste this opportunity, then wonder, “What if…?”

Email your questions about going green to (EcoGirl@AskEcoGirl.info) for possible inclusion in future columns. View past columns at www.AskEcoGirl.info.

“EcoGirl: Encouraging the eco-hero in everyone.”

© Copyright Patricia Dines, 2009. All rights reserved.

Read article »

Investors - Taking Advantage of the Economic Downturn

The Investor’s Corner
Taking Advantage of the Economic Downturn

by Ira Greene

Has your 401K become a 101K? Have you lost 40-50% of your stock value? What has happened to your investments lately? Many are concerned that they won't have enough money for retirement or to pay for their children's college? Watching the Dow Jones numbers go down is cause for concern. Is your investment advisor telling you not to worry? Stay the course and things will change and eventually you'll make it all back when the stock market recovers.

There were stockbrokers in 1929 saying the exact same thing. Sit tight, the market will come back eventually. Had you bought and held back then you would have recovered and broken even again in 1955. Almost 26 years later! Could this be similar?

So what is an investor to do? What is the best advice in troubled times? This is the greatest credit crisis and economic downturn we will likely see in our lifetimes. Will it end as the governments of the world print money and try to stimulate the economies? Will the banks regain liquidity and the consumer once again start borrowing and spending? Will real estate values stop collapsing and our homes once again be our best investment?

My answer to these questions is an emphatic No! The real estate bubble which peaked in 2005, is in a major decline and most likely will lose another 25-40% over the next couple of years. The stock market is likely to head below 6000 and probably much lower over the next year. We may get one more good rally for one last bull trap to grab those few investors who think happy days will soon be here again. They’ll most likely commit their funds in a hopeless attempt to make back what they have lost.

The truth is harsh and unpleasant. Our system of debt-financing is just about finished. We are going to have to adjust to a whole new lifestyle. Can we still make money with our stock investments? Not easily. Unless you learn to trade like the professionals and sell short as well as buy long. If you're sitting there waiting for the recovery, I wish you luck. My suggestion is that on any large rally you liquidate and move to cash, because cash is king in a deflation. Your dollar becomes more of a value to you as prices start to drop in a recession (depression).

This may be difficult to hear and grasp. We want everything to work out and be nice. But our system of printing money and the creation of debt that we sell to the world through our Treasury sales has reached an impasse. Our dollar does not look too healthy in the long run. Would it be wise to buy gold right now? Well, a little wouldn't hurt. Maybe a bag of silver or two. It looks to me though, with overwhelming bullishness in the precious metals market that they have gone too high, too fast and it's time for a big pullback, so don't rush out to buy immediately. Be patient! To everything there is a time and a season. So where can an ordinary person put their money now?

My solution is to stop being an investor and become a trader or speculator. That's risky you say! The truth today is that almost all of the investing public is getting sheared right now and then run off a cliff afterwards. Traders don't fall in love and get married to their investments. They buy or they sell. The market goes up, they go with it. It goes down they go short and go with it. Yes, I am talking about making money when the market declines. You can make money both ways. No more attachments to a company's shares or a mutual fund. You begin to act like the majority of the smart money on Wall Street, doing exactly what the big guys do. They make money when the markets go down. So can you!

Where do I put my money? I trade the Forex, the foreign exchange market. It is a 2 trillion dollar a day financial market that works with international capital, the intersection through which global commercial and investment flows have to move. This is the true trader's market, which trades 24 hours a day and cannot be manipulated. The day starts in New York, moves to London, to Tokyo, then Austraila and back to the US. Open 6 days a week, currencies are exchanged to the tune of 10 to 15 times the size of all daily trading on all of the world's stock markets combined.

You may wonder how an average investor with just a few dollars can trade on an international market with banks, hedge funds, governments, and multi-national corporations. Money is moving at lightning speeds around the globe. Even though huge sums of money of commercial transactions are occurring every minute, the vast majority of these transactions are actually speculative in nature. Traders are buying and selling for short-term gains based on minute to minute, hour to hour, and day to day price fluctuations.

You can open a mini account with as little as $500 and start practice trading with no risk until you get comfortable. The bulk of currency trading is in the major currencies which represent the world's most developed economies. That means you'll be playing with US dollars, British Pounds, Japanese Yen, Swiss Francs, Australian and Canadian dollars. The liquidity in these markets is staggering.

Imagine you're the Toyota corporation and you sell 500 cars to Great Britain. You need to make sure you'll be able to convert those Pounds you get paid in to Yen. Because of the massive liquidity and buying and selling volume at any given moment, large trading volumes can be transacted with minor price changes and you can lock in the exchange. Traders make this environment of liquidity possible. This is much different from stock exchanges where it is less liquid and thinner, making prices move with extremes that hurt the investor.

Though it may seem complicated at first, it is not difficult to learn the Forex market. There is a learning curve, but imagine being able to trade at 2 am from your computer buying a currency and getting out 20 minutes later with a profit, all with the click of a mouse. Most firms will allow you to practice with play money till you get the feel of the actual market. Currencies trade in pairs with the first currency being called the "base currency" and the other currency being called the "counter currency". You are literally buying the base and selling the counter. The nice thing about this arrangement is that you can go long or short with the ease of a mouse click at any time of the day or night.

But wait you say... I'm too busy to do this with my hectic schedule. I need to leave my funds in the hands of a market professional. He will watch over my basket of investments with an eagle eye and keep me informed about what to do next. So, how's that working for you?

Ira Greene is a former stockbroker and former Certified Financial Planner who spent over 14 years at two large brokerage firms until he retired in 1995 to spend his time trading and following other interests. He trades full time from his computer at home. He will be teaching a class in Sebastopol on "How to Trade the Currency Markets" one night a week. Ira can be reached at 707-827-3442.

Read article »

Breaking News on the AB885 Issue

FACT SHEET ON PROPOSED SEPTIC SYSTEM REGULATIONS

On February 23, the State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) closed the public comment period for draft regulations regarding onsite wastewater treatment systems (septic systems). During the comment period (Nov. 7, 2008 to Feb. 23, 2009), the Water Board received more than 2,500 e-mail comments and hundreds of comment letters, and recorded many hours of oral comments from 12 public workshops held throughout the state.

Following is an update on what happens now in terms of the Water Board developing regulations for septic systems:

Is it likely that the next version of proposed regulations will be different from the
current version?
Yes. Water Board Staff will be recommending substantial changes based on all of the input from the public.

What happens next, now that the current comment period is over and workshops
are concluded?
The Water Board is compiling all of the many comments (transcribing all oral testimony and electronically scanning all comment letters) received from the public. Water Board staff expects to have this information available to the public in April.

How will the Water Board proceed from here?
Water Board staff will draft revised regulations based on the public comments received, will work with the agencies and groups identified in the enabling legislation (AB 885), and when a new set of draft regulations is written, will notice another public comment period so that all stakeholders have a chance to provide input. Depending on the extent of the recommended revisions to the proposed regulations, staff will also need to modify or redraft the environmental impact report.

What is the anticipated new timeline and when will the public be notified of the
revised proposal?
Redrafting these regulations to respond to the substantial comments received is a high priority for the Board. Board staff will be working with the agencies and groups identified in the enabling legislation (AB 885) to develop a new conceptual regulatory proposal within the next 3-5 months. The extent of revisions to the new regulatory proposal will be an important factor in how long it takes to modify or redraft the environmental impact report. Staff is hopeful that this work can be accomplished within 12 months.

How will changes be communicated?
After Water Board staff has prepared a response to public comments and completed changes to the draft regulations, waiver, and EIR, a new public comment period will be scheduled and posted on this web site. Interested parties, including all those who commented on the previous draft and provided staff with contact information, will be notified by U.S. mail and e-mail.

Will there be more opportunities to comment?
Yes. Significant changes will be made to the regulations and a new public comment period will be necessary to provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the revised proposed regulations. The time and date for public comments will be posted on the Water Board web site and publicized statewide
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/septic_tanks/docs/septicsystems_factsheet.pdf

Read article »

Cazadero Commununity News

Natasha Pehrson is our new Cazadero columnist - keeping our communities abreast of important announcements and happenings. I apologize for not getting this column into the print edition in April. This was MY mistake! In the haste of going to press 3 days earlier and trying to fit as much as possible into the paper, I completely forgot I had a new community column! I am sorry both to Natasha as well as to community members who are counting on this information being in the print edition.

Cazadero Communications
By Natasha Pehrson

I am looking out of the windows of my cosy cyber-hut on a clear early Spring evening. The large redwoods are gently outlined in the dusk and I am thinking about how much I love Spring.

There is a lot going on in the Montgomery Elementary School these days. The entire student body will make an all-day field trip on May 4th to the magnificent new Academy of Sciences in SF's Golden Gate Park. Hear about this and other MES activities at the Open House,Thursday,May 14th at 7 p.m. The students are also currently involved in a terrific program.They are working with Trout Unlimited to raise fingerling salmon for release in Austin Creek in May,guided by after school program head Sandra Harra.The Boosters Club is active and you can join in to help your school!

The Cazadero Community Club has resumed meeting on the 1st Tuesday of the month-7 p.m. at the Fire Hall. New officers were recently elected.They are President-Nikki Canelis,Vice President-Vera Bohan,Secretary-Sue Moll and Treasurer-Bonnie Chase. I recently spoke with CazSonoma Inn owner Rich Mitchell, who will be heading the fabulous Cazadero Wine tasting Event this July 18th at his lovely place. This great afternoon of wine tasting,music,art and food was started by the Caz Club,with superb organization by Krystal Thistle. Proceeds will benefit the Cazadero Performing Arts Camp,college scholarships for local grads through RR Rotary and others. You may contact the Inn at 632 5255 for more info. Our own Mary Lou Porta is now the President of the RR Rotary-congratulations! Mary Lou was an incredible head of the Caz Club and spearheaded many great programs.

If you are interested in working on a new Cazadero community garden look for the flyer at the Post Office or the General store. There is nothing like home-grown food!

I was surprised to read that the County of Sonoma Road Administration plans to close the Annapolis Road Maintenance Yard. Many of our most vulnerable roads will be affected. Please call 5th District Supervisor Efren Carrillo at 565-2241 or email ecarrillo@sonoma-county.org with your opinion of this move.

As we are all too aware, this is the 3rd year in a row of below-average rainfall. I encourage all of us to do our part to conserve water. The spectre of a wild-lands fire is too real to be discounted and I for one plan to continue to try to use my own water supply sparingly.

A Very happy Birthday to Chris Caplan,turning 19 on April 12. Cazadero Fire Chief Steve Krausmann also celebrates in mid-April. May celebrants include Tara Caplan,turning 30 on May 15th, Christopher Quinn Kelly will be 20 on the 17th, Dustin Hubiak turns 29 on the 23rd and Merlin Velasquez-Greer will be 14 on May 30th.

Have a great Spring and contact me with info for your Cazadero Column!

mayawrld@sonic.net 707-632 5545

Read article »

Unreliable Water from Russian River

By Brenda Adelman
The Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) came to Guerneville again last month. In February they arrived with an army of staff to inform us of their plans to divert an extra 26,000 acre feet (AF) from Lake Sonoma for their water customers. In mid-March a few key staff came to warn us about diminished water supplies and lowered flows. It seemed like a contradiction, and I reported earlier that it was, but now there are several new twists.

At the March 18th meeting in Guerneville, attended by approximately 70 people, Pam Jeane, responsible for system operations, and Dave Manning, the Agency’s leading fish biologist, responded to questions for over two hours about deficiencies in the water system. It was an informative meeting, and staff seemed to answer everyone’s questions sincerely. Nevertheless, many questions remained. Since then, after meeting individually with several key staff, the many complexities of our current water supply situation appear even more muddled.

Estimates of how much water will be available to Water Agency contractors this coming year, including Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma, Sonoma, Valley of the Moon, North Marin Water District, and Windsor, keep changing. First the Agency could sell 52,000 acre feet (AF). At the March contractor’s meeting, the amount went up to 54,500 AF.

The numbers looked “fishy” to us. Contractors have been bragging for years about conserving 15%. We learned recently that conservation savings are based on 2004 water use, a year when contractors consumed 66,193 AF. 15% of that amounts to almost 10,000 AF. If we deduct 10,000 AF from 66,000 AF (rounded numbers) we get 56,000 AF as the target number to meet 15%. Yet for three years between 2006 and 2008, the contractors averaged 65,352 AF per year.

In addition to river water the Agency also pumps about 6,000 AF a year from Laguna groundwater that is unregulated, since there are no limits on groundwater withdrawals. Even if we assume that the 15% applies only to river withdrawals, they are still missing their conservation target by about a third. It is further misleading that they only have to make the 15% target and stay there; they do not have to conserve a new 15% every year.

These numbers become important because the State Water Board very recently came out with a new order that significantly lowers flows (from now to September) throughout the river. In normal rain years, flows in the lower river have to meet a minimum of 125 cubic feet per second (cfs); under the new order they will go down to 85 cfs while Lake Mendocino is at 25,000 acre feet (AF) or more. (It is currently around 53,000 AF.) If Lake Mendocino goes BELOW 25,000 AF, then the flows as measured at Hacienda will have to go down to about 35 cfs. This would have a major impact on recreation and water quality!

Another part of the problem lies with vineyards, which use major amounts of water for frost protection this time of year to sustain their crops. The water draw down in creeks is so rapid, that the practice has caused death to unknown numbers of endangered coho both this year and last.

Lake Sonoma has more than enough water for all downstream needs; yet the problem is conveyance to the distribution system. Because of the endangered fish species and the recently released Biological Opinion dictating the means by which that water can be obtained and the amount of flow to be released, increased Lake Sonoma water supplies probably won’t be accessible for a very long time. The Agency is required by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to maintain flows within a limited range to protect endangered fish in Dry Creek.

Several environmental groups are calling for the State Board to hold a hearing on the new Order just released. We feel it is much too rough and many of its directives need to be more clearly spelled out. For instance, in regards to CEQA compliance it says, “The proposed action will assure the maintenance of the environment, i.e., the instream environment of the Russian River.” What is not acknowledged is that this order will cause both environmental benefits AND detriments. By lowering flows now, before what may be a long hot summer, it may cause greater harm to riparian vegetation. It is also likely to cause great proliferation of invasive species such as Ludwegia, which in turn would have further impacts.


Unknown impacts from unregulated toxins are also likely as the lower flows deny any mixing benefit to minimize their effects. We asked, “What harm will come to the fish and other aquatic life as a result of this scenario? We are referring to all aquatic life, not just identified at-risk populations. What will be the impacts to human health from swimming in this water with possible concentrated pollutants and how much more likely will it be for them to come in contact with pathogenic bacteria? Will these circumstances cause public beaches to be closed?”

Water quality monitoring is being proposed to address possible harm from lowered flows. We asked what happened to the monitoring done in 2004 and 2007 during low flow periods? Where is that information? How complete was it? Simply ordering monitoring doesn’t address potential impacts from lowering flows.

We further stated, “To assure that a healthy environment will be maintained, simply stating that impacts to beneficial uses from this Order will not occur, is just a convenient way to address the “emergency” through a piece of paper, rather than provide meaningful information about actual environmental reality. For this reason, it is essential that you open the review process and allow public input. This is now the fourth year of the last eight where emergency situations have arisen. When that occurs, what you have is not an emergency, but a MANAGEMENT PROBLEM!

Russian River Watershed Protection Committee works in the public interest on Sonoma County water and wastewater issues. All of our funding comes from our supporters on our mailing list. If you are interested in supporting our work, please send a donation via PayPal at www.rrwpc.org or mail it to RRWPC, P.O. Box 501, Guerneville, CA 95446. You can email us at rrwpc@comcast.net

Read article »

GREENING with Sonoma County Energy Independence Program

By Patricia Dines
On the surface, Sonoma County’s new $100 million Energy Independence Program (SCEIP) seems simple enough, offering property owners government financing to install solar equipment and improve energy and water efficiency.
Yet, hiding beneath this mild-mannered exterior, lies a powerful tool to help us solve some of our most urgent shared problems. I’ve been watching this program emerge for a while, so I’m delighted to finally be able to tell you about its special features.

First, because SCEIP financing isn’t based on currently-compromised housing prices, it provides a much-needed alternative to home equity loans. Plus, the program brings income to green contractors and suppliers in the beleaguered construction industry, which in turn nurtures our local economy.

But most impressive of all is SCEIP’s benefits to the environment. At a time when we can feel powerless to looming eco-disasters, and skeptical of green pitches of varying veracity, SCEIP provides an easy yet meaningful way for us to nurture the planet’s survival.

Because trimming our energy use is one of the most important ways that we can impact a wide variety of key environmental problems, including global climate change, habitat destruction, species extinction, ecosystem collapse, and the economic, health, and social crises they create.
So, SCEIP, a mild-mannered program? Indeed not!

No Increase in Monthly Expenses Required
With money so tight now, green actions can seem perhaps optional. However, even in these times, home improvement via SCEIP can be both fiscally-wise and essential.

First, you can choose to do improvements that offer savings in energy costs that equal your loan payments. Thus, your ongoing budget stays the same and you’re just swapping an expense for an investment. Plus, your modifications will likely increase your building’s resale value and comfort — all without an initial capital outlay.

Making a Real Difference
But, given the scale of change that’s needed in the world, is improving one’s home really a significant contribution? Absolutely yes!

In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy calls retrofitting existing homes with energy-efficient features “the single largest source of potential energy savings.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that residential and commercial buildings are responsible for over one-third of the nation’s total energy use, 68% of electricity, and 12% of water. They generate 38% of CO2 emissions.

So if you install, for instance, insulation and weather sealing, you could lower your energy costs up to 10%; a tankless water heater could reduce your greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions up to 30%; a solar water heater could lower CO2 emissions by 20%; and a 3 kW solar photovoltaic system could, over its 25-year lifetime, trim CO2 emissions by 80 tons — the equivalent of driving 7,800 fewer miles a year.

SCEIP can also help you reduce your water use, which is vital now both because of low reservoir levels and threatened salmon survival. Many water-saving improvements qualify for funding.

Getting Started
To participate in SCEIP, look at the program requirements (see the box plus the SCEIP website shown there). Then determine what improvements you want to make.

A home audit, while optional for residences, can identify potential upgrades, costs, and savings. From this, you can prioritize improvements that bring you the best results for your buck. The SCEIP website offers links to audits and other assessment tools; click on “Evaluations.” Your audit cost can be rolled into your financing.

It’s also recommended that you improve building efficiency before installing solar, so that you don’t buy more system than you need. Any licensed contractor can perform work under this program.

One caution: Pay attention to cash flow. The program helps you reduce your monthly PG&E bill but the loan is repaid through your bi-annual property tax bill. To avoid an unsettling tax bill surprise, consider setting aside monthly what you’re saving in utilities.

Also, in case you’re curious, PG&E is supportive of SCEIP, because their compensation structure rewards them for encouraging energy efficiency. How wonderful!

Meeting GHG Reduction Targets
Sonoma County is one of the nation’s pioneers in setting bold goals for reducing greenhouse gases (GHG), including our target of lowering county emissions to 25% below 1990 levels by 2015.

SCEIP (enabled by California’s recent AB811) is intended to help the county achieve these objectives.

Alan Strachan, a local developer and GHG reduction advocate, makes a persuasive case that succeeding with this will require that we seriously step up the scale of our activities.

For instance, he challenges us to “do the math” and calculate what it’ll take to reach California’s goal of equaling 1990 CO2 emission levels by 2020, which was set in the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32).

According to Strachan, buildings statewide generate about 35% of our GHG, and we can probably cost-effectively remove about 30-40% of each building’s GHG. Thus, he concludes that meeting AB32’s targets will require us to retrofit all state and county buildings over the next ten years. For Sonoma County’s 180,000 buildings, that means upgrading 50 units a day, which will surely keep our construction workers employed.

The good news, he emphasizes, is that we can afford it, the construction industry is available, and it can be profitable. Plus the energy demand already exists; retrofits are simply a different way to meet it. However, we can only achieve this by sustained action starting now. A last-minute all-nighter just won’t do!

Strachan argues that, of the many challenges in today’s world, climate change stands out because “this one you don’t recover from. If you blow this, it doesn’t matter what you do with the rest.”

A Higher-Quality Green
One aspect of SCEIP’s approach that I find particularly eco-friendly is its focus on improving existing buildings, rather than building new ones.

In their book, Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House, eco-architects Carol Venolia and Kelly Lerner argue that remodeling a current building is nearly always greener than building a new “green” one. That’s because it takes fewer resources than starting from scratch, doesn’t plow under new land, and capitalizes on resources already extracted and infrastructure already created. It also usually saves money through targeting of expenses.

“In short, ecological remodeling is not the poor cousin of the shiny new eco-home,” they say. “It stands on its own as a wise, resource-conserving, community-building, accessible, enjoyable way to improve life.”

Action Ignited
As the first California county to embark on this innovative approach, Sonoma County is showing leadership in achieving climate change goals. They’re now in the process of signing folks up, with the goal of covering program costs and becoming self-sustaining.

County Controller Rod Dole, who oversees the program, says that interest in it has been “phenomenal.” In just two weeks, they’ve already received $750,000 in applications. Local companies are quickly recognizing that SCEIP makes their offerings more attractive to customers. This, of course, encourages more folks to go green! A friend told me that a Friedman’s salesperson actually mentioned SCEIP financing in recommending an energy-efficient window to them. Over 300 people came out for an April 9 Economic Development Board SCEIP workshop for contractors.

And, so, the SCEIP retrofitting begins!

Who Benefits from Sonoma County’s EIP?

Property Owners: esidential and business property owners receive financing to install solar equipment and improve energy and water efficiency. Funding isn’t tied to property value and requires no initial capital outlay. Loan repayments are offset by reduced energy costs.

Green Contractors: Green contractors and suppliers can provide their offerings with “no money down,” thus attracting more business in turn helps stimulate the local economy.

Our Shared Environment: Our environment’s well-being is improved because trimming our energy demand helps solve a variety of key eco-problems, including global climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction. Retrofitting most or all of our current buildings is vital to reaching our GHG reduction targets. Also, upgrading existing buildings is “greener” than building new ones.


SCEIP Basics for Property Owners

• Financing is available for improvements to existing buildings, not new construction or mobile homes.

• Funds can be used for a wide variety of projects to improve energy efficiency, conserve water, and generate renewable energy. This includes insulation, on-demand water heaters, low-flow showerheads and toilets, more efficient windows and heating systems, irrigation controllers, and solar equipment. Items must be permanently attached to the property, so appliances such as dishwashers don’t qualify. The minimum loan amount is $2,500.

• Owners don’t pay up-front capital costs and have fewer credit restrictions than with standard loans. The financing (technically considered an assessment) isn’t based on property value but is secured by its position second to property tax. You need to be current on all property taxes to qualify. Repayment is made through your property tax bill over time.

• The loan stays with the property, not the person, so when you sell, the new owner takes over payments.

• For more about SCEIP, see (www.sonomacountyenergy.org) or
call 521-6200.

• For more about other rebates and incentives, including federal investment tax credits and the California Solar Initiative, see (www.gosolarcalifornia.org).
Patricia Dines is a freelance writer specializing in environmental topics. She’s written books, newsletters, reports, and articles for a wide variety of periodicals. For more information, see (www.patriciadines.info). © Copyright Patricia Dines, 2009. All rights reserved.

Read article »

Seedless Mandarins and Honey Bees

The issue of Seedless Mandarins and Honey Bees has not gone away. Although the ruling proposed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture may appear benign on the surface, it is a dangerous precedent-setting text that will affect the rights of individuals and the health of honey bees.

Background
In recent years, some citrus growers established groves of seedless mandarins in areas that historically welcomed honey bees. The growers were hoping to generate greater financial gains with this fruit than with seed carrying varieties. Unfortunately, they did not do their homework and did not take the precautions that are necessary to ensure that the fruit remain seedless (in a nutshell: the precautionary measures amount to preventing cross-pollination of the flowers of these trees by compatible pollen sources, or to selecting varieties that do not set seeds). Consequently, the fruit that is produced by these „seedless‰ mandarin growers may contain seeds, and they did not make the larger financial gains they were hoping for.

AB771
To compensate for their blunder and to avoid the costs of netting their trees, the seedless mandarin growers have asked the state legislature to ban the presence of honey bees in areas that extend for two miles around their orchards.

A Seedless Mandarin Grower-Beekeeper co-existence workgroup was organized but failed to arrive at a compromise between these parties.

As a result, and as mandated by AB771, the Agricultural Secretary issued a ruling in this matter.

The proposed regulation
Although the proposed ruling no longer requires the mandatory removal of bee colonies from the areas that surround seedless mandarin orchards, it could give legitimacy to the request of the citrus growers, and may still be changed under the pressure of the citrus growers after this period of public comment.

What is at stake
If the attempt by the seedless mandarin growers to ban honey bees from large areas of land is allowed to stand in any way, shape or form, it could limit the individual rights of those who live or work around their groves. The burden to generate greater financial gains for the citrus growers would in effect be placed on others who are unfortunate to be around them.

The implementation of such a rule would undoubtedly affect the health of pollinators because large expanses of land that are critically important to the nutrition of honey bees during their period of spring development would no longer be accessible to honey bees. Ultimately, our food crops and our entire environment would be negatively impacted.

The most dangerous part of this ruling is that it could set a precedent. Indeed, though the proposed rule only applies to seedless mandarins and to four counties, the text is written at the state government level. Considering all the potential seedless crops that are presently being developed in research facilities and considering the spread of genetically engineered crops that are incompatible with organic farming practices, the risk of further decreasing bee habitats and of affecting the rights of people throughout the entire state is alarming and should not be overlooked.

Act now
All, beekeepers or not, should be concerned and should voice their opposition.

Please call, write or email your comments immediately to the address below and make a point of asking for the complete dismissal of the seedless mandarin growers‚ request (the period for comments ends on April 13):


Steve Lyle, Office of Public Affairs, Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 N Street, Room 400, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916)654-0462, FAX (916) 651-7417,

Email: LegislativeOffice @cdfa.ca.gov.

In his absence, you may contact Carla Sanchez, Legislative Office at (916) 654-0321 or Email: LegislativeOffice@cdfa.ca.gov.

Questions regarding the substance of the proposed regulation should be directed to Carla Sanchez.


Thanks.
Serge Labesque
s.labesque@sbcglobal.net

Read article »

Friends of Sheephouse Creek, Sonoma County

“Friends of Sheephouse Creek”

We are today attempting to weigh two sides of an environmental issue. On the one side are the attempts to restore West Coast Salmon populations, protect fishing jobs and rebuild the salmon economy, hopefully returning to work tens of thousands who have lost their jobs in fishing based industries, and create new sustainable, family wage jobs in economically depressed coastal and rural communities. On the other side are the financial interests of a few landowners whose desire to continue logging in an already impaired watershed risks the extinction of fish and animal species, as well as a way of life for the many thousands who today are suffering due to the closure of the salmon fishery.

Today, there are multiple plans affecting the lower Russian River Basin. Several of the streams found here are currently threatened by logging, gravel mining, and timberland conversions. One such creek is Sheephouse Creek, others include Austin Creek, Smith Creek, Kitchen Creek, and Duvoul Creek. To say there will be no significant cumulative or adverse impacts on the environment is simply not true. We need to be looking at the bigger picture and view the Russian River basin as a functioning ecosystem, not just a tributary at a time. Individual timber harvest plans should be considered in the context of a larger forest and planning watershed in which they are located.

If we are ever to restore the salmon and steelhead fisheries of the Russian River, many believe the lower 8-10 miles are key to their survival. Those watershed areas should be off limits to logging in order to give restoration of the fisheries a chance. Sheephouse Creek has been logged multiple times since the turn of the century and its small 2,176 acre watershed has been decimated despite its idyllic appearance today. Species which were once abundant here are now endangered or threatened or no longer exist.

The forester for plan 1-08NTMP-004SON has admitted that Sheephouse Creek has suffered at the hands of poor land use practices, primarily logging. This is well documented in a 1970 and 1996 DFG Stream Survey and these legacy conditions still exist, many created by the same landowners who today are asking that they be allowed to continue logging, despite a pattern of abuse and poor stewardship practices.

In the last 15 years, 37% of the watershed has been impacted by logging. If the two current plans being proposed are approved, 56% of the watershed will have been affected by recent logging. Has Cal Fire visited these past logged areas to assure no adverse impacts have occurred on the already sediment impacted Sheephouse Creek? Until these past plans are revisited, any cumulative impact discussions will be meaningless. And, how can we talk of significant effect and mitigations when no baseline data exists to determine thresholds of significance?

The NTMP #1-08NTMP-004SON fails to fully evaluate its cumulative impacts upon the watershed, whether on or off of the logging site. This is true of its road impacts, especially for the proposed use of the legally contested easement road through private property and along the riparian area of Sheephouse Creek, which it will overburden. While this road may have served as a railroad right of way at the turn of the century, the location of the creek has changed and the existing road is no longer suitable for the proposed use.

Today, there are new sensitivities surrounding watercourses and laws which govern forest roads and logging activities within riparian zones. The plan does not assess the impacts it will have upon the resident family, their house and property, the easement road, and that segment of Sheephouse Creek, which will be most affected by logging traffic. The NTMP fails to evaluate identified alternative roads into the harvest area and the traffic safety of Hwy 116.

This plan features moderate to high erosion areas, slopes steep enough to require cable yarding, extensive road reconstruction and new roads, as well as the use of heavy equipment on the existing seasonal roads within the WLPZ. The plan also sites a log landing within the WLPZ. The plan potentially threatens domestic water supplies and the Russian River Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock program in place in this creek since 2004.

Sheephouse Creek’s headwaters are part of the Jenner Headlands Open Space. It hosts the Coho salmon, the Steelhead trout, the CA Red Legged Frog, the Red Tree Vole, the Northern Spotted Owl and many other plant and animal species which are unique to this area. Sheephouse Creek is part of an ongoing multi million dollar taxpayer funded Coho restoration program. It is proposed for multiple habitat restoration projects this year by Fish and Game, given that funding can be allocated.

Sheephouse Creek is identified by National Marine Fisheries Service as a Core recovery area for Coho salmon and an area for immediate restoration. An emphasis is placed on the decommissioning of high risk roads in these Core areas. The waters of Sheephouse Creek are important to the development of the estuary by the SCWA under mandate of the recently released Biological Opinion. Sheephouse Creek is also designated by the Coastal Commission as a Special Treatment Area.

Per Vesta Copestakes of the West County Gazette - “There is something terribly out of sync if all these organizations see the importance of saving what they consider to be a vital watershed and, at the same time, timber harvest plans are being considered by a state agency whose decisions do not seem to reflect the general public interest. Are the people in charge of all these projects talking with each other? Does one side know what the other is doing?” Hopefully, this is why we are talking today…looking for a win-win alternative that makes money for the timber owner, results in a sustainable environmentally conscious timber plan, and satisfies not only the needs and concerns of our group, but protects the goals of the federal, state, local, and private funding partners on behalf of its citizenry.


Thank you,
Mike Keller

- on behalf of the “Friends of Sheephouse Creek”

Read article »

Russian River Water Flows Reduced 25%

Russian River Flows to be Reduced

25 Percent Reduction in Russian River Diversions Ordered by State Water Resources Control Board

The California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) issued an Order responding to the Sonoma County Water Agency’s Temporary Urgency Change Petition for reduced Russian River flows. The Order allows for “dry” year flow conditions and requires SCWA to reduce diversions from the Russian River by 25 percent through October 2, 2009.

"The State Water Board Order will help save water in Lake Mendocino and help ensure there is enough water for the fall migration of chinook salmon - and for Russian River water users, such as the cities of Ukiah and Healdsburg,” said SCWA Director Paul Kelley. “We will need immediate assistance from our contractors and all municipalities along the Russian River, including the business and agricultural communities, in order to meet this Order. Much like the last two years, we have proven that when we work together, we can achieve and exceed water savings for people and fish."

“We will continue to work collaboratively with all stakeholders along the Russian River on this Order, including the recreational community,” said SCWA Director Efren Carrillo. “The Russian River is a major economic engine for many communities. Impacts to recreational activities that rely on the Russian River must be addressed as we move forward with the Order. We will do our best to protect our economy while protecting the health of the Russian River and environment.”

“The contractors represented by the Water Advisory Committee have every intention to work cooperatively with the Sonoma County Water Agency to achieve the 25 percent reduction goal,” said Rohnert Park City Councilmember and Water Advisory Committee Chairman Jake Mackenzie. “We will be working cooperatively as we have over the past two years to make sure our customers get served water to maintain a high quality of life but at the same time be good stewards of our environment. We must make sure we meet the goals set by the State Water Board in order to protect the salmon populations in that resource important to all residents of Sonoma County known as the Russian River.”

Below are some of the requirements as outlined in the SWRCB Order:

Upper Russian River Flows:
(From confluence with the East Fork of the Russian River to its confluence with Dry Creek)

From April 6, 2009 through June 30, 2009, minimum instream flow shall remain at or above 75 cubic feet per second.

From July 1 through October 2, 2009, minimum instream flow shall remain at or above 75 cfs, if during the period from April 1 through June 30 total inflow to Lake Mendocino is greater than 25,000 acre-feet.

From July 1 through October 2, 2009, minimum instream flow shall remain at or above 25 cfs, if during the period from April 1 through June 30 total inflow into Lake Mendocino is less than or equal to 25,000 acre-feet.

Instream flow at the USGS gages at both Hopland and Healdsburg on the Russian River shall be not less than 125 cfs, after a cumulative seasonal total of 200 adult Chinook salmon move upstream past the SCWA Mirabel inflatable dam, unless otherwise directed by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Department of Fish and Game. A lag time of three to seven days for the higher flows to reach Healdsburg is appropriate.

Lower Russian River Flows:
(From its confluence with Dry Creek to the Pacific Ocean)

From April 6, 2009 through June 30, 2009, minimum instream flow shall remain at or above 85 cfs.

From July 1 through October 2, 2009, minimum instream flow shall remain at or above 85 cfs, if during the period from April 1 through June 30 total inflow to Lake Mendocino is greater than 25,000 acre-feet.
From July 1 through October 2, 2009, minimum instream flow shall remain at our above 35 cfs, if during the period from April 1 through June 30 total inflow to Lake Mendocino is less than or equal to 25,000 acre-feet.


25 Percent Reduction in Diversions from Russian River:

The Order requires SCWA and other Russian River water users under its water rights (i.e. Town of Windsor, Russian River County Water District and Camp Meeker) to make a 25 percent reduction in diversions from the Russian River to their service area from April 6, 2009 until the expiration of the Order – October 2, 2009. In 2007, the SWRCB issued a similar Order requiring SCWA to reduce diversions from the Russian River by 15 percent. SCWA and its contractors achieved the goal with reducing diversions by nearly 22 percent.

Prohibition of Commercial Turf Irrigation:

As a condition of water delivery to its contractors, SCWA is directed to prohibit the irrigation of commercial turf grass within the SCWA service area for the period of May 1, 2009 until the expiration of the Order – October 2, 2009. SCWA will be working with its contractors to implement this provision.

25 Percent Water Conservation for Sonoma County and Mendocino County Russian River Water Users:

Within 30 days of the date of the Order, SCWA will submit a plan to SWRCB to obtain cooperation and participation of agricultural and municipal Russian River water users to reach a water conservation goal of 25 percent in Sonoma County and 50 percent in Mendocino County for the period of April 6, 2009, until October 2, 2009.

About Lake Mendocino:

Lake Mendocino provides water storage for municipalities and agriculture in the upper Russian River and sustains flows in the upper Russian River during the fall - a critical time of the annual chinook salmon migration. SCWA engineers projected that water levels in Lake Mendocino would drop to levels lower than 10,000 acre-feet which would be the lowest levels recorded since the lake was first constructed in 1959. The reduced flow rates allow SCWA to retain additional water storage in Lake Mendocino and improve the likelihood that adequate water supply will be available in the fall to provide chinook salmon expected to return to the river to spawn.

SCWA is the local sponsor for the federal water projects at Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma and has authority to regulate water supply-related releases from these reservoirs to meet the needs of more than 600,000 people in Sonoma and Marin counties. A decision by SWRCB in 1986 requires SCWA to release sufficient water from the reservoirs to maintain flows rates above designated minimum values at certain points along the Russian River.

SWRCB Order and SCWA Petition Information:

A copy of the SWRCB Order and SCWA Temporary Urgency Change Petition can be found on SCWA’s Web site www.sonomacountywater.org.

Water Conservation Information:

A list of water conservation tips, programs and rebates are available at www.sonomacountywater.org

Read article »

Fiction: Coyote Heart by Paula Margulies

Coyote Heart, by Paula Margulies, tells the story of Carolyn Weedman, a forty-year-old librarian trapped in a troubled marriage with a disabled husband. After a chance encounter with a widowed Pala Indian professor, Carolyn finds herself drawn into an unexpected love affair. Torn by conflicting feelings, she discovers a secret about her husband‚s past that forces her to confront her divided emotions and choose between the two men that she loves.

"A graceful story of love and redemption, Coyote Heart is a gift for all of us who grapple to understand the complexities of relationships.“ -Patricia Santana, author of Motorcycle Ride on the Sea of Tranquility and Ghosts of El Grullo

Set against the simmering backdrop of local politics on the Pala Indian Reservation, Coyote Heart explores the intricacies of illicit love and marriage, the strength that comes from sacrifice, and the courage to forgive the injuries of the past. The novel calls on several San Diego landscapes, including the Rancho Penasquitos preserve and the Pala Indian Reservation, to give the story a unique local flavor. Written with haunting natural imagery and lyrical prose, Coyote Heart tells a compelling tale of love and modern Native American culture.

“With Coyote Heart, Paula Margulies uses lyrical, yet restrained prose to take us into a world where the usual definitions will not fit˜where the personal and the political, even the human and the animal, become increasingly difficult to differentiate. This novel bravely explores the difference between a relationship that bends and one that breaks; it even suggests that a healed fracture is stronger than what was originally whole.” - Peter Rock, author of My Abandonment, The Bewildered, and The Unsettling


"Redemption is a destination we all hope to reach. Coyote Heart takes us on a wonderful journey, crossing cultural boundaries, toward that great human place." - Mark Trahant, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Pictures of Our Nobler Selves, a history of Native Americans in media.

-------------------------------
Dear Friends:

As many of you already know, my first novel, Coyote Heart, was picked up at the end of last year by Kirk House Publishers, a small press in Minneapolis, and is coming out this month (publication date is April 17). The book is now available for pre-order via Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com. Here's the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Coyote-Heart-Paula-Margulies/dp/193379416X/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238788055&sr=8-13

For those of you who know me well, this has been a long time coming -- I started writing the book in 2003, signed with an agent in 2005, and after it stayed for consideration with some houses for a very long time (some for over a year!), Coyote Heart finally found a home at Kirk House. I'm honored that this press is willing to take a chance on an unknown writer like me, and hope you'll order a copy to show your support for my kind editor and publisher.

Above is a brief description of the story and some endorsement reviews. I'm grateful to all my writing friends, reviewers, and, especially, my patient family, for their ongoing encouragement and support.

If you're able to buy the book, pass along this information to readers who might enjoy a San Diego love story, or even write a review on Amazon, I'll be eternally grateful!

All best and happy reading, Paula

Read article »

Efren Carillo: AB 885, 2-1-1, Roundabouts, Unemployment

Efren Carillo - Sonoma County 5th District Supervisor, brings readers up to date on Sonoma County regulations and issues that impact our communities. This column was published in the March 16th issue of the Gazette and is updated here with current information.

AB885 Actions…

On February 24th, following public meetings held by the State Water Control Board to thousands of concerned local residents, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in opposition to the proposed AB885 septic tank regulations. While the County lauds the intent of this legislation to maintain groundwater quality, the proposed regulations place some unreasonable and costly requirements on septic system owners. Unfortunately, a one-size fits-all approach to regulating systems is impractical with potential to be extremely burdensome to rural property owners and our local agencies that will be mandated to enforce the rules.

During the coming months, the State Board will be working on the proposed regulations, and has pledged to consider comments from the public during this process.

Breaking news on the AB885 issue…

FACT SHEET ON PROPOSED SEPTIC SYSTEM REGULATIONS

On February 23, the State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) closed the public comment period for draft regulations regarding onsite wastewater treatment systems (septic systems). During the comment period (Nov. 7, 2008 to Feb. 23, 2009), the Water Board received more than 2,500 e-mail comments and hundreds of comment letters, and recorded many hours of oral comments from 12 public workshops held throughout the state.

Following is an update on what happens now in terms of the Water Board developing regulations for septic systems:

Is it likely that the next version of proposed regulations will be different from the current version?

Yes. Water Board Staff will be recommending substantial changes based on all of the input from the public.

What happens next, now that the current comment period is over and workshops are concluded?

The Water Board is compiling all of the many comments (transcribing all oral testimony and electronically scanning all comment letters) received from the public. Water Board staff expects to have this information available to the public in April.

How will the Water Board proceed from here?

Water Board staff will draft revised regulations based on the public comments received, will work with the agencies and groups identified in the enabling legislation (AB 885), and when a new set of draft regulations is written, will notice another public comment period so that all stakeholders have a chance to provide input.

Depending on the extent of the recommended revisions to the proposed regulations, staff will also need to modify or redraft the environmental impact report.

What is the anticipated new timeline and when will the public be notified of the revised proposal?

Redrafting these regulations to respond to the substantial comments received is a high priority for the Board. Board staff will be working with the agencies and groups identified in the enabling legislation (AB 885) to develop a new conceptual regulatory proposal within the next 3-5 months. The extent of revisions to the new regulatory proposal will be an important factor in how long it takes to modify or redraft the environmental impact report. Staff is hopeful that this work can be accomplished within 12 months.

How will changes be communicated?

After Water Board staff has prepared a response to public comments and completed changes to the draft regulations, waiver, and EIR, a new public comment period will be scheduled and posted on this web site. Interested parties, including all those who commented on the previous draft and provided staff with contact information, will be notified by U.S. mail and e-mail.

Will there be more opportunities to comment?

Yes. Significant changes will be made to the regulations and a new public comment period will be necessary to provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the revised proposed regulations. The time and date for public comments will be posted on the Water Board web site and publicized statewide

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/septic_tanks/docs/septicsystems_factsheet.pdf


Forestville's Roundabout…

As mentioned in Vesta’s article, many of you turned out for a public meeting about the roundabout proposed for Highway 116 and Mirabel Road. It was my privilege to be part of the mostly positive commentary on the design presented. This is a work in process, but it does seem to be the most effective solution for both the community and the intersection. I look forward to working with Forestville on this roundabout on making this option a reality.

Here’s the 2-1-1…

On February 11th, Sonoma County partnered with the United Way, Community Foundation, and Volunteer Center to launch 2-1-1. This wonderful new, free, confidential, 24-hour information and referral service is available to anyone in Sonoma County. Calls are handled by trained specialists with resources for community services ranging from child and elder care, health and mental health services, alcohol and drug abuse treatment, food, shelter, counseling, and immigration assistance.

Calling 2-1-1 is the best way to connect with volunteer opportunities. Whether there is a natural disaster, such as a flood or earthquake, or your interest is finding the best way to use your skills to help your community as a volunteer, 2-1-1 can help you to make a difference.

Other helpful *-1-1 numbers: 4-1-1 directory assistance, 5-1-1 traffic and transit, 6-1-1 AT&T repair, 7-1-1 California relay for hearing impaired, 8-1-1 “call before you dig” (underground utility lines) and of course, 9-1-1 life-threatening emergencies…

Help for the unemployed…

How does the economic stimulus help you?

This is a frequent question, often asked with a certain amount of despair. Many of us in Sonoma County have been personally affected by the recent economic travails…from record home value decline, to business closures or reductions in force brought about by the recession.

Unemployment numbers are increasing locally, and if you are one of those affected, there is help for you in the new stimulus bill.

If you are eligible for COBRA continuation of your health insurance, but think that you can’t afford to keep your health insurance…reconsider. One direct result of the stimulus bill is that the Federal government will pay 65% of your COBRA health insurance premiums for 9 months beginning February 17, 2009.

Sound too good to be true?

That’s why it is so important to spread the word about this. Employers are still finding out the details, so information may not get to all of those who are eligible for this help. If you or someone you know was laid off after September 1, 2008 (if the employer has a group of 20 or more) they can elect to enroll in Cobra health insurance through their employer and pay 35% of the premium. Different provisions apply to small group employees, who are covered under Cal Cobra, and are eligible for the assistance, but only if the layoff takes place after February 17th, 2009 through the end of the year.

Here are some FAQ’s…

1. Who is eligible?
Anyone who was involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 who worked for an employer with a health insurance group of 20 or more.

Anyone who was involuntarily terminated between February 17th, 2009 and December 31, 2009 who worked for an employer with a small group policy.

2. How does the premium payment work?
Employers can contact the IRS at http://www.irs.gov/ Premiums are taken as a credit against federal payroll taxes on the quarterly report 941, which has been revised. The 35% premium co-pay is paid to the employer.

Another helpful link: www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm

3. What about the premiums that I paid before February 17th?
Unfortunately, there is no “look back” or payment for insurance prior to February 17, 2009.

Additional assistance for those seeking work or improving their job skills can be found at Sonoma County Job Link's web site. (http://www.socojoblink.org/) This site is a full service link to job search assistance, business services, training & labor market information. The free services available to job seekers and the services for employers are described at this website. Job Link's Job Seeker Center is located at 2245 Challenger Way in Santa Rosa, and the Employer Resource Center is located at 606 Healdsburg Avenue in Santa Rosa.

Read article »

GRIEF DENIED: Pauline Laurent - Vietnam Widow's Story

Vietnam Memoir Finds a New Audience
Among Grieving Wartime Widows

Pauline Laurent’s “Grief Denied” is helping the spouses of those killed in the war on terrorism begin the healing process

Story by John P. Abbott

Pauline Laurent stumbled upon writing in an attempt to save her life. So depressed that she was on the verge of suicide, she began to pour out her feelings in the pages of a journal. Those rambling, heart-wrenching entries would eventually become “Grief Denied: A Vietnam Widow’s Story,” the first book of its kind about that era and one that has found a new audience today for those who have lost loved ones in the war on terrorism.

Laurent will talk about her experiences on Thursday, April 16 at 7 p.m. at the Petaluma Community Center, part of the Writers Forum that meets the third Thursday of each month. (see below)

A Certified Professional Life Coach, a gifted public speaker, and a workshop leader, Laurent had never dealt with the pain of the loss of her husband. “Grief Denied,” published in 1999, is an exploration of the price we pay when we hide, deny or delay grief.

Writing Her Way Out
Laurent grew up in a small town in southern Illinois before moving to Chicago where she met her husband, Howard Querry, III. He was drafted into the army, and soon after leaving for Vietnam was killed in combat. Two months pregnant at the time, Laurent buried her grief and got busy. She went back to college, got her degree in education, and eventually settled in Santa Rosa, where she accepted a job with Werner Erhard and Associates.

After three years of 70-hour work weeks, she quit her job due to exhaustion and stress. At the same time, she ended a relationship with a man she had been involved with for four years. “My life had been a series of losses and losing this significant career and relationship at the same time was too much to bear,” she recalls.

She plummeted into depression and became suicidal. Realizing that taking her life would destroy her daughter, she entered therapy; part of her recovery was writing about what she felt. “I did not consider myself a writer, but I discovered there was a lot inside of me that needed to come out. Writing became the container that could hold the feelings that were spilling out about Vietnam.”

A Story Taking on a Life of Its Own
She experienced an epiphany at a writing workshop a few months later. As part of a writing exercise, Laurent recounted the day she had been informed her husband had been killed – a story she had never told. “When the teacher asked who wanted to read I raised my hand. I was emotionally devastated: I would read a few words then sob, then read a few more and sob again. But it was a huge breakthrough for me. After that I felt like the story took on a life of its own. It wouldn’t leave me alone. It wanted to be told.”

As cathartic and compelling as Laurent’s story may have been, every agent and publisher that she approached rejected the book. When she shared her frustration in a crowded auditorium at a writing conference, a literary agent in the audience gave Laurent her business card and offered to look at her manuscript. That was the break that eventually led to the book’s publication.

The book garnered strong reviews and connected with people in all walks of life. Jonah Raskin, professor at Sonoma State University, called it “undeniably moving.” Publishers Weekly described it as a “direct and powerful memoir.” Bill Moyers, who invited Laurent to appear on his television show, said the broadcast “brought a remarkable response from so many people around the country.”

Finding a New Audience Today
The book’s influence continues to reverberate today. Laurent has been asked to lead several grief workshops for widows of troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. “I treat these women as if I were going back to myself as a young widow,” she says. “What did I need to know then? What would have the greatest impact?”

Laurent doesn’t consider herself a professional writer; instead, she thinks of herself as a “bright shining light” on the path of healing. “I don’t have the credentials or degrees that other writers have, but it’s not about the degrees you have or the people you know. We all have a story to tell and we can allow ourselves to tell our stories using whatever means and methods we can avail ourselves to.”

April 6 - On KRCB – Public Radio in Sonoma County, CA (streaming on the web)
at 9:00 am PDT. Pauline will be interviewed on Sonoma Spotlight. It is only a 5-minute interview so be tuned in early to hear her. She will be discussing the writing workshop she is leading on April 16 at 7:00 pm in Petaluma, CA. “The Courage to Write the Story That Scares You.”.

April 16 ~ The Courage to Write the Story that Scares You, Pauline Laurent
Writer's Forum ~ Supported by Poets & Writers, Inc. through a grant it has received from the
Hearst Foundation. $15 at the door. 7:00-9:00 pm at Petaluma Community Center, Luchessi Park, 320 No. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma ~ www.theWriteSpot.us


For more information about Pauline Laurent visit www.griefdenied.com and www.gutsycoaching.com.

For more information about the Writers Forum visit www.thewritespot.us or email mcullen@comcast.net.

Read article »

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE: Hang the Bankers!

Hang the Bankers!

By Kerry Echo

"Capitalism isn't working!" was only one of the cries that went up from crowds in the streets this morning in London where the G-20 nations are holding their world economic summit. I especially liked, "Hang the bankers!" I was amused, but it really isn't funny.

It is a marvel that so many of us managed to survive the past thirty years, that is, since the Reagan Revolution. Any pay raises at work were nullified by a raise in taxes on middle-to-lower income earners, as well as company decisions to drop medical benefits and even the smallest perk, such as a paid, hour lunchtime.

Hardly anyone remembers the good old days when work was a 9-to-5 and there was an entire hour for lunch. Now, work starts at 8:30 a.m. to offset a half-hour, unpaid lunchtime, and business still closes at 5 p.m. so that employees get in a full eight hours. To wit, we spent more time at work making less money.

Meanwhile, the cost of living never stopped going up; and the credit card industry was filling in the gaps. We were made poorer as we just could not keep up unless we used credit to pay, especially medical bills. And then the credit card companies began to raise fees and add fees, especially late fees; and there was nowhere to go with a complaint. By the time the credit card industry got competitive, most of us were already awash in debt. I remember paying off several credit card balances with other credit cards, paying off debt with another debt.

No, I did not know how that made sense, but I was not a business person. I remember one financial expert claiming years ago that our financial system was far sturdier and more resilient than it was before the Great Depression, that there were mechanisms, some sort of interdependence among financial institutions, that made it bust-proof. I had no idea what he meant, but it was also the era of the then-new, high-yield debt instruments, a.k.a junk bonds, created by financial wunderkind, Michael Milken.

Because of Reagan-era deregulation, banks could issue credit and operate as investment banking houses. Real estate firms, insurance, and title companies could behave like banks. Every and all sorts of companies could issue credit cards. Venerable companies like General Electric became better known for their financial services. Prudential Insurance became Pru-Bache. What monies the insurance companies did not want to pay in claims enriched their investment portfolios.

Many homeowners were making their mortgage payments to a different institution every three or four months, many removes from the institution that originally held the paper. Their mortgage had been swapped, that is, bundled up with other mortgages, some good, some not, and sold like a security to another banking firm. Except that someone made money off someone else's debt, no one knows what that really means, especially, now, with the trouble we are in.

The cost of insurance kept rising, too, but it came to seem more like protection money. There were always reasons why the insurance companies, behaving more like the Mob, did not want to pay out; and with each auto accident or trip to the hospital, rates went up. So despite insurance, one could not have an accident or get ill. It was simple usury and certainly racketeering, and where insurance was involved with the State, collusion.

Tuition went up for both public and private schools, at the same time there was less financial aid, unless one wanted to take out a loan. Then Congress got angry at those people who were not paying back their loans, whom they claimed were all doctors and lawyers. Now you could default on your student loan, but the debt would never go away: it would alway have a spot on your credit report. And it would die when you do, and that part is thanks to President Clinton. Otherwise, your children's children would have been reaping sour grapes from the U.S. Department of Education.

Still, I lived a prosperous life. I had a new car, a nice house, clothing, jewelry. And a mountain of debt, which did not seem to matter. It was the American way.

Of course, I could never stop working. Or juggling.

These days, I just have a lot less to juggle. While all that credit was floated over the past thirty years, social services of every kind were cut. Slashed, really. What that means for me now is that I get any public aid in piecemeal fashion. If I have food stamps, I get less of something else. If I have more unemployment or disability monies, I get less food stamps. The aid is not cumulative in a way that a person could reach financial stability and move on and up. One merely teeters.

But, I am resourceful and in good health. And I do not really want to hang the bankers. Honestly, if swapping nothing is considered to be capital, I don't know whether capitalism works or not. I'm not sure we were even practicing capitalism, as such. I do like what money buys and would be woefully unhappy in a Marxist state where there were no department stores where I could try on new dresses, shoes, and jewelry, no matter that I could not afford them, and no array of cosmetics and make-up counters.

That sounds like sheer frivolity, but we are going to need to commit simple acts of levity to keep our heads up and to feel like staying above ground.

Read article »

Sheephouse Creek Timber Harvest Plan withdrawn...for now

Sheephouse Creek Logging Plan Withdrawn

The Ricioli Ranch Non-industrial Timber Management Plan #1-08NTMP-004SON has been temporarily withdrawn from the California Department of Forestry’s review process pending revisions. Information uncovered by the “Friends of Sheephouse Creek” and other state agencies forced CDF to return the plan for revisions. The Friends also stirred public agencies into action and spread public awareness of the problems associated with the plan.


The Ricioli Ranch registered professional forester, Glen Edwards, originally submitted this open ended logging plan in February 2008. CDF returned it ten days later with 4 pages of errors and omissions. Resubmitted in December 2008, the CDF again returned the NTMP with 8 more pages of corrections. We are currently waiting for this plan to be resubmitted a third time. Like all NTMP’s, it receives but one review and approval and then runs in perpetuity without further approvals and with minimal monitoring and enforcement of standards.

The site of this logging plan is located about 2-1/2 miles west of Duncans Mills bordering Sheephouse Creek. It includes 43 acres of a Coastal Commission Special Treatment Area. This plan is based on a ten year harvest cycle, taking 800 million board feet of lumber per decade over the next 40 years.

The plan features moderate to high erosion areas, slopes steep enough to require cable yarding, extensive road reconstruction and new roads, as well as the use of heavy equipment on the existing seasonal roads within the Watercourse and Lake Protection Zone (WLPZ). The plan also sites a log landing within the WLPZ. The plan potentially threatens domestic water supplies.

The watershed is home to endangered Coho salmon, endangered Northern Spotted Owl, threatened Steelhead trout, rare Osprey and Coopers hawk, California Red Legged Frog and the Red Tree Vole.

The headwaters of Sheephouse Creek originate in the Jenner Headlands, recently acquired by the Sonoma County Agricultural and Open Space District. The Department of Fish and Game has proposed multiple habitat restoration projects for the area in 2009 and the National Marine Fisheries Service has identified it as a Core area in their plans for Coho salmon recovery. This logging plan could jeopardize the existing tax payer funded, multi million dollar State/County Russian River Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock program which previously restocked Coho in Sheephouse Creek.

Senator Pat Wiggins, Chair for California’s Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, has agreed to send a representative to the site in the near future to meet with the “Friends of Sheephouse Creek” to look first hand at the issues surrounding this NTMP.



Thank you,

- the “Friends of Sheephouse Creek”

Read article »