Wild Hog Vineyard - Eco Friendly Winery, Delicious Wines

Perched high on a hillside between Cazadero and Fort Ross, is Wild Hog Vineyard. Daniel Schoenfield, the winemaker, (who is also owner alongside his wife Marion) sent a rather detailed 4 pages of directions to the winery with explicit instructions not to use any Mapquest or Google Maps to find him. He was quite correct, the trip is better made with a four-wheel-drive vehicle, through wilderness and along many dirt roads I never knew existed in Sonoma County. The scenery is spectacular, though the drive somewhat precarious. Daniel and Marion do welcome visitors by appointment, and their friendliness and generosity of time, as well as a diverse selection of wines are well worth a visit, though not in the winter months, nor as part of a day visiting other wineries (you’ll need one day just for them) - and make sure you have water and a spare tire; cell service is spotty at best.

I found myself making the trip to visit Wild Hog Vineyard some four years ago, when, after weekly requests from locals, I decided it was time I tried Wild Hog wines for myself. I always prefer to visit winemakers in their vineyards, as it is there that I find them to be more likely to impart their winemaking philosophy and processes in detail, surrounded by their art.

The Wild Hog 110-acre estate grows several varietals including pinot noir, zinfandel, syrah and petite sirah. Wild Hog estate vines are grown organically. The vines are dry farmed (no irrigation, except to start new young vines), no filtration is used, the winery and their home is powered by solar and hydro electricity. Daniel also purchases grapes from several other vineyards, including Saralee’s Vineyard and Porter Bass in the Russian River Valley appellation and from some nearby counties. Marion tends a 3-acre organic garden and fruit orchard on the estate to feed the family.

Wild Hog wines are distributed nationally, but it has been most important to Daniel for his wines to be available locally, and these he delivers himself to select retail stores and restaurants across Sonoma County (occasionally with a selection of some sumptuous fruits and vegetables from Marion’s garden…)

The Wines
From the current releases, I think the 2007 Wild Hog Saralee’s Pinot Noir is one of the finest (as are so many 2007 releases from Sonoma County), and is ready to enjoy now (ret $24-$27). It is the first vintage from Wild Hog’s Saralee’s pinot noir I’ve tasted that has both a balance of concentrated red fruit flavors and the black fruit flavors that are typical of past vintages. Wild Hog’s 2005 Nova Zinfandel from Mendocino County (ret $22-25) is the most popular Zinfandel in my store under $30 – great black fruit flavors of blueberry and blackberry, bordering on jammy. The Wild Hog Estate Pinot Noir 2006 is ready to drink now and needs no decanting. The first ridge pinot noirs typically have a mineral finish and more concentrated fruit flavors due to the cool climate, and this is a fine example. The Estate pinot noir has a great capacity for aging, properly cellared. Not available now, but Wild Hog’s Montepulciano is probably my favorite of all the other varietals Wild Hog produce. It’s a very limited production, watch out for it upon release.

Many Wild Hog wines are locals’ favorites, as I have discovered for good reason: the Schoenfields put their heart and soul into their winemaking, and put into practice the true meaning of living in harmony with the land. It yields results.

Old Grove Festival
On another note, Wild Hog Vineyard happens to be one of the many generous supporters of the Old Grove Festival (Friday, Saturday & Sunday, September 25-27, 2009 in Armstrong Redwoods). Several other Sonoma wineries are supporting this event, including (but not exclusively) Rosenblum Cellars, Deloach, Sbragria and Hartford – truly some spectacular wines that will be available by the glass at the festival and will help support the Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods and all their incredible work in protecting and preserving our State Parks (www.stewardsofthecoastandredwoods.org).

John Haggard is owner of Sophie’s Cellars, The Sonoma Wine & Cheese Market in Monte Rio, California. Sophie’s Cellars is open 11am – 7pm, closed only on Wednesdays. www.sophiescellars.com

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Astrology October 2009 - Rio Olesky

Saturn is one of the movers and shakers of the solar system. It provides us with the energy to take responsibility for our lives. It enables us to feel empowered in the creation of our reality. The transits of Saturn tell us where work needs to be done. It indicates what area of our life that needs definition and something to achieve. If we are successful in realizing the goals, we remove blockages from our path and avoid feeling fearful and limited.

Saturn transits through each sign for approximately 2 years. On October 29th, Saturn will move into Libra. It will remain there until April 2010 when it retrogrades back into Virgo until July, at which time it moves into Libra and stays there until October 2012.

Libra is the sign of harmony and balance. Two of its primary points of focus are social interaction and the arts. Socially, Libra is oriented toward one-to-one relationship in the personal life and justice and equality collectively. Artistically, Libra is sensitive to aesthetics, either nature-made or human-made. It can also be drawn to creating beauty in various mediums.

With Saturn in Libra, therefore, we will be challenged to define specific goals that we would like to achieve both socially and creatively in the next few years. If we don‚t define any goals, or do any work in these areas, we are liable to feel blocked in them. For example, we could feel limited in our options to either begin a new relationship or improve an existing one. One way out of that involves taking responsibility to define what we need and what we offer to a partner. Then define a strategy that can be employed in very concrete ways that is designed to alter behavioral patterns and achieve the goals. This could pertain to any important one-to-one relationship, personal and romantic or professional. This could also involve our desire to become active in a cause that pertains to social justice. Change will occur when we are clear about our goals, pursue them diligently and are realistic about our limits and boundaries. Without those parameters, we might project the cause of our frustration onto the partner or the situation in general. We might even feel too fearful of rejection to even address these issues within ourselves, let alone interactively. Sometimes, lack of awareness and work in this area can leave us in a codependent state, feeling that if we can at least satisfy our partner‚s needs and desires that somehow that will bring us happiness and satisfaction. In fact, that strategy leads to increased frustration.
Similarly, strive to become aware of creative goals. Think of the arts in a broad context, not limited to the so-called plastic arts‚ writing, painting, sculpting or music. Flower arranging, cooking, interior design (even a new coat of paint in the kitchen) are also artistic endeavors that can bring increased harmony and pleasure. Without clearly defining a format and a goal, we could feel creatively stuck. We might fear that others won‚t enjoy or appreciate our efforts and judge us as not being good enough or acceptable in some way.

The lower octave of Libra is experienced through indecision, often accompanied by valuing others‚ opinions or needs above our own. We put the creation and maintenance of the harmony of a relationship or an environment as the only important goal to achieve. The main problem with that goal, however, is that it can gloss over our own needs and feelings. The higher octave of Libra enables us to be thoughtful of others and relating to them with tact and diplomacy. Negotiation and compromise are prioritized over the need for positive feedback from others. Saturn in Libra is a transit that enables us to find an internal balance point. First we tune in to ourselves. Then, we define our needs. Then we share that information with others with the intention of creating a relationship that is equitable and fulfilling for both parties. By extension, we also work to create a harmonious environment that is aesthetically pleasing, and maximizes the potential for many people to function effectively in that context and benefit from our efforts.
Remember to personalize this transit by noting what house in your natal chart is occupied by the sign Libra. That is the area of your life experience wherein this work will need to be done over the next few years.

Aries: Early month is a good time to try new things, especially if they involve home and family. Be open to inspiration that may require some innovation or experimentation on your part. Later in the month, be careful that your natural tendency to be your authentic self at all times doesn’t push you into narcissism. Growth for you this month comes from being willing to negotiate and compromise with others while remaining true to yourself.

Taurus: Many challenges for you this month, mostly occurring mid-month. One of the points of contention will revolve around your need for stability in the face of unexpected and possibly destabilizing changes. One way out is to be clear about where you are and are not willing to compromise. Another important point involves self-discipline but stops short of being excessively self-limiting.

Gemini: Working on mental discipline in early month enables you to take advantage of opportunities for change, either at work or in family matters. Mid-late month brings the energy for self-exploration and the ability to understand yourself at deeper levels. Joy, faith and compassion are available throughout the month. Tuning in to them can bring clarity and awareness of opportunities in other areas.

Cancer: The full Moon in Aries on the 3rd could bring issues at work to a head that have been simmering for a while. Growth for you comes from knowing yourself and speaking your truth. The new Moon on the 17th in Libra brings feelings of joyfulness and optimism and opportunities for positive social activities, creative inspiration or expansion of faith.

Leo: This is a month when your natural tendencies to be joyful and generous can be expressed. Social activities involving partners and family should bring fulfillment. Your energy level should increase significantly from mid-late month. Use this to be physically active in whatever ways you choose, but be careful to avoid gross ego-centrism that would lead to contention between yourself and others.

Virgo: Creative and social energy abounds for you this month. Growth comes from developing the self-awareness that will enable you to be confident enough to openly express what you feel in either context. This is also a good time to find solutions to health or financial issues. Mental discipline is strong during this period, but avoid tendencies to focus only on the negative.

Libra: Six planets will be passing through Libra this month, so the information about Saturn‚s transit is particularly important to you. The key is to find or create balance in your life. Strive to be thoughtful but not co-dependent, diplomatic but not superficial, artistic but not dilitantish. The most important component of these transits is you. Try not to externalize the energy to the point where you are seeing yourself through others.

Scorpio: Intellectual or spiritual inspiration could be profound, especially early in the month. Challenges could come from the desire to be expressive, combined with your natural tendency to be private. Growth comes from taking the time to get clear about your need to feel safe to share, with whom and at what time. Transformation can come from being open in the right time and place.

Sagittarius: This is a time to implement changes in your social life that you might have been contemplating for several months. There should be the support from others to do this, either in the form of opportunities that enable the integration of new patterns or from those who notice and appreciate your changes.

Capricorn: Early to mid-month is the time to put some finishing touches on projects you have been working on for some time. Refine and perfect what you have already done. Late month, the Saturn in Libra transit challenges you to start the work on relationship stated above. Failing to do so could lead to power struggles and control issues in important relationships.

Aquarius: You may feel pushed, pulled and prodded for most of this month. Much of the struggle could involve areas that have been challenging for about a year, namely finance and relationship. Growth comes from clarification of your values. Get in touch with your inherent resources that provide the clarity and strength to know that you can overcome the difficulties and, in the long run, prevail.

Pisces: While others around you may be challenged at this time, you might find smooth sailing. Growth comes from being compassionate and serviceful to those who need your support, without falling into the martyr role. Take advantage of the harmonious, supportive energies to enhance both your social and spiritual lives.

Rio Olesky has been studying astrology since 1967 and been a practicing professional since 1976. The author of Astrology and Consciousness, Rio offers classes in beginning astrology through SRJC and ongoing classes through Crystal Channels in Santa Rosa. His next class at the JC begins Wednesday October 14. Call 527-4824 to register. To make an appointment for a reading, call Rio at 707-887-1820. Check out his website: http://www.starwatcher.com/.

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Divorce - Self Representation vs. Attorney

Q: My wife of 15 years said to me, “enough of this”. Our separation has been amenable enough—we mutually care for our 16-year old son.. and we even worked out all the “messy stuff” (property, mortgage, inheritance, etc) while living separately for 3 years. We are ready—should we get a divorce on our own?

Signed: T-Man--Testing the Waters.

A: Dear T-Man:

Your question evokes more than a “toe-tipping” into the waters—it is more like the swirling eddies of multiple crosscurrents. Of course, you and your wife will have to make the emotional decision of whether to split for good, but I can tell you that just because you may live and act like you are not married, does not make it legally so.

The dissolution of a marriage is a technical legal proceeding that requires court intervention and approval. Think of it as breaking a contract or promise, so the court must review all the terms of the “breach of contact”, which of course typically involves issues such as child custody, visitation, distribution of community property assets and debts, etc.

So, if you decide to get a divorce, let me offer you a very brief description of what to expect, followed by three tips.

Step One: Play the song “Going to the Chapel ‘cause I’m gonna get Married”, backwards. It sounds like this…”Going to the courthouse ‘cause I’m gonna get divorced”. The only way you can be legally divorced in Sonoma County is to show up at the new Family Law Courthouse with $350 bucks in hand (filing fee) and a fistful of legal papers. The legal papers are quite complicated but can be found on the website of the Sonoma County Superior Court.

Once you file, you will then need to hire a process server (or the Sheriff) to “serve” your soon-to-be ex. Once the other party is served, he or she has 30 days to file an “Answer” to the first pleading. Wait. We are not done. Then the parties must file a more detailed document, termed the “Marital Settlement Agreement”, which in essence contains all the “stuff” that you think you agreed upon. This Marital Settlement Agreement is then attached to the court’s Judgment. You are not divorced until the Court’s Judgment is entered into the court record.

Now, don’t get cold feet or overwhelmed by this process. If you do decide to do it on your own, you will be in the majority. It is estimated that 75-80% of family law litigants in Sonoma County represent themselves (called “Pro Se” or “Pro Per”). How long will it take? If you do it right, maybe as little as 6 months. You see, if all the papers are in order from the get-go, the court has the jurisdiction to terminate the marriage six months and a day from the first filing.

Do not fear, oh great adventurer, though. Here are three “free tips”:
1) Tip #1: Check out the Family Law Facilitator Self-Help Center, located at 3055 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa. 707-521-6545. The Center has drop-in appointments (bring a bag lunch—you’ll be there awhile) or I believe you can make an appointment. Volunteer attorneys and legal assistants will guide you through the complicated paper process. They will not, however, appear with you in court, negotiate your terms of agreement, etc.
2) Tip #2: You can always hire a reputable private attorney. Find one that emphasizes family law. Most offer a 15-20 minute free consultation so you (and the attorney) can determine if it is a good fit. Of course, this option could be more of a white water ride—fun, exciting, but expensive!
3) Tip #3: You can also hire a “Document Preparation Service”. The papers are prepared by an experienced attorney for a flat fee. One service that comes to mind is “Legal Eagles”. Call 707-526-1460. (And in the spirit of full disclosure, I must inform you that this service is operated by an attorney who shares the same professional office space with me).

It’s your call and your wife’s call. Enjoy the ride!

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Conservation Works! How Sonoma County Can Do Their Part

Conservation really works, but don’t stop now.
As a result of conservation efforts, Lake Mendocino, projected to be dry by now, is actually 1% higher than last year’s low level of 60%. Continued conservation will ensure a high enough lake level to release water into the Russian River for the fall Chinook salmon run as well as for municipal water supplies drawn from the river.

Get free faucets and more.
Local water agencies are offering free low-flow plumbing hardware such as showerheads, faucet aerators, and hose nozzles. Some also offer water surveys and rebates for High Efficiency toilets and washing machines. For offers in your area, click on your local water agency at www.scwa.ca.gov/water_conservation/programs.php.

Keep chemicals from medication out of our waterways.
Don’t flush old prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements––or put them in the trash. The Safe Medicine Disposal Program has been expanded; pharmacies in most of the county are accepting medications––including liquids, lotions, ointments, and creams––in the original containers (take pill containers home and recycle). For more information, call 707-833-2553 (Russian River Watershed Association), 707-543-4368 (Sebastopol, Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, and Cotati), or 707-521-1820 (Guerneville and Sonoma, where the sheriff’s substations are also drop-off sites).

Go Local––Shop Local
Save your local economy…three stores at a time.
Go to http://www.the350project.net/ for more information about saving locally owned businesses. For every $100 spent in an independently owned store, $68 stays in the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spent that in a national chain, only $43 would stay here, and if you spent it online $0 would remain locally.

Help offset global warming––buy mate beverages locally.
Loss of the rain forest accelerates global warming. Buying Guayakí’s yerba mate products helps reverse that process. Mate, one of the world’s most popular caffeinated drinks, is now part of the North American mainstream beverage market––Guayakí’s projects sales of $12 million this year. This Sebastopol company, which pays the 45 families of the Guayakí tribe for the use of its name, has helped restore 17,000 acres of rainforest by working with farmers, small businesses, and indigenous tribes, to create sustainable development.

National chains can do good things at the local level, too.
• Help Foster Kids
Drop off school supplies for foster kids at Sleep Train® Mattress Center on south Santa Rosa Avenue by September 30th or bring in children’s coats and jackets from September 21st to November 1st to benefit the Children’s Village of Sonoma County and Valley of the Moon Children’s Foundation.
• Help Others Find Their Strong Suit
Until September 30th, join the National Suit Drive. Donate gently used suits, sport coats, slacks, dress shirts, ties and belts at your local Men’s Wearhouse––1001 Steele Lane, across from Coddingtown Mall. Providing unemployed men with professional work attire builds their self-esteem and makes a good first impression during job interviews. (And you’ll be reducing landfill, too.) Last year 35,000 men received suits for that all-important interview. Go to www.nationalsuitdrive.com for more information and applications for local non-profit partners.
• A pint for a pint
Baskin-Robbins donates coupons good for a pint of ice cream when you donate a pint of blood at the Blood Bank of the Redwoods on Monday. Call 707-545-1222 for appointments or blood drive locations.
• Easily recycle CFLs responsibly.
We all know how energy efficient and long lasting CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) are. But when they finally wear out, after 10+ years, you can’t put them in the trash, because of their mercury content. Now you can take them to the Customer Service counter at Home Depot, and they’ll recycle them responsibly.
• Buy organic cotton
Cotton, the most pesticide-dependent crop in the world, accounts for 25% of all pesticide use. The USDA estimates cotton uses more than 50,000,000 lbs. of pesticides in the U.S. annually (one T-shirt uses ¼ pound). Besides polluting our soil and waterways, pesticides adversely affect the health of agricultural workers.
Santa Rosa Indigenous Designs (707-571-7811) distributes organic and Fair Trade clothing through Whole Foods and online. Wal-Mart is the world’s largest provider of organic cotton––10,000,000 pounds’ worth in 2006, and J.C. Penney’s Simply Green line, available locally, includes organic cotton as well as other renewable and recyclable products.

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Ask The Loan Man - Conventional or FHA Home Loan?

I was thinking the other day that the mortgage industry is much like that famous line from the Blues Brothers movie when the band was booked at a bar that did not look quite like the usual places they played and Dan Akroyd asks the bartender what kind of music they usually have there and she replies, “We got both kinds, Country AND Western.”. Right now in the mortgage business, we seem to have conventional AND FHA loans available. With almost everyone getting a 30 year fixed rate mortgage and the line between conventional and FHA pretty clear most of the time, a lot of people wonder exactly what my role as mortgage advisor is today.

Well, let me tell ya cowboy, the line between FHA and conventional is not as clear as you might think. There seems to be even more opportunity for me to give good advice today than any other time.

I recently had a couple come in who were selling their current home and buying a smaller home (empty nesters) and they planned to put all of the money from the one home into the next home and getting a 30 year fixed conventional loan. I am not saying that was a bad idea….. I just wanted to show them what it would like if they put all of their money down, 20% down and a few spots in between. I also projected out 7 years, 15 years and 30 years on all of these loans and what the total costs of the loan over time looked like for them. Next we explored 15, 20, 25 and 30 year fixed rate mortgages and what it would look like to them and I also encouraged them to take these options that we discussed to a financial planner so they could get a really good idea of what to do with any money that they did not put down on their next house. They ended up getting a 30 year fixed rate conventional and they are putting a good chunk of the money down and they are holding back a little for a rainy day. This is a little change that is going to make a huge difference in their lives and a small difference in their payments and they told me that they would not have even been thinking about these things if they had not gotten good advice from me. THAT is what gets me out of bed in the morning, my friends.

I was at a Rockabilly show last weekend. It was a great show at the Hopmonk Tavern (great venue and excellent food). There were 3 rockabilly bands and they were quite different and it got me thinking that rockabilly was a better analogy to the mortgage business today. The Aces played on the bed of one of Falcon Mike’s trucks which was extremely cool. They play a very bluesy and slow sort of rockabilly. Then we had Lee Rocker who held true to his name and rocked heavily but also slowed it down here and there and then came the Blasters which is a more soulful, bluesy rock sound….. Rockabilly is a cross between Rock, Hillbilly and Blues. It is American roots music and it was a great show.

I was just trying to figure out a way to write about the show and keep it mortgage or real estate related. In my humble opinion, it is more important today to work with top notch real estate agents and mortgage professionals. Good advice and being there a year or a decade later are important any time but with changes coming as rapidly as they are today, just getting through the transaction takes a real pro.

Please email or call me with any real estate and mortgage related questions. I am happy to answer you and it may become the topic of a future article.

Hans Bruhner, CMPS is the branch manager for Benchmark Mortgage. If you have a question, please contact Hans at (707) 887-1275 or hans@hansblog.com or stop by www.AskTheLoanMan.com.

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Listening 2 Children - New School Year = New Beginnings!

The new school year is here! The care-free times of summer are trailing behind and the more structured time of the fall is here. September has always been a huge new beginning for me and a very special time! Seeing the gorgeous leaves on the trees turning shades of red, yellow and orange, staying up later than usual to pack school lunches and the shopping for back to school supplies and clothes are some of my favorite memories from past September’s with my children.
In addition to such changes in the environment and my schedule, each September had me inquiring as to how I wanted to approach life differently. How could I support my children in a better way? Looking back at the past, I realize that I was attempting to see through my “blind spots”. My children may not think I was successful but it was my intention to see things anew!

We each develop our own way of looking at life. I’ve come to accept that my own “blind spots” through the years, gave me a tunnel vision at times! That’s why we need each other. We can help our loved ones, see through their “blind spots” and they can help us. If we approach the subject in the right way and are not attached to another’s response or reply, it can be a growing experience for all.

In this article, I’m raising the question to myself and to you the reader, “Are you “boxed-in”? Or are you keeping the child/ren in your life “boxed in”? Do you see yourself or others in a certain way and are closed to any evidence to the contrary?

Recently, I attended a workshop by the Emmy-Award winning writer, Gene Perret. He wrote for many famous Hollywood Stars such as Bob Hope, Carol Burnet, Phyllis Diller and many others! He suggests in his book, “Become a Richer Writer,” that one should, “Expand your writing into pioneer territory.” So, I invite you to ponder if you’d enjoy expanding yourself into “pioneer territory?” In addition, how about allowing your children to expand into pioneer territory? Perhaps you are already doing this, or perhaps not? I feel it’s human nature that we get “boxed in” at times and don’t expand into new territory! We figure out a way to do some aspect of life and we keep on repeating it. Many times this is a good thing. We don’t have to re-invent the wheel. On the other hand, perhaps the time is right for some things to be “unboxed!”

For example your child might say: “Dad and Mom, this year I don’t want to take piano lessons, I want to try the violin”! Your immediate “boxed in” response might be, “Oh, honey, you are so good at the piano, you don’t want to quit now”! And that may be true! Piano may be his/her gift. However, allowing for discussions around the subject might be a way of becoming ‘unboxed’ in your thinking. The end result may be the same, however, the process would be different.

I’ve certainly created my own “boxes” at times! One of my daughters is fluent in Spanish and wants to teach her future children the language from infancy. In addition, my other daughter is very well versed in the language! When they have invited me to learn the language in the past, my ‘boxed-in’ response has been, “I’m not good at language!” However, I’ve decided to “un-box” myself in this area! This year I’m going to explore learning to speak Spanish!

So I invite you to look around and see if you have any “boxed-up” folks living in your home? Would you like to “un-box” yourself from anything? Is your child or children asking to get “unboxed” from anything in their life? Sincere listening to one’s self and others is the key to such questions!

New Beginnings can take place at any time! I happen to feel that September is one of those especially great times, for newness! Newness is refreshing! Newness breeds openness! And Newness opens up new doors!

Sharon Ann Wikoff is an educator and has been working with children and families for over 25 years. She hosts the radio program, The Voice of Change, which can be heard at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/Sharon-Anne.

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Who is Graton Fire?

Graton Fire has a tremendous history of fighting fires both within its borders as well as the major fires in Santa Rosa, Guerneville, and Healdsburg. Eventually, Graton firefighters started responding to medical aids and vehicle accidents. Graton Fire was one of the first districts to purchase the “Jaws of Life” to pry open cars in the 1970’s and responded throughout a significant section of Western Sonoma County with them. We have been working out of the same fire station (once the train depot) since the 1940’s.

History- During the 1920’s and 1930’s, Graton experienced many bad fires. When veterans returned to Graton after World War II, they used their military fire experience to help prepare Graton to fight fires. Initially, this was done with a large soda acid extinguisher on wheels that was kept in town and people would come get it when needed. Farmers would bring water spray tanks and tenders from their fields as well. Through donations and a very committed Graton community, the fire department was formed in the mid to late 1940’s. In 1951, it was officially recognized as a Fire Protection District and officially accepted the responsibility and duty to respond to fires. We cover from the Sebastopol city limits (roughly Mill Station Road) to as far north as the top of Vine Hill and Laguna Roads and west to Green Hill Road and east to the Laguna that separates us from Santa Rosa.

Graton Fire has a tremendous history of fighting fires both within its borders as well as the major fires in Santa Rosa, Guerneville, and Healdsburg. Eventually, Graton firefighters started responding to medical aids and vehicle accidents. Graton Fire was one of the first districts to purchase the “Jaws of Life” to pry open cars in the 1970’s and responded throughout a significant section of Western Sonoma County with them. We have been working out of the same fire station (once the train depot) since the 1940’s. In 1961, the meeting room/kitchen, bathroom, office, and three engine bays were added using donated/reclaimed lumber from Graton chicken coops and the labor of the Graton volunteer firefighters.

There are no hydrants or water system in Graton or the surrounding community. You may see a hydrant in Graton; however, these are typically hooked to neighborhoods that share a water system and have limited storage. When there is a fire, we must bring the water to the fire and establish a water-hauling system to maintain the firefighting operations. This is done through a county-wide mutual aid system where all fire departments support each other during major fires.

Graton Fire is managed by a board of directors, comprised of five residents who have been elected to serve the interests of the district. They are charged with spending the money received through property taxes (roughly one percent of the tax bill) and donations from the community. The board meets the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm. During this meeting, the board pays bills, approves purchases over $500, reviews correspondence, and receives reports from the fire chief on how many calls and trainings happened the prior month. This meeting is open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend.

Today- From the fire chief to the trainees... every Graton firefighter is still a volunteer. We respond to more calls each year than any other 100 percent volunteer fire department in Sonoma County and more than a couple of the paid departments. We have only been able to accomplish this due to 60+ years of dedicated Graton men and women. Our roster is consistently filled with 20-30 firefighters who are willing to put their personal and professional lives on hold to respond to the 500 calls for service we receive each year.

Graton conducts its own training for new volunteers, following the standards set by the International Fire Service Training Association. After six months and a minimum of 120 hours of training, new firefighters may run calls. They, along with the rest of the department, continue to train every Thursday night to keep their skills sharp. This is accomplished through a combination of our own firefighters teaching in their areas of expertise, guest instructors, and a contract with Sonoma County for an outside fire instructor to teach one or two times a month. Occasionally, we can get live fire training when we burn homes that are scheduled for demolition. It is cheaper for the homeowner and great training for us.

Due to the level of training, equipment, water-hauling proficiency, and dedicated volunteers, Graton obtained a protection rating of 6 (out of 10) from the Insurance Services Office (ISO) in 2006. This is the service that your homeowner’s insurance company uses to rate your fire insurance. Most volunteer departments without hydrant systems score a 9.

The fire department has four types of fire engines to serve the different needs we encounter. The structure engine, of which we have two per ISO, is designed to fight house fires. The wildland engine is smaller, designed to go off-road, and attack the fire while still driving. The water tender carries 2,000 gallons of water and supports the structure and wildland engines. Lastly, the rescue squad carries equipment for vehicle accidents, medical aids, and other service calls. It carries no water or fire equipment, making it smaller and more easily adaptable to our rural driveways.

Future- The brightest light in our future is the new fire station; we are all very excited. The current station cannot fit all of our engines, there is no storage space, the building is literally falling apart, it is not seismically safe, etc. The board of directors has been saving and planning for a new station for close to 30 years. In 2006, the board purchased the Davis Tree Farm on Highway 116 using cash reserves set aside for this purpose. Of the 9 acres, only 20-30 percent are being developed for the station; the rest will remain Christmas trees and will serve as another community fundraising event for the department. The goal of the board is to use the remaining cash reserves, financing, and a federal grant to build the new station without requiring any new taxes. There is significant competition for the federal grant, which will be awarded next month. Our fire station plans were submitted to the Sonoma County building department this month.

As you can see from the chart, Graton Fire continues to serve more calls every year. The new station will support the increasing responsibility of the fire district. It will house all of our fire engines and have excellent space for training and equipment. In addition, we are designing it with space for up to four bedrooms. Establishing a “sleeper program,” where volunteers are paid a small stipend (e.g. $25) to sleep at the station, will be possible at the new building. This could be a first step towards easing the call burden on the volunteers with only “sleeper” firefighters running calls at night unless they need additional help.

Summary- The Graton Fire Protection District is very fortunate. We have a great community that supports us, a solid tax base to purchase reliable equipment, and, most importantly, an incredible group of residents who are willing to complete the training necessary to become a volunteer firefighter. Each day, we respond to 1-2 calls for service. Today, it was a lift assist for a father on hospice care at home and a vehicle accident for a car into an apple orchard. Tomorrow, it could be a house fire or another baby delivery... you never know and that is what makes volunteering so exciting!

For more information, please call the fire district at (707) 823-5515 or visit our website at http://www.gratonfire.com/

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Restaurant Review: Henweigh Cafe, Sebastopol CA

Dad comes home from work and says to son, “I saw a henweigh on the way home today.” Son asks. “What’s a henweigh?” Dad, “Oh, about 5 pounds,” DRUM ROLL –CYMBOL CRASH! That was one of the family jokes when Dennis Kelly was growing up. Now he, and partner, Lois Nielsen have decided that is the perfect name for their new venture, the HENWEIGH CAFÉ. You can find this charming place at 4550 Gravenstein Hwy N. Although the address is Sebastopol it is nestled toward Forestville in the “Mom’s Apple Pie” building and is developing a local following of people in this west county area.

Dennis and Lois didn’t get here by accident. They spent time looking at their interests and planning their future. Dennis has a background in high tech business – marketing specifically, and he likes entertaining and cooking. Lois has been in the retail business and knows her way around developing a business plan. Their plan included having a landmark restaurant, a community presence, an admired reputation, quality food while being sensitive to the economy and having a good time.

With this in mind they opened the Henweigh Café. They have an open kitchen that is neat and visible. Having competent and friendly employees and mentoring younger staff is a priority for Dennis and Lois. They want the restaurant to be a place that has a pleasant atmosphere and customers feel welcomed. There is an outside deck and the owners are dog friendly. So you can bring your pet to sit quietly by your table on the deck.

Dennis and Lois have already established partnerships with other businesses and organizations in the area. This includes developing relationships with smaller local wineries and sponsoring a local soccer team. They plan to be proactive in the community and are engaged in special activities, wine tasting events, banquets, private parties and having fun in general at all times.
While they both cook, Dennis specializes in smoking the baby back ribs. He has a industrial size barbeque smoker and along with the ribs he prepares special menus featuring Smoked Chicken and Cold Smoked Rib Eye steaks. Lois developed the menu and creates some of the recipes. Her house special is the Chicken Pot Pie. She also has created some interesting sandwich recipes. They are planning a contest in October to see which they sell more of: the Smoked Ribs or the Chicken Pot Pies.

To give you an idea of the menu they have nine choices of burgers or sandwiches served with citrus slaw and house made potato chips or you can substitute sweet potato fries. These include 4 kinds of Panini grilled sandwiches ($6 to $9 each), tuna melt or vegetable sandwich ($7) bacon –turkey ($8), pulled BBQ Pork ($8) Burger ($12) and the baby back ribs half-rack ($14) or full rack ($20). Main course entrees are Three cheese Pasta ($13) The Henweigh chicken pot pie ($14) and Bourbon Marinated Flank Steak ($18). There are 4 selections of salads from mixed greens to a salad with grilled steak and blue cheese on top which range from $6 to $10. Or you can settle on a selection of their 7 side dishes ranging from $4 to $7. For something really different try their Classic Swiss for $28 which is a fondue made with Gruyere and Emmantaler cheeses and an assortment of dipping items. This would be a nice treat with a bottle of local wine from their wine list. In the winter they will be introducing some special items such as Boston Clam Chowder.

Sundays they serve Brunch from 9:30 to 2:00 ($17). You select from Quiche, Crab & Dill Scramble, Eggs Benedict, Vanilla Malted French Toast or Poached Egg with Chorizo Hash. There are also some Ala Carte items on the brunch menu and their coffee is organic Italian Blend from Sonoma County.

Henweigh is open Wednesday and Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Fridays and Saturdays they serve 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and the Sunday brunch 9:30 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. You can call them at 707 829 7500. Their web site is http://www.henweighcafe.com/ where you can sign up for a newsletter and send them emails.

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Sonoma County's Russian River - More Restoration Needed

On September 8th, I made my second canoe trip down the river this summer, paddling from Burke’s Canoes in Forestville to a takeout spot just east of Guerneville. The purpose of the two trips – hosted and organized by Linda Burke, Russian RiverKeeper Don McEnhill and Sonoma County Water Agency staff – was to experience the river from the viewpoint of a typical Russian River visitor.

I’m happy to say that even with a flow of only 71 cubic feet per second, the river was beautiful. Yes, there were a few areas where the canoes scraped bottom but we never had to portage and there was plenty of water in most stretches. The wildlife was abundant, too. We spotted turtles, blue herons, ducks and several other bird species.

One of the most exciting moments during the trip was when we paddled by a bank stabilization and restoration project being undertaken by the Odd Fellows Park community. Crews were planting willow stumps, moving rocks and sculpting the stream bank to withstand high wintertime flows. This project, which was funded by Odd Fellows residents when State funding was lost at the final hour, was desperately needed to stop erosion that was threatening the community’s new, environmentally sound sewage treatment system. It speaks to the strength of that community that Jack Davies, Association President, was able to rally the funding from residents in just a few weeks.

Of course, all is not perfect with the river. Along with good projects like the Odd Fellows’ we also saw some questionable docks, areas where banks had been scraped clear of vegetation and several small ludwigia patches.

Fortunately, the Sonoma County Water Agency, has recently reiterated its commitment to the health of the river. On August 25, SCWA staff recommended that the Agency Board of Directors (I am a member) focus future water planning efforts on increased conservation, greater use of recycled water and enhanced local supplies.

A resolution that would set aside an environmental impact report for the Water Supply, Transmission and Reliability Project (Water Project) noted that current and future financial constraints could limit construction of large public works. The Water Project contemplated the construction of new pipes, collector wells, and other facilities, including possibly a new water pipeline from Lake Sonoma to bypass Dry Creek, to meet the peak demands of the Agency's customers. The estimated cost of the Water Project was more than $600 million.

The resolution also called for the agency to pursue 12 water supply strategies and to reconsider an application with the State Water Resources Control Board for 101,000 acre feet of water per year.

After hearing public testimony, the SCWA Board decided to consider the recommendation on September 15.

The Friends of Villa Grande won their long effort to procure Patterson Point as a community site. Through a joint effort between the Friends and the Open Space District, funds were raised to purchase the property for public access and habitat restoration. For many years, the group worked hard and long, community members came forward with money, and their effort was rewarded when the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the acquisition and matching grant on August 11th.

The Consulate of Mexico sponsored my visit to an informative conference in Mexico City with other US elected officials at the end of August. The focus of the 2 day conference was on best practices for coordinating services to underserved populations. Our future efforts, working with the United Farm Workers, Consulate of Mexico, and our Community Based Organizations will be enhanced by information shared at the event.

Our local UFW chapter in Santa Rosa was honored by a visit from Congressman Patrick Kennedy on August 25th. Congressman Kennedy was introduced by UFW national president, Arturo Rodriguez. He addressed the crowd in Spanish, speaking of his long struggle on behalf of immigrant rights. A group of 50 or so UFW and community members attended and some testified to their daily experiences. Our sympathies go out to Congressman Kennedy, whose father Senator Edward Kennedy, lost his struggle with brain cancer later that evening.

Be on the lookout for news related to our local State Parks. A closure list is expected in the next weeks, and when that happens we will all need to work together to assure the future of these valuable assets. We are fortunate to have a strong community group partnering with State Parks to preserve and promote our Russian River area State Parks. Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods offers an informative website updating the budget impacts on Parks…this is a great way to get involved and be informed. The advocacy page is at www.stewardsofthecoastandredwoods.org/advocacy.htm

Their annual fundraiser, the Old Grove Festival, is the last weekend of this month. Please support their important work at this critical time by attending this fabulous event.
Please join us on October 7th for a Coastal Disaster Response Forum at Horicon School in Annapolis from 6-8pm. In partnership with Coast Life Support District, Fire Chiefs from North Coast Fire Departments, the Mendocino and Sonoma Sheriff’s Departments, and Sonoma County Department of Emergency Services will conduct a panel discussion about disaster readiness and capacity which I will moderate.

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Addiction & Chinese Medicine

The idea of addiction has been a long-term topic on many levels. The past several years I have seen patients who are addicted to cigarettes, food and there own mental restlessness. This state of constant craving is never satisfied and affects the Heart and scatters the Qi. Craving also affects the Pericardium that surrounds the Heart and stirs up the fire in the Heart.

In disease, the Minister Fire refers to a pathological, excessive Empty-Fire rising from the Kidneys. The emotion of the Kidneys is fear and as this energy rises from the lower Dan Tien it begins to affect the Mind. If the Mind is settled, calm and content, the Pericardium and the Heart energy will follow and the person will lead a happy and balanced life. If the Mind is weak and dissatisfied, the Pericardium and the Heart will demand cravings and the person will constantly desire food, cigarettes and other objects but when attained they will never receive satisfaction and will be left frustrated and aroused.

Craving will cause Heart-Fire and Empty-Fire depending on the underlying condition of the patient. It seems to me that there are many emotional states such as resentment, anger, agitation, animosity, bitterness and hatred which all seem to play a large roll in the body not being balanced and for cravings to constantly occur. I believe this to be a temporary relief since the cravings seems to run the person involved with never any satisfaction. All of this bottled up emotion helps to create excessive consumptions of many things that seem to sabotage one’s spiritual growth. The positive counterpart to all of these emotions is flexibility, hope and a quiet endurance of hardship. The Heart meridian is made up of blood or substance and when this blood is deficient and there is not enough substance then the Heart and the Shen will not rest peacefully. It is important to build up this substance and open the Heart so that the cravings can longer have a hold on the patient.

Irregular eating and excessive consumption of fats, sweets, dairy foods and cold-raw foods can injure the Spleen and also create Blood and Qi stagnation. The Blood Sugar diet seems to balance out the body and make it more neutral. I have also found that deep breathing helps to shift the patient’s space and allows them to inhale deeply and oxygenate their Heart area. Over the past couple years there has been a great deal of stress on many people and they have resorted to some compulsive behaviors that take them completely out of their bodies. Sometimes I have seen the Lung play a major role in this type of addiction since the Lungs emotion in Chinese Medicine is grief and sorrow. It is important that people know that any organ can be responsible for disharmony and that my role as a practitioner is to create harmony and fullness in each patient. I do believe it is a time of Heart for many people and in opening up the Heart and pulling people back into their bodies so they can begin to experience peace.

My patient that I have been working with to stop smoking has just recently turned a corner since I have gone into deeper treatments of both His Heart and his Lung energies. He is now able to take a deep breath without craving a cigarette and feels more full and relaxed. There are many deeper issues that need to be looked at in order to get true healings. I believe all of these illnesses are an invitation to make healings within us and gain the spiritual benefits of health. We all have a right to feel good and a right to be happy and free of old patterns and of pain. The more we work on ourselves and honor ourselves the more we can move forward into true freedom.

Please call with any questions or schedule a free 15-minute diagnosis so that you can move forward into true health and freedom.

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Building Local - GoLocal in Sonoma County

What is it about guys and hardware stores? It’s the only place our family shops where my wife has to sit and wait for me. Perhaps the appeal isn’t that it’s a place to “buy stuff” as much as it’s a place to “do stuff.” And maybe that’s why locally owned hardware stores seem to be holding their own in this “tuff” (a guy term for really hard) economy.

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had a clerk say to me, “You really ought to have a contractor do this for you, but if I was doing the job here’s what I’d do.” Boy, does that motivate a guy! He’s saying he thinks I can do a job that would normally require a contractor. Then, as the conversation continues there’s this subtle dance in the aisle, among the pipe wrenches and twist ties, that ensues.

I try to seem smart and understand what he’s talking about and not take up too much of his time on one side. And on the other side I’m trying to glean as much knowledge as possible so I don’t electrocute myself or worse. There’s a sort of calculator that I run in my head that equates the amount of time I’m monopolizing the clerk and the money I’m going to spend. I’ll only ask one question about three dollar box of staples but that above mentioned $200 electrical service panel that could kill me, I might jawbone for fifteen minutes.

The cool thing is that there is always some little doohickey or a tool you’ll use only once that you just gotta have to do the chore. One of these days I’m going to have a barn sale and get rid of all those oddments. I’ll have a great time explaining to the do-it-yourselfers that drop by why they need have them too.

A trip to the hardware store isn’t an exercise in efficiency. Quite the contrary, the longer one can spend putting together the bits and pieces, the plans and solutions, the better. Over the years I’ve developed something of a hackers mentality; 1) If I can’t open it up and get at the innards I won’t buy it, 2) then I take it home and study up on how it’s supposed to work, and then 3) I make it do what I want it to which generally involves something that voids the warranty.

Now that you’ve got a sense of what a hardware store means to some guys, and many gals too, (me!) you can understand too why the neighborhood hardware store is such an institution. You know a good store when the staff stays the same for decades and when you ask a complex question and they practically draw up a stool to discuss it.

The thing is though that these cornerstones of our community are having more and more trouble competing. That’s why I make it a practice to buy as much as I can in locally-owned hardware stores. When I have a job that actually needs a contractor, I ask them to do the same. Cost generally isn’t an issue because locally owned stores will pretty much match any other store’s price. Nor is selection a problem. In fact many of these smaller and older stores have more of the oddball pieces that I crave.

I figure that by keeping my shopping local, I help keep their doors open and that matters because if they go out of business, I don’t just lose a place to buy stuff, I lose a place that helps me do stuff.

(A note from Vesta: last week when I was delivering papers I stopped by Sebastopol Hardware to buy a tool I didn’t have in my truck. One of my newsstands had been smashed and I needed to fix it. Heck – here I go buying another tool I already own! But no – Liz, a fellow Forestvillian) works n Seb Hdwr and she told me about the tool loaner program. I found just what I needed – signed it out – fixed the newsstands and took the tools back. How handy is that?)

For ways to learn how to Build Green as well as Build Local - go to: www.usgbc.org

golocal.coop
Jay Beckwith
J.Beckwith@GoLocal.coop

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What Does Green Mean? Ask EcoGirl Patricia Dines

Dear EcoGirl: With so many companies claiming to be green nowadays, does this word even mean anything any more? How do I know which actions really make a difference for the planet? Signed, Greenwashed

Dear Greenwashed: Congratulations for wanting to help steer our culture in a truly positive eco-direction.

And, yes, while it’s great that earth values have become more popular, it does mean that we need to look beneath claims to recognize the more committed offerings and effective approaches. Here are some tips on how you can do this.

Ways to be Wisely Green
1) Understand the criteria underneath a product’s green claims. What are the specifics? How do these elements compare with others in the same category? Common valuable criteria include: organic, less-toxic, biodegradable, used, recycled, recyclable, energy-efficient, natural, durable, minimally-packaged, locally-made, and sustainably-harvested.

2) Learn the eco-labels. While eco-terms do help us make purchase decisions, the quality of their definitions and enforcement does vary. So, for instance, “organic” food has a strong definition and is enforced by law with third-party verification. Other terms, such as “natural,” generally don’t have legally-backed specifics so you’ll need to look further to clarify the producer’s meaning. Discover more about these labels at www.eco-labels.org.

3) Green your activities beyond products. While a particular product might be greener within its category (e.g., recycled paper towels), an even more earth-nurturing choice might to shift to a different approach (e.g., from disposable to reusable products).

Similarly, while it’s great to include green features if you’re already building a new house, the greener choice is usually to improve an existing home instead, thus leveraging the eco-investments already paid. (For great ideas on this, check out Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House. Also, see the green building criteria at www.usgbc.org.)

And, if you need to buy a car anyway, certainly choose one with higher fuel efficiency. However, you don’t need to buy a new vehicle to reduce your impact. You can save the financial and eco-costs of a new car by looking for ways to reduce the miles you travel in your current car — for instance, by grouping errands together, carpooling, living closer to work, or adding some biking or public transit to your transportation routine.

4) Be guided by “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” This handy mantra helps us address the core problem in our cumulative activities: we’re outstripping the earth’s capacity in the materials we take and the waste and pollution we return. By reducing our consumption throughput, we lower the impacts at all phases of production, including mining, manufacturing, transportation, use, and disposal. We can also often save money and declutter our lives as well!

Therefore, look for ways to reduce what you buy, buy just what you need, and prioritize durable over cheap products. Minimize packaging by buying in bulk. Reuse by buying other people’s used items and selling or donating your own, thus making fuller use of each product’s eco-costs. Seek to repair or update items before discarding them. And, when a product’s usefulness is done, recycle it properly, thus offering the raw materials for new products. See how close to zero waste you can get in your life!

5) Be committed, not perfect. Taking action doesn’t mean that we have to do everything all at once; it’s OK to balance your choices with other priorities. Still, let the urgency of the earth’s current situation motivate you to keep finding opportunities to move in a greener direction.

6) Have fun. Eco-action doesn’t have to be about fear or suffering. Being part of the solution and aligning with the earth’s ways can bring you increased joy, creativity, and personal expression. Constructive action is the antidote to despair!

Make a game out of finding ways to protect the earth’s ecosystems and resources. As more and more of us do this, we’ll see the future become brighter for our children and all creatures on earth.

For more specifics on these ideas, see my other columns at www.askecogirl.info.

Email your questions about going green to (EcoGirl@AskEcoGirl.info) for possible inclusion in future columns. Also see “Ask EcoGirl” on Facebook!

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

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Russian River Fire District Needs Board Members

TWO vacancies needs to be filled on the Board of Directors of the Russian River Fire Protection District which will meet on Tuesday, November 03, 2009, at 6:00pm at the Fire Station located at 14100 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville, to fill the vacancy. All applications should be received no later than the close of business (5:00pm) on Friday, October 30, 2009.

NOTICE OF VACANCY

Due to the resignation of Director James Wille (he is no longer eligible to serve since he moved out of the district and you must be a resident of the District), and Director Smith has increased family commitments and doesn't feel he can devote the necessary time, two vacancies open on the Board of Directors of the Russian River Fire Protection District. Pursuant to Section 13852(b) of the Health and Safety Code of the State of California, and Section 1780 of the Government Code, the Board of Directors of the Russian River Fire Protection District will meet on Tuesday, November 03, 2009, at 6:00pm at the Fire Station located at 14100 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville, to fill said vacancy.

Persons interested in seeking appointment to the Board of Directors of the Russian River Fire Protection District should apply in writing. Applications for the position of Director are available at the Fire Station, 14100 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville. Applications may be delivered to the District Administrative Office in person, during normal business hours, or mailed to PO Box 367, Guerneville, CA 95446. All applications should be received no later than the close of business (5:00pm) on Friday, October 30, 2009. Postmarks do not count.

Debbie Miller, Board Clerk
Executive Administrative Assistant

Bodega Bay Fire Protection District ~ 707/875-3700
Russian River Fire Protection District ~ 707/869-9089

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Gayle LaVal's BENEFIT for Hip Replacement Surgery

Gayle with her Granddaughter and Daughter

Gayle’s Miracle Fund
“It Takes a Village”

A local group of friends are enlisting the help of the community for a dear friend who is dire need of hip replacement surgery after almost two years of debilitating, chronic pain.

Gayle LaVal, a resident of Graton, is a 60 year old single grandmother. She is one of many middle class people in our country who have paid into the system and carried health insurance for most of their lives, and who are now living without medical insurance. Because she is just above poverty qualifications, she is ‘falling through the cracks” of our health care system. She lost her insurance as a result of a personal tragedy that created a financial crisis in which she had to choose between sustaining herself and her family and paying into her insurance. No one should have to make this kind of a choice! But this is happening all the time. While we can’t take care of everyone, we are choosing to do what we can by helping her. We hope you will help in your own way after hearing her story.

Due to a sudden illness that the doctors thought to be cancer, Gayle had to have her thyroid removed several years ago. She managed to pay for this surgery, but she was left with the problem that medical insurance was now unobtainable due to the high costs of coverage because of a “pre-existing” condition and her age. Ironically, Gayle has been in the healing professions much of her life as a nurse as well as a hypnotherapist, working mainly with women and trauma. She has been unable, because of her own health issues, to work for quite some time, so that is where the rest of us come in.

Ever since she was told that her hip surgery was needed in order for her to live a normal life again, she has been working with the local hospital and doctors in an attempt to negotiate the surgery, hospital, pre and post surgery medical costs to a price that would be in the realm of possibility for her. With the help of a friend and several members of the Hospital Foundation, she has worked out an agreement with Palm Drive. With the surgeon, anesthesiologist, other post and pre op medical costs, we have set a goal of $27,000. to be raised for her surgery which is scheduled in October, 2009. Her surgery is now less than six weeks away and we would like to raise as much of this as we can before her surgery.

Mario Ramos, owner of Mexico Lindo Restaurant, has generously offered to kick off our fundraising drive. On Friday, October 2nd at 8PM, we will be throwing a fiesta. This will include a Mexican buffet, music, and frivolity. Mexico Lindo is giving 100% of the proceeds to Gayle’s Miracle Fund. Admission will be $20.

We are also having an event on Sunday, October 18th at 4PM at the Subud Center in Sebastopol. This will include a spaghetti dinner, music, and a silent auction of products or services for people to bid on. Cost is $10. for admission. We already have a weeks stay at a condo near Puerto Vallerta and a gourmet canoe outing for two. If you can donate something, please contact Wanda Lee at 707-829-3044 or Linda Mollenhauer-Meyskens at 707-823-0582.

A special account with Wells Fargo has been opened under the name, “Gayle’s Miracle Fund”. Checks can be sent to “Gayle’s Miracle Fund”, 8813 Bower Street, Sebastopol. CA 95472 and include the account number 8684873881 on the check. Checks can also be deposited directly into this account by going to Wells Fargo Bank and directing the deposit to this account name and number.

We are asking the community to join us in helping Gayle by giving whatever amount you can comfortably give to this fund. Any amount that you can send will help and is most appreciated. By creating this circle of caring and extending the reach out to others, we can give Gayle the support she deserves.

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Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge GranFondo

Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge GranFondo

Presented by Road ID sold out four weeks in advance of the ride's first edition on October 3. Yet over and above being a smash hit that has drawn a who's who in US cycling among the field of 3500 riders, Leipheimer's ride could be pointing to a new direction for senior US pro riders.

Here's the deal: In recent decades US riders and teams have risen to be among the finest in the world, and this nation is now a major international player in a truly global sport. Yet one of the lingering differences between the cycling cultures in Europe and the US is the relative lack of community involvement in the sport here. Communities in the USA have not traditionally got behind cycling events unless they are major stage races or have the name Armstrong attached.

That could be about to change. Leipheimer, a resident of Santa Rosa, California, has a groundbreaking plan that could generate in excess of $500,000 annually for his community, with a good chunk of that going as a cash donation to the City of Santa Rosa coffers.
You may well say that fundraising bicycle rides are nothing new here, and you'd be right. But thus far these worthy rides have always set out to benefit a cause, such as the Livestrong Challenge, which raises money to fight cancer. Levi's ride breaks from the past in that it is specifically intended to promote and raise funds for his local community and his region.

Leipheimer's event will be held on October 3, starting and finishing at the Finley Community Center - a beautiful municipal recreation facility in Santa Rosa - and is called the Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge GranFondo - after one of Levi's favorite training routes.
Leipheimer says. "The King Ridge GranFondo is the perfect way to show everyone what myself and many of the best cycling teams in the world know: Sonoma County is a cycling heaven."

A mass-participation ride, Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge Gran Fondo, with route choices ranging from 36 to 103 miles, is expected to attract up to 3500 riders. Money raised will be earmarked for cycling causes in Sonoma County. This year that cause is the return of the Amgen Tour of California to Santa Rosa. Leipheimer has won the Tour of California outright three times.

Santa Rosa's city manager, Jeff Kolin, has a clear opinion on the matter. "Levi's King Ridge Gran Fondo will be a tremendous economic engine for our community. Cycling allows us to showcase the cornucopia of assets that Santa Rosa and Sonoma County have to offer as a place to visit, live and do business in: the wine country and farmland, redwood forests and rivers, lakes and oceans. Levi's support and involvement has been invaluable."

The most ardent cycling nations in Europe, such as Italy, Switzerland and Belgium, are chock full of famous cyclists with their own namesake gran fondo, or 'cyclosportive' as they are called in France. These mass-participation rides are produced with the intention of benefiting the communities to which particular riders have ties.

Not surprisingly, then, these towns love cycling and embrace it--as the City of Santa Rosa has done. The large entry lists and associated tourist revenue are seen as opportunities for festivity and celebration. The sport of cycling is seen as an economic boon for cities and regions across the continent.

After starting slowly in the Eighties with names such as Boyer, LeMond, Hampsten, and Armstrong, cycling heroes are now occuring more frequetly across the USA. Should some of these stars of cycling follow Levi Leipheimer's shining example, the sport could start enjoying a bright new relationship with municipalities across the nation just as this clean, quiet two-wheel activity enters a new era of prosperity.

Levi Leipheimer and Lance Armstrong riding on King Ridge in Cazadero during the Team Astana training camp, February 2009. www.levisgranfondo.com

Photo credit: Carl Burchfiel/Stillpoint Inc.

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Harvest Fun in Sonoma County

Leigh Douglass, the Gazette's self-described Calendar Girl, has put together a list of fun Fall things to do with your friends and family.

“Thank You!” to SonomaUncorked.com, HauntedBay.com, and PickYourOwn.org for assistance with these lists.

Sept 26 ~ Early Harvest Celebration ~ recognize the contributions of volunteers & organizations who have worked to support the Garden, with host Clark Wolf. Admission $15 adult, $5 child. Noon-2:00 pm at Guerneville School 14630 Armstrong Woods Rd ~ 707-869-2864 ~ www.guernevilleschool.org

Sept 26-27 ~ Weekend Along Farm Trails ~ Visit Farm Trails members around Sonoma County and sample their bounty. Bring a cooler to take home your finds! Sat & Sun, 10:00-5:00 ~ 707-837-8896 ~ www.weekendalongfarmtrails.com

Oct 2-4 ~ Sonoma County Harvest Fair ~ Admission $2-$6. Fri 10:00-8:00, & Sat-Sun 10:00-7:00. 1350 Bennett Valley Rd. Santa Rosa ~ 707-545-4200 ~ www.harvestfair.org

Oct 3 ~ Community Harvest Celebration ~ Pumpkin carving & pie contests, puppet theater, kids talent contest! Free. 10:00-5:00 at the Guerneville Community Church, 14520 Armstrong Woods Rd, Guerneville ~ Info & contest applications: Rebecca 707-869-4105 or Beth bethhearn@hotmail.com

Oct 3 ~ Harvest Roll & Soul ~ Bring the whole family to dance the night away with live music by Levi Lloyd & the 501 Band. $5 at the door. 6:30-10:00 pm at the Bodega Bay Grange, 1370 Bodega Ave at Hwy 1, Bodega Bay ~ 707-875-3616 ~ www.bodegabaygrange.org

Oct 4 ~ Autumn Faire & Market ~ Artisan’s fair & farmers market with a Latin flair. Gerard’s paella, piñata bashing, pumpkin decorating, face painting. Free admission. 10:00-4:00 pm at the Monte Rio Amphitheater ~ 707-865-2487 ~ www.mrrpd.org

Oct 8-11 & 15-18 ~ Tolay Fall Festival ~ Admission Free. Parking $6. Thu-Fri 9:00-3:30, Sat-Sun 10:00-5:00 at Tolay Lake Regional Park, Cannon Lane, Petaluma ~ 707-565-2041 ~ www.sonoma-county.org/parks/pk_tolay_fallfestival.htm

Oct 18 ~ Windsor Pumpkin Festival ~ 10:00-2:00 at the Windsor Certified Farmers Market on the Town Green ~ 707-838-1320 ~ www.windsorfarmersmarket.com

Oct 24 ~ Railroad Scare! ~ Children's Parade led by Charlie Brown and Snoopy, scarecrow festival, Scare-dy Dog Parade. 11:00-4:00 pm in Railroad Square, 4th & Wilson, Santa Rosa ~ 707-578-8478 ~ www.railroadsquare.net

PUMPKIN PATCHES
All open thru Oct 31, and Admission is Free, unless otherwise noted.

Adobe Pumpkin Farm ~ 6-acre corn maze, haunted house, gift shop. Daily, 10:00-Dusk. 2478 E Washington St at Adobe Road, Petaluma ~ 707-766-7673 ~ www.adobepumpkinfarm.com

Anderson Organic Vegetable Stand & Pumpkin Patch ~ 2-acre corn maze, mini train ride, U-pick pumpkins. Daily, 10:00-6:00. 4588 Bodega Avenue at Skillman, Petaluma ~ Jan 707-338-3363, thomas0943@sbcglobal.net

Forestville Pumpkin Patch ~ Oct 17 & 24, 10:00 am-4:00 pm in the parking lot across from Speer’s Market, 7950 Mirabel Road, Forestville

Grandma's Pumpkin Patch ~ Hay pyramid, corn field, climb-on tractors. Opens Sept 25, daily 10:00-Dusk. 17740 Healdsburg Ave at Lytton Springs Rd, Healdsburg ~ 707-431-8058 ~ www.grandmas-pumpkin-patch.com

Great Peter Pumpkin Patch ~ Dig potatoes, milk a cow, live music on weekends. Open Sept 25 - Oct 31, daily 9:00-Dusk. Spring Hill Jersey Cheese Company, 4235 Spring Hill Rd., Two Rock/Petaluma ~ 707-762-3446 ~ www.springhillcheese.com

Hale's Apple Farm ~ 30 varieties of apples! Heirloom tomatoes, pumpkins. Daily, 9:00-5:00. 1526 Gravenstein Hwy N, Sebastopol ~ 707-823-4613

Love Farms Organic Produce ~ Certified organic, pick-in-the-field or already-gathered pumpkin patch, farm animals, refreshments. Open daily 9:00-6:00. 126 North St., Healdsburg ~ 707-433-1230 ~ www.lovefarms.com

Muelrath Ranches Pumpkins ~ Hay tunnel, corn maze, pumpkin slingshot. Opens Sept 26, Fri 3:00-9:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-6:00. 3800 Walker Ave., Santa Rosa ~ 707-585-2195 ~ www.muelrathspumpkins.com

No Chance Ranch Haunted House ~ and “Chicken” House for the scaredy-cats! Opens Oct 9, Fri 5:00-8:00, Sat 11:00-8:00, Sun 11:00-6:00. 3682 Llano Rd, Santa Rosa

Oluf's Ranch Pumpkin Patch ~ Hay maze & rides, animal corral, 4-acre corn maze. Opens Sept 26, M-F 3:30-Dusk, Sat-Sun 9:00am-Dusk. 899 Shiloh Rd., Windsor ~ 707-838-7588

Petaluma Pumpkin Patch ~ 4-acre A'Mazing Corn Maze $5; Night Maze on Fri-Sat 6:00-10:00 pm, $9. Opens Sept 25, Sun-Thu 10:00-6:00, & Fri-Sat 10:00-10:00. 550 Stony Point Rd., Petaluma ~ 707-763-3132 ~ www.petalumapumpkinpatch.com

Peterson's Pumpkins ~ feed the animals, observation beehive, picnic area. Sat-Sun in October, 10:00-6:00. 636 Gossage Avenue, Petaluma ~ 707-765-4582 ~ www.petersonsfarm.com

Pumpkin Grove ~ farm animals, hay pyramid, picnic area. No pets please. 10:00-6:00 pm daily in October ~ 3399 Petaluma Hill Rd., Santa Rosa ~ 707-523-3982

Punky's Pumpkin Lot ~ Just pumpkins, no fuss no muss. 10:00-6:00 pm at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa

Ryan O’Shannan Farms ~ Sunflower maze, make butter, milk a cow. Opens Sept 26, Thu-Sun 10:00-6:30 ~ 5360 Bodega Ave., 5 miles west of Petaluma ~ 707-762-4895

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Sonoma County Focuses on Water Conservation and Reuse

Future Water Supply Focuses on Conservation, Reuse

The Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) Board of Directors agreed to focus on securing current water rights and increasing future water supplies through continued conservation, greater use of recycled water and enhanced local supplies.

The SCWA board unanimously approved a resolution to set aside an environmental impact report for the Water Supply, Transmission and Reliability Project (Water Project). The resolution also directed agency staff to work with the SCWA board, water right attorneys and agency customers to modify an application and petition to the state for additional water rights.

“In simple terms, the question is ‘Should we jeopardize the water we have by asking for more? Or secure the water rights we have by delaying our ask for more.’ Our first priority must be securing our existing rights,” said SCWA Chairman Paul Kelley.

In 1999, SCWA filed petitions to change its four water rights permits and an application with the state board to increase its current diversions from the Russian River from 75,000 acre feet a year (AFY) to 101,000 AFY. The application and petitions have not yet been acted upon. The resolution approved by the Board of Directors would allow the 1999 request to be revised to –
among other reasons – be consistent with a federally mandated Biological Opinion.

The Russian River Biological Opinion, issued by National Marine Fisheries Service in 2008, analyzes the impact of SCWA’s operations on coho salmon, Chinook salmon and steelhead. This federal mandate requires SCWA to significantly change its operations in order to continue to deliver its current allocation of 75,000 AFYf of water. During the 15-year implementation period, SCWA must reduce summertime flows in the Russian River and reduce the velocity of water in Dry Creek in order to protect young coho and steelhead in the creek.

“The Biological Opinion makes it clear that SCWA must focus on securing its existing water supply,” Kelly said.

The Water Project contemplated the construction of new pipes, collector wells and other facilities, including possibly a pipeline from Lake Sonoma to bypass Dry Creek, to meet peak demands of the agency’s customers. The estimated cost of the Water Project was more than $600 million. SCWA board members noted that the Water Project was based on assumptions that no longer existed, principally SCWA’s ability to use Dry Creek to convey all the water for the project from Lake Sonoma to the Russian River and historic diversions from PG&E’s Eel River facilities.

The SCWA board is also concerned about the energy use associated with pumping an additional 26,000 AFY of water annually. SCWA and many of its contractors have set goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2015. By focusing on water conservation, rather than new supply, the agency and its contractors can better achieve this aggressive goal.

“The connection between water and energy is clear,” said SCWA director Shirlee Zane. “We need to invest in implementing sustainable strategies to guarantee water supply for current and future generations.”

SCWA contractors include the cities of Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Sonoma and Petaluma, the town of Windsor and Valley of the Moon and North Marin water districts.

Sonoma County Water Agency provides water supply, flood protection and sanitation services for portions of Sonoma and Marin counties. Visit us on the Web at www.sonomacountywater.org.

Ann DuBay
Public Information Officer
Sonoma County Water Agency
707/524-8378
www.scwa.ca.gov

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WATER not WINERIES protests Best Family Proposed Winery

Neighborhood Group protests new Winery Operation on the corners of Hwy 116 North and Occidental Road in Sebastopol

Hearing of proposed project will be October 6th* at the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors hearing Room in Santa Rosa.
*Please check to Supervisors' Agenda calendar prior to going - there is a note that this meeting has been moved to October 20th.
http://www.sonoma-county.org/board/agenda.htm

Proposed Winery project is on a 7.6-acre site, Between Atkinson Road and Occidental Roads near Hwy 116, Sebastopol.

The dual wine industry facilities project would consist of a 3-acre vineyard, a 33,000 square foot production facility, a 6,800 square-foot tasting room and storage area and entertainment facility for 12 marketing dinners or luncheons annually with a maximum of 40 guests, and five annual industry-wide events according to county records. It requires a General Plan amendment for changed zoning from Rural Residential to Diverse Agriculture, as well as a use permit for the facility built along a designated Scenic Highway, Hwy 116.

Affected neighbors to this project are organizing and working to insure their voices are heard and their concerns addressed in position statements for inclusion in the packets being prepared for the Sonoma County Supervisors' meeting on October 6th at 2:10 pm.

* CHANGE to Meeting Agenda:

7. File No.: PLP08-0029

Env. Doc.: Mitigated Negative Declaration

Description: Request for: 1) a General Plan Land Use Amendment from the RR

(Rural Residential) 4 acres per dwelling unit to the DA (Diverse Agriculture) 10 acres per dwelling unit zoning designation or other appropriate designation, 2) a General Plan Amendment to add a new Planning Area policy, 3) a Zone Change from AR (Agricultural and Residential) B6-4 acre density, SR (Scenic Resources) to the DA B6-10 acre density, SR district or other appropriate district, and 4) a Use Permit for a winery with a maximum annual production capacity of 26,500 cases to include a public tasting room open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m., with retail sales and a total of 12 marketing dinners and/or luncheons per year with a maximum of 40 guests per event on two parcels totaling 7.61 acres. Dinners are to be held in the evenings until 10:00 p.m., and luncheons are to be held during tasting room hours. The winery also proposes to participate in industry-wide events.

Location: 2065 Hwy 116 North, Sebastopol

Sup. Dist.: Dist. #5

(CONTINUED TO OCTOBER 20, 2009 AT 2:10 P.M.)

*Please check to Supervisors' Agenda calendar prior to going - there is a note that this meeting has been moved to October 20th.
http://www.sonoma-county.org/board/agenda.htm

They are asking the public to become involved:

What can you do?

Learn about this project. Make sure other concerned and affected citizens learn about this project, either by forwarding information to them by word of mouth or by all available internet resources. Know not only how this project is impacting an otherwise stable rural neighborhood, but what the impacts are to the greater neighboring areas (i.e., water use, traffic corridors) and precedent in Sonoma County.

Show your support by encouraging other concerned citizens to join this listserv. They can do so simply by visiting http://groups.google.com/group/water-not-wineries/subscribe (Applicants who do now have Google accounts will be asked to create one, an easy process requiring only your email address and an access password.)

Show your support with letters and articles. The word will only get out if people contribute to the many newspapers, large and small. Most publications accept letters to the editor. If you're familiar with the problem or you hold strong perspectives, consider submitting articles.

Call or write to your supervisor to express your concerns. Contact all of the supervisors to encourage them to avoid such precarious variations to the General Plan, and specifically the issues at hand.

County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
575 Administration Drive, Room 100A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
TEL: (707) 565-2241

Show your support by attending relevant meetings. Make sure you mark your calendar to attend the Supervisors Meeting of October 6th at 2:10 pm, the time designated to review and vote upon the variances recommended by the Planning Commission.

And by all means, if you have questions or concerns on this issue that you need addressed, or if you have further insights or resources to offer that may assist these people in preserving what they hold to be so valuable, do write to: water.not.wineries@gmail.com

Details in Summary:
The Best Family Winery project which is proposed to be built on on the corner of Highway 116 and Occidental Road. It is truly not a winery but rather a commercial project with a 33,000 sq.ft crush facility which is designed to stand 46.6' feet high, nearly 5 stories. Aside from this, there is a 6,800 square foot wine tasting/storage site. Nearly 1 entire acre will be buildings, .875 to be exact. This is all going in on 7.61 acres !

The applicants, the Best Family, want :
They want to merge 2 parcels into 1 to total 7.61 acres
They want a change in zoning from RR to DA
They want a General Plan change to permit special policy to accomodate this project
They want a land use change ( a Gen. Plan amendment)
They want a variance of 70 ft from scenic highway 116
They want a use permit to allow for production of 26,500 cases of wine, wine tasting, 12 annual events, 5 industry events, sales of wine from other wineries and sale of products produced in Sonoma County.

There are environmental factors that are still not satisfactorily addressed, such as the west bound traffic which will need to cross a double yellow line in order to enter the site. Their delivery trucks, visitors, grape trucks, etc. will be most likely coming from Occidental Rd since they do not come through Sebastopol proper. Entrance and Exit to the site is 300 feet from the light on the corner of Occidental Rd and Highway 116. Other issues such as water, noise, H2O emissions, etc have not been satisfactority addressed.

The project clearly does not fit this parcel and at a minimum we are requesting an EIR, if not a decline.

Please feel free to e-mail me or Kerry if you have any questions. Kerry's e-mail is edwina54@sbcglobal.net .

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

Letter to Supervisors from:

Dear Sonoma County Board of Supervisors,

Community Clean Water Institute requests that you demand a full Environmental Impact Report be completed for the Best Family Winery Production Facility at the corner of Hwy 116 and Occidental Road (bordering Atkinson Rd). We feel the proposed facility could have significant environmental impacts on local watersheds and communities and therefore insist that a Mitigated Negative Declaration is not sufficient.

The proposed site is on 7.61 acres and will consist of a 3 acre vineyard, a 33,000 sq. ft Production Facility, and a 6,800 sq. ft. Tasting Room/Storage Area and would generate 26,500 cases of wine annually. We are deeply concerned about the addition of another vineyard in a over-harvested region during such a dry year. Even with the Best Family Winery‚s goals of water and watershed conservation this facility will be a threat to the quality and quantity local ground and surface water supplies.

The proposed location of this facility will be on the hillside boundary of the Green Valley/Atascadero Creek Watershed and the Laguna De Santa Rosa Watershed. The upslope position of the production facility makes surface runoff contamination to both watersheds likely. Both of these watersheds are already impacted by multi-year drought, as well as cumulative water quality degradation augmented by a dominant wine industry.

Laguna De Santa Rosa Watershed

The Laguna De Santa Rosa is listed under the Federal Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List for Impaired Waterways for several pollutants/stressors including Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sedimentation/Siltation, and high water temperature. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution will be directly increased by the proposed vineyard/wine production facility as fertilizer and loosened soil is carried into the drainage basin by surface runoff. Dissolved oxygen and surface water temperature will be further impaired as the aquifer is pumped and the waterways lose groundwater base flow; a flow source they are often dependent on during dry years.

Some of our citizen water quality monitors report that this is the lowest and most stagnant they have seen the Laguna in years. Such low flow means less aeration and depleted dissolved oxygen zones. The current stagnancy of the Laguna is also more susceptible to raised water temperatures and the severity of these conditions is confirmed in our water quality data.

Our water quality monitoring data show that the Laguna currently has dissolved oxygen levels too low and water temperatures too high to support many fisheries, including federally listed salmonids. These warm, still and nutrient rich waters are perfect conditions for the invasive Ludwigia, which is already choking many channels of the Laguna.

Ludwigia in the Laguna De Santa Rosa at Stony Point Road in Santa Rosa on 9/9/09

A complete EIR needs to be drafted in order to understand how the Best Family Winery proposal could further harm Laguna Salmonid populations, as well as create environmental conditions favoring the spread of Ludwigia.

Green Valley/Atascadero Creek Watershed

The Green Valley/Atascadero Creek watershed provides vital habitat for salmonid populations. According to our water quality data, dissolved oxygen and water temperature levels in Green Valley Creek are often outside of salmonid survival ranges during warm months.

These months are when juvenile salmon require certain water quality conditions for finding food and escaping predation. Water temperatures above salmon survival thresholds can act as a migration barrier, growth rate limitation, and make them more susceptible to disease.

GVC040 located at Hwy 116 & Martinelli Rd

In northern California, both Welsh et al. (2001) and Hines and Ambrose (1998) found that Coho salmon juveniles did not persist where the floating weekly maximum temperature exceeded 18.3° C for any length of time. Optimum temperatures for rearing salmonids are generally between 10° C and 16° C. Warmer waters also have a lower carrying capacity for gases such as dissolved oxygen, which can increase production impairment and mortality rates when levels get too low.


GVC070 located at where Green Valley Road crosses Green Valley Creek. To support fish species: Dissolved oxygen should be above 7 mg/l according to the SWRCB Basin Plan

Community Clean Water Institute feels it is crucial that a full analysis on the potential affects this proposal would have on the Green Valley Creek Watershed be included in the final EIR. This watershed is one of the few left in the county with existing and potential habitat for endangered Coho salmon. A Mitigated Negative Declaration will not provide a complete picture on how the Best Family Winery proposal will impact water quality, quantity, and threatened salmonid species of the Green Valley Creek Watershed.

Our watersheds are extremely vulnerable when the climate is so dry. Any pollutants that end up in our streams during the vineyard conversion/construction and crop production process will be more damaging to aquatic ecosystems and water quality when water quantity is so minimal. Excess nutrients (from fertilizers), herbicides, and pesticides become much more concentrated and harmful when there isn‚t enough stream current to dilute them.

Allowing for the development of another vineyard and wine facility during such ecologically fragile times is unacceptable especially when the potential environmental impacts haven‚t been adequately assessed. Please give our watersheds and threatened salmon a fighting chance by demanding a Environmental Impact Report from Best Family Winery!

Sincerely,
Terrance Fleming
Community Clean Water Institute

Reference:
Hines, D.H. and J.M. Ambrose. 1998. Evaluation of Stream Temperature Thresholds Based on Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Presence and Absence in Managed Forest Lands in Coastal Mendocino County, California. Georgia Pacific Corporation, Ft. Bragg, CA. 14 p plus Appendices.


Welsh, H.H., G.R. Hodgson, M.F. Roche, B.C. Harvey. (2001). Distribution of Juvenile Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in Relation to Water Temperature in Tributaries of a Northern California Watershed Determining Management Thresholds for an Impaired Cold-water Adapted Fauna. In review for publication in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 21:464-470, 2001. http://www.rsl.psw.fs.fed.us/projects/wild/welsh/welsh5.pdf

State Water Resources Control Board North Coast Region Basin Plan
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/water_issues/programs/basin_plan/

Terrance Fleming
Community Clean Water Institute
Program Coordinator
707/824.4370 v
707/824.4372 f
terrance@ccwi.org
www.ccwi.org

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Champions for People with Disabilities

By Cami Weaver, Becoming Independent, Sonoma County

Anyone wondering how we’ll manage without Sen. Ted Kennedy was reassured by President Obama.

At the close of his health care reform speech to Congress, Obama cited a letter Kennedy wrote to him in advance of his death, expressing confidence that health care reform would be passed.

Kennedy’s continuing influence came alive when the President told us how Kennedy wrote that we are facing a “moral issue” in the debate over how to ensure that all Americans have access to quality and affordable health care.

“At stake are not just the details of policy,” Kennedy wrote, “but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country.”

At Becoming Independent, where we work for 1200 people with developmental disabilities, we’ve recently seen “principles of social justice and the character of our country” take a back seat to details of policy.

Faced with ever increasing revenue shortfalls, the State Legislature and Gov. Schwarzenegger made policy decisions to cut or reduce programs to the infants, teens, and adults who depend on BI for help.

Our state funding is being cut by $1.2 million.

Dental care under MediCal for many of our 1,200 BI participants is on the chopping block.

The Governor penciled out $50 million in early intervention funds for at-risk infants, a penny-wise, pound-foolish act that will hurt families and kids and cost us much more money as children grow up.

Funding has been cut for our Teen Zone, a promising pilot project in Healdsburg that showed the value of afterschool programs for teenager and young adults with disabilities.

We face these financial challenges at the same time we’ve lost two champions for people with disabilities, Sen. Kennedy and his sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

How can we begin to thank these two Kennedys?

Credit Ted Kennedy for the civil rights, education and health care that enable people with disabilities to live meaningful lives – the American with Disabilities Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act and Voting Rights Act.

Because of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, millions of men and women with disabilities get their place in the lime light through Special Olympics. Special Olympics recognized people with disabilities as athletes. They train and have coaches and uniforms and then perform in athletic competitions that people pay attention to. The value of that can never be overstated.

So, how do we proceed without them?

First, we follow the lead of people with disabilities themselves.

And then we follow the examples set by the Kennedys and other families to help people with disabilities realize their vision of their lives.

I have no doubt the lifelong advocacy Eunice Shriver and Sen. Kennedy performed on behalf of people with disabilities is linked to the challenges faced by their sister, Rosemary Kennedy, whose perceived “mental retardation” was made worse by a lobotomy and who lived her life in an institution.

At BI we are inspired by the dedication and advocacy of parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters who want more for their loved ones with special challenges.

And we see and hear the self-advocacy of the men and women we serve. They are people with disabilities, yes, but they are people first, and they won’t be shortchanged. That was clear this past summer when 250 men and women with disabilities, their families and some staff rallied in front of the State Building in Santa Rosa to protest budget cuts.

About 30 people with disabilities took charge, and lined up at the microphone to voice their opinions.

They are the ones who best demonstrate the legacy the Kennedys leave behind.

Cami Weaver is CEO of Becoming Independent which provides job, education and support services for people with disabilities in Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
http://www.becomingindependent.org/

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CAPITALISM - a Love Story

Of course - I'm a Capitalist so I'm looking forward to seeing this film! Michael Moore - true to his style - hides none of the dirty side of Capitalism. Economic systems are much like religion - major distortions of the original message and concept come about over time. Stockbrokers, like the Catholic Church and other organized religions that make it their mission to enforce their own agenda, turn the original message into something self-serving, then spread it around for their own gain. Thank you Michael for being an honest Messenger - Vesta

from Michael Moore CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY

The time has arrived for, as Time magazine called it, my "magnum opus." I only had a year of Latin when I was in high school, so I'm not quite sure what that means, but I think it's good. I've spent nearly two years on this new movie, "Capitalism: A Love Story," and have poured my heart and soul into this project. Many early critics and viewers have called it my "best film yet." That's a hard call for me to make as I'm proud of all of my films -- but I will tell you this: What you are about to see in "Capitalism" is going to stun you. It's going to make some of you angry and I believe it's going to give most of you a new sense of hope that we are going to turn the sick and twisted mess made by the last president around. Oh, and you're going to have a good laugh at the expense of all the banking and corporate criminals who've made out like bandits in the past year. I'm gonna show you the stuff the nightly news will rarely show you. Ever meet a pilot for American Airlines on food stamps because his pay's been cut so low? Ever meet a judge who gets kickbacks for sending innocent kids to a private prison? Ever meet someone from the Wall Street Journal who bluntly states on camera that he doesn't much care for democracy and that capitalism should be our only ruling concern?

You'll meet all these guys in "Capitalism." You'll also meet a whistleblower who, with documents in hand, tells us about the million-dollar-plus sweetheart loans he approved for the head of Senate Banking Committee -- the very committee that was supposed to be regulating his lending institution! You'll hear from a bank regulator why Timothy Geithner has no business being our Treasury Secretary. And you'll learn, from the woman who heads up the congressional commission charged with keeping an eye on the bailout money, how Alan Greenspan & Co. schemed and connived the public into putting up their inflated valued homes as collateral -- thus causing the biggest foreclosure epidemic in our history. There is now a foreclosure filed in the U.S. once every seven-and-half SECONDS. None of this is an accident, and I name the names others seem to be afraid to name, the men who have ransacked the pensions of working people and plundered the future of our kids and grandkids. Somehow they thought they were going to get away with this, that we'd believe their Big Lie that this crash was caused by a bunch of low-income people who took out loans they couldn't afford. Much of the mainstream media bought this storyline. No wonder Wall Street thought they could pull this off.

Jeez, I guess they forgot about me and my crew. You'd think we would've made a better impression on these wealthy thieves by now. Guess not. So here we come! It's all there, up on the silver screen, two hours of a tragicomedy crime story starring a bunch of vampires who just weren't satisfied with simply destroying Flint, Michigan -- they had to try and see if they could take down the whole damn country. So come see this cops and robbers movie! The robbers this time wear suits and ties, and the cops -- well, if you're willing to accept a guy in a ballcap with a high school education as a stand-in until the real deal shows up to haul 'em away, then I humbly request your presence at your local cinema this weekend in New York and Los Angeles (and next Friday, October 2nd, all across America). ... And the amazing Jay Leno. This man called me after seeing the movie and asked me to be his only in-studio guest on the second night of his new prime-time show. I said, "Jay, shouldn't you be thinking of your ratings in the first week of the show? Are you sure you didn't misdial Tom Hanks' number (the area code where I live is 231; 213 is LA)?" He told me he was profoundly moved by this film. So I was the guest on his second show, and he told all of America it was my "best film" and to please go see "Capitalism: A Love Story." That was Jay Leno saying that, not Noam Chomsky or Jane Fonda (both of whom I love dearly). The audience responded enthusiastically and, after 20 years of filmmaking, it was a moment where I crossed over deep into the mainstream of middle America. Jay's bosses at General Electric musta been... well, let's just say I hope they didn't place a reprimand in his permanent record. He's one helluva guy (and following the example he set with his free concerts for the unemployed in Michigan and Ohio last spring, I've gotten permission from the studio to do the same with my film in ten of the hardest-hit cities in the U.S. next week).

Thanks everyone -- and see you at the movies!
Yours, Michael Moore MMFlint@aol.com

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

For Those of You on Your Way to Church This Morning ...a note from Michael Moore

Sunday, October 4th, 2009

Friends,

I'd like to have a word with those of you who call yourselves Christians (Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Bill Maherists, etc. can read along, too, as much of what I have to say, I'm sure, can be applied to your own spiritual/ethical values).

In my new film I speak for the first time in one of my movies about my own spiritual beliefs. I have always believed that one's religious leanings are deeply personal and should be kept private. After all, we've heard enough yammerin' in the past three decades about how one should "behave," and I have to say I'm pretty burned out on pieties and platitudes considering we are a violent nation who invades other countries and punishes our own for having the audacity to fall on hard times.

I'm also against any proselytizing; I certainly don't want you to join anything I belong to. Also, as a Catholic, I have much to say about the Church as an institution, but I'll leave that for another day (or movie).

Amidst all the Wall Street bad guys and corrupt members of Congress exposed in "Capitalism: A Love Story," I pose a simple question in the movie: "Is capitalism a sin?" I go on to ask, "Would Jesus be a capitalist?" Would he belong to a hedge fund? Would he sell short? Would he approve of a system that has allowed the richest 1% to have more financial wealth than the 95% under them combined?

I have come to believe that there is no getting around the fact that capitalism is opposite everything that Jesus (and Moses and Mohammed and Buddha) taught. All the great religions are clear about one thing: It is evil to take the majority of the pie and leave what's left for everyone to fight over. Jesus said that the rich man would have a very hard time getting into heaven. He told us that we had to be our brother's and sister's keepers and that the riches that did exist were to be divided fairly. He said that if you failed to house the homeless and feed the hungry, you'd have a hard time finding the pin code to the pearly gates.

I guess that's bad news for us Americans. Here's how we define "Blessed Are the Poor": We now have the highest unemployment rate since 1983. There's a foreclosure filing once every 7.5 seconds. 14,000 people every day lose their health insurance.

At the same time, Wall Street bankers ("Blessed Are the Wealthy"?) are amassing more and more loot -- and they do their best to pay little or no income tax (last year Goldman Sachs' tax rate was a mere 1%!). Would Jesus approve of this? If not, why do we let such an evil system continue? It doesn't seem you can call yourself a Capitalist AND a Christian -- because you cannot love your money AND love your neighbor when you are denying your neighbor the ability to see a doctor just so you can have a better bottom line. That's called "immoral" -- and you are committing a sin when you benefit at the expense of others.

When you are in church this morning, please think about this. I am asking you to allow your "better angels" to come forward. And if you are among the millions of Americans who are struggling to make it from week to week, please know that I promise to do what I can to stop this evil -- and I hope you'll join me in not giving up until everyone has a seat at the table.

Thanks for listening. I'm off to Mass in a few hours. I'll be sure to ask the priest if he thinks J.C. deals in derivatives or credit default swaps. I mean, after all, he must've been good at math. How else did he divide up two loaves of bread and five pieces of fish equally amongst 5,000 people? Either he was the first socialist or his disciples were really bad at packing lunch. Or both.

Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
http://www.michaelmoore.com/

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Russian River Chamber Seeks Board Nominations

Board of Directors Nominations and Elections

The Chamber is accepting nominations for EIGHT director positions on the Board of Directors.
There are five (5) Two-year terms and three (3) One-year terms available.

Nominations will be accepted in writing and delivered to the Chamber office by post, hand-delivery or email (news@russianriver.com ) only from members in Good Standing. Nomination forms are available at the Chamber Office and on the Chamber Website. Posted, delivered, or emailed nominations will be accepted until October 26th , 2009 until 12:00pm. After which, additional nominations may be taken from the floor of the General Meeting, November 11th, 2009, conducted at 6:00pm (location to be determined).

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Gail's Gardens: Fall Favorites

Fall Favorites

This is the time of year when our summer flowers are beginning to fade and a new set of fall-bloomers is needed to give a “punch” of color and interest to the garden. I’d like to share a few of my favorite fall bloomers with you today.

Last year I planted three evergreen miscanthus (Miscanthus transmorrisonensis) on a sunny hillside with Jerusalem sage, lavender, and ceanothus. They are already 3 feet across with the flowering spikes up to 5 feet tall: so graceful in the breeze. I enjoy watching them every morning and evening from my kitchen window. Hardy to –10 degrees, and drought tolerant once established, these beauties are evergreen. If you plant this variety, be sure to give it room to grow: I have seen one plant grow 6 feet across!

Another new grass which I added to my garden last year is Giant Feather Grass (Stipa gigantea): planted on a low berm with Ceanothus ‘Yankee Point’ and Correa ‘Dusky Bells’, it provides a airy screening effect without blocking the view toward the mountains. Its basal clump is evergreen and only knee-high, but its longlasting golden seed stalks are 6’ tall and are still gorgeous after a full summer’s show. I expect they will continue looking good until the rains come.

Our California native Autumn sage (Salvia greggii) is in its full glory in fall with bright green leaves and brilliant red flowers: I love to use it as a filler in flower bouquets. I found mine on the roadside and have grown many plants from that original cutting. It is absolutely tough, adaptable to wet or dry ground and sand or clay soil. Be sure to cut this salvia back hard in the late winter/early spring to keep it full and avoid that ‘leggy’ look.

Don’t let your roses fade just because it’s autumn: join me for a free class at Bassignani’s Nursery on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10:30 am to learn how to keep them blooming happily until winter.

Asters are an old standard for the cottage garden and I have had great success with the variety ‘Monch’ (Aster x frikartii ‘Monch’). This herbaceous perennial (dies back to the roots in winter) loves a position on the edge of my lawn where it gets a fair amount of water, and spreads slowly to form a mass of shiny green foliage in the spring, followed by a long-lasting fall display of small blue daisy-like flowers. It is easy to spread around the garden by digging some of the fleshy roots in the spring, so I now have it happily growing in three different areas where it mingles with Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria), iris, and roses. ‘Monch’ is very resistant to powdery mildew, which is a problem for many other asters.

As the weather cools down and the rains come, we move into the best planting time in Sonoma County: if you need advice on designing your garden for easy care and maximum beauty, give me a call now at 829-2455 for a garden consultation or a complete design. Prices are very reasonable!

I have inherited a new green house and am hoping to grow all kinds of good salad greens and veggies this fall season: I hope you are planning for your fall garden too. Looking forward to next year’s spring garden? This is the season to plant your Sweet Peas: Claudia Owens will share all the tricks of the English gardeners for outstanding sweet peas at 10:30 am on Saturday Oct. 10th at Bassignani’s Nursery in Sebastopol.

Gail Fanning
Blue Hill Garden Design
bluehilldesign9@aol.com
www.bluehilldesign.shorturl.com
707-829-2455

Gail's Gardening Demonstrations
presented by
Bassignani’s Nursery and Blue Hill Design
1841 Gravenstein Highway South, Sebastopol
Info: 823-3984

Saturdays at 10:30am. Free!

October 3 : Fruit Tree Dormant Season Care
Fall is the time to begin spraying your fruit trees for a bountiful and pest-free harvest next summer! Join Tony Bassignani to learn the best methods and techniques for spraying and pruning all your fruit trees.

October 10: Sweet Peas
Join our English gardener, Claudia Owens, to learn how to start your sweet peas seeds now! Enjoy a wonderful early spring bloom with over-wintered plants.

October 24: Grow Your Own!
Learn how to grow more of all your favorite plants by rooting softwood cuttings. Roses, geraniums, sages, and more: Designer Gail Fanning will show you how to grow new plants that will be ready for spring planting.

November 21: Planting Bulbs for Spring Bloom
Designer Gail Fanning will teach you how to plant bulbs now for a beautiful spring garden! We will also learn how to force bulbs indoors for winter color. Bulbs available for purchase.

Dec. 12: Living Christmas Trees & Holiday Color from the Garden
Join us to make swags and wreathes and centerpieces with garden color for the winter season. Learn how to care for your living tree and plant it out successfully next spring.

Enter to win a free plant at each demonstration! (Must be present to win)
Info: bluehilldesign9@aol.com or 707-823-3984

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Soiland Family Purchases Grab 'n Grow Soil Products

Included in the photo are:
Randy Swegle, Sonoma Site manager
Mark Soiland, President, COO
Marv Soiland, Board Chairman/CEO
Don Liepold, Santa Rosa Site Manager
Marelene Soiland, Sec/Treas/CFO

Growing a Business
with Focus on Recycling

By Marlene Soiland
With layoffs, mandatory time off, and salary reductions dominating the news, it is great to have a positive story to share with readers! Stony Point Rock Quarry, a Sonoma County family business since 1973, is growing ... organically and sustainably.

Stony Point Rock Quarry currently operates two aggregate and top soil production facilities in Sonoma County. In Cotati, we’re located at 7171 Stony Point Road, 5 minutes north of Sonoma County’s Central Landfill. In Sonoma, we’re located at 4202 Stage Gulch Road, adjacent to the Landfill’s Sonoma Transfer station.

Purchasing Grab N’ Grow
On September 1, 2009, Stony Point Rock Quarry, Inc. acquired Grab N’ Grow Soil Products, Inc. For 25 years Grab N’ Grow has produced healthy soil products, compost, and ground covers from their facility at 2759 Llano Road, Santa Rosa, CA.

Increasing Sustainability
“My goal is to increase the sustainable portion of our product line by increasing recyclables from 20% to 80% of total sales by 2014,” stated President Mark Soiland. “The acquisition of Grab N’ Grow Soil Products makes a significant move in the right direction for our business.”

Focus on Recycling
With our Cotati and Sonoma facilities strategically located adjacent to landfill collection facilities, we divert over 100,000 cubic yards of materials each year that would otherwise be buried or hauled out of the County. We convert this waste into recycled road base and other construction products. Raw materials such as concrete rubble, asphalt, and ceramics, including toilets and roofing tiles, as well as composition asphalt shingles, are converted into Class 2 Road Base or Recycled Asphalt Products, which can be used in many different paving applications.

Organic Growth
Stony Point’s soil production facilities recycle organic materials to produce a variety of products, including mixes for track and field as well as bocce ball courts, and special soil mixtures for residential use and commercial landscape yards and nurseries.

Each year Grab N’ Grow recycles over 80,000 cubic yards of organic materials, including green waste from local residents and commercial landscapers, grape and apple pomace from local farmers, and waste from local dairies and ranches.

Caring for People
Many Grab N’ Grow employees accepted employment with Stony Point, including Don Liepold, who has managed the operation since inception. Liepold said “The acquisition of Grab N’ Grow Soil Products by the Soiland’s is a very exciting event.”

Company Values
We believe that efficiency, high quality, operational excellence, and environmental stewardship are important to the success of our family business. These values give Stony Point an opportunity to infuse our culture of care for employees, product quality control, and environmental responsibility into Grab N’ Grow.

Stewardship in Action
What does Environmental Stewardship look like for a company that owns and operates 2 rock quarries, and just acquired a second soil processing facility?

• Meeting the CA Air Resources Board (CARB) Emissions Guidelines two full years before the deadline
• Installing efficiency systems on all equipment to reduce fuel consumption and extend hours between service intervals
• Upgrading equipment to take advantage of state-of-the-art technology which reduces emissions and environmental impacts
• Using bio-diesel and recycling all used fluids
• Becoming the only local producer to recycle asphalt composition shingles into recycled asphalt products which can be used in a variety of paving projects, eliminating the need to landfill old roofing materials
• Promoting use of recycled aggregate products by contractors and homeowners to increase waste diversion Installing solar panels and energy efficient fixtures on new office facility in Cotati

Innovation and Improvement
Don Liepold and Mark Soiland are excited about building on the success and great reputation of Grab N’ Grow and its products. Their first step is to upgrade equipment. New technology reduces environmental impacts and ensures compliance with the CARB. The new equipment will also increase product quality and consistency. Liepold and Soiland also plan to improve the customer experience in the yard, making it an all-weather facility that is customer-friendly. The synergy of this management team is unbelievable. They are beginning to design a new composting system run by solar panels. Watch for more news to come.

Passion for Family Business
Stony Point Rock Quarry, Inc. has been owned by the Soiland family since 1973. Marv Soiland, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, has been active in the construction and aggregate industries since the 1950’s. Each of his 7 children were initiated into the family business at the age of 13 with the admonition to call him “Marv” while at work. Mark Soiland, is 6th in the family birth order and as Chief Operations Officer and President, oversees daily production and sales at all locations. As the 2nd child and oldest female, my life has been centered on the family and our business, so as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary/Treasurer I oversee administrative, legal and permits for our company.

“We are an excellent team. Our father brings his wisdom and many years of experience to Marlene and I every day. I understand operations, love equipment, and am active in various groups in our community.” says Mark Soiland “And Marlene makes sure that our financial and human resources, accounting and legal affairs are all in order.”

The Soiland’s goal is to continue their family business for future generations. Marlene has 2 sons, Ross and Rex, who in their 20’s are active in the business. The family looks forward to initiating Mark’s children into the business when they are older.

Serving Sonoma County’s Aggregate and Soil needs from 3 Convenient Locations:

Stoney Point Rock Quarry, Inc. • http://www.sprqinc.com/
7171 Stony Point Road, Cotati • 795-1775 • M-F 7:30-4:00, Sat 8:00-12:00
4202 Stage Gulch Road, Sonoma • 996-3400 * M-F 7:30-4:30, Sat by appt

Grab n' Grow Soil Products, Inc. • http://www.grabngrowsoil.com/
2759 Llano Road, Santa Rosa • 575-7275 • M-Sat 8:00-5:00 at landfills

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Greywater Systems - Approved for Sonoma County?

California Gives GREEN Light to Greywatwer Systems.

Responding to the increasing pressures on our state's water supplies, last month the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) approved new standards that facilitate the use of graywater in homes and voted to make the standards effective on August 4th, 2009 rather than waiting until 2011.

The new standards will make it much easier to reuse water from bathtubs, showers, sinks, and washing machines for outdoor irrigation while protecting local water quality and public health. Senator Alan Lowenthal's successful 2008 legislation launched this revision of the greywater standards.

Graywater provides a cost-effective and reliable source of water that can be implemented quickly and helps guard against water shortages in future drought years.

While the new standards are a great leap forward, they don't yet tap the full potential for graywater. Clean Water Action's Jennifer Clary notes that "the big missing piece is indoor reuse, specifically hooking systems up for toilet flushing or laundry." While using graywater for irrigation serves only seasonal demands in many parts of the state, expanding the standards to include indoor uses of graywater would provide year-round water savings across California.
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For more information on what a greywater system is:
www.humboldt.edu/~sej26/CCAT/grey.html

Grey Water Treatment Systems

Grey (gray) water is water that has been previously used for a primary purpose (washing dishes, laundry, showering), but is still clean enough to be used for a secondary purpose (landscape or agriculture watering).

Black water is water that you cannot use after its initial use, such as from toilets.

Grey water treatment systems have their differences when it comes to setup. There are various stages and paths the grey water must go through to be ready for reuse. The focal point of this page is to show you a few of the different setups.

A typical grey water system (pre-treatment needed) includes a pre-treatment filter. The main purpose of this filter is to catch larger objects that would block smaller pipes farther down in the treatment process.

After the pre-treatment process the water would go into a planter via pipes. There are many different ways to arrange and place these pipes depending on what would work best for the current site in which the system is being used.
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To keep current on legislation on this issue:
PCL INSIDER: News from the Capitol
1107 9th Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 444-8726 • Fax (916) 448-1789
www.pcl.org and www.pclfoundation.org
Copyright, 2008 The Planning and Conservation League. All rights reserved.

And on the Sonoma County front:
Sonoma County Conservation Action
540 Pacific Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
www.ConservationAction.org

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Sonoma County Creeks- Too Warm for Salmonids

Warm Streams – Warm Rivers
By Terrence Fleming, Program Coordinator
Community Clean Water Institute

The water is low, slow and probably warm. This is an observation that anyone can make if they even as much as glance at the Russian River and any streams that flow through Sonoma County. Now, we need to follow this conclusion with questions that ask whether these conditions are simply part of our climate’s seasonal changes, driven by drought and the warming of our planet, or whether there’s something deeper going on. No pun intended.

Community Clean Water Institute’s dedicated volunteers have been gathering water quality data for Sonoma County’s creeks and rivers since 2001. Recently, our water quality monitoring data is showing that many local streams are at temperatures far above what juvenile salmon can tolerate. Surely, we live in a Mediterranean climate and the hot summer months would warm the water and, along with a dry 2008-09 winter and spring, we might expect warmer streams that struggle to maintain minimum flow levels. What should make one curious is that folks who live on these waterways are reporting the lowest and slowest streams they’ve ever seen, as well as mortality rates in rearing steelhead reaching 100 percent.

These questions could, and definitely should, naturally meander to thoughts of global climate change and how this calamity is fueling our water issues. No surprise, the gradual warming of the planet is making our already dry climate even drier and we should deal with our trickling streams on a bigger scale. We can then use logic such as, “if we drive less and stop clear-cutting forests we’ll help conserve our streams and the salmon which depend on them.”

As with any environmental concern, there are many factors at play, and all of these thoughts have a place in the larger picture. We should drive less and we shouldn’t clear-cut, as these changes would lead to a reduction in carbon release, thus lessening the impact of global warming on our waterways. So once we’ve purchased a bike, obtained a bus schedule, and written a letter to our supervisor asking them to stop a proposed clear cut in their district we should then ask, “What can we do to keep the water flowing and as cool as possible during these dry times?”

Keeping the water in the streams is a very good answer! Shallow and stagnant streams are more susceptible to warmer temperatures and diverting water during dry times will further decrease stream quality. Pumping during shortages can even lead to fish kills such as the ones that occurred in April of 2008 on Felta Creek and the Russian River when local vineyards used stream water for frost protection. We also need to preserve groundwater, especially during this time of year when there is no storm runoff and the existing stream flow is made possible by groundwater baseflow.

Protecting riparian vegetation is another answer that may not be as widely acknowledged as it should be. Every stream in the county is currently experiencing low summer flows, and although warmer than in winter months, not all of them have temperatures that consistently exceed salmon survival limits. It seems that what are keeping these streams from coming to an ecological boil are the willows, alders, bays and other riparian plants that have been spared during land alterations.

Keeping trees around benefits a stream in so many ways besides just providing shade. They can also help minimize bank erosion, provide needed organic material and habitat to aquatic organisms, and reduce runoff, and increase groundwater recharge and storage for baseflow.
Blucher Creek, Santa Rosa Creek, Windsor Creek, and Austin Creek are some of the streams that currently have temperatures above documented salmon thresholds and we’re wondering where riparian shading plays into this tangled enviro-equation. If it is a huge role, can we protect existing corridors? Do we need to adopt a strong riparian ordinance? Will it be followed? Will this ordinance be enforced? These are all questions we should ask ourselves, but let’s make it snappy, for the water will only get warmer.

To learn more about the efforts of the Community Clean Water Institute - log on to their web site: http://www.ccwi.org/. They have many ways to keep informed as well as opportunities to participate.

First Saturday Clean-Up is an opportunity to volunteer your time to improve creeks in Santa Rosa. These are also educational opportunities as well as work experience for teens.

September 26 - Community Clean Water Institute and the City of Santa Rosa's Creek Stewardship Program will be co-hosting a Water Quality and Flow Monitoring Workshop and Training on Saturday, September 26th at 10am on Santa Rosa Creek! Great skills for Green Jobs! This event is free and open to the public. Meet at Pierson Street Bridge on Santa Rosa Creek at 10 am.

Contact Info:
Terrance Fleming
Community Clean Water Institute
Program Coordinator
707/824.4370 v
707/824.4372 f
terrance@ccwi.org

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Sonoma County Artist: Fran Nielsen

Fran Nielsen has lived her life in Sebastopol. She apologizes for this fact but knows that she is a fortunate person. Her father lived his life in Sebastopol and her grandmother ventured from far away Healdsburg. How more local can someone be?

Fran works in her home – right off the kitchen in a space designed for creating. The work that goes on in this studio is as integral a part of Fran’s being as the life she has built as a wife, mother and grandmother. Fran downplays her accomplishments as an artist and is quick to tell that she has no formal training and just does what comes naturally. She mentions that she only began focusing on paintings in the last three years but “focus” is a critical word here. Painting is a profession that she has progressed towards all her life.

Fran loved animals as a child and began her drawing forays by painting horses. Not the easiest subject for even the most schooled of artists – she recalls that they looked similar to dogs! Once in high school, her talents were tapped to design and build sets for school productions.

Becoming a wife and mother became her most important role as time went on but all of those lifelong friends could not forget Fran’s artist abilities. Fran did graphic design for an apple business, designed the original logo for Lucas Wharf Restaurant in Bodega Bay, drew pen and ink mementos of houses for real estate agent gifts and provided portraits of children for doting parents. She naturally became the Art Director for the California Junior Miss Pageant which was held in Santa Rosa. For ten years, Fran designed and created the musical production stage sets for the pageant.

Along the way Fran found a new outlet by making cloth dolls with carved faces. She and her sister worked home shows with a line of Father Christmas and angel dolls. The dolls provided a medium for carving, painting, sewing and ornamentation - a combination of beautiful and intriguing components which yielded a desirable product. While the public clamored for decorative soft dolls, Fran’s son wanted to adorn his walls with paintings by his mother. The tradition of painting a picture for her son began in the 1990’s and continues today. Fran started adding paintings into the mix of offerings at the home shows – and they sold. She was asked to put her dolls in Jessal Gallery in Napa and she parlayed that invitation to include some paintings – and they sold! In 2006 Fran’s emphasis changed to painting.

The Art Workshop of Western Sonoma County (AWS) is an active group of over 100 local working artists. It began in 1965 and continues to be the second oldest art group in Sonoma County. With that legacy, it is not surprising that Fran is very active in this group. She is currently the Recording Secretary and she participates in most of the activities. AWS meets the third Thursday of the month, Noon to 3 PM, in the dining room of the Sebastopol Veterans Memorial Hall, S. 282 High Street, Sebastopol, CA. After a light lunch and business meeting, a local artist provides a demonstration or critique. Fran is a self admitted goal setter and she uses the inspiration of this forum to try new things. She is fascinated with the contrasts for shadows and sunlight. She loves the drape of fabrics and the color variations imposed by glass. She is always looking for the next challenge.

Fran paints in a style of realism. Her medium is acrylics on canvas. She finds the preciseness of clean lines and architectural perspective naturally appealing. While her subject matter is recognizable as local landmarks and known views, Fran makes her paintings more likeable by altering the composition - remove the extra building, change the plants in the foreground, the addition of an animal. The showing currently at the Prudential Real Estate office in Sebastopol is made up of the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Russian River appellation vineyards, Carmel courtyard and kitchen vignettes. Some are stylized – some are like photographs – all are beautiful.

Fran’s works can be seen regularly in many local venues. All of her entries to the Harvest Fair have brought ribbons. The Apple Blossom crowd has voted her painting the people’s choice two years in a row. Maybe it was the apples on the table that brought the support but more likely it was the serenity that the painting evoked. You can see Fran’s paintings for the next three months at Prudential California Realty at 7300 Healdsburg Avenue in Sebastopol and most of the time at Graton Ridge Cellars on Hwy 116 between Sebastopol and Forestville. In September, paintings will be in Bank of the West in downtown Sebastopol. Two warnings – come prepared to buy and don’t expect to come back later and find the same painting. These paintings sell!

You can email your comments to bshula@comcast.net

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Being a Smart Organic Consumer

Dear EcoGirl: I’m a newbie to organic foods, after finding out about my son’s food allergies. How do I know which companies are really upholding organic standards? Also, what does it mean when a product calls itself organic but has no USDA certified seal?
Signed, A Nurturing Mom

Dear A Nurturing Mom: Thank you for your interest in organic. This is an issue that’s personally important to me. I was made ill many years ago by a neighboring farmer’s pesticide spray. This led me to discover just how much harm these toxics do to our health and ecosystems, costing us all physically, emotionally, and financially.

So I’m grateful to have the option of organic — to reduce our toxic load, savor healthy delicious food, and encourage farmers to collaborate with nature again. Organic was created by countless grassroots farmers, consumers, and activists, and its success demonstrates our ability to collectively change the world.

I do also encourage folks to learn more about organic’s rules, to help make informed consumer purchases. Here are some basics to get you started.

Understanding Organic’s Rules

1) Organic food standards are written into law. Unlike other common eco-claims (such as green, natural, and sustainable), organic food specifics are legally defined and enforceable. So any food labeled organic in the U.S. must be grown, processed, and labeled according to USDA standards. This includes third-party certification of growing practices, including no use of toxic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, GMOs, irradiation, or sewage sludge. (Small farmers selling under $5,000 a year are exempt from certification; their materials can’t be called organic in another’s product.)

Legally defining organic helps assure consumers of the methods used, so that we can know what we’re buying and supporting.

2) Organic produce is easy. Sometimes, in the debate about organic’s details, the bigger picture can get lost. For instance, the standards for organic produce are pretty straightforward and reliable: products need to be grown organically. Period.

3) Organic processed foods get more complicated. Because packaged products often include both organic and non-organic ingredients, they’re grouped into these categories:
• “100% Organic”: All ingredients (except water and salt) must be organically-produced.
• “Organic”: At least 95% of ingredients must be organically-produced. The other 5% can only contain items from the National List, with strict criteria including no GMOs.
• “Made with Organic Ingredients”: At least 70% of ingredients must be organic, with limits on the other ingredients including no GMOs.
• Ingredients list only: For products with less than 70% organic ingredients.

My way of quickly assessing a product is to see if there’s an organic percentage on the front, then read the ingredients label to see what’s organic. The “USDA Organic” seal is allowed only for the first two categories, but is optional.

Note: The 95% category was created to allow ingredients such as processing agents that are considered essential but not available organically. However, I feel that calling the resulting product “organic” is what creates most of the confusion and controversy in this arena. I’d like to see these items simply specify the organic percentage instead. For now, just be aware of this wrinkle.

4) Non-agricultural products jump on the bandwagon. With organic food’s popularity, other product types want to be called organic too. Unfortunately, the regulation hasn’t always caught up with these uses. For instance, organic has been defined for natural clothing fibers, but only in some cases for body care products. (For more regulation specifics, see www.ams.usda.gov/nop.)

Also note that fish and seafood have no legal organic standard. Guidelines have been proposed but called inadequate by consumer and environmental groups. So these items can be labeled organic, but it’s not tied to any official standard. (More on this is at http://littleurl.net/3f0cca.)

So, there you have it, an outline of organic’s essential rules. I encourage you to both buy organic and help it continue to evolve wisely. Through this, we can help nurture healthier lives for all. Believe me, farmers and businesses are watching our economic votes! (For more organic buying tips, plus other eco-shopping criteria, see the web version of this article at www.askecogirl.info.)

Email your questions about going green to (EcoGirl@AskEcoGirl.info) for possible inclusion in future columns. Also see “Ask EcoGirl” on Facebook!

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

© Copyright Patricia Dines, 2009. All rights reserved.

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WINE REVIEW: John Haggard on Decanting

To Decant or Not to Decant…

A decanter is designed with a wide base and thin neck for two reasons: to expose the wine to air and, when poured, to allow the wine to flow more easily and the sediment to remain in the base of the decanter. It was the Romans who came up with the idea of using glass for decanters, so you could say the track record for glass decanters is rather long. It seems obvious why one may not want sediment in the glass, but why more air?

Winemaker Fred Scherrer explained to me that red wines are a series of sharps and rounds. In my experience, the sharper flavors tend to be red fruit and can be described as “strawberry, raspberry, pomegranate, red cherry” and the rounds tend to be black fruit flavors “blackberry, blueberry, black plum, black cherry”. Sharper red fruit flavors tend to soften after decanting as do tannins caused by oak barrels and numerous other factors used to create complexity in wine but which become more subtle over time or with proper decanting, bringing wine into balance.

Many winemakers structure red wine to be able to both age and, indeed, improve with age. Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon may be made to age decades: Ramey Jericho Canyon Vineyard 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, is a highly collectable wine that will age for ten years or more (ret: $125). Some burgundies (pinot noirs) will age five to ten years. Ross Cobb of Cobb Wines structures all his pinot noirs to be aged. Cobb Wines (as many wineries do) releases “Library Wines” to its members list, so that older vintages may be appreciated. Zinfandel will usually have a shorter life (perhaps three to five years). 2007 has been a stellar year across the board for Sonoma Wines. In my opinion, Balletto’s 2007 Pinot Noir (retailing $20-$25) is one of their best. It has structure that will age, and will benefit from decanting about an hour if opened now. Decanting accelerates the aging process. It allows wine to display more of the characteristics that it would have displayed some years hence. Occasionally, when opening a wine in a restaurant that I know to be particularly youthful, I will ask the server to not only decant the wine, but to “shock it”. Simply put, “to glug” the wine into the decanter by turning the bottle almost upside down while pouring, allowing a fast pour and more air bubbles to form.

Try for Yourself…
When entertaining, I will often pour my red wines into decanters as I start to prepare the meal. The chef does deserve a small taste of the wine as the bottle is opened, both to determine that the wine is not bad (or corked) and to truly experience the wine as it opens from the first glass, and later, at the meal when poured from the decanter. Putting this into practice will allow you to educate your own palate as to which wines truly benefit from decanting.

Decanting Calculator?
While there is no Iphone App for this yet (though it may be worth someone‚s time)… a rough calculation that doesn’t work in all cases, but may be helpful: upon release, for each year that is recommended to age a wine, up to an hour of decanting may be necessary to open the wine today. A wine said to be at its best four years from now upon release, may need decanting two to four hours. However, two years from now, it may only need thirty minutes of decanting (you’ll find wines with age need less decanting time and do not need to be ”shocked“).

What to use?
A glass pitcher will suffice to aerate wine if you don‚t have a decanter handy (though they are not shaped to hold back sediment). Decanters make great gifts for anyone who enjoys wine. Support your local Sonoma wine stores by checking with them for decanters: Vine Life, Wine Tasting Sonoma, Gourmet Au Bay, The Wine Emporium, Sonoma Fine Wine, Vine & Barrel and Sophie’s Cellars. Or – go to the wine store near you and let us know who – and where – they are!

John Haggard is owner of Sophie’s Cellars, The Sonoma Wine & Cheese Market in Monte Rio, California. Sophie’s Cellars is open 11am - 7pm, closed only on Wednesdays. www.sophiescellars.com

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