Green Living for a Blue Planet

By Vesta Copestakes
Each year we celebrate Earth Day, this year on April 22nd, with events highlighting both the joys of living on this paradise planet, as well as educational efforts to raise consciousness of how precariously balanced earth is.

While I sing the praises of what change we have accomplished, I also lament the lack of change fast enough to keep our earth in balance.

At our recent Easter Egg Hunt little plastic eggs were thrown out in the grass for children to find. Made in China. Filled with little candies wrapped in paper, etc. High fructose corn syrup, which goes straight to the brain asking for more.

Then I watched as children stomped on the plastic eggs to break them open, leaving shards on the ground. Why were parents not stopping them, helping them carefully open the eggs, then taking the plastic for recycling? I picked up tiny bright colored plastic bits so birds wouldn’t think they were food as I explained to these children the consequences of their actions.

Boo, Vesta. Can’t these kids just have fun? One day?

There are so many one days, one moments of unconsciousness. They add up and our planet is suffering. “I want it NOW” has a price of consequences over time.

In my own neighborhood we had frogs singing the joys of life each night. They mistook a community swimming pool left to winter for a large pond. It cost them their lives. The people in charge of the pool didn’t like the loud sound keeping them up at night, so they shocked the pool with chlorine long before anyone will swim in those now clear blue waters. Our nights are suddenly silent.

That ”pond” had attracted frogs from a neighbor’s pond across the hill, which now is also silent, because these frogs were foolish enough to seek out others they heard from a distance.

We used to have frogs in a little run-off stream at the bottom by Speer’s Market. Trucks slamming through the mud for entertainment killed off those frogs several years ago. It’s silent there as well. You can’t destroy habitat without destroying what lives there!

Just a bit of consciousness of how these frogs are our summer mosquito protection would go a long way. They are not noisy. They are singing for reproduction. Within a short time they would have been busy parenting, then eating bugs to keep summer nights comfortable for us.

We are all connected – we just need to see it that way.

Every time we pick up an object to purchase, if we think about where it came from, how long it will live in our life, and what we will do with it when we’re done, the choices we make from start to finish are likely to change. Consciousness is necessary on a grand scale in order for life cycles to be about healthy choices.

Think about it. Then at least try to do something about it. Every little change we make in the way we live that supports our planet, also supports life on it...our life.

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Russian River Low Flow Protest

Protest ALERT!
for PERMANENT
Russian River LOW FLOW!

Background….

By Brenda Adelman
Over a year ago, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a Biological Opinion (BO) to institute management changes in the Russian River that would protect three fish species of concern: Coho and Chinook salmon and Steelhead Trout. While many support efforts to save the threatened and endangered species, the Order did not address many project impacts, such was water quality, recreation and the local economy. Furthermore, much of the project is a long-term experiment and results may not be known for many years.

Because of very low storage levels in Lake Mendocino, Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) was permitted to temporarily lower flows from 125 cubic feet per second (cfs) to between 35 and 70 cfs in 2002, 2004, 2007, and 2009.

SCWA was also ordered by the Biological Opinion to apply to the State Water Board for PERMANENTLY lowered flows in the Russian River, which they did on September 23, 2009. The State determined that protests are due by April 12, 2010, BEFORE they conduct environmental review. There is also a study of water quality by U.S.G.S. that will be released AFTER the protest period has ended. People are urged to ask for more time to express concerns.

For your reference, SCWA petition is entitled: “Petition for Modification of Water-Right Permits” and with State Water Board notices, can be found at the State Water Board’s website at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/publications_forms/

Lower flows to become permanent…..
It is being recommended that minimum flows in the lower Russian River be permanently decreased from 125 cfs to 70 cfs. As recently as 2006, summer flows were commonly running about 200 cfs. We do not believe that the State is required to adopt these changes as is, but before they reject or alter them, they must have good cause. We hope Russian River lovers will protest this project. The DEADLINE for PROTESTS is APRIL 12, 2010. To have a big impact, a lot of people need to respond.

Full environmental review should occur BEFORE the deadline for comments and AFTER all water quality studies and analyeses are released to the public. There are many unanswered questions about what impacts will result from this action. The process is backwards.

Long range impacts of low flows are unknown….
There are large gaps in information about the long-range impacts of lowering flows permanently. NMFS is making this demand on the lower river for the sole purpose of keeping the Estuary closed all summer in order to provide habitat for steelhead.

They did not adequately address impacts to water quality, other species (including the listed Chinook salmon), water supply, recreation, or other beneficial uses. We don’t know what will happen to the seals, the sea birds, and we don’t know why the frogs have all but disappeared.
We want something done about polluting nutrients, sedimentation, toxins, (including emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals) and temperature problems. All of these factors affect the fish and human use as well. We also wonder about long term impacts on recreation and the local tourist economy.

In the Biological Opinion, NMFS did require limited water quality monitoring for conventional pollutants such as temperature, pH, turbidity, specific conductance, bacteria, and limited nutrients. The tests for phosphorus (a nutrient) were improperly done and the results are meaningless.

Although the excursions of bacteria at lower river beaches were quite numerous (You may have noticed warning signs on the beaches.), they are being characterized as no worse than previous years during higher flows. There has been no analysis of the data, so we don’t know on what basis they are drawing those conclusions. Many believe that low flow has and will make pollution worse.

All of last summer, when lower-river flows averaged about 70 cfs, volunteers took weekly pictures at several points along the lower river. Many canoeists reported and photographed gross algae blooms. We saw large amounts and many kinds of algae; we saw extensive blooms of invasive plant species, and we saw many instances of canoes scraping bottom.

We took pictures of people and pets standing ankle deep in the middle of the river. We heard second hand stories of pets getting very ill right after playing in the river. And, at our request, the Regional Board tested a few sites for toxic blue-green algae, which they found at one of the popular local beaches. It may also be occurring at other places.

Send protests to State Water Board, SCWA, & RRWPC….
PROTEST FORM CAN BE FOUND AT SONOMA COUNTY GAZETTE WEBSITE AT: www.sonomacountygazette.com/riverflowprotest.pdf Protest should be sent to the State Board at the address listed on the form. (Please mail by April 9th, to make sure they get to the State in time.)

CLICK ON THIS IMAGE TO PRINT PETITION

Copies MUST also be sent to Sonoma County Water Agency C/O Grant Davis, General Manager, P.O. Box 11628, Santa Rosa, CA 95406, and if possible, also to RRWPC at P.O. Box 501, Guerneville, CA 95446.

Please write a letter about your own river experiences and why you are concerned about lower flows. If you have photos to include, please do so, but make sure you send to both the State Board (address on form) AND SCWA (address above). You can use form as a template for your own letter or just fill out form directly. Please circle the ways in which you personally utilize the river.

Please tell us your stories about the river….
Russian River Watershed Protection Committee will be providing our own protest to the State Water Board. It would help us if we could submit your stories about the river. Please send information to address listed below. Your name and the date should appear on the letter and also note approximate date you were in the river. We would like to hear about how very low flows will affect your business, the local tourist economy, recreation and your use of the river.
We wonder if any person or pet you know had health problems resulting from contact from the river? Did you notice any changes in water quality last year from prior years (even if it was a long time ago)? What did the water look like, how has it changed, and what did you see floating in and around? Did anyone you know have stomach distress of any kind, skin rashes, eye, ear, throat, or nose problems, or anything else? Was it necessary to visit a doctor? How long did symptoms last? Where in the river were you located after which the problem occurred? How soon afterward did you or someone you know exhibit symptoms? Please share whatever details you can.

Email Brenda and/or RRWPC at rrwpc@comcast.net with questions or comments or if you want to be placed on our mailing list. Please mail stories to RRWPC, P.O. Box 501, Guerneville, CA 95446

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. ~ Native American Proverb

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Salmon Creek Center Environmental Award

Green Building at its Best
Salmon Creek Environmental Center receives Highest Award

By Dennis Rosatti
Harmony Union School District will soon have an official plaque to show it has earned the highest possible award for our recently constructed Cafeteria / Auditorium / Environmental Education Center Building.

The Redwood Empire Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council will be presenting the prestigious LEED-Platinum (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) award at the Falls Center on April 21.

“This award publicly recognizes our commitment to inspiring students and community to become responsible stewards of the environment, not just through education, but through the example of this environmentally green building,” said District Superintendent/Principal Dave Miller.

Environmental consciousness is a longstanding part of the Harmony community. The school District supports a place-based, environmental education curriculum, taking advantage of the four distinct habitats of redwood forest, wetlands, grasslands, and creek found on this rural, 50-acre campus in western Sonoma County. Rooftop solar panels installed several years ago provide a portion of its energy. Its student-run recycling/composting program keeps thousands of pounds of waste out of the landfill every year, and students help tend the school’s organic garden that provides much of the produce served every day with the school lunch program.
Now, the District’s newest building—the first LEED-Platinum certified building in the county—not only supports but also extends the school community’s commitment to sustainability in a myriad of ways.

The floors and walls of the Falls Center are all made from such recycled materials as hospital surgical gowns, wine cork tiles, and ground glass; a wind-fallen redwood from the campus provided lumber for wainscoting; energy efficient florescent fixtures and skylights provide lighting; low-flow bathroom and kitchen fixtures are all high-efficiency and water-conserving. A complex drainage system collects rooftop rainwater, funneling it into a catchment system to enhance the existing wetlands; and a “living” roof, planted with 12 species of drought tolerant plants, covers one section of the structure, helping “reduce storm-water runoff, improve building performance, conserve energy, and provide habitat for insects and birds,” according to Kevin Falkerson of SYMBIOS, the firm that designed and installed the roof. Together with the living roof, landscaping around the building will offer further opportunities for students to study native plants and their uses. “Talk about getting an education!” says Alexis Persinger, architect for the project. “These students are living in sustainable design every day.” Adds project coordinator Victoria Johnston, “Our vision was to build the first LEED-Platinum public school building in California, which took a tremendous amount of perseverance and determination. I’m thrilled we succeeded.”

The new green building provides a cafeteria, assembly space, office space, and a meeting room for use by the school district as well as the surrounding community. Every lunch period, from tables in the bright, naturally lit, passive solar cafeteria, students can look out a wall of windows across the playing fields to wilder fields and forest beyond. A large, eco-themed mosaic mural (designed and created by students last spring) gracing the foyer and bathrooms serves as a starting point for elementary grade research into local flora and fauna. The assembly hall, with its state-of-the-art media center, already has hosted several author visits, musical performances, and various community events, with monthly movie nights in the offing.

“Green building is a blossoming field of study with very promising career paths,” says Dennis Rosatti, HUSD board member and executive director of the non-profit organization Sonoma County Conservation Action. “The District is proud to be setting this good environmental example for our students, while providing a glimpse of what might be in store for them in the future.”

The award ceremony on Wednesday, April 21 will run from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, starting with a 20-minute documentary on the history of the building, followed by the presentation of the plaque. Food and drink will be provided, and tours of the building will be available. The cost is $10. Due to the size of the assembly hall, participants will be limited to 80 people. To reserve a seat or for more information, contact USGBC’s Redwood Empire Chapter at www.usgbc-rec.org.

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Around Forestville - April 2010

I recently spent a week at a conference in Orlando, where I lived for 13 years. All the trees were now strip malls or superstores, traffic sped through mazes of toll roads and construction zones, the high school had 3600 students and permanent cops parked out front. I don’t need many reminders about how fortunate I am to have returned to Sonoma County, but this trip definitely made me recount my numerous blessings!

Here’s what’s going on Around Forestville this month:


Hollydale Happenings

Don’t miss the Beans, Greens & Dreams Fundraiser for the Hollydale Community Club’s Improvement Fund. April 24th from 6pm – 10pm. Enjoy beans and ham hocks, down home greens, corn bread, cobbler, and beverages. Music by Phenix, raffle prizes and fun, for a $15 donation. Tickets available at Bank of the West or call Raynetta James 887-8219

Next month:
Saturday May 22nd - Chicken BBQ w/ The Dirty Dub Band @ 6:00PM

Student Snippets:

Forestville Vikings

It’s Kindergarten registration time! Thursday, April 22nd 3:30 – 6:30. Receive information on readiness, registration requirements and the kindergarten program. Informal drop-in sessions with 15-minute presentations at 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00 will answer questions about the program and how to best prepare for this transitional time. Contact Principal Talin Tamzarian at 887-2279 or e-mail at ttamzarian@forestvilleusd.org

The school has joined Mycokerewards to earn points to buy athletic equipment for the sports programs. Simply register at Mycokerewards.com and donate points to the school. Each point adds up so that they can receive the equipment on their wish list. Every point counts!

The students in Mrs. Swanson’s and Mr. Anderson’s 7th Grade History classes sponsored a Hot Chocolate for Haiti fund raiser. Thanks to cold kids and generous parents they’ve raised $579! One child brought in a $100 bill and told them to keep the change!

There will be three seats open on the School District’s Board this November. Anyone interested in serving in this most valuable capacity should contact the school for details at 887-2279.

El Molino Lion Pride-

For the first time since 1984, the El Molino cheerleading squad went to Nationals at Disneyland on March 25h! Congratulations girls on this impressive accomplishment.

The Drama Program has begun rehearsals for the Spring Play, a hilarious comedy, The Complete History of America (abridged) on May 20th, 21st, and 22nd at 7:30. Tickets only $7 at the door.

SEBASTOPOL ROTARY EDUCATION FOUNDATION is sponsoring the
“West Sonoma County High School 2009-2010 “Teacher of the Year” Recognition Program. Everyone’s invited to submit nominations, postmarked by May 7, 2010.


Faith and Friends

It’s Easter time and the Forestville United Methodist Church has many activities celebrating this Holy season:

HOLY THURSDAY SERVICE- April 1, 7pm in the Sanctuary Upper Room Communion based on the Passion of Jesus Christ as told in the Gospel of Luke.

FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIE- April 2, 7pm at Pastor Carol’s, 6537 Center Street. Showing The Passion of the Christ, directed by Mel Gibson. No charge and free popcorn.

Easter Sunday April 4th

6:30am- Sunrise Service at the Forestville Cemetery.
7:45am- Breakfast at the church. (no charge)
8:30am and 10:30 am- Services in the Sanctuary (Children’s Godly Play Sunday School will be available at the 10:30 service.)

Don’t miss the sermon series, God's Renewed Creation, concluding on Earth Sunday, April 25th, 9:30am with a special offering for Native American Community Developers, a ministry of the UMC. Meet special guest, Mr. Alfred Tenaya, a descendent of the Chief of the Yosemite Valley tribe.

22nd Annual Variety Show on May 2nd Come join this fun and funny event, with a "South of the Border" to raise money Haiti, Chile and elsewhere.

Other Events

Boy Scout Breakfast, April 11th 8am-12pm: Great food and outstanding service that warms your heart!

Come to the Graton Community Club Free 2010 Spring Flower Show and Plant Sale, April 16th and 17th, 8am to 4 pm at the historic club house at the corner of Graton and Edison. The show provides the best bargains around, such as 4-in pots for $2 and bonzai crab apple trees for $5. Find everything you need to whip your garden into shape!

April 24th 2010 - Soul Food Clubhouse Fundraiser

Just around the corner, something new to the Clubhouse with down-home roots…We’ve just added a “Beans, Greens & Dreams Clubhouse Fundraiser” Dinner on Saturday April 24th from 6:00 - 10:30PM. The dinner includes Beans & Ham Hocks, Down Home Greens, Corn Bread to soak it all up, Cobbler Dessert and a Complimentary Beverage. Help support this great cause to raise funds for the Hollydale Community Club’s 63 year old Clubhouse Improvement. Raffle Prizes and Music by Phenix at 8:00PM. Presale Tickets available at Forestville Bank of the West or at the door…for more information call Raynetta @ 887-8219.

May your Easter be joyous and your gardening be Green!

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Our Sonoma County by Efren Carrillo

Please join us for a public meeting to discuss PG&E’s SmartMeter installation program on Wednesday evening, April 21st from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Sebastopol Veteran’s Memorial Building. A panel discussion will take place, followed by time for public comment and questions of the panelists. We hope that this conversation will allow concerns ranging from meter accuracy, health and environmental risks, security and privacy issues, to fire safety to be aired and addressed. Panelists will include representatives from PG&E, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), TURN (Utilities Reform Network), and an authority on health risks associated with the meters.

Join the iWalk challenge which began March 15th…30 minutes of walking a day, 5 days each week for better fitness and overall health. Sign up (I did!), get fitness tips, and find walking groups today at iwalksonoma.org

Many of you have received your 2010 Census forms in the mail by now. Returning your Census form promptly helps reduce the need for canvassers to go door to door seeking compliance. If you receive mail at the Post Office instead of your home, you will be contacted by a canvasser as each form is specific to your household address. If you are not contacted, please obtain a blank form from the Census office and file before May 1st.

Our local Census headquarters is at 1403 Corporate Center Parkway, Santa Rosa.

Our current economic struggle highlights the importance of each and every person being counted this year. Important funding allocations, political and social decisions are made every year based on the data resulting from the US Census. These factors affect how more than $400 billion dollars of federal funding are allocated to our local economy.

Census information determines everything from the number of seats that California occupies in the US Congress to the infrastructure funding for hospitals, schools, senior centers, emergency services, and public works projects like our poor West County roads. Everyone living in the United States is required by law to file for the Census regardless of immigration status. But that’s not the reason you should file your form…the resources allocated to our community are directly affected by the results of the Census.

Some have concerns that the data collected might be used against individuals. Nothing could be further from the truth! Your information is protected in a number of ways…including the oath that everyone employed by the Census Bureau takes to protect individual information…not only during their employment with the Bureau, but for the rest of their lives. Individual census records are not shared with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' answers with anyone, -- not the IRS, not the FBI, not the CIA, and not with any other government agency. There are steep penalties for violating or sharing information on individuals-- from heavy fines up to $250,000 to prison sentences or both.

So, please, for your community and yourself, complete your census form and return it as soon as possible!

Early March, I traveled to Washington, DC with colleagues to attend the National Association of Counties Conference. Leaving several days early allowed time for meetings with Congressional and Senate staff members to request funding for local projects and infrastructure needs. Our meetings played a major role in thwarting a proposed $2.1 million cut in our Geothermal revenues. The funding was restored during the time we were in Washington, DC directly as a result of our efforts. We made requests for increased funding for Community Health Centers, Emergency Operations Center, perinatal alcohol and drug treatment, clean natural gas buses, and fire mitigation due to Sudden Oak Death. The Bodega Bay Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail project has been in the planning stage for years, and we hope our meetings will pay off in Federal dollars to augment State Coastal Conservancy, Measure M, and State Transportation monies allocated to this project.

Both Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods and Gold Ridge RCD are recipients of California Department of Fish and Game fisheries restoration grants. Stewards will use their grant to improve fish passage and remove barriers in Willow Creek, and Gold Ridge plans to improve and protect critical Coho habitat in Green Valley and Purrington Creeks…both projects are critical and it’s exciting that this important work will move forward this year.

www.sonoma-county.org

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Cloverdale Comments by Carol Russell

To paraphrase the old country song: "We were 'Green' when 'Green' wasn't cool!"

That's because our city's argi-focused founding mothers and fathers were smart. Smart enough, even given the limited science and technology of 150 years ago, to grasp the sensitive, mutually dependant inter-relationships among themselves, their land, their enterprises, their community, their environment and their legacy.

Smart enough to know they must be environmental stewards (not that they would have known that term) because if you take care of the land it is far more likely to take care of you and all the generations that follow.

Smart enough to take good care of their animals, tools, barns and homes, too. Smart enough to conserve, recycle and reuse every resource--waste not having any part in their "economic development" planning.

They did all this, and more, down the years not only because it was a good personal ethic, but also because it was a common sense approach to life and work that usually lead to prosperity and protection from unexpected lack. They kept at it even when it was increasingly disregarded in a country becoming preoccupied with excess consumption and growth for growth's sake.
It would take pages to document but, looking around Cloverdale today, it's clear we're fast returning to our "Green" roots; not because it is trendy but because "Greenness" is a good personal ethic and the budding Green Economy good business.

Our long-established businesses are incorporating what I call "Greenology" into their daily routines and winning awards for it, too. To name just two, the family-owned Reuser, Inc., a bulk manufacturer and distributor of organic landscape materials, received the Business Environmental Alliance Award for their innovative reuse of waste wood, as well as for their conversion to biodiesel in all trucks and in-plant equipment; while Asti Cellar 8 at Italian Swiss Colony also received a Business Environmental Alliance Award for their conversion to solar power at the winery as well as their protections to the Russian River watershed.

Then there are the new businesses, like Jane Elias' successful residential energy audit business. Like all her clients around the counties of the North Bay, Cloverdalian property owners of houses apartments and condos' are taking a serious look at their total energy usage; not only it's spiraling costs but also its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. (After vehicles, residential buildings are the major cause of GHGs.)

Generational Energy, Inc. (www.genenergyinc.com) started in the midst of the second-worst economy since FDR's first inauguration but it was also after the institution of new laws like AB32 and at the start of the fast ramp-up of innovative tax credits, rebates, grants and county-wide programs like the "Sonoma County Energy Independence Program" which provides financing for energy efficient audits, retrofits and improvements payable as assessments on property taxes.

I asked Jane about her business, especially the misconceptions some of us may still have about all this. First, she assured me that saving energy "doesn't mean you have to live in a cold, dark house" because you cut back on lights and heat.

However, since 3/4ths of all California homes were built prior to the first energy code in 1978, about 13.5 million homes (160,000 of them in Sonoma County!) need Jane's help. With all the Victorian and 50s-style ranch homes in Cloverdale, not to mention that, since homes here and around the county built post-1978 don't necessarily perform any better than pre-code ones, thanks to a consultative style and a long list of reassuring certifications, Jane gets a lot of calls.
Jane reassured me that, after a thorough interview, top to bottom look-see and audit, her most common recommendations are no where near as costly or complicated to complete as a client might think. They might include sealing the crawl space, insulating the walls and attic (the fastest ROI) and sealing the ducts at connections and seams.

Of course, as Jane says, each house and budget are different.

So, since what we've just covered is for general information purposes only, before you start anything or hire anyone, always get a qualified professional to give you the best unbiased advice.

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To learn more about Cloverdale - click here: http://www.cloverdale.com/

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Ask EcoGirl: Greening Medicine

GREENING MEDICINE

Dear EcoGirl: Thank you for your recent column, "Eco-Remedies for Our Health Care Crisis." Could you say more about the specific ways that we can use environmental knowledge to help care for people and the planet? Signed, A Motivated Healer

Dear Motivated Healer: Thanks for your great question!


Three Key Eco-Objectives

Amidst all the fiery debates about who should pay for health care costs, a more essential question can get lost: How to trim costs (and heartache) by reducing the rates of disease. A vital but often overlooked way to accomplish that goal is for all of us to embrace and prioritize these three key eco-objectives:

1) Drastically reduce our individual and shared exposure to toxics and pollutants. Compelling evidence demonstrates that millions of people annually are being made seriously ill from these materials. We need to "just say no" to involuntary poisoning.

2) Emphasize an eco-healthy diet, both in our lives and our hospitals (please!). We receive the highest nutrition and lowest toxicity by eating food that's fresh, whole, organic, and low on the food chain. Organic agriculture also proves that we can grow our food without poisoning our air and water.

3) Integrate earth-friendly traditional healing as an equal partner with modern medicine. Traditional modalities treat the body and earth gently, reducing the negative impacts on both. These approaches are often better at identifying and adjusting health imbalances early, when they're easier, cheaper, and less traumatic to treat.

Assess Your Priorities

To identify your next desired actions in each of the above areas, ask yourself:

1) "How much do I know about the problems and solutions in each arena?"

2) "How much have I implemented the related solutions in my personal and professional life?", and

3) "How much am I supporting community-level action in these arenas?"

As you consider your answers, notice the issues to which you feel especially drawn. This will help you choose actions most connected to your passions and priorities. Many resources exist to help you find out more, including my past columns at www.askecogirl.info.

Pharms in the Water

Both patients and health professionals can reduce medicine's eco-impacts by disposing of pharmaceuticals properly and using them only when necessary.

While pharmaceuticals can help treat disease, they can also bring negative side effects to patients, and harm wildlife and water supplies through disposal and excretion. Most sewage and water treatment facilities aren't designed to remove these materials.

Actions you can take:

• Dispose of leftover pharmaceuticals responsibly, not in the trash or drain. Local dropoff information is at www.scwa safemeds.org or call 547-1900. Or bring them to the Household Toxics Facility (www.recyclenow.org, 565-3375).

• Minimize your pharmaceutical intake. If you're prescribed a new drug, consider getting a second opinion. Buy drugs in small quantities to limit leftovers. Don't pressure your doctor for medications they're not recommending.

• Doctors can help by prescribing only the amount needed and learning which drugs have the highest eco-toxicity.

• Explore non-pharmaceutical approaches to nurturing your health and addressing problems. Discuss options (such as herbs, acupuncture, and lifestyle changes) with a health care professional experienced with these options. Traditional remedies are often cheaper, more effective, and lower in risk than more drastic measures later on.

For more information about reducing pharmaceutical waste, see www.epa.gov/ppcp and the Teleosis Institute's Green Pharmacy Program (www.teleosis.org, (510) 558-7285).

Greening Operations

Health professionals can also help protect both the earth and our health by avoiding mercury medical devices and not burning waste. This prevents dispersal of toxic mercury, lead, and dioxin into our shared air, water, and food.

Operations staff can make medical facilities healthier for both patients and workers by avoiding toxic cleaners and pesticides, building and remodeling with non-toxic and eco-materials, and serving fresh nutritious organic food instead of depleted mainstream food.

For more about greening medicine, check out Health Care Without Harm (www.noharm.org).

Ask EcoGirl is written by Patricia Dines, Author of The Organic Guides, and Editor and Lead Writer for The Next STEP newsletter. Email your questions about going green to for possible inclusion in future columns. View past columns at .

You can also become a Facebook fan of "Ask EcoGirl", to show your support and stay in touch! Join at www.facebook.com/AskEcoGirl.

"EcoGirl: Encouraging the eco-hero in everyone."

© Copyright Patricia Dines, 2010. All rights reserved.

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Barrister Bits - Returning to Maiden Name

DEAR READERS: Do you have a legal question is burning in your mind (but are hesitant to ask an attorney…cha-ching; cha-ching)? Please send your questions to Debra A. Newby via email (contact information below). Your name will remain confidential. Although every inquiry may not be published, we will publish as many as possible. Finally, this Q & A Legal Column is intended as a community service to discuss general legal principles and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Q: I noticed that you changed the name of your column—used to be called “Shark Bait” (I’m still adjusting to the new name—not quite sure if I like it). Anyway, I’d like to change my name back to my maiden name—how do I do this?
Signed: Maiden in Pursuit of Identity

Dear Maiden: Hope the new name of the community column, “Barrister Bits”, will grow on you. I was trying to capture a name that is professional (hence the reference to “Barrister”, an English term for lawyer) and still keep a sense of levity to the column (“Bits” of advice, blended with a swirl of humor and philosophy). Hopefully, the new name will be accepted by you and other readers.

Name changes are relatively simple, yet controlled by state statute (California Code of Civil Procedure sec. 1279.5 and Family Code sec. 2082). Bottom line: If you are in state prison, on parole, on probation, a convicted sex offender, or want to change your name to defraud creditors, you are out of luck. The law specifically prohibits a name change. But let’s say you just want to change your name because you were conceived during Woodstock and you are continually embarrassed when they announce over the loudspeaker, “Petal Moonglow, your car is ready”. You are in luck.

Generally, you have to first formulate the reason for the name change, as I assure you, the Judge will ask. Your request for a name change will likely be granted if your reason is to reconnect to your cultural heritage, to avoid embarrassment, to reclaim your maiden name (assuming it is not already ordered/granted in your divorce decree), or to realign your self-identity (think Muhammad Ali, who legally changed his name from Cassius Clay to honor his conversion to Sunni Islam).

Next, you need to file “paperwork” with the court in the county where you reside. Go to www.courtinfo.ca.gov and fill out no less than five forms—NC-100 (Petition for Change of Name) and its accompanying cousins (NC-110, NC-120, NC-130 and CM-010). If you are already overwhelmed, you may consider a Legal Document Preparation Service, which will complete the forms, but typically will not file the paperwork (or front the filing fee, which can be rather hefty, so ask the court clerk about a Fee-Waiver—if you are at a certain income, you may qualify).

When you file the forms at our local courthouse, you should also request a hearing at least six weeks from the filing date…the same time it supposedly takes to develop a new, healthy habit and shed a old, unhealthy habit. Why six weeks? Well, you must also publish in a local newspaper once a week for four consecutive weeks an “Order to Show Cause (NC-120).
Once the paperwork is filed and the Notice is published, you will then appear before the Judge who will ask you why you are changing your name. You best have a legitimate answer. Then, voila, if granted, your new identity is assumed. But wait, you must then complete the circle of identity. You should then take the signed, approved Order in hand, and contact the “purveyors” of our Society—you know, Social Security Administration, DMV, banks, credit agencies, etc. Then, sit back and revel in your new identity, until the dust settles.

As Salman Rushdie so eloquently phrased, “Names, once they are in common use, quickly become mere sounds, their etymology being buried, like so many of the earth’s marvels, beneath the dust of habit”.

Float like a butterfly through the dust.

Debra A. Newby is a resident of Monte Rio and has practiced law for 29 years. She is a member of the California, Texas and Sonoma County Bar Associations and currently maintains an active law office in Santa Rosa. Her law practice emphasizes personal injury law (bicycle/motorcycle/motor vehicle accidents, dog bites, trip and falls, etc.) and expungements (clearing criminal records). Debra can be reached via email (debra@newbylawoffice.com), phone (707-526-7200), fax (526-7202) or pony express (930 Mendocino Avenue, Suite 101; Santa Rosa, 95401).

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350 Garden Challenge Sonoma County

350 GARDEN CHALLENGE COMMUNITY KICK-OFF!
TUES, MARCH 30th 7-9pm

Imagine a garden on every block in Sonoma County! On a single ambitious weekend, May 15th and 16th, we will transform 350 Sonoma County landscapes into bountiful gardens, which save water and emissions, grow food and habitat, and promote greywater and Low Impact Development (LID). Daily Acts, GoLocal, and iGROW Sonoma, with the generous support of Sonoma County Water Agency and countless community partners and the cities of Sonoma County are spearheading this initiative to involve everyone in homegrown food production! By choosing the number 350, we’re participating in the international campaign to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis.

Please join us Tuesday, March 30th, from 7 to 9 pm to:
• hear from sponsors and supporters
• meet others organizing the event
• get details about projects, key organizers, and the May weekend
Sonoma County Water Agency Meeting Room
404 Aviation Blvd., Santa Rosa

Every community will have at least one higher profile model garden, be it an entire block transformed into edible landscapes, a water efficient annual vegetable garden, a perennial food forest, a native drought tolerant prairie or a garden irrigated by greywater. These educational sites will model specific techniques that produce food and save water.

Local businesses are getting involved by offering discounts and donating materials, including a potential donation of wine barrels, potting soil and tomatoes for container gardens in areas with limited access to land. We will emphasize local economic development to generate support for our local businesses.

With hundreds of new gardens being installed this spring, we intend to highlight these efforts and build a community movement, while also challenging individuals to grow even more gardens. Helping create a homegrown local food system directly addresses climate change by shortening the miles food travels to the table, and improves the health of county residents by increasing accessibility of fresh food. We encourage everyone to join by registering their garden and volunteering at www.igrowsonoma.org or calling Beth Dadko at 707-565-6681.

DAILY ACTS’ UPCOMING COTATI WORKSHOPS
TRANSFORM YOUR THIRSTY LAWN

Daily Acts and the City of Cotati have formed a unique partnership to offer Cotati residents these incredible workshops throughout the year. These April workshops are just the beginning. Come tour a greywater system and hear from greywater experts in June! Join the Cotati Garden Wheel and initiate your own lawn to food transformation in your own backyard! Come to these April workshops to build your skills, then contact the City of Cotati to get rebates and resources to help you save water and money, and live more sustainably!

Workshop: Transform Your Thirsty Lawn!
Saturday, April 3rd 10am –– 4pm, Free for Cotati Residents, $10-20 non-residents
Location: Pocket Park, corner of LaSalle and Loretta Avenues, Cotati
Register by calling 707-789-9664 or emailing erin@dailyacts.org
In this incredible hands-on workshop, we’ll kick off the gardening season and our Cotati Water Conservation Education Series by completing the lawn transformation we started in 2009. Patrick Picard, award-winning landscape designer, will revisit the permaculture principles incorporated in this 5,000 square foot neighborhood park. We’ll cover topics such as fruit tree guilds, insectory and habitat-producing plants, and the soil-building and earthwork techniques that Cotati residents and Daily Acts implemented at the park last fall. We’ll learn about, Carex pansa, a drought-tolerant sedge alternative to turf, and plant a model native grass lawn at the site. We’ll talk about Cotati’s Cash for Grass program, and show how the model garden at Pocket Park ties in with this larger city effort to save water and build resilient and rich community landscapes!

Workshop: Transform your Thirsty Lawn: Sheet Mulching 101
Sunday, April 18th 10am––2pm, Free for Cotati residents, $10-20 non-residents
Annually in the US, millions of pounds of pesticides are used and billions of gallons of fuel consumed in lawn care. But there’s no need to rip out your lawn, transport it to the landfill, buy more soil, and waste time, money and emissions! By composting your lawn in place, it mimics a natural forest’s process of soil building and provides a host of benefits – saving water and money, building soil, suppressing weed growth, reducing herbicide and pesticide use and much more. We will discuss easy-to-find local waste and recycled resources to inexpensively turn your yard into fertile ground for growing the water-savvy garden of your dreams. We will cover the benefits of sheet-mulching, local incentive programs and how to do it. Then, we’ll get some hands-on practice at Cotati’s beautiful Demonstration Garden smack dab in the middle of town as we put sheet-mulching theory into weed-subverting action!

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Roblar Road Quarry Hearing April 1

ROBLAR ROAD QUARRY HEARING

The Planning Commission meeting is still planned for April 1, 1:45 p.m. at the Permit & Resource Management Dept. hearing room in Santa Rosa. The commission will again take public comment, but only on the hydrology issues related to the FEIR. Due to the letter sent in December to the County from the California Regional Water Quality Board pointing out serious deficiencies in the FEIR with respect to blasting next to the closed landfill and its potential impacts on water, we think the County and the applicant have been scrambling to come up with some plan that will attempt to mitigate these serious issues. Since the County staff recommended the Planning Commission accept the project last December despite there being more than 160 conditions of approval to be addressed, we think they will approve it on April 1 and pass it along to the Supervisors for a vote this spring.

CARRQ (Citizens Advocating for Roblar Rural Quality) is trying to mobilize more support for a fight at the supervisor level. As a small grass roots organization this is definitely a David and Goliath story. We are working a little bit with the Sonoma County Conservation Action group and we have support from the RussianRiverkeepers, Community Clean Water Institute and the Sebastopol Water Information Group. Supervisorial candidates (Second District) John King and Pamela Torliatt are opposed to the project, with John King speaking against it at the last planning commission meeting.

This quarry should be of concern to all Sonoma County residents, not just those of us who live nearby.

Some key reasons are:

The use of $2.3. million of taxpayer dollars to purchase property from John Barella (owner of North Bay Construction) to preserve 750 acres of dairy land as Open Space. Now he and the County want to take back some of those acres to run 200 to 400 gravel trucks a day over this pristine area.

The County will be liable in perpetuity for any environmental hazards/impacts caused by the quarry if it is built and permitted to operate for 20+ years (and aren’t they already in a big enough mess with the current landfill let alone the closed, unlined landfill on Roblar Road?)
The County has not adequately tested the potential health hazards that could be present from particulate matter blowing westward toward Cotati/Petaluma from the quarry site once blasting and hauling the gavel begins.

The County has shown no economic need for the rock from this site. Blighting this area to provide John Barella’s company with up to 80% of the rock from this quarry (therefore not really making this rock widely available to other companies or citizens at a cheaper rate) would be a travesty.

We need all the help we can get publicizing this quarry beyond the ~300 residents in the Roblar/Valley Ford/Meacham and Pepper Road areas who support CARRQ. We know this project isn’t as sexy or as visible as the Dutra asphalt plant on the Petaluma River. But blasting the daylights out of a beautiful hillside when there is no public benefit to do so surely would be of interest to people who love living in Sonoma County—we need to get the word out and would appreciate as broad of coverage in the West County Gazette as you can give us.

I’ve attached the public notice about the upcoming Planning Commission meeting and a document with some key issue points.

Thank you very much,

Donna Spilman
www.carrq.org
Become a fan of CARRQ on Facebook!


CONTROVERSIAL QUARRY PROPOSAL FOR ROBLAR ROAD
CARRQ FACT SHEET

1. This proposed Roblar quarry is surrounded by a dairy belt off Roblar Road, allegedly preserved as Open Space.

2. The property is directly adjacent to an old unlined and uncapped landfill, closed in 1975, which long time local residents have admitted contain many undesirable chemicals dumped there in the years it was an active landfill, prior to public understanding of the harm in the chemicals.

3. In the 1980’s and 1990’s two separate applications to develop this land as a quarry were strongly objected to by neighbors and rejected by the County.

4. In 2001, the County's Open Space District offered the owner of the land around the rejected quarry $1.6 million of taxpayer money to buy development rights to preserve it as Open Space. The owner died before accepting.

5. Later in 2001, John Barella, the owner of North Bay Construction, bought 750 acres of this land. Mr. Barella asked the County to buy his development rights for the same 750 acres and put it into Open Space.

6. In 2003, the County paid John Barella $2.3 million for the same 750 acres it had previously offered for $1.6 million, to preserve it from development.

7. In 2003, Mr. Barella and North Bay Construction asked for permission to mine gravel from the rejected quarry.

8. In 2008, North Bay decided that it would need to run its gravel trucks through the Open Space to operate its planned gravel mine. North Bay Construction’s lawyer wrote and asked the County’s Open Space District to allow them to run gravel trucks through the same land whose development rights they had sold to the County for $2.3 million in 2003.

9. North Bay Construction said the proposed quarry will have 200 to 400 trips of gravel trucks on the roads every day for the next twenty years. There will be blasting causing excessive dust.
10. Serious concerns of harmful air quality and potential damage to local water quality, both for area wells and the Estero Americano, have not been able to be mitigated.

11. On December 17, 2009, based on the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR), the staff of the County Planning Commission recommended that the County let North Bay Construction develop the quarry, even though the County admits there are more than 160 conditions surrounding the project that cannot be mitigated to prevent hazards to water, air quality, health and safety, and environmental impacts to nearby streams and wetlands.

12. The County’s Planning staff recommended that the County approve mining in the gravel pit and allow North Bay Construction’s trucks to run through the Open Space land.

13. The County’s justification for the project is that rock from the proposed Roblar quarry is needed for local construction projects and that County residents will be able to get cheaper gravel. The Russian Riverkeepers organization has investigated the need for gravel and determined there is “no documented shortage of aggregate (gravel) and the future supply from existing sources is well over 100% of the demand.”

14. Neither the County nor North Bay Construction have tested the dump to know what kind of poisons are in it and how much of them will flow out when the mining digs into its side. For that reason, the California State Regional Water Control Board has told the County the EIR is deficient.

A gravel mine at this location is a terrible idea. It’s bad for the land, bad for the water, bad for these narrow two lane back country roads and bad for residents, drivers and bicyclists who travel along Roblar Road, Valley Ford, Pepper and Meacham Roads.

The County will decide whether or not to permit the quarry operation very soon. Now is the last opportunity to speak up. Write or call your County representatives!


Citizens Advocating for Roblar Rural Quality (CARRQ)
For more information: www.carrq.org
Spread the word! Become a Fan of CARRQ on Facebook and log in with your opinion.

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BUSINESS LEADERS: 40 Under 40 Recognized

Forty under 40 winners for 2010

The North Bay Business Journal released the names of the winners of its fourth-annual Forty under 40 awards today. The winners, selected from more than 75 nominees, were chosen on the basis of their leadership in companies and organizations across the North Bay.

Winners of 2010 awards will be honored at a gala reception on April 27, 2010 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa. Tickets are available for $49 per person or $510 for a table of 10, including company name on the table. To attend, contact Linda Perkins at events@busjrnl.com or 707-521-5264, or register online.

Listed alphabetically, 2010 Forty under 40 winners are:

Clay Angel, Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center

Michelle Ausburn, Moss Adams

Nate Bisbee, TLCD Architecture

Kadin Blonski, Lanahan and Reilley

Jefferson Buller, Bank of America

Linda Chavez, Safety & Environmental Compliance Associates; Chavez Family Cellars

Karen Cividanes, Optio Solutions

Geoff Coleman, BKF/Carlenzoli; Santa Rosa Junior College

Jason Cunningham, West County Health Centers

Patrick Donohue, Scott Technology Group

Dylan Dupre, SPG Solar

Jason Ehn, Redwood Credit Union

Judd Finkelstein, Judd’s Hill

Brian Finnegan, Burr Pilger Mayer

Dominic Foppoli, Foppoli Wines; W Real Estate; Pureland USA/China

Michael Green, Abbey Weitzenberg Warren & Emery

Jeremy Greer, West Coast Solar Energy

Nate Gulbransen, West Coast Solar Energy

Susan Hansen, 4-H Foundation of Sonoma County

Mike Harris, CrossCheck

Steve Jannicelli, Moss Adams

Jessica Jauregui, St. Joseph Health System

Bob Just, St. Joseph Health System

Geoff Kruth, The Farmhouse; Guild of Sommeliers

Ken Kurtzig, iReuse

Carol Larson, Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center

Kevin McGee, Jackson Enterprises; Healdsburg Beer Co.

Dustin McMullen, Lavid Designs

Dustin Mowe, Portocork

James Nevin, Brayton Purcell

Carlos Perez, Bike Monkey

Chris Reiter, Woodruff Sawyer & Company

Ylisa Sanford Seymour, Sanford, Jigalin & Seymour, a financial advisory branch of Ameriprise Financial

Michelle Scanlon, Brown & Brown of Northern California

Nicole Smartt, Star Staffing

William Soper, Beels Soper

Marcos Suarez, Prominent Realtors

Jana Trout Wacholz, Wild Oak Saddle Club

Amber Twitchell, California Human Development

Rich Vitali, Coordinated Project Installations

Randy Waller, W Real Estate, 5th Street Financial


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Article printed from North Bay Business Journal: http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com

URL to article: http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/19580/forty-under-40-winners-for-2010-announced/

URLs in this post:

[1] link: http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/19593/register-to-attend-the-forty-under-40-awards-reception/

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What Gets Heard By Marc Polonsky

The New Cacophony

The Supreme Court handed down a ruling recently that may destroy our democracy.

The tricky thing about free speech is that if everyone is talking at once, only the loudest voice gets heard. If you have a room with, say, eight to ten people, and they're trying to discuss a subject or resolve some issue, and one individual has a megaphone and yells into it nonstop, drowning out everyone else, is this an exercise of free speech?

The John Roberts Supreme Court seems to think so, and they just gave big corporations an overwhelming megaphone, reversing over 100 years of federal (and state-level) campaign finance law that had been upheld repeatedly by previous Courts.

The effects of this ruling will manifest over time, very possibly this year. For example, it may help to defeat long-time Democratic senators Harry Reid and Barbara Boxer, both of whom stand for reelection.

In the meantime, most of us have other things to pay attention to.

The Cry of Pain

I feel hurt by the Supreme Court ruling. I want to cry out, like those idiot Tea Party protesters: "I want my country back!"

Meanwhile, my friend David in Atlanta has responded to a different cry, the cry of pain from Haiti. Just giving money to the Red Cross felt too easy, so he put out a call for donations of real goods--shoes, clothes, canned foods, medical supplies, tools, toiletries, gloves--and he promised to somehow get it all to Haiti. At first he invited the general public to bring donations to his own front porch, but the area in front of his house was quickly inundated. He eventually needed to partner with City Storage in Atlanta, and secure the help of "some of Bill Clinton's people" to arrange for the transport of goods. (For more information, see donationsforhaiti.org)

Another friend said she heard on the radio about orphanages in Haiti and it was "killing her"; she is in the process of arranging to go there, to help care for the children.

The images and reports from Haiti are being heard, and people are responding, some with money, others with direct action. The response has been raw, visceral, and authentic.

(The stories keep coming. Today I heard from yet another friend that a seafood buffet restaurant in Daly City, CA donated all its revenue for a day--including tips--to Haitian relief efforts. This restaurant, which seats over 500, saw waiting lines out the door all day long.)


Other Distress Calls

I recently read the book The Vegetarian Myth by Lierre Keith, which disputes the idea that being a vegetarian can help save the planet. Ms. Keith points out that, apart from anything else (and there is much else), human agricultural practices have been inexorably depleting our topsoil for centuries, and this process has greatly accelerated with the introduction of petrochemical fertilizer mere decades ago, rapidly squeezing out every last ounce of productivity from our remaining fertile ground.

Keith offers no hope. If you read her book and believe her research--which is amply footnoted and quite impressive--then you must agree that the number of humans alive has already exceeded the Earth's carrying capacity multiple times over; "green technology" is a fairy tale that cannot save us; and we're headed for a massive crash very soon.

Currently, perhaps as a tonic to Keith, I'm reading Tom Friedman's Hot, Flat, and Crowded. Friedman recognizes the same crises that Keith does, yet holds out hope of possibility for a sustainable future. (I haven't reached the hopeful section of the book yet, so I don't precisely know what price Friedman envisions we must collectively pay, but I trust he won't prescribe easy answers.)

The cry of our planet--the decimation of species, the slaughtering of forests, the draining of aquifers, the depletion of life-sustaining resources everywhere--is, I think, for most of us, a constant background noise. We hear it, but we're so used to it that we don't respond.


Selective Listening

We are intelligent enough to imagine the pain that we don't see, pain that is not right in front of our eyes, such as the suffering of the inhabitants of Port-au-Prince. We are even sensitive enough (most of us) to feel compassion for nonhuman life; few of us would lack sympathy, for example, for an injured dog keening in pain.

Yet most Americans habitually consume the carcasses of animals that have been tortured, subjected to misery beyond imagining in the commercial concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) where they were raised to become food for humans.

Similarly, very few of us pay attention to the cries of pain from the wilderness, the displaced and immiserated creatures, the clear cutting of trees, the disappearing plant and animal species.

If we were to let all this into the field of our awareness, how exactly might we respond?


No Business As Usual

A group of political activists in the San Francisco Bay Area have, over the years, staged protests entitled "No Business As Usual," to bring dramatic attention to wars and other ongoing atrocities. Occasionally, NBAU protesters have succeeded in, for example, holding up traffic for hours on the Golden Gate Bridge.

The net effect of their efforts has been to infuriate and alienate a lot of people.

"This can't go on!" is their message.

"Get a life!" is the general response.


Listening to Fear

I think many people hear more than they realize. I doubt there has ever been a time in history when more people have been haunted by vague fears, free-floating anxiety, stemming from who-knows-where.

Perhaps unwisely, I deliberately seek out the voices of fear, because I want to know the truth, and the truth of the human condition is very scary right now. (Maybe it always was.)


Listening to Faith

An old pal once put it like this: "I believe absolutely that the spiritual realm has things under control, even if I don't understand what the spiritual realm actually is."
To paraphrase: my friend believes that as awful as things appear, and despite all the terrible things that are happening and have already happened and have yet to happen, existence is not random, there is a benign undercurrent pervading the universe, and in the words of T.S. Eliot, "All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."

What more could anyone possibly wish to believe?


The Long, Long View

I attended a presentation recently, put on by a group called the Pachamama Alliance, which focused on the planet's ecological crises and diminishing resources, and traced the situation we're in to historical patterns of greed, exploitation, and mushrooming population.

However, they also examined what is known about the origins of life, the miracle that we are here at all, the vast cosmological forces that had to conspire to bring human beings into existence. Taking the longest view possible, they put our current dilemma into an epochal perspective, from which it is possible to feel not only great awe but also boundless hope, even optimism.

The Pachamama Alliance does not prescribe a specific program for action. They don't claim to know what any individual should do. Their only directive is "Don't go back to sleep." Apart from that, they offer suggestions about educating ourselves, getting involved in policy discourse and community organizations, and engaging others in "this conversation." (For more information, see awakeningthedreamer.org.)


What Are You Hearing Now?

The facilitators at the Pachamama event suggested that we look inside and listen to our own deepest wisdom to tell us what we, as individuals, need to do now, how we need to "plug in."

Who could dispute such advice?

Then again, who can follow it? Presuming you can discern a "voice" inside yourself, how can you tell if it's the voice of wisdom, as opposed to, say, the voice of vain hope, or self-deception, or your parents' judgment, or deeply imbedded institutional logic?

Still, whatever truth there is to be found inside us cannot be drowned out by advertising or propaganda, regardless of how pervasive the noise is, or how broad the Court's ruling.

Our collective response to the Haitian earthquake seems to indicate that, at the very least, there yet lives an honorable American spirit, capable of responding to the plain truth of others' suffering.

Namaste. Peace. God bless America.


Marc Polonsky
Let's Get to the Heart of Your Message!
Writing and Editing Services
http://www.marcwordsmith.com

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Russian River Watershed Geologic Mapping

As part of the Baseline Watershed Assessment for the RRWAMP (Russian River Watershed Adaptive Management Plan), the California Geological Survey (CGS) prepared a “Geologic Map and Landslide Potential Evaluation of the Russian River Watershed” under contract to the US Army Corp of Engineers. CGS completed the landslide potential evaluation using an approach similar to that developed by CGS for watershed investigations under the North Coast Watershed Assessment Program, the Watershed Mapping Program and other programs.

The methodology used in this investigation included the compilation of a watershed geologic map, the preparation of a Landslide Potential Matrix that evaluated the slope stability characteristic of the geologic unit for several categories of slope steepness, and then creating a Relative Landslide Potential Map that was modeled from these data using ArcGIS. The geologic map and landslide potential map was digitized into ESRI shapefiles using ArcGIS.

The CGS maps and accompanying report are available on the Russian River Interactive Information System web site: http://www.russianriverwatershed.net/

The Geologic and Landslide Potential maps consist of GIS files available at: http://www.russianriverwatershed.net/Content/10109/Physical_Geography.html

...under the “File Name Data Hyperlink” of “Geology”. There are four GIS files with “Source” of “CALGEO.”

The CGS Report is at:
http://www.russianriverwatershed.net/Content/10107/preview.html

...under the “Short Description” heading of “Geology”. The report is the first citation. The direct link is: Haydon, W. D. California Department of Conservation California Geological Survey. 2007. Landslide Potential Evaluation, Russian River Watershed, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, California http://www.russianriverwatershed.net/docManager/1000003375/CGS%20Russian%20River%20LPM%20Report_2.pdf

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding CGS’s investigations in the Russian River Watershed.

Best regards,
Wayne D. Haydon
Engineering Geologist
California Geological Survey
135 Ridgway Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
phone (707) 576-2162
fax (707) 576-2844
email Wayne.Haydon@conservation.ca.gov

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Flood Safety Awareness Week

It’s Flood Safety Awareness Week -- Did you know that in many cases flood dangers can be diminished by removing unsafe dams or poorly located levees? Is there an outdated dam or levee in your community? Catch a sneak peak of our new video about how communities removed dams and levees to solve flooding problems.

American Rivers is working with communities across the country to bring flood management into the 21st century. By protecting wetlands, moving development out of floodplains, and removing outdated dams, we can cost-effectively protect homes and businesses, as well as healthy rivers and clean water.

After you watch the trailer of our new film, please share the film. With your help, we can protect communities from unsafe dams and damaging floods!

Sincerely,

Stephanie Lindloff
Senior Director, River Restoration
http://act.americanrivers.org
To contact American Rivers, email us at outreach@AmericanRivers.org.
American Rivers ©2010

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Rialto Cinema Forced to Move After 10 Years

Sonoma County’s Favorite Art House Forced to Move
After Stellar Decade of Innovative Entertainment

Rialto Cinemas Lakeside – a theatre synonymous with high quality art and independent films since its founding more than 10 years ago – has lost its lease and will be forced to find a new location after August 31.

“We were shocked and dismayed to learn that the property owners, Lynn Duggan and Family, who had repeatedly given us every indication that all was well with our lease, decided to kick us out and lease to a competitor without any attempt to negotiate a new lease with the Rialto,”
said Ky J. Boyd, Proprietor. “We were completely unaware that our location was at risk.”

Owners of the property, Lynn Duggan and the Duggan Family Partnership, have leased the theatre effective September 1, 2010, to Dan Tocchini’s SR Entertainment Group, which runs the Airport, 3rd Street Cinema Six, and Roxy theatres.

Rialto Cinemas Lakeside opened in 2000 with the mission of bringing the best films in the world to Sonoma County, noted Boyd. “We cater to the vital and active audience that wants to see movies outside the Hollywood mainstream.”

Consistently ranked as one of the top 50 art houses in the country, Rialto Cinemas Lakeside has won Best Movie Theatre in Sonoma County for nine consecutive years by local movie-goers and has been profitable since its inception due to the caliber of its films, and such innovations as Movies in the Morning, the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD, and London’s National Theatre Live programming. Rialto Cinemas Lakeside was the first theatre in the country to present the annual Oscar shorts program as a week-long engagement in 2001, which due it its tremendous success, has led the shorts being screened in over 125 theatres nationwide annually.

Both the Metropolitan Opera and The National Theater of London have agreed to allow Rialto Cinemas to continue their popular programming at alternative locations in Sonoma County following their departure from the 551 Summerfield Road location in Santa Rosa this August.

In addition to partnering with numerous non profit organizations in the community to help raise funds (such as Face to Face, Council on Aging, Jewish Film Festival, KRCB, Sonoma County Library Foundation and Santa Rosa High School Art Quest program to name a few), the theatre sponsors a literacy project at Slater Middle School, providing free movies during the year as an incentive to reward students for reading. Boyd estimates that the Rialto has helped local non- profits raise over $100,000 annually.

“We are actively searching for a permanent new location in Sonoma County,” explains Boyd. “In the meantime, we have plans to take the Rialto on the road after August 31. We may have lost our lease, but we haven’t lost our passion for bringing the best films to this community that has been so supportive the past 10 years. We didn’t devote ten years of our lives to throw in the towel just because someone doesn’t want to lease a building to us. Rialto Lakeside Cinemas will find a new permanent home and we are confident that our loyal audience will make the journey with us.”

It will be business as usual at the popular theatre through August 2010.

Ky Boyd
707-539-9771
kjboyd@rialtocinemas.com

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Law Enforcement Related Death Study

Family Members Needed for Study on Law Enforcement Related Deaths

The Investigative Sociology project at Sonoma State University (SSU) and Media Freedom Foundation are conducting a study on the commonalities of law enforcement related deaths in the San Francisco Bay/Northern California Area. We are seeking to interview individuals in families of people who have died in a law enforcement related incident within the past twenty years. Students from the spring 2010 SSU Investigative Sociology class will be conducting confidential one-hour interviews with family members in April. The purpose of the study is to evaluate support programs for families who have experienced such a tragedy, and the lowering of the overall number of law enforcement related deaths.

SSU professors supervising the study include: Peter Phillips, Sociology Department, Tryon Woods and Diana Grant in the Criminal Justice Department.

To arrange a confidential interview or refer a family contact—e-mail, Dr. Peter Phillips: peter.phillips@sonoma.edu

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Sebastopol Saves! Energy Audits for Residents

Sebastopol Saves!

City’s Energy Committee and local realtors group walking for clean energy

The City of Sebastopol Energy Committee, along with members of the Sebastopol Chapter of the North Bay Association of REALTORS® (NorBAR) and other local organizations, want to help Sebastopol residents save money by making their homes water and energy efficient. Sebastopol REALTORS® will be going door-to-door in March to give residents and businesses the information they need to do just that!

Businesses and residents might be paying much more than they need to if their home or place of business is not energy efficient. Inadequate insulation, cracks and leaks, single pane windows, low efficiency showerheads and toilets result in high utility bills and don't help the environment.

Walkers will be providing information to encourage residents to spend a little to save a lot by performing an energy audit on their buildings. The audits will itemize the improvements needed to reduce water and energy bills by making buildings water and energy efficient. This will enable residents to do their part to help the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing our dependence on diminishing fossil fuel supplies.

“We have installed a new green furnace and double pane windows which made our house much warmer, reduced our heating bill and gave us rebates from PGE and a federal tax credit,” said Councilmember Kathleen Shaffer.

The Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP) will offer help with financing the improvements. SCEIP may also finance the energy audit to help determine what is needed. All of the information necessary will be in a reusable bag delivered to every address in Sebastopol. Coupons for FREE low flow showerheads and toilet replacements will also be in the bag.

“This is a wonderful contribution to our community by NorBAR and our other partners. Once again, Sebastopol is at the forefront of smart energy action,” said Councilman Larry Robinson, co-chair of the City’s Energy Committee.

Other partners in this community effort include PG&E and Solar Sonoma County. Sebastopol residents and businesses should expect a knock at their door during the second or third weekend of March. Packets of information and coupons will be left at each home and business.

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Supervisors Vote on Dutra March 16

Public Hearing on Dutra Plant
Supervisors to Vote
HEARING DATE HAS BEEN POSTPONED
PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR NEW DATE!
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
575 Administration Drive, Room 100 A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Does Sonoma County need Dutra’s proposed asphalt plant on the Petaluma River opposite Shollenberger Park? Dutra says it does, that there are no significant health or environmental risks, and that their newly modified proposals for barge mooring and offloading nullifies concerns about navigability and dredging of the channel. According to Dutra, its production of tonnage is necessary for federal funding for dredging, keeping the river navigable.

These contentions are disputed by numerous local citizens, public bodies and environmental groups, contending that Dutra’s statements are not trustworthy and that potential harms to human health, wildlife, the air, roads and river are huge. The Petaluma City Council has urged a “no” vote by the Supervisors, citing these concerns as well as visibility from the freeway at the southern gateway to the city and county.

Shollenberger Park is part of a historic wetland area, painstakingly restored to support wetland species of birds, plants, mammals, fish, and invertebrates, and at the same time to filter impaired water going to San Francisco Bay. At the same time, it provides an area for dredged river sediments. Last month, National Geographic's Sustainable Tourism Website announced that Petaluma Wetlands has been selected as a geo-tourism destination.

The issues are too complex to be explored in this space, but the public is encouraged to attend this most important meeting, which has been postponed numerous times due to shifting information. Extensive information as well as argument from both points of view are available on these websites:
Dutra’s website: www.petalumaasphaltplant.com/
“Save Shollenberger Park” coalition: www.saveshollenberger.com/

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Abuse Laws in Trial - the Aaron Vargas Case

Abuse Laws on Trial
By Vesta Copestakes

Abuse of every kind…physical, mental, emotional is wrong. That’s an easy judgment to make…a simple right vs. wrong. Most people think of abuse in physical terms – he beats her, etc. That’s the kind that gets in the news. But it’s often more subtle than that – hidden behind curtains of shame so we don’t even recognize the symptoms, often until it’s too late.

On April 19,(originally scheduled for March 22nd) Aaron Vargas goes to trial for killing his abuser. He took an antique weapon and shot the man who abused him since he was 11, then waited until he died. Aaron wasn’t the only person Darrell McNeill abused over the years. One victim committed suicide, others have come forward to tell their tale. In a small community, it’s easy to see why people kept their shame to themselves. But not all did, and that’s where the case crosses a line into a matter of law and justice.

Right now three Sonoma County officials are asking us to vote for them using domestic violence as their calling card. It’s a good one because much needs to be done to change the way our system works. In the Aaaron Vargas case numerous people went to the police over the years to ask for help. Each time nothing changed. The abuser was a Boy Scout leader, a Big Brother, a well-respected leader in the community. Maybe if he had been the town drunk law enforcement would have listened…maybe not.

The police will tell you that they get calls every day asking for help when a husband beats his wife, when a child comes to school with cuts and bruises, when the neighbor’s fight gets out of hand. Law enforcement will tell you that they can only take action when there has been an incident that results in injury they can document. Child Protective Services will open a case, interview the parents, etc. but they can only intervene when the child suffers enough to warrant removing him/her from the home. For many, that’s too late.

In California we have laws that will take an abuser away even if the abused doesn’t press charges. It’s a good law. Victims have a lot of fear around pressing charges. Fear of retaliation. Fear of losing the good times when he’s fun. Fear of losing their child’s father – the man who provides when he’s not under the influence. Fear of being judged by others. Fear.

So what can we do to change the laws so that reporting suspected abuse stops the perpetrator before the victim suffers permanent damage – or takes the law into his/her own hands?

Government budget cuts are rampant so there are less and less law enforcement personnel to tackle these “little” cases where no one gets robbed or killed. We prioritize the big crime and let the quiet crimes take care of themselves…because we’re broke…because there’s so much crime…because we don’t really know what to do about it.

With the Aaron Vargas trial we have chance to get law enforcement’s attention because his case is so unusual and his family, friends, neighbors, community…even the wife of his victim are asking us to examine what makes a kind person kill. What went wrong that law enforcement didn’t stop this abuser before he was killed.

In the Aaron Vargas case we have a chance to raise our voices along with his supporters and bring attention to how law enforcement does, and does not, respond to abuse. We also have a chance to ask questions of the people running for office in this coming election. Abuse is a subject that needs more attention – let’s talk about it out in the open where our voices can be heard – and maybe – we can do something about it.

www.saveaaronvargas.com for information on the Aaron Vargas trial. THE TRIAL DATE HAS BEEN CHANGED. The new trial date is April 19th. The trial will take place at the Ukiah Courthouse in courtroom B. Mindy, Aaron's sister, is asking people to show up outside the courthouse and to be present in the courtroom. Letters supporting Aaron can be addressed to the judge prior to sentencing. If you'd like to write a letter, you can address it to Judge Ronald Brown and email it to SaveAaron@yahoo.com or mail it to:

Tom Hudson
P.O. Box 776
Albion, CA 95410

Letters to Aaron can be addressed to:

Aaron Vargas, Inmate# 71742
Mendocino County Jail
951 Low Gap Road
Ukiah, CA 95482



Pay attention to the politicians running for office from now until the election. Previous posts on this story can be found here on GazExtra!

Below is a letter written by Aaron's aunt - the family side of the story many people will recognize as reflecting their own lives and experiences:

On February 8, 2009, I received a phone call telling me my nephew, Aaron Vargas, had been arrested for killing Darrell McNeill. Of course my first response was disbelief followed by shock and more disbelief. Not possible, not Aaron. Aaron is kind, gentle, and caring. Then of course came the “why”? If what I’m being told is true, then why? What could possibly make this kind, gentle, caring person kill?

It is now February 10, 2010 and that is one of the questions I’ve been thinking about for 367 days. As the story has unfolded the answers to some questions have been immensely devastating. I learned that Darrell was a pedophile. Pedophile is the wrong word, let me rephrase, Darrell raped children. Darrell pretended to be a good father to Aaron’s friend, Michael. Darrell pretended to be a nice neighbor. Darrell pretended to be an upstanding citizen, a “Big Brother,” a Boy Scout leader. Darrell pretended to care for children in order to prey upon them. Darrell, who cared so much for his “little brother,” was the cause of that “little brother’s” eventual suicide. Darrell began molesting – no, molesting is the wrong word - Darrell began raping Aaron when Aaron was eleven years old. Eleven. Take a moment to remember yourself at eleven. What were you like? What did you think? How did you feel? At eleven did you have much life experience? Aaron was eleven, Darrell was in his forties. Aaron was not Darrell’s first victim, nor was he his last.

Darrell was good at what he did.

After Aaron’s arrest many boys came forward in support of Aaron, telling of the abuse they’d endured by Darrell. In some instances it was the first time they’d ‘told’. In others it was not, they had told before, some had reported it to the police. These boys, I call them boys but they are now men in their thirties and forties, were brave enough to disclose and nothing was done. No investigation - Darrell wasn’t even approached let alone questioned. Nothing.

The days and weeks following Aaron’s arrest were days and weeks of our family continually asking ourselves, “how did we not know?” How was it possible that we had failed Aaron so miserably? The continual conversations with each of us saying, “I should have known”. Why didn’t we? Why didn’t we see it? Why didn’t we know? Seeing the pain and sadness in Aaron’s parents, in my parents, and knowing the heartbreak and despair we all felt at not doing our job, not protecting our loved one. These haunting questions led me to research child abuse and the things I learned broke my heart yet again. I learned that the abuser is most likely to be a trusted family friend or a family member. I learned one in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before the age of 18. That 70% of child abusers have between one and nine victims. That 20% have 10 to 40 victims. That an average serial abuser can have as many as 400 victims. That over 30% of victims never disclose the experience to ANYONE, and of those who do disclose, 75% do it accidentally. Is there comfort in knowing that our family is not alone in not knowing? No. None at all.

Learning these things and realizing the “stranger danger” that I taught my children would be of little use in most situations led to my panicked phone call to my son, who is away at Graduate school. Asking him point blank, “have you ever been sexually abused?” A sigh of relief when he responded that he hadn’t, the surprise when he asked me the same question. Thinking yes, he is right, according to the statistics it needs to be a conversation that everyone has no matter parent or child. Then remembering that 30% never disclose leads me to ask again and again to ensure that his response was truthful.

Later it hit me, what if he had said yes? What if my daughter had said yes? What if the answer had been yes, and a friend or family member that I loved and trusted was named, what would I do? In that moment I knew. In that moment I realized that I could kill. Me, a person who has never intentionally killed anything, not even bugs. Me, the person who catches and releases any insects I find in my home. Me, the law-abiding, rational person I thought myself to be, realized that I could kill.
I don’t know exactly what happened the night of February 8, 2009. From what I do know Aaron didn’t go to Darrell’s with the intent of killing him. But if he had I now understand. I understand it is possible for a good person to kill.

In these last 367 days some questions have been answered, but many others have arisen. Why didn’t the police investigate? How is it possible that we as a society allow one in four girls and one in six boys to be sexually abused? How could the Deputy DA on Aaron’s case even utter the words describing the abuse testimony as “self-serving” and “irrelevant”? Why are there so many abusers in our society? How does a person become so messed up that they can rape children? Why does our justice system not work? Why is the DA so intent on sending Aaron to prison for 50-years-to-life, knowing Darrell’s family is supporting him? How do we stop all forms of child abuse? How do we protect every child?

During these 367 days Aaron’s sister, Mindy, has been tirelessly working on his behalf. She started a website called SaveAaron.com, which provides information on Aaron’s case and on recognizing and preventing child abuse. She’s contacted numerous media organizations trying to get the word out, and she has organized several fundraisers. She’s told me of the many, many people who’ve contacted her and shared their own stories of abuse and who write to Aaron. Tirelessly she is working to bring her brother home, to raise awareness, to protect every child. She is working hard to end the silence of child abuse, and I wonder, why aren’t we all?
Rhonda Wilson
Fort Bragg

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Sonoma County Nurseries and Gardener's Guide 2010

This is our 7th Annual Guide to Gardening in Sonoma County… including gardening resources located from Sonoma to the Coast and from Cloverdale to Tomales. Articles written by landscaping professionals educate you on why purchasing plant materials from local sources is important, tree care, intensive farming, invasive imported pants and native species, and more.

This self-guided tour is designed to entice gardeners to explore Sonoma County’s locally owned nurseries and to do business with local professionals.

By purchasing plant material that has been propagated locally, we know these plants will thrive in our eco-system. By supporting local nurseries and garden related businesses, we support our home communities.

Please go to www.sonomacountynurseries.com for the complete nursery, landscape materials and landscapers list. If you see something missing, e-mail Vesta at vesta@sonic.net and we'll add it to the web site list. The list includes businesses who responded to our inquiries for information, so if there is a business not on our list, we were simply unable to confirm their information.

Please refer to the Nurseries page for addresses and info, and the map to guide you to their locations. And just for fun: enjoy the ride along the way. We live in our very one paradise!

Thank You & Happy Gardening! - Vesta Copestakes

The Real Value In Buying Locally Grown Plants

By Michael Skurtun, Healdsburg Nursery

In today’s economy it seems that every dollar becomes harder to hang on to or to spend efficiently. I find myself thinking through and weighing some of the most seemingly simple and inexpensive purchases.

What I hope to learn in the process is not to jump at price without thoroughly examining the product. To me, this is where real value is determined. I don’t want to be caught in that cliché of being “penny wise and dollar foolish.”

This especially applies to buying plants because they are living entities. Starting with a healthy plant, regardless of its size, is one of the keys to successful gardening. Although not all varieties are locally available, buying plants that were propagated or grown in Sonoma County from a very young age is a good way to get started.

For the most part, locally grown plants are acclimated to our climate. As a result they generally do well here and are in sync with our seasons.

Buying too soon…
A classic example of purchasing plants by price is going to a “Big Box” center that sells nursery stock. It’s early March and we are experiencing a classic Sonoma County “false spring”. The sun is out, it’s 60+ degrees and we have a touch of cabin fever so we go out to look at plants. It feels like gardening season has arrived and we’re anxious to get started. The “Big Box” Center has a Bougainvillea in full bloom. There are perennials, annuals and even vegetable starts that look ready to plant so we spend a nice chunk of that ever-so-valuable dollar, load our vehicle and head home in anticipation.

Little do we know that these fresh looking, beautiful plants have recently arrived from a completely different climate that is much milder than ours, most likely somewhere in Southern California, and have only been out of the greenhouse for a matter of days.

Sooner or later we get back to our normal weather pattern. It starts to rain again, temperatures dip and guess what happens to those fresh, beautiful looking plants from out of our area?

Unfortunately, they either die or suffer so much that they never fully recover. Yes, the “Big Box” has a policy to replace your dead plants, but they can’t replace your time and labor, and they can’t make up for your disappointment. To make matters worse, ahead lies considerably more work in removing and disposing of these fatalities just to get back to your original starting point.

Foreign invaders…
Another and even greater issue is that of pest control. In the State of California, virtually every County, including Sonoma, (you and I, the tax payers), spend millions of dollars annually in attempting to control the interstate transportation of pests such as the Glassy Winged Sharpshooter and the Light Brown Apple Moth. These pests pose a serious threat to Sonoma County’s number-one industry, agriculture.

Both of these pests, as well as numerous others, have been introduced to Sonoma County from other regions of the State. The most common form of transportation is via nursery stock. All plants that are to be transported outside of their region of origin are inspected upon leaving and upon arrival in Sonoma County. As outstanding a job as our County inspectors do, pests in one form or another continue to slip through the cracks and land here safely.

And it’s not just insects. Diseases also travel on plants from molds and fungus on leaves and in potting soil. Once you import these into your yard, you’ve introduced the potential of putting your existing plants and future new introductions at risk as well.

The local advantage…
Not all plants can be obtained that were locally grown, but the next best thing is to buy from local nurseries that grow at least a potion of their own stock and buy the vast majority of remaining nursery stock from within Sonoma County. Plants that are raised and grown locally are naturally adapted to our weather patterns, and any pests or diseases they may carry are more readily controlled with minimal use of pesticides. This protects our environment and allows you to nurture your plants with minimum or no chemicals. Locally grown plants also don’t have to travel far from growers to nurseries, so they don’t suffer from shock, drastically different light conditions or temperature variations.

Keeping your hard-earned money within our home community also helps in every way, and you may be getting tired of hearing it, but it’s worth repeating. Taking care of our home from the environment to the economy is part of maintaining what we all treasure…Sonoma County.

Finding local resources….
The Nursery Tour & Gardener’s Resource Guide provided in the center of this publication is a valuable tool to help you achieve the multiple goals of protecting our environment, getting plants in season and adapted to our climate, as well as supporting our local economy. From plant resources to landscape materials and landscapers/gardeners, it’s easy for you to garden with Sonoma County resources.

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Michael Skurtun has been a Licensed Landscape Contractor in Sonoma County since 1974. He specialized in custom residential landscapes including design, plant installation as well as all phases of “hardscaping”. After almost 25 years of landscaping, Michael opened Healdsburg Nursery in 1991. He sometimes misses the variety of the many different facets of landscaping but continues to enjoy working with customers, and of course plants. Because Healdsburg Nursery offers a free landscape consultation service with the understanding that the clients will purchase the plants from his nursery, Michael continues to stay active in the landscaping field.

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Spring has come,
My favorite time of year,
Birds all sing, bees all buzz,
Everybody's dancing...'cause
WINTER'S OVER!!

The Politics of Spring
In the neighborhoods of Santa Rosa, there are signs of winter's departure. As I write the acacia is ready to pop, the tulip magnolias are bursting forth and the lilacs even have buds. So many signs and sights to report. The spirit of Spring is knocking at our consciousness.....opening our hearts. There are sounds of sadness, too, in the Santa Rosa environs....sadness about no Spring sports programs, librarians and libraries cut, the medical marajuana dispensary voted down, the SMART rail route still being deliberated (hopefully in our favor!) and the rumblings about a new courthouse site in the downtown area. All this does not calm the human spirit. These are not new sprouts of progress. Where are our priorities? Are our passions so mis-led, that we can challenge the spirit of our people....our children? How can we let economics do this? The budgets rule our quality of life. Our politicians and local boards need to create some novel and effective ways to replenish the accounts, don't you think? I would like to thank Schools Plus for their continued commitment to help our schools.

How Green is Our Valley?
Well, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, we seem to be the Chosen Spot ( a term used by Luther Burbank and just this past week in our local PD editorial, too) This indeed is a happy gift. To be listed as number 5 and one of the healthiest areas to live in the state of California and to be so high on a national list, is welcome news. I am very happy about where I live, too. I did know why and now it is official. So, lets enjoy being happy and healthy. It will give us the energy to do good works and make the right decisions. By the way, I need to thank the Press Democrat for doing a fine job of reporting our local news. It comes to my apartment door every morning and certainly inspires my own reporting.

Events to Celebrate
Our local Santa Rosa electric car company, ZAP, has won a contract to build an experimental battery-powered mail van for the US Postal Service. Hurray!

Try to include the Year of the Tiger in your festivities in the coming weeks.too.

St. Patrick's Day is coming and if you wear your green, a lepracaun will do a dance, the best your've ever seen!! If you have Irish roots and have always wanted to know the Gaelic language of Ireland, there is a teacher named Kathleen here in SR. You can find out more by calling 526-0177.

Try to take those walks along the valley's streams, which have come alive again and don't give up saving and improving our wonderful parks. Right? Try not to forget our Fair Trade Stores and to support our local banks and Credit Unions, too.

We need to celebrate the news about Food Stamps being accepted at our Farmer's Markets. Yes! A very important development for our struggling young families who are really beginning to change eating habits and live healthier lives!

Parking Meters
If you are not an avid walker, like I am, and you need to have a car to take advantage of all the events and sites that I recommend, you will be happy to know that some changes are a foot!! The City of Santa Rosa is holding a series of meetings to seek input on parking policy in SR, including ways that parking policies can be improved. The next two meetings are Weds Feb 24 and Mar 10 at 10:30 AM to noon in the Central Library, 3rd and E Sts, SR (where parking your car can be tricky, esp if you don't have quarters with you!!) Bring your ideas.

The iGROW Campaign
The Sonoma County Department of Human Services, Santa Rosa office is launching a very special project to support local community gardens, backyard gardens, school and church gardens. This GO-LOCAL movement is to encourage the formation of gardens for fresh produce. Ellen Bauer is the Health Program Manager. She and I take noon walks together, so I will always have the inside scoop. This issue has more info and the recent press release, as well. Watch for more developments and activities. Another event to celebrate!

Congratulations Are in Order
Yesterday, I attended the opening art exhibition and reception at the Finley Community Center, the City of Santa Rosa Recreation and Parks Department hosted in conjuction with the National Arts Program. This was the 7th annual program and competition, to provide SR artists with an opportunity to showcase their artistic accomplishments and encourage artistic growth with $4,000 in scholarships and awards. Our mayor, Susan Gorin was there to present the awards and speak about the importance of this event. I want to congratulate Tara Matheny-Schuster, Arts Coordinator and her staff, for a remarkable and beautifully organized event. I so enjoyed meeting all the youth and adult artists and viewing the multiple use of various medias that were represented. If you have never been to the Finley Community Center, please stop and visit this impressive venue that our parks and rec department has created for public enrichment and the cultural arts. Don't miss this exhibit.

A Reminder........don't forget the Santa Rosa Junior College Planatarium. The current and new show,"Mars to Saturn, Cancer to Virgo" is at 7 and 8:30 pm from Feb 26 to March 28 at 1501 Mendocino Ave. I definitely plan to visit with the night sky...soon.

In Memoriam
All those who have lost their lives or have suffered grave injuries at the pedestrian crosswalks in our city and our county.

Howard Zinn (1922-2010) "Join a peace organization!", he said, just two months ago in a speech at Boston U. His activist voice will be very missed. You can join our very own Peace and Justice Center here in SR on Sebastopol Ave., as an action in his memory. The center is celebrating its 25th year. Check out its schedule of monthly events.

As you till the soil and choose your plants, may the PEACE illuminate your hearts.

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Senior Momentum: Lost in the Shuffle

Don’t know about most of you, but a lot of the older folks I’ve been talking with seem to share a concern about the fate of small traditions.

Of course, some traditions are so huge and so universal that they just steamroll along on their own, generation after generation. And even though they may morph into nearly unrecognizable events (historically speaking), they prevail. And, within our own small circle, we then work on keeping our personal spin intact.

But, it’s not Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s, and Thanksgiving – the glaring ones -- that seem to be at risk. (One way or another, institutions and commerce keep those biggies alive!)
I asked folks their thoughts or concerns about the preservation of small personal traditions. And, I got some interesting responses -- it seems that some grandparents and other seniors even feel a strange responsibility for what they think is being lost! As if they didn’t try hard enough to preserve some patterns.

There was a wide range of thought …
Respect for elders came up a lot: “I don’t like it when little children call me by my first name!” said a woman of 89, “Traditionally, we were taught to look up to our elders!” (And one way we showed it was by what we called them.)

“The integrity of the family unit? Ha! Have you tried to get your family to commit to Sunday dinner even once a month, for sure?” said a cynical Granny.

Concern for community and the needy? “Of course there are organizations! But what has happened to neighbors? I know some people who don’t even know who lives next door!” (A couple I met while walking.)

It was things like the family sitting around the table together for at least one meal a day, playing cards & board games on a Saturday night, (no TV in the background); a yearly family picnic; sandlot ball games (not just parent-driven leagues); and regular family reunions, that came up. Wow! I was really surprised at the passion -- and the sense of loss.

“ It’s the little stuff,” one older gent said to me, “it’s all getting lost in the shuffle.”
People talked about families who seem to … “disperse” -- have their backs turned on each other … young people moving through their lives at high speed, believing they have no time for relating, for pausing. “Just look around!” (a woman said) “Everyone is connected to some device! Children retreat to their rooms, stare at computer screens or TV, and have some gadget plugged into their ear while typing messages into their phones -- not even talking directly to anyone … it seems like we are losing our bonds for closeness! How can you possibly get them to participate in small traditions like sitting in the living room with the family, talking!”

Time forces us to make so many “no choice” changes as we age! It just doesn’t seem fair to lose things where we have all the choices!

I call traditions our family and community “glue.” They give us small, dependable things to look forward to; they help us stay hopeful; they are the very fabric of memories, and one of the bridges between generations. They provide the stories we tell (over and over … and over!) and pass down to the next generation, preserving the non-extraordinary family history -- the part that doesn’t get written down.

A part of aging is the challenge of isolation. It makes the loss of special-things-we-depended-on even more important; it puts a stinger into solitude.

I had a sense that for some of the people I spoke with, losing the yearly this, the monthly that, the phone call from a loved one every weekend, the hand-written thank-you note -- well, it’s large.

When one’s life is so darn over-programmed and over-loaded that fitting in those old family habits, and events feels like an annoyance and an intrusion, it may just be time to pause and take a wider (kinder) view.

For some, those small traditions are the main events.

Zoë Tummillo is a Business & Marketing Consultant/Trainer/Commercial Writer, dba COMMUNICATION CONCEPTS, in private practice since 1974. In addition to Commercial work, she writes “Senior Momentum: A Series of Situations”; and essay memoirs of growing up first generation Italian American: “Pieces of My Path”. To contact her -- email: writingservice@earthlink.net Phone: 707-869-1726

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Your Watershed: Pick Up After Your Pet

Doodoo. Present. Berries. No matter the cutesy name given to the deposits left by our furry friends, pet waste is a nuisance and can be a significant environmental and health concern.
An encounter with pet waste is not only a quick way to ruin your favorite pair of shoes, but it can be a hazard to your health, as well. Dog waste contains organisms that can cause giardiasis, salmonellosis, toxocariasis, hookworm, and tapeworm, while organisms in cat waste can cause toxoplasmosis. Direct contact by touching pet waste, and indirect contact from insects, flies, or toys and balls that have contacted pet waste can carry and spread these organisms to other pets and people.

Aside from the ability to spread disease through contact, pet waste washed into our ditches, storm drains, creeks and ultimately the Russian River wreaks havoc on our environment. Pet waste decaying in our creeks and other water bodies causes eutrophication, a process in which algae grows rapidly. Rapid algae growth, also called an algal bloom, can suffocate a water body by blocking sunlight penetration, decreasing the amount of dissolved oxygen present in the water, and, depending on the type of algae, can release toxins into the water. Low light levels, low oxygen content, and increased toxins kill aquatic plants and animals. Eutrophication is especially hazardous during the summer since the added heat of the sun and lack of fresh water flowing in to our waterways can increase the magnitude of these problems.

So, what can you do? Help your community and the environment by using the following practices.

• Pick up your pet’s waste on walks, in the parks, and at your home.
• Bring pet waste bags with you on outings so you are not caught unprepared. Newspaper bags and other leftover product bags come in handy.
• Throw pet waste in the trash. Do not put pet waste in the yard waste or recycling container.
• Do not flush cat waste or kitty litter down the toilet. Parasites in cat waste can survive the wastewater treatment process and end up in our waterways where they can harm sea otters and other aquatic life.
• It is generally acceptable to flush other pet wastes, but you should check with your utility department to make sure.
• Do not flush waste bags, puppy training pads, or newspapers down the toilet.
• Do not hose pet waste into the gutter. Use dry cleanup methods and throw the waste in the trash.

By doing your part to make sure you pick up after your pet, you are not only helping your community, but the environment as well. Thank you for helping to keep our Russian River watershed clean and healthy!

This article was authored by Corbin Johnson of Sonoma County Regional Parks and Eydie Tacata of the City of Rohnert Park on behalf of RRWA. RRWA (www.rrwatershed.org) is an association of local public agencies in the Russian River Watershed that have come together to coordinate regional programs for clean water, fisheries restoration, and watershed enhancement.

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Restaurant Review: Pazzo

My friend Martha Cant who runs her sheep ranch just outside Freestone loves the theater, as do I. So we attend Sunday matinees at A.C.T. in San Francisco and after each production we discuss the play over dinner. Often I select a restaurant that has been recommended as a potential for this article. Last month we went to Pazzo at 132 Keller Street in Petaluma. My initial impression was the unique and carefully planned design of the restaurant. There is a roomy full service bar with chairs and a few small tables separated by a partition coming down from the ceiling that looks like a giant ocean wave. While still having a feeling of open space this allows for a division of the dining and bar area. We commented on the fact that the TV above the bar was not visible from the dining area which to me was a plus as that can be distracting. The tables were arranged in a way that everyone had a degree of privacy while still being part of the ambiance of the dining room. The colors will intrigue you and the art work is very good. There is an opening to the kitchen that allows you to view the chefs at work and even the bathroom was attractive. When I interviewed the owners I found that they had carefully planned this design themselves and the goal was to have a flexible, calming atmosphere that made the customers feel comfortable.

Bill and Beverly Woodbridge opened this restaurant about four years ago. As they put it, they spent twice as much time and money than planned before they completed their goal of having a family restaurant that is comfortable, has great food and friendly service. Bill and Beverly met about 25 years ago when they both worked for the California Café in Mill Valley. They had a passion for good food and wine and decided learn more about different cultures first hand. So in a Volkswagen Van they spent a year touring Europe and then another year backpacking in Asia. They learned about French, Spanish, Italian, Greek and Moroccan cuisine as a result. Returning to Sonoma they had two children and worked in restaurants until they were ready to start their own.

The philosophy of international cuisine is reflected in the menu. I had veal and was able to choose from Veal Piccata, Veal Scaloppine, or their own version, Veal that’ll jump into your Mouth. They have done the same with four versions of chicken dishes so customers can select whatever their taste buds feel like that day (smooth and creamy, spicy, or traditional). The menu is extensive and includes ten pasta or grain options and two or three versions of lamb, steak, pork, duck, fish and chicken dishes. Most entrees are in the $15 to $20 range with a few from $22 to $26. You get a vegetable and a starch selection so the meal is hearty. For those of you who like a lighter dinner there are 16 Starters to choose from which include soups, salads and things like a ‘Greek Platter’ which includes Dolmas, spanikopita, petite lamb chops, hummus, roasted almonds, dried figs, Turkish apricots, Greek olives & Bulgarian feta (for $12) or ‘Prawns Diavolo ‘– prawns wrapped in pancetta, grilled & served on a bed of saffron risotto topped with a spicy red pepper sauce. (12). I had the Caesar Salad ($7) which was crisp and fresh and a traditional Caesar that you could eat with your fingers. In 2006 and again in 2009 they won the ‘People’s Choice’ award at the Heirloom Tomato Festival at Kendal Jackson for the Lobster Bisque. Speaking of lobster, THURSDAYS are LOBSTER NIGHT and you get choice of soup or salad and 1-1/2 lb Maine Lobster with drawn butter, vegetable & a piece of Tiramisu – all for only $26. Bill Woodbridge makes some of the desserts as his specialty. For example there is a Chocolate ganache torte in a pecan crust drizzled with caramel sauce. I was too full to try that but I will go back and check it out.

They currently offer 81 different wines, mostly Sonoma County, and you can get 15 varieties by the glass. They have draft and bottled beer and some very interesting cocktails such as the Obama Pama or the John Daly.

The restaurant and bar opens daily at 4:00 p.m. Dinner is served until 9:00 and the bar remains open after 9:00. They have an ‘Early Menu” from 4:00 to 6:00 for $15. Friday night there is a D.J. and contemporary music (for the younger crowd) and Saturday night the music is more toward the classical and jazz scene ( for we who are not so young in our taste of music). You can check them out at www.webwpazzo.com or call 707 763 3333 for reservations. They are one block off Washington and two blocks off Petaluma Blvd and next to a parking garage.

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Rio Nido News March 2010

Rio Nido Roadhouse
The buzz of business in Rio Nido is the biggest discussion currently. Not only do we have dozens of home businesses but we also have a solid brick and mortar business that employs nearly a dozen workers and attracts customers from all over. Previous generations refer to the business area of Rio Nido as The Center and that is where families would go to shop, bowl, enjoy a refreshment and even see a live show. As a matter of fact sometime in the 90’s we saw a banner stating “Regain Your Libido In Old Rio Nido, Dick Crest Live Pool Side!”. Who Could resist such a party call as this?

Great Bands Since Brad Metzger took over the pool and bar in Rio Nido we have seen regular shows year ‘round with the likes of D’giin, Gamma Rhythm, Fargo Brothers, Thugz, Linda Ferro Band, The Pulsators and so many others. All of this being said Brad has received a cease and desist order of all amplified music as well as an order to remove the twenty plus year old band stand. Hmmm, a business that employs so many and entertains many many many more has to fight for it’s right to survive. The good news is Brad is not fighting this alone but has a support base rallying behind him from San Bruno to Willits. For all of you interested in helping and not sure how to do so can write a letter of support for the restaurant including your thoughts, feelings and stories that involve you and your family’s experiences at the Roadhouse and previous incarnations. These letters can be mailed to the Roadhouse (PO Box 425 Guerneville CA 95446) as well as emailed directly to our district Supervisor Efren Carrillo (ecarrillo@sonoma-county.org) and be sure to cc Brad at bk_metzger@yahoo.com.

Poolside Stories can include but not limited to any of the following wonderful stories. Easter Egg hunts, Hawaiin Lu’au parties, Family Hoe-Down BBQ, Avon Walk For Life Breast Cancer Benefit, Chili Cook-off for Paco’s Glaucoma Surgery, Spaghetti and Chili Cook-Offs for Guerneville & Monte Rio School Programs, Family Marshmallow Roasts, Memorial Service for “PG&E Mike”, Weddings for Dave & Debbie and Mark & Nancy, BMW Motorcycle Club Events, Russian River Photo Club Meetings and the like. These functions are not sustainable without live music two to three times a week.

By The Numbers
Like counting jelly beans in a jar, how many Hawaiin Lu’au parties have been held by the Rio Nido Pool? The winner of this contest gets the satisfaction of being right. If you need an easier challenge please come on down and count the assortment of beers on tap (we think it’s 15). If counting is your thing and we can already tell it is then try to count all the actors and actresses looking to audition for the rumored Pegasus play to be held at the Rio Nido Lodge. They may have found their Blanche but Stanley has been tough to locate… Is this how rumors start?

Upcoming Events
The Rio Nido Home Owner’s Association is hosting a Neighborhood Watch Meeting in early April (watch for the signs). A community clean-up also sponsored by they RNHOA is slated for late Spring. Already a committee is discussing plans for clearing debris from the creeks and river banks as well as painting the Rio Nido tunnel. Rio Nido Community Garden spring seed planting begins April 1st. Spaces are limited so please contact garden@russianriverparks.org to check plot availability. Pee Wee Golf adopt-a-hole program is looking for handy and creative people to come and roll up their sleeves and help freshen up the golf course.

New Resident to Rio Nido should be arriving before this article goes to print. We want to welcome Joe and Rebecca Ford’s bouncing baby boy. It won’t be long and he will be swinging at the park and watching the dogs frolicking across the creek. Congratulations from all of us!

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Guerneville Column: March 2010

Well, we’ve gone from muddy and damp to muddy and sunny back to muddy, damp and freezing. I love being subject to Mother Nature’s consistently inconsistent weather patterns during this time of the year. I breath a cautious breathe of relief for the fullness of our reservoirs and the H2O saturation of the surrounding land. But now, I’m burning…itching!; itching to dig my hands elbow-deep into the dark brown abyss of soil, bugs and roots and create my annual failed masterpiece (well, at least this time I’m starting in March rather than May).

This year I’m feeling rather ambitious; determined to grow and harvest my bounty from the tender, microscopic seeds of life recently purchased on a beautiful sunny day. On this day, I decided to trade in the droning scenes of Hwy 101 and River Rd for the beautiful, mystic hills of Sweetwater Springs Rd. With my son in tow, a lemon tree bouncing in my back seat and a small fortune’s worth of seeds and flowers, we headed off for the twisting road of mystery. Then I was struck with an amazing view; oaks and bays twisted together, rudely interrupted by the thick trunk of a redwood, roaming up and down the majestic swells of land, lightly decorated with sporatic clearings of green, green grass. How could I NOT stop? It was adventure time! After about an hour of exploring, pretending to be little fairy people, and pondering the inner mysteries of a twenty-tree root system completely uncovered by the world’s tiniest stream, we found a moss-padded rock overlooking the “jungle” and my six-year-old son turns to me and says, “Mommy, this is the best day of my life.” I knew bliss at that moment; I knew that this place wasn’t just a spec on the planet at 38 degrees N, 122 degrees W; this place is the most sacred of all, touched long ago and now forgotten, only to be revered by passersby. Shangri La is in our backyard, and boy, do I thank all above, beyond, around and within that I get to live here.

Oo! Exciting news! I got my first correction! Here it goes: the “Mothers in Black” are not infact “mothers” but are actually “Women” in black. The “Women in Black” turn out to be a worldwide organization! Starting in Isreal in 1988 and now spreading to as many as 28 countries, “women, who are sometimes joined by men, provide strong witness to peace and grieve for all victims of violence and fellow sisters worldwide who are routinely victims of violence,” as told by the Guerneville Chapter’s leader “Kay.” I was astounded to learn that this little corner of the Universe participates in such a profound and deeply spiritual practice (well, ok, let’s keep religion out of this one) especially since most of us local-yokels thought of it as a neverending protest to the Bush administration. Thank you Kay, woman in black, for educating myself and allowing me to educate others in your efforts to bring some much-needed peace to our planet.
And speaking of Earth, how about celebrating it? There’s this strange occurrence that happens every three months as the Earth travels through space; it spins and wobbles its way through its orbit around the Sun. We call these wobbles “seasons;” or equinox and solstice. Coming up soon is the Spring Equinox and there’s a celebration at hand for y’all to go check out. Head down to the Guerneville Regional Library for an Equinox Celebration, March 27th at 2:00pm-3:00pm. They’re gonna have story-telling, songs, performances and headband making. Bring the family and sing in the Spring!

It’s great to have community come together, but seems that there is still some lingering confusion over our community services. West County Community Services vacated office nearly a year ago, leaving many locals unsure of what is still available. They are, in fact, still providing all the same services as before, the only difference is the location and their hours. They’re here Mondays 1:30-4:00pm, Wednesdays Noon-3:00pm, and Thursdays 9:00am-5:00pm and are in the Main Street-side of the B-of-A building. The hope is to one day extend the hours back to the full-time status as once before, but with funding cuts being as they are, it is expected to take some time. So if you are in need of food, housing assistance, or family counseling, drop on by during the above-said hours, ‘cause they’re there to help.

The month of March is going to be fantastic! My #1 most favorite person was born this month and for that I have much celebrating at hand. So, my Guernevillians, get out there, get dirty, and celebrate ‘cause Spring is on her way.

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Petaluma News March 2010

The Word Mangler
Introductory ramblings of a meandering mind in a town with an eclectic mix of citizens, iconic eggs, Victorian hearts, riverfront upstarts and an inviting sum of her parts! I shall introduce myself as a recent transplant, late of Occidental (how I love thee), owner of Heritage Salvage, a bit of a rabble-rouser (possible understatement), and a big fan of Petaluma.

Intentions Indeed!
While I go about detailing some events, retailing others, emailing many and I’m sure, derailing some with rumored asides from the town with the inland tides, I would like to invite my fellow Petalumanaries to send me various reports of “happenings of wonder, items of blunder, claps of thunder and plans gone asunder.”

I will try to get my research together for guidelines of community column, ie reporting on events in p’luma that you might not otherwise hear about . . . blah blah blah!!!

Cool Runnings
For now, I will report on some cool events I have attended in February. I went to Lagunitas Brewery for a meeting of the Petaluma Music Festival folks, (formerly known as the Wine Jazz and Blues Fest) and you can volunteer…get involved.
I attended a cool gallery presentation at the Mail Depot on 40 fourth St. Maureen is great…the theme… our salvaged hearts, well represented by Petaluminary art!

Mystic theatre, and many Petaluma Restaurants staged a great show and benefit for Doctors without Borders entitled “ to Haiti with love”, fab event, great music, too many restaurants to list donated 10% of their evening.

City council passes Target store application, “chagrin”, but I carry on with the Locavore Torch! The Seed Bank and Copperfields Books presented an Evening with Michael Pollan, a resounding turnout, not quite packed to the rafters, tough in that building what with the ceiling and all.

Coming in March . . .

The Farmer-Veteran Coalition is holding a Food and Farming Veteran Career Fair on March 5th from 9-4 in Santa Rosa http://bit.ly/bno4Et 4 days ago

13 March:
Bounty Farm Work Day - Saturday March 13 (1:00 AM)
http://www.petalumabounty.org/

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Occidental News March 2010

While there’s lots of exciting news this month, I’m sorry to open on a sad note, and with a plea for assistance. Occidentalite Morgan Caulfield died unexpectedly from cancer on February 22, just twelve hours after going to the emergency room with stomach pain. I’ve heard she was a unique artist and photographer, whose great compassion for animals means she left behind a beautiful red heeler named Jasper, and his cat Simon, who need a permanent home. I can forward photos upon request.

Occidental Center for the Arts
The beloved Grande Dame of Occidental, Doris Murphy, will turn 100 years old on March 11. Doris, one of the Occidental Center for the Arts’ original founders and driving force, first envisioned an arts center about 15 years ago when a member of the Occidental Choir mentioned the lack of an appropriate place to perform. She formed a committee and began to search for a venue. Land owned by the county proved to be fraught with difficulties; eventually, developer Orrin Thiessen stepped forward and donated the old Harmony School multi-purpose room/cafeteria, and the project really took flight.

The annual Occidental Fool’s Parade, long the project of local musician Kate Price, is now being lead-sponsored by the OCA. The Parade will be Saturday, April 3, starting at 1 p.m. at the Community Center, ambling through downtown Occidental, and finishing back at the Center. Make sure to bring your ‘inner fool’, your clown face, and your motley attire!

After the parade, the OCA will host an "Acoustical Mystery Tour" open house to celebrate progress on Phase II of the renovation efforts. Local musicians, singers, and writers can try out the acoustics of the refurbished Center. If you are interested in participating, contact fanning@sonic.net, who will fit in as many different kinds of presentations as possible. Currently, there are kids’ tables, stand up acts, clowns, and readings, to name but a few.

Renovation has been spearheaded by Patrick Fanning and Steve Fowler, the current President, who attended an informational meeting held at the Harmony site in November 2004. "Next thing I knew my name was on the permits and I was President of the Board!" quips Steve.

"Our corps of volunteers is bedrock solid," he continues. He and Patrick have inspired sculptors to swing hammers, painters to hang dry wall, poets to write press releases, and a committed group to take on the duties of serving on a board of directors and run hard working committees. Since last May, the Center has been taken apart and put back together by this very dedicated group.

The entire Occidental community is integral to the effort, with local volunteers supplying what Steve terms ‘human capital,’ while the restaurants in town have been providing food, and others are transporting the food and cheerleading! Still others hold fund-raisers to pay for supplies and permits.

"We really are creating a first class center that will produce 100 events a year in a small Sonoma County village. And we are doing it on time and under budget." Steve has a deeply-rooted connection to this project: three of his children attended school on site, and he belonged to the Occidental Choir for 25 years.

Phase III (completion), includes a new 493 square foot flexible stage with wheelchair lift, 700 square feet of new backstage area, new raked seating for better sight lines, solar panels on the roof, and remodeling the art gallery. On the west side of the auditorium there will be a new kitchen, restrooms, storage, and amphitheater stage.

Occidental Community Center
The Occidental Community Center will host Friday Community Markets in the auditorium and activity room, March 19 through May 28, from 4-7 p.m.; outdoor space will be available for enclosed concessionaires. Local farms, food vendors, and artisans can purchase space for $15/week. The Market will only be open to retailers of locally produced goods. Call 707.874.1938 or occidental.occ@gmail.com.

Reminder: The OCC is a local community resource at the corner of Bohemian Highway and Graton Road. It has a licensed commercial kitchen and disabled accessible bathrooms. It is available for community events.

Please keep sending me input on local happenings so I have news to write about. I received a couple complaints recently that I’m not covering enough about Occidental, but I can’t do that effectively without your input. We’re a monthly paper with deadlines the last week of the month for the next month’s issue—so please send accordingly. Thanks. Stay tuned soon for the results of my quest to buy local, humanely-raised poultry. Thanks!

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Gail's Garden march 2010: Spring is in the Air

Fragrance is all around: I love the smells of the spring garden! The subtle sweet fragrance of golden daffodils, and the rich honeyed smell of our beautiful blue california lilac (Ceanothus) are all around now for our enjoyment. Whenever I see spring flowers I am irresistibly drawn to plunge my nose in to savor their delightful perfume. I even enjoy the bright yellow acacia blooms (luckily I’m not allergic).

My favorite fragrant blooming shrub is wonderful Winter Daphne: it blooms so early in the spring and its sweet perfume hangs in the air around my front porch: a lovely start to every day in the garden. If you want to add a Daphne to your garden for its fragrance and glossy evergreen leaves, select a spot in partial shade with adequate water: this beauty is not drought tolerant! I particularly like the variety Daphne odora ’Aureomarginata’ with golden edges on its glossy leaves, or you could try Daphne x burkwoodii ‘Carole Mackie’ which has white edging. All daphne can be a little difficult, and they definitely don’t like their roots disturbed, but with a little luck they will give you years of enjoyment.

Another spring blooming favorite is the old-fashioned lilac: beautiful, tough and incredibly fragrant! Growing up in Illinois, we had a 15 foot tall hedge of lilacs that perfumed the entire yard every spring. Lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) in California are a bit trickier because many of the older varieties need a good winter chill to bloom: some people report good success by piling ice on the roots a couple times during the winter. You can also try the newer Descanso lilac hybrids: bred in Southern California at Descanso Gardens, they are designed to bloom without winter chill. ‘Lavender Lady’ is a good purple selection; pink and white varieties are also available.

The ultimate spring-flowering tree for both perfume and visual appeal has to be Magnolia soulangiana, now coming into it’s magnificent bloom season: don’t miss the two old beauties in front of the Sebastopol Post Office! This incredible tree, also known as tulip tree, or saucer magnolia, is well worth the investment, as it will provide you with many years of beauty and grace in all seasons: it makes a wonderful centerpiece for any garden with spring flowers and fragrance, summer dappled shade, subtle autumn color, and attractive shape and bark in the winter. Do your homework before you buy: there are so many varieties available with different sizes, colors, and fragrance.

Of course, there are many other more subtle scents in the spring garden: I love brushing against the rosemary along the path; and while cutting back frost damage, I was reminded again of the peppery-scented leaves of bacopa (Sutera cordata), one of my favorite ground covers. The cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii) is coming into its bloom season and the fresh new silvery leaves are wonderfully fragrant.

If you are considering adding fragrance to your garden, don’t forget to consider Camellias (a few of which are fragrant), Sarcococca ruscifolia with its tiny white flowers, and Pittosporum tobira: all valuable evergreen shrubs with year-round appeal.

If you need help and advise with your garden, just give me a call at 829-2455. Consultations in your garden start at only $50. Do you have a gardening question you would like to ask? Or a photo to share?
Send your questions and photos (jpg) to bluehilldesign9@aol.com.

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Fire News March 2010

Reporting Emergencies
If you need to call 9-1-1 to report an emergency here are some tips to follow:

• Stay calm. It's important to take a deep breath and not get excited. Any situation that requires 9-1-1 is, by definition, an emergency. The dispatcher or call-taker knows that and will try to move things along quickly, but under control.

• Know the location of the emergency and the number you are calling from. This may be asked and answered a couple of times but don't get frustrated. Even though many 9-1-1 centers have enhanced capabilities -- meaning they are able to see your location on the computer screen -- they are still required to confirm the information. If for some reason you are disconnected, at least emergency crews will know where to go and how to call you back.

• As the call progresses, you may hear clicking - do not hang up!

• Wait for the call-taker to ask questions, then answer clearly and calmly. If you are in danger of assault, the dispatcher or call-taker will still need you to answer quietly, mostly "yes" and "no" questions.

• If you reach a recording, listen to what it says. If the recording says your call cannot be completed, hang up and try again. If the recording says all call-takers are busy, wait! When the next call-taker or dispatcher is available to take the call, it will transfer you. This does not happen often, in Sonoma County.

• Let the call-taker guide the conversation. He or she is typing the information into a computer and may seem to be taking forever. There's a good chance, however, that emergency services are already being sent while you are still on the line.

• In some cases, the call-taker will give you directions. Listen carefully, follow each step exactly, and ask for clarification if you don't understand. Dispatchers are trained to guide you through most medical and fire emergencies.

• Keep your eyes open. You may be asked to describe victims, suspects, vehicles, or other parts of the scene.

• Do not hang up the call until directed to do so by the call-taker.

• Remember if you use a cell phone in Sonoma County to dial 9-1-1, you will reach the California Highway Patrol Dispatch Center in Vallejo. Unfortunately this is likely to cause a significant delay any emergency response. To contact the Sonoma County Emergency Dispatch Center for police, fire and ambulance services in Sonoma County directly from your cell phone, please dial (707) 565- 2121.

Forestville Fire District

Budget
Like most other public agencies in the state of California the current economic crisis is impacting the Forestville Fire District with a decrease in property tax revenue. While the current situation is not dire the Board of Directors has formed a committee to look into methods of cutting costs and improving efficiencies. More information will be available in the upcoming months as the Board and staff develop plans to address the issue.
New Volunteers
This Distinct is in the process of bringing on new volunteer firefighters. Nine candidates will be put through the next phase of the testing process which is the background investigation.

Russian River
In Russian River we are happy to report that Redevelopment will fund our 241,000 ambulance project. We are also 4 classes in on our first CERT training, and we are looking forward to planning another one in the near future. We hope to be able to offer first aid and CPR by the summer. We are happy to report that we also have one new volunteer who has almost completed basic training as well as two new firefighter interns will start soon.…Three new part-time firefighters will also start soon.

Battalion Chief Jim Greule will retire in March. Jim’s career spans 40 years of service to the Guerneville and Russian River area. Jim has held almost every position available as a volunteer and as paid member of the District. We are happy for Jim and wish him the very best in retirement. Jim will not be an easy person to replace. Jim takes with him a wealth of knowledge and a command presence that has always had a calming effect on those of us around him even in the most critical situations. Best wishes Jim from a grateful Fire District.

Bodega Bay
Our new rescue squad “8835” is in service. This new 4 x 4 rescue unit contains all of our technical rescue equipment. From cliff rescues to heavy lifting and small stadium lighting this unit will serve our area well.
Don’t forget the Fisherman’s Festival will be on April 17th and 18th…

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Efren Carrillo "Our County" March 2010

The County welcomed good news this month, in the midst of extremely grim projections for our coming budget year. We received word of grant funds from the California Energy Commission, and the County’s application was the 4th highest ranked in the state and one of only five applications funded statewide. The monies will be used to augment the efforts of the innovative Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP). Sonoma County also received two additional awards through strategic partnerships.

This $2,537,000 award will fund home energy audits, enhanced water conservation efforts, and augment the leveraging of additional funds. The SEP Award will create a more sustainable program overall by increasing effectiveness. SCEIP is a first of its kind energy and water conservation program launched in March 2009 by the Board of Supervisors and has to date put over $20 million dollars into the local economy in home and business energy and water conversation projects. More information on SCEIP can be found at http://www.sonomacountyenergy.org/.

The North Coast Energy Independence Program has received funding to duplicate the successful Sonoma County Energy Independence program model. This $4.3 million dollar application was the result of a joint effort of Sonoma, Mendocino, Del Norte, Trinity, Siskiyou, and Humboldt counties.

Finally, the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority will receive approximately $1,195,000 as a partner in a regional residential State Energy Program proposal led by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). The funds will support energy efficiency home retrofits for the new Countywide Retrofit/Renewables Program which debuts in April.

That good news was welcome, as we continue to see the effects of the faltering economy on our budget, and the State continues to threaten funds intended for local government. Last fiscal year, we addressed a shortfall of $26 million dollars. Projections for this year are $35-50+ million in funding gaps. Seventy percent of our 1.3 billion dollar annual budget is mandated by statute for particular programs and restricted.

Last year, over 37,000 property tax bills were reduced. Sales tax revenues and tourism are both down…with both local taxes and those collected by the state to support infrastructure and safety net programs drastically reduced. While we are a large employer with approximately 3900 employees, this is a nearly 10 percent reduction from the over 4200 employed two years ago.

Resulting reductions in services will impact our community. The Board has made efforts to improve efficiencies by contracting some services out, and employees continue to strive to increase productivity and retain vital services. We must seek innovative methods to do more with less.

While we adapt and downsize, we also endeavor to find new ways to spur private employment growth which aligns with our commitment to the environment.

The energy programs listed in the first part of this article have proved a boon to some job sectors. Further development of private sector green jobs, spurred by SCEIP and other renewable energy programs is a priority of our economic strategy. Our Human Service Department is leveraging grant funds to train local workers for renewable energy production and system installation. These efforts put people to work and offer opportunity which is much needed during this difficult time.

Our office has been fielding many calls from people who are concerned about the implementation of SmartMeters by PG&E. Concerns ranging to accuracy of the meters to long range health effects of electro magnetic frequency (EMF) have been expressed.

PG&E has established a hotline for individuals concerned about this issue. Please call 1-866-743-0263 if you have questions, or to be added to a “last to install” list. Although the County has no ability to prevent installation, it is important for the public to have good information on the issue. A public forum is being planned to take place in late April, where we will bring in experts who will discuss the issue. We will work with all interested parties to ensure that concerns are heard and responded to in a responsible, informed process.

Ending on a bright note, the Occidental Center for the Arts will celebrate its Grand Opening on March 13th. This community collaboration, with volunteers spending weekends doing the necessary painting and carpentry to make this project happen for several years…but really pouring it on for the past year, will follow by a few short days the 100th birthday celebration for Occidental’s grande dame, Doris Murphy. Doris’s dream of the OCA over a decade ago will come to fruition on her centennial birthday week…Happy Birthday, Doris!

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North Coast News March 2010

I hope everyone had a great valentines day, and have been enjoying the spring- like weather this month. Its been a nice break from the much needed rain. With Spring just around the corner its a great time to enjoy our beautiful coast. On to the news this month.

Timber Cove
Kurt Picillo, General Manger of The Timber Cove Inn and Alexander's Restaurant announces its first winemaker dinner of 2010, the Williams Selyem Vintners Dinner on Friday, Feb. 26th, 2010 begins with a meet and greet at 6:30 PM. Join Winemaker Bob Cabral as he showcases his wines paired with a six-course meal.
Local residents save an extra 20% off dinner. For reservations call 707-847-3231

Fort Ross
Learn about Fort Ross and join the planning efforts underway to commemorate the bicentennial of Fort Ross, the early 19th century Russian American Company outpost on the Sonoma coast. For more information call 707- 847-4777

A Long-Term Substitute Teacher is needed at Fort Ross School from April 12 though June 8. This is for Grades 3-5 (single classroom), Multiple Subject/CBEST. Deadline for application is March 19, 2010. For an application call Fort Ross School 847-3390.

Jenner
Ruby Herrick, Programs Manager for the Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods announces the following volunteer and Seminar opportunities. All programs will be held at Sonoma Coast State Park Visitor Center in Jenner.

DOCENT TRAINING: WILLOW CREEK WATERSHED EDUCATION PROGRAM
March 6, 2010, 9 AM to 11:30 AM. Docents participate in classroom visits and lead students on field studies in the Willow Creek Watershed to learn about healthy watersheds and the life cycle of salmon.
SEMINAR: NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF WILLOW CREEK
March 6, 2010, 12 PM to 4 PM. Learn about the natural and cultural history of this important watershed and the steps being taken to restore it as a viable salmon habitat. Instructors are Brendan O'Neil, State Parks Environmental Scientist and Marianne Hurley, State Historian II Architectural History
SEMINAR: ARCHEOLOGY & HISTORY OF SONOMA COAST
March 27, 2010, 9 AM to 2 AM Learn about the changes that have taken place from an archeological and historic perspective along the Sonoma Coast Instructor is Breck Parkman, State Park Archeologist
TRAINING: SONOMA COAST STATE PARK VISITOR CENTER PROGRAM
March 27, 2010, 2:30 PM to 4 PM Interact with and inspire visitors from all over the world by volunteering at the Visitor Center on the estuary in Jenner.

A $15.00 donation ( $5.00 for members and volunteers) per seminar is requested but no one is turned away for lacks of funds. Take the time to learn and be a part of our beautiful coast.

Monte Rio
The Students at Monte Rio school are about halfway through their annual reading marathon " Books and Beyond" This is a great program that gets kids K-8 excited about reading. This years theme is Egyptian- Search for the Golden Princess. To tie in with that, the middle school students get to visit the King Tut exhibit, as well as the Botanical Gardens, in San Francisco next week.

Baseball season is about to start so watch for those pop files going over the fence as you travel on RT 116

Duncans Mills
Weavers and Dreamers is moving, well changing locations. They are moving back to their old location in the village behind Worldy Goods. The shop looks great with all of their great items along with a few new ones . While you'er there check out the new "10-20-30" exhibit at Quercia Gallery. There will be a reception with the artists on Feb 28th from 3 to 6 Pm. Be sure to ask about their New Event each month called "Soup and Song". Christopher Queen Galleries will host a Champagne Reception, with music by Jerry Thompson on March 7th 1 to 3 PM for their new show The Frugal Collector. Look for Mr Trombly's Teas official Grand Opening to happen soon.

Enjoy the coming Spring, if you have any information you would like to share please contact me at 707-865-9979 or mrtromblystea@yahoo.com

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Cloverdale Comments: Spring Gardening Resources

With special thanks to Melanie Bagby, Cloverdale Planning Commissioner, avid gardener, healthful eating advocate, and darned good cook, for her research and contributions to this column.

Ideal climate. Abundant flower and produce gardens. Lush fruit trees. Quality nurseries and expert landscapers. Successful, welcoming garden clubs. Volunteers who donate, glean and distribute excess produce. All nurtured by agricultural roots that run as deep as our tradition of home-grown flowers, plants and food harvests shared with family, friends and neighbors.
No wonder that this spring, as in the 150 or so past, Cloverdalians of all ages and skill levels will get growing once again!

We are especially delighted this year to have easy access to a fabulous new place to network and share food gardening information and resources. Called "iGROW" it is the latest initiative of Health Action, a county-wide collaborative, on which I serve, established in 2007 by the Board of Supervisors and supported by the Sonoma County Health Services. iGROW's goals include promoting healthy and active lifestyles by supporting the efforts of all of us who want to grow, access, share, prepare and eat healthy food.

A one-stop website, www.iGROWsonoma.org, is a clearing house for all kinds of information of interest and use to beginners and pros alike. You'll find workshops, classes and advice on everything from how to get started to how to cook what you grow plus garden maps, lists of clubs and events, water saving tips, ideas on creating "edible landscaping" and a whole lot more.
But this idea of growing healthy, affordable food isn't just for adults. Kids love seeing something they helped plant and tend start to grow and ripen. Even finicky eaters will love to help harvest, cook and actually eat what they grow. There's something about saying "my" fruits and vegetables that greatly increases their kid appeal.

You don't need a garden, much money or even time to give kids, or yourself, a joyous experience. A tomato plant on the balcony or a pot of basil on your window sill are inexpensive enough to buy at your local nursery and need little work or room; yet they yield rewards in good eating along with the many benefits derived from nature's beauty and the personal satisfaction of cultivating it.

Better yet, join a community garden. We have three in Cloverdale and we want more.
Come to think of it, we enjoy a number of free or low cost gardening organizations, activities and resources such as:

• The "Green Thumb Garden Club" welcomes new members, including novice gardeners, on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. They help with community service projects and often have expert guest speakers. Membership is $15/year. (Call Debbie, 894-7419.)
• Our community gardens at Cloverdale High School, the Senior Center, and the King/Jones Garden all have waiting lists so volunteers are always welcome to help identify, donate and create new ones. (Call Maggie at the Senior Center, 894-4826.)

• "Harvesting Cloverdale's Generosity" started in 2009. Thanks to volunteers as varied as grandmothers and 4-H Club kids as well as the many generous produce donors from around our city, 1 1/2 tons--yes, 3,425 pounds!--of delicious, vitamin-packed fruits and vegetables that might otherwise have gone to waste were gleaned last harvest season for distribution to our Food Pantry and residents in need. Founders, Joan and Lavonne, would love to have more gleaners and produce donors. (Call Joan at 894-0971 or Lavonne at 894-7540.)

• The Alexander Valley Regional Medical Center offers information on how to incorporate gardening and fresh produce as part of a healthy, active lifestyle. (Sign up for their newsletter at www.avrm.org)

So, thanks to all this help, encouragement and inspiration Cloverdale is both ready and set. Now--let's get growing!

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Cazadero Communications: March 2010

The sun is streaming through the large redwoods outside of my cozy cyber-hut after a day and night of over 4” of rain in a huge series of cloudbursts! This really feels like the ‘normal’ rainfall that Cazadero is so famous for! Although dear Gary Rodgers is no longer with us, his Cazadero website at http://oredazac.tripod.com is still available and really informative. Click on the weather and you will have a wonderful page of actual statistics and other weather info.

I stopped in at Raymond’s Bakery the other day for some of their tasty cookies and fruit bars and had a nice chat with Mark. Their charming Bed and Breakfast is open and seems like a perfect place to send visitors when your place is too small! Their baked goods are now also available at Food For Humans in Guerneville. Cazadero Supply continues to offer up their 1st Saturday 15% Discount day and what a great assortment they have! The Cazadero General Store is also a very inviting place for basic groceries and specialty items.

The Cazadero Community Club has just resumed monthly meetings-the next one will be Tuesday, April 6, 7 p.m. at the Caz Firehall. Please join your neighbors in planning events that benefit the entire community. I was once driving around near Mt. Hood in Oregon and saw a sign that said ‘Cazadero’! I was of course amazed and pulled into the small cafe‘ to ask how they got that name. The folks there said that railroad workers had named it-close by to Sandy, Oregon.

Last month I mentioned the very interesting book ‘Old Salt Point Township’ and want you to know that you may obtain it locally at River Reader in Guerneville, as well as the Stewart’s Point Store. The Montgomery Elementary School continues to offer their students terrific array of studies and field trips. K-2nd graders are beginning their science unit on the solar system and will go to the Planetarium at the SRJC.I remember experiencing the shows at the Hayden Planetarium in New York City and being happily amazed by them! The 3rd-5th graders will end their study of the westward movement with a Gold Rush Day on March 6th.The 6th-8th graders had a successful jog-a-thon and raised funds to go to Westminster Woods later this spring.
The Russian River Jewish Community will hold its annual Passover Seder on Friday, April 2nd at the Monte Rio community Center. For reservations and info please call 632 5545.

I wish a Very Happy Birthday to Megan Levine, celebrating 29 years on Feb.18,Andrew Harb also celebrates his #22 on that date, Tara Hoyt will be 27 on Feb.23rd and Annie Austin turns 20 on March 16th. Have a nice Easter and Passover - enjoy the green hills and rushing creeks and call me at 632 5545 or email mayawrld@sonic.net with info for your Cazadero Column!

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Barrister Bits: how to change back to your maiden last name

Q: I noticed that you changed the name of your column—used to be called “Shark Bait” (I’m still adjusting to the new name—not quite sure if I like it). Anyway, I’d like to change my name back to my maiden name—how do I do this?
Signed: Maiden in Pursuit of Identity

Dear Maiden: Hope the new name of the community column, “Barrister Bits”, will grow on you. I was trying to capture a name that is professional (hence the reference to “Barrister”, an English term for lawyer) and still keep a sense of levity to the column (“Bits” of advice, blended with a swirl of humor and philosophy). Hopefully, the new name will be accepted by you and other readers.

Name changes are relatively simple, yet controlled by state statute (California Code of Civil Procedure sec. 1279.5 and Family Code sec. 2082). Bottom line: If you are in state prison, on parole, on probation, a convicted sex offender, or want to change your name to defraud creditors, you are out of luck. The law specifically prohibits a name change. But let’s say you just want to change your name because you were conceived during Woodstock and you are continually embarrassed when they announce over the loudspeaker, “Petal Moonglow, your car is ready”. You are in luck.

Generally, you have to first formulate the reason for the name change, as I assure you, the Judge will ask. Your request for a name change will likely be granted if your reason is to reconnect to your cultural heritage, to avoid embarrassment, to reclaim your maiden name (assuming it is not already ordered/granted in your divorce decree), or to realign your self-identity (think Muhammad Ali, who legally changed his name from Cassius Clay to honor his conversion to Sunni Islam).

Next, you need to file “paperwork” with the court in the county where you reside. Go to www.courtinfo.ca.gov and fill out no less than five forms—NC-100 (Petition for Change of Name) and its accompanying cousins (NC-110, NC-120, NC-130 and CM-010). If you are already overwhelmed, you may consider a Legal Document Preparation Service, which will complete the forms, but typically will not file the paperwork (or front the filing fee, which can be rather hefty, so ask the court clerk about a Fee-Waiver—if you are at a certain income, you may qualify). When you file the forms at our local courthouse, you should also request a hearing at least six weeks from the filing date…the same time it supposedly takes to develop a new, healthy habit and shed a old, unhealthy habit. Why six weeks? Well, you must also publish in a local newspaper once a week for four consecutive weeks an “Order to Show Cause (NC-120).

Once the paperwork is filed and the Notice is published, you will then appear before the Judge who will ask you why you are changing your name. You best have a legitimate answer. Then, voila, if granted, your new identity is assumed. But wait, you must then complete the circle of identity. You should then take the signed, approved Order in hand, and contact the “purveyors” of our Society—you know, Social Security Administration, DMV, banks, credit agencies, etc. Then, sit back and revel in your new identity, until the dust settles.

As Salman Rushdie so eloquently phrased, “Names, once they are in common use, quickly become mere sounds, their etymology being buried, like so many of the earth’s marvels, beneath the dust of habit”.

Float like a butterfly through the dust.

Debra A. Newby is a resident of Monte Rio and has practiced law for 29 years. She is a member of the California, Texas and Sonoma County Bar Associations and currently maintains an active law office in Santa Rosa. Her law practice emphasizes personal injury law (bicycle/motorcycle/motor vehicle accidents, dog bites, trip and falls, etc.) and expungements (clearing criminal records). Debra can be reached via email (debra@newbylawoffice.com), phone (707-526-7200), fax (526-7202) or pony express (930 Mendocino Avenue, Suite 101; Santa Rosa, 95401).

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Ask EcoGirl: Eco-Remedies for Our Health Care Crisis

Dear EcoGirl: The health care crisis is such a timely topic right now. Can an environmental perspective help provide solutions?

Signed, A Health Advocate

Dear Health Advocate: Ah, what a great question. Yes, I’ve been amazed that, amidst all the fierce health care debates, the environmental dimension is still largely being ignored, even given the clear connections between our high illness rates and exposure to environmental pollutants and everyday toxics.

Unfortunately, I feel that neglecting this issue has been a key reason that illness and medical costs have been escalating beyond what our culture can afford. However, addressing this harm can help us produce our much-needed breakthroughs in reducing both illness and health care expenses.

The Vital Link Between the Environment & Our Health
A key remedy then is for our mainstream health care system to embrace, in both policy and patient care, these essential truths connecting the environment and our shared health.

1) The environment is not “out there” but intimate with our bodies. It’s the water we drink, the food we eat, the air we breathe, the products we buy, and the surfaces we touch everywhere in our lives. All the toxics and pollutants that our culture produces travel around the globe, harming people and the planet along the way — including us.

2) Humanity’s pollutants are consistently found in everyone’s bodies, no matter how clean our lifestyle. Did we really imagine that we could pollute the earth and not poison ourselves?

3) Everyday toxics are contributing significantly to high rates of common diseases.
A study by Safer Chemicals Healthy Families (SCHF, www.safer chemicals.org) estimates that toxic chemicals cause 30% of childhood asthma cases, 10% of diabetes and Parkinson’s disease, and 5% of childhood cancer. Chronic diseases such as these affect half our population, generating 75% of health care costs and 70% of deaths.

4) Modest changes could drastically cut illness and costs. The Milken Institute estimates that small environmental and behavioral changes could cut 40 million chronic illness cases by 2023. SCHF calculates that trimming just 0.1% from medical costs would save $5 bilbillion a year. Pam Palitz of Environment California says, “Good chemical reform policy is good fiscal policy. We literally cannot afford the status quo when it comes to toxic chemical exposure.”

True Prevention
When today’s medical system talks about prevention, it usually just means early detection. However, health professionals and individuals can help millions of people actually avoid disease by taking committed action towards these three key eco-objectives.

1) Drastically reduce our individual and shared exposure to toxics and pollutants.
There are many effective (and often cheaper) ways to meet our needs at home, work, and play, without poisoning ourselves, our families, other creatures, and water supplies. (See my past columns for tips plus Health Care Without Harm, http://www.noharm.org/).

It’s also important to take community level action, such as improving toxics laws (see my Nov. 2009 column), encouraging cleaner manufacturing and energy production (including phasing out coal and nuclear power), and supporting health groups that address environmental factors (such as Breast Cancer Action, http://www.bcaction.org/).

2) Prioritize an eco-healthy diet, both in our lives and our hospitals (please!).
Much of what nurtures a healthy environment also nourishes individual health, including eating fresh whole foods, low on the food chain, and organic. Most mainstream food has been depleted and polluted by toxic farming practices. Studies show that choosing organic notably reduces dietary and environmental toxics, increases nutrients, and encourages less-toxic agriculture.

3) Integrate earth-friendly traditional healing as an equal partner. A wide variety of traditional natural modalities have been proven over generations to skillfully assess and adjust body imbalances early, with little or no side effects to ourselves or the planet. This gracefully maintains our wellness at a much lower cost, while avoiding pharmaceuticals’ harm to our environment and water supplies. For more about integrating Western and traditional approaches, plus other key system reforms, see Dr. Weil’s book Why Our Health Matters. I hope that these ideas inspire you to help heal our medical system by reweaving it with the earth again.

Ask EcoGirl is written by Patricia Dines, Author of The Organic Guides, and Editor and Lead Writer for The Next STEP newsletter. Email your questions about going green to for possible inclusion in future columns. View past columns at http://www.askecogirl.info/.

Your can also become a Facebook fan of "Ask EcoGirl", to show your support and stay in touch! Join at www.facebook.com/AskEcoGirl.

"EcoGirl: Encouraging the eco-hero in everyone."

© Copyright Patricia Dines, 2010. All rights reserved.

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Monte Rio News March 2010

Last month my column got a little messed up---no room for the picture and all the birthdays got dropped. So this month I will start my column by wishing happy belated birthday wishes to: 2/1: Deanna Baxman and Jane Kleimo; 2/2: Jenna Wikeen, and my incredible bro-in-law Sam Phillips, 50; 2/3: Russell Tye, a whopping 93! 2/4: Vicky Servino; 2/8: Amanda Menary and Packy Conway-O’Neill; 2/10: Muff Curtiss, and Wolfgang; 2/11: Lori and Korie Shokmalli, 51. 2/12: Jessica; 2/14: Troy; 2/15: Silicia and James; 2/15: My incredible nephew and godson, Finnegan Patrick Beatty turns 5! 2/16: Nolan O’Malley, 25; 2/17; Sarah Kennebech, 19; 2/18: Bridgette Stratford, Teddy Boitano; 2/21: Krystal Menary; 2/22; Zoy Kazan; 2/24: Karen Young; 2/26: Eddie Lamun and my great brother Ray Gildea, 54; 2/28: Jeff Young. Finally, 2/29---which we won’t have this year, so our very special niece, Jackie Beatty, will be 10 but without a birthday!

Now onto some March things! According to my calendar March 1st is St. David Day, March 2 is Read Across America Day, March 17 is of course St. Patricks Day, and March 20 the vernal equinox---long days here we come! Yahoo!!!

Felice and Colleen continue to clean and repair the soon to open Drunken Robin, hopefully they will get it open by April Fools Day!

Happy Anniversary to our friends: starting the month, Tom and Rob March 8th, Rita & Jeremiah O’Neill will be celebrating with green on March 17th, and Karen & Robin finishing the month on March 30th. Also, best wishes & congratulations to Nat Riley and Anna Wachtel who will be getting married this March 17! Loving wishes and a lifetime of love, health, and happiness to you all!

Happy Birthday wishes to some wonderful friends and family: 3/1: Cheryl Button, 5; 3/6: Corlina Abantao; 3/10: Merrie Townsend, we miss you, also Mike Tillman; 3/11: Leah Tillman; 3/12: Connie - Leah’s daughter; 3/13: Diana Moya, 21; 3/19: Monique Sergelin, 23; 3/23: Sean Phillips, 19 Great nephew!; 3/24: Elliot Simon, my buddy and Lillian Gildea, (my grandmother, resting in peace); 3/25: Carolyn Davenport; 3/27: Patrick Phillips, 26 (my angel!); and 3/28: Maggie Gildea-Beatty, 12 (my incredible and bright niece, WOW!).

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Community Meetings on issues that impact us all: The Monte Rio Wastewater task Force meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at the Monte Rio Community Center – in March that’s the 18th. I don’t have a time but it’s been around 6:30 pm most times. You can call Dan Fein or e-mail him at dan_fein@yahoo.com for the correct time. Lots going on about how Monte Rio – and other river communities will deal with septic issues that impact the Russian River.

RROCC (Russian River Redevelopment Oversight Committee) meets at 6pm on the 18th –so what’s up with the conflict!

Monte Rio Watch – the group is trying to make Monte Rio safe for everyone – meets at 6:30 pm on March 29th at the Community Center, so if you want to be involved in this community effort, this is a good time to get involved before summer heats up our town. (More below)

2010 Census Testing will happen at the Community Center on March 3 at 10AM only (the 10AM test was cancelled). If you are interested in a job for a few months and want to be part of this very important counting of our citizens.

If you need more information on these community meetings – please call Dawn Bell at (707) 865-9956 Tuesday, Thursday or Friday. You can also log on the Monte Rio Recreation & Park website at www.mrrpd.org.

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Rik Olson with Painting in Progress

I once made the decision that all interviews must conclude before 3 o’clock in the afternoon. The light is better in the morning – I am awake – and most artists have something to say prior to tea time. Alas, the only time to schedule was in the evening. At 6:20 P.M. in the pouring rain, I entered the driveway of Rik Olson – pitch black with only faint streams of light through the trees, I see a figure approaching my car with a welcoming smile. Thankfully, Rik gives good directions and has great signage or I would have buzzed right past the Vinegar Lane sign and ended up in Occidental. Most thankfully, my artist is Rik Olson – easy going, hospitable and uberaus talented.

Why do I use the German word “uberaus” to describe Rik? Because it fits perfectly.
Many of you already know Rik’s work. He is the informal trademark of The Sonoma Gazette. Take a look at this paper – front to back. All of those wonderfully detailed depictions of trees and landscapes and fruits are from the steady hands of Rik Olson. You have seen Rik’s signature style on Sebastopol Apple Blossom posters and the Sierra Club logo. In fact, once you start looking, you will notice that his stamp is well spread around Sonoma County and throughout the world.

While Rik is known for his woodcuts and scratch board prints, he is also a painter, a woodturner and a connoisseur of printing presses. His workshop has an antique printing press with the requisite cabinet of typeset, a modern Apple computer and everything in between. An etching press from Bologna, Italy sits near an old Sharp copier that with modification can pass as a print making device. If it has to do with printing, Rik either has it or knows where to get it.

So who is this person and how did he end up out on Occidental Road? Rik grew up in the town of Clayton in the northern shadow of Mt. Diablo. His first award in art was in third grade in the Walnut Creek Art Festival. The certificate hangs in his studio amongst his diplomas and many other parchments of distinction. Rik ventured to the great city of Oakland to attend the California College of Arts and Crafts (which is now known as California College of the Arts – CCA). After graduation in 1967 with a BFA in Illustration, Rik was drafted into the US Army and served two years in Germany as a Military Policeman. While in Germany he sought out a print shop to hone his skills and met his wife, Brita. Recognizing that he had a good thing going, on discharge he stayed in Germany and spent the next 8 years teaching Art & Crafts for the US military in Germany and Italy. He worked in a print studio and had 3 art shows in the Palozzi Strozzi in Florence. He took in the European experience and enjoyed the life of an expat artist. This is the life of dreams for a young man from a one-street American town.

But all things must come to an end. Rik and Brita returned to his native Northern California and settled in South San Francisco. Rik continued his prolific contribution to proving that illustration is a true artform. He studied wood engraving under John DePol and Barry Moser and drew inspiration from the 14thcentury printmaker, Albrecht Duerer and Oakland Arts and Crafts era printmaker artist William S. Rice.

With his great talents and engaging demeanor, Rik successfully participates in the upper circles of his chosen craft. He has illustrated over 200 books and is currently working on a rendition of Herman Melville’s Norfolk Island and the Chola Widow from the Encantadas with Nawaken Press. Rik is an active member of the San Franciso Center for the Book (SFCB), a place to learn the many arts of the book. He teaches workshops each month on methods he utilizes in book illustration such as linoleum prints and wood engraving. Each September for the last six years, a group of artists make 3’ by 3’ linoleum cuts and take their work to the streets – literally! A San Francisco street to blocked off to traffic and a steamroller is the press for 3 to 6 prints each. The event is called ROADWORKS and the prints made are sold at auction to support the work of SFCB. Rik is a favorite at these events, returning each year to wow the crowds. Rik is a member of the Graton Gallery in Graton and Local Color in Bodega Bay. Beginning on February 28, Rik will have a 2 month exhibit at Sonoma Academy, complete with a lecture to the student body, faculty and friends on March 10. Look around and you will find Rik’s art and if you are lucky, you will run into Rik. You can learn more about books and locate Rik’s workshops at www.sfcb.org. Or check out Rik's website at www.rikolson.com. Rik participates in ArtTrails and Art at the Source. However you find him and his art, you will be thankful for the experience.

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Our Kids, Our Schools

The Healdsburg Boys and Girls Club hosted their first annual Youth of the Year Awards this past week. Local families turned out to support more than a dozen Club Members who were honored for their excellence in leadership, art and academics. The Club has been going through an incredible transformation over the last couple of years; it is really exciting to see a growing student population joining the Club along with a new set of parents who are becoming involved in this wonderful community institution.

The budget situation is difficult all throughout the County, and Healdsburg schools are feeling tremendous pain since the State has cut $18 billion from public education over the past 24 months. As a former school board member, I find it extremely frustrating that our schools consistently seem to be on the losing end of Sacramento’s budget priority list. The Healdsburg Unified School District is facing a $2.3 million dollar short fall this coming year and the Board is beginning to consider potential reductions (these are difficult decisions for all involved). Cuts being considered include the summer school program, adult education, instructional days and numerous teaching and administrative positions. It’s time we all start to speak up to ensure our local public schools have the tools and the funding they need to thrive.

Expanded Community Gardens Take Bloom
Thanks to the generosity of the Healdsburg community, we have raised enough funding to expand our community gardens (over $16,000 has been brought in over the last several weeks). Healdsburg’s first community gardens were planted 3 decades ago and the demand continues to grow. I have been proud to co-chair the expansion efforts of our gardens and we will be breaking ground on the new plots, located on the Healdsburg Community Center campus, in the next 4 weeks!

Festivals, Fairs & Fun
It’s been another busy month of delicious crab feeds for good causes including those hosted by the Russian River Rotary Club and the Sonoma County Democratic Party. The Cloverdale Citrus Fair and Parade was a great success, as was the Wild Steelhead Festival in Healdsburg. I’m looking forward to participating in these again next year.

Probably too late to get tickets to the 2010 Mr. Healdsburg Contest at the Raven Theater, on February 27, but looks like this should be another fun event (and a good cause, raising money for the Theater).

Congratulations to Cloverdale
Kudos to the Cloverdale City Council and Mayor Carol Russell as they prepare to adopt a new city plan, centered around the planned return of rail service and development of a “greenway.” The only way to revitalize our cities is to focus on transit-centered development, affordable housing and open space development.

Happenings in Healdsburg
Wednesday, March 3 is the Healdsburg Chamber Business Trade Show. This free event at the Villa Chanticleer from 5 to 7 PM, and is a great way to meet with all of the local businesses that support our county. This is always a fun event, with lots of samples, food and prizes.

Healdsburg is one of the few towns with two parades a year. Most people know about our great, family focused FFA Twilight parade every May. Our lesser known parade happens on St. Patrick’s Day, with a vibrant crew leading an early morning parade from the B & B Lounge to the Downtown Plaza and back, with a stop for an incredible version of “Oh Danny Boy,” complete with bagpipes! Truly one day where everyone can be Irish (and by the way, the green beer starts flowing several hours before the parade kicks off).

We are heading into the season of wine events, but the Pigs and Pinot Festival on March 19 and 20th at the Hotel Healdsburg is special, with proceeds going to Healdsburg Schools. The money is also used for the Share Our Strength Charity, whose goal is to end child hunger in America. As they say, “a hungry child can’t learn, : and it’s crucial that we support programs like this. We are lucky that our county is ahead of the curve, with its Safe Routes to School, and Healthy Students, and Healthy Kids initiatives.

Finally, that same weekend through Sunday, March 21, Healdsburg will be having a Downtown Sidewalk sale. The plaza is always a great place to come and relax and soak up some local charm – so come support our local merchants, and get great deals at the same time.

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Around Forestville: March 2010

I feel a bit guilty as I’m sitting here wondering how long the beautiful daffodils will last, while the rest of the country is wondering how long the freezing snow and ice will stick around. We definitely live in paradise and there are plenty of flower-and-food-filled activities going on around town to help remind us of how lucky we are!

Speaking of luck, the Hollydale Club is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with their Annual Corned Beef & Cabbage Feed w/ Music, March 13th, 6:00PM. Don’t miss the Ping-Pong Tournament on March 27th Call Charles @ 887-7840 for info.

Student Snippets
Forestville School’s after school program, ASAP, is having a bake sale on Sunday, March 14th, 9AM to 1PM in the front parking lot.
All proceeds benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Pennies for Patients. Come buy a sweet treat for this worthy cause.

Don’t miss Forestville School’s spring musical, Disney’s Mulan Jr., beginning March 19th, 20th, 26th and 27th at 7pm and March 21st and 28th at 2pm. Tickets are $7.00 at the door.

The Leadership classes at El Molino and Analy High School are sponsoring Bob Burke’s Charity Auction and Dinner, “Have Hope, Give Hope”. This worthy event is being held at the Sebastopol Community Church on Saturday, March 6th from 6PM to 9:30 PM. Tickets are $10.

El Mo’s Music Department is hosting the Annual Jazz & Pasta Dinner Benefit, March 12th, 5:30PM to 8PM in the High School Café Theater. Come enjoy the Jazz Ensemble, Concert Choir, Encore Singers, Forestville and Guerneville school bands, a silent auction of local goods and wine from area merchants, and Mike Spediacci’s authentic Italian sauce. All proceeds benefit the El Molino Music Department. $15 Adults, $10 Students, $5 Performers.

El Molino Boosters and Project Grad are sponsoring a
Chicken and Tri Tip BBQ, March 27th, Oddfellows Hall
5:30-6:30PM No Host Bar (Beer & Wine)
6:30-9:00PM Dinner served
$25 person includes: Chicken/Tri Tip, Pasta, Salad and Garlic Bread, Silent auction/ Raffle.

Three weekends of great food and entertainment for great causes…can’t beat that!

The Forestville Planning Association (FPA)
Town Meeting, March 14th, 4-6 PM, Oddfellows' Hall. Providing updates on local projects and issues and furnishing information on energy efficiency measures. There will be how-to booths by a small number of vendors, local citizens, and possibly County staff to help citizens implement measures in their homes and businesses. Supervisor Efren Carrillo will be in attendance to provide the community with information and updates regarding local projects, such as the roundabout, the bypass and more. Supervisor Carrillo will also participate in a question/answer session.

Chamber of Commerce
Citizen of the Year Awards dinner, March 20th at the Oddfellows’ Recreation Club. Tickets available at Bank of the West.

Easter Egg Hunt, March 27th, 10AM, Forestville School. Rain or Shine, Grass or Mud! The Children’s Easter Coloring Contest forms are available at Bank of the West, Forestville Pharmacy, Frame of Mind and other local businesses. Or download a form at www.forestvillechamber.org

Forestville United Methodist Church
The Victory Garden Project will continue in 2010! With the help of up to fifty volunteers this project provides mountains of organic veggies for the Food Closet, as well as church and community members. This need was realized when the number of families served at the Food Closet more than doubled in 2008. Garden sites can be found at the Youth Park, a Paradise Ct. home, at the church, and many other local residencies. It was said at the launching of the Gardens, “If we all hold up our piece of the sky, the sky won't fall on all of us." Come and join this merry band of gardeners. For more information call, Katherine Best-Smith at 887-2020 Monday thru Friday, 8-12 or 523-0252.

The church members would also like to invite you to a Film Festival. Each Friday until Easter at 7 PM, they will be showing a different film portraying the life of Jesus. Come enjoy fellowship, popcorn, and perhaps a new perspective on faith.

FUMC Rummage Sale, March 13th 8AM until 3PM.

With a little time and a little money we can have a huge impact on our community and beyond. Don’t forget, everyone makes a difference.

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