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.

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

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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Santa Rosa's Roseland Community Park gets Funded

District Awards Matching Funds for City of Santa Rosa Park
Board approves $2.42 million for Roseland Creek Community Park and Trail Project

Today (February 23, 2010), the Board approved a $2.42 million grant to the City of Santa Rosa for the acquisition of 7 acres located at 1370 and 1400 Burbank Avenue for an eventual park and trail project located in southwest Santa Rosa. The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District recommended the project for funding in 2008 as part of its Matching Grant Program.

“This park is a needed asset for the community and will directly benefit the children in the Roseland School District,” said Efren Carrillo, Fifth District Supervisor. “Through the Matching Grant Program we are able to bolster local programs to make more parks and recreational opportunities available, as well as create quality environmental, educational and economic resources for the neighborhoods of our cities.”

This acquisition represents a portion of the larger 18 acres identified for park and trail development located between Burbank and McMinn Avenues, and is the first of a multi-phased project. The City is currently negotiating additional acquisitions totaling approximately 11 acres located at 1027 McMinn and 1360 Burbank Avenues and has applied for funding from the District as part of its 2009 grant program.

The site was identified as a potential park in the City’s general plan and comprises a reach of Roseland Creek, grasslands, and oak savanna. The proposed park is within a one-mile radius of four elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools of the Roseland School District, and is expected to support a variety of community activities, including environmental education and after-school programs.

“The acquisition of this property will bring us closer to realizing our general plan goal of increasing parkland and recreational amenities for our residents,” said Marc Richardson, Assistant City Manager and Director of Recreation, Parks and Community Services. “By partnering with the District, the City of Santa Rosa is able to leverage its resources to create an 18-acre park envisioned by the community.”

As its matching contribution, the City will provide nearly $2.8 million of city funding, grants, and professional in-kind services toward ongoing park maintenance, restoration and enhancement of the creek. The Matching Grant Program guidelines require a 1:1 contribution match from applicants, which can include direct contributions and in-kind services and materials, with no more than 50 percent of the match identified for operations and maintenance.

Both Measures C and F, approved by the voters in 1990 and 2006, respectively, provide for the Matching Grant Program. Since 1994, the District has administered and based funding for this program on available sales tax revenues. To date, nearly $28 million in matching grants have been selected for funding of land acquisition, development of recreational amenities, and restoration of open space within or near urban areas. Projects include the Town Green in Windsor, the Prince Memorial Greenway in Santa Rosa, and the 250-acre expansion of land along the Petaluma River for public access and habitat enhancement adjacent to Schollenberger Park. As the District anticipates an approximate 10 percent decline in its revenue for FY09-10, the program is budgeted at $2 million or nearly 13% of its total revenues for the year.

“Now, more than ever, this program is especially important as it leverages the resources of our city, local agency, and non-profit partners to develop parks and restore open space for our urban communities,” said District General Manager Bill Keene. “Our success relies on the ability to offer a program that responds to the changing needs of our applicants.”

About the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District permanently protects the diverse agricultural, natural resource and scenic open space lands of Sonoma County for future generations. Since 1990, the District has protected more than 83,000 acres. Agricultural and open space lands have been protected through a 1/4-cent sales tax approved by voters in 1990 and reauthorized in 2006. For more information, please visit www.sonomaopenspace.org

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Target Center and Petaluma in Conflict

The Petaluma “Target Center” Brouhaha

By Connie Madden
A lawsuit has been filed against Petaluma by Regency Centers claiming undue delays in approval for its East Washington Place project and Petaluma’s city manager, John Brown stated staff needs additional time to study implications of the lawsuit and recommended no vote be taken at the next meeting Monday, January 25th while staff completes its review. January 4, 2010 marked the first time Petaluma City Council was able to hear the project “in full” and Council called for further review by the PC and staff. To view the lawsuit, go to http://frankpetaluma.wordpress.com/new-regency-target-lawsuit/

The process was a necessary one, beginning with Petaluma completing its General Plan that serves as “a policy document that embodies the community’s goals and guides decisions about physical development over the long term”.

While GP 2025, 7 years in the making, marks a preference for living wage jobs so people who work here can live here (saving Petaluma medical fees for low-paid workers), a preference for pedestrian and bicycle-friendly projects and density, it also stipulates that large new projects provide a “net positive” to the economy and the community. (See Chapters 9 and 11 of the GP)
During the wait for approval, the project was reviewed by the Planning Commission and time-consuming EIR, CEQA and FEIA reports were created.

However, as a member of the Petaluma Community Coalition, which brought stakeholders in this project together for many hours of discussion, I recall scant reference to these GP preferences. Although Regency prepared a FEIA (fiscal and economic impact assessment) as requested, their FEIA showed only projected profits. There was not enough economic information to show the true costs of this project. Council members could not know what existing businesses would likely be closed due to this project (which current taxes to the city would be lost) or which suppliers to those businesses would be impacted.

Mayor Pamela Torliatt, as quoted in the Press Democrat said regarding the lawsuit “They’re being their own worst enemy if they want to get to a decision” and added the city is responding carefully to the lawsuit. Planning Commission members expressed a similar sentiment late in December when it was noted the project was basically a 1970’s shopping mall design rather than the desired mixed use, would cause heavy traffic congestion and pollution, and there is no guarantee the project would be a success a few years down the line.

Regency “one of the largest operators of grocery-anchored shopping centers. About 90 percent of its shopping centers are anchored by grocers ranking in the top three of their market,” (Wikepedia) could also presumably replace named tenants with others upon approval of the project and many Regency centers include WalMart, which, conceivably, they could invite to East Washington Place if Petaluma Target leaves. Target has stated it is “unduly punitive” for them to be asked to pay a vacancy tax should they decide to move, an agreement built into their Davis project.

It is to be noted that East Washington Place was first presented before a council which did not have a “progressive” majority and a planning commission that generally wanted the project – yet that Council did not approve the project.

Petaluma is a leader in smart growth practices and was acknowledged by Green Belt Alliance in 2007 when they voted Petaluma the top rating in the Bay Area for “Preventing sprawl; Making sure parks are nearby; Creating homes people can afford; encouraging a mix of uses; Encouraging density in the right places; Requiring less land for parking; and Defining standards for good development.”

The decision to approve a project or not to is the prerogative of Petaluma Council - the town has no obligation to hurry its process or change policy to appease Target Corporation. East Washington Place is the interface between the East and West sides of town - and residents and future residents will benefit by the best possible project for now and the 50 or so years the project will be in place.

Petaluma’s General Plan stipulates large new developments shall provide a net positive for the city. But we don't know if this project can do that. December 2009 retail data for the nation shows an unprecedented loss of over 6% from last year. That means a lot of retail stores - including chains - are closing their doors while unemployment rises across the state.

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