Appreciating the Fisherman’s Festival, removing ice plant, and a Bodega Bay town hall

GINOCHIO’S KITCHEN & SONOMA CONCIERGE

May 19, 2022

Fisherman’s festival is a blessing

This important local event provides grants to 25 local nonprofits supporting the Bodega Bay area. It takes a lot of planning and support from the board, led by Josh Perucchi, who did a phenomenal job of navigating many new unforeseen political and cultural roadblocks to make it happen. Thank you to all the volunteers who showed up with a smile and lots of positive energy. This fundraiser is completely organized and run by volunteers. The festival supports the schools, rescue, fishermen and food pantry to name a few. While salmon season opened down south, forcing our commercial fisherman to miss the Blessing of the Fleet, we had smaller local fishermen join the boat parade. It is difficult to plan when the boats will be in port due to the ever-changing dates of season openers and closures impacting our fishermen.

The festival began as the “Discovery Days Celebration” in 1958, with some 17 festively decorated boats blessed in the parade – appropriately led by Eddie, William, and Steve Smith, members of the large local Miwok family which began the commercial fishing industry in Bodega Bay in the 1920s.

Help rid the parks of invasive ice plant

At Doran Park, the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) has an ongoing project (for the past 5 years) removing invasive ice plant from the inner bay side of the park. The project was instigated when a rare plant called Point Reyes bird's beak was found in the salt marsh. This rare native was being smothered out by ice plant (native to South Africa) as were many other native plants in the marsh and surrounding areas. CNPS meets weekly on Wednesdays at Doran Park from 9:30-1 to continue removing ice plant and other non-natives from the marsh. We are also in the planning stages of removing non-natives from the beachside of the park to improve nesting habitat for the Snowy Plover (listed as a "species of special concern").

At Bodega Head State Park, CNPS has started a project removing ice plant from the coastal prairie areas that still have a multitude of native plants worth fighting for. Anyone who visits Bodega Head in the spring has been fortunate to see the beautiful native mosaic that the plants create. CNPS and local volunteers meet monthly, the second Sunday from 10-1 p.m. Volunteers are always welcome and needed for both projects. To learn more and volunteer, you can email Alynn at alynnkjeldsen@gmail.com or visit their website https://milobaker.cnps.org/

Bodega Bay Town Hall with Supervisor Lynda Hopkins

Mark your calendar to join a Bodega Bay town hall on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Bodega Bay Grange. A conversation with our supervisor and the opportunity to ask questions related to Bodega Bay and the coastal region. The event is co-hosted by Bodega Bay Grange, Waves of Compassion Foundation, Bodega Bay Community Center, and Bodega Bay Collaborative.

How much oil is too much on the beach?

I live in a subdivision across from one of our local beautiful Sonoma County beaches, where all the rainwater runoff from the neighborhood drains to the beach. For the past three years, I have contacted Recology asking them to replace the old rickety leaking garbage truck they send out to us. At every stop to pick up cans on Wednesdays, it leaks thick hydraulic oil, engine oil and disgusting garbage juice, plus lots of shards of glass. At our restaurant, the truck is even older and leaks all over our parking lot. The drain to the bay is only 10 feet away. Yes, I have contacted Recology, talked to their General Manager and the county too. They pull the ancient trucks in and have the mechanics plug the leaks and then in a few weeks, it starts again. Recology promises to replace their fleet with energy-efficient, newer trucks but Bodega Bay seems to have been ignored again. Wondering if any of my readers can offer a solution on how I can escalate and get this fixed for good! I’m tired of taking pictures and being ignored or placated.

Patty Ginochio is owner of Ginochio’s Kitchen & Sonoma Concierge.
EMAIL: pgino519@yahoo.com PHONE: 707-331-6722

After spending most of her career relocating corporate employees around the world, she began two successful family businesses in the coastal town of Bodega Bay, California with her daughter Alicia and her husband Paul. Patty has been coming to Bodega Bay her entire life and moved to the coastal town 12 years ago.

Patty is Vice President of Waves of Compassion Foundation, offering the first food pantry for the coastal community; Director for Bodega Bay CERT, helping Bodega Bay be prepared for a local disaster & Director for Bodega Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, assisting local businesses manage the unique coastal business environment. She began the Bodega Bay Collaborative, a group dedicated to providing information to the residents of Bodega Bay on the opportunities and challenges in their beloved village. Patty currently is serving as an appointee of Supervisor Hopkins on the Sonoma County Tourism Board of Directors. She was recognized by the Sonoma County Tourism Board with the Hospitality of the Year 2018 award for her leadership role during the 2017 Firestorm, as well as by Congressman Mike Thompson and Supervisor, Susan Gorin. She was also the recipient of the 2020 Community Member of the year award from Bodega Bay Fire Protection District. Patty was selected for the North Bay Spirit Award from the Press Democrat.

Patty enjoys hiking the Sonoma Coast, many times leading the hike offering bits of history with the goal that others will love & respect the coast as much as she does.