Bodega Bay Tidings by Patty Ginochio - December 2019

ARE WE ALL CRABBY YET? YES, FINALLY as the Dungeness Crab season for Sports Fishing opened on time. Lots of sweet delicious Dungeness crab are filling their pots and our bellies! Sports Fisherman have lined up at Westside Boat dock to enjoy the flat ocean waters while dropping & pulling their pots. The smiles have been many as the crab are plentiful and meaty. Melting butter, boiling salted water and the cracking of shells is everywhere in the campgrounds and homes.

CELEBRATING A LOCAL FISHERMAN Dick Ogg of Bodega Bay was just honored by National Fisherman magazine for his tireless work addressing marine entanglement. He stated regarding the delay of the commercial season opener to November 23, 2019 “It was a difficult decision, but it shows we’re all in this together,” said Ogg, who is being recognized this year in part for being a founding member of the California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group that has worked for years to minimize the fleet’s interactions with marine mammals.

A CHOWDER TRAIL MAP? WELL THERE IS A WINE & CHEESE ONE, WHY NOT CLAM CHOWDER? Yes, the Sonoma Coast Visitor Center & the Bodega Bay Area Chamber of Commerce have put together a Clam Chowder Trail Map of all the coastal restaurants serving clam chowder on their menu. It goes from Marshall, through Bodega Bay and up to Jenner. More information will be posted in December on the Chamber website: www.visitbodegabayca.com

SPEAKING OF CLAMS…. CLAM CHOWDER DAY IS COMING! The Bodega Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is once again holding “Chowder Day” throughout the coastal towns on Saturday, January 25th, 2019. Tickets will go on sale December 1st for $15 per person at: https://2020bodegabaychowder.bpt.me/. Each participating restaurant will give a 2-ounce taste of their Chowder. Check out last year’s photos, FAQ and winners at https://www.visitbodegabayca.com/chowder-day

SURVIVING BODEGA BAY BUSINESSES NEED YOU! Yes, the Locals make all the difference during the slow winter months. Many Bodega Bay businesses suffered major losses during the power outage and evacuation. Yes, there was some insurance coverage but to many restaurants dismay, the coverage wasinadequate. Food spoilage, lack of revenue and employee salaries took most of the “rainy day savings” reserved for the slow season away. Please do your holiday dining & shopping in Bodega Bay to help close this gap. Some offer local discounts too. It’s a win/win! Restaurant gift certificates make a great holiday gift. You can even “Feed it Forward” at Ginochio’s Kitchen for those less fortunate who may not be able to pay for a meal. Makes for a warm heart to know you have helped those in need this season.

SO WHY DID WE HAVE TO EVACUATE? Some residents of Bodega Bay wondered why we had to lose power and evacuate since we were so far away from the fire? Bodega Bay CERT held a community discussion to understand. Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, Deputy Jason Pasero, Fire Captain Justin Fox, Assistant Chief Steve Herzberg, Bodega Bay CERT Director Dewey Kribs and CHP Sean Laurie joined us to provide key information and answers to the lingering question on why the power outage and mandatory evacuation. The answer – 20 Fire Models projected the fire to cross Highway 101 throwing embers to ignite the Russian River area and hills behind Bodega Bay. Captain Fox shared he was on Coleman Valley Road and saw several downed power lines that would have started fires had they been energized. With the high wind gusts and low humidity down to 4, it was a very dangerous combination. All agreed that going forward, a better explanation of why a town so far away needs to be evacuated be provided to get more to obey the order. I evacuated, did you? I am Disaster trained & prepared due to Bodega Bay CERT, are you? Learn more at www.bodegabaycert.org to be better prepared.

TIME TO LAUGH WHILE DONATING TO OUR LOCAL HEROES!Comedian Vicki Barbolak and friends return for a raucous good time at the Bodega Yacht Club on Saturday, December 14th. Proceeds go to our local Bodega Bay Firefighters to help them buy much needed equipment. Buy tickets at https://vickibarbolak2019.bpt.me/ Rated "R" for ridiculously funny ADULT humor!

Wishing all a glorious December from the village of Bodega Bay.