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Santa Rosa Snippets by Elaine B. Holtz - August 2017

The state of California announced on July 7, 2017 it will list glyphosate, as

According to Kerry Fugett, Executive Director of the Sonoma County Conservation Action, Santa Rosa City Council is looking to remove it from public spaces in Santa Rosa. Fugett hopes that it will be removed throughout Sonoma County. Fugett reports there are many down sides to using glysophate particularly for landscape workers who have to work with this toxic chemical on a daily basis. She reports that the chemical not only affects people and pets; it also affects soil health and the ability to sequester carbon, a process key to reversing climate change. Fugett reported that cancer is on the rise in our area particularly with our children.”

At the July 18 Santa Rosa City Council meeting, City Manager Sean McGlynn noted that the city is working on a plan is to issue a Request For Proposal (RFP) for landscaping requesting bids in two areas: Use of industry standard products and use of those products that comply with the Russian River Friendly Guidelines. McGlynn went on to explain that in doing this the Council will have a clearer idea of the impact “based on budget realities,” This will be one of the first steps to begin the process of looking at eliminating usage in Santa Rosa. rrwatershed.org/project/russian-river-friendly-landscape-guidelines/

I encourage Santa Rosans with children and dogs to start becoming aware of how these toxins are impacting us, our children and environment.

Community Spoke Out, Artist Listened, & Compassion Prevailed

Artstart Creative Director and Lead Artist,Mario Uribe met with five concerned activists to discuss the contested third panel on the Mural that was installed in Southwest Santa Rosa memorializing the fatal shooting of thirteen-year-old Andy Lopez, on his birthday June 2. After the mural was unveiled, family, friends and other community members advised him that they were uncomfortable about the scene on the third panel and thought it to be inappropriate. Along with listening to the activists, hearing a heartfelt letter from Sujey Lopez, the mother of young Andy, Uribe recognized that he did not realize the depth of the pain the family and the community were still experiencing and agreed to redo the panel. He contacted Jim Leddy, Special Projects Director for Sonoma County, who oversaw the project, explained the situation and Leddy authorized the change. “This change that we’re making fulfills the original objective of the mural much better than before, which is to bring a small sense of justice to a tragic event that will never be justified. I hope it will help to heal the family and the community, said Uribe.

The whole community is invited to the Re-Dedication of Andy’s Mural and Community Celebration on Friday, August 4 at the Roseland Village Shopping Center, 555 Sebastopol Rd. From 4-5:30pm.

Happy 15th Anniversary Schulz Museum ­— Home of Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Gang­—Since opening its doors on August 12, 2002, the Museum has welcomed 867,092 visitors from around the world, exhibited 3,500 original comic strips and hosted 173 Cartoonists-in-Residence. The Museum continues to share the legacy and genius of Charles M. Schulz, while warming the hearts of visitors from near and far, and striving to be a good Sonoma County neighbor. To help celebrate, Jeff Smith, creator of Bone, will headline an all-day cartooning celebration.In addition from 12-2pm attendees canenjoy mini cartoon lessons and free Museum prizes along with meeting, watching and talking to professional cartoonists. All Museum visitors will receive a FREE exclusive 15th anniversary key chain on the day of the event.

Date: Saturday, August 12 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Museum is located at2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa.For more information visit schulzmuseum.org.

Women’s Equality Day

At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as Women’s Equality Day.”The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This amendment was the culmination of 72 years of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York.

Something to think about

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”Margaret Mead who was an American cultural anthropologist who featured frequently as an author and speaker during the 1960s and 1970s. nwhp.org/resources/commemorations/womens-equality-day/

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