Sebastappeal by Sarah Glade Gurney - October 2018
Thank You’s:
We’ve just gotta express our thanks! First to
Kudos to the City Council for recognizing the community benefit of Jim’s Summer Music Series and awarding a generous grant to subsidize the program. Our community looks forward to another musical summer, Peacetown 2019!
Our natural world is a better place, thanks to the efforts of 90+ people of all ages who responded who volunteered for Coastal Clean Up Day on September 15 right here in Sebastopol. The Laguna Foundation teamed up with Clean River Alliance to mobilize litter removal along our Laguna waterway which flows to the Russian River then to the Pacific Ocean. The work area extended from our northerly baseball fields to our southerly Uplands property. The City’s Police Department and Public Works Department provided support services.
Removed this year were:
* 2,615 pounds of trash;
* 82 pounds of recycling;
* 1 car tire;
* 22 AA batteries;
* 3 shopping cars; and
* 1 lawn mower.
On the same day, four Peace Advocates were recognized for their lifetime accomplishments by their induction onto Sebastopol’s Living Peace Wall: Dolores Huerta, Daniel Ellsberg; Tui Wilschinsky; and Therese Mughannam. Several hundred people joined the project leader Michael Gilottito celebrate efforts to work nonviolently for peace and justice.
A big shout-out to Sunny Galbraith and our local experts for their impressive Study Session for the City Council on Zero Waste, which was held on September 18. The presenters advocated for concerted effort to reduce the amount of waste that we send to Recology, our new garbage hauler. Business owners Mariline from Screamin’ Mimi’s and Natalie from Handline, as well as students and school employees, talked about the changes they’ve made in their businesses, notably about organic compost and the use of recyclable and/or reusable service wares.
The Council will consider the recommended actions steps on October 16, 2018. These actions could include:support for the county-wide Zero Waste Resolution; approval of the county-wide ordinance to prohibit the sale and use of disposable food service ware and other products containing polystyrene; event permitting making recycling and organics collection mandatory; the greening of City Hall and City events by banning single-use water bottles and switching to reusable service ware; a waste audit by Recology; and support for the local SIPS campaign limiting distribution of straws to request only.
Thanks to the local activists up at Burbank Heights and Orchards, the public had its first chance to see four Sebastopol City Council candidates vying for three seats in action, introducing themselves and answering questions in the capacity-filled Community Room “up on the hill.”
October Events
There will be a second forum on Thursday, October 4, 2018, starting at 6 PM at the Community Church at the north end of town. The League of Women Voters will conduct its formal Candidates’ Night event for the voting public.
Saturday October 6 is the first ever Repair Caféfrom 12 noon to 4 PM at Park Side Elementary School’s Multi-Purpose Room. Have something that’s broken? – don’t throw it away! Bring it to be repaired at this free event: computers, smart phones, musical instruments; sewing jewelry; appliances; bikes; shoes; toys; tools and knife sharpening.
Local businessman and Rotarian Mark Sell will be honored posthumously by the Rotary Teacher Mini-Grant Program held in his name. Mark, a co-owner of Sebastopol Hardware, saw many teachers coming into his store at the start of each school year to buy classroom supplies. He learned that, unless the teachers spent their own money, they would go without needed items. So, he created the yearly fund-raising event, the Crab Feed, which has given almost $260,000 in grants to local teachers in Mark’s name over the last 15 years. The deadline for 2018 applications is October 15. More information is available at www.sebastopolrotary.com.
Please note these changes to the City Council’s upcoming meeting schedule:
