Springs Splash by Thomas Martin - November 2018 - Election, MAC’s, SDC Closure, Health Programs Prompt Citizen Action!

November 1, 2018

Lights! Camera! Action!

A great number of decisions face Springs residents in the near future. Some are well known, but others have only recently come into focus.

Be certain to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 6!

Cast your vote! Make your voice heard locally, statewide, and in Washington, D.C. Just think! Everyone has heard about the candidates for Governor, U.S. Senator, Congressman, and State Representative, but who will make decisions for you right here in the Springs?

Valley Polling Locations:

Altimira School (17805 Arnold Dr.) Faith Lutheran (19355 Arnold) Flowery School (17600 Sonoma Hwy.) Sonoma Springs Community Hall (18627 Sonoma Hwy.) St. Andrews Church (16290 Arnold Drive)

There are serious issues before our Health Care District.

Should they close the skilled nursing program? That is a program, temporary in nature, focused on rehabilitation to prepare a resident to return home. Who will we elect to the Health Care District Board? What’s their position on the skilled nursing program?

School Board Reps are to be elected for the Sonoma Valley Unified School District and the Santa Rosa J.C. Who will be the best representative for your child or grandchild? Water rates up or down? New pumping facilities? Who will best govern the Water Board?

The newest County Park – Tolay Park – is about to open. On Nov. 6 we vote (Measure M) to increase the sales tax one-eighth of a cent to increase park funding.YES, that’s 1/8 of one penny! Voters hold the power in their hands to say Yea or Nay to improved parks. Cast your mailed ballot early! Vote at your precinct on Nov. 6!

Municipal Advisory Councils Proposed By Supervisor Gorin

Supervisor Susan Gorin recently proposed the formation of MAC’s (Municipal Advisory Councils) in Glen Ellen and the Springs. A MAC is composed of appointed local residents who alert the Board of Supervisors needs and ideas of the community. MAC’s exist in a variety of cities and locales across the State.

A community like the Springs with more than 40,000 needs a voice to advise elected officials. Currently, there is the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission composed of city and valley representatives that primarily reviews development proposals before they go to the Planning Department. OUR OWN MAC would bring new ideas and proposals to the Supervisors.

TIME TO SIGNUP FOR AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE!

The Sonoma Valley Health Center sponsored a day recently devoted to informing people that the open enrollment period for theAffordable Health Care Program (Covered California) is from now through January 15, 2019. According to Mari-Carmen Reyesfirst time enrollees must pick a plan by Dec. 15, 2018. “Plans selected on or after 12/16/18 through 1/15/19 would begin coverage Feb. 1, 2019.”

Sonoma Developmental Center Closures Looms Large!

On New Years Eve it won’t all be “Huzzah! Hats off Boys and Girls!” Year’s end marks the closure of the Sonoma Developmental Center. What is to become of this precious Valley property? By now we should know if the Board of Supervisors took action in late October to continue negotiations with the State over the future of the SDC property. It is inconceivable the Board would walk away from working to keep SDC under County control.

In addition, the County was to develop a land use planning strategy and adopt a comprehensive economic development strategy for the SDC properties. Hopefully, as you read this column we will have positive answers to these questions. Time is running out.Citizens have been forthright in their demands for maintaining local control of the SDC for at least two years. New Year’s Eve is just around the corner. Will it be a time for popping a cork or crying, “Bah Humbug?”

It Appears Hamburger West To Open! Ten months ago we reported that West-Handmade Burgers would open soon. Recently the building at18375 Highway 12 has been painted and there is an ABC sign in the window foretelling the sale of alcoholic beverages. What’s happening? We asked the carpenters remodeling the rooms and they predicted burgers would be served in a month! We shall see.

Tom Martin. retired teacher and teacher union organizer, lives in the Boyes Springs area. He taught American History and Government at Santa Barbara High School for over twenty years. For another twenty years he served as Field Representative for the California Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, representing teachers in the five counties region north of the Golden Gate Bridge. He works with the Sonoma Valley Democrats, serves as a Docent at the Sonoma/Petaluma State Park, and is a member of the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission. Contact: 707-938-5025/tvmsonoma@att.net.