Justice - Sonoma County Gazette

Transcription

Justice
Holi-daze!
for Andy
By Shepherd Bliss
A new, powerful coalition of Latino,
social justice, green, progressive
Democrats, student, civil liberties,
peace, and other groups has emerged
in Sonoma County. Concern over the
killing of 13-year-old Andy Lopez
by sheriff’s deputy Erick Gelhaus on
October 22 unites them.
Over forty members of diverse
groups met--many who had never
been in a room together--on November
19 to strategize about how to keep the
strong momentum going in response
to Lopez’ slaying. Many of those
identified themselves as mothers or
fathers, who felt the pain of the parents
whose son was taken from them.
Lopez was killed while walking
near his southwest Santa Rosa home
with a toy rifle. This slaying has gotten
regular front-page coverage locally
and has been widely reported around
the United States and internationally.
Some compare it to the killings of
African-Americans Trayvon Martin
in Florida and Oscar Grant by a police
officer in Oakland. That police officer
is now in jail, one of the few cops ever
charged for killing someone. Both
those slayings ignited communities to
demand justice.
TOY GUNS cont’d on page 10
1st City
REJECTS
Fluoride
Cotati Says NO
By Fluoride-Free Sonoma County*
The Will of the People and
Common Sense Prevail in Cotati
At their meeting on November 12,
the Cotati City Council listened to
their constituents, voting unanimously
to protect the city’s residents from a
proposal to add fluoridation chemicals
to the drinking water supplied to
Cotati by the Sonoma County Water
Agency. With this vote, the Cotati City
Council directed their staff to write a
formal letter to the Sonoma County
Board of Supervisors informing the
Board of their decision.
Kim Caldewey of the Sonoma County
Department of Health Services made a
multimedia presentation supporting
water fluoridation, supported by
testimony from Santa Rosa dentist Dr.
Anthony Fernandez. Department of
Health Services Director Rita Scardaci
was present but did not speak.
In her presentation, Ms. Caldewey
described an increase in dental-related
visits to emergency rooms and charity
SPECIAL pull-out section for Shopping LOCALLY!
COTATI cont’d on page 8
Being FIRST means ALOT! pg 14
Holidays along Farm Trails pg 16
Eco-Friendly Holidays pg 31 HUGE Holiday Calendar pgs 56~58
SONOMA COUNTY CALENDAR: pgs 56 ~ 67
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Dear Readers,
Annual traditions are part of why
we celebrate holidays, anniversaries,
birthdays and more. We like reminding
ourselves of things that have value
for us - personally and culturally.
December holidays are all about
celebrating community, family and
religion all at the same time. Various
combinations of all-of-the-above.
For the Gazette, we produce our
annual shopping guide to doing
business with local entrepreneurs.
Small Shops of Sonoma County
evolved over the years from our
Small Town Shopping Tour to a countywide guide to thinking and shopping
locally. The more we understand that
keeping our money at home benefits
our families in the short-term as
well as long-term, the healthier our
community becomes.
We are one of those entrepreneurs so
we know how important it is for people
to do business with us. It’s survival.
paying our bills, taxes, etc. Feeding our
families and providing a roof over our
heads. Pretty basic needs.
The Gazette caters to small businesses
because we are one. A mother and
daughter team with people we hire to
fill in the gaps that make our business
whole. It’s how entrepreneurs work...
lots of eggs in one or more baskets. If
one egg breaks, there are others to feed
2 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 12/13
us. For retailers, the eggs are the items
they sell - the greater the variety and
number, the more chances people will
find something they want. The basket
is their store.
Our job is to bring customers to
their door, whether it’s a business
that sells objects or services, this
paper gives small businesses a way
to reach customers, and therefore stay
in business - paying their bills, and
taking care of their families.
In essence, it’s what we all do. Once
we become grown ups, our main job
is to stay alive and healthy, to survive,
and if we’re lucky, to thrive.
The phrase “it takes a village” was
coined to better understand that none
of us is alone. We all rely upon each
other for our survival. Isn’t it amazing
that people fight and argue and even
kill each other when we are all so
mutually dependent?
So please read our magazine to learn
what our neighbors are doing for our
communities, stay in touch with each
other and contribute in whatever way
feels right to you, and please...support
the people who make this paper
possible...our advertisers.
THANK YOU!
Happy
Holidays!
Reader Respond to the
Death of Andy Lopez
It’s easy to put the blame on toy’s
that look like real guns, and bypass
the obvious, which is to question why
a 24 year veteran of law enforcement
shot a boy as he was turning around
(no doubt to see who was calling out to
him to drop the gun).
I want to know the history of the
officer who shot the boy. I want to
know what medications he was taking. I want to know if he was using steroids,
and whether or not he was working
overtime that day.
What I don’t want to hear about why
a child was carrying a toy gun...how
absurd!
Children for what ever cultural
reasons have been doing that for as
many years as I can remember.
This county has had far too many
assaults on innocent people by police,
which have ended death, and all have
been called ‘justifiable’. The usual
garbage response to such ugliness,
goes something like this: ‘while we
regret the loss of (fill in the blanks) life,
the officer feared for his own life, and
therefor had no other recourse but to
shoot’.
What utter nonsense...the office had
all kinds of options, he simply chose not
to use any of them, choosing instead to
shoot first, and ask questions later.
And another thing, we really need
to stop hiring combat veterans to
our police force, because by the very
nature of their military experience
they are trained to kill.
Mr. Carrillo was more than
disappointing with his questioning
why kids have a need to play with real
looking toy guns, and ask why people
sell them.
He didn’t even question the officer,
or the fact that that officer may
(damned well did in my opinion) over
react.
In this county it has long been
open season on the mentally ill...and
I hope against hope that this barbaric
behavior doesn’t carry over to children
too.
Grant Bowers
Vesta, I too am heartbroken for the
loss of Andy Lopez but it is a mistake
to point to the toy gun manufactures.
What will keep criminals from
making real guns look like toys
and endangering Peace Officers?
That being said, they are trained
professionals and need to accept risk
and evaluate situations with a cool
head. Considering; the likelihood of a
criminal carrying an assault weapon
in broad daylight? Has school let out
for the day? What is the estimated
accuracy of this person firing a
rifle from the hip? Did Andy even
have his finger on the trigger? Is the
person visibly showing signs of anger,
aggression, disturbance? Did I identify
myself? And most importantly, if I
as a Peace Officer pull that trigger
and take that life, have I used every
means in my training to properly
judge the situation? In addition, at the
time of the shooting, 5 houses away, a
homeowner was having his oak trees
pruned and chopped into chips on
the property. It was so loud I couldn’t
be outside, 3 houses from where the
work was being done. Did the officer
consider this may cause a problem
hearing?
Train our officers to negotiate
situations properly, instead of using
their weapons first and foremost. A
culture of gun worship by our Peace
Officers is not what any community
needs and if you demonize a
community for a few criminals
behavior you become unable to
think with a clear head when in this
community. I thank everyone in this community
for coming together in protest. Lissa Wick
I sold airsoft for several years in
Santa Rosa at Santa Rosa Airsoft and
most of my customers where parents
buying these guns for there kids and
adult men who got off shooting little
kids with these mil sim bb guns. Most
of them where prison guards, police
and military. Every airsoft gun I sold
was sold with a signed release of
liability and to an 18 year old person.
They were told to not remove the
orange tip by me and the manufacturer
has it posted on the box and or in the
instructions. This is a tragedy and
police know about these plastic bb
guns. I think the officer over reacted.
- James
I agree the officer over-reacted - and
I’m adding a request that our police forces
consider not hiring combat veterans who
have been trained that people are collateral
- not family.
Thanks for the background on Airsoft
sales as well - much appreciated.
~ Vesta
LETTERS cont’d on page 4
12/13 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 3
LETTERS cont’d from page 3
Understanding ‘mindset’
Santa Rosa Police Lt. Paul Henry
said, “The deputy’s mindset was that
he was fearful that he was going to be
shot” (“Deputies saw gun as real,” Oct.
24)
Was the deputy’s mindset seeing
Andy Lopez as Latino and not a human
being, teenager, son, cousin, friend,
student, trumpet and saxophone
player and the future?
Was the deputy’s mindset that
because Andy Lopez lived in the
Roseland area he was a threat? How
could the deputy have known he was
carrying an assault rifle when your
paper reported one of the seven bullets
in his young body was in his butt? It
sounds as if he never fully turned
around.
If mindset got us here, then we need
to look at the mindset law enforcement
has about our youth and ethnic groups.
We have to ask ourselves about our
mindset if we view this as only a
Latino issue.
This is every citizen’s, parent’s,
public servant’s and educator’s
problem. All of us must insist that a
citizens review board with voting and
veto power be established. How else
will we know that truth and justice
will be served?
Elaine B. Holtz
Students Respond…
Dear Vesta, Thank you so much for your articles
on the shooting of Andy Lopez in the
November, 2013 Sonoma County Gazette. I teach English as a Second Language,
and many of my students are from
Mexico and El Salvador. We used
samplings from the articles to study in
class. They really appreciated that the
articles came so quickly from people in
the community and that they reflected
the thoughts and opinions of people in
Sonoma County. They wanted to write
their feelings, too. The following four
essays are from students who wanted
to have their comments posted on your
website, as you invited the public to do. Thanks for your valuable contribution
to our community. Kathleen Roth
-------------------I think that the parents need more
precaution with their kids so that
they don’t play with toy guns because
it is dangerous. The policeman was
confused. He thought that the child
was a shooting man, so the policeman
made a wrong decision to kill.
Manuel Fernandez
------------------------I think that the police killed the
child because the policeman was afraid
when he saw the child who carried a
rifle. The police thought the rifle was
real. The policeman shot seven times. But why did he shoot seven times to
kill the child? That is the question. To kill somebody you need only one
shot. I think the policeman abused the
power he had. Or maybe he is racist. The parents are guilty, too, because
they bought that gun.
E. C.
Respect for Life is Missing
It seems like the respect for life
is disappearing. Unfortunately, a
13-year-old boy has to be killed to
show that guns are dangerous even
in the “right hands,” the hands of the
people who are trained, prepared,
to keep others safe and not to kill
others only because they feel afraid
of someone who they don’t know and
looks suspicious.
I’m done with this. I feel insecure
everywhere. I won’t be at peace until
Justice is done!
Kervin G.
-----------------------------------I have three points:
The first point is that the government
should have a prohibition against
making this toy.
The second point is that the police
need more training about this type of
situation and the difference between a
toy and a real gun.
The third point is that all adults
should know the consequences of
buying a toy that looks like a firearm.
Mauricio
The killing for Andy Lopez is a
tragedy all the way around. The loss
of a child is the greatest loss! And
knowing that you killed an innocent
child, I have no doubt, will haunt the
officer, forever. The child friend who
let Andy use the toy gun will live with
that. The friend’s parents, or whoever
gifted that toy gun to a child surely
didn’t foresee the consequences, but
must live with that. The manufacturer
who would make a toy gun look like
a real gun, surely shares responsibility
(an orange tip is ridiculous!). A
constellation
of
well-intended
actions contributed to this senseless
tragedy. Everyone shares the pain. Susan Meade
Andy Lopez was not playing with
a toy gun. You do not have to be
eighteen years old to purchase a toy
gun. A weapon that looks like an AK
47 is not a toy at any time. If a toy
gun is used committing a robbery, it
is considered a real weapon. I do not
know the circumstances surrounding
the death of the young man, but as two
killings of teachers in the last weeks
show, at thirteen Andy was not a child.
Shirley Oiler
Community Politics
Creekside Sewer Project
- Monte Rio
Dear Mr. Fein, “mr.csws” subscribers,
and ‘cc’ addressees:
I have followed and read the JPA
agreement between Monte Rio Parks &
Rec and Monte Rio Fire. Additionally
I have followed and often participated
in the related efforts and actions that
form a background of sorts; re: Monte
Rio wastewater issues.
The JPA agreement is an extremely
poorly devised vehicle to accomplish
the intended relationship of MRP&R
and MRVF to share costs associated
with the Creekside Park septic. If the
sole intent and purpose was to put in
writing a “contractual” arrangement
to share costs that could have been
much easier and straightforward
been accomplished with a “contract”
for services. There is in the current
explanations no ground necessitating a
JPA, an additional overlay of goverance,
Board of Directors, legal counsel, staff,
or any of the other complications,
authorities, etc. provided for, or
contemplated as ‘allowable’ under the
JPA.
I would recommend strongly that
this “necessity” of a JPA; instead
of a simple “contract”, be clearly
and without any ‘wiggle-room’ put
forward in writing to the community
of Monte Rio. Additionally the lack of
full-fledged effective outreach to the
community, through written notice
to each and every property owner of
both involved districts, and each and
every stakeholder and tenant, suggests
to me an intentional discounting
and dismissal of the community;
notwithstanding that the ‘letter of
the law’ might have been followed
regarding notice.
Please also accept this letter as my
request to receive through email notice
of meetings and Board packets of the
CWA.
Thank you for your time and
kindness in reading this short letter.
Yours, Lloyd Guccione
Lloyd,
Thank you for your input on this issue. I
don’t agree with your assessment.
In forming the JPA, the two districts
acted on advice from their attorney as to
the best way to move forward. Perhaps
there was another way to accomplish what
needed to be done, but I cannot say that
it would be better and I don’t agree that
this approach is “poorly devised”. It will
accomplish its intended goal of jointly
managing and operating a septic system
for the benefit of the two districts in the
most transparent way possible. It isn’t just
a contract.
Regarding outreach, the two districts
do not have budget or resources to provide
“written notice to each and every property
owner of both involved disrticts [sic], and
each and every stakeholder and tenant”
every time they need to make a decision,
even a major one. You may not agree
with that, but to say that this indicates
“intentional discounting and dismissal
of the community” is presumptuous and
wrong.
Having been on several local boards
over the years, I can say that as a
board member I value input from the
community, and that boards work better
with community input, especially informed
input. Just as the community relies on
the efforts of volunteers to take care of
its business, the district directors rely on
community members to make an effort to
keep themselves informed and to provide
informed feedback. This takes a lot of time
and effort, but it results in better decisions.
It is hoped and expected that community
members who are interested will attend
meetings and ask questions and provide
comments from different points of view.
In the end, it’s up to each board member
to consider all the facts and opinions and
come to a conclusion. There is a 100%
chance that someone will disagree with
that conclusion, but we do the best we can.
Community members who are really
interested and motivated might consider
running for a board seat. The last elections
of both boards were uncontested due to lack
of candidates.
~Dan Fein ~
Graton Election
I wish to express my appreciation
to Jane Eagle, President of the Graton
Community Services District (GCSD)
Board of Directors and Director John
Roehl for their years of service to
the Graton community. I am sure I
speak for many in saying this as we
all recognize the personal sacrifices
that go with such service and we
appreciate that Jane and John have
given unstintedly to us all. Sincerely,
HolLynn D’Lil
Newly elected GCSD Board member
Sonoma’s Measure B
How big is a big hotel? One editor in
town has flatly declared that a 59 room
hotel planned for Sonoma is “small”
according to “industry analysts.” But
Sonoma isn’t controlled by industry
analysts. Not yet anyway.
Size is relative, something in the eye
of the beholder. A ‘small’ hotel for Las
Vegas would be a gigantic hotel for
Sonoma, & vice versa. So as to Measure
B, what does “big” really mean? Here’s
an exercise in beholding:
Stand across from the 6-room
Ledson Hotel and observe its
mass. Walk around behind to get
a feel for its size. Measure B would
still allow a small hotel more than four
times bigger than the Ledson (i.e., 25
rooms) to be built. Even a hotel that ‘small’ would
stretch from E. Napa Street to north
of the Sebastiani Theatre. Its mass
would equal or dwarf any other Plaza
building. Most residents would
agree: For Sonoma, that’s a big ‘small’
hotel! Yet those opposed to Measure B
want even more massive hotels.
So, visualize a 60-room hotel ---10
times the size of the 6-room Ledson. It
would be the largest building
downtown has ever seen. Its footprint
would be large enough to hold 13
of the biggest downtown buildings,
including City Hall. For Sonoma,
that’s a really big hotel. As many as three such hotels are
planned or rumored for Sonoma if
Measure B fails, including a project
by The Kessler Collection, hotel
developers headed by Richard
C. Kessler, the former Chairman,
President and CEO of Days Inn of
America, Inc. Would hotels that size
change the character of Sonoma, &
if so, how? What if more such hotels
followed, some even larger? That’s what Measure B is about. The
moneyed special interests arrayed
against Measure B want you to believe
that hotels 5, 10 or more times bigger
than the Ledson won’t ruin Sonoma’s
Quality of Life or historic & priceless
small-town character. If you disagree, vote “Yes on B,” and
tell your friends: In Sonoma, “Small is
Big.” Size Matters.
Bob Edwards, Sonoma
Forestville Roundabout
Hi Vesta,
Those
concerned
about
the
proposed roundabout in Forestville
may find this linked video very
interesting.
www.treehugger.com/
cars/mythbusters-roundabouts-vs-4way-stop-intersection-which-moreefficient-video.html
The MythBusters conducted a test
segment to study the benefits and
differences of an intersection using
a roundabout vs. the 4-way stop.
Entertaining and enlightening.
Thanks, Mark Paglietti
LETTERS cont’d from page5
Small Town Sebastopol
Editor:
The City of Sebastopol and CVS have
a legal agreement that indemnifies the
city against any damages or settlement
related to the suit by Committee for
Small Town Sebastopol.
The Small Town suit charges that
approval by the 2012 City Council
did not take into account The Barlow
and the increased traffic it would
bring to our town core and perhaps
neighborhood streets as well, as drivers
try to avoid the crush at the intersection
of Sebastopol and Petaluma Avenues.
Of special concern are the pedestrians
and cars at Bodega Ave, High St and
Jewell, the hub for visitors to the Senior
Center, the Center for the Arts, Ives
Park, Parkside School and Sebastopol
Christian Church.
CalTrans also is concerned about
the application by CVS for turns into
and out of the project from State Hwys
12 and 116. CVS has not responded to
requests for more information asked
for a year ago by CalTrans, and so far
the permits have not been issued.
New development is good for
Sebastopol’s economy; it must also be
good for the health and welfare of the
community. Barlow is a good citizen.
CVS has proven not to be.
Helen Shane, Co-founder Committee
for Small Town Sebastopol
Protecting Our Planet
Dear Gazette Readers:
Some of you have been inquiring as
to why I haven’t written any articles the
last few months. I wanted to respond
publicly in case more of you have been
wondering the same thing.
I’ve taken some time off to renew
this aging body of mine. Father Time
has been taking its toll lately.
Last August I had cataract surgery.
It’s something I had been putting off
for many years and now I wonder why.
Viewing the computer had become
more and more difficult. The surgery
went very well and my vision is greatly
improved.
Then in October I had a more serious
surgery: a total knee replacement. That
too went very well, although I have a
long period of rehabilitation ahead of
me before the knee will feel totally
natural. The worst part was not driving
for a month. I also had to cut way back
on most of my work and activities. I
am now doing much better, but I still
tire easily and can’t plan too many
activities in any given day. I will limit
my work through the rest of this year,
and expect to be back full force by
January 1st. You can expect an article
from me in the January Gazette. In the meantime, you can read
our most recent newsletter to our
supporters at our website (www.
rrwpc.org) I hope you all have a very
joyous holiday season. Sincerely, Brenda Adelman
Hi Vesta
Thanks for being the first media
outlet to raise this issue! (Residents
Appeal Expansion of Printing Factory
in Coastal Hills Nov. 2013 Gazette) It’s
important to many of us, and likely to
matter to many others.
Christopher Fisher
VP, Petaluma Grange 851
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
has increased from about 320 ppm
in 1960 to almost 400 ppm today,
an amount not equaled for 800,000
years. This has caused Pacific Ocean
temperatures to rise rapidly. Surface
temperatures of 30 C boiled up into
Typhoon Haiyan, a super storm
killing 10,000 people in one area of
the Philippines and leaving the living
in a nightmare landscape of corpses,
with no food or water, debris blocking
roads, another tropical storm on the
way.
We need to change our lives and
the giant corporations that dominate
our lives to slow the juggernaut of
accelerating climate change. We must
hold fossil fuel industries financially
accountable for the consequences
of climate change instead of
subsidizing them. We need wind
and solar power; efficient electrical
transmission; zero energy buildings;
public transportation; sustainable
construction, agriculture, fishing,
forestry.... and education for women
and access to birth control.
I am planning to give money to
agencies struggling to bring food and
water to the people of the Philippines,
but I had to write this letter as well.
Thank you for your attention,
Ann Erickson, Monte Rio
In regard to the dying great oak at
Jack London State Historic Park - the
wood should be milled and a period
furniture reproduction should be
made from it. It would be a great legacy
to the park, cottage, and tree!
Ted Judah
Thanks for caring Ted - great ideas and
the tree issue contonues to be examined by
many. It’s ot over yet! Stay in touch ~ vesta
Thank You!
I’m really glad that not everybody
has forgotten the whistleblowers. Let’s
look forward to a pardon for Kiriakou.
America shouldn’t have a single
political prisoner. Thank you for your
work! Thomas Fitzpatrick, New York
I started doing my research on
upcoming holiday events and your
site is by far, the best. You include a
great assortment of events, have them
categorized by topics, and they aren’t
all about wine! I was thrilled to finally
find a resource that didn’t have a
calendar where 99% of the events are
wine related. I will definitely be telling
my friends about this great resource
and will continue to use it in the future.
Shannon Holl
Dear Vesta,
Just a note to say how special the Rik
Olson pumpkins are on the October
Gazette cover!! We never see his
beautiful drawings signed! They are
always a step to a new season and so
well done – oh, and I thank you for
your good job, too! “The Best!”
Bob Millington, Guerneville
Stewards of the Coast
& Redwoods
Happy Holidays!
Personally, I have so much to
be thankful for in my work-life at
Stewards. It is truly an honor working
with such a dedicated Board and Staff.
The energy at our Annual Board and
Staff Retreat was exhilarating as
we looked forward to the goals and
objectives we will accomplish in 2014.
I continue to be inspired by our
amazing volunteers and docents, some
of whom I have been working with
for the last 19 years. Some of you have
been dedicated to Stewards and your
State Parks for all twenty-eight years!
Thank you to each and every one of
you for sharing your love of nature
with over 101,000 Park Visitors a year.
We look forward to seeing many of you
at our Annual Volunteer Celebration
on December 6th.
We also thank the State Park staff we
work with. They work hard these days,
with limited staffing, to care for and
ensure the protection and preservation
of the parks they work in.
With your support in the past
year, we have kept Austin Creek SRA
open and thriving with staff and
volunteers who made campground
improvements,
reopened
the
backcountry sites, led volunteer
stewardship days and implemented
new interpretive programs in this
exquisite 5700 acres of wilderness.
With project partners, Stewards
has made great progress in raising
the initial funding needed to stabilize
the structures at Pond Farm. In 2014,
this work will be completed and we
will also be working on raising funds
for the next phase of Pond Farm’s
rehabilitation as well as respectful
ways to honor Pond Farm’s legacy
through new programs.
Citizen Science programs are a
wonderful way for volunteers to learn
more about the natural world and assist
with collecting data that can affect
changes that will provide protection
for threatened species. In 2013, new
citizen scientists engaged in Stewards’
new Seabird Monitoring Program.
They were inspired by the work they
did which provided the beginnings of
a program that will grow in the new
year as we develop a new chapter of
the Seabird Protection Network with
neighboring projects at Fort Ross and
Sea Ranch.
Sonoma Coast State Park has one
of the most beautiful coastlines in the
world. In 2014, Stewards will increase
our presence on the coast with our
new Marine Education Program. This
program will include new ways to
explore the coast with nontraditional
park users as well as a mobile facility
that will migrate up and down the
coast providing public education and
outreach to thousands of park visitors.
Invest in our Success - for every
dollar you give to Stewards,
we leverage it 6 times over with
funding from other sources.
Stewards’ Board of Directors
has put forth a challenge for you to
match their $10,000 contribution by
January 2014.
On behalf of the Board and Staff at
Stewards, I wish each of you a lovely
Thanksgiving with your friends and
family.
Warmly,
Michele Luna, Executive Director
NEWS happens daily,
so when Cotati voted to NOT
fluoridate their water system,
we posted this letter that
came to us describing the city
council meeting
Tuesday November 12, 2013 Cotati
became the first city to follow the
2012-13 Sonoma County Civil Grand
Jury’s recommendation to the Board
of Supervisors, “With respect to
fluoridation, the Board of Supervisors
make impartial decisions based on the
best evidence available, allowing for
both pro and con views to be heard.”
Kim Caldewey, PA, MPH, of the
Sonoma County Department of
Health Services, made a Powerpoint
presentation in support of water
fluoridation, supported by testimony
from Santa Rosa dentist Dr. Anthony
Fernandez. Ms. Caldewey is on the
staff of County Health Officer Dr.
Lynn Silver Chalfin. The head of
Department of Health Services Rita
Scardaci, RN, BSN/PHN, was present
but did not speak.
The argument against water
fluoridation was presented
by
Sonoma County Water Coalition cofounder Stephen Fuller-Rowell, and
Cotati thyroid specialist Richard
Shames, MD. Additional testimony
was provided by Sonoma County
Water Advisory Board Chair Chris De
Gabriel, Santa Rosa dentist Dr. Laura
Gaeta-Wilson, Dawna GallagherStroeh, Director of Clean Water
Sonoma-Marin, and other members of
the public.
After hearing and discussing
the many facets of the fluoridation
issue, the Cotati City Council voted
unanimously to write the Sonoma
County Board of Supervisors to say
that Cotati opposes water fluoridation.
Read the article in the Community
Voic e:w w w.t hecom mu n it y voic e.
c o m/a r c h i v e _ a r t i c l e .
php?id=7390&articleType=news
Thank you, Cotati City Council!!
– Jan (a Santa Rosa resident)
Send LETTERS and
COMMENTS on articles
to [email protected]. We’ll
post your comments to
stories on our website
as they come in.
THANK YOU
COTATI cont’d from page 1
dental clinics in Sonoma County
between 2008 and 2012, and outlined
unmet needs for dental care among the
county’s economically disadvantaged
children. She asserted that fluoridating
the water supplied to the majority of
the county’s residents in an attempt
to reduce dental decay in this target
demographic is the most cost-effective
approach to addressing the issue.
The argument against water
fluoridation was presented by Sonoma
County Water Coalition co-founder
Stephen Fuller-Rowell and Cotati
thyroid specialist Richard Shames,
MD. Additional testimony was
provided by Santa Rosa dentist Dr.
Laura Gaeta-Wilson.
North Marin Water District General
Manager Chris DeGabriele described
the technical issues involved with
implementing the water fluoridation
proposal.
Dr. Shames and Mr. Fuller-Rowell
presented current scientific evidence
that ingesting fluorine and fluoride
compounds does not reduce tooth
decay, has no statistically significant
beneficial effect on dental health, and
actually creates some types of dental
and skeletal problems. Dr. Shames
outlined the detrimental effects of
fluorides on endocrine function and
IQ. Mr. Fuller-Rowell explained how
fluoridation would conflict with
existing public policy and observed,
“it’s time to move beyond the magical
thinking from the 1950s that believed
fluoride would give us all perfect teeth
without affecting anything else in our
bodies or in the world around us.”
All presenters agreed that increasing
access to dental treatment, preventative
care and effective oral hygiene
training is necessary, differing only
on the safety, efficacy, and legitimacy
of community water fluoridation. All
those who spoke during the public
comment portion of the meeting were
in opposition to the proposed water
fluoridation scheme.
In their discussion following the
presentations, the members of the
council cited a number of reasons
for their unanimous vote against the
proposal:
• the ethical issues of exposing
residents to medication or drugs
without their consent;
• the effect of fluoridation chemicals
on the environment and wildlife;
• learning from past mistakes, such
as draining wetlands, and not
repeating them;
• concerns about the safety and lack
of government regulation of the
chemicals to be added to the water;
• the union of 1,500 EPA scientists,
lawyers and engineers’ rejection of
fluoridated water.
COTATI cont’don page 9
COTATI cont’d from page 8
“Fluoridation is a 1960’s answer to
a 1950’s problem, but the reality is we
now live in the 21st century. In this day
and age local governments recognize
the myriad concerns raised by dosing
our water supply and environment
with chemicals, no matter how initially
well intended” said Mark Landman,
Mayor of the City of Cotati.
Cotati joins west coast cities of
Portland, Oregon and Davis, California
in rejecting the addition of fluoridation
chemicals to public community water
supplies earlier in the year. All of
these cities are college towns with
young, educated, politically active
and
environmentally
conscious
populations.
Clint
Griess,
Community
Coordinator of Clean Water California,
noted this trend. “The worst fear
of water fluoridation proponents
in California is the emergence of a
politically sophisticated and dedicated
movement to counter their wellfunded, behind-the-scenes lobbying
of local and state officials. People of
every political persuasion are coming
together and rapidly learning what it
will take — personally and collectively
— to defeat what we see as an affront
to public health, the right to consent,
and plain common sense.”
Fluoride-Free Sonoma County is a coalition
of individuals and organizations dedicated to
keeping the waters of Sonoma County clean,
pure and free of fluoridation chemicals. www.
fluoridefreesonomacounty.org/
“After a professional and very respectful discussion of the
issue on all sides, the City Council of Cotati voted 5-0 endorsing
recommendations…which supported focusing anticipated
funding on the other four pillars of dental health (education on
appropriate personal dental health habits…expansion of access to
dental health care, fluoride varnishes, and sealants). The motion
also included opposition to fluoridation of the Sonoma County
Water Agency’s transmission system.”
~ Mayor Mark Landman, City of Cotati, Nov, 18, 2013
TOY GUNS cont’d from page 1
The large, peaceful actions by
Latinos and their allies could make
changes in how Latino neighborhoods
are treated by law enforcement. Latinos
make up 25% of the population of
Santa Rosa and Sonoma County; they
are the fastest growing group. Their
continued mobilization on behalf
of Andy indicates the rise of a mass
movement.
“The Lopez family wants justice
for the killing of Andy Lopez, which
would be the prosecution of the law
officer,” said the family’s attorney
Arnoldo Casillas. Those gathered
decided to found a Justice Coalition
for Andy Lopez. It would focus on
the demand for prosecution, and raise
other concerns during the sixty days
following the meeting. That time was
chosen because District Attorney
Jill Ravitch must complete her
investigation 90 days after the slaying
of Lopez.
Among those at the meeting were
representatives of the following and
other groups: American Civil Liberties
Union, North Bay Organizing Project,
Latino Democratic Club, Peace and
Justice Center, 100 Thousand Poets
for Change, Green Party, Police
Accountability, Clinic, and Helpline
(PACH), Peace and Freedom Party,
students from the Santa Rosa Junior
College, and close friends of the Lopez
family.
“The vacant lot (where Andy was
killed) as a park would mean a lot to
the family,” attorney Casillas said. The
neighborhood has already constructed
a large memorial for Lopez there,
where it holds regular prayer vigils.
Other demands include the creation of
a transparent Civilian Review Board
to investigate police accountability
and cameras for all police officers to
wear to document their interactions
with residents.
“The lawsuit is a federal civil rights
lawsuit. Andy’s civil rights were
violated, as were those of his parents.
We will later file a wrongful death
suit,” Casillas explained. “We are going
to look at the policies and practices of
the Sheriff’s Office. Many witnesses
are afraid to speak to the police. The
investigation is a whitewash. I believe
their decision has already been made.
The conflict of interest is clear.”
Attorney Casillas previously won
a $24 million settlement in a lawsuit,
which went to trial, for a family whose
boy was paralyzed by a Los Angeles
police officer with only one shot.
Casillas reported on the physical
evidence of an independent autopsy.
“The first bullet hit his heart and he fell
to the ground immediately.” Gelhaus
fired seven more shots, six of which
hit the dead boy. “The other officer
(present) was an 11-year-veteran of
another police force.
He did not shoot. One shot and the
other did not see a threat and did not
shoot,” noted Casillas.
The thousands demanding justice
for 13-year-old Any Lopez, slain by
combat military veteran Gelhaus, had
a busy November; more actions are
planned for December and beyond.
Numerous large marches, rallies,
and prayer vigils have been held, as
were Teach-Ins at both Santa Rosa
Junior College (JC) and Sonoma State
University (SSU).
SRPD’s current police chief is
scheduled to resign and be replaced
on December 20, according to Taylor
Anderson-Stevenson of the Women’s
Justice Center. A totally secret selection
process for a new chief appears to be
happening; not even elected SR City
Council members are involved in a
closed-doors, out-of-sight process. Yet
transparency is essential to democracy,
so that citizens, rather than an elite,
make decisions, especially when it
comes to life-or-death issues.
At the overflow SSU gathering of
around 150, Chicano and Latino Studies
professor Ron Lopez commented,
“Kids do not have appropriate places
to play in southwest Santa Rosa. These
are forgotten people, seen as ‘the
enemy.’ He fired too fast, too many
times.” Dr. Lopez added.
“The Andy Lopez tragedy is
intimately implicated with the
militarization of the police,” SSU
sociology professor Noel Byrne noted
later. “The culture of this militarized
force promotes a perceptual framework
akin to that of an occupying force.
Most of the general public is seen as
like the populations of Vietnam, Iraq
and Afghanistan during wartime,”
added Byrne.
The JC Teach-In drew around 800
people inside a packed room and
outside listening on a loudspeaker,
according to a JC staff member. “This
shooting had the same significance as
Rosa Parks saying she would not give
up her seat on the bus,” declared Alicia
Sanchez, an attorney and president of
KBBF bi-lingual radio. “I am proud of
the youth. You have taken this killing
up as Cesar Chavez taught us—nonviolently.”
A December 3 protest at a
fundraiser for DA Ravitch’s re-election
is scheduled for the Santa Rosa
Veterans building. Information about
pending events is available at www.
facebook.com/marchforandylopez.
Those events are planned to climax
in a January 20 rally on Martin Luther
King Day, which would be at the end
of the sixty days.
“Andy Lopez is not going to be
forgotten,” attorney Casillas noted
near the end of the new coalition’s
founding meeting. “There is something
that resonates deeply in the hearts of
people about the killing of Andy.”
The ANDY LOPEZ RULE
By Marni Wroth
The Campaign for the ANDY
LOPEZ RULE demands that the
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
act
immediately
to
assume
responsibility for written policy
governing SCSO personnel use of
deadly force. Although most county
residents assume that there must be
critical civilian oversight of life and
death matters such as the use of deadly
force by law enforcement - there is no
oversight by our elected leaders on this
life or death matter at all.
That lack of critical oversight
allowed development of SCSO policies
on the use of deadly force that are
convoluted, unclear, and written in
legal language only attorneys (not
police cadets) can understand. These
policies are an extremely dangerous
threat to public safety. These policies
have fostered unnecessary police
shootings by putting an extremely
strong emphasis on officer safety
while ignoring citizen safety.
The ANDY LOPEZ RULE is legal,
simple, clear, complete, and easily
understandable by police cadets
and trainers. It simply says that law
enforcement personnel in Sonoma
county will not use deadly force
unless they are either, a) fired upon,
b) under obvious and imminent
attack, or, c) pursuing an armed
fugitive felon. Please compare that to
current SCSO policy, which the ANDY
LOPEZ RULE will replace: It is the
policy of this Department to resort
to the use of a firearm, when it
reasonably appears to be necessary,
and generally: (a) A deputy may use
deadly force to protect him or herself
or others from what they reasonably
believe would be an immediate threat
of death or serious bodily injury. (b) A
deputy may use deadly force to affect
the arrest or prevent the escape of a
suspected felon where the deputy has
probable cause to believe that the
suspect has committed or intends
to commit a felony involving the
inflicting or threatened inflicting of
serious bodily injury or death. Under
such circumstances, a verbal warning
should precede the use of deadly force
where feasible.
Black’s Law Dictionary defines the
term obvious as “apparent, easily seen
or understood.” We believe that no
law enforcement officer should EVER
shoot to kill when there is no obvious
need. If the need to use deadly
force is not apparent, easily seen or
understood, by a reasonable observer
at the scene – then deadly force MUST
NOT BE USED. Current policy only
requires the deputy to believe there
is an immediate threat. That is the
only criteria that must to be met before
the deputy shoots to kill. The need
to kill doesn’t have to be obvious or
apparent! The current policy appears
to have been written only to provide
cover for law enforcement use of
deadly force – not to protect against
unnecessary police shootings of
innocent people.
The Campaign for the ANDY
LOPEZ RULE demands that the Board
of Supervisors immediately call upon
the Sheriff to make the ANDY LOPEZ
RULE department policy by replacing
SCSO department manual policy
304.11(a)(b) with the ANDY LOPEZ
RULE.
[email protected]
Burning wood and wood products for heat continues to be an excellent source
of heat using sustainable products. Forests are farmed like other agricultural
products, used for building products, furniture and more. Trees filter our air
while providing oxygen. With properly functioning, ecologically designed
wood burning stoves, heat is generated with minimum impacts to air quality.
Regulating Toy Guns
By Teala Schaff,
Communications Director for Senator
Noreen Evans (D- Santa Rosa)
California
state
legislators
announced
plans
to
introduce
legislation regulation imitation or
“copycat” guns in an effort to stem a
reoccurring tragedy involving the toys
being mistaken for real firearms. The
Imitation Firearm Safety Act would
amend California law to define what
an imitation firearm is and what
those imitations must look like to
differentiate real guns from fake guns. Currently, toy guns such as paintball,
airsoft and bb guns are not included
in the California legal definition of
imitation weapons. The goal of the
legislation is to prevent tragedies
that occur when toy guns too closely
resemble real firearms.
“Currently these copycat toys
are manufactured to be virtually
indistinguishable from real firearms,”
said Senator Noreen Evans (D-Santa
Rosa) a joint author of the legislation.
“Because the use of lethal force against
a person carrying an imitation firearm
is a significant threat to public safety,
toys must look like toys and not lethal
weapons.”
Last month in Santa Rosa, 13-yearold Andy Lopez was tragically shot
and killed by Sheriff deputies who
believed the airsoft gun he was
carrying was a real AK-47.
“In the coming Legislative Session, I
plan to re-introduce my bill that would
require all BB, pellet and airsoft guns
to have their entire exterior surfaces
painted a bright color,” said Senator
Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) and
joint author of the bill. “Toy gun
replicas do not belong on the streets. They endanger children, teens and law
enforcement. We can easily protect
everyone involved with this simple
solution.”
A 1990 study commissioned by the
Department of Justice found that there
are more than 200 incidents per year in
which imitation guns are mistaken for
real firearms.
According to law enforcement,
one of the primary dangers posed
by imitation firearms is that such
guns are used by children and young
adults who may not comprehend the
seriousness of displaying them around
unsuspecting law enforcement officers
or around other armed individuals. As a result, officers and community
residents can find themselves in
precarious situations when they are
unable to distinguish imitation guns
from handguns and assault weapons.
In a similar incident in 2010, a
teenager was accidentally shot by
the Los Angeles Police Department
(LAPD) who misidentified the replica
gun he was carrying. The teenager
and two of his friends were playing
that evening in the middle of a dark
street shooting pellets at one another
with fake handguns. When the two
LAPD officers stopped to investigate,
the boys ran away, but one produced
a pellet gun that the LAPD officers
mistook for a real handgun. A LAPD
officer who feared for his life shot the
teenager in self-defense. The pellet
gun looked identical to a real gun and
it even had the exact dimensions of a
Beretta 92F.
As a result of this accidental
shooting, SB 798 (De León) was
introduced in 2011 in collaboration
with Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie
Beck to require distinguishing colors
on BB guns. This measure would have
allowed law enforcement to effectively
discriminate between imitation and
real firearms. Though the measure
failed passage in the Assembly Public
Safety Committee, SB 1315 (De Leon)
was signed by Governor Brown
last year to allow cities within the
County of Los Angeles to enact local
ordinances more restrictive than state
law regulating the manufacture, sale,
possession, or use of any BB device,
toy gun, or replica of a firearm that
substantially similar to existing
firearms (Statutes of 2012, Chapter 214).
State Senator Noreen Evans represents
the Second Senatorial District, including
all or portions of the Counties of Humboldt,
Lake, Mendocino, Marin (caretaker), Napa,
Solano and Sonoma. Senator Evans chairs
the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
By Carl Wahl and Jim Robinson
Last month’s article explained
how to complete an on-line survey
to provide the California Public
Utilities
Commission
(CPUC)
with information on your Internet
connectivity. (Articles are available
at www.sonomacountygazette.com.)
This survey is vital for anyone who is
dissatisfied with their current Internet
service or wants to review their
Internet options.
This article briefly reviews the online survey and then discusses an
alternate way to complete the survey—
submitting a mail-in survey. Last I’ll
discuss how to check your cell phone
provider’s performance using a mobile
app test that is available for Android
“smartphones.”
The CPUC currently has $158M
dedicated to subsidize high speed
Internet deployment. These surveys
will help the CPUC target funding to
unserved and underserved areas.
On-Line Survey:
This is the survey most computer
users should use. The CPUC’s on-line
survey is at: www.broadbandmap.
ca.gov and is linked to the California
Broadband Interactive Map. Select
“Interactive Map” (left icon) and then
select the house icon to enter your
address to view Internet options
supposedly available to you. The map
may show your residence as having
access to Internet providers that
don’t exist in your area or may show
speeds your provider is not capable
of delivering. Conversely, you may
discover Internet options that you
didn’t know were available to you.
The survey includes a free text
area where you may provide more
detailed feedback. Even if you have
no comments to post, it’s critical to
enter your name and e-mail address
in this text area so that the CPUC has
your permission to use your survey
results.
If you are unsatisfied with the
Internet service you have, enter “not
served” on the survey.
Mail-in Survey:
Although primarily for people with
slow or no Internet access, the mail-in
survey may be used by anyone. The
mail-in survey is printed in this
issue of the Gazette (see adjacent
page)! Just fill it out and mail it in. It’s
also available for printing on-line at
www.broadbandmap.ca.gov.
(Select
“California Broadband Availability
Maps and Data” and then select
“Broadband Survey.”)
The main
drawback in using this form is that
you are unable to view the services
and speeds that the Internet carriers
claim are available to you.
If you are unable to perform the
requested speed test, write “unable to
perform.”
Question 4 is important. If a carrier
stated that they cannot serve you,
or will charge an exorbitant rate,
document it here. Ideally, obtain a
letter of denial of service from the
carrier and mail a copy of it to the
CPUC (at the address shown on the
survey).
The form directs you to use the
reverse side for questions, comments,
or concerns. Instead, attach a separate
sheet with your name and address and
use it as your “free text” area.
Android Mobile Device Test:
This is not a survey. It’s a way to test
your cell phone provider’s availability,
speed, and latency using an Android
“smartphone” and a mobile app
known as CalSPEED. It allows you to
provide speed test data directly to the
CPUC from any location (preferably
outdoors), and it permits quick,
multiple tests. The results are used
to validate provider coverage claims.
If the speed is low or the latency
high, the CPUC needs your feedback
to determine mobile broadband
availability. Don’t use it to test wifi.
CalSPEED (designed by the CPUC)
uses a two-phase test that is superior
to other on-line speed tests. Through
CalSPEED, the CPUC can compare
coverage at locations throughout
California.
The public domain version of
CalSPEED can be downloaded from
the Google Play store. To find the app,
once again, type www.broadbandmap.
ca.gov and select the center icon to be
re-directed to Google Play. From there
you can install the app on your mobile
phone.
A similar iPhone app is in
development but is still several months
away from being available. I’ll keep
you informed.
Please do your part! Choose from these
three survey methods and provide
the CPUC with your input. This is an
important step toward obtaining high
speed rural Internet. Again, survey
results will help determine where
grant money goes to assist connecting
areas in greatest need.
Comments?
[email protected]
FIRST in the WORLD!
LGBT Retirement Community
fit to allow gay marriage, there’s hope
By Vesta Copestakes
Ho
Hum
another
retirement for everyone who loves someone!
So with the opening of this
development in Sonoma County what’s news about that!? Well - it IS LGBT retirement community, there
news because it’s the very first LGBT is recognition on a level that is
(Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender) unprecedented. THAT’s the news.
The fact that this is a luxury
planned community in the WORLD!
Fitting for Sonoma County because community - like I asked Gary and
we have considered ourselves a safe- Tom - double income no kids? means
haven for the LGBT community for that it’s high on the hills above Santa
Rosa with views anyone would envy.
decades - maybe longer.
The buildings are
California
is
like a Craftsman
known to be the
Lodge with wood,
first in many
glass and stone.
innovative topics
It’s a stunning
- technology and
architectural
env i ron menta l
wonder designed
issues
being
and
built
by
the most wellCindy and Bill
known...but
we
Gallagher
who
also take pride
take great pride
in
our
social
in the structure...
consciousness.
Part of that spills Gary Gielow, Cindy Gallagher & Tom Shamp but their greatest
pride
is
in
over into a higher
tolerance of gender complexities. Here, creating a place where their clientele
we know there are not just males and can relax in the company of likefemales who mate with the opposite minded residents. Like Cindy said in
sex. Entire communities have become her presentation, a safe environment.
At this point Fountaingrove is 65%
safe havens for people who don’t fit
into the “union of a man and a woman” occupied as people begin to move in to
mind-set. But neighborhoods in cities, their brand new home. Residents don’t
or towns where “tolerance” is tolerated, HAVE to be LGBT, so many people who
are not intentional communities, more are looking at the facility are not. It’s
a rather stunning example of luxury
ones that evolved over time.
When I walked into the grand living with suites looking across broad
opening evening at Fountaingrove vistas, dining rooms, a library, exercise
Lodge, I was immediately introduced facilities and of course, medical aid for
to Gary Gielow and Tom Shamp residents who require assistance. All
who are the first residents of this the bases are covered.
But in all it’s glory, I still think
first community. They have been
life partners for 47 years, a fact that the most spectacular aspect of this
few of my heterosexuals friends can retirement community is that it is the
claim, including me. I will die before safe haven the Gallagher’s imagined
I see that anniversary with Alan! And and built. Welcome home folks. This
yet these two men have never been is your place to relax and live out the
allowed to marry until now and they golden years in comfort...and style!
http://fountaingrovelodge.com
are considering being the first couple
4210 Thomas Lake Harris Dr.
to marry at Fountaingrove. Why not?
Santa Rosa 707-584-6595
Now that our entire country has seen
Election Impacts
Graton
By Vesta Copestakes
In early November several of our
communities had elections for issues
that were specific to each area…
Graton was for the Community
Services District Board…Sonoma was
for Hotel size…Bodega Bay was for
the Fire Board. I suspect there were
communities that had elections. I only
know of these because readers keep
me informed...thank you!
Sonoma
Bob Edwards was a mover and
shaker in Sonoma, trying to keep
the number of hotel rooms down to
a size that would keep the integrity
of Sonoma intact as they grow into
the future. This one went down by a
very small margin. He was seriously
disappointed, as were many people,
and lots of personal money was spent
on both sides arguing that each side
was right about their future.
Does this mean that giant hotels will
go into downtown Sonoma? Hard to
say, but the original intent was to curb
one that is planned and now that one
can move forward.
BUT - in the process it looks like the
developer heard what the town was
saying and designed it smaller. What
will happen now?
Sonoma’s outcry was heard in
Healdsburg where a large hotel was
panned and people objected enough
through meetings and being vocal
that the developer cut that one down
to something more reasonable as well.
That’s now. Let’s see what happens as
the economy continues to improve and
values shift with money.
Bodega Bay
In Bodega Bay the community is at a
crossroads with how to pay for services
that few who are taxed actually use.
The majority of emergencies are not
fire - they are accident and medical
caused by visitors who make mistakes
on our twisty roads, drink too much
and fall off rocks, get caught in waves,
etc. The populace feels it isn’t fair
that those who have homes should be
paying for accidents cause by visitors.
This one still doesn’t have a solution
even though some long-term fire board
members were voted off the board and
new people are coming on. They will
be having a Community Workshop
on December 11th at 1pm at the fire
station- please check the Bodega Bay
Fire website (New Tax Measure) for
specifics in case it’s changed since I
attended their meeting. Everyone is
welcome to attend and give input.
There will be an election in April on
a proposed tax increase, so now is the
time to help come up with a solution if
there is one!
In Graton two members of the
Community Services District board
were voted off the board and two new
people will be coming on board. The
new people feel they have answers to
concerns that have been voiced over
the years regarding high fees and
what many feel is an over-built sewer
treatment system.
This is a hotly debated subject in
their tiny town. The state-of-the-art
treatment plant is both something
to be proud of at the same time it’s
astonishing considering the number of
hook-ups paying for it.
BUT - each community has to meet
environmental standards or face huge
fines, so while some complain, others
consider the clever ways in which
this project was financed to be rather
remarkable. Time will tell what the
new people learn once they are in the
seats their former volunteers sat. But
they will learn soon enough. Pity it
got so nasty right before the election.
Hopefully peace will reign over time.
Guerneville Fire District
This one is not an election issue,
more of a proposed election where
people in the community are
gathering signatures in a recall effort
to oust fire board members who have
lost the respect of firefighters and the
community. This all started when the
board fired Chief Max Ming without
telling him or anyone else why - then
hired a lawyer - then got into hot water
with the community over the firing
because no one could understand what
they had against Ming.
Over time the list of reasons was
brought forth, people saw most as
petty and looked for some underlying
reason not evident to anyone. A
mediator was hired, the fire boards
that share Chief Ming (Forestville and
Russian River) debated and all came
to a compromise when Ming was reinstated. Whew!
Volunteer Boards
Community boards are made up
of volunteers who get personally
involved in their mission that they stay
on the board so long other people have
no clue what it takes to run the district.
People rely on the old standards and no
one comes in to challenge the existing
board until something goes wrong or
people make a fuss.
The hard part is how it’s easy to
complain but difficult to come up
with new people willing to volunteer
to learn the subject and take on
responsibilities of a district.
Anyone willing to run for Russian
River Fire? Bodgea Bay and Graton
found new people…well?
Some gifts have an impact that is greater than
any object can provide - give someone time off
from a thankless task...hire a housecleaner!
Holidays Along the
Farm Trails
by Carmen Snyder, Executive Director
of Sonoma County Farm Trails
As an alternative to the madness
of “Black Friday” and the barrage of
overly packaged, highly processed,
heavily branded & exceedingly fartraveled consumer goods, why not
shop along the Farm Trails this year?
Nothing beats gifts that are handmade, home-grown, artfully packaged
and carefully produced. Support your
local farmers, artisanal producers and
small businesses by shopping locally
this holiday season. Here are some
of our top picks for thoughtful gifts.
Arrange any or all of the following in
a crate or gift basket for a magnificent
package.
Gypsy Cheese Co.
1. Cheese. The rolling, soon to be
greening, hills of Sonoma County
are home to vast herds of sheep,
goats & cows AND to exceptional
cheesemakers
who
carry
the
knowledge and inherited recipes of
how to transform milk into delectable
cheeses. This of course is a perishable
item that might require more careful
timing, but what a treat to receive the
gift of grass, sunlight, milk flowing
through udders, and patient human
tending. Look for Bellwether Farms,
Cowgirl Creamery, Gypsy Cheese
Co., Pug’s Leap, Redwood Hill and
Vella Cheese.
2. Olive Oil. Our region produces
extraordinary, high quality olive oil.
You can’t go wrong helping to stock
up on this delicious, nutrient-dense,
gourmet staple grown and processed
right here in Sonoma County. Have
fun exploring the world of olive oil
Stay in touch all month long @
www.SonomaCountyGazette.com
Valley Ford Wool Mill & Mercantile
and sampling varietals. Go to DuttonGoldfield, Kozlowski Farms, Preston
of Dry Creek, and Terra Bella Vista
Olive Oil Co.
3. Cider. Hard cider is an up and
coming Sonoma County specialty.
Our cider makers are handcrafting
and fresh-pressing batches using
local heirloom apples. The results
are complex and delightful. We love
DeVoto Orchard Cider and Tilted
Shed Ciderworks, both of whom sell
a Gravenstein cider!
4. Wine. This divine libation makes
an excellent gift for any occasion.
Diverse microclimates in Sonoma
County translate into incredible
varietals in our various appellations.
Since we’re home to world-class
wineries, take advantage and buy
direct from the source. We recommend
Coturri, Dutton Estate, DuttonGoldfield, Ferrari-Carrano, Field
Stone, Hop Kiln, Kozlowski, Larson
Family, Porter Creek, Preston of Dry
Creek, Rodney Strong, Russian River
and Truett-Hurst.
5. Honey. Honeybees visit thousands
of flowers to produce just one teaspoon
of honey. That’s a precious gift. We’re
grateful for all those honeybees
and their feats of pollination, which
are the underpinnings of our
agricultural systems. And we’re glad
for the beekeepers who tend them. We
encourage you to visit these producers
and share the love: Bear Foot Honey,
Bloomfield Bees, Hector’s Honey and
Suchernova Farm.
6. Preserves. With this oldfashioned and always relevant gift,
you’re inviting someone to “taste a
little of the summer” throughout the
year. If you haven’t had time to make
your own as holiday gifts, share the
bounty from others’ harvests: Dry
Creek Peach & Produce, Gabriel
Farm, Green String Farm, Kozlowski
Farms, Luther Burbank’s Gold Ridge
Farm, and Rainbow’s End Farm.
7. Pies. We have bakers who make
sensational pies, both sweet and
savory. Include one in a gift basket,
bring to a holiday party, or
give a certificate for future
indulgence. Visit Kozlowski
Farms, Mom’s Apple Pie
and Petaluma Pie Company.
8. Fiber. Wool makes
for coziness all year round
in our variable Sonoma
County climate. Plus, it’s a
natural wicking material
TRAILS cont’d on page 17
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that helps regulate body
temperature. We highly
recommend that you check
out the new Valley Ford
Wool Mill & Mercantile
for exquisite bedding,
blankets, rugs, clothing,
yarn, craft supplies and
more. Canvas Ranch and
Jacob’s Jamboree also offer
wonderful wool products.
9. Seeds. Winter is the
season to start dreaming
up gardens. Give packets
of yours or their favorite
seeds to inspire planning
and plantings. They’re
beautiful little packages
with miraculous contents.
Find seeds at Grow Gardens, Harmony
Farm Supply & Nursery, The Nursery
at Emerisa Gardens, Petaluma Seed
Bank and Western Farm Center.
10. Beeswax Candles. During this
time when days are shorter and the
sun sets earlier, the warm glow of
candlelight is especially comforting
Canvas Ranch soaps
and symbolic.
Whether lighting
candles is part of a holiday tradition or
a bathing ritual, beeswax are the best.
They’re clean burning, toxin-free and
naturally fragrant. Bear Foot Honey
and Hector’s Honey in Santa Rosa and
Bloomfield Bees in Sebastopol make
gorgeous candles from their hives.
11. Soaps/ Salves. Artisan body
products are a small luxury, and the
packaging, scents, textures, and lather
are worth the expenditure. We suggest
you treat yourself to these, too, while
you’re shopping for loved ones! You
can find handmade goodness at Bear
Foot Honey, Bloomfield Bees, Canvas
Ranch, Kozlowski Farms, Lynn’s
Lavender, Oak Hill Farm of Sonoma
and Rose and Thorn.
12. Restaurant Gift Certificates.
Sonoma County is home to excellent
chefs who have pioneered and
perfected the Farm to Table model.
Treat someone to a sensational culinary
experience along the Farm Trails.
Invite them to splurge on quality by
picking up the tab at one of our favorite
restaurants or food trucks: Backyard,
Green Grocer, Peter Lowell’s, The
Farmer’s Wife and Zazu.
13.
CSA
Subscriptions.
Purchase
a
“share”
from
one of our local
farmers
for
your
friends
& loved ones.
Each week of
the
growing
season (usually
Spring to late
Fall), they’ll be
invited to pick
up a box of
vegetables and
other products
on site. Some
farms
also
Rose & Thorn
include eggs,
cheese, meats, flowers, etc. It’s a
fantastic way to eat seasonally while
cultivating community. Visit our
website to see which package and
location is the best fit.
14. Trees. Admittedly, a living tree
most likely won’t fit into a gift basket.
But we include them anyway because
they’re such meaningful gifts, a
growing reflection of connection and
an investment in the future. Visit our
incredible nurseries in Sonoma County:
Bamboo Sourcery, Cottage Gardens
of Petaluma, Garden Valley Ranch,
Greencraft Garden, Green String
Farm, Grow Gardens, Harmony
Farm Supply, Instant Jungle, Momiji
Japanese Maples, Emerisa Gardens
and West County Oasis Bamboo
Garden. And if a cut Christmas tree is
part of your tradition, we hope you’ll
buy from a small, family grower like
Garlock Tree Farm in Sebastopol.
Please go to our website www.
farmtrails.org to learn where you can
find the above producers or to purchase
select, curated gift crates of Farm
Trails’ member products from our
office. We also encourage you to visit
farmers’ markets for handmade goods.
A complete list of Sonoma County
farmers’ markets is available on our
website. The following are great stops
along the trails for local gifts: Andy’s
Produce Market, Antique Society,
Artful Arrangements, Farm Yard
Feed, Green String Farm, Rose and
Thorn, Sonoma Chocolatiers, Tara
Firma Farms Store and Occidental
Arts & Ecology Center.
We hope that your time spent
shopping along the Farm Trails is
enjoyable, peaceful and inspiring.
Know that you are significantly
contributing to and investing in a
thriving local economy by shopping in
Sonoma County. Your dollars directly
support the lives of producers; and
their hard work and good stories
deeply enrich your purchases. May
our community be well fed by these
connections. We extend all best wishes
to you and yours this holiday season.
Good People Doing Good Things
for Our Communities
Monte Rio Family with Son
Fighting Leukemia Receives
Donated Vehicle
By Mary Kaye Gerski
The
Community
and Family Service
Agency
(formerly
West
County
Community Services), in partnership
with Key Auto Body & Benedetti Tire
Service of Sebastopol, is donating a
vehicle to a Monte Rio family whose
son is undergoing cancer treatment.
The public and media are invited to
the Car Giveaway event on Friday,
December 6, 2013 at 11:00 am at Key
Auto Body, 250 Morris Street in
Sebastopol.
The idea of a car giveaway came to
Justin Key, General Manager of Key
Auto Body, while he was working
at a body shop in Santa Barbara that
donated a vehicle every year to the
Boys and Girls Club. After seeing the
profound and personal effect this
donation had on the local community,
Justin made a commitment to do
something similar when he came back
to Key Auto Body. He worked with
Esurance, who donated the vehicle,
and then contacted the Community
& Family Service Agency to select a
local family that was in great need of
a vehicle.
The vehicle is being given to
the Strong family from Monte Rio.
Their son, Orion, graduated from
Guerneville Elementary School in
May 2013, and received the Lincoln
Stewart Award for service to his
school and community. A few days
later he became ill, and one week later
he was at UCSF with leukemia. He
has remained hospitalized for the last
5+ months. He just completed his last
round of chemotherapy and hopes
to come home for Thanksgiving. The
Strong family has been commuting
between San Francisco and their
home in Monte Rio. Their friends and
family have provided great support;
they always have someone staying
with Orion while they also take care
of their other children. The family
has incurred tremendous expenses,
as both parents had to leave or reduce
their jobs. They have struggled to
maintain their Monte Rio home, but
want to make sure Orion comes home
to a place he knows. Both of the family
cars are older and have had challenges
making the long trek from Monte Rio to
San Francisco and back, time and time
again. Even when Orion comes home,
he will still need to go to San Francisco
for checkups for a very long time. “A
dependable car would be the answer
to their prayers” said Patty Grimm,
Secretary at Guerneville School.
The vehicle is a 2008 Ford Escape,
a theft recovery, and has undergone
body collision, mechanical and
detail work, all donated by Key Auto
Body & Benedetti Tire Service with
replacement parts donated by LKQ
Corp. In addition to the Strong family
and representatives from CFSA
and Key Auto Body, the following
community
leaders
have
been
invited to attend: Supervisor Efren
Carrillo, Sebastopol Mayor Michael
Kyes, Sebastopol Chamber Executive
Director Teresa Ramondo, Russian
River Chamber Board President
Laura Wilson, and Guerneville
School
Superintendant-Principal
Elaine Carlson. Representatives from
Benedetti Tires, LKQ Corporation
Inc. and Esurance will also be in
attendance. Paul Butkus & Gus St.
Marie of Butkus Insurance Agency
will provide a mobile BBQ at the event,
with proceeds benefitting the Strong
family.
Key Auto Body was founded
in 1982 by David Key. The familyowned and operated company has
supported community organizations
over the years including Analy High
Prep sports, Avon Walk for Breast
Cancer, Sebastopol Little League, 4-H,
Sebastopol Fire Department, and the
Blood Bank.
The Redwood Empire Food Bank
looks to community for help
If you haven’t seen them
already, it won’t be long
before you start seeing
orange barrels popping
up in grocery stores, local
businesses, your child’s
school or even your dentist’s
office. That is because last
month the Redwood Empire
Food Bank (REFB) launched
its annual Winter Food and
Funds Drive to help the
one in six Sonoma County
residents struggling with Food Donation barrels to be placed at local businesses
hunger. The Drive runs from
Program (SNAP, or food stamps),
November 1, 2013 through
January 31, 2014, during which time over 40,000 SNAP recipients are
the food bank will enlist thousands experiencing an even deeper hardship
of Sonoma County businesses and as we head into the holidays.
“The colder and wetter winter
individuals to help end hunger in our
months
can create extra challenges for
community by their food, money and
those
already
struggling to put food
time.
on
the
table
since
it is more costly to
“Each month, we provide food
heat
homes
and
the
added burden of
assistance to 78,000 children, adults
and seniors in Sonoma County,” said the holidays often leaves little money
REFB Development Officer Billy Bartz. for food,” Bartz said. “Nevertheless,
“We rely on our community to donate we remain committed to providing
critical food, money and volunteer critical food assistance to hungry
time to help our friends and neighbors individuals and families during this
in need – both during the holidays and difficult time and urge the community
to join in that effort.”
throughout the year.”
Sonoma County residents can get
During the Winter Food and
Funds Drive, orange REFB food involved in the following ways:
donation barrels can be found • Make a financial donation. For
every one dollar that is donated,
throughout Sonoma County at the
the REFB can provide two meals to
following grocery stores: Safeway,
someone in need. The REFB accepts
Oliver’s Markets, Walgreens, G&G
donations online, by phone, or via
Supermarkets, Whole Foods Markets
check.
and the Grocery Outlet in Santa Rosa.
•
Host a Food & Funds Drive. Food
Additionally, last month the REFB
donations ensure their shelves
began distributing 72,000 “Fill’er Up
are stocked for people seeking
Bags” to encourage the community
emergency food assistance and
to donate food by the bagful to feed
donated funds go a long way toward
hungry families. The bags were
feeding hungry families.
distributed by the Press Democrat
•
Volunteer at the REFB. The REFB
and the Argus Courier, as well as by
relies
on 3,500 volunteers each
Friedman’s Home Improvement stores
year
to
pack, sort, deliver and
in Santa Rosa and Sonoma.
distribute over 13.5 million pounds
The winter is a particularly tough
of food annually.• Visit the REFB’s
time for individuals and families
website – www.refb.org – for more
seeking food assistance. Now with the
information.
federal government’s recent cut to the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Ripple the World
Daily Acts Event Draws 600 plus Activists
by Tish Levee
On
Oct.
24th,
over 600 engaged
citizens,
business
and
government
leaders
came
together
at
the
Santa Rosa Veteran’s
Memorial Building, to Ripple the
World, celebrating the work of Daily
Acts, founded in 2002. Since 2009 Daily
Acts has been providing planning
and design services for sustainability
to local businesses, schools, and
municipalities in areas such as
water conservation education and
repurposing public and private lands
for food cultivation.
In 2013, Daily Acts educated
over 6800 change makers, inspiring
them to take action in simple, easy,
transforming ways. Daily Acts makes
a real effort to connect people with
actions that they find easy to do. For
instance, during the 4th Annual 350
Home and Garden Challenge over a
weekend last May, there were a huge
variety of options from which people
could decide what best fit them. As a
result, more than 3500 local actions
took place. You can see many of
these actions at www.dailyacts.org/
resources, and take them yourself.
For Ripple the World, the Veteran’s
Memorial Building was transformed
into a veritable forest of living bamboo,
while the ceiling was crossed by small
hand painted cloth banners with
various messages about how to make
change happen. Each person’s place
was set with a packet of special seeds,
such as sorghum or heirloom tomatoes,
and three “trading cards,” each with
an idea for creating change. Each card
had a description of the process, and
what was needed, for manifesting the
idea. Ideas included setting up a seed
swap, a neighborhood tool share, a
cider pressing, a fermentation party,
and a garden wheel where neighbors
take turns working together on a
variety of projects. At the breakfast,
videos and slide shows accompanied
speakers as they showed some of
the things that can be done and have
been done by volunteers working
together. The speakers talking about
their connection with Daily Acts were
inspiring and energizing. As I listened
to them, I realized that Daily Acts is
Mitzvah Moments writ large. While
Mitzvah Moments deals with the
impact that we can have if many of
us take a minute to make a difference,
Daily Acts magnifies the daily actions
of many people to create tremendous
accomplishments.
Ripple
the
World was a time
to celebrate these
ac c o mpl i s h m e nt s
and
learn
how
we can all move
forward, as well as
a major fundraiser
for Daily Acts. Those who attended
weren’t charged anything, were fed
a delicious vegetarian breakfast, and
then asked to donate at the level at
which they felt comfortable. As a
result $111,000 was raised towards
Daily Acts year-end goal of $140,000. If
you want to invest in Daily Acts and
contribute to their year-end goal to
spread these vital solutions you can do
so at Www.dailyacts.org. You can also
buy the Daily Acts calendar, which the
publisher Leslie Curchack wrote about
in a separate article in this issue of the
Gazette.
Daily Acts Board Chair Jessica
Vibberts reminded everyone that
the Time is Now. The window of
opportunity to affect environmental
change is getting smaller all the time.
This has been brought home in recent
catastrophic weather events since
Ripple the World. The Philippine
SuperTyphoon Haiyan, a storm
influenced by climate change, killed
more that 4,000 people and nearly
4.4 million were displaced (twice
the number who lost their homes in
the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.)
Meanwhile more than 80 tornados
were reported in the Midwest last
week with the loss of several lives and
$1 billion in damages. Here in Sonoma
County, this could be the driest year
since 1931, following two extremely
dry years.
Daily Acts has solutions and models
for transforming our communities to
meet the challenges we face. As Ms.
Vibberts said, we need to think about
not just solutions that make us feel
comfortable; the world we are facing is
not going to be comfortable. We need
to be willing to have less comfort now,
if we don’t want to have a whole lot less
comfort later. While there are sacrifices
to be made, the Daily Acts message
is that we can use significantly less
resources while having healthier,
more just and resilient lives and
communities. But the time for action
is now!
© Copyright Tish Levee, 2013. All rights
reserved
Tish Levee @ mitzvahmoments.com
Check out our extensive Volunteer Calendar online for
great ways for you to get involved in your comminuty!
A Recipe for Youth Success:
Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance
Collecting Strollers & Warm
Clothing for Those in Need
For the fifth consecutive year,
Community First Credit Union is
collecting baby strollers in good
woking order at its five Sonoma
County locations. These strollers will
go to The Living Room, a local agency
that serves homeless or at-risk women
and their children. For many of these
moms, a sturdy stroller is their primary
mode with which to transport their
children around town. Community
First will also donate $10 to The Living
Room for each stroller collected. Last
year, 65 strollers and $1,003 were
donated by the financial cooperative
and its Members.
Check the attic or garage if there is
a stroller that is in turn-key condition,
and could be put to better use than
collecting dust for a deserving mother
and child. Strollers can be dropped
off at any Community First location,
Monday through Friday, from 8:30a to
5:30p, through Dec. 31, 2013.
New this year, Community First
is also collecting new or lightly
used warm winter clothing for the
teen & young adult clients of Social
Advocates for Youth (SAY). According
to its most recent census, S.A.Y. says
that 1,128 kids will sleep on the streets
of Sonoma County on any given night.
The weather is now cold. These young
men and women, many of whom have
been termed out of foster care, are
cold. Warm clothing can help them get
through the winter.
Like the strollers, new or somewhatused winter clothing can be dropped
off at any Community First location
through December 31, 2013, during
regular business hours.
For
more
information
about
Community First’s locations, go to:
www.comfirstcu.org.
By Tina Baldry,
Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance
Karen
and
Dave
Crawford
understood the importance of children
having dedicated adult role models in
their lives. That’s why Karen replied,
“Yes!” some time ago, when Cristian
asked her to become his mentor.
When Cristian and Karen were
matched, Cristian was a sophomore
attending Sonoma Valley High School
with hopes of attending the Universal
Technical Institute (UTI) in Sacramento
to learn the nuts and bolts of becoming
a successful mechanic. He knew that
having a mentor in his life would help
him reach this goal.
It wasn’t long before Dave, owner of
a local muffler business also wanted to
share in the relationship with Cristian
and began co-mentoring with Karen.
The three have proved to be
a perfect mentoring trio. For
Dave and Cristian especially,
the two share a passion for
just about anything with
wheels.
“I learned how to weld and
cut metal with a blowtorch.
I’ve also seen cars go from
a rust bucket to show-car
grade. Having this experience
at Dave’s shop has confirmed
my passion to make a career
out of working on cars in the
future,” said Cristian.
Dave and Karen are among the
100s of other similar Sonoma Valley
residents who laud the Sonoma Valley
Mentoring Alliance (SVMA) program.
“We love helping Cristian build
character. The mentoring experience
has been beneficial for us. We’ve
had a lot of fun exposing Cristian to
activities and new adventures in life.
It makes us feel better about ourselves
to help kids out.”
SVMA has operated in the
community for 16 years connecting
at-risk youth with caring adults
committed to their mentoring roles
for much longer durations for any
other similar program in the nation.
In fact, our organization’s founder
and
executive
director,
Kathy
Witkowicki was recently awarded a
KPIX Jefferson Award singling her
out for her outstanding contributions
to our community but moreover,
for developing a national model
for school and community-based
mentoring programs.
Today, Cristian is enrolled at UTI and
putting his pedal to the metal towards
fulfilling his dream and receiving our
new college scholarship which is a part
of our new College Success Program
launched last here.
Our new College Success Program
at the SVMA is perfect for Cristian
and other mentees because it provides
a financial incentive for students to
persevere in their college or vocational
studies. The new program is led by
Tina Moi, who said the students will
now receive support navigating with
a guidance counselor to unravel the
complexities of choosing courses,
assessing financial aid, career planning,
and more.
Cristian, Dave and Karen
“In our very first year alone, we’ve
seen our SVMA’s student college
enrollment increase 38 percent,” said
Tina. “This means the College Success
Program is effectively improving
retention rates from the previous
year and that our students realize
the importance of continuing their
education.”
Tina has also expanded the program
to reaching high school students this
year SVMA’s to help them get a jump
on college preparedness.
There’s no doubt that here at the
SVMA, we’ve become known as the
go-to agency within Sonoma Valley
whenever children or teens are identified
as falling behind academically and/or
facing barriers to success.
For more information about our
program or to make a donation,
contact us at 707.938.1990 or info@
sonomamentoring.org. Our website is:
www.sonomamentoring.org.
The most valuable gift you have to give is your TIME. You cannot buy it...
you cannot make more of it...you can only spend it for yourself and others.
2013 Jefferson Awards Honorees
By Peter Rumble
On
Tuesday,
November
5,
the County of Sonoma Board of
Supervisors presented the prestigious
Jefferson Award to four local nonprofit
organizations and one individual
for their Excellence in Community
Leadership and Civic Engagement.
Founded in 1972 by Jacqueline
Kennedy Onassis, US Senator Robert
Taft, Jr., and Sam Beard, staff to
Robert Kennedy, the Jefferson Awards
Program is designed to highlight
public service in America. Each year
the Board of Supervisors selects five
Jefferson Awards honorees. This
year there were 29 well-qualified
exceptional individuals and nonprofits who were nominated, with the
following 2013 award recipients.
Jesús Guzmàn, for his leadership
and commitment to the laborers,
immigrants and youth of Sonoma
County. He co-founded the local
chapter of the DREAM Alliance, and
along with his work at the Graton Day
Labor Center, has mobilized members
of the community to advocate for
immigration reform, fair labor
practices and safe working conditions.
La Luz Center, since 1990 has served
to empower communities through
education, leadership, and selfadvocacy. The Center is an invaluable
resource serving as a bridge to
increase cross-cultural acceptance and
respect for all the citizens of Sonoma
Valley. Over the past year, they have
distributed food to more than 7,000
families, enrolled 300 families in
CalFresh, provided no-cost healthcare
to 1,320 children and 840 adults, and
served more than 500 adults through
their many education programs.
Northern California Center for
Well-Being, has served the entire
county of Sonoma since 1996, by
assisting people with chronic diseases
which include diabetes, heart disease,
arthritis; and their related risk factors
including obesity, high cholesterol,
and a sedentary lifestyle. The Center
has helped over 25,000 families take
positives steps to improve their health
and “promote the well-being of the
whole person by empowering people
with the knowledge, skills, and spirit
to take responsibility for personal,
family, and community health.”
Russian Riverkeeper, was founded
in 1993 to protect and preserve the
Russian River for future generations
by advocating, educating, and
implementing sustainable community
solutions. A strong advocate for the
river, Russian Riverkeeper has taken
legal action when necessary to protect
the river, and inspired volunteers
and other investments, recognizing
its direct relation to an investment
in the community’s health. Russian
Riverkeeper holds a critical role in
increasing awareness of the River
and in making a difference to be able
to enjoy a healthy river for today and
future generations.
Russian River Sisters of Perpetual
Indulgence, have been spreading joy
and good will through community
events, charitable acts and fundraising,
with a focus on the special needs of
the Russian River area since 2001.
The Sisters are completely unique
and absolutely stunning in their
appearance, their impact, and their
diversity. Their compassion and
positive impact is profound and their
work takes on various forms, from
their educating the community on
the HIV/AIDS crisis, to their bingo
fundraisers and giving away hundreds
of thousands of dollars in charity and
scholarships.
The County of Sonoma Board of
Supervisors values the many strong
partnerships the County has with the
local non-profit community. These
relationships serve to leverage precious
resources to provide the utmost in
quality services to the community. The
Board is proud to sponsor the Jefferson
Awards, fostering the partnerships that
build more collaborative opportunities
which benefit all of Sonoma County.
‘A Day of Holiday Cheer and Giving’
In the true spirit of this holiday
giving
season,
Santa
Rosa
Entertainment Group and its local
theatres are proud to present the
Second Annual Day of Holiday Cheer
and Giving.
On Wednesday, December 18th
at our theatres in the Santa Rosa/
Windsor/Healdsburg area, we will
donate an auditorium at all 5 of our
locations to present a selection of
holiday films free of charge to the
general public. The only requirement
is that each person attending brings
a donation of a non-perishable food
item or a new toy to be collected by
the theatre. These donations will in
turn be given to both the Redwood
Empire Food Bank and the Boys
and Girls Club of Sonoma County
for distribution to those in need this
holiday season.
All films will play at 12 Noon,
2:15, 4:30, 7:00, 9:15 at their
respective locations:
ROXY STADIUM 14 ~ 85 Santa Rosa
Ave.: “A CHRISTMAS STORY”
AIRPORT STADIUM 12 ~ 409
Aviation Blvd.: “HOME ALONE”
SUMMERFIELD ~ 551 Summerfield
Rd: “WHITE CHRISTMAS”
THIRD STREET CINEMAS ~ 620
Third St: “THE GRINCH”
RAVEN FILM CENTER ~ 415 Center
St, Healdsburg: “MIRACLE ON
34th STREET”
In addition, cash donations will
be collected at all theatre locations.
Santa Rosa Entertainment Group will
also match those cash donations up to
$1,000 per location up to a maximum
of $5,000. What a wonderful day
to enjoy a free holiday movie while
giving to the community!
It’s that time of year, so let’s start
with some holiday wine selections:
Burnside Road Sauvignon Blanc Dry
Creek 2012 (ret. $15-$17)
“There’s a nose of white grapefruit
and hints of tropical fruit, pineapple,
apricot and lemon grass on the palate
in this deliciously crisp Sauvignon
Blanc. A superb pairing with fresh
dungenous crab, white fish, fresh goats
milk cheese either on its own or in a
salad.
Wild Hog Estate Pinot Noir Sonoma
Coast 2009 (ret. $28-$35)
All of Wild Hog’s estate wines are
produced from organically grown
grapes. This pinot noir has lovely tart
red berries. Well-integrated minerality
makes for an excellent food wine.
A great pairing for oily fish such as
salmon, duck breast seared, roasted
yams or sweet potato. Enjoy now
through 2016. For more information
on Wild Hog Vineyards, visit: www.
wildhogvineyard.com
Jenner Pinor Noir Sonoma Coast 2012
(ret. $25-$30)
The new release of the Jenner pinot
noir has bright red spiced fruit and
really produces a fine food wine. The
fruit flavors are tart red berries and
perfect with homemade cranberry
sauce, turkey, ham (as pork and pinot
noir are always a great companion),
salmon filet, or duck breast in a fresh
cherry reduction sauce. Enjoy now
through 2016. For more information
on Jenner Vineyards, visit: www.
jennervineyards.com.
Holiday Wine Country Dining
The holidays are a wonderful
time to experience wine country by
enjoying a meal in one of our many
great restaurants which present such
great wine menus. Here are some of
my favorite picks: in Guerneville, you
can’t go wrong at Boon Eat and Drink
(www.eatatboon.com). They don’t take
reservations, but you can wait for a
table at Whitetail Winebar just two
doors down. The wine menu, though
small, is extremely well chosen. Also
in Guerneville, the Applewood Inn
(www.applewoodinn.com) is a place
I love to go and spend the evening,
winning a Michelin Star in 2011 &
2012. The wine menu is significantly
large. Just ten minutes from my new
tasting room, in Duncans Mills, is
the River’s End Restaurant. It has
the most spectacular views of the
Coast (get there early at this time of
year), the food is up to the view and
owner, Bert Rangel, knows his wines
and also has a very well-appointed
wine menu (www.ilovesunsets.com.
The Village Inn (www.villageinn-ca.
com) has long prided itself on a great
Sonoma Wine menu, winning awards
year after year at the Sonoma County
Harvest Fair. Also congratulations
to the The Village Inn being selected
as the #2 Diners’ Choice for “Scenic
View” restaurants in the San Francisco
Bay Area by OpenTable and in the top
10 of all Wine Country restaurants
for “Ambiance”. As a great lover of
French food, I am always so grateful
to have Bistro des Copains so nearby
in Occidental (www.bistrodescopains.
com). Don’t be in a hurry, but the food
is well worth the wait, pairing both
great Sonoma and French wines with
dinner. And, finally, the Farmhouse.
On River Road, at the entrance to the
Russian River, it too was honored
with a Michelin Star in 2012, and is an
experience of California cuisine. While
the food is not inexpensive, the very
extensive wine menu is well-priced
and you’ll be able to discuss wines
with a knowledgeable sommelier.
Wineroad’s Winter Wineland is
coming up, Saturday and Sunday
January 18th and 19th, 2014, 11am –
4pm each day. I suggest picking three
wineries and recommend selecting a
designated driver (who can get a special
$5 ticket). There are food and wine
pairings, educational seminars and art
exhibits galore especially put on for the
Winter Wineland – a truly great way to
enjoy Sonoma wine country. Advance
tickets are $45 for the weekend, or $35
Sunday only, $5 for designated drivers,
plus taxes. For more information
and a list of participating wineries,
visit: www.wineroad.com.
Winter
Wineland is a wonderful opportunity
to discover the entire Russian River,
for information on where to stay, visit
www.RussianRiver.com.
Happy Holidays!
John Haggard is owner of Sophie’s Cellars,
Sonoma Wine Tasting in Duncans Mills,
California. Sophie’s Cellars is open Thu,
Sat, Sun and Mon: 11am – 5pm, Fri: 11am7pm (Local’s Night, Friday, 4-7pm, and you
don’t have to be a local to join us). www.
sophiescellars.com
Vino in Cloverdale
by Aleta Copestakes
I spend a lot of time in Cloverdale.
Mostly for work, but on occasion I get
to enjoy some of the many events and
leisure activities the town has to offer.
There is a lot more going on in the town
than firsts meets the eye. Cloverdale
has a great live theater, art studio with
all kinds of classes, live music every
weekend, and an abundance of good
restaurants.
Recently I rallied some friends and
we headed up North for the evening.
We first ate dinner at my favorite
restaurant in town, Tien Yuen (I will
review them another time), then we
headed to Vino di Amore, the only
wine tasting bar downtown. Its elegant
Italian style interior is adorned with art
on every wall in every room, even in the
hallway leading to the beautiful patio
out back. The high ceilings echoed the
melodies of an acoustic guitar being
strummed in the corner. With the soft
lighting, cracking fireplace in the back
room, friendly staff pouring delicious
wine, and patrons laughing at a table
nearby, it felt like somewhere you
could get comfortable and stay a while.
And that’s exactly what you can do,
because they serve light meals to go
along with your bottle of wine as you
listen to live music, which they offer
every Thursday, Friday and Saturday
nights.
Vino di Amore is the exclusive
tasting room for Milano Winery, a
small family run business in Hopland.
If you’re familiar with Hopland,
you may recognize the beautiful old
Hop Kiln on the left side of Hwy 101
after you cross the bridge into town.
Ted and Deanna Starr purchased
the property in 2001 and continued
the winemaking tradition that has
been held on that property since
1977. Deanna, the winemaker, spent
20 years as a nurse and uses her
chemistry skills to perfect her wines,
and her culinary skills to ensure they
pair well with food. Her passion is Port
and other sweet, late harvest wines,
but she also specializes in more rare
varietals such as Carignane, Charbono
and Valdiguie.
Milano wines are made in small
batches from vineyards throughout
Mendocino County and are a variety of
blends and single-vineyard varietals.
Deanna’s personal relationship with
the winegrowers allows her access to
the finest crops, which she will often
create wines from exclusively for Wine
Club members.
If you don’t feel like driving up to
the winery in Hopland, stop into Vino
di Amore in Cloverdale for a bite to eat
and enjoy the wide variety of exquisite
wines that Milano has to offer. Be sure
to come on a night when the music is
turned up if you’re in the mood for
something more lively. You can find
their band lineup online at www.
vinodiamore.com.
Vino di Amore
105 N. Cloverdale Blvd.
707-894-6166
www.vinodiamore.com
M ilano F amily Winery
14594 S. Hwy 101, Hopland
707-744-1396
www.milanowinery.com
Local Tea Rooms & Specialty Shops
SANTA ROSA
Tudor Rose Tea Room
Owner: Angela Grant
733 Fourth Street
707-535-2045
W-Sat 11-5, Sunday 12-5
www.tudorrosetearoom.com
All of our specialty teas are locally
made and our sweet and savory
menu is not to be missed. We offer a
traditional English tea service with
our singing waitstaff for frivolity. We
are also available for private parties,
baby and wedding showers.
Many Rivers books and Teas
130 South Main Street
Sebastopol. 95472
707-829-8871
www.manyriversbooks.com
Offers a tea of the month and also
private Tea Tastings for individuals
or groups. Contact by phone or
email: [email protected] to
schedule.
Patisserie Angelica
6821 Laguna Parkway
Sebastopol 95472
707-827-7998
Fri-Sat-Sun 10am-5pm
www.patisserieangelica.com
Famous for our “West County High
Tea” Our Patisserie is open Friday,
Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to
5 pm. We serve freshly baked desserts
and a selection of Mariage Frères teas
from Paris as well as locally owned Taylor
Maid organic coffees and tea.
OCCIDENTAL
Isaac Wright enjoying high tea at
Tudor Rose in Santa Rosa
HEALDSBURG
Dragonfly TEA Company
Owner: Holly Hunt
126 North Street
707-473-8256
10 am – 5pm daily
www.dragonflyteacompany.com
We offer a wide variety of delicious
loose leaf tea; including amazing
rooibos blends, naturally caffeine
free fruit tisanes, herbal, flavored and
unflavored black and green tea, plus
delicate white tea. With our premium
selection of luxury tea your perfect
cup of tea is only a steep away.
SEBASTOPOL
Infusions Tea House
6988 Mckinley Street
Sebastopol 9547
707-829-1181
www.infusionsteahouse.com
M-Th 8-7:30, F 8-8:30, Sat 9-9, sun 9-6
Infusions provides refined organic
flavors and a place to enjoy them slowly.
Our meals are almost all organic. Our
organic baked goods are house-made;
many are also infused with tea. West County Herb Company
3641 Main Street
Occidental
707-874-9567
Mon: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, Thu - Sun:
11:00 am - 5:00 pm
www.westcountyherbcompany.com
We are a comfortable, communityoriented shop featuring artisan
herbal products and wares. We offer
an unsurpassed selection of organic,
locally-grown and responsibly grown
teas. Check out the Calendar page to
see our First Free Monday talks and
workshops, musical engagements and
more.
DUNCAN’S MILLS
Mr. Trombly’s Tea
25185 Hwy 116
Duncan’s Mills
707-865-9979
www.mrtromblystea.com
More teas to choose from than you
can imagine and the pots to serve it!
Vintage teaware to modern - artistic to
whimsical - hot tea to taste!
PETALUMA
Tea Room Café
316 Western Ave
Petaluma
707-765-0199
www.tearoomcafe.com
“A Pot of Tea, A Place to Eat” check
website for lunch and dinner hours. A
full restaurant and bakery, but listed
here, because they do specialize in
iced and hot teas.
The Hideaway at Montesano Station
18100 HWY 116, Guerneville CA 95446 • 707/869-3634
I have been frequenting
this restaurant since I was
a child....it has undergone
many changes since it
originally opened way,
way back in 1915. Recently
this past summer, the
restaurant
building/
business and the second
dwelling were purchased.
The proud new owners
Chuck
Burger,
Kim
Menary, Tom and Sveta
Lynch
have
already
resurrected
this
great
landmark.
A huge amount of work has already
been taking place here with cleaning
up and restoring the kitchen facilities
with stainless steel and other quality
features. The health inspection passed
and a new chef has been hired. Patrick
Rochester, Chef Supreme is passionate
for good food. This has created a loud
buzz in town. I heard it and I came to
see for myself. You will find fresh, not
frozen, quality ingredients here. The
main dining room has been refreshed
with table cloths, candles and fresh
flowers. The room is warm, cozy and
has the vibe of home. On a recent
Sunday evening visit I found the place
was packed with patrons savoring the
inviting atmosphere and really enjoying
themselves in this cozy establishment
which reflects a good mix of the local
culture. The Bartender Cheryl Sundberg
creates honest, artfully created drinks.
Now...to the good stuff...the food
here is simply out of this world. Our
meal started with the curry artichoke
appetizer....creamy perfection- smooth,
mild and a great way to start a meal.
Sampling many dishes for this review,
I have to say, everything was top notch.
From the flavorful Prince Edward
Island mussels (a triumph) to the jumbo
prawns...succulent and superb, I was
pleasantly surprised by the freshness
of the seafood. The portions here do
not disappoint. You will not be paying
high prices for a small plate of food that
will leave you hungry...nope not gonna
happen here. The prime rib served on
Friday and Saturday evenings is a hit
with the customers, while the chicken
pasta alfredo is probably the best I have
tasted – very indulgent... yes, sorry
North Beach restaurants in SF, this
is the real deal and I pigged out. Yes,
there is something here for everyone,
from the salmon to the rib eye steak
to the mouth watering burgers, this
is now our “go to” restaurant. In fact
it’s going to be our weekend place for
a nice romantic meal, to hang out and
savor the friendly atmosphere. The
desserts here are all hand made and
amazing...from the crème brulee to the
chocolate pot de creme, they are all
decadent and heavenly. There is a large
beer selection here with draft beers
like Shock Top, your large selection of
domestic beers, imported and micro
brews likes Big Daddy IPA, Prohibition
Ale just to name a few, as well as non
alcoholic. The wine selection is fine
with no bottle more than $26.00. All
good quality affordable local wines.
The business model here is all about
affordable good food and drink for
locals as well as passersby. This building
has an amazing amount of spirit at 100
years of age. A lot of good times and
memories have been made here.
The wait staff here is friendly, attentive
but not bothersome. A pet peeve of
mine in other dining establishments is
either lack of attentiveness or too much
of it. On my second visit I noticed
many repeat customers. This restaurant
reminds me of the much loved Joe’s of
Westlake in Daly City.
Open Wednesday through Sunday.
The bar opens at 3pm. Dinner served
from 5pm to 9pm. A perfect place for
birthday celebrations, anniversary
parties and banquets.
“Rediscover the Hideaway and Feel
the Love!”
Sweet Family Traditions
by Ron Skaar with photo by Jon Russo
Simple sugar is a remarkable food.
Two thousand years ago sugar cane
was cultivated in present-day India. In
centuries past, sugar was considered
an exotic spice from the distant Orient.
The expanding Moorish empire
introduced sugar to Spain, where it
quickly spread throughout medieval
Europe.
Back then, sugar was extremely
rare and expensive, reserved for the
wealthy. Their chefs made plates
and goblets out of spun sugar to be
consumed at the climax of the meal.
The Spanish colonists who followed
Columbus to the West Indies planted
sugar cane there. It flourished, with
the help of enormous slave plantations.
Production of the “white gold” soon
became the worlds largest industry.
Our first awareness of sweetness
begins with mother’s milk. All
human beings share an inherent
desire for that taste. Throughout the
world confectionary treats provide
culinary pleasure. Their delight
is even more evident with festive
holiday traditions, which reign high
in the kingdom of sugar.
In Israel, they dress up the
ubiquitous latkes with sweet
toppings during the holidays, while
their chocolate gelt (coins) rewards
the winner of the dreydl spin. The
celebration in Italy usually includes
panetonne, a type of raised yeast cake
studded with candied fruits. In Sicily,
nuts eaten at this time of the year
were once believed to ensure fertility,
families and farms, while honey was a
gift meant to secure a sweet future.
The Germans amp up there love
of sweets with Stollen, fruit loaves
shaped to resemble
a crib with the baby Jesus in
swaddling
cloths.
They
bake
Lebkuchen, or consecrated bread,
which is used to make gingerbread
houses. In Poland they serve compotes
of twelve fruits in honor of the
Apostles. The Dutch create marzipan
confections and Speculaas, named for
the mirror image they get from the
wooded mold that was used.
Before they eat the sweet Christmas
rice pudding in Sweden, the guests
are asked to recite a rhyme. Since the
fourteenth century, plum pudding has
been an essential part of the English
holiday feast. Hot spiced ale with a
slice of buttered toast on top, led to the
tradition of “raising a toast”.
In Minnesota, where I grew up,
my mother’s closet was packed with
tins full of cookies for the holiday
festivities. It was a family thing
making rosettes, spritz, date filled
turnovers, innumerable decorated
sugar cookies and, from my
Norwegian grandmother’s recipe,
Krumkake. My new mother, Carol
(the families sweet supplier), makes
extraordinary Krumkake. The recipe,
which substitutes whipping cream for
the usual melted butter, comes from
her Grandmother. These sweet gifts
just keep on giving!
Not many of you will have a
Krumkake iron, on hand. If you do
and want that recipe, email me for a
copy. The cookie recipe included is
an old Betty Crooker stable from my
mothers closet. Tender turnovers with
a fruity filling.
Date Filled
Turnovers
Cook or eat someone else’s cooking - eating is a pleasure
when the food is healthy and clean...YUM!
½ cup shortening
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
¼ teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
2 cups pitted dates, finely chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla
¾ cup sugar
2 ½ cups unbleached flour
¾ cup water
Mix thoroughly shortening, sugar,
eggs and vanilla. Blend in flour, salt
and soda. Cover and chill 1 hour.
Combine dates, sugar and water in
saucepan. Cook, stirring often, until
mixture thickens. Cool. Heat oven
to 400 degrees. Roll dough 1/16 inch
thick on lightly floured parchment.
Cut into 3-inch rounds or squares.
Spoon 1 teaspoon filling onto circle,
fold dough over filling and press edges
together. Brush with milk and sprinkle
with sugar on parchment lined baking
sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Makes 36
cookies.
Ron Skaar is a Sonoma County Chef
and Executive Chef at the Furth Center in
Windsor. He can be reached at ronskaar@
comcast.net
Confessions of a Rocker
How I Came to Enjoy Chamber Music
By Tony DeYoung
I was filled with dread when our
neighbors invited us to a chamber
music concert in Occidental. Don’t
get me wrong, I enjoy music by
Bach, Haydn, Beethoven and more
contemporary composers - but I
prefer to listen to it on my iPod, not
stuck in some stuffy classical music
performance center. If I am going to
go to a concert, it’s going to be a rock
concert or at least Lady Gaga! But since we had just moved to the
area and it was so thoughtful of our
neighbors to invite us, I couldn’t turn
them down. My plan was to make an
appearance at the concert, then sneak
out at intermission. I’ve now been to my 4th chamber
music concert hosted by the
Redwood Arts Council (RAC) in
Occidental. Haven’t snuck out once.
I’m a convert! How is this possible?
Turns out that chamber music
doesn’t have to be boring or stuffy.
What makes the difference are the
right artists in the right venue.
The artists
The caliber of the artists that I
have heard have been amazing - each
performance more impressive than
the last. These are first run acts. ‘Sonic
Escape’ for example played RAC in
November. Their cellist was traveling
the next week to play Carnegie Hall
and the full trio will perform at
Lincoln Center in December. Like the
others I have heard, these are truly
world class performers. Some of these
you can also catch in San Francisco or
Berkeley (but of course, fight the traffic
and pay significant $$.)
Up close and personal
When the stage is small and the
seating intimate you become totally
connected to the performance. It’s
hard to describe, but it becomes so
personal that you are left with a feeling
of the music long after the last note is
played. This is not something you can’t
get from a CD.
music, that felt like it was evolving,
intimate, personable and a damn good
time!
Great acoustics The RAC performance space may
be a converted lunchroom cafeteria,
but it has great acoustics. Regardless
of where you are in the small seating
space, the sound projects clearly at you
- not over your head or only down the
center. Come as you are
This one matters a lot to me. I have
come to each performance in t-shirt
and shorts and I never feel out of
place. Everyone is casual. Nothing is
stuffy or rigid. Our friends brought
their baby to the last performance.
He vocalized loudly at one point.
No one “ssshhh’d”. The Sonic Escape
performers even welcomed his
participation!
$30
Can’t really beat the price. Carnegie
Hall caliber performances, up close
and personal for $30. ($10 for students!).
Transcendence
I always thought I would get more
enjoyment from a chamber music CD
then from a live performance. I was
wrong. My experience can only be
described as transcendent, taking me
beyond my everyday world. I encourage anyone, regardless of
your normal musical preferences, to
check out a performance at the RAC.
I think, like me, you will be delighted
and come away amazed at how much
you enjoyed something completely
so out of your normal pop/rock/rap/
trance/house comfort zone.
The Redwood Art Council has a
complete listing - RedwoodArts.org
Not just performance
The artists are top talent to be sure. But
beyond that, they were invited because
they want to interact, perform and
even hold a dialog between each
other and with the audience - not just
play music. This harkens back to how
chamber music started: instrumental
music played by a small ensemble in
a (palace) chamber, with one player
to a part, conversing and pushing the
envelope of classical music expression
and having fun doing it. This is exactly
what I experienced. One-of-a-kind
Sonic Escape - fluteviolincello.com
Hippie Holidaze Party
“We’re a bunch of hippies,” says Mike
Campbell, bandleader and founder of
the Thugz, who, due to their longevity,
are approaching the status of a county
landmark. In a recent talk, Campbell
discusses his Hippie Holidaze Party,
Dec. 21 at the Rio Nido Roadhouse,
“a Christmasy thing” he says, that
will include Stephanie Salva, a
distinguished local singer and ukulele
player, and other special guests, plus a
Psychedelic Santa costume contest and
a few seasonal songs. You don’t have
to be a hippie to attend.
“The Thugz are beyond just playing
music,” he says. “It’s all about the
people in our bands and our fans, who
have been coming to see us for years, to
celebrate the community that has kept
us going. Also, we’re trying to promote
those things that were good about the
renaissance days of the 1960s. The
more people that want to join us in that
the better.”
No two Thugz shows are exactly
the same, but the spirit and love of
making music are always present,
Campbell says. Often identified as a
Grateful Dead cover band, the Thugz
are much more. There’s also an
emphasis on folk and blues, and what
he calls “old-time psychedelic music,”
including songs of Country Joe &
the Fish, the Doors and Donovan.
Bob Dylan songs, almost impossible
to avoid in any discussion of that
era, are included, and keyboardist
Sylvia Murphy leads the way into
country and R&B sounds. Campbell
also plays trumpet, and Andre de
Channes, program director of KRSH,
adds guitar depth. Bassist Chris
Lushington has been with the Thugz
forever, and Bradley Leach recently
became the regular drummer.
Campbell likes the Dead because
“their music encompasses many styles
and has an element of improvisation.”
The Thugz’ improvisations, or jams,
start with basic song structures as a
takeoff point, he says, to go somewhere
else, often into another song along the
way. Their “cosmic jams” have even
less adherence to the actual song,
including increased use of electronic
modification. “Every time we play, at
some point in that show, it all clicks,
and the band has this feeling that’s so
good – you get into a zone – we look
at each other and know this is why
we’re doing it.”
In 2011, in what Campbell calls “an
epic gig” at AT&T Park, the Thugz
played before a Giants game. They
performed for an on-field party,
then, standing on top of the dugout,
opened for former Grateful Dead
bandmembers Bob Weir and Phil Lesh,
who sang the National Anthem. A lot
of people from the Russian River area
showed up, some carrying a banner
saying “Guerneville.”
The Thugz have generously donated
their time for fundraisers over the
years, and the Giants event was a
result of their association with the
Rex Foundation, a group dedicated
to “furthering a tradition of grassroots
giving,” for whom the band does
an annual benefit performance. “It’s
flattering that people think we can
help,” Campbell says.
Peace for Christmas, 20th
Anniversary edition
Peace for Christmas, is celebrating
the 20th anniversary of this spectacular
holiday album that was described
by Rick Warne the former owner of
Backdoor Disc and tape as “the best
Christmas album of all times.” That’s
quite a claim from someone who has
heard them all, but those that have
heard all the fantastic tracks on this disc
usually concur with that assessment.
The album is in it’s fourth printing
and has sold over 10,000 copies, and
is a testament
to the quality of
musicianship in
Sonoma County.
In 1993, Mr.
Music (aka: Jim
Corbett) wanted
a
Christmas
album that he
could use in the
local classrooms
where he taught.
So,
in
late
October of that
year he combined
forces with Blair
Hardman of Zone Recording. With the
help of the Reader’s Digest Christmas
Songbook and the considerable talents
of local musicians, they turned out a 25
song collection, with each one a little
masterpiece of its own.
During the 20 years that have elapsed
since the making of this album some of
the most beloved figures of the local
music scene have left the stage. Norton
Buffalo plays backup harmonica on
several tracks and contributes his own,
‘If I Don’t Have a Chimney’, about a
homeless boy wondering about Santa
on Christmas Eve. Veteran bluesman,
Stu Blank performs a unique rendition
of ‘White Christmas’ that would make
Bing Crosby applaud. The Buddha of
the Belly Baldwin, Jim Boggio, who
passed away in 1996, is all over this
album, from the ‘Merry Christmas
Polka’ to his growling version of the
Italian classic ‘Buon Natale’. Chip
Dunbar with Sarah Winge and their
group HiJinks kicked in a unique
minor swing version of “Santa Claus is
Coming to Town”. The ominous tone
of this arrangement makes you want to
be a good little boy or girl. Celtic master
Chris Caswell graces ‘Christmas in
Killarney’ with all the instrumentation
from bodhran and wooden spoons
to flutes and penny whistles, Mr.
Music sings is his best brogue. Keith
Allen, the guitar phenomenon from
Petaluma puts a reggae feel on Frosty
the Snowman and provides beautiful
picking on ‘Silent Night’. Even though
all these master players have gone on,
there considerable talents forever shine
on these tracks.
There were also some youngsters
on the original album that have since
become stars in their own right. Spencer
Burrows, was just a lad of 15 when
he recorded the lead vocal for ‘The
Little Drummer Boy”, complete with
the polyrhythmic
drumming of Kim
Atkinson
and
Kendrick Freeman.
Spencer is now lead
singer and arranger
with the wildly
popular, Frobeck.
Katie Rose Phillips
was just a pixie of
a girl, with a big
voice when she cut
“I Saw Mommy
Kissing
Santa
Claus”, which is a
perennial hit with
the school kids. Katie is now one of The
Bootleg Honeys, an up and coming
trio with great songs and even better
vocals. Katie was all of 11 years old
when the album came out.
Other guest artists include Nina
Gerber and her tasty guitar styles on
“Fill Your Heart with Christmas. The
vocal trio, Wildflower, sings back
up vocals on many tunes and has
an incredibly beautiful rendition of
“Silent Night” with Doug Harmon on
soaring cello. Saxophonist, Michael
Bolivar quotes a bevy of Christmas
melodies during the rap version of
“Twas the Night Before Christmas”.
And, the most recorded musician in
the world, Hal Blaine, even shuffled
along on the drums on a couple of
tracks. Sherry Jones lent her song
“Peace for Christmas” to the name
of the album in 2007. Counting kids
and various back up groups including
the Love Choir there are over 175
performers on these 25 tracks. Mr.
Music sings lead with the Cool Kids
Chorus and his original song, “Santa
Claus Rocks”, has been a local hit with
the local school kids.
Even people who don’t like
Christmas music, love this album. It
is available at local stores or you can
download “Peace for Christmas” by
Mr. Music from iTunes. It could be the
best $10.00 you spend this Christmas.
‘Tis the Season
The Elevator
these amazingly creative types that
By Kim Thatcher
Back in 2000 I stumbled across this transforms everything he touches!
cute little fixer-upper in Forestville. Their renovated home is a good
Most appealing to me was the price, example of his craftsmanship! With
which was still somewhat affordable the finishing touches completed on his
in comparison to Sebastopol where home, he was looking for a new project
I had been living. I also fell in love to take on and that turned out to be my
with the little community of Mirabel stair conundrum.
At the time of our first discussion I
Heights. Neighbors houses were very
close though, which was an immediate didn’t think that we were in any rush
concern, but this turned out to be a to get this done as my 11 year old
dog seemed to be doing fine. Randy,
blessing in many ways.
Shortly after acquiring the property on the other hand was eager to get
I decided to reward myself with a started. Within weeks of our initial
puppy. Years ago I had selfishly stair discussion, the mechanism was
rescued a puppy while living in a rental in place. By late August my dog Cody
had his very own
property.
Then
elevator fastened
had to give her
from a winch
up because of the
previously used
difficulty I had in
on a boat trailer.
finding a landlord
So now at a push
who
would
of a button, Cody
permit dogs. This
is
transported
was devastating
from the bottom
for me and I
of my property
promised myself
to the driveway
that I would wait
where his bike
until I was a home
chariot
awaited
owner
before
him.
Shortly
getting
another
after the elevator
dog. So, I found
was
in
place
myself with this
my
dog
started
cottage that had a
Cody in his elevator
losing his ability
fenced yard that I
could raise a dog in, and that’s exactly to walk! Climbing the stairs became
what I did. It took me several years to impossible for him. The “chariot”, an
realize that my yard was not the ideal altered kiddy bike trailer, is something
dog yard. What I had not considered that allows me to tow Cody on his old
were the steep stairs! Like a lot of West walking route with my bicycle.
I can’t begin to express the relief I
county properties my parcel of land
was anything but flat and as my 65 feel because these things are in place!
pound dog started aging this became I am in such awe of Randy’s ingenuity
and kindness of heart. He refers to the
more of a concern.
Over the years I had come to know elevator as “a work in progress” and
many of the neighbors. It turned out from time to time will come check up
to be a great dog walking area...close on how it is running and make little
to the river, away from the main road adjustments on it.
What
a
blessing
this
little
and with lots of other dogs to play
with. One of the dog walkers I met, neighborhood has been. I am sure that
Laura Hanson, suggested that I talk this random act of kindness has earned
with her husband, Randy, regarding Randy his angel wings! Thank you!!
the stair issue. Randy is one of
Every year at about this time we are
bombarded by charitable organizations
seeking financial support. There are
literally scores of humane societies,
rescue groups, and wildlife care
organizations clamoring for help.
What is a charitable contributor to do?
I like to support groups that are
LOCAL and DO SOMETHING OF
GENUINE BENEFIT. There are many
deserving organizations other than
those I will name, but these are my
favorites.
PALS (Pets Are Loving Support)
is a Guerneville-based non-profit
dedicated to caring for animals
belonging to HIV-AIDS sufferers.
This group is managed entirely by
volunteers and works in partnership
with local humane organizations to
provide health care, spay / neuter, and
other needed services to the animals
whose presence means so much to the
chronically ill. We all understand how
our lives are made richer by our pets.
PALS makes pet ownership possible
for HIV victims who are often poor or
disabled and are, in fact, our neighbors.
It’s been said that to make the world a
better place, one should start in one’s
own back yard. PALS does exactly that.
They deserve our support.
Forgotten Felines of Sonoma
County is a special kind of spay /
neuter organization. This organization
subsidized the neutering of nearly
2,400 cats last year. What’s special
about Forgotten Felines is their mission
to spay or neuter feral and barnyard
cats, animals that belong to no one
and whose uncontrolled reproduction
results in the birth of literally thousands
of surplus kittens each and every year.
Un-noticed and un-cared for, these
kittens suffer brief, brutal lives until
they are removed from the population
by natural selection. It’s not a pretty
process. A world that contains less
suffering is a better world. Forgotten
Felines makes the world a better place.
Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue
is a favorite of mine. This is my go-to
organization when I take in just about
any sick or injured wildlife patient.
Each wildlife species needs very
precise forms of housing, nutrition, and
veterinary care. Often, my facility can
do little more than temporarily shelter
and immediately transfer a wildlife
patient to the appropriate specialist.
Who we gonna call when we have an
injured, ticked off bobcat in the hospital?
Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, that’s
who. They either have volunteers with
the needed expertise for a particular
species or will handle the transfer to
a specialty group that does. For wild
animals in our area, Sonoma County
Wildlife Rescue is a genuine lifesaver.
“I was hungry, and you fed me. I was
thirsty, and you gave me a drink…”
Native
Songbird
Care
and
Conservation is another very local
wildlife care group specializing in
rehabilitation of songbirds. This
organization was part of Wildlife
Rescue until 2011, when they separated
to concentrate exclusively on the
unique needs of songbirds such as
mockingbirds, robins, blackbirds and
chickadees, and insectivores such as
swallows, swifts and flycatchers. This
group takes in hundreds of baby birds
every spring and raises them until they
are old enough to care for themselves.
“I was naked, and you gave me
clothing…” They deserve our support.
The Bird Rescue Center of Santa
Rosa is another local gem. When
our hospital takes in an injured sea
bird, we contact this organization
for help. Bird Rescue Center handles
many sensitive and needful species
including pelicans, grebes, gulls, geese,
cormorants, egrets, and other coastal
birds, as well as hawks, owls, osprey,
crows and ravens. BRC volunteers take
injured sea birds to be cared for locally
or will sometimes transport them to the
International Bird Rescue facility near
Cordelia. “I was sick, and you cared for
me…” They deserve our support.
Locate any of these organizations
by typing the name into Google and
pressing “return.” Your donation need
not be immense to make a difference.
Every little bit helps and every dollar
you give makes a difference for an
animal in need. Contributions can often
be made through PayPal or Amazon,
so you don’t even need to pick up a
pen. Not everyone can volunteer their
time towards this important charitable
work, but we can send a few (tax
deductible) bucks to help – and we
should. They deserve our support.
SNAP Cats:
Special Needs Are Precious!
By Daryl Roberts
SNAP Cats, founded by Darryl
Roberts in June 2013, is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit dedicated to the rescue
and care of special needs cats. As we
know, our local shelters are full, and
unfortunately the first animals to be
euthanized (killed) are old animals,
for lack of adoption interest, and
special needs animals because shelters
are not equipped, either physically
or financially, to house special needs
animals. Cats are high on the kill list
because there are many more cats who
need homes than dogs. That’s where
SNAP Cats steps in.
Located in Healdsburg, SNAP Cats’
vision is to work with local shelters to
rescue special needs cats (including
older cats), give them a wonderful
place to live, work with their special
needs (therapy), then try to find them
a loving home. For cats that aren’t
adopted, they will spend the rest of
their lives with SNAP Cats.
Roberts’ goal is to create a unique
rescue and sanctuary. He wants his
facility to be a Disneyland for cats and
people, with a fun, interactive and
inviting atmosphere. Roberts wants
visitors and volunteers to leave with
a huge smile on their face (and maybe
a few cats!). He believes the more
positive energy people bring
to the facility the better the
cats will feel and respond to
therapy.
SNAP Cats will also house
an educational center where the
community – including boys
& girls clubs, 4-H, wounded
veterans, local schools and
other groups – will be invited to
learn more about special needs
cats and how their special needs
can be an advantage instead
of a handicap. There will be a
library of books, brochures, computers
and interactive media, along with all
sorts of games and therapy “toys” for
the cats. The more the community
understands special needs cats the
less likely they’ll discriminate against
them, resulting in more being adopted.
Using
their
Facebook
page
(facebook.com/SNAPCats)
and
website (snapcats.org), SNAP Cats is
working with rescues and shelters to
feature adoptable special needs cats in
Sonoma County. They are also placing
books (binders) in County pet shops so
people don’t have to go online to see
who’s available. Pet shops currently
hosting SNAP Cats books are: NorCal
Pet Supply in Santa Rosa; FROLIC: For
Pets in Windsor; and Bow Wow Meow
in Healdsburg. More books will be
placed in the coming months.
SNAP Cats’ most current concern is
finding a new home so they can save
more special needs cats. Their goal is to
find a vacant small school or church or
converted barn or some sort of facility
that has a large communal room, with
a few smaller rooms for offices and a
clinic. If you know of or have a facility
like this please email darryl@snapcats.
org. 707.836.6000.
What is mortgage insurance?
Survivors of Military Sexual Assault
FREE Confidential Services
Verity - Sonoma County’s Rape
Crisis, Trauma and Healing Center
is offering free, confidential services
to Sonoma County’s female resident
survivors of sexual assault and
traumatic sexual harassment that
occurred in the military. Swords to
Plowshares, a community based notfor-profit veteran service organization,
awarded Verity a grant earlier this
year. The grant enables Verity to
focus services on female Veterans
and Enlisted women. Their services
include individual counseling with
a licensed clinician, advocacy, and
support groups for survivors and their
families. In an effort to adequately
serve Sonoma County’s multicultural
community, all services will be
available in English and Spanish.
Verity has named this their Forgotten
Warriors Project, which reflects the
US Military’s internal struggle with
sexual harrassment and sexual assault
that has been kept private for far too
long. “We are so pleased to be giving
these women some much deserved
attention and recognition for their
suffering so that they may begin their
healing process,” says, Autumn Stone.
Autumn is Verity’s Bilingual Advocate
and Case Coordinator for the Forgotten
Warriors Project.
Although the military is hard at
work developing its own programs
to respond to sexual harrassment
and sexual assault, the Forgotten
Warriors project is another avenue for
women who may not want to formally
report their victimization, to seek
help. For advocacy, support group
information, and individual counseling
appointments, please contact:
Autumn Stone
Bilingual Advocate/
Case Coordinator
Office: (707) 545-7270 x20
Email: [email protected]
Crisis Line: (707) 545-7273
OK, so the easy answer is that
mortgage insurance is something that
a home buyer pays when they put less
than 20% down. The insurance protects
the bank making the loan and not the
consumer so why would you want it?
Because, before mortgage insurance
existed, people needed to put down at
least 20% down in order to buy a house
so it allows you to put less down and
still live the American dream.
After the depression, people simply
did not have 20% to put down and so
FHA was created in 1934 to help fix
our housing problems. This effectively
created mortgage insurance at the
same time. I am not sure how FHA
operated back then but today they
charge an up-front premium and a
monthly premium as long as you met
the criteria to have the loan insured
by FHA. So FHA is a bundled package
deal and Private Mortgage Insurance
or PMI is a third party literally insuring
the lender in case of default. In the case
of PMI, you need to qualify for the loan
AND you need to qualify for the PMI
as well and then you can have your
mortgage.
So which one is better? That used
to be more of a toss up but lately
congress has been feeding at the FHA
trough and they have made it much
more expensive over the last few
years. Monthly fees for an FHA loan
have gone up almost 250% while PMI
has remained almost the same. FHA
used to allow you to drop the monthly
mortgage insurance after 5 years if you
could prove you were at a 78% loan to
value but now it is 11 years in some
cases and in some cases it never goes
away.
Private Mortgage Insurance needs
to stay on the home for a minimum of
2 years and can be dropped after that if
you have made your payments on time
and can prove you have at least 20%
equity in your home.
So getting a conventional loan with
PMI is better than FHA right? Well, still
not so easy. If you have good credit and
you can qualify on your own then that
is likely correct. The numbers are better
for sure but FHA is more forgiving in
certain circumstances.
FHA is more of a pass/fail on credit
and your credit does not need to be
perfect AND you will not always pay
more for a lower credit score (not
unless it is really low). FHA will allow
all of your down payment and closing
costs to be a gift and you do not need to
show that you have reserves after you
close on the loan. FHA will also allow
you to get into a home loan 3 years after
a foreclosure (1 year with extenuating
circumstances) and conventional loans
require 7 years.
The bottom line is that FHA is much
easier to qualify for and so if you need
to get into a house now and that is all
that will work, it is GREAT! What is
really great is to help and counsel a
client as to how they might prepare
to get a conventional loan with PMI
instead of settling for an FHA loan.
A good loan officer can help you
navigate through these questions and
help you get the best loan.
Need to know more? Please send me
your real estate and mortgage related
questions. I am happy to answer you and
it may become the topic of a future article.
Hans Bruhner is a branch manager for
First Priority Financial. Hans is licensed
by the CA DRE # 01085398 and NMLS
#243484 and First Priority Financial is
licensed by the CA DRE # 00652852 and
NMLS #3257. If you have a question,
please contact him at (707) 347-9250 or
[email protected]
SEE our website for our UPDATED
THRIFT Shops for a Good Cause
where you can buy gifts for less
while benefitting others.
Have an Environmentally-Friendly Holiday Season
Did you know that an extra million
tons of waste is generated nationwide
each week between Thanksgiving and
New Year’s? Fortunately, there is a
lot you can do to reduce the amount
of waste during and after the holiday
season.
Over the holidays, thousands of
paper and plastic shopping bags end
up in landfills. Instead of accepting
a new bag at each store, take along
reusable shopping bags to help reduce
the number of single-use, disposable
bags distributed by retailers. Tell store
clerks you don’t need a bag for small
or oversized purchases. Reusable
shopping bags are available for
purchase at many grocery stores and
other retail locations.
When buying gifts, check product
labels to determine an item’s
recyclability and whether the product
and the packaging are made from
recycled materials. Send recycledcontent greeting cards to reduce the
amount of virgin paper used during
the holidays. If you use traditional
gift wrapping, avoid wrapping gifts
in materials that are not recyclable
or reusable, such as foil or metallic
papers. Be sure to recycle packaging,
wrapping paper, cards, holidaythemed catalogs and advertisements,
and anything else that is recyclable.
Cancel catalogs you don’t need.
Composting:
You can compost your food scraps
from your holiday dinners and parties.
Fruits, vegetables, peels and seeds can
be composted at home. In fact, about 35
percent of residential garbage is food
waste, a resource that could be used
instead of sent to the landfill. In Sonoma
County, fruit and veggie food scraps
can be put in the curbside yard debris
cart for the municipal composting
program
(www.recyclenow.org/
compost/curbside.asp).
Cooking oil:
Recycle the cooking oil if you deep
fry a turkey. There are locations in
both Sonoma County and Mendocino
County that accept clean strained
cooking oil to be made into biodiesel.
Wrapping paper and ribbon:
Paper makes up about 19 percent of
what’s going into our home-generated
garbage. Holiday paper, cards,
envelopes, and cardboard packaging
can be recycled, along with other yearround paper items, such as catalogs
and magazines, in your single-stream
curbside recycling cart. Foil-backed,
metallic, and plastic wrapping paper
cannot be recycled. Save ribbon to
reuse on next year’s packages.
Packaging:
If you accumulate packing peanuts
and bubble wrap over the holidays,
many local packaging stores and mail
centers are glad to accept these items
for reuse.
Christmas trees:
Christmas trees can be recycled
into compost and mulch! Think twice
before purchasing a “flocked” tree
- sprayed-on artificial snow can be
made from environmentally harmful
components and hinder the ability
to recycle a Christmas tree. Before
recycling, your tree must be free
of flocking, tinsel, decorations and
its stand. For pick-up and drop-off
options after the holidays in Sonoma
County visit www.recyclenow.org/
recycling/tree.asp.
Electronics:
There are many options for the
proper disposal of both working and
non-working electronics. Under a state
mandate, electronics cannot be put in
the garbage. An electronic device is
anything with a circuit board. Look
for devices with digital displays or
programmable features. Examples
include computers, TVs, laptops,
printers, answering machines, CD and
DVD players, stereos and cell phones.
Many of the stores where you buy
your new electronics will take your
old ones back from you and get them
to a responsible recycler, even if the
old item wasn’t purchased there.
When you’re shopping for that TV or
computer, ask the sales staff if they
will take back your old electronics.
If your item is working and can be
reused, consider donation. Many local
charities operate thrift stores and are
always looking for donated items.
You can also recycle your old
cell phones. State law requires that
retailers selling cell phones take back
used cell phones at time of purchase.
For a complete list of services for
your area, visit www.recyclenow.org/
toxics/electronics.asp.
Batteries:
About 40 percent of all battery sales
occur during the holiday season.
Batteries should not be placed in the
trash. Buy rechargeable batteries to
accompany your electronic gifts, and
consider giving a battery charger as
well. Rechargeable batteries reduce
the amount of potentially harmful
materials thrown away, and can
save money in the long run. By
law, retailers selling rechargeable
batteries are required to take back
used rechargeable batteries from their
customers. For a list of these retailers,
visit the Call2Recycle website at www.
call2recycle.org.
Some stores offer take-back for
alkaline batteries, in addition to
rechargeables. All kinds of household
batteries can also be disposed of
through Sonoma County’s Household
Toxics Program.
Holiday Lights:
Brighten your holidays while saving
money with LED lights. LED’s use 75%
less energy than conventional holiday
lights and last up to 25 times longer
than incandescent lighting. They also
offer convenient features like dimming
and automatic shut-off.
Want to know more about recycling?
For any questions about recycling
and year-round disposal options:
visit www.recyclenow.org, call the
Sonoma County Eco-Desk at 565DESK (3375), or look for your Sonoma
County Recycling Guide printed in the
Yellow Pages (formerly AT&T) under
Recycling.
This article was authored by Lisa Steinman, Waste Management Specialist for the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency, on
behalf of RRWA. RRWA (www.rrwatershed.org) is an association of local public agencies in the Russian River Watershed that have
come together to coordinate regional programs for clean water, fisheries restoration, and watershed enhancement.
Dear readers,
I have had several requests to publish
my remarks made at the November 5
Board of Supervisors meeting regarding
the Andy Lopez tragedy. The following is
a transcript of my comments.
Foster Caring
By Jayashri Triolo
Sometimes there are moments,
when one’s childhood memories
return in waves of raw emotion. I
was overwhelmed with feeling when
I visited The Children’s Village of
Sonoma County earlier this year. I
saw what life might have been like for
my siblings and me, had there been a
place like the Village when we were
growing up. A safe place—a home
where we would have been nurtured
and encouraged to reach our full
potential.
I was only three when my brother,
sister and I were removed from our
home, as our parents struggled with
poverty, alcoholism, and illness.
Our childhood became a twisted,
complicated journey back and forth
between foster care homes, adoptive
homes, and an institutional orphanage.
We had no permanent sense of
belonging, to anyone or any place.
Some placements were good, but some
were abusive, in many different ways.
When I toured the Village, I was
overcome with gratitude that this
model of foster care is completely
different. At the Village, children
know that this is home and they
won’t be moving from one foster
home to another. Here, kids don’t
wear embarrassing hand-me-downs
just because they’re in foster care.
Their rooms are filled with artwork,
school awards, and favorite posters—
keepsakes for the future.
The Village provides art therapy
for the kids who live there. As a child,
I would have embraced this outlet
for creativity and release, but I had
none. At the Village all the kids have
a therapist, critical help to begin a
journey of healing. Too many former
foster children end up homeless or in
jail after leaving the foster care system.
No one has helped them heal their
wounds. I know that Village kids are
given the tools they need to survive on
their own, and thrive.
By the time children are adolescents
at The Children’s Village of Sonoma
County, they are already talking about
what they want to be when they grow
up. They’re learning how to interview
for jobs and acquiring the educational
foundation to support their dreams.
The kids feel that they belong to a
community—one that’s enriched with
art, healing, and opportunities.
By the time I was seventeen, I was on
my own and having to learn things the
hard way. For a time I even slept in my
car. With the help of friends, mentors,
and the US military, I managed to
attend art school. But I live with
emotional scars from my childhood—
I’ll never stop wishing those years
could have been different. I’m happy to
see that Village kids have the support
and encouragement for a smoother
transition to adulthood than I had. I
support the Village because I know
that I am helping abused children,
children like the child I was, soar to
the heights they are meant to reach. Is
there anything more important?
The Village accepts recurring or
one-time donations online at www.
thechildrensvillage.com or by phone at
(707)566-7044.
There are many levels of healing
that will need to take place as we move
forward. As a leader in this County my
commitment is to bring vision, hope
and a concrete plan for healing. I will
work for the restoration of a broken
trust of the community along with my
colleagues on the Board, the City of
Santa Rosa and other local leaders.
We have all been affected by this
tragedy. First and foremost, my heart
goes out to Andy’s parents, Rodrigo
Lopez and Sujey Cruz; to Andy’s
extended family; to his many young
friends at Cook Middle School and
beyond; to his neighbors; our public
safety employees and our whole County.
The shooting has torn the scab off the
wound of social injustices. An event
like the shooting of Andy Lopez raises
questions about how social injustice
plays into the welfare of the various
segments of our community.
As leaders we need to turn over
every stone to ensure that to the best
of our ability, 1) this never happens
again, 2) that justice is served, and
3) that we address the disparities of
our diverse neighborhoods with real
solutions and funding.
There are short term issues that need
to be addressed with urgency in regard
to the investigation and there are long
term issues that we need to address
with regard to social injustices that
have simmered for far too long.
With regard to the investigation,
the public perception of the conflict of
interest is real and it is fair. When one
law enforcement agency investigates
another neighboring agency it is not
truly independent because they have
interdependent working relationships.
If we are going to rebuild the trust of the
Latino community in law enforcement
we must, at the very least, investigate
what are the best practices for civilian
review boards.
We have promised the public
complete transparency and maybe
the best way to offer this is through a
civilian review investigation.
My recommendations:
First, we set up a Task Force that
is charged with recommending: best
practices for Civilian Review Boards,
protocol for officer training and
police tactics, local, state and federal
legislation to address firearms in
general, and models for community
policing. Additionally, the Task Force
would come back with ideas such as
greater investments in schools, parks,
and other community resources. The
panel would need to be administered
by either Department of Health or
County Administrator’s Office.
Second, we need to put money into
community policing in problematic
neighborhoods. We know that the way
you reduce fear among both officers
and the public is through relationship
building, fostering trust and knowing
who lives in the neighborhoods. If we
don’t get our deputies out of the car we
can’t achieve this.
On the issue of social justice: We
need to put money on the table for
annexation of the Southwest, both from
the County and the City, and we need
to come to an agreement of what that
fair share amount is. We cannot wait
another year to achieve this. Supervisor
Carrillo and I attempted this 5 years
ago on the joint County and City
Roseland Committee. Unfortunately
the consultant hired by the city and
county produced an inadequate report
and the recession hit us, stopping the
further consideration of the idea. But
the recession is now behind us and we
need to expedite this process and fully
realize this priority.
Both this Board and the SR City
Council has made the annexation of
the Southwest islands a priority in
our work plans, yet to date staff that
reports to us have not come back with
any concrete fiscal plan. We need to
ensure that staff will work with us to
realize these priorities that are now at
the forefront due to this tragedy.
And lastly we will need to continue
to have open dialogues about
community violence, social injustices,
community grief and building trust.
As the liaison for the criminal
justice system this year on the Board of
Supervisors, I have asked the Sheriff to
speak with various community groups
and leaders, and most importantly, to
listen to their concerns.
Finally, it is fitting that the parcel
of vacant land where Andy died be
acquired for a park. Having a shared
space to reflect on the tragedy that
occurred there will be constructive and
healing for the community immediately
surrounding the hallowed site, and for
all of us who will never forget the loss
of Andy Lopez.
Bienvenidos!
Here is a sampling in print of topics
being discussed on KBBF and in the
community we serve. For those who are
new to the world of bilingual public radio,
we are a potpourri of cultural flavors,
events, local-to-world news, interviews,
and commentary. Welcome to Radioland!
Que Pasa? – What’s
Happening?
Back from the Ashes - KBBF 89.1
FM was struck down by lightning, but
rose back up like a phoenix. In March
2011 lightning hit the station’s antenna
on Mount St. Helena. As station
engineer Alan Bloom recalls, the strike
“did major damage to much of the
equipment.” In a word, it was fried.
The station returned to the air on Cinco
de Mayo 2011, and transmitter parts
gradually got repaired or replaced, all
except the “Studio to Transmitter Link”
antenna, that beams programming
from the studio up to the transmitter
on the mountain. Last month three
volunteers - Andre ‘Marc’ Andrus,
Alan Bloom and Bernie Hovden climbed up the transmitting tower,
replaced the old backup antenna with a
new one. Alan is confident: “The KBBF
signal should now be more reliable
and noise-free.”
Down the hill in Santa Rosa, the new
broadcast studio at KBBF is up and
running. Alan and Andre led an allvolunteer construction team on that
project.
KBBF’s founders and their Chicano/
farm worker roots were honored at
the station’s Chicano Celebration in
November. Some speakers who recalled
the station’s beginnings 40 years ago
were Luis Rodriquez and Miguel
Gabilan Molina, host of “La Onda
Bajita” on KPFA-FM. Also on its 40th
anniversary, KBBF newly declared its
mission to include social justice.
The bilingual Nueva Prensa/
New Press launched its first edition,
with fiery coverage of local issues.
In an editorial the paper declared,
“The Latino community is seriously
underreported in local media...Our
bottom line is social and economic
justice, not financial or political
influence.” The New Press can be
found at the offices of KBBF, and at the
Arlene Francis Center, where it was
born.
Que Dice la Gente?
What’s the Buzz?
During November, calls continued
to pour in to KBBF as the community
sought a place to mourn, grieve and
express their outrage and pain over
the October shooting of Andy Lopez, a
local 13-year old, by a sheriff’s deputy.
In the Latino community, many parents
hold the fear that their child could be
next; students fear that they, personally,
could be next. “The guiding theme in
all this is justice,” commented KBBF
Vice President David Janda. “Social
and economic justice. What’s bringing
all these families here from south of the
border? What jobs they do, where they
live, attitudes of the larger community.
There has to be a way to address that.”
The Justice Coalition for Andy Lopez,
has formed to unite several current
groups around common goals. Those
include a public investigation and
possible charges against the deputy;
city incorporation and upgrades to
schools and housing in neighborhoods
such as Roseland and Moorland Ave.
(where the shooting occurred); and
district elections to the City Council.
The passage of California’s Trust
Act is also a hot topic, now that
Sonoma County Sheriff Steve Freitas
has acknowledged it and announced
he will stop handing undocumented
immigrants over to federal agents for
deportation if they have committed
no crimes. Over the past several years,
hundreds of immigrants were seized
at police checkpoints and put into
Federal detention, a practice that often
broke up local families and usually,
one study showed, did not arise from
criminal charges. The Sheriff declared
adherence to the Federal “Secure
Communities” policy, although it was
optional for counties. The Trust Act
bans such holds, except for suspects
being charged with crimes. Groups
such as North Bay Organizing Project
(NBOP) and Committee for Immigrant
Rights of Sonoma County (CIRSC)
campaigned for the law, and held
discussions with a Sheriff’s Dept.
advisory group.
Coming Up:
During the Christmas and New
Year’s holidays, KBBF will present
round the clock holiday music, in
Spanish and English. Check the web
site for more information, www.kbbffm.org.
Windsor Wonderland
It’s always a surprise how quickly
December shows up. When I was a
kid it felt like Christmas would never
get here. This year it feels like I just
finished taking down last year’s tree.
But ready or not, here it comes! And
we’re lucky that Windsor has some
divine December events to help us get
into the spirit of the season.
¡Salsa!
BreNotas Magazine presents “The
Great Salsa Night,” a community
gathering and fundraising event for
the Windsor Parks and Recreation
Foundation (WPRF). The dance will
be held December 14, 2013, at the
Windsor Huerta Gymnasium 9291 Old
Redwood Hwy., Bldg. 200, 7 pm – 12
am. Tickets are $20 per person, $25 at
the door.
The evening promises to be a
celebration of live music, dancing,
delicious food and beverages. A free
Salsa Dance lesson will be held at 7:30
pm, and guests will kick up their heels
to the Salsa sounds of Orquesta Son de
Caña plus a hot local DJ. To purchase tickets, please call
707-295-7775, purchase at the door or
online at www.eventbrite.com/e/thegreat-salsa-night-tickets-9348618971.
Spend
Windsor’s shopping scene is better
than ever. In addition to our longtime
Downtown merchants like Images,
The Material Girl, Tutu a Go Go, Mark
Shimizu Designs, Montoya Jewelry
Designs and Something Special Art &
Gifts, there are a couple of new kids on
the block.
Island Fever brings a piece of the
South Pacific to Downtown and it
appears to be bursting with sun and
fun (perfect for a dreary day). Fetch
some fun for your furry friends at
Frolic, Windsor’s new gift shop for
pets. Plus, Mirror Mirror and My Chic
Boutique are now open and ready to
get you outfitted in the most fashionforward looks of the year.
For a preview of all the great
shopping, dining and other details
about Downtown Windsor, visit
olddowntownwindsor.com. It’s easy
to plan a day trip where you’ll fill
your shopping bags and your tummy
(without emptying your wallet.)
Celebrate!
I get a little giddy when it’s time for
the Grove. What Grove? The Charlie
Brown Christmas Tree Grove on the
Town Green, of course! It launches
December 2 and remains available for
viewing throughout the entire month
of December.
It’s truly a festival of bright lights,
beautiful ornaments and big fun. Local
businesses and organizations decorate
an array of trees in all kinds of themes.
Strolling through the trees is one of my
favorite ways to get into the swing of
the holidays.
Plus, you’ll experience REAL SNOW
every night at 5:30 and 7:30 pm. I’d tell
you how this works, but Santa’s elves
have sworn me to secrecy. You’ll just
have to experience it for yourself.
It truly is a Windsor Wonderland
this holiday season! It’s so important to
shop local when seeking perfect gifts,
and I promise you’ll find something
for everyone on your list right here in
town.
Here’s to a joyous holiday
season right here at home!
Community stretches
far and wide
“I came back to Healdsburg because
I wanted to have more community in
my life,” said Healdsburg metal artist
Jennifer Utsch when I met her earlier
this year at the Healdsburg Center
for the Arts (HCA). She had me at
community! I truly admire people who
actually walk their talk. And Jennifer
does it in spades. Her commitment
to
creating
and
strengthening
community has shown up time and
again. Without her advise and counsel
on how to create a more communityoriented Healdsburg Arts Festival
last September, I don’t think the HCA
Festival would have been nearly as
successful, drawing not only tourists
but a lot of locals, too, and raising
enough funds for HCA to continue to
provide arts education programs for
the community.
how you can contribute or if you’d like
to check out her recycled metal word
art, visit www.jendala.com.
Made in America
Many people in Healdsburg were
sad to see Silo, a downtown shop
specializing in handcrafted American
made items, close recently. Thankfully
there are some other unique options
for you to shop locally. Check out
Options Gallery, Dovetail Collection
and Healdsburg Center for the Arts.
During the entire month of December
HCA’s newest gallery show, Art for the
Holidays, will feature a special holiday
gift gallery. Spread warm wishes with
many great handcrafted gift items
created by local artists, including
Dragonfly Floral Design, Tove
Norlander Jewelry, Earl Shagley,
Phyllis Rapp and many more. Open
daily, 11am to 6pm. 130 Plaza St., off
Center St. 707/431-1970.
Remembering what’s
really important
A couple of weeks ago Jennifer hosted
her 9th Annual Jendala Open Studio.
Not content to have it be a commercial
venture only she turned the day into a
fundraiser for Mama na Dada Africa,
a nonprofit group in Kenya, who is
working toward rebuilding the Circle
of Hope Daycare Center. Using her art
studio on Moore St. as the venue she
created a festive free community event
with live music, live performance
painting by Neal Barbosa, fresh food
and beverages and a children’s art
and play zone. Even city councilman
Shaun McCaffrey dropped by to lend
a hand. In the process she raised $2500
for Circle of Hope Daycare. To find out
The holidays are a wonderful time to
reflect on the past year and remember
what truly matters. “They are a time of
love and gratitude,” says Rev. Jeff, codirector of Center for Spiritual Living
Healdsburg (CSLH). “The love that we
give each other is the most beautiful
and important thing that we have to
share, and the great thing about love is
that it costs nothing, requires nothing,
and is unique and personal each and
every time it is given.” For anyone
who wants to join CSLH in celebrating
the gratitude and love of the season,
they meet on Wednesday evenings.
Coincidentally, this year Thanksgiving
Eve, first night of Hanukkah and
Christmas Day all fall on a Wednesday.
Services are held at 7pm at the Krug
Event Center on Grove St., off Dry
Creek Rd. www.CSLHealdsburg.org.
One final note
This season it’s really simple to
figure out what I’m grateful for. My
beloved 32-year-old niece Amanda
Rosa made it through her 7th openheart surgery (third heart surgery this
year) on November 19. Despite the
odds against her, she is still with us.
Her first words when she awoke from
surgery, “still here!”
Happy Holidays everyone. Give the
gift of love to your family and friends
and also to those in need. It’s the best
present you can give to yourself and
your community.
It’s My B’Day—Please Feed Me Crab & Pasta!
In October I told you about
Cloverdale Kiwanis Club’s Annual
Harvest Marathon. Happy to report
it was another success and having
greatly enjoyed my volunteer stint
at its Asti site, I’m sending a special
shout-out to my BFVF (Best Fellow
Volunteer Friend), Sandra, and to
everyone responsible for an amazing
event that raised money to send free
books to local kids through Dolly
Parton’s Imagination Library.
Now, December brings us another
“Genuinely Cloverdale” Kiwanis
tradition: the 11th Annual Crab &
Pasta Feed on Saturday, the 14th, at
the Citrus Fairgrounds Auditorium.
In recent years, I’ve had to miss too
many Feeds; but, especially because it’s
being held on my birthday, I definitely
plan not to miss this one.
Around here, when the invitation
promises All-You-Can-Eat, it means
exactly that! Take it from me, this is
one megawatt crabfest and, depending
on how much pasta you can hold, it
can be a carbfest, too.
Everyone sits amidst a happy crowd
at rows and rows of food and beverage
laden tables. The result is a bustling
but comfy setting that creates a warm,
lively, happy atmosphere – like a big
family’s holiday get together. Before
and during our meal, we have both
time and opportunity to say “Hi!” to
lots of friends and neighbors while
also getting to know new ones.
Carried in by gracious volunteers,
what I call The Yummy Parade of
gloriously large bowls brimming with
delicious food comes by non-stop –
until you truly have consumed AllYou-Can-Eat!
Don’t hesitate to come alone or
for the first time. Kiwanis folks are
always hospitable and so are typical
attendees. There’s no worry about
being “the new kid” here. Just look
around for an empty spot and make
eye contact. If those already seated
don’t immediately indicate its
availability, a friendly “May I/we
join you?” should do the trick. Take
it from me, before you know it you’ll
be devouring fresh cooked cold crab,
slurping up the juices, tucking into
hot pasta, enjoying a refreshing beer
or delightful wine and (maybe?) even
finding time to nibble the healthy
salad. All while laughing your head
off as you enjoy all the good food and
company just like a happy little kid.
Insider Tips: Bring your fave
seafood shell cracker thingy and
consider toting extra bibs. I bring big
disposable ones for me and anyone
at my table who looks like they’ll get
even half as deliriously messy as I will.
Check out the raffles and all the great
buys in the live and silent auctions, too.
Just $50/ticket at: kiwaniscrabfeed.
brownpapertickets.com; the Mail
Center; or any Kiwanis member. (No
tix at the door.)
Can’t Wait For The New Season!
Each new theatre season finds
me awed anew that our Cloverdale
Performing Arts Center can present
such a range of fine plays for such
incredibly modest ticket prices. With
performances Friday and Saturday
nights and Sunday matinees, the
coming 2013-14 line-up promises to be
even more awe inspiring than usual
with Six-Show Season Tickets at $96.00
and Individual Tickets at $18. Add in a
delightful, intimate 99-seat theatre that
offers fine acoustics, comfy seats and
clear views of the stage.
Here, for your consideration, are
brief descriptions of the coming plays.
February kicks-off with Marvin’s Room,
a “funny and moving drama that
examines the ties that bind families
together...whether they like it or
not.” April’s The Mystery of Irma Vep,
is a “hilarious comedy that satirizes
everything from Hitchcock’s Rebecca to
The Mummy’s Curse.” June’s Moonlight
and Magnolias reveals “how an awful
screenplay was re-written in five
days to become the blueprint for Gone
With the Wind” and August brings us
Completely Hollywood wherein “a trio
of performers” condenses “100 of the
best moves of all time...into a hilarious
rapid-fire summary of movie history.”
October completely changes the pace
as Albee’s classic drama Who’s Afraid of
Virginia Woolf? “examines the breakdown of the marriage of a middle-aged
couple”. Lastly, December sends us
Season’s Greetings, “a riotously funny
look at the holidays in an average
English suburban home.”
What more could we theatre lovers
want? See you at the shows! Contact
cloverdaleperformingarts.com; 209 N.
Cloverdale Blvd.; 894-2214.
A Piece of Burning Man Comes
to Geyserville
There is a field as you enter our
town from 101 that has now become
a space of significant sculptures.
Recently it became inhabited by the
Coyote, constructed by Bryan Tedrick.
He designed it to fit into the desert at
Black Rock and now miraculously it
has found its way to Geyserville. He
feels the coyote character is a good
metaphor for freedom, love of the wild
spaces and the tenacity to endure. This
is no small sculpture. It measures 26’
tall x 23’ long and 11’deep and weighs
7 tons. This amazing heroic work was
funded by Burning Man, a gathering
in the desert that is something of a
phenomena of our time. It happens
in late August and is a gathering of
48,000 people who come together in
the desert in a place called the playa,
(a dried up lake) with no rules or
regulations for a period of 1 week.
Art emerges everywhere creating a
unique experience wherever you go in
this experiment of wonderment. The
concept of Burning Man is spreading
out all over the world and a piece of it is
now being displayed in our little town.
There is a ladder to climb Coyote, but
you must do so at your own risk. The
head might turn suddenly with the
wind, so watch out. It is well worth
stopping your car, or taking a walk to
visit this field of visionary sculptures.
hand made dolls and giftware, while
another had mid-century antiques.
There is so much to choose from, both
rusty and rustic, yet some glittery
and handmade. Distressed furniture
is big here and they actually carry
a line of paints from CC Caldwell
that is a combo of chalk and clay.
Every Tuesday at 11 A.M. they teach
classes on using this product that can
transform an old piece of furniture
into a work of art. You can bring
your old wood items into the shop to
transform them into a colorful original
gift and have fun doing it. There is
easy parking around this shop, with
the unusual name that is Italian in
origin meaning stuff. It is right across
from a deli that will make you a great
sandwich if you get hungry while
shopping, you could stay here all day
just taking in the unusual collection
gathered here.
The wine tasting rooms on the few
streets of out town also carry some
interesting giftware, not to mention
that a great bottle of wine also makes
a great gift. Bosworth Hardware
Store also carries some really special
western style garb, and other original
gift items and is well worth a visit. So
remember to shop locally!
Gifts in Geyserville
Maybe we have only one gift store
in our town, but it is very large (4000
sq. feet) and within its old walls are
a plethora of small shops, each with
their own personality. Gin’ Gilli’s is
the name of this conglomeration of
fascinating gift possibilities…There is
something for everyone. I took a walk
through the other day and here is a
bit of what I discovered. Their motto
is” Kindness Matters,” and indeed
they are always very welcoming and
friendly and even offer hot apple
cider and cookies most days. It is a
cooperative with 40 venders and they
all seem to work very well together,
each decorating their spaces with
care and imagination. One cubicle
had beautiful colorful hand-blown
glass items. Another had primitive
A Winter Solstice
Ritual Concert
At the darkest moment of the
year, celebrate the return of the light.
Harpist Diana Stork and members of
the Bay Area Youth Harp Ensemble
will weave a tapestry of ancient rituals
through traditional Celtic music,
playing not only harps but also flutes,
drums, vocals and heart-warming
Holiday sing-alongs. Tickets: $20/$15
seniors and children at the Isis Oasis
Historic Redwood Theatre, 20889
Geyserville Ave. Dinner is served prior
to the show at 6 P.M. on the Isis Dining
Pavilion.
Call 707-857-4747 to reserve.
Rohnert Park has found itself in the
news quite a bit lately, which should
be expected. There is an enormous
amount of activity happening in our
city and it is not just the Casino. But
since the Casino was much of the topic
of conversation let’s look at how the
Grand Opening went.
The Casino, built with just under
$1 billion, is a high end establishment
boasting an impressive interior of
natural stone and wood along with
outstanding restaurants. It is over
320,000 square feet and has 3,000 slot
machines.
Knowing there would be a large
number of people that wanted to see
this new venue, the city assembled
a Task Force to look at all the issues
surrounding the first couple of
weeks of the opening. The Task Force
researched what other cities with
casino have experienced, such as traffic
congestion, crime, and aid for medical.
They put a strategic plan together to
handle an onslaught of folks rushing to
view the new casino thereby creating a
traffic nightmare.
They also met with other cities
and regional entities to build a
comprehension plan to deal with
clogged surface streets and stopped
freeways.
Some of our main surface streets in
town were restriped and permanent
signs were installed directing drivers
to the casino or to shopping areas. Staff
met with most of the businesses on the
west side of town to discuss possible
traffic impacts and offered suggestions
on how to deal with the anticipated
rush of cars on the street and parking
in business parking lots.
Furthermore, staff visited with the
Chamber and local Rotaries, used
social media and moveable signage to
help spread the word.
They planned for the worst case and
hoped for the best.
Around midnight, the day of the
Grand Opening, tour buses began
to arrive with participants willing to
wait for the doors to open 10 hours
later. By the time the doors were set to
be opened approximately 2,000 were
waiting outside. And in less than 2
hours the Casino was filled to capacity.
The Casino remained full until shortly
after 4pm. Folks that showed up had to
wait for people to leave so the Casino
could open their doors and squeeze a
few people through.
Although traffic was stopped
briefly during the morning the plan
that the Task Force enacted work
out well. They had put together a
plan of education, engineering and
enforcement. The hours of meetings
and planning paid off for the city, our
residents and the casino.
Recently the city council approved
the construction of the East Trunk
Sewer Line which stretches from
Commerce Boulevard to Snyder Lane.
The city invested $8.3 million to get the
project moving and will be reimbursed
as development proceeds.
The sewer line is the trigger that will
allow all of the eastside development
to begin. This includes the University
District, across the street from the Green
Music Center; Sonoma Mountain
Village, former home of Agilent and
the South East plan, east of Sonoma
Mountain Village.
Currently work has begun on the
Fiori Estates project on the west side of
town. Two hundred and forty-four one,
two and three bedroom apartments in
a gated community will be ready by
late 2014 or early 2015. There will also
be a club house, pool, putting green
and dog park.
36 - www.sonomacountygazette.com -12/13
This year I complete three years of
writing and publishing for animal
welfare and pet adoption. Learning
the craft of blogging has been both
a pleasure and a challenge. Visiting
animal shelters pulls on my emotions. I
keep in touch with many California pet
rescue groups and shelters. Millions
of abandoned pets lose their homes
every year in America, resulting in 4
to 6 million pet deaths in our animal
shelters, due to lack of homes. So much
momentum has been gained this year
in new humane laws for animals. Yet
we have far to go.
Please Adopt, Don’t Shop
for a Pet
Local shelters and rescues are
full. Full of great pets! Both staff and
volunteers know these dogs, cats,
rabbits, guinea pigs and pet rats.
Visiting and talking with them will
help you find the right pet for your
family and lifestyle.
Never buy from an online breeder.
If you must buy a puppy, go look at
that animal’s parents to see if they are
living in clean, happy homes. Be sure
to call shelters and pet rescues before
buying. I missed a DOZEN coca-poo
puppies and their mom. The pregnant
female was dropped at Rohnert Park
Shelter. After searching the Internet
for seven months for a healthy rescue
mixed breed—at last, I found our
one-year-old Sydney. He had been at
Petaluma Animal Shelter for three
weeks, waiting for an experienced
home. He had had TWO homes before
the age of one. Did his breeder ever
bother to find out what happened to
Sydney and his littermates? I doubt it.
Sonoma County Animal Care and
Control has a new senior-to-senior
adoption program. Seniors can adopt a
pet six years or older for free.
For more information, please visit
my blog, dogleadermysteries.com and
learn how to feed shelter pets for FREE.
Three Nights of Festive Fun
Begin at the Holiday Tree Lighting
on Wednesday, December 4, 2013, 6
p.m.
Dress warmly, this year the event is
held outside in La Plaza Park.
Share singing Christmas Carols
then have cookies, cocoa, cider, listen
to holiday music, and of course, a visit
from Santa Claus.
Holiday Cheer for 21 & Up
Enjoy a festive evening, toasting
and chatting with friends. As a
group, guests will travel from bar to
bar to enjoy holiday drink specials,
both alcoholic & non-alcoholic, plus
complimentary appetizers. Thursday
December 5 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Venues include The 8 Ball, Cotati Yacht
Club, Friar Tuck’s Pub, and Spancky’s
Bar.
Free Candlelight Concert
Holiday music and vocal concert
at Church of the Oaks created for
families.
Come on Friday December 6 from
7 - 9 p.m.
Happy New Year 2014
All over the earth New Years Day
lives as a symbol of hope. From home
in your pajamas, you can join the
nondenominational annual World
Peace Meditation at 4 a.m. PST or drive
to a Center for Spiritual Living or local
place of worship to join others praying
for peace. Thanks for reading. May
your holidays be blessed with joy.
DEAR READERS: In lieu of this month’s
Q & A column, I would like to inform my
readers on one of Sonoma County’s hidden
jewels…the Sonoma County Public Law
Library. This Law Library is for everyone,
not just lawyers!
I would bet that many of our readers
have visited one of the 13 branches
of the Sonoma County public library
system. Whether it is to check out a
book for your six-year old or to borrow
a video on hiking Mt. Whitney, most
of us know about the valuable public
library system. But, how many of you
know about the Sonoma County Public
Law Library?
Despite the name, the Sonoma
County Public Law Library is not
part of the county government. It is a
separately created district (much like
a fire or hospital district).
The Law
Library moved to a beautiful space at
2604 Ventura Avenue in Santa Rosa, a
stone’s throw from the main county
courthouse. Hours of operation are
Monday through Thursday, from 8 am
to 5 pm; Fridays 8 am to 4 pm.
When you walk into the Law Library,
you will not find dusty law books with
fancy Latin names on the binding or
hoards of lawyers in pin-striped suits.
About half of the patrons are ordinary
people looking for extraordinary
answers. You will first be greeted
by either Joan, a true storehouse of
knowledge and previous paralegal,
or Danyelle, a savvy and energetic
library tech. Their warmth and degree
of knowledge surpasses even the Ritz’s
level of customer service.
The Law Library collection is vast
and deep, and includes collections on
both state and federal law. Are you
trying to figure out how to legally
evict a non-paying tenant? Were you
just served some divorce papers and
don’t know what it all means? Do you
want to form a corporation or LLC for
that jazzy business venture that you
created? Do you need a small claim
form to recoup your money from a loan
that went sour? Do you need to look
up the history of a Sonoma County
ordinance? The answers are at the Law
Library, waiting to be discovered.
The Law Library’s collection
includes over 30,000 books, as well as
DVDs and audio cassettes. Computer
work stations for word processing and
computerized legal research are also
available. Fee-based services are also
available, such as faxing, photocopying,
and computerized legal research on
Westlaw. You can even rent a conference
room for a meeting or deposition.
One of the comfiest rooms is the
“reading room”, graced by two overstuffed red chairs near a welcoming
fireplace, compliments of The Friends
of the Law Library.
Now, one must understand that
the staff cannot give you any legal
advice. Nada. However, they can
point you in the right direction to a
valuable resource. And believe me,
their “pointers” are sharp and precise.
The Law Library’s Director, Kimberly
Tucker, is a master. Literally. Not only
does she hold a Masters of Library and
Information Science, but she also is a
popular teacher at Santa Rosa Junior
College (paralegal studies and legal
secretary studies). Ms. Tucker has
served the patrons of the Law Library
since 1999.
The Law Library is governed by
a seven-member Board of Trustees
that consists of five judges and two
practicing attorneys. Approximately
95% of the Law Library’s funding comes
from a portion of the civil filing fees.
Currently, it costs $435 to file a civil
lawsuit in Sonoma County Superior
Court, and of that filing fee a very small
portion (approximately $35) is allocated
to fund the Law Library’s operations.
Given the steady decline in filing fees,
coupled with the steady increase in
fee waivers, the SoCo Law Library has
an on-going strategic plan to explore
alternative funding resources.
The Sonoma County Law Library,
serving the public since June 22, 1891!
For more information about this hidden
jewel, check out their website at www.
sonomacountylawlibrary.org or call
707-565-2668. And remember, if you
turn off your cell phone, you may even
be offered a piece of chocolate as you
enter.
Debra A. Newby is a resident of Monte
Rio and has practiced law for 31 years.
She is a member of the California, Texas
and Sonoma County Bar Associations.
She maintains an active law office in
Santa Rosa and emphasizes personal
injury law (bicycle/motorcycle/motor
vehicle accidents, dog bites, trip and
falls, etc.) and expungements (clearing
criminal records). Debra can be reached
via email (debra@newbylawoffice.
com), phone (707-526-7200), fax (5267202) or pony express (930 Mendocino
Avenue, Suite 101; Santa Rosa, 95401).
Before my calendar flips to December,
here’s some restaurant news around
Petaluma. A Café Des Croissants
sign is up on Petaluma Blvd. South
between Pete’s and Boulevard Cinema.
Remodeling is going on for Chicken
and Pie, mid-block on Kentucky Street
in the former Punjabi Burrito / Aram’s
spot. The former Three Cooks Café is
up and running again as Wishbone,
under the delicious ownership of
Miriam and Josh (formerly of Humble
Pie in Penngrove and Blue Label in
Santa Rosa). It’s at 841 Petaluma Blvd.
North at Magnolia.
Who doesn’t love a good roadhouse?
Penngrove’s venerable Twin Oaks
Tavern has changed hands. The new
manager is Sheila Groves-Tracey. She
has been a talent buyer in the North
Bay for 26 years for venues such as
The Mystic Theatre, New George’s,
and Uptown Theatre Napa. The
Tavern retains its live music, full bar,
great food and friendly vibe. This
month, in addition to the regular
menu, Rasta Dwight’s BBQ will be
served Friday and Saturday nights
for dinner. The Christmas Jug Band
(CJB) plays here December 13 at 8 p.m.
5745 Old Redwood Hwy., Penngrove.
Phone:707/795-5118.
The Atomic Man Dec. 7
The History Connection presents a
free talk: The Atomic Man - Remember
the building of THE Bomb, and secrets
of the Manhattan Project? The race to
harness atomic energy was on, and
The Manhattan Project was born. This
event honors Marin resident Donald
Hanahan, age 94, one of a small cadre
of scientists that knew about the atomic
bomb’s development. Local historian
Marshall Davis will share the history
of the Manhattan Project, at Springfield
Place, 101 Ely Blvd. South, Petaluma..
Contact www.historyconnection.net or
email [email protected].
Petaluma’s Holiday Spirit
The City of Lights Driving Tour
– all month. Numerous homes and
dozens of businesses glow with
thousands of lights and decorations
for this annual tradition. Pick up a
free map and list of addresses for your
self-guided tour from the Visitors
Center at 210 Lakeville Street. For
more info or to download a map, visit
www.visitpetaluma.com or call (707)
769-0429.
On December 11, the Downtown
Petaluma
Merchant’s
Holiday
Open House runs from 11 a.m. to 5
p.m. Participating shops will have
entertainment and/or refreshments.
Enjoy a Horse & Wagon ride through
Downtown or have your picture taken
with Santa! Stay into the evening for
the Lighted Boat Parade. Watch a
flotilla of glowing, decorated boats
sail into the Downtown Harbor
around 6 p.m., and remain on view
all night. It’s a great night to visit,
mingle and go out to dinner. See www.
petalumadowntown.com, or call (707)
762-9348.
The Gift of Art
Choose something one-of-a-kind
during the second Saturday Art
Walk on December 14, 5–8 p.m.
For a list of galleries, see www.
petalumadowntown.com/petalumaart.html.
Make Petaluma Arts Center your
first stop, during new hours 11 a.m. to
5 p.m., at the historic railroad station,
230 Lakeville Street. Here, you’ll enjoy
the 13th Members’ Annual exhibit or
select a gift of art from more than 100
entries by member artists. See www.
petalumaartscenter.org.
Shows and Songs at
Cinnabar Theater
Celebrate the holidays with shows
and songs at Cinnabar Theater, and
make festive family memories.
“Annie” - through December 15,
Cinnabar’s Young Rep performs
America’s most optimistic musical.
Bring the kids to see Little Orphan
Annie, Daddy Warbucks, Sandy,
and the whole gang. Holiday
Concert with the Cinnabar Singers
is Saturday, December 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Cheerful harmonies at this seasonal
concert feature favorite classical
selections. Cinnabar’s community
chorus performs at the United
Church of Christ, 835 Middlefield
Drive, Petaluma. New Year’s Eve at
Cinnabar is Tuesday, December 31 at
9:00 p.m. Ring in 2014 with a romantic
cabaret celebrating the passionate and
profound music of Jacques Brel. Enjoy
delectable desserts and fine wine
before the show, with party favors and
champagne at midnight! For ticket
info, contact Cinnabar Theater box
office 707-763-8920, weekdays between
10 a.m. and 3 p.m., or visit www.
cinnabartheater.org.
The rainy season began in midNovember, so it finally feels like holiday
season is here. Nothing better than
sleeping with the rain pounding on the
roof! It’s so heart-warming to know we
are still a small community that supports
each other. The most recent proof comes
from the Sonoma Valley Grange that has
received a generous donation of $100,000
offers a variety of rebate programs to from Mac and Leslie McQuown, owners
of Stone Edge Farm Winery. These funds
help save water.”
will go directly towards upgrading the
In addition to water saving rebate
Grange kitchen, a $250,000 improvement
programs, the District this year
project just getting under way. They are
launched a new online tool to help
still seeking donations to reach their
customers estimate their sewer bill. goal. Please contact MichaelCAcker@
A simple process can help customers
sbcglobal.net for more information or to
evaluate their current water use and
contribute. December is a busy month,
determine the appropriate next steps
and there is lots going on in the valley!
to reduce their household water use
to lower next year’s sewer bill. The Moon Mountain
online estimator is available at www. Christmas Tree Farm
sonomacountywater.org/svcsd. To get into the holiday spirit, visit the
“The District is excited to launch the last standing Christmas Tree Farm in
new online estimator so our customers Sonoma Valley, 1550 Moon Mountain
can better understand how their sewer Road, Sonoma. Pick out a live tree and
bills are calculated,” said City of they cut it down fresh for you! Open
Sonoma Mayor and District Director Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9
Ken Brown. “It is our goal to ensure our a.m. until 4:30 p.m. through December
customers receive the information and 15. For more information see www.
tools they need to better understand moonmountainchristmastreefarm.com.
how the District operates and plans for
Sonoma Holiday Tree Lighting
the future.” Friday Dec. 6 from 5 until 8 p.m. is
the annual tree lighting in Sonoma
Plaza, with music and inspirational
reflection, it’s fun for the whole family.
Of course Santa will be there as well
High-Efficiency Fixture
for the children! For more details go to
Direct Install Program:
This
program
offers
District www.sonomachamber.org.
customers free high-efficiency toilets, “A Christmas Market”
urinals, showerheads and aerators at
Craft Fair
no charge. Registration is required and
Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m.
properties are selected on a first-comeuntil 4 p.m., Faith Lutheran Church
first-served basis as a limited around
will hold it’s annual Christmas Market
of fixtures are available.
featuring over 2 dozen local artisans
Clothes Washer Rebate:
and crafters. There will be handmade
Replace a top-loading clothes washer gifts, baked goods, snacks and face
with a qualifying front-loading clothes painting, lots of fun for everyone. Free
washer and receive a rebate from for all, at 19355 Arnold Drive, Sonoma.
For details see www.flcsv.org.
participating water suppliers.
Sonoma Valley Residents:
3 Steps to Reduce Water Use & your Sewer Bills
New online sewer bill
estimator launched
Residential customers connected to
the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation
District have the opportunity to lower
next year’s sewer bill by proactively
taking three steps:
1) Immediately reduce or turn off
outdoor irrigation systems now
through the month of February
2) Participate in a water saving rebate
program offered by the District and
local public utilities;
3) Use the District’s new online rate
estimator to estimate next year’s
sewer bill and help determine how
much water to save this winter.
The District calculates residential
sewer bills by using a volumetric
structure approved by the District’s
Board of Directors in 2012. Thirty
percent of a District’s residential sewer
bill is based on the amount of household
water used during the winter months,
beginning in December through
February. The remaining seventy
percent of the sewer bill is based on
a fixed cost to cover operations and
maintenance expenses related to
keeping the sewage collection system
and treatment facility updated to
meet public health and environmental
regulations. The rate structure does
not apply to commercial customers.
Instead, commercial customers will
continue to be charged based on a
fixed rate structure. “As we head into winter the District
would like to remind all of our
customers to reduce their household
water use. In particular, residential
customers will be able to lower their
sewer bill by proactively using water
efficiently this winter when sewer
bills are calculated,” said District and
Water Agency Director Susan Gorin. “Turning off or lowering outdoor
irrigation is the first step to helping
reduce a sewer bill. The District, along
with other local public agencies, also
Ways to save water in
Sonoma Valley: Free Aerators and Showerheads
Replace your older, water wasting
faucet aerators and showerheads with
free high-efficiency fixtures. For more information on these
water saving programs, visit www.
sonomacountywater.org/svcsd
or
contact District Water Use Efficiency
Specialist Brian Lee at 707-547-1918 or
[email protected].
Lighting of the Snowmen
at Cornerstone
Sunday, December 8, at 4 p.m.
Cornerstone will be celebrating the
Lighting of the Snowmen. I love seeing
the new arrangements each year!
Get a picture with Santa, enjoy live
music, outdoor cinema, face painting,
and holiday crafts and games for the
kids. Festival is free, parking is $5.
Food available at Park 121, or pizza
from Bruce’s wood-burning oven in
the olive grove. Cornerstone, 23570
Arnold Dr., Sonoma.
Jack London Holiday
Piano Concert
Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. the Jack
London Piano Club will present its
2013 Holiday Concert, played on the
1901 Steinway purchased by London for
his wife, Charmain, an accomplished
pianist. Concert will be upstairs in
the House of Happy Walls Museum,
reached by stairway only, at 2400
London Ranch Rd., Glen Ellen. Cost is
$20, limited seating, call (707) 938-5216.
B.R. Cohn Winery’s
Toys for Tots
Dec. 8 all day, B.R. Cohn will be
collecting new toys to donate to Toys for
Tots. All those bringing a toy will receive
a complimentary wine tasting! From 10
a.m. until 5 p.m., at 15000 Sonoma Hwy.,
Glen Ellen.
Christmas at the
Sonoma Mission
Saturday, December 14, at 4:30 p.m.
join the Sonoma Mission for their
annual Holiday Celebration at the State
Historic Park. There will be readings
and singing in the Mission Chapel
followed by seasonal refreshments
served in the Barracks courtyard near
the bonfire. Tickets are free but limited
space is available, so stop by the Mission
to pick up tickets in advance, 114 East
Spain St., Sonoma.
Kid’s Gingerbread Workshop
Ramekins is running a hands-on
workshop for kids, where they’ll learn
to build a gingerbread house, and even
have the finished house to take home
and enjoy! Sunday, Dec. 15 from 10 a.m.
until noon. Cost is $60, reservations
available at www.ramekins.com. At
Ramekins, 450 W. Spain St., Sonoma.
Holiday Sing Along with
Stephan Stubbins
Wednesday, December 18, from 6 until
8:30 p.m., The Epicurean Connection is
hosting a Holiday Sing Along and Open
Mic night with Broadway Under the
Stars, Stephan Stubbins. Free to the
public! At 122 W. Napa St., Sonoma.
New Year’s Eve at the
Sonoma Mission Inn
Sante Restaurant is celebrating the
New Year with a seven-course meal,
live entertainment all evening, and a
midnight toast. Tickets are $195 per
person, vegetarian option available. At
the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, 100
Boyes Blvd., Sonoma, (707) 938-9000.
Enjoy a wonderful and safe New
Year’s Eve. See you all in 2014!!
Grange Gets
an Upgrade
El Verano School: Valley Vibes & More!
Valley Vibes Performs….
Imagine an orchestra of first to fifth
grade students playing before an
audience following a lead in by the
Doobie Brothers! That is just what
happened at the B.R. Cohn annual
fundraiser in September. The Valley
Vibes Orchestra from El Verano School
performed at this prestigious event. The
orchestra also performed at this year’s
Red and White Ball, a Cinco De Mayo
celebration and in ad hoc presentations
for students, faculty, and staff at El
Verano School.
After School Program With
International History
Valley Vibes is an after school program
that started in 2012 with students in
Grades 1-4 and now in Grades 2-5. The
goal is to add a cohort of twenty students
this year. Four teachers will attempt to
follow students through high school. The
program is based on El Sistema, a music
network founded in Caracas, Venezuela,
by Maestro Jose Antonio Abreu in
1975. Abreu’s program originated in a
garage with eleven students. Today it
reaches across the globe to the benefit of
hundreds of thousands of children.
The Valley Vibes Faculty
Anne Case, an Oberlin graduate in
Piano Performance, spearheads the El
Verano orchestra program. Ms. Case is
a vibrant and energetic spokesperson.
She sees El Sistema as a life changing
program for children. Karsten Windt
has a rich musical history playing with
orchestras. Aaron Redner, a violinist,
teaches music at Presentation School and
is a member of the group, “Hot Buttered
Rum.” Aldo Mosca, who has lived in
Venezuela, is Director of the Sonoma
Music Arts School.
Faculty Vision
The quartet’s vision “is for every child
in Sonoma, especially those who would not
otherwise be able, to have the opportunity
to play in a community orchestra.” The
school district includes the program in
its strategic plan. Anne Case says it has
strong support from Principal Maite
Iturri. “Valley Vibes Orchestras” are
financially supported through donations
from local citizens and administered
by the Sonoma Valley Education
Foundation. Anyone wishing to donate
instruments or financial support may
send contributions to the Sonoma Valley
Educational Foundation earmarked for
“Valley Vibes” or El Sistema, (SVEF, P.O.
Box 493, Sonoma, 95476 – 17878 Railroad
Avenue).
Arts Education Leader
Eric Booth To Speak at the
Sebastiani Theater
Eric Booth, actor, businessman,
author, advocate of El Sistema, and
internationally recognized arts educator
will speak at the Sebastiani Theater,
December 9 at 6 p.m. Booth has been
described as “one of America’s most creative
teachers, and best teachers of creativity….”
Booth will describe El Sistema as a
potential community development
initiative for Sonoma. Following his
presentation the El Verano Valley Vibes
orchestra will perform a short concert.
All are invited. Suggested minimum
donation of $5 at the door. Booth will
also speak at Presentation School on
December 10.
Santa Rosa Symphony
Adopts El Sistema
There are about ninety El Sistema
programs in the United States. Most
recently the Santa Rosa Symphony
adopted the El Sistema program. Other
Sonoma County communities might
consider doing so as well. Anyone
wishing to learn more about this unique
program may contact Anne Case
through the Sonoma Valley Educational
Foundation
Springs Cleanup:
First Step For Springs
Renaissance
In October at a meeting of the Springs
Community Alliance (SCA) residents
proposed an eight point program of
community improvement. Highway 12
clean up was an initial step.
Volunteers In Action
On Saturday morning, November 9,
thirty community volunteers gathered at
the E. Thompson parking lot to organize
the clean-up a three mile stretch of
Highway 12 from El Verano Avenue
to Agua Caliente. The workers were
provided coffee through the hospitality
of the Barking Dog Café before they
went to work.
Debris Gatherers Dig In!
The Springs Business Community
and Sonoma Chamber of Commerce
arranged for the community workers
to receive colorful protective vests, CalTrans trash bags, and tools. In three
hours nearly forty large bags of trash
were gathered. Bravo!
The Sonoma Valley Grange is
pleased to announce the launch of the
Kitchen and Facilities Renovation in the
Springs. The Grange has been gifted a
generous donation of $100,000 from
Mac and Leslie McQuown, owners of
Stone Edge Farm Winery. These funds
will go directly towards the efforts in
upgrading the widely used Grange
Hall so that it will better serve our
community. With these funds, the
Grange is well on the way toward its
goal of $250,000 for the Grange Hall
improvements.
In particular, the
kitchen will be receiving a long-awaited
renovation and transformation into a
full service commercial kitchen, which
will become available as a full service
rental facility for small businesses,
community events, and for farmers
and food processors.
The vision is to provide space for
the valley’s growing agricultural
community so that they may have
much needed space to create valueadded products.
In addition, the
kitchen will serve as a business
incubator for local chefs and food
processors, helping to strengthen our
local economy. The kitchen and hall
will continue to be made available to
local organizations and non-profits
such as the Brown Baggers, providing
food and necessary gathering space
for the underserved members of
our community. Lastly, a renovated
Grange Hall will be better positioned
to allow the organization to continue
to present enjoyable community events
such as our popular organic pancake
breakfast, our seasonal dinners,
potlucks, dances, and flea markets.
We continue to seek pledges
and donations for growing in the
Springs! There are many ways to
get involved and contribute and
for more information contact SV
Grange President Michael Acker at:
[email protected]
About the MacQouwns: Mac and
Leslie have been strong advocates
for educating people to the benefits
of healthy locally-grown organic
food, and believe the Grange can
play a pivotal role in increasing
community awareness of and access
to our local resources. Their Stone
Edge Farm makes wines exclusively
from organically grown grapes, and
provides organically grown vegetables
to local restaurants. Mac and Leslie are
also generous supporters of the school
garden program and the Sonoma
Community Center.
December is here! Where did the
year go? Did you get to do all the
things that you were hoping to? Did
you go see your favorite singer? Did
you volunteer for your favorite nonprofit? Did you go outside of your
comfort zone and try something new?
Well, if you haven’t gotten around to
doing all the things that you’d like to
do, there is still time. There is so much
to do in Santa Rosa this time of year. I
hope that you are able to join in the fun!
Pancakes, and waffles and
toys! Oh my!
Mark your calendars for Sunday,
December 1st. Fleet Feet hosts a Secret
Santa Waffle Walk/Run at 9am at
their store at 111 3rd Street. “Entry” to
participate is a new gift for the Volunteer
Center’s Secret Santa Program. After
the walk/run, participants are treated
to delicious homemade waffles. From
8-11am on the same day, toys will be
collected at the Firefighters Annual
Pancake Breakfast at the Veteran’s
Memorial Building. Bring $5 or a
donation of a new, unwrapped toy
and enjoy a wonderful breakfast of
pancakes with all the trimmings. Bring
the kids because Santa is known to
make an appearance!
Dine Out and help save a life
on December 5th!
Want to have a fabulous meal AND
help save a life? Then Dine Out in
one of the 85+ participating Sonoma
County restaurants for breakfast, lunch
and/or dinner on Thursday, December
5th and 25%-50% of your food bill goes
directly to Food For Thought! It’s
guaranteed to be the most satisfying
meal you’ll have all year! To see all the
wonderful restaurants involved, go to
fftfoodbank.org/events/dining-outlife/2013-restaurants. Bon appétit!
Animal Communication
For those of you who are trying to
figure out what your pets and thinking,
you might want to sign up for the
Animal Communication Journey
workshop on December 7-8th led by
Marla Steele who is on KZST. At this
workshop you will learn the process
of sending and receiving heart-toheart and mind-to-mind messages to
animals in-person and through remote
viewing. This workshop will improve
your ability to talk and listen to your
pets and other people’s animals.
For more information, go to www.
healingwithenergy.com
34th Annual Holiday Open
House - Luther Burbank
Rain or Shine! Saturday, & Sunday,
Dec. 7 & 8 from 10-4pm. Cost: $2/12
& older. Enjoy a 34-year community
tradition & begin the season’s
celebrations by visiting the historic
Home & Gardens of Luther Burbank.
Experience a charming reminder of
bygone days with the home decked
out in Victorian holiday finery inside
& out.
Free parking is available at First
& “D” Streets & enjoy FREE RIDES
on “Rosie the Trolley” to & from the
Dickens Holiday Craft Fair held at
the Finley Community Center.
Santa Rosa & Sonoma avenues,
downtown Santa Rosa. For more info,
www.lutherburbank.org.
Volunteer this holiday season!
Want to help restore the Laguna de
Santa Rosa? Each month the Laguna
Keepers, in partnership with the City
of Santa Rosa, meet t give the Laguna
a little hands-on love. This can mean
fence removal, willow spriging, weed
control, or planting, depending on the
site & the time of year.
On Saturday, December 14th from
9am to noon the Laguna Keepers will
kick off a brand new section of an
ongoing restoration project by planting
native riparian vegetation along
Irwin Creek. No RSVP is required.
Only heavy rain cancels. Dress for
dirt. Snacks are provided but please
bring water, gloves & friends! For
more information about the Laguna
de Santa Rosa and how you can help,
visit www.lagunadesantarosa.org.
The Nutcracker is here!
Moscow Ballet’s celebrated Great
Russian Nutcracker will be at Santa
Rosa’s Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
on Wednesday, December 18th at 7:30
pm, & Thursday, December 19th at
7:00 pm.
The holiday favorite dramatizes the
traditional story of Masha meeting her
“Prince” and, exclusive to Moscow
Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker,
adds a tribute to world peace as well.
The “Dove of Peace,” for which 2
dancers become one bird with a 20 foot
wingspan, escorts Masha and Prince
to the “Land of Peace and Harmony.”
For tickets, contact the Wells Fargo
Box Office at 707-546-3600.
Holidays in Sebastopol
This holiday season, come to
downtown Sebastopol!
“Light Up Sebastopol” will brighten
your holidays. Colored balls hang in
the trees on Main Street, icicle lights
line the business awnings, displays
decorate store windows, old-fashioned
friendly service welcomes you, and
friends abound.
Local musicians
will play around town to add to the
hometown feeling.
Shoppers can search store windows
for a real apple, get their shopping
passport stamped for each apple
location they find, and enter their
passports into a drawing for prize
baskets. The public gets to judge the
window-decorating contest. Raffle and
contest results will be announced at a
party on December 18 [location TBD].
Our homegrown holiday effort is
unique. Consider donating to Light Up
Sebastopol online at sebastopolda.com.
Local CPS realtor, Denice Cull,
inspired this collaborative campaign of
the Downtown Association, Chamber
of Commerce, Cittaslow Sebastopol,
City Hall, and our Public Works
Department. Thanks to Denice, to
the community’s help, and to the
commitment of Mary Grul from
Dressers, Buffie Harris of Design
Orbit, and Randy Coffman also of
CPS, most businesses will be ready
before the Holiday Tree Lighting
Celebration, orchestrated by our
Chamber of Commerce, from 5 to 8 PM
on The Plaza on Thursday, December 5.
The light switch on the official holiday
tree will be turned on around 6:30 PM.
Get there early to see the magic.
Grab a bite to eat before or after the
Tree Lighting at one of Sebastopol’s
venues participating in Dining Out for
Life. This event is the major fundraiser
for our non-profit, Food for Thought,
providing nutritional support to people
affected by HIV and AIDS. Make a
reservation and expect to see friends!
Restaurants donate 25-50% of each
bill; some also include the drink tab.
Volunteer hosts encourage friends and
family to come fill their restaurant. They
welcome diners, invite them to enter
the raffle, to “buy” a 20% off card [good
for the 2014 year] at the minimum price
of $25, and to contribute generously.
All day and evening, the conversations
– and restaurants – are buzzing.
Express your holiday spirit by going
to any of these fine places in Sebastopol
on December 5 – Smokehouse,
Claudio’s, Eight, Forchetta/Bastoni,
Formosa, French Garden, GTO’s,
Hole in the Wall, Hopmonk, K&L,
Martha’s, Mombo’s, Peter Lowell’s,
Slice of Life, Sonoma Wine Shop and
La Bodega, Sunshine Roasters, Sushi
Tozai, and Woodruff’s. Some places
include breakfast, others lunch and
dinner. I invite you to join me at Peter
Lowell’s for lunch. Not able to “dine
out” that day? Then consider an online
donation at fftfoodbank.org.
The next evening, Friday December
6, features another “big, big holiday
party,” organized by Mr. Music. Jim
Corbett invites all past, present and
future music students, as well as
their friends and family, to join him
at the Community Cultural Center
to celebrate the 20th anniversary of
his Christmas album. “There will be
Hanukah dancing, singing, dreidel
games, plus a huge Kwanzaa drum
circle and Festivus for the rest of us.”
Kids are free and adults can make a
donation to the Mr. Music Foundation.
If you’re in town on any Saturday
in December, park your car once and
ride the Sebastopol Shuttle, our
SoCo Transit Bus Local #24, for free.
The Shuttle will take you to all the
important shopping spots in town –
uptown, crosstown, and downtown,
and south of town – as well as to other
great locations, like our grocery stores,
parks, Library, coffee spots, hardware
store, Senior Center, banks, hotels,
hospital, and the Rodota Trail. The bus
stops are remarkably well placed or, if
not right where you’re going, within
a block or two. Also, use our new
crosswalks, and you are good to get
around town on your own feet.
The Sebastopol Shuttle makes a great
outing for kids. They get excited to see
our town from the high bus windows;
they feel the adventure and freedom
of being car-free. Get out there on a
December Saturday and ride the jitney.
Many thanks go to the Chamber
of Commerce and SoCo Transit for
underwriting these free December
Saturdays.
December is often busy and hectic,
so remember to breathe deep, seek
peace, and go local. Happy Holidays!
New Ears and Voices
Hardly news at this juncture: the
election results this month were
dramatic. The GCSD challengers
took a firm lead over the incumbents.
HolLynn D’Lil and Richard Coleman
each garnered more than 37 percent of
the votes while the incumbents John
Roehl and Jane Eagle each came in
with around 12 percent. A statement
from the new seat holders:
“Richard Coleman and I are very
grateful for the confidence the Graton
community has shown by electing us
to the Graton Community Services
District Board of Directors. It is a great
responsibility and a privilege to follow
in the footsteps of the outgoing board
members, Jane Eagle and John Roelh,
who have given years of service to the
district. We want to extend an offer to
everyone in the community to join us
in making sure that the district runs as
efficiently as possible. Please call me
at 829-9440 if you will serve for a few
months on working groups to focus on
ways to achieve that efficiency. This
community is richly endowed with
many talented and skilled members
and your involvement will make a
better district and a better community.”
Walk Your Talk with a Forkful
Dec. 5, 2013 brings us Dining Out
for Life, a proper excuse to try some
new and favorite eateries and not just
feel one is wallowing in indulgence. As
primary funding for Food For Thought
Food Bank, Dining Out for Life raised
over $130,000 last year thanks to about
70 generous restaurants and the wholehearted and bellied participation of
many.
Graton’s Ellen Kaplan Cheek will
be the Food for Thought Ambassador
at Peter Lowell’s this year. As Ellen
says, Dining Out for Life can be
another Thanksgiving, a community
celebration to give thanks for all the
service and spirit that the Food Bank
provides. Peter Lowell’s does get
crowded, even on “normal” days; they
are open for 3 meals a day so make
your reservation early! Or spread
your 3 squares that day among any of
the 80 Dining Out For Life venues, like
Underwood Bar & Bistro and Willow
Wood Market Café. www.fftfoodbank.
org has more.
Simply FaRmished
Many of our local farms have a
lull between harvests or are done for
the year. Other income from farm
products and farm stays can be a
crucial part of family agriculture being
viable all year. Try creating gift baskets
including items from some of our local
farms, incidentally conquering some
of the trash avalanche that follows
every holiday season. Right here in
Graton – (a mere start): Gabriel Farm
still has some Asian pears, apples and
persimmons for sale as well as butters,
jams and conserves; Kozlowski Farms
has their plethora of all things saucy,
jammy and spreadable - and yes, they
use their own apples in those amazing
pies. See my June 2013 column for the
Local Wine Crawl for some lovely
bottles of wine to include. Visiting
relatives can stay at country-posh
Spirit Hill Farms of Green Valley,
who also have estate-grown arbequina
olive oil and fig jam; or at the active
Full House Farm between us and
Freestone for a full farm experience, or
some local farmy digs on airbnb.com.
Augment the cornucopia with some
seed packets or a plant from Harmony
Farm Supply, a calendar from a local
non-profit (email me for a BIG hint),
antique household treasures from Mr.
Ryder’s, and seek out some fair-trade
sterling from Graton-born Farfetched
Jewelry. Last year I included a gift
certificate to one of our beloved Graton
eateries – and got an invite! THAT
worked out unexpectedly well!
Santa is Real…
…happy to be coming to Graton
with his posse. The annual Graton
Santa Party will be held Sunday,
Dec. 15 from 1 to 5 p.m. The event,
co-sponsored by the Graton Projects
Committee and the Graton Community
Club, is also your chance to check out
the spiffy new improvements at the
Club. Apple juice and cookies will be
provided to parents and kids. Take
home a free snapshot if your lil’ squirt
chatting with Santa and getting a
candy cane. Around 150 children came
last year to visit with Santa and Mrs.
Claus and other characters; expect to
see your school chums. Attendees are
asked to bring a new unwrapped toy,
which will be distributed to incomechallenged families by the Graton Fire
Department. For more contact Ellen
Swenson at 829-3716 or Priscilla at
[email protected].
New Charter School Encompasses
Obama’s Education Initiative
The Santa Rosa College and Career
Readiness Charter School Stony Point
Academy (SPA) opened its middle
school classroom doors for the 2013-14
school year and is already far ahead of
President Obama’s recent Educational
Technology Initiative. The initiative
named ConnectED strives to connect
99 percent of America’s students to the
internet through high-speed wireless
internet by the year 2018. Many schools
in Sonoma County already have high
speed internet, computer labs and
more. Stony Point Academy has a 1 to 1
computer program, which means that
every student receives a new Google
Chromebook laptop computer of their
own upon enrollment. SPA’s Principal
Lisa Katimbang believes “learning is
an ongoing process. Our middle school
invested in Chromebooks because we
wanted our students to have access
to technology not only at school, but
at home as well. The world is at their
fingertips and we are preparing our
students for the 21st century.”
Students use their computers
while at home to do research and in
class for creative projects and realworld learning experiences. “We are
moving away from traditional notes
and worksheet style learning, our
students create multimedia projects
such as videos, podcasts, slideshows,
graphic novels and blogs,” says SPA
teacher Joel Kriner. A pair of Seventh
Grade students, Miguel and Pablo,
recently created an animated video for
President Obama telling him about the
value of technology in education. The
group then emailed the video to the
President at the White House and are
eagerly awaiting a response.
Students at Stony Point Academy
follow the new Common Core State
Standards and use an online history
textbook in which they are able to
turn in assignments electronically to
their teacher. They also use an online
math program called ALEKS which
is an individualized curriculum that
builds on each student’s knowledge
and focuses on weaknesses that many
traditional curriculums will miss.
“As opposed to merely reproducing
traditional tasks on these digital devices
they are participating in a demanding,
collaborative and fun environment,
that allows them to meet if not exceed
the expectations of the world they are
growing up into,” says Jacob Lopez the
Director of Information Technology.
Teachers at SPA use iPads and
Apple MacBooks to pique student
interest during class. “Having an
iPad at my fingerprints has really
been a positive thing for my class. I
can move anywhere in the classroom
and I am able to quickly show video
clips, use Google Earth to show world
geography and so much more. Our
technology really brings learning to
life,” says Joel Kriner.
Stony Point Academy is a
public charter school partnered with
Bellevue School District. SPA currently
has a seventh grade and will be adding
an eighth grade next school year.
Exercise: a Prescription for Health
By Dave Crawford, MD
If there was a medication that reduced
the risk of premature death, heart disease,
stroke, diabetes and could elevate
your mood, you would see countless
TV ads extolling its virtues and telling
you to “Ask your doctor.” While no
such medication exists, regular exercise
provides all these benefits.
Aerobic exercise is the type of physical
activity that provides these advantages.
Examples are walking, biking, tennis,
swimming, or anything that makes you
huff and puff and gets your heart rate
up. To be beneficial, the exercise has to
be vigorous enough to make you short
of breath and sweat. Ideally you should
exercise like this at least 30 minutes a day
on five or more days a week.
For those who have not been active,
start exercising a few minutes daily and
take it easy at first. Slowly build up the
time and pace of the workout until you
reach the goal of 30 minutes a day. If
30 minutes is difficult due to work and
family obligations, exercise can be done
in 5 to 10 minute segments. Be creative
in figuring how to get in more activity.
Park your car further away so you’ll
have to walk more to get to the store.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Walk at lunch or think of other ways to
increase your physical activity to get in
30 minutes a day.
In people with heart disease or other
serious medical conditions, exercise can
cause problems. Since people do not
always know if they have one of these
medical problems, a discussion with
your health professional is a good idea
before starting an exercise program.
Once you have the OK from your
doctor, get out the dog leash and take the
dog for a walk. Clean off that old bike and
go for a ride. Or do some other enjoyable
aerobic activity. One more thing, if you
get pain or pressure in your chest, arms,
jaw or back, feel dizzy or faint, or have a
racing or fluttering heart, stop exercising
and call your doctor.
Babies Know What’s Going On
By Richard Fleming, MD
During their first months of life, babies
appear to focus only on eating, sleeping,
crying, cooing, and passing various
forms of waste. Sure, they are cute and
then they start smiling and snuggling
up. But they seem blissfully unaffected
by events taking place around them
unless they are affected directly.
Scientists are now finding out babies
are actually much more tuned in to
things going on around them than
we used to think. In fact, we are now
learning that babies can pick up on
emotional distress in the family and
that such environmental stress can
actually change how the baby’s brain
works. An amazing study from the
University of Oregon published recently
showed this. Taking 20 infants from 6
to 12 months of age, researchers asked
the mothers how much inter-parental
stress and conflict existed in the home.
The infants were ranked by the level of
non-physical stress in their home. The
kids then had functional MRIs – scans
which show brain activity – during sleep
while exposed to pre-recorded voices
which were either very angry, somewhat
angry, neutral, or happy. The scientists
found that infants raised in homes with
more stress had higher levels of brain
activity when exposed to angry voices
than did infants raised in less stressful
homes. In other words, the babies’
brains responded to anger differently,
depending on whether their home
environment had a lot of anger in it.
What does this mean? It suggests
environmental stress affects how
infants’ brains work. Babies seem to
be more tuned in to what is going on
around them than many adults realize.
The fact that brain functioning during
sleep is different for babies raised in
stressful homes might indicate a longterm change in brain activity. Certainly
the first year of life is crucial for shaping
how babies react to things around them,
even as they grow older.
More and more information is coming
out about how much influence a child’s
environment has on his or her health
and well-being in adulthood. Kids who
are exposed to a lot of stress at home
are more likely to have serious health
and emotional problems in adulthood. It
can be hard to outgrow problems due to
ongoing childhood stress.
So what are parents to do?
When we opt to become parents,
we need to realize that our
children, from birth, should carry
a label, which reads, “Fragile.
Handle with care.” It is impossible
and unrealistic to prevent all stress
in a baby’s environment. Parenting is
stressful. No parents are perfect nor are
they always consistent. And if parents
occasionally fight at home, it does not
mean their children will be permanently
damaged. But, medical science does
show that when parental influences are
mostly supportive and loving, and when
we try to avoid exposing our babies
and children to stress at home, our kids
have a better chance at good health
and happiness when they grow up and
become parents themselves.
Dr. Richard Fleming is Regional Medical
Director of Partnership HealthPlan of
California (PHC)
Success at last!
The deal has finally closed, and
Forestville has its new Downtown Open
Space Park. At last – it’s been quite a
journey. While originally envisioned to
be 8 acres, the conservation easement
is now for about 4 acres, which will
encompass a Town Plaza, extension
of the West County Trail, a trailhead,
downtown parking, and reserved open
space (which will protect oak trees
and wetlands). While some will be
disappointed that we did not get all 8
acres for the park, the political reality
was that we had to compromise or lose
it all. In the end, it seems like it might
well be a good thing. We will have a
large downtown park, and there will be
some tasteful commercial development
near the park to help protect and
maintain it as well as to add to the
economic vitality of the Town.
The other acres have been purchased
by a partnership headed by Joe and
Catherine Bartolomei, owners of
Forestville’s Farmhouse Inn, Scott
Lee, a principal in San Francisco’s SB
Architects, one of the nation’s biggest
architectural firms for “hospitality
destinations,” and Richard Sperber,
owner and president of Valley Crest,
one of the three largest landscape
companies in the world. Catherine B
reports that the partnership would like
to see the Town Square going first and
then design something “wonderful
and great” around it for the Town –
something that will be “transparent
and integral” to the Park. They have
no specific plans at this point and are
willing to wait 2 or 3 years for the right
vision to emerge.
Thank you to all who have supported
and donated time, energy, and money
to the project (along with blood, sweat,
and tears). Special gratitude to the
Forestville Planning Association,
that little band of 8 folks who had a
big vision for the Town. For ongoing
updates on the Park, go to 95436.org.
What’s Next?
We now have 6 months in which to
create a plan for the Park (as required
by the Open Space District), including
a design for the Town Square/Plaza.
Once certain property line questions
are finalized, the FPA will host Town
Meetings in which you can express
what you would like to see for the
Park. In the meantime, you can go to
95436.org to make your suggestions.
Forestville for
the Holidays
Yes, the Holiday Tree Lighting,
complete with cookies & cider and a
visit from Santa, is on December 1st!
You did not miss it – though the date
was wrong in last month’s Gazette.
Refreshments and caroling begin at
4:00 in downtown. The Forestville
Oddfellows Lodge will be there
with Kettle Corn, Caramel Corn and
Roasted Chestnuts. Santa will arrive,
courtesy of the Fire Department.
Tree lighting at dusk…Thanks to the
young artists of Forestville School
for the Holiday Window Painting in
downtown businesses!
Think Forestville First for your
Holiday shopping and get your
presents, garlands, pies, pizzas,
haircuts, wine, gift certificates, and
food supplies right here in Town. Don’t
forget to check out the Forestville
Pharmacy and the Service Station for
great gift ideas.
Holiday Revels!
Don’t miss A Night at the Nutcracker
at the Forestville School auditorium on
December 6th, 7th, 13th, and 14th at
7:00 pm and December 8th and 15th at
2:00 pm. Mrs. Huberty is directing the
7th and 8th graders in anther hilarious
musical….Save December 18th for the
Winter Craft Fair sponsored by the
Forestville Education Foundation.
Join family and friends to help raise
funds for student programs! Create
a large variety of crafts, cards, gifts,
and lots more during this fun event.
There will be items for sale from local
vendors and dinner will be available
for purchase. Free admission, with a
small fee to make crafts.
2014 marks the 130th year that
the Forestville United Methodist
Church has been ministering to our
local community and the world. The
church invites everyone to start the
celebration with a WATCH NIGHT,
an old Methodist tradition, that’s
happening for all ages on New Year’s
Eve, Dec. 31 at the Forestville United
Methodist Church from 6-9PM (Watch
the New Year arrive on East Coast
time). Join them for a finger food
potluck (bring a dish to share) & games
and activities for young and old: from
Beat the Clock to Minute to Win It;
write your resolutions – for others!;
Old Time Pictionary (teams); “Time”
Riddles contest; find the objects…and
more! Black & White décor – BALL
DROP at 9PM! More info at 887-2020.
Don’t forget your end-of-year
donations to your favorite local charity
– the Food Closet, Prime Timers, the
Forestville Planning Association, the
Youth Park, the Forestville Education
Foundation, and other worthy causes.
The Redwood Empire Food Bank can
always use help. And you also can
participate in the annual fundraiser,
Dining Out for Life – eat with family
and friends at a participating local
restaurant and 25-50% of your bill
will be donated to Food For Thought.
Enjoy yourself at Backyard, Corks at
Russian River Vineyards, Farmhouse
Restaurant, Sunshine Coffee Roasters,
and Tiny Town Café. (For complete
list of participating restaurants go to
fftfoodbank.org.)
Bits and Pieces
The El Molino Action Alliance
invites parents and community
members to come to a meeting on
Monday, December 9, at 7:00 in the
ElMo library. Since last year’s meeting,
much has happened--, including a
new website, the production of some
amazing marketing materials, ongoing
efforts in campus beautification,
and strides in the right direction
towards a better tomorrow for our
beloved High School. This meeting
will 1) review the Action Alliance
accomplishments; 2) discuss the 50th
Anniversary Celebration – plans are
well on their way. Come and hear
about this exciting event and how
you can help. 3) The third topic will
be the Enrollment Projection Study
commissioned by the West Sonoma
County Union High School District
to research the reasons for decreased
enrollment at El Molino and the stable
enrollment at Analy, to provide a 10year enrollment projection, and to
suggest next steps. Superintendent
Keller McDonald will be at the
meeting to explain the findings, answer
questions, and receive input from
parents and community members…
El Molino’s Dance Department is
presenting its first dance production
of the year, the 2013 Winter Dance
Showcase, on Thursday, Dec 5,
Friday Dec 6, and Saturday Dec 7,
in the Cafe Theater at 7:30 pm. The
show features the El Molino Dance
Company along with dance students
in the Intermediate, Advanced and
Choreography classes… El Molino
Photography is in need of Old School
film cameras. Donate your old camera
that is sitting in the closet for students
at El Molino to use. This can be a tax
write off for 2013! Drop off in the
office with name, address so they can
identify who donated and thank you.
Please, donate working cameras that
are usable or fixable only. Interested
in Old School photography? The El
Molino darkroom is up and running.
Contact the office, or Mr. Sumner
if any former students or adults are
interested in use of the facility.
“In the end, there’s no one left but
all of us.”
A Letter to the Forestville Community
This year the governor has
implemented a new funding
formula for schools. A requirement
of this funding involves developing
a Local Control Accountability Plan
(LCAP) which will focus on student
performance.
Dr.
Catherine
Dickson
Schwarzbach is consulting on
the development of the LCAP.
Dr. Schwarzbach has extensive
experience working with districts
and
schools
on
analyzing
achievement data and developing
and monitoring improvement plans.
She has worked in this capacity
for Sonoma State University and
WestEd. She is currently working
with two other Sonoma County
school districts on their LCAPs.
Please join us at 6:00 PM on
December 11, 2013 for a community
meeting informing all stakeholders
of the LCAP requirements. This is
an opportunity to participate in
the discussion and the planning
for the future of Forestville and her
students. Your input is crucial for
the future success of our district
and school.
If you have any questions please
contact Cristy Simmons or Phyllis
Parisi at Forestville School, 887-2279.
I look forward to meeting you.
Sincerely,
Phyllis Parisi
Superintendent/ Principal
Forestville
Devoto Orchards Cider releases 2013
“Save the Gravenstein” Cider
Devoto Orchards Cider is proud
to announce the release of their 2013
“Save the Gravenstein” hard cider,
handcrafted from organic apples
grown on the Devoto family farm
in Sonoma County. It’s a standout
amongst craft ciders—a semi-dry,
locally grown and produced, foodfriendly cider with an elegant modern
visual brand appeal. “Definitely worth
grabbing one. Or two...” states Shawn
Riley, the beer buyer for Oliver’s
Markets in Sonoma County.
Founders Jolie Devoto-Wade and
Hunter Wade are second generation
apple farmers, who were inspired to
start a hard cider company after laying
down roots at the Devoto family farm
in Sebastopol, California.
“Our Save the Gravenstein cider
is a gorgeous expression of our land,
our apples, and our story. Craft cider
will help us continue farming apples
for generations to come” states Jolie
Devoto-Wade, Director of Sales and
Marketing.
“Two generations ago, back when
apples were king, we planted ourselves
and 6,500 apple trees in Sebastopol.
Times have changed and most of
Sonoma County’s orchards have been
replaced with vineyards, taking with
them the centuries-old Gravenstein.
But we’ve held our ground and tend
to 50+ heirloom apple varieties on 26
organic acres.
In August, when our Gravenstein
apples are at the peak of their ripeness,
we pick them, press them, and pour
ourselves into every drop. It’s not the
easiest way to make cider. It’s our way.
We are proud to offer this foodfriendly, semi-dry cider from our
family farm to you.”
Gravenstein Youth Get the Message
Did you happen to see the Nov.
9, 2013 Press Democrats’ front page
headlines, “Running On Empty”
along with their photograph of Lake
Mendocino’s lake bottom that looks
like a dried meadow?
Paula Pearce, the local author and
illustrator of her children’s book,
Saving Walter, perfect for grades
3rd and 4th on the subject of water
conservation in and around the home,
has given two writers workshops to
Gravenstein School youth. Students
from Mr. Mensch’s 3rd grade and Mrs.
Brown’s 4th grade were inspired as they
listened to this magical adventure of
the innocent “Walter” being mentored
by his water drop family and friends
on his true value to nature and all life
on Earth. Mrs. Pearce brought many
of her original illustrations from her
first edition in 2008 followed by the
graphics used for her second edition
compared to the final illustrations in
her latest third edition that is available
online: www.savingwalter.com.
With the current water shortage
and impending drought, this story
told from the water drops’ perspective
contains exactly the kind of water
efficiency methods we can all use to
reduce our water consumption.
If you are a teacher, home school
educator, naturalist, librarian, scout
leader, youth leader and would like to
have an “author” visit please see the
“Contact” tab on Walter’s website and
use the email: [email protected].
To preview most of the book click on
the “Buy” tab and see the “Preview”
access and after a short download the
pages turn at your own rate of speed.
Author visits will be scheduled on
a first come first serve basis and
contingent on availability and travel
distance required. There is no charge.
Memories That Linger
By Vesta Copestakes
Reading a novel to me is how I escape
my real world and linger in someone else’s
imagined world. My favorite time to do that is
when I crawl into bed after a long day - cat by
my side purring.
Historic novels are some of my favorites
because you learn about the past wrapped
around a story. When an author captures you
right from the start, and inspireds you to care
about the characters, you know you are going
to enjoy the journey.
I just finished John McCarty’s Rio Nio,
Memories That Linger and since I’m fond of this
quirky community, what I learned of its past
fascinated me. My how times have changed
since Harry James played at the Lodge and
people came from The City and Sacramento
all summer to dance, swim and play.
We follow Anne and her four children who
spend summers away from the city with her
father-in-law in a cabin by the river. She’s an
Italian Catholic married into a family of Irish
Catholics, with four children and a husband
who works too hard in the city while she
tends the family by the river all summer.
It didn’t take long to care about this woman,
to delight in the adventures of her children
and to see into the hearts of locals, so different
from summer vacationers. McCarty weaves
the story of their lives in, out and through
snippets of historic information that connect
readers who know the river to landmarks and
traditions that still exist.
If you love history and love the River,
you’ll find this story as fascinating as I did.
You can find copies in local book stores and
at the Rio Nido Lodge - where else! Go get a
cup of coffee in the lodge, purchse the book
and begin. Then take a walk around... see the
paper moon high in the trees...now I know!
The Holidays are upon us:
Gosh, it is hard to believe we are
quickly approaching the Holiday
season with Christmas a mere three
weeks away. OY! Thanksgiving came
and went. As much as I love some good
old fashioned holiday cheer and putting
up holiday decorations, the insanity of
shopping and consumerism doesn’t
excite me. The throngs of people
running amok in the malls is enough
to make one want to take a vacation
away during the Christmas month...
hmmm, not a bad idea as perhaps next
year that can be arranged! How did
the time fly by so quickly? The fall
season simply doesn’t last as long as
I would wish it to with the change in
foliage and the change in weather. Fall
is normally rather mild with a small
chill in the air, its refreshing. Winter is
definitely here now, especially at night,
as the cold is bone chilling! Neighbors
all over Rio Nido have their pellet and
wood burning stoves going strong. I
am already seeing the holiday decor
going up in many residents homes with
holiday lights and the usual traditional
Santa’s, Snowmen and Reindeer. Ah,
Rio Nido... always magical!
Pay it Forward:
Those of us who are fortunate to have
a roof over our heads, jobs and food
on our tables need to think about the
less fortunate people out there who are
struggling every day. Please contribute
to your local food banks, shelters
and do a good deed for someone less
fortunate. Not only will you be doing
something positive, you will also feel
great by helping someone in need.
Many organizations can use your
donated coats, sweaters and blankets.
Rio Nido Roadhouse:
The Red & White Sonoma County,
CA & North Bay Motorcycle
Associations in conjunction with the
RNR are participating in a Christmas
toy run/drive. Donations of toys
are currently being accepted at the
Roadhouse through the deadline of
December 15th. Any and all donations
are greatly appreciated. Thank you Brad
Metzger Proprietor for all you do for
the community. For more detailed info:
contact Raena Jones, Manager.
RNR: 14540 Canyon 2 Rd, Rio Nido.
707-869-0821.
John’s other book on Monte Rio...
Happy Holidays:
Douglas Misner, President of the Rio
Nido Homeowners Association, their
Board and Members as well as John
Uniak, President of the Friends of Rio
Nido (FRN), their Board and members
wish everyone a new year filled with
health, happiness, prosperity and all
that jazz. Here’s to a wonderful New
Year to all of our Rio Nido friends.
Congratulations to Matt Malik
and J. Mullineaux:
Matt Malik and J. Mullineaux were
married at the Baker Ridge Vineyard
of the Thomas George Estate Winery
on Westside Road. The weather was
absolutely perfect for the outdoor
wedding and reception, tucked into the
autumn colored hillside vineyard with
panoramic views of the Russian River
Valley and St. Helena. The ceremony
was beautifully officiated by Supervisor
Mike McGuire. A family of friends
added a very special spirit and energy
to the event and their adorable canine
Jenner performed wonderfully as
the official ring bearer. The delicious
luncheon reception was catered by
Octavio Diaz of Agave Restaurant
in Healdsburg. Two long tables were
draped in plum colored tablecloths with
orange napkins and beautiful sunflower
arrangements with orange and lavender
roses supplied by Pedy’s Petals adorned
the tabletops. It was truly an elegant, yet
casual wine country wedding at its best.
Matt and J met in Guerneville at the
Triple R back in 2000. They purchased
their weekend cottage in Rio Nido in
2005 and moved up from San Francisco
full time in 2008. J is a philanthropic
advisor in Sonoma County and Matt
appraises real estate and is on the
Friends of Rio Nido Board. Congrats
Matt and J. Indeed it was a wonderful
celebration to remember. I will cherish
this beautiful day forever.
I just finished covering up graffiti
that has been painted on our exterior
wall this Saturday morning. What a
disappointment that someone cannot
channel such an abundance of energy
towards some sort of positive action in
our community. Which leads us into
a great tidbit to share: Community
First Credit Union has extended its
annual Stroller/Warm Clothes Drive to
West County! CFCU is collecting baby
strollers in good working order to
donate to River Child Care and Mill
Street Thrift. CFCU will also donate
$10 to West County Community
Services for each stroller collected, as
well as $10 to the CFCU account of
choice for the donating member. New
this year, CFCU is also collecting new
or lightly used warm winter clothing.
Needed clothing will be distributed by
Russian River Empowerment Center
and the West County Winter Shelter.
The drop off is located in the lobby of
Community First Credit Union on the
corner of Main & Armstrong Woods Rd.
While there, please pick up a volunteer
packet for the West County Winter
Shelter. A little LOVE, TIME and HOPE
goes a long way; read the testimonials
of those who have overcome several
hardships and now lead productive,
healthy lives, giving back to the same
community that helped them. Thank
you, Debra Johnson, Prudential Real
Estate for putting so much positive
energy into this program.
Guerneville has lots of groovy
happenings this month for you and your
family to enjoy! Around town you
will see the Parade of Lights Princess/
Prince contestant posters at sponsoring
businesses. Please purchase a stack
$1 raffle tickets from the contestant of
your choice! This contest funds the
Holiday Parade of Lights scheduled
for Saturday, December 7th at 7pm.
This year’s contestants are Andi
Amaya, Jonathon Callander, Amanda
Rodenberger and Aliyah White. All
contestants will receive 10% of their
sales, give their time to a local charity/
community service, advertise our
groovy parade and interact with local
business owners and residents. We
should all be very proud of these youth
and thank them for their participation
as we couldn’t have the Parade of
Lights without their supportive efforts!
Tickets for the Crowning Ceremony
Dinner, Dec 6th at Chef Patrick’s
are on sale now at Community First
Credit Union and the Chamber Office.
$30 included salad, entrée, tax and tip.
The raffle will be held after the dinner
and crowning. The crowned Prince or
Princess, will be awarded a $500 CD,
sponsored by Herth Real Estate &
Community First. Thank you also to
Coffee Bazaar and River Inn Grill for
sponsoring the ticket production and
to all businesses who donated prizes
for the Raffle!
The Tree Lighting Ceremony will be
held on Thursday, Dec 5th along with
the Merchant Open House. Businesses
will be offering local discounts so you
may begin your holiday gift shopping
locally, as well as providing food, hot
cider and other refreshments. I hear
from the North Pole, that we may have
a visitor joining the Tree Lighting
Ceremony in the Plaza after 6pm!
Also, thank you to the River Choir,
who will be caroling throughout town!
Austin Eral, who ran for last year’s
prince, is currently attending the
SRJC while working with his father
& brothers, starting a family owned/
operated biz right here in Guerneville.
River Stone & Carpet Care is going to
give the big guys from SR a run for the
money. Local, friendly, quality service,
green products available. Buy a Parade
of Lights raffle ticket for a chance
to win a certificate towards carpet
cleaning or tile/stone floor cleaning!
Watch for their fun and creative float
in the Parade of Lights! Speaking of
green cleaning services, Chris Brokate
Janitorial is changing its name: check
out greenjanitorservice.net!
Chris
is another groovy local who not only
provides our community with great
service, is active in our local Chamber
and supportive of this community.
I hear the local Girl Scouts have
gone NUTS! Keep an eye out for
our local troop selling nuts for the
holidays! Also, don’t forget there
are various fundraisers and support
needed for both the Guerneville
School and Monte Rio School eighth
grade graduating classes! Let’s all
support our local youth!
Last, but certainly not least, don’t
forget the Russian River Chamber
of Commerce Holiday Dinner to be
held at the Village Inn on December
11th at 6pm. Tickets are on sale at the
Chamber Office or you may call 8699000 for more information.
Happy Holidays to the grooviest
community in the USA!
Cazadero Community Services District
50 Years of Service To The Community
I am writing this in my cosy cyber-hit
as the rain comes down! It has been so
dry - this is what we all needed!
As we near he end of the calendar
year, there have been a lot of activities
in our hills and valleys. The recent
Cazadero Crafts Fair was a lot of fun
and many folks made their way for
special gift shopping and tasty snacks.
This annual event was sponsored by the
Cazadero Community Club and I thank
all of the great volunteers and artisans!
Another
fantastic
community
event was the amazing Community
Thanksgiving Dinner also held at the
Firehall on November 16th. With funds
donated by the Caz Club, the wonderful
folks from the Community Church
and beyond prepared a delicious,
traditional meal for about 100 happy
diners! A very pleasant way to usher
in the winter holidays season and catch
up with friends.
As we experience this much-needed
rain, you may discover items that need
to be attended to in your house or
vehicle. Cazadero Supply offers their
1st Saturday 15% Discount Day each
month and offers a terrific assortment of
items to help you with various projects.
Both the Cazadero and Duncans Mills
General Stores stock basic grocery
items, many local wines and other
specialty items. The Traditional Old
Time Xmas Parade and celebration
will once again happen downtown,
on Saturday, December 14th featuring
“snow”, crafts vendors, a great BBQ,
singing and more!
Raymond’s Bakery will accept your
holiday orders and continues its Friday
NIght Pizza/Music Nights.
The Sonoma County Board of
Supervisors recently recognized our
Community Service District’s 50th
Anniversary with a Gold Resolution.
The entire press release should
appear elsewhere in the Gazette –
Congratulations and thanks!
Be sure to visit the shops of
Duncans Mills as they are being gaily
decorated for the season!
Several
crafts fairs also offer great local
shopping opportunities, including
Bodega on the Friday and Saturday
of Thanksgiving weekend, held at
the original Firehall. Their wonderful
handmade Quilt Raffle always excites
participants!
Occidental’s Annual
Holiday Fair will be open Saturday,
December 7th and Sunday, December
8th at the YMCA Community Center,
featuring wonderful crafts, tasty food
and the traditional “Bucket Raffle”.
The 5th Annual Monte Rio Holiday
Wonderland Crafts Fair will happen
on Saturday, December 14th and
Sunday December 15th, at the lovely
Monte Rio Community Center. Many
wonderful handmade items and tasty
food and drink add to a pleasant
atmosphere for shopping. In between
all of those events, the Russian River
Jewish Community hosts the festive
Chanukah latke (potato pancakes)
and dance celebration on Sunday,
December 1st at the MR Community
Center. Featuring the Jubilee Klezmer
ensemble for an authentic Old World
touch! Donation at the door. Please call
632-5545 for more info.
The
Montgomery
Elementary
School will stage its annual Christmas
Play on December 19th, with a visit
from Santa on the the 20th signaling
the beginning of the winter break.
The 7-8th graders recently had a CPR
training at the Monte Rio School and
the K-1st grades had a field trip to the
Wildlife Museum at the Petaluma High
School. The 3-5th grades will soon have
a trip to Armstrong Redwoods..
Happy Birthday!
AHappy December Birthdays to
friend and great poet Mike Tuggle on
the 1st, plus Heather Lough turning
27 also on the 1st, and Austin Bardsley
celebrating his 32nd on that same day,
Mike Nicholls and Ken Parmeter will
each celebrate on the 3rd, Jared on
the 6th, Kristie Sheets on the 10th,
Daniel Kane will be 30 on the 25th,
my dear friend Angie Orr of Monte
Rio celebrates on the 30th, along with
Justin Mosher-Kudy turning 34 on
that date and Stephen Gross of Riens
Beach ends the year with his birthday
on the 31st.
Have a wonderful holiday season,
celebrating with family and friends.
Drive carefully and please call me at
632-5545 or email [email protected]
with info for your Cazadero Column.
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors recognized the 50th Anniversary of
the founding of the Cazadero Community Services District with the presentation
of a Gold Resolution. The Community Services District has the responsibility
of overseeing the Volunteer Fire Department, the lighting district and parks
and recreation within the Cazadero Community. A board consisting of Eric
Schanz, President; Homer Canelis, Vice President; Michael Nicholls, Secretary;
Paul Julley and Charlotte Berry, Directors at Large, manages the district. Phil
Mohrhardt is the General Manager who provides accounting, legal compliance
and other services for the district.
Cazadero is an unincorporated community in Western Sonoma County and
is noted for its majestic redwoods and for being the ‘wettest spot” in Sonoma
County. Annual rainfall in Cazadero ranges from 60’” to 120” annually!
Cazadero is home to the Cazadero Performing Arts Center and was the northern
terminus of the North Pacific Coast Railroad, originally laid as narrow gauge
track in the 1870’s.
Tis the season to snuggle up in
front of the fire and plan for seasonal
outings around town where so many
wonderful activities and events are
ripening. We have a lot of local folks
who give their all during the holiday
season to share their talents for good
causes and in the grace of the season.
Our wonderful local yoga instructor
Kathleen Hardy is directing this years’
holiday show at the Russian River
Hall. Her husband Dave is known as
a consummate guitar entertainer, and
he along with many other local folks
will be a part of this annual show.
Dan Fein and his daughter Becky
are hosting their third holiday event at
the Guerneville Community Church.
And though not strictly speaking
“entertainment”, the Monte Rio
Recreation and Park District will host
their fifth Holiday Wonderland Craft
Faire. Monte Rio keeps the holidays
in many ways.
A Fein Affair
Friday, November 30th, Guerneville
Community Church. Join father and
daughter Dan and Becky Fein along
with several other local musicians for
an evening of music, warmth, apple
cider and good company. The 3rd
annual Fein Affair will be benefitting
the River and the Powerful Voices
Project. Call for information (707)
869-2514. Tickets are $12.00.
Monte Rio Annual Holiday
Variety Show December 12-15:
A little drama, a little humor, a lot
of music will make this a delightful
and uplifting show. This years’ show
directors are Dave and Kathleen
Hardy, long-time residents who each
have experience in entertainment. The
show opens on Thursday, December
12 at 8PM and continues on Friday
and Saturday, with a matinee show on
Sunday, December 15 at 2PM. Tickets
are $ and reservations can be made in
advance by calling 707/524-8739. The
Russian River Hall is located at 20457
Highway 116 in Monte Rio, across from
Fern’s Market.
Holiday Wonderland Craft
Faire – December 14 & 15:
This is the very last craft fair of the
holiday season in our area and one
not to be missed! Lots of interesting
artisans will sell their wares including
pottery, jewelry, pet items, knitted gifts
and much more. Be sure to do some
of your last minute holiday shopping
at the Monte Rio Community Center
this year at the Holiday Wonderland
Craft Fair!
Next MRRPD Board meeting –
December 9th at 6PM at the Monte Rio
Community Center.
Check their website for confirmation
www.mrrpd.org or call 707-865-2487.
If you have information or events
you would like to have included
here, please email me at dawnebell@
comcast.net.
Greetings, Amigos! As The Onion’s
Jim Anchower says, it’s been a while
since I rapped at ya. I’ve been a bit
busy, to the point of missing a column
entirely and filling another column
with historical material of no particular
urgency. I haven’t been doing my
legwork, and so I rely even more on
you guys to keep me apprised of any
happenings that need dissemination.
I thank Zoe Keating for clueing me in
to a few items.
The big story, of course, is the Post
Office. I have been aware of it, and it
makes me grit my teeth – as I’m sure
it does you. Fortunately for me and
you, your local Park and Rec and in
particular Tony Tominia have been on
top of it.
The summary of events on the
website at http://www.campmeeker.
org/wordpress/community/campmeeker-post-office/ tells it better than
I could. It’s an extremely well-written
and passionate coverage of the ongoing
tragedy-cum-farce that is our local Post
Office. I recommend you read every
word, and for background information
follow the link in the middle of the
article to the entire chronology of
Tony’s tireless efforts to get a straight
answer from the Postal Service. For
those without internet connections, the
short answer is this: we are being done
wrong. It is theoretically possible that
the whole affair is due to incompetence
of some (not all) people in the Postal
Service. That is the kindest way I can
put it. The other way is that this is part
of a deliberate plan to save a few bucks
at our expense. Whichever unnamed
individuals are responsible for this
mess have some explaining to do.
The silver lining here? I think this
is one of those too-rare times where
a good dose of citizen indignation
can have a positive effect. Your local
representatives are well aware of this
issue, but I’m pretty sure they can use
some reminding. I might even suggest
to certain local politicians who desire
to get back in the good graces of their
constituents that working the phones
on behalf of the good citizens of Camp
Meeker just might be a way to do that.
Pull a few strings for us, buddy.
We in the West County are used
to getting the red-headed stepchild
treatment from the Poobahs in Santa
Rosa. Heck, why shouldn’t they? It’s
not like we contribute any sales tax
revenue from our local businesses.
We’re just a bunch of starving
bohemians selling the odd bit of arty
gewgaws now and then to supplement
our meager incomes. At times like
this, I stave off existential despair
by remembering the dying words of
Wobbly immortal Big Bill Haywood:
“Don’t mourn. Organize.”
Organization can take a lot of
forms. Having free speech fights and
filling the jails Wobbly-style might be
called for at some future point, but in
the here and now Camp Meekerites
are doing important work knitting
the community together. One such
hard-working community organizer
is Cathie Anderson, who is running
regular Movie Nights at Anderson
Hall. It is definitely kid-friendly as well
as parent-friendly: the kids watch a
good wholesome kid’s movie while the
parents enjoy a little adult time on the
deck. Non-parent adults welcome too!
Have I mentioned how you can
find all this information on the Camp
Meeker website! Shoot, they should
get half my salary for all the great stuff
on there. Now that you can’t get their
newspaper and other mailings at your
local Post Office, checking out www.
campmeeker.org becomes ever more
important. Look under “Events” for
info about the movie nights, “District”
for all the official governmenty stuff,
and- oh, just go there! It is a very crisp
and professional website.
We’re only a powerless, declining
poor-person neighborhood if we
define ourselves that way. And we
don’t. The need for communities like
ours to work together and watch each
other’s backs is only going to grow in
the future. In that indispensible asset,
we are rich indeed. RepreSENT!
Last month, my column was so
long, that editorial/layout staff had to
cut things out (while I metaphorically
kicked and screamed ;-). This month
seems very quiet. Go figure. Gives
me a chance to remind you that this
columnist is getting fatigued at having
been a writer in Occidental for almost
five years. Is there any qualified person
out there interested in replacing me?
… or if not a full replacement, at least
taking on a guest spot every other
month or so to give me relief? Please
let me know if you, or anyone you
know, is interested. Thanks!
Occidental Community
Council
OCC is producing its 28th Annual
Crafts Faire to be held December 7
from 10a.m. to 5p.m., and December 8
from 10a.m. to 4p.m. The Bucket Raffle
is a huge draw, featuring gifts from
all the craft vendors and businesses
in town. Admission is FREE and
there will be fantastic food and baked
goods (usually provided by local area
schools), great gifts, crafts, and local
artists’ work. Occidental Community
Center at 3920 Bohemian Hwy in
Occidental. www.occidental-ca.org.
Occidental Community Center
We are still in the beginning stages of
the OCCAC (Occidental Community
Center Advisory Council). Meetings
are now the first Tuesday of each
month. Email this author for updates,
or check Sonoma County Parks &
Rec’s website. There is still plenty of
opportunity to make a big difference in
the look and feel of your community,
with only minimal time commitment
and involvement.
Occidental Center for the Arts
On Saturday, December 21, at
7p.m., OCA will present madcap
musical comedienne Teresa Tudury
in A Holiday Evening with Teresa
Tudury. Laugh along with Tudury’s
meaningful and musically original
songs and scathing comedic wit, as
she takes on The Holidaze. Cabaret
seating is $15; fine wine and seasonal
refreshments for sale.
See www.occidentalcenterforthearts.
org for further information, or call
707.874.9392. Admission is $10. OCA
is at 3850 Doris Murphy Court in
Occidental. It is wheelchair accessible.
People in West County KNOW how stunningly beautiful our home is...for those who don’t often come this far west, consider taking
time over the holidays to do a little day-tripping. The Crafts Fair in Monte Rio is fun, has LOTS of treasures to enjoy and is right along
the Russian River. Downtown Occidental shines with shops, food, wine tasting and good company. Come visit us any time!
To bustle or not to bustle! I love
Christmas, but this question is key to
my sanity. How does one slow it down
and enjoy the moment, the spirited
season, the wonderful events around
you, your friends and family and not
stress out? Time and time again in
our recent past (the last 100 years) and
in our world today you here about
emotional stress at this time of year
for all ages. There are way too many
things going on in our life’s with long
lists of must do’s. Most of it comes
with the stress of money and buying
gifts. But also with a full calendar and
feeling like you want to do it all, but
it is not possible. There are no simple
answers. I will not pretend to offer
advice. But please give yourself a gift
of simplicity. Give yourself some time
to enjoy what YOU love doing.
When my boys were young we
played a board game called “the Spirit
of Christmas’. To win you had to give
cards away which would help each
other out to complete a picture. They
were so happy to help each other and
the game ended in everyone feeling
good. Remembering this board game
reminds me of ‘feel good’ moments
that we all share – do one thing for
someone else this Christmas. Bring a
SMILE to someone’s face.
I would like to suggest to everyone
that if you are going to shop – please
shop local. The $5 gift in a local craft
faire is often more treasured than the
$30 sweater. Bring a friend, stroll in
our small towns, and browse until you
see your hearts delight. Have FUN!
Holidays on the Coast
Out on the north coast a nice dinner
at one of our local restaurants is a
wonderful gift. Rivers End in Jenner,
Alexander’s Restaurant at Timber
Cove Inn, or St. Ore’s closer to Anchor
Bay are all wonderful.
So is a picnic on the beach. After
your meal, enjoy one of the events in
our area which will bring plenty of
spirit First, the Lighted Truck Parade
held November 30th at 6:00 PM, a
sweet parade that lights up the one
street in Gualala.
On the same day in Gualala is the
Holiday Festival of Trees and the
Holiday Bazaar. Make a day of it out
on the coast.
Fort Ross State Park is honored
to be the first state park to hold a
Christmas Bird Count For Kids on
December 8 starting at 10:00. This
event is for children ages 5 to 16.
Please contact fortross.interp@parks.
ca.gov for more info.
Also, on the same day at Fort Ross is
the beautiful singing of Kitka in the
afternoon. Fo complete details, please
visit www.fortross.org.
Gualala Arts has several events
with local singing groups, bell
ringers, art shows, and holiday plays
with great local talent.
The Point Arena Lighthouse has a
Full Moon tour on December 17th.
What a great way to watch the moon
rise and fill the sky. If you like to
celebrate New Year’s – but also like
to go to bed early – than this event
is for you at Gualala Arts where
they celebrate the New York New
Year’s. Check it all out at http://www.
gualalaarts.org/Events/index.html.
How about creating your own
event! Get a group of folks together
and SING. Sing in the streets, the
markets, small shopping centers –
stand with the folks ringing the bell
for Salvation Army and bring smiles
to all around you. Give JOY!
Wishing everyone the best
as the year comes to a close….
breathe deep and ENJOY.
The frosts have arrived, we’ve
tuned the clocks to the light of the
winter season, and we’re now forging
ahead into the last month of 2013.
The daylight draws longer shadows,
shorter days, and reflective thoughts.
I ponder on the events of the world,
our country, and Sonoma County.
There are positive as well as harmful
impacts, and they ripple through my
considerations, daily life, and in my
humble observation, they affect our
little community as well.
Life on this planet allows us
the
opportunity
to
produce
accomplishments, make mistakes,
utilize and partake of natural
resources, generate conflicts or
agreements, prove we’re right or admit
mistake, as well as experience the
effects of our power, or powerlessness,
personal integrity or corruption.
We have a forum to demonstrate
our way of living and dying,
nurturing or destroying, creating
harmony or dissonance, scarcity or
abundance. We set about to prove
our way through word, sword, arms,
surveillance, strength, curiosity, fear,
awareness, ignorance, intelligence,
communication, compassion, love,
anger or some combination thereof.
We have the abilities to create
masterpieces of art maybe only in our
dreams, or thoughts, or we birth them
so they are shared with the world.
Whether we live within a community
or alone, within a family, on the
street, in our profession, vocation,
area of dedication, we participate on
some level. Sometimes maybe it’s just
exchanging the air we breathe, the
water we drink or that we’ve just shown
up. Woody Allen once remarked that
90% of life is “just showing up”.
There can be times when it appears
our level of importance or participation
has little value or effect. Add to that
the actual “costs” of living exceeding
our amount of waking hours available
to “just keep up”.
I get this picture of being on a
seesaw; there is an out of balance /
stuck-ness that occurs. We can just go
on doing what we do, maintaining the
status quo, but what comes up for me,
is that; “If” we keep doing the same
thing, we’re going to keep “getting”
the same result.
I was listening to Kevin Danaher
(co-founder of Global Exchange and
Green Fest) the other day, and he
remarked that there are times we need
to maintain our focus on what works,
and take our time and attention off
what doesn’t. As I walk through our
community or for that matter any
other; in this moment in time, Kevin’s
advice seems appropriate, and, if not
Now, then When?
I keep thinking that we have this
very unique community that has come
together to meet so many challenges.
Let me take a moment to cite just one
example: it took a little over ten years
plus to build our new fire station, and
it was laden with obstacles all along
the way. Now that’s determination!
My Parting Thought:
“I encourage us to harness that resolve,
raising the bar to focus on what works to
nurture our community, its members, our
natural resources, our renewable resources,
as well as maintain the care, compassion
and safety of our Bodega.
“As we come to the end of 2013, we, as a
community have accomplished much, and
may we achieve even more in this coming
new year!“
Feature Story:
As the temperature drops and
chimneys bellow, I thought it would
be good to check in with our resident
Wood Heating Consultant, who’s been
a solid fuel safety technician for over
30 years.
Will Morris is also a BVFD firefighter
for the last 10 years, so I thought he’d
be a good go-to professional.
We’ve had a very dry autumn and
summer so having one’s chimney,
stove and fireplace in safe order, is
really important. Things to check are:
spark arrestors, cracks, leaks, metal
fatigue, containment, efficient and
regulated air flow.
Will recommends that it’s not only
important to have your chimney
regularly serviced and cleaned, but to
also have the entire system thoroughly
inspected. For example escaping gases
can create more heat and erosion;
cracked flue tiles encumber your first
line of defense.
Will offers a 20-point Safety
Condition
Report
with
each
chimney service call, and offers
Senior discounts. He also provides
maintenance, repair, installation and
solid fuel consulting services.
Will Morris’s contact number is:
(707) 823·3939.
and see their work, as well as the
work of the other partners, Florence
Brass, Ron Sumner, Pam Wallace
and, of course, Jody Ship and Judy
Henderson (all are painters). While
you are there, go to lunch at Terrapin
Creek—incredible food !
December has come. The real change
has come in Bodega Bay; commercial
crab season has opened. The road
through the crab-pot canyon has
been reclaimed; and Westshore Road
has resumed its usual throughfare
role. If the crab take experienced by
the recreational crab fishermen is an
indication, the take should be good
this year. We hope for a good price and
a safe season for all of our fishermen.
With December comes anticipation
of the holiday season. Thanksgiving
has come and gone. Now Christmas
plans are made and programs gear up
to assure that everyone has holiday
food. It is a good time to remember
the homeless among us, and extend
our hospitality to include all of our
citizens. Calendars are marked to
remind us to join in the Community
Carol Sing Along December 20 at the
Grange. It is a time of joy and sharing.
Everyone is welcome, even if you think
you can’t sing... you can hum. The joy
is contagious, especially when you
watch the Little Drummer Boys, or
listen to the beautiful voice of Naomi,
singing O Holy Night. Mark it now; 7
p.m. December 20.
It’s a good time to forget elections;
a good time to knit up the divisions
among us. Elected to the Fire Board
were
Constance Clover, a former
chief of staff to an Assemblywoman in
San Diego, David Kruppa who has run
before and Charlie Bone, who is well
known locally and is a former sheriff’s
deputy (took a starring role in the
play put on by Bodega Land Trust for
Bodega’s celebration.) The firefighters
and their union took a very active
role and all of their candidates were
elected. The community at large heard
from the candidates at a forum run by
the League of Women Voters. As the
League moderator Dee Dee Bridges
so cogently said, “Democracy is not a
spectator sport. Vote.” This forum was
an excellent example of democracy
in action. Much credit must go to
the League and their professionalism
and also to the candidates who
attended. The incipient financial crisis
helped pull all the candidates into
a commitment to keep the present
staffing level and into agreement
that they would all work to solve this
crisis. Credit also goes to one of the
two incumbents not up for re-election.
John Doolittle urged candidates to
civility and made significant efforts
to keep the community from deeper
divisions. His efforts to unite the
community are deeply appreciated.
Now, if a tax has any chance of passing,
any perceived rift in the community
must be mended. Not only must the
proposed tax be explained but some
viable financing ideas (whether it is
crowd funding or some legal way
to collect from recipients of medical
care who are non-residents) must be
investigated. The Board is still working
on how to get non-resident transients
(many of the houses community-wide
are rented frequently) to bear their
proper share of the cost of any medical
calls (estimated to be more than half of
all calls.) Any community ideas will be
welcome. A community forum will be
held December 11th from 1 to 5 p.m.
at the Fire House to get ideas and to
hear all suggestions. The Board is
hoping for a good turnout.
Elections or not, long range planning
goes on for Disaster preparedness. The
CERT committee is still looking for a
location for a Disaster Preparedness
Shed on the northwest side of the
community. Several locations have
been investigated, but it must be well
above the tidewater level and where
people can access it. Some investigation
is being made of the community garden
site, but all suggestions are welcome.
The CERT committee meets regularly
at the fire house, and suggestions could
be left there.
The Community Center has
become a warren of activity. Not
only do we have yoga four days a
week but the Farmers’ Market ended
with a very successful party and
everyone looks forward to next year.
Last month we had star gazing and
surfboard exchanges. New programs
are starting, like the program to
help stressed people deal with the
holidays. Called Cradle of the Moon
and HydroSouls Alchemy (I love the
name) the program is being offered by
two long time Bodega Bay residents.
Pat Rothchild is a long-time therapist
and Tana is well known. It’s great to
see the building being used. When
a community has members like the
Bundys, good things happen. Other good news: The Local Color
Gallery has two new members
(partners). They are both photographers
and they bring different viewpoints
to similar subjects. Welcome to Tom
Mayer and Phil Wright. Stop by
Stewards of the Coast and
Redwoods is honoring its volunteers
by a celebration and a silent auction
in Guerneville December 6. This is
an active group with varied in areas
of interest. The Stewards are joined
by State Parks to honor those, without
whose efforts, state parks could not
function. This is one group which is
always pushing to do more, rather
than less. Whether it is trimming
brush along the horse trails, picking
up debris on beaches, protecting birds
and wildlife, and particularly helping
keep the whale watchers safe, we are a
diverse, but committed group of local
folks trying to improve life on the
coast. Now is when the whales start
going south for the long migration to
Mexico. If you are lucky enough to see
them (either very late fall when they
go south, or springtime, usually April,
when they come back north) you never
forget the awe the whales inspire.
10,000 miles; their migration is the
longest of any mammal. The joy the
juveniles show as they spy-hop and
even breach; the protectiveness the
mothers show as they keep their calves
close to shore for the north-bound trip,
they are an inspiration to us all.
I was asked whether I was becoming
a sports columnist. NOT, but we do
wish our favorite Red Sox, Dustin
Pedroia, all the best in recovering
from his thumb surgery, and I will,
from time to time, indulge in my
other passions – the Kansas Jayhawks
(especially when they beat Duke) and
Christmas. Having lived in other
places, I am well aware of different
religious holidays during this season.
But for me, December will always
be Christmastime, and I will always
believe in Santa and the Season of
Sharing. Do it your own way, but BEST
WISHES TO YOU ALL – and PRAY
FOR PEACE.
Gualala Point Park Visitor Center
Plans to Erect New Wind Wall
Rendering of proposed Wind Wall
The Gualala Point Park Visitor
Center is making plans to construct
a new “wind wall” to protect visitors
to the center’s patio. The wall, which
will be more than 6 ft. tall, will be
constructed of 3/8” tempered glass
and is expected to cost close to $20,000.
The Visitor Center, in collaboration
with the nonprofit Sonoma County
Regional Parks Foundation, is raising
funds for the project.
“The Regional Parks staff members
at Gualala Point Park have wanted to
construct this wind wall for a number
of years,” explained Sue Bechtel, a
ranger for Sonoma County Regional
Parks. “The patio at the Visitor Center
offers beautiful views, but often guests
can’t use the space because high winds
make it uncomfortable. The wind wall
will protect visitors while they enjoy
the views and should make this space
much more useable.”
Visitor Center staff members
anticipate that, following installation
of the wind wall, the patio may be a
popular location for picnics, birthday
celebrations and small weddings or
receptions. The space can accommodate
up to 50 people.
Donations of any amount are
welcome. For a gift of $500 or more,
the donor will be recognized with a
3”x5” plaque on the new structure.
Donations are accepted by mail,
telephone or online:
•Mail: Sonoma County Regional Parks
Foundation, 2300 County Center Dr.,
#120A, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
•Phone: (707) 565-2041
•Online: www.sonoma-county.org/
foundation
Donors should note that the
contribution is to benefit the Gualala
Wind Wall. Depending upon the
success of the fundraising campaign
and the weather, construction may
begin in early 2014.
Individuals with questions about the
project may contact Sue Bechtel, the
Regional Parks Ranger at Gualala Point
Park who is overseeing this project, at
[email protected] or
(707) 785-2377.
12/13 - www.sonomacountygazette.com -51
Wheel
of Light
www.starwatcher.com
(707) 887-1820
Rio Olesky
DECEMBER 2013
The two most significant astrological
events this month are Venus turning
retrograde on December 21, the same
day as the Winter Solstice when the Sun
enters Capricorn. The Winter Solstice
was celebrated by many ancient cultures
as the most important day of the year.
It marked the time when the Sun had
traveled as far south as it could go,
turned around and was heading north.
This symbolizes the return of the light;
the promise that the growing season was
coming back and that life would continue
for another year. This could be used as a
time to look deeply within, to define what
we would like to achieve or accomplish
when the warmth and promise of spring
are renewed. This is probably the basis
for making New Year’s resolutions based
on the idea that we will have the time and
resources to create new parts of our lives
even as we maintain those that continue
to have value.
This keys right into Venus going
retrograde and how it will continue to
move until January 31. Venus pertains to
three primary parts of our lives: values,
relationships and money. Before we can
affectively and accurately choose new
directions or projects to begin in the
New Year, it is helpful to re-examine
these core issues. For example, in terms
of values, what is important to us? What
gives our lives meaning and a sense
of well-being? If we don’t know the
answers to those questions we are liable
to create something that has outlived its
usefulness or never had much meaning
in the first place. Once our value systems
have been re-defined and re-prioritized
we can allot a proper amount of our time
and resources to implementing them in
concrete ways.
Venus is primarily associated with
relationships, especially in terms of what
we need, what we offer and how we
behave. When Venus is retrograde its time
to review those issues and patterns in our
lives. If we are unhappy in a relationship
it can be easy to blame the other person.
They aren’t doing it right or they are
deliberately preventing me from getting
what I need or appreciating what I offer.
Sometimes we can be shocked by how
much of this other person is unattractive
or unacceptable. How could we have not
known this after all these years? The way
out is to go within. Our primary focus
needs to be our relationship to ourselves.
It could be that our needs have changed
or we have not effectively communicated
the old ones. Maybe those needs are
simply unrealistic in the relationship.
Try not to make any major decisions
about a relationship during this time.
This isn’t a good time to decide to get
married or to get divorced because of
the limited, subjective way we may be
observing the other person and our
relationship to them. This is a good
time, however, to allow the self to be
completely honest about where we are
in the experience. We may discover
that there are real and serious issues
that have been chronic problems but
which we have not addressed with the
other person. This is a time to at least
bring them up for discussion if not
resolution. We should also be prepared
for the other person doing the same
thing. They might simply be dumping
negative energy on us rather than doing
their own homework. They might also,
however, bring up chronic problems in
our relationship seen from their point of
view. Obviously relationship problems
are rarely easy to deal with as they often
destroy harmony at least temporarily.
They can also cause hurt feelings.
So start this process by updating your
self in the relationship. Then communicate
the changes to your partner even as you
suggest times and ways of at least defining
things that you would like to see changed
in the interaction between you. It will be
important for the other person to come
up to speed about the new you, let alone
respond behaviorally to how you would
like things to be different. And of course,
time must be spent contemplating what
they are bringing up to you as well. This
is a long process that will continue long
after Venus turns direct.
Harmony also can pertain to the arts
and aesthetics. With Venus retrograde
it’s not a good time for major purchases
of luxury items or to make decisions
about decorative changes to your home
or wardrobe. Think about them, research
possibilities, but don’t act.
Because Venus is concerned with
money this is also true about financial
issues., Refocus your financial situation
especially in these difficult financial
times. How are you earning money? How
much do you need? Are you earning
what you deserve Again, the value issue,
this time in terms of self-value? This isn’t
a good time to change jobs or even ask for
a raise. It’s time for inner clarity, a time
to make plans and define strategies for
the future after Venus has gone direct. On
the other side of the ledger, redefine your
budget. Are you spending more than you
can afford? Or are you spending money
on things that you really don’t need
or value? Sometimes we can bring our
financial house in order more by cutting
our spending rather than by adding more
resources to spend.
Aries: Disharmony at
work could cause some
social
discomfort,
if
not financial setbacks.
Growth
comes
from
working
on
being
more
3/21-4/19
diplomatic with others.
This is a time to compromise your need
to be independent and be more willing
to play by the rules.
Taurus: In addition to
re-evaluating “the big
three” (relationship needs,
finances and values in
general) spend some time
reviewing your higher
4/20-5/20 mind focus. This could
pertain to academic interests and goals
or to your spiritual path and philosophy
of life. This isn’t so much a time to change
those things as much as it is a time to
recommit and deepen your commitment
to those parts of your life.
Gemini: The full
Moon in Gemini on
the 17th provides an
opportunity to get out
of your head and be
expressive of feelings
5/21-6/20 and emotional needs.
Awareness of that energy may run
higher than usual around this time,
so the information should be readily
available. Growth can come from
becoming as comfortable expressing
personal, subjective information as
you normally do in sharing more
objective, external ideas.
Cancer: This month, the
lunar cycle can provide
insights into your own
or
others’
emotional
and
psychological
realities. You don’t have
6/21-7/22 to “do” anything with
the information, just use it to become
more aware of yourself and insightful
about how others function on the inner
planes. By extension, this can also help
to free the mind to be more spiritually
aware as well.
Leo: Re-evaluation for
you this month could
involve either health
or work matters. In
the former, be open to
learning about and trying
7/23-8/22 new methods of healing
or health maintenance. Work could
involve either learning new skills and
techniques or simply learning to be
more organized and efficient with
your time.
Virgo: Home and family
could occupy much of
your time and energy this
month. Focus on those
parts of your personal
8/23-9/22 life that aren’t working
that well. This is more
a time of contemplation and planning
of strategy than it is of trying out new
ideas. The research of this period could
lead to more productive activity and
harmonious relationships later on.
Libra: This is a good
time to re-evaluate real
estate issues. If you are
“under water” with your
mortgage, research to
9/23-10/22 discover your options
for recovery. You could also research
the real estate market to find good deals
or opportunities to sell in the future.
This is also a good time to think about
remodeling and discussing colors,
fabrics and furniture with family
members. Remember, this is not a time
to buy or to do the work. Just think
about it and research.
Scorpio: You could
get triggered by children
or friends who aren’t
conforming to your
rules or expectations.
reacting,
10/23-11/21 Before
however, review the
parameters you are projecting onto
those people and relationships. You
might discover that they are out of
date or inappropriate in some way.
Giving others space to be themselves is
important.
Sagittarius: Early
month could bring some
mental confusion. It could
manifest as inability to
make a decision or an
11/22-12/21 unexpected of erosion of
confidence in your ideas
or ability to express them. It ‘s a good time
to work on integrating left-brain ideas
with right-brain intuition. That will lead
to greater clarity, confidence and ability to
be understood by others.
Capricorn:
This is
a good time to allow
barriers between you
and others to dissolve.
Hopefully you’ve been
doing some important
12/22-1/19 inner healing lately.
If so, you may find yourself being
comfortably and safely receptive this
month even as you reach out to others
in nurturing emotional support.
Aquarius:
RHasty
decisions could lead to
impulsive actions that
lead to angry outbursts. If
these decisions pertain to
finance, you could create
1/20-2/18 a major case of buyer’s
remorse. Growth for you comes from not
doing things just to prove to others how
independent you are. Work against type
to develop your ability to be patient and
deliberate in thought and action.
Pisces:
This is a time
when your inherent
feelings of caring for
others come to the fore.
You could also have
some powerful feelings
2/19-3/20 of nostalgic attachments
to people and events from your past. Use
the warmth and fuzziness of this period
to put important things from your past
into perspective.
Home Heating Safety
Residential
fires
are
more
prevalent during the winter months
than they are in the spring and
summer. According to the U.S. Fire
Administration (USFA), an estimated
108,400 winter residential building
fires occur each year in the United
States. Heating and cooking are, by
far, the leading causes of these fires.
To ensure a fire safe winter season,
it is important to be more attentive
to the use of cooking and heating
equipment.
Sonoma County Fire Prevention
Officers encourage you to practice
the following fire safety steps to
keep those home fires safely burning.
Remember, fire safety is your personal
responsibility.
Safely Dispose of Ashes
Keep Fireplaces and
Wood Stoves Clean
Protect the Outside of
Your Home
•Have your chimney or wood stove
inspected and cleaned annually by a
certified chimney specialist.
•Leave glass doors open while
burning a fire. Leaving the doors
open ensures that the fire receives
enough air to ensure complete
combustion and keeps creosote from
building up in the chimney.
•Close glass doors when the fire is
out to keep air from the chimney
opening from getting into the room.
•Always use a metal mesh screen
with fireplaces that do not have a
glass fireplace door.
•Keep air inlets on wood stoves
open and never restrict air supply
to fireplaces. Otherwise, you may
cause creosote build-up that could
lead to a chimney fire.
•Be extra cautious when discarding
ashes! Hot coals, hidden in a pile of
ashes and thus well insulated, can
stay hot for up to 4 days!
•Never empty ashes into a paper
or plastic bag, cardboard box, or
other similar container. The only
suitable means for ash storage is a
metal container with a tight fitting
lid as it helps keep air from blowing
through and disturbing ashes
which can leave hot coals exposed
for re-ignition.
•DO NOT store your metal ash
container on your deck, in your
garage or in any location that may
allow heat to transfer from those hot
coals to nearby flammable items.
•Stack firewood outdoors at least 30
feet away from your home.
•Keep the roof clear of leaves, pine
needles and other debris.
•Cover the chimney with a mesh
screen spark arrester and remove
any low hanging branches above the
chimney, flues or vents.
Have a Plan
•Take a moment to teach your
children that fire is a tool, not a toy.
•Have an escape plan and practice it
with your family.
•If you suspect a chimney fire,
get everyone out of the house
immediately and call 9-1-1! If you
can do so safely, put out any fire in
the stove or fireplace and close the
damper.
Safely Burn Fuels
•Never use flammable liquids to start
a fire. Use only seasoned hardwood;
soft,
moist
wood
accelerates
creosote build-up. Also, never burn
cardboard boxes, trash or debris in
your fireplace or wood stove.
•Never leave a fire in the fireplace
unattended. Extinguish the fire
before going to bed or leaving the
house.
FORT ROSS FUNDRAISER
There will be a fundraiser for the
Fort Ross Volunteer Fire Department
(FRVFD) at Black Mountain Retreat
Center / Padmasambhava Peace
Institute (PPI), 23125 Fort Ross Rd.,
Cazadero, on Sat., Dec. 7, 5-9 p.m.
Called “An Evening of Himalayan
Culture in Cazadero”, the program
includes Sacred Arts introduced by
Tibetan Buddhist Master Jigme Tromge
Rinpoche; Himalayan Dinner (meat
and vegetarian); a slide show, display
crafts, followed by a dance for all.
Tickets (includes meal) $20, children
$5. Food and events are offered by
Padmasambhava Peace Institute; all
proceeds benefit FRVFD.
Please RSVP to ensure enough food is
prepared. Email: mark@padmapeace.
org, or call (707) 632-5629.
Note: Sacred Arts demonstration
begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Shrine Room.
FORESTVILLE FIRE
Toy Drive
As a reminder the Forestville
Firefighter’s Association will be
collecting toys for the Holidays again
this year. Donations will go to the
Forestville Giving Tree Program,
Methodist Church as well as the
Toys for Tots program. Your new and
unwrapped gifts may be dropped off
at the Forestville Fire Station up to
December 23rd. Recalled or used toys
cannot be accepted.
Bucket Brigade Blood Drive
Please join us in giving blood on
December 17th from 3pm to 7pm at
the fire station. It’s a perfect time of the
year to be giving to those in need. Help
us spread the word! This event is also a
friendly competition with multiple fire
departments throughout the county to
see who can get the most donations.
GRATON FIRE
Graton Fire Christmas Tree
Farm: Thu-Sun 9-5
Toy Drive: Graton Firefighters dropping
off donated toys last Christmas
Yes! We are open for our 8th season!
There are acres of pine, fir, and spruce
trees to choose between. For those who
love Noble and Nordmann firs, we
Tree Farm: Unloading pre-cut trees from
a sustainable farm in Oregon
have pre-cut trees from a sustainable
farm in Oregon. Most importantly,
they are being kept in water to
preserve them for you. The tree farm is
open Thursday through Sunday from
9am to 5pm and all sales support the
fire department. Trees are being sold
by height, regardless of the type of
tree. Pull saws and measuring sticks
are available as well as help to cut,
carry, trim, and net your tree. There
are fire helmets and badges for the
kids and cider and candy canes for all!
If you have further questions, please
call our Heather, 322-2091. Thank you
for supporting Graton Fire.
Toy Drive Deadline: 12/20
Our annual toy drive continues
through Friday, December 20th. Each
year, Graton volunteer firefighters
work with Oak Grove School and local
charities to determine needy families
in our district. This holiday season, we
are collecting new, unwrapped toys for
over 30 children up to age 12. We will
also accept cash donations, wrapping
paper, tape... whatever you can spare.
Items can be dropped off at:
•Graton Fire Station
•Graton Fire Christmas Tree Farm
(Thu-Sun, 9-5)
•Graton Post Office
•Andy’s Produce Market
•Bridgeway Gas (Hwy 116 & Green
Valley Rd)
•Graton Community Club (Sun,
12/16, 1-5pm)
Thank you to everyone who donated
last year and helped make another
family’s Christmas a reality. We look
forward to your support again this
year. Questions? Call 823-8400 ext. 120.
12/13 - www.sonomacountygazette.com -55
CommunityCalendar
Our website has MORE calendars than we can fit in these pages
VOLUNTEER Opportunities, Meetings, Sprituality and Classes.
If it’s on-going and not date-specfic, please find it at
• Ticket price must be $20 or less, or a Benefit for a Good Cause.
• All ONGOING events are available online - search CALENDAR
• Our Online Calendar is updated throughout the month and has the most
up-to-date event information. EMAIL [email protected] with your listing
• Our calendar is dependent upon the information you provide.
Holiday Celebrations & Festivities
Toy & Food Drives
Food for Thought Drive ~ Food donations
accepted at the following locations:
Dec 7 ~ Oliver’s Market on Montecito Ave
Dec 14 ~ Guerneville Safeway, Petaluma
Market, Sonoma Market, Safeway
Mendocino Ave
Dec 21 ~ Bicentennial Lucky’s, Pacific
Market Sebastopol, Sonoma Safeway
Dec 8 ~ Secret Santa Kick Off ~ from
10am-6pm join Montgomery Village
Shopping Center & the Volunteer Center
for the kickoff party to Sonoma County’s
biggest & best charitable fundraiser of the
year! Look for the Volunteer Center’s elves
in Village Court & Village Terrace. You’ll
enjoy Holiday entertainment from Santa’s
Musical Toy Soldiers & the Holiday String
Trio & much more.
Santa Rosa Firefighters Local 1401 ~ Toy
barrels will be out in front of all the Santa
Rosa and Rincon Valley Fire Stations plus
at the Santa Rosa Plaza starting December
2 for collection of NEW, unwrapped toys
for newborn through 18 years of age. Toys
will also be collected at the firefighters
Annual Pancake Breakfast on Dec 1 at
the Veteran’s Memorial Building from 8
to 11 am. Admission $5 or the donation
of a new, unwrapped toy. Also, Dec 7-22,
firefighters will be at the Santa Rosa Plaza
12-8pm collecting toy and cash donations.
Redwood Empire Food Bank ~ At all
12 Safeway stores in Sonoma County,
Customers can purchase a $10 pre-filled
bag of nutritious food that includes tuna,
pasta, pasta sauce, green beans, peanut
butter. Simply pick up a bag from the
front store display, purchase at the checkout station and drop it in our orange food
collection barrel before leaving the store.
At Whole Foods Customers can buy a $5
Breakfast, a $10 Lunch or a $25 Full Day
Meal to feed a family of four. Simply take
one or more meal tickets to the register to
purchase.
Toy Drives at Precision Frame and
Body Les Schwab ~ Sonoma Media
Group, Les Schwab, Precision Frame
& Body Shop, and The Salvation Army
are partnering to provide toys for the
needy children in our community this
Christmas. Through Dec 20, purchase
a new gift from the list below and drop
it off unwrapped at any of the Sonoma
County locations. Visit www.977theriver.
com/holidaytoydrive.aspx for details and
locations.
Safari West ~ During the holiday season
please bring a non-perishable food item
when you visit our animals. We will
have barrels here on property now until
Christmas time! In partnership with
Redwood Empire Food Bank. 3115 Porter
Creek Rd., Santa Rosa. (707) 579-2551
Craft Faires
Nov 29 – Dec 1 ~ FFT Antiques Open
House ~ Join Food For Thought Antiques
for their annual Holiday Open House, in
which all sales will benefit the Aids Food
Bank. Open daily 11am – 5pm at 2701
Gravenstein Hwy S, Sebastopol. www.
fftantiques.com
Nov 30 ~ Holiday Trunk Show ~ San
Francisco designer emiko oye creates
one-of-a-kind urban jewelry from
repurposed LEGO®, precious metals,
and semi-precious stones. emiko will
be
at
A
New
Leaf
Gallery
| Sculpturesite on Saturday, November
30th from 1-5pm with delightful holiday
gift ideas. at Cornerstone Sonoma,
23588 Arnold Drive, Sonoma. www.
sculpturesite.com/news.cfm
Nov 30 ~ Holiday Crafterino ~ Local,
handmade crafts from 11am to 4 pm at the
Petaluma Veterans Memorial Building.
Raffle Prizes! All profits benefit COTS.
www.petalumadowntowncraftmart.com
Nov 30 & Dec 1 ~ Bijoux Holiday Sale
~ bijoux annual holiday exhibit and sale
of unique and unusual fine crafts. 583
Harrison St., downtown Sebastopol. 10am
- 5pm both days.
Dec 1 ~ Christkindlmarkt Christmas
Faire ~ Traditional crafts, food, music and
entertainment from Germany, Austria &
Switzerland. Santa will be there for the
kids! 10am – 4pm at Hermann Sons Hall,
860 Western Ave, Petaluma. ugas-eb.org/
events.html
Dec 7 ~ Holiday Art Benefit ~ 12 to 7PM
Holiday Art Benefit for Wendy Z›s Arts
Preschool/After School Program. Fair
St. (Near downtown), Petaluma. Original
Painted Art Cards, Folk Art. Call 707-7621312 for directions.
Dec 7 ~ Holiday Lights Annual Fine
Arts and Crafts Exhibit ~ Becoming
Independent (BI) presents its 10th annual
show and sale of arts and crafts. Featuring
the Everyone Heart Warming Choir,
BI’s hip hop group the Artisticatz, live
music by The Sticky Notes, photos with
Santa, and the famously popular raw
art sale. 1455 Corporate Center Parkway,
Santa Rosa. 6-8pm. 707-524-6600
Dec 7 ~ Alexander Valley Ladies
Aid Christmas Bazaar ~ 10am-2pm,
admission free. Located at Alexander
Valley Community Church, Jimtown,
6650 Highway 128. Come and shop for
unique homemade craft Christmas items.
Enjoy refreshments and cookies as you
participate in the annual Bazaar Raffle
Dec 7 & 8 ~ Dickens Holiday Crafts Fair ~
featuring booths with handcrafted items
created and sold by the artists. Fantastic
prize give away, free entertainment and
refreshments available for purchase. 9am
– 5pm Sat, 10am – 4pm Sun, at the Finley
Community Center, 2060 W. College Ave.,
Santa Rosa. Tickets $2 - Children 12 and
under are FREE.
Dec 7 & 8 ~ Occidental Community
Council Holiday Crafts Faire ~ local &
regional artists showcasing their special
crafts and holiday pieces, entertainment,
a traditional bucket raffle, wreaths,
fabulous food & more. 10am – 5pm at the
Occidental Community Center, Bohemian
Hwy and Graton Rd, Occidental.
Dec 7 & 8 ~ Holiday on Florence ~ A
Showcase of Fine Local Craft. 11am to
5pm. 343 Florence Ave., Sebastopol. 2802607. www.abbybardhandwoven.com/
events
Dec 7 & 8 ~ Holiday Boutique ~
Hand crafts gifts by local artists and
craftpersons. 10am - 5pm both days at
the Maresca Art barn, 16120 Watson Rd.,
Guerneville.
Dec 7 ~ Faith Lutheran’s Christmas
Market ~ Hand-made gifts, art, baked
good, gift wrapping, face painting. FREE
admission and parking. Proceeds from
church-sponsored goods benefit Faith
Lutheran’s outreach ministries. 10am 4pm at 19355 Arnold Dr, Sonoma.
Dec 7-8 & 14-15 ~ Holiday Clay &
Glass Sale ~ 5 Sebastopol galleries
participating. 10am - 4pm at each studio.
Artists include: G. Arrington 7540 Gates
Dr, J. Chambers 2060 Blucher Valley Rd,
B. Geisinger 7722 Lynch Rd, Salatino
Gandolfo 2820 Bloomfield Rd
Dec 14 & 15 ~ Santa’s Helpers Gift Faire
~ 90+ exhibitors, free parking, free
admission. Cider, food, antiques and oneof-a-kind crafts. Sat 10-5, Sun 11-4 at the
Napa Valley Expo, 575 3rd St, Napa.
Dec 14 & 15 ~ Holiday Wonderland
Crafts Fair ~ Held at the Monte Rio
Community Center. A myriad of hand-
made, locally produced gift items and
tasty baked goods await the shopper!
Dec 14 & 15 ~ Goddess Crafts Faire ~
Local vendors, entertainment, benefits
The Living Room. 11am – 7pm at the
Sebastopol Community Center, 390 Morris
St. More info at www.goddesscraftsfaire.
com.
Dec 15 ~ Coastal Hills Community
Project ~ You will find beautiful artisan
products, delicious baked goods and
culinary delights, locally grown produce,
plants and flowers, handcrafted creations,
and more! 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Fort Ross
School Multi-Purpose Room, 30600
Seaview Rd., Cazadero
Festive Activities
Nov 29 ~ Healdsburg Downtown Holiday
Party ~ Located around the Healdsburg
Town Plaza, 4pm-9pm. Visit www.
healdsburg.com/events for more info.
Nov 29 - Dec 22 ~ A Christmas Story
~ Follow nine year old Ralphie Parker in
his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB
gun under the tree for Christmas! Playing
Thu-Sun at 6th Street Playhouse, 52 W.
6th Street, Santa Rosa. Tickets available
at www.6thstreetplayhouse.com
Nov 30 ~ Santa’s Riverboat Arrival ~ Santa
and Mrs. Claus sail into the Petaluma
River Turning Basin aboard a tugboat at
about noon and disembark in the Golden
Eagle Shopping Center on E. Washington
Street to greet children and distribute
candy. Visit www.visitpetaluma.com for
more info.
Nov 30 ~ Holiday Toy Show ~ over 100
booths of toys, comics and games! Food.
Free parking. 11am - 6pm at the Santa
Rosa Vets Bldg, 1351 Maple Ave, Santa
Rosa. $5 admission. More info at www.
santarosatoycon.com
Nov 30 ~ Lighted Tractor Parade ~ Annual
Tree Lighting & Lighted Tractor Parade
in Downtown Geyserville. Share the
Spirit of the Holidays by bringing your
donations to the barrels at BOSWORTH &
SON & GIN GILLI’S. 6-8pm.
Nov 30 ~ Festival of Lights ~ Kick off
the holidays with the annual lighting of
the light displays and enjoy local treats,
carols, wreath-making, movies and much
more! A benefit for the Healdsburg Food
Pantry. 2pm-7pm at 19170 Geyserville
Ave, Geyserville. Visit www.trentadue.
com. $20 admission, $5 for DD.
HOLIDAYS cont’d on page 57
HOLIDAYS cont’d from page 56
Nov 29 – Dec 15 ~ Toy Drive at Chateau
Diana ~ Bring a new unwrapped toy
and buy a bottle of wine for $2. Open
house 11am-4pm, treats, wine, meet
Santa and his Elves. 6195 Dry Creek
Road, Healdsburg. www.chateaud.com
Dec 1 ~ SF Gay Men’s Chorus ~ 7:30 pm
at Sonoma Country Day School, 4440
Day School Pl., Santa Rosa. For tickets
SF Gay Men’s Chorus ~ Dec 1
and volunteer opportunities
visit www.f2f.org
please
Dec 1-27 ~ Petaluma City of Lights Tour
~ Get the map of Petaluma’s beautifully
decorated homes and business at www.
visitpetaluma.com or at the Petaluma
Visitors Center, 210 Lakeville St.. After
taking the self-guided tour, vote for your
favorite on the website. 7pm.
Dec 4 ~ Bob Burke’s Christmas Dinner
Fundraiser ~ Free Holiday Meal Courtesy of the Gonella Family. Event
Hours: 5-9pm. All Donations to Benefit:
Bob Burke’s Kids Program. Music, Choirs,
St. Nicholas, Special Guests & more!
Union Hotel, Occidental. (707) 887-2222
Dec 5 - 31 ~ Charlie Brown’s Christmas
Tree Grove ~ Held on the Windsor
Town Green. 175 decorated holiday
trees, twice nightly snow flurries for
the kids, and holiday music. Snow twice
nightly at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.www.
olddowntownwindsor.com for further
info.
Dec 6 ~ Prince/Princess Crowning
Ceremony ~ Crowns will be awarded
to the prince and princess who raised
the most funds for the Parade of Lights
and. This will also be the drawing of the
sold raffle tickets for all of the donations
from local merchants. 6pm at Chef
Patrick’s, 16337 Main St, Guerneville.
Dec 6 ~ Peacetown Holiday Party ~
Christmas
sing-along,
Hannukah
dancing, Kwanzaa drumming, food
& drink, kids performances
and more. Adults $10-25, kids
FREE. 6pm at the Sebastopol
Community Center, 390 Morris
St. www.seb.org
the Arts, 3850 Doris Murphy Court,
Occidental. Tickets are $15 for adults.
Children 12 and under are free. Tickets
are available at the door and at www.
occidentalchoir.org. Dec 6, 7, 8, 14 at 8pm,
Dec 15 at 3pm.
Dec 6-15 ~ A Night at the Nutcracker ~
the winter play presented by Forestville
School Drama Club, directed by Noelle
Huberty. It plays Dec 6, 7, 13, and 14th at
7pm and Dec 8th and 15th at 2pm. In the
Multi of Forestville School.
Dec 6, 7, 8 ~ Sonoma County
Chamber Choir ~ All Concerts
are free, donations accepted.
Dec 6 at 7:30 - United Church of
Cloverdale - 439 N Cloverdale
Blvd, Cloverdale Dec 7 at 7:30pm - Bethlehem
Lutheran Church - 1300 St
Francis Rd, Santa Rosa Dec 8 at 2pm - Presbyterian
Church of the Roses - 2500 Patio
Court, Santa Rosa
Dec 7 ~ Guerneville Parade of Lights
~ This year’s theme will be “Hollywood”.
The parade will begin at dark (6ish) in
downtown Guerneville.
Dec 7, 13, 14 ~ Holiday Home Tour &
Winter Market ~ Presented by The Junior
League of Napa-Sonoma. Held at Hilton
Sonoma Wine Country, 3555 Round
Barn Blvd, Santa Rosa. Tickets are $45
per person. 11am - 5pm. For details and
tickets, call (707) 545-5567 or visit www.
jlns.org.
Dec 7, 13, 14 ~ Fabulous Women Festival of
Trees ~ 6-9:30pm. Bid on Fabulous one-ofa-kind trees, stroll through the beautiful
enchanted forest, enjoy delicious treats,
Create crafts in Santa’s Workshop, visit
w/ Santa & Petaluma Pete, Portraits w/
Victoria Webb. 6-9:30pm at Petaluma
Theatre Square, 151 Petaluma Blvd.,
South. thefabulouswomen.com
Dec 7 ~ Lighted Boat Parade ~ Lavishly
decorated boats aglow with colorful
lights set off from the Petaluma Marina at
dusk to sail into the Historic Downtown
Harbor as the evening sky darkens. 6pm
at the Petaluma Turning Basin Cavanagh
Landing,150 Weller St., Petaluma. www.
visitpetaluma.com
Dec 7 & 8 ~ The Night Before Christmas
~ Teresa Lubarsky’s Healdsburg Ballet
at the Raven Theater on Sat at 7P.M.
and Sun at 2P.M. 115 North Street,
Healdsburg. Tickets Available at: Safeway
in Healdsburg, Brownpapertickets.com,
Dec 6 ~ Posada Navideña
~ Featuring
traditional
Mexican folkloric dance and
music. $10 for adults and $5
for children. Family-friendly
arts and crafts starting one
hour prior to the show, a postshow Posada celebration that
includes food, music, and the
traditional Posada procession.
7pm at Wells Fargo Center for
the Art.
Dec 6-15 ~ “Illumiations”
by Occidental Community
Choir ~ All concerts are at
The Occidental Center for
Healdsburg Ballet and at the door. Adults
-$18, Seniors-$15, Children 8 and under $13, At the door prices add $2.
Dec 7 & 8 ~ Luther Burbank Holiday
Open House ~ Experience a charming
reminder of bygone days when you
tour the home decked out in Victorian
holiday finery inside and out. 10am –
4pm, $2 admission. Santa Rosa & Sonoma
Avenues, Downtown Santa Rosa
Dec 8 ~ Wings of Glory Gospel Choir ~
5pm (CALL 4pm) at St. John’s Episcopal
Church at 40 Fifth St., Petaluma, in
conjunction with Heritage Homes. If you
volunteer to go caroling with a group
after the concert, your admission to the
Holiday Home Tour is free.
Dec 8 ~ Christmas 1888 at the Depot ~
Come enjoy an Old Fashioned Community
Pot Luck from 4-8pm. No Tickets - Bring
a Dish to Share! Turkey, Ham & Drinks
Provided, No-Host Wine & Beer. Add to
the Historical Spirit - Dress like it’s 1888!
Kenwood Depot, 314 Warm Springs Rd.,
Kenwood. www.kenwooddepot.com
Dec 8 ~ Silent Night Solstice Drop-In
~ 5 to 6pm: Take some quiet time for
meditation or prayer, light a candle,
acknowledge that the darkest days of
the year have passed. Sebastopol United
Methodist Church across the street from
Safeway.
Dec 8 ~ Zen Fest Holiday Sale ~ silent
auction, hand crafted gifts, signature
jams along with used collectibles and
spiritual practice supplies. Authentic
Japanese food & raffle prizes. Proceeds
benefit Stone Creek Zen Center. From 9
am to 4 pm, at the Masonic Center, 373
Posada Navideña ~ Dec 6 at Well Fargo Center
North Main St, Sebastopol. Admission is
FREE. For more info call 707 829 1129 or
check stonecreekzencenter.org.
Dec 8 ~ Old World Carolers ~ A benefit
concert at Sebastopol United Methodist
Church charities and local homeless
shelters, 500 N. Main Street, Sebastopol
(across from Safeway). Doors open at 3pm
and concert starts at 3:30 p.m. Suggested
donation is $10, and children are free.
Dec 8 ~ Annual Lighting of the Snowmen
~ Live music in the snowflake-filled
courtyard, a holiday performance by the
Sonoma Ballet Conservatory, outdoor
holiday films for kids and pictures with
Santa. 23570 Arnold Dr, Sonoma. 4pm6:30pm. (707) 933.3010 for more info.
$5 parking, 100% of proceeds benefit
Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance.
Dec 8, 15, 16 ~ Healdsburg Chorus
Winter Concert ~ Tickets: $15 pre-sale (at
Copperfields Book Store in Healdsburg) /
$18 at the door.
Dec 8 at 3p.m. Glaser Center, 547
Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa Dec 15 at 3p.m. Healdsburg Community
Church, 1100 University St., Healdsburg Dec 16 at 7p.m. Healdsburg Community
Church, 1100 University St., Healdsburg
Dec 11 ~ Annual Chamber Holiday
Dinner ~ Please join us for our Annual
Holiday Dinner at 6pm at the Village
Inn in Monte Rio. Support River to Coast
Children’s Services by donating gifts for
teens. Tickets are $20 and are available at
the Russian River Chamber Office. 707869-9000
HOLIDAYS cont’d on page 58
Summerfield ~ 551 Summerfield Road:
“WHITE CHRISTMAS” starring Bing
Crosby Third Street Cinemas ~ 620 Third
Street: “THE GRINCH” starring Jim
Carrey Raven Film Center ~ 415 Center
Street, Healdsburg: “MIRACLE ON
34th STREET” starring Edmund Gwenn
Dec 18 & 18 ~ Great Russian Nutcracker
~ Celebrate this Christmas with Moscow
Ballet’s world famous production of
the Great Russian Nutcracker! 7pm
at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts,
wellsfargocenterarts.org
Dec 21 ~ Sing-Along Messiah ~ A Benefit
for the Music Education Programs of
the Santa Rosa Symphony. 7:30pm at
Spreckels Performing Arts Center , 5409
Snyder Ln, Rohnert Park. Tickets $20
advance at www.sing-along-messiah.
org or $25 at the door.
HOLIDAYS cont’d from page 57
Dec 13 & 14 ~ Drive-Thru Live Nativity ~
Free! Stay in your car & see! 9 Scenes from
the Birth of Christ, with Live Actors &
Live Music. Friday & Saturday Evenings
from 6:30-9:30pm in the Santa Rosa SDA
Church Parking Lot, 840 Sonoma Ave.,
Santa Rosa. (707) 578-8883
Dec 13-22 ~ A Christmas Carol ~ All
proceeds benefit for Sonoma Community
Center
and
Sonoma
Shakespeare
Company. 5pm - 8pm Sun, Fri, Sat
at Sonoma Community Center, 276 East
Napa St. sonomacommunitycenter.org
Dec 13-22 ~ Roustabout’s White
Christmas ~ Tickets $16 kids, $26 adults.
Visit wellsfargocenterarts.org for times
and tickets.
Dec 14 ~ Wreaths Across America ~ To
Remember, Honor, & Teach about the
service and sacrifices of our veterans,
active military, and their families. We
will lay wreaths on the graves of Veterans
at the Cloverdale Cemetery. For More
info, call Al Delsid at 707-696-2964
Dec 14 ~ Light A Candle of Love ~ 8am
- Volunteers will begin placement of
candles onto the gravesites. 3:30pm
- Lighting of the Candles will begin.
You are invited to volunteer & view
the candle lighting anytime after dusk
until midnight. Pleasant Hills Memorial
Park & Mortuary 1700 Pleasant Hill Rd.,
Sebastopol. (707) 823-5042
Dec 14 ~ Holiday concert with the
Cinnabar Singers ~ Cinnabar’s
community chorus performs at the United
Church of Christ in Petaluma. Tickets are
$10 for youth and $15 for adults. 7:30 p.m.
at Cinnabar Theater, 3333 Petaluma Blvd
North, Petaluma. cinnabartheater.org
Dec 14 ~ Sonoma Mission Holiday
Celebration ~ There will be readings
and song and all done by candlelight in
the Mission Chapel. There is no charge,
however, we would appreciate a small
donation! Available at the Mission
entrance counter. 4:30-6:30pm at Corner
of First St E and Spain St, Sonoma. 707938-9560
Dec 20-22 ~ Sebastopol Ballet Presents
“The Nutcracker” ~ By The Sebastopol
Ballet. Matinees feature a complimentary
pre-show Sugar Plum Party at 1p.m.
$20 reserved, $15 general, $10 under 12
and seniors over 60. Fri. at 7 p.m., Sat.
at 2 and 7 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. Analy
High School Theater, 6950 Analy Ave.,
Sebastopol. For tickets, call (707) 824-8006;
www.sebastopolballet.com or at www.
brownpapertickets.com.
Nov 30 ~ Duncans Mills Tree Lighting
& Open House ~ Santa will arrive on a
firetruck and be there from 2-4pm there
will be music, food in the shops, sales in
most shops. The tree lighting will be at
dusk around 4:45-5pm. The town will be
all decked out.
Dec 1 ~ Forestville Tree Lighting &
Town Social ~ Bring baked goods and
Christmas snacks if you can. Cider,
cookies, Caroling and Santa Claus for
the kids! 4pm in the field that will soon
become Forestville’s Town Square,
downtown Forestville.
Dec 5 ~ Guerneville Holiday Tree
Lighting ~ Enjoy great hors d’oeuvres
and refreshments, great shopping, and
joyful caroling all along Main Street.
Have your picture taken with Santa
Claus! Gather at the Town Plaza for the
Lighting of the Tree at 6:30pm. 5pm-9pm
at the Downtown Plaza, Guerneville. Dec 5 ~ Sebastopol Tree Lighting ~ 5 to
8pm at the Sebastopol Downtown Plaza
(corner of McKinley St. & Petaluma
Ave). Lighting of the holiday tree and
Santa›s arrival on Sebastopol’s Fire
Truck. Craft projects, cookie decorating,
complimentary hot chocolate, apple cider,
coffee and popcorn. 5-8pm
Dec 15 ~ Graton Santa Party ~ Apple
juice and cookies will be provided.
Pictures with Santa. Attendees are asked
to bring a new unwrapped toy, which
will be distributed to income-challenged
families by the Graton Fire Department.
1-5pm at the Graton Community Club.
Dec 18 ~ A Day of Holiday Cheer &
Giving ~ Presenting a selection of holiday
films free of charge to the general public. The only requirement is that each person
brings a donation of a non-perishable
food item or a new toy to be collected
by the theatre. ALL FILMS WILL PLAY
@ 12 Noon, 2:15. 4:30, 7:00, 9:15 at their
respective locations:
Roxy Stadium 14 ~ 85 Santa Rosa Ave.:
“A CHRISTMAS STORY” starring Peter
Billingsley Airport Stadium 12 ~ 409 Aviation Blvd.:
“HOME ALONE” starring Macaulay
Culkin Nov 30 ~ Geyserville Tree Lighting
Ceremony ~ Tree lighting in the Park
& Ride, followed by a Parade of Lights
through downtown. Merchants all over
downtown serve food and wine, keep
their doors open late and celebrate the
season. 6-8pm in downtown Geyserville. Dec 4 ~ Cotati Holiday Tree Lighting ~
Gather in La Plaza Park at 6pm for carols
and tree lighting, then proceed to the
Cotati Fire Station across the street for
cookies, cocoa, cider, holiday music and
a visit from Santa Claus! www.cotati.org
Dec 14 & 15 ~ Sebastopol Holiday Home
Tour ~ Each of our West County homes &
historic 1909 school will display holiday
spirit in its own unique style. 10am-5pm
(rain or shine). Proceeds go to Jacob’s
Fund, a scholarship fund at Pleasant Hill
Christian School in Sebastopol. Tickets:
$35/Adult, $10/kids. (707) 829-3722 or
(707) 829-1729
Dec 17 ~ Shining Night: A Winter Holiday
Concert ~ The River Choir is presenting
its musical gift to the River community.
$10 admission. 7pm at The Guerneville
Community Church, 14520 Armstrong
Woods Rd.
Tree Lighting
Celebrations
Dec 31 ~ New Year’s Eve at Cinnabar
~ Ring in 2014 with a romantic cabaret
celebrating the passionate and profound
music of Jacques Brel. Enjoy delectable
desserts and fine wine before the show,
with party favors and champagne
at midnight! Tickets are $56 youth
and $66 adults. 9pm at Cinnabar
Theater, 3333 Petaluma Blvd North,
Petaluma. cinnabartheater.org.
Happy
Holidays!
Dec 5 ~ Montgomery Village Tree
Lighting ~ By Heartland Hospice from
5-6:30pm at Village Terrace between
McGowan & Midway drive. Michael
Brandeburg’s Jazz Trio will be playing
beautiful Holiday music. Coffee, Tea &
Holiday Cookies will be available.
Dec 6 ~ Cloverdale Christmas Tree
Lighting ~ Join the live carollers and
Santa for the annual lighting of the City
Plaza Christmas Tree. Hot coco and
cookies will be served and Santa will be
on hand. Sponsored by the Lion’s Club
and the Chamber of Commerce. 5-7pm in
the Cloverdale City Plaza.
Dec 7 ~ Holiday Lights Celebration
~ Rohnert Park tree lighting ceremony
held from 5-8pm at the City Center Plaza,
Rohnert Park. 707-584-1415
Light Up A Life ~ An evening of music,
inspiration, honoring and remembering.
Name a light in honor or memory of a
loved one. Dec 1 ~ Healdsburg Plaza 5pm
Dec 6 ~ Center Park-Petaluma 7pm
Dec 7 ~ Railroad Square-Santa Rosa 6pm
Dec 8 ~ Star of the Valley Parish CenterOakmont 6pm
BenefitsforaGoodCause
Dec 4 ~ Holiday Networking Dinner
Party ~ Join members of many local
environmental groups for good food,
wine and hot cider! Hosted by the
Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Ave/
Hwy 12, (approx.. 2.5 miles west of Fulton
Rd.) $20 per person includes dinner and
one drink! Benefit for the Environmental
Center of Sonoma County. Volunteers
needed to cook a dish, set up, clean up
and drink service. For more information,
contact Wendy Krupnick, 544-4582, wlk@
sonic.net. Envirocentersoco.org
Dec 5 ~ North Bay Labor Council Pat
Wiggins Working Class Hero Awards
~ Honoring the Unites States Post Office
and Alicia Sanchez - Trade Unionist and
Community Activist. 6pm - Sheraton
Hotel, 745 Baywood Drive, Petaluma.
INFO: Lisa Maldonado 707-545-6970 lisa@
northbayclc.org BENEFITS Committee on
Political Education
Dec 5 ~ Holiday Gala ~The USGBC
Redwood Empire is thrilled to
announce our first joint holiday party
with CSI! Join us as we celebrate with
Northern California’s most dedicated
sustainable leaders and businesses. Enjoy
a delicious three course dinner prepared
by the Fountaingrove Inn. Join the festive
ornament exchange. To participate bring a wrapped ornament under $20.
Or bring a unwrapped child’s gift for
Toys for Tots. Cost is just $35 per person,
and everyone is welcome! 6-10pm at
Fountaingrove Inn, Camelot Ballroom,
Santa Rosa. Register at www.usgbc-rec.
org
Dec 6 ~ SAY Dream Walk ~ Join us for
walk to raise awareness about youth
homelessness. The price of admission
is a new pair of socks for a homeless
youth or a $10 donation. Registration
5:30PM, Dream Walk start 6:00PM. Old
Courthouse Square in downtown Santa
Rosa. www.saysc.org
Dec 7 ~ Crab Feed at Fritz Winery ~ Join
Fritz Underground Winery for a fresh
Dungeness crab feed paired with award
winning Fritz wines. $40/General. 1-4pm
at Fritz Winery, 24691 Dutcher Creek
Road Cloverdale. www.fritzwinery.com
Dec 7 ~ Evening of Himalayan Culture
in Cazadero ~ Sacred arts introduced by
Tibetan Buddhist Master Jigme Tromge
Rinpoche; Himalayan Dinner (meat
and vegetarian), slide show, display
crafts, followed by a dance for all. 5-9pm
at Black Mountain Retreat Center /
Padmasambhava Peace Institute (PPI),
23125 Fort Ross Rd., Cazadero. Fundraiser
for the Fort Ross Volunteer Fire
Department. Tickets (includes meal) $20,
children $5. RSVP to mark@padmapeace.
org, or call (707) 632-5629.
Dec 7 ~ Sonoma Crab Feed ~ Kick off the
crab season right at Gloria Ferrera’s 1st
Annual Crab Feed. Crab, Mussels, Clams,
Shrimp, Corn, Artichokes & Potatoes.
Cost: $117.50/General. 6:30pm-10pm at
Gloria Ferrer’s Wine Cave, 23555 Carneros
Hwy, Sonoma. www.gloriaferrer.com
Dec 7 ~ 12- Holiday Art Benefit for
Wendy Z’s Arts Preschool/After School
Program. Buy original works of art
from cards to gift tages that are oneof-a kind!! Meet Wendy - bring the kids
- this is all about fun and fundraising!
Noon to 7PM - Fair St. (Near downtown),
Petaluma Original Painted Art Cards,
Folk Art Call 707-762-1312 for directions.
Dec 8 ~ Valley Ford Crab Feast ~ A benefit
for the Valley Ford Volunteer Fire Dept.
Pre-sale tickets only, call 876-3245. 11am4pm at the Valley Ford Schoolhouse. $40
adults, $20 kids.
Dec 10 ~ Sonoma County Bicycle
Coalition ~ An interactive presentation
about touring from Switzerland to
Nice, France with custom folding
bicycles. 7pm at the Arlene Francis
Center (corner of 6th and Wilson in
Railroad
Square). Recommended
donation $5. Refreshments available for
purchase
Dec 14 ~ Kiwanis Crab & Pasta Feed ~
Enjoy a delicious dinner of cold cracked
crab, pasta, salad, fresh bread & homemade dessert! Beer & wine are included.
Live & silent auctions. Start time: 6pm.
Cost: $50/Per Person. Cloverdale Citrus
Fair Auditorium, 1 Citrus Fair Drive,
Cloverdale . (707) 894-3222
Dec 14 ~ Healdsburg Rotary Crab Feed
~ They will be serving a buffet style crab
feed at 6:30pm for $60/Per Person. Feast on
crab, pasta, salad, dessert & wine. There
will be a silent auction & no host bar prior
to dinner beginning at 5:30pm. Fireplace
Room at the Villa Chanticleer,1248 North
Fitch Mountain Road Healdsburg. (707)
433-8529
Dec 15 ~ Food Bank Benefit Concert ~
Rudolf Music’s Second Annual Benefit
Concert for the Redwood Empire Food
Bank, featuring the bands: Christmas +
Third Rail + Voodoo Saints. $10 donation
+ one can of food. 7pm at The Arlene
Francis Center at 99 6th Street, Santa Rosa.
The Guerneville School Pencil and
Paper Project ~ UPDATE: Sister Sparkle
Plenty of the Russian River Sisters of
perpetual Indulgence, ead nun for the
project reports: “thanks to the amazing
generosity of our community of friends, I
am delivering my FIFTH carload of school
supplies to local elementary schools!!
THANK YOU!!!! We have drop-off boxes
for these donations at * Guerneville
5&10 * Lark Drugs * Rainbow Cattle Co *
R3 Hotel. We thank you and our school
kids thank you!!
For ONGOING events such as Classes, Volunteer Opportunities,
Spirituality, etc., please visit our Online Calendar at
“Singing Us Home;
Songs For End of Life”
EspeciallyforSeniors
Senior Ballroom Dance ~ 1pm to 4pm
at the Finley Community Center, 2060
West College Ave. (707) 543-3737 $7
Admission Nov. 22 Carl Green Dec.
4 Larry Broderick Trio Dec. 11 Steve
Balich Band Dec. 18 Steve Luther
DJ (HOLIDAY FORMAL DANCE)
Dec 5 ~ Educational Talk on Memory
~ Understanding it, Maintaining
it, Improving it, Compensating for
Age Related Memory Loss. Karen
DeMars, MA, CCC, From Sutter Care
at Home. Free, Sebastopol Area Senior
Center, 167 North High St., 829-2440
Dec 7 ~ LGBTQ Holiday Dance Party
~ Great music mix, diverse crowd,
wonderful atmosphere, easy parking,
good snacks and drinks, plus a quiet
room for private discussions. $10
at the door, Sebastopol Area Senior
Center, 167 North High St., 829-2440
Dec 7 ~ Cumbia Party celebrating
Immigrant Rights and Victories in
2013. Food, beer, wine, good company
to benefit the Graton Labor Center
for workers. Arlene Francis Center,
99 6th St, Santa Rosa. 7pm. INFO:
gratonlaborcenter.org for tickets
Dec 11 ~ Coping Strategies for
Hearing Loss ~ Panel discussion
on the benefits of having two
cochlear implants to improve speech
understanding. This non-credit, free
class (DRD705, section 0721) provides
education and support for adults with
hearing loss. 6 – 8 PM. Doyle Library,
room 4245. Contact Debbie Ezersky
for additional information: (707) 5222702, [email protected].
Dec 12 ~ Building Better Bone
Health ~ A presentation led by
Tracy Joy King and Yayoi Toyoda,
Clinical pharmacists for Kaiser
Permanente. Topics discussed will
include: best supplementation for
bone health, preventing your risk
for falling and latest medications
for osteoporosis. All are encouraged
to come with questions. FREE,
Sebastopol Area Senior Center, 167
North High St., 829-2440
Dec 17 ~ Holiday Party Bash ~ We’ll
provide the turkey and ham and you
provide your favorite holiday pot luck
dish. Please RSVP and let us know
what dish you are bringing. 829-2440
FREE. Sebastopol Area Senior Center,
167 North High St.
Dec 28 ~ Aging with Humor &
Dignity ~ Support group for
exploring the challenges of aging.
Open discussion as well as videos and
reading we will view this time of life
through the wisdom of Shambhala
Buddhist teachings. FREE every 4th
Sat., Sonoma Shambhala Meditation
Center,
255
West
Napa
St.
Sonoma. sonoma.shambhala.org
Increasing numbers of
individuals and groups
have been feeling called
to return to the ancient
and deep practice of
singing at the bedsides
of those who are dying.
Gentle singing has been
shown to be a profound
way to share comfort
and connection both for
the singers as well as
for those that are dying.
In response to this growing need for
bedside songs, a growing genre of
music is emerging. “Singing Us Home; Songs For End of
Life” is a collection of songs for singing
at the bedsides of those approaching
the threshold of living and dying.
The book was produced by Rhea
Schnurman, who collected the songs,
transcribed the music, and added
graphics to each song. It includes 43
original songs by 30 composers, many
of them local to the Bay Area. Each
composer has shared what inspired
her to write her song. Songs for the
bedside, memorial services, songs
for the family, friends and caregivers,
and songs for ourselves are included.
They are short, repetitive, simple, and
intimate. They speak of gratitude,
SENIOR CENTERS & Dining Sites
Cloverdale ~ 894-4826 ~ 311 North Main St ~ cloverdaleseniorcenter.com. DINING Mon - Fri
Healdsburg ~ 431-3324 ~ 133 Matheson St ~ www.vintagehouse.org DINING Mon - Fri
Petaluma ~ 778-4399 ~ 211 Novak Dr ~ cityofpetaluma.net/parksnrec/senior.html
Rohnert Park ~ 585-6780 ~ 6800 Hunter Dr- A, ~ ci.rohnert-park.ca.us and www.rpcity.org
Russian River ~ 869-0618 ~ 15010 Armstrong Woods Rd ~ westcountyservices.org
Santa Rosa ~ 545-8608 ~ 704 Bennett Vly Rd ~ srcity.org - www.ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/departments/recreationandparks
Sebastopol ~ 829-2440 ~ 167 North High St ~ www.sebastopolseniorcenter.org DINING Mon - Fri
Sonoma Indian Health Project ~ 521-4545 ~ 144 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa, www.scihp.org
Sonoma ~ Vintage House ~ 996-0311 ~ 264 First St East - www.vintagehouse.org
Windsor ~ 838-1250 ~ 9231 Foxwood Dr. www.townofwindsor.com
Sonoma ~ The Jerry Casson Multipurpose Senior Center, 263 First St. E. 707-996-1414 www.vintagehouse.org
SENIOR DINING SITES
Council on Aging - Seniors 60+ and their Families. $4 donation. Noon. Reservations ~ councilonaging.com
Santa Rosa ~ Mon to Fri ~ Santa Rosa Senior Center, 704 Bennett Valley Rd ~ 545-8608
Windsor ~ Mon to Fri ~ Vinecrest Senior Apts, 8400 Hembree Ln ~ 838-9261
West County Community Services Café West ~ RSVP: 869-0618 ~ westcountyservices.org
Forestville ~ Tue ~ United Methodist Church, 6550 Covey Rd at Center
Guerneville ~ Wed & Fri ~ Noon Russian River Senior Center, 15010 Armstrong Woods Rd ~ 869-3998
Forestville Prime Timers ~ 3rd Thur ~ United Methodist Church, 6550 Covey Rd Geri Pasquinelli ~ 579-2775
Occidental ~ Wed ~ Noon at St. Philip the Apostle Church, 3730 Bohemian Hwy
60 - www.sonomacountycalendar.com - 12/13
breathing,
forgiveness,
trust, rest, surrender,
comfort,
compassion,
letting go, and love.
Although the songs are
rooted in spirituality, they
support people of any
belief system.
For nine years, Rhea
has been a part of small
groups of two to four
women who respond to
requests for singing at
bedsides. They volunteer this service
as a gift through Threshold Choir, an
international non-profit organization
of over 100 local bedside choirs
founded by Kate Munger. Many of
the songs were written by singers who
were inspired by their own experience
of singing at bedsides. Some of the
composers are well known and have
been writing and performing their
own music for many years. Others
have offered their very first song. Their
music is intertwined in this collection.
Rhea created this book to honor
these composers and to create a
written record of their songs. Her
hope is that the gathering and sharing
of these special songs will place them
at our fingertips at the times when we
most need them. “Singing Us Home;
Songs For End of Life” can assist us
in returning our experience of singing
to its everyday roots, where ordinary
moments are transformed into
extraordinary ones through song.
Please come for a discussion of the
book and to hear Rhea, singers, and
composers share some of the songs.
Dining With Authors
Thursday 6-8 PM, December 5
Gaia’s Garden
1899 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa
For reservations call 544-2491 or
[email protected]
For more information about “Singing
Us Home; Songs For End of Life”,
www.SongCatcher1.com
[email protected]
For information about bedside singing
through Threshold Choir,
www.thresholdchoir.org
Enough To Go Around...
I do not know if there is. But, what I
do know is that there is a lot in play and
a lot flowing from here to there.
What are troubling are the reasons
and rationales around the choices. It
appears that wherever one could turn,
one could identify “need.” And then,
one could see the degrees of those
needs. And then, each of us might
examine our degree of conscience
around addressing those needs – not
in volume, in relevance.
What is it that drives some generous
souls to put as much distance as
possible between itself and its
own pathetic, national, disgraceful
needs and run toward displaced,
remote horrors instead?
If I look
into desperate eyes thousands of
miles away, does it help to blur the
desperate eyes just downtown? (Or
still in vacant, hopeless shock in New
Orleans, still sitting on a box in the
middle of mud and debris that used to
be the shack you called home?)
Perhaps it’s just simple denial (or
grief, or guilt, or confusion...or ego?)
that makes us long to be heroes where
we are unknown, often where we do not
even speak the language, where we do
not live the reality. (We’re just visitors,
after all; and we can go home.)
The dramatic disasters that assault
our world with horrible consistency
test our consciences, our loyalties, our
integrity and our resources! To be
among the survivors – consistently –
should surely be enough to make us
humble. It allows us the life for dialog;
it allows us the opportunity to choose.
I think we have become numb to
everyday, humdrum horrors in favor
of the huge ones where whole islands
and coastlines and plains towns are
devastated; or where a maniac has
blown people and buildings to dust.
We mobilize! We find millions of dollars
that somehow are not available -- between
disasters -- for schools, fire stations,
libraries, health care, compassionate
domestic rescue....
And, we find it
overnight! Priorities...
Where is that charity and instant
wealth for our veterans living in
cardboard boxes in alleys; or, the
abandoned inner-city schools that have
given up on our national treasures?
Why isn’t one devastated human
being, always hungry on one of our
old, dirty streets the same as the one on
an island after a monsoon, devastated
and hungry in a street of new rubble?
The list, and the disgrace, is long.
Isn’t there enough to go around?
It’s not that nothing is being done
– it’s just not enough! Please, don’t
there are no funds! We pay twentysomethings millions to play ball games!
A comedian can raise a quarter of a
million overnight just by challenging
his fans to out-raise China’s paltry
donation to the Phillipine disaster.
Thousands and thousands are spent
to support charities offshore. It’s one’s
choice, of course. It’s a free country.
But, for whom?
If I help “my own” first and always
first, does that mean I am callous to
the rest of the world? If I send my
meager ten bucks to help a local
restaurant buy pizza for the disaster
teams after a tornado in Oklahoma –
am I a bad person for not sending it to
a devastated Island nation?
These painful questions seem
louder and more cutting as we spend
ourselves cheerfully into debt for the
holidays. Well, we can’t fix everything!
We don’t want to feel bad! And, maybe
we just don’t want to look the local
horrors in the face (right now). It can
make you nervous.
Well, those horrors belong to us,
and it’s tough to own them. There
just doesn’t seem to be enough to go
around. Is there?
Zoë Tummillo is a Business & Marketing
Consultant/Trainer/Commercial Writer,
dba COMMUNICATION CONCEPTS,
in private practice since 1974. In
addition to Commercial work, she
writes “Senior Momentum: A Series of
Situations”©; “Pieces of My Path”©,
essay memoirs of growing up first
generation Italian American; and Senior
Momentum: Front And Center!©.
To contact her: email:
[email protected]
For an extensive list of Ongoing Senior Events and Resources,
please visit out website at
Planning for Your Longevity:
A 12-month Workshop Series for Developing Your Personal Plan
Americans are living longer than ever
before. Are you prepared, financially
and emotionally, for the challenges
and opportunities that are inherent in
this new reality?
The Collaborative on Positive Aging
invites adults of all ages to participate in
a 12-month workshop series designed
to help them develop a personal
longevity plan. These informative,
practical, and interactive workshops
will be facilitated by local professionals
who are specialists in their fields. Topics
to be covered include: Relationships,
Finances, Life Balance and Self-Care,
Living Arrangements, Meaning and
Purpose, Work and Volunteerism, and
much more.
Each monthly workshop session will
be offered on two different days in
two different locations – Petaluma and
Santa Rosa.
In Petaluma, the meeting will be
held from 6:00-7:30 pm on the 2nd
Wednesday of each month, beginning
January 8th, at the Petaluma Health
Care District (1425 North McDowell
Blvd, Suite 103).
The Santa Rosa meeting will be held
from 6:00-7:30 pm on the 3rd Tuesday
of each month, beginning January
21st, at the ShareSpace building in
downtown Santa Rosa (533 5th Street,
just West of Mendocino Avenue).
A small donation of $3-5 per
session is requested to cover basic
costs; however, no one will be turned
away due to lack of funds. For more
information call (707) 525-0143 or email
[email protected].
EducateYourself
to Dec 16 ~ Thriving During the Holidays
~ Are you wondering how to handle
issues that come up for grandparents
during the holidays? Our group provides
an opportunity to discuss and find
more satisfying ways to resolve these
challenges and bring more joy into the
holidays. Mondays through Dec. 16th
from 9:30-11am at the Volunteer Center
Classroom A, 153 Stony Circle, Suite 100
Santa Rosa. $5 donation.
to Dec 30 ~ How to Retrain Your Brain So
You Can Enjoy the Holidays ~ We will
practice fresh approaches to relating that
we can apply to ourselves and take home
to families and friends. We will meet
eight Mondays from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
at the Bodega Bay Community Center at
2005 Hwy 1, Bodega Bay. The suggested
donation is $20. www.hydrosouls.net for
more info and how to register.
Science Buzz Café ~ A place where,
for the price of a cup of coffee or a bowl
of soup, people can meet to discuss the
latest ideas of science and technology
which are changing our lives. www.
sciencebuzzcafe.org Daniel
Osmer
[email protected] Dec 3 ~ Quantum Biology &
Consciousness ~ Charles (Einstein)
Ostman. Aqus Cafe, Petaluma. Dec 10 ~ Bicycle History, Technology
& Practice ~ Michael Teller. 6:30pm at
Coffee Catz, Sebastopol. Dec 17 ~ How Brains Learn to
Read: Daring to Fail ~ Tom Brown.
6:30pm at Coffee Catz, Sebastopol.
Dec 4 ~ The Digestive System ~ West
County Herb Company is happy to
welcome Candis Cantin to our Free First
Monday. There will be herbal samples,
formulation and nutritional advice. 6pm
at West County Herb Co, 3641 Main St,
Occidental.
Dec 4 & 7 ~ Washi Egg Class ~ Come
enjoy a cozy relaxing afternoon with local
instructor Barbra Friedman, learning the
ancient art of crafting decorative Washi
Egg ornaments with handmade Japanese
mulberry paper. Class fees are $30 per
person and cover all materials for 3
eggs. Wed, Dec 4, 1 to 3 p.m. , Coffee Catz,
6761 Sebastopol Avenue, Sebastopol. Sat,
Dec 7, 2 to 4 p.m. Tiny Town Café and
Pastry, 6544 Front Street, Forestville.
Call (707) 696-2009 to register.
Dec 7 & 15 ~ Enlightened Society
Explores Diversity ~ Join us for two
afternoon talks led by Shastri Charlene
Leung and Mr. Bob Pressnall for these
thought provoking and heart opening
opportunities to begin a communitywide contemplation. This program is
about exploring issues around diversity
and difference, not about arriving at
final conclusions. Sat Dec 7th: 3PM 5PM, Sun Dec 15th: 3PM - 5:30PM. For
more information: sonoma.shambhala.
org/program-details/?id=150297
Dec 10 ~ Navigating Integrative Medicine
~ This talk will be valuable for people
dealing with a range of health concerns
and specifics will be tailored to those
who attend. Speaker Pam Koppel, LCSW,
has worked in the field of Integrative
Medicine for the last 17 years. 6-7:30pm
at Ceres Community Meeting Room,
7351 Bodega Ave, Sebastopol. Register
at www.ceresproject.org/teatalk
YearRoundFarmFreshFood
Coastal Hills Market ~ Sundays 10am
- 1 pm at the Fort Ross School, 30600
Seaview Road, Cazadero
Forestville Farmers Market ~ Every
Tuesday beginning June 25th, 3-7pm
at Russian River Vineyards, 5700 Hwy
116 N. More info at 887-3344 www.
russianrivervineyards.com
French Garden Market ~ 824-2030 ~
frenchgardenrestaurant.com Sun,
10:00-2:00, 8050 Bodega Ave, Sebastopol
Jenner Community Market ~ Sundays
10:30am - 1:30pm in the parking lot of the
Jenner Community Club. coopdawg@
wildblue.net for info.
Oakmont Certified Market Saturdays
from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the parking lot
at White Oak and Oakmont Drive
Petaluma East-Side Farmers’ Market
~ Every Tue | 10am to 1:30pm
at Lucchesi Park, 320 N McDowell
Blvd, Petaluma Redwood Empire Farmers Market ~
Wed 8:30-noon, Sat 8:30-1. Veterans
Bldg, 1351 Maple Ave, Santa Rosa.
refmkt.com, 707-237-5340
Santa Rosa Original ~ 522-8629
~
thesantarosafarmersmarket.
com, Wed 8:30am to Noon, Sat 8:30am
to 1:00pm Wells Fargo Center, 50 mark
West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa
Sebastopol Farm Market Every Sunday
10am-1:30pm, Sebastopol Plaza ~ Weeks
Way at Petaluma St & Healdsburg Ave,
across from Whole Foods Market Sonoma Ecology Center Harvest
Market ~ Every Saturday 9am-noon.
Sonoma Ecology Center, 15000 Arnold
Dr. Creekside Complex, Eldridge ~
[email protected] ~ 9960712
Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers
Market ~ Every Friday morning
9am - 12:30pm, in the Arnold Field
parking lot at 290 First Street West in
the City of Sonoma, about a half-mile
north of the Sonoma City Plaza. ~
[email protected]
~ 707 7578-4956
I’m planning Christmas presents
from the garden this year! Even
non-gardeners will love this easyto-make gift.
I bought some
colorful green plastic pots and
decorated them with red Christmas
ribbon (use your trusty glue gun
to attach the ribbon to the pot
securely). Fill the pot half way
with potting soil, then place as
many daffodil or paperwhite bulbs
as can fit in a layer (cheek to cheek:
touching each other), cover with
another inch of soil, then plant
pansies or violas at the top of the
pot. These can be grown indoors in
a sunny window, or outdoors. Just
keep them watered and sunny, and
the bulbs will push their heads up
through the pansies for a delightful
early spring show!
If you want to hear some great
music and support my local choir,
the Petaluma Chorale, please
join us at the Petaluma Valley Baptist
Church on Tuesday Dec. 3 at 7:30 pm or
Saturday, Dec. 7 at 2:30 pm.
We are doing a program of wonderful
music by the English composer John
Rutter, including his awesome Gloria
with a brass band! Check out Petaluma
Chorale on Facebook for all the details.
Nice to see so many of you at my
free class on plant propagation at the
Harvest for the Hungry Garden last
month! For those of you who couldn’t
make it: this is the time for plant
cloning! Check the back of your Sunset
Western Garden Book for pictures and
directions for softwood cuttings. Roses,
fuchsias, hardy geraniums, butterfly
bush, and rosemary are just a few of the
perennial plants and shrubs that can be
easily grown from cuttings. With a little
effort now, you can have multiples of
your favorite plants ready to set out in
the spring garden.
Recently enjoyed a visit to one of my
favorite nurseries: Mostly Natives in
Tomales: so many great natives for fall
planting, and available in 4” pots! They
also have a new website full of helpful
information: be sure to check it out:
mostlynatives.com. And when you’re
in Tomales, don’t forget to stop at the
Tomales Bakery for a very special sweet
treat: Mike and I love to go there on a
Sunday morning for coffee and pecan
rolls, scones, or fresh bread: all home
made and delicious!
If you or a loved one need some
advice and encouragement in the
garden, consider a gift certificate for
a Garden Consultation or Garden
Coaching. For $50, I will come to the
house and spend an hour sharing
tips on planting, watering, pruning:
anything for the garden! Need help
with rose pruning? January is the
month: I will come your home with my
pruning tools and work alongside you,
teaching you the techniques to give you
new confidence in your pruning, and
more beautiful roses next year! Call me
at 829-2455 or e-mail bluehilldesign9@
aol.com for more info.
Another holiday gift from the garden,
for your house or a friend’s, is a wreath
for the door. Making one of these is
“child’s play”, and the kids really love
to help out! Buy a wreath form made
of grape vines from any of the craft
stores (or make your own after you
prune the vines). Cut small branches
from redwoods, spruce or pine trees
and push them into the wreath form
one at a time starting from the top
center, and working down and around
each side until they meet at the bottom
center. Then decorate with red berries,
rose hips, magnolia cones, pine cones
and any other interesting things you
find in the garden: last year I picked the
dried flower heads of Queen Anne’s
lace along the road side, spray painted
them white, and used them in my
wreathes like snowflakes! Christmas
ribbon, ornaments, and tinsel all
contribute to a festive creation that is
uniquely yours! Merry Christmas and
Happy Holidays!
GetOutdoors
Dec 5 ~ Saving America’s Bald Eagle
~ Join Glenn Stewart, founder of the
California Bald Eagle Recovery Program,
for a discussion on the status of bald eagles
in Northern California. 7:00PM - 8:30PM
at the Veterans› Memorial Building, 126
First Street West in Sonoma. Admission
is $5.
Dec 5 ~ Tolay Lake Regional Park
Planning Workshop ~ The public is
invited to a workshop in Petaluma to learn
more about the master planning process
for Tolay Lake Regional Park. 6:30 to
8:30 p.m., with an opportunity to review
materials and speak with planners from 6
to 6:30 p.m. Petaluma Community Center
at Lucchesi Park, 320 North McDowell
Blvd.,
Dec 7 ~ Science Saturday ~ The first
Saturday of each month is Science
Saturday at the Environmental Discovery
Center at Spring Lake Regional Park in
Santa Rosa. Activities start on the hour at
1, 2 or 3 p.m. This is a free event. Parking
is $7 or free for Regional Parks members.
Dec 7 ~ Tolay Lake Sunset Hike ~ Enjoy
sweeping views of southern Sonoma
County and maybe even San Francisco
and learn more about the property’s rich
biodiversity and cultural history. Free.
Parking free for Regional Parks members
or $7 for non-members. 3-5pm
Dec 7 ~ Mayacamas Christmas Bird Count
for Kids ~ Bird observations collected by
participants will go into regional and
national databases used to monitor the
health of bird populations over time. The
cost is $5 per participant which covers the
provided pizza lunch. To register, please
search for “Christmas Bird Count” at
www.brownpapertickets.com.
Dec 14 ~ Kayaking and Hiking the Laguna
Presentation ~ Learn how to navigate the
Laguna, either on foot or by boat with
David Bannister, the Laguna Foundation’s
Executive Director. 3:00-4:30pm Heron
Hall, Laguna Environmental Center, 900
Sanford Rd. (corner of Occidental Rd.),
Santa Rosa, $10 at the door. No RSVP
necessary.
Pepperwood
Preserve
~ 2130
Pepperwood
Preserve
Rd, Santa
Rosa. (707) 591-9310 x204 www.
pepperwoodpreserve.org. Dec 7 ~ Volunteer Workday ~ 9am
- 12pm. RSVP required to Preserve
Ecologist Michelle Halbur, mhalbur@
pepperwoodpreserve.org or 707-5919310 ext 205. Landpaths ~ 618 4th Street #217, Santa
Rosa ~ LandPaths.org ~ info@landpaths.
org ~ Pre-registration required, Outings
Signups [email protected] Event
Line: 707.524.9318. FREE of charge
unless otherwise specified, donations
encouraged. Dec 4 ~ Stewardship Day at Willow
Creek ~ 9:30am - 2pm. Willow Creek
(South), Meet at Community Center,
Occidental Dec 6 ~ Mushroom Madness ~ We’ll
join Autumn Summers for a leisurely
saunter on a District protected property
near Santa Rosa, highlighting edible,
medicinal & common mushrooms, their
amazing lifecycle, and how to find them.
FREE, donations welcome. 12:30-4pm,
meet at the Wells Fargo Center parking
lot for carpool. RSVP required. Dec 7 ~ Wild About Mushrooms ~ We’ll
join George Riner & Amy BeberVanzo
from SOMA for an exploration of the
magnificent, moldy world of fungi at the
Bohemia Ecological Preserve. 9:00am 1:30pm. $25 registration. Dec 8 ~ Holiday Gathering at Rancho
Mark West ~ Enjoy a short walk (1 mile
round trip) and tour along beautiful
Mark West Creek, followed by music, hot
cider, wreath-making, & other holiday
crafting. Fun for everyone! Bring a
potluck dish and a dessert to share if
you like. 12-4pm, registration required.
FREE Dec 14 ~ Willow Creek Permit Orientation
~ There is no cost for this orientation or
for the permit; however donations are
welcome and are critical to keeping this
park open to permitted use. We will
meet at the Willow Creek Park entrance
off Freezeout Road, just outside and
southeast of the town of Duncans Mills
off Moscow Road. 10-11am. Curtain Call Theater presents its
Holiday Variety Show
A little drama, a little humor, a lot
of music, and a continuing tradition
will mark the Monte Rio Holiday
Variety Show that opens Thursday,
December 12 for four performances by
the Curtain Call Theatre group at the
Russian River Hall.
This year’s directors, Kathleen and
Dave Hardy, will continue the River
Family Christmas story of the past
two years, while retaining some of the
elfish whimsy of the series of shows
produced by Steve Fowler and Andrea
Van Dyke in prior years.
“We wanted to bring some closure”
to the problem posed by the untimely
death of actress Dee Buechy in the
middle of rehearsals for last year’s River
Family Christmas written and directed
by Kit Mariah. The short prologue,
written by Kathleen Hardy, is intended
to resolve that story while setting the
scene for the variety show to follow.
This prologue will feature Natasha and
Johnny Gutierrez, Lisa Posternak, and
many of the musical performers.
The heart of the holiday show will
be musical appearances by local
performers Pocket Canyon Ramblers
(including Darcy and Oak Reinier),
Kit Mariah (host of the Open NoMic at Guerneville’s Main Street
Station restaurant), Megan Hope,
Noel Yates, Lois Pearlman, Sadie
Damascus (the “Laughing Lady” on
KGGV-FM radio), Bill Young, Santa
Claus (impersonating George Shult),
Fred Wicknick and friends, Timothy
David Dixon, Gretchen Belgrave, and
Michael Tabib.
Theater goers can expect a
combination of tradional holiday songs
along with some more light-hearted
and contemporary fare to capture the
diverse spectrum of holiday spirits.
Directing this holiday show is a
first time effort for the Hardys, who
have a diverse range of performing
experiences.
Dave Hardy has
performed in Monte Rio holiday
shows since 2006, and performs locally
with the Pocket Canyon Ramblers.
Kathleen Hardy has directed awardwinning performances at the Sonoma
State University. “We wanted to keep
things simple and straightforward,
and give the performers a chance to do
the songs they really enjoy,” said Dave.
The Russian River Hall is located
at 20347 Hwy 116 in Monte Rio, across
from Fern’s Market.
Showtimes
are 8 p.m. for the Thursday, Friday,
and Saturday night, and 2 pm for
the matinee that closes the show on
Sunday, December 15. Reservations
can be made by calling 707/524-8739.
For Ongoing Events and Resources,
please visit out website at
12/13 - www.sonomacountycalendar.com - 63
EventsforEveryone LiteraryEventsforReaders&Writers
Dec 1 ~ Petaluma Contra Dance ~ 6:309:30 p.m. Petaluma Women’s Club, 518
B. Street. Live music, great snacks, free
beginners lesson at 6pm. Admission: $12,
$7 young adults, $2kids. More information
at www.nbcds.org. Dec 6 ~ RAGS Gathering ~ River Area
Gals social event, all welcome. 6-8pm
at R3 Hotel, 16390 4th St in Guerneville.
Bring re-gifts for raffle.
Dec 7 ~ The Atomic Man ~ Donald
Hanahan, age 94, was part of the project
team that isolated pure plutonium used
in the construction of the Atom Bomb,
being one of the elite group of scientists
involved in the Manhattan project.
Marshall Davis, a local historian, will
be also on hand to share the history
of the Manhattan Project. Hear him
speak at 1pm at Springfield Place - Free
to the public - 101 Ely Blvd. South –
Petaluma. www.historyconnection.net
Dec ~ 13th Rockin’ Shabbat ~ Guest
artist to be determined. 5:30PM Music
with artist geared to ages 2-6 and their
families. 6:15PM Informal Dinner $8/
adults/$4 children 4-8/under 4 free; 7PM
Kabbalat Shabbat with Rabbi Miller and
guest artist for the whole community.
RSVP dinner by 12/11 at 707-360-3000
Dec 14 ~ A Tribute to the Triumph ~ Forest
Unlimited has planned a “Tribute to the
Triumph” in honor of the Friends of the
Gualala River (FoGR) which deserves
special recognition for the actual
«preservation» of 20,000 acres of coastal
forests above the Gualala River. Tickets
$17. Please make checks payable to Forest
Unlimited, P.O. Box 506, Forestville, CA
95436. This is not a fundraiser for Forest
Unlimited (California 501(c)(3)). Location:
TBA. INFO or to volunteer, call 887-7433.
Dec 14 - 15 ~ Medical Marijuana Emerald
Cup ~ World’s only outdoor organic
competition showcases the best Northern
California marijuana and related crafts,
products and technologies. The line-up
of experts and officials for the two-day
indoor/outdoor festival has moved to
the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Lineup of panelists & speakers can be found
at www.TheEmeraldCup.com Dec ~ 15th Sunday Morning Program
~ Middot v’Mitzvot: Doing Good and
Taking Care, 10 AM to noon (playground
opens at 9:30)Be our Guest, Be Our Guest:
Hospitality and Loving the Strangers,
Jewish Experiential Learning for families
of children 2-6,includes Storytelling by
Lauren, Fun Activities and Games, Light
Snack. bethamisr.org. 707-360-3000
Dec 20 ~ Santa Rosa Contra Dance ~ 8-11
p.m., Monroe Hall 1400 West College
Ave. Live music, great snacks, free
beginners lesson at 7:30p.m. Admission:
$12, $7 young adults, $2 kids. More
information at www.nbcds.org. Charles M. Schulz Museum & Research
Center, 2301 Hardies Lane Santa Rosa.
Visit the Museum website www.
SchulzMuseum.org for a complete class
schedule, or call for fees and reservations
at (707) 284-1263.
Nov 29 ~ How to Draw with Your Child •
10:00am - 12pm
Dec
14
~ Second
Saturday
Cartoonist: Cheming Booey 1-3pm Dec 21 ~ Decorate Your own Snoopy
10am - Noon. Dec 21 ~ Holiday gift-making Workshop
1-4pm Dec 23 – Jan 3 ~ Winter Clases for Kids
- reservations at (707) 284-1263 Dec 31 ~ Happy New Year, Charlie
Brown! ~ 10am - 4pm hands-on crafts for
kids, and Up-Down and Baby Balloon
drops at Noon, and root beer toasts at
noon and 3pm Every Monday is Museum Monday for
Little Ones • 10am - 12noon
Sonoma County Museum ~ 425 Seventh
Street, Santa Rosa. (707) 579-1500 www.
sonomacountymuseum.org Dec 5 ~ The Life of Tina Modotti
~ In conjunction with SFMOMA’s
Photography in Mexico exhibition,
Patricia Albers will discuss the turbulent
life and ground-breaking photography
of Italian-born photographer and activist
Tina Modotti. 7-8pm, $7 admission. Dec 14 ~ Holiday Family Day ~ Come
to our annual holiday Family Day and
enjoy fun, festivities, themed crafts and
live music for the whole family! 12-3pm,
$7 admission.
WRITERS: Literary
Illuminations
Contest
~
A Healdsburg Literary Guild poetry &
prose competition, which is open only
to Guild members. Guild members may
submit one piece, either poetry or prose.
Submissions for 2014 Q1, will be accepted
from Nov 15 through Dec 16th. submit
electronically to: hlgsubmissions@gmail.
com
Tiny Lights on-line Writer’s Exchange:
Share your thoughts - experiences and
tips on writing with other writers. www.
tiny-lights.com Send in your insights and
share your knowledge. Each month we
address a different question. Sign up then
send submission to: editor@tiny-lights.
com
Flash in the Pan ~ Online Quarterly
@ Tiny Lights. Time to send more
Flashes. What is a Flash in the Pan? It’s
life caught in the blaze of a match, a
beam of moonlight, the glare of a homemade explosion. These pieces of firstperson non-fiction prose (500 words or
less) are like potato chips--you won’t be
able to stop with just one. Our gems are
posted quarterly in January, April, July
and October on the Tiny Lights website.
A select few appear in the hard copy
editions of the magazine. Send your
jewels to [email protected].
WriterSpeak ~ GEM Productions is looking
for North Bay writers who are interested
in appearing as a guest on WriterSpeak,
a half hour talk show that will allow
you to promote your work. Looking for
Local writers who have a book, e-book,
anthology, play or screenplay to talk
about. $75 fee to cover production costs.
For more info, contact Gary Carnivele:
707.225.1302 Email: [email protected]
READERS:
Dec 5 ~ Dine with Local Authors
~ Singing Us Home, come hear songs
sung at the bedsides of loved ones
approaching life’s threshold. 6-8 PM
at Gaia’s Garden 1899 Mendocino Ave.
Santa Rosa. Reservations: 544-2491 or
[email protected]
Bookmobile
12/7: Glen Ellen 4:15 - 5:15 Pm
12/7: Boyes Hot Springs (Fiesta Center)
5:30 - 7 Pm
12/17: Healdsburg Area Events TBA
(check FreeBookmobile.org)
12/21: Freestone 9 - 10 Am
12/21: Valley Ford 10:30 - 11:30 Am
12/21: Bodega Bay 12 - 1:30 Pm
12/21: Jenner 2 - 3:30 Pm
12/21: Monte Rio 4 - 5:30 Pm
Bookmobile Donation Locations Your
books aren’t having much fun getting
dusty on the shelf. Please take a moment
to box up the best of your collection and
drop them off at any of the locations
below. Paul’s Empire Head Shop & Engine
Supply ~ 112 Roberts Avenue, Santa
Rosa (546-4324) Sonoma Bank ~ 201 North Main Street,
Sebastopol (827-2265) The Windsor UPS Store ~ 9048 Brooks
Road South, Windsor (838-3853) COTS Mary Isaak Center ~ 900 Hopper
Street, Petaluma (776-4777) Events at Sebastopol Regional
Library ~ sonomalibrary.org/branches/
Sebastopol.html (707) 823-7691, 7140
Bodega Ave, Sebastopol Every Wed ~ Read to a Dog ~ Come read
to one of our reading team dogs. They
are here in the children’s area from 3:00
- 4:00 pm and would love to hear some
stories read to them by children. For
more information please contact 8237691 ext. 6. Dec 6 & 7 ~ Children’s and Young Adult
Book Sale 10am Dec 10 ~ Crazy Sock Creatures ~ Come
make a crazy sock creature! For teens.
Supplies are provided. free. 4-5pm Dec 11 ~ Lego Club ~ e will provide
the Lego bricks, along with a different
theme each month. 4pm Dec 14 ~ Adult Reader’s Theater ~ Come get
your thesp on. For adults. 2-3:45pm Dec
14 ~ Gravenstein Mandolin Ensemble
~ Free and open to all. 2pm Dec 18 ~ Teddy Bear Tea Party ~ Stories,
songs, snacks and a bear hunt! Bring
your fluffy teddy bear with you. 11am Dec 18 ~ Chess Club ~ For all ages. 4-6pm Dec 27 ~ Museum on the Go ~ 12-4:30pm.
FREE Schedule ~
Guerneville Regional Library, 14107
freebookmobile.org Check us out on
Armstrong Woods Rd. ~ 707-869-9004. Facebook!
707.520.4536 Looking
for
All Programs are Free motivated persons and families to help
Guerneville Library Art Show ~ “A
with book drives, event promotion,
Celebration of Creativity”. Local
sorting, and on-site assistance at our big
artists highlighting the arts of the
events. We would love to know where
Lower Russian River Area. Art Show
you think we should distribute books. Hours Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri 11 am- 4
We especially appreciate advance notice
pm; Sat 11am- 3 pm of fairs, festivals, and other rural and
River Friends Book & Bake Sale ~ low-income area events that don’t charge
Dec 4 @ 4-7:30 pm an entrance fee. Don’t be shy, drop us a
Dec 5 @ 10am-5 pm line... [email protected]
Dec 6 @ 10am- 5 pm 12/1: Monte Rio 2 - 3:30 Pm Dec 7 @ 10 am-3 pm. Saturday will be a
12/1: Forestville Tree Lighting 4 - 6:30 Pm
$4.00/Bag Sale 12/1: Monte Rio 2 - 3:30 Pm
Dec 12 ~ Brown Bag Book Discussion
12/1: Forestville Tree Lighting 4 - 6 Pm
group ~ “State of Wonder” by Ann
12/4: Cotati Tree Lighting, La Plaza Park
Pratchett. 12:30pm 6 - 7:30 Pm
Dec 14 ~ “Greenhouse” ~ Celtic Music
12/7: Larkfield Center 10 - 11:30 Am
with a Kick! 2pm 12/7: Community Celebration, Roseland
Dec 14 ~ Gingerbread House Program
FD (Burbank Ave) or Dollar Tree Parking
~ Come make a “Gingerbread” House,
Lot (Sebastopol Rd) 12 - 2 Pm
supplies provided. 10:30am
12/7: Kenwood Market 3 - 4 Pm
VisualArts
Dec ~ Russian
River
Art
Gallery Holiday
Member Show 2013 ~
Show ~ members
Call for entries into the
and
guest
Sebastopol Center for
artists
display
the Arts 2013 Member
art,
jewelry,
Show, running Dec 12 sculpture
and
Jan 4. For members only
greeting cards for
but non-juried! A great
holiday gifts all
opportunity to be part
December. OPEN
of Sebastopol Center
11-5
Thursday
for the Arts, show
t
h
r
u
artwork in the new
Monday. Russian
gallery and even sell
Art Sale Fundraiser at Stark Wine Co. in River Art Gallery
your work during the
Healdsburg, Dec 7
is located at 16357
holiday season. Apply
Main Street, Guerneville INFO: (707) 869at sebarts.org
9099 www.RussianRiverArtGallery.com.
Holiday Gift Gallery ~ Healdsburg Center
Dec
4 - Jan 12 ~ Watercolor ~ Featuring
for the Arts is looking for Northern
Sally Baker with Carla Bratt and
California artists with fine crafts or small
guest artists Kacie Gansel and Tamra
fine art objects to participate in the 2013
Sanchez. Reception Saturday December 7,
Holiday Gift Gallery Nov 21 - Dec 31. Price
2-5pm. Graton Gallery.
point should be between $20 - $200. Details
at www.healdsburgcenterforthearts.com/ Dec 6 & 7 ~ Holiday Steals ~ Amazing
events/holiday-gift-gallery
bargains, including original paintings
CalltoArtists: Vessels ~ (January 9 – February 14,
2014) Deadline for entries December 16.
Juror Khysie Horn. Call for work that
explores “the vessel” in many different
configurations,
interpretations
and
meanings. i.e. vases, sculptures, clay,
glass, wood, painted stillife, space vessels,
nautical vessels, blood vessels. Sebastopol
Center for the Arts sebarts.org
Call for artists ~ Locally promoted online
store/gallery seeks artists in all media.
Created and run by local artists- www.
mylocalartiststore.com. For questions
contact [email protected] Shows/Galleries: Nov 30 ~ Trunk Show with LEGO®
Jewelry Artist EMIKO OYE. San
Francisco designer emiko oye creates
one-of-a-kind urban jewelry from
repurposed LEGO®, precious metals,
and semi-precious stones. emiko will be
at A New Leaf Gallery | Sculpturesite
from 1-5pm with delightful holiday gift
ideas. Cornerstone Sonoma, 23588 Arnold
Drive, Sonoma [email protected],
707-933-1300 www.sculpturesite.com/
news.cfm
for $100 or less, unmatted drawings as
low as $10, matted originals & prints $20$80. live music, refreshments, door prizes,
& holiday surprises, plus cards, books,
& giclee prints. 540 DuFranc Avenue,
Sebastopol.
Dec 6 - Jan 8 ~ Tej Greenhill in Forestville
~ Artist reception Dec 7, at Atascadero
Creek Winery, 6542 Front St, Forestville.
www.atascaderocreek.com
Dec 7 ~ Fine Craft Sale Fundraiser ~ Fine
craft show & sale with 10% of the proceeds
going to the Ceres Community Project
(www.ceresproject.org). 11am - 6pm
at Stark Wine Company, 439 Healdsburg
Avenue, Healdsburg. Dec 13 ~ The Party ~ Music and catering
and lots of fun, celebrating 25 year of
Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Members
$10. Non-members or day of event $15.
7pm in the Robert Brent Auditorium, 282
S. High St, Sebastopol
Dec 13 & 14 ~ Cream of the Season ~ A
special seasonal selection of favorite
pieces, for serious collectors. Discounts
for multiple purchases. live music,
refreshments, door prizes, & holiday
surprises, plus cards, books, & giclee
prints. 540 DuFranc Avenue, Sebastopol.
ContinuingShows: to Dec 1 ~ Figurative and Landscape
Paintings ~ New work by James Freed
& Sandra Rubin. Also on display are
Guest Artists Peter Krohn and Marcia
Lavine. Opening Reception: Saturday,
October 26. Graton Gallery, 9048 Graton
Road, Graton. artshow@gratongallery.
com
to Dec 1 ~ James Freed and Sandra Rubin
~ New exhibit of paintings at Graton
Gallery, 9048 Graton Road, Graton. www.
gratongallery.com
Tej Greenhill at Atascadero Creek Winery
to Dec 3 ~ Senior Art Show ~ The Annual
Senior Art Show highlights the art of
Sonoma County Seniors (over 60). Finley
Center, 2060 W. College Ave in Santa
Rosa. The highlighted artist this year is
Lorna Schreck
to Dec 19 ~ Santa Rosa Junior College
Student Show ~ Announcing the
first annual student exhibit at Steele
Lane Community Center, conceived to
showcase the talent of Santa Rosa Junior
College art students in a community
setting. 415 Steele Lane, Santa Rosa.
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
to Dec 19 ~ Drawing Towards Design
~ This exhibit presents a career’s worth of
Obie Bowman’s drawings and sketches.
City Hall Council Chambers, 100 Santa
Rosa Ave, Suite 10, Santa Rosa. Call for
viewing hours: (707) 543-3010
to Dec 28 ~ What Are You Looking At?
~ Longtime artists Ken Berman and
William C. Cutler come together to
explore what is visible and seen, with
distinctive and dynamic new paintings
from both, and new sculptures from
Berman. ArtLife | Gallery, Gifts &
Framing 954 Gravenstein Hwy South,
Sebastopol. OPEN Tues - Sat 10am to 6pm
to Dec 30 ~ Interiors ~ An installation
by 34 artists using varied mediums, all
have chosen different interior subjects.
Reception Nov 1, 3-6pm. Quercial Gallery,
Duncans Mills. www.quercia-gallery.com
to Dec 31 ~ “Celebration” ~ A delightful
showing of mostly 3-dimensional art
from a group of imaginative local artists.
Opening reception, Sat. Nov. 23rd from
2 to 4 PM. Local Color Gallery, 1580
Eastshore Rd., Bodega Bay. 875-2744 Open
daily 10 to 5, www.localcolorcolorgallery.
com
to Dec 31 - Hand Made for the
Holidays Annual Gift Gallery Healdsburg Center for the Arts, 130
Plaza Street, Healdsburg INFO: 707-4311970 www.healdsburgcenterforthearts.
com
Hall, Laguna Environmental Center, 900
Sanford Rd. (corner of Occidental Rd.),
Santa Rosa. Please call 707-527-9277, ext.
107 ahead of time to ensure Heron Hall is
open for public viewing. to Jan 4 ~ Beneath the Surface ~ The art
of both Bert Kaplan and Rebeca Trevino
invites contemplation. Bert›s pastels are
a tool for transformation as they explore
the beauty he sees in the world around
him. Rebeca, a storyteller, presents her
work in 3D form from salvaged materials.
Reception: December 7, 5 to 7 pm.
Sebastopol Gallery.
to Jan 5 ~ Paintings ~ the Occidental
Center for the Arts is hosting an art
exhibit by accomplished and renown
Sonoma County artists: Adam Wolpert,
Tony King, Jack Stuppin and Bill Wheeler.
OCA Gallery, 3850 Doris Murphy Court,
Occidental. Phone: (707) 874-9392
to Jan 5 ~ Petaluma Arts Center’s Members
Exhibition ~ The Petaluma Arts Center
is proud to honor Janet Charnofsky (of
Sebastopol) in this year’s 13th Annual
Members’ Exhibition. Exhibition curator
Katherine Plank expects over 180
members to participate. The Center is
expanding its gallery hours to 12 to 5 pm
Thur through Mon at 230 Lakeville Street,
Petaluma. For information, call 707-7625600 or see www.petalumaartscenter.org.
to Jan 14 ~ Tracing History ~ Pat
Morgenthaler, a fine artist whose works
range from Romantic Expressionism to
Cubist, offers Tracing History in Her Art, at
Redwood Café, 8240 Old Redwood Hwy.
to Dec 31 ~ Red it is ~ An Open juried
exhibit at Gallery One, 209 Western Ave,
Petaluma. Mon-Sat 11-5:30, Sun 1-4. www.
petalumagalleryone.com
to Jan 3 ~ GREAT BLUE AND BEYOND
~ Marge Mount has spent the last twenty
years capturing the spirit of this area by
painting wildlife in their natural habitat
right here in Laguna de Santa Rosa. Heron
“Tracing History” with Pat Morgenthaler
at Redwood Café through Jan 14
FIND LINKS at
MUSICforEveryone
Ruth McGowan’s Brewpub ~ 131 E.
First Street, Cloverdale. No cover. 8949610 www.ruthmcgowansbrewpub.com
Nov 29 ~ L. K. Potts ~ From 6:30 to 9:30
pm Potts will entertain with his own
style of Americana, New Folk, and
Country along with some jazz and pop. Nov 30 ~ The Chinchillas ~ an acousticish contemporary folk dulcimer trio,
from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Dec 6 ~ Haute Flash Quartet ~ 6:30 to 9:30
pm. Their repertoire includes French
café, jazz, gypsy jazz, American swing
tunes with novelties sprinkled in. Dec ~ 7 Over Easy ~ 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Their
repertoire is based on close harmony
and includes classic country, bluegrass,
gospel and folk. Dec 8 ~ Gary Johnson Jazz Quartet ~
6:00 to 8:00 pm. Jazz night is open to jazz
fans of all ages. Dec 13 ~ David Hamilton ~ 6:30 to
9:30pm David will sing and play guitar
mostly in the Folk/Americana genres
with a sprinkling of country, blues, and
ragtime. Dec 14 ~ The Sticky Notes ~ Their music
is a mix of blues, pop and jazz, 6:30 to
9:30 pm.
Dec 15 ~ Gary Johnson Jazz Quartet ~
Each Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00pm this
group of music aficionados entertains
the audience with jazz from the 60’s
onward. Dec 20 ~ John Roy Zat ~ 6:30 to 9:30pm.
With Appalachian influences, Cajun,
dust bowl, and a dash of rockabilly,
his mix of sounds keeps the audience
entertained and feet tapping. Dec 21 ~ Bruce Halbohm ~ From 6:30 to
9:30pm ,Bruce and the Blue Jazz Combo
will perform a dash of country, blues
and jazz. Dec 22 ~ Gary Johnson Jazz Quarter ~
Each Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00pm this
group of music aficionados entertains
the audience with jazz from the 60’s
onward. Dec 27 ~ Hired Guns ~ 6:30 to 9:30 pm
the Guns will perform great covers,
Bluegrass,
Ragtime,
Folk
Blues,
Rockabilly music and original songs. Dec 28 ~ J. P. Soden ~ J. P’s current
repertoire incorporates a wide range
of styles, everything from acoustic &
electric flavored standards to classic
rock, country, and originals. 6:30 to
9:30pm.
Wings of Glory Choir ~ Come enjoy the
exciting, soulful, joyful, enriching sounds
of Black Gospel music as sung by Sonoma
County’s only community Gospel
Choir. NO ADMISSION CHARGEDONATIONS
ACCEPTED. www.
wingsofglory.org Dec 8 at 5pm - annual Christmas concert/
Heritage Homes Foundation’s Holiday
Home Tour at St. John’s Episcopal
Church, 40 Fifth Street, Petaluma. Dec 21 from 10:30am - noon.- Coffee and
Carols at Aqus Cafe, 189 H St, Petaluma
Dec 7 ~ Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas
~ Witness the duo of Scottish fiddle
star Fraser and cello prodigy Haas.
8pm at Sebastopol Community Cultural
Center. Advance - $22 / Door - $25. www.
seb.org/event/1837799-alasdair-frasernatalie-haas
Dec 8 ~ Holiday Piano Concert ~ The Jack
London Piano Club rings in the holiday
season with a piano recital. Guest vocalist
will be Nancy Robinson, a member of the
Etude Womens Chorus. 2 – 4:30 pm.
Tickets (which include parking): $20 and
are available in advance at the Museum
store, online at www.jacklondonpark.com
Dec 14 ~ Gravenstein Mandolin Ensemble
~ The only all mandolin ensemble in
the North Bay, consisting of mandolins,
mandolas, mandocellos, and guitar. FREE
and open to all at the Sebastopol Regional
Library. 2pm
Haute Flash Quartet at
Ruth McGowan’s Dec 6
Dec 1 ~ Santa Rosa Children’s Chorus
~ At The Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino
Ave., Santa Rosa. Tickets available at the
door – Adults $15 and Students/Seniors
$10.
Dec 1 ~ Janie Roberts with John Simon
~ 6:30-10pm at Main Street Station in
Guerneville.
Dec 1 ~ SF Gay Men’s Chorus ~ 7:30 pm
at Sonoma Country Day School, 4440
Day School Pl., Santa Rosa. For tickets
and volunteer opportunities please
visit www.f2f.org
Dec 4 ~ SRJC Jazz Combo ~ The Santa
Rosa Junior College music department
presents three jazz combos in concert
at 7:30 PM in Newman Auditorium on
the Santa Rosa campus. Admission
is $5, available at the door only. 1501
Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa. There is a $4
fee for parking on campus.
Dec 4 ~ Dusty Rhodes & Her Handsome
Cowboys ~ Country-western songs from
the ‘30s & ‘40s - Vaudeville cowboy music parodies of old TV westerns, fine fiddlin›,
yodeling and general good humor. 7pm at
the Healdsburg Regional Library
Dec 14 ~ El Molino Winter Concert
~ Enjoy the smooth melodies of El
Molino’s finest musicians at this exquisite
event set in a delightful winter woodland
scene. 7:30 p.m. in the Cafe/Theater at El
Molino High School, Forestville.
Dec 24 ~ Dusty Rhodes & Her Handsome
Cowboys ~ Country-western songs from
the ‘30s & ‘40s - Vaudeville cowboy music parodies of old TV westerns, fine fiddlin›,
yodeling and general good humor. 4pm at
the Sonoma Valley Regional Library
Dec 17 ~ Sonoma County Organ/
Keyboard Club ~ Presenting David
Hegarty at our Roland organ. Concert
at 1PM at the Hotel La Rose, 308 Wilson
St. Santa Rosa. For complete information
please call Marian Lockhart at 545-1727
Dec 21 ~ A Winter Solstice Ritual Concert
~ Featuring the music of Celtic Harpist
Diana Stork & members of the Bay Area
Youth Harp Ensemble. At Isis Oasis
Redwood Theatre, 20889 Geyserville
Ave. Geyserville. Tickets: $20 - $15 Sr. /
Children. 707-857-4747 Pre Show Dinner
6P.M. $20 by reservation only
Dec 21 ~ A Holiday Evening with Teresa
Tudury ~ Laugh along with Tudury’s
meaningful
and
musical
original
songs and scathing comedic wit as she
takes on The Holidaze. $15. Cabaret
seating. Wheelchair accessible. 707-8749392 www.occidentalcenterforthearts.
org. 7pm at Occidental Center for the Arts.
Dec 6 ~ The Winter Solstice Concert
at Glaser Center ~ The acclaimed East
Coast Celtic and Early Music group
Ensemble Galilei celebrates the turning
of the seasons, with Neal Conan. $20 in
advance $25 at the Door. 7:30pm www.
glasercenter.com/events.php
Dec 7 ~ Claudia Villela with Bob
Basa ~ Vocalist/Pianist/Percussionist
and all around musical Being. This
duo will be featuring some originals,
traditional sambas, bossa novas and jazz.
Doors open 7pm (please bring a dish or
beverage to share),. $20 per person, Please
contact [email protected] or 829-6718
to reserve your seat! At the Shelton›s
house, 625 Sexton Road, Sebastopol.
Teresa Tudury at OCA Dec 21
TheaterFilmTV
LIVE THEATER:
to - Dec 8 ~ The 39 Steps ~ Back
by audience demand and starring
the original cast members from our 2012
production, THE 39 STEPS is a madcap
spoof of the Hitchcock original in which
four actors play over 150 characters.
A man with a boring life meets a woman
with a thick accent who says she’s a spy.
Visit 6thstreetplayhouse.com for tickets.
52 W 6th St, Santa Rosa.
Nov 29 - Dec 15 ~ Annie ~ Cinnabar’s
Young Rep performs America’s most
optimistic musical. Bring the kids to see
Little Orphan Annie, Daddy Warbucks,
Sandy, and the whole gang. Tickets are
$10 for youth and $15 for adults. Cinnabar
Theater, 3333 Petaluma Blvd North,
Petaluma. cinnabartheater.org
Nov 29 - Dec 22 ~ A Christmas Story
~ Through the nostalgic recollections
of his grown up self, we follow nine
year old Ralphie Parker in his quest to
get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under
the tree for Christmas! Playing ThuSun at 6th Street Playhouse, 52 W. 6th
Street, Santa Rosa. Tickets available
at www.6thstreetplayhouse.com
Nov 29 - Dec 22 ~ Sleeping
Indoors ~ Nora, an emptynester, takes in abandoned
cats to satisfy her nurturing
instincts. On the day before
Christmas she sees a homeless
man wrapped in a dirty
blanket, shivering in the sleet
and feeding a kitten, and she
takes home not only the kitten
but also Dwain, the homeless
man. General admission is
$15, make reservations online
at www.pegasustheater.com or
by calling 583-2343.
FILM & TV
Call for Entries: Animal Film Festival
~ Animal Film Festival (March 1, 2014),
presented by the Center for Animal
Protection
&
Education
(CAPE),
announces its Call for Entries in all
categories including student, short,
feature and documentary films. The
festival will be held at The Center for
the Arts in downtown Grass Valley.
Filmmakers are encouraged to visit
Withoutabox.com to enter your films.
Community Media Center of the North
Bay (CMCNB TV) ~ Local television by,
for, and about the people of the North
Bay. Watch CMCNB TV streaming online
at www.communitymedia.org; on Santa
Rosa Comcast Cable Channels 26, 27,
28, & 30; and throughout the North Bay
on the AT&T U-Verse system Channel
99. www.communitymedia.org (707)5698785 ext. 325.
Dec 6 ~ Walking the Camino ~ A Multiple
Award Winning documentary about
the Camino de Santiago, the ancient
pilgrimage path that more than 300,000
people walk every year, which has
been selling out screenings around the
“Sleeping Indoors” at Pegasus Theater
Dec 2 ~ Le Cirque de Bohème
~ A 1920’s style Circus based
on the French tradition. Most
world. The Sebastopol Premiere is at the
Shows sold out, purchase tickets at
Rialto. There is more info here: www.
www.cornerstonesonoma.com/explore/
cam i nodoc umentar y.org/sebastopol
projects/cirque/. Tickets $25 adults, $15
or you can call (707) 525-4840. The
kids. At Cornerstone Sonoma.
documentary website is here: www.
caminodocumentary.org/
Dec 5-7 ~ El Molino Winter Dance
Showcase ~ Featuring members of Dec 8 ~ Richard II ~ Richard is King,
the El Molino Dance Company along
ordained by God to lead his people.
with intermediate, Advanced, and
But he is also a man of very human
Choreography classes. 5:30 p.m. in the
weakness. Captured
live
from
Cafe/Theater at El Molino High School,
Shakespeare’s Hometown of StratfordForestville.
Upon-Avon. 6:30pm at Summerfield
Cinemas, 551 Summerfield Rd, Santa Rosa.
Dec 5-22 ~ The Little Prince ~ The
Tickets at www.summerfieldcinemas.
Little Prince is the tale of a stranded
com.
airplane pilot whose solitary life takes
an unexpected turn when he encounters Dec 13 ~ Movie & a Meal: “Rise of
a mysterious little boy in the Sahara
the Guardians” ~ an epic & magical
desert. Thursday, Friday, Saturday @ 8pm
adventure that tells the story of Santa
Sundays @ 5pm. General $25 - Senior
Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy,
(65+) $20 - Student $15, purchase at www.
the Sandman, and Jack Frost. Dinner
brownpapertickets.com. Main Stage
6pm, Movie 7pm. $5-10 donation. Sonoma
West, 104 N Main St, Sebastopol.
Shambhala Meditation Center, 255 W.
Napa St, Sonoma
Dec 31 - Jan 19 ~ Jacques Brel Is Alive
and Well and Living in Paris ~ Brel’s
legendary songs bewitch audiences in
this witty and wistful cabaret, which
became a long-running off-Broadway hit.
Tickets $9 students, $35 adults. Info &
tickets at www.cinnabartheater.org
Sleeping Indoors
By Frances Werner
Nora, an empty-nester, takes
in abandoned cats to satisfy her
nurturing instincts. On the day before
Christmas she sees a homeless man
wrapped in a dirty blanket, shivering
in the sleet and feeding a kitten, and
she takes home not only the kitten
but also Dwain, the homeless man.
Her husband Paul, a self-involved,
successful literary critic and professor,
is not amused. Nora’s younger,
unhappily unmarried sister Nichole,
however, welcomes Dwain with her
usual open heart and over-active
libido. What ensues in their household
over the next few days challenges
assumptions and stereotypes about
the homeless and raises intriguing
questions about the nature of a “good
life.” By show’s end, you will find that
the old adage that you can’t judge a
book by its cover applies in both the
literal and figurative sense to this very
compelling and funny play.
Sleeping Indoors runs every Friday
and Saturday night at 8 p.m., and every
Sunday at 2 p.m., from November 29
through December 22. The matinee
performance on Sunday, December 8,
is a benefit for the Emergency Winter
Shelter Program at the Guerneville
Veterans Hall administered by West
County Community Services. You
can make reservations for that benefit
performance by calling WCCS directly
at 707-604-7264.
The opening weekend is pay-whatyou-can; thereafter, general admission
is $15, except the final matinee on
Sunday, December 22, which is a
fundraising gala for Pegasus with
complimentary champagne and hors
d’oeuvres for $30. Wine sales are
available at every Saturday evening
performance.
You can make reservations online
at www.pegasustheater.com or by
calling 583-2343. Reservations can be
confirmed only if they are made at least
three hours before the performance.

Justice - Sonoma County Gazette

Transcription

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