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West County Gazette WINTER READER pg 21Kelly Saves the Day pg 14 Candidate Views pg 18 & 19Volunteer Heroes pg 16Patient Power pg 20Media HeroAwardWCG Publisher VestaCopestakes Honoredfor Commitment toCommunityNOTE: I’m giving this front page prominencebecause it goes hand-hand with my EffectingChange article. It’s all about YOU - WCGReaders and Contributors. I happen to be agraphic designer and marketing professionalwho fell into publishing a newspaper by somewonderful twist of fate. I have no interestin being a traditional newspaper so thispaper took on its own life. I am thoroughlyimpressed with the material I receive everymonth both in volume and quality. The onlineedition is going to have to take on moreto absorb it all. YOU are the story - YOUare what has made this newspaper what it istoday. Thank You - every one of you!Vesta Copestakes has received the2007 Media Hero Award from KarenPierce Gonzalez Public Relations forher outstanding work in the communityshe serves.Copestakes, publisher of the WestCounty Gazette has grown the formerForestville Gazette 12 page paper witha circulation of 4,000 to a 48 pageproduction that boasts a circulation of16,000 and can be found on more than200 newsstands.AWARD cont’d on page 14By Vesta CopestakesI’ve attended a few meetings latelythat having instilled hope in my heartthat there are real results from our timeand attention to community issues.One meeting was held to gather inputfrom the community on what to dowith our wastewater now that twoRussian River communities are nolonger planning on pumping sewageto massive centrally located sewagetreatment plants. The other meeting wasabout the intersection of Hwy 116 andIndividual & alternative wastewater solutions arenow open for discussion on riverfront propertiesMirabel Road in downtown Forestvillewhere our community has been urgingboth CalTrans and the County to builda roundabout instead of a four-waysignal. In both cases, our presence, ourconsistent message to the forces-that-beabout what WE want, has opened doors. Iknow that there are other factors in thereas well - but we need to congratulateourselves on the change of plans that isa direct result of our input.CHANGE cont’d on page 11ObserversNotes;Report from SupervisorCandidate ForumBy Nancy Jo WoodThe audience of over 200 peoplepacked the room at the SebastopolVeterans building on the last Saturday inJanuary to listen to six of the candidatesfor the Sonoma County 5 th DistrictSupervisor race. The first forum of itskind was sponsored by SOS (Save OurSonoma County) and the AtascaderoCreek Watershed group. This very wellthought out two hour venue organizedby these two groups was not given creditin the January PD (Press Democrat)newspaper following Sunday paperarticle. I would like to remedy this andcomment on the content of the forum.The candidates available this daywere: Rue Furch, Maddy Hirshfield, DanKahane, Tom Lynch, Jim Maresca, andGuy Smith. Additional candidates arejoining the race with a deadline in Marchand voting day in June. The candidatesattending this day ended up being ona similar page on the environmentalquestions which were the focus, butthe most interesting part was listeningand observing the candidates as theyresponded to previewed questionsprepared by the organizers of whichthey had to respond in a one minute timeframe. There were opening and closingOBSERVER cont’d on page 12VESTA Publishing LLCWest County GazettePMB 3006490 FRONT ST.FORESTVILLECA 95436PRSRT STDUS POSTAGEPAIDPERMIT NO. 10FORESTVILLE95436Forum pg 10Ask the Loan Man pg 17Dirty Little Secrets pg 29Cinema Chatter pg 30Restaurant Review pg 30Listening 2 Children pg 31Schools pg 32Forestville pg 33Occidental pg 34Graton pg 34Fire News pg 35Service Directory pgs 36-38Astrology pg 39Seniors & Meetings pg 40For You & Volunteer pg 40Events & Classes pg 42Benefits & Literary pg 42Music pg 43Film & Theater pg 44Nature & Gardening pgs 44 & 45Art pg 46 & 47

Dear Readers,There’s nothing like sunshine anddaffodils to make people feel optimistic.It also helps to get feedback that theeffort we put into things which areimportant to us is paying off.Even in todays’ P.D. (Feb. 11) there’s astory about getting more time for publicinput on water issues. What this meansto me is that our input is becoming moreand more important. If the leaders onlytake their own advice, they are limitedby what they can accomplish as well asthe quality of their accomplishments.It may be messy to gather input, butwhatever decisions leaders make, withthat input, the policies we have tolive with into the future are based onknowledge and information. Educatedguesses vs. informed decisions. I’ll takethe informed decisions any day!This issue features one of my petprojects, the West County Reader. Ipublish one in the winter and one inthe summer. Both of these seasonstend to inspire relaxing a bit, and Ilike encouraging people to relax withsome quiet reading. Local artists geta lot of press simply because of thevisual beauty they create. I like givingthe literary crowd a place to displaytheir creations in my Reader. And yes,there’s plenty of visual art in there aswell because it’s pretty to look at! I fellin love with Rodger Eva’s painting (onthe cover of the Reader) when I first sawit at the Gallery Art Collective in MonteRio. Rodger enthusiastically gave mepermission to publish it. Art of anykind is personal - I hope you enjoy mychoices of poetry, prose and paintings.We’re carrying on with the 5thDistrict Supervisor Candidate Viewsevery issue until the election. Not everycandidate chooses to submit material -but all are invited. My theory is that weneed to know who these people are andwhere they stand on issues that impactour lives and our home. This gives theman opportunity to inform us in detail.Our wonderful water-watcherBrenda Adelman submitted a complexquestionnaire to all the candidates andreports back with their answers in Part1 of a two-part series. See page 13. AndNancy Jo Wood reported in with herobservations of the first debate. (cover)I’m mighty pleased with all this inputwe are getting. Thank you everyonewho is part of that education process!Whenever I have a special section,certain articles and columns are left out.The space pressure of the Supervisorspieces in combination with my WCGReader, leaves a lot out this issue. Iconfess there are several stories thatwent in then got cut because althoughthey are interesting, there are timelyarticles that need your attention now.And next month that will happenagain when I publish my annual SmallNursery Tour. It’s the bright sunshine,warm earth and flower thing thatmakes us all feel so good.Once again, I wish to thank ouradvertisers who make publishing thispaper possible. And I welcome thenew advertisers who are introducingthemselves to our readers. I know thatthe web site helps a lot because readerscan learn the full scope of a business bysimply clicking on the link in our WCGAdvertisers Index on-line. Check itout: www.westcountygazatte.com -these are good people who are bringingthis newspaper to you. I am thankfulfor every one of them!Our on-line edition now also featuresan incredible up-to-date calendar thatoffers Google Maps for every listing!You just click on the event and it offersa map for how to get there! I am sooooin love with computer technology!AND, when I get calendar listings thatare too late for the print edition, I putthem up on the web calendar! That wayyou miss nothing!!Enjoy!Stay Up to Date with our On-Line Calendarwestcountygazette.com2 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08

2-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com3

There are MANY letters this monthand some fall easily into topic groups.With that in mind, here are letters thatare on individual subjects, followed bythose grouped into topics. Yes, we are awonderfully diverse population! That’struly wonderful. Thank you everyone forcaring enough to take the time to write.Dear Friends,Hopefully you have heard positivewords about the Winter Shelter. Thecold weather came earlier than we hadanticipated; we rushed to get St. Hubert’sHall open.We know firsthand how grateful theunsheltered are to have support andcaring from our community for theirwell being. They are constantly saying“Thank You!”RRIC and those of us who worked onthe Winter Shelter Project would alsolike to say “Thank You.”Starting with our first donation fromPrudential and their employees, to theyoung woman who donated a pair ofmittens, and all of those in between-wecould not have done this without you.To all of the merchants and individualswho contributed money and/or auctionitems; we would not have had anyauction items if it were not for you. To thecommunity for coming to our SpaghettiDinner and purchasing all of our wares,we wish to say, “Thank you so much.”Special thanks to Father Andrew andSt. Elizabeth’s Guild for their generosityin allowing us the use of St. Hubert’sHall as a safe and warm place for theunsheltered; the shelter would neverhave gotten off the ground with thissupport. To Reverend Pam Tinnin andher congregation for allowing us to usethe Community Church for our firstevent. To John and Richard of CoffeeBazaar for generously allowing us tostore our cots, sleeping bags, and extrasupplies in their building. Special thanksto Ila for hosting innumerable sessionsthat kept the Winter Shelter Projectmoving forward-and of course for herspaghetti sauce recipe! During thevery cold days at the end of 2007, RiverChild Care opened up their hearts andlet us know that if there were familiesin need of shelter, they would makethe necessary arrangements; kudos toDonna and Danielle, and the rest of theirstaff-because of them we were able tohouse families in need numerous times.Thanks so much Bobbi and Rick at RiverLane for letting these cold families usetheir facilities, keeping them warm,LETTERS cont’d on page 54 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08

LETTERS cont’d from page 4and for opening their rooms and lettingthe unsheltered have showers. Specialthanks to Andrea, we love you. BIGthank you to Dennis for losing all ofhis beauty sleep hours volunteeringfor RRIC. One last thought…thanks somuch to the unsheltered for followingthe rules and respecting St. Hubert’sHall.Again, thanks so much to ourcommunity for taking an interest inkeeping folks safe.Sincerely,Mindy BeorchiaWinter Shelter Coordinator& the RRIC Board of DirectorsVesta,Today when you came into thebookstore, you opened the West CountyGazette to the page with the call forcreative submissions for me while I wason the phone. After reading it and feelingexcitement for the opportunity, my eyewas drawn to the delightful picture ofyour father and brother. I read and lovedthe article. I come from a large close-knitunconditional loving family (youngestof nine) separated by distances of spaceand sometimes perspective. Over theyears, I have lost both my parents andthree of my six brothers. Your touchingpiece moved me to tears and brought aheart warming smile to my face. Thankyou so much for sharing the memoriesfrom your heart and keeping theirspirits alive, and reminding us all of theimportance of doing that.RichTwice Told BooksTears for TatianaI liked the poemIt was unfinished I thoughtTo mention I needTatiana the majesticThe beautiful TigerTaken from the wildLost so much through enclosureProtection and respect to receiveFor the audience to seeIn awe to learnAbout creation and natureI question youWho is the animal nowTo provoke the TigerTo bring out the wildTo see how wild she can beTaunted and teasedScreamed at and driven wildYoung man didn’t you learnTo respect and ponderYou are not the strongerTiger and man deadThe other to knowTheir action it wasTheir friends are goneFor ever nowTo live with that thoughtEdith HufnagelGuernevilleDear Vesta,LA DERNIER CRI - (the last cry)Inhabitant of the river and the seayou caught in the lieyour life requires motionyou are derailed by mis-managedchoicesno flow for your river to ocean.Eyes popping, pressure cookedeveryone looked, no one sawyour silent screamno shore no moreLA DERNIER CRI.Many years ago, I decided to clean outmy body and go vegan. I was vegan foreight years. It was great to resusitate andchange the shape of my future and makeroom for me inside my own body.After eight years, I began to physicallywane, due to not enough of ... something.I met with a nutritionist and was advisedto eat heavier more protein rich foods formore vital moods. I am a type-A and Idid have a crave...That very full moon night, therewas a knock at my cottage door, halfa block over the ocean on a cliff. Itwas a neighbor who was also a townfisherman. He said he was going outthat full moon night and if he caught asalmon it would be for me, if I wantedit!!! Yes, I felt right about the transitionas well as the relief of my “religiousvegan belief.”I adjusted to eating a great being togive me much needed energy.... my prerequisitefor my salmon was that it becaught on a line and not in a machine...agift from the sea from her to him to me...Early that next morning, he deliveredthe salmon. I wrapped it in leaves, duga hole lined with bricks and baked it toit’s most delicious and sacred salmonconsistency.When I ate it, my brain cells did a jig.Since that time, I consider salmon tobe a holy repast as well as a migratorytime keeper, along with the monarchbutterflies and whales...And, hearingthat our salmon pop is down 67% thisyear because of poor choices - I wonderwhy we allow these crimes againstourselves.On TV there was a teenage girl atSalmon Creek Fishery and she was intears as images of Klamath and themisdirection of the flow has led to thehaste and waste of so many great salmonseeds.I know fisherman and women needa living - when shall we simply managethe treasures we were freely given as apreventive healing rather than a reportwhen it is too late.It’s up to us, if thosechoice makers worked for me, theywould be healing what they harmed as acrime against nature and ourselves...VOTE FOR SALMON!!!LETTERS cont’d on page 62-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com5

ADVERTISERS INDEXBeekind......................................................... 14Big-O Tires......................................................2Bunny 101...................................................... 15Canyon Rock Quarry..................................12Circuit Fitness Bootcamp........................... 11Closet Factory...............................................27Community First Credit Union................. 15ELMOS Steakhouse.....................................23ElMo Store....................................................26Farmhouse Inn - Restaurant & Spa..........20Frank Howard Allen Russian River...........4Forestville Chamber of Commerce.. 17 & 31Grab n’ Grow Soil Products.......................29Graton Labor Center...................................45Graton Variety Show...................................12Hand Goods.................................................23Hans Bruhner/First Priority Financial....28Herth Real Estate...........................................7Janna Anderson - Realtor CPS................... 11Joanna Palmer Bookkeeping.....................25La Rosa’s Taqueria.......................................23Lipstick Home Improvement..................... 17Marin Design Tileworks...............................2McEwen Builders.........................................27Michelle Koenigshofer/CPS R.E.................9Miller Oil/Shell Gas......................................2Mirabel Lodge Elder Care..........................25Mosaic Restaurant.......................................22Mr. Ryder Antiques.....................................26Oaxacan Fair Trade Co...............................28Passport Fair................................................. 31Paul Bombige/Prudential.............................3Prudentia California Realty.......................48People’s Music..............................................43Pleasant Hill Chrstian School.................... 31Quicksilver Mine. Co..................................47Redwood Marketplace................................ 13Rio Nido Roadhouse...................................20Russian River Sisters...................................46Safe Medicine Disposal Program.............. 14Scott Johnson/Russian River Realty......... 24Service Directory: Building.......................36Service Directory: Home & Pets................ 37Service Directory: Life & Beauty..............38Shula Luxe Team/Prudential R.E............. 17Sophies Cellars............................................. 16SPG Solar........................................................4The Good Life..............................................25The Movie Library.......................................30The Package Store - Biz Supplies...............47Tom Lynch for Supervisor..........................28The Tree Climber......................................... 17Triple RRR Restaurant................................22VESTA Marketing Services........................ 24Vicini’s Green Grocer..................................23Weavers and Dreamers.................................2West County Gazette.............5, 30, 24, 29, 47All Advertisers have a link totheir web site on the web editionof the West County Gazette atwww.westcountygazette.com.Go to the Advertisers Index andclick on their web connection to seein-depth what our advertisers offer.THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTINGOUR ADVERTISERS!LETTERS cont’d from page 5Editor-With all this talk about the legacy ofour current government leaders—don’tworry the legacy has already beenwritten. I just picked up today’s PressDemocrat, here is some of their legacy:“Bush to seek Medicare cuts in budgetplan,” “Review finds ethical lapses ingovernment,” not to mention anythingabout a country our government leadersinvaded ignoring requests from theUnited Nations and the rest of the worldto work for a peaceful solution.That decision has cost us more, thanwe as a nation will ever be able torepay.The headline and picture that I sawin the Empire news section on Jan.29(Santa Rosa Crossing Guard Cuts) tellsme that we as a society are in big trouble.The picture shows a proud senior citizenescorting a playful young boy safelyacross the street. I don’t personallyknow this crossing guard, but I do knowsome senior citizens who try to surviveon what they get paid from SocialSecurity and it’s almost impossible.Not to mention the sense of pride andpurpose that this person is receiving bygiving back to the community throughhelping our children cross a street safely.To eliminate this job is unacceptable,and I will put some money where mymouth is. I am an owner operator of atrucking business and I will donate allprofits from any work I do for the cityof Santa Rosa this year to a fund to savethe crossing guards.Sincerely,Falcon MikeEditor:Sometimes we innocently valuesomething because it has been costly andthe effort would feel futile if the resultwere found lacking. In the case of theNortheast Area Plan, the Sebastopol CityCouncil members have made earnestdeliberations, giving of their time andskills. The cost of the Plan and theDraft EIR is $470,000. Is the dubiousresult so vigorously protected becauseit has cost so much? It is not too late tomodify the Plan. If citizens aren’t infavor of four-story buildings (including300 homes) on up to 10 feet of fill in aflood/liquefaction zone; unnecessarycommercial space with unknownand unexplored economic impact onMain Street merchants; and a mightyincrease in traffic, it would be a goodidea to attend the next meeting of theSebastopol Preservation Coalition at7 pm on February 13th at Palm DriveHospital and suggest some otheroptions. SPC is a grassroots communitycoalition concerned about the NE Plan,seeking economic development withprotection of the environment, broadcitizen participation in the planningand enhancement of the quality oflife we enjoy in Sebastopol. It ispossible. For more information, contactSPC at shane5@sonic.net.Gayle BergmannSebastopol, California6 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08LETTERS cont’d on page 7

LETTERS cont’d from page 6Hey Folks,Don’t be to concerned about theupcoming Presidential election - theoutcome was predetermined a longtime ago.J. Irwin, ForestvilleOPEN LETTER,Real life is seldom as tidy and simpleas news stories sometimes make itappear. I’ve come under fire in PressDemocrat news articles and an editorialbecause of my inability to pay myproperty taxes a few years ago. I deservecriticism for that, but the articles andeditorial have told only a small, lopsidedpart of the story.L e t me tel l you wh at r ea l lyhappened.My partner, Scot Stegeman, and Iare both independent consultants. Scotconsults in the area of land use andenvironmental issues. In the last fewyears I have worked primarily with nonprofits, although I have done marketing,and other for-profit work, in the past. Inthe spring of 2000 we both experiencedlean times in our consulting practices.The resulting cash flow crisis meant wewere unable to pay our property taxes.In June 2005, after our businesses pickedup and we finally got on our feet again,we contacted the County, paid ourcurrent year’s taxes in full, and set up astandard five year installment plan thatallowed us to pay back part of what weowed each year in addition to payingtaxes for the current year.At that point, we owed the Countya total of $47,865 in back taxes, andinterest. We paid $9,573 in 2005, $15,317in 2006 and made a final payment of$46,495 in December 2007, completelypaying all our back taxes plus interestand penalties. That totals $71,385 thatwe have paid to the CountyIn the spring of last year, Scot’s clientswere late in paying him, so he asked theCounty for an extension of time to makeour spring property tax and installmentpayment. The county granted thatextension.That’s when Murphy’s law took over.To our surprise, on June 6th a defaultnotice appeared in the newspaper. Wewere dumbfounded and called thecounty, only to learn that the agreementto the extension had, for some reason,not made it into our file.Assistant tax collector Pam Johnsonhas told the Press Democrat we couldhave stayed in the installment programand continued to make payments. Butthe person we spoke with at the taxcollector’s office told us the defaultmeant we had to pay the entire amountof back taxes, plus penalties, plus interestby December 10th.Because of this, we sought a secondmortgage – a task made difficult by thecurrent mortgage-lending crunch. Wecontacted an independent mortgagebroker. The broker arranged a loanfor us with Dennis Hunter. The termswere not particularly favorable, but webelieved we could loose our home. I amnow in the process of obtaining newfinancing to avoid any appearance ofconflict of interest on my part.For the last sixteen years as a CountyPlanning Commissioner I have workedvery hard to make decisions that arein the best interests of the public. As aSupervisor, I will continue to serve thepeople of the Fifth District as faithfullyand well.For more information, you can go to myWeb site, www.ruefurchforsupervisor.com or you can email me at rue@ruefurchforsupervisor.comSincerely,Rue FurchNOTE: I get the impression that mostpeople don’t know that the PlanningCommission position is NOT PAID. Thatmeans a person serving on this commissionDONATES their time to perform this task.Commissioners still have to make a livingdoing another job that is flexible enough toallow for daytime meetings and hours ofreading and studying. - VTo the Editor:I would like to thank the independentWest County papers who are willingto challenge the Press Democrat’sversion of reporting on the race for 5thDistrict Supervisor. In a recent frontpage story SONOMA WEST explainedthe background re: the anonymousdocuments being circulated by MaddyHirshfield’s campaign against RueFurch. With a couple of minor exceptionsso far this race to replace Mike Reillyparticipants have shown integrity andan unwillingness to stoop to the tacticswe are becoming so tired of at thenational level.It is one thing to raise legitimateissues during debates or even in lettersor commentaries through local newssources as long as you are owning yourcharges and can back them up. It isquite another thing to make chargesanonymously as Hirshfield’s campaigndid apparently even keeping her out ofthe loop as to how it was done. I wassaddened to see Maddy’s defense ofher treasurer/campaign manager ashis actions do not reflect well on her.It is never too late to do the right thingand I hope that Maddy will change herposition on how this was done as wellas keeping this person involved in hercampaign.Both Tom Lynch and Jim Marescawere correct to challenge these tacticsand the Press Democrat was wrongto print such a one sided account ofan anonymous charge. I hope all thecandidates will take a principled standon this and other issues that may yetcome up and understand that HOW theyreact to unfair tactics is just as importantas their particular position on any givenissue.Mary MooreLETTERS cont’d on page 82-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com7

LETTERS cont’d from page 7Below is a copy of a letter I sent to the PressDemocrat for the way they distorted and misreportedon a recent debate for 5th Districtsupervisor.Dear Editor:As one of the principal organizersof the Fifth District Supervisoralcandidates’ debate that took place lastSaturday (January 26) in Sebastopolin the afternoon, I want to express mydismay with the article in the PressDemocrat the next day, apparentlytrying to create a news story where thereisn’t one. The debate was focused onenvironmental issues and drew a largeaudience interested in this. However,the Robert Digitale’s story the next daydevoted eighty lines (over 480 wordsout of about 700 words in the article)on another subject other than theenvironmental ones. This would lead areader to think that most of the debatewas not about the serious, environmentalissues that face our county.Digitale could have used the spacein his article to address more of thecandidates’ views and plans but chose tospend much more than half of his articleon something that took only 1 minuteof time in a debate of 120 minutes.Moreover, there were no audiencequestions of “his” issue out of 45 minutesof audience questions and Digitale hadno quotes of any of the 200 attendeesexpressing any concern in this issue.My question is, what is the P.D. tryingto drum up?Sincerely,Larry HansonI just read the 5th District SupervisorCandidates Views by Tom Lynch andwas amazed that the County’s moneyproblems are based on the salariesand benefits of County employees. Asa County employee I haven’t seen any10% raises in salary and benefits. Infact the benefits I receive are costingme more every year. The rising healthcare costs are hurting the County likeeveryone else. The County is currentlystudying alternatives to cut benefitsto employees and retirees, and thesecuts look to be substantial. The Countyis doing their fair share in workingtoward a sustainable future by addingsolar photovoltaic panels, adding over40 Toyota Prius’s to their fleet cars,and have recently hired an EnergySustainability Company (ESCO) to helpthem look at the entire county complexto find ways to save energy and reducecosts. Tom states that he has a difficultlearning curve why roads and servcesare deteriorating as County revenues aregoing up. How about this explaination,the cost to the County for repairing theroads and buildings and providing otherservices is increasing at a rate muchgreater than revenues. For examplethe cost to put a new roof on a Countybuilding was about $10 per square footin 2000, and now it is about $20 persquare foot.Tom states in his last sentence “Thechange will come from the bottom up notthe top down”. I guess as a supervisor(the top of the County) he is not goingto make any changes, especially to his$120,000 plus salary and benefits on topof that.John HubiakHi Vesta -I have a couple related questions forthe candidates for 5th district.Right now, we have a contractor doinga project on a curve in River road justeast of the slide. The county is obviouslyspending money on this. I’m not surewhat the purpose of this project is, I’veheard something about ‘correcting thecurve’, but I don’t know. That section ofRiver road has been fine for the past 20odd years I’ve been driving it. I see nopressing problem there.We have been living with the slideon River road for years. The county putup a very nice fence to contain it, thenapparently said ‘we fixed it for now’. Theslide is a ‘Sword of Damocles’ hangingover the west county, particularly theriver and coastal communities.I’ll bet you a doughnut if there was amoderate earthquake, the slide wouldgo and River road would be impassable.This would leave the river and coastalcommunities to hope the alternate routesin and out (Pocket Canyon, SweetwaterSprings, Bohemian Highway, CoastHighway) would be usable.I’ll make you another bet- if there wasa quake big enough to push that slideonto River road, the county would haveit’s hands full and the river communitieswould be nowhere near the top of thepriority listWhy is the county working on anon-problem before dealing with thepotential major problem?What would you do to realign thepriorities in the public works departmentso they deal with serious things first?Thanks,J.A. (Joe) Falejczykall which is why I have come to wholeheartedly support Orrin Theissen’sbeautiful and green design for the town.As a business owner, I recognize all thehoops Mr. Theissen must hurl through tomake this happen. I wish to support andthank him and I sincerely hope F ore stville can come out of it’s faceless, boringexistence into a vibrant small town.Jeane SloaneHealdsburgI read your article on the proposedThiessen downtown. Good job. I justhave a few questions.What if Orrin builds all this stuffand nobody comes to purchase the conos and/or the shops are not filled withviable merchants?Who will be responsible for all theupkeep?Will Orrin pay for the Town Greenmaintenance and the painting androofing of the buildings as they age ifthey are not occupied?Why would any one move to ruralForestville to purchase a condo on topof a business? Isn’t the idea of movingto the country to get AWAY from thehubbub of city life and traffic? In casenobody has noticed Forestville is not adestination spot. We are not even listedon any of the directional road signs outin West County.The grammar school populationis decreasing by alarming rates. Thatindicates that families are not movingin to the area. Most of us who livehere go elsewhere to purchase ourgroceries, clothes and other services.Personally, I won’t support any ofThiessen’s establishments.Just what are the dimensions of the“Town Green”?In the plans it looks like it’s about50’x50’. Not exactly a usable space.Orrin tries to present himself as a“green builder”. Well, as many of usknow the only green he’s interested inhas dead presidents printed on it.Chooses to be anonymousPlease take the time to fight for ourtown before it is too late. It’s not goingto go away, but the people of Forestvillecan force some drastic changes in thefootprint of Thiessen’s dream town.Make yourself heard before it’s too latefor the Forestville we love - as we loveit.Carol BoyleRegarding: The Proposed ThiessenProject in ForestvilleDear Sirs and Madames,I believe that this project could moveforward with approval from most of thefolks involved ifMr.Thiessen could bepersuaded to be a little more flexible.As an artist and writer I knowthat creative people have difficultyunderstanding why everyone isn’tstaggered by the beauty of their ‘baby’.I doubt that the drawings for Forestvillelook exactly like Windsor to Mr Thiessenbut he seems to have a general stylethat’s difficult for him to see beyond.I watched Southern Californiadevelop over 50 years into a place Ifound unlivable. I would hate to thinkthat every 15 miles or so we will havesprinkled a little Solvang or KnottsBerry Farm. Can you imagine thishappening in East Sonoma? In Sonomatown, Kenwood or Glenellen? I’m afraidwe will end up the laughing stock of thecounty and in my opinion we are by farthe most beautiful part of the county.If the concerned citizens could havea few choices of style, with some ofthem reflecting the architecture of theNorthwestern agricultural countrythat is our history, I think here of ‘TheBarnyard’ in Carmel Valley, I believe wecould come to an agreement. I also thinkan appropriate size is more relevantthan the usual most value for the landmotivation which has left much ofWindsor unoccupied.I appreciate any regard you will givethis, Sincerely, Andrea CleallDear Vesta,I really appreciate the informativeAs a small business owner of eighteenyears in Foresfville and a resident of 30years, I would like to write in support ofOrrin Theissen’s planned developmentproject. I have owned a business in thistown and it has been quite a struggleto survive in this NO GROWTH area.If I didn’t own my business propertyI would have shut down long ago. Asa resident, it is a nondescript drive-bybedroom community. I lived only 2b16cKStrom downto’Wn. Many times Iwould walk to attempt to “shop locally”only to not find what I needed. Therestaurants, which I have seen come andgo, have always been at best mediocreexcept for the Mosaic which is so highpriced most of us can only eat there onspecial occasions. I recently moved tothe small town of Healdsburg. I walkinto town and there is everything I needI’m Guilty. Are You?Vesta’s article “Growing Concern” inthe January 17th edition of WCG, said itall, so I won’t be repetitive.We’ve been aware of Mr. Thiessen’splans for Forestville for several years.There have been numerous meetings sowe could voice our opinions. How manyof us could have attended, but didn’t?I’m guilty and so are many of you. Wecomplain but we don’t inconvenienceourselves to step up to the plate. Now isour last chance for input regarding the“Future of Forestville.” Our future. Lookat the front page of the January 17thGazette and re-read Vesta’s article.Forestville is not Windsor. We are asmall town of 8,000 citizens, includingchildren. We know each other. We careabout each other. This is what a “smallarticle you wrote on the proposed TownSquare Development for your recentWest County Gazette. I happen to agreewith many of the concerns expressedby West County citizens about theproposed development. And I also agreewith you that “it could easily be wishfulthinking” to believe that this project, orsome other proposed project will neverget built on the Crinella land.I have lived in downtown Forestvillefor over twenty-nine years. I was one ofthe original members of the Forestvillefor Sensible Growth that fought the earlyCrinella proposals. And now here I amchairman of the Downtown ForestvillePlanning Committee working with someof our Forestville citizens as we designa downtown square and scrutinize theimpact of a proposed development forthis very same land.and with a huge variety of restaurants. I town” is, and is why we stay. We will nothave not missed living in F orestville at be another “Rubber Stamp” project.LETTERS cont’d on page 98 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08

LETTERS cont’d from page 8Creating moderate-income housingover commercial space in the center ofa town is quite desirable and “green”.The more people who can shop andwork in the community they live in, thebetter. So I feel Orrin Thiessen’s designin principle is very good from thisperspective. I think it is very unlikelythat citizen outcry over this project willstop the project outright.But some of the concerns expressedin your recent article bother me as well.I worked for an architect in downtownHealdsburg in 1978. The shops onthe square at that time, with a fewexceptions, served the local citizens. Butover the last thirty years Sonoma Countyhas become a wine county touristdestination. Healdsburg is only one ofmany of Sonoma County’s small townsand hamlets that have been transformedto “quaint” tourist destinations.What kinds of garden-variety shopsand stores can we realistically expect toprosper in downtown Forestville? Wealready have our local Speers Marketnot far away. I also shop at Andy’s andWhole Foods and try to combine thisshopping trip with a weekly pickupat Laguna Farms (I wish that Speerswould offer even more organic food!).The Downtown Square development isjust too small to accommodate a largefood store like Whole Foods. Whyis it that our local pharmacy was notable to attract a new pharmacist whenDavid retired? I now must drive to theSebastopol Safeway pharmacy. I guessit has to do with the “bottom line”.What about workspace? I gave up mySebastopol downtown office space andcreated a home office last year. But if Ihad an employee or two this wouldn’twork. Orrin’s project could be a goodlocation for small professional officespaces if these spaces were affordable.My fear is that these prime center-oftowncommercial spaces may be tooexpensive for most types of office and/orprofessional people.If the transformation that has takenplace in downtown Sebastopol andHealdsburg is an indication of what themarket forces create, Forestville is likelyto become, for the most part, anotherwine country tourist stop. Do we wantthis? I don’t think so. Can we stop it?I doubt it. But we need to do our verybest to push and pull the large unwieldyMarket that creates our environmentinto something we can live with.How can we do this? Getting outsidehelp from a top-notch planner to help usanalyze the Town Square Developmentwould be a first step. And we just didthis! See the FPA Reports Column for asummary of the meeting we had withLaura Hall and her partner RobertAlminana on Wednesday evening,January 16 th .Have you finished reading the FPAReports Column? Are you a bit shockedat their recommendations? Three storybuildings!! Are they kidding? Seeingthe various paths this sleepy little towncould go over the next fifty, the next onehundred years, they gave us the gift oftheir experience and knowledge, a giftwe should at least accept and look at.They assured us that our town will notremain the sleepy little town it currentlyis. They also assured us that if we donot plan ahead for the next fifty to onehundred years we will regret it.Back to the three-story buildingsuggestion to “contain” the town squareto a 1:6 building-height to distancebetween-buildingsratio (see the FPAReports Column). Laura noted thatthe Healdsburg square has a 1:9 ratio,and noted that this square does workbecause of the beautiful mature trees inthe square. The existing oak trees andthe proposed trees for the ForestvilleDowntown Square will create a feelsimilar to the Healdsburg square twentyto thirty years from now. So the threestorybuilding height is recommendedbut not critical to a viable downtownsquare.What about the style of architecture ofOrrin’s project? Orrin has gone to greatlengths to borrow the styles of existingearly buildings in the Forestville area,including early buildings that no longerexist, for the project. I feel the buildingdesigns are quite beautiful in themselves.As to whether they feel right as a groupof buildings in a development projectis another question. In my opinionthey feel “good enough” as a group ofbuildings.Yet I k now none of us wantsthe Windsor project in downtownForestville! I urged Orrin to consider“living walls” and “green roofs”. Orrinhas in fact provided vines and plantingat all of his buildings that will soften thearchitecture and provide some habitatfor birds and insects. I believe theunifying element of Nature herself willmitigate the likely Knotts Berry Farmfeel of the project.I personally love architecture thatis expressive of the way it interactswith the sun, wind, views, and howit responds to the functions it serves,architecture that falls under the categoryof “organic architecture”. ArchitectSteve Sheldon’s live-work project onFlorence and Gravenstein HighwayNorth in Sebastopol is a good exampleof a green project in the “organic” style.I really like his project. But others wouldfind it too spare. I really believe bothOrrin’s project and Steve’s project will beconsidered outstanding projects twentyyears from now when the planting ismature (assuming Orrin’s project isbuilt, which is likely).And this brings us to the largerpicture again. What do we want ourdowntown to feel like twenty years fromnow? Fifty years from now? Laura Hallrecommends that we plan for the future.The Forestville Planning Association hasasked Laura for a proposal for what shecalls a “Development Code” guide forForestville’s future. I am really lookingforward to being a part of this journeywith you all as we consider Forestville’sfuture.Ken Smith, ArchitectWhat’s Up at Ya-Ka-Ama?Get caught up with who’s who andwhat’s what out at the Ya-Ka-AmaIndian Education & DevelopmentCenter! A lot has been happening – newstaff, regular events pertaining to theYa-Ka-Ama WIA Program, upcomingelection for the Board of Directors andwork afoot to reinstate some of yourfavorite activities!!How to keep up with all the excitingnews? Easy!! Subscribe to the Ya-Ka-Ama Newsletter!! Its first issue in manya year will be released Monday, February11 and not only will it include a contestto name the newsletter but it containsa survey you can use to make sure thatYa-Ka-Ama offers the programs andactivities you want!!If you are a Native American orVeteran, your subscription is free andwill arrive either in hard copy via USPostal Service or via e-mail as a worddocument (.doc format). Members ofthe community at large can subscribe fora very nominal $12 per year to receivethe quarterly by mail or for $5 a year toreceive it electronically.- To subscribe, phone Linda at 707-887-1541, e-mail her at LindaD@yakaama.orgor fax your name and mailing addressto her attention at 707-887-1585.2-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com9

CHANGE cont’d from page 1Let’s start with the sewage issue.(For background details, please referto PAST EDITIONS of the West CountyGazette available on our web site atwww.westcountygazette.com) There arestill plans on the books for a pipelineof treated wastewater coming fromthe Guerneville treatment plant tobe used for irrigation. But our inputover the concern of cost, of the routethe pipeline takes and what we as acommunity think is the best solution hasresulted in more thorough studies andalternatives not previously considered.In the old days, officials would simplygo about their business. But now withEnvironmental Impact Reports andconstant community oversight, we havenumerous opportunities to influencedecisions that impact our home.With Assembly Bill 885 coming ourway and it’s potential to condemnproperties leaking pathogens intothe Russian River (see WCG January17 issue), in combination with bothCamp Meeker/Occidental and MonteRio rejecting large treatment plantsolutions, the county is now ready toconsider alternatives, both individualand community, that we have beenpressing on them for decades. Yes,now they are willing to study thesealternatives rather than rejecting themoutright without consideration. Why?Our constant oversight in combinationwith the huge cost of their originalplans.Roundabouts have been used atintersections across the planet forcenturies. But until recently, they wereoutright rejected by both CalTrans andthe Sonoma County Transit Authority,with a few excpetions. Why? Becauseit’s easier to do things the way they havealways been done than to do somethingdifferent. Now that the people in ourpath have retired and new people whoare receptive are in charge, there’s hopeon the horizon. That in combination withour constant niggling, has increasedthe possibility of a roundabout in ourfuture.In fact, at the most recent meeting onthis Forestville intersection, the onlydrawing on the table was a roundabout.Why? The fact that roundabouts arevastly safer than four-way traffic signalintersections, the costs of maintainingthem are drastically less and that it’sactually simpler to install one than thetraffic signals. Why hasn’t that beenpart of the issue in the past? Because ofthe “this is how we do things...period”approach. Time. Constant pressure andnew staff are our saviors. And quitehonestly, because the developmentplanned on that corner benefits as well.It becomes a win/win for everyone.And that’s the bottom line of whatwe’re working toward. Win/Win results.This is not a fight where one forcedominates over another and one comesout victorious while the other suffers.Our intent is for everyone to benefit overthe long haul. If anything, these positiveresults should inspire more people tospeak up, write letters, attend meetings,vote, and know that you CAN havean impact. It’s one of those life truths:perseverance furthers and persistencepays off. Impressive!By Portia SinnottOn Sunday, February 3, LITEInitiatives kicked-off the 2008 Car-FreeDay campaign with a front page articlein the Sonoma West Times and News, apublic transit field trip to Santa Rosa anda Bike Makeover Class at CommunityBikes. The Sebastopol-based grouppresents monthly drive-less activitiesincluding field trips, walks, bikerides, clothing swaps, parade entries,presentations and bike classes. The2008 schedule is available from carlite@sonic.net. Though initially focused onSebastopol, activities are also plannedfor Graton, Forestville and Guernevilleas well as Santa Rosa.Volunteers are needed to helpimplement these events.LITE’s goal is simple yet ambitious - tomotivate thousands to drive less, walkand bike more, carpool and take publictransit. Drivers are being asked to leavetheir cars parked at least one day permonth, preferably the first Sunday. Ifthey must drive, they are encouraged toplan their trip carefully, clump errands,carpool and pick another day or partialday to be car-free. Churchgoers andSunday shoppers are invited to starttheir drive-less activities after servicesand errands.Car-Free DayLITE Initiatives Kicks Off Annual Drive-Less CampaignBusinesses are invited to signon as Car-Free Day supporters. InSebastopol, Sprint Copy Center andthe Wine Emporium were the firstto step forward; West County CycleService, 824-0112 will provide freesafety checks by appointment and WestCounty Revolution will offer free flatrepair classes this Spring. Individualsare invited to sign a drive-less pledge,which records an agreement to driveless. In 2002, 1,000 pledges werecollected, representing more then 5,000car-free days per month, or 60,000per year. Support, pledge forms &carpooling systems are available.LITE will also brief local groups aboutdriving less. In order to reach as manypeople as possible, we prefer to speak ator before regularly scheduled meetings.A variety of generic newsletter articlesare available which can be tailored foryour groups.Volunteers are needed to help withevents, conduct business outreach,give presentations, research drive-lessprograms, and post signs right beforethe first weekend of every month.Trainings are scheduled as needed.For additional information, please visitwww.liteinit.org, call 579-5811 or emailcar-lite@sonic.net.50 Years-Boy Scout Troop 150Pancake Breakfast, Sunday, March 2ndBy Tenzing SherpaI am privileged to be the senior patrolleader of Troop 150 on the anniversary ofits 50 marvelous years of existence. Manyof my greatest life experiences havecome from Boy Scout trips. From thesnows of Mt. Lassen to the sun drenchedshores of Catalina Island, I have beenon great adventures that have shapedmy youth and given me memories that Itreasure. I have learned many skills as aBoy Scouts that have helped me in timesof need. Because of my BSA training Ihave been able to administer first aid inemergency situations that otherwise Iwould not have been able to offer viablehelp. Winter snow camping trips haveprovided our troop the opportunity tolearn how to dig out a snow cave shelterand build an igloo, brick by brick. Ilearned to sail at Scout camp in SanDiego, and eight months later I savedenough money to buy a small sailboatof my own. I have developed importantleadership skills that have helped me inschool and will carry me into adulthood.As I w! ork toward achieving the rankof Eagle Scout, I am continually inspiredby the 42 Eagle Scouts that have comebefore me during the past 50 years.Troop 150 owes much of our success tothe community that has helped to supportus during the past 50 years. Please joinus again for our annual PancakeBreakfast, Sunday, March 2, 2008at the Forestville School MultiPurpose auditorium from 8 a.m.until Noon. Adult breakfasttickets are $5.00 each. Senior andchild breakfast tickets are $3.50each. Raffle tickets are $1.00 eachfor 6 for $5.00.2-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com11

“Within the family, for the first time youhave different opinions. I’ve been in thefamily 30 years, and I’ve never seen that.”- Gov. Arnold Shhwarzenegger, on divisions in the Kennedyfamily over endorsing a Democratic presidential hopeful.12 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08OBSERVER cont’d from page 1statements by each candidate, and a fewpop-questions chosen from audiencewritten requests.The crowd remained civilized andfollowed the guidelines presented at thestart, firmly set in the beginning minutes.No clapping and no comments from the‘peanut gallery’ were to be allowed. Thismade for a refreshing and respectfullearning experience. Other than thevisceral reaction of audible groans threetimes, there were no disruptions, and thecandidates didn’t miss a beat. Only GuySmith reacted a few times with levitywhen technical difficulties or awkwardmoments occurred during his preciousminute slots. Perhaps he knows the valueof comic relief, as stiffness was visuallyperceptible across the board.Overall how did the available sixcandidates fare? That question is bestanswered with a question: Does theexercise prove who is a better speakeror who would be best for the job?And it is a big job with responsibilitygoverning us in major ways daily herein the West County 5 th district thatspans from East Sebastopol borders toBodega Bay coast and up to the GualalaRiver including Sea Ranch, over desolaterange inland to the Windsor bordercutting over to Roseland and wrappingall of Sebastopol, with the Russian Riverproper and its towns, along with at leasttwo wine appellations.The most striking differences of thesesix candidates were their backgrounds.Perhaps the best way to view this wouldbe to go to their individual websites,but to give a description cross referencehere, they are a composite of politicians,business people and activists. Quitedifferent in personality, all seem highlymotivated for the job. They came withserious game faces and sometimesvoiced wishes for more time on theissues. When the timer ran out a fewtimes, most handled it gracefully. RueFurch had trouble with the one minuteconcept at first, but maybe it was herbeing shook up by the tax delinquencystory that had just broke. She looked tobe struggling to get back on the horseafter being thrown.The Rue Furch debacle seeped in eventhough she devoted most of her openingone minute statement to attempt atclarification. Three opponents couldn’tresist jumping on the band wagon whentime was running out in the secondhour, and they were ‘rewarded’ with oneof the audible groan awards. They didn’tseem to notice though, their demeanorglazed over with this golden (not)opportunity. Note to candidates: voterswant your opinions and honorable ethicsas representation. Please let your talentsguide your competitiveness. MaddyHirshfield was polished throughout,especially notable here, and I noted sheknew when to keep mum.The devil in me later fantasized thatwhen slinging of comments happensthat cast a negative light on an opponentduring forum or debate, the ‘slinger’should be required to don a brunetteBrittney Spears-type wig with oversizedsunglasses until the ‘slingee’ cracks asmile. Wig and glasses to be providedby event organizers, kept in ready in abox nearby. This punishment should bedone w/o fanfare or comments again byaudience in order to have minimal affecton the flow of forum or debate. Right.Back to reality…Q u e s t i o n s a d d r e s s e d w e r emostly composed along the vein ofenvironmental concerns due to theinterest of the sponsoring groups as thatis what they devote their work to in thatfield of interest. Of course this was agood match for West County residentsthat took the time to attend. All theissues to do with water are at our core.Water treatment, conservation, uses,rights, and the cost of all the above willbe the make or break of the succeedingSupervisor’s legacy. The impact ofthis affects every one of us in SonomaCounty.The first question that kicked off theforum asked if they were in favor of alarge water treatment remedy to theneeds of waste water here. Jim Marescaannounced he was opposed to largetreatment plant being built and couldsee a piecemeal approach with newtechnologies. This was echoed by GuySmith when his turn came next in line,also stating a 0-discharge policy. TomLynch’s answer involved 90/10 ratio ofdischarge and, new technology focus.Don Kahane was also in this groupstance of 0-discharge and wantingto repair the ‘hot spots’ as he calledthem along the Russian River. The ladycandidate’s answers followed the countygovernment study type approach. Bothof them currently hold positions in thatarena, so their language would often gothat route. But again, this is all a questionof semantics and style. Guy Smith maybe ‘down to earth’, Dan Kahane seriouslyintellectual, Jim Maresca at timesbooming forceful rhetorical style, TomLynch a jester with activism, MaddyHirshfiel the well spoken politico, RueFurch distracted with her attempt tokeep above water in controversy overher taxes – all throwing their hats inthe ring.And more candidates to come,including Eddy Alvarez, who we didnot get to hear from due to a death inthe family.More forums and/or debates are beingorganized. It is a great way to viewcandidates and make voting decisions.If you already have a favorite, it still isa way to familiarize with the importantlocal issues. The League of WomenVoters will be active in venues for theJune elections. Our local KGGV 95.1LP radio station out of Guerneville isplanning a series of forums beginningMarch 28 in Monte Rio, and every twoweeks thereafter in locations to beannounced based on this successfulformat from SOS and The AtascaderoWatershed Group. Kudos to them, anda thank you .The event was recorded on audio byKGGV 95.1 LP who hopes to broadcastit in good quality in an upcoming slot.Also a nod to the individual candidatesfor coming forward, putting themselveson the line for this important job. Therewards are great, the power can goto the head, and the risks are partlythe personal exposure most of us can’tfathom. That is the job of a publicservant, a huge responsibility.

5th District Candidates Respond toWater/Wastewater QuestionnaireBy Brenda Adelman(This is the first in a two part series thatwill explore the candidates’ positions onsome important West County water andwastewater issues. This month’s articlesummarizes candidate responses on waterissues and March’s article will completethe review, critique responses, and makerecommendations.) Our goal is to provideinformation as objectively as possible to helpvoters decide whom they want as 5 th DistrictSupervisor.Last month, the Russian RiverWatershed Protection Committeedeveloped two pages of complexquestions concerning 5th District surfacewater and wastewater issues. We sentcopies of the questionnaire to sevenactive candidates including Rue Furch,Maddy Hirshfield, Tom Lynch, DanKahane, Jim Maresca, Guy Smith, andEddie Alvarez. But for Eddie, who hadhad a death in the family and could notmake it, these were the same peoplewho took part in the January candidate’sforum in Sebastopol. Rue, Maddy, Tomand Dan responded by deadline.The questions centered on: watersupply and the low flow issue; SantaRosa’s wastewater; pollution problemsfrom “incidental” irrigation runoff; andWest County wastewater and geologicalissues. There was also a question oncitizen advisory committees and thepublic participation process.The first question had numerous partsand generated disparate responses,partly because of its complexity. Tosimplify here, we asked candidates toname several ways that summer flowscould be preserved for recreation,while still protecting the fish duringthe migration season. Here are theirresponses in abbreviated form.Maddy: Emphasizes conservationand wastewater reuse to offset potableuse, while protecting from runoffcontamination of our waterways. Wouldwork to prohibit gravel mining inthe river (terrace mining too?). Willencourage mandatory re-use standardsin new development. Will look atsurface water and groundwater as partof the same resource and manage both aspart of the same system (i.e., determinehow they affect and interact with oneanother), including development of acomprehensive resource managementplan.Maddy also enumerated severalother possible water conservationsolutions and would work to stopillegal diversions. She does not supporta permanent change to lower flowsbecause she believes that it is a way toavoid other means of cutting diversionsand excessive water use, and is an unfairburden to those who live and workdownstream. Furthermore, duringdraught years, there is already a meansin place to lower flows and thereforefurther changes are unnecessary.Rue: Supports the State’s identifyingand curtailing upstream illegal waterdiversions using aerial photographyin order to enforce current permits.Supports increasing on-site agriculturalstorage ponds to capture high winterstorm flows. She wants to improvesetback standards to improve aquiferrecharge. Would work with federaland state agencies to create enforceableregulations and mitigations that protectthe tourist industry and the fish andwould work to make sure the mitigationsare funded.Rue believes that more can be doneto increase water conservation in thecities, rural and agricultural areas.She does not believe that “low flow”is a permanent solution and does notsupport changing the base summerflows as identified in Decision 1610without first examining and possiblyrevising all the underlying assumptionsupon which it is based.Tom: Enforce laws while working withlandowners to reduce and codify surfacewater diversions. Reuse wastewatermindfully to reduce drawdown ofpotable supplies. Increase conservationthrough reduced home use, xeroscaping,grey water re-use, smart toilets withdifferent buttons for “pee and poop”,smart technology to monitor allindoor water and energy use, drip andnighttime irrigation, riparian restorationto increase streamside canopy to reduceevaporation.Tom says the bottom line is that “fishare more important than summertimerecreation” yet then goes on to say thatthe Sonoma County Water Agencydisregards the environment anddownstream economic interests.Believes that diversions need to bebetter controlled and there should beno codification (change of Decision 1610)of reduced summer flows. Believesthat “normal” flows should be retainedexcept during dry years because ofincreased sedimentation.Dan: Feels the problem is withshort-sighted management decisionsthat cause long-term problems. “Wedepleted our fish resources so that nowwe are limited in our choices of how toremedy the situation.” “Diversions area critical party of our water supply andtransmission system. I am not awareof a viable plan for providing water to600,000 people with the diversions thatallow the Water Agency to maintain thewater supply.”Dan believes that illegal diversionsshould be handled by Fish and Game andthe DA’s office. He goes on to state, “Asof April 18, I will take an unpaid leaveof-absencefrom my position as a WaterPrograms Specialist for SCWA so that Imay speak without conflict-of-interestregarding more sensitive issues in andQUESTIONNAIRE cont’d on page 142-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com13

14 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08Councilwoman KelleySaves the Day!!!By MagickIn a packed house, the Sebastopol CityCouncil listened to citizen’s advocatefor protecting the integrity of our townby upholding the General Plan, ourtown constitution, in relation to theproposed Northeast Area Plan, NEAP.Councilwoman Kelley, recognizingthe continued concerns that have beenvoiced throughout the years of meetings,asked that the council hold a discussionof how the Northeast Area Plan wouldaffect the community as a whole.Kelley has been a strong advocate forour current affordable housing quota of25% in all developments, and our UrbanGrowth Management limit of 25 marketrate houses a year. Both of these wouldbe changed if NEAP were approved.This action supports the repeatedrequests by the Sebastopol PreservationCoalition, SPC, to use our constitutionas our guideline, and to think veryseriously, before amending it.When these concerns come before thepublic, the discussion will be framedwith respect for our General Plan, GP,which was designed to preserve andprotect this community by carefullyconsidering both the constraints and thepotentials of our small, country town.Also, at Kelley’s request, there willbe a discussion on Feb 19th aboutagendizing the question of whether ornot to terminate further hearings on theproject. This request came in responseto staff’s suggestion that the project beterminated or postponed so that no moreresources will be spent on this effortif the Council believes they would beunable to approve a final plan after thescheduled CEQA meetings.It is now possible that this wholeprocess, with outside consultants paidover $450,000 to produce a typical planfor Anywhere USA, will be ended andwe can come together as a communityto decide for ourselves how to best usethis area to prepare for these uncertaintimes.BackgroundFor years the concerned citizens ofSebastopol have been trying to injectsome realistic considerations into theplanning for redevelopment in theNortheast area.This plan would jettison many of thesafeguards in our General Plan that wereput in place to protect us from exactlythis kind of proposal.In brief, the rezoning project wouldallow 320 hundred new housing units,up to four stories tall, increase trafficby over 8000 trips per weekday, uselarge amounts of water and wastewaterallotments, and very possibly put ourcurrent businesses at financial risk byadding 180,000 sq. ft. of retail. It wouldencroach even further on our alreadyendangered Laguna and create pollutionin the air and run-off in the water.The water assessment for the planhas been declared inadequate by theSebastopol Water Information Group,SWIG, as, among other shortcomings,it does not take into consideration therest of the county’s water use from thesame source.Also, this is a flood zone, earthquakeprone area, and it would cost millionsof dollars to create podiums to raise anynew buildings above the flood area.Witness what has happened inWindsor, Petaluma, and what is proposedfor Forestville. Everyone in this countyneeds to realize we are all using thesame major highways and the samewater source. The old paradigm, thatdevelopers are to be catered to, must bedefeated. Community is now the bottomline, not profits for corporations.Let’s get it rightGreat ideas could blossom again,like giving land back to the Laguna,creating a community garden, andencouraging incubator businesses thatwould manufacture products that wenow import. Young people could offersweat equity for truly affordable housingthat uses green resources like straw balewith grey water systems.In the limited land above the floodline there could be an educationalcenter for sustainability using this areaas a premier example. There is even thepossibility that we could establish apublic trust to buy this land.How would you like to see this landbe used in a sustainable way?Join the Sebastopol PreservationCoalition (SPC)The Coalition now includes over 250people and our numbers are growing.We formed this group to continue toadvocate for the preservation of oursmall country town and the economicstability of our present businesses.We believe it is possible to balancethe two with thoughtful planning.The impacts of the proposed GeneralPlan Amendments embedded in theNortheast Plan, increased traffic, thestress on our city services, and ourbeloved Laguna, are of great concern.To help persuade the Council to dothe right thing, it is important that youattend the next City Council meeting onthe Feb. 19 th where they will decide howto proceed with Councilwoman Kelley’srequests.Learn more and join our emaildistribution list to stay informed. Allinformation is confidential.shane5@sonic.net ormagick@magicktarot.comor call Clare at 823-1405QUESTIONNAIRE cont’d from page 13around water supply both now, and intothe future.” Dan believes that the riveris healing as a result of outstandingfisheries biology and state-of-the-artrestoration ecology throughout the riversystem. He believes that summertimeflows between 75 cfs and 95 cfs appearto work for fish and recreationists alike.”(Summer flows in a normal year nowaverage about 200 cfs.)There are more comparisons to bemade, but we have run out of space forthis article. If you would like to see thequestionnaire and all responses, pleasesend a request to rrwpc-1@comcast.netNext month we will report further onother responses, review our impressionsand hopefully provide an endorsementbased on these comments.AWARD cont’d from page 1The Gazette is entirely reliant onarticles written by readers. For hersuccess in creating a forum wherecommunity members are encouragedto share their voice, Copestakes wasrecently recognized as the recipient ofthe 2007 Media Hero Award.The Media Hero Award was developedto honor a media professional whoexceeds the call of duty providing morethan just professional media expertisewhen it comes to news about projectsthat benefit the larger community. Othernominees for the award were ShaneCalvert of KFTY 50 and Elaine Holtz ofWomen‚s Spaces on Santa Rosa PublicAccess TV.Copestakes was named the winnerfor her commitment to creating a vehiclethat encourages the free exchange ofideas among the residents in WestCounty. “While all the contenders haveused media as a vehicle for positivesocial change, Copestakes offers manypeople an opportunity, and sometimes afirst opportunity, to have a public voice,”said Pierce Gonzalez.Copestakes attributes the paper’ssuccess to the community memberswho contribute columns and articles.Because of these vocal communitywriters, Copestakes receives more articlesubmissions than she can print.”Community writers are the greatestasset. I am merely a catalyst. Therewould be no newspaper if all thesepeople didn’t take advantage of anoutlet for their thoughts, opinions andconcerns,” said Copestakes.To learn more about the West CountyGazette visit www.westcountygazette.com. For more information call 707-792-4376 or visit, http.kpgpublicrelations.blogspot.com.Karen Pierce Gonzalez Public Relationsis a full service media consultantand media marketing firm that isdedicated to helping clients create theirmessage and deliver it to the people itaffects most˜ locally, regionally, and/ornationally. Established in 2001, it islocated in Sonoma County.

Health CareWhat Happened to Compassion?When the power of love overcomes the love ofpower the world will know peace. - Jimi HendrixBy Karen TimmonsOne of the good things that cameout of the 60’s is the understandingthat everyone ought to have healthcare. Free clinics sprang up from coastto coast in many major cities. Our 2West County clinics, Occidental andRussian River, are outgrowths of thisconsciousness. Another outgrowthwas making independent living for thedisabled a possibility. By the 70’s Centerfor Independent Living in Berkeley wasa going concern and caregivers for thedisabled were trained and hired.Tiny Tim and his descendents wereno longer relegated to the work house,the poor house, or the street. Our societyhad grown a conscience beyond just thedole for the indigent poor. They had aviable place in our society where theycould feel safe and nurtured. After all,isn’t a society judged by how it caresfor the sick, the poor, the elderly, andchildren?As a long-time caregiver, I am appalledthat our state legislature, our Board ofSupervisors, and our governor want tocut In Home Support Service clients 18%.They want to cut out cooking, cleaning,and shopping, as well as not allowrelatives who care for their disabled todeduct for Social Security. Many careproviders, who make all of $10.50/hour,would lose their hard-gained healthcare benefits if clients’ hours were cut.Moreover, many IHSS staff jobs wouldbe cut, saving even more money. Ishomelessness a cost-effective way tobalance California’s budget?In short, the powers that be are tryingto destroy home health care. About3 years ago, Schwarzenegger tried firstto destroy IHSS by disallowing familymembers from caring for their disabledand reducing already paltry pay tominimum wage. When it was mentionedthat it would cost the state more if thathappened because these folks would endup in half-way houses and convalescenthospitals, the local head of the UHW(United Health Workers) union was toldthat no such provision would be made.These people would be homeless. Is thenext step after homeless incarceration?The spirit of compassion is alive andwell in many. We workers are now ina battle with those who don’t believethat the weak and the disenfranchiseddeserve anything more than the street.The powers that be also don’t believe thatthe workers are worth giving a livingwage for their excellent work, whichgoes beyond just cooking, cleaning, andshopping.Afraid of a government which could,at whim, take away all their servicebenefits (Social Security Disability,HUD, Medical, Medicare, IHSS), thedisabled population is often alone,having no relatives or being far awayfrom them.They are often people who, fromdisease or accident, have fallen ontohard times. They are often educatedand in their own heyday, provided carefor others.For our own sake, we must not turnour backs on them. We must ensure thatthe programs started back in the daycontinue and grow.Kit Neustadter,may she be remembered in music.Kit Neustadter, who started the Redwood Arts Council in 1980, died onSunday, February 3rd after a long struggle with cancer.Kit grew up in a culturally rich environment in New York and Cleveland.As a child she listened to chamber music performed at her uncle’s house andbegan a lifelong love of listening to music, up close and personal.When Kit moved to Sonoma County in the early 1970s she brought a visionof bringing world class musicians to perform for the community. TheRedwood Arts Council has presented more than 250 outstanding concerts.It was Kit’s tenacity and her deep love of the performing arts that has madethe Redwood Arts Council so successful.It is the commitment of the RAC Board of Directors, volunteers and CandaceRossman, the new director of the Redwood Arts Council, that the seriesand Kit’s dream of chamber music in the redwoods will continue.Her family invites you to a Memorial Service in Kit’s honor on Saturday,February 16th at 2:00 p.m. at the Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino Ave.,Santa Rosa.2-14-08~ www.westcountygazette.com15

Volunteer HeroesCitizen of the Year 2007- Denise WoodBy Meena UtaridForestvillehas anotheroutstandingcitizen to bragabout this year.Denise Woodhas lived inForestville for20 plus yearsand is marriedt o D o u gWood. She isa mother of 5children, one son and four daughters.She is an exceptional woman who hasserved her community in numerousorganizations.Denise is the President of KALLAHgroup which serves under the UnitedMethodist Church. In this capacity,she has lead the group to aid in localand international affairs. Locally thegroup assists families in need andprovides gifts, food and good cheer.Internationally the group has sponsoredmissionaries in Tajikistan and monetaryaid to organizations in India andAfrica.Denise has been volunteering hertime, skills and knowledge to supportthe Golf Tournament and annual BBQfor the Forestville Youth Park and ison the Youth Park Board, is on theForestville Fire Department Board, isvital to El Molino Project Graduationfrom the Yard Sale to the party itself,volunteers with our Seniors groupPrime Timers, volunteered for Friendsof Forestville School for 17 years, andcountless extra curricular activities forher children. Every one of her childrengrew up with her volunteering in theclassroom, for fundraisers and anythingelse that helped with their education andsports activities. Our schools will sufferwhen her last child graduates!Denise is also a great friend tocountless individuals and has been acomfort for those in need. She has manyresponsibilities and commitments to herfamily and yet she still finds the time, toserve her community and friends withlove and kindness.Forestville’sService to CommunityChief Gary DuignanG a r y ’ sabout to takea lot of timeoff now thathe’s retiringafter 37 yearsserving ourcommunity.When a personhas been ina prominentr o l e o fresponsibilitythis long, he becomes an institution.Gary’s list of accomplishments andprofessional affiliations is too long toprint in this paper. He is also a CertifiedFire Investigator and is Forestville’sBranch Director during floods along theRussian River.Chief Duignan has been our Fire Chiefsince 1971 when he was the youngestFire Chief in the state of California, hasserved our community for more than37 years and oversees the one of mostsuccessful volunteer staffs in SonomaCounty which responds to more than850 calls for service a year. During histenure, our department has grown insophistication as well as dramaticallyincreased our ability to serve andprotect. His last day of work will be onMarch 14th, so we know he’ll be aroundfor our Awards Dinner on March 8th.Thank you Gary for all you have doneto serve our community over the years.Just don’t go too far or we’ll miss youtoo much! You can retire knowing yourstewardship is passing on to good andcapable hands. Thank you from all of uswho have benefited from your protectiveleadership.16 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08Volunteer of the Year- J.D. KaiwiJ.D. - most people don’t know hislast name, but just about everyone inForestville knows J.D. He’s a familiarimage riding his bicycle up MirabelRoad, working at Speer’s Market, andmost of all volunteering at just aboutevery event Forestville has.Officially, he takes care of the trashevery year at the Forestville Youth ParkBBQ, he’s been in the parade, he cooksat the Hollydale Club events, he workswith Bob Burke’s Kids program servingfood, entertaining guests and beingBob’s right hand man. When the BoyScouts have their annual breakfast, J.D. isflipping pancakes. If there’s an event orparty for the public, he’ll come and lenda hand. J.D. is one of those volunteerswho never thinks a thing about the efforthe is putting in. “I volunteer because it’sfun to do. There are neat people aroundhere and I like being with them.” J.D.smiles and states humbly.

Ask theLoan ManHans Bruhner(707) 887-7950 • hans@hbloans.netCan I still buy a house with no money down?Ok, here’s the deal. My business manbrain is telling me to look at this questionand give you a bunch of dry answersabout how you can buy a house forlittle or no money down and what theupcoming conforming and FHA loanlimit increase means to you.That isn’t really the way I want towrite this. Hey! It’s my article; I am goingto write it the way I want to. Just to getit out of the way, here is the businessman part:You can still buy a home for little orno money down! I have 5 different loanprograms and several different downpayment assistance programs availableto help you get in to a home for ZEROto 2% down. YES! This article is beingwritten on February 8 th , 2008 and thatis still a true statement.That is really great but here is thereally good part. ALL of these programsrequire that you document your incomeand fully qualify. In other words lendersare going to check and make sure thatyou will be able to repay the loan andhave money left over to live life as well.Wow, that’s different! In the past 7 to 9years, we have not really had to botherwith qualifying people. I am joking alittle bit but loan programs got prettyloose for a while.Just a note here: As a mortgage brokerwho operates from a place of honestyand integrity, I always wanted to makesure that my clients understood the loanprogram they were getting and I had toknow that they could actually make thepayments fit into their lifestyle. I mighthave made a few less dollars in the lastfew years, but I can sleep at night and Ihave pretty loyal clients.. OK, so you need to be poor enoughto qualify for the special loan programand still make enough money to qualify.Right now, that means that you need tobe looking at homes at around $417,000or less to make this work.We have just gotten the economicstimulus package passed (HR 5140)and President Bush is expected to signit into law by February 14 th , 2008 and itwill raise conforming and conventionalloans to as much as $729,750 in high costareas. The formula is that they will lendup to 125% of the median home price(which HUD needs to determine). Myguess is that Sonoma County will go upto anywhere from $620,000 to as high asthe max $729,750…..So what this means is that theprograms I described above will worka whole lot better in Sonoma County.You still need to qualify for the loans sothe high loan to value first time buyerprograms won’t offer a whole lot morethan they do now for most people.The new loan limits will open updoors for people who need a larger loanamount and it will make refinancespossible for some folks who just couldnot get a loan in the last few months for1 reason or another.I have started a video blog to deal withthese issues in 2 to 3 minute YouTubestyle videos that are designed to getthe information to consumers in a niceeasy way. Just go to www.HansBlog.comto see what I am talking about. I haveenjoyed writing these articles but I amreally enjoying making and distributingthe videos. Since I can make a videoand post it the same day, it is extremelyrelevant.So, this time as before, the questionisn’t how much can I get and how cheapwill it be? The real question is can I buy ahouse that fits my needs and my budget?Talk to a mortgage professional that youcan trust and find out.“It really is possible to talkabout the unfathomable– and that courageous actscan free us to work toward abetter future for us all.”- Pam Smith, “Entangled Lives:A Conversation Between Descendantsof Master and Slave”2-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com17

5th District Supervisor Candidate Views on IssuesWCG has invited all our candidates to take advantage of this opportunity to let you know wherethey stand on issues, who they are, and what is important to them. Be an informed voter.FOR PREVIOUS ESSAYS - go to www.westcountygazette.com and cick on PAST EDITIONSLet’s get back to the issuesBy Jim MarescaEnough about the property tax flap!!Let’s get back to the real issues in thiscampaign.Sonoma County is a $1.3 billionoperation with more than 4,000employees. Its budget has been allowedto spin out of control, particularlywith exorbitant senior managementcompensation like a $310,000 totalcompensation package for the CountyAdministrator, which is way more thanwhat the Chief of Staff for the Presidentof the United States is paid!For years, rising real estate values andthe associated property tax revenueshave covered a multitude of sins inSonoma County. Those days are over.With property values dropping and theState on the verge of major cutbacks,some serious management is needed.What happens if we fail to do that?Major cutbacks in programs that we allknow are important.The county budget document is aninch thick-- full of questions that shouldbe asked. For example, why does theprobation department, which comprisesfewer than 300 people, require 9.6accounting staff? One accounting personfor every 29 employees?? My implicationis not that these 9.6 employees are notdoing real work. My point is that if thatmany accounting staff are necessary,something must be wrong -- either inthe county management structure or inhow technology is being used.Another example: the Departmentof Environmental Health has 27 healthprofessionals supported by 5 secretarialstaff. I have run whole companieswith less secretarial staff than that!Again, these people are probably doingreal work, but in today’s computerage, NO organization needs thatkind of administrative staff. And ifit does, something is wrong with themanagement structure or the use oftechnology.One of my opponents has suggesteddealing with the problem with a hiringand spending freeze. I disagree. Ithink our approach has to be a lot moreintelligent and a lot more detailed. Asone prominent 5 th district citizen recentlyput it, “I don’t see a work product thatjustifies 4000 people.”As a first step, I have a proposal toput on the table for comment by you, thepublic, and by my opponents:1) an immediate 15% cut in all totalcompensation packages over $200,000per year (there are 122 of them);2) an immediate 10% cut in allpackages over $150,000 per year (thereare 484 of them)3) the supervisors set the exampleby an immediate 20% cut in their own$215,000 total compensation package.Notice that I am talking about totalcompensation packages, not just salaries.Don’t you think people making $200,000can afford to buy their own cars, justlike you and I do, and turn in expensereports for their business miles?One of the most important skills weneed in the next supervisor is the abilityto look at a budget anomaly and translatethat in to a management problem thatcan be addressed. As much as I respectmany of the things the other candidateshave accomplished, I don’t see anythingin their backgrounds, either personal orprofessional, that would indicate thatthey have that skill.Candidates Web Sites:www.jimforsupervisor.comwww.maddy4supervisor.com.www.ruefurchforsupervisor.comwww.tomlynch4supervisor.comThere is a new, easy to use- website set up to help you send lettersand Save Our Park. Please send your letter today and send thiswebsite to anyone you know so that we can flood our legislatorswith complaints about the park Closures. www.savestateparks.org/18 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08Acting Locally: To Save Armstrong Redwoods…& Schools and Health Care too!By Maddy HirshfieldWhen Governor Schwarzeneggerunveiled his doomsday budget lastmonth many of us were stunned. Facedwith a deficit largely of his own making,the Governor turned to the peopleand asked for a bailout. Rather thanasking the wealthiest Californians tocontribute more, he wants to issue morebonds, increasing the debt that futuregenerations will need to pay. Ratherthan making selected cuts based onmerit, he’s targeting California’s mostvulnerable populations with “across theboard” cuts.Locally, the Governor has proposedclosing Armstrong Redwoods StateReserve and the neighboring AustinCreek State Park. Armstrong Redwoodsis an anchor in our community,celebrating one of our most cherishednatural legacies, the Coast Redwood.It was only months ago that I was atArmstrong Woods to celebrate thenew educational display funded bycontributions of over $10,000 by Bettyand Herb Reiss. It brought home theimportance of the park to individualsand the community. Closing these twoparks along with 46 others also targetedon the Governor’s list will save just $9million – that’s less than 0.07% of thetotal $14.5 billion deficit!County programs serving the elderly,children and the infirm are also on thechopping block. Vital health programs,including the Rural Health Program,benefits the state provides through theDepartment of Veteran Affairs, andpublic schools are all facing deep cuts.Even before the budget was announced,the Governor made it clear educationwould not be spared. Speaking withthe press about the pressure to meet thedemands of No Child Left Behind withreduced budgets, Santa Rosa SchoolBoard Member Jim Leddy said, “…[it’s]like asking to fix your car with no moneyto buy parts.” Across the county, schooldistricts will be required to do morewith less. Under funding our schools isa recipe for disaster. In an increasinglyknowledge based economy we will notbe able to compete unless our childrenare properly educated. And, at a timewhen the income gap is growing inour country as well as in our county, agood education is the key to economicopportunity.And let’s not forget, the day afterour Governor was sworn in, he slashedthe Vehicle License Fee. The VLF iseffectively a progressive tax (because it’sbased on the value of your car) and wentdirectly tol o c a lgovernmentsrather thanto the stateG e n e r a lFund. Thiss i n g l e ac ta d d e d $ 6billion a yearto our statebudget shortfall. Closing parks – whichmakes up a mere fraction of the deficit– and cutting services to the elderly,poor, and disabled is not the answer.What can a County Supervisor do?Supervisors and other local officialsshould be leading the push back on thebudget. And as taxpayers, we all have aresponsibility to get involved and makesure our voices are heard.As a long time activist, I am calling,writing and participating in localactivities to make it clear we will notgive up our parks or balance the budgeton the backs of our most vulnerable.And, if elected I will bring to bear myrelationships with state agencies and thelegislature to make sure that Sonomagets its fair share.But this can’t wait until we have a newSupervisor. Here are two easy ways toget involved today:• Environment California haslaunched an email campaign to stopthe cuts to Armstrong Redwoods andother state parks. Tell the Governorhow you feel about this. (http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/action/preservation/state-parks?id4=ES)• Contact your representatives.The Stewards of the Coast & Redwoodshas compiled a list of contacts thatcan be accessed at http://www.stewardsofthecoastandredwoods.org/keepparksopen.htm. The Steward’semphasis is appropriately on parks butyou can use these contacts to also expressyour thoughts about all issues related tothe budget. Our legislators need to hearfrom us.Lastly, we can take heart that theGovernor’s budget is merely a roughdraft. Legislators – and, by way of ourcomments to them, we – get to have abig say in the final version.Maddy Hirshfield is a candidate for5 th District Supervisor and welcomesyour comments and ideas. Contact her atcampaign@maddy4supervisor.com. Visit herwebsite at maddy4supervisor.com.

5th District Supervisor Candidate Views on Issues - cont’dEmergency ServicesBy Rue FurchWhen you call 911, how long doyou have to wait before help arrives?When you call the police, what can yourealistically expect to happen next?Where are your most reliable emergencyresources in your own home andneighborhood? For many west countyresidents, these are urgent questions.One of my most important goalsas Fifth District Supervisor will be togive west county residents a realisticawareness of the county resources thatwill – and won’t - be available to themin time of emergency.Many of us recall the record-high 1986flood along the Russian River and thegiant Air National Guard helicoptersthat plucked people from their roofsand decks when they were surroundedby rising river water. Thanks to budgetconstraints and the Iraq war, thosehelicopters probably won’t be here forus next time.That goes for a lot of other servicesas well: just ask the people in NewOrleans whose homes were destroyedby Hurricane Katrina and the folksin Sacramento who are drawing upbudget cuts for California. We canexpect sluggish response from thevarious agencies we turn to --FEMA ,CDF, the California National Guard andothers -- and we will need to becomemore self-reliant at the local level. Wewill particularly need to turn to ourneighbors.But even if state and federal emergencyresources are thin, there is plenty thatyour Fifth District supervisor can dofor you.I will act as your ombudsmanto monitor first-responder trainingprograms, revisit emergency plans, andmake sure the board of supervisors issetting policies that best allocate theemergency resources that are available.I will determine whether state, federaland county agencies have establishedcommunication channels that insuremutual-assistance agreements willactually work and can bring in outsideresources quickly. I will find out whenthose channels were last tested and ifnew tests are needed. A long careerworking with non-profits has trainedme to ask the right questions and comeup with real answers.And I will provide leadershipproactively. There is no question thatdisaster preparedness falls off betweenincidents. Memories of the 1995 and1997 floods are fading, and some of thedisaster preparedness Web sites createdby private individuals have disappeared.Fortunately some government sites aremore informative than they used to be.For example, people need to know thatcan get very useful weather warningsat:http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/cnrfc/warnings.phpAs your supervisor I will make iteasier for neighbors to network andfind ways to help each other, workingthrough Neighborhood Watch and othercommunity organizations. I will do allI can to help west county communitiesfind resources, get organized, and gettraining before trouble comes. And Iwill monitor county training proceduresto make sure county first responders,particularly sheriff’s deputies, get thetraining they need to best serve westcounty residents.I’ve lived through Russian Riverfloods, and know you always have tobe prepared. My first priority will begetting resources and support intothe disaster areas, and then keepingthe resources coming in the days thatfollow.Our recent stormy weather was agood reminder that we shouldn’t waituntil the next election to beef up disasterreadiness and then find out what toexpect from first responders when wecall 911. If you’d like my help settingup an emergency services meeting inyour community, let me know. You canemail me at rue@ruefurchforsupervisor.com or learn more at my Web site: www.ruefurchforsupervisor.comScience shows that when we are deciding whichcandidate to support, anxiety, enthusiasm and who weidentify with count more than logic and reasoning. Inevery election, the emotions most in play are fear and theyearning for security; hope and a desire for inspiration,and a wish for a certain level of comfort with acandidate. - NEWSWEEK, February 11 editionTime to Freeze County Salaries, Benefitsand Non-Essential Hiring…By Tom LynchThe first debate for the 5th DistrictSupervisorial seat was held at theSebastopol Veterans Auditorium. Thankyou for the fantastic job to StephenFuller-Rowell, Larry Hanson, JaneStuppin, David Benefiel, and MaggieBriare with SOS Save Our Sonoma andAtascadero Green Valley Creek Assn.!!What strengthens me in our campaignfor 5th district Supervisor is finally after50 years on this planet and almost 30years raising a ruckus in West County;I am seeing more clearly the task ahead.Disparate ideas, thoughts and issues arestarting to connect and make sense. Isaid at the debate we are in the midst ofwhat may be the largest transference ofwealth from one generation to anotherin the history of mankind. It is too easyfor one generation to burden another.The measure of all our challengeswith respect to the environment, theeconomy and government services issustainability.Since college when I majored inpolitical science I have studied unfundedobligations and generational equity.When I ran for Congress in 1990 one ofmy positions was “entitlement programsshould be based on need”. We have toreallocate our resources to address ourmost pressing needs and leverage ourtime, talent and treasure to greatestadvantage. I see clearly that part ofa local solution is we need to freezeCounty salaries, benefits, and nonessentialhires. Money saved should beused to restore funds to our strugglingnon-profits, volunteer and faith basedorganizations, and improvements toroads and infrastructure.After months of efforts with PublicRecords Act requests, hundreds ofhours of research and questions tostaff, then to parse data from highest tolowest paid worker; finally last week weplaced on our website all the “budgeted”salary and benefit totals for each of our4037 public servants for 07-08 (namesremoved of course). An unprecedentedoccurrence that should be in the publicrecord every year as part of an openand transparent government (www.TomLynch4Supervisor.com) . I love theinternet; one 350kb file, the size of asmall photo; with data that illustrates thereason we are so close to a fiscal disasterwith our County government.I see in oneof my fellowc a n d i d a t e sm o n t h l ymissives thath e q u o t e sdata from ourwebsite; andproposes “animmediate 10-15% cutback” in salaries among someworkers. Of course the problem withthis is due to the fact that there areabout 20 different “bargaining groups”of union and unrepresented employees,all with contracts, some which will notexpire for several years. Unfortunatelynothing is immediate when it comes togovernment. I will provide well thoughtout, intelligent and detailed positions;as your Supervisor I would work hardto reform the system with creative andinnovative solutions like a spendingfreeze.I recently received from Countyadministration 10,000 pages of detailedsalary and benefit information from the06-07 “actual payout”. I suspect withovertime, etc. instead of 112 staff withover 200K/year and 384 staff with over150K/year the actual 06-07 payout willtop 800 public servants earning over150K/year in compensation!Since the year 2000 the medianhousehold income in Sonoma Countyhas declined by 2% while Countysalaries and benefits have increasedby 70%. As arcane and boring thesenumbers are in the telling; there are realsocial consequences to these figures. Iam writing more in depth on mywebsite…check out my issues page, wealso have a new Google video from thedebate.Finally I just wanted to say in theever expanding field of 5th DistrictSupervisorial candidates I feel we arefortunate to have such a qualified groupof dedicated individuals with a broadarray of personal and professional skillsand the courage to serve. I am honoredto be in the political arena with suchdistinguished company. I sincerelyrespect each of my fellow candidatesfor their good deeds, and I look forwardto us all working together toward asustainable future in Sonoma County.Peace out...and again thank you Vestafor this wonderful “Forum for theFuture.”“He was too New York, too Italian,and he had too many wives.”- Corothy Kaliades, of Queens, on the problems withRudolph W. Giuliani’s presidential quest.2-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com19

Patient Power NOWThe Everyday Guide to Cranky Doctors, DisgruntledPatients and the Doctor/Patient MeltdownBy James C. DeVore, MDand Deb SkinnerQ: I have a torn cartilage in my knee andneed surgery. My problem is the orthopedist.He doesn’t really explain things, and seemstotally uninterested in me. My pre-surgeryappointment lasted less than five minutesand now I’m nervous about him cuttingme open. Should I look for another kneespecialist?A: Primary care docs deal withthis issue frequently. The problem isthat specialists tend to be profoundlydifferent from primary care doctors inthe way they approach their profession.If you’re used to personal attention froma family physician, it would make sensethat you are put off by the surgeon’sbrusque behavior. While a familydoc might thrive on the relationshipwith the person, the knee specialist ismore concerned with fixing the torncartilage.In introducing the concept of patientpower – and having stronger relationshipswith doctors - it’s important to beginwith the idea that doctors are not all thesame. Yet when patients have a medicalencounter, they usually have veryspecific expectations about the qualitiesthat a doctor should exhibit.For example, some patients have theidea that all doctors should be warmand compassionate. When they comeacross doctor who is personally cooland aloof they are frustrated. Otherpatients expect doctors and their officesto look spotlessly clean and professional.When they visit the pediatrician’soffice and see toys strewn everywhere,the receptionist munching a granolabar and the doc wearing a polo shirtinstead of a starched white coat they areunsettled. Other patients expect a doctorto evaluate their concern in exacting andtime-consuming detail. They expecta serious and focused doctor to studytheir “indigestion” like a detective ina crime lab, leaving no test undone todetermine the source of the problem.When the doctor turns out to think more“globally”, does a brief evaluation andsuggests that modifying life stressesmay be more important than a milliondollarworkup, they are dissatisfied.With that in mind we return to yourquestion. While we would never excusedoctors who are rude or treat patientspoorly, in our experience, there aren’tmany doctors who purposely do that.In your case, the surgeon probably hasno idea that you were dissatisfied. It’s notpart of his consciousness. He may be anexcellent surgeon who is more focusedon the surgery than his patient’s feelings.This lack of warmth may lead patients tobelieve he’s arrogant or uncaring. Keepin mind that many surgical specialistsmigrate to their specialty because theyexcel in the technical aspects of surgery.While your orthopedist is focused onyour knee - this can make you the personfeel left out.The bigger question is whether or notyou want to proceed with this physician.This is where patient power really starts.Before you go looking for another kneesurgeon, ask yourself these questions:Does this surgeon possess the technicalexcellence necessary to fix my knee?If this was a referral from your primarydoctor or a knowledgeable friend, youcan be sure he superb.What information do I need to feelcomfortable with my surgery and how canI get it?Make another appointment specificallyto go over your questions. Even the mostaloof doctors will try to be helpful ifthey are nudged. If you can, use hisnurse or assistant to explain things inmore detail.Should I accept the lack of a warmrelationship with this doctor in exchangefor his surgical expertise?It depends. Real patient power meanslearning to understand and work withall types of medical doctors in yourpursuit of excellent medical care. Agood beginning is recognizing that notall doctors are programmed to relate topatients the same way. Maybe you can besatisfied knowing that your orthopedist,while not as “warm and fuzzy” as youwould like, could be the best darn “kneeman” in town.If you have a question or problem about yourrelationship with a doctor, we can help. Justsend an email to the Patient Power NOWteam at: xxxx or visit our website at www.patientpowernow.com.20 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08Iraq’s medical system is all but incapable of caring for the maimedand dismembered civilians as a result of this war. It was alreadybeleaguered by the international sanctions imposed on thegovernement of Saddam Hussein, but the problems have grownlegion: Specialists have fled the country; necessities such asbandages, intravenous saline and electricity are in short supply.“There is no medical system in Iraq to speak of,” Said Hakki, IraqiRed Crescent Society director. Doctors Without Borders is one ofthe few organizations that help Iraqis wounded in the war and payfor their transporation and treatment. - Washington Postwww.doctorswithoutborders.org

TMFiction, Poetry & Art from West County Contributors • Published Biannually by VESTA Publishing LLC • www.westcountygazette.com‘Mama, Please’Missing James BrownBy Cecile Lusby“Look, Ceci, Ralph Gleason’s columnquotes Louie Armstrong’s saying thatrock and roll is a new name for the oldmusic he used to hear in church as achild. I want you to know that thereis history here that you kids todaydon’t know; Elvis Presley borrows andbenefits from Negro culture. If you wantto hear the real sound of black music,listen to Mahalia.”Playing my mother’s Mahalia Jacksonrecords was how I learned to see mymother as a person with informed tastes.Until 1957op,that is.“Mama. Don and Jerry are gettingsome kids together from Memorial to goto a concert. Can I go, too?” I asked.“May I go, dear,” my mother said,distractedly.“OK, then. May I go?”“Who is playing:”“James Brown and his FamousFlames and Little Richard.”“Who?”Mama paused to put her hand upand massage her forehead. The delay inthe gesture convinced me that she hadwatched Brown’s TV appearance earlierthat year. No Mahalia in a voluminouschoir robe--no resemblance whatever.The hardest work i ng ma n i nshowbusiness was a performance artistmore than a singer He danced all overthe stage, including and especiallythe floor itself. Bobbing and weaving,stomping and collapsing, being revivedby his courtiers in the band to bring him,time and again, to the throne. His crowd,crown, and mantle were waiting forhim. All he had to do was get there. Butfirst: advance and retreat. First: survive.He crashed and crowed, covered inperspiration, beads of sweat poppingoff, flying from his moving face as wellas his taut and tiny frame.James had humility then. “Please,” heasked. “Try me,” he begged.What was my mother thinking ,this bold young girl who once tookup the ‘apache’ dances begun by theEuropean resistance fighters in theirlove of American jazz and swing. Thesomber, Bohemian clothes of the WorldWar II generation contrasted with theiracrobatic feats, making their dance aJAMES cont’d on page 23“Story Time” - by Rodger Eva - Oil Pastel of Raw Canvas,on exhibit at The Gallery Art Cooperative, Monte Rio, CAAs soon as I saw this painting, I knew I wanted it for the cover of ourWinter Reader. It’s the essence of the pleasure of reading. A comfy chair- or bed - and good light - when the characters and visuals from a novelcome to life, jumping off the page into our imaginations in silent splendor.Thank you Rodger for sharing your art with all of us.See more of Rodger Eva’s creations at The Gallery Art Collective(a wonderful cooperative gallery of local artists) at the T of Hwy 116 inMonte Rio across from the Rio Theater and next to Bloomers Gardens.Enjoy this season’s collection of local talent!The West County Reader is published in the pages of the West County Gazette for the pure pleasure of reading. Enjoy!The Last Womanfrom PetalumaBy Greg SarrisHer Indian name, or at least one ofher Indian names, the only one any ofus know, was Tsupu. She was my greatgreat-grandfather’smother, or my greatgreat-greatgrandmother, and, again asfar as any of us know, the last native ofPetaluma, not the city we know today, butthe ancient Coast Miwok village of thesame name. Certainly, she was the lastto pass down any memory of the place.She was quite young, perhaps fourteen,when she left, beginning what wouldbecome a chaotic, wholly incrediblejourney to find and keep a home inand about Sonoma County. Thoughthe village was abandoned once andfor all after the 1838 smallpox epidemicclaimed its remaining citizens andthough American farmers demolishedits large midden, using the centuriesold refuge of decomposed shells forfertilizer, eradicating any trace of thevillage, Tsupu never forgot it. The lasttime she visited she was completelyblind, yet nodding with her chin to anempty hillside, she said “there,” as if shecould see Petaluma plain as day, tulehuts and fire smoke.The village was atop a low hill, east ofthe Petaluma River, located about threeand a half miles northeast of the presentcity of Petaluma. Petaluma in CoastMiwok means “Sloping ridge,” and, aswas often the custom, was no doubtnamed after that distinct feature of thelandscape associated with its location.C. Hart Merriam, a naturalist interestedin the Indians of California, wrote in1907 that “the name Petaluma appearsto have come from the Kanamara Pomo(South Pomo) on the north,” but, aslinguist Catherine A. Callaghan pointsout, Petaluma is clearly a Coast Miwokword. peta - luma: slope ridge.There was never a tribe or nationknown as Coast Miwok; the aboriginalpeople of Petaluma never referredto themselves as such. Linguists andanthropologists, classifying Californianatives at the turn of the twentiethcentury by language families, identifiedthe dozen or more distinct aboriginalnations ranging from the southernSanta Rosa plain to the northern tipof the San Francisco Bay as “CoastMiwok” speakers, as opposed to “Pomo”PETALUMA cont’d on page 22

PETALUMA cont’d from page 21“It really is possible to talk about theunfathomable – and that courageous acts canfree us to work toward a better future for us all.”- Pam Smith, “Entangled Lives: A ConversationBetween Descendants of Master and Slave”speakers to the north and “Wappo”speakers to the east. While variationsin the languages of the Pomo-speakingnations were in some cases so great,different nations could not understandone another, such was not the case withCoast Miwok speakers, where variationsconsisted mostly in accent, as betweenBritish English and American English,and never more diverse than Old Englishand Modern English, allowing CoastMiwok nations to communicate freelywith one another.Petaluma, a thriving community ofat least 500 individuals, was a majorvillage of the Lekatuit Nation, whoseterritory included Petaluma Valley andextended north and west to Potaawa ·yowa, or Chalk Ground, another largeLekatuit village, once located near thepresent town of Freestone. Lekatuit,which means “cross-ways willow” inCoast Miwok, was also the name of avillage located just a half mile north ofthe present town of Petaluma, actuallycloser than the aboriginal village of thesame name.The Petaluma Valley region wasprized for its enormous herds of deer andelk as well as for its productive groves ofvalley oak and black oak. Coast Miwokelder Maria Copa (from Nicasio) toldanthropologist Isabel Kelly in 1932 that“deer and elk used to be plentiful in thevalley this side of Petaluma [present city]-- just like cattle there [and that] Nicasiopeople got acorns from the PetalumaValley.” Ducks and geese flew up fromthe Petaluma River and its tributariesso thick as to obliterate the sun for anhour at a time, and seasonal swarms ofmonarch butterflies passing through© D. Hjulthe Petaluma Valley a mile wide, severalmiles long, forced the Lekatuit thereto take refuge for sometimes a fullday. Petaluma, the ancient village, wassituated along a major trade route thatstretched south and west through otherCoast Miwok villages, and north intoPomo territory and east into Wappoand Wintun territories -- the region’sabundant deer and elk and acorn supplypositioned its people well to trade forwhat they needed from other places…And Petaluma was considered a sacredplace: On a low hill opposite the hill onwhich the village was located, Coyote,that sometimes foolish Creator-figurefor most California Indian tribes, had hisconversation with Chicken Hawk aboutcreating human beings. Again, MariaCopa said, “It was at wotoke, a placenear Petaluma, that Coyote and walinapi[Chicken Hawk] talked first. Coyote wasliving on a rock on top of that hill.”Read the entire story at: http://w w w. f r ie nd s o f f ig r. c o m / le a r n .htm#otherliterature Go to: “Otherliterature” and click on the story title.Greg Sarris’ writing includes Keeping SlugWoman Alive; A Holistic Approach toAmerican Indian Texts (1993), GrandAvenue (1994), Mabel McKay: Weavingthe Dream (1994), and Watermelon Nights(1998). On behalf of his Tribe he co-authoredthe bill signed by President Clinton in 2000restoring legal status to the Federated Indiansof Graton Rancheria of which he serves aselected Chair. Sarris teaches creative writing,American and American Indian literatureat SSU.22 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08

JAMES cont’d from page 21stance of its own, an active leaping upand out at fascism. Did she remember,or even know how she once made metremble, terrified by her fierce dancewith my father. Did she think the newmusic would change me?“Who?” she asked again.“James Brown, Mama. This will beso cool, there’s never been a show likethis in Fresno.”“What?” she said, turning off theopera broadcast.“James Brown’s show is coming toFresno, Mama. There will be a group ofus from school and we’ll go together.”“There may be a group, but you won’tbe in it. My answer is ‘no’ and that’sthat.”“Mama!”“I just told you. Don’t think I haven’theard about all the fights that happenat these rock and roll dances. You justcan’t throw kids together who’ve neversocialized before. Do you think youknow people? When fights happen,somebody is bound to have a knife orsome other weapon. That’s no place fora fifteen year old girl.”Her decision was final. My friendswent and sure enough, there was afight. The Fresno Bee reported that analtercation broke out, and that a boy wastreated for minor facial cuts, Fisticuffs,but no fatalities.I took up the practice of listeningto late night radio, which was then assegregated as the nation. Muffling thesound under my pillow in the dark daysbefore the headphone or the walkmanor the iPod, I tuned to Wolfman Jack orthe black stations playing Ray Charles,Charles Brown, and Bullmoose Jackson.My search for my own musical freedomof choice, my own music seen and heardin public had to wait.The story above is excerpted from LullabiesFrom Liberty StreetPaying Your WayBy Alan JosephI stood on the bank of the river, starsoverhead and clear quiet water flowingat my feet. The only other light camefrom a factory on the other side, itswindows glowing in the warm summernight.When I looked down, the water wasno longer clear. It was filled with wood,lumber of all sizes rolling and tumblingin a fast moving current. I found myselffalling into the chaos, wood batteringand bruising my body, the water swirlingand pulling me under. I’d grab aboard to pull myself up, only to haveanother smash into my fingers. Boardby board, I clawed and swam and foughtmy way to the other shore.Gasping for breath, I reached the farside. My feet slipped as I climbed upthe sloping grass to an open windowwhere a woman was typing. Exhausted,I stumbled towards the typist. Sheglanced over her shoulder and said, “I’llbe right with you.” Then she removedthe papers from her typewriter, toreoff the top sheet and handed me whatlooked to be an invoice.“What’s this for?” I asked.Looking over her glasses she replied,“It’s a bill for the lumber in the river. Youhave to pay for what you go through.”These We RememberBy Eleh Ezkerah‘Tis a fearful thingTo loveWhat death can touch.To love, to hope, to dream,And oh, to lose.A thing for fools, this,But a holy thing,A holy thing to love.For your life has lived in me;Your laugh once lifted me;Your word was a gift to me.To remember this brings painful joy.‘Tis a human thing, love,A holy thing,To loveWhat death can touch.“...know yourself, ultimately, to beno less than a speck of dust, and nogreater than the God you seek.”~ Archie Fire Lame Deer, Lakota2-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com23

© Patricia Karcie - The Gallery Art Collective, Monte RioConfessions of an Aging SwimmerBy James MillerNo one really likes aging,But as I have climbed life’s ladder,Swimming has made the climbAll the more enjoyableAs it defies gravity’s weighty pullAllowing for more grace of movement,And if not that, for a good floating lollygag.Sometimes there are medals for my mantle,Particularly when my competition does not show,Or memories of how it used to beLike making National Top Ten in ’88When my type A was in top form,Now it is more like type S for slow,Or swimming with a pod of dolphinsFrom Catalina to the mainland,Or the camaraderie of an early morningSwimming into the sunriseAnd drinking Natures beautyIn her incredible light show.And just the other dayI turned in a personal record:Slowest time ever for a one mile lake swim!But as an aging athlete,Unlike those young whipper snappersWho take off sprintingOnly to later shrivel up,I do require a little longer foreplayTo get my body movingIn all its cranky but anxious parts….And as elders we are entitledTo our valued swim aids,Which for me are those fins,For keeping my legs up and busy,The perfect viagra!Published, Wet Poets’ Society,An Anthology by swimmers’Poetry and Art, 2007“The eye is meant to see things.The soul is here for its own joy.”-Rumi24 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08

I drove out to the coast todayI still breath youindeepas I commute.Back and then forthover this same stretch of road.Back and then forth.This land.You.It’s all still you.You surround me.Every sunsetevenwhen my car is empty.Every sunset.Your really next to melikethe very first.The road slopes downto the shores of my delight,joy,my pleasure.This land.You.Its all still you.My skin remembers youas the metallic breezestrokes it.Your fingers,blunt and sensitivewarm against my arm,flat over my stomachfondling my breasts.I still feel themas I sit alone in my carpondering my futureout across the choppy seaand this rocky coastthe coast of you.The road snakes awaydeepinto hill after magical hillpainted over with well-balanced vines.I get dizzy watching themas I drive.Back and then forthover this same stretch of road.Back and then forth.They will mellow into champagne.Bubbles and bubbles!Tongues of fire-Your tongue of fire.I drive faster nowbecause I have gulped you down.So, now that we have become strangers againI still have you.Your dreams.Your smell.Oh! To lay across your bare chest againand breath them all in for the first time!But I have you now.Inscripted inside meforever scultpted inside me.Ripesyrupyand purple sweetlike those Sonoma plumsdribbling down my chin.- Dana Lee ValleyLife is what you make it.Live it to it’s fullest!Take a chance....Julie2-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com25

February is LOVE Month! Give some!Letting GoWhen someone you love diesand you want to keep all that was his,*do not hold on too tightlyto the material things he left behind.He had to let them go, and so must you.Just keep what meant the most to himwhich still holds the essence of his being— light and peace, love and caring.Remember, his spirit is still alive,as a source of love and encouragement.Feel it surrounding you,nourishing, strengthening you,and allow it to lead you into the worldto find new joys in living.*(or hers)- Krin AndertonTreasuring Those We LoveBy Vesta CopestakesThe recent accidental death of mybrother David, followed by the suddenillness and death of my father A.D.,opened me to conversations I neverknew. I know that people die every day,but their stories have never touched meso frequently and so deeply as they donow. One story after another has flowedinto my heart through conversation,letters, cards and e-mails. People sharetheir sorrows and lighten each other’sloads.A recent knock on my front doorbrought me face to face with a beautifulman grieving for his dying wife. Tearsstreaming down his cheeks werefollowed by a flood of words over herimpending death, his message he wantseveryone to feel and hear, and thehorrible loss he is experiencing.“I want everyone to hold on to thosethey love and cherish. Make sure thepeople you love know that you lovethem. Every day is important.”Sarah Alice Burkdoll is dying ofbrain cancer. Who knows how long shewill live, but her time is limited on thisearth. She and Dean have shared a mereeight years of laughter and joy - eightsweet years. People who find love laterin life know how precious love really is.When we are young we fall in and out oflove and feel confident there is anotherlove waiting just beyond the next bend.In time some give up on the concept aftertoo many broken hearts. Others keeplooking even though they are so set intheir ways the chances seem slim.But as Dean said, “You come to knowthat you can’t change someone else. Youbend and adapt to each other willingly.Sarah and I laugh together. We laughwhen we have nothing to laugh aboutand then we laugh more. I’ve neverlaughed with anyone like I do with her.Please tell people to keep Sarah in theirthoughts and prayers.” And we will.And Dean as well as his heart and lifetravel this path.And my friend Lindsay who suddenlylost her precious Daniel Farley to a heartattack as they were watching football andfolding laundry just weeks ago. Daniel, aman of sweet joy and laughter. Oh howhe loved Lindsay, his dog Woody, hisfriends who are family, the ocean andriding its waves on his surfboard. NowI am attending his memorial instead ofenjoying conversation over the kitchencounter.Tracy’s wonderful Daddy - dyingbefore her eyes. But he’s ready andlaughing his way down the path. He’s anold man now who lived a good life. Hemay be ready - but Tracy’s not. No oneis ever ready to lose someone we love.Daryl’s Daddy taking the same path.It’s breaking Daryl’s heart, but how canhe complain - his Dad is 95. How manypeople live that many years - hail andhearty right up to the fading end.When someone old dies, we accept itas part of life. Good for them - they livedlong and well. When someone youngdies - no matter what befell him or her,we grieve for the future they never had.Parents feel the ultimate pain of losinga child before they themselves die. Theorder is all wrong. My Daddy’s heartnever recovered from David’s death.He’s my baby brother - my heart willnever heal as well - mend yes, heal no.That’s the way it is.Paul called to tell me both his motherand brother died this last year - as didJeffery’s mother and brother. How manymore. Hundreds. Thousands - eachwith a story to be shared. Why doesthe Universe want to take these loving,joyful people away from us? We don’tknow and we’ll never know. The onlything we can be sure of is that love andlife are precious and taking it for grantedis a big mistake. This is a gift like noother. We don’t get to keep it. We onlyget to use it and pass it along. Best toremember that while we are holding itin our hands.26 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08

“The best thing for being sad is to learn something. Thatis the only thing that never fails. You may grow oldand trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awakeat night listening to the disorder of your veins, youmay miss your only love, you may see the world aboutyou devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honourtrampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only onething for it then ~ to learn. Learn why the world wagsand what wags it. That is the only thing which the mindcan never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by,never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting.”- spoken by Merlyn the Magician in T. H. White’s, *The Once and Future King*When Your True Heart...by Diane BodachWhen you find yourself at the bottom of the ocean no one has to say, “Swim!Swim for your life toward the light!”Your arms, your heart, your legs, your lungs, your brain, your eyes, every partof you is fixated on that point of light,and your body works with all the efficiency of which it is capableto propel you toward it.When your true heart reveals to you that which you really want,though a lioness stands at the gate with teeth like snow white daggerspointing up and down, she will not keep you from entering.Ancient chains of clinging, judgment, This is how I do it”,mind and fear slip away like silk off silk.Open to your true heart and the surging tide that knows no seasonwill fill you up with JoyEVACUATIONby Bethany ArgisleWhen you are running for your lifewhen you are surrounded by firewhen air becomes rarewhen motion changes it’s speedwhen you are but a mere seedblown to bitsyour habitatyour life rhythmwe are all wildlifecrispy tornbeyond forlornsouls scorn choicestorched porchespanic in your heartswhen all you knowfragments and ashall the pastwhat is true shall arisehath drawn us closer to the roaring of the Galatic Growlat war against ourselvesat your front doorat forevermorethe smoke is so thickheroes step up to the fire’s ferocityhungry flames rising higherhigher than the mountainshigher than the skyare you ready to fly?are you ready to die?know your circlecalm your switchescalm your snitchquisitionbreathing is a treasurelove is the pleasurethe word blessing has the word LESS in it...Listen to KOWS, 107.3 FM,community radio for the Kindom ofOccidental and West Sonoma2-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com27

By: Samuel UllmanYOUTH© Henry White - Graton Gallery, GratonYouth is not a time of life - it is a state of mind,it is a temper of the will,a quality of the imagination,a vigor of the emotions,a predominance of courage over timidity,of the appetite for adventure over love of ease.Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years.People grow old only by deserting their ideals.Years wrinkle the skin,but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.Worry, doubt, self-distrust,fear and despair - these are the long,long years that bow the head andturn the growing spirit back to dust.Whether they are sixteen or seventy,there is in every being’s heartthe love of wonder,the sweet amazement at the starsand starlike things and thoughts,the undaunted challenge of events,the unfailing childlike appetitefor what is to come next,and the joy and the game of life.You are as young as your faith,as old as your doubt;as young as your self-confidence,as old as your fear,as young as your hope,as old as your despair.When the wires are all downand all the innermost core of your heartis covered with the snows of pessimismand the ice of cynicism,then you are grown old indeed.But so long as your heart receives messagesof beauty, cheer, courage, grandeurand power from the earth,from man and from the Infinite,so long you are young.Music Herohttp://www.louisvilleleopardpercussionists.com28 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08

Dirty LittleSecretsBy Michael Knowlesdirtylittlesecretz@yahoo.comPeople frequently ask, “So, what doyou do?” or “Why do you call yourselfa horticulturist?” For the record -horticulture is the science of growingflowers, trees and shrubs in gardens,orchards and nurseries. Horticulturistsconduct experiments; investigatingproblems of planting, production,storage and processing of plants. Theycultivate plants by transplanting,watering, weeding, fertilizing, sprayingand training them. They use variousmethods to propagate plants and controlplant growth, plant diseases and pests.Horticulturists decide how muchfertilizer and pesticides to use and whento apply them. They may also developmachinery and automatic watering,temperature and light controllingdevices; soil mixes; chemicals; and othernursery products. Most specialize in aparticular field.Some specialists will focus on one typeof plant. Ornamental Horticulturists arespecialists in the growth and cultivationof decorative garden plants, flowers,landscaping plants and nursery stock.Floriculturists are concerned with thegrowing and distribution of cut flowers,bedding, pot plants and marketingflorists supplies. Arborculturists plant,feed, prune and provide pest control fortrees. They diagnose diseases affectingtrees and provide treatment. Theydecide where trees thrive best. Lawn andturf specialists work with homeownersand for park commissioners, highwaydepartment and golf courses.Many horticulturists work to conservenatural resources and to beautify theenvironment. They give advice on replantingprojects, roadside plantingto prevent erosion and cover cropsto enrich the soil. County ExtensionAgents (like Hank Kimble in GreenAcres) with horticultural degrees helpgardeners and commercial farmersimprove their horticultural methods.Horticulturists assist in planning andplanting landscaping for highwaysafetyAlthough working conditions vary,surroundings are usually pleasant.Whet her work i ng i ndoors i n agreenhouse or outdoors in a park oron a golf course, they are surroundedby beautiful growing plants. Outdoorworking conditions, however, may becold, hot, damp or dusty. Those whowork in parks are often required towork weekends. Those allergic to certainplants, pesticides or chemical spraysand fertilizers may not be able to workin this occupation. Horticulturists musthave color vision and finger dexterity.Horticultural research also requiresconcentrated use of the eyes over longperiods of time. Exposure to chemicalscould be hazardous.Prospective horticulturists have twoentry levels: directly from high schoolor a two-to-four year college degree.The minimum educational requirementis a high school diploma. Helpful highschool courses are chemistry, biologyand botany. Starting in low-skilledtrainee positions, workers may advanceto horticulturist positions in nurseriesand greenhouses. Oh, how I recall thoseearly days when I spent weeks on endworking solely with one type of plantlike tomatoes or pelargoniums. How Iwould daydream about the day whenI would have thirty years experiencebehind me! And look at me now.Although persons with a good highschool background and some practicalexperience can obtain employment,employers prefer applicants possessinga two to four year college degree inhorticulture. These graduates startin professional positions workingunder the direction of experiencedhorticulturists. Specialized course workor prior experience determines thefield of horticulture entered. Teachingand research positions require at leasta Bachelor of Science degree, but formany positions employers may acceptexperience substituted for some of thepost high school education required. Insome areas such as landscape contractorand pest control applicator, licensingmay be required.There is nothing like earning a livingdoing exactly what one wants to do toearn that living. The money earned maynot be phenomenal but to be employeddoing one’s hobby and favorite pasttime is worth it. I never complain aboutthe work itself although at times theworking conditions can be less thancomfortable from rain, cold or blazingsun. If everyone could be employeddoing exactly what one wants to doI’ve a feeling that we would have amuch happier work force. I’ve learnedtremendous patience and an uncannyability to see the future‚ when it comes tolandscape design and maintenance.It‚s time to get out there in the gardenduring these breaks in rain and surveyyour property. This is a good time toclean up any debris left over from thewinter. There are magnolias, someprunus species, narcissus and quinceflowering already. It won’t be long untilI am fully engaged in tackling my newyard which has been sorely neglected foryears. And sooner than I can imagine Iwill be eating the first tomato of the 2008growing season. What’s it going to bethis year - seeds or seedlings purchasedfor a nursery? Remember, it’s not howmuch you know but how enthusiasticyou are. Happy gardening. Shalom.2-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com29

Cinema ChatterBy Joan GarverickWest County RestaurantsBy Carolyn HoranFor the fans of Japanese cuisine Isuggest you try out the newly openedTOYO JAPANESE BISTRO. Thisrestaurant is located in the RosewoodShopping Center at 3082 Marlow Rd atthe corner of Marlow and Piner in SantaRosa. The owners are David and LisaLin. They are long time residents of SantaRosa and have two boys, Alexander whois attending college and his youngerbrother Christopher who comes in tohelp Mom and Dad some days afterschool. David was born in China andsince coming to the United States hasowned two other restaurants servingboth Chinese and Japanese dishes. Forthirteen years he operated the ChinaChef in Montgomery Village where heperfected his skills in preparing foodsof both these countries. He tells mepart of his decision to concentrate solelyon Japanese food eliminates customerconcerns about the oils and MSG thatis part of some Chinese dishes. He usesonly the freshest of fish and enjoys thecreativity of preparing plates that looklike a beautiful picture.One of the things I like about this jobis going in to new restaurants where noone knows who I am. It was a stormyand wet day that I first tried the TOYOJAPANESE RESTAURANT. As soon asI was seated David brought my menualong with a large mug of wonderfulhot tea so I could warm my hands andmy tummy. Both he and Lisa were veryattentive to the customers so the servicewas very good. I ordered the Sushi andSashimi lunch which included soup andsalad (5 Nigiri with 4 kinds of Sashimi).Although the lunch was plentiful Icouldn’t resist the special dessert, Mochimango ice cream. The Mochi was sofresh and soft it escapes me how it canbe filled with ice cream.The menu is very extensive – way tolong to list here. On the menu there areseveral categories for your selection. Asexample under the Soup, Salad and Ricesection you can choose from 11 options.In the Lunch Plate section you canchoose from12 differentitems whicha r e a l lserved withsoup, saladand rice for acost of $6.95to $8.95. Thesame for the14 selectiono f D i n n e rPlates whichrange from$10.95 to one choice of Halibut Katsufor $16.50. In the Nigiri Sushi sectionyou get 2 pieces per order and the pricestarts at $3.50 and goes to $6.75 – withone Blue fin Tuna Belly “O’Toro” for$12.00. They also serve grilled chicken,fish, pork and steak with teriyaki sauceas well as Tempura and Udon – all foraround $14.00.I do want to mention their selection ofover 30 kinds of imported Sake includingKatana, Kurosawa, Hatsumago andOkunomatsu plus about 15 kinds oflocal red and white wines. You couldalso choose champagne or Japanese beer.They can make some interesting cocktailssuch as “martinis” and “margaritas”with the Sake. They also have organicteas and soft drinks.The restaurant has an area that servesas a banquet room for large groups orspecial parties. During the summerthere is a patio so customers can eatoutside. There is a special Kid’s BentoDinner @ $8.25 for youngsters under 8years old.30 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08As I said in my first cinema chatter 5years ago next month, the best moviesmake you feel like you’re in them notjust watching them. This is certainlythe case with The Diving Bell and theButterfly. Director Julian Schnabeland writer Ronald Harwood haveadapted the memoir by Jean DominiqueBauby. He was the editor of French Ellemagazine and used to a life surroundedby fashion, music and beautiful women.At 43 he had a stroke that paralyzed himhead to toe. He could hear and blink oneeye. The eye blinking became his modeof communication by which he wrotehis memoir of the experience he waschallenged by. This is a very differentmovie and even though this situation isone most of us would dread this movieis no bummer. Mr.Bauby is locked inhis body but he has his imagination andhis memories and he combines them forsome remarkable inner vision travel.This remarkable film has a wonderfullydiverse soundtrack from J.S. Bach toT. Waits and it all fits into the pictureperfectly. How Julian made a film inFrench when he doesn’t speak it is amystery to me. Mr. Schnabel’s directioncoupled with Janusz Kaminiski amazingcinematography is a beautiful flowingfilm of desire, frustration, humor andtriumph.There Will Be Blood is not a bloodyfilm. This is a movie that starts out veryquietly; there is no dialogue in the first20 minutes. This could be a disaster butnot when the actor is Daniel Day Lewis.There is only him working in silver mine.The first 20 minutes tells us all we needto know about how this man is and howdriven he is to succeed. From this pointthe story shifts to oil and the early daysof oil exploration and what a wide openfree for all it was. You can understandwhy it was called wildcatting. Mr.Day-Lewis character is patient, greedyand quietly dominates all he comes incontact with. The soundtrack written byRadiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwoodis wonderfully different with a forceall its own. The soundtrack in tandemThe Li ns are i nvolved i n t hecommunity contributing to the seniorcenter (with gift certificates), schoolactivities (through soccer and baseball),and the Redwood Empire ChineseAssociation.I didn’t try the Tempura as yet, butthat will be my next selection as I amdefinitely going back. The restaurant isopen 7 days a week. Lunch is servedfrom 11:00 until 2:30 and dinner from4:30 to 9:30. On Friday and Saturdaythey serve until 10:00 p.m. Sundays thehours are from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. You cancall them at 707 527 8871.with cinematographer Robert Elswit(Michael Clayton & Good Night &Good Luck) brilliant vision floats thefilm along so that there is no need ofdialogue. The production design byJack Fisk adds to the sparse austerityof the scenes with strength all its own.Some think the movie goes off a cliffat the end (remember the raining frogsin Magnolia?) I think it was the logicalconclusion for someone who has crossedall lines of humanity for the love ofmoney and power. A friend told me hedidn’t like it but, couldn’t stop thinkingabout it. This is a beautiful intenseportrait of what greed can do to a humanbeing and those in contact with him.VideoPicks are very musical thismonth. Julie Taymor who gave us Friedadove into the vast pool of Beatles musicand managed to weave together a storyof the 60’s with their music. Across theUniverse is part love story and partantiwar tale. You can tell what’s comingbecause we know the songs and theirmessage; however, visionary Taymortells these stories and uses the songsin a completely different way. The filmstarts slow because there are so manyelements to set up but once that is donethe movie is off and running. If youlove the Beatles (yea!) this is a must, andif not you might be curious about howthis talented woman interprets thesewonderful songs.Lately there have been a lot of bio-picsabout entertainers. Now availablefor home viewing is La Vie en Rose.This is the remarkable story of Frenchchanteuse Edith Piaf. This womanhad an uphill battle her whole life.When you start your life in a brothelopportunities for improvement areslim. She was discovered singing in thestreets of Paris and through a series of2 steps forward 1 step back kind of lifethis “little sparrow” became the voiceof France. This woman had the innerstrength of 50 people. It is like a historylesson and a trip to Paris all in one withthe great French music flowing justlike the Champagne. Marion Cotillardplays Edith and this is the best actingyou will see in any movie from 2007.Again I will say it is just like being therein the restaurant or concert hall or onthe street. Director Oliver Dahan puttogether a beautiful film so real you canalmost smell the alcohol she is constantlydrinking. Happy Viewing

Listening 2ChildrenBy Sharon Ann Wikoffneways@pon.net • (707) 543-6355Does Johnny need ‘fixing”OR does the lifestyle need a change?Whenever I receive a request fromsomeone wanting advice on a parentingissue, I hesitate. I feel some are lookingfor a magic word… or the magic action tomake Johnny ‘mind’ or ‘cooperate’ whenperhaps the overall lifestyle or settingneeds to be reviewed and tweakedslightly.There is GOOD news…and there isBAD news about this situation. TheGOOD news is that in most situations,minor or subtle changes can make a hugedifference in the interactions betweenchildren and/ or adults.And the BAD news is that thosesubtle changes may be shifting a wayof ‘doing’ life, which has become apattern in one’s life. And changing one’spatterns requires mindfulness. Lifestylesdevelop over years. Before one realizesit, life may have become fast-paced,hectic and frantic! So, unless you stop amoment and LOOK carefully, you mightnot even have realized how unnaturalyour expectations have become for yourfamily or classroom setting.At times in my writing career, I’vecalled my work, Principles of Parenting:Essentials for Young Children &Principles for Life. These “Principles”can be applied to situations with youngchildren as well as with older childrenand even with adult children. Somemore GOOD news. These principles DOwork! And once you learn them, theyare yours for life and can be applied tonumerous situations and with childrenof ALL ages.If you want to change a habit…perhaps give up sugar, coffee or smoking,it doesn’t usually happen over night.So, as a parent, significant changes donot happen over night either. Changetakes time. However, as you learn tobe the ‘watchful observer’ of your selfand your child…and the interactiontaking place, you gain insight into whatis bringing about the reaction you arehaving from your child or children. Asyou substitute new ways of being withyour children, many times they willrespond differently and the neededchange is created!I invite you to look at your parentingor teaching ways as a study of life. Itcan bring about deeper understandingof who you are and how you approachliving. When a child is constantlyacting out or acting in a way that is notappropriate, it’s important to step backand look at the bigger picture, in otherwords take in a broad perspective of thesituation.Following are several of the principles,which nurture good relationships. Theyare part of what I refer to as “Principlesfor Parenting: Essentials for YoungChildren & Principles for Life.1. Every person deserves to bevalued, respected, and honored.2. Every person needs space andtime to think their own thoughts.3. Each person needs to be listenedto and honestly heard.4. Every person deserves to havepredictability in his/her life and live ina state of “contented awareness” and not“anxious awareness”.5. When differences arise in thefamily or classroom setting, varioussolutions need to be discussed and acompromise worked out which worksfor all.You may want to reflect on yourimmediate situation and see if you feelyou want to encourage the adjustmentof your child’s behavior or perhaps isthere a larger problem that needs tobe addressed first, perhaps a lifestylechange in needed.Even though children are small andsometimes quiet, they are people tooand have needs. All humans havesuch needs. When the needs of a childand/or adult aren’t met, their behaviormay be disruptive and inappropriate.Stepping back on a daily basis to reviewone’s life is time worthwhile spent.And remember, the GOOD news isthat in most situations, minor or subtlechanges can make a huge difference inthe interactions between children and/or adults.Sharon Ann Wikoff holds two teachingcredentials, General Elementary and AdultEducation: Parent Education/ Child Study.She holds a CC-ADV certification in EFT(Emotional Freedom Techniques) and hostsThe Family Hour on www.KGGVFM.ORGSharon also facilitates numerous teleclassesto support parents and educators. In additionshe offers private consulting sessions forparents or educators. She can be reachedthrough her website: www.AuthenticWays.com or at (707) 543-63552-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com31

Forestville SchoolsNews from the Superintendent - 707/887-9768Of Special Note to the Community:As a requirement of promotion, eachstudent in grades 7 & 8 are required tocomplete eight hours of CommunityService each year. We are looking forlocal groups or businesses that wouldbe interested in supervising studentsfor a few hours, or on a particularproject. Examples of communityservice projects include (but are notlimited to): cleaning a park, collectingmuch needed items including clothes,shoes, food, blankets, etc., reading to theelderly in nursing homes; assisting localfire, police or other agency; helping outat a local library; and providing schoolactivities that benefit community.In addition to the clear benefits tothe community, a recent study foundthat students who maintain a weeklycommunity service record are morelikely to succeed in school, and havehigher grades, than those who are notinvolved at all. Please call Fran Oliver,Forestville Academy at 887-2279 ext. 3,if you can provide community serviceopportunities for our students……..everyone benefits.Shared Leadership and Decision-Making:As a follow up to an earlierarticle, I thought it might be nice toprovide a quick update on our efforts totap into the much valued talent pool andexpertise of the teaching staff. Teacherandadministrator-led forums havebeen working diligently to help sharpenthe school’s commitment to enhanceprograms and services to our studentsand parents. Programs are beingreviewed, revamped and rejuvenated,with the purpose of maximizing effortsto support each child in their efforts tobe successful at Forestville School andAcademy.Spring Play/Musical: As many inthe Forestville community know, eachSpring provides another wonderfulopportunity to enjoy an outstanding playperformed by the students of ForestvilleSchool. Last year was Aladdin, Jr., andthis year will be The Music Man, Jr. TheMusic Man is a musical with music andlyrics by Meredith Wilson. The show isbased on a story by Wilson and FranklinLacey. In 1957, The Music Man became ahit on Broadway and is still frequentlyproduced by both professional andamateur theatre companies.The success of a revival in the year2000 prompted a 2003 television moviestarring Matthew Broderick, whostarred as Professor Harold Hill; acharacter who came to River City to conunsuspecting families out of their hardearned money.We are very pleased to announcethat this year’s Director will be RobOlmsted, a parent of students whohave graduated from, and currentlyattend, Forestville School. Rob wasraised in Sonoma County, and whilehe attended Montgomery High Schoolhe performed in a number of plays andmusicals including Miracle on 34thStreet, How to Succeed in BusinessWithout Really Trying, 12 Angry Menand West Side Story. After graduatingfrom high school, Rob became a foundingmember of “General AmazementTheatre Unlimited”, a company ofactors, directors and writers all underthe age of 18. The company foundgreat success with their productions ofGodspell, The Fantastics and an originalmusical production of “Alice”, basedon Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.While obtaining his BFA in acting, atthe California Institute of the Arts, Robperformed in a number of plays, andstudent films, and found he enjoyedDirecting as well. His first productionas a director, Table Manners, receivedgreat reviews.Please mark your calendar for April11, 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20. We lookforward to great performances in thistruly memorable production. Don’t besurprised if you hum tunes from thismusical on your way home!Thanks again for your continuedsupport! Please call (887-9767), write ore-mail me (dhack@scoe.org) if you needmore information on any of the itemsmentioned here.Don Hack, District SuperintendentWillowside Nursery PLANT SALESPlant Sales help support the garden program at Willowside School as well asteach students. Always on SATURDAYS from 9 AM to 2 PM. Volunteer help alwaysappreciated, call Jan Lochner 823-3265. Donations of pots welcome. Any size.March 1, March 22, April 12, May 3, May 24Willowside Road at Hall Road.Oak Grove MessengerOak Grove Elementary SchoolWillowside Middle SchoolDistrict Office @ Willowside707/545-0171Registration for the 08-09school year continues. We beganregistration of new students for the ‘08-’09 school year in December. In our firstlottery we had received applications for39 sixth graders and 43 seventh graders.We have room for 45 sixth graders and75 seventh graders. We have held ourfirst lottery and have accepted all sixth,seventh and eighth grade applicants.Our next Lottery will be held on the8th of February. If you know of anyonewho is interested in having their childattend either one of our schools, pleaseencourage them to apply ASAP.Instructional Assistant OpeningsIf you are interested in becoming aninstructional assistant at Oak GroveSchool, there is an immediate opening.The position is for 2.75 hours in themorning for four days a week in thefourth grade. If you’re interested in thisposition, please contact the district officeat 545-0171.Technology Committee WorkingHard The Technology Committee hasbeen meeting over the last couple ofmonths, putting together a tech planfor the district. This committee has beentrying to envision what our schoolsneeds will be over the next five yearswith regards to technology. We havebeen looking at equipping every teacherin the district with a computer powerfulenough to be able to access the weband run the grading and attendancedatabase program called Aeries. Inaddition to the teachers, the committeehas been looking into their crystal ballregarding student needs. They believea computer lab needs to be in place atOak Grove School and the district needsto hire a technology teacher to supportour students using the computers. Inaddition to the hardware issues, thecommittee has identified the skills ateach grade level that they believe ourstudents should master and programsthat they should be adept at using.Training for all of our staff is a must andwill be included in the plan. This planwill be finalized in the next two monthsand presented to the Board of Educationfor their adoption. The next issue will belooking for the funding to support thisambitious plan.Data Director training begins OnJanuary 15th, a group of teachers andadministrators received training on asoftware program called Data Director.This program was purchased by thedistrict this year to help us manage ourstudents’ academic growth. We are ableto construct the answer sheets for thetests that we give to our students, scanthose answer sheets in seconds, andscore them instantly. We will be able toidentify who is mastering the standard,who needs additional instruction andwhat needs to be re-taught for all of ourstudents to succeed.KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATIONAs I noted on this page last month ourannual kindergarten registration periodwill begin on February 1st for the 2008-2009 school year! Your child is eligiblefor kindergarten if he/she was born onor before December 2, 2003.You may begin your registrationprocess:• by calling our office at 823-5225• by stopping by our office on anyschool day between 8 and 4(A proof of birth document andimmunization records will be neededin order to complete the registrationprocess for your child, but are notnecessary to begin the process.)District residents as well as thosewho live outside the Oak Grove Districtare encouraged to register as early aspossible in February. If you live outsidethe Oak Grove District and wish tohave a new incoming Kindergartenerconsidered for placement, please callChristine in the district office at 545-0171.Christine will answer any questionsyou may have about the Inter-districtAttendance Agreement process andsend you the necessary paperwork.We are looking forward to meetingyou and your soon-to-be kindergartenstudent. We also thank all of you aheadof time for your efforts in registeringyour child early!Ecology Club Update - I am excitedto report on the progress of the EcologyClub and to commend the dedicatedstudents and parents involved. We haveestablished our working partnershipwith the Bodega Bay Marine Lab. Ourwork is being guided by Research Dataand Education Manager, Vic Chowand Land Manager, Michelle Cooper.I am thankful that they see the valuein this outreach program and or theirwillingness to participate. With everymeeting, Vic and Michelle express theiradmiration for our students’ conduct,intellect and enthusiasm. Together wehave decided to conduct an experimentin restoration ecology. The students havemarked plots and will run treatmentsthat will test methods in invasive andnative grass restoration. Thanks alsoto Mr. Kornfein and Ms. Langermanfor their support on this project. – DebGrima-Lowe32 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08

Around ForestvilleGOT NEWS? Vesta Copestakes • vesta@sonic.net • 887-0253Coming Up… Lions Run - Julie Whiteis beginning to organize the annualLion’s Run, which raises money for ElMolino High School athletic programs.Like the Volunteer Center’s HumanRace, this is a run/walk where peoplepay to participate - gather sponsorshipsand have a good time in the process.Last year they ran the West CountyTrail, so it’s a very pleasant experience!Anyone interested in becoming involvedin this event should contact Julie Whiteby e-mail at: juliewht@yahoo.com.Depending upon volunteer feedback,the race will be held either in August orSeptember this year.Youth Park BBQ… Yes, it’s timeto start organizing the 2008 BBQ andparade, so anyone who wants to getinvolved should contact Patty Baxman,BBQ chairperson at 575-3484. They arelooking for new volunteers to organizethe parade, so please keep this in mindif the idea intrigues you.Thank You Anne-Marie… Anne-Marie’s Butcher & Deli located in Speer’sMarket is no longer and Allen and Susanhave replaced it with their own Deli.Anne-Marie has run an excellent meatand deli counter for many years. We’vealso come to rely upon her summerBBQ on weekends! Susan tells us thatnot only will Speer’s be carrying on theBBW tradition tis summer, but they arealso expanding their prepared food linefor all the people who just don’t want tocook. Check it out - Speer’s FRESH Deli,ready to take your order.Getting Closer… The DowntownCommittee that will be handing outmoney donated by BoDean Companyfor use on behalf of our community,is getting closer to setting up theapplication process. As soon as we knowwhat procedures they require, we’ll tellyou what you can do to get a chunk ofthat change to maintain and improveForestville for the benefit of all.Town Square Planning… TheForestville Planning Association hiredLaura Hall and Robert Alminana toreview plans for the proposed park inthe Thiessen/Crinella development.Santa Rosa Planning/Design ReviewCommittee requested changes inthe parking element, so it seemedappropriate for the FPA DowntownPlanning Committee to get professionalinput on the design they have beenworking on for about three years. Theywere very impressed with Laura andRobert’s review and have prepared areport for us in The FPA Reports column.When all Design Review Committeerequests have been met, the plans willgo before the Planning Commissionfor review and recommendation to theBoard of Supervisors.Easter Egg Hunt & ColoringContest… Easter comes early this yearso we’re getting Coloring Contest formsout around town. The Coloring Contestis open to children ages 2 to 12. Pick up- and drop off completed forms at Bankof the West, El Mo Store, Circuit Fitness,The Movie Library, Frame of Mind &Forestville School. Get as creative as youwant, fill in the form so we know howold you are and make sure the forms areturned in by March 3rd so we can chooseour winners and have your Easter Basketprizes ready in time for the Hunt onMarch 15th. The Easter Egg Hunt is opento children through age 12. Show up atthe field behind Forestville School by10am so you don’t miss a thing! Rain orshine - be there! The Easter Bunny willbe on hand as a special treat and don’tforget to brig your hunting basket!H o n o r i n g O u t s t a n d i n gVolunteers...On March 8th theForestville Chamber of Commerce willhave our Annual Dinner to honor the2007 Citizen of the Year Denise Woodand Volunteer of the Year J.D. Kaiwi.This year we will also be honoring ChiefGary Duignan for his Service to ourCommunity. (Please see accompanyingarticles) Dinner will be catered by theEl Molino Culinary Arts & Hospitalitydepartments featuring a full menu ofSpanish cuisine. We’ll also be having ourFaux DuDu Rooster Fundraiser for theForestville Emergency Assistance Fund,so please bring a few extra dollars. Youcould walk away with half of what weraise! Tickets are on sale at Bank of theWest, ElMo Store and Circuit Fitness andmust be purchased by March 1st.Prime Timer’s Bazaar… Our Seniorsare holding their first-ever benefit for theForestville Dining Site on March 1stfrom 8am to 3pm at the Holy Ghost Hallon Mill Street @ Hwy 116 in Sebastopol.This will be a Rummage Sale of new,collectable and used items and willfeature a Chinese Raffle and bake sale.Help us raise money to keep our seniordining site open for all. For info calBobbie at 887-2439, Claudia 887-2093 orDenise 887-11107.El Mo Project Grad Yard Sale…Ifyou’re about to clean out your closetsand garage, we’re asking you to keepanything worth money so you candonate it to the Project Grad Yard Sale atthe beginning of May. This all-importantsale helps pay to keep our high schoolsenior safe on gradation night. Collectiondates will begin right before the sale.Forestville School Registrationand School Tour~February 25thKindergarten~Preschool ~ All newincoming students for the 2008/2009school year, come and join us at 9:30am. For more details: Kindergarten-8thgrade-887-2270. Preschool-887-9081THE FPA REPORTSThe Forestville Planning AssociationBy Richard Naegle, Presidentwww. forestvillefpa.orgREPORT ON THETHIESSEN DEVELOPMENTThe FPA recently engaged LauraHall and Robert Alminana, nationallyknown consultants on town planning(hallalminana.com) to evaluate OrrinThiessen’s plans for his proposeddowntown development. Our particularinterest was the Town Square on which theFPA’s Downtown Planning Committeehad been working with Orrin for overtwo years. Laura and Robert presentedtheir report at a meeting to which theDowntown Planning Committee aswell as the Boards of the Chamber ofCommerce and the FPA were invited.Full notes of that meeting with manymore interesting details can be foundon www.forestvillefpa.org. Meanwhile,here are the highlights:-Laura and Robert felt that the designfor the Town Square itself was quitegood. They liked the non-linear pathdesign, the use of the sloping land for theamphitheater, saving the existing oaktrees, and the choice of new landscapetrees. Laura emphasized that it wasimportant not to over-design the square,and that we allow the design to evolveover time.-Their main concerns were (1) that theSquare was too small compared to thesquare footage of parking around thesquare, and (2) that the Square was notadequately contained by the surroundingbuildings. They recommended parallelparking around the square instead ofangled parking. This would allow fora larger square, the edges of the squarebeing closer to the activity and presenceof the surrounding buildings.-Comparison of sizes of TownSquares: Forestville .45 acres (or .54acres if parallel parking rather thanangled parking); Sebastopol .58 acres;Healdsburg .92 acres. Note—in a followupmeeting, Orrin and the DowntownPlanning Committee agreed to shift toparallel parking on three sides of theSquare.-As to the containment of the parkby the buildings, Laura and Robertshowed us slides of public spaces thatreally felt comfortable, places youwould want to hang out. They alsoshowed us slides of spaces that weredecidedly unfriendly. It was clear thatthe friendly places were well containedby the surrounding buildings. Thiscontainment can be achieved by eitherbringing the buildings closer together,or increasing the height of the buildings.The ideal height-of-building to distancebetween-buildingsratio for a squareis from 1:3 to 1:6. Orrin’s design has aratio of 1:9. One solution they stronglysuggested was that there be three storybuildings around the square insteadof the currently designed two-storybuildings. This would result in a 1:6 ratiofor the Town Square area. However, itwas noted that Healdsburg’s Square is1:9, and it works well. Laura suggestedthe large, mature trees probably makethe difference. Orrin’s plan includesfast growing, large trees as well asmost of the oak grove already on theproperty. Orrin stated that he wasclear that the majority of local peoplewanted buildings no more than twostories tall.-Laura was very complimentarytowards the architectural design of theoverall development--in terms of variety,of fitting in with local styles, and of“defensible space.” Defensible space isabout areas that are not only attractiveto pedestrians but feel (and are) safe forthem.-They challenged us to envision afuture Forestville one hundred yearsfrom now, to envision what we want forour whole Town, and then create a planto make it happen. We were asked toimagine a pedestrian friendly downtownboulevard with wider sidewalks thatallow for places to hang out, bike lanes,and more trees and landscaping. Thiscan happen if we can get CalTrans todesignate River Road as the Highway116 route, and/or if we can get the Bypassbuilt.-Laura commented that no growthin our area is not an option in terms ofCounty politics and economic pressures.Therefore, we have a choice betweencreating a vision and planning for thatgrowth now, or just waking up onemorning and seeing what’s happenedto us.**Stay tuned to this column for futureupdates, including when you will havethe opportunity of voicing your opinionabout the project plans at public Countyhearings.Hollydale Community Club…Rent the Clubhouse...call 887-0330 or 695-2197 for info.Forestville Students, get your Community Service “Hours” helping at the Clubhouse.Big Thanks to Canyon Rock for the Blue Shale truck loads.Want/Wish list: Looking for a small 25-30# Ice Maker for the Club’s Kitchen.2008 Calendar - Celebrating the Club’s 61st Year:Saturday 3/1 Clubhouse Interior Work Party 9:00AM-2:00PMSaturday 3/15 Annual “Irish Supper” Corned Beef & Cabbage Feed @ 6:00PMSaturday 6/21 Rootin’ Tootin’ Boot Scootin’ Country Hoedown @ 6:00PM2-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com33

Our Town,OccidentalBy John Barbour 707-688-4522Email: barbour_john@hotmail.comIt Flows Downhill.It looks like Our Town’s sewer issuesare effectively back to square one. Thevote in Camp Meeker last month notto approve the Environmental ImpactReport for the proposed pipeline toGuerneville, in which Our Town couldshare, has effectively ended that projectas a possibility to solve our problem. Thismeans that as of the first of this monthOur Town will be subject to an initialfine of $5,000 and a daily fine of $1,000until the issue is resolved. Our currentsystem is said to be working as wellas can be expected and with the workdone last year the volume of sewagetreatment is now more manageable. This,unfortunately, will have little effect onthe cease and desist order caused bypast violations and which is the legalimpetus for the fines. It is hoped thatthe fines can be used to pay for someof the system improvements whichis money that would have to be spentanyway. The Sonoma County WaterAgency is responsible for running ourcurrent treatment facility. Our Town’sCitizen Committee, which representsus to the Agency, will have to evaluatethe current situation and perhapsreevaluate some of the past plansdeveloped over the last 8 years. Thiscould include a new stand alone systemor a refurbishment, to some extent, ofour current system. The issue, as always,is money. California is in a budget crisisand the Terminator is cutting funds leftand right. In the meantime the Citizen’sCommittee is scrambling for a solutionand has suggested town meetings forcommunity input. Stay tuned...Harmony Village Caught InPermit Delays.Since September of last year I havebeen watching the grounds at the future,“Harmony Village” but have failed to seeany, (and I mean any), progress. Giventhe recent economic situation as well asissues in Windsor and Forestville, I waswondering if developer Orrin Theissen’slatest project was ever going to startactual construction. Some of you mayrecall that Our Town’s Center For TheArts lost the use of the old auditoriumlast September until the constructionwas complete. There was an expectationthat the Center could resume use of thebuilding by this Spring. That estimatewas apparently overly optimistic. Wordis that the project is currently boggeddown by permit issues with no cleardate of when they will be resolved. Inthe meantime the Center for the Artswill continue a very limited schedule ofprograms at other venues.Occidental Center For The ArtsNeeds Support.The delay in construction at HarmonyVillage has had a deep financial impacton Our Center for the Arts. ExecutiveDirector Candace Rossman reports thatthe continuing loss of the old HarmonySchool auditorium combined with theadded difficulty of finding other venuesfor events that are cost effective havecombined to create a fiscal crisis forthe center. While always a strugglingendeavor, the center was able to holdit’s own in the past with revenuesfrom events and donations. Withoutand actual “center” to work from thevisibility and viability of Our Town’sartistic hub has diminished considerably.Ms. Rossman said that while the EventsCommittee still valiantly tries to puttogether programs in partnership withthe Union Hotel the number of eventsas well as the revenues are less than aquarter of what they were last year. Shealso said that the Executive Board forthe Center is in need of new membersto help to move forward fund-raisingefforts to renovate the auditorium whenit is again available. She reports that thearchitectural drawings are complete anda plan for fund-raising is progressing butthere is more to do than there are peopleto do it. Anyone interested in joiningthis historic effort either with their timeor money or both is urged to contactCandace at 591-3366. The next scheduledevent will be at the Union Hotel onWednesday, March 5. It is being billedas “Occidental Oddities...A Reading ofComic Pieces and Music by Local Writersand Musicians”. The event begins at7:00pm with a requested donation of$10.00 per person. An optional fixedprice dinner for $15.00 is available from5:30pm to 7:00pm which includes saladplus pasta or pizza. Please call 874-9392to reserve a place. Support our CenterFor The Arts...now more than ever.Sad Farewell.In closing this month I would like tonote the passing of Kit Neustadter whosuccumbed after a long battle on the3rd of February. If you didn’t know herit would be hard to tell you about her.She made a difference in this town andto the artistic community in this county.She will be sorely missed.See you next month and rememberwe’re all in this together.34 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08Meanwhilein Graton…By HolLynn D’Lilgratoncolumn@comcast.net(707) 829 9440Ah, February, the month of promises,from commercially-hyped loversprofessing love-by-the-calendar to justthe hint of spring in scanty sunny daysand early roadside flowers. Graton stirsand begins to make 2008 plans - forThe Graton Variety Show, The GratonCommunity Club Spring Flower Showand the Female Elite Amateur RoadBike Race!As a matter of fact, it’s the 3RDANNUAL Greater Graton VarietyShow. That’s Greater Graton to allowthose with Sebastopol zip codes butGraton hearts to participate, as well asthose just in a Graton state of mind. The3rd annual will be at the same place,the Graton Community Club, cornerof Graton Road and Edison, Saturday,March 22nd, starting at 7:00 mostly. Inaddition to enjoying local talent, youGraton fans will have an opportunity tovie for raffle prizes from local merchantsand artists.Your opportunity to try out for thevariety show is Sat & Sun March 1stand 2nd at Clubhouse between noonand 4:00 p.m. Proceeds from the eventbenefit the Graton Community Cluband the Graton Community Projects.(The Community Projects folks broughtyou that spiffy cork bulletin board bythe post office and are still rolling withplans for a candidates forum, petitionsfor another stop sign on Graton Road,and the installation of trash containersdowntown Graton. All this is practicallyanti-climatic after their production ofthe Graton Sewer, don’t forget. And itis always important to support GratonCommunity Club fund-raising for theirscholarship programs for local graduatesand the building-preservation fund.)For more information, contact BarbaraJeppesen at 823 0570 or wildart7@comcast.net .B u t ,even beforet hat, planto supportL a u r e lG r e e n ,G r a t o n ’ sonly FemaleE l i t eA m a t e u rRoad BikeR a c e rw h o w i l lc o m p e t ein the firstan n u a lAmgen Tourof California Women’s Criterium. TheCriterium race will occur in conjunctionwith Stage 1 of the men’s race on Monday,February 18th.To test her potential as a bike racer andpursue her part-time career as a cyclingcoach, Laurel has taken a one-year leaveof absence from her job as a physicaleducation teacher in the Windsor SchoolDistrict. “There will be more than 100women participating on race day, andthere will be upwards of 50,000 peoplewatching this chess game on twowheels,” Laurel promises. Laurel willbe flying solo on Feb. 18th, representingDolce Vita Cycling, her team based inMill Valley, Ca.The free Spring Flower Show andPlant Sale by the Graton CommunityClub is Friday and Saturday, April 25and 26, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The showis “A Tribute to Mothers” and providesa wonderful opportunity to honormothers and families with a home-madeluncheon in the historic club house atthe corner of Graton Road and NorthEdison in Graton. There will be manybeautiful antique heirlooms on displayamong the flower arrangements as themembers decorate the club to honor theirfemale ancestors.The dining room will be open all dayto serve cake, coffee and tea for $3, aswell as home-made lunch from 11:30 to2:00 for $8. Lunch includes dessert andbeverage. Vegetarian lunches will beincluded. Ladies wearing dress hats willreceive a dollar off for lunch.Here’s a way to lower our sewerrates! The Graton Community ServicesDistrict is applying for a grant to makeimprovements to the Graton sewer. Theseare state-mandated improvements, notsome unnecessary frills. Needless tosay, if the District is able to qualify forthe grant, the Graton tax payers will faceless of a rate increase. That’s why it’s soimportant that Gratonians respond to aneconomic survey questionnaire that willbe arriving in mail boxes soon.The survey will determine if ourservice district qualifies for lowinterest loans and grants. These fundsare available only to disadvantagedcommunities with lower incomes. Inother words, if you ain’t rich, flaunt it!Responses to the questionnaire will bekept very confidential. In fact, your namewon’t even be on the questionnaire. And,here’s a hint: If more than one householdis occupying a residence, each householdincome should be listed separately toinsure that the survey provides anaccurate economic picture.To learn more, contact Robert Rawson,General Manager, Graton CommunityServices District, PO 534, Graton, CA95444. Phone: 707-823-1542.If you have a query, news or requestsfor this column, please contact me by thefirst of each month.

Fire Department NewsCalling 9-1-1From school age children up, wehave engrained the use of 9-1-1 duringan emergency. But do you know whathappens when you dial it?The phone company routes your callto the agency best able to help you basedon your address. The dispatcher, calledthe “call taker,” will see your addresswhen they answer the call. As yourespond to questions, the dispatcher issimultaneously typing the answers intoa computer.A second dispatcher sees thisinformat ion and dispatches t heappropriate resource, e.g. fire, police,medical. It is important to never hang upuntil they tell you to. The call taker willcontinue to get useful information toassist the people responding, includingthe best way to find/access your house.In Sonoma County, we are fortunateenough to have dispatchers trainedin pre-arrival instructions. They canteach you how to stop bleeding, performCPR and help a choking victim over thephone.If you call 9-1-1 from a cellular phone,the call is typically routed to the CHPdispatch center in Vallejo; however,some newer cell phones will connectto the closest dispatch center, such asSebastopol Police Department. Sincethey won’t know your location, makesure to clearly explain where you are.If it is a police matter, they will helpyou. If you need anything else, they willtransfer the call to the Sonoma Countydispatch center to handle it.The 9-1-1 system is a great tool; it willhelp you during an emergency and getus to you quickly.Gas LeaksWe have responded to an unusualnumber of gas leaks within the last fewmonths. If there is a gas leak in thehouse, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY!, Do nottouch any light switches, and turn off thegas at the outside connection.Natural gas is delivered througha metal pipe, normally grey in color.Just as it comes out of the ground andbefore the pressure regulator box, youwill notice a small, round valve. Whenon, the valve is in-line with the pipe. Aquarter-turn either direction will turnthe gas off. However, you will need atool to do this.We highly recommend that you buyan inexpensive gas wrench (or use anold adjustable wrench) and tie it to thepipe. Most propane tanks have a shut-offround knob. Turn the knob clockwiseuntil it stops. REMEMBER- all of thepilot lights on your gas appliances willgo out when you turn the gas off. CallPG&E or your propane company torelight them.Fireplace AshesDid you know that your fireplace can keep the ashes hot for a long time after thelast fire? A fireplace is well insulated and the ash can stay hot for up to four days.Last year, a grass fire started when fireplace ashes were dumped on top of redwoodtree needles. If it is not possible to wait 3-4 days before removing the ash from thefireplace, then purchase a metal container with a lid to store the ashes. Not onlywill it hold the ash safely, it will also greatly reduce the amount of air... Furthersmothering any potential fire.Turn Around, Don’t Drown. January rains caused roadways to flood multipletimes. 3 drivers, including this one, had to be rescued when their car engines stalled.Anything more than 6 inches can get into your drive train and exhaust systemruining your car.Forestville FireGary Duignan, Fire Chief887-2212January was a very wet month in thewest county but there was enough timebetween storms for the water to recedeand there was no major flooding, butremember that February and Marchcan be very wet months so continue tobe prepared.The past storms have brought downa lot of trees. If you are going to cutup a tree to open up access or for firewood, be careful. A chain saw is a verydangerous tool. Before using a chain saw,make sure you know its operation andsafety features. Check and fill the fueland bar oil tanks. Check the chain forsharpness and proper adjusting. To startthe saw, put it on a solid base and thenfollow manufactures recommendationsfor starting. Always wear safety glassesand have a fire extinguisher nearby.While cutting, have your feet securelyplaced so you don’t slip or fall. Don’twear loose clothing that could get caughtin the chain. Know what you are cuttingthrough. A nail or wire can cause thesaw to kick back on you. When time torefuel, let the engine cool some, set thesaw on a nonflammable surface andavoid spilling the fuel. Make sure thetank caps are tight. Any mistakes whenusing a chainsaw can result in a veryserious injury.During the past storm the PG&Epower was out for extended times forsome residents, 3 or 4 days for somepeople. To help keep food in yourrefrigerator, keep the door closed asmuch as possible. Eat items that willspoil first. If you have a generator, youcan keep your refrigerator going. If youuse a generator to power your home,have a cut off switch so that whilethe generator is running, you are notputting electricity back into the outsidePG&E lines. It could The fire departmentgrant team has done it again. Wereceived a federal firefighters act grantfor 18 new sets of structure turn outs(boots, coats, pants and helmets) costingapproximately $32,000.00As you may have heard, I am retiringfrom Chief of the Forestville Fire Districtas of March 15, 2008. My replacementwill be Dan Northern. He has servedas a volunteer with Forestville FireProtection District, and Monte Rio Fireand he is a retired deputy chief from Istarted with the Forestville Fire Districton July 1, 1970 and have been proud toserve the citizens of our communityfor almost 37 years. During the past 37years, we have a new fire station (20years ago), replaced old fire enginesand have apparatus replacement plan.We have a professional and well trainedstaff of career and volunteers thatrespond to over 600 calls a year, andput in hundreds of hours on calls andtraining. Over 35 volunteers from thisdepartment have been hired by otherfire departments.The Forestville community has beenmy home for half my life. My kidsattended the local schools and I haveseen our community grow. I will missbeing the fire chief but will continueto live in our community. I want tothank the entire community for theirsupport of me and the fire district thepast years.Fire Dt. Calls - JANUARYType of Call: Responses:FORESTVILLEStructure Fires 2Medical Aid Calls 23Hazmat 1Vehicle Accidents 5Mutual Aids 9Smoke Checks 2Public Assist 8Public Utility 32TOTAL ALARMS 82Proper t y da mage l i m ited toapproximately $10,000.00. There were3 training drills with the personnelreceiving 140 hours of training.GRATONFire Alarms 3Fires 3Hazardous Conditions 33Medical Aids 19Mutual Aids 9Public Assists 4Vehicle Accidents 4Water Rescues 3TOTAL 78OCCIDENTALHazardous Conditions 30Medical Aids 1Mutual Aid Requests 2Public Assist 1Structure Fire 1Smoke Alarms 1TOTAL 37Burning Permits. Stop by the fire station at Graton &Ross Roads to pick up your permitand instructions on burning. Ourdistrict is split into two sections,North and South – use the map infront of the station to determinewhere you live before choosinga permit. All regulations arecontrolled by the Air QualityDistrict... not us. If you havefurther questions, their contactinformation is on the permits.Forestville: 887-2212Graton: 823-5515Occidental: 874-3800Sebastopol: 823-80612-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com35

36 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08

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TIPS ON PUMPING GASGet more of your money’s worth for every gallon..Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the groundtemperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanksburied below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when itgets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening....yourgallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity andthe temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleumproducts plays an important role. A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal forthis business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation atthe pumps.When you’re filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. Ifyou look you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. In38 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08slow mode you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vaporsthat are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return.If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomesvapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storagetank so you’re getting less worth for your money.One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL orHALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the lessair occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine.Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zeroclearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation.Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks whenyou stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--most likely the gasoline is being stirred upas the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normallysettles on the bottom.

Aries: Since Mars isyo u r r u l i n g pl a n e t ,t h e c h a l l e n g e s a n dconfrontations of theMars-Pluto oppositioncould get personal. Marsof LightThere is no well-meaning support, just 3/21-4/19the demand to transform. In eitheris transiting throughCancer, a sign notable for its warmthand sensitivity. These are generallynot qualities associated with Aries. Sogrowth for you this month, and effectiveways of responding to the difficulties,comes from being more emotionally selfawareand more caring and nurturingtoward othersṪaurus: Venus is yourruling planet, so t heconjunction between itand Mercury could beuseful in promoting both9/23-10/22www.starwatcher.comRio OleskyMARCH 2007WheelThere are two interesting planetaryconfigurations this month. One couldbe extremely challenging and difficultto handle. The other is easier and quitelovely. The challenging, hence potentiallygrowth producing one, is an oppositionbetween Mars in Cancer and Pluto inCapricorn. This is actually the thirdtime this aspect has occurred recently.The first was the end of September; thesecond was late December and thenearly January. What makes this timearound easier to deal with is that we‚vealready dealt with it. What can make itmore difficult is that it will linger fora longer period, roughly the first twoweeks of the month.Oppositions suggest challenges fromsomeone or something external tous. It could be a direct and personalconfrontation, or it could indicate a setof circumstances that affect many otherpeople. The difference will often dependon where the opposition appears in anindividual horoscope. If it is along oneof the prime axes (house cusps one andseven or four and ten) or if it activatesone or more planets in the natal chart,the influence of the transit will be morepersonal.The main challenge of this transitis how to deal with energies that areintense, passionate, assertive andphysical. We must learn how to balanceand integrate the energy of self (Mars)and the energy that is oriented towardtransforming the self (Pluto). Marsrepresents courage and the drive to getinvolved in new activities. It tends to beself-affirming and direct in its approachto life. Pluto pertains to letting go ofwhat is no longer needed or viable andreplacing it with something meaningfuland alive. The interaction between theseplanets challenges us to make sure thatour actions are authentic to who we areand honest in the sharing of ourselveswith others. This requires some typeof internal self-analysis before doinganything. It is said that Mars is thewarrior of the solar system. A warriorcan be defined as someone who is, ina sense, doing battle with themselves.Making sure they know what they aredoing and why and how they are doingit before doing anything at all. If wedo that in the context of this transit,our growth will encompass increasedself-awareness as well as positive, evenprofound relations with others.This transit challenges us to assessat the deepest level possible our drivesand motivation. To that end we couldbe confronted by someone who caresabout us and who wants us to take stockof ourselves. It may feel uncomfortableto have our feet held to the fire, but,knowing the person and realizingthat they have our best interests atheart, we do the work. This can beunpleasant, we might have to look atparts of ourselves that feel vulnerable,awkward and even shameful, but atleast we feel supported. Or we could bechallenged by someone or somethingin an unpleasant and impersonal way.case, if we do not respond in a growthoriented way, the result could be sometype of volatile manifestation that couldlead to significant loss. What gets lostcould pertain to the house (areas oflife experience) that those planets aretransiting right now in your chart. Itcould be financial, relational (betrayal),professional (losing a job) or physical(illness). Or there could be a significantpower struggle that could includecoercion, intimidation or outrightphysical hostility.We could also be the initiator of theconfrontation. If so, we need to checkourselves in order to discover ourmotivation for this type of interaction.If we are being loving and supportive,pointing out a blind spot to someonewhom we care about, that‚s one thing. Butif we are merely seeking to manipulatesomeone to do something we want themto do, that is likely to cause a reboundaffect and the power struggle is on.Another possibility is projection. Wemay be confronted about some part ofourselves that needs transformation, butrather than doing the work, we dump iton someone else. We could blame themfor causing our problem or for pointingit out to us. In either case, not only isour work not getting done, but we arealienating others and creating moreproblems for oursel One way to dissipatethis energy is by engaging in physicalactivity. The more intense the better.This can enable us to focus the energyoutward without getting confrontational.It can also provide a time each day tocontemplate those parts of ourselvesthat need transforming. Intense andmeaningful dialogue could also lead tothe necessary transformations at thistime. And, if a relationship is alreadyhonest, meaningful, and intimate thisis a transit that can promote profoundchanges through sexual connection.The other transit is a conjunctionbetween Mercury (communication)and Venus (relationship and aesthetics).This can lead to delightful, harmoniouscreative expression especially throughwriting, speaking or signing. It can alsopromote conversation that is polite andthoughtful. In early month these planetsare in Aquarius, implying the possibilityof experimentation and innovation inboth sociability and the arts. The latterpart of the month these planets shiftinto Pisces. This would be more orientedtoward the creative than the social, butcould suggest that the social activitiesinvolve humanitarian service impelledby feelings of compassion for others.Usually we are more aware of thedifficult and challenging transits thanwe are of the pleasant and harmonious.This month offers the opportunity to dothe work implied by the challenges ofMars-Pluto with consideration and tact.We could also combine these aspectsby challenging ourselves to dig deeplyinto our own inner being. In the processwe can transform those elements ofourselves and our lives that need to beshifted. We could also look within todiscover the inspiration and the tools toexpress ourselves creatively.4/20-5/20your social and creativeoutlets. In general theconnections with others could be eitherwork related or with people who are moreacquaintances than friends. Artistically,this is a good time to explore new waysof expressing yourself. Taking somerisks in either area can lead to growthfor you this month.Gemini: This is a goodmonth to expand yourhorizons. Traveling with agood companion can helpto develop or deepen therelationship. Exploring5/21-6/20 new avenues of artisticexpression, perhaps by taking a classor at least some lessons, is another wayto enhance the pleasurable potentialof the times. Mid-month could bringchallenges to your ideas or points ofview. Respond by looking for the deepermeaning.Cancer: This could bea month of conflict andcontentiousness. Whenfaced with confrontationC a n c e r w i l l o f t e ndisappear into their shell.6/21-7/22Growth for you this month comes fromstanding your ground, overcomingfeelings of vulnerability to the point thatyou be more self-affirming. Similarly,if others are carelessly and needlesslyhurting your feelings, be willing toconfront them and let them know howtheir words and actions are affectingyou.Leo: Mid-late mont hcould bring the challengesalluded to above. If they aredirected at your personally,7/23-8/22it could be because youare coming across withtoo much a sense of entitlement orsimply being insensitive to others. If thedifficulties are not so personal, respondby checking out your perspectives onlife, especially those that pertain to yourethics. You could be either too idealisticor too cynical and this is a good time tocorrect either extreme.Virgo: Early month bringsthe opportunity to exploreand develop new skillsthat would be usefuleither in your work or inmaintaining a healthydaily routine. Later month8/23-9/22the focus shifts to one-to-one relationship.This is a good time to really open yourheart to someone and to feel a sense ofdevotion and unconditional love beingshared by you and your partner.Libra: Some challengesfor you t h is mont h,perhaps peaking aroundthe full Moon in Libra onthe 21st. This is a time totemporarily set aside youreternal quest for harmony.It may be necessary to „get down anddirty‰ and respond to unpleasantconfrontations or to set someone straightabout how their lack of consciousness iseffecting you. On the positive side, yourcommunication skills are very strong allmonth, so their should be no problem inbeing understood.Scorpio: Mars andPluto are the co-rulersof S c or pio, s o t heopposition betweenthem could be quiteintense, and the outcomequite profound for you.10/23-11/21Activities involving education, traveland philosophy are areas where thechallenges could come from. They couldalso be areas in which you confrontsomeone else. In either case, the point isto learn from the experience, changingattitudes and perspectives, not to beatyour opponent into submission.Sagittarius: You areone of the few signsthat could avoid thedifficulties this month.If they do surface, itcould be in the financialarea. If this happens,11/22-12/21respond with innovative thinking anda new approach to the problem. Even ifthere are no obvious challenges, this isgood month to step outside the usualparameters of your life and to be opento the unexpected.Capricorn: You couldfeel as if others are notlistening to you, or reallyhearing what you aretrying to convey. Similarlyyou could feel somewhatblocked or alienated12/22-1/19socially. Growth for you this monthcomes from being selective about whoyou spend time with. Analyze yourthoughts and understand your ideasbefore sharing them with others. Thisis more a period of refinement thatenables you to avoid or at least minimizeoutright confrontation.Aquarius: An extremelyharmonious month foryou. Creativity coulda b o u n d a n d s o c i a li n t e r a c t i o n s h o u l d1/20-2/18prove harmonious andfulfilling. This is a goodtime to expand your social circle orenhance pre-existing relationships withnew and exciting activities. Growth foryou comes from taking advantage ofthese energies and not overlooking thembecause they can be easily utilized.Pisces: Unexpectedsh i f t s i n spi r it u a lawareness, creativeinspiration or socialoppor t u n it ie s t h i smonth. Growth comesfrom taking advantage2/19-3/20of these influences. You may be surprisedhow easily and effortlessly you open upto others and vice-versa. Similarly yourartistic output could feel fresh andexciting. Experiment in ways and areasthat usually feel uncomfortable to you.2-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com39

SeniorsSEBASTOPOL SENIOR CENTERThe Sebastopol Area Senior Centeris located at 167 North High Street,Sebastopol. For further informationor directions, please contact the SeniorCenter at 707-829-2440, or email iris@sebastopolseniorcenter.org.Ever y ot her T hu r sday – H E ALT HINSURANCE COUNSELING ANDADVOCACY PROGRAM (HICAP)– Provides counseling on Medicare.Explains how Medicare works with othersupplemental insurance. No fee. 1:00– 4:00. Must call for appointment 800-434-0222.ON-Going Bi-Monthly – HOW TO USEYOUR BRAIN MORE EFFECTIVELY– Improve your memory! In this ongoingbi-monthly class, educator and authorChance Massaro presents an enjoyableseries of interactions to keep minds happyand memories intact. Topic: Manage YourEnvironments, 12:30-1:45 p.m.. Fee: $6.00February 14 & 28 - How To Use Your BrainMore Effectively - Improve your memory!An enjoyable series of interactions tokeep minds happy and memories intact.Presented by Chance Massaro. Fee:$6.00 per session. 12:30-1:45pm, topics:“Connection” and “Curious”February 14 & 28 - Health InsuranceCounseling and Advocacy Program(HICAP) - Provides counseling onMedicare. Explains how Medicare workswith other insurance. 1:00-4:00pm. Nofee. Appointment 800-434-0222.February 19 - Reverse Mortgage Seminar- Steve Laino from home Capital Fundingwill give a free informational seminaron how an FHA Reverse Mortgage couldbenefit you if you are 62 and over andown your own home. Includes mythsand misconceptions & creating financialindependence! 12:45-1:30. Free.February 21 - Are You at Risk for Falling?Individual screenings include a briefbattery of tests which help identifythose with significant losses in strength,coordination, balance, skin sensation andlow contrast visual acuity. Screeningstake approximately 15 minutes. 1:00-3:00 pm. Call 824-8018 to schedule yourappointment. Cost $5.00.February 21 - Blood Pressure Clinic- Administered by the students fromEmpire College. FREE. No appointment.11:00am to 12:00 noon.February 25 - Salsa Aerobics Class - Thisclass begins with a half hour of gentlestretch followed by twenty five minutesof easy, fun salsa aerobics done to therhythms of Cuban musician, IbrahimFerrer. 5:00-6:00pm. Instructor: JanCorbett. $6.00 per session.February 26 - Strengthening Your Heart- A heart-to-heart presentation on waysto strengthen your heart through diet,exercise and much more! Presented byDr. Stan Nussbaum, chief of cardiology,Kaiser Permanente. 12:45-1:30, Free.February 28 - Vision Loss Resource andReferral Information - FREE, for peoplewho are experiencing vision loss, presentedby the Earle Baum Center. Information isalso available to assist friends and familyof people who are visually impaired.Comfortable to discuss vision concerns ina familiar environment. No appointmentnecessary. 10:00 – 12:00 noonFebruary 28 - Glucose Screening Clinic- Administered by the students fromEmpire College. FREE. No appointment.11:00am to 12:00 noon.The Council on Aging SeniorMeals Program provides a nutritiousmeal and friendly conversation forseniors 60 years of age and older, theiryounger significant others, and theircaregivers. West County locations:FORESTVILLELunch is served in Forestville, at theUnited Methodist Church at Center &Covey, on Tuesdays and Thursday at 12noon. Reservations are suggested. Call887-1070 or 525-0143 ext. 135. There is a$5.00 fee per meal, but no one is everturned away because of inability topay.GUEREVILLEIn Guerneville, lunch is served atthe Russian River Senior Center onWednesday and Friday at 12 noon.Call 869-3998 or 525-0143 ext. 135 forreservations. A $4.00 donation per mealis suggested.OCCIDENTALIn Occidental, at St. Phillips ChurchCommunity Center, lunch is servedMonday and Wednesday at 12 noon.Reservations are suggested. Call 525-0143 ext. 135. There is a $5.00 fee permeal, but no one is ever turned awaybecause of inability to pay.SEBASTOPOLLunch is served at the SebastopolSenior Center on North High StreetMonday through Friday at 12 noon.Call 829-8381 or 525-0143 ext. 135 forreservations. A $4.00 donation per mealis suggested.MeetingsAl-Anon (Friends and families ofalcoholics) We have two on-going and wellestablishedmeetings in Guerneville. Weprovide a support to people dealing withthe problems of alcohol abuse.Meeting dates and times for Al-Anon:Monday 7:30p.m. - Russian River SeniorCenter - back roomSaturday 9:15 a.m. - Russian River SeniorCenter - back roomArmstrong Woods Road, GuernevilleWOMEN’S Alcoholics Anonymousin Guerneville - meets that the RussianRiver Seniro Center, Mondays at 7:30pmRussian River Senior Center15010 Armstrong Woods RoadGuerneville, CA 95446 707-869-0618AA Hotline 544-1300.Co-DependentsAnonymousmeeting held on Thurs. eve. from 7-8pmat the Russian River Community SeniorCenter - 15010 Armstrong Woods Rd. inGuerneville. (CODA) is an anonymousmeeting for people who want to improvethe quality of their relationships.Wednesdays at Hospice HouseFood for you mind, body & spirit! Anevening of conversation and information.Weekly speakers. 7 - 9pm. Hospice ofPetaluma, 416 Payran St., Petaluma. Info:778-624240 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08February 20 - Forestville HistoricalSociety meets the 3rd Wednesday monthly,7:00 PM at the Forestville ElementarySchool Library. Call Ron Davis 823-2921for information or visit www.sonic.net/forestville. One of our projects is to maintainand improve the Forestville Cemetery. Ifyou would like to be part of preserving ourhistory and maintaining the cemetery, pleasecome and join us. Membership is only $10for person and $20 for a family.March 11 - Russian River HistoricalSociety - Meetings are the 2nd Tuesday ofevery Month at the Monte Rio CommunityCenter in the Russian River HistoricalSociety Room at 6:30. 20488 Highway 116,Monte Rio. Anyone who is interested isinvited to this meeting. We will be outliningour needs and seeking board volunteers.www.russianriverhistory.org Interested injoining? Send a check for $10 to PO Box484, Monte Rio, CA 9546For YouRussian River EmpowermentCenter: You are not home alone for theholidays! We are here for you. A mentalhealth and wellness consumer driven dropincenter offering support groups, peercounseling, creative activities, referralsand a safe community environment. Freeand confidential membership. Open Tues.– Fri. 9:30 am – 4:00 pm 16229 Third Street,off Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville707-604-7264 A West County CommunityServices ProjectCommunity Resources ForIndependence - CRI staff attorneyswill answer disability related legalquestions on a first-come, first-servedbasis at no charge. (707) 528-2745www.cri-dove.orgTeen Clinic at CASA in Forestville:Pregnancy testing & counseling, birth controlchoices, sexually transmitted disease testingand treatment, emergency contraception, freecondoms. Teen staff, relaxed atmosphere,snacks. Free and confidential. 6570 1 st St.,Forestville, Mon. Tues & Thurs 2:30-5:30.Sexual Assault Support GroupsDrop-in English: Mondays 6:00pmDrop-in Spanish: Call for infoSkill Building: 8-week sessions.Family & Friends Drop-in: Thursdaysat 6:00pmGirls 15 – 18: Wednesdays at 4:00pmInfo at 545-7270.Children’s Health Insurance: HealthyFamilies, a state sponsored low cost healthinsurance program for children. Familiesof 4 can earn up to $4000 per month. CallOccidental Health Center, 874-2444 orRussian River Health Center 869-2849.Ongoing Low Fee Feldenkrais®Clinic on 1st and 3rd Fridays ofevery month at Palm Drive Hospitalin Sebastopol. Individual FunctionalIntegration lessons by qualifiedFeldenkrais practitioners available ona sliding scale of $20 - $40 per session.For more information and to schedulean appointment, phone (707) 829 - 8270or 490 - 6665.Health Services:Free women’s health services: papsmears, breast exams and referrals formammograms. Free for income eligiblewomen. By appointment. Call OccidentalArea Health Center, 3802 Main St., Occidental,874-2444; or Russian River Health Center,16319 3 rd St., Guerneville, 869-2849.Drop-In Immunization Clinics, $5• Guerneville: 3 rd Monday of the month,5-6 pm, RR Health Center, 16319 3 rd St.• Occidental: every Monday 6-7 pm,Occidental Health Center, 3802 Main St.Well Child Exams: free for income eligibleages 0-19. By appointment. Occidental AreaHealth Center, 3802 Main St., Occidental,874-2444; or Russian River Health Center,16319 3 rd St., Guerneville, 869-2849.Children’s Health Insurance: HealthyFamilies, a state sponsored low cost healthinsurance program for children. Familiesof 4 can earn up to $4000 per month. CallOccidental Health Center, 874-2444 orRussian River Health Center 869-2849.The Forestville United MethodistChurch Food Closet is open on the secondand fourth Mondays of the month. Any oneneeding emergency food is invited to receivefree groceries. Currently, about thirty familiesare receiving assistance. Recipients makeselections based on personal preferencesfrom available items. Open 10 ~ 11:00 A.M.VolunteerOrganizing now - Annual Lion’s Run- Julie White is beginning to organize theannual Lion’s Run which raises money forEl Molino High School athletic programs.Like the Volunteer Center’s Human Race,this is a run/walk where people pay toparticipate; gather sponsorships and have agood time in the process. Last year they ranthe West County trail, so it’s a very pleasantexperience! Anyone interested in becominginvolved in this event should contact JulieWhite by e-mail at: juliewht@yahoo.com.Depending upon volunteer feedback,the race will be held either in August orSeptember this year.LagunaKeepers Volunteers - Allworkdates are from 9am to noon. Be sureto wear shoes and clothes you don’t mindgetting dirty. Only heavy rain cancels. We’llprovide the snacks, but do bring gloves,water and friends! For a full schedule,please view the LagunaKeepers 2007-2008Calendar of Events or for more informationcontact Catherine at 527.9277 x108 or email:catherine@lagunafoundation.orgFebruary 23 - Joint Wetlands Workday- We’ll continue revegetating the JointWetlands area and begin work on the newnative plant garden. Meet at 4300 LlanoRoad and follow signs to the “Admin”building.March 15 - Windmill Creek - Previous workon Windmill Creek began establishing atree canopy. Now on to the next reach!Meet at Brown Farm gate: 2200 Llano Roadjust north of Grab ‘n Grow.April 19 - Meadowlark Oak Savanna- Phase one of the exciting extension ofthe middle reach project to Sebastopol’sMeadowlark Field. Meet at the Chevronstation just east of the bridge over theLaguna on Hwy.12.VOLUNTEER cont’d on page 41

VOLUNTEER cont’d from page 40Febryary 16 - Salt Point Clean-Up.Meet at the WOODSIDE CAMPGROUND at9am (directions below). Bring gloves. Trashsacks and bright vests will be provided.Pot Luck picninc. Directions to WoodsideCampground at Salt Point State Park. Theentrance to Salt Point Park is located alongHighway 1, about 30-40 minutes north ofJenner*, just past the Salt Point Lodge. (Noentry station - just a sign). Woodside is thecampground on the right, about a mile intothe Park. Figure 2 - 2.5 hours from SF.March 8 - “Adopt a Vernal Pool”Volunteer Training - A skilled volunteerbased,long-term vernal pool assessmentprogram to respond to the urgent needfor early assessments of the current rateof surviving vernal pool endangeredplant populations on the Santa Rosa Plain.Each specially trained botanist volunteerwill “adopt” one or more sites for yearlysurveys using standardized methods. If youare a trained botanist or a skilled botanyenthusiast, contact Christina at 527-9277x101christina@lagunafoundation.orgMarch 9 - Cunningham Mar shVolunteers Needed - Plant native treesand shrubs at Cunningham Marsh. Toolsand materials will be provided. Wearwarm clothes (dress in layers), comfortablegardening gloves and sturdy boots. Raincancels. Contact: Joe at 527-9277x105 or joe@lagunafoundation.org for meeting time,directions and carpooling information.March 15 - Helen Putnam RegionalPark Maintenance - There are a variety oftrail issues that need addressing. Dependingon participation we might undertake someinteresting projects including the installationof a small bridge know as a puncheon. 9am- 1pm, 411 Chileno Valley Road, Petaluma~ RSVP to John Ryan 707-565-3356 ~ www.sonoma-county.org/parksMarch 20 - Hood Mountain RegionalPark Maintenance - Not sure just yetwhat we will be working on but we’ll findsomething fun to do! Meet in the PythianRoad parking lot. 9am - 1pm. 1450 PythianRoad, Santa Rosa ~ RSVP to John Ryan 707-565-3356 ~ www.sonoma-county.org/parksEventsThrough March 17 - In Love andFriendship Exhibition at the Charles M.Schulz Museum - Over the course of hislife and career, Charles Schulz reached outto others in many ways, one of which wasto present a friend or acquaintance with anoriginal drawing, letter, birthday greeting,or get well wish. A display of 32 such giftscan be seen in the exhibition, “In Loveand Friendship: Schulz Originals from theCommunity.” In the Upstairs ChangingGallery. The Charles M. Schulz Museum islocated at 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa ~(707) 579-4452 ~ www.SchulzMuseum.orgFebruary 20 - Cynthia McKinney,Green Party Presidential Candidate- will discuss the election issues we all thinkabout but never hear, in the Cooperage atSonoma State University. Songwriter andsinger Peter Tracy will open the eveningwith songs from his album, Eat the Rich. $5Donation for Student for Media Democracy.Free for Students and Seniors. 7:00pm. Moreinfo: peter.phillips@sonoma.edu. SonomaState University, The Cooperage, 1801 ECotati Ave, Rohnert Park.February 21 - Entangled Lives: AConversation between Descendants ofMaster and Slave - Entangled Lives isabout two women friends - one white, oneblack; who learned that during the era ofAmerican slavery the ancestor of one was“owned” by an ancestor of the other. Memoir,family history, and social commentary intwo voices, this presentation is about theirstruggles and revelations in coming to termswith that past. Presented by Osher LifelongLearning Institute at 9:30 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Student Union atSonoma State University. Info: Pat Parson,pat.parson@sonoma.edu ~ 664-2612 ~ www.sonoma.edu/exed/lifelongMarch 5 –Women at Ground Zero -Authors Susan Hagen and Mary Caroubadeliver a lively and often humorousretrospective of their experiences in NewYork City in the weeks following 9/11. Theirprogram includes two powerful audio-visualpresentations: experience the events of 9/11through the eyes of female rescue workerswho share positive insights about life in thewake of this tragic event; the second depictsan unexpected conclusion to this project thathas led to a tremendous sense of healingfor all involved. A book signing followsthe presentation. This event is free to thepublic. 12noon-1pm. Newman Auditoriumin Emeritus Bldg., Santa Rosa Junior CollegeCampus, 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa~ Brian Phifer, Assistant Director of StudentAffairs, bphifer@santarosa.edu ~ (707)527-4647 ~ www.womenatgroundzero.comMarch 7 - Shabbat Across America- Rabbi George Schlesinger will lead atraditional Shabbat dinner with all ritualsexplained, and an interactive Friday nightExplanatory Service, followed by Israelidancing with a live band. 6:00 p.m. Celebratewith Congregation Beth Ami, 4676 MayetteAve., Santa Rosa. Call 707-360-3000 fordinner reservations and more information.March 12 - Grand Tour of Rail andFerry Services - Take a day to experiencealternative transportation in the Bay Area.Relax and experience the following:• Larkspur Golden Gate Ferry• San Francisco Light Rail-N Judah Line• CalTrain Station and equipment-4th &King St.• Alameda/Oakland Ferry• AMTRAK Capitol Corridor• Altamont Commuter Express• BART9:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Carpools between SantaRosa and the Larkspur Ferry Terminal at theCalTrans Park'nRide. Trains and Ferries areaccessible for bicycles and wheelchairs. $50includes fares on ferries and trains otherthan BART, as well as a lunch salad at Scott'sSea Food, Jack London Square; does notinclude beverage. Reserve now. We have twoother tours scheduled for 2008! Make checkspayable to "SCT" and send with your e-mailaddress and phone number to: WillardRichards, Treasurer, 1009 Hyland Dr., SantaRosa, 95404. Info and confirmations: 707-486-3387 or e-mail: dsheehan@sonic.netMarch 16 - The Hero Within - “…eachof us has the right to declare ourselvesa hero by the nature of the paths wehave followed and the obstacles we haveovercome in search of our goals, even if thegoals restate themselves along the way.”Philip Manwell, PhD, Dean of AcademicServices, Arts and Communication, LasPositas College, Livermore, Californiaspeaks at a Creative Arts Series Event. 5pm. Sliding scale donation, all proceedsbenefit monthly events. Knox PresbyterianChurch, 1650 West 3rd Street at Stony PointRoad, Santa Rosa ~ 707-824-5611 ~ www.CreativeArtsSeries.comClassesFebruar y 23 - Public SpeakingWorkshop - Learn how to prepareand deliver effective speeches and otherpresentations. Workshop topics include howto make your presentations memorable, howto engage your audience, how to handle Q&Asessions, and the importance of using visuals.The instructor is Edward Segal, a formerspeechwriter to members of Congress anda public speaker who conducts presentationskills workshops across the country. 10am-3:30pm, $50. www.conservationaction.orgMarch 8 - Bunny 101 - Learn how to beyour House Bunny’s Best Friend. Issuescovered include: housing, Spay/Neuter, Diet,Bunny Proofing, Toys, & Health. Presentedby House Rabbit Society. Free (a $5.00donation to the Humane Society is welcome).Bring a photo for our bunny board! Doorprize drawing for bunny gifts. 1:00 PM to3:00 PM Humane Society of Sonoma County,5345 Highway 12 West (5 miles west of Hwy101 @ Llano Road) ~ (707) 542-0882California State Parks and Stewardsof the Coast and Redwoods (Stewards)Community Education Seminars - Docentswilling to make a regular volunteercommitment may attend seminars for FREE.Volunteers receive Park Passes in honor oftheir time. Members of Stewards may alsoattend seminars at no cost. Communitymembers and visitors may attend for asuggested donation of $15 per seminar. (707)869-9177 x01 ~ rherrick@mcn.org ~ www.stewardsofthecoastandredwoods.orgMarch 8 - Geology of Sonoma Coast - Learnabout the geologic formations, landforms,geologic history, plate tectonics, andtheir significance on the Sonoma Coast.Instructor: Terry Wright, ProfessorEmeritus, Geology, SSU. 9 am to 3 pm witha lunch break. Seminar will take place atShell Beach and Bodega Head.March 15 - Plants & Wildflowers ofArmstrong Redwoods - Discover thewildflowers of Armstrong Redwoodson this easy, ½ day afternoon hike.Instructors: Keith Nelson and NormanHill, docents. 1:00 pm to 3:30 pmMarch 29 - Archeology and History ofSonoma Coast - Travel back in timeand learn about the changes that havetaken place from an archeological andhistoric perspective on the Sonoma Coast.Instructor: Tom Origer, Consultant forArcheological Research & Historic Studies.9:30 am to 2:30 pm with lunch break.March 15 - Free classes on “CPRSaturday” - The American Red Crossoffers Adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation(CPR) classes at NO CHARGE on “CPRSaturday.” The usual cost is $50. Classes inEnglish and Spanish. There is no age limitfor participants. All attendees must be ableto pass a written exam as well as the physicalskills test, which takes enough upper bodystrength to compress the mannequins’ chestsrepeatedly. Classes will be offered startingevery hour on the hour from 8 a.m. until 2p.m. The Adult CPR class includes a videofollowed by practice on mannequins andfinally, a written exam. The participantswill receive CPR certification from the RedCross upon completion of training. Threehours. Pre-register (707) 577-7624 (English),577-7615 (Spanish) or email cprsaturday@arcsm.org. Be prepared to provide completeinformation (name, address, phone, time ofclass preferred). Event at Petaluma VeteransBuilding, 1094 Petaluma Blvd. South.CULINARYWednesdays – Charizma CulinaryClasses – Affordable classes on Wednesdaynights from 6 to 9:00pm. Class price: $40per person, $30 seniors/students. PackagePrice: 4 classes $120. Reserve your spacenow! Charizma Wine Lounge & Deli, 16337Main, Guerneville ~ (707) 869-0909 ~ www.charizmawinelounge.comFebruary 20 - Raw & Vegan Dishes - Aperfect class if you are vegan, vegetarian,health conscious or just looking for ahealthy diet.February 27 - Soups, Sauces & Dressings -Learn how to make yummy healthy soups,easy sauces & creative dressings.DINNER with the WINE-MAKER SeriesThis is not a pre-set food and wine pairing,this is a personal discovery dinner – youchoose your entrée and discover your ownpairings based on your personal palette. Theprice is $45 (includes tip & tax). and beginsat 6:00 PM. Reservation cannot be cancelledand are made solely through Prairie Silva, ~(707) 865-0565 ~ wtoscty@sonic.netSunday, February 17 th , 2008 – Bob Applebyof Atascadero Creek Wines. With a focuson single-vineyard wines, are very smallin production and therefore a real treat atthis dinner. We are very lucky to have thisboutique winery in our Series.Sunday, February 24 th , 2008 – Peter & BetsySpann of Spann Vineyards. European-styleblended wines grown on the mountainsideof the Mayacama Mountains. This steepterrain is making Mo’Betta wines, forexample the MoJo and the MoZin.Dinners scheduled through May.March 2 - A Taste of the River - SpaghettiPie, Barley Risotto and Spinach Salad withLemon Vinaigrette… After class, studentswill enjoy the foods prepared along withluscious wines and hearty locally bakedbreads. Have a friend, guest or spouse wholoves food but isn’t interested in a cookingclass? Buy a “meal only” ticket for $20.00and ask them to join us for a wonderful mealat 5:45PM. (Meal Only participants mustbe the guest of a registered student.) 3:30-6:30pm, $40.00 per student. Class attendancelimited to 24. Monte Rio Community CenterDemonstration Kitchen, 20488 Highway 116,Monte Rio ~ 865-9956 ~ www.mrrpd.orgKIDSWednesdays – Preschool Storytime –Fun and Free activities include stories, fingerrhymes, and flannelboards. Wednesdaymornings at 11:00am. Guerneville RegionalLibrary, 14107 Armstrong Woods Road,Guerneville. 707-869-9004Mommy and Me Mondays - Childrenages 1–4 and a loving adult are invited todrop in for stories, games, and art activities,topped off with a snack and a movie. 10am–12pm. Cost is $5 per child and adults arefree! Charles M. Schulz Museum & ResearchCenter, 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa ~(707)284-1268 ~ www.SchulzMuseum.orgFebruary 18 - This Monday make a birdfeeder for Woodstock and a dog dish forSnoopy.February 25 - Explore the museum bycreating your own labyrinth and mosaicto take home and more!Februar y 25 - Forestville SchoolRegistration and School Tour - Allnew incoming students for the 2008/2009school year come and join us at 9:30 am.We look forward to meeting you! For moredetails: Kindergarten to 8th grade ~ 887-2270.Preschool ~ 887-9081.2-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com41

BENEFITS:February 16 - Russian River CrabFeed - Russian River Rotary Club “all-youcan-eat”crab, pasta, and salad dinner, atthe Guerneville Veteran’s Building. Horsd’oeuvres, a wine bar, and a no-host barbeginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Tuscany Room.A one-seating all-you-can-eat dinner will follow.Lively entertainment will be provided by theinternationally recognized “The Hot Frittatas”performing Latin melodies. Guests will be invitedto participate in a silent auction, with proceedsbenefiting Russian River projects, including:• $1000 college scholarships to El Molinostudents graduating in June;• Improvements to the Senior Center; and• Dictionaries for third grade students attendingschools in Forestville, Guerneville, Monte Rio,and Cazadero.Tickets for the “all-you-can-eat” Crab and PastaDinner may be purchased for $40 from Rotarians,the Russian River Chamber of Commerce (869-9000), D&G Property Management (887-9427),and Frank Howard Allen Realty (869-3865).February 16, 17, 18 - Food for ThoughtAntiques Sale - We have rented theneighbors’ barn to house everything andmust clear it out at the end of the sale! Adonation from BASSO includes lamps, tables,upholstery fabric, sofas, armoires, chests ofdrawers, mirrors, frames, wrought iron andmore. Very eccentric and eclectic. 9:00am-5:00pm at FFT ANTIQUES, 2701 GravensteinHwy South, Sebastopol (across from theAntique Society). For more informationcontact Allen at 707-823-3101 or AllenC@FFTfoodbank.org.Passport Fair – Get a Passport and helpsupport your school! 50% of the cost forphotos goes to your school. Payment bycheck or cash only. Applications and photosavailable on site, or you may downloadapplications from the web (www.travel.state.gov) and fill it out in advance – do not sign!2:30-5:00pmFebruary 20 - Twin Hills Charter MiddleSchool in the gym, 1685 Watertrough Rd.Sebastopol ~ 707-823-7446February 21 - Salmon Creek Elementary inthe gym, 1935 Bohemian Hwy., Occidental~ 707-874-1205February 29 - The Annual El MolinoHigh School Jazz and Pasta Dinner- A fresh pasta dinner with Mike Spediacci’sauthentic, homemade Italian sauces, will beserved with entertainment provided by theEl Molino Concert Choir, Encore Singers,and Jazz Band, plus other guest performers.There will be a silent auction of goods fromlocal merchants and custom wine cellarselections from our many outstanding localwineries. All money raised goes to supportMusic Department activities. 5:30 to 8:00pm.Tickets $12 adults, $10 students/seniors. Formore information please call El Molino HighSchool at 824-6550. El Molino High Schoolcafeteria, in Forestville.March 1 - Prime Timer’s Bazaar – Newitems, collectables, rummage, Chinese raffle,bake sale! A Benefit for the Forestville SeniorDining Site. All Donations Welcome. 8 amto 3pm, Holy Ghost Hall, Mill Street & Hwy116, Sebastopol. Questions? Bobbie 887-2439,Claudia 887-2093 Denise 887-1107March 2 - Boy Scout Troop 150 PancakeBreakfast - Troop 150 owes much of oursuccess to the community that has helpedto support us during the past 50 years.Please join us again for our annual PancakeBreakfast! 8 a.m. until Noon. Adult breakfasttickets are $5.00 each. Senior and childbreakfast tickets are $3.50 each. Raffle ticketsare $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. Forestville SchoolMulti Purpose auditorium, 6321 Highway116, Forestville.March 8 & 9 - Auditions - Dust off yourzither, clarinet, toe shoes… tune up thosevocal chords, get the band together… comeand audition for the 3rd Annual GreaterGraton Variety Show! It’s a benefit for theGraton community projects & the GratonCommunity Club. Noon to 4 pm at theclubhouse on the corner of Edison & GratonRoad. Show is Saturday, March 22, so comeon down, join in – you’ll be glad you did! Forinformation, call 823-0570.LiteraryTiny Lights: A Journal of PersonalNarrative ~ a venue for readers andwriters of personal narrative. This biannualjournal is devoted to short essay. The annualessay contest, which offers $1500 in prizes,provides the material for the summer issue,while the winter issue is by invitation only.Subscribe to the beautifully designed printedition, mailed in summer and late fall. Theonline component of Tiny Lights is designedto catch what can’t be contained in the pagesof the newsstand editions. Don’t miss anotherdeadline for the annual essay contest, classes,services, and more! The mailing is monthlyand spam free. Tiny Lights Publications, P.O.Box 928, Petaluma, CA 94953 ~ (707) 762-3208~ www.tiny-lights.com42 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08February 15 to April 11 - The ProsePoem with Terry Ehret - What exactlyis a prose poem? Our focus for the SpringWorkshop will be on the prose poemsof of Paul Celan, focusing on his earlywork translated from the Romanian; theprose pairs of Stephen Dunn’s Riffs andReciprocities; and the work of two localpoets and publisher: Patricia Dientsfreyof Berkeley, and Pat Nolan of Guerneville.Workshops are open to all writers, prose andpoetry, beginning and experienced, male andfemale, young and old. Fee: Info: tehret99@comcast.net Fridays 9 AM to noon. TheSitting Room, 170 East Cotati Ave., CotatiFebruary 17 - Earth Elders’ AnnualPoetry Event! Gather your favorite readingsand recitations – or come to listen and enjoyothers. Bring a goodie (sweet, savory ordrink) to share after the readings. This eventis open to Elders, Friends and Community.2:30 - 5:00 pm Burbank Heights SeniorHousing Community Bldg, 7777 BodegaAvenue, Sebastopol ~ Jacque Lefler 829-2875~ jacquelefler@earthlink.netFebruary 19 & 26 - Armchair TravelSeries - 7:30 in the Forum Room of theSebastopol Library, 7140 Bodega Ave.,Sebastopol ~ 823-7691 ~ www.sonomalibrary.orgFeb 19 - Rafting the Colorado in Search of a Storypresented by Sarah AndrewsFeb 26 - Scenes of India by Evelyn TaylorFebruary 21 – Writers’ Forum: Writingthe Page-Turner - When you can’t put apiece of writing down, it’s a page-turner.This writing workshop will cover crucialelements of the page-turner - scenes, dramatictension, complications and much more- to help you create your own compellingworks. Presenter Jordan E. Rosenfeld isthe author of two books for writers, anda contributing editor to Writer’s Digestmagazine. Sponsored by the Petaluma ArtsCouncil (www.petalumaartscouncil.org)and supported by Poets & Writers, Inc. 7:00-9:00pm, $15 at the door. Community Center,320 No. McDowell Blvd. Petaluma ~ info@TheWriteSpot.us ~ www.thewritespot.usMarch 2 – Redwood Writers ClubMonthly Meeting - This month is thepresentation of awards for the 3rd AnnualYouth Writing Competition, and Ann Wilkeswill speak on reading in public. RedwoodWriters is one of 17 branches of the CaliforniaWriters Club, the nation’s oldest professionalclub for writers, founded in 1909. Its mottois “Writers Helping Writers.” Early membersincluded Jack London, George Sterling, JohnMuir, Joaquin Miller and the first Californiapoet laureate, Ina Coolbrith. The Clubhas more than 1,200 members statewide.The general public is welcome. Meetingruns from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at Marvin’sRestaurant, 7991 Old Redwood Highway atWilliam St., Cotati. ~ 707-795-4591 ~ www.redwoodwriters.orgMarch 5 - Occidental Oddities: Musicand Readings of Comic Pieces by LocalWriters and Musicians - The duo Tone Bent(Bill Horvitz and Robin Eschner), PatrickFanning, Marylu Downing, Guy Biedermanand Judith Felix Moorman will brighten yourmidweek winter evening with songs andreadings from their original funny stories,articles, bits and routines. Reading at 7:00PM, $10. Optional fixed price dinner from5:30-7 PM., $15 includes salad plus pasta orpizza. Union Hotel, 3703 Main St., Occidental.Call (707)874-9392 for reservations.Copperfield’s Books ~www.copperfields.netPETALUMA ~ 140 Kentucky St. 762-0563February 15 - James McBride, Song YetSung - Tonight James McBride, bestsellingauthor of The Color of Water, will read andsign his new novel Song Yet Sung, a storyof tragic triumph, violent decisions, andunexpected kindness. 7:00 pmFebruary 18 - Philip Fradkin, Wallace Stegnerand the American West - CelebratingWallace Stegner’s birthday (February 18,1909) with a book talk and signing by authorand Pulitzer Prize-winning journalistPhilip Fradkin, with his new book, WallaceStegner and the American West, an insightinto Stegner as an influential teacher andvisionary conservationist. 7:00 pmFebruary 19 - Alice Waters, The Art ofSimple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipesfrom a Delicious Revolution - As thefounder and co-owner of Berkeley’siconic Chez Panisse Restaurant and Cafe,Waters is one of the first and foremostchampions of organic, locally grown,fresh ingredients—and she seeks socialand environmental change through herculinary ventures. The Art of Simple Foodis destined to become a classic. 7:00 pmFebruary 27 - Kim Harrison, The OutlawDemon Wails (Rachel Morgan, Book6) - Come find out what’s behind thecreation of Rachel Morgan’s characterand her latest quest for the truth behind aterrifying murder. “Her work can read likea smoldering combination of Alice Watersand Ozzy Osbourne.” - 7:00 pmSEBASTOPOL ~ 138 North Main Street,Downtown Sebastopol ~ 823-2618February 24 - Natalie Goldberg, Old Friendfrom Far Away: The Practice of WritingMemoir - Goldberg reaffirms her statusas a foremost teacher of writing, andtransforms memoir writing. 3:00 pmHEALDSBURG ~ 104 Matheson Street, Onthe Square ~ 433-9270February 26 - Jane Ganahl, Naked On thePage: The Misadventures of My UnmarriedMidlife - her funny and poignant book,Naked spans the changes, both social andprofessional, of this very smart, social,middle-aged and single life. 7:00pmMany Rivers Books ~ 130 S. Main Street,Suite 101, Sebastopol ~ 707-829-8871 ~www.manyriversbooks.comFebruary 14 - The Mystery of Cupid’sArrow: Karma, Divine Love, & Co-Meditation - Who can explain why twoindividuals come together in relationship?Co-Meditation is a two-person meditationtechnique we can use to simply be presentwith the Other without judging or engagingour usual agendas. 7:30 pm - $5 donation.February 16 - Basics of Black Tea Blending- Some of the most popular teas are blendsof different Black Teas, You can createyour own personal blends! Join us for anafternoon exploration of the art of blendingblack teas. No experience required. 3 - 4:30pm - No Charge/By Donation.February 21 - Everyday Commitments:- Choosing a Life of Love, Realism, andAcceptance. In his new book, Davidoffers fifty-two promises we can maketo ourselves that will help us navigatethe ups and downs of daily living inwise, compassionate and psychologicallyhealthy ways. 7:30pm - $5 donation.February 28 - From Berkeley Street Poetry tothe Mantrayana - Jampa Dorje, aka RichardDenner, has been a Protestant mystic, aTheosophist and disciple of Alice Bailey,the Worshipful Master of a Masonic Lodge,and a Sufi dervish. He now manifests as aTibetan Buddhist monk in the LongchenNyinthig Lineage. A leopard can’t changeits spots. Join us at Many Rivers to hearRichard read his poems, tell tall tales, andchant mantras. 7:30 pm - $5 donation.

MusicSingers! The California Redwood Choraleis looking for singers, especially Tenors.They are planning a trip to British Columbiato participate in the international festival,“Kathaumixw.” (www.kathaumixw.org) 30choirs from around the world will be there.Last year the Chorale went to Hungary! Formore info contact Gerry Schultz, Founder,at gshultz@sonic.net ~ 707-547-0204 ~ www.occidentalchoir.orgRussian River Performing Arts Center- 16375 4th St. (at Mill directly across fromTriple R), Guerneville ~ (707) 604-7600 ~www.sfconcerto.org. 50% off for Monthlypass holders!Meditation Mondays & Healing Tuesdays- Center for Inner Listening presentsOpen Mic and Forum with SomaticPractitioner, Yitzak, 7:00pm – $10Friday Nights Live - simulcast on KGGV95.1 “The Bridge.” 7:00pm – $10Friday Night Pops - 8:00pm – $15Costume Saturdays - Casual dress andcostumes welcome! 8:00pm – $15Classical Sundays - 3:00pm – $15Wednesdays – Jam Sessions – Musiciansand listeners are invited Wednesday nights at7:30 for traditional music sessions: Celtic fast/slow, Bluegrass, European, more! For moreinformation, contact Mitch Gordon (French,European, and Slow Celtic) mitchgord@aol.com; Don Coffin (Traditional Celtic)drcoffin@aol.com; or Garelick (Old-Time/Bluegrass) fiddler@sonic.net. Black RoseIrish Pub, 2074 Armory Drive, just east of101 at Steele Lane ~ (707) 546- ROSE ~ www.theblackrosepub.comAce in the Hole Pub – Live Music EveryDay! Open Daily: Sun - Thurs 11:30am- 9:30pm; Fri/Sat 11:30am - 10pm. ServingPizza, British classics and Daily Specials.3100 Gravenstein Highway North @ GratonRoad, Sebastopol ~ (707) 829-1101 ~ www.acecider.comMondays - Open Mic Nights - Steve Whartonhosts showcase of local talent. 6 - 9pmFebruary 14 - Grace 6 - 9pmFebruary 15 - Pion 2 Zion 4:30 - 6:30pmFebruary 16 - Dgiin 7 - 10pmFebruary 17 - Loose Gravel 6 - 9pmFebruary 19 - Logan & Switzer 6 - 9pmFebruary 20 - Tabla Rasa 6 - 9pmFebruary 21 - Apollo 6 - 9pmFebruary 22 - VU Meters 4:30 - 6:30pmFebruary 23 - Beat Meters 7 - 10pmFebruary 24 - Bottle Shock 6 - 9pmFebruary 26 - Darling & Mynx 6 - 9pmFebruary 27 - Mike Saliani Band 6 - 9pmFebruary 28 - Elders 6 - 9pmFebruary 29 - Fortunate Sons 4:30 - 6:30pmFebruary 15 – An Evening of PianoDuets – Noted pianists Ann Boatright, NickiBell, Barbara Shepherd, Doris Norman, SueWhite, Heidi Oliver, Deborah Kakalik andNancy Guevara present selections fromSchubert, Hindemith, Poulenc, Grieg, Bach,Brahms and Clark. Tickets are sliding scale$10 to $15. 7:30 p.m. in the Music Studio atSebastopol Center for the Arts, 6780 DepotStreet, Sebastopol ~ 829-4797 ~ lindag@monitor.net or www.sebarts.orgUnder the Radar – Come and hear thisacoustic band that runs the gamut frombluegrass to blues to swing to folk & country.This group is all about having fun makingmusic they love!February 15 – at the Black Rose Irish Pub,2074 Armory Drive, just east of 101 atSteele Lane ~ (707) 546- ROSE ~ www.theblackrosepub.com. 8:30pm – FREE!February 21 – at Station House Café, MainStreet, Pt. Reyes Station ~ 415.663.1515~ www.stationhousecafe.com. 6-8pm- FREE!February 29 – at Murphy’s, 464 1st St.East, Sonoma ~ 707-935-0660 ~ www.sonomapub.com. 8:00pm - FREE!March 14 – in the Music Studio at SebastopolCenter for the Arts, 6780 Depot Street,Sebastopol ~ (707) 829-4797 ~ lindag@monitor.net. 7:30 pm - $12February 16 - Club Yamagata - Sushi bar,great original gypsy rock music, wonderfulatmosphere. Don’t miss this; it is going tobe a blast! 7:00pm, no cover. 16225 Main St,Guerneville ~ 707-869-9875February 16 ~ 18 - Ingrid Fliter performsBeethoven Piano Concerto with Santa RosaSymphony. Also La Mer by Debussy, as wellas Masques et Bergamasques by Fauré andMétaboles for Orchestra by contemporaryFrench composer Henri Dutilleux. Saturdayand Monday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.Conversations with the Conductor beginone hour prior to concert. Discovery Seriesof open rehearsals at 2 p.m. on February 16.Tickets: $10 adults and $6 youth. Wells FargoCenter for the Arts in Santa Rosa ~ (707) 546-8742 ~ www.santarosasymphony.comFebruary 17 - Yoon-Mi Lim, organist“Gifts from Above.” Franz Liszt Preludeund Fugue über B-A-C-H; Olivier MessiaenII. Alléluias sereins d’un Ame qui désirele Ciel from “L’Ascension”; Edward ElgarPomp and Circumstances March No. 1;César Franck Choral No. 1 in E Major; J. S.Bach Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major,BWV 564; Louis Vierne Toccata from “Suitepour l’orgue II.” 5pm, sliding scale donation,all proceeds benefit monthly events. KnoxPresbyterian Church, 1650 West 3rd Street atStony Point Road, Santa Rosa ~ 707-824-5611~ www.CreativeArtsSeries.comFebruary 21 to March 13 - CelticMusic Classes - Stress free, no grades!Four Thursdays, 6:00-7:30pm. $50. Offeredby SRJC Community Education. For moreinfo and to register: www.santarosa.edu/communityedFebruary 22 - Mark McLay & theDustdevils spin out positive, high energyvariety rock & roll In addition to their originalsongs, they add classic covers from BuddyHolly, the Temptations, Little Richard andmany others. You can even dance! 8:30,FREE. Finbar Divines, 145 Kentucky St.,Petaluma ~ www.markmclay.comFebruary 23 - BATACHA - Catch thisgreat dance band led by Forestville artistJoel Bennett. Come hear the nine-piece“Orquesta,” featuring the incredible vocalsof Joel Aviles and his wife Rosalia Brennes,along with a variety of Latin Music from Jazzto Salsa! Lots of fun always! Show begins at9PM and the cover charge is $8.00. ForestvilleClub, Hwy 116, ForestvilleFebruary 23 - House Concert: KevinCarr & Barbara Magone - Kevin Carr isbest known from his work with the ultrasizzlingcontra dance band “Hillbillies fromMars,” and the wonderful yet inexplicable“Wake the Dead.” Barbara Magone is aliving-legendary Cape Breton style pianist.Admission will be $15 per person. Email JonBerger, jberger@sbcglobal.net, for directionsand reservations.February 26 - Samite - The man called“the soul of Africa,” leads a trio of musiciansto play the music of his native Ugandanculture and weave a colorful landscapeof theme and melody. By combining thestrength of his smooth voice with his playfulkalimbas (finger pianos) and other nativeinstruments, Samite shares a message ofpeace and understanding. His goal is to openpeople’s minds and hearts to the commonthreads of human concerns, conveyingoptimism through stories and song. Samiteperforms at 8 pm in the intimate CarstonCabaret at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts.All tickets just $10, available at the Box Office.Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, 50 Mark WestSprings Road in Santa Rosa ~ 707-546-3600 ~wellsfargocenterarts.org.February 28 - Phenix - Hear theirextraordinarily danceable country blues,rock, and R&B on `Thursday Night Live,’hosted by Andre de Channes on KRSH 95.9FM “The Crush” also streaming online atKRSH.com. 8:00pm. For more information,call Robin Berardini at 707-636-1615 or visitwww.phenixtheband.comMarch 1 - The Jupiter String Quartetwill be joined by the Spanish-born clarinetistJose Franch-Ballester and will include theString Quartet No. 16 by Beethoven, Homageto Manuel de Falla by Bela Kovaks, andthe Clarinet Quintet in A Major by Mozart.Occidental Community Church, Occidentalat 8:15pm. Tickets: Redwood Arts Council,or at Handgoods in Occidental and BrownPaper Tickets at (800) 838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com. If not sold out, theymay be purchased at the door. $25.00, $10.00for full-time students. Members receive $5discounts. Infants and very young childrenwill not be admitted. The Redwood ArtsCouncil, PO Box 449, Occidental, CA 95465 ~(707) 874-1124 ~ www.redwoodarts.org.Santa Rosa Symphony’s Latin WavesMusic Festival - Santa Rosa Symphonyplayers join with dancers, vocalists and thefinest musicians in the Latin idiom for amusical tour of Argentina, Brazil, Spainand Mexico. The concerts on Mar. 1 andMar. 26 take place at 5:30 p.m. at the JacksonTheater, Sonoma Country Day School, 4400Day School Place in Santa Rosa. The Festivalfinale on April 26, takes place at 8 p.m. at theWells Fargo Center for the Arts. Tickets from$27 to $50 at santarosasymphony.com, (707)54-MUSIC, or at the SRS Box Office, 50 SantaRosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 9 - 6. M-F.March 1 - Brazil: Spirit of Rio - Brazil’sfinest chamber music shares this evening’sspotlight with the sensuous harmoniespenned by “Tom” Jobim, whose songsfueled the original trajectory of bossanova.March 29 - Spain: Flamenco Beat - Clickof castanets, hand-clapping, dizzyingguitar strums and the percussion ofdancers’ feet bring you into the heart ofAndalusia in southern Spain, and the rootsof flamenco.April 26 - ¡Viva el Mariachi! - MariachiChampaña Nevín, directed by composerand trumpeter Jeff Nevin, joins the SantaRosa symphony with a blend of “born andbred” mariachi musicians and players fromworld-class orchestras.March 6 - Blueshift – Upbeat, positive,eclectic blend of rock, reggae, folk, funk,soul, hip-hop, and ska with our best buds,Pion 2 Zion, and Top Shelf. The music willget you dancing! 8:00pm ~ $7. The Last DaySaloon, 120 Fifth St. @ Davis St, Santa Rosa ~www.myspace.com/blueshiftrocksMarch 7 - Jubilee Klezmer Ensembleconcert and dance followed by a jam sessionin which musicians of all abilities are invitedto join. Sheet music will be provided. 7:30at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 MorrisStreet, Sebastopol. Tickets are $10 for adults,$5 for children. For info and reservationscontact Paul Alexander at 707 762-1070.March 8 - Sonoma County Bluegrassand Folk Festival - Featuring performancesby Nina Gerber & Kenny Edwards, JohnReischman & the Jay Birds, Sol Flamenco, TheRoad Oilers, The Mighty Crows, AlhambraValley Bluegrass & Julay Brooks & the NightBirds. The day will include music workshopsand plenty of time to jam, so bring yourinstruments! Food and beverage concessionsavailable on site. Tickets available at People’sMusic in Sebastopol or www.cbaontheweb.org. General admission is $27 advance/$32door. Members of The California BluegrassAssociation & Sonoma County Folk Societyreceive $2 off admission. Children 11 yearsold and under are free when accompanied byan adult admission. Sebastopol CommunityCenter, 390 Morris Street, Sebastopol ~ MarkHogan, 829-8012 ~ www.cbaontheweb.orgMarch 8 – La Pasion De España- International Women’s History Weekculminates with a concert featuring SolFlamenco with guest artists Mark Taylor,Kathy Mejia, and Mark Berry. 7:00 pm. FREE.Newman Auditorium, Emeritus Hall at SantaRosa Junior College ~ (707) 527-8928 ~ www.santarosa.eduMarch 14 - Corinne West & The Posse- a heady mix with the intensity of rock,the sincerity of country, the storytellingof bluegrass, and the wide-openness ofAmericana. Info: www.corinnewest.com.Tickets: $18 door / $15 advance at Tall ToadMusic in Petaluma and at The Last RecordStore in Santa Rosa. 8:00 p.m. PetalumaChurch Concerts at First Church of ChristScientist, 522 B Street at 6th), Petaluma ~ (707)542-1894 ~ www.petalumachurchconcerts.com2-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com43

Film &TheaterThrough April 20 - ECOCENTRIC isan international representation of videoshorts, ranging from poetic to humorous tonarrative, addressing environmental issuessuch as climate change, over consumption,and survival. Video is an affordable tool forartists to document activities that engage alimited audience. This exhibition exploreshow artists are employing technology tocommunicate, on a broader scale, ecologicalconcepts that inspire and provoke newways of seeing. Admission is $5 general;$2 students & seniors; free for Members &children under 12. Wednesday-Sunday, 11:00am-5:00 pm. Sonoma County Museum, 425Seventh Street, Santa Rosa ~ 707-579-1500 ~www.sonomacountymuseum.orgFebruary 14-17 - Little Shop of Horrors- A nerdy flower shop worker gets assistancein love when he tends to a blood-thirstyplant in this black musical-comedy. Thiscult classic features tunes in style of 1960’sdoo-wop, early Motown and rock n’ roll withshow-stoppers “Skid Row (Downtown),”“Somewhere That’s Green,” and “SuddenlySeymour.” Music by Alan Menken & Lyricsby Howard Ashman. 8 pm Thursday, Friday,and Saturday; 2 pm matinee Saturday andSunday. Tickets are $14 to $30. Order bytelephone, online or purchase at the door.6th Street Playhouse, G.K. Hardt Theatre, 52West 6th Street, Santa Rosa ~ 707-523-4185 ~www.6thstreetplayhouse.comFebruary 21 - Film: Wal-Mart: TheHigh Cost of Low Prices - Join SonomaCounty Conservation Action (SCCA) forGE-Free popcorn while watching thisinformative documentary. “The film featuresthe deeply personal stories and every daylives of families and communities strugglingto survive in a Wal-Mart world. The film hasbeen seen by millions worldwide. See the film,share it, and become part of the movementforcing companies to act responsibly.”7:00pm, $5-10 suggested donation. SCCA,540 Pacific Ave, Santa Rosa ~ 707-571-8868 ~www.conservationaction.orgFebruary 23 - Shadow of a MURDER- Welcome to “Your Small Town,” USA,circa 1943, for a deadly family gathering inHitchcock style! The Gibson House MysteryPerformers (www.GibsonHouse.com)present an audience-participation Murder-Mystery Play. 1940’s attire welcome! Seatingbegins at 6:30pm. Choose your three-coursegourmet meal and enjoy the performance, allfor $59 each, tax & gratuity included. SpecialRoom/Mystery Package available. FlamingoTerrace Grille, 2777 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa,~ Reservations required (707) 523-4745 ~www.FlamingoResort.comFebruary 23 to March 22 – A PerfectGanesh - Two upper middle class suburbanhousewives from Connecticut travel to India,taking with them ghosts of former tragedies.Their journey, a search for healing in the guiseof vacation away from family, is guided bythe elephant god, Ganesha. From lepers inthe streets of Bombay, to a disturbing tripin a skiff on the sacred Ganges River, to thedrop dead majesty and lavish beauty of theTaj Mahal, India entrances them, and leadsthem into fantasies that challenge theirpropensities for denial. On February 23, ourgala night, we will serve Indian food cookedby Tom Lowry, and champagne, all for$35. Evening performances each Thursdaythrough Saturday at 8 pm, and matineesat 2 pm each Sunday. The theater alwaysopens thirty minutes before curtain. PegasusTheater Group, 20347 Hwy 116, Monte Rio ~522-9043 ~ www.pegasustheater.comMarch 1, 2 – Pinocchio - The timelesstale of a wooden puppet brought to life, whomust somehow find the way to become areal little boy! Meet Pinocchio, Gepetto, theBlue Fairy and other classic characters in thisdelightful adaptation written and directedby Tim Hayes. Featuring Trishia Davis andLibby Lee! A play for children of all agespresented by theater4. Visit www.theater4.com for information about bringing livetheater into your school! Saturday March 1 @11:00 am, Sunday March 2 @ 11:00 am & 2:00pm. Kids $6/Adults $8. Sebastopol Centerfor the Arts, 6780 Depot Street, Sebastopol ~(707) 829-4797 ~ www.sebarts.orgMarch 7 to March 30 - Boston Marriageby David Mamet - A deliciouslyseductive, sophisticated and wittycomedy about two unmarried women livingon the threshold of upper-class Victoriansociety. Mamet highlights his female lust festwith parlor repartee and twists the obviouswhen financial security rivals romanticintentions. Directed by Sheri Lee Miller andfeaturing Bronwen Shears of Sebastopol.Recommended for mature audiences (14+yrs). Tickets $14 to $26, order by telephone,online or purchase at the door. Shows at 8 pmThursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 2 pm Sundaymatinees. 6th Street Playhouse G.K. HardtTheatre, 52 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa (inhistoric Railroad Square) ~ 707-523-4185 ~www.6thstreetplayhouse.comMarch 8 – “Truth Be Told” Salon: MarkGrowden & Friends - Mark Growden is acomposer, multi-instrumentalist and singersongwriterwho has recently moved to thearea. Here is what the press has to say: “Partbluesman, part avant-gardist, he’s an avatarof Bohemian weirdness.”-Fort Worth Weekly.“Fiery, earthy and sublimely sensual.” CometMag.” “A SIGHT AND SOUND YOU DONTWANT TO MISS.” - S.F. Bay Guardian.Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 6780 DepotStreet, Sebastopol ~ (707) 829-4797 ~ www.sebarts.orgMarch 21 to April 12 - Oleanna byDavid Mamet - A female universitystudent accuses her male professor of sexualharassment in this controversial, two-personplay by David Mamet. Inspired by the AnitaHill - Clarence Thomas hearings, the play asksaudiences to examine society’s interpretationof sexual harassment, consider its ambiguityand how it can be exaggerated and distorted.Directed by Linda Reid. Recommended formature audiences (14+ yrs). Tickets $12 to$18, order by telephone, online or purchase atthe door. Shows at 8 pm Fridays & Saturdays;2 pm Sunday matinees. 6th Street PlayhouseStudio Theatre, 52 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa(in historic Railroad Square) ~ 707-523-4185~ www.6thstreetplayhouse.com44 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08NATURE FUN LE ARNINGSonoma County Regional ParksCamping Reser vations On-Line!www.sonoma-county.org/camping. Forassistance with the website, call theRegional Parks office at (707) 565-2041,Monday through Friday from 8am to5pm.February 19 - Basketry and OtherTraditional Uses of Plants - TheCalifornia Native Plant Society presentsa slide presentation by Charles Kennard,photographer, historian and naturalist, onNorth Bay native and introduced plantsand their uses for food, medicine, baskets,cordage, and boat-building. He will show awide variety of plants in their natural habitats,and discuss the gathering, preparation, anduses of them. California Indian practicesare featured, but he will also include someEuropean techniques. Most artifacts depictedwill be his handiwork. Free and open to thepublic. 7:30pm, with Plant ID Hour at 6:30preceding the presentation. Refreshmentswill be provided. Luther Burbank Art &Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Ave. (south ofHoen), Santa Rosa ~ www.cnpsmb.orgFebruary 20 - Lunar Eclipse Outing- What’s more fun than a full moon hike?A hike to see the full moon in total eclipse!Sign up today… the next full lunar eclipseviewable from North America won’t occuruntil Dec 21, 2010. Call the Regional ParksEvent Hotline at (707) 565-2730 to RSVP.Inclement weather will cancel this outing.Call the event hotline after 3pm on Feb20th to see if this outing has been cancelled.Participants will meet at the Oxford Courtentrance to the Helen Putnam Regional Parkin Petaluma at 6:30pm. For more informationand directions, visit www.sonoma-county.org/parks or call (707) 565-2041.February 24, March 8 & 30 - CotatiCritters Community Planting Days -The Cotati Creek Critters continue to plantnative trees, shrubs, sedges and grasses alongthe Laguna. Other tasks include weedingand mulching to maintain existing plants,plant propagation and tasks in the nursery.Saturdays 9am-12pm, Sundays 10am-1pm.Location: “Ladybug Lot” Cotati City welllot #2 on Lakewood Avenue. Please checkwww.CotatiCreekCritters.info for directions.Contact: Jenny Blaker at 792-4422 or jenny@creeks.cotati.infoGuided Hikes at Tolay Lake RegionalPark - Sonoma County Regional Parksinvites you to take a guided hike of the futureTolay Lake Regional Park on the followingdates:March 8 - RSVP by March 5. 3-hour hikesfrom 9 - NoonMarch 16 - RSVP by March 12. 2-hour hikesfrom 9am – 11amReserve your space today! Please call theRegional Parks Special Events Hotline at (707)565-2730 to make a reservation, and leave amessage with your name, phone number,email address, and number of people in yourvehicle. After requesting the reservation,you will receive a confirmation, which willinclude more detailed information. Toursfill quickly. If you cannot reserve a placeon your date of choice, add your name toour waitlist for notification of future tourdates. A message with information regardingthe current status of the tour (to go on asscheduled or not) will be available on theRegional Parks Special Events Hotline (707)565-2730 by 7:00am the morning of the tour.Check our website at www.sonoma-county.org/parks/pk_tolay.htmMarch 9 - Guided Beginners’ BirdWalk - Kick off Daylight Saving Time on abeginner’s bird walk at Spring Lake RegionalPark in Santa Rosa. This 2-hour outing, led bymembers of the local Madrone Chapter of theAudubon Society, will begin at 9:00am. Thetwo-mile, easy walk is suitable for all agesand abilities. Participants will meet in theparking lot between the Oak Knolls picnicarea and the Children’s Memorial Grove– enter off Newanga Ave. and turn right atthe dam. Bring snacks, liquids, and wearlayered clothing. Also bring binoculars if youhave them. Rain cancels. This event is freeof charge. Parking at Spring Lake is $5/caror free with an annual park pass. For moreinformation, visit www.sonoma-county.org/parks or call 565-2041.March 10 - Laguna de Santa RosaDocent Training - Laguna Docents arevolunteers who are trained in the natural andcultural history of the Laguna de Santa Rosa.Experts in biology, hydrology, natural historyand environmental education train docents in10 lively sessions held on Monday afternoonsbeginning in March and running throughthe end of May. The classes are held at theCity of Santa Rosa’s wastewater treatmentplant classroom on Llano Road. The 10-week training course prepares volunteers topresent Learning Laguna, the Foundation’swetlands education program. informationand applications available on the LagunaFoundation website, www.lagunafoundation.org, click “Become a Docent” or contactChristine at 527-9277x102 or christine@lagunafoundation.org. Orientation onWednesday, February 27, 2008 at the SantaRosa Central Library.March 15 - Laguna Learning Adventure- The Laguna, its uplands and the Santa RosaPlain are biologically rich and diverse andwe are continually increasing our knowledgeabout the significance of this natural gem.There are over 25 creeks that feed the Lagunaand within its watershed there are significantnumbers of endangered plants and animals,plus a wide variety of mammals, andover 200 species of nesting and migratingbirds. Join Laguna Foundation staff for anintroduction to the natural history of theLaguna, including restoration and scientificresearch currently underway. We will startin the classroom then continue our learningin the field as the afternoon light fades intoevening. 2-6pm, $25 per person. Contact:Christine at 527-9277x102 or christine@lagunafoundation.orgMarch 18 - A Hardy Californian - LesterG. E. Rowntree (1879-1979), free-spiritedadventurer and pioneering botanist, wasfifty-two when she traded a comfortablehome for the life of a peripatetic traveler inthe California mountains, deserts, and forests.First published in 1936, “Hardy Californians”is Rowntree’s poetic sketch of Californiaand its plant life. In charming prose, shetakes us along on her annual seed-collectingjourney through the state and gives a conciseintroduction to the complexities of Californiaflora, climate, and geography. The book alsogives information on the suitability of manynative California plants for the garden.The California Native Plant Society isfortunate to host her grandson, Dr. LesterB. Rowntree, who has produced a newedition of Hardy Californians, and willshare stories of his remarkable grandmother.This new edition includes a comprehensivebiographical essay, a chapter on Rowntree’sNATURE cont’d on page 45

NATURE cont’d from page 44horticultural legacy, an updated species list,and a complete bibliography of her writings.Copies of the book will be available forpurchase and signing. Refreshments will beprovided. 7:30pm - join us for Plant ID Hour,before the lecture, 6:30 pm. Luther BurbankArt & Garden Center, 250 Yulupa Ave., SantaRosa ~ www.cnpsmb.orgMarch 28, 24, April 11, 21 – DocentLed Walks in the Laguna! - The LagunaFoundation offers lively, informative docentledwalks in the Laguna Wetlands Preservein Sebastopol. Walks are held on Wednesdayevenings and Saturday mornings. Meet inSebastopol at the parking lot BEHIND theYouth Annex at 425 Morris Street. Arrive 15minutes early for prompt check-in. The walkwill last about 1 ½ hours. Bring binocularsif you have them and wear comfortablewalking shoes. We ask for a minimum $5.00donation for the walk. Light rain - it’s a go;heavy rain cancels. Mar 28, 6:00pm; Mar24, 9:15am; Apr 11, 6:30pm; Apr 21, 9:15am.www.lagunafoundation.orgApril 20 - Introduction to Birding - Thisfield tour of Occidental Arts and EcologyCenter’s gardens and wildlands will focuson bird identification skills for beginningbirders. Specific attention will be givento behavior, morphology, field marks, lifehistory and habitat enhancements for allspecies encountered during the tour. OAEC’secological preserve provides habitat for over100 species of birds and we hope to observeseveral dozen species during this class. Bringbinoculars, bird book, field notebook, andbeginners mind. Be prepared for easy walkingin the field. This three-hour course begins at9 am; with Brock Dolman. The course feeis $25. Occidental Arts and Ecology Center,15290 Coleman Valley Road, Occidental ~(707) 874-1557 ~ www.oaec.orgGardeningFebruary 21 - Grow Roses like theAward Winners - Rose Show winners,Phyllis Saccani and Martin Kooi, willdescribe how they raise their award winningblooms. Social at 7:00 pm, Program at 7:30pm. Redwood Empire Rose Society, 2050Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa.February 23 - Permaculture Tour - Thistour will focus on the Permaculture aspects ofOAEC’s gardens, wildlands and structures.“Permaculture” is a philosophy of livingbased in sustainable land use concepts andpractices. Participants will be introduced toOAEC’s organic and bio-intensive gardensand heirloom seedsaving program, ourwatershed and wildland restoration work,and “natural” building methods. The tourwill be lead by Brock Dolman, the Directorof the Permaculture Program at OAEC. Asuggested donation of $10 per person isrequested. This three-hour tour begins at 10AM. Occidental Arts and Ecology Center,15290 Coleman Valley Road, Occidental ~(707) 874-1557 ~ www.oaec.orgMarch 1, 22, April 12, May 3, 24 -Willowside School Nursery SpringPlant Sales - A program with studentinvolvement to support garden and nurserycoordinator positions in the Oak Grove UnionSchool District. We have a great variety ofperennials: plus vintage roses, geraniums,wisteria, grasses, small Japanese maples,ferns, Alaska blue willows, dawn redwoods,canna lilies as well as some unusual plants.We accept plant containers for reuse. 5285Willowside Rd at Hall Road, Santa Rosa ~823-3265March 15–28 - Permaculture DesignCourse - This is a residential two-weekcertificate course in land–use design basedon the sustainable living philosophy ofPermaculture. Topics to be covered includepermaculture theory, food diversity, soilenrichment, water use, erosion control,natural building, organic gardening, forestfarming, alternative energy, communitybuilding and more. The primary instructoris Brock Dolman with numerous guestinstructors. Lodging and meals are includedin the course fee of $1,350/$1250 if registeredtwo weeks in advance, which supports thenon-profit center’s educational and researchactivities. Occidental Arts and Ecology Center,15290 Coleman Valley Road, Occidental ~(707) 874-1557 ~ www.oaec.orgMarch 22 – Tour of Occidental Arts andEcology Center -. Tour participants will beintroduced to the Center’s organic gardens,which preserve thousands of varieties ofrare and endangered food, medicinal, andornamental plants. A suggested donationof $10 per person is requested. The twohourtour begins at 1 PM. Occidental Artsand Ecology Center, 15290 Coleman ValleyRoad, Occidental ~ (707) 874-1557 ~ www.oaec.orgApril 12 & 13 – OAEC Spring Plant Saleand Garden Tours - This sale features earlySpring crops such as lettuces and greens,peas, brassicas, chards, onions, leeks, flowers,and herbs. We will also offer many sagesand other interesting perennials, as well astraditional annual and perennial food cropsof the Andes. We’ll be selling hundreds ofopen-pollinated, heirloom and rare varieties– all California Certified Organic – manystarted from our own seed collection. Allhave been trialed, tasted, and savored foryears in our demonstration gardens andkitchen. The garden staff will be on handto tell you about our diverse selections andoffer a tour of our gardens, where many ofthese plants are featured. 9 am- 5 pm, withone-hour tours offered at 11 am and 1 pmeach day. Plant sale will be held RAIN ORSHINE! Admission is free. Occidental Artsand Ecology Center, 15290 Coleman ValleyRoad, Occidental ~ (707) 874-1557 ~ www.oaec.orgApril 25 & 26 – Graton CommunityClub Spring Flower Show and PlantSale - The theme of the show is “A Tributeto Mothers.” This is a wonderful opportunityto honor mothers by bringing them for ahome-made luncheon in the historic clubhouse ($8). Ladies wearing dress hats willreceive a dollar off lunch. The old whiteframe building that was once a 19th Centurychicken hatchery will be transformed withflowers and filled with hand crafted andrummage items for sell. In the garden annexvisitors will find hundreds of locally grownplants for sale at bargain prices. Always amajor attraction for gardeners, the FlowerShow Plant Sale offers about 50 differentplant varieties, including hard-to-find nativesand those that thrive in Sonoma County, andbird and butterfly favorites. In addition to awonderful seasonal selection of ornamentalsand natives, vegetables, including heirloomtomatoes will be available. Proceeds fromthe sales benefit the club’s scholarship andbuilding repair funds. 8 am to 4 pm. Free!Graton Community Club, corner of GratonRoad and North Edison in Graton ~ (707)829 9440Stay up-to-dateon-line at www.westcountygzette.com2-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com45

Charlie Mariner: February FeaturedArtist and Display DirectorThe Gallery Art Collective20406 Church Street, Monte Rio, CA 95462865-9740 (Across from the Rio Theatre)Charlie Mariner will host an eveningreception and print signing from 7pm to 9pmon Saturday, February 16 and will offer specialdiscounts on select limited edition prints.A multi-disciplinary artist, Charlie isunveiling a one time only installation sculpturecombining works from the collective, his owncollection and past works on loan from privatecollections. The architecture of the installationincorporates donated, borrowed, foundand recycled local objects. An imaginativeframework supports the theme of “Doors andWindows” and sets the stage for a stunningpresentation of two-dimensional artworks thatspill forth into related sculptural elements.“My intention is to evoke the opening ofmystical portals and the crossing of thresholds.I invite the viewer inside and seek to inspireimagination, thought and reflection. Theviewer becomes an integral part of thesculpture and has the opportunity to take awayan appreciation of worlds beyond ordinaryreality and consciousness. In my life I foundwhat I call the “golden key”, which can unlockawesome powers of the human mind. To me,the key presented as the idea “you can changeyour mind”. Years later, I shared this with agroup of close friends and was summarilypresented with a quote “It is your mind thatcreates this world.” – The Buddha. My personalexperience of discovering this single idea hasgreatly influenced my outlook about what ispossible in life.So I ask, “How high is your sky?”46 www.westcountygazette.com ~ 2-14-08ArtThrough February 17 - Darkness andDream - Thirteen member artists celebratethe quiet and mystery of winter. Each artisthas a unique relationship to the darkness ofwinter and the mystery of dreaming. Opendaily 11 am to 6 pm. Sebastopol Gallery, 150North Main St, Sebastopol, CA 95472 ~ (707)829-7200 ~ www.sebastopol-gallery.comThrough February 26 - The ImagineBus Project North - A dual show ofchildren’s art along with that of the Center’sclasses for children. The Imagine BusProject, created by Jane Lang in 2000, bringsa mobile art studio to Sonoma County’sdisadvantaged children in various venuesfrom Juvenile Hall to low income housingprojects. Children learn the wonder ofcreativity in their lives. PAC’s art fromstudents will encompass paintings, unusualportraits and abstract expressionist workfrom Thorjia Vaughn’s class together withclay creations from Sharon Kozel’s class.February 28 to March 28 - ArtistsShowcase #2 - Eleven artists in a juriedgroup show in the gallery. On exhibit are theworks of Janice Cralle - oil, Tony Mininno -oil, Carmen Patterson - oil, Florence Tobener- oil; Rene V. Gumucio - watercolor, HarryJackson - watercolor; Sharon Kozel Reddy- painting/sculpture; Ron Pasquariello- ceramic; Susan Ross - kaleidoscope; andthe photography of Cathleen Evangelistaand Donald Seymour. Ribbon awards forBest Of Show for Individual work and BestOf Show for a body of work. Reception:Friday, March 7, from 5 - 7 pm. Plaza ArtsCenter - Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-5 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 1-4 pm. 130Plaza Street, Healdsburg ~ 707-431-1970 ~www.plazaartscenter.orgThrough March 28 - Cause forReflection - The Santa Rosa Recreationand Parks Department presents a soloexhibit of oil paintings by Guerneville artistSandra Maresca. Santa Rosa City CouncilChambers, City Hall, 100 Santa Rosa Avenue,Suite 10 ~ 707-543-3010 ~ homepage.mac.com/croneclownThrough March 30 - Graton GalleryInvitational Exhibition - Assemblageof 22 outstanding Northern California FineArtists. Open daily 10:30 am to 6: pm, closedMonday. Graton Gallery, 9048 Graton Road,Graton, CA 95444 ~ (707) 829-8912 ~ www.gratongallery.comThrough April 20 - Following Nature:Ruth Asawa - The Sonoma County Museumis honored to present a family legacyexhibition including twenty four modernartworks created by internationally knownBay Area artist, Ruth Asawa. Her organicforms in sculpture, drawing, and paintingwere influenced by years spent observingnature in Sonoma County. Following Naturefurthers the Museum’s focus of “WhereLand Meets Art.” $5 general; $2 students &seniors; free for Members & children under12. Wednesday-Sunday, 11:00am-5:00pm.Sonoma County Museum 425 Seventh Street,Santa Rosa, CA ~ 707-579-1500 ~ www.sonomacountymuseum.orgThrough May 1 - Marylu DowningArt Exhibit at The Wine Emporium– Love is in the air, so look out for lovers,dancers, a scattering of hearts and flowers,imaginary landscapes - a gateway to Marylu’sspecial world of imaginative, colorful,narrative mixed media art. Downing enjoysa reputation for quirky, playful pieces thathave appeared not only on an Apple Blossomposter, but also on book covers, CD coversand on Santa Rosa busses, not to mentionin collections world wide. Come enjoy abreak from the mundane. For a previewor for more information on the artist visitthe artist’s website, www.studioml.com.The public is invited to attend the artist’sreception on Sunday, February 10 from 3-6pm. Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages willbe served. Marylu will be on hand to discussher work and to celebrate the upcomingValentine’s Day. Hours are Wednesday-Sunday 12-6 pm or by special appointment.The Wine Emporium 125 North Main Street,Sebastopol ~ 877-349-2285 ~ www.the-wineemporium.comThrough August 11 - The Language ofLines: How Cartoonists Communicate- Dialogue in a cartoon strip gets much of thecredit for conveying meaning, but a greatdeal of what readers interpret from cartoonart is non-verbal. The exhibition examinesthe visual shorthand of comic art, includingspeed lines, sweat drops, footprints, dottedeyesight lines, sound effects, and thoughtballoons - specialized graphic devices thatare used to represent human emotionsand convey abstract ideas quickly. Thisexhibition of 69 comic strips explores theuse of visual shorthand in comic strips pastand present. Downstairs Changing Gallery,Charles M. Schulz Museum and ResearchCenter, 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa ~ (707)579-4452 ~ www.SchulzMuseum.orgFebruary 16 - Think Warm ThoughtsThe Gallery Art Collective will host anA.rtist Reception from 12pm to 4pm onSaturday, February 16 in celebration of newartworks on display representing a grouptheme “Think Warm Thoughts.” FeaturedArtist Charlie Mariner will host an eveningreception and print signing from 7pm to9pm on Saturday, February 16 and will offerspecial discounts on select limited editionprints. He will offer additional special offerson select prints to all visitors to the Gallerywho sign the Gallery Guest Book and furtherincentives for those who become Friends ofthe Artist by signing his Guest Book. 20406Church Street, Monte Rio, CA 95462 (Acrossfrom the Rio Theatre)ART CALENDAR cont’d on page 47

ART CALENDAR cont’d from page 46objects. Reception for DiCioccio will be heldon Saturday February 23rd from 4—6pm.Gallery hours are 11-6, Thursday-Monday(closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays). TheQuicksilver Mine Co, 6671 Front Street/Hwy116, Forestville ~ (707) 887-0799 ~ www.quicksilvermineco.com.February 18 to April 6 - Forest & Sky- The exhibit for early Spring, “Forest &Sky,” celebrates the rebirth of life and therenewal of light. Fine arts and crafts by localartists: painting, prints, sculpture, ceramics,photography, and jewelry. Artists’ receptionon Saturday, March 8, from 5:00-7:00pm.Open daily, 11 am - 6 pm. Sebastopol Gallery,150 North Main Street, Sebastopol ~ (707)829-7200 ~ www.sebastopol-gallery.comFebruar y 22~March 30 - Ar t &Impermanence - This juried exhibitfeatures artworks that either depict animpermanence, e.g., biological, economic,interpersonal, etc., or works that areimpermanent and ephemeral in themselves,e.g., growing plants, inks fading, dissolvingsculptures, etc. Juror Alison Bing is anauthor, art critic, and contributing editorfor Artweek, San Francisco Chronicle’s onlineedition (SFGate.com), artUS, Sculpture,CMYK, Bidoun, and other arts magazines.In Gallery II, concurrent with the MainGallery exhibit, SCA features Maham’sTemple, an installation by Lehm Elken. Elken’swork is about exploring the mythologiesthat form the basis of the various culturesand re-interpreting them to create a newbasis of belief for the current world. In hiscurrent installation piece, he continues hismythology series with the story of Mahamand the Continuation of Man. The exhibitionsopen with a reception on Friday, February 22,6 pm – 7:30 pm. Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 am-5 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 1-4pm. Admission is free. Sebastopol Centerfor the Arts, 6780 Depot Street, Sebastopol ~707-829-4797 ~ www.sebarts.orgFebruary 22 to March 30 - SEWN NEWSand Other Investigations - Bay Areamixed media artist Lauren DiCioccio willpresent a new series of hand embroideredand hand sewn newsprint and fabric worksin her first solo exhibition. Reconstructingoffice paper and plastic bags into sculpture,DiCioccio highlights the beauty of theirminimalist patterns and soft hues by creatingfragile and delicate forms, transformingthese materials into ghosts of commonplaceMarch 1 to April 4 - It’s Still Life - It’sStill Life is a collaborative exhibit featuringtwo and three-dimensional art with foodas the theme. Artists have created uniqueand intriguing images of a menu whichincludes a variety of delicacies from firstcourse giant French fries to carefully tossedslivers of greens. Artists from BecomingIndependent ArtWorks program, Alchemia,and Dungarvin have joined creative forcesto bring the tastiest of visual dishes alive.Admission: Free and wheelchair accessible.Opening Reception: March 1, 2008 from 4pm- 6pm. Gallery Hours: Wednesday - Friday,noon - 5pm and Saturday, noon - 4pm. ArtsCouncil Gallery, 404 Mendocino Avenue,Suite C, Santa Rosa ~ (707) 579-2787 ~ www.sonomaarts.comMarch 1 to April 16 - Penny Michel andHarley - A two-person show featuring thesculptures of Penny Michel and multi-mediapaintings of Harley. Opens with a receptionfrom 6-8 pm on March 1st. HammerfriarGallery, 139 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg ~(707) 473-9600 ~ www.hammerfriar.comMarch 16 - ”The Hero Within … ”… each of us has the right to declare our a heroby the nature of the paths we have followedand the obstacles we have overcome insearch of our goals, even if the goals restatethemselves along the way.” Creative ArtSeries at the Knox Presbyterian Church, 1650West 3rd Street at Stony Point Road, SantaRosa, California, sliding scale donation, allproceeds benefit monthly events 707-824-5611, www.CreativeArtsSeries.comApril 20 - “Becoming IndependentArtWorks” - Becoming Independentrealizes that creative expression is anintegral part of the human experience. TheArtWorks programs fulfill this commitmentto exploring and developing personalcreativity by providing client artists withinspiration, instruction, encouragement,and opportunities for exhibitions andsales. Barbara Harris is Art ProductionCoordinator for this Creative Art Seriesevent. Sliding scale donation, all proceedsbenefit monthly events. 5 pm at KnoxPresbyterian Church, 1650 West 3rd Street atStony Point Road, Santa Rosa ~ 707-824-5611~ www.CreativeArtsSeries.comCall To Photographers - Plaza Arts Center is still acceptingapplications for “Flash” an all photography showcase. There area limited number of spaces still available. Show dates are August29th to September 23rd with a reception on September. The fee is$125 per Showcase. Call the gallery at 707.431.1970 or ShowcaseDirector Estelle Watts at 707.433.1090 to request an application orfor more information. Plaza Arts Center - Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 am-5 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 1-4 pm. 130 Plaza Street,Healdsburg ~ 707-431-1970 ~ www.plazaartscenter.orgArtists’ SHOWCASE 5 - Plaza Arts Center Plaza Arts Center is nowaccepting applications for this group show running Sept. 24th toOct.20th. Each Showcase is juried and runs for a period of four weeksincluding four weekends. Each artist is allocated 8 linear feet of displayspace. All media are considered – wall hung and 3 dimensional. Awardsare given for Best Of Show for a body of work and Best Of Show foran individual work. The fee is $125. per Showcase. Call the gallery at707.431.1970 or Showcase Director Estelle Watts at 707.433.1090 to requestan application or for more information.2-14-08 ~ www.westcountygazette.com47