LOVE

UnreliableWaterRussian RiverUnreliable as SummerWater SourceBy Brenda AdelmanThe Sonoma County Water Agency(SCWA) came to Guerneville again lastmonth. In February they arrived withan army of staff to inform us of theirplans to divert an extra 26,000 acre feet(AF) from Lake Sonoma for their watercustomers. In mid-March a few keystaff came to warn us about diminishedwater supplies and lowered flows. Itseemed like a contradiction, and Ireported earlier that it was, but nowthere are several new twists.At the March 18th meetingin Guerneville, attended byapproximately 70 people, Pam Jeane,responsible for system operations,and Dave Manning, the Agency’sleading fish biologist, responded toquestions for over two hours aboutdeficiencies in the water system. Itwas an informative meeting, andstaff seemed to answer everyone’squestions sincerely. Nevertheless,many questions remained. Since then,after meeting individually with severalkey staff, the many complexities of ourcurrent water supply situation appeareven more muddled.Estimates of how much water will beavailable to Water Agency contractorsthis coming year, including SantaPRSRT STDUS POSTAGEPAIDPERMIT NO. 10FORESTVILLE95436WATER cont’d on page 7VESTA Publishing LLCWest County GazettePMB 3006490 FRONT ST.FORESTVILLECA 95436LOVE your MOTHERCelebrating Life on this Planet…Earth Day…April 22ndMother’s Day…May 10thEvery DayHanging Out pg 12Guerneville Challenge pg 14WANTED: One Kidney pg 17Vietnam pg 18 ~ 20Baby Birds pg 26Garden Treasures pg 38www.westcountygazette.comGreeningYour HomeWith No Money DownBy Patricia DinesOn the surface, Sonoma County’snew $100 million Energy IndependenceProgram (SCEIP) seems simpleenough, offering property ownersgovernment financing to install solarequipment and improve energy andwater efficiency.Yet, hiding beneath this mildmanneredexterior, lies a powerfultool to help us solve some of our mosturgent shared problems. I’ve beenwatching this program emerge fora while, so I’m delighted to finallybe able to tell you about its specialfeatures.First, because SCEIP financing isn’tbased on currently-compromisedhousing prices, it provides a muchneededalternative to home equityloans. Plus, the program brings incometo green contractors and suppliersin the beleaguered constructionindustry, which in turn nurtures ourlocal economy.But most impressive of all is SCEIP’sbenefits to the environment. At a timewhen we can feel powerless to loomingeco-disasters, and skeptical of greenpitches of varying veracity, SCEIPprovides an easy yet meaningful wayfor us to nurture the planet’s survival.Because trimming our energy useis one of the most important waysGREENING cont’d on page 10

Dear Readers,Thank you - every one of you whoreads this newspaper and supportsour communities with your time,energy, and commitment to keepingour home strong and healthy.Two issues ago we ran a storyabout using cash instead of credit asa way to support Sonoma County. It’samazing how many dollars leave thiscommunity just because people usecredit cards. We do our best to supportlocal merchants by purchasing goodsfrom businesses owned by ourneighbors, then we pull out a creditcard and take 2+% right off the top ofthat purchase and send it out of town.Amazing how that one little act hassuch a giant price.These are the things we learnfrom our readers who write for thisnewspaper. When someone tells me tosend over a reporter to cover a story,I ask them to tell the tale themselves.Some do, some don’t. Those whodo get to tell it their way, from theirperspective. It’s amazing how muchmore interesting that story becomes.Many stories just don’t get pagespace in this newspaper because noone wrote and submitted it. That’s OK.WCG doesn’t need to cover a storyalready published in the PD or otherpapers. It takes the pressure off us andleaves us free to cover what interestsour reader/writers the most.Some of these articles are writtenby people who want others to knowabout what’s especially important tothem. The ones that don’t fit on thesepages I either let wait until they getin print, or I put on the web in WCGExtra! As I’ve said before, I get morematerial than I have pages to print soI rely on computer savvy readers to goon the internet for the other stories andto keep current on stories that come inbetween issues.We have a new column this monthsupported by GoLocal SonomaCounty. This organization has chosenWCG to get their message out becausethey know it’s my mission to promoteour home and they’re helping me. Thisgroup not only talks about supportinglocal, they volunteer their time tomake it happen. Their enthusiasm isimpressive!And speaking of help…in additionto Leigh Douglass creating ourcalendar, both in print and on-line, herhusband David is helping me put thepapers on newsstands. That means thepaper gets out twice as fast. And mydaughter Aleta is helping with whatI call “chasing down advertisers”. Myteam of self-employed entrepreneurspracticing what I preach. Create yourown job! They each have several waysto make a living that add up to payingthe bills. I relate!Enjoy!2 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09

www.sonomacountycalendar.com4 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09LETTERS, cont’d from page 3the parking lot”. You can imagine thisweek we entertained some 6 guests upfrom the South Bay and I personallycounted 27 times the CHP turned onthe sirens, first in the morning at 8,then again from 4-6.My guests saidthere’s more crime here than San Jose,they couldn’t remember hearing somany SIRENS. It makes me want tosell my home and move to a quieterlocation. “We enjoy the lonesome andempty because we are to familiarwith the crowded and confined”......somuch for that at the Hacienda Bridge“SPEED TRAP”. What do concernedcitizens do.......Move ?Thank You,AlForestvilleDear Editor:All affected by the tragic plane crashthat left California for the Montana skitrip are in our thoughts and prayers.Sunday recreational activities arefine, but can we do them in our ownbackyards? Do we need to charter a busor a plane? Will lucre be exchanged?The monotheistic people of Godmight do well to ask themselves whatthey believe and why they believe it.Been there. Done that. I can’t recallhow many times growing up in Xeniawe ate Sunday breakfast out afterchurch. Could we have done better?Yes, I believe so.While we hope and pray the angelswho perished in Montana are nowenjoying the beatific vision Mosesyearned to see, are the LA Angelsready to rest on Sunday and play ballfrom Monday to Saturday? Only timewill tell.God worked six days and took theseventh off. Maybe this is why we havethe stretch in the seventh inning.Sincerely,Matthew R. DunniganRoma, ItaliaHi Vesta,Have I told you what a beautifulissue your 2009 Nursery TourGarderner Resourse Guide is? I keepa copy in the car, for quick reference,and “just in case”! Also the ServiceDirectory in the Gazette is kept next tothe phone for a quick reference!!!Good job, for filling all of our needs(and wants!)I wish I could - but at least I can coversome!!!! Thanks for the appreciations!DorothyForestvilleDear WCG Readers,At least 110 movies have beenfilmed or partially filmed in SonomaCounty. On my website (www.sonomaonthecheap.com) today I listthem. For some, I have listed exactlywhere the movie was filmed ( 216Liberty Street in Petaluma, etc), but forothers , I know only that it was filmedin Cloverdale or Graton. Some of yourreaders may remember when thesemovies were filmed-they may evenhave been extras or know of moviesI’ve missed.I’d love to have people come toh t t p ://s o n o m a o n t h e c h e a p .com/2009/03/sonoma-countys·ationscontests onoma- cou nt ys -mov ie -locations-contest/and comment with whatever infothey may have. Two people whocomment ( they can just guess afilming spot or review a movie if theywant) will be chosen at random to winprizes: one will win 4 movie passes forReading Cinemas Rohnert Park 16 andone will win a DVD of Bottle Shock.If you have anything to add to mysometimes sketchy information onSonoma Counties movie sets, I’d loveto hear it, too.Thanks so much for your help!Lisa Anderson Mannhttp://www.sonomaonthecheap.comThanks Vesta…for the big bold heads up. We are at acrucial time in community, healthcare,worker history. Home health carehas been the bastard child of healthcare when, in fact, it is the last lineof resistance before the grave andhomelessness. It is the backbone of thecommunity health care system andthis will become more evident in time.Karen TimmonsSeedless Mandarins vs. Honey BeesThe issue of Seedless Mandarinsand Honey Bees has not gone away.Although the ruling proposed by theCalifornia Department of Food andAgriculture may appear benign on thesurface, it is a dangerous precedentsettingtext that will affect the rightsof individuals and the health of honeybees.BackgroundIn recent years, some citrus growersestablished groves of seedlessmandarins in areas that historicallywelcomed honey bees. The growerswere hoping to generate greaterfinancial gains with this fruit than withseed carrying varieties. Unfortunately,they did not do their homework anddid not take the precautions that areLETTERS, cont’d on page 5

LETTERS, cont’d from page 4necessary to ensure that the fruitremain seedless (in a nutshell: theprecautionary measures amount topreventing cross-pollination of theflowers of these trees by compatiblepollen sources, or to selecting varietiesthat do not set seeds). Consequently,the fruit that is produced by these„seedless‰ mandarin growers maycontain seeds, and they did not makethe larger financial gains they werehoping for.AB771To compensate for their blunderand to avoid the costs of netting theirtrees, the seedless mandarin growershave asked the state legislature to banthe presence of honey bees in areasthat extend for two miles around theirorchards.A Seedless Mandarin Grower-Beekeeper co-existence workgroupwas organized but failed to arrive at acompromise between these parties.As a result, and as mandated byAB771, the Agricultural Secretaryissued a ruling in this matter.The proposed regulationAlthough the proposed ruling nolonger requires the mandatory removalof bee colonies from the areas thatsurround seedless mandarin orchards,it could give legitimacy to the requestof the citrus growers, and may stillbe changed under the pressure of thecitrus growers after this period ofpublic comment.What is at stakeIf the attempt by the seedlessmandarin growers to ban honey beesfrom large areas of land is allowedto stand in any way, shape or form,it could limit the individual rights ofthose who live or work around theirgroves. The burden to generate greaterfinancial gains for the citrus growerswould in effect be placed on others whoare unfortunate to be around them.The implementation of such a rulewould undoubtedly affect the healthof pollinators because large expansesof land that are critically importantto the nutrition of honey bees duringtheir period of spring developmentwould no longer be accessible to honeybees. Ultimately, our food crops andour entire environment would benegatively impacted.The most dangerous part of thisruling is that it could set a precedent.Indeed, though the proposed rule onlyapplies to seedless mandarins and tofour counties, the text is written at thestate government level. Consideringall the potential seedless crops that arepresently being developed in researchfacilities and considering the spreadof genetically engineered crops thatare incompatible with organic farmingpractices, the risk of further decreasingbee habitats and of affecting therights of people throughout the entirestate is alarming and should not beoverlooked.Act nowAll, beekeepers or not, should beconcerned and should voice theiropposition.Please call, write or email yourcomments immediately to the addressbelow and make a point of asking forthe complete dismissal of the seedlessmandarin growers‚ request (the periodfor comments ends on April 13):Steve Lyle, Office of Public Affairs,Department of Food and Agriculture1220 N Street, Room 400Sacramento, CA 95814(916)654-0462FAX (916) 651-7417Email: LegislativeOffice @cdfa.ca.gov.In his absence, you may contact CarlaSanchez, Legislative Office at (916) 654-0321 or Email: LegislativeOffice@cdfa.ca.gov.Questions regarding the substanceof the proposed regulation should bedirected to Carla Sanchez.Thanks.SergeHi Vesta,On a recent jaunt to Sebastopol I wasastounded to pick up your paper & seehow it’s grown, and become such acommunity builder. Too bad I hauntPenngrove/Petaluma and am out ofrange! At any rate, good job!Lyndi BrownPenngroveDear “Friends of Sheephouse Creek”We are today attempting to weightwo sides of an environmental issue. Onthe one side are the attempts to restoreWest Coast Salmon populations, protectfishing jobs and rebuild the salmoneconomy, hopefully returning to worktens of thousands who have lost theirjobs in fishing based industries, andcreate new sustainable, family wagejobs in economically depressed coastaland rural communities. On the otherside are the financial interests of a fewlandowners whose desire to continuelogging in an already impairedwatershed risks the extinction of fishand animal species, as well as a way oflife for the many thousands who todayare suffering due to the closure of thesalmon fishery.LETTERS, cont’d on page 64/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 5

6 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09LETTERS, cont’d from page 5Today, there are multiple plansaffecting the lower Russian RiverBasin. Several of the streams foundhere are currently threatenedby logging, gravel mining, andtimberland conversions. One suchcreek is Sheephouse Creek, othersinclude Austin Creek, Smith Creek,Kitchen Creek, and Duvoul Creek.To say there will be no significantcumulative or adverse impacts on theenvironment is simply not true. Weneed to be looking at the bigger pictureand view the Russian River basin asa functioning ecosystem, not just atributary at a time. Individual timberharvest plans should be consideredin the context of a larger forest andplanning watershed in which they arelocated.If we are ever to restore the salmonand steelhead fisheries of the RussianRiver, many believe the lower 8-10miles are key to their survival. Thosewatershed areas should be off limitsto logging in order to give restorationof the fisheries a chance. SheephouseCreek has been logged multipletimes since the turn of the centuryand its small 2,176 acre watershedhas been decimated despite its idyllicappearance today. Species whichwere once abundant here are nowendangered or threatened or no longerexist. The forester for plan 1-08NTMP-004SON has admitted that SheephouseCreek has suffered at the hands ofpoor land use practices, primarilylogging. This is well documented ina 1970 and 1996 DFG Stream Surveyand these legacy conditions still exist,many created by the same landownerswho today are asking that they beallowed to continue logging, despite apattern of abuse and poor stewardshippractices. In the last 15 years, 37% ofthe watershed has been impactedby logging. If the two current plansbeing proposed are approved, 56%of the watershed will have beenaffected by recent logging. Has CalFire visited these past logged areasto assure no adverse impacts haveoccurred on the already sedimentimpacted Sheephouse Creek? Untilthese past plans are revisited, anycumulative impact discussions willbe meaningless. And, how can we talkof significant effect and mitigationswhen no baseline data exists todetermine thresholds of significance?The NTMP #1-08NTMP-004SONfails to fully evaluate its cumulativeimpacts upon the watershed, whetheron or off of the logging site. This is trueof its road impacts, especially for theproposed use of the legally contestedeasement road through privateproperty and along the riparian areaof Sheephouse Creek, which it willoverburden. While this road may haveserved as a railroad right of way atthe turn of the century, the locationof the creek has changed and theexisting road is no longer suitablefor the proposed use. Today, thereare new sensitivities surroundingwatercourses and laws which governforest roads and logging activitieswithin riparian zones. The plan doesnot assess the impacts it will haveupon the resident family, their houseand property, the easement road, andthat segment of Sheephouse Creek,which will be most affected by loggingtraffic. The NTMP fails to evaluateidentified alternative roads into theharvest area and the traffic safety ofHwy 116.This plan features moderate to higherosion areas, slopes steep enough torequire cable yarding, extensive roadreconstruction and new roads, aswell as the use of heavy equipmenton the existing seasonal roads withinthe WLPZ. The plan also sites a loglanding within the WLPZ. The planpotentially threatens domestic watersupplies and the Russian River CohoSalmon Captive Broodstock programin place in this creek since 2004.Sheephouse Creek’s headwaters arepart of the Jenner Headlands OpenSpace. It hosts the Coho salmon, theSteelhead trout, the CA Red LeggedFrog, the Red Tree Vole, the NorthernSpotted Owl and many other plantand animal species which are uniqueto this area. Sheephouse Creek is partof an ongoing multi million dollartaxpayer funded Coho restorationprogram. It is proposed for multiplehabitat restoration projects this yearby Fish and Game, given that fundingcan be allocated. Sheephouse Creekis identified by National MarineFisheries Service as a Core recoveryarea for Coho salmon and an area forimmediate restoration. An emphasisis placed on the decommissioning ofhigh risk roads in these Core areas.The waters of Sheephouse Creek areimportant to the development of theestuary by the SCWA under mandateof the recently released BiologicalOpinion. Sheephouse Creek is alsodesignated by the Coastal Commissionas a Special Treatment Area.Per Vesta Copestakes of the WestCounty Gazette - “There is somethingterribly out of sync if all theseorganizations see the importance ofsaving what they consider to be a vitalwatershed and, at the same time, timberharvest plans are being consideredby a state agency whose decisions donot seem to reflect the general publicinterest. Are the people in charge of allthese projects talking with each other?Does one side know what the other isdoing?” Hopefully, this is why we aretalking today…looking for a win-winalternative that makes money for thetimber owner, results in a sustainableenvironmentally conscious timberplan, and satisfies not only the needsand concerns of our group, butprotects the goals of the federal, state,local, and private funding partners onbehalf of its citizenry.Thank you, Mike Keller

WATER cont’d from page 1Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma,Sonoma, Valley of the Moon, NorthMarin Water District, and Windsor,keep changing. First the Agency couldsell 52,000 acre feet (AF). At the Marchcontractor’s meeting, the amount wentup to 54,500 AF.The numbers looked “fishy” tous. Contractors have been braggingfor years about conserving 15%. Welearned recently that conservationsavings are based on 2004 water use,a year when contractors consumed66,193 AF. 15% of that amounts toalmost 10,000 AF. If we deduct 10,000AF from 66,000 AF (rounded numbers)we get 56,000 AF as the target numberto meet 15%. Yet for three yearsbetween 2006 and 2008, the contractorsaveraged 65,352 AF per year.In addition to river water theAgency also pumps about 6,000 AF ayear from Laguna groundwater that isunregulated, since there are no limitson groundwater withdrawals. Even ifwe assume that the 15% applies onlyto river withdrawals, they are stillmissing their conservation target byabout a third. It is further misleadingthat they only have to make the 15%target and stay there; they do not haveto conserve a new 15% every year.These numbers become importantbecause the State Water Board veryrecently came out with a new orderthat significantly lowers flows (fromnow to September) throughout theriver. In normal rain years, flows in thelower river have to meet a minimum of125 cubic feet per second (cfs); underthe new order they will go down to 85cfs while Lake Mendocino is at 25,000acre feet (AF) or more. (It is currentlyaround 53,000 AF.) If Lake Mendocinogoes BELOW 25,000 AF, then the flowsas measured at Hacienda will have togo down to about 35 cfs. This wouldhave a major impact on recreation andwater quality!Another part of the problem lies withvineyards, which use major amountsof water for frost protection this timeof year to sustain their crops. Thewater draw down in creeks is so rapid,that the practice has caused death tounknown numbers of endangeredcoho both this year and last.Lake Sonoma has more than enoughwater for all downstream needs;yet the problem is conveyance tothe distribution system. Because ofthe endangered fish species and therecently released Biological Opiniondictating the means by which thatwater can be obtained and the amountof flow to be released, increased LakeSonoma water supplies probably won’tbe accessible for a very long time. TheAgency is required by National MarineFisheries Service (NMFS) to maintainflows within a limited range to protectendangered fish in Dry Creek.Several environmental groups arecalling for the State Board to holda hearing on the new Order justreleased. We feel it is much too roughand many of its directives need to bemore clearly spelled out. For instance,in regards to CEQA compliance it says,“The proposed action will assure themaintenance of the environment,i.e., the instream environment ofthe Russian River.” What is notacknowledged is that this order willcause both environmental benefitsAND detriments. By lowering flowsnow, before what may be a long hotsummer, it may cause greater harm toriparian vegetation. It is also likely tocause great proliferation of invasivespecies such as Ludwegia, which inturn would have further impacts.Unknown impacts fromunregulated toxins are also likelyas the lower flows deny any mixingbenefit to minimize their effects. Weasked, “What harm will come to thefish and other aquatic life as a resultof this scenario? We are referring to allaquatic life, not just identified at-riskpopulations. What will be the impactsto human health from swimming inthis water with possible concentratedpollutants and how much more likelywill it be for them to come in contactwith pathogenic bacteria? Will thesecircumstances cause public beaches tobe closed?”Water quality monitoring is beingproposed to address possible harmfrom lowered flows. We asked whathappened to the monitoring donein 2004 and 2007 during low flowperiods? Where is that information?How complete was it? Simply orderingmonitoring doesn’t address potentialimpacts from lowering flows.We further stated, “To assurethat a healthy environment will bemaintained, simply stating that impactsto beneficial uses from this Order willnot occur, is just a convenient way toaddress the “emergency” through apiece of paper, rather than providemeaningful information about actualenvironmental reality. For this reason,it is essential that you open the reviewprocess and allow public input. Thisis now the fourth year of the lasteight where emergency situationshave arisen. When that occurs, whatyou have is not an emergency, but aMANAGEMENT PROBLEM!Russian River Watershed ProtectionCommittee works in the publicinterest on Sonoma County water andwastewater issues. All of our fundingcomes from our supporters on ourmailing list. If you are interested insupporting our work, please send adonation via PayPal at www.rrwpc.org or mail it to RRWPC, P.O. Box 501,Guerneville, CA 95446. You can emailus at rrwpc@comcast.net4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 7

Guerneville’s ‘Mayor’is Moving OnThe purpose of this essay is to saygoodbye. On May 9, I will be relocatingto Southern California — specifically,Burbank — to pursue other creativeendeavors, other projects. Oh. And myfirst relationship in 47 years. It pays tobe patient. If I waited much longer, Iwould have become a patient.By April 30 I will have been living inGuerneville for 29 years. With space onthis page limited to about 500 words,it allows me only one word for every43 days. Damn! I’ve already killed offmore than six years of my history withthis intro!While most of you may be familiarwith my involvement with the RussianRiver Monthly as its ManagingEditor and Production Chief since itbegan publishing in January 1997, myjournalistic adventures began in 1980with The Paper (later known as theSonoma County Independent, now theNorth Bay Bohemian). In 1983 I begandoing political cartoons for the RussianRiver News, The Paper’s upstartcompetitor. I was also its principalreporter, winning respect fromboth district attorneys and defenseattorneys for my crime beat coverage.Occasionally my weekly Sheriff’s Logitems were quoted by the late HerbCaen in the San Francisco Chronicle.My favorite: “A besotted mendicantwho was urinating in public wasarrested for all those things.”I returned to The Paper in 1990after it was purchased by John Bolandand James Carroll. I was art directorand continued doing weekly politicalcartoons. For three years my cartoonswon first place in the CaliforniaNewspaper Publishers Association(CNPA) competition.To help improve Guerneville’sappearance, I found enough county taxJohnDe Salviomonies to have the county purchaseand install Guerneville’s old-style streetlights. When CalTrans decided to builda new bridge over the Russian River forHighway 116, I designed the town plazathat replaced Malfunction Junction.Last year I retired from the RussianRiver Redevelopment OversightCommittee (RRROC), having beenelected a founding committee memberseven years ago.One pet project has been to get askate park for Guerneville. I will keepcommunicating with Cary Ostrofe,the Guerneville school coach who willcontinue that project.On Thursday, May 7 at 7 p.m., I’ll begiving a talk at Quicksilver Mine Co.about my cartooning. Many of my 500originals will be in file folders, plusring binders of reprints for perusing.The following Friday evening, May 8, Iwill be singing two sets at Main StreetStation in Guerneville on my 68thbirthday. (Yeah, I’m a lyric baritone.I sing the lyrics). Guest singers willbe Beth Freeman, Gael Reed, LoisPearlman, and Kit Mariah; SoniaTubridy will accompany.Thank you to the many hundreds ofwonderful people I have met over theyears. Guerneville, you will have toselect a new “mayor”. Double his salary,too, from one zero to two zeroes. Ittakes a lot of work to know what not tosay and when not to say it!8 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09

Why use a Credit UnionBy Bryan CooperSonoma Wine ShopWith all the problems in banking, itsinteresting how LITTLE we hear aboutcredit cards. I call it ‘the silence isdeafening.’ Banks are making TONS ofmoney from their credit card businessand do not want any press during thistight money times. Most people knowthat they spend a lot on credit cardinterest AND fees. I closed a creditcard who raised interest and chargedme $39 every chance for late fees.As a business owner, I have to pay thebanks at least 2% on every credit cardpurchase in my store. This is effectivelya tax which customers don’t see but isclose to the rent on my building. Whilecredit cards are essential to our wineclub, it is difficult to justify the fees andinterest.There are technically different ratescharged for different cards. Recently,the banks unilaterally raised their rateson ‘mileage’ cards so I have to pay more.It used to be only hotels and airlines andcar rental companies had to pay thesepremium rates on ‘travel’ cards. Now,EVERY retailer has been stuck with thehigher rates. We don’t have a choicebut to pay the higher fees, even thoughwe do not participate in their rewardsprograms like the big corporations. Wepay but no benefit to us.Debit cards do not cost my shopmuch- only 30 cents per transaction -and are ALWAYS welcome.To hook up a credit card machinerequires a processing company. Thesemiddlemen process our terminal intothe larger network. Over the years, Ifound a great local processor - Orbisin Novato. They provide me a fixedupcharge over the interbank fee andshow me exactly what Visa/Amex/MCare charging them for each type of card.They only add a small fee per card tomaintain their network - they chargethe SAME fee for every transaction.Other processors sell a contract andclaim a low rate - but they don’t givethat rate for every type of card. I likeOrbis as they were willing to give mystore the inside information on whatthey have to pay. One of the foundersof Orbis was a school teacher in Sonomawho retired and started this as a way todo something honest in business. Theyare based in Novato - my shop has hadthem for 4-5 years at least without anyproblem.For my personal use, I use myPatelco credit union’s credit card. Why?They take the minimum paymentautomatically from my checkingaccount. NEVER A LATE FEE. Have afixed rate but I pay off the balance asfast as I can. But I am ok if they make asmall profit from my card - why? Theyare a nonprofit and don’t have overpaidstaff and big bonus management. Idon’t see my money getting taken fromme to pay someone off whose job it isto squeeze their own customers formore money. I see it as providing mewith a nice credit union that does itsjob honestly and regularly. I have hadPatelco for well over 20 years withoutANY complaint. There’s a branch inRP that I visit a few times a year butnormally, I just use free ATMs and maildeposits directly.Credit unions have very easy rulesto get in now - why? Because in 1998the banks TRIED to force them out ofbusiness as they saw them as long termthreat. The Congress received probablya MILLION messages telling them notto think of breaking the back of thecredit union. The results? Credit unionswon the ability to get more members.There are still good banks - mybusiness banking is done with Bankof the West - they are not small (5thin California) but the local office inSebastopol has done fantastic servicefor me for over 10 years. Bank of theWest in Sebastopol is truly a great littlebusiness bank where they STILL sayhello when someone walks in and stilloffer a lot of service each day.4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 9

GREENING cont’d from page 1that we can impact a wide varietyof key environmental problems,including global climate change,habitat destruction, species extinction,ecosystem collapse, and the economic,health, and social crises they create.So, SCEIP, a mild-manneredprogram? Indeed not!No Increase in MonthlyExpenses RequiredWith money so tight now, greenactions can seem perhaps optional.However, even in these times, homeimprovement via SCEIP can be bothfiscally-wise and essential.First, you can choose to doimprovements that offer savingsin energy costs that equal yourloan payments. Thus, your ongoingbudget stays the same and you’rejust swapping an expense for aninvestment. Plus, your modificationswill likely increase your building’sresale value and comfort — all withoutan initial capital outlay.Making a Real DifferenceBut, given the scale of change that’sneeded in the world, is improving one’shome really a significant contribution?Absolutely yes!In fact, the U.S. Department ofEnergy calls retrofitting existinghomes with energy-efficient features“the single largest source of potentialenergy savings.”The U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency estimates that residential andcommercial buildings are responsiblefor over one-third of the nation’s totalenergy use, 68% of electricity, and 12%of water. They generate 38% of CO 2emissions.So if you install, for instance,insulation and weather sealing, youcould lower your energy costs up to10%; a tankless water heater couldreduce your greenhouse gas (GHG)emissions up to 30%; a solar waterheater could lower CO 2 emissions by20%; and a 3 kW solar photovoltaicsystem could, over its 25-year lifetime,trim CO 2 emissions by 80 tons — theequivalent of driving 7,800 fewer milesa year.SCEIP can also help you reduce yourwater use, which is vital now bothbecause of low reservoir levels andthreatened salmon survival. Manywater-saving improvements qualifyfor funding.Getting StartedTo participate in SCEIP, look at theprogram requirements (see the boxplus the SCEIP website shown there).Then determine what improvementsyou want to make.A home audit, while optional forresidences, can identify potentialupgrades, costs, and savings. Fromthis, you can prioritize improvementsthat bring you the best results for yourbuck. The SCEIP website offers linksto audits and other assessment tools;click on “Evaluations.” Your audit costcan be rolled into your financing.It’s also recommended that youimprove building efficiency beforeinstalling solar, so that you don’t buymore system than you need. Anylicensed contractor can perform workunder this program.One caution: Pay attention tocash flow. The program helps youreduce your monthly PG&E bill butthe loan is repaid through your biannualproperty tax bill. To avoid anGREENING cont’d on page 1110 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09SCEIP Basics for Property Owners• Financing is available for improvements to existing buildings, not newconstruction or mobile homes.• Funds can be used for a wide variety of projects to improve energy efficiency,conserve water, and generate renewable energy. This includesinsulation, on-demand water heaters, low-flow showerheads and toilets,more efficient windows and heating systems, irrigation controllers, andsolar equipment. Items must be permanently attached to the property,so appliances such as dishwashers don’t qualify. The minimum loanamount is $2,500.• Owners don’t pay up-front capital costs and have fewer credit restrictionsthan with standard loans. The financing (technically consideredan assessment) isn’t based on property value but is secured by its positionsecond to property tax. You need to be current on all property taxesto qualify. Repayment is made through your property tax bill over time.• The loan stays with the property, not the person, so when you sell, thenew owner takes over payments.• For more about SCEIP, see (www.sonomacountyenergy.org) orcall 521-6200.• For more about other rebates and incentives, including federal investmenttax credits and the California Solar Initiative, see (www.gosolarcalifornia.org).

GREENING cont’d from page 10unsettling tax bill surprise, considersetting aside monthly what you’resaving in utilities.Also, in case you’re curious, PG&Eis supportive of SCEIP, because theircompensation structure rewards themfor encouraging energy efficiency.How wonderful!Meeting GHG ReductionTargetsSonoma County is one of thenation’s pioneers in setting bold goalsfor reducing greenhouse gases (GHG),including our target of loweringcounty emissions to 25% below 1990levels by 2015.SCEIP (enabled by California’srecent AB811) is intended to help thecounty achieve these objectives.Alan Strachan, a local developerand GHG reduction advocate, makes apersuasive case that succeeding withthis will require that we seriously stepup the scale of our activities.For instance, he challenges us to “dothe math” and calculate what it’ll taketo reach California’s goal of equaling1990 CO 2 emission levels by 2020,which was set in the state’s GlobalWarming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32).According to Strachan, buildingsstatewide generate about 35% of ourGHG, and we can probably costeffectivelyremove about 30-40%of each building’s GHG. Thus, heconcludes that meeting AB32’s targetswill require us to retrofit all state andcounty buildings over the next tenyears. For Sonoma County’s 180,000buildings, that means upgrading 50units a day, which will surely keep ourconstruction workers employed.The good news, he emphasizes, isthat we can afford it, the constructionindustry is available, and it can beprofitable. Plus the energy demandalready exists; retrofits are simply adifferent way to meet it. However, wecan only achieve this by sustainedaction starting now. A last-minute allnighterjust won’t do!Strachan argues that, of the manychallenges in today’s world, climatechange stands out because “this oneyou don’t recover from. If you blowthis, it doesn’t matter what you dowith the rest.”Who Benefitsfrom SonomaCounty’s EIP?A Higher-Quality GreenOne aspect of SCEIP’s approach thatI find particularly eco-friendly is itsfocus on improving existing buildings,rather than building new ones.In their book, Natural Remodelingfor the Not-So-Green House, ecoarchitectsCarol Venolia and KellyLerner argue that remodeling acurrent building is nearly alwaysgreener than building a new “green”one. That’s because it takes fewerresources than starting from scratch,doesn’t plow under new land, andcapitalizes on resources alreadyextracted and infrastructure alreadycreated. It also usually saves moneythrough targeting of expenses.“In short, ecological remodeling isnot the poor cousin of the shiny neweco-home,” they say. “It stands on itsown as a wise, resource-conserving,community-building, accessible,enjoyable way to improve life.”Action IgnitedAs the first California county toembark on this innovative approach,Sonoma County is showing leadershipin achieving climate change goals.They’re now in the process of signingfolks up, with the goal of coveringprogram costs and becoming selfsustaining.County Controller Rod Dole, whooversees the program, says thatinterest in it has been “phenomenal.”In just two weeks, they’ve alreadyreceived $750,000 in applications. Localcompanies are quickly recognizingthat SCEIP makes their offerings moreattractive to customers. This, of course,encourages more folks to go green!A friend told me that a Friedman’ssalesperson actually mentionedSCEIP financing in recommendingan energy-efficient window to them.Over 300 people came out for an April9 Economic Development Board SCEIPworkshop for contractors.And, so, the SCEIP retrofittingbegins!Patricia Dines is a freelance writerspecializing in environmental topics. She’swritten books, newsletters, reports, andarticles for a wide variety of periodicals.For more information, see (www.patriciadines.info). © Copyright PatriciaDines, 2009. All rights reserved.Property Owners Green Contractors Our Shared EnvironmentResidential and business propertyowners receive financingto install solar equipment andimprove energy and waterefficiency. Funding isn’t tied to property valueand requires no initial capital outlay. Loanrepayments are offset by reduced energy costs.Green contractorsand supplierscan provide theirofferings with “nomoney down,” thusattracting morebusiness in turn helps stimulatethe local economy.Our environment’s well-being is improvedbecause trimming our energy demandhelps solve a variety of key eco-problems,including global climate change, pollution,and habitat destruction. Retrofitting mostor all of our current buildings is vital toreaching our GHG reduction targets. Also, upgradingexisting buildings is “greener” than building new ones.4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 11

National Hanging OutDay is April 19th.Success is often the result of taking a misstepin the right direction. – Al Bernstein12 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09By Laura ShaferWhy on Earth (Day) do we needanother national anything to do withlaundry day? Alex Lee, founderof the New Hampshire based nonprofit,Project Laundry List www.laundrylist.org started this day in1998 to call attention to the fact thatwith our changing climate, Americansneed to be reminded that more thanchanging light bulbs, more thanbuying a brand new Prius, the simpleact of hanging out one’s laundry to airdry will reduce carbon emissions andlower energy bills and a whole host ofother good things. This day is also tobring attention to the fact that a hugepercentage of our nation’s populationis prohibited from using a clotheslineby their Homeowners Association.Some homes forbid it in theirdevelopment’s original Grant DeedCC&R’s, mostly starting in the 1950’s,about the time builders began phasingout line drying areas, as modern “timesaving” dryers took over.I celebrate NHO Day because whenI found out that there were othersout there who shared my passionfor hanging laundry on the lineoutside, I knew my private little artproject of photographing laundryon clotheslines could bloom into abigger than art picture, as I joined adedicated group of people working allover the world, as individuals, and ingroups, to reverse global warming, tostop the patterns that will ensure ourgrandchildren’s grandchildren have aless pleasant future than we do, if theyhave any future at all.I started my business LineDry.com in 2007 with my husband, aftertwelve years of taking pictures oflaundry, because it was hard to findgood clothesline products in stores,and it was a way to do importantenvironmental work and dove-tale itwith my on-going art project. Maybeif people could see laundry on a lineas beautiful and interesting, as I do,they might hang out. That moment inspring, or fall, the light before a storm,the new leaves and the green towels,then maybe they would rememberhow fun it is to be between the lineson a hot day, smelling that warm cleansmell, knowing you are helping ourclimate, helping your budget, andeven toning your upper body muscles.It really is a fun service we get toprovide. We offer low-cost and highend options, taking in mind efficiencyand aesthetics. There is an air dyermodel for everyone’s budget andneeds. The whole rest of the worldline dries pretty much all the time.Now please don’t feel guilty if youlove your non-solar dryer, but don’tyou want to have the choice? To usea line, and then maybe finish it in thedryer for a fraction of the time to softenthe stiffness? On those hot summer(and spring and fall and yes even inwinter) days where the air alone willdry most of your laundry in less than45 minutes, the time spent hangingout, is a moving meditation that canput you in touch with an ancient ritual,a chance to see the world, a chanceto save the world. Small actions,repeated, yield big results. That’s whywe need a National Hanging Out Day.So celebrate all of you who neverstopped hanging out. Know thereis a day to recognize your steadycontribution. And to any of youwho aren’t yet back on line, we’ll behanging out at the Sebastopol Farmer’sMarket April 19th and 26th for any ofyour clothesline needs, and showinga few of our recent photos of Who’sHanging in West County. You canalso see our ad in the WCG and visitour store and gallery online at www.linedry.comLet laundry wave!

Challenging Upgradesto the Guerneville Treatment Plant14 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09By Brenda AdelmanPicture this. You live on a quiet,narrow, windy country road that hasmany blind curves and at least onethird of it is much narrower than thestandard 20’ across; there are steepslopes along the edge of the road,private fences right up to the road,parking along narrow parts of the roadwhere homes don’t have their ownprivate driveways, and significantdrainage problems in many areas.There are slide areas; there are manymature redwood trees prohibiting thestandard 20’ road width; the pavementis badly cracked in many places, and soon. Some of the blind curves are riskywhen you meet another car. And, sincethere are no sidewalks, walking dogsand children in the narrow sectionscan be challenging. Yet we love ourpicturesque roadways and we traversethe narrow places carefully.Now picture 92 large truck tripshauling spoils and fill materials everyday for five days a week, over fourmonths, going up and down the roadin order to construct a big storagepond at the Guerneville TreatmentPlant. (about one truck every sixminutes) Picture the dust, the noise,the toxic fumes, and the traffic tie-upsto let them pass. The packet providedthe Supervisors when this project wasapproved stated: “The Proposed Projectwould not change the design of existingroadways and does not include anyoperational features that would impacttraffic or increase hazards.”Neeley Road, like many of our localroads, is the one described. Only theyare “lucky” to have the GuernevilleSewage Treatment Plant located at thevery end. Picture how this would affectyour entire summer if you lived in thearea, since it’s a four-month summerproject, probably to take place in 2011.In addition, there’s another projectplanned for 2010 that will have similarimpacts. Do you believe the County’sassessment above about no impacts?In order to calm concerns expressedat the Final Hearing on this project, theCounty Supervisors (District Directors)of the Russian River County SanitationDistrict (RRCSD) promised not to cutany redwoods, or other mature trees;they promised not to widen the road,and they promised that in order tomove trucks all day, they would finda way to have one way traffic in all thenarrow parts. They also promised tokeep the road maintained in useablecondition. Yet we wonder how theywould keep the road maintainedin the midst of 92 daily truck trips?Because the document they authorizedis so vague, there is no legal authorityholding the County to these promises.Russian River Watershed ProtectionCommittee (RRWPC) asked thatthe Board delay certification of thisproject until these significant trafficand safety issues on Neeley Rd. wereaddressed. It would be very sad ifsome tragic accident should occur as aresult of poor planning on this project.They went ahead and approved itanyway. They promised to hold somecommunity meetings right before theproject begins. Meetings should havebeen held BEFORE project approval.After April 20th,THERE IS NOLEGAL WAY TOHOLD THEM TOTHEIR PROMISES.We agree thatadditional storageis needed at theTreatment Plantto address waterquality problems ofthe current system.We are very concerned however, thatthis approval is premature and manyissues need to be worked out first.In fact, RRWPC has been concernedfor years that the Water Agency(Yes, the same guys running ourwater system are also running ourwastewater system.) has divided upTreatment Plant improvements intoseparate environmental reviews,thus enabling them to minimize theimpacts they address. They also liketo put bureaucratic obstacles in ourway. In mid-February, we asked whenCHALLENGE cont’d on page 15

CHALLENGE cont’d from page 14the Final EIR would be released. Theyresponded that we could get it March2 nd , two weeks before the hearing.Three days before the final decision,we learned that the document hadactually been released Feb. 24 th . We lostsix days in notifying the communityabout the important meeting.They have repeatedly misrepresentedthe ultimate users of the system. TheAgency paid for the Occidental/CampMeeker environmental review todevelop a pipeline hooking up thosecommunities to the RRCSD. The wholetime they were meeting regularly withthose communities (and RegionalBoard staff who informally supportedthe pipeline project), assuring themthere was plenty of capacity in theGuerneville system, they were tellingRRCSD ratepayers that plannedimprovements were for currentratepayers only. (That pipeline projectwas shot down by lead agency CampMeeker Recreation and Park Districtbecause of the $22 million dollar costand inadequate environmental review.)We know that the Regional WaterQuality Control Board supportsupgrading Guerneville’s systemand not only hooking up MonteRio, but also about 750 developedand undeveloped parcels betweenGuerneville and Monte Rio that arecurrently on septic. RRWPC has calledfor full environmental review beforethis occurs, including a Master Plan ofthe Russian River County SanitationDistrict as described in the SonomaCounty General Plan.Furthermore, the Storage Project hasmany geological problems that couldultimately cause contamination of theriver and the ground water. There isonly one option remaining for citizensto protest this project at this point.We have to file a lawsuit challengingthe environmental review. RRWPC isgoing to do that, and our attorney isworking on it right now. We need yoursupport.We would greatly appreciatedonations of any amount be made outto RRWPC and mailed to P.O. Box 501,Guerneville, Ca 95446. You can alsodonate at the RRWPC website throughPayPal at www.rrwpc.org If you wantmore information, please send anemail to rrwpc@comcast.netWe hope you can help.4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 15

Gimme Shelter16 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09By Kate SullivanFew Sonoma county folksknow that the second largestindustry in Sonoma Countyis horses. This includesbreeding to stabling;training for both people andhorses; feed stores and tack;hay and feed growers; barnconstruction and fencing,and all manner of gadgets.Horse shows and pony clubsfor adults and kids take overthe agenda for many SonomaCounty families everyspring.It may be a silent spring thisyear – or at least considerablyquieter. We are losing our horses tothe recession.While many are divided on howto handle displaced horses; mostparticipants in the industry realizethat if the horses go – so goes this partof the local economy. This leaves manyinvested for very practical reasonsin finding ways and means to keephealthy horses alive and kicking. (OK- alive anyway.)The numbers of equines lost is hardto quantify by county. But whena local horse business closes shopyou know the impact is there. Thequestion of numbers was raised ata symposium held at the UC DavisEquine Vet School and hosted byJohn Madigan DVM on February 18thon “The Unwanted Horse.” AnimalControl personnel, vet students andanimal health professionals as well ashorse rescue groups from around thestate were there. Sonoma County waswell represented.Knowing the numbers can be criticalin formulating policy. However, theVet that is called to euthanize healthyhorses will be very unlikely to quantifythis activity. Auction yards may becalled upon to report numbers, butthis is seldom overseen in the smalleryards. How can statistics be gatheredfrom the foreclosed breeding barn thatcalls the kill buyer directly? Shipmentto slaughter in Mexico or Canada iscommonplace and highly lucrative. Itsillegal – but the laws are apparentlynot enforced or are unenforceableas written. It has been anecdotallyreported by Joe Shelton at TBfriendsout in Woodland that 5-7 truckloadsof animals leave Northern Californiaevery month for slaughter that he ispersonally aware of – that’s roughly130 animals. It is not unreasonableto assume that there may be a moretrucks escape his notice According tonational USDA statistics over 90% ofthese animals are healthy. Accordingto auction goers who monitor the “killpens” in northern California manyyearlings and untrained 2 and 3 yearolds are making the trip this year.There is another cost, of course.The land is Sonoma County is largelyrural – and with acreage comes animalownership. Thus foreclosures hererepresent horses losing their homesas well and most of these are belovedfamily pets. And while the family dogor cat has the potential option of theSonoma County Humane Society orthe Animal Control Shelter – horseshave neither of these – and are harder toplace. This leaves the departing familywith very few options. If a home is notfound on short notice, the animal maybe put down. But this can be costly;as a vet visit and carcass disposal cancost upwards of $250 or more. Wehave no local disposal options so largeanimal carcasses must be hauled wellout of county to the nearest renderingplant. Perhaps this should change.For a family in trouble this amount isa hardship – but one they will oftenundertake to save their pet from theslaughter experience.One of the options discussed at theFeb 18th “unwanted Horse” meetingwas regional “drop-off” shelters forhorses; not unlike the option currentlyavailable for other pets. Such centerscould provide a central resourcefor potential adopters. Unadoptedanimals would be humanly – andeconomically – euthanized. NeitherState, local or county monies can becounted on in the current fiscal crises;so fundraising must be done for thenecessary facilities.Currently Sonoma citizens havefew options. There are a number ofsmall rescues with facilities – most arefull. A group called CHANGE assistsAnimal Control by housing andcaring for impounded horses. (www.sonomachangeprogram.com) A newgroup SAFER (Sonoma Action ForEquine Rescue (www.saferhorse.com)serves as a clearinghouse but lacks itsown facilities and relies on volunteerfoster homes for temporary placement.One thing is clear; the recession maylast a few years and most of us willsurvive. Our horses may not.

Wanted: One Kidney!by Tish LeveeFor more than 20 years TracieSkaggs and her husband, Mike, havebeen giving to the community in thewest county. Now it’s time for thecommunity to give back. Tracie needsa new kidney, and she’s looking for aliving donor.Tracie was diagnosed a year agowith IGA nephritis, an autoimmunedisease thatleads to kidney failure. Last October,Tracie began peritoneal dialysis, whichremoves excess water, chemicals, andwaste products from her kidneys.Unlike hemodialysis, peritonealdialysis can be done at home whileasleep––eight hours every night. Butthe anxiety, leg cramps, and painTracie experiences on dialysis meansshe doesn’t sleep very well. Being ondialysis also means her diet’s restricted;her favorite tomatoes, avocados, andpotatoes are “no-no” and liquids areseverely limited. She’s supposed tohydrate for the severe leg cramps butmust restrict her fluid intake. “It’s areal balancing act,” she says.Dialysis deals with kidney failuretemporarily; the real solution’s anew kidney. Tracie is registered withUC San Francisco, where over 400kidney transplants are performedannually––more than a third of themfrom living donors. One of the leadingkidney transplant centers in the world,UCSF is the second-largest center fortransplants from living donors. Thebest possible treatment option for aperson with end-stage kidney diseaseis a living kidney donation; it willkeep working for an average of 18years. Tracie could wait 7 ½ years for akidney from a deceased donor.Tracie has lived in Guerneville formore than 30 years, and Mike is a thirdgeneration resident. Together theyoperated J’s Amusement Park until2003, when they converted it to CampOutback. For the last eight years theirHalloween Haunted House has raisedfunds for individuals and familieswho needed help. One year the fundsbought a wheelchair van for ConnorBrown. Tracie’s illness meant there wasno Haunted House last year, but “itwill be back this year!” For many yearsthey opened the amusement park atthe end of the season for local schoolsto raise money for sports programs.Every year, Tracie and her partnerat All About You beauty salon inSanta Rosa, with their clients, turnthemselves into “Elves With Attitudes”at Christmas time. They adopt severalfamilies, and make sure that everyonein the household has gifts. Thechildren all get new clothes and toys,and their food drive ensures everyonehas plenty to eat for the holidays.Recently, Natalie Cole appearedon “Larry King Live,” appealing fora living kidney donor, and 12 peoplecalled in while she was on the air.Tracie isn’t famous; she’s a very privateperson, who says, “Coming forwardlike this isn’t easy, but it’s necessary.”But Tracie’s gifts to the communityare famous locally.Being a living kidney donor is mucheasier than it once was. The donor’skidney is removed through three orfour small incisions, the largest about3”. Recovery is quick, and the donor’susually home in two to three days. AsSebastopol attorney Dee Schilling––who donated a kidney at UCSF lastyear––says, “It’s no big deal.” Medicarecovers all the donor’s medical costs.Recently a University of Minnesotastudy, going back to 1963, found that,“…kidney donors who are carefullyscreened for major health conditionshave a normal life span, a healthstatus…similar to that of the generalpopulation, and an excellent qualityof life. [their] risk of kidney failure isactually lower than … in the generalU.S. population.”Find out more about kidneydonation and see “The Gift of Life,”a video, at http://www.ucsfhealth.org/kidneytransplant/?gclid=CK_y6L6r3JkCFRwwawodjSVyWA or call1-800-482-7389. http://www.kidney.org/transplantation/livingDonors/info.cfm, the National KidneyFoundation site, is also good. Tracieneeds a donor with type O or O- blood,but if you’re a different type, paireddonation programs mean you couldstill donate. Leave Tracie a messageat 707-695-7591 if you’re interested inbeing a possible donor.Tish Levee, a free-lance write living inSanta Rosa, is a living kidney donor.© Copyright Tish Levee, 2009. All rightsreserved4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 17

Trying to Undo…America’s Veterans of ConscienceLiving in Viet NamBy Nadya WilliamsNadya Williams, a former Asia studytour coordinator of Global Exchange, a SanFrancisco-based human rights non-profit,is an active associate member of Veteransfor Peace, S.F. chapter, and an associatemember of Vietnam Veterans Against theWar. She is also on the national board of theNew York-based Vietnam Agent OrangeRelief and Responsibility. In early 2008,Nadya visited Viet Nam for three months;this is part of a report of her findings.Suel Jones can be found most everymorning around 8:30 in his favoritecafé on Nha Tho Street, in the quietpart of Ha Noi’s Old Quarter, justwest of Hoan Kiem Lake. He’s oneof dozens and dozens of US veteranswho live in-country full or part-timeto work at undoing some of the war’sdevastation…in Viet Nam, and inthem selves. For the last 10 years theformer Marine from East Texas haslived in Viet Nam’s capital and aided,both with his own money and withcountless volunteer hours, the tragicyoung victims of America’s chemicalweapon – the infamous defoliantAgent Orange. Suel’s friendly, straightforwardmanner and his charmingSouthern drawl make him a favoriteinterviewee of the likes of BBC Newsand Agence France Press, though fewAmericans will have heard of him andhis fellow vets who live and volunteerin the land of “the enemy.”Chuck Searcy, a vet from Georgia, isthe consummate Southern Gentleman.Tall and soft-spoken, he receivesmany international delegations in hisProject Renew office in Ha Noi, a delandmining program funded by theVietnam Veterans Memorial Fund(the organization that built The Wallin Washington, DC). Many years ofperseverance, along with a dedicatedViet Namese staff, has spread theproject’s meager budget to twodistricts of Quang Tri Province, alongthe 17th parallel’s DMZ (de-militarizedzone). The province’s eight remainingdistricts are also in desperate needof clearance of both landminesand unexploded ordinance in thismost heavily bombed area of thismost heavily bombed country. Theexplosive power of 450 Hiroshimaswas dropped on tiny Viet Nam in theform of conventional bombs. A hell ofa lot of ordinance to clear!Lewis Puller, who lost both legs andmost of both hands to a land mine,founded the Vietnam Children’s Fund– a non-profit that has so far built morethan 50 schools since its founding in1995. “In the year before his death,”reads the Fund’s brochure, “Lew Pullerreturned to Vietnam seeking ideas forthe living memorial he and severalfriends had decided to build to honorthe Vietnamese men, women, andchildren who died in that country’slong war.” The Children’s Fund’s goalis to have 58.000 Vietnamese kidsin new schools, one child for everyAmerican killed whose name is onThe Wall. Sam Russell now heads upthe in-country program of the Fundand works pro bono. His small, sunnyoffice overlooking Ha Noi’s lovelyWest Lake is mostly supported bymodest donations from state-side vets,their families and friends. It neithersolicits nor accepts funding from anygovernment.Tom Leckinger was one of the firstveterans to return to Viet Nam andCambodia in the early 1990s, wherehe was appalled by the devastationand human misery he witnessed,and deeply troubled by the fact thatthe US embargo was the primarycause. Some political analysts areeven of the opinion that the 20-yearAmerican embargo against Viet Nam(from the end of the war in 1975 untilVETERANS cont’d on page 1918 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09

VETERANS cont’d from page 18the Clinton administration’s lifting in1995) was as destructive as the war!Certainly tens, perhaps hundreds ofthousands continued to die as a result.On Tom’s second mission back to bringmedical supplies, he learned that thedeath at birth of his first son in 1976was likely related to his exposure toAgent Orange during his time in theinfantry, as the symptoms being seenby Viet Namese doctors were identicalto those suffered by his infant son. Hebecame a relentless and outspokenadvocate for reconciliation, a veryunpopular stance in those early days.He is now the president of the nonprofitorganization, Vietnam Veteransin Vietnam, many of whose membersare also starting the first overseaschapter of Veterans for Peace.Veteran Ken Herrmann lives parttimein central Viet Nam, in the city ofDa Nang, and works with the QuangNam Fund. A SUNY (State Universityof New York) College at Brockportprofessor, he helps direct aid to localfamilies with disabled children. Since ablood test to determine possible AgentOrange (AO) poisoning costs $1,000,it is difficult to know with certaintywhich of the disabled children havebeen specifically harmed by America’schemical warfare – either from thedamaged DNA of their parents, oreven grandparents, or from simplyliving in an area that was literallysaturated with dioxin, (AO’s deadliestcompound). What is indisputable isthat Da Nang, with its huge desertedAmerican base, is perhaps the mostheavily dioxin-contaminated of themany “hot spots” all over central andsouthern Viet Name today. Used tokill surrounding jungle cover, theAO herbicide [with its dioxin, may bethe most toxic substance known toscience.]Kathleen Huff and her veteranhusband left Alabama to raise theiryoung children in Viet Nam. Nowmarried, young adults, the Huffchildren speak fluent Viet Nameseand help their parents to manage thefamily business in Da Nang, Pizza PlusRestaurant and Bread of Life Bakery,whose staff are exclusively youngdeaf Viet Namese. Profits are used toprovide job skills education, a staffdormitory, and other deaf trainingactivities.Veteran George Mizo died of AO/dioxin exposure in 2002, but not beforehe started the Friendship Villageproject, an internationally-fundedresidential care and employmentcenter outside Ha Noi for more than100 AO victims – aging Viet Namesewar veterans and their youngafflicted children and grandchildren.A unique collaboration of US vetswith Viet Namese vets, Mizo actuallyworked closely with the general whocommanded an attack on his battalionduring the war. It is in the FriendshipVillage where Suel Jones, and manyother American veterans, volunteeredfor so many years.“There is no such thing as a goodwar, nor a bad peace,” said BenjaminFranklin. And many of the 3 millionmen and women from our countrywho served during Viet Nam quicklyfound that this war was not at all likeWorld War II (the “Good War”) oftheir fathers and uncles. A 1995 VietNamese estimate of 5 million dead (1million military and 4 million civilians– 10% of the war-time population) isa hell of a lot of anguish for veteransof conscience to bear. Add to thisthe hundreds of thousands of otherSouth East Asians (Cambodians andLaotians) who died from US bombing,then all the death and sufferingsince the end of the war in 1975from the embargo, the devastation,landmines/unexploded ordinance,AO/dioxin, starvation, disease anddestabilization. Finally, add the nearly60,000 American dead (average age 21),plus the tens of thousands of US vetswho have died from service-relatedcauses since the war – then the burdenof sorrow carried by these veterans istruly staggering!Some vets havefound that the landof “the enemy” isthe only place wherethey feel comfortableand ‘at home.’ Formany, their feelingsabout Americawere and still aretoo conflicted; theycould not reintegrateinto ‘normal’[American] society;they were often notlistened to, or worse, shunned; manyhad to fight all over again to get carefor their physical and emotionalproblems, and still others justwithdrew into anger and depression.“Only” an estimated 16% served inactual combat, and the repercussionsfrom their service vary greatly. But forsome, plotting targets safely behindthe battle lines for the carpet bombingof civilians can be as deeply guiltinducingas face to face killing. Somevets who have returned [to Viet Nam]have happily married local womenand have raised families. Of course,there are other US war vets who live inSoutheast Asia only for the beautifulwomen, low prices and cheap beer.However, these men do not engenderthe people’s trust and respect shownto the veterans of conscience.Much of American society remainsconflicted to this day about this warand its veterans. Some refuse tocondemn the war as a crime, or at thevery least a mistake, and still vilifythose who served for “losing.” (Thefirst Persian Gulf War was supposedto have dispelled “The VietnamSyndrome,” for any Americans whofelt we’d been defeated in the 70s.)Others feel some compassion for thepast, but do not oppose new Americanmilitary invasions and occupations.But for still others, the Viet Nam Wardeeply horrified and radicalized themfor life. For the men and women whoparticipated directly, only they knowtheir reality. And for those who havedecided to “give back” and “help”their former enemies/victims, eachwould say that it is they who havereceived so much more in return.4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 19

Vietnam MemoirFinds a New Audience Among Grieving Wartime Widows:Pauline Laurent’s “Grief Denied” is helping the spouses of thosekilled in the war on terrorism begin the healing process20 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09Story by John P. AbbottPauline Laurent stumbled uponwriting in an attempt to save her life.So depressed that she was on the vergeof suicide, she began to pour out herfeelings in the pages of a journal.Those rambling, heart-wrenchingentries would eventually become“Grief Denied: A Vietnam Widow’sStory,” the first book of its kind aboutthat era and one that has found a newaudience today for those who have lostloved ones in the war on terrorism.Laurent will talk about herexperiences on Thursday, April 16 at7 p.m. at the Petaluma CommunityCenter, part of the Writers Forumthat meets the third Thursday of eachmonth.A Certified Professional LifeCoach, a gifted public speaker, and aworkshop leader, Laurent had neverdealt with the pain of the loss of herhusband. “Grief Denied,” published in1999, is an exploration of the price wepay when we hide, deny or delay grief.Writing Her Way OutLaurent grew up in a small townin southern Illinois before moving toChicago where she met her husband,Howard Querry, III. He was draftedinto the army, and soon after leavingfor Vietnam was killed in combat. Twomonths pregnant at the time, Laurentburied her grief and got busy. Shewent back to college, got her degreein education, and eventually settled inSanta Rosa, where she accepted a jobwith Werner Erhard and Associates.After three years of 70-hourwork weeks, she quit her job due toexhaustion and stress. At the sametime, she ended a relationship with aman she had been involved with forfour years. “My life had been a seriesof losses and losing this significantcareer and relationship at the sametime was too much to bear,” she recalls.She plummeted into depression andbecame suicidal. Realizing that takingher life would destroy her daughter,she entered therapy; part of herrecovery was writing about what shefelt. “I did not consider myself a writer,but I discovered there was a lot insideof me that needed to come out. Writingbecame the container that could holdthe feelings that were spilling outabout Vietnam.”Story Taking on a Life of Its OwnShe experienced an epiphany at awriting workshop a few months later.As part of a writing exercise, Laurentrecounted the day she had beeninformed her husband had been killed– a story she had never told. “Whenthe teacher asked who wanted to readI raised my hand. I was emotionallydevastated: I would read a few wordsthen sob, then read a few more and sobagain. But it was a huge breakthroughfor me. After that I felt like the storytook on a life of its own. It wouldn’tleave me alone. It wanted to be told.”As cathartic and compelling asLaurent’s story may have been,every agent and publisher that sheapproached rejected the book. Whenshe shared her frustration in a crowdedauditorium at a writing conference,a literary agent in the audience gaveLaurent her business card and offeredto look at her manuscript. That was thebreak that eventually led to the book’spublication.The book garnered strong reviewsand connected with people in allwalks of life. Jonah Raskin, professorat Sonoma State University, calledit “undeniably moving.” PublishersWeekly described it as a “direct andpowerful memoir.” Bill Moyers, whoinvited Laurent to appear on histelevision show, said the broadcast“brought a remarkable response fromso many people around the country.”Finding a New Audience TodayThe book’s influence continues toreverberate today. Laurent has beenasked to lead several grief workshopsfor widows of troops killed in Iraq andAfghanistan. “I treat these women as ifI were going back to myself as a youngwidow,” she says. “What did I needto know then? What would have thegreatest impact?”Laurent doesn’t consider herself aprofessional writer; instead, she thinksof herself as a “bright shining light”on the path of healing. “I don’t havethe credentials or degrees that otherwriters have, but it’s not about thedegrees you have or the people youknow. We all have a story to tell and wecan allow ourselves to tell our storiesusing whatever means and methodswe can avail ourselves to.”For more information about PaulineLaurent visit www.griefdenied.comand www.gutsycoaching.com.April 16 ~ The Courage to Write theStory that Scares You, Pauline LaurentWriter’s Forum ~ Supported by Poets& Writers, Inc. through a grant it hasreceived from the Hearst Foundation.$15 at the door. 7:00-9:00 pm at PetalumaCommunity Center, Luchessi Park, 320No. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma ~ www.theWriteSpot.us

Wine Banterby dick starr djstarre@sbcglobal.netCheers!Russian River VineyardsPaired with a befitting fare, awell crafted Chardonnay can leapto the front of the grape pack tostrut in full dress garb. And that’sexactly what recently happened atForestville’s Russian River Vineyardsnew restaurant, Corks. Russian RiverVineyards is one of only two wineriesin Sonoma County that has a permitapproving a full service restauranton location with the winery. Theother one, which I reviewed last year,is Francis Ford Coppola’s Rosso &Bianco. And, there are only three othersimilar permits in California.The winery and restaurant located at5700 Gravenstein Highway is presentlyunder the luminous stewardship ofChris O’Neill, Barbara Sattler, andSonoma County’s “Pasta King” ArtIbleto. The property is undergoingextensive renovation under theirtutelage with an eye towards organic,sustainable, and “green” farming. Dryfarming has already been establishedin a section of their estate.Greg Hallinan, owner of Stella’s Caféat Topolos which closed last summer,continues to create gastronomic magicwhile Sommelier Debra Del Fiorentinoprovides valuable pairing suggestions.Assistant wine maker GiovanniBalistreri recently choreographed asplendid dining and wine experience.During this visit, I was joined byWest County Gazette’s food columnistCarolyn Horan, a delightful diningcompanion who also addresses herdining experience in this issue. TheCorks crew assembled a lusciousepicurean presentation: Miso crustedsalmon ably supported by a crispysomen noodle cake, wasabi butter,shoyn and ginger.The recommended wine pairedwith the appetizers and main coursewas Russian River Vineyards ’07Chardonnay, gently and affectionatelyembraced by new French oak forfour months. While malolacticfermentation was permitted, a fruitforward authority rendered thisgolden nectar food friendly. Palateand aroma impressions were pear,citrus, apple, and melon. In addition,the Chardonnay was well balancedbetween acid, alcohol, and fruit.Dessert consisted of homemade cherrymerlot ice cream with a reductionmerlot sauce. The latter was pairedwith a delightfully dry farmed ’07100% estate Merlot. The courses pairedimpeccably with the correct grapebrought a smile to my palate.A Brief Chardonnay ProfferIn some quarters, it was thought thatChardonnay’s origin had a MiddleEastern pedigree, but UC Davis, usingDNA profiling, determined that it wasa cross between Pinot and an obscureCroatian grape, Gouais Blanc. Anyway,the classic Chardonnay grape has longestablished its home in the Frenchregion of Burgundy.While Chardonnay takes onmany faces, oak and full malolacticfermentation is not generally partof the crafting process in Chablis,Burgundy as well as other Chardonnayproducing countries like Australia,New Zealand, Canada (NiagaraPeninsular), Argentina, Chile, SouthAfrica, and Italy.It was California that popularized abuttery note to the wine by convertingthe naturally occurring malic acid tothe softer lactic acid. This malolacticconversion is sometimes referred toas a secondary fermentation and isachieved by introducing lactic bacteriato the must soon after alcoholicfermentation has started. Correctlyexecuted, its effect is to reduce acidity,add flavor, and complexity. Care mustbe taken in the process to not overproduce the buttery-smelling diacetyl,a by-product in the fermentation.The trend of recent years has been toreturn Chardonnay back to its roots,crisp and fruity. Other influencesthat can affect the finished wine arebarrel fermentation, lees stirring andaging, and oak aging. Maloed or not,Chardonnay is generally characterizedas rich, complex, and with a depth offlavor. California plantings began inearnest in the early 1970s. The RussianRiver Valley appellation is generallyrecognized as producing some of theworld’s finest Chardonnays.A fruity, crispy Chardonnay thathasn’t succumbed to the secondfermentation is easier to pair andsimilar to Pinot Noir, both complementsveal, chicken with a white sauce,salmon, pizza (try a chicken/garlicpizza with a white sauce), and pastadishes in white sauce, shellfish, lamb,goat cheese, Gruyere, Provolone, andBrie. It is an easy wine to experimentwith, especially anything with garlicand recipes with a cream base.The Russian River appellationprovides a textural enhancement thatcan only be found where the morningriver fog ameliorates afternoontemperatures so that fruit maturity isachieved without loss of depth andsuppleness.4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 21

22 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09Corks at Russian River VineyardsChris O’Neil, owner of Cork’sRestaurant, was in real estatedevelopment and always said, “I willnever, ever get into the restaurantbusiness”. Well, lucky for Forestville, hehad a change of heart. Chris did want tobe in the wine business, however, andin pursuing this dream he fell in lovewith the property at the Russian RiverVineyards, met Art Ibleto, the PastaKing, and the two became partners inthe wine AND restaurant business.They have been joined by GiovanniBalistreri who grew up in the winebusiness with his family in Freestone,a well known chef, Greg Hallihan, whoowned Stella’s Restaurant and a skilledsommelier Debra Del Fiorentino.This is an interesting team: Chrisstarted making wine and that is wherehe met Art. Gio, after graduating collegein 2004, really got into learning the winebusiness. He says it is a cross betweenart and science and he has aspirationsof being a famous wine maker. Greg hasbeen lauded as a gourmet chef in theForestville area for a few years. Debra,along with being the Sommelier, is alsothe Consumer Marketing Director and isa wealth of information. You might wantto ask her about their Wine Club. Theonly person I didn’t meet was Art Ibletoand I hope to run into him sometimeat the Russian River Vineyards. Whowouldn’t want to meet someone who isknown at the Pasta King.Speaking of pasta and fine cooking,in January Cork’s Restaurant initiated“Pasta Night” which has turned intoa winner in the community. EveryMonday and Wednesday from 5:00 p.m.to 8:00 p.m. guests come to share in the“All you can eat pasta dinner” for $12.00- and kids eat for one-half price. Gregfixes a variety of 4 or 5 different kindsof pasta, meat balls and sauces servedwith bread. The day I conducted thisinterview Chris told me they had 130guests for pasta the night before.The plan for the Russian RiverVineyards is to make great wine andhave great feasts on the property. Theycan host all kinds of events on theproperty for about 200 guests. Diningwill be both indoors and outdoors asit was when the restaurant was calledToupolos. During the summer theymay have local musicians add to yourdining enjoyment. They are fixing upthe picnic areas so people can come andbuy a bottle of wine and picnic on thegrounds. They are planting an organicvegetable garden to help supply therestaurant. And if you were a fan of thebats that have lived on this propertyunder the care of the original owners,you will be happy to note that they arebuilding some new bat houses for thelittle critters. For more information onevents you can contact Debraor check out the web site www.russianrivervineyards.comChris says their goal is to haveaward winning wine: Pinot Noir,Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc,Cabernet and Syrah. As part oftheir community involvementthey are bottling a Cab that willbe called “Save Old # 2”, priced ataround $18 with a $2.00 donationfor each bottle sold going to theForestville Fire Association thatis restoring a 1936 Ford FireEngine #2 that was donated bythe Reedley family.Their wine will be sold in therestaurant at the purchase price whichis a nice deal for the patrons. They offera Price Fixe meal for $29.95. Here is asample: Course One is the soup of theday; Course Two you select from threesalads; Course Three is a choice of 1)Grilled Hanging Tender Steak, 2) ShortRibs of Beef, 3) Miso Crusted Salmon, 4)mushroom & Chevre Ravioli, 5) BraisedLamb Shank, 6) Black Tiger Shrimp;7) Organic Rocky Jr. Chicken Breast,and Course Four is Dessert. Also youcan add $10.00 to the Price Fixe andhave Grilled Filet Mignon for the FourCourse meal. They do serve many localwines along with beer and soft drinks.I was fortunate enough to have adelicious 4 course dinner with DickStarr who writes the wine column forthis paper. Check his column as he iscovering the pairing of a chardonnayand salmon entrée we enjoyed together.CORK’S RESTAURANT hours areMonday and Wednesday from 5:00 to8:00 for the Pasta King Night. Thursdaythrough Sunday they are open from5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Lunch is servedSaturday and Sunday from 11:30 to 2:30.The address is 5700 Highway 116 North,Forestville. They can be reached at 707887 3344.

Russian River Chamber of CommerceSolvent, Up & Definitely Running!Throughout the years, the RussianRiver Chamber has seen many upsand downs and has had its fair shareof less than favorable comments.Financial issues seemed to loomabove and a resolution faced manydifficulties, impeding the effectivenessof the Chamber. A new approach wasneeded if faith was to be restored in itsabilities. Approximately three yearsago, a dynamic change of directionwas adopted. Business practices werereformulated, budgets revisited andadvice sought from other professionalsources.Ultimately, through a good deal ofhard work and patience, solvency wasachieved and the Chamber became freefrom the difficulties of it’s past. Excitedabout the many new possibilitiesthe Chamber’s commitment to itsmembers and the River Communitieshas never been stronger. The needfor the Chamber to operate out of theusual ‘comfort zone’ was not alwaysunderstood. The decision to eventuallyrun the Chamber without an ExecutiveDirector was a radical step, but adedicated board along with active andenthusiastic members proved able tobuild a stronger foundation for thenew Chamber. Margaret Kennett,Chamber President has workeddiligently to lead the Chamber on thispath to viability.2008 proved to be the turning pointfor the Chamber. The year started withdebt and ended in the black. December2008 saw the Chamber Board, withits nominee, Diana Nolan, at a Spiritof Sonoma County Luncheon. Witha great sense of achievement theRussian River Chamber of Commercewas welcomed back with a loud roundof applause from the other Chambersand notable local dignitaries.2009 is already a success for theChamber and Visitor Center. Thecurrent Board has now been able tofocus on improving member services,promoting the area, beautificationplans and has also been workingdiligently with County entities andother civic groups to these ends. Apartnership with the Stewards of theCoast & Redwoods has been forged tohelp promote Eco adventures venuesand the Armstrong Redwoods 75thAnniversary celebrations. Largerprojects, which are handled under theGovernment Relations Committee,include Bike lanes, sidewalkreplacement and configuration withplans for new signage and plantings.The Board of Directors has setnew aggressive marketing goals. Theprofessional services of marketingconsultant Jim Skiba have beenenlisted. He will be assisting theboard in the development of dynamicnew marketing plans and conductingseminars to help members withideas for their individual businesses.Workshops will continue throughoutthe year to enhance commerceopportunities. Jim will work with theChamber on other specific projectsincluding presentations at Travel andTrade Shows. Travel Shows are chosenwith care and with an eye for returnon investment and our presence hasbeen well received. A strengthenedpartnership with Sonoma CountyTourism Bureau has proven successfulas well. New concepts for commerceand exciting new events and venuesare being developed, while continuingto support some of the favorite annualsummer events.The Chamber Board has been wellsupported by the staff at the VisitorCenter and Chamber office. OpalPullaro took on the role of Chamberoffice manager as well as Visitor CenterManager. Valerie Munthe volunteeredto produce the Chamber Newsletterand it has been an excellent production.Jimmy Caron as Chamber treasurerhas done a sterling job and is happy tohand over some of his duties to Rose– a recently hired bookkeeper. LauraWigod, experienced in PR and officeprocedures, has taken her position atthe Visitor’s Center as a greeter. TheVisitor Center itself will be getting abit of a facelift, with new signage alongwith interior improvements, to createa more inviting space for visitors andlocals alike.The current Chamber Board is proudof its achievements and understandsthe necessity of accountability.Questions and comments are alwayswelcome. The Chamber will continueto provide good service to businessesand work to stimulate the localeconomies and promote the interestsof our community. The Russian RiverChamber of Commerce wishes to thankits members, the River communitiesand other supporters who brought it tothis positive point.4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 23

24 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09

4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 25

Baby Bird SeasonBy Veronica Bowers, DirectorSongbird Hospital of Sonoma CountyWildlife Rescue26 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09Can you hear them? Familiar songsand lilting melodies are filling thesweet air of spring. Each morning I ampleasantly awakened by the NorthernMockingbird’s gleeful proclamationthat spring is here and hormonelevels are high. Soon he and his matewill invest a tremendous amountof energy raising a new generationof mockingbirds and each day willbe filled with danger and the grimpossibility that none of their offspringsurvive.Last year The Songbird Hospital ofSonoma County Wildlife Rescue caredfor over 500 birds, from swallowsand swifts to robins and wrens, andapproximately 70% were releasedback to the wild. The majority of ourpatients are received April throughJuly, the peak of baby bird season, andmost of them are brought to us becauseof an anthropogenic incident – humancaused.In a perfect world, our humanactivities wouldn’t come into conflictwith wildlife and songbirds couldlive freely without the worry of theirhomes being destroyed by chainsawsor their young killed by a housecat.However, life on earth with humansis a reality, so it’s up to us to reduceour impact on the natural world. If weare thoughtful and consider the needsand habits of our feathered friends, Isincerely believe we can work togetherto keep songbirds safe. Here are someideas and helpful tips:• Tree trimming and brush clearing– If you haven’t taken care of thisby now, wait until fall. Songbirdsconceal their nests very well,making them difficult to spot.Therefore, it is best not to riskdisplacing a nest of baby birdsby accidentally trimming awaybranches that could be holding orconcealing their home.• Cats – Free-roaming domestic catsare responsible for the needlessslaughter of millions of songbirdseach year. Please, keep cats indoors.• Don’t be a kidnapper – With theexception of swifts and swallows,most baby birds fledge the nestbefore they’re able to fly. They aremostly feathered at this stage andwill spend time on the ground orlow in the bushes for a few days.They are very vulnerable at thistime and concern for their safetyis normal, but it is important tounderstand that this is an essentialpart of their development. If youthink a fledging songbird needs tobe rescued, please call us for advicefirst.• Fly strips, glue traps for rodents,Tanglefoot, Bird-X – Don’t usethese products. These cruel devicesand materials can and do entrapsongbirds and usually result indeath.• Don’t attract predators – If you feedbirds, avoid using seed mixes thatattract jays, crows and squirrels.They are predators of songbird eggsand babies.• “Look, don’t touch” – These wordscan save a birds life. Teach childrento respect wildlife and remind themthat if they believe a wild creatureis in need of human assistance, theyshould always ask an adult for helpfirst.• Be a good landlord – If you have nestboxes and they’re not occupied yet,clean them out before new tenantsmove in. Old nests can harborharmful parasites and bacteria.Always make sure nest boxes arepredator proof by mounting themon a metal pole or pole with apredator guard.• Know the law – All native birdsare protected by federal and statelaws, making it illegal to possess,kill or harm them or disturb theiractive nests containing eggs oryoung. If you find an injured, ill ororphaned bird, do not try to care forit yourself. This is not only againstthe law, but it nearly always resultsin death to the bird.Please call the Songbird Hospital ifyou have found a bird in distress orhave any questions about bird-relatedmatters.Songbird Hospital of Sonoma CountyWildlife Rescue8050 Elphick Road, Sebastopol(707) 484-6502The Songbird Hospital is program ofSonoma County Wildlife Rescue, anon-profit organization, and licensedby CA Fish and Game and US Fish andWildlife Services.

4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 27

28 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09Artist ProfileBy Barbara Shula bshula@comcast.netMarcy BaselMarcy Basel is becoming a knownforce in Sonoma County since herarrival in the summer of 2001. She has aprivate practice in alternative medicineto address many of the ailments ofday to day life. She contributes tothe community through her ChineseMedicine column in the West CountyGazette. And most important to thiscolumn, she won a 1st and 2nd at the2008 Sonoma County Harvest Fair inthe Fine Arts – Oils, Amateur category.Marcy began her career in ChineseMedicine while living in SantaMonica, CA. She was not feeling welland while visiting a Chinese herbalpharmacy, the proprietor observed aninnate ability in Marcy to intuitivelyselect the herbs for her ailments. Theencounter led to a long term student/teacher relationship and enrollmentin acupuncture school. Not only wasthis a major change in her life at thetime but this career change resultedin an introduction to Sebastopol and areemergence of art as a major emphasisin Marcy’s life.The life of a traveling acupuncturistin celebrity populated Santa Monicawas exciting and lucrative but wasbeginning to take a toll on qualityof life. Marcy daydreamed about adifferent life with a studio of her own.Browsing the Practices for Sale inindustry magazines for an establishedpractice became a common pastime.One day she saw an advertisement fora business in Sebastopol. She spoketo the owner and found herself onan airplane to Northern California.Driving into Sebastopol with a beliefthat all of California is akin to theLos Angeles basin is like entering theTwilight Zone from June Cleaver’shome. Where did these relaxedwomen in Birkenstocks come from?Were there no designer shops or salonsin the whole area? What was MarcyBasel doing here?The experience was strange – theowner decided to not sell – Marcygratefully returned to Los Angeles andcontinued her life as it was established.Sebastopol was all but forgotten. Lifegoes on. A year later, her apartmentwas sold and she needed to move.During the period of searching fora new place to live, the contact fromSebastopol called to let Marcy knowthat she was selling her business. WasMarcy still interested?We all get a feeling at one timeor another that things happen for areason. We are not sure what thatreason is nor do we understand whatreally is happening. For Marcy theconfluence of events told her thatnow was to time to make another lifechange. Not only did she purchase theSebastopol business but moved intothe offered accommodations on JoniveRoad. Her practice is diverse withparticular attention to menopause andfood allergies. Never thinking that shewould live in the “woods”, she lovedthe quiet and serenity and endedup purchasing a home nestled in theforest outside of Occidental. She thenbuilt her studio where she can paint.The spirit of the setting comes throughin Marcy’s paintings – tranquility andlight.After hearing this wonderfulstory about acupuncture and herbalmedicine, my curiosity was piqued tolearn where the art interest developed.Marcy matter-of-factly announcedthat she held a Masters Degree in ArtEducation and had run an art school inMalibu! Oh, and she had a ceramicscompany that she had sold. All of thisbefore discovering herbal medicine asher calling. The intensity of her newprofession had squelched any timeor energy for art and she lost touchwith her native skills of painting andcreating.Today Marcy paints in oils thenature that surrounds her in WestSonoma County. Her paintings rangefrom landscapes to abstract nature.She works in oils and charcoal. Thecolor combinations evoke a senseof continuity and compatibility –totally in keeping with wellness. Herpaintings are frequently on displayat Gallery One in Petaluma and willbe featured at the Prudential CARealty office on Healdsburg Avenuein Sebastopol during June and July. Iam certain that you will find her at theHarvest Fair in October. If you wouldlike to see her paintings now, feel freeto call Marcy directly at 707 874-2402.

RESOURCES for your LifeAl-Anon ~ Support to friends & families ofalcoholics dealing with the problems of alcoholabuse. Mondays, 7:30 pm and Saturdays,9:15 am at the Russian River Senior Center,back room, 15010 Armstrong Woods Rd,Guerneville ~ 24-hour Information Line, 707-575-6760Clutterers Anonymous ~ offering help to thetrue clutterer, who is overwhelmed by disorder.Every second Friday, 2:00 to 4:00 pm at CityLife Fellowship Building, 2425 MendocinoAvenue, Santa Rosa ~ Ann, 707-569-9808 ~www.clutterersanonymous.netCo-Dependents Anonymous (CODA) ~anonymous meetings for people who wantto improve the quality of their relationships.Meeting held on Thursdays, 7:00-8:00 pm atthe Russian River Community Senior Center,15010 Armstrong Woods Rd, GuernevilleDisability Services & Legal Center (DSLC)~ a non-profit agency established to advancethe rights of persons with disabilities to equaljustice, access, opportunity & participationin our communities. 980 Hopper Ave., SantaRosa ~ 707-528-2745 (voice) or 707-528-2151(TTY) ~ www.cri-dove.orgFamily Service Agency ~ Affordablecounseling for everyone: children, adolescents,adults, couples, families. $30 per session.Assistance available. Mon-Fri, 9:00am-8:00pmat 751 Lombardi Court, Suite C, Santa Rosa(near Sebastopol Rd & Stony Point Rd) ~ 707-545-4551 x210 (English) or x209 (Español) ~www.familyservicesonoma.orgHospice House ~ Food for your mind, body& spirit! An evening of conversation andinformation over light snacks and coffee.Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm at Hospice ofPetaluma, 416 Payran St., Petaluma ~ 707-778-6242 ~ www.memorialhospice.org/hospice_petaluma.aspxRiver to Coast Children’s Services (RCCS) ~Serving west Sonoma County with child careassistance (families & providers), Kindergym& Infantgym, car safety seat program, familycounseling. 16300 1st St., Guerneville ~ 707-869-3613 ~ www.rccservices.orgRussian River Empowerment Center ~ Amental health and wellness, consumer driven,drop-in center offering support groups, peercounseling, creative activities, referrals anda safe community environment. Free andconfidential. A West County CommunityServices project. Hours: Tue-Wed-Thu 11:30-5:30, & Fri 11:30-6:30. 16229 Third Street, offArmstrong Woods Road, Guerneville ~ 707-604-7264 ~ www.westcountyservices.orgSSU Health Maintenance Center ~ offerslow-cost physical examinations & healthappraisals for Sonoma County residents onWednesdays from Mar 18 to May 20. CallMon-Fri, 8:30-5:00 for an appointment: 707-664-2466Teen Clinic ~ Pregnancy testing & counseling,birth control choices, STD testing andtreatment, emergency contraception, freecondoms. Teen staff, relaxed atmosphere,snacks. Free and confidential. No appointmentneeded! Mon-Tue-Thu, 2:30-5:30 pm atCASA, 6570 1st St., Forestville ~ 707-887-0427 ~ www.wchealth.orgUnited Against Sexual Assault ~ UASAfacilitates healing and promotes the preventionof violence by providing counseling, advocacy,intervention, and education. 835 Piner Road,Suite D, Santa Rosa ~ Business: 707-545-7270~ 24/7 Crisis Line: 707-545-7273 ~ www.uasasonoma.orgVeterans’ Group ~ “One-stop-shop!” Help& information for Veterans and theirfamily members. Noon-3:00 on SecondThursdays at the Guerneville VeteransMemorial Building, 1st & Church Streets,Guerneville ~ 707-526-4218 (message)or John Uniack, 707-869-9459 ~ www.sonomacountyvetconnect.orgWalk-In Clinic ~ Free medical care foranyone in need, without regard to ethnicity,race or religion. Mondays from 5:30-7:30 pmat the Jewish Community Free Clinic, 490 CityCenter Drive, Rohnert Park ~ 707-585-7780 ~www.jewishfreeclinic.orgWatchers of Weight (WOW) ~ Support forhealthy eating & weight loss goals. Membership$10/Weekly meeting $5. Wednesdays, 5:30pm at the Monte Rio Community Center,20488 Highway 116, Monte Rio ~ 707-865-9956 ~ www.mrrpd.orgWomen’s Alcoholics Anonymous ~ Mondays,7:30 pm at the Russian River Senior Center,15010 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville ~AA Hotline: 707-544-1300 ~ users.ap.net/~aa/index.htmlFlex your power.Move, yourself or someoneyou care about, from beinga victim to becoming asurvivor. Log on towww.uasasonoma.orgOUR CountyBy Efren Carillo(707) 565-2241 ecarrillo@sonoma-county.orgHot, Cool, and Green:On March 25th, The Sonoma CountyEnergy Independence Program (SCEIP)opened its storefront (Energy Store)inside the Water Agency headquarterswith a large crowd in attendance. Thatday, our County became the first inCalifornia to launch an innovativeand exciting way for homeowners andbusinesses to retrofit their propertiesfor energy and water efficiency.According to the Climate ProtectionCampaign’s Action Plan, retrofitting80% of Sonoma County properties by2015 will be one of the steps needed toreach our carbon footprint goals.Here are some of the highlights:The big news is that financingfor your improvements will be anassessment on your property, whichcan be paid off over a 5-20 year period.Using an assessment to finance meansthat the amount borrowed does notshow as consumer debt or affect yourcredit rating. It shows on title searchesto the property, and would remainwith the property during changes inownership.Hopefully, this encourages people toseriously consider retrofitting, whichshould save money, energy, and waterover the lifetime of the improvement.Tax dollars are not being used tofinance the program. Instead theinvestment by the County treasury inhelping people retrofit will be revenueneutral, with interest paid (currently7%) to cover program overhead andcosts of future bond funds.The minimum advance is $2500,with the maximum advance limitedby property values.Use of SCEIP funding is limitedto energy or water efficiencyimprovements which are permanentlyaffixed to the property. These include,but are not limited to:• high efficiency windows• solar or tankless water heaters• solar panels• upgrading wall and roof insulation(including cool roofs)• duct sealing and high efficiencyheating and cooling systems• ‘smart’ irrigation systems (see nextsection!)Other options can be proposed andapproved if an efficiency value can beproven.The Energy Store reports that therehas been a great deal of interest in theprogram. They are already processingapplications, and took in 5 the first day!That really says something about howexcited people are to have this option,as there is some planning involved.You will need to have current propertytaxes, clear title to the property(mortgages are not a problem), andknow the amount of funding needed,which means obtaining estimates andpermits.Go to www.sonomacountyenergy.org to find out more about the program.Water Tips:During this dry year, we all need tobe conscious of our water usage. Wellusers must strive to conserve the watertable for their neighbors. Did youknow that over 300 gallons of watercan be used in an hour of inefficientwatering? Here are a few simplesteps to make your water usage moreeffective and spare:• Install and use an automaticsprinkler system. Then, calibrateyour system by measuring yoursprinkler output. A simple methodfor this and many other usefultips can be found at http://www.wateruseitwisely.com.• Water only in the morning…thisis the best time for both waterconsumption and your plants.• Most importantly, be mindful whenwatering by hand or with sprinklersof what the needs are for the healthof your landscape…don’t over water.If you see your neighbors wastingwater, be sure to provide informationwhen asking them to change badpractices.Update on COBRA insurancecoverage for the unemployedThanks to Bill Hannant of HannantInsurance Services for keeping ouroffice updated on new informationabout the Federal Stimulus Funding forCOBRA health insurance. Currently,emergency legislation (AB23) is in theworks to extend the Federal assistanceto laid-off/terminated workers to thosewho work for small employers coveredunder Cal COBRA. (2-20 employees)Legislation is expected to be passed bythe time this paper is in print.We also discovered that if youare eligible for insurance from anyother source (spouse’s coverage forexample) that will make you ineligiblefor assistance. You must have noother option available to you. A moredetailed set of information may nowbe found at:http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faqcobra-premiumreductionEE.html4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 29

Wheelof Lightwww.starwatcher.com707-887-1820Rio OleskyMAY 2009Most people are interested inpersonal relationships. This month aconjunction between Venus and Marsbrings that focus in high priority.This is not a particularly rare aspectas it recurs approximately every 12-18 months. What is unusual about thealignment this time is that lasts fortwo months instead of the week to tendays that is the norm. With that muchtime to work with we can take greateradvantage of the potential to improveand enjoy our relationships.Another factor that increases thesignificance of this aspect is that itcomes two weeks after Venus turneddirect after having been retrogradesince early March. As noted in thiscolumn last month, when Venus isretrograde we are challenged to reviewboth our needs and behaviors in anyrelationship to ensure that what weare doing is conducive to satisfactionand fulfillment. Since any conjunctionprovides the opportunity for a newbeginning, this one offers the energyto implement the new patterns thatwe assume will increase our degree ofhappiness.New beginnings are also furtheredsince Venus and Mars are in the signAries, the sign of new beginnings. Ariesrepresents the spontaneous impulse toexpress oneself in a dynamic, creativeand authentic way. This is especiallysupportive of Mars, the ruling planetof Aries. One of the challenges of thisconjunction is that we integrate in abalanced way, the energy of the twoplanets. The challenge is greater forVenus, the energy of harmony. Venustends to be thoughtful and diplomatic.It tends to see things from others‚points of view and enjoys makingothers feel comfortable. Mars, on theother hand, is focused on being trueto self. It is direct, straightforward andassertive. We could easily combinethese energies in ways that make usappear arrogant or pushy. We wantwhat we want and anyone who triesto prevent us from getting it could getblasted by a display of Martian anger.In this scenario Venus gets lost. It canseem to hide behind Mars to the extentthat the social graces are absent fromour interactions with others.Venus was retrograde in Aries a factthat challenged both men and women,but in different ways. As the energyof femininity, Venus retrograde cancause women to feel unattractive orunfeminine. The point of growth is forwomen to use the retrograde periodto analyze the difference betweentheir style of expressing or embodyingthe feminine principle as opposed tohow our culture defines and whatit expects from women. Since Ariestends to be confident and courageous,growth for women when Venus wasretrograde in Aries is to be yourself.It‚s more important to be the womanthat you are rather than the womensociety wants you to be.For men the challenge of Venusretrograde is to explore and developtheir receptivity. Men who have Venusretrograde in their natal charts tend tobe more in touch with and comfortableexpressing the feminine side of theirnature. So the conjunction of Venuswith Mars in Aries offers both menand women the opportunity to furtherexplore themselves within the contextof personal relationship. The point offocus is to create ways of relating thatenable us to become more integrated inour feminine and masculine qualities.What this aspect is stimulating usto do is step outside the behavioralboundaries that we have previouslyconformed to. In previous columnsI have discussed the consciousnesschanges taking place as a result ofthe mutual reception between Jupiter,Neptune and Uranus. One way thatawareness can be altered at this timeis in terms of how we function in ourmost important relationships. Insteadof conforming to sex-role stereotypicpatterns of behavior that have beenevolving since the Stone Age, we cancreate our own social identities andsocial behaviors. These new patternsshould be an expression of who we areas unique beings rather than who weare as men or women. In the processwe can feel confident in taking arelationship in directions that promotepersonal liberation and growth, ratherthan supporting culturally basedpatterns that are limiting and archaic.One way to avoid the disappearanceof the feminine within the masculinequalities of Aries is to be pro-activein expressing our receptivity in waysthat are dynamic and creative. Thereinlies the main challenge of the aspect.How can we be true to the feminineprinciples of nurturing, softness andaccommodation within a sign that isinherently self-oriented, physical andassertive? One way is to find the placewithin ourselves that contains theessence of who we are as people. Beingtrue to that primal sense of self willimmediately improve our relationshipto ourselves and by extension improveour relationships to others.30 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/093/21-4/19Aries: This is a period towork on your social skills.Being thoughtful andconsiderate of others canbring a sense of satisfactionas well as more attentionand affection from partner.Growth for you comes from beingassertively diplomatic and harmoniouslyself-expressive. Attention to personalappearance can bring interest from others.Taurus: The newbeginnings that is impliedby the Venus-Marsconjunction in Aries canbe utilized by you in a4/20-5/20creative, artistic context.You may find that youcrave time alone this month and that youractivity of choice in your alone time isbeing expressive. Visual art might appeal.Growth for you comes from exploringand developing your artistic nature withconfidence.Gemini: This is a time toreview your communicationpatterns, interests andtendencies. The goal isclarity of expression.5/21-6/20Experiment with friends asyou explore new patternsof both socialization and communication.Mid-late month could prove challengingin terms of being clear and centered insharing ideas and information. Growthcomes from working to develop intuitiveawareness of others and integrating theensuing into conversations, especiallywith friends and colleagues.Cancer: This is amonth to focus ondiscipline, structure andindividuation. Setting limitsand boundaries with others6/21-7/22is part of this dynamic.Working to integrate yourenjoyment of the immediate experiencewith satisfaction in achieving goals isanother. Growth for you comes from beingclear about how you feel in the now withwhere you are going in the future.Leo: A sense of securityand stability in early monthcould give way to feelingsof confusion from mid tolate month. You could feel7/23-8/22confused about who youare, how others perceiveyou or how to relate to them. One wayout of the confusion is being willing tosurrender attachment to self. See yourselffrom the inside out, striving to be true toyourself emotionally and spiritually. Howothers perceive you is, ultimately, none ofyour business.Virgo: Two primarypatterns emerge for youthis month. In relationship,strive to deepen theemotional bond between8/23-9/22you and your partner.Take some risks and openup in new ways or in ways that enableyou to share new parts of yourself. Thesecond pattern is to review career issues.What are your goals? Are you on track toachieve them? Is your job right for you?Do you have a job at all? Answers to thesequestions can be found by looking withinthe self at this time.Libra: This month it‚sall about relationship foryou. Growth comes frombalancing your usualfocus on harmony and9/23-10/22consideration with a clear,authentic expression ofself. Balance your relationship by makingsure both you and your partner feel seenand heard by the other. Be direct andassertive even as you also express thewillingness to negotiate and compromise.Scorpio: The full Moonin Scorpio on the 8th couldbring deep feelings oreven cathartic emotional10/23-11/21experiences. Growthcomes from working todevelop techniques ofemotional self-nurturing. Feeling morecomfortable expressing what you feel thanyou usually do is another benefit of thistransit. Developing a discerning mind thatenables you to discriminate about who toopen up to and when is another growthpoint for you this month.11/22-12/21Sagittarius:Thisis a time to work ondeveloping a receptivemind that enables you tobe aware of informationthat you may normallytend to overlook orundervalue. The best time and place todo this is right here and right now. Anysocial activity, from the most structuredto the most spontaneous, and from themost casual to the most intimate offersopportunities to grow.Capricorn: Begin newprojects this month thatyou have been planningor researching for the pastfew months. Caution and12/22-1/19attention to detail mayslow down your progressinitially, but is the best strategy for ultimateachievement and success.Aquarius: This monthoffers the possibilityof major shifts inconsciousness. Since thisprocess tends to be subtle,1/20-2/18you may have to take sometime to tune in so that youcan feel and take advantage of the newawareness. Growth for you this monthcomes developing your intuition and beingin synch with the mystery of life.Pisces: This is thesecond of what ultimatelywill be 6 monthsof spiritual growthand consciousnessdevelopment. Most2/19-3/20 Pisceans crave alonetime. Make sure when you satisfy thisdesire it is in ways that will enhancethat expansion. Daily activities such ameditation, yoga, prayer or chi gung canbe useful to that end. Paying attention toyour dreams and working with them canbe another activity that can be beneficialat this time.To contact Rio about his classes, or to make anappointment, call him at 707-887-1820.

4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 31

OccidentalOccurrencesBy Benjamynn Gabrielbenjamynn@mac.com (707) 874-3699(keep thatinfo. coming!)Meanwhilein Graton…By HolLynn D’Lilgratoncolumn@comcast.net (707) 829 9440We live in one of nature’s mostbeautiful areas. If you doubt it, maketime for a drive. Starting in Occidental,drive north on Bohemian Highway,west on US116 (through Monte Rio andDuncans Mills), south on US1, east onBodega Highway, and then finish thesquare by turning north at Freestone.My family calls this the “circuit drive.”Other favorite routes: River Roadto Wohler Bridge, over the RussianRiver, north onto Westside Road, up toHealdsburg; and of course, ColemanValley Road, particularly going westfrom Occidental, as you get to see theocean coming towards you.New Store in Town…Jeff and GinaKeough, along with their childrenAmber and Kyle, have opened TheMad Hatter because they “wantedto keep a toy store in Occidental.”Traditional toys (think pick-up sticks,tin toys, kites, juggling balls) aretrickling in along with hats, infantshoes and other hand-crafted items.Honoree…Occidental’s own VictoriaJohnson was honored recently as a 2009Women’s History Project Honoreefor her work on Salmon Creek FallsEnvironmental Education Center.In case you’re not aware, this is thegorgeous new building at our schoolthat’s on its way to gold or platinumLEED certification. Interestingly, theWomen’s History Project was startedin Santa Rosa by a former HarmonyUnion teacher, Phyllis Schmidt, andhas become a national organization.Kudos to our Occidental women!Fool’s Day Parade…was a hugesuccess with seemingly hundredsshowing up. Occidental even boastedan oh-so-rare traffic snarl. Fools werefoolish and colorful, music was great,and families got to mill and enjoyeach other in our relaxed little hamlet.Kudos to Kate Price and the folks whosponsor this fun, annual event.Upcoming Events… InternationalMigratory Bird Day! Salmon CreekSchool, Laguna de Santa RosaFoundation and Madrone AudubonSociety will host InternationalMigratory Bird Day (IMBD)Celebration on Saturday, April 25from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at SalmonCreek School. IMBD is a worldwideannual event that celebrates thejourneys of migratory birds betweentheir breeding grounds in NorthAmerica and their wintering groundssouth of the border. Its additionalgoal is to increase public awarenessand appreciation of migratory birdpopulations and to encourage bird andhabitat conservation.The day’s festivities will include birdand nature walks, live hawks and owls(12pm), shade grown coffee tasting,educational exhibits, nest box building,as well as many other crafts and games.Families are encouraged to bring apicnic lunch to enjoy on the school’sbeautiful, 50+ acre campus. For moreinformation, log on to http://audubon.sonoma.net/ or call Veronica (707) 829-2955 (remember Dolce V chocolate shop inSebastopol?—that Veronica).Harmony / Salmon CreekAnnual Fund RaiserMay 3, 1p to 5p is our school’s 7thAnnual Ark Education FoundationAuction, at Compass Rose Gardenin Bodega Bay. If you’re a wine lover,there will be great bottles to enjoy,as well as amazing wines to bid on:signed, etched Kosta Browne magnum,DuMOL, Kistler, Lynmar, Ramey,Dutton-Goldfield, and many others.Sumptuous food, live entertainment,and fun-filled silent and live auctionsin a beautiful outdoor setting are thecall of the day.Remember, because of this group’sefforts, we have Spanish for grades K-8,gardening, supplemental science, anddrama, and many other great extracurricularevents. Even if you don’thave a child attending (or formerly inattendance), building good citizensis critical to all of us here in WestCounty. Tickets are $40 each, availablein advance only, at the Salmon Creekoffice, and downtown at Mad Hatterand Sonoma Fine Wine. Please plan toattend and support our community.Additionally, the Young WritersShowcase is coming right up inMay, and experienced writers areneeded to judge student submissions.Please contact Fawn Nekton, fawn@gaffneyins.com, for information, or tovolunteer.And last, kindergarten registrationpackets are ready now for next year.I’ve appreciate the community inputon news items, so keep it coming. Sountil next month, have fun gardening,and have a blessed spring!34 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09April 2009 in Graton, when wegladly suffer fools, pretend rabbitslay eggs, and take our Acacia War toa higher level. . . . As you may recall,the events leading up to the war wereinnocuous enough - citizens workedout a deal with Sonoma CountyRegional Parks about maintenance ofthe portion of the West County Trailnear Graton. If the parks folk wouldnot bring out their flail cutter to cutback the blackberry bushes (and theentire natural habitat of all the trailusers - snakes, birds, humans, etc.), thefolks of Graton would keep the berriesin line with hand efforts.From the beginning of Graton’sstewardship of the trail, the subjectof the acacias revealed its thornycomplexities. There are those whowant to nurture only native plants onthe trail, those to whom all biomass isprecious, whether native or not, andthose who are either allergic to theacacias, or just are affronted by theirweedy tendency to sprout liberally,overcoming other trees.The Graton Trail Stewards andKeepers thought they had worked outa compromise. Acacia saplings wouldbe eliminated while the more maturetrees would be trimmed to protect thetrail users from their falling branches.As the Sonoma County RegionalParks maintenance folks took a closerlook, however, they decided that fourlarge acacia trees that were in dangerof falling had to be removed. Theysprayed numbers on the four treesto identify them for the ax wielders.Around April Fool’s Day, someonesprayed every acacia tree on the trailwith a number.John Ryan, Volunteer Coordinatorfor Sonoma County Regional Parkshastened to write folks that the countyonly plans to remove four trees, aftercarefully checking for nesting birdsfirst. They will also remove the spraypaint on the vandalized trees.In addition to the Acacia War, wealso have the Siren War, with equalpassion on both sides of the issue ofwhether to support the Graton FireDistrict volunteers and their statedneed for the siren, or to oppose itsuse. We take our environment veryseriously in Graton, which in itself isanother complexity - no one is evencertain where Graton is.Catherine Sharp recalls that therewas a bumper sticker around for awhile, asking “Where the H___ isGraton?” Sara Alexander writes thatshe thought she had moved to Gratonwhen she purchased a home on DyerRoad. When she stopped receivingmail, she found out that though therealtor referred to her neighborhood asGraton, it was in fact rural Sebastopol.At a Graton Friday-night potluck,the issue was discussed and it wasdecided that there are actually aminimum of six ways to identify thelocation of Graton, possible seven.1) There’s “Real Estate” Graton,which refers to the areas surroundingGraton, but which have Sebastopoladdresses.2) Then there is “Sewer Graton,” forthose who reside within the GratonSewer service district.3) There is “Fire” Graton for thosewho are served by the Graton FireDistrict.4) Those who have a post box at theGraton U.S. Post Office live in “PostOffice” Graton.5) Those with a 95444 zip code live in“Zip Code” Graton.6) If you go to the Graton Fridaynightpotlucks, you are in “Potluck”Graton.So, if you can’t figure out whereyou live, how do you know who youare? Here’s a system to help you findyourself. Depending on how manyGraton identifiers you fall under,you’re either a Gratonite, a Gratonian,a Gratoncrat, a Gratoneer, a Gratonistor a Gratonista.Like this:One identifier - makes you a Gratonite.Two identifiers - makes you aGratonian.Three identifiers - makes you aGratoncrat. (This appellation wassuggested by Zula Bryson of Forrestville.)Four identifiers - makes you aGratoneer.Five identifiers - makes you aGratonist.Six identifiers - makes you aGratonista.For further distinction, if you livein Real Estate Graton, you can add theword Greater to you designation, as inGreater Gratoneer.The seventh designator, of course,is whether you have a Graton stateof mind (subject for another column).Anyone in that state is a Grateronian.

Around ForestvilleGOT NEWS? Vesta Copestakes • vesta@sonic.net • 887-0253THANK YOU - everyone who cameout for two of our community’s “it’sspring!” events…both on the sameday… the Forestville Chamberof Commerce Easter Egg Hunt &Coloring Contest…and the ForestvilleYouth Parks’ El Molino Little leagueOpening Day. Our town was filledwith children and families all day.What a delight to see hundreds offamilies having fun, little kids dressedin major league baseball uniforms,kids in Easter costumes - adults inEaster costumes - you name it!.I have some wonderful photos ofboth these events but no room forthem here - so please visit my web site:www.westcountygazette.com and goto the IMAGES category. I should havethem up in about a week!El Molino Site Council is seekingcommunity funding to complete thepurchase of equipment for a dedicatedcomputer laboratory.At this time, funding is very limitedfor schools, but the Site Council hasfound $54,900 of the $70,000 they needto establish the laboratory. Details areprovided in the attachment. If you canhelp, or if you know someone in thecommunity that might be willing tohelp, please contact:Bill Dry, ChairmanEl Molino Site Council887-2959orDoria Trombetta, Co-PrincipalEl Molino High School824-6570Occidental Community Choirpresents the world premiere of “TheEmperor and the Nightingale,” a folkopera complete with costumes,staging, choreography, instrumentalaccompaniment, visual effects andfabulous singing at Forestville SchoolTheater in Forestville, 6321 Hwy116.May 15 & 16 at 8pm and Sunday, May17, at 3pm. Tickets will be available atthe door and at www.occidentalchoir.org. Adults $15, Students and Seniors,$10, and children 12 and under free.The final Sunday will be “pay whatyou will” day.Forestville Youth Park News:The Methodist Church is planting acommunity garden in unused areasof the Park, namely a portion of theproperty adjoining our neighbors inthe northeast supplemental parkingarea and along the driveway near theQuonset hut. El Molino students willbe involved in the project in additionto Methodist Church volunteers.The Playground Equipment ProjectCommittee has been consideringan expenditure of about $70,000 toreplace much of our playgroundequipment and change the area tocomply with ADA requirements withconcrete walks for access and 12inch deep engineered wood chips aslanding areas to prevent injuries. TheCommittee is gathering informationfrom kids as to their preferences forequipment to be installed in twoseparate areas. One for 2 to 5 year oldsand another for kids 5 to12.BBQ Committee - ChairpersonPatti Baxman is looking for volunteersfor the BBQ. A membership prizeperson is needed to line up prizes forthe raffle, very soon. Soccer is doingBingo but needs a PA system to use tocall out numbers and winners. LittleLeague is doing the Pie and Ice Creambooth and we need a small chesttype freezer. In light of the economy,the Board approved the vendor feeschedule at $75 for one day and $100for both days. 707-479-5138www.forestvilleyouthpark.org2009 COLORING CONTEST WINNERSGRAND PRIZE WINNER:AGE 8 - LIVIIA LANABERGAGE 2 - CHASE HADZESSAGE 3 - DOMINICAGE 4 - ALEXAGE 5 - KATIE HOLDRENAGE 6 - AFIANA OWENSAGE 7 - JAIMIN KAIAGE 8 - KORINA PIERSONAGE 9 - RIVER MARCELIUSAGE 10 - ELLICIA PULIDOAGE 11 - STEFANI LOPEZAGE 12 - MADISON MINGDonations from The Community forThe Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by TheForestville Chamber of CommerceClover-Stornetta (Milk & Juices)Fred’s LiquorEl Molino High School (CulinaryArt Dept- Martin Curtis –Cookies)Idea Hardware… Bob Baba & SonsEl Molino StoreKarol Scheiner DDSFrame of MindBank of the WestA Very Special” Thank You” toRaynetta James for all the hardwork that she contributes everyyear in assisting me in making theEaster Egg Hunt a Huge Success forthe Forestville Community - and toour beloved Bob Burke of Bob Burke’sKids for his very special bunny thekids love so much..FPA REPORTSThe Forestville Planning AssociationBy Richard Naegle, Presidentwww. forestvillefpa.orgFORESTVILLECOMMUNITY FUNDThe FCF is now accepting grantapplications. $8000 is available for localprojects that enhance the downtownarea (defined as from the Youth Park,through downtown, to the elementaryand high schools).Applications by individuals orgroups must be completely filled out,postmarked no later than May 1, 2009,and sent to the FPA, P.O. Box 184,Forestville 95436. We hope to announcewhich proposals will be funded by theend of May. Grant application formscan be picked up at The Package Store,El Molino Store (Pharmacy), and Bankof the West. The forms can also befilled out on and downloaded from theFPA website, forestvillefpa.org.The Forestville Community FundCommittee will evaluate proposalsand make recommendations to theFPA Board on which projects to fund.Committee members represent arange of community interests such asthe schools, seniors, the Chamber ofCommerce, the Youth Park, interestedcitizens and the FPA. The Committeeanticipates giving priority to thoseprojects that:· impact the most people,· “match” dollars from other sources,· involve collaboration with othergroups or projects,· and/or have a volunteer componentwithin the project.Grants made from the fund are toencourage new projects, activities orspecial needs rather than for generaloperating expenses.Money for the Forestville CommunityFund initially was established througha Good Neighbor Agreement betweenthe BoDean Company (owner ofthe Blue Rock Quarry), ForestvilleCitizens for Sensible Growth and theForestville Planning Association.In addition, other public funds andprivate donations go into the Fund.The Forestville Planning Association,trustee of the Fund, is a 501c3 nonprofitcorporation. Donations to theForestville Community Fund (throughthe FPA) are tax deductible.If you have any questions afteryou have reviewed the applicationform, please feel free to contact me atrichard@forestvillefpa.org or 887-1985.El Molino ProjectGraduationis having aE-Waste collectionevent on May 2nd atEl Molino High School.Bring any E-Waste that you might haveand donate it (no cost to you).El Molino Project Grad will benefitfrom your donation.Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Location: El Molino High SchoolQuestions: Sandy Dry (887-2959)Acceptable items are:televisions - cell phones - computer monitorsmicrowave ovens - computers - fax machineslaptops - DVD players - printers - radios - harddrives - cables and cords - keyboards - telephonesmice - lab equipment - optical drives - shredderspc boards - loose printed circuit boards4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 35

Fire Department NewsAnnual PancakeBreakfastSunday, May 17The 30th annual Graton FirefightersAssociation Pancake Breakfast is amonth away. Put it on your calendarnow! As you know, the GratonCommunity has made our breakfastthe biggest and best anywhere inSonoma County. It is our one and onlyfundraiser to support the volunteers.Every year, over 1,000 people attendthe breakfast. We will have FireEngines, Police Cars, Ambulances andHelicopters on display for the kids aswell as other attractions. Thank youto all of the people that have donatedraffle prizes in the past; from wine toB&B gift certificates, lawn mowers tojewelry – we had over 200 winnerslast year. If you have something todonate, an item or service, please callthe Graton Firefighters Association at823-7939 and leave us a message.Want the inside scoop? Goonline to www.gratonfire.org. Ifyou live in our district, look for theGraton Fire flyer in your mailboxsoon. The menu includes all you caneat pancakes, sausage, scrambledeggs, apple & orange juice, milk, hotchocolate, tea and coffee. The pancakebreakfast is from 7am to noon; avoid9:00 to 10:30, because this is usuallythe busiest time. Anyone that donatesto the Blood Bank on-site that morningwill skip the line AND get a freebreakfast. T-shirts and sweatshirtswill be on sale. Address signs can bemade “while-you-eat.” Hope to seeyou there!Firefighter AwardsThe Graton Fire Board of Directorssaid thank you last month to thevolunteer firefighters for anotheryear of service with our annualawards dinner at the Union Hotel inOccidental. This is the one time eachyear, when we can relax (becauseForestville Fire Department providedstation coverage) and socialize withour spouses and significant others.We often forget the sacrifices ourfamilies and friends make so that wecan serve the community... this is anight to thank them as well.It is also time to recognize thoseindividuals that went above andbeyond the call of duty. Jason Nuneswas singled out as Firefighter ofthe Year. Afterjoining thed e p a r t m e n tin 2005, Jasonhas been at r e m e n d o u sasset to thed e p a r t m e n t .He consistentlyresponds toe m e r g e n c i e s ,day and night.Jason can be found managing our firereports and many other importantprojects. As an acting engineer, werely on his help to keep our enginesrunning smoothly. Great job!Jason Gray received the award forMost Improved Firefighter. Aftercompleting ouracademy in 2003,Jason continuedwith the SRJC FireAcademy and manyother fire-relatedclasses. He is anacting engineer anddriver for most ofthe fire engines.He consistentlyresponds to calls, day or night.Congratulations!This year’srecipient forMost ImprovedTrainee goes toAnthony Bopp.He has performedadmirably aftercompleting theirtraining... alwaysinvolved andwilling to lend ahand. Thank you for your hard work!Congratulations to all of therecipients and a thank you to all ofthe volunteers and their families.Save a LifeDo you know what to do in anemergency? Summer brings thechance for more accidents with kidsplaying outdoors. Enroll in a CPR orfirst aid class now. One day of trainingcould save another person’s life... whatbetter reward in life could you askfor? Call your local chapter of the RedCross or American Heart Association.36 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09Dan Northern, Fire ChiefForestville Fire Protection Dist.6554 Mirabel Rd. , ForestvilleOffice: (707) 887-2212Cell: (707) 536-8991Firefighters BenefitPancake BreakfastSunday, May 3The Forestville FirefightersAssociation, a non-profit organization,will be holding their annual PancakeBreakfast on May 3, 2009 from 8 amto noon at the Forestville Fire Station.In addition to a great breakfast this isyour opportunity to meet the Districtspaid and volunteer staff. On theThursday nights leading up to thebreakfast you will see the firefightersout selling breakfast tickets in theusual neighborhoods.Preparing for Wildland SeasonWhat Can You Do?There are two primary goals inreducing the wildfire threat and betterprotecting your home and property.One is to reduce the exposure andflammability of your home. This caninvolve one or more steps rangingfrom installing a fire-resistant roofto simply clearing debris from underdecks, keeping your roof and raingutters free of pine needles and otherflammable material, and storingfirewood away from the house.The second goal is to reduce andmanage the fuels surrounding yourhome to be fire-resistant. This rangesfrom keeping the landscaping lowand clean near your home to rakingup pine needles and other debris andkeeping enough space between treesand plants to slow afire.Think and Act in ZonesWhen preparing your propertyto withstand a wildfire, it’s usefulto think in terms of zones. In somecases this may require working withneighbors or other land owners, too.If your neighbors will not or cannot cooperate at least clear to yourproperty line.Zone 1: Home Ignition ZoneThe most critical area is your homeignition zone, which includes yourhome itself and the landscapingwithin 30 feet. Remember: windblownembers or firebrands can ignite ahome while leaving the surroundingvegetation untouched or only charred.Some tips to better protect this zoneinclude:Clear pine needles or other woodydebris from rain gutters and off theroof.Clear all vegetation and debrisfrom under decks and touching thefoundation.Be sure all eaves and attic vents arescreened with a small, π-inch screen.Move stacks of firewood away fromthe structure.Keep vegetation in this area trimmedlow, well-irrigated, and free of deadmaterial and spaced apart to prevent acontinuous path of fuel to your home.Zone 2: Defensible Space ZoneThis is the second most critical zoneand includes the area from 30 to 100feet (or to your property line) fromyour home.Remove dead and dying grass,shrubs and trees.Reduce the density of vegetation andladder fuels by thinning and keepingthem free of dead material.Replace hazardous vegetation withless flammable, irrigated landscaping,including lawn or low growing groundcover and flowering plants.Remove dense undergrowth andthin out densely-crowded smallertrees.Experts recommend keeping 10 feetof space between trees and shrubs.Mature trees should be limbed up 6to 10 feet above the ground..While there are many steps that canbe taken to enhance the survivabilityof your home and property whenwildfire occurs, it’s important toremember that each step you take, nomatter how small, can make a largedifference.Every year across our Nation, somehomes survive - while many othersdo not - after a major wildfire. Thosethat survive almost always do sobecause their owners had preparedfor the eventuality of fire, which isan inescapable force of nature in firepronewildland areas.If you have any questions orwould like schedule a consultationwith us please call (707) 887-2212.When Wildfire StrikesIf you wait until there is smoke in the airto take fire-safe steps around your property,it’s too late. When a fire occurs near you, beprepared to evacuate.Gather important and irreplaceablephotos, documents, and heirlooms and putthem in your car.Gather pets and put them in your car, too.Park your car facing out of the garage orin the direction you will be leaving.Put flammable deck or patio furnitureinside; move all flammable furniture awayfrom windows.Close all windows, doors, vents, blinds,and non-flammable window coverings.If possible shut off all gas or propaneutilities.Leave a porch or outside light on.Listen to local TV or radio for evacuationnews. Local authorities may also notify youby driving through your neighborhoodwith loudspeakers.Leave when asked to do so.

Chinese MedicineBy Marcy Basel707-824-8747 • marcybasel@aol.comVeterans Unique NeedsRecently a new patient came inwho had back surgery a year agothrough the Veteran’s Hospital in SanFrancisco. He had been suffering formany years from an injury and thedoctor’s decided to fuse his entirelumbar area together in order to givehim relief. They fused L1-L5 togetherand supposedly wrapped the muscleover the top in order to give him somemobility. It is my experience that manypatients which I have treated who havefusions along the spine area have hada Kidney deficiency whereby over timethey have lost the strength of this organand have done very little to build thisback up again. In Chinese medicinethe treatments and the herbs in thisinstance are extremely importantbecause they not only help to alleviatethe pain but they also can build upthe kidney energy over time so that asurgery can possibly be avoided. In allmy years of practice I have found thatthe fusions along the spine are verydifficult to heal from since the spineis built to be flexible and moving. Itseems that even when there is a fusionin one location along the spine theremay be trouble, which occurs along adifferent area of the spine in order tocompensate for the lack of movement.However having said all this, there isrelief for many who have had this typeof surgery.The patient who walked into myoffice came in with severe pain andwas unable to even lie down to sleepwithout experiencing cramps andspasm throughout the night in hislumbar area and also down one of hislegs. Over a period of years he hadchronic degenerative joint disease inboth of his hips and also in his lumbarregion. One of his hips they replacedput the joint disease created a rubbingof bone on bone and the doctors decideit was best to take the pressure off thespinal column by doing the fusion. Imust say that in several case in myclinic I have put patients on a protocolto help reverse this degenerativedisease formation, including womenwho have low bone density tests. Ihave been able to reverse this processthrough acupuncture and herbs.This patient also came to me on fivedifferent medications including sleepmeds, pain meds (ox codeine), andheart medicationside form this his dietwas not really serving him and he wasdrinking five cups of coffee per day.To treat someone like this is alwaysa challenge for me but the amazingthing was the Veteran’s Hospital sincethey could not get him any reliefafter a year actually prescribed himsix physical therapy/acupuncturetreatments, which they would cover.This patient needed relief fast andhis willingness to take his own healthinto his own hands proved to him thathe could achieve astounding results.As an acupuncturist I can recommendand even give Chinese herbs andalternative plans of treatment but Icannot alter medications given fromthe western doctors. Through mysuggestions,, this patient is no longeron sleeping or heart medications sincewe have found alternative formulaswhich have gotten him results. I puthim on alternative products, whichnot only allowed him to sleep 5 hoursbut also took away his spasms and alot of his pain. He is only drinkingone cup of coffee in the morningand has improved his diet andtakes herbs to strengthen his back.Here is his testimonial: “For overa year I have suffered from severecramping of my lower back muscles,a complication from lumbar spinalsurgery. Even taking large nightlydoses of prescription sleeping pills, Icould only sleep about 3 hours beforethe pain whole me up. But after only 2acupuncture treatments and a week’suse of the corresponding naturalsupplements I was sleeping 5 hourswithout sleeping pills at all. Now, after6 treatments and the supplementsdaily, I have eliminated 3 of my 5 dailyprescriptions drugs and I haven’t hadany cramping in over a week. I’mconvinced; I recommend acupuncture(in general) and Marcy Basel (inparticular) to anyone dissatisfied withthe AMA results.’I feel so strongly that the Veteran’sHospital in now acknowledgingalternative medicine to their patientsand paying for these treatments atthe recommendations of their ownneurosurgeons and doctors. This is abreakthrough for Chinese Medicine.Please take advantage of this as aveteran if you have had problems.There are alternatives herbs, whichcan be taken instead of the westernmedications, which have no sideaffects and still can perform as well.One has to be in the same place every day, watch thedawn from the same house, hear the same birds awakeeach morning, to realize how inexhaustibly rich anddifferent is sameness. ~ Chuang Tzu4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 37

Gardening Classes, Etc.Apr 18 ~ Permaculture Workshop ~ Learnhow to grow an edible garden! Kyle Collinsleads lecture & hands-on learning. $30-60sliding scale; bring lunch. 10:00-4:00pm atMeadow View Elem. School, 2665 DuttonMeadow Rd, Santa Rosa ~ RSVP: 707-571-8868 ~ www.conservationaction.orgSustainable Water Workshops ~ withinstructor Brock Dolman. $35 each. 9:00-Noon at Occidental Arts & Ecology Center,15290 Coleman Valley Road, Occidental ~RSVP: 707-874-1557 ~ www.oaec.orgApr 18 ~ Storm Water HarvestingApr 19 ~ Roof Water CatchmentApr 18, May 9 ~ Plant Sale ~ Perennialsto Unusuals! $1 to $10. We accept plantcontainers for reuse. Rain does not cancel!9:00-2:00 at Willowside School Nursery,5285 Willowside Rd at Hall Rd, SantaRosa ~ Jan Lochner, 707-823-3265 ~ www.oakgroveunionschools.orgApr 21 ~ California Native Plant Society ~Join us for guest speakers and presentationsof floral interest the third Tuesday of eachmonth. Plant ID hour, 6:30 pm, meeting 7:30pm at the Luther Burbank Art & GardenCenter, 2050 Yulupa St., Santa Rosa ~ AprilOwens, 707-528-3111 ~ www.cnpsmb.orgSonoma County Master Gardeners ~Free gardening seminars, 10:30-12:30at your local Public Library. www.sonomamastergardeners.orgApr 25 ~ Drought Tolerant Plants, 100Fairgrounds Drive, PetalumaApr 25 ~ Healthy Gardens, 9291 OldRedwood Highway, WindsorMay 9 ~ Eco Friendly Pest Mgmt, 7140Bodega Avenue, SebastopolOpen Gardens ~ Free demonstrations andtours. 11:00-4:00 at Russian River RoseCompany, 1685 Magnolia Dr. Healdsburg ~RSVP 707-433-7455 ~ www.russian-riverrose.comApr 25, 26 ~ Glorious Climbing RosesMay 10 ~ Mothers’ Day Open GardenMay 2, 3 ~ Summer Biodiversity PlantSale ~ It’s time to plant your summergarden! Hundreds of varieties of warmseason summer crops plus interestingornamental perennials. 9:00am-5:00 pm,Tours at 11:00 & 1:00. Occidental Arts &Ecology Center, 15290 Coleman ValleyRoad, Occidental ~ 707-874-1557 x201 ~www.oaec.orgFree Gardening Demonstrations ~Presented by Gail Fanning of Blue HillGarden Design, 10:30 am at Bassignani’sNursery, 1841 Gravenstein Highway S,Sebastopol ~ 707-823-3984 or 707-829-2455~ www.bluehilldesign.shorturl.comMay 2 ~ Flowers for Your Cutting GardenMay 16 ~ Drip Irrigation for DummiesJune 6 ~ Hanging Baskets for SummerColorJune 20 ~ Easy Flower ArrangingMay 3 ~ Plant Sale & Luncheon ~ TheHealdsburg Garden Club invites you!Come early for the best plant selection,stay for the best homemade lunch!Proceeds benefit a scholarship fundfor future horticulturists. 10:00-2:00 atVilla Chanticleer Annex, 1248 N. FitchMountain Road, Healdsburg ~ 707-227-6427 ~ www.sonomaconnection.com/hgcMay 15, 16 ~ Garden Tour ~ SonomaCounty Medical Association Alliance &Foundation hosts the annual self-guidedtour of six private gardens. Proceedsbenefit community health and healtheducation programs throughout SonomaCounty. Tickets $40 before Apr 30, then$45. 10:00-4:00, Rain or Shine ~ www.scmaa.org/support/garden.htmlGet involved in the Garden ConservancyBesides offering advice and assistance to special places like Western Hills, theGarden Conservancy has 16 preservation projects across the nation, includingthe Historic Gardens of Alcatraz and the Ruth Bancroft Garden in California.Several times a year, the Garden Conservancy, in cooperation with PacificHorticulture Magazine, Monrovia Growers and Garden Design Magazine, putson educational seminars and tours around the country about garden design andtrendsComing up on May 18, the Garden Conservancy’s “Open Days” program,sponsored by W. Atlee Burpee & Company and Garden Design magazine, willfeature three private gardens in Marin. Garden Conservancy members receivea free copy of the Open Days Directory, which contains details about more than300 gardens participating in the nationwide program in 2009.For more information about membership in the Garden Conservancy,Open Days, educational seminars or their preservation projects, see www.gardenconservancy.org or call 415-441-4300.38 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09Garden Conservancyfinds Treasures in OccidentalBy Dawn StranneSeveral of the nation’s mostrenowned Asian landscape designers,horticulturalists and scholars, as wellas many aficionados of Chinese andJapanese landscaping converged onthe home of locals Paul Discoe andAnn Hatch recently. Their 20-acreproperty near Occidental was part ofa tour and seminar organized by theGarden Conservancy, the nationalpreservation and education focusednon-profit group that brought theirOpen Days program to SonomaCounty last year.“It was such a wonderful experienceto hear Paul speak about his book andprojects,” said Garden ConservancyProgram Coordinator Betsy Flack, whoescorted the group from the GardenConservancy’s West Coast office inSan Francisco to four other tour stopsfrom Oakland to the Wine Country.“Then to top it off with a visit to hisand Ann’s home was really special.From the gardens to the exquisite roofdesign, everyone was enthralled.”The home, designed and built bythe couple in 1995, is a hybrid ofJapanese, Chinese and Californiaarchitecture. Situated on a workingapple orchard, the garden adheresto the same strict grid as the houseand reflects the layout of the orchard.Large rocks in the garden create aserene environment around the pools,reminiscent of both a Japanese gardenand the natural outcroppings of thelocal area. Allées of lavender betweenthe apple trees serve to accentuate andbrighten the planting palette duringthe summer. Artwork punctuates theoutdoor space, including a Hiada totempole, a sculpture by Robert Hudsonand a large site work by Ursula vonRydingsvard.Discoe, author of Zen Architecture:The Building Process as Practice andan ordained Buddhist priest, was astudent at Tassajara Zen MountainCenter and went to Japan to trainunder a master builder for five years.An expert in ancient Japanese joinerytechniques, Discoe’s current projectis a system of prefabricated buildingparts, made of salvaged and recycledmaterials that can be assembled inmany forms. Hatch, who bought theproperty in 1971, is a philanthropistand well-known advocate forcontemporary art and design. Shefounded the Capp Street Project in SanFrancisco and Oxbow School in Napa,and served as Chair of the CaliforniaCollege of the Arts.Among the group visiting wereWestern Hills Nursery’s ownersRobert Stansel and Joseph Gatta.Upon meeting Ann, she told them thatshe often referred to their nursery as“Western Thrills.”Western Hills Nursery is anotherreal treasure in Sonoma, according toFlack, who spends many weekends inSebastopol.“The Garden Conservancy alwaysencourages locals and out-of-townersto visit and support Western Hills,”she said. “It’s a one-of-a-kind place.”For garden enthusiasts lookingfor volunteer work, Western Hills isan inspiring spot, she added. A fewweeks ago, Garden Conservancyvolunteers helped tagged 200 trees.The nursery and renownedarboretum of rare plants, which theNew York Times once likened to a“Tiffany’s for plants” and PacificHorticulture Magazine called a“horticultural mecca,” was foundednearly a half century ago by selftaughthorticulturist Marshall Olbrichand landscape designer and rare plantcollector Lester Hawkins.“Between private homes like Pauland Ann’s, and public places likeWestern Hills, it’s easy to see why thisarea draws so many garden loversand world-renowned experts,” saidFlack. “We look forward to offeringmore opportunities for people to learnabout Sonoma County’s remarkablegardens.”May 18 - “Open Days” willfeature three private gardens in Marin.www.gardenconservancy.org or call415-441-4300. Garden Conservancymembers receive a free copy of theOpen Days Directory of 300 gardensparticipating in nationwide in 2009.

Edible & Ornamental!Yes, the time has come to turn ourthoughts to the vegetable garden. Youcan start planting vegetables outsidenow: starts and seeds are available atall our great local nurseries.I know many of us think of thevegetable garden as a separate gardenfrom our ornamental or flower garden,and we try to put it way back in an outof the way spot so that it is out of sightin down times. But I think we needto re-examine this frame of mind: whyhide your edibles? There are so manyedible plants that are attractive to lookat, why not let them share space withyour shrubs and flowers?There are many advantages tomixing edibles and ornamentalsthroughout the garden.If your strawberries are plantednear the back door, not only do theyprovide a nice groundcover aroundyour roses or iris, but they are handyfor picking every time you go out.Lettuce and other salad greens grownnear the patio are much more likely toget the frequent picking and wateringthey need than those that languish inthe far corner of the yard. When yourherbs are grown in pots outside thekitchen door, harvesting and usingthem becomes a simple and healthfulpart of everyday meal preparation.I love to grow rosemary near thebarbeque where it can be quicklypicked and thrown on meats as theycook, or you can use those long stemsto make shish kabob skewers.Herbs like oregano, basil, lavenderand sage are very attractive anddeserve to be grown in the flower bedsfor enjoyment of their eye-appeal, aswell as their taste.Many plants which you mayalready grow as ornamentals produceedible parts which can contribute toyour family’s healthy, homegrowneating. Did you know that bamboosprouts are good eating? Harvest theshoots when they are less than 1 foottall, remove the tough outer leaves androot section, slice thinly, and boil for20 minutes (do not eat them raw, asthem contain toxic substances!). Theyare crunchy and nutritious (high inpotassium) additions to salads, stirfrys,and soups.Of course, you will need to useorganic growing methods with anyplants which you intend to harvestfor food. I hope that you have alreadybanished all chemical products fromyour entire garden, but even organic/natural products can be harmful ifeaten: always check labels for safetybefore using on food crops.Hutton-in-the-ForestLast summer I visited a wonderfulgarden in the North of England,Hutton-in-the-Forest, where the flowerborders were anchored by apple treesinterplanted with roses: beautifuland edible! Rose hips, those large redor orange fruits produced on yourroses if you forget to prune, as highin vitamin C, and make excellent jamsor tea. Check out rose hip recipes atwww.springvalleyroses.com. If youwant to grow roses especially for big,juicy hips, varieties of Rosa rugosa arerecommended.Many other shrubs and trees thatwe commonly use as ornamentalsproduce edible fruits: oregon grape(Mahonia), quince (Chaenomeles),currant (Ribes), pineapple guava(Feijoa) and strawberry tree (Arbutusunedo). The bay tree (Larus nobilis) is avaluable evergreen ornamental whoseleaves can be used in cooking.Orchard trees and vines can beeasily integrated into the gardensetting: Meyer lemon, persimmon,apple, plum, and olive are all beautifuland productive in our climate. If youhave a frost-protected area, you cantry oranges and other citrus. I love anarbor smothered in grape vines: pluckthe fruit, then sit and relax a while inthe shade.Don’t forget than there are manyeasy-to-grow edible flowers that addtaste and color to salads, cakes, andeven cheeses! Some of my favorites arepansies (Viola), nasturtiums, borage,roses, lavender, mint, and rosemary. Forlots of great recipes and fun ideas checkout http://whatscookingamerica.net/EdibleFlowers.Start your beautiful edible gardentoday! If you need planning help,call Gail at 829-2455 for a in-homeconsultation. Happy home-growneating!Send your questions and photos (jpg) tobluehilldesign9@aol.com4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 39

MUSIC & CLUBSTheater, Film & TVNow to May 10 ~ I Love You, You’rePerfect, Now Change ~ Explore Love:the good, the bad, & the funny. By JoeDePietro & Jimmy Roberts. Directed byNancy Prebilich. Cast: Peter Downey,Allison “Sunny” Marcom, Patrick Baressi& Aime Shapiro. Tickets $14-$30. Thu-Fri-Sat 8:00 pm, Sat-Sun 2:00 pm at 6th StreetPlayhouse, 52 W. 6th St, Santa Rosa ~ 707-523-4185 ~ www.6thstreetplayhouse.comIndependent Film Night ~ an openplatform for screening alternative films.$3 by donation. Snacks/drinks avail forpurchase. Sundays at 7:00 pm (6:30 doors)at Aqus Café, 189 H Street, Petaluma ~Peter deKramer, 707-765-0888, dekramer@sonic.net ~ www.sustainablepetaluma.netApr 19 ~ Creating a Home GraywaterSystem & Permaculture: A QuietRevolutionApr 26 ~ Rachel Carson ReturnsApr 19, May 9, 23 ~ 6th Street Improv ~bringing the thrill of live comedy improvto Sonoma County audiences! GeneralAdmission: $12. Now thru June 6, 8:00 pmat 6th Street Playhouse, Studio Theatre, 52West 6th Street, Santa Rosa ~ 707-523-4185~ www.6thstreetplayhouse.comKRCB Public Television 22 honors EarthDay 2009 with four environmentallyfriendly specials ~ 707-584-2035 ~ www.krcb.orgApr 21 ~ 9:00 pm, Mountain Top RemovalApr 28 ~ 9:00 pm, Liquid Assets: The Story ofOur Water InfrastructureApr 28 ~ 10:30 pm, Global Focus: The NewEnvironmentalistsApr 29 ~ 8:00 pm, Walden: The Ballad ofThoreauApr 24 ~ Movie Night: Fight the Power~ Police Accountability Clinic & Helpline(PACH): two films on resistance. Q&A w/Black Panther Party co-founder Big ManHoward follows. Refreshments served. $10by donation. 7:00-10:30 pm at 515 OrchardStreet Performance Gallery, 515 OrchardSt, Santa Rosa ~ 707-542-7224 or info@pachline.org ~ www.pachline.orgApr 24 to May 2 ~ Beauty and the Beast~ Analy Arts presents the classic tale ofcompassion and true love. Tickets $10. Thu-Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2:00 pm at AnalyHigh School, 6950 Analy Ave, Sebastopol ~www.analyhighschool.org/theaterApr 24 to May 10 ~ Lady, Be Good! ~ Georgeand Ira Gershwin’s first collaboration, inthe great tradition of American screwballcomedy. Tickets: $15/10. Times: Fri-Sat7:30, Sun 2:00 at Cinnabar Theater, 3333Petaluma Blvd. N, Petaluma ~ 707-763-8920 ~ www.cinnabartheater.orgApr 27 ~ Comics Stripped III ~ with WillDurst & Bob Sarlatte, music by BruceKurnow, & host Dave Pokorny. Intimate likeno other venue! Tickets $30 advance/$35door. 7:30 pm at Cinnabar Theater, 3333Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma ~ 707-763-8920 ~ www.cinnabartheater.org40 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09April 17 ~ Nick Gravenites ~ Blues singer,songwriter, guitarist, and producer. $109:30 pm, Negri’s, 3700 Bohemian HwyOccidental ~ www.nickgraventites.comApr 18 ~ Pots & Pans Juggling Band ~Jimmy the inch (Sax), BruceKlein (Bass),Johnny Downer (Guitar, Vocals, Drums).Cover $7-$10, 21+. 9:00-Late Night atSmiley’s Schooner Saloon and Hotel, 41Wharf Road, Bolinas ~ 415-868-1300 ~ www.myspace.com/potsandpansjugglingbandApril 18 ~ Peabody Trio ~ Presented byRedwood Arts Council. Infants and veryyoung children will not be admitted.Tickets: $25 general/$10 students with ID/Members $23/$8. 8:15 pm at OccidentalCommunity Church, 3637 Church at 2nd ~707-874-1124 ~ www.redwoodarts.orgApr 18-20 ~ Santa Rosa Symphony ~ Ablockbuster program of 20th century Soviettitans! Tickets $27-$50. Special discountsfor staff, volunteers & clients of CanineCompanions, American Red Cross, Faceto Face, Council on Aging, & AmericanCancer Society. Sat 2:00, 8:00, Sun 3:00, Mon8:00 at Wells Fargo Center, 50 Mark WestSprings Road, Santa Rosa ~ 707-546-8742 ~www.santarosasymphony.comApril 23 ~ Under the Radar ~ A spiritedmix of folk, blues, country, swing, &bluegrass. No cover! 8:00 pm Ace in theHole Pub, 3100 Hwy 116 North Sebastopol~ www.myspace.com/4undertheradarApr 24 ~ Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands~ one of the pre-eminent Bluegrass/Americana artists performing today!Tickets $18 advance/$20 door. 8:00 pmat the First Church of Christ Scientist,522 B St at Sixth, downtown Petaluma~ Lance Walker, 707-542-8995 ~ www.petalumachurchconcerts.comApril 24 ~ Jake Mackey and the MuddySons ~ Blues, Funk, Reggae, Surf! NoCover 9:30 pm Negri’s, 3700 BohemianHwy Occidental ~ www.myspace.com/jakemackeyandthemuddysunsband ~www.jakemackey.comApr 28 ~ Joe Armstrong ~ Storyteller &Songwriter - stories of growing up in ruralArkansas, highlighted with guitar. 7:00 pmat the Library, 7140 Bodega Ave, Sebastopol~ 707-823-7691 ~ www.sonomalibrary.orgMay 4 ~ Pioneers of Science ~ NOVAFilm Series, “The George WestinghouseStory: Tesla, Dunlop & Energy for All.”Introduction and Audience Conversationhosted by Daniel Osmer & Robert Porter,Ph.D. $4 by donation. 7:00-9:00 at FrenchGarden Restaurant, 8050 Bodega Avenue,Sebastopol ~ 707- 824-2030 ~ www.sciencebuzzcafe.orgMay 7 ~ The NeverEnding Story ~ JoinSCCA at the Rialto for a fantastic movie,plus live music by The Crux, silent auction,guest speaker, & free raffle! Tickets $10.6:30 pm at the Rialto Cinemas Lakeside,551 Summerfield Rd, Santa Rosa ~ RSVP:Jenna Brager, 707-571-8868 ~ www.conservationaction.orgApr 24 ~ Big B and His Snakeoil Saviors ~Western swing… Hot off the griddle ~ 8:00pm at Rancho Nicasio, 1 Old Rancheria Rd,Nicasio. $10 www.snakeoilswing.comApr 25 ~ Lazy Afternoon ~ ChanteuseAndrea VanDyke with special guest SteveFowler, accompanied by Tony D’Anna,present an afternoon of cabaret styleentertainment. Refreshments. Post-showdinner available. $15 suggested donationbenefits Occidental Center for the Arts. 3:00pm at the French Garden Restaurant, 8050Bodega Hwy, Sebastopol ~ RSVP: 707-874-9392 ~ www.occidentalcenterforthearts.comApril 25 ~ Jug Dealers ~ With the Thugz!Annual Beer Blossom Festival 8:00 pm atHopmonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Avenue,Sebastopol. $10 adv, $15 dos ~ 707-829-7300~ www.myspace.com/thejugdealersApr 25 ~ Cross Roads Gathering ~ Allnightparty featuring Jennifer Faust, FreePeoples, Antióquia, & Woven Roots, plusmusic, food, camping. Groove up The 101to Area 101 (nine miles north of Laytonville)at 54895 N. Hwy 101 ~ Info: Melissa,707-849-9758 or newmoontalentshow@hotmail.com ~ www.area101.orgThe Rhythm Rangers ~ Americana-Roots-Western Swing. Free! ~ www.myspace.com/therhythmrangersApril 25 ~ 7:00 PM The Ace In The HolePub, 3100 Hwy 116 North SebastopolMay 9 ~ 8:30 pm The Black Rose, 2074Armory Dr Santa RosaMay 2 ~ Marshall, Bolt & Harr ~ OriginalAmericana, Blues, Boogie, & a wee bit oftomfoolery. 8:00 pm at the Black Rose Pub,2074 Armory Dr, Santa Rosa ~ 707-546-ROSE ~ www.mbhmusic.comMay 8, Say GOODBYE to Mayor JohnDeSalvio on his 68th birthday. Main StreetStation in Guerneville. Singers will be BethFreeman, Gael Reed, Lois Pearlman, andKit Mariah; Sonia Tubridy will accompany.May 9 & 10 ~ The American PhilharmonicSonoma County. FREE; tickets availableday of show. Ages 6+ please. Sat 8:00 pm &Sun 3:00 pm at Wells Fargo Center for Arts,50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa ~707-793-2177 ~ www.apsonoma.orgAnaly High’s Beauty & the Beast

Regular Gigs & Jam SessionsOut of the Blue ~ An eclectic mix of Jazz age and Western Swing with a touch of blues.Mark Larson, guitars and vocals; TerryAnn Gillette, fiddle; Caroll Shumate, bass fiddle;Tommy Belton, drums. ~ www.myspace.com/montyrioTuesdays ~ 7:00 pm at Main Street Station, 16280 Main St, GuernevilleWednesdays ~ 6:00 pm at the Blue Heron, 25300 Steelhead Blvd, Duncan’s MillsTHEATREFLAMENCOproudly presents1st & 3rd Wednesdays ~ Salsa Night ~ Enjoy dance lessons by popular instructor JoseSantamaria, followed by freeform dancing to live music by BATACHA. $10.00 cover. 8:00-11:00 pm at Hopmonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Avenue, Sebastopol ~ 707-829-7300 ~ www.hopmonk.comThursdays ~ Café Jazz Series ~ Come for dinner, stay for the Jazz! Presented by the PaletteArt Café and the Healdsburg Jazz Festival. No Cover. 7:00-10:00 pm at Palette Art Café,235 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg ~ 707-433-2788 ~ www.healdsburgjazzfestival.comThursdays ~ The Thugz ~ Rockin’ cosmic Americana from the Tribal Hippie UnderGroundZone. 7:30-10:30 pm at the Pink Elephant, 9895 Main St., Monte Rio ~ www.thethugz.netSaturdays ~ Jazz Styles ~ Tune your radio dial to KBBF 89.1FM where Elbert “Big Man”Howard brings you jazz at its best. 10:00pm to Midnight.Saturdays ~ Rockin’ at the Roadhouse ~ Local bands keep you movin’ all night long! $5cover. 6:00-10:00 pm at Rio Nido Roadhouse, 14540 Canyon Two, Rio Nido ~ 707-869-0821~ www.rionidoroadhouse.comOpen Mic & Jam Sessions ~ Your turn to show your stuff!Mondays ~ Open Mic Night, 6:00-9:00 pm, Ace in the Hole Pub, 3100 Gravenstein HighwayNorth at Graton Road, Sebastopol ~ 707-829-1101 ~ www.acecider.comTuesdays ~ Open Mic Night, 8:00 pm, Hopmonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Avenue, Sebastopol~ 707-829-7300 ~ www.hopmonk.comWednesdays ~ Love Choir, Everyone is welcome! Show up, sing, and let your love shine!7:45 at Subud Center, 234 Hutchins Avenue (@ 116), Sebastopol ~ www.lovechoir.orgWednesdays ~ Open Mic Night, 7:00-11:00, Aubergine Vintage Emporium andCafé, 755 Petaluma Ave, Sebastopol (next to Palm Drive Hospital) ~ 707-849-9758 ~newmoontalentshow@hotmail.comWednesdays ~ Open Mic Night, 8:30pm–2:00am, Club Yamagata, 16225 Main Street,Guerneville ~ 707-869-9875 ~ www.clubyamagata.comWednesdays ~ Traditional music jam, 7:30 pm, Black Rose Irish Pub, 2074 Armory Drive,Santa Rosa ~ 707-546- ROSE ~ www.theblackrosepub.comAlternate Thursdays ~ Open Session Night, 5:30 pm, Ruth McGowan’s Brewpub, 131 E. 1stSt, Cloverdale ~ 707-894-2932 ~ www.ruthmcgowansbrewpub.comSaturdays ~ Old-Time Jam, Bluegrass, old Country, Blues & Ballads, 2:00-5:00 pm, CoffeeCatz, 6761 Sebastopol Ave, Sebastopol ~ 707-829-6600Sundays ~ Open Mic Night, 8:30-11:00 pm, Smiley’s, 41 Wharf Road, Bolinas ~ 415-868-1311 ~ www.coastalpost.com/smileysSecond Sundays ~ Celtic Jam, 4:00-6:00 pm, Redwood Café, 8240 Old Redwood Hwy,downtown Cotati ~ 707-795-7868 ~ www.blairworks.com/redwoodcafeSanta Rosa SymphonyRewards Loyalty in Tough Economic TimesSRS will renew 2008-2009 subscribers at no cost if still unemployed at deadlineTo show appreciation for long-termsubscribers who have lost their jobssince January 1, 2009, the Santa RosaSymphony has announced it is holdingthe seats of 2008-2009 subscribersuntil September 1. If, at that point, theindividual has not found a job, SRSwill renew their subscription seat(s)for the 2009-2010 season for FREE. Thenew season begins October 10-12, 2009.To apply for a free renewal, joblesssubscribers must call or come in personby April 30 to the Symphony’s PatronServices office and speak directlyto Horacio Romero, Patron ServicesManager.The Santa Rosa Symphony classicalmusic season extends from Octoberthrough May. There are four types ofsubscription packages, and all of themare eligible for the “Seat Saver.” The7-concert Classical Series package,which offers a choice of Saturday orMonday nights or Sunday afternoons,is valued at $112-332, depending onseating. The 8-voucher Come-As-You-Can series is a flexible packageof 8 seats for any combination ofperformances, a $280 value. The3-concert Mini Series is $45-$132. Andthe 7-concert Discovery RehearsalSeries package on Saturday afternoonsis $65 for adults and $40 for youth.The phone number for the SantaRosa Symphony Patron Services Officeis 54-MUSIC (707-546-8742). Hours areMonday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Thelocation is 50 Santa Rosa Avenue, SantaRosa (1st floor off the elevator lobby).www.sonomacountycalendar.comYour all-month-long updates with FULL TEXT & GoogleMap links so you can find your way to these great events!4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 41

Classes - Workshops - SeminarsApril 29 ~ “Responding to ChallengingBehaviors” ~ A FREE Parenting Workshopto be held at River to Coast Children’sServices, presented by Glo Wellman, authorof the book Guiding Their Way Day By Day.16300 1st Street (corner of 1st and ChurchStreets), Guerneville. RSVP: 707-869-3613 ~info@rccservices.org.Mondays to May 4 ~ What Physicists Do~ Lectures, demonstrations, & films fromSonoma State University Departmentof Physics & Astronomy. Supported byprivate donations. Mondays at 4:00 at SSU,Darwin 103, 1801 East Cotati Ave, RohnertPark ~ www.phys-astro.sonoma.eduTuesdays to May 12 ~ Holocaust andGenocide Lectures ~ Twenty-sixth annualseries! Tuesdays at 4:00 pm at SSU, Ives101, 1801 East Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park ~Dr. Myrna Goodman, 707-664-4076 ~ www.sonoma.edu/holocaust/center.htmMay 2 ~ Law of Attraction CoachingGroup ~ Tools, support, andencouragement. Drop-ins welcome! $40/by donation; all proceeds benefit local nonprofits.Facilitated by Edward Mills. FirstSaturdays, 9:30am-12:15pm, at the GlaserCenter, 547 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa ~707-824-0554 ~ www.edwardmills.comMay 16 ~ Have You Had a SpiritualExperience? ~ This fascinating workshopwill help you understand what theseexperiences really mean, and learn howto have even more of them. Presented byEckankar, for people of all faiths. Free. 1:00-3:00 pm in the Courtyard 1 Room at theFlamingo Hotel, 2777 4th St., Santa Rosa ~707-542-2100 ~ www.eck-ca.orgMeditation Sessions ~ $10/by donation.Compassion Kadampa Buddhist Center,120 North St., Healdsburg ~ 707-293-8096 ~www.meditationinhealdsburg.orgSundays ~ Prayers and Meditations for WorldPeace ~ 11:15am-12:30pmWednesdays ~ Meditation for Everyone ~7:00-8:15 pmFridays ~ Noon-Time Meditation ~ 12-1 pmMondays ~ Pilates Mat Classes ~ Buildmuscle tone, increase body awareness& flexibility with certified instructorMary Black. $12/class (sliding scale).10:00-11:00 am at Monte Rio CommunityCenter, 20488 Hwy. 116 ~ 707-865-9230 ~russianriverpilates@gmail.comMondays & Wednesdays ~ FigureStudy Sessions ~ w/ facilitator JamesCurtis. Age 18+. Mondays, Noon-3:00,$15. Wednesdays, 7:00-10:00 pm, $10.Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 6780 DepotSt, Sebastopol ~ 707-829-4797 ~ www.sebarts.orgThursdays ~ Dance Fusion Brazil ~ Eachclass a unique blend of Brazilian, African,Jazz, Silvestre Technique & creativemovement expression. Live Music by KimAtkinson & friends! $12; 7:30–9:00pm atSebastopol Community Center, 390 MorrisStreet, Sebastopol ~ Leah Weiss, 707-874-2782 ~ www.artsguaracyana.comThursdays ~ Science Buzz Café ~ meetto discuss the latest ideas of science &technology which are changing our lives.6:30-8:00 pm at Coffee Catz, 6761 SebastopolAve. Sebastopol ~ www.sciencebuzzcafe.orgFridays ~ Yoga ~ With Martha Farley.Focus on flexibility. All levels. 9:00-10:00am at the Monte Rio Community Center,20488 Highway 116, Monte Rio ~ 707-865-9956 ~ www.mrrpd.orgCPR & First Aid Classes ~ Save time with‘blended learning!’ Begin course onlineat your convenience, then finish with ahands-on skills session. More info or toregister: American Red Cross, 5297 AeroDrive, Santa Rosa ~ 707-577-7600 ~ www.arcsm.orgKIDSThru June 7 ~ Down the Drain ~ araindrop’s journey from cloud to creek.Free w/ paid parking. Wed-Sun, Noon-5:00 pm at the Environmental DiscoveryCenter of Sonoma County at Spring LakeRegional Park ~ 707-539-2865 ~ www.sonoma-county.org/parks/edc.htmApr 24 ~ The Lion, the Witch & theWardrobe ~ $16 Adult, $11 Child. Free funwith art 5:30, show 6:30 pm at the WellsFargo Center for the Arts, Ruth FinleyPerson Theater, 50 Mark West SpringsRoad, Santa Rosa ~ 707-546-3600 ~ www.wellsfargocenterarts.orgVamos a Nadar! ~ Kids 5 years+ get a freeswim lesson while parents attend a freewater safety session. Una clase de nataciongratis para los niños (no niños menores de 5años), y un clase de prevencion de accidentesacuaticos para los adultos. Offered bythe American Red Cross, Sonoma &Mendocino Counties ~ RSVP required: 707-577-7611 ~ www.arcsm.orgApr 25 ~ 1:00-4:00 pm, Healdsburg SwimCenterMay 17 ~ 1:30-4:30, Finley Aquatic Center,Santa RosaJun 6 ~ 9:00-Noon, Honeybee Pool,Rohnert ParkJun 20 ~ 9:00-Noon, Ives Pool, SebastopolJul 11 ~ 10:00-1:00, Cloverdale Pool,CloverdaleApr 27 ~ Museum Mondays ~ ‘Mommy &Me’ Mondays is now Museum Mondays!Activities for children ages 1-5 with acaregiver, the fourth Monday of eachmonth. Cost: $5 for children; before11:00am, adults are free. 10:00-Noon at theCharles M. Schulz Museum, 2301 HardiesLane, Santa Rosa ~ 707-579-4452 ~ www.schulzmuseum.orgMay 5 ~ Open Your Heart to a WaitingChild ~ Free Information session for peopleconsidering becoming foster parents. 7:00-9:30 pm at the Human Services DepartmentFamily, Youth, & Child Services office, 1747Copperhill Parkway, Santa Rosa ~ RSVP:Rita Jacobs, 707-565-4274 ~ www.sonomacounty.org/human/foster1.htm42 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09Kindergym ~ Play time for your kinder sixmonths to three years old… and parentshave fun too!Monday-Tuesday ~ River to CoastChildren’s Services: $4 per session. 9:45-12:20 pm, Guerneville Vets Hall, First &Church Streets ~ 707-869-3613 ~ www.rccservices.orgMonday-Wednesday-Friday ~ SebastopolCommunity Center: $3 per session. 11:00-noon, 390 Morris Street ~ 707-823-1511 ~www.seb.orgPreschool Storytime ~ Stories, songs, &fingerplays for children ages 2-5, with acaregiver. Free! ~ www.sonomalibrary.orgTuesdays ~ 11:00 am at the GuernevilleRegional Library, 14107 Armstrong WoodsRd ~ 707-869-9004Wednesdays ~ 10:30 am at the SebastopolRegional Library, 7140 Bodega Ave ~ 707-823-7691Sundays ~ Dharma4Kids ~ Each classhas a short talk and meditation, plus funactivities that foster kindness, patience,& giving. Ages 4-14; parents welcome.$5/by donation. 10:00-10:45 am at theCompassion Kadampa Buddhist Center,120 North St., Healdsburg ~ 707-293-8096 ~www.meditationinhealdsburg.orgOrff Music and Movement Classes ~A joyful approach to music and danceeducation for children ages 4-9. Enroll now!Classes at Wischemann Hall, 460 Eddie Ln,Sebastopol ~ Director Janet Greene, 707-632-5526SENIORSApr 21 ~ Stress-Free Moving ~ Bringyour questions to the panel discussion,How to Make Moving a Smooth & Stress-Free Transition. Free. Refreshments.1:00 pm at the Sebastopol Area SeniorCenter, 167 North High Street (next tothe Library) ~ 707-829-2440 ~ www.sebastopolseniorcenter.orgElder Financial Protection Network ~EFPN works to prevent financial abuseof elders. To report suspected elder abuse,free confidential call: 1-888-436-3600 (24hours) ~ www.bewiseonline.orgRussian River Senior Resource Center~ Art classes, knitting group, bingo,yoga, exercise classes, for adults of allages. Drop-ins welcome! A Programof West County Community Services.15010 Armstrong Woods Road,Guerneville ~ 707-869-0618 ~ www.westcountyservices.org/pages/senior.htmlSebastopol Area Senior Center ~Spanish, yoga, medical clinics, knitting& writing, card games & current eventdiscussion groups for adults of allages! Drop-ins welcome. 167 NorthHigh Street (next to the Library),Sebastopol ~ 707-829-2440 ~ www.sebastopolseniorcenter.orgVETERANSFamily ofVeteransDo you need HELP?INFORMATION?• Health Care• Affordable Housing• Employment Services• Counseling• Pensions & Benefits• Widows Pension• Disability BenefitsCome toVET CONNECT2nd Thursday 2 to 3pmMay 14th & June 11thGuerneville Veteran’sMemorial Bldg.1st & Church St, GuernevilleJohn Uniuk 707-869-9459www.sonomscountyvetconnect.orgSenior Meals Programa nutritious lunch & friendlyconversation for seniors age 60+,their younger significant others,and their caregivers. Lunch is at12:00 Noon. Reservations and $4.00donation requested.Forestville ~ Tuesday & Thursday ~(Operated by West County CommunityServices) United Methodist Church,6550 Covey Road at Center ~ 707-887-1070Guerneville ~ Wednesday &Friday ~ Russian River SeniorCenter, 15010 Armstrong WoodsRoad ~ 707-869-3998Occidental ~ Monday &Wednesday ~ St. Phillips Church,3770 Bohemian Hwy ~ 707-525-0383Sebastopol ~ Monday thru Friday~ Sebastopol Senior Center, 167North High Street ~ 707-829-8381

NATURESpring Wildflower Walks ~ Learn toidentify local wildflowers with SonomaCounty Master Gardener Phil Dean.10:00-Noon, 707-565-2041 ~ www.sonomamastergardeners.orgApr 18 ~ Steelhead Beach Regional Park,9000 River Road, ForestvilleApr 25 ~ Shiloh Ranch Regional Park, 5750Faught Road, Santa RosaMay 9 ~ 8:00-1:00, Hood MountainRegional Park, 3000 Los Alamos Road,Santa RosaCommunity & Docent EducationSeminars ~ $15 per seminar; regularState Park volunteers free. RSVPrequired. Ruby Herrick, 707-869-9177 x1#, rherrick@mcn.org ~ www.stewardsofthecoastandredwoods.orgApr 18 ~ 9:30-Noon, Redwood EcologyApr 25 ~ Noon-4:00pm, Natural andCultural History of Willow CreekMay 16 ~ 9:00am-12:30pm, Wildflower &Plant ID on the Sonoma CoastApr 25 to May 16 ~ Guided Nature Hikes~ get an inside look at the striking diversity& quiet beauty of Sonoma Mountain. 2-to-4 miles over uneven ground. Have sturdyshoes, long pants, drinking water & asnack. Adults $3, 12-under free. Saturdays,10:00 am at Fairfield Osborn Preserve, 6543Lichau Road, Penngrove ~ 707-795-5069 ~www.sonoma.edu/org/preserveExplore Pepperwood Reserve ~ Free,but space is limited. RSVP: PepperwoodPreserve, 3450 Franz Valley Road,Santa Rosa ~ 707-542-2080 ~ www.pepperwoodpreserve.orgApr 25-26 ~ Family Overnight at thePepperwood Preserve, Sat 2:00-Sun NoonMay 9 ~ Pepperwood Vegetation, Plants andWildflowers, 9:00am-4:00pmMay 17 ~ Spring Birds of Pepperwood, 8amnoonApr 26 ~ Introduction to Birding ~ withinstructor Brock Dolman, $25. 9:00-Noonat Occidental Arts & Ecology Center, 15290Coleman Valley Road, Occidental ~ 707-874-1557 ~ www.oaec.orgLagunaKeepers Workdays ~ Snacks areon us; Bring gloves, water, & friends! Onlyheavy rain cancels. 9:00am–Noon ~ 707-527-9277 x108 ~ www.lagunafoundation.orgApril 25 ~ Native Plant DemonstrationGarden. Meet at the Laguna TreatmentPlant, Administration Building, 4300 LlanoRoad, Santa RosaMay 9 ~ With Cotati Creek Critters. Meetat the ‘Ladybug Lot,’ Lakewood Avenue,Cotati.Cotati Creek Stewardship Days ~ Taskssuch as planting, weeding, refurbishingtools. All welcome, rain or shine! Meet at‘Ladybug Lot’ (City of Cotati Well Lot #2at Ladybug Park), Lakewood Ave, Cotati~ RSVP to Jenny Blaker, 707-792-4422 ~www.cotaticreekcritters.infoApr 26 ~ 9:00–Noon, Special Earth DayTrash Pick Up with SSU’s JUMPMay 9 ~ 10:00–1:00, “Season finale” withLaguna Keepers. Work resumes in the Fall!May 2 ~ Visit Delta Pond Rookery ~ Greatblue herons, double crested cormorants,plus great egrets with their wispy breedingplumage. $10 per person; proceeds benefitthe Learning Laguna bus scholarshipfund. Tours every 20 minutes: 7:30, 7:50,8:10, 8:30, 8:50, 9:15 am. To Register: 707-527-9277 or www.lagunafoundation.orgMay 3 ~ Birds of California Grasslands~ scan the skies for birds, examine thegrass at our feet, and make the ecologicalconnection between the two with LishkaArata & Wade Belew. Donations welcome.9:00-Noon. Numbers are limited, RSVPto Jenny Blaker, 707-792-4422 ~ www.cotaticreekcritters.infoMay 16 ~ Be a State Park Volunteer ~Orientation provides overview of theprograms & responsibilities. Chat withpark staff, other docents, & volunteers.1:30-4:00 pm at Armstrong RedwoodsSNR or Sonoma Coast SP, confirmed uponreservation. ~ RSVP Ruby Herrick, 707-869-9177 x1#, rherrick@mcn.org ~ www.stewardsofthecoastandredwoods.orgMay 17 ~ Cunningham Marsh Workday~ People with careful weeding skills areneeded to weed within the endangeredPitkin Lily exclosures on this 19-acreprivate easement. Bring your favoriteweeding tool. 9:00-Noon. RSVP: MarciaJohnson, owlsnest@hughes.net ~ www.lagunafoundation.orgWednesdays ~ Riverkeeper StewardshipDays ~ Keep our Park clean for all to enjoy!Please bring tools. Rain cancels. 8:30–11:30am next to the pedestrian bridge, 16153Main St., Guerneville ~ Victoria Wikle,707-865-2474 ~ www.russianriverkeeper.orgTrail Workdays ~ Join the Sonoma CountyTrails Council to maintain park trailsaround the county. For calendar and moreinfo visit: www.sonomacountytrails.orgVolunteerAmerican Red Cross Sonoma &Mendocino Counties needs you! Pleasevisit the website to see how you can help:www.arcsm.org, click on “Volunteer.”Campground Hosts ~ Sonoma CountyRegional Parks is accepting applicationsfor volunteers to live and work in SpringLake Park in Santa Rosa, 30 hours week.For full details: 707-565-2041 ~ www.sonoma-county.org/parks/volunteer/camp_hosts.htmCeres Community Project ~ Volunteersare needed on Thursday afternoons todeliver meals from Sebastopol to otherparts of Sonoma County. For informationor to volunteer, call 707-829-5833 or emailinfo@ceresproject.org.Crisis Line Counselors Needed ~ Noexperience is necessary, but a desire to helpis. United Against Sexual Assault (UASA)will train you in listening skills, crisiscounseling and community resources.Please leave a message at 707-545-7270 x19~ www.uasasonoma.orgFood For Thought ~ the Sonoma CountyAIDS Food Bank depends on Volunteersto perform vital work. Learn how youcan help! Volunteer Orientation the thirdTuesday of the month, 7:00 pm at the FoodBank, 6550 Railroad Avenue, Forestville ~707-887-1647 ~ www.fftfoodbank.orgForestville School and Academy ~ Yourtalents can be turned into an after-schoolenrichment class, Homework Help, or helpkeep our library open additional hours! Ifyou would like to be involved, please callCathy Mabry, Volunteer Coordinator, 707-887-9743.Friendly Visitor ~ Give one hour a weekand cheer stable but lonely individualswho have expressed a desire to socialize.Volunteers are trained and receive supportfrom our Clinical Supervisor. Councilon Aging, 30 Kawana Springs Road,Santa Rosa ~ Michele Leonard, VolunteerCoordinator, 707-525-0143 x147 ~ www.councilonaging.comGrandparents Needed ~ The Children’sVillage of Sonoma County currently hasopenings for three grandparents to live &work at the Village. For more information,please call 707-566-7044.Herdeljezi Festival ~ Volunteers neededMay 1, 2 at Ives Park in Sebastopol.Cooking, set-up, food service and more.Amanda, 707-823-5858, volunteer@voiceofroma.com ~ www.voiceofroma.comKGGV 95.1 Guerneville “The Bridge”~ Looking for West County residents tovolunteer. Be a part of the communityexperience. Check out our diverse programschedule, events, and the avenues tobecome connected with radio in your veryown backyard. Join KGGV! Drought-freeradio! For more info and application: 707-869-1131 ~ www.kggvfm.orgSt. Andrew’s Food Program ~ Seeksvolunteers to support the weekly foodpantry, and free hot dinners twice a monthin Monte Rio. Leave message: SusanLowry, 707-579-97934/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 43

Blood Drives ~ Save lives!707-545-1222 ~ www.bbr.orgApr 19 ~ 10:00-2:30 pm, Safeway, 406 North Main Street, SebastopolApr 21 ~ 4:00-7:00 pm, Fire Department, 3800 Bohemian Hwy, OccidentalApr 22 ~ 8:00-10:00 am, S.C.O.E.,5340 Skylane Blvd, Santa RosaApr 22 ~ 4:00-7:00 pm, Safeway, 9040 Brooks Road, WindsorApr 23 ~ 2:30-6:30 pm, Exchange Bank, 1031 Vine Street, HealdsburgApr 25 ~ 10:00-1:00 pm, St. Hubert’s Hall, 14100 Armstrong Woods Rd, GuernevilleApr 27 ~ 3:00-6:30 pm, Goldridge Fire Department, 4500 Hessel Rd, SebastopolApr 28 ~ 3:00-6:30 pm, Foster’s Freeze, 935 Gravenstein Ave, SebastopolApr 28 ~ 3:00-6:00 pm, Hampton Inn, 8937 Brooks Rd, WindsorEVENTSApril is National Sexual Assault AwarenessMonth ~ United Against Sexual Assault ofSonoma County hosts events all month long.UASA, 835 Piner Road, Suite D, Santa Rosa ~707-545-7270 x16 ~ www.uasasonoma.orgApr 17-19 ~ Free E-Cycling Event ~ Residents& businesses alike, bring electronic materialsto recycle 9:00-3:00 each day at the SonomaCounty Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett ValleyRoad, Santa Rosa ~ 707-545-4200 ~ www.SonomaCountyFair.comApr 18 ~ Armstrong Redwoods 75thAnniversary ~ 1934-2009! FREE. RSVP707-869-9177 or stewards@mcn.org ~ www.stewardsofthecoastandredwoods.org9:30 am ~ Redwood Ecology Seminar1:00 pm ~ Ceremony w/ Dignitaries - BirthdayCake, Champagne & Silent Auction.2:30 pm ~ Cultural History WalkApr 18-19 ~ Climb Aboard! ~ Each month,view & inspect the cockpit of different featuredaircraft. April: F-14A Tomcat, F-16N Viper, &F-5E Tiger II. $5 general, 12 & under Free.10:00-4:00 at Pacific Coast Air Museum, 2230Becker Blvd at Laughlin, Santa Rosa ~ 707-575-7900 ~ www.pacificcoastairmuseum.orgApr 18, May 9 ~ Russian River SistersBingo ~ Proceeds benefit local non-profitorganizations. Snacks and meals available.Seating first come, first served. Ages 18+. Onecard $15, two for $20. 6:00 pm doors; 7:00 pmstart at Odd Fellows Hall, 16219 First Street,Guerneville ~ www.rrsisters.orgApr 18 ~ Sebastopol Walks ~ See what you’vebeen missing from the driver’s seat! Get out &explore Sebastopol on foot. This month: LutherBurbank Gold Ridge Farm. 2 miles. Meet at9:00 am in the Plaza downtown ~ 707-823-3032~ www.sebastopol.orgApr 19 ~ Earth Day Celebration ~ 11th annualcelebration: storytelling, music, Universe walk,art. Free. 2:00-5:00pm at Goldridge-BurbankFarm, 7781 Bodega Ave, Sebastopol ~ 707-829-8971 ~ www.earthelders.orgApr 25 ~ Meet NASA Astronaut Dan Tani~ Learn about modern space travel with slides& movies from his recent flight, followed byQ&A. 1:00–3:00pm at Charles M. SchulzMuseum, 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa ~707-579-4452 ~ www.schulzmuseum.orgApr 25-26 ~ Lights! Camera! Apple Blossoms!Sixty-third annual Apple Blossom Festivalkicks off with the community Main StreetParade Sat 10am-Noon. Food, drink, crafts,& entertainment from Sat 10-6 & Sun 10-5 atIves Park & Sebastopol Veterans MemorialBuilding, 282 High Street. Admission: $7 adult,$5 age 11-17 & 62+, Free 10-under ~ www.sebastopol.orgMay 1-2 ~ Herdeljezi Festival ~ Thirteenthannual festival celebrates the Roma people andculture. Tickets $10-$50 ~ www.voiceofroma.comFriday ~ Veterans Building, 282 South HighSt ~ 4:00-5:00 pm, Children’s Romani DanceWorkshop; 5:30-8:30 pm, Romani MusicWorkshops; 7:00-11:00 pm, Romani Films w/DiscussionSaturday ~ Ives Park, 7400 Willow St ~11:00am-12:30 pm, Romani Music Workshops;12:30-1:30 pm, Romani Dance Workshop;1:00-8:00pm, Festival Stage Program; 9:00pm-1:00am, Party at Hopmonk Tavern, 230Petaluma Ave.May 2 ~ Free E-Waste Collection Event ~Donate your discarded electronics at no cost toyou! El Molino Project Graduation will benefitfrom your donation. 9:00-4:00 at El MolinoHigh School, 7050 Covey Rd, Forestville ~Sandy Dry, 707-887-2959May 2 ~ Taco Bar Fiesta ~ at the HollydaleCommunity Club, 10250 Field Lane, Forestville(Old River Road at Frank Street) ~ 707-887-0330 ~ www.hollydaleclub.orgMay 10 ~ Multicultural Chanting ~ withpercussion, toning, walking meditation, &group intentions. By donation. 2:30 pm atSebastopol Community Cultural Center YouthAnnex Theatre, 425 Morris Street, SebastopolMay 14 – Guerneville Community Forum onDay Labor Center. Efren Carillo with DavinCardenas and Casimero speakers. Bilingualpresentation so everyone is included. 6 – 8pm,Guerneville Vets Hall. Info: Suzanna Mayo(707) 591-5518May 17 ~ Pancake Breakfast ~ Support theBodega Volunteer Fire Department! 8:00am-1:00pm at McCaughey Hall, 17184 BodegaHwy, Bodega ~ 707-876-9438 ~ www.bodegafire.org44 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09LiteraryWriter’s Forum ~ Sponsored by thePetaluma Arts Council and supportedby Poets & Writers, Inc. through a HearstFoundation grant. $15 at the door. 7:00-9:00 pm at Petaluma Community Center,Luchessi Park, 320 No. McDowell Blvd.,Petaluma ~ www.theWriteSpot.usApr 16 ~ The Courage to Write the Story thatScares You, Pauline LaurentMay 21 ~ Julianne Balmain, food, sex, &generally having a good timeThursdays ~ Many Rivers Books & Tea ~Tools for Spiritual Practice. 7:30 pm at 130S. Main Street, Suite 101, Sebastopol ~ 707-829-8871 ~ www.manyriversbooks.comApr 16 ~ Bhikkunis in TheravadinBuddhismApr 23 ~ Conversations with AngelicGuidesApr 30 ~ Iridescent Infusion: Poetry Tastingwith Clara Hsu and Bill VartnawApr 19 ~ Healdsburg Literary GuildThird Sunday Salon ~ Featuring the justpublishedanthology of local Laureates’works, Sometimes in the Open. MC: DavidMadgalene. Open mic if time allows.Free and open to the public. 2:00-4:00 pmat City Hall, 401 Grove Street at North,Healdsburg ~ 707- 433-7119Apr 25 ~ Poetry Circle ~ 11:00 am at RiverReader, 16355 Main Street, Gueneville ~707-869-2240 or riverreader@gmail.com ~riverreader.westsonomagroup.comApr 26 ~ Poetry, Pints, & Prose ~ 5:00sign up, featured reading at 5:30, followedby open mic. Bring poem or prose. LastSundays at Maguire’s Irish Pub, 145Kentucky St, Petaluma ~ Michelle, 707-326-3773 or Catherine, 707-338-1554 ~PoetryPintsProse@aol.comMay 2, 16 ~ Finding your Voice: AWomen’s’ Writing Workshop ~ Writingexercises, sharing works, and feedback.$15 each, first visit is free. 11:00 am to 1:00pm, the 1 st & 3 rd Saturdays of each month.Contact Lee Meryl Senior, 707-869-2407,lms@neteze.comMay 4 ~ UUCSR Writers ~ Improve andhone your writing skills. Open to alllevels. Membership with Congregationnot required. Meetings are first Mondaysfrom 4:00-6:00 pm in the “New Room”,Unitarian Universalist Congregation SantaRosa, 547 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa ~707-568-5381 ~ uucsrwriters.blogspot.comMay 7-28, Jun 4-25 ~ Quick Start WritingWorkshops ~ Month-long sessions providea safe, fun place to write, with facilitator PatTyler. RP residents $12 per class, all others$14. Thursday mornings, 9:30-11:30 am atthe Rohnert Park Community Center, 5401Snyder Lane at RP Expressway ~ 707-696-9640 ~ www.writetoday.netMay 10 ~ Westword ~ Second SundayPoetry Reading. $1.00. 4:00 pm at theSebastopol Center for the Arts, 6780 DepotStreet, Sebastopol ~ 707-829-4797 ~ www.sebarts.orgMay 12 ~ Center Literary Café ~ FeaturedSpeakers: Sonoma County Writing Practiceauthors Nan Koontz, Margaret CaminskyShapiro, & Marie Galletta. Open mic; bringprose or poetry to share. By donation.Second Tuesday of the month, 7:00-9:00pm at Healdsburg Senior Center (oneblock east of the plaza), 133 Matheson St,Healdsburg ~ Cynthia Helen, 707-696-1111, centerliterarycafe@gmail.comBook Discussion Group ~. Bring a brownbag lunch, book, and banter the secondThursday of each month, 12:30 - 1:30pm in the Forum Room at GuernevilleRegional Library, 14107 ArmstrongWoods Rd., Guerneville ~ 707-869-9004~ www.sonomalibrary.org/bookgroup/Guerneville_bk.htmlMay 14 ~ The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox,by Maggie O’FarrellJune 11 ~ The Book Thief, by Markus ZusakWriting Group for Adults ~ New group!All writing levels invited. Polish yourprose with Chester Aaron. Fees $10-$20,donated to Occidental Center for the Arts.1:00-3:00 pm on alternate Fridays at privatehome in Occidental. For reservations andquestions, call 707-874-9392.RESOURCES: see page 29PEACE VIGIL - Remembering lives lost to the Violence of WarFRIDAY EVENINGS, 6:30PMForestville United Methodist Church, 6550 Covey Road, Forestvillewww.sonomacountycalendar.comYour all-month-long updates with FULL TEXT & GoogleMap links so you can find your way to these great events!

Benefits & Good CausesApr 25 ~ Lifeworks Wranglers Ball ~ Yeehaw!Third annual Round-up with a scrumptiousdinner, live country music by the Old BootBand, auction & raffle, a Wild West gamingsaloon, more. Help your community whilehaving a great time. $100 per person. 6:00-11:00 pm at the Santa Rosa Golf and CountryClub, 333 Country Club Dr, Santa Rosa ~ 707-568-2300 ~ www.lifeworkssc.orgMay 9 ~ Aged to Perfection ~ Honor threedistinguished citizens: Dr. Craig Campbell, Dr.Roger Delgado and Dr. Gary Herzberg while youenjoy fine food & wine, and bid for whateveryou desire at the silent and live auctions. 5:30pm at the Sebastopol Area Senior Center, 167North High Street (next to the Library) ~ 707-829-2440 ~ www.sebastopolseniorcenter.orgApr 27 ~ Play On! Golf Tournament ~Benefits Santa Rosa Symphony’s Four YouthEnsembles. Entertainment by the youngmusicians. 18 holes: 11:30 am registration; 1:00pm start. Wine reception & dinner: 6:00 pm.Golf & dinner: $160 per player. Dinner only,$30. Oakmont Golf Club West Course, 7205Oakmont Drive, Santa Rosa ~ 707-546-7097x225 ~ www.santarosasymphony.comApr 29 ~ Real Heroes Breakfast ~ Stories ofdaring rescues, commitment & dedication. Themost inspirational morning of the year returnsfor the sixth time, with special guest MC BelvaDavis, award-winning journalist & news anchor.Your generous donation is appreciated. 7:15-8:45 am at the Doubletree Hotel, 1 DoubletreeDrive, Rohnert Park ~ RSVP required: 707-577-7619 ~ www.arcsm.orgMay 1 ~ Wine, Women, & Cheese ~ TheYWCA Sonoma County cordially invites youto attend this special luncheon, a celebrationof local women winemakers & cheesemakers.Wine & cheese reception, Luncheon/Program,Live Auction. $135 per person; table of nine,$1200. 11:00-2:00 at the Fairmont SonomaMission Inn & Spa, 100 Boyes Blvd, Sonoma ~707-303-8401 ~ www.ywca.org/sonomacountyMay 2 ~ Derby Day ~ Join in the excitementwithout going to Kentucky! Celebrated chefscompete in an Iron Chef-style cook-off at theTenth annual benefit for the Council on Aging’sMeals on Wheels program. Plus music, live &silent auction. Festive Derby attire encouraged.Tickets $135 per person. 11:00 am at Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, 4401 Slusser Road, Windsor~ 707-525-0143 x146 ~ www.councilonaging.comwww.sonomacountycalendar.com4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 45

Visual ARTSNow showing ~ Larry DeDionisio ~male and female nudes in charcoal &chalk pastel; cast bronze. Ongoing. 11:00-6:00 daily except Monday at Far WestTrading Company, 9060 Graton Road,Downtown Graton ~ 707-823-4880 ~ www.farwesttradingcompany.comNow to April 19 ~ Out of a Box ~ Juriedexhibition of mixed-media artwork inside,outside, made from, or is… a box. Also“Visual Compositions,” photographs byLarry Grace. Sebastopol Center for theArts, 6780 Depot Street, Sebastopol ~ 707-829-4797 ~ www.sebarts.orgNow to Apr 21 ~ WASCO ~ Water ColorArtists of Sonoma County. Hours: 11:00-5:00 daily. Plaza Arts Center, 130 PlazaStreet, Healdsburg ~ 707-431-1970 ~ www.plazaartscenter.orgNow to Apr 25 ~ Revising the UrbanImage ~ Maury Lapp, Don Fluitt, & FrankMiller represent the past, present, & futureof our current environment. Mon-Sat,Noon-6:00 pm, at the Sebastopol RegionalLibrary, 7140 Bodega Ave. Sebastopol ~707-823-7691 ~ www.sonomalibrary.orgNow to Apr 26 ~ Playful Works ~ Paintingsof whimsical subjects, toys, & people at play.Featuring resident artist Evelyn Dolowitz-Nitzberg and other regional artists. AuroraColors Gallery, 145 Kentucky Street in theOld Petaluma Opera House ~ 707-762-0131~ www.auroracolors.comInterrupted Life: Incarcerated Mothers inthe United States ~ highlights this largelyinvisible experience. Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:00-5:00; Sat-Sun, Noon-5:00 pm. Admissionis free. SSU Library Art Gallery, 1801 E.Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park ~ KarenBrodsky, 707-664-4240 ~ library.sonoma.edu/about/gallery.htmlNow to Apr 28 ~ ExhibitApr 21 ~ ‘Til Death Do Us Part, documentaryfilm & discussion, 12:15pm in Schulz2015A/B.Apr 24 ~ Life Without Parole, performance,7:00pm at SSU CooperageNow to May 1 ~ Alice Thibeau ~the “Girlie” Series, a cheeky group ofpaintings, oil-on-canvas, inspired by 1920sboudoir photos. Hours: Wed-Sun 12-6 pmor by appt. The Wine Emporium, Inc., 12546 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09North Main Street, Sebastopol ~ 707-823-5200 ~ www.the-wine-emporium.comNow to May 3 ~ Down by the Sea ~Photographs by Lance Kuehne, + membersgroup show, “The Poetry of Trees.” Galleryhours: Tue-Wed-Thu-Sun, 10:30-6:00 pm;Fri-Sat, 10:30-8:00. Riverfront Art Gallery,132 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma ~ 707-775-4278 ~ www.riverfrontartgallery.comNow to May 3 ~ Susan St. Thomas & JerryKermode ~ Watercolor & mixed-mediapaintings, plus custom wood turnings.Reception March 14, 5:00-7:00 pm. Opendaily 11:00-6:00. Sebastopol Gallery, 150North Main, Sebastopol ~ 707-829-7200 ~www.sebastopol-gallery.comHAMMERFRIARNow to May 6 ~ New Work ~ Newlyselected works of fourteen Sonoma Countyartists. Reception April 11 from 6:00-8:00 pm.Hours: Tue-Fri, 10-6 & Sat, 10-5.Hammerfriar Gallery, 139 HealdsburgAvenue, Healdsburg ~ 707-473-9600 ~www.hammerfriar.comNow to May 12 ~ New Dimensions inPhotography ~ featuring Jane Baron. Opendaily 10 to 5. Local Color Gallery, 1580Eastshore Rd., Bodega Bay ~ 707-875-2744~ www.localcolorgallery.comNow to May 15 ~ Bill Shelley ~ SonomaCounty contemporary landscape paintings.Admission free, parking $3.00. Libraryhours: Mon-Thu 8:00am-9:00pm, Fri 9:00-1:00, Sat 10:00-3:00, Closed Sundays. SRJCMahoney Library Gallery, 680 SonomaMountain Parkway, Petaluma ~ 707-778-3974 ~ www.santarosa.edu/library/aboutConcepts & Processes in Public Sculpture~ Illuminate the process of selecting andplacing public art. Curated by MichaelMcGinnis. Reception April 16, 4:00-7:00pm. Free. SRJC Art Gallery (first floor of theLibrary), 1501 Mendocino Avenue, SantaRosa ~ 707-527-4298 ~ www.santarosa.edu/art-galleryNow to May 23 ~ Exhibiting the works of14 prominent Bay area sculptorsApr 24 ~ 7:00 pm, Public Art, What Works,What Doesn’t, and How to Make It BetterMay 5 ~ Noon, A Personal Experience ofMaking Art, Growing Up in Public: AJourney with Michael StutzSRJC Gallery: Public SculptureNow to May 24 ~ No Unifying Factor ~ RikOlson, Linocut Prints and Paintings; PamLewis, Paintings and Drawings; WilliamO’Keeffe, Abstract Paintings, mixed media.Reception April 19, 3:00-5:30 pm. Opendaily (except Monday), 10:30am-6:00pmat Graton Gallery, 9048 Graton Road,downtown Graton ~ 707-829-8912 ~ www.GratonGallery.comRik Olson at work in the galleryNow to May 25 ~ Sebastopol to St. Paul:The Places of Peanuts ~ A look at the timesSchulz gives a nod to his home town, formerhome towns, & nearby villages. Hours:Mon-Wed-Thu-Fri, 11:00-5:00; Sat-Sun,10:00-5:00. Charles M. Schulz Museum,2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa ~ 707-579-4452 ~ www.schulzmuseum.orgNow thru May ~ In The Gallery… Collage& mixed media exhibit by Tracy Walls& Leslie Zumwalt, paintings by ChrisHataway. Frame of Mind, 6671 Front St.,Forestville ~ 707-887-8530 ~ www.frameof-mind.bizFrame of MindNow to June 7 ~ A Feast of Color ~Embroidery and painting from the villagesof India. Thu-Mon, Noon-4:00 pm atPetaluma Arts Council, 230 LakevilleStreet at East D ~ 707-762-5600 ~ www.petalumaartscouncil.org

Now to April 2010 ~ Shape & Space ~Everything that is exists within a space andthat space defines and brings meaning to itsexistence. Wells Fargo Center for the Arts,50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa ~707-546-3600 ~ www.wellsfargocenterarts.orgApr 23 to May 18 ~ Members Show ~Reception May 1, 5:00-7:00 pm. Hours:11:00-5:00 daily. Plaza Arts Center, 130Plaza Street, Healdsburg ~ 707-431-1970 ~www.plazaartscenter.orgApril 24 to May 29 ~ On Memory, Loss,Growth & Regrowth ~ Sites, installationsby Daniel Glendening. Reception April 24,6:00-8:00pm. Hours: Tue-Sat, Noon-6:00pm at Phantom Gallery, 519 MendocinoAve, Santa Rosa ~ Vicky Kumpfer, 707-543-3732 or vkumpfer@srcity.orgApr 24 to June 29 ~ Scent of Spring ~Dianna Soderlind, oil and watercolorpaintings. Reception April 25, 3:00-6:00pm. Gallery hours: Thursday-Monday,11-5. Quercia Gallery, 25193 Highway 116,Duncans Mills ~ 707-865-0243 ~ www.quercia-gallery.comNow to June 30 ~ “Glass by the Glass”select works by artists Barbara Tobin,Jean Salatino and Steven Gandolfo inconjunction with Art at the Source.Woodenhead Winery 5700 River Rd.,Forestville 707-887-2703Ted Dixon at WoodenheadApril 1 - June 14 ~ Art & Wine: PerfectPairing ~ Art at the Source celebrates morethan 50 tasting rooms will showcase Artat the Source artwork for 2 months priorto the open studio event. See website forparticipating wineries and pairing list. ~www.artatthesource.orgApr 17 ~ Friday Knits! ~ Help, advice, &sharing the enjoyment of knitting on the“teenth” Friday of each month. 11:00 amto 5:00 pm at Artisans’ Co-Op, 17135-ABodega Highway (across from St. Teresa’s),Bodega ~ 707-876-9830 ~ www.artisanscoop.comApr 17 to May 22 ~ Science Species Lab~ An interpretation of natural phenomena.Reception April 17, 5:00-7:00 pm. Hours:Mon-Sat, Noon-4:00 pm. ArtSpace404, 404Mendocino Ave, Suite C, Santa Rosa ~ 707-579-2787 ~ artspace404.blogspot.comApril 17 to May 25 ~ Luminous Shadows ~Mezzotints & paintings by Holly Downing.Reception April 18, 4:00-6:00 pm. Gallerytalk May 14, 7:00 pm. Gallery Hours: 11:00-6:00, Thu-Mon (closed Tue-Wed). TheQuicksilver Mine Co, 6671 Front St/Hwy116, Forestville ~ 707-887-0799 ~ www.quicksilvermineco.comMay 4 - Spring Exhibit - watercolor andmixed media paintings by Susan St.Thomas and custom wood turnings byguest artist, Jerry Kermode. Show runsMay 4 – June 20th and features 6 artistmembers who are participating in Art atthe Source Open Studio in June. Opendaily 11-6 pm. Artist’s reception, May 16,5-7pm with harp, guitar, mandolin andfiddle music by Laurie and Will Goldstein.Sebastopol Gallery, 150 N. Main Street,Sebastopol , 707 829-7200May 5 to July 5 ~ Nature in a Man-MadeWorld ~ Paintings by Karen Spratt and“Let the Good Times Roll,” Photographsby Jerrie Jerné. Reception May 9 th , 5:00-9:00 pm. Gallery hours: Tue-Wed-Thu-Sun, 10:30-6:00 pm; Fri-Sat, 10:30-8:00.Riverfront Art Gallery, 132 Petaluma Blvd.North, Petaluma ~ 707-775-4278 ~ www.riverfrontartgallery.comCartoonist-in-Residence ~ A differentcartoonist every second Saturday. 1:00-3:00pm at the Charles M. Schulz Museum, 2301Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa ~ 707-579-4452 ~www.schulzmuseum.orgMay 9 ~ Zach Trenholm, celebrity caricaturesJun 13 ~ Elle Skinner, mini-comicsMay 16-17 ~ Art in Iron ~ An exhibitionof custom motorcycles is the centerpieceof SCA’s 20th annual benefit celebration.Saturday Gala w/ ride, auction, music andfood, $25. Sunday exhibit, $3. 10:00-4:00 atSebastopol Center for the Arts, 6780 DepotStreet, Sebastopol ~ 707-829-4797 ~ www.sebarts.orgNOW SHOWING: Upstairs Art Gallery -306 Center Street, Healdsburg,707-431-4214 Oen Daily: 1-am - 6pmwww.UpstairsArtGallerySite.comwww.sonomacountycalendar.com4/16/09 - www.westcountygazette.com - 47