LOVE

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