Page 29 - Sonoma County Gazette April 2017

OUR COUNTY cont’d from page 28
I wonder if the author of the sign did much thinking about what is happening in our town. If they did, the sign might have read:
In our town, homeless children attend Guerneville Elementary School. In our town, a young girl celebrated her 9th birthday in a tent -- her only
In our town, homeless residents die at a rate of one human being per month.
In our town, families are afraid to walk down the street at night, and residents step over drunks and drug addicts as they make their way to the ATM.
Is a horse property on Armstrong Woods Road the solution to all of Guerneville’s ills? Will we save everyone, house all the homeless, and forever rid the streets of ne’er-do-wells?
home – by the Russian River.
In our town, something needs to change.
Of course not. But something needs to change, and change starts with a community conversation about possible solutions. I’m not saying the current proposal is perfect. I’ll be the first to admit that there are valid community concerns which need to be discussed and addressed. I’ll be the first to admit that there may be better solutions out there. But we won’t get to better solutions without admitting that there’s a problem, and that we need to be the ones
to come together to solve it. That’s why I convened a town hall meeting on the subject, and why I am always happy to receive suggestions, concerns, or solutions – especially solutions! – via email (lynda.Hopkins@sonoma-county. org).
In Billings, Montana, by the way, “Not In Our Town” meant something else entirely. In the 1990s, after anti-Semitic hate crimes and the rise of the KKK garnered national attention, homes and businesses began putting menorahs in their windows. Someone took it upon themselves to create a billboard. “Not in Our Town! No Hate, No Violence. Peace on Earth,” it read.
NOT Mosquitoes
Sonoma County is home to numerous insects that closely resemble mosquitoes. According to the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District, many of these insects have begun to emerge in large numbers, causing the public great alarm. In some areas, these insects have been found covering the sides of homes, and swarming over lawns and bike trails.
“These insects are quite easy to confuse with mosquitoes for a couple of reasons,” stated John Walker, Field Supervisor for
the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District. “First, most people believe that mosquitoes swarm, when in actuality mosquitoes generally do not swarm, at least not in the giant clusters most people come in contact with this time of year.”
Here are the two most commonly found insects that resemble mosquitoes:
NON-BITING MIDGES: Non-biting
midges are small flies that look like
mosquitoes. While these insects do not pose a health threat, they can be a serious nuisance, particularly in communities adjacent to large aquatic habitats. During peak emergence, massive swarms of these midges can cover houses, cars, and other structures. Homes and buildings with outside lighting will attract large numbers of non-biting midges.
FUNGUS GNATS: Fungus gnats are common in the fall, spring, and early summer. Female fungus gnats lay their eggs in moist organic material or potting soil. The larvae feed on fungus, preferring leaf litter and decaying vegetation.
The District does not control fungus gnats or non-biting midges. If you do find that you are being bitten, however, contact the District at 707-285-2200. It is possible that there may be standing water that is producing mosquitoes in your area.
For more information about the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District’s free programs and services visit www.msmosquito.com
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