Page 45 - Sonoma County Gazette April 2017

Boating can be hazardous to your health and apparently to that of some boats. The local harbor presently sports FOUR boats which the very competent Harbor master Noah is trying to get removed.
April represents spring cleaning for many of us. And I love to purge the unwanted ‘stuff’ that I tend to accumulate each year. The more I can let go of the freer I feel all around me. It truly frees the mind and spirit of only what is essential to live, enjoy, and think about the here and now.
The Sonoma County Sheriff Boating and Enforcement unit has funds to remove abandoned vessels, but apparently they didn’t anticipate having FOUR vessels to remove. There were two at first (one burned and one was abandoned) and now there are two more sailboats on the beach (just at the foot of my street (Whaleship Road). Bodega Bay is very dependent upon having safe waterways and the removal of trashed boats is part of the requirement . We are thankful that all the participants in the enforcement unit are on the ball. As a caveat: the boats near me are taped off to dissuade climbers.
I know this sounds like a hippie sort of thing – and it is. Call it minimalist or call it hippiness – it’s all good. Try it! The winds and storms of this past winter cleaned out all those dead branches, dust from the past summer, and cleaned out our creeks and rivers too. Spring!
Ironically the antique, wrecked Marin is beached just across the road. We often see people letting children play on the demolished boat and we stop and suggest that they are allowing a dangerous playground. The same is true for these two beached boats. Stay off of them. Pictures are o.k. but no climbing.
Moving on...Time to CELEBRATE!
Exciting news for me personally is my departure from Fort Ross State Historic Park after 27 years. I have met tens of thousands of beautiful children, thousands of amazing teachers and hundreds of wonderful volunteers and community members – many of who have become lifelong friends. I think of my beginning days to the times of this past year and I have memories that are forever in my heart with Kashaya, Alaskans, Yakutians, and many other people represented. I remember the time we had the archpriest here with the church and that day the fall of communism in Russia was real. The Archpriest stood on the table and danced. What a site! An Archpriest dancing! And the time we hosted the Russian Ambassador Kislyak which was a changing moment for Fort Ross. And the Bicentennial will always be big and beautiful in my heart. My first days were with Bill Walton and Dan Murley – those were the best of times (I love you both). Please join us for my Farewell Celebration April 22 at Fort Ross SHP starting with a church service at 9:00 and moving on at 11:00 with song and dance by Kitka and Kedry – then blessings by two of my favorite Kashaya elders, then a few words and the bench dedication followed by a potluck. It would be my honor to have you so I may thank each and every one of you for shaping an amazing career at Fort Ross.
MUSIC on the Coast: The Whale and Jazz Festival begins in April in Gualala and Mendocino Coast. Presented by Gualala Arts, Arena Theater, Mendocino Chamber and others, this highly regarded festival captures original jazz art work, whale education, jazz films, poetry and jazz, an annual Chowder Challenge and tasting and live music in atmospheric and beautiful settings which is a truly wonderful coastal experience. Please visit the web for more info: gualalaarts.org/category/events/whale-and-jazz-festival/. At the Point Arena Lighthouse also celebrates the Whale and Jazz Fest with special full moon tours. The Point Arena Lighthouse also celebrates the Whale and Jazz Fest with special full moon tours. Please visit their web at pointarenalighthouse.com/visit/calendar-2/.
Family Fun on the Farm: Several months ago I wrote about the Cassari Ranch along the Point Arena coast. They are hosting spring farm-to-table events as part of Mendocino County’s Almost Fringe Festival, a new month- long festival celebrating creative happenings countywide. The Cassari Picnic Day takes place April 29-30 on the Farm from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. The ranch is located at 42900 Curley Lane, Point Arena, CA. This special event will be filled with family fun (think ranch bocce ball, bobbing for apples, burlap and wheel barrow races, horse shoes, egg toss), a BBQ with food and drink, walks on the sheep field trail, and visits to the country store/farm stand. Costs range from $10-$20 for food and activities - www.casariranch.com.
THANK YOU! Every church has at least one fairly young member who helps do whatever needs doing. If the chairs have to be put out, he helps. If the tables have been left up, he helps. If a work party is scheduled, he always comes to help. Fishermen’s Chapel has lost one of just such a worker. Cris Rucker
was just such a man. In a congregation of primarily aging parishioners he was a welcome participant. He and his parents, Ben and Jo Ann Bray, could always be counted on to help and to unfailingly bring flowers to each service. Cris died this week at his Duncans Mills home – far too young. We will all miss him.
Happy 90th Birthday! One of our Grange members celebrated her 90th birthday this week. Shirley, Lois Boos’s daughter, pulled off a surprise party which was wonderful. Lois is amazing. She still gets out often and works at the Grange. She even has a table at the monthly Flea Market. She greets all comers, and knows most of their names. She is an active, happy lady and makes you feel like living to 90 wouldn’t be so bad.
Voting Social...Once again I got to greet my neighbors who come to vote. Our election March 7 seems wasteful. To get all the machines ready, have the ballots printed and have three people work fifteen hours seems like a waste of money. Voter after voter thanked us for “volunteering” (we worked thirteen and a half hours for $100). Bodega Bay voters want to come to the polls and see their neighbors (even if they had already voted the ballot they received in the mail and rather than mail it back, brought it to the polling place). There was only one issue on the ballot (whether or not to tax marijuana growers) and not much dissension. As the Press Democrat pointed out, elections cost money. With only 43 voters it does seem a bit foolish. Maybe the money would be better spent on the huge potholes between the Grange and Highway One. We have a few on Whaleship Road we would love to have filled too.
FishFest...We are getting ready for Fish Fest. The posters are especially nice this year and we can just hope for good weather April 8 and 9. The 9th is Palm Sunday and that is the day the fleet goes out to sea and casts a wreath upon the waves to commemorate those who have died at sea. The ceremony is touching and many folks go up on the edge of the Head and stand by the monument to those who have died at sea. It’s a good view from up there!
CERT af cionados are preparing for a brush up program for those who have taken the training some time ago and who admit that they are a bit rusty. It is a good benefit to a community to have a well- trained populace ready to deal with any emergency. Those who donate their time to keep (or get) our citizens ready to deal with emergencies are doing a great service. Thanks.
Spring Celebrations: Several other holidays and celebrations in April are of course, the 1st – April Fools Day – but did you know this is also ‘Have Fun at Work Day’. A prank or two on a co-worker seems fitting. April 7 is ‘no housework day’ (who decides these dates).
Happy Spring! Beaches are busy. The birders are intense about finding a new/different species, and the photos some take are absolutely wonderful. The blue heron who wades across from the horse corral seems to love having his picture taken. For certain John Hershey has taken some lovely pictures of him.
April 16th is Easter where I also tend to celebrate color. I always gave my sons a hand beaded crystal to hang from their window which they still have and love. And for all my artist friends April 23 is ‘Talk Like Shakespeare Day’. And last April 30 is ‘National Honest Day’ (let’s get all our politicians out on stage and see if it works). Really!
It is much more fun to hunt Easter eggs when it is not raining (like last year.) Fisherman’s Chapel altar is lined with Easter lilies; the hot cross buns await the close of the service, and the singing is lovely. Take time to celebrate this joyous day no matter what your religion. Dye a few eggs; go see a neighbor who can’t get out, and enjoy the happiness around you. For me, I send up a few prayers for Peace, and hope those in peril can find a way to safety. Happy Easter.
Hug a friend, love your pets, call your family and count your blessing each and every day and don’t forget to spring clean with a PURGE.
Find me around town please. I love staying in touch with people I have come to know and love at work!
~ Love, Robin.
4/17 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 45