Page 26 - Sonoma County Gazette March 2017

Clowning Around
with Circus Waldissima
Delight in these incredible, local youth while taking in this year’s upcoming advanced circus show “Alchemy”
April 1 at 7:00 pm or April 2 at 2:00 pm in Santa Rosa. Tickets through www.circusalchemy.brownpapertickets.com.
Join us for a professional circus arts performance featuring students in high aerial acts or daring acrobatic displays. Tap your toes to show tunes played by a student ensemble, while taking in the cabaret under an authentic, big-top tent from Europe. The annual spring event showcases the alchemic transformation of youth fulfilling their potential through a cultural arts display drawing on traditions around the globe.
Circus Waldissima students practice the Chinese-inspired arts
of Diabolo-juggling and hoop-diving. Students fly through the air in trapeze acts, following the great tradition of the French gymnast, Jules Léotard. Clowning, another centuries old art drawing from many world cultures including ancient Egypt, plays a central part in the circus ring. While this year marks the closing of one of the longest running international circus acts, Barnum and Bailey’s greatest show on earth, many “village circuses” like Santa Rosa’s Circus Waldissima will continue these cultural variety shows.
DEAR READERS: Do you have a legal question on your mind? If so, please email me. Your name will remain con dential. This Q & A Legal Column is intended as a community service to discuss general legal principles and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Circus Waldissima is unusual in that it is a youth circus. Training and performing provides students with an opportunity to meet their developmental needs for identity, autonomy, and connection. Imagine daring to climb silk tissues hanging from heights of nearly 33 feet, then spiraling down to floor
in a dramatic drop. Picture trusting your fellow students to balance you on their shoulders or to grab your wrists as you soar through the air on a trapeze. The “circus family” becomes a tight knit group as they support each other in overcoming great challenges – all for the good of the show!
While you are cruising the website, you might as well also look at Ordinance 5-125, which makes it illegal to not pick up the dog poo, unless you are totally
or partially blind, have a hearing impairment, or are handicapped and using an assistance dog. The website also has helpful hints about what to do about barking dogs (and who to call).
Circus Waldissima is a special program of the Summerfield Waldorf education where students in all grades have a chance to contribute to the annual shows. Circus is often part of a Waldorf education, with teachers placing high value on movement and renaissance activities such as art, music, and the study of culture.
If your neighbors don’t care to read (or follow) the law, what can you do? Well, I guess you will have to kick it up to the next level—enforcement. Here is where it gets a bit tricky.
If the infraction/violation of the leash law occurs at one of our beaches, the Park Ranger can issue a citation or ticket.
If you are in an unincorporated area of Sonoma County, the o cial “enforcer” is the Sheri ’s Department. You can also gently remind your neighbors that if they are cited for violating the “leash law”, they will likely need to appear in tra c court. I am not sure of the exact ne, but have been told by an employee of SoCo Animal Services that the court costs and nes may be over $100, perhaps even approaching $200.
I guess what it really comes down to is responsibility. Yes, I understand that most dog owner’s relish the idea of their “well-behaved dog” running free. I get it. The reality is that there is a time and place for a free-running dog...and it is not the backroads of our beautiful county.
Debra A. Newby is a resident of Monte Rio and has practiced law for 34 years. She is
a member of the California, Texas and Sonoma County Bar Associations and currently maintains an active law o ce in Santa Rosa which emphasizes personal injury law (bicycle/ motorcycle/motor vehicle accidents, dog bites, trip and falls, etc.) and expungements (clearing criminal records). Debra can be reached via email (debra@newbylawo ce.com), phone (707-526-7200), or fax (526-7202).
Celebrating 25 Years of Circus Arts and Waldorf Education
Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm’s Circus Waldissima is celebrating 25 years of dazzling performances.
“Circus blends movement with theatrics. It brings together the disciplines of music, art, verbal expression, and physical education by putting it all into a story or show,” explains Circus teacher Sieglinde Basmajian.
“In Germany Waldorf schools almost always have a circus program,” says Sieglinde noting that more and more American Waldorf schools also boast a circus program. Movement teachers often take up leading the circus as many circus arts offer excellent opportunities for brain and body task integration and mastering spatial dynamics. “Juggling is a great left right coordination challenge,” explains Sieglinde.
For additional information, contact: Sieglinde or Don Basmajian Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm’s Circus Program 707-575-7194 or circuswaldissima@gmail.com
26 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 3/17
Dear Debra:
I live in the country and my neighbors walk their dogs along my property line.
Their dogs are not leashed, so they run onto my property, exciting my dog. I have posted “No Trespassing” signs, to no avail. Is there anything else I can do?
Dear Frances: Signed: Fed-Up Frances
It’s been a few years since I’ve addressed the “leash laws” in Sonoma County. Given the fact that Spring is just around the corner, and we are all anxious to embrace the sunshine and stretch our legs (with or without our canine companions), it is a PERFECT time to refresh everyone’s memory on “best practices” for dog owners.
Not only does it make sense to leash your dog (unless you are on your own private property), but it is the law. Here in Sonoma County, County Ordinance 5-115 clearly states that no person shall allow any dog to run large on public
or private property (except the private property of the owner). In essence, the
dog must be “restrained by a substantial leash”. Ordinance 5-115 does create six exceptions. The dog need not be leashed if the dog is: 1) assisting law enforcement; 2) assisting in an o cial search and rescue operation; 3) herding or controlling livestock; 4) assisting with hunting on private property; 5) participating in a dog training class, exhibition, or competition; and/or 6) accompanied by the owner or other person in control of the dog on private property. Also, be aware that some cities have their own leash laws that they enforce within their city limits (like Santa Rosa and Windsor).
Bottom line: Your neighbors are breaking the law.
Now, the more di cult part is nding a solution to your dilemma. One simple idea (yet not always so simple to do) is for you to openly talk to your neighbor(s). Let them know that for the safety of their dog and your neighborhood, a leash must be used. I’d even go so far to print out the law and hand them a copy.
Go to www.theanimalshelter.org, managed by the Sonoma County Animal Services, which has a wealth of information, including applicable Ordinances. (Ordinance 20-8 is also fun to look at, which states that dogs must be leashed in city and county parks, unless you are in a dog park.)