Page 46 - Sonoma County Gazette February 2017

Wowie zowie! Maybe I can suspend my rain dance for now! As I look out of the window of my cozy cyber-hut, the sun is shining between the large redwoods! But all bets are o – Cazadero now has over 60”of rain for the season and January is not over yet! The
Our emergency responders with the local re departments and re protection districts worked tirelessly through the storms that recently ripped through Northern CA, doing whatever it took to keep us
safe and out of harm’s way. Responding to everything from medical
respite that we currently have is very welcome and I do hope that the next storm predicted to hit isn’t too severe! Please be extra careful driving and join me in my chant to the trees: “Please don’t fall on my house, head or car and I won’t cut you down!”
emergencies and structure res to cli rescues and auto accidents, our rural emergency responders are truly our community heroes.
We are approaching Valentine’s Day and that is a terri c time to show your sweetie your love, whether with chocolate, owers or just plain old “tender oving care”! One time while visiting Nepal, I amazed my husband Gregorio by whipping out a heart shaped box of See’s candies that I had hidden in
Out here in Coastal West County, Chief Dennis Meredith, Assistant Chief Erich Lynn and the dedicated well-trained volunteers with the Timber Cove Fire Protection District were out all night and into the morning as the rst series of storms blew through, toppling trees onto roadways, homes and power lines.
my luggage for a surprise! Visit one of our wonderful local stores, such as Mr.Trombly’s Teas and Table in Duncans Mills, the Cazadero and Duncans Mils General Stores for many locally produced items, or have a festive meal at Cape Fear, the Blue Heron or River’s End.
Through the driving wind and rain, they cleared the roadways of the tangled mess of trees, securing downed energized power lines for the over-stretched PG&E crews, often handling multiple emergencies simultaneously with cool expertise, re ecting their countless hours of training.
Remember that the 1st Saturday is 15% Discount day for Cazadero Supply, with many great products for your winter vehicle, garden and household projects.
It is during these extreme events that we really depend on our County, State and Volunteer Emergency Responders. Our lives are often in their (very capable) hands. Please support your Local Heroes any way you can.
The Montgomery Elementary School is in for a busy February. There are two Federal holidays: President Lincoln’s birthday on the 13th and President’s Day on the 20th with NO SCHOOL on both days. Valentine’s Day is the 14th and Ms. Port’s Kindergarten through 2nd graders have a ton of fun sharing valentines. On the 22nd Mr. Sotak’s 3rd and 4th grade class will go on a eld trip to the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts to see the Laura Ingalls Wilder presentation. Then on the 27th Ms. Port’s KN-2 class will also go on a eld trip to the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts to see “Charlotte’s Web”.
The Dogwood Timber Harvest Plan (THP), the controversial plan to log the sensitive oodplains of the Gualala River, has been sent back to Cal Fire for a full review into compliance with the California
The great Sky Garden can always use volunteers. Please contact Cathy at schezer@comcast.net for more information.
A lawsuit led by the Friends of the Gualala River, Forests Unlimited and California Native Plant Society pointed out the cumulative impacts of several other Gualala Redwood Timber THP’s in this sensitive river oodplain that were not addressed or even considered in Cal Fire’s approval of the Plan.
Although monthly meetings of the Cazadero Community Club are on hiatus until Tuesday, March 7th -7 p.m. at Firehall #1, you may join by sending $10.00(Individual) or $15.00 (Family) to P.O. Box 3, Cazadero, CA 95421.
Join your neighbors in planning great local events which bene t the entire community!
By submitting many smaller THP’s in a piecemeal fashion, rather than as one large THP, many environmental and regulatory requirements are circumvented. Were it not for the public outcry and scrutiny of several environmental organizations, skid roads were poised to be constructed in miles of recognized ‘protected’ salmon habitat, to harvest 100 year old Redwood regrowth.
While reading a fascinating book “Tales of Old California” my historian husband came across an very interesting article from the 1882 Harper’s New Monthly Magazine entitled “In a Redwood Logging Camp”. Complete
with wonderful illustrations, the article talks about conditions at the logging camps. I quote “The centre or at least one centre, of this lumbering is here at Duncan’s, where the Russian River receives a tributary named Austin’s Creek. A wonderful railway follows its banks half a dozen miles into the hills to supply the mill with logs.” I highly recommend this book,which was published by Castle Books in 1989 and features 33 di erent articles ranging from 1875
to 1912. You may obtain 3 books a month from the Sonoma County FREE Bookmobile, which visits various towns in Sonoma County on a rotating basis. Their schedule is available in the back pages of this publication.
In this day and age where plain science has proven the bene cial e ects of common-sense sustainable forestry practices, our regulatory agencies are letting us down. By approving logging in obviously impaired sensitive habitat, as well as clear-cuts (YES! THEY STILL DO THAT) it is clear that big business trumps the environment, with our State agencies’ blessings.
I wish very Happy February Birthdays to Luna Bordero and Charles Radtkey on the 2nd, Matthew Harra on the 4th, Dave Gevas on the 6th, Terry sheets on the 9th, Monica Wade-Alberigi enjoys the 10th, Olivia Gevas on the 12th, Andrew Harb on the 18th, Natalie Canelis on the 19th and Zac Gevas on the 20th. Donald Velasquez-Greer on the 22nd, Kiona Scherrer on the 25th and Harriet Parmeter on the 26th.
I have to relate a most pleasurable experience. A couple weeks ago we were gifted tickets to see a show at the Gualala Center for the Arts. I knew nothing more than it was an ‘acapella’ singing group.
Have a sweet Valentine’s Day! Stay dry and call me at 632-5545 or email mayawrld @sonic.net with info for your Cazadero column!
Even as ‘Sus’ Susalla, Executive Director of Gualala Arts introduced KITKA as an American women’s arts ensemble inspired by traditional songs and vocal techniques from Eastern Europe, I had no idea of what pure enjoyment I was about to experience.
Breaking News:
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Forest Practices Act (FPA). Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Rene Chouteau made this unexpected ruling which will trigger another public comment period.
This court ruling shows us the power that we really do hold, if we only make our voices heard. Truthfully, we should feel pretty powerful as the players could not be bigger or more well connected. Please take advantage of this small victory for the environment to tell your lawmakers that these trees and habitat are Not a Resource to be Extracted. Those days are over. Go Sustainable – Or Go Home!
Amazing Women’s Vocal Ensemble – KITKA
There was a lull in the series of storms that had been slamming the coast, and the lights of the crab boats were strung along the evening horizon ‘like a string of pearls’ as we drove north. This little musical diversion was also a nice respite from the political ‘storm’ that is brewing.
KITKA has earned international recognition for its distinctive sound, exploring a vast palette of ancient yet contemporary-sounding vocal e ects. The ensembles earthy to ethereal timbres evoke an astonishing range of subtle to extreme inner states, instincts, and emotions. They are committed to presenting traditional song as a ‘living and evolving expressive art form’.
46 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 2/17
From the moment they started harmonizing in most amazing ways, I was moved. It mattered not that I could not understand the words or recognize the dialect, I was mesmerized. By the time the rst song had concluded,
the audience was at once brought to tears... of joy! They are that good! This Oakland-based group is not to be missed if you have a chance.
Keep believing! Together we are a power to be reckoned with.