Page 28 - Sonoma County Gazette Oct. 2019

Market Sundays, 10-12 p.m. Springs Plaza, Highway 12
The Spring’s Community Farmers Market serves the community in numerous ways. The Market is a community asset just off Highway 12 in the Plaza behind the Post Office. There’s easy parking, walking, and a plethora of foods and vegetables for sale. It’s a wondrous organized group of vendors who often travel from miles away to offer delectable fresh foods to the good people of the Springs.
comment on the Springs Market. “The Springs community is fortunate to have Kelly’s farmer’s market at the Community Hub of The Springs. It is a community gathering place—people saying hello and comparing notes about new businesses opening along the corridor or special events happening. Come and be a part of The Springs community, as well as picking up your produce and goods to support our farmers.”
About a hundred people turned out on the Plaza in support
of the Climate Strike Friday September 20th. Happily some 20 kids from Altimira showed up – to cheers and applause, But the absence of the high school students we had come to support was glaring. Turns out the vanguard of this growing outcry against governmental inertia on climate change were not permitted to leave school for the hour it would have taken to express their concerns for their future. A “forum” was held on campus instead.
First District Supervisor Susan Gorin’s
As usual here, the atmosphere was one more of celebration than outrage. But at least we were there. “Activism works,” said Greta Tunberg in New York, where all students were permitted to join the strike with parental permission. Tunberg has rapidly become the iconic leader of this movement. She is one of those unique individuals whom Time selects to speak truth to power.
Sean Russell of Freshway Fish travels
from Roseville, 85 miles away. Russell offers
smoked or fresh salmon, fresh trout and
halibut. Connected with Freshway is a booth offering “Taco Wagon Salsa” from the Crazy Gringo.
Issues abound; and they are all related. I have written here to express my feelings on the arrival of the new small cell phone technology, 5G. I also wrote a more informative article for the September 11 issue of the Bohemian. The Planning Commission met in July to come to a decision about Verizon’s application for three towers to be clustered downtown, in front of Pharmaca, the US Bank and on McDonnell Street. Ten more “small cell” poles, to be placed in the residential Eastside, will come up for consideration next. Other Telecoms may also submit applications.
According to Market Manager Karen Marks three people organize and operate ten markets in the Sonoma-Marin region. She says a benefit of buying at the Springs Market is the Market Match Program where food stamp users receive double their value with each purchase. Marks and partners manage markets in the Springs, Cotati, Rohnert Park, Fairfax, Novato, Santa Rosa, and three in Petaluma. (see our list of Kelly’s markets in the Gazette CALENDAR)
But near midnight, after “expert” reports from Verizon and our own staff, City Planner David Storer and City Attorney Jeffrey Walter, and about two dozen public testimonies, the PC found it still did not have enough information to make a decision. Good for them! The lack of information was largely due to obfuscation by some of the principals.
Dobo’s Deli brings a touch of Asian delectables. Manager Pia Mangahas sells in places as diverse as Stockton, Mill Valley and the Springs.
Alas, cities do not have the power to deny these applications. They can only object on the basis of design, according to the first Telecommunications Act that Clinton signed in 1996 – well before the technology had progressed very far. Cities may not consider the effect on the environment; and that has been interpreted to include health.
We will become even more dependent on WiFi than we are
“Only in Sonoma,” that’s the motto of Shannon and Steven Lee at the Two Moon Family Farm in Glen Ellen where produce is grown for sale at the Springs Market as well as local chefs. They also sell goats at the farm!
We do not hear much discussion of the enormous amount of energy used
to support the Cloud. 5G, with as many as a million towers nationwide, and vastly growing use of “devices,” including the projected Internet of Things, will doubtless require more. Where are we going to get that energy? It seems doubtful that solar and wind will be able to supply it. And do we need diapers that signal our phones that the nappy is wet? Toasters that tell us our toast is ready? Washing machines that talk to dryers? Huh?
Entertainment? There’s a familiar face providing sounds of summer on his guitar for passers-by. Stewart Degner is the artiste who also entertains at the Friday market and in the patio at the Reel and Brand. Degner asks if you need a guitarist this winter, please give him a call. (707-938-0961)
Kenwood’s Adobe Canyon Road houses Eddie Wolmaran’s Eddie’s Farms. Eddie sells “basics” for your dining room table. The eggplant and other vegetables are delicious. In addition to foodstuffs Lillia Miramonte offers a relaxing massage to take away tensions built up viewing so many products. :)
now and less able to cope when the power goes out. As with 5G, the Administration and their corporate flacks (or maybe it’s the Corporation and its government flacks) are doing everything to make the climate problem worse, from fighting California’s vehicle laws to opening the Arctic to drilling.
The beautiful rolling hills of Petaluma provide shoppers with a choice of vegetables and meats from Beffa Springs Ranch. According to salesperson Stephanie Prandelius, Beffa sells delicious produce in five local markets, the Springs, Novato, Fairfax, and two other Sonoma County markets.
But there are signs of progress, a tremendous surge on many fronts to do the right thing. The reality is that we could start to reverse climate change immediately if we would develop a work plan to apply the Green New Deal. Yes, there will be more storms, and maybe more epidemics, and shortages of some things we take for granted, including food. But in the process, we can turn this thing around. With a different Administration!
Need some gorgeous red bell peppers, marvelous golden carrots and other vegetables? Then visit the Ortiz Brothers booth managed by Mario and Carina Ortiz. The Ortiz Brothers are familiar with Sonoma Valley since their produce is grown nearby in Santa Rosa.
Near-by, just off Second Street East and the bike path you will find The Patch. It’s only a short jaunt from there to bring cases of produce for sale to their Springs neighbors. Vicente Calderon assures his customers that vegetables from The Patch are the tops, large, tasty, and beautiful.
Last month I went with Irv Kirschbaum of the Sonoma Shambhala center to Spirit Rock to hear a daylong exploration of a “Buddhist View of Climate Change”. More than 400 people attended this stunning presentation, which offered various perspectives on climate change and concluded, “We don’t really know” what is going to happen.
Want a Tenancingo rebozo for your loved one? Metal sculpt pieces for the wall? Be certain to visit the Springs Sunday Market and see the collection and creations of Jesus Bravo at Manos Mexicas! Jesus travels to Mexico for some of his wares, but the metal work is created here at home in Sonoma. Jesus lived in Mexico at a young age then came to Sonoma. He went to Sonoma schools, graduated from SVHS, and is a talented metal sculptor. Jesus Bravo has a variety of toys, art work, and clothing for sale. Bravo also sells at parks and markets in Novato, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.
In all the squabbling over our obvious predicament, that is the one thing
we all forget. We are facing a looming monster, but we don’t know what the unexpected consequences of our actions will be. If we would just act, we might discover that the situation is not quite as intractable as we believe.
28 - www.sonomacountygazette.com -10/19
Irv and I are leading a daylong event at Sonoma Shambhala using streaming video from the Spirit Rock event, with meditation, discussion and sharing. You don’t have to be a Buddhist to come! It is October 26 at 10 am the Center. Details at: https://sonoma.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=409789
The Commission meets again October 10. Public welcome, 6 PM.