Page 45 - Sonoma County Gazette April 2018

Breaking News: Iconic Berry’s Saw Mill and property in Cazadero are For Sale. The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District should take note, as this historic property is just over the hill from the Jenner Headlands Preserve and would complement the Preserve/ Pole Mountain acquisitions in so many ways.
“Skip skip skip to my Lou, skip skip skip to my Lou...skip to the Lou my darling”, a ditty that popped into my head for no apparent reason other than the thought of springtime and skipping with joy. I hope you are feeling the same love, the warmth, and the desire to get outside more with the longer days with a skip in your step. My rst shout out this spring is to Susan Marie Hagen and Jim Biller who are Camp hosts Extraordinaire at Gualala Point Park, a Sonoma County Park with day use and camping. They are camp hosts several months of the year assisting with all kinds of tasks including the ‘welcome committee’. Gualala Point Park is a smaller campground with a view of the Gualala River, redwoods, and trails to the river and beach. The ocean side of the park has wonderful trails to the beach and a wonderful updated visitor center. Susan Marie and Jim leave for other adventures soon but still want to encourage you to come to the park and enjoy the beautiful lands. parks.sonomacounty. ca.gov/Visit/Gualala-Point-Regional-Park/. The awesome hand carved wooden Serge Poles from our friends from the Sahka Republic in Siberia Russia are here at the park in all their glory. Check them out and learn the story about these gifts to our coast at parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Visit/Gualala-Point- Regional-Park/Serge-Posts/. The Sonoma County Parks also operates the ve access points throughout Sea Ranch, as well as Stillwater Cove Campground and Day Use near the Timber Cove area. parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Visit/ Find-a-Park/ A day use park pass is only $69 or $49 for seniors and can be purchased at Four Eyed Books in Gualala or online at parks.sonomacounty. ca.gov/Become-a-Member/Join-or-Renew/
In addition, the Berry Family own lands adjacent to the Preserve with active Timber Harvest plans. The fate of those lands is unknown at this time.
My biggest fear is that someone would acquire the saw mill and lands and then have to accelerate the removal of the quality Old Growth Trees just to pay down the debt. Any attempts to bring back Sheephouse Creek species’ from the brink of extinction will be lost. We are so close to achieving what once seemed like an impossible dream.
Remember that the Jenner Headlands Preserve property was once slated for an upscale golf course development. If it were not for the e orts of a few local concerned citizens who initially spoke up, this crown-jewel of the coastal ridges would not have happened. We need to secure these lands.
I propose we purchase the Berry properties and turn the mill into a museum, used as a demonstration mill used periodically to mill the smaller trees gleaned from the preserve property over time, much like the Sturgeon Saw Mill in Sebastopol. We can call it the Berry Family Visitor Center. Perhaps other iconic local families with property adjacent to the Preserve will follow suit and o er their lands for preservation or conservation, as 2/3 of the Sheephouse Creek Watershed is owned by a couple of families.
One thing is for sure, we are at a turning point with the sensitive lands above our embattled Russian River. So much is riding on our doing the right thing. The Sheephouse Creek Watershed would be the Poster Child for Coho Habitat Restoration. A World-Class Destination to be marveled at, cherished and (hopefully widely) imitated.
Wow! A lot is going on in April and many of the events are free. So, plan on getting out enjoying our community with a walk in the park, a picnic, and some fun and often educational events. The beginning of the Whale and Jazz Festival along our northern Sonoma Coast and Southern Mendocino areas starts in April and ends in May with many local businesses hosting events and/or
It is hard to imagine, while driving through the cool Redwood forests and meadows, that many of these areas were reduced to a moonscape of logging ‘skid-trails’ and stumps just a generation or two ago. The fact that there are now 100+ year old healthy, beautiful Redwoods thriving is a testament to the resiliency of these ‘Wonders of Nature’.
are sponsors. The Arena Theater will host a showing Monday, April 2, 7 pm of the lm Keep On, Keepin’ On (2014) highlighting the legendary trumpeter Clark Terry and 23-year-old blind piano prodigy Justin Kauflin. St. Orres will host some jazz, Friday, April 6 at 6 pm & 8 pm seatings with Susan Sutton, keyboard and Pierre Archain, upright bass. The Main event is “Historic Vibes Summit” Saturday, April 7, at 7 pm with some excellent jazz featuring very talented artists at Gualala Art Center. The chowder fest is Saturday, April 14, 11:30 am- 2:30 pm which includes Chowder Tasting and music. Also at the Gualala Arts Center is a Whale Talk with Jody Smith Thursday, April 26, 7 pm. For more info on these events and others visit gualalaarts.org/2018/04/whale-jazz-festival-3/
It is only in relatively recent history that hard-science has proven the (multiple) positive bene ts of NOT harvesting the biggest and oldest of the trees, as is the current logging practice. They have discovered that the big, old trees are Fog Harvesting Machines! They actually absorb the moisture & fog through their leaves and direct it to the roots and out into the streams and watersheds. And that the older trees are exponentially better at this unique (rather magical!) process than the younger trees.
The Sea Ranch Thespians Production Company has produced the “Quartet” by Ronald Harwood. All showings are at the Knipp-Stengel Barn in the Sea Ranch April 19-22, and 26-29 at 4:00 PM. Reservations are needed. Everyone is welcome to attend and it’s FREE. searanchthespians.com/
The Redwood forests native to our coastal areas also naturally attract rains and storms from the Paci c, so critical to recharging our water tables. (Surely you have seen Cazadero’s o cial license plate frame: REDWOODS and RAIN – Cazadero!) It is true.
At the Point Arena Lighthouse the Wind and Whale Celebration is Saturday, April 21 from 10:00 to 3:00 with free admission to the Lighthouse grounds, Museum and Gift Store, and climb the Tower for a special discounted rate of just $5 (regularly $7.50) pointarenalighthouse.com/wind- whale-celebration/. Saturday, April 21, at 4 p.m. Scott Mercer will speak about Whale Research and the 2018 Gray Whale Census, Eric Wilder Art Exhibit and Creation Stories is Saturday, April 28, 2018 with storytelling at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Next is Sal Martinez Poetry Readings, “In a Di erent Mirror”, on Saturday, April 28, with readings at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Admission to these events is free. The (almost) Full Pink Moon Night Tour is Saturday, April
28 with gates open at 8 pm. Visit pointarenalighthouse.com/almost-fringe- festival-2018/ for all the info.
The 5,630-acre Jenner Headlands Preserve overlooking the lower reaches
of the Russian River is embracing this practice of leaving the older Redwoods with the generations-deep goal of once again having an Old-Growth type forest habitat. A habitat protected and nurtured as payback for all it has given to us, and now will continue to give us.
Jenner Headlands Preserve is home to the Headwaters of Sheephouse Creek, actively being restored (within the Preserve’s boundaries) with hopes of once again having a habitat healthy enough for survival of the threatened and endangered species that are struggling to call this Home.
Sheephouse Creek is one of the rst Russian River tributaries inland from the Paci c, and meets the river in the Estuary. As an Estuary-perched stream subject to tidal in uence, it is relatively easy for the Sheephouse sh to make
it to their stream, whenever the tide is in and the river mouth is open. All they need is a habitat healthy enough to survive. Unfortunately Sheephouse runs through private lands between the Preserve and the Estuary. And those private lands all appear to hold active Timber Harvest Plans; plans geared to remove the larger, older trees.
And last, April 26 is ‘Take Your Sons and Daughters to Work’ and I highly encourage this opportunity. And April 27 is ‘Arbor Day’. Wouldn’t it be cool if we all planted a tree today? Everyone! We need a sponsor to create such an event for us. I will plan it.
Please understand that the entire Sheephouse Creek watershed with all of its tributaries can be viewed in one aerial photograph; it is that small. If these private lands were managed using the same ‘Old Growth Saving’ techniques as the Jenner Headlands Preserve, this coastal watershed could be the Poster Child for Habitat Preservation and Restoration.
April love is for the very young
Every star’s a wishing star that shines for you April love is all the seven wonders
One little kiss can tell you
4/18 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 45