Page 38 - Sonoma County Gazette March 2018.indd

Hello to all. I am happy to be home, after a wonderful three weeks of adventure in Panama. We didn’t get to swim with Whale Sharks as was hoped for, but in the process of trying did get to see sea turtles, reef sharks, rays, eels and lots of beautiful sh and coral. A great experience, and perhaps I will get to see the Whale Sharks next time. This all took place o the island of Coiba, a National Park on the Paci c coast of Panama. An amazing place to visit.
The Garden Eels were my personal highlight. Garden Eels hang out in groups, each one protruding about a foot from it’s own hole in the sandy bottom. They sway around in the current, waiting for something edible to come close. If something big, say a human swims nearby the whole group simultane- ously pulls back into their holes, pretty neat to see.
There were many other adventures in my Panama travels, but I won’t subject you all to them in my supposed to be about Occidental column. I will how-
ever give a de nite thumbs up to visiting Panama (my 4th time) and would be happy to give more info to anyone interested in going if they want to e-mail me.
It seems to me that things are good here in West County upon my return. It was a little shocking to see the plum trees in bloom already, guess mine won’t be getting pruned this Spring. Progress continues on the downtown project and I just heard that the area across from the Post O ce is o cially designated for a new sidewalk, yay!
I volunteer with the Occidental Community Council and we are in the pro- cess of updating the town directory mural on the side of the Bohemian Market. It has been a beautiful piece of town since 1990 (wow, that long—really?) but is in de nite need of updating both to enhance it’s appearance and its usefulness. In a town that basically stays the same, looking at the directory is a good way
to take note of all the changes in the last 28 years. Many businesses have gone away and many new ones have taken their place. It looks like the work will take place sometime in March, being done by muralist Dave Gordon who did the spectacular mural on the arts center building visible as you come into town on Graton Rd. I will be coming around to businesses in the next couple of weeks to introduce myself and gather info as to how folks would like to be listed on the directory. As well, the council will be seeking a small donation from each busi- ness to held fund the rehab of the mural.
There is an ongoing class in Occidental worthy of a shout out to the com- munity as a reminder to check it out. Celebrating 20 years in existence, the Qigong / Tai Chi class is located in the social hall of St. Philips Church on Main St. Taught by Emilio Gonzalez who has 40 years of experience, the class is on Thursdays from 9 – 10am and you are welcome to drop in to any class for a $5 donation.
Nurturing our happy home is this month’s Gazette theme, which brings many things to mind for me, two of which I feel like discussing currently. One is litter. Unfortunately our beautiful home is not being cared for by some as well as it should be. Please don’t litter. Please speak up when you see someone else litter. Please pick up trash (and pick up some good karma) when you are out around town or on a walk on our local roads. Please don’t deposit household trash in the cans and bins around town.
The other is the branding of Sonoma County. I propose that we collectively bring back the usage of Redwood Country or Redwood Empire, rather than Wine Country when referring to where we live. There are innumer- able places around the world that grow wine, California is just about the only place that grows redwood trees. They are the tallest trees in the world, help
to attract the fog that cools us in summer and create oxygen that contributes
to our clean, fresh air. In reality it’s much more special that we come from the Redwood Empire, than from Wine Country. If we nurture the trees in our back- yards, and promote the trees all around our county I think it will serve us well in the continual nurturing of our happy home. Go hug a tree Occidentalites of the Redwood Empire.
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Greetings Graton. I hope this finds you all in health & happiness.
Now open for business! Hours are: Thursday-Sunday 11-6pm and by appoint- ment only Monday-Wednesday
Local live music line –up with happy hour March 2nd (4pm) French oak Gypsies March 12 (1pm) Brothers Gadjo
March 23 (4pm) Brothers Gadjo
April 1 (1pm) Tim Sawyer (Free Peoples)
reality, with purchase of the land for the park
(bordered by Edison, Shirley and Bowen
streets 1/2 block south of Graton Road)
scheduled for this spring. Using the water
tower as a funding source by leasing space on
it to a cell phone company is o the agenda.It
was just an idea as the Graton Green Group
Board brainstorms on how to establish funding every year to pay for insurance, maintenance, electricity and water services. That’s a lot to come up with, and we have several ways that the community can help.
Your input is always welcomed. You can call HolLynn D’Lil at 829- 9440 if you’d like to be part of Graton’s history and help build the Graton Green! Oh, and check out the proposed park design at the Graton Post O ce. (We’re adding 50 trees to our 1/2 acre park.)
Check it out! Graton’s got a fancy new bus stop across from the post o ce. A nice place for people to keep out of the rain.
Inspired Fitness: While not
o cially in Graton, you may have noticed
that at the corner of Occidental and 116 is
a new gym. They o er a wide variety o
of group classes like Yoga, P90X, TRX and
Bootcamp and Pilates and have personal
training, a peaceful Yoga studio and state of
the art equipment. Check the schedule online
to nd some really cool workshop that include topics such as nutrition and sound healing. www.inspired2be t.com
Bowen Cellars Now Open
Graton Green Park by HolLynn The Graton Green is about to become a
Please go to the website gratongreen.org/ to purchase wonderful tote bags with art work by Rik Olson, license plate holders designed especially for Grateronians and to order memorial bricks. Bricks will probably be installed this year, so order yours now.The tote bags are also available for sale at the Graton Gallery. Or, send donations to GGG, PO Box 858, Graton, CA 95444.
Squatters: If you don’t know already please be alerted that there was a substantial illegal squatter’s camp found near Tanuda and Facendini. Not only iss the land being occupied without authorization but it was reported that there has been a substantial amount of waste, including drug paraphernalia.
Graton, tends to be a very tolerant community, but we need to report this type of activity. The owners of the property, need to be made aware of what’s happening so that they can decide the next right course of action. I’m not suggesting that we become paranoid tattletales merely that we keep a good neighborly eye open for what’s healthy for the communityt.
Edison and Irvine not a thoroughfare: Fellow Graton neighbors. When driving, you are not saving time when you cut up Irving and down Edison to avoid 1 stop sign on Graton Road. This is a residential street and not a thoroughfare. Please stop cutting through this way. Especially you speeders and those who disregard the stop sign. Again this is residential street with children and pets
You can reach me butlersjennifer@gmail.com