Page 20 - Sonoma County Gazette July 2017

The Sonoma Land Trust got the big $100,000 award from the Impact100 group this year. John McCaull, the SLT Land Acquisition Program Manager, said it would go a long way toward funding the next phase of the process to secure a Protection Lease on the undeveloped part of the
A welcome neighbor in the Springs!
F.I.S.H. – Friends In Sonoma Helping: “I was troubled and didn’t know
what to do. My neighbor suggested I call FISH. The FISH representative’s help and assistance allowed my family to make it through a tough time.”
863-acre property. A summary of the Impact100 award reads: “This proposed program would esure that the people of Sonoma Valley have a strong and active voice in the state’s nal decision-making process with the goal of permanently protecting the 600 acres of undeveloped land and wildlife habitat of the Sonoma Developmental Center.”
Each day people pass the grey wall opposite the Boyes Food Center at Calle Del Monte/Highway 12 and see a logo showing many small fish combining to form one large fish. The logo represents F.I.S.H – Friends In Sonoma Helping, a volunteer organization assisting people in Sonoma Valley since 1971. The logo is symbolic – many volunteers gathering together to accomplish a single goal – assist those in immediate need!
The SLT was turned down three years ago because Impact wanted assurance that the state would work with the land trust. “Three years later we were able to show that the state is working with us.” That will reassure Valley residents who fear commercialization of this choice property. Even better is the news that, according to McCaull, the state has no intention of selling it.
F.I.S.H. is unique in today’s world. There is no paid staff, no black tie galas. One hundred percent of donations go to clients in need. It is non-governmental and supported solely by donations of money, food, and clothing from local citizens. Community stores and bakeries provide surplus items to distribute. Judgments aren’t made about who should receive benefits. Volunteer dispatchers receive calls Monday through Friday from across the Valley. They, in turn, refer those in need to the proper person or location where help is given.
On May 15, the Department of General Services announced that it is undertaking a $2 million assessment of the buildings and infrastructure of the entire property. Wallace, Roberts Todd (WRT Design) is likely to be the lead contractor. But DGS’ Bob McKinnon assured the county that “the state would not over-ride the county’s plan,” which had been a concern of Supervisor Gorin. Said McCaull, “By the time they close the Development Center we want to have an agreement to protect the undeveloped part of the open space. Essentially we’ll be designing a park for human recreational use. Camp Villa, which was built in the ‘40s and ‘50s for residents and sta , might become a campground. A big sensitivity is the wildlife corridor. Wildlife travel from Sonoma Mountain to the Mayacamas range.”
F.I.S.H. provides a variety of services.
Food: A call by noon allows for a pickup at 18330 Sonoma Highway between 1:30 and 3 p.m. A home-bound senior program offers food deliveries on the third Tuesday of each month. Annually nearly 7,000 people receive packages that include a three day supply of food.
Clothing: Residents in need may pick up child or adult clothing on Tuesday or Friday between 10 a.m. to noon, and on Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. Anyone with excess clothing may deposit it at the clothing room by 4 p.m. In a recent year 550 families visited the clothing room. Your donation will be appreciated.
Medical Rides: Under the Affordable Care Act more people have medical coverage than ever before. Although one has medical coverage, there is often a question about how to make an appointment without access to transportation. People needing transportation assistance should call F.I.S.H. five days in advance of the appointment. F.I.S.H. gave 2,500 auto rides for local and out-of-town medical appointments in a recent year.
Bus Ticket Assistance for out-of-town medical or social service appointments. In a recent year 160 round-trip bus tickets were distributed.
Rent and Utility Assistance may be requested. F.I.S.H. extended over 320 families with one-time help on rent or utility services in a recent year.
The second part of the grant is for holding meetings early next year “to engage the community on re-use ideas and alternatives,” including the campus itself. A coalition of 12 organizations will be involved in the process. The Big Question,” said McCaull, is “what’s the institution that’s going to run the place.” A big job, and General Services is not going to do it.
Protecting open space for wildlife and recreation has been well-supported in the Valley. Approximately 50,000 acres have been protected countywide. But all this open space will look like pure luxury if we are not growing enough food to feed ourselves. Currently the county only grows about 5 percent of the produce we consume here. Most foods travel 1500 miles to our kitchens!
A ordable housing, of course, must be a number one for the SCD campus. Maybe housing can be combined with an organic farming operation under a community land trust? We’ll be following this fascinating project as it unfolds.
Speaking of land, we’re grateful to the Congregational Church’s
Earth Care group and Transition Sonoma Valley for airing the beautiful lm Tomorrow, a heartening study of innovative practices already in use that attempt to address the urgent matter of climate change coming toward us like a global roller-coaster.
Other Amenities: Layettes and a handmade quilt by volunteers are available for newborns. Beginning in November people may call for dates and times to receive Holiday Food Baskets.
In a nutshell.... Local residents, please call F.I.S.H. to volunteer and help
Our ignorant and corrupt federal o cials may choose to ignore this pressing issue, which means that we are going to have to rely on local agencies to do more. We are lucky to live in California where our government has committed to signature climate policies; but other pressures on the state’s $183 billion budget appear to have pushed climate change into the background for now. What will it take for us to recognize the seriousness of this threat? Here in Wine Country, where cars line up all along West Napa Street bearing vacationers to our many wineries, we seem to be a bit slow to catch on.
Sonoma Valley residents in need. F.I.S.H., a 100% volunteer body of local residents, deserves your help. F.I.S.H. is unaffiliated and self-governed.
A new organization has formed which may or may not have its priorities straight. After the release of the study, Hidden in Plain Sight, revealed that despite its many nonpro ts, the Valley is not adequately addressing major issues, Sustainable Sonoma was formed with Richard Dale (Sonoma Ecology Center), Patricia Shults (Chamber of Commerce) and Juan Hernandez (La Luz) at the helm. You can share your vision and concerns for the Valley at sustainablesonoma.net.
Sonoma Valley Demographics – County Report: At a June meeting of F.I.S.H. members, demographic data was presented about Sonoma Valley. The data offer a partial cross view of the populations served by F.I.S.H. Population: 42,000 with 10,000 residing within the Sonoma city limits.
On the activism front, Indivisible Sonoma has changed its name to Sonoma Valley Resistance, and its Facebook page is public. Check them out!
28% Hispanic, 56% non-citizens, 76% live in Springs.
50% of Hispanic population has a high school diploma.
12% of Hispanic population has a college degree.
13% of all Valley residents are non-citizens, around 5,753.
20% of Valley population struggles with poverty.
4% of white population and 19% of Hispanic population live in poverty. 25% of Valley population is 65 years old or older.
57% of school population is Hispanic.
Finally, we’d like to say how sorry we are that Superintendent of Schools Louann Carlomagno has resigned. Sonoma schools will really miss her.
An earlier publication offers a different analysis of our populations by education, income, and health issues. The 2014 report was titled, “Portrait Of Sonoma,” measureofamerica.org/sonoma/which compares population by census tracts.
Sonoma continues to be a busy little hub, increasingly connected with the neighboring Springs and far too busy for this column to cover. But if there’s something important we’re missing, please let me know!
Additional News: Sonoma County Budget was adopted in mid-June including $2.1 million for Springs plaza development.
20 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 7/17
Wish to help? Drivers, dispatchers, food and clothing room volunteers are always welcome. Call F.I.S.H. at (707) 996-0111, or e-mail: SonomaFISH@gmail. com. To learn more visit the F.I.S.H. website at friendsinsonomahelping.org.