Page 31 - Sonoma County Gazette February 2020

By Lyndi Brown & Lions In Our Midst, By Chuck Lucas
Starting off the month of February with a cultural bang, the Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma returns to the Hotel Petaluma ballroom with this year’s Shabbat 100 on Friday, February 7 at 5 p.m. This Shabbat dinner for 100 is open to all, as you will find Rabbi Dovid and his chef extraordinaire wife Devorah Bush nothing if not inclusive of anyone willing to share in their positive energy. Tickets are a very affordable $18 for adults and $10 for kids, for which there will also be some special entertainment. jewishpetaluma.com
On January 2, 2020, the people of Penngrove and environs gathered at the Penngrove Social Firemen’s clubhouse for a presentation of “Living with Lions” by Dr. Quinton Martins of the Audubon Research Ranch (ACR website: egret.org/living-with-lions). Dr. Martins is a worldwide expert on large cats and brought his knowledge to share with the 70 attendees.
The gathering was in response to the recent killing of a llama and a large goat in the Sonoma Mountain area around Lichau/Cold Springs, taken down by P5, the name of the alleged perpetrator.
The day after devouring some of Devorah’s great cooking at Shabbat 100,
I can’t think of a better way to take in the sights and burn off some calories, than to take a Petaluma Marsh Kayak Tour with Clavey Paddlesports
on Saturday, February 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “We’ll take advantage of a high tide to paddle back through the meandering sloughs. This tour only happens when the tides are high enough to allow access to the area.” The $90 reservation includes kayak, gear and an expert local guide. clavey.com or 707- 766-8070.
Lions (Puma Concolor) populate our area. P5 has a wide range, up to 200 sq. miles. P5 was age 8 when he was collared in April 2017. The males will travel much further than the females. Females range is about 80 sq. miles. The male and the female are polyamorous. They usually don’t stay in one place very long. The females will usually kill more prey than the male. The males will kill another male’s cubs in a territorial dispute. Lions are extremely important in keeping nature in balance by keeping the size of the deer population in check. 75% of the lion’s diet are deer.
There are a lot of Valentine’s dinner suggestions floating around the Petaluma Foodies Facebook page, but Hotel Petaluma has you covered for both dinner and entertainment on Friday, February 14, starting at 7 p.m. in their grand ballroom with a three-course dinner prepared by the Shuckery’s new chef (and former chef de cuisine at Della) Stephane Saint Louise. Following dinner, there will be two special performances by two sets of come.
Forum will host David Templeton on Thursday, February 20 from 6:30
to 8:30 p.m. at Copperfield’s Books. If David’s name looks familiar, that’s because he is the Community editor and prolific writer for the Petaluma Argus-Courier, as well as being a successful playwright. “Are you writing a play? Do you have an idea but don’t know how to start? With over a decade- and-a-half spent attending plays on a weekly basis, and a lifetime devoted to telling stories on the page and on the stage, playwright and journalist David Templeton breaks down several of the biggest lessons he’s learned about the craft of playwriting. He will offer helpful tips, tell a few colorful stories, drop a couple of hard-learned observations, and confess a big mistake or two.” TheWriteSpot.us
While people are often afraid of a lion, killing a lion does not help. Dr. Martin said that “if you kill one male, two will takes its place”. It becomes an open territory to be claimed by another young male looking to establish his own territory. Male lions are solitary while a female can be seen with her cubs.
We are living in the lions’ traditional domain. They have been here for at least 10,000 years or more. We are living in their Costco. This is where they shop for their food. The good news is that humans are not on their menu. In the last 100 years, there have only been 125 attacks with 27 casualties. It is much more dangerous to ride to the grocery store in a car than being attacked by a lion.
The question becomes, “How can I keep myself, my children and my animals safe?” The answers are that if you come in contact with one, as I have, DO NOT turn you back and run. They are often triggered by a human running. That will get his juices going and they will attack. Usually, the lion will just walk away. Never turn your back to them. Don’t let your children alone without supervision if you live in lion territory. Lock up your animals at night. Don’t keep your dog, llamas, horses or goats out at night. Lions have a taste for cats. The only relatively assured way to protect our critters is to keep them in a secure enclosure. Playing a radio for the animals will also help dissuade the lions. Dr. Martin carries a walking stick with him on hikes. If you are hiking in a wilderness area, make noise to let them know you are coming. Don’t surprise them. If you follow these rules you and your family should remain safe. Coming Events
Artful Arrangements: Free Saturdays: Saturday’s Free Drop-In happens from 10 am-Noon, ongoing. Parents or grandparents bring your children. Volunteers help kids create a starter-plant in a ceramic cup to take home and nurture. Artful Arrangements Homestead, 205 Orchard Ave., Penngrove.
Feb. 9 – Penngrove Reading Series: Authors Nancy Davis Kho & Michael Giotis will read at 8 pm followed by an open mic. Writers (and fans) of all genres and experience levels welcome. Come early for drinks and dinner from the wood-fired oven at Penngrove Market, stay for poetry, prose, stories, and more. PenngroveReadingSeries.com
March 3 - Petaluma Woman’s Club Speakers Series 2020: Conversations with Women Leaders in Our Community. Learn something new this year! The March 3 event features Dr. Jane Saldana, Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs/ Assistant Superintendent, SRJC and Dr. Catherine Williams, Dean, SRJC Petaluma Campus. Details: 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at 518 B Street, Petaluma. Tickets are $15, www. Eventbrite.com . Search on ‘speaker series’. Four additional events are planned.
Sonoma County Restaurant Week runs from Friday, February 21 to Sunday, March 1 and is a great chance to try a whole slew Petaluma restaurants at reduced prix fixe menu prices. Lunch menus are $10 or $15 and dinner menus are $19, $29 or $39. For smaller boutique places, there is a Pastry Perk for $5. For a complete list of participating restaurants, visit: sonomacounty.com/restaurant-week. There are no tickets required but reservations are strongly recommended. Petaluma participants include Butcher Crown Roadhouse, Rosen’s 256 North, Pearl, Stockhome, the Shuckery, Wild Goat Bistro, and Valley Ford’s Rocker Oysterfellers.
Although Stemple Creek Ranch’s Farm-to-Table dinner is not scheduled until Saturday, March 28 at 5:30 p.m. at their ranch in Tomales, ticket prices do go up on February 28, 2020. As always, the meal will feature Stemple Creek’s grass-fed and grass-finished meats, paired with other local and seasonal specialties. Although their website simply states that “Guests will feast on a delicious meal prepared by a local chef”, I have it on good authority that the folks at Whisper Sisters will be handling the cheffing duties, which is excited news as they are also planning to expand their dinner menu at the restaurant/ cocktail lounge in downtown Petaluma. Stemple Creek Ranch owners “Loren and Lisa Poncia will also give an update on our carbon farming practices
and other ranch happenings. ...This dinner is a fundraiser for Loma Verde Elementary School’s Loma Verde Foundation.” stemplecreek.com.
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