Page 28 - Sonoma County Gazette 12-2019

Sonoma Hoopla: I’m not one for big events designed to attract tourists, but I thought it might be fun to check out the lighting of the Christmas lights – even before Thanksgiving this year, and featuring new additions to the resplendent display of previous years.
Caroling at the Mission... “It’s the best event in Sonoma at any time of the year! Be certain to attend and make your holiday season a joyful success.”
I planned to just drive around the Plaza to see the lights, but that turned out to be impossible. I parked in my secret parking place and hobbled along what turned out to be a poorly lit street to the intersection of First and Napa, a grueling corner for pedestrians especially in all this traffic.
The Sonoma Petaluma Parks put on a Holiday festive event that attracts several hundreds of people each year. On Saturday, December 14, there are three opportunities to join in caroling at the Sonoma Mission San Francisco Solano. Three programs begin at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7 p.m. All community members are encouraged to participate in this FREE event. Advance tickets are available. For information call the Mission (707-938-9560).
Crossing First Street in my direction was an energetic younger woman and I decided to wait for her since two would be more visible to oncoming cars. She grasped the opportunity for us both to escort me across. Thank you, Linda L.!
Participants follow Mary and Joseph on a donkey to the door. Inside you receive a sprig of Christmas tree and a candle and sing traditional hymns and carols along with the Sonoma Valley High School Madrigal Choir. The program lasts approximately thirty minutes during which all participants stand. Impaired citizens and parents be prepared.
As we walked through the crowded Plaza, she told me she used to bring her mother to this event every year. This year the crowd numbered some 2000, many of them touting balloon lights and other luminaries of their own.
I couldn’t help but wonder, in the current era of blackouts and anti-PG&E fury, how much power the new installation uses, so I called the Visitors’ Bureau to inquire. Director Tim Zahner responded that all the lights are LED and that VB is a member of Sonoma Clean Power.
After caroling the Sonoma Barracks, Blue Wing area, and the Toscano Hotel are open and offer free hot cider, cocoa, and cookies. At the Toscano people are able to attend a concert by the Pickle Creek String Band, one of Napa’s finest. In the Barracks Courtyard join in songs by the Petaluma Children’s Choir and a camp fire.
A few days earlier, I had attended the Springs Community Hall’s second Annual Pancake Breakfast, a historic tradition held when the Hall was part of the Grange. It was a rich fare of pancakes, apple compote, sizzling sausages, and muffins, prepared by Chef Sean Paxton. Every single item was organic, even the butter and the vanilla, and grown by local farms, including the Mendocino Grain Project in Willits.
This magnificent event is open to all. It marks the 34th year the Holiday season has been celebrated at the State Parks facilities. Many thanks to the Parks personnel and the Sonoma Petaluma State Parks Association for organizing this festival.
“If it’s not organic,” said Hall manager, Seth Dolinsky, “then you get Monsanto.” Can restaurants afford to do that? He’s not sure. But some producers are committed to pure organic, like Mike Baber, who sells all organic breads at the Friday Market. “If you have to pay more, say $100 a month shopping directly from farmers, is that too much for good food?”
What’s happening at the Sonoma Developmental Center?
We were chatting over coffee at the Barking Dog about the farm situation in general and the “many young farmers who want to farm, but land is too expensive. “The question is, how can we feed ourselves with a lower carbon footprint and for good health? How much food would that take?”
40,000 people live in the Valley, most shop for groceries at the supermarket.
Sonoma Valley residents keep asking about progress at the SDC. The State of California turned its property over to the County of Sonoma months ago. We have heard of a residents advisory committee being formed. Also, that the water in the lake has been cut-off. Beyond that, “What’s happening?”
Some 150 people attended the breakfast – sold out! “It’s a good way to get people to talk about food,” said Seth. Supporting farmers, and finding a way to create a farmers’ cooperative farm and food hub, is his mission.
We know the Permit Sonoma people are working on an announcement of
a selected consultant who will work on the SDC. That will be welcome news. Then, what procedures will there be in place to allow for citizen involvement? As this writer understands the situation, the County has three years to present a final plan to the State. Time is passing.
Farms, like real estate, are up against powerful opposition these days. Investors are in control, buying up farmland for housing development and buying up large tracts of existing developments purely for profit. It used to be called “land speculation”, and since the Great Recession has become a clear threat to our vaunted tenet of private property as the pathway to the “American Dream”, driving up property values nationwide.
Events, Traffic Congestion, and Violations?
Promised high annual returns, investors make minor improvements and rents are doubled or tripled, driving out low-income residents who compose much of our workforce.
The issue in the form of proposed guidelines was to be brought before the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission (SVCAC) at its November 20 meeting. However, the committee representing stakeholders couldn’t complete the guidelines in time for the meeting. Thus, the County representative indicated the guidelines would have to be carried over to a later meeting. Since the SVCAC doesn’t meet in December it looks like a later date will be set.
The Valley is now under further threat of rapid investment
under a new policy called Opportunity Zones. Much of the Springs has been so designated. With this new policy, put forth in Trump’s 2017 tax bill, investors can make profits not only on higher rents but on capital gains from the subsequent property sale. And there is little or no oversight of these projects unless localities create such instruments, like Berkeley, has done.
The data indicate something needs to be done!
If not, projects may not benefit communities at all; they may not employ local people at a living wage, and they are likely to displace people who can’t pay high rents. Instead, they could cater to high tech businesses and their well- paid employees. Is that what we want? If not, we’d better speak up. Contact Supervisor Gorin.
After a two year study an organization contracted by the County called GHD made twelve complicated recommendations. The recommendations include traffic engineering changes, involvement of affected communities, and changes in winery and special event organization practices. These will be strongly supported and/or opposed by affected communities.
When the committee composed of vintners and residents makes its report to the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission be ready to voice
your views on these important issues of how many events and wineries can we live. The report will not only deal with traffic and overcrowding from winery events, but also Sonoma Raceway events, marathon races, and bicycle jamborees, among others. It’s commendable that the County and interested parties are working on these issues of overcrowding and safety on our highways and by-ways.
Speaking of speaking up, the next Climate Strike is coming to the Plaza at 1:30 on December 6.Sonoma High School students will lead the way. Y’all come! If the Dalai Lama is right, this is the generation that will restore
balance to this world. We’re all rooting for them!
28 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 12/19
Is Sonoma County Prepared To Take On Wineries Over Special
Sonoma County brought together a committee to study whether there is a maximum threshold for absorbing wineries in the Dry Creek region and the Sonoma Valley. Two studies, one in 2016, and one in 2017-18, cite increasing pressures on local citizenry from traffic and commercial enterprise.
Keep your eyes peeled for this issue as it becomes public.