Page 32 - Sonoma County Gazette - August 2017

Springs Potpourri
One of the rst things a newcomer notices on moving to Sonoma, as I did three years ago, is the large number of pricey fundraisers that are held to support our many nonpro ts. Instead of partying at home, our well-to-do throw a party for a worthy cause while wining and dining
Maxwell Park: In mid-July a fourth community review meeting was held regarding the County’s plans for changes at Maxwell Park. Supervisor Susan Gorin introduced the program and County planners. About 60 people sat around tables with large planning maps, studied, and provided suggestions and comments for County officials. There will be a final Fall 2017 Review, a Winter Response, and then the plan goes to the Board of Supervisors.
elegantly among friends.
Turns out that these events actually raise less than one percent of the typical
Information and viewpoints were varied and a synopsis follows... Pickleball courts – super... Free parking for events and pickleball is needed... Is the
picnic area too small... The plan will be subject to environmental review for aesthetics, biological resources, and possible tribal/cultural antiquities... Trails to have aggregate and be ADA accessible... New terrace seating at the baseball diamond, and restrooms, great... The Park extends across Verano Avenue. Didn’t know that, should overnight parking in front of FAHA be limited... Speaking of parking I’m impressed with the addition of 134 parking spaces and another 50 nearby... Improved pathway access from the Verano Sonoma Creek Bridge, that’s a safety factor... Volleyball courts, soccer field with concessions, a bicycle pump track and restrooms, solid improvements... Will new tennis court lighting be solar powered... Are we adding lighting for the skate park... New off leash dog park by the Verano Trail, arf arf... Easier access to Boys and Girls Club, great... The entry kiosk will still collect parking fees, not certain this is good... Buy an annual County Regional Parks ticket for all parks, $65... What’s happening out in all the backlot area... I hike so I see the natural surface trails... Will the area by Sonoma Creek be cleaned up... All the good people living west of Sonoma Creek and Riverside Drive will still have to walk or drive to the market since there’s no plan for a bridge across the Creek... Outdoor equipment to keep one fit, that’s healthy... Sonoma Creek is a major community asset,
And that’s only one of many surprises the study revealed, based on updated data from a detailed report done in 2012 by the Economic Development Board. All those fundraising parties not only do not raise much money for nonpro ts, they are a lot of work and are contributing to the phenomenon of “donor fatigue” observed by the report’s authors. Nancy Ramsey is one of the report’s three authors. They were all volunteers, by the way, and they worked hard, collecting data and putting it into their database. “When we reached one thousand hours, we stopped,” Ramsey told me in our conversation last week.
the new access points are good, do we need more... On site Ranger residence will help with safety... The Three Meadow and Back Meadow bikepaths and walking trails will hopefully tie into the Sonoma bikepath... Non-native plants in restoration areas to be removed... How will the new swim emporium ironically named, “Springs Splash,” (byline) fit into this new recreational network... Anyone wanting more information or wishes to offer ideas to County personnel, contact Scott Wilkinson, Park Planner, at 707-565-2734 or e-mail sonomacountyparks.org...
Meanwhile, our Valley is changing.
Nearly one quarter of the population is now over 65.
The Valley is increasingly diverse. The number of noncitizens has increased
Other... Empty buildings in the Springs The future of SMI’s Big Three building remains undisclosed on this important corner of Hwy 12 and Boyes Blvd... What is to happen to the empty boarded grass bound building across from Mary’s Restaurant at 18625 Sonoma Highway that years ago was formerly La Salette before they moved downtown... Anyone taking wagers about when the new white two-story office/live in next to Danish and Donuts will
Income disparity is growing, with 31 percent earning over $100,000 and the same number earning $35,000 or less.
find renters... What is to become of the empty storefront at 18332 Hwy 12 that formerly was painted as a tropical island... Down the street we are promised a new “Hamburger Palace” in the fall... On the horizon, Old Uncle Patty’s to begin its renovation and become a super Pizza House and the former Lanning property across from the P.O. and Armando’s is destined to become a noodle house run by the Fig people...
The community, once small and relatively homogeneous, now has many divisions, not only by income, age, and ethnicity, but whether full-time residents of weekenders, those who embrace the way it was vs. those who want changes, and perspectives on tourism.
What’s happening? There’s a lot happening in the Springs and people and events should be publicized. Has anyone thought of producing a newsletter or small paper devoted to the news and citizens along Hwy 12? It’s an interesting thought.
Be involved: Activities for your calendar. Check the paper for
“Without English and without papers it is very di cult to get a decent job,” said Ramsey. Only 50 percent of Hispanic youth graduate from high school.
time and locations.
August 5 – Docent Training, Sonoma State Parks
August 17 – Springs Community Alliance, 7–8:30 p.m., La Luz Bilingual Center,
The report summary concludes that, “the way forward...requires community leaders to collaborate more so that solutions can be connected for greater impact.” It’s a lot to deal with, without considering the fundamental changes we need to make to slow – or adapt to – the progress of climate change.
17560 Greger St
August 28 – Sonoma Valley Democrats Picnic – All Welcome – Maxwell Regional
And what about the role of wine and tourism in creating the kind of
society we want? Sonoman Lana Pereyaslavska wrote to ask why raw milk
is unavailable in Sonoma’s stores. It’s sold in Santa Rosa and Sebastopol, but that’s “a long way to go for milk.” In her native Ukraine, raw milk is sold at the farmers markets. I asked her how they keep the milk cold. She writes, “I don’t remember seeing any coolers there, even in summer. But the markets started very early, about 6 a.m. in summer, and they were selling fresh raw milk from that same morning - or the night before. By about 8 a.m. pretty much all dairy was sold, so we had to be there very early.” The milk is lightly boiled before drinking. It is considered more digestible than pasteurized milk.
Park. 100 Verano Ave
32 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 8/17
nonpro t’s budget, according to a report, “Hidden in Plain Sight,” put out this spring by the Sonoma Valley Fund, an a liate of the Sonoma County Volunteer Center.
The goal of SVF is “to increase grant making and grow philanthropy in the Valley,” and if you thought, as I did, that we enjoy an immense amount of philanthropy for such a small town and its environs, you may be surprised to know that of about 100 nonpro ts most are only just scraping by with about three months of operating cash on hand, and no cash or savings.
But the level of contributions is markedly high, with $113 million in total contributions (which includes the Hospital and Hanna Boys Center, both high recipients), including $34 million raised from individuals, an “incredibly impressive” amount, said Ramsey, which does not include the value of the immense number of volunteer hours contributed.
by 56 percent. Fifty-seven percent of the population of our schools is now Hispanic, an increase of ten percent.
“Poverty is growing in spite of the improved economy and has increased 70 percent. Almost 20 percent of families with children are at or beyond the poverty level.”
The national poverty level is $24,000, but here it is $44,000; $52,000 for a family of four. “That means that even two parents working at minimum wage jobs cannot get out of poverty.”
19% percent of Hispanics are living in poverty while only 4 percent of whites.
The pain of low incomes is exacerbated by the price of housing; almost 50 percent pay more than 35 percent of their income on rent.
“About 35 percent of schoolchildren are not English pro cient, and up to 80 percent of children coming into elementary school are not.
Happily, Youth Development and Education received one-third of all giving and healthcare received about a quarter, but housing and access to food received only one eighth.