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Bambu Uprooted
The lovely jewel box set in lush enchanted gardens known as the Bambu Tea House has been raved about by locals and visitors alike since it’s opening in downtown Graton a few months ago. Discover Magazine found it one day and prepared a feature article about it. Yelp-ers gushed, and visitors came from afar just to experience it. Bridal showers were booked, private parties and intimate
tea duets held among the whispering bamboos. I celebrated Jessica Barrilleaux’s long journey to the open doors in this space. Now, with much shaking of the head, I have to share what some of you will have found by happenstance; due to a sudden change in the new landlord’s plans, the Bambu Tea House did not get its lease and is forced to close its doors.
The landlord does not want the lovely developed gardens, which are being transplanted for now. Will another venue take advantage of what was developed? Unknown. For now, the Bambu dream will be packed and stored, we hope temporarily. Discover article was called off, towering mature bamboo dug up, last delicacies
No More Taxes
for Palm Drive Health Care District
consumed and last teas sipped. As neighbors flocked in for a final bask in the beautiful setting, Jessica shared that while sad about having to close, she is glad that she is not closing due to failure of her dream, which will look for a new location in which to blossom. A sad footnote that we should not as a community let pass: the beautiful little golden Spirit House that graced the garden (pictured here) was stolen in the midst of this huge change. I truly hope that by the time this is printed in two weeks that it has been located and restored to the owner that painstakingly brought it to Graton from the Far East. Please keep your eyes peeled and report any sighting.
By Carolyn Harris and Cristina Sundstrum
You are already aware of the reasons to support detachment from the Palm
Get Your Tree On at the Firehouse
You may not be aware that Palm Drive Health Care District taxes have been
a point of contention for years in the River Communities. As an example, if
you looked at the combined election results from Monte Rio, Guerneville and Forestville for Measure W in 2004, the PDHCD $155 special tax failed to achieve the required 66 2/3rd percent of votes needed for passage. Clearly, the River Communities have been grappling with this issue for over a decade. For most taxpayers in the River Area, the PDHCD special tax is the single largest tax on their property tax bill.
Once again, our local heroes at the all-volunteer Graton Fire Department are opening the tree lot around the new firehouse (yes, I will always call it New). Support their year-round services (and funds to buy new seedlings) by getting your tree there. As more and more local tree farms fall to vineyards, we can help keep this little oxygen farm/bird hangout going, and with a discount available on their site there is no excuse: gratonfire.com/treefarm.html.
Give like a Gratonite
What is new and we believe provides credibility, validity and justification for detachment from the PDHCD is the change in landscape for the delivery
of health care services to the River Communities with the addition of Sutter Hospital in 2014. The addition of Sutter Hospital, in its new location, has significantly impinged upon the Sphere of Influence of the Palm Drive Health Care District on the districts’ northeast corridor boundary. Sutter is now, by County EMS Policy (Emergency Medical Services), the closest hospital for ambulance transport for all communities along the River corridor. Sutter is also closer for patients using private transportation.
Material gifts are so last decade. My neighbor, aka Sister Ginger Snap, leads an amazing group that shows us how to give in the sweetest way. Several times a year, they engage in a flurry of cookie baking and assemble packets that are delivered to as many of the over 700 clients of Food For Thought (FFT) as they can reach. More bakers, assemblers and ingredient fund donations are needed for the Christmas bake-a-thon Sun Dec 20, 1pm. You can bake at home and bring them in, or join in. They also accept donations of groceries and small hygiene items (hotel shampoo, anyone?). More info at FFT 707-887-1647 and fftfoodbank.org.
Sutter Hospital, in its County Community hospital days had a reputation
for serving the under served and disadvantaged. Even though Sutter Medical Center is a non-profit it continues to contribute millions of dollars to free programs and services. This includes charity care and the unreimbursed costs of public programs like Medi-Cal. Sutter Hospital accepts 17 health insurance plans and over 150 variations of those plans.
Food For Thought has bridged nutritional gaps for folks with HIV for 26 years, and is now to include those suffering from other critical diseases. There are more people affected by HIV in our country than ever, including in our community where many are ill and at nutritional risk.
The Taxpayers Against Unfair Taxes Petition signature campaign is ongoing through December and January but we need more volunteers to make calls to voters or walk their neighborhood to get signatures or sit at our tables at your local post offices gathering more signatures.
Give to Food For Thought and our loved ones at the same time by sharing a meal on the Thursday, December 3rd, Dining Out For Life event that is Food For Thought’s biggest fundraiser. Choose a meal at one of over 80 restaurants including WillowWood and Underwood Bar and Bistro right here in Graton. 25% to 50% of your purchase will go directly to Food For Thought’s life- sustaining programs, you’ll have a great meal and a memorable moment.
If you can help, please send an email to sequoia@sonic.net or call (707) 887- 7595, we have a job waiting for you!
Drive Health Care District such as voter differential, lack of use, failure to provide outreach, excessive debt, two bankruptcies, and the disproportionate percentage of taxes paid by the River Community property owners compared to the remainder of the District taxpayers.
2015 was a tough year for some (speaking as one who fought a winning round with a bit of cancer for much of it). Personal and worldly tragedies strained the physical and mental health of many. Vote with your actions this year to get more resources available to our fellow humans with these challenges and make 2016 a more resilient year for our most at risk. “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” – Mahatma Gandhi.
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