Page 40 - Sonoma County Gazette November 2018

Who do you trust to be your voice?
Sorry for another article about the Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council, or MAC. I’m still hearing people say “What’s a MAC?”
Gimme a MAC but hold the Cheese...The key to getting things done is good communication, and connecting with those who Do, rather than simply pay lip service. Hence, a meeting about the formation of, and need for local reps for the MAC (Municipal Advisory Council) conceived by our 5th district supervisor, Lynda Hopkins, who believes we need more than her one vote to sway the other supervisors on issues that impact our home.
Folks came to our library at the behest of the Guernewood Neighborhoods Assoc. to meet candidates for this volunteer position. We heard five candidates speak about their priorities, passions, and determination: Jordan Lebovich and Jenniffer Wertz for Guerneville, Vesta Copestakes and Lucy Hardcastle for Forestville, and Chuck Ramsey for Monte Rio. The plan calls for 15 reps and alternates to represent 7 local districts in the Lower Russian River. Ballots will arrive in our mailboxes for all registered voters.
Comin’ up on November 6 - choose wisely and make sure your ballot gets in on time and you remember to SIGN IT. Only those who have voted reserve the right to ‘kvetch’ about disappointing results. No shoulda-woulda- coulda this year. Get it done!
It’s a big deal, and this will be the last article before you start getting your MAC ballots in the mail, which should be arriving shortly after November 7th. If you don’t want to mail in your ballot, or you don’t receive one, there will also be an in-person caucus on Saturday, November 17th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Guerneville Elementary School.
Full-time residents can alternatively vote for their district reps. in person. If you are not a registered voter, with proof of full-time residency, you can vote with a provisional ballot that day. On November 21st, the new MAC representatives will be announced. Visit this website for additional details— sonomacounty.ca.gov/Lower-Russian-River-Municipal-Advisory-Council/
One of the problems the Lower Russian River Communities have traditionally faced has been being out-of-sight, out-of-mind from the county government in Santa Rosa. Until recently, the 5th District included the Roseland area of Santa Rosa, which had about 15,000+/- votes.
G.B.T.s (Gaia Blessed Treats) have been delivered, on Give Back Tuesdays for the past decade-plus to underfunded, needy, deserving and usually non-profit groups, courtesy of the Rainbow Cattle Company. Outrageously popular, this tradition features a filling and fulfilling $5 buffet prepared by the recipients of the funds. The pool tables are thick with raffle prizes, and the Rainbow donates 10% of their bar tab to the chosen group
The next largest number of votes within the 5th District is unincorporated Sebastopol, with about 9,000+/- votes. Guerneville is next with about 2,800+/- votes, and all of the other communities within the 5th District are about 1,000+/- votes or less. The only official representation we have had for this huge district is our 5th District Supervisor.
Things are changing—Roseland has now been incorporated into
the City of Santa Rosa, giving remaining communities a louder voice. Supervisor Hopkins came along from Forestville, with this idea to empower our communities with more representation. She’s keeping her campaign promises, and has formed the first MAC. There will be nine reps. to represent the Lower River Communities from Forestville to Cazadero.
of the evening. Comin’ up...11/6 Mama’s Toy Drive, 11/13 Friends of the Library, 11/20 Russian River, Sisters Grants Fund, 11/27 Dogma Animal Rescue. Grazing starts at 6 pm. Mama’s (Sandy Reinhardt) Leather Family, with over 200 (in 42 States) members including Sen. Mark Leno and Armistead Maupin, has earned national recognition by helping raise funds for more than 300 organizations. Bring a toy, a half a sawbuck for the eats, and you’ll make friends you’re liable to keep forever.
These people have submitted applications to run:
Forestville: Gary Harris, Lucy Hardcastle, Vesta Copestakes, Iain Burnett, Claudia Sisomphou, Allison Bordessa
New Beginnings - “Inizi” means new beginning in Italian and fairly recently Inizi wines has been offering tastes and vino for sale at the renovated Bank Building on Main and Church Streets. Counterman Lonny explains that Inizi specializes in “rare and neglected” wines and their current offering is an amalgam called Charbono. The vineyard itself is 1.5 acres of 40+ year old head trained and dry-farmed vines and is composed primarily of crushed volcanic clay sitting in the southern part of the new Calistoga AVA.
Free Gardening Workshops at the Guerneville Library including Diane Kenworthy’s Healthy Gardens: A Balanced Approach (Integrated Pest Management) scheduled for Nov. 10 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm and Bill Klausing on building a (mostly) Native Habitat Garden.
West County Community Services...is offering “immediate therapeutic support” via a walk-in counseling clinic for individuals, couples and families - no appointment necessary. Mon. and Weds 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tues. and Thurs. 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Fri. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. It’s at 16390 Main St. Guerneville
The MCCRE, The “Little Church on the River” spreads the word
at brick and mortar Odd Fellows Hall on First Street. But what’s currently important is the Metropolitan Community Church of the Redwood Empire’s members will be cooking and serving a gourmet feast to whomever drops by from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 18. Their chief concern is making sure disenfranchised (my word) folk get nourishment, but everyone and anyone is welcome to stop by.
Everybody’s Heard About the Bird... Once again the Vets Hall on First Street will open its doors at Noon for a FREE Thanksgiving dinner and food will be served as long as it lasts. Open to everyone. Volunteers and donations are needed and welcomed. To donate mail a check to God’s Grace, Inc., P.O. Box 324, Guerneville, CA 95446 or bring a donation to the event. To volunteer, call Penny Rivas at 707-326-1257. Dinner sponsored by God’s Grace in partnership with Sonoma Lighthouse Christian Church.
I hope you all have a Happy November, a time for making choices. Where to celebrate Thanksgiving, who and what to vote for, and whether to try not to get sucked into the bald commercialism of spending “seasonally.”
Hacienda: Calvin Sandeen, Chelene Lopez
Rio Nido: Pip Marquez, Lewis Lee Brown, John Uniack
Guerneville: Brian Applegarth, Brian Ohm, Deborah Lieberman, Dylan Ohm,
Jordan Lebovich, Ron Redmon, Jeniffer Wertz
Pocket Canyon: Angie Dillon-Shore, Bruce MacDonell, Crista Luedtke,
Jeanette Dillman, Kim Holliday, Marcy Cooper
Monte Rio: Chuck Ramsey, Cynthia Strecker, Kyra Wink
Cazadero/Duncans Mills: Lisa Palmer, Mike Nicholls, Theresa Gwiazdowski,
Tom Walls
In small communities, there are a few number of people who are willing to volunteer their time for various things, many times resulting in the
same people having to wear multiple hats. We have not had “official” representation; therefore we have relied on those willing to try and speak up for us. While it’s difficult in a small town, it’s important to not always have the same people in charge of everything. We need different perspectives. There needs to be “checks and balances” to keep the community healthy.
Out of desperation to some degree, multiple community advocacy groups have been formed over the last few years. The MAC is going to give our communities an “official” voice, allowing our residents to chose who they want to speak up for them. The MAC will serve as a filter for the Board
of Supervisors, a more organized and orderly way of interacting with our elected representatives.
MAC representatives will be volunteers serving two year terms. There will be alternates in each district. While the MAC will only have the authority
to make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors, there is a greater likelihood the Board of Supervisors will adopt recommendations of the MAC representatives for the communities they serve want.
So, spread the word & make sure you VOTE!
40 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 11/18