Page 34 - Sonoma County Gazette June 2017

After a mid-May showery day, the view outside of my cosy cyber-hut encompasses clear skies and sunshine! I especially appreciate the lingering light, with full dark not until 8:30 p.m. I seem to have more time(an illusion,perhaps).
Frank Eggers tells me that Cazadero Winery has just won another
gold medal and was awarded 93 Points for its 2014 Bei Ranch Sonoma Coast Chardonnay at the prestigious 2017 Monterey International Wine Competition. This makes 41 gold and silver medals since Cazadero Winery came on the market 5 years ago. Congratulations, Caz grapes have scored again!
Acluster of giant purple and white Iris’ stand noble and tall a few feet from Seaview Road. These elegant beauties once graced the garden gate of the (now demolished) historic family home of Bev and Stan Hanson.
A beautiful but sad reminder of what once was.
The home at one time had served as the stage coach stop for the coastal ridge town of Seaview. This last remaining link to the rich history of the area was scraped clean; erased forever by boutique vineyard owners Peter Michael Vineyards.
As the big wineries are once again on a buying spree in our region, we must remain ever vigilant to protect what few threads to our past remain.
I was fortunate to grow up in small town Santa Rosa during the innocent 50’s. The Carrillo Adobe, Santa Rosa Creek and the surrounding orchards were our playground. Arrowheads and Native American artifacts were commonly found after the farmers tilled the soils.
My brother and I delivered the Press Democrat in the Montgomery Village area. Our dad had acquired an old Montgomery Wards delivery bike for our routes. It had a small front tire and a big basket on the front over the small tire. We could easily pack 100+ of the PD’s in at one time.
One day my brother came home a little late from his route. He had a human skull and some bones in the basket! He had been fooling around down at the creek by the Adobe where the bank was eroding away and found these bones. They looked very old and had some connection to the historic building.
Dad called a member of our church; a professor who belonged to the Sierra Club, to help. I remember sitting in our living room as he examined the skull.
After closely studying it, he concluded that it was a female Pomo, around 30 years old. And that she was a basket weaver! I was amazed that he could tell so much from this ancient skull. When I asked him how he knew she was a basket weaver, he pointed out the small square grooves in the rear molars. Evidently basket weavers would pull the Sedge through their teeth to soften and atten
it out, making the native grasses easier to work with. This was fascinating. It forever changed how I looked at my hometown and County.
To think that the Adobe property, the location of the very rst structure in what would become the town of Santa Rosa, is threatened be lost to developers is deeply saddening.
I feel the same way when I see our historic rural ranches denuded of their native Oaks and Redwoods, and the land recon gured by giant earth movers to make way for the seemingly endless wave of vineyards that are overtaking our bucolic hills and valleys.
That is exactly what is happening right now. This recent buying spree where the mega-wineries are buying up more of the established wineries is spurring a rush to expand existing vineyards and develop and convert yet more of our scenic landscape.
Our historic identity, our deep-rooted sense of place is being lost in this ‘vine-stampede’. I have to commend our County for having the (recent) foresight to preserve many of our coastal ranches and homesteads.
Imposing a small sales tax on locally purchased goods is a smart way to subsidize the venture.
This act of preserving enriches all of us; both visitors and residents. To say nothing of the environmental bene ts of protecting previously over- logged and mined properties, and allowing them to heal. With our inland and ocean sheries at breakpoint, and a bleak future in store for our native species, we must not let up in our e orts to protect whatever critical habitat we can.
One such property just came on the market on our northerly County line in the Gualala River Estuary. Adjacent to our County Park, I would encourage our Parks to seriously consider a purchase, even though technically the property is in Mendocino County.
The spawning sh that return to the river don’t care about county lines. Neither should we.
There is a lot happening in our special corner of the world.
This will be the last bit of news from Montgomery School for this year
as Summer awaits! On June 2nd the whole school will partner with Ft. Ross School to have a Field Day and a BBQ lunch at MES. A group of volunteer parents will come to the school and set up physical challenges for students to complete. They are grouped into teams and will participate in team-building activities during the morning. There will be a BBQ lunch and the afternoon will be spent with events such as hula-hoop race, bucket brigade, relay races.
Of course the big June event is the 8th grade graduation of the two graduates Gage Anderson and Ismail Martino, which will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday June 7th These two ne young men will shine at El Molino High School.
If you have a child that is ready to enter Transitional Kindergarten and/or Kindergarten now is the time to enroll them. You can call the school o ce at 632-5221 if you have any questions. The MES School year 2017-2018 starts up again on Wednesday, August 23rd.
A happy crowd was on hand for the o cial U.S. Postal Service installation of Cazadero Postmaster Evelyn Williams on May 11th, despite a persistent drizzle. The SF District Administrator recited the Oath, while many former and current P.O. employees helped to honor Evelyn. Beautiful owers were given by the Cazadero Community Club and others, with delicious cookies form Raymond’s for all.
I recently attended the always pleasant Pole Mountain Lookout breakfast and was told that over 200 were served!
Downtown Cazadero welcomes Caz Central, a new shop operated by Margie Cramer, featuring many unique local items. Hours are Friday-Sunday from 10-5 p.m. Tel# is 707 788 8145.
If you are catching up with Spring projects, remember Cazadero Supply for the 1st Saturday 15% Discount Day, with a myriad of useful items for your garden, household and vehicular needs.
Raymond’s Bakery continues its Friday Night Pizza and Music Nights- lots of fun! Do check out the Cazadero and Duncans Mills General Stores for daily groceries and many locally produced specialty items, including meats, wine and body products. Mr. Trombly’s Teas iin Duncans Mills is terri c and I recommend making cold tea for the warm weather.
I wish a Very Happy Anniversary to Toni and Ted Parmeter and my dear husband Gregorio and I will celebrate our #47! June birthdays include Bob Kelly on the1st, Jesse Abend on the 5th, Don Berry celebrates on the 10th, tireless volunteer Linda Baswell on the 12th, Je Parmeter on the 15th and Marsha Weidmann on the 20th.
Enjoy Spring, drive carefully and call me at 632-5545 or email mayawrld@ sonic.net with info for your Cazadero Column!
34 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 6/17