Page 34 - Sonoma County Gazette 6-20

Class of 2020
My heart goes out to the high school graduates who won't be able to experience a normal graduation. For the last eight years I volunteered at
the Grad Night in Rohnert Park and feel bad I won't be doing that this year. What is so frustrating is that there are gatherings of one hundred starting this weekend. I believe in karma and because of what the graduates are going through something awesome will happen to them very soon.
She is the face of the Rohnert Park Animal Shelter. (http://rpanimalshelter. org/adopt/) During this crazy quarantine period of our lives senior citizens have been adopting cats and dogs from the animal shelter. Thank you Rohnert Park for adopting animals so they have a forever home. Call Mickey at 707 584 1582 if you are interested in adopting. You will be happy when you do. Stay in touch on their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ rpanimalshelter for current news!
Reaching Our Community
One of my favorite people in Rohnert Park is Mickey Zeldes.
Avila points out, “Our programming is as diverse as our audience, but our most important work is to provide critical lifesaving information to the most underserved populations in our communities, especially those who don’t speak English.”
a collar or a chip. Surely someone is missing her? Please call the RP Shelter, 584-1582, if you know who she belongs to. Although they are not open to the public right now, there is staff working.
Avila explains, “KBBF is the medium by which the authorities, local government, agencies, and nonprofits choose to disseminate their emergency information. Our volunteer programmers, who are themselves members of these communities, also provide cultural context, more nuanced translation, and national and international news that is critical to understanding any emergency situation.”
The CDC (Center for Disease Control)
recently published their new guidelines for reopening schools.
• Wear masks.
• No sharing of items or supplies.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces between uses.
• Develop a schedulle for increased routine cleaning and disinfection.
• All belongings separated into individual cubbies or labeled containers.
• No sharing electronic devices, toys, games or learning aids.
• Desks should be 6 feet apart and all facing the same direction.
• One child per seat on school buses and skip rows between riders.
• Install sneeze guards or portitions where 6 feet apart won't work.
• One-way routes in hallways.
• Tape on sidewalks and walls to ensure kids stay 6 feet apart.
• Physical barriers or screens between sinks in bathrooms.
• Only prepackaged boxes or bags of food instead of hot lunch.
• Kids eat lunch in classrooms.
• No more field trips.
• Same children stay with the same staff all day.
• No switching groups or teachers.
• Limit volunteers and visitors.
• Daily health and temperture checks.
I agree with most of this except no hot lunches. What about the families that
rely on schools to feed their kids a hot lunch.
One shining example of this groundbreaking coverage is KBBF’s latest program, “Tardes con Dr. Valdovinos.” This mental health show is broadcast in Spanish and has already garnered the attention of local media. Reporting for the Press Democrat, Hannah Beausang chronicled psychologist Dr. Valdovinos’ background and career. He grew up in rural Guerneville, the son of Mexican immigrants. His experiences informed his choice of a career focusing on supporting people who have suffered trauma or who struggle with depression. At Santa Rosa Community Health clinics, he oversees the integrated behavioral health program and treats many Latino patients.
KBBF’s Director of Programming Edgar Avila and Board President Alicia Sanchez oversee a dedicated group of volunteers who ensure that vital information is communicated to the community of listeners during this time. The public affairs programming reaches most of Northern California via an enviable transmitter site on the peak of Mt. St. Helena.
Stray Alert - Female chihuahua (20- 0327) was found wandering loose in Rancho Verde MHP on RP Expressway today (5/30). Sadly she’s not wearing
The station’s emergency broadcasting during the 2017 and 2019 fires earned global accolades for service to not only the Spanish-speaking communities, but also to indigenous communities—there are thousands of listeners who speak Triqui, Mixteco, or Chatino. For many of these people, there is no source of local information in their language other than KBBF.
During this COVID-19 pandemic, the station once again is taking on the task to reach these underserved communities.
Valdovinos shares his wealth of information on KBBF every Tuesday at 4pm.
The show’s moderator, Rafael Vazquez, is also an influential figure, with his own KBBF program. In the Press Democrat article, he underscored the importance of discussing mental health issues on the radio. “It’s making it more comfortable for people to feel understood. Instead of just doing one-on- one therapy conversations, we’re reaching thousands of people.”
There is more in the works for helping KBBF listeners through these challenging times. Alicia Sanchez shares, “We also are doing new Informe KBBF programs on the impact of COVID-19 on housing, farmworkers, parents, students, etc.” This show airs Fridays at 6pm.
Support KBBF: Join la comunidad of KBBF supporters. Visit KBBF.org website and opt for a monthly donation or a one-time gift. GRACIAS!
For those of you who love live theater, I feel your pain. Spreckels is the place to go in Rohnert Park. For those of you lucky enough to have gone to New York to see shows on Broadway, you will love to know you can see your favorite Broadway actors on shows on television.
As you can tell, movies and live theater are my passion, which is why I also write the Film Review column in the CALENDAR section of the Gazette. You can go online to find my recommendations for films to watch since we can’t go to plays! Hopefully we will be able to see live theater sooner than later!
34 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 6/20