Page 44 - Sonoma County gazette September 2018

The salmon are running. This is the best news of our village this week. Our fishermen had a lousy crab season and not much of a salmon season last year. Even those of us who are consumers and not producers excitedly support this good news for our village. We are told that the price of salmon is so high that you can no longer buy fish directly from the boat. The fishermen made much more by repeated sales to the local vendors and don’t want to compete against themselves. All we can say is—GO FOR IT GUYS.
Surf into September!
The fog has rolled in. The evacuees from central California where it is over 100 degrees—are surprised how cool it really is up here during the summer. Sometimes it seems just too much. The traffic caused by day trippers is a continuing problem, not just caused by single events.
The North Coast is home to “viking” surfers who have to work extra hard by gearing up for our dangerously cold waters. Curious new surfers to experienced old-timers can stop by the shop to rent equipment. The Dougherty’s rent out wetsuits, surf boards, paddle boards, bodyboards and skimboards. They contract with the expert Ed Barbera to shape unique and impressive custom made boards. They also offer ding repair for personal boards. The shop is a great resource center for all ocean lovers and eager surfers alike.
When they asked us what they could do to get to see the whales, we just advised them to go back to their cars and get a sweatshirt. Those who did and returned were full of questions like: What time do the whales come through? Where do we stand to feed the whales? (I suggested San Diego).
Exciting news: Northern Light just opened a new Surf Shop in Valley Ford! They have been open with steady business flowing in since this past June. They have some compelling fresh designs coming out, which are featured particularly in this location. One item that really caught my eye is called
Surf Dirt, a skin and reef safe sunscreen developed by a Hawaiian family of herbalists and chemical scientists. What a great eco-friendly invention!
I now live next to a state park and we live with constant concern
about a fire. Many of our parks are filled with dead branches and dead brush. Remains “tinder-like” stay on the ground. We have repeatedly suggested that some fire agency consider controlled burns. The CERT meeting last week had many good suggestions.
We have great respect for our first responders and fire fighters. Each of
us should do our part to cut down the dried brush that lines our parks and beaches. Our first responders do their part; now it is up to us to take away the fuel. The fire department advises us to mow the dead grass and remove dead tree branches that feed fires.
Ben has been surfing for 15 years and most enjoys the personal challenge, the people and the ocean water. He sees all walks of life out there, from toddlers
to 80 year old surfers. He’s lived happily here in Bodega for 10 years. He
enjoys seeing his wife, Sarah, at work doing amazing things in the shop. She simply loves the interaction with all the people coming in to shop - a multitude of ocean lovers. Also, she likes watching the young surfer kids grow up, observing their individual paths of life as they relate to the ocean.
Our own area knows the incredible tolls of fires. The fire department regularly advises those who own lots that are undeveloped to have them mowed and remove the tinder-like dead plants.( I always wonder why the fire department leaves the dead and dying trees next to their Station 2.)
Sarah loves Bodega. She likes living in the country and being a part of a small community. Of course, she and her husband Ben love being close to
the beach. Ben is also an arborist (“a tree surgeon”) who works mostly in residential and high risk areas. Let this be a reminder to stay on top of your forestry work and keep trees and bushes trimmed back to ensure safety for you and your neighbors during this fire season.
Those of us who live near access lots just hold our breath during the fire season. Throughout our community, the undeveloped lots filled by day- trippers seeking access to the beach (even from the bird walk) are a hazard—a fire waiting to happen. We need to do whatever we can to prevent it.
The wildlife suffers when there are the raging fires. There are no fresh water tanks or sloughs in these undeveloped lots. We see fawns trying
to drink out of the bay, but salt water is not good for them and mothers move them along. Only at Campbell Cove and the Hole in the Head can the wildlife find fresh water (If you want a real concert, go out at eventide and listen to the bullfrogs sing.) These fires must be horrible for the deer and other wildlife who live in the backcountry. Maybe the Park Rangers could look into some pattern of controlled burns that would not threaten the deer, but cut down the pine needles piled up against the fences.
Maybe, just maybe, we might have some major rains. We need to talk to our oldsters who knew the dances and prayers for rain. Maybe some
of them would still work. The CERT points will be made. They say they will encourage the community to help as the eyes and ears of the BBFPD before and after any fire. They need to keep reminding us. We can’t just leave it to our elected officials to insist that we take steps to minimize fire hazards.
We need to be sure to tell them how much we appreciate their work. Some fifty years ago (when fewer women were on city councils and Boards of Supervisors) we continued our private practices even while being on City Councils and Boards of Supervisors. Thankfully we still have public-minded citizens who are willing to put in the time and effort to improve our community. One of our Supervisors has expressed concern about being pregnant...SHE CAN DO IT... Good luck, Supervisor Hopkins. We’re rooting for you.
The new Valley Ford Shop is planted in the center of town in the historic Dairyman’s Bank building. The old bank served the prosperous dairy farmers and local businesses starting back in 1890. The very first officers were H. M. LeBaron and Hollis Hitchcock. The son, C. A. LeBaron, continued the legacy of the bank through its merge with the Tomales Bank in 1923. In 1928, the Dairyman’s Coast Bank became the Bank of America. This institution back in the day was said to be the most frequently robbed bank. It is worth a visit.
Greetings, fellow coastal creatures. It’s that time of year again - surfers know: the best season for surfing is from September to January. The Northern Light Surf Shop has been serving Bodega and passer-bys since 1986. The current owner-operators Sarah and Ben Dougherty have been running it since 2012. Even before then, Sarah had been working at the Surf Shop on and off since 1990. She was raised in Bodega and is very connected to the area.
Keep your eyes peeled for the shop’s storewide sale in the month of February, 2019. Fall hours for both locations 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
These are just some of the tasks the local elected officials face.
Enjoy the autumn weather. We have it pretty good—fog and all. Visit the Farmers’ Market and support our local farmers. Make it a point to swing by after Church, and meet your neighbors and support this good endeavor.
Go home, look around your yard, cut back the dead plants and cherish the late-blooming flowers. We live in a lovely place. Enjoy and BE KIND.
44 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 9/18