Page 43 - Sonoma County Gazette Sept 2017

Fall on the Coast; possibly the most beautiful time of all. With the mouth of the Russian River closed again, the Estuary is full to the brim. Postcard-perfect reflections of Jenner, Penny Island and the sea stacks fill our cameras. The fog has pulled off- shore and this small sea-side town is warm and inviting.
Well the full solar eclipse has come and gone and it was very foggy here! It did get rather dark, but there was no visible sun.
The view out of my cosy cyber hut frames tall redwoods and slightly drippy skies!
Bene t Concert Fun: The Jenner Community Center is having its Big annual fundraiser FISHSTOCK on September 3 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Summer of Love is the theme with music by the Thugz, Brothers Gadjo (Gypsy Jazz) and The Jennerators (classic rock)! They will be barbequing lots of wild- caught Salmon, plus local oysters. There will be high quality beer and wine
Here is an update re the paving of Cazadero Hwy, courtesy of Mike Nicholls of the Cazadero Community Services District.
as well as an ice cream booth. They will be auctioning off some great prizes including 2 nights in a Jenner home and a day of sailing for 8 on San Francisco Bay, on a local resident’s 50 ft sloop!! INFO: www.jennercommunitycenter.org
Utility pothole repair has begun on Caz Hwy and the FDR (full depth restoration) construction commences on Aug 19 and is scheduled to complete on Sept 21. Striping and the addition of reflective raised pavement markers will follow the first week of October. Austin Creek Rd. may be used as a temporary detour, although Ghilotti Construction or Public Works hasn’t advised of any details re detours to the CSD yet. Work will begin where Caz Hwy narrows at the first turn (near the Welcome Cazadero sign) and FDR to complete at first washout, then begin again after the washout to the next washout by the phone company office. Washouts will most likely be scheduled for repair in 2018
as those portions were funded by FEMA and approval/engineering was too late for completion under a separate contract for this paving season. We have applied for full FDR from the phone company to town for completion in 2018 and the project is in the preliminary county budget.
My husband just returned from driving the Austin Creek Road
detour to downtown and reports that folks are driving too fast
I hope that many of you are planning to attend the Cazadero Old Time BBQ on Sunday, September 3rd at the Performing Arts Music Camp. Check the Cazadero and Duncans Mills general stores for tickets (pre-sale encouraged). featuring fabulous steak or chicken, children’s games, wonderful “Chinese Auction” raffle, cold drinks, with beer and wine sold by the Cazadero VFD. Elegant Cazadero BBQ aprons, coverlets and baseball-style caps available, too. The dessert table is organized by the Community Church and there is great Pie Contest, with many of the pies going to the dessert table for you to buy! This incredible event is completely organized by volunteers the Cazadero Community Club’s volunteers to benefit the entire community! The next Caz club meeting will be on Tuesday, September 12th-7 p.m. at Firehall #1.
Also happening in this river-meets-the-sea community is the Saturday Nite RoadHouse – Live Music with the Jennerators; Food & Drink; Billiards and Blues; Music and Dancing starts at 7 p.m. This ‘story book’ coastal setting is world- class Americana at its finest!
CalTrans Guardrail: There was a very productive meeting with Senator Mike McGuire and Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, and Cal Trans District Director Sean Nazzari on hand to address traffic and highway safety issues. As a result, Jenner will gain several hundred feet of guard railing to the south of town, and there will be more signage in addition to 4 flashing speed limit and speed-sensing signs. It was an emotional gathering with Josh and Sarah, parents of the two little girls who tragically lost their lives about a year ago, expressing their appreciation for the efforts of the Community and the Cal Trans officials.
Paddle Race Fundraiser: The Sonoma Coast chapter of the Surfrider Foundation (sonomacoastsurfider.org )has announced its 6th Annual 2017 Blue Water Paddle Race & Fundraiser for the Sonoma Coast Surfrider Foundation to be held Saturday October 7 and Doran Beach. This year promises to be the best time you can have at a paddle race! They have added OC1, OC2, Kayak and Surfski divisions to the already popular SUP and Prone divisions. There will also be a Pet-With-Adult division, which is a must-see and do event! Please follow this link to register for this wonderful family-friendly happening: paddleguru.com/races/SonomaCoastSurfriderBlueWaterPaddle Race2017
and that the surface is also in bad shape – slow down,please!
Road Improvements push Emergency Responders Limit: Traffic controls on Highway 1 continue as new construction just south of Goat Rock and ongoing retaining wall work south of the Reef Campground (Ft. Ross State Park) require traffic lights and flaggers.
Things are just getting started at Montgomery School. Students are busy settling in to the new year. Monday, Sept. 4th is Labor Day and there is no school. No field trips are planned this month but there are many the students can look forward to in the coming year.
Add to this (another!) fuel tanker truck overturning and spilling diesel in Salt Point State Park (with the ensuing clean-up forcing one-way traffic control as they methodically excavate and remove the polluted soils along and under the Highway), resulting in long lines of frustrated travelers, truckers and bicyclists vying for space the narrow roadway.
At the end of school last year The MES said good bye to Melinda Parmeter as the Instructional Aide for the TK through 2nd grades. Melinda had worked at Montgomery for over 20 years and her contributions were greatly appreciated. This school year welcomes her replacement, Rachael Parent. Rachael is a long time lower Russian River resident and is fresh out of college. The MES is thrilled to have her and look forward to her contributions to the Montgomery School family.
Groups of cars and trucks leaving these stop light zones, all seemingly trying to make up for lost time, are creating some very close calls for the bicyclists. Add to the mix long logging trucks coming from several timber harvests on the ridge and by the Sea Ranch, and you have a recipe for disaster on the late- summer tourist-packed roadways.
We are immersed in various projects before the rainy season and appreciate Cazadero Supply’s 1st Saturday 15% Discount Day, which offers a terrific assortment of home, garden and vehicle items.
Our Sheriff’s, Emergency Responders and CHP units are stretched to the limit trying to cover the emergencies and accidents. Often a Deputy must travel from Bodega Bay to cover a call in Timber Cove, or vice-versa. And the California Highway Patrol is trying to cover the same area. Often you will
see Sonoma Coast Lifeguards and Rangers along with Fish & Game and Volunteer Fire Fighters from Bodega Bay, Ft Ross, Monte Rio and Timber Cove covering for each other on emergency calls.
Raymond’s Bakery ‘s Friday Pizza and Music Night continues and ‘Caz Central’, adjacent to the Cazadero General store, is a new and interesting addition to downtown.
We literally owe our lives to these community volunteers and public servants, many times over, for their selfless service and commitment to the public’s safety along this (often remote, and always rugged) coastline.
The Russian River Jewish Community will hold the annual Rosh HaShanah (Jewish New Year) celebration on Friday, September 22nd, beginning at 5 p.m. at the picnic area in Armstrong Redwoods. A festive event celebrating the beginning of year 5778, with a wonderful ritual, including beautiful music from Jubilee Klezmer Ensemble and a fabulous potluck! Please call 6325545 for information.
One thing we could use, in addition to the hiring of more Coastal Deputies and CHP’s, would be to stop the deactivation and removal of our coastal 911 Call Boxes. It is a short-sighted and premature decision, at best. I guess the powers-that-be take it for granted that everyone has a phone in their pocket and that there are cell signals everywhere. Obviously, they haven’t tried using their phones out here. Perhaps we all need to take an example from the concerned citizens of Jenner, and make our voices heard to the authorities; and keep repeating our needs and desires until we get the message across.
I send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Michael Soldano, who departed this life much too soon.
Happy September birthdays to Vanessa Alexander on the 5th, Charlotte Berry on the 6th, Jessica Shepherd on the 14th, my dear friend Dave Caplan will celebrate on the 16th. Rose Orlando-Griggs on the 21st, Colin Desmond on the 22nd and Jessica McBain on the 25th.
Please drive carefully and call me at 632-5545 or email at mayawrld@sonic. net with info for your Cazadero Column!
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