Page 44 - Sonoma County Gazette Sept 2017

When you are trying to write about your community, it is great to
have friends that are doing good things for the community as sources.
Our Sonoma and Mendocino coasts have an amazing and diverse natural and cultural history offering unexplored areas and untold stories. The “Doghole Ports Project: Exploring the Cultural Landscape of the Sonoma Coast” is an active project supported
by the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary under NOAA in partnership with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, California State Parks, The San Francisco Maritime Museum, Sonoma State University and other partners. For the last two years a team of archeologists, interns, and divers have been exploring over 12 ‘doghole ports’ (barely large enough for a dog to turn around) which were active starting in the 1850’s along the Sonoma Coast and over 9 ports in Mendocino are noted. The project is also exploring some of the 100 plus shipwrecks on our rugged coast most of which are identified previously. With few roads our coastline was the main transportation means thus the ocean waterways were the most important to ranchers and farmers to get the lumber, railroad ties, tanbark, produce, meats, and many other products to the awaiting schooners to the buyers often in San Francisco. This research effort connects many aspects of the cultural history which
often goes untold amongst our local neighbors and visitors to our coast. This maritime heritage is important to our shared history. Land and water was truly connected here on our coast. Can you imagine the work and risk involved in this labor force in getting supplies from the shores to the ships and beyond to the buyers in San Francisco?
One of most important aspects in this project is to identify these locations but also to reach and connect communities together, to understand how
the resources were used amongst the many ranchers and farmers in our communities in this shared heritage. The project wants to document and engage with the community to correctly tell these stories and get the facts accurate as well as bring an awareness of overlooked yet important history highlighting the families of this era. The goal is also to support a stewardship ethic for the public that comes to the coast and uses the resources keeping protection in place as a priority. The main request at this time is for families to look in their scrapbooks for old photos of the doghole ports and uses of the coast line. Or if you have personal stories and would like to share them the project leads are most grateful. Please visit the website for contact and tons
Swim Team: This week JoAnn Bray called to tell me about the great bene t the children of Bodega Bay have realized by being in the swimming program at the Bodega Harbour Homeowners’ Pool. She had just hung up when Carolyn Conners called to tell me about the same program. It is a total bene t to the community. Kudoes to all those who drove to pick up the kids that had no transportation; and kudos to the Harbour members who for many years have improved the summertime life of Bodega Bay School kids (and this year open to kids who go to school elsewhere but who live in Bodega Bay. )
This is not just a y-by-night program. Apparently Sandy Horn has returned every summer to teach swimming. Kudoes to those who sacri ce to help our young people (whether it is driving them to the event or supporting a program like this.) If my information is accurate this has been going on eighteen years. Thanks to Sandy Horn. This has become one of the great events in Bodega Bay (like Fish Fest or the Grange Ciopopino Feed..)These are the kinds of events that make this such a special place to live (now if the pool could be open to adult members of the community (who would be happy to pay a fee)it would be near perfect.
Love where we LIVE: Speaking of re-inforcement of our pleasure with where we live, just get a “Congratulations..You are a Winner” phone call. The callers are so exuberant about their awards it is hard to dissuade them. When they have o ered you a prepaid ight to the Bahamas, or San Diego, they are o ended when you tell them that Bodega Bay is the best place in the world
to live. They usually “stomp away” with some disbelieving last comment. I have nothing against traveling—I have enjoyed all the o ered sites. But my experience has led me to suspect that there is some catch in the o er: something “innocuous” like buying a time share (did you ever try to sell your timeshare?)
Bay Dredging: Apparently the dredging will happen in September. My information is that the dredgings will be taken out to sea and dumped in a deep place in the ocean. This decision was made partly in recognition of the intense truck tra c the community would be subjected to if the dredging were dumped in the pond below the Bird Walk. Travel by sea is cheaper than driving the huge dump trucks which would be called for. We lament using the ocean as a dumping ground, but this appears to be the best choice and we are grateful that those in charge (including Caryl Hart—friend of parks who resigned) weighed all the aspects of the issue and considered the best interests of those who would be confronted with high tra c counts of big trucks..(can you imagine trying to get to the post o ce if all the trucks were going to the Bird Walk.?)
of information as well as classroom material, events, and lectures planned. farallones.noaa.gov/heritage/doghole.html
Town Meeting: We are about to have another “Town Meeting”. We have already had two and the community support is incredible. We have had no ghts and as far as I know, no angry TWEETS afterwards. Supervisor Lynda Hopkins has gone a long way to try to make data available. E ective town meetings are partially dependent upon having a place to meet. We are lucky to be able to have our meetings in the Grange Hall.
Wishing you all the best that September has to offer. It is one of my favorite months on the coast. Calm waters, fog or no fog, no wind, and quieter days. Remember to count your many blessings. Share a hug, share a story, and lend a helping hand to someone in need. Love love.
With all this – I encourage you to get out and about this month, warm up your bodies from this fog, and check out the place names of these ports – such as Fisk Mill Cove, Schooner Gulch as well as many other coastal spots with the available access from our many parks. Please do not explore on private land.
workers in the Bodeg Bay area, focusing on low income and xed income families.
The “ Grangers” make this possible for community meetings at no cost. When you realize that it costs around $16,800 a year just to keep the hall open ($1,400 per month), the e orts of the members is to be appreciated.
The rest of the community acknowledges this by sharing funds with the Grange. Both the Cabaret and Fish Fest share their receipts with the Hall. It is greatly appreciated. Members work hard—having Flea Markets, putting on the Cioppino Feed, and even selling ra e tickets for some speci c causes (like the Six scholarships which are granted each year—at $1,000 apiece.) The local merchants support the ra e. When someone o ers to sell you a ticket, remember all the good the eventual proceeds do for the community.
The initial fundraiser will be September 6 from 3 to 7 p.m at Ginochio’s Kitchen. There will be live music and the usual excellent cuisine. There will be a ra e. Ten percent of the sales will bene t the foundation and help advance the project of serving Bodega Bay residents. The new group will work with the Redwood Empire Food Bank to purchase the food for local low income and xed income families, including shermen. Since they have to purchase the food from the Redwood Empire Food Bank they will have a need for funds. More fundraising events are probably in their future. We wish them well.
Waves of Compassion: As Carolyn Conners mentioned before, there is another new group forming to help those who can use a hand up. The new Bodega Bay group, the Waves of Compassion Foundation, has formed a non-pro t organization to start a food pantry which will serve residents and
44 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 9/17
Fall is a lovely time here. School is beginning and it is wonderful to see the children coming home (walking, biking or by bus). They all seem so happy—a tribute to parents who reinforce the importance of school and of teachers who make it such a pleasant place.
Hope you saw the solar eclipse (glad we aren’t in Oregon which was overrun.) The Seasons turn; be grateful for all the beautiful days. And remember what the Ethiopians taught us, BE KIND.