Page 62 - Sonoma County Gazette - January 2018

True Confessions From Garage Cleanup Professionals
By Sunny Seabrook and Michael Evje
Science Buzz Cafe
Daniel Osmer, sciencebuzzcafe.org, daniel@ sciencebuzzcafe.org
Jan 3 ~ Thomas E. Cochrane - Exploring the coastal geology of N California. $5, 7p, The Abbey, Hopmonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave, Sebastopol
Jan 9 ~ Daniel Osmer - World History through economics: 9,000 BC to 2008. $5, 7p, Gravenstein Grill, 8050 Bodega Ave, Sebastopol
Jan 11 ~ Marianna deCroes - Art and anatomy of a story. $5, 7p, Graventstein Grill, 8050 Bodega Ave, Sebastopol
By Date
Jan 2,9,16,23,30 ~ To Follow Your Bliss, First Follow Your Dread; Inspirational advice—but offered with no clear operating instructions - Follow Your Dread is the starting direction that points toward a realistic route to bliss. 7:30p; . Misty Rivers Books & Tea 137 S. Main St. Sebastopol. (707) 829-8871
Jan 4 ~ Transitioning to 100% Clean Renewable Energy - Program featuring climate scientist, Mark Z. Jacobson, professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University. $20- $50, 7p, Vintage House, 264 First St, E, Sonoma, 707-939-2973, praxispeace.org, info@praxispeace.org
Jan 6 ~ Science Saturday - Spring Lake Regional Park first Saturday of each month is Science Saturday at the Environmental Discovery Center at Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa. All ages, wheelchair accessible. Free-$7 parking, 1-4p, Spring Lake Regional Park, 393 Violetti Rd, SR, 707- 539-2865, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov
Jan 7 ~ Read it in Hebrew 5 week Hebrew reading crash course promises users that they can learn to read Hebrew in only five Flashcards portraying the letters alongside catchy mnemonics make the information memorable and easy to digest. Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma 1970 Rainier Circle / jewishpetalumacom.clhosting.org/ templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/3490620
Jan 20 ~ Waterfowl of the Laguna de Santa Rosa and the Pacific Flyway - Learn basic identification and characteristics of waterfowl found in Sonoma County and along the Laguna de Santa Rosa at different times of year. Pre-registration required. $12 (non-refundable), 3-4:30p, Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, 900 Sanford Rd, Heron Hall, Santa Rosa, eventbrite.com
Jan 20 ~ Green Your Grow - How to grow more sustainable cannabis. 9-5p, Solar Living Institute, 13771 Highway 101, Hopland, 707-472-2460, Adam Goldberg, adam.goldberg@solarliving.org
Jan 22 ~ Occupy Sonoma County Presents Self & Other: Ways We Divide Ourselves From Other People Donations requested, 7-9p, Peace & Justice Center, 467 Sebastopol Ave, SR, 707-877-6650, occupysonomacounty.org
Jan 23 ~ Images from Within - Training on how to promote your organization’s successes. Free, 9-12p, First 5 Sonoma County, 490 Mendocino Ave, Manzanita Room, SR, 707-565-6686, andrew. leonard@sonoma-county.org
Jan 24-Apr 15 ~ New Exhibition of Local Women’s History, “She Persisted”- This exhibition highlights a diverse group of women notable in Healdsburg history. Their colorful lives and significant achievements in the 19th and early 20th centuries helped shape the character of our community. FREE; Wed-Sun; 11-4p; Healdsburg Museum 221 Matheson St. Healdsburg. www.healdsburgmuseum. org; (707) 431-3325
Jan 27 ~ Energy Independence
Workshop Property Owners and renters from around the county are invited to join the Energy and Sustainability Division for a free workshop. FREE; 6:30-8p; Rohnert Park 6250 Lynne Condé Way GSenergy@ sonoma-county.org
Feb 3, 10, 17, 24 ~ Free Ukulele Classes ~ All 4 classes are free with a suggested donation to go towards Fire Relief Funds. Free, 1:30-3p, Cheryl Teach Music, 4910 Sonoma Hwy, Ste C, SR, cherylteachmusic.com/contact
Feb 5 ~ Energy Independence
Workshop Property Owners and renters from around the county are invited to join the Energy and Sustainability Division for a free workshop. FREE; 6:30-8p; Central Santa Rosa Library 211 E Street, Santa Rosa; (707) 565-6470; GSenergy@sonoma- county.org
Skydiving? Public speaking? Spiders?
Do you know what is the North Bay’s greatest fear?
None of these. It’s the fear of having a clean, well-organized garage where it’s possible to quickly find things that are meaningful to you. To prove it, a very un-scientific study was performed counting cars that were parked in neighborhood driveways overnight. The premise of the study was that if the car was outside the garage, it couldn’t be parked inside because other stuff was in there instead. Study result: almost 75% park outside. Yep – a pure case of ‘cleangaragaphobia.’
One 3-car garage we transformed was totally packed with absolutely random stuff 4-feet high – and we mean random. For example: one box contained
a worn left tennis shoe, a child’s toy truck, a fake leather black belt, a half- container of window cleaner, four pocket books and a brick. The owners told us it had been like that for eight years.
Most people think their things are valuable. “This is a collectable,” we hear all the time from retired people. Rarely. The single most valuable thing in garages are family pictures. Also, if people don’t deal with their garage stuff, it becomes a chore to their children. What about not wanting to ‘burden’ them?
We hear frequently that many of these saved things are part of a ‘someday’ project. Dusty garages tell the opposite story. Generally, very few items are truly treasurable and every unused and unattended item needs to go away for people to feel better, lighter and free.
There was one lady who, as we looked at a 5-foot high wall of stacked stuff and furniture, defiantly told us, “I’m not purging anything.” By the end of the day she could walk through there with ease AND find what she wanted because that’s what we do – not just toss people’s stuff (although we do all the time) – heck, anybody can do that. We help people do what they’ve put off for years – separate the necessary from the clutter. It’s like an instant diet for the mind. Nothing quite like a finished project, is there?
Fear not – ‘cleangaragaphobia’ is curable.
Here’s a three-step process to transform your garage:
Empty it – best in sections or halves. As you do so, touch everything once and place it into one of three places: a) a pile to come back in; b) a pile to give away; c) a truck going to the dumps.
Clean the area you just cleared as you go. You’ll need: a) rags and cleaners; b) a broom; c) a vacuum cleaner with all the attachment to reach the cob webs, cracks and corners.
Return the items from the ‘come back in’ pile to specific areas
which are labeled and easy to access based upon weight and your height
and strength. Heavy bins and boxes should be at waste level. Christmas Women Winter Forums AAUW ornaments up high.
Recently, a neat-freak friend asked us, “What do people save in their garages?” Emotions. Sound familiar? And speaking of things emotional, our final confession is that we feel really good helping our neighbors feel really good that they now can find their truly meaningful possessions easily in a clean space. . . . and many can now park their cars inside, too!
Healdsburg presents Winter 2018 Building Knowledge & Enriching Thought Forums. $95 for 6-week course. Raven Performing Arts Theater, 115 North St, Healdsburg, eventbrite.com
Jan 9 ~ Perspectives for 2018 - Rio Olesky’s Annual Astrological Evening, $15, 7-9p, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Rd, Carston Cabaret, SR, 707-887-1820, rio@starwatcher.com
Jan 9 - Feb 15 ~ American Association of University
Jan 16 9:30-1:30 ~ Feb 6 9:30-1:30 ~ Mar 29 9:30-1:30
Invest in your professional development and earn your Certified Tourism Ambassador designation in this interactive four-hour class followed by a one-hour open book
test. This designation will follow you throughout your career. Renew annually by attending key Sonoma County events and networking. Become a CTA class is $49. and 4 hrs long Register at www/ctanetwork.com
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