Page 36 - Sonoma County Gazette - January 2020

Remembering Francisco “Frank” Pardo
ReThinking Roseland – 2020 Vision!
Last summer, RadioLand had the opportunity to recount the background of KBBF’s DJ Francisco Pardo, who worked with the station since 1992. Sadly, he passed away on December 12th.
“A Community of Impunity” has become so entrenched in Roseland many longtime residents have grown frustrated with BOTH Santa Rosa and Sonoma County government officials.
Alicia Sanchez, the station’s President of the Board of Directors, recollected him fondly. “He was a very popular DJ among farmworkers, landscapers, truckers, hotel workers and retired workers. He came from the state of Michoacán in Mexico. He would tell stories and give important information on workers’ rights and other community issues.”
This new year WE residents should take heart. Let’s do OUR BEST to overcome the past and look to the future with goals WE set by telling the government what WE want in no uncertain terms. Start by contacting your elected officials. A polite conversation can help you keep track of your proposal.
KBBF posted the news of his passing in Spanish on its Facebook page: “Nos entristece avisar que el Sr. Francisco Pardo del programa Mañanitas Campiranas ha fallecido. La familia de KBBF lo va extrañar mucho, QEPD.”
A good place to start helping Roseland is by applying for a Community Improvement Grant NeighborFest Program by Jan. 6, 2020 to Santa Rosa. Applications can be done online at www.srcity.org/cabgrants.
In the RadioLand profile, Francisco talked about how his show, Mañanitas Capirana, was carefully programmed by him to ease the melancholy of those missing loved ones, be they near or far or only living in memory. He observed, “What I say on the radio, people listen to. The fieldworkers listen. I speak their language.”
What is a NeighborFest you ask? According to the city Community Advisory Board website, “A Neighborfest is a locally organized gathering, also known as a block party, that offers neighbors the chance to come together, have fun, and build stronger, more connected communities.” Now is the time to get your neighbors together to ask for some city support.
He also was the DJ for KBBF’s show, “Cantares de mi Tierra,” an hour-long tribute to the conjunto de arpa, as well as “Recordando el Ayer” a program featuring older classics from Mexico.
City guidelines state, “For the 2020 Community Improvement Grant - Neighborfest Program, the CAB will work with staff from the City of Santa Rosa and several community partners to offer one (1) Neighborfest event in each of the seven (7) City Council Districts. Due to the limited number of events that can be conducted, this year’s CIG Program is considered competitive
and eligibility of an application does not guarantee funding. The CAB is the final decision-making body in selecting grant awards.” Some neighbors have accomplished fun eventss such as “Roseland Cup 2016” which received $1,000.00. Get your ideas together and help Roseland have fun this year.
Nostalgia was the vibe of his programming. And now, the KBBF community is left with the same melancholy and memories that his singular shows evoked.
In regards to helping Roseland recently the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation did a creek clean up on Saturday Dec. 14 at the Roseland Creek Elementary School. Where Roseland Creek flows on the west side of Burbank Ave. volunteers were busy helping our community. If you are interested in planting trees to help Roseland the Forest Unlimited 23rd annual Redwood Tree planting on Saturday Jan. 4th and Sun. Jan. 5th may have extra trees afterwards. Contact us at Roseland Review to find out afterwards.
KBBF’s DJ Francisco Pardo
In the spirit of Francisco’s heartfelt gifts to KBBF, RadioLand
dedicates to him the following lyrics from the famous Mexican folk song “Cielito Lindo.” This song has been performed by countless artists over the years, including Tito Guizar, Pedro Infante, Vicente Fernandez, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Eartha Kitt, and Ana Gabriel.
Recently Roseland Review was contacted by members of the Madrone Audubon Society as well as members of the California Native Plant Society
to say comments were submitted on the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration issued by Santa Rosa for Roseland Creek Park. These refer to
the 19.5-acre area known as the “NeighborWood”. Many longtime Roseland residents who worked hard to get the Sonoma County Open Space District
to preserve the land for what some residents thought this would be a “Nature Preserve.” Saving all the trees on the land will help to keep air in Roseland a bit cleaner and fresher. Trees, especially Redwoods and Oaks, help clean the air.
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
Canta y no llores,
Porque cantando se alegran, Cielito lindo, los corazones.
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
sing and don't cry, heavenly one, for singing gladdens hearts.
The city of Santa Rosa may hold a public hearing on the report, and the comments received, on Tues. Jan. 7 after 5 pm in the Santa Rosa City Council Chambers at 100 Santa Rosa Ave. If you want to conserve nature in Roseland please be there. 2020 is the year to take the long view and work hard to OPPOSE the efforts by Santa Rosa for increased building and development
in Roseland. The city needs to focus on Environmental Justice for Roseland first and foremost. For the upcoming city General Plan this is required now that all of Roseland is included in the city. Roseland has been identified as a “disadvantaged community” and must be treated better.
Support KBBF Please join the membership of KBBF supporters. Head over to the KBBF.org website and select the option to make a monthly donation or a one-time gift. GRACIAS!
True Environmental Justice will “identify objectives and policies to reduce pollution exposure, improve air quality, promote public facilities, improve food access, advance access to housing and increase physical activity.” according to California state Office of Planning and Research guidelines. Santa Rosa must help Roseland residents fairly to have more natural open spaces as well as more dedicated park land in the future.
36 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 1/20