Page 41 - Sonoma County Gazette 11-17

Iwrite these words on the 15th of October. As I write this, the Tubbs Fire
is 60% contained. I tell you this because I know that anything I write now could be overtaken by events. I am cautiously optimistic, as you were on the 15th, that the worst was overe.
When I think of Thanksgiving this year, I know I’m not waiting until the end of the month to count my blessings. You may be feeling that same way, especially since Forestville escaped the monster restorm that devoured neighborhoods to our east. Yes, we are
It’s true that this is a Camp Meeker column, and Camp Meeker was spared the devastation due to the luck of geography. I’m sure you have all silently whispered “there but for the Grace of God Go I” as you watched. I would wager, without seeing copy from my colleagues, that a good deal of us will be writing about the fire. That’s as it should be – helping Sonoma County recover from this fire is now our job. We are knit together with the larger community. We all breathe the smoke together. If you weren’t directly affected by the flames, you know someone who was. You know dozens of people who were. This isn’t that big of a place, Sonoma County.
lucky the wind shifted, but we also recognize our good luck was someone else’s misfortune. Big Time. In the face of that, many of us jumped right in to see how, where and what we could do to help those who didn’t escape the ames and its aftermath.
I’m not sure where to start. Like you, I am still wrapping my mind around the enormity of the event. All of our modern civilization defenses overwhelmed by a primal force much, much older than we are. The realization that you are not really at the top of the food chain. That we are small boats on a very, very large ocean. It’s humbling.
For example, if you had walked by Backyard Restaurant any given day after the re you would have seen a urry of activity. Dozens of volunteers were chopping, stirring, grilling, cooking, packing, sorting, making thousands of sandwiches, doing what they could under the guiding eye of Chef Daniel Kedan, or his indomitable partner Marianna. She had come home from San Francisco that fateful early Monday, and her rst words to Daniel were “ re up the grill.” They didn’t stop for days, providing 8,000 meals to rst responders, shelters, churches housing the displaced, campgrounds at the coast lled with people getting as far away as they could, eeing the inferno that destroyed their homes. They even took dog food.
Okay, enough navel-gazing. How I feel about all this is pretty beside the point. How can I help? That’s the question we’re all asking. The immediate need is for shelter. If you have a spare bedroom, you might take a friend in for a while. If not, there are many ways to help, ways I haven’t even thought of yet. But you might have. It’s also important to be effective. If we (collectively) give too much of one thing, and not enough of another, our efforts are wasted. As fraught with emotional baggage as it is, money is the most fungible and effective medium. Give it to people and organizations you trust, and let them put it to use.
Marianna in turn was grateful for the 100 or so volunteers who showed up, including Andy Forrister on loan from Russian River Vineyards to handle
the logistics of getting things where they were needed. Marianna said restau- rants as far away as San Francisco were sending up food. Folks came out of the woodwork, including Crop Mobsters and home gardeners sharing what they could to feed those in need. While I was standing there in awe of the organiza- tional structure they put together in a heartbeat, a woman came in with boxes of plastic utensils and paper plates to go along with the trays of food being deliv- ered. She had done her own fundraiser to purchase those items. Sheila Vidrine found a niche and lled it
If you don’t have money to spare, donate your time and your skills. If you’re good at navigating bureaucracies and filling out the right form, there are lots of people who aren’t. There will be help available from FEMA, from insurance companies, and from other sources, but that only works if people know how to access it. Help them. It doesn’t matter what you’re good at – making soup, comforting frightened people, rescuing animals, cleaning up messes, lifting and carrying – there’s a need for it. Until there is food, clothing, and shelter for those who need it, that’s the job.
I suspect many of us took in evacuees that rst week. Let’s not forget however, as the ensuing months come and go, our generosity and com- passion will be needed still. Check out websites that can connect those who are willing to share an extra room, a granny unit, a house or apartment with those who are desperate for a roof over their head. Is this something you can do? Lynda Hopkins, our 5th District Supervisor can direct you.
After that, we rebuild and regrow. The forests themselves will lead the way. It’s part of their lifecycle, and now it’s part of ours. There is plenty of hard work ahead, and new growth. This will be painful, and will include mourning what we have lost. But this too shall pass, and one day soon a new Sonoma County will emerge from the ashes.
And as the shock wears o I think most of us are feeling a stronger need
to connect. Jennifer Hagenbart, Principal from Forestville Elementary, likes
the idea of inviting a displaced family for Thanksgiving dinner. Barbara St. Louis from the Methodist Church reminds us there is a gathering for “Tea and Classics” Sunday, November 12 starting at 3 pm. Bring family, neighbors and friends to a wonderful program of music, poetry and readings of the Classics with a repast of ne teas, sandwiches and sweets in the “Team Room” Wiebe Hall. Don’t forget the Holydale Club has their renown “Last Sunday Break- fasts” where community comes together over great big plates of food. Their cooks choose a di erent brunch menu each time, so bring a guest from outside the area so they can see what hospitality looks like Forestville style. Next one is Sunday, November 26 from 9-noon at the Holydale Club o Scenic Drive. Table tennis continues the rst and third Thursdays of the month at 7 pm.
That’s about all I’ve got right now. In future columns I will talk about specific things Camp Meeker night want to do in order to learn from the lessons of this fire. This will include talking to those who were in the thick of the fight. Camp Meeker VFD and Cal Fire will have plenty to teach us about defensible space, both individually and as a community. We can be an eager and attentive class.
Shop local, be kind, share what you can, and count your blessings. I’m doing so every day.
Final thought: I’m sure you are thinking about what would happen in Camp Meeker if, God Forbid, we find ourselves in this situation. How are we going to get each other to safety? What is our evacuation plan? What is in your emergency box? The time to plan all that is now. Let’s get started!
GIRLS...Let’s Play Ball!
West County Girls Softball is a fastpitch softball league for girls ages 5 to 14. West County Girls Softball is dedicated to making softball an enjoyable, fun experience by bringing girls in our community together in friendship and competition. West County Girls Softball welcomes girls from all over the county with all levels of experience to come play ball!
West County Girls Softball is a volunteer based program and is seeking energetic and dedicated coaches, assistant coaches and committee volunteers who would love to be a part of this exciting youth organization.
For information on registering to play or volunteering go to westcountysoftball.com Online registration is open and runs through December 31, 2017.
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