Page 30 - Sonoma County Gazette - October 2017

By Serena Makofsky
Defending DACA United We Dream. No to Racist Policy. Dreamers, Not Criminals. No Deportations. These were the signs at the Defending DACA
vigil that took place on September 1, on Sebastopol Road. It all began when Juan Román, the host of KBBF’s Late Night Oldies show (airing Sundays, from 10pm
to midnight), entered into a dialogue on the air about the youth in the community and the urgency of speaking up to show support for them. He envisioned a public gathering and described what he wanted to organize as a “family-friendly action... to show collective solidarity.”
What quickly became clear was that the conversation and event interested many listeners and organizers, including those from Political Action Committee (PAC) of Santa Rosa, Latino Student Congress of Sonoma County, North Bay Immigrant Youth Union, MEChA de Sonoma, and North Bay Organizing Project (NBOP). Román had predicted a turnout of “about ten people,” but what happened was that nearly 50 supporters showed up with signs and banners, among them educators, artists, activists, families, and a public defender.
Since these events, the ongoing policies pertaining to DACA recipients remain uncertain. For people seeking current information to help the local community, consult the DACA Sonoma County page on Faceboo.
Trunk or Treat KBBF hosts its annual Halloween season fundraising party on October 21. This spirited esta welcomes families for live music, performances, a low-rider car show, and food for sale to bene t the station. Kids can check out the zombies and monsters in customized classics, with candy bowls stashed amid the calaveras, cobwebs, plastic spiders, and rubber snakes. Windsor Bloco and Aztec dancers perform.
The event runs 6 to 9pm, with trick-or-treating starting at dusk. It all takes place at 1700 Corby Avenue, Suite B, in Santa Rosa. For more information, contact the station at (707) 545-8833.
Roseland Community Festival Celebrate the musicians and artists of Roseland at Roseland Village Neighborhood Center, 779 Sebastopol Road, in SR. La Prensa Sonoma reports, “As the nation moves through racial tensions, a southwest neighborhood in Santa Rosa is planning a street party that will fuse elements of Latin American and Anglo cultures.” The inaugural event features a Galeria de Arte Temporal, or Pop-Up Show, of work by Martin Zuniga, George Utrilla Angulo, Tom Beland, and others. Enjoy local bands and international foods, plus appearances by North Bay Cabaret, Symmetry Performing Arts, Miss Latina Wine Country, Oaxacan cultural dangers, and Sangre Latina’s salsa and bachata dancers. There will be many children’s activities as well. The free event is October 1, from noon to 6pm, with an after-party at Whiskey Tip.
North Bay Science Discovery Day All ages are welcome to this free yearly science fair on October 28, from 10am to 4pm. Hands-on activities, exhibits, and information are designed to excite and educate children about science, technology, engineering, and math. It all happens at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, in SR.
Day of the Dead Art Show Museums of Sonoma County presents an exhibit that combines traditional altars with contemporary interpretations of Muertos themes. Oaxacan and Michoacán are the inspirations for this year’s ofrendas. Liz Camino-Byers’ installation honors Frida Kahlo’s art and legacy. The opening reception is on October 6, from 6 to 8pm. The show is on view October 4 through November 30, at the museum, 425 Seventh Street, SR.
Aztec Dance and Drumming Sonoma County Library presents a performance of indigenous Mesoamerican culture as interpreted by the troupe Tezkatlipoka Aztec Dance and Drum. Texomazatl (David Vargas) founded
this San Jose-based group in 1988. The performance opens with the traditional honoring of the four directions—north, south, east, and west—and then features several dances. A few libraries in the Sonoma County system are hosting presentations, with the Central Santa Rosa Library event taking place on October 14 at 11am, at 211 E Street in SR.
Call for Volunteers KBBF welcomes volunteers to ful ll its mission to serve the community. For more information, contact KBBF at (707) 545-8833 or email us at info@KBBF-fm.org, attention Judy.
30 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 10/17
Roseland Really Reeling
“Wealthy Whitesiders have been deciding what happens to Roseland for over a century,” said a Roseland native who attended a Saturday Sept. 16 meeting at the Roseland Community Center. He was referring to how a Santa Rosa city staff member from the Recreation and Parks department had told a crowd of about 25 Roseland folks they would not be the “main voice” for how the Roseland Creek Park would be “developed”.
Most of the Roseland residents in attendance at the meeting pointed out
they do not want anything developed at the site. Many were members of a community effort for a Nature Preserve to be protected at the site with funding from the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District back in 2010. The city staffer, and a consultant hired by the city, pointed out how a city wide discussion would be held for “a community park” on a new website the city opened on Sept 18. The website does not reflect any of the comments made by Roseland residents on the 16th, though it is the exact same disputed plan shown to the residents with no changes made to it.
Many leaving the meeting vowed to ”push back” on the effort by the city of Santa Rosa to override the will of the local community for a plan the community thought was finished over 5 years ago. They thought the plan had been adopted by the Santa Rosa City Council. But current Recreation and Parks Dept. staff said this was not the case. They claim the city never adopted the former plan
so it is now open to redesign. New staff were hired by the city to replace Marc Richardson, a disgraced former Recreation and Parks Dept. Director who resigned a few years ago. He resigned in part because of his mishandling of the taxpayer owned lands at 1400 Burbank Ave. and 1027 McMinn Ave. which will be the park near Roseland Creek. This is where a Bikeway and Greenway were planned on the south side of the creek over a decade ago in a plan adopted by the city after spending $100,000.00 for a Roseland Creek Concept Plan.
The next city meeting about this park will be on Saturday Oct. 14 at 3 pm in the afternoon at the Roseland Village Community Center. The address is 779 Sebastopol Rd. Other meetings where Roseland residents can voice
their concerns about the Roseland Neighbor Wood and the Roseland Creek Greenway are at both city and county agencies. On Thursday October 5, 2017 at 5 pm is the Fiscal Oversight Committee for the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. Residents can speak at the beginning of the meetng in the public comments section to describe their concerns about how the city intends to destroy all of the expensive buildings on the sites the county taxpayers purchased at top prices. The land was then given to the city of Santa Rosa. The Committee will meet at the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District headquarters at 747 Mendocino Ave.
There will also be a meeting with the Vital Lands Initiative of the
District on Monday Oct. 16, at 6pm at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building located at 1351 Maple Ave. in Santa Rosa. It is stated “The Vital Lands Initiative will include significant community input and involvement,” and “Outline clear strategies for conserving our land,” plus “Enhance partnerships with community groups and organizations.” This will be an excellent time for Roseland residents to weigh in on how the vital lands of Roseland Neighbor Wood and Roseland Creek Bikeway / Greenway need to be preserved after
the District has spent over $4 million to acquire the lands in the first place. Santa Rosa is now trying to get the District to spend close to $1 million more for another piece of land there. Many feel this is unnecessary.
Two of the main points of contention are the city of Santa Rosa is no longer planning for the bikeway/greenway across the southern property. Also the city no longer wants to do a Pomo Interpretive Village park as originally planned on the creek’s southern edge. Some Pomo Indians from Roseland, and still living in Roseland, feel this is a deliberate slight from Santa Rosa against a disadvantaged underserved community here before the city existed.
at 6pm to 7:30 pm in the Roseland Village community Center at 779 Sebastopol Rd. There should be time to talk with the Community Advisory Board members for the city about Roseland concerns. By then it should be possible to know if the city is going to complete annexation of the Roseland County Island formed by the city in 1996. If annexation occurs this may lead to District Elections in
Santa Rosa is hosting a Community Open House on Wed. Oct. 11
the future for Santa Rosa. If Roseland were to have a specific elected official representing it at the city level, as well as the county level, there may be better public policy and planning for parks and natural open spaces in the future.