Page 1 - Sonoma County Gazette 3-19

MARCH 2019
Learn about Motivated
TASTE & EAT your way around Sonoma County ~ 16
FILM FESTIVALS to Entertain, Enlighten & Inspire You ~ 18 & 19
Groundwater Use Fees ~ 12
by Social Justice ~ 14
HOME at Last
Defender
By Will Carruthers
In late February, local veterans
& Protector
experiencing homelessness finally moved into their new homes, a group of 14 small houses located on county- owned land in north Santa Rosa.
Brenda Adelman Advocate for Clean Water
The lot, located on the county’s administrative campus, is the location of Veterans Village, a group of tiny houses intended to house veterans receiving federal benefits.
By Carol Benfell
In 1978, Brenda Adelman was a
There are approximately 200 veterans living without shelter in the county, out of the total estimated homeless population of nearly 3,000, according to the county’s 2018 point- in-time count of people experiencing homelessness.
Forty years later, she is recognized by The Press Democrat as one of the 50 most influential people on the North Coast and has received dozens of awards from government agencies and environmental groups for her tireless efforts to protect the Russian River.
The project, developed by Community Housing Sonoma County (CHSC) and championed by District 1 Supervisor Shirlee Zane, was created to fulfill a county pilot program proposed in 2015 to study the process of developing “non-standard” housing to address the homeless housing crisis.
On February 20, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, the state water regulator, is honoring Brenda with a Water Quality Stewardship Award for her advocacy and effectiveness in protecting the Russian River watershed.
The project was widely celebrated during an unveiling event in December 2018, despite some development delays and cost increases during the process.
INSIDE: 2019 Gardener’s Resource Guide
The award notes Brenda’s influence in the city of Santa Rosa’s historic decision to expand wastewater recycling to the Geysers, and her
newcomer to the Guerneville area, a school teacher, housewife and jewelry maker who operated a crafts business out of her Rio Nido home.
VETERANS cont’d on page 10
ADVOCATE cont’d on page 8
Your HOME TOWN NEWS: pgs 29-46 EVERYTHING to DO Calendar: pgs 53 - 71
This QR CODE will take you to our WEBSITE. Use your Smart Phone with a QR app or your Phone Camera