Page 39 - Sonoma County Gazette July 2020
P. 39

   Forestville Farmer’s Market: I don’t know about you, but I’m excited our little Forestville Farmer’s Market is opening Tuesday, July 7 starting at 4 pm at the downtown oaks park. It’s a shop and leave situation right now but I’m thrilled we get to have our Market back. Kudo’s to Mary Rand for taking the lead this year. I got to tour her farm up Hidden Valley Road recently and got some spectacular squash and met her chickens. She credits her husband Jim for keeping the place in tip top shape. It was evident he has a green thumb. Stop on by to pick up your veggies, check out some crafts and there will even be food vendors. It will take place each Tuesday evening through September.
Greetings Graton!
While you are at the market, notice how the upper lawn is mowed. You may wonder, who does that? Who is volunteering their time to keep the park looking nice? It’s Don Reha who used to own Forestville Pizza. He’s been doing it for 5 years now. Thank you Don for your selfless service. We appreciate you!
I know that this pandemic is very serious and has cost people their lives. I am not forgetting that. However, the change in pace has been so refreshing. These last three months reminded me of how West Sonoma County used to be. The back roads were back roads hardly traveled, children played outside and animals roamed in abundance. Everything has just slowed down and I love it.
LRRMAC: Since our Town Hall scheduled for May 17th was called off, there is speculation we might try to do a virtual one sometime in July. There is much to cover, that’s for sure. Certainly, we all appreciate our Supervisor Lynda Hopkins updates in person. She has an ability to command the stage. I think her confidence comes from how she does her homework. Her in-depth understanding of wonky policy sets her apart from the rest of us.
So, now am I asking myself “how do I keep this sanity?” Already, I can feel the tension mounting as we start to open up and my customers are willing to schedule meetings. I don’t think I’ll soon forget how much I have enjoyed more time with my partner, more walks with my woofie, more dinners with my children and the 6-foot talks with my neighbors.
I tend to go cross-eyed when it comes to reading financial charts, deciphering policies and procedures and struggle with the legalese required of a public servant. The bits I do as a volunteer on the LRRMAC (Lower Russon River Municipal Advisory Council) as the Chair of the Bylaws Committee and Vacation Rental Committee stretch my capacity to keep multiple priorities balanced. How this woman juggles her commitments, not just to us, but to
her family, pets, friends and the environment is a wonder. What I’ve admired most is not so much all those things, but how unflappable she is throughout. Focused, determined, informed and present. I wonder if she meditates?
Graton Slowly Re-Opens: Downtown businesses are slowly re-opening to full capacity. Please remember to shop locally and show them your support as they certainly need it. Something fun and new is Underwood’s creative Speak Easy. You can order at the takeout window and then carry your drinks or food into a delightful little backyard area with lots of space or they will bring your order to you. There is plenty of shade umbrellas and all the sanitation items you need to stay safe.
SPECIAL NOTICE from GCSD:
If you up on the challenges at the Graton Community Services District, you know that there is more deferred maintenance needed than there are funds. This is typical of any government agency. GCSD, in particular because of the low housing development in an unincorporated community. However, a big thank you to the board for doing the leg work and getting us qualified for the financial assistance from the State Water Recourses Control Board for the planning and engineering study. If you read the newsletter you know the following but if you didn’t please take notice of this important request.
Vacation Rentals: You may have noticed more headlines about Vacation Rentals now that we are back welcoming out of town folks to our special spot on the planet. If you go to 95436.org there is a copy of the first of many reports the committee has/will be working on. In that first report we had mostly heard from people who’ve had a bad experience with a short-term rental on their block. That makes sense as when we’re angry, we tend to speak out.
“FLUSHABLE” Wipes: The California Water Resources Control Board
is advising special districts that “Flushing wipes, paper towels and similar products down toilets will clog sewers and cause backups and overflows at wastewater treatment facilities, creating an additional public health risk in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.”
There are some systems, especially rentals that go through Vacation Rental agencies, that seem to work really well. It might just be the accountability. When there is a reliable recourse to annoying behavior we feel less helpless.
Flushable/disposable wipes regardless of what the label says are NOT flushable and need to be disposed of in your trash receptacle after use.
There will be more to come as we ask for community input. It’s a sticky issue. The plus side is short-term rentals bring in a nice chunk of change to the County via the TOT (Transit Occupancy Tax.) At what cost to its residents is the big question. Next steps will be looking at regulations like-sized communities have adopted and learn from them. The committee is tasked with coming up with a more robust research project to be reported on in August. Tune into the Sonoma County website or “like” and “follow” Lynda’s Facebook page. She is great at keeping us apprised.
Wipes that get caught in the sewer system can also clog pipes in your home. This can result in expensive plumbing bills that you didn’t count on. Flushable wipes don’t break down like toilet paper when they are flushed.
Russian River Low Flow: One topic high on our list is the aftermath of a rather dry winter. That means drastic low flows later this summer. Be prepared to do some conservation. That makes a big difference!
Please pay special attention to what you are flushing. Do not flush anything other than toilet paper and human waste. Anything used for personal hygiene purposes or for wiping, disinfecting or cleaning surfaces is not flushable.
What else can you do to prepare? Clear vegetation 5 feet around your home. Know that door mats, patio furniture, broom handles and the like are easy to catch on fire. If we have to evacuate like we did last year, close the windows. Also, please do leave if they ask us to. It’s a nightmare for our Firefighters to worry about stragglers when they have a fire to fight. It’s not respectful to ignore their requests which will keep us all safe. So, let’s be safe!
Together we can help keep sewer service costs down and reduce this problem. THANK YOU!
Yes, I took two months off from writing my column. I won’t lie it felt great to have one less thing to do but that isn’t why I did it. I took the time off because there wasn’t anything pressing to write about. Our little piece of paradise was so quiet during the Shelter in Place. It was, well... lovely!
This has become a huge problem at sewer plants across the nation. At our local sewer plant and lift stations, the operators are manually removing these wipes from clogged equipment. The continued flushing of these wipes has increased the need to replace parts that break in the sewer system.
Too Soon? If you have lived in Graton for a while you may remember the haunted house we do on Edison Street. We haven’t done it the last few years but have decided that this year ITS ON! Back by popular demand and scarier than ever. We look forward to seeing all you ghost and goblins then. Pandemic pending of course.
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