Our vineyard pesticide concerns were on CBS news Thursday night...
Friday, July 26, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
MARC LEVINE COFFEE CATZ...
I just got this in the mail and was intrigued enough to share it with you.
Assemblymember Marc Levine will be at Coffee Catz to discuss State and Legislative issues on:
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| Scan the QR to go directly to the website. |
Assemblymember Marc Levine will be at Coffee Catz to discuss State and Legislative issues on:
Saturday, August 3rd from 10am to 1pm.
6761 Sebastopol Avenue
For more information, call 707 576 2631
How about a conversation re: a moratorium on new vineyard development in the state?
6761 Sebastopol Avenue
For more information, call 707 576 2631
How about a conversation re: a moratorium on new vineyard development in the state?
Monday, July 22, 2013
NO MORE CASINOS!!!
I implore you to write you Sonoma County Supervisors (Efren Carrillo's address may change soon).
All the County Supes' email addresses can be found on the page in the menu bar above.
Will Sonoma County allow us to be over-run with Casinos? This is a quality of Life issue.
Please read:
http://stopgratoncasino.com/sonoma-county-prepare-for-casino-expansion-battles/
All the County Supes' email addresses can be found on the page in the menu bar above.
Will Sonoma County allow us to be over-run with Casinos? This is a quality of Life issue.
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| Next Casino is slated for Graton!!! |
Please read:
http://stopgratoncasino.com/sonoma-county-prepare-for-casino-expansion-battles/
A NEW HOTEL IN SEBASTOPOL?!?!?!
HEY!
Tonight, Tuesday July 23rd, is a City Council meeting that will be discussing the new Auberge Solage hotel planned in the Barlow. It's long been my opinion that Sebastopol needs a hotel where people carry your bags and, wotta-ya-know, the Barlow is coming through.
Lookie here, ma' peeps.
Good thing for them.
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| The planned lobby area with restaurant at Rt. 12 & Morris St. |
Regardless, here's your chance to speak up and be counted. You like the idea? Come to the meeting and tell the City Council. What's that? You don't like the idea? Well, come to the meeting and tell the City Council.
But if you ask me, this is the shot in the arm Sebastopol needs.
Now if we can only get rid of that CVS debacle, we'll be in pretty good shape.
HOBBS AGAIN...
More and more frequently I am speaking with folks in the wine industry who are really tired of this guy. Because I work in the biz, I keep my mouth shut. I do not provoke or fuel conversation re: Hobbs, but it just takes off. He's not the most respected of "winemakers".
Anyway...
Here's the latest:
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Main Street, Sebastopol, USA
I like this picture. Just look at how colorful our town is.
And this is what puzzles me when architects and developers say, "We designed it to emulate the downtown core." Because this is what downtown really looks like.
It's a beautiful place to be...
And this is what puzzles me when architects and developers say, "We designed it to emulate the downtown core." Because this is what downtown really looks like.
It's a beautiful place to be...
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
CVS!
Very important City Council meeting tonight at 6:00pm at the Youth Center.
CVS is back. SPEAK UP!
See previous posts re: CVS and what's at stake.
Be there!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
FRIZELLE ENOS NEEDS TO RE-BUILD...
Ya know, I'm sure this fire was an accident. But I'm very concerned that the Frizelle's property will now be sold to Armstrong Development, instead of the owners re-building. Armstrong is the company that is representing and supervising the CVS project on the adjoining property that was formerly Pellini Chevrolet. The same Armstrong Development that is taking Sebastopol to Federal court via a lawsuit against drive-thru windows (see previous posts). The owner of Frizelle Enos was buddy-buddy with Armstrong-man Bill McDermott throughout the hearings and spoke in favor of the CVS project at every turn even though it would adversely affect the business on multiple fronts.
Stay tuned. Meanwhile, this is what I saw today...
Stay tuned. Meanwhile, this is what I saw today...
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| A lot of people will be affected by this fire. |
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| The front entrance. |
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| Gutted. |
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| Amazing this hay went untouched. |
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| The owner sat in his truck this afternoon, in background. |
Here's a poem I like by Mary Oliver...
Clam
Each one is a small life, but sometimes long, if its
place in the universe is not found out. Like us, they
have a heart and a stomach; they know hunger, and
probably a little satisfaction too. Do not mock them
for their gentleness, they have a muscle that loves
being alive. They pull away from the light. They pull
down. They hold themselves together. They refuse to
open.
place in the universe is not found out. Like us, they
have a heart and a stomach; they know hunger, and
probably a little satisfaction too. Do not mock them
for their gentleness, they have a muscle that loves
being alive. They pull away from the light. They pull
down. They hold themselves together. They refuse to
open.
But sometimes they lose their place and are tumbled
shoreward in a storm. Then they pant, they fill
with sand, they have no choice but must open the
smallest crack. Then the fire of the world touches
them. Perhaps, on such days, they too begin the
terrible effort of thinking, of wondering who, and
what, and why. If they can bury themselves again in
the sand they will. If not, they are sure to perish,
though not quickly. They also have resources beyond
the flesh; they also try very hard not to die.
shoreward in a storm. Then they pant, they fill
with sand, they have no choice but must open the
smallest crack. Then the fire of the world touches
them. Perhaps, on such days, they too begin the
terrible effort of thinking, of wondering who, and
what, and why. If they can bury themselves again in
the sand they will. If not, they are sure to perish,
though not quickly. They also have resources beyond
the flesh; they also try very hard not to die.
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| copyright 2005 Rachel Giese Brown |
Saturday, July 13, 2013
GEE WIZ...
In the P.D. article (see link below), Efren Carrillo's personal clean-up man and adviser, Eric Koenigshofer said, “I know the guy really well and he's a delightful guy, and the only time it seems that he winds up with any behavioral issues is when he's been drinking,”
Really?
Well, I've been drunk. And I've been loud and obnoxious. I've even puked on occasion. I was even shushed at a ukulele festival by Dan Gurney! But never once have I stalked a woman or tried to break in to her home or, for that matter, I've NEVER been arrested. This is Mr. Carrillo's second arrest...
...AND HE'S OUR DISTRICT SUPERVISOR, for cryin' out loud!!!
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| Efren Carrillo, yukking it up with a pastry. |
So for his posse to blame this latest incident on a drinking problem is stating the obvious. But this reveals a much bigger problem. This event has everything to do with integrity and character or lack thereof. Not to mention a darker, criminal side that has no place in public office.
He needs to go away. Maybe he'll run for state senate. Here's the article:
And, by the way, like Efren, I have paraded around in only my socks and underwear. But it was the 1970s! It was okay.
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| ...a different time. |
FIRE AT FRIZELLE ENOS!!!
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| From my vantage point in the Barlow. |
A sad day indeed, Sebastopol. This afternoon my wife and kids stopped by the Barlow to let me know they were heading over to Frizelle's to buy some chicks. A couple hours later, Frizelle Enos feed was totally engulfed in flames. My family is safe as are 4 chicks.
Here's a photo taken yesterday during the conflagration.
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| Thanks to Ryan Meechan for the photo. |
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| A total loss. |
A Sebastopol institution is no more. This is an establishment that was a part of many lives here. It was fun to take the kids and pick up the supplies we needed to keep our animals nourished. And it's gone.
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| We've all pulled into that lot. |
I spoke with some of the emergency personnel and was relieved to find out that no one was injured. Someone said it started in the hay. But that'll take some time to figure out.
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| Frizzelle Enos' owner with hands in pockets. |
Sebastopol has lost a landmark.
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| The smoke was still rising at 8:00pm. |
Let's hope they rebuild. I'd sure hate to see Armstrong Development get the property.
Check out the Press Democrat story here:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20130713/ARTICLES/130719771/1350?p=1&tc=pg
Check out the Press Democrat story here:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20130713/ARTICLES/130719771/1350?p=1&tc=pg
THIS JUST IN...
Also, CVS has now been informed that they must comply with the City's recently approved ordinance requiring solar installations on new commercial buildings .
In a separate action, the process for resolving the suit by Committee for Small Town Sebastopol has, at request of CVS, been extended 12 times since its filing in August, 2011. Currently the Administrative Record on this suit is due on July 23, and final brief by November 8, 2013. Small Town's suit claimed that the traffic study on which the Mitigated Negative Declaration was issued in July, 2011, was inadequate because The Barlow was not included in the study, nor was any traffic beyond High St. to the west of the site.
In a separate matter, CalTrans has yet to receive from CVS a completed application for an encroachment permit to access the site from State Highways 116 and 12.
Meanwhile, the CVS suit regarding the moratorium on drive-thrus has been moved from the State courts to Federal court, by CVS, with agreement by the City.
Many thanks to Helen Shane for this update!
If you'd like to witness the process first-hand, put some time aside to attend the City Council meeting this Tuesday, the 16th at 6:00PM at the Youth Annex at 425 Morris St.
Friday, July 12, 2013
CVS REARING IT'S HEAD AGAIN...
The CVS project was approved with conditions before last year's elections. After the new City Council was seated they passed a moratorium on new drive-thru windows in town. CVS then sued the City of Sebastopol. So much for the good neighbors they swore they were going to be.
CVS has now responded to those conditions, apparently satisfactorily. including adding the door on the corner facing Screaming Mimi's, home of my favorite ice cream. The Council will review their responses at the July 16th meeting. This will include a public hearing on the subject. Because of the moratorium on drive-thrus windows, the project cannot proceed as the current design incorporates a drive-thru window.
It seems absurd to me that prescription drugs can be dispensed thru drive-thru windows. What kind of distracted consultation would one receive?
The moratorium expires in October of this year.
See the City Council agenda here:
http://ci.sebastopol.ca.us/sites/default/files/events-and-meetings/july_16_2013_city_council_meeting_agenda_0.pdf
SPREADIN' THE WORD...
Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting these three guys in the Safeway parking lot. They reminded me of when I was a kid and men use to wear ties. I wondered what they were up to, so I stopped and chatted a bit. Turns out, these gentlemen are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They informed me that they are conducting "FREE" German lessons for beginners at the church, so I thought I'd share that information.
If you'd like to learn German, here's your chance to get "FREE" lessons. You'll probably learn a few German prayers, too.
Classes are every Thursday night at 7:30pm. 8100 Valentine Ave., Sebastopol.
If you'd like to learn German, here's your chance to get "FREE" lessons. You'll probably learn a few German prayers, too.
Classes are every Thursday night at 7:30pm. 8100 Valentine Ave., Sebastopol.
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| L - R: Elder Pearson, Elder Snow and Elder Gunther. |
Friday, July 5, 2013
WHERE'D EVERYBODY GO???
I snapped this rare photo of Main St. on the Fourth of July!
NO TRAFFIC!
NO TRAFFIC!
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| 7:00pm and all is well! |
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
GOING TO THE FIREWORKS?!?!?!?
AS I drove through town tonight around 7:00, the vantage points were filling up. Lawn chairs, blankets and coolers were dispatched accordingly so folks in and around Analy High School could take advantage of the sky show.
I remember doing that once with friends in the old Barlow parking lot, just about where the LaFollette tasting room is now. Every time we saw the glow on the horizon of that spectacular ground show, my friend Keith would say, "Well, at least we can't see what we're missing."
He was right.
HAPPY FOURTH, EVERYBODY!!!
I remember doing that once with friends in the old Barlow parking lot, just about where the LaFollette tasting room is now. Every time we saw the glow on the horizon of that spectacular ground show, my friend Keith would say, "Well, at least we can't see what we're missing."
He was right.
HAPPY FOURTH, EVERYBODY!!!
Sunday, June 30, 2013
NEW DEVELOPMENT IN SEBASTOPOL...
This Tuesday, July 2nd, at 3:00pm, I am presenting my appeal of the Design Review Board approval of a project located at 961 Gravensteins Hwy, across the street from Fircrest market.
The meeting will be held at the Youth Annex at 425 Morris St.
In our recent past, Sebastopol has seen building projects that are way over-built. A few blocks in from Hwy 116 on Litchfield Rd. you can see an example in progress - over a dozen 2400 - 3600 sq.ft. behemoths squeezed into a small parcel. This overwhelms the community and basically destroys the neighborhood. Some people have lived there all of their lives and wonder how they're not protected against such reckless development.
Below are images of the DRB approved project I am appealing. Take a look.
Does this belong in Sebastopol?
Please come to the meeting and support the appeal. If you can't attend the meeting, please write our City Council, as that can be just as effective. You can get City Council email addresses from the City of Sebastopol Contact menu tab above. Make sure you include City Clerk Mary Gourley and Kenyon Webster on all communication.
We need to let them know that our community deserves a better, more thoughtful approach to shaping Sebastopol's future. It directly affects our quality of life.
The meeting will be held at the Youth Annex at 425 Morris St.
In our recent past, Sebastopol has seen building projects that are way over-built. A few blocks in from Hwy 116 on Litchfield Rd. you can see an example in progress - over a dozen 2400 - 3600 sq.ft. behemoths squeezed into a small parcel. This overwhelms the community and basically destroys the neighborhood. Some people have lived there all of their lives and wonder how they're not protected against such reckless development.
Below are images of the DRB approved project I am appealing. Take a look.
Does this belong in Sebastopol?
Please come to the meeting and support the appeal. If you can't attend the meeting, please write our City Council, as that can be just as effective. You can get City Council email addresses from the City of Sebastopol Contact menu tab above. Make sure you include City Clerk Mary Gourley and Kenyon Webster on all communication.
We need to let them know that our community deserves a better, more thoughtful approach to shaping Sebastopol's future. It directly affects our quality of life.
Friday, June 28, 2013
IT'S BEEN A DRY YEAR...
It's been a dry year, so far. Even with the recent rains, it was just enough to give our plants a refreshing drink, but it's still a year to conserve water. Visit the following site to see how you can win some amazing eco-friendly prizes!
http://www.savingwaterpartnership.org/20gallons/
http://www.savingwaterpartnership.org/20gallons/
HOBBS ORDERED TO STOP WORK!!!
THIS JUST IN:
At 2:25 this afternoon, June 28, Winnie and I drove by the vineyard conversion by repeat offender Paul Hobbs, this particular one at 622 Watertrough, which borders 5 schools with over 700 students. "Order to Stop Work" the red sign said. "Causes: Failure to implement erosion control measures. 2) Removal of riparian vegetation." It was signed Agriculture Commissioners Office, Gail Davis, 6-25-13, Ag. and Vineyard Conversion Cooridinator. This is only the tip of the iceberg. How many more rules has Hobbs broken and will he break in his quest for profit, at the expense of children and our bio-diverse agriculture? We citizens caught him this time and reported him. What is happening behind closed doors? Why is the local daily covering-up this newsworthy travesty rather than reporting it? Hobbs will merely pay the paltry fines and continue extracting wealth from our county and taking it away, depriving children of their health and real local farmers of work. What is wrong with this picture?
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
HEY, CITY COUNCIL...
...I've got an idea!
I was talking to the owner of the bike shop at Rt. 12 and Morris awhile back. I mentioned my brainstorm to have an offsite parking lot where visitors to our fair city can park and board an electric shuttle that would pick up and drop off as it travels around a loop of downtown. FREE!
Maybe Larry McLaughlin can pilot the jitney, too.
But I digress...
Anyway, he responded positively with words I'd rather not use, the gist of which was, "...I can rent bikes! And that other guy can rent ELECTRIC BIKES!"
Big empty lot, meets tourists, meets commerce, meets cleaner air...
Heck, there was a plan to put a road through that piece of land. Instead of encouraging traffic, let's decrease it!
Just sayin'.
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