Please come to city hall Monday, Nov. 2nd at 6 pm

Community First, a group of Healdsburg residents, has been meeting since January to study a tool, a Community Impact Report (CIR), that we think will help Healdsburg maintain its high quality of life in the future.

A Community Impact Report is an informational report that covers the economic and social impacts of any new significant development. Community First is especially concerned about the impact of a new large development, say a hotel that will employ 300 people, on our hospital, the Alliance Medical Center, and our schools.* The impact on these services needs to be disclosed early on in the application process.

There are other impacts, such as the costs and benefits to public agencies and how a new large development will affect local businesses, that we ought to know about.

On Monday, November 2nd at 6 pm, we're on the agenda to ask the city to appoint a committee to study and hopefully recommend the city staff draft a Community Impact Report ordinance. We need just one more vote. Two city council members already support this effort. We need about 70 people to fill the city council chambers.

Here is our one-page talking points (slightly revised from this version but essentially the same). We would appreciate it if you'd also sign the letter of support, and fax it to me, 433.8314, or scan/send it to Ann Carranza, positivelyann@sbcglobal.net. Or you can mail it or drop it off at 521 Brown Street.

I hope you’ll join us.

Gail Jonas, Chair of Community First, 707.431.8451

*Photo of Healdsburg students

Healdsburg's Climate Change event

We had a great time yesterday afternoon. It was uplifting to join thousands around the world – 5,200 actions in 181 countries. The photos at 350.org are inspiring.

Kid photo: Grandma Gail Jonas

Group photo: Ann Carranza

Healdsburg Community Blog Calendar of Events

Saturday, October 24: We’ve organized a “Grapevine March” right here in Healdsburg. As of today, there are 3,550 actions in 161 countries. In Sonoma County, there are 11 actions. Grandson Casey (photo) will be joining us. Climate change is a local issue. Click here to sign up. You can meet us at Gail Jonas' home at 521 Brown Street at 1 pm or downtown in the Plaza at 2 pm.

Sunday, October 25: Geyserville Fall Colors Festival and Vintage Car Show. Fun family activities all day 10-3 p.m. on Geyserville's main street. Shonnie Brown will be selling her bottle cap earrings (see photo).

Monday, November 2: Community First is on the agenda to ask the city to appoint a committee to study and hopefully recommend the city staff draft a Community Impact Report ordinance. Please show up at city hall on Monday, November 2 at 6 pm. We need just one more vote. Two city council members already support this effort. We need about 70 people to fill the city council chambers.

Saturday, November 7: Holiday Church Boutique 10-2 p.m. at Healdsburg Communnity Church.

Yikes, it is a lot of work to post a bulletin with links! Hopefully folks will read it.

On October 24, join people all over the world to take a stand for a safe climate future…right here in Healdsburg.

As of today, there are 3,550 actions in 161 countries. In Sonoma County, there are 11 actions. We’ve organized a “Grapevine March” right here in Healdsburg. Grandson Casey (photo) will be joining us.

Huh? Why a grapevine march? Why do the signs say “Destination: Canada”?

Because climate change is a local issue. In July of 2006, the Press Democrat reporter Tim Tesconi wrote an article about a new report that warns that the North Coast may get too hot in the coming century for our crops, especially premium grapes. If you’re interested in this issue you can read more here.

If you:
1. Like the idea of staying local
2. Think this action is worthwhile
and
3. Sounds kinda fun, click here and sign up. You can meet us at my home at 521 Brown Street at 1 pm or downtown in the Plaza at 2 pm.

Join a local action from 1 to 3 on October 24th to raise awareness of the impact of climate change on local agriculture

In July of 2006, the Press Democrat reporter Tim Tesconi wrote an article about a new report that warns that the North Coast may get too hot in the coming century for our crops, especially premium grapes.

If you’re interested in this issue you can read a scholarly treatise here.

If you are convinced that climate change is a local issue and want to do something about it, join hundreds and thousands of people across the world who will be making a visible and vocal call for reducing our greenhouse gases on October 24.

I signed up with 350.org to sponsor a local event from 1 to 3 pm on October 24th. My plan is to do a “grapevine march,” carrying grape branches with signs stating: “Destination: Canada”. Learn more about it and if this sounds worthwhile and kinda fun, click here and sign up.

Sunday mornings in my kitchen

Every Sunday morning when I’m home I bake bread in the form of sourdough buns. As you can see, they are golden-brown and appear to be quite delectable.

I’ve been baking them on and off for around 40 years, using a recipe I created.

You can make your own sourdough starter or purchase it here.

If you use your sourdough starter every week, you don’t have to be concerned about it going bad. If you miss a week, throw some of the starter out and replenish it with equal parts milk and water and let it sit at room temperature until it’s bubbly. Some people use water instead of milk.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me: gejonas@sonic.net.

A Grain of Corn: "Random Beauty Strikes Healdsburg"

Along with the daily news of all that is tragic and scary in this world, I can imagine a headline in our local newspaper saying "Random Beauty Strikes Hard in Healdsburg 365 Days Per Year". Let's admit it: we are so blessed here or so lucky (depending on your view of the relative randomness of it all).

Many of us have been watching Ken Burns' documentary on the National Parks acknowledging the extraordinary beauty of our homeland. But don't we also have an extraordinary share of that beauty right here in Healdsburg?

For me, the "Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Beauty" bumper sticker is just too corny. But, it's also true. Everywhere we go in Healdsburg and it's surrounds, we encounter beauty. Walking down our own streets, we see beauty in the blossoms, the trees changing color, the attention put into our dwellings and the greetings from our neighbors. Tuesdays have become my gratitude day because I begin them with a beautiful drive into the Alexander Valley to visit with my oldtimer friends, Fred and Ruby Wasson. How can that kind of beginning not make one feel happy and at peace? There is sure enough in life to bring us down, but there's also plenty to feel good about 365 days per year in Healdsburg.

Thank you to Mother Nature, our town founders and the generations before us who worked so hard to make and keep this beautiful space on planet Earth. Thanks to all of you out there who give of your time and effort to restore and rebuild the beauty that we have so taken for granted.

Local action to halt global warming: October 24, 1-3 pm

Interested in joining with the hundreds and thousands of people across the world who, on October 24, will be making a visible and vocal call for reducing our greenhouse gases?

Want to stay right here in Healdsburg to do it? Click here and sign up.

The Healdsburg Food Pantry annual Square Dance: Have fun and help members of our community at the same time

On November 7, I’ll be attending my third BBQ and Square Dance at the Villa Chanticleer sponsored by the Healdsburg Food Pantry.

It is so much fun! Plus it provides almost all of the Pantry’s yearly budget. In 2008-2009 a total of 11,690,000 pounds of food was purchased from the Redwood Empire Food Bank, which amounts to 9 million meals, a 31% increase over previous years. Many Healdsburg residents count on this food for themselves and their families.

I hope to see you there. I hope to see Councilmember Gary Plass and his wife Lorraine there again this year. I hope you'll dance with me!

For online tickets, go to Brown Paper Tickets.

For more information, contact:
Mimi Enright
1083 Vine St. #121
Healdsburg, CA 95448
707-484-2264
mimi@sanssouciservice.com

(photo courtesy of the Dance Heritage Coalition)