tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514648648620470992024-02-02T11:14:18.163-08:00healdsburg community blogHealdsburg community blog invites community members to share stories, information, photos and links about Healdsburg and its citizens. Blog Administrator: Shonnie BrownShonnie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13304737873180950578noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-9941849320260518612010-12-31T23:36:00.000-08:002010-12-31T23:59:57.483-08:002011HAPPY NEW YEARS,HEALDSBURG! MY HOME TOWN, AND I AM PROUD OF THAT FACT.<br />In 2010 we saved our beloved Memorial Bridge for all the generations to come.<br /><br />I wish you all the best for a peaceful, happy 2011.Darla Williams Budworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16129251228738205922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-45609334686065284872010-06-06T18:56:00.000-07:002010-06-06T19:38:27.922-07:00From Cabin to Craftsman - 100 Years of Healdsburg's Architechural HertiageFor those of you that have not been to the Healdsburg Museum to see the latest exhibit, it will be ending on June 18. It is well worth your effort to go before it closes. It has drawn large crowds and is one the best exhibits we have ever had at the Museum. It is for all ages. It provides us glimpses into local historical architecture leading up to 1910. It also includes pioneer furnishings of the W.W. Ferguson family brought to California with the family in 1849 by covered wagon and objects that the Sarah Hendricks family brought to Healdsburg after the California Gold Rush. <br /><br />Travel back in time with pictorial displays, vintage carpentry tools, and household objects that demonstrate the architectural styles and characteristics of the era. <br /><br />A unique feature of this exhibit is the interactive segment, whereby visitors walk through doors (dating from the 1860’s to 1910) into historical portals. <br /><br />A few of the offerings of this exhibit include handmade quilts and furniture of the time period; an 1853 sampler made by town founder Harmon Heald’s niece; an 1869 stereopticon with 3-D stereoscopic images of 1870s Healdsburg; an 1898 washing machine; and paintings of historical homes and buildings by local artists. A special part of the exhibit focuses on “Then and Now” photographs of local 100 year old buildings, and should not be missed. Special thanks to our generous local sponsor, Dennis O'Neel, for sharing his expertise in enlarging, printing and mounting the photographs of Healdsburg architecture for the exhibit. Holly Hoods is the Curator of this exhibit, and she has done a great job. This is a MUST SEE! Don't miss it.Darla Williams Budworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16129251228738205922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-58953308863968693612010-03-02T15:04:00.000-08:002010-03-02T15:47:47.674-08:00An Early History of the Alexander Valley<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHiGKv98918ltT7TS4iYsmqSYZG7lRQiThk7wpi8-zjTMDGcg5GKIJnhnQX4rNhV6fBZRaWVwt2XpjEmhPtt3B9hvPM7a2Dw8HzuFNZ56TRhFLz4gKUYO-H7UzaWe8KBgUVTcm0mrrBs/s1600-h/Ch.1:+%231+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHiGKv98918ltT7TS4iYsmqSYZG7lRQiThk7wpi8-zjTMDGcg5GKIJnhnQX4rNhV6fBZRaWVwt2XpjEmhPtt3B9hvPM7a2Dw8HzuFNZ56TRhFLz4gKUYO-H7UzaWe8KBgUVTcm0mrrBs/s320/Ch.1:+%231+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444187234893374962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FDthYGryFNdZ8UPZF-hwHXLfw9-0zKztsfkp7IoKwdHbiAqPmkoemNcLibRVMrlnGy4RkGX4tLboWv1Z3F58iIFhAa3JhsZ309mcurfZaU9-dZA05wElbZiUL9e6EjNYIurAPsXwIKQ/s1600-h/Ch.+1:%238+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 223px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FDthYGryFNdZ8UPZF-hwHXLfw9-0zKztsfkp7IoKwdHbiAqPmkoemNcLibRVMrlnGy4RkGX4tLboWv1Z3F58iIFhAa3JhsZ309mcurfZaU9-dZA05wElbZiUL9e6EjNYIurAPsXwIKQ/s320/Ch.+1:%238+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444187229287063394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlz75dtYzCk9_MdTnda7VvTlewfncB2Az_0U76il-PUHhSaBxYm__cgXfKBrzKRD0CZyT0fEFlICLKIGuaYFSGpBT46xH-eBlCAhXW7YBIGQFLA-DOhhLNKQXTrMg8eZy1xilptHMTThI/s1600-h/Ch+1:+%233+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlz75dtYzCk9_MdTnda7VvTlewfncB2Az_0U76il-PUHhSaBxYm__cgXfKBrzKRD0CZyT0fEFlICLKIGuaYFSGpBT46xH-eBlCAhXW7YBIGQFLA-DOhhLNKQXTrMg8eZy1xilptHMTThI/s320/Ch+1:+%233+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444187219453586050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksCiG5avTXCQIKWVAtFYqWHrm2lukTXlmafu2ptjLGma614M9q_FH6eO09RcM4RtWc-4e3OEQrRmK_LhIKDVyfzyONw8VerX_79IZrPNOvLgLMPngyV-ha0Tfsufki1xGx7ac0d7MXNA/s1600-h/Ch.1:%2312+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksCiG5avTXCQIKWVAtFYqWHrm2lukTXlmafu2ptjLGma614M9q_FH6eO09RcM4RtWc-4e3OEQrRmK_LhIKDVyfzyONw8VerX_79IZrPNOvLgLMPngyV-ha0Tfsufki1xGx7ac0d7MXNA/s320/Ch.1:%2312+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444187210219656386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNfFI7IvzReXGXUYPyn9XvKlifgn64p_ySqkrSovEEXK6ZhaFIr818u5IUe-sBXpDKSvs6OMiuUzCESp6bUaJWgdTIW0QInyV7_pDYL59Ca90qM90-5Vq8IpNidyAT5HC2hdKUbCSWZk/s1600-h/Ch.1:%2311+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNfFI7IvzReXGXUYPyn9XvKlifgn64p_ySqkrSovEEXK6ZhaFIr818u5IUe-sBXpDKSvs6OMiuUzCESp6bUaJWgdTIW0QInyV7_pDYL59Ca90qM90-5Vq8IpNidyAT5HC2hdKUbCSWZk/s320/Ch.1:%2311+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444187199914507490" /></a><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Palatino"><i>I summarized this information from a fascinating original manuscript entitled: “Grapes and Wine in California’s Alexander Valley: A History, Including diverse other aspects of the valley’s history dating from 1846” by William F. Heintz, with author’s permission. The information I am focusing on is the family history of Fred and Ruby Wasson, farming pioneers in the Alexander Valley:</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Palatino; min-height: 19.0px"><i></i><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Palatino"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></i>Renown wine researcher William F. Heintz tells us that Cyrus Alexander, the valley’s founder, was an “odd combination of trapper, mountaineer and lover of the soil.” Leaving his home in Illinois at the age of 16, Alexander ended up six years later in San Diego where he met Captain Henry Fitch and agreed to oversee the ranch Fitch wanted built on his Sotoyome land grant in northern Sonoma County. The portion of this land that Alexander received for his work came to be called Alexander Valley.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Palatino"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Cyrus Alexander planted the valley’s first grape vines along with fruit tree seeds and sprouts probably obtained from employee Frank Bidwell’s journey to Fort Ross in 1843. By the mid 1860s visitors began coming into the valley to view the enormous geysers, often traveling through the newly formed town of Healdsburg (founded 1857). The Geysers became a much photographed and notable tourist attraction of this time. In the late 1860s the valley was divided into plots for about 20 large landholders and the first commercial enterprise, the Alexander Valley Store, was built in 1869, probably on what is now Highway 128. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Palatino"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>By 1873 the valley claimed to have 100,000 grapevines and its inhabitants were beginning to get excited about winemaking. Charles Alexander (Cyrus’ nephew) was particularly prosperous. In 1874 the discovery of mercury (or quicksilver) in the hills put the Pine Flat area of Alexander Valley on the map and the valley prospered further with additional roads and new businesses. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Palatino"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>By the mid to late 1870s it had become clear that the valley’s grape production (700 tons per year) merited building local wineries. And it was at this same time that Ruby Osborn Wasson’s parental grandfather, Shadrach L. Osborn, purchased 300 acres of land near Chalk Hill Road where property averaged about $10.35 per acre for undeveloped land. By the early 1880s the local viticulture boom was exploding with a wide range of varietals--mostly Zinfandel, followed by Riesling, Golden Chasselas and Crabb’s Burgundy. Immigrants were now pouring into the area which was continuing to grow in prosperity and population.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Palatino"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Shadrach Osborn, who owned the Soda Rock Ranch, and whose vineyards were contenders for the largest in the valley, began selling his grapes in Calistoga for $20.00 per ton, well over the going price. For a man who had arrived in the United States from England with “only ten cents in his pocket”, Shadrach vied with R.R. Givens for the title of “Squire of Alexander Valley”, and his ranch near the post office and the Soda Rock House (hotel) was at the very center of valley activity. By 1890 Shadrach owned two large farms in the lower end of the valley and was clearly one of the valley’s largest and most influential landowners and promoters. The Healdsburg Enterprise edition of October 24, 1891 read: “Osborn has the finest vineyards in northern Sonoma County.” His farm was Lone Pine Vineyard at Soda Rock and the winery he built was named Lone Pine Cellars.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Palatino"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It is most interesting to note that there seems to be some debate over which of Ruby’s grandfathers was ultimately responsible for the first winery in the valley. The July 31, 1889 Healdsburg Enterprise states that Shadrach was currently building his own large winery, but it appears that the first crush in that cellar did not take place until 1895.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Palatino"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Meanwhile, Horace Chase of Yountville in Napa Valley, sent Broder Frellson (Ruby’s maternal grandfather) in 1892 to supervise the winery that he had just built in the Alexander Valley--Chase’s Winery, also known as Stagg’s Leap Winery or Red Winery “because of the red coat of paint applied to it and all the auxiliary buildings.” Chase was an absentee landlord while Broder was in charge, and the first crush of the Red Winery appears to have been in 1893. So the competition depends on the criteria: who built the first winery structure (Shadrach) or who actually had the first crush (Chase and Broder).</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Palatino; min-height: 19.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Palatino; min-height: 19.0px"><br /></p>Shonnie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13304737873180950578noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-492832059849623392010-01-13T20:41:00.001-08:002010-01-13T20:47:07.283-08:00Please consider a donation for HaitiHi all you caring Healdsburg-ers!<br /><br />I want to add my voice in asking you to give a gift to a responsible organization that is helping the disaster victims in Haiti. Join me today in helping succor this poor devastated nation. For online gifts you can go to:<br /><br /><a href="http://https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=197&hbc=1&source=ADR1001E1D01">Doctors Without Borders</a><br /><br />and/or the<br /><br /><a href="https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?4306.donation=form1&idb=59278700&df_id=4306&JServSessionIdr004=jkt0xbt1w1.app196b">American Red Cross International Response Fund</a><br /><br />Thank you and blessings.Ann Carranzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027859674836108927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-18615909174301202482010-01-10T05:25:00.000-08:002010-01-10T06:05:36.781-08:00What does mountaintop mining in West Virginia and Kentucky have to do with Healdsburg?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOm_YfoNHUiA7P45GqmOjWmDSJ0CVqL0ik9dNiGTfOOQQNS4JqhfZrDN_xTCwWTOTDctlhtAgEyOvtu9NPjLF7F_oX1YXG-CfpRtvz8CLApNpaPCxEzBu-wJWAY2rC0Q3-53RCBt4MtfQh/s1600-h/NRDC+mountain+top+mining+photo.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425101887367550498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOm_YfoNHUiA7P45GqmOjWmDSJ0CVqL0ik9dNiGTfOOQQNS4JqhfZrDN_xTCwWTOTDctlhtAgEyOvtu9NPjLF7F_oX1YXG-CfpRtvz8CLApNpaPCxEzBu-wJWAY2rC0Q3-53RCBt4MtfQh/s400/NRDC+mountain+top+mining+photo.jpg" /></a> Last Friday in the <em>Washington Post </em>I read <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/07/AR2010010702530.html?hpid=moreheadlines">"Scientists say mountaintop mining should be stopped."</a> According to the article, for the first time the scientists studying blasting off mountaintops and burying stream valleys under tons of rubble in order to mine coal are taking a political stand against issuing any new permits.<br /><br />Most of the mountaintop removal is occurring in the Appalachian mountains in West Virginia and Kentucky, so what does this have to do with Healdsburg?<br /><br />More than more many people think, including our city government. We pride ourselves on our clean energy source from the Geysers, but if you look at our <a href="http://www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us/index.aspx?page=379">Power Content Label</a> sent with your city utility bill, you'll see that in the column "Healdsburg's System Average (projected), coal is the source of 14% of our electricity. The surrounding area, served by PG&E, has electricity generated with <a href="http://ventana.sierraclub.org/conservation/regional/PGE_hot_air.shtml">2% coal.</a><br /><br />When I talk with city council members and electricity department employees, they tell me that we don't know how much of our energy comes from coal because it's part of a "mix" and therefore not quantifiable. How can this be? Doesn't the supplier of the mix to the city know? Isn't there a cost attached to each of the energy resources purchased by the city?<br /><br />Mountaintop mining is just one of the environmentally damaging aspects of using coal to produce electricity, but the photo above is enough to prompt me to ask these questions of those in charge of where Healdsburg gets its energy.<br /><br />(Photo from <a href="http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/rperks/preeminent_scientists_call_for.html">NRDC article about mountaintop mining.</a>)Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-70753221413526726812010-01-01T14:26:00.000-08:002010-01-01T14:47:08.621-08:00New Year 2010<div>HAPPY NEW YEAR, HEALDSBURG - ONE AND ALL 2010!<br />Wishing you all a happy, joyous, & prosperous new year in the best place in the world.<br /><br />Darla Williams Budworth</div>Darla Williams Budworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16129251228738205922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-76849036303836917992009-12-23T06:33:00.000-08:002009-12-23T06:42:36.562-08:00My "gift" to Healdsburg - The best news photos of the decade from the Boston Globe<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBjD6Am5naA1j2yB3vjYe34wO66vwl9o5Hm4OFGwF_rXxiVC0yAl8iyzfqka190eVDXQpSOT6Q1HfIZbOoG-mY2dWQMbNicB9cqrr_Szjqk9pW6AFj_KZn4RlgB80_VKBNXKM5rE6WUWD/s1600-h/Photo+from+the+51+best+news+photos+of+the+decade.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 284px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418439849378411362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBjD6Am5naA1j2yB3vjYe34wO66vwl9o5Hm4OFGwF_rXxiVC0yAl8iyzfqka190eVDXQpSOT6Q1HfIZbOoG-mY2dWQMbNicB9cqrr_Szjqk9pW6AFj_KZn4RlgB80_VKBNXKM5rE6WUWD/s400/Photo+from+the+51+best+news+photos+of+the+decade.jpg" /></a>Midst all of the holiday preparations, I hope you'll take a few minutes to look at the <a href="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/12/the_decade_in_news_photographs.html">51 best news photos of the decade </a>, gathered by the <em>Boston Globe</em>. This is the decade that's described in the introduction to the photos as "dramatic, often brutal." I confess it was painful to look at many of these photos, but I'm glad I did and hope that if you do, you too will gain something from having done so.<br /><br />Each photo comes with a written description. The photo above is a prisoner of war comforting his four year old child.Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-45042270555630749612009-12-21T06:23:00.000-08:002009-12-21T07:28:20.580-08:00CCCC Report # 7 - Tod's reflections on COP15 and what we can do<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oMDDM8j5LqJsb9NBgFG7TFvpnpsAmd0_EPXZJk4OqJySwA5DjPK27Soh01_faZ8QbaeuCtvxaIviQ5ktuLIWS_Sr8ERM8pkqaxIhyphenhyphend7iKeZNDN_8eggIutUmYGDcQhxkaf4ThaDopdkA/s1600-h/CCCC+%237.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417695971907581778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oMDDM8j5LqJsb9NBgFG7TFvpnpsAmd0_EPXZJk4OqJySwA5DjPK27Soh01_faZ8QbaeuCtvxaIviQ5ktuLIWS_Sr8ERM8pkqaxIhyphenhyphend7iKeZNDN_8eggIutUmYGDcQhxkaf4ThaDopdkA/s400/CCCC+%237.jpg" /></a> Tod is en route to Healdsburg. I've linked to today's post about the Copenhagen Climate Change Convention (CCCC), or "COP15": <a href="http://postcarbon.com/blog-post/51667-reflecting-on-copenhagen-activism-is-dead">"Reflections on Copenhagen: Activism in Dead. Long Live Activism."</a> This is an achingly beautiful piece. I urge you to read the whole thing.<br /><br />What have I gained from volunteering to be a non-roving reporter following Tod on his 8,000 mile trip to Copenhagen and back?<br /><br />1. I've followed what happened at COP15 more closely. For instance, did Obama and Clinton "burst" in on a secret last-minute meeting of China, Brazil, India and South Africa? Apparently the answer is <a href="http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2009/12/obama_on_the_co/">no.</a> Does it matter whether or not they did? I'm not sure.<br /><br />2. It's helped me stay aware of my inclination to create some mental ease and comfort that creeps in and subtly tells me that maybe this climate change thing isn't so bad after all. I'm referring to the our recent cold snap, that it's raining more than I thought it would, and even D.C. is experiencing a record-breaking snow storm. I wonder if Obama was subject to the same almost-subconscious mind-set when he left COP15 before the vote on the Copenhagen Accord in order to get back home before the storm broke.<br /><br />3. I'm following the climate change issue more carefully now. The scientific reports seem to be getting worse. For instance, this morning I saw that the prestigious magazine <em>Nature </em>has an article, <a href="http://theenergycollective.com/TheEnergyCollective/54721">"Sea level rise may exceed worst expections."</a> Staying informed helps me not be lulled into thinking that if my life is so very, very comfortable, the problem must not be that serious.<br /><br />4. I'm reminded that my small efforts, from living in a very small home where I have my business, to walking or riding my bike and rarely driving, to helping organize our local <a href="http://www.350.org/">350.org</a> event last October 24 are a miniscule part of the greater collective goal of reducing greenhouse gases into our atmosphere.<br /><br />5. As I juggle my commitments to helping care for my almost-three-twin grandchildren (you never see me driving them around!), my business, and my citizen activism, I need to remain mindful that if I ruin my health caring too much about too many things, I won't be there with Tod in lifting "the climate message over the fence."<br /><br />Thanks, Tod, for taking time away from your family to be one of our county's official delegates ahd Healdsburg's unofficial delegate at COP15. You'll be hearing from me.<br /><br />(photo provided by Tod)Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-75847514370359932442009-12-19T06:15:00.001-08:002009-12-19T10:41:59.111-08:00CCCC Report # 6 - Well, that's that - The climate convention has concluded and Tod will return to Healdsburg in a couple of days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsLlUPmJxwMQlDLAVfgQu8OIySPMxmyf3-W-wZqvYlFBFHo8NSFtUnu9aTjf1aTc5g9D66EO2dSvV1BQ-tM8HTPwnV9dP1znyX8IKzrM7Y1qrnMLJYMEiEGIXT0vnaxANleTHhbumPLM1/s1600-h/CCCC+%236+-+CopLapDance.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416951077838378914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsLlUPmJxwMQlDLAVfgQu8OIySPMxmyf3-W-wZqvYlFBFHo8NSFtUnu9aTjf1aTc5g9D66EO2dSvV1BQ-tM8HTPwnV9dP1znyX8IKzrM7Y1qrnMLJYMEiEGIXT0vnaxANleTHhbumPLM1/s400/CCCC+%236+-+CopLapDance.jpg" /></a> What did I expect to be accomplished in Copenhagen? Before I started posting about fellow resident Tod Brilliant's experience there, not much. What happened as a result of Tod's reports and paying more attention to the Copenhagen Climate Change Convention (CCCC)? Somehow, I thought if I and others cared enough about what happened there, somehow our collective energy would make a difference. Weird huh?<br /><br />So it's done. Tod will leave Copenhagen on the 21st. I hope to meet with him this coming week. Here's Tod's Dec. 18th post, <a href="http://postcarbon.webvanta.com/blog-post/51107-obama-as-white-knight-naked-ambition">"Obama as White Knight: Naked Ambition at COP 15."</a> As with all his posts, I hope you read the whole thing, though this sentence captures Tod's impression of Obama's influence on the future of climate change: "Barack Obama's honeymoon with both the environmental community and greater Europe has come to an end."<br /><br />On the home front. Barclay Nalley, whom I've known for 43 years, wrote an angry letter to the <em>Healdsburg Tribune</em> editor, <a href="http://www.sonomawest.com/articles/2009/12/18/the_healdsburg_tribune/opinion/letters/doc4b293ff01f53d279378106.txt">"Copenhagen Hygira."</a> Barclay even called for a grand jury to "demand a complete audit of such frivolous expenditures." What do you think? I'm sure the debate will go on. After some ambivalence, I think the money was well spent even if the result was a weak <a href="http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/climate-change/copenhagen-accord-4.30pm.pdf">accord</a>.<br /><br />For those who aren't quite ready to change their focus from this hugely important issue to the more mundane<span style="color:#ff0000;">*</span>, here are some links to articles and videos that I found worthwhile:<br /><br />1. <a href="http://www.postcarbon.org/video/51255-mckibben-first-take-on-climate">Bill McKibben of 350.org and Naomi Klein of <em>The Nation</em> on their first take on the results of the convention. </a>A fifteen minute video, worth every minute.<br /><br />2. <a href="http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2009/12/18/scramble-for-the-atmosphere/">"Scramble for the atmosphere,"</a> by Tod's and my climate change hero, George Monbiot.<br /><br />3. But wait! All is not lost. Guess who made sense at the convention? <a href="http://www.juancole.com/2009/12/wtf-ahmadinejad-making-sense-on-climate.html">Check it out.</a><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">*</span>My "mundane" activity includes cleaning house today.<br /><br />(photo from Tod's post at the Post Carbon Institute blog)Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-90453600976728860852009-12-18T07:22:00.000-08:002009-12-18T09:04:04.432-08:00CCCC Report #5 - A "special magic gift" from TodThis morning, I received an e-mail alert from Facebook that Tod had given those of us who belong to the Creative Job Agency Group a special gift. Of course, I checked it out immediately, and it was this very funny (if slightly grotesque) video titled "Lord Monckton Raps Al Gore." Watch it. You'll probably get a kick out of it.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KBzR0-j0O0o&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KBzR0-j0O0o&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br />If the full screen doesn't show up above, go to the video <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBzR0-j0O0o">here.<br /></a><br />If time allows, I'll update this post. The news looks pretty grim about the likelihood of a meaningful agreement coming out of Copenhagen. Obama is there today.<br /><br />What's bothering me, which I hope to dig in to later today:<br />1. Recent polls show increasing skepticism about the reasons for climate change and Obama's handling of the issue slipping;<br />2. A leaked UN report shows cuts offered at Copenhagen would lead to a 3C rise.<br />3. Tiny and poor countries are being pressured to agree to a 2C cut, even though 1.5C will adversely affect millions of people in these countries. The pressure? A promise of cash to help with the problems these countries experience as a result of the increased temperatures. Naomi Klein describes the promise as "blackmail."<br /><br />Sigh, at least I get to spend the day with my wonderful almost-three twin grandchildren.<br /><br /><strong>Update I: </strong>Naomi Klein write a searing article in the UK Guardian, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/dec/17/copenhagen-no-deal-better-catastrophe">"Better to have no deal at Copenhagen than one that spells catastrophe." </a>Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-18229158593266193112009-12-17T04:52:00.000-08:002009-12-17T16:33:52.191-08:00CCCC Report # 4 - Climate Justice looms large - Tod stands up to a CNBC reporter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNI2mXjecd-9b_MsCGuG96sCJic76niUnm_OkUFIzgKDcXk4qlyuTj8J0CJvpowdQmMIivtx85tnlf3InO7Jt_-KuNR_r8nNYKNWqtvwNIbDLlRrCgPHS2tWgMFM5pokOSMVzYia1E6fj/s1600-h/CCCC%23+4+Cokenhagen.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416188521004758978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNI2mXjecd-9b_MsCGuG96sCJic76niUnm_OkUFIzgKDcXk4qlyuTj8J0CJvpowdQmMIivtx85tnlf3InO7Jt_-KuNR_r8nNYKNWqtvwNIbDLlRrCgPHS2tWgMFM5pokOSMVzYia1E6fj/s400/CCCC%23+4+Cokenhagen.jpg" /></a> What I'm gathering for the past couple of days from Tod's posts to the <a href="http://www.postcarbon.org/">Post Carbon Institute</a>, the mainstream media and the alternate press, "climate justice" is the big issue surfacing at the United Nations Convention on Climate Change. It doesn't appear that it was very high, or even on, the official agenda.<br /><br />According to Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! in her post to Truthdig, <a href="http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/copenhagen_climate_summit_the_empires_new_clothes_20091215/">"Copenhagen Climate Summit: The Empire's New Clothes,"</a> "Both inside and outside the summit there is a diverse cross section of nongovernmental organizations, or NGOs, from indigenous-peoples delegations to environmental and youth groups. Their separate but connected efforts have been coalescing into a new movement, a movement for climate justice."<br /><br />This is how Tod described it on his wall at Facebook: "Real protests. Real anger. Real frustration....The real heart of the movement is truly peaceful but getting incredibly frustrated with the UN's effort to keep poor nations from making their points."<br /><br />According to Tod, a powerful voice for climate justice is Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who made the opening remarks at Oxfam's "First International Climate Hearing." Read Tod's report <a href="http://www.postcarbon.org/blog-post/50404-search-for-conservation-part-3-a">here.</a><br /><br />It appears from Tod's <a href="http://www.postcarbon.org/blog-post/50744-cop15-breaking-news-rupert-murdoch-purchases">current post</a>, that "Most of us aren't allowed back into the Bella Centre [where the convention is taking place]...." What's up? I thought Tod and the 6 other delegates from Sonoma County were official delegates. Are they all being shut out?<br /><br />Leave it to Tod to make a difference, whether he's on the the inside or outside. He took the photo below yesterday. It's of indigenous South American farmers displaying handicrafts to a small but interested audience. What did a CNBC reporter standing 15 feet away see and broadcast to millions? "And behind me we have what is called a sit-in protest...." That was too much for Tod, who got into a "wee bit of a tussle [with the CNBC cameraman] over my live on-air correction of his criminally misleading description."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWT2hwUCS0ROFCI3MMOJhZCwNU3LK3wgsSP6E_T4-sm-j2K44hBYxgE50vLAKZKbIzawAClaYhfrXqvRp69c93qwNrQ7svhhQTU4WihVt6xY_Xnfq9gI0NtQDVuO4u8fBNm_TVsSMTXwXb/s1600-h/CCCC+%234.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 307px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416188393891572018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWT2hwUCS0ROFCI3MMOJhZCwNU3LK3wgsSP6E_T4-sm-j2K44hBYxgE50vLAKZKbIzawAClaYhfrXqvRp69c93qwNrQ7svhhQTU4WihVt6xY_Xnfq9gI0NtQDVuO4u8fBNm_TVsSMTXwXb/s400/CCCC+%234.jpg" /></a>Tod was so upset that he left the convention and on his way back to the flat where he was staying, he saw the Coca cola poster in the photo above. His reaction? "I was intrigued to learn that the global mega-corp is not only saving the planet, but they've somehow managed to bottle Obama."<br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Back here in Sonoma County, some people are upset that the county spent $23,000 to send 7 delegates to the Climate Change Convention. If none of them are being allowed in on the official meetings, I'm upset, too. Rollie Atkinson's editorial, <a href="http://www.sonomawest.com/articles/2009/12/11/the_healdsburg_tribune/opinion/editorials/doc4b22aba99db7d451910207.txt">"Carbon Neutral," </a>in last week's Healdsburg Tribune, raised the issue. At an event for 4th district supervisor candidate Mike McGuire last Tuesday evening, Mike expressed his dismay that the county sent the incumbent 4th District Supervisor Paul Kelley and 6 others to Copenhagen while people here are suffering from loss of jobs.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div>So the "climate justice" in a different form is also a local issue. Does our county invest it its commitment to climate protection by sending delegates to Copenhagen at the expense of our jobless? </div><div><br />I admit I'm somewhat ambivalent about this. However, Healdsburg residents seem woefully unaware of the consequences of climate change on our local agriculture. In 2006, the <em>Press Democrat </em>published an article by Tim Tesconi, <a href="http://www.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/NEWS/60711001/1033/NEWS01">"Could Global Warming Dry Up Wine Industry? New report warns North Coast may get too hot in coming century."</a> <br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>This seemed like a big deal to me, so last October 24th, I,* with a lot of help from Ann Carranza and Robert and Elizabeth Seton, organized a local climate change event in conjunction with <a href="http://www.350.org/">350.org</a>. About ten of us walked through Healdsburg with grape vines and signs on them, "Destination: Canada," and fliers explaining what will happen to our grapes if climate change continues unabated. I was amazed at the lack of awareness of this problem which will adversely affect our $5 billion regional economy.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlxurQEuFsZ2FAyjRsrSSFyI17VVvGGEbucSBmyPCwOunzp6JteKnR9e2RxnRP74SBp5RXZmoB6mylFknMOzh_PpLapUxvnSw9qSr36vqEzJmT6LQL5qYr23RcP52kxRdwR17hAbOFSLB/s1600-h/Gail+with+twins+stroller.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416202473503146530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlxurQEuFsZ2FAyjRsrSSFyI17VVvGGEbucSBmyPCwOunzp6JteKnR9e2RxnRP74SBp5RXZmoB6mylFknMOzh_PpLapUxvnSw9qSr36vqEzJmT6LQL5qYr23RcP52kxRdwR17hAbOFSLB/s400/Gail+with+twins+stroller.JPG" /></a>Will Tod be able to bring home the urgent message that we need to address climate change now? That it's a local issue? That it's not just about climate change but about climate justice? I certainly hope so.<br /><br /><strong>Update: </strong>Today I talked with a woman who has spent her adult life working with the disadvantaged: the mentally ill, the unemployed, the underpaid. When I told her about the county paying for 7 people from Sonoma County to attend the climate summit and that some thought this was a waste of money, she said "A pittance! These people will come back all fired up and will undoubtedly make a difference, including the number of green jobs."<br /><br />*Photo of my twin grandchildren and me at the October 24th "Grapevine March."<br />Photos from climate convention taken by Tod.Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-32409659125745307872009-12-15T04:35:00.000-08:002009-12-15T05:25:36.636-08:00CCCC Report # 3 - What's really going on in Copenhagen?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJko4kVA0Vp8iNLgAyKlQaLMcF0R-R9HSk-Kcf2-WAxY21SJwJg1_2nCh6ceQwp07fho_Fl7lpqQGTFiODYV8gNRDANfr2nf1j-Gx27wOmHDXJYdUL34jl_4adWXg1Da6hJslEsPhJflt/s1600-h/Tod+at+Cophenhagen+I.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 144px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415440971456715874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJko4kVA0Vp8iNLgAyKlQaLMcF0R-R9HSk-Kcf2-WAxY21SJwJg1_2nCh6ceQwp07fho_Fl7lpqQGTFiODYV8gNRDANfr2nf1j-Gx27wOmHDXJYdUL34jl_4adWXg1Da6hJslEsPhJflt/s400/Tod+at+Cophenhagen+I.jpg" /></a> Yesterday, as I eagerly waited for Tod's reports to show up at the <a href="http://www.postcarbon.org/">Post Carbon Institute </a>blog, I checked the news for what is going on in Copenhagen.<br /><br />Good grief! It looked like the convention was already falling apart <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/12/african-nations-walk-out-at-copenhagen.php">as African nations led a walkout</a>. I was relieved to see they only walked out for the day, not permanently.<br /><br />Tod, after traveling 28 hours by plane, cars, buses, and trains, recovered from his jet lag and currently two of his posts are up at the Post Carbon website, <a href="http://www.postcarbon.org/blog-post/50113-the-search-for-conservation-part-1">"The Search for Conservation Part I: Lonely and Looking,"</a> and <a href="http://www.postcarbon.org/blog-post/50115-search-for-conservation-part-2">"Search for Conservation Part 2 - The Politics of Exclusion."</a><br /><br />I urge you to read both of them. Tod is a incredible writer and there's no way I can do justice to his descriptions of the convention.<br /><br /><em>Sidebar:</em> Several years ago Tod lent me George Monbiot's book, <em>Heat. </em>The most memorable chapter, "Love Miles," was on the impact of flying on global warming. George urged us to limit our flying to seeing our families and closest friends.<br /><br />I know that Tod is conflicted about flying, but I see his trip to Copenhagen as using some of his love miles because he so passionately cares our incredible earth, which is at risk, and his son Justice and other children who will ultimately benefit if we adults can return to sanity and figure out how to reduce our greenhouse gases.<br /><br />This morning, George Monbiot posted a thoughtful article,<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2009/12/14/this-is-about-us/">"This is about us."</a> "The talks at Copenhagen are not just about climate change. They represent a battle to redefine humanity." I assume he's at the convention, and I hope he gets to meet Tod.<br /><br /><strong>Update I: </strong>Just saw this on the Post Carbon Institute Facebook page: "The mood is far from pretty. NGOs are being shut out. People waiting 7 hours to get in. G77 (the poorer nations) walkout. Pretty much a disaster." Stay tuned.<br /><br />(photo of Tod at the convention)Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-81029370574162029932009-12-13T03:57:00.000-08:002009-12-13T04:21:34.655-08:00CCCC Report # 2 - Tod must have landed in Copenhagen by now<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDpDIF0En3cDr9j1gWkqgP_5DOlw7uj1CUClHVfX9wd-_cNovOEhVWRZyL32z1ciJh4T0g7I_FBvLCTSKByiyBIh2ONJctrHNMJpiLYPtBAlyVju2QXgmkJRp3Zge8clry9um_4uFZwTR/s1600-h/350.org+COP15.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 232px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414689280287305170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDpDIF0En3cDr9j1gWkqgP_5DOlw7uj1CUClHVfX9wd-_cNovOEhVWRZyL32z1ciJh4T0g7I_FBvLCTSKByiyBIh2ONJctrHNMJpiLYPtBAlyVju2QXgmkJRp3Zge8clry9um_4uFZwTR/s400/350.org+COP15.jpg" /></a> Tod's been e-mailing me while en route to Copenhagen. I've been sending him "airplane reading" (long, dense articles), including <a href="http://www.tnr.com/article/environment-energy/planet-worth">"Planet Worth - Goldman Sachs bets on global warming."</a><br /><br />First, I need to correct yesterday's post. Tod had a place to stay in Copenhagen before he left but he apparently wanted a different place. I don't want you to think he's a rash young man because...well....he isn't!<br /><br />Secondly, Tod may be Healdsburg's unofficial delegate to the 15th United Nations Convention on Climate Change, but he's an official Sonoma County delegate, according to the Trib's editorial this week by Rollie Atkinson, <a href="http://www.sonomawest.com/articles/2009/12/11/the_healdsburg_tribune/opinion/editorials/doc4b22aba99db7d451910207.txt">"Carbon Neutral."</a><br /><br />The Sonoma County Water Agency is the lead county that is sending the seven delegates to Copenhagen. At <a href="http://www.scwa.ca.gov/cop15">COP15</a>, I'll be checking for updates (blog posts, videos, Twitters, etc.) on the convention from the county's attendees. <br /><br />Tod is also the Communications Director for the <a href="http://www.postcarbon.org/">Post Carbon Institute</a>. He suggested I check PCI's website for his reports from Copenhagen.<br /><br />As Tod landed in Copenhagen, presumably last night, he was met by a huge cheering, candle-carrying crowd (see photo above). Actually, the photo is of some of the 100,000 strong protestors in Copenhagen organized by <a href="http://www.350.org/">350.org</a>.Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-52925932060420402672009-12-12T05:53:00.000-08:002009-12-12T06:08:12.627-08:00CCCC Report # 1 - Tod finds a place to stay in Copenhagen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxcAW7JgFV6NF8QBBBL_erC0RTqI3VhXuP3VLcK2kDk5exC51EfHF1KmQaFRX3KNJ9fNu78EiTZOQT8-Hh25qRphjlup6TxnahlZu95gX5oZvZldljPorO3dQ3osmYQ_XYjjJDziXpmb1/s1600-h/Copenhagen+III.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414347638503069378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxcAW7JgFV6NF8QBBBL_erC0RTqI3VhXuP3VLcK2kDk5exC51EfHF1KmQaFRX3KNJ9fNu78EiTZOQT8-Hh25qRphjlup6TxnahlZu95gX5oZvZldljPorO3dQ3osmYQ_XYjjJDziXpmb1/s400/Copenhagen+III.jpg" /></a> As promised <a href="http://www.healdsburghistory.blogspot.com/2009/12/did-you-know-that-healdsburg-is.html">yesterday,</a> I'm going to do my best to keep you informed about local resident Tod Brilliant's adventures as he heads to Copenhagen for the Climate Change Convention (hence, the "CCCC" in the title).<br /><br />Two days ago via Facebook and through the group that Tod was active in setting up, the Creative Job Agency, I received an urgent request from Tod asking all of us in this group to help him find housing in Copenhagen. How many of us would head to Copenhagen in the winter and not have a place to stay? However, how many of us have the incredible network that Tod does through all of his endeavors? (Check out his <a href="http://www.todbrilliant.com/">website</a> to verify.)<br /><br />I immediately contacted a distant relative, a near relative, and friends that I thought might know somone who might know someone who might - you get the picture - know of a place where Tod could stay.<br /><br />A few hours later Tod e-mailed me back that he had found a place in less than four hours through his Creative Job Agency contacts!<br /><br />Tod is on his way to Copenhagen this morning. I expect he'll be having more adventures and my job is to them to you.<br /><br />(photo: Wikimedia)Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-38973314236474954152009-12-11T06:32:00.000-08:002009-12-11T06:39:41.640-08:00Did you know that a Healdsburger is attending the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitc1-Bdc3pTcwnwyvCSsiMl_wONJPLLVflDkWFC9ubAiU7AL76hxCuTuwM2jolqexfral3a6Fm6ghBt1iDOvTk20JQpriZwqVxTKfOIiPy9LabO0UZ_98lVX6EC3FkW2JJ3XBZ9xvTzCjR/s1600-h/Tod.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413987341277014674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitc1-Bdc3pTcwnwyvCSsiMl_wONJPLLVflDkWFC9ubAiU7AL76hxCuTuwM2jolqexfral3a6Fm6ghBt1iDOvTk20JQpriZwqVxTKfOIiPy9LabO0UZ_98lVX6EC3FkW2JJ3XBZ9xvTzCjR/s400/Tod.JPG" /></a>I'm sure you've seen <a href="http://www.todbrilliant.com/">Tod Brilliant</a> around town. He's one of the most interesting and creative people I know. He's on his way to Copenhagen. I consider him Healdsburg's unofficial delegate to the climate change convention.<br /><br />I hope to stay in touch with Tod and post his descriptions of what it's like to be there. Stay tuned!Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-9063097233222607402009-12-08T21:08:00.000-08:002009-12-08T21:37:26.800-08:00Making more holiday memories<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnVux0QqZFxFcSvxXiLqUwlfAoVLxjFVhoaYUuaFzdXJEGenu_eNsf54heIHwNLMAc1uuukN7QR_jhloCtW-W1JydjxBAtceO3GpJoWV5wCyLv2mSEbyGyra8aTUx1aoplxsC9wT4jtM/s1600-h/Cork+reindeer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnVux0QqZFxFcSvxXiLqUwlfAoVLxjFVhoaYUuaFzdXJEGenu_eNsf54heIHwNLMAc1uuukN7QR_jhloCtW-W1JydjxBAtceO3GpJoWV5wCyLv2mSEbyGyra8aTUx1aoplxsC9wT4jtM/s400/Cork+reindeer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413106340977937314" /></a><br /><br /><br />Ah, Gail, you’ve started something here. Conor and I made this reindeer when he was here last week. I love making projects with him. Often we make things that are nature related or holiday themed.<br /><br />In fact, both of my sons have asked me to do things with the boys that I did with them. I wish my grandsons were closer so we could do all those memory making activities together more often. The true joy of the holidays is creating memories that last a lifetime.<br /><br />To make a reindeer:<br /><br />2 corks<br /><br />1 small study piece of twig for the neck. We cut all our twigs from our peach tree.<br /><br />1 long twig for the four legs. Cut into four equal pieces.<br /><br />2 googly eyes. But paper works, or other materials that catch your fancy<br /><br />2 twigs for antlers. They can be forked, but also straight. Use what you find and trim and shape as desired.<br /><br />1 small piece of brown pipe cleaner for the tail. But felt is also good, or a small paper scrap.<br /><br />Pen to draw mouth and nose.<br /><br />Yes! Glue. It is really a paste. It is the best project glue I’ve found for kids’ projects.<br /><br />1. Poke a hole with a small straight screwdriver into the two corks where you want to join them to form the head and body. Swipe a little glue on each end of the small study twig and insert it into each cork.<br /><br />2. Poke four holes in the bottom cork for the legs. Swipe the leg twigs in a little glue and insert them into the holes. Check to that the reindeer will stand alone.<br /><br />3. Glue on the googly eyes<br /><br />4. Poke two holes for the antlers to give that reindeer attitude. Again, swipe the twigs in the glue and insert into the holes.<br /><br />5. Poke a hole for the pipe cleaner tail, swipe it in glue and insert into hole.<br /><br />6. Draw on nose and mouth.<br /><br />Conor is 7, and he was able to do everything, except poke the holes, himself by working side-by-side as I made one to show him the steps.<br /><br />Enjoy with your favorite children!Ann Carranzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027859674836108927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-18110088549838374162009-12-08T07:10:00.000-08:002009-12-08T07:23:08.733-08:00What Christmas activity do the kids in my life remember the most?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3s0mbBIqj1rQuQGeJ9dhoIeDQA3N1LtbOu2TGhlFVcR9WkT1IHFG3N49Yrsjg2MpUeuVWir92OmO8w4-tgBUcEDKS7Dcc1cNTli3qc6w_EEe11p679_s7ftvWdYeM8C7rQ7jnz6cwersW/s1600-h/The+gingerbread+construction+crew.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412883571615998386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3s0mbBIqj1rQuQGeJ9dhoIeDQA3N1LtbOu2TGhlFVcR9WkT1IHFG3N49Yrsjg2MpUeuVWir92OmO8w4-tgBUcEDKS7Dcc1cNTli3qc6w_EEe11p679_s7ftvWdYeM8C7rQ7jnz6cwersW/s400/The+gingerbread+construction+crew.JPG" /></a> Over the last 40 years or so, I've made many gingerbread houses with children, grandchildren, and friends' children. As these children grow up, they commonly tell me that what they remember most about what they did as a child when they were with me is making a gingerbread house. Above are grandchildren Jade and Casey, now several years older, who will be joining me along with my almost-three twin granchildren this year.Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-6374284209059356092009-12-06T06:52:00.000-08:002009-12-06T07:11:24.320-08:00When is the last time you bought a water buffalo or a llama?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uSo9ogW8g_41d2_8I0F__psFcR1dlV27e0QflU8bl5JwugcUszOEjjsSswt8QiO5KgvNLI2KHFnRg_yK9g7_q16PjaayspNYBU5F2gVzLlf0cJMZCQnRlK8SWMKkO7ksyhS6LfkOFN54/s1600-h/Heifer+and+the+Summerfield+crafts+fair.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412136577149531474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uSo9ogW8g_41d2_8I0F__psFcR1dlV27e0QflU8bl5JwugcUszOEjjsSswt8QiO5KgvNLI2KHFnRg_yK9g7_q16PjaayspNYBU5F2gVzLlf0cJMZCQnRlK8SWMKkO7ksyhS6LfkOFN54/s400/Heifer+and+the+Summerfield+crafts+fair.jpg" /></a> Yesterday my friend Laurel (blond hair) and I (red cap) volunteered at the <a href="http://heifer.org/">Heifer</a> table at the annual arts and crafts fair at <a href="http://www.summerfieldws.org/">Summerfield School,</a> an amazing Waldorf school on Willowside Road.<br /><br />I love Heifer because it provides an opportunity to buy gifts in my grandchildren's name for families around the world who are in great need of help. One year I bought them a water buffalo and a llama another year. On Christmas Day, after they've opened a huge pile of presents, I present them with a card that explains how their gift can mean the difference between life and death or school or no school for children who have so much less than they do. <br /><br />The other plus about yesterday is that the atmosphere at the Summerfield School was really amazing. The children were given the opportunity to make gifts for others, there were hand-crafted items for sale, and we enjoyed a wonderful lunch of chili, cornbread and salad while several different groups, including children, sang for us.<br /><br />Laurel and I noticed that the children who attended Summerfield School were self-confident, easy to talk to, and wore highly individual outfits that made it clear they were willing to be different than their peers.<br /><br />An altogether rewarding day.Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-67586642826612950532009-11-30T15:44:00.000-08:002009-11-30T15:49:13.519-08:00Wine Library Associates of Sonoma County Holiday Book Signing and Sale<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our friend Bo Simons of the Sonoma County Wine Library writes:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">Now that the effects of turkey and canberries are beginning to subside, it's time to think about perfect gifts. What do you get for someone who has everything? Why, you get him or her a personally inscribed book that reflects one of the most interesting things about the wine country: wine. All your needs can be filled in one evening while you enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres. You get to give unto others as you treat yourself. Randall Grahm, the zany proprietor of Bonny Doon and the master satirist behind such works as Born to Rhone and The Love Song of J. Alfred Rootstock, and the author of the just released Been Doon So Long (UC Press, 2009), will be there in the flesh, spewing wisdom and wicked bon mots. Steve Heimoff, West Coast Editor of Wine Enthusiast will be ready to answer your questions and sign his two books, among the best recent books on wine: A Wine Journey Along the Russian River (UC Press, 2005) and New Classic Winemakers of California (UC Press, 2008). Vivienne Sosnowski, former editor of the San Francisco Examiner, author of When the Rivers Ran Red, will be there to go into this stirring tale of struggle and overcoming adversity on the North Coast during Prohibition. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">This is quite a trio of wine writers, who can personally inscribe their books to everyone on your gift list. But, wait, that's not all. There will also be hundreds of used and rare books on wine, books donated to the wine library, books that duplicate what we already have, but may be new to you. These will be on sale at bargain prices. We will be pouring wines by Bonny Doon, Foppiano, Pasterick and Seghesio, as well as a special donation of Dehlinger wines from an anonymous donor. Now this is a fund-raiser for the wine library, so we have to charge for it, but it's only $10 for members and $15 for the public, and all attendees get a coupon good for $5 off any new book purchased that evening. The food will be prepared by members of the Sonoma County Culinary Guild. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">Please reserve now to assure a spot: 707-431-7663 </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">Posted by Shonnie Brown for Bo Simons</span></span></p> </div>Shonnie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13304737873180950578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-64083382320130879492009-11-29T20:55:00.000-08:002009-11-29T21:10:31.065-08:00Holiday season begins in the Plaza<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdz4mAXi_mwRiRsCQJiVgXZbzbGRTVkDguqYEUYHRc80nMfeUm3PrbL9Rfjodl58ezImidrmtxT3aXznFekte05P8uOk-QJba95t7zr-Vx9eqV7x6e_yMFglNYb6GxU-FT9VJitnE2v8k/s1600/Tree+lighting+002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409757296948302658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdz4mAXi_mwRiRsCQJiVgXZbzbGRTVkDguqYEUYHRc80nMfeUm3PrbL9Rfjodl58ezImidrmtxT3aXznFekte05P8uOk-QJba95t7zr-Vx9eqV7x6e_yMFglNYb6GxU-FT9VJitnE2v8k/s400/Tree+lighting+002.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvb0xiadwYMkVfnSiagTUyiCJfNkrdFp5mwBXlOSwkEDESM7TBZo8b-IySlvBoRTOzgCCT1AWbUVTWa1sBfywizvehiWJJP1C8Ad-FGGq1ApX5nOi8IO51zOG5YOO1mtlKa9EBTyj9wVph/s1600/Tree+lighting+005.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409756810470348946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvb0xiadwYMkVfnSiagTUyiCJfNkrdFp5mwBXlOSwkEDESM7TBZo8b-IySlvBoRTOzgCCT1AWbUVTWa1sBfywizvehiWJJP1C8Ad-FGGq1ApX5nOi8IO51zOG5YOO1mtlKa9EBTyj9wVph/s400/Tree+lighting+005.jpg" /></a> These photos don't begin to capture the festive spirit in the Plaza this evening at the tree lighting ceremony. What I found so special was how many children were there. </div><div></div><div><br />Free cider and cocoa, cookies for 25 cents, a raffle giving away a beautiful Christmas tree, children's and adult's choirs, the audience in singing Christmas carols, candles for everyone, and Christmas card making all contributed to the feeling that there's no better place to live than Healdsburg.</div>Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-73187099911870194052009-11-28T13:32:00.000-08:002009-11-29T06:42:45.436-08:00Globalization: Good or bad?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOAZUy7e9SGBkYjclbduH45glmH-V7x5MdC_RKRXawP_lwoAOlkFFNDekvJBTCyDYOfzoxanPHZ5HK68KcCsr34dL1LadddY4Cek9q00pnGVzpdn8ChboV7U9cyg8vU2sclzDQGkcp0QH/s1600/WTO+%2B+10.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 249px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409271369848396354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOAZUy7e9SGBkYjclbduH45glmH-V7x5MdC_RKRXawP_lwoAOlkFFNDekvJBTCyDYOfzoxanPHZ5HK68KcCsr34dL1LadddY4Cek9q00pnGVzpdn8ChboV7U9cyg8vU2sclzDQGkcp0QH/s400/WTO+%2B+10.bmp" /></a>As you probably recall, in 1999 a broad based coalition of people from all over the world, including small farmers, factory workers, and environmentalists, demonstrated against globalization at the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle.<br /><br />My impression of what happened comes from <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/authors/rebeccasolnit/">Rebecca Solnit’s </a>description of the event. Rebecca, who lives in San Francisco, has such an optimistic outlook and can find reasons to celebrate no matter how dire the problems are that we face, has written a book about her experience in Seattle in 1999, <em><a href="http://www.akpress.org/2008/items/battleofseattleakpress">The Battle of the Story of the “Battle of Seattle.”<br /><br /></a></em>Rebecca has written a terrific article, <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175168/tomgram%3A__rebecca_solnit%2C_writing_history_in_the_streets/#more">“Learning How to Count to 350-Remembering People Power in Seattle in 1999 and Berlin in 1989.” </a>Naomi Klein has written a book review, <a href="http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091130/klein">“Copenhagen: Seattle Grows Up”</a> about Rebecca’s (and her co-author brother’s) book.<br /><br />Rebecca won’t be at our local <strong>“Seattle + 10” event (except in spirit) from 1-5 pm on December 5th at the Sebastopol Veteran’s Memorial Building,</strong> <strong>but I hope you will be.</strong> Given the roster of speakers, this is an opportunity to learn more about the worldwide effort for ordinary people to be heard as globalization results in a loss of jobs, environmental degradation in developing countries, and other problems that affect all of us.<br /><br />(Double-click on the flier to enlarge it.)Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-79540715934795253532009-11-28T05:18:00.000-08:002009-11-28T06:08:06.787-08:00Giving thanks for Healdsburg's civic spirit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6540iS7qL0TxOcIEOinKPAQXEMEtgf6eAb3K7lZzciqAkgWXcQMuEwiRQrQTo0j7djtoC4eJbH_w4OOQUzR4ZDIvkGuDKGAvEvwu8hRabGX2CWu9h8MXiSboI-uIbfTWXV0-xOB3C1kdI/s1600/Fitch+Mountain+Eddie.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 132px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 149px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409145259376013282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6540iS7qL0TxOcIEOinKPAQXEMEtgf6eAb3K7lZzciqAkgWXcQMuEwiRQrQTo0j7djtoC4eJbH_w4OOQUzR4ZDIvkGuDKGAvEvwu8hRabGX2CWu9h8MXiSboI-uIbfTWXV0-xOB3C1kdI/s200/Fitch+Mountain+Eddie.jpg" /></a><br />It's so easy to get caught up in the holiday rush that it's easy to forget to stop, remember, and share about something that happened just a couple of days ago that speaks volumes about why Healdsburg is so special.<br /><br />I'm referring to the Thanksgiving breakfast at <a href="http://www.fitchmountaineddies.com/">Fitch Mountain Eddies</a>. The breakfast was free and the customers made donations to the <a href="http://www.alliancemed.org/">Alliance Medical Center</a> in lieu of paying for breakfast. Many food merchants contributed to the breakfast.<br /><br />I was the first to arrive and was greeted by two members of the Alliance Board of Directors, Roger Hull, current chair, and Tom Colbert, former chair. They made me feel very welcome and we chatted until the next customer arrived. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJjtQoLpgdQxcLB2yusPSdZI6WP6NZ0SxpCXn9j94d3VRAXAVFqtDOeifzh_s5_wJL_-0xEZeK1Ut-piQpKuL8tMfq39x7wB4jGLos9pD_wSBR6hfHfvwIRnfMhioZ9F2xU6mGKmBwYbu/s1600/Breakfast+at+Fitch+Mountain+Eddies+-+Nov.+26,+2009+001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409144834763786050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJjtQoLpgdQxcLB2yusPSdZI6WP6NZ0SxpCXn9j94d3VRAXAVFqtDOeifzh_s5_wJL_-0xEZeK1Ut-piQpKuL8tMfq39x7wB4jGLos9pD_wSBR6hfHfvwIRnfMhioZ9F2xU6mGKmBwYbu/s400/Breakfast+at+Fitch+Mountain+Eddies+-+Nov.+26,+2009+001.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yI8Zb3Pra6uFAWZ5VQO0tunxtLG9hOwi8AstvriVG-9gjllzuFZjCplRKCNNiBi7tfyfFQ6aNFsE65zNV-aWnazplKGAkP6rQ9L4LmwZBQg1rLebqBJHawJtt1485IjSxo4mpNqt2Ypv/s1600/Breakfast+at+Fitch+Mountain+Eddies+-+Nov.+26,+2009+002.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409144447533016098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yI8Zb3Pra6uFAWZ5VQO0tunxtLG9hOwi8AstvriVG-9gjllzuFZjCplRKCNNiBi7tfyfFQ6aNFsE65zNV-aWnazplKGAkP6rQ9L4LmwZBQg1rLebqBJHawJtt1485IjSxo4mpNqt2Ypv/s320/Breakfast+at+Fitch+Mountain+Eddies+-+Nov.+26,+2009+002.jpg" /></a><br />Then I wandered from table to table asking people why they were there. Other early arrivers were <a href="http://www.ricktangphotography.com/">Rick Tang</a>, a local photographer, and <a href="http://www.webistree.com/">Vickie Norris</a>, a local businesswoman who provides online services and is also on the professional committee for the Chamber of Commerce.<br /><p>Vickie goes to the Alliance Medical Center. She used to have health care through Kaiser, but when she needed to switch, she had trouble finding a family practice doctor, where she found one she is delighted with.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1feZ71ic5vuMoj5g6orNg9SqATFmKQmUy3QUWOfvIpLub_mpfbl7CaaaNADt79prS-7aqiGwrzSrIF5aF8t5Tpxl3cHbp_627fvt6RR4bJmIFGuN1WjQW7A_RlFJs82HLZm6o6sv0MKj/s1600/Breakfast+at+Fitch+Mountain+Eddies+-+Nov.+26,+2009+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409144010525216546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1feZ71ic5vuMoj5g6orNg9SqATFmKQmUy3QUWOfvIpLub_mpfbl7CaaaNADt79prS-7aqiGwrzSrIF5aF8t5Tpxl3cHbp_627fvt6RR4bJmIFGuN1WjQW7A_RlFJs82HLZm6o6sv0MKj/s320/Breakfast+at+Fitch+Mountain+Eddies+-+Nov.+26,+2009+003.jpg" /></a> Then the person with his back to this couple gestured for me to come talk with him. My gosh, it was landscape architect Ray Pelanconi, whom I hadn't seen for 35 years. I remembered him so well because I was involved in an effort to get a kids' creative play area at Fitch Mountain Elementary School, and he did the landscaping, using drought and kid resistant plants. </p><p>Ray is a genuine old-timer, who has lived here since 1954. He's with Kaiser but likes it that Alliance Medical Center is "good for people with no access [to medical care]."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHOE1MSQaPlupApq7HBpLX2yP_XABcvwyStotYAOBpg_LeF025MJEpn1vTqm69D-SyxVo8YW8sILedZpWoFMLjBwJ2JT9-8H-6KUujDepIbDwkkzdxeOeZD9zF-6MexUbzm9gxsT8yun_/s1600/Breakfast+at+Fitch+Mountain+Eddies+-+Nov.+26,+2009+004.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409143489198427138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHOE1MSQaPlupApq7HBpLX2yP_XABcvwyStotYAOBpg_LeF025MJEpn1vTqm69D-SyxVo8YW8sILedZpWoFMLjBwJ2JT9-8H-6KUujDepIbDwkkzdxeOeZD9zF-6MexUbzm9gxsT8yun_/s320/Breakfast+at+Fitch+Mountain+Eddies+-+Nov.+26,+2009+004.jpg" /></a> The last couple I talked with before I settled down to order my breakfast was Lew and Elaine Sbrana, retired from the school system. I've known them since I arrived in 1967 because they have contributed so much to our community. Lew, as I'm sure you all know, has made musicians out of almost-tone-deaf children and even adults. </p><p>Elaine had heard about the breakfast that morning while walking with a friend, and they dropped everything to be there.</p><p>It was a wonderful way to start the day. No wonder I like to stay right here in Healdsburg for the holidays. Tomorrow I'll join my son, his wife, and my grandchildren at the annual tree lighting in the Plaza.</p>Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-25726231761158868332009-11-27T16:19:00.001-08:002009-11-27T16:33:23.188-08:00Back to the Land<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlL6fkZjKw3BRsMtpyha8M-Fzx6PiKW0WXLtLAwZj3QUBGqCiWhd5sVgL4OAX1mjTa1NqY114SBW0woDW9cEDJngntFrrGHqQU63Lwn_U5GkdbsLuIh9wzg84S6rhJDOKJVy4eN8ppU1D/s1600/Back+to+the+Land.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408942609261242674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlL6fkZjKw3BRsMtpyha8M-Fzx6PiKW0WXLtLAwZj3QUBGqCiWhd5sVgL4OAX1mjTa1NqY114SBW0woDW9cEDJngntFrrGHqQU63Lwn_U5GkdbsLuIh9wzg84S6rhJDOKJVy4eN8ppU1D/s400/Back+to+the+Land.jpg" /></a> For a quite a while, I've wanted to post something at the community blog about Maira Kalman, an artist who lives in New York City. Even before today's post by her in the Opinion Section of the New York Times, I thought that she either had 1) everything to do with Healdsburg, or 2) nothing to do with Healdsburg.<br /><br />Today's post, however, convinced me that everyone, including Healdsburg residents, should know about Maira and her perpspective on imporant issues. She brings humor, as well as amazing drawings and photography, to her contributions.<br /><br />So enjoy <a href="http://kalman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/back-to-the-land/?th&emc=th">Back to the Land</a>.<br /><br />Photo one of many in Kalman's post about slow food, good food.Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-1258551129583342872009-11-24T06:34:00.000-08:002009-11-24T07:08:51.910-08:00Giorgi Park opens<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrhi7n28l3PT12s_ExHiNqbfDx0V2Q51Aom3uDRA2JmQvWGKBLYKRO0NcvGcoQLs6-yzW2lEG9__CWU_8XS1iusoqno876Sh3aUMOqFiYr1Nvhtnh9l4kbtufbdTEWhraiCEc6CAZc8x5/s1600/Nov.+21,+2009+004.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407683653483555666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrhi7n28l3PT12s_ExHiNqbfDx0V2Q51Aom3uDRA2JmQvWGKBLYKRO0NcvGcoQLs6-yzW2lEG9__CWU_8XS1iusoqno876Sh3aUMOqFiYr1Nvhtnh9l4kbtufbdTEWhraiCEc6CAZc8x5/s400/Nov.+21,+2009+004.jpg" /></a>This past Saturday, Giorgia Park, completely upgraded, opened. Greeting me as I stopped by are Sonja Drown, the city's Recreation and Transit Services Director, as well has heading up our Senior Center, and David Mickaelian, Parks and Recreation Director.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EILEJLosqy6QhYSQ3g44lt7ZGasTy77nNTuVGtYMqx_PmD5cTD69y-KRzLA7hwNXvqJ0jG1MzHxYwjSC_hNdZ4zcwyYLa28S8wGD2iUwje0wx9duQyElnhV5dHy25O7j1y_SeM-p7CPC/s1600/HCNS+visits+Giorgi+Park+004.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407683179481362178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EILEJLosqy6QhYSQ3g44lt7ZGasTy77nNTuVGtYMqx_PmD5cTD69y-KRzLA7hwNXvqJ0jG1MzHxYwjSC_hNdZ4zcwyYLa28S8wGD2iUwje0wx9duQyElnhV5dHy25O7j1y_SeM-p7CPC/s400/HCNS+visits+Giorgi+Park+004.jpg" /></a> Yesterday, the Healdsburg Community Nursery School took a field trip to the park. Here they are on a slinky, slitherly bouncy feature. </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgNc2P5bTLHcXkE4SeMa2Vk1lF67qcpzW5Q5FhkPvKAapO8Uhc3hGBNazKjr9PywR8qB47uPu86vfKMxuJyOcqLndqC0vm5AWChpllaxsVMIF-Nu_2fA_cQJiMHzLzuEePR-x8NPTNV1e/s1600/HCNS+visits+Giorgi+Park+001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407681650800497874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgNc2P5bTLHcXkE4SeMa2Vk1lF67qcpzW5Q5FhkPvKAapO8Uhc3hGBNazKjr9PywR8qB47uPu86vfKMxuJyOcqLndqC0vm5AWChpllaxsVMIF-Nu_2fA_cQJiMHzLzuEePR-x8NPTNV1e/s200/HCNS+visits+Giorgi+Park+001.jpg" /></a> Evocative of the old Giorgia Park are the "towers," now at the apex of a grassy hill. </div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PzFi87JZ2MSDULT1hnIsmmxw8ACBx5gUhlFEPUGBdCBf7FhI9A1ttuoVqpwcT7mSlohlgjBBCERcufOJH92dO-BUKMZ8zKnxgIFU6WUOxCwa9VfLvGXQZOn_VYaHnyNzVZZaO0blVsVt/s1600/Georgi+Park+Water+Feature.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407681020812382146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PzFi87JZ2MSDULT1hnIsmmxw8ACBx5gUhlFEPUGBdCBf7FhI9A1ttuoVqpwcT7mSlohlgjBBCERcufOJH92dO-BUKMZ8zKnxgIFU6WUOxCwa9VfLvGXQZOn_VYaHnyNzVZZaO0blVsVt/s200/Georgi+Park+Water+Feature.jpg" /></a> This turtle is ambling through the sand at the water feature. The blue in the foreground is a raised trough with tile in the bottom and water coursing down it to an outlet to the sand. Yesterday grandson Rody did a belly flop in the sand and came up wet, sandy and happy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1Zu7YjwzGjtxQLrEXCXQRqJ9cJqaX9JzVJ_eS3ZrADCd_9rssVj9Svfi-oFAuaabMynfw0Gbo_xGthMzOXZKubw_cuozoiUfwPIvZxYer5Wmu_yAnv6Pb5RbMMZ7qBMMlK79Ykzglr19/s1600/HCNS+visits+Giorgi+Park+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407680439198182210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1Zu7YjwzGjtxQLrEXCXQRqJ9cJqaX9JzVJ_eS3ZrADCd_9rssVj9Svfi-oFAuaabMynfw0Gbo_xGthMzOXZKubw_cuozoiUfwPIvZxYer5Wmu_yAnv6Pb5RbMMZ7qBMMlK79Ykzglr19/s320/HCNS+visits+Giorgi+Park+003.jpg" /></a>Most of the nursery school kids appeared to enjoy this grassy (some kind of astroturf) hill. It's steep enough to be a challenge getting up and down, but it looks safe for toddlers.<br /><br />I'm so grateful that the city voted to upgrade Giorgi Park, in spite of the need to cut its budget this year.<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Gail Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14594247821333094028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851464864862047099.post-29883860811753871562009-11-22T19:13:00.001-08:002009-11-22T19:22:01.144-08:00Help Our Alliance Medical Center by Having Breakfast at Fitch Mountain Eddie's on Thanksgiving Morning<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-7grH-QhGhrs7HluAcbBIv_BL87ec9oca8W1HrfAZAvW1tVEwuzrZdtaaGhP9jOpJxhETT4JrNftyv3Zags_Zv14UgYSm9zfXCGAMDuRQTK85ua_SvwTGsLXrbw0eUbZkok3YeBkAtI/s1600/AMC+logo.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 277px; height: 86px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-7grH-QhGhrs7HluAcbBIv_BL87ec9oca8W1HrfAZAvW1tVEwuzrZdtaaGhP9jOpJxhETT4JrNftyv3Zags_Zv14UgYSm9zfXCGAMDuRQTK85ua_SvwTGsLXrbw0eUbZkok3YeBkAtI/s400/AMC+logo.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407134033830137186" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.fitchmountaineddies.com/">Fitch Mountain Eddie's</a> (with food donations from other local businesses) is giving away breakfast on Thanksgiving morning from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.. Those who attend will be asked to donate $5 to $10 to the <a href="http://www.alliancemed.org/">Alliance Medical Center</a>.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I can't think of a better way to start this holiday. I hope to see you there.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Submitted by Gail Jonas and seconded by Shonnie Brown who also loves Alliance!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Shonnie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13304737873180950578noreply@blogger.com0