- Save Outlet Creek
- Thank You!
- The Wrong Woman
- ‘Too Many Trees’
- Not Enough Agua For Suds
- Something’s Rotten At PG&E
- Resettling Syrian Refugees
- Worst Delivery Ever?
- Percentages v. Dollars
- Nude Tastings?
- Dear Mr. Negative…
- Inform Yourself, Philip
SAVE OUTLET CREEK
Dear Editor:
The Mendocino Air Quality Control Board made a terrible mistake on Aug. 28 when it rejected the Friends of Outlet Creek’s appeal of the Air Board’s decision to allow the Grist Creek Aggregates to open an asphalt plant in Longvale — without at full CEQA review and a new environmental impact report. As a consequence, Grist Creek will now begin to produce hundreds of thousands of tons of asphalt annually — a few feet from Outlet Creek.
Outlet Creek is our backyard, our inspiration, a place where we go with our friends, children and grandchildren to swim and enjoy the exquisite beauty of a unique riparian habitat.
We have seen otters, heron, trout, turtles and eagles in and around the creek, said to be the longest salmon spawning run in California.
We were shocked when the Mendocino Board of Supervisors fast tracked the project by a 5-0 vote in March of this year. Our appeal to the Air Quality Control Board was our last best hope of stopping the plant without having to engage in a lengthy and expensive lawsuit against the Board of Supervisors.
Because the asphalt plant is on the former river bed and current 100-year flood plain of Outlet Creek, its activities put at risk air quality in the narrow Longvale Valley as well as the water purity of the creek, wildlife habitats, recreational uses and traffic safety on Highway 162.
Yes, there was an asphalt plant along the creek many years ago, although no one, not even the applicant’s attorneys, can say exactly when it last produced asphalt. That old use of the site, wrong to begin with, should not be the basis for permitting a new, expanded plant to open under different ownership.
Marc Komer of Willits was the one Air Quality Control Board member who sided with Friends of Outlet Creek. Komer argued that the Air District did not determine effectively or convincingly that there would be no significant effects on the environment. He called for more due diligence on the part of the Air District and said important issues of water quality, fish habitat, and the cumulative effects of asphalt and aggregate crushing are all connected and relevant and have not been addressed.
We agree with Komer, and we will fight on through the courts to try to stop this egregious environmental assault on one of Mendocino County’s most precious riparian areas, considered so important that local wildlife and environmental agencies have already invested $2 million on Outlet Creek restoration projects.
Outlet Creek belongs to the whole county and the state, and before that it belonged to the Pomo Nation. How can politicians and government agencies urge citizens to protect our precious water resources, then give the green light to projects that put those very resources at risk? Do they understand the toxicity of asphalt fires? Have they considered the effects of the predicted El Nino floods on asphalt operations a few feet from Outlet Creek? Haven’t our elected officials promised to protect the environmental assets of our county?
We have put the inmates in charge of the asylum. That must change.
We welcome your support for our struggle. One way you can help is to send checks to Willits Environmental Center/Friends of Outlet Creek, 650 So. Main St., Willits 95490. Or email your inquiries to wece@sbcglobal.net, topic line: Outlet Creek.
If the County needs more asphalt, our planners and elected officials should work with the applicant to find a better home. The flood plain of one the Eel River’s most important tributaries is the wrong place.
Sincerely,
Jane Futcher and Erin Carney, Longvale
THANK YOU!
Editor,
A big “thank you” to everyone who donated to the annual ambulance fund-raiser. In no particular order they are: Anderson Valley Lions Club, Joe Blow Band, Lauren’s, Libby’s, Marie & Francois Richards of Chez Marie, Tom McFadden, Rossi & Son Hardware, Charlie Hochberg, Judy Nelson, Elaine Busse, Donna Call, Terry Ryder and her mom, Muriel, Taunia Green, the Apple Farm, Sarah McCarter, Mercantile Store, The Madrones, Greenwood Ridge Vineyards, Foursight Winery, Handley Cellars, Navarro Vineyards, Toulouse Vineyards, Signal Ridge Vineyards, Elke Winery, Knez Winery, Harmonique, Husch Vineyards, Philo Ridge Winery, and the Anderson Valley Brewing Company. You all contributed to making this event a huge success. If we’ve missed someone please forgive us.
AV Ambulance Board
Boonville
THE WRONG WOMAN
Editor,
Thank you for the copy of your newspaper. I received it yesterday. I've always been a reader of the AVA. I also would like to say that I'm glad that my life spun out-of-control. It was a wake-up call for me. I had stayed out of prison or 10 years and I was doing good, working and being productive. I worked for Roundtable Pizza in Fort Bragg, Exxon, DeHaven Valley Farm — great jobs. I had a studio apartment on Harold Street for seven years. But I got caught up with the wrong woman and things just went south from there — from good to shit within a couple of years. I lost control of my life which I blame on no one but myself. I got this attempted murder charge and it shook me awake. I would like to say I'm awake now. I'm changed. No more running the streets, no more taunting the police even though the Fort Bragg police are not my favorite people.
I would like to say that I'm now in drug rehab. I'm also in anger management, family transition, and I'm making an effort to change. I have a really good lady in my life. She stuck by me through all of this. We'd been friends for years and now we are together. I guess God does care for broke down dumb asses like myself. So thank you and know I'm coming home in July of 2016 a happier man.
Franz Wittenkeller
Avenal
PS. Just to be clear, Mike Vickers was my street brother, not blood.
‘TOO MANY TREES’
Dear Editor:
When the Fire Safe Council says there are “too many trees”, what they mean is the forest transpiration potential exceeds the forest soil moisture capacity. This condition is worsened during draught, and results in severe moisture stress for all trees in the forest, with some trees dying. Reducing the number of trees, from the level that is considered “too many”, to a more optimal number, reduces the transpiration potential, moisture stress, and mortality in the forest. Reducing the number of trees also reduces forest fire fuel continuity, which reduces the potential for a fire to rapidly travel through the forest.
George Hollister
Comptche
NOT ENOUGH AGUA FOR SUDS
To the Fort Bragg Planning Commission
We are urging the Planning Commission to deny a permit for Overtime Brewery, to be located at 190 E. Elm St., Fort Bragg. While the residents and established businesses are under Stage One emergency water restrictions, no business, such as a brewery, requiring high volume water use should be permitted within city limits. Until the planned reservoir is constructed and shown to have sufficient supply for town residents, such projects must be postponed.
We also want to ask the city government whether it is wise to become a town know for breweries. The implications must be thoroughly examined, as such a direction could limit other kinds of development for the future of the town.
Perhaps Overtime Brewery could establish a retail outlet, with food and entertainment at this location, while finding appropriate property outside the city with and independent water supply for the actual brewing process.
We also question the city's policy of forbidding legal medical cannabis dispensaries within the city limits while encouraging the sale and production of alcoholic beverages, with many wine and beer festivals annually. With another brewery slated by the city council for the mill site, we are left wondering about this current mayor's vision for the city.
Thank you for your time.
Alice & Douglas Chouteau
Fort Bragg
SOMETHING’S ROTTEN AT PG&E
Dear Editor,
Every time I hear PG&E's new slogan, "Together, we are building a better California," I silently add "the parts we aren't blowing up or burning down."
It's no wonder they are sending those new, high tech "sniffer trucks" around our neighborhoods — in some cases, they don't even know where their own gas lines are (much less their condition).
If you smell something, say something.
Sincerely,
Stewart Bowen,
Suisun Valley
RESETTLING SYRIAN REFUGEES
Dear Editor:
There are an estimated 5,000,000 Syrian refugees that have been forced to flee their country. Many are being accepted by EU countries. Germany with a population of 80 million will receive 750,000 asylum seekers with refugees from Syria, Eritrea and Sudan most in need. Sweden also has taken a large number of refugees. Now what has the Untied States done about resettling Syrian refugees. First, we need to remember we started the problem when the war hawks using false information persuaded a gullible president to invade Iraq, and thus creating a situation leading to the ISIS. One might think our culpability would lead us to resettle Syrian refugees in the U.. S. Not so, we have accepted fewer than 900 Syrians since 2011. Now say likely to admit 1,000 to 2,000 Syrians in 2015 and in the low thousands in 2016. Total refugees for all areas admissions is 70,000. As might be expected there are some Congressmen with a Muslim phobia who object to any refugees from Syria. In conclusion I would say shame to Obama and congress for failure to exercise their moral responsibility for the Syrian refugees..
In peace and love,
Jim Updegraff
Sacramento
WORST DELIVERY EVER?
Dear AVA,
I just thought I should let you know, I just received my July 8, 2015 AVA today, August 28, 2015! Assuming you put it in the mail 7/8, that means it was in transit somewhere for 51 days! Is
that a record for you? Just thought you'd like to know!
Briana Burns
Black Earth, Wisconsin
ED NOTE: The record is 11 months from Boonville to an address in San Mateo. 51 days is getting up there, though.
PERCENTAGES v. DOLLARS
Editor,
I read with interest the report from the August 20th Fort Bragg Advocate News regarding teachers in FBUSD protesting the raises given to administrators in the district. I would like to point out a discrepancy in the mathematics as presented. Superintendent Bush argued that the raises given to teachers and administrators were equivalent because both received roughly a 5% increase. However, percentages are not dollars. For example, if you take 5% of the high school principal’s salary at $98,051 per year you get $4,903, while 5% of a teacher’s salary in the middle of the salary schedule at $56,785 will yield $2,839. Clearly, these raises are not equal when it comes to pocket money. Perhaps, of greater significance is the fact that these differences get compounded over the years with the end result being a large inequity between the pay of a teacher and the pay of an administrator. With teachers marching down Howard Street the question arises of whether superintendent Bush is worth the $136,802 he was paid last year? This is nearly the cost of three beginning teachers and even more classified staff.
Because school boards work almost exclusively with the superintendent and his staff they develop misconceptions about the importance of the superintendent and leadership from the top down. During my 26 years of teaching I worked for some good superintendents and some bad superintendents. Whether they were good or bad had no impact on what I was doing in the classroom. That was my space and the focus there was on what was happening between my students and me. One reason I wanted to serve on the county school board was to be in a position to point out that education does not happen in the superintendent’s, or principal’s, office. It happens in the classroom, at home, on the playing field, in the cafeteria, on the bus, or any other place where adults and young people interact on a regular basis. A good administrator supports and promotes these educational exchanges in a positive way. Good administrators in education practice “site-based management” involving all staff in the decision making process.
Don Cruser, MCOE Board Member
Little River
NUDE TASTINGS?
Dear AVA,
When I was on vacation this summer I heard a story on NPR about a winery in your area that is having nude tastings, winery tours and gourmet dining. I didn’t get the name at the time and I wonder if you or any of your readers knows which one it is?
Sincerely,
Tiffany Wright
Los Gatos
ED NOTE: Sounds like something the French imperialists would do. Call their winery in Philo to verify. Roederer International is at 707/895-2288.
DEAR MR. NEGATIVE…
Editor,
In the July 29, 2015 “Off the Record” section of the Anderson Valley Advertiser (AVA), Mr. Anderson submitted his concerns regarding care and placement of children and youth in the foster care system. We appreciate his opinion on the matter, as well as the opinions of others who have weighed in on a topic that hits so close to home here in Mendocino County. In light of other recent events, we would like to clarify the system in place and highlight some changes that have occurred in the past 20 years. The truth is, there is good work being done - families being strengthened and children being given the opportunity and support to grow beyond their trauma to become the foundation for our county’s future community.
On behalf of the children, youth, and families within the foster care system and the different organizations providing service and support, Redwood Community Services would like to offer the following clarity of current practices as a point of consideration to Mr. Anderson’s dated personal opinion.
When it comes to placement, it is the placing county which determines the appropriate level of care. A collaborative conversation ensues, which includes many public and private partners (e.g. the youth’s attorney, Mendocino County Probation, Mendocino County Office of Education, Family and Child Services, Redwood Community Services, Tapestry Family Services, Redwood Quality Management Company, CASA, etc.) all focused on providing the youth and family with the appropriate level of support and care- be it mental health, medical, housing, substance abuse, or legal. The county social worker determines the placement. There are many levels of placement available in Mendocino County - models of care emphasized on the reduction to dependency on a formal system and a goal of permanency for these children within their communities.
Once appropriate placement is determined, the following RCS placement options are available: Treatment Foster Care (TFC); Intensive Treatment Foster Care (ITFC) Levels 1, 2 and 3; Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO); Transitional Housing Placement Program (THPP); Transitional Housing Placement Plus (THP+); and, Regional Center Foster Care. Mendocino County Children’s Center (MCCC) is an emergency assessment center designed to identify significant behaviors in children and youth. MCCC partners with Mendocino County and provides the ability to obtain a complete assessment of the youth; which is crucial in ensuring that the county is able to best match appropriate services to the individual needs of the youth. The goal is not to merely house children and provide a roof. The goal is to create as normalized a family environment as possible while working with the county (or State Adoptions) to find the best permanency option for each child in care. RCS has had approximately 200 adoptions and seen over 1,000 children and youth to reunification in the past ten years.
Mental health services provided are individualized and targeted towards stabilizing the youth and maintaining functioning. Often times when youth are placed, the need for psychiatric medication decreases. Working in partnership with Child and Family Services (CFS) and licensed psychiatrists (seen in the community through private practice or Federally Qualified Health Clinics), youth are supported through the transition and reduction in medication regimens. Redwood Community Services does not provide medication management or prescription services to youth in Mendocino County. Any changes in prescription psychotropic medication go through a strict court order process - which is only initiated after the interagency treatment team has identified barrier behaviors for which medication may reduce the intensity of symptoms or improve their internal coping.
Recently, a Redwood Community Services foster home had a young child (under 8 years old), for whom the psychiatrist had recommended a medication to assist with managing the symptoms of their ADHD. The child’s attorney, as well as the social worker, requested that RCS arrange a second opinion with another child psychiatrist in order to ensure the reliability of the diagnosis and treatment protocol. The foster parent and a school representative were also involved and completed forms for the psychiatrist (the Vanderbilt Observation forms). After the psychiatrist’s opinion was one in which medication would be beneficial, the prescribing doctor then had to complete a JV220 to request the use and therapeutic dosage levels of the medication and submit it to the Mendocino County Social Service department as well as the court. Once authorized by the court, the foster parent received and reviewed all possible side effects with the doctor before administering the medication. For the next two weeks, the psychiatrist met with both the foster parent and the child regularly to assess any potential negative side effects, appropriateness of dosage level, and effectiveness of alleviating symptoms.
In this case, the child became more successful in school and was able to focus on academic work and activities. The initial behaviors observed were significantly decreased and a permanency plan with a relative was able to be put into place. Within six months’ time, this youth was happily placed with a family member and continues to have a positive relationship with the former foster parents. The medication dosage continues to reduce as coping mechanisms grow, new skills are learned, and symptoms are ameliorated. Obviously not every outcome is like this one, and there is still room for improvement when it comes to medicating children and youth. As we move forward, it is important to remember the great strides that have been made in this process- over medication remains a wide spread issue, and we are fortunate that laws and procedures have been put into place which allow review of this important decision and mechanisms by which outside monitoring can occur. Currently, 6% of children and youth in Mendocino County Redwood Community Services foster care programs are prescribed psychotropic medication.
In the end, it takes a community. We can all work to improve the children’s system- placing a child always has a lasting effect and is never without its challenges. Redwood Community Services has been, and will be, committed to our Mendocino and Lake County communities; working diligently to implement systems and supports for youth that are responsive to identified needs, allow for youth voice and choice, and work collaboratively between birth, foster, and formal supports.
There have been many improvements in how children are served while in the foster care system, and there will be many more changes to come. Changes in practice, changes in funding structures, and changes in law are all meant to find the safest permanent family for those children who have experienced trauma, abuse, and neglect. Redwood Community Services will continue to be a part of that discussion, and we would like to make it clear to our wonderful AVA readership, as well as our community at large, that the sentiments and perspectives given by Mr. Anderson are simply not accurate.
Camille Schraeder, MA
Redwood Community Services, Inc.
Ukiah
INFORM YOURSELF, PHILIP
Editor,
Don't kill the messenger.
I would like to speak on your August 12 letter to the editor by Philip McDermott. I do not wish to bash on Mr. McDermott unlike his letter about me. But I would like to go over his letter with the readers to try to find some understanding of his action and explain myself so the readers along with Mr. McDermott can understand me and my reasoning as to why I write the things I do.
First I made a copy of both mine and Mr. McDermott's letters and posted them out on the yard here at Soledad State Prison and I took notes after people read our letters. 46 of 50 inmates asked whose side Mr. McDermott is on? 38 inmates said he must be either locked down or in protective custody. 12 inmates said he must be a lifer who thinks or needs mass self-help group to show the parole board for hope of parole. I say good luck to you. But the parole board will not be reading the AVA and if they do I'm sure they would see your hate and willingness to strike out and show disfavor. I must ask what did you hope to gain from this?
I will tell you that I hope to get people involved in opposing mass incarceration. You ask people to dismiss my uninformed and uneducated rant. Is that not what you write in your letter? So let me inform you. President Obama is very smart. He may not have kept every promise that he made to get into office but I will tell you he was on TV not a month ago stating that we have a broken system and half the inmates in the American prison system should not be there. Maybe you missed that or how many presidential candidates are speaking of prison reform.
As for uninformed and uneducated, let me tell you that I, James Gator Lawson, write to the AVA and the San Quentin News along with Prison Legal News on issues of mass incarceration and licensing restrictions for applicants with a criminal history, violence, and security and protecting human rights. I've been a speaker for self-help programs like victim awareness, anger management, substance abuse, reentry in society and more.
But enough about me. The real reason is to inform the people of all the wrongs the state lies to them about. I am sorry Mr. McDermott thought he could write something that real readers wouldn't see through. But I would like to say that in favor of Mr. McDermott, it is known that lifers hate parolees like me who come in and out of the system. I will say to Mr. McDermott that all 20 of my violations are for drugs or not reporting. So yes, I never should have been in prison.
I write for a change for me and thousands of others and for yourself because getting the truth out to the people and asking them to get involved is what it would take to change laws and yes even help lifers like you. It's funny how you praise the AVA and Flynn Washburne's articles. Do you even read the AVA? I would say over half of its subscriptions are to bring people up to date on the wrongdoing in the jails, the District Attorney's Office and prison system.
I don't believe anyone was laughing at me today. I watched on BBC World News another program on prison reform and the relationships between the political and economic forces. Maybe you should read James Kilgore's novels. He is a researcher and a scholar from the University of Illinois. He is also published by Social Justice Journal on issues like profit from caging people.
As far as my utilizing my time, you don't judge me because I spend my time trying to better things for people like you and rather than utilizing your time writing a letter to the AVA about someone you know nothing about, I would suggest you spend your time writing the families of the people you killed and begging them to forgive you. How can you say we are not in need of dire change but then say you are dedicated to change needed in the system and this world. Are you on drugs? Or do you not read what you write, Mr. McDermott? I've never killed anyone unlike you. So please get informed and educated before you try to bash me.
James Gator Lawson
Soledad
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