MCT: Thursday, October 22, 2020

• Dry Winds
• 1118 Cases
• Police Promotions
• Susan Wertheimer
• Kadie Days
• Your Fifties
• Yorkville BBQ
• Chatty Friend
• McCarthy Scholarship
• FB Report
• House Tour
• Bostrodamus
• Photo Gallery
• People Ignored
• Pride March
• Ed Notes
• McClure Book
• Rat Holes
• Hippie Sex
• Job Op
• Police Reports
• Strange Day
• Yesterday's Catch
• Movie Scream
• Nadya's Picks
• Great Fall
• Blame Not
• Personal Freedom
• Book Sandwich
• Mysterious Boat
• Biz Recovery
• Looters Found
• Bacon Exhibit
• Lefty Life
• Barack Impressed
• Dad Tickets
• Collegial Glenn
• Found Object

DRY CONDITIONS accompanied by breezy north and northeast winds are expected through the rest of this week. Light rain showers will be possible Friday night, however conditions are expected to dry out over the weekend with blustery northeast winds expected to kick up again toward the latter portion of the weekend. Colder temperatures are expected early next week, followed by gradual warming.

RED FLAG WARNING: Gusty east to northeast winds and widespread low humidities are expected for elevations generally above 1500 feet through the day on Thursday. Gusty winds will result in very poor humidity recoveries Thursday night over the higher elevations, generally above 1500 feet. The combination of gusty winds, low humidity and dry fuels will result in critical fire weather conditions through Friday morning.

(National Weather Service)

SEVEN MORE COVID CASES reported in Mendocino County on Wednesday, bringing total to 1118.

SHERIFF’S PROMOTIONS

On 10-19-2020 Mendocino County Sheriff Matthew C. Kendall announced the promotions of Lieutenant Quincy Cromer, Lieutenant Joseph "JD" Comer, Sergeant Jay Vanoven and Sergeant Clint Wyant.

In socially distanced ceremonies held in Ukiah, Fort Bragg and via Zoom, Sheriff Kendall credited high-level decision making, hard work and dedication to serving the Mendocino County community for his choices in these promotions. 

Lieutenant Comer will serve as area commander for the Sheriff's Office for the coastal communities of the county. Lieutenant Cromer, Sergeant Wyant and Sergeant Vanoven will provide leadership in inland sectors.

(Sheriff’s Office Presser)

SUSAN ELLEN BRUTY WERTHEIMER

Susan Ellen Bruty Wertheimer, 78, passed away on Saturday, October 13, 2020 at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco where she was awaiting valve replacement surgery to address recently diagnosed severe aortic stenosis. The cause of death is presumed to be heart valve failure. 

She was a long-time resident of Redwood Valley, CA. Susan was born in Washington, IA on her family farm to Colette TeBockhorst Bruty and William Bryan Bruty and was the fourth of their six children. She spent her early years riding horses, reading, and exploring the farm's surroundings, which may have sparked her lifelong love of nature. She was drawn to the arts, loved to sing, and had significant roles in Washington High School theater productions. She graduated from Marycrest College in Davenport, IA in 1964 with a degree in Elementary Education. Shortly after, her wandering spirit and love of the ocean took her to California, where she met and married Melencio Aranas, Jr. They resided in Vallejo, CA and she was a teacher for some years. After a harmonious separation, Susan later met and married the love of her life, Thomas Joseph Wertheimer of Detroit, MI. They spent some time in the Santa Rosa area before purchasing a parcel of land in Redwood Valley, one of the first to be sold from the subdivided large ranch up Tomki Road in the late 1970s. While Susan was a teacher by training, her heart belonged to being a wife and mother, and her spirit was devoted to activism. She relentlessly championed worthwhile causes, from Native American rights and other social justice initiatives, to clean energy, redwood forest preservation, and environmental stewardship in general. She brought life and warmth to all who knew her and will be remembered for her generous smile and caring nature. Susan is survived by her husband, Thomas Wertheimer; by her sisters: Mary Gilmore, Peg Gebhardt, and Sally Leyden; by her brothers; Bill Bruty and Tom Bruty; by her three sons: Sean Aranas, Ganya Wertheimer, and Robert Wertheimer; by her two daughters: Steffani Aranas and Lauryn McCreadie; and by her six grandchildren. Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at Empire Mortuary in Ukiah on Friday, October 23 between 9:30am and 11:30am. A memorial service will be held afterward in Potter Valley, CA. Those wishing to attend should contact Steffani Aranas at 415-755-8561. Condolences can be sent to P.O. Box 525, Redwood Valley, Ca 95470.

WHAT HAPPENED TO KADIE JONES?

The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office is asking the public for assistance in creating a timeline of the whereabouts of 21-year-old Kadie Lynn Jones of Redding whose remains were found on the riverbar near Garberville on October 9.

Her burned remains were located where Cal Fire personnel responded to a brush fire near the small town in Southern Humboldt. According to the Sheriff's Office, her remains were collected and an autopsy was held on October 13. "Evidence located through the autopsy indicates that the female likely died prior to the fire and her death has been determined to be a homicide," the Sheriff's Department said in a prepared statement.

This is an active homicide investigation and "The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office requests the public's assistance with information regarding Jones' whereabouts in the days leading up to her death."

Anyone who has information on where Jones was in the days leading up to her remains being located from October 5-9, is requested to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff's Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

BBQ TRI-TIP DINNER THIS FRIDAY 10/23

From Lisa at Yorkville Market

Hello and Happy October!

This Friday 10/23 we will be preparing BBQ tri-tip dinners for take-out or eating socially distanced on our lovely patio. The meal will include a baked potato with all the trimmings (sour cream, bacon, green onions) a garden salad, and a slice of homemade fall fruit galette. We will be sourcing as much produce from local gardens as possible. We will also be offering happy hour wine by the glass to accompany your meal, or you can pick out a bottle of wine or beer to take with you. 

Dinners will be ready for pick-up beginning at 5:30pm and going until 7:30pm or until they are sold out. We will be making a fixed amount, so please RSVP by Thursday afternoon (707-894-9456). Everything will be packaged in a ready to-go bag, and we will even bring them out to your car if you would like. The price is $25 per person. 

Looking forward to seeing you all on Friday!

Best,

Lisa Walsh

THE PAUL MCCARTHY SCHOLARSHIP

For those who have asked about contributing in Paul's memory a Paul McCarthy Scholarship Fund has been set up. Paul would be very proud of this.

You can donate to the Paul McCarthy Scholarship Fund here: https://mendocino-club-cardinal-gear.company.site/Paul-McCarthy-Scholarship-p244244618

— Shane McCarthy

MENDOCINO COAST UPDATE FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 19, 2020

by Tabatha Miller

I have started to use my biweekly report as an update on what is happening at the City, both in the context of COVID-19 but also regular day-to-day business. This week, most of the current news is COVID related. Last week, Mendocino County issued guidance on Halloween and Dia de los Muertos Celebrations in the time of COVID-19. Included in the activities to avoid are traditional trick-or-treating and trunk-or-treating, and outdoor activities where social distancing cannot be maintained. Activities that are sanctioned include one-way trick or treating with individual goodie bags lined up or set up to maintain proper social distancing; Zoom costume parties; yard decorations; and small outdoor costume parades with members of a Stable Household Support Group, as defined by the Order. 

The C.V. Starr Community Center, Mendocino Coast Recreation and Parks District, Fort Bragg Unified School District and the City of Fort Bragg are coordinating a Drive Thru Trick-or-Treating event on Saturday, October 31st from 1:00 to 4:00pm. The drive-thru route mimics part of the well-known parade route heading east on Oak Street, right onto Dana Street to the first drive-thru stop at the Fort Bragg High School parking lot. Drive thru trick-or-treaters will then head over to the Dana Gray school bus lane for more candy stations next, traveling west on Chestnut Street and right to South Lincoln Street to Redwood Elementary School. The grand finale drive-thru candy stop will be at the CV Starr Community Center parking lot. Costumes are encouraged but masks and social distancing are required. If you are interested in hosting a socially distanced candy/treat station in one of the three parking lots, please reach out to Sonya Shaffer, Mendocino Coast Recreation and Parks District at (707) 964-9446 ext. 203. 

On Friday, October 16, 2020, Mendocino County issued a new Shelter in Place Order, effective that day at 5:00 pm. Dr. Coren has shortened and simplified the orders so that they are a little easier to read and understand. Much of the focus is on consistency with the statewide Public Health Officer’s Order. Under the current Order, indoor pools and fitness facilities must remain closed, so for now, the C.V. Starr Community Center will remain closed. 

The Mendocino Coast Clinics continue to offer COVID-19 surveillance testing by appointment only on Wednesdays from 9:00am to 12:00 (noon), and on Thursdays from 1:00 to 5:00pm. Please contact MCC at (707) 964-1251 or email info@mccinc.org to schedule an appointment. Mendocino County has secured this local surveillance testing from UCSF through October 31, 2020. If you visit Ukiah, testing is also available from OptumServe, Sunday-Thursday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm at 1055 North State Street. Visit https://lhi.care/covidtesting to make an appointment. 

This is old news, however, funds are still available through the City’s Tenant Based Rental Assistance program for low and moderate income households who may be having difficulty paying their rent due to COVID-19. Assistance is provided on a first come, first serve basis to qualified applicants who reside within City limits. Please call (707) 961-2823, extension 106 or email tbra@fortbragg.com for more information or to request a TBRA Program application. 

The City has applied for additional funds which should be available soon to help households impacted by COVID pay their past due water and sewer utility bills. As soon as more information is available, an announcement will be made. 

As to the City’s COVID-19 sewer testing, recent results reported a “none detected” for the two strains of COVID-19. While the strength and presence of COVID-19 in the sewer are helpful to gather information in the long term, it provides no information to help identify who is COVID-19 positive. I would like to remind everyone that the 95437 zip code has a population of approximately 15,000, while the City limits and City’s sewer area is approximately 7,500. 

VIRTUAL TOUR OF SUN HOUSE--OCT. 24

The Grace Hudson Museum will present a virtual tour of the Sun House on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 3 to 4 p.m. 

The Sun House is the lovingly preserved home of Grace Hudson, guiding spirit of the Museum, and her husband, John. They built a craftsman-style redwood bungalow to reflect their artistic tastes in 1911 and moved in the next year. One of the Museum’s experienced guides will lead the way and answer questions. 

To join, go to the website at www.gracehudsonmuseum.org and scroll down to “Sun House Tour,” then click the link provided. 

This event is part of Grace Hudson Museum's Fall Series, which will include an outdoor acorn walk in November, a virtual book club meeting, and an online holiday celebration. 

PUTRESCENSE

Editor,

The election will tighten up in the swing states. A number of people know why the Willits Police Chief resigned. A lot of people would like to know. Who will investigate? The PD? The Comical? The sad UDJ? The New York Post? The Manchester Union Leader? The Wall Street Journal? The Willits papers? No, no, no. Who shall we support for the new editor at the Press Democrat? Marco McClean! Remember prescient? Used twice in the AVA. The UDJ doesn't know the word yet. Here's a new one for you: Putrescence. You should find plenty of opportunity to use it. Expected you to print Stanton’s calling Lincoln a baboon and Lincoln's reply. Doris K. Goodwin told several of Lincoln's jokes in Band of Rivals.

Ralph Bostrom

Willits

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WHERE'S US?

To the Editor:

Do “We the People” get any voice anymore? Letters to the Editor often express disagreement with our “leaders’ ideas”: [e.g., “improving” traffic flow on State St.] but there is never any real attention paid to “We the People.” 

Martha Barra’s letter (UDJ 10/09/20) succinctly explained why the Best Western is NOT a good choice for a homeless shelter. I don’t recall any journalist reporting anyone explaining why it is a GOOD choice. All We-the-People got was: “Sorry, We-the-People, but the door was slammed because “an escrow has been opened.” I agree that there should be an open meeting and/or some explanations from the “good choice” people. (I’d hate to think there was anything nefarious.) 

Jon E. Telschow

Ukiah

SHOW YOUR PRIDE and support for our LGBTQIA+ community!

Let's create a safe and self-affirming space where our friends and family can be their true authentic selves.

The Black Lives Matter and PRIDE movements overlap. We need to stand up for each other. This is about equality for all.

Our Trans community has been fighting for equality, fighting against oppression, discrimination and police brutality.

"Sadly, 2020 has already seen at least 33 transgender or gender non-conforming people fatally shot or killed by other violent means, the majority of which were Black and Latinx transgender women. We say at least because too often these stories go unreported -- or misreported." - Human Rights Campaign

#blacklivesmatter #blacktranslivesmatter #blacktranswomenmatter#blackqueerlivesmatter #lgbtqia #trans #transgender #queer#transrights #transrightsarehumanrights

ED NOTES

I COUNT MY BLESSINGS: If I hadn't listened to NPR this morning I wouldn't have known that today is Kim Kardashian's birthday. Then my old friend Gordon Black, the ancient mariner of Mendo's quasi-public radio club, comes on to quaver in his fading bass, that he's been with KZYX from birth — its, not his — and by golly we should all get on board. 

RADIO, seems to me, especially of the NPR type, faces the same mega-prob as newspapers in paper form: the young don't get their information from newspapers or radio. They get what they need from the gizmo they carry around with them and undoubtedly already knew it was Kim's birthday. KZYX subscribers are on average about 60, at least, same as the newspaper demographic. How to attract the young? Like, uh, kinda, frankly, to be honest, uh, like slap 'em upside the head like you would a balky pinball machine?

THERE'S a LGBTQIA-+ demo in Fort Bragg this weekend, and if an aged white hetero male rural newspaper editor might be indulged as he asks for a clarification (no pictures necessary, thank you all the same) what do all these letters mean? I think I get the first four, but what is Q, what is I, what is A, and for the goddess's sake what the hell does the plus sign represent? Excuse what you might regard as impertinence but seriously, what's the certification process? Honor system, or some kind of clearinghouse where maybe a committee examines the applicant and places him/her in the appropriate category? How is fraud handled?

WHENEVER this or that career officeholder pops into town or, these plague days, zooms in, as State Senator Mike McGuire did to the Supervisor's meeting Tuesday, the Supes and or assembled libs react as if it's a celestial visitation, and immediately assume the prone position. McGuire got salaamed by the Supes because he'd arranged the tax money for our county's 32 helping agencies to buy the Best Western motel on Orchard Street in Ukiah, conveniently just down the street from Camille Schraeder's headquarters where she and her husband spend over $20 million local tax dollars annually to do good in many unmonitored ways for the local underclass and their children. 

THE MOTEL will be converted to housing for the homeless after extensive remodeling by Mendocino County, with a promise from McGuire for more money to do it. The surrounding neighborhood of non-tax supported working people is opposed to the conversion of the Best Western but their opinions apparently don't count, and anyway weren't solicited.

IS IT HARD to imagine the reaction from Healdsburg if McGuire arranged to buy a motel for the homeless in his preciously tidy little hometown? Or if he'd bought property for the homeless on the Westside of Ukiah? Or in the hills above Potter Valley where the Schraeders make their regal home, far, far from the homeless?

A READER WRITES: "One of the citizens around here caught me reading the AVA yesterday, asked me what I was reading, I said it's a political weekly that tells the truth. He asked me what that means and I quoted you: Stick a fork in us, we're done. He nodded and said, Yup. Later I was remembering Robert Penn Warren's "All The King's Men" and some lines from The Kingfish who was asking his aide to dig up some dirt on his political opponent. His aide said something to the effect that the guy was cleaner than a laundered bedsheet, there's nothing to dig up. The Kingfish replied, and I can only paraphrase, “Hey dummy, we're conceived in sin and born in corruption. We go from the stink of the diddy to the stench of the shroud. There's ALWAYS something.” Bukowski was right. The truth is a dog from hell. "

REMEMBERING MICHAEL MCCLURE

Today would have been Michael McClure's 88th birthday. He passed away last May. We miss our dear friend. 

Before he passed, Michael had prepared a final book of poems, much of which is about his own mortality and looking back on his life (if you're familiar with Michael's work, you know he brings the intensity). It's called Mule Kick Blues and Last Poems, and we're publishing it April 2021.

— City Lights Booksellers & Publishers

PARTY LINES

Editor,

I got my No and Yes flyers for Props 15 and 21 in the mail yesterday. They are asking us for a huge chunk of money again. Are they ever satisfied? I bet their pensions are in trouble and other symptoms of mismanagement. It seems they are running out of money faster all the time. I mean the pots get empty but the pockets get full.

I don't mind rich liberal Democrats if they make their own money with their own business. But most of them are on the dole somehow either working directly for the government in highly paid well-connected positions that need more money all the time, or as "nonprofit" contractors collecting money from the government doing all those wonderful things. Think Measure B, San Francisco's homeless program, also here in our County. The list is truly endless of rat holes to throw money down. I mean well-connected rat holes. I have a rule I've become quite comfortable with that is: don't ever send them anything you don't have to. Whatever they fix gets worse. They get richer and still want to be rewarded with more money using whatever excuses are handy.

Proposition 15 is going after just the "rich corporations"!? What a crock! They will certainly pass on whatever expense to all of us and while they confiscate and redistribute to all these wonderful programs that keep getting bigger and more expensive.

I noticed on my No On 15 flyer that No on 50 is supported by the NAACP. Proposition 15 will destroy many black owned businesses. This of course makes perfect sense.

When asked about the NAACP's supporting an anti-socialist proposition an NPR/KZYX radio host said the NAACP has become a corrupt organization. What do you expect from such a nonbiased fair and balanced radio station?

They should call it Party Line Radio. If Propositions 15 and 21 fail there is hope.

Tom Madden

Comptche

JOB OP

Now Hiring - Front Desk/Concierge!

The Stanford Inn & Resort is now hiring for Front Desk/Concierge..

Looking for friendly, energetic, outgoing people!

Knowledge of PC and general office equipment required.

Concierge checks in and checks out guests, shows guests to rooms, books, spa/wellness treatments and classes and general concierge/hospitality services.

Please contact sid@stanfordinn.com or call (707) 937-5615 with questions, or fill out an application in person.

Stanford Inn is located on the corner of Highway 1 and Comptche Ukiah Rd., just south of Mendocino Village

stuart@stanfordinn.com

www.stanfordinn.com

ANOTHER ARMED POT ROBBERY outside Willits.

On Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at about 3:46 AM Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to an armed robbery in the 25000 block of String Creek Road in Willits.

Deputies arrived at the location and contacted the three adult male victims. Deputies learned all three adult male victims were involved in a marijuana cultivation operation at the location.

Shortly before the victim's called 911 to report the robbery, all three victims were asleep on separate parts of the property.

Two of the adult male victims were awoken by six (6) adult males each armed with a firearm. The six (6) suspects were reported to be wearing all black colored clothing and black colored masks.

The suspects assaulted the two adult male victims by punching and striking them in the head with the firearms. One suspect tied two victims hands behind their backs and forced them to walk to a barn on the property.

The suspects stole approximately 10 to 15 pounds of bud marijuana from the barn on the property then secured the two adult male victims in the barn and fled the area on foot.

One of the adult male victims freed himself from his restraints and contacted the third adult male victim who was asleep in the main residence of the property. The Sheriff's Office was then immediately contacted via 911.

Deputies conducted a search of the property and located evidence to suggest the suspects entered the property from the southwest wooded area of the property and fled the same direction.

Deputies did not locate any of the suspects in the area and the case is under investigation.

Anyone with information that might assist investigators is urged to call the Sheriff's Office Tip-Line at 707-234-2100 or the WeTip anonymous crime reporting hotline at (800) 782-7463.

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GENTLEMAN JAMES

On Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at approximately 9:53 P.M. Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to investigate a domestic violence dispute in the 13400 block of Pratt Ranch Road, Hopland.

Deputies learned a 38-year old adult female was physically assaulted by her boyfriend, James Ray, 45, of Hopland.

During the altercation Ray reportedly grabbed the adult female by the arms and pushed her into the residence causing pain and injury. The adult female had visible injuries to her face and left arm.

During the investigation Deputies located Ray and placed him under arrest for Domestic Violence Battery).

Ray was subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

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EVERY GARDENER NEEDS ONE

On Thursday, October 15, 2020, at about 8:39 PM, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a marijuana cultivation dispute in the 25300 block of Barnes Lane in Covelo.

While at the location, Deputies contacted Miguel Velazquez-Garcia, 27, of Covelo, who resides on the property and manages the un-permitted marijuana growing operation.

As Velazquez-Garcia was showing the Deputies around the property, the Deputies observed a small plywood structure with the door open and an AR-15 style assault rifle leaning against the door.

Deputies obtained consent to search the structure and noticed the rifle had no serial numbers.

It was determined during the investigation that the rifle appeared to be homemade and is commonly known as a "ghost gun."

The firearm was a semi-automatic center fire rifle, which did not have a fixed magazine and was equipped with a telescoping stock, pistol grip and was loaded with .223 caliber ammunition in violation of penal code section 30605(A), possession of assault weapon.

Deputies were able to link Velazquez-Garcia to possessing the rifle for personal protection purposes.

Velazquez-Garcia was placed under arrest and transported to the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be booked for Felony Possession of an Assault Weapon.

In accordance with the COVID-19 emergency order issued by the State of California Judicial Council, bail was set at zero dollars and Velazquez-Garcia released after the jail booking process.

Please visit the following link to hear Sheriff Matthew C. Kendall provide a Public Safety Message on the current COVID-19 emergency order related to zero bail: facebook.com/MendocinoSheriff/videos/2568683186688486/

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NORM'S OUT FOR A WALK AND…

On Wednesday, Ocrtober 14, 2020 at 11:44 P.M. Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office observed Norman White, 40, of Ukiah, walking in the 1200 block of North State Street in Ukiah,.

Deputies had prior knowledge that White had an active Mendocino County Felony Warrant for his arrest. White was contacted and the warrant was confirmed.

White was placed under arrested and subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail for Felony Failure to Appear Arrest Warrant where he was to be held in lieu of $45,000 bail.

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OPEN FIELD TACKLE

On Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at about 7:07 P.M., Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle associated with a potential prowler in the 2900 block of West Lake Mendocino Drive, Ukiah.

Deputies arrived in the area and attempted to contact an adult male seated inside a white Honda Civic. As the Deputy approached the vehicle it accelerated away quickly.

The Deputies pursued after the vehicle as it traveled recklessly on numerous county streets/roads.

During the pursuit, the vehicle went off the roadway in the 5000 block of North State Street striking a small tree branch before becoming disabled on the passenger side of the vehicle.

The driver, Jacob Silverman, 44, of San Francisco, exited the vehicle and after a short foot pursuit Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputies were able to arrest Silverman.

Silverman was subsequently medically cleared at a local hospital.

Silverman was then transported to the Mendocino County Jail where he was booked on charges of Felony Reckless Driving Resisting or Delaying a Peace Officer.

Silverman was to be held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

CATCH OF THE DAY, October 21, 2020

BRIAN AMMERMAN, Fort Bragg. Failure to appear.

GILBERTO GALVEZ, Fort Bragg. Disorderly conduct-alcohol. 

CALEB HESSINGS, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol, failure to appear.

JESUS MACIAS, Ukiah. Probation revocation. (Frequent flyer.)

ARTURO MANRIQUEZ-HERNANDEZ, Gualala. DUI, no license.

BOBBY MILLER, Fort Bragg. Failure to appear.

JAQUELIN MUNIZ-MEDINA, Ukiah. DUI with blood-alcohol over 0.15%

KELSEY PIERCE, Ukiah. Failure to appear.

MARCO RODRIGUEZ, Antioch/Ukiah. Probation revocation.

NADYA'S PICKS

Recommendations for CA State Ballot Propositions

For those who have not already voted on the state propositions: #14 through 25. Several orgs that I work with recommend:

YES ON ALL STATE PROPOSITIONS EXCEPT - NO on: 20, 22, & 24

(Easy to remember, the even numbered ones in the 20s)

Thank you for being Voters!

Nadya Williams

Nadya Marina Connolly Williams, Director of Communications, Veterans For Peace SF Ch. 69; 1436 Grant Avenue, Apt. 10; San Francisco, CA 94133 Cell: (415) 845-9492; Home: (415) 362-0162 

NOW, WHEN/IF BIDEN LOSES or has the election stolen, I would like to point out just a few of the reasons that it’s not my fault or Russia’s or Ralph Nader’s or the Green Party’s.

1) There is no evidence that Russia has had any influence over the 2020 (or 2016) U.S. election. (But please do send me hundreds of angry evidence-free denunciations of the supposed lunacy of saying so.) (I would much rather you blame me than Russia because I don’t have any nuclear weapons.)

2) The Green Party got a teeny tiny bit of the vote and probably gained Biden as many votes in Maine and places that have ranked choice voting as it cost him elsewhere, and is the most likely party to challenge any of Trump’s election-related crimes.

3) I supported Bernie.

4) I didn’t advise campaigning on a promise to keep fracking. I didn’t even pretend that campaign was a mistake driven by ignorance of polling rather than subservience to funders.

5) I didn’t declare “The Party c’est moi!” and run screaming from every popular position.

6) I live in a non-swing state.

7) The notion that I decided the election through my failure to push scheme #2 above aggressively enough is exposed by my utter inability to advance scheme #1.

8) I didn’t create the electoral college — I’m trying to abolish it.

9) I don’t run the corporate media outlets that bow before Trump — I’m trying to break them up and regulate them.

10) I didn’t tolerate Trump’s hateful instigation of violence and intimidation. I’ve been trying to get him impeached, removed, and prosecuted for it since before his first inauguration — but a certain political party preferred a bunch of dangerous lies about Russia and a Ukraine story that made their own guy look bad.

11) I didn’t lie about voting by mail, strip names off rolls, create long lines, or utilize unverifiable machines and scanners. That was your elected officials.

12) I didn’t kneel down and let Trump put a George W. Bush election thief on the Supreme Court. I proposed impeaching Trump for a legitimate offense from the long list of indisputable public outrages, and forcing the Senate to deal with it. Now, if you want to spend the next couple of weeks telling everyone for the 10 millionth time to vote for Biden, knock yourself out. I’ve had a job doing that for months. 

– David Swanson

WHEN IT CAME TO A CHOICE between buying a book and a ham sandwich, as it often did, I always chose the book. 

— John Berryman

COUNTY OF MENDOCINO ANNOUNCES SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM

Two Funding Opportunities for Small Businesses

El Condado de Mendocino anuncia el Programa de Subvenciones de Recuperación para Pequeños Negocios Dos oportunidades de financiamiento para pequeños negocios

Post Date: 10/21/2020 10:58 AM

Ukiah, Calif. – October 21, 2020 – The County of Mendocino is excited to announce that part one of the Small Business Recovery Grant Program funding will soon be available to eligible for-profit micro-businesses in Mendocino County. The grants will be administered through West Business Development Center.

The County of Mendocino is the recipient of a federal CARES Act grant of $500,000 to be disbursed by December 30, 2020. This federal funding comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) monies disbursed to state, territorial, local, and tribal governments. The grant will provide direct aid in the form of micro-grants to local for-profit businesses that have suffered financial hardship as a result of COVID-19. Carmel Angelo, CEO of the County of Mendocino, stated, “This federal funding couldn’t have come at a better time to help our small business community meet their expenses and continue to provide us with the services we need.”

All businesses must meet certain criteria to apply for the Mendo CARES Act grants. They must:

Be a for-profit business with a valid business license

Have self-certified at https://www.mendocinocountybusiness.org with a reopening plan

Be based within the geographical boundaries of Mendocino County

Be a sole proprietorship, or have no more than 5 full-time equivalent or part-time equivalent employees, which could include the owner and 4 individuals working full- or part-time as employees

Be open as of March 20, 2020 and currently operating

The Small Business Recovery Grant Program funds will be split into two funding streams: Mendo CARES Act grant fund and Business Innovation and Resiliency Grants.

The Mendo CARES Act grant has an allocation of $350,000 to reimburse small businesses up to $10,000 in eligible expenses incurred due to COVID-19 business interruption and/or in need of new automated processes required for work. For eligible business owners a notice of intent portal will open on November 2, 2020 at 12 noon, along with the grant guidelines, FAQs, and application instructions at www.westcenter.org and www.mendocinocounty.org/business/business-resource-for-covid-19.

There are several steps business owners can take right now to prepare their application including making sure their business license is current and readily available. Business applicants will be required to submit their business license number, a W-9, receipts for expenses, and other supporting documentation in order for their full application to be considered. If a business does not currently have a business license, they may apply by contacting the cities of Ukiah, Willits, Point Arena, or Fort Bragg, or the County of Mendocino, depending on where the business is located. Mary Anne Petrillo, CEO of West Center, also recommended, “One of the best things a small business owner can do right now is gather their receipts for past expenses. We will need applicants to request an exact amount based on verifiable receipts.” 

Final grant award amounts will be based on the number of eligible applications received by November 9, which is the closing date of the notice of intent portal. The final grant awards will be based on calculations from the total requested amounts indicated in the notice of intent and there is no guarantee that the full amount in the application will be awarded. All applicants are required to submit verifiable supporting documentation with their final application.

The full application portal will open onNovember 13 at 12 noon when applicants will be informed whether they are eligible to submit a full application. Awards will be announced on Friday December 4 at 12 noon. 

A third round of Business Innovation and Resiliency Grants has a fund allocation of $150,000 to small business owners with grants of up to $5,000 per business. The online application portal for this funding stream will open on December 1, 2020 at 12 noon. These awards are to support small business owners with cash needs to transform or enhance their business model to adjust to a COVID-19 economy. 

About West Business Development Center: West Center a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) funded non-profit business development center that provides reliable no-cost confidential counseling and relevant training programs to entrepreneurs throughout Mendocino and Lake County. West Center hosts the Mendocino Small Business Development Center and the Mendocino Women’s Business Center. www.westcenter.org Phone: (707) 964-7571 Address: 345 N. Franklin St. Fort Bragg, 185 E. Church St. Ukiah

WORK & SOCIAL JUSTICE EXHIBITION OPENS AT STANFORD LIBRARIES

A life dedicated to social activism

David Bacon is an award-winning California-based photographer, writer, social activist, and union organizer whose life has been committed to social justice. His father, a printer and head of the Book and Magazine Guild union, was blacklisted during the McCarthy era. Bacon watched both of his parents rally communities behind common causes, then spent two decades as a factory worker and union organizer. In the mid-1980s he began working as an independent photographer and journalist documenting the lives and social movements of migrants, farm workers, and communities impacted by globalization. 

https://exhibits.stanford.edu/bacon

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LABOR MARCH PROTESTS THE POLICE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD

BERKELEY, CA - 13 JUNE 20 - Hundreds of union members and outraged people march through the streets of Berkeley to protest the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and other African American and people of color killed by police. The march was organized by the labor councils of Alameda, San Francisco, Contra Costa and San Mateo Counties, and Service Employees International Union Local 1021. 

To see a full set of photos, click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/56646659@N05/albums/72157714734338062

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STUDENTS MARCH TO PROTEST THE POLICE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD

BERKELEY, CA - 09 JUNE 20 - Hundreds of students, teachers and outraged people march through the streets of Berkeley to protest the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and other African Americian and other people of color killed by police.

To see a full set of photos, click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/56646659@N05/albums/72157714656895057

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HUGE CAR CARAVAN PROTESTS THE POLICE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD

OAKLAND, CA - 31 MAY 20 - Thousands of people participate in a caravan of over 2000 cars from the Port of Oakland, to protest the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and African American and people of color killed by police.

To see a full set of photos, click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/56646659@N05/albums/72157714533842187

WHO RATTED US OUT?

HEY, GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU BARACK, BUT I VOTE THIRD PARTY

From: Barack Obama

Subject: A quick note

To: Bruce Anderson

You never cease to amaze me, Bruce.

You, working hand in hand with your family, your friends, your neighbors ... you always prove the power and resiliency of the American people.

In the midst of a global pandemic, you have gone the extra mile to take care of your community. You have taken to the streets to nonviolently demand justice and seek change. And now, during what might be the most consequential election in our lifetimes, you are standing up for a better America. An America where no one is unseen, no one is unheard, and no one is left behind. 

In our darkest hours, we come together as a nation to lift each other up. This November, we must come together again to elect new leaders who will move our country forward, not further into the darkness. Now, we must make sure that our friends, family, and neighbors all have their voices heard.

And so I want to ask you a favor: Will you pledge to remind three friends to vote by November 3?

It’s a simple ask, but it goes a long way, giving an extra nudge to those we care about to make sure that they have a say in what our future becomes. It’s been proven that a simple reminder from a friend can significantly increase the likelihood of someone voting. And the team at MoveOn is running a smart, effective program to help support us all in following up on these reminders, making plans to vote, and ensuring every vote is counted.

The leaders we elect matter, Bruce. Affordable health care, criminal justice reform, a stronger economy, and the willingness to acknowledge and address climate change matter. Each of us knows the urgency of this moment. Where we go as a nation will be determined by the choices we make in this election: whether we approach the future with fear, or with hope. 

After all this time, I still have hope. I have hope that the American people will come together and build a brighter future, not just for ourselves but for generations to come.

Take the pledge to remind three friends to vote by November 3.

Then text your group chat, post on social media, call your family members, and let your neighbors know that their vote is power. And let the team at MoveOn help you follow up with proven tactics to help voters get to the polls, get ballots in, and get votes counted.

Thank you.

–Barack Obama 

Want to support our work? As Senator Elizabeth Warren says, "If you are committed to helping win this life-or-death fight, now is the moment to step up. MoveOn and I are giving this fight our all." With just days left in one of the most consequential elections in U.S. history, we have an urgent question: 

Will you chip in to help MoveOn power a blue wave, defeat Trump, and flip the Senate?

SAKO'S FOR GLENN

Dear Editor: 

I am writing to go on record in endorsing Glenn McGourty for Mendocino County 1st District Supervisor.

In the primary, I also ran as a candidate for the 1st District. During the few months of campaigning I got to know Glenn. He is someone who will be competent and effective in representing both the district and the county. Glenn's 32 years as a working scientist, and his experience as a farmer, make him uniquely qualified.

Moreover, Glenn is collegial and seems able to find workable compromise solutions in a county that is often divisive and that will face painful budget shortfalls in the future.

For years I was a cannabis farmer. A serious medical malpractice injury on November 20 forced me to retire.

As a farmer I was painfully aware that our county's cannabis ordinance has been a total failure. I am also aware that most of our county's cannabis farmers have abandoned the unnecessarily complicated and expensive permitting process which was developed by Boards of Supervisors in the past.

Farmers have just given up. And they have been forced back into the black market.

Glenn will fight for them. He will fight for changes to allow for special small producer’s licenses at the state level, similar to the that licenses vineyards and wine makers have. He will fight for changes to existing laws regarding farmers co-ops.

Glenn sees that the vast majority of cannabis farmers in Mendocino County are good citizens who want to legally enter the Proposition 64 marketplace, but only with lower cost and fewer regulatory burdens.

There is wide agreement that cannabis should not be grown in densely populated city and residential neighborhoods. However, there is less agreement that, when cannabis is grown in less densely populated rural areas, it should be defined as an agricultural crop and product for all purposes.

I ran on a platform that the same rules should apply to cannabis that apply to other types of agriculture. Rules for land-uses, Williamson Act, building permits, and all other rules should be consistent across the board.

I ran on a platform that there should also be no special rules pursuant to a cannabis permits, or land use permits involving cannabis. Rules for both cannabis and non-cannabis agriculture permits or projects should be standardized.

Glenn shares my passion for fairness for our cannabis farmers.

Finally, highly technical requirements, like site-specific CEQA review, and the current SSHR and Appendix G processes, are killing our cannabis farmers. Most cannabis farmers must hire lawyers and technical consultants to get through a crazy permit application process. It's expensive. And unfair.

Glenn will fight for simplified, streamlined permitting. In short, Glenn will give our county's legacy cannabis farmers a fighting chance to survive a competitive marketplace.

Here in Mendocino County, small, independent, family farming is a way of life. But that way of life has been dying since Prop 64. We cannot compete with companies, like Flow Kana, backed by hundreds of millions of dollars from investors from Wall Street, Silicon Valley, Big Tobacco, and Big Pharma.

Cannabis has become Big Business. It is dominated by Big Money. And it is dominated by Outside Money.

Glenn will level the playing field. Vote for Glenn McGourty for Mendocino County 1st District Supervisor.

John Sakowicz

Ukiah

Former Candidate, Mendocino County 1st District Supervisor

Former Public Trustee, Mendocino County Employee Retirement Association

Former Board of Directors, Ukiah Valley Sanitation District

Former Mendocino County Grand Jury

Former Mendocino County Sheriff's Office

FOUND OBJECT