Mendocino County Today: Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022

High Pressure | 44 New Cases | Schapmire Exit | Mendo Covid | Ed Notes | Three Worlds | Uncle Rod | Opus Concert | Marijuana Tax | Mendocino Lumber | Muy Vitriólico | Khadijah Case | Monarch Mural | Jesus Backfield | Molgaard Appointed | Young Marilyn | Mendocino Art | Young Ballers | No-Knock Warrants | Hospital Future | Stress Relief | Philo Rental | Host Al | TMI | Zoop Soup | Informing Citizens | Budget Escapes | Crappy Option | Navarro Wharf | Mo Report | Yesterday's Catch | Airbnb Scam | Kochtopus | At War | Coast Guards | D-Day Stowaway | Vet Inflection | Giusti Report | Favor | Navarro Grade | Satellites Zapped

A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM will dominate the Northeast Pacific into the weekend. As the high moves north, the gusty northerly winds over the coastal waters will weaken, and general offshore flow will also weaken. However, record breaking high temperatures are still possible today and potentially into the weekend for the region. A slight chance of precipitation is possible early next week. (NWS)

44 NEW COVID CASES reported in Mendocino County yesterday afternoon.

UNABLE TO WORK WITH THE ‘CURRENT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’, MENDOCINO COUNTY’S LONG-TIME TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR RETIRES EARLY

Interviewed by Matt LaFever (Mendofever.com)

Sheri Schapmire currently serves as Mendocino County’s Treasurer-Tax Collector. Serving in the elected position for the last fifteen years, and the County of Mendocino for forty, Schapmire’s knowledge of county finances is extensie. 

Schapmire’s office acts as the depository for all funds belonging to the county, including schools and special districts, while also collecting and distributing taxes.

She told us, in the face of growing issues within Mendocino County’s government, and the distinct feeling that she “cannot work with the current Board of Supervisors”, she has decided to retire on March 19, nearly nine months before her term will end. 

One of the most significant factors in her assessment of the county’s current trajectory is the ongoing process of reorganizing the County of Mendocino’s fiscal departments. As per direction from the Board of Supervisors, the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s office will be combined with the county’s Auditor-Controller. 

These offices traditionally existed as two distinct entities managed by elected officials. The Treasurer-Tax Collector manages the county’s income and the Auditor-Controller provides oversight of the county’s expenditures.

Schapmire told us the initiative to combine these offices began with the early retirement of long-time Auditor-Controller Lloyd Weir. Weir would go on to recommend the Board of Supervisors appoint long-standing Assistant Auditor-Controller Chemise Cubbison to finish Weir’s term. 

It was at this crucial juncture when Schapmire told us her relationship with the Board of Supervisors began to suffer. In early September 2021, she says she watched the Board of Supervisors run Cubbison, a long-time county employee known for her fiscal precision and eye for the questionable use of public funds, through the wringer. 

District Attorney David Eyster provided a lengthy rebuke of Cubbison’s practices during her three years as the Assistant Auditor-Controller due to disagreements that resulted from Cubbison auditing the DA’s travel expenses, reimbursements, and use of asset forfeiture funds.

The Board of Supervisors would go on to decline the appointment of Cubbison as the Interim Auditor-Controller, instead of asking her to continue her role in the office until someone permanent would be selected.

Schapmire was taken aback by the Boards of Supervisors’ resistance to Cubbison’s competence, and even more so when the talk of consolidating the Treasurer-Tax Collector and Auditor-Controller into a single role of office began to emerge. 

After hearing the details, Schapmire knew she was “adamantly opposed to the proposal.”

Schapmire argued that the two offices both have critical financial functions, and the delegation of those tasks to separate offices was done for a reason. “There are a lot of moving parts. If you have one person who oversees the whole thing, things will get lost in the shuffle.”

As the Board considered a significant structural shift in Mendocino County’s government, Schapmire was alarmed when only one of the Supervisors, John Haschak of the 3rd District, spoke with her about concerns of the proposed consolidation.

“The majority of the board just wanted to push this through,” Schapmire said.

In Schapmire’s estimation, these offices require significant internal experience– there are only two people that “have half a chance to succeed in leading the combined department, Chemise or me.” 

Schapmire began to actively voice her concerns to the Board of Supervisors. “I’ve been very vocal that I’ve been opposed to [the consolidation] and there are risks the board is not looking at.” 

Knowing this consolidation will be associated with an election, Schapmire said a very real risk is the unknowability of “who is going to put their names on the ballot.” If Cubbison chooses to run or Schapmire’s assistant Treasurer-Tax Collector, the already strained workload of the departments will grow even further.

Hoping to intervene before the Board would approve the consolidation plan, Schapmire wrote a letter read to the board and was “very vocal about my opposition to it. There is a risk the board is not looking at.” 

Another facet of Schapmire’s concern of consolidating was the disruption of leadership, practice, and scope of work would “basically drop a bomb on the two offices.”

Hoping to intervene before the Board would approve the consolidation plan, Schapmire wrote a letter to the board and was “very vocal about my opposition to it.”

A major point of concern for Schapmire when examining the pending consolidation is the financial power represented within the two offices. Treasurer-Tax Collector must manage the money of the county, the schools, and special districts. Schapmire explained, “We’re the bank for the schools, the county offices. We also take in $160 million for property taxes offices.”

While the Treasurer-Tax Collector manages the county’s revenue, the Auditor-Controller supervises expenditures. When these two offices are combined, Schapmire said, “One person will be auditing their own office. You need checks and balances.”

Despite Schapmire’s public and private criticism, the Board of Supervisors approved the consolidation. 

In mid-December, the Board of Supervisors affirmed the consolidation of the two departments, with the only dissenting voice being that of John Haschak, notably the only supervisor Schapmire said spoke with her directly.

The Boards of Supervisors’ willingness to go against the perspective of one of the department heads affected by this consolidation left Schapmire “very concerned with what the board has done to me. As somebody on the inside, this is absolutely not what is best for the county.”

This disregard for her perspective, Schapmire said, is what led her to leave her term as Treasurer-Tax Collection early. “I am leaving early. After being in this office for 40 years, I cannot watch what it is going to do to staff. Also, I feel like now that this is a done deal, I need to get out of the way.”

As Schapmire stares down her retirement and the end of her forty-year career serving Mendocino County’s public, we asked her to comment on the health of the local economy, especially with the dramatic drop in cannabis prices reported by local cultivators. 

Schapmire said in the last year Mendocino County’s cannabis business tax has added $6 million to the county coffers. With rumors in the air that the State of California is considering taking over the collection of the taxes and then redistributing to counties, Schapmire expressed concern that the current boom in county income could wane. 

Many cultivators, attempting to succeed in the legal industry, have expressed frustration to Schapmire about their work to honor the regulated market is actively being undercut by a black market in the area.

Despite the potential disruption of cannabis income, Schapmire is comforted knowing that Mendocino County has other income streams including the wine, grape, and tourism industries. According to Schapmire, the county took in over $7 million in transient occupancy tax last year, a tax derived when guests stay at hotels and motels.

Reflecting on some of the highpoints of her career as the county’s Treasurer-Tax Collector, Schapmire remembered the economic meltdown of 2008. She remembered how the recession required Treasurer-Tax Collector staff to work as a team, to address the “dire situation”, and get the county “on better footing.” This was a time she described as “high functioning” amongst the staff and Schapmire said she was “proud to be a part of that.” 

The other legacy Schapmire is proud to have shaped is the Mendocino County Retirement Association saying her work put in place “a lot of positive things to get the retirement association headed in the right direction.”

Before her departure in March, Schapmire is working to leave the Treasurer-Tax collector office in a “stable place”, specifically regarding the integration of a new property tax computer system that has been problematic to implement. Mendocino County’s property tax record system was 25 years old, Schapmire said, and did not convert well to the new system. 

Schapmire’s office was an outlier in the County of Mendocino departments in that the physical office was the only one to remain open to the public throughout the totality of the COVID-19 pandemic. This policy was an outgrowth of Schapmire‘s commitment to accessibility. As a government entity designed to serve the public, Schapmire made sure that Mendocino County residents could come to the office, discuss any questions or concerns with staff, and not be required to schedule an appointment. She noted that glass partitions, masking, and social distancing was utilized to simultaneously protect the public but maintain their access.

Schapmire expressed appreciation for CEO Carmel Angelo and the recognition that as an elected official, Schapmire had the autonomy to keep the office physically available. CEO Angelo even provided the office with a security guard to guide the public in accessing Schapmire’s office.

Looking at other County of Mendocino departments and governing bodies, Schapmire is concerned “with the approach we have had” as the majority of the county’s infrastructure has been physically unavailable to the public for nearly two years. 

With Schapmire’s last day just over a month away, her Assistant Treasurer-Tax Collector Julie Forrester will take over the role if approved by the board.

Throughout her career as the Treasurer-Tax Collector, Shapmire said she had always felt respected by the Board of Supervisors who would “listen to my opinions.” Despite communicating her adamant opposition to the consolidation, the current Board of Supervisors pushed forward with the consolidation of the county’s fiscal offices which Schapmire argues removed an essential check and balance needed to protect the public’s interests.

Describing herself as being from the “old school”, Schapmire said government officials have a duty to communicate and when speaking to constituents “look them in the eye.” The current Board of Supervisors continuance of remote meetings despite public health’s allowance to move in-person creates a dynamic where “stakeholders are not being heard.”

In the wake of the Board of Supervisors’ decision, Schapmire said that despite “every intention to complete my term and go until December 2022, I am leaving now because I don’t feel like I can work with the current Board of Supervisors.”

ED NOTES

FIRECRACKERS. That wasn't guns and bullets shooting last week in Navarro that had cop cars flying through Boonville; it was a party near Navarro enlivened by whole strings of firecrackers.

SOME POLL FROM SOMEWHERE claimed that roughly twenty percent of Americans think they get the straight skinny from mainstream media. And small wonder when you consider that Martha Radditz broke down in tears as she announced Trump had won the 2016 presidential election. Deploying Radditz as symbol for the 90 percent of MSM reporters and opinionators who predicted and yearned for a Hillary victory, is it any wonder that CNN and MSNBC and the NYT, as extensions of the Democratic Party won't report on Biden's obviously failed cognitive abilities, or Hunter Biden's lucrative relationships with the Ukraine and China, not to mention the lad's spectacular drug expeditions, or that the Democrats are entirely owned by the malign forces of Wall Street and corporations?

THE SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW will feature Dr. Dre, Snoop, Mary J. Blige and Eminem, and I find myself agreeing with the nut cases that “This Super Bowl is ripe for Satanism, evil wicked, Satanic things. This performance-related Satanic Panic has been brewing for a little while now in the U.S.” (Wendy Rogers) 

No, Wendy, this show would be too much even for ol’ Beelzebub. 

IT WOULD be interesting, but probably depressing, to poll the players for their opinions of the halftime show.

THE DRY JANUARY, according to the California Department of Water Resources, didn’t hurt the state’s water storage levels. Thanks to a little snowmelt, water levels were up for all reservoirs from December to January. Lake Mendocino, which has a capacity of 122,400 acre feet, saw the biggest boost from 17% of storage capacity in December to 35% in January, but if it stays dry, the state is again in big trouble. (One acre foot is the equivalent of one acre of land covered in one foot of water.) 

HEADLINE of the day from the PD: “Where to get the best pizza in Sonoma County.”

IN AN ORDINARY civic context, with attentive, responsible people sitting as supervisors, those supervisors would listen to their outgoing bean counter if she said combining public revenue's incoming and outgoing offices is a very bad idea. Not in Mendocino County. Shari Schapmire, Treasurer-Tax Collector for 15 years, with forty total years keeping track of Mendo's money, says the recent combining, by fiat, of the Treasurer-Tax Collector with the Auditor-Controller's office is a very bad idea which, truth to tell, originated with DA Eyster's long whine that Ms. Cubbison, of the Auditor-Controller's office, had dared challenge his dubious claim that asset forfeiture money was none of her or the county's business. The DA and CEO Angelo being fast friends, the upshot was first to make sure that Ms. Cubbison not be appointed to succeed Ms. Mr. Weer on a permanent basis and then the combining of two distinct money functions, incoming and outgoing. And that, Jake, is Mendocino County where the people collecting the money will also be spending it.

AS AVA READER GEORGE DORNER commented at the time: “The proposal to merge the office that takes in the money with the office that pays out the money is such an obvious setup for potential embezzlement that I can’t believe it has ever been proposed!”

THE SUPERVISORS found themselves in the middle of a bizarre dispute Tuesday, August 31, 2021. What began as a routine appointment of Assistant Auditor Chamise Cubbison to fill out the remaining term of retiring Auditor Lloyd Weer, saw DA David Eyster, in full bluster mode, zoom in to claim that Ms. Cubbison was “wrong” in requiring documentation to accompany a grant claim. Ditto for several DA staffers’ claims for training-related travel.

MS. CUBBISON had rejected the claims for not being accompanied by the proper paperwork backup, and already taxpayers should fall in love with this lady for scrupulously guarding the public purse against windy big spenders like the DA who, incidentally, plays the CEO like a bass viola, getting whatever he wants from her like, for instance, a half-dozen or so investigators to investigate the three crimes a week committed by Mendocino County's master criminals.

EYSTER, though, insisted that the Auditor’s requirement didn’t apply to the DA’s office, and submitted various documents to allegedly prove his point.

BUT THE VALIANT Ms. Cubbison held her ground. She said she was simply following county policy, and as an independent auditor she was duty-bound to impose the local, state and federal rules as necessary.

UNACCUSTOMED to such impertinence from another county office, Eyster continued to insist that he was correct. Ms. Cubbison's predecessor also drew the DA's ire on occasion for simply challenging expenditures and categories of expenditures. The Auditor is supposed to be a nicklenoser. We should be grateful to this lady for challenging every dime these outback Caesars claim reimbursement for.

THE PEOPLE'S PROSECUTOR went on at length about how wrong Ms. Cubbison was, adding that her unapologetic wrongness disqualified her from being appointed interim Auditor.

THE WUSS QUINTET functioning as Supervisors seemed flummoxed by the dispute, and clearly didn’t like being put in a position to rule on the validity of the arguments of the two opposing officials, one of them Mendocino County's lead law enforcement officer.

MERCURY, VENUS & MARS VISIBLE IN THE EAST

Of the five planets you can see with the unaided eye, Mercury is the most elusive. Mercury is bright. At its brightest, it outshines most stars in the sky. But, as the innermost planet, Mercury never strays far from the sun in our sky. It’s always seen near sunrise or sunset, and then, not for long. About six times a year, Mercury swings out to one side of the sun as seen from Earth. When it’s farthest from the sun on our sky’s dome, astronomers say Mercury is at greatest elongation. At Mercury’s greatest elongation this month, it’ll be farthest from the sun in the east before sunrise. That’ll happen on February 16, 2022. But don’t wait until then to look for Mercury. It’s in view now, below the much-brighter planet Venus and red Mars, near the sunrise point shortly before sunup. So brilliant Venus and reddish Mars will be above your dawn horizon before Mercury makes its brief appearance. These worlds — Mercury, Venus, Mars plus Earth beneath your feet — are the four small rocky planets that orbit closest to the sun in our solar system. Check them out!

earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/mercury-before-sunrise-greatest-elongation-west/

UNCLE ROD SHIPPEY

Whatever it was
He joined in ‘specially hearty
God how I miss him

— Jim Luther

THE FEBRUARY OPUS CONCERT IS HAPPENING! 

Mendocino Presbyterian Church will host the concert featuring the Karen Shinozaki-Sor trio on Sunday, Feb. 20th at 3 PM.  We are going to be in the Sanctuary which is a larger space than Preston Hall and which has a high-quality ventilation system.  The church is very happy to have us back. We will limit the audience to 50 people to keep it extra safe and all other Covid protections, that we are almost getting used to now, will be in place. Tickets are available at Harvest Market in Fort Bragg, Out of This World in Mendocino and on-line at Brown Paper Tickets.  We will only sell tickets at the door if the 50 tickets have not been sold through our venues. 

Looking forward to seeing you soon,

Eva von Bahr, Opus Coordinator

https://www.symphonyoftheredwoods.org/opus.php

BLAST FROM THE (RECENT) PAST

MEASURE AJ. ADVISORY VOTE ONLY. “If Mendocino County adopts business license taxes on cannabis businesses by the adoption of the measure adopting Chapter 6.32, Measure AI, should the County use the majority of that revenue for funding enforcement of marijuana regulations, enhanced mental health services, repair of county roads, and increased fire and emergency medical services?” (November 2016)

This was an “advisory measure” because if they formally earmarked the funds as they “advise” here it would have required a two-thirds vote. But AJ passed with almost 69%. In the “argument in favor” on the ballot the proponents said, “Vote ‘YES’ on Measure AJ. Tell this and future Boards of Supervisors to spend the ‘Marijuana Tax’ money to pay for critical County services. Signed: s/Carre Brown, 1st District Supervisor Mendocino County Board of Supervisors. s/Tom Woodhouse, 3rd District Supervisor Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, s/Carol Mordhorst, President / Health Advocate Mordhorst Services Inc., s/James E. Little, Fire Chief (Laytonville); s/Marvin Trotter MD, ER Physician.” 

---

Interestingly, 1) nobody has ever even added up the “marijuana taxes” taken in so that “a majority” could be handed out to the four categories of “critical services” listed, much less asked about adding it up, much less handed out anything at all, much less retroactively as it should be back to 2017, and none of these proponents listed here, much less the Supervisors or the Auditor or the Grand Jury, have uttered Word One about their advisory measure ever since. Hence, not one penny of “Marijuana Tax” has gone to roads, mental health services or emergency services (although by default, some of it may have accidentally been spent on cannabis code enforcement since that office is growing bigger by the day). Instead, Mendo/CEO/Supervisors have simply kept the “marijuana tax,” ignoring the “advice” Mendo’s voters approved, knowing that they could keep the money because Mendo’s voter-approved measures don’t mean much to them and most people would forget about it, and it was only “advisory” anyway so why bother taking advice from the voters? We only said things like “roads” and “emergency services” to sell our version of the pot permit program (accompanying Measure AI), but never really had any intention to follow it. Besides, CEO Angelo never told us to follow the advice and we’re too busy doing strategic plans and “setting policy” and combining departments for no reason at all to give a damn about what the voters approve. It’s probably only a few million anyway; hell, we wasted $4 million on Camille’s Crisis Residential house and nobody complained, so who cares? Further, if anybody does ask about it, we can always just say, Oh yes! Sorry about that. We will talk about it and Darcie will tell us how hard it would be to even calculate the amount at this late date and it was before her watch, so we’ll issue a “board directive” to have staff look into it and set up an ad hoc committee and then not bother to meet so we can re-ignore it for a few more years knowing it will be forgotten again and by then there’ll be a new crew of highly paid administrators and supervisors who will just go through the same motions again.

(Mark Scaramella)

THE CEO's report from Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting is now available in Spanish translation, and another giant step forward here in Lilliput for bilingual tedium.

AMUSING EXCHANGE from Mendocino News Plus after they reposted my item about the new Spanish Language version of the CEO Report:

Lisa van Thillo: “I gave up reading after your comment about Mexicans. [ms notes: the comment was “Mendo Mexicans Rejoice!”] Do you know how many Spanish speaking countries there are in this world. And many people from these different countries live here? You continued by saying the report will be unreadable and uninformative. Honestly your posts are so virtriolic that they are unreadable. Sorry, I’m out.”

Mendocino News Plus: “Just to be clear, the comments are from Mark Scaramella of the Anderson Valley Advertiser. Yes, many people speak Spanish and need to interact with County Public Health, Social Services, Mental Health, Child Support, Planning & Building and so on. But of all the County documents included with the very lengthy agenda, only the CEO report is being translated into Spanish. Priorities?”

Lisa van Thillo: “My issue was with the comment about Mendo Mexicans Rejoice. I don’t know why one was translated or specifically this one. Personally, I believe in being inclusive and reaching more people. I would hope this is the first of many that are translated. And yes, I’m a Spanish speaker.”

Mark Scaramella: “Muchas Gracias por el reacción. BTW, did you read the Spanish version of the CEO Report having ignored it for all these years because it was in English? And if so, please tell us what you liked about El Informe.”

Lisa van Thillo: “But you discouraged me from reading it by saying it was unreadable and uninformative. So, nope - not in English or Spanish.”

Mark Scaramella: “But if my remarks are so vitriolic, wouldn’t you assume that I’m wrong and check it out for yourself? In Spanish?”

FOUR YEARS AFTER DISAPPEARING, THE FATE OF ROUND VALLEY’S KHADIJAH BRITTON HAUNTS HER FAMILY AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

It has been four years since Khadijah Britton, a 23-year-old Wailaki woman from the Round Valley town of Covelo, was taken from a friend’s home at gunpoint by her ex-boyfriend and has never been seen again.

Her disappearance has resulted in thousands of investigative hours from law enforcement, a community desperate for answers, and an activist group calling for justice taking up Khadijah Britton’s cause.

kymkemp.com/2022/02/09/four-years-after-disappearing-the-fate-of-round-valleys-khadijah-britton-haunts-her-family-and-local-law-enforcement/

UKIAH MONARCH MURAL UP FOR DISCUSSION - Artwork unanimously approved by Ukiah Design Review Board

by Justine Frederiksen

At its virtual meeting tonight, the Ukiah Planning Commission will consider approving a mural proposed for the Alex R. Thomas Jr. plaza that was unanimously recommended by the city’s Design Review Board last month.

The mural depicts three stages of a Monarch butterfly, as well as its host food, Milkweed, and was designed by artist Danza Davis of Potter Valley.

Davis recently completed two other murals in Ukiah, one at the High School and the other at the Mendocino County Juvenile Detention Center, both facilities located on Low Gap Road. Her design was chosen for the proposed plaza mural after a selection process orchestrated by the Mendocino County Arts Council, which raised the funds for the artwork.

Davis describes herself as “an experienced muralist, acrylic painter, and digital artist (whose work) is informed by her background in science and love of nature,” adding that she “hopes her work simultaneously evokes the child-like wonder and awesome beauty that can be found in nature.”

According to the staff report prepared for the Feb. 9 meeting of the Planning Commission, the budget for the mural includes $350 for paints and brushes, and $2,000 for the artist’s time: “20 hours pre-production, 30 hours on-site painting.”

The proposed site of the mural is “an east-facing wall on the southeast corner” of the plaza.

The Planning Commission meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Watch and/or join the meeting through Zoom at: https://zoom.us/j/91264543193 Or call: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-346-248-7799 Dial Toll Free: 888-788-0099 or 833-548-0282 Webinar ID: 912 6454 3193

(Courtesy, the Ukiah Daily Journal.)

ANNE MOLGAARD APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors unanimously recommended that Public Health Transition Director, Anne Molgaard, be appointed as the Director of Public Health at their Tuesday, January 25, 2022, meeting. Chief Executive Officer, Carmel J. Angelo therefore appointed Ms. Molgaard to the position of Director of Public Health. Ms. Molgaard is a skilled administrator with over 30 years of experience in health and human services both in the nonprofit and government sectors.

The Public Health Department includes programs that serve Mendocino County’s families such as WIC (Women, Infants, & Children), Nursing, Community Wellness, as well as Environmental Health (Land Use, Consumer Protection, and Hazmat), and the county’s COVID Pandemic Response. Molgaard stated, “I'm thrilled to work with Public Health staff and partners. There is an amazing team handling the pandemic response as we rebuild our public health infrastructure. Working to promote health and wellbeing for all Mendocino County residents? I've got the best job ever.”

Before joining the County Health & Human Services Agency, Ms. Molgaard was the founding Director of FIRST 5 Mendocino, where she served for 16 years. She worked closely with Public Health while at FIRST 5 Mendocino, collaborating to develop the county-wide children’s health insurance program, Healthy Kids Mendocino, the Pediatric Dental Initiative, and home visiting program.

SECOND SATURDAY IN MENDOCINO!

February 12, 12pm-7pm • Free

Ceramics Seconds Sale (12-7pm) • Artist Talk (3pm) • Gallery Reception (4-7pm)

The Mendocino Art Center celebrates the creativity of its member artists with a gallery reception for the annual Members’ Juried Exhibit. Both all-media open-themed artwork and book arts, in conjunction with Book Arts Mendocino, is on exhibit. Meet the artists and view the award-winning artwork!

Plus MAC’s ceramics studio opens its doors for a fundraising “seconds sales” of functional and beautiful pottery and ceramics, with minor flaws, at great prices.

And, artist Theresa Whitehill will talk about her involvement in a collaborative printmaking project,“ Waves Rolling In,” with local artist Josh Pierson in the mid-1980’s and about her time as head of the Mendocino Art Center's letterpress studio, Gray's Trousers Press.

NOT MUCH OF INTEREST from Wednesday morning’s TKO show on KZYX hosted by “The Karen Ottoboni” with guest Sheriff Matt Kendall. However one caller did ask a pertinent question about the Sheriff’s policy on no-knock warrants in the wake of the recent Minneapolis incident which saw a black man killed after a no-knock warrant.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No-knock_warrant

Kendall said that such no-knock warrants are restricted in California and his department, like other law enforcement organizations, follows those rules.

So what are the rules? Again we find www.shouselaw.com to be informative on the subject of California’s warrant service notice rules:

https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/defense/warrants/knock-and-announce-rule/

THE FORT BRAGG HOSPITAL/NURSING HOME COMMUNITY FORUM from last week 

Coast Democratic Club Public Forum 2.03.2022 - YouTube

FOR RENT, PHILO

500sq ft single wide mobile in good condition.

bedroom, bathroom, living/dining room

single person, cat ok, garden space for veges, lovely surroundings, private

$1100/mo incl water, electricity

895-2291 available mid march

AL NEEDS A BERTH

Hi my name is Alfred Nunez and i'm 62 years old, single, no dog no cat. I am a handyman caretaker kind of guy looking for another place to live. I have a motorhome i live in, a stepvan that i keep all my tools in, and a little truck and a log splitter. I can do carpentry, mechanic, and gardening work. I have plenty of other skills and the tools to do that work also. I can pay a little rent or we can do a work trade for my stay. I live in Albion and i'm hoping to find a place around the coast here. I have local work and character references. I do not have internet at home, you have to call me to contact me. Thank you... 707-409-4147

My References;

• Sydelle - sydelle@mcn.org
• Michael - 707-367-0407
• Rob and Justine - 707-937-2585
• Karen-707 - 223-4531
• Kent - 357-1010
• Terry - 707- 984-8782
• Sam - bigbear@mcn.org
• Patricia and Jary - 707-964-4942
• Leslie - 415-686-6361
• Lydia and Dennis - 707-962-9401

CALIFORNIA CONSERVATIONISTS AND FARMERS UNITE TO PROTECT SALMON

In an experiment a decade in the making, biologists are releasing hatchery salmon onto flooded Northern California rice fields, seeking to replenish endangered fish species while simultaneously benefiting the farmers' business model. At a time when environmentalists are often pitted against agribusiness in California's water wars, conservation scientists and rice farmers are working together, trying to reclaim the great flood plains of the Sacramento River for salmon habitat. Now, for the cost and inconvenience of flooding their fields, rice farmers are earning goodwill and betting that a healthy salmon population will avoid new regulations to protect wildlife and keep adequate water flowing. In recent years, biologists discovered that as rice straw decomposes in flooded fields it creates a broth rich in fish food. They call it "zoop soup."

reuters.com/business/environment/california-conservationists-farmers-unite-protect-salmon-2022-02-09/

GOOD JOBS

Editor,

Thanks, Malcolm, for doing such a good job of bird-dogging the MCHCD board and getting them to be more transparent. So important yet overlooked.

And thanks to the AVA for doing a newspaper’s job of informing citizens about important local public issues, leaders, accomplishments and misdeeds. Hats off, too, to Chris Calder’s and Jim Shields’ persistent coverage.

Tom Wodetzki

Albion

JUST IN FROM MENDO CANNABIS CZARINA:

Mendocino County has two paths, depending on the status of the permit: application pending, or fully approved. An applicant may file a Notice of Application Stay (NAS) for the purpose of preventing the denial of an application for a Phase One Permit based on inactivity by the applicant for up to a one-year period. Applicants may stay once.

For properties with permits granted, a Notice of Non-Cultivation, also ceasing cultivation activities for up to one year. Permittees may file a Notice of Non-Cultivation once during a five year period.

During a noticed stay, no commercial cultivation may occur, and the property remains open to inspection. County staff will notify the State of California (DCC) that there is no local authorization to cultivate for the period notified; it is not stated if ancillary allowance (for example, transport licensing), would also be prohibited, or if sales from past year’s crops would be allowed (ie, storage and transfers). Because the local jurisdiction is not revoking authorization, the county informing the state of the stay may be in lue of: §15035. Notification of Criminal Acts, Civil Judgments, Violations of Labor Standards, and Revocation of a Local License, Permit, or Other Authorization After Licensure. (d) A licensee shall ensure that the Department is notified in writing of the revocation of a local license, permit, or other authorization, either by mail or electronic mail, within 48 hours of receiving notice of the revocation. The written notification shall include the name of the local agency involved, a written explanation of the proceeding or enforcement action, and the specific violation(s) that led to revocation. (e) For any notification required under this section, licensees shall use and submit to the Department the Licensee Notification and Request Form, Notifications and Requests to Modify a License, DCC-LIC-027 (Amended 9/21), which is incorporated herein by reference.

We encourage anyone taking this path to communicate with the state agency as well, especially if you wish to retain your state license while fallowing.

The limitation of notifications of stays may feel restrictive; land use review for development projects typically require “vesting” a project, ie, continuation of application, conditions completion, and continuance of operations. This is true of many planning projects, so that the property is being put to the “most productive” and approved/proposed use. It is unclear at this time if taking a year off could occur outside these limitations, with fees or taxes may not stayed, to make responsible land and water use decisions.

For forms and to file either notice, contact Mendocino Cannabis Program (707)234-6680 / cannabisprogram@mendocinocounty.org.

* * *

ON LINE COMMENT: Wow Mendocino county, that’s a really crappy option. They notify the DCC so you cannot grow? Then your state permit gets revoked? Mendocino county is so far behind….

SUPERVISOR MULHEREN:

[ms notes: Supervisor Mulheren’s “updates” never have any actual information, just a list of places she went and the topics discussed. In addition, she likes to use acronyms without explaining what they mean.]

Once a month I meet with the City of Ukiah City Manager and Councilmember (and Current Mayor) Jim Brown. This is our opportunity to discuss issues that affect the Second District. Some that the County is working on and some that the City of Ukiah is working on. We talk about everything from traffic enforcement, to trash pick up and streets in Ukiah. If you have any specific questions you have I would be happy to hear from you and pass them along.

We had our RRWA Mendocino Annual Meeting. The Russian River Watershed Association spans across Mendocino and Sonoma Counties. I appreciate the Mendo staff advocating to make sure that we have equal representation as issues arise. We approved the work plan with our feedback. Our consultant West Yost is doing a good job of balancing the many varied needs of all of the agencies of this watershed. Would you like to learn more: https://www.rrwatershed.org/about/

I was happy to have FIVE people come to my Coffee and Conversation meeting this Thursday. We talked about everything from cannabis to housing and mental health. I hold this space every Thursday morning so that you can come and speak to me about whatever is on your mind. Its every Thursday from 7:15a-7:45a and the Zoom Meeting ID is 7079548230 and the Password is LOCAL707

As part of my work as a Supervisor I regularly attend workshops and meetings on Leadership. This last week I went to a Zoom meeting called Strengths-Based Leadership Building and Maintaining a Team Culture. In advance of the meeting there was a quiz that determined what are your top 5 strengths based on answering a series of questions within 10 seconds. I found the results interesting (especially the part about how people perceive my strengths as negatives). Here are the results: Positivity; You bring enthusiasm to people, groups and organizations, you can stimulate people to be more productive and hopeful, can get people excited about...., some will think you are too optimistic, others are energized to move towards excellence. Empathy;

Can sense what it feels like to be someone else, you can pick up on the pain and joy of others before they express it, People are drawn to you when they have a need or problem, you can become overwhelmed with daily issues, this is valuable because it allows the formation of close relationships. Developer;

You can see how others can move changes and grow, you love to see others make progress, the best experience in the world is to be part of other's development, others may not be interested or want to make the changes you think best, valuable because it helps you to see the potential in others. Futuristic; Fascinated by the future, see it positively, can see in detail what the future might hold, can energize yourself and others by your vision, others may dismiss you as a dreamer, valuable because your vision raises others insights. Activator; Can see how ideas can become action, want to do things now, very powerful in making things happen, may be criticized for being impatient, valuable because you generate the energy to get things done. I think that everyone should work on their personal and professional development but I specifically encourage all employees of the County to use the resources provided to you. If you aren't sure what they are please reach out to your Supervisor or HR.

On Friday morning I had a MCAFD Ad Hoc meeting in Anderson Valley. We discussed the CSA3 process through LAFCO and a potential Fire Warden position. It was a beautiful drive, as it always is. These conversations need to be ongoing and I look forward to hearing everyone's opinions on it and seeing how we can move reach compromises.

Not BOS related but I did get to Celebrate my granddaughter Teagan's 1st Birthday and my youngest daughter Andie turned 12. I love these little winter girls.

On Sunday afternoon I took a tour of JDSF with Chairman Michael Hunter from Coyote Valley Tribe. We started at the Jug Handle access point and went to Road 409 to view some of the work that has been done by loggers at JDSF a few years ago. There are two more opportunities for this tour on February 27th and 28th. The flyer is posted on my Facebook page or just text me if you'd like and I can send it to you. My cell is 707-391-3664

Monday morning we had our regularly scheduled LAFCO meeting and reviewed the workplan and budget. I know its challenging that some of these processes have taken so long. I'm hopeful that agencies will be able to coordinate with LAFCO staff to bring forward a plan to deal with future connections in the Ford Road area.

I had a meeting with Cherie Johnson regarding the CEO/CAO agenda item. I have no changes at this time other than the redline that was presented at a prior meeting and look forward to reading whatever red line versions my colleagues bring to the table.

I also had a meeting about the Depot Infrastructure project that is incomplete after several years due to funding challenges from the JCC to the local contractors. I will be working with our State leaders to hopefully get some relief to this contractors.

CATCH OF THE DAY, February 9, 2022

TIFFANY BAIRRINE-HART, Delray Beach, Florida/Ukiah. Leaving scene of accident after property damage, resisting, failure to appear.

YOLANDA BROWN, Santa Rosa/Ukiah. Probation revocation.

DREW ERSLAND, Ukiah. Failure to appear.

CURTIS EVANS, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol.

MICHELLE LEE, Redwood Valley. Battery, attempted second degree, shoplifting, resisting. 

CODY MARTIN, Ukiah. DUI-alcohol&drugs with great bodily injury of person over 70 years old, penalty enhancement for prior convictions in last ten years, resisting, probation revocation.

TONY MCELROY, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol, vandalism, probation revocation.

JUSTICE SULLIVAN, Willits. Domestic battery.

PHILLIP WINTERS, Willits. Battery, protective order violation.

JONATHAN YOUNG, Willits. Failure to appear.

ON LINE COMMENT OF THE WEEK

Airbnb is the biggest tax scam that has ever been! These people who (fake) the rental reviews, and offer up perks and super low rent that doesn’t even cover the cost of doing business, and the haha the rental is place is never available because it’s a tax write off, as in All the cleaning bedding food alcohol utilities taxes insurance etc. etc. etc. but in reality those are the property owners own food bills utility bills blah blah blah blah blah and nobody checks up and nobody cares, and some of these people rent the place out month to month and are on Airbnb listing with no intentions of ever renting it out on Airbnb.

VIA BETSY CAWN:

We Are At War — Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association

https://cspoa.org/we-are-at-war

“The fight for freedom in America." These guys are serious!

LOOKS WHO'S GUARDING THE CALIFORNIA COAST

Governing Board — California State Coastal Conservancy

A READER WRITES: Take you blood pressure meds first.

https://scc.ca.gov/about/governance/

SHE WASN’T SUPPOSED TO BE THERE of course. She was meant to be in relative safety, sitting on a transport barge in the English channel with all the other journalists. But the previous evening, Martha Gellhorn had boldly boarded a hospital barge with her press credentials and the story that she was there to interview nurses. It was a sham, of course, but it got her onboard, where she found a bathroom and locked herself in. She spent a miserable night, horribly seasick, but when she crept out of her hiding place the next morning, she had a front-row seat to one of history’s greatest moments - the invasion of Normandy, June 6, 1944. Thousands of ships and 160,000 men faced the great cliffs as tons of bombs rained from overhead. It would be perhaps the greatest news story of all time, but Martha found that it wasn’t her skill as a writer that was needed. The sea was filled with dead and wounded soldiers, and she leapt into action, helping wherever and however she could. At nightfall, she waded ashore with the medics and found herself on Omaha Beach, a stretcher-bearer with blistered hands, soaked to the skin with sea water and exhaustion. She would labor through the night, the daring she had known the night before transformed into bravery as she followed the mine sweepers. In the days to come, Martha Gellhorn would leave that place a different person; no longer an observer of history, but a participant…the lone woman in the D-Day invasion. Heroism sometimes arrives on a wave of opportunity, and we either rise or we don’t.

THE GIUSTI REPORT

Editor,

A few weeks ago the AVA published something saying that I'm in jail for allegedly assaulting a senior citizen. Somebody needs to check the police report. I am 67 years old. At the time of this latest false arrest, the alleged victim, a notorious woman beater, clocked in at 53! So who is the poor senior citizen in this picture? It sure is a poor scene for me sitting now over 22 months in solitary confinement! District Attorney Eyster writing under his pen name states that I deserve the Dumbass of the Year award. 

It has been stated that I am obsessed with District Attorney Eyster. How would that in any way benefit me in my normal life? To the contrary, I'm still trying to figure out why Eyster and hobbit judge Keith Faulder had become so upset with me. They paint me out worse than Billy the Kid. I surmise that obsessed people dig their own graves.

Hopefully Eyster and Faulder have paid their past taxes because I want to challenge them to tell AVA readers how much money they have made in the past in private law practice! Also I would like to know where they got their law degrees, assuming they even have valid ones.

Sincerely,

Detective David Youngcault Crow Scout Giusti

Mendocino County Jail, Ukiah

PS. I got a real gas out of the true-false quiz in the AVA a few weeks ago. A lot of laughs on whether the AVA is a communist newspaper. Why not ask that about Ms. Callahan and the Press Commiecrat. And what's really with the Ukiah Daily Journal? It is a rag that glories in homeless people arrests, cops beating up naked people, constant water and covid 19 scare tactics and a woman who wants to kill her neighbor’s goat! If that ain’t fascist journalism I don't know what is. 

In my opinion we should free all the naked and homeless goats, then after a few years we would have big horn sheep to hunt and preserve more deer, wolves, turtles and bears.

 If it wasn't for the AVA old red beard wouldn’t be so famous. I really enjoyed the cartoon where he’s drinking champagne and smoking bud in the hot tub of ex-Judge Nelson. Did the Press or the UDJ even give Burglar Boy much "air time"? He was really downplayed in the fascist Journal to pacify the bungling patrol and canine units which were in pursuit of him. When we read of his capture Redbeard was just tired and seeking a meal instead of leaping fences. Could he really outrun the dogs or did he carry steaks and cocaine or some other secret anti-dog-sniff the formula? Is fighting starvation really criminal?

I enjoy reading Brad Wiley's paragraphs concerning Vinegar Ridge/Hill. He did however leave out the Giusti Ranch, but he did mention my cousins of the Giornettis. My granddad, Big Gabe Giusti, had a license to make wine during Prohibition for family consumption. He made some pretty silver dollars too. There was no logging in the winter, people had to make ends meet. With the apple orchard close to the front porch deer couldn't resist munching out, nearly begging to get shot. I guess it was named Vinegar Ridge Road due to a lot of unsold wine turning to legal vinegar.

I remember hearing some good old stories about my people outfoxing that old wannabe Eliott Ness, Mendocino County Sheriff Byrnes. Yes, I remember my Zia (Auntie in Romana) telling me when that Sheriff pulled like an "Eyster move," cooking his own oyster shell. My granddad's first cousin from Italy moved to Ukiah and brought some grape stock from Tuscany. He and granddad mixed a hybrid with a Mendo grape and invented a luxury type of Zinfandel. I forget the name right now but it's very good and still on the market and very reasonably priced and it's never been advertised being invented during prohibition and all. Anyway, my Auntie Eida was the first Romani born in Ukiah. She passed on (RIP) about 2000 at 101 years old. Anyway, my grandad Zia Giovanni became a citizen and sold wine. I guess he couldn't speak English so he didn't understand prohibition. Here comes Sheriff Byrnes to arrest him for moonshining. All the sheriff could figure was to deport my uncle. My aunt jumped up (they were Ma & Pa Kettle types) and stated they were married so it was illegal to deport her husband. Sheriff Byrnes then stated (my dad couldn't speak much English then either) to my aunt that he had reported her as well. She then showed him her birth certificate and told Byrnes she was born in Ukiah before he was even out of diapers! Handcuffs came off and that was the first and the last Giusti arrested before yours truly came along.

My grand uncle Joe left Greenwood after prohibition in his hot rod and moonshine wages and moved over near Stockton where he built the most famous "Giusti Eatery" in California and eventually was prominent in pioneering California's version of NASCAR!

Also I've been enjoying articles by Sheriff Kendall. How about that other rookie journalist (and obvious police and/or District Attorney informant) who wrote praise for Sheriff Tom Allman. That guy backstabbed all the way to the top and then he was a little cagey when he hoodwinked Mendocino County voters (not a Herculean task) into electing him to an illegal third term! Now Allman is up near Garberville. We call it "Garbage Bucket.” 

Bible verse for you all: Ecclesiastes 10:13 — the beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and in the end of his talk is mischievous madness. Eyster and Faulder need also to look up in the Old Testament Exodus Chapter 20, verse 16 and learn to obey it.

Save all the bears and write in J. McMartin for county supervisor!

* * *

Ukiah Police Presser, March 18, 2020

On March 17, 2020, at approximately 12:47 AM, Officers were dispatched to the area behind CVS (155 S. Orchard Ave.), in the area of the loading dock, regarding a report of a male who was bleeding severely from his head. An anonymous male requested a Denny’s employee telephone 911 regarding the injured male.

Upon arrival, UPD Officers located an adult male lying on the concrete floor of the loading dock. The male was lying in a large pool of blood and he was bleeding profusely from his head. The scene indicated there had been an altercation, as there was a large amount of blood on the walls near where the injured male was located. David Giusti was also located in the area of the loading dock and initially denied any knowledge of what happened to the victim. 

Officers rendered first aid and summoned EMS to the scene. While Officers were rendering first aid, Giusti walked away from the scene pushing a shopping cart. As other Officers arrived; Giusti was located a short distance away and was detained. Giusti was covered in blood and had a shopping cart that was filled with his personal belongings. Officers located a blood covered wooden dowel inside the shopping cart. 

The subsequent investigation revealed there had been an argument between the victim and Giusti and evidence caused Officers to believe Giusti was responsible for the victim’s injuries. Giusti was arrested without incident.

EMS transported the victim to Adventist Health Ukiah Valley hospital where he was treated for significant injures to his head. The injuries rose to the level of Great Bodily Injury, would most likely lead to permanent disfiguration and could have been fatal had he not received medical treatment. The victim was later transported to an out of the area trauma center for further medical treatment. At the time of this press release the victim was in stable condition.

Giusti was transported to the Mendocino County Jail where he was booked for the aforementioned violations. Giusti remains in custody with a bail of $250,000.

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

Seeking Christ Centered World Peace Group

Warmest spiritual greetings, 

Awoke this morning with Catholic prayers ongoing in the mind. I cannot tell you how appreciative I am that this is happening. Following morning ablutions at my friend A.C.'s apartment in Garberville, California, did some trash pickup and recycling in the neighborhood, and then walked up to Ray's Market. Continued on to Local Flavors for a bold coffee. 

On the whole walk, the Hail Mary prayer silently repeated, as I became acutely aware that the Paraclete and the Archangels and The Holy Family were right there with me. This was palpable! This was also an immense relief from the discomfort of feeling disconnected, along with disturbing thoughts of impending homelessness and death.

I have humbly asked Jesus Christ to use His power in order to place me in an appropriate situation to do God's will. And I ask the American society for one collective favor, now and forever. Please pray for me so that I receive the opportunity to move on to my next highest good. Thank you very much.

— Craig Louis Stehr

POWERFUL GEOMAGNETIC STORM SENDS DOZENS OF SPACEX SATELLITES TO A FIERY DOOM

A powerful geomagnetic storm has doomed 40 Starlink satellites launched by SpaceX last week, the company has announced. Elon Musk's company launched a Falcon 9 rocket bearing the 49 satellites from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday (Feb. 3), but a geomagnetic storm that struck a day later sent the satellites plummeting back toward Earth, where they will burn up in the atmosphere.…

sciencealert.com/dozens-of-starlink-satellites-sent-hurtling-towards-the-ground-by-powerful-solar-storm