FROM THE CHP'S Ukiah office: “Highway 175 was under water near Highway 101 and Hopland Friday morning into the afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol. ‘It floods there all the time, but it floods enough that you can't drive through it,’ said Ukiah Area CHP spokesman officer Steven Krul. Highway 175 is flooded between the railroad tracks and a nearby bridge — not a very large area, he said, but enough that a little advance planning and rerouting is needed. Travelers headed from Highway 175 to Highway 101 are urged to go through the roundabout and continue on Highway 175, and to then turn left on Old River Road, which goes through the town of Hopland and connects with Highway 101. Drivers should not take the Old River Road exit in the roundabout to get to Highway 101, he said. Motorists headed from Highway 101 to Highway 175 should take the Old River Road exit south of Hopland. More rain is expected in the Ukiah area through Sunday, with a break on Monday and more rain on Christmas, according to the National Weather Service.”
A READER WRITES: “Seems that the post office is trying to be nice as we approach Christmas (or whatever you want to call this time of the year. Is Santa a Jew or Muslim?) Anyway, you mailed my AVA on Wednesday and it arrived here in Alameda, CA on Thursday. Thursday, that's the next day not eight days later. Guess I must have been nice, not naughty. Happy New Year to all you AVA readers although I think '13 will be a bitch. — Carl Flach, Alameda”
THE WILDEST WEATHER in some time has been hitting the northcoast, particularly in Anderson Valley in the last few days. Friday night just before midnight about a dozen big lightning strikes which appeared to be very close to ground level somewhere between Boonville and Philo struck Anderson Valley accompanied by loud rolling thunder. No power outages were reported, although several locals said they seemed imminent. The lightning strikes occurred every few minutes for about an hour.
Late Saturday morning amidst one of the many downpours associated with the almost continuous rainfall a vivid rainbow showed up a few hundred yards south of the fairgrounds between Highway 128 and Dear Meadows just south of Boonville. Witnesses said the rainbow was unusually close, and very low to the ground. It lasted for ten or fifteen minutes before it started to fade as winds pushed away whatever unusual conditions had created it. “It was downright amazing!” said one observer. “I've never seen a rainbrow that close to the ground or that near. It appeared to have developed right between a small light and dark section where the sky opened up between the very dark clouds. We immediately headed off to the mountain side of the foot of the rainbow to find the pot of gold.” (Photo courtesy Nahara Ange of Boonville.)
AVAST, MATEY! Calling Captain Fathom to the foredeck. Cap'n. Harry Blythe writes: “Hi, Alan, long time, no see. Have you heard from Dobie? Miss the good times in Albion, the Hamms, Bill and Emil. Say hi to Judy. I'm in Portland. Drop me a line: Harry Blythe, 3115 SW Hamilton Street, Portland, OR 97239. Or mrharry5@aol.com” Harry Blythe was editor of the pivotal Mendocino Commentary back when print publications were pivotal, especially in ever fervid Mendocino County.
MARINE SANCTUARIES would set aside 2093 nautical square miles off the coasts of Sonoma and Mendocino counties for a total of 3,458 miles of protected ocean extending about 30 miles out to sea. The set asides would protect this portion of the Pacific from oil and gas exploitation and mineral extractions. Lots of people are opposed to an expansion of areas already protected, especially Republican members of Congress. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will hold two hearings in Mendocino County, one on February 12th at 6pm at Point Arena High School, the other at the Gualala Community Center in Gualala on February 13th at 6pm.
GREETINGS! Mendocino Coast Clinics' 14th annual fundraiser, Crab, Wine & Beer Days will be held in Fort Bragg on January 25 & 26, 2013. Mendocino Coast Clinics, the North Coast's only non-profit community health center, provides affordable medical, dental, pediatrics & behavioral health care to 10,000 patients! Crab, Wine & Beer Days raises more than $60,000 net for cost-effective, primary care. We are most grateful to you for listing on your websites and promoting as a PSA. Please see the attached. Many thanks. Have a wonderful Holiday Season! — Tawny MacMillan, Event Coordinator Mendocino Coast Clinics It's About Health. Crab, Wine & Beer Days: January 25 & 26, 2013. Email: events@mccinc.org. www.mccinc.org. 707-961-3463
THE ARTS COUNCIL Of Mendocino County Invites Mendocino Coast Artists To Submit Design Proposals For Public Art Commission At The Simpson Lane Roundabout — Artists working in three-dimensions are invited to submit design proposals for a Public Art commission in the County of Mendocino, CA within the Simpson Lane Roundabout just south of the City of Fort Bragg by the deadline of February 8, 2012. This competition is open to artists residing between Westport and Elk, CA. An application form and guidelines are available for download on the Arts Council of Mendocino County’s website www.artsmendocino.org or by calling 707.463.2727. An artist’s stipend of $5,000 (all-inclusive) is available through the A.D. Abramson Fund at the Community Foundation of Mendocino County. Selected artwork will benefit from significant exposure on Highway 1. A review panel comprised of Mendocino County community leaders and the Arts Council of Mendocino County will review and evaluate artists’ proposals. Artists will be notified of commission awards by February 28, 2013 with execution of the artwork occurring in 2013. Public Art within roundabouts has been found to enhance safety and achieve other community objectives. The Arts Council of Mendocino County is a 501(c)3 organization. To learn more about the ACMC, go to www.artsmendocino.org.
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