Mendocino County Today: Thursday, May 21, 2015

• Ernesto Contreras
• Abalone Checkpoint
• So Wrong
• Protest Dialogue
• Mendo Veto
• New Director
• Brill Found
• Woods Wanted
• Good Morning
• Salmon BBQ
• Mendo Democrats
• Yesterday's Catch
• Rogue River
• America's Infrastructure
• Standardized Testing
• What's Going On
• PA Lighthouse
• Oil Spill
• World Music

ERNESTO CONTRERAS, 19, of Boonville died this afternoon when his silver, four-door Toyota Corolla unaccountably left Highway 128 at a high rate of speed near Gowan's Oak Tree and struck an oak tree. Ernesto apparently died on impact as the car burst into flame. The single-car accident was reported at 4:08pm. Ernesto's death has sent shock waves of grief reverberating through the Anderson Valley where Ernesto was widely known. "Everyone loved that kid," a coach at Anderson Valley High School said. Ernesto lived with his family on Haehl Street, Boonville. We’ll have more particulars tomorrow.

ABALONE CHECKPOINT in Boonville this morning set up by State Fish & Game. About 50 armed officers were checking southbound through-traffic much of the day. Motorists who said they'd been diving, and motorists who had diving gear, were pulled into the Boonville Fairgrounds parking lot where their vehicles were searched. No reports yet on arrests or the number of abs confiscated.

THESE EVENTS conjure up images of what a police state would look and feel like, with many more armed and uniformed people than seem necessary for a simple ab interdiction. Officers array themselves at strategic intervals in Boonville to chase down people who cop a hasty u-turn when they see the mandatory stop ahead. Is all this necessary? Yes, because poachers are looting the resource, and if their thefts continue at the rates we've seen lately, the state will be forced to close down the Mendocino Coast to abalone fishing entirely.

GLUTEN-FREE. Correct me if I'm wrong, but drivers backing into oncoming traffic are supposed to wait until through traffic passes by and it's safe to back out, right? So I'm cautiously making my way toward the Ukiah Co-op to deliver the week's consignment of Boonville's beloved newspaper when a small white car began to back out into my oncoming lane. The white car honks. At me. And keeps backing out. I swerve around the white car, pull up in front of the store, get out of my car, assuming I'd just eluded one more incompetent behind the wheel of a machine he or she was not capable of piloting, when the white car pulls up alongside me and this chihuahua-like creature shrieks out her window, "Common courtesy says you wait for a car backing up! And you were speeding through the parking lot!" I snapped off in return, "Common sense says you don't back into oncoming traffic. And I wasn't speeding,” I said. Walking on, I assumed our interface was over. I'd been proceeding with all due caution, fully aware that many of my fellow motorists are, every which way, impaired. But this nut was still yelling at me, finally concluding with a kind of universal condemnation. "You are very wrong, mister, very wrong." Ignoring her, I walked on into the store. But when I'd come out of the store, there she was. She shouted, this time emphasizing each word, "You-are-so-wrong!" Philosophically, existentially, she had a point, but the rules of the road were on my side.

WIND MACHINE PROTEST DIALOGUE:

On Sat, May 16, 2015, at 10:12 AM, David Severn wrote:

I've made a couple signs and I'm going to be at Goldeneye at 11:00 or before while the wine drinkers are going in to party. All are welcome to join me.

* * *

On Sunday, May 17, Robbie Lane Wrote:

Well, Dave, is it any wonder why nobody takes us seriously, when a grand total of 6 of us even cared enough to show up? Pretty disappointing, how everyone can piss and moan about the injustice of this whole situation, and then sit on their hands, hoping someone else will fight their fight.

* * *

On Sunday, May 17 Greg Krouse wrote:

Dave and Robbie:

There are various reasons some of us did not come. I can only speak for mine. For me, I am the leader of an organization (Grange) that has to work with the wineries and I did not agree with the plan to do the action at the Pinot fest. My action can be misconstrued to be representative of my grange and I can not do that. There was some mention about doing it solely at the tech meeting. That would have been different. Direct action is a choice.

Further I do my work politically and am working to go to the Supts where I think a real change can and should happen. If you convince one winery, then what about the others? Case in point was the idiot vineyard owner in Napa who would not change out his fans for really old really noisy motors in the air, when even the local vineyards around him offered to purchase them for him or share in the costs to get neighbors to stop complaining. Some of our local wineries have tried to change like Charles and Roderer.

I have worked on this issue since last year’s first event, with many calls to the Supts, Ag Commissioner and wineries.

I researched the New Zealand Noise ordinance and the fan blades then recalled the Supt and Ag Commissioner with that info. I worked on a county wide resolution by the Mendo Cty Granges which was accepted and I plan to take to the supervisors. I saw Deborah Kahn of Navarro the day before and she told me that they are working on getting the quieter blades. Her response came from a call I made to her when they started to use the fans again.I was recommending the New Zealand fans. She told me at the time she was looking into them but I think it was after Mark sued them. I plan to talk to Arnaud Weyrich of Roderer about asking the fan rental companies to get the quieter fans. They rent a lot of them.

If we make a change at the county level then other counties will follow. We are hardly alone. Folks in Sonoma and Napa are equally angry that their rights are second to the Wine industry.

Thus there are many ways to work on this issue. Your action probably got some news action. I could hear the fan sound effect from the Grange and it sounded like it does at night. I think you will have an impact. There are some serious issues in this process that the county needs to considered and I did weigh in at the Direct action meeting to say that I felt it was important not to put all of our eggs into one basket with one action when continued action at the county level is where the change would happen.

It can not be just one event. The cumulative effect of complaints, phone calls, letters to supts, attendance at supts etc is what will make it happen. It is how we got herbicide free roads, GMO free farms and will get no standing dead tress in our forest. That group flooded the chambers so that a backup room was also full!

Frankly if the action you did happened in the Supts Parking lot I would be there. It is a different target. But I think Direct action comes after you have exhausted other channels. The supervisors have not heard enough from us formally. Direct action could follow that formal attention. However I think I can make a direct statement to the Supts that gets the message across. What is useful at the supts is several speakers with different parts of the story as they only give us 3 minutes to speak. We can present longer written comments though.

I appreciate what you did,

Greg

* * *

On Mon, May 18, 2015 at 9:03 PM, Greg Krouse wrote:

My point isn't a pat on the back, but simply to say there are many ways to skin this cat. I think inroads are being made from everything being done. Grg

Thanks Greg - I know you have done a lot on this. I wasn't there b/c I was teaching all weekend.... I would have been there tho and do support the actions in addition to working with the BOS and other organizations...

* * *

On Tue, May 19, 2015, at 5:37 PM, Valerie Adair wrote:

I'd like to ask why the fan was set up on Balo property, in protest, duing Pinot Fest when Balo dosn't use fans? This anti-fan protest is creating an even stronger "us & them" vibe in Anderson Valley...not all of "them" use fans.

Valerie Adair

* * *

On Tue, May 19, 2015 Lynda McClure wrote:

Hi Valerie;

The fan recording was on the back of a pick-up. For a while it was in front of Goldeneye, who use loud fans and were hosting a festival event. At the end of the event the truck was parked across the street from Goldeneye and slightly north/west. I'm not sure where Balo is located, but if it's next to Goldeneye I'm sure they got noise. You know how far reaching and loud that fan noise can be.

Is it the reaction from community residents to loud fans that causes bad vibes, or is it the vineyards who keep valley residents awake all night, night after night who exasperate the "them-us" vibe? I personally don't think business profits should trump human rights, and sleep deprivation is a form of torture, according to the UN.

There are a good number of the vineyard managers and owners who are finding better ways to protect their crop from frost. I would make the argument that it is the bad neighbor vineyards who really don't care about the health and well being of the people who live in Anderson Valley, and even more don't care about the damaged community relations they cause the other vineyards, who deserve criticism, not the people whose quality of life is so affected.

Anyone can give a call to Roederer (also the owner of Sharffenberger and Domain Anderson,) Navarro and their Penny Royal Farms, Goldeneye (owned by Duckhorn), V. Sattui, Cakebread, and Elke and ask them to join with other vineyards in respecting their neighbors. That's a nice, quiet action and would go a long way to help our friends who can't sleep when it's cold.

Best wishes

Lynda

* * *

On Wed, May 20, Valerie Adair Wrote:

Thank you Lynda, I understand and agree with everything your wrote. I was talking with a friend from Balo Vineyards and their staff was confussed (once they finally realized what the noise was outside) as to why the speaker system was "targeted" at them, since they don't use fans. When the truck was moved across from Goldeneye it was parked on land skirting Balo property. Without communication as to the events of the day, Balo felt targeted. Actions like that, without communication create more enemies then allies.

Valerie Adair, Philo

MENDO VETO

To the Editor:

In regards to the Willits resident Mr. Parmenter’s letter. I found it interesting how he uses the word fear to describe the feelings of the residents who are against MendoVito. I did use the word “tremble” in my letter of Feb. 4 but I should have finished the phrase because I don’t tremble in fear, I tremble with emotion. We are not “scared” or afraid of this development. We are voicing our opposition to MendoVito because it is a grossly inappropriate development for this county. We do not have the problems he and the other proponents say this new city will cure. We were told at the meeting in November that “one person out of every household must work in MendoVito.” I know that this was said because I was at that meeting. It was said a couple of times. Now however, according to the website, and Mr. Parmenter, you don’t have to work in MendoVito at all. You can use technology and Skype. My, my how the stories change.

Once again this is looking to be more and more of an elitist community geared to the wants and needs of those who can afford the high price tag of “$490,000 a townhouse (for 75 percent of the homes)” to live in such a beautiful rural setting that is just a couple of hours away from the Bay Area. Guess who they are trying to attract? I don’t think it is the typical resident of Mendocino county. I have heard some people say this new development is trying to entice the “yuppies” from their world to come live here, and I am starting to agree with them. It is said by some of the MendoVito people that I fear change. I don’t think that fear of change is my driving force in this fight. It is how inappropriate this new city is for this county. It is about how I don’t trust people who talk in circles and change what they say. It is about ideas and flow charts that are being passed off as true engineering. I feel like we are having medicine shoved down our throat for a non existent illness. So remember if it does come to a vote, that will cost this county way too much money to execute. Give MendoVito a Mendo Veto.

Susan Poor, Hopland

KIMBERLY RODRIGUES is the new director of the Hopland Research and Extension Center. Formerly known as the Hopland Field Station. Kim has a degree in forestry from UC Berkeley, worked for Simpson Timber Company as a forester, worked as a UC forestry extension agent, and then was on the faculty of UC Davis. Kim hosts a show on KZYX, 90.7 FM in Philo, the first Tuesday of each month, from 7 PM to 8 PM. The show is called the Ecology Hour.

FROM THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFF:
 UPDATE ON MISSING, NOW FOUND, WOMAN IN FORT BRAGG
.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's office issued the following press release @ 11:22 am this morning:
"On Tuesday, May 19, around 11:00 pm, Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputies were called to the 31000 block of Airport Road in Fort Bragg for a missing person named Patti Brill. Deputies were advised that a 64-year-old female had gone for a walk in the nearby woods with her dog, around 6:30 pm but did not return. Deputies searched the area but due to the dense pygmy forest were unable to locate Ms. Brill.

On the morning of Wednesday, May 20, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Unit was contacted and responded to the location. A request for other agencies to assist was coordinated by the California Office of Emergency Services. Through Cal OES the California Rescue Dog Association was contacted to respond with trained Search and Rescue K9s. Lake County Sheriff's Search and Rescue was also contacted and were responding.
 During the initial search a member of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Chaplains group overheard someone calling for help in the wooded area near where Ms. Brill was last scene. Search and Rescue members responded to the area. 
Around 9:08 am, Ms. Brill was found in a very dense area of woods. She was cold and had lost one of her shoes but was otherwise in very good condition. She was assisted out of the area by members of Search and Rescue and Fort Bragg Fire Department. 
After a medical evaluation Ms. Brill and her dog were transported to a nearby residence and released. 
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office would like to thank California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA), Lake County Search and Rescue, Fort Bragg Fire, and Mendocino Coast District Hospital Ambulance members."

WANTED BY THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFF

Parolee Bobby Wayne Woods is WANTED on 2 No Bail warrants, 1 felony warrant - (bail is set at $250,000) and a misdemeanor warrant - (bail set at $10,000). Age: 31 years old
. Height: 6' 03."
 Weight: 280 lbs
. Hair: Brown. 
Eyes: Hazel. If you recognize this individual or have information which could lead to his arrest, please contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office at (707) 463-4086.

WE CAN'T ALL, AND SOME OF US DON'T.

"Good morning, Eeyore," said Pooh.

"Good morning, Pooh Bear," said Eeyore gloomily. "If it is a good morning, which I doubt," said he.

"Why, what's the matter?"

"Nothing, Pooh Bear, nothing. We can't all, and some of us don't. That's all there is to it."

"Can't all what?" said Pooh, rubbing his nose.

"Gaiety. Song-and-dance. Here we go round the mulberry bush."

— A.A. Milne

44TH WORLD’S LARGEST SALMON BBQ WILL FEATURE LOCAL FISH

The World’s Largest Salmon Barbecue in Fort Bragg’s Noyo Harbor on Saturday July 4 is more than just a day of free live music, a plate of salmon and trimmings and great microbrews and local wines.

The 44^th annual event, which benefits the Salmon Restoration Association, funds key educational efforts and watershed work in the campaign to save flagging king and silver salmon populations. It also funds key educational programs, such as the SONAR program at Mendocino High School.

A $30 ticket buys a giant plate of salmon, salad, corn on the cob and garlic bread, along with live music and dancing. There is award-winning microbrew from North Coast Brewing, fair trade coffee from Thanksgiving Coffee and Barefoot wines. Cowlicks ice cream is served. The salmon is prepared with a special marinade. This year, the salmon served was all caught out of Noyo Harbor.

Fireworks happen over the Noyo River and ocean after the barbecue, as soon as it is dark. There are many other Mendocino Coast events to enjoy on the 4th of July weekend, including the world-famous and often wacky Mendocino Village parade at noon., The World’s Largest Salmon Barbecue provides shuttle service from the Mendocino College parking lot to South Noyo Harbor from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in South Noyo Harbor.

Hundreds of volunteers make the barbecue possible each year with dozens provided by each service club, including the Fort Bragg Rotary Club, the Fort Bragg Soroptimist Club and the Fort Bragg Knights of Columbus. Business like Harvest Market, Fort Bragg Feed and Pet, North Coast Brewing, Thanksgiving Coffee and many others contribute.

The bulk of the 3000 plus people who attend the World’s Largest Salmon Barbecue each year make a special trip to do so, from the Anderson Valley, Ukiah, Santa Rosa and Sacramento. The temperature may be 30 degrees cooler or more in Fort Bragg - and still warm enough and sunny. The event usually raises between $30,000 and $50,000 each year. The event was started in 1971 by commercial fishermen, hoping to find ways to restore salmon populations and has been a fixture in Fort Bragg ever since.

The SRA is interested in grant applications for any project that can help with salmon restoration, including educational, watershed and other local efforts. Contact SRA president Joe Janisch, janischbythesea@comcast.net. Grant proposals will be evaluated following the barbecue.

MENDOCINO COUNTY DEMOCRATS DEPART FOR THE STATE CONVENTION

CATCH OF THE DAY, May 20, 2015

JOHN AVILLA III, Talmage. Possession of burglary tools, probation revocation.

CLARENCE CHRISTIAN, Ukiah. Domestic assault.

EDWARD JOHNSON, Ukiah. Drunk in public, probation revocation.

CAROLYN KING, Ukiah. DUI.

LEONARD LEUM, Point Arena. Resisting arrest.

ANDREW MAYNARD, Fort Bragg. Drunk in public. (Frequent flyer.)

DARLENE SCHWARM, Ukiah. Battery.

JACQUELINE TUREK, Stockton/Ukiah. No license.

ROGUE REPORT

Rick Weddle writes: “Here’s a pic of the ‘Rogue’ River, early 5-18-15, just after high tide (about one-quarter mile inland). Not so rogueish. Reports from various snowpacks are 5% to 20% of normal. No skiing at Ashland this past season.”

WE CAN SPEND UPWARDS OF $300 MILLION to route a few cars around Willits, but…

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/falling-apart-america-neglected-infrastructure/

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/05/20/derailing-amtrak/

http://nec.amtrak.com/sites/default/files/Gateway_Amtrak%20Factsheet%20Spring%202015.pdf

OPPOSE STANDARDIZED TESTS

Dear Editor:

I am a 17 year-old high school junior writing to ask your readers to contact their local school boards and urge them to boycott statewide, standardized tests.

The Lagunitas School District in Marin County passed a boycott resolution on May 14th and other Northern California districts should follow their leadership on this important issue.

Standardized testing does not belong in our schools because these tests improperly compare students to each other, they divert funds to the testing industry, and they correlate with only one thing: family income.

Comparing children to each other despite different abilities instead of treating students individually is inherently destructive and unfair since students learn at different rates and in different ways.

Also, standardized tests cost local school districts like the Lagunitas School District around the country millions of dollars every year, which could be better spent on students.

Finally, the wealthier the student's family is, the higher the standardized test score for that student. As family income of the student goes up, the average test score goes up, too. Nothing else increases scores: not “teaching to the test,” not hiring more teachers, and not smaller classes. Despite the clear link between income and scores, eliminating poverty is never the focus of attempts to raise scores.

I am the perfect example of a student who thrives academically in an atmosphere without standardized tests.

Please contact your local school board and encourage them to follow the Lagunitas and other brave school districts around the country and boycott standardized tests.

Respectfully,

Dylan Escobar, Forest Knolls

WHAT'S GOING ON

Mother, mother

There's too many of you crying

Brother, brother, brother

There's far too many of you dying

You know we've got to find a way

To bring some lovin' here today

 

Father, father

We don't need to escalate

You see, war is not the answer

For only love can conquer hate

You know we've got to find a way

To bring some lovin' here today

 

Picket lines and picket signs

Don't punish me with brutality

Talk to me, so you can see

Oh, what's going on

What's going on

Yeah, what's going on

Ah, what's going on

 

Mother, mother,

Everybody thinks we're wrong

Oh, but who are they to judge us

Simply 'cause our hair is long

Oh, you know we've got to find a way

To bring some understanding here today

 

Picket lines and picket signs

Don't punish me with brutality

C'mon talk to me

So you can see

What's going on

Yeah, what's going on

Tell me what's going on

I'll tell you what's going on

—Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye

POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE NEEDS NEW BOSS

Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. (“PALKI”) seeks candidates for a new executive director after Ty Moore recently announced plans to leave the area. Moore has been at the lighthouse for two years.

The search began May 1 and will remain open until June 10th.

Key characteristics of the executive director include the ability to function well in an organization having multiple profit centers, and self-motivation. Additionally, the executive director should be a strong a leader.

“Leadership and management are two distinct behaviors within administration,” says Moore. “A manager sees to the day-by-day necessities of operations — financial tracking, guest concerns, contracts, etc. A leader folds the day-by-day into an ongoing vision for change and growth, and sets the tone and culture of an organization.” This position requires facility with both.

Point Arena Lighthouse employs 18 local staff and is directed by a board of nine volunteers. With the establishment last year of the Point Arena-Stornetta Unit of the California Coastal National Monument the lighthouse saw a 40% growth in admissions.

“The lighthouse is growing as a major tourist attraction and the team is in place to meet the demand," Moore continued. "With several exciting projects and a board that is involved and eager to support growth and change, I expect PALKI to see significant advances as a non-profit and icon of the Point Arena community for years to come.”

To apply for the executive director position applicants should send a letter of application, resume, and two letters of reference to:

Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc.
c/o Search Committee
P.O. Box 11
Point Arena, CA 95468

Or email palight@mcn.org

SANTA BARBARA OIL SPILL NOW STRETCHES FOR 9 MILES

by Dan Bacher

State and federal government crews continue to monitor the clean up of a big oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara as the size of the disaster has expanded.

The spill from a ruptured pipeline owned by Plains All American Pipeline expanded overnight from 4 miles long to two slicks stretching 9 miles along the coast, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The pipeline carries crude oil from to Flores to Gaviota.

Preliminary reports indicated that the ruptured 24 inch pipeline in Goleta leaked an estimated 21,000 gallons of crude oil Tuesday. However, the pipeline company may have actually released as much as 105,000 gallons, with tens of thousands of gallons going into the ocean, according to the latest data from Plains All American. (http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-83582957/)

A local first reported the spill coming from a leak in the pipeline at Refugio State Beach around noon on Tuesday, May 19. The Coast Guard dispatched members from the Marine Safety Detachment Santa Barbara and Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach upon initial notification, according to a statement from the Coast Guard.

Coast Guard crews stopped the leak by 3 p.m., according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Andrea Anderson. In addition to the Coast Guard, the California Office of Emergency Services, California Fish and Wildlife, county fire departments, and Exxon Mobil are currently on scene.

"Contractors are working to remove contained pockets of oil utilizing skimmers, vacuum trucks, absorbent pads, and absorbent boom," the Coast Guard reported. "Additional cleanup actions are ongoing through the sandy beaches in the affected area. Approximately 3,000 feet of containment boom has been deployed."

A fishing ban has been established by the Department of Fish and Wildlife until data reflects that the fish are safe to eat. The closure is initiated from one mile east to one mile west of Refugio State Beach and a distance of ½ mile off shore.

The Santa Barbara Health Department recommends that all residents avoid contact with areas where the oil spill is present. "Refugio Beach remains closed and is considered a Hazmat area and only personnel with Hazmat credentials are authorized be on the beach," said Susan Klein-Rothschild, Public Information Officer for the Health Department.

For more information about the spill, go to: Refugioresponse.com.

The spill is located near the Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area, an alleged "marine protected area" created under the privately funded Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative, as well as near the Refugio State Marine Conservation Area.

In one of the biggest environmental scandals in recent California history, Catherine Reheis-Boyd, the President of the Western States Petroleum Association, served as Chair of the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative Blue Ribbon Task Force that created the Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area and other so-called "marine protected areas." She also served on the task forces for the Central Coast, North Central Coast and North Coast from 2004 to 2012. (http://www.truth-out.org/speakout/item/30745-a-whale-of-a-conflict-of-interest-big-oil-lobbyist-s-oversight-of-marine-protected-areas)

Reheis-Boyd leads the campaign to expand fracking and offshore oil drilling in California. The alleged "marine protected areas" created under the leadership of her and other corporate operatives on the MLPA Initiative Blue Ribbon Task Force fail to protect the ocean from fracking, oil spills, oil drilling, pollution, corporate aquaculture, military testing and all human impacts on the ocean other than fishing and gathering.

Oil industry says it "regrets" oil spill

Reheis-Boyd responded to the oil spill in a statement. She claimed, "As an industry, we are always concerned when accidents like this happen. WSPA members strive to prevent any amount of spillage and have numerous programs and procedures designed to prevent such occurrences. Once the incident is contained and thoroughly cleaned up, they will review the facts surrounding this incident and apply what they learn to prevent future accidents." (https://www.wspa.org/blog/post/statement-santa-barbara-oil-spill)

"We are grateful for the quick response on the part of the Coast Guard, Plains All American, the Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response and other responders that appear to have quickly limited the size of the spill. And we appreciate the efforts of the local response agencies and volunteers who are working on cleanup efforts," she said.

She noted that Plains All American, the owner of the pipeline, is a member of the Western States Petroleum Association.

Plains said it "deeply regrets this release has occurred and is making every effort to limit its environmental impact. Our focus remains on ensuring the safety of all involved. No injuries have been reported at this time."

Spill a "stark reminder" of risks posed by expanded oil drilling

As reports of the spill and the clean up efforts were emerging, representatives of environmental groups responded to the disaster.

Becca Claassen, Santa Barbara County Organizer of Food & Water Watch, said the Santa Barbara spill provides even more reason for the state of California to ban fracking.

“The oil spill near Refugio State Beach is a stark reminder of the dangerous risks expanded oil drilling poses to Santa Barbara County’s environment and its residents’ quality of life," said Classen. "This incident is all the more reason to ban fracking both offshore and onshore to help prevent future spills and protect Santa Barbara’s beautiful beaches and coastal environment.”

In 2013, an Associated Press and Freedom of Information Act investigation revealed that oil companies had conducted fracking offshore fracking operations in Southern California waters, including the Santa Barbara Channel, over a 20-year period. The oil companies were fracking Southern California waters at the same time that Reheis-Boyd served as the Chair of the MLPA panel for the South Coast from 2009 to 2012.

"There it is!" said Joey Racano of the Ocean Outfall Group, after he heard about the oil spill. "This has been a site of ongoing fracking offshore for years with no public knowledge or review. Christine Reheis Boyd, Western States Petroleum Association President AND chair of the Blue Ribbon Panel on the MLPA, here are the results of your handiwork and deceit."

Miyoko Sakashita, oceans director with the Center for Biological Diversity, released the following statement about the spill:

"Time and again we've seen oil foul our coasts, whether it's Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico or Santa Barbara. Oil spills are part of the ugly cost of fossil fuel development, made even worse by aging domestic infrastructure. It doesn't have to be this way and it shouldn't. We need to start aggressively moving away from fuel sources that are devastating for wildlife, people and our climate. If we don't, what we're seeing in Santa Barbara will continue be the norm."

Volunteers are being coordinated through Calspillwatch.com

Senate Bill 788 closes offshore oil drilling loophole

The oil spill makes it even more urgent that the Legislature pass State Senator Mike McGuire's California Coastal Protection Act of 2015 (Senate Bill 788), to address a glaring offshore oil drilling loophole in California law.

The California Coastal Sanctuary Act, passed in 1994, contains a loophole from the offshore extraction prohibition, Public Resources Code 6244, by allowing new oil leases if the “State Lands Commission determines that oil and gas deposits contained in tidelands are being drained by means of wells upon adjacent federal lands and leasing of the tidelands for oil or gas production is in the best interest of the State.”

SB 788 would eliminate this loophole by repealing PRC 6244 to ensure that the Coastal Sanctuary Act and Marine Life Protection Act are able to provide their intended protections for our coastal resources and prevent additional offshore oil extraction (http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB788)

Yes, the Western States Petroleum Association President, the same oil lobbyist who oversaw the creation of fake "marine protected areas" in Southern California, and the oil companies are opposing SB 788.

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SENATOR MIKE McGUIRE statement on Santa Barbara oil spill

Wednesday, May 20, 2015 — With news of another oil spill off Santa Barbara County's coast, McGuire calls for an end to new leases for offshore oil drilling in California Sacramento, CA - Yesterday's oil spill in the once pristine waters off Santa Barbara County's Refugio State Beach is a grim reminder of just how risky coastal oil development can be. Local environmental and state agencies along with emergency crews, have sprung into immediate action to limit the damage from an estimated 21,000 gallons of oil that spilled from a ruptured pipeline, draining crude oil for three hours and creating nine miles of toxic sheen in ocean waters. Senator Mike McGuire is disturbed by the constant reminders of the dangers of coastal oil production. "Tuesday's devastating oil spill is yet another example of the significant dangers related to coastal oil development," Senator Mike McGuire said. "Our thoughts are with the residents of Santa Barbara and all of those who are working hard on the recovery efforts." For information on ways to help with the recovery efforts, log on to www.environmentaldefensecenter.org, or The Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) has also been activated and their website has wildlife response effort information at www.owcn.org. McGuire represents 40 percent of the California Coastline and he has been working with a broad coalition of state and local leaders, environmental organizations, fisheries experts, small business owners and coastal communities to protect California's pristine coast and our state's $40 billion coastal economy. SB 788 - The Coastal Protection Act - authored by Senator Mike McGuire and Senator Hannah Beth Jackson, will close the loophole in the Coastal Sanctuary Act that currently allows the State Lands Commission to grant new leases for offshore oil and gas development. New offshore oil leases are a real possibility in California and developers are already testing the political waters. The oil slicks on the front page of this morning's newspapers are reminiscent of the images from 1969, when for 11 days, more than 4 million gallons of crude oil blew into the ocean just off of Santa Barbara's coast. Two hundred square miles of ocean and 35 miles of California coastline were oiled and thousands of animals were killed. Senate Bill 788 would forever ban any new oil drilling off of the California Coast - protecting our environment - and it would help California's coastal economy thrive. Coastal communities contribute $40 billion annually to the state's economy along with 500,000 jobs that working families depend on. For more information or questions, please contact Kerrie Lindecker, Communications Coordinator, at 707-319-3654, or email her at kerrie.lindecker@sen.ca.gov

BIXIGA 70 & LA MISA NEGRA TO HEADLINE SATURDAY'S VILLAGE STAGE

The Sierra Nevada World Music Festival is primarily known for the abundance of roots reggae that is offered each year. But the festival also offers a wide-variety of world music each year and 2015 will be no exception. 

Bixiga 70 is a Brazilian band that takes it's name from a neighborhood in São Paulo that is a melting pot of Italian, African and North-Eastern cultures. It is also one of the best areas to eat out and listen to music. 

With their genre-spanning mix of afro- beat, Guinean malinké, Brazilian candomblé, samba and cumbia, Bixiga 70 are a welcome addition to any party. Taking Fela Kuti’s Afrika 70 band as a launchpad both in name and spirit, this ten piece band and their fusion of African and South American rhythms cause havoc in any dance. The band brings together an eclectic music performance that incorporates trumpets, saxophones, trombones, percussions, and strings. Bixiga 70 will make you feel as though you were in a totally different continent due to the band’s fusion of Latin dance, psychedelia, jazz, and African instrumental music.

Perhaps the best way to fully comprehend what listeners can expect when Bixiga 70 closes out the village stage on Saturday night is to watch this high-energy live performance of the song "Kriptonita" that appears on their most recent release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYTlaMqrnVI

La Misa Negra (Black Mass or Black Ritual) is an 8-piece band from Oakland, California that plays a unique blend of 1950's and 60's style cumbia and high-energy, Afro-Colombian dance music. 

The symbolism behind their name pays tribute to the genre’s African roots and Caribbean heritage, and celebrates the spirit and ritual of dance. Powered by horn and accordion-driven riffs, a fierce rhythm section, and a vintage Colombian sound, La Misa Negra delivers an electrifying performance that explodes with infectious dance grooves and punk rock energy. And you can find out for yourself when La Misa Negra takes to the village stage on Saturday evening at SNWMF.

https://soundcloud.com/lamisanegra/por-la-bahia?in=lamisanegra/sets/misa-de-medianoche

LOTS MORE WORLD MUSIC AT SNWMF 
In addition to these Latin music artists, the 22nd annual Sierra Nevada World Music will also feature music from around the world. Australia's Nicky Bomba's Bustamento band features music that blends mento and calypso with Moroccan sounds, while the Melbourne Ska Orchestra will blow you away with their massive horn section. Out of Leeds, England come the sounds of Gentleman's Dub Club. Mungo's Hi Fi will be bringing their brand of music to the dancehall, and don't miss The Very Best, a collaboration between London based DJ/production duo Radioclit and Esau Mwamwaya, a singer from Lilongwe, Malawi. The musical journey will be rounded off by Ras Muhamad, an Indonesian rastafarian who will be making his US debut at SNWMF 2015.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE OR VIA MAIL ORDER

To Purchase Tickets and Camping Online Click Here
Once again, SNWMF has teamed up with EventBrite for this year's online purchases, so you can now buy and print out your tickets right from your home!