Press "Enter" to skip to content

Mendocino County Today: Wednesday, July 22, 2015

* * *

ISABEL GUTIERREZ-VILLARREAL, 41, of Fort Bragg was in custody Tuesday, after being arrested for the hit-and-run crash that killed a Fort Bragg bicycle rider.

Gutierrez-Villareal
Gutierrez-Villareal

Rider Jacob Aaron Howard, 36, had been on a bike riding along Highway 1 the afternoon of Sunday, July 12 when he was hit by a red pickup truck whose driver didn’t stop.

* * *

TALEN CLARK BARTON, the Laytonville 19-year-old charged with murdering two people and attempted murder of two others, appeared in Mendocino County Superior Court at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Judge David Nelson appointed Public Defender Linda Thompson to represent Barton. Arraignment and entry of pleas were continued to 1:30 p.m. on August 4. Judge Nelson granted District Attorney David Eyster's request for no bail in the case. — Mike Geniella, Public Information

* * *

I RENEWED my driver's license today at the DMV office in Fort Bragg, “the friendliest DMV office in the state,” a sign in the office says. It wasn't always thus, in my experience, but my last visit was 20 years ago. That time, I'd walked in just after the office had opened, unaware of the take-a-number system which, as I recall, was new, or at least new to Fort Bragg. (In Ukiah, I understand, you take a number to take a number, and lines are often out the door, which is why I prefer the much smaller Fort Bragg DMV. The waits are never long.)

ANYWAY, said the garrulous old coot as everyone within range edged out the door, that time in Fort Bragg, I happened to be the only person in the office, apart from the angry woman behind the counter, who seemed to go straight into disapproval mode at the very sight of me, common enough in my experience in Mendocino County but I tend to ask for it.

“TAKE A NUMBER!” she snapped. I thought she was kidding, so I laughed. “Take a number, mister!” She fairly yelled the follow-up command. “But, but, but…” I stammered, “I'm the only one here.”

“TAKE A NUMBER AND SIT DOWN, MISTER!” She was now red-faced edging into apoplectic purple. Christ, I thought, I could get hurt in here. Only then did I notice the ticket dispenser. “Oh,” I said, stifling a, “I'm sorry, mommy. I really will try harder. I pwomise.” Defeated, I pulled my ticket and took a seat near the door, still the only person in the room.

NO SOONER had I deposited my bulk in state government plastic, Ms. Psycho-Rama shouted, from maybe five feet away, “Number one!” Which was me. I shuffled slowly forward, scoping her out for weapons, but darned if she hadn't magically calmed all the way down, and was all smiles the rest of the way.

FBDMV

TODAY (Tuesday), I arrived at the FB DMV office about 11:45. The pleasant lady at the counter asked me if I could come back after the lunch hour, because they close from noon to one. No problemo, I said. I had to take the test and the eye test, sign a buncha forms and give over a thumb print, all of which would take no longer than 15 minutes. Looking around, and right here I'm going to make a very broad sociological generalization that probably doesn't apply strictly to Fort Bragg, but before noon the people doing business seemed, well, mainstream, respectable, together. When I returned after lunch, there were two guys in wife beaters and neck tats, one woman who was obviously tweaked, and a heavily made up young woman whose shorts showed way too much butt cheek. My theory? More or less together citizens try to get their government business done first thing. After hours citizens don't even get rolling until noon, maybe later, and their business takes a lot longer because they're inevitably short on their docs.

ANOTHER THING, either the test is getting easier or I'm getting smarter, and I know for a fact I peaked, intelligence-wise, 50 years ago, and I wasn't any whiz kid then. But it's clear the test is a lot easier. I used to flunk it. This time I aced that baby — only two wrong! And now you have the option of skipping the toughie questions. It's just about impossible for a native English speaker to flunk the test, and I confess I drove to Fort Bragg with the pre-test jitters, but then if they flunked a lot of people the car manufacturers would complain and an important sector of our crumbling economy would crumble even faster.

* * *

YELP REVIEWS OF THE FORT BRAGG DMV OFFICE:

(Four stars) — Well, had to go in. I couldn't register our car online for some reason. How to put it, but it's just a DMV.... same bad fluorescent lighting; same plastic chairs to sit in while you wait for your number to be called. I made the mistake of going around noon, so there were 2 agents only working, and one of them was doing duty also as the 'number distributor.' 

I forgot to bring something to read or do [silly me, i thought since one reviewer said there was never a line, that there wouldn't be] I had about a 25 minute wait. Was courteously & quickly taken care of. 

And my favorite part... a small, easy parking lot to get in & out of! Well, this whole business was much easier than San Diego Hillcrest DMV. In that the line is out the door and around the building even with an appointment! So this was an improvement.

(One star) — Over a three hour wait. Next online appt. availability not for 15 days! A translator was needed to assist person to read eye chart!

 Ever since illegal drivers can now obtain a license, the lines and the offenses continue to grow. 

This was once the most efficient, friendly, quick thinking/reasonable office in the entire CA DMV system. No longer. Open borders have yielded a nightmare for tax paying citizens of legitimate, American status.

(One star) — The staff was rude from the start. My father and step mother gave me their car from out of state, the registration was quoted online for 150, I picked up the car and transferred it in my name. After waiting 2 hours, the car ended up being registered previously under my legal step mother's name, (with the same last name as me.) The women at the counter told me because my step mom wasn't blood related it wasn't considered a gift from a family member. California state law states step parents are considered immediate family. She ended up over charging me by $181, a total of $282, and on top of that was extremely rude, a nice touch to add to my financial stress. I asked her multiple times if she was positive, which presumably frustrated her even more. After pleasantly paying and over drafting my account by a few dollars, I read online the law. She was indeed wrong, I'm going back in tomorrow to get my $181 back. My only advice: make sure you come property educated.

(Five stars) — A true fantasy (minus the 1950's plastic decor) if you have ever lived in a real city with large populations. A friendly DMV office - we must be dreaming - but it is true.. Two veteran employees as pleasant as can be. This was a great experience with the exception of being finger printed.

(Five Stars) — To some extent, I think I'm about to let others in on a really big secret. Since I feel almost guilty, I'll say it in Pig Latin. 

hereTay sIay oNay aitingWay tAy hisTay fficeOay! You can make an appointment, but it won't do you any good since there's almost never a line anyway; if there is, just come back in an hour and it'll be gone. 

And they're really nice too - they actually have a bumper sticker on the wall saying “Welcome to the world's nicest DMV office.” It's the smallest and most civilized too, since you get welcomed to one of three desks in the office, sit in a nice plush chair to have a conversation with whoever is working, and they'll even take your picture and process your application before you finish taking your written test. Total time in the office: 10 minutes.

 Can also register a vehicle here too - not positive about behind the wheel test but I suspect you can as well. 

And yes, you can register yourself anywhere within California as long as you bring proof of residency, so if you want to come up from LA do it. Only drawback is they're not open on weekends, but if you're only up here on the weekend you're missing the entire point of the North Coast anyway.

ED NOTE: The editor of the AVA off his visit Tuesday, July 21, 2015, gives the Fort Bragg DMV Office: Five Stars!

* * *

WHAT I HAVE OBSERVED in 25 years of working with children is that psychiatrists usually prescribe medications to children based on information that some adult observed. They almost never observe the behavior themselves.

Foster parents and foster family agencies often exhibit levels of Munchausen syndrome. The sicker a child is, the more money they receive. Having a kid placed in care who is prescribed psychotropic meds is a big money maker, they then qualify for specialized care rates. I’m here to tell you, its a big, big racket.

I once had a 14 year old girl assigned to me that had been taking an unbelievable amount of psychotropic medications for years. She was a walking zombie. After reviewing her history and medical records I concluded that no one had ever reported that they observed any behaviors except for the foster parent. I moved her to another foster home and convinced our psychiatrist to place the child on what is commonly known as a “medication holiday,” so we could see what was really going on underneath with this child and what we were really working with.

When she cleared, we found a very delightful, bright young lady full of enthusiasm. She was truly amazing, there were no signs of any of the behaviors reported by the foster mother. After a lengthy investigation the foster mother lost her license, we all should be thankful of that. I don’t know what ever became of the young lady but I hope she’s doing well.

This is why we need to monitor what’s going on with our children’s mental health program, Redwood Quality Management (RQM). That company is also a foster care provider who almost always requests specialized foster care rates from Family and Children’s Services. The fastest way to get those rates is to have a kid on meds. I know that for a fact.

In my personal and professional opinion, the Ortner mess is mild compared to what’s going on in our children’s system of care, where there is a lot of money being passed around. I’d like to know how many of Mendocino County foster children are currently on psychotropic medications and how we compare to the state average. I would also like to know how many foster homes and foster care agencies are receiving specialized care rates and how we compare with that on a state average as well. FCS has those numbers and they should share them with the public.

All foster children prescribed psychotropic medications have to have court approval. That approval is sought by Family and Children’s Services base on a psychiatrist’s request. Again, psychiatrists rarely observes the behavior themselves, they rely on what the foster care provider reports to them.

James Marmon, Ukiah

* * *

THE ABOVE observation by former Mendocino County social worker James Marmon is not only true, it's humane, especially coming from a guy in the business. The only thing left out is that the victims of childhood drugging are, guess who? The children of people who are in no position to fight back, people who generally concede drugging decisions to the experts, the professionals, the schools, the courts, all of whom, in Mendocino County are one big interchangeable, me-first, crypto-fascist blob. Strike that. In certain contexts they definitely would go for uniforms and jack boots. I would not trust the Mendocino County apparatus to guard the best interests of my child, and you shouldn't either. In a decent society, Marmon would be in charge of children's protective services, but, Mendo being Mendo, he was driven from his job with Social Services for conscientiously going to bat for dependent children, and conscientiousness, in the Mendo context, where to get along you mos def better go along, gets you fired.

* * *

NewsrackANOTHER SIGN that newspapers in print form are going glub, glub, glub: “Sho-Rack Closure April 30, 2015 — We regret to inform our friends and valued customers that after nearly 60 years of serving the newspaper industry, Kaspar Sho-Rack will cease operations. Sho-Rack stopped accepting orders on April 30, 2015 and will complete all shipments by August 30, 2015.”

SHO-RACK is the bigger of the top two newspaper cash box companies. They're based in Texas and come up first in Google searches, and sell nationwide. It’s where all the local papers buy parts from, but I don’t think anyone is buying new newspaper boxes now, which is no doubt why they are closing.

* * *

HARMONY FIRST! FORT BRAGG LAST!

Editor,

When I ran for city council against Scott Dietz and Doug Hammerstrom I never could figure out what why they were running. Now it is four years later, I still have no idea. At the time of the election they did not seem to be overly interested in any kind of an issue. Scott made the point that he understood budgets, having worked for the bus company in a financial capacity somehow.

This year, when the city presented their budget to the city council, he didn't show up. Probably he read it privately, but I must say that the rest of the city council that sat through that five hour meeting, at least from the looks on them, did not understand one word of what is admittedly a highly unintelligible, deceptive, abstruse and misleading document. But probably Scott whizzed right through it at home in the comfort of his armchair, although I have not heard that he made any subsequent comments.

Both Scott and Doug are also on the public safety committee, which usually does not do very much, but recently was confronted with an odd fish. Body cameras on cops suddenly became an issue. The police in Fort Bragg, it turns out, favor body cameras, and were applying for a grant to get them for free and needed a policy statement by the City. The police had a seminar which was meticulously prepared, very informative, and well attended but the members of our city council who are the safety committee, did not show up for that either.

It might also be noted in passing that neither Scott nor Doug did anything at all during the last four years. Except of course vote reliably for the agenda of City management. They do vote, and always for the city manager, but they themselves do not propose, design, discuss, or even apparently read. They have held no public meetings, they did not issue any statements, they were interviewed in no articles, made no speeches, went to no meetings, other than Doug going to the Elks or wherever it is that he is the grand leader of. But publicly, as far as I know these two did not propose a program, push for a policy or even have an idea. They speak as little as possible. If they have had an idea, please, I would like to know it.

But in 2012 they were running in an election and so they had to say something, so what they both said was how great it was that the city council got along so good. That they were harmonious. You can be sure they said that the excellent job that we are doing for you is the result of us feeling like we can all get along and don't have any resentments or disagreements or anything at all unpleasant, saying that as they cast sidelong glances at my surly self glowering beside them.

The principle of harmony in government is a very important political idea in Fort Bragg. For quite a few election cycles prior to 2012 (I think four) no one ran for the city council. They were forced to reappoint themselves. (They loved it). There were two views on this. In the opinion of many the city council was regressive, wicked, pointless and irrelevant, when they were not unconsciously destructive, they were predictably misinformed, gratuitously belligerent or else condescending. Things were so bad that to participate was pointless.

The remainder of the City (a distinct minority) held that the city council was so wonderfully efficient that no debate or dissent was even possible. They knew each other, they liked each other, Disagreement was caddish and not professional. Because they got along so well no one else needed to run. Indeed it would have been the height of bad manners, a lack of confidence, and unforgivable insensitivity to the sublime harmonies of the universe and Fort Bragg.

This idea of love and harmony is still very strong. Dave Turner, our mayor, is the leader of this faction, ideologically. He has fought a recall election bitterly, with the objective, he says, of promoting love. Most politicians that were elected with a margin of less than a fraction of a whole number would not find the concept of an election as utterly abhorrent as Dave finds it to be. For him, as he puts it, to hold an election is to undermine democracy. There is a principle in any democracy unknown to Dave Turner that statesmen who claim to represent their people ought not, on principle, fear elections. Indeed on principle they celebrate elections and participate willingly in the discourse and debate and disclosure that an election means. To hold so tightly to power, obtained so marginally is quite simply dishonorable. The ancient statesmen of democracy are cringing in their graves.

But if Dave is the ideological powerhouse behind the I love Fort Bragg, no tampering with secret government idea, then Scott and Doug were its principal spokesmen in 2012. Harmony and good feeling was their platform entire.

Therefore, there is some irony in their current situation. Both Doug and Scott are running again in 2016. But now their vote to gut the Old Coast Hotel for the purpose of creating a banal institutional monument to dependency and failure has been contested by the people of the city. A ballot initiative has been successfully circulated which negates their irresponsible and deeply unconsidered vote. Now the ballot initiative passed by the people and highly popular with them will be before the city council for an up or down vote, and if voted down will go on the ballot, or to special election.

The esteemed councilmen find that they will have to vote a second time against an initiative that has been demonstrated to be very popular with almost everyone. And which was, by the way, achieved by the people at great emotional cost to them. The two councilmen get to vote against it twice. Or they can go along with the people and screw the city which got the money for the project and set the whole deal up and probably violated a half a dozen laws doing it and certainly the Brown act.

I hope that the principle of harmony, with which they attempted to replace the principle of integrity, will be of assistance to them in their decision.

Rex Gressett, Fort Bragg

* * *

LIGHTNING FIRES ON MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST

The Mendocino National Forest is currently locating and taking actions to suppress fires started by lightning yesterday. The Forest received several hundred lightning strikes Monday afternoon and evening throughout the forest. Since yesterday, the Forest has identified one fire on the Grindstone Ranger District on the east side of the Forest and two fires on the Covelo Ranger District on the northwest side of the Forest. All of the fires are small, half an acre or less. Progress towards containment has been made on all three fires. As conditions continue to dry out and warm up, firefighters anticipate discovering more lightning fires in coming days. There is also a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Forest visitors are asked to be aware of their surroundings and to be prepared for changing conditions. This includes reporting visible smoke that could be from a wildfire. To report a fire, please call 911. As a reminder, the Mendocino National Forest is currently under fire restrictions. Visitors are asked to follow regulations and be careful with anything with a flame or that can throw a spark in the forest. For more information, please visit www.preventwildfireca.org/OneLessSpark/

For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino.

Updates are also available on Twitter @MendocinoNF.

* * *

CATCH OF THE DAY, July 21, 2015

Creed, Field, Greer
Creed, Field, Greer

WALTER CREED, Ukiah. Probation revocation.

MICHAEL FIELD, Clearlake/Fort Bragg. Child endangerment.

TEESHA GREER, Clearlake/Fort Bragg. Domestic assault.

Gutierrez-Villarreal, Knapp, Kotterman
Gutierrez-Villarreal, Knapp, Kotterman

ISABEL GUTIERREZ-VILLAREAL, Fort Bragg. Hit & Run with injury or death, vehicular manslaughter.

VERNON KNAPP, Fort Bragg. Drunk in public. (Frequent flyer.)

RYAN KOTTERMAN, Ukiah. DUI, suspended license.

Magnone, Norton, Reyes
Magnone, Norton, Reyes

KAMILLE MAGNONE, Fort Bragg. Domestic assault, suspended license, failure to pay, probation revocation.

JAMES NORTON, Willits. Under influence of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, probation revocation.

TOMAS REYES, Ukiah. Possession of drug paraphernalia, probation revocation.

Silverston, Sweatt, Villalobos
Silverstone, Sweatt, Villalobos

DAVID SILVERSTONE, Redwood Valley. Pot cultivation, processing, possession for sale.

TERRILL SWEATT, Nice/Ukiah. DUI.

LUIS VILLALOBOS, Ukiah. Under influence of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, false ID, suspended license.

* * *

THE OFFICIAL SONG OF THE NEXT BIG ONE in earthquake country:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32ox6XYW-9U

* * *

LEGENDS, myths, gods and religions appeared for the first time with the Cognitive Revolution. Many animals and human species could previously say, “Careful! A Lion!” Thanks to the Cognitive Revolution (which occurred about 70,000 years ago) Homo Sapiens acquired the ability to say, “The lion is the guardian spirit of our tribe.” This ability to speak about fictions is the most unique feature of Sapiens language. It's relatively easy to agree that Homo Sapiens can speak about things that don't really exist, and believe six impossible things before breakfast. You could never convince a monkey to give you a banana by promising him limitless bananas after death in monkey heaven.

— Yuval N. Harari, 2014; from “Sapiens, A Brief History of Humankind"

* * *

MORE CHILDREN LIVE IN POVERTY TODAY than during the 2008 recession: Nearly three million extra U.S. youngsters now come from impoverished families

by Hannah Parry

There are nearly three million more children living in poverty today than during the recession, shocking new figures have revealed.

Nearly a quarter of youngsters in the US (22 per cent) or around 16.1 million individuals, were classed as living below the poverty line in 2013.

This has soared from just 18 per cent in 2008 - during the height of the economic crisis, the Casey Foundation's 2015 Kids Count Data Book reported.

Children's charities have called the increases 'disturbing' and warned that those living under the poverty line simply did not have all the things they needed to succeed at life.

The report also highlighted a worrying disparities between the rates of white and minority children in low-income neighborhoods.

It found that black, Hispanic and American Indian children were more than twice as likely to live in poverty than white children.

Deirdre Bloome, an assistant professor of sociology at the Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan, told USA Today that youngsters often ended up living in the same impoverished neighborhoods they grew up in.

'That helps perpetuate racial segregation,' she explained.

The report warned that children living below the poverty line were more likely to have problems as adults.

It states: 'We know from research that low family income can have negative effects on children.

'When very young children experience poverty, particularly if that poverty is deep and persistent, they are at high risk of encountering difficulties later in life — having poor adolescent health, becoming teen mothers, dropping out of school and facing poor employment outcomes.'

USChildPoverty

The official poverty line - set by the U.S. Department of Human and Health Service - was $23,624 for a family with two adults and two children in 2013.

Laura Speer, the associate director for policy reform and advocacy at the Casey Foundation which created the report, said the figures may have changed slightly since 2013 where there was a 7.5 per cent unemployment high in July, compared to 5.3 per cent today.

But while more employed parents would eventually lead to fewer impoverished kids, she said she doubted whether it would change the number of children in low-income neighborhoods.

'The fact that it's happening is disturbing on lots of levels,' said Speer on the increase of children in poverty.

The report assessed a number of factors including children's well-being, economics, education and family and community.

ChildPovertyStates

Looking at individual states, Mississippi came out as the worst place in the Unites States for child poverty with more than a third of all youngsters (34 per cent) classed as living under the poverty line.

California and New Mexico followed in second and third place respectively while the state with the least child poverty in the US is North Dakota.

Casey Foundation also found a third of children were still living in families where no parent had full-time, year-round employment - which had climbed by nearly 2.7 million since 2008.

The report warned the country needed to invest in its children if it was to invest in its future as a world leader.

'If we want to ensure that the next generation is prepared to effectively compete in a global economy that is increasingly technology driven and dependent on a well-educated workforce, then we must act,' it stated.

'With the right investments, we can provide all families and children with the opportunity to reach their full potential and, in the process, strengthen both our economy and our nation.'

(Courtesy, the London Daily Mail On Line)

* * *

GLOBAL 1% CELEBRATE AT BOHO GROVE

by Peter Phillips

July 18th 2015 was the first day of this year’s summer camp for the world’s business and political aristocracy and their invited guests. 2,000 to 3,000 men, mostly from the wealthiest global one percent, gather at Bohemian Grove, 70 miles north of San Francisco in California’s Sonoma County — to sit around the campfire and chew the fat—off-the-record—with ex-presidents, corporate leaders and global financiers.

Speakers this year giving “Lakeside Chats” include past Secretary of Defense and the CIA Leon Panetta, Paul Volcker Jr. former Federal Reserve Chairman, retired Admiral Mike Mullen former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, NYU Law Professor Bryan Stevenson, producer Norman Lear, the founder of AOL Steve Case, and Christopher Hill former US Ambassador to Iraq.

The Bohemian Grove summer encampments have become one of the most famous private men’s retreats in the world. Club members and several hundred world-class guests gather annually in the last weeks of July to recreate what has been called “the greatest men’s party on earth.” Spanning three weekends, the outdoors event includes lectures, rituals, theater, camp parties, golf, swimming, skeet shooting, politics, sideline business meetings and feasts of food and alcohol.

One might imagine modern-day aristocrats like Henry Kissinger, the Koch brothers, and Donald Rumsfeld amid a circle of friends sipping cognac and discussing how the “unqualified” masses cannot be trusted to carry out policy, and how elites must set values that can be translated into “standards of authority.”

Private men’s clubs, like the San Francisco Bohemian Club, have historically represented institutionalized race, gender and class inequality. English gentlemen’s clubs emerged during Great Britain’s empire building period as an exclusive place free of troublesome women, under-classes, and non-whites. Copied in the United States, elite private men’s clubs served the same self-celebration purposes as their English counterparts.

The San Francisco Bohemian Club was formed in 1872 as a gathering place for newspaper reporters and men of the arts and literature. By the 1880s local businessmen joined the Club in large numbers, quickly making business elites the dominant group. More than 2,500 men are members today. Most are from California, while several hundred originate from some 35 states and a dozen foreign countries. About one-fifth of the members are either directors of one or more of the Fortune 1000 companies, corporate CEOs, top governmental officials (current and former) and/or members of important policy councils or major foundations. The remaining members are mostly regional business/legal elites with a small mix of academics, military officers, artists, or medical doctors.

Foremost at the Bohemian Grove is an atmosphere of social interaction and networking. You can sit around a campfire with directors of PG&E, or Bank of America. You can shoot skeet with the former secretaries of state and defense, or you can enjoy a sing-along with a Council of Foreign Relations director or a Business Roundtable executive. All of this makes for ample time to develop personal long-lasting connections with powerful influential men.

On the surface, the Bohemian Grove is a private place where global and regional elites meet for fun and enjoyment. Behind the scene, however, the Bohemian Grove is an American version of building insider ties, consensual understandings, and lasting connections in the service of class solidarity. Ties reinforced at the Grove manifest themselves in global trade meetings, party politics, campaign financing, and top-down corporatism.

Peter Phillips is a Professor of Sociology at Sonoma State University and President of Media Freedom Foundation/Project Censored. He wrote his dissertation on the Bohemian Club in 1994.

* * *

I THINK I MADE AN ESSENTIAL MISTAKE in staying in movies, but it's a mistake I can't regret because it's like saying “I shouldn't have stayed married to that woman, but I did because I loved her. I would have been more successful if I hadn't been married to her,” you know. I would have been more successful if I'd left the movies immediately, stayed in the theatre, gone into politics, written --- anything. I've wasted the greater part of my life looking for money and trying to get along, trying to make my work from this terribly expensive paintbox which is a movie. And I've spent too much energy on things that have nothing to do with making a movie! It's about two percent moviemaking, and ninety-eight percent hustling. It's no way to spend a life.

--Orson Welles, 1982

* * *

Young cyclists riding through Fort Bragg (Photo by Susie de Castro)
Young cyclists riding through Fort Bragg
(Photo by Susie de Castro)

* * *

“SOME MIGHT THINK that the creativity, imagination, and flights of fancy that give my life meaning are insanity.”

Vladimir Nabokov

* * *

LIBRARY: SUPERHEROES! KIDS MOVIES! STORYTELLING! GAMES!

Make Your Own Superhero Shield Craft — On Tuesday, August 4, 2015, at 3 p.m., the Mendocino County Library, Fort Bragg Branch is hosting a Make Your Own Superhero Shield Craft. Kids, come and make your own mini superhero shield. This craft is open to kids of all ages, and all the materials will be provided. For more information, contact the Fort Bragg Branch Library, located at 499 Laurel St., Fort Bragg, California. You can reach us by phone at 707-964-2020 or online at fortbraggbranchlibrary@gmail.com.

Kids Movie Series — On Wednesday, August 5, 2015, at 2 p.m. the Mendocino County Library, Fort Bragg Branch is hosting the August movie in our Kids Movie Series. Join us for throughout the summer for movies starring some very different heroes. Popcorn will be provided. Our August movie is rated PG. For more information, contact the Fort Bragg Branch Library, located at 499 Laurel St., Fort Bragg, California. For more information, please contact us by phone at 707-964-2020 or online at fortbraggbranchlibrary@gmail.com.

Storyteller John Weaver, Thursday, August 6th 1:00-2:00Come and be captivated with John’s stories of heroes you will not forget! This is a free event for ages 5 and up. If you have any questions, please contact Judith by phone at 463-4153 or kayserj@co.mendocino.ca.us. Sponsored by the Ukiah Valley Friends of the Library, 105 N. Main St. Ukiah. Snacks will be provided by the Mountain View Assisted Living.

FBLibrary

Kids Gaming Session — On Wednesday, August 8, 2015, at 2:00 p.m., the Mendocino County Library, Fort Bragg Branch is hosting Kids Gaming Session. Kids ages 8 to 14, come and join us for WII-U gaming at the library. From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. there will be drop in gaming with a selection of games including Mario Kart and Super Smash Brothers. For more information, contact the Fort Bragg Branch Library, located at 499 Laurel St., Fort Bragg, California. You can reach us by phone at 707-964-2020 or online at fortbraggbranchlibrary@gmail.com.

* * *

ART IN THE GARDENS

Make a Date with Friends and Family for Art, Tastings, Food, and Fun at this year's Art in the Gardens

Make a date with your best friends and family for this exceptional fundraiser at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, which benefits horticulture, conservation, and education projects at the Gardens! Art in the Gardens 2015 promises a phenomenal garden party on the spectacular Mendocino Coast Saturday, August 1. The 24th annual fundraiser for Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens draws exceptional North Coast fine artists and craftspeople to the juried art show and sale. Music, art demonstrations, wine and beer tasting, and delectable foods round out the crowd-pleasing day-long event.   Taste an organic Chardonnay and tap your toes to a dance band, or sample an ale and groove to the sounds of jazz. With 12 Mendocino County wineries bringing their finest wines, in addition to five North Coast artisan craft breweries, there’s a taste for all palettes. Tasting ticket includes a keepsake glass.   Sample olives and aged balsamic vinegars, shop for new jewelry or fresh handcrafted decor for your home, seek out a new art print, a ceramic vase for cut flowers, or a wood-turned piece for form and function. Watch weavers merge multiple strands of yarn into a thin braid and marvel as a local sculptor transforms stone into art.   Meet this year’s Featured Artist, Marian DeGloria, or one of our past Featured Artists at a special booth set up to honor these guests. This year's featured artwork, a watercolor titled Succulents, is available for sale. Botanical artist DeGloria is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists and is represented by the Artists Cooperative of Mendocino.   The family-friendly event is generously sponsored by these Mendocino Coast businesses: North Coast Brewing Company, Rossi Building Materials, KOZT The Coast FM, FloBeds, Campbell Global, Suburban Propane, Little River Inn, Mendo-Lake Credit Union, Friends of the Gardens (FOG), Thanksgiving Coffee, Harbor Ice, and Mountain Fresh Spring Water.   Tickets are $20 advance (online until July 27)/$25 at the door; kids 15 and under free; wine or beer tasting $20 per person. Tickets are available online by clicking the link at gardenbythesea.org/aig, or in person at Harvest Market and The Garden Store at MCBG in Fort Bragg, and at Out of This World in Mendocino. The Gardens is sorry: no dogs are allowed the day of the event. General admission passes will not be accepted, nor member discounts given.   Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is a non-profit public garden located on 47 acres at 18220 North Highway 1, two miles south of Fort Bragg and six miles north of Mendocino. Please phone 707-964-4352 ext. 16 for more information.

* * *

ArtBySea

* * *

BLISSFULLY DOING NOTHING

Left the Earth First! Journal collective house in Lake Worth, Florida on Monday, having contributed all that I was capable of giving to the effort of the current newsletter, (which is being published prior to the creation of the next issue of the magazine). Took the local train to Miami, and am booked into a travelers hostel in South Beach through Sunday July 26th. Am blissfully doing nothing whatsoever on the beautiful beach off of Collins Avenue near 15th Street, with the most laid back incredible world class 24/7 party scene going on all around me constantly. Is this what all of the spiritual masters meant when they instructed everybody to just sit still and not interfere?

Craig Louis Stehr, Miami, Florida

9 Comments

  1. Judy Valadao July 22, 2015

    Hammerstrom is running again? I thought he said he wouldn’t be. Great letter Rex.

  2. Alice Chouteau July 22, 2015

    Thanks Rex, for bring up the over emphasis on unity in our city council. After the last election , with Cimolino and Peters each garnering more votes than Turner, there was a refreshing element of disagreement and debate for a while. To maintain their rattled harmony, city hired a consultant to lead them through the process of writing a SWOT report, of Strengths Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats….the biggest threats were ‘a public that doesn’t want to change’ , and dissension among council members at public meetings.
    Deitz did display one attempt at bringing a bright idea to citizens at a recent CC meeting, ‘let’s call the Historic District Old Town!’, Which was met with a low groan from the audience….
    A. C.

  3. BB Grace July 22, 2015

    Run Rex Run for Fort Bragg city council!!

  4. Harvey Reading July 22, 2015

    “WHAT I HAVE OBSERVED in 25 years of working with children is that psychiatrists usually prescribe medications to children based on information that some adult observed. They almost never observe the behavior themselves.”

    Par for the course. Get ’em on legal drugs as soon as possible, so they’ll be obedient zombies for the rest of their lives. Very Huxleyan.

  5. Harvey Reading July 22, 2015

    “MORE CHILDREN LIVE IN POVERTY TODAY than during the 2008 recession: Nearly three million extra U.S. youngsters now come from impoverished families.”

    Makes ya just wanna stand up and sing the horrid anthem … and pray for a murder machine to fly over .. But, never mind, all is well with our psychopathic rulers and their chosen “elected” puppets.

  6. james marmon July 22, 2015

    New legislation being proposed in California.

    “Millions of taxpayer dollars would be spent under the legislation to train child welfare professionals on the risks and benefits of psychotropic drugs, and when to push back against doctors. Juvenile courts would require “clear and convincing evidence” that medications were in the best interest of foster children

    http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_28469917/california-foster-children-would-be-better-protected-from

    This is going to be interesting in Mendocino County where social workers are not allowed to have an opinion let alone push back against doctors. However, that’s probably for the best since Mendocino County Family and Children’s Services (FCS) only hires cheap undereducated and inexperienced employees to act as social workers.

    Besides our children’s mental health provider RQM, who is really just a foster family agency in disguise, is calling all the shots as to whether to use chemical restraints or not on Mendocino County foster children.

    • BB Grace July 22, 2015

      I don’t agree because what I’ve seen of RQMC are people who show up at meetings with data dashboards showing what’s they’ve done, and want to know, “What’s the problem; What can I do”? Perhaps RQMC is saying, “Children need parents to get housing”. Maybe what they need is adoptions?

      And as for this new legislation, sounds like the pharmecuetical companies are investing in training social workers, because it’s their racket.

      Your post reminded me of an experience I had at the old social services building (that should have been the new Hospitality House location) when I went there to call Social Security. While I was on the phone making an appointment a young women burst out in a violent rage with her County social worker screaming, “Don’t take my baby away!” The woman was definately ready for a 72 hour observation after her County social working experience. I was ready for therepy just watching this young mother, who probably failed a urine test, or whatever she did, she loved that baby and the fact the County was punishing her and tearing her apart with a reminder for everyone in the room, “Don’t mess with us because we can screw up your life forever!”. I don’t know if RQMG does that, but I get the feeling that they are not interested in tearing mothers from their babies to make foster homes for people who use the kids as as means.

      Maybe there should be suggestion boxes provided by the County at RQMC locations?

      • james marmon July 22, 2015

        My first suggestion would be for them to stop pretending to be something they’re not.

        • BB Grace July 23, 2015

          I haven’t witnessed any pretenses. Matter of fact, I think you would genuinely like Tim Schraeder and appreciate the people on his team because they don’t pretend. I’m not seeing psychopaths at RQMC, just compassionate people who are doing their best with what they’ve got because they care.

          From my perspective, it’s the County that doesn’t do what they say they will do, like get contracts signed before they lapse.

          Why not start your own non profit business and compete with RQMC if you can handle months of operation without a renewed contract?

Leave a Reply to Alice Chouteau Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

-