Mendocino County Today: Tuesday, Jan 12, 2016

• FB Council Meeting
• Allman Response
• Shapiro Case
• More Questions
• Boardman Suspects
• Roach Clipped
• Schools Failing
• Macdonald Reading
• AVA Books
• TWK Returns
• Near Death
• Police Reports
• Military Flyovers
• Parrish Fundraising
• Yesterday's Catch
• Cultural Vandalism
• Mail Order
• People Matter
• Guzman's Story
• Library Events
• Nino Weather
• Landline Problems
• Performing Arts
• Bowie Day
• Gardening Workshops

FORT BRAGG CITY COUNCIL MEETING

by Malcolm Macdonald

At the January 11^th Fort Bragg City Council meeting Police Chief Fabian Lizarraga assured the Council, City staff, and the handful of citizens in attendance that the investigation into the death of Dennis Boardman would hopefully be resolved “in the not-too-distant future.” He added that two of his officers were “making some headway” with the case.

The Chief's circumspect remarks were countered a few minutes later when a local citizen spoke during the “Public Comments” section of the meeting, stating directly that a transient killed Boardman. The citizen went on to tie such lawless actions by transients to the seemingly never ending controversy surrounding the former Old Coast Hotel (corner of Franklin and Oak Streets) as the new location for centralized mental health services and transitional housing for the formerly homeless.

A swipe at the latter might well be appropriate because it appears that no such transitional housing has occurred yet. However, transients have been a problem intermittently on the Mendocino Coast, even before segments of the Manson family set up temporary shop in Anderson Valley and the Littleriver Airport Road decades ago. In short, commentary on the woeful state of adult mental health service is cogent. Trying to broad brush all of that onto the city manager and mayor of Fort Bragg for presenting and approving a centralized site for coastal mental health services is too big a stretch. The logic is similar to blaming law enforcement officers, who have become de facto mental health crisis workers, for not anticipating the killing of Mr. Boardman.

I wish that speakers from the general public at civic meetings would wholeheartedly grasp hold of the concept that two or three individual truths do not always equal a greater truth (of the speakers choosing). I also wish that citizens who speak out in the first fifteen minutes of civic meetings would stick around for the remainder of the show.

At the January 11^th Fort Bragg City Council meeting the rest of the show included the California Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the city. The person who spoke about Dennis Boardman's death being the responsibility of a transient also claimed that a seeming influx of transients had resulted in a decline in Fort Bragg's businesses. While it is true that there are several vacant store fronts on Franklin Street, the CAFR  indicates an increase of over $190,000 in the ironically titled Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) collection for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015. The TOT numbers represent an 11% rise from the previous fiscal year. Sales taxes also increased, though by a more modest 2%.

With only two or three members of the public left in attendance city staffers and the city council perused the 203 page CAFR document. Those who haven't bothered to study the document at any length might like to latch onto the pie chart displaying Operating and Capital grants as 43% of the City of Fort Bragg's revenues.

While the City's net position improved by $31,000 over the previous fiscal year, those looking down the road might note that 91% of Fort Bragg's net assets consist essentially of infrastructure (think water pipes, machinery, buildings). The CAFR makes it clear that these assets cannot be liquidated to pay liabilities. Additionally, the City of Fort Bragg's property tax collections, which dropped in half between 2011 and 2013, have not rebounded in the last two years. Another way to look at it this: the price of a home in Fort Bragg increased by a little over seven percent in the last fiscal year, but the collection of property tax revenues decreased by about three and a half percent.

The City of Fort Bragg has a $1.3 million general reserve fund and a litigation reserve fund of $300,000. The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded certificates of achievement for excellence in financial reporting to Fort Bragg for four years in a row, beginning in 2011. The City will be submitting the current report for similar consideration. However nice that all may appear there is a dragon looming at the end of a long dark cave traveling into the future. The fire breathing, asset devouring beast is something commonly known as pension pay outs. The new Government Accounting Standard Board laws regarding pensions creates a net decrease for the City of Fort Bragg totaling $7,000,000.

SHERIFF ALLMAN WRITES: Last week, I sent out a note stating that my goal for 2016 was to work with concerned Mendocino County citizens to improve our mental health services. I received over 150 Private Messages and was overjoyed with the energy that is ever present. I will be posting next week about an organizational meeting that will be focused on building a new mental health facility in our County. If you sent me a PM, and I didn't respond, please understand that I just didn't have time to respond to each PM but you will be included in all of the information. If you are interested in being on the organizational committee, I need you to PM me your email address.

We live in a wonderful county. Our weakest link, in my personal and professional opinion, is the lack of adequate crisis services for people in crisis.

Thank you for your obligation to help. We are a smart county. We can come up with our own good solution.

People + ideas + energy = solution

* * *

THE SHERIFF'S RIGHT. It's up to us to establish a facility outside the County's existing homeless industrial complex, which presently spends upwards of $20 million a year while habitual drunks, the drug addicted and the mentally ill are repeatedly recycled by the courts back out on to the streets. Our free range population of persons unable and unwilling to care for themselves is small but, thanks to entrenched self-interest (cf Ortner and much of the County's existing mental health apparatus) they've been allowed to become a problem for everyone.

I KNOW of at least two mental health people who are really good at their work — Joy Kinion and Beverly Bennett, to name two. There are other capable people like them in the present failed apparatus, but that apparatus is hopelessly dominated by people, including Supervisor Hamburg, who think privatization has worked just swell.

THIS JUST IN…

Mendocino County Sheriff Needs Investigation Help

We Need Your Help!

Anyone with information related to this case is requested to contact Detective Wyant at (707) 456-3880 or the Mendocino County Sheriff's Tip Line at 234-2100.

Synopsis: On 1-07-2016 around 11:58 AM the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office received several 911 calls regarding a deceased female on the California State Beach, at the south end of the MacKerricher State Park. This area is commonly referred to as the "Haul Road". State Park personnel responded to the area and confirmed there was a deceased female and called for the Coroner to respond.

The State Parks requested assistance from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Detective Unit. During the investigation it was learned a female, 33 years of age, who resides in Little River had been reported missing to the Willits Police Department earlier that morning around 8:00 AM. This person had been experiencing mental health issues and had been staying in the Willits area temporarily.

The investigation confirmed the decedent was indeed the woman reported missing to the Willits Police Department. She had last been seen around 5:30 AM that morning and discovered missing shortly before 8:00 AM.

The decedent's Next of Kin has not been notified so her identity is not being released at this time.

The case is currently under investigation. Anyone with information related to this case is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Tip Line at 234-2100.

UPDATE

The decedent in this case has been identified as 33 year old Anne Nicole Shapiro of Little River CA.

The decedent was last seen on 1-7-16 around 5:00 AM at a residential facility in the 400 Block of South Main Street in Willits. The decedent's body was discovered at 11:58 AM on the beach in the 1200 Block of North Main Street in Fort Bragg CA.

The decedent did not own or possess a vehicle. The Sheriff's Office is requesting the public's assistance in determining how the decedent traveled from Willits to Fort Bragg. Anyone who may have seen or given a ride to the decedent is encouraged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office. All business owners or private citizens who own a video/still camera surveillance system on a potential route from this area are asked to review their system(s) between these times to see if the decedent was present in the video or pictures.

Anyone with information related to this case is requested to contact Detective Wyant at (707) 456-3880 or the Mendocino County Sheriff's Tip Line at 234-2100.

MENTAL HEALTH QUESTIONS

Editor,

In Mendocino County Today on line for Monday January 11, the AVA posted an item that began: “ACCORDING TO A STORY by Mike A’Dair in last week’s Willits Weekly, Health and Human Services Director Stacey Cryer has been given leave by the regional director of the California Public Health Department to ignore the recent audit critical of Mendo’s privatized mental health services.”

Without articulating the ensuing, scream-inducing “rest of the story” reaction, Exorcism-style — I sought out the Willits Weekly publication but it’s not posted yet. No matter. This is the kind of information I can’t even begin to get here in Lake County, and so on both counts I am turning to you for elucidation, if you please (not if you’re busy with real work):

1. Could we see that in writing? And items 3, 4, 5, for that matter.
2. Could we speak with Ms. Fornay?
3. What is the process that triggered the “inspection" in the first place (is there a written agency complaint filed, and where?] — if not directly a result of Client 10’s death? And, if yes, same questions.
4. What is the contract management process [over here, I have been refused access to contracts by your new DCAO, “Kid” Flora, on more than one occasion; requests for access by administrative agents (Department of Public Works, for example) are completely ignored — and, no, I haven’t tried the FOIA method, since it seems to just tighten their sphincters.
5. What department of the California Public Health Department is this? Has your local Public Health Officer, or local Public Health Department Director been asked to respond? [I happened to listen to a few minutes of a program broadcast by KZYX on December 8, around 9 o’clock, in which Dr. Marvin Trotter was the host — I know you published a letter from 50 doctors prefaced by Dr. Trotter, so I think you probably know this guy — who discussed establishing services for homeless in Mendocino County. Introduced possibly as a director of medicine at the Ukiah Adventist hospital, or as the County’s Public Health Officer, or former officer, but unfortunately I was driving and couldn’t take notes.]

I’m just trying to find out how you guys find out as much as you do. Lake County either doesn’t have the kind of mental health department problems that you do,* or the people in charge are way better at keeping the shit from view.

Joyeaux 2016!

Betsy Cawn

Upper Lake

PS. James Marmon on the cc, knows it and might have time to add info. Thanks to you both for all help.

ED NOTE: We’re unable to pursue this matter any further from here, although we will continue to follow it. Item 1: Don’t know what the question is. 2. We placed a call and left a message for Ms. Fornay in Santa Rosa. No call back so far. 3. No idea. We heard it had something to do with the two nurse-inspectors being in the area for something else, but… 4. There is no contract management process that we know of. 5. We assume the nurses work out of the Santa Rosa office. We don’t know who the current Public Health officer is, or even if there is one. The last we heard it was a semi-retired guy named McMillan. He works for Cryer. Trotter was Public Health Officer until he ran afoul of CEO Angelo a couple of years ago regarding an appearance on KZYX which Trotter wanted to be paid for (!). Next we knew Trotter was out. (We wouldn’t have paid him for it either.) Trying to get decent answers out of any of these people is a fool’s errand and not worth the time and effort.

THE TERRIBLE MURDER of Dennis Boardman in Fort Bragg came after nearly a week of complaints from neighbors that a steady stream of transients was in and out of Dennis's house while he was undergoing medical treatment at the VA hospital in San Francisco. One of these transients bludgeoned Dennis to death when Dennis returned, in a weakened condition, from the city. And I'll bet whoever did it got him from behind.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT has not confirmed it, but a young man with Boonville connections, has emerged as the primary suspect in the murder of Dennis Boardman.

COLIN ROACH of Fort Bragg was convicted of shooting an unarmed man in the back about ten years ago. The young guy was biking to work when Roach and several other yobbos drove past him and, just for the heck of it, cranked off a shotgun blast in his direction, perhaps only to scare the bicyclist but the shot hit the man in the back. Roach did nine years in prison for his errant hijinks. But Roach was recently arrested in possession of a sawed off shotgun and ammo but was magically released from the County Jail on his own recognizance. An indignant Fort Bragg reader understandably asks: How does a convicted felon get released from jail after being found in possession of ammo and firearm?

JUST IN FROM the DA: Following a review by DA Eyster, Colin Roach now faces a felony charge of a felon in possession of ammunition. Also faces having a strike with a prior conviction. Court appearance set for 9 a.m. Jan. 25.

THE FOLLOWING MENDO SCHOOLS are described as failing (“low achieving”) by the State Department of Education. We've appended a link to a Press Democrat story describing Sonoma County educators whining about how unfair the rankings are, the gist of which, as always, is, "We teach real good but they don't learn nohow." Mendo's edu-heavy hitters haven't yet been heard from, but they are certain to place blame everywhere but themselves.

Mendocino County's flunked schools include:

• Anderson Valley Elementary
• Arena Union Elementary, Arena Elementary. (Perennial edu-basket case. PA's gutless school board teamed up with Mark Iacuaniello, then functioning as superintendent, to fire the only administrator, Matt Murray, to ever get the school off state probation. Stupidity and cowardice have long reigned at PA Unified.)
• Fort Bragg Unified, Dana Gray Elementary
• Mendocino Unified, Mendocino K-8, Elementary
• Round Valley Unified, Round Valley Elementary (Like Point Arena, an ongoing travesty.)
• Ukiah Unified, Grace Hudson Elementary
• Ukiah Unified, Nokomis Elementary
• Willits Unified, Baechtel Grove Middle
• Willits Unified, Brookside Elementary
• Laytonville Unified, Laytonville Elementary

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/5023448-181/sonoma-county-educators-fault-state

OUTLAW FORD READING, Malcolm Macdonald writes: "I will be reading from my novel, Outlaw Ford, and signing copies at Gallery Bookshop in Mendocino in ten days. Hope to see many of you there Saturday, January 16th at 6:30 P.M.

Though heavy sales of Outlaw Ford recently diminished copies available in Mendocino County book stores, there's good news: a new shipment has arrived. Plenty of copies for your New Year's resolution shopping.

MalcolmMacdonaldOutlawFord.com

SPEAKING of book sales, the drawings of 'M,' the AVA’s cartoonist of yesteryear was, as of last week, going for $89.50 on Amazon, and there was only one copy left. Our crime books, plus the Mendocino Papers (which I hope to update and, ahem, do a better job editing), have proven to be steady sellers. 'M's' work is sui generis, as they say, and represents the true history of this odd county circa 1985 or so through the early 1990s. Absolutely brilliant stuff. Still makes me laugh.

HAPPY TO HEAR my old friend Tommy Wayne Kramer is recovering at home from a serious heart attack two weeks ago. You know it's serious when you get the chopper ride to Santa Rosa. Mr. K's rollicking account of his near death experience is available in Sunday's Ukiah Daily Journal.

NOT TO GO all woo-woo and personal on you here, but my near death experience four years ago not only propelled me into proverbial white light, I saw and heard people from my early childhood I hadn't thought about since childhood. It was all rather like a benign acid trip, but the doctors said it was close. I've had several other near death experiences I will write about some day, but I was wide awake and upright for those, and not fully aware of how close they were until they ended. Numerous threats over the years, too, but threats come with this territory, and not much of anyone even bothers anymore. Still, though, I was startled into laughter a couple of weeks ago when a certain old bat, drunk type, said she'd kill me if I ever mentioned her again in this fine publication. Funny thing is I never mentioned her in the first gd place; my colleagues did that mentioning while I was in Oregon. Of course people believe what they need to believe…

TWO CAUSE DRUNKEN DISTURBANCE on New South Coast Trail. One Arrested, One Cited for Open Container

The Fort Bragg Police Department issued the following press release @ 3:27 pm today: "On Sunday, January 10, officers of the Fort Bragg Police Department were dispatched to the report of two extremely intoxicated males on the SouthCoastal Trail. Based on the reporting party’s description of the suspects, officers contacted Patrick Heppe (age 28) and Travis Cavallaro, both from Willits. Both suspects were sitting on a bench within the park, consuming an open bottle of hard alcohol. During the contact with Officers, Heppe displayed obvious symptoms of being heavily intoxicated, including not being able to stand on his own. Based on their observations, officers attempted to conduct an assessment of Heppe’s ability to care for himself. During the assessment, Heppe became aggressive with officers and was placed under arrest for public intoxication. Cavallaro was released at the scene with a warning regarding the open container. While attempting to place Heppe in a patrol vehicle so that he could be transported to jail, Heppe became violent, including kicking officers and attempting to pull away from them. Heppe left abrasions and injuries on two separate officers during his initial violent outburst. Due to Heppe’s intoxicated state and violent actions, officers were forced to secure Heppe in a WRAP restraint device. This device is designed to ensure that the prisoner is unable to injure officers or himself during the extended drive to the Mendocino County Adult Jail. Once Heppe was secured, he was transported to the Mendocino County Adult Jail without incident. Heppe is charged with Assault on a Peace Officer and Public Intoxication. The Fort Bragg Police Department would like to encourage any individuals who may have witnessed the above incident to contact Officer O’Neal at 961-2800 in order to be interviewed for any information regarding this incident." (MSP NOTE--According to records at the Mendocino County jail, the 5'10", 145-pound Mr. Heppe (whose hometown was listed as Fort Bragg) was arrested by Fort Bragg Police @ 2:35 m Sunday afternoon, booked on one felony & two misdemeanor charges @ 9:08 am Monday morning ($15,000 bail), had his booking photo taken @ 12:13 pm and was still in county jail as of 4:30 pm Monday afternoon.) BOOKING PHOTO--Patrick Heppe booking photo courtesy of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Department.

* * *

MAN ALLEGEDLY STEALS PURSE WHILE VICTIM IN BED

The Fort Bragg Police Department issued the following press release @ 4:05 pm today: "On Sunday, January 10, officers of the Fort Bragg Police Department were dispatched to the report of a suspicious male, possibly in possession of a stolen purse. When Officers arrived on scene (520 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg ), they located the suspect who matched the description provided by the witnesses. Officers detained the suspect, who initially provided a false name. Officers recognized the suspect as Gaspar Gomez (age 23), a suspect with active arrest warrants in both Mendocino County and San Francisco County. He was placed under arrest for the warrants while investigating the current allegations. During the investigation, Officers determined that Gomez had entered the victim’s residence while the victim was in bed. Gomez stole several items and then fled the residence. While most of the property was recovered, officers believe that Gomez hid several items in the surrounding area prior to being apprehended. Gomez was arrested for First Degree Burglary, Providing False Identification to a Peace Officer and his two outstanding arrest warrants for various crimes. Gomez was transported to the Mendocino County Jail where he awaits arraignment." (MSP NOTE--According to records at the Mendocino County jail, the 5'6", 150-pound Mr. Gomez was arrested @ 4:20 pm Sunday, booked on three felony and one misdemeanor charges Monday @ 10:13 am ($70,000 bail), had his booking photo taken @ 12:42 pm and was still incarcerated @ 4:50 pm Monday afternoon.) BOOKING PHOTO--Gaspar Gomez booking photo courtesy of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Department.

(Courtesy, mendocinosportsplus with a substantial contributions from the Fort Bragg Police.)

THOSE BLACKHAWK helicopters seen over Humboldt County lately are taking part in government maneuvers of some kind. Our military keeps on practicing but can't quite subdue medieval Mohammedans holed up in Afghan caves. Three flying troop carriers buzzed Hopland last week and, according to a caller, an "F-15 Hornet [F-15s are Eagles; F-18s are Hornets. – the Maj] flying at mach 2 speeds is seen over Hopland every afternoon about 4pm."

Of course these are terribly worrying times for paranoids, what with contrails, GMOs, infanticide via vaccination, Bush and Cheney blowing up Building 7 from a detonator on the Grassy Knoll, and Obama confiscating all our guns! And now Seal Team Six aerially poised to take out Garberville! Where will it all end?

NO LA MORDIDA

Editor,

January 11, 2016 — Shall we pay for Will Parrish’s freedom guaranteed by the Bill of Rights? Punished for courage and truth, An honorable example for young people everywhere. Perhaps this community payment can be offered with a legal notarized documented stipulation that this ten thousand dollars be used to restore the Federally protected seasonal wetlands Under the aegis of the Clean Air and Water Act.

It is Caltrans who should pay the ten thousand dollars to Will for his caring for these ancient wetlands. For the migratory birds flying to Mexico and Central America, for trying to protect those international travelers. For the preservation of the native artifacts kept in trust for the original people of this valley, for his observance of the sacredness of life-giving water in a time of worldwide climate change, and of this land which collects it.

Give the ten thousand dollars, but do not pay La Mordida, the bite, the bribe.

Dorotheya M Dorman

Redwood Valley

PS. At a community benefit sponsored by the Willits Grange, the Willits Environmental Center, friends and supporters of Will Parrish, opponents of the boondoggle Bypass to Nowhere, funds were raised to help Will deal with the corrupt Judge Behnke and the money claimed Will owes Caltrans. Had judge Behnke considered this case with integrity instead of kowtowing to power politics, Caltrans would be held accountable for its failure to abide by federal law.

CATCH OF THE DAY, January 11, 2016

MARK BAIK, Ukiah. Criminal threats, parole violation.

VERONICA CODY, Ukiah. Probation revocation.

SOPHIA CORTINAS, Ukiah. Drunk in public, probation revocation.

DANIEL DELOSANTOS, Talmage. Controlled substance.

KARL GAGE, Covelo. Assault with deadly weapon not a gun.

GASPAR GOMEZ, Little River. Burglary, theft, resisting probation revocation.

PATRICK HEPPE, Fort Bragg. Drunk in public, resisting.

CORNELIUS JOOST, Rietondale, South Africa/Fort Bragg. DUI.

SEAN MacLAUGLIN, Felton/Ukiah. Failure to appear.

LAUREN MCENTEE, Ukiah. DUI.

NIGEL RIOS, Point Arena. Domestic battery, battery, court order violation, probtion revocation.

RICHARD STRAZI, Fort Bragg. Resisting, probation revocation.

ERICA VIGIL-MARTIN, Ukiah. Domestic assault.

JULIE WINKELMEYER, Fort Bragg. DUI.

TECH PUNK BREAKS TOY, THROWS IT AWAY

I blogged about this cultural vandalism when it happened last year. Not surprisingly, the callow jerk, after trashing an important American publication, now wants to dump it (A Year After Mass Staff Exodus, Chris Hughes Is Selling The New Republic). I still get it in the mail as my subscription runs out, but, since there's little of interest to read, it goes quickly in the recycling bin. (Rob Anderson, District 5 Diary)

ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY:

As for Amazon, the whole retail bricks & mortar system is in a breakdown. I wanted to buy a roofrack for my Prius at Sears whose Website claimed it was available at my local Sears. I could combine that purchase with other purchases and get it immediately.
 But the Sears store clerk said, “No, we don’t have that in stock in the Store, the Online website lies.” So I ordered online from Sears only to find that after they verified my order (presumably then it was in stock) and impending expedited shipping, the order was cancelled with the news that it was “not in stock.” So I ordered it from Amazon for cheaper, it arrived on time but was the wrong item based on the recommendation from the Sears Website. So Amazon allowed me to return it (more shipping!) with no questions asked…
 This sort of no questions asked guarantee from Amazon is what Sears used to be known for and Sears actually started as a gigantic mail order outfit in the 19th Century out to the West.
 Whatever you may say about Amazon and Bezos is as greedy and controlling a plutocrat as you can find, they do deliver from a well-oiled Website to on-time delivery partnering with even the old snail-mail US Postal Service for many deliveries. 
In my Transit Village from the 19th century we do not get mail delivered but have to pickup from the Post Office but we still get 
legions of UPS trucks such as delivered my roofrack. But we do not need that – the Postal truck delivery (and the train is just down the hill) would actually service us just fine when suburbia collapses…

TWELVE PEOPLE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE

(And you can too!)

by Ralph Nader

Can one person truly make a difference in the world?

Far too many people think not, and thus they sell themselves far too short. A wave of pessimism leads capable people to underestimate the power of their voice and the strength of their ideals. The truth is this: it is the initiatives of deeply caring people that provide the firmament for our democracy.

Take a sweeping look at history and you will discover that almost all movements that mattered started with just one or two people — from the fight to abolish slavery, to the creations of the environmental, trade union, consumer protection and civil rights movements. One voice becomes two, and then ten, and then thousands.

It’s fitting that this time of year marks the 79th anniversary of the sit-down strike in Flint Michigan, in which thousands of workers sat down in a General Motors factory to fight for recognition of the newly formed United Auto Workers (UAW) union. On February 11, 1937, General Motors conceded to raising wages and labor standards and recognizing the UAW, a major win for unionization in the United States.

This is an aspect of the American story that most people love and celebrate, yet sadly are quick to dismiss as being improbable in today’s partisan, corporate-dominated world. But, as I often say, real change is easier than you think.

The following twelve men and women maximized their power as citizens to improve the lives of millions of people in real, tangible ways. Let their stories serve as an inspiration to you in the coming year.

1. Lois Gibbs. Lois Gibbs lived with her family in the Love Canal neighborhood of Niagara Falls, NY when news of the toxic contamination beneath their feet made local headlines. Lois organized her neighbors into what was known as the Love Canal Homeowners Association. Her movement grew to become the country’s largest grassroots anti-toxic movement. She later founded the Center for Health, Environment & Justice.
2. Ralf Hotchkiss. I first met Ralf at Oberlin College over 40 years ago where he was majoring in physics and moving about the campus in a wheelchair after a bicycle accident when he was in high school rendered him paraplegic. Recognizing a need for low-cost, sustainable and versatile wheelchairs, he startedWhirlwind Wheelchair to teach people around the world how to manufacture their own wheelchairs in small shop facilities.
3. Clarence Ditlow. Once described by The New York Times as “the splinter the [auto] industry cannot remove from its thumb” Clarence Ditlow is an engineer, lawyer and the Executive Director of the Center for Auto Safety. He has been responsible for car companies initiating millions of lifesaving recalls, and was instrumental in the passage of “lemon laws” in all 50 states, which compensate consumers for defective automobiles
4. Al Fritsch. A Jesuit priest and PhD, Al Fritsch was the environmental consultant at the Center for the Study of Responsive Law in Washington DC before returning to his roots in Appalachia to start the Appalachia Center for Science in the Public Interest. Using applied science and technology, Al Fritsch is a driving force for sustainability and maintaining a healthy planet.
5. Ray Anderson. The late Ray Anderson was founder and CEO of Interface, the world’s largest modular carpet manufacturing firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. Disturbed by the hugely damaging effects of industry on the environment, he shifted his company’s directive to “make peace with the planet.” With the ultimate goal of zero pollution and 100% recycling for his company, he managed to move toward these objectives while reducing expenses year after year and increasing profits. Why aren’t more CEOs following his example?
6. Annie Leonard. With her widely successful Story of Stuff project, Annie Leonard scoured the world for the stories that tell the tale of where our throwaway economy is leading us (hint: it doesn’t have a happy ending.) Her imaginative 20 minute Story of Stuff film has been watched and shared online by millions, and was turned into a book, and an ongoing website. She is now the Executive Director of Greenpeace.
7. Wenonah Hauter. As the founder and Director of Food & Water Watch, Wenonah has fought tirelessly for the future of our food, water, energy and environment. A relentless organizer, author and activist, she is a champion in getting citizens involved in issues that matter most ― the things we put in our bodies.
8. Rev. Dr. William J. Barber. The Rev. William Barber walks with a cane but he is making big strides for justice and equality through his organizing of “Moral Mondays” protests, which first started in North Carolina. The protests started as a response to the “mean-spirited quadruple attack” on the most vulnerable members of our society. In the tradition of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Rev. Barber is fighting restrictions on voting and for improvements in labor laws. In addition to his work as a minister, Rev. Barber is the President of the North Carolina NAACP.
9. Michael Mariotte For over 30 years, Michael Mariotte has been a leader in successful movements against nuclear power in the United States. As the President of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS), Michael has testified before Congress and spoken in countries around the world against the dangers of nuclear power and its radioactive byproducts.
10. David Halperin. David is a tenacious advocate and tireless worker for justice who has launched several advocacy organizations and projects such as Progressive Networks, The American Constitution Society and Campus Progress. Nothing gives him greater joy than thwarting those with positions of power in our society who seek to profit from unjust practices. Most recently, Attorney Halperin has focused his considerable talents on exposing the predatory and deceptive practices of for-profit colleges.
11. Sid Wolfe. Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe and I started the Public Citizen Health Research Group in 1971 to promote good health-care policy and drug safety. Dr. Wolfe, through his Worst Pills, Best Pills books, newsletters and outreach via the Phil Donahue show, has exposed by brand names hundreds of ineffective drugs with harmful side effects which were removed from the marketplace.
12. Dolores Huerta. A legendary activist, Dolores Heurta co-founded the United Farm Workers Union with Cesar Chavez in the 1960’s and has a long history of fighting for social change, worker’s rights and civil justice. She was rightfully awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, amongst many other awards and recognitions.

Our country has more problems than it should tolerate and more solutions than it uses. Don’t allow cynicism to silence your voice ― people matter, you matter, and systemic change will only happen when citizens speak out, gather, and believe in themselves and their ideals.

Ralph Nader is a consumer advocate, lawyer and author of Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!

PENN & EL CHAPO:

When Hollywood Calls, Who Can Resist?

by Clancy Sigal

I love Hollywood – the film industry. I really do. In rain or shine, good or bad times, it’s given me a living off and on. I’ve been a movie-set gofer, a bit actor (as a “native boy” in Bride of the Gorilla), an asst. film editor, a story analyst, TV show “associate producer” (nobody knows what this is), and talent agent as well as scriptwriter. What’s not to love? OK, so I got blacklisted too but what the hell.

The White House is sore that actor Sean Penn got to one of the world’s most notorious killers-and-torturers, El Chapo Guzman, boss of the mushrooming Sinaloa Drug Cartel, before the immensely corrupt Mexican government got around to it.

Obama’s spokesman calls it “maddening” that entrepeneurial Sean Penn got to Guzman before the federales. The government shouldn’t have sent Marines and soldiers after Guzman, which took months after his last pre-arranged “escape” from a Mexican prison, Obama simply should have waved a movie contract at the drug lord which would have flushed him out in seconds.

Guzman’s downfall is pure Hollywood. Sean Penn, accompanied by a beautiful Mexican TV soap actress, goes south of the border for a Rolling Stone seven hour interview with the fugitive involving “talks to produce a movie about his life”. Law enforcement “were able to zero in on his whereabouts through his contacts with lawyers and producers.”

Penn writes that after Guzman’s recent tunnel escape from prison “the drug lord’s attorneys were overwhelmed by overtures from Hollywood studios to produce a movie based on his life” but, Guzman is no showbiz dummy, “he decided to produce his own”.

In other words, Mexican marines, shooting it out with Guzman’s bodyguards, interrupted a classic pitch meeting. Poor El Chapo. Didn’t he learn anything from the fates of John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde and Carlos the Jackel brought down by their thirst for personal publicity?

As far as I can tell Guzman – the second most powerful Mexican next to trillionaire Carlos Slim – was the straight goods speaking to Penn about his global reach. Bragging, but probably truthful. “I supply more heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana than anybody else in the world (with) a fleet of submarines, airplanes, trucks and boats.” Rival cartels like Los Zetas must go crazy with envy – as they begin setting up their own pitch meetings.

Special pleading, factual accuracy and limitless ego are all mixed up in Guzman’s interview. “Where I grew up (as a poor peasant boy) there was no other way, and there still isn’t a way to survive” except by the drug trade….”the only way to have money to buy food, to survive, is to grow poppy…” Yes, “It’s a reality that drugs destroy,” he confessed to Penn. But “If there was no consumption, there would be no sales.” Who can argue?

Penn’s grinding ax probably is to legalize some drugs.

”We are the consumers…complicit in every corruption of an institution’s ability to protect” the Mexican quality of life due to “our insatiable appetite for illicit narcotics.”

Yes, Sean. But when you make the movie who gets what money up front and at the back end and what about sequels and a franchise agreement and let’s not squabble over credits? You’ll have to learn Spanish and gain weight to play El Chapo. But, hey, if Tom Cruise can play a sympathetic Nazi officer, and Denzel a crowd-pleasing mass-killer drug kingpin, let’s go for it.

(Clancy Sigal is a screenwriter and novelist. His latest book is Hemingway Lives. Sigal and Doris Lessing lived together in London for several years. Courtesy, CounterPunch.org)

COMMUNITY EVENTS @ THE UKIAH LIBRARY

Susan Allen is preparing snacks from four different cookbooks to launch us on this foodie journey. Join us in the Meeting Area of the Library at noon on Friday, Jan 15th, to taste, chat, and pick recipes for our next meeting in February.

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"The Sky’s the Limit"

Saturday, January 16th, 10:30-11:30am

What can you build with drinking straws and paperclips? Challenge yourself to build the tallest skyscraper! For young designers ages 7-11 years old. Children must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Sponsored by the Ukiah Valley Friends of the Library.

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Knitting and Crochet Drop-In Group on Sundays, from 2-4pm.

You are invited to join our drop-in knitting and crocheting group. find resources, meet fellow crafters, start a new project or bring a project to work on. Learn from one another! The Library has a limited amount of yarn and supplies to borrow while you are here. Call 463-4490 for more information. Sponsored by the Ukiah Valley Friends of the Library.

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Join us on Wednesday, January 20th from 6:30 - 8 pm, for a Live-Streaming conversation with Tess Gerritsen, author of the Rizzoli and Isles series, Harvest, Life Support & Die Again. We will text your questions for you OR you can tweet them yourself.

For a full list of events, check out our Google Calendar or follow us on Facebook.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PRECIPITATION AND HYDROLOGY OUTLOOK

Greetings,

This decision support service email provides a precipitation outlook and the potential for main stem river and/or aerial flooding. It serves as a planning tool for emergency services agencies; Caltrans, county and city public works departments, and other agencies involved with mitigating the impacts of flooding and/or flood recovery operations. The coverage area is Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity Counties. When significant rain events are expected, tailored event driven emails will be issued by the WFO Eureka operations staff.

Planning forecast: valid from Monday, January 10 through Sunday, January 24, 2016.

Extended planning forecast: valid January 22, 2016 through February 5, 2016.

Planning forecast prepared: January 8, 2016

Wet Pattern to Continue Next Two Weeks

The atmosphere is responding to the ongoing strong El Niño. The December rain events were not El Niño driven, but were products of a typical northern polar jet stream. The northern hemispheric weather pattern has recently changed and is now responding the El Niño event. In the upcoming weeks, the rain events are being driven by a southern subtropical pattern as is common with El Niño. Thus many of the upcoming storms are expected to take a more southerly track and bring rain to central and southern California. How much rain will be received across northwest California over the next two to three months will depend on how El Niño interacts with other climate variability patterns in the Arctic and tropics.

See paragraph 6 for a comparison of the current precipitation values with the strong El Niño events from 1997-98 and 1982-83.

Summary:

Little change is expected in the weather pattern across northwest California for the next two weeks. Next week a series of fronts will bring rain and higher elevation snow to the region. Currently there should be sufficient breaks between systems to allow the rivers to remain below flood stage. Standing water in low-lying areas or in areas with poor drainage can be expected. The longer range models are depicting stronger and wetter systems for the following week. As is expected during El Nino conditions, central and southern California are expected to receive the higher rainfall amounts.

Potential Impacts:

The main stem rivers expected to have moderate rises with each of the upcoming rain events. The rivers are expected to remain below flood stage, but could reach monitor stage.

The tributary creeks and small rivers expected to rise with upcoming rain events and some may exceed their banks.

Standing or ponding water can be expected in low-lying areas and areas with poor drainage.

Rock and mudslides are possible along highways and county roads.

Power outages and blown down tree branches are possible due to winds

Potential for hazardous driving conditions due to snow accumulation on mountain passes and higher elevation roadways

ANYONE HAVE AT&T PHONE LANDLINE PROBLEMS recently in Point Arena area?

Please reply OFFLIST to news@mendonoma.com

Steve McLaughlin, Editor and Publisher, Independent Coast Observer

SPACE's WINTER SPRING CLASS SESSION

Register Now! Near & Arnold’s School of Performing Arts & Cultural Education’s Winter/Spring Class Session begins January 19. SPACE offers an after-school program for children ages infant to 18 in dance, acting, and singing. Some scholarships are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration is available both online and at the SPACE Office and is ongoing until classes are filled. For more information, call (707) 462-9370 x101, or visit us online at www.spaceperformingarts.org. SPACE is a community benefit program that emphasizes diversity, youth leadership, cross-cultural arts and social awareness, with a focus on the performing arts as community service.

Kristen McCallum

SPACE Near & Arnold's School of Performing Arts & Cultural Education

WELL, IT IS DAVID BOWIE DAY on the Internet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDQkaI6DT3s

It was nice to hop in the car this morning and hear guest KHUM DJ Chris Parreira forego regularly scheduled programming to provide Humboldt some aural therapy with a nice, long Bowie set. Well done. Inspired by Chris’ sensitivities, we’re just gonna go ahead and embed a YouTube clip, above, of Bowie’s 1985 Live Aid set as suggested by friend of the LoCO Jeff DeMark.

“18 minutes of perfection,” said Jeff to us this morning via Facebook chat. Yeah, Bowie is pretty good.

(Andrew Goff, LostCoastOutpost.com)

GARDENING WORKSHOPS: Fruit Tree Pruning, Gopher and Mole Control, Rhododendron Basic Care and ID

Fruit Tree Pruning 101

This Saturday, January 16 with Di Scott

Sign up ASAP — this class is almost full!

When it comes to basic care and pruning of fruit trees, there are many different techniques, several of which have predictable results. This class will help you to optimize performance from your fruit trees, according to your own needs and the specific environment in which the trees are growing. The spotlight will primarily be on, but not limited too, the pruning of fruit tree varieties appropriate to the North Coast climate, specifically apples, pears, and select stone fruits. Learn how time of year and type of pruning cut can greatly influence the success of your fruit trees. We will cover a complete year’s cycle of tree growth — from the tree’s perspective as well as our own. Di Scott brings 17 years of coastal orchard experience and a lifetime of horticultural knowledge to this class.

Gopher And Mole Control Saturday, February 6 with Adam Strupp

Would you like to rid your yard of pesky burrowing rodents? This class will explore the life-cycle of gophers and moles, signs of activity, different types of traps, and proven methods of control. Local gopher and mole expert Adam Strupp will demonstrate how to abolish those plant-pilfering pests keeping your lawn and garden gorgeous. Adam Strupp has coached Lacrosse on the fields in Mendocino for the past 20 years. He has eradicated more than 300 gophers and moles from those fields in the past couple of years.

Rhododendron Basics Saturdays - 10:00am to 12:00pm: February 20, March 19, April 2 Gardens Meeting Room with Dennis McKiver

Learn to identify and care for Rhododendrons growing in your yard. Our cool coastal climate, acidic soils, and mild winters allow many beautiful cultivars and species to thrive. Dennis McKiver - president of the American Rhododendron Society’s Noyo Chapter - will teach proper planting and plant medium, fertilizing, pruning, as well as disease and pest control. Expand your collection by learning to choose the right hybrids and species for your area while touring the Rhododendron Collection at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. - - Dennis McKiver has been growing and collecting Rhododendrons since 2001. His collection has over 1,000 hybrid and species Rhododendrons.

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

18220 N Highway 1 . Fort Bragg, CA

707-964-4352 ext 16

www.gardenbythesea.org/calendar