Mendocino County Today: Thursday, Jan 14, 2016

• Boardman Investigation
• Where's Natasha
• Obama's State
• Narc Busted
• Shelter Silencing
• Shelter RFP
• Police Reports
• Rain Gauge
• Octaviano Aguilar
• Foreign Invasion
• Tweakerball
• Help Lynda
• Warrant Wednesday
• Almanac
• Yesterday's Catch
• Steelhead Run
• Sanctuary Volunteers
• Festival Director
• Outage Report
• Death Cafe
• Superstoked

BOARDMAN MURDER STATUS REPORT

The Fort Bragg Police Department is continuing to follow up on numerous leads and evidentiary discovery following the murder of Fort Bragg resident, Dennis Boardman. Investigators have recovered Mr. Boardman’s vehicle from the Carpenteria area of southern Santa Barbara County. After being secured by law enforcement, Mr. Boardman’s vehicle was processed for any evidence that may prove useful in the investigation. Investigators are still awaiting forensic results from the state Department of Justice (DOJ) crime labs in regard to analysis of evidence collected from the crime scene and from Mr. Boardman’s vehicle.

The autopsy of Mr. Boardman’s body did not reveal which of the injuries discovered on his body actually ended his life, but investigators believe that several of the injuries appeared life-threatening. Investigators recovered possible weapons used in the crime at the scene, and they are currently being forensically examined. The Fort Bragg Police Department will work diligently to resolve this crime and will continue to release information as it becomes available.

--FBPD press release

THE AVA is looking for this mother-daughter pair. We think they might in the Laytonville area. If you can tell us the whereabouts of Natasha (Queenie) and Christine (Fulmer), please contact us. We want to talk to them in relation to the Mark Sprinkle case.

WITHOUT REHASHING the whole story, Sprinkle is the Ukiah man who got 45-to-life for 90 seconds of "sexual touching." The underage girl allegedly touched was the voluptuously mature Natasha. She and two other underage floozies voluntarily took their clothes off in Sprinkle's car then, at urging of Natasha's mother, claimed Sprinkle "molested" them.

MOM, an aging tweeker, had been Sprinkle's "fiancé," and had vowed to get Sprinkle when he refused to marry her. If Natasha would at last tell the truth about her alleged molestation, Sprinkle could at last be released from prison.

OBAMA'S STATE OF THE UNION, a rustic's view. Most real people would say the state of the union is precarious. It looks different to the leadership. Obama's presentation Tuesday night was the usual cheerleading and uplift he's good at, but it didn't reflect what, I'd say, most people would recognize as objective reality. I've always thought the abuse heaped on Obama is disgusting. He's not a hateful figure. I think he's too soft, in a good way, which would be a virtue in anybody else but a conservative liberal president. Policy? Nothing new in the speech, all rah rah, no specifics. "Make our children safe." Big standing O for that one from the assembled lizards and corporate bagmen. "Sensible gun control." "Fight drug abuse." And on it went, with Speaker of the House Ryan smirking the whole way, then analysis by jive-o's like Wolf Blitzer and Anderson Cooper. Obama will be the last Nice Person in the job. We can count on that.

BRUCE MCEWEN WRITES:

Pennsylvania bust w/ local angle

The officer in the below linked story busted a pot pharm co-op and took $25k from the safe, just before he got busted in Pennsylvania w/ 200 lbs. and & $11k. Ukiah Atty. Michael Shambrook is handling the asset forfeiture case in civil court and considers this out-of-state bust a godsend for his client, whose name he hasn't revealed.

California Drug Enforcer Caught With Marijuana in Pennsylvania

The authorities are investigating whether the anti-narcotics task force agent’s activities have tainted any Yuba County cases.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/06/us/california-drug-enforcer-caught-with-marijuana-in-pennsylvania.html?_r=0

SAGE NON-PERSONS HER CRITICS

After getting no response from the shelter supervisor about her actions on a government public forum, I have decided to make this public. I am very concerned about the lack of transparency at the Mendocino County Animal Care Services. I have been volunteering and fostering dogs at the Ukiah Animal Shelter for over a year now. Apparently, I made a "mistake", I asked the wrong question regarding their Facebook post showing adoption totals for dogs and cats. As we all know showing adoption numbers is only one side of the story. I was curious to know the whole story. So I asked a simple question. My comment read "Will you also be showing your live release rate?" Not only did my question go unanswered, my comment was deleted (along with a few other people's similar comments) and I was immediately BLOCKED from the MCACS Facebook page. Rather than give me an answer of any kind on Facebook they instead decided to silence and block a dedicated volunteer for asking a question.

I have also fostered over 15 dogs for the shelter in the last year. Yesterday Sage also decided to take away my fostering "privileges." Because I spoke out on Facebook she says I can no longer foster the many dogs that need help, the dogs sitting at the shelter in dirty wet cold kennels. It is a big price for the dogs to pay for her pride. But Sage Mountainfire has decided to go out of her way to punish me for speaking the TRUTH!

The message sent by trying to silence the public speaks loud and clear.

Until adoptable dogs and cats stop being euthanized at the Ukiah Animal Shelter, I will not be silenced.

Becca Edwards from Ukiah

COUNTY CEO CARMEL ANGELO gave this report to the Board concerning the pending privatization of the County Animal Shelter:

“Per previous Board direction, the Executive Office and the Health and Human Services Agency released a Request for Proposals (RFP) regarding the provision of animal care services on June 29, 2015. The RFP submission deadline was August 4, 2015. The Executive Office and HHSA are working collaboratively on the final evaluations and anticipate recommendations to be presented to the Board in February 2016. As previously reported to the Board, staff from HHSA, Executive Office and Human Resources met with staff at the Animal Shelter to discuss potential impacts and process. Staff is fully aware that the Board will make the final decision in open session once the competitive process is complete.”

COPS OUTRUN ELZA

On Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016 Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to serve outstanding arrest warrants at a residence in the 1800 block of Lupine Drive in Willits, California. Upon arriving at the residence Deputies contacted Tyler Elza, 33, of Willits, as he attempted to flee by foot. Elza was arrested without incident and was subsequently searched. Elza was found to be in possession of approximately 5.75 grams of methamphetamine and a narcotics related smoking pipe. Elza was placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of probation and for the two arrest warrants. Elza was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held on a No Bail status due to the violation of probation charge.

* * *

MUY MALO, JOSEPHA

On Sunday, January 3, 2016 at about 10:39 AM, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a probation search at a residence in the 10 block of Refuse Road in Covelo, California. Deputies contacted Josepha Basurto, 20, of Covelo, who was wanted on three local arrest warrants, one being for a no bail warrant for possession of stolen property. Deputies placed Basurto under arrest pursuant to the warrants and subsequently searched her immediate area. During the search a large amount of suspected methamphetamine was found with a combined weight of approximately 7.9 grams. Basurto was booked into the Mendocino County Jail on all three warrants and charged with being in possession methamphetamine for sale. Basurto was to be held at the Mendocino County Jail on a No Bail status.

WEATHER UNDERGROUND ALWAYS RELIABLE

Where the heck IS that rain gauge?

Editor,

The National Weather Service’s Boonville rain gauge shows 0.05 inches of rain in the last 24 hours as of 10:50 a.m., while Weather Underground’s Boonville gauge shows 1.2 inches! Navarro River flow has jumped from 500 cubic feet per second to nearly 1,200 cubic feet per second in the past day, so I believe the latter and not the former. Someone ought to check that NWS gauge to make sure it isn’t tucked under a roof somewhere.

I hope all is well.

Best,

Marshall Newman

San Francisco

OCTAVIANO (MIKE) AGUILAR

November 30, 1947 - January 2, 2016

Remembering the life, death and legacy of an all American Hero Bronze Star , Purple Heart recipient, S.F.C. Octaviano Aguilar United States Army. Mr. Aguilar served in the United States Army for 24 years and 27 days; 12 years of which were Foreign Services. Mr. Aguilar severed three (3) tours in Vietnam he was one of few surviving Tunnel Rats these were men who fought man-to-man and known as America's best soldiers in the 10,000-day Vietnam War. S.F.C. Aguilar was a U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division, Vietnam/3rd Brigade 82nd Airborne Division, Vietnam Ranger Spearhead. S.F.C. Aguilar served in the Gulf War August 1990 February 1991 HHC 2/70th AR BN (WHPMTO) Retiring March 31, 1991. In his 24 years of honorable service with the U.S. Army, he became a decorated soldier receiving: Bronze Star, Purple Heart/ National Defense Service Medal (2 x awarded) / Vietnam Service Medal / Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal / Army Commendation Metal (2 x awarded) / Army Achievement Medal / Humanitarian Service Medal / Combat Infantryman Badge / Army Good Conduct Medal (8 x awarded) / Overseas Service Ribbon (7 x awarded), / Army Service Ribbon / Pistol .38 CAL (Sharp Shooter), / Pistol .45 Cal (Sharp Shooter) / M16A1 Rifle 5.56 (Expert). Octaviano Aguilar passed January 2, 2016 at 10pm at his long time Ukiah residence in the arms of his daughter. He is survived by his five children James & Michelle Aguilar-Brown, John & Shawna Aguilar both of Ukiah, Suzette & Tony Hernandez, Sheila Aguilar and Octaviano Anthony Aguilar of Sacramento; along with his grandchildren Jason Ramirez and Elizabeth Brown of Santa Rosa, Sara Brown, Trista Aguilar, and Isabelle Aguilar of Ukiah. Richard Aguilar, Jessica Hernandez, Jennifer Hernandez, Aaron & Cassandra Velon, Rebecca Velon, Mallory Aguilar and Kimberly Aguilar of Sacramento and his four (4) great grandchildren . His siblings Federico & Elizabeth Aguilar, Janie Aguilar Englmeier, Esmeralda Fletcher, Rosie Abrego, Jesse Joe Aguilar, and Maria Graciella & Alfonzo Balderas. Predeceasing Father, Federico Aguilar, Mother, Anselma Aguilar and Brother, Ricardo Aguilar. Mr. Aguilar took great pride in his daughter Michelle spending many hours sharing war stories and long car rides. His grandchildren were the joy of his life he was so proud of all they have accomplished. He took great pride in their determination to succeed, prosper and never give up. Mr. Aguilar loved his community and spent many hours and days walking about town sharing his joyful witty personality. Mr. Aguilar (daddy) will be greatly missed by his family for his joyful, firecracker sense of humor and personality. Daddy your everyday I love you messages will be greatly missed. The family asks that all memorial donations go to Hospice of Ukiah Inc and/or U. S. Army Emergency Relief Fund.

ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

Thousands of Canadians of all races are streaming over the porous northern United States border. Some of those crossing the border could be terrorists, some say they are “visitors” but could just decide to stay and apply for welfare, some say they are crossing the border to buy lottery tickets in advance of Wednesday’s record Powerball drawing. When will this invasion by foreigners stop? /sarcasm off/

LYNDA AUBREY COULD USE SOME HELP

Lynda Aubrey who is currently undergoing treatment in the Bay Area for tongue and neck cancer, because right now she needs all of our help.

Lynda moved to the Mendocino Coast with her three children 30 years ago and has lived in Elk for all but three of those years. Throughout this time she has touched many of our lives.

You may know her from her loving and conscientious work as a teacher’s aide at the local elementary schools for the past 30 years. Lynda first cared for infants at the Mendocino Infant Center, and then taught at the Greenwood School in Elk and the Albion School. In each setting she has brought a measure of patience and creativity that have endeared the students to her, imbuing each child with a sense of respect, curiosity, fun, humor, tolerance towards others, and a love for people from other cultures, races, and backgrounds. Her devotion to this job has been amazing, often skipping her own lunch break to be able to read to the children while they were eating their own lunch, or drawing them aside to help sort out difficult feelings.

You may also know Lynda from sharing a yoga class, sitting next to her at one of the local music events, watching her lose herself in dancing, or sharing a conversation with her about her many interests. Lynda has also worked hard for peace, justice and the environment. Her love of the Earth has led her to become politically involved in efforts around the area and throughout the world that impact the environment. She was a tree sitter during the "Enchanted Meadow Uprising," saving an old redwood tree. She walks her talk.

Throughout her career, Lynda has had to hold down an extra job in the evening and/or on weekends. She worked at the Elk Cove Inn and the Griffin House in Elk in order to make ends meet. She has also had to deal with debilitating health conditions, including a long bout of pneumonia and hip surgery, as well as the loss of her daughter.

As 2016 unfolds, however, Lynda is being faced with the challenge of her life. She had cancer surgery the first week of January. And now she faces seven weeks of five day a week chemo and radiation treatments.

Fortunately, the type of cancer she has has a good prognosis and she is able to live with her two sons, who both live in the South Bay. But, after the chemo/radiation treatments it will take her time to gain energy and strength to work again when she moves back home.

Lynda does have health insurance through the school system, but while she is going through treatment and recovery she will need money to pay her rent and other bills, and does not have the personal resources to do so. In addition, her vehicle is no longer reliable.

This is an opportunity for all of us to help Lynda out so that she does not have to cope with the financial burden as she moves through this very scary and daunting next several months of her life. Donations of any amount can be made to the Greenwood Community Center, write "Health Care" on the "for" line. You can drop these checks off at the Elk Post Office or mail to:

Greenwood Community Center
P.O.Box 183
Elk, CA 95432

There will also be cans set out in several places on the Coast. You can also send mail directly to Lynda at

Lynda Aubrey
c/o Sabin Willingham
1219 Birch Ave
San Mateo, CA 94402

If you personally cannot contribute any money you might know someone else who has met Lynda and was touched by her. Please keep her in your prayers. This is a caring community.

Lynda and her friends thank you very much.

PERJURER ON THE LOOSE!

WARRANT WEDNESDAY! Richard Bolton is wanted on a $10,000 warrant for perjury.
 Height: 6' 0". 
Age: 31 years old
. Hair: Brown
. Eyes: Hazel
. Weight: 200 lbs. 
If you have any information regarding his location, please call MCSO Dispatch at (707) 463-4086.

PRIOR WARRANTS, now in custody, picked up over the weekend.

Sean Maclaughlin was wanted on a $15,000 warrant for Failure to Register as a sex offender.
 Height: 5' 10".
 Age: 59 years old. 
Hair: Brown. 
Eyes: Blue. 
Weight: 255 lbs.

Karl Douglas Gage was wanted on a $60,000 felony warrant for assault with a deadly weapon.
 Height: 6' 1". 
Age: 46 years old
. Hair: Red
. Eyes: Blue. 
Weight: 210 lbs.

ALMANAC

by Manuel Vicent

January. From somewhere among the depths of his infancy neighed a cardboard horse, the first gift the Three Kings ever brought him. On the day of San Antón, the animals celebrate their holiday and he remembered the dog he played with as a child that was run over by a truck.

Around Candle-mas in February, the sap awakens in the trees, buds start to form, a rockrose flower springs forth amid the sexual awakening of the adolescent, and that young girl, the one who was his first love, what was her name again?

During March, it rained against the windows and in that attic the boy with dreams of becoming a pirate navigated the seas in the atlas with his finger sailing toward the island of the treasure and in April came the thaw, birds crossed the sky, the sun illuminated a hill and later a cloud darkened it, just as his faith in God came and went until it finally disappeared altogether.

The days of May formed his eighteenth year when he believed, as the poet said, that he had come to conquer the world before him* with his first trip to Paris.

In June, death carried off in a coffin his father or his mother, perhaps both; later in the summer, he had to satisfy the biological commandments of falling in love, marrying, and having children, watch them grow and mature until the celebration of his fortieth birthday in September when sadness arrived: the first disappointment, the first misfortune; the son who was killed in the accident, the daughter who ran off leaving the empty bed.

In autumn came the separation: You here, me there; I’ll take the records, you keep the couch.

In November the non-appealable trial of time was celebrated before the mirror--the erosion of the face, the blank expression, results of the desertions and the falls.

Finally, in December, the hero of this almanac thought to himself: I wanted to make a name for myself and walk off stage to applause, but I have nothing left except this cardboard horse.

He mounted it and began to ride.

* * *

I WILL NOT BE YOUNG AGAIN

Later on, one began to realize

that life was not just a party.

--Like young people everywhere, I had come

to conquer the world before me.

I wanted to make a name for myself

and walk off stage to applause:

–Getting old and dying were just

conventional stories of shows.

But time has passed, and, alas—

the disagreeable truth is before me.

Getting old and dying

is the only plot of the story.

(Poem by Jaime Gil de Biedma. Translation by Louis S. Bedrock)

CATCH OF THE DAY, Jan 13, 2016

SCOTT HEIDINGER, Ukiah. Drunk in public.

BOBBI MAKI, Willits. Community supervision violation.

KYLE MOORE, Fort Bragg. Failure to appear.

ODESSA ONEIL, Ukiah. Petty theft, under influence.

SOPHIA PICENO, Talmage. Domestic assault.

STEVEN SIMPSON, Ukiah. Failure to appear, probation revocation.

DANIEL TAYLOR, Ukiah. Probation revocation.

JENNIFER UNDERWOOD-GARD, Ukiah. Second-degree robbery.

ROBERT VERVILLE, Ukiah. Drunk in public, resisting, probation revocation. (Frequent flyer.)

AMERICAN RIVER STEELHEAD RUN UP FROM LAST YEAR, STILL BELOW GOOD YEARS

by Dan Bacher

The number of steelhead showing now at Nimbus Fish Hatchery continues to be much better than last year, in spite of continuing low releases of 500 cfs from Nimbus Dam. If the El Nino storms continue, expect to see a lot more steelhead move into the river when the flows go up.

Last season hatchery workers counted only 154 steelhead trapped at the facility from December through mid-March.

In contrast, the hatchery has trapped a total of 320 adult steelhead to date. ‘”We also released two wild girls and one wild boy,” said Gary Novak, Nimbus Fish Hatchery manager.

“There are lots of steelhead in the hatchery now. We’re seeing about 80 fish in the trap every Tuesday before we spawn,” stated Novak.

The hatchery has spawned 73 pairs and taken 491,717 eggs, well on the way to their goal of releasing 430,000 steelhead yearlings into the river system.

However, to put the current steelhead run in perspective, banner years for steelhead on the American have seen up to 2,000 adult steelhead counted by this time of year. During the best seasons I’ve fished for steelhead – 1980, 1995, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2011 and 2013 – anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 steelhead have been counted at the hatchery.

Novak’s working theory for the much larger numbers of steelhead seen this year is that many of the fish didn’t come back to the river and stayed out in the ocean for an extra year. Most of the fish seen at Nimbus are three-year olds in the majority of years.

This year there appear a larger number of four-year-olds than usual, but we won’t know for sure until the scale samples of the fish are analyzed. Most of the fish this season range from 8 to 12 pounds.

The hatchery workers continue to see larger amounts of eggs per steelhead female, 7,000 compared to around 6,000 eggs per fish last year.

The hatchery last year was able to take only 192,278 eggs the entire season. To boost the numbers of fish they raised, they obtained 168,838 eggs from Coleman Fish Hatchery, Novak noted.

This year CDFW staff will release 291,000 steelhead yearlings into the system.

American River steelhead are the largest ones found in the Central Valley system, due to their Eel River ancestry and excellent forage conditions found on the America. A fisherman tossing out a Little Cleo in February 2002 caught and released a wild steelhead/rainbow weighing 24.02 pounds, the largest ever documented on the American.

After just hundreds of the river’s native steelhead returned to Nimbus Fish Hatchery in the first few years after Folsom Lake was completed in the 1950s, the DFW introduced Eel River steelhead to the hatchery, boosting annual steelhead returns to the hatchery in the thousands every year.

Genetic analyses conducted since then indicate steelhead from both the hatchery and the river are genetically more similar to Eel River steelhead than other Central Valley steelhead stocks.

In a presentation before the Save the American River Association in December 2014, Dr. Ribert Titus, CDFW Senior Environmental Scientist, documented how steelhead in the lower American River may be the “fastest growing trout” in the world.

“There is a lot of food in the American – the fish average a growth rate of.82 mm per day. They grow really well,” he said.

He contrasted a slide of steelhead from the American River with one from Secret Ravine Creek, a tributary of Dry Creek. Whereas the American River fish is plump and healthy looking, the fish from Secret Ravine looks skinny and undernourished.

However, the same relatively warm conditions American River steelhead encounter every summer have spurred the outbreak, first documented in 2004, of an anal vent disease called “rosy anus” according to Titus.

The American River steelhead population, along with its Chinook salmon run, constitutes a unique urban fishery in the shadow of the State Capitol that we must fight to restore and preserve.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Project Sanctuary is currently recruiting volunteers for our upcoming VOLUNTEER CRISIS COUNSELOR TRAINING. Upon completion of this 80-hour training, participants will be eligible to become Certified Crisis Counselors. Other volunteering opportunities that will be available to training participants include; in-office support/ community outreach/ and prevention others are welcome to enroll in the training for a fee. Classes start Feb. 4th and will continue thru the end of May. Bilingual applicants are encouraged.

Interested individuals can find applications online at www.projectsanctuary.org/volunteer or call Project Sanctuary's office at 707-961-1507 (M-F from 8:30-4:30) for more information.

MENDOCINO FILM FESTIVAL WELCOMES NEW PROGRAM DIRECTOR

The Mendocino Film Festival has announced that Lori Donnelly has assumed the role of program director for 2016. She will oversee the selection of films and special programs for the Eleventh Annual Mendocino Film Festival, May 27-29 and June 2-5.

Donnelly arrived in Mendocino Jan. 6. The public will have the opportunity to meet her during the Festival’s annual Valentine’s Day Weekend screening on Saturday, Feb. 13, and learn more about her vision for the 2016 Mendocino Film Festival.

Fresh from the Dryden Theatre, a 530-seat repertory cinema housed in the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, New York, Donnelly brings experience and her unique perspective to the 2016 Mendocino Film Festival.

“We’re thrilled to have someone as dedicated, talented and experienced as Lori on our team,” says Michael Fox, executive director of the Mendocino Film Festival. “With her help, we’re looking forward to making 2016 our best year yet.”

Prior to her work at the George Eastman Museum, Donnelly served as associate programmer at AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland, the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

In those positions, she screened retrospectives and films from around the world. She also welcomed special guests like David Lynch, who came to AFI with Inland Empire, and “the Pope of Pop Cinema,” Director/Producer Roger Corman, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the George Eastman Museum.

Donnelly says she looks forward to maintaining the Mendocino Film Festival’s tradition of offering award-winning film in an unforgettable destination while adding her own flair to the program.

“One of my ambitions is to continue MFF’s tradition of quality presentation and exhibition, with a keen eye towards current trends in theatrical distribution,” says Donnelly. She plans to use these developments to bring the best in independent and international cinema to Mendocino as part of the 2016 Mendocino Film Festival.

As for her other goals, Donnelly mentions that she intends to enjoy Mendocino to the fullest. This will be her first time in the region, but Mendocino’s reputation precedes it “as a close-knit arts community, not to mention the beautiful scenery and the legendary coastline.”

And the Festival plans to demonstrate the hospitality for which it has become so famous.

“Everyone is eager to meet her,” agrees Fox. “We’re excited to learn from Lori and show her all that Mendocino has to offer.”

About the Mendocino Film Festival: The Mendocino Film Festival has established a reputation for presenting award-winning international and independent films year after year. Over the years, the Mendocino Film Festival has drawn filmmakers and attendees from around the world while maintaining its commitment to the local community. Featuring special events, filmmaker Q&As, and panels, the program offers the unique opportunity to meet filmmakers and film aficionados in an intimate setting while enjoying the striking natural beauty of Mendocino, which has inspired generations of artists.

For more information, visit www.mendocinofilmfestival.org or contact Kira Wojack at marketing@mendocinofilmfestival.org or 707-937-0171.

THE BROADBAND ALLIANCE'S newly released "September 2015 Telecommunication Outage and the Impacts on Residents of Mendocino County:

http://www.mendocinobroadband.org/wp-content/uploads/Outage-Report-as-approved-11216-by-BoS.pdf

Diann Simmons
Administrative Coordinator
Broadband Alliance of Mendocino County
707-489-4663
www.MendocinoBroadband.org

LOCAL DEATH CAFÉ WEBINAR AVAILABLE ONLINE

Kathy Johnson
Community Resources Specialist
Senior Information & Assistance Program
Community Care
Phone (707) 468-5132

Over two years ago, Ukiah’s Death Café became one of over 2,600 similar café gatherings that have sprung up in 32 countries since 2011. Meeting monthly on the first Saturday at 2:00 pm in the Ukiah Senior Center’s “Lunch Bunch” room, attendees are invited to have discussions over tea and cookies about a topic that is often felt to be taboo in polite conversation. Margy Henderson and Robin Cottrell are two of Ukiah’s Death Café host facilitators, and are the featured guests of a recently-recorded Q&A-style conversation now available to the public. They describe what it is like to attend a Death Café, and also share the work they have done related to home funerals, threshold singing, and the new California End of Life Option Act.

In 2014, Community Care’s Senior Information & Assistance Program (I&A) used a seed grant from Savings Bank of Mendocino County to launch a local “Seniors – Our Scene” webinar series. The purpose of the series was to allow staff members from Mendocino and Lake Counties’ geographically-distant senior centers, I&A, and other select area providers who serve maturing adults, to meet, learn, and discuss subjects important to the work they do. Topics have ranged from legal and health insurance concerns, to Social Security and the 2015 Area Agency on Aging survey of older adult needs in our area. The Death Café webinar is the fifth and latest in the series and, because of the unique topic and relaxed discussion, the creators are hoping to share it with anyone interested and able to access a YouTube video. To connect to the webinar, scroll down to the Death Café Webinar link at Community Care’s Senior Information & Assistance page at www.communitycare707.com/ianda.html <http://www.communitycare707.com/ianda.html> .

Kathy Johnson is the Community Resources Specialist for Community Care’s Senior Information & Assistance Program, serving Lake and Mendocino County Seniors Monday through Friday at 468-5132 or 1-800-510-2020, or via IASpecialist@hotmail.com

WAITING FOR POWERBALL

Is Anything Rad Happening on the East Coast Anymore?

Warmest spiritual greetings, Am sitting here at a computer at the Berkeley Public Library, enjoying kind of a balmy day following a light rain. Might go again to walk the length of Ocean Beach, but I don't need it. Not really interested in hanging out in a hardcore bar in the Mission neighborhood either. I have given money to the Piedmont House travel hostel, and am chillin' in room Lucky 13 until noon on Sunday January 17th. I can afford to go to the SFO airport and get on an airplane, and like, go somewhere and be active in a radically environmental manner. I could also be somewhere participating in related peace and justice activities, since now we all know that you cannot really separate the ecology from the society; I mean, not really. You may contact me at this email address: CraigStehr@inbox.com, or telephone Piedmont House at 510-849-4800 and chat it up with all of the cool people there who keep the hostel hummin'. And please leave a message for me, which will help to determine precisely what I can do next to contribute. Like, it would be just insane to wait for spring. What's wrong with now? After all, the politicians aren't taking the winter season off. While anticipating tonight's Powerball drawing, I lots of time to read emails. So go ahead and send me one. Considering the fact that nothing is happening of any critical nature on the eastern seaboard right now, and like, the president said last night that everything is basically fine, go ahead and send me an email message. I'll answer it. And then we can all be active again in support of Mother Earth, and we can be for one another, and love all, and be enlightened, and drop these bodies and minds and go up. Aren't you just superstoked? Let's go!!

Craig Louis Stehr