Mendocino County Today: Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016

• Monsieur Bewley
• Supes Notes
• Little Dog
• Woodhouse Released
• Street Smarts
• California Independence
• Yesterday's Catch
• LiquiGlide
• Cupcaker
• Principled Elector
• Christmas Terror
• Creative People
• Pizzagate
• Drought Bill
• Mushroom Class
• Alfred E Neuman
• Library Events

A CLEVER and enterprising fellow called Stuart Bewley appeared with Laytonville's Swami Chaitanya, aka Bill Winans, before the Planning Commission last week to lobby for the opening up the County's rangeland for marijuana cultivation. Bewley grows grapes on a 6000-acre parcel near Laytonville and owns another 14,000 acres off Bell Springs Road called the Adanac Ranch, said to be the best wildlife habitat left in Mendocino County. It's the 14,000-acre place the Swami and Bewley, the inventor of the wine cooler, want to grow dope, er, medicine, on.

BEWLEY AND THE SWAMI, and perhaps a third person not yet named but the ubiquitous Tim Blake is often mentioned, have applied for five grow permits on Bewley's otherwise pot-free 14,000 acres. Bewley and the Swami, an odd couple indeed, are claiming, as per local pot law, to have the necessary proof of a pre-existing grow on Bewley's vast holdings, but have produced only some receipts for pot gear from Spare Time Supply in Willits and a photo of the interior of a greenhouse, proving nothing at all except, perhaps, unreasoning faith in the blind credulity of local officials.

THERE ARE SO MANY pot gro applications piling up at Mendocino County's Ag office that's it's clear the Green Rush, which has overwhelmed Humboldt County, is certain to rush in to Mendocino County, especially if land zoned range land and for timber production can be waived for marijuana production. We hope the Supervisors will deny any application pegged to a de facto re-zone.

PREVIOUS AVA MENTIONS OF BEWLEY

Off the Record: “The New York Times says ‘Mr. Bewley braved a tangled thicket of bureaucratic agencies, eventually planting 140 acres. The other 5,000-plus acres support cattle raised for organic meat and a most unusual timber project.’ Doubt it. Not in Mendocino County. France, there would be a bureaucratic thicket to brave, not here, not if you're a winery or a vineyard. It's pretty much a bureaucratic free fire zone for grapes.”

* * *

Will Parrish: “Laytonville-based wine-grape Stewart Bewley is selling carbon credits from his 2,625 acres on Mountain View Road above Boonville. Bewley's wealth originates in the California Wine Coolers craze of the 1980s. In the mid-Aughts, he ran afoul of the National Marine Fisheries Service after causing the “take” (killing) of Steelhead trout in the South Fork Eel River watershed after clear-cutting more than 100 acres of his land in Laytonville to install grapes.” & “…Alder Springs owner Stuart Bewley raised the capital for his current vineyard by selling his previous one, California Cooler, Inc., to the $3 billion Brown-Forman Corporation for $72 million in 1984 dollars.”

* * *

David Severn: "While I was sitting at the computer over at the County Recorder's office I thought I would look up the Stuart Bewley as having a vineyard in the remote hills of Laytonville. A lengthy New York Times article extolled the man as some kind of titan of environmentally sound practices on the 6,000 acres he plays with there. In the article he equates environment with ‘terroir’ and states “he grows” timber to sequester carbon — going on to mention that he sells ‘carbon offset certificates’ to businesses so that they can meet legal environmental goals. Gag me with a spoon. The trees grow themselves and he makes money off of that by allowing other businesses to pollute the atmosphere. Besides the Laytonville digs Monsieur Bewley owns 2,625 acres of timberland along Mountain View Road outside of Boonville, has a summer house in Mendocino and lives in Belvedere/Tiburon. He and his wife, D. Motluk, maintain a sparse charitable foundation worth $76,000 — up $20,000 from last year."

TUESDAY AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Barbara Mclain: I would like to briefly review excerpts from several articles which appeared in Sunday's papers which you may have read. But if not I would like to bring them to your attention. This very morning (Tuesday) the Press Democrat reports that the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is expected to decide the most important issues of whether rural residential neighborhoods are suitable for cannabis cultivation. Spokespeople from a group of 432 citizens who oppose growing in such zones wrote these remarks, and I quote, "The county could adopt a moratorium similar to those in Sonoma, Windsor, and Healdsburg. Why not slow down? Let Mendocino, Trinity and Humboldt counties be guinea pigs for this dangerous experiment on rural residents." Strong language. A second article says the Director of Permit Sonoma, that county's planning agency, is quoted as saying that depending on how the ordinance is ultimately crafted he will need to hire between four and eight more enforcement officers plus a supervisor and support persons to handle the regulation of new cannabis operations." Something also to consider. And finally, from the Ukiah Daily Journal editorial on Sunday, AF rebuke gives supervisors some latitude. The clear rejection of Measure AF in the Nov. 8 election by Mendocino County voters should send a message to the county supervisors that more than a healthy majority of Mendocino County voters do not want to give marijuana growers the keys to the empire. The well-funded measure (which was probably a lot better funded than we know if all the cash that likely traded hands were reported), was intended in large part as a threat to county government: “If you don’t pass regulations we like, we’ll just put our own on the ballot.” Well it didn’t work. AF lost 62 to 38 percent. The supervisors should take this – and the healthy margin of the win of their own marijuana tax measure – as a sign that the voters trust them to regulate marijuana sensibly. It should not be forgotten that this county has seen a lot when it comes to marijuana growing. We know how intrusive and environmentally damaging it can be. We don’t mind people being in the marijuana business (and finally paying some taxes, thank you) but we don’t want that business in our faces, and up our noses. The supervisors should continue to work energetically on new regulations for our county given the legalization of recreational marijuana statewide. Local jurisdictions still have a great deal of say over how that new industry will affect us locally. We think the people who voted on Nov. 8 clearly want the effect to be muted and containable.

And I, speaking for myself, and a group of about 200 county residents in rural neighborhoods in R-1 and R-R [residential] zoning submitted a petition that you have received and we all firmly agree with these concerns that were expressed in these articles.

Supervisor John McCowen: With respect to the cannabis cultivation ordinance currently under development, I think many of you know that it is currently before the Planning Commission. It will next be on their agenda on December 15. So anyone who would like to see changes in the ordinance, that's your first avenue of advocacy — to convince the Planning Commission. They will be making recommendations that will then come back to us. Written comments can be submitted of course as well.

* * *

Rich Molinari, Animal Shelter Manager, comes to the podium with a small white dog on a leash.

Molinari: I am the new animal shelter manager in Mendocino. I just want to give you a little background and then I will touch base on some miscellaneous topics. I'm excited to be here. I look forward to working with my animal team, the volunteers, the community, and Mendocino County. I have approximately 20 years of experience in animal control and animal shelters. Working with the City of Las Vegas, Eagle County, Colorado, and the City and County of Denver. It has all involved animals, whether it's been on the road or in the shelter, I've probably handled it or dealt with it. I've been in a supervisory role for approximately 10 years and have managed anywhere from 8-18 people at a given time. This December the shelter team is in the giving spirit and we would like to show our appreciation to the community by adopting out sayed and neutered cats and kittens with no fees. That will take place next Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We want to place these cats and kittens in good homes, so feel free to come down to the shelter and get a free kitten or cat. We have reduced the cost for spayed and neutered dogs at the shelter in the time frame on the 15th, 16th and 17th, to a $50 adoption fee. And if you live in Mendocino County there will be a $25 license application as well. The shelter is excited to have two part-time employees come on board, they actually start today and tomorrow. With their addition we will be able to redistribute the workload among the staff and give the whole shelter team extra time to focus on special projects and tasks they would like to tackle. Regarding shelter facility and improvements, we have a painting crew coming in next week for the interior of the actual shelter and they will be painting from room to room which will put a nice little sheen on the walls. I look forward to working with you.

Board Chair Dan Gjerde: We look forward to working with you.

Molinari returned to his seat with little white dog in tow.

* * *

Interestingly, negatively-speaking, Supervisor Dan Hamburg, who went on at length about his pet subject (which he’s only tangentially interested in anyway), broadband coverage for rural Mendocino, completely ignored the AV CSD’s unprecedented recent receipt of a $1 million grant to engineer a water and sewer system for downtown Boonville.

* * *

Supervisors & Library To Feed The Hungry!

Board of Supervisors Agenda Item 4q, December 6, 2016 Authorization for the Mendocino County Library to Implement Food for Fines for the Month of December 2016 End Summary of Request: It is a custom for libraries to offer a Food for Fines program in the month of December.  The Mendocino County Library would like to offer this as an ongoing program to benefit patrons and the community.  This would allow patrons to clear their fines in a timely manner.  For every canned food item brought to the library, $2 can be credited to a patron’s outstanding late fees for a maximum of $10.  This program cannot be used for debt collection and lost or damaged items.   The canned food collected will be donated to local food banks.   Food for Fines benefits the library by getting back late books, while doing something meaningful for the community in the process.  Approval is being requested for the Mendocino County Library to hold a Food for Fines program for the month of December 2016.

Winter Road Closures

(Agenda Item 4w)

Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the Director of Transportation (County Road Commissioner) or His Designee to Temporarily Close or Restrict the use of Designated Road Segments of Ten Mile Road, Navarro Ridge Road, and Fort Bragg Sherwood Road as Necessary due to Seasonal Weather Conditions (Boonville, Fort Bragg, Point Arena, Willits Areas) End Recommended Action/Motion: Adopt Resolution authorizing the Director of Transportation (County Road Commissioner) or his designee to temporarily close or restrict the use of designated road segments of Ten Mile Road, Navarro Ridge Road, and Fort Bragg Sherwood Road as necessary due to seasonal weather conditions (Boonville, Fort Bragg, Point Arena, Willits Areas); and authorize Chair to sign same.

Summary of Request: The seasonal road closures have reduced safety hazards to the public traveling the roadway, increased the lifespan of the roadway and drainage improvements, reduced repair costs funded by taxpayers, and reduced sediment flows into coastal watersheds. Currently, the closure dates of December 1 through March 31 for the above-mentioned designated segments of Ten Mile Road, CR 506, Navarro Ridge Road, CR 518, and Fort Bragg Sherwood Road, CR 419, do not encompass the actual winter weather patterns. The Director of Transportation requests the Board grant him the flexibility to determine the best beginning and ending dates for temporary road closure as needed due to seasonal weather conditions.  This will allow for an immediate response when winter weather conditions require it and will provide increased safety for the public and better protect the roadways from storm damage.

* * *

Wilibanks Goes Over $200k, makes more than CEO Carmel Angelo.

Agenda Item 4y:

Ratification of Revised Employment Agreement with James Wilbanks for the Position of Retirement Administrator, Mendocino County Employees Retirement Association Recommended Action/Motion: recommendation Ratify revised Employment Agreement with James Wilbanks for the position of Retirement Administrator. Previous Board/Board Committee Actions: In May of 2012 and in December 2014 the Board of Supervisors took action on similar agreements for Retirement Administrators appointed by the Mendocino County Employees Retirement Association Board of Retirement.

The position of Administrator shall be included in the salary ordinance or salary resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors.  On December 3, 2014, the Board of Retirement appointed James Wilbanks to the position of Retirement Administrator. Following labor negotiations, a revised Employment Agreement with James Wilbanks shall commence on January 1, 2017 and shall continue in full force and effect until December 31, 2019.  The revised Employment Agreement includes salary increases for years 2017, 2018, and 2019, a housing allowance, and a longevity bonus if still employed on December 31, 2019.

Current F/Y Cost: $213,409. Annual Recurring Cost: $221,355

* * *

Sarah Reith, Mendocino Voice

Now that we know a little bit more about Supervisor Woodhouse's situation and the history in the last few months including his multiple arrests and temporary conservatorship, I wonder if anyone in the County government has spoken to anyone in the Governor's office at the state level to discuss the replacement of Supervisor Woodhouse or if we can expect him to continue representing the Third District?

[Silence… Silence… Nervous giggling. Ms. Reith looks back and forth to the supervisors. Board Chair Dan Gjerde turns to CEO Carmel Angelo: "Do you want to try?"]

Angelo: Ummm, thank you Chair Gjerde. We have a sitting supervisor in the Third District. I think this Board and County administration has made it very clear that there is really no action that we can take and we wish Supervisor Woodhouse and his family the best and we hope that he has a speedy recovery.

Reith: I'm sure we all do. But has there been any communication with the governor's office?

Angelo: Let me just say that as far as working with the Governor's office, we have no reason to take action with the Governor's office. There is an Appointments unit. We have had a conversation with them. But there is absolutely no action that this Board or this County is taking at this time. We have made no request to the Governor's office.

Reith: Are you at liberty to discuss the contents of the conversation with the Governor's office?

Angelo: Information. It was just information.

LITTLE DOG SAYS, “I like the looks of this Molinari guy, the new boss at the Ukiah Animal Shelter. I saw him on-line today when he was at the Supervisor's meeting. My computer said me and six other shut-ins were watching the Supes. I keep an eye on the Supervisors and the Shelter ever since that time I was locked up over there with those giant land turtles confiscated from that wacky lady in Caspar. I still don't know why they put me in with those things. Freaked hell outta me, I can tell you.”

MENDOCINO COUNTY SUPERVISOR RELEASED FROM PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY; POLITICAL FUTURE UNCLEAR

by Glenda Anderson

A Mendocino County supervisor is home following his confinement in a Sacramento-area psychiatric facility, according to his attorney. But it remains unclear whether Tom Woodhouse will resume his duties on the board of supervisors, from which he’s been absent for more than three months. A Mendocino County judge last week approved extending a temporary order placing Woodhouse under a conservatorship but withdrew the authority granted earlier for Woodhouse’s wife Carlyn to resign for him, said attorney Chris Neary. The judge determined a separate court hearing should be held before extending that resignation authority, Neary said. Should Woodhouse resign, the governor would appoint a replacement for the position, which has a base salary of $61,200 and benefits worth more than $54,000. The family will wait to see how recovery goes before making any further decisions, Neary said. Woodhouse has been absent from supervisor meetings since late August. During that time, law enforcement officers have taken him into protective custody three times for erratic behavior, Neary said. During a late October incident, Woodhouse was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic battery and resisting police officers.

(The Santa Rosa Press Democrat)

STREET-SMARTS

Lesson No. XLV

Keeping yourself clean and not taking over public facilities like they were your personal property will go a long way to ease the impact of your homeless presence on the streets, endear you to charitable organizations, and keep you from being run out of town.

The 4 Virtues Of Street Life

Return all refuse, such as wrappers, and other packaging to the trash bins outside the place where you bought it, recycle the cans and bottles, and keep the cash.

Pallets are plentiful and even a girl can carry one short distances, so get one for your bedroll to keep you up out of the muck and doggie-do-do.

Travel light. You don’t need a shopping cart full of yard-sale bargains, or any other burdens you won’t need on a daily basis – more of this same stuff will be on sale again, and even cheaper, next summer… Throw it overboard!

If you go to a restaurant like Denny’s to stay warm at night, don’t go to sleep at the table – they’ll be forced to kick you out – you can sleep all day when it warms up!

Two Things To Remember

1. Don’t approach kids or dogs you don’t know.
2. Stay away from tweakers and drunks.

One More Item

People have been living outdoors for thousands of years… They learned early on to cover their butts and bury their shit, but something has gone wrong recently and we have people not only spreading their filth, but actually wallowing in it.

The 5 Rules For Public Rest Rooms*

1. Never trash a public restroom.
2. Mop-up after yourself, the sink and floor particularly.
3. Clean up after others, if you must, so it won’t look like you did it.
4. Don’t take forever and don’t complain.
5. Don’t take all the paper towels, either.

*(If you cause a public restroom to be off-limits to the homeless, you make enemies on the street, where you have no door to lock them out… Keep that in mind, little lamb, when trashing a public facility.)

The 3 Main Features Of An Urban Camp

1. It must be well-hidden.
2. Never take anyone there.
3. Never leave anything of dire importance there.

(— Bruce McEwen)

LET'S GET THE HELL OUT

California...the Nation? Why not?

YesCalifornia is the nonviolent campaign to establish the country of California using any legal means including secession.  The Campaign will qualify a citizen’s initiative for the 2018 ballot that would call for a special election (referendum) for Californians to vote for or against independence in the Spring of 2019.  I’ve been in touch with the statewide leaders of YesCalifornia and they’d like to see a Mendocino/Humboldt chapter begin.

It’s been considered and tried before and it’s surely a real long-shot.  But this may be the era of long-shots and working for the impossible, which may suddenly become the possible. If you think it’s worth talking about and you’d like to learn more, I’m tentatively scheduling a workshop this Saturday from 10-12 at a place yet to be determined.  This is tentative because there needs to be at least ten people with open minds, ready to engage.

This is a feeler to see if sufficient interest exists.  Please write me directly (do not just reply to this listserv and clutter mailboxes) with your phone and email.  Either way, I’ll respond to you on Friday morning to confirm or postpone the meeting.

Rodney R. Jones

Mendocino

CATCH OF THE DAY, December 6, 2016

MANDY GRINSELL, Ukiah. Probation revocation.

ISAIA JORDAN-FIGURA, Antelope/Ukiah. Failure to appear.

KELLY LINDLAND, Sacramento/Ukiah. Suspended license.

BRADLEY MAXFIELD, Willits. Trespassing, paraphernalia, false ID, probation revocation.

JUSTIN MAXFIELD, Willits. Interfering with business, under influence, false ID, probation revocation.

VICKIE MEJIA, Fort Bragg. Unspecified criminal offense.

BENJAMIN MILLER, Laytonville. Domestic assault.

SESARIO RIOS IV, Hopland. Under influence, county parole violation.

MICHAEL SMITH, Fort Bragg. Vandalism.

HOLLAND VANHORN, Willits. Failure to appear.

THE GOOD NEWS

Some of the world’s best scientific minds have been working for a decade to find an easier way to overcome a vexing challenge that has been confounding us for generations — how to get catsup flowing without pounding the bottle. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have come up with internal non-stick coatings for containers of all kinds so the contents will flow out smoothly – right down to the last drop. Their new coating, called LiquiGlide, acts as a slippery barrier between a surface and a viscous liquid. Applied inside a condiment bottle, the coating clings permanently to its sides, while allowing the food to glide off without leaving a residue. According to its inventors, millions of tons of products including sauces and toothpaste are thrown away globally every year because leftovers cannot be scraped from jars and bottles. The MIT team, led by Professor Kripa Varanasi and David Smith, started out studying the lotus leaf, which is covered with microscopic air pockets that reduce surface tension and repel water so thoroughly that droplets tumble off them. They tried to create a similar phenomenon in containers for ketchup, toothpaste, paint and other substances that have a gooeyness that means they get into the tiny air pockets and grab on. To counter that, they replaced the air with liquids such as oils, according to The Economist. The effect is to make the surfaces self-lubricating, allowing even the stickiest substances to flow easily across them. The challenge was to get the right combination of surface structure and lubricating fluid to ensure the oily liquid doesn’t mix with the substance being contained and flow out with it. That would leave what remains stuck in the corners – just as it always has done. To get round that problem, the MIT team used a lubricant derived from the substance that will be filling the container itself. For instance, a lubricant for a food product would be made from a natural oil it contains. ‘The state of the coating we end up with depends entirely on the properties of the product you want to slide over the surface,’ said Mr Smith. Professor Varanasi added: ‘Our coatings can work with a whole range of products, because we can tailor each coating to meet the specific requirements of each application.’ LiquiGlide has now been licensed by a Norwegian company for use in mayonnaise products sold in Germany and Scandinavia. The inventors are also talking to other producers of foods, beauty supplies and household products. Future uses could include coatings for medical devices such as catheters and even aeroplane wings.

CHRISTMAS CUPCAKES

THIS GUY MAKES TWO

Republican presidential elector Christopher Suprun explained in an eye-opening op-ed to the New York Times on Monday why he intends to reject Donald Trump when it comes to voting as part of the electoral college. In a column aptly titled “Why I Will Not Cast My Electoral Vote for Donald Trump,” the Texas paramedic revealed how he will break ranks with Republicans in an attempt to halt the president-elect’s road to the White House. “I do not think president-elects should be disqualified for policy disagreements. I do not think they should be disqualified because they won the Electoral College instead of the popular vote. However, now I am asked to cast a vote on Dec. 19 for someone who shows daily he is not qualified for the office,” the former firefighter and 9/11 first responder wrote in the Times. “That attack and this year’s election may seem unrelated, but for me the relationship becomes clearer every day.”

ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

I am very conflicted about the use of "creative" over and over in every media article to describe the people killed in this horrible, nightmare tragedy in Oakland. Their sudden and terrible deaths will leave huge holes in the lives of their friends and family. I don't know if the "creative" is to say we have lost so many "creative" people which is a tragedy for society, or "creative" to explain why the conditions in this warehouse were so appalling but people went there anyway, or it's just a generic term to describe the 40ish people. In any case, I would feel equally shocked and saddened even if they were not inventive, imaginative, innovative, experimental, original people. I hope we can do something as a community to help the families affected through this time.

PIZZAGATE IN THE AGE OF TRUMP

https://www.newyorker.com/news/amy-davidson/the-age-of-donald-trump-and-pizzagate

TAKE ACTION ASAP: OPPOSE THE RIDER IN DROUGHT RELIEF BILL!

by Dan Bacher

In the latest battle in the California water wars, another controversial drought bill authored by the Stewart Resnick-backed Congressman David Valadao under the guise of "drought relief" is being moved through Congress in the lame duck session.

“There is operational language in the bill that may take away Bay-Delta protections in order to over pump the Delta and the latest reports state that a "last minute poison pill rider" is intended to be included that will kill thousands of fishery jobs and rollback the Endangered Species Act," according to an action alert from Restore the Delta (RTD) issued on December 5.  “This ‘backroom deal’ may threaten thousands of fishing jobs on the West Coast and harm water quality.”

“We need to remain vigilant about ongoing federal drought bills. Please pick up your phone now to call your Senators and House Representatives. Senator Boxer is considered a key player in this bill,” the group urged.

As of yesterday afternoon, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Rep McCarthy had worked out a deal on language to attach to the WRDA (Water Resources Development Act) in the lame duck session. Senator Boxer and Congressman Jared Huffman are opposing the McCarthy/Feinstein deal that threatens salmon and other fisheries.

“The question I ask myself about this bill is will it help California?” said Senator Feinstein in a statement. “Will the $558 million in long-term authorizations help California develop a new water infrastructure? Will the short-term operational improvements help us hold more water in a way that does not negatively affect fish or the environment? I believe the answer is yes.” (mavensnotebook.com/…)

Congressman Jared Huffman and Senator Barbara Boxer disagree strongly with Feinstein’s contention that the rider will “help California.”  They released strong statements opposing this rider, with Huffman calling it a “slap in the face.”

“Anyone that participates in this charade should be ashamed,” said Congressman Huffman. “This is a slap in the face to all of us who want to enact good infrastructure policy, who have been working to deliver for the families of Flint, and whose states care about salmon fishing jobs.”

“I was stunned to see comments made by Kevin McCarthy that the outrageous poison pill that he is trying to place on WRDA is ‘a little small agreement’ on California drought,” said Senator Boxer. “I will use every tool at my disposal to stop this last minute poison pill rider.” (mavensnotebook.com/...)

RTD urged people to “please keep calling about the rider and other potential language in the bill,”

1) Call your Congressional representatives: 
To find your Congressional Rep’s number, check this list of all California Congressional Representatives, or go to whoismyrepresentative.com to type in your zip code. 

2) Call your Senators: Please call Washington DC offices and your state offices to get the message through!

Senator Barbara Boxer: Washington D.C.: (202) 224-3553
Bay Area: (510) 286-8537
Los Angeles: (213) 894-5000
Sacramento: (916) 448-2787
Send a tweet.

Senator Dianne Feinstein:  Washington D.C.: (202) 224-3841
San Francisco: (415) 393-0707
Los Angeles:  (310) 914-7300 
Send a tweet.

Please state this simple message: I oppose the last minute poison rider in the drought relief bill by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy that will roll back the Endangered Species Act and destroy thousands of fishery jobs. Drought relief must protect the Bay-Delta estuary which has been in an over pumping drought for thirty years.

We need to send a strong reminder to our legislators that they must continue to protect our Delta water quality and flows in all drought relief packages.

View action alert at RTD website.

MUSHROOM ID FOR BEGINNERS
at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

SIGN UP NOW! This class is nearly full!

This workshop is offered this Saturday, Dec 10, or Dec 17 from 10:00am to 3:30pm (Lecture 10:00am to 1:30pm; Lunch 1:30€ to 2:00pm; Field ID Walk 2:00 to 3:30pm)

Participants will learn the basic taxonomic identifying features that distinguish mushrooms from each other; where each unique mushroom species can be found; when they can be found; their uses such as: food, medicine, dyes, bioremediation; and the myths associated with them. The workshop consists of a lecture, Powerpoint slideshow, hands-on look of mushrooms collected and displayed for each workshop, and a field walk to find mushrooms associated with the Gardens' native plant communities, with a focus on students using the identification tools provided at the workshop to key mushrooms.

Workshop instructor Mario Abreu is the Gardens' Staff Naturalist and Plant Collections Curator.

Class cost is $25 for members and Master Gardeners; $35 for non-members (includes Gardens admission for the day). Payment is due upon sign-up. Please note, all workshop fees are non-refundable unless the workshop has been canceled or rescheduled by the Gardens.

Sign up by phoning in your payment at 707-964-4352 ext. 16 or reserve your spot in person at The Garden Store at MCBG.

Class size is limited! Each workshop is limited to 20 participants. A waiting list of up to five attendees will be kept in the event of a cancellation. If there is a cancellation by 4:00pm on the Friday before the class, people on the waitlist will be contacted by store staff of the opening.

LIBRARY EVENTS

Aquifer Activist: Discover Cave Diving Exploration

(http://mendolibrary.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3696d38b68efac10f9e33fa9a&id=5d11b1d382&e=a3c5eb703b)

Tuesday, December 13th @ 6pm

In a fun presentation for all ages and interests, you'll learn about paleo-history, movie monsters, fossil worlds, extremophiles -- and the deepest depths of boundless curiosity!

Local Author Reading with Kate Marianchild

Thursday, December 8th @ 6pm

Ukiah author and naturalist Kate Marianchild will conduct a free reading and discussion group centered on her popular book, Secrets of the Oak Woodlands: Plants and Animals among California's Oaks. She will have copies of her book to sign, and will also have close-focusing binoculars and oak identification cards for sale. If successful, this event may be the first of a series that would focus on a different chapter each month.

Minecraft Coding Camp for Kids

Friday, December 9th @ 3:30-4:30pm

Kids in 2nd grade and above can learn drag and drop coding at the Ukiah Library. We’ll be sharing the Minecraft coding camp from Code.org

(http://mendolibrary.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3696d38b68efac10f9e33fa9a&id=98d174771d&e=a3c5eb703b)

to celebrate Computer Science Education Week. Over 290 million students all around the world have joined the Hour of Code. Kids can start learning here and continue on their own at home. We have limited computers and space. Please come early and feel free to bring your own device (laptops work best).