Mendocino County Today: Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018

• Vintner Winter
• Britton Reward
• FB Agenda
• 5th Debate
• Manchester Murder
• Candidate Roster
• Warning Fans
• Tamale Visit
• Pets
• Lib Chitter
• Little Dog
• Garnish Sako
• Moon
• Variety Show
• Taqueria Ricarda
• Officer Peterson
• Mail Theft
• Yesterday's Catch
• Demgoblins
• Pot Amnesty
• Guns Useless
• Ecstatic Dance
• Brittany Dossier
• After Death
• Syria Suffering
• County Vacancies
• Deep Collusion
• Closing Time
• Wishful Thinking
• Wildlife Films
• Gun Culture
• Folk Show

WINTRY, RAIN-FREE weather continues in the Anderson Valley, and everywhere else on the Northcoast. Local vineyards are wheeling leased frost fans into place, harbingers of a sleepless spring for much of the Anderson Valley and a fruit-less summer given that the premature budding caused by frigid nights and warm days has killed the early blooms.

THE FORECAST for the next few days: "Active weather from Wednesday through Friday. On Wednesday afternoon and evening, gusty winds will be followed by moderate rain. Mountain snow and coastal hail on Thursday. Showers will linger into Friday. Looks like a dry break may develop Sunday into next Monday." (National Weather Service)

$50,000 REWARD FOR INFO ON MISSING COVELO WOMAN

mendovoice.com/2018/02/khadijah-britton-video/

FORT BRAGG CITY COUNCIL TO MEET MONDAY 6:00 PM

They'll be approving the contract ($149,611, plus a credit card & $250 per month car allowance -and they'll pay her moving expenses to get here) for the new City Manager Tabatha Miller. She'll be evaluated yearly.

Here's the agenda.

(MSP)

BARBARA GOODELL ALERTS US: Soon, the Anderson Valley Grange is going to host a candidates’ night for the 5th District Supervisor’s seat with Arthur Juhl, Alan Rodier, Chris Skyhawk, and Ted Williams. Dates are being confirmed, more information forthcoming!

STILL NO LEADS IN MANCHESTER WOMAN'S MURDER

There was an initial "person of interest" in this case, but still no arrest. This was the Press Democrat coverage of the shooting back on November 19, 2017: pressdemocrat.com/news/7664165-181/woman-killed-teen-girl-wounded

(MendocinoSportsPlus)

THE CANDIDATES

Seven people have filed to run for Third District Supervisor to replace Georgeanne Croskey (who is resigning to move to the midwest with her husband) in the June Primary: John Pinches, John Haschak, Cindy Logan, Tony Tucker, Pamela Elizondo, Susan Barsotti and Shawna Jeavons.

Four people have filed to run for Fifth District supervisor to replace retiring Dan Hamburg: Arthur Juhl, Alan Rodier, Ted Williams and Chris Skyhawk.

Three people now have filed to be to replace retiring Susan Ranochak as Mendocino Assessor-Clerk-Recorder: Katrina Bartolomie, Dirk Larson and Jeanette Kroppman.

Three people have filed to fill the seat vacated earlier this year by County Superintendent of Schools Warren Galletti: Katherine Wylie, Bryan Barrett and Michelle Hutchins.

Running unopposed for re-election are: Sheriff Allman, Treasurer Tax Collector Shari Schapmire, District Attorney David Eyster and Auditor-Controller Lloyd Weer — unless somebody files for those positions by March 14.

Former assistant public defender Carly Dolan, running for the top spot in the office, and Ten Mile Court Judge Clayton Brennan are also seeking reelection to the Superior Court bench.

A READER SUGGESTS that the winery frost fans would make a great fire alarm warning system. They make a terrific din and are audible to even the most distant hill muffin. On the Valley floor, they wake the dead.

A TIMID knock on the office door Sunday afternoon revealed a small Mexican boy. “Meester, you want tamales?” Slipping into my fluent Spanish, I asked, “How mucho?”

He said, “Ten for ten, twenty for twenty.” I bought ten, which turned out to be muy delicio. The kid hesitated at the door, looking around at the array of mysterious items constituting the decor. “What you do here?” he asked. I showed him a paper. “We do this.” He said, “Wow. Like magic, huh?”

PETS 'O THE WEEK

Meet Cheeks Mcgee. He’s a 2 year old, neutered, male, black and white cat who weighs in at 12 pounds. Cheeks is not a fan of exercise, and instead, he would love a quiet home where he can take uninterrupted cat naps and indulge in tasty kitty kibble. Cheeks is social and affectionate with people but would prefer to be the only feline in his new home.

Husky male, 2 years old and 50 pounds. This stunning dog isn't only gorgeous, he's smart too! What more could you ask for?! He knows sit and down and we suspect he is house trained. Yukon is attentive and focused. But he's also young and very energetic. He is a BIG fan of tennis balls and playing chase & fetch and needs a home where he gets daily exercise as well as lots of love. This pup would be a great running, jogging or hiking buddy. We're suggesting that any children Yukon's new home be over the age of 14 due to his high energy.

The Ukiah Animal Shelter is located at 298 Plant Road in Ukiah; adoption hours are Tuesday - Saturday 10 am to 4:30 pm and Wednesday till 6:30 pm. To view photos and bios of our adoptable dogs and cats, please us visit online at mendoanimalshelter.com or visit the shelter at 298 Plant Road in Ukiah. Join us the 2nd Saturday of every month for our "Empty the Shelter" pack walk and help us get every dog out for some exercise! For more information about adoptions please call 707-467-6453.

MENDO LIB GEARS UP FOR FORT BRAGG NRA DINNER

[1] The next step, logically, is for some enterprising member of this list to call local law enforcement to verify the truth of this supposition, then report back to the list.

[2] Supposedly this local group uses the money they raise to buy our local police flak jackets and to provide gun safety classes here on the coast.

[3] The NRA stands behind the 2nd Ammendment, which I believe in. I carried a gun in the bay area when a rapist (named Stinky) was crawling in through windows raping women in my neighborhood. It took 2 or 3 weeks and i had to fill out a form with pertinent info. There were background checks. I had a permit for it in my wallet. Not to say there werent guns sold on the street that were stollen or smuggled in over the border.I had a permit for the gun but I sold it after I moved to L.A. where I actually was shot at, then back to the bay area where I was shot at again! I realized if I was going to be shot I didn't really want to shoot back. That it felt powerful and safe to carry one because some people wanted to beat up, rape or even kill little dyke women. But I did not want to become the people who hurt back out of fear or anger. That was 40 years ago.Today it is our state representatives who decide and congress and trump who have made it possible for anyone to get a single shot or assault rifles and can take down a room full of people by just walking into a store and walking out with one. We all still a cowboy nation here. Civilization hasn't really soaked in.Inhumanity, crassness, threats, violence (physical and verbal) and even just rudeness still prosper here in this land. Yes, even here on our coast, even on the list serve. We have a long way to go.

[4] Is the aim to demonstrate or dialogue?

[5] According to information at the Resistance Huddle on Thursday night, the NRA event is sponsored and produced by a local group known as Friends of the NRA, not the bid baddies from national org. Apparently they buy flak jackets for local police and train people in gun safety. I agree with Nancy, they are not the enemy, congressmen accepting money from the NRA Daddy Organization and following their guidelines are a big problem. Not defending NRA, just saying..

[6] Peaceful protest please,no vulgarity in signs or costume..or shouting obscenities..these are our neighbors and if we want them to listen or open a dialogue we need to be respectful...catch more flies with honey...I know we are upset and angered by all these horrible events but we need to stay calm.

[7] From what I know, which is a few years old, they come every year and nearly always sell out the gun tables (i.e. buy the whole table, get a gun), I hear it's a popular event with local gun owners. Who are also very responsible gun owners I might add, even some folks you Know Well and Admire are concealed carry gun owners, think about that. I'm not a gun owner, but used own one 25 years ago, I got it because of a real need, not a fear. I just don't feel the need now that I'm not out in the wilderness anymore and unexpectedly coming across really scary sketchy people and later, a meth lab with an armed occupant. I'm not telling anyone what to do, but I also don't believe your demonstration will help the situation at all, I know some of those folks. Attempting to build bridges with them may be a better long term strategy for future change.

[8] I can’t access the nra info..can someone tell me: were they “invited” by someone(s) to come here or have they just decided to pay a visit. I wonder who from around here will shell out big bucks for dinner (maybe each diner gets its own big buck?)

I heard a discussion recently that mendo is perhaps the poorest county in CA, and ft Bragg is in the encyclopedia of “forlorn places”. why is the nra coming to a forlorn place in a poor county in CA? obviously they have malice aforethought. NRA shills are heartless soulless shameless specimens of humanity (loosely defined) but they have really inflated egos, and can be deflated thru vicious, biting, hilarious satire and mockery. there’s talent aplenty in these parts, and the nra has already supplied a lot of the dialog for any theater skit

[9] I see that those who are opposed to the presence of the org. are supposed to meet an hour before they do. what’s the plan? Is there a planning group?; personally, I’d like to do something to make them look like fools (not just to the reasonable, but even to the less reasonable)

[10] Our police department does not receive any funds from the NRA. They receive funds from the Bureau of Justice Assistance for new vests. A new vest is required for each Officer every five (5) years. The police Chief will address this at the City Council meeting during staff comments. I hope this clears things up.

LITTLE DOG SAYS, “I asked this guy, How can a bird get into this bird house? He says, ‘That's the point, mutt,’ and he walked off laughing. Playing tricks on wildlife? How low can a human go?”

BLAME IT ON SAKO

Editor:

Thanks for disclosure that Sakowitz is still at large in Mendocino County. While he was a KZYX Board member, he cost the station $16,000 in Washington DC lawyer fees, responding to his nonsense letters to the Federal Communications Commission, attacking the public radio broadcast license. His accusations were found "without merit" by the FCC. I think of that $16,000 hole at the start of every pledge drive. I want the money back! Here's my plan. We find Sako a good-paying job and garnish his wages. Anyone have any leads? Perhaps we can run him for public office.

Gordon Black KZYX volunteer

Mendocino

PS, I am honored by your request that I be your coastal campaign manager in your run for the KZYX Board. I mentioned that my reason for declining is the anticipated cost in time, grief, and money. But of course I maintain an interest in your campaign. I advise you to play down your statement that you don't listen to the station. That won’t go well with most of the radio membership electorate. I urge you instead to run for supervisor.

ED REPLY: You're slipping, Old Cravat. I said I'm not a regular listener except at odd intervals; I didn't say I don't listen at all. And, no insult intended, my invitation to you to manage my Coast campaign was pure whimsey which, as a poet, I thought for sure you'd catch. These aren't elections, they're annointments of dependable stooges. I have zero chance of election, but if a miracle should occur I will do my fiduciary duty. Re Sako: If I'd been the station's finance guy like Sako was from his trustee position only to be double-teamed by the gray ghost in denying me access to the books, I'd have been unhappy, too. Sako had every rational reason for complaint. If the station had simply honored his perfectly legit request Sako wouldn't have run to the authorities, such as they are. Why hide the numbers?

DAYTIME MOON

(Photo by Judy Valadao)

THE 27TH ANNUAL ANDERSON VALLEY VARIETY SHOW is just around the corner! The Show itself will be on Friday and Saturday nights, March 9th and 10th. We know you won't want to miss two full nights of unique local entertainment. Each night we will be showcasing one-of-a-kind performances, and we have spent years (27 in fact) perfecting our ticket selling skills so that everyone who wants to can see it all. We have some special performances by popular locals that can only be seen on Friday night, so you'll want to be sure to make it for both shows! We have some exciting acts coming up from the bay area, as well, so you will want to catch it all.

Here's the skinny on getting your tickets:

Tickets are $10/adults, $5/kids and seniors. They will be available starting Monday, March 5th, at Lemon's Market in Philo and the AV Market in Boonville until they sell out. If you don't manage to get the pre-sale tickets available next week, don't fret, because we will have no less than 100 tickets available each night at the door. if you need tickets, get to the Grange early enough to get in line. You can get tickets the day of the show for yourself--but we won't allow anyone to buy a bunch of tickets for people that aren't in line. If you have a ticket, you will be guaranteed entry--but not necessarily a seat. The doors open at 6:30 and the show will start promptly at 7 pm both Friday and Saturday nights, March 9th and 10th. Anyone who has been to the show can tell you, people will be lining up at least an hour ahead of time to get tickets and good seats. It's always a fun party in the Grange parking lot before the show, and there will be tasty treats to buy from local chefs, as well.

There will be tickets available at the tech rehearsal this weekend, March 3rd and 4th, for the friends and family of the performers. We have seen some sad situations in the past where some parents weren't able to get tickets to see their kids onstage, so we have made sure to have tickets to sell during rehearsal. If you or your loved ones are performing, and you want to be sure to get your people in on the night of the show, please make sure to bring cash to the Grange when you come to rehearse your act. Another thing to keep in mind is that the show goes late, and some of the younger performers and their families will leave early--so if you arrive late, you may still be able to get in. We are so excited to see you all there!

WELL, MENDOCINOSPORTSPLUS WILL BE STOPPING BY THIS WEEK. FOR SURE.

"LAST NIGHT when we were there, the only customers on a Saturday night after two others left--she sighed and said: "I don't wanna close my business. I've been here 23 years." But she might have to. Between Taco Bell and the giant Mexican place on Highway 1 that has a full bar, she's really suffering. So, people: next time you get a craving for Mexican food and a nice cold beer--no Margaritas--go give Ricarda (on Oak St., near Colombi's Market) your business. The food is great, affordable, and she gives you a nice full plate. You never leave hungry. She's a worthy person, a hard, hard worker, known for helping people find jobs and avoid deportation. I'm thinking we'll start going there at least every month on a regular basis. I dread the day we pull up and find it permanently closed…"

(MendocinoSportsPlus)

SCOT PETERSON, the school resource officer who was armed and on campus during the February 14th Parkland shooting, released a statement through his lawyer Monday claiming that he did nothing wrong during the attack and that he is being unfairly labeled as a coward. The statement reads,

The allegations that Mr. Peterson was a coward and that his performance, under the circumstances, failed to meet the standards of police officers are patently untrue. Mr. Peterson is confident that his actions on that day were appropriate under the circumstances and that the video (together with the eyewitness testimony of those on the scene) will exonerate him of any sub-par performance.

The statement offers Peterson’s timeline, including how he claims that he was responding to a call about firecrackers at first. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel suspended Peterson based on video and eyewitness accounts of his behavior, after which Peterson resigned. President Trump called Peterson “disgusting” for not rushing into the active-shooter scene in which 17 died, and claimed Monday that he would have entered the school without a weapon, maybe like he rushed to avoid the draft during Vietnam.

TWEEKER CRIME SPECIALTY

Due to the rise in mail theft in recent years, a proactive approach to mail theft in Mendocino County was undertaken by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. During February 2018 the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office continued working with several local residents on a surveillance campaign of rural mail boxes throughout Mendocino County. On 02/14/2018 at about 12:30 PM Deputies were summoned to the report of mail theft near Highway 253 and Robinson Creek Road, in Ukiah CA. Deputies surveilled the suspect Richard McCormick, 30, of Ukiah, back to his motel room on South State Street in Ukiah. At this location McCormick was contacted and found to be in possession of several stolen packages and items of mail. McCormick was also found in possession of metal knuckles, methamphetamine and pepper spray. McCormick was booked into the Mendocino County Jail and is being held on $25,000 bail. Deputies were able to return all of the packages and mail to the rightful owners.

On 02/22/2018 at about 11:30 AM Deputies were again summoned to the report of mail theft from the 9500 block of Highway 20 near the Lake and Mendocino County line. Deputies followed the suspect and initiated a traffic stop on the suspect in the area of mile marker 39 on Highway 101. Deputies contacted a subject who was in possession of a stolen package as well as 5 pounds of marijuana packaged for sales. The suspect provided a name of Juan Reyes Sosa (Jose Angulo, 42 years, Ukiah). Deputies located identification in the suspects wallet which listed different names with the same image of the suspect and believed he was possibly lying about his name. The suspects were booked into the Mendocino County Jail on charges of Mail theft (Both Suspects); Possess methamphetamine (Suspect McCormick); Possess dangerous weapons (Suspect McCormick); Possess Marijuana for sale (Suspect Angulo); Transportation of marijuana (Suspect Angulo); Impersonation of another (Suspect Angulo) where the suspect was fingerprinted. Deputies received information from the California Department of Justice who advised the suspect’s true name was Jose Angulo. Angulo is held on $25,000 bail. Again Deputies were able to return the stolen items to the rightful owner. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all of the citizens who have assisted in these investigations and asks persons with rural mail boxes to please check your mail daily. If you believe you have been the victim of mail theft please contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office at 707-463-4086.

CATCH OF THE DAY, Feb. 26, 2018

JULIAN ARMAS JR., Ukiah. Burglary, failure to appear.

OSCAR AVENDANO-DAMIAN, Ukiah. Loaded firearm in public, concealed weapon in vehicle, probation revocation.

JOSUE CISNEROS-MUNOZ, Santa Rosa//Ukiah. DUI.

JENNIFER DEFRATES, Redwood Valley. Disorderly conduct-alcohol.

OTONIEL GARCIA, Ukiah. DUI causing bodily injury, felony hit&run causing bodily injury or death, probation revocation.

CASEY GOODRICK, Ukiah. Grand theft.

LAMAR MANUEL, Ukiah. Parole violation.

NANCY MARTINEZ, Covelo. Suspended license with priors, no registration, no proof of insurance, failure to appear.

ORAN MCGRAW, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol.

JOHN SCHMIDT, Gualala. Criminal threats.

ANDRES TORRES, Talmage. Misdemeanor hit&run with property damage.

AND NOW THE SCHIFF MEMO

by James Kunstler

The excruciating quandary President Trump presents to the nation is dragging the sad remnant of the thinking class ever-deeper into a netherworld of desperation, paranoia, and mendacity that may exceed even their own official fantasies about the enemy in the White House.

Everything about the lumbering, blundering occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue drives his Dem/Prog opponents — or #Resistance, if you will — plumb batshit: his previous incarnations as a shady NYC real estate schmeikler, as a TV clown, as a business deadbeat, as a self-described pussy-grabber… his vulgar casinos, his mystifying hair-do, his baggy suits and dangling neckties, his arrant, childish, needless lying about trivialities, his intemperate tweets, his unappetizing associates, his loutish behavior in foreign lands, his fractured, tortured syntax, his obvious insincerity, his sneery facial contortions… and lots lots more — and of course that doesn’t even touch the actual policy positions he struggles to articulate. In sum, Trump represents such a monumentally grotesque embarrassment to the permanent Washington establishment that they will pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the removal of this odious caitiff.

And in the process abandon all reason and decency.

To complicate matters, there really are policy differences that, despite Mr. Trump’s oafish profferings, must somehow be faced for the sake of the country’s future — two of the clearest, just for example, being whether we will have coherent, enforceable immigration laws and whether we will continue to allow the sale of tactical military rifles to the general public.

These are matters, by the way, which people of sound mind and honorable intentions could actually resolve through open legislative debate. And beyond these two examples stand an array of even deeper, urgent, thorny questions as to how this political economy might navigate through a bottleneck of hardships rushing toward us, namely, the systemic failures of finance, income inequality, health care, education, energy, agriculture and the global competition for dwindling resources.

But the activities of the #Resistance appear determined instead to drive the country needlessly toward war with Russia, the arch-hobgoblin they have conjured up like some Hollywood computer graphical alien monster of slavering insectile malice. Having created the monster, and the story-board to go with it, they have filled their own minds with a horror of their own creation, orders of magnitude worse than the rather pathetic figure of Donald J. Trump, the con-man who surprised himself by getting elected president at an anxious moment in history.

And in creating this horror movie, the #Resistance is dangerously perverting institutions that may not recover from being written into the script. For instance, the Department of Justice, its subsidiary, the FBI, and sundry intel outfits whose highest officers have been enlisted as cast members. Can I be alone in wondering how these agencies can mount massive prosecutions of nobodies like George Papadopoulos and Rick Gates while ignoring the much better documented intrigues of officials such as Bruce Ohr, Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, Sally Yates, James Comey, Loretta Lynch, John Brennan, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Hillary Clinton, and possibly even the sainted Barack Obama? Or how they can retain any credibility if these figures just slide off into the gloaming with get-out-of-jail-free cards.

In case you’d like to know, I am personally uncomfortable about Donald Trump as President. I can imagine scenarios in which he might have to be removed from office by constitutional means, in particular, the 25^th amendment. But the spectacle of roaring dishonesty mounted by his adversaries from even before the election of 2016 disgraces the very class of citizens who we used to depend on to think clearly about the fate of the nation.

(Support Kunstler’s writing by visiting his Patreon Page.)

HOW TO

Editor:

Anyone sentenced for a marijuana charge may be eligible to have the conviction reduced or dismissed and the record sealed. Effective since November 2016, one need only complete and file a simple petition with the Superior Court at no charge. The link is found at courts.ca.gov/documents/cr400.pdf There is also information on the Sonoma County Superior Court website: Sonomacourt.org

The filed petition is forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office to determine if the petitioner was convicted of a qualifying crime and whether there is any objection based on the requested relief posing an unreasonable risk of danger to the community, such as a request to seal a case involving violence like a home-invasion robbery. Using a process like most counties, we have rarely objected, and most petitions have been granted with orders mailed to the petitioner without a court appearance.

With more than 3,000 cases with a qualifying charge dating back to the 1970s, the District Attorney’s Office doesn’t have the resources to locate each file, determine eligibility and contact the involved party. We will provide assistance in completing the process to anyone who contacts us and have posted the link to the petition on our website as well.

Ultimately, the decision to reduce and or seal records is up to the Superior Court.

Jill Ravitch

Sonoma County District Attorney

ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

Putting things to rights sometimes involves bullets in foreheads. The problem here is it’s the wrong foreheads you know, like school kids. Not just a few times either but many.

I hear a lot of talk about guns being the last guarantee. OK, well there are hundreds of millions of guns and many millions of gun-wielding Americans. Did any of them notice the all-seeing surveillance state, the subversion of American and foreign political bodies for the advantage of a handful of families and individuals, that China was built up into a global adversary by Americans, that the fortunes and livelihoods of tens of millions of Americans were ruined by those same subversive individuals and families? And all with the active complicity of the same surveillance state. No? Yes?

If all this happened with no armed response by those afflicted, what would it take? What good were the guns?

I’ll tell you if you don’t know, the guns were of NO use and NO good, quite the opposite in fact. The example of the deputies outside the school while Cruz was shooting it up wasn’t a one-off.

Gun rights? Bah. Put the guns in a pile at the center of town and melt them down.

CALLING ALL ECSTATICS

Ecstatic Dance Press Release

Greetings,

Please include the Ecstatic Dance opportunity with your media outreach. Many Thanks, Michelle Cummins, Ecstatic Dance Mendo, Contact Improv Class, Barefoot Freeform Dance with DJ Dragonfly, Sound Healing

Ecstatic Dance Mendo offers a 3.5 hour embodied movement journey one Sunday per month in Willits. The event gives the community an opportunity to gather and experience the healing powers of Dance. Beginning with “Movement Resonance,” a contact improv class from10-11am with Basin Herbertson and Leece HIllegas, and from 11-1:30, Ecstatic Dance with DJ Dragonfly! From 1:30-1:45 we will close with a Sound healing from Audrya Chancellor and Sara Bassindale. Before it was called "Ecstatic Dance" there was Dragonfly. His mixes are constantly taking us to the ecstatic edge of now on a magic carpet ride across the world of sound. All genres, tempos and cultures weave with deep bass, gossamer groove and beckoning beats for an inexplicable, soul-crafting session on the dance floor. Breathe deeply, go deep, dance hard. It will take place at the Willits Center for the Arts, 71 East Commercial St., Willits, Ca., 95490, March 11, 2018. Families Welcome. $15. Sponsored by MEC.

Facebook: Ecstatic Dance Mendo

Email: michellelephant@hotmail.com

Phone: (707) 972-1601

…THAT FOR EVERY FIVE AMERICAN KIDS named Brittany, the poor-white Brittanys in West Virginia and the cornrowed Brittanys of Gary, Indiana, at least one Brittany will lie in bed tonight desperate for food, but probably even more desperate for the world around her to make sense, for her parents to be able to nurture her — because failing that, nothing makes sense to a kid. And nothing ever will. Let’s talk about upcoming indictments for that crime—for that conspiracy. Let’s cover every conceivable angle of The Brittany Dossier, let’s drag Adam Schiff in front of the camera yet again, but this time to announce that he’s dug up new dirt on the Brittany scandal. “Breaking News: we can now report that Bill Clinton is being investigated for crimes against single mothers, felonies that were committed under the pretense of “ending welfare as we know it” — yes, let MSNBC be in the vanguard, the very first to report that “President Clinton was knowingly, and with malice aforethought, forcing single mothers into prostitution, meth-dealing, crack-dealing, and countless other crimes.”

— John Eskow

MOVING OUT AND FORWARD AFTER THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE

by Lucille Rosetti

After the loss of a loved one, it can feel as though the world around you that was once so familiar suddenly feels unfamiliar. Whether it was a spouse, child, or parent, the loss affects you greatly, and in order to move forward with your life, you feel as though moving out and starting over is the best option. Self-care is crucial not only during the grieving process, but every day. You need to take of your body, seek help when you need it, and know what steps to take next. Moving to a new city or state, or simply buying a new house on the opposite side of town, can be the change of scenery you need to start moving forward after such a profound loss.

Take Your Time Parting Ways

Before you make the big move, you will be faced with the task of sorting through your loved one’s items. While you can certainly keep some things as cherished reminders, bringing the entire closet of clothes and every odd and end he or she owned defeats the purpose of moving for a fresh start. At first, these items may serve as a sense of comfort, but as time passes, it can be a painful jolt when you happen upon that old sweater. However, parting with possessions is difficult. How can you possibly choose what to keep and what to give away? The key is to wait until you are ready. Take your time sorting and set aside your favorites for keepsakes. Encourage family members and friends to take some items for themselves, especially if any item was designated in the will to go to them. Rather than placing your keepsakes in a box, look for creative ways to memorialize your loved one, such as with a T-shirt blanket or framed letters.

Build a Team

Buying and selling a home is a rather complex process. In fact, a real estate transaction requires about 150 steps, but with the right real estate agent, it’s a breeze. Having someone to advocate for you, consider your needs, handle paperwork, and negotiate prices will take a lot of the stress off what is already an emotional time. With a professional by your side, you can ensure that the buying and selling process goes smoothly. However, it is important that you take a look at your finances first. While you might want to move as soon as possible, you’ll need to consider whether or not two mortgages and two homes to maintain is feasible. It is doable to buy and sell at the same time, but talk with your real estate agent as well as a financial advisor to determine the best route for you.

Pack With Care

Once your housing situation is settled, it’s time to make the move. Packing is similar to the possession-sorting process in that it takes time and patience. It can be a bit daunting to pack up an entire home, but take comfort in the fact that people do this every day. As soon as you know a move is imminent, start by going room by room. Recruit help and take breaks often if you find yourself getting overwhelmed or fatigued. It can be hard to see all of your items slowly disappearing into boxes, so consider hiring moving/packing help to ease the transition. If possible, have a friend or family member oversee the move while you unwind at the local coffee shop or start prepping your new home.

Moving after the passing of loved one could be the change and push you need to start moving forward. Remember, you aren’t moving on completely, and you’ll always hold your loved one near and dear to your heart. A move is just your way of adjusting to life without your loved one, and that’s okay.

STEVE SPARKS WRITES: The Old Buzzard wishes to share a few “Signs that the Apocalypse is Approaching.” Buzzard reports, “The UN Children’s Fund says it has run out of words to describe the suffering taking place every day in Syria. On Sunday, government forces, with Russian backing, began one of the deadliest bombardments of the war. In Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, 400,000 people have lived under siege for almost five years. Barrel bombs, air strikes and artillery fire have killed hundreds of people, many of them young children. A ground assault may soon follow. Far from over, Syria’s war risks becoming deadlier. The regime is bent on retaking the entire country. Turkey is waging war on Kurdish forces and is clashing with militias allied to President Bashar al-Assad. Iranian-backed fighters are creeping towards Israel’s border. The UN Security Council is talking about, but not yet able to implement, a draft resolution demanding a 30-day ceasefire. But UN staff on the ground, holed up in a hotel 10 miles away from the killing fields of Eastern Ghouta, must be wondering why they are even there. Very sadly and tragically, they have many reasons for thinking that way. With each passing year that once auspicious organization seems to become increasingly irrelevant in its effectiveness, its name ‘United’ Nations, seemingly more and more meaningless. surely an Apocalyptic trend if ever there was one.”

ATTENTION SHUT-INS

Boards and Commissions Vacancies

The list of vacancies, due to term expirations and/or resignations, for County boards and commissions has been updated with new vacancies. A list of all new and existing vacancies is available on the County website:

mendocinocounty.org/government/board-of-supervisors/boards-and-commissions.

DEEP COLLUSION — AGAINST BERNIE

Dear Editor,

Deep collusion: FBI ‘Busy’ not scratching the surface:

Here's collusion for you: ongoing public investigations have already found that someone — the DNC, HRC, DW-S, et al — stole Bernie Sanders’ nomination from us thereby disenfranchising the by far the most likely choice for next President and ending the rule of law or what was left of it in North America. Again, so far almost no highly paid official anywhere has said "shit!" Clearly, anyone, anywhere who did loudly and repeatedly name the contest "rigged," and who would then go on to claim a "victory" would thereby become complicit, confirmed, confessed, each and all, debate all you like. Ring the bell! Sweep the lobby! Scour the House, Senate, executives and courts! Summary dismissals, defenestration, and mass indictments! Just a warm-up.

R. Weddle

Ahualoa, Honooka’a, Hawai’i

“Closing time! You don’t have to go home, but you can’t celebrate the best in athletic excellence here!”

WISHFUL THOUGHT

Editor,

You really ought to lay off on old Jer Phil — the readership of the AVA is generally, probably, a pretty sophisticated bunch with both oars in the water, with few dim caps that need to be warned or protected against Jerry's love spiels. So we are kind of already there with you or maybe a little ahead. If you think any kind of "reasoning" or history lesson would be fruitful in this local version of a rather widespread insufficiency, you are probably suffering from wishful thinking or maybe you have a small infection of the optimistic delusion bug. The following famous words don't apply in all situations, but I think they do in this one: "Let it be, let it be."

The recent book "Before You Know It" by John Bargh, Ph.D., offers for insights about our current cultural status and if one were to follow those insights to their logical conclusion of white male fears and anxieties central to so many of today's issues could be greatly reduced over time.

Name Withheld

Philo

WILDLIFE FILM FEST THIS FRIDAY

Roberta Werdinger

On March 2, the International Wildlife Film Festival will feature an evening of short films related to the Rocky Mountains. The screening takes place at the Ukiah Civic Center, 300 Seminary Avenue. Doors will open at 6:15 with live music featuring Sheridan Malone¹s vocals and guitar. Films begin at 7:00. Tickets are available at Mendocino Book Company or at the door. A series ticket for all five nights is $45. Single tickets are a $10 suggested donation for adults and $5 for children. Films are appropriate for older children. Proceeds from the film festival will benefit the Redwood Valley Outdoor Education Project. The RVOEP is a special program of the Ukiah Unified School District that provides outdoor environmental education programs to over 2,000 students each year on a 45-acre woodland in Redwood Valley. For more information contact Maureen Taylor, RVOEP Education Coordinator, at 707-489-0227. A full schedule of films and music is available at the RVOEP

website: http://rvoep.org/events/.

* * *

“The Great Divide Night”:

Wildlife Film Fest runs short films on Rocky Mountains

On March 2, the second Friday in a five-Friday-night series of international wildlife films will feature an evening of fascinating short films related to the Rocky Mountains. The screening takes place at the Ukiah Civic Center, 300 Seminary Avenue. Doors will open at 6:15 with live music featuring Sheridan Malone’s vocals and guitar, as well as snacks and a time to socialize. Films begin screening at 7:00.

"The High Divide" (16 min.) celebrates the confluences of wild place, its visionary people, and a bold new mission to preserve and restore the backbone of the American West.

"Elk River" (28 min.) captures the migration of elk in the Yellowstone area through a multidisciplinary lens by following a scientist, a contemporary artist, and an award-winning photojournalist as they trek from Wyoming’s rangeland through snowy mountain passes and treacherous river crossings to the rugged beauty of Yellowstone’s high-alpine meadows.

"Boyn-Sham Bi-Den" (9 min.) documents how bison have finally been brought back to the Wind River Indian Reservation, a landscape they once defined.

"Running Wild" (7 min.). Under the guidance of the group Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation, ultra runners (who run footraces longer than the traditional marathon) set up and check camera traps in the Uinta mountains of Utah to document wolverines and other wildlife in this remote ecosystem.

"Shaped by Fire" (10 min.). Two friends run 52 miles along the Mountana-Idaho state line in a campaign to promote the proposed Great Burn Wilderness.

"End of Snow" (20 min.) Dr. Jane Zelikova explores the Fourteeners (mountain peaks with an elevation of at least 14,000 feet) of Wyoming and Colorado in a search for the past, present, and future history of their snowpacks.

The Redwood Valley Outdoor Project (RVOEP) is proud to present this tour of award-winning films from the International Wildlife Film Festival (IWFF). IWFF is an annual wildlife and conservation-themed film festival held in scenic Missoula, Montana. The event draws in hundreds of filmmakers, scientists, and conservationists.

Tickets are available at Mendocino Book Company or at the door. A series ticket for all five nights is $45. Single tickets are a $10 suggested donation for adults and $5 for children. Films are appropriate for older children.

Proceeds from the film festival will benefit the Redwood Valley Outdoor Education Project. The RVOEP is a special program of the Ukiah Unified School District that provides outdoor environmental education programs to over 2,000 students each year on a 45-acre woodland in Redwood Valley.

For more information contact Maureen Taylor, RVOEP Education Coordinator, at 707-489-0227. A full schedule of films and music is available at the RVOEP website: http://rvoep.org/events/.

ON LINE COMMENT OF THE WEEK

Now, as to the gun culture. Estimates vary as to how many guns there are in the United States, but in terms of households, as few as one-third have any guns in them. What’s more, the ownership is extremely lopsided. Estimates are that more than half of all guns are in the hands of just 3% of Americans — ‘super owners’ — who own an average of 17 guns apiece. But this small and unrepresentative sample of Americans are very loud, very paranoid, and very fond of their pet theories. They see their hobby of collecting and shooting guns as necessary to the safety and functioning of society. Like any delusion, this false belief is held not only without evidence, but in spite of copious evidence to the contrary. The U.S. is an extreme outlier among developed nations in the number of suicides, homicides and mass shootings committed with guns. The simple equation, more guns equals more deaths, eludes them. Rather, like techno-narcissists who insist that problems caused by technology can only be solved by more technology, gun narcissists insist that problems caused by guns can only ever be solved with more guns. Hence, magical thinking.

SINGER-SONGWRITER GWYNETH MORELAND

ACOUSTIC TRIO THE REAL SARAHS

Saturday, March 3, Community Center of Mendocino

Advance tickets highly recommended: ccmendo.org, Harvest Fort Bragg, Out of This World

Great music, local beers and wines, homemade treats

Gwyneth Moreland’s gift for open-hearted storytelling is perfectly suited to the modern art of folk music. No wonder, then, that she’s spent some time on the Folk Airplay charts. Gwyneth’s songs flow with a graceful simplicity infused with the ambience of her home perched in the majestic redwoods and fog of the Mendocino Coast. Through her years on the road, Gwyneth’s unique and captivating songs and voice have created devoted fans across the U.S., and with her two most recent albums, begun to take root in the U.K. and Europe. Moreland will be joined on stage by her brother, guitarist (and singer-songwriter and luthier) Morgan Daniel, who remembers attending third grade in the room where they’ll perform. Moreland and Daniel also front the popular Mendocino Coast quartet Foxglove. "The personal nature of Gwyneth Moreland’s songwriting is a hallmark of the best folk music, but her musicality is equally powerful." —Carlito’s Music Blog "Gwyneth’s songs have a strength showing both sense of place and an ability to tell a story. Her voice has a power which brings her songs to life and makes her a compelling performer.” —Bill Wagman, KDVS/ Davis, CA “Gwyneth Moreland offers a Folk sound to widen the appeal of California Country as she lightly steps down “Broken Road” and floats in dreams of round apple orbs cascading into “Cider” for the title track." —The Alternate Root

The Real Sarahs

Introduced by a mutual friend in 2010, Sarah ‘'Songbird' Larkin and Sarah Ryan have been near-constant musical collaborators ever since, recording their first duo EP as The Real Sarahs in 2013. In the tight-knit musical community of the Anderson Valley, it was inevitable that a third Sarah, Sarah Rose, whose strengths as a singer/songwriter, harmony singer and cellist make her a natural fit, would find them. “Rosie” released her first solo EP, Lay My Burden Down, in 2016, and that October, The Real Sarahs became a trio.