Mendocino County Today: Thursday, May 3, 2018

• Gerrymanderers Offended
• Stolen Car
• Hospital Corrections
• Art Barn
• Museum Events
• Little Dog
• Microquake
• Ed Notes
• Bangers Mashed
• Yesterday's Catch
• Party Poopers
• Nervy Chaplain
• That Boy
• Fish Doom
• Trump Nobel
• Rhododendron Show
• Quizless
• Moon Treaty
• Composting Workshops

SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS DEEMED ‘HOMOPHOBIC’ ROIL FORT BRAGG POLITICS

Social media posts that critics said were racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic have roiled consideration of a move to establish City Council district elections in the small Mendocino coast town of Fort Bragg.

pressdemocrat.com/news/8286481-181/social-media-posts-deemed-homophobic

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MOM OF GAY FORT BRAGG LAWYER TO HIJACK MEETING?

Wants 'Redistricting' To Be About Facebook Post

MSP was forwarded this email (written Monday) from Michelle Roberts - Atty. Jacob Patterson's mother - the lawyer who wants to re-district Fort Bragg elections from "at large" to "district-based" elections. And a woman the Anderson Valley Advertiser said, "PATTERSON'S MOM, not so incidentally, is running for the FB City Council, or planning to run."

Here is the email:

Resistance Actions And Information!

Important Local Action:

Attend: Actively Condemn Hatred On Our Coast

Special City Council Meeting [On District Elections], Wednesday, April 2, 6 Pm, Town Hall, Fort Bragg

From Michelle Roberts:

"There is a so-called 'satirical' page [on Facebook] called, The Mendocino Bacon. Last week, they posted a piece that is so offensive to me – homophobic, racist, anti-Semitic, etc. that was primarily directed at my oldest son, Jacob Patterson, who is an attorney. Jacob is representing a group that feels that the at-large city elections for city council discourage minority voters, specifically Latinos, who are unrepresented in city matters. Regardless how one feels about this issue, the dialog on social media has been nasty, personal, attacking of Jacob as a person/attorney, rather than focusing on an argument one way or the other. My son, Jacob, is openly gay. The Nazi references should be offensive to everyone, the homophobic ones should as well. That the FB City Clerk, June Lemos, participated in the postings, including adding photos and statements about handing out the 'yellow stars' to be pinned on different groups of people (apparently while on work time) is so abhorrent to me that I am making a formal complaint to the city, as well as speaking at the special meeting on May 2nd at 6:00 p.m.

Here is a link to the post:

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2138003543094299&id=1690672251160766

I am trying to rally people who find this as offensive, hate-filled and unacceptable to come to the meeting on May 2nd and make statements that this is unacceptable in our community, and that the City needs to make a strong statement against this type of hate speech. I also am calling on the city to hold the staff involved accountable. If you have it in you to help with this effort, please step up and make your voice heard."

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From A Gay Supporter of Michelle Roberts:

"The problem is that most people in this country have no inside connections to the gay community in a way that they would find this offensive. Having lived this and these offensive references most of my life, I feel it! And deeply! The gay references, while not naming your son, was as clear as it could be that they were talking about him.

What can you do? What can we do? I think that you could be the face of a loving mother who is horrified by the actions of people in your community, even though they claim satirical. It's someone's truth! You can reach out to your peers and others who you know would not tolerate such and make them aware, as you have us. Ask them to come and support you in this.

People will claim that you are overreacting and it was a joke. So be prepared for that. You will be attacked. Be prepared for that. Be ready to respond in the way a mother would if her child was threatened. But be strong and articulate."

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MSP’S MENDOCINO BACON ITEM

Fort Bragg City Council Changes Paul Bunyan Days...

It Will Be 'Paulina Bunyan Days' To Pacify LGBT'S

Bowing to the pressure of a lawsuit from a Fort Bragg attorney who sent a "demand letter" threatening to sue the city because "Paul Bunyan Days excluded the inclusion of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi & Transexual communities," the Fort Bragg City Council unanimously voted (5-0) to change the name of the annual event to "Paulina Bunyan & His Ox 'Blew' Days."

The event will be held September 1st to September 4th this year. The theme is "Life Is A Cabaret My Friends."

In addition, due to increased insurance costs and liability issues, the "competitive logging" has been dropped in lieu of a "Quiche-making Contest" and a "Liza Minnelli Look-Alike Contest."

Also, for the first time, the spectators watching the parade will be separated into "districts" according to the settlement agreement reached with the city. Hispanics will watch from 34% of North Main Street, Portuguese from South Main, Irish, Germans, Finns & Swedes will view from Franklin Street.

The City Clerk will be on hand at a parade registration table by the Skunk Railroad Depot to assign viewing positions two hours before the parade steps off. Spectators will be given color-coded paper "Stars" to be pinned to their clothing correlating to the section they are assigned.

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ED NOTE: If the Bacon satire somehow violates the candy ass catechism, and speaking here as a lifelong candy ass (uh, liberal), I belong in a remedial reading class. The tip off that Mommy is suspiciously eager to be offended occurs here: "Last week, they posted a piece that is so offensive to me – homophobic, racist, anti-Semitic, etc. that was primarily directed at my oldest son, Jacob Patterson, who is an attorney."

I GUESS MOMMY'S going to have to spell it out for me, but I defy her or anybody else to read "homophobia, racism, anti-Semitism" into Mr. McCarthy's amusing little satire. And I wonder what she means to include in "etc"?

AND IF JACOB PATTERSON and his mom look at little harder they might find that the racism exists in a handful of cynical white “liberals” who are trying to control the city council by claiming they’re committed to fair play for Mexicans. In other words using the welfare of Mexicans as means for them to regain control of the city council. That is straight up racism.

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FORT BRAGG MEETING ON RACE-BASED 'REDISTRICTING' THREATENED LAWSUIT Wednesday night, 6pm.

Staff Recommends Capitulation While Public Is Heavily Against It

Agenda Item: Receive Report and Provide Direction on Mr. Patterson’s 45-Day Notice Letter Received April 17, 2018, the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (“CVRA”), the California Elections Code “Safe-Harbor Provision” Capping Reimbursement of Prospective Plaintiff’s Costs to Generate the 45-Day Notice Letter to $30,000, and Possible Transition from At-Large to District-Based Elections

Staff Report:

ISSUE:

On April 17, 2018 the City received a letter from a local attorney (Attachment 1). The letter states that based on a thorough investigation and analysis of demographic and electoral information concerning past Fort Bragg elections, the represented Committee believes the City’s current at-large election system may violate the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (CVRA).

The local attorney’s letter points out that none of the California jurisdictions with at-large voting systems that have been charged with alleged violations of the CVRA have prevailed in court action. Under the CVRA, the prevailing plaintiff is allowed attorney’s fees, which have, in some cases, reached into the millions of dollars.

ANALYSIS:

The City of Fort Bragg currently elects its five City Council Members at-large. Under this voting system, each Fort Bragg registered voter has the right and opportunity to vote for all open City Council seats in a City Council election. For example, under the current voting system, voters will have the opportunity to vote for three candidates for the three open City Council Member seats in November, 2018. Under a district-based election system, voters within a district have the opportunity to vote for only one candidate running for City Council within their district.

The CVRA expands on the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 and makes it easier for minority groups to successfully sue and eliminate at-large election systems. Under the CVRA, minimal evidence of racially polarized voting can result in a court order requiring a city to change from at-large to district-based voting. “Racially polarized voting” occurs when there is a difference between the choice of candidates preferred by voters in a protected class and the choice of candidates preferred by voters in the rest of the electorate. Proponents of district-based elections assert that minority groups have a better chance of getting representation on City Council with district-based systems.

More recent legislation created a “safe harbor provision” to protect jurisdictions from CVRA litigation costs and attorneys’ fees. Under Elections Code Section 10010, a prospective plaintiff must send the clerk of the city a written notice asserting that the City’s election process may violate the CVRA. Mr. Patterson’s letter serves as this notice. If, within 45 days of the city receiving this notice, the city adopts a resolution outlining its intention to transition from an at-large to a district-based election system, the potential plaintiff is barred from suing the city for 90 days after the resolution is passed. So long as the city implements district-based elections within those 90 days, the legal fees that a prospective plaintiff can recover are capped at $30,000.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Provide direction to staff regarding the following:

1. Presenting a Resolution at the May 29, 2018 City Council Meeting establishing the City’s intent to transition to district-based elections.
2. Hiring a demographer to compile demographic and election history profiles and conduct a polarized voting analysis for the three prior City Council Member elections.
3. Approve use of the litigation reserve funds for payment of the demographer and other potential pre-litigation costs.

ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):

1. Direct staff to not present the City Council with a Resolution establishing the City’s intent to transition to district-based elections and take no further action. City may be sued under the CVRA and need to respond to litigation at that time.
2. Direct staff to hire an attorney and demographer to begin work on a defense to a possible CVRA law suit. In this case, the City would be better prepared for potential litigation.
3. In addition to or in place of any of the recommended or alternative actions, direct staff to pursue legislative changes to the existing CVRA and safe harbor provisions. This is not likely to occur in time to protect the City from litigation.
4. Request that Mr. Patterson revoke his 45-day letter, in order to allow the City more time to research district elections and the impact on the City. This would not necessarily protect the City from other potential litigants.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Staff estimates that a demographer will cost between $40,000 and $50,000 to complete preliminary analysis and to prepare draft district maps and assist with public input. Potential plaintiff’s legal fees and costs are capped at $30,000, if the City meets the safe harbor provision requirements. City attorney’s fees are estimated at $20,000, if the safe harbor provision is selected. If the City elects not to participate in the safe harbor, attorneys’ fees for both City representation and potential plaintiffs’ fees could reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. aside in the City’s Litigation Reserve.

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PUBLIC COMMENT is heavily opposed to the idea: cityfortbragg.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=6222317&GUID=0BD7D1F9-AFB3-48AB-82B3-AC2CFF9F8971

Live stream: city.fortbragg.com/501/Council-Meeting-Live-Stream

SOMEONE STOLE DAVE SEVERN’S CAR!

Dave’s Daughter Dandelion Allegra posted Wednesday:

Hey Friends!! Specifically, Ukiah and surrounding areas: my Daddy’s car was stolen from Friedman’s this afternoon. They saw someone checking the doors in the security camera, but his was just outta view. Please, keep your eyes open for a 1991 champagne colored Subaru. Some serious bum factor going on here, folks. It’d be pretty rad if someone could find his car.

NO ON HOSPITAL TAX

To the Editor,

I am firmly opposed to the Parcel Tax the Mendocino Coast Hospital District is requesting. For more than 30 years, the District Administration and Board of Directors has put forth an unnecessary and unsustainable growth plan for the Hospital which was to give it the appearance of a major medical center. Rather than improving and broadening healthcare in our small, isolated community, the grand plan has burdened us with a debt we can never get out from under. Most of the money was spent on an expansive and mostly vacant admissions area and an underused imaging center, where the cost of tests can be up to 4 times as much as they are in Santa Rosa. The remainder of the Hospital, its guts, you might say, the ER, Surgery, Intensive Care and ward remain unchanged in the almost 50 years of existence. To give the nod to the Board to stay afloat for a while with the pervading attitude of business as usual is a major disservice to the people of the District, pretending that everyone in charge is really looking out for our basic needs rather than their own self-interest.

Without this gift to the Directors and the revolving door of CEOs and CFOs, the Hospital might face bankruptcy. This probably would be a good thing. It does NOT mean the Hospital would have to close its doors and the District would lose its major provider of health care. It means, instead, that the way it does business would have to change. It may have to end some medical services and get rid of some high level managers, but we would then have the opportunity to re-think what the real medical needs of this community are and what it can afford, in order to offer a high level of basic medical care.

I do not have a concrete plan in mind, but a reasonable concept moving forward might be for the District to oversee expanded outpatient care that would provide rapid access to providers at all levels; routine, urgent and emergent. (The Emergency Department is exactly the same size it was 48 years ago when the Hospital opened). A triage system would be put in place to establish the level of care needed and direct people accordingly. In addition we would need an expanded transportation system including shuttles, ground and air emergency by contracting with various existing agencies to get patients to the right place for the best care in the most expeditious fashion. Finally, there should be an overnight holding unit for stabilization or prior to transfer and for people undergoing scheduled outpatient procedures.

This might require us partnering with other hospital care entities, which has always been an anathema to us here on the Coast. The inland hospitals in Willits and Ukiah have done this quite successfully and it might be time to feel them out for help in keeping quality care available here. Stepped level of care is an established way of providing medical services in rural areas and works extremely well.

I want to see quality basic medical care continue to be available to us on the Coast. We need to create a new template that would support the services that are really necessary to give our community members access to the best medical care anywhere in the North Bay and so we could feel comfortable that our health needs are being looked out for by the District’s governing body.

Peter Barg, MD

Caspar

EXTRAORDINARY PLACES NOT TO BE MISSED, SAVE THE DATE

Dear friend, art lover, collector and studio visitor,

New stone carvings and paintings inspired by the beauty of place and my interest in natural resources. May 26, 27 and 28 on Memorial Day weekend Open 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. The exchange between artist and art observer is a relationship I value. Your visit broadens the palette and opens a spectrum of possibilities. If you are curious come and see, if you have already visited please come again. There is always something NEW. Come join the conversation.

Looking forward to your visit,

Rebecca Johnson, rebecca@rebeccajohnsonart.com

THIS WEEKEND

It's a big weekend of events at the Kelley House Museum in Mendocino!

First up, on Friday, May 4, is the opening of the new spring exhibit, "Up From Below: Dolls, Pipes & Bottles.” The exhibit will showcase items discovered in the Kelley House Pond. This is one you won't want to miss, especially if you're a bottle collector. "Up from Below" runs until June 18, Fridays through Mondays from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm with admission by suggested donation of $5.

Then, on Sunday, May 6, the president of the Mendocino Coast Doll Club will be the featured speaker at "Sunday Afternoon With Historic Dolls and Jayne Bush," beginning at 4:00 pm. Jayne will share her knowledge of collectible dolls and will have some fabulous examples on hand, including Josie and Aurora Lee, 1866 dolls that belonged to Daisy Kelley MacCallum. Admission is $5 for Kelley House Museum members and $7 for the public.

That same night at 6:30 pm, the ever-popular series "Science Sunday" continues with Dr. Walt McKeown presenting, "Plan B: Colonizing the Moon." Walt will explore the efforts required to establish a lunar outpost on Earth’s natural satellite. Please join us for a free, entertaining and interesting evening. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

Mendocino's Kelley House Museum is located at 45007 Albion Street, just off Lansing. For more information, please call 707-937-5791 or visit kelleyhousemuseum.org.

LITTLE DOG SAYS, “I'm outside my house with Skrag's orphaned kids when he walks on by without so much as a meow. His kids asked, "Is that our daddy, Little Dog?" I thought for a minute, then I said, "That's him, but you're better off not knowing the scoundrel."

MINOR EARTHQUAKE SWARMS all over the place lately. Here's one noted by the vigilant Marshall Newman:

A micro earthquake occurred at 8:46:24 PM (PDT) on Monday, April 30, 2018. The magnitude 2.4 event occurred 24 km (15 miles) NW of Sea Ranch, CA. The hypocentral depth is 7 km ( 4 miles).

EVERYTHING you need to know about quakes, including a likely scenario of what is likely with The Big One, can be found in Marc Reiser's definitive little book, "A Dangerous Place: California's Unsettling Fate."

ED NOTES

ATTENTION BIKE PEOPLE. Check that. Attention Bike People who think they can do the following on Sunday, June 10th:

THE SCARY MONSTER bike race, as the contest is called, starts at Mendo College at the north end of Ukiah, thence to Hopland on Old River Road, over Mountain House Road and through the quaint town of Boonville and on through highway 128 to Flynn Creek Road. Then from Flynn Creek Road, you go to Comptche and on to Orr Springs Road where you will finish the scenic ride at Mendocino College. Along this ride you will encounter many gigantic redwood trees and vineyards for viewing pleasure. This route is 105 miles long and has approximately 8800 feet of climbing.

"QUAINT" is the ill-chosen word deployed by race organizers to describe Boonville, which might plausibly be called quaint if you stood maybe twenty feet in front of the Boonville Hotel without rolling your eyeballs in any other direction. Hopland is quaint, kinda, so is Mendocino if you visit at 3am before the ice cream cone hordes throng its streets. I guess the NorCal "quaint" standard is Ferndale, so perfectly tidy it's creepy.

THERE'S ALSO a Hairy Monster ride and a Merry Monster ride, all beginning and ending at the College. Google the event for details.

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BALLOT GUIDES arrived last week with no candidate statements from Democratic front-runners for governor Gavin Newsom, Antonio Villaraigosa and John Chiang. I think the reason is that none of the three wants to be bound by the fundraising limits demanded by conventional state election rules. These three are beneficiaries of huge amounts of money routed to them by private interests. Newsome gets bushels of cash from the Billery-Democratic Party machine, Chiang gets lots and lots from Asian business and social groups and Villaraigosa is backed by Mexican-American dough and this or that special interest, especially the Charter School lobby. You and me, brothers and sisters, don't have a candidate for Governor. Ain't nobody in elected office looking out for us.

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NOBODY CAN SAY there's an apathetic lack of interest in the 5th District Supe's race. I can't remember as many candidate's events as there are this election. And even up there in the outlaw regions of northeastern Mendo there have been several candidate nights. From here, the 5th District looks like a run-off between Roderick and Williams, with Chris Skyhawk running a strong third, Juhl a longshot, Rodier even a longer shot.

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IN THE THIRD DISTRICT, the lib-labs seem massed behind the blandly platitudinous Haschak with Pinches, as always, running strong across the political spectrum, right to left

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SPEAKING OF ELECTIONS, when and wherever you see an endorsement from the Operating Engineers that endorsement is the work of Joe Not So Wildman. Ditto for an endorsement from Not So's employer, the SEIU. Joe jumped the gun this time around when he had the Operating Engineers endorsing Chris Skyhawk only to have the union's headquarters inform us they haven't endorsed anyone for Supervisor. "Endorse who? Where?" And if I were a line worker for the County of Mendocino I'd be real unhappy about paying dues for Wildman's representation, given the lowly wages paid me. Wildman is a professional Democrat. The Operating Engineers and SEIU (except for nurses) are an extension of the Billery wing of the Party, a party pretty much gone over to Bernie, leaving Wildman as a Smithsonian-quality liberal that managed to get Trump elected.

FORT BRAGG GANGBANGERS ARRESTED

(FBPD Press Release)

On Tuesday, May 1st, officers of the Fort Bragg Police Department responded to a report of a vandalism which had occurred in the 300 block of Maple Street.

During the course of the investigation, Officers identified evidence indicating that Gabriel Monday (age 25) assaulted Dennis Day (age 31) in an attempt to deter Day from participating in the criminal prosecution process related to another investigation.

During the altercation, Monday was accompanied by Mauricio Delgado (age 20) and a 17-year-old juvenile suspect (both documented criminal street gang members). The juvenile suspect brandished a knife during the incident and vandalized Day’s car before fleeing the scene.

At approximately 1:23 pm, officers located Gabriel Monday driving in the 800 block of South Main Street. Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and Monday was placed under arrest prior to his vehicle being stored.

During the course of Monday’s arrest, officers identified additional evidence indicating that Monday is a member of a criminal street gang.

Monday was transported to the Mendocino County Jail and booked on: Intimidation of a Witness, Assault and Gang Enhancement.

At approximately 7:30 pm, officers received an anonymous report of several suspected criminal street gang members entering Coast Cinemas.

The anonymous report including information that the juvenile suspect involved in the earlier assault and vandalism was present at the location. Officers located the juvenile suspect in this case and he was arrested and transported to Juvenile Hall.

At approximately 7:53 pm, officers located and arrested Mauricio Delgado at 112 Dick Williams Way. Delgado was transported to Mendocino County Jail on the same charges listed above and charges stemming from a separate criminal investigation earlier in the week.

Questions regarding this press release may be directed to Officer Wilder at (707) 961-2800 ext. 166 or at awilder@fortbragg.com.

Anonymous tips regarding criminal activity may be left on the anonymous Crime Tip Hotline at (707) 961-3049.

CATCH OF THE DAY, May 2, 2018

JONA CHAPMAN, Point Arena. Probation revocation.

MAURICIO DELGADO, Fort Bragg. Participation in criminal street gang, witness intimidation, probation revocation.

DEBORAH LAWRENCE, Ukiah. Under influence, controlled substance, probation revocation. (Frequent flyer.)

JASON LUSK, Gualala. Probation revocation.

DENICE MACDONALD, Eureka/Ukiah. Probation revocation.

JESSE RODGERS, Ukiah. Parole violation.

RHONDA SANDERS, Willits. Resisting, probation revocation.

TONY SMITH, Santa Rosa/Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol.

DEAN STEVENS, Ukiah. Parole violation.

THREE DOT WEEKEND

by Warren Hinckle (1997)

Out of the mud grows the lotus.
— Don Sherwood, politically incorrect SF disc jockey

It was what Herb Caen would have called a three dot weekend in the city, a week and a half ago…

Caen, I know, would have loved Jack Davis' epic birthday party that Saturday night. He would have plugged it in his three-dotter as the type of spectacular Frisco evening that made this town deservedly famous.

Caen died, and he couldn't make it to the Davis party, and now journos who aren't fit to pick the lint off Caen's Bic are complaining about — a party! for heaven's sake.

At Saturday night's 50th birthday fete for centrist campaign manager Jack Davis, who elected mayors Frank Jordan from the right and Willie Brown from the left, a very San Francisco mix brought together, in the unlikely locale of the stodgy old Furniture Mart at Ninth and Market, Apache religious ceremonies and the North Beach Mortuary Marching Band.

Tubas blurting and drums rat-tat-tatting, led by Johnny Coppola on trumpet and Lisa Pollard on tenor sax, the uniformed Green Street Marching Band, which usually advances Chinese funerals in North Beach, blazed into the huge meeting room-turned-party room atop Market Street, which was hazy from smoke machines drifting over the original Star Wars bar from the epic George Lucas movie, rebuilt on the site for Davis' party by the Bill Graham Presents people.

This is the way parties are supposed to be thrown in a town famous for famous parties and legendary characters. Thank God there is some of the great spirit left in the old bird.

But Matier and Ross, the white liberal tupperware set that writes political gossip for the Chronicle, were taken aback at some of the earthy nature of the Apache ceremonies performed onstage, and tried to make a scandal of it in Monday's Chronicle. Theirs is an attitude more culturally befitting Tulsa, Oklahoma, than San Francisco.

It was a classic San Francisco moment when the Green Street funeral band played a dirge-like Happy Birthday scored by Johnny Coppola for tubas and other mournful horns ... and then the Apaches came on stage.

Davis is a collector of Western Indian art, and the Apache performance group that was enacting cultural and religious ceremonies seldom seen by yuppie eyes were his surprise birthday present.

What a bloody great San Francisco party it was!

Italian funeral marching bands and Apache ceremonies mingling — so wasn't it typical of the hypocritical side of this city that, a century after US Army assassins poisoned Indian blankets with tuberculosis germs so the white man could hasten the Indians' vanishing, a white man's newspaper here would attempt to present as not fitting its standards of propriety a traditional display of Apache religion, art and rage against the sins perpetrated on Native Americans by whites of European origin.

Leading the fat-lipped pack were goofy right-wing radio station KSFO, which apparently wants a congressional committee to investigate a San Francisco party, and State Senator Quentin Kopp, who is feuding with his old friend Davis and was tsk-tsking the Indian ceremonies as disgusting on his wheezy old-boy TV station Channel 2.

What cultural arrogance these twisted Kopp-heads (Indians should picket the insensitive Channel 2) and tupperware Chronicle journalists have!

The Apache performance art group headed by Native American artist Steve Leyna (an Apache of many generations), which so disturbed the prissy Kopps, Matiers and Rosses of the boorish part of this city, did the same performance at the Davis party that they were invited to do to open the American Indian Movement conference at the University of New Mexico.

No New Mexico radio stations or newspapers decried their performance. No New Mexico politicians left the room. Only in San Francisco is Indian culture held up to ridicule.

For the record, the traditional performance judged objectionable by our self-styled culture police because it involved blood and bodily fluids was a surprise for Davis from his party committee, which included GiGi Fiorucci of the Double Play, book publisher Ron Turner, police sergeant Mike Hughes, Nigel James of the Bill Graham organization, mayor's staffer Barbara Kolesar, real estate manager Linda Corso, Jeanette Etheridge of the Tosca Cafe, designer Rita Benton, Nancy Ho Belli, Joe O'Donoghue of the residential builders, and several other friends of Davis who make up about as typical a San Francisco cross-section as you can find on any archaeological dig.

Typical of the San Franciscans attending who thought it was simply a great party were the noted gastroenterologist Dr. Dennis Hanby and his wife Carol. They said the David Bowie lookalike band and South-of-Market party favors and the Apache rituals were spectacular and they weren't in the least offended the way the media prisses were.

“People who object to a party like this,” said Dr. Hanby, “aren't really San Franciscans.”

Native American culture has long been repressed by racist whites who for a long time tried to ban even traditional Indian devil dances. Next on the list will be Jack Davis' birthday parties.

WHY THE REV WAS FIRED

Editor:

I completely understand and agree with Speaker Paul Ryan’s reason for firing the House of Representatives’ chaplain, the Rev. Patrick Conroy, for having strayed a prayer into the political arena. Apparently, Conroy suggested that the tax bill should be balanced to “share benefits” among all Americans.

Who could have put such zany ideas into Conroy’s head?

It was certainly wrong of him to imply in any way that Congress might be a temple infested with money-changers, apt to ignore needs of the poorer — and therefore less worthy — of Ryan’s and other House members’ constituents.

A man of God praying before members of Congress should promise them rewards in heaven for having sacrificed much higher salaries to serve as lawmakers for all Americans. If left in his position, Conroy might next suggest that Ryan consider feeding the poor and neglected, or visiting them in prison, or washing their feet, for God’s sake.

The nerve of the man. Apparently he’s been reading a set of books with messages contrary to sacred capitalist tenets.

Jane Nielson

Sebastopol

Old Man With Sign In Virginia

ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

My favorite latest doom and gloom: Fish will be extinct by 2045 or some such thing according to some study. Yup 1 trillion fish that live in an area that covers 7/10s of the planet and in areas we humans don’t even know about will all be gone in 27 years. Never mind we don’t even have knowledge of many species in the ocean. Never mind that fish tend to reproduce in large numbers. Yes, some areas are overfished and we have some serious pollution problems in the ocean, but every fish extinct? Ain’t going to happen. I’ll be curious to see where the whole peak oil thing takes us. Yes, we’ll run out of oil eventually, but when? That’s the tricky part. I doubt I’ll see it in my lifetime. The thing is, when we finally run out of oil that doesn’t cost more energy to extract than it’s worth, we’ll go back to coal. Look for a whole bunch of technologies developing to address using the original fossil fuel. We have several hundred years of coal left easily, so I doubt the doomer fantasies will ever come true.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, who once labeled Trump “a kook,” “crazy” and “unfit for office,” told Fox News on Friday: “Donald Trump convinced North Korea and China he was serious about bringing about change. We’re not there yet, but if this happens, President Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.” And here’s the part that would drive Trump haters into a frenzy: If he could pull off denuclearizing North Korea, he would deserve it more than Barack Obama did when he had that bouquet thrown at him seconds into his presidency. And Trump certainly would deserve it more than Henry Kissinger, who won the prize in 1973 for his efforts to end the Vietnam War, after privately persuading Richard Nixon to keep it going for years and while secretly bombing Cambodia.

— Maureen Dowd

ATTENTION RHODO LOVERS!

Enter your rhododendrons in this weekend's show!

Each year, the Noyo Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society (ARS) partners with Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens to showcase some of the best rhodie specimens on the west coast. The 41st Annual John Druecker Memorial Rhododendron Show will be held at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6. The juried show is the largest in California with a typical show displaying more than 800 entries and filling the big tent with cascades of color and fragrance.

Please Help Us Fill The Tent! All rhodie growers are welcome to enter their best trusses for judging. You can deliver entries to the Gardens on Thursday, May 3, between 5:00PM and 7:00PM, and on Friday, May 4, between 9:00AM and 1:00PM. Rhododendron Society members will be available to assist in identifying the plants and filling out entry forms.

Judging, (judges are from outside the area), will start at 3:00PM Friday. Judges will award ribbons and trophies to top entries in a wide range of categories. Please visit www.noyochapterars.com for more information on entry rules and procedures.

2018 Show Rules: noyochapterars.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Rules_2018_Final_1_colPDFpdf.107121145.pdf

REST YER BRAIN

The General Knowledge and Trivia Quiz takes place at 7pm on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month at Lauren's Restaurant in Boonville. Tomorrow, Thursday, May 3rd, does not meet the above criteria so no such event will take place. We shall resume the brain exercises next week on Thursday, May 10th. You know it makes sense! Hope to see you there, Steve Sparks/The Quiz Master

SPACE TREATY PROJECT: MAY 2018 UPDATE

Friends and Colleagues,

Much has happened in the last two months.

In March my article on the Moon Treaty was published in The Space Review (http://www.thespacereview.com/article/3444/1). I submitted an abstract of the article to two international space conferences, and both have invited me to attend and present it. The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) will be holding its 42nd annual assembly July 14-22 in Pasadena at Caltech, home of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (https://www.cospar-assembly.org/). I will be hosting a "poster presentation" there, engaging with the delegates though not speaking on any of the technical panels. I will be speaking as part of the space law panel at the International Astronautical Congress when it holds its 69th meeting in Bremen, Germany, October 1-5 (https://iac2018.org/).

I also attended a space law conference last month that was part of the annual Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. My article on the conference (Space Law 2018: Nationalists vs. Internationalists) was also recently published in The Space Review (http://www.thespacereview.com/article/3482/1).

I am an internationalist who supports ratification of the Moon Treaty. The Treaty, proposed by the United Nations but not yet ratified by the space-faring nations, calls for the creation of an international framework of laws that will provide certainty for business investors while requiring that space activities "shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development." (For the full text of all space treaties, go to

http://www.unoosa.org/res/oosadoc/data/documents/2017/stspace/stspace61rev_2_0_html/V1605998-ENGLISH.pdf.) I have recently started an online petition calling for ratification of the Moon Treaty by the United States Senate. Though the current Senate would not do so, it's composition will likely change with the November elections. So far 155 people have signed. Not a bad start, but many more signatures are needed.

There are three ways you can help:

1. Sign the Petition and share it with your friends/contacts. Go to http://www.spacetreaty.org/ for more information and the link to sign. The more signatures, the more credibility I will have when asking people to support the Moon Treaty. Alas, change.org, the platform for the petition, charges a fee to distribute it, so I need your help to reach more people.
2. Buy the Book. Major Tom is a novel I recently published that dramatizes the current issues in space law and commerce. It is entertaining, informative, and perhaps even inspiring. The online version is only $.99, the lowest price possible. The print version is $8.95 plus shipping, which can be free if bundled with other orders. All proceeds from the book will be dedicated to the Project. For more information and a link to purchase, go to http://www.spacetreaty.org.
3. Make a Donationto help me get to the conferences. The Space Treaty Project is fiscally sponsored by the Cloud Forest Institute, an educational and scientific 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit corporation. Tax deductible donations on behalf of The Space Treaty Project can be mailed to Cloud Forest Institute, PO Box 1435, Ukiah CA 95482, or made online at https://cloudforest.org/. Please write "Space Treaty Project" in the memo/message line of your donation.

The mission of The Space Treaty Project is nothing less than to restore humanity's hope for the future by providing an alternative to the wars, violence, and neglect that have dominated our history. We have a unique opportunity to set an example and create a new future for humanity, to build that shining city on a hill that will light the way for all. As Klaatu reminded us, the choice is ours.

Thank you for your interest and support

Sincerely,

Dennis O'Brien

JOHNSON-SU NO TURN COMPOSTING BIOREACTOR WORKSHOPS and talk coming up this Sunday and Monday, May 6 and 7. Dr. David Johnson, at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, was interviewed in the April issue of Acres USA. The following URL has the interview: ecofarmingdaily.com/compost-the-promise-of-microbes/

You can now learn directly from him at one or more of the workshops and the talk Monday evening. Please show up at any or all of the following locations where Dr. David Johnson and his assistant and wife Hui-Chun Su will be teaching:

Sunday May 6, 9-Noon at The School of Adaptive Agriculture, 16200 Highway 101, follow signs after turning in at the Ridgewood Ranch/RV Park/Seabiscuit... sign. Building a bioreactor at the school's compost demonstration site.

Sunday 1-5:30: at Floodgate Farm on Heart Mountain, 12400 Bakers Creek Rd., Redwood Valley. Potluck lunch followed by building a bioreactor and looking at one set up in December. We are 3 miles up Bakers Creek Rd., off Laughlin Way (from West Rd. exit off 101, go northwest on North State St., northeast on Laughlin to just past RR tracks, straight onto Bakers Creek Rd, always go uphill until our 12400 sign where you turn left)

Monday May 7, 1-7:30 PM: at Mendocino College Agriculture Dept., 1000 Hensley Creek Rd., Ukiah. From 1-2 PM we will look under microscopes at bioreactor compost and other composts (yours if you bring it) to see bacteria and fungi and estimate the ratio (the advantage of the bioreactor is it typically has a 4 or 5 to 1 fungal to bacterial ratio). At 2:15 until 5:15 we will build a bioreactor in the Ag Dept's garden area, and Dr. Johnson will give a 45 minute presentation at 6 PM followed by plenty of time for questions and discussion.

All events are by donation, to pay travel expenses for Dr. Johnson and Hui-Chun Su.

The attachments have more information.

See you soon!

Bill Taylor and Jaye Alison Moscariello 707-272-1688

edibleland@earthlink.net

www.floodgatefarm.com