Bennett Valley Voice

Volume 23, Number 5

Inside This Issue Bennett Valley Bennett Valley Clean-up Day Bennett Valley Calendar 2001 Rural Heritage Initiative, Pro & Con VOICE BHA Elections: Board of Directors Bennett Valley Artrails Bennett Valley Fire Protection Dist. Veterinary Info: Snake Bites Bennett Valley Board Meeting Bennett Valley Homeowner's Association (BVHA)

_September. 2000

Help Shape The Future Of Bennett Valley!

Bennett Valley 2000....

..A Community Forum

WHEN Saturday, October 14th, 2000 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Coffee & refreshments, 8:30 am WHERD WHO Bennett Valley Grange Hall Be sure to come if you're interested in the future of Bennett Valley. WHAT The purpose of BHA is to preserve and protect the beauty and character of Bennett Valley but there are many ways in which this can be approached. BENNETT VALLEY 2000 is an opportunity for you to participate in open dialogue about current issues and future concerns affecting Bennett Valley and to be involved in decisions that will impact our Valley.

AGENDA: Current Issues and Future Concerns 8:30 am to 9:00 am - Coffee Break 9:00 am to 9:05 am - Introduction, Bill Sullivan, President, BHA

2:05 To 9:35 Am - Rural Heritage Initiative

(Rhi: Pro & Con

* 9:05 am to 9:15 am - Pro RHI John Blayney, Speaker * 9:15 am to 9:25 am - Con RHI Eric Koenigshofer, Speaker * 9:25 am to 9:35 am Questions from audience AGENDA: Current Issues and Future Concerns (cont)

9:35 Am To 10 Am - Special Fire District

Funding And Legislation, 2000

Ron Collier, Windsor Fire Chief

10 Am To 10:30 Am - Interesting Points Of

Bennett Valley History

Don Tarpley, Bennett Valley Historian & Author 10:80 am to 10:45 am - WHAT'S KILLING

Oak Trees In Bennett Valley?

Rob Gross, Consulting Arborist He will also be available during the break at an informational table. 10:45 am to 11:00 am - Coffee and Refreshments 11:00 am to 12:30 pm - COMMUNITY FORUM Bob Hasenick, Facilitator

* Common Ground Committee

Recommendations and Report

* Future Vision For Bennett Valley

• Greatest opportunities and challenges for the next 3 to 5 years. * How to build a sense of community. • Areas of special focus or concern.

Fall Clean-Up Day!

Saturday, October 21St

8:30 AM

Meet At The Bv Fire Station

Wear sturdy shoes; hats for sun protection; and bring garden or work gloves.

Hope To See

You There!

Give It A Shot...A Photo Shot Of

Bennett Valley!

BVHA is once again publishing a calendar composed of original photographs of Bennett Valley submitted by residents. Please share your favorite Bennett Valley photos, that portray its special qualities! Do you have any recent pictures of the Bennett Valley Grange Hall? The deadline has been extended. If you get your photos in by September 25th, we still may be able to include them in this next calendar. The judges who are deciding which pictures to select for the calendar are Foster Beigler, Suzanne Dougherty and Robert Nixon.

Send original prints (not slides), preferably horizontal with dates and place names to: Stephanie Zaborowski, 4184 Sonoma Mountain. Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, (707) 528-9858. We want to give special thanks to the Bennett Valley Calendar Committee, which includes Suzanne Dougherty, Lolly Mesches, Judy Temko, Marie Van Hoy and Stephanie Zaborowski.

Bennett Valley Tidbits

+Bennett Valley Calendars, Year 2001

Reserve Yours Now!

Only pre-registration will insure that you get your calendar(s). Fifty people have already pre-registered for this next calendar at the Bennett Valley Community Day on 8/27/00. The number of calendars to be printed will be limited to expected demand. As stated previously, this new calendar will feature large squares! sturdy paper! holidays! moon phases! and descriptions under the pictures! To pre-register, call Stephanie Zaborowski at (707) 528-9858.

•Optional Bennett Valley Orientation

If you're a Bennett Valley resident and might be interested in talking to potential buyers about Bennett Valley, please let us know. We plan to pass out names of willing Bennett Valley residents living on each of the major streets and/or areas of Bennett Valley, with the Bennett Valley Pamphlet, once it is completed. See Page 7 for more information about the Bennett Valley Pamphlet and this list of names. Contact Marilee Jensen, 576-0405, if you'd like to volunteer.

Five Bennett Valley Artists Selected To

Participate In Artrails!

See page 6 for more information.

Sonoma County Dept. Of Public Works

Information/Grange Road Bridge

* Levi Gurule, Senior Civil Engineer, reports that Cal-Trans has approved increased funding for the latest proposed bridge - a big hurdle in this process. The funds have not been received yet and while this action is being processed, they are having their Consultant develop plans for moving the bridge 8 to 12 feet from the present roadway, for consideration. Would this possible change be of concern for Bennett Valley?

*John Maitland, Division Manager of Road Maintenance, reports that their Bridge Engineer went out in the middle of the night to check the Grange Road Bridge, following the recent earthquake. As they anticipated, there were no problems!

+ Matanzas Creek Watershed

The Sotoyome Resource Conservation District is now in the process of defining the watershed boundaries for Matanzas Creek and developing a comprehensive mailing list for every parcel owner within the watershed. Each of these parcel owners as well as other interested residents will be invited to the first meeting for the Matanzas Creek Watershed Group, expected to be sometime during the winter months, with training to start in the spring. You can contact Sotoyome Resource Conservation District directly at 569-1448, for information about other available training on an ongoing basis.

Page Two

Rural Heritage Initiative - Measure I

density or land use designation of land in the unincorporated areas of the county. Vote No on RHI - Measure I By Bill Pisenti, Bennett Valley Rancher President, TRIM, Tax Reform Immediately These responsible Sonoma County Organizations are asking for your help to defeat this unnecessary and costly initiative, which will harm, rather than save our farming industry. Sonoma County farmland can be saved only by our hard-working farmers, provided they can make a decent living for their families without the interference from out-of-the-county organizations.

It was written by a San Francisco law firm, without any input from our county farming organizations, and financed by a $200,000 fundraiser held in a San Francisco mansion. The gathering of qualifying signatures is flawed by the fact that it incorrectly states that the "Sonoma County General Plan was adopted March 23, 1989." Official records show the Plan was adopted January 10, 1978, which confirms that for a 22-year period, six different Board of Supervisors have administered it strictly and fairly in accordance with California law, and proves that the intimation by the proponents of "back-room deals" is deliberately Prohibiting future boards, for 30 years, from handling it in the same responsible manner is neither good planning nor good governing, and could definitely hurt farming.

The initiative mandates that any plan change, no matter how minor, is subject to the costly countywide voter approval. We recommend that you review the 29-page staff report on the "impacts of the Rural Heritage Initiative" to fully understand the many damaging effects of the initiative.

Some of the proponents are behind a scheme to breech dams in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington dams that furnish flood control, irrigation water and abundant pollution-free electric power. They propose to do this, not by a vote of the people, but by their political connections in our national capitol. Do they have "different strokes for different folks?" Vote Yes on RHI - Measure I by Lois Brown, Bennett Valley Homeowner. For more information, see <www.ruralheritage.net».

A Vote for Measure I is a vote to Stop Suburban Sprawl and to protect the future of rural Sonoma County. We are now on the brink of a massive explosion of technology-driven industrial expansion. A development-oriented Board of Supervisors could easily start the cascade of rampant san Jose-type growth that has already destroyed the rich rural traditions of other California areas.

The Farm Bureau opposes RHI just as it has opposed urban growth boundaries, community separators and even the General Plan. But the Farm Bureau does not speak for all farmers. Many farmers, including Michael Topolos of Russian River Vineyards, Scott Matheson of Laguna Farms, and Paula Hawkes, past president of Alexander Valley Association, support Measure I because they know that it will bring stability to agricultural and open space land The Farm Bureau speciously claims that farmers will be so restricted that they will be unable to earn a viable living or build homes for their children on their land. This is simply not true. Measure I allows farmers and other landowners to do everything that they can now do under the General Plan.

Bennett Valley is very vulnerable. A three to two vote by a Board of Supervisors, under pressures from the developers, could erase any General Plan and Bennett Valley Area Plan protections. Our rural areas have remained beautiful and unmarred by subdivisions because of these constraints. This natural heritage must not be destroyed.

Voters in Napa and Ventura Counties have already approved measures similar to Measure I, and the concept has been upheld by the California Supreme Court. Measure I will ensure that the beauty and unique character of Sonoma County will be protected for future generations. Page Three

Bennett Valley Fire Protection District The Bennett Valley Fire Protection District had a very successful Community Day at Jackson Park, on Sunday, August 27th, from 11 am to 4 pm. All the fire personnel were helping, including Explorers (high school age), Volunteers, Paid Firefighters, Assistant Fire Captains, Assistant Fire Chief, Joe Stans, the Fire Chiet, Kent Reynolds, and of course their female helpers. The salmon, chicken, pasta and salad were delicious, along with the beverages. It was a real deal, excellent $12 meal, as well as being a fundraiser, to boot!

Kent Reynolds reports they are already beginning to plan next year's Community Day, as part of their concentrated effort to raise enough money to obtain a new safer fire engine, recently recommended and made available. If you have any ideas or questions, please feel free to call the Fire Chief, personally, at 578-7761.

Excepts from A Fireman's Poem "I wish you could know how it feels...to hear a bone chilling 911 call of a child or wife needing assistance...I wish you could read my mind as I respond to a building fire, "Is this a false alarm...?", "How is the building constructed?

"What hazards await me?", "Is anyone trapped?"... I wish you could understand what it feels like ...to have to hold back a long-time friend who watches his buddy having rescue breathing done on him as they take him away in the ambulance. You know... he did not have his seat belt on...

I wish you could feel the hurt as people verbally and sometimes physically abuse us or belittle what we do, as they express their attitudes of, "It will never happen to me."...] wish you could realize the physical, emotional and mental drain of missed meals, lost sleep, and forgone social activities, in addition to all the tragedy my eyes have seen.

I wish you could know the brotherhood and self-satisfaction of having saved a life or preserving someone's property, or being able to be there in time of crisis, or creating order from total chaos. Unless you have lived with this kind of life, you will never truly understand or appreciate who I am, who we are, or what our job really means to us...

I wish you could, though." Unknown Author, Submitted by Kent Reynolds

Rattlesnake Bites Your Pet! Oh My!

As you know, here in Bennett Valley, we have rattlesnakes. These pit vipers are our only poisonous snake. The rattle snakes have triangular heads, retractable fangs and special heat-sensing "pits" located between the eye and the nostril. And of course the rattle on their tail is used as defense and a warning. They are usually timid and attack only when threatened. Unfortunately dogs do not heed the warning "rattle" and stick their noses down to see what's going on.

Often times the bites they sustain are on the face, chest or front legs. Cats, too, can be bitten although it is not as common. The primary function of the venom is to immobilize the victim and predigest the victim's body tissues. There are 25 known enzymes in snake venom, all specifically designed to create shock and disrupt the tissues. The result is severe swelling and tissue change (necrosis, blood vessel injury, red blood cell changes, clotting defects and shock! The severity of the bite depends primarily upon the amount of venom injected, age of the snake, time of year, size of the victim, site of the bite, elapsed time and actual level of the victim.

Swelling usually begins within 20-30 minutes of the bite. Fang marks are not always easily found. Pain is immediate and the skin is discolored. Severe hypertension is often present. What can you do? The bitten pet should be immobilized as much as possible to slow the uptake of the venom. Most first aid measures are ineffective and often increase the severity of the condition. Therefore, rapid transport to a veterinarian is the best approach. Once at the hospital the doctor will begin IV fluids, antivenom, antihistamines (to protect against allergic reaction to the antivenom) and antibiotics. Blood work is needed to monitor the severity of shock and to look for clotting problems. Successful treatment depends on the severity of symptoms and time.

Snakebites are treatable with aggressive action. The best approach is once again to avoid having your pet bitten. That usually means keeping dogs on a leash when hiking and checking your yard on a regular basis. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Dr. Tracht or Dr. Hodesson at All Tails Wagging Veterinary Clinic (formerly Bennett Valley Vet Clinic) at 525-9445. Thank-you.

Page Four

Bennett Valley Homeowner'S Association'S

Annual Election, Board Of Directors

Each Year, There Are Three Positions Up For Election. Be Sure To Let

Us Know If You'Re Interested In Running For One Of These Positions!

IL YOURE INTERESTED in running for the BVHA Board of Directors, you should send your brief resume to BVHA ELECTIONS, P.O. Box 2666, Santa Rosa, CA 95405, postmarked prior to November 1st, 2000. If you want to discuss this with someone first, you can call the BHA Recording Secretary, Bobbie Blair, at 542-1608, to find out the names and telephone numbers of those appointed to the Nominating Committee at the upcoming September 20th Board Meeting and explore the possibility with one or more of them. Or you can choose to directly contact any of the BHA Board of Directors.

NOTICE OF CHANGE, ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS; Voting for the members of the Board of Directors shall take place at the Annual Meeting. Usually the annual meeting is on the third Wednesday of October, at 7:30 pm at the Bennett Valley Fire Station. This year, the Annual Meeting has been postponed until the third Wednesday of December, that is December 20th, 2000 at 7:30 pm, at the Bennett Valley Fire Station. This notice is meeting the requirements of the Bylaws, which state that written notice of a change in the date, time or location of the annual meeting must be sent to all voting members of BHA.

SOLECTION OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE: At the next BHA Board of Directors meeting, that is on September 20th, the Board will select a nominating committee of three BHA voting members. If you're interested in being on this nominating committee, please plan on attending this next meeting or be sure to let someone on the BHA Board of Directors know prior to the meeting.

The nominating committee will have over five weeks to locate people who are possibly interested in running for the BHA Board of Directors. THE ALECTION: Thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting (by the third Wednesday of November) a ballot containing the names and a brief resume of the candidates for the thenoccuring vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be sent to all voting members, along with the VOICE. The ballots will be counted at the Annual Meeting, on December 20th, by one or more disinterested neutral parties, and the results will be announced. Immediately following the Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors shall hold a regular meeting for the purposes of selection of officers and transaction of other business.

WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS?: To qualify for the Board of Directors, a person must be a voting member of this corporation, which includes "holding recorded title to any real property located within the Bennett Valley Study Area" (see map of Bennett Valley Study Area on next page), payment of the annual dues, and a strong commitment to "promoting and preserving the rural character and natural environment of Bennett Valley".

THREE POSITIONS UP FOR RE-ELECTION: The three Directors up for re-election are Marilee Jensen, Leanore Mesches and Marilyn Stocks. Page Five

Bennett Valley Study Area

Annadel State

PARK Bennett Valley Study Area Boundary Rohnert Park-Cotati & Environs FIVE BENNETT VALLEY ARTISTS Selected to Participate in ARTrails October 14 - 15 & October 21 - 22, Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. For the 15th year, Sonoma County artists will be opening their studio doors for two fall weekends.

Over 100 artists including painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers and fine craft artists will be conducting demonstrations and tours of their studios and it's FREE! A full color catalog with a photograph of each artist's work and maps to their studios will be available from Sonoma County Chambers of Commerce, libraries, bookstores and coffee houses.

For more information, contact the Sonoma County Arts Council, 579-2787. * PENNY MICHEL/Ceramics/Sculpture, 4728 Bennett Valley Road *ROBERT NIXON/Photography, 2759 Bennett Ridge Road ® KATHLEEN ELSEY/Painting, 240 Sonoma Ridge Rd. (at 5530 Son. Mt. Rd.) @ DONNA De La BRIANDAIS/Watercolor/Pastel, 2927 Old Bennett Ridge Road * BOB SORANI/Sculpture, 4175 Sonoma Mountain Road Page Six

Report On The Bennett Valley

Homeowners Association (Bha)

Board Of Directors' Meeting;

July 19Th, 2000

(Please Note: There Was Not A Bha

Board Of Directors Meeting In August.)

Besides the six Directors, there were eighteen people attending this VHA Board meeting on 7/19/00. After the minutes and Treasurer's report were discussed and approved, the first item of business was approving the Bennett Valley Common Ground

Bennett Valley Homeowner'S

Association Board Of Directors

P.O. Box 2666, Santa Rosa, CA 95405 Bill Sullivan, President (528-6804) Marilee Jensen, Vice-President & Editor (576-0405) Nancy Dell-Ergo, Treasurer (525-1202) Leanore Mesches, Corresponding Secretary (545-8684) Bobbie Blair, Recording Secretary (542-1608 Ray Longman (545-2054) Jim Katon (528- 9487) Marilyn Stocks (528-2458) David Phillips (Unlisted) Committee recommendations, as presented at the last meeting on 6/21/00. This included authorizing the funding of the Bennett Valley pamphlet, at a cost of up Please feel free to write to the BHA or telephone the to $2,000 for 2000 copies. Frank LaCombe, Heather Directors on the Board with questions or concerns.

LaRiviere and Marilee Jensen make up the committee You can also send a FAX to the Editor at who are creating & designing this pamphlet. The (707) 576-0405. If you want a direct return message, pamphlet is intended to be both attractive and please indicate.

informational for realtors, potential owners/builders and PRMD applicants residing in Bennett Valley. It will include photographs of Bennett Valley, history of Bennett Valley and information on the Bennett Valley Area Plan including a detailed map. Once this pamphlet is approved, printed and ready for distribution, a list of Bennett Valley residents who are Thanks to the BHA "VOICE" Editing and Mail-Out Committee: Bobbie Blair, Eve Boling (Editor Emeritus), Peg Longman, Heather LaRiviere, Frank Nye, Marilyn Stocks and especially Lois Brown, whose work on the BHA membership and mailing list is never-ending.

willing to answer questions about Bennett Valley and the Bennett Valley Area Plan will be passed out with the pamphlet (see page 2, "Optional Bennett Valley Orientation"). Other items discussed at this Board meeting were the planning of Bennett Valley 2000 (see page 1), the next Bennett Valley Clean-up Day on October 21st (see page 2), and a monthly contribution of $50 to be BHA Membership & Mailing List - If you know of any address changes or property being sold in Bennett Valley, or you want to send in membership dues ($15 annually), please contact Lois Brown at 5145 Burnham Ranch Road, Santa Rosa, 95404, (707) 578-0708.

made by BHA to the Bennett Valley Volunteer Firefighters as a thank-you for letting us use their space for meetings as well as helping them increase the funds available for necessary equipment (see page 4). Finally, a letter and brief resume had been received from David Phillips, a BVHA voting member, asking to be a candidate for the Board of Directors' vacancy.

&Bennett Valley Fire Protection

District Board Of Directors

Wells Wagner, Chairman Lee O. Liddell, Marie Nottingham, Matt Phillips and Nola Stans. If you have questions or concerns, contact the Fire Chief, Kent Reynolds, at 578-7761. David Phillips' appointment to the Board was approved for the two years remaining in that position. Page Seven

Bennett Valley Community Calendar

1. BENNETT VALLEY 2000 - A Community Forum! Saturday, October 14th, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm; Coffee, 8:30 am - 9:00 am. See page one for complete Agenda. 2. BENNETT VALLEY CLEAN-UP DAY - Saturday, October 21st, 8:30 am, Bennett Valley Fire Station, Wear sturdy shoes; hats for sun protection; and bring garden or work gloves.

Hope to see you there, as we need all the help we can get! 3. BENNETT VALLEY GRANGE HALL - On Thursday, October 26th to Saturday, October 28th, Public invited to the Haunted Hall! Don't be afraid to watch for Halloween details! 4. BENNET Yach month poline allel a Bored of perchop meet the third Wednesday September 20th and October 18th. Bennett Valley residents welcome to attend.

5. BENNETT VALLEY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT Board of Directors meets the second Tuesday of each month, 7:00 PM, Bennett Valley Fire Station: Datessof next two meetings October 10th and November 14th. Bennett Yalex residents welsome 48 attend. 6. SONOMA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS meets every Tuesday except on weeks when there is a holiday, at 575 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa. Information about the Board of Supervisors agenda, meeting dates or times can be found at www.sonoma-county.ord or you can call 527-2241. Michael J. Cale is the First District Supervisor representing the Bennett Valley Area and Sonoma Valley.

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