Bennett Valley Voice

Bennett Valley VOICE

Volume 24, Number 5

Bennett Valley Homeowner's Association (BVHA) Inside This Issue Thanks from BV Fire! Silent Auction Report BV Pamphlet Matanzas Creek Update BHA Elections Tentative BV Clean-up Day Art on The Ridge, & ARTrails Sudden Oak Death BHA Board Meetings 2002 BV Calendar

September, 2001

Blocking Healthy Oak Tree Removal! On August 16th, a phone call was received from an significant part of the biodiversity of Sonoma observant Bennett Valley resident, saying that 125 County...the complex structure of oak woodlands, oak trees on Grange Road were marked with blue with their canopy, sub-canopy, and understory, paint and PG&E was planning to cut them down. To support at least 60 species of mammals and 110 quote the PG&E spokesman for the North Bay species of breeding birds. The acorns dropped by region, Lloyd Coker, from the August 22nd Press the oaks provide essential food for quail, turkeys, Democrat article on this subject, "The idea was to squirrels and deer. So much oak woodland has been remove the trees so they wouldn't be a continuous lost to agricultural, rural, or urban development that problem." In the Letters to the Editor, Press most wildlife managers are greatly concerned Democrat ( 8/30/01) Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates about...any future losses..." Because oak trees are writes the following: "Let's be clear: Kendallslow- growing, it takes a long time to replace losses.

Jackson Wine Estates joins with the residents of Bennett Valley in opposing the outright removal of oak trees by PG&E along Grange Road...I can assure you that Jess and the Jackson family (owners of Jackson Park) feel the same way about the removal of oak trees..." Rob Gross, an arborist specializing in oak trees, is quoted in this 8/22/01 article as saying, "...for entire trees to be removed at this point of history where we're losing the large numbers of them due to (sudden oak death)...is alarming." Per this same article, the While PG&E is required to keep trees away from power lines to prevent fires and power outages, oak trees generally only have to be trimmed back about every 3 to 5 years to prevent these problems. It is difficult to imagine why any of the oak trees in Bennett Valley have to be removed by PG&E. The missing generation of oak trees in the valley woodlands are the seedlings and sapling oak trees.

This limited number of young oak trees also need protection in order to sustain these oak woodlands. approval for the removal of these oak trees has now been put on hold by the County. Both the Federal and State government have approved significant amounts of money for the study of "Sudden Oak Death" ', or Phytophthora ramorum, in order to protect oak trees. (See pg. 5) Why?

"Oak woodlands-the dominant habitat in much of Sonoma and Napa counties—are critical to watersheds, helping to control erosion and draw rainfall runoff into the ground...A variety of critters live and thrive in California's oak communities." (Press Democrat, 8/28/00). Bill Cox, a Fishery Biologist with State Fish & Game. states in a letter dated 3/18/98. "Oak woodlands make up a So what can you do to help stop PG&E from removing oak trees? First, watch out for marked trees. On 8/24/01, Bennett Ridge neighbors reported finding green paint on 21 trees on their property, including four oak trees, which were scheduled to be cut down by PG&E within the week. Some phone calls had to be made to stop it. Letters should be written objecting to the REMOVAL of oak trees to both PG&E (Greg Holquist, Forester, 111 Stony Circle, Santa Rosa, 95401) and our State & Federal governmental representatives. You can also contact Scott Briggs @ 565-1936, requesting Sonoma County Updated General Plan protection for oak trees in general and from PG&E, specifically.

Thanks from BV Fire! By Joe Stans, Assistant BV Fire Chief The Bennett Valley Community Day was held on August 26th, 2001 as a fund-raising event by the Bennett Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association. This type of event is necessary to acquire the highly specialized and expensive equipment necessary to provide a first class fire and rescue service in Bennett Valley. The Volunteer Firefighters would like to take this opportunity to thank all people in the Valley for their generous support of Community Day. It was truly an eclectic effort and there are literally too many people to mention. To Bobbie Blair and the staff of volunteers she assembled, Kendall-Jackson family farms, the Bennett Valley Homeowners' Association, the artists, the auction contributors, the pre-event sponsors and everyone that helped make this. Community Day the most successful event we have ever had, Thank You!

All the figures are not in yet and we have not tallied the costs, but a preliminary gross for the event is close to $42,000. Based on previous years, net receipts should come in between $30,000 and $35,000, which is better than ever before. With the money the Volunteer Firefighters' Association already had on the books, we will now be able to make two of our three obligated payments on the new fire engine. (We're expecting delivery of this new "super" fire engine on 12/19/01.) The success of any small rural fire district is a community effort. You have all demonstrated your strong sense of community during the months preceding the event and at the event.

Bennett Valley Volunteer Firefighters: So far this year, we have participated in two "out-of-county strike teams." We do this for a number of reasons. This exposes our volunteers to actual firefighting situations and enhances their readiness for District emergencies. At the same time we are compensated by the Calif. Depart. of Forestry (CDF) for the truck time and mileage-- and, as you have probably guessed by now, the extra money is very welcome.

The "volunteer" firefighters also receive generous payment from the State and this certainly improves their morale. Page Two Lastly we get to "cross-pollinate" (which, admittedly, is probably more descriptive than technically accurate with other districts and agencies. This process keeps us fresh on the latest techniques and changes in tactics and strategy. It turns into a win-win situation. Other agencies know they have a reserve of skilled firefighters available from around the State, we are compensated for time and equipment and we retain the experience for our Bennett Valley fires.

Address Signs: Some of you are aware of the County requirement concerning street naming should a new residential unit be added to an existing "driveway." This has become an issue in some places in the Valley, and the Fire Department finds itself squarely in the middle of the issue. On one hand it is a lot easier for us to find an address if we can reference it by a street rather than a rack of signs with anywhere from 6 to 16 addresses displayed. On the other hand we can see no real reason to create street names like "Bennett Valley Vista View Terrace Estates" or whatever.

Speaking from an operational point of view, our goal is to respond as quickly as possible to the correct location and render the service needed. The compromise I suggest is the use of the county standard address signs. They are approximately 5x12 inches with the lettering about 3 inches high on a reflective green background with white reflective numbers. If there is more than one residence on a driveway we would like to see all the addresses on the street listed with these signs and then one additional sign at the particular driveway for each residence. If those conditions can be met, then the Bennett Valley Fire District would be delighted to send a letter to the county requesting a variance.

Now it's time for the commercial. Our Explorer Post makes and sells the signs as a way of supporting their activities. However the signs are available through any custom sign shop. Please remember, it's the signs that are important, not where you get them. On a dark stormy night these signs can make a real difference in our response.

Cheers!

Silent Auction Update Bennett Valley Community Day 2001 was a great deal of fun and the Silent Auction committee would like to recognize the volunteers that helped make our first silent auction effort a success. The following people need our thanks: Suzanne Dougherty*, Heather La Riviere, Patty Gundry, Larissa Goliti, Michael Cronin, Marie & Gary Gilbreth, Judy Temko, Linda Van Den Akker, Sandra Carr, Diane Miller, Marilyn Stocks, Peg & Ray Longman, Debbie Myers, Cindy Cunningham, Jane Roberts, Patty & Mike Hickey, Norm Boling, David Phillips, Dan Erickson, Terrie Lockwood, Tamara & Gordon Boultbee, Claudine Simpson, Tom Knox, Al Fecarotta and Bobbie Blair*. Also a thank you to Patty White for the flyers, Lee Babineau for the great sign on Bennett Valley and Grange Roads, and the Bennett Valley School District for the loan of easels for our signs.

Donna De La Briandais did a great job of organizing the live art events that were there to entertain and also to be used for donations. "Thankyou"s are in order to the Sonoma County Cultural Arts Council, Sylvia Seventy, Elisa Baker & Creative Reuse. The artists who participated in the Junk Art Wars were Len Mygatt, Stan Sommer, Karen Sommer, Lote Thistlethwaite, Frank LaCombe, Gail Eva Young, Deena Paulson, and John LaCombe. The Quick Draw of the fire fighter model, Devon Campbell, was done by Donna De La Briandais, Connie Mygatt, Michael Richie, and Joan Rowe. The Plein Air artists were Tamra Sanchez, Lorraine Leivas, Aline Thistlethwaite, Linda Ratzlaff, Lynette Lux-Caputo, Richard McDaniel, Denise Whitman-Traverso, Deborah Cuchman and Paula Smith. The artists who painted the picture canvas were Michael Richie, Donna De La Briandais, Karen & Stan Sommer, and Joanne Sferrati. Thanks to all of them who suffered in the warm sun that day. The largest "thank-you"s are, however, to all those who donated articles and services to be auctioned off, and to those of you who participated by bidding on those articles and donating money. We thank you very much for helping the firefighters earn much needed money toward a new fire engine and other safety equipment.

*And we give special thanks to Bobbie and Suzanne for this wonderful idea, combined with all their time, energy and excellent organizational skills! Editor This is Bennett Valley. Attached, you'll find the recently printed Bennett Valley pamphlet created to introduce Bennett Valley to prospective buyers as well as current Valley residents. For the last few years, Bennett Valley Homeowner's Association has been mailing out the "Bennett Valley Area Plan" to realtors with property listed for sale in Bennett Valley, but this has not proved successful. Many new buyers still had no information about or familiarity with the Bennett Valley Area Plan. This has continued to result in difficulty when these buyers later found out about limitations on development in Bennett Valley, many times after they had their plans for construction already drawn up.

Last year a group of ten Bennett Valley residents met together a number of times during about six months, as the "Bennett Valley Common Ground Committee" ', with the goal of working out differences about ways to protect and preserve Bennett Valley. At these group meetings, Frank LaCombe initially presented the idea of developing a very attractive pamphlet on Bennett Valley and the Bennett Valley Area Plan that realtors would want to pass out and people would want to read. Working together with Heather LaRiviere and Marilee Jensen, the three of them developed the attached pamphlet, with input received from Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department (PRMD) and the Board of Directors of Bennett Valley Homeowners Association. Throughout this process, Frank LaCombe provided strong direction about lay-out, photographs and what needed to be included in this pamphlet.

This pamphlet will now be distributed to everyone owning a parcel of land in Bennett Valley, PRMD (for distribution to people planning any construction in Bennett Valley), real estate agents with property listed for sale in Bennett Valley and real estate brokers. One real estate agent has already called to express his appreciation for this new pamphlet.

PRMD staff has also called to comment positively about this new Bennett Valley pamphlet. If you have any questions or would care for more copies of this pamphlet, please contact one of the "Informational Contacts" attached to the pamphlet: Frank at 585-3482, Heather at 522-0106 or Marilee at 576-0405.

Page Three

Matanzas Creek Community Stewardship Group Update The first field event for the Matanzas Creek Community Stewardship Group will be a walk along the lower portion of Matanzas Creek in Doyle Park, City of Santa Rosa. The topics to be discussed include creek and watershed processes, flooding and its causes, the impacts of roads, and the value of creek and riparian habitats. The creek walk will take place on Saturday, September 29th, from 10 am to 12 noon.

The Sotoyome Resource Conservation District (SRD) has identified three "study reach" areas in rural Bennett Valley along Matanzas Creek which have physical characteristics that would make them representative of the watershed above that point. In order to use any one of these study reach areas for monitoring, they need to receive access permission from the landowners along those parts of the creek. They have sent out "Landowner Access Authorization Agreements" to 17 landowners in Bennett Valley, for one year duration, requiring seven days notice prior to any access. So far, only three landowners have signed and returned these authorizations. Landowners are encouraged to consider agreeing to this access along Matanzas Creek. If you want more information about this process, please feel free to talk to Sierra Cantor at 569-1448 (SRD) or Marilee Jensen, 576-0405.

Due to the large size of the Matanzas Creek watershed, SRCD will be holding events and activities both on the study reach (Bennett Valley area and the lower portion of Matanzas Creek (City of Santa Rosa area. All landowners and residents in the watershed are welcome to attend any and all of the activities which interest them, regardless of location. If you are interested in receiving regular notification about these activities, you must be sure to contact SRCD at (707)569-1448 or through email at sotored@sonic.net in order to be added to their active list.

In addition to the creek walk in September, a quarterly meeting will be held in the evening on November 8, 2001. This meeting will include a status report of Matanzas Creek activities, winter monitoring opportunities, and discussion of community project priorities. Again, to receive details on this meeting, be sure to contact SRCD to remain on their active mailing list. In addition to receiving notification of Matanzas Creek events, you will receive the Sotoyome Resource Conservation District quarterly newsletter Bennett Valley Homeowner's Elections The Bennett Valley Homeowner's Association Bylaws state that, "Thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting... (by September 19th this year) a ballot containing the names and a briet resume of the candidates for the then-occurring vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be sent to all voting members." This year there are no candidates for the vacancies on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is considering reducing the number of directors who serve on the Board sometime this next year, but that will require an election. Watch for further notice.

Bennett Valley Visual Corridors Last month we had a write-up on the Bachman Appeal (to the Board of Supervisors) to get permission to build their new residence inside the visual corridor on their parcel of land in Bennett Valley, which is "prohibited" in the Bennett Valley Area Plan. Their first hearing was continued until August 28th, at which time the Bachmans' chose to withdraw their appeal. They have now decided they can find a satisfactory place to build their home on their parcel outside of the visual corridor. Visual Corridors in Bennett Valley can only be identified by markings on the Bennett Valley Critical Open Space map. Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department has a copy of this map and their staff can review this map with interested individuals to help identify where the visual corridor is depicted on any particular parcel of land.

Tentative BV Clean-up Day On Saturday, October 27th, we are scheduling a tentative BV Clean-up Day. Be sure to mark it on your calendar and then watch for the sign at the corner of Bennett Valley Road and Grange Road to confirm it. These clean-up days begin at the Bennett Valley Fire Station at 8:30 am, with big bags, orange vests, and gloves for picking up the litter left along the roads in Bennett Valley.

Appreciating a BV Hilltop Vineyard by Matt Phillips "I built that vineyard with total functionality in mind.if you look real close, you will find that the best form to follow is not something we as people can create. It is already there in front of us. There are no terraces and there are absolutely no changes to the way the land naturally flows. It is all just like it was before; I just changed what was on top of the soil...The fact that it came out looking pretty can be attributed to mother nature, not me." Page Four

Art On The Ridge

On Saturday, September 29th, from 10 am to 5pm, there are 14 Open Artist Studios, including work from 30 artists, on Bennett Ridge, as follows: A) 2969 Old Bennett Ridge Rd., Ruth Dicker, Pat Dicker, Paula Gregerson, Nicole Cowlin B) 2945 Old Bennett Ridge Rd., Monika Gabriel C) 2943 Old Bennett Ridge Rd., Mark Trombetta D) 2927 Old Bennett Ridge Rd., Donna De La Briandais E) 2800 Rollo Rd., Connie Sears F) 2728 Rollo Rd., Rom Berto, Monica Boettcher, Greg Hamilton, Lynda Reed G) 2755 Rollo Rd., Kate E. Black H) 2707 Benn. Ridge Rd., Karen & Stan Sommer I) 2663 Bennett Ridge Rd., Shane & Sally Weare J) 2750 Bardy Rd., Sherry Parker K) 2867 Bardy Rd., Kathy Jensen L) 2880 Bardy Rd., Colleen Cotten M) 2896 Bardy Rd., Connie Mygatt, Len Mygatt, Trish Power, Janis Kobe N) 2952 Bardy Rd., Pat Sherman, Jenifer Mattox, Nancy Rehg, Anne Irwin, Joy Lozano, Todd Barricklow The art being presented includes paintings, (watercolor, oil & pastel, and silk monotypes, drawings, sculpture, fused glass, unique jewelry, pastels & prints, drawings, prints, mixed media, collages, fine hand crafts, gourds, necklaces, metal sculpture, ceramics, quilted evening bags, handpainted drawer knobs, wrought iron deck tables, quilts, decorative boxes, and painted furniture. For further information, please call Connie Mygatt at 568-3010.

ARTrails The 16th annual Open Studio tour of Sonoma Co. artists takes place on two weekends: October 13-14 and 20-21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. FREE to the public. The three Open Studios in Bennett Valley are listed below: • Robert Nixon, Photography, 2759 Bennett Ridge Rd., 573-8641 • Donna De La Briandais, Watercolor and Oil Painting, 2927 Old Bennett Ridge Rd., 544-2153 • Kathleen Elsey, Landscape Acrylic Painting, 240 Sonoma Ridge Rd., 573-9492 For further information, please call 579-ARTS.

Sudden Oak Death - A Brief Summary (Phytophthora ramorum) This disease is caused by a previously unknown species of a phytophthora fungus which has killed large numbers of oak trees in some areas of central coastal California. After exhibiting the symptoms of this fungus, the tree may die within four months or live longer than a year or two, but when it dies there will be a "sudden" color change of the leaves from green to brown. There is also a possibility that the tree will not die, but this is an unknown at this time.

At this time three oak species have been identified as possibly being killed by this fungus: coast live oak, California Black oak, and Shreve oak, as well as the closely related tan oak. The primary symptom is bleeding or seeping of a dark viscous substance, the color of dried blood, near the trunk, base.

Secondary symptoms which may also occur when the tree does not have this fungus include reddish or tan-white fine, beetle boring dust resulting from bark and ambrosia beetles tunneling into the weakened tree and the appearance of dome-shaped bodies of Hypoxylon fungus on the bark of the tree, which start green but then turn charcoal black.

If the bleeding symptom is detected on one of your oak trees, you may want to consult with Steve Swain of the UC Cooperative Extension in Santa Rosa (565-3486), Bruce Hagen of the California Dept. of Forestry (576-2275) and/or a certified arborist, such as Rob Gross (942-9139). Up-to-date information may also be obtained at www.suddenoakdeath.org.

Insecticides to target the beetle may or may not be recommended. While they won't eliminate the underlying causal fungus, they may help increase the longevity of the tree. It is not currently known how this pathogen spreads, but to possibly help reduce its spread, clean soil from shoes, pets' paws, bicycle, and car tires when leaving an infected area. Avoid cutting down dead oak trees during the rainy season and don't transport infected or potentially infected oak wood to other areas. To help keep oak trees in good health, you should avoid disturbance of their root zones, prevent frequent irrigation and minimize injuries to the stem and lower limbs.

Limit any pruning to dead, dying and structurally unsound branches and prune during the dry summer months when the beetles and causal pathogens are least active. Page Five

Report on the BHA Board Meetings 2002 and possibly any other community meetings. The Board of Directors Agenda for each Finally the Board approved a motion that individual meeting is posted on a bulletin board at the BV Fire directors on the Board could not present their Station at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. The opinions as representing BHA unless and until the agenda includes a brief description of items for Board had approved that particular matter.

proposed action or discussion, and information on August 15th, 2001: Eight Board members the scope of the proposed action. were present at this meeting along with twelve other July 18th, 2001: Eight Board members Bennett Valley residents. At Public Input, Michael were present at this meeting plus sixteen other Cronin stated that he would like to see the BHA Bennett Valley residents. The meeting started out Board discuss and support the idea of raising taxes with two of the directors, Marilee Jensen and Lolly (a benefit assessment) for the Bennett Valley Fire Mesches, presenting Joe Stans and the BV Volunteer District. Marilee Jensen responded that a Citizens' Firefighters Association with a check for $500 from Committee is now formed and working with the BV the 2001 Calendar, a check for $50 from BHA, to Fire District Board in order to improve the stability help pay the cost of the paint for the storage shed and amount of funding for the Fire Station. The next door, the $50 monthly donation from BHA, for meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 17th, at use of their meeting room and the money from both 7:30 pm at Joe Stans' home and other BV citizens BHA and Bennett Ridge Community Assoc. for are encouraged to help with this effort. In the two new flags at the Fire Station.

monthly meeting report, it was stated that there are At Public Input Michael Cronin expressed two vacancies on the BV Fire District Board and his pleasure with the article in the VOICE by Joe two candidates have filed for these two positions: Stans regarding the possibility of increasing taxes Marie Nottingham, a well-qualified incumbent; and for the benefit of fire protection in the Valley. Bill Gil Moreno, who was with San Francisco Fire for Sullivan suggested Michael Cronin express his 30 yrs and retired as a captain. They will each be sentiments to the BV Fire Board, also. Joe Stans appointed as if elected, per the County policy, thus responded that the BV Fire Board is considering saving the added cost for an election. Next the BV placing this measure on the ballot, but that a tax Pamphlet was distributed and praised. It was increase needs to be approved by two-thirds of the proposed that BV Fire District funding and possible voters and having an election costs extra money.

tax increase be put on the web page to stimulate Nancy Dell'Ergo presented the Treasurer's conversation and ideas.* For the BV 2002 Calendar, Report and stated that Charles Schwab Checking August 31st was the last day to submit photos for would not require two signatures on each check, as consideration. In regards to the BHA elections, the Board had proposed. Instead, Bill Sullivan made Heather LaRiviere presented the idea, along with a motion which the Board unanimously approved legal reference to the State of Virginia in 1966, that stipulating that only three people on the Board could we could not require only dues-paying members to sign the checks: President, Secretary and Treasurer.

vote in BHA elections, despite the Bylaws to the In the monthly reports, it was reported that Greg contrary. This is being considered by legal counsel. Martin has left the BV Fire District and will not be Another issue brought up concerned what replaced. The BV Fire District Board is negotiating could be discussed at BHA Board meetings.

a new contract with Gold Ridge Fire District, as BHA has the mission of preserving the rural Greg's departure will bring about a big change in character & natural environment of the Valley as the cost paid by BV for firefighting personnel. well as being a community forum for BV residents.

There was discussion about the Sonoma Some of the things brought up for discussion may County General Plan update and people were not be items for any possible Board action, but encouraged to contact Scott Briggs at 565-1936 or rather just different personal ideas or concerns by.

sbriggs1@sonoma-county.org with any input they those in attendance. This "open forum" is being might have (such as better protection for oak trees encouraged by BHA. At the end of the meeting and re-classifying Grange/Crane Canyon Rd. as a David Phillips, submitted his letter of resignation "Rural Collector Road" to be used primarily for from the Board of Directors. Appreciation was intracounty use and more moderate speeds). The expressed for all of David's work, especially in Board approved the purchase of a community "flip regards to the recently developed BHA web chart" for up to $100, to be used for Bennett Valley page. *www.bennettvalleyhomeowners.org Page Six

2002 Bennett Valley Calendar! Order your 2002 Bennett Valley Calendar now. Next year's calendar features twelve stunning pictures of Bennett Valley from photos or paintings. If you didn't sign up at Jackson Park Community Day, please sign up at Bennett Valley Fire Station or call Suzanne, 542-1608 or Lolly, 545-8684.

Notice Of Citizens' Advisory Committee Meeting On Issues Identified For General Plan Update Meeting Date: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 Time: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm Location: PRMD Hearing Room, 2550 Ventura Ave., Santa Rosa The purpose of this notice is to let us know that the Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC) for the Sonoma County General Plan Update will be meeting to discuss the issues raised at the JulyAugust 2001 community meetings throughout the county, and to recommend to the Board of Supervisors the issues that should be incorporated into the General Plan Update. You are encouraged to get involved with this process and provide input at the CAC meeting. For more information, contact Scott Briggs, (565-1936; e-mail:sbriggs1@sonomacounty.org) at PRMD.

Bennett Valley Homeowner'S

Association (Bvha) Board Of

DIRECTORS P.O. Box 2666, Santa Rosa, CA 95405 Marilee Jensen, President & VOICE Editor, (576-0405 - phone # and FAX #) Michael Friedenberg, Vice-President (579-5310) Nancy Dell'Ergo, Treasurer(525-1202) Bobbie Blair, Recording Secretary & Mailing List Membership Coordinator 542-1608 Leanore (Lolly) Mesches, Corresponding Secretary, (545-8684) Jim Katon, Director (528-9487) Marilyn Stocks, Director (528-2458) Bill Sullivan, Director (528-6804) And thanks for all the help provided by so many other Bennett Valley residents in a number of different projects, including the Nominating Committee, editing and mailing out the VOICE, deciphering the e-mail to identify BV real estate for sale, and sending out the BV pamphlets for potential buyers.

BHA Board of Directors Tentative Agenda for the Next Meeting, 9/19/01 • Call to Order, Public Input, Approval of Minutes and Treasurer's Report • Monthly Reports: Board of Supervisors, BV Fire District, Matanzas Creek Watershed Group, Sonoma County Public Works & PRMD landuse applications • Old Business • Final report on the BV Volunteer Firefighters Community Day including Silent Auction oBV 2002 Community Forum - Next planning meeting, Saturday 9/22/01, 9 to 11 am, BV Grange Hall • Fire Committee Report • Water Committee Report • Bennett Valley 2002 Calendar • Grange Rd. Bridge Detailed Plans • BHA Elections Report • Oak Tree Update • New Business • None at this time

Bha Membership, 2001

Join us in keeping you informed of important issues, helping to preserve Bennett Valley, and providing opportunities for "open discussion" for the community. If you're not sure if you're a paid member or not, you can look at your mailing label. A check mark in the box indicates you have paid.

To join BHA,, just send $15 plus donations to Bobbie, BHA membership, 7373 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa, CA 95404.

Bennett Valley Fire Protection

District Board Of Directors

6161 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa 95404 *Wells Wagner, Chairman Lee O. Liddell *Marie Nottingham Matt Phillips Nola Stans Contact Kent Reynolds, Bennett Valley Fire Chief at 578-7761 for any input or questions. *These two positions are up for re-election this year See Page 6 for further information Page Seven

9997 000°d Bennett Valley Community Calendar 1.) Bennett Valley Homeowner's Association -The BHA Board of Directors meets the third Wednesday of each month, 7:30 pm, at the Bennett Valley Fire Station. The next three meetings are on September 19th, October 17th and November 14th (second Wednesday). These Board meetings are intended to be informal and an Open Forum for Bennett Valley residents. We encourage you to attend.

2.) Bennett Valley Fire Protection District -The Board of Directors meets the second Tuesday of each month, 7:00 pm, Bennett Valley Fire Station (September 11th, October 9th and November 13th). The Board of Directors, staff and volunteers encourage Bennett Valley residents to attend. 3.) Bennett Valley Grange - Spaghetti Dinner on October 20th, open to the public. Watch for further notification. If you have any questions, please call Bill & Patty Allen, 544-3721.

4.) Bennett Valley 2002 Community Forum - Join us for the next planning meeting on Saturday, September 22nd, 9 to 11 am, at Bennett Valley Grange Hall. We welcome your input. 5.) Sonoma Co. Outdoor Recreation Plan Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting # 33, September 12, 2001, 6 pm - 9 pm, PRMD Hearing Room, 2550 Ventura Ave., Santa Rosa. The public is welcome to attend. For further information, please contact Sonoma Co. Regional Parks at 565-2041.

6.) Sonoma County Board Of Supervisors meets every Tuesday (except on weeks when there is a holiday) at 575 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa. You can call 565-2241 for further information. Supervisor Mike Cale represents the 1st District, which includes both Bennett Valley and Sonoma Valley.