Bennett Valley Voice

Bennett Valley VOICE Inside This Issue

Volume 26, Number 2

Bennett Valley Homeowner's Association (BVHA)

March, 2003

Spring Is In The Air! "Spring time is right around the corner, and summer is not too far behind. Now is the best time to begin clearing any brush, and or dead plant material from around your homes. We are encouraging residents with any questions to invite us up for a "walk around" to point out any fire hazards that may pose a problem.

Fire Prevention is part of our service to the community and we are here to answer any questions residents may have to insure a safe fire season." Captain Jason Mallory Bennett Valley Fire Station, 578-8471 Measure Y's Immediate Results! Effective 2/1/03, the Bennett Valley Fire Protection District Board of Directors voted to raise the three full-time firefighters from $8.90 per hour to an average of $13 per hour.

Still to be implemented is the hiring of a "part-time" firefighter, M to F, 8 am to 5 pm, at $9.00 per hour and the stipend for two volunteers at $25 each, to sleep over at the fire station each night. By assuring two firefighters at the fire station, their response time is reduced and in the event of an emergency, additional lives may be saved.

To pay for these changes, the Sonoma County Treasurer/Tax Collector has sent all of the Bennett Valley property owners a bill for this Bennett Valley Fire "Direct Charge", approved by more than 75% of the Bennett Valley voters, effective 11/6/02. For the "typical home owner", this bill is for $78 and is due 4/10/03. If it is not paid by 4/10/03, there will be a 10% penalty of $7.80 plus a $15 cost, raising the total due to $100.80. (These figures are higher for those property owners with more than a single-family dwelling on their property.) Welcome Valerie Brown Everyone was very pleased with Valerie Brown's spontaneous presentation at the get-together on January 17th, at the Bennett Valley Grange Hall.

With about fifty Bennett Valley property owners in attendance, she shared details of her life in a very informal relaxed way, starting with her childhood in Missouri. As she responded following the event, "..I was delighted to see so many turn out on a Friday night to hear from their Supervisor. I enjoyed meeting new people and look forward to working with you all - don't worry about contacting me too much just keep me in the loop..." To contact Valerie Brown, send your letters to 575 Administration Dr., 95403 or your e-mail messages to vbrown @sonomacounty.org.

Following is a brief excerpt from an article in the SONOMA VALLEY VOICE Winter 2003, covering an interview with Valerie Brown: "... am very, very happy to be on the Board of Supervisors...l've always preferred the local level... I can tell you with all honesty that I love it here...l've never been in a position before where there are only two other votes that I need and nobody else represents my district... I get to solve problems. I get to make people happy. There are great rewards in that." To see the complete interview with Supervisor Brown go online to:< www.sonomavalleyvoice.com> Don't Forget BVHA Dues!

We're on target with last year's membership drive, but we still need more of you to step up to the plate and join the BV Homeowner's Association. We want people to feel they are a part of what goes on and to use BVHA as a forum to ask questions, pose new ideas or just meet some of your neighbors. Please choose to be a part of YOUR association so we can e strong and continue to fight to keep this great Valley a place we're all proud of. If vou haven't vel joined for 2003, be sure to cut out the membership form on pg. 7, and send with your check to Blair/Dougherty, 7373 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404.

Wildlife Friendly Fencing On February 6th, 2003, Allan Buckmann of the Department of Fish and Game made a presentation on fencing, the right and wrong ways of protecting your property/crops and co-existing with wildlife. The presentation was hosted by the Sonoma Ecology Center and those present represented a wide spectrum of interests.

not eat grape plants that are 3 years or older; however, if a urea type fertilizer is used, deer will eat any and all plants so fertilized. 6. To allow deer to avoid passing too closely to the roads, fences should be set well back.

7. Fencing should be located away from creek beds and riparian (waterway) corridors. Fences should not cross creek beds. Also, as possible, native habitat areas should not be fenced at all 8. To aid in releasing deer in an enclosed area, it Sometimes you need a security tence or "exclusionary" fencing to keep everything out, including wildlife, such as immediately around your house, garden, agricultural crop, etc. This is usually small-holed fencing, approximately 8 feet high, which will block all types of wildlife movement, preventing both large and small wildlife from reaching their sources for food & water. Because the profusion of exclusionary fencing is creating numerous problems for wildlife, you are encouraged to help preserve the wildlife balance in nature whenever possible. The following ideas are ways in which you may be able to use wildlife friendly fencing rather than exclusionary fencing.

is advisable to have corner gates where they can exit. They avoid exiting in other locations. 9. Some good examples of wildlife friendly fencing would be: • 3 or 4 horizontal pieces of wood or recycled plastic. • Open wire, as long as smooth wire is used both on top and bottom, with the bottom strand approximately 16 inches off the ground and the top of the fence no more than 5 feet above the ground with another strand about 10 to 12 inches above the top of the fence.

• With fine mesh fencing/horse fencing, the In general, "the best fence is no fence." However, bottom of fence should be 10 to 12 inches off the ground to allow for passage of smaller where fencing is needed, the following suggestions animals. Top with smooth wood/plastic.

should help "get it done right." 10. Deer have notoriously poor dimensional 1. Fencing that keeps wildlife out should be used perception. This perception problem can be used in only around house, garden, crop or at-risk farm creative ways to keep deer at bay. Deception/deer animals. It is preferable if you NOT use this for perception fencing include the following: perimeter fencing around your property.

2. For trespassing problems, use of wildlife • Staggered height picket-type fences tend to obstructing fencing is better used only in short confuse deer because of the uneven top. stretches, where possible, giving would-be • Small monofilament fishing line can be used to trespassers the impression of full enclosure.

enclose small areas - deer cannot see the fine 3. For dogs, use a fence under 5 ft. high and line, they touch it and are frightened away. bury some of the fence, or use an "invisible fence" • The top section of fence can be angled outward with a buried electric wire to contain.

(toward deer) as the deer won't jump when they 4. For livestock protection (from dogs & coyotes) can't judge the depth. you can use a short fence of large mesh that Other Wildlife Information: reaches the ground or is partially buried. It is No fence is 100% deer proof....Deer are a preferable to limit any added wire to one wire only, at favorite of lions. It is almost impossible to fence out least 12 inches above the fencing. Typical livestock mountain lions; however, keeping fences away from fencing with double strands of wire at the top is trees help...Dogs that stay outside at night are good especially dangerous for deer, particularly if not well deer deterrents.Property owners need to be maintained and kept taut. When the bottom of the proactive in planning wildlife friendly fencing... Black two wires is not right on top of the fencing, the deer's tail deer population is down probably due to legs can become entangled, resulting in injury or hemorrhagic disease as well as loss of habitat...

even death. This type of fence, which is usually 6 ft. Coyotes are not "all bad." They help maintain high, will not keep out adult deer that can jump up to balance in nature by feeding on bird predators 8 feet, but will keep out fawns, thereby separating thereby protecting bird populations...The wild them from their mothers.

turkeys we see are not native but descendents from 5. Habitat corridors are critical between those dumped into the wild years ago...Feral pigs vineyards and other large-scale crops. In years past, carry all kinds of diseases as well as destroy habitat. a small perimeter for nibbling by deer was included For more answers, contact Allan Buckmann in the unfenced vineyards. NOTE: Deer generally will @<abuckmann@dfg.ca.gov.> or call 944-5500.

Seasons Begin For 2004 Calendar!!! March is here with green fields, blooming flora and colors of Spring to be captured in photographs and paintings. Snap your pictures, paint your canvases and submit your images for the 2004 calendar. Deadline for all entries will be August 31st. Entry forms will be in the May and July VOICEs. Contact Suzanne Dougherty (542-1608) or Judy Temko (544-0234) for further information.

Painting Exhibition In The Barn

Please join me for my fourth annual open studio on beautiful Sonoma Mountain. Saturday & Sunday, April 5 & 6, 2003 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Take Sonoma Mountain Road 4.2 miles to 5412 Sonoma Mountain Ra. My barn is on the right at 240 Sonoma Ridge Road. For more information, please call 573-9492.

You can preview my paintings by visiting www.elsey.com. Hope to see you there. Kathleen Elsey

Please Be Sure To Let Us Know!

At the last BVHA Board of Directors meeting, it was suggested that we have speakers on areas of common interest at our meetings, such as septic tanks, disaster preparedness, wildlife friendly fencing, etc. Please be sure to let someone on the BVHA Board of Directors (see pg. 5) know about any topic about which you would be especially interested. These would be one hour presentations before our regular meeting at the BV Fire Station. Thanks!

Special Bennett Valley Activities Watch for signs and further details along Bennett Valley Road and/or at the BV Fire Station. • Saturday, April 12th is Bennett Valley "Clean-Up Roads" Day! The Spring Clean-Up Roads Day in Bennett Valley is scheduled for Saturday, April 12th, 2003. This will begin at 8:30 am at the Bennett Valley Fire Station. Coffee and donuts will be served.

Once again we are asking for volunteer residents to spend a few hours to help eliminate the litter on Bennett Valley roads. Please remember to wear sturdy shoes, gloves and hats for sun protection. BVHA provides pick-up sticks, to help reduce the need to bend over to pick-up the litter, and safety vests. We'll ask CHP to also travel the roads to help monitor the speed of passing vehicles. We'd really appreciate your help cleaning up the Bennett Valley roads!

• Saturday, April 26th, Bennett Valley Grange Hall Spaghetti Dinner, 5 to 8 pm. Adults $7; Children, $4; free up to 4 yrs. It's delicious spaghetti, so join us for dinner! You can choose Pesto Sauce, Vegetable Sauce and/or Traditional Marinara Sauce on your spaghetti, along with green salad, french bread and beverage. If you have any questions, please call Bill or Patty Allen at 544-3721.

• Sunday, April 27th, Bennett Valley Volunteer Firefighters, BV Fire Station Pancake Breakfast, 7 am until 12 noon. Adults, $7; Children, $5; free up to 4 yrs. of age. Great pancakes, eggs, ham, orange juice and coffee, all morning! If you have any questions please call 578-8471.

Support Bennett Valley Schools! Severe budget cuts are threatening school enrichment programs in the public schools all around us. You can help support these programs in the elementary schools serving Bennett Valley by making donations to either "Bennett Valley Education Foundation, c/o BV Unified School District, 2250 Mesquite Dr., Santa Rosa, 95405." or "Schools Plus, P.O. Box 14714, Santa Rosa, 95402. "To help the schools serving the 7th-12th grade students in this same area, send your donations to "Schools Plus", as listed above. Any help is very much needed and appreciated!

NOTES: Bennett Valley Fire Station • The Bennett Valley Explorers, high school students in firefighting training each week, will be attending one week of intensive training from April 13th through April 19th in Downey, CA. The funds for this very worthwhile training have been raised through donations and the sale of Explorer Address Signs. Our three full-time firefighters were each Explorers when they were in high school, so this is an excellent source for additional firefighters, both volunteers and paid staff. Don't forget to order your Explorer Address Signs @ only $12.50. (578-8471) • The Bennett Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association has just recently purchased a new Automatic External Heart Defibrillator, compatible with the ones used by ambulance companies. It will save the BV Fire District a great deal of money in terms of maintenance.

The battery on the older defibrillator had to be recharged all the time and the electrodes had to be thrown away each time it was used. Now, once the firefighters attach the defibrillator to a person having possible heart problems, they can exchange their electrodes with the ones used by the ambulance once it arrives. This newer defibrillator does not require any maintenance.

The firefighters are all being trained in attaching this defibrillator with the hand-held remote control unit. The cost of this new defibrillator purchased by the BV Volunteer Association was close to $3,800; money from your generous donations. It is another potential life saver which did not need to come out of the BV Fire Protection District's budget.

• In order to save funds, all the Fire Districts in Sonoma County except Petaluma and Rohnert Park have been in the process of changing from using the County Central Dispatch for their 911 calls to a new system; Redwood Empire Dispatch Communications Authority or REDCOM. This new dispatch system uses a Computer-Aided System (CAD) which is more efficient in notifying the fire districts exactly what vehicle is needed where, from which fire districts), for each particular fire. The County was charging $40 for each 911 call received, but REDCOM charges a flat monthly rate for each Fire District and the cost is considerably less.

Also this dispatch system is on the same channel as the ambulances, so there can be direct communication with the firefighters instead of going through two dispatchers, as was previously done. As Kent Reynolds, the Fire Chief, said in a recent memo to "All Personnel", "Plan on lots more REDCOM and CAD training in the near future as well. Here we go..." • Effective October 1, 2002, there are newer stricter requirements for Burn Permits from the Bay Area Air Management Quality District.

The new requirements will be strictly enforced and may result in a VIOLATION TICKET which may carry significant financial penalties. A brief review of some of the requirements follow: You can no longer be issued a burn permit for dead limbs around your property. You'll have to get rid of them by using a chipper or hauling them away.

In order to burn FRUIT AND NUT CROP PRUNING, you must prove through DOCUMENTATION that you are in the GAINFUL

Occupation Of The Agriculture Business,

defined as making a financial profit or loss within the last year. Examples of LEGAL material in a qualifying AGRICULTURE OPERATION burn pile are: fruit and nut crop pruning such as vine canes and apple orchard branches. Examples of ILLEGAL material: processed lumber, plastic, garbage, non-fruit or nut crop vegetation, etc. In addition to having a burn permit as may be required by local Fire Official, qualifying burners must comply with the following:

1.) Burn May Take Place Only On A Permissive

BURN DAY (Call 1-800 HELP-AIR for the burn forecast for that day) and 2.) CANNOT be ignited before 10 am and

3.) No Smoke Shall Be Rising From The Pile By

SUNSET THAT DAY (hot coals are permissible) and 4.) All material shall be reasonably dry prior to burning and 5.) PILE SIZE BASE AREA shall be limited to NO GREATER than 25 yd. (approximately 17 feet in diameter for a circular pile), and the pile HEIGHT shall be AT LEAST 2/3 of the average width of the pile.

Other types of burning which may be approved. after meeting very specific conditions and documentation, include Hazardous Material, Range Management, Disease & Pest, and Crop Replacement burns. If you have any questions, please call Bay Area Air Quality Management District, at (415) 749-4979.

Bennett Valley Fire Protection District Board of Directors 6161 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa (707) 578-7761 Matt Phillips, Chairman Dan Felciano, Deborah Haarstad Mark Richardson, Nola Stans The Board meetings are on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, at 7:00 pm. at the BV Fire Station. The dates for the next two months are as follows; April 8th and May 13th. Everyone is welcome to attend.

If you have any questions, you can call the Bennett Valley Fire Chief, Kent Reynolds or the Assistant Chief, Andy Pforsich, at (707) 578-7761. Transition to New Fire Chief As mentioned last month, Kent Reynolds will be retiring effective 4/30/03. Assistant Chief Andy Pforsich will be taking Kent's place as the Fire Chief, effective May 1st. Kent is committed to helping with this process and will be acting as Andy's consultant through this transition period extending until 12/31/03.

Renegotiation Of Contract Between Gold Ridge And Bennett Valley The contract between Gold Ridge Fire District and Bennett Valley Fire District needs to be renegotiated prior to July 1st. Andy Pforsich will be meeting with the two Boards to get the negotiations started. Gold Ridge has appointed a committee to address this renewal for administrative and operational support to Bennett Valley Fire Protection District. At the next Bennett Valley Board meeting on 3/11/03, a twoperson committee will be appointed to meet and negotiate with this Gold Ridge committee.

Bennett Valley Mail Theft In the last few months we have heard complaints about mail theft from rural Bennett Valley mailboxes. At the January BVHA Board meeting, some mail thefts which had occurred on Jamison Road were discussed. These thefts generally occurred shortly after the mail delivery, in the late afternoon or evening, and even included bolt-cutting of some padlocks. Another mail theft occurred from a Bennett Valley Road mailbox in February and has resulted in credit card charges now being made by unauthorized users. Possible solutions include picking up your mail soon after it comes, when you can, or renting a private or U.S. Post Office locked mail box in town.

Brief Summary of BVHA Board Meeting, January 15th, 2003 Some of the items discussed included the Douglas firs in Annadel State Park which had been cut down earlier in the year in those areas where they were intruding on native oak and madrone trees. Recently these piles of trees were being burned, thus resulting in smoke in the area.

It was reported that Friends of Bennett Valley Fire had $2,041.76 in donations remaining, after paying the expenses of the successful campaign for the special BV Fire tax. This money has now been donated to the BV Volunteer Firefighters. The BVHA Board passed a motion (8 to 1) to meet only every other month throughout the year, on an experimental basis. This will be in the same month in which the VOICE is sent out (i.e. the odd months). The meetings will continue to be on the third Wednesday, 7:30 pm, at the BV Fire Station. If there is an issue which needs a decision sooner, then a postcard will be sent out to all BHA members, announcing a special meeting.

The Board also authorized immediate acceptance of annual liability insurance for the BVHA Board of Directors, to a maximum annual cost of $1,300. It was agreed that the proposed 2003 presented by Helen Bates, Treasurer, could absorb this added cost with no significant cuts. The 2003 budget was then approved by the Board with some modifications. For more details on this meeting, please contact Bobbie Blair, Recording Secretary.

Bennett Valley Homeowner'S

Association (Bvha) Board Of Directors

P.O. Box 2666, Santa Rosa, CA 95405 BVHA Web-Page <bennettvalleyhomeowners.org> Marilee Jensen, President & VOICE Editor (576-0405; phone # and FAX #) Michael Friedenberg, Vice-President (579-5310) Helen Bates, Treasurer (695-8760) Bobbie Blair, Recording Secretary & Mailing List/Membership Coordinator (542-1608) Leanore (Lolly) Mesches, Corresponding Secretary (545-8684) Eric Burns, Director, Web-Page Coordinator (584-7531) Jennifer Combs, Director (546-1190) Tim Murphy, Director (542-7114) Marilyn Stocks, Director (528-2458) BHA Mission Statement: "Committed to promoting & preserving the rural character and natural environment of Bennett Valley."

Sudden Oak Death Field Day Saturday, 17 May 2003, 10 am to 2 pm California Academy of Sciences Pepperwood Preserve (Per Rob Gross, Arborist, THE most biologically impressive and aesthetically attractive site in the region!) 3750 Franz Valley Rd (15 miles east of Santa Rosa) Everyone welcome. No charge. Learn the latest about Sudden Oak Death in a fun & attractive setting. Call (707) 942-9139 with any questions.

Sonoma County General Plan Update The full Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC) for the Sonoma County General Plan Update will hold a meeting on March 20th (5:30 to 9 pm to hear the recommendations for the Agricultural Processing & Support Services, and Agricultural Tourism. On March 18th (4 pm), there is a CAC subcommittee meeting on the Riparian Corridor/Biological Habitat.

For more information, please call Scott Briggs,

Prmd, 565-1936.

Bennett Valley Homeowners Membership! Below we've listed new members as well as those who've sent in extra money along with their dues to BVHA. This is your Valley and it is very important that you know what is going on, what changes are happening, what changes are needed and how we can maintain this beautiful, rural area we all love, while still moving with the times. The VOICE is a very easy, simple, first step for keeping up with this information. At this time the VOICE is sent to all residents of the Valley, 6 times a year, and we need your financial support to make this possible. Right now 105 of our BVHA member households receive their VOICE by e-mail at a savings of $233.10 per year in postage alone, and that definitely helps, too! Please be sure to send us your financial support along with any ideas you have, on Page 7. Thanks!

A Big WELCOME To The Following New Members For 2003. These are first time members or people who rejoined after being gone for a while. Thanks for your support! Raymond & Mary Frye-Visco, Ken Hunt, Tom & Andrea Rosner, Sean & Lynette Dryer McAlvain, Richard Tipton, John & Jeanne DeLario, Darrell & Verduso, Robert Adams, Robert Benavides, Tom & Linda Morrissey, Glenn & Susan Rankin, Kirsten Gross, Douglas & Judith Webb, Pat & Mary Lee Hames, Chris Gralapp, Lloyd & Cathy Miglio, Ted & Britta Jacobson, Edwin & Gloria Mack, Tim & Carolyn Ferris, Brent & Sue Zerull, Tom Knox & Al Fecarotta, Jess Jackson, Joyce & Donald Hoffman, Louise & David Mason, Jane Marx & David Dammuller, Marie & Peter Young, Theresa & Guido Farina, Steve McConnell, Lynda & Roland Wilson, Carl Hendel, Michael Repko, Kathleen & Robert Bellino, Karen & John De Groot, Mary Capecci, Stan & Karen Sommer, Mark & Kiyo Tukman, David & Winifred Tierney, Eugene Draper A Big THANK YOU To The Following People Who Sent In Extra Money Along With Their Dues!

This helps us tremendously in keeping you informed, with an eye on what's happening. Philip Lyons, Mike & Foster Beigler, Raymond & Mary Frye-Visco, Yvette & Elise Fallandy, Eliz. Landrus, Paul Jonhson & Liz Gawron, Ruth Dicker, Marilee Jensen & Frank Nye, Steve & Monica Lang, James Caudill, Richard Tipton, Tom Dicker, Darrell & Catherine Verdusco, Maurine Caplinger, Kate & Sandford Dickey, Robert Adams, Mike & Patty Hickey, Ron Wallmer, Dean Linscott & Anita Engberg, Lynn & Daniel Erlach, Joseph Ficurelli, Warren & Fran Masson, Joe & Gail Judge, Ray & Peggy Longman, Richard & Loria Rolander, Elizabeth & Douglas Campbell, Douglas & Judith Webb, David & Jean Olson, Kathryn Gaehwiler, Edwin & Gloria Mack, Tim & Carolyn Ferris, Tina Finali & Tony Schukle, Carol Guanella, Roy & Carol Michelis, Jim & Janet Alfieri, Jim & Jinx Coops, Judith & Ronald Simpson, John & Roberta Phillips, Linda Cudlin, Mike & Deb Pavone, Doug & Georgina Noren, Walter Price & Robert Murillo, Patty Gundry & Sandra Carr, Richard & Sylvia Gerloff, Robert & Michelle Friend, Les & Donna DeLaBriandais, George & Catherine Mangan, Carolyn & Joe Keith, Donald & Joyce Hoffman, Donald D'Avanzo & Deborah Solomon, Ronald & Annie Meintz, Kate Black & Michael Star, Susan & Robert Melberg, Jon & Jok Legallet, Sharon & Bob Sorani, Stephanie & Mathew Molteni, Carol & Bruce Henson, David Phillips & Print Cates, Yvonne Martin, Carl Hendel, Karen & John De Groot, Connie & Leonard Mygatt, Patti & Mark White, Rob & Nancy Dell'Ergo.

Bennett Valley Homeowner'S Association (Bvha)

Annual Membership Dues, 2003

Please cut out this form and mail with your check for the annual BVHA dues of $15, plus any donation you're willing to make, to Blair/Dougherty, 7373 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, so that we may continue to pursue our mission. Please note we have your name and address on the other side of this form, where the mailing label is attached.

Be sure to circle Yes below, if you want to receive the VOICE electronically, rather than through the mail, and enter your e-mail address. THANKS! Please circle one of the following: E-mail address Telephone # We also want to hear from you, so please be sure to include any comments or concerns you might have or any corrections or additions we should make to your name(s) , address, or telephone #. If you don't have enough room, use additional paper. Thanks!

Comments/Changes: -- cut here--. The Board of Directors' Agenda for each meeting is posted on a bulletin board at the BV Fire Station and on the BVHA web-page, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. The agenda includes a brief description of items for discussion or proposed action, and information on the scope of the proposed action.

BVHA Board of Directors Tentative Agenda For Meeting on Wednesday, 3/19/03, 7:30 pm • Call to Order, Public Input, Approval of Minutes and Treasurer's Report, Including 2003 Final Budget • Monthly Report: Board of Supervisors, Open Space District, Matanzas Creek Watershed Group, Sonoma County Public Works & PRMD Old Business.

• Bennett Valley Calendar Sales • BVHA Articles of Incorporation; Revisions and Process for Enacting Changes • Discussion On Proposed Activities For New Bennett Valley Residents • BVHA Web-page; Changes and Updates • Suggested Speakers, BVHA Board of Directors' Meetings • BVHA Board of Directors' Liability Insurance, effective 2/1/03 • Screening of Water Tank at Fire Station New Business • Defining what is or is not to be allowed as "advertising" in the VOICE.

Bennett Valley Community Calendar Be sure you get these dates on your calendar! 1.) Bennett Valley Homeowner's Association -The BVHA Board meets the third Wednesday, every other month (January, March, May, July, September and November), 7:30 pm, at the BV Fire Station. The next meetings are on March 19th and May 21st, 2003, both on Wednesday at 7:30 pm. You can check our web-page at <bennettvalleyhomeowners.org> for more information about BVHA meetings. Everyone is invited to attend these Board meetings.

2.) Bennett Valley Fire Protection District -The Board of Directors meets the second Tuesday of each month, 7:00 pm, at the Bennett Valley Fire Station. The next two meetings are on April 8th and May 13th, 2003. Everyone is also invited to attend the Bennett Valley Fire District Board of Director meetings.

3.) Bennett Valley "Clean-Up Roads" Day, Saturday, April 12th, 8:30 am, BV Fire Station. Please join us! 4.) Bennett Valley Grange #16, Everyone is invited on Saturday evening, April 26th, from 5 to 8 pm, for a great spaghetti dinner at Grange Hall, as described in more detail on Page 3. Also, watch for the sign at the corner of Grange Road and Bennett Valley Road the week before the event.

5.) Bennett Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association Pancake Breakfast, Everyone is invited to come with guests & friends for this great breakfast on Sunday, April 27th, 7am until noon as described in more detail on page 3. Watch for the signs along Bennett Valley Road the week before the event.

6.) Sonoma County Board Of Supervisors meets every Tuesday (except on weeks when there is a holiday) at 575 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa. Valerie Brown is the Supervisor for our First District. You may call her or Lynn Morton-Weil, her Aide, at 565-2241, if you have any questions or concerns.

Page Two Page Three Page Four Page Five Page Six Page Seven Special BV Activities Support BV Schools BVHA Meeting, Board of Directors Sudden Oak Death Field Day Sonoma Co. General Plan Update BVHA Membership; Welcome & Thanks BVHA Dues Form BVHA Agenda, Next Meeting Bennett Valley Homeowner's Association P.O. Box 2666 Santa Rosa, CA 95405 BVHA web-page <bennettvalleyhomeowners.org> BVHA Mission Statement: 'Committed to promoting & preserving the rural character and natural environment of Bennett Valley." Return Service Requested

Help Clean-Up Bv Roads!

April 12th, 8:30 am, BV Fire Station