Bennett Valley Voice

Bennett Valley VOICE www.bennettvalleyhoa.org

Volume 34, Number 2

Bennett Valley Homeowner'S Association (Bvha)

March, 2011

Poetic Description of Spring in Our Valley All at once I saw a crowd, a host, of golden daffodils • Beside the lake, beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in the breeze • Continuous as the stars that shine and twinkle on the milky way, they stretched in never-ending line along the margin of a bay• Ten thousand saw I at a glance, tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they out-did the sparkling waves in glee • A poet could not but be gay, in such a jocund company. I gazed - and gazed - but little thought, what wealth the show to me had brought • And then my heart with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils.

Excerpts from Wm. Wordsworth's poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" You will enjoy fascinating presentations on Natural History and Protecting your Home Against Wildfires at the May 19th BVHA meeting. Thinking like an Oak: How Bennett Valley has changed over the last 200 years and what it means for our future.

Presented by Arthur Dawson, historical ecologist at the Sonoma Ecology Center. Arthur has worked for over ten years reconstructing the ecological history of Sonoma Valley, the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Pepperwood Preserve and other areas in Sonoma County and beyond. Using historical maps and photos, 1gth century land surveys, explorers' journals, newspaper articles, and oral histories, he is able to create a detailed "story of the land." Arthur has a degree in natural resources and biology, and has collaborated with many local, regional, and national organizations and agencies, including California Fish and Game, and the National Park Service.

that lead to home loss and how to prioritize a plan for a wildfire-compatible home. Wildland fire is a natural part of our environment. Here's a great opportunity to learn to live with it! Fire Safe Sonoma's Chippers Ahoy! Project supplies free chipper services to residents improving defensible space.

Come to the meeting or visit www.firesafesonoma.org to learn more. For your questions, local firefighters will also be on hand. BV Emergency Preparedness Work Day at the Grange By Karen Sommer "The Wildfire Wise Acre: Learning to Live with Wildfire." Presented by Caerleon Safford, from Fire Safe Sonoma.

Recent research has shown that, during wildland fires, more homes burn because of very small windblown embers than because of a large flaming fire front. Caerleon is passionate about teaching residents how to recognize the risk factors-small and large-We have scheduled a work party to complete the emergency storage container located at the Grange.

The date for this party is Sunday, May 1st at 10:00 am. We have lots to do that includes: • Washing and painting the outside of the container. • Stocking the container with emergency shelter and first aid supplies. • Building a lattice wall on one side to make it attractive from the street side.

We will have information available for your own home survival kits and how to best prepare for an earthquake. And for those who will be working with us, we will be providing lunch and drinks. (Continued on next page)

Supplies Needed for the Emergency Storage Container at the Grange; Can You Help? (Continued from First Page) If you want to donate any items listed below or want to! help with this project and have skills and equipment to beautify the container, please contact me, Karen Sommer, at ksommer11@earthlink.net or phone me at 528-8982. We need whatever help we can get.

We are collecting supplies for the Emergency Storage container that include the following: • Miscellaneous survival items such as large storage containers for supplies, trash barrels, buckets, large tow chain, pry bars, metal hold down spikes, and tarps • Packaged first aid supplies such as gauze, tape, dressings, disinfectants, exam gloves, face masks, etc.

• Shelter supplies that include clean blankets, cots, i clean towels, flashlights and batteries, work gloves, plastic trash bags, lanterns, goggles, pocket knifes, reflective tape, duct tape, nylon rope and children's games • Tools: Hatchet/hammer, 15" saw, 9 1/2" bear saw, vise grip, scissors, utility knife, multifunction screwdriver and 30 pc. Screwdriver set.

2011 Bv Calendar Theme

"Bennett Valley Wild"

"Wild thing, you make my heart sing" Part of the charm and excitement of living in Bennett Valley are the wild things among us. We are so fortunate that we can live in "civilization" right next door to WILD animals of all kinds. They chirp us awake in the morning, they make exotic sounds at night, they hop and gallop across our fields, they hide and nest in the strangest of places, they drink from our bird baths, they eat our plants and dig up our gardens - they never fail to intrigue us in so many ways.

The Bennett Valley Calendar is our very own yearly album of our valley, a daily reminder of what we all share. Next year, 2012, we're going WILD - capturing, if only briefly, our wildest neighbors on camera! CALL OF THE WILD: Bennett Valley photographers of all ages: start your hunt, and snap the WILD among us.

Specifications for photos: • Subject matter: wild animals (which includes birds, insects, fish, amphibians, etc) Domesticated Bennett Valley Road Maintenance animals, as adorable as they may be, must be excluded. Update By Craig S. Harrison Until the storm season is over, the Sonoma County • Digital jpegs are preferable (300 dpi or larger), but film (prints) will be accepted. Horizontal format preferred.

Transportation and Public Works Department continues to be primarily devoted to fixing potholes, removing downed trees and clearing drainage culverts. • If prints are sent, they should be 5"x7" at the minimum. The California Department of Forestry has finished! • You may submit as many as 5 entries per person.

brushing Bennett Valley Road, which completes this! ongoing activity in the Bennett Valley area. The county completed the construction of a viaduct on Sonoma • Deadline for submission: August 31. Mountain Road near Bottasso Court in January and will repair a guard rail on Bennett Valley Road near Matanzas Creek sometime during the next month or SO.

It's not too early to send your photographs (pegs) to the Calendar Committee at sparker@ix.netcom.com. Or, you can send your photographs by mail to: Calendar County road crews will likely mow the sides of roads! Committee, 2750 Bardy Road, Santa Rosa, CA. during April and May. With continued budget cuts it!

95404. If you have any questions, please call will be another very difficult year for road! Sherry Parker at (707) 528-6176. maintenance. Other than emergency or safety projects, the county road crews have been directed to In advance, we thank you for your support of our focus on the 150 miles of priority roads that the Board annual Bennett Valley Calendar. Proceeds go to of Supervisors identified in October 2010. The only i various community programs such as Emergency road so designated in our area is the Grange-Crane i Preparedness activities.

Canyon Road. 2

Natural History Docent Training at Bouverie Preserve By Karen Sommer Spring Clean-Up BV Roads Day Saturday, March 26, 8:30 am has been chosen for the next Clean-up Bennett Valley Roads Day.! We'll meet at the fire station and refreshments will: Over the past few years Bennett Valley be served. Don't forget to wear sturdy shoes, gloves Homeowner's Association has had some very and a hat for sun protection. This isn't necessarily a strenuous chore! BVHA provides orange safety vests interesting and well-attended natural history and "pick-up sticks", that are a great help in talks, which have been entertaining, as well as preventing sore backs. MORE VOLUNTEERS ARE!

educational, on subjects such as geology, birds, ALWAYS NEEDED, so please join us, and bring along and wildflowers. If these subjects whetted your other family members or friends. Middle school and: appetite for more, you may want to learn about high school students who volunteer will qualify for!

the docent training program for the Elementary hours toward their "volunteer time" school; requirement. School Environmental Education Program at the You'll see a sign on Bennett Valley Road, across; 535-acre Bouverie Nature Preserve in Glen Ellen. from the golf course, as a reminder. If it rains, this Children are guided by docents who know about event will have to be rescheduled, so please phone; birds, trees, creeping and furry creatures, etc., and Sandy Sandine, 579-0282, for questions or to how to effectively communicate with them. If you!

confirm date and time. We really do appreciate; are interested in natural history and want to share! those residents who come out to help keep our! your excitement and knowledge with children, community roads free from litter! consider becoming a Bouverie Preserve docent. Two information meetings are scheduled for May 25 and June 15 to introduce prospective volunteers to the 23-week docent training program, to prepare volunteers to become Bouverie Preserve docents, who host thousands of schoolchildren each year. Docents visit the classroom then lead small groups of children on the trails at the preserve.

You not only learn things about natural history, but you also have the opportunity for ongoing education, hiking privileges at various Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR) properties, and spending time with those who have similar interests. Bouverie Preserve Docent Training starts Sept. 7, 2011, and is held every Wednesday (holidays excluded) through February 22, 2012. The cost of the docent training course is $135 to cover training materials. Scholarships are available.

There is more information at www.egret.org, (707) 938-4554 or bouverie@egret.org. The Bouverie Preserve is part of the ACR nature properties, which includes the Cypress Grove Research Center on Tomales Bay and the 1,000acre Martin Griffin Preserve at Stinson Beach, which has an important Great Egret and Great Blue Heron nesting colony. They've also reached an agreement to acquire the 1,725-acre Modini Ranch property, located in the Mayacamas Mountains in Sonoma County.

3 Bennett Valley Mountain Lion Attack, January 31, 2011 Two neighbors reported in the first week of February that a mountain lion had killed two goats off Sonoma Mountain Road, about 1½ mile from the BV Fire Station, apparently during the night on January 31. Nobody saw anything, but in the morning, the owner found the goats. Sonoma County Animal Control apparently came out to verify that the goats had been killed by a mountain lion.

In the November, 2007 VOICE, an article from the Press Democrat, dated October 11, 2007, reported that the Sheehan family on Crane Canyon Road had lost 10 sheep to mountain lions since May, five of them in October. Wikipedia under The followin« cougars, also known as pumas, general information is from mountain lions... or panthers." The cougar is a secretive reclusive cat which generally avoids people.

Attacks on humans are rare but children are at greatest risk of attack and least likely to survive an encounter. A successful generalist predator, the cougar will eat any animal it can catch, including pets, but deer, horses and domestic livestock are their primary food base in many areas. As with many predators, a cougar may attack if cornered, if a fleeing human stimulates their instinct to chase, or if a person "plays dead". Exaggerating the threat to the animal through intense eye contact, loud but calm shouting, and any other action to appear larger and more menacing, may make the animal retreat. Fighting back with sticks and rocks or even bare hands is often effective in persuading an attacking cougar to disengage.

You can call Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, at 526-9453 if you see a mountain lion. If you're feeling more urgency, call the Sheriff's office at 565-2121.

Bennett Valley Fire Protection District 6161 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Non-Emergency Business Phone: 578-7761 Board of Directors: Mark Richardson, President; Joseph Mazeau, Vice-President; Marilee Jensen, Secretary; Arnie Tognozzi, and Don D'Avanzo, Directors. Board meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday each month, 7:00 pm, at the BV Fire Station.

Please confirm meeting date ahead of time. Bennett Valley Paid Firefighting Staff: Fire Chief: Andy Pforsich, 823-1084 48-hour Personnel: Lieutenants Kevin Burris, Matt Tognozzi and Danny Connelly Daytime Firefighters, 8:00am to 5:00pm: Engineers Patrick Tognozzi, Brian Drees and Ronnie Lakin Permanent Part-time Firefighters, 8:00am to 5:00pm Firefighters Mike Alcocer, Ly Leng and John Matej Bennett Valley Volunteers BV Firefighters are supported by as many as twenty-five trained firefighting volunteers. Three rotating shifts of three volunteers each are paid to sleep overnight at the Fire Station, for improved coverage. During the day, interns are also used when available, allowing the fire station to have the ideal fourth on-duty firefighter at times.

Bennett Valley Fire Protection District Call Activities January/February, 2011 By Lieutenant Kevin Burris Medical Aids: 22 Vehicle Accidents: 8 Structure Fires: 4 Alarm Soundings: 1 Hazardous Conditions: 3 Total: 38 Home fires often occur during the cold months due to dangerous heating equipment or unsafe practices.

Here are some important safety tips to help keep your home safe and warm for the remainder of this cold winter: • Never use flammable liquids or excessive amounts of paper to start or accelerate a fire. • Charcoal gives off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide. Do not burn it indoors.

• Keep flammables away from heat sources. Wood stoves require a 36" clearance from combustible surfaces. • The use of kerosene heaters inside the home is prohibited. • Keep children away from heat sources. Never leave a fire unattended. • Never attempt to heat a structure with a device that was designed for outdoor use, such as a camp stove.

4 • Have a professional inspect and clean your chimney, stovepipe and/or furnace annually. • Do not attempt repairs yourself. • Keep a metal or glass screen in front of the fireplace opening. Make sure the damper is open before lighting. • Check furnace control and emergency shut-offs to be sure they are working properly.

Injured Cyclist Flown Out of Annadel Press Democrat, February 8, 2011 "A mountain biker was flown from Annadel State Park on Monday after being injured in a fall, authorities said. The cyclist fell while cycling on the South Burma Trail near the Warren Richardson Trail, Santa Rosa Fire Battalion Chief Mark Basque said. Rescue crews from Santa Rosa and Bennett Valley Fire...were dispatched to the park at about 1:45 pm. They drove as far as they could along wide trails and then hiked to the man, Basque said. The area was too rugged for the crews to evacuate the injured rider, so a CHP helicopter was brought in, he said." Lieutenant Kevin Burris concurs that "the patient was transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital by (CHP helicopter) H-32." He added that personnel from California State Parks also joined them on this rescue.

How Can You Be Sure Firefighters Can Quickly Find Your Home! By Marilee Jensen In urban/suburban areas it can be a lot easier to find a particular street address than it is in Bennett Valley. Sometimes street numbers are printed on the curb but that won't work in most of Bennett Valley.

Almost every driveway and every house is a little different and not always in chronological order. Take a drive down a Bennett Valley street, and see how quickly you can find the street address for each driveway. (At times, I've even had trouble determining which mailbox goes with which house in Woodside.) Some of our driveways are well-marked and very easy to see, especially it they have the green reflective double-sided street number sign which vou can buy from the BV Fire Station for $15. Fire stations (and insurance companies) evaluate how efficient the fire district service is by how many minutes it takes to arrive at a particular location from the fire station.

These reflective green double-sided street number signs can make a big difference in the time it takes the firefighters to arrive at your home, in order to better save your house or someone in your house having a medical emergency. If you don't have one of these invaluable signs, stop by the BV Fire Station now with $15, to order one. The sign comes with brackets for hanging it up next to your driveway, but if you need help, you can ask them to help you install it.

Bennett Valley Historical Article From the BVHA VOICE, October, 1982 Bennett Ridge And Woodside By Warren Watkins (Corrections and additions in italics.) Tucked against the rolling hills and wooded slopes of our valley are two similar but different microcommunities. These communities, Bennett Ridge and Woodside, were developed 20 years ago in the real estate boom years of the early 1960's. By looking over the original sales brochures for both projects and by talking to former and current owners and residents, a few historical and contemporary details were revealed.

Bennett Ridge and Bennett Valley took their name from a family who sent a son to the State assembly in 1853, two years after California entered the union. (James Bennett) The Ridge was surveyed in 1865 and corners and boundaries were designated by stonework... In the early days, names like Henry Young, Parker Talbot, and William Mather were associated with the Ridge. Oak firewood, grapes, and olives were harvested there. Cobblestones for both Santa Rosa and San Francisco were quarried (there).

The demand for cobblestones tapered in the 1900's and Prohibition and disease ended grape-growing on the Ridge. Tom and Kathryn Plant bought the property in 1939 and the land was intermittently used to raise chickens, pigs, and cows. Additionally, orchards and gardens were grown according to Mrs. Plant. When few economic benefits were realized, the Ridge property was sold to Walter Benson in 1963. Benson and the Ridge survived the big fire of 1964 as roads and water wells for the future homesites were completed on part of the 327 acres. The goal of the project was to create a "minimum intrusion into the environment," says Benson. To this end they have been very successful.

Original parcel sizes ranged from 1-6 acres, some selling for as little as $7,500. The first house in the subdivision was built for Mrs. (Ruth) Dicker, a wellknown artist. (Correction: Actually built for Walter Benson's personal use and sales office, then sold to and remodeled for Ralph & Ruth Dicker.) Each buyer was required to provide his own septic system and propane gas. Assessments and restrictions for water use from the mutual well were established. An architectural review board was formed to set and enforce rules on fencing, out-building, animals and colors. (Still active on the Ridge as a 3-member committee.) Today, there are 104 homes (125 homes in 2011) on Bennett Ridge.

Although Walter Benson was successful in reaching his goals and keeping his promises to buyers, he decided the sell the remaining property to Lee Morton who proceeded to complete the project. The success story at Woodside is not so complete. Even though today's residents enjoy a close and friendly neighborhood surrounded by vineyards and horse ranches, early promises by developer Harvey Smith for an Oakmont-style community including a clubhouse with swimming pool, riding trails and stable, and even a shopping center, were never realized. The 1961 project brochure advertised "100 acres of bridle trails" ", but plans were derailed when Smith had financial difficulties. Apparently, the cost of bringing a natural gas pipeline up the valley from Santa Rosa was too costly and other promised amenities were not completed. Several hundred acres of open space surrounding Woodside have long since been sold off.

Long-time valley residents remember the Woodside property being a sheep ranch operated by the French couple, John and Marie Cambou, for a number of years. Their farmhouse burned on the site now occupied by the Woodside School, a center for preschool children. When Harvey Smith acquired the property, he planned a total of 142 homes (now less than half that many).

The sales pamphlet advertised nice homes by Avila for $27,500 to $37,500 including a moderate-sized lot! What a bargain considering the rise in prices since 1961. Included with the lot were paved streets with natural gas lighting. Similar to Bennett Ridge, a mutual water system with two wells was provided and property owners were assessed for its use. Although individual private septic systems on lots as small as were being offered would not meet today's tougher county standards, major problems have apparently been minimal.

Originally, Woodside had building restrictions and a homeowners' association. Homes were limited to two stories. There were to be no farm animals kept except at the proposed stables. No RV's were to be visible, and no trade occupations were to be conducted on the premises. As has happened.., the rules and restrictions have loosened over the years.

Future micro-communities on the scale of Bennett Ridge and Woodside may or may not be repeated in the Valley. Rising construction costs and interest rates, the Sonoma County General Plan, (Bennett Valley Area Plan), the continued emphasis on agriculture and small ranches, the carrying capacity of roadways and water sources, and the golf course buffer between our valley and the city may all be limiting factors for some time to come.

Dates of Interest March 13 - Daylight Savings Time Begins March 20 - Spring Begins April 24 - Easter 5

Bennett Valley Homeowner's Association (BVHA) Board Of Directors P.O. Box 2666, Santa Rosa, CA 95405 Website: bennettvalleyhoa.org Craig Harrison, President charrison@hunton.com,_573-9990 Larissa Goliti, Vice-President, Membership Coordinator Igoliti@hotmail.com, 578-3453 Fay Blair, Treasurer fayblair@sonic.net, 576-0152 Tim Bosma, Recording Secretary tbosma@comcast.net, 953-8873 Gary Barner, Director gbarner@cds1.net, 481-6196 James K. Cobb, Director cobblaw@pacbell.net, 586-9172 Frank LaCombe, Director FrankKLaCombe@gmail.com 585-3482 Richard Lukasko, Director rlukasko@hotmail.com, 566-7803 Karen Sommer, Director, BVEP Coordinator ksommer11@earthlink.net, 528-8982 BVHA VOICE Editor - Marilee Jensen, 576-0405, marileejensen@sbcglobal.net BVHA Webmaster - Bill Finkelstein, 536-1026 bill@williamfinkelstein.com Any questions you have abou the BVHA website can be directed to Bill Finkelstein.

Summary of BVHA Minutes January 20, 2011 • Larissa introduced new residents, Mr. & Mrs. Kao. They expressed their interest in planting a small vineyard, and later revealed that they had been victims of the burglaries that plagued the area last spring. • Treasurer's Report: Brief discussion about the excessively high insurance quote the Board had received; further investigation was needed.

• Dispersal of BV Calendar profits discussed. New wording to appear on 2012 calendars: "Proceeds go to various community programs such as Emergency Preparedness activities. • Larissa made the point that generally the donations included with annual dues payments should not automatically go to Bennett Valley Emergency Preparedness (BVEP) unless specified by the donor. It was agreed that for 2011, any extra donations will go to BVEP, unless indicted otherwise, but in 2012, that will change, • Bennett Valley Emergency Preparedness Report: Karen Sommer reported that planning is underway to paint the storage container at the Grange, and that the Committee is now beginning to accumulate supplies and a lock.

• BVEP is now working on fund raising for construction of the BV Fire Station addition to house the BVEP Command Center. "We are moving beyond the idea phase." The BV Fire Station is willing to provide the foundation for the structure, once the funds are raised.

6 • Karen will facilitate the speakers for the May 19 meeting They are Arthur Dawson of Sonoma Ecology Center and Caerleon Safford of Fire Safe Sonoma. (See Page One) • The speaker for the July 21 meeting will be Michael Ellis, who will be discussing wildlife in BV.

• It was generally agreed that private companies, such as Blue Star, cannot request a community meeting from • Amendment of Bylaws for Elections: After a brief discussion, the Board unanimously passed the following sentence to be added to Article IV, paragraph 5 of the BVHA bylaws: In the event the number of candidates for the then-occurring vacancies equals or is less than the number of vacancies to be filled, the Nominating Committee shall inform the Board of Directors and, upon notice in the September VOICE, with a motion of approval at the September Board meeting, said candidates shall be deemed elected without a vote.

• Meeting adjourned 7:58 pm. Board of Directors' Tentative Agenda: Thursday, March 17, 7:00 pm, BV Grange Hall • Public Input: Speakers may address board for up to 3 minutes with name, address and concern. • Treasurer's Report, Spending Requests, PayPal and Insurance Update • Bimonthly County Reports: Board of Supervisors, Open Space District, PRMD, Public Works, Alcoholic Beverage Control Permits • Status of IRS Issues • BV Emergency Preparedness Committee Report • Speakers for May and July, 2011 • New Business As Determined by Board Ground Cover Recommendation Here is the recommendation by Fire Safe Sonoma; reduce thick layers of pine needles to a depth of two inches. Do not remove all needles. Take care not to disturb the "duff" layer (dark area at the ground surface where needles are decomposing) if present.

Remove dead leaves, twigs, cones, and branches.... Bennett Valley Fire Chief Andy Pforsich Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away! March 2 Data: Bennett Ridge -One resident's records- 33-3 inches, 2.5 inches and 108% above normal Santa Rosa, Press Democrat, 24.86 inches, .86 inch and 103.6% above normal Charles Schultz Airport, Press Democrat, 28 inches, or 111% of season-to-date normal Sierra Snowpack (March 1), Press Democrat, 124% of normal "Continued rain into the spring should guarantee ample water supply for this upcoming summer." Brad Sherwood, Sonoma County Water Agency spokesman.

Press Democrat, March 4.

Join or Renew Your BVHA Membership for 2011 You may either send in your check, to the address listed below, or pay online with a credit card or PayPal account. To pay online, go to the BVHA website (www.bennettvalleyhoa.org), and choose "Join/Renew: BVHA Membership" from the menu on the left side of the first page. You then follow those instructions. If you have any questions, call our Membership Coordinator, Larissa Goliti, at 578-3453. If you'd prefer to send a check, complete this form and mail with your check to: Bennett Valley Homeowner's Association PO Box 2666 Santa Rosa, CA 95405 Name_ Email Address Please sign me up for BV Email Alerts: D (If you want more information about the BV Email Alerts, you may call 578-3453. Also, please enter the BHA Email Alert address, Igoliti@hotmail.com, in your email address book so these alerts won't be returned as spam. For the last Email Alert, many of the Alert messages were returned as spam, especially cds. Inet.) Residential Address Phone Number (Please enter primary phone number including area code).

I wish to receive the VOICE newsletter: • By U.S. Mail • By Email Any amount paid in excess of the $15 annual dues will be directed to Bennett Valley Emergency Preparation (BVEP) for their important work in our community, unless you indicate otherwise. BVEP is now concentrating on raising funds for an addition to the BV Fire Station on Bennett Valley Road. In an emergency when conventional communications are not available, we will be able to set up emergency communications using the emergency generator at the Fire Station.

Please add $15 BVHA dues to your optional donations and enter the total amount here: $ We are always interested in any comments or concerns you have. If you need more room, please insert additional paper. Thanks! Comments/Concerns Bennett Valley Homeowner's Assor 7

P.O. Box 2666 Santa Rosa, CA 95405 www.bennettvalleyhoa.org PURPOSES OF BVHA: To promote and preserve the residential rural character and natural environment of Bennett Valley; To educate, instruct, train and inform the local residents on disaster preparedness and emergency response as well as local land use and environmental issues; to serve as an open forum for Bennett Valley community participation; and to provide a bridge for communication between government agencies and the Bennett Valley community.

Return Service Requested Inside You'll Find BV Road Maintenance Update BVHA "Wild" 2012 Calendar, Natural History Docent Training, Bouverie Preserve Spring Roads Clean-up, Saturday, March 26, 8:30 am BV Mountain Lion Kills Two Goats BV Fire District Information, Importance of Reflective Signs BV Historical Article, BV Board, Minutes, Agenda Ground Cover Recommendation, Rain Data BVHA Annual Membership Form (Check or Credit) Bennett Valley Community Calendar Mark your calendars now!!

1.) BENNETT VALLEY HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION: The next meeting is on Thursday, March 17, 7:00 pm, BV Grange Hall. See Tentative Agenda on Page 6. Speakers for May 19 meeting discussing Natural History and Protecting Your Home Against Wildfires. See Page One. At the July 21 meeting, Michael Ellis, known to be an outstanding speaker, will be discussing BV wildlife 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. Please call 823-1084 to confirm meeting date ahead of time.

3.) SPRING CLEAN-UP BENNETT VALLEY ROADS DAY - Saturday, March 26, 8:30 am, BV Fire Station, Let's make up for the clean-up day which was rained out in October. Watch for signs! See article on Page Three. 4.) BV GRANGE SPAGHETTI DINNER, Saturday, April 16, 5:00 to 8:00 pm, Watch for signs along the road.

5.) AMATEUR RADIO (Ham Radio) LICENSING IN JUST ONE DAY: (From website smrs) Below are the dates now set for the one day licensing classes and exams. Preparation fee including exam is $25.00. Two classes are scheduled at the Santa Rosa Red Cross, 5297 Aero Drive, both on a Thursday: *March 24 , *May 12. Three additional classes are scheduled on Saturdays, at Petaluma Senior Center, 211 Novak Drive, Petaluma. *May 7, *June 11 and *July 9. Classes start at 9:00 am, exam is at 1:30 pm or earlier. Please preregister and they will help you obtain your Federal Registration Number. Contact Dale, (707) 762-0414 or wb6tms@arrl.net 6.) SONOMA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS meets every Tuesday (except weeks when there is a legal holiday), at varying times, at 575 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa. Valerie Brown is the Supervisor for our First District. You may call her or her staff assistant, Jennifer Hainstock, at 565-2241, if you have any questions or concerns.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS (Note changes) • For emergencies, use your landline or your cell phone to call 911. • Call 565-2121 to reach someone at the Sheriff's office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, either to report an emergency that requires a law enforcement response or with other concerns or suspicions that may possibly be an emergency.

• Call Sonoma County Road Maintenance, at 565-5100 to report dangerous potholes, fallen trees or landslides and to request possible help with litter control and bulk trash in the road. • Call Sonoma County Animal Control, at 565-7100, regarding the removal of dead animals along the road.

: Call California Highway Patrol, at 588-1400, if debris is causing imminent traffic hazards on county roads