Bennett Valley Voice

Bennett Valley VOICE www.bennettvalley.org

Volume 36, Number 5

Bennett Valley Community Association (Bvca)

Septmeber 2013

Landscaping with California Native Plants, Liz Parsons, California Native Plant Society, will be our speaker, September 19, 7:00 pm The natural beauty of our California landscape can enhance your own home. Come hear how to landscape using California's native plants. Liz Parsons brings her knowledge and years of experience with local conditions and availability of California native plants to our association meeting on September 19th, 7:00 pm, at the BV Grange Hall. She has been the coordinator of the local native plant society sale for 30 years and was awarded recognition of her many years of service to the society being selected as a Fellow of the California Native Plant Society. Her own garden in Kenwood includes Mediterranean plants, as well as California natives, and she is the president of the Santa Rosa Garden Club for the coming year.

California's unique geography has produced one of the world's loveliest and most diverse floras. Introduce a few native plants into your existing garden, or go totally native and fall in love with California's glorious diversity of native plants. You may benefit on many levels. Save Water. Once established, many California native plants need minimal irrigation beyond normal rainfall.

Low Maintenance. Native plants do best with some attention and care, but require less water, fertilizer, pruning, and less of your time to maintain them. Reduce Pesticides. Native plants have a natural defense against many pests and diseases, so they require less pesticides. Invite Wildlife. Native plants attract birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Support Local Ecology. A native landscape can help provide an important bridge to nearby wild areas. Liz Parsons' presentation will show the diversity and beauty you can create in your own garden, using native plants. Bennett Valley Grange Spaghetti Dinner, Saturday, September 21, 5:00 pm Everyone is invited to our famous Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, Sept 21 starting at 5:00 pm, at the Bennett Valley Grange Hall, 4145 Grange Road. Cost is $10 per person. This includes a choice of meat sauce, pesto sauce and/or vegetarian sauce. You'll also receive French bread, salad, dessert, juice or water. You may also bring your own wine or beer, with no corkage fee.

In addition to the great food, there will be spirited music; an accordion player, Sheri Mignano, from the popular band Zighi Bacci, which recently performed at the Cotati Accordion Festival. Sheri will be playing her favorites on the accordion, ranging from Italian ballads to polka music; very danceable.

Join us for a good time and a great meal, for only $10, as a fundraiser for the upkeep of the Grange Hall building. We hope to see you there!

Bennett Valley Road Work Update Craig S. Harrison Road crews completed chip-sealing Bennett Valley Road between Grange Road and Old Bennett Ridge Road during July. This treatment should preserve this section of road for about 8 to 10 years. The striping on the narrow section of Bennett Valley Road was requested about a month ago, as first priority, because of the difficulty at night without markings, especially with the fast traffic. The county was able to move a contractor from another project, so this perilous section of the road could be completed by August 23. The remainder of Bennett Valley Road between Grange Road and the narrows are less of a safety issue and will be in the next phase of striping, probably in October or November. This will be so much easier to schedule next year when the county has their our own striping truck delivered and in service. It's now at the factory "being built".

The county hopes to repair the pavement on some of the 2.5 mile section of Bennett Valley Road from Old Bennett Ridge Road to Warm Springs Road during spring or summer 2014. At this time it seems unlikely that this project will be completed during a single year. Once this section has been repaired, the entire 2.5 mile stretch will be chip-sealed. In addition, the 200-yard section of Bennett Valley Road near the golf course was repaved by the City of Santa Rosa, also in July.

A reminder: you can call the county's Road Maintenance office (565-5100) to report any safety issues such as potholes or downed trees blocking Sonoma Valley Road Summit, Wednesday October 9 By Craig S. Harrison Save Our Sonoma Roads will be participating in a Road Summit in the City of Sonoma on Wednesday, October 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

The event is free and is will be held at Ramekins Culinary School and Inn, 450 W. Spain Street, Sonoma. The event is convened and organized by Sonoma Valley resident Gina Cuclis. In addition to SOSroads, participants will include First District Supervisor Susan Gorin and director of the Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works, Susan Klassen.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn about plans to fix our deteriorating county roads and to ask questions of those responsible for making decisions on this issue. Sonoma County Ranks In Top 1/3 For Gas Taxes...., But Near Bottom For Road Conditions, SOSroads.org August Newsletter, 2013 Ever since we began our efforts at SOSroads we have questioned why Sonoma County roads are so much worse than other county roads in California, as well as county roads in other states.

One of the main reasons given by county officials is that Sonoma County has a large road network. Yet 17 other counties have road systems with more miles, in some cases over twice as many miles, as Sonoma County. SOSroads analyzed the state gas taxes received by each county in California for the fiscal year that ended on June 30. Sonoma County ranks 18th of 58 California counties in terms of gas tax revenue per mile. Sonoma County received $12.86 million, which calculates to about $9,300 per mile for its 1,383 mile road system. About 70 percent of California counties get less tax revenue per mile but have roads in much better condition. For example, Fresno County gets only about $6,000 per mile yet public documents indicate that its pavement condition index (PCI) is in the high 60s.

Fresno County officials manage a 3,500 mile road system. We rarely hear serious complaints about the roads in other counties that receive much less funding per mile than Sonoma, including San Luis Obispo ($6,300), Humboldt ($4,400), Glenn ($3,000) and Tulare ($4,100). We will continue to ask county officials why Sonoma County ranks near the bottom of California's 58 counties for road conditions while ranking in the top third for road funding. The explanations to date (an unusually large road system; a state gas tax formula that disadvantages Sonoma County; roads that were originally constructed poorly compared to other counties) do not seem to withstand scrutiny.

Understanding how our county road system became so dilapidated is important to ensuring that we get the best results for our investments to improve our roads. Sources: Gas Tax revenue by county table. This data was compiled from the California State Controller's Website. Pavement Condition index by county (2012) reported in "California Statewide Local Streets And Roads Needs Assessment" January, 2013, pgs. 16-17.

2

14th Annual Art on the Ridge Open Studios September 21-22, Noon to 5:00 pm The 14th Annual Bennett Ridge Open Studios is coming soon. You are invited to visit and spend the afternoon among exciting art, lovely scenery, food and drink, and camaraderie. The Studio tour will include 14 Bennett Ridge artists at 7 studios featuring exciting artwork in a broad range of media and styles - including paintings, drawings, monoprints, etchings, collage, photography, Calder-esque mobiles, ceramics, fused glass, hand-cut paper, native wood turned vessels, and jewelry, as well as demonstrations - and this year for the first time, the art of STORY TELLING!

The artists will show in seven studios along Bardy, Rollo and Bennett Ridge Roads. All the studios are located near each other in this fertile community of artists. Yellow signs will mark the studios. Exhibiting artists this year will be: Tom Berto - acrylic paintings and giclées.

www.sonic.net/-monicab Monica Boettcher - art glass. www.sonic.net/-monicab Colleen Cotten - kiln formed glass Heartfire - beaded jewelry and kiln formed glass. www.heartfire.biz Katy Mangan - storytelling: 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 both days, www.2tellstories.net Sherry Parker - mixed media collage. www.sherryparkerart.com Jerry Pugh - mobile sculpture Chuck Quibell - native exotic wood turned vessels Karen and Stan Sommer - monoprints, drawings, paintings, paper sculpture. www.sommerartstudio.com Sally Weare - works on paper. www.sallyweare.com Shane Weare - etchings; demonstration only on Sunday at 3:00 www.printoworkschicago.com Anna Wingfield, wwwannawingfield.com, Aroma Therapy & Flower Essence Fusion Patti Valentine Zimmer - Green Lotus fabric design Artwork will be available for purchase in a variety of price ranges. You may visit their blog at www.ArtontheRidge.blogspot.com with questions or if you're interested in a studio tour map. You can also contact participating artist Sherry Parker directly, at sherryparker@earthlink.net.

Bennett Valley Artist's Exhibition Donna De La Briandais, a Bennett Valley artist, is exhibiting twenty new landscape paintings; several created on location in Bennett Valley. These will be at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Gallery II, showing September 12 through October 19th. Reception is Thursday, September 12, 6:00-7:30 pm. 282 High St., Sebastopol. Gallery is open Tues.-Fri. 10:00-4:00 pm, Sat. 1:00-4:00 pm. For further information, Donna's website is www.donnasfineart.com.

Bennett Valley Roads Clean-Up Day Saturday, October 19, 8:30 am Time to get the trash picked up on our roadways once again! Saturday, October 19 will be our fall Bennett Valley Roads Clean-Up Day. We will meet at the Bennett Valley Fire Station at 8:30 am for coffee and donuts before setting out to pick up the trash that has accumulated over the summer on the roads of our beautiful valley. We welcome anyone who would like to spend a few hours to make our valley pristine once again. This is a good time for teens to earn a few volunteer hours for their schools too. Please wear sturdy shoes, sun protection, and gardening gloves. We will supply pick-up sticks and safety vests. Questions?

Call Sandy Sandine at 579-0282. Please Sign The Petition to Fix Sonoma Mountain Road and Pressley Road By Steve Soldis, Better Roads For Bennett Valley Coalition Please join over 500 friends and neighbors who have already signed the petition that asks the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and the Transportation and Public Works Department to fix Sonoma Mountain and Pressley Roads. The petition can be downloaded from the home page of the BVCA web site: http://bennettvalley.org.

The Transportation and Public Works Department has classified large sections of Sonoma Mountain Road and Pressley Road to be in "failed," "poor," or "at-risk" condition. We think all residents or users of these are concerned about their continuing deterioration. The Better Roads For Bennett Valley Coalition will present the petitions to the supervisors during September, and the more names that we can submit the more likely the county officials will act favorably to address this problem.

Please have all adults in your household sign the petition and return to me by email, fax or US mail at the indicated addresses at the bottom of the petition. 3

Bennett Valley Fire Protection District (BVFPD) 6161 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Phone: 578-7761 bennettvalleyfire.org Board of Directors: Mark Richardson, President; Joseph Mazeau, Vice-President; Marilee Jensen, Secretary; Don D'Avanzo and Arnie Tognozzi, Directors. Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper: Kori Lantow, 823-1084, klantow@comcast.net Administrative Supervisor, Ruth Newman Board meetings are held on the second Tuesday each month, 7:00 pm, at the BV Fire Station. Please confirm meeting date ahead of time by calling 823-1084.

Bennett Valley Paid Firefighting Staff: Fire Chief: Dan George,(707) 481-8105, Battalion Chiefs: Darrin DeCarli, (707) 823-5502, 48-hour Personnel: Lieutenant Matt Tognozzi, Lieutenant Travis Browne, Engineer Rene Torres Part-time Firefighters, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm: Engineers Mike Alcocer, Ly Leng, Jon Matej Bennett Valley Volunteer Firefighters There are approximately 28 BV Firefighters, including the volunteers and interns.

Three rotating shifts of three volunteers each are paid a stipend to sleep overnight at the Fire Station, for improved coverage. During the day, interns are used at no cost, when available, allowing the fire station to cover unfilled firefighter positions on those particular days.

Bennett Valley Fire Protection District Leadership Changes Letter from Al Fiori, Gold Ridge Board President, 7/15/13 Dear Board President Richardson and Bennett Valley Board Members, In the past year and a half, our organization has gone through leadership changes.... Recently, Chief Dan George was named the permanent Fire Chief for the Gold Ridge Fire Protection District. Per our agreed upon MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) the Gold Ridge Fire Protection District Board of Directors has the authority to appoint the Fire Chief of the Bennett Valley Fire Protection District. Since May of 2012, Battalion Chief Darrin DeCarli has served as your Interim Fire Chief. In order to maintain consistency from a leadership standpoint, at our last board meeting on July 11, 2013, we appointed Fire Chief Dan George as the Fire Chief for the Bennett Valley Fire Protection District.

Battalion Chief Darrin DeCarli will continue to serve as a Battalion Chief overseeing the operations of B Shift and will also continue in the capacity of Fire Marshal. There will be a seamless transition.... If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Sincerely, Al Fiori, Board President, Gold Ridge Fire Protection District, (707) 823-1084 4 Strike Team* Message from Darrin DeCarli, September 1 Battalion Chief, (707) 495-2877 "Bennett Valley Fire Engine #7861 is currently part of a strike team working at the Rim Fire near Yosemite (since Aug. 26). They went out of county with (fire engines & firefighters from Gold Ridge, Forestville, Occidental and Santa Rosa with Division Chief Bob Norrborn from Sonoma Valley as their Strike Team Leader...

Message from Darrin DeCarli, September 6 "Engine 7861 made it back from the Rim Fire on Monday afternoon (Sept. 2). To my knowledge, no major issues with the engine and the crew ...the crew ... got some great experience." * (Gold Ridge Fire and Bennett Valley Fire assure contingency coverage at both Fire Districts. Also, Bennett Valley is part of the Sonoma County mutual aid system.) Bennett Valley Call Log July/August By Lieutenant Matt Tognozzi Structure Fire - 1 Vehicle Fire - O Grass Fire - 1 Medical Aid - 24 Vehicle Accident - 3 Public Assist - 2 Strike Team - 2 Other Type Calls - 8 Total - 41 (1 strike team call cancelled out) Halloween Safety By Lieutenant Matt Tognozzi Tips for Choosing the Right Costumes: • Purchase costumes made of flame retardant material. (Check the label) • Keep hemlines short enough to prevent tripping and avoid loose, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.

• To be seen easily, costumes should be made of a light color material. • Use glow in the dark reflective tape on your costume. • Use make-up rather than masks which could obstruct vision. Tips for Halloween Night: • Use battery powered lights - never use candles to light jack-o-lanterns.

• Instruct children to stay away from open flames. • Remove objects from the yard that present a hazard to children. (garden tools, hoses, etc.) • Be extremely careful with cornstalks and other harvest season items. Keep them away from sources of heat. Don't let them block doorways or stairs.

• Do not allow children to carry sharp sticks or other objects which could cause injury to others. • If you are driving on Halloween, take care...watch out for trick-or-treaters who will be too busy to watch out for you. • Closely inspect all candy before allowing children to eat it. Discard any unwrapped treats from a stranger. If in doubt, throw it out.

- Access to Approved Minutes För Bennett Valley Fire Protection District (BVFPD) Members of the public can request the meeting agenda be emailed to them 72 hours before the board meeting or they may pick up a copy of the agenda at the BV Fire Station 72 hours before the meeting. Complete minutes from the previous month's meeting will be available to the public after board approval, either by picking them up at the next Board meeting, or requesting a copy be mailed to them.

Please make these requests to the Bennett Valley Fire District Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper, klantow@comcast.net, at the BV Fire Board of Directors meeting or by telephone, 823-1084. Below are highlights selected by the VOICE Editor from the approved minutes for these two meetings. Brief Highlights of BV Fire Board Meeting, • It was mentioned by staff that there had been two recent training sessions of wildland training for firefighters.

• The BV Fire District will stop doing the 100 foot clearance inspections around homes as those should be done by CalFire. With the $150 fee which CalFire is now charging rural residents, it is getting confusing to the residents. • The regular meeting was suspended and a public hearing began at 7:25 pm, to listen to public comments (none received) and for the Board to discuss the new tax rate for the BV Fire District. The Board approved unanimously the new tax rate of $45 per unit of risk ($180 annually for small family homes). The regular meeting called back to order at 7:35 pm.

Brief Highlights of BV Fire Board Meeting, July 8 • Matt Tognozzi is applying for a Safer Grant, to fund six full time positions three If our district gives preference to military veterans, then it could be extended to four years. A discussion was held regarding the Safer Grant.

• Financial reports were distributed and reviewed. • Fire Marshal's Report - There is a burnt vacant house in the district that is an eyesore. The owners live in Japan, but a contact has been found. • There are six Explorers, now. They trained on Monday, • Year-end resolutions were approved by the Board, ,making budgetary transfers to comply with the law and adjust for actual revenues and expenses for the last fiscal year_._..

BVCA Board of Director's Elections In accord with the current Bennett Valley Community Association Bylaws, election meeting for Board of Directors shall be held at the board's November meeting. The term of office for each of the directors of this corporation shall be three years from when he or she is elected.

After three years, the director may choose to run or not for re-election. In this manner, the election of one third of the members of the Board of Directors will be held each year. If you personally have a future interest in being on the Board, please be sure to let one of the board members know.

Three interested Bennett Valley residents have submitted candidates' statements and each has met the required bylaws qualifications for a position on the BVCA Board of Directors. Because there are only as many candidates as open seats, the three unopposed candidates will be appointed as if elected, effective at the end of the BVCA meeting on November 21.

Candidate Roster for the 2013 BVCA Board of Director Elections James K. Cobb, Incumbent Bill Finkelstein, Candidate Frank LaCombe, Incumbent Candidates' Statements • James K. Cobb: It has been my honor to serve as a past Board member of the Bennett Valley Community Association and to seek re-election to the Board for the term 2013 to 2016. I have been a resident of Sonoma County for 37 years and resided in Bennett Valley since 1986. As an attorney, my law practice specializes in litigation and mediation of construction and land use issues. As a resident of Bennett Valley. I am committed to promoting and preserving the rural character and natural environment of Bennett Valley as well as respecting individual property and privacy rights. I also serve as President of the Board of Directors for Sonoma County Legal Services Foundation, a non-profit organization promoting low cost legal services and supervised family visitation.

• Bill Finkelstein: I have lived in California since 1952 and Bennett Valley since 1992. I own our home in Woodside in Bennett Valley with my wife, Mary Mack. I am committed to promoting the rural character and natural environment of Bennett Valley. I am a retired executive formerly employed in Financial Services and Technology. I have served on a number of for profit and non-profit boards in Silicon Valley and am currently on the boards of nonprofits: Save Our Sonoma Roads; The Yulupa Mutual Water Company (serving Woodside); and the Bennett Valley Grange, where I'm also Treasurer. I also volunteer for the Sonoma County Open Space District's North Slope Ridge Trail Patrol. I also manage, as a volunteer, the websites for the BVCA, HITTGV Dog Rescue, Bennett Valley Grange, SOS Roads, and a number of other non-profits. I also hold an Extra Amateur Radio license, am an Amateur Radio Volunteer Examiner, and have assisted with charity communications, emergency communications, and disaster relief operations since 1963. If elected, I will continue to focus on activities to improve the quality of rural life for all our residents of our beautiful Bennett Valley.

• Frank LaCombe: Over the past nine years I have served on the Bennett Valley Community Association Board of Directors and am seeking re-election for the next three year term beginning January 2014 through December 2016 As a resident of Bennett Valley for nearly thirty years, 1 am committed to promoting and preserving the rural character and natural environment of of Bennett Valley. With the efforts of the entire Board, I look forward to the continued focus on topics of benefit to the entire community, such as roads, water and wildlife, as well as furthering the spirit of open and inclusive dialogue with all who live in this pastoral valley.

5

A Visit With Ann (Pisenti) Burow, Discussing Her Lifelong Bennett Valley Experiences By Marilee Jensen I decided it was time to visit Ann Burow again. She will celebrate her 108th birthday in a little more than a month. She moved out of Bennett Valley about two years ago, but not very far away, so that she could remain independent with a little extra help and not interfere with her family's daily lives. As she told me in this visit on September 5, she is very happy where she's living but she does miss Bennett Valley. She then added, "I love Bennett Valley".

I made the appointment to meet her a couple of days in advance, and when I arrived, she was waiting for me at the front door, looking lovely, with her earrings and a matching deep purple skirt, jacket and blouse. After greeting each other, we found a place where we could converse quietly and privately. She manages her walker comfortably on her own to get to where she wants to go. As always, it was delightful visiting with her. There was someone playing piano in the background and Ann made a point of saying music was always a part of her life, starting with her father and his two brothers, who played in the Oakland Symphony. One of Ann's great grandsons who attends Lewis and Clark College in Oregon is a composer!. Ann then mentioned she always loves to hear the song, "The Isle of Capri." She then added that she's had "a fun life." To give you a little background, Ann Burow was born in Oakland, California, on October 23, 1905', but in 1924, at the age of 19, she was married and moved to her husband's dairy farm in Bennett Valley, where there were unpaved country roads. "Ann was a city girl who had to learn to cook on a wood stove and there was no electricity. Food was kept in an icebox with ice delivered". On the farm she and her husband raised two daughters, Luella and Gwen. She had her first child in about 19261 . Both of her daughters have had children, too. At this time, Luella is living in Folsom, but Gwen lives nearby in Santa Rosa, and visits Ann often.

During our visit, Ann talked quite a bit about her various siblings in the area, such as Joe Pisenti and Bill Pisenti. She said she had 12 siblings plus two more that died as children. In 1925, Ann joined the Bennett Valley Grange, and within a year, the members elected her as their Secretary 2. She stayed in that position for a total of 66 years, until December 31, 1992. She has a copy of her resignation letter in a journal she keeps with "poetic and other writing". Ann has put together a book on the Grange history called "66 years" that her daughter is preserving'. One of her exciting moments with the Bennett Valley Grange was in 1973, when this Grange celebrated its 100th birthday. Ann wrote every other Grange in the State about this momentous date for the oldest continuously operating Grange in the nation.

State Grange Master Bob McFarland says, "Ann is our oldest Grange member in the nation." And quotes Ann as saying simply "We have history here." The nicest part of this visit was just enjoying being with Ann, and hearing her many memories. Even though I've enjoyed meeting with Ann many times over the 35 years I've lived in Bennett Valley, I was still amazed that at almost 108 years old, she still has such vitality and clarity combined with her sweetness and happiness. She left me with such a good feeling. At the end of our visit she insisted on walking me to the door, which I appreciated and enjoyed, too. I'm really looking forward to another visit with her, soon.

Sources for this article (and for much more information about Ann Burow): 1. Beneath the Mountain of The Burning Bird, Bennett Valley History and Memories, Compiled and Edited by Evelyn S. McClure in collaboration with John P. Talbot and Raymond W. Hillman, Copyright 2012 by John P. Talbot, Belle View Press, Belleview@monitor.net 2. California State Grange, Ann Burow and the Bennett Valley Grange, by Bob McFarland, copyright, 2011, from Bennett Valley Grange website, bvgrange.org California Public Utilities Commission's Letter to PG&E, Regarding Sonoma Co.

Complaints (Reference: CPUC Letter dated August 22, 2013, to P.J. Martinez, Vice President, PG&E) "CPUC has received numerous complaints from local residents and elected officials concerning PG&E"s 'Right of Way Reclamation Project' (Project) in Sonoma Co. In response...CPUC staff have reviewed the PG&E vegetation management procedure, Project plans and conducted a field visit on June 18 and 19, 2013. At this point, most of the concerns raised ... appear to be environmental. PG&E representatives should meet and confer with staff from Congressman Thompson's and Assemblyman Chesbro's offices, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, and the concerned local residents to address the concerns of Sonoma County parties... Sincerely, Edward Randolph, Director, Energy Division Elizaveta Malashenko, Deputy Director, Safety and Enforcement Division Cc. US Representative... Michael Thompson Calif. Assemblymember...Wesley Chesbro Brigadier General (CA) Jack Hagan, Director, Safety and Enforcement Division Raymond Fugere, Supervisor, Safety & Enforcement Division.

Lynn Sadler, Director, Office of Governmental Affairs 6

Bennett Valley Community Association (BVCA) Board Of Directors P.O. Box 2666, Santa Rosa, CA 95405 www.bennettvalley.org Craig S. Harrison, President charrison@hunton.com 573-9990 Larissa Goliti, Vice-President and Membership Coordinator Igoliti@hotmail.com 578-3453 Debra J. Forton Engel, Treasurer reddoqvineyards@gmail.com (415) 987-5677 Frank LaCombe, Secretary FrankKLaCombe@gmail.com 585-3482 Gary Barner, Director gbarner@cds1.net 481-6196 Tim Bosma, Director tbosma@comcast.net 953-8873 James K. Cobb, Director cobblaw@pacbell.net 586-9172 Richard Lukasko, Director rlukasko@hotmail.com 566-7803 Karen Sommer, BVEP Coordinator, Director ksommer11@earthlink.net 528-8982 BVCA VOICE Editor - Marilee Jensen, 576-0405, marileejensen@gmail.com BVCA Webmaster - Bill Finkelstein, 536-1026 bill@williamfinkelstein.com For any questions about the BVCA website contact Bill Finkelstein.

Bvca Membership Dues, 2013

If you haven't yet paid your dues for 2013, the annual dues are $15 plus any additional contribution you want to make. These contributions to BVCA may now be tax-deductible. You may either send in your check to BVCA, P.O. Box 2666, Santa Rosa, CA 95405, or pay online with a credit card or PayPal account. To pay online, go to www.bennettvalley.org (our BVCA website), then choose from the menu on the left side of the first page "Join/Renew: BVCA Membership", and follow the instructions. If you have any questions, about your membership dues, please call Larissa Goliti, 578-3453. If you have any questions about paying online, please call Bill Finkelstein, 536-1026.

Notification Of Email Changes

Please be sure to notify Larissa Goliti of any changes to your email address, at lgoliti@hotmail.com or by phone, 578-3453. This may be necessary because you've chosen to receive your VOICE, via email, or because you want to be notified by Bennett Valley Community Association through Email Alert of important information at times when the VOICE is not scheduled to go out.

Brief Summary, BVCA Minutes July 18, 2013 Meeting 7:00 pm - Guest Speaker: Gregg Crawford, "Gopher Guy" 8:15 pm, Call to Order • Sonoma Zen Center: Cam Kwong from the Zen Center made a presentation of the extent of the Zen Center's current proposal for upgrades and changes in their use permit at the Center located at 6367 Sonoma Mountain Road. Residents were allowed to ask questions, express concerns, add support.

The poor quality of the road continues to be the major concern expressed. • Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Debbie Forton Engel summarized ongoing expenses. It was reported that the funding for an Emergency Preparedness Center at the Fire Department will be "redirected" to establish the BVEP operations center at the Grange Hall property. It was approved by a majority of the Board that the funds originally earmarked for the BV Fire Department emergency location be set aside for expenses to be incurred at the Grange Hall emergency center.

• BVEP Report: Karen Sommers reported that she felt it was important to maintain a positive working relationship between the BVEP and BVFPD in building and maintaining emergency services. Karen informed the group there were three upcoming classes on emergency preparedness/first aid/ CPR and discussed future goals • Speakers for September: Karen Sommers and Tim Bosman suggested fire safe planting, native plants speaker for September. Karen was to follow up.

Board of Directors' Tentative Agenda Thursday, September 19, 7:00 pm, BV Grange Hall Guest Speaker: Liz Parsons, California Native Plant Society; "Landscaping with California Native Plants" 8:15 pm (approx.) Call to Order • Election Committee Report • Treasurer's Report • BVCA Fundraising Letter for Grange Restoration • Report From BV Emergency Preparedness Committee Bennett Valley Cemetery By Marilee Jensen The following message was recently received from Steve Berg, President of the Bennett Valley Cemetery Association, directed to the BV Grange. "I represent the Bennett Valley Cemetery located on Bennett Valley Road across from Galvin Park. It is operated as a nonprofit association with a volunteer Board of Trustees and association members who own plots in the cemetery. Our annual meeting is the and Saturday of March every year. Over the years the meeting has taken place at various members' homes with usually 10 to 20 members attending. This meeting usually lasts less than 2 hours...

" The Bennett Valley Grange has now agreed that this association can have their annual March meeting at the BV Grange Hall. It is expected there will be further exploration of learning more about this association, perhaps at one of our community meetings in the near future.

7

Bennett Valley Community Association P.O. Box 2666 Santa Rosa, CA 95405 www.bennettvalley.org PURPOSES OF BVCA: 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 This Issue • Bennett Valley Road Work Update • Sonoma Valley Road Summit, Oct. 9 • Sonoma County "Near Bottom Roads" Art on the Ridge Bennett Valley Clean-Up Day, Oct. 19 Sign Petition, Better Bennett Valley Roads • BV Fire District Staff, Leadership Changes • BV Fire Strike Team, Halloween Recommendations • BV Fire Highlights, June & July Approved Minutes • Ann Burow, with lifelong Bennett Valley experiences • CPUC Letter to PG&E • BVCA Board, Minutes, Agenda Bennett Valley Community Calendar Mark your calendars now!!

• Bennett Valley Community Association: The next meeting is Thursday, September 19, 7:00 pm, BV Grange Hall. The speaker will be Liz Parsons. • 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.

• Bennett Valley Grange #16, BV Grange Hall is serving as our Disaster Preparedness Center and a meeting place for community activities. Go to http://bvgrange.org to learn more about general Grange information. • Earn Your Ham Radio Over A Week-end!! When? Where? Friday evening, November 1, 6:00 to 9:00 pm, Saturday, November 2, 8:00am to 5:30 pm, Sunday, November 3, 8:00am to 2:30 pm. Return at 3:00 pm for the FCC Exam! Class is at First American Title, 627 College Avenue, Santa Rosa, corner of Humboldt St. $15 for the study guide, plus $15 administrative cost to take the FCC exam. Contact jeff.tonelli@yahoo.com ,539-3272, K16PBF, for pre-study guide.

• Ham Radio Licensing In Just One Day: (From website smrs) The next scheduled one-day licensing class and exam is Saturday, October 12, Petaluma Senior Center. Cram session, 9:00 am - $10, Exam session, 1:00 pm, $15. Please pre-register in order to get help with obtaining your Federal Registration Number. Contact Dale, 762-0414 or wb6tms@arrl.net.

• Sonoma County Board Of Supervisors: Meets every Tuesday (except weeks when there is a legal holiday), at varying times, 575 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa. Susan Gorin is the elected Supervisor for our 1st District. If you have any concerns or questions, you may contact her District Director, Pat Gilardi, 565-3752, pat.gilardi@sonoma-county.org. Or you can contact Susan Gorin at 565-3752, susan.gorin@sonoma-county.org.

Important Phone Numbers

• For emergencies, use your landline or your cell phone to call 911. Or you can also report emergencies to Dispatch, 576-1365. • To talk to someone at the Sheriff's office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to either report concerns that may be an emergency or to discuss a situation that may require law enforcement response, call 565-2121.

• Call Sonoma County Road Maintenance, 565-5100 to report dangerous potholes, fallen trees or landslides and to request possible help with litter control and bulk trash in the road. After hours, call 565-2121. • Call Sonoma County Animal Control, 565-7100, regarding the removal of dead animals along the road.

Call California Highway Patrol, 588-1400, as another resource if debris is causing imminent traffic hazards on county roads.