BVCA and BV Guild Presents: Living with Lions with Dr. Quinton Martins
A Generational Fire District Change
BVCA and BV Guild Presents: Disaster Preparedness with Warren Davis Bennett Valley Guild’s 147th Annual Picnic
Pavement Preservation Projects Update Snags | Dead Trees are Essential for Healthy Forests
BVCA Meeting Schedule and Contact Information
Bennett Valley Community Events
The BVCA and YOU! Join. Engage. Support.
BV Guild Contact Information
BVCA and BV Guild Presents: Living with Lions with Dr. Quinton Martins Quinton Martins, Ph.D., Director, Living with Lions, Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR)
Join us Thursday, May 16, at 7 PM at The Bennett Valley Guild Hall for a special presentation by Dr. Quinton Martins, Director of ACR’s community conservation project, Living with Lions. Come learn about the essential role mountain lions play in our ecosystem and how it is possible to peacefully coexist. Dr. Martins will provide an overview of the mountain lion population located in the Mayacamas Mountains of Sonoma and Napa Counties and will recap his research and findings from more than one dozen, GPS-tracked big cats. He will also share tips to help reduce the risk of mountain lion conflict with pets, livestock and other wildlife. For directions to the Bennett Valley Guild Hall, click here.
Dr. Martins’ presentations are always very popular. Parking will be challenging, so we encourage you to CARPOOL. This event is co-sponsored by the BVCA and The Bennett Valley Guild.
Quinton Martins, Ph.D., is the Director of Living with Lions, ACR's community conservation project focused on the North Bay's mountain lion population. Dr. Martins is the founder and former CEO of the Cape Leopard Trust, a successful predator conservation NGO based in South Africa. He has over 25 years of field experience having worked in wilderness areas throughout much of Africa, Saudi Arabia and the USA.
From specialist safari guiding, leading a scorpion collecting expedition for the Smithsonian Institution in the desert of Namibia, to mist-netting birds in central African rainforests. Quinton turned to studying predators in 2003. He completed his Ph.D., “The Ecology of Leopards in the Cederberg Mountains, South Africa” through the University of Bristol, U.K. in 2010 and is considered a leading expert on large carnivores.
You can support ACR’s Living with Lions project and other important research and public outreach programs by donating or becoming a member of ACR here.Photo credit: Dr. Quinton Martins, Director, Living with Lions, ACR
A Generational Fire District Change Marilee Jensen, Editor Emerita
As many of you know, the Bennett Valley Fire District, Mountain Volunteer Company, Rincon Valley Fire District and Windsor Fire District officially merged to become the Sonoma County Fire District (SOCO Fire) in early April. SOCO Fire now covers approximately 160 square miles and 75,000 residents - about one tenth of Sonoma county. Windsor, Larkfield, Wikiup, Mark West, Middle Rincon, Bennett Valley, Bellevue, Graton Casino, Fulton and surrounding unincorporated areas will now be served by eight fire stations.
This merger is the culmination of five years of struggle by Sonoma County’s more than forty fire districts and the Board of Supervisors to increase efficiency by consolidation. Mark Heine, Fire Chief of Sonoma County Fire District, says that “the 2017 fire brought about a new attitude of collaboration and a greater sense of urgency forged by disaster” that will bring “inspiration and renovation" at the fire stations.
SOCO Fire is in the process of hiring 18 new Firefighters and is “logistically” cross-training its entire firefighting staff. This means that each fire district is expected to learn the equipment and environment of their neighboring seven fire districts. This allows for countywide consistency as it relates to handling emergencies. For instance, this past month, Firefighters previously assigned to Windsor and Rincon Valley fire stations have been working shifts at the Bennett Valley fire station in order to become familiar with the station’s equipment, community needs and geography of Bennett Valley.
Although the Bennett Valley, Rincon Valley and Mountain Volunteer Company districts experienced financial hardship due to declines in property tax revenue from damaged or lost homes, the consolidation is already improving their financial outlook and headcount. In short, the SOCO Fire merge will add more firefighting capability in Bennett Valley, Rincon Valley and Mountain Volunteer areas. One good note to share: The Bennett Valley Fire District now has increased to three Firefighters on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A Bennett Valley Firefighter Engineer indicated that the merger has been smooth because the goals and purpose of the merger were made very clear. SOCO Fire’s goal is to be a model, or benchmark, for future Fire District consolidations in Sonoma County.
What you need to know: “Who do I call when I see an accident along Bennett Valley Road?" It's very important you continue to call 9-1-1 for any emergency. It is the most efficient way to get emergency help in Bennett Valley, or greater Sonoma County. One local firefighter shared with me, "Often, we may not be at the fire station, so please call 9-1-1. It helps us so much so we can help you better.” When you dial 9-1-1, you are connecting with a highly trained Emergency Dispatcher. A crucial detail: When you dial 9-1-1, the location you are calling from is instantly displayed for the dispatcher. This helps the dispatcher and emergency services locate you if you find yourself in an unfamiliar area or is unable to speak.
SOCO Fire Board of Directors Meeting Recap
The first SOCO Fire Board meeting was held on Friday, April 5. Seven Board members attended, including Arnie Tognozzi from the Bennett Valley Fire Board of Directors. During this meeting the following occurred:
Arnie was appointed to SOCO Fire’s Fiscal Committee;
Terms were set at 2 or 4 years for each member;
Officers were elected to the Board of Directors of this new entity;
The agenda format for each board meeting and the meeting schedule for 2019 was established
The second SOCO Fire Board meeting was held on Tuesday, April 16. During this meeting the board approved the following:
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SOCO Fire and the Russian River Fire Protection District which would provide a Fire Chief, management and administrative support services for $160,000 per year;
A declaration that weeds are a fire hazard and property owners who have not complied with weed removal will be sent a demand letter.
The next SOCO Fire Board of Directors meeting will be held on Thursday, May 16, at 5 PM at the Windsor headquarters located at 8200 Old Redwood Highway. The June meeting will be held at the Bennett Valley Fire Station on Tuesday, June 18, at 5 PM. SOCO Fire meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 5 PM at any one of its eight fire stations. The public is always welcome to attend the Board meetings. You can find the SOCO Fire agendas and meeting calendar on their website.
A positive note: Mark Heine has served in the Fire Service for the past 32 years. On the SOCO Fire website, he states that it is an honor to serve as our Fire Chief. He is always interested in feedback. He wants each Bennett Valley resident “to feel free to reach out to him directly with any feedback regarding our experiences with members of the Sonoma County Fire District." Chief Heine will be our guest speaker at our July 18 BVCA meeting, and we invite you to attend and meet him then. Follow SOCO Fire online at www.sonomacountyfd.org or via social media for information about fire prevention and protection, including their local Urban Search And Rescue (USAR) dog, Rocket, who often leads the Windsor Day Parade every October.
BVCA and BV Guild Presents: Disaster Preparedness with Warren Davis Marilee Jensen, Editor Emerita
Please join us Thursday, June 20, at 7 PM at the Bennett Valley Guild Hall for a disaster preparedness presentation by Captain Warren Davis, a 30-year member of the Berkeley Fire Department (and Bennett Ridge resident). Come learn about how to protect your home and your property in the event of a wildfire or earthquake. Get helpful tips and tools on how best to prepare for, evacuate, withstand or recover from a natural disaster. From flammable plants to securing furniture, this presentation promises to put safety and security at the top of your mind. For an advanced copy of Captain Davis’ speaking points, click here.
Captain Davis’ presentation will be popular. Parking will be challenging, so we encourage you to CARPOOL. This event is co-sponsored by the BVCA and The Bennett Valley Guild.
Captain Warren Davis has over 30-years of Fire Service experience with the Berkeley Fire Department. Having worked and seen the devastation of Loma Prieta and the Berkeley-Oakland Hills fires, Davis helped implement a number of operational changes to better serve his department and community.
Bennett Valley Guild's 147th Annual Picnic Bill Finkelstein, Treasurer, BVCA and BV Guild
The 147th annual Bennett Valley Picnic will be held from Noon to 4 PM on Sunday, June 2nd at the Bennett Valley Guild. It's fun for the whole family and is open to the public. Admittance fees are $15 for adults and $10 for children under 16. We’ll be serving Mary’s BBQ Chicken and Tom's homemade beans, salads, sides, and homemade desserts. Plus, Ricardo's Bar & Grill will also have Beer & Wine available for purchase.
Don’t forget the 9th Annual Cherry Pit Spitting Contest and our Silent Auction, both from Noon to 2 PM. You could win wine, gift certificates, food, or any number of goodies donated by our generous sponsors.
Be sure to stay and sway with The Bohemian Highway, an unforgettable Sonoma County band led by veteran singer-songwriters Doug Blumer and Nancy Irish. Get ready for original Americana and folk-rock songs with tight harmony, ringing guitars and great arrangements.
Remember, this is a picnic with a purpose! Your attendance and contributions will help further the restoration of the Guild Hall and grounds, built in 1873. If you’d like to volunteer or bake a dessert for the 147th Annual Bennett Valley Picnic, please contact Janet Alfieri to at jamesangelo9@aol.com or 707- 477-8531. If you can’t attend, but wish to donate, click here. The BV Guild thanks you!
Supervisors Approve Next Round of Pavement Preservation Projects Craig Harrison, BVCA President and Save Our Sonoma Roads (SOSroads)
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is expected to approve a list of pavement projects for the 2019 and 2020 construction seasons on Tuesday, May 21. The county Transportation and Public Works Department (DTPW) is preparing the list of projects. Funding for these projects is partially the result of the advocacy of Save Our Sonoma Roads and its members.
We hope to receive a copy of the list of roads about a week before the meeting, and will post it on http://www.sosroads.org/. Most or all of the projects for the 2019 construction season have already been approved, but we do not know the specific roads that will be fixed in 2020.
From our meetings with Johannes Hoevertsz, Director, DTPW, we understand that county officials are looking to improve 85-90 miles of roads during the next two-year cycle. In 2018, DTPW completed asphalt concrete overlays on Grange-Crane Canyon roads (about two miles) and Sonoma Mountain Road (about one mile). These repairs are much appreciated by Bennett Valley residents, and highlight the need to repair the remainder of Grange Road (part of the county’s 200-mile primary road system) and the remainder of Sonoma Mountain Road (part of the county’s significant rural road network).
Finally, please use DTPW’s app for smart phones to report potholes or other road problems. The app is called SoCo Report Itand allows you to take a photo of a pothole and report it. You may also use the link on their website (https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Services/SoCo-Report-It/Submit-a-Service-Request/) to report an issue or call DTPW at 561-5100. Director Hoevertsz says that sending photos is especially helpful because sometimes the county crews are unable to find the problem that was reported.
To use SoCo Report It, follow these steps: (1) Click “New Request” on the home page; (2) click “Roadway” on the next page, which appears automatically; (3) click “Pothole” on the next page, which also appears automatically; (4) insert nearby address unless already noted, which also appears automatically; (5) click “Next” in the upper right corner in order to proceed (the next page will not appear automatically); (6) click on the diagram of a camera above “Add Photo,” and then click on one choice at the bottom.
Over the past three decades, a great deal of research has been gathered on snags and their role in forest and wetland ecosystems. Snags, better known as dead trees or logs, play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity in a number of habitats including oak woodlands, pine forests and riparian zones. In California alone, snags are home to over 160 different species, which is why government land managers have designated them as “special habitat elements”.
Forest ecologist Jerry Franklin states, “A dead tree is more alive than a live tree.” Dead trees are a vital part of nutrient cycling within forests. Logs, in particular, contribute to the nutrient reserves and chemical and physical characteristics of forest soils or waterways.
According to Sally Duncan of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “When snags eventually fall into or near water and wetlands, fish and amphibians hide under and around dead wood. This aquatic “structure” provides important shelter for juvenile salmon, steelhead, char and trout. Without woody debris in our rivers and streams, these watersheds can’t provide adequate habitat for many native fish species.”
In forests, snags can provide places for food storage, nesting sites and perches. For instance, raptors and flycatchers use snags as ‘lookouts’ for finding prey, while fungi and lichen growth provide food for various insects. And as we all know, insects are the food source for many birds and mammals.
Larger snags can provide a great benefit to larger mammals and reptiles because they last longer and provide food and shelter. For example, woodpeckers excavate invertebrates like bark beetles in snags to store food. Birds who cannot create their own nesting cavities use these hollowed out trees to nest.
When, or if snags are removed, there can be deleterious effects, including the potential for nonnative insect invasions to increase. This means that the cavity nesters’ habitat will suffer due to the inability to reproduce at the rate of insect population growth. American Bird Conservancy authors, Dan Casey, Bob Altman and Darin Stringer stated, “Ponderosa Pine forests in the Pacific Northwest saw a decline in primary cavity nesting birds when snags were actively removed from forests.”
Preserving snags is an important part of land stewardship. Healthy ecosystems rely on biodiversity and diversity of habitat, which can only be achieved if we allow the natural process of decay to occur. Snags are a vital part of the forest and wetland ecosystems and should only be removed as a last resort.
BENNETT VALLEY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEETING SCHEDULE
The forthcoming Bennett Valley Community Association (BVCA) Board meeting will be held Thursday, May 16 at 7 PM at the Bennett Valley Guild Hall located at 4145 Grange Road, Santa Rosa, CA. The BVCA Board convenes the third Thursday of every other month (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sept, Nov) at the Bennett Valley Guild Hall. Meetings commence at 7 PM and are open to members and non-members alike. We invite and encourage public attendance. The 2019 BVCA Board meeting schedule is as follows:
Thursday, May 16
Thursday, July 18
Thursday, September 19
Thursday, November 21
The Board meeting Agenda opens with public discussion, with each presenter invited to address the Board for up to three minutes with their name, address, and concern. Following public input, the Board will receive a report from the Treasurer, and reports of any official notifications from the County. Additional topics of discussion will include county roads, VOICE, the BV Fire Protection District, nominating an election committee and potential speakers for 2019.
Minutes from previous meetings of the BVCA Board are typically posted on the BVCA website soon after they are approved. You can find an archive of meeting minutes here. Because there was no quorum and no meeting on March 21, 2019, there are no meeting minutes.
To building a sense of community in Bennett Valley by serving as an open forum for community participation;
To providing information on local environmental and land use issues and encouraging communication between residents and government agencies with the goal of promoting and preserving the rural character and natural environment of Bennett Valley;
To educating and providing resources that encourage disaster and emergency preparedness
Membership Benefits: The Bennett Valley VOICE delivered straight to your inbox or mailbox!
Six times a year, the BVCA will keep you up-to-date on a broad range of topics pertinent to your community.
$20 per household per year = Electronic version of BVCA’s newsletter
$25 per household per year = Printed version of BVCA’s newsletter
Get access to exclusive events, speakers, discounts and plenty of opportunities to meet, greet and broaden your own Bennett Valley “family”.
Pay dues online here, or make checks payable to BVCA, and send to P.O. Box 2666, Santa Rosa, CA 95405. Or if you’d simply like to support the BVCA, you can do so here. Any questions? Contact Bill Finkelstein at bill@bennettvalley.org. The BVCA thanks you!
Bennett Valley Guild (BV Guild)
Go to http://bvguild.orgto learn more about the BVGuild, including the Guild calendar or, for an article on the early historyof the Bennett Valley Guild. Note: Ricardo's Bar & Grill, 2700 Yulupa, Santa Rosa, is donating 10% of all day sales on the fourth Tuesday of every month in 2019 to the Bennett Valley Guild Building Fund. If you have any questions email Bill/Patty Allen at paddybill@sbcglobal.net.
