LOST Camera on Vacation in Sonoma County

Hello,

My family has just returned from a great week in CA. Unfortunately we lost a camera somewhere in either Armstrong woods or thereabouts. It is a black Nikon Coolpix, containing images of our family vacation. The memory card with all our pictures is what I really hope to get back back... the camera is not an expensive one.

We just love the Russian River area, and have stayed in Jenner for the past few years. This is the first time I brought my girls with me, and we had such a great time!

thank you,
Alison Collins

Lenox, MA
413-637-1623

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Slow Dance - Live before you Die

This is a poem written by a teenager with cancer. I'm passing it on or two reasons. One is because her message is good for everyone. Two is because a very dear friend was taken to the hospital with heart problems today and the last I saw him was in an ambulance. He says he'll be OK and I pray that is true. He has lived his life fully, loved well, shared much and I know he'd have no regrets if he died today. That's a good way to live. - Vesta

Slow Dance

Have you ever
watched
kids

On a merry-go-round?

Or listened to
the
rain

Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a
butterfly's erratic flight?


Or gazed at the sun into the
fading
night?

You better slow down.

Don't
dance so
fast.

Time is short.


The music
won't
last.

Do you run through each day

On
the
fly?

When you ask How are you?

Do you hear
the
reply?

When the day is done

Do you lie
in your
bed< >With the next hundred chores

Running through
your head?

You'd better
slow down

Don't dance so
fast.

Time is
short.


The music won't
last.

Ever told your
child,
We'll do it
tomorrow?

And in your
haste,


Not see
his
sorrow?

Ever lost
>touch,

Let a good
friendship die

Cause you
never had time


To call
and say,'Hi'

You'd
better slow down.

Don't dance
so fast.

Time
is short.

The music won't
last.

When you run
so fast to get somewhere

You
miss half the fun of getting
there.


When you worry and hurry
through your
day,

It is like an unopened
gift....

Thrown
away.

Life is not a
race.

Do take it
slower

Hear the
music

Before the song is
over.

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Catalysts for Change Community Exchange

Please join us for another exciting Community Engagement!
Friday, July 24, 2009
8:30am-11:30am
Please R.S.V.P. no later than July 17
RSVP early as space is limited!

During this Community Aspiration session, we will work together to identify the current needs and desired outcomes for our community. This is a challenge to the Community to envision how it can be an even better place to live and develop a plan to collectively to achieve that vision.

We want to hear your ideas on making our community a stronger, healthier, and vital place to live!

Guest speaker Jay Connor will guide us through the next step on how we can aspire to be a “Catalyst for Change” for Sonoma County! This invitation is open to any public, private, government sectors. Invite a friend, co-worker, your neighbor! You are a very important party of this venture.


Keynote Speaker, Jay Connor, JD/MBA, is the founder/CEO of “The Collaboratory for Community Support.” He has extensive leadership experience in the business, nonprofit, and public policy arenas. He has spoken to audiences across North America on a broad range of
subjects which have at their root the elements of change and leadership development fundamental to success in each of these sectors.

Refreshments will be served in the East Atrium from 8:00-8:30am

Wells Fargo Center For The Arts
E. Atrium & Merlo Theatre
50 Mark West Springs Rd
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Please R.S.V.P. no later than July 17 to: Jenny Chamberlain
jenny@unitedwaywinecountry.org
or call at 707-528-4485 x 136
www.unitedwaywinecountry.org

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David Templeton - Wreth Like Me - One Sinner Show

July 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26

The Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino Ave. Santa Rosa

A whole-lot-of-years in the making, Wretch Like Me is writer and actor David Templeton’s long-planned solo performance piece about his Southern California adolescence as a “raging” teenage fundamentalist Christian. Set during the tail-end of the 1970’s “Jesus Movement,” as the last vestiges of the Peace-and-Love Christianity were giving way to the conservative religion of the big-money Evangelical wave, Wretch Like Me is at once heartwarming, heartbreaking, and hilarious, giving rich insight into the power of non-denominational religion to heal and hurt, often in the same moment.

In Wretch Like Me, Templeton—a noted Bay Area theater and film journalist—finally tells his own story, beginning with his colorful but chaotic, roller-coaster childhood in Southern California during the 1960’s, moving on to his pre-adolescent Christian conversion in the early 1970’s and his unbelievable high-school years, when he grew his hair long, donned a pair of overalls and became a full-fledged ‘Jesus Freak’. The show, performed as a two-act monologue, includes stories of near-death by baptism, Holy Communion served with Jack Daniels and a marijuana brownie, shocking alternative tunes for ‘Amazing Grace,’ and a girl who wet her pants for Jesus. And it has a happy ending, when at the end of his faith’s unraveling rope, just in the nick of time, he is saved from being “saved.”

This special “advance-look” run will take place over six damnation-packed performances, presented as part of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa’s ongoing arts & culture ministry.

SHOWTIMES: July 17, 18, 19, 24, and 25 at 8:00 p.m., and July 26 at 2:00 p.m.

LOCATION: The Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino Ave. Santa Rosa

TICKETS: Suggested donation of $9 is requested; no one turned away for lack of funds

PURCHASE TICKETS: Copperfield’s Book Stores, The Last Record Store, Back Door Disc, and on-line at www.brownpapertickets.com

PRESS CONTACT: Dan Zastrow; 415-509-5256 dzastrow@cafilm.org

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Sonoma County Programs Win National Awards

Three Sonoma County Programs Win National Awards

By Jim Toomey

Three Sonoma County programs were selected to receiveAchievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). NACo will present the awards during their national conference, being held July 24th through 29th in Nashville, TN.
The programs being honored are:
- Circles Across Sonoma – Sonoma County Probation Department
- Health Action – Sonoma County Department of Health Services
- Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Sustainability Initiatives – Sonoma County General
Services Department, Energy & Sustainability Division.

Circles Across Sonoma is the nation’s first county-wide implementation of a gender responsive service program for girls involved at all levels of the local juvenile justice system. Program services are built upon the Girls Circle format, a promising practice model recognized by the office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The Circles Across Sonoma Program offers the elegant solution of a consistent, structured, research based program delivered to girls throughout the continuum of juvenile justice, even as they return to their communities and homes. Circles Across Sonoma represents a major step forward in creating a gender responsive system for the Sonoma County. The program has enrolled 456 girls with a remarkable 73.2% completion rate.

Health Action began in 2007 as a health action council sponsored by the Sonoma County Department of Health Services (DHS). Health Action’s over-arching mission is community health improvement. Building on widespread interest and commitment, DHS has convened a diverse, multidisciplinary group of key community leaders to identify priority health and health care issues, and to develop specific recommendations on local approaches to promote the health of both the community and the health care deliver system. Since its inception, Health Action has; assessed data on health issues impacting Sonoma County, developed criteria focusing its efforts, developed an initial set of health improvement strategies, received public input on those strategies, and obtained Board of Supervisors approval of its Action plan for 2009 through 2012.

In the arena of climate protection, Sonoma County has created an aggressive and successful program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, motivated by the county’s commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint and to operate in a sustainable way. The program includes a climate protection action plan, an energy project concentrating on facilities and self-generation, and a regional climate committee, comprised of all cities and agencies within the county. Important components of these comprehensive programs include, but are not limited to; collaboration between multiple agencies and jurisdictions on a common goal, the installation of a 1.4 megawatt natural gas fuel cell, the replacement of more than 260 gas powered vehicles with hybrid and electric cars, lighting and water conservation retrofits at facilities, and the creation of an AB 811 program to finance energy efficiency and conservation projects on residential and commercial properties throughout the county.

More information about these programs may be obtained at the following links:
Circles Across Sonoma:
www.sonoma-county.org/probation/juvenile_services/special_services.htm

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Daniel Oberti - Art Saves Lives Benefit

Daniel Oberti, our special friend and fellow artist, devoted his life to art & gave generously to the community. Just prior to his passing it was his wish to host a benefit to help defray the expenses of his illness and to bring his community together to share a special day of art and
celebration. In his words, “Art Saves Lives!” The event came and went, but there is still a way you can help.

If you could not attend our fund raising auction of art, but would like to contribute please consider purchasing a t-shirt for a donation of $20.

Contact us at:
http://gallery.hammerfriar.com/artists/oberti_daniel/index.html


Hammerfriar Gallery
139 Healdsburg Ave
Healdsburg, CA 95448-4000
(707) 473-9600

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Clean Santa Rosa Creek and Learn to Test Water

Come Clean Up Santa Rosa Creek and Learn How To Test Water Quality with Community Clean Water Institute and First Saturday Cleanup!

WHEN: Saturday, July 11th, 10:00am
WHERE: Pierson St Bridge on Santa Rosa Creek, downtown Santa Rosa, Ca


On Saturday, July 11th Community Clean Water Institute (CCWI) will be presenting a hands-on training course in water quality monitoring. The skills gained from becoming a water quality monitor can be great for those interested in pursuing green jobs and the monitoring data will help us pinpoint pollution sources and identify widespread watershed issues.

This workshop and future workshops have been made possible by a grant we received from the Royal Bank of Canada's Blue Water Project to provide watershed education and monitoring training to the volunteers of First Saturday Cleanup!

First Saturday Cleanup is a great mentoring and stewardship program where youth of Chops Teen Center work with the community in cleaning up Santa Rosa Creek. The teens and supervising adults pick up trash, plant native vegetation, and remove graffiti. CCWI will be training everyone involved with on how to monitor water quality of streams and will be coordinating educational presentations on watershed science.

First Saturday Cleanup happens every first Saturday of every month and is a combination of cleanup and restoration projects, and water science trainings and presentations. On August 1st there will be a workshop and presentation on the macro invertebrates of Santa Rosa Creek by Kelly Dabney of Sonoma State University’s Entomology Outreach Program!

To find out more about this event, future events and how to become a Citizen Monitor, contact the CCWI office at (707) 824-4370 or info@ccwi.org. Visit http://www.ccwi.org/events.html for a complete listing of CCWI hosted events. Admission to these events is free and open to the public.

Terrance Fleming
Community Clean Water Institute
Program Coordinator
707/824.4370 v
707/824.4372 f
terrance@ccwi.org
www.ccwi.org

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Overcoming Disability: Inga's Story

PHOTO by Penny Wolin. http://www.pennywolin.com/

Inga’s Story
by Bianca Llamas

What Inga remembers most about waking up that day was the white. It surrounded her, but it was not the comforting white of billowing clouds or down comforters, but the cold stark white that spoke of starched ironed bed sheets and disinfectant.

It was a surreal setting where nothing made sense. All she could remember was who her family was and her job. She was told later that the accident occurred when she was celebrating with her boyfriend in downtown Vilnius, Lithuania. The holidays had passed and winter was raging on.

Inga Lizdenyte, 32, did not know where she was when she woke up. She had been in a car accident, but she didn’t remember it. The result was the loss her legs and the paralysis of her left arm.

Inga had no recollection of the accident. Later, she was told that the driver was speeding, at 100 miles per hour. The roads were slick with ice and snow. The driver lost control and careened into light pole. He died at the scene. At the time of impact Inga’s legs were sliced in half, just above the knee.

Her life seemed a blur. It was not until a few weeks later that her father told her that the driver who died in the accident was her boyfriend, Dalius. After hearing his name she understood.
“Dalius always liked to drive fast,” said Inga.

To most of us it would seem incomprehensible, losing both legs and a boyfriend at once. Yet now Inga reflects that she was able to handle the news fairly well, no doubt due to the morphine the doctors were filling her with.

After being released from the hospital Inga went back home to live with her family, but things were not the same. Like physical therapy, learning to live with a disability and the looks in the eyes of old friends who never knew what to say or do. It took about a year of being stuck in her room to be motivated to take hold of her situation.

“I couldn’t leave my room because I had to wait during the process of home modification. I made the request right away but it took about a year before anything was done.”

“I couldn’t take the humiliation of being carried down the only flight of stairs from the elevator to the ground floor…I only left the house for doctors appointments and rehabilitation therapy”. Life as she had known it seemed to no longer exist. Inga felt that she had lost the freedom she had rarely even given a second thought to.

But Inga was strong. Adjusting to her new life was not easy. She had been forced into a world that required her total dependence on others. Eventually with the combination of therapy and motivation, Inga decided to get on with her life.

“I wanted to live, not exist,” said Inga.

Things were looking up when an American prosthetic expert was able to create two prosthetic legs, enabling Inga to walk again.

But only for a year.

Her thighbone was growing back, a painful process some amputees experience. The pain made it impossible for Inga to wear her prosthetic legs.

There is no longing in Inga’s voice when she describes choosing to use a wheelchair. She is content and happy with her life. Inga’s pristine happiness is what sets her apart from most people and people who have suffered an injury resulting in disability. Part of this happiness is due to her job, Public Relations and Volunteer Coordinator at Disability Services and Legal Center also known as DSLC.

“One of the reasons I love working at DSLC is because this agency helps people like me to become independent and live their lives despite their disability. I have seen, smelled, felt, heard and tasted every emotion that these people are dealing with. I know what it feels like when you cannot live your life as everyone else only because you don’t have access or opportunity due to your disability. DSLC is the primary resource for people who have to go through difficulties as I did. I want the community to know that there is a place where they can get help if they or their family members have any difficulties because of disability. I can share my own personal story with them to hopefully inspire them to take hold of their lives.”

Anyone can find Inga in her office, dubbed “the fishbowl”, working away while listening to up beat electronic music.

Her upbeat attitude and energy is infectious. She admits that she may overwork herself by taking on too many projects but is always satisfied with their outcome.

Inga has a worldly presence and when speaking with her you can only think of how amazing she is. Fighting losing battles and overcoming her past, Inga may be the strongest person you ever meet.

“I could feel sorry for myself, but what use would that be. I am thankful for everything I had to go through, and what has happened to me has made me only stronger. I love my life and my job. I have a purpose and that is to help others like me”, said Inga.

If you have any questions regarding the services provided by DSLC call DSLC, 707-528-2745 or check out their website http://www.disabilityserviceandlegal.org/

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Vagabond - The Art of Living Homeless - Kerry Echo

Kerry Echo lives on the streets and has a blog for her essays. I appreciate her perspective on life so I am including one of her essays here - with a link to her web site so you can follow her journey. - Vesta


Love is Not All
By Kerry Echo
http://artofsurvivinghomelessness.blogspot.com/

Love is not meat or drink, but it can get very, very lonely being homeless without it.

Most homeless people have no roof whatsoever, and those of us who do are living out of a car, truck, or van, which barely provides enough room for one person. Assuming two people could get along under one small mobile roof, there is still the problem of lack of privacy with having to situate the "roof" on a side street or in a parking lot. Truly, I wish I had had a choice about listening to Sheila and Brian argue, break up, kiss, and make up every few days.

The homeless are up early and turn in early to avoid encounters with the housed and the police. There are just too many logistics to handle as it is, and the police can rattle your nerves even when they park next to you at Seven-Eleven. And I can live without the nervous, faux cheeriness of the housed when they have an unexpected encounter in a public washroom --- I only have my bra on so far and I'm brushing my teeth. Somehow, they want to chatter at such a time, perhaps to pretend that I am just like them. Except for the homeless part.

It is not that often, though, that I meet the middle- and upper-middle class housed. Most of the time the public restrooms are empty, and I can relax and enjoy the breeze coming through the open-roof structure and look out at the tree tops. One public washroom has dovecotes, whether by accident or design: instead of a single pitched roof, there are two pyramidal roofs separated by a breezeway, each with its own skylighted pavilion perched at the top. Doves can be heard flying around the empty, upper interior. They have taken over the roofs and nest on top of the walls separating the toilets, which places the humans doing their business on the first floor.

The birdsong of the mourning dove permeates my earliest memories, so having this particular, familiar bird attendant upon my toilette is a luxury and a joy. Even if the biggest problem with having birds in the attic looks nasty --- the excrement that has dripped down and dried on the upper walls --- it seems fitting.

One day while doing my toilette, I was surprised by two very well-dressed women, so well-dressed it was startling. They were in skirts and high heels, made-up, perfectly coiffed, and wearing expensive jewelry. There was a pleasant hint of perfume in the air that spread like an aura throughout the washroom. We exchanged greetings as they entered and each took a stall. I continued washing my face.

"You ladies are really dressed up for the public washroom this morning!"

"Oh," said one of the ladies as she left her stall, "We're Jehovah Witnesses."

There is usually an internal "uh-oh" response whenever I hear Jehovah Witnesses since they are generally so pesky, all but ramrodding their way through your front door and into your living room. But, of course, I do not have a front door or anything else resembling a house. I decided in that moment to be all the person I am, to be bigger than my reservations, and to stay open and honest.

By now I was brushing my teeth. It seemed a little awkward, but the ladies stayed a while to chat. Most of the chat was about their missionary work. I told them I respect their belief as I do all beliefs, which turned out to be an opening for one of them to ask what my belief was. I told them I am spiritual, that I have outgrown religion, that I love Jesus, but I want to be able to communicate with everyone on the planet regardless of their belief.

My answer elicited a pause; I think it impressed them because no one can honestly deny the need to relate to all people. They may also have been relieved not to have to defend their own belief, as I am sure they meet with plenty of diatribe against the JWs. At any rate, the two well-dressed women took their leave; and I have to say I liked them. My impressions of people include a disaster scenario and whether they could weather a storm with me. I do not want to hear, "I broke my nail!" when we all need to be bailing water. These women were tough on the inside. I could tell.

A few mornings earlier as I had just finished in the washroom, a car drove into the parking lot blaring the sound of the Beatles. So few radio stations play the Beatles anymore and, where I live, no one listens to them. It was unusual. Then my friend, Sheila, pops out of the car and runs over, as usual, lunging at me with an enormous embrace.

Unless by way of a well-honed internal guidance system, I never know how Sheila finds me. She behaved as though she expected to see me right there right then. Even uncannier is the fact that I am not staying out by the yacht club anymore where Sheila last saw me, but further south in Mission Bay.

Sheila's lover is still in jail, and she is pining away. She is pining so much she decided to go back to school to become a nurse, maybe to keep busy. But Sheila always sounds a little drunk, so I am hoping she succeeds despite her boyfriend and the addiction. Unfortunately, because she pops into my life unannounced, I usually have something else to do and must leave her company sooner than I would like. That was the case a few days ago. Sheila is no longer homeless, but she still retains some of the footloose habits that homelessness engenders; and I will see her again.

One of the subtle effects of homelessness over time is to make a person more truly herself. I have been given back to myself through this simple way of life, which has few distractions. I tend to be completely honest, even honest about dishonesty on the rare occasion that I must employ it. One of the most important features of this new integrity has been a progressive ability to be in the present moment much of the time and to make the best of my surroundings and everything in it.

I am no longer fixated.

It is remarkable when I review my life to see how often I denied my reality. I was always waiting for the perfect friend, lover, sister, brother, mother, job, apartment, exercise plan, vacation, and the list goes on. I was in the future and stuck in the past, unable to love what I had; and I am only beginning to enjoy imperfection as the capstone of things rare and extraordinary.

Letting go of fixations --- who can be my friends, who can be my lover or soul mate, who is interesting or not --- has allowed me to accept the things around me and experience them in greater depth and detail. The narrow romantic-love vision of the 1950's household of my childhood no longer applies under my present circumstances and may be, in fact, obsolete. Certainly, if one is looking to live life to the fullest and have the experience of joy, there is no other way but to leave oneself open to the excitement of possibilities and to a childlike fascination with what might happen next.

For example, bird visitations are a regular feature of the outdoor shower at public restrooms. One day, a silly gull perched on the shower wall was behaving just as my beloved, deceased dog would have and seemed to stand guard overhead while I washed. In fact, I came to believe my beloved dead dog was inhabiting a bird body. Fantasy? Magical thinking? Perhaps, but the experience was real and something I will never forget.

Then there are the elusive Bob, Steve "the Wonder," and my girlfriend, Sheila, exotic creatures in their own right. If I look for Bob or Steve or Sheila, I cannot find them. They just appear and our relationships continue, renewed and updated. These people have blessed my life with the richness of their personalities.

There is nurturance in relating to everything around oneself. There is a sense of belonging, a feeling of security, and love that comes with it. It is not just what one gives or what one gets, but the relationship itself, the in-betweenness, that brings joy to me. That third element is what I seek, that subtle energy of life between and among all living things, the gravitational pull that draws us into one strange, wonderful whole.


Love is Not All
by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Love is not all: it is not meat nor drink
Nor slumber nor a roof against the rain;
Nor yet a floating spar to men that sink
And rise and sink and rise and sink again;
Love can not fill the thickened lung with breath,
Nor clean the blood, nor set the fractured bone;
Yet many a man is making friends with death
Even as I speak, for lack of love alone.
It well may be that in a difficult hour,
Pinned down by pain and moaning for release,
Or nagged by want past resolution's power,
I might be driven to sell your love for peace,
Or trade the memory of this night for food.
It well may be. I do not think I would.

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Cynthia McKinney: Journey to Gaza

To all: The amazing Cynthia McKinney just arrived in Gaza with a contingent of people bearing aid and in her first short note she manages to tie together the subjects of Junteenth, Mumia and the shocking situation in Haiti. That’s what I call bringing the issues together!! Good on her!! Submitted by Mary Moore


UPDATE: JULY 2. 2009

Cynthia McKinney: I'm in jail in Israel Ex-Ga. congresswoman detained after boat with Gaza supplies held By Kent A. Miles The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday, July 02, 2009

Former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney revealed in a phone call posted online that she is in an Israeli prison with others who attempted to run a blockade to deliver supplies to Gaza. McKinney and about 18 other activists in Israeli custody for the past three days will likely be released by Sunday, according to the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. Spokesman Jonathan Peled said preparations are being made to deport the activists. "It is taking slightly longer. Former congresswoman McKinney is not cooperating with the authorities"?and refusing to sign a document acknowledging deportation, he said. "It'll take a couple more days before she is put on a plane and flown out of Israel,"? Peled said.

A blog entry Thursday on a MySpace page for McKinney said the passengers refused to admit in writing to violating the blockade and trespassing Israeli territorial waters. The Greek-registered Arion with 21 passengers aboard was in the Mediterranean Sea about 23 miles off the Gaza coast when it was intercepted Tuesday. Israel has blockaded entry to Gaza, which is governed by the organization Hamas, for two years. The Free Gaza Movement, which organized the voyage, contends the ship was carrying humanitarian aid. The organization, which has made more than a half dozen sailings to deliver aid to Gaza since August 2008, had renamed the ship Spirit of Humanity and refers to it by that name. The Israelis rerouted the ship to the port of Ashdod after the seizure. Two of the passengers who signed the waivers have been released from custody and deported, Peled said.

New York journalist Don DeBar said McKinney called him early Thursday. DeBar covered McKinney's campaign last year as the Green Party presidential candidate and they stayed in touch. "She sounded okay,"? DeBar said. McKinney said in the online interview (listen to the interview here here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQCchmbd6DE) that she was in a prison cell block with women from different countries detained for arriving in Gaza. "We have not committed any crime, we have been detained,"? McKinney said. We want the people of the world to see how we have been treated just because we wanted to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza."? McKinney called on President Barack Obama to press Israel to assist the Palestinian people.

Among the activists on the ship were McKinney, who twice represented Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives; and Mairead Maguire, the 1977 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for co-founding a group that worked for peace in Northern Ireland.

In a statement, Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin called for the immediate release of Maguire and another Irish citizen also being detained. McKinney's father said he spoke briefly with her on Thursday and that she told him she was all right. "We didn't have a conversation. She just said she was all right, and that was about it"? Billy McKinney of Atlanta said. The former Georgia legislator and political figure admitted he was worried despite his daughter's assurances. "I'm always worried about her,"? he said. "I'm a father. I'm a parent. I'm always worried."

ORIGINAL & SUBSEQUENT POSTS:

Well, I've finally arrived at the hotel in Doha after a brief layover in Abu Dhabi. Tomorrow, we do a full day of press, starting with Al Jazeera. In an abundance of caution, I have alerted the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Department of Justice of my travels, in addition to note I sent to the White House. Additionally, today I've read that more than 40 NGOs called for free movement of humanitarian goods into Gaza. This is good.

I began this journey on Juneteenth, the day in June on which slaves learned that they had been freed in January! Interesting, on that day I also sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder requesting an investigation into the denial of Mumia Abu-Jamal's civil rights, and I learned, sadly, that United Nations troops of occupation opened fire on Haitians as they mourned the passing of their hero and Aristide ally, Father Jean-Juste.

Thanks to all of you for your interest and support of DIGNITY and here's the letter I sent to Attorney General Holder for Mumia:
Mr. Eric Holder
United States Attorney General
US Department of Justice
Washington, DC

To Attorney General Holder:

I am writing to ask for your personal and immediate intervention to put an end to a grave injustice. Anyone who has read the reports, as I have, including briefs and opinions of the Courts, knows that Mumia Abu-Jamal was tried and convicted amid sensationalism and hysteria that, at its core, constituted a racial frenzy. Indicting words from the Judge, himself, point to racism and prejudice even inside the Courtroom. The “Batson Issue” should be of real concern to everyone interested in justice. Sadly, Mumia was convicted amid the very racial cowardice of which you, yourself, have spoken. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is known for, among other things, having said that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Ignoring any instance of racism inside the courtroom leads to injustice that threatens us all.

There is no statute of limitations on the U.S. Constitution and I therefore request that you do all within your power to review the totality of the circumstances as they are now known in 2009 in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal and ensure that his Constitutional rights (in the form of racially-tinged prosecutorial and judicial misconduct) were and are not abridged. The imperative for a civil rights investigation is clear and I specifically request that of your office. I am prepared to meet with you or anyone you designate for the purpose of engaging in a dialogue on this matter. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Please accept this request within all applicable rules and regulations.

Sincerely,

Cynthia McKinney
Please note: the photo of the Woman in Gaza above is from The Alternative Information Center web site: http://www.alternativenews.org/


-------------------------------
Updates from Cynthia


vSubject: [SOA] [hq2600] They Denied Us So They Wouldn't Have to Ram Us
The Israelis are hopping mad. And they're flexing their muscles in all the ugly places. They can't ram us again without sparking an international uproar, so they're trying to stop us from leaving the port at all. The Limasol, Cyprus Port Authority which controls the port of Larnaca also, sent their inspector to Larnaca with a letter saying that the boat failed inspection, only thing, the letter was written BEFORE he even arrived in Larnaca to do the inspection! Reuters is doing the story at this very moment saying that we were prevented from leaving due to Cypriot authorities. We just learned from a Cyprus government source that pressure is being applied by Israel to deny us departure credentials. It appears, then, that Israel is putting us into contortions because they don't want us to take cement into Gaza. After white phosphorus, depleted uranium, DIME, cluster bombs, F16s, death, destruction, and mayhem. All of *this* over a few bags of cement. Can you believe???

1. Read the Haaretz article here, showing Israeli concern about us taking cement to Gaza
2. Hear the interview with Don Debar on the contortions we're being put through by Cyprus Port Authority
3. Read the Reuters article here (interesting that the story broke in Israel and not Cyprus!!)
4. Individuals have already started to contact the Cyprus UN Mission and their DC Embassy to inquire why they are arbitrarily not allowing the Spirit of Humanity and the Free Gaza to set sail.

1. Here is the Ha'aretz article: 18/06/2009
Activists plan to send Gaza cement, in violation of Israel blockade By Reuters and Haaretz Service


Activists campaigning for an end to Gaza's blockade by Israel will sail to the Hamas-run enclave from Cyprus despite the presence of the Israeli navy, they said on Thursday. Two boats, including one carrying cement and building supplies -- materials not permitted in by Israel over fears that they could be used for military purposes -- will sail from Cyprus on June 25, the multi-national Free Gaza Movement said. "We are taking 15 tons of cement, which is just a token of how much the Palestinians need, because the Israelis won't allow building supplies into Gaza," said Greta Berlin, a representative of the group.

The group started regular shuttles to Gaza from Cyprus in August 2008, but was turned back by the Israeli navy on its last journey in mid-January of this year. Israel tightened a blockade on Gaza in 2007 after the Islamist Hamas took control of the enclave, a strip of land that is home to 1.5 million people. Israeli forces bombed and then invaded Gaza in late December 2008 in a bid to rout out militants lobbing rockets into Israel, badly battering its already decrepit infrastructure.

Related articles:
U.S. ups pressure on Israel to end Gaza blockade

Ex-president Carter urges Obama to remove Hamas from U.S. terror list 2. Hear Greta Berlin and I explain what is happening with the purposeful delay of our departure

3. Read the Reuters article:
€€ 12:54 25Jun09 -Cyprus halts aid boats bound for Gaza Strip LARNACA, Cyprus, June 25 (Reuters) -
boats planning to carry aid to the Gaza Strip in defiance of an Israeli blockade from leaving port on Thursday, officials said.
The U.S.-based Free Gaza Movement had been planning to take 33 activists to Gaza with medical supplies and cement, a material that Israel does not allow into the Palestinian territory devastated by a short war that ended early this year. The Free Gaza Movement started sending regular aid voyages from Cyprus to Gaza in August 2008, but one of its boats was involved in a collision with an Israeli vessel in December, and was turned back on another mission in January. Cypriot shipping officials cited inspection requirements for stopping the two vessels, a small ferry and a sailing boat, from leaving port two hours before their scheduled departure. Both vessels had travelled to Gaza before. "One of the ships was only recently registered in Cyprus and under Cyprus law it has to undergo inspection before being given permission to sail," said Serghios Serghiou, head of Cyprus's Department of Merchant Shipping. "(The second) ... did not apply for any inspections before sailing." Israel tightened a blockade on Gaza in 2007 after the Islamist group Hamas took control of the enclave, a tiny sliver of territory home to some 1.5 million people. Israel bans imports of cement, steel or other building supplies to Gaza, saying militants could use them for military purposes. One of the vessels was to carry 15 tonnes of cement. Israeli forces bombed then invaded Gaza in late December 2008 with a declared aim of ending cross-border rocket attacks from the Hamas-ruled territory. The war damaged infrastructure and hurt an economy already hobbled by years of isolation. ((michele.kambas@thomsonreuters.com; 357 22469607; Reuters

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Pegasus Theater presents Driving Miss Daisy

Pegasus Theater Company presents

“Driving Miss Daisy,”
the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Alfred Uhry,
at the Guerneville Community Church.

Why, you might ask, when this country has just achieved the truly historic breakthrough of electing an African-American president, would you want to see a play that casts an African-American in the subservient role of a chauffeur to a rich white woman? Director Nancy Hansen responds: “We believe that ‘Driving Miss Daisy,’ like the best of theater, has a lot to tell us about our contemporary situation. As President Obama said during his campaign in his landmark speech in Philadelphia on race, quoting William Faulkner, ‘The past isn’t dead and buried. In fact, it isn’t even past.’ Obama then went on to describe ‘the complexities of race that we’ve never really worked through,’ and the ‘racial stalemate we’ve been stuck in for years’ which is being fuelled by black anger and white resentment.”

The play begins in 1948 in Atlanta. Daisy Werthan, a rich, sharp-tongued, fiercely independent Jewish widow of 72, has just demolished another car. Her son Boolie hires Hoke, a thoughtful middle-aged black man well-schooled in survival in the white world. Despite her protestations that she isn’t prejudiced, Daisy’s latent racism shows through in her relations with Hoke, with her unthinking assumptions and stereotyping. The precarious position of Jews in the South is also exposed when the reform Temple is bombed, even though many Jews have adopted some of the customs of the dominant Christian culture, such as stringing Christmas lights and hosting Christmas parties (as Boolie’s wife does, much to Daisy’s disdain).

In a series of absorbing and often funny scenes that span 25 years, Daisy and Hoke grow past their differences in race, class and religion to develop a unique and enduring relationship. “Driving Miss Daisy” explores their tumultuous times through the prism of their evolving relationship, in a way that is never mawkish or sentimental or preachy, but always realistic and close to the bone.

Lois Pearlman is Daisy, Arnold House is Hoke and Donovan Dutro is Boolie. All three actors are long-time Pegasus performers and bring to their roles a wealth of experience and a special appreciation of the subtleties of their roles.

“Driving Miss Daisy” runs through August 1. Evening performances begin at 8 pm, and the Saturday matinee on August 1 begins at 4 pm. We’ve set special recession pricing with general admission at $15, and pay-what-you can on all Thursday evenings and at the August 1 matinee. The gala, as usual, is $35 and includes champagne and a buffet.

The Guerneville Community Church is located at 14520 Armstrong Woods Road, .4 of a mile from the intersection of Main Street and Armstrong Woods Road, on the left. For more information or reservations, call the Box Office at (707) 522-9043 or visit the web site at pegasustheater.com.

Interview with the Director

By Frances Werner
Pegasus Theater Company is presenting “Driving Miss Daisy,” its first production since the loss of its longtime theater space in Monte Rio. I asked Nancy Hansen, director of the play and also Artistic Director of the theater company, to tell us about the play and how the lack of a permanent home has affected Pegasus.

FW: Obviously, since you’re back on the board with “Driving Miss Daisy,” the loss of a permanent home wasn’t fatal. But has it been a real hardship to lose the Monte Rio theater space?

NH: Initially, it seemed like a terrible blow. But as we began to absorb what it meant, it brought about some healthy introspection among the company members about role of a community theater and how we might better connect with our own community. First, we resolved that we are determined to remain a Lower River theater, despite some tempting offers and available space elsewhere in the County. And while a permanent home may ultimately be desirable, in the meantime it’s liberating not having to pay monthly rent and utilities. It gives you the freedom to offer a wider range of theater in a variety of creative venues, and to relate to the community in a more meaningful way. So it is true that when one door closes, others open.

For “Driving Miss Daisy” we are fortunate to be able to lease the Guerneville Community Church on Armstrong Woods Road. Because these are hard times, we’ve lowered ticket prices to $15 for general admission, and all Thursday evenings are pay-what-you-can. And for this production, I should note that there is just one matinee, Saturday, August 1, at 4 pm, and it is also pay-what-you-can.
FW: Why did you select “Driving Miss Daisy?”

NH: It’s a famous play and rightly so, because its seemingly simple story of an evolving friendship between an elderly white woman, Daisy Werthan, a rich widow, and her black chauffeur, Hoke, operates on so many levels. On one level, the play is our national memory. In a series of artful and sometimes funny vignettes, it spans 25 years, from 1948 to 1973, from the segregated South to the civil rights movement. It also shows the overt anti-Semitism of the times, by including the bombing of Daisy’s Temple in Atlanta, and the efforts of some Southern Jews to fly under the radar by adopting some of the customs of the dominant Christian culture.

It’s also a story about personal growth. We first meet Daisy when she’s 72, and at the play’s end she’s 97. We rarely see plays, or books for that matter, about women this age, yet it is during this period of her life that Daisy undergoes her most important growth experience. And Hoke, who is 60 years old and illiterate when we first meet him, learns to read and sees his daughter in a financially secure marriage to a Pullman Car porter and his granddaughter become a college professor.

Finally, the play reminds us that while Daisy and this country may have come a long way in revising attitudes towards race, we all still have some distance to go. We also are reminded by the news every day that differences in wealth and privilege still rankle and religious differences still engender violence.

FW: Who are the actors?

NH: There are just three characters in the play, and we’re fortunate to have three strong, experienced actors, with Lois Pearlman as Daisy, Arnold House as Hoke, and Donovan Dutro as Boolie, Daisy’s son. These talented and dedicated actors have been very pro-active in discovering every aspect of life reflected in the play: history, geography, word derivation, social mores, and political developments, as well as the usual psychological and emotional elements.

Daisy is a fiercely independent person, and a penny-pincher in spite of her wealth. She is saved from being just a crotchety old woman by her quick and sometimes devastating wit. Hoke has learned to keep his head down in the white world in order to support his family but he, too, has a sly sense of humor. Boolie is a successful businessman, at ease with Hoke, and integrated into mainstream Atlanta society. Yet, at a pivotal moment he declines to openly support Martin Luther King out of fear of losing business. All three characters are rich in subtlety, and I’m very much enjoying watching the actors create the complex presence of another human being.

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A Bit of Musical Pleasure for You - Why Not!

African Thunderstorm

This fun YouTube video features a 1980s pop classic. The rock band Toto scored their biggest hit with Africa in 1982. The song is instantly recognizable. But it has been reinvented.

Perpetuum Jazzile is an a cappella jazz choir from Slovenia. It’s hard to think of something further from an ‘80s rock band. But their version of Africa may best the original. The group has amazing voices.

But the beginning of this video is really striking. Group members simulate an African thunderstorm with their hands. It’s really something to see and hear.

http://videos.komando.com/2009/06/18/african-thunderstorm/

Life is Fun when you take the time to enjoy it!

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PG&E's Reliability Pruning - the Down Side

PHOTOS: “Reliability Pruning” last year on Austin Creek Rd from 3-mi bridge to hwy 116

PG&E's Reliability Pruning runs into Protests in Cazadero

THIS IS NOT THE USUAL ANNUAL TREE PRUNING BY DAVEY TREE!

SAY NO TO PG&E’S “RELIABILITY PRUNING” PROGRAM FROM 3-MILE BRIDGE ON AUSTIN CREEK RD THROUGH CAZADERO AND ONTO KING RIDGE RD IN CAZADERO

COSTS TO YOU WILL BE:
• CREATION OF WIND TUNNELS (windthrow)
• LOSS OF SCENIC VALUE
• INCREASED FIRE DANGER
• HIGHER INSURANCE RATES
• DECREASED PROPERTY VALUES
• INCREASED RISK OF TREES FALLING/TOPS BREAKING OFF

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT “RELIABILITY PRUNING” AND INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR RIGHTS: Contact treeswithoutlimbs@gmail.com
and/or Judith Rost: 707-632-5988

LETTER:

While I do understand and appreciate the importance of safety around 12,000 volt power lines, you must recognize the negative impact that PG&E's recent "Reliability Pruning" program is causing.

As you know, I am a California tree contractor, Lic. #909691; you may review my resume at www.thetreeclimber.net.

During the last several years, the scientific community has established the components behind the growth pattern of redwood trees, including groundwater recharge and transpiration. The
University of California at Berkeley has been involved in the studies at the Van Alstine grove in Occidental, which showed that the reason redwoods grow so tall is the limbs up and down their trunklines, on which the sun bakes the foliage and draws moisture to the upper crown.

The negative impact of PG&E's program is that when these limbs have been stripped, the crown will grow exponentially as a result. Those limbs remaining on the upper crown will, in a short period of time, be MORE apt to break and fall on power lines.

Another issue of serious concern is that wind tunnels are being created by this program, especially in the Austin Creek-Cazadero Highway area. Extremely hazardous situations are going to be affecting private property and causing higher insurance rates, decreasing property values and increased risk of trees falling and tops breaking off.

Again, I appreciate PG&E's intentions of minimizing winter power outages; however, this is the wrong approach.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,

Darrell B. Sukovitzen
The Tree Climber
CCL #909691
darrells@sonic.net
(707) 887-1017
www.thetreeclimber.net

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Sonoma County Homeless Census 2009

Sonoma County Homeless Census

By Jenny Abramson
The Sonoma County 2009 Homeless Census and was conducted in two parts, which differed significantly from previous counts in 2005 and 2007. The first part, a census of homeless individuals and families, was undertaken on January 23rd, 2009. The second part was a survey of 600 homeless people. The new methodology is superior in terms of numerical accuracy of the census and the value of the qualitative information obtained from survey respondents.

A total of 3,290 homeless individuals were found through canvassing of 86 census tracts throughout Sonoma County and via surveys of emergency shelters, transitional housing facilities, jails, hospitals and residential treatment facilities. The 2007 census located 1700 homeless individuals. Most of the increase is due to the use of a different methodology rather than the economic downturn, says Peter Connery, Vice President of Applied Survey Research (ASR), a Watsonville-based social science research firm, and lead researcher on the project.

The 2005 and 2007 Unsheltered Homeless Counts focused on engaging homeless individuals with a series of special events supplemented by street outreach teams. This year, homeless guides were hired and matched with community volunteers to conduct a walking canvass of the county’s 86 census tracts in the early morning hours. The count was conducted by observation only, and no attempt was made to interact with the homeless people they saw. The concurrent census of emergency shelters and transitional housing was comparable to those in years past. About $2 million in federal grants comes to Sonoma County each year through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is requiring the count. ASR has conducted more than two dozen homeless counts in the past decade and was contracted by the Sonoma County Community Development Commission to lead the 2009 Count. The 2009 Census and Survey data will set a new baseline to support Sonoma County’s efforts to address homelessness.

The vast majority of the people located were single adults. Very few unsheltered homeless families were found. The number of people counted at emergency shelters and transitional housing facilities increased by more than 30% over the 2007 count, during a period when the bed capacity shrank by 11%. Shelter providers reported being full to capacity for much of the winter.

Although service providers have noted increased demand, and homeless people report that there are many new homeless faces on the street, the new survey method has more to do with the increased total. “In other communities that we’ve surveyed repeatedly with the same methodology, the number of literally homeless individuals does not appear to have increased dramatically,” said Connery. The report notes that only a very few of those surveyed (1.3%) mentioned foreclosure of their own property as a cause of their homelessness, while 4.5% responded that their landlord took their home off the rental market for whatever reason, including foreclosure. Job loss is noted as the primary event (34% of respondents) that led to homelessness.

Connery cautioned against comparing data generated by the 2009 Census and Survey to that of past years. “The methodology is so different, I would advise extreme caution against comparing anything but the shelter data,” he said.

Key findings of the new study include:
• More than 75% of local homeless people became homeless while living in Sonoma County.
• Nearly 70% of those surveyed responded they could not afford housing.
• 13% of adult survey respondents were veterans of the US military.
• 3% of homeless individuals are living with HIV/AIDS, compared to .23% in the population at large.
• About 30% of survey respondents reported experiencing mental illness; 42% reported substance abuse; and 10% of respondents reported developmental disabilities.

Connery suggests the most striking findings in the data involve “the recalcitrance of the chronically homeless—and the huge number of challenges and disabilities that the vast majority of the homeless population is struggling with.” More than ¾ of survey respondents reported at least one disabling condition.

The comprehensive report on the census is posted on the Sonoma County website at www.sonoma-county.org

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Riggy Rackin - Somewhere in Between

Hi Everyone !
I am so happy to tell you that today I am finally bringing forth a project reflecting my life's work in an album titled Somewhere in Between.

It defies categorization and covers the genres of my journey: English Folksong, Renaissance Art Song, English Country Dance instrumentals, Irish Sea Songs, American Country and Pop ballads.

Stellar singers and musicians provide top-notch support, while veteran producer Jeff Martin has made magic of it all!

The CD and samples are easily available thru my website: www.riggy.com
or you could Download Somewhere in Between if that's your preferred way to gather your music !

Thanks so much taking time to look & listen.

Riggy

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Palm Drive Hospital, Sebastopol, Exits Bankruptcy

LETTER on this subject at the end of this article

Palm Drive Exits Bankruptcy

By Jim Russell, CEO, Palm Drive Hospital

I’m happy to announce that in a brief, two-minute hearing on June 12, federal Judge Alan Jaroslovsky approved Palm Drive Hospital’s plan to pay off its creditors and exit Chapter 9 bankruptcy.

Jaroslovsky ruled after learning that hospital creditors voted unanimously to approve the proposed settlement. The 156 creditors had filed claims totaling $3.2 million.

This is a great day for Palm Drive hospital… an important milestone for Palm Drive Hospital in achieving its turn-around. I appreciate the confidence in us creditors have expressed by voting unanimously for our plan.

Palm Drive made a remarkably quick exit from the Chapter 9 restructuring, according to our bankruptcy attorney, David Heaslett, who has handled a number of other hospital bankruptcies. He called it a “dramatic turnaround."

David told reporters outside the courthouse that Palm Drive had made good use of the window of opportunity created by the bankruptcy.

He pointed out that we had improved the technology, reopened the ICU, created a surgical center, and done a variety of other things that took advantage of the time-out we got from creditors. He told reporters, “folks in Sebastopol really do have first-class medical care.”

Our hospital plans now to issue bonds that will pay off the creditors and provide capital for hospital improvements. Palm Drive will officially exit bankruptcy on the date the funds are deposited in a trustee account for creditors.

Friday’s confirmation hearing comes two years after Palm Drive Hospital filed for debt restructuring in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Santa Rosa. If there are no appeals, Jaroslovsky’s ruling will be final on June 22, 2009.

Under new leadership, our 37-bed hospital has experienced a dramatic financial turn-round in the past year, and is now operating in the black for the first time since it was purchased by the community in 1999.

The confirmed Plan of Adjustment settles claims with pre-bankruptcy creditors at the rates of 75 cents on the dollar to creditors who are owed less than $10,000, and 55 cents on the dollar to those who are owed more than $10,000.

Palm Drive Hospital, an independent health care district with annual revenues of $25 million, is the only 24-hour, acute care facility in western Sonoma County. In addition to the hospital, the district now operates the Palm Drive Medical Center (a physicians‚ group); a telemedicine program that supports intensive care units in four Northern California hospitals; and a center for one-day, minimally invasive surgeries.

http://www.palmdrivehospital.com/

------------
LETTER:

Dear Editor,

I was disappointed in the one-sidedness and lack of fairness by the author of the recent Palm Drive Hospital article on the front page of the Sonoma West Times. This one-sidedness was not evident in the PD articles on the same subject. CEO Russell was given 16 lines of direct quotes while Mr. Smith had 4. The author also promotes Mr. Russell by declaring that he is a “very popular figure among the hospital’s staff.” The same phrase is repeated a second time. I get the point. Is this a fact, an analysis or an opinion?

Jim Lehrer declares that basic principles define his practice as a journalist at the News Hour on PBS. He says that viewers and readers have a right to know what principles are used as guides. From Lehrer, “Carefully separate opinion and analysis from straight news stories and clearly label it as such.” Sounds good to me. Another: “Write and present every story with the care I would want if the story were about me and assume there is at least one other side or version to every story.”

Mr. Russell was allowed to create a false choice for the reader, a false choice between interests of the entire West County community and the personal self interest of one person. This is a common debate tactic used to discredit others and create division. This, by the same individual who reads a caustic statement to a group of colleagues and then walks out without permitting any response. This is grandstanding and not mature behavior and only adds to the personal drama, while subtracting from the group process.

It takes more than one person to make an enterprise work and I am suspect of someone who takes all the credit. The excellent CEOs that I know give credit to the team and staff rather than themselves. Mr. Russell is short lived in our community, while Mr. Smith has been committed to this area for a long time. I would like to suggest the possibility that Mr. Smith may be a convenient lightning rod for diverting attention from the real issues. Sounds like Mr. Russell may be in hot water and needs to create a convenient villain. If so, please don't fall for it.

I expect a front page news article on an important community issue to be reporting and not editorializing or scandal-mongering. It does not serve to sensationalize events and show a shallow sympathy for the “underdog” against the created despot.

Sincerely,
Daniel Osmer
SEBASTOPOL

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Graton Fire Department Delivers Baby

Sunday, June 28th, 2009 at 9:35pm - Brand new Gratonian!

At 9:35pm last night, Graton Fire responded to a residence in downtown Graton for a mother in labor. As the firefighters walked into the house, the baby was already partially delivered! The baby was breech; after the firefighters completed the delivery of the head, they began resuscitation efforts as the baby did not start breathing immediately. The Sonoma Life Support Ambulance showed up very quickly and everyone worked as a team to get mom and baby into the ambulance. Two Graton firefighters assisted the paramedic with the baby’s care all the way to the hospital.

Delivering a baby is something that Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are trained to do, but it rarely actually happens. “This was an exciting event for all of us, very different from the typical medical emergencies we respond to,” said Deputy Chief Bill Bullard, who was on the call. “I have been an EMT for 23 years and this was a first.” As of last night, the mother and new baby boy were doing well.

Graton Fire also sends a huge thank you to the Cal Fire engine that was nearby and responded; they did a great job.


Bill Bullard, Deputy Chief
Graton Fire Protection District
3205 Ross Road, P.O. Box A
Graton, CA 95444
Emailto:bbullard@gratonfire.com
http://www.gratonfire.com
707-823-5515 ext. 3
707-823-7251 fax

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Rick Reynolds: Only the Truth is Funny

Rick Reynold at Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma

By Vesta Copestakes

Would I have gone to this show if I hadn't been invited with a Press Pass? Probably not because I'm a workaholic - and that only reminds me of the many experiences I miss while working too many hours. Not seeing Rick Reynold perform at Cinnabar Theater would have been a sad loss. I was impressed, entertained and touched by his wisdom and delivery.

My partner Alan loves stand-up comedy, so on the off-chance that he would say yes - he, too is a workaholic - I forwarded Dave Pokorny's invitation via e-mail. Dave is one of the people who books shows into Cinnebar - each person books their area of expertise and Dave's is comedy. He's known Rick Reynolds for years and admires his work. This was a perfect fit for Cinnabar.

Rick Reynolds lives in Petaluma and is re-emerging after a respite from professional theater/comedy while he raised his children. He opened the show with a testament to the truth in what we were about to experience. The title of his show is “Only the Truth is Funny: Mid-Life at the Oasis.” This show is based on his life experiences and what he has learned over the years. Rick's ability to blend depth-of-life experience with comedy is what impressed me the most. There was so much to personally relate to, all wrapped in Rick's amazing capacity to tell the tale, make it funny, and hit home with the impact of truth.

Right from the start Rick opens with his concept of the three most important truths to life. That if you grew up feeling loved as a child, believe in God and have a fulfilling love relationship...life is good. And this is the platform from which he springs into snippets of wisdom learned from a profoundly difficult childhood, through marriage and children to where he is today. Along the journey we howled with laughter, felt the sting of hard truths, the nod of recognition of shared experiences, and awe for Rick's ability to deliver a broad range of life experiences told through the lens of laughter.

Both Alan and I came away with respect for Rick Reynold's talent as a performer as well as his intelligence and ability to communicate with his stories. This is a show you should not miss. And yes, you will laugh - Rick is honestly funy.

Rick will be performing at Cinnebar Theater in Petaluma:
June 19, 20, 26, 27
July 2, 3, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30
August 5 and 6 all at 8:00.

$20 presale/$25 at the door

Cinnabar Theater, 3333 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, CA 94952
Ofc: 707-763-8920 Fax: 707-763-8929

http://www.cinnabartheater.org/

and while you are on the web site - check out the broad range of music/theater/comedy season coming up.

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Sonoma County Refuse Disposal Site New Hours

Due to Sonoma County budget cuts, there are now reduced hours at all of the of the Refuse Disposal Sites. Sites now have more closed days and in some cases - less open hours. You can print out the schedules by clicking on the image above and printing it out for your convenience.

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Day Laborers Train to be Health Promoters

Day Laborers Take Health into their Own Hands

By Christina Zapata
On Tuesday June 16th, West County Health Centers Inc, awarded day laborers certificates for completing a ten -week training on how to be a health promoter.

Health promoters are part of an international phenomenon in which people with little access to medical services, often the poor and elderly, use trained community members as coaches in preventive health.

The group of 10 graduates, day laborers from Centro Laboral de Graton, are eager to get to work. Some workers plan to outreach to other day laborers in the area, such as Cazadero, Fulton, and Guerneville corners.

Carlos López, Health Outreach Worker for Centro Laboral de Graton said, “Workers asked me what the next step is for the newly trained promoters. ‘You tell me’ I responded.” Carlos envisions that the graduates will approach workers at other corners to see if they’re interested in starting soccer teams- “social team building activities such as sports are great ways to begin discussions on health,” López added. “Our intent is not to impose ourselves, we’ll see what direction workers at the corners want to take.”

The good news is that day laborers are ready to put their training into practice. That’s because all of the day laborers completing the training are immigrants. Immigrants are healthier upon arriving to the U.S. and the “immigrant health advantage” declines over time . Immigrants are at higher risk than the general population for diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. Because of the conditions in which they live, they are also at risk for sexually transmitted infections, poor nutrition, and alcoholism. Health promoters are ready to take on, in a small way, the health issues impacting their peers.

In this period of economic insecurity, it’s urgent communities do what they can to avoid costly care. Prevention that is sensitive to the experiences of day laborers through health promotion is really a great way to address continued health and wellbeing.

The trainings were made possible by Centro Laboral de Graton’s partnership with West County Health Centers, Inc. (WCHC). WCHC and CLG promote health through education, access, and care.

Reference: Castañeda, X., Ross, R., Villalobos, J.; Migration, Health, & Work, Facts Behind the Myths, University of California, Berkeley, Secretary of Health of the Government of Mexico and The California Endowment Joint Policy Brief. (2008).

Article Provided by
Graton Day Labor Center
www.gratondaylabor.org

2981 Bowen St
Graton, CA 95444
(707) 829-1864

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