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Sonoma County Elder Protection Summit

ELDER PROTECTION SUMMIT HELD IN OAKMONT

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that his office and many other community based elder organizations hosted their 5th Elder Protection Summit yesterday. The Elder Protection Summits have been presented at various Sonoma County communities including Oakmont, Cloverdale, Sebastopol and Russian River. The next Elder Protection summit will be held on May 17, 2010, 9:00am to 11:00am at Paulin Creek, 2375 Range Ave, Santa Rosa, CA. 707.575.3722.

On April 8th, 2010, over 60 people attended an Elder Protection Summit in Sonoma to learn ways to prevent becoming a victim of elder abuse. Vintage House hosted the Summit in partnership with District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua, Sonoma County Supervisor Valerie Brown, Adult Protective Services, Sonoma Police Department, Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chiefs’ Association, CAHSAH, Commission on Human Rights, Council on Aging, Elder Financial Protection network and Senior Advocacy Services. The purpose of the Summit was to raise public awareness about elder protection issues so that our senior population learns the tools necessary to avoid being victimized. The “Senior” population in Sonoma County consists of over 90,000 residents age 60 and over and represents approximately 18 percent of the population.

Judy Rice from the Commission on Human Rights stated “We are thrilled to partner with the many organizations to help host this event, which is so important to seniors in our community. District Attorney Passalacqua and Supervisor Brown have continued to demonstrate the needed leadership to make this event a reality.”

Supervisor Valerie Brown, in whose District the Summit was held, said: “Providing a forum for our senior residents to learn and explore ways of avoiding fraud and abuse was powerful. The event was well-attended and I hope everyone left better prepared to help ourselves, our friends and our families.”

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua stated: “Our seniors are vulnerable and it is critical that in their twilight years, we put forth the effort to afford them the protection and prevention they so rightfully have earned and deserve. During these difficult economic times, elder abuse has become more prevalent, and the Summit addressed those issues needed for their protection. Prevention & community involvement are a formidable strategy to reduce the financial, physical, and emotional abuse of the elderly.”

Other speakers and panel participants included representatives from each of the partnering groups including Sonoma Police Chief Bret Sackett, Robin Hammond from the District Attorney’s Office.

The next Elder Protection summit will be held on May 17, 2010, 9:00am to 11:00am at Paulin Creek, 2375 Range Ave, Santa Rosa, CA. 707.575.3722.

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Sonoma County Agency on Aging Hearing

A PUBLIC HEARING on the 2010-2011 update to the 2009-2012 Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging Area Plan will be held Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at the Adult and Aging Division office, 3725 Westwind Blvd., Suite 101, Santa Rosa.

Area Plan goals and objectives, as well as adequate proportion and program development and coordination funding, will be addressed. The public is invited, and older adults are especially encouraged to attend and provide comment.

For more information, contact Joanne De Alejandro at the Adult & Aging Division, Sonoma County Human Services Department at 565-5950.

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Sensus 2010 Questions & Answers

Census Day - April 1, 2010 - has come and gone and for some of us, the day to day hustle and bustle has left us wondering, "Where did I put that Census form, anyway?" Rather than search for it, you are hereby invited to drop by the nearest "Be Counted" site where you can retrieve a new form, complete it and mail it back. Be Counted sites will be open until April 19 and are an easy way to participate in this once-per-decade opportunity to make sure your community gets its share of funds and that you and your neighbors are properly represented both at the state and federal levels. Check the list below or visit www.census2010.gov and follow the links to "Find your Be Counted and Questionnaire Assistance Center". (lower right screen).

Also - there are many of us who, when we open our census form, find that we have questions about how best to complete it. In that case, please consult the list of Questionnaire Assistance Centers to find the one nearest you, check its hours of operation and then bring your form in for a quick consult with a sworn census worker. (I mention that these people are "sworn" to emphasize that they have taken a life long oath to safe guard your privacy.)

Or - if you're in a more festive mood (or would like to score a Census 2010 travel mug or other keepsake of your participation), watch for your local March to the Mailbox event. In Cloverdale, for instance, on Saturday April 10, you can get a form, get help with your form and walk away with a cup or a lapel pin for your efforts from noon until 4:00 pm at the Cloverdale Rancheria Offices (555 S. Cloverdale Blvd). Bonuses at this location: Free homebaked cookies for as long as they last and Free e-waste recycling (provided by the EPA program run by the Cloverdale Rancheria)!

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AVOID CENSUS FRAUD and SCAMS

HOW TO AVOID CENSUS FRAUD and SCAMS

The 2010 Census forms have arrived in mailboxes throughout Northern California. It should take approximately 10 minutes for each household to complete its form. Each 2010 Census packet includes a postage-paid envelope addressed to one of three U.S. Census Bureau’s Data Capture Centers located in Jeffersonville, Indiana, Phoenix, Arizona or Baltimore, Maryland.

Census forms are delivered directly to each household, either by the U.S. Postal Service or U.S. Census Bureau’s employees. About 90% of households in the United States received the census forms in the mail, the remaining 10% rural households had their forms hand-delivered. Each census form contains a unique barcode and the 20-digit identification number for each household. The information embedded in the barcode and the 20-digit identification number allow the Census Bureau to precisely allocate the count to the cities and counties where these households are located.

Opportunists and scammers may want to take advantage of this once-a-decade national effort. To ensure that the count is safe and confidential, the following information will help residents avoid census fraud and scams:

· The unique barcode and the 20-digit ID number are on the back of each 2010 Census form.

· None of the questions on the 2010 Census form asks for Social Security number, driver’s license number, bank account or PIN number, immigration or citizenship status.

· The Census Bureau NEVER asks for donations or money.

· The Census Bureau NEVER requests for information via e-mail.

· The Census Bureau does not conduct surveys or censuses on behalf of political parties or organizations.

If you are unsure that the 2010 Census form you received is authentic, please visit a Questionnaire Assistance Center (QAC) near you for help or call the Seattle Regional Census Center at 425-908-3000. QAC locations can be found on the Internet at www.2010census.gov.

Toll-free telephone assistance hotlines are available 7 days a week, from 8 am to 9 pm, in English and 5 other languages: English (1-866-872-6868), Spanish (1-866-928-2010), Chinese (1-866-935-2010), Vietnamese (1-866-945-2010), Korean (1-866-955-2010) and Russian (1-866-965-2010). Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons can call the TDD number: 1-866-783-2010.

Beginning in May, census workers will be visiting households that fail to mail back the 2010 Census form to collect information. To help residents avoid fraud and scams, here are ways how census workers can be identified:

· The 2010 Census workers will present residents a notice titled “Your Answers Are Confidential,” which explains the U.S. Code, Title 13, which guarantees the safeguarding and confidentiality of information collected by the Census Bureau.

· Questions asked by 2010 Census workers will be the same questions on the 2010 Census form.

· The 2010 Census workers will NEVER ask to come into your home.

· The 2010 Census workers will NEVER ask for money or donations, Social Security number, driver’s license number, bank account or PIN number, immigration or citizenship status.

· The 2010 Census workers wear a white ID badge with blue and red lettering.

· The 2010 Census workers may carry a black and white canvas bag that bears the Census Bureau’s name and logo.

In the event residents want to verify that the census takers at their doors are legitimate employees of the US Census Bureau, they are encouraged to call the Seattle Regional Census Center at 1-877-471-5432. Residents also can ask census workers to provide them with a Local Census Office’s telephone number, which they can call to verify employment status. If residents feel threatened, they should call local law enforcement or 911.

Mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the census takes place every 10 years. Census Day is April 1, 2010. Census data determine boundaries for state and local legislative and congressional districts. More than $400 billion in federal funds are distributed annually based on census data to pay for local programs and services, such as schools, highways, vocational training, emergency services, hospitals, unemployment benefits and much more. Learn more about the 2010 Census at www.2010.census.gov.

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Green Living for a Blue Planet

By Vesta Copestakes
Each year we celebrate Earth Day, this year on April 22nd, with events highlighting both the joys of living on this paradise planet, as well as educational efforts to raise consciousness of how precariously balanced earth is.

While I sing the praises of what change we have accomplished, I also lament the lack of change fast enough to keep our earth in balance.

At our recent Easter Egg Hunt little plastic eggs were thrown out in the grass for children to find. Made in China. Filled with little candies wrapped in paper, etc. High fructose corn syrup, which goes straight to the brain asking for more.

Then I watched as children stomped on the plastic eggs to break them open, leaving shards on the ground. Why were parents not stopping them, helping them carefully open the eggs, then taking the plastic for recycling? I picked up tiny bright colored plastic bits so birds wouldn’t think they were food as I explained to these children the consequences of their actions.

Boo, Vesta. Can’t these kids just have fun? One day?

There are so many one days, one moments of unconsciousness. They add up and our planet is suffering. “I want it NOW” has a price of consequences over time.

In my own neighborhood we had frogs singing the joys of life each night. They mistook a community swimming pool left to winter for a large pond. It cost them their lives. The people in charge of the pool didn’t like the loud sound keeping them up at night, so they shocked the pool with chlorine long before anyone will swim in those now clear blue waters. Our nights are suddenly silent.

That ”pond” had attracted frogs from a neighbor’s pond across the hill, which now is also silent, because these frogs were foolish enough to seek out others they heard from a distance.

We used to have frogs in a little run-off stream at the bottom by Speer’s Market. Trucks slamming through the mud for entertainment killed off those frogs several years ago. It’s silent there as well. You can’t destroy habitat without destroying what lives there!

Just a bit of consciousness of how these frogs are our summer mosquito protection would go a long way. They are not noisy. They are singing for reproduction. Within a short time they would have been busy parenting, then eating bugs to keep summer nights comfortable for us.

We are all connected – we just need to see it that way.

Every time we pick up an object to purchase, if we think about where it came from, how long it will live in our life, and what we will do with it when we’re done, the choices we make from start to finish are likely to change. Consciousness is necessary on a grand scale in order for life cycles to be about healthy choices.

Think about it. Then at least try to do something about it. Every little change we make in the way we live that supports our planet, also supports life on it...our life.

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Russian River Low Flow Protest

Protest ALERT!
for PERMANENT
Russian River LOW FLOW!

Background….

By Brenda Adelman
Over a year ago, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a Biological Opinion (BO) to institute management changes in the Russian River that would protect three fish species of concern: Coho and Chinook salmon and Steelhead Trout. While many support efforts to save the threatened and endangered species, the Order did not address many project impacts, such was water quality, recreation and the local economy. Furthermore, much of the project is a long-term experiment and results may not be known for many years.

Because of very low storage levels in Lake Mendocino, Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) was permitted to temporarily lower flows from 125 cubic feet per second (cfs) to between 35 and 70 cfs in 2002, 2004, 2007, and 2009.

SCWA was also ordered by the Biological Opinion to apply to the State Water Board for PERMANENTLY lowered flows in the Russian River, which they did on September 23, 2009. The State determined that protests are due by April 12, 2010, BEFORE they conduct environmental review. There is also a study of water quality by U.S.G.S. that will be released AFTER the protest period has ended. People are urged to ask for more time to express concerns.

For your reference, SCWA petition is entitled: “Petition for Modification of Water-Right Permits” and with State Water Board notices, can be found at the State Water Board’s website at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/publications_forms/

Lower flows to become permanent…..
It is being recommended that minimum flows in the lower Russian River be permanently decreased from 125 cfs to 70 cfs. As recently as 2006, summer flows were commonly running about 200 cfs. We do not believe that the State is required to adopt these changes as is, but before they reject or alter them, they must have good cause. We hope Russian River lovers will protest this project. The DEADLINE for PROTESTS is APRIL 12, 2010. To have a big impact, a lot of people need to respond.

Full environmental review should occur BEFORE the deadline for comments and AFTER all water quality studies and analyeses are released to the public. There are many unanswered questions about what impacts will result from this action. The process is backwards.

Long range impacts of low flows are unknown….
There are large gaps in information about the long-range impacts of lowering flows permanently. NMFS is making this demand on the lower river for the sole purpose of keeping the Estuary closed all summer in order to provide habitat for steelhead.

They did not adequately address impacts to water quality, other species (including the listed Chinook salmon), water supply, recreation, or other beneficial uses. We don’t know what will happen to the seals, the sea birds, and we don’t know why the frogs have all but disappeared.
We want something done about polluting nutrients, sedimentation, toxins, (including emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals) and temperature problems. All of these factors affect the fish and human use as well. We also wonder about long term impacts on recreation and the local tourist economy.

In the Biological Opinion, NMFS did require limited water quality monitoring for conventional pollutants such as temperature, pH, turbidity, specific conductance, bacteria, and limited nutrients. The tests for phosphorus (a nutrient) were improperly done and the results are meaningless.

Although the excursions of bacteria at lower river beaches were quite numerous (You may have noticed warning signs on the beaches.), they are being characterized as no worse than previous years during higher flows. There has been no analysis of the data, so we don’t know on what basis they are drawing those conclusions. Many believe that low flow has and will make pollution worse.

All of last summer, when lower-river flows averaged about 70 cfs, volunteers took weekly pictures at several points along the lower river. Many canoeists reported and photographed gross algae blooms. We saw large amounts and many kinds of algae; we saw extensive blooms of invasive plant species, and we saw many instances of canoes scraping bottom.

We took pictures of people and pets standing ankle deep in the middle of the river. We heard second hand stories of pets getting very ill right after playing in the river. And, at our request, the Regional Board tested a few sites for toxic blue-green algae, which they found at one of the popular local beaches. It may also be occurring at other places.

Send protests to State Water Board, SCWA, & RRWPC….
PROTEST FORM CAN BE FOUND AT SONOMA COUNTY GAZETTE WEBSITE AT: www.sonomacountygazette.com/riverflowprotest.pdf Protest should be sent to the State Board at the address listed on the form. (Please mail by April 9th, to make sure they get to the State in time.)

CLICK ON THIS IMAGE TO PRINT PETITION

Copies MUST also be sent to Sonoma County Water Agency C/O Grant Davis, General Manager, P.O. Box 11628, Santa Rosa, CA 95406, and if possible, also to RRWPC at P.O. Box 501, Guerneville, CA 95446.

Please write a letter about your own river experiences and why you are concerned about lower flows. If you have photos to include, please do so, but make sure you send to both the State Board (address on form) AND SCWA (address above). You can use form as a template for your own letter or just fill out form directly. Please circle the ways in which you personally utilize the river.

Please tell us your stories about the river….
Russian River Watershed Protection Committee will be providing our own protest to the State Water Board. It would help us if we could submit your stories about the river. Please send information to address listed below. Your name and the date should appear on the letter and also note approximate date you were in the river. We would like to hear about how very low flows will affect your business, the local tourist economy, recreation and your use of the river.
We wonder if any person or pet you know had health problems resulting from contact from the river? Did you notice any changes in water quality last year from prior years (even if it was a long time ago)? What did the water look like, how has it changed, and what did you see floating in and around? Did anyone you know have stomach distress of any kind, skin rashes, eye, ear, throat, or nose problems, or anything else? Was it necessary to visit a doctor? How long did symptoms last? Where in the river were you located after which the problem occurred? How soon afterward did you or someone you know exhibit symptoms? Please share whatever details you can.

Email Brenda and/or RRWPC at rrwpc@comcast.net with questions or comments or if you want to be placed on our mailing list. Please mail stories to RRWPC, P.O. Box 501, Guerneville, CA 95446

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. ~ Native American Proverb

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Salmon Creek Center Environmental Award

Green Building at its Best
Salmon Creek Environmental Center receives Highest Award

By Dennis Rosatti
Harmony Union School District will soon have an official plaque to show it has earned the highest possible award for our recently constructed Cafeteria / Auditorium / Environmental Education Center Building.

The Redwood Empire Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council will be presenting the prestigious LEED-Platinum (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) award at the Falls Center on April 21.

“This award publicly recognizes our commitment to inspiring students and community to become responsible stewards of the environment, not just through education, but through the example of this environmentally green building,” said District Superintendent/Principal Dave Miller.

Environmental consciousness is a longstanding part of the Harmony community. The school District supports a place-based, environmental education curriculum, taking advantage of the four distinct habitats of redwood forest, wetlands, grasslands, and creek found on this rural, 50-acre campus in western Sonoma County. Rooftop solar panels installed several years ago provide a portion of its energy. Its student-run recycling/composting program keeps thousands of pounds of waste out of the landfill every year, and students help tend the school’s organic garden that provides much of the produce served every day with the school lunch program.
Now, the District’s newest building—the first LEED-Platinum certified building in the county—not only supports but also extends the school community’s commitment to sustainability in a myriad of ways.

The floors and walls of the Falls Center are all made from such recycled materials as hospital surgical gowns, wine cork tiles, and ground glass; a wind-fallen redwood from the campus provided lumber for wainscoting; energy efficient florescent fixtures and skylights provide lighting; low-flow bathroom and kitchen fixtures are all high-efficiency and water-conserving. A complex drainage system collects rooftop rainwater, funneling it into a catchment system to enhance the existing wetlands; and a “living” roof, planted with 12 species of drought tolerant plants, covers one section of the structure, helping “reduce storm-water runoff, improve building performance, conserve energy, and provide habitat for insects and birds,” according to Kevin Falkerson of SYMBIOS, the firm that designed and installed the roof. Together with the living roof, landscaping around the building will offer further opportunities for students to study native plants and their uses. “Talk about getting an education!” says Alexis Persinger, architect for the project. “These students are living in sustainable design every day.” Adds project coordinator Victoria Johnston, “Our vision was to build the first LEED-Platinum public school building in California, which took a tremendous amount of perseverance and determination. I’m thrilled we succeeded.”

The new green building provides a cafeteria, assembly space, office space, and a meeting room for use by the school district as well as the surrounding community. Every lunch period, from tables in the bright, naturally lit, passive solar cafeteria, students can look out a wall of windows across the playing fields to wilder fields and forest beyond. A large, eco-themed mosaic mural (designed and created by students last spring) gracing the foyer and bathrooms serves as a starting point for elementary grade research into local flora and fauna. The assembly hall, with its state-of-the-art media center, already has hosted several author visits, musical performances, and various community events, with monthly movie nights in the offing.

“Green building is a blossoming field of study with very promising career paths,” says Dennis Rosatti, HUSD board member and executive director of the non-profit organization Sonoma County Conservation Action. “The District is proud to be setting this good environmental example for our students, while providing a glimpse of what might be in store for them in the future.”

The award ceremony on Wednesday, April 21 will run from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, starting with a 20-minute documentary on the history of the building, followed by the presentation of the plaque. Food and drink will be provided, and tours of the building will be available. The cost is $10. Due to the size of the assembly hall, participants will be limited to 80 people. To reserve a seat or for more information, contact USGBC’s Redwood Empire Chapter at www.usgbc-rec.org.

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Around Forestville - April 2010

I recently spent a week at a conference in Orlando, where I lived for 13 years. All the trees were now strip malls or superstores, traffic sped through mazes of toll roads and construction zones, the high school had 3600 students and permanent cops parked out front. I don’t need many reminders about how fortunate I am to have returned to Sonoma County, but this trip definitely made me recount my numerous blessings!

Here’s what’s going on Around Forestville this month:


Hollydale Happenings

Don’t miss the Beans, Greens & Dreams Fundraiser for the Hollydale Community Club’s Improvement Fund. April 24th from 6pm – 10pm. Enjoy beans and ham hocks, down home greens, corn bread, cobbler, and beverages. Music by Phenix, raffle prizes and fun, for a $15 donation. Tickets available at Bank of the West or call Raynetta James 887-8219

Next month:
Saturday May 22nd - Chicken BBQ w/ The Dirty Dub Band @ 6:00PM

Student Snippets:

Forestville Vikings

It’s Kindergarten registration time! Thursday, April 22nd 3:30 – 6:30. Receive information on readiness, registration requirements and the kindergarten program. Informal drop-in sessions with 15-minute presentations at 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00 will answer questions about the program and how to best prepare for this transitional time. Contact Principal Talin Tamzarian at 887-2279 or e-mail at ttamzarian@forestvilleusd.org

The school has joined Mycokerewards to earn points to buy athletic equipment for the sports programs. Simply register at Mycokerewards.com and donate points to the school. Each point adds up so that they can receive the equipment on their wish list. Every point counts!

The students in Mrs. Swanson’s and Mr. Anderson’s 7th Grade History classes sponsored a Hot Chocolate for Haiti fund raiser. Thanks to cold kids and generous parents they’ve raised $579! One child brought in a $100 bill and told them to keep the change!

There will be three seats open on the School District’s Board this November. Anyone interested in serving in this most valuable capacity should contact the school for details at 887-2279.

El Molino Lion Pride-

For the first time since 1984, the El Molino cheerleading squad went to Nationals at Disneyland on March 25h! Congratulations girls on this impressive accomplishment.

The Drama Program has begun rehearsals for the Spring Play, a hilarious comedy, The Complete History of America (abridged) on May 20th, 21st, and 22nd at 7:30. Tickets only $7 at the door.

SEBASTOPOL ROTARY EDUCATION FOUNDATION is sponsoring the
“West Sonoma County High School 2009-2010 “Teacher of the Year” Recognition Program. Everyone’s invited to submit nominations, postmarked by May 7, 2010.


Faith and Friends

It’s Easter time and the Forestville United Methodist Church has many activities celebrating this Holy season:

HOLY THURSDAY SERVICE- April 1, 7pm in the Sanctuary Upper Room Communion based on the Passion of Jesus Christ as told in the Gospel of Luke.

FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIE- April 2, 7pm at Pastor Carol’s, 6537 Center Street. Showing The Passion of the Christ, directed by Mel Gibson. No charge and free popcorn.

Easter Sunday April 4th

6:30am- Sunrise Service at the Forestville Cemetery.
7:45am- Breakfast at the church. (no charge)
8:30am and 10:30 am- Services in the Sanctuary (Children’s Godly Play Sunday School will be available at the 10:30 service.)

Don’t miss the sermon series, God's Renewed Creation, concluding on Earth Sunday, April 25th, 9:30am with a special offering for Native American Community Developers, a ministry of the UMC. Meet special guest, Mr. Alfred Tenaya, a descendent of the Chief of the Yosemite Valley tribe.

22nd Annual Variety Show on May 2nd Come join this fun and funny event, with a "South of the Border" to raise money Haiti, Chile and elsewhere.

Other Events

Boy Scout Breakfast, April 11th 8am-12pm: Great food and outstanding service that warms your heart!

Come to the Graton Community Club Free 2010 Spring Flower Show and Plant Sale, April 16th and 17th, 8am to 4 pm at the historic club house at the corner of Graton and Edison. The show provides the best bargains around, such as 4-in pots for $2 and bonzai crab apple trees for $5. Find everything you need to whip your garden into shape!

April 24th 2010 - Soul Food Clubhouse Fundraiser

Just around the corner, something new to the Clubhouse with down-home roots…We’ve just added a “Beans, Greens & Dreams Clubhouse Fundraiser” Dinner on Saturday April 24th from 6:00 - 10:30PM. The dinner includes Beans & Ham Hocks, Down Home Greens, Corn Bread to soak it all up, Cobbler Dessert and a Complimentary Beverage. Help support this great cause to raise funds for the Hollydale Community Club’s 63 year old Clubhouse Improvement. Raffle Prizes and Music by Phenix at 8:00PM. Presale Tickets available at Forestville Bank of the West or at the door…for more information call Raynetta @ 887-8219.

May your Easter be joyous and your gardening be Green!

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Our Sonoma County by Efren Carrillo

Please join us for a public meeting to discuss PG&E’s SmartMeter installation program on Wednesday evening, April 21st from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Sebastopol Veteran’s Memorial Building. A panel discussion will take place, followed by time for public comment and questions of the panelists. We hope that this conversation will allow concerns ranging from meter accuracy, health and environmental risks, security and privacy issues, to fire safety to be aired and addressed. Panelists will include representatives from PG&E, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), TURN (Utilities Reform Network), and an authority on health risks associated with the meters.

Join the iWalk challenge which began March 15th…30 minutes of walking a day, 5 days each week for better fitness and overall health. Sign up (I did!), get fitness tips, and find walking groups today at iwalksonoma.org

Many of you have received your 2010 Census forms in the mail by now. Returning your Census form promptly helps reduce the need for canvassers to go door to door seeking compliance. If you receive mail at the Post Office instead of your home, you will be contacted by a canvasser as each form is specific to your household address. If you are not contacted, please obtain a blank form from the Census office and file before May 1st.

Our local Census headquarters is at 1403 Corporate Center Parkway, Santa Rosa.

Our current economic struggle highlights the importance of each and every person being counted this year. Important funding allocations, political and social decisions are made every year based on the data resulting from the US Census. These factors affect how more than $400 billion dollars of federal funding are allocated to our local economy.

Census information determines everything from the number of seats that California occupies in the US Congress to the infrastructure funding for hospitals, schools, senior centers, emergency services, and public works projects like our poor West County roads. Everyone living in the United States is required by law to file for the Census regardless of immigration status. But that’s not the reason you should file your form…the resources allocated to our community are directly affected by the results of the Census.

Some have concerns that the data collected might be used against individuals. Nothing could be further from the truth! Your information is protected in a number of ways…including the oath that everyone employed by the Census Bureau takes to protect individual information…not only during their employment with the Bureau, but for the rest of their lives. Individual census records are not shared with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' answers with anyone, -- not the IRS, not the FBI, not the CIA, and not with any other government agency. There are steep penalties for violating or sharing information on individuals-- from heavy fines up to $250,000 to prison sentences or both.

So, please, for your community and yourself, complete your census form and return it as soon as possible!

Early March, I traveled to Washington, DC with colleagues to attend the National Association of Counties Conference. Leaving several days early allowed time for meetings with Congressional and Senate staff members to request funding for local projects and infrastructure needs. Our meetings played a major role in thwarting a proposed $2.1 million cut in our Geothermal revenues. The funding was restored during the time we were in Washington, DC directly as a result of our efforts. We made requests for increased funding for Community Health Centers, Emergency Operations Center, perinatal alcohol and drug treatment, clean natural gas buses, and fire mitigation due to Sudden Oak Death. The Bodega Bay Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail project has been in the planning stage for years, and we hope our meetings will pay off in Federal dollars to augment State Coastal Conservancy, Measure M, and State Transportation monies allocated to this project.

Both Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods and Gold Ridge RCD are recipients of California Department of Fish and Game fisheries restoration grants. Stewards will use their grant to improve fish passage and remove barriers in Willow Creek, and Gold Ridge plans to improve and protect critical Coho habitat in Green Valley and Purrington Creeks…both projects are critical and it’s exciting that this important work will move forward this year.

www.sonoma-county.org

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