Bodega Bay and Bodega, CA

Double book launch at Occi

Andrea Granahan — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:20:36 +0000

There will be a double book launching at Occidental Center for the Arts on Sunday May 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. Raskin will read from his book Marijuanaland and Schneider will read from Nameless Dame. They will discuss their books and their settings which include the west county. The event and refreshments are free but donations are gratefully accepted. The center is at 4008 Bohemian Hwy. in Occidental at Harmony Village.

Osmosis spring party

Andrea Granahan — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:37:06 +0000

Osmosis Spa launches party season

Osmosis Spa in freestone has become known for its garden parties. On Thursday (5/17) from 6 to 9 p.m. the spa will hold a spring festival with the theme Vitality Quest. There will be local foods, wines, and teas. There will be a communal free enzyme foot bath. Instead of music at this party, seven health and beauty gurus who will be offering up treatments and classes in the coming months will be on hand to tell guests about their skills. There will be discounted mini-treatments, and the relaxing hammock garden will be open for lounging (or naps). The cost of the event is $20. Call 823-8231 to reserve, or go to osmosisvitalityquestparty.eventbrite.com for online tickets.

Bodega Harbour developer passes on

Andrea Granahan — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:45:37 +0000

William Chamberlain, developer of Bodega Harbour in Bodega Bay, died May 5 at age 91. Chamberlain was born in Providence, Rhode Island but grew up in Hartford, Connecticut. In World War II he served as a B-29 navigator. He attended Brown University on the GI Bill, studying electrical engineering. He was employed by General Dynamics where he worked with Admiral Rickover in designing the first nuclear submarine. He married Bernadette Mitchel in 1957. In 1963 he moved to California, and while working for Utah Construction and Mining he helped oversee the construction of the BART trans-bay tube and the San Luis Rey reservoir. In 1968 Chamberlain struck out on his own, founding Transcentury Properties. He was responsible for a number of developments including Bodega Harbour. In 1992 his wife Bernadette died. Chamberlain remarried Clair Carew. He resided in Palo Alto since 1972. He is survived by his wife Clair, five children, and ten grandchildren. A memorial and celebration of his life is scheduled August 18. 2012 at St. Albert the Great Church in Palo Alto.

Tea and fashion with your history

Andrea Granahan — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:42:39 +0000

Get little tea and some spring fashions with your history. Tomales Regional History Center will hold its annual Tea and Fashion Show starting at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday (5/19) at the historic Tomales Town Hall. Tickets are $30 and can be reserved by calling Kathleen at 878-2462 or Alice at 878 – 2296. The Town Hall is at 27150 Highway 1 in Tomales.

Where the supe candidates will be

Andrea Granahan — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:30:12 +0000

Fifth district candidates are getting very busy as the primary election nears. You will be sure to find incumbent Efren Carillo, former supervisor and current challenger Ernie Carpenter, or challenger Veronica “Roni” Jacobi or all three near you soon. Here’s a schedule:

Ernie Carpenter will hold a meet and greet at the Fort Ross School multi-purpose room in Cazadero from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

On Monday May 14 Roni Jacobi will be on KBBF fm at 2 p.m., and at 4 p.m. will be on KSRO radio.

On Tuesday, May 15 – Efren Carillo will join three other supervisors at the Agave Restaurant in Healdsburg from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Suggested contribution $50.

Wednesday, May 16, Efren Carillo will hold a fundraiser at Farmhouse Restaurant in Forestville from 6 to 98 p.m. Suggested donation $250, $400 couples.

Friday May 18 Ernie Carpenter holds a meet and greet at Stumptown Brewery in Guerneville from 6 to 9 p.m.

Sunday May 20 Efren Carillo will be at the Vicini Family Ranch (5626 Viine Hill Rd.) in Sebastopol from 5 to 7 p.m. Suggested contribution $50.

Wednesday May 23 Ernie Carpenter and Efren Carrillo will be at a forum for candidates from the 3^rd and 5^th districts, sponsored by Sonoma Alliance for Medical Marijuana, SAMM, Sonoma Chapter of Americans for Safe Access, and ASA Medical Cannibis Forum from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Central Library at 3^rd and E Sts. In Santa Rosa

Thursday May 24 Efren Carillo will be at the Spud Point Crab Company in Bodega Bay from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Saturday May 26 Efren Carillo will hold a fundraiser for kids’ sports at Sports City in Santa Rosa from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Thursday May 31 – All three candidates will dine with the Forestville Planning Assn. at Corks Restaurant in Forestville from 7 to 9 p.m.

Tuesday June 5 is Election Day, and everyone can take a breath!

All three candidates have websites with more information.

Time to get fair entry forms in

Andrea Granahan — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:03:14 +0000

Out in the country young people are grooming their livestock, young 4 H members are sewing, carving, taking care of animals, people everywhere are baking, preserving, writing poetry, framing art. The reason for the sudden surge of creative activity is that the county has released its 2012 County Fair Entry Guidebook and anyone who wants to enter any competition now knows what the judges will be looking for.

This year’s theme is “Cruise On In”. The fair organizers have added a few new categories. If you have never entered you might consider them. They include a Table Setting Competition, Design Your Own Burgee Flag, and a Cruise Ship Photo Contest.

Entering is easy. Just pick up a copy of the entry guidelines at any library branch or Chamber of Commerce or go on line to www.sonomacountyfair.com to get an entry form. The entries must be postmarked by June 8, on line deadline is June 22. Entries will be delivered in early to mid July so you’ll have time to perfect your entry. If you enter the fair you will get a free one-day pass to the festivities to view your hopefully blue ribbon.

Sturgeon’s Mill to hold open house

Andrea Granahan — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:46:08 +0000

Hear the whistle blow, hear the boilers get up a head of steam, then listen to the mighty saws as they turn logs into lumber. All the cast iron 19^th century technology you could desire will be working at the Sturgeon Steam Sawmill on Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20. The volunteers who restored the mill will be demonstrating it at work from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be some live music competing with the old steam whistle, and a lunch catered by Corks Restaurant will be on sale at lunch time. The mill is at 2150 Green Valley Rd. between Occidental and Sebastopol. Don’t miss a chance to see one of the few working steam sawmills still in existence.

Slow start to salmon season

Andrea Granahan — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:00:20 +0000

The 2012 salmon fishing season got off to a slow start at Bodega Bay. Strong winds kept fishermen in port.

“Some of the fishermen went down to Half Moon Bay and they caught some fish, but right now it’s slow here,” said John Keller at Spud Point Marina. “Those who tried to fish kept getting shorties.”

Shorties are fish too small to keep.

“My family is fishing crab until June,” said Tony Anello. “Some of the sports boats were catching salmon on a couple good days, but the fish were small.”

Patience is the key as the bigger fish finally find their way north before heading up rivers to spawn.

Boats at Spud Point waiting for winds to subside and fish to show up.

A tale of a whale in trouble, a shy fisherman and a proud papa

Andrea Granahan — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:32:07 +0000

When Mark “Beak” Anello went to sea on his fishing vessel Cape Omaney on Friday May 4, he had just a 24 hour weather window to pull his crab pots. He is a fourth generation fisherman, and the Anellos are pillars of the fishing community.

But when he saw some unusual buoys near his crab string he went to investigate and found a whale tangled in fishing gear. He instantly decided to try and freee it.

“That’s just the kind of guy he is, “ said his father Tony Anello of Bodega Bay and owner of the Spud Point Crab Company. “He’s an animal lover. He’s got pet dogs, cats and a cow.”

It was a dangerous undertaking, especially at first when the whale seemed to fight off an approach. But then the whale got very quiet and cooperated. Anello had no idea this was June, a whale gaining in fame since April 17 when she was first found to be entangled in fishing gear.

He had his first mate, Pete Miller, take the tiller while he and his other crewman Lynn “Cowboy” McGowen started cutting the whale free. It was tedious process of grabbing the lines with hooked poles, one by one, and cutting them. It took an hour and a half of concentrated work. The whale lay quiet.

“Something was helping both of them,” said Tony Anello devoutly.

When the whale was free at last, she swam completely around Anello’s boat, then surfaced.

“Like she was saying thank you,” said Tony Anello.

A smaller animal was accompanying it, Anello didn’t get a good look at it so didn’t know if it was a baby whale or a dolphin. Anello thought nothing of the incident, went on to pull his crab pot and then back to port to deliver his crabs to his father’s company.

“I saw these weird buoys and asked Pete,’What’s that?’ Then he told me what they had done. I told him don’t you know that was a famous whale you saved? Mark is very, very shy and didn’t want me to call anyone until I pointed out fishermen get enough bad publicity, they could use some good publicity. The public needs to know we really care about the ocean and everything in it,” said Tony.

Television stations sent news crews and the flurry of attention finally drove Mark to retreat to his ranch while he waits for the winds to settle and he can get back to sea, and where there is no phone reception.

“He wants me to be his sort of press agent,” Tony Anello said. “So I’m speaking for him.”

Under federal regulations, no one is supposed to interfere with a marine mammal, and what Mark Anello did could be punished by stiff fines, except, happily, there is a good Samaritan clause that protects him, and allowed him to save the stricken animal’s life. As for his papa?

“I am so proud of him,” said Tony Anello with a big smile.

More info on June the Whale at
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120504/ARTICLES/120509742

Where the action is this week

Andrea Granahan — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:40:44 +0000

The seniors from Sebastopol Senior Center are heading north to Sho-Ka-Wah Casino at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday (5/9). They will catch the bus at Mt. Olive Church, 460 Murphy Ave., Sebastopol. The cost is $13, and they get $10 playing credit, and $5 food credit. If you want to join them make reservations at 829-2440.

Evolution: Darwin was not a Darwinist is the topic of the talk at Science Buzz Café at 7 p.m. Thursday (5/10) at the French Garden Restaurant, 8050 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Cost is $4. For more information go to www.sciencebuzzcafe.org

There will be a folk music concert at 8 p.m. Friday (5/11) at Studio E in Sebastopol. Tickets are $15. Email jberger@sbcglobal.net to make reservations and to get directions to Studio E.

Occidental Arts and Ecology Center is holding a second chance plant sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a tour of its famous gardens at 10 a.m. The center is at 15290 Coleman Valley Rd. in Occidental. Call 874-1557 (x-101) for more information.

Brock Dolman will offer a workshop on Wise Water Management, that includes storm and roof water catchment at Occidental Arts and Ecology Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (5/12). The cost is $35.For registration go to www.oaec.org. The center is located at 15290 Coleman Valley Rd., Occidental.

Occidental Community Choir will hold a concert Straw into Gold at Occidental Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. Saturday (5/12) Tickets are $15 adults, $13 seniors, free for kids 11 and under. The center is at 4009 Bohemian Highway, Occidental at Harmony Village. Tickets are at www.brownpapertickets.com. For more information go to www.occidentalchoir.org

The Aged to Perfection fundraiser for the Sebastopol Senior Center will open its doors at the Sebastopol Veterans Building at 5 p.m. Saturday (5/12). There will be great food, fine wine, and delicious desserts. There are also live and silent auctions and the distinguished citizen of the year will be honored.Tickets are $50. To get them call 829-2440.

Analy High School starts its annual film festival at 7 p.m. Saturday (5/12) at the school auditorium. The short films were shot by students. Tickets are $5 adults, $2 students. Call 824-2300 for more information.

Occidental Community Choir performs a Mothers Day matinee at the Glaser Center in Santa Rosa at 3 p.m. Sunday (5/13). Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com are $15 adults, $13 seniors, kids 11 and under free. For more information go to www.occidentalchoir.org

Watch out! And you might want to avoid driving Coleman Valley Road to the coast or Fort Ross Road on Sunday (5/13). The Amgen Bicycle Race starts and its route puts hundreds of cyclists on those roads. They start at 10:50 a.m. in Santa Rosa so if you get there early and park out of the way you can watch the racers fly by you and cheer them on.