Community Briefs

Grove of Old Trees benefit on tap
Occidental Arts and Ecology Center biologist and educator Brock
Dolman is presenting an in-depth look at old growth forests,
redwoods, watersheds and their human interface on Friday, July 9,
at 7 p.m. at the Salmon Creek School. The Old Grove is a 28-acre
site off Joy Road on Fitzpatrick Lane in the Occidental area and
contains remnants of the area’s original virgin redwood forest.
Dolman will also discuss the craft of rainwater harvesting as a
water conservation strategy as well as a report on ongoing efforts
to retain the vitality of the area’s Salmon Creek watershed. The
Friends of the Old Grove, which is hosting the event, is a chapter
of LandPaths. Tickets range from $10 to $20 and are limited to
about 80 seats. To purchase tickets online, go to grovebenefit.eventbrite.com.
Salmon Creek School is located on Bohemian Highway between
Occidental and Freestone. For more information call LandPaths at
544-7284 or look them up at www.LandPaths.org.
56th Annual Teriyaki Barbecue at Enmanji Temple July
11
The year 2010 commemorates the 76th Anniversary of Enmanji
Temple in Sebastopol, and in celebration of this milestone, Enmanji
will host weekend events beginning with the 56th Annual Teriyaki
Barbecue and Bazaar on Sunday, July 11. This is a free event. The
community is invited to Enmanji’s Teriyaki Bazaar for barbecued
teriyaki chicken lunch (hot or cold), and other Japanese delicacies
including a sweetened bean-filled pastry called imagawa yaki,
resembling a small stuffed pancake, sushi, kushi yaki and locally
made desserts. Cultural activities fill out the rest of the event
featuring a bonsai display from the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society,
an extensive outdoor plant sale, Ikebana flower arranging
demonstration and sale, Buddhist dharma talk, games for the kids,
handicrafts, raffle drawing, bingo, cultural arts displays, martial
arts demonstrations and Taiko performance by Sonoma County Taiko at
1 p.m. and 4 p.m. The documentary “Leap of Faith” will be shown at
2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The film tells the little known story of young
people in Sonoma County who put their bodies on the line during
WWII to protect Enmanji Temple from arson and vandalism. The short
film, directed by Lina Hoshino, aired on KRCB Public Television
during the Asian Heritage Month. Proceeds from the Teriyaki Bazaar
will support the local Enmanji Buddhist Temple and community
activities. The huge teriyaki chicken plate features half of a
chicken, steamed white rice, homemade potato salad, tea and fortune
cookie all for $10. There will also be a drive up pick-up window,
with an entrance at Elphick Rd. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enmanji
Buddhist Temple is located at 1200 Gravenstein Hwy. South and
Elphick Road. Parking and admission are free.
SCCA River Float with the Russian
Riverkeeper
Join Sonoma County Conservation Action for a float down the
Russian River with Don McEnhill, the Russian Riverkeeper, and learn
about current water and river issues. The Riverkeeper will talk
about ways that everyone can help to protect this valuable
resource. The event will take place on Thursday, July 22 from 4:30
to 9 p.m., and costs $50 to $100 on a sliding scale. Please bring
water and snacks, as there will be no food provided. Participants
will be paddling canoes down the Middle Reach of the Russian River
from below the confluence with Dry Creek to the Wohler Bridge. This
remote 6.5-mile paddle will lead through an intimate, hard to
access part of the river, which is home to abundant birds and
wildlife. The party will be leaving promptly at 4:30 p.m., so don’t
be late. Meet at the Wohler Bridge parking lot outside of
Forestville, at the corner of Wohler and Westside Roads. Canoes
will be provided. RSVP is required, so call 571-8868 or e-mail
er**@****************on.org.
Monte Rio and Guerneville school districts trustee
elections
• The Monte Rio Union School District announces openings for its
Board of Trustees. The five-member board oversees the 95-student,
K-8 district. Candidates for office must reside within the school
district boundaries. There are four openings; note that current
board members whose terms expire in November 2010 must also sign up
to be eligible to run again. Three of the openings are for
four-year terms and one is a two-year term. Interested candidates
may begin the filing process for these unpaid positions beginning
July 12. The first step is to take out papers at the Registrar of
Voters, 435 Fiscal Drive, Santa Rosa, CA (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
weekdays). The deadline is August 6. Should an incumbent trustee
not re-file, the deadline is extended to August 11. The election is
scheduled for November 2, 2010.
• The Guerneville School District announces openings for its
Board of Trustees. The five-member board oversees the 300-student,
K-8 district. Candidates for office must reside within the school
district boundaries. There are three openings, each for a four-year
term; current board members whose terms expire in November 2010 are
also eligible to run again. Interested candidates may begin the
filing process for these unpaid positions beginning July 12. The
first step is to take out papers at the Registrar of Voters, 435
Fiscal Drive, Santa Rosa, CA (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays). The
deadline is August 6. Should an incumbent trustee not re-file, the
deadline is extended to August 11. The election is scheduled for
November 2, 2010.
Graton brick contest fundraiser for ‘central
park’
The Graton Green Group is sponsoring a contest to raise funds to
purchase land for a “central park” in Graton. Everyone can win. The
person who sells four bricks wins a brick with one line of text.
Sell seven bricks and win a brick with two lines of text. Sell 10
bricks and win a brick with three lines of text. The person selling
the most bricks by Sept. 15 will win a $100 gift certificate to a
restaurant of their choice in downtown Graton. (Ties will split the
prize.) Funds raised will go toward the purchase of the property
currently owned by the Graton Fire District, downtown Graton. The
GFD is breaking ground on their new facility on Hwy. 116 this fall,
making the property available soon. For brick order forms, contact
HolLynn D’Lil at 829-9440.
To submit a Community Brief item: Send an email to ne**@********st.com or drop a
press release at our office at 137 South Main Street, telephone
number 707-823-7845. Items can include local fund raisers, free
community gatherings, non-commerical community gatherings,
workshops or lectures.