Healing Our Hearts

Ok, so I wasn't going to comment much on the events that ensued on Wednesday, July 6th, 2011, because honestly, there's too much to process and too many opportunities to stick my foot in my mouth, so I've decided to opt out. However, there does seem to be a need for Guerneville to give more of a PUSH for positive energy this season. With the deaths of Brad Baetchel of Santa Rosa and now Elijah Lockheart of Sebastopol, both within weeks (and literally, FEET) of each other, something has GOT to be done about the traumatic energy left behind.

Local and Open Mic organizer Angelina Gargano has started the wheels turning of a Candle Vigil, appropriately named "Healing the Heart of Town Vigil". This healing event will take place on Monday, July 11th from 8pm to 9pm. The Russian River Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence plan to be there to hold prayers. If you plan to attend, please bring flowers and candles. The intent is to "clear the air" of the Town Plaza and the Pedestrian Bridge, a task I believe has been long overdue.

And while this event may heal out hearts for those that were lost, the questions remains "what can we do to reclaim our town?" Albeit a severe event, this isn't the first that violence has touched this region of town (or the entire town for that matter!), and I sit here in my little home wondering, "how can I reclaim that bridge so it's safe again? Safe for me and my family to walk on?" The drug activity and violence that occurs on the bridge cannot be tolerated anymore. The passive attitudes Americans have taken in recent decades has created a void of tolerated intolerable-behaviors. Essentially, those performing illegal (or just downright immoral) acts don't care because the likelyhood of them being held responsible is slim-to-none. How do we bring back this system of holding those responsible for their actions? What can a small town do? Perhaps there's a meeting on the horizon where we can voice our SUGGESTIONS and put words into ACTIONS? Perhaps...

River Time!

Oh yes! The mercury is finally rising to seemingly unbearable temperatures, and thus comes the influx of humans, flocking to any and every source of water available to quench their bodies. It is no different here. Some news on the conditions of the Russian River:

Sonoma County Supervisors Approve Funding to finish Dams

Many of the Vacation Beach/Neeley Road/Orchard Avenue residents might be wondering what happened to the Vacation Beach Crossing/Dam? An official press release (as seen here on the Sonoma County Gazette's Blogsite) from the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors came to my inbox a few days ago, explaining the situation. In a nutshell, the county ran out of money, delayed installation, got the money approved as part of the 2011-2012 Budget and now work can commence and is expected to be done by the end of June.

There's a fungus among us

Ok, so bacteria isn't fungus, but you get the picture. Most everybody living, playing in or visiting the River are concerned with the quality of water. Now let's face it, if there's a populous of humans near a body of water, the chances of that water being "pure" of any bacterium is fairly slim (especially if that populous is of the Capitalist-lifestyle), and our river is certainly no exception. So with this in mind, we've become accustomed to these levels of "little dirty bugs" and while some have even built immunities to them, others do have a reported increase of staph-infections, strep throat and other viral ailments. So play it safe. If you aren't feeling up-to-par, have an open wound, or a compromised immune system, keep out of the water. For weekly updates on bacterial samplings, visit the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board's website.

Playin' it Safe

With the increase of body traffic on the beaches comes an increase in the need to play safely. Because of the lack of lifeguards, the adults at the beaches are inherent with the responsibility to protect the smaller bodies that enter the water. Time and time again I have witnessed babies and small children wandering into the water, unbeknownst to their parents, and I personally have had to fish their children out. And those little floatation devices? While they're wonderful fun for a child, they most certainly are NOT an excuse for a parent to turn their attention elsewhere. Bottom line: if your child is not an experienced swimmer, they should not be in the water without you or without your hawkeye on them. AND even if they are experienced, your presence should still be known to them and those around you. To the "grown-ups" around, while they may not be your children, you ARE responsible for every living thing that comes within those waters because of your capability to save them.

So, play it safe. Do the sunscreen thing, keep the booze at a minimum (do we REALLY have to have THAT conversation?), keep dogs on leashes (and clean up after them!), and of course, clean up after yourself when you leave to go home.

River Theater is ALIVE, once again.

The historic River Theater has been Limelight home to hundreds of musicians, many of them famous, ranging from the Grateful Dead to Gwar. When Jerry Knight, new owner and proprieter of the ol' Theater, sought to purchase the run-down, formerly "FAB" Night Club building, his vision was to restore it to its original splendor, from the marquee facing Main Street to who stepped foot on the stage. So far, the theater has had a handful of performers stompin' the stage, including most recently the Pink Floyd coverband, "House of Floyd" and it seems there's no end in sight of the Entertainment list Jerry has planned.

This week marks two fantastic shows. The first, appropriately titled "Dead Ahead", A Grateful Dead Tribute Band, featuring Melvin Seals and Jimmy Tebeau from the Jerry Garcia Band (aka JGB). Thursday, June 9th "Dead Ahead" will hit the stage with two (yes count 'em, TWO) sets of mind warping, toe-tappin' bluesy tunes, starting at 9:00pm. Tickets for this show are $15 and is open for ALL AGES!!! Wanna taste of what's in store this night? Check out this video of Melvin Seals and JGB playin' Bob Dylan's "Tangled Up in Blue." And don't forget to follow up on JGB's website for their summer tour (looks like they're coming back to Monte Rio this August!).

Next up is the Fireworks Fundraiser "June Tunes". This is going to be AWESOME!!!! And I'm not just sayin' that 'cause my buddy, Mountaindawg is going to be on stage. We've got quite the collection of music happening this night, Saturday, June 11th, and you are NOT going to want to miss this! First up is local band Midnight Sun, who's reggae beats are sure to get you warmed up. Then, the meat of this delicious music sandwich, we've got Bo Gypsy on the stage, bringing you classic rock and blues riffs. And headlining the night is the popular Dgiin, who's genre can only be described at "Other". What better way to support the community fireworks show than to come out on a night on the town to the Theater, have a drink at Jerry's bar, get some serious dancin' on the dance floor, and maybe even win a Getaway from the Chamber raffle? Tickets are $15 advanced, available at the Chamber Office OR $20 at the door. Let's start off 4th of July's big BANG with this awesome show!

For more information on the River Theater or to contact Jerry Knight to book an event, please call 707-869-8022. For details on the June Tunes show, please call the Russian River Chamber of Commerce at 707-869-9000 or visit their site at www.russianriver.com.

Beginnings

It was my intention to begin the basic construction of this blog today, however the tides decided it was time to turn and make plans of their own. Now it isn't in my nature to report on bad news, however I do feel it's necessary to include the information about the suicide that took place on Guerneville's Pedestrian Bridge today. You can read my personal blog for my personal insights on the event, as well as at the Press Democrat for official details. And lastly, my heart and the heart of the town go out to the young man's family and friends who are experiencing this great loss.

Now while there are things that come to an end almost simultaneously there are things that begin. Moments after this young man took the leap off the bridge, a new life was welcomed into the world by Derrick and Minnie Sheets; many heartfelt congratulations!

New life and new creation is sprouting everyday, and today I celebrate the birth of an idea that began a few months ago. Some might be wondering, "Why a blog on Guerneville?" I've been writing the "Only in Guerneville" (formerly "What's Up in Guerneville") column for the Sonoma County Gazette (formerly the West County Gazette) for the past 18 months. I've learned through my columns for Vesta Copesakes' brilliantly put-together and brightly colored, eclectic paper, how difficult it is to cram all the goings-on of Guerneville into a mere 700 words column (even less if there's a picture). So I figured, there's SO much good, positive energy going around Guerneville (yes, let's face it, there's a fair share of bad as well), this would give not only myself a less restrictive outlet of information, but also to you, my fellow Guernevillans, to submit your articles, events, polls, etc.

And of course there needs to be some discretion with what get's placed on here. I run by the presipice of the Golden Rule (most times) and would expect that of anybody looking to contribute.

This is a rough draft of the blog's rules, and they will be subject to change as the blog starts to develop into it's own.

Rule #1: Seriously, let's be respectful. No snide or bigoted comments are allowed on the blog posts.

Rule #2: If you have an event, please make sure you've given me at LEAST One Week's notice to post it. Anything less than that is up in the air and is less likely to get posted.

Rule #3: Articles or guest post writers are welcome (you will receive your by-line for your piece), but try to make them positive in nature. This is not a forum for complaints or negative bashing of locals/businesses/etc. If you want to do that, create your OWN blog here.

Rule #4: The rules are subject to change as the blog will need to change as it get's more activity.

So, today, I launch this blog as a token of community, as a resource of information on the events and activity that Guerneville gets to experience. Check back often, as there will be daily updates.