Auction at Infineon raises nearly $15K for children’s
charities
Submitted Material
Nearly $15,000 was raised on Sunday at Infineon Raceway during the 4th annual Northbay Motorsport & Marine Charity Fundraiser. The fundraiser was held as part of the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown weekend, presented by Supercuts.
The auction generated $14,580 for Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of Infineon Raceway. All proceeds will be distributed to qualified youth groups in Sonoma County.
The amount was a one-year record for the auction, which has been held annually at the raceway since 2004. More than 30 items were featured with the top sellers being a LeoVince exhaust system ($1,200), Jamie Hacking signed leathers ($900) and a Nicky Hayden giclee print ($700).
Of the $14,580 that was raised, $5,200 was generated from a drawing for a Kawasaki Vulcan Classic Cruiser. The Cruiser was donated by Northbay Motorsport & Marine, out of Santa Rosa. The bike was won by John Thompson, a captain at the Vallejo Fire Department, who lives in Forestville.
For more information on the Sonoma chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, visit www.infineonraceway.com.
No student interns for city council at this time
Beau Glover
Sonoma Valley Sun
A recent inquiry from a student at Sonoma Valley High School prompted Mayor Stanley Cohen to bring the possibility of unpaid internships before the city council at its meeting last week. Such internship programs in local government help young people considering career positions as administrators, managers, or elected officials and might also aid city work load at no additional expense.
Acknowledging that his own years of public service began as a high school intern, outgoing Sonoma City Manager Mike Fuson told the council that his problem with interns is lack of direct oversight. “Support for council members is provided by the city staff under the direction of the city manager, not by employees or interns assigned to the elected officials,” Fuson said.
Council members Ken Brown and Steve Barbose recalled the excellent candidate forum held at the high school during the last campaign. “When fully motivated and engaged, high school students are so intellectual,” Barbose said. “Contributing to this process proves and acknowledges a desire to tap their enthusiasm.”
Council member Joanne Sanders stated her wholehearted support for the internship program and was concerned that the matter was being dodged. Fuson explained that legal liabilities may arise from what an intern may say as an official statement on behalf of the city. “They think they’re equal to the city attorney or to me,” Fuson said. “It’s about who’s giving that person direction – I want them under my supervision.”
Mayor Cohen agreed. “I took a simplistic view of the internship program at first – I’m not as supportive as I once was,” Cohen said. “It’s that one verbal slip that can cause the problem.”
No action was taken to implement such a program at this time. Mick Chantler, the Sonoma Valley High School Work Experience Coordinator, told the Sun that in his 30 years of counseling, he has helped students find internships at many local businesses and non-profits, but didn’t recall any with the city council.
