SVHS – Athletic Hall of Fame
A small group of alumni, Jim Hauer, Bob Kruljac, and Mike Rogina are completing the final details on the establishment of a SVHS Athletic Hall of Fame. The group has developed a selection criteria based on other schools criteria, researched potential recipients from old yearbooks, and are currently planning the first event presentation scheduled for early may.
The group is currently looking for a site to hold the event, seeking sponsors and completing the list of recipients. Jim, Bob, and Mike are looking for alumni to assist in the following areas: Presenters for each of the recipients, sponsors, future board members, and alumni wishing to help. Anyone interested can call 707.483.1856 or e-mail bobk@vom.com.
The final list of recipients and details of the presentation event will be forthcoming.
Infineon supports local youth
Speedway Children’s Charities, founded in 1984, raises money at motor racing events at the six tracks owned by Speedway Motorsports across the country: Atlanta, Bristol (Tenn.), Las Vegas, Concord (N. Car.) Ft. Worth (Tex.), and Sonoma. Each track has its own Charities chapter, and 13 events were held here at Sonoma in 2007, including the Grand Marshal’s Banquet and the Race & Rock Charity Auction, both held during the NASCAR Nextel Cup weekend event in June.
Some $524,050 was just awarded for the 2007 season by the Infineon Raceway chapter. This is the third year in a row that Infineon has topped the half-million mark.
The money this year went to 67 different youth organizations in Sonoma County. Among the recipients active in Sonoma Valley are:
Court Appointed Special Advocates; Hanna Boys Center; La Luz Center; Operation Youth; Sonoma County Public Library Foundation; Sonoma Ecology Center; Sonoma Valley 4-H Club; Sonoma Valley Education Foundation; Sonoma Valley Film Society; Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance; Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau; Summer Search North Bay; Twin Valley Aquatics; Valley of the Moon Aquatics; Boys & Girls Club Valley of the Moon; Valley of the Moon Children’s Foundation; Valley of the Moon Education Foundation; Valley of the Moon Teen Center; Valley of the Moon Teen Parent; WillMar Center for Bereaved Children; YWCA of Sonoma County.
For more information on the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, e-mail Denise Silver at dsilver@infineonraceway.com or call 707.933.3950.
Hospital board mulls finances
and facilities
The elected board of the Sonoma Valley Hospital was due to meet again this week, continuing its active engagement with the community over the two issues key to its survival. The October financial statements, available for public review at the hospital’s administrative offices, show that the operations continue to lose money, at about $200,000 a month. In the short term, this is covered by the revenue from the parcel tax, but it corroborates the concerns expressed by CEO Carl Gerlach that the hospital’s fortunes can’t hang on a new facility to be completed years hence.
Not that the development of that new facility is being deferred. Planning continues apace, and Gerlach is due to present the latest designs for the Carinelli site at Wednesday’s meeting. The meeting will be rebroadcast on Thursday at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. by SVTV 27 on Comcast.
Committee to develop program for Springs facade improvement
On Nov. 6, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors gave the go-ahead to start the process to increase redevelopment funds to $120 million and issue up to $40 million in bonds for construction projects in The Springs.
While the money won’t be available until late summer or early fall of 2008, plans are already underway to begin identifying projects for funding along the Highway 12 corridor. The long-awaited sidewalks are the highest priority, but other projects will be eligible as well. Commercial facade improvements like painting, signage, lighting, awnings, landscaping, code compliance and modifications to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) are just a few of the items that could be considered for low-interest loans or grants.
In order to develop guidelines for funding, an ad hoc committee has formed to establish a Springs Redevelopment Area Commercial Facade Improvement Program. Committee members are: Melissa Attanasio of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn; Rich Lee, Arroyo Veterinary Hospital; Jeff Stuhr, wheelchair access advocate; Gay Kisbee, Kizelle Aromatics; Celeste Winders, Valley of the Moon Teen Center; Laurie Decker, Economic Development Partnership; and Boris Sztorch, Sonoma County Community Development Commission.
Sztorch has done extensive research on other commercial façade improvement programs throughout California. According to Sztorch, “These programs leverage considerable private sector funds, spur the resurgence of struggling commercial areas and encourage reinvestment in communities.”
He’s identified several factors as keys to a successful facade improvement program, including free design assistance, free construction management and free staff support in preparing a project’s scope of work. Determining minimum and maximum loan amounts is another important factor in a program’s success. Sztorch also recommends designating a limited target area and making sure that the program is well marketed, even going door-to-door and providing translation services as needed.
The ad hoc committee will address these ideas and more as they meet over the next several months to develop a strategy for the Springs program.
The Springs Redevelopment Advisory Committee (RAC) meets Dec. 6, 7 p.m. at Valley of the Moon Boys & Girls Club, 100 Verano Ave.
The Springs Task Force Coordinating Committee (STFCC) meets Dec. 12, 9 a.m. at the La Luz Center, 17560 Greger St.
For a map of the Springs Redevelopment Area, log on to www. sonoma-county.org-cdc-pdf-svredevmap.pdf.
Clemente Inn declared unsafe
The boarded-up Clemente Inn on Highway 12 and Keaton Avenue has been condemned. Built in 1906, the unreinforced masonry building has deteriorating mortar between the bricks, much of the roof is missing, and parts of the structure have crumbled. Signs are posted warning people to keep away.
Responding to a complaint, the County’s Permit and Resource Management Department (PRMD) sent a notice to building owner Marty Roberts earlier this month directing her either to demolish the entire structur, or to hire an engineer to formulate a plan for shoring up and rehabilitating the salvageable portions. According to Ben Neuman, PRMD Code Enforcement Manager, Roberts has been in contact with his office, but has not yet selected an option.
Roberts, who has owned the property for seven years, said, “I agonize over tearing it down. The neighbors are agonizing, too. It blocks a lot of the highway noise up the hill.” She said that it’s very expensive to think about reinforcing the building. She has not yet decided what to do, and said that “it changes day to day. Just the engineering cost is a big chunk, and you’d still need an engineer for the demolition.”
The Clemente Inn is in The Springs Redevelopment Area, and Roberts had tried to work with the Sonoma County Redevelopment Agency to fix up the property, but became frustrated. “They have no money. The area isn’t ready. Until sidewalks and underground utilities are in, I’m in the same place the past five owners have been – just another caretaker.”
Boris Sztorch, the County’s Redevelopment Manager, confirmed that he and Roberts had discussed the availability of funds for demolishing the building and redeveloping the site.
The building sits on just over 1/3 acre with 3 other small buildings, and is zoned General Commercial. There is a special provision (LU-18s) in Sonoma County’s General Plan that this commercial zoning designation is only to accommodate a proposal to renovate the former hotel, and if the Clemente Inn is removed, then the zoning would return to Urban Residential-8 units/acre.
Because the building was designated a Sonoma County landmark in 1978, the County Landmarks Commission’s approval would be required before a demolition permit could be issued. Pat Mazzini, who represents the First District on the Landmarks Commission likened the challenges Roberts faces with the Clemente Inn to those faced by developers of the recently restored Hotel Chauvet in Glen Ellen. While recognizing the difficulty of saving the structure, Mazzini said she “would recommend doing everything humanly possible to preserve it.”
Roberts said that she would like to save the old landmark, but outlined the many restrictions she would encounter, including hiring an archeologist, documenting any changes to the building and obtaining approvals from the Landmarks Commission. The time-consuming process would add to an already costly project.
The Clemente Inn has captured the imagination of many a developer over the years, and has changed hands several times. Schemes have ranged from a luxury inn to a Russian joint venture, “Club Red,” complete with onion domes. Recent discussions have included a spa and a home for unwed teenage mothers. Roberts said she’d be open to some kind of winery-related development.
Whole Foods Market Sonoma earns energy rebate
Dana Leavitt, Team Leader for Whole Foods Market, was presented with a $40,515.50 rebate check from Jeremy Litow of Energy Smart Grocer in recognition of significant upgrades made to reduce energy use in the Sonoma store.
Whole Foods Market worked closely with Energy Smart Grocer, who managed the project as part of PG&E’s energy efficiency programs. Upgrades and retrofits to the store were recommended based on an extensive energy audit that was conducted, resulting in a savings in energy costs for the store. Energy efficiency programs have helped save PG&E customers more than $20 billion over three decades.
