City speaks out on skate park
Editor: Today I am writing in behalf of the City of Sonoma Public Works Department. Last week, I made the decision to close the skate park for the second time this summer due to excessive trash and vandalism. The Parks Department, which consists of three full-time and two part-time employees is responsible for the care and maintenance of 15 parks (approximately 30 acres), four miles of bike paths and oversees all special events. The skate park — even though on County property — is also maintained by the City of Sonoma.
For the past several months, park staff routinely has had to increase maintenance at the skate park. This summer park staff report that they empty at least three-five gallon containers of trash, containing fast food debris, cigarette butts, and alcohol containers on a daily basis, none of which are allowed inside the fenced area. Residents, community leaders and avid skateboarders put countless hours into fundraising for the design and construction of the skate park to provide a safe environment for the youth of Sonoma as skate boarding is not allowed in the Plaza. Trashing the skate park shows not only disrespect for those that use the facility but also to the entire community.
I would like to thank Robert Wilson, Old School Skate for volunteering his skateboard team to adopt the facility. He has received many calls from teens wanting to help clean it up so that the park can be re-opened. I applaud the youth who will be volunteering their time to help keep the park clean. Hopefully their leadership will empower others to act responsibly.
Thank you,
Milenka Bates
Public Works Director
City of Sonoma
mbates@sonomacity.org
Joy over Prop. 8 decision
Editor: The text on my phone read, “ Prop 8 decision will be handed down tomorrow between 1 and 3 p.m. History in the making, we hope!”
Being out of town, I anxiously was checking my cell phone for messages all afternoon. The way things work today, I knew the moment the decision was released publicly that it would be all over the Internet and social media circuits.
It just so happened that I walked back into my hotel room and turned on the TV to see the special report of the judge’s decision being handed down… and it was a glorious decision and one of the proudest moments I have experienced as a gay person in my day. Tears of joy welled up in my eyes as I heard the report say that we could not deny anyone’s love or right to marry based on sexual orientation. I immediately thought of all my dear, close friends who had the opportunity to get married or those who are in long term committed relationships and want the right to get married, how they must feel. I am elated for them. My heart is filled with joy; my eyes are filled with tears.
For me, being single, it gave me the hope that when I do meet the man of my dreams and fall in love that I will be able to celebrate that love just as any heterosexual person.
As I write this I think of all the members of the LGBT community that have come before me and how they must feel listening to the words from Judge Walker’s decision. We have come a long way, although it has taken a long time. And I do know that the fight is not over, it is just the beginning. As a community, we must celebrate this victory today and start to prepare for what lies ahead on this journey.
I look forward to dancing at many of my friend’s weddings and most importantly standing in front of my friends one day, declaring my love for my partner in life.
Tears of joy, I cry, tears of joy for my community.
Gary Saperstein
Sonoma
Learn about Sonoma by becoming a state park docent
Editor: A great way to learn about the rich history of Sonoma Valley is to become a docent for the Sonoma/Petaluma State Historic Parks. A docent spends a few hours a month leading visitors through historic park sites like the mission, barracks, Vallejo home and Petaluma adobe. Visitors have a variety of interests; they are interesting people from all over the world who appreciate the time we spend sharing our history.
A docent training program will be given this fall. The program is on seven Saturdays, starting October 2 and ending on November 13. Experts tell you about each of our park sites in their historic context, and you are given an in-depth tour of each site. You learn about Native-American life, the mission system and the Sonoma mission, life under Mexican rule of California, the Vallejo family, the Russian settlement at Fort Ross, events leading to the Bear Flag Revolt and more. And it is fun – you will meet a great bunch of people during training.
To sign up, or to get more information about the program please contact: Jennifer Hanson, State Parks Volunteer Coordinator, 762.4871, jhanson@parks.ca.gov, or Fran Weiner, Training Committee Chair, 938.2835, bweiner@vom.com.
Robert Alwitt
Docent Chair
Sonoma/Petaluma State Historic Parks