Firefighters,
bulldozers catch Lovall Valley blaze in time
A massive show of force by firefighters — and early response by two bulldozers that happened to be at the scene — helped squash a 3- to 4-acre fire Monday afternoon high on ridge north of Lovall Valley that otherwise might have been a “disaster,” said Mike Mulas, chief of the Schell-Vista Fire Protection District.
When Schell-Vista firefighters were notified of the fire at about 3 p.m., they responded with six fire engines and called in other help: two Sonoma Valley FireMed engines, one Glen Ellen water tender, five engines from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF), two CDF air tankers, a CDF air-attack plane, a CDF helicopter and a CDF hand crew.
“We hit the panic button… that area, you don’t mess around,” said Mulas. “This year, things are burning pretty rapid.”
He said two private bulldozers cut fire lines before firefighters arrived.
“If they hadn’t been there, it would have turned into a disaster.”
He said Monday evening that CDF investigators were still trying to determine the fire’s cause.
Sonoma Valley RAC
to meet tonight
The Sonoma Valley Redevelopment Advisory Committee will meet at 7 p.m. this evening and will discuss such things as the progress of plans to build sidewalks along Highway 12 and the Springs “gateway” arch project. The committee, which makes suggestions to the county board of supervisors about how to spend redevelopment money in the Springs area, meets at the Boys & Girls Club Valley of the Moon at 100 Verano Ave.
Sebastiani and Brown say ‘no’ to city budget
Councilmen August Sebastiani and Ken Brown cast “no” votes regarding the city budget that was passed at Monday’s council meeting.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to take a ‘no’ vote,” Sebastiani said. “I don’t want to adopt a budget that loses money in three years – it looks too much like big government to me.”
Councilman Brown said, “I’m taking a different approach but with the same result as council member Sebastiani.” Brown’s issue was with non-profit funding only being allocated for one year.
“Any city sees revenues go down and expenses go up,” Mayor Stanley Cohen said. “We have money in the bank – it’s a good budget – I’m for the budget and I ask for a roll-call vote.”
With only council members Sebastiani and Brown opposed to the budget, it passed 3-to-2.
Sanders seeks
appointment to
transportation district
Mayor pro tem Joanne Sanders “respectfully requested” the support of her fellow Sonoma City Council members Monday night that they consider her for an appointment as a board member to the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.
Sanders explained that Michael Martini, former Santa Rosa mayor and current city councilman there, is stepping down from the district.
Sanders expressed her concerns of the time, effort, and the burning of fossil fuel that it is going to take in order to get her “little self” to these director meetings.
“But I do want to give 110 percent,” Sanders said.
Each year, the Golden Gate Transit riders number approximately 7.4 million, and the Golden Gate Ferry riders, approximately 1.9 million.
Sanders would represent Sonoma County as a member of the Council of Mayors and councilmembers that is appointed by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
Mission Inn still
up for grabs
A Chicago firm on June 26 withdrew its offer to spend $175 million to buy the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Sonoma Golf Club – but the landmark properties are still for sale, should a new buyer appear.
“It’s still for sale,” said Jeremy Sweek, spokesman for Crescent Real Estate Equities Co., the Fort Worth, Tex.-based Real Estate Investment Trust that owns 80 percent of the inn and golf course. Fairmont Hotels and Resorts owns the remaining 20 percent.
Chicago-based Walton Street Capital had entered into an agreement to buy the properties, and the Chicago firm put up $3.5 million in earnest money – which Crescent is attempting to keep.
“We are pursuing that now because we feel that we are entitled to it,” Sweek said.
“Why did Walton pull out? I can’t speculate on that.”
Walton Street Capital has declined in the past to comment to the Sun.
Maxwell Farms tennis courts get $500 grant
The United States Tennis Association on Monday announced that it was awarding a $500 matching grant to the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department for maintenance of tennis courts at Maxwell Farms Regional Park.
The grants typically fund repairs of such things as windscreens, backboards, fencing, and lighting systems.
Sonoma County was one of 20 park and recreation agencies across the country to receive a grant from the U.S Tennis Association. Combined, the grants total nearly $320,000.
The U.S Tennis Association is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. It owns and operates the U.S. Open.
Volunteer classes
offered at WillMar
WillMar Center for Bereaved Children is offering volunteer facilitator training for teens and adults interested in working with grieving children.
WillMar Center is a non-profit organization designed to serve children and teenagers who have experienced the death of a loved one, or have a loved one with a life-changing illness. WillMar provides a safe, healing environment, compassionate support and activities that encourage children to live, grow, and create. The center extends services to the family, caregivers, schools and the community.
The dates for this special four-day training are: Aug. 11, 12, 18 and 19.
Pre-registration is required. For more information please call 707.935.1946.
