The peloton sprints through Bodega Bay Monday, Feb. 19, 2007 at 2 :12 pm.
Reader
Perry Marker submitted this photo. Also read Perry's comments on the best
films of 2006 in Reel Time.
World Class bike racers return to West Sonoma County
For the pre-race story see page 2
Bodega Bay Fire Board takes a timid step to reduce their carbon footprint
Posted Wednesday Feb. 14, 2007 -------- The first small step toward getting a solar system was taken Tuesday night. The Board of Directors of the Bodega Bay Fire District voted to apply for a rebate for a solar photovoltaic system for the fire station. The application for the $60,000 rebate will cost the district $600. The rebate would be applied to the cost of installing a solar electric system that would make the firehouse “zero out” its PG&E bill. The solar electric system will also reduce carbon emissions by over 13 tons annually.
Directors heard a presentation by the Sebastopol firm Solarworks at their regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening. Solarworks developed a preliminary design and cost for a solar electric system for the Bodega Bay fire station. Solarworks projected the cost of PG&E bills ($550/month + five percent annual increases) and the cost of installing and maintaining the system. Over a 25-year lifespan, the District would spend over $300,000 tax dollars for PG&E, while the system would cost the District about $110,000 after rebate.
A rebate program by the State of California started on Jan. 1 of this year. The rebate for the Bodega Bay fire station system will be $60,000. The rebate once granted requires the system be installed within 18 months. Solarworks says they can install the entire system in less than two months. The rebate program operates on a first come-first served basis. Since the program started, rebate rate has declined by 10 percent. If Bodega Bay had applied on Jan. 1 their rebate would have been $66,000. The program has been wildly successful with numerous large companies applying for the rebates. The larger rebates are all taken and the next stage of smaller rebates is underway.
The next step for Bodega Bay will be to receive the final price bid from Solarworks. At the meeting the Board was clearly in favor of installing the system. They worked to solve problems while moving forward. At the next meeting the District Board will hear the final price, determine the suitability of the materials and move forward with a contract proposal. Fire Chief Sean Grinnell will develop a process for selecting bidders and a contract.
The Board heard a proposal almost two years ago but rejected it. At the time the Board was facing a severe deficit. The Board has cured the deficit and has a large cash reserve on hand. There was a different rebate program offered by the State at that time, similar to the current rebate program.
Burglars hit another pair of homes in Bodega Bay
Posted Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007 -------- The Sheriff’s calls for service record reads simply: “Duck Ct Bodega Bay contact burglary report” and “Heron Dr Bodega Bay contact burglary report.”
Contained within that dry report is a trail of substantial crimes and victims.
This past weekend two homes in the Bodega Harbor subdivision became the targets of thieves working the Bodega Bay area.
At both homes the garage was used to park the thieves vehicle while they collected goods from the home. The first burglary, overnight on Friday, at an address on Heron Drive, thieves took over $10,000 worth of property. The home was vacant while it was up for long-term lease. Though substantial household goods were taken, the majority of the householder’s goods had already been moved out.
The second burglary was Saturday night on Duck Court. This home was vacant while listed for sale. The home was furnished sparingly, since listed for sale, with much of the more valuable property already moved. Again the garage was used as a staging area for loading the burglar’s vehicle. Over $10,000 in goods was taken.
At the Heron Drive burglary, the thieves came back on Saturday night and moved the washer and dryer down a hallway to the garage.
This string of residential burglaries started over a year ago with a strike at a frontline Heron Drive home. That fall 2005 burglary, occurred while that home was on the market. Thieves broke in and parked their vehicle in the garage while pillaging. Destruction was minimal but items stolen were numerous. Expensive items including art works were taken. Other expensive items were left behind. As Resident Deputy Charlie Bone observed at the time, “It was like they were shopping, taking only what they liked.”
The next two burglaries in May 2006 were in the Sereno Del Mar neighborhood. Bone remarked on the similarities of the crimes with the Heron Drive burglary. Expensive items were taken and expensive items left behind. At one residence, designer clothes were taken as well as off the rack clothing. But some designer items were not touched.
Last fall burglars that shared the same characteristics with the Heron Dr. and Sereno Del Mar burglaries, struck at a house that was a vacation rental in Bodega Harbour. Five plasma TV sets were taken. At that crime scene the garage was used as a loading area while the booty was collected. The crime occurred between vacation home renters.
Deputy Bone is convinced all these crimes are by the same gang of thieves. “There are just too many similarities. We have collected some evidence and I am still investigating.”
Read Breezy for more on the string of hits by the good taste thieves.
Bodega Volunteer Fire Company gets the big bucks
Posted Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007 --------- Bodega Volunteer Fire Company is getting $177, 876.
The federal Department of Homeland Security is buying a new fire engine for the Bodega Volunteers. The grant will buy a new “Type I” fire engine. The federal grant is the result of a committee of volunteers writing the successful grant application. Gary Watts, Assistant Fire Chief, led the committee through the process of researching grants available, writing the grant application and tracking its progress. The grant is through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.
Friday, Feb. 2, AC Watts and Fire Chief Ron Albini were notified of the grant award. Watts said they have been attempting for four years and finally were successful.
The new truck will be a fully equipped “pumper” truck. This type of fire truck has a large capacity pump, can carry several hundred feet of fire hose, 500 or more gallons of water and associated equipment. With the acquisition of this truck, the Company will no longer depend on older fire trucks. The new truck will provide many years of service without constant repairs. The new engine will also provide additional tools and capacities until now unavailable. Watts said the truck enhances the Volunteer’s ability to provide service to Bodega and surrounding communities.
Nationally, the AFG awards, which will be distributed in phases, will ultimately provide approximately $485 million to roughly 4500 fire-related organizations.
Through the AFG program, the department awards grants to firefighters, emergency response personnel and first responders throughout the country to enhance response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public, with respect to fire and other hazards. The grants provide resources for local fire departments and emergency medical services programs to purchase or receive training, conduct first responder health and safety programs, and buy equipment and response vehicles.
Bodega Volunteer Fire must match the grant with $19, 764.
Since the grant was awarded fire truck vendors have beaten a track to the Bodega Volunteer Fire station. Last week a vendor brought a new truck out to Bodega and left it for a day for inspection.
A conversation with new Porto Bodega owner
Portions of this story were printed in the Annual Pet Issue
Posted Feb. 9, 2007 -------- Porto Bodega’s new owner is clear about their plans. “We have no intention of reducing the number of low-income units at Porto Bodega,” said Richard Battaglia spokesman Philip Young Thursday.
Battaglia, Newport Beach, is the new owner of Porto Bodega, they took control on Feb. 1. A number of changes are already underway at the large marina and trailer park. A concerted effort has started to clear out unused materials and fix some of the aging facilities. A contractor will re-grade and gravel much of the lumpy driveways and storage areas when the weather allows. Blacktop has also been ordered for some areas.
Young talked openly about the company’s conversations with Mike Reilly and Sonoma County Planning. Battaglia has been negotiating with the former owners for over a year. They were first approached by one of the limited partners who lived in nearby Balboa Island. Battaglia initially signed a contract to purchase the park while his staff investigated the property. Battaglia staff found so many negative conditions at the park, they cancelled the deal. Young said there were too impediments to development: earthquake fault, poorly constructed fill for the entire park, ongoing battles with the county over tideland leases and construction without permits. Porto Bodega has been formally for sale for over four years.
Click to read the rest of
the story 
Developing Story: THS football team undefeated
Posted Wed. Feb. 7, 2007 -------- Tomales High School Football (Boys Varsity) team season record becomes undefeated.
The 2006 Tomales High School Football team lost the Championship game to Mendocino High School. But Mendocino has forfeited the game and the season. For a time they were the North Central II League Champions. Now that championship is vacant, Tomales High School is the runner-up and Tomales’ record stands at 11 and zero.
Click to read the rest of the story
Tomales Town Hall needs a tree
Posted Feb. 6, 2007 -------- After 100 years of living with the neighboring buckeye tree, the Tomales Town Hall needs to buy it.
To the south of the historic building, a spreading buckeye tree nearly covers the small lot. That lot along with five others is being sold by the conservatorship of the now-deceased owner. For sale real estate signs grace the road side of the lots.
Recently added is a sign pleading to save the “buckeye.”
Ginny Magan, a volunteer with the Tomales Town Hall, explained the lots could be sold to a developer. New homes could be constructed on the lots. The lot next to the Town Hall is crucial to its future use and restoration.
The Town Hall was built directly on its lot line, by the Tomales Temperance Social Club in 1874. The first North Pacific Coast Railroad train entered Tomales the same year. The building was remodeled extensively in 1930 and became known as the Town Hall. Now in the 21st Century to improve handicap access and the downstairs kitchen, the Town Hall needs to utilize a portion of the “buckeye lot.”
The Board of Trustees has made an offer and it has been accepted by the Conservator. The Conservator’s asking price was $200,000. The Town Hall has raised money for the purchase from several sources. Pledges were made by community members, a portion of the Cerini bequest, a pledge by the Marin Board of Supervisors and an anticipated loan make up the funding sources.
The transaction must be approved by a Marin County Probate Judge. Until then the property is still on the market.
The buckye tree decorated for a fundraiser for Shambala wildlife refuge.
Molly Ivins died Jan. 31, 2007 read
a tribute here
Read Molly Ivins' last columns
here
