Breezy’s Blog

Breezy has been busy making the website work. In an effort to simplify some changes are coming.

Breezy will be more often. Check into Breezy for info on what is new and available on the site as well as all the little stories that tickle our funny bones and build connections.

For quite a while now there has been a list on my desk of the new folks running the Fish Fest. Trooper Jane Schultz has led a hardy crew for many years. She is stepping back from the leadership and keeping her contributions to an effective transition. At a meeting — now a few weeks ago — the new folks worked on problems with Jane’s advice and knowledge sought and given at every step.

Ginni Basse is the new President of the Fisherman’s Festival non-profit. David Love is the Vice-President. He will be working closely with the new Secretary since she is married to him — Fiona Love. The Treasurer is Susan Williamson with Jane Schultz and Mary Cook serving as Directors.

The crew of volunteers is ramping up to this year’s event (2007). Though the number of volunteers is pleasing, additional volunteers are needed. Contact David or Fiona Love at their shop, Candy and Kites, right on Bodega Bay’s main drag.

This past Sunday’s shark attack was certainly frightening enough. The surfers working the very high waves off Dillon Beach were mostly unaware of the attack — though the word spread. Big chunks were taken out of Royce Fraley’s surfboard. After a hurried swim back to the beach and a realization of the enormity of that shark’s attack, Royce was visibly trembling. Check the photos of Royce and his surfboard in Breaking News. There are also pictures of the high surf the dudes were working. About two hours after the (just before noon) attack, the wind changed direction and the water turned gnarly.

The third barn is no more. The row of historic triple barns at the south end of Valley Ford had finally fallen down. The barns were part of a slaughterhouse and butcher operation way back just before the railroad quit. Butchers in first horse-drawn and them horseless wagons had routes up the coast selling meat. Breezy doesn’t know enough about the barns or their users from way back when. Readers who might know or know someone who does: please step up to the plate and let everyone else know. Anyone with an email address may add comments below.

The 12 beagle pubs at Porto Bodega became 11 within the week of their birth. Jack Journey observed that there were still enough pups for a football team.

Those fellows from the Coast Guard Auxillary did the deed the Monday after Thanksgiving. The annual lighted Christmas tree now glow from the end of the breakwater at Spud Point. You can only see it from a couple of miles away.

Dog bites mail carrier. Mail carrier sues dog. Shark bites surfer. Spits.

Wouldn’t you rather have a shark spit on you than add you — at the bottom of — to the food chain? This is the season for the herring to enter bays and estuaries. A rather large population of herring are entering Tomales Bay right now. Even a half-blind shark wouldn’t mistake a surfer for a herring. But the herring bring the pinnipeds. The sharks follow the pinnipeds.

The sharks of the media were beaten by the little ol’ Navigator. The Nav had a worldwide exclusive for a few hours. Our coverage went online within 30 minutes of the 911 call. Within two hours the Nav had photos and filled out the story. Greg Schnitzer the intrepid photographer who recorded the event also had great photos of the surf. Greg was unaware of the shark attack until the Nav called. “Greg get your camera.” Greg lives on Dillon Beach.
Surfers and locals call it the “shark pit.” It also generates an unusually high and smooth surf when the wind and storm surges are right. From the pix the waves that day were up to 15 feet high. Surfers and the Coast Guard Motorlifeboat had some thrills. Within two hours of the shark attack the wind changed and the sea turned into chowder.

Greg’s pictures were on the front page of the Pee Dee, the Chron and several other media. Greg sold the pix to Associated Press. NBC network also bought them as well as the local TV stations.

Royce, the victim in all this, did not want to talk to reporters. He drove himself home and stayed out of sight. Before he left Royce did talk to Greg and Marin County Tomales station Fire Capt. Rick Wonneberger. Tomales Fire station reported they had received about 100 calls from media.