The Diocese of Santa Rosa reports they’ll file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection due to the amount of sexual abuse lawsuits filed against the Diocese. The Press Democrat reports the lawsuits started pouring in after the statute of limitations was lifted for a three-year ‘window’. The Diocese reports there could potentially be over 130 claims from all the way back to 1962 when the Diocese was first established, with most of the cases from the 70’s and 80’s. The Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Santa Rosa is filing the bankruptcy as an overall entity or umbrella like organization for the parishes and Catholic schools within the Diocese, but those entities are not part of the filing.
The Blue Zones Project Mendocino County says Taste Buds will be the first restaurant approved in Mendocino County. Taste Buds features Jamaican inspired food. On Wednesday they’re having a ribbon cutting celebration around dinner time that will include drinks and samples of the Blue Zones approved dishes. You can find more info on the Blue Zones Project Mendocino County at mendocinocounty.bluezonesproject.com and check out their Facebook and Instagram at @bzpmendocinocounty.
The new state Legislature is being sworn in as the Governor searches for ways to punish the oil industry for higher gas prices. Newsom says the oil industry is intentionally “price gouging” because of policies in the state that will eventually phase out our continued dependence on fossil fuels to slow climate change. The Governor has vowed to support bills with monetary penalties for exorbitant oil company profits, if there’s a special legislative session. The president has also threatened a higher tax on major oil companies unless they up production, but the Governor has not moved on that idea, even though he’s broached the subject in the past.
After the Mendocino City Community Services District Board of Directors moved for rate increases they heard from the public loud and clear, the price increases will stand. At the board’s meeting last Monday there were protest votes against the increases which would step up over five years to nearly twice what they are now. But the board only received 49 no votes out of 456 eligible votes. So, it passed overwhelmingly as they needed 222 no’s to lose. The sewer rate increase got 124 yes votes. And the groundwater management rate increase only got 46 no votes. So next Monday the board will revisit the topic and is expected to approve the rate increases.
Fee waivers have been created by the Fort Bragg City Council for Planning Commission appeals for low-income residents. Right now, the fee to appeal to the commission is $1,000. If they choose to though, the City Council can refund this fee if the appeal is successful. But many in Fort Bragg cannot afford the fee to begin with. There are situations where the fee can be waived, like if you’re living inside the 300-foot impact zone of the project to be appealed, and if you can prove financial hardship. There is also a limit to the amount, only one fee waiver per property per year. At the same meeting last week the city manager was authorized to complete the documents to buy 582 acres currently owned by the Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District for three new reservoirs.
Clearlake is looking to extend existing commercial cannabis development agreements. Agreement holders will get seven more years, and the production fee will be lowed from 5% to 1%. A new business must get a regulatory permit and development agreement. Last week the City Council considered the extension for nine commercial businesses with a regulatory permit and development agreement with the city. There are 27 permits, more than the number of operators since many of them have multiple permits. The agreements are good for up to three years now, but would be able to extend for seven more, for a ten-year total.
Cal Fire had a visit out to the coast to discuss shaded fuel breaks in the Jackson Demonstration Forest. The agency held a meeting at the Caspar Community Center a few weeks ago to discuss with residents who live close to the forest ways they can extend fuel breaks outside of the boundaries of the forest. Stakeholders like community fire prevention organizations were also in the house delivering presentations to residents. The Mendocino County Resource Conservation District and the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council also discussed home-hardening, defensible space measures, and fire safety projects to protect against possible wildfires in the future.
A burglary has been reported at the Elk Store in Elk. The store reportedly ripped off Friday. One of the owners posted about the heist Friday on their Instagram account, calling it a “holiday season bummer.” They reported someone broke a window to the general store and deli and swiped thousands worth of merchandise. The crook or crooks also broke the store’s antique counter cash drawer. The owners say they’re still catching up from losses due to the pandemic, and say it’s a hard time for small businesses on the coast as it is.
At the White House state dinner, the Anderson Valley was in the house. Roederer Estate’s sparkling rosé was served when the French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte visited the president and first lady. Roederer Estate’s Brut Rose N.V. was served at the dinner, where there were also multiple other California-crafted products. The winemaker says the White House called to find a distributor in Washington DC, and they were “pleasantly surprised” and said they were “incredibly proud” for the opportunity.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has their annual “Shop with a Cop” outing planned. The lead officer for the event each year is Sheriff Sgt. John Drewery. He updated locals about this year’s event at the Judge’s Breakfast in Clearlake. Drewery has been leading the program since 2015 at the same time the Sheriffs and You Foundation donated $10,000 for Valley fire victims and it’s been growing yearly. It apparently began many years ago as a group of cops would pool together their own money to help disadvantaged children in the area with presents for Christmas. The next event is next Tuesday. Kids each get $200, with that they have to buy shoes, pants and a warm jacket and the rest is theirs to buy whatever they want.
Heads up to all who voted in Lake County… the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office reports a certification of the vote for the mid-term election which happened November 8th, will take place on December 8th, this Thursday. Any resident who voted by mail and received a “Signature Verification Statement” or an “Unsigned Ballot Envelope Statement”, the deadline to get those to the Registrar of Voters office is today by 5pm. They can be mailed, faxed or even emailed over. They cannot count your ballot otherwise.
Assemblyman Jim Wood is coming to the next Mendocino County Board of Supervisors meeting. The Board will first look at an amendment to the county code, then hear from the Assemblyman on end of year action in the Legislature for the 2nd Assembly District. Also during the meeting tomorrow, Supervisors will consider a mitigated negative declaration for the replacement of a bridge in Laytonville over Dutch Charlie Creek.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors is considering the appointment of a new sheriff-coroner after the current Sheriff, Brian Martin, announced his retirement. The new Sheriff-Coroner will take office until a permanent replacement is announced, and that person will serve through Jan. 2nd of 2025. According to Calif. law, the current highest-ranking officer will fill the position as interim sheriff-coroner. So that position will go to Captain Christopher D. Chwialkowski who’s next in line of authority. Chwialkowski will take over December 31st and serve until Supervisors have interviewed candidates. They will formally appoint someone after that. Interviews will take place December 20th. And finally they’ll consider adding Juneteenth as a county paid holiday.
The Konocti Fire Safe Council (KFSC) are going door to door to neighbors for evacuation preparedness. The community outreach on Soda Bay Road and Point Lakeview Road has reportedly been met with positive feedback. The Outreach Committee Chair says folks have been receptive to hearing how they can be prepared if there’s a wildfire. They’ve visited as many as 150 residents in the Westwind Mobile Home Park, Walnut Cove Mobile Home Park, and surrounding neighborhoods. The area shares a one lane road in and out.