The continuing rise in cancer rates in America is proof that conventional treatment methods are ineffective, contends an advocate for alternative health methodologies who says both approaches should be integrated to achieve the best results.

Burton Goldberg (right)  has been studying alternative medical treatments and publishing books about them for 33 of his 82 years. It was a change of professional direction, he explains, that was prompted by the illness of a friend's daughter.

Since he's been working in this area, Goldberg says, the alternative treatments he has publicized have gained much wider acceptance among the American populace.

Burton Goldberg is hosting a public workshop on dealing with cancer (This illustration is an electron microscopic photograph of a single breast cancer cell) and integrative medicine at the Steele Lane Community Center, 415 Steele Lane in Santa Rosa  from 1-4 pm on Saturday, June 20. In addition to presenting a film and lecture on these new therapies, Goldberg will be joined by two additional speakers, Dr. James Forsythe, a Reno oncologist and Dr. Filberto Munoz from the Instituto Medico Biologico in San Diego and Tijuana.  Information at (707) 322-3822 or vajraproductions@gmail.com.

Free To Be, a  Santa Rosa-based sex education program, is being challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union for violating California's ban on abstinence-only teaching in public schools.

 Although we were not able to reach a Free To Be representative to be interviewed for this report, their website describes a program that "motivates and equips youth to live an abstinent life-style, encouraging healthy choices for a healthy future." They explain their educational approach in greater detail here.

Prior to 2004, explains Phyllida Burlingame, Sex Education Policy Director for the ACLU of Northern California, the state's rules governing how and what schools could teach as Sex Education were a confusing jumble. That's one reason her organization helped update the California Education Code to the standard that is in place today.

 One significant difference between the current federal policy, a lingering holdover from the Bush administration, is that while the federal law supporting abstinence-only sex education programs explicitly prohibits favorable treatment of other forms of pregnancy prevention, California's law also requires that abstinence be taught, but as part of a broader array of possible options.

Below is a list, compiled by the ACLU, of Sonoma County Public Schools that have used Free To Be. They have been asked to confirm, before the end of this month, that they will not continue to use the program in the coming school year.

Knowing what to expect from tomorrow's weather can be good for your health.

Medi-Clim is an exercise in preventative medicine, says co-founder Dr. John Bart, one that could have a huge effect in reducing the cost and demand for medical services if it becomes widely used.

 Projected decreases in hospitalizations through the application of Medi-Clim are not just theoretical, Dr. Bart says. He points to a trial study in Ontario, Canada that looked at the correlations between the weather data they track and related hospital admissions.

  Here's an online review of Glko Wellman's Guiding Their Way -- Day by Day. 

Children today are born into a very different society than their parents or grand-parents, observes Glo Wellman (left) . But the basic nature of the kids themselves is essentially the same as it has been for generations.

In addition to teaching Child Development at Santa Rosa Junior College Glo Wellman has been a long-time staff members at the California Parenting Institute.

John Muir (right) died 95 years ago, but he still speaks to modern day California. And not just through his writings.

Retired Methodist minister Don Baldwin (seen here in character) has embraced the role of ground-breaking environmentalist John Muir in public appearances throughout northern California and beyond.

 Even after studying biographies and Muir's own extensive writings, Don Baldwin remains amazed by the early environmentalist's ability to survive handily in the wilderness with the most minimal supplies.

 Despite his capacity for extended solo sojourns,  Baldwin reports that Muir was also a highly social person, when he came back down from the mountains.

"John Muir" will be appearing twice in Sonoma County on Sunday, April 19th, first at the 11 am service at the Unitarian Universalist congregation in Santa Rosa  and at 2 pm in Sebastopol for the annual Earth Elders event (left) at Luther Burbank's historic Gold Ridge Farm.