Some creative new measures have helped Sebastopol's Palm Drive hospital climb back out of bankruptcy.

Providing outpatient medical services to the inmates of San Quentin prison has become a helpful additional source of revenue for Palm Drive. Getting that program started with the California Department of Corrections (CDC) mostly required a little extra entreprenurial initiative, according to hospital CEO Jim Russel (below).

Palm Drive is also  trying something new by having psychologist Dr. David J. Murphy (below) on call to assist with mental health crises in the hospital emergency room.

By assisting and intervening as the individuals are admitted, he is often able diffuse volatile situations,and avoid the involvement of law enforcement personnel.This both reduces costs at county facilities, and enables the patients to receive treatment closer to home. 

Creative financing directly from Sonoma County may soon help local home and business owners add solar and other energy-efficiency improvements to their properties.

County Supervisors have scheduled their public hearing on the proposal for 9:30 am on Tuesday March 24.

 The vast majority of the projects expected to get funding through the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program will be retrofits of existing structures. The program will also fund installation of tankless water heaters, such as the one described below.

 You can view a map of Sonoma County school districts here.

The Santa Rosa City School District has posted the list of potential budget cuts they are weighing on their website. You can view it (pdf) here.

Santa Rosa City Schools Superintendent Sharon Liddell

How many people are homeless in Sonoma County? The bi-annual Homeless Census is attempting to find out.

Who better than people who are or have been homeless themselves to guide the census takers to the hidden places where other  shelterless individuals take refuge, such as underpasses or thickets along creekbeds. 

 Many local organizations teamed up to support and participate in this year's census, including the following:

You can find out more about Sonoma County's 10-year plan for ending homelessness here.

  Two of the three co-authors of The American West at Risk, Howard Wilshire and Jane Neilson, are Sebastopol residents.   Wilshire (left)  was a U. S. Geological Survey research geologist for thirty-five years and now is Board Chairman of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

Nielson was a U. S. Geological Survey research geologist for twenty-five years and now is President of the Sebastopol Water Information Group.

The third co-author, Richard  Hazlett, is Professor of Geology and the coordinator of the Environmental Analysis Program at Pomona College.

The authors have developed an extensive website with photos, updates, extra chapters, quotations and other materials at LosingTheWest.com