What does the future hold for the swath of vacant land that was once meant to hold an extension of Highway 12 through Santa Rosa's east side?

 Julie Combs of the Neighborhood Association of Bennett Valley describes the present state of the Highway 12 right-of-way lands:

After CalTrans was unable to build a planned extension of Highway 12 through Bennett Valley and over Spring Lake (above)  because of community resistance, the future of the land that was acquired for that project (see overhead view and map below) has remained in limbo.

On September 16^th, the Neighborhood Association of Bennett Valley will  to discuss transportation issues as they pertain to the land that was meant to be a continuation of Hwy 12, at their regular monthly meeting.

To visit their website and read more about their upcoming meeting, click here.

Job training, social work and gourmet food all converge in chef Evelyn Cheatham's unique Worth Our Weight culinary apprentice program.

Chef Cheatham explains the origin of her program's name.

Luke, one of the current students in the WOW program, talks about what he hopes to get out of it.

 Worth Our Weight is currently open Fridays and Saturdays from 9 to 4, and serving Sunday Brunch from 9 to 1.They also have a catering service and a tent at the Santa Rosa Farmers Market on Saturday mornings.

The new location is at 1021 Hahman Drive, next to the Boys and Girls Club, between Montgomery Village anMontgomery High School.

The dining area at Worth Our Weight includes this long, single plank table for shared meals.

As gang-related activities increase in the Sonoma Valley, new prevention efforts are being launched to help parents redirect affected kids.

For details about the upcoming seminar series, click here . You can hear Jill Royce describe the full series in this audio clip:

To view the services provided by LifeWorks, click here .

The most critical natural resource on the planet is at risk, but its not one we’re accustomed to thinking of as endangered.

Dr. Vandana Shiva is the founder of Navdanya International , an India-based science and policy research center. Its mission: "To protect nature and people's rights to knowledge, biodiversity, water and food."

Dr. Shiva notes that pesticide use contributes to the "desertification" of soils, a process that is accelerated when the soil is poor to begin with.

One little-known consequence of the widespread adoption of genetically modified cotton seed by farmers in India has been a surge in suicides by debt-ridden farmers whose crops do not earn enough to pay their seed bills. Dr. Shiva says that a generation ago, suicide was rare in India, but the numbers now suggest there is a new death approximately every 20 mintes.

On August 27^th, the Jackson Theater at Sonoma Country Day School in Santa Rosa will host an evening with Dr. Shiva, advocate and author as well as winner of the alternative Nobel Peace Prize. For more information about the speaking event, click here . KRCB will also record her presentation for later broadcast next month.

This Saturday, Railroad Square will be hosting a wide variety of tastes and experiences. A number of local restaurants, wineries, and other businesses have teamed up for a Taste of Railroad Square , a benefit for the Sixth Street Playhouse. Between 12 noon and 4 pm, you can get a "taste" of what these places have to offer.

It's a chance to learn a little bit more about this part of Santa Rosa as well, tucked away but easy walking distance from downtown. Beyond the cluster of restaurants, Railroad Square has important historic value. The Santa Rosa depot, built in 1904 after the old depot burned down, appeared in the Hitchcock film Shadow of a Doubt, and served as an important transportation hub when trains were more prevalent in the region. (The history geeks among you who want to learn more can go here .)

The Railroad Square neighborhood is also home to CHOPS teen center , which provides activities and a safe place for teens to hang out. It's not on the official tour but I encourage you to stop by if you're interested in learning more about this part of Santa Rosa.