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From the sails on Columbus' ships to some early American currency, industrial hemp has played a vital and varied role in American History. A North Bay legislator is working to update that history into 21st Century California.
Industrial hemp is remarkable for its versatility, as a source of fiber, oil, and more. In fact, says North Bay State Sneator Mark Leno (D-SF), it is theoretically possible to supply all the basic needs of a small village just with the products derived from this single plant.
For most of this nation's history, Leno observes, industrial hemp was an important an valued crop, and a widely used raw material.
Pesticides, birth control pills, and human hormones are all part of the chemical stew in the Sacramento River delta. A Bodega Bay researcher is studying how they're affecting the fish.
Bryan Cole
Mississippi silversides
The oldest cultures on our continent are struggling to find their place in 21st century America. Contemporary Native Americans tell their stories in a new book by North Bay writer, Alison Owings.
Alison Owings
Given the heavy-handed effort to forcenative people to assimilate into the mainstream culture, as in the government boarding schools, it is hardly surprising that many contemporary Indians remain conflicted about that issue today. Based on her conversations for the book, Owings suggests that it is one of the most vexing challenges facing contemporay Indians.
Indian casinos, such as River Rock overlooking Geyserville here in Sonoma County (below), are often controversial among their neighbors. But Owings found few such misgivings among the tribes, who see them as a long-needed source of employmnet and other economic benefits.
Allison Owings will read from Indian Voices on Thursday, August 25, at 7 pm at The Community Church of Sebastopol, 1000 Gravenstein Hwy. North. The event is sponsored by Copperfield's Books.
Important offshore habitat areas near us, including the Farallone Islands and the Cordell Banks, have long been protected as National Marine Sanctuaries. More recently. A series of smaller areas closer to the shore have joined them as California's Marine Protected Areas, a development that's rather new.
This map shows the protected areas in the North Central Coast area of California. The regions shown in pink are designated State Marine Reserves where virtually all commercial and recreational activities are prohibited.
Changes in the homeless populations in Sonoma County are being matched with new services made available to them at the regional shelter in downtown Santa Rosa.
A proud graduate of the shelter's 7-week Coach-2-Career programThe Catholic Charities Family Support Center is hosting a community open house on Friday, May 6, from 11-1. They're located at 465 A Street, near the corner of 7th and A, in downtown Santa Rosa. It's an opportunity to show off their new and expanded programs, explains Jennielynn Holmes.
For those who take those lessons to heart, the effects can be life-changing. Arthur Lee Johnson considers himself a walking example of that.
Youth enjoy educational computer games in the Family Support Center's Discovery Center
