The state is implementing a fire fee for rural homes in state responsible areas. The article is a guest opinion from Randy Collins, former fire chief for Healdsburg.

The potluck assignments are:
Last Name A-F–Veggies or Green Salad
G-L–Fruit or fruit salad
M-R–Pasta or casserole
S-Z–Salsa, chips, or nuts.

And please r.s.v.p. to Laura at ann-and-laura@comcast.net by July 7th as to whether you want a meat burger or a veggie one.

Hope you can come! Ellen

Increased Enforcement Over the Holiday Weekend

Fourth of July weekend is a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) for the CHP. All available officers will patrol the roadways during the MEP, which begins at 6 p.m. Friday, July 1 and extends until midnight on Sunday, July 4.

“Plan ahead and allow extra time for travel on busy roads, buckle up before you head out, and don’t speed,” reminded CHP Captain Greg Tracey, commander of the Santa Rosa Area office. “And if you will be drinking, remember to designate a sober driver.”

In addition to speeders and those who fail to buckle up, officers will be providing extra patrols to areas that typically see increased parking and alcohol related violations near the Russian River. The areas of Fitch Mtn. Rd. in Healdsburg, and beaches between Forestville and Guerneville will be a focus. Vehicles parked in “No Parking” zones will be ticketed and towed. Illegally parked cars create a dangerous situation where emergency vehicles can not get through. This past Memorial Day weekend in the Fitch Mtn. area, the CHP, along with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s department, towed and cited several vehicles, and cited or arrested over 20 people for alcohol related violations.

In 2010 there were 29 arrests by the CHP in the Santa Rosa area, 26 of them for DUI. “We want people to think safety whenever they get behind the wheel this summer. Common sense and courtesy will go a long way toward achieving that goal, but if a driver chooses to ignore our suggestions, we’ll be there to remind them,” said Capt. Tracey.