‘That’s our thing—every dollar really does make a huge difference.’ Having raised $11,500 in online donations, Pile says walls for the school have been constructed. Next, they’ll put on a roof before the rainy season begins. “We’ve definitely got the whole thing kick-started,” he says, though the next step is to find more funding to be able to finish the project. Pile says that to some, Africa might seem like a faraway place to invest so much energy. But “it’s not as distant as it seems,” he explains. “I love the music, and I feel like I want to help preserve it and make it known. It’s not a huge leap to put my energy towards that, as opposed to trying to preserve my Anglo-Saxon folk tradition. My culture has already been well-documented.” Beach Grouse This summer, a day at the beach could get expensive if a recent State Parks proposal goes into effect. In a move reeking of a thwarted 1992 effort to install pay kiosks on the Sonoma Coast, a plan to place self-pay “Iron Rangers” along the Sonoma, Marin and Mendocino Coast is raising ire among coastal residents and beach lovers. The proposed fee is $8 According to the free-access advocacy group Free Our Beaches, the fee-collection devices would be installed along “almost all state access points that are currently free.” On the Sonoma Coast, the list of affected beaches includes such familiar locations as Salmon Creek, Goat Rock, Russian Gulch, Schoolhouse Beach, Bodega Head, Stump Beach and Shell Beach, among others. “People on the coast go to these spots to enjoy the sunset,” says Bev Burton, a founding member of Free Our Beaches. “They want to charge us for something that always has been and always should be free. How are poorer people going to access the coast?” In a twist that seems more of a cruel joke than truth, department spokesman Roy Stearns told the Press Democrat that State Parks wouldn’t be convening any public meetings on the proposed fees because they can’t afford it. But citizen’s groups are taking matters into their own hands, starting with a public meeting hosted by Free Our Beaches with former supervisor and current Fifth District candidate Ernie Carpenter. The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 25, at the Bodega Bay Fire Station. 510 S. Hwy 1, Bodega Bay. 6:30pm. 707.875.2328. In addition, Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods are hosting two public meetings at the Bodega Bay Grange (June 6, 6pm) and the Monte Rio Community Center (June 11, 6pm).—Leilani Clark The Bohemian started as The Paper in 1978. 9 Locally-Made, Custom-Blended Herbal Tinctures Highest Quality Nutrients Acupuncture & Bodywork Health Consultations on the Floor and by Appointment YOUR TRUSTED SOURCE Monday–Friday 10–6 707.528.4372 95 Montgomery Drive Ste 90 Santa Rosa Join us for ourr Open Ho ouse! Have a ch Have chance ance to to w win in rraffle af f l e p prizes, rizes, enjoy enjoy a light light snack, sn ack, aand nd llearn earn aallll aabout bout Bauman Bauman College’s College’s holistic holistic Nutrition N utritio i n Consultant Consultant and and Natural Natural C Chef hef Programs. Programs. Hear Hear from from Founder Founder aand nd P President, resident, D Dr. r. EEd dB Bauman, auman, who who will will be be available available to to sign sign his his two two new new books! b o ok s ! Thursday, y, June e 7, 6-7pm Sonoma County Location 10151 Main St., Ste. 128 Pe enngrove, CA 94951 Register R egister online online e at at ba baumancollege.org umancollege.org JdXik :fd\[p# JdXik :fd\[p# ``kËj c`b\ EGI¿ kËj c`b\ EGI¿ fe 8Z`[ f e 8Z`[ e 8 J FEFD8 :FLEK P GCLJ JFEFD8 :FLEKP GCLJ ) G GFC@K@:J ) FC@K@:J ) C C@M< DLJ@: @M< DLJ@: ) : :FD<;P ) FD<;P ) G GFG :LCKLI< FG :LCKLI< ) N NFIC; =8DFLJ FIC; = =8DFLJ >LL