PLAN4Nature

Fifth Edition     Spring-Summer 2011

Save the Date

Join us for our third annual all-day dine-in or take-out Save the Badgers event at Aqus Cafe in Petaluma. Present our dine-out coupon for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and a portion of the day's proceeds will be donated to PLAN. A printable version of the coupon will appear in our upcoming Autumn-Winter newsletter.

Come for a lovely dinner or beverage with evening entertainment by Hannah Jern-Miller and friends from 7-9 PM. Last year was a great time! Please join us again this year. Support one of our favorite local businesses (www.aquscafe.com) and PLAN's continuing work in conservation and environmental protection.

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American Badger News

PLAN continues its research project, BadgerMap, a habitat and species mapping of Sonoma County. If you know of a badger habitat or have seen a badger, please contact us at info@paulalaneactionnetwork.org. Please supply your contact information and when, where, and what you observed. Upon confirmation, this data will be entered into our BadgerMap project. The more we know about existing habitats and movement areas, the more land preservation efforts to protect habitat and movement areas can be successful. Badgers often provide habitat for other species such as the federally endangered California Tiger Salamander; the federally threatened California Red-Legged Frog; and the Burrowing Owl, a California Species of Concern. Multiple species move through and forage in the same areas where badgers burrow. In addition to being an amazing, human-shy, rodent-managing mammal, the American Badger's presence can indicate wildlife corridor preservation and contribute to biodiversity.

You may have read Chris Smith's Press Democrat July 2011 column about a badger shot and killed by an Animal Control officer. This tragedy occurred as a result of misinformation and fear. We are pleased to report that PLAN has initiated and is following through with communication with Sonoma Co. Animal Control to help raise awareness and understanding of the American Badger species. We have also requested that Sonoma Co. Animal Control call Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue and PLAN if it receives a call in the future about an American Badger. County Animal Services Director Amy Cooper has been very receptive and supportive of raising awareness and collaboration for the benefit of humans and animals. Additionally, PLAN recently provided updated species information to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, our Sonoma County nonprofit dedicated to animal rescue and rehabilitation (www.scwildliferescue.org).

Please remember, in July and August each year, encourage friends to drive carefully and slowly on our county roads! This time of year is dispersal season for young badgers, during which they seek their own territory.

For information on how to best respond if you see a badger, please check out this letter and share our suggestions with friends and family. The letter was featured as the Press Democrat's Letter of the Day on July 29. We appreciate the many letters of concern submitted to the Press Democrat.

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PLAN at 4th Annual Beaver Festival in Martinez

For the third fun year, Paula Lane Action Network hosted an outreach booth at the Martinez Beaver Festival on August 6. Our information about the American Badger and PLAN's conservation work in open space and habitat preservation was well-received. Many people of all ages stopped by our booth to tell stories of, "One time I saw a badger..." or, "I've never seen a badger..." Hundreds of families and individuals attended the festival, located in "Beaver Park" next to Alhambra Creek, home of the Martinez Beavers. Susan Kirks of PLAN commented, "The beaver dam is a few steps away from the festival and can be seen from the bridge across the creek. It's like walking from a world of fun activities to the world of Nature, just a few steps away, for a few moments. It was so refreshing."

This year's festival featured charm bracelets with each charm representing a part of the beaver's ecosystem. Young people collected a charm at designated stations, learned about and responded to Beaver ecosystem questions, and took their charms to the Linking Station to be made into bracelets. Nature Art this year included the making of Beaver art-tails. Local musicians and visitors to the festival made for a very special experience. For more info about the work of the Martinez Beaver protectors, visit www.martinezbeavers.org.

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Open Space on Paula Lane

The City of Petaluma continues to negotiate the purchase agreement with the Paula Lane property owners. The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District staff awaits the completed purchase agreement so the next process steps can begin. We are hopeful this step of the process will be completed soon. PLAN is grateful the property owners and their representatives continue to work with Assistant City Manager Scott Brodhun on the terms of the purchase agreement. Like our supporters, we hope to share, at long last, positive information soon. Thank you for your continued support of our mission to preserve and protect open space and wildlife habitat through research and education.

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Six Months of PLAN Life

We're active!

Supporters gathered on Paula Lane at Sunset Drive for light refreshments and a candlelight meditation for conservation in South Sonoma County. Some brought electric candles and PLAN provided eco-candles with recycled glass containers as mementos. Emily Jern-Miller tapped a Tibetan singing bowl to begin and conclude the 5-minute meditation as we quietly looked over the beautiful open space on Paula Lane. We enjoyed refreshments, compliments of Whole Foods Market, Wilibees Wine and Spirits, and Bovine Bakery. About 60 supporters came to support preservation of natural resources on Paula Lane, at Shollenberger Park, on Roblar Road and in Sonoma County at large.

The surprise of the gathering was the presentation of PLAN's 2nd Annual Badger Spirit awards, given to individuals or organizations who exemplify community service, support for natural resources appreciation and preservation, and the true spirit of grassroots work.

The 2011 PLAN Badger Spirit awards were presented to:

Recipients received a framed photograph of a young American Badger, compliments of Pelican Art Gallery, and Certificates of Appreciation from Senator Mark Leno, Assemblyman Jared Huffman, and Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey.

Our 2010 Badger Spirit award recipients were conservationist and long-time friend Joan Vilms and Petaluma City Councilwoman and supporter of open space Teresa Barrett.

PLAN was pleased to be an exhibitor at the 20th Annual Bay Area Open Space Council Conference at the Golden Gate Club in the San Francisco Presidio.




PLAN was a nonprofit sponsor with an outreach table at the annual conference, held this year at Petaluma's Lucchesi Community Center. Our public information included American Badger and Upland Habitat information, awareness of Habitat-Agriculture interfaces, and wildlife-friendly practices for habitat protection and sustainable food growing.

This Spring, we were surprised and graced by two long-time supporters' generosity. They offered to match up to $1,500 in the Paul Selinger Birthday Matching Fund. Paul Selinger, our President Emeritus, celebrates his birthday each year in May. From May through June, we promoted this fundraiser and received tax-deductible donations to meet the match. Our supporters' responses helped us raise $3,680.

Our traditional community fundraiser each June, Homemade Lasagne at the Petaluma Women's Club, transformed this year into iLasagne, an online fundraiser with 26 offerings to help PLAN reach its fundraising goal of $2,500. The response was wonderful; our supporters shopped and made bids online and items with high bids were mailed or delivered to the winners. We hope to repeat iLasagne next year and give thanks to our web master, Gail Sickler, for creating our web site template and updating bids many more times than anticipated!

Donors for 2011 iLasagne: Whole Foods Market, School Garden Co., Barbara's Bakery, McEvoy Ranch, Nan Moon, Jeanne Moon, Susan Shaddick, Marlie de Swart, Katie O'Connor (Petaluma Cinemas, Wild Goat Bistro, MoYo Frozen Yogurt), the Kvalheims (Dempsey's), Amy's Kitchen, Osmosis Spa and Sanctuary, Abigail Myers' Organic Cotton Shop in Bodega, Schafer Construction, Ron Spinhoeven, Chef Janie Castles, Lagunitas Brewing Co., David Lowell Restaurant, Sift Cupcakery, HeyDay Books

Thank you for supporting our grassroots fundraising for 2011!

Our PLAN representative thoroughly enjoyed the delicious dinner for SCCA's 20th anniversary and award presentations, catered by Sally Tomatoes and featuring the new Regional Parks Director, Caryl Hart, as the guest speaker. PLAN was also pleased to donate two items to the silent auction.

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Environmental Threats in South Sonoma County

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Upcoming Events

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Help PLAN's Work and Local Schools, Shop Locally

Please consider choosing Paula Lane Action Network as a nonprofit for your new Community Card through eScrip. PLAN has joined the eScrip fundraising network, which connects nonprofits and schools to local wholesome shopping opportunities. Sign up and receive your Community Card at any of the following locations:

Please visit www.escrip.com and designate Paula Lane Action Network as your preferred nonprofit recipient, then sign up for the card and receive it at any of the above locations.

Participating local markets donate up to 5% to a designated nonprofit organization, based on their sales. You can divide your 5% total between 1, 2 or 3 nonprofits if you wish, so PLAN could benefit along with our local schools. We recommend Mary Collins School in Cherry Valley and Petaluma Junior High School, two schools whose students will be able to walk to the open classroom on Paula Lane!

This new program is similar to SHARES (Lucky Market) in which PLAN also participates and receives a 3% quarterly check for shoppers using their SHARES card when paying for groceries. Such programs give businesses a great opportunity to make donations to nonprofit organizations and schools.

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Congratulations and Best Wishes -- College-Bound

From all of us in PLAN to our Newsletter Editor, Jesse North, congratulations and best wishes as you head to University of California, San Diego for your first year of undergraduate work. We'll think of you and stay connected. Thank you for your continuing creative energy and contribution as the Editor of PLAN4Nature!

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Support PLAN

Become a Supporting Member

Not yet a supporting member of PLAN? Want to be part of grassroots conservation to protect our environment, support education, and preserve open space? Please clip the coupon below and join today.


_____$20 Basic Supporting _____$15 Senior Citizen _____$50 Sustaining _____$500 Golden Badger _____Other

Name: _______________________________________

Address: _________________________________________

City: ____________________ ST: _________________________ Zip: __________

Phone: (_______) _____________________ Email: ________________________ Fax: _________

Copy, print & mail or clip & mail to: P.L.A.N., P.O. Box 2903, Petaluma, CA 94953

Questions: (707) 773-3215, info@paulalaneactionnetwork.org

All donations are tax deductible.

Credits & Contact

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Coming in the Autumn-Winter 2011 PLAN4NATURE:

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© 2011 Paula Lane Action Network