Archive for January, 2008
Wednesday, January 30th, 2008
Statewide campaign to legalize hemp and marijuana comes to Point Reyes Station
Author and political activist Jack Herer showed up at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station Monday evening to publicize the “California Cannabis Hemp & Health Initiative 2008″ signature drive.
Herer signs a copy of one of his books, Grass, for Elizabeth Whitney of Inverness. Linda Sturdivant of Inverness Park (at left) helped organize Monday’s meeting. [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in General News, History, Marin County, Point Reyes Station, agriculture by DavidMitchell
Monday, January 28th, 2008
Heavy news media presence briefly halts axis-deer slaughter in Point Reyes National Seashore
An operation aimed at eliminating a herd of axis deer near Marshall Beach in the Point Reyes National Seashore was abruptly halted Monday morning after numerous news organizations learned of the killing and showed up to report on it.
The killing was being carried out by riflemen from a firm called White Buffalo, which the National [...]
2 Comments » - Posted in General News, Inverness, Marin County, Point Reyes Station, West Marin nature, Wildlife by DavidMitchell
Sunday, January 27th, 2008
Storm damage bad but could have been tragic
Where tragedy was narrowly averted:
Rainwater pouring off the embankment at right created such a torrent across a 20-foot-long stretch of Highway 1 between Thirteen Turns and Dogtown Friday, that half the southbound lane dropped away.
The washout occurred around 5:30 p.m. on a winding, 55-mph section of the highway. Luckily, one of the first motorists [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in General News, Marin County, Point Reyes Station by DavidMitchell
Friday, January 25th, 2008
Nature’s Two Acres XXIV: Buffleheads, Greater Scaups & the 16.6 million wild ducks shot annually
A female Bufflehead swims across the Giacomini family’s stockpond next to my pasture last Friday.
A male Greater Scaup paddles up Papermill Creek at White House Pool on Jan. 13.
West Marin’s waters provide winter havens for many thousands of ducks that summer further north. Ornithologist Rich Stallcup of Point Reyes Station, who helped identify these ducks, [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Marin County, Photography, Point Reyes Station, West Marin nature, Wildlife by DavidMitchell
Thursday, January 24th, 2008
Lawsuits against and by Robert Plotkin settled out of court
The new owner of The Point Reyes Light, Robert Plotkin (below at right), and I agreed this week on a public statement announcing the conclusion of two years of litigation between us. Plotkin is likewise publishing this statement in The Light today:
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“Point Reyes Light publisher Robert Plotkin and former publisher David Mitchell have reached a [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Dave Mitchell, History, Personal, Point Reyes Station, The Point Reyes Light Newspaper by DavidMitchell
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008
Nature’s Two Acres XXIII: Bambi, Thumper & Garfield
Most people probably think of Bambi’s friendship with Thumper as merely a fantasy dreamed up for children. But I suspect that Felix Salten was working from direct observation when he authored Bambi, ein Leben im Walde in 1923. (Walt Disney’s 1942 animated feature Bambi was taken from Salten’s book.)
While I watched from my deck last [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Marin County, Photography, Point Reyes Station, West Marin nature, Wildlife by DavidMitchell
Wednesday, January 16th, 2008
Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposal to close Tomales Bay State Park to save money could prove expensive
Although Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger last Thursday proposed closing Tomales Bay State Park to save money, several knowledgeable people here doubt that will happen — especially if the opposition is sufficiently vocal.
Park visitor Dave LaFontaine of Los Angeles hikes through Tomales Bay State Park. Photos by Janine Warner, founder of DigitalFamily.com.
The park, which includes Hearts [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in General News, History, Inverness, Marin County, Photography, West Marin nature by DavidMitchell
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008
Old Christmas trees, wild turkeys, and the famous cat-and-rat scheme
Old Christmas trees piled behind the Arthur E. Disterheft Public Safety Building in Point Reyes Station this week.
County firefighters each year encourage West Marin residents to drop off their old Christmas trees at firehouses. The trees are chipped and hauled off, eliminating the risk of dry trees accidentally catching fire around the house. I [...]
No Comments » - Posted in General News, Inverness, Marin County, Photography, Point Reyes Station, West Marin nature, Wildlife, agriculture by DavidMitchell
Thursday, January 10th, 2008
Blackouts, newspapers in the news, and poetic frustration on the prairie
Parts of the Big Mesa in Bolinas finally had their power restored at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday after being blacked out for more than five and a half days by last week’s stormy weather.
Much of the blackout on the Mesa resulted from fallen lines near the Elm Road home of Serena Castaldi. However, pockets of homes [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in Dave Mitchell, General News, Marin County, Point Reyes Station, The Point Reyes Light Newspaper by DavidMitchell
Friday, January 4th, 2008
Hurricane-force wind and heavy rain take heavy toll on West Marin
The first of three expected weekend storms blew through West Marin Friday, causing flooding, toppling trees, and closing roads.
Matt Gallagher of Point Reyes Station (using a shovel for a paddle) and Tony Smith check on Jim and Kathy Love’s levee road home. The Loves years ago raised their home on high stilts, so the living [...]
