.Briefs

Briefs

Lagunitas Lament

Ah, the luck of the Irish. Lagunitas Brewery owner Tony McGee thought he had the proper license for his brewery’s popular Thursday-night live music events. Then agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, backed by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department, descended upon the brewery en masse on St. Patrick’s Day evening. It seems McGee forgot he signed his “type 23” licensing rights away six years ago while negotiating permits with Petaluma. “I messed up,” admits the embarrassed brewmeister. “I didn’t realize all of my paperwork wasn’t in order.” Lagunitas hopes to settle the matter with the ABC within several months, but for now, the Thursday night shows are off.

Homeless Solution

Tom Krohmer, aka the Toxic Reverend, has come up with a novel solution to the measure passed last year that makes it illegal for the homeless to camp out or sleep in a car in Sonoma County. Krohmer, who lives out of his RV, must now move it all the time or risk being cited. He’s currently petitioning the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to issue homeless camping permits on an individual basis. Surprisingly, the idea seems to be gaining some traction. “I find Tom’s current idea of issuing revocable permits to those residing roadside in RVs or trailers to be sound,” says Eric Voepel, a resident of Guerneville, the epicenter of the homeless camping controversy. “As an example, my neighborhood was capable and willing to allow Tom to reside in his RV on our streets.” County supes, are you listening?

Today’s Tolay Total

With less than one month left to raise the $9 million needed to turn the 1737-acre Tolay Ranch in Petaluma into a regional park, the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department is $2.8 million short of the total. “We’re optimistic because our fundraising so far has shown a great commitment from state and public parties,” says Philip Sales, park planner for Sonoma County Regional Parks. Recent donations have come from the Wildlife Conservation Board, California Department of Fish and Game, and the private sector. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and the Open Space Authority will determine the park’s fate by April 20, when their option to buy the property runs out. The final fundraiser takes place Thursday, March 31, from 4:30pm to 7:30pm at the Sheraton Hotel in Petaluma. For more information, visit www.friendsoftolay.org.

From the March 23-29, 2005 issue of the North Bay Bohemian.

© Metro Publishing Inc.

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