Wild Hog Canyon is in the hills near Cazadero. Longtime-resident Caerleon Safford believes that its ruggedness and reliable water make it an attractive place for feral pigs, “always been a bunch of them over there.”

Daniel Schoenfeld, owner of Wild Hog Winery, believes the name goes back at least a century. There’s also a Wild Hog Hill five miles west of Windsor.

California has no native pigs. A native cousin, the peccary, ranges from southern Brazil north to Arizona. The county’s first hogs may have arrived with the Russians when Fort Ross was established. Later, they were joined by German boars released for sport hunting. Our wild hogs are probably a hybrid of the two.

For all we know, Sonoma’s hogs may be celebrating their “Porkcentennial” this year, marking 200 years since their forefathers cast off their shackles and escaped to freedom. As adults, they stand about 3 feet high, with bristly black to auburn hair and curved tusks sticking out the sides of their mouths.

The term “hog wild” may come from the ravaged areas of ground boars leave behind. Notoriously nearsighted, they use their snouts and tusks like rototillers, rooting around in the dirt as they sniff out underground bulbs, roots and mushrooms (very useful for finding truffles). This trait also can make them destructive to native plants.

A tall tale from west county holds that the pigs live in underground cities entered through secret doorways. It’s the only explanation for why they can be spotted easily right up to the moment a hunting party takes to the woods, then disappear without a trace.

Underground city-dwelling pigs? Maybe down below they dress in bowties, jackets and no pants, like Porky, bidding goodbye with a “That’s all folks!”

Contact historical ecologist Arthur Dawson at baseline@vom.com.

Redwood Sorrell

Redwood Sorrell

Western Trillium

Western Trillium

Fetid Adder Tongue

Fetid Adder Tongue

Poison Oak

Calypso Orchid

Calypso Orchid

Parisians weekending in Guerneville

“Vacation Wonderland” 

Monte Rio, historic, persevering, scenic and never anemic is celebrating the return of Summer to this Vacation Wonderland. with a million dollar bash from Noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday.This glorious family-oriented jubilee set against a backdrop of Doug Fir and Redwood trees promises to be a joyous affair with much to do, see, listen to, eat, revel in and take home with you.

BBQ’ed Ribs and chicken will be there for the taking (if you leave behind $13), and beverages including beer and wine will help float your boat through the summery afternoon.

The music will include Peggy Day and her Knights, who have worked fundraisers for people you have likely voted for (Reilly, Woolsey), as well as with Country Joe McDonald, Merle Saunders and the Family Dog’s Chet Helms, and has written more than 80 tunes.

Her philosohy is “I want the whole world to get the message – it’s all about love!”

Monte Rio Hotel (seven stories, each with street access)

If White Fang is part of your family bring her along – there will be dog talent contests and prizes for the dog in the most memorable costume.

I would bring my Poodle, Vinny, but he has a chess tournament that day.

Humans will have a  Best “Old Time” costume competition  and what the organizers have in mind are 1890′s outfits (rather than Sumerian and Visagoth outfits, although “Old Time” doesn’t tell you much).

Local artists will be there selling their wares as will eight committed crafts people.

The Sonoma County Water Company, who along with the County offices is sponsoring the event, will provide kids’ activities in addition to a cadre of Russian River Sister “face painters”.

A Historical Plaque will be placed on the outside wall of the Monte Rio community center and dedicated and unveiled at 2 p.m.  For details about the plaque’s text, see below.

“You want me to lead a cheer for Monte Rio?!”

A film will be shown at 2:30 p.m. which Chuck Ramsey of the Alliance says is about (among other things) indigenous people who lived in Monte Rio.

And perhaps best of all. you’ll see old friends, make new ones and get to engage in dialog with Friends of Monte Rio, the Monte Rio Alliance, your supervisor, the Historical Society and all the other folks you’ve been missing.

And reader  Kelly Ann Johnson asked us to let you know, “The Monte Rio Amphitheater is slightly hidden… it is just past the old “Pink Elephant” across from Bartletts Market. Its to the left of the tennis courts, at 9925 Main Street (well off the street). Bring portable chair or blanket or sit on the nice yummy grass. I love this place!”.…and for that we thank her.

The following information about the plaque being dedicated is from community booster and activist,  Robbi Ernst III who is, among other things, Chairperson of the Historical Markers Committee.

The Monte Rio Recreation and Park District

1948

The Monte Rio Community Center

(formerly The Koret Club)

1981

 The Monte Rio area was originally home to the coastal Miwok and Valley Pomo, a nomadic indigenous people, who lived peacefully in the area for centuries until the intrusion of Russian fur traders at the start of the 19th Century. By mid-century, the trappers were mostly replaced by settlements of people who built railroads for the logging and sawmill industry and later transported vacationers from  larger urban areas such as San Francisco, to enjoy the Big Band era and the Russian River’s beaches of the early 1900s. In 1948 the Monte Rio Recreation and Park District (MRRPD) became one of the first special districts in California. Large riverboats and paddleboats ferried tourists between the various river towns, and the area became known as Monte Rio, the Vacation Wonderland.

In 1981, the building, originally known as the Koret Club, and its property were funded and gifted by the Koret Family Foundation to MRRPD. The foundation was established in 1979 in San Francisco. Joseph Koret, of Russian-American Jewish descent was born in Odessa. His family immigrated to the United States the next year, settling in the Lower East Side of Manhattan finally moving to San Francisco when he was just 17. He married his first wife, Stephanie Shapiro, and in 1937 the two founded Koret of California. Stephanie died in 1978. Joseph and his second wife, Susan, ran the foundation together until Joseph’s death in 1982.

Woodrow W. Ulm, of Ulm Construction Company, a retired USAF Colonel and resident of Monte Rio, completed the original building in 1981; it has served as a Senior Citizens Center, the original and current home of the Russian River Historical Society (formerly the Monte Rio Historical Society) and a meeting place for community gatherings. 

PRAXIS Architects designed the current, modernized, state-of-the-art facility in collaboration with MRRPD Boards of Directors (Suzi Schaffert, Board Chair and Gretchen Mino, Director), and various Monte Rio community citizens, and organizations. Renovations were funded by the Russian River Redevelopment Agency and the California State Office of Grants and Local Services and completed in 2007; the building was renamed the Monte Rio Community Center. 

In keeping with the Koret Family Foundation’s priorities of education reform, concern for children and the elderly, the MRRPD continues to create and host activities for the community and its many visitors on its 25 acres of parklands, beaches and structures. Events and activities take place at the Monte Rio Amphitheater, youth center, community garden, Monte Rio Beach and River Front Meadow, Monte Rio Community Center, Koret Park, Creekside Park and River Run Skatepark.

Dedication & Placing of Historical Marker – May 25, 2013

Russian River Historical Society

Efren Carrillo – Fifth District Sonoma County California Board of Supervisors

“Whaddya mean you’re out of Sushi?”

There’s no such thing as a free lunch, goes the old saying, except if you have children and are lucky enough to live in or near Guerneville. However, if you lived in the U.S.A. or the U.K. during the 19th century, this was not always true. More about that later.   River to Coast Children’s Services will host a free lunch for kids, from Noon to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, from June 10 until August 9, courtesy of the Redwood Empire Food Bank.

Enough  lunches for twenty children will be delivered by the REFB and served in the Club Room of Guerneville  Veteran’s Memorial Hall. If there’s a higher uptake, the amount of food delivered will increase. To make this program work, two volunteers will be needed each day to assist with the service. Parents will be staying with their kids so it’s literally just a case of helping to distribute the meals. In addition REFB will provide training, which should only take “a couple of hours” prior to the program being kicked off on June 10. The training will be provided in both English and Spanish. At this point, volunteers are needed to ensure that  the free lunch program works.

Additional info: Jynx Lopez, director of River to Coast Childrens Services advises that youngsters up to age 18 are eligible for lunches and parents are permitted to bring more than one child.

Volunteers may contact: David Cameron AA, Program Manager, Guerneville Vets Hall, 16255 First Street, Guerneville. His phone number is 707.604.7725

There’s no such thing as a free lunch?

Meaning that whatever goods and services are provided, they must be paid for by someone, this was a basic economic theory until saloon keepers realized they could attract more people to buy more drinks if they did offer them a free lunch. In fact, Free lunch was a commonplace term in the USA and, to a lesser extent, in Britain, from the mid 19th century onward. Clearly, this  policy wasn’t for the benefit for the poor and hungry, but for that of the saloon owners who understood customers always

School children enjoying lunch

ended up paying for the food in the price of the drinks they were obliged to consume.

The lunches, often cold foods, were sometimes elaborate affairs provided to drinkers as an inducement. Of course this wasn’t popular with the temperance lobby, and pub keepers were sometimes prosecuted for false advertising of free lunch as customers couldn’t partake of it without first paying money to the saloon.   But River to Coast Children’s Service promises that the lunches will be free without any obligation for the kids to have buy a Guiness to wash it down.

For a chance at fame, come road-test Sr. Yoda’s casting couch

6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 21

A last minute change – instead of the Sisters Grant Fund – Somthing fishy this way comes. The Rainbow Cattle Company’s Give Back Tuesday this week is a benefit for the Mermaid Parade, coming up n August 17. Vira Burgerman, California’s original, bonafied, certified and duly licensed California Mermaid plans on having the town of Guerneville flooded to facilitate the Sirenidae’s progression down Main Street, and is trying to secure Orca Winfrey and Marlin Brando as Grand Marshmallows.

There will be a $5 buffet, raffle prizes and much joy and good will. Additionally, The Rainbow will contribute 10% of their bar receipts to this worthy cause.

Where: Rainbow Cattle Company 16220 Main Street, Guerneville,  869-0206

7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday, May 22

According to the flier, whether you’re “craaazy funny” or can sing or dance or play an instrument or “make us cry with your poignant poetry,” you’re eligible to audition for

Vira Cruises The River

Sr. Yoda’s Sonoma County Idol.  It’s requested that you “come prepared with your own materials, props, music, etc.” and prepare for an audition that’s four minutes or less.  From accordionists, to comics, to belly dancers to acts that defy description The talent has been impressive as well as unique, and audiences have been kind and receptive. This is  YOUR chance to be a real star. Where: R3 Resort, Fourth and Mill Streets, Guerneville

 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, May 23Stop by the Guerneville Organic Farm Market and enjoy a delightful selection of mostly local treats from fruits and vegetables to baked goods. It’s ongoing every

Farm Market

Thursday until October and a great way to enjoy the Guerneville Plaza and street scene while dining with the family. Call 869-3865 for more information. Where: The Sonoma Nesting Company’s parking lot, 16201 First Street, Guerneville, next to the Guerneville Plaza.

Friday and Saturday  8 p.m. May 24 and May 25 and 2 p.m., Sunday, May 26 Pegasus Theater Company, located at Rio Nido Lodge on Canyon Two Road, Rio Nido, presents Kimberly Akimbo, a dark comedy written by the Pulitzer-Prize-Winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, and directed by Buzz Bense and John Rowan. The play opens Friday, May 24 and will also be performed on Saturday, All three performances are pay-what-you-can. Pegasus Playhouse, next to the Rio Nido Lodge, Canyon 2 Rd., Rio Nido

Noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 25

Celebrate the Return of Summer in Vacation Wonderland with BBQ chicken and ribs, beverages (including beer and wine), live music,  talent and costume contests for pooches, best Old Time Costume contest for humans, local artists’ arts and crafts for sale, face painting and other diversions for kids. There will also be dedication ceremony of an Historical

Monte Rio Vacation Wonderland

Plaque at the Monte Rio Community Center, and a silent film depicting the River and its citizens in the “old days”.

Where: Monte Rio Amphitheater, Monte Rio

Sr. Yoda with hopefuls at SoCo Idol auditions

Sister Yoda and his Harem on the SoCo Idol Casting Couch

Biking without umbrellas?!

30.91 mile

Starts in:

Monte Rio, CA

Climb:

1,847.11 ft

Description:

This is a 30.91 mi Bike Ride in Monte Rio, CA. The Bike Ride has a total ascent of 1,847.11 ft and has a maximum elevation of 1,181.1 ft.

12.07 mile

Starts in:

Occidental, CA

Climb:

764.44 ft

Up to the Challenge

Description:

This is a 12.07 mi Bike Ride in Occidental, CA. The Bike Ride has a total ascent of 764.44 ft and has a maximum elevation of 941.6 ft.

18.88 mile

Starts in:

Monte Rio, CA

Climb:

1,302.49 ft

Description:

This is a 18.88 mi Bike Ride in Monte Rio, CA. The Bike Ride has a total ascent of 1,302.49 ft and has a maximum elevation of 925.2 ft

40.54 mile

Starts in:

Country Roads

Guerneville, CA

Climb:

3,500.66 ft

Description:

This is a 40.54 mi Bike Ride in Guerneville, CA. The Bike Ride has a total ascent of 3,500.66 ft and has a maximum elevation of 1,397.64 ft.

7.92 mile

Starts in:

Monte Rio, CA

Climb:

803.81 ft

Description:

Couple riding tandem

This is a 7.92 mi Bike Ride in Monte Rio, CA. The Bike Ride has a total ascent of 803.81 ft and has a maximum elevation of 685.7 ft.

Local Henna artist needs a hand