Marin’s Pulitzer Prize-Winning Newspaper $1.00 LIGHT Volume LX No. 49/ Point Reyes Station, California February 7, 2008

ELECTIONS > BUSINESS > Fairfax garage ECOLOGY > Marine Life CALENDAR > A soprano cast votes for Obama, McCain, becomes Good Earth Natural Protection Act spurs debate for from Fairfax joins female septet on in a high turn-out. /9 Food’s new parking lot. /10 fishermen, environmentalists./10 Saturday in San Geronimo. /20 County says no new permits in watershed

by Jacoba Charles

A two-year moratorium on building permits within Stream Conservation Areas (SCAs) in the San Geronimo Val- ley will be voted on by the Marin County Board of Supervisors on February 12. A Salmonid Habitat Enhancement Plan will be developed during that time, to provide guidelines for the county’s policies and actions in San Geronimo Val- ley SCAs. The plan and moratorium will affect properties along the 3.5-mile-long stretch of Lagunitas Creek between the Inkwells and the crest of White’s Hill. SPAWN had made it clear that with- out drastic action – such as developing

Please turn to page 13 Where have the An American flag hangs at the Inverness home of Caleb Davis, who returned last month after two tours in Afghanistan and one tour in Iraq. Photo by Justin Nobel. salmon gone? by Jacoba Charles

HABLANDO /4 Some of the lowest coho salmon runs on Inverness to Iraq, and back record have been worrying fisheries biolo- gists up and down the California coast. Red- How did the Latinos I always knew that I wanted to be in the by Justin Nobel wood Creek in West Marin had zero fish re- army, said Davis. “It was obviously an un- vote, and why? turn for the first time in its history. Bombs fell over Baghdad on March 19, popular decision given West Marin is so lib- “The problem is ubiquitous,” said Bruce 2003. The next day, high school students eral, but I never made my decision based on MacFarlane, leader of the National Oce- demonstrated outside Diekmann’s General other people.” OBITUARY /22 anic and Atmospheric Association’s Salmon Store in Tomales. Three truant youths lay “It was a huge, huge goal,” he said, “and Ecology Group in Santa Cruz. “Everything down in the road outside Bolinas, and a cad- a dream.” is down, and none of the creeks are show- David Fields knew every re of Lagunitas middle schoolers marched Caleb grew up in a modest-sized home car and truck in the area over White’s Hill. in Inverness just down the street from the Please turn to page 10 It wasn’t surprising that West Marin school. He was born in the bedroom, at- youths protested the war. After all, it’s West tended to by a midwife and Dr. Whitte. ASK MISSY /15 Marin, and they are youths. More surpris- He played soccer in middle school and at Extended Sheriff’s call /3 ing was that shortly thereafter, a few young Tomales High he was a star linebacker. >> A Bolinas man was reported in a subject’s Becalm yourself, and men enlisted to fight in the war. One was During his junior year, the football team Caleb Davis, and last month, after two tours won the state championship. “He has al- house, where he was not wanted. He said learn to live simply in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, he returned he was “just trying to make some coffee.” home. Please turn to page 14 14 NEWS POINT REYES LIGHT February 7, 2008

Caleb Davis at an American compound in Afghanistan. He completed two tours in that country, and one in Iraq. Now he’s home. Photo by Josh Hass.

an elite unit based in Vicenza, Italy. Words of advice Private Ryan have shown the side of war >> Iraq On a rainy evening in Santa Rosa just At one point, just before Davis was get- that’s not so romantic and glamorous.” continued from page 1 months before he was to graduate high ting ready to leave, his mother sat him down Harr decided that based on his own ex- school and ship off, Davis slipped in a wet for a talk. “I just want to let you know there periences he could give some perspective parking lot and broke the two major bones are options,” she told him, suggesting that to students such as Davis who were eager ways been very focused and determined,” in his leg. His contract with the 173rd was the family would help take out loans for to sign up. “War is not really something you said his mother, Cathy Davis. terminated. He spent five months in a cast him if it was the incentive of cheap school- want to do,” he said. “There are other ways “In seventh grade, he came home from that extended from his toes to his knee. The ing that was leading him into the military. you can find adventure and travel.” school one day and said, ‘Mom, I’m go- doctor wanted to do corrective surgery but “I didn’t want him to go off to the army Initially, he thought Davis was being ing into the military when I graduate high Davis knew that any pins or plates embed- just thinking this was the only thing,” she misled and duped into something he didn’t school,’ and I said, ‘oh, okay.’ I figured he ded in his skin would jeopardize his chanc- said. “I wanted to make sure this was truly completely understand. “I used to think, had a long time to change his mind and that es with Special Operations, so he told the what he wanted to do.” ‘yeah, yeah, sure, okay, you’re going to be he probably would, but he never wavered.” doctor “no.” Others, including his high school his- Special Operations,’” said Harr. I didn’t During high school he trained: 500 push- “He thought it was a stupid decision,” tory teacher, Robert Harr, who has been at think it would pan out.” ups a day and several miles on the treadmill. said Davis. The doctor told him that he Tomales for 24 years, encouraged him to One time, Harr challenged Davis in front He had his eye on a Special Operations unit might never walk right again. reconsider. of the class, saying that he knew the unit he with a very difficult set of entry require- The winter after Davis graduated, the Harr enlisted in the military in 1972, in wanted to go into and that he wasn’t going ments. There was a challenging written test cast came off. He wasn’t exactly happy to the midst of the Vietnam War. Not wanting to make it. “He was so focused that he actu- and a series of physical tests that included find what was underneath. to get drafted into the army he joined the ally made it happen,” said Harr. timed sets of pushups and sit-ups and run- “My leg had atrophied so much it didn’t Air Force. The war ended six months after “I’ll never forget that,” said Davis. “It ning two miles in under 13 minutes. look like my leg,” he said. “I thought I was he enlisted and he spent most of his time at kind of fueled the fire.” “I didn’t want to be your normal dude doomed.” a base in California. Harr doesn’t remember sitting there in Iraq,” said Davis. “I was look- Around the same time, he got a call from his military days fondly. Once, while travel- Misunderstood ing for something above and beyond.” a recruiter in Petaluma: there was a spot in ing at an airport in Texas a girl his age called While Davis was gone it was difficult for He was willing to forgo other passions the unit he wanted. He resumed his training him a baby killer and spit on him. his parents. “I fully accepted the fact that in pursuit of his dream. In his senior year, and several months later he retook the apti- “It was disappointing to be shunned by my son may die over there,” said Cathy Da- he decided not to play football. His coach tude test. On February 18, 2004, he officially your own generation,” said Harr. “You were vis. “Whenever he would come home on and teammates tried to change his mind. joined the military. He was sent first to Fort not a hero. You were a piece of shit.” leave it was an unbelievable relief. I almost “People think you’re young, you don’t re- Jackson, South Carolina, then to Fort Gor- Many of his friends were misled by re- felt like just falling on the floor.” ally know what you’re doing,” said Davis. “I don, Georgia, where he was trained as a sat- cruiters. They were promised great jobs The Davises often felt that the commu- didn’t play football because I didn’t want to ellite radio operator, then to Fort Benning when they got out that never materialized. nity cared more about ridiculing George get injured and ruin my career in the mili- to receive airborne training and a grueling Most of his memories he has chosen not to Bush than the safety of their son. tary.” year of training for Special Operations. remember at all. “The only thing I have left “One guy come up to me and instead of The team went on to win the state cham- They try to break you down mentally by is one old field jacket, one old fatigue shirt asking how my son was doing, he went into pionship. placing you in extreme physical conditions, and one pair of pants,” he said. a tirade about how Bush was responsible During his junior year, Davis spoke to re- said Davis, like making you stand outside in He explained that the idea of adventure for blowing up the twin towers,” said Mrs. cruiters in Petaluma and when he turned 18 the rain and cold or do a “ridiculous amount was what drew 18-year-olds in his genera- Davis. “I was so mad I couldn’t even think. he took an aptitude test at a command cen- of pushups and sit-ups.” tion to the military. “I think we watched I just felt that was so unbelievably insensi- ter in San Jose, a sort of SAT for the military. Out of a class of 178, 42 graduated. Davis a lot of John Wayne movies and we had a tive.” To get into Special Operations he needed was one of them. Several months later, he lot of romanticism about the whole notion Although she had expressed concerns to score above 40. He got a 48, and was as- was on his way to Afghanistan. of combat and travel and adventure,” said signed a spot in the 173rd airborne division, Harr. “Now media and movies like Saving Please turn to page 22 22 NEWS POINT REYES LIGHT February 7, 2008

where in the area. He just applied to the Still away a heavy infantry brigade. “I’ve seen people California Highway Patrol and intends to Caleb is home for good, but Jake Velloza, burned to death. I’ve seen people shot and >> Iraq use money provided by the Montgomery who lives a couple streets over, is still on I’ve had RPGs blow up right in front of me.” continued from page 14 GI bill to cover the $9,000 academy costs. duty He arrived home on leave at the end His first tour in Iraq was extended and he “I never went into the military thinking or of November. Friends decorated the purple ended up being there for 15 months. knowing I was going to retire,” said Davis. bridge with a sign that read, “Welcome He said money is a big reason for why throughout his life about him joining, in the “My goal was just to make it.” home Jake.” But the stay was short. Early he is there. “You don’t get any taxes taken end she was very proud of him. Now, she is last month, he was shipped to Fort Hood, out except for social security,” he said. He happy to have him home. The other soldiers Texas, where he will be until his next de- will get an enlistment bonus of $21,000 over “He is such a man, and I am so incredibly Not all soldiers come home in as good of ployment to Iraq, at the end of this year. three years and he earns between $16,000 proud of him,” said Mrs. Davis. She hasn’t shape as Davis. When I asked his mother, Susan, how he to $18,000 a month. discussed many of his more personal sto- Tony Martin, a native of Valley Ford, was was doing, she seemed overwrought. “He’s “It really isn’t that much,” he said, “but ries yet. “I figure there is plenty of time,” she another of Robert Harr’s students to re- doing okay,” she said. “It’s the army.” I’m single and I have nothing to spend it said, “and if he wants to talk to me about it, cently return from a tour in Iraq. He came I called Velloza in Fort Hood on his cell on.” wonderful.” to school to say hello to Harr, and spoke to phone on Wednesday. He picked up right He has thought about staying after his his economics class. away and was eager to talk. It was noisy and tour is up, but says many of his sergeants A changed worldview He had some pretty vivid experiences, there were many other voices in the back- are leaving, and he doesn’t want to get stuck When Davis stepped off the plane in Af- explained Harr. Shrapnel blew into his back ground. At one point, someone interrupted, with new people. “Now that I’ve been to ghanistan it was the first time he had been when his Humvee set off an IED and his and not wanting to keep him from his du- war I can understand what’s going on in the outside the U.S. He was struck by how rural best friend had his legs blown off. ties, I let him know he could go if he had to. world,” he said. “Before, I had no idea what and isolated the country was. In some vil- Another of Harr’s students who entered “No,” said Velloza, “just someone asking it was like.” lages, kids flocked to their vehicle, asking the military was a girl named Jennifer he for a cigarette.” The war is regularly misunderstood and for food, candy and toys. had coached in softball. She was injured He said that since elementary he has misrepresented by the media, Velloza said. “You say ‘city’ to an American and they in a parachute accident and suffered brain wanted to be in the military. “When a reporter comes to your base think Chicago or New York,” said Davis. damage. Military specialists thought that He wanted to enlist as soon as the U.S. in- they just want to know how many people Over there, you could call Point Reyes a city, returning her to a familiar environment vaded Iraq, but his parents made him wait. have been killed,” he said, but a lot more he said. would be helpful for her condition. One day, After high school, he lived on his own and than that is happening. “We’re passing out Coming home to America, it’s hard not she visited Harr at school. worked in construction for a year and a half. books. We’re building schools. We’re trying for him to point out the differences. “You The more I talked the more she said she He attended training events in the East Bay to get this country back in line. It’s not us get a lot bigger picture about what’s re- remembered, said Harr. “I felt really sorry with Davis and spoke to the same recruiters who are screwing everything up, it’s the in- ally important,” said Davis. “Here you have for her.” in Petaluma. surgents. We build a school and a week later people really stressing about making a lot of When I spoke to Harr last week, I asked “Now that I’m in the military I can say they blow it up.” money and you go to Afghanistan and you him what he would do if one of his students that the recruiters are good people, but they Velloza was friendly and chatty. He see people who live in the dirt and they sur- today expressed interest in signing up. lie to get you to enlist,” he said, “they lie big laughed freely and didn’t avoid any ques- vive fine.” “I don’t think we should be fooling those time.” tions. “I think Americans are blinded because that are naive and leading them into some- His desire to enlist remained. Then, suddenly, he becomes serious. we’re very spoiled ourselves,” he added. In thing they shouldn’t be getting into,” he “I just woke up one day and went to talk “Now, I have to go,” he said. the United States, he continued, “you go said. “You want to inform them as much as to a couple of old recruiters,” said Velloza. down these strips and there are just hun- you can so they’re not going in blind, but, if “By the end of that month, I was in the mili- dreds and hundreds of new cars waiting someone fully understands what’s in store tary.” for Americans to consume. Over there, they and has done their research and has talked He likes the sense of camaraderie and GROUP II don’t even have paved roads. It’s just ridicu- to people and has looked at all available holds dear some of the friendships he has COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, INC. lous.” points of view and still feels that way, then made. He doesn’t like morning drills, com- Before Davis was deployed, he married I think as a teacher, as a father and as a hu- bat and deployment. Brianna Thornton, a Tomales rancher’s man being we have an obligation to support “I’ve had some of the scarier moments of daughter that he went to high school with. them.” my life and I’ve had some of the most fun He plans to settle down with her some- moments of my life,” said Davis, who is in David Roy Fields, 1957-2008 byJustin Nobel At Tomales High School, he played bas- racer one year. ketball but his real passion was football. He The family lived in Petaluma but David David Roy Fields, who mended West was wide receiver. spent much of his time at the shop, in Point Marin’s ailing automobiles and trucks for At age 17, David began working in the Reyes Station. When his kids visited him more than 30 years, passed away last week shop at the gas station in downtown Point there he would teach them how to change at the age of 50. Reyes Station. He took courses at an auto the oil or replace a flat. Marshall He basically knew everyone in the area mechanic school in Colorado, and after- “The necessities,” said Bridget, “so that if Brand new spacious home who could drive, said his daughter, Bridget wards returned to the same Point Reyes I ever broke down I could fix it myself.” located on the east shore of Fields. “He loved to work with cars.” repair shop. David is survived by his three children, ’s shoreline, near David was born on October 31, 1957. He In 1981, he married Jeannine Lehnhard. Bridget, Thomas and Nicholas Fields; his fa- Nick’s Cove on Shoreline grew up in a home overlooking Tomales They had three children, Bridget, Thomas ther John Fields; his brother Duane Fields; Highway. Deck is over the Bay, on the road above the Marshall Gen- and Nicholas. his sister DeeDee Fields; his mother-in-law water, the front yard is Tomales eral Store. He spent his childhood roam- While his kids were growing up, he Jacqueline Lehnhard and his father-in-law, Bay. Great view of Hog Island, ing nearby fields and meadows with his owned a Chevy Chevelle, a Pontiac GTO the late Bill Lehnhard; as well as numerous Pt. Reyes Penninsula — 2br., brothers, Duane and Dennis, and his sister and an El Camino. “He liked the muscle nieces, nephews, sisters and brothers in-laws. den, and 2 baths, 15’ ceiling in DeeDee. The children had a pet cow that cars,” said his daughter. A memorial mass will be held at St. Vincent kitchen and living rm, carport. lay in the yard and served as a couch on lazy On weekends, he raced a little red pinto de Paul Church at 35 Liberty Street (between summer days. with yellow flames on the hood at a track in Western Avenue and B Street) in Petaluma David went to elementary and middle Lakeport. “There were a lot of characters on Saturday, February 9 at 1:30 p.m. In lieu Price $1,350,000 school in a one-room schoolhouse across up there,” said Bridget, who remembered of flowers, the family has requested, dona- the street from St. Helen’s Catholic Church, watching her father from the grandstands, tions be made to the Fields Family Fund, BILL PATTON “a little house on the prairie kind of school,” “a lot of beer drinking and hot dog eating.” Wells Fargo bank, Acct. # 3673711853. TEL. 925/934-2222 • FAX 925/938-1108 said Bridget. David won a trophy for most improved