Bill Lynch: Tear down this wall School bell blues UGB isn’t what we thought. A6 ■ Groggy students just got a reprieve Sports: Scheduling conflict from the Governor, who signed a bill Power outage cancels games. A8 mandating later school start times. SEE A3 Schools: Homecoming week Siss-boom-bah, Sonoma-style. A9

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Our 138th Year Serving Sonoma Valley Sonoma Valley, California ■ SonomaNews.com An edition of The Press Democrat Blackout fallout: Shutdown was ‘economic disaster’ 95 percent of businesses closed, estimates Chamber CEO

By ANNE WARD ERNST economy. the community’s basic needs and INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER “Obviously, this was an eco- minimize the impact.” The PG&E-imposed blackout nomic disaster for our location,” Jack Burkam, general manager last week affected businesses said Mark Bodenhamer, CEO of the Best Western Inn, said there throughout Sonoma Valley, press- of Sonoma Valley Chamber of hasn’t been a noticeable injurious ing managers and business owners Commerce. “Ninety-five percent fallout from the power outage in into creative-thinking mode – and of our businesses were shut down the short-term. ROBBI PENGELLY/INDEX-TRIBUNE left some wondering what the and those businesses that were Joe Hencmann gave away free ice cream during the outage. long-term effects will be on the open made a valiant effort to serve See Blackout, A5

■■ CONTROVERSY ■ SDC plant closure puts ‘Blue line,’ or crossing a line? water officials on edge

One-day water supply in an emergency, warns VOMWD manager By CHRISTIAN KALLEN INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER First the electrical grid, now the water supply is being identi- fied as one of the necessities of modern life that may be at risk in case of disaster. The 2018-2019 Sonoma Coun- ty Grand Jury report, issued in July, addresses several areas of concern that county residents and governments should be aware of, and prepare for. One of them is found in the “water report,” a 17-page document that poses the question, “Will there be water after an earth- quake?” Though it’s a generalized concern, for engineers in the water industry – including those at the Valley of the Moon Water District – it’s a hair-on- fire worry, especially in light of the unexpected recent closure ROBBI PENGELLY/INDEX-TRIBUNE Jeff Spencer holds a Thin Blue Line flag outside his H&R Block office on Sonoma Highway. See Water, A4 Is altered flag an ‘attaboy’ for law enforcement, or a dog whistle for the alt-right? Council mulls By KATE WILLIAMS sentencing guidelines. INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER Founded in 2014 following the ambush additional he American flag flying outside of ‘As officers, this is our torch, to shootings of two NYPD street cops, Jeff Spencer’s H&R Block office on pay tribute and to never forget ”” was a kind of re- TSonoma Highway has 13 stripes buttal to perceived anti- sentiment recreation and 50 stars, and looks, at a glance, like those who lost everything in in the wake of the “” a regular flag. But closer examination movement of 2013, which grew following reveals that the flag has been altered: a the line of duty. It’s a symbol of a string of acquittals of police officers spending thin blue line bracketed in black runs the everyday dangers we face.’ charged in the killings of non-threaten- ‘Cultural arts master down the middle, bisecting the tradition- -Sonoma Police Chief Orlando Rodriguez ing African American men. The “thin al red and white stripes. blue line” flag has since become the plan’ among ideas for The flag represents a movement symbol of a countermovement. funding known as “Blue Lives Matter,” which tenced under enhanced hate crime stat- Inside the entrance to Spencer’s office, advocates that criminals convicted of utes, allowing judges to tack additional By ANNE WARD ERNST killing police officers should be sen- penalties onto their pre-established See Flag, A5 INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER A pot of unallocated money in the city’s recreation coffers could be used for any number of things, which the council and city staff will mull over this winter and likely make a Zero waste? Nothing to it, says Sonoma woman decision on in January, officials said at the Sonoma City Council Local families and businesses behind,” says Llodrá about their ad- meeting on Oct. 3. venture. “It became about the experi- Mayor Amy Harrington called find creative ways to reduce ences. We found that Europeans live the prospect “exciting” to have consumption in a way where everything is smaller. the opportunity to spend around They have less stuff, smaller homes. $50,000 on multiple projects, or By AMANDA CURRY They go to the markets every day – one major item. INDEX-TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT the meat market, the fish market, the The city sets aside 1.5 percent The year was 2010 when Katherine bakery.” of designated General Fund tax Llodrá and her husband packed up Along with this lifestyle shift, revenue for recreation and com- their three young children – ages 4, Llodrá noticed another glaring dif- munity services programs, an 7 and 9 at the time – and left their ference between her new neighbors amount which was boosted by Sonoma home, to spend a year in and the American life she had been the November 2017 passage of a Valencia, Spain. They used the accustomed to – less packaging and measure to increase hotel taxes. opportunity to purge most of their less waste. City Manager Cathy Capriola household items and each took only As the family embraced a new way and Special Events Manager one carry-on piece of luggage for of life, she noticed they were spend- Lisa Janson presented the JULIE VADER/SPECIAL TO THE INDEX-TRIBUNE their time abroad. Katherine Llodra fills her market basket full of food with no “Pretty quickly, we couldn’t even waste Oct. 1 at Whole Foods in Sonoma. remember the things we had left See Zero, A4 See Spending, A7

INSIDE WEATHER sonomanews.com Classified A12 Public notices A7 REPORTED CONDITIONS FORECAST RAINFALL HISTORY Life Tributes A4 Puzzles A2 Date High Low Rainfall Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Year-to-date: 0 in. Opinion & Editorial A6 Puzzle solutions A2 Fri., 10/11 79 51 0 in. Last-year-to-date: 1.3 in. Sat., 10/12 79 40 0 in. Our Schools A9 Sports A8 Rainfall year calculated from Sun., 10/13 79 41 0 in. Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. Mon., 10/14 77 39 0 in. 80°/40° 73°/49° 76°/43° 76°/48° THE SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019 A5

but he does feel badly for did stay, or were supposed Blackout his employees who depend to stay, at his Best Western Flag Continued from A1 Continued from A1 on tips. hotel are from the Bay Area “Every single person and were understanding an explanatory paragraph “We’re still maintaining a has dependents,” he said of the power loss situation, is displayed behind glass, good booking pace through of his employees for whom since they were under the suggesting that more than December,” Burkam said. he bought breakfast and same power shutoff. a few people have asked “The pace is really hanging lunch during the outage The general manager about the flag. It reads: in there pretty well.” when they used the time to at Kenwood Inn and Spa, “The Thin Blue Line is a Long-term, he said, “We do some deep cleaning and David Jessup, said that be- symbol used to recognize just don’t know,” if Pacific reorganizing. cause they didn’t have pow- Law Enforcement Officers Gas & Electric’s (PG&E) Joe and Ramie Henc- er they suggested that their for keeping the peace. Public Safety Power Shutoff mann, owners of Sweet guests find somewhere else One Black bar below (PSPS) plan will have a Scoops ice cream shop on to go. A few opted to stay on represents the criminal detrimental effect on tour- the Sonoma Plaza, turned Tuesday night, but without element in society. One ism, the economic engine the shutoff into a moment power folks couldn’t take a black bar above symbol- of Sonoma Valley and its of benevolence. Armed with hot shower in the morning, izes the innocent public. surrounds. enough generator power Jessup said. What stands in the middle For the wine industry to protect most of their ice But the hotel lost revenue is only a thin blue line of ROBBI PENGELLY/INDEX-TRIBUNE business this is a “partic- cream inventory, they took while the power was out; committed Law En- Sonoma Police Chief Orlando Rodriguez with the original ularly sensitive time for to the streets to give away it’s a sacrifice that will have forcement Officers. This Thin Blue Line flag, he says he was unaware it is a favored the 2019 harvest, a trickle-down powerful image can be flag of white nationalists. because without effect as employees proudly displayed to re- power it limits the weren’t needed and member fallen heroes and modate those who might time wineries can ‘This is a disruption of the didn’t get paid for honor those that sacrifice OFFICER DOWN find it offensive. “I would harvest their grapes that time off. every day.” The ‘Officer Down Memorial apologize to them, but I and ferment at the economy. It’s really bad for On the front desk A dwindling stack of Page’ (odmp.org) tracks all would still fly it because appropriate tem- everybody,’ counter a hand- complimentary peel-and- line-of-duty law enforce- I support law enforce- peratures,” Boden- - Csaba Szakal, proprietor and winemaker at En written note told stick bumper stickers of ment deaths, marking each ment,” he said. hamer said. Garde, on the PG&E power shutoff guests what tasting the altered flag sits below, EOW, or “end of watch,” The thin blue line flag The shutdown rooms were open, and have been seen af- with the date and cause. has increasingly come did interrupt some where they could fixed to the rear windows 94 officers killed (to date), under legal scrutiny, harvest plans, which purchase gas, and of cars around town. 2019 however. could have a long-term scoops of ice cream. which grocery stores were “I support law enforce- In York, Maine, last effect, said Csaba Szakal, “Ice cream makes people open. ment,” Spencer said. 164 officers killed, 2018 summer, the family owner and winemaker of happy,” Joe Hencmann At the Best Western, Bur- “They’re the ones who 931 officers killed, last five of a fallen officer who En Garde winery in Ken- said. kam said they had a genera- protect us. They have a years had raised the flag on a wood. On Wednesday, Oct. 9, tor to power the phones and lousy job. You’re dealing 1,719 officers killed, last ten nearby utility pole were Szakal said he was at a he and Ramie and their kitchen, but there was no with pretty rotten people years forced to remove it after vineyard on Wednesday, two children, Caden, 9, and power in the rooms. throughout the day. The another resident com- California: 1,656 line-of-du- Oct. 9, which sits at about Mila, 7, used a cart and trav- During the power outage “Black Lives Matter” plained, arguing that the ty deaths 2,400 feet and there was no eled first to Larson Park, they moved some of their movement, they had an flag represented “segre- wind there – wind was a made their way to Maxwell guests to a sister property important issue, sure. But gation and discrimina- criteria PG&E used to shut Farms Regional Park, to a in Healdsburg, which was basically, what it comes tion,” according to News off power to the region. playground, and the next unaffected by the blackout. down to is all lives matter. symbolism matters. Cole Center Maine. He wanted to harvest that day went to the Sonoma About half of the guests This (flag) is 100 percent is an “equity trainer And in Multnomah day, but without power at Valley Veterans Memorial scheduled to stay at the about support for law supervisor” with Epoch, County, Oregon, last the winery had to leave the Building and the Sonoma Second Street hotel decided enforcement.” ” a company that works spring, an African-Amer- grapes on the vine for the Plaza. The children loved to stay even without power Spencer has always to disrupt the “school to ican county employee time. it, and overall, Hencmann in the rooms. They didn’t been fascinated by police prison pipeline” that she was awarded $100,000 Not being able to harvest figures they gave away 500 have anywhere else to go, work. He was a Young believes entrenched social for “extreme stress and when he wants could cause to 600 scoops of ice cream. couldn’t change flights or Explorer in the Daly City mores perpetuate for kids health issues” that were the quality of the wine to Ryan Robinson, general other vacation plans, he police department as a of color. triggered by the display suffer, he said. It also could manager of Mary’s Pizza said, so they made the best kid, and had dreams of “When we throw one of the flag in her office. affect the logistics at the Shack on the Plaza, said the of it. eventually working for symbol back at another, The suit, brought by winery when other vine- restaurant was closed for A couple – Campbell the FBI. But poor eyesight we’re not doing the work Karima Guion-Pled- yards are ready to harvest. the two-day blackout, but Roth and Donald Scalia – made that goal unreach- of accountability,” Cole gure, argued that the “We could have three, was able to send employees visiting from Rochester, able, and so Spencer said. “Is the flag racist? I flag co-opted the Black four harvests on the same to other Mary’s restaurants New York, relaxed on the became an accountant in- don’t know. But it doesn’t Lives Matter movement, day,” which is not an ideal that were open and were outdoor patio of Hawkes stead. He owns the Sono- serve anyone to detour thereby “denigrating, scene, Szakal said. doing a brisk business. Winery tasting room on ma H&R Block franchise, from the conversation. diluting, and demeaning” He’s upset about the A couple of people who Friday, Oct. 11, enjoying the and is a “silent partner” Instead of honestly its purpose. effect the power shutoff showed up for work were wine and sunshine. They in the local restaurant assessing behaviors that Spencer’s placid will have on the business not sent home, but did some arrived during the blackout and music venue Reel & triggered ‘Black Lives demeanor suggests a economy. spiffing up of the place, to attend a friend’s wedding Brand. Matter,’ the response temperament not prone “This is a disruption of Robinson said. at Scribe Winery over the Spencer’s son is a was to galvanize around to conflict, and he did the economy. It’s really bad He was unable to put a weekend, and had already correctional officer in ‘blue.’” make an exception for for everybody,” he said. dollar value on the revenue been contacted by El Dora- Trinity County. His office Cole’s late father was a Vietnam veteran who Codi Binkley, owner of lost from restaurant and do Hotel letting them know manager’s brother is a a cop, and she said she stormed into his office B&V Whiskey Bar and take-out delivery, and said of the blackout so made detective in Rohnert Park. couldn’t be sure how he’d a few weeks ago. The Grille in Sonoma estimated the event was “unfortu- arrangements to stay at an And he was very close feel about the movement man complained that the a loss of about $10,000 in nate.” Airbnb in San Francisco. friends with Marin Coun- or its flag. But Sonoma version of the flag Spen- inventory and revenue for The hotel let them know ty Sheriff’s deputy Jim police chief Orlando cer had been flying—all the two-day shutdown. He The power outage oc- when power was restored Mathiesen, who was shot Rodriguez is a fan. He black and white—was brought a small generator curred during a “critically and the couple were happy and killed after confront- flies a blue line flag in an affront to ex-military from home, but it wasn’t important economic time” that their friend’s wedding ing a violent parolee in his office, too, and shares who had fought for the powerful enough to run the for the region, Bodenhamer could go on and continued Petaluma while off duty Spencer’s feeling about red, white and blue. “He restaurant’s refrigerator. said referring to the harvest on with their wine tasting in 2011. the flag’s purpose. “As was incensed, and told Trying to maintain a season when tourism plans. “We’ve had CHP offi- officers, this is our torch, me ‘you took the blood positive outlook, he said he peaks. cers come in and thank to pay tribute and to out of my flag!’” Spencer doesn’t fault PG&E for its Burkam said a good Contact Anne at anne. us for flying that flag. never forget those who said. decision as a corporation, portion of the guests who [email protected]. And all kinds of first lost everything in the line So Spencer scoured responders during the of duty,” Rodriguez said. the internet in search fires. We had a K-9 officer “It’s a symbol of the ev- of a version of the flag where the company relies create a ‘tare weight’ to stop by and thank us. He eryday dangers we face, that retained Old Glory’s Zero Continued from A4 on individuals and teams deduct at checkout,” said told us, ‘I love that flag,’” not knowing if today will original red stripes, and at the store level. The Jones. “We have reusable Spencer said. “So that’s be my last day when I now he raises and lowers she eats out at restaurants. large compactor out back bowls available in the hot my motivation, you know. leave my family to serve that flag each day. Local businesses are is for composting and then bar and salad bar, as well There’s nothing political our community.” As to whether he is doing their part to support we have smaller con- as reusable flatware.” about it.” The fact that the flag concerned that potential the zero-waste movement tainers for recycling and New business owners, Nevertheless, the blue has been carried by white patrons of his H&R Block too. Friedman’s Home Im- waste.” Jenna Maze and Jen Petro- line flag has been politi- nationalists was news to office might be affronted provement has receptacles Jones said that the store vic of Purely Sonoma, will cized, co-opted by the alt- Rodriguez, and a con- by his display of the thin for recycling batteries and has an extensive food be offering a refill station right movement. It was cern. “It’s unfortunate blue line flag? “Well, it’s a light bulbs, while Whole donation program, where for beauty products, as carried by protesters at that this group chose this risk for a business owner, Foods accepts corks and a variety of nonprofit well as a selection of glass the 2017 “Unite the Right” flag. It’s disrespectful,” yes. But I’d happily sacri- even plastic bags. groups pick up unused and aluminum packaged rally in Charlottesville, Rodriguez said. “But we fice business if it comes Brian Jones, store team and soon-to-expire foods items for sale – better Virginia, and is consid- live in a country where to that. Police officers leader of the Sonoma and produce every day. alternatives to plastics. ered by some to be a sym- people have freedom to sacrifice a whole lot more Whole Foods, described “Customers are encour- “We need to rethink the bol of white supremacy. choose.” than business,” Spencer how eco-friendly practices aged to bring their own way we shop,” said Janie For others it is a dis- Spencer is similarly said. “This flag just rep- are a part of the company containers from home to Raymond of Plain Jane’s missal of the social issues peeved about the flag’s resents what I believe.” culture. “We have what use in the bulk section. We Consignment. “Being busi- Black Lives Matter is appropriation by the alt- we call GMAG – Green weigh them at the cus- ness-minded aligns with meant to address. right, but says he would Contact Kate at kate.wil- Mission Awareness Group, tomer service counter and these values.” For Kelly Cole, the not lower it to accom- [email protected].

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