Cal seeks to The FORUM regain position Commerce File Schiavo vs. Lieberman .............Page 6 ..............Page 3 ...................................Page 4 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper ..........Page 2 Tomorrow: Mostly sunny 7 58551 69301 0 WEDNESDAY Sept. 6, 2006 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 14 pages, Volume 148 Number 150 email: [email protected] DA and county again at odds over budget Shortage Officials do Norman Vroman says he’s out touching on the embattled budget he submitted is neces- other office holders and struggled year after year with budget for all the usual rea- sary to perform constitutional- department heads did not of Lake annual dance the Mendocino County sons: Vroman submitted a ly mandated functions. attend the hearings either. over numbers Executive Office and Board of budget exceeding the county’s However, this year, Vroman Had he been there, he By KATIE MINTZ Supervisors over his budget -- requested 6.5 percent cut to was not present to address the would have likely told the pear The Daily Journal this year being no exception. net county cost, the Executive board. board that the $3.4 million Since being elected eight Early last week, the board Office recommended less than “This was the first year they decided would be ade- years ago, District Attorney concluded its annual final that amount, and Vroman indi- they didn’t ask us to appear,” packers budget hearings, but not with- cated that the number in the Vroman said, explaining that See BUDGET, Page 14 By CYNTHIA DAVIS Lakeport Record-Bee FINLEY -- A labor short- age is putting the Lake Self-help County pear industry in a bind as packing houses search housing ALWAYS ON A TUESDAY for workers to continue pro- cessing fruit. Scully Packing, a family- owned business that has been planned in the pear picking and pack- ing business since 1974, is contending with several prob- near lake lems common among pear By JAMES ARENS harvesters, said company The Daily Journal owner, Toni Scully. On Thursday, the But, as Scully points out, Mendocino County Planning the problems this year come Commission will be holding a in an unusual combination a public hearing regarding the labor shortage, a late harvest Rural Communities Housing and increased competition for Development Corporation workers from county grape and the Alice Prevost Trust’s growers. plans to develop an almost “We have never seen a year 12-acre housing sub-division like this,” Scully said Friday. just north of Ukiah near Lake “The lateness of the season Mendocino. combined with the lack of RCHDC and the Alice labor and the early squeeze Prevost Trust are planning to placed upon us by the grape request a major subdivision to harvest has created the perfect create 62 lots ranging in size storm.” between 3,580 square feet to Despite a special legisla- 15,310 square feet in two tion benchmark program phases for the development of unique to Lake County, which a self-help housing project. allows 16- and 17-year-olds The area in question is about to work in the packing houses three miles north of down- when school is not in session, town Ukiah on the north side Scully said, “People don’t of Lake Mendocino Drive and understand the magnitude of approximately one-half mile the numbers of workers we east of North State Street at need in a relatively short 500 Lake Mendocino Drive. amount of time.” The property consists of There is a three-week win- three parcels - with RCHDC dow of opportunity for pick- owning two of them - that will Isaac Eckel/The Daily Journal ing and packing the pears, be developed in two phases Harry Bistrin, who has been volunteering at the library for the last two years, helps to sort books Scully said. while the third will be subdi- along with eleven other volunteers every Tuesday morning for an hour before the library opens. “In Lake County this is a vided as a part of prearranged widespread problem we cur- agreement allowing access rently have 40 percent to 50 and utility easements through percent less pickers than nor- the property. Overall, the Close-knit group keeps books shelved mal,” Scully said. development would include By ZACK SAMPSEL the fullest. recruited long-time friend Marge Van Individual labor contrac- 47 self-help, low and very- tors provide crews of pickers low income single family The Daily Journal In 1989, Shirley Madison retired Dusen. Madison said that for the hile the doors of the Ukiah from teaching and began volunteer- next few years she and Van Dusen for the pear harvest; it’s homes and 11 more that will Scully’s opinion that the labor be moderate income homes. Public Library are closed ing at the library helping with story worked more than two hours each each Tuesday morning at 9 time and other activities, although Tuesday and shelved more than 600 shortage can be chalked up to The final four parcels would W immigration policy. a.m., a very special group of volun- there were a few jobs Madison didn’t books on their own. Realizing they remain under the current sep- “The clock is ticking and arate ownership of Alice teers is inside helping to clean the particularly want to do. needed help, Van Dusen recruited her children’s room, dust the shelves, “When I was interviewed here, I late husband, Bill. Bill organized the there is a real possibility that Prevost Trust (Prevost- 30 percent of the pears won’t Thompson) and will act as an feed the fish and restock the shelves. told her I’d do anything but shelve volunteer group and created a system As the carts of books pour in and books,” Madison said. “I thought I’d to organize and shelve the books get picked,” said Scully. intermediate piece between Scully is putting out a call the RCHDC-owned portions out of the children’s room, a group just be helping read books.” faster. of 12 people helps to make sure that Madison quickly realized that Shortly after Madison and the Van for workers and volunteers of the development. who would be willing to work There are plans to have all the books are organized and the helping clean and shelve books was children can enjoy their own area to a responsibility she enjoyed and soon See BOOKS, Page 14 in the packing houses for three types of building eight to 10 hours daily in the designs. “Type A” will be a heat. 1,208-square-foot, one story home with a 492 square foot attached garage. “Type B” will consist of a 1,505- square-foot two-story struc- Immigrant marches effect on lawmakers? Not much. ture also with a 492-square- By MICHELE R. MARCUCCI debate, which stalled over the Congress needs to pay close foot attached garage. And MediaNews Group House and Senate’s vastly dif- attention to what constituents “Type C” will be an 1,411- OAKLAND - Thousands ferent reform bills. Both bod- have to say. And when they square-foot two-story home of people sacrificed Labor ies returned from summer say it in large numbers, they with a 530-square-foot Day picnics Monday to march recess this week. pay even more attention,” said garage. Overall, there are for immigrant rights, hoping The House bill, calls for Lynne Weil, spokeswoman for going to be 16 “Type A”, 11 that Congress would listen. stronger border security and Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San “Type B” and 31 “Type C” But the nationwide marches - prosecution of illegal immi- Mateo, who voted against the homes proposed for this pro- including gatherings in grants and those who aid House bill. “However, posi- ject. The property is almost Oakland, San Francisco and them, while the Senate’s pro- tions aren’t formed overnight completely vacant except for San Jose - seem to have had posal includes opportunities by crowds. And one event one mobile home and an little impact on those who will for undocumented immigrants alone is unlikely to change accessory building. decide millions of undocu- to gain legal status. A compro- many minds.” The meeting will be held at mented immigrants’ fate. mise plan by two One mind unchanged is 9 a.m. in the Board of Members of the Bay Area’s Republicans, Indiana Rep. Rep. Richard Pombo’s. Supervisors chambers at 501 Congressional contingent and Mike Pence and Texas Sen. “He stands by his vote on Low Gap Road. their staffers said the marches Kay Bailey Hutchison, is also the House bill,” said Pombo’s D. Ross Cameron/Oakland Tribune James Arens can be did little to influence their on the table. spokesman, Lucas Frances. Marchers in east Oakland Monday during an immi- reached at [email protected] positions on the immigration “Obviously, any member of See MARCH, Page 14 grants’ rights protest. Across from We’ve Moved! Ukiah Ford, and Reddings Redding’s Reddings • More Rental Trucks Behind Lost Coast Car And Truck Rentals • Larger Location Motorcycles 468-0902 • NEW LOCATION • 1125 So. State Street, Ukiah • More Convenient 2 – WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 6, 2006 DAILY DIGEST Editor: K.C. Meadows, 468-3526 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] booked into jail on suspicion was booked into jail on suspi- DEATH NOTICE of assault with a deadly cion of driving under the The world briefly weapon at 7:43 p.m. Friday. influence, driving unlawfully BOOKED -- Miguel Jesus and probation violations at • Florida Holstrom, 83, of Moolira, 29, of Fort Bragg, 8:28 Sunday. Ukiah, died Friday after a was booked into jail on suspi- BOOKED -- Marbella President Bush defends war lence, while the president predicted bloodshed long illness.