July | 8 of 10
Thursday, July 27, 2023
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-Zack Cinek
County gov’t
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
3rd District Supervisor John Haschak chairs the county’s new Economic Development committee.
Once an ad-hoc, the committee transitioned to a standing committee and will meet four times a year; the first meeting happened in June.
The effort emphasizes improving or playing off of what is already happening in Mendo:
Health care, meaning potential growth of Adventist Health
Bio fuels such as syngas on the forest front
Niche manufacturing
Coastal “blue” economy
Fishing-based jobs, an effort is already undertaken to boost the fish market there.
The committee is also talking about the importance of county participation in the Community Economic Resilience Fund and the Sonoma Mendocino Economic Development District.
Haschak and McGourty agreed on a suggestion that supervisors step down from positions on the board of the Economic Development and Finance Committee and the West Business Development Center to avoid conflicts.
Lori Enriquez, Happy Rides Inc., was one to make the case for more economic development personnel at the county, like Humboldt County’s staff, for example.
“I would like to see something like that here,” Enriquez said.
Enriquez said her business provides non-emergency medical transportation. Enriquez worked with West to get started.
The committee meets again Sept. 25 at 1:30 PM.
Railroad
Chug-a-lug
The Skunk Train announced today that its steam locomotive returns to the rails next month.
SKUNK TRAIN: Steam is back! Beginning August 5th and running every Saturday and Sunday through September 10th the historic Chiggen steam engine – also known as the Santa Cruz Portland Cement Co. #2, a 0-4-0T saddle tank locomotive from 1909 – will be returning to the Redwood Route!
Members of the traveling public will pay $79.95 for a ride on the old iron. It sounds like an awesome tourist experience and the Skunk is one thing people know this county for.
SKUNK TRAIN: This one 1-hour, 7-mile round trip takes you over the first tracks laid down by the California Western Railroad, and along the beautiful Pudding Creek Estuary. Returning our roots, this steam locomotive mirrors the locomotive that originally ran on these tracks in 1885. Pulling original authentic passenger cars of the era and an open-air car, step back in time to the Days of Steam amongst the towering Redwoods.
County gov’t
August recess
Mendocino County Board of Supervisors won’t have a board meeting next month.
Supervisors will go to committee meetings or other public meetings, according to a press release, but BOS meetings are canceled for the month.
COUNTY OF MENDOCINO: The August Recess was implemented in 2022, to provide time for Clerk of the Board staff to complete behind-the-scenes work such as records filing, annually required tasks, and preparation for the upcoming year.
Extraterrestrials
Welcome to Area 101
Okay, you may have seen those questionable headlines lately about UFOs or something to do about the gov’t coming clean on what it knows about aliens.
Was that really happening or not? Don’t know, but there is a great quote from Mendocino Cannabis Alliance Director Michael Katz you need to read.
Supervisor Glenn McGourty may have slipped slightly when he referred to the Emerald Cup having originated at Area 51.
Depending on what books you read, Area 51 is a military facility hidden away underground at the dry lake bed of Nevada’s Groom Lake.
It’s the same secret facility where the gov’t keeps aliens and studies extraterrestrial technologies.
Katz engaged McGourty with enthusiasm for the cannabis event’s history.
“Area 101, correct, said Katz, “There is definitely an interest in the extraterrestrial as well.”
McGourty was not too far off–Area 101’s sign depicts a flying saucer beaming down through treetops on a starry night.