Got a buck? Sonoma Valley High alum, filmmaker and cycle gearhead Alden Olmsted would like to have it for his quest to save California's imperiled state parks.
Simple math tells Alden, son of late naturalist and parks founder John Olmsted, that if every Californian would stop griping about the tragic state of affairs at our parks and donate a dollar, he could give Jerry Brown $30 million for keeping the parks open.
Alden is visiting 70 state parks targeted for closure and leaving off donation jars bearing a portrait of his dad, who died in March. John Olmsted, a force of nature once active in the Mendocino Art Center, left a legacy that includes the Jug Handle Reserve near Fort Bragg.
His son, 39, invites Californians to follow his mission and perhaps contribute to it at johnolmsted.net.
Alden doesn't expect to get a buck from everybody in the state but so far he's taken in about $8,000. Whatever dough he collects and awareness he stirs will help. Bravo to him for trying.
THE NEW GARBAGE CANS at the historic Santa Rosa park where Luther Burbank lived and worked his botanical magic are things of beauty.
Check them out and see if you're not inclined to stick rubbish in your pocket or purse rather than besmirch the sturdy, wood-and-steel receptacles, donated by Jim Ratto of North Bay Corp.
Volunteers at Luther Burbank Home & Gardens especially appreciate the gift because since the city had to sharply reduce its funding of this gem of a park, it's run by a non-profit and relies ever more on community support.
At lutherburbank.org there's a catalogue of items needed at LBH&G. High on the list are sections of new pickets to replace the old, white fence that really looks shabby in relation to those new garbage cans.
POP THE QUESTION: Plans for a June 24 bridal fashion show are gelling at another lovingly restored Santa Rosa landmark, the DeTurk Round Barn. But one piece is missing.
A surprise groom. Organizer Anne Marie Przyblyski (qamq@sbcglobal.net) seeks a fellow who'd like to show up at the decked-out 1891 barn during the bridal show, fall to a knee and ask for his astonished sweetheart's hand.
There are details to iron out, clearly, but the 24th is still a dozen days away.
HARSH LESSON: For weeks, kids at Apples & Bananas Preschool in Roseland have discussed the value of recycling and collected cans and other redeemable containers.
The plan has been to sell the recyclables and use the cash for a carnival later this month. Teacher Neira Saenz has done the redeeming at the recycling center and she was about to take in a mega-load of 16 bags - about $150 worth - that were stored behind a fence at the school.
But the other night somebody broke in and stole the kids' recyclables.
"It's sad because the children worked so hard," said Saenz. "We'll have a carnival, but it's not going to be as grand."
OIL'S WELL: Burt Fohrman likes to stay busy. So a few years back the globetrotting Santa Rosa attorney and equestrian planted an olive orchard off Riebli Road with his wife, Raleigh, son Jeremy Olsan and daughter-in-law Ann DuBay.
Burt took the lead in his family's tiny olive-oil company, Quattro. He thought the taste from the 40 gallons they pressed from the 2010 harvest was excellent but he wanted a second opinion. Earlier this spring he entered his pressing in the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition.
He truly thought the email he just received was a joke. It said his olive oil won not only Best in Class for domestic, medium oils but it also earned one of only six Best of Show honors.
The award notice also invited Burt to serve tastes of Quattro at this year's L.A. County Fair. More than a million people go to that fair and he's got just four cases of the best-in-America 2010 oil left, so a dab will have to do.
Chris Smith is at 521-5211 and chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.
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