Sister Jane Kelly, a Catholic nun known for founding the Plowshares center for the homeless in Ukiah and advancing social justice efforts in Mendocino County, has died. She passed away Saturday at the Alma Via Nursing Home in San Francisco. The Ukiah Daily Journal says Sister Jane organized a parish school of religion, back in 1973 when she first arrived in Ukiah and then expanded it to include the local Native American community. She also visited rancherias, and advocated for native children and their families. Sister Jane also served on the board of the non-profit Senior Indian Nutrition Center and spent nearly 40 years serving at St. Mary of the Angels parish in Ukiah before returning to her order’s motherhouse in 2011. Her accomplishments were many, including exposing theft and misconduct in the Catholic Church, while her later years were spent quietly. Sister Jane Kelly was 95 years old.
Mendocino Winegrowers, Inc.(MWI) has named Diego Mendoza as its new executive director. As a Mendocino County resident with strong roots in the local wine industry, the Board says Mendoza brings technical expertise and experience in marketing, along with a commitment to community service. He founded the marketing agency Mendozino and has a background in IT and communications. The Ukiah Daily Journal says he assumes the role just ahead of MWI’s major annual event, Taste of Mendocino, which takes place on Saturday, June 28, at the Wyndham Garden Inn in Redwood Valley.
The Fort Bragg City Council voted to begin drafting a memorandum of understanding with Mendocino Railway (the Skunk Train) regarding development of the former Georgia-Pacific mill site. The council also accepted a Mill Site Development Strategy report as a reference for future planning. This marks another step in the ongoing and often contentious process of determining the future of the 300+ acre former mill site. To refresh your memory, the Skunk Train bought the former mill site from Georgia-Pacific in 2021 and took over the environmental cleanup stemming from nearly one hundred years of pollution from the mill. Mendocino Voice says much of the angst between the two started when the Skunk Train took the position that its designation as a federal rail essentially voided out state and local regulations.
The Noyo Ocean Collective hosted an open house this past weekend at the Noyo Center’s Marine Science Field Station to present the first phase of its resilience plan for Noyo Harbor. Around 100 people attended the event, which featured maps illustrating the potential impacts of sea level rise, flooding, and erosion. Their goal is to strengthen the harbor’s economy and prepare for climate-related changes. The Mendocino Voice says the City of Fort Bragg Economic Development Manager Sarah McCormick, California Sea Grant Fellow Jami Miller, and several consultants led the event and emphasized coordination with other local planning efforts. Jinal Mehta with Arup, a global design and engineering firm, says they’re about halfway through the project.
A Cloverdale man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after allegedly starting a vegetation fire that burned over half an acre at Cloverdale River Park. 51 year old Joe Ferreira was seen walking away from the fire before 1:30 p.m. A police officer nearby quickly detained him, and firefighters were able to put down the fire before it could spread further. Evidence from the scene linked Ferreira to the fire, and he was booked into the Sonoma County jail on suspicion of arson. Mendofever says his bail has been set at $40,000. The popular recreation area along the Russian River was not severely damaged.
Several California sites have been recognized by USA Today’s Most Treasured Views in America list. Joshua Tree National Park was featured for its unique landscapes, including the Joshua trees and rock formations. For breathtaking views, you can hike to Sandstone Peak in the Santa Monica Mountains. For water activities, the Sacramento River is a must. It’s California’s longest river, which flows 60 miles through gorgeous landscapes. The Cascade Wonderland Scenic Highway, aka I-5, runs alongside the river for almost 450 miles to the San Joaquin River Delta and the San Francisco Bay.
