A Mendocino County organization is looking to get more art into classrooms. The Arts Council of Mendocino County has launched a program called the Get Arts in the Schools Program, or GASP. The council says it wants to make the arts a central part of the curriculum for students of all grade levels. As part of that effort, the GASP program is offering a total of $18,000 in grants to artists, writers, designers, actors, and musicians. The grants would pay for things like prep time, fees, materials, and travel. To qualify, artists must promise to take their talents directly into Mendocino County schools, with performances, workshops, or residency programs. Other qualifications include experience providing arts or related programs in a classroom or other public setting, living in the county, and membership i the Art Council. The council says it wants to involve all disciplines from dance, music, theater, and visual arts to art history, Fiber arts, indigenous arts, and printmaking. Applications are due to the arts council by November 14th. You can find out more about that program at the website artsmendocnio.org. The Arts Council says it already exposes more than 3,000 students across Mendocino County to arts and artists.
State lawmakers have approved a bill that provides additional support for culturally appropriate services to keep Native American children out of foster care. Assembly Bill 1378 would let tribes and tribal organizations work with the state Department of Social Services to provide services to prevent those children from going to foster care. Supporters say current protective services, like legal help and family counseling, are only available through non -tribal organizations that may lack the cultural background in tribal traditions and sovereignty, and that tribal kids enter foster care at higher rates than other groups. The bill is on Governor Newsom’s desk for his signature.
Cal Fire is tallying up its wildfire response so far this year. The numbers show more than 6,900 wildfires that have burned more than 520,00 acres statewide. The human toll- at least 31 deaths and more than 16,000 structures destroyed. In our area, the biggest fires this year include n the Pickett Fire last month in Napa County, which burned 6,800 acres in late August, and the Medicine Fire near Covelo that burned 262 Acres in late July. Even though the risk traditionally eases around this time of year, CalFire warns the new reality is that wildfires can strike at any time of year. As evidence, they cite new research showing late-season fires caused by lightning are becoming more common. One of those fires –a 14,000-acre fire sparked by lightning to the north in Calaveras and Stanislaus Counties that is just 50% contained.
