Oakmont’s Semimonthly Newspaper
nAl Haggerty
OVA: Elnoka Plans “Deficient”
The Draft Environmental Impact Report on Elnoka, a proposed continuing care retirement community bordering Oakmont, is “deficient” in its analysis of wildfire risk, traffic/transportation, zoning issues and noise and obstructed visibility, according to OVA’s comments on the issue. In his letter to Kristinae Toomians, senior planner for the city, OVA President Tom Kendrick challenges the developer’s assertion that the site does not lie in a High Fire Risk Zone. He said current maps and documents show “that it certainly does.” nJackie Ryan
www.oakmontvillage.com/news
June 26, 2021 • Volume 60, Number 12
Comfort Dogs Visit
Commenting on Elnoka at the OVA Board meeting June 15, Kendrick said he suspects the city Planning Commission will ask for an updated EIR after spending the late summer and early fall evaluating comments on the project. This is likely to push further evaluation of Elnoka well into 2022. Elnoka would include 664 living units in apartments and cottages, a senior care center with 62 units, plus employee housing and central facilities for residents. See elnoka on page 5
Getting Prepared For Fire—It’s Personal
With an early declaration of fire season, personal preparedness—from home hardening to evacuation plans—is the top priority of the summer, according to Santa Rosa fire officials. “People should remain focused on what they can do to mitigate the risk to their homes and properties,” said Paul Lowenthal, Santa Rosa assistant fire marshal. “We often see people pointing to a dead branch 100 feet away, when the defensible space immediately around the home may not be adequate,
or leaves and wood chips are up against the house and vents are old.” Lowenthal also emphasizes the need for residents to know their evacuation zones. City zones, unchanged from last year, are designated by names, such as the three here called Oakmont South, North and Stonebridge. Sonoma County recently released new zone designations identified by letters and numbers. See fire preparation on page 5
Comfort dogs Darla and Miranda kept their paws in the shade at an elder abuse awareness event June 15 at the Berger Center parking lot. The dogs’ handlers, Victim Advocate Elizabeth Garcia and Alex Perry, said Miranda has been working with the district attorney’s office as a comfort dog since 2015. Darla, who is one year old, is in training. Services the dogs perform include going to court with crime victims anxious about testifying in court and accompanying child abuse victims during interviews with authorities. (Photo by Julie Kiil)
Reopening Starts Return to Normal nJoyce O’Connor
This map shows the Oakmont evacuation zones and the new Sonoma County zones which are identified by numbers and letters. You can look up addresses on an interactive map at https://socoemergency.org/evacuation-map/. PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SANTA ROSA, CA PERMIT NO. 323
Oakmonters have mixed feelings about the pandemic that took over their way of life on March of 2020. Interviewed a few days after Gov. Gavin Newsom declared California open, people didn’t hesitate to express their views. Some were delighted that restrictions finally were removed. Others had strong doubts about the decision. Barbara Hopp, finishing a mask-less walk along Channel Drive, expressed delight that “life is getting back to normal.” She already is going to Mexico in a few weeks and is planning an international trip to Portugal and Spain. Dennis Sabourin was more cautious. “I expect to be back to normal by September,” he said. Tina Nerat wasn’t at all confident and didn’t hesitate expressing her feelings. She does not believe the pandemic is over and will continue playing it safe, continuing to follow COVID restrictions. She is willing to delay re-uniting with family and friends and is concerned that people are moving too quickly to start traveling, especially abroad. Her advice is “let’s see what the summer brings.” Oakmonters are well aware of their good fortune. The pandemic hasn’t touched them as it has the younger generation. They don’t have to worry about losing a job or disrupting the lives of their children and grandchildren. At their age there isn’t much they can do about this changing world. What matters now are re-connecting with loved ones—family friends and neighbors. Lupe Filea is 95 years old, grateful to be living in Oakmont, able to take care of herself and her home and to walk every day. “I’ve walked all my life. I am not afraid.” Her husband died several years ago and now their two sons who live in the area call her every morning—before her walk. See reopening on page 4