Russian River fire chief reinstated after furor

With two of its members facing a recall, the embattled board of the Russian River Fire Protection District on Friday reinstated the chief it summarily fired in August.

It was the latest turn in a drama that has roiled the district for months, since the board unexpectedly and without explanation dismissed popular 29-year fire services veteran Max Ming.

Board Chairman Kevin O'Shea, who with board member Linda Payne is the target of the recall effort, announced the decision with the board's attorney at his side Friday, saying Ming would return under an amended agreement with the Forestville Fire Protection District.

The two districts share a chief and Ming, since being fired from Russian River, has remained at the helm in Forestville, which had protested his firing and pushed for mediation to resolve the issue...

Read full story in The Press Democrat

Suspected electrical fire damages Guerneville house

A suspected electrical fire caused serious damage to an unoccupied home in Guerneville Tuesday morning....Firefighters from Monte Rio and Forestville assisted in battling the blaze.

Read more at The Press Democrat

Give blood before the Townhall meeting

Tomorrow, June 27, you can give blood at the fire station between 3 and 7 PM. If you time it right yo can make it to the TownHall meeting at 7 PM. Here is the latest from the Forestville Planning Association about the meeting:

TOWN MEETING - WED JUNE 27, 7-8:30 pm

                  Oddfellows Hall

              Corner of 116 and Covey Road

  

Agenda:

+Update on possible acquisition of Downtown Park Land *

+Update on Mirabel Road/Hwy 116 Roundabout

+Update on Forestville Community Fund Awards

*There is a lot of excitement about Forestville possibly getting a downtown square/park (the old Thiessen development).  In past Town Meetings our desire for such an area has been clear.  This Town Meeting will bring us up to date on the current process towards acquiring the land, and ask, what are your ideas and opinions?  How large a park do we want—all 8 acres or a smaller Town Square portion?  What are creative ways in which the park might be used (e.g. playing field/Youth Park expansion, Town Square , open space)?  How will it be maintained?  If we are given a matching grant by the Sonoma County Open Space District, how might we generate the other half?  Who might be the generous and visionary Angels who could bequeath this incredible legacy to the Town?  Let’s come together and imagine this unique opportunity!

Video of the Forestville Parade 2012

The annual water fight between the kids and the Forestville Volunteer Fire Dept.

Election day

Get out and vote today. I did at my local voting place: the Fire Station.

(image source)

FORESTVILLE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT TO RECEIVE $124,416 FEMA FIREFIGHTING GRANT

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security are pleased to announce that the grant application submitted under the FY 2011 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) has been approved for the Forestville Fire Protection District for a total award of $124,416.00.
Full news at the Forestville Fire Protection District

Fire Department September 2011 Board Meeting and Public Hearing

The Forestville Fire Protection District posted the agenda for the September 2011 Board Meeting and Public Hearing on Facebook to be held on September 13 6 PM.

Exploding aerosol can damages Forestville home

From the PD:

An explosion early Monday rocked a Forestville area home, blowing out windows and damaging a wall.
The cause appeared to be a candle burning too close to an aerosol can, said Forestville Fire Chief Dan Northern.
Firefighters went to the River Road triplex home of Martha Mullen at about 5 a.m.
The explosion caused significant damage to the tiny apartment, estimated at 450-square-feet.

More, including a picture, at the Press Democrat.

October 16, Poker tournament to benefit the Youth Park and the Firefighters

October 12, Board Meeting of the Forestville Fire Protection District

The agenda for the next board meeting of Forestville Fire Protection District was posted on their Facebook page. The meeting is open to the public and is on October 12, 6 PM at the  Fire Station - 6554 Mirabel Road.

September 14, Fire tax third, final hearing

The third, final hearing about the property tax raise to cover the budget of the fire department's costs will be on Tuesday, September 14 at 6:00PM. (I posted about the first hearing, the second ,  and the article in the Press Democrat.) Below you can view the full announcement from the community bulletin board.

Forestville Fire Protection District asks voters to raise property taxes

From the Press Democrat:

By BOB NORBERG

Published: Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 4:39 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 4:39 p.m.

The Forestville Fire Protection District will be asking voters in November to approve a $75 parcel tax to cover budget shortfalls, purchase new equipment and repair its station.

The tax would be levied on any parcel with a home or business, but not on bare land, according to Fire Chief Dan Northern.
The district, which covers 25 square miles, has six full-time firefighters and 31 volunteers.
The annual budget this past year was $1.1 million, with a shortfall of $25,000.
Northern, who was reduced to half-time in a cost-cutting measure this month, said the budget for the 2010-2011 year is expected to be slightly more.
The parcel tax would raise $198,000. It requires a two-thirds vote for approval.
It would be in addition to the existing parcel tax, which raises $128,000 a year. Under that tax, a homeowner pays $40 a year.
The district generates most of its revenues from property taxes, which total almost $870,000.

July 20, Public hearing @ Forestville Fire Station

The second public hearing about the new fire tax will be on July 20 6 PM at the fire station.

Details on Facebook

July 13, Public hearing at the Forestville Fire Station

There will be a public hearing at the Forestville Fire Station July 13, Tuesday at 6 PM for the "purpose of review and hearing public comment on the re-assessment of certain parcels for the tax year 2010-2011."

Details on Facebook