And when, on the still cold nights, he pointed his nose at a star and howled long and wolflike, it was his ancestors, dead and dust, pointing nose at star and howling down through the centuries and through him.”

-Jack London, The Call of the Wild

Across Sonoma Mountain wisps of sea fog are stealing … I have everything to make me glad I am alive. I am filled with dreams and mysteries. I am all sun and air and sparkle. I am vitalized, organic.”
- Jack London

Retired state park ranger Gregory Hayes knows all three Sonoma Valley parks well. In the three years before he retired in 2004, he supervised Annadel, Sugarloaf and Jack London parks. For the prior 22 years, he served as a ranger in Jack London State Historic Park, where he led tours and answered questions about London, who was known for “naturalistic adventure stories” such as The Call of the Wild. In a story for Bay Nature magazine titled, “Recalling the Wild: The Literary Nature of Jack London State Park,” Hayes called the historic park on the eastern slope of 2,300-foot Sonoma Mountain a “jewel of a park.”

Jack London State Historic Park was a gift to the people of California through the will of Jack London’s widow, Charmian London, who lived here until her death in 1955. She wanted the house she built after his death – the House of Happy Walls – to become a museum in honor of her husband. The historic park opened to the public in 1959 and is now being “dismantled” wrote Timothy Egan in the New York Times.

Today the park attracts both nature lovers and literature enthusiasts. Jack London wrote many of his famous novels here until the time of his death in 1916. Historic park structures date back to times before London purchased the abandoned property from a winery in 1905. Now, Gregory Hayes worries that these historic structures, including the Wolf House (1913), the House of Happy Walls (1919), as well as the graves of John and Charmian London, will deteriorate or be vandalized if the park closes its gates. Hayes asks, “Who will be responsible for the structures?”

While Hayes has asked state representatives many questions, he has heard few answers. Sacramento state park officials have passed information down through regional offices, but the information has been vague. “We are not sure of what closures will look like,” said Hayes this past week. He also lamented, “This is not very encouraging, we know what happens when people don’t take out the garbage and use closed buildings.”

Can an all-volunteer nonprofit save the Valley of the Moon parks?

Meanwhile, Hayes, who is currently president of the Valley of the Moon Natural History Association, is working with other volunteers in hopes of keeping at least one of the three parks from being abandoned. Similar to Henry W. Coe State Park to the south of San Francisco Bay, each park runs about $300,000 to operate annually at current levels.

Like other park advocates, he wishes that these Sonoma Valley parks had a benefactor willing to support the current state park staff and operations like at Coe. But they currently lack the ability to raise the $300,000 per year per park. For the last 34 years, the nonprofit Valley of the Moon Natural History Association, an all-volunteer state park cooperating partner, has raised financial support for education programs, publications and special projects in these parks, but funds have been very modest, certainly not close to the funds needed to operate three state parks. The work of dedicated volunteers brings the greatest value.

Assembly Bill 42, now on Governor Jerry Brown’s desk, would allow nonprofits like this one to run the parks through formal operating agreements, but will they have the funds to feel confident about signing on the dotted line?

Despite the formidable obstacles, Hayes and the Valley of the Moon Natural History Association want to save the “wonderland” of parks that include salmon spawning grounds as well as romantic views into the literary history of a California legend. They are looking at the revenue and expenses of the parks and working on a proposal to keep at least Jack London State Historic Park open since this park could potentially suffer the most damage.

They hope to build visibility for the plight of Jack London State Historic Park through the numerous groups and fan clubs around the world. Many groups have come to us asking, “How can we help?” says Hayes. Several groups are organizing fundraising events for the fall from poetry readings to a piano recital and Broadway Under the Stars on October 1.

Ideas for Making it Work

In a recent Valley of the Moon Natural History Association newsletter, park advocates list five actions you can take to help save and protect the state parks as well as other ideas for consideration, such as extending the reach of regional park management agencies into the state parks.

Blog series
This is the fourth article in a series on threats to California State Parks and the search for sustainable funding as park systems are forced to reinvent. Next week I will speak with a representative of the Parks Alliance in Sonoma County, a coalition of 12 nonprofit groups, including the Valley of the Moon Natural History Association, working together to find a solution to the crisis.

Painting of Mount Ritter by William Keith

The clearest way in the Universe is through a forest wilderness. -JM

In 1872 legendary naturalist John Muir returned from explorations in the High Sierra to Yosemite Valley, where he was greeted by two artists. They inquired about his recent trip and asked if he “had ever come upon a landscape suitable for a large painting.” Muir guided the artists east through Sierra landscapes, recording scientific and poetic descriptions of the natural world as well as comments by his companions: “All of this is huge and sublime, but we see nothing as yet at all available for effective pictures.” “Never mind,” said Muir, “only bide a wee, and I will show you something you will like.” In his book The Mountains of California, Muir details this first encounter with William Keith and his adventures to Mount Ritter. The iconic landscape of this Sierra peak inspired the painting above, now on view in the Oakland Museum’s first exhibit on the life and legend of John Muir.

Before arriving at this painting in the Action realm of the special exhibit, you will first journey through the realms of Wonder, Adventure and Discovery, where you will find objects that you might only see once in your lifetime.

A Walk in the Wild: Continuing John Muir’s Journey, opens tomorrow, August 6, 2011, through January 22, 2012, in the Oakland Museum’s Great Hall.

The exhibit’s creators hope that visitors, especially younger generations who might not know the story of John Muir, will discover what made him the “Father of the National Parks” and a legend who continues to inspire environmental stewardship in California today. Through video and displays, the exhibition connects Muir’s legacy to contemporary activists called “Modern Day Muirs.” Among them are Shelton Johnson, Yosemite National Park ranger; Tori Seher, Yosemite National Park bear biologist and Alcatraz bird biologist; Kemba Shakur, tree planter for Oakland Relief and six others. The museum plans to profile each Modern Day Muir on on their blog in the coming weeks.

After spending four years researching and preparing the exhibit, guest curator Dorris Welch became “obsessed” with the story of Muir. “I have an even more profound connection now,” said Welch. “What is very interesting is how many people share that connection, that this one man could have such an influence, that his legacy lives on in such a strong way. People are inspired by him, his writings to this day. If he had not been such a prolific writer, that probably would not be the case.”



Muir’s adventures in California, Alaska and beyond are brought to life though a blend of paintings and photography like large-scale photographic murals by Steven Joseph, historical research, journals, plant collections, ecology displays and interactive digital technology. The exhibit creators want you to interact with it, so they built it to stimulate all of your senses. Of course, you will probably feel the urge to get out and see, hear and smell the real treasures that Muir fought hard to protect.



Exhibition Supporters and Collaborators
Supporters of the exhibition include the Oakland Museum Women’s Board, The Bernard Osher Foundation, the J.M. Long Foundation and the University of the Pacific Library, John Muir Papers, Holt Atherton Collections/Muir-Hanna Trust.
Additional exhibition partners and collaborators include: Bonnie Gisel, Muir scholar and author; Jerry Pentin, videographer with Spring Street Studios; Dr. Bill Swagerty and Shan Sutton, University of the Pacific, Holt Atherton Special Collections, John Muir Papers; Carola DeRooy and Isabel Jenkins Ziegler, John Muir Historic Site National Park Service; and Malcolm Margolin, Heyday Books.

Images credits in order as they appear:

1. William Keith. Mount Ritter (Crown of the Sierras). Oakland Museum of California, Gift of the Keith Art Association. Courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California.
2. Early Portrait of John Muir. Courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California.
3. Journal. Yosemite Journal, 1872. John Muir Papers, Holt- Anderson Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library. ©1984, Muir-Hanna Trust. Courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California.
4. Model of Muir’s cabin in Yosemite Valley called the “Hang Nest” including replicas of his journals and views he had from the cabin’s window. On view in the exhibition. Photo by Christine Sculati.

• Robin Hood – The largest private poverty-fighting organization in New York City
• NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross

Gulls at Kehoe by Artist Judith Corning

The work of Wilma Wyss also sparked my intrigue, particularly her piece called “Archaeological Find.” The small sculpture made of concrete and tiny mosaic tiles encases a small mirror at its core. When you stare into it your eye becomes part of the artwork as it stares back at you, perfectly framed.

Concrete and Mosaic Sculptures by Wilma Wyss

We were lucky to find a copy of the “Directory of East Bay Arts” at the first studio we visited. This made it easy to locate studios along our journey, which started in the flats and ended at the top of the hill near Grizzly Peak Boulevard. By the end of the afternoon, we had hiked over seven miles but hardly noticed.

A view of Mt Tamalpais from the Berkeley Hills

Sitara Star School. Afghanistan. (Courtesy of Central Asia Institute)

Watch the video on the Bill Moyers Journal Web site and read the transcript here.

Simdara village, where Greg Mortenson and his team unexpectedly found children attending school in a building that formerly served as a pit toilet. Afghanistan. (Courtesy of Central Asia Institute)

Children of Bichik Khan, Buzzai Gumbad, Wakhan Corridor. Afghanistan. (Image courtesy of Central Asia Institute)

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.” ~ Louisa May Alcott

1. SUSTAINABILITY
• Green business. Over the last few years of the decade, going “green” became very popular for U.S. consumers and for the business sector, where the concepts of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the triple bottom line (people, planet, profit) took off.
• Graduate business programs focused on sustainability and the “Green MBA”emerged.
• Climate change activism. More people and businesses recognized that anthropogenic climate change is real and will have environmental and economic consequences – and set out to do something about it. Was the tipping point Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth of 2006?
2. GREEN LIVING
• Plastic bag bans. Plastic bags are a significant cause of pollution in the San Francisco Bay. The cities of Fairfax, Palo Alto and San Francisco, have banned plastic bags at larger retailers, as have Berkeley’s Farmers Markets run by the Ecology Center. In Washington D.C. stores selling food or alcohol now charge 5 cents for bags with revenue going to a river protection fund.
• Bay-friendly landscaping has become a popular way of reducing water use and planting for the benefit of local wildlife.
• Daylighting urban creeks and rain gardens. In the East Bay, creek advocates continue to revitalize creek habitat as opportunities arise. This interesting story also describes innovative ways one city is capturing rain water and reducing pollution of waterways.
• Living Roofs. Also called green roofs, this innovation in building construction known to help absorb rainfall, insulate, create wildlife habitat and lower urban air temperatures became a popular attraction at the California Academy of Sciences this past year. Literacy for Environmental Justice is constructing one on top of an EcoCenter in southeast San Francisco.
3. FOOD
• Food systems and economies. Yes! Magazine features an enlightening series on topics from urban farming to protecting local farms.
• Take it slow. The Slow Money Alliance is an emerging network of investors, donors, farmers, and activists committed to building local food economies. The Slow Food movement also continues to grow.
• Food justice. Some underserved communities now have grocery stores selling healthy foods for the first time such as this one in West Oakland.
4. SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
• Microenterprise. The development of microenterprise and microfinancing is not new, but with the popularity of nonprofit social enterprise organizations like the Acumen Fund and Kiva, this movement is growing stronger, internationally and locally. In March 2009, Acumen Fund founder Jacqueline Novogratz published the inspirational book, The Blue Sweater. Locally, several Bay Area foundations have prioritized microenterprise development in their giving portfolios with an emphasis on empowering low income women of color and immigrants.
• Social entrepreneurism. This past year, The HUB, a global network of co-working centers for social innovators, came to the Bay Area thanks to support from Good Capital, Social Capital Markets Media and a small circle of angel investors. The first location is in Berkeley’s David Brower Center, and a second one is on the horizon for downtown San Francisco.
• Green jobs movement. For a good part of the last decade Van Jones successfully made the case for simultaneously solving socioeconomic inequality and environmental problems. In January 2009, The New Yorker published a feature about Jones. The successes of the Green for All campaign demonstrate how nonprofits can influence public policy. Another project, the Women’s Economic Security Campaign, published a report specific to creating opportunities for low income women in the green economy.
5. 21ST CENTURY REINVENTIONS
• Reinventing regional journalism. At a time when newspapers nationwide and locally are facing a crippling economic crisis and the traditional business models for journalism no longer work, foundations and donors are funding new nonprofit journalism ventures. In 2010, a new journalism organization focused on engaging communities in civic and community news will launch in the Bay Area.
• Museums are creating more interactive and visitor-centered exhibits using new media tools and more input from the public. Allowing visitors to experience a sense of place and community will also be important. While some visitors might complain that museum admission has become too expensive in the Bay Area, most museums offer a monthly free day, and memberships are a bargain if you visit regularly.
• Libraries in the digital age. In the economic downturn, libraries have seen a rise in patrons. In this San Francisco Chronicle article writer Tim Holt describes libraries as community gathering places “where anyone can read the newspaper, check e-mails, do homework or just sit and enjoy a safe and quiet space.” Like other traditional institutions, the role of libraries is changing in the digital age. The librarian has a new role in teaching lessons about “the reliability — or lack thereof — of information on the Internet.”
6. GETTING OUTDOORS
• Health benefits.The Washington Post reported that doctors are sending patients outdoors for physical and mental benefits.
• Parks and community health. The Trust for Public Land President Will Rogers published an article on the Huffington Post, linking urban parks to community health.
• Nature deficit disorder. A new report aims to reverse an alarming trend: 30% of teens do not participate in outdoor nature activities.
• The importance of play. This past year the Oakland-based Playworks (formerly Sports4kids) launched its first conference, PlayOn dedicated to the importance of play.
7. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
• Environmental stewardship. Removing invasive plants from Spartina to French broom, restoring habitats, and Saving the San Francisco Bay have inspired community service and garnered resources. This year the first environmental education center in southeast San Francisco and the city’s first 100 percent off-grid building will launch.
• Open space boom. Advocates for open space, including land trusts and conservation groups are seeing a silver lining in the housing market bust in the Bay Area, in the Sierra foothills and across the country.
8. LIVABLE COMMUNITIES
• More choose bikes for transportation. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition announced on their Web site that “2009 was a year of unprecedented success with a whopping 53% increase in bicycle ridership.”
• Pavement to parks and livable streets: San Francisco is leading initiatives to make paved areas into parks and periodically close streets to traffic to encourage recreation.
9. DIVERSITY
• Parks and diversity. From the release of Ken Burns widely viewed documentary series “America’s Best Idea” to new initiatives in the national park system, promoting diversity and connecting diverse youth (future stewards) to outdoor experiences have become priorities.
• Immigrant integration. New Routes to Community Health publishes illuminating multimedia stories and resources about the lives of immigrants in the United States. Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees provides resources for funders and others working to address the challenges facing newcomers and local communities, as well as resources for Census 2010.
10. SOCIAL CHANGE
• Education reform. Schools and nonprofit educational programs are calling for closing the achievement gap. Federal “Race to the Top” grant applications are due January 19 and awards will go to States that are “leading the way with ambitious yet achievable plans for implementing coherent, compelling, and comprehensive education reform.” What is California doing?
• Healthcare reform. In late December when the Senate passed its version of health care reform, social media devoted more attention to the subject than it had at any time this year according to the Pew Research Center.
• Advancing equal rights. When San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered City Hall to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples soon after taking office in 2004, gay marriage and rights received national attention. While there have been many setbacks along the way, considerable progress has been made. 2010 will also mark the first time the U.S. Census will count same-sex couples.

Of course, the list goes on. Feel free to send in additional innovation highlights via comments.

My next blog post will be about Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson, author of the best selling Three Cups of Tea.

Mr. Hirad Dinavari, a reference librarian for the Afghan, Central Asian and Iranian collections at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. will be traveling to California between September 24 and 29 to meet with Afghan and Iranian Diaspora communities in the South Bay area of San Francisco and Los Angeles. He is interested meeting with individuals and outlets that publish print materials, newspapers, periodicals, posters, books, music, film and broadcast shows for the purposes of building an archive. In addition to materials in English, he is interested in publications and productions in Dari, Pakhtu/Pashto, Uzbek, Turkmen, Hazaragi and all other regional languages.

He plans to make his first stop in Fremont to visit the Afghan Coalition and members of the Afghan American community. Fremont and nearby cities are home to the largest number of Afghans in the United States.