swells18
chicago Jun 1, 2009

Washingtonienne
Columbia, Maryland, Jun 8, 2009

Redwood lumber is used mostly for high-end renovations, like decks or other lifestyle features, but never for framing a home. The coast’s primary lumber product is redwood, but this downturn has hit all lumber types from pine softwoods to oak hardwoods.

CEO Richard Higgenbottom said that the harvest between 2009-2010 will be only be about one-third of our normally planned harvest. We anticipate business conditions could allow (hopefully) a return to active status within the next 18 months. Even though, when Fort Bragg’s redwood lumber mill closed in 2002, there have continued to be more than 200 truck driving, tree falling and other timber related jobs each spring, summer and fall. That will change this year (2009).

Operations like Philbrick Logging and Trucking of Comptche, Roach Brothers Logging and Anderson Logging of Fort Bragg are suffering hard times along with the rest of the industry. That’s probably more than a $500,000 in combined payroll that might not be going downtown. Losing some or all of this could be devastating to the local economy.

Philbrick said he thinks the industry needs a temporary bailout to return to health. Banks, the auto industry, the fishing industry have gotten help with government bailouts, but the timber industry has never received a dime.

Despite the record lumber prices, building is at a virtual standstill. There were 2.3 million housing starts in February 2005 despite high prices. But in February 2009 there were only about 510,000 housing starts.

Philbrick says another big problem of the timber industry is that it fails to engage the media, politicians, the nation and even local economies like Fort Bragg about how it has changed its continuing impact. “The timber industry simply doesn’t have a voice out there. “We bleed, we breathe, we spend money, we pay our taxes. We need and we deserve some help, Philbrick said”.

Seabiscuit was an unassuming champion, who raised the hopes and spirits of a beleagured nation during the Great Depression with a series of unlikely victories. A small, dull brown horse, who ran perhaps his greatest race against just a single horse: the 1937 Triple Crown winner, War Admiral. The race was held on November 1, 1938, at Pimilco in Maryland. The race drew about 40,000 spectators and was broadcast on the radio to 40 million listeners across the country, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt. War Admiral, who was the favorite to win, ran his fastest time at the track, however, Seabiscuit won the race by four lengths and set a blazing track record in the process.

Seabiscuit in his early days failed to win his first 10 races, and most times finished back in the field. After that, training him was almost an afterthought and the horse was sometimes the butt of stable jokes.

The beginning of his success started in 1936/37. Seabiscuit won eleven of his fifteen races and was the leading money winner in the U.S. that year. Seabiscuit was “Horse of the year” for 1938.

While being ridden in a race, Seabiscuit faltered. The jockey, Woolf, said that he thought the horse only stumbled and continued the race. The injury was not life threatening, although many predicted he would never race again.

Over the fall and winter of 1939, Seabiscuit’s fitness seemed to improve by each day. By the end of 1939, Smith was ready to confound veterinary opinion by returning the horse to race training. On his comeback, by the third race, Seabiscuit was back to his winning ways.

On April 10, Seabiscuit’s retirement from racing was officially anounced. When he was retired to the Ridgewood Ranch near Willits, California, (only 1 hour from Stevenswood Spa Resort) Seabiscuit was horse racing’s all-time leading money winner.

On June 23, 2007, a statue of Seabiscuit was unveiled at Seabiscuit’s home and final resting place, Ridgewood Ranch, Mendocino, California.

When coming to Stevenswood plan for the walking tours of Ridgewood Ranch. http://www.willits.org/seabiscuit.htm.

Seabiscuit became the subject of a 1949 film; The Story of Seabiscuit, a 2001 book, Seabiscuit: An American Legend, and a 2003 film, Seabiscuit, which was nominated for the Academy Award for best picture.

With more than 1.5 million new wax-coated boxes produced each day in the United States for the purpose of shipping ice packed produce to grocers and the food service industry with approximately 95% of the 660,000 tons produced each year, are hauled to our overflowing landfills.

With these facts in mind Stevenswood Spa Resort has decided to help be a part of the solution.

After researching, we are delighted with our new earth friendly, eco-friendly firelogs. They offer hot burning superior flame optics and heat characteristics that are far better than burning just regular firewood.

Yes, during these times when businesses are cutting back, here at Stevenswood, bearing the extra expense for these superior firelogs seems only correct. We hope that when you join us here that you will love and appreciate these firelogs as much as we do.

In this day & age, when so many people are so quick to be critical, and not take the time to praise, I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you & let  you know that you & your staff are greatly appreciated.

The hospitality extended by all of you has been beyond reproach.

Of special note, I must say that Joanie is truly a gem & an absolute delight. Upon check-in, she greeted me with warmth & professionalism. She introduced me to your other fine staff (Jeanine & Connie) and immediately made me feel “at home”

You, Michael, was so kind & gracious.

It is clear that you & your staff take pride in the resort and all of you certainly ensured that I had a most wonderful stay.

In closing, I just want to say ”thanks” to you & your staff. I look forward to re-visiting all of you.

Have a great day!

With sincere appreciation,

Mary Lawrence

Join us for our 27th Annual  Mendocino Coast Whale Festivals. The festivals are held on the first and third weekend in March. The first weekend March 7, 8  is hosted in the Village of Mendocino and the third weekend March 21, 22  hosted in Fort Bragg.
The 2009 celebration is all about the migration of the Pacific Gray Whale with their newborn calves from the protected lagoons of western Baja to their ancestral feeding grounds in the cold waters of the Bering Sea. The migrating whales, numbering 18,000 to 23,000 individuals, pass by the Mendocino Coast twice each year: Once going south between the months of November and  February, and again going north between the months of February and June. Since they don’t migrate simultaneously, not all the whales make it all the way to Baja.

Major Events include:

Jughandle Creek Nature Center… on-site naturalist will set up guided whale watching walks by reservations and will provide spotting scopes and educational materials.

Chowder Tasting… at Town Hall, Saturday, March 21 from 11 am till the chowder runs out. $10.

25th Annual Whale Run and Walk… Saturday, March 21, starting at 8:30 am. 10k / 5k competitive walk

Whale Cruises… from Noyo Harbor

Lighthouse Activities… and exhibits, Saturday and Sunday from 10-4 pm. See tide pool exhibits, lighthouse history. The Frolic shipwreck artifacts, and learn from the Audobon Society and Marine Mammal Center of Sausalito, fun for the whole family!

Guided Whale Walks… at MacKerricher State Park, Saturday & Sunday.

4th Annual Marine Art Exhibit…. at the Mendocino Art Center, featuring the original work of late, honored marine artist JD Mayhew and others, Saturday & Sunday from 10-4 pm, located on Little Lake Street, Mendocino.

Microbrew Beer Tasting and Barbecue… at Eagles Hall, Saturday, March 21, from 12-5 pm. $30

Comedian… Stu Stuart is set to perform March 20 & 21 at 8 pm in the Sequoia Room at the North Coast Brewing Company. Tickets are $15.