North Bay Report: Energy Independence, Mosquito Season and New Tool Library

Mosquito Season

It's an annual sequence: First the rains, then the sun comes out, and soon thereafter, clouds of mosquitoes. But at least now they are more of an annoyance than a health hazard.

One of the most widely deployed anti-mosquito measures is placing fish that like to feed on them into waters where eggs or larvae are found or suspected. Nizza Sequeira, Public Relations Director for the Marin-Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District, says there is such demand for the fish that her office has built its own breeding tanks for them. The first batches should be ready for new homes in May.

In all of California, there were 11 confirmed cases of West Nile Disease last year, with the highest concentration, 15, reported in Kern County. Only 20 percent of people who are bitten and infected ever show any signs of the disease, which is characterized by symptoms similar to the flu.

The offices of the Marin-Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District are located in Cotati at 595 Helman Lane. They're open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but closed for lunch between 11:30 and 12:30. Call them at 800-231-3236 (toll free) or 707-285-2200.

Listen the the whole story from KRCB here.

Tool Library

Obeying the old admonition to “find an need and fill it,” Dustin Zuckerman has created the Santa Rosa Tool Library. On April 4, it reopened in a new home, at 642 5th Street in downtown Santa Rosa.

The introduction of the Santa Rosa Tool Library started slowly, reports  Zuckerman, but it gradually gathered support and users.

The Santa Rosa Tool Library lends hand and power tools, but only those powered by electricity. The full list of available tools is posted here. Go to this page for details on the tool library's lending policies.

Listen to the full report at KRCB by clicking here.

Sonoma County Energy Independence

Sonoma County's innovative program to charge energy-saving home improvements against future property tax bills is two years old, and growing.

The projects in the SCIEP program can be as small as $25,00 with no upper limit. Property owners can elect to repay the amount loaned over 5, 10 or 20 years. Beginning this July, participants will be required to submit before and after utility bills, to more accurately track the resulting benefits. But SCEIP manager Liz Yeager says she's confident that additional reporting will confirm a desirable outcome.

Because the loan is attached to the home or building, rather than a debt held directly by the owner, Yeager adds, the criteria for qualifying for participation are less complicated that most other types of financing.

Get the full story from KRCB here.

Editor's note: This story was reported and produced by KRCB, and written for Rohnert Park Patch with the permission of KRCB News Director Bruce Robinson.