RBG: a Steel Magnolia life
IF Dickens’ classic was titled “A Tale of Two Parties,” the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg could define this as “The Worst of Times.” The champion of her gender and their many causes, RBG was a warrior in the battle of equality for all; a Steel Magnolia. Predictably, filling her seat became a politicized bonfire weeks before the election, which she hoped would not happen; she urged waiting until after Nov. 3. So do legions of voters. Its outcome is seen as world-changing, but probably no more than a 6-3 conservative court’s potential for overturning affirmative action, Roe v. Wade, ACA, and tossing climate change legislation. RBG raised the waterline on equality and the human experience. It wasn’t about politics. It was about conscience. A replacement requisite; if only.
* * * RAISING $196,000 for 28,000 holiday boughs for headstones at Sacramento National Cemetery is a daunting challenge this year. Thanks to COVID, group fundraisers are off the table. Despite an uncertain world, Curtis and Susie Stocking again are leading the local effort on behalf of the Remember A Vet Wreath Project, as they have since the cemetery opened in 2006. To trim costs, they have traded traditional wreaths for boughs, at about half the cost, Susie told me. Two benefits—a dinner-auction at Park Winters in March, a golf tourney in July— helped. The major dinner-auction at the Sunrise Event Center was cancelled. So to donate: www. wreathproject.org.
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“I’M happy,” said Larry Balestra of his eponymous Larry’s Produce Mecca in Suisun Valley. That was Larry’s answer to my question: “How’s business in these craziest of times?” Larry is an institution. He and his wife Lisa opened the produce stand on that site in 1986. Then it went ballistic. Larry’s roots run all the way to Italy. His great-grandfather originally immigrated to Green Valley, wherein he grew cherries and peaches. It’s all clearly in Larry’s DNA. The Balestras started out with 40 acres. Now they farm more than 1,200. Overflowing wheelbarrows roll out of the barn like in the good old days. At times, shoppers are metered; safe distancing applies to rutabagas, too. Lines were down the day I went for fresh corn. I love buttered ears. Local grocers were low, but Larry’s had three full field bins. They are into pumpkins now, in infinite sizes, shapes and colors. “We have 150 acres to harvest,” he said. Followed by holiday trees? Larry’s working on that.
A MILE or so away, I stopped at the other end of the produce stand spectrum in Suisun Valley--if there is such a thing. Comparatively, Robledo’s, a six-acre parcel on Russell Rd., is a mini cornucopia with an amazing array of locally grown fruits and veggies. I was into cukes when a fellow traveler pulled up and unzipped his beekeeper garb. Ash on his vehicle, soot on his face, Clay Ford looked a tiny bit fire-weary, for good reason. Owner-apiarist of Pleasants Valley Honey Co., Clay was hit hard by the wildfire. He lost 73 of his 81 hives, millions of bees and about $30,000, so wrote Kathy Keatley Garvey, a former Reporter editor, with links to UC Davis apiculture. “It’s been tough,” Clay said at Robledo’s, blinking smoke-stung eyes. What now? I asked. “What now,”? Clay smiled, “You rebuild.” That includes his wife, Karen. She’s all in.
* * * LIVESTOCK survivors, rescued pets and sanctuary owners were all wagging their tails when Lisa posted an update of the Vacaville Fire Art Project paintings created to benefit survivors, human and fauna. By Thursday, 10 artists had created 56 paintings; 45 sold for $13,000. And there are still four days to go. Lisa started it Sept. 1, pledging to paint one pastel original each day until Oct. 1. She enlisted artists across America to join in. Each art piece is priced at $300. Half of it goes to local area sanctuaries, and half to the Travis Credit Union Foundation’s fund for fire victims. Daily art postings made sales brisk; many sold within seconds. After Oct. 1, Lisa will continue painting, at a slower pace. Posts still on Facebook.