MENDOCINO COUNTY ANNOUNCES THE NEW YOUTH POET LAUREATE
MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA » On February 1, Point Arena High School sophomore Sidney Regelbrugge begins her tenure as Mendocino County’s Youth Poet Laureate (YPL), having been selected from a competitive field of 12 students by distinguished local poets and teachers.
For those who have followed Regelbregge, this honor is no surprise. Regelbregge was the 2021 winner of the Point Arena High School Poetry Out Loud recitation contest and the runner-up for Mendocino County. In the summer of 2021, she was the Mendocino Writer’s Conference High School Scholarship winner, where she won third place for her short story, Promises for Another Life, in the young adult category.
As youth poet laureate, Regelbregge will conduct at least five public appearances, such as readings or workshops — ideally one within each supervisorial district if COVID restrictions do not force events online. Her first virtual poetry reading to celebrate her appointment will be March 13 at 3:00 pm via Zoom with local poets laureate Melissa EleftherionCarr of Ukiah and Blake More of Point Arena. Visit tinyurl.com/ YPLMarch2020 to register and receive a zoom link.
Along with the title, Regelbregge receives a $500 prize and an opportunity to publish a collection of her own poems or to spearhead a broader youth publication opportunity.
Regelbregge said, “I’ve spent my entire life stuck between the forest and the Pacific Ocean. I am a fifteen-year-old poet, who also exists in the world of music and mixed literature. I am an only child, who speaks her mind and at times when words are hard to say out loud. Written emotions
on a page are my other communication. Poetry is the outsourcing of emotions when everything and everyone in the entire world feels like they are against you. Poetry is the expression of all emotions and feelings, it’s the feeling of love by a wood fire, it’s crying on the front porch watching your
first love drive away. Poems are the outbursts of anger when no matter how much you scream no one hears you. To me, poetry is my heart and soul, the unjudged place where everyone is welcome. It gives voices to those who don’t have one themselves. Poetry is home. It’s always safe and has
been my home for many years and one I hope to invite others too.”
In addition to being a poet, Regelbregge plays concert piano and saxophone and is a multi-sport athlete.
Blake More, current Poet Laureate of Point Arena, longtime
The Mendocino County Fire Safe Council has allotted $50,000 for the 2022 Fire Safety Micro-Grant Program which will provide direct financial assistance to organizations working to improve wildfire preparedness and resilience around the county.
The funds will be made available to Neighborhood Fire Safe Councils affiliated with MCFSC and fire districts or fire departments operating within Mendocino County. Individual grant applications will be considered for projects between $2,000 and $6,000, and applications are limited to one per organization.
Applications for the 2022 Fire Safety Micro-Grant Program will be accepted from Feb. 1 to March 1. MCFSC will review applications during the month of March and applicants will receive notice of their application status no later than March 31.
The Fire Safety Micro-Grant Program is intended to facilitate actionable progress toward wildfire resiliency and to foster strong relationships within and between NFSCs and fire departments.
Wildfire preparedness and resilience are best accomplished through a community effort, and this grant program is intended to stimulate local-level discussion, organization and prioritizing of fire-risk needs. Projects eligible for funding include but are not limited to: neighborhood workdays to clear brush in strategic locations; neighborhood alert systems; fuel reduction along primary access roads; home preparedness assessments; emergency water source development; bulk purchase of reflective address signs or home-hardening equipment; road renaming and/or signage; responder emergency mapping, with or without Knox or similar lockboxes at rural road entries; wildfire-safety trainings; joining a fire-detection camera network—and other creative ways of addressing locally identified priorities.
Preference will be given to projects that can show a significant benefit toward improving wildfire safety, preparedness and resilience. Successful projects would also generate photos, quotes and/or stories that can be shared with others; have a project lead with experience on previous similar projects, or otherwise demonstrate a strong likelihood of success; and/or leverage volunteer time and collaboration (if applicable) with other local groups or fire departments. Proposals for projects or equipment that can be funded through other sources is discouraged. Projects must be completed by March 31, 2023, and preferably before the end of the year.
Applicants should thoroughly review the program Guidelines prior to submitting an application. More information can be found on the MCFSC website at https://firesafemendocino.org/microgrant-program, or you may contact MCFSC directly with questions or to receive the Guidelines and Application Form: emily@ firesafemendocino.org or 707-486-9838.
This funding opportunity was made possible by the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council and its members and donors, with special thanks to Factory Pipe, LLC for their funding contribution toward this program.