[Vision2020] That Wasn't Bacon Burning in Bodega

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the Press Democrat (Bodega Bay, California):

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That wasn't bacon burning in Bodega
By Chris Smith

The cleverand delicious idea came from a member of the Bodega Land Trust
(BLT): A country-gourmet BLT luncheon with local heirloom tomatoes and
custom-smoked bacon, cresty breads, homemade salads, desserts and
Gravenstein apple juice - all to benefit the BLT.

Bodega Land Trust Volunteers at McCaughey Hall, the town's fire hall, had
begun serving sandwiches at midday Saturday when havoc ignited.

With the town besieged by a raging wildfire, nobody shed tears over the
loss of patrons to the BLT feast.  But there certainly was a lot of food
left over.

The idea to leave it for the firefighters came to volunteers as the hall
transitioned to a command center.

Big, big hit.  Fire-line food is generally pretty good, but those Bodega
BLTs raised the bar.

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Bodega's Greatest Care

Bodega's greatest care today is the recovery of badly injured Ben Hakala.

The gregarious bear of a man quietly celebrated his wedding anniversary
Wednesday with his wife, Joanna, in his room at the burn center of a San
Francisco hospital.

Ben and Joanna have an 18-month-old daughter.

Fellow firefighters are planning a benefit dinner for the Hakalas.  It's
tentatively scheduled for November, but the details still are jelling. The
expectation is that Ben will be there.

A couple notes of interest about Ben: He's an ardent Sonoma Coast surfer
and both a volunteer and professional seasonal firefighter.  Prior to
being hurt while defending his town, he spoke a good deal about what he
did and saw and learned when he responded to his last big fire.

Three weeks ago today, he rushed as a member of a Cal Fire strike team to
the horrific gas blast in San Bruno.

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These are the things that caring communities do.

Later, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Eureka, California

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown