Android App Off-Mode Sends Messages When You’re Busy

The Android app called “Off-Mode” is a much needed device for your Nexus, Samsung, or Google or any Android based smartphone. According to Zennie62.com, Off-Mode, which is free to download at OffModeApp.com, will send a text message to anyone who calls you when you’re in a meeting, or driving, or just busy.

Texting and driving are not legal in 41 of 50 states in the USA and Washington DC. Yet, on a daily basis, I see drivers with their heads down at stoplights, and you can tell it’s because they’re texting. But then the light changes, and guess what? They’re still sitting there, holding up traffic!

Drivers are 23 times more likely to get in an accident when they’re texting and driving.

Once Off-Mode is turned on, any call or text message received will be responded to immediately by a preset text. Thus, while your Android phone has to be on, it’s basically in “airplane” mode – no text or calls come through, except for any call from a number you want to come through, like from your parents or significant other or kids.  Find out more at Zennie62.com: Android App Off-Mode Sends Messages When You’re Busy - http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/11/03/android-app-off-mode-sends-messages-when-youre-busy-46850/Android App Off-Mode Sends Messages When You’re Busy - http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/11/03/android-app-off-mode-sends-messages-when-youre-busy-46850/

Artesa Vineyard and Winery Of Sonoma, Ca, Fights The Good Fight

Artesa Winery

Artesa Winery, which has perhaps the most breath-taking winery in California, has come out fighting in a Sonoma Coast California property battle against Friends of the Gualala River.

Artesa Winery is fighting to improve and protect a neglected Sonoma, California property in the face of strident opposition from a controversial local group, Friends of the Gualala River. Sonoma County is a place known both for its excellent wine and its natural beauty.

But, the conversation has turned ugly over the effort by one well-regarded winery to renovate part of an abandoned Sonoma property into a vineyard and preserve and protect remainder of it. Artesa Vineyard and Winery has owned the 324 acre property since 1999 when it purchased the lot with the intention to use it to grow Pinot Noir.

The property has fallen into disrepair since it was used as an apple orchard in the early 1960’s. In 2009 Artesa submitted a proposal to convert 173 acres of this former orchard into vineyard and preserve the remaining 151 acres of Artesa’s proposal was approved by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) in 2012 after what official Dennis Hall called, “an extreme and exhaustive analysis of potential impacts” on the surrounding environment.

However, Artesa’s vineyard conversion was halted shortly after approval due to a local activists filing a lawsuit, even though the winery met The Friends of the Gualala River, a local activist groups, claims that Artesa’s vineyard conversion is “deforestation” and that if it is allowed to proceed it will “open the door to clear-cut coastal California forests.”

In a world concerned with global warming and in a state particularly focused on environmental concerns, the coalition has found their message resonating with some. However, others point out that the Friends of the Gualala River are misrepresenting the facts and are completely divorced from reality.

For example, the trees on the Sonoma coast property were removed by a previous owner some 40 to 60 years ago, long before the property was owned by Artesa. Only two old growth Redwood trees remain on the Artesa property, and Artesa’s plans preserve them as part of the new vineyard. Additionally, some Artesa supporters have made the point that the lot is already zoned for agricultural use.

Should Artesa withdrawal its proposal, the entire lot could be developed for other purposes, including the 151 acres the winery has committed to setting aside Concerns over a seasonal creek and other small, unnamed tributaries on the property are cited as a problem by the Friends of the Gualala, who contend that use of pesticides and groundwater for grape-production will adversely affect the area’s watershed.

However, Artesa’s Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) specifies that the vineyard will utilize a rainwater irrigation system and that the only well dug will be for use by workers and equipment cleanup. Artesa President Keith LaVine has also pointed out in recent interviews that pesticides were not used at all during the 2013 growing season in Artesa’s other vineyards, and would only be used in “rare, isolated cases.”

In case they must be used, the Artesa EIR lays out 30- to 100- foot buffer zones to protect water resources from any “vineyard disturbance.” The Artesa EIR plan goes beyond preventative concerns to specify improvements to the habitat on the property, including an expanded 3 acres of wetlands and three designated botanical preserves to protect the unique Annapolis Manzanita population which is found in the area.

Any Native American archeological sites uncovered in the conversion process are to be preserved as Surrounded by lots that have already successfully converted to vineyards, zoned for agricultural use, lacking old growth forest, and otherwise in disrepair for the last 50 years, it is hard to understand why this particular patch of Sonoma has been chosen as a battleground.

As the Sonoma County Superior Court deliberates for the next 30 days, the people at Artesa have no choice but to continue to prepare to start improving, and protecting, their slice of the beautiful Sonoma Coast.

Let’s hope reason prevails and that the objections to Artesa preserving his property are successful. The winery and their parent company have done more to enhance and preserve the property than the Friends of the Gualala River ever have.

To find out more about the facts, see: http://www.artesasonoma.com/

Richmond Mayor's Comparison Of Chevron Ecuador To Refinery Accident Is Crazy

Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin has Petroecuador Oil on her hands

Richmond Mayor says Chevron Ecuador compares to Chevron Oil Refinery Accident?

Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin can’t resist acting like an irresponsible and unknowing political activist, even in her role as the Mayor of Richmond. (Bet she doesn’t know that oil on her gloves in that Contra Costa Times photo came from the state-run Petroecuador’s many oil spills! The Mayor of Richmond thinks it’s Chevron, and doesn’t know she’s being made a fool of, but more about that later.)

Even though Chevron launched an unprecedented $15 million community program for Richmond, California just two weeks ago, that didn’t stop her from holding a mini-protest at Richmond City Hall including 25 people on Tuesday morning, the first day of the Chevron vs. Steven Donziger RICO trial in New York City.

Chevron vs. Steven Donziger is a big-deal case that, if Chevron wins, will mean that Steven Donziger and Ecuador can’t collect on the $19 billion, fraudulently arrived at judgment thrown down in an Ecuador court in 2012. Because Chevron has no assets in Ecuador, both Steven Donziger, and President Rafael Correa (who’s involvement proves that Amazon Watch either lied about or did not know Ecuador’s government was a party to the lawsuit) have been on a global hunt to get a hold of Chevron assets anywhere in the World.

So far, they’ve failed. Read why at Zennie62.com, here: Chevron Ecuador: Richmond Mayor's Comparison To Refinery Accident Is Crazy

West Contra Costa County Council of Industries See Richmond Shoreline, Terminal One, As Gold

The West Contra Costa County Council of Industries recently held a tour of Richmond, California's shoreline as part of an effort to promote the area as a great place for real estate development.

The Richmond Harbor Yacht tour, held Wednesday of this week, was created to open eyes about what can happpen in Richmond. “It’s a way for the businesses to give back to the people; to show them what a beautiful shoreline we have, but also to educate them on what we do in Richmond,” said Katrinka Ruk, the executive director of the Council of Industries told Richmond Confidential.

Richmond Confidential reports that Terminal One, a commercial and residential real estate development, is taking shape, as its lead developer, Zienwu Wu, and architecture and planning firm Kwan Henmi, is working with the Port of Richmond.

Terminal One will be 400 condominiums on 13.8 acres, and with restaurant and commercial office space.

“Ideally, we would like to see it happen within five years,” said Jason Tran, a representative of Kwan Henmi. “We understand that the process with the city can sometimes be challenging. But we are hopeful.” Terminal One will collaborate with various community groups to get their support and input on the project, Tran said to Richmond Confidential.

Stay tuned.

Tyler Hester At Leadership Public School, Richmond, CA

Watch this video about how Freshman English teacher Tyler Hester motivates his students every day at Leadership Public School in Richmond, California.

Brazilian Coffee House Restaurant Tempero Goiano, Richmond, CA

The Brazilian Coffee House Restaurant Tempero Goiano in Richmond, CA, is located at 12221 San Pablo Ave Richmond, CA 94805, (510) 237-9000. If you want to try Brazilian cuisine, this is the place to visit in Richmond!

Richmond News: Chevron's New $15 Million Community Revitalization Initiative Announced

On Tuesday, Chevron Richmond announced the start of a great $15.5 million Community Revitalization Initiative, a five-year plan to stimulate the city’s economy by creating jobs, encouraging small business development and expanding job training opportunities.

According to Zennie62.com, Chevron officials said that $10 million will be spent on economic development and did so at a press conference held Tuesday morning at Richmond’s Community Greenspace Garden. More at Zennie62.com, here: Chevron Richmond Announces $15 Million Community Revitalization Initiative - http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/10/01/chevron-richmond-announces-15-million-community-revitalization-initiative-14227/

Chevron, Contra Costa County Assessor’s Office Reach Tax Settlement Agreement

Chevron U.S.A. Inc. announced today that it has reached an agreement with the Contra Costa County Assessor’s Office to resolve property tax appeals for the years 2004-2012 concerning its Richmond Refinery.

As part of the settlement agreement, both the County Board of Supervisors and the Richmond City Council voted to approve the agreement, ending all of their respective tax claims and litigation. Chevron has previously indicated that the refinery property has been overvalued by the county. Under the terms of the agreement, Chevron has waived its claims to hundreds of millions of dollars in over assessed property taxes and will not pursue its past tax appeals.

Chevron believes the settlement discussions have fostered a better relationship with the County Assessor and will help bring the assessed value for the Richmond Refinery in line with other refineries in the Bay Area and the United States.

This agreement will also ensure greater fiscal stability to Contra Costa County’s local communities, including the City of Richmond. “Chevron is pleased to have resolved the tax issues with the Contra Costa County Assessor’s Office to ensure that we are able to preserve funding for essential services and the County’s public schools,” said Kory Judd, Chevron Richmond Refinery General Manager. “We are focused on moving forward and continuing to partner with the community to build a strong economic future for the County and the City of Richmond.”

Chevron and the Contra Costa County Assessor’s Office worked together over a year to reach this settlement. The assessed tax value is a complicated process based on several factors, such as:

· Estimating the cost of reproducing the existing improvements;
 · Comparing the assessed property to similar properties that have recently sold;
· Estimating the future income to be produced by the property and discounting the future income into an estimate of the current market value.

Racist Obama Rodeo Clown At Missouri State Fair

This story of a Racist Obama Rodeo Clown at the Missouri State Fair will upset you. Or it should if you have morals.

Chevron Statement On Richmond Fire Settlement

This is Chevron's Statement on the Richmond Fire Matter:

Chevron U.S.A. has resolved this matter by agreement with the offices of the Contra Costa County District Attorney and the Attorney General of the State of California, and approved by the Superior Court of Contra Costa County. We are committed to continuous improvement in process safety and reliability at the refinery. · Since the fire, we have worked to address issues identified in our investigation report, and by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board and CAL-OSHA. · We have worked more than 1.9 million hours over 259 days to repair and improve the Crude Unit. · We have reimbursed community members and local government agencies in Richmond and West Contra Costa County for medical and response-related costs. · We are conducting a comprehensive inspection of our refinery. To date, we have inspected over 16,000 individual piping components. We are also implementing a multi-million-dollar expansion of our air-monitoring system to include several sites in the surrounding communities.

Stay tuned.

Welcome To Richmond Focus Blog

Welcome to a new blog, this one called Richmond Focus Blog. The idea here is to catch blog posts about what's happening of note in Richmond, California. It's that simple. New restaurants, business, and political issues. Even local sports. All of it will be here. With that, let's get started.