May 10, 2001

The turn of the year has brought many changes at several Mattole conservation and restoration groups. We’d like to welcome some of the new faces (some who have been in the area for a long time, others new to the Mattole):

Mattole Restoration Council would like to welcome:

Dazzle Ekblad is working with Ali Freedlund in the Forest Practices Review Program. She is learning the intricacies of the Forest Practices Act, reviewing timber harvest plans in the Mattole, and informing residents about timber harvesting in their neighborhoods. Dazzle moved to the Mattole Valley last summer and became a resident staff member of The Petrolia School, a nonprofit ecological education center located on a 270-acre ranch. Dazzle’s other interests include holistic medicine, philosophy, and brisk swims in the Mattole River.

Nancy Smith, a fifth-generation Mattole resident, is working as Resource Center Administrative Assistant alongside Vikki Snider. Nancy has proven to be an irreplaceable addition to our staff, working in a variety of areas including membership services, office support, special projects and fundraising assistance. Nancy’s professionalism and courtesy is a model for all of us working in tight quarters in the MRC office! Nancy is also the scheduler for the Mattole Valley Community Center, makes and sells handmade gifts, and lives in Petrolia with her husband Duane.

Chris Larson, the MRC’s new Executive Director, recently moved up
from San Gregorio, Calif. (between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz). He had
been working at the San Gregorio Environmental Resource Center, as a carpenter/handyman, and as a bartender at the San Gregorio Store. While not working, he enjoys woodworking and metalworking, along with gardening and cooking (especially barbecue).

In addition, we would like to welcome Ray Lingel as the new Executive Director of the Mattole Salmon Group (see story, page 12). Ray is a long-time member of the Salmon Group, residing in the South Fork Bear Creek area. Ray is also a Board member of the Mattole Restoration Council. We are looking forward to working with Ray on a variety of cooperative projects this summer.

To round out the crew of new Executive Directors, we welcome Eric Goldsmith at Sanctuary Forest, Inc.
in Whitethorn. Eric arrived from Washington, D.C., where he worked for Save America’s Forests, a public-lands advocacy group. He replaces long-time Director Rondal Snodgrass. He is living in the Whitethorn area with his wife, who is originally from northern California. Eric will be furthering the organization’s long-standing role as a land trust in the Mattole headwaters area.


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Table of Contents for Mattole Restoration Newsletter, Issue 16 - Spring/Sumer 2001