Chasing Clean Air

Dad's Pristine 4-Bedroom House-On-A-Hill for Sale in Clean Air San Rafael, California

My dad and his wife moved out of their beautiful 4-bedroom house on the regal San Rafael Loch Lomond hill surrounded by trees, birds, and spectacular views in California's Marin County. Colorful stained glass windows, stunning views of Mt. Tamalpais from most hardwood floor rooms, and an inviting porch for afternoon tea where you can watch light streaming like diamonds at play on the San Francisco Bay.

Photo is of me a few years ago on house's porch on a balmy evening. Weather is warmer than San Francisco mostly year-round, with occasional winter cold nights and rain.

Dad and Nola's pristine house, on a clean air hill, towers above the quiet Loch Lomond Marina and is up for sale. I love the peaceful feeling a marina offers; we used to walk there and sit, talk, enjoying the view, meeting locals. So, naturally, I'm writing about the house I paid visits to the past few decades.

If you want to see or buy it, open houses have begun at 20 Tweed Terrace, San Rafael, California, 94901

Did I mention Marin's clean air? Yes! Marin is located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge and if memory serves 80% of the land is preserved, including Point Reyes National Seashore and Muir Woods with the tallest in the world! Redwood Trees. Owls may be seen strolling in the evening.

Dad's house is about a mile from the uncrowded, gorgeous, China Camp State Park. Walking distance to aforementioned quiet Marina, and a local grocery store with gourmet prepared food choices, and a short drive or bus ride to downtown San Rafael with its quaint diverse restaurants, art galleries, progressive movie theatre and farmer markets.

Marin may be the place to live if you consider  unsurpassed beauty, trees, safety, great schools, educated residents, opportunity for outdoor sports, proximity to San Francisco, and some of the cleanest air in America.

Photo taken from China Camp State Park (there's an interesting museum there, hiking and mountain bike trails)

The house is for sale in the eastern section of San Rafael in Loch Lomond, which offers some of Marin's cleanest air considering it's away from large population centers and far from West Marin known for residents burning wood and creating smoke in the winter. I wrote about it here.

Year after year, the American Lung Association has recognized Marin County as one of the cleanest air counties in California, though due to wood smoke this year the rating came down a notch. Again, mostly as a result of burning in West Marin. I've never experienced wood smoke as a problem in my dad's "East" Marin neighborhood, rather clean air, beautiful views, quiet and friendly, helpful neighbors.(Photo: Point Reyes National Seashore, West Marin)

Dad recently retired after over 50 years working for the state of California, mostly as an administrative law judge with the Public Utilities Commission, the longest working judge there. And possibly the reason I'm as interested and knowledgeable regarding clean energy. Photos of Dad in Catalina where I joined him for a public hearing about water in 2011.

The solar and nuclear energy pros/cons/challenges conversations started at the dinner table growing up in the Bay Area. I have strong opinions but for today I can tell you... finding a home that feels right isn't always easy and nowhere is perfect but some areas come close, others are packed with good vibes, lives well-lived.

House for Sale

20 Tweed Terrace

San Rafael, CA 94901

To see photos of house, and learn more, click here.

Photo taken  at nearby Stinson Beach on Dad's 80th birthday with his wife, Nola, also a PUC retiree who educated the public about rewards of solar power.

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Sequoia National Park

Standing at Beetle Rock in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, I'm in California's Sequoia National Park, where I fell in love.

With the gentle giants--The Giant Sequoia Trees.

The Giant Forest, named by John Muir, had one particular Sequoia that caught my eye and captured my heart. An "old man" you might say. Aged at about 2,200.

Like a fine wine, woman or man--a tree settles into magnificence the more time goes on.

Isn't this  AWESOME?! Or do you have to be next to the gentle giant to truly appreciate its magnificence? If so, please do, GO!

Walking into my favorite tree. Kind of like a woodpecker or squirrel. (I think)

Mmmm. I like a glowing red color, changing shades with passing light.

Here's what John Muir said about the glowing red grove of gentle giants that I was privileged to walk amongst.

"When I entered this sublime wilderness the day was nearly done. The trees with rosy, glowing countenances seemed to be hushed and thoughtful, as if waiting in conscious religious dependence on the sun, and one naturally walked softly and awestricken amongst them."

The air quality was excellent, for it recently rained. This area can be impacted from pollution wafting up from San Joaquin Valley. A combination of cars and trucks, wood-burning, and pesticides. The higher elevations tend to be cleaner especially in fall, winter, and spring. Summer months bring heat and ozone. More info on air quality for area can be found here.

I enjoyed a tour with Sequoia Sightseeing Tours. Our tour included the Giant Forest and world's largest by volume tree, The General Sherman. For parts of the path, we walked in snow, which was beautiful.

 

Chasing Clean Air: Best of Mendocino Redwoods, Music and Culture!

Clean air Mendocino County located on the Northern California coast is alive with music, the arts, and giant Redwoods!

The tallest trees in the world!

Many of Mendocino's remaining 1000+ year old trees were recently saved from logging thanks to The Save the Redwoods League and The Mendocino Land Trust.

In my inspirational upcoming radio episode we'll learn how the 426-acre Noyo River Redwood property and its endangered inhabitants were saved from logging for future generations!

Winston Bowen, President of The Mendocino Land Trust, will discuss how he and Catherine Elliott from Save the Redwoods preserved the remaining 1% of Mendocino County Redwoods. To learn about the heroic work of The Mendocino Land Trust, click here.

Allan Pollack, Artistic Director of the Mendocino Music Festival taking place July 13 - 27, 2013, will discuss the music and jaw-dropping scenic Pacific Ocean views from the upcoming 27th music festival! For more information on music festival, click here.

Mark Sejvar with Visit Mendocino shares the best of organic wineries, restaurants, and the Solar-Living Institute!

Tune in Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. for Season 1, Episode 4 of Chasing Clean Air Radio with Donna Barnett where the focus will be Clean Air Mendocino County's Redwood trees, music and culture.

The Mendocino hills are alive with music!

How to listen to Chasing Clean Air Radio

• Listen at your leisure.

• Click here to listen during or after show.

• Call-in during show: (347) 989-8751

It will be a stimulating conversation!

Yikes! Marin Residents Burn Wood Despite Spare the Air Days

I went woodsmoke sleuthing in West Marin County on a Burn Ban Day, December 18, 2011 because I got many letters from Marin residents, saying they're frustrated and sick when neighbors burn wood (sometimes chemically-treated) and air quality control authorities appear to do, well not enough enforcement for residents' needs. 

It appears West Marin towns such as Woodacre and Forest Knolls have more wood-smoke problems than towns like San Rafael where it's less wet and cold. Novato, an area in the past I've received letters regarding wood-smoke violations, I was told improved.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) widely publicizes wood-burning bans on Spare The Air Days, and supposedly BAAQMD enforces these bans with hefty fines to violators.

Frustrated neighbors in West Marin County, California wrote they need more help, asking me to shine a brighter "light" on the wood-smoke problem.

So I took a walk on the smokey-side:

In West Marin on a burn ban day (SPARE THE AIR!), after only a couple of blocks of walking, I found 3 houses burning wood. Wafting smoke was so bad that despite feeling healthy and bouncy in my initial steps, a headache crept between my temples and I slowed to a--Get me indoors!--as I unwittingly inhaled gobs of fine particulate matter.

And it wasn't just smoke.

It was stinky, chemical-smelling, smoke. The stuff of potential migraines for those who tend toward headaches.

Because I felt weaker and headachy after breathing the sort of smoke that is known to cause disease over time, I left the area.

Moving Planet Worldwide Event To Inspire People To Move Away From Fossil Fuels

Moving Planet is a worldwide day celebrating events in 175 countries that will educate people on how and why to get off of fossil fuels.

Photos of days event throughout world will be splashed outside UN building in New York.

PARKLETS! Pavement to Parks - The Flowering of Common Sense in a City

The greening of San Francisco is underway! Pavement to Parks is a collaborative effort between the SF Mayor, City Planning Dept. and residents to replace pavement for parks with PARKLETS throughout the city.

Great idea!