Valley of the Moon Natural History Association

Yesterday, the Valley of the Moon Natural History Association dedicated the new group picnic area at the Wolf House Ruin with a picnic to honor Greg Hayes, president of VMNHA for 5 years and ranger at Jack London State Park for 25 years. Guests included Greg's family, current and former rangers, many volunteers and neighbors of the park. The new picnic area is located next to the Wolf House ruin in the shade of tall Coastal Redwoods.... The picnic area is now available for rental. To learn more, link to www.jacklondonpark.com.

Saturday was graduation day for the largest docent class ever. These new volunteers will staff visitor centers, lead interpretive hikes, patrol the parks on foot, bike and horseback and perform many other functions to help keep our parks open and safe for the many visitors who come to Jack London, Annadel and Sugarloaf Ridge State Parks. Click on the image to see all volunteers.

We have something to celebrate! Jack London State Historic Park will remain open under the management of the Valley of the Moon Natural History Association. Jack London Park and Benziger Family Winery invite all of our neighbors and friends to CELEBRATE BLUE SKIES AHEAD! This party will be held at the Benziger Family Winery to benefit the park.... It will feature special cave wine tasting, appetizers, a silent auction and a raffle. There will be live music by the Sue Albano and Mark Dennis Band in the Barn and Stephan Stubbins at the Cave All proceeds will benefit Jack London State Park! For more information, click on www.jacklondonpark.org.

If Jack London is in Heaven, then he must be smiling again. His beloved Beauty Ranch, which is now Jack London State Historic Park, has been saved from the budget cutter's park closures. Starting May 1, our association will assume responsibility for the daily operation of the park under a 5-year agreement signed with the state.... We are pledged not only to keep the park open, but make it a better, more interesting and family-friendly destination for locals and visitors from around the world. You can help us by becoming a member of the association or by your donation. Link on www.jacklondonpark.com or www.jacklondonpark.org.

We are happy to announce that the February 12 piano concert is sold out. We are planning another concert around Mother's Day. Stay tuned at www.jacklondonpark.org.

Our association is planning to keep Jack London State park open by contracting with the state for an operating agreement. We submitted a proposal to the state last November and we are still waiting for an answer.

The anticipated closure of state parks is hitting our sector very hard. Sugarloaf Ridge is already closed for the winter. Annadel State Park may be rescued by the County of Sonoma and may be kept open by the Regional Parks Department. Jack London State Park is now closed Tuesdays through Thursdays and is scheduled to close July 1st.

On February 12, 2012, the volunteer pianists of Jack London State Park will hold a concert in the "House of Happy Walls", playing tunes on Charmian London's Steinway piano, given to her by Jack London. Watch www.jacklondonpark.org for details to be released in January.

Sonoma County Regional Parks has reached a point in fund raising where Director Caryl Hart is prepared to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the County seek a contract with the State to take over operation of Annadel State Park.

On December 20 the Press Democrat reported that State Parks managers wrote a letter to Governor Brown, urging him to replace State Parks Director Ruth Coleman. The managers have lost confidence in Coleman's ability to handle budget cuts.