Time for some PLAIN talk

Originally, PLAIN was known as Pine Lake Association of Neighbors or PLAN.   Mayor Mike Stuckey, (circa 1995) co-opted PLAN.  Mayor Mike added ‘Involved' and PLAN became Pine Lake Association of Involved Neighbors or PLAIN.

When Linda and I first moved here, year 2000, we joined PLAIN; the dues, $35 a year.   A Board Member of the organization explained the purpose of the Association; as I recall, went something like this: PLAIN members get to decide what the City’s agenda and order of priorities.  What I am describing here is a politically motivated home owners association; a welcome wagon of glad handers.   At that time the “Involved Neighbors” was not classified as a 501-C3 non-profit organization.   

The Association of Involved Neighbors plotted the removal of the popular Mayor Al Fowler(circa 2001).   Fowler, at that time was the first openly gay Mayor of a city in Georgia.  Fowler’s removal split the Association and the town. Two council members resigned in protest to Mayor Fowler’s removal and formed a “Lakers” group to counter the Involved Neighbors.  In the election to replace Mayor Fowler, the Laker group candidate, Greg Zarus, won the election.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this missive, it was Mayor Mike that set up the Association of Involved Neighbors; there-by, creating a  wedge that divided the constituency into two camps, those who are ‘Involved’  and those who are, allegedly, not ‘involved.’  As a member of PLAIN, according to the narrative, you achieve a special status..

All of us are involved, not because of a PLAIN membership but because we share a common aspiration for truth and justice,  we share creativity, we share a location, we share the burden of property taxes; these are unities of the community.  An Association of Involved Neighbors does not define a community.  The Association; however, enables cronyism, a form of in-group favoritism, especially between council persons and the supportive organization, that leads to abuse of power and to corruption.  The Association of Involved Neighbors has a number of charitable endeavors: food pantry, library and raises money to help people.  Given the Association’s glaring divisive flaw, the good deeds amount to the put of lipstick on the proverbial pig.

  When I look at PLAIN and see officers of the organization using the organization to advance their political aspirations, I am appalled.  The goal that PLAIN has set for its Involved Neighbors is to control our City government and that is not a ‘charitable’ goal.

Dennis Rotch

Public Comment

Some of you know my grandson, Stevie. He was born here, October 2007. By the time Stevie was in the first grade; both his parents had died. His upbringing fell to his aunt, Donna Hopkins, her partner, Susan Ransom, Linda Peterson and me. Stevie loved the lake: he loved to play. This community shaped my grandson. The beach, the Lake, trails and the wonderful three weeks summer camp that was hosted by Ella Johnnabar for 9 years. Who can forget the sound of those children’s voices drifting across the lake: We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, and are friend are all around. Many more live nearby’, This evening, I feel that the friends of parents and children are here tonight.

Donna and I decided Stevie should live with his aunt and uncle in San Francisco. Stevie began his middle school years in the school his uncle Eric and his father Chris attended, James Lick Middle school. Stevie's literature teacher asked the class to write an essay on racism . His teachers were so impressed by Stevie’s essay, that it was shared to the entire student body.

A community can shape the future.

Unfortunately, the Mayor and City Council forced the closure of Ella Jonnabar’s summer camp. The Mayor and council took that camp away from the children, the parents, and the community.

A great blow to the community that smacks of vengeful wrath. Now the same mayor has come before us with proposals to limit beach and lake access. We must stand firm against this unwarranted and unwanted restriction of public access.

The Artist profile

The Pine Lake Voice supports the creation and presentation of original art that is rooted in community. During the coming weeks, the Voice will be posting the art works of Linda Peterson (Ahlgren) whose long association with the arts began when she moved from Buffalo to New York City in 1962. Linda became executive secretary for one year at the National Arts Club. The high light of that year was when she greeted artist Salvador Dali to a gallery of his works. Dali walked up to Linda and handed her his Ocelot; Linda, to Salvador Dali’s surprise, was not taken aback and asked him if she could hold the cat during the visit; a member of the Dali entourage retrieved the cat from Linda’s arms and Linda proceeded to escorted Salvador Dali into the gallery.

Linda heard about a vintage clothing store in Pennsylvania that was selling its entire inventory. With the money she had saved and a loan from her parents she purchased the inventory and opened a vintage and antiques clothing store called Fifties East Ltd. AKA Transformations. Located in the East Village, near the Electric Circus and Fillmore East, the venture was successful and attracted customers like young Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa, Greatful Dead band members, Woody Allen and many others. During this period she met and employed Robert Beers who later became curator of the New York Museum of Modern Art movie collection and Ann Nitschke, accountant for Andy Warhol; they became life long friends.

In 1972 Linda moved to Marin County California. For the next few years she worked as designer and sales manager for Sunflower Boutique’s in San Fransisco and as a designer for Grossman’s Paper Company in Woodacre. It was during this time Linda met and married Calvin Ahlgren, a writer and interviewer for the San Fransisco Chronicle newspaper’s arts and entertainment section, becoming a mother to Calvin’s two young children.

Linda, an activist and teacher, is a Founding Member and organizer of the Marin Peace Center and Organizer for Women’s Party for Survival. She taught art at the National Institute of Art for the Disabled. Linda’s exhibits included Merit Award, San Francisco Woman’s Artists Gallery. Corporate Art Show, Knecht, Haley, Lawrence and Smith, San Francisco Hall of Flowers Golden Gate Park, Fairfax Library, to name a few. Between 1980 to 1993 Linda traveled extensively to Europe, Mexico, Central America and Indonesia, recording her travels on canvas and watercolors.

When Linda’s photographer brother, Will Roger Peterson, moved to California in 1989, Linda, with her many connections to the Bay Area’s arts and entertainment culture, helped her brother establish himself in California. Will Peterson met Crimson Rose, Larry Harvey and others who became the founders of the Burning Man art collective. The group of Burning Man Founders met and planned early Black Rock City events at Linda’s artist studios in Bolinas, California.

Linda Moved to Pine Lake in the year 2000 because she wanted to be able to swim in the lakes warm waters which gave relief to arthritic pain, swimming almost daily with her friend Inga Witt. Linda became an Art Station member where she showed her art work receiving a first place award and two honorable mentions in Members Juried Exhibits at the Art Station. Linda participated in additional shows of her works in Pine Lake and the Primitive Eye, Decatur.

Here is a brief summary of Linda’s education: National Arts Club: Life Drawing and Water Color, New York University: Child Psychology; University of Buffalo, Psychology.’91-’92 Paper Making with Kerry Vander Meer; 1990 Mask Making With Barbara Mulhauser; 1988-92 College of Marin: Drawing, painting, Design, Print Making, Sculpture, 1985-87 Water Color with Jackie Kirk, 1981-82 Water Color with Richard Yip. Most of Linda’s original art has been sold; however, she has retained a number of her original watercolors, canvas and mixed media pieces. The Voice will first feature Linda’s water colors from her visit to Bali where she lived for a time in a rural rice growing village and her water colors of ocean side Marin County.