Here is the next update to WELL activities and communications. We are trying to become regular with our communications. If you would like to help in this "media effort" on behalf of WELL, please let us know. Items:

• Calendar
• Details from our latest Press Release -- "An Evening with Steve Heckeroth"
• Editorials -- "An Open Letter to Bob Banner" And, "Inspiration from Brian"
• Letters to the WELL
• Current News & Projects
CALENDAR: FROM OUR LATEST PRESS RELEASE: Here is a picture of Mendocino County's own Steve Heckeroth who will be WELL's featured guest speaker. And here is the Press Release with the details. Please spread the word. Bring someone who has expressed interest in "getting off the grid" and energy independence, someone you suspect hasn't been to a WELL meeting.







For Immediate Release




Date of Release:  Nov. 11, 2005




From:  Willits Economic LocaLization (WELL)




Contact:  Dr. Jason Bradford, 707-456-0760 and jason@redinet.org




Subject:  Renewable energy expert Steve Heckeroth to speak in Willits




With skyrocketing energy prices, many recognize that investments in

conservation and renewable sources are needed to stabilize prices and ensure

continued services.  What are our options here in Willits?




Renewable energy innovator and businessman Steve Heckeroth will be

presenting "A Solar Charged Future" at the Willits Community Center on

Monday, Nov. 21st.  Steve founded his own solar energy design and production

business in 1975, and today works for one of the world's largest solar

energy companies.




Steve lives in Mendocino County, but his work is known around the world.  We

are fortunate to have talent of this kind in our midst, and look forward to

having an inspiring presentation and fruitful discussion with Steve.




This event is Nov. 21st, 6:30-8:30 pm, at the Willits Community Center, 111

E. Commercial Street.  Donation at the door requested.




More information about Steve Heckeroth can be found at: www.renewables.com




Willits Economic LocaLization (WELL) sponsors this event.  WELL's mission is

to foster the creation of a sustainable economy based on local resources.

(See:  www.willitseconomiclocalization.org).

EDITORIAL: Here is a letter I recently wrote to Bob Banner, the Publisher/Editor of HopeDance, a fabulous bi-monthy publication out of San Luis Obispo. Bob came to town recently to screen a film on Judi Bari and to garner interest in his intention to publish a special edition of HopeDance targeted specifically for Mendocino county. He SEES how our county is emerging on the cutting edge of sustainability. My intent was to encourage him to count of us here to help him.

Dear Bob,

You can't do it alone. But you know that.

We're going to do it with you. You know that, too.

You have the strength, the vision, and to humility to pull it off. We do, too. Because it's time. We know that, too.

It's time to dance. Not just walk our talk, but dance our talk. And, if we do, our children and grandchildren will dance with us.

We'll come together on the pages of Hope Dance. We're counting on you to balance us out -- not individually, but collectively. We'll feel what it's like to be greater than the sum of our parts. The paper. Our person. As above, so below.

Thanks for driving 400 miles to our little town where Judi Bari lived to show us the film about her. And a fine film it was. Many in that room were friends of Judi's.

Our connection to Hope Dance will help us harmonize as we learn how to make Willits more sustainable.

Seeking "radical solutions inspiring hope",

Lanny

Here are a few words of "welcome" from Brian Weller: Welcome to the Well The Well is a living metaphor for place and locale -our sense of identity A gathering place for sharing the days news ideas, stories, information & local culture debates, discussions & issues of the day Respected as the essence of life- as we draw deeply from the well, we draw deeply from natures' bounty. The waters' level represents a measure of the seasonal supply-therefore draw wisely A place to welcome strangers An ancient place considered sacred for our ceremonies, celebrations & intentions (the Wishing Well) A focus for our shared values, spiritual, social and material- our Well-Being >:D< LETTERS:

From someone wanting to do an article on WELL for the North Bay Progressive --

"Thank you for the information about Willits. I'm grateful for the willingness of WELL to share your information with other communities. This sharing of information is so vital with the powering down we are all working on." Ellen Bicheler, Petaluma

CURRENT NEWS & PROJECTS: Here is the URL for listening online (download or stream) an interview of our own Alan Falleri, Willits City Planner. He spoke with enthusiam of his job and of the efforts of WELL. WELL can take some credit for sparking Alan who, in turn, has refocused the attention of our city on issues of sustainability in a post-carbon era. This interview was conducted by David Room for the Global Public Media organization, which became interested in us after Julian Darley came to Willits and gave a major presentation as featured speaker to WELL. http://media.globalpublicmedia.com/RM/2005/11/Falleri.20051024.mp3 Other towns have been sparked by our WELL-work here in Willits. One such who has visited us is Larry Robinson, mayor of Sebastopol. Subsequent to his visit, David Room also interviewed Larry. Here is a transcript of that interview: http://www.globalpublicmedia.com/transcripts/481 Many months ago, Richard Heinberg came to Willits and gave a stirring presentation. Over 200 Willitsians came to a WELL Monday to meet and hear him. Here is the URL for downloading his Sebastopol gig: http://www.globalpublicmedia.com/interviews/558 And lastly, also tagging a Global Public Media URL, here is an excerpt from a major GPM article entitled: "Powering Down America: Local Government's Role In The Transition To A Post-Petroleum World". In this article, Willits and our own Ron Orenstein are highlighted in terms of energy independence. The WELL Ad Hoc Committee's report referred to can be found on our own website at: http://www.willitseconomiclocalization.org/EnergyIndependencePlan.pdf WELL-inspired projects:

• The new Howard Hospital...will be green
• Community gardens...springing up everywhere in the valley
• The Gleaners
• The Ad-Hoc Energy Sub-committee, off-shoot of the WELL Energy Working Group
• Willits a model for Emergency/Disaster Preparedness, Town Hall Meeting/Panel Discussion
• Jason & Brian's all day workshop at the Solar Living Institute
• Brian Corzilius' Energy Working Group Inventory
• WELL's presentation at GreenFest, given by Annie & Brian Weller
• SolFest presentation, given by Annie, Brian, and Jason
• Soon: The Barn-Raising Project, spearheaded by Diane Smalley and others...
• And the work goes on...dancing for hope, our children, and a healther planet....

Until we meet again, YMHOS, Lanny Cotler