Transit agency puts advisory council together

Special to The Enterprise

Linda Braak of Davis was one of 18 people named to the newly formed Link21 Equity Advisory Council.

Sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), Link21 is working with the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and other transportation partners to create a connected, equitable, and accessible network of train service that cares for people, the environment, and quality of life for generations to come. A new train crossing between Oakland and San Francisco is the core of the program.

After months of recruitment and a rigorous selection process, Link21 announced the selection of 18 people for appointment to the EAC. Serving up to a two-year term, members will be compensated for contributing their time, perspective, and “lived experience” or professional familiarity in technical or policy areas, such as passenger rail transportation and land use, housing, environmental, environmental justice, transit justice, and economic development.

“Equity is integral to every aspect of Link21,” said Sadie Graham, Link21 program director. “We created the EAC to help shape the program’s planning of passenger rail improvements in the Northern

California Megaregion.

The EAC will serve as an advisory body to the Link21 Program, providing input and guidance on key milestones.” would argue, that’s definitely worth acquiring. And we’re lucky enough to live in a place where lots of committed “naturalistas” make their magic. New Yorkbased Feiring writes mostly about European wines/winemakers; one of the very few California producers she recommends in this book is La Clarine Farm in the Sierra Foothills. Practically next-door.

The EAC will hold its first two meetings in January and February 2023, with subsequent meetings scheduled approximately every other month. Meetings will be held virtually and will be open to the public for brief comments with livestreaming. Information, agendas, and other materials will be available in advance of each meeting.

— Do you know of someone who has won an award or accomplished something noteworthy? Email it to newsroom@davisenter prise.net.

The project of Hank Beckmeyer and Caroline Hoël, “refugees from the music business,” La Clarine’s wine production is minuscule. They don’t have a tasting room, retail facilities, wine bar, or wedding chapel — just a small farm-and-wine operation. They’re dedicated to the principles of regenerative farming and the natural wine movement — organic/biodynamic grapes, indigenous yeast, minimal manipulation (which, Hank reminds us, doesn’t mean it’s not the hardest of work).

You can order bottles of their intriguing wine on their website — I’m excitedly waiting for my first order. Stay tuned.

If you want a bottle of natural wine tonight, head to the Co-op and pick up anything you can find from Berkeley’s Broc Cellars or Santa Cruz’s Margins Wine. Do hurry, though, since the Co-op seems determined to get rid of many of its best wines, which makes shopping locally for wine even more difficult.

On a recent Co-op trip, I overheard a couple say to one another, “This section is looking more and more like Safeway every day.” I agree. And there’s no one there to talk to or to guide you anymore. (If you’re as appalled as I am about this lack of expertise and turn toward Big Wine — check out the enormous and tasteless display of Kendall Jackson, for instance — please do complain. I complain regularly but I’m only one voice.)

Alternatively, if you have the time, drive over to The Pip Wine Bar/Shop in Dixon and talk to Amy (over a warming glass of red perhaps). She can steer you to numerous natural wines on her shelves — especially ones that aren’t too “natty” (I have a higher tolerance for “natty” than she does). She might well suggest, especially if you’re just starting to explore these wines, one of Kenny Likitprakong’s — his are favorites of both of us.

If you did have a Dry January, congratulations. It’s over. Now invest all those dollars you saved in a really gorgeous (and natural) bottle or two or three. Just ask Alice. Or Amy.

— Reach Susana Leonardi at vinosusana@gmail.com. Comment on this column at www. davisenterprise.com.

By Stephan Pastis

Classic Peanuts

By Charles M. Schulz