#chris lauritzen

Dawn Morrow was recently elected 2020 president of the Ironhouse Sanitary District Board of Directors, replacing Director Peter Zirkle who wrapped his role as Board President for 2019. She was unanimously selected by the organization’s Board of Directors on Dec. 3 for the position. Morrow served as the District’s vice president in 2019.

“We are excited to have Dawn lead the team,” said…

Ironhouse Sanitary District Receives District of Distinction Accreditation

Ironhouse Sanitary District is proud to be re-accredited for the Special District Leadership Foundation’s (SDLF) District of Distinction. For Ironhouse, one of the most important measures of success is remaining diligent in being open and transparent to our community. It is one of the reasons the District takes the time and effort to apply for the SDLF’s District of Distinction accreditation and…

Paper as quality filter? Elegant reissue of ‘Flatland’ makes non-digital point

Wired has an interesting feature article on one-man publisher Chris Lauritzen’s year-and-a-half crowdfunded publishing project to produce an elegant, beautiful softcover reprint of the classic public-domain work Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott. Issued through his publishing company Epilogue Press, funded by a highly-successful Kickstarter, this version of Flatland is meant to be appreciated, but it’s…

On a moment’s notice, Oakley’s Chris Lauritzen made his boat available to respond as he guided two East Contra Costa County Firefighters and AMR out onto the Delta to meet up with the US Coast Guard to join in the search.

After about 20-minutes time, the adult and 11-year-old child were located and rescued without injury. Both were wearing life jackets. It was later learned that their dog was also on the kayak when it overturned.

The Coast Guard then located the dog after a search and was soon reunited with its owners when Lauritzen took the family back onto the Delta with the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office, Marine Patrol.

No one was injured in the incident.

Editors Note – Lauritzen was called because last week, the Sheriffs Office moved its Marine Patrol Unit off the water to assist on the streets. The closest available boat firefighter boat was at the Pittsburg Harbor after ECCFPD Board voted to give up their boat to CONFIRE.

Here is the release from the US Coast Guard on the incident:

Coast Guard, partners, good Samaritan rescue family in Oakley

SAN FRANCISCO — The crews of Coast Guard Station Rio Vista, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Marine Patrol unit and a maritime good Samaritan, Bodega Bell, rescued one adult, one child and a dog from an overturned vessel near Big Break Marina in Oakley Friday afternoon.

The call for assistance came in to the Contra Costa dispatch center that was subsequently transferred to the Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Command Center. A request to nearby mariners was released and Bodega Bell responded in the team effort to locate and rescue the father, son and dog.

The man and child were both wearing life jackets, which greatly increased their chances of survival and the likelihood of first responders locating them. Despite not having a marine radio, the most reliable means of maritime distress communication, they did have a cell phone, which played a critical role in locating the two individuals along with their dog.

“This case was perfectly executed,” said Chief Petty Officer Jason P. Miller, officer in charge, Coast Guard Station Rio Vista.  “There was a quick response by Station Rio Vista, Contra Costa County’s Marine unit and the good Samaritan.  Station Rio Vista’s Officer of the Day kept the 11-year-old boy, who was in the water, calm and was able to get great information which allowed the response and rescue boats to locate him and his father quickly.  The response was made more effective due to the young man’s ability to remain calm under a stressful situation.  The coordination with the Contra Costa County units was excellent. We could not have asked for a better-executed rescue.”

On Tuesday April 7, the Ironhouse Sanitary District Board of Directors voted 3-2 against supporting the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Benefit Assessment Tax.

The ECCFPD is seeking revenue to ensure the District can operate a five station model with 48 operational personnel. Without public support, the District will be reduced to three stations and firefighter layoffs.

Directors Micha…

In a rather quiet race to date, the Ironhouse Sanitary District has three candidates running for two seats. This years race would probably go unnoticed, however, current ISD Director David Huerta is not telling the truth in his ballot statement.

According to David Huerta’s Candidate Statement of Qualifications, he writes the following about rate increases:

“We kept rates flat for the last two…