Earlier today, the California Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. The court’s 4-to-3 decision struck down two state laws that had limited marriages to unions between a man and a woman. The ruling will make California the second state, after Massachusetts, to allow same-sex marriages.

The cases before the California court were brought by the city of San Francisco, two dozen gay and lesbian couples and gay rights groups. Santa Rosa, along with Sebastopol, Cloverdale and 15 other cities and 4 counties, had filed friend-of-the-court briefs supporting same-sex marriage...more.

Yesterday was so hot, I was so cranky, and everything seemed to be going so, so wrong. And I kept putting off turning on my computer and opening the newspaper because both things always seem to bring more bad news. So, what a great surprise it was when I finally took the plunge, only to find out that Armstrong Woods and other State Parks have probably been spared the budget ax. Yeah! It’s a relief to know that when I feel overwhelmed by the news of the day, I still have Armstrong Woods to go to for a boost to my spirit.

Read today's article in the Press Democrat.

Do your hamstring stretches and fill up the water bottle--tomorrow is Bike to Work Day. This is Sonoma County's main event for National Bike to Work Month, and over 2,200 people throughout the county are expected to ride their bikes to work tomorrow. Other events sponsored by the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition this month include:

• May 18 : Bike Swap and Flea Market
  Get bike parts or a “project” bike. Come on out for this Bike to Work Month fundraiser for Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition. 9am to 2pm, Santa Rosa Veterans Building, 1351 Maple St., Santa Rosa.
• May 24 : Bike-to Movie
  Ride your bike to a special Bike to Work Month screening of three films about bicycling for transportation. Free popcorn, plus soft drinks and beer for sale. doors at 7pm, Screening begins at 7:30; 515 Orchard Performance Space (in the Cherry Historical District) Santa Rosa; $7-$20 sliding scale to benefit Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition. Please RSVP, seating is limited: SandraL@BikeSonoma.org, (707) 545-0153

I happened to come across some maps for the proposed casino in Rohnert Park. It’s a bigger chunk of land than I had envisioned. From what I understand, the site is 65 acres and is slated for a casino, a 2,000 seat auditorium, an 8-story hotel, and parking including a 6-story garage. I believe the bigger parcel on the map will be for a sewage treatment plant and water treatment plant. This would be the largest commercial development in the history of Sonoma County.

I’d been looking up information about the proposed casino because an old high school buddy has a son who is considering going to SSU. And my friend isn’t too keen about him living so close to a casino. She believes gambling establishment tend to draw some unsavory elements to town. Since speaking with her, I’ve asked other friends what they think, and, sure enough, SSU would go down in their esteem if the casino is built a couple of miles away. Too bad, it’s a good school. Yet, many of my friends who live in various parts of Sonoma County aren’t opposed to a casino being built in Rohnert Park because everyone’s too terrified that, if it doesn’t go up there, it might go up somewhere else in the county—maybe closer to them. But folks who are against the project say a casino could be kept out of Sonoma County altogether.

One of the opposition groups has published statements from Sonoma County June 2008 Primary candidates regarding their views on the casino. Quite a few have posted their statements and, so far, it’s all thumbs down. I know quite a few people who assumed Sharon Wright would be in favor of the casino. Yet, even she’s against it. She wrote: “…As to the issue of Indian recompense; my great grandmother was full blooded Cherokee. My ancestors walked the trail of tears. I am fully aware of Indian history and yet as a member of this community I cannot in good conscious in any way support this Casino.” And Joe Nation (who’s running for State Senate) put up a link to his video in which he speaks out against the casino.

So, I’m sending all this info along to my high school bud. Her son still has a couple of years before he goes off to college. We’ll see what happens in the meantime.

Summer is almost here! Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of summer fun with public swimming opening up at two county parks plus a 4-day jazz celebration. See more about the Memorial Day Weekend in Sonoma County.

This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day. If you still haven’t gotten Mom something special, take it from me…get her some good chocolate. It always fits, it’s always the right color, and it’s never re-gifted. (At least the really good stuff isn’t.)

• Find the best chocolates in Sonoma County.

I took my son to the Roxy last weekend to see Iron Man. With two babies at home, my family rents almost all of our movies these days. But, every now and then, it’s fun to get out to the theater and actually sit with other people and share the event. It’s one of those human bonding experiences, I suppose. Some people get that at church. Other people get it at the ballpark. I spent a good portion of my formative years in L.A., so I get it at the movie theater.

I remember when I saw Jaws for the first time as a kid, and everyone in the theater screamed. And when I saw Star Wars, everyone burst out clapping and cheering as the Death Star blew up. Ah…those were good times. These days, movies are rarely the Big Deals they were back then. But, every now and then, the stars align and the movie and the audience mesh just right and there’s a sense of camaraderie in front of the big screen. And there was a glimpse of that at the Roxy last weekend. There was even a smattering of applause at the end. And as we left the theater, I leaned over to my son and said, “…I wish you coulda been there when the Death Star blew up…”

• Find out about Santa Rosa Movie Theaters: prices, discounts, parking, where to catch a bite before the flick and more.

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Although some of the celebrations took place over the weekend, several are happening today. For example, the family events in Roseland and in Windsor are both starting up in the late afternoon. While Mexican restaurants such as Old Mexico and the Cantina are planning on plenty of drink specials and live music. Find out more.

A mountain biker was airlifted out of Annadel State Park yesterday and flown to the trauma center at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of serious injuries following a cycling crash.

A team in the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department helicopter spotted 41-year-old Dan Kimble of Berkeley in some densely wooded hills at Annadel. The crew wasn’t able to land at the scene due to the difficult terrain. So rescuers airlifted Kimble in a rescue basket to a nearby field, where he was placed inside the helicopter.

My first reaction on hearing about the incident was relief that Kimble was rescued. But, I have to admit, my second thought was “Wow, cool, I live close to the wilderness.” I’ve been so busy in my suburban life of driving around on the same old streets and shopping for groceries and dropping my son off at Little League practices, that the idea that my “neighborhood park” of Annadel is actually a majestic wilderness of woods and hills and difficult terrain, fills me with a certain awe and glee.

Tomorrow, the laughs are on the house. Walk into a participating store and walk away with a free comic book. Each year, major publishers put out one or two issues specifically to be given away on Free Comic Book Day. This year, two places in Santa Rosa that are participating in the event are Outer Planes Comics and Games, 526 7th St. (707) 546-2000, and The Charles Schulz Museum, 2301 Hardies Lane, (707) 579-4452.

Outer Planes is making a day of it with trivia contests, raffles, costume contest, and signings by noted comic book creators. Plus, there's a whole slew of comic book titles to chose from. And if you go to the "Snoopy" Museum, you can pick up a free copy of The Unseen Peanuts, a collection of “lost” Peanuts strips from the 1950s and ‘60s.