Sustainable Fairfax - Information on West Nile Virus

Information on West Nile Virus

As you may have heard, a dead crow was found on a path between Peri Park and the Fairfax Pavilion in early August. The Marin-Sonoma Mosquito Vector Control District said the bird, along with another found in Petaluma, tested positive for West Nile Virus, but said no human cases have been reported. The virus is spread to humans by mosquitoes.

How best should Fairfax respond to this finding? Should the town suspend the pesticide ordinance in view of the West Nile virus? Of course, our answer would be a resounding NO! While communities have good intentions, many existing policies and programs may be dangerous to children, adults and wildlife and inadequate by relying too heavily on spraying pesticides to kill adult mosquitoes. We need to protect ourselves and our children from toxins.

For more information about the virus and alternative ways of dealing with the problem, check out these links:

More information about Fairfax's Neighborhood Notification (Pesticide) ordinance

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Fairfax Scoop

When Ray Martin opened the Scoop in 2001, he was the first Bay Area entrepreneur to sell organic ice cream flavored with sustainably sourced and local ingredients, such as on organic ice cream base from Straus organic creamery in Marshall, strawberries from Russ Sartori's farm in Tomales, raspberries from Mt. Barnabe Farms in San Geronimo, lavender and honey grown in West Marin. Fairfax Scoop has gone on to become one of Marin's hottest destinations for ice cream served in cookie-like, waffled cones and cups made fresh, on the premises, also from organic ingredients. A dozen flavors are served at any time; these always include one soy ice cream and one sorbet.

Recently they churned up the best peach ice cream I've ever had and a creamy, bracing lemon poppy seed. Other interesting taste treats are Grasshopper, mint ice cream colored green with spirulina, with chunks of Newman's Own organic mint cookies; and Hula Dance, coconut ice cream rippled with fudge, macadamia nuts and white chocolate. At Christmastime, their eggnog ice cream is unbeatable, as is a pumpkin made with sugar pie pumpkins from Allstar Organics in Nicasio.