Sunday E-dition: Ambulances for Ukraine
By Sasha Paulsen
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Ambulances for Ukraine
Editorial by Sasha Paulsen
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — I spent much of 2024 working on the other side of the Mayacamas Mountains, filling in as an interim editor at the Sonoma Index-Tribune. It’s a historic paper (they have a signed receipt from Gen. Mariano Vallejo paying his subscription bill) in a lively town that had no shortage of stories to tell.
A big one began to unfold while I was there: the unraveling of a dodgy real estate empire, a story creepily reminiscent of the LendVest scandal, a Ponzi scheme that rocked Napa in the 1980s. In the Sonoma case, a group called Wake Up Sonoma began questioning the intentions of LeFever-Mattson Property Management, which had been buying up properties in Sonoma but leaving many derelict. The investigations led to the discovery that the group, which had bought $400 million in real estate in California, had unpaid property taxes, lapsed payments and links to Christian nationalists.
“Change comes from the people. It’s always been that way.” — Kaeti Bailie
The Press Democrat’s excellent investigative reporter, Phil Barber (both the PD and the Index-Tribune are part of Sonoma Media Inc.) took up the story and is still covering the collapse of the company amidst FBI investigations, bankruptcy filings, lawsuits and the loss of investments, many on the part of small mom-and-pop investors who trusted LeFever Mattson.
But this was not my favorite story. The one I loved best was about the group of Sonomans who decided to help Ukraine defend itself against the Russians who invaded their country in 2022.
One of Sonoma’s sister cities is Kaniv, Ukraine, and the Sonoma-Kaniv Committee had been gathering and sending supplies and funds to Ukraine since the war began. In 2024 they decided to expand their support: They were going to send an ambulance to Ukraine.
“It wasn’t our idea,” said Kaeti Bailie, who has been active with the sister city alliance since the 1980s. It was sparked, she said, by the announcement that the Sonoma Valley Fire Department was going to retire an ambulance.
This coincided with the discovery of an organization based in Chicago, Ambulances for Ukraine. Chris Manson, a former firefighter from Healdsburg now living in Chicago, said he was inspired to start this nonprofit by his daughter, Lily, who was 7 when the war began. He traveled to Sonoma for the ambulance project, he explained, because Lily, upset by television reports about Ukranian families being separated as mothers and children were moved to safety while their fathers stayed behind to fight, had asked him, “Dad, can we do something to help?”
His firefighting experience gave him the idea of providing retired vehicles.
“I called the Ukrainian consul general in Chicago and asked if they could use ambulances or firetrucks,” he said. “I didn’t expect to get a reply for a few days, but I got a call back that night at 10 p.m. The answer was ‘Yes!’”
After he was able to send one ambulance by air, he got a call asking, “Can you get us 20 more?” And he went to work.
After the Sonoma-Kaniv Committee decided they would add an ambulance from Sonoma to the vehicles headed to Ukraine, Bailie said, “The project took wings.” Indeed, after they acquired the vehicle, an artist painted an image of a Sonoma Valley Fire Rescue truck with white wings attached to spread the word, via poster and postcards, about the project.
They parked the ambulance in Sonoma Plaza during a farmers market, and donations poured in to help stock it with medical supplies and raise the $20,000 needed to transport it to Chicago. From there it would go to the East Coast to join other rescue vehicles on a ship. Once it reached Poland, someone would drive it into Ukraine.
By June 12, the ambulance was ready to go. On brown paper affixed to the side of the ambulance, beneath the State of California flag, Sonoma townspeople inscribed messages of hope and encouragement to travel with it to Ukraine.
“It’s a 2003 model with 104,000 miles,” Sonoma Mayor John Gurney said, “but it is in good condition because the fire department takes good care of its trucks.”
“This is a significant act of solidarity with Ukraine,” he added. “This ambulance that has served Sonoma well is going to have a glorious second life in Ukraine.”
And off it went.
Dmytro Kushneruk, consul general at the San Francisco consulate, came to the gathering to thank Sonomans for their aid. (Kushneruk has been tireless in sharing news from his country along with gratitude for the support. In Napa County he has been a supporter of Violet Grgich’s Festival of the Bells, which in turn supports Roots of Peace landmine-removal projects around the world, including in Ukraine.)
On Nov. 2, word arrived that the ambulance had arrived at the Kyiv General Hospital. On Nov. 16, Ukranian performers on a Tour of Gratitude in the United States stopped in Sonoma to present a musical thank you for the ambulance.
And then on Feb. 28 I watched the appalling attack on Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House by an American president and vice president who would abandon Ukraine to side with Russia. It capped a week of horrifying disbelief as this president tried to claim Ukraine had started this war and called Zelensky a dictator, this to a man whose heroic leadership has inspired much of the world.
Here in Napa, I called Bailie in Sonoma. We agreed that one can’t help but feel helpless in the face of the madness that has been unleashed in Washington, D.C. But only briefly, she said. Don’t underestimate the power that comes from the people, including a 7-year-old girl in Chicago who evidently understands what an American president cannot.
Bailie shared a letter they had recently received in Sonoma from the mayor of Kaniv, Ukraine, who wrote:
“On the third anniversary of Russia’s large-scale war against the Ukrainian nation, Kaniv residents and I want to convey to you and all the residents of Sonoma our boundless gratitude for your continued support in organizing resistance to the bloody dictator of the 21st century, Putin.
“In this difficult time, when the fate of our country is being decided, we believe that regardless of the intonation of the speeches of powerful politicians, the entire civilized world, which professes principles of democracy and is guided by international laws adopted after the shocks of World War II, will not allow the destruction of an entire nation.
“We believe that among the countries that consider human life to be the highest value, the United States of America will remain the leader. May the Almighty hear the words of prayer of millions of people and hasten peace for our suffering Motherland.
“With respect to our faithful friends and faith in the victory of good over evil,
Mayor Igor Renkas.”
“Change comes from the people,” Bailie said. “It’s always been that way. Think about it.”
I did, and I also thought of one valiant, slightly aged ambulance, painted with the words “Sonoma Valley Fire Rescue” and the flag of California, as it travels the roads of Ukraine.
Sasha Paulsen is a Napa Valley-based novelist and journalist.
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Poems of the Day
Of Power
By Enheduanna (c. 2285–2250 BCE)
"I am placed in the lepers' ward. Even I, Enheduanna, must find refuge. They approach my sanctuary as if it were theirs. Like the light disappearing from the horizon, I am cast from my place."
About the Author: More than 4,000 years ago in the heart of ancient Mesopotamia, Enheduanna wrote of displacement, upheaval and the shifting nature of power. The daughter of Sargon of Akkad, one of history’s earliest empire builders, she served as the high priestess of the moon god Nanna in Ur — a position of immense religious and political influence.
At some point during her tenure, she lost her position, likely due to political turmoil or local rebellion. In “The Exaltation of Inanna,” she describes being removed, her sacred role taken from her and her words turned to dust. Whether she was literally exiled or speaking metaphorically remains uncertain, but her poetry makes clear the anguish of falling from power and the hope for restoration.
Despite the instability of her time, Enheduanna’s words endured. Inscribed on clay tablets, her hymns and prayers outlived the very empire she helped unify. She remains the first known poet in history to sign her work — proving that while power may fade, the written word has the strength to outlast even the greatest civilizations.
Are you a poet, or do you have a favorite piece of verse you'd like to share? Napa Valley Features invites you to submit your poems for consideration in this series. Email your submissions to napavalleyfeatures@gmail.com with the subject line: "Poem of the Day Submission." Selected poets will receive a one-year paid subscription to Napa Valley Features (a $60 value). We can’t wait to hear from you.
Caption Contest
Pick your favorite caption or add your own in the comments below.
Possible Captions:
"Are you sure the moat is big enough?"
"This is why I don’t go into real estate with you."
"On the plus side, it’s a very exclusive neighborhood."
"The key is to finish fast, before the tide comes in."
"Is it too premature to start gathering pairs of animals?"
Last week’s contest results
In “Capturing Light — The Quiet Art of John Paul Marcelo,” the winning caption was, ""The sign said ‘Straight Ahead?,” with 71% of the votes.
"The sign said ‘Straight Ahead?”
"Do I navigate this, or just embrace it?"
"I am here. And here. And here. And still here."
"This better be worth the metaphor."
"Lost? Or exactly where I need to be?"
Last Week
Tim Carl examined Napa County’s economic challenges in “Under the Hood: Rising Property Values, Shrinking Jobs in Napa County.” Despite rising property tax revenues and strong county reserves, the region faces declining transient occupancy and sales tax revenues, weakening demand in the wine industry, and increasing reliance on corporate tourism and luxury real estate. The shift from family-owned wineries to large corporate resorts has reduced local economic reinvestment and job stability. Meanwhile, new hotel and winery developments continue despite declining visitor spending and wine demand, raising concerns about oversupply. The report suggests Napa County is undergoing a structural economic shift that could lead to further instability.
Kathleen Scavone reported in "Beavers: Nature’s Ecosystem Engineers" that beaver populations in Napa County have rebounded, with dams and dens doubling in the past decade. Once nearly extinct due to the fur trade, beavers are now recognized for their ecological benefits, including water conservation and habitat restoration. Despite occasional conflicts with landowners, organizations such as the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center promote coexistence strategies. Local advocates and wildlife rescuers help monitor and protect the species, highlighting their role in mitigating climate-change effects. Scientists and conservationists continue to emphasize the beaver’s vital contributions to Napa’s ecosystem.
Dan Berger explored best practices for handling wine in "Decanting Myths and Wine Truths," emphasizing the importance of aeration for young wines, including whites and rosés, to enhance aromas and eliminate off-putting scents. He discussed the benefits and risks of decanting, cautioning that while it improves some wines, fragile older reds can deteriorate quickly. Berger also highlighted the proper storage and serving temperatures for various wines, noting the pitfalls of exposing wine to oxygen and light. He examined traditional methods for opening and decanting vintage Ports, including the use of heated tongs, and dismissed so-called wine-enhancing gadgets as ineffective.
Tim Carl profiled plein air painter John Paul Marcelo in "Capturing Light: The Quiet Art of John Paul Marcelo," highlighting his dedication to capturing fleeting moments in nature. Marcelo, who paints daily and avoids working from photographs, draws inspiration from California Impressionists and European masters such as Monet. His work documents not only landscapes but also shifting environments and personal stories shared by those who watch him paint. Preferring a simple immersive approach, he sells much of his art directly to passersby rather than through online platforms. His paintings serve as quiet yet powerful records of time, light and place.
Drew Tomasyan shared in the Master Gardener column, ways to “Add Zing to Your Garden With Citrus,” that Napa Valley's climate is ideal for growing citrus, with lemon trees producing fruit year-round and other varieties thriving in specific seasons. He highlighted the importance of well-drained soil, proper watering and minimal pruning for healthy citrus trees. Mulching benefits citrus by conserving moisture, regulating temperature and promoting beneficial microbes while deterring pests. He also discussed the unique Pink Lemonade lemon, a sport of the Eureka variety, known for its pink flesh and striped skin. Tomasyan encouraged gardeners to explore available resources for citrus care and attend upcoming workshops.
Thank you for sharing such an inspiring experience, showing how a committed community can make a positive difference. May it empower each of us to find ways we too can reach out right where we live and work.
Suggested caption: "TIme and tide wait for no man."
What an inspiring article when we need it the most. We must never underestimate the power of individual action, even in a global situation. The evil and chaos that our country is experiencing in government is not representative of millions of kind, caring people. Bravo Sasha, for showcasing some light in the darkness!