My friend Carol, who I’ve written about many times, fought for over twenty years to preserve a piece of the Richmond California shoreline known as Point Molate. From this bit of relatively undeveloped and little known shoreline you can see Marin County.
When she first began the fight, both Chevron (which has refineries near by) and the Indian gaming industry were interested in developing the area and the cash-strapped city of Richmond could hardly refuse their offers. So you can imagine what a struggle it was to convince city leaders that both industries would do irreparable damage to what could be an asset for the community.
Yesterday the city decided to finally honor Carol’s contribution (she died in 2021) with a bench reveal. It was a grey day, portending rain, but a couple of dozen folks showed up to speak about their friend and sit on her bench. Lots of tears, as you can imagine.
I live too far from Point Molate to have been active in the cause but I was invited to the unveiling. And welcomed warmly by an amazing group of people. Read here about their work.
Anyway, if you’re ever in the area, check out Point Molate and have a rest on Carol’s bench. She did so love to laugh so tell her a funny story!
Saying nothing in particular 
Loved this post! We got caught up in horrible accident traffic coming back from Cambria. Duffy also sent us pictures. John and I plan to do a private visit to her bench. Love,Mary Alice
We missed seeing you guys. We talked to Conor, Duffy and Aloke P. I saw other folks I thought looked familiar but couldn’t put names to faces. Conor hasn’t really changed a wit! Same old joyful guy.
How lovely. On behalf of all nature lovers, thank you Carol.
💕
I’m amazed looking back at how hard she fought. All while dealing with breast cancer treatments. Amazing lady.
It’s great that her hard work for an excellent cause paid off, and that she was recognized.
It is! Now she’ll always have a view of the place she helped save.
Used to fish under that bridge.
Cool that activism can succeed. Nice memorial.
So often one sees such benches with no idea who the named folks might be. Now you can walk the shore and actually sit and reflect back on your personal interactions with Carol.
Knowing how long Carol fought, I am really happy she has her place of honor. Carol was kind of like Tina Turner – she never did anything nice and easy!
What an uplifting story, JT! Thanks so much for sharing it. There’s such a dearth of good news these days that I cherish every bit.
Thanks Janet!
I’m sure that Carol is beyond happy in heaven looking down on what she saved. Great photos.
Thank you – it was a grey day and so the original pictures came out kind of dark – I used a filter to lighten them!
It was great story. Thanks for sharing this idea. Anita
Hi Jan, it is wonderful to read about this lovely physical tribute to your friend who fought so hard for a worthy cause.
It made all her friends feel a lot better. I think there were a few of them who felt she didn’t get the appreciation she deserved.
💚
I love this, what a perfect tribute! Thank goodness for her and others like her.
It was very nice! I was happy to hear that others are continuing her struggle.
Thank you, Carol. You deserve more than a bench. Then again, you got what you wanted… no stinky refineries, and no casino. RIP
Hopefully the fight will continue because I’m sure Chevron and the gaming industry aren’t planning to give up trying.
Someone surely will pick up the torch!
Shameron will never give up. If they don’t win with oil, they’ll do windmills.
Of course windmills are better, but should be placed creatively within the environment, so as to work for the animals, the visuals and humans’ needs.
Cheers!
We need more Carols.
(She was young. I’m from ’53…) But she did good.
RIP Carol
Believe me … she didn’t want to go.
No one does, does one? But she is fondly remembered…
We need such people. We don’t have a substitute planet, do we.