Because the beaver isn't just an animal; it's an ecosystem!

Tag: Mario Alfaro


Mario Alfaro-June 5 to June 20
Reception June 8th, 6-9pm
mARTinez Gallery
630 Court Street
Martinez, CA

Whatcha doing tonight? Movie? Date night? Graduation party? Whatever it is, see if you can chisel out some time to stop by the mARTinez Gallery and shake the hand of the man who boldly painted this

And then this….

And then THIS

Just in case you’re new to this story, Mario painted the mural on Main St, and folks would stop by and ask ‘where was the beaver?’ so he added one, based on Cheryl’s photo from this website. Then the big subterranean civic muscle flexed and Mario was ordered to paint over the mural. He was very upset and also painted over his name. Director of Public works Dave Scola was good enough to speak  to the media, but he obviously was just the mouthpiece for those much more powerful – (I imagine someone who owns a block of sheetpile that reaches higher than anywhere in the city). (Maybe someone with a particular resentment for all things castor.) After the chronicle ran with the story  the city realized they better smooth things over with the artist, and Mario eventually signed his name again: this time with a very small beaver tail attached to the “O”.

Mario ‘s work will be on display for the month of June, and no one should miss this opportunity to buy this man a beer and thank him for trying to listen to the will of the people and putting Martinez in the news in Florida, Milwakee and Chicago. And by the way if you never listened to this, you really, really should. Come to think of it, even if you did listen to it you should probably do so again, because everyone deserves to laugh this hard.

Sadly, I can’t be there tonight, but go for me, okay? Tell Mario that Beaver people thank him for his effort and remember what a difference he made.Tell him we smile every time we walk past the main street bridge because we know that beaver is hidden under there.

This morning’s image surprised me. When I got it home and on the big screen I realized this beaver is Dad. Look at his very bumpy head, and different colorations. He was going back and forth across the creek up from the footbridge, emerging and returning to what we believe is a new bankhole under the cottonwood tree there. Reed still seems to be in the hole right by the footbridge, but I’ve never seen Dad down this far before. Hmm…


Mike Callahan, president of Beaver Solutions of Southampton, said he was on the road much of the time during the two stormschecking out sites where beaver flow devices had been installed.

“I was a little nervous, because in several cases flow devices were completely under water, but all of them were working. And in those cases the roads made out much better,” he said, explaining that fencing placed in front of culverts snagged beaver debris, and kept the culverts open and flowing, Mr. Callahan said.

“Where there were problems, were those culverts with grates right up against the opening that had become blocked by sticks and mud leaving the increased water flow no place to go except up and over the roads,” he said.



Beaver dam activity is seen off East Brookfield Road in North Brookfield, near the East Brookfield line. (T&G Staff/JIM COLLINS)



Apparently TS Irene damaged roads and culverta all around the state, and even though Massachusetts has “onerous” (read humane) trapping rules the state of emergency declared by the governor means all bets are off and folks are scrambling to kill as many beaver as possible before its lifted.

Luckily the areas serviced by beaver friend Mike Callahan aren’t as badly hit. That’s a perk. And the culverts covered with a metal grate are filled with debris, imagine that!

Mr. Coletta said that in those situations where flooding caused by beavers poses an immediate hazard, the priority is resolving the threat by whatever means necessary, and “dealing with the paperwork later.”

Kill’em first and ask questions later. Gosh you mean that TERRIBLE  law that prevents the state from drowning beavers and cutting off the feet of coyotes allows for emergency exceptions? Don’t tell Massachusetts Committee For Responsible Wildlife Management, it would ruin their whole schitck.

Hmm…reading further in the article I am reminded that one of my favorite bloggers is famous for saying that “Every politician is going to break your heart” meaning that whether you adore Reagan or Kennedy at some crucial point in their political career they are going to make SOME decision that betrays what you hold most dear and make you feel bereft. It’s just the way politics works, and like all heartbreaks they hurt and have the potential to make you bitter or retaliatory. That blogger notes that its good to keep in mind that in the long run you’re better off having stuff you really respect about any leader and realizing they aren’t a savior.

I guess the same can be said for beaver experts.

Mr. Callahan said his wife is a licensed trapper, but most situations can be resolved without harm to either beaver or human by finding the right balance with flow-control devices.

Sigh. Who knew beavers were going to teach me so much about life?

And one upbeat note to take with you into your Monday. Apparently the muralist Mario was seen repainting his signature this week. I’m going to imagine that after reading Friday’s scathing article in the chronicle our city manager told our Director of Public Works to take him out for a beer and soothe his feathers so that he signed the damn thing and Martinez got out of the spotlight for a moment. Apparently the peace offering did the trick, because this appeared yesterday,

Um, look closely at the “O” and think about that story of Michael Angelo painting the pompous face of  the Master of Ceremony in the underworld with Donkey Ears. Go Beavers!


He who laughs last…


Let say, (and why not?) that the myopic mean-spirited decision to remove Mario’s beloved beaver from the mural was a “LEMON” of a decision. Not even a sweet juicy meyer’s lemon but one of those really juiceless bitter lemons that will never make it to a glass of tequila or even a salad.

Got it?

Carolyn Jones story this morning on the front page of the SF Chronicle then would be a frosty cool glass of the freshest lemonade you ever tasted purchased for a nickle at the top of a mountain after a sweaty climb up in 100 degree heat. Enjoy!

Martinez mural artist forced to remove beaver



Artist Mario Alfaro looks at his mural, which no longer includes the image of a beaver - or his name.Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle




Everything was looking great in the mural commissioned by Martinez to celebrate its heritage – except for one thing: the beaver. In the latest chapter of the city’s conflicted relationship with its resident beaver family, officials last week ordered the muralist to paint over the depiction of a beaver he had included in his panorama.

GO ENJOY THE REST and thanks Carolyn! And thank you also to our good friends at the city whose wisdom and decision making keep bringing us such good publicity!

Oh and since the article has already brought us attention from people far and wide who never heard of us up til now, this video will catch you up to date!


Did you see a beaver kit was added to the Main street  mural? I eagerly wrote delightful artist Mario Alfaro when I heard one was coming and suggested he look at the website for inspiration, or ask us if he needed more photos to work from

.

It’s nice to know he found what he needed!

June 22, 2008 Cheryl Reynolds


Ohh, and here’s a great story to start your weekend early. This trailer by Don Bernier and Anna Fitch is just waiting for the right buyer. Interested?

TRAILER: Return of the Beaver from Don Bernier on Vimeo.


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