Geyserville Grapevine

Sonoma Humane Society      

The May Chamber of Commerce Dinner featured Aiko Love, Foster Care Coordinator of the society. She brought two elderly animals with her in hopes of someone giving them what she calls Fospice Care. This cat and dog and many others at the shelter have ended up not having a family toward the end of their lives for various reasons.  They are looking for a combination of a Foster home and a Hospice. Hence the new word Fospice Care. Many of these older animals are not adoptable due to various medical issues. They have non-contagious conditions such as kidney disease, heart disease and non-painful cancer. Most have one to three years of love left to share and deserve a warm safe home. 

Whole Lot of Shaking Going On      

Many of us in Geyserville were awakened by a rocking and rolling earthquake At 2 A.M. in the morning recently. It was a 4.5 magnitude and was followed by an aftershock.  It was the biggest quake we have had for quite awhile, the largest being one on the year 2000 which was a 5.0. Geyserville is the recipient of many little quakes quite often, most not even noticed; however we are not on the path of what might be a really big quake it would seem. You can look this up and find out all the details about quakes in Geyserville and surrounding towns too.

Wine Competition Time      

On March 10th professional winemakers will gather to taste the offerings of the amateur winemaker from all around Sonoma County. Judges from Pedroncelli, Dutcher Crossing, Mill Creek, Forchini, Vintage Wine Estates, Silver Oak, and Schoolhouse Creek will use their expertize to ferret out the most pleasing tasting of the wines in the following categories. Fortified wines consisting of Angelica, Berry, Citrus, etc. Pink wines like Blanc de Noirs, Rose, White Zinfandel etc. Red wines such as Cabernet Savignon, Merlot, Petit Serah, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Generic Red. 

I have so enjoyed coming and going from Geyserville, passing the wonderful sculptures, as I make my way to our tiny two block town from the South. These two magical sea nymphs were inspired by famous classical monuments often seen in the country of Turkey with elaborately sculpted drapery blown by the wind.  Prototypes of these sculptures were used in an opera set for La Traviata, that Peter Compton, an amazing sculptor, designed. These sculptures are placed in a field along Geyserville Ave. Just as you make a sharp 15 miles an hour turn that you must do very carefully. 

As we throw away our last year calendars we might be wondering what will fill up a new one? How was the year for you? What stands out as a memory not to be forgotten? It is nice to look back on what has happened in our community and envision what is about to happen as well.  Going back in my mind is the meeting we had about the town park that was to be on the corner of Hwy. 128 and is being spearheaded by Kent England, a landscape architect. Many gathered at Catelli’s restaurant for some free food, as the Catelli’s helped to bring this possibility about. 

There are two trains of thought, but I would rather choose the second one. It has been said that the end of the Mayan Calendar means the end of the world. This would occur on December 21 2012. As this date approaches many are on edge and cite signs, like hurricanes, tornadoes, weird weather, melting ice caps and so on.

Others however are looking for a new way of living in this world. Fostering peace among nations, creating loving communities, uniting people with positive intentions and generally looking to see major changes for the better among all people.

Meleagis Galloparo, commonly known as the wild turkey is native to the forests of North America. The domestic turkey is a descendant of the species. Males have a distinctive flashy wattle or protuberance that hangs from the top of the beak called a snood. The male or Tom, is larger and more colorful then the female (hen).

Every year, when the vines turn a myriad of autumnal colors, the Chamber of Commerce sponsors this wonderful festival. There is always an amazing display of antique automobiles along with booths featuring a plethora of hand made jewelry, pottery, and surprising fun gifts to buy.

A CHANCE TO BE A WINEMAKER

Geyserville is all about wine and is known as the WINE CAPITOL OF SONOMA COUNTY. Indeed, there are a huge amount of wineries all around this tiny town. Some of the citizens become amateur winemakers and sign up for the annual amateur wine contest

I was thinking about the various possibilities for staycations in Geyserville and realized we have many ways to spend your time in our little town. If you are a bicycle enthusiast, our bike lanes are safe and scenery beyond breathtakingly beautiful. Canoe on the Russian River, boat or hike around Lake Sonoma, and wine taste everywhere. 

This auspicious year of 2012, I, Loreon Vigné, am celebrating my 80th birthday, which is always a landmark of time to have lived. I will be partying on June 8th with family and friends and shall follow up with a two day fair. Since the Harmony Fair is not happening this year and since I always went there to spend most of my time in the Goddess Grove section of the fair, I decided to create a Goddess Groove at Isis Oasis Sanctuary where I have lived for the past 34 years.

May Day Celebration

The May Day Festival is traditional in Geyserville as it was in ancient times. It was celebrated before the birth of Christ. For the Druids of the British Isles May 1 was the  2nd most important holiday of the year. In those days the custom was setting a new fire which was to lend life to the burgeoning springtime sun. Couples would pass through the smoke for good luck. In ancient Rome they worshiped Flora, the Goddess of Flowers, and celebrated from April 28 to May 2. In my youth I recall putting wild flowers at the doorstep of all the neighbors on the block. In the middle ages bringing in the  maypole from the woods was a merry occasion and villages would vie for the tallest Maypole. This year, Geyserville will be celebrating with a Maypole they have been using since 1925. This will take place at the Geyser Peak Park, North of town.  It will be on Sunday May 6th from noon to 4P.M. There will be music by Hillary Marx, the talented minister of the Geyserville Christian Church. The May Queen will be crowned at 1:30 and the Maypole will take place at 2:00. There will be food booths, the Kiwanis Rib cook-off and competition, and fun for the kids, so come to our town to join in this free historic celebration.

The Spring Equinox
Today, as I write this article, it is the day of the spring equinox 2012. Every Sunday at 3:00 P.M. a group gathers around a fire on the Isis Oasis Pavilion to read from a book called Transforming in 2012 and then discuss aspects of what these Mayan prophesies foretold. 

SCULPTORS NOT TO BE MISSED

Once again sculptors of many styles have graced Geyserville with their amazing original works that are placed throughout Geyserville Avenue. Take a walk down the few blocks that constitute our town to find these works of art in surprising places.