Cotati Heart and Soul by Deborah Taylor-French - April 2018
“I tell the kids, somebody’s got to win, somebody’s got to lose. Just don’t fight about it. Just try to get better.” ~ Yogi Berra
Tucked between Friar Tucks’ Pub and Shige Sushi Japanese Kitchen, is a window to the Sandalady Glove Repair shop. Her door faces north. You could miss this 10 by 10-foot shop in a blink. Although Fran Fleet came to Cotati in 1968 to make signs for the Inn of the Beginning, and she made candles to sell too, she did not stick to those crafts. Now her business consists of re-stitching, cleaning, and conditioning baseball gloves. Baseball gloves are shipped to her from all over the U.S.A. Fleet has received gloves from as far away as Australia. When she opened her glove repair thirty years ago, she purchased a 1910 Singer Walking-Foot patching machine with a rotating 360-degree needle for making sandals and repairing shoes.
Walk in and smell the leather. See dozens of stacked gloves of all ages, shapes, and sizes on the counter. Her collection includes antique gloves and mitts, historic pairs of boxing gloves, dozens of thank you plaques and photographs from local Little and league teams. In 2011 Fleet invited local ball players to sign her white wall. Fleet enjoys making visitors laugh, and we were no exception. To a potential customer she quipped, “Email a photo of both sides of your glove, and if you have been abusing it, I’m going to have to abuse you.” Although we did not take her a glove to repair, her sharp wit left us in stitches.
Fleet asks customers, “Do you read?” She likes books, newspapers, and listens to audio books at work. The Sandalady Baseball Glove Repair is open Tuesday – Friday from 10 am – 5 pm at 8201A Old Redwood Hwy., Cotati CA. Visit her website or call Fleet at (707) 795-3895 or email fran@sandalady.com
Learn Heartmath at Songbird Community Healing Center
Discover how you can manage and prevent stress with Heartmath - a system of powerful, easy to learn and easy to use tools and technology. Unlock the inner guidance of your heart. Friday Flock Night, April 6, 7:30pm - 9:30pm for a suggested donation of $10-$20 Songbird Community Healing Center, 8297 Old Redwood Highway, Cotati. Call 707-795-2398 or email info@songbirdenter.org
Birds of a feather flock together at the 10th Annual Chicken BBQ
After you eat barbecue on Sunday April 8th behind Cotati City Hall (see my March column) if you are not too CHICKEN, cross the road to the Old Cotati Cabaret.
For old-fashioned boogie woogie at the 4th Annual April Foolery. From 2 to 6 pm, Sonoma County Dance Beats annual music and dance extravaganza features three bands: Wendy DeWitt withKirk Harwood and Nancy Wright, The Rhythm Drivers and Johnny Tsunami and the Hurricanes. Sliding scale cost, 10 to 30 dollars. All ages welcome, beverages available, free dance lessons, massages and door prizes. For more info call (707) 953-1663 or ann@socodancebeat.com
Sonoma County Bunfest Sunday, April 29, 2018
A free day of bunny fun, learning about house rabbits, and (of course) absolute cuteness from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. held at theBurton Avenue Recreation Center, Rohnert Park. To volunteer visit sonomacountybunfest.com or email sonomacountybunfest@gmail.com
