Forestville The Good Life by Lucy Hardcastle - July 2018
I’ve got a great idea for you. Kick off summertime in Forestville by coming to the
It’s the Chamber who hosts this Market, giving the rest of us a place to hang out on Tuesday evenings (ok, the 4th is on a Wednesday, but normally it’s Tuesday.) In fact, attending Chamber Board meetings is a great way to have a voice in what’s happening in our community. They normally meet the first Wednesdays of the month, 5:30 pm at the Fire Station’s community room. Memberships are $95 for businesses, $75 for non-profits and only $25 for individuals. They are getting us new “Welcome to Forestville” signs and will erect local artist banners soon. Want to get more involved in your town? They are looking for Board Members so come check them out!
Fun news in case you didn’t know. Robert Baba, who I’ve known as Robbie for years, is taking over ownership of Ideal Hardware from his dad Bob. It’s one of my favorite stops. I love the wood floors and you can get just about anything there. I like how they will help you figure out how to use, replace or fix whatever’s wrong, …well with household things that is. If you’re talking about fixing or replacing a relationship, that may take a different skill set. If that’s the case, perhaps having an ice cream cone will help. That is if you are an emotional eater like me.
So, I can report with confidence that Scoop of Sonoma is now open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1-6 pm through the summer. OwnerAlain LeCloux says business is too slow to be open every day so if we want to keep this treasure in Forestville… indulge. Alain in fact was the MC for the Wonderland Radioland Hour featuring Forestville last month. He’s super cool, and not just because he makes amazing ice cream (try his peanut butter chocolate chip) he also owns the Rio Café and Theater in Monte Rio. It’s a great stop on the way to visit the ocean, which we all should do more often don’t you think?
If you are on Cal Fresh, Singing Frog Farms is offering local organic farm fresh produce to you at half price, $13 a box. Call the Forestville Wellness Center at 823-3204, extension 6453 to sign up. You can pick up your box right at their office. Remember, “you are what you eat.” All of us could use better nutrition to improve our health so even if you are not on Cal Fresh, you could still get aSinging Frog box. Check out singingfrogsfarm.com to register for your box, which you can pick up at the Sebastopol and Santa Rosa Farmer’s Markets.
Over a hundred volunteers made this year’s Youth Park BBQ successful. It was an amazing sight to see how it all came together. Thank you Patti Baxman, and the Youth Park Board, for your behind the scenes orchestration. If you’d like to join these folks having a good time doing terrific things for the Youth Park, google Forestville Youth Park and sign up.
Next on their agenda? The Hot Rod Show and BBQ Competition at the Youth Park Saturday August 4. Vehicle registration is $25. Find all the information you need by googling Forestville Youth Park. There will be BBQ, Chili and music too.
And I’m sure you are curious as to who won first place for the Youth Park Parade. In the Commercial Division it was Rick’s Garage and the Forestville Outlaws Hotrod Crew followed by Canyon Rock and BoDean Quarries. In the Nonprofit Division it was theSonoma County Youth Wildcats Cheer team followed by Paws and theMethodist Church. The first-place winner for Musical Group was El Molino Marching Band followed by Guerneville Elementary Marching Band and theFriends of Music Community Band. In the Individual Category it was Vira Fauss followed by Clowning Around andBaby Beluga. Don’t ask. I was too busy setting up the Ticket Sales booth at the BBQ to actually watch the parade, but it sure sounded like fun.
The ticket sales booth is staffed by the Forestville Planning Association, who also do impressive things for our community. They are the ones who put on the Town Hall meetings. The most recent one in June brought 150 people to the library to hear our own Lynda Hopkinsfield dozens of questions on how funds collected from Forestville can be used for our purposes.
I can speak from experience when I say that those FPA Board Members, who produce the Town Halls, are to be admired. They also donate hours and hours each month working with the County to (eventually) transform our downtown park space, they oversee the park itself, they are responsible for the Community Fund Grants and more. Check out the website at 95436.org to see what’s up, and to re-read any of my articles in case you are so inclined. Something I find hard to imagine, but who knows?
Yes, something will happen in that downtown park some day and you may be asked to participate when the time comes! In fact, count on it. Together we can generate remarkable outcomes.
