Wine Library Associates of Sonoma County Holiday Book Signing and Sale

Our friend Bo Simons of the Sonoma County Wine Library writes:

Now that the effects of turkey and canberries are beginning to subside, it's time to think about perfect gifts.  What do you get for someone who has everything?  Why, you get him or her a personally inscribed book that reflects one of the most interesting things about the wine country:  wine.  All your needs can be filled in one evening while you enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres.  You get to give unto others as you treat yourself.  Randall Grahm, the zany proprietor of Bonny Doon and the master satirist behind such works as Born to Rhone and The Love Song of J. Alfred Rootstock, and the author of the just released Been Doon So Long (UC Press, 2009), will be there in the flesh, spewing wisdom and wicked bon mots.  Steve Heimoff, West Coast Editor of Wine Enthusiast will be ready to answer your questions and sign his two books, among the best recent books on wine:  A Wine Journey Along the Russian River (UC Press, 2005)  and New Classic Winemakers of California (UC Press, 2008).  Vivienne Sosnowski, former editor of the San Francisco Examiner, author of When the Rivers Ran Red, will be there to go into this stirring tale of struggle and overcoming adversity on the North Coast during Prohibition.  

This is quite a trio of wine writers, who can personally inscribe their books to everyone on your gift list.  But, wait, that's not all.  There will also be hundreds of used and rare books on wine, books donated to the wine library, books that duplicate what we already have, but may be new to you.  These will be on sale at bargain prices.  We will be pouring wines by Bonny Doon, Foppiano, Pasterick and Seghesio, as well as a special donation of Dehlinger wines from an anonymous donor.  Now this is a fund-raiser for the wine library, so we have to charge for it, but it's only $10 for members and $15 for the public, and all attendees get a coupon good for $5 off any new book purchased that evening.  The food will be prepared by members of the Sonoma County Culinary Guild. 

Please reserve now to assure a spot:  707-431-7663 

Posted by Shonnie Brown for Bo Simons

Holiday season begins in the Plaza

These photos don't begin to capture the festive spirit in the Plaza this evening at the tree lighting ceremony. What I found so special was how many children were there.

Free cider and cocoa, cookies for 25 cents, a raffle giving away a beautiful Christmas tree, children's and adult's choirs, the audience in singing Christmas carols, candles for everyone, and Christmas card making all contributed to the feeling that there's no better place to live than Healdsburg.

Globalization: Good or bad?

As you probably recall, in 1999 a broad based coalition of people from all over the world, including small farmers, factory workers, and environmentalists, demonstrated against globalization at the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle.

My impression of what happened comes from Rebecca Solnit’s description of the event. Rebecca, who lives in San Francisco, has such an optimistic outlook and can find reasons to celebrate no matter how dire the problems are that we face, has written a book about her experience in Seattle in 1999, The Battle of the Story of the “Battle of Seattle.”

Rebecca has written a terrific article, “Learning How to Count to 350-Remembering People Power in Seattle in 1999 and Berlin in 1989.” Naomi Klein has written a book review, “Copenhagen: Seattle Grows Up” about Rebecca’s (and her co-author brother’s) book.

Rebecca won’t be at our local “Seattle + 10” event (except in spirit) from 1-5 pm on December 5th at the Sebastopol Veteran’s Memorial Building, but I hope you will be. Given the roster of speakers, this is an opportunity to learn more about the worldwide effort for ordinary people to be heard as globalization results in a loss of jobs, environmental degradation in developing countries, and other problems that affect all of us.

(Double-click on the flier to enlarge it.)

Giving thanks for Healdsburg's civic spirit

It's so easy to get caught up in the holiday rush that it's easy to forget to stop, remember, and share about something that happened just a couple of days ago that speaks volumes about why Healdsburg is so special.

I'm referring to the Thanksgiving breakfast at Fitch Mountain Eddies. The breakfast was free and the customers made donations to the Alliance Medical Center in lieu of paying for breakfast. Many food merchants contributed to the breakfast.

I was the first to arrive and was greeted by two members of the Alliance Board of Directors, Roger Hull, current chair, and Tom Colbert, former chair. They made me feel very welcome and we chatted until the next customer arrived.
Then I wandered from table to table asking people why they were there. Other early arrivers were Rick Tang, a local photographer, and Vickie Norris, a local businesswoman who provides online services and is also on the professional committee for the Chamber of Commerce.

Vickie goes to the Alliance Medical Center. She used to have health care through Kaiser, but when she needed to switch, she had trouble finding a family practice doctor, where she found one she is delighted with.

Then the person with his back to this couple gestured for me to come talk with him. My gosh, it was landscape architect Ray Pelanconi, whom I hadn't seen for 35 years. I remembered him so well because I was involved in an effort to get a kids' creative play area at Fitch Mountain Elementary School, and he did the landscaping, using drought and kid resistant plants.

Ray is a genuine old-timer, who has lived here since 1954. He's with Kaiser but likes it that Alliance Medical Center is "good for people with no access [to medical care]."

The last couple I talked with before I settled down to order my breakfast was Lew and Elaine Sbrana, retired from the school system. I've known them since I arrived in 1967 because they have contributed so much to our community. Lew, as I'm sure you all know, has made musicians out of almost-tone-deaf children and even adults.

Elaine had heard about the breakfast that morning while walking with a friend, and they dropped everything to be there.

It was a wonderful way to start the day. No wonder I like to stay right here in Healdsburg for the holidays. Tomorrow I'll join my son, his wife, and my grandchildren at the annual tree lighting in the Plaza.

Back to the Land

For a quite a while, I've wanted to post something at the community blog about Maira Kalman, an artist who lives in New York City. Even before today's post by her in the Opinion Section of the New York Times, I thought that she either had 1) everything to do with Healdsburg, or 2) nothing to do with Healdsburg.

Today's post, however, convinced me that everyone, including Healdsburg residents, should know about Maira and her perpspective on imporant issues. She brings humor, as well as amazing drawings and photography, to her contributions.

So enjoy Back to the Land.

Photo one of many in Kalman's post about slow food, good food.

Giorgi Park opens

This past Saturday, Giorgia Park, completely upgraded, opened. Greeting me as I stopped by are Sonja Drown, the city's Recreation and Transit Services Director, as well has heading up our Senior Center, and David Mickaelian, Parks and Recreation Director.

Yesterday, the Healdsburg Community Nursery School took a field trip to the park. Here they are on a slinky, slitherly bouncy feature.

Evocative of the old Giorgia Park are the "towers," now at the apex of a grassy hill.

This turtle is ambling through the sand at the water feature. The blue in the foreground is a raised trough with tile in the bottom and water coursing down it to an outlet to the sand. Yesterday grandson Rody did a belly flop in the sand and came up wet, sandy and happy.

Most of the nursery school kids appeared to enjoy this grassy (some kind of astroturf) hill. It's steep enough to be a challenge getting up and down, but it looks safe for toddlers.

I'm so grateful that the city voted to upgrade Giorgi Park, in spite of the need to cut its budget this year.

Help Our Alliance Medical Center by Having Breakfast at Fitch Mountain Eddie's on Thanksgiving Morning

Fitch Mountain Eddie's (with food donations from other local businesses) is giving away breakfast on Thanksgiving morning from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.. Those who attend will be asked to donate $5 to $10 to the Alliance Medical Center.

I can't think of a better way to start this holiday. I hope to see you there.

Submitted by Gail Jonas and seconded by Shonnie Brown who also loves Alliance!

Russian River Rose Company (to compliment Gail's post)

A fall rose photo taken at Jan and Mike Tolmasoff's Russian River Rose Company.

How many roses does it take to make four ounces of rose oil?

This morning I started my Christmas shopping at the Healdsburg Farmers' Market. The first booth I stopped at was Mike and Jan Tolmasoff’s Russian River Rose Company.

I’ve known the Tolmasoffs for over thirty years and have watched their home on Magnolia become incredibly beautiful with roses everywhere, including climbing up trellises to the second story of their house.

When I expressed interest in the attractively bottled rose water, Mike told me that they picked 1,980 pounds of roses and that there are 120 roses in each pound. From this huge endeavor they were able to extract four ounces of rose oil.

I’ll do the math: 1,980 pounds X 120 roses per pound = 237,600 roses! I’d describe this as a labor of love.

Reminder: Next Saturday, December 5th, is the last Farmers’ Market this year. I hope you’ll do your Christmas shopping there, too, and come home with great gifts, including the Tolmasoff’s Rose Water.

Written by Gail Jonas. Posted by Shonnie Brown for Gail Jonas.

A community treasure - Healdsburg Community Nursery School

For the past couple of months, I 've been participating in the Healdsburg Community Nursery School(HCNS) with my 33 month old twin grandchildren, Rody and Sophia. It’s been an amazing experience.

Here they are, out on the school’s field trip to the Pumpkin Farm in October.


This past Saturday, I attended the “Giving Thanks” celebration at the school. In the front yard, kids were squealing and laughing in a “jumpy house,” and adults were conversing in the warm fall sun. There I met Emily McGrath and her HCNS alumni son, Finnegan, 5 ½, photo below. His younger brother, Aidan, is in the same class as Rody and Sophia. She organized the celebration with the help of the other school board members.

Inside the school, I smelled cookies, which were just coming out of the oven. Standing back by the kitchen, I met Nora Bulloch, whose friend from Burlingame was shoveling the cookies in and out of the oven. I asked Nora why she liked HCNS, and she responded that it helps parents “act appropriately went they participate in their kids’ education in the upper grades,” and “it helped me learn how to be as a parent.”

Well! I have to admit that Teacher Lisa, who is there in the morning when the twins and I attend, is helping me learn how to be a grandparent. Here’s an example: The kids wait in line on a bench in order to play on the swing that’s suspended from the ceiling in the front of the schoolroom. My grandson Rody took his first twirl on it, then got back on the bench to wait for another turn. When he decided to do something else, I jumped into his place on the bench and said “I’ll save your place, Rody.” Lisa gently reminded me that I had missed a teachable moment. I think you get the idea.

One of the most wonderful things about HCNS is how it encourages kids to use their imaginations. Here’s the kids’ kitchen.

I had no idea who important it is to create an environment that enhances a child’s ability to imagine until I read Can The Right Kinds of Play Teach Self-Control?. Now, if I can just let the kids develop their own imaginations. That means I need to exercise some self-control and just watch what they are doing instead of plunging in and acting like a three year old myself.

From Healdsburg Tribune Letters to the Editor

This letter from a community member appeared in last week's Healdsburg Tribune. I thought it was very touching. I count myself as one of those who shoots a look at that bridge whenever I return to Healdsburg. And I give thanks for the town and it's history.

Destruction of our soul

Published: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 3:01 PM PST

Editor: Ray Holley’s column in the Nov. 5 Tribune suggested that city officials are predisposed to destruction of Memorial Bridge.

Let me see if I have this right: We are going to tear down a magnificent community symbol and replace it with a concrete lump that only Caltrans could love? Unthinkable.

Other communities that have been down this road would agree. Did San Francisco rip out the Joseph Strauss-designed Lefty O’Doul Bridge when construction of AT&T park threatened it? Certainly not. And what was Guerneville’s answer when its wonderful old span faced the wrecking ball? Save it.

It’s time to end defeatist thinking about Memorial Bridge. There are many rescue efforts that should be aggressively explored, including creation of a community improvement district that would not just save the bridge but beautify the surrounding area.

Memorial Bridge is as much the fabric of Healdsburg as our beloved Plaza. Who among us hasn’t shot the bridge a glimpse from northbound 101 as we returned to town from a trip and thought, “Hey, I’m home!”

Tearing down that bridge is destruction of the community’s soul. Don’t let it happen.

David S. Dietz

Healdsburg

Come on out to support Community First and Community Impact Reports!

Monday, November 30, at 6:00 p.m., the City of Healdsburg is going to hold a workshop where staff members will present information to the city council and planning commission regarding Healdsburg's current development information gathering system and the information covered by the system. The city council is trying to determine if the various reports already include the information covered by a Community Impact Report (CIR).

This is not a hearing, where public input will be sought, but an informational meeting answering the questions Councilman Tom Chambers requested at the meeting held on November 2. Our intent is to listen actively and to gather more information available to community members.

Community First wants to show the city council we have broad community support for CIRs, so please come out to join us at this important meeting!

Below are links to an article in the Healdsburg Tribune and two articles in the Press Democrat concerning CIRs:

Healdsburg Tribune article:

Press Democrat: November 11

Press Democrat: November 15

Christmas shopping at the Farmers Market

This past Saturday, after I ordered my flowers (mums, one of which you see above) from Steve Hilker at the Healdsburg Farmers Market, I wandered about and looked at what was being sold in the other booths.

I decided that I would do my Christmas shopping at the market. Hand-made brooms, jewelry, warm caps and scarves __ the variety of items offered is amazing.

Since the market closes at the end of November, I’ll have to shop early. I can’t think of a better way to enjoy the holiday season.

Calling all lovers of language in Healdsburg

If you’re a language lover, possibly you formed that love when you took Latin in high school and/or college. I'm passing this request on in order to help Healdsburg resident, Janice Sinclaire, keep Latin classes at the Santa Rosa Junior College. Janice does so much for our community. Her husband, Tom Brand, is Executive Director of our local non-profit Raven Performing Arts Theater.

Below is Janice’s request:

Santa Rosa Junior College Latin Program

Historically, the Latin program at Santa Rosa Junior College has offered four semesters of Latin, plus an additional 2 or 3 units of "special study." In the last year, the Latin program has been cut back to Latin I only. At the end of October, 2009, SRJC felt compelled to eliminate the program altogether, not because of a lack of interest on the part of students, but because Latin does not lead to a major at SRJC.

I have been able to convince the dean of the department, a linguist who understands the value of Latin, to reinstate Latin II for the spring, 2010, semester, and Latin I and III for fall, 2010. In exchange for that commitment, I have agreed to help raise $2500 by January 30, 2010, and an additional $2500 by June 15, 2010.

Through my involvement with the program over the last 6 or 7 years, I have come to see the value of Latin study for the students at SRJC. It is not uncommon for first year students to enter the program with little or no English grammar skills. I have often heard students express their astonishment that they finally understand English grammar, thanks to their Latin study.

Because of the nature of the language (not only do verbs conjugate, but nouns decline), students become better writers and speakers of English, not just Latin. These improved skills make it much more likely that they will succeed as college students - much more likely not only to graduate from SRJC, but to continue to a four-year university.

In addition, in my experience, the study of Latin through SRJC has led most of the students to the study of French, Spanish or Italian: several I know have gone on to study classical Greek and even Arabic.Several classical leagues have come on board to help me research grants for the future of the program. However, these are long term projects due to the nature of grant writing and the formal grant mechanism at SRJC.

In addition, I will be exploring the possibility of a joint program with Sonoma State University; SSU currently has 4 graduate students in theprogram who need Latin II this spring in order to graduate in May. It only makes sense that SSU contribute to the program, as they are relying upon it for their own students. Because the funding mechanisms differ at the two schools, this too is a long term project.

Your tax-deductible contribution to this effort will save the Latin program at SRJC. In a way, this crisis has been a good thing for many of the students in the current Latin I class. They realized that they'd better get involved and are therefore writing letters and organizing a Latin Club to have more visibility on campus and off. I truly believe that we can not only save the program, but make it stronger. Thank you very much for your interest, and if you have any additional questions, please contact me:

Janice Sinclaire: 950 Canyon Road Geyserville, CA 95441 (707) 857.3031 Jansin@sonic.net. Make the check out Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation, indicate on the memo line that it's for Latin II and mail to me at P.O. Box 1170, Healdsburg, CA 95448 (c/o Janice Sinclaire)

Photo: From U. of Michigan archives: A Latin documentary text, actually an acknowledgment of debt. 2nd Century AD. Caesarea, Mauretania.

Healdsburg Literary Cafe

Last night I attended Healdsburg’s Literary Café at the Senior Center. Featured readers were Sher Christian, performance poet from Bodega, reading poems from her book Star Kissed Shadows, and accompanied on the piano by her husband, John; and Lian Gouw, first time novelist who read excerpts from her book, Only a Girl. Both of these delightful women writers are charming and approachable.

In the lowered lights of Healdsburg Senior Center’s large room, attendees seated themselves at tables for four transformed by tablecloths and real-looking candles into a charming cafe. A spread of fruit, cookies, cakes, and tea was offered to attendees. Books and CDs were available for purchase.

The evening started with an open mic session, where writers read from their own short works or poetry, or read poetry by another author. About twelve people read and a variety of local talent was represented, from a young boy reading from his newly begun short story, to Vilma Ginsberg, Healdsburg’s Literary Laureate 2008/2009 reading from several works. From a rollicking yodeling poem/song, to the Chicken Diaries, written and read by our host, it was an enjoyable evening.

Lian Gouw wrote Only a Girl out of her experiences growing up in Indonesia. She found a gap in the writing set in that country—the voice of the Chinese experience. Set in the great world events from 1930 to 1952—the Great Depression, World War II, and the Indonesian Revolution—Gouw offers an enlightening exploration of those events seen through the eyes of four women.

I hadn’t attended a Literary Café evening before, and once again I found it’s easy to spend a delightful evening in Healdsburg.

*An apology and disclaimer—I didn’t get the names of all the writers and readers last night, and I’m sorry for not being able to attach everyone’s name with the work they read last night. But I appreciate everyone who contributed to such a delicious evening and I hope to learn your names, faces, and voices the next time we meet.

**Interested in Only a Girl? Lian Gouw’s website is www.liangouw.com

**Interested in Star Kissed Shadows? Sher Lianne Christian’s website is http://lusciouspoetry.typepad.com/

Come One, Come All to the Healdsburg Farmers' Market

Have you been shopping the Healdsburg Farmers’ Market all season? From May through November, we can support our local farmers, and as well as those who offer other locally produced goods, such as cheese and butter, wine vinegars, olive oils, ceramics, honey and more. In addition, during November, we have the opportunity to see, support, and celebrate local artists and artisans. The Healdsburg Farmers’ Market is currently holding its annual arts and crafts fair in addition to the regular market.

What better way to practice sustainability and to spend our hard-earned money than by supporting our local producers? By buying locally, we lessen the greenhouse gas emission created when driving a car, support our local economy, sustain responsibly grown local produce, and create community. Most of the artists, crafters, farmers and other producers are local residents.

Warm sunshine helped to cut the cool brisk breezes at the market this morning. The variety offered is amazing. From tote bags and jewelry created from recycled plastic bags (offered by Eco Chic a group of local teenaged girl entrepreneurs) to granite cheeseboards, from knitted hats to baby blankets, locally created goods offer us an opportunity to do our holiday shopping while getting to know more members of our community. Easy camaraderie among the producers makes the market a pleasant venue on Saturday mornings.

The market opens at 9 a.m. with the ringing of the bell, and closes at noon on Saturdays. The last market is on Saturday, November 28. I hope to see everyone there next Saturday--and remember to bring your reusable tote bags!