Page 30 - Sonoma County Gazette 12-18.indd

Wondering About Our Local Wildfires? Go to Nevada
When I grew up, and I thought about City Council, I look at the men and women then thought – these were people who just wanted to be part of a the community and give something back. . .I looked up to those people. ~ Ben Wenstrup
I’ve discovered that the Nevada Seismological Laboratory has a website showing six fire lookout videos of our Northern California area, updated several times a minute. In the Geyserville vicinity, there is one on Geyser Peak though it shows the view from the eastern side of the mountain. The Pine Mountain camera comes closest to covering our area, showing a pie-shaped area that includes Hopland. Others are at Atlas Peak, Mount Konocti, Pine Mountain, Pole Mountain, and St. Helena South.
Elections are over! Gus Wolter will be forging on for another four years. Marta Cruz and Jason Turner will be joining Gus, Melanie Bagby
and Mariann Brigham on the Council. Welcome to you both and thank you for committing to our community of Cloverdale. And thank you, Gus, for hanging in there.
The St. Helena camera gives the best view of the Santa Rosa area up to about Windsor. The images are beautiful when nothing is going on, especially at dawn or sunset - and potentially very informative when there is a fire. You can right-click on a camera image to see time lapse images too. Check it out
Additionally, thanks to Carol Russell and Joe Palla for what you each have given to our community over your 12 years of service on the Council.
at http://www.alertwildfire.org/northbay/ - though with the blessed rains, hopefully we won’t need to monitor wildfires for the rest of this season.
Carol and I (Reece, who’s writing this) met 15 years ago, while I was working a Human Rights Commission table at Black Bart Day. A few months later
I walked into a meeting for Human Rights Cloverdale and there Carol sat. It was the start of a long partnership of giving to the Community – each in our own way.
A Special Edition of Our Annual Holiday Harp Concert
Proud of SMART’s success, Carol works hard to help bring its cool trains “All the way to Cloverdale!” while also serving as Chair of the Sonoma County Transit Authority and Regional Climate Protection Agency boards. Engaging us in RCPA’s sustainability efforts is one way she helped move Cloverdale on to this great Sonoma County team. Along with fellow Council Members, Carol encouraged us to focus on water conservation during the drought and we lead the County in that effort.
Did you know that Isis Oasis Sanctuary opened with an arts event back in 1978 when foundress Loreon Vigné inaugurated performances at the Redwood Theater. Later, two local theater companies called the Oasis home.
Local businesses that bring economic development yet maintain the natural, friendly feel of our city have been another focus especially during the years
of economic downturn beginning in 2008 when Cloverdale’s government, residents and businesses worked together as a community to accomplish projects despite the setbacks.
We continue this proud tradition in several ways - by bringing plays from the Monte Rio-based Curtain Call Theater here, and by this beloved holiday event - Diana Stork and a dozen young harpists from the Bay Area Youth Harp Ensemble playing songs of the holiday season. This multicultural and interfaith event is my favorite at the Oasis each year. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors, children, and the military and first responders of any type.
Joe Palla is very much the same way. Earning our thanks, but with a different focus. Joe enjoyed working with the League of Cities (all 480 of them) across California. He brought Cloverdale out beyond the bounds of the County into the world, having a positive impact on city government as he went into the state. Joe has been on the League’s board for the last 7 years and has worked with Mike McGuire, both as a Supervisor and a State Senator, on legislation pertinent to local issues. Jim Wood, our Assembly person, as well as James Gore, Fourth District Supervisor, have helped Joe bring Cloverdale to the table on broader issues.
Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holiday-harp-concert-in-geyserville- tickets-52174481278. You can also reserve tickets by calling us at 707 857-4747.
Unique Christmas Shopping Fun in the Geyserville Area
Geyserville is not short on holiday shopping, either. One “hidden” giftshop is the Locals tasting room, which also has an array of items from vintage clothes to one-of-a-kind objet d’art. It’s located in the heart of Downtown Geyserville. And since it is a tasting room, and one of the few that are still complimentary, you may really enjoy doing some of your holiday shopping there or at their sister shop across the street! Check it out at 21023 Geyserville Avenue, phone 707 857 4900.
See you in downtown Geyserville this holiday season!
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Joe has worked his whole life in service of his communities - first as a Policeperson, including Cloverdale’s Chief of Police, and then as a Council Member. He stresses building the infrastructure needed for a community to survive despite financial setbacks such as the loss of Redevelopment money and the 2008 recession.
Less hidden is the newly-repainted bright red Gin’ Gillie’s Vintage
Home one block north, with many antique dealers and craftspeople offering unique items, both vintage and new. And nearby, the recently renovated and reimagined Bosworth’s General Store now specializes in hats and a selection of Western gear, accompanied by a museum of Geyserville history.
Locally, Joe has served on and been Chair of the Council’s School Subcommittee. He has collaborated with the schools in getting them a scoreboard, rebuilding the snack shack, refurbishing the tennis courts, and securing the funding via the school district, city and county for a swimming pool heating system allowing for school swimming sports, longer swimming season, extended swimming programs, and warmer water for us older folks.
Three years later, Carol was running for Cloverdale City Council
as an openly Gay Woman. At that time, Cloverdale was the only city in Sonoma County not supporting Gay marriage. Soon after her election this was changed. Today our community is stronger with this step towards inclusiveness in part due to Carol’s willingness to step forward.
Inclusiveness did not stop there. Once elected, Carol has worked on a number of county and regional agency boards and organizations to help get Cloverdale connected to both our county and our region. After two tries, SMART (Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit) was voted in and, approximately a decade ago, Carol had the honor of her first appointment by the Mayors and Council Members Association as their representative to the its Board. (She promptly got friends walking our town to get out information on the benefits of having a train transport us to Santa Rosa and on to the S.F. Ferry!)
Thank you, Carol and Joe, for giving so generously to our community for so many years. And to the newbies, thank you for being willing to follow in the footsteps of such extraordinary Council members.