Page 39 - Sonoma County Gazette April 2017

Sebastopol’s New Times
CalTrans Greenlights Sebastopol Ped Line
The City of Sebastopol received approval from CalTrans to move forward with four color-coded, self-guided walking tours. Created by Cittaslow Sebastopol as part of the City’s Park-Once-And- Walk campaign, three of the walks take visitors from the Plaza to local attractions and back:
• The Green Line to the Laguna
• The Pink Line to Florence Ave. Art Walk
• The Blue Line to Ives Park.
April 14 and 15 welcome to town a new event by Destination Races. Set in the heart of Sonoma County’s legendary craft brew scene, the inaugural IPA 10 K and Beer Mile Invitational celebrate running and beer.
Hosted by The Barlow, this two-day event opens with The Marketplace Expo, Hoppy Easter Hunt and Welcome Reception on Friday. On Saturday morning, Crooked Goat Brewing hosts the ‘start-line beer toast’ before runners hit the scenic 6.2 mile loop course at 8 AM. Next: “The Beer Mile,” an event for qualified runners only. It’s a fast paced running competition where entrants must successfully pass a “chug zone” on each 1⁄4 mile lap.
The fourth walk takes pedestrians, and bicyclists, from the trailhead of the Joe Rodota Trail on Petaluma Ave. to Ives Park. As it turns out, the sidewalks and streetscape along Highway 116 are owned by CalTrans. Any signs placed on or along the route require CalTrans’ permission.
At the finish, runners and guests can enjoy the Beer and Music Festival [11 AM to 3 PM] at The Barlow’s Event Center. More information and tickets available at destinationraces.com.
The Barlow has also given permission for the Green Line (to the Laguna) Ped Line markers to be placed on the sidewalks they own along McKinley St.
Sebastopol’s Classic with Some New Twists
Advocates nd Housing & Services
This year’s Apple Blossom Festival opens with a new – and free - Friday night event. From 7 to 9 PM on April 21, the “Apple Pavilion” will showcase our area’s apple-growing history as we journey through “An Apple Blossom Odyssey.” This reception will honor current apple orchardists.
The Sebastopol City Council approved an agreement to partner with West County Community Services (WCCS) and a ordable housing advocacy organization Group of Advocates (GoA) to begin providing housing and supportive services to the approximately 65 current residents of Village Mobile Home Park (VMHP) as well as for an additional eight homeless or precariously housed Sebastopol-area families at the city-owned property this summer.
Located in the Dining Room at the Center for the Arts, mixed media displays will reveal our timeline, from old apple crates and packinghouse photos to today’s revived cider industry. Amongst the themed decorations, visitors may enjoy seeing a video and an apple press.
The project hopes to reduce the City’s current costs of operational management of the property, while working to create a sustainable housing solution for some 30% of the city’s homeless population. In addition, the project provides for capital improvements to the city-owned Village Mobile Home Park located at the eastern entrance to
Sebastopol on Highway 12.
The property was purchased
in September 2007 with the
intent of converting it to a
public park. A portion of
the park, which had been
previously operated as a
campground, was converted
to Tomodachi Park; the
balance of the property
continues to operate as a
mobile home community as
part of the City’s commitment
to a ordable housing.
Many thanks to Cheri Marcucci for leading this new addition to Sebastopol’s signature event. Cheri joins Teresa Ramondo, Linda Collins, Gio Balistreri, and Linda Collins on the Steering Committee that plans this three-day weekend of fun.
Buddy Blossom returns this year, back from retirement! Long-timer Bud Daveiro, who was recently inducted into the Community Awards’ Hall of Fame, created buddy. Look for this apple-stylin’ character – wearing glasses now - as Buddy marches in the parade and travels through the festival grounds. Rumor has it that Buddy is starting a blog.
Contact Lindachamber@sebastopol.org to volunteer and/or sponsor the Apple Blossom Festival.
Certainly a Sebastopol Classic – 33 Years of Learn to Swim
Lap Swim and Family Swim lanes at Ives Pool will be impacted for four weeks, from April 24 through May 19, from noon to 1:30 PM, Monday through Thursday, when Rotary’s Learn to Swim Program enters its 33rd year.
Almost 400 students, second-graders about 7 years old, from 10 schools, will convene at Ives Pool to receive free swim lessons during school hours from volunteer instructors. Pool Manager Ricardo Freitas supports this program led by another long-timer Greg Jacobs from Rotary’s Friday noon club.
In addition to addressing the issue of homelessness in Sebastopol, the project provides for much-needed capital improvements to the VMHP facility, which is an important part of the City’s a ordable housing resource. The City Council is proposing to increase the amount it budgets from its general fund for operating the facility from the current-year amount of $75,000 to $95,800 in fiscal 2017-18.
Instructors don’t have to be outstanding swimmers to teach in this key program. Rotary will teach volunteers how to teach swimming skills. Phone Greg at 707.823.7341 or email him at gjacobs48@gmail.com for more information.
West County Community Services (WCCS) has provided community services for 40 years in the West County area. Current Sebastopol-based programs include providing supportive services at Sebastopol’s Petaluma Avenue Homes, senior peer counseling, a youth diversion program, and counseling at four Sebastopol area schools. WCCS also manages Mill St. Housing in Guerneville and provides supportive services to Fife Creek Commons, also in Guerneville.
Why sign up? Estimates state that, for every 100 lessons taught, one life is saved – a critical statistic for folks living near the Russian River and Sonoma State beaches where tragic drownings happen each year.
Oldies – Classic Cars from 1976 and Earlier
On May 27, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, tour the parking lot at O’Reilly at the north end of town [1005 North Gravenstein Hwy.] and check
out over 200 classic cars with over 2000 other car enthusiasts! Be “Driven to Perfection!” Kids under 12 enter the lot for free. Adults pay only $7 for this fun.
The agreement o ers the City and community of Sebastopol a cost-e ective and sustainable solution to house a significant number of its homeless residents. Continuum of Care data show that, on average, the cost of housing a homeless person in Sonoma County is $31 per day. Expense projections suggest that the VMHP project may provide housing and supportive services to the formerly homeless, as well as supportive services to the other 60+ residents of the park at less than $15 per day. The three program partners, City of Sebastopol, WCCS and GoA, have stated that they are proud to collaborate, and are committed to working together to engage the people of Sebastopol and the donor community to make the project a long term success and serve as a model for other communities.
The qualifying cars and trucks – and, I hear, perhaps tractors? - are on display from 10 AM to 3 PM only. Drivers need to register their vehicles, for $25 prior through May 1, then $35 starting May 2, while space lasts. Parking space sells out, so apply right away!
This event benefits the popular and deserving Sebastopol Area Senior Center. For information, contact Dean at 707.829.2440.
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