Page 31 - Sonoma County Gazette March 2017

The story in Healdsburg, as in all over the county, is rain...wow, have we had deluges. I am just back from two months in France and cannot believe how green it is everywhere. Of course, there is a bit of mud
to clean up and damage to gardens and vineyards, I’m sure. But, the
Windsor Businessman calling it quits after 46 years!
drought has been declared over and that is the best news.
Robert ____ from Robert’s Relics in Downtown Windsor is forced to close his popular Antique Store after 46 years in business. Robert’s Relics has been located in several Sonoma County cities over the years and has always been the place to go for that old unique item. Talking to locals you often hear a
story about that one thing they may have lost in the past, remembered from childhood or just wanted to have and sure enough they walked in Robert’s Relics and “Good Ole Robert had it!” In addition to having a fantastic selection he also has been an invaluable reference and expert on old things and he never charged a penny. You can walk in at any time and talk to him about an item you need more information about and he has a story to tell about the age and condition of that item.
I myself have known Robert since I was a little girl. We have seen each other over the years at swap meets, flea markets, antique shows, where ever my antique loving parents carted us along he was there. He has also been
a vendor at the Windsor Antiques and Collectibles Show every July
for years and I got to work with him there. He has in
the past helped
us run the Free Appraisal booth
at the Show. Such
a sweet demeanor and loaded with customer service.
I remember when
I first started collecting hand embroidered
Barrel Tasting: In Healdsburg, we kick March o with two weekends of Barrel Tasting present by The Wine Road (wineroad.com). This traditional rst weekend in March was conceived to try barrel samples and futures throughout the three wine valleys of Dry Creek, Russian River and Alexander.
Popularity for this long-running event means that it has expanded to two weekends and is as much a tasting of current releases as it is of futures. The 2016 harvest was declared phenomenal throughout Sonoma County so Barrel Tasting Weekend(s) present the rst opportunity to taste and buy this vintage as well as the 2015 vintage that has been aging in barrel. Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of this timeless and classic wine country event.
The Sonoma County Historical Society is putting on another of their famous historical walks. Here is a snippet from their press release: The Sonoma County walks in the past have included Sonoma State Beach, Walker Creek, Camp Meeker, Occidental, Petaluma, Sebastopol, Monte Rio, Guerneville, Forestville, Sonoma, Tamales, Fort Ross, Plantation, Salt Point, Ocean Cove, Cotati, and Rohnert Park.
Je Tobes started the walks with the thought of sharing history of an area with a group of people while walking in the actual location to view the sites. He started by taking his middle school students on walks to explore the local environment highlighting geography and history. Then with the support of the Sonoma County Historical Society he included adults in his adventures.
The walks start usually at around 6am. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided as well as the support vehicles that carry all the packs, food, and water. We even bring portable bathrooms on a trailer for the walkers. We have had upwards of 115 walkers in the past.
The society website (sonomacountyhistory.org) has information and enrollment forms for the upcoming walk. The cost includes all meals, support vehicles, history, and buses. All proceeds from the walk go into the History Day fund in the name of Je Tobes. These funds have assisted students to participate in state and national competition since no other nancial assistance is provided.
If you enjoy walking even a little bit and if you enjoy nature and history, you will enjoy this walk. The next walk is on April rst. It will begin in Healdsburg and end in Cloverdale and will include Geyserville and Asti. Visit the website for more information.
Sounds amazing and a healthy way to spend a day learning about our County. And the Healdsburg Center for the Arts has a Young Artists Show
up through March 12, 2017. These young artists crate at schools in Healdsburg, Geyserville and Alexander Valley and, as you know, we need to encourage them in their art adventures. There are other opportunities for artists at HCA as you can see below:
samplers and I stopped in his place when he was located in Sebastopol, on the big corner, almost across from the Flea Market. I asked, “Robert do you have any old samplers?” He pulls out 3 or 4 and let me take my pic. I chose a very simple one done by a little girl in 1924, Robert thought for sure I would want the real bright blue one with all the flowers. I had that framed and I still have it today. A Sampler is a piece of crewel or embroidery work done by young girls, from the late 1800’s forward, when they are 12 or 13. It is a “sampling” of all their stitches, usually in an alphabet form with symbols of flowers and pictures of little houses or gardens. This was proof that this now young women knew her stitches and was on her way to being a good wife.
Calling Writers Everywhere: Writers, take your ights of fancy on the nuances around the topic: Art of Gastronomy in Poetry, Short Prose
and Song. In connection with the visual exhibition, up to 12 of the written submissions will be added to the exhibit walls. Exhibition March 18 - May 14, 2017. Application Deadline: March 1, 2017. Literary Reading: April date to be announced. Apply Now: Art of Gastronomy II - Literary For more information, contact Cynthia Helen Beecher at literary.hca@gmail or 707.696.1111
Robert’s will be closing in a few months because of rising rent and his poor health. Now is the time to go visit, sit and chat awhile and learn from this man who knows so much about old things and business life in Sonoma County. He is running a 50% off sale until he closes, with fabulous deals on hard to find items he has been squirreling away for years. If you know Robert it would mean a lot to him to stop by and say hi. A Sonoma County character I will never forget.
POP! The Power of Printmaking: Applications for this juried exhibition that encourages printmakers to explore their unique ability to disseminate widely, ideas and information about current themes and concerns. It is also provides an opportunity for artists and the public to experience
the printmakers’s artistic visions and to appreciate the points of view of the illustrators, designers and other artists they collaborate with.
The exhibit is May 20 thru July 16, 2017. Open to printmakers and printmaker/ collaborator teams submitting original work. Fine printmaking forms
Robert’s Relics is located at 335 Windsor River Rd. in Downtown Windsor next to the old Polley’s Market. Park out front, he is usually there at the door to greet you.
are eligible: intaglio (etching, engraving, drypoint, aquatint, messotint, lithography), woodcut, linoleum block, letterpress, silkscreen, collagraph.
Tina Castelli, Manager of the Windsor Certified Farmers Market tina@windsorfarmersmarket.com
3/17 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 31
As always, support our local arts and businesses.