Page 43 - Sonoma County Gazatte May 2017

As I write this column, it is absolutely gorgeous outside! The sun is shining, there’s a slight breeze in the air, and the smell of blossoms are everywhere. As I walk around town, it appears as if all of the businesses are doing a bit of spring cleaning... The old Mercantile is really coming along on it’s remodel; lots of new windows and alcoves; there is a wine tasting license application posted
in the window and constant work happening inside. Be sure the check out the Russian Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center located on the Plaza! The entire space has just undergone a beautiful remodel (long overdue) and there is even a conference room available for the members to use! Go by and check it out;
say hello to the Executive Director Kimberly Lambert! She is eager to discuss our groovy community with you and listen to your needs. May 1st the Russian River Chamber of Commerce will also launch its new website; another long overdue overhaul... keep up the groovy job Kim! Be sure to attend the Chamber Mixer on Wednesday the 3rd at El Barrio. Crista has created a really inviting, laid back atmosphere at this groovy bar (and the guacamole is the bomb!).
Oh and speaking of our very own Crista Luedtke, did you check her out on Guys Grocery Games in April? At the time of this writing, the show had yet
to air, but I have a feeling Crista gave Iron Chef Alex Guarraschelli quite the competition...way to go Crista!
High season is beginning! Or should I say busy tourist season? Speaking of the new green economy, I am working on a Public Banking group to try and get a Public bank established by SR. As a Charter City, they have the ability to open and operate a bank that will serve the unmet banking
Friday the 5th is First Friday Artwalk... always a groovy experience to explore the works of our local artists and musicians throughout town. There will be numerous receptions as well as our street artists displaying their creations. For your listening pleasure, be sure to take a trip to the Occidental Community Center for the Spring Concerts on Sat May 6, 7, 12, 13! For more information & tickets, go to occidentalchoir.org.
Next up on the schedule is the Russian River Memorial Weekend BBQ. Details are still being worked out at press deadline, but this year the event should be held on Saturday May 27th at Monte Rio Community Center. There will be BBQ, beverages, and live music. The event will be sponsored jointly by Russian River Alliance, Monte Rio Chamber of Commerce, and Monte Rio Recreation and Park District. For updated information as the event gets closer, visit any sponsor’s website or Facebook pages.
Groovy reworks are just around the corner... July will be here before you know it, so be sure to get a team together or sponsor a tee at the Monte Rio Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament being held on Friday, May 12th at Northwood Golf Course and Restaurant. There are sponsorship forms and team sign ups available online at mrcc@sonic.net or you can come by Community First Credit Union for a packet. This event is the main fundraiser for the 4th of July events which include the beach games for children,
In other community news, we are making progress on taking back our towns and addressing homeless solutions. As you probably know the Town Hall Meeting on March 29th at the Guerneville School gym was lled to capacity and they had to limit people entering at one point. Comments went on for about 3 hours with everything from not in our neighborhood, not in our town, to why not, and then there were centrist positions as well. The Alliances are taking a centrist position to the e ect of supporting additional shelter and services only
water parade, sound and light show and of course, the Fireworks! The golf tournament is a really fun event with ra e prizes and a BBQ afterwards. An event very close to my heart, being a cancer survivor, is Dress for a
if the existing status quo is not allowed to continue. We advocate for e ective licensed addiction treatment services, increased e ective law enforcement, and accountability going forward for any service providers. We are very pleased
that the surveys collected at the meeting showed strong support for change
and for our vision. Any workable solutions have to include the interests of our residents, our tourists, our businesses, our homeless, and our substance addicted population. You may have noticed an improvement on the streets the last few weeks due to our e orts. By the time this edition is in print, another Town Meeting would have been held on April 24th. At this meeting the community will have had the ability to weigh in on several potential sites and hopefully we are moving forward towards solutions that work for all. Due to the persevering e orts of our volunteers, the overwhelming support we are receiving from residents as well as businesses, and the support from our governmental partners, I am sure we are on the right path, and that our can-do highly engaged community will come out of this stronger than ever. I would also like to thank Supervisor Lynda Hopkins for her e orts. Although she is new on the job, she is smart, she gets it, and she is working hard for our community.
Cure! Paul Mathew Wines presents Dress for a Cure, a fashion show, along with award winning wines, food and amazing silent auction items! Celebrate Mother’s Day early and bring your mom, your daughter and help other women get life-saving cancer screening services. Proceeds from this event will fund mammogram and other screenings for uninsured women. Thank you Barb and Mat Gustafson! For tickets, go to www.paulmathewvineyards.com.
Give Back Tuesday is held every Tuesday at the Rainbow Cattle Company at 6pm. This month’s bene ciaries are Riverkeeper Park, Russian River Women’s Weekend, Sonoma County Pride, Sadie’s Haven Horse Rescue & Sanctuary and Russian River Wild Steelhead Society. Speaking of Riverkeeper, the groovy Great Russian River Race is coming up on Sat June 3rd, so you need
Look for an addition to our downtown business district coming soon. A framing and poster shop will be opening adjacent to Bartletts. Monte Rio Recreation and Park District is still hiring for beach runners. Upcoming local events will also include Stumptown Brewery’s Russian River Beer Revival and BBQ Cooko , which this year moves to Monte Rio! Event is Sat August 19th, but tickets go on sale June 2nd at 1pm and sell out fast. 30 breweries and 30 BBQ teams, and you can even walk home afterwards! Stumptown.com/revival.
to start putting your groups together or you can paddle solo; again, come by Community First Credit Union to pick up a sponsorship packet and/or entry form. This year will be SO much fun, with food vendors and live music on Johnson’s Beach being the nish line!
Rounding out the month on Saturday May 27th is the 12th Annual KGGV Strawberry Festival to bene t our groovy local community radio station! If you have never attended this, it is a MUST! Bring the entire family for a day full
of strawberry goodies, contests and live music from The Jennerators, Osito, Token Girl and Buck Thrifty. BBQ, silent auction and ra e and best of all.... it’s FREE! At the Guerneville Community Church located at 14520 Armstrong Woods Rd.
Vacation Wonderland. We just keep getting better.
needs of our North Coast’s growing green economy. If you are in the industry and are interested in joining this e ort please contact me. Now continuing with high season: Monte Rio Chamber of Commerce kicks it o with their 17th Annual Golf Tournament to be held Friday May 12th at 1pm. This event is a fundraiser supporting Monte Rio Independence Weekend Fireworks. Tournament fee is $75 which includes dinner. If you don’t play golf, you can also support by joining us for dinner for $25. Tee Sponsorship Signs promoting your business are also available for $100. This is always a great fun event, whether you are a real golfer or not. MonteRio.org.
mascara and lip liner. Please support her as she is providing a much needed service for us ladies!
Each month I am going to spot light a local business, to share what’s going on with their groovy business. This month I’m telling you about Wishes and Secrets Hair Design, with the lovely Nicky Gibson! She is in her 4th year of making us over, and now is making over her salon. Be sure to check out her new décor that mirrors her passion of riding a Harley! You must go by her salon and look for yourselves, at 16632 Highway 116 (next to La Tapatia). For salon services, you may book an appointment at www.wishesandsecrets.com. Have you ladies noticed there is no longer anywhere to purchase makeup in Guerneville? She is now carrying Bella Pierre Cosmetics, eye shadow, eye liner,
Want to talk about groovy happenings in your world? Email me at brudo@ com rstcu.org or come see me at Community First Credit Union!
Beth Rudometkin’s involvement in the River Community began during
her childhood in the early 1960’s and continues to this day. She has served on numerous community & non-pro t Boards, has donated countless hours of volunteer work throughout all aspects of the River Community and has worked at Community First Credit Union as their Senior Mortgage Loan O cer, for over 10 years. Email Beth Rudometkin at brudo@com rstcu.org
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