Page 38 - Sonoma County Gazette - May 2019
P. 38

   Greetings Graton
Is “Ridiculous Busy” in the dictionary yet? If not, it should be and then next to it should be my picture. I had a lot of topics that I wanted to cover in this edition but am so behind on just everyday stuff that I can only get to what people have so kindly sent me this month. I hope that you are health and happy. Happy graduation to you graduates!!! Enjoy the journey. I goes quickly.
Kids Bike Swap in Graton: Neighborhood children are invited to a Kids Bike Swap, to be held Friday May 10th, 2019 from 3:30-5:00PM. The event
will be held in the parking lot at the Graton Day Labor Center. The event in intended to be an opportunity for the neighborhood children to bring their bikes down and swap them out for one that is the right size and/or work on their bikes. Learn how to lower or raise their seats to fit their bike better, patch flat tires, and grease chains. Even if they do not have a bike, they should still come and see if they can find one or if they have one to donate but do not need one, bring it by. If you have any questions you can contact Stephanie Elliot at stephanie@holymonkey.com or 530-354-1646.
Graton Green Park Important Updates: The sod for the Graton Green is in! It looks soooooo pretty! Thank you to all who helped out—Cary, Walt, Buffy, Rowan, Jerry, Emily, Terri, Tim, Jamis, Colin, Cedric, Jenny, and there are more! Thank you, thank you! Of course, thank you to Orrin for his generosity in time and financial donations, and for having his workers out to help, also. And, some of the trees are in! The burgundy ones, alternating with lime ones. They have lovely names, I’m sure, and we’ll have to learn them because they are so pretty people will be asking.
The Community has created the Graton Green! The Graton Green West is opening June 2nd, starting at 4:00. Jennifer Kruzmar from the Open Space District will be speaking, and we have invited our supervisor Lynda Hopkins to help us celebrate. Both leaders were very helpful in helping us receive a grant for the purchase of the property between Edison, Bowen and Shirley streets, just 1/2 block off Graton Road. (I say Graton Green West because all the Green won’t be ready for us to open until later in the year. We’re opening the west side bordered by Bowen & Shirley streets on the June 2nd opening day.)
The splendid redwoods surrounding my airy cyber-hut are alive with birds! Gently swaying in pleasant spring breezes, making me believe that the long and very cold winter is over!!
It’s a potluck celebration so bring a dish, your plates & stuff, and a blanket for picnicking on the new lawn. Tables & chairs also will be provided.
As classes at the Montgomery Elementary will soon come to close for this year, there are many activities planned. Open House will be on Thursday, May 23rd, with projects being prepared now by the students. The upcoming Annual Field Day will be held soon,with outdoor competitions between classes(date TBA). Sign-ups for traditional or transitional Kindergarten may be made by calling the MES office at 632 5221.
The Hubbub Club will lead us in a march around the Green on the new pathways inlaid with personalized bricks by park donors. Chris Riebli will be playing during the rest of the festivities, which include a community potluck on the new lawn. Tables and chairs will be provided, also.
Happy May Anniversaries to Cathy and Dennis Schezer, celebrating on the 12th, Harriet and Ken Parmeter on the 4th, and Joyce & Jim Berry.
I wish a Very happy May Birthday to Marisa Hemenway on the 4th, Mike Kelly on the 5th, Miranda Hope on the 13th, dear friend Tara Caplan on the 15th, Christopher Quinn-Kelly on the 17th, Brittany Parmeter will celebrate on the 24th, Athena Johnson on the 26th, Donnie Grider on the 27th, Merlin Velasquez-Greer has her day on the 30th, along with Greg Parmeter.
Celebrate Mother’s Day, which I consider to be every day and call me at 632 5545 or email mayawrld@sonic.net with info for your Cazadero Column!
The ceremonies will take place at the new stage constructed for the water tower amphitheater. Some of the benches made by local artists may be installed by June 2nd, and if not, soon will be.
The play equipment will be installed after the opening. However, our intent is to have all the park features, as much as possible be multi-generational and/ or multi-functional. I’ve attached a sketch of a bench that meets both criteria and is a collaboration between myself (HolLynn) and local artist Thomas Kolonusz-Partee. Also, you can go to take a 3D tour of the plans for the Green, created by Nate Le Amand. Go to: parksmith.com/graton-park/ .
We have been working on creating a community gathering place for Graton since 2007. In the meantime, there has been a successful community garden run by Jane Kurtz and others that fulfilled that need for several years.
thank you for those! The final vote was put off until June 4, because some of the budget and time allocation issues were sent back to Permit Sonoma for clarification. FOG (Friends of Graton) believes that Phase II will move ahead though, and that is what they were working towards.
I am so sorry for all the folks who have experienced flooding and related disasters and do hope that they are able to recover. We must continue to support local businesses as much as possible. Both the Cazadero and Duncans Mills general stores have many useful daily groceries, plus locally-produced wines, meat and body-care products. The great Cazadero Supply has its monthly 1st Saturday 15% Discount Day, with many items for your spring garden, household and vehicle projects. Raymond’s Bakery offers Friday Night Pizza and Music until 9 p.m. Visit “Caz Central” for unique locally crafted gifts. The Duncans Mills Tea Shop features a myriad of great teas and related items. Grab a California/New Orleans inspired-bite at Cape Fear Cafe, bask in the sunlit back deck at Gold Coast Coffee and Bakery and enjoy their tacos and live music, too. Treats and Toys by the P.O.is opening more regularly and we continue to wish Michael a good recovery.
The next meeting of the Cazadero Community Club will be on Tuesday, May 7th-7 p.m. at Firehall #1. Join your neighbors in helping to plan events which benefit the entire community, such as the great Old Time BBQ—to be held this year on Sunday, September 1st, at the Cazadero Performing Arts Camp. A wonderful day of activities, including, of course, the tasty BBQ (steaks and chicken with all the fixins’), Bingo, great traditional raffle, pie baking contest (YUM). Community Church dessert table, cold beer and wine from the Cazadero Volunteer Fire Dept. and more! Please consider volunteering for this special day. Contact Club President Maureen Berry at maureen@ berrysmill. com. Info soon on buying tickets, as advance sales are important. Community Club dues are only $20.Individual and $25.Family. You may pay at a meeting or send to P.O. Box 3, Cazadero .
Another fun event coming soon to downtown Cazadero is the
Sky Garden’s Recycle Circus, Rummage Sale, Flea market and Crafts Extravaganza! Running from 9-4p.m.on Saturday, June 8th. call Cathy at 632- 5743 or email schezer@comcast.net to sign up. Only $10.00 per space.
  Also calling all volunteers: Your help is needed! One more thing: The personalized bricks will be delivered May 24th, so please respond to HolLyn if you can help install bricks starting Saturday, May 25th. This is your next opportunity to be a Graton hero and be part of a community that can. Looking forward to hearing from you, HolLynn (707) 829-9440
Cannabis Update from Anna: The Board of Supervisors decided to include Phase II of the Cannabis Ordinance (Neighborhood Compatibility) in the County’s two-year work plan. All your emails had a great impact, so
38 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 5/19
It appears that the supervisors recognize that the current Cannabis Ordinance has problems, including community compatibility issues, and so it is likely that the County will work to replace the current ordinance with a new Cannabis Ordinance. That is good news because we feel that the supervisors will elicit input from the public and neighbors in drafting the new ordinance. Their goal is to reduce conflicts with neighbors while streamlining the process for industry. We are cautiously optimistic. Thank you for your support. Anna Ransome for Friends of Graton (FOG).










































































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