Page 25 - Sonoma County Gazette July 2017

How SMART is this? Get ready to ride to ride the rails! SMART uses the Clipper Card system, not cash. Do you have yours? You load money on the card, and then tap it on a reader when you get on and o . I went to a Clipper Card presentation at Village Network of Petaluma, and walked away with my very own senior discount card. My next step: load money to it online or at a nearby transit station, Whole Foods or Walgreen’s, or other listed vendors.
You’d be surprised how many people walk on the SMART tracks with
dogs and kids. Trains approach quickly, and each two-car train weighs about
149 tons. Please don’t take these risks. According to Jeanne Belding, SMART spokesperson, “Our main message is simple: Never walk on the tracks – it is both dangerous and illegal. Drivers should never stop on the tracks; they should only proceed through a railroad crossing when they are certain that they have enough room to make it safely across to the other side. Drivers should never rush through the crossing to avoid the wait, it’s simply not worth risking your life to save a minute or two. With Quiet Zones in place, it is extremely important to always be alert and aware near all tracks and all railroad crossings.”
Penngrove Celebration - July 1-2 A weekend of holiday fun awaits you in downtown Penngrove.
Sat, July 1 – If you like mouth-watering pancakes, ham, eggs, fruit and juice, come for the Rancho Adobe Fire Department Pancake Breakfast, 7 am – 11 am. Eat a pancake or two, meet the friendliest folks on earth, and support your re department. It’s at Rancho Adobe Fire Station, 11000 Main Street at the corner of Main St. and Old Redwood Hwy. Tickets at the door are $7 adults; $5 children 12 and under. All proceeds bene t the Rancho Adobe Fire District.
“No matter where you go, there you are”
VACATION AT HOME ~ try wine or beer tasting at
Sun, July 2 – Who loves a parade? Penngroovians do! The 41st annual Biggest Little Parade in Northern California starts at 11 a.m. sharp in Downtown Penngrove on Main Street. It’s as small-town America as you can get. You’ll see tractors, horses, oats, antique military Jeeps, bands and bicycle teams. And, it’s blissfully under one hour! The Grand Marshal will be “Hail the Chiefs”, honoring ve chiefs who have kept Penngrove safe during their tenure: Harold Sinclair, Walt Goldbeck, Skip Grube, Frank Treanor, and Leonard Thompson.
Oliver’s Market! By now I am sure you have read about Oliver’s Market transition to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, which will keep the market locally owned.
After the parade, enjoy barbeque, kids’ games and music by Charley Baker in Penngrove Park from 12:00-4:00 p.m. The menu o ers old fashioned pit beef, BBQ chicken, beef sandwiches, oysters and hot dogs. Drinks and Lagunitas beer will keep you cool. Desserts will be available by Penngrove 4-H. Sorry, but dogs cannot enter the park (County health code), and outside food and drink are not permitted. penngrovesocial remen.org.
The sale of 43% of the company to employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is the best news due to the market’s choice to sell Sonoma County products, keeping a go local business model alive. “The company also registered with the state of California as a Social Purpose Corporation, allowing leadership to consider employees, the environment, and the community in addition to nancial position when considering any business decision.” oliversmarket.com.
7th Annual Hot Rods and BBQ - July 22
Who can resist free family fun? Penngrove Social Firemen present a fundraiser to maintain Penngrove Park and Clubhouse from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, July 22. See more than 350 cars and big rigs on display, and there’s music by Charley Baker. When you get hungry, lunch is ready from Noon to
3 pm for $15 (includes a $100 door prize drawing for adults); $5 kids under 12. Enter your hot rod, classic car or big rig, 1974 and older There’s no fee and no judging. Remember: no dogs in the park (county health code) and no coolers. See you at 11800 Main St., in downtown Penngrove. Contact: John Rossi, (707) 981-7765 or email rossiracing@comcast.net
Sequoia Home Care Academy If you are caring for a family member
or friend, you can polish your skills and become more confident in offering care. Training is offered by Sequoia Home Care Academy in Petaluma. Until now, families either hired a professional caregiver or struggled along on their own, not always having the skills or knowledge to take proper care of their loved one, especially one who has age-related disabilities, or has had a stroke,
or has developed diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or arthritis. The program was developed by Sequoia Senior Solutions to train their caregivers. It is now available to family caregivers who want to do the job well. There is training on Bed Care and Body Mechanics and CPR/First Aid. The classes are offered at the offices of Sequoia Senior Solutions in Petaluma. For Bed Care training, clients may also learn at their own home. Contact Sequoia Senior Solutions.com or (707) 763-6600.
Penngrove Market is coming along. A new mural is being painted inside, depicting the bucolic joys of Sonoma County.
Cotati is where Oliver’s business began in 1988. If you have not visited the Cotati store please go to 546 East Cotati Ave. to see their largest selection of gifts and largest selection of wines and beers. Their tasting bar opens every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. Also note their award-winning cakes make special occasions memorable. Check their website or Facebook page for events.
Redwood Writers at the Sonoma County Fair
I miss Sonoma County Book Fair. If you love books or are seeking a summer escape you will nd the RWC at our 2017 fair with tables of new books. Novels, non ction, poetry and memory all a ordably priced.
Experience Songbird Saturday: Open House & Healing Fair
Saturday, July 22, 2;30pm-5:30pm. Are you getting the support you need from the medical system? Come nest with Songbird Community Healing Center. Enjoy FREE 10-minute educational talks. Relax with a ordable 15 minute wellbeing services. Explore how you can rent rooms and join the Songbird Flock. Discover the best class and service for your unique needs. Spread Your Wings and Fly with us. Schedule on website. songbirdcenter.org.
CORRECTION to last month’s column
Patrice Garrett’s two other novels are both Westerns and Romances.
Deborah Taylor-French is an information omnivore, feeding on fiction, business news, and poetry. She is a community columnist, read her Cotati Heart & Soul, in the Sonoma County Gazette. Deborah blogs at Dog Leader Mysteries (.com). She has also been published in the North Bay Business Journal, Deborah has written promotional pieces for S.C. Regional Parks, funding arts in education and multicultural programs.
7/17 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 25