Page 30 - Sonoma County Gazette 12-2019

When I submitted last month’s article, to Vesta, I was on Kauai on my vacation. Little would I have known that before the November issue hit
the streets, Windsor and over 200,000 Sonoma County residents would be ordered to evacuate because of an oncoming fire. Even with that impossible challenge facing her, Vesta Copestakes, Editor and Publisher of the Sonoma Gazette, still got the paper on newsstands on time. What an incredible woman. And on top of that, as I am now writing the December article of What’s Up in Windsor, another PSPS has been announced and she is working hard to get this issue ready to publish before her power goes out.
“We don’t heal in isolation, but in community.” ~ S. Kelley Harrell
For all of you who were evacuated because of the Kincade Fires, “welcome home”. These are words I say to every person I meet (especially
in Windsor) with a warm embrace and spoken softly in their ear. Since the repopulation (a word that I had never heard of prior to late October 2019) I have easily hugged over 500 people.
My friend, neighbor, or someone else lost their home. And now the conundrum of the guilt from being grateful it was not me or my immediate community and, yet, sad, and hurting that it happened to someone else.
When the directive was given that
Join fellow Cloverdalians in supporting our community as we look forward, welcoming the holiday season and 2020!
we had until 4 pm to evacuate our
homes, Windsor residents listened, then
did what they were told to do, and it saved
countless lives. Our little town was a ghost
town for 5 days. The Town of Windsor
officials worked around the clock with
firefighters, the Sonoma County Sheriffs,
and other first responders to stand their ground and fight to make sure Windsor was safe. For this, we will forever be grateful.
A Sampling of the Holiday Fun in Our Community:
Then we were given the Nixle order to return home. What a magical message we were given; we had all looked forward to it. It was accompanied by Town of Windsor employees standing with the Welcome Home banner and waving to us as we came off the Central Windsor exit. It touched my heart (shhh and made me cry).
Singer Paula Harris will bring Cloverdale a show featuring seasonal classics. Reflecting the styles of Anita Baker, Diana Krall, Bette Midler, and many others, Paula’s voice transports you into the holidays with jazz, blues, and soul vocal arrangements. December 5th at the Cloverdale Arts Alliance Gallery doors open at 7 pm with music beginning at 7:30 pm. Tickets $15 members/$20 non-members; 204 North Cloverdale Blvd.
Once again, Cloverdale has had to cope with both the fires in Sonoma County and their after-effects. Despite the fact that we have not had a direct impact, we all experience the emotional upheaval from the fires and ask many questions. Is my home really safe? Or is this the time? How do I deal with it all? What route should I take to leave Cloverdale?
My heart goes out to every Windsor resident and each person I hug. Thankfully we did not face the horrors that so many of our loved ones faced for the Tubbs Fires. But we know that our little town
had been slated, by Mother Earth, to be decimated by fires aiming for the coast. At its peak, 5,245 firefighters were battling the blaze, which burned 77,758 acres since it started on Oct. 23.
There has never been a more important time to support our local community - that is eating local, shopping local and using local resources as well as helping your neighbor. We need to help our businesses survive the interruptions experienced during the power outages and fires. Last month, we talked of dark stores – pharmacy, grocery, hardware, etc. with people standing in doorways providing services, despite the lack of electricity, nearby fires, and all the emotional stresses associated with these events.
Business people were there for us, now it is time for us to be there for them.
Staying local will help keep money in Cloverdale and the County for the services we depend on, support resiliency efforts, and keep institutions such as fire departments, police, the libraries, and mental health services out
in the community also helping our neighbors. With tourism being impeded by the fires, our local support is even more imperative.
Giving to the community starts the season! The 22nd Cloverdale Toy Run is hosted by the Cloverdale Lions Club. December 1st; Registration 9-11 am; Santa Ride 1-2 pm followed by BBQ with raffle prizes, silent auction and no-host bar; Citrus Fair Grounds, 1 Citrus Fair Drive; Admission $10 plus one new, unwrapped toy. Info: 707-280-5990 or 707-696-1841.
In the Plaza, Cloverdale’s Christmas Tree lighting opens the holiday season. The 5th Annual Winter Festival and Tree Lighting includes gingerbread cookie decorating, a Santa visit, live music, and artisans selling their wares. Cloverdale Boulevard from Lake Street to Third Street as well as East First Street from Main to Cloverdale Boulevard will be closed to traffic. December 6th; 4:30 to 8:30 pm.
I’ve always said that Windsor is a special town. Memories of
being evacuated and with the threat of our sweet town being destroyed will eventually fade away. I am a believer that all things happen for a reason and I think this experience will make us even stronger as a community. Again, I will say Welcome Home. If you see me and want a hug, please ask.
You’ve earned a hug even if I am a stranger to you. Until next time -Lorene
#windsortogether
30 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 12/19
The Sam Chase & The Untraditional comes to Cloverdale to blend rock
‘n roll, folk, and punk music. Sam brings to us a booming voice melding the songsmithing necessary to blend these music genres. December 19th Cloverdale Arts Alliance Gallery doors open 7 pm with music beginning at 7:30 pm; tickets $15 members/$20 non-members; 204 North Cloverdale Blvd.
Cinderella’s Christmas provides us with “a pinch of Christmas magic” which “lights up this take on an old favorite”. We all know the story – Cinderella cannot go to the ball until her chores are finished, but with the help of two little mice and a friend of theirs, the “Christmas Fairy”, Cinderella manages to outwit her stepmother and attend the ball. Does she win the prince’s love? We all need to go to find out the end of the story Suspense! December 7th, 14th at both 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm; December 8th, 15th at 2:00 pm; Students /Children $7; Adults $12; Pay- what-you-can preview on December 6th at 7:30 pm; Cloverdale Performing Arts Center 209 North Cloverdale Boulevard. See you there!
Beatlemania perseveres! The Beatles Study Group meets on the fourth Thursday, continuing to “deconstruct” two Beatles songs each month, learning the history of the songs, how they were recorded, and the actual musical parts played by the various instruments on the recordings. December 26th; Cloverdale Arts Alliance, 204 North Cloverdale Blvd.; 7-9 pm; Free.
See what you can do – join your neighbors! Support your community! Have some fun! And celebrate the holidays!