Page 42 - Sonoma County Gazette 11-17

Sense of Community/Fires:
Although October is my all time favorite month, I am glad it is over. Hard to believe the holiday season is fast approaching with Thanksgiving/Xmas on our heals. Soo many things to be thankful for. During the fires, my neighborhood banded together. I am grateful for the many wonderful neighbors that I have during the evacuations and being uncertain of when and if they were to take place. I wanted to give a special thanks to: Pip Marquez De LaPlata, Steve and Patty Bailey, Donavan Smandra, Jennifer Murnin, Leeann Roxx, Vincinza Gregori, Alyssa McNamara, Robert Valdez, John Uniack and my loving husband Larry for being the calming voice of reason during this uncertain time. I feel blessed to have such a caring, kind and loving group of friends and neighbors. Blessings, hugs and kisses to all of you.
Rio Nido Lodge:
The historic Rio Nido Lodge has resurrected and is under a new management team. Daytime Innkeepers are Elena Chronis (also in charge of breakfasts), Martine Widmann, and evening Innkeeper Jenn Beasley. Our Housekeeping Guru Extraordinaire is Alyssa McNamara. We have been hosting the evacuees during the fires and have immensely enjoyed helping them out with a warm place to stay with delicious meals. Stay tuned for more exciting info as our neighborhood coffee shop/marketplace will be up and running soon.
Rio Nido Roadhouse Rocks:
I wanted to give a big shoutout to Brad and Raina Metzger of the Rio Nido Roadhouse during these tense and trying times with the fires. They opened their hearts and doors to everyone in our neighborhood with a warm place
to hang out and digest what was happening with the fires. We were all kept informed with their satellite TV’s, our bellies full with good food and tasty beverages. It was a welcoming respite for all of us locals to congregate (It was a full house), to have conversations and feel safe. The RNR is truly a special place.
Giving Thanks:
In lieu of the the massive fires we have to remember to be thankful to our first responders who fought the fires and put their lives on the line. Let’s also not forget the lives lost. It is incredible to see people coming together with so much love and generosity towards each other. To all the volunteers and good Samaritans out there who have contributed their time and generosity for all the displaced families out there. Sonoma County will re-build and will survive this tragedy.
Sister Scarlet of the Russian River Sisters here standing in as guest columnist for groovy Beth Rudometkin. While I was expecting to devote this introductory paragraph to the beauty of Sonoma County, the loveliness of our fall colors and the excitement of harvest time, instead I feel compelled
Pet of the Month:
Willie was severely abused when he was a puppy and ended up in a kill shelter in Arkansas. Distrustful, unfriendly and with cigarette burns on his body. Thankfully his saving grace came four days before he was going to be put down. He was brought to RN where he has been loved for over a decade. Now in his twilight years he enjoys the perks of being a grumpy old dog. He certainly deserves it.
OutWatch Film Festival is working on a Fire Relief benefit at the Rio Theater on Friday November 3rd. After costs are covered, all profits will be donated to LGBTQ Fire Relief, through the LGBTQ Giving Circle (Community Foundation of Sonoma County.) More details will be available on the Outwatch website: http:// www.outwatchfilmfest.org.
The Guerneville Cares group is also working on Four Day Fire Relief Fundraiser, a series of fundraisers starting with a Thursday Give-Back at the Rainbow Cattle Company on November 9th, And Karaoke Friday the 10th at the R3 Hotel, Timberline is producing a Fire Aid Festival with music, comedy and drag on Saturday the 11th, and I just learned Trio is hosting an event on Sunday the 12th. All proceeds will be turned over to the Lazy Bear Fund, their 501 c3 sponsor. Visit www.guernevillecares.org if you would like more info about the events, or to donate or volunteer. Guerneville Cares!
Big Bottom Market has started a “Pennies from Heaven” campaign to raise funds for fire victims and will be donating the proceeds to Redwood Credit Union. Big Bottom is also hosting a fabulous dinner to raise money for Guerneville School enrichment programs on November 2nd! You will have the amazing opportunity
to eat the famous Big Bottom Biscuits and delicious vegetable stew! There will be a buffet “Stew Bar” to select toppings for your stew and yummy ice cream donated by Flavors Unlimited! Tickets & info: friendsofges.org.
The First Friday Artwalk celebrates local art, music, food & wine on the first Friday each month with artist receptions at studios & galleries throughout town. You can like their page on Facebook and follow to keep informed of specific receptions and showings..
to say that I feel lucky to have a home, fortunate that my family is safe and my neighborhood is still intact. Fortunate in that I can get up and go to work and that my workplace still stands. Thousands of first responders came to battle our fires and have the fires nearly contained at this writing, and the ominous sound of texts coming in from Nixle have all but ended. Opportunities for volunteerism abound as we think about all we have to be grateful for and those who need our help.
The river opened shelters, housed and fed evacuees and firefighters, and
has already hosted benefits to help those who were directly impacted by the
fires. Dozens of funds have been started for relief effort including North Coast Opportunities (ncoinc.org/2017-fires/), Redwood Credit Union, and Community Foundation of Sonoma’s Resilience Fund to name a few. Our local Safeway is hosting an in-store fundraiser to help people and communities affected by the California Wildfires. Customers can make donations at check-stands and the Safeway Foundation will match customer donations up to $500,000 with the funds going to the Red Cross.
The Russian River Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are hosting Random Acts of Kindness Bingo for Bob Burke’s Kids on November 12th at the Vet’s Hall. a year-round fun activities program for children with cancer and other serious illnesses. Activities include summer barbecues each Wednesday evening along the beautiful Russian River in Forestville, California...
The November schedule for Give-Back Tuesday at the Rainbow Cattle Company includes the Mama’s Family Toy Drive on November 7; the Clean River Alliance on the 14th, the RRSPI Grants Fund on the 21st and our local radio station, KGGV on Nov. 28th. Give-Back Tuesday will celebrate its 12th Anniversary at the Toy Drive benefit – rough numbers suggest more than a half million dollars have been raised since the potluck was founded in 2005!
The Chamber of Commerce membership held elections in October and elected the following individuals to 3-year terms: Jennifer Neeley of West County Health Centers; Crista Luedtke of boon eat + drink and boon spa + resort; Debra Johnson of Berkshire Hathaway; Mark Belhumeur of Autocamp. Elected to a two-year term are Barbara Gustafson of Paul Mathew winery; Dan Poirier of Johnson’s Beach; Jeff Bridges of the R3 Hotel; Bob Pullum of the Guerneville Bank Club; Lynette McLean of the Highlands Resort. Current board members with one-year term remaining: Wendy Bignall; Leslie Jo Booker Crane; Sarah Deering; Andrea Kent. Welcome new board members!
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The Chamber is hosting the annual Merchant Holiday Open House on November 30th from 4pm to 7pm, the Prince & Princess Dinner at Trio from 6pm to 9pm on December 1st, and the Holiday Parade of Lights with the Friends of Stumptown on December 2nd from 7pm to 9pm. The theme this year is a “Storybook Holiday” and parade applications can be found on the Chamber website: russianriver.com