Page 36 - SCG December 2015.indd

As we swing into the rest of the holiday season, Geyserville is putting on its winter wardrobe with Christmas lights, frosty window decorations, and a bright array of gifts. For something truly authentic, or at least from a truly authentic general store, Bosworth’s General Store offers
The Town of Windsor comes out to the Heart of the Community, the Windsor Town Green for their annual Holiday Celebration on Thursday, December 3rd from 5-8 pm. In addition to the lighting of the Town tree and the arrival of Santa there is plenty to keep the
some wonderful clothing and even jewelry items, along with everything you’d need to outfit a cowboy or cowgirl- either for fun or for serious work. Gin Gilly’s can outfit a new or vintage kitchen with fresh but old-fashioned tools, gadgets, plates, and accessories. I like the rustic-looking yet LED operated taper candles but my favorites vary with every visit – which, for the sake of my budget, I try to space out. Our multiple tasting rooms are brightly decorated and offering some holiday specials of their own. For a sweet two-block-long “Downtown”, Geyserville really packs it all in!
whole family busy. Live Holiday Concert on the Sparks Stage from 5-7, horse and carriage rides $3, Jingle Bell wagon rides and train rides only $1, craft workshops and gingerbread cookie decorating for children and photos with Santa for $8. The Windsor Farmers Market vendors will be supplying dinner and treats for the evening. Choices will include meat pies from BurtoNZ Bakery, Hot Dogs from the WHS Boosters, Hot cups of soup from the Market and Santa Rosa Seafood, cookies, cakes, hot coffee and cocoa from Cavaliere’s Bakery & Café Noto and Kettle Korn made on site from Just Popped Up!.
December also brings one of our favorite events here at Isis Oasis Sanctuary, the return of the annual Winter Solstice Holiday Harp Concert on December 19th featuring Diana Stork and the young harpists from the Bay Area Youth Harp Ensemble (BAYHE) playing Christmas, traditional Celtic, and other holiday tunes from around the world. It takes place in our Grand Temple located in the beautiful Redwood Church originally built in 1935. It’s a wonderful way to show appreciation for these young harpists and to enjoy a special evening at the Oasis. This year, we are also offering a buffet dinner prior to the performance. Dinner begins at 6pm and the concert starts at 7pm on Saturday, December 19th. The concert itself is $15 per adult, $10 for seniors and children. Contact us at (707) 857-4747 for group ticket rates. The optional buffet supper prior to the performance is $20 per person, $10 for seniors and children, and will feature baked chicken, potatoes, salad and soup, and dessert, along with vegan and vegetarian options, all perfect for a cool December evening.
Windsor People4Parks will be presenting the opening of the annual Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Grove with 200 locally decorated trees. The Grove
is open from December 3rd to the 31st with colorful lighting and holiday
music while you meander through all the decorated trees. The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Grove is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” TV special movie and the release of the new “Peanuts Movie” with special activities. “Family Fridays” are planned for December 4th, 11th and 18th. These 3 Friday evenings will include live holiday music from 5-7 pm with WHS Jazz Band, Memory Lane Trio and Vintage Revival quartet. There will be Crafts for Kidz with the Windsor Farmers Market Kidz Dig It Club and mulled cider and treats. On Friday night the 18th at 7 pm there will be a free showing of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” TV movie in the Huerta Gym. WHS Boosters will have popcorn and drinks available. On the weekends participate in Family Scavenger Hunts and win prizes like 2 for 1 skating at Snoopy’s Home Ice and discounts from local Downtown merchants. Check the website people4parkswindsor.org for all the details.
Geyserville’s Chianti Road has a new winery, Virginia Dare, the latest vine- child from Francis Ford Coppola. While most Geyservillians – and many from far beyond our town’s borders – are very familiar with the Coppola winery on Archimedes off of the Independence exit on 101, this is an entirely new venture. Just as he has revived the old Inglenook name at his other winery in Napa,
Santa’s Red Mailbox on the Town Green
Kids drop your letters to Santa in the big red mailbox on the Town Green starting Dec 3rd. Please address to Santa at the North Pole and include a return address. Santa will do his best to answer every letter he receives.
Windsor’s own Santa Tim
this one is also a revival of sorts. A radio jingle and a pretty girl on a wine label impressed the 6-year-old Francis, and now he has created a winery to go with the memory. While the new website boasts that Virginia Dare has been creating wines since 1835, that omits a few decades after Francis’s childhood when the original winery was defunct. But they seem to be making up for lost time with the recent release of Virginia Dare Chardonnay and Virginia Dare Pinot Noir, both released in November. The winery is open every day from 11am to 4:30pm, and is located at 22281 Chianti Road in Geyserville (formerly Geyser Peak). More information at virginiadarewinery.com or by calling (707) 735-3500.
Windsor contractor, Tim Oxford helps families in Windsor and all over Sonoma County at holiday time. You will always be greeted with a smile and a hug when you meet Tim (aka Santa Tim). Don’t let his tall strong lumberjack build fool you. He has the demeanor of a friendly elf and it seems there is sweetness in his blood. Hey, maybe he really is Santa? Santa Tim was raised in San Diego and came to Windsor in 1983 and has owned his own contracting company for 32 years. He is well known in Sonoma County for stepping up when he hears of a need that he is able to fill. The Santa Tim program works annually with organizations like The Living Room, a relief spot for homeless women and children, California Children Services and Sonoma County Maternal Child in addition to local churches and other non-profits who need the Holiday expertise of Santa Tim.
As always, if you have news about Geyserville, let me know about it!
Disappearing Dog Treats
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 2 eggs
1/2 cup canned pumpkin 1/4 cup peanut butter
The Santa Tim program provides gifts, food and other support to children and their families that have limited resources and to many who are living below the poverty level. His biggest holiday appearance is with California Children Services where he provides gifts to hundreds of families of special- needs and disabled children. Last year Santa Tim gave over 1,700 gifts with the help of his Elf friends who help him collect and wrap the gifts. Many testimonials on his website show what a blessing the program has been to many in Sonoma County for the last 24 years.
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Whisk together the flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt, and cinna- mon in a bowl.
- Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff.
- Dust dough ball with flour. Roll the dough out ....1/4 inch-thick.
- Cut into pieces.
- Bake in preheated oven until hard, about 40 minutes.
Santa Tim hosts an annual fundraising event in October called, “Christmas in October Dinner Dance”. The event includes cocktails, dinner, live band, dancing and lots of giving by local individuals and businesses. Santa Tim relies on the support he gets from the community to make his giving goals a reality. Visit his website at santatim.org, if you would like to join in the happy giving experience that Santa Tim provides. Windsor thanks Tim Oxford for being
the spirit and hard work behind the Santa Tim program. He lives with the true meaning of the Holidays in his heart year around.
36 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 12/15