Page 40 - Sonoma County Gazette July 2018

“The summer looks out from her brazen tower, through the flashing bars of July” – Francis Thompson
Francis Thompson was an English poet and mystic, but for a fleeting moment I imagine he penned those words while looking up at the Camp Meeker Tower on a July afternoon. There isn’t much left of the tower now (though you can still see the trees in their fortuitous square pattern), but there are plenty of flashing bars of July to enjoy. The Big Rocky Games in Monte Rio are the first weekend in July, so get your kids down to Monte Rio Beach for the rock-skipping contest, the water balloon toss, the ice cream eating contest, and much, much more. How much fun would you have? Don’t answer yet? There’s also the canoe races, the inner tube races, the swim races and the rubber ducky contest! That’s June 30 and July 1, with the boat parade, the water curtain
Well and good, you might say, but how do I have fun in Camp
The thirsty redwoods outside of my airy cyber hut are standing tall in the fog! A bit of summer weather, to be sure!
and the fireworks show providing a grand finale to the weekend on Sunday evening, July 1.
The Cazadero Community Club recently put on a very pleasant “Appreciation Dinner” for our local firefighters, including Cazadero VFD, Ft. Ross VFD and CalFire. Usually held in the fall, the event was postponed due to the extraordinary firestorms which swept Sonoma and Napa (and a corner
of Mendocino) counties. Many of our local crews were there too-assisting many others during this tragic and frightening time. The dinner was organized by new club President Maureen Berry, V.P. Marissa Martinez, Secretary Kathie Merrill and Treasurer Patti Godwin, along with club members. Delicious dinner was catered by Paul DuBray of the Rio Cafe and Grill in Monte Rio, with tasty desserts provided by club members. Very creative decor of fire- fighter related items, including Maureen’s extensive fire extinguisher collection! A very talented jazz combo from the adjacent Performing Arts Camp/Music Camp played wonderful Miles Davis, Horace Silver and Duke Ellington music. About 50 folks relaxed and ate together and were appreciated by the rest of us and vice-versa! Our first responders are tip-top!
Meeker? First of all, I’m a little sad you have to ask that question. We go to Camp year round! Wallet making! Canoe races! Water balloon fights! Okay, okay, so we’re no longer THAT kind of camp. However, you can still hang out at lovely Camp Meeker beach, as well as saunter along the local roads and trails. If you want a wilder time, you can head on over to Sonoma Canopy Tours (sonomacanopytours.com) for some zip line excitement! They have added some longer, higher, and faster zips since I last soared through the trees with them. If you haven’t done it yet...GO!
The Club is also planning several free Movie Nights at the downtown firehall. Dates to save are Wednesday, June 20th(yes passed I know), Wednesday July 25th and Wednesday, August 29th. Bring comfy chairs, beanbags or blankets. Movie will be shown about 7 p.m. with hotdogs, popcorn, drinks and candies available for purchase. The July film will be “Goonies”. A fun family night in Caz! Due to the 4th of July holiday, the regular monthly Club meeting will be on Tuesday, July 10th-7 p.m. at Firehall #1.
All right, that takes care of a couple of July weekends. What to do with the others? You could take the young-uns down to Duncans Mills for Civil War Games. That will be on July 14 and 15, with battles at 1 and 4 pm on Saturday and 11 am and 2 pm on Sunday. After the battle, take your kids through the camps – the living historians are more than happy to answer questions and talk about any detail of Civil War life.
Cazadero’s Sky Garden presents their annual Recycling Circus Rummage Sale, Flea Market, Barter, Trade, Free Cycle Saturday Sept 15th 9 am-4 pm at Sky Garden in downtown Cazadero. $10 space fee to benefit Sky Garden. Sellers to provide your own table & shade if wanted. Artisans with local handmade crafts welcome, as well as more local produce vendors. To reserve your space or more information please call Cathy @707-632-5743 or email schezer@comcast.net.
Okay, maybe your sense of fun involves a bit of hard work and protecting the environment. I know there are many such folks in Camp Meeker. For you, I would suggest connecting with LandPaths and becoming a steward for the Bohemia Ecological Preserve, which is just down Bohemian Highway
Come to Know the Poets event at 3 pm. Saturday, August 25th
a piece from Camp Meeker. You can go to their Facebook page (Bohemia Ecological Preserve—LandPaths) or check out the website at: landpaths.org/ propertyexplorer/bohemia-ecological-preserve.aspx. There you will find links to various events and activities that will take place on this gorgeous and ecologically important piece of land.
at Anderson Hall in Camp Meeker. Come for an afternoon of good music, food and to hear poems read by five talented poets of Sonoma County, including Cazaderan Gregorio Pehrson. Call Sashana Kane Proctor for reservations/ directions at (707) 632-5761. $15 per person.
One such event is the Bat Potluck on July 7th. This will begin at 4:30 with a late afternoon/twilight hike that will segue into a potluck dinner where you will watch the bats come out! Yes, I said bats. I know that bats have a fear factor, but if you can get over that...it sounds fun, doesn’t it? Camping out is even
an option. Check out that website. You will also see other opportunities – to have a Stewardship Workday (July 20), to help them combat the yellow thistle
Pole Mountain Lookout has been closed. Time is short but there is funding and a new lookout 501c ffla-ccwr.org/ that can take over to continue the lookout and the protection it provides to the local community. If you would like to continue having the lookout manned, please let your local fire department know. A vital and rare privately run fire lookout whiich often reports early fire wisps to all of our benefit!
(July 24). Yes, these will involve some sweat equity. However, consider the
term equity: it means you will feel a sense of ownership if you
have put some work into the land.
If you have been around Camp Meeker since the 90’s, you will remember
that this land was once slated to be a County Park. It didn’t work out that way—a private landowner bought the land for a higher price than the county could afford. The good news is that said private landowner put a few million dollars into improving the land, which had been used hard and put away wet by decades of loggers, miners, quarryers, illicit marijuana growers, and off-road enthusiasts. The landowner cleaned up that mess, planted some vegetation in the more damaged areas, and obtained conservation easements on the land, protecting it from future development. In 2012, 554 of the 860 acres formed
the Bohemia Ecological Preserve and turned over to LandPaths to administer. It’s not a public park paid for by public funds; if you want to go on the land you need to contact LandPaths and register, or offer to help out, to become a
Steward, or all of the above. Go on; you know you want to! 40 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 7/18
Remember that Cazadero Supply offers its 1st Saturday 15% Discount Day to help with your assorted garden, household and vehicle projects. Both
the Cazadero and Duncans Mills General Stores have daily grocery items, tasty sandwiches, soups and locally produced specialty foods and body care products. Check ‘downtown’ Caz Central for unique handmade art from talented local artisans-open on Saturday and Sunday. Raymond’s Bakery Pizza and Music Friday NIghts continue until 9 p.m. St Colman’s Guild’s famous and delicious Salad Luncheon will be held on Saturday, July 28th-Noon at the firehall.Internationally themed tables make this a lot of fun for all who attend. Please call 6325211 for reservations soon for this popular event.
I wish very happy July birthdays to Jeanne Ruggles on the 4th,along with Jorden Merle, Iris Gradunov and Toni Parmeter’s granddaughter Arissa Ellis on the 10th, Irms Sikorski on the 13th,Taryn Parmeter on the 14th, with Todd Parmeter on the 16th, along with Kienne Sikora. Doug Parmeter on the 17th, Toni Parmeter and Casey Chambers celebrate on the 19th, along with Azalea Hubiak. Dave Jackson on the 22nd, My dear friend Lilah Tuggle has her day on the 26th, Jenna Parmeter on the 28th, and tie dye Queen and wonderful friend Nancy Caplan on the 31st.
Enjoy summer, drive carefully - and call me at 632-5545 or email mayawrld@sonic.net with info for your Cazadero column!