Page 38 - Sonoma County Gazette - January 2018

Hello Graton! I hope that you had a loving and peaceful holiday season. Happy New Year! I wish you serenity, health and happiness in 2018.
I do want to let you all know that Ellen Swanson has an adorable FREE LIBRARY which she restocks regularly! Please visit 8893 Jeannette Ave up on Graton Heights. You are encouraged to stop by and check it out! Thank you so much Ellen for having this wonderful community resource.
The big news is the corner lot is being reopened! I have been told by Katie Bowman that it will
be a wine tasting room by West County family Bowman Cellars. A spot for locals to come hangout; listen to live music from local musicians, enjoy a glass of wine along with small plate offerings from locally sourced farmers and chefs.
We get to re-set – Again!
Have you ever noticed how humans have this ability to re-set the clock? To pick a speci c date in time to refresh and renew. Like how every Monday I’m determined to eat better or exercise more in the coming week. If I kept all those Monday morning promises, I’d be a lot thinner. On the other hand, if I didn’t at least try to keep my weekend pattern of indulgence limited to the weekend, I’d probably be facing some serious mobility concerns right about now.
CALLING ALL READERS
NEW BUSINESS
So it looks like it’s up to us to determine our future. Refresh and renew. With 2017 being somewhat of a disaster on a national and local level, what will make 2018 better? How can each of us become happier, healthier and empowered to change the world in ways that would help the next generation?
Also, both Katie and her husband were born
and raised in Sonoma County and live just down
the road. Katie’s grandfather is Andy Skikos of
Andy’s produce. They want you to know that “We
aren’t some big winery coming in trying to change the dynamic of Graton.... we loooooove West County and all of its unique charm” Bowman Cellars will be opening by February.
Speaking of making things happen, Matt Dunkle, Principal at El Molino, and his V.P. Dani Barese have done a super amazing job of making our high school happen. Did you know the US News and World Report rates “El Mo” 11th in the Nation for Academic Excellence?
MEET Maureen, Jonathan and Toto London
For example, student Alexzandria Massimino was passionate about fashion. Their College and Career Coordinator Amy Miller helped her start a fashion club. As a result, Alexzandria won a scholarship to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco. The student wanted to start a club and the Coordinator helped make it happen. Pretty cool! Guess what?
J Jo o n n a a t t h h a a n n a a n n d d M M a a u u r r e e e e n n a a r r e e v v e e r r y y romantic. They have three anniversaries. There is the day they met, the day Maureen moved from Canada to SF and
On January 23 they will have a “Bite of Reality” billed as a fun way to learn budgeting! I could use that class. Still more cool...they have free ESL classes Thursdays from 6-8 pm. They saw a need and are lling it. They made it happen, and it’s free. Call Stuart at 823-3465.
If you are like me, you know you must at least try. Instead of letting things happen, how can you “make” things happen? And when 2018 comes to an end, you can re ect on all you did for yourself, and for the future. Think of how proud you will be about all you made happen. I like that picture.
Meet with Matt for co ee 7:45 am the second Wednesday of each month at the school office. He’ll be there ready to share ideas on how to make the school even better. He even might be the rst to admit there are nancial challenges being a small school, but the bene ts can be very rewarding for students and their parents.
of course their wedding day! Maureen and Jonathan met
A A u u g g u u s s t t 2 2 8 8 t t h h 1 1 9 9 7 74 4 w w h h i i l l e e t t r r a a v v e e l l i i n n g g
o o n n t t h h e e V Va a n n c c o o u u v v e e r r – – M M o o n n t t r r e e a a l l t t r r a a i i n n . . T T h h e e y y h h i it t c c h h h h i i k k e e d d a a l l l l a a r r o o u u n n d d C C a a n n a a d d a a and eventually South America.
Chamber Crab Feed: The next major “happening” is Saturday, January 20 at the Holy Ghost Hall in Sebastopol for the Chamber’s second annual Crab Feed. Doors open at 4, dinner at 5 pm. Expect tons of Crab, pasta, salad, great raffle, music and dancing. $50 per ticket, $15 under 12. Call Wendi Flowers at 481-3565 to reserve your spot and in turn help pay for things like the Farmer’s Market, which the Chamber makes happen. They get the insurance, the porta- pottys, the permits etc. They make good things happen, like the market, not just for businesses, but for our community too!
Kids who love baseball get ready for spring. Paperwork drop o
for Little League is Saturday, January 6th or the 13th from 10-1 or Wednesday the 10th from 6-8 pm. Go online to elmolittleleague.org for details. Now those coaches are what make Little League happen. If you are interested in being a manager, contact Drew Sheets drewsheets@hotmail.com. Kids actually scare me, so folks who choose to work with them are tops in my book. Don’t tell my grandkids that.
T T h h e e y y f f i i r r s s t t m m o o v v e e d d t t o o F Fo o r r e e s s t t v v i i l l l l e e w w h h e e r r e e t t h h e e y y
had their two sons Aaron, owner and Chef of Al’s
Place in SF and Sean who is an illustrator/Animator. In 1987 they moved into a tiny house in Graton. Jonathan, is the author of over 100 children’s books. Beside the endearing Froggy series Jonathan has written many books always incorporating his love of nature. Maureen retired from nursing in 2000 but then did social work as in Adult Protective Services. She “retired” in in 2014 only to become active in so many community organizations.
She said that she in particular wants to thank the Graton Fire Dept. and really appreciates all the people who volunteer there. Maureen and Jonathan are wonderful, kind and interesting neighbors who have contributed to raising so many of the kids in the neighborhood. Family and community centric and obviously still in love. Maureen puts it simply “I love to cook and Jonathan loves to eat”. Match made in heaven.
I heard a rumor that Elon Musk came through Forestville. I decided to google him and ended up listening to some very interesting interviews.
Here is one guy who is making big things happen, and he’s maybe half my
age. I was stuck by his determination to nd better ways to live in the world. That in order to create a world that works for everyone, each of us needs to
NEXTDOOR AP If you have the Nextdoor Ap then you have read some interesting, amusing, heartwarming and helpful posts. You have also read some downright insane comments and very mean posts. So I am curious... has anything you have read or written caused problems between you and your neighbors? Has your relationship changed because of an interaction?
take responsibility to create health, clean environments, sensible energy and a willingness to participate on every level we can, not to leave it up to someone else to solve our problems. I for one am willing to give up a “victim” role. It’s not that much fun, way over rated.
If you have a story to share on how this ap has personally affected you as a neighbor, I would like to hear about it. Please e-mail me your story.
School is closed for Martin Luther King Day January 15. He made Civil Rights happen.
Let me know if there is something that you would like me to know or write about in our Home Town. You can reach me butlersjennifer@gmail.com (The LONG version of this column is on www.SonomaCountyGazette.com)
38 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 1/18
What about you? With determination as fuel, what steps can YOU take today to make that future you want happen? You know what to do. Just take baby steps, but each day make some progress. I’ll try if you do!