Page 40 - Sonoma County Gazette 11-19

Happy Fall ya’ll!
Tis the season!
Give thanks every day for good health. Take regular inventory
of your blessings and you will be a happier, more grateful person.
Stop in at the Artisans’ Co-op Gallery on November 30th, 11a.m.-5p.m., for the Harvest Celebration! 17175 Bodega Hwy. Enjoy demonstrations of traditional artisan techniques, a raffle of goods and the gallery wide sale. Everything is 10% off, so come for your seasonal gifts and locally crafted treasures, and to chat for a spell. Our artists will appreciate your visit!
As many of you know or have come to notice, the Freestone store has been closed for some time now—since the owner passed away last year. Bill Cantrell had operated the store for about 20 years and suddenly died on March 8, 2018, resulting in its immediate closure.
Hopefully by the time you read this we will have gotten some legitimate rain to tamp down the fire danger and green things up a bit.
Unfortunately by the time of publication the Occidental Community Farmers Market will have been put to bed for the Winter. I already look forward to its return next year, and extend many thanks to those responsible with its creation this year. I think they did a great job and I am excited for the opportunity to improve upon an already awesome event.
Attitude is everything.
Bodega Land Trust FUNdraiser: On Saturday, November 2nd the Bodega Land Trust host their annual dinner with live and silent auctions. This event runs from 5:30 – 8:30pm, is $15 to attend, and is a lot of fun. I went with my Mom last year and we came home with all kinds of good stuff from the silent auction. Gift certificates to local restaurants & for a Christmas tree. Tickets to the Santa Rosa Symphony and a large, beautiful ceramic planter. This is the BLT’s big fundraiser for the year, so please make a point of checking it out. For more info on the dinner event and their organization in general go to their website at www.bodegalandtrust.org
Tuesday the 5th is Election Day and while there aren’t large State and National issues to be decided there are a couple of important ones locally that cause me to urge you to VOTE!
Measure C is our local parcel tax measure to fund the Occidental Fire Department, allowing for the hiring of paid staff to supplement the volunteer force. Our fire department has been extremely busy this fall between putting our fires and saving lives close to home to participating in countywide efforts to keep everyone safe. Everythign we value is on these firts responders’ shoulders when emergencies rise to the surface.
There is also an election for the Occidental Community Services District which is our only local publicly elected governing body that actually has pretty broad powers to act on our behalf here in the Occ. There are four local citizens running for three seats. Three of them are incumbents (Ray Lunardi, Steve McNeal & Coy Brown). Carol Schmitt is the lone new-comer looking to bring new energy to the board.
On Sunday the 10th at the Union Hotel there is a fund-raiser for the Beedle family from 1-3pm. They are long time residents who just recently lost their home and possessions in a large fire. Lets show them some community support and help them get back on their feet.
Check out the goings-on at www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org, as usual they have a full slate of all kinds of events. We are very lucky to have such a robust Center for the Arts in our little town, please get out and take advantage of their many offerings.
It doesn’t happen until December but this year it’s on the early side so I figured I should throw out a reminder for...
December 4th is the annual Bob Burke’s Kids Program dinner at the Union Hotel. It’s always a great event to catch up with friends, listen to local school choirs perform, bring the kids to see Santa, buy raffle tickets to win great stuff, and controbute to a very good cause for children with serious illnesses who jusy need some social time to lighten their load. THANK YOU Union Hotel for feeding everyone, every year to help this goof cause. Starts at 5pm.
DON’T MISS our annual Occidental Holiday Craft Faire, taking place this year on December 7th (10-5) and 8th (10-4). We have wonderful vendors (many returnees, and a bunch of new folks), great food an exciting raffle and more. Please come out and support your community in many ways with your attendance and purchases.
See ya next time and in the meantime go Warriors and go 49ers!
The Freestone Country Store
Speaking with Aron Parks, a longtime resident of Freestone, I learned about the late “Mom” of the
40 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 11/19
town, Sandy Cantrell. Aron, whose original coffee shop “Java the Hut” was adjacent to the store 1996-2000, says that Sandy was “the heartbeat of
Administrator of the Estate. He encourages everyone to write a will or trust for themselves. Since Bill died without a plan like that in place, his estate must go through the probate process, which should conclude in the next months.
North Pacific Coast Railroad train in Freestone, 1893
the store.” She was
a huge part of the store’s vibe (and made great sandwiches!), so everything changed when she died of cancer some years ago. Locals miss that country store.
I gathered valuable information from West County local attorney, Eric Koenigshofer, who was appointed by the court as
The Sonoma County Landmarks Commission studied the history of each building in Freestone when the town was designated as the first Historic District of Sonoma County. The study discovered the store was built in the mid-1870’s. A special zoning category of the Historic District, intends to preserve and protect historic buildings and the overall history and rural character of towns and villages like Freestone.
Thanks to the advocacy and diligence of residents Jim Kidder and the late Tom Golden, the historic preservation policies are in place. They both restored the impressive centerpiece of town, the Freestone Hotel, which they operated for years as the Wishing Well Nursery. Many things change over the years, but we have the power to hold on to treasures near and dear.
The Freestone Store—For Sale, Soon!
Eric anticipates that the Freestone Store property will be up for sale
before the year’s over. It will be on the Multiple Listing Service, open by appointment for interested parties to inspect the premises. Offers for purchase will be accepted and one will be presented for approval. When this court hearing takes place, other parties can overbid the offer on the table. More details to come when the property is listed. Address: 500 Bohemian Hwy.
Many Freestone area residents and local passer-bys hope that the next owners will reopen another country store, with that familial hometown charm.