Page 32 - Sonoma County Gazette October 2018

The autumn came down quickly this year, with some early cool days - and then a leap back up into the 90’s as we headed out of September. It feels like we are in for a real change of seasons somehow this time. I’m watching the trucks filled with grapes driving past on Geyserville Avenue. It’s one of the ways I know that we are an authentic wine-producing town - this time of year you can’t drive for too long without getting behind a farm vehicle or transport truck.
Our first Writer’s Group meeting at Isis Oasis was well-attended and a great deal of fun. The structure allows for new members to join at any time, so feel free to come the second Tuesday evening of each month, enjoy some light snacks in the Pavilion, and participate in writing games, receive personalized critiques and advice only on request, and other literary activities. It’s a supportive and inspiring environment and may be just the thing to get that novel or memoir or book of poetry out of the ether and onto the paper!
It’s fall, so that means that the monthly Geyserville Chamber
of Commerce meetings are back on in force. Check out the Geyservillecc.com page for dates and times. But autumn really launches here in Greater Geyserville with the annual Fall Colors celebration. This year it happens on Sunday,
It’s Car Show & Pancake Breakfast TIME! October 28th, and as usual includes the annual vintage Kiwanis Car Show, with all proceeds benefiting our nationally-recognized Geyserville schools. The event technically starts
at 10am, but those in the know make sure to get on the avenue early to stop
at the annual Geyserville Volunteer Fire Department Firemen’s Pancake Breakfast at the main Geyserville Firehouse. Lines get long later on. For more information on the event, visit the web page at geyservillefallcolors.com. And if visitor parking is tight, we usually can squeeze you in here at the Isis Oasis.
As I move into my fifth year of living here full time in Geyserville, I’m still ashamed to see how little I really know about the viticulture and agriculture
of the area. I’m always trying to learn more. As I drive by vineyards, I now
can tell some different types of vines apart. I know that the heavy machinery I hear passing in the dark of night is on the way to harvest grapes, and on a fire watch run last October I watched in fascination as harvesters were working near here as fires were burning in the distance behind them on the slopes of the Mayacamas hills. But there is so much more to discover.
Susatainable Agriculture Practices Education - One quick resource is at the official Sonoma County webpage, where “A year in the Life of a Vine” is a nice place to start to understand the annual cycles that this county lives by. This page, sonomawinegrape.org/sustainability/a-year-in-the-life-of- a-vine/ will also lead you to extensive listings on sustainability practices in Sonoma County, including the Honor Roll and annual reports. Napa County offers a different look at the process at their napavintners.com/napa_valley/ life_cycle_of_a_grape.asp.
Octobwe 13: Beer, Wine, & Spirits Festival That covers the process for wines, but Sonoma County and Geyserville offers more than that at the third annual Beer, Wine, & Spirits Festival at the Geyserville Inn, which is sponsored by the Geyserville Lodging Association of which we are a part and also benefits the Geyserville school district. This year, this food and fun event takes place on Saturday, October 13th and tickets range from $35-45. You can book your tickets at Eventbrite at www.eventbrite.com/e/geyserville-beer- wine-spirits-festival-tickets-45082370584. Participating vintners, spirit makers, and beer brewers include Bear Republic, Epson Brandy, Alley 6 Craft Distillery, J. Rickards Winery, Peche Merle Winery, deLorimier Winery, and Bloody Bob’s. It’s a strictly 21-and-up event, so this time, leave the kids at home.
32 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 10/18
“Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country, and this world.” ~ Sharon Salzberg
While voting is often seen as the surest (and, too often, simplest) vehicle for expressing these vital commitments, there are many others like volunteering for and/or financially supporting organizations doing good things for ourselves, our communities and the world.
Then, too, a commitment to living as positive a life as we can helps create more optimistic families, friendships, businesses/workplaces, and daily interactions with others--even under the most challenging circumstances. This, in turn, can help improve and sustain not just our neighborhood or our city but also, and in so many ways, the quality of life for everyone everywhere.
With November’s election just ahead and 6 candidates vying
for 3 Cloverdale City Council seats, we’re reminded that running for elected office, almost as much as serving, requires quite a commitment as it can be an experience unlike any most voters will ever have, let alone volunteer for.
So let’s all say “Thank you!” to (listed in non-partisan alpha’
order): Shawn Bovee, Marta Cruz, Jon Lambert, Jason Turner, Michele Winterbottom and Gus Wolter. In short, being a candidate typically requires a uniquely personal (and not infrequently intense) commitment of time, energy, talents, skills, intellect, money, and even some resources candidates may not know they’ll need...let alone know have! And the commitment is not just by the candidate but also by her or his family as well as business/professional/ workplace associates and supporters.
Then, too, finding out which candidate(s) to select requires, at minimum, that we voters not only determine what our city’s most important short-term and long-term issues, challenges, and opportunities really are - and/or how each candidate plans to deal with and, where needed, fund them.
It’s also vital to know how prepared candidates are for what being a city council member requires of them over the next four years. For example, that “time” commitment. In addition to two regular evening meetings/month that can start an hour or more ahead of the public meeting, councilmembers serve on at least two of 6 important sub-committees that meet during the day when City staff and our team of advisors/consultants are available.
Add to this the diversified range of 15 or more critically important “Regional Board and Committee Appointments.” Some are made by each city (ex., Russian River Watershed Assoc.) and some (like SMART) are competitive among cities. But all meet on their own daytime or early evening schedules. (Visit www. cloverdale.net to learn lots more about our city’s government.)
Of course, we’ve left off the time required to read/study/research various agenda items for every meeting...or to keep-up with council and appointment- related emails, respond to constituent and press inquiries, attend local, county and even state events, etc., etc., etc.
We shouldn’t dismiss or select a candidate until we’ve checked-out their social media, campaign website and local news coverage. We should ask questions like “Which of the city sub-committees and regional appointments most appeal to you and why?” and “How, exactly, will Cloverdale pay for what you’re suggesting?”
Let’s expect answers that demonstrate real knowledge, leadership skills, diplomacy and, most of all, common sense. ABOVE ALL: LET’S VOTE!!
Meanwhile, don’t miss The Friends Of the Cloverdale Library BOOK SALE! Member Preview, 10/3, 6-8 p.m. (Non-members can join at the door). Public welcome from Thurs., Oct.4th, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Sat., 10/06, for $5/bag of books! Thanks in large part to your purchases, The Friends contributed $50K to our library’s “Refresh” upgrade!
Two Kiwanis Club fundraiser events (supporting Dolly Parton Imagination Library Cloverdale Chapter and CHS Key Club) contribute much to our community: the Octoberfest, everyone’s fall favorite, featuring German food, beer, wine, music, dancing, and family fun is a joint effort with Courtney’s Pumpkin Patch (supporting the Courtney Jade Davis Scholarship at CHS
and local cancer patients) Sat., 10/06, from 12p.m.to 7p.m. at 529 Venezia Way. The Kiwanis’ renowned Vineyard Races returns Sun., Oct., 21st. Details at: cloverdalevineyardraces.org