Page 37 - Sonoma County Gazette October 2018

Fall is my favorite time of year. Is it yours too? I love when the leaves turn and the vineyards glow in the sunset. Last Fall was pretty much wrecked with our horrendous October fires. Some who were impacted are recovering. Others never will. Next time you go outside, look around and see what you can do
to protect your own property this fire season, like clearing brush and dead vegetation. Your neighbors will appreciate it.
School Board Candidate FORUM
Last month Gina Graziano hosted a School Board Candidate Forum with questions prepared by the teachers. Present were Don Reha, Chris Uebel and Max Broome. We asked for a PUBLIC Forum where members of our community can ask questions of the candidates. It has been scheduled for:
October 17 at 6pm at Forestville School in the Audi at the front of the school.
There are FIVE CANDIDATES for THREE board positions. Community participation in our school is how we show our children that their education is important to us! It’s also how we get what we want for our public school.
The only incumbent running is Max Broome. Two candidates, Chris Uebel and Steve Pearson have years of School Board experience, but they have not been on the board for some time. Two candidate have current school experience: Don Reha who has two children attending our school and who has been at every board meeting; and Linda Strauss, who until recently ran the Playhouse Preschool until her retirement. All are passionate about educating our children and are eager to serve our community.
Three candidates were able to provide statements before press time:
“Why you feel it’s important to be on this board.”
Over and over in my life I have seen that education is life-changing. Our community accepted responsibility for educating our next generation. The board represents the community and ensures our community values and priorities are reflected at the school. Forestville is changing. Are we making the right choices with the junior high? Are we adjusting well to fewer students in the district? Are we providing the support students and families need in the community? Is the school well organized and able to retain quality teachers by offering competitive compensation?
It matters to me that the community provides an outstanding education
to our youth. The board must constantly ask: Is this the right thing for our community’s children? Does this reflect our community values? Is this a responsible allocation of resources? Are we equipping the next generation to achieve their goals and dreams? ~ Chris Uebel
Having attended most Board meetings in recent years, I see the need for transparency and public participation in the decisions being made. It’s time to head in a new direction, and work to retain teachers, programs, and public trust in school governance and to provide a second to none educational experience for our children. I believe I can be a diligent part of the solution for the future of our children, teachers, and or school. ~ Don Reha
Serving as a trustee on the Forestville Union School District Board of Trustees these last eight years gives me the knowledge and experience needed to
help improve the educational opportunities for our students. In my years as a trustee, I learned what has worked and what has not worked in terms of effective leadership, governance practices, and policy-making.
To truly succeed, the District must ensure transparency when conducting its business on behalf of its residents and other stakeholders. In addition, Forestville students need more resources to better ensure their chances
at realizing their potential as students and citizens. As your trustee, my priorities will be to do all I can to promote transparency in governance and increase student achievement by ensuring our students receive the resources necessary to maximize their educational opportunities. ~ Max Broome
Please PARTICIPATE and come with your questions.
Forestvlle Elementary School Board ELECTION.
If you missed the first forum hosted by teachers, please attend the PUBLIC FORUM on Wednesday, October 17, 6pm at Forestville School. This is YOUR chance to ask YOUR QUESTIONS of incumbent Max Broome, former board members Steve Pearson and Chis Uebel, and wanting to be new to the board Don Reha and Linda Strauss...five people to fill three positions.
Stop in to say hello to the new owner at Nightingale Bakery, Jessica Frost. She’s worked side by side with Beth for over two years. After graduating from the JC Culinary Program her goal was to open her own bakery. Eight years later it’s happened. She is keeping all the favorites and just might introduce more goodies in the upcoming months. We are lucky to have this enchanting, and delicious, business right in our own downtown.
You’ll soon notice a new business downtown, Russian River Cyclery. Brian Borchers is realizing his goal of having a bike shop downtown after several years operating out of his place on Old River Road. Brian is the one who constructed that cool bike kiosk in the downtown park. He loves bikes, knows everything about them and did a great job servicing mine.
Have you noticed? Our own little Farmer’s Market is now closed for the season. Chamber President and Market Manager Wendy Flowers gives a huge thank you to all the vendors, musicians, the Chamber and to the FPA for the use of the space. And the Chamber thanks the shoppers who found great produce, oils and vinegars, breads, crafty stuff and yummy things to eat on Tuesday evenings throughout the summer. Let the rest of us give a huge Thank You to Wendy for pulling it all together. That woman is amazing!
Forestvillians: I ran into Carmen Kozlowski recently and learned how she started making jam way back when. She moved to their Forestville property in the early 1950s. At the time her family grew apples but found it hard to make a living only getting $10 a ton. To use up all the fruit they couldn’t sell, she started making jam, and the rest is history. “Stay on top of the trends” is her business advice. It was she who figured out how to make low sugar jam using raspberry juice. I often take visitors there to do jam tastings. It’s a change from the usual wine tasting, and they love it. When you go, check out the photo of Carmen on the wall.
The Hollydale Club, our own little clubhouse in the forest, is hosting the Taylor Atkins Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser, October 13, starting at 5 pm. For $20 you’ll get a great meal and fun music from Dirty Dub Band and Vintage Modified. Kids under 10 are free! Money raised goes to Scholarships for our local high school students and boy do they appreciate it.
Art Trails Open Studios is coming up the weekends of October 13-14 and 20-21 with six Forestville artists participating. Check out Art Trails website to see their locations. Our local artists (Lex Rudd Puppeteer right on Frint Street) would love to see you and show off what they do.
Stop by Jim and Willies Antique shop in Duncan Mills if you’re headed
to the Coast. Jim will be giving chances to win a Shirley Roberts painting, a phenomenal feather necklace and more with each $25 purchase. Be careful, you could spend hours looking at all the amazing, quirky and delightful things he has collected. Drawing takes place on Halloween. By the way, Jim is a Forestville resident!
Free Friday Movie Nights start up October 19th at the Methodist Church. Their first movie? One of my favorites of all time, Coco. It celebrates the rich culture, music and history around Day of the Dead. Doors open at 6:45 pm in the social hall. Remember this is free! And you can purchase refreshments as, after all, what’s a movie without popcorn?
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