FPA Blog

“May you live in interesting times.” That’s a quote from an ancient Chinese manuscript considered either a blessing or a curse. We are indeed in interesting times. How is it affecting you? This seismic shift presents an extraordinary opportunity to rethink just about everything. Is there a way to rebuild a world that works for everyone? If so, let’s do it. I would try hard for that.

And during this “shelter in place” time in our history, I have some advice from my days as a Crisis Counselor, and from just living for over 7 decades.

• Think about journaling. Future generations will want to know what it was like to go through these extraordinary times.
• Stay connected by sending texts, making phone calls or sending notes or letters to those you care about. Email photos, share jokes, tell them why you like them. Why are they important to you? Get corny. Do this three times a day.
• Take up a good book, relax, chill out, daydream, sleep.
• Engage in whatever spiritual practice feeds your soul. Do it often.
  Eat well, hydrate often, move daily.
• Get that photo album finally updated, the junk drawer organized, the baseboards cleaned, all those mindless tasks so at least you are accomplishing something!
• Ask yourself “what can I learn from this experience?”
• Get up, shake yourself out, put on some rock and roll and boogie.
• Garden. The weeds are easy to pull this time of year.

Amongst everything else cancelled, I’m VERY sorry to announce that the Town Hall we’ve been planning for mid-April is postponed until we can be safely together again. You would have loved the agenda. Lynda Hopkins would have given her update on County business; mitigation funds etc. and of course she’s so good at taking questions. She’s a Forestvillian after all.

We had also invited Mallory and George from the Champs DeElysees Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness Group to show us how they followed up after last year’s Town Hall on Emergency Preparedness. They organized neighborhood blocks all along Champs with information on how to stay prepared and connected, especially in times of crisis. My goal is to see many more of our neighborhoods connect in that way.

Also, at the Town Hall, we were to hear from Michael Cuoio on plans for the downtown oaks trailhead preserve picnic area (can you tell we are still mulling over the best name?) The FPA has produced modified plans for that space that are inching their way through the permit process. Once those plans are approved (a copy is posted in the picnic area) we will be asking how much the community wants to fund any particular piece. That sounds like a fundraising campaign to me! If, because of circumstance, there is no community funding, (in other words if no one cares enough or has any money left,) the area may stay looking like it is for some time to come. But we have the plans!!!

And speaking of funding, Community Fund Grant applications are now available online at 95436.org. The deadline for submittal is June 12. You can also pick up a paper copy at the Service Station or the Pharmacy. Just ask at the front counter. Read over the guidelines to see if you qualify. Check out what has been funded in the past. It’s interesting.

And a reminder to our middle and high school students. The Skatepark Committee is putting on a tour of local and not so local skateparks to compile a list of must-have features for the Forestville Skate Park. They’d like you along for the tour. It might still happen late April but call Jacque at 887-8260 to register. Why not have a voice in the elements you’d like at your own skatepark? The few who show up have tremendous say so, just saying.

Next month if we still have no community events to announce, I’ll talk more about the role of your Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) That was also something on our Town Hall list!

Be well, stay safe, keep your physical distance but reach out, especially to a senior. Social isolation takes a huge toll on our health.