Farmers Mkt, Fire Inspections, Chamber Grants + More

These posts first appear in the Sonoma County Gazette and then reprinted here on the FPA Blog.

by Vesta Copestakes
May 2021

Forestville Farmers Market
Opening Day, Tuesday, June 1, 4 – 7 PM in our Downtown Park under shady oak trees.

Enjoy live Music by Andre Thierry and his Accordion Soul & Cajun Zydeco music! Shop for local produce, hot prepared foods & fresh baked breads, crafts & art, Sonoma County wine & beer. Grab something to eat while you enjoy the company of neighbors. This is our chance to gather safely in the fresh air of Downtown Forestville once a week all summer long.
Info: forestvillechamber.org/forestville-farmers-market/
Facebook: facebook.com/ForestvilleCertifiedFarmersMarket/

Questions? Call Mary, Market Manager, 707-766-4597. We adhere to current COVID-19 guidelines set forth by the Dept of Public Health

Neighborhood Fire Inspections
Every year our fire departments perform fire inspections (Sonoma County Code Ordinance 13A). By early May they will know where they will inspect based upon requests by neighbors and the county in order to mitigate fire risk. If you are interested in a fire inspection you can schedule one through Sonoma County Office of Emergency Services (707) 565-1152 – and through Fire Safe Sonoma (707) 676-4600 or firesafesonoma.org.

If inspectors find issues that need to be corrected, they give you 30 days to do the work then follow up with another inspection. If you do not get the work completed before the follow up inspection, they can arrange to get it done for you then charge you for their time, etc. 

El Molino Lions keep ROARING
Parents and concerned locals, led by Jessalee Mills as the Community Alliance for Responsible Education, have filed a lawsuit against the West Sonoma County Union High School District for rushing the consolidation of El Molino and Analy High Schools starting in the fall of 2021 before CEQA studies are completed that are required by California Environmental Law.

With millions in COVID funding coming from the State and Federal governments, parents believe these funds provide more time to find better solutions to funding both campuses into the future. Many families in Forestville have young children entering our local school school district with the expectation that their children will grow up with the benefit of small schools in a tight-knit community. With 60% of property tax school funding coming from the El Molino school boundaries, parents want a greater share of this decision-making process.

Chamber Grants & Awards
Congratulations to “We Care” grant recipients: Canneti Roadhouse Italiana, The Hollydale Club, and El Molino Little League. Your Chamber of Commerce is happy to help our local business with this second round of grants, as we all do our best to navigate these uncertain times. AND Congratulations to Russian River Cycles – Business of the Year, and Vicky Holden and Bill Everly – Volunteers of the Year. Again, no dinner and celebration this year, but everyone needs to know who deserves recognition for their devotion to our community! Thank you for everything you’ve done for Forestville!

Forestville Chamber of Commerce
The chamber closed applications for their $500 We Care grants for businesses in need, so now the chamber board will choose grantees. We hope to announce those by next month’s column.

The chamber sponsors our summer season Farmers Market and Mary Rand, the market manager, has great plans that start in June. Look for details on opening day in the May Gazette.

The chamber is holding their membership drive so if you are a local business and want to reap the benefits of our home town business support group, please go to the website forestvillechamber.org/join. Email questions to ForestvilleChamberofCommerce@gmail.com

Congratulations!
Congratulations to Vesta Copestakes for receiving a Gold Resolution Award from the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors recognizing her commitment to our community through her work that started out as the Forestville Gazette, then morphed into the West County Gazette and the Sonoma County Gazette over 20 years. Vesta has lived and volunteered in Forestville since 1990. She is currently Forestville’s representative on the Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council.

Forestville Updates on Zoom meetings
The Forestville Planning Association meets the 1st Tuesday of every month at 5:30 PM via Zoom. If you wish to attend, you can connect FPA’s new president, Lucy Hardcastle through this form: Contact the President

And the Forestville Chamber meets the 1st Wednesday of every month via Zoom. For more info, contact them at: Chamber Contact.

Eventually these meetings will be in person again.